EPA Seattles plan for a coronavirus quarantine facility has sparked outrage among members of the community where the building is located. Some residents of Kent, Washington - a suburb near the motel being eyed - are upset that King County officials are planning to buy and renovate an Econo Lodge and turn it into a quarantine facility for people infected with coronavirus. The first - and so far, majority of - cases of coronavirus in the US have been reported in Washington. According to Bloomberg, the 85-bedroom motel would house virus patients who were not ill enough to warrant hospital stays, but who still required isolation from healthy populations. It would also allow hospital beds to stay open for patients in dire health in need of hospitalisation. Dana Ralph, the mayor of Kent, said she understood the need for housing but wasnt happy her community wasnt considered during the planning of the motel program. Were one of the largest cities in the county, and we know we have a role to play in preventing the spread of the virus, Ms Ralph said. But we were not included in the conversation or decision making. King County planned to spend $4 million to purchase the motel and another $1.5 million in emergency funds to renovate it and hire the 11 existing employees to staff the facility. Officials said the building could house patients within two weeks. Workers at the motel were angry and confused, unsure as to whether theyd have a job or not in coming weeks and frustrated that theyd have to pick between keeping a job or working around people infected with coronavirus. The county officials said the motel was the only available property that met its requirements of separate heating and cooling systems in each room and doors that open to the outside rather than into a hallway. One of the more prevalent complaints from those opposed to the plan is that a quarantine site would have never been considered in any of the wealthier communities throughout the county. Story continues Rupali Handa, a resident of the town, said she was sympathetic but still didnt want the facility near her home. She said she was sorry for the people going through this but that officials should put the infected somewhere else. Battles like these could become more common as communities search for ways to contain coronavirus. Last month, the Westerdam cruise ship was turned away from ports in several Asian countries over fears its passengers had coronavirus. Photograph: California National Guard/Reuters The state of Florida has reported two deaths from coronavirus, the first US fatalities outside the west coast, as thousands remain quarantined on a cruise ship moored off the coast of California, near San Francisco. Health officials said the deaths in Florida involved two people in their 70s who had travelled overseas, one in Santa Rosa County and the other near Fort Myers. The US death toll is now 17, with 333 confirmed cases in the Covid-19 novel coronavirus outbreak. And on the Grand Princess cruise ship moored outside San Francisco, nearly half of the 46 people tested for coronavirus onboard have returned a positive result, vice president Mike Pence said. The fate of its more than 3,500 passengers and crew from more than 50 countries remains unclear. Pence said 21 positive results had been recorded 19 crew members and two passengers and that those that will need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those who will require medical help will receive it. He urged elderly Americans to consider carefully taking future cruises during the crisis. There is little detail as to where quarantined and sick passengers will be taken. Previously, military sites have been used to quarantine holidaymakers from the Diamond Princess, moored off Yokohama. On the Grand Princess, some passengers have already complained about the handling of the situation, saying they learned of the coronavirus cases from media reports, and there are concerns for one passenger who has stage 4 cancer. There are 2,422 guests and 1,111 crew on the vessel, with more than 140 Britons and four Australians among them. Related: Coronavirus: nine reasons to be reassured Globally, the virus has now killed nearly 3,500 people and infected more than 100,000 across 92 nations and territories. Italy and Iran have become the latest hotspots with sharp rises in confirmed cases, recording 4,636 and 4,747 respectively. In China, 99 new cases were confirmed, and 29 deaths as of midnight Friday. In official data released on Saturday, Chinas exports fell 17.2%, the biggest drop since February 2019 during the trade war with the US, and imports dropped 4%. Story continues The US government plans to take the Grand Princess to a non-commercial port where all the passengers and crew would be tested, however, President Donald Trump said on Friday he would prefer not to allow the passengers onto American soil. I like the numbers being where they are, said Trump, who appeared to be explicitly acknowledging his political concerns about the outbreak: I dont need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasnt our fault. Closer to the epicentre of the global outbreak, Hong Kong further sealed itself off from the outside world, with authorities advising Hongkongers against all non-essential travel abroad, and making all arrivals complete a health declaration form. Related: 'This is surreal': Italian towns struggle under coronavirus lockdown Previously, the measure, which will come into force from Sunday, was required only for mainland Chinese passengers. The city has reported 106 cases and two deaths in the past six weeks, according to its health officials. In Australia, authorities are working to trace about 70 patients of a doctor who continued to see patients despite falling ill with coronavirus-like symptoms. He fell ill in the US during a flight from Denver to San Francisco on 27 February before flying back to Melbourne and working throughout the following week. He was later confirmed to have the virus and Toorak clinic, where he works, has since been closed. Victorias health minister, Jenny Mikakos, said: I have to say I am flabbergasted that a doctor that has flu-like symptoms has presented to work, Mikakos said. A Revolutionary Guard member disinfects a truck to help prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in the city of Sanandaj, western Iran. Photograph: Keyvan Firouzei/AP Equally astonished were police in Sydney, who appealed for calm after a brawl broke out between three women in a supermarket over toilet paper amid continued panic buying. We just ask that people dont panic like this when they go out shopping, said acting inspector Andrew New from New South Wales police. There is no need for it. It isnt the Thunderdome, it isnt Mad Max, we dont need to do that. There is no need for people to go out and panic buy at supermarkets, paracetamol and canned food or toilet paper. In the meantime, passengers aboard the Grand Princess remained holed up in their rooms as they awaited word about the fate of the ship. Some said ship officials only informed them of the confirmed coronavirus cases after they first learned about it from news reports. Passenger Kari Kolstoe, a retiree from North Dakota has stage-4 cancer and is particularly concerned. Kolstoe, 60, said she and her husband, Paul, 61, had looked forward to the cruise to Hawaii as a brief, badly needed respite from the grind of medical intervention she has endured for the past 18 months. Karie Kolstoe has stage 4 cancer. Photograph: Kari Kolstoe/Reuters Now facing the prospect of a two-week quarantine far from home in Grand Forks, she worried their getaway cruise will end up causing a fateful delay in her next round of chemotherapy, scheduled to begin early next week. Its very unsettling, she said in a telephpone interview from the ship on Friday. Its still a worry that Im going to not get back. Besides the implications for cancer treatment is the fear of falling ill from exposure to a respiratory virus especially dangerous to older people with chronic health conditions and suppressed immunity. Im very at risk for this, said Kolstoe, whose rare form of neuroendocrine cancer has spread throughout her body. Me staying on here for a lot of reasons isnt good. Steven Smith and his wife, Michele, of Paradise, California, went on the cruise to celebrate their wedding anniversary. They said they were a bit worried but felt safe in their room, which they had left just once since Thursday to video chat with their children. Crew members wearing masks and gloves delivered trays with their food in covered plates and left them outside their door. To pass the time they have been watching television, reading and looking out the window, they said. Thank God, we have a window! Steven said. An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles said the recirculated air from a cruise ships ventilation system, plus the close quarters and communal settings, made passengers and crew vulnerable to infectious diseases. Theyre not designed as quarantine facilities, to put it mildly, said Don Milton of the University of Maryland. Youre going to amplify the infection by keeping people on the boat. Another Princess ship, the Diamond Princess, was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, last month because of the virus. Ultimately, about 700 of the 3,700 people aboard became infected in what experts pronounced a public-health failure, with the vessel essentially becoming a floating germ factory. In the US, officials in Austin cancelled this years SXSW festival, a major tech and music conference, amid coronavirus concerns. SXSW, which draws 400,000 visitors, was scheduled for 13 to 22 March. Austins mayor, Steve Adler, said: Ive gone ahead and declared a local disaster in the city and associated with that, have issued an order that effectively cancels SXSW. President Trump on Friday baffled observers while touring the Centers for Disease Control headquarters in Atlanta, where he bragged that he had a predisposition toward science because of his super genius uncle. You know my Uncle was a great he was at MIT, the president said while standing next to health officials who are working to contain the outbreak of coronavirus. He taught at MIT for a record number of years. He was a great super genius, Dr. John Trump. John G. Trump was an accomplished electrical engineer who went on to become a professor emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. John Trump, who died in 1985 at the age of 77, was the brother of Fred Trump, who founded and built the Trump real estate empire throughout New York. He was noted for developing rotational radiation therapy, which is used to treat malignant cancers. John Trump was awarded the National Medal of Science by President Ronald Reagan. President Trump is seen above holding up a picture while touring the Centers for Disease Control headquarters in Atlanta on Friday. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar is seen left. CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield is seen second from right. Associate Director for Laboratory Science and Safety Steve Monroe is seen far right Trump, who is holding up a picture of the coronavirus, bragged on Friday that he could have been a doctor Trump says his 'natural talent' for science is thanks to his late 'super genius' uncle, John G. Trump (seen in the above undated file photo), who was a professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology His nephew, the president, spoke of his purported grasp of science on Friday, saying: I like this stuff. I really get it. People are surprised that I understand it. 'Every one of these doctors said: "How do you know so much about this?" Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I should have done that instead of running for president.' On social media, the reaction to Trumps comments was harsh. One Twitter user wrote: The guy who looked into the sun during a solar eclipse thinks he could have been a research scientist? That was a reference to the president looking up at the total eclipse of the sun - the first time in more than 40 years that Americans could see one - in August 2017. Another Twitter user posted a meme showing Abraham Lincoln, the nations 16th president, putting his head in his hand. Another Twitter user commented: Each clip is worse than the previous one. I cant take it anymore. One Twitter user urged the president to follow his passion for science and pursue a new career, writing: It's not too late Donnie. Resign right now and apply to MIT! One Twitter user urged the president to follow his passion for science and pursue a new career, writing: It's not too late Donnie. Resign right now and apply to MIT! Maybe you will get the Nobel Prize!!!!!! Another Twitter user wrote: I am so tired of having a lying, malignant narcissist for a President. But even more than that, Im SICK of people pandering to him and acting like his behavior is normal Another Twitter user urged the mainstream media to stop acting like this is normal! Hes a sick man and its time to stop normalizing him! Another Twitter user commented: Each clip is worse than the previous one. I cant take it anymore. Another Twitter user posted a meme showing Abraham Lincoln, the nations 16th president, putting his head in his hand One Twitter user wrote: The guy who looked into the sun during a solar eclipse thinks he could have been a research scientist? Maybe you will get the Nobel Prize!!!!!! Another Twitter user urged the mainstream media to stop acting like this is normal! Hes a sick man and its time to stop normalizing him! Another Twitter user wrote: I am so tired of having a lying, malignant narcissist for a President. But even more than that, Im SICK of people pandering to him and acting like his behavior is normal. The comments about his uncle were one of several made by the president that had people scratching their heads. Trump also called Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington State, a snake. He also said he'd prefer that people exposed to the virus on a cruise ship that is currently in the waters off San Francisco be left aboard so they wouldn't be added to the count for the nation's total number of infections. Trump, wearing his Keep America Great campaign hat while discussing the global worry, tried once more to quell growing alarm about the spread of the virus in America. But he quickly ventured into side matters and political squabbles. This isnt the first time that Trump has used his uncles name to brag about his knowledge of scientific matters. In October 2018, the president gave an interview to reporters in the Oval Office during which he boasted of a natural instinct for science. Trump was asked at the time about his views on climate change. Specifically, he was referred to a report issued by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which stated that the world has 12 years to keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degree Celsius. That was a reference to the president looking up at the total eclipse of the sun - the first time in more than 40 years that Americans could see one - in August 2017 Failure to do so puts the globe at greater peril, significantly increasing the risk of devastating floods, droughts, and fires that will affect hundreds of millions of people, the reports authors say. The report was written jointly by a group of 91 scientists from 40 countries who based their analyses on more than 6,000 scientific studies. But Trump, who has said he thought climate change was a hoax, refused to budge. You have scientists on both sides of [climate change], Trump told the AP. My uncle was a great professor at MIT for many years: Dr. John Trump. And I didnt talk to him about this particular subject, but I have a natural instinct for science, and I will say that you have scientists on both sides of the picture. Trump also said he was 'truly an environmentalist' and that he agreed the climate was changing, but that it also 'goes back and forth, back and forth.' The 36-year-old Omaha woman who has tested positive for COVID-19 visited Fremont on Feb. 29 according to a tweet posted Saturday afternoon by Fremont Public Schools on their official Twitter account. The district will release a statement shortly, the tweet said. Fremont Public Schools is aware of the news that Nebraska's first confirmed case of COVID-19 was in Fremont on February 29. We are confirming other details and will release a statement shortly. Fremont Public Schools - Nebraska (@fpsnebraska) March 7, 2020 The woman is believed to have contracted the virus while traveling with her father in the United Kingdom from Feb. 18-27, according to Dr. Robert Penn, an epidemiologist at Methodist Hospital. Methodist Hospital in Omaha has asked more than 30 employees to self-quarantine for 14 days after being exposed to a patient who tested positive for coronavirus Friday, according to a press release from the hospital. The Centers for Disease Control and state health officials recommended the move, and the hospital continues to work with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to identify employees and others who may have been exposed to the patient before they were placed in isolation, according to the release. One health care worker was unable to self-quarantine because of living arrangements and has been placed in quarantine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Penn said the woman started developing symptoms Feb. 24, and that her illness remained mild until Thursday, when she was brought to Methodist Hospital and diagnosed with a pneumonia-like infection and low blood-oxygen levels. Doctors put the woman into a negative-airflow room similar to those available at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's biocontainment and quarantine units and screened her for common community viruses. Tests showed she was positive for COVID-19, Penn said, and chest scans showed she has pneumonia-like symptoms seen in other patients with the disease. Working in conjunction with UNMC, the woman was moved Friday evening from Methodist to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit. Nebraska Medicine said Saturday that she is in critical condition. Of the eight remaining Americans evacuated to Omaha from the Diamond Princess Cruise ship, one continues to be treated in the biocontainment unit and is stable, Nebraska Medicine said. Testing protocol continues for the seven in the quarantine unit, and one could be cleared to leave this weekend, pending test results. Coronavirus cases in the U.S. were at about 350 as of Saturday afternoon, with 17 deaths. Worldwide, cases stand at about 102,500, with nearly 3,500 deaths. 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(SWNS) A 67-year-old has become one of the oldest social media influencers after starting a blog after her divorce. Linda Malys Yore decided to go travelling after a painful divorce which marked the end of her 26 year marriage. She started a travel blog to share her journey and has since amassed almost 60,000 followers. Last year alone the pensioner visited ten countries and enjoyed three cruises. The mum-of-two from Tampa Bay, Florida is a retired nurse. Her aim now is to inspire people and encourage people to follow their dreams. Read more: Mothers two thirds less likely to get promoted after children It has provided me with something to focus on after my divorce, which was hard to take. Before I started the blogging I felt like I was left with a big void in my life. I wanted to start living a little and explore other cultures. I am really surprised at how my social media has just taken off. She explained. Social media influencers are typically in their teens and 20s, but Yore is bucking a new trend after carving out a niche online. I find it an honour that people come to me for travel inspiration. I hope people thing if I can do it at 67 then why cant anyone else. After a divorce people can do crazy things. I used that negative energy to create something positive. Last year alone she visited ten countries. (SWNS) She admitted feeling lost following her break up. Yore married her husband in 1988 and quit her role as a nurse in order to become a full-time-mum to children, Vanessa and Victoria. Travelling isnt a new part of her life, despite ramping up her trips these past two years. When her daughters were growing up she home schooled them so they were able to travel around the US and Canada. In a bid to focus on her new life, she started an Instagram and Facebook page in January 2018 and followed it up with a blog of the same name. Read more: How to successfully co-parent when youre divorced Story continues As a result of her success, Linda now gets asked to go on paid press trips. She says she owes her success to her daughter, Victoria, who encouraged her to start a blog. At first I did find it quite hard. It took me a lot of time to get used to how to work all of the channels but Im pretty good at it now. My goal has always been to show people what is available out there to see. Its never too late to start something new and to take on a new challenge and I want to show people that. Read more: Selfies causing a rise in people needing wrist surgery Unlike the average backpacker, Linda stays in luxury hotels and resorts all around the world. Even so, she says she tries to show the positive and negative side of travelling. She has a busy year planned with trips to Egypt, Antarctica, and South Africa as well as going on an Alaskan cruise. The Democratic primary is not a race to win states, but to amass delegates. It's delegates who pick the nominee at the Democratic National Convention, scheduled for July in Milwaukee. Read below to understand how they're selected and what happens to the delegates won by candidates who drop out of the race. This will get complicated. You have been warned. The most important thing to remember is the magic number: 1,991. That's the number of pledged delegates required to cinch the nomination. It's more than half the total of 3,979 pledged delegates. Two more key things: 15% threshold A candidate can get delegates only if they get to 15% of the vote at EITHER the state level OR in a particular congressional or state legislative district. Proportionality Democrats allocate their delegates proportionally. That means a candidate could not get the most votes in any particular state but still amass a solid base of delegates if he or she is achieving the 15% thresholds. One good way to look at this is that it is 57 contests in the states, territories and the Democrats Abroad organization, but also hundreds of district-level contests. Candidates can get delegates either way. The information below is specifically about Democrats. Republicans treat the system somewhat differently, but President Donald Trump has it sewn up this year. 3,979 pledged delegates What is a pledged delegate? A pledged delegate is a delegate allocated to a candidate based on his or her performance in a caucus or primary. The campaigns have the ability to vet these delegates and can even submit a list of names to represent them. Simple enough, right? Wrong! 2,591 district-level pledged delegates Not all pledged delegates are selected in the same way. There are state-level delegates and district-level delegates. Most district-level delegates are determined at either a congressional district or state legislative district level. 1,388 state-level pledged delegates The rest of the pledged delegates, 1,388 of them, are awarded at the state level. And there are two kinds of state-level delegates: "Pledged Party Leader and Elected Officials (PLEO)" delegates. These are high-ranking elected officials, like big-city mayors, who get to be delegates at the convention. They're pledged proportionally to the top performers in their states. At-large pledged delegates, who are selected by the state party. If a candidate drops out of the race after winning state-wide delegates, their sate-level at-large pledged delegates are redistributed among the remaining viable candidates. All the state-level pledged delegates won by Mike Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren, for instance, could be doled out to Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, depending on results in a particular state. How to get delegates without winning anything It is possible for a candidate to get less than 15% in the statewide contest but still obtain delegates by getting better than 15% at the district level. That's how Klobuchar emerged from Iowa with a delegate. She did very well in the 4th Congressional District, but got less than the 15% threshold statewide. If one candidate is ahead, as Biden was in South Carolina, there's a good chance he or she will get a good portion of the delegates from that state. But Sanders still got 15 delegates there. 771 unpledged delegates If you're old enough to remember 2008 or 2016, you might remember superdelegates. Also known as unpledged delegates or "automatic" delegates, these are the party bigs congresspeople, governors, senators and former presidents who aren't tied to any particular candidates regardless of what happens in their state primaries. To give this process a greater sheen of democracy, the party took some power from superdelegates, in part to mollify Sanders supporters, who were still smarting after superdelegates helped deliver the nomination to Hillary Clinton in 2016. In 2020, superdelegates/unpledged/automatic delegates won't get a say on the nominee at the convention unless or until a first ballot fails to get a nominee. There is one exception: If a candidate gets enough delegates to make it mathematically impossible for superdelegates to change the outcome, then they can vote. That means they could be decisive if there is no consensus nominee by the convention. Note: The number of unpledged delegates can change. If a member of Congress dies or resigns, for instance, their delegate spot goes with them until a replacement is put in office. The number of pledged delegates, however, stays the same. The after-primary: What happens to the delegates of former campaigns? After the voting, the coming together. The last primary contest will be in June, but about 90% of the country will have had a say by the end of April. Assuming there is no one with a clear majority, that will leave some three months for campaigns to reach out to delegates pledged to former candidates as well as to unpledged delegates who had supported former candidates in order to solicit support on the convention floor. What happens to delegates pledged to dropouts? District-level delegates pledged to former candidates will become very popular if the fight between Biden and Sanders goes all the way to the convention. There's nothing that legally requires them to vote for anyone in particular, although different state parties have different rules. The national party says they should follow their conscience. Most state-level pledged delegates have not been selected yet, so they will be reallocated among remaining candidates once they are finally selected. Best case. Most Democrats agree that the best scenario would be for all but the winning candidate to suspend their campaigns before the convention. The system is built assuming the party comes together. This year, however, that seems less likely than in years past. Worst case. These things usually work out before there is voting on the convention floor. The last time the first round of voting didn't anoint a Democratic nominee was 1952 (that was Adlai Stevenson, and Democrats lost in November of that year, to Dwight Eisenhower). After really difficult primaries, Democrats usually lose. Hubert Humphrey lost in November after there was violence outside the controversial 1968 convention, when party elders selected him over the anti-war favorite George McGovern. Four years later, McGovern got the nomination. He lost the election. In 1980, Sen. Ted Kennedy took his campaign to the convention before conceding. (President Jimmy Carter lost in November.) In 1988, Jesse Jackson's supporters felt snubbed by the winner, Michael Dukakis. (Dukakis lost in November.) In 1992, a bruising Democratic primary was offset by a bruising Republican primary for President George H.W. Bush. And Bill Clinton was helped in the general election by Ross Perot's bid as an independent. Also: It's relatively rare for a Democratic nominee to get a majority just with pledged delegates. The last one to do it was John Kerry in 2004, even after a tough primary. (He lost in November.) The aforementioned 2008 contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is the only one of these that ended in a victory in the general election. This year, Sanders has said his fight is with the Democratic establishment. And the Democratic establishment now seems to be circling the wagons around Biden. So get ready. The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Subway Sri Lanka launches national re-franchise scheme View(s): Subway, the American Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) with over 44,000 restaurants worldwide, has announced the launch of its comprehensive national re-franchising programme and entering into partnership with business entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka. With the brand now established, Subway Sri Lanka has received a growing demand from entrepreneurs that are looking at owning and operating a Subway restaurant. The focus from Subway is to work with new franchisees across all major cities across the country, the company said in a media release. Were blown away with the enthusiasm for our brand in Colombo and are thrilled to be able to grow the Subway brand on a national scale, says Roshan Chaminda (Operations Manager, Sri Lanka). We have already successfully franchised locations on the Southern expressway and at Shangri La Mall. Re-franchise dynamics gives us the ability to find new owners that share our passion for the concept, while providing them with guidance to make their new franchise a success. Subway has been operating in Sri Lanka since August 2014 with its first store in Colombo 3. There are now seven stores in operation in Colombo 3, Fort, Mt. Lavinia and Rajagiriya. Subway opened three Franchisee locations in 2019 with One Galle Face Mall and two locations on the Southern Expressway. The United Kingdom has recorded its first trade surplus for dairy products for the first time since records began in 1997, according to the AHDB. Trade balance for all dairy products was positive in volume terms in 2019, with a surplus of 95k tonnes of product, figures from HMRC show. The largest improvements in trade balances were in skim milk and buttermilk, AHDB dairy analyst, Katherine Jack explained. Cheese, yoghurt and butter are still trading at a deficit, though this deficit was reduced for butter and cheese. The powder trade surplus increased. Cream trade, although small, did shift from a trade deficit in 2018 to a surplus in 2019. The marked improvement in the trade balance for skim milk is a direct result of a shift in trade patterns across the Irish border, Ms Jack said. In 2019, exports of skim milk to Ireland increased by 20k tonnes, while imports from Ireland fell by nearly 59k tonnes. For buttermilk, there was a small increase in exports, but the main reason for the improved trade balance was a significant drop in imports (103k tonnes), she added. The AHDB analyst said shipments from France, Belgium and Germany accounted for most of the drop. In value terms, there was still a trade deficit, but it was smaller than in 2018. The value of exports grew, while the value of imports shrunk. Ms Jack noted that butter was a notable contributor to the improvement in the value trade deficit. This is partly because the UK imported less in 2019, but also because lower prices meant the volume deficit was worth less overall, she said. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday re-arraigned Uyiekpen Giwa-Osagie, a lawyer to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, for allegedly laundering $2 million during the 2019 general elections. Operatives of the anti-graft agency arrested Mr Giwa-Osagie on August 8, 2019, and arraigned him alongside Erhunse Giwa-Osagie, his younger brother, on three counts of money laundering before Nicholas Oweibo, a judge of a federal high court in Lagos. In the three counts filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos, EFCC had accused Mr Giwa-Osagie of handling $2 million without going through a financial institution, an amount that exceeds the amount authorised by law to be transacted in cash. The agency said the transaction violated the provisions of Sections 18(a) and 1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, adding that the defendants were liable to be punished under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act. The Giwa-Osagie brothers had pleaded not guilty before Justice C.J. Aneke. Court session Their re-arraignment on Friday followed the transfer of the case file from Mr Oweibo to Mr Aneke. Following an application by their lawyer, Ahmed Raji, Mr Aneke permitted them to continue on the bail earlier granted them by Mr Oweibo. The judge later adjourned ruling on the lawyers application seeking permission to travel to London for a medical appointment, till Monday, March 9. Justice symbol used to illustrate the story. Mr Abubakar, who contested in the 2019 elections under the main opposition PDP, against the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, lost. His attempt to seek the upturn of Mr Buharis victory via the courts was unsuccessful. U.S. lawmakers quickly passed more than $8 billion in emergency funding Thursday, addressing the growing coronavirus crisis. Officials in Nevada, Illinois, New York and Maryland. are announcing new cases that are among the 102 people testing positive for the coronavirus in 14 U.S. states. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: To prevent mass gatherings amidst the Covid-19 scare, the authorities in Assam postponed the first-ever Kaziranga Utsav scheduled to take place from March 12-15 even as the state government appealed to people not to panic. There is a semblance of panic among locals as a tourist from the United States, who visited places in India, including Assam, from February 21 to March 1, tested positive for Covid-19 in Bhutan. Health officials in Assam are trying to get details about the places he visited and the people he came in contact with. The 76-year-old man, who was accompanied by his 59-year-old partner, had gone on a seven-day river cruise on the Brahmaputra, visited a Satra (Vaishnavite monastery) in river island Majuli and stayed at a resort in Assams Jorhat district and a five-star hotel in Guwahati. On Saturday, all passengers and employees of the ship he was on were screened by health officials. In Guwahati, the five-star hotel has submitted a list of its employees, who had come in contact with the man, to health officials. All of them will be screened. In northern Assams Tezpur, an Italian tourist, who checked in a hotel on Friday, has been screened by health officials. He has been kept in isolation in his hotel room. He had arrived in India more than a month ago. The Kaziranga Utsav has been postponed indefinitely as a lot of foreign tourists were expected to attend it. Similarly, the Meghalayan Age Festival in Meghalaya has been scaled down to a conference. Only a few invitees will take part in it, an official source said. Meanwhile, Assams junior Health Minister Pijush Hazarika advised people to take all precautionary measures and not panic. Altogether 112 people were kept in surveillance in Assam. There hasnt been a single positive case. We are conducting surveillance at all airports and have asked the various airlines to report to us if any passenger arrives with fever, Hazarika said. There is no reason to panic and we should not spread panic. We all must wash our hands with soap or hand sanitizer and refrain from touching our face, ears or eyes, he advised. National Security Advisor, Royal Guard Commander Major-General His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa met UK Government Advisor for National Security Sir Mark Sedwill, who welcomed his visit to the United Kingdom. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa lauded deep-rooted historic relations binding the Kingdom of Bahrain and the friendly United Kingdom. The two sides discussed aspects of joint cooperation, focusing on exchanging expertise and means of developing joint ties between the two friendly countries in all fields. He also praised the UK-led pivotal role in maintaining global security and peace. The UK National Security Advisor hosted a lunch banquet in honour of the HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa. Last week, the Government unveiled its battle plan should Covid-19 cases surge in the coming weeks. Worst-case scenarios suggest that one in five workers more than six million people could be asked to self-isolate in order to stem the spread of infection. Undoubtedly, Ministers, health chiefs and scientists will also be locked in talks this weekend, working out how best to tackle the looming epidemic. I can picture the scenes in the Department of Health bunkers beneath Whitehall because Ive been there. It was 2009 and worrying reports had been emerging from Mexico about a new type of flu. I was on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, providing independent scientific advice to the Government. Was this the big one the killer pandemic we had long feared? It looked like it. Last week, the Government unveiled its battle plan should Covid-19 cases surge in the coming weeks. Worst-case scenarios suggest that one in five workers more than six million people could be asked to self-isolate in order to stem the spread of infection. Above (l to r), Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance at a press conference on March 3 Researchers made some headway into finding a human coronavirus vaccine after the SARS pandemic in 2003. But, due to the huge international effort to track and isolate those infected, the disease disappeared. And funding for trials for the vaccine dried up. (Pictured, a computer-generated image of a type of coronavirus) H1N1, or swine flu, as it became known, was spreading quickly. It was mainly in younger people unlike normal flu with a high death rate. But we knew flu vaccines could be tweaked to protect against the new strain and so we quickly worked out how many we would need to order. In fact, swine flu turned out to be relatively mild. It still caused nearly 200,000 deaths worldwide, but thats nothing compared to the 50 million-plus victims of Spanish flu in 1918. Preparing for Covid-19 wont be so simple, however. The disease is caused by a coronavirus, a family that also includes common cold viruses, but also SARS and MERS, two recent deadly outbreaks. And currently there are no vaccines to protect against them. HOW FIRMS ARE LOCKED IN A RACE TO DEVELOP A JAB When we catch a virus that weve never had before, it can make us ill as we all know. Our immune system works by attacking, and destroying the invader. And, generally, the next time we come into contact with that same virus, the immune system remembers it, and can kill it off before it can take hold and cause illness. Vaccines contain a bit of a virus that has either been weakened, modified or killed off completely meaning they are essentially harmless. But it still stimulates the immune system, so that should it then come into contact with the live virus, itll remember it just the same as if we had actually had the illness and protect us. For some viruses, like measles and flu, scientists have been able to make effective vaccines. But not so for coronaviruses, the family that Covid-19 belongs to. For some viruses, like measles and flu, scientists have been able to make effective vaccines. But not so for coronaviruses, the family that Covid-19 belongs to. Above, the Prime MInister meets staff at a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale, northwest London on March 1 Efforts to create them have run in to difficulties. There have been trials of a vaccine for feline coronavirus, for instance but it caused immune reactions that made the cats sicker. Researchers made some headway into finding a human coronavirus vaccine after the SARS pandemic in 2003. But, due to the huge international effort to track and isolate those infected, the disease disappeared. And funding for trials for the vaccine dried up. So with this new coronavirus, researchers were starting almost from scratch. Despite this, they have made remarkable advances. Back in January, the Chinese shared the genetic sequence inside Covid-19 with scientists around the world. This was a vital first step for creating any new vaccine. A collaboration of developers hope to have three or more in production by next year. Pioneering technology means scientists no longer need to work with the actual virus. Instead, they can create digital versions of the virus and a virtual vaccine in a matter of hours, which can be made in a laboratory in weeks. Some that appear to work against Covid-19 in the laboratory have already been discovered. If and when one is found to work, itll be the first ever coronavirus vaccine. But any new drug cant just be given to millions of people straight away as promised by Donald Trump, who has said he wants one ready before the November US elections. That would just not be possible. VACCINE MIGHT NOT BE THE MAGIC BULLET Two American firms, a Chinese company and a team at Imperial College London all claim to be nearly ready to begin small-scale safety trials of a Covid-19 vaccine in humans. But the next stage, which will involve hundreds of volunteers, is slower. First of all, they will all have to be tested, to check they have not yet been exposed to coronavirus and afterwards, to see if the vaccine has induced antibodies and might have potential. Any new drug cant just be given to millions of people straight away as promised by Donald Trump, who has said he wants one ready before the November US elections. That would just not be possible. (Above, Trump with a photo of Covid-19 at a CDC lab in Atlanta on Friday) As more people are exposed to the virus, it will become more difficult to get recruits who do not have existing antibodies against it. This is already a problem in China. There will also have to be dosing studies to check whether one shot of the vaccine is enough, or if two might be needed. Next comes the final, and perhaps most important, stage. The vaccine has to be tested on thousands of people to check whether it can stop healthy people from catching the virus. Getting past this stage isnt easy at all. Unwanted side effects may be discovered or some vaccines might work, but just not in enough people. The whole process can take years and failure is possible at any stage. Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, has admitted we would be lucky to get a vaccine for Covid-19 within the next year. But even when we do, theres the next obstacle getting hold of enough of it. Two American firms, a Chinese company and a team at Imperial College London all claim to be nearly ready to begin small-scale safety trials of a Covid-19 vaccine in humans. But the next stage, which will involve hundreds of volunteers, is slower. (Above, Shanghai railway station on March 7) The UK orders about 14 million seasonal flu doses each year. So if two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine were needed for it to be effective, thats already 28 million doses just for at-risk groups. Every other country will be ordering similar quantities, says Professor David Salisbury, a former UK immunisation director. No country will get all the vaccines it wants or even all the vaccines it needs because theres not enough global manufacturing capacity. Even once doses of the vaccine have been secured, it will take more time for them to be distributed to GPs and for them to be given to at-risk patients. In any case, vaccines might not be the magic bullet we think. COULD DRUG USED TO TREAT HIV HOLD THE KEY? Finding a drug that can relieve the symptoms of Covid-19 might be a better option. Trials are already under way to see if a drug originally developed to treat the ebola virus, but which proved unsuccessful, could help treat symptoms of Covid-19. Meanwhile, a drug used to treat people with HIV is being tested as a possible treatment. But until we know more, doctors treating patients who are more severely affected by Covid-19 will have to rely on providing standard medical support administering fluids and breathing assistance where needed. I certainly dont envy those experts who are trying to solve these conundrums. For now, Id say dont hold your breath for a vaccine and keep washing your hands. Hyper Suprime-Cam, a massive digital still camera attached to the Subaru Telescope, captures the action. The camera weighs about 3 tons and is taller than a human being. Boasting a whopping 870 megapixels, the wide-field infrared camera can image about 1.5 degrees of sky at a time about the width of your pinkie finger if you were to hold it at arms length. The camera projects team will map the entire sky over 300 nights of telescope time total. Advertisement Coronavirus got one step closer to the White House on Saturday when the first case was confirmed in Washington DC - hours after Donald Trump said he was not 'concerned at all' about how close the virus was to his home. 'No, I'm not concerned at all,' the president said when asked about it after an attendee at CPAC was confirmed to have the disease and the first case was detected in Washington D.C. 'We've done a great job.' And he said his campaign rallies, which include thousands of attendees, will continue even as other major gatherings - such as SXSW and next week's AFL-CIO gathering for the Democratic presidential contenders - have been canceled. 'We'll hold tremendous rallies,' he's said in response to a question from DailyMail.com at Mar-a-Lago during a meeting with the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Yet just a few hours later, it was confirmed that a man in his 50s who lives in Washington, D.C., had tested positive for the virus. He began exhibiting symptoms in late February and was hospitalized on March 5. Mayor Muriel Bowser told New York Post: 'With his test yielding a presumptive positive, D.C. Health has started its investigation in keeping with CDC guidelines. This investigation includes contact tracing and providing guidance on next steps for care.' The patient had not traveled or met with another patient with a confirmed case but is believed to have caught it via community spread. President Donald Trump said Saturday night he was not 'concerned at all' about how close the coronavirus was coming to the White House as he met with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro President Donald Trump hosts a working dinner with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago with National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien and Ivanka Trump President Donald Trump sits next to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at a dinner at Mar-a-Lago along with National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner President Donald Trump shakes hands before a dinner with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, left, Ivanka Trump, the daughter and assistant to President Donald Trump, and White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner are seated before a dinner with President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, at Mar-a-Lago The coronavirus is getting closer to the president and his circle after an attendee at the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference tested positive for the disease. The American Conservative Union announced that one person at the event last month where President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made speeches was diagnosed with the deadly virus. The announcement came as two more people succumbed to the disease in Washington state, officials there said on Saturday, bringing the nationwide toll to 19 deaths. The ACU insisted the patient had no contact with either Trump or Pence at the conservative gathering in National Harbor, Maryland. More to follow An attendee at the 2020 Conservative Political Action Conference has tested positive for the coroanavirus. The event included speeches from Donald Trump and Mike Pence In a statement they said: 'The American Conservative Union has learned that one of our CPAC attendees has unfortunately tested positive today for coronavirus. The exposure occurred previous to the conference. 'A New Jersey hospital tested the person, and CDC confirmed the positive result. 'The individual is under the care of medical professionals in the state of New Jersey, and has been quarantined.' The attendee did not listen to any speeches in the main hall, the ACU confirmed. President Trump pledged to protect the health and safety of Americans 'with vigor' during his speech at the event on February 29. He also said he was ready to help Iran deal with an outbreak. In a reprise of his appearance at last year's conservative conference, Trump hugged and kissed an American flag before he left the stage. When he spoke just one American had died from COVID-19. As of Saturday afternoon, the U.S. death toll was 19, and 381 people had been infected. And a Marine at Virginia's Fort Belvoir became the first military case of coronavirus inside the U.S., a Pentagon official said on Saturday. President Trump pledged to protect the health and safety of Americans 'with vigor' during his speech at the event on February 29. In a reprise of his appearance at last year's conservative conference, Trump hugged and kissed an American flag before he left the stage Vice President Mike Pence spoke at CPAC and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was one of many members of President Trump's cabinet that spoke at the conservative gathering Donald Trump Jr spoke at CPAC and his spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the first son did not come in contact with the person infected with coronavirus White House counselors Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump also spoke at CPAC Several senior White House officials attended the event, including White House adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump, White House senior counselor Jared Kushner, White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway and the former acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. Donald Trump Jr was also there as were several members of the president's cabinet including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar, Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette, acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement to reporters that precautions were being taken although she did not offer specifics. 'The White House is aware of an individual testing positive for coronavirus after attending the CPAC conference that took place nearly two weeks ago. At this time, there is no indication that either President Trump or Vice President Pence met with or were in close proximity to the attendee. 'The president's physician and United States Secret Service have been working closely with White House staff and various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the first family and the entire White House complex safe and heathy,' she said.' Donald Trump Jr did not come into contact with the individual at CPAC, a spokesman said. 'It has been confirmed that Don did not come into contact with the individual that tested positive,' said a spokesman for the president's son told DailyMail.com. This article by Paul Szoldra originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues. The Marine Corps has canceled a reunion of surviving Iwo Jima veterans set to take place later this month on the small Japanese island over coronavirus fears, Task & Purpose has learned. The event marking the 75th anniversary of the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima was canceled "out of an abundance of caution due to the COVID-19 outbreak," said Lt. Col. Kelly Frushour, a Marine spokeswoman. Nearly two dozen veterans of the battle and their companions were set to visit the island of Iwo To on March 28, where they were to spend about eight hours exploring the former battlefield, now a Japanese military base. The Commandant of the Marine Corps and other dignitaries were also expected to attend. The annual gathering known as the Reunion of Honor first began on Feb. 19, 1980 to mark the 40th anniversary of the battle. American and Japanese veterans who returned to the island placed a memorial that said both sides "met again on these same sands, this time in peace and friendship." "We pray together that our sacrifices on Iwo Jima will always be remembered and never repeated," it said. The reunion has been canceled just one other time, after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck the coast of Japan in 2011, said Lt. Col. Raul "Art" Sifuentes (Ret.), executive director of Iwo Jima Association of America. Sifuentes told Task & Purpose the group is considering commemorating the anniversary on the island sometime at a later date. The Iwo Jima veterans had planned to fly to Guam and then on to Iwo Jima, where they were to visit Mount Suribachi -- immortalized by the iconic photo of Marines raising the American flag -- and conduct a memorial service on the black sand beach where the landings took place on Feb. 19, 1945. The World War II battle, which lasted 37 days, pitted hundreds of thousands of Americans against some 20,000 Japanese defenders that had prepared defenses for months. More than 19,000 Americans were wounded, and nearly 7,000 killed. Elsewhere in Japan, the production line for the F-35 fighter will be paused for a week at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries amid virus concerns. The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has spread to nearly 80 countries since it was first detected in Wuhan, China earlier this year. There have been nearly 100,000 cases reported and more than 3,300 deaths from the virus worldwide, according to The World Health Organization. Japan has reported 349 cases of the virus so far. Although the Corps canceled the Iwo Jima reunion, it did go forward with its annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand, which ends Friday. The exercise brought together thousands of troops from the U.S., Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Korea. "So far [there have been] no big impacts," Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger said Monday on whether the virus had impacted training or readiness across the force. "The biggest impact so far has been on the command post exercise in Korea, which had to be tailored way back because of the spread of the disease." A 23-year-old soldier stationed in South Korea recently became the first American service member infected by coronavirus. So far, South Korea has had more than 5,700 cases and 35 deaths. "I think it's important to recognize the Defense Department has been doing pandemic planning for the last 20 years," Bob Salesses, a deputy assistant secretary of defense, told reporters on Wednesday. "We have a very robust planning effort, as you know, in the Defense Department, and we been planning for pandemics for a long time." More articles from Task & Purpose: Saudi Arabian authorities detained a brother and a nephew of Saudi King Salman in a move that extends a crackdown on royal relatives by his son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al Saud were arrested on Friday and accused of treason, a person familiar with the matter said. Prince Mohammeds brother, Nawaf, was also detained with him at a desert camp, the person said. The news was reported earlier Friday by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Since King Salman took power, senior Saudi princes have been sidelined in favor of his son Prince Mohammed, who has consolidated power to an unprecedented level by arresting princes and removing them from key posts as he took control of the kingdoms ministries and institutions of power. Prince Mohammed bin Nayef had been in line to the throne and was the countrys interior minister before being stripped of his powers in 2017. Later the same year, Prince Mohammed embarked on his most sweeping crackdown during his reign, ordering security forces to arrest senior princes and prominent businessmen in what was declared a crackdown on corruption. Billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was detained at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Prince Miteb, son of the late King Abdullah, was removed from his post as head of the powerful National Guards. New Delhi, March 7 : The Indian National Congress on March 12 will kick-start a 27-day-long 'Gandhi Sandesh Yatra' to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's historic Dandi March from Ahmedabad. The march will culminate on April 6 at Dandi covering 386 km. According to a statement released by the party, "The Gandhi Sandesh Yatra will give an opportunity of making our younger generation appreciative of the great legacy that we have inherited from the Father of the Nation. This legacy is constantly under threat from forces seeking to polarize our society." The Congress said the objective of this yatra is to recall and recapture the spirit of Dandi March to re-establish party's resolve to protect and promote the values of the Constitution and "to emulate Gandhi's thoughts especially those relating to truth, peace, non-violence and social harmony". Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress Chief Ministers will attend the 27-day long padyatra. Public meetings will also be organised on the last day. [March 06, 2020] CO-OP Postpones THINK 20 Until August, Taking Maximum Precaution for Attendee Health and Safety Citing its commitment to the health and safety of its clients, attendees, business partners and staff planning to attend THINK 20, CO-OP Financial Services is postponing the conference for three months, until August 17-20, 2020. "We have been carefully monitoring the public health concerns surrounding the Coronavirus outbreak," said Todd Clark, President/CEO of CO-OP. "After careful consultation with a number of our clients, Board members and stakeholders, and in an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to postpone the THINK 20 conference and move the dates from May 4-7 to August 17-20 in Dallas." CO-OP will still be providing premium THINK 20 content in May via a one-day virtual conference event. The exact date and content details will be relayed by the company in the coming weeks. The company reports that attendees currently registered for THINK 20 will be automatically registered for both the digital event in May and new live event dates in August. For attendees who find they are unable to attend the rescheduled event, the cancellation/refund policy remains the same, and they have until August 1 to cancel and receive a full refund. "Our THINK conference regularly attracts more than 800 attendees and, again, it is for their health and safety that isparamount to our decision," said Clark. "We thank everyone in the credit union movement for their understanding and we look forward to seeing you later in the summer." THINK 20's speakers, content and conference experience will help credit union leaders "Activate Your Next" and evaluate the difficult, transformational choices needed to engage members and deepen relationships, leading to growth. THINK is a year-round platform for credit union collaboration, innovation and evolution. Visit https://co-opthink.org to access the wide variety of learning opportunities, including THINK Review magazine, videos from THINK conferences and regional events. For more information and to register for the rescheduled event - still at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, Texas - please visit https://co-opthink.org. About CO-OP Financial Services CO-OP Financial Services is a payments and financial technology company whose mission is ensuring the success of the credit union movement. CO-OP payments solutions, engagement services and strategic counsel help credit unions optimize member experiences to consistently provide seamless, personalized multi-channel offerings, while delivering secure, sophisticated fraud mitigation service. For more information, visit www.co-opfs.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200306005541/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ajay Agrawal, an advocate in the Supreme Court and petitioner in the Bofors scam, has written a letter to the Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) asking him to immediately register FIRs against officials of the RBI, Ministry of Finance and others involved in the Yes Bank matter. "I am enclosing the press clippings of various newspapers vide which it has been mentioned that Yes Bank promoter Rana Kapoor has looted crores of rupees of innocents. It is also mentioned in the press reports that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing into the allegations," read the letter by Agrawal. Highlighting that the Yes Bank crisis would not have taken place without the involvement of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) staff and the staff of the Ministry of Finance, he said, "ED does not have the power to carry out an investigation under the Indian Panel Code (IPC). The entire looting and plundering cannot happen without active criminal connivance of the staff of RBI, Ministry of Finance especially the Banking Division Staff and others." "All the above noted entered into a criminal conspiracy along with Rana Kapoor and others to cause wrongful loss to thousands of persons and wrongful gain to Rana Kapoor and others," he added in his letter. "From the above, it clearly appears that a criminal case can be made out against all these above-mentioned people, under various sections of IPC and accordingly an FIR/RC may be registered in this case and all related documents may be seized immediately before they are destroyed," said Agrawal. On Thursday, the RBI said a moratorium has been imposed on Yes Bank, stressing that the bank's financial capability has undergone a steady decline largely due to the inability of the bank to raise capital. During the period of moratorium, the Yes Bank Ltd will not, without the permission in writing of the Reserve Bank of India, make in the aggregate, payment to a depositor of a sum exceeding Rs 50,000 lying to his credit in any savings, current or any other deposit account. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Montgomery County officials are addressing rumors circulating on social media regarding the new coronavirus. While there were eight confirmed Houston-area cases of the novel coronavirus three from Fort Bend County, two from Houston and three from unincorporated Harris County and people are being tested for COVID-19 in Montgomery County, Judge Mark Keoughs Office said there have been no presumptive positive or confirmed cases in Montgomery County. Keoughs Chief of Staff Jason Millsaps said the judges office are continuing to work closely with county and state health officials to monitor the situation. The Montgomery County Public Health District, in conjunction with the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management, stated in press on Saturday morning that the public health district is currently in the second phase of its response plan, which is having Persons Under Investigation. That number changes from day to day, so we will only be releasing information on positive tests, the health district stated. The release stated the confirmed cases in the Houston area are related to a trip to Egypt in late February. Montgomery Countys health and emergency officials are working with the Texas Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control to keep health care providers in the county and the public informed. The threat of exposure is still low according to county health officials. While there are no vaccines yet for COVID-19, health experts continue to advocate non-pharmaceutical measures such as hand-washing, disinfecting surfaces around your home, and staying home when you are sick. The Texas Department of State Health Services is urging health care professionals to ask patients with respiratory symptoms about their travel history and contact their local or regional health department if they think a patient may have COVID-19. State health officials are working with local health departments to monitor and assess people with recent travel to China for possible COVID-19 testing. All travelers who have returned from flagged countries should stay home and monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days, said the Texas Department of Health and Human Services release. They should call ahead to a health care provider if they develop fever, cough or shortness of breath within that period. Local health departments across the state are in contact daily with returned travelers to verify that they remain symptom-free. According to federal, state and local agencies, human coronavirus is most commonly spread from an infected person to others within about six feet through respiratory droplets released into the air by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands; touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands; and rarely, fecal contamination. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, and/or shortness of breath. The CDC believes that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure. The health officials stated the best way to prevent infection is to take precautions to avoid exposure to this virus, which are similar to the precautions to avoid the flu. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. For more information, please see https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/. Catherine Dominguez contributed to this report. mellsworth@hcnonline.com After spending almost two months in North America, Meghan stepped out in full Hollywood red carpet glamour at the Albert Hall last night, with an outfit complementing Prince Harry's dress uniform as Captain General of the Royal Marines. A vision in head-to-toe red, the Duchess chose a full-length cape-effect crepe gown in pillar-box red by London-based brand Safiyaa (1,300) which combined theatricality with the sleek, clean lines that she loves. The bold gown is clearly a favourite style - Meghan has previously worn a very similar design by the same label during a visit to Fiji, but that time the outfit was in blue. Pictured: Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, attended a charity event at the Royal Albert Hall in a red Safiyaa gown, jewelled Simone Rocha earrings, and red Aquazurra heels Pictured: Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, at the Royal Albert Hall last night with Prince Harry, as both attended a charity event ahead of quitting from public life on March 31 She completed this flawless statement last night with Gianvito Rossi suede pumps (510), Simone Rocha floral earrings (250) and a sparkling Capri clutch by Manolo Blahnik (1,260). Not to mention her trademark sleek hair and perfect make-up. My verdict? Radiant! BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: Pakistan has allowed Iranian trucks to enter the Pakistani territory today (March 7) to bring in Iranian exports, said spokesperson for the Iranian Customs, Rouhollah Latifi, Trend reports citing Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). According to Latifi, this permission was granted after 12 Iranian trucks crossed the border and were inspected by the Pakistani side. Latifi added that after the necessary inspections, another 12 trucks have also crossed the border. "The Iranian Customs is in talks with the Pakistani side to accelerate the transit of Iranian trucks," he said. Iran is one of the recent countries, affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 4,700 people have been infected, 124 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 900 have reportedly recovered from the disease. 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. The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. While the SBI has shown interest in investing in troubled private sector lender Yes Bank, the acquirer could hold upto 49 per cent stake in the bank, as per a scheme of reconstruction proposed by the RBI on Friday. The draft revival plan has come a day after the banking regulator superseded Yes Bank board and appointed an administrator. The Reserve Bank of India's draft plan has said that Yes Bank's new share capital will be Rs 5,000 crore with 2,450 crore equity shares of Rs 2 each. As per the plan placed in the public domain for comments, the investor bank would be required to invest in the equity of reconstructed Yes Bank to the extent that post infusion it holds 49 per cent shareholding in the bank at a price not less than Rs 10 (face value of Rs 2) and premium of Rs 8. This means that the SBI will need to pay about Rs 11,760 crore for taking 49 per cent stake in the restructured Yes Bank. The RBI has said that the investor bank shall not reduce its holding below 26 per cent before completion of three years from the date of infusion of the capital. Industry insiders said that SBI will hold 49 per cent of the equity to avoid the private bank becoming a PSU bank. The draft scheme provides for appointment of two nominee directors by the investor on the Board of the Reconstructed Bank. "Reserve Bank of India may appoint Additional Directors in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 36AB of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949," the RBI plan said. Further, Yes Bank employees will continue to work under the same remuneration and on the same terms and conditions of services as before for at least a period of one year. The Board of Directors of the reconstructed bank will, however, have the freedom to discontinue the services of the key managerial personnel (KMPs) at any point of time after following the due procedure. One can only hope that her openness will encourage others in her community to reflect on their support for the misogynist in the White House and his xenophobic rantings. I thank Ms. Murphey and her friend Elizabeth Hahn for their willingness to share such personal feelings with a national audience and to subject themselves to what will surely be criticism akin to that Ms. Hahn faced in her walk with the Democrats in the Christmas parade as described in the article. At a town hall in River Heights Saturday morning, Jim Carr fielded questions about everything from the coronavirus to rail blockades to climate change a range of topics clearly at the top of mind for many in Winnipeg and across the country. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. At a town hall in River Heights Saturday morning, Jim Carr fielded questions about everything from the coronavirus to rail blockades to climate change a range of topics clearly at the top of mind for many in Winnipeg and across the country. Carr, the member of Parliament for Winnipeg South Centre since 2015, was recently appointed the federal governments special adviser for the Prairies, and his constituents were more than ready to let him know their concerns. About 60 people, mostly over the age of 50, packed into the Corydon Community Centre for the meeting. One of the main concerns brought up was related to COVID-19. The virus has so far had more than 100,000 confirmed cases worldwide and 57 cases in Canada and attendees wanted to know whether the federal government has adequately prepared for an outbreak. The federal public health agency has stressed that despite mounting worry over the virus, the risk posed in Canada remains relatively low. On Friday, the countrys chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, noted most cases confirmed so far are mild, and that the public health system was well-equipped to co-ordinate a response should the situation worsen. Carr echoed Tam, saying despite anxieties, the government remained on top of the virus. Winnipeg South Centre MP Jim Carr holds a town hall at the Corydon Community Centre Saturday. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) "Canada is well prepared," he told the Free Press. "The system itself is prepared for the possibility of a more serious outbreak," he added. As the former minister of Natural Resources, Carr also likely anticipated questions related to the nationwide discussion about the proposed Coastal GasLink pipeline in British Columbia, and inevitably, the project was brought up by some attendees, as was climate anxiety. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Carr indicated such projects should still be expected in the future, but they will be subject to approval through the amended federal bill C-69, which imposes stricter review on major industrial projects. The answer seemed to satisfy the audience, though some critics say the bill doesnt adequately protect natural resources. After the town hall ended, Carr said the new review process emphasized economic growth, environmental stewardship and Indigenous participation. Audience member James Ivanyshyn asked Carr for his thoughts on removing the GST on residential retrofit projects to increase energy efficiency, to which Carr replied, "Sounds like a good idea to me." Asked about his personal health, Carr who announced he had been diagnosed with blood cancer after winning re-election in September said he was feeling well, and that further treatment was slated for the coming weeks. "I feel as if Im ready for the next phase, and right now, am trying to find a balance between treatment and work," he said. ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca Following the conflicting rulings by two courts over the status of Adams Oshiomhole as the chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the crisis afterwards, the police has sealed off the partys national secretariat in Abuja. On Wednesday, Justice Danlami Senchi of the Abuja High Court, reacting to the suit filed by some members of the party, ordered the suspension of Mr Oshiomhole as the national chairman pending the determination of a substantive suit. This judgement was followed almost immediately by a heavy security presence at the entrance to the party secretariat. In a counter judgement passed by a Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Thursday, it ordered that the status quo be maintained, pending the hearing of the motions on notices filed. Meanwhile, Mr Oshiomhole had filed an appeal against his suspension at the Court of Appeal immediately after the first judgement. Lock-down The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, at a meeting at the Force Headquarters with members of the party National Working Committee (NWC) on Friday, warned the warring factions to stay off the party secretariat till the issue is resolved. Another team from the State Security Service was added to the existing tight security at the party secretariat, this reporter confirmed from workers at the secretariat. READ ALSO: Also, a reliable source within the party NWC told PREMIUM TIMES the stance of the IGP on this festering legal fiasco. He said Mr Adamu will be abiding by the FCT High Court judgement till the Court of Appeal gives its verdict on the matter. Based on what the IG said at the meeting with the NWC, it is obvious that the security agency is on the side of the first judgement restraining the chairman from accessing the secretariat. This made the NWC agree with the IG that the security agency should take over the secretariat till the appeal properly disposes of the case either way before we know what to go for as a party. If it is on the ground that a court of corresponding jurisdiction gives order to ignore that of Kano (judgement) and abide by the first one (FCT High Court), so be it. The only way to vacate that (judgement) is if a superior court, which is the Appeal Court says the chairman should be reinstated, the security men will then oblige, the source told this reporter. Force spokesperson, Frank Mba, did not respond to phone calls or text messages seeking a reaction to the report. Calling NEC meeting is unconstitutional Meanwhile, in a bid to resolve the lingering crisis within the ruling APC, an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting has been summoned by the former acting national secretary, Victor Gaidom. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Gaidom, an ally of Salihu Mustapha, the national vice-chairman of the party (North-east), was controversial replaced by the party NWC hours after the suspension of the embattled national chairman. He was replaced by Waziri Bulama. This was announced in a party statement issued on Wednesday and referenced as the resolution of the party on January 14, 2020 during the meeting of the NWC at the partys national secretariat. Reacting to the constitutionality of Mr Gaidom signing such a statement for the party at this moment, another member of the NWC in a phone interview on Saturday morning said officer does not have such a right. Even if we (APC) do not have a new acting secretary, and he (Mr Gaidom) is still the acting secretary of the party, there is no part in our constitution that gives him the right to do so. And to even call meetings, we have procedures, the procedures in the constitution indicate that the NWC must meet and agree, not an individual doing it, the official, who did not want to be named, said. Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims, the ultra-nationalist/ultra-Orthodox bloc did not come out on top in the third round of elections. It still lacks the majority needed to compose a coalition. At the same time, the Zionist left did not disappear. For the time being, the right cannot establish a government on its own, a government that some argue would undermine the rule of law in Israel, turn the government and the Knesset into a refuge for criminals and make a mockery of international law with the underhanded backup of the US president in his last months of tenure. Instead, perhaps the best Netanyahu can do is to cobble together a national unity government, which would be preferable to a fourth election campaign. The main advantage and also handicap of a unity government would be that either side could halt any initiative by the other. True, the trilateral union of the Labor Party, Meretz and Gesher won only seven Knesset seats, but it does not mean the Zionist left is on its way out or that Israel is not interested in peace with its neighbors. In every democracy there is right and left, conservatives and liberals, even if the details change. Does France have no social democrats after the great majority voted for the rather ideologically empty party of Emmanuel Macron? Of course not. We can assume that in the next election or the one after that, Macron's new party will fade into the shadows and the center-left voters will return to the traditional parties. Or perhaps a new party will arise in the center left to attract their attention. The most important thing is to engage and excite the voters, to convince them that voting for a specific party will bring about the change they hope for and that the personality at the top is worthy of their trust and faith. This is no easy task for long-standing parties. Meretz won 12 seats in the 1992 elections, riding the excitement over the union of Ratz, Mapam and Shinui in a single list. In the next elections, Meretz dipped to nine seats and Shinui left the union. Meretz has received between three and six seats in elections thereafter, but by continuing to hold clear stances on peace as well as its struggle for civil equality and human rights in Israel, the party has remained attractive to highly educated middle-class voters. Labor garnered more than 30 and even 40 seats in the 1980s and 1990s. However, since 1999 the numbers have decreased and Labor was left with 12 to 19 seats. One exception was in 2015, when the Zionist Camp combined Hatnua and Labor and won 24. Labor continued to stress social justice and ensuring Israel's status as a Jewish democratic state through the two-state solution. However, the partys continued desire to join the government, even in a subordinate role within the coalition has cost it the trust of its voters. Labors messages were not sufficiently clear and its leaders, as good as they were, were unable to attract the masses, or at least interest them. Over the last year, center-left voters have turned to the Blue and White list because their top concern is ridding the country of the Likud headed by Netanyahu. They believe a self-fulfilling prophecy that the party with the greatest chance to replace Netanyahu is the Blue and White, whose three former chiefs of staff are determined to save the country from Netanyahu. Blue and White, much like the defunct Kadima Party once headed by Ariel Sharon, is not a true centrist party emphasizing promoting the middle class and economic conservatism. Instead, it is a combination of former members of parties on the right and left who share a very narrow common denominator. When the voters discover that their party lacks well defined priority lists and programs, they tend to drift back to their original home base. For example, after the Likud took only 12 seats in 2006, many of its members returned once Kadima fell apart, and the Likud resumed its prior dimensions. A similar phenomenon took place in 1981: The Democratic Movement for Change headed by Yigal Aydin received 15 Knesset seats in 1977, but the party fell apart during its only term in the Knesset. All its 15 seats returned in 1981 to Labor under another name headed by Shimon Peres, and the party reached 47 seats. Labor and Meretz should have merged decades ago. When it finally took place, there was no enthusiasm left for a union made only to ensure that the two parties would pass the electoral threshold. Still, this new alliance needs to keep itself intact, whether to receive the disappointed Blue and White members after the 23rd Knesset falls apart, but also to make the necessary conceptual and personnel changes to remain relevant going forward. The Labor-Meretz alliance needs to join a national unity government, should one be formed. This way, its senior members could prove that they are capable of filling important positions and roles. At the same time, this alliance must insist on its principles, such as opposing any territorial annexation that is not dependent on an agreement with the Palestinians and irresponsible construction in the occupied territories. But we must not sit on the fence or confine ourselves to blocking dangerous processes. It is important to create a priority list and offer ideas without worrying about controversy. Some suggestions: calling for implementation of the two-state solution in the framework of a confederation between two independent and sovereign states that decide on spheres of cooperation. It could create an interesting discussion in Israeli society that could offer an electoral advantage to those who raise the issue and fight for it. The social-democrat Israeli may want to keep close tabs on the Democratic primaries in the United States and understand that any eulogizing of this political movement is premature. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. IT WAS a case of sour grapes for a Kilmallock man given jail for stealing a bottle of champagne. Nigel Sheehan, aged 43, of Sheares Street, Kilmallock pleaded guilty to theft at the local court. Inspector Padraig Sutton said the DPPs directions had been received and were for summary disposal. The case was investigated by Garda Noelle Fitzgerald. At 7.55pm on August 27, 2019, the defendant stole a bottle of champagne valued at 30 from the Super Valu in Kilmallock, said Insp Sutton. Judge Marian OLeary asked if the bottle of champagne was recovered? No, said Insp Sutton. The inspector said Mr Sheehan has 133 previous convictions. Con Barry, solicitor for Mr Sheehan, said his client is willing to repay the 30. Judge Marian OLeary said: It is amazing he didnt bring it with him. The judge adjourned the case for a month to allow Mr Sheehan to repay the money and for finalisation of the case. When it was back up in Kilmallock Court, Mr Barry said the 30 had been handed over. The incident occurred on the anniversary of his late brother. He fell off the wagon. He has been in and out of prison, said Mr Barry. He has been out since December. He is engaging with services and secured employment, he added. Judge Marian OLeary imposed a six week sentence for stealing a bottle of champagne. Recognisance was fixed in the event of an appeal. The judge also activated a suspended three month sentence for two years for criminal damage in 2018. Stealing the bottle of champagne was the triggering offence. The activation of the suspended sentence was adjourned to May as Mr Sheehan is appealing the theft matter. A leading Cork emergency consultant warned that the rate of coronavirus detections points towards the infection eventually reaching epidemic levels in Ireland. The warning from Dr Chris Luke came as Cork yesterday witnessed isolated incidents of panic buying of dried and tinned foodstuffs, while Cork University Hospital (CUH) set up a special unit to urgently trace everyone that had contact with the middle-aged man who contracted Covid-19. Dr Luke said that the Covid-19 detection, which involved the first unexplained community spread of the infection, was expected but will prove challenging for health officials. CUH asked 60 staff to self-isolate for the next 14 days as a precautionary measure. It includes doctors, nurses and CUH support personnel - all of whom had been in contact with the man. Dr Luke warned that Ireland now faced having to rapidly adjust its virus response. "Our response to this has to evolve - it may ultimately involve, as it did in China, the lockdown of buildings, institutions, schools, stadia and even towns and cities," he said. "We certainly are going in that direction (an epidemic) - you don't want to be overly alarmist but there is no doubt that there is every possibility that we are facing into an epidemic which is a rapidly evolving situation where an infection spreads." HSE South director of public health Dr Augustine Pereira said it was understandable that people were concerned. "The family and close community contacts of the patient have been informed and public health advice given to them," Dr Pereira said. "We want to assure (everyone) that work is well advanced on contact tracing - this means that we are in the process of identifying contacts of the patient. Staff and other patients who attended (CUH) during a certain period are being contacted. "We aim to contact trace everyone we can today." A special public health unit has been set up to handle the arduous task of tracing everyone involved from friends and family of the patient to health staff and other patients at CUH who were in close proximity to him. One source said this could potentially involve more than 150 people. Other Cork hospitals are now working to help support CUH, which boasts a total workforce of 3,000 and ranks as the busiest acute hospital outside Dublin. CUH cancelled all out-patient appointments yesterday and will review appointments for Monday. However, chemotherapy, radiography and dialysis services operated as normal. Strict visitor restrictions remain in place at CUH as part of a sweeping infection control regime. Two other Cork hospitals - Mercy University (MUH) and Mater Private - as well as several nursing homes also imposed strict visitor restrictions in a bid to protect patients. The middle-aged patient - who is from Cork county - remains in isolation at CUH. He has a serious underlying health condition and had spent more than 24 hours in a busy CUH ward before being diagnosed with Covid-19. The heavily overcrowded status of CUH is a complicating factor in assessing precisely how many people were in close proximity to the man. One source indicated the latest case may indicate the virus had been undetected within the community for some time before the first case was confirmed. CUH has erected 'infection outbreak' signs and warned visitors are not allowed within specific sections of the hospital. MUH confirmed it had also imposed strict visitor restrictions. Unused buildings at the St Mary's Hospital campus in Cork are being considered for use as special virus testing and isolation centres. After a 90-minute deliberation Tuesday, jurors decided to send Spring nurse Abigail Young to prison for 20 years because she failed to protect her 4-year-old daughter from a horrific and fatal beating allegedly inflicted by her handyman lover. Emma Thompson died in June 2009 after a beating that left the preschooler with a fractured skull and ribs, a torn vagina and at least 80 bruises covering her body. Youngs knees buckled as state District Judge Doug Shaver read the jurys sentence, which included a $10,000 fine. Young burst into tears and sat huddled with defense attorney Julie Ketterman. On Monday, jurors convicted the 34-year-old woman for reckless serious bodily injury to a child by omission. Young, who did not testify in her own defense, escaped a possible life sentence because the jurors conviction did not find she knowingly or intentionally caused the injuries by failing to act. Reason for lesser charge Jurors who spoke after the trial said the evidence did not show Young knew her inaction would cause her daughters fatal injuries, so they opted for the lesser charge. She (Young) had to know her conduct would cause serious bodily injury, explained juror Larry Gainor, 51. Investigators and other witness testimony during the two-week trial pieced together Emmas chaotic household, one in which her mother, while married to Ben Thompson, began having an affair with 28-year-old Lucas Coe. After separating from her husband, Young often left her children with Coe. Coe faces trial this fall on a charge of super aggravated assault for the rape and assaults that led to Emmas death. Even though jurors handed down the maximum penalty for the reckless conviction, Young is eligible for parole after serving five years. Family lashes out After the sentencing, both her ex-husband, who was Emmas father, and the little girls paternal grandmother, Laurie Thompson, took the witness stand to deliver explosive, eloquent, victim impact statements. These statements, directed at the defendant, allow relatives to have their final say. She was 4 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her, yelled Ben Thompson at Young, who was seated with her attorneys. You deserve so much more than what you got. He also told Young that there would always be a member of his family to speak against her at any future parole hearings. His mother, Laurie Thompson, took the stand and in a strong, clear voice, added, Our hearts are broken for the loss of our Emma. Shell never be a Brownie. Shell never bring home a report card. The maximum 20-year prison sentence prompted hugs among many of the spectators and brought smiles to prosecutors Colleen Barnett and Tina Ansari. I think were both pleased, Barnett said. Its satisfying. Defense attorney Colin Amann had a more muted reaction. Were disappointed, obviously, Amann said. But I dont think its entirely unexpected. In final arguments Tuesday, Amann urged jurors to consider probation for Young, who until now had no criminal history. She has to live with her mistakes that resulted in the loss of her youngest child, Amann said. She has to live with not being able to do what she trained to do ... shes going to have to live with not living with her babies. Youngs other two daughters, ages 7 and 12, were removed from her home after the 4-year-olds death. They live with relatives. If ever there was punishment, thats punishment, Amann said. But prosecutor Barnett pulled jurors attention back to Emmas death, pointing out that her mother lied to law enforcement, medical personnel and essentially every witness called to testify in the two-week case. She hasnt accepted responsibility, Barnett said. Whats lost here is what Emma went through. Missed chances Emma, covered in at least 80 bruises, was declared dead on arrival at Memorial Hermann-The Woodlands Hospital on June 27, 2009. Autopsy results later showed she had three cracked ribs, a vaginal tear and a skull fracture. As investigators descended on Youngs Haverford Road home that night, a series of missed chances to save Emma quickly emerged. First, it was learned that Young and her daughter were part of an open Texas Child Protective Services investigation after the girls pediatrician alerted them to possible abuse. The girl had bruising around her waist and tested positive for genital herpes. But a follow-up interview and exam with Emma and her mother convinced doctors that although the girl had a sexually transmitted disease, they could not confirm sexual intercourse had taken place and therefore found no evidence of abuse. Emma remained with her mother in her home where Coe who had an assault conviction, a substance abuse problem and was facing a pending child abuse charge in another county often spent the night. terri.langford@chron.com The two men were charged with alleged conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration (Joe Giddens/PA) Two Irish men have been charged as part of an investigation into alleged human trafficking. Wayne Sherlock, 39, and Eoin Nowlan, 48, were arrested in Dover, Kent, following the discovery of 10 migrants in a lorry carrying tyres near the Belgian city of Ghent. The 64-year-old driver of the vehicle originally from Glasgow was arrested by Belgian authorities and a 30-year-old man in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, was also detained. The driver has been remanded in custody while the man from Northern Ireland was released on bail following questioning by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers. #ICYMI: Four men were arrested as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into a crime group suspected of transporting migrants from the continent into the UK in the back of lorries. Read more: https://t.co/YUpy3Hycfd pic.twitter.com/tRqlMuoMWq National Crime Agency (NCA) (@NCA_UK) March 7, 2020 Sherlock and Nowlan are charged with alleged conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration, the NCA said. The pair were remanded in custody following a hearing at Canterbury Magistrates Court in Kent on Saturday. The NCA said the migrants believed to be two adults and eight children are thought to be from south-east Asia. Two properties in England and Northern Ireland were also searched by NCA officers, with two suspected firearms seized in the Kent raid. In total, seven people suspected of coronavirus were hospitalized in Chernivtsi region. Six of them have already tested negative for COVID-19. Another man suspected of the novel coronavirus has been hospitalized in the town of Chernivtsi, Ukraine. Read alsoTwenty-one test positive for coronavirus on cruise ship off California coast, 49 Ukrainians among passengers media "The patient has symptoms of an infectious disease and has arrived from a country where COVID-19 cases were recorded," the press service of Chernivtsi Regional State Administration told UNIAN. In total, seven people suspected of coronavirus were hospitalized in Chernivtsi region. Six of them have already tested negative for COVID-19. As UNIAN reported earlier, the first case of Covid-19 coronavirus was confirmed in Ukraine on Tuesday. The patient earlier returned with his wife from Italy to Chernivtsi. Medics hospitalized the man, while his wife stayed at home. Later, she agreed to undergo observation amid tensions with neighbors. Very few palates are as richly textured and yet so comforting like the Bhutanese cuisine; this particular section of North Eastern cookery depends a lot on the natural climate and available produce. So, unpolished red rice, cheese, chilli, mushrooms are recurring in every other dish. And lucky for us, we love all of it and got to sample an excellent spread curated by Chef Cheten Tshering at the Bhutanese Food Festival at JW Marriott Hotel's Asian diner Vintage Asia. Bhutanese Red Rice and Jasha Maru Bhutanese cuisine has borrowed from Indian, Tibetian and Chinese influences which is why it's very suited to our desi taste buds. The reason we reach for a bowl of udon over some red rice is that Bhutanese numbers are really hard to find in the city, which is why we suggest you make the most of this scrumptious well-timed festival and pick up a recipe or two. Bhutanese food relies a lot on seasonal Himalayan bounties and animal protein, so the culture of sustainable eating has always been a part of Bhutan's culture. Moreover, a large section of locals in the country are vegetarians, so hearty green meals and gorgeous salads also dominate the cuisine. Goen Hogey, for instance, is a really interesting spiced salad made with cucumbers, cilantro, datshi cheese, and chilli, which is a winning medley. A plate of traditional Ema Datshi We had to taste some red rice - the partially-milled form of rice is famous for its earthy, slightly nutty aftertaste; the rice also goes exceptionally well with curries. We paired our first serving with some Jasha Maru, which is a traditional spiced stew featuring diced chicken, chilli, garlic, onions and had a rustic, gingery base. The Shakam Datshis reputation precedes it and wed obviously been waiting for it to be served; the wholesome entree is one of the best things to have emerged from Eastern Himalayan cuisine. Traditionally made with yak cheese, the stew features beef and is made in a mellow seasoned sauce, which is powerful in aroma. We paired it with some delicious noodles and a fiery eggplant entree. Goen Hogey The Phakshaa Pa is again, a winner; the slow-cooked pork number features diced, juicy meats; it has a really smooth, even consistency and its utterly bingeable. If you're dropping by at the festival do not forget to try the buckwheat dumplings, which is a delicious Bhutanese specialty. The festival is a great fit for veggie lovers, considering its incredible focus on vegetarian selections, specifically the Ema Datshi and the appetising kakur jaju. Phaksha Paa Chef Tscherings team has gone the extra mile on the dessert front; the good ol Red Rice Kheer is unmissable, and a must-have option from the menu. The Buttered Zaw with Pumpkin and Bumthang Honey Ice Cream and the Khabsey with Zaw Pudding have a global touch when it comes to the spectacle. Our recommendations from the menu? Definitely, the Shakam Datshi and Bhutanese Red Rice, along with the Kakur Jaju. Price for two: Rs 2,200 Molina Healthcare Waives COVID-19 Testing Costs for Members Molina Healthcare today announced it is waiving all member costs associated with testing for the Coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. "Due to Molina's focus on vulnerable and underserved populations, we want to ensure that our members have access to proper testing for the Coronavirus," said Joe Zubretsky, President and CEO of Molina Healthcare. "Molina is immediately removing all out-of-pocket costs associated with testing for this virus." Molina's EVP and Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Jason Dees, is working closely with his team of CMOs across the country and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control to swiftly evaluate and communicate information to all employees, members, network providers, and government partners. "We are diligently orking with our provider engagement teams to share information with Molina's provider community about coverage and testing for members," said Dr. Dees. "If a member develops symptoms associated with COVID-19, we encourage a visit to their primary care physician to help guide them through appropriate testing and care. Any related visit to a primary care doctor, urgent care, or emergent care does not require prior authorization." About Molina Healthcare Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare served approximately 3.3 million members as of December 31, 2019. For more information about Molina Healthcare, please visit molinahealthcare.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200306005560/en/ He is one of the most carefully protected Royal babies of recent times, with news and pictures of his young life kept to a bare minimum. But the Duchess of Sussex has revealed that her ten-month-old son Archie is now attempting to walk. She was in conversation with 66-year-old Geraldine Dear, when she disclosed the news during a school visit on Friday. Ms Dear, one of the original Dagenham Girls who campaigned for equal pay for women at the Ford car factory in Essex, said: I just had to ask her about the baby. She said to me, Hes exactly ten months today and hes started trying to walk. But the Duchess of Sussex (pictured on Friday) has revealed that her ten-month-old son Archie is now attempting to walk The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their new son, born Monday and named as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle in 2019 In a separate conversation, Meghan told a sixth-former at the Robert Clack School in Dagenham that having Archie changed my life. Afterwards, Year 13 student Olivia Collins said: She was talking about how having Archie has changed her life and how important motherhood is. If the news of Archie will intrigue Royal fans, there also is consternation at Buckingham Palace about Meghan and Harrys decision not to bring their son with them to the UK their final visit as working Royals. If the news of Archie will intrigue Royal fans, there also is consternation at Buckingham Palace about Meghan and Harrys decision not to bring their son with them to the UK their final visit as working Royals A source said the Queen was sad that she would not see Archie for some time, particularly as she has had little opportunity to meet her great-grandson. Archie is said to have stayed behind in Canada with his nanny and Meghans best friend Jessica Mulroney. Meghans mother Doria remains in Los Angeles. The last public sighting of Archie was on New Years Eve when a photograph was released on the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs Instagram account. It showed Harry holding his son on a beach. Harry and Archie are pictured in an undated photograph. A source said the Queen was sad that she would not see Archie for some time, particularly as she has had little opportunity to meet her great-grandson Privately, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are said to be sad that their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have no relationship with their young cousin. The decision to leave Archie in Canada is not the only mistake made by the Sussexes as they carry out their farewell engagements. On Friday, the Duchess of Cornwall gave a landmark speech at the Women Of The World Festival at Londons Southbank Centre. Having spoken about the importance of eradicating domestic violence, aides had been hoping for good media coverage. So they were said to be surprised when the Duchess of Sussex, Royal Patron of the National Theatre, chose that day to release information about her visit to the high-tech Immersive Storytelling Studio that experiments with the use of virtual reality. Pictures of Meghan alongside a hologram appeared in newspapers shortly after the Duchess of Cornwalls speech. A spokesman at the National Theatre said images were released to Londons Evening Standard because the Duchess of Sussex wanted them in the Standard. The publicity which threatened to overshadow Camillas work raised eyebrows at the Palace. A source said: Im not sure it was very well thought through. U.S. Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders will campaign in the Midwest on Saturday, as the two prepare for a showdown in Michigan, Missouri and four other nominating contests next week. Sanders, who was until recently the front-runner in the party's race to face Republican President Donald Trump in November, is trying to regain momentum after Biden received a rush of endorsements from party establishment figures following his strong 'Super Tuesday' showing this week. He has ramped up attacks on Biden in recent days, including at a rally in ... The state of Wyoming has faced a growing state treasury deficit over the last few years primarily due to the continued decline of coal-related revenues. Oil and gas income may well follow the same trend but these resources have also been subject to boom-bust cycles. Wyoming has been able to accumulate billions of dollars in assets due to severance taxes, especially from coal exports. Electrical energy demand is forecast to increase due to the electrification of transportation, increased demand for electrical appliances, additional air conditioning demands and increased utilization of data management systems and servers needed for artificial intelligence (AI), big data and cryptocurrencies. (It is estimated that the electrical power demand from cryptocurrencies is now equal to that of Switzerland). Importantly, this demand is also being motivated by the need for a clean, carbon-neutral energy supply. Wyoming is blessed with abundant renewable energy resources for electricity production from both wind and solar. Unsubsidized wind and solar electricity production is now economically competitive with fossil fuel generation across the U.S. and the world, and their costs continue to go down as they are scaled up. Many states, including neighboring Colorado, have laws requiring a certain minimum percentage of renewable electric resources as new capacity is built. Further growth in renewable energy resources is projected as fossil energy electric power generation is taken offline, either because it cannot comply with stringent environmental regulation, is no longer economic or the facilities are at the end of their life. Given its small and widely distributed population, remote geography and limited basic transportation network, much of Wyoming has limited options for economic development as any products manufactured in the state are distant from markets. Wyoming needs to diversify and evolve new revenue sources by utilizing its cheap and abundant renewable energy resources, specifically utility scale wind and solar electricity generation, to provide future revenue. This is surely a sound investment without the boom-and-bust fossil energy cycles but still continue the states position as a major energy supplier. Any serious economic development projects will likely have to draw from the billions of dollars in rainy day funds. What better use of these rainy day funds, that originated from depletable coal, oil and gas production, than to ensure future state revenues, especially for the next generations of Wyoming residents, are based on non-depletable wind and solar resources? If the state, rather than outside utilities or commercial entities, builds the wind and solar farms, the total revenue from energy sales would come directly to the state treasury. While the constitution prohibits state taxpayer funds being used to form commercial enterprises and invest in businesses, there are merits to revising this restriction in the interest of stimulating economic development that would generate income for the state. Other states operate public utilities, so there is precedent for direct commercial involvement that provides a basis for seriously considering change. Alternatively, indirect support to stimulate private industry to invest in new business opportunities in the state, such as the provision of low-interest loans and through providing ready access to private activity bonds (PABs), held at this time by the Wyoming Investment Authority (WIA), would serve to incentivize private investment in the economic future of Wyoming. This approach has the advantage of supporting local existing enterprises such as building, construction and engineering companies for their participation in new economic development projects and stimulating additional revenues from increased spending in the state. Producing revenues as the projects are being built has the advantage of low financial risk exposure, since any defaults on the loans would result in the state owning the project, but has the disadvantage of not directing future revenues from power production and sales directly to the state. One could ask: How this is different than directing these funds to Wall Street, as is currently done, when the proceeds are invested in out-of-state companies that provide few if any direct economic development rewards for Wyoming? Focusing specifically on funding and establishing a renewable energy economy in Wyoming; in the near term it would create many new transitory jobs associated with installing the solar and wind farms with linked economic benefits for the hotel, food, beverage and retail industries. In the longer term these projects would yield sales tax revenue benefits, property taxes over the life of the project and produce permanent jobs for operation and maintenance of the installations, more than enough to replace the gradual loss of coal mining jobs. Studies have estimated that over 4,000 construction jobs would be created and 127 operations people would be required per gigawatt of installed wind power and 1 GW of utility-scale solar farms per year would provide over 3,200 new construction jobs and after 5 years about 200 new permanent jobs. This does not including local service jobs, needed to support the workers and their families, jobs now also being lost as traditional energy production decreases. The benefits in developing our wind and solar resources are not just limited to selling electricity that provides tax income to the state and local communities; it also provides opportunities for new economic development. Cold weather and altitude provide operating efficiency advantages that can attract high-tech investment in server farms since they are interested in using low-cost renewable energy. This is one reason that the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) supercomputer chose to be located in Cheyenne. High-tech companies offer great potential to create a local value chain built on clean energy supply, something that is not happening for coal-fired electricity. Other high-energy demand industries, such as metal refining and alloy production, chemicals and manufacture of engineered products may also choose to locate in Wyoming because of the low-cost, low-carbon energy. Being remote from major energy markets that are seeking new sources of renewable energy, efforts would be needed to invest in energy storage and more transmission lines to take green electricity out of state to places where it is in demand, such as California. There is precedent: new transmission lines are part of the 3 GW Chokecherry-Sierra Madre wind farm project in development in southeast Wyoming. Another transmission line, Gateway West, is currently under development. Synergistically planned investment in renewable energy transmission lines could be used for moving wind energy late in the day and at night, while solar output in Wyoming could provide complementary output during daylight hours corresponding to the peak demand for increasing air conditioning demand in the hot Southwest market. New industry attracted by inexpensive renewable energy generation could bring new opportunities and prosperity to Wyoming citizens and also provide alternative career and job prospects, beyond mining, tourism and ranching, thus reducing attrition of Wyoming natives and residents who seek employment opportunities and prosperity out of state. If properly incentivized and promoted through wise and diversified state investments, Wyoming The Energy State can circumvent the boom-and-bust cycles that its economy has suffered in the past and build a truly sustainable platform for growth. Bruce Parkinson is a Professor in the Chemistry Department and the School of Energy Resources at the University of Wyoming. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A mixed martial arts fighter is to face trial by judge and jury for allegedly assaulting a taxi driver by elbowing him in the face. Dylan Tuke (23) is alleged to have assaulted taxi driver Izmari Moneni on Main Street in Swords in the early hours of December 16, 2018. The accused, of Edenmore Avenue in Raheny, is alleged to have elbowed Mr Moneni in the face. A medical report was previously handed into court describing that Mr Moneni suffered soft tissue injuries to his face and fractured two of his teeth in the alleged assault. On hearing an outline of the alleged facts, Judge Dermot Dempsey previously refused jurisdiction to have the case he'rd at district court level as he ruled it was "allegedly a serious assault'. The accused was due to be served with a book of evidence at Swords District Court last week. But, the court heard the book is not yet ready. Judge Ann Ryan agreed to adjourn the case for a further four weeks for service of the book of evidence before returning the accused to the circuit court for trial. The judge marked it as a prementary against the State. The accused, who is a mixed martial arts fighter, was granted legal aid after the court heard he is looking after his mother and two younger sisters. Twenty-one people aboard a mammoth cruise ship off the California coast tested positive for the new coronavirus and 19 of them are crew members, Vice President Mike Pence announced Friday, amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of more than 10 cases during its previous voyage. He said federal officials were working with California authorities on a plan to bring the ship to a non-commercial port. There was no immediate word on where or when the vessel will dock, and in the meantime, everyone on aboard was keeping to themselves in their rooms. All passengers and crew will be tested for the virus, Pence said. Those that will need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those who will require medical help will receive it. Follow coronavirus latest updates here Pence said 46 of the more than 3,500 people aboard were tested in the first round. A military helicopter crew lowered test kits onto the 951-foot (290-meter) Grand Princess by rope Thursday and later retrieved them for analysis as the vessel waited off San Francisco, under orders to keep its distance from shore. Health officials trying to establish whether the virus is circulating on the Grand Princess undertook the testing after reporting that a passenger on a previous voyage of the ship, in February, died of the disease. In the past few days, health authorities disclosed that at least 10 other people who were on the same journey also were found to be infected. And some passengers on that trip stayed aboard for the current voyage increasing crew members exposure to the virus. We know the coronavirus manifested among the previous passengers ... we will be testing everyone on the ship, we will be quarantining as necessary, Pence said. We anticipate that they will be quarantined on the ship, they will not need to disembark. Princess Cruises said the ships doctor would inform passengers and crew of their results after confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another Princess ship, the Diamond Princess, was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, last month because of the virus, and ultimately about 700 of the 3,700 people aboard became infected in what experts pronounced a public-health failure, with the vessel essentially becoming a floating germ factory. Meanwhile, the US death toll from the coronavirus climbed to 14, with all but one victim in Washington state, while the number of infections swelled to over 200, scattered across about half the states. Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska reported their first cases. Also read: Swab samples of 300 Indians in coronavirus hit- Iran to arrive today On Wall Street, stocks swung wildly as fears mounted over the potential damage to the global economy from factory shutdowns, travel bans, quarantines and cancellations of events big and small a list that grew to include the world-famous South by Southwest arts festival in Austin, Texas, which was set to begin next week. President Donald Trump signed an $8.3 billion measure to help public health agencies deal with crisis and spur development of vaccines and treatments. Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 100,000 people and killed over 3,400, the vast majority of them in China. Most cases have been mild, and more than half of those infected have recovered. Most of the dead in the US were from suburban Seattles Life Care Center nursing home, now the subject of federal and state investigations that could lead to sanctions, including a possible takeover of its management. Washington state has the nations biggest concentration of cases, with at least 70. Thirty medical professionals from the US Public Health Service will arrive Saturday at the nursing home to help care for patients and provide relief to the exhausted staff, said Dow Constantine, executive in charge of Seattles King County. Also read: Army to establish quarantine centres for 1,500 people as coronavirus spreads We are grateful the cavalry is arriving. It will make rapid change in the conditions there, he said. The nursing home was down to 69 residents after 15 were taken to the hospital in the preceding 24 hours, Constantine said. Some major businesses in the Seattle area including Microsoft and Amazon, which together employ more than 100,000 people in the region have shut down operations or urged employees to work from home. The University of Washington called off classes at its three Seattle-area campuses for the next two weeks and will instead teach its 57,000 students online. And a comics convention next week in Seattle that was expected to draw about 100,000 people was cancelled. In California, the ship was returning to San Francisco after visiting Hawaii. A Sacramento-area man who sailed aboard the Grand Princess last month during a visit to a series of Mexican ports later succumbed to the virus, California authorities said. Others who were on that voyage also have tested positive in Northern California, Nevada, and Canada. Three dozen passengers on the Grand Princess have had flu-like symptoms over the past two weeks or so, said Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of San Franciscos Department of Emergency Management. An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles said the recirculated air from a cruise ships ventilation system, plus the close quarters and communal settings, make passengers and crew vulnerable to infectious diseases. Theyre not designed as quarantine facilities, to put it mildly, said Don Milton of the University of Maryland. Youre going to amplify the infection by keeping people on the boat. He said the fallout from the ship quarantined in Japan demonstrates the urgent need to move people off the ship and into a safer quarantine environment. Steven Smith and his wife, Michele, of Paradise, California, said they are a bit worried but feel safe in their room aboard the Grand Princess. Whats given us hope is that the system that is in place, our government, the CDC, we feel is doing a remarkable job, Steven Smith said. Its time to spring forward. Daylight saving time officially starts Sunday, March 8 at 2 a.m. For convenience, most people will spring forward their clocks one hour before going to bed on Saturday night. Most cell phones and other electronics will make the change on their own, but traditional clocks will need to be manually adjusted. Its also a good time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors. The change puts more daylight hours in the afternoon. It will remain that way until Sunday, Nov. 1 when the clocks go back an hour and the light is shifted to the morning. How did daylight saving time start? The origins of daylight saving time date back to 1784, when Franklin wrote a letter to a Paris newspaper proposing a tax on those whose windows were closed after sunrise. The letter, meant to be satirical, espoused the use of sunshine over candles. DST wasn't instituted officially until World War I, when Germany put the plan in place in an effort to conserve fuel. Europe came on board soon after, followed by the U.S. in 1918. The practice was abandoned after the way but started again in 1942 by President Franklin Roosevelt, again in an effort to conserve resources during a world war. The practice wasn't made permanent in the U.S. until 1973, when President Richard Nixon signed the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act. In 2005, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act, establishing the current schedule. Clocks are set ahead one hour on the second Sunday in March and back again the first Sunday in November. Mr Kojo Antwi, veteran Ghanaian Highlife Musician has cautioned music lovers to be wary of the kind of music they support, listen and give attention to. According to him, music was medicine with a significant effect on the well-being of the people and advised the public not to fall for any type of music but go in for the music that comforts the soul. The kind of music we download, the kind of music we play, the support and attention given to them help in sustaining that kind of music and they have effects on us. Music is medicine so be careful what you give attention to, he cautioned. Mr Antwi gave the caution when he spoke as a panelist at a roundtable on Sustaining a distinctive Ghanaian Musical Identity in a Globalised Musical Mix at the University of Cape Coast (UCC). The roundtable formed part of a 14-day Workshop and activities of the 6th biannual Sustainable Development Goals (SGD) Graduate Schools Performing Sustainability, Culture and Development in West Africa underway at UCC. The SDG Graduate School is a collaborative German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)-funded project being carried out jointly by the Universities of Hildesheim (Germany), Maiduguri (Nigeria) and Cape Coast (Ghana) with focus on the overlapping areas of culture, performance and sustainable development. With over three decades of music experience, Mr Antwi expressed worry about the caliber and quality of music being produced in recent times saying, most of our songs today have been reduced to singing about self and body He said urgent and pragmatic steps were needed to change the narrative but advised Ghanaian and African musicians to compose songs that would impact their communities positively. For me, my focus on creating music is not awards but to impact my community. That is very important, he stressed. He implored all stakeholders to work towards preserving and sustaining the rich Ghanaian musical rhythms. According to the Music Man, though music was dynamic and changes over time, the basic principles and the rhythmic patterns of rich Ghanaian music must not be distorted just in the name of change. Mr Antwi further called for the re-introduction of Music education into the educational curriculum at the basic schools to teach the young generation the indigenous Ghanaian music and folklore. The panelists interrogated the idea of identity and how it transcends and demonstrate who are Ghanaians are. 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 JEROME The project superintendent of a blasting company building a road into Devils Corral 200-acres of private property surrounded by the countys Snake River Canyons Park says someone sabotaged a piece of heavy equipment being used to develop the property. Sam Richards of Superior Blasting said he started the rock drill on the morning of Feb. 21 and drove it a short distance before a fellow worker noticed a profuse leak coming from the machine. When they investigated the leak, they found a hydraulic valve had been opened and the plunger removed to allow the fluid to drain. They also found survey tape stuffed into the drain to stem the flow of the fluid, Richards said. Its likely the survey tape was used to postpone the discovery of the leak. Samuel (Richards) stated that if the equipment is operated without any hydraulic fluid it would destroy the equipment, Jerome County Sheriffs Deputy Miguel Noriega wrote in the incident report. An estimated 25 gallons of hydraulic fluid was drained from the equipment, Noriega wrote in the incident report. Were hoping that the piece of equipment is going to run, Richards said. If not, the cost to repair it could be in the thousands. The act, he said, could not have been an accident or random vandalism. Vandalism to construction equipment is typically done at the spur of the moment, Richards said, like throwing a rock at a windshield. But this was different. This was intentional, he said. Someone would have had to have known exactly where the valve was located and how to open it. The valve was opened to near the point of breakage. This was intentionally done to send a clear message to stop development, Richards said. Developer George Panagiotou has owned Devils Corral a small but scenic section of the much larger Devils Corral owned by the Bureau of Land Management since 2000. He wants to develop his property for housing and as a recreational center like no other, from Boise to Salt Lake, from Sun Valley to Las Vegas, it will be the only development dedicated to nature, he told the Times-News. The west end of the development will be for housing, while the east end will be for public recreation, including biking, hiking, swimming and horseback riding. Since September 2018, Panagiotou has worked to build roads into his property. The development will allow the public to enjoy the area legally for the first time, he said. Meanwhile, a group called Friends of Devils Corral is raising money to try to keep the historic canyon undeveloped. Their goal is to get the property into public hands. Karl Ruprecht, founder of the Friends group, declined to comment last week about the sabotage. Panagiotou said he would sell the property if someone or some nonprofit were to come up with the money to buy it. Otherwise, he will continue to develop. Noriega advised Panagiotou to install security cameras and asked Richards to inform the sheriffs office if anything else happens. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 2 The senate has approved President Muhammadu Buharis $22.7 billion loan request years after it was rejected by the previous assembly. At its plenary session on Thursday, the upper legislative chamber approved the 2016-2018 external borrowing plan which the president said would be used for critical projects across the country. TheCable understands Nigerias public debt profile stands at N26.215 trillion as of September 2019. According to a document accompanying the presidents request, the fresh loan is for about 35 projects, many of which are infrastructural. The document which was obtained by TheCable, also shows a part of the money will be used for new projects while others will go into already existing projects. WHERE WILL THE LOAN COME FROM? Over 70 percent of the loan will come from the Exim Bank of China, while the remaining funds will come from the World Bank, Africa Development Bank among others. Here are the institutions the loan is being requested: * Exim Bank of China ($17bn) * World Bank ($2.95bn) * Africa Development Bank ($1.88bn) * Islamic Development Bank ($110m) * Japan International Cooperation Agency ($200m). * German Development Bank ($20m) * French Development Agency ($480m THE SPENDING PLAN Here is how the Buhari administration plans to spend the loan and where the projects are located as contained in the document: INFRASTRUCTURE Emergency road rehabilitation and maintenance ($434.7m, nationwide) Abidjan-Lagos corridor highway development project study ($1.5m; multinational) Abuja mass rail transit project (phase 2) ($1.25bn; FCT) East-west road ($800m; Niger Delta) Nigeria Housing Finance Project Guarantee Scheme ($100m; national) Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project (Ibadan-Kano segment double track) ($5.53bn; Ibadan-Kano states) Railway modernisation coastal railway project (Calabar-Port Harcourt-Onne deep sea port segment ($3.47bn; Cross River and Rivers states) SOCIAL INVESTMENT National Social Safety Net Project ($500m, nationwide) Multi-sectoral crises recovery programme ($200m, north-east) North-east Nigeria integrated social protection, basic health, education, nutrition services and livelihood restoration project ($100m; north-east) POWER Power transmission project ($200m; Lagos, Ogun) Vocational training in power sector ($50m; FCT, Lagos, Ogun. Kano, Plateau, Niger, Enugu, Kaduna and Cross River) TCN overall transportation system enhancement project ($200m; nationwide) Mambila hydro-electric power project ($4.8bn; Taraba) Nigeria Electricity Transmission and Access Project ($364m; nationwide) EDUCATION Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) ($500m, nationwide) ECONOMY Development finance project ($500m, nationwide) Kaduna state economic transformation program for results ($35m, Kaduna) Development finance project (2) ($450m, min. of power) Development finance project (3) ($20m, nationwide) MSMEs project ($1.28bn; nationwide) COMMUNICATION NTA digitisation project ($500m; nationwide) National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructural Backbone Project (NICTIB) phase II ($328.1m; Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Akure, Maiduguri, Lokoja, Kaduna, Akwanga, Bauchi, Kano, Katsina) AGRICULTURE Staple crops processing zone support project ($100m, Kogi) Agriculture Transformation Agenda Support Project II (ATASP) ($200m, nationwide) Staple crops processing zone projects (2) (500m; nationwide) HEALTH/WATER Regional disease surveillance systems enhancement project in West Africa ($90m, nationwide) Health System Project ($110m, Katsina) Rural water supply and sanitation ($150m; north-east, and Plateau) Greater Abuja water supply project ($381m; FCT) GOVERNANCE Fiscal Governance and Institutions Project (FGIP) ($200m, government institutions) Institutional strengthening and implementation of policy reforms ($33.7m, min. of works and housing) ENVIRONMENT Lake Chad Basin Commission ($13m, multinational) Integrated programme for development and adaption to climate change in the Niger Basin ($6m; Nigeria and Niger) Development of the mining industry ($150m, nationwide) Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Matthew Baum of Harvard found that people in red states were indeed less likely to get vaccinated and more likely to die of swine flu. In the end, that swine flu outbreak wasnt as lethal as many had feared, but it still killed or contributed to the deaths of as many as 400,000 people worldwide. In the United States, it infected 60 million people, caused 274,000 hospitalizations and killed 12,469 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As states become relatively more Republican, swine flu-related deaths rise, Baum wrote in a 2011 article in The Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law. The implication: While right-wing blowhards may infuriate Democrats, they sometimes pose the greatest danger to their own true believers. The bombast of people like Limbaugh and Trump in this case was lethal but only if you believed them. Doubting them conferred some immunity. One lesson of that 2009 outbreak is the paramount importance of relying on information from scientific experts, not from ideological soul mates. Ive been speaking to epidemiologists and other health experts, and they emphasize that in a crisis like the present one, the government must protect its credibility and the public should rely on experts rather than partisans on either left or right. The problem is that we are all asking questions How bad will this get? Should I cancel my trip? that experts cant easily answer. But living with the wise uncertainty of scientists is preferable to the ranting certainty of demagogues. Sadly, Trump exemplifies an ideological approach to the coronavirus (and Democrats must avoid the converse tendency to predict the worst just because Trump is in charge). From the beginning, when Trump suggested that warming weather would solve the epidemic, his aim has been to downplay the risks and talk up the stock market, whose strength is key to his argument for re-election. Were going very substantially down, not up, Trump said on Feb. 26 of the number of infections. This was completely incorrect, and he piled on more narcissism: We have it so well under control. I mean, we really have done a very good job. New Delhi, March 7 : The Archaeological Survey of India has announced free entry to women visitors at all ASI-protected monuments on the International Women's Day on March 8. These include the world's most visited site Taj Mahal in Agra in Uttar Pradesh. "In exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 6 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959, the ASI Director General hereby directs that no fee shall be charged from women visitors to all centrally protected ticked monuments on March 8 (Sunday) on International Women's Day," a circular issued by ASI headquarters in New Delhi said. Union Cultute and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel told IANS: "Though the Women's Day is celebrated on March 8 every year, it has always been a tradition in India to respect women like 'devi' (godess); such are the values of India." "On this Women's Day we will showcase our respect to the 'devis' by giving them free entry to any ASI monument. Har kaam desh ke naam (every work in the country's name)," Patel added. Women will hence be allowed free entry to monuments like Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Taj Mahal, Sun Temple in Konark, Mamallapuram, Ellora caves, Khajuraho monuments, and the Ajanta caves. Bill Maher on Friday came to the defense of Chris Matthews and mocked the female journalist who accused the ex-MSNBC host of flirting with her, sarcastically comparing her to civil rights hero Rosa Parks. Matthews departed the cable network after journalist Laura Bassett named him in an article for GQ Magazine as the famous television host who made suggestive comments to her before she appeared on his show in 2017. Maher, the host of HBOs Real Time, said that he will miss Matthews, who bid farewell to viewers of his nightly Hardball program on Monday after decades on the air. He then slammed Matthews former employer, MSNBC, for yielding to cancel culture, which Maher called a cancer on progressivism. Maher said: MSNBC used to run this thing: this is who we are. Well, I didnt like who you were this week, and I dont think a lot of people who work there liked this either, and I think this cancel culture is a cancer on progressivism. Bill Maher (left), the host of HBO's Real Time, defended Chris Matthews (right), who shocked viewers on Monday when he abruptly resigned as host of MSNBC's nightly political talk show Hardball Maher mocked freelance journalist Laura Bassett (above), who wrote a column in GQ Magazine outing Matthews as the prominent television host who made suggestive remarks to her before she appeared on Hardball in 2017. Days after the column, Matthews resigned Maher sarcastically likened Bassett to the late Rosa Parks (seen after her arrest in 1955), a historic figure in the civil rights movement. Parks famously refused to relinquish her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white person when segregation was strictly enforced in the South Liberals always have to fight a two-front war. Republicans only have to fight the Democrats; Democrats have to fight the Republicans, and each other. Maher then defended Matthews for a series of gaffes for which he was criticized in recent weeks. Days before resigning, Matthews apologized on the air for his comments last month comparing Senator Bernie Sanders victory to Nazi Germanys invasion of France in 1940. Viewers were angered over the analogy because Sanders, who is Jewish, lost relatives during the Holocaust. On his HBO show on Friday, Maher said Matthews should not have made the analogy, though he sarcastically remarked: I hope the victims got some closure. Matthews was also criticized for mixing up the names of two African Americans - Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, and Jaime Harrison, a Democrat who is running against incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham later this year. Maher said the criticism was an overreaction which made Matthews out to be a Klansman. The Real Time host also slammed the criticism of Matthews after his controversial exchange with Senator Elizabeth Warren following the February 25 Democratic presidential debate in Charleston, South Carolina. Chris Matthews demands to know why Warren believes the woman who accused Bloomberg of telling her to "kill" her unborn child: "Youre confident of your accusation?" pic.twitter.com/sroztgr9kB TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) February 26, 2020 Bassett wrote she was prompted to out Matthews after a tense exchange between the ex-Hardball host and Senator Elizabeth Warren over comments she made regarding allegations against Michael Bloomberg after the debate in Charleston on February 25 During that interview, Matthews challenged Warren over her assertion that Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire media mogul, mistreated a female employee by allegedly telling her to kill her unborn child. Bloomberg, who founded the multi-billion dollar media empire Bloomberg LP, was once accused by a female employee, Sekiko Sakai, of telling her to kill it when she informed him that she was expecting a child. Sakai, who eventually left the company, filed a complaint against Bloomberg, who has denied the allegation. The two sides settled the complaint. You believe hes lying? Matthews asked Warren of Bloomberg's denial. I believe the woman, which means hes not telling the truth, said Warren. And why would he lie? Matthews said. Just to protect himself? Yeah, and why would she lie? Warren responded pointedly. I just wanna make sure youre clear about this, Matthews said. Writing in GQ, Bassett said that it was this exchange between Matthews and Warren that prompted her to identify Matthews as the man who was gross and inappropriate with her. Maher said Bassett and others overreacted to the Matthews-Warren exchange, mockingly saying that the MSNBC host was mean to the senator. During the Friday show, Maher then described what Bassett said Matthews told her in the makeup room in 2017 before appearing on his program. Why havent I fallen in love with you yet? Bassett says Matthews told her. Keep putting makeup on her, Ill fall in love with her, Matthews is said to have told the makeup artist who was working on Bassett. On another occasion, Matthews is said to have told Bassett in the makeup room: Make sure you wipe this [makeup] off her face after the show. We dont make her up so some guy at a bar can look at her like this. Warren and Matthews sparred on air about Bloomberg (left), who is alleged to have told a former employee, Sekiko Sakai (right), to 'kill it' when she informed him she was expecting a child Maher said Matthews said some things that are kind of creepy to women. He continued: You know, I just, guys are married for a million years, they want to flirt for two seconds. He said to somebody, Laura Bassett, four years ago, shes in makeup, he said, Why havent I fallen in love with you yet? Yes, it is creepy. She said, I was afraid to name him at the time out of fear of retaliation. Im not afraid anymore. Thank you, Rosa Parks. I mean, Jesus f*****g Christ! I guess my question is: Do you wonder how Democrats lose? Rosa Parks, a historic figure in the struggle for civil rights, refused to relinquish her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white person at a time when segregation was strictly enforced in the South. Bassett claimed that Matthews made her 'noticeably uncomfortable' while on air, asking her ahead of a segment, 'Why haven't I fallen in love with you yet?' One of Mahers guests, writer Caitlin Flanagan, a noted critic of the #MeToo movement, also criticized Bassett, saying: How fragile can one woman be? Flanagan then said that Matthews booked Bassett to appear on his show because she probably looked good on camera. Maher then joked: Is [Bassett] a compliment-victim or a compliment-survivor? Bassett first wrote of being made to feel uncomfortable by a prominent television news personality back in 2017. At the time, though, she didn't name Matthews. 'Again - Matthews was never my boss. I'm pretty sure that behavior doesn't rise to the level of illegal sexual harassment,' Bassett wrote in GQ. 'But it undermined my ability to do my job well. And after I published a story about it, even though I didn't name him, dozens of people reached out to say they knew exactly who it was. Many had similar stories.' Bassett began her onslaught by highlighting the 'well-documented' allegations against the host, noting that Matthews has a tendency to make comments about women in demeaning ways. She specifically references comments Matthews made to Erin Burnett where he allegedly told her on air: 'You're a knockout... it's all right getting bad news from you.' The columnist also highlights a 2017 Daily Caller article where one of the host's former producers said that he rated female guests on a numerical scale, naming them the 'hottest of the week' like a 'teenage boy.' And in 1999, an assistant producer accused Matthews of sexual harassment. Last week, Matthews apologized on the air after he ignited outrage by comparing Senator Bernie Sanders' (right) victory in the Nevada caucus earlier this month to Nazi Germany's invasion of France in 1940. Sanders, a Jew, lost relatives in the Holocaust CNBC investigated the incident and determined that comments Matthews made were 'inappropriate', leading to him getting a 'stern reprimand,' according to an MSNBC spokesperson. In GQ, Bassett also cited comments Matthews made about Sarah Palin in 2011 and Sally Yates in 2017 as showing how he'll often note how attractive a woman is. The journalist also claimed that a plethora of remarks that Matthews has made about Hillary Clinton showed that he has 'repeatedly challenged whether women are legitimate politicians or could be president at all.' 'In fact, Matthews's whole modus operandi seems to be inviting smart women onto his show, flirting with them or otherwise making them uncomfortable before or while the camera rolls, asking them a question on air and then immediately interrupting them to tell them why they're wrong,' Bassett asserts. 'He repeated this playbook with Warren this week. MSNBC network chief Phil Griffin (pictured) reportedly traveled to DC over the weekend to convince Matthews to retire 'The fact that this kind of behavior has not lost him his primetime cable-news show in the year 2020 - even aside from his egregious Bill Cosby pill joke and the sexual-harassment allegation against him - speaks to how far the #MeToo movement still has to go to change the standards for what kind of attitudes toward women in the workplace are acceptable and even rewarded.' Since Matthews resigned on Monday, Bassett says she has been receiving death threats. Speaking to Inside Edition on Wednesday, Bassett said she was shocked by both the announcement and by the intense backlash she's faced from fans who say she pressured him into stepping down. 'People [are] telling me to kill myself, people calling me a whore, people calling me ugly,' Bassett said. 'They want me to shut up, they want me to go away.' Bassett emphasized that she doesn't believe Matthews, who has been married to his wife Kathleen since 1980, deserves to be lumped together with men like Harvey Weinstein who were brought down by the #MeToo movement. 'I made it really clear in my GQ column that I wasn't accusing him of sexual harassment,' she said. Sources familiar with Matthews' exit say MSNBC network chief Phil Griffin had traveled to Washington DC to sit down with the Hardball host and convince him to quit. Griffin made the trip over the weekend, where he was met by a 'very resistant' Matthews who insisted that he stay on through the 2020 Presidential election, insiders told the Daily Beast. Bassett says she's been attacked online after she accused Matthews of inappropriate and sexist behavior in a column days before he resigned Matthews finally settled on 'retiring,' allowing him some control over his abrupt resignation. Matthews resigned on Monday, making his final announcement during the show. He was seen for the first time since his resignation on Wednesday outside of his home. 'After my conversation with MSNBC, I decided tonight will be my last Hardball,' Matthews said during the broadcast. 'So let me tell you why. The younger generations are ready to take the reins. 'We see them in politics, the media, and fighting for their causes. They're improving the workplace.' He offered a brief apology for having previously offered 'compliments on a woman's appearance some men, including me, might have once incorrectly thought were OK.' Several notable pundits have been speculated as potentially taking Matthews place, including Joy Reid and former Fox host Shepard Smith. A fight over toilet paper in an Australian supermarket on Saturday prompted police to call for calm after the latest violence sparked by coronavirus-induced panic buying in the country. A video widely shared online shows three women pulling each other's hair and screaming as they struggle over a large pack of the highly sought-after commodity in the aisle of a grocery store in Sydney. "I just want one pack!" one of the women screams as two others guard a trolley stacked high with rolls. Two staff members intervened to break up the scuffle and police were called but no one was arrested. "It's not the Thunderdome, it's not Mad Max. We don't need to do that," Acting Inspector Andrew New from New South Wales police told reporters, referring to the post-apocalyptic action films. The incident comes after police tasered a man involved in a scrap over toilet rolls in the NSW town of Tamworth. Police were also called to a shop in Sydney when a knife was drawn in a tussle over the scarce product. "Pls STOP! Calm common sense would tell us if some individuals were not buying excessive numbers of toilet rolls... there would be no problem," NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard tweeted Saturday with a photo of bare shop shelves. Supermarket chains have started rationing sales of toilet paper and assured customers there is no shortage. Australia has confirmed more than 70 cases of the new coronavirus that has infected more than 100,000 people worldwide. One of the latest cases was a doctor in the southeastern state of Victoria who recently returned from the United States. He treated about 70 patients despite having symptoms of the virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) During the FOX town hall, President Trump said something many people are saying. And I don't mean just partisan Republicans. In other words, didn't you hear friendly journalists express shock at Mr. Biden's public performances? This is what Mr. Trump said: The Super Tuesday results, Trump said, had come as a surprise especially given what he suggested were Biden's possible cognitive impairments. "I'm all set for Bernie, communist," Trump began. "And then we have this crazy thing that happened on Tuesday, which he thought was Thursday. But he also said 150 million people were killed with guns, and that he was running for the U.S. Senate there's something going on there." OK. It may be nasty to speak that way about Mr. Biden. Nevertheless, Mr. Biden was pathetic in those debates or town halls. He is indeed a flawed candidate who is going to look terrible when he goes one on one with Mr. Sanders, a far superior debater. Furthermore, the Vermont senator does not have to remember what he said last week. He has been preaching a consistent message of socialism for 40 years. On the other hand, former V.P. Biden has been all over the map on everything from abortion to immigration to Iraq. Yes, the 25th Amendment was put on the books to remove a president incapable of performing his duties. Don't be surprised if some Democrats look for a way of getting Joe off the campaign trail. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. More than a half dozen Republicans are vying for the 13th Congressional Districts GOP nomination to challenge the re-election of U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a suburban Warren Democrat first elected to Congress in 2002. Until October, Ryan, 46, was seeking Democrats 2020 presidential nomination. The district includes parts of Mahoning, Portage, Stark, Summit and Trumbull counties. Republicans seeking to challenge Democrat Ryan include Christina M. Hagan, 31, of Alliance; Louis G. Lyras, 69, of suburban Youngstowns Campbell; Robert J. Santos, 39, of suburban Youngstowns Austintown; and Donald Truex, 77, of Rittman. (Truex lives in the 16th Congressional District, but the Constitution only requires that U.S. House members live in the same state, not in the district that they represent.) Also on the ballot are Duane Hennen, 48, a Warren pastor and business owner who was unable to participate in the editorial boards endorsement interviews but submitted information about his positions; Richard A. Morckel, of Akron, who is in his 60s and ran unsuccessfully against Ryan in 2016, who chose not to participate in the endorsement process; and Jason Mormando, of Youngstown, who suspended his campaign for personal reasons. Hagan is likely the best known. From 2011 through 2018, she served in the Ohio House representing District 50, the same district her father John P. Hagan had represented from 2000 to 2008. Two years ago, she unsuccessfully sought the GOPs 16th District congressional nomination, losing to now-Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, a Rocky River Republican. Hagan says she would be a congressional ally of President Donald Trump and that Ryan, by walking out of Trumps State of the Union address last month, likely burned bridges with an administration that is in a position to help the 13th District. Hagan, in the endorsement interview, reiterated her unstinting opposition to abortion, which she likened to mass genocide. Louis G. Lyras Lyras, a retired contractor and lifelong resident of the Mahoning Valley, said his 45 years working construction jobs around the country has given him a broad perspective on the nations problems and a desire to give back without aspiring to be a career congressman. Lyras criticized Ryan for having little perspective outside the Beltway, and said the Valley had key manufacturing strengths that needed more support, including specialty steels. Lyras also signaled that on hot-button issues like abortion and immigration, he would seek a middle road. He took strong issue with Hagans stance on abortion, noting that Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land, and said he would work toward a common-sense solution to immigration that would ensure undocumented workers werent further exploited by employers. Santos, who served in the Marine Corps from 2002 to 2013, is a supervisor for Youngstowns Valley Food Systems Inc. He criticized Ryan for doing too little and said he would work to lower gas and other taxes. He also wants to promote the idea of stationing MQ-9 attack drone pilots at the YoungstownWarren Air Reserve Station in Vienna Township, in Trumbull County. Truex, a semi-retired insurance salesman, seeks a renaissance of patriotism and said the United States should abolish birthright citizenship (created by the Constitutions 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868). Hennen would focus on moral and economic changes to end abortion and alleviate poverty in the 13th District while strengthening families and protecting freedoms. Hennen advocates the reduction or elimination of the Internal Revenue Service. Most of the candidates in this race take extreme positions that appear to fall on the far-right side of the Republican Party. Among the exceptions is Lyras, whose moderate, non-ideological positions and practical, business-based understanding of the economic challenges and opportunities in the Mahoning Valley set him apart. Those economic challenges are great. According to census data, 17.2 percent of the 13th Districts residents live below the poverty level; Ohios statewide rate is 13.9 percent. Politics in the 13th District lean Democratic, however. In 2016, the districts voters cast 51.1 percent of their presidential vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton, 44.6 percent for Republican Trump. In the March 17 primary, the 13th Districts Republicans should nominate Louis G. Lyras. His common-sense perspectives would make him a worthy challenger of Ryan and, if Lyras were elected to Congress, a strong advocate in Washington for the 13th District. Early voting in the primary has begun. Seven Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination to face incumbent Tim Ryan of the 13th Congressional District in the fall. Three of the GOP candidates -- former state Rep. Christina M. Hagan of Alliance; retired contractor Louis G. Lyras of Campbell; and Donald Truex, a semi-retired insurance salesman from Rittman -- were interviewed by the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer as part of its endorsement process Feb. 25. Listen to audio of this interview below: Another of the GOP candidates -- retired Marine Robert J. Santos -- was interviewed by phone by the editorial board as part of its endorsement process on March 3. The remaining three candidates were not interviewed by the editorial board. Because of a slight glitch in starting the recording of the Santos interview, the audio file begins a few minutes into the interview. Listen to audio of this interview below: About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. Other resources for voters: League of Women Voters vote411.org voters guide. What if you get stuck on the highway in a storm? Here are some tips If you only know Siobhan McSweeney from her role as Sister Michael on the smash hit Derry Girls, you might think that her natural home is the cool, curmudgeonly demeanour of her most famous character. In life, however, there's nothing sardonic about her. There's a fierce, dazzling charisma that makes her an almost athletic conversationalist, someone who can bounce from big issues to big laughs without missing a beat. Aside from being an accomplished actress, Siobhan is that rare thing: a great talker. "It's a weird thing to say, but I think she's the sexiest character I've ever played," she says of Sister Michael. "She's so confident, which is always sexy. She always has her shoulders back, her belly out. There isn't a zip in that costume, it's all elasticated and loose and lovely. She's just delighted with herself." Contrary to popular assumption, Siobhan did not grow up with nuns. Perhaps this is why, I suggest, her portrayal of Sister Michael has become so instantly iconic. She isn't playing her like a nun, because she doesn't really know any. She's playing Sister Michael, instead, like a woman. She agrees. "I think probably because I have had no experience with nuns, I find them fascinating. In a parallel world, perhaps in the past, I can understand the draw of a life of a community of women dedicated to learning, cut off from being looked at, of not being looked at. Expand Close Sr. Michael (Siobhan McSweeney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sr. Michael (Siobhan McSweeney "What happens then? What are the positives of not being looked at? We know what the negatives are. Maybe it's that your real femininity comes out, because it exists purely for yourself." Despite this fascination, however, Siobhan says she felt a great sense of responsibility when it came to portraying a nun on screen. "I'm not here for the fluffy nuns," she says, with force. "I'm not here for the excuses, I'm not here for the sentimental nostalgic look at the past as if it were all Take That concerts. You have a responsibility as a performer. We're not just people for hire; we're not warm props. "I remember thinking, what are the ethics of playing a nun, knowing what we know now? What are the ethics behind playing somebody who has contributed, and maintains, and continues to hang on to the Catholic Church with an iron, dragon grip?" What did she decide, when it came down to Sister Michael's case? "I told myself to lighten up," she laughs. "I had faith in what the show was doing, in the authenticity and integrity of it. It's dripping in authenticity. It's based on Lisa's (McGee, the showrunner of Derry Girls) actual life. Her writing is rigorous and filled with authenticity, and she's got something to say. So you've got to show it all." She is also, like Lisa McGee, dedicated to showing the complexity of all-girls' schools. "There's a thing about all-girls' schools that Lisa has spoken about as well, where the jock is a girl. The debate team captain is a girl. The science nerd is a girl. The slut is a girl. The goth is a girl. The clown is a girl. They're all girls in an all-girls' school. You get used to seeing things that are usually roles taken by the boys. In a mixed school you weren't allowed to be funny. Nobody would laugh." Siobhan has worked with the Derry Girls showrunner since McGee's short-lived 2003 sitcom, London Irish. Since the show's success, McGee has become synonymous with a cadre of Irish women whose voices have burst onto the international scene in recent years. Whether it's Aisling Bea, Sharon Horgan, Maeve Higgins, or Roisin Conaty, there's no doubting it - Irish women are "hot right now". Expand Close (left to right) Lisa McGee, Nicola Coughlan, Siobhan McSweeney, Dylan Llewellyn, Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Louisa Harland / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (left to right) Lisa McGee, Nicola Coughlan, Siobhan McSweeney, Dylan Llewellyn, Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Louisa Harland "We are, actually, really hot," she agrees. "And also" she ponders for a moment. "We're out. Do you know what I mean? "It feels like the female population of Ireland has totally outed themselves. We're here now. The thing I find amazing about Repeal (the movement in the Republic to drop the constitutional amendment outlawing abortion) is that you couldn't ignore it. "The result was so extraordinary, and the conversation was so in-depth. What do you do after that? You have an entire population that is, for want of a better word, radicalised. That can't help but drip into every area of culture. "So many women stepped forward and told their stories. If that's not the most primal shadows on the cave, I don't know what is. Plus, it's the root of every art form, to stand out and tell your story. If that's not the most powerful agent for change, then what is? We now have a population of women who feel like they can stand out and tell their story. And unlike a lot of the Western world at the moment, we know our stories can make a difference. "It's not about being 'empowered'. What is that? That's a T-shirt. That's some capitalist idea being sold to you. But this is a growing realisation that our stories have the power to change." While the Republic's fight for abortion reform has been a success, Siobhan has been lending her voice to Northern Ireland's campaign for new abortion legislation. We're such a young country, and we might be a different kind of country very soon Last February, she and fellow Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan joined a protest with Amnesty International on London's Westminster Bridge. I ask her, as a fellow Cork woman, whether she felt uncomfortable with her newfound role as a spokesperson for Northern Ireland. Derry Girls, after all, has become one of the few cultural touchstones that represents an everyday Northern Ireland. The kind where you grow up getting your school bus searched by the RUC while gnawing, disinterested, on penny sweets. That kind of representation matters to the people who are being represented, and the burden of care can be formidable. "Completely," she agrees. "When I first moved over to London, I made friends with a load of Northern Irish people. I got in with a gang of them, and usually a couple of scoops in, depending on their persuasion, the same thing would come up. 'You abandoned us. You left us.' It would all come out of them, and you would think: oh my God, this is a trauma. "We both identify as being Irish but our experiences could not be more different. It's like when you first move to London and you go down the Irish Centre and it's all auld fellas weeping into their Guinness and talking about hang sandwiches, and there's me, fresh from the Celtic Tiger, going - please, it's paninis, babes. Expand Close Derry Girls cast members Siobhan McSweeney and Nicola Coughlan (right) join MPS and women impacted by Northern Ireland's strict abortion laws on Westminster Bridge in London to demand legislative change / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Derry Girls cast members Siobhan McSweeney and Nicola Coughlan (right) join MPS and women impacted by Northern Ireland's strict abortion laws on Westminster Bridge in London to demand legislative change "Our versions of being Irish are not the same. But from my peers? Oh my God. I had no idea what they were talking about. Nationalism was purely theoretical to me. But I realised that, in my own way, I was as bad as the Brits, by not having a clue. So they told me, and they taught me. "Sorry," she interrupts herself. "I'm usually good craic. What was I doing today that put me into this weird mood?" She pauses for a moment. "Oh. I know. I had to change the bed linen. I hate doing it. No problem cleaning loos. Loos need to be cleaned. But duvet covers? Life's too short. It's too big. How did we put someone on the moon? When I'm inside it, crying, sweat going into my eye it was like a Keystone Cops routine." Talk inevitably turns to the recent election results in the Republic, where Siobhan is reticent about picking a side. "I don't know what I think about it. I'm a natural contrarian, and always delighted when the parties that assume that power is theirs by right get it taken from them. It's not hard to like that," she considers. "It's not hard to like Sinn Fein's policies. Mary Lou's a fantastic speaker and a great leader. I think she's great, but I think Sinn Fein hasn't, to my satisfaction, dealt with its history. If they had come out ahead of it and shaped the narrative that way, as opposed to ignoring it and leaving an uncomfortable feeling with people who remember the ills that they've done... "I feel nervous saying it, because political talk is so polarised. You have to be for someone, and if you're not, you're definitely against them. And that's not how I feel at all. I feel that the Republic is only beginning the journey of dealing with our past and figuring out how to go forward. We're such a young country, and we might be a different kind of country very soon." What is it about playing a nun on a comedy that makes people think she should be the keynote speaker at a feminist conference? History, nationality, identity, womanhood, nuns are all topics that Siobhan is naturally effusive on, and presumably will be touched on this weekend in her sold-out event in Galway with writer Susan McKay - a real-life 'Derry Girl' meeting a fictional one. "They've asked me to have a chat with Susan McKay. She's an award-winning journalist and a writer, and she's also from Derry. She's an extraordinary woman." She looks at me narrowly, with an 'I'm not worthy' expression. "I've been asked to do a lot of these things, and I'm not being coy, but why I mean, I'm not interested in what I have to say! What is it about playing a nun on a comedy that makes people think she should be the keynote speaker at a feminist conference? I get very stressed about them. It's not my natural home at all. "Also, there's a feeling that I have no right. I don't want to take the voice of someone who could contribute more to the conversation. I'm basking in my own privilege, really. Still, I can't wait. I love Galway, beautiful, but what they've done with the programme is amazing. Margaret Atwood is there; there's a choir. We're doing a morning swim and everything." "With Margaret?" "Oh Margaret, yes, Peg, she's mad for me," Siobhan teases. "I have to screen her calls." And even though it's a joke, you can't help but think Siobhan McSweeney is the exact kind of actor who could end up starring in an Atwood adaptation. There's a rigour and an energy to Siobhan, an insistence on seeing the world clearly and for what it is, that makes her both a magnetic performer and a singular presence to be around. Maybe it's something about being from Cork; maybe it's something to do with finding success in her 40s. When, in her own words, "there was a lot of life in my life". She lost her mother in her early 20s, and her father passed away during the filming of the second series of Derry Girls. Her aunt, "a surrogate mother" to her, passed in 2019 also. "It's embarrassing at this point. "People are going to stop believing me. Or they'll step away, thinking a piano is about to fall on their heads. The relentless, tiring, boring agony of grieving. You're like, when do I get to start my life again? And you can't. You have to sit in the s*** until it's over." Dubai's billionaire ruler appeared at desert races in the UAE today for the first time since allegations that he abducted two runaway daughters were made public. The High Court in London ruled that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, 70, was responsible for the kidnapping of princesses Shamsa and Latifa. Maktoum was also found to have conducted a vicious campaign of harassment against his youngest wife, Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein, 45, who fled to London last year in fear of her life, as well as those of their children Jalila, 12, and Zayed, eight. Haya, who has since wealthy Maktoum, escaped to the UK after the Sheikh discovered her secret two-year affair with her bodyguard, court heard. Maktoum's bid to have his son and daughter returned to him backfired, with him losing his children, his wife, and his international standing. Pictured: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai, UAE But none of this seems to have deterred the Vice President, also Prime Minister, from enjoying desert races at the huge Meydan track in Dubai. Maktoum was photographed in the paddocks alongside jockeys Christophe Soumillon, Harry Bentley, Mickael Barzalona and James Doyle Meydan. His appearance at the grandstand, which is over one mile in length and can house 60,000 spectators, follows immense reputational humiliation for the UAE ruler. Sir Andrew McFarlane, the president of the family division, published his breathtaking findings this week after a gruelling 10-month legal case. Pictured: Maktoum in the paddocks with jockeys Christophe Soumillon, Harry Bentley, Mickael Barzalona and James Doyle Meydan, March 7, 2020 Pictured: Maktoum alongside his youngest wife, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, at Epsom Derby festival at Epsom Downs on June 3, 2017 Pictured: Maktoum shaking hands with the Queen at Ascot racecourse alongside his ex-wife Princess Haya Bint Al-Hussein, June 2016 Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: the 'modernising Sheikh' accused by human-rights activists of 'torturing political dissidents by electrocution' and 'spying' - as well as 'running secret detention camps in war-torn Yemen' Pictured: Maktoum with his son Zayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and daughter Sheikha Al Jalila during Day One of Royal Ascot Sheikh Maktoum is Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. Since his accession in 2006, he has undertaken sweeping reforms in the UAE's Government, and has been held responsible for turning Dubai into a wealthy and global mega city. Maktoum trained in the military before being appointed to head of the Dubai Police Force and Dubai Defence Force, and was the UAE's first defence minister in December 1971. In January 1995, he was pronounced Crown Prince by his elder brother Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and embarked upon a policy of tackling Government corruption that led to the arrest, charging, and unusual public 'naming and shaming' of 14 officials, including six officers. After around one decade of acting as the UAE's de facto ruler, he became Vice President in January 2006, and Prime Minister of the UAE that February. He has created and encouraged the growth of numerous Dubai businesses and economic assets, including Dubai World, Dubai Holding, and Emirates flight. Maktoum's rule has been mired in controversy. Allegations concerning the abduction of two of his children - princesses Shamsa and Latifa - have been brought to the forefront during the high-profile High Court case involving his wife Princess Haya, who fled Dubai in 2019. He has come under criticism by human-rights groups for alleged infractions, presiding as he does over a judicial system which mandates the execution of criminals by firing squad, hanging, or stoning. Sentencing for flogging - a legal punishment for criminal offences such as adultery, premarital sex, and alcohol consumption - ranges between 80 and 200 lashes. Apostasy from Islam and homosexuality are a crimes punishable by death, while women in the country require permission from male guardians to marry and remarry. It is not permitted to be critical of the UAE Government, royal families, officials, and police, in any way. Attempts to demonstrate in public are met with resistance. Human Rights Watch has accused the UAE regime of violating rights to freedom of expression, while US intelligence identified that the UAE had developed its own messaging app - to be used for spying purposes. The UAE Government has also been accused of kidnapping, detaining, and torturing political opponents and expats, often to extract forced confessions of alleged plots to overthrow the regime. For instance, during the Arab Spring in 2011, at least 100 activists were jailed and tortured. The Arab Organisation of Human Rights listed 16 different methods of torture used by the UAE Government, including electrocution. Meanwhile, Amnesty International accused the UAE of running secret prisons in Yemen where prisoners are forcibly disappeared and tortured. Advertisement The judge ruled that Maktoum, who is worth an estimated 9billion and is one of Britain's closest Middle East allies, was responsible for the abduction of both Shamsa in August 2000, and Latifa off the coast of India in March 2018. Maktoum had masterminded behaviour which, on the balance of probabilities, potentially runs 'contrary to the criminal law of England and Wales, international law and internationally-accepted human rights norms', the High Court ruled. Sir Andrew's astonishing fact-finding has been publicly embarrassing for Maktoum, who has now been ditched by - among others - Her Majesty The Queen. For decades, the Queen and Maktoum have been photographed together in public, with the UK monarch even inviting him to enjoy Ascot from the Royal Box. But the decision to dodge the 70-year-old ruler could have a lasting effect on the character and conduct of British relations with the UAE. Rumours of the royal snub were first reported in The Times. Shamsa: the princess who escaped her father's Surrey mansion in the family's Range Rover before being 'abducted on the streets of Cambridge' and flown back to UAE Sheikha Shamsa al-Maktoum, 38, was in the UK on holiday with her extended family at their Longcross estate near Chobham in Surrey in 2000. In a bid to better her future and escape her life in Dubai - restricted as it is by incorporated elements of sharia, or Islamic Law - the princess used this opportunity to dodge guards and flee from her family in mid-July. Shamsa is believed to have driven a black Range Rover to the edge of the vast estate, where the Emirati ruler had installed his family, before dumping it and slipping through an open gate onto Chobham Common. She stayed with her friends for six weeks in London before being found out by her family. That August, the princess was apparently abducted in Cambridge by the Sheikh's staff while walking out of a bar and taken to an airport in southeast England, before being flown back to Dubai on a private jet. In March 2001, after having been contacted by a British solicitor who had spoken to Shamsa, Cambridgeshire Police began investigating the incident. During enquiries, people close to Shamsa in the UK substantiated her story of the escape, and the matter was even raised in Parliament. However, the police investigation stalled when they ran into a denial of access to Shamsa by Dubai authorities and non-cooperation of the Longcross estate staff. Little is known about Shamsa's circumstances during the past two decades, save for Latifa's account in her video that she is kept confined to one room and constantly supervised by nurses and a psychiatrist. She is given regular medication which Latifa asserts is designed 'to control her mind'. Today, the judge said that 'the allegation that Shamsa has been deprived of her liberty for much if not all of the past two decades, living in circumstances as described by Latifa, is, I find, proved.' Advertisement Pictured: The Supreme Court in Westminster refused to hear Maktoum's appeal Purchasing car insurance online is more popular than ever. People are no longer willing to go from one insurance agency to another in order to find a better insurance deal when they can do that while sitting in the comfort of their homes. Obtaining online car insurance quotes in order to shop for a better insurance deal is something that has become normal for so many drivers. Besides that, many insurance companies and brokerage websites are offering online insurance quotes, so drivers have many options at their disposal. Drives that shop online for car insurance will have the following benefits: Drivers can save time. 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On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. For more information, free quotes and money-saving tips, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page President Emmanuel Macron on Friday urged the French to limit visits to elderly people who are most vulnerable to the spread of the coronavirus. To date, there has been 613 cases in France with 10 deaths. Macron, who shook up his agenda this week to focus on efforts to contain the outbreak, said on a visit to an old people's home that they were by far the most vulnerable to its effects. "Our absolute priority is to protect the people who are the most fragile in the face of this virus," Macron said. 'Heartbreaking' decision "The nation is behind our old... during this epidemic and we need to limit our visits as much as we can," he said. He admitted this could prove "heartbreaking" at times but said the measure was simply one of common sense. He emphasised that young people should not be visiting the old because "as we know, they (the young) transmit the virus a lot". Those who died in France so far have been old with pre-existing conditions. Macron said that the situation was likely to last several weeks and that people should show the "spirit of responsibility" without giving in to panic. The health ministry said its priority was to slow the spread of the virus to limit the effects for the population when the peak of the virus is reached. "People who are old are more at risk and should be protected," the ministry added. Haut Rhin hit One of the worst-hit regions in France is the Haut-Rhin in the east, where the number of cases jumped eightfold inside eight hours to 81, according to local officials. The senior state official for the region, Laurent Touvet, announced a series of measures including closing some schools and banning gatherings of more than 50 people. Some of the cases in Haut-Rhin have been traced to a meeting of an evangelical church from February 17 to 24 in the city of Mulhouse, attended by some 2,000 people. Several participants have tested positive, including five who later flew to France's Latin American overseas department of French Guiana and began showing symptoms there. The health ministry said late Friday that 39 people were seriously ill in France with the virus after 190 new cases emerged over 24 hours, taking the overall confirmed nationwide total to 613. Of the nine fatalities to date, six were aged over 70. Most of those who have died were already suffering from other ailments. Chennai, March 7 : Danish energy efficiency products major Danfoss A/S' $3.3 billion global acquisition of power management company Eaton's hydraulics division is expected to conclude by the end of this year, said a top official of Danfoss India. He also said Danfoss India will be investing Rs 25 crore in expanding production here and targets to close 2020 with a turnover of Rs 2,000 crore. The 6.3 billion euro turnover Danfoss business segments are classified under power solutions, cooling, drives and heating and it supplies components and systems for original equipment manufacturers. "The acquisition of Eaton's global hydraulics business is expected to be completed by the end of this year as there are several regulatory approvals have to be obtained," Ravichandran Purushothaman, President, Danfoss India Region told IANS. In January this year Danfoss and Eaton announced a deal, whereby the former has agreed to buy the latter's global hydraulics business for $3.3 billion. Interestingly, the hydraulics divisions of both Danfoss and Eaton are present in Pune in India. According to Purushothaman, Danfoss India will be expanding the production capacity of its cooling product range. "We will be investing Rs.25 crore this year, a similar amount was invested last year. The new products will be in cooling, industrial refrigeration and drives," he said. Speaking about the business scenario Purushothaman said there is demand but the sentiment is weak and banks are not lending. The 2018 drought had its impact on 2019 sales as well. According to him, there was no shifting of production from China to India happened due to the Coronavirus impact in that country. On the other hand, in February this year the Indian company faced some challenge in importing compressors and drives from China but now we are able to get them, Purushothaman said. In line with the parent company's target of having 30 per cent female leaders by 2025, 25 per cent by 2022 Danfoss India is also working towards that. Currently, the women workforce is about 18 per cent, he said. On turning the Danfoss India plants CO2 neutral by 2030 Purushothaman said 70 per cent of the Chennai plant's 12 MW power needs are met from renewable sources and the share will go up. BEAUMONT After another two threats of violence against Beaumont ISD schools last week, the leader of the district is calling on parents to discuss possible consequences with their children. In response to the recent trend of threats being made on school campuses, we want to urge parents and guardians to have a conversation with their students on the severity of making false statements of a threatening nature, Superintendent Shannon Allen said Tuesday. These actions can warrant not only campus-based discipline, but criminal prosecution. The message came after a collection of threats and scares at Beaumont campuses in recent days, starting with one that led to the evacuation of Vincent Middle School and a lockout at Amelia Elementary. Those actions were prompted by threats written on a restroom stall regarding a possible explosive device, according to a district spokesperson. BISD officials said arrests have been made in relation to the incident, and that the district worked in conjunction with multiple agencies including the BISD Police Department, Beaumont PD, Beaumont Fire Marshal, FBI, DPS and ATF. Details on the arrest were not released. Vincent eventually was cleared and the lockout at Amelia lifted, but additional threats came the following day. At the end of February, a student brought a firearm onto Beaumont Uniteds ninth grade campus, rattling parents and underscoring the need for increased safety protocols that the district has been rolling out at other high school campuses, such as metal detectors and bag-searching practices. BISD Police Chief Joseph Malbrough said when the program was rolled out in early February that the detectors are simply a tool that we will be using in conjunction with our current security procedures. There is no one fail-safe method to preventing school violence, Malbrough said. However having additional resources such as metal detectors will definitely help reduce the possibility of a threat. The recent threat at Vincent Middle School is similar to one at Vidor High School, where in January someone wrote a threat on the wall of a bathroom, causing the district to excuse absences for the day. Vidor ISD Superintendent Jay Killgo said the source likely was a student trying to cause disruptions. But at the same time we respect the parents, Killgo said at the time. If they make the decision to keep their child at home, we certainly respect that and will excuse that absence. Beaumont ISD did not respond to questions about whether they would close schools or excuse absences as a result of additional threats. That was the course of action taken by Hardin-Jefferson and Evadale school districts, who also faced threats earlier this year a move that an official with the Texas Education Agency said was relatively rare. After making the decision in January to close Evadale schools due to a threat, Superintendent Gary Fairchild said in a statement that national tragedies in recent years highlight the importance of school security. We are well aware of the impact from violence that takes place on school grounds due to the numerous school tragedies across our country, Fairchild said. We must take this time to review our own school safety procedures and plans to ensure the safety of our students and staff. In neighboring Port Arthur ISD, two fifth-grade students were removed from campus last month after bringing an unloaded BB gun to school. No arrests were made. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes With more people working from home to avoid coronavirus, will the internet break? The short answer is probably not. The longer answer is that there will be disruptions. To protect workers and help stem the spread of Covid-19, companies like Twitter and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are telling employees who can work from home to stay home. In all, 42 million Americans, about 29 per cent of the US workforce, are able to work from home. And as schools close to keep kids out of harms way, the pressure on home networks will grow. The weak link in the chain, where the system could get ... Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram at a press conference on Saturday called the government's plan to bailout Yes Bank "bizarre". He targetted the NDA government saying the BJP-led government failed to detect the 35 percent per year jump in Yes Bank loans that led to the crisis. "The plan appears to be that SBI (State Bank of India) will invest Rs 2,450 crore to pick up a 49 percent stake in the restructured capital of the bank at a price of not less than Rs 10 per share, face value Rs 2. This is bizarre when the net worth of the bank is zero," said the former Finance Minister. Chidambaram said that he believes that SBI is being forced by the government to save Yes Bank. "I don't think SBI and LIC are doing this rescue out of their will, these are commands that are given to them. They are being forced into doing so," explained Chidambaram. Nirmala Sitharam on Friday had lashed out against the Congress members who were criticising the government's restructuring plan for Yes Bank. Sitharamram had claimed that the Yes Bank crisis originated during the time the UPA government was in power. Sitharaman had made remarks against Chidambaram saying that he is a "self-appointed competent doctor". She even questioned the former FM's track record. During the press conference on Saturday, Chidambaram replied to her, saying, "Sometimes when I listen to the Finance Minister, I feel the UPA (Congress-led United Progressive Alliance) is still in power, I am still the finance minister and she is the opposition." Chidambaram in his replies clearly put the blame for the Yes Bank crisis on the BJP government's shoulder. He questioned the government's oversight in allowing the outstanding loans of Yes Bank to go from Rs 55,633 crore in 2014 to Rs 1,32,263 crore in 2017. "A 100% jump in loan book immediately after demonetisation, the FM should answer about it. This is the period when I was not the FM. Yes Bank's total outstanding loan amount had reached Rs 2,41,499 by 2019. "The loan book was allowed to grow despite RBI and government supervision at a rate of 35 percent per year," Chidambaram added. "Who authorised the grant of new loans after March 2014? Were the RBI and the government not aware that Yes Bank was in a loan-giving spree? It was not banking but buccaneering. Did no one at the government or the RBI read the balance sheet of the bank at the end of every year?" said the Congress leader. "Why did nothing change when CEO was changed, when Yes bank reported its first-ever quarterly loss in Jan-March 2019?" added Chidambaram. "The Yes Bank fiasco is only part of the mismanagement of the financial institutions under the watch of the BJP government," he added. Yes Bank was placed under moratorium by RBI on Thursday. The RBI has a set the withdrawal amount at Rs 50,000 per account per month. As part of the restructuring scheme of the RBI, SBI would invest in Yes Bank and would own a 49% stake in the crisis-ridden bank. Also Read: SBI studying YES Bank restructuring plan; will invest Rs 2,450 crore: Rajnish Kumar Also Read: YES Bank Collapse: ED grills Rana Kapoor; raids continue on second day Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Advertisement Next to a heap of rotting rubbish lies a dead puppy covered in flies. The stench is overwhelming. Oblivious, the little Syrian girl with pigtails, gold dangly earrings, and mud streaked across her forehead, picks up the bread roll she has dropped on the ground and bites into it hungrily. It is breakfast time on the banks of the River Meric in the Turkish border town of Pazarkule which, over the past seven days, has become one of the most desperate places on earth as thousands of refugees and economic migrants - including young families with tiny babies, sick and disabled children - have congregated here. As dawn breaks over the new frontier in Europe's migrant crisis, a layer of mist hangs stubbornly over the sodden ground. They had arrived with hearts filled with hope that is turning to despair and anger. The gateway to Greece - and to the European Union - is just a short walk away across a patch of no man's land. But they can advance no further, trapped in a squalid limbo with nowhere to go. Pictured: Asylum seekers are seen after Greek forces forced them to take their clothes off and beat them at buffer area near Evros River as they try to reach Europe from Edirne, Turkey, on March 6 Turkey's tent city: Fears migrant camp on border with Greece might turn into a Calais-style Jungle as thousands of refugees wait for their chance to sneak into Europe By David Churchill for the Daily Mail Athens said the number of attempted illegal crossings had surged to 35,000 in a week as Turkey was accused of using the migrants as pawns. As tents were pitched at Pazarkule on the Turkish side of the border, there were fears the camp might turn into a Calais Jungle-style settlement. Greek officials believe the Turkish authorities have bussed thousands of migrants to the shared border while encouraging them to storm it. Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan opened his country's borders, sparking the new migrant crisis. The EU is urging Mr Erdogan to stick to a treaty signed in 2016, under which Ankara, inundated by four million refugees and migrants, received billions in aid money in return for stemming the flow of people to Europe. Advertisement It is a week since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his country had 'opened the doors' to the EU. His statement triggered an immediate mobilisation of thousands of migrants in Turkey - mainly from Syria, but also Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and African countries - who sold their few possessions to pay for a ticket to Greece. Many made their way to crossing points dotted across the 120-mile land border with Greece, some wading or rowing across the Evros River that runs along most of its length, or tried to leave by sea routes. Some had raced to the border having been in Turkey only a few weeks after fleeing the war-ravaged Syrian province of Idlib - the last bastion of rebel opposition to President Bashar al-Assad's regime. It was, they thought, the beginning of a journey to the Promised Land, but their arrival at the border was met with chaotic, brutal scenes. Greek police - acting as a 'shield' for Europe against what one Greek minister described as an 'invasion' - fired tear gas at them, despite the presence of children who were left struggling to breathe, their eyes streaming. As tensions spiralled, stun grenades and water cannon were deployed to keep people back - and then live ammunition. At least one man was killed. Others were beaten and stripped of belongings. It didn't take long for the refugees and migrants to realise they'd been duped, that they were now pawns in a vicious geopolitical game. Erdogan's cynical 'open door' announcement was, in part targeted at Brussels, from whom he wants billions more in aid to pay for the 3.7 million Syrian refugees his country has accommodated and contained after striking a 6bn euro deal in 2016 with the EU. Pictured: Greek police and border units use tear gas and water cannons to disperse asylum seekers who came from Istanbul and other parts of Turkey, waiting in the region between the Kastanies Border Gate and the Pazarkule Border Gate on March 6 Pictured: By the banks of the River Meric, on the Turkish border town of Pazarkule near Greece, where tens of thousands of refugees have descended in the hope of getting into Europe - Dalya Ahmed Mahdi, 14, from Fallujah, Iraq Pictured: Aerial photo taken from a helicopter shows migrants lining up for food at the Turkey-Greece border near Edirne, March 5. Turkey vows to seek justice for a migrant it says was killed on the border with Greece after Greek authorities fired tear gas to push back dozens of people attempting to cross over. Greece denies that anyone was killed in the clashes Pictured: A migrant waits with his child in the buffer zone at the Turkey-Greece border, near the Pazarkule crossing gate in Edirne on March 5. Turkish officials claimed on March 4, 2020 that a migrant was killed by Greek fire on the Turkey-Greece border where thousands of migrants have massed since last week. But on the other side Greece 'categorically' denied claims by Turkey that it had fired live bullets against migrants on the border, with several allegedly injured and one later dying Pictured: A migrant woman tries to talk with the Greek authorities in the buffer zone at the Turkey-Greece border, near the Pazarkule crossing gate in Edirne, Turkey, on March 5 Migrants claim they have been stripped and beaten by Greek police while others rage at Erdogan for using them like 'toys' by sending them to the border to 'blackmail' EU By Tim Stickings for MailOnline Migrants in Turkey have accused Greek police of beating them and forcing them to strip off in no-man's land on the border where thousands are trying to reach Europe - despite pleas from the EU to stop their attempts. Turkish state-owned broadcaster TRT published photos of shirtless migrants warming themselves around a fire near the Greek border, with some displaying back scars. Some of the migrants claimed that Greek police were repelling them with 'military stuff' on what TRT described as a 'site of violence by Greek security forces'. Greek police have fired tear gas, stun grenades and water cannons to repel people trying to cross, but deny claims that they have wounded or killed migrants. Other migrants were voicing their fury at Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan after he gave them false hope of a new life in Europe by allowing them to leave Turkey, only for their path to be blocked by Greece. Erdogan's gambit to 'blackmail' Western leaders over the war in Syria has sent thousands of migrants heading to the Greek border in an effort to reach the EU, but most have so far been turned back. 'We don't know what is happening. We are like toys to them,' said one migrant, Mohammad Omid. 'We are like a ball to them. Everyone passes us to this side and the other side. I don't know what will happen to us.' The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, warned migrants that the idea of the border being open was 'false' and said that 'people should not try to move there'. Advertisement That money is running out and nearly a million more Syrian civilians who've fled Idlib in recent months are waiting at his southern border. 'The doors are now open. Now you [in Europe] will have to take your share of the burden,' Erdogan declared. He was, in effect, threatening Western countries with a new flood of migrants triggering a crisis that would far eclipse that of 2015 when Germany alone took in one million, the consequences of which began the protracted political downfall of Chancellor Angela Merkel and the rise of far-Right forces in other countries which accepted refugees. And yesterday that threat seemed to have worked, following an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers who agreed that more cash was needed to help Turkey. But Erdogan had another target: he also wanted Nato allies to sit up and take notice of an even more dangerous threat to stability in the region. Two days before his announcement, 34 Turkish troops had been killed in an air strike in Idlib, which is being pulverised by Russian-backed Syrian forces loyal to Assad. As a Sunni Muslim, Erdogan is opposed to Assad's Alawite regime and is supporting what is left of Syrian rebel forces. It may be the end game in the Syrian civil war, but the conflict between Syria and Turkey is escalating. Many Western observers now fear an all-out war - with Syria's ally Russia as a key player. As a Nato member, Turkey has a right to call on other members for military support and he's determined that the U.S. and the West should no longer turn a blind eye to what is happening. Thursday's summit in Moscow between Erdogan and Vladimir Putin - which saw a cease-fire agreed in Idlib - is seen by many as no more than a temporary sticking plaster. Indeed, within minutes of the ceasefire at midnight, there were reports of shelling by Assad's forces on the towns of Marat al-Numan and al-Fatira and reports of 15 dead. On the border the situation remains perilous, too, for the estimated four to five thousand people gathered here. Yesterday water cannon were deployed by Greek police and there were reports of migrants being stripped and beaten. Some were forced into a bus by Turkish troops and taken back to Istanbul. The fear here is palpable. Police officers of Turkey's Special Operation stand guard along the border between Turkey and Greece to prevent push backs near Evros River in Edirne, on March 6 Pictured: Greek police and border units use tear gas and water cannon to disperse the asylum seekers, who came from Turkey, waiting in the region between the Kastanies Border Gate and the Pazarkule Border Gate on March 6 Pictured: Greek police and border units use tear gas and water cannon to disperse the asylum seekers, who came from Turkey, waiting in the region between the Kastanies Border Gate and the Pazarkule Border Gate on March 6 Ahmed, 36, and his wife and three children, tell me that four days ago they were helped by local Turkish police to cross the river by boat. They were within a few hundred metres of Greece, only for Greek police to snatch their belongings and burn them, before pushing the family back to the Turkish side. EU chief vows 'We will hold the line' as Greek police prevent 24,000 attempts to illegally enter the country following Turkey's decision to open their European borders By Chris Pleasance for MailOnline The EU's top official has vowed to 'hold the line' in support of Greece as the country revealed it had stopped 24,000 people from entering the bloc after Turkey threw open its borders. Ursula von der Leyen said the EU would provide 'all the support needed' to defend the 'Greek external border, which is also the European border'. 'Those who seek to test Europe's unity will be disappointed. We will hold the line and our unity will prevail,' the European Commission president said. Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz has meanwhile accused Turkey of 'blackmail' and launching an 'attack' on the EU using migrants as leverage. Recep Tayyip Erdogan tore up a deal to guard Europe's borders last Friday in an effort to pressure Western leaders over the conflict in Syria. Greek border guards said some 24,000 people were stopped trying to cross the border from Turkey between Saturday and Monday, with tear gas fired to keep the crowds back. On Tuesday the crowds had largely moved away from official crossing points and were trying to get through by wading or sailing across the Evros/Maritsa river, which runs the entire length of the border. Advertisement 'They took our IDs, phones, money, and burnt them. My children cried,' he says in Arabic. He says he is tired, says our translator, his body aches and he has not slept for days. Ayoub, 30, from Morocco, managed to get as far as a barbed wire fence on the Greek side but he was forced back. 'They hit us and beat us. We will die slowly here,' he says sorrowfully. He moves a carton of milk closer to a small fire to warm it for a new-born baby. Ayoub flew from Morocco to Istanbul five days ago after hearing Erdogan's message. Not only are there people fleeing war here, but those trying to escape poverty and unrest across Asia and Africa. Turkey has become a holding zone for millions seeking a new life in Europe. For now they must contend with their reality. Around us the ground is littered with rubbish, with dirty nappies, empty cartons, prams caked in mud and, pathetically, a child's pair of discarded tights. Two toddlers play with a plastic cake wrapper. Suddenly we hear deafening screams. A woman is crying out 'baba' as she breastfeeds her sick baby. Another boy weeps on her shoulder. The woman is from the Congo and says her husband went to the 'frontline', by which she means the fence Greek police are guarding. He hasn't come back, she tells me in French. Her cries of despair have woken some of those around her who are sleeping under plastic sheets - some propped up by sticks and weighed down by stones to shield them from the cold rain. There are no toilets, no shelter, no places to shower or get food. 'We are being treated like animals, it is not for humanity. It is like hell,' Fatima Mohammad Razzuk, 27 tells me. She left Idlib after her home was bombed. We are interrupted by the little Syrian girl I'd spotted earlier as she played by the river. Her name is Mariam, she is six - and shyly she offers me a piece of bread. A touch of humanity in a desperate place. Every tale is more heart-breaking than the last. The father whose wife was killed in an air strike in Idlib, leaving him with a six-month-old baby - a tiny, shivering bundle whose breath is visible in the cold morning air. Saddest of all those I meet is 14-year-old Dalya Ahmed Mahdi who is in a wheelchair. She is only here because a stranger carried her up and then down the 3ft mound that forms the earth river bank. Her father, Ahmed, 35, says that his family left Iraq a year ago. Pictured: Asylum seekers are seen after Greek forces forced them to take their clothes off and beat them at buffer area near Evros River as they try to reach Europe from Edirne, March 6 Pictured: Asylum seekers are seen after Greek forces forced them to take their clothes off and beat them at buffer area near Evros River as they try to reach Europe from Edirne, Turkey on March 6 Ahmed was a security guard in the heavily fortified Green Zone area, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies, in Baghdad. One night he drove home after work and parked his car in the usual spot next to the family home where he lived with his wife, Marta Rusul, 30, and their three daughters. Suddenly Marta interrupts his story, shouting 'Bomb in house. Bomb'. They are the only words she seems to know in English. Ahmed continues: 'A bomb had been stuck to the bottom of my car. We were sleeping in the middle of the night when it went off. That is why Dalya is in a wheelchair. She was crippled. Dalya was so shocked after the attack that she has not spoken since'. At this point, his eyes well up under the rim of the black bobble hat pulled around his face and he turns away to compose himself. The chatty and cheerful teenage daughter they knew had gone. Now Dalya is paralysed, has epileptic fits, has to be fed through a tube and wears nappies. The family escaped to Turkey shortly afterwards, but Ahmed has struggled to find work and afford the medical care Dalya needs. So when he heard the border to Greece - to Europe - was open, he sold all of their belongings, even his mobile phone, and paid about 63 for five bus tickets. It seems there is no going back. 'I am going to wait until they open the [border] because my Dalya needs help. We don't have any other option. 'We have to pass the border or we have no chance. If we turn back to Iraq we will probably be killed. They tried bombing my car once and they will do it again.' With the Medhi family is Khamael Salman, 39. She listens attentively as I chat with Ahmed. I notice a battered Oxford dictionary poking out of her bag and I ask if she is learning English. She takes the book out carefully and I learn that Khamael was a writer in Iraq, but was forced to leave her home and her parents, after she received death threats for reporting on women's issues. 'For women, it is hard in Iraq. It has become no different from Saudi Arabia. They are wearing the hijab', she says, her own curly hair uncovered and tied back into a bun. The most precious belongings she has are three tatty newspaper cuttings in Arabic. She points to her name, her byline, beaming with pride. For this talented woman on a harrowing journey to God knows where, they symbolise the last vestiges of her self-worth. And these desperate people who have made it this far may be only the start of the new migrant crisis, with those million people who have fled Idlib now massing on Turkey's border with Syria which, for now, remains resolutely closed. Pictured: Greek riot police amidst tear gas used by the Turkish side at the closed-off Greek-Turkish border in Orestiada Pictured: Greek riot police amidst tear gas used by the Turkish side at the closed-off Greek-Turkish border in Orestiada Pictured: Greek riot police amidst tear gas used by the Turkish side at the closed-off Greek-Turkish border in Orestiada Pictured: Greek riot police amidst tear gas used by the Turkish side at the closed-off Greek-Turkish border in Orestiada Pazarkule isn't the only place where migrants are gathering since Erdogan's incendiary action. On the Greek island of Lesbos, already home to several thousand migrants in the infamous Moria camp - known as the 'worst refugee camp on earth' - locals are taking it upon themselves to fight off the new migrant flows from Turkey. Some 700 have arrived in less than a week, each one of them paying $500 for their place on an inflatable boat. In the port of Thermi, residents stopped migrants disembarking from a dinghy. The Greek government has called the situation a direct threat to national security and has stepped up aggressive patrols of the waters between the islands and the Turkish mainland. This week a four-year-old boy became the first child victim of the new crisis. He drowned after a dinghy carrying 46 migrants capsized in one of the crossings. Those who have made it to Lesbos have compared it to 'hell' - the camp rife with stabbings and reports of children as young as ten trying to commit suicide. Turkey claims that 130,000 migrants have already crossed into Greece in recent days. It is a high - and unlikely - number given Greece's response, but it will no doubt concentrate political minds in Athens. And in a move that will chill Europe's leaders to the bone, the situation looks set to deteriorate after Turkey's interior minister made a visit to the border town of Edirne on Thursday, where he announced the deployment of 1,000 Special Forces to prevent the Greek push back. Suleyman Soylu accused Greece of 'mistreating' the migrants and refugees and said Turkey 'will not allow it'. His words raise the prospect of Turkey, a Nato ally, and Greece, one of Europe's member states, entering into conflict, with migrants in the crossfire. The Greek authorities claim that up until Thursday morning, they had thwarted 34,778 attempts to cross the border. But if they think they've broken the resolve of those camped in Pazarkule, they can think again. They've sold everything for a route to a better life and they won't let it go without a fight. And as I leave I think of young Dalya in her wheelchair and her father desperate to get her the care she needs. What parent wouldn't understand his desperation to help his daughter? Its super alarming that its at Vaughn high school, that this aide was found to have had the coronavirus, because a school like that might have several students with compromised immune systems, Hughes said. "There arent very many answers except to say that weve got it under control. Given that theyre releasing this so late on a Friday, I have very little trust that they have it under control. El Molla held talks with US officials and companies' representatives to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the energy domain. Petroleum Minister Tareq El Molla held talks with US Senator Ted Cruz on means of promoting partnership with East Mediterranean countries in the natural gas field in light of Egypt's crucial role as a regional gas hub. This came during his current visit to Washington, during which he held talks with US officials and companies' representatives to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the energy domain. During the meeting, El Molla reviewed the Egyptian efforts and initiatives during the past year in cooperation with the countries of the region to establish an East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) to be an international organization. The forum was established in January 2019, with seven energy ministers deciding on July 25 in Cairo that they would form a committee to elevate the forum to the level of an international organization. El Molla also held talks with the President at Ranson Inspection Services, LLC, Chad Ranson, on boosting partnership with the Egyptian petroleum companies to manufacture equipment in Egypt, particularly in light of Egypt's success in the petroleum sector over the past period. Search Keywords: Short link: Luxor: A cruise ship on Egypt's Nile River with over 150 tourists and local crew was in quarantine Saturday in the southern city of Luxor, after 12 people tested positive for coronavirus. A Taiwanese-American tourist who had previously been on the same ship tested positive when she returned to Taiwan. The World Health Organisation informed Egyptian authorities, who tested everyone currently on the ship. Health authorities first found that a dozen of the ship's Egyptian crew members had contracted the fast-spreading virus, and said they did not show symptoms, according to a joint statement from Egypt's Health Ministry and the WHO on Friday. Officials said the 45 would be transferred to isolation in a hospital on Egypt's north coast. The passengers - who include Americans, French and other nationalities - and the remaining crew were quarantined on the ship while awaiting test results. The US Embassy in Cairo said in a tweet it was working to provide consular services and assistance to the US citizens affected. Planning is underway for an event to remember two men from Abbeyfeale who were gunned down and killed 100 years ago this year. Local men Patrick Harnett and Jeremiah Healy were killed on September 20 in 1920 by a member of the Black & Tans called Thomas Huckerby and now on the same date this year, a ceremony will be held at the spot where the two men were killed. It was a time of great unrest in the country when Patrick Harnett, a postman who loved with his parents in a house on Bridge Street met up with Jeremiah Healy, an apprentice blacksmith Batt Begley's forge and the two went for a walk out what is now known as the Killarney road. There had previously been an ambush at Mountmahon where a constable was shot dead and because of this, the Black & Tans were seeking revenge. According to a local farmer at the time, Patrick and Jeremiah were on their way to a dead horse which had been shot; as they left Bridge Street, they did not know that they were being observed by Thomas Huckerby who was standing at the barrack door which was opposite the Harnett's home. Huckerby, with a pistol strapped to his thigh, followed the two men and a short time later shot them both dead. On inspection of their bodies, no weapons of any kind were on them. A memorial marks the spot where the two men were killed beside what is now Mulcahy's Garage on the Killarney Road. Following their funerals in the parish church they were laid to rest side by side in St. Mary's Cemetery. Constable Huckerby was not arrested or court-martialled for the killings and what is significant about their deaths according to historians is that on their death certificates, the cause of death for both men is listed as "due to revolver shots fired by T.D Huckerby," and not as usually stated as "shot in the course of duty-justifiable homicide." Historians say that because of this, they believe that this indicated that the court must have considered that Huckerby had murdered both men. A hastily arranged Military Court of Enquiry was convened in Abbeyfeale a couple of days later but Thomas Huckerby was not charged or court-martialled for the murders and instead was transferred immediately to Limerick City. Following a number of other incidents in the months that followed Thomas Huckerby resigned from the RIC due to pending disciplinary charges. He died of jaundice in a London Police Hostel the following year at the relatively young age of 20 years. Since their deaths, these two innocent men with no links to the political issues of the time have linked Abbeyfeale to the wider national picture that was taking shape at the time. On September 20 this at 6:05pm, a small ceremony will mark the exact centenary since the men cruelly lost their lives. Full details will of the event be announced nearer the time, but organisers are especially asking all Healys and Harnetts to circulate this advance notice of the ceremony among family and friends. NOT enough. This was what officials of the cities of Cebu and Mandaue said on the 90-day deadline set by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for local government units to submit a rapid structural assessment report on all buildings in case of a major earthquake. In his order, DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano ordered LGUs to submit structural assessment reports of buildings and infrastructures in their areas as part of the effort to fortify buildings and establishments in anticipation of a massive earthquake. Ano further said that failure to submit these reports to DILG and to the Department of Public Works and Highways will result to the local chief executive facing sanctions. Insufficient But for Cebu City Office of the Building Office (OBO) consultant Ariel dela Cruz, the 90-day deadline set by DILG is insufficient for them to inspect and collate the structural assessment of around 1,200 buildings in the city. It takes time to evaluate one building, 90 days is not enough. It takes one day to inspect a one two-story building, dela Cruz told SunStar Cebu. Dela Cruz, though, emphasized that only a visual rapid assessment is doable within the period given by the DILG. But he also explained that a visual assessment will not suffice since it cannot guarantee on safe a building is. He said a thorough inspection of the building has to be made to assure its stability. He also said the DILG should consider letting LGUs conduct the inspection by cluster or by zoning. He said the DILG should take into account the status of the cities because there are cities which have more buildings than other cities or towns. To comply with the DILGs directive, OBO Chief Florante Catalan devised a measure that will allow owners of government and privately-owned buildings to submit their structural certification to the City. Catalan also urged building owners to have their structures checked every five years. Assistance Crystal Comon, head of Mandaue Citys OBO, also shared Dela Cruzs assessment. Story continues She admitted that it will be impossible to comply with the directive of the DILG since they have less than 10 personnel in their office. Comon said she plans to ask Mayor Jonas Cortes to include the City Engineering Office in helping them conduct the rapid structural assessment of all structures in the city to comply with the DILGs order. She also suggested tapping other organizations, such as the Association of Structural Engineers in the Philippines Inc., to help them inspect government and private buildings as part of their corporate social responsibility. If the mayor says to intensify the assessment of buildings to comply with the DILGs directive, then we will do so, even if it means declining daily applications for building inspections, Comon told SunStar Cebu, in Cebuano. (JJL / KFD) Delhi Court on Saturday granted bail to Kapil Baisala (Gujjar), who fired shots in the air near Shaheen Bagh on February 1. Additional Sessions Judge Gulshan Kumar of Saket Court granted him regular bail on a personal bail bond of Rs 25,000. Delhi Police had strongly opposed the bail application by stating that the allegations against the accused are very serious in nature and the case is in its initial stage. Kapil, a resident of Dallupura village near Delhi-Noida border, was detained by police following the firing incident. "The police personnel overpowered and detained him on the spot while he was firing in the air. He is being interrogated. An FIR is being registered and further investigation is underway," Chinmoy Biswal, DCP, South-East had said after the incident. According to Delhi Police sources, Kapil told the police that the protest at Shaheen Bagh caused traffic jams in the area. His cousin's wedding was coming up and he used to get stuck in traffic for hours while going to Lajpat Nagar to make arrangements. Hence, he took this step and fired shots in the air. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 'India needs to do what India can do, which is to keep the number of cases down.' 'If it manages to keep the cases down, it will save lives.' IMAGE: People queue for COVID-19 screening at the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo Dr Bharat Pankhania, senior clinical lecturer at the College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, UK, has worked with communicable diseases, public health, respiratory diseases and the care of the elderly. He has extensive experience in offering strategy and advice for national communicable disease control action plans, both in the UK and internationally. "If you don't succeed in keeping the number of cases down, then Indians will die," Dr Pankhania tells Vaihayasi Pande Daniel/Rediff.com. There have been several global virus outbreaks, be they SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), bird flu, swine flu and others. It appears that the coronavirus epidemic is much more serious. Is it that this virus is particularly more deadly? Or is it there is just much more awareness being spread on social media, as well as the false videos/info on social media as well etc? This is a new virus. As it is a new virus, there is a lot we don't know about it. It infects people. It harms people. It causes problems. This isn't a case of hype. This is a real problem. This is a real issue. The good thing about social media, and all, is that it holds (national) governments to account, which is not a bad thing. Because you could easily sort of get away with: 'I didn't know anything about it, so I did nothing about it.' Whereas now governments can't do things like not doing anything, because by social media they are put under pressure -- this is important. This is serious. India? I have my concerns, full stop. Because in India there is lack of control and command. There is lack of command of how are you going to stop it. This is very difficult. This is a huge problem for India. Because in India we also have a population that may or may not observe instructions. And obeying instructions is very important. A lot of comparisons have been made between this virus and SARS, swine flu, bird flu, Ebola etc. In terms of fatalities and in terms of its ability to reproduce and become a new virus, how does this virus compare to other viruses at the heart of large global outbreaks? The SARS virus was not so infectious. But it was more fatal. Because it was not so infectious it did not infect a lot of people and therefore it did not kill a lot of people. The coronavirus is part of the SARS family. It is more infectious. Because it is more infectious it creates more cases. Because it creates more cases it has more deaths. It is more harmful than the influenza virus. Much more, right. The influenza virus kills about 0.5 per cent of those people who are infected. This one kills about 1.5 per cent. So that's quite a lot. I understand that because the fatality rate of coronavirus is not as bad as other viruses like say SARS, that may not necessarily be a good thing, because people who are mildly infected, won't know they are. Therefore it spreads faster. Is that true? Well, yes. That makes my control work a lot harder, because if I don't know who is clearly infected, it is very difficult to identify a clearly infectious person and remove them from circulation. One sure way of doing it is to screen them. You can't screen the whole world. Can you? Let me ask you about screening. India is now doing a lot of screening at airports and all that, especially thermal screening. Will thermal screening identify someone who is potentially infectious? Thermal screening is a waste of time. It is a false reassurance. Thermal screening doesn't get you very far. Because you could be ill with a lot of illnesses which give you temperature. And just because you haven't got a temperature doesn't mean you haven't got the infection (coronavirus). So thermal screening is a little bit of a ceremony. It is not an exact science. It's rubbish. What then is the best way for an airport to screen passengers coming into a country? It is very difficult. Like I said, it is very difficult. But what you have to do is, you say you have come from a danger zone, I want you out of circulation. That's one way of dealing with it. The other way of dealing with it is that you identify these people. You can take a sample. And keep them out of circulation till it comes back positive or negative. The third way is, 'Look, you come from a danger area. Your test will not be positive for up to 14 days. So I want you out of circulation for up to 14 days.' That's another strategy. None of these steps are probably happening in India? India is a problem, kya karein? (what to do?) The coronavirus is said to have mutated into two types or more. And it is possible to contract a viral infection from either or both. As per what you told The Times, London, there is no information on how harmful the new mutated virus is, because that has happened in China and China is under a clampdown. There is a possibility the virus can mutate elsewhere and if the place is not under a clampdown, the second virus will be equally or more harmful? Yeah, but only China can do things like containment by locking you down. Other countries cannot do that! Is the mutation a good thing? Yes, but not all mutations are in the wrong direction. What I can say to you is that a mutation is just a mistake in reproduction. So mutation isn't necessarily a bad thing. It can be a bad thing. It might not be a bad thing. Usually a mutation is like -- it makes the virus less potent. A mutation is just a representation of a reproductive mistake. Generally, what I understood as a layperson, is that when it jumps from species to species (animal to man), then the first variety is less strong and then there can be a stronger variety and then there can be a less strong variety as well and so on... Yes (hesitantly). Not necessarily. It can be rubbish and then it can be good and then it can become bad. What I mean by good is highly infective, highly pathogenic. And it changes and becomes less so. It can go in either direction. What is it looking like so far with this virus? It is too early to tell. It is too early to tell. And it is not as if it is losing its potency and there is no evidence that it is becoming more vigorous. So that doesn't show anything about the virulence of the mutated virus? Correct. IMAGE: Dr Bharat Pankhania. IMAGE: Dr Bharat Pankhania. What is the overall situation as far as you can see, and as per whatever information is available to you, at Ground Zero or at alternate places where the crisis is severe? There is still no cure, correct? Or any way in which it is being limited? And the status on containing this virus? There are people working on developing a vaccine. And then there are people working very hard on trying anti-retroviral drugs as a treatment option for managing this coronavirus infection. People are developing the vaccine. It hasn't been developed. It is not easy to develop it. The vaccine isn't available at the moment. It won't be available any time soon, either? Correct. As far as containment goes, there is no containment yet. It is getting worse at the moment? No. You got to practice containment because containment is the only option you have. India needs to do what India can do, which is to keep the number of cases down. If it manages to keep the cases down, it will save lives. If you don't succeed in keeping the number of cases down, then Indians will die. India declared it is not just cases coming from outside. It acknowledged there was a community spread, but no fatalities have been reported. To say that there are no casualties, but that there is transmission happening in the community (person to person), what does that mean? Good or bad? In India when a man dies you don't know whether he died of coronavirus or a heart attack or TB, do you? Well then you know the answer. If you are not specifically looking for it, how will you know? IMAGE: A lady who recently returned from the United States being examined by doctors at a coronavirus help desk at a Hyderabad hospital. Photograph: PTI Photo So just because India is not showing deaths and not showing numbers, do you think India can still be facing a large problem given the population, given the way people move about (in close quarters) and the lack of precautions? Yes, that is correct. Who is this illness coming for? So far it seems to affect fatally only elderly people at the moment and people with pre-conditions. Not children? Still no information on how it affects pregnant women. It will affect everybody. We just think it will affect older people more. It depends on how strong your constitution is. Yes, the condition of your health. Depends on how well you are otherwise. It seems to affect people at the extremes of the age spectrum. How cautious can one be? Sitting in Mumbai, for instance, which is a very heavily populated city and you are exposed to multitudes of people and possibilities of multiple transmissions of anything people to people, you wonder what you can do. You have to be as cautious as you can possibly be. India is a problem, I told you. We just don't have the desire to be clean. And you haven't got the desire to be clean, then you have a case of kya karein> (what to do?). You are going to die if you don't take care. I am trying to sort of say India needs a large programme of health promotion, health protection. This is a good investment. If you invest in health protection, you create less deaths, less cases. But you have to have a political will to invest in these things. And if you don't invest, you have got a problem. You cannot create a good (health) culture in seconds. It takes days, years to create a sense of: Be careful. When you start unravelling the implications of the spread of coronavirus in the context of India it is sort of mindboggling. I mean like I have just picked up the newspaper and I don't know how many people (with clean hands) have handled it. I have just bought vegetables and I don't know if ten people have handled the same potato. So you worry about your level of risk all the time. Is it important to be worried about all this? It is important to be aware. Absolutely! It is important to be aware of everything. Clean your hands, don't be dirty and don't spit in the streets! The options available to protect yourself from coronavirus in India, because of the crowds and population: Basically just washing your hands frequently, washing them well, rubbing them and all that. In the absence of soap and water, a hand sanitiser with more than 60 per cent alcohol. Correct? Correct! Well you can take care. Wash your hands and don't get infected, that's the bottom line. Masks can do something, but actually it is precious little? No. What's the point? Rubbish. Also, it is too early to tell what the casualties will be like for coronavirus. Right now, it is about 3,000 worldwide. But it is very early in the course of this disease. Correct? Correct. It can go up much higher than what people are expecting? It will go up much more. We expect more cases. I expect more cases. I expect more illness. I expect more deaths. Coronavirus, according to so many news articles, has arisen in the wet markets of China where there can often be -- so the reports say -- a lot of mixing of body fluids of dead and live animals of all kinds. India's markets are not very hygienic either, so why can't such a situation arise in India? Why till now has it been that these kinds of viruses always emanate from China? It doesn't. It happens anywhere. You mean it can very well happen anywhere, in India too? We may not know about it? Of course, of course. It can happen anywhere. These things happen. These things happen anywhere. Anywhere. Anywhere. Anywhere. Anywhere! It can happen anywhere where you have malpractice. China has more population. More animals. More things. So, of course, it has more damage you know. It can happen anywhere. What kind of travel should one avoid right now, especially if you are based in India? Should one avoid any non-essential air travel? No. Life has to continue. It is important. Life has to continue. You just have to take precautions as a process and you take care. So you say to yourself: 'You will do this and you will do that. And won't do this and won't do that'. What is the coronavirus? A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body's normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word 'corona', which means crown, because they are encased by a spiked shell which resembles a royal crown. The coronavirus from Wuhan is one which has never been seen before this outbreak. It has been named SARS-CoV-2 by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The name stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2. Experts say the bug, which has killed around one in 50 patients since the outbreak began in December, is a 'sister' of the SARS illness which hit China in 2002, so has been named after it. The disease that the virus causes has been named COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019. Dr Helena Maier, from the Pirbright Institute, said: 'Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that infect a wide range of different species including humans, cattle, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats and wild animals. 'Until this new coronavirus was identified, there were only six different coronaviruses known to infect humans. Four of these cause a mild common cold-type illness, but since 2002 there has been the emergence of two new coronaviruses that can infect humans and result in more severe disease (Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronaviruses). 'Coronaviruses are known to be able to occasionally jump from one species to another and that is what happened in the case of SARS, MERS and the new coronavirus. The animal origin of the new coronavirus is not yet known.' The first human cases were publicly reported from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where approximately 11million people live, after medics first started publicly reporting infections on December 31. By January 8, 59 suspected cases had been reported and seven people were in critical condition. Tests were developed for the new virus and recorded cases started to surge. The first person died that week and, by January 16, two were dead and 41 cases were confirmed. The next day, scientists predicted that 1,700 people had become infected, possibly up to 7,000. Where does the virus come from? According to scientists, the virus almost certainly came from bats. Coronaviruses in general tend to originate in animals the similar SARS and MERS viruses are believed to have originated in civet cats and camels, respectively. The first cases of COVID-19 came from people visiting or working in a live animal market in Wuhan, which has since been closed down for investigation. Although the market is officially a seafood market, other dead and living animals were being sold there, including wolf cubs, salamanders, snakes, peacocks, porcupines and camel meat. A study by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, published in February 2020 in the scientific journal Nature, found that the genetic make-up virus samples found in patients in China is 96 per cent identical to a coronavirus they found in bats. However, there were not many bats at the market so scientists say it was likely there was an animal which acted as a middle-man, contracting it from a bat before then transmitting it to a human. It has not yet been confirmed what type of animal this was. Dr Michael Skinner, a virologist at Imperial College London, was not involved with the research but said: 'The discovery definitely places the origin of nCoV in bats in China. 'We still do not know whether another species served as an intermediate host to amplify the virus, and possibly even to bring it to the market, nor what species that host might have been.' So far the fatalities are quite low. Why are health experts so worried about it? Experts say the international community is concerned about the virus because so little is known about it and it appears to be spreading quickly. It is similar to SARS, which infected 8,000 people and killed nearly 800 in an outbreak in Asia in 2003, in that it is a type of coronavirus which infects humans' lungs. It is less deadly than SARS, however, which killed around one in 10 people, compared to approximately one in 50 for COVID-19. Another reason for concern is that nobody has any immunity to the virus because they've never encountered it before. This means it may be able to cause more damage than viruses we come across often, like the flu or common cold. Speaking at a briefing in January, Oxford University professor, Dr Peter Horby, said: 'Novel viruses can spread much faster through the population than viruses which circulate all the time because we have no immunity to them. 'Most seasonal flu viruses have a case fatality rate of less than one in 1,000 people. Here we're talking about a virus where we don't understand fully the severity spectrum but it's possible the case fatality rate could be as high as two per cent.' If the death rate is truly two per cent, that means two out of every 100 patients who get it will die. 'My feeling is it's lower,' Dr Horby added. 'We're probably missing this iceberg of milder cases. But that's the current circumstance we're in. 'Two per cent case fatality rate is comparable to the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 so it is a significant concern globally.' How does the virus spread? The illness can spread between people just through coughs and sneezes, making it an extremely contagious infection. And it may also spread even before someone has symptoms. It is believed to travel in the saliva and even through water in the eyes, therefore close contact, kissing, and sharing cutlery or utensils are all risky. It can also live on surfaces, such as plastic and steel, for up to 72 hours, meaning people can catch it by touching contaminated surfaces. Originally, people were thought to be catching it from a live animal market in Wuhan city. But cases soon began to emerge in people who had never been there, which forced medics to realise it was spreading from person to person. What does the virus do to you? What are the symptoms? Once someone has caught the COVID-19 virus it may take between two and 14 days, or even longer, for them to show any symptoms but they may still be contagious during this time. If and when they do become ill, typical signs include a runny nose, a cough, sore throat and a fever (high temperature). The vast majority of patients will recover from these without any issues, and many will need no medical help at all. In a small group of patients, who seem mainly to be the elderly or those with long-term illnesses, it can lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection in which the insides of the lungs swell up and fill with fluid. It makes it increasingly difficult to breathe and, if left untreated, can be fatal and suffocate people. Figures are showing that young children do not seem to be particularly badly affected by the virus, which they say is peculiar considering their susceptibility to flu, but it is not clear why. What have genetic tests revealed about the virus? Scientists in China have recorded the genetic sequences of around 19 strains of the virus and released them to experts working around the world. This allows others to study them, develop tests and potentially look into treating the illness they cause. Examinations have revealed the coronavirus did not change much changing is known as mutating much during the early stages of its spread. However, the director-general of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, said the virus was mutating and adapting as it spread through people. This means efforts to study the virus and to potentially control it may be made extra difficult because the virus might look different every time scientists analyse it. More study may be able to reveal whether the virus first infected a small number of people then change and spread from them, or whether there were various versions of the virus coming from animals which have developed separately. How dangerous is the virus? The virus has a death rate of around two per cent. This is a similar death rate to the Spanish Flu outbreak which, in 1918, went on to kill around 50million people. Experts have been conflicted since the beginning of the outbreak about whether the true number of people who are infected is significantly higher than the official numbers of recorded cases. Some people are expected to have such mild symptoms that they never even realise they are ill unless they're tested, so only the more serious cases get discovered, making the death toll seem higher than it really is. However, an investigation into government surveillance in China said it had found no reason to believe this was true. Dr Bruce Aylward, a World Health Organization official who went on a mission to China, said there was no evidence that figures were only showing the tip of the iceberg, and said recording appeared to be accurate, Stat News reported. Can the virus be cured? The COVID-19 virus cannot be cured and it is proving difficult to contain. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, so they are out of the question. Antiviral drugs can work, but the process of understanding a virus then developing and producing drugs to treat it would take years and huge amounts of money. No vaccine exists for the coronavirus yet and it's not likely one will be developed in time to be of any use in this outbreak, for similar reasons to the above. The National Institutes of Health in the US, and Baylor University in Waco, Texas, say they are working on a vaccine based on what they know about coronaviruses in general, using information from the SARS outbreak. But this may take a year or more to develop, according to Pharmaceutical Technology. Currently, governments and health authorities are working to contain the virus and to care for patients who are sick and stop them infecting other people. People who catch the illness are being quarantined in hospitals, where their symptoms can be treated and they will be away from the uninfected public. And airports around the world are putting in place screening measures such as having doctors on-site, taking people's temperatures to check for fevers and using thermal screening to spot those who might be ill (infection causes a raised temperature). However, it can take weeks for symptoms to appear, so there is only a small likelihood that patients will be spotted up in an airport. Is this outbreak an epidemic or a pandemic? The outbreak was declared a pandemic on March 11. A pandemic is defined by the World Health Organization as the 'worldwide spread of a new disease'. Previously, the UN agency said most cases outside of Hubei had been 'spillover' from the epicentre, so the disease wasn't actually spreading actively around the world. BRIDGEPORT A second employee of a Connecticut hospital is confirmed to have coronavirus while nine more patients in Connecticut are being tested for the virus. No Connecticut residents have tested positive with 42 specimens from 21 patients coming back negative at the state lab in Rocky Hill. Tests are pending for nine other patients, four of whom who are associated with two Connecticut hospital employees who live in New York and have coronavirus. A doctor affiliated with Bridgeport Hospital was announced Saturday as the latest hospital employee to test positive. Renee D. Coleman-Mitchell, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said at a press conference Saturday that three pending tests are connected to Norwalk and Danbury hospitals, where an employee who is a New York resident tested positive for the virus. Another Connecticut patient being tested is connected to a community physician who works out of Bridgeport Hospital. Officials said the doctor made rounds at the hospital and was at the facility last week. The two hospital employees are New York residents and their cases have been traced to the outbreak in New Rochelle, a city in Westchester County, officials confirmed. Officials say the two employees are being self-quarantined in their Westchester County homes. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Saturday that allows for additional resources for local health departments to deal with the outbreak. Westchester is definitely a hot spot, for coronavirus, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said. Blumenthal expressed a need for more testing material nationwide, saying the federal government should have dispersed the kits more quickly. We need to know who is infected, Blumenthal said. Anne Diamond, president of Bridgeport Hospital, said the New York State Department of Health alerted the hospital that a community physician was diagnosed with the coronavirus on Friday. This physician saw a limited number of patients at Bridgeport Hospital, Diamond said. At that time, the physician displayed no symptoms associated with COVID-19, and as a result and this is very important the physician contact here during that time does not constitute an exposure. Still, Diamond said, the hospital took immediate steps to inform the staff and employees. She said the hospital also isolated the very small number of patients who interacted with the physician who officials confirmed is a man. Diamond said U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed the hospital that such an isolation is not necessary at this time. That is because the physician did not have symptoms while he was here at Bridgeport Hospital. However, on the CDC website, it indicates that some spread might be possible before people show symptoms. There have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, the CDC website says, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Diamond also indicated that Bridgeport Hospital staff will not require isolation or furlough at this time. Yale New Haven Health, parent company of Bridgeport Hospital, reiterated in a statement Saturday that since the physician was asymptomatic, the risk to staff and patients remains low. As of Saturday night, there were about 90 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York, with 70 of those in Westchester County. Westchester is an obvious problem for us, Cuomo said at a press conference in New York Saturday afternoon. You talk about the contagion in clusters and then the clusters tend to infect more and more people. You want to pay special attention to those situations. Gov. Ned Lamont said, during Saturdays press conference at Bridgeport Hospital, that the state partnered with United Way of Connecticut to launch an information hotline for questions from the public about the spread of coronavirus. People with questions can call 211 or text CTCOVID to 898211. The hotline is intended to be used by people who are not experiencing symptoms but have general questions. The hotline is available 24/7 and multilingual assistance, as well as TTY/TTD access for the deaf or hard of hearing. In Bridgeport, officials said theyre doing everything they can to stay ahead of the coronavirus, urging residents to take precautions. Prevention is critical with covering your cough and sneezes, washing your hands with soap at least for 20 seconds, sanitizing commonly touched objects and surfaces, said Scott Appleby, director of Bridgeports Office of Emergency Management. Albertina Baptista, interim director of the Bridgeport Health Department, said in a statement that the city has a preparedness plan and is in contact with the state DPH and the CDC. Residents are concerned Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said there are no updates on the employee who works at Danbury and Norwalk hospitals, but said he planned to meet with stakeholders to make sure the facility is implementing safety plans. Boughton said the hospital employee did not have a lot of contact with patients. Residents are concerned, he said. Theres no question about that. Its scary. Its unnerving. But we have to trust health professionals. These people are fantastic. We know were going to have more cases because of how contagious this disease is. If we can follow protocols put in place, well be OK. Kerry Eaton, chief operating officer of Nuvance Health, the hospitals parent company, said Friday that the employee worked in a relatively isolated part of the hospital with limited exposure to patients and staff. Employees who had contact with the woman have been furloughed for two weeks. Deanna DAmore, Norwalk Director of Health, said Norwalk Hospital has contacted everyone who has interacted with the employee. We are ready and able to support our colleagues if needed, DAmore said. I'd like to remind everyone to continue to protect themselves and their loved ones by washing their hands well and often, to avoid close contact with people who are sick, to stay home if they are not feeling well, and to contact their health care provider if they need medical attention A spokeswoman for the Danbury and Norwalk hospitals said Saturday there are no plans to set up outposts for potential coronavirus patients as outlined by the governor on Friday, but will react accordingly as the situation evolves. Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling urged residents to beware of misinformation about the virus spread. Now is not a time for panic but a time to continue taking basic precautions, such as washing your hands frequently, avoid shaking hands, avoid close contact with people who are sick, and staying home when you are not feeling well, Rilling said. Rumors and misinformation, unfortunately, can spread faster than facts. I am in contact with the state health department and will share information as soon as we have it. I want to reassure the public our team remains on top of this situation. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim said some cities have talked about dismissing schools or virtual classes, something he said he hopes isnt necessary in Connecticut. Preparations for coronavirus spread are already in full force across the state and nation. The state Department of Veteran Affairs has announced that starting Monday respiratory screenings will be done for all patients, visitors and volunteers at VA Connecticut Healthcare Facilities. Public school systems and colleges are also taking precautions, especially as spring breaks approach and students prepare to travel. Southern Connecticut State University posted on Twitter Saturday morning, saying students who travel to countries with a level one or three travel advisory from the Center of Disease Control will have to stay off campus for 14 days after returning. Cuomo said hes spoken with New Rochelle officials about extending the quarantine of the Modern Orthodox Salanter Akiba Riverdale High School in Riverdale, as well as the Westchester Day School and the Westchester Torah Academy due to suspected and confirmed exposure to the virus. Cuomo also said nursing homes in the New Rochelle area will not be allowed to have visitors. According to CNBC, Amtrak is suspending nonstop service between New York and Washington D.C. from March 10 to May 26 due to concerns of the virus spreading. The American Conservative Union announced Saturday that an attendee at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland attended by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence tested positive for coronavirus. The ACU indicated that the person tested positive Saturday and that the exposure occurred previous to the conference. ACU said the individual was tested by a New Jersey hospital and that the patient is under the care of medical professionals and has been quarantined there. "At this time there is no indication that either President Trump or Vice President Pence met with or were in close proximity to the attendee, the White House said in a statement. The president's physician and United States Secret Service have been working closely with White House staff and various agencies to ensure every precaution is taken to keep the first family and the entire White House Complex safe and healthy. erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com PHILADELPHIA The threat of the coronavirus has resulted in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia taking measures on the parish level pertaining to the celebration of the Mass. Early last week, directives were issued to pastors in all 216 parishes. The potential spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States and locally at this point requires a pastoral response that impacts the celebration of Mass in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, reads the directive. Effective immediately, all priests, deacons and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion are to wash their hands with soap and water prior to the celebration of Mass. A hand sanitizer may be used in the pew by the extraordinary minister prior to the distribution of Holy Communion. In addition to the usual purification of fingers with water after the distribution of Holy Communion, all ministers should again wash their hands. The distribution of the Precious Blood to liturgical ministers and the faithful has been suspended, therefore there will be no sharing of a chalice during Mass. In reference to the sign of peace, which is a regular part of the Catholic liturgy, the archdiocese says it remains an option, however individual pastors were instructed to consult the local community for how to best observe this practice at this time. Suggestions include a head bow instead of the customary handshake. Also, holy water fonts are to be drained and refreshed more frequently than usual to avoid any possible contamination. Intentions for the prevention of the virus and for those affected should be included in the universal prayer. The above directives are to be observed until further notice, reads the letter. Everyone is encouraged both during the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy and at all times to be thoughtful and vigilant in practices that prevent the spread of sickness and disease and protect the good health of one another. A national helpline for the elderly has received calls from pensioners who are becoming increasingly concerned about the outbreak of the coronavirus in Ireland. Anne Dempsey, communications manager with Third Age which runs the Senior Helpline, says that anxiety about the virus is particularly prominent amongst people who live alone and are without the reassuring voices of regular visitors. She says that the outbreak is already impacting on the lives of pensioners. Ms Dempsey: We had one caller who lives in the South East. She visits her daughter every few weeks. Her daughter lives about one hundred miles away. "She travels by public transport and it is a very important trip for her. She is cancelling this week because she feels it wouldn't be right to do it this week for herself and for her family. It is a small thing in ways but it is a big thing in her life. We have had a few other calls from people with underlying chronic health conditions. They are quite worried. The elderly volunteers who man the peer-to-peer service give "general reassurance" about the coronavirus. However, Ms Dempsey says that they don't exceed their brief by saying that the situation is all going to be "grand and dandy." Ms Dempsey says that the HSE information phone line on the coronavirus is an excellent service. She stresses however that the 'live chat' on the HSE website isn't the correct method of communication when it comes to pensioners. She said: "A considerable amount of older people aren't on the internet. I think the Government needs to look at different ways of dispensing information in a general way now so that it reaches people of all ages. Just saying that you can go on a website isn't good enough." Ms Dempsey says she is also conscious of little things that could make such a difference to a vulnerable cohort of people. "Another issue is that some older people have never used tissues and they use pocket handkerchiefs. We are saying to people 'get a box of tissues. Use them. And bin each one.' It is just something that people might not think of. "A lot of older people who are out shopping also handle money. They don't use cards. So I would tell them to wash their hands thoroughly when they get home." She said much of her work focuses on social isolation of the elderly but in this instance having a small circle can work in their favour. "One positive thing that people haven't thought about is that some people live quite sheltered lives with a small circle of people," she said. "They don't go out that much. So in a way it is a protection for them. Even though that is sad in lots of ways maybe it is a protection." Senior Line is a programme of the not-for-profit agency, Third Age. The agency says that there are approximately 160,000 people aged over 65 living alone in Ireland. Lines are open every day from 10am to 10pm, 365 days a year. Senior Lines Freefone number is 1800 80 45 91. Meanwhile, Brenda Barry, Co Coordinator of the Cork branch of Friendly Call visitation and call service for elderly people, said that most of their clients hadn't been worried about the virus up until the case was confirmed at CUH. Ms Barry said: "I am sure this will change as a result of this news. Also, the cancellation of outpatients in CUH will be a huge worry. We have a number of clients who are in CUH at the moment too and I am sure they will be fearful that they might be compromised by being in the hospital. "We can only hope that this terrible virus can be contained. Our Friendly callers will continue to advise people to follow the advice from the media about hand hygiene." Calls are also being made for the public to check in on their elderly friends and relatives amid concerns about the coronavirus. Paddy O'Brien, who has worked as an advocate for the elderly in Cork for 60 years, says he is worried about elderly people who are housebound. Mr O'Brien said: "Some of them are housebound and don't listen to radio or read newspapers and they are totally unaware. They are a vulnerable section of the community at the moment. Then you have the people who are afraid to go to the supermarket. People are scared. "I would make a very special appeal to neighbours who have a very important role to play here. Please make some contact with the elderly. Make sure that they are okay for food. "A lot of people gave up having a phone when the rental allowances went. So they have no contact with the outside world. "We are not in a panic situation but we are in a serious situation." Japan's Cabinet approved a policy on Friday that enables the government to invalidate the visas of people coming from China and South Korea. The measure is among those aimed at preventing the spread of the new coronavirus. The Japanese government will cancel the visas next Monday. All foreign nationals coming from the two countries will be denied entry into Japan, if they do not have new visas. People from South Korea, Hong Kong and Macao are currently exempt from visa requirements for short-term stays of up to 90 days. But they will be required to obtain travel documents starting next week. Japanese officials are currently examining new applications carefully, and few visas have been issued to people from the two nations. The government says visas for foreign visitors who are currently in Japan will become invalid once the individuals leave the country. This policy will be in effect until the end of this month. But Japan's foreign ministry says the period may be extended. The government says it will work with China, South Korea, and other nations to implement anti-virus measures at ports of entry. ABINGDON, Va. A methamphetamine trafficking ringleader has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Shawn Wayne Farris, 54, of Rancho Mirage, California, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of meth. In early 2017, Operation California Dreaming began investigating the trafficking of meth between California, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, prosecutors said. As a result, 28 people were charged. A woman, who came in contact with the Paytm employee who tested positive for coronavirus, has been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital here for suspected infection, Delhi's health department said on Saturday. In a bulletin, the department said she is kept under isolation at the hospital. "One more case is preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19 in Delhi. Confirmation is awaited. She has no travel history but has history of contact with Case no. 2 (the Patym employee) on 28.02.2020," it said. Delhi has recorded three positive cases of coronavirus -- a 45-year-old man from Mayur Vihar, the Paytm employee who works in Gurgaon and lives in west Delhi and another man from west Delhi with a travel history to Thailand and Malaysia. Officials also said all 38 people the woman came in touch with have been traced. She was among 168 people the Paytm employee came in contact with. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On March 8, 1965, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. told marchers headed to Montgomery, Ala., the next day, If you are beaten tomorrow you must turn the other cheek. Kings comment came just hours after hundreds of blacks attempted to march from Selma to Montgomery to fight for the right to vote. On that attempted journey on March 8, 1965, the marchers were met by law enforcement officers with tear gas and clubs. The violence came less than a month after an African American demonstrator, Jimmie Lee Jackson, 26, who was trying to protect his mother, was shot by police on Feb. 18, 1965, in Marion, Ala. He died on Feb. 26. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 had been passed seven months before. From history.com, "In response, civil rights leaders planned to take their cause directly to Alabama Governor George Wallace on a 54-mile march from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery. Although Wallace ordered state troopers 'to use whatever measures are necessary to prevent a march,' approximately 600 voting rights advocates set out from the Brown Chapel AME Church on Sunday, March 7. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who had met with President Lyndon Johnson two days earlier to discuss voting rights legislation, remained back in Atlanta with his own congregation and planned to join the marchers en route the following day." Alabama police troopers on horseback watch as troopers on the ground swing their clubs at demonstrators in Selma, Ala., on what is known as Bloody Sunday on March 7, 1965. Supporters of black voting rights organized a march from Selma to Montgomery to protest the killing of a demonstrator by a state trooper and to improve voter registration for blacks, who are discouraged to register. (AP photo)AP Demonstrators marched undisturbed through Selma. But as they began to cross the bridge spanning the Alabama River, the marchers could see trouble on the other side - state troopers with billie clubs and white spectators waving Confederate flags. Across the bridge was the name of the reputed grand dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan, Edmund Pettus, according to history.com. Major John Cloud, using a bullhorn, warned the marchers that continuing could be harmful to their safety. They were told to go home. The marchers stood their ground. The state troopers, wearing gas masks, advanced, knocked marchers to the ground and hit them with sticks. Deputies on horses chased the marchers while swinging clubs, whips and rubber tubing wrapped in barbed wire. The attack was captured by television cameras and when it aired that evening, viewers were appalled at the sights and sounds of Bloody Sunday. "Outrage at 'Bloody Sunday' swept the country. Sympathizers staged sit-ins, traffic blockades and demonstrations in solidarity with the voting rights marchers. Some even traveled to Selma where two days later King attempted another march but, to the dismay of some demonstrators, turned back when troopers again blocked the highway at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Finally, after a federal court order permitted the protest, the voting rights marchers left Selma on March 21 under the protection of federalized National Guard troops. Four days later, they reached Montgomery with the crowd growing to 25,000 by the time they reached the capitol steps. In The Patriot on March 8, 1965, the Associated Press reported that 35 people had been treated at Selma hospitals, primarily for exposure to tear gas. The leader of the march, Hosea Williams, had asked if he could speak with Cloud but Cloud told him, You may disperse or go back to the church or we will break it up. Theres nothing to talk about. The Associated Press wrote that troopers fired tear gas into the crowd and acted on orders from the governor to use whatever means were necessary to halt the planned fight-to-vote march. Troopers chased the blacks across an open field, white bystanders cheered and the rest of the day was bedlam. That evening, the sheriff advised residents over the radio to stay home, off the streets and out of dark places. When the group of marchers were turned back, the report stated that they were herded along by officers. The marchers were forced to walk back off the bridge and officers on horses forced them onto downtown sidewalks, pressing them against the buildings with their horses. On the night of the second attempt to march on March 9, a civil rights activist from Boston, James Reeb, who was a Unitarian Universalist minister, was murdered when he was beaten to death. The third time the march was attempted, on March 21, President Lyndon Johnson, committed to providing protection for the marchers. He activated the Alabama National Guard, FBI agents and federal marshals. The group arrived in Montgomery on March 24 at the state Capitol on March 25. The events in Selma galvanized public opinion and mobilized Congress to pass the Voting Rights Act, which President Johnson signed into law on August 6, 1965. Today, the bridge that served as the backdrop to 'Bloody Sunday' still bears the name of a white supremacist, but now it is a symbolic civil rights landmark." Civil rights demonstrators struggle on the ground as state troopers use violence to break up a march in Selma, Ala., on what is known as Bloody Sunday on March 7, 1965. The supporters of black voting rights organized a march from Selma to Montgomery to protest the killing of a demonstrator by a state trooper and to improve voter registration for blacks, who are discouraged to register. (AP Photo)AP 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. Delhi violence: Shahrukh sent to 3 more days' police custody for pointing gun at cop India oi-Mousumi Dash New Delhi, Mar 07: A Delhi court on Saturday allowed police three more days' custodial interrogation of Shahrukh Pathan, who allegedly pointed a gun at a police head constable during the recent communal violence in the national capital's northeast area. Duty Magistrate Vijay Shri Rathore extended Pathan's police custody after he was produced before the judge at the end of his four-day remand period amidst high security late in the evening, a lawyer associated with the case said. The 23-year-old man who was arrested for wielding a gun during the Delhi riots had earlier told the police that he fired in a fit of rage. The police said that Pathan had fired three rounds. During his interrogation, he said that he had fired in a fit of rage and on the spur of the moment. In a video that went viral, Pathan could be seen pointing his country-made pistol at the policeman on the Jafrabad-Maujpur road on February 24. At least 47 people, including a police head constable Ratan Lal and Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma, have died while around 200 people sustained serious injuries in the violence that raged in northeast Delhi. As a travel enthusiast, Nguyen Thi Da Ly, 28, spends her leisure time and money on trips to explore the world. Nguyen Thi Da Ly at the Naheli Vina office in HCM City's District 2. Photo courtesy of Nguyen Thi Da Ly After her trips, what most impressed the young lady from HCM City was the widespread awareness of environmentally-friendly products around the world. Ly said: "When I went to Japan, I saw people using cloth bags to go shopping. In Bali, Indonesia, restaurants use fast food containers made from leaves. Conferences at hotels in China use paper ballpoint pens. Travelling to many places, she had the opportunity to learn interesting things from other countries. When she returned home, she was more and more worried about the problem of over-using disposable plastic products. Items like plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, soda and water bottles, and most food packaging are over-used in Vietnam, Ly said. Many cities like Da Nang have launched campaigns to Say No to single-use plastic products to deal with pollution and waste treatment. But it seems that people are unfamiliar with environmentally-friendly products. She came up with an idea of doing something both to satisfy her business and be useful to the society. Challenge to start After graduating from the National Academy of Public Administration in HCM City in 2014, Ly worked for Doosan Heavy Industry and then for Samsung Electronics HCMC CE Complex. In 2015, she decided to join hands with a few friends to set up a construction equipment rental company and the company has been growing ever since. Ly now owns 20 per cent of the shares at the company. In 2017, she decided to quit her job at Samsung with a salary of US$1,000 per month to set up her own company, Naheli Vina Ltd. Co., located in District 2s Thao Dien Ward, specialising in environmentally-friendly products. My start-up idea faced objections from my family, and especially my ex-boyfriend, she said. Everyone thought it was an unrealistic idea. People say producing eco-friendly products is time-consuming and not profitable, while there arent very many customers. My parents told me a stable salary of $1,000 a month is enough for a young lady, while the start-up idea might not be successful. My ex-boyfriend didnt like me spending so much time on the start-up business, so he gave up on the relationship." At that time, I felt quite sad, but I was consistent with the path I chose and wanted to prove to people. A workshop in Ben Tre Province's Chau Thanh District. Ly discussed her ideas with a cousin, who had a workshop specialising in handicrafts in Huu Dinh Commune of Ben Tre Province's Chau Thanh District. They agreed to use his workshop's facilities and workers for the products and she decided to invest her savings of VND300 million ($12,900) in upgrading the workshop. Now, the workshop covers 1,200sq.m with eight workers and two managers. It has a daily production capacity of 10,000 products. The workshops simple but very practical products include bamboo toothbrushes, slippers, coconut straws, paper pens, as well as wooden cutlery and chopsticks. According to Ly, although these are small items, they are daily products that people often dispose of. From raw materials to production techniques, she had to learn how to do everything. In addition to ideas from practical tours, Ly also spent time researching in books and online, then designed products suitable for consumers' tastes. I learned and then I developed. I had to test each product a dozen times. After each product was made, I learned from experience to improve products in the following phase, Ly said. Therefore, the money I spent on researching and designing products accounts for a big amount of my investment capital. There have been quite a few factories producing eco-friendly products, but most have not yet been able to compete on price with plastic products. Therefore, they only exist for a short time. To minimise production costs, Ly turned to recycled materials such as recycled paper or coir, bamboo, and grass, coconut shells and coconut trees wood. These are cheap materials that are available locally. In addition, she also reduced costs by building a sales team through social networks. Currently, there are agents in Da Lat City in Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) Province and Can Tho City. Naheli Vina products cost only 50 per cent of similar products price on the market. The price of a bamboo or coconut tree toothbrush is VND20,000, a pair of coir slippers goes for VND60,000, a coconut straw is VND50,000 and a paper pen just VND6,000. Naheli Vina's targeted customers include restaurants, hotels, hospitals, cafes, schools and businesses. Currently, products are available in supermarkets such as Co.op Mart, Bach Hoa Xanh (Green Mart), Guardian and nearly 10 local hotels. Regarding strategic goals in the near future, she said that the whole society has started to pay attention and switch to environmentally-friendly products, so the potential of the market is very big. The company has also exported products to China and Cambodia. Passionate about yoga, Ly said practising yoga is hard at the beginning, just like doing business. But when you cross the limit, you will love it. VNS Time for businesses to develop eco-friendly products Director of the Environmental Technology Centre under the Institute of Environmental Technology Phung Chi Sy speaks to Hai quan (Customs) newspaper about measures to help business tap opportunities to develop eco-friendly products. HCM City students make biodegradable products from potatoes Two students from the HCM City University of Economics and Finance have made biodegradable products from potato starch in an effort to reduce the use of single-use plastic items. Businesses do their bit to save environment The attention businesses are paying to strategies and measures to protect the environment is a good augury for the sustainable development of the economy. Hungarys border fence and asylum laws are sufficient to meet migration-related challenges of the coming period, Zoltan Kovacs, the state secretary for international communications, said in an interview published on Friday. The government is ready to take further steps if needed, he told the daily Magyar Hirlap. Kovacs insisted that western European countries now contained parallel societies due to decades of immigration, which has hardly been a success story. Most of the economic migrants who settled in western Europe did so illegally, he added. Europe is now forced to face the harsh reality of hundreds of thousands of migrants trying to breach the EUs external borders from the direction of Turkey and the Mediterranean, he added, accusing the bloc of showing helplessness and indecisiveness. Hungarys recommendations for solutions to the problem have fallen on deaf ears, he said. Brussels is still focused on finding a pan-European solution and wants to take over control of migration and asylum policy, Kovacs said. Obviously, this wont work. Hungary and the Visegrad Group have set a good example when it comes to effective national solutions. Kovacs insisted that NGOs were gradually taking over the management of migration, which he added was a threat in itself. Kovacs criticised Europes handling of the migration crisis, saying that the bloc had only carried out bogus measures relating to border protection and the construction of transit zones. Frontex, for instance, added 1,500 border guards while Greece alone has just asked for 10,000, he said. Whats worse is that they havent even understood that help should be taken to the points where the problems arise instead of importing trouble to Europe. Kovacs said Europe should work on helping to stabilise Syria, Libya and other crisis zones. MTI Photo Amid reports that several BJP legislators were aggrieved about allocations for north Karnataka region in the state budget and were planning for a meeting next week, Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan on Saturday said there was no such disgruntlement and there was no place for any indiscipline in the party. "One thing- there is no question of any kind of disgruntlement within the BJP, there is no opportunity for such things in our party. Ours is a disciplined party, so there is clear message that there is no place for such things," Narayan said in response to a question about some disgruntled legislators planning for a meet next week. Speaking to reporters at the BJP office here, he said if anyone has any issues or concerns, there is party state president, Chief Minister, anyone can talk to them and get things resolved. "There is no question of any indiscipline, there is no question of any disgruntlement. All are one in the party...," he said, and defended the budget stating that the Chief Minister had given a "good budget" in the given situation. Senior BJP legislators like Umesh Katti, who has been sulking over being left out of the recent ministry expansion, has openly expressed displeasure about allocations for north Karnataka region in the budget. Speaking to a section of media, Katti, citing allocations for irrigation projects to the region, said if there is injustice to north Karnataka, there is need to raise voice. According to reports, amid such disgruntlement, the Chief Minister is said to have asked his party legislators not to behave like opposition and give him some time, while highlighting economic difficulties faced by the state. Presenting the budget in the assembly, Yediyurappa on Thursday said Karnataka was facing unprecedented economic difficulties following reduction in the state's share in central taxes, among other things. Narayan also rubbished reports about alleged dissidence activities by BJP leader C P Yogeshwar and said there was no question of anyone from the party indulging in any such activities. "No such activities can happen in our party, there are no issues, no one can do any such things," he added. To a question on another round of cabinet expansion after the ongoing assembly session, Narayan said the state unit president and Chief Minister have expressed their desire for expansion to fill the vacancies, and it will be done. The cabinet currently has 28 members and six berths are still vacant. Yediyurappa said recently he may induct three new ministers into the cabinet in April. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Just a 45-minute drive from Melbourne's CBD is one of Australia's most secret suburbs with no shops, pets or schools. The Bend of Islands, 30km north-east of the Victorian city, is the country's only environmental living zone and has just under 300 people living in homes sprawled across the bushland. The suburb acts like a national park meaning pets can only be kept with a permit, fences are banned and there is no mobile reception. There are around 100 homes in the village and five are currently on the market. The Bend of Islands is Australia's only environmental living zone spanning across 634 hectares of bush There are no shops, schools in the suburb and pets can only be owned if the person has a permit All the homes have to obey certain rules such as having natural tones to fit in with the surroundings and no home can be taller than five metres. No animals or plants are allowed other than the natural flora and fauna in the area that spans across 634 hectares of natural bushland. Alan Bonny has spent the last 30 years living in the Bend of Islands and says he wouldn't change it for anything. 'When we found the area, we embraced [it] and thought it was wonderful. It's a unique existence that comes with living in national park,' he told Your Domain. The homes must have natural tones to fit in with the landscape and can't be more than five metres tall Locals in the community say there is social clubs like music groups, yoga groups and movie nights to keep everyone entertained 'You just don't get that anywhere else.' Artists Ona and Syd left a fast paced life in the city behind and ventured to the environment-friendly village in 1979. Ona said the locals made their own fun and created a range of social clubs like a yoga groups, music groups, film groups and movie nights. 'I love the fact that the bush is protected. I really love the fact that we have all these really unusual birds and animals, and yet we can be in town in 40 to 45 minutes,' Ona said. One local couple Tom and Carol Ann built their home from scratch, using mud bricks to make the walls. The couple built their home in the 80s and are now selling it but only to the right buyer who can fit in with the lifestyle. There are around 300 people living in the suburb that is just 30km north-east of Melbourne A total of 40.59 per cent of the crimes related to in the country were committed in Rajasthan during 2014-16, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The report pointed out that despite the fact, state-level interagency coordination committee and wildlife crime control units to combat wildlife crimes were not established in the state. The crimes were mostly related to violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act -- such as uses of forest land for non-forest purposes without approval of government -- and Wildlife Protect Act -- capturing, poisoning, snaring or trapping of wild animals. The CAG report, for the year ended March 31, 2018, was tabled in the assembly on Friday. It highlighted that the highest number of crimes related to the were committed in Rajasthan from 2014-2016. Referring to the data by the National Crime Records Bureau (October 2017), the report mentions that 15,723 cases of crimes related to were registered in the country during 2014-16 and the number of cases in the state during this period was 6,382, which is 40.59 per cent. "Non-constitution of state level inter-agency coordination committee and non-establishment of 'Wildlife Crime Control Units' in the department and in the state police despite directions of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Government of India, was indicative of the inaction on part of the department to prevent environment crimes in the state," the report said. It pointed out that tourist activities in Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR) and Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) could not be regulated in the absence of local advisory committee (LAC) which caused disturbance to wild animals. In Ranthambhore, the report says, five of the 10 zones of core areas were not closed in monsoon seasons, contrary to the directions of the National Tiger Conservatory Authority (NTCA). Despite the fact that the entire area of zone 1-10 of RTR is designated as core area, the department closed only zone one-five of the RTR during monsoon season (July-September) during 2015-2018, while zone six-10 remained open. Scrutiny of records revealed that between July and September of these years, 24,647 tourists visited the park and it would have caused disturbance to the eight tigers who had territories in these zones, the report said. Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve is located in Sawai Madhopur district, while Sariska is in Alwar district. The CAG report also states that the site selected for construction of the Abheda Biological park in Kota was not conducive due to adjoining garbage dumping yard, industrial areas, firing range of the Army, existence of slums nearby. On the encroachment of forest land, the audit found that there were 18,577 cases of encroachment on forest land, involving an area of 255.05 sq km, in the state as on 1st April 2013. "Audit observed that during 2013-14 to 2017-18, 36,975 new cases of encroachment involving 358.25 sq. km forest land were registered and 49,183 cases were disposed of," it said. "Encroachment were evicted from 531.39 sq km forest land while, 6,369 cases involving encroachment on 81.91 sq km of land were pending as of March 2018." The CAG said that 15,883 cases of illegal mining in forest area were registered during 2013-18, of which, 8,004 cases were disposed of by levying penalty and 7,879 cases were pending as of March 2018. It was also observed that 3,491 cases were pending for one-three years and 1,534 cases were pending for more than three years. As many as 4,388 cases were pending for consideration before the court. "The measures taken to curb illegal mining have not been successful as indicated from the number of cases registered," the report said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Toyota has expanded its recall of vehicles by 1.8 million because of issues with the fuel pumps. It has initially recalled 700,000 in January. According to leading car brand, the pumps can fail and cause the engine to hesitate or stall while the vehicle is running which brings its passengers closer to accidents. The recalled Toyota and Lexus model vehicles can stop operating and cause the engine to fail. "If this were to occur, warning lights and messages may be displayed on the instrument panel," the company said. "If a vehicle stall occurs while driving at higher speeds, this could increase the risk of a crash." The 2019 Tacoma is among the affected models The automaker did not mention whether any accidents or injuries related to the issue have occurred. According to the company, the issue affects a range of Toyota and Lexus cars and trucks across the 2013-2019 model years. Toyota has advised owners of the problem accompanied by warning lights on the dashboard. However, it has not issued a recommendation for owners to stop driving the vehicles until the repair work is completed. If you own one of the affected models, Toyota may be notifying you by May: 2013-2014 Lexus GS 350 2013-2015 Lexus LS 460; 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser, Lexus IS-F 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser; Lexus GX 460, IS 350, LX 570; 2015 Lexus NX 200t, RC 350 2017 Lexus IS 200t, RC 200t 2017-2019 Toyota Sienna; Lexus RX 350 2018 Lexus GS 300 2018-2019 Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra; Lexus ES 350, GS 350, IS 300, IS 350, LC 500, LC 500h, LS 500, LS 500h, RC 300, RC 350, RX 350L, LX 570, GX 460, RX 350 2019 Toyota 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Sienna; Lexus NX 300, RX 350L, GX 300 You can call also Toyota at 1-800-331-4331, Lexus at 1-800-255-3987 or go online at nhtsa.gov/recalls to enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or license plate information to check if your vehicle was recalled. Not the first recall This is not the first time the Japanese automotive company has recalled its units. According to a Reuters article, Toyota recalled 3.8 million vehicles in the United States in October 2009 to address the issue of floormats that could trap the accelerator pedal in an open position. Such recall was expanded in January 2010 to more than 5 million vehicles. In 2015, Toyota recalled 6.5 million vehicles globally for a power window switch defect that could lead to fire accident. Since 2009, Toyota has had four recalls related to the power window switch, according to Latin Post. Prior to this latest recall, the carmaker issued a separate recall in January for about 2.9 million vehicles whose electronic-control units could affect the deployment of air bags. As of last year, Toyota tops the ranking of the world's most valuable car brands, according to Statista. The global automotive industry giant is behind the most purchased vehicles, including SUVs and crossovers, trucks and motorcycles. Since Kiichiro Toyoda founded the company in 1937, Toyota has faced a multitude of issues, including the most recent fuel pump failure, but proves to have stood the test of time. It is important for Zelensky that other two leaders of the Normandy Four put pressure on Putin President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is concerned about the efforts of French President Emmanuel Macron to restore relations with Russia. He stated this in an interview with The Guardian. It is important for Zelensky that the other two leaders of the so-called "Normandy Four", Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron put pressure on Putin. He noted that the leaders of France and Germany support Ukraine, but he still is concerned that Macron is striving for closer ties with Moscow. "You cannot play this game on two fronts," Zelensky commented on Macron's foreign policy. As we reported before, the new Normandy Format Summit may take place after the fulfillment of the decisions of December meeting, but there is no sufficient progress yet. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the statement of Kyiv on the holding of the Normandy Summit in April is notjing more than the wish of Kyiv. Russia does not observe yet the progress in the fulfillment of the decisions of the Normandy Summit in Paris, Lavrov stated. New Delhi: In the country's biggest ever privatisation drive, the central government on Saturday invited bids for sale of its entire 52.98 per cent stake in India's second biggest oil refiner Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL). Expressions of interest for the strategic sale of BPCL have been invited by May 2, as per the bid document by the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM). "The Government of India is proposing strategic disinvestment of its entire shareholding in BPCL comprising of 114.91 crore equity shares, which constitutes 52.98% of BPCL's equity share capital along with transfer of management control to a strategic buyer (except BPCL's equity shareholding of 61.65% in Numaligarh Refinery Limited)," it said. NRL stake will be sold to a state-owned oil and gas firm. The bidding will be a two-stage affair, with qualified bidders in the first expression of interest (EoI) phase being asked to make a financial bid in the second round. PSUs "are not eligible to participate" in the privatisation, the offer document said. Any private company having a net worth of USD 10 billion is eligible for bidding and consortium of no more than four firms will be allowed to bid, it said. BPCL will give buyers ready access to 14 per cent of India's oil refining capacity and about one-fourth of the fuel market share in the world's fastest-growing energy market. BPCL has a market capitalisation of about Rs 87,388 crore and the government stake at current prices is worth about Rs 46,000 crore. The successful bidder will also have to make an open offer to other shareholders for acquiring another 26 per cent at the same price. Privatisation of BPCL is essential for meeting the record Rs 2.1 lakh crore target Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has set from disinvestment proceeds in the Budget for 2020-21. BPCL operates four refineries in Mumbai (Maharashtra), Kochi (Kerala), Bina (Madhya Pradesh) and Numaligarh (Assam) with a combined capacity of 38.3 million tonnes per annum, which is 15 per cent of India's total refining capacity of 249.4 million tonnes. While the Numaligarh refinery will be carved out of BPCL and sold to a PSU, the new buyer of the company will get 35.3 million tonnes of refining capacity. BPCL also owns 15,177 petrol pumps and 6,011 LPG distributor agencies in the country. Besides, it has 51 LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) bottling plants. The company distributes 21 per cent of petroleum products consumed in the country by volume as of March this year and has more than a fifth of the 250 aviation fuel stations in the country. The government has appointed Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP as its transaction advisor for the strategic disinvestment process. : The model code of conduct for polls to rural and urban local bodies in Andhra Pradesh may halt the YSR Congress government's ambitious 'Pedalandariki Illu' programme, under which 26.6 lakh house sites are proposed to be distributed on Telugu New Year Day on March 25. As the election process will continue till the end of the month, the model code will be in force till then. As per the MCC released by the State Election Commission on Saturday, "processing of beneficiary-oriented schemes, even if ongoing, should be stopped till completion of the elections." "Any scheme that can influence the voters cannot be implemented as per the MCC," State Election Commissioner N Ramesh Kumar said, when asked about the 'Pedalandariki Illu' (housing for the poor) programme. He, however, said it was for the district Collectors to interpret if the scheme came under the model code and take appropriate action. The state government announced the house site distribution programme several months ago but the civic polls have now come in the way. Though polling for mandal and zilla parishads and also urban local bodies will be complete before March 25, elections to over 12,000 gram panchayats will still be due as they are scheduled to be held on the March 27and 29. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy originally planned to launch the programme in East Godavari district but it is unlikely to happen now. "Since the programme has been announced much earlier, we will request the SEC to grant permission," state Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy said. Another minister, however, maintained that the MCC would not apply to the house sites scheme as it was conceived long ago. "Identification of beneficiaries and draw of lots has also been completed across the state, so it can't be treated as a new scheme and we can go ahead with it," he pointed out. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Other conditions include the hospital holding quarterly meetings with the neighbors throughout construction, plus one year after completion. Rush Oak Park will also be asked to place a $50,000 bond with the village prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for possible infrastructure improvements to the east-west alley just north of the garage. New Delhi: India has strongly condemned the terror attack at a mass gathering in Afghanistan capital Kabul that killed at least 32 people and injured dozens. In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the international community must unite in the fight against terrorism and hold the perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism to account. A number of political leaders were present on Friday at the event, organised to commemorate Shaheed Mazari, who was a leader of Afghanistan's ethnic Hazaras community. "India strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attack at the event commemorating Shaheed Mazari in Kabul today, where a number of senior political leaders were present," the MEA said. "We express heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the deceased and the injured and to the Government and people of Afghanistan," it said. The terror attack came days after the Taliban and the US inked a landmark peace deal, which provides for the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Srinagar, March 7 : A day after the Jammu and Kashmir adminstration declared that the union territory is coronavirus free, test reports of the two suspected patients from Jammu have indicated that both of them are high viral load cases. "They have high probability of testing positive," officials said. Both locals from Jammu had gone to the hospital for a check up on March 4, but had left after the samples were given. They had travelled abroad recently to Iran and south Korea. "Prompt action by the administration ensured that both were brought back to the hospital in a matter of just few hours," Dr Shafqat Khan, Nodal Officer Corona Virus Control, J&K told IANS Both the suspected cases have been kept in isolation at Government Medical College Jammu. "They are stable and all protocols are being followed," officials said. Both cases had left hospital against medical advice and had to be brought back. The J&K administration has taken several measures to ramp up efforts for prevention and control of COVID-19 in the union territory. The administration has appealed to the public to cooperate fully wherever quarantine is advised. Officials have been tasked to ensure creation of adequate quarantine, isolation and other requisite facilities besides undertaking adequate measures for surveillance of home quarantined persons. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spent three days in Fiji from February 2427, the first visit by a NZ leader since 2016, and only the second since the 2006 military coup that installed Frank Bainimarama, Fijis current prime minister. Amid deepening geostrategic tensions in the Pacific, Arderns Labour Party-led government is seeking to strengthen its relationship with Fiji after years of diplomatic strains. New Zealand and Australia are determined to ensure their continued dominance in what they regard as their semi-colonial back yard. Fiji plays a critical strategic role in the US-led drive to counter growing Chinese influence and prepare for war. Ardern had earlier hosted a rare state visit to Wellington by Papua New Guineas Prime Minister James Marape, the first by a PNG leader since 2013. Marape said he would discuss shared regional interests and wanted help with PNGs state-owned enterprises. It was another opportunity for Ardern to pursue her governments Pacific Re-set policy, aimed at boosting NZs presence across the Pacific. Radio NZ reported from Fiji that all the stops were pulled out for Arderns visit. A red carpet greeted Ardern on her arrival, Suvas traffic was cleared, her face beamed down from billboards around the city, and locals lined the streets. The Fiji Sun featured Ardern on its front page and dedicated several pages profiling her. The atmosphere was vastly different from 2016 when Bainimarama used a state dinner to lash out at then-NZ Prime Minister John Key, bluntly airing his grievances over the policies of the regions two imperialist powers. Following the 2006 coup, concerned it could destabilise the region and open the way for Chinese influence, Canberra and Wellington imposed diplomatic and economic sanctions. The sanctions backfired, with Bainimarama adopting a Look North policy, seeking and receiving economic, diplomatic and military aid from China, Russia and elsewhere. In 2007, New Zealands high commissioner to Fiji, Michael Green, was accused of interfering in the countrys affairs and expelled. During Keys visit, Bainimarama refused to rescind a ban on New Zealand journalists identified as being critical of the regime. He also declined a request to return to meetings of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), from which Fiji was earlier suspended, while encouraging other Pacific nations to take a more independent stance. New Zealand has since gone to considerable lengths to restore relations. In March last year, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, leader of the right-wing NZ First Party in the coalition government, visited Fiji and announced measures to take the relationship to a new level. Peters pledged to bolster Fijis military with a package of support for peacekeeping, leadership development and border security. At the end of Arderns visit, she and Bainimarama committed to a new Fiji-New Zealand Statement of Partnership. They acknowledged the success of the bilateral defence program and agreed to expand their security partnership into policing co-operation. This will purportedly include addressing existential threats facing the region and lift the capability of Fijis police to address transnational organised crime. These initiatives will further strengthen Fijis authoritarian and anti-working class regime. Canberra and Wellington hailed bogus elections in 2014 and 2018 as democratic, but the Fiji government still rests directly on the military. The imposition of inequality and social misery28 percent of the population lives below the poverty linehas been accompanied by harsh austerity measures, along with intimidation of opposition parties, repressive laws and rampant violence by the police and military. According to a 2018 Amnesty International report Fijis police, corrections and military officers regularly torture people in custody. The report detailed repeated violations of international law by the security forces, including beatings, sexual violence and even murder. Ardern ignored pro-forma requests from the NZ Labour Party-affiliated Council of Trade Unions to take action over the arrest last year of several Fijian union officials, including Felix Anthony, the Secretary General of the Fijian Trade Union Congress, following a ban on May Day protests and the mass arrest of more than 30 locked-out Fiji Water Authority workers. The NZ unions made no criticism of Arderns silence or her embrace of the Bainimarama regime. Bainimarama used Arderns visit to boost his credentials as the Pacifics principal climate-change spokesman, calling for New Zealands backing to push Australia to commit more to climate action. He told the media following their meeting: I know I can count on Prime Minister Ardern to not only do the right thing but to join Fiji in demanding the right thing from the rest of the world. Addressing the COP21 summit in Paris in 2015, Bainimarama issued an SOS call to the world and told global leaders to visit the Pacific to experience the reality of climate change. Fiji has begun relocating more than 45 coastal communities and identified another 830 that are at risk. It is also dealing with the re-emergence of climate-influenced diseases such as typhoid, dengue fever, leptospirosis and diarrhoeal illnesses. Australia and New Zealand have flatly rejected urgent measures demanded by Pacific nations to restrict global warming to under 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Last years PIF summit in Tuvalu was riven by a bitter dispute over the Australian governments refusal to agree to limit coal production in order to address climate change. After attending the PIF meeting, his first in a decade, Bainimarama told the Guardian that Morrison had only gone there to make sure that the Australian policies were upheld by the Pacific island nations. He slammed Morrison for alienating Pacific leaders and warned that this would push them closer to China. While in Fiji, Ardern announced a token $NZ2 million for a fund launched by Fiji to go towards the relocation of communities displaced by climate change. During a visit to Australia on February 28 for a meeting with Morrison, Ardern refused to publicly criticise Australias position. Ardern blandly told a media conference in Sydney that she had relayed some of her conversations with Pacific Island leaders to Morrison. Australias intransigence on climate change will again be highly contentious at the next PIF summit in Vanuatu in August. Vanuatus Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu told the Guardian last year: Vanuatu has a message for Australiawe ask that Australia prepares well ahead of the next forum meeting in 2020 and comes to the table ready to make real, tangible commitments on climate change. If not, he added, Canberra needs to decide if it wants a seat at the [PIF] table or not. The author also recommends: US Coast Guard doubles down on Pacific operations targeting China [28 February 2020] Rift widens between Australia and Pacific Island states [24 August 2019] Pacific Island nations bearing the brunt of climate change [7 December 2015] Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said he had parted ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but had not given up Hindutva. Thackeray along with his son Aaditya and wife Rashmi, paid obeisance to Ram Lalla at the makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya and performed puja with full Vedic rituals. It was Thackerays first visit to the temple town after becoming the Maharashtra chief minister. I have parted ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), not Hindutva. BJP and Hindutva are not the same. BJP is not Hindutva, he said to reporters. He was referring to the break-up with his partys longtime ally after a squabble over the issue of power-sharing in the state. After cutting off its ties with the BJP, the Shiv Sena formed a government in the state in alliance with the ideologically different Nationalist Congress Party and Congress. He announced, The Shiv Sena will donate Rs 1 crore from its own trust for construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. In Marathi, there is a phrase phool na phoolachi paakli (one should offer a petal if not the whole flower). So I am humbly announcing Rs 1 crore assistance for temple construction, not on behalf of the (Maharashtra) government, but our trust, the Maharashtra chief minister said. We are humbly requesting the members of the (Ram temple) trust (formed to construct the temple on the Supreme Courts orders) to accept the small contribution from Ram bhakts (devotees of Lord Ram), he said to reporters before offering prayers at the makeshift Ram Lalla temple. Not as the chief minister or from the government of Maharashtra, I am contributing this money because I am a devotee of Lord Ram, he said. Thackeray also said the Maharashtra government was planning to construct Maharashtra Bhavan in Ayodhya. I will discuss the issue with chief minister Yogi Adityanath to allot land to the Maharashtra government for construction of Maharashtra Bhavan in Ayodhya, he said. The Shiv Sena chief said his Ayodhya visits had always brought success (for him and the party). When asked whether he will again come to Ayodhya for bhoomi pujan of the Ram temple, Thackeray said: I will continue to visit Ayodhya. Thackeray was accompanied by several ministers of the Maharashtra government and MPs. Shiv Sena leader and spokesperson Sanjay Raut was also present on the occasion. A large number of Shiv Saniks, who reached Ayodhya on Friday (March 6) evening by a special train, welcomed the Thackeray family at the entrance of the Ram Janmabhoomi campus with slogans in Marathi. The party workers returned to Mumbai by the same train on Saturday night. However, the Maharashtra CM did not attend Saryu aarti on the banks of Saryu due to the coronavirus outbreak. I wanted to perform the aarti...But will definitely do it the next time, he said. The Sena chief has made trips to Ayodhya on two previous occasionson November 24, 2018 and then again on June 16 last year. After Thackeray took the oath of Maharashtra CM, the Shiv Sena had announced that he will visit Ayodhya after completion of 100 days of the government. The announcement about Thackerays visit to Ayodhya had sparked off allegations that it was an attempt by the Sena to keep its Hindutva agenda alive and those of diluting its stand on the issue after joining hands with the NCP and Congress. Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had refuted claims, saying we do not need to do these gimmicks for Hindutva. Thackeray was sworn-in as the Maharashtra chief minister on November 28, 2019, and the Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government completed 100 days in office on March 6. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As veteran actor Anupam Kher rings in his 65th birthday on Saturday, the actor received heartwarming wishes from Bollywood actors on the special occasion. One of the early ones to wish was film director Madhur Bhandarkar who wished the 'Hotel Mumbai' actor on Twitter saying: "Happy birthday @AnupamPKher sir, peace, happiness & success in life as always. Have a great year. Stay blessed." Riteish Deshmukh conveyed birthday greetings to the 'DDLJ' actor on Twitter and wrote, Happy Birthday Kher Sahab @AnupamPKher- wishing you a long healthy, happy & successful life. Love you" (along with a kissing emoji) Tusshar Kapoor wished another year of milestones to Kher on his 65th birthday on Twitter, he tweeted, "Happy birthday dearest @AnupamPKher ji, here's wishing you another year of milestones in work & otherwise, too!" Sonam Kapoor shared a picture along with Kher and conveyed a heart-warming wish on Twitter. "Happy happy birthday dear @AnupamPKherI miss you tons! And hope to see you soon, your guidance humour and wisdom is very cherished.. all my love," she tweeted. Earlier in the day, the actor received greetings from veteran actors including Shatrughan Sinha, Rishi and Anil Kapoor. The 'Saaransh' actor celebrated the special day with veteran Hollywood actor Robert De Niro in New York. He shared the video on Twitter and wrote, "Nothing can be more magical for an actor than to be able to spend quality time on your birthday with the #GodOfActing #RobertDeNiro third year in a row. I am humbled that Mr De Niro accepted my lunch invitation. It was magnificent," he tweeted along with the video. "Isko kehte hain 'Kuchh bhi ho sakta hai' ka baap," he further wrote in Hindi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dawn Hilarczyk, of Upper Nazareth Township, never knew the need for clothing was this great across the Lehigh Valley. She heard a troubling story after her husband, a Middlesex County, New Jersey teacher, in January 2018 asked if the couples high school-aged son had any clothes he didnt need. A student in Andrew Hilarczyks class was skipping school in embarrassment of falling on hard times, she said. When the boy did show up to class, Andrew noticed he was wearing the same pants and shirt for consecutive days. He was disconnected. I thought maybe there were relationship problems because after all, he was a teenager, Dawn said. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Dawn initially reached out to friends and family members on social media asking if anyone could donate clothing to help the boy. Within three days, she received bags upon bags filled with 45 pieces of gently used clothing, $200 in monetary donations and eight gift cards to clothing stores and restaurants. That generosity now has led Dawn to help other students across the Lehigh Valley and northwest Jersey. She has opened a studio office titled, Thoughtful Threads of the Heart, 62 N. Third St., in Easton. There, she soon will be taking donations for students in about a dozen school districts by appointment only. A grand opening is planned later this month. Dawn said she wanted to grow the endeavor when her husband relayed how the new clothing changed the student. The boy was more confident and no longer felt isolated among peers, she said. School is challenging enough without having to worry about what to wear, Dawn said. Dawn wanted to reach even more children in need and continued to reach additional donors through social media platforms for her organization under the same name, Thoughtful Threads of the Heart. By spring 2018, she received nonprofit status, which allowed her to travel to area school districts with the donations in what she calls a mobile closet. Students after school are able to pick and choose with no questions asked. Parents often meet their children to rummage through the carefully sorted bins by gender and size. The children can shop as if they are at Target or Macys, Dawn described. The children are humble and overwhelmed by the generosity. No one is ever greedy, Dawn added. I once had a girl ask, How much is this? She couldnt believe what she was holding was free." Currently, Dawn said she travels to 42 schools across the Lehigh Valley and northwest Jersey. Schools can expect a visit about every six months and especially during the winter holidays. Dawn launched the office in Easton because she said she saw the greatest need in some of the citys schools. The West Ward is the most disadvantaged parts of the city with Paxinosa Elementary located in the West Ward. Second were some schools in Allentown, she said. Items most in demand at the Easton office are underwear, socks and youth-appropriate sweatpants and sweatshirts. Dawn is actively searching for a corporate sponsor and grant funding to purchase additional clothing for the cause. She also is in need of volunteers since she simultaneously holds a full-time career in the skincare and beauty industry. Dawn is asking the public to go through their closets, find what their children no longer wear and make an appointment. Not every child, she said, will have something new to wear next year on the first day of school. Her goal is to someday branch out across the United States and visit more school districts in need. Dawn grew up with a military father, living in 27 states, so traveling is not an issue, she said. I always say, 'Go big or go home, she said. Local Government Councils in Benue, Taraba, and Nasarawa states are still operating Joint Accounts in spite of the financial autonomy granted them by the Federal Government. A survey conducted by News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in these states revealed that the local governments still draw their funds from their respective states joint accounts. The Benue chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) said in spite of the signing into law the Local Government Autonomy Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, local governments in the state were still receiving their monthly allocations from the state joint account. The president of the union, Terungwa Igbe, said that though individual councils now pay salaries to their workers, such salaries were remitted from the state joint account. Mr Igbe said joint account meetings were still being held between the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Council Chairmen. He said the meetings were solely for the purpose of transferring funds to individual council accounts. He regretted that the federal government had yet to commence direct remittances into local government accounts for salary payment, but explained that such joint account meetings were avenues for the transfer of council funds to their individual accounts. The Bureau for Local Government And Chieftaincy Affairs no longer pays our salaries, it only transfers the monthly allocations paid into the joint account to our individual council accounts at the meetings, said Mr Igbe. Our salaries are now paid by individual local government councils and not the bureau for Local Government again. It is individual councils that are paying salaries but what they are doing is that they will do joint account meeting, then transfer all the money from the joint account to local government accounts. The monies still come into bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs joint account from the Federation Account. The president said for now they were okay with the development since council funds were given to the councils unlike before that the bureau was handling it. In Taraba, an official of the state chapter of the Association of Local Government Of Nigeria (ALGON), said the State Government was still operating joint account with the Local Governments. You know the local government councils in the state are still being run by caretaker committees; so everyone is afraid to demand compliance with the directives to stop joint allocation in the state, the official who pleaded anonymity, said. He, however, expressed hope that the situation might change after the states local government elections slated for May 16, when executive chairmen and councilors would emerge. On his part, Mohammed Kwanti, leader of the Taraba Advocacy for Accountability and Social Justice, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) based in Jalingo, decried the delay in separation of function between local councils and states especially the joint allocation. Mr Kwanti said the fusion of financial control mechanism had further widened the poverty gap among Nigerian citizens. He recalled how dividends of democracy had impacted positively on the local people until the review of the local government autonomy act that destabilised the efficient governance mechanism at the grass roots level. Now that financial control of local councils is with states, the grassroot is therefore, completely alienated from dividends of democracy. The hitherto execution of projects that had immediate impact on the locals is completely eroded. We are, therefore, calling on all the stakeholders to rise to the occasion and insist that the financial autonomy for local councils is reinstated, he said. Aminu Maifata, Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Nasarawa State chapter, said the joint account was still in existence in the state, but that allocations were being distributed to every local government the way they came from the federation account. Mr Maifata, who is also the Chairman of Lafia Local Government Council, commended Gov.Abdullahi Sule for the development. Advertisements He said that unlike in the past, local governments in the state could now executive projects that had bearing on the lives of their people provided they had the funds. He, therefore, appealed for the amendment of the Constitution to make local government councils the third tier of government. Meanwhile, the Kogi chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has called for a full autonomy for all the 774 local government councils in the country to save them from total collapse. The President of the union, Tade Adeyemi, who made the call, decried the state of affairs in the local governments in the country, saying that granting them full political and financial autonomy would put them back on track. Mr Adeyemi said that the partial financial autonomy granted the councils sometime by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit had not been working due to the refusal of states to comply. State governments and the local governents are still maintaining joint account which simply means that the autonomy is not yet there,he said. According to him, Nigerians are still waiting for the outcome of the committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to enforce local government autonomy in all states. He said that local government councils in the state had become weak financially, as they were finding it difficult to pay workers salaries The autonomy was not just there for the councils to perform. They have been crippled , granting them political and financial autonomy will change the situation for the better, the chairman said. He appealed to the National Assembly to speed up amendment of the 1999 Constitution, urging them to give priority to local government autonomy in the course of the amendment. An activist, Danasabe Umar , said that local government councils would not be able to discharge their statutory responsibilities unless they were granted autonomy. Mr Umar, who is the Chief Executive of a Lokoja-based Non Governmental Organisation, Hands Across Africa Development Initiative, appealed to state governors to see the local governments as another tiers of government constitutionally put in place to render services to the people at the grassroots. He said the local government system in Nigeria may become a thing of the past very soon unless all stakeholders came together to rescue it. Mr Umar also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to use his good offices to save the system from collapse by restoring the full autonomy to local government councils in the country. (NAN) System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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The number of visitors in Agra has continued to decline as city hotels reported mass cancellations in the past few days. Agra Mayor Navin Jain has demanded temporary shutdown of historical monuments in Agra in the wake of the coronavirus fear, much to the annoyance of the tourism industry here. In a letter to the Union Tourism Minister, Jain said: "If the monuments remained closed, the inflow of tourists to Agra could be checked to prevent people here from falling victim to the coronavirus. The tourist season from October to March-end sees lakhs of tourists visit the city. "The people here are scared of all foreigners and look at them with suspicion. This situation can turn nasty and tarnish India's image internationally." Social activists also extended their support to the demand on Facebook to restrict the entry of foreigners to Agra for a limited period. "During the closure, the monuments could be cleaned, sanitised, and made safe for tourists," they said. "The competence and efficiency of government employees is well known. So far we are lucky to have escaped spread of the virus. But if things got out of control, this could be an unprecedented tragedy," social activist Shravan Kumar Singh said. District authorities have been closely monitoring the city hotels in following government guidelines and protocols on coronavirus. The hotel floors were being washed twice a day and close watch kept on all tourists. On the other hand, the hospitality sector here is not in favour of temporary closure though there is support for the demand in government circles, and departments directly connected with public health, hygiene, and civic facilities. Several hoteliers maintained that it would send a wrong message and adversely affect tourism industry in the long run. The hospitality industry has already taken a dent this season with an all-time decline in visitors to Agra in February. The annual 10-day cultural extravaganza, the Taj Mahotsava proved to be a flop, with hardly any visitors to the fair at the Shilpgram, 500 metres from the Taj Mahal. The city is already in high alert mode. Health Department officials have screened more than 55,000 people in 18 areas. Fogging and cleaning campaigns are on in congested localities. Groups of doctors have held meetings in colonies to sensitise the people against the coronavirus. There were some prayers and havan held on the banks of Yamuna. Meanwhile, city women reacted indifferently to ASI's gesture to allow free entry to women on March 8, the International Women's Day. "We have seen the Taj Mahal so many times and can visit again once the coronavirus threat subsides. To save Rs 50, who would like to go now," remarked homemaker Padmini. "This will only increase the crowd and create more problems," she added. Women tourists from outside will definitely find the gesture positive and inspiring, said tourist guide Ved Gautam. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Twenty-one people aboard a mammoth cruise ship off the California coast tested positive for the new coronavirus and 19 of them are crew members, Vice President Mike Pence announced Friday, amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of more than 10 cases during its previous voyage. He said federal officials were working with California authorities around-the-clock to bring the Grand Princess, with more than 3,500 on board, to a non-commercial port over the weekend and test everyone for the virus. There was no immediate word on where the vessel will dock. Those that will need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those who will require medical help will receive it, Pence said. In the meantime, everyone on the ship remained holed up in their rooms as they await word about the fate of the ship. President Donald Trump, speaking at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said he would have preferred not to let the passengers disembark onto American soil but will defer to the recommendations of medical experts. 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 I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault, he said. And it wasn't the fault of the people on the ship either. Okay? It wasn't their fault either. And they are mostly Americans. The ship was heading from Hawaii to San Francisco when it was ordered Wednesday to keep its distance from shore so 46 people with possible coronavirus symptoms could be tested. On Thursday, a military helicopter crew lowered test kits onto the 951-foot (290-meter) ship by rope and later flew them for analysis at a state lab. Health officials undertook the testing after reporting that a passenger on a previous voyage of the ship, in February, died of the disease. In the past few days, health authorities disclosed that at least 10 other people who were on the same journey also were found to be infected. And some passengers on that trip stayed aboard for the current voyage increasing crew members' exposure to the virus. We know the coronavirus manifested among the previous passengers ... we will be testing everyone on the ship, we will be quarantining as necessary," Pence said. We anticipate that they will be quarantined on the ship. They will not need to disembark." Princess Cruises said the ship's doctor began informing passengers and crew of their results after confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another Princess ship, the Diamond Princess, was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, last month because of the virus, and ultimately about 700 of the 3,700 people aboard became infected in what experts pronounced a public-health failure, with the vessel essentially becoming a floating germ factory. Meanwhile, the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus climbed to 14, with all but one victim in Washington state, while the number of infections swelled to over 200, scattered across about half the states. Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska reported their first cases. On Wall Street, stocks swung wildly as fears mounted over the potential damage to the global economy from factory shutdowns, travel bans, quarantines and cancellations of events big and small a list that grew to include the world-famous South by Southwest arts festival in Austin, Texas, which was set to begin next week. Trump signed an $8.3 billion measure to help public health agencies deal with crisis and spur development of vaccines and treatments. Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 100,000 people and killed over 3,400, the vast majority of them in China. Most cases have been mild, and more than half of those infected have recovered. Most of the dead in the U.S. were from suburban Seattle's Life Care Center nursing home, now the subject of federal and state investigations that could lead to sanctions, including a possible takeover of its management. Washington state has the nation's biggest concentration of cases, with at least 70. Thirty medical professionals from the U.S. Public Health Service will arrive Saturday at the nursing home to help care for patients and provide relief to the exhausted staff, said Dow Constantine, executive in charge of Seattle's King County. "We are grateful the cavalry is arriving. It will make rapid change in the conditions there," he said. The nursing home was down to 69 residents after 15 were taken to the hospital in the preceding 24 hours, Constantine said. Some major businesses in the Seattle area including Microsoft and Amazon, which together employ more than 100,000 people in the region have shut down operations or urged employees to work from home. The University of Washington called off classes at its three Seattle-area campuses for the next two weeks and will instead teach its 57,000 students online. And a comics convention next week in Seattle that was expected to draw about 100,000 people was canceled. California emerged as the center of the virus when a Sacramento-area man who sailed aboard the Grand Princess last month during a visit to a series of Mexican ports later succumbed to the virus. Others who were on that voyage also have tested positive in Northern California, Nevada, and Canada. Three dozen passengers on the Grand Princess have had flu-like symptoms over the past two weeks or so, said Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of San Francisco's Department of Emergency Management. A 32-year-old man was found hanging from a tree outside the boundary wall adjoining the IIT-Delhi campus flyover in south Delhi on Saturday morning. Passersby who saw the mans body hanging alerted the police control room. Police said the man, a citizen of Nepal, worked as a helper at a pet clinic in south Delhi. His colleagues at the clinic told the police that the man had left the clinic on Thursday after saying he had to visit his critically ill son back home. According to the police, they received a call reporting the hanging around 7.30am. The man had reportedly used a plastic rope to hang himself. A senior police officer who did not wish to be named, said when a police team reached the spot in Ber Sarai on Outer Ring Road, they found the mans wallet and cell phone on his person. The officer said that no valuable was missing from his possession, which has led the police to believe it may be a case of suicide, and said that, prima facie, there is no foul play behind the mans death. Deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Devender Arya said the body has been sent for an autopsy, which is due to be conducted on Sunday. The crime team has inspected the spot. He worked and lived at a pet clinic, where he had been a helper for 20 years. Before leaving the clinic, he told colleagues of his son who was critically ill, and claimed he was returning to Nepal to see him, Arya said. Police said the mans family live in a village in western Nepal. His family members have been informed and they are expected to reach Delhi on Sunday. No suicide note was recovered from him. Inquest proceedings are being conducted, Arya said. TEL AVIV Tanzania continued to cement its status as among the worlds best tourism destinations after scooping the Best International Wildlife Destination award at the Outlook Travellers Awards (OLTA) held in India at the weekend. The country achieved the feat ahead of its wildlife tourism rivals South Africa and Kenya, in OLTAs 2020 edition announced in New Delhi on Sunday. In his acceptance speech, Tanzania High Commissioner to India, Mr Baraka Luvanda said the award will further cement the countrys status as one of the best global travel destinations. We believe that through this award and the Outlook Traveller Magazines, more people will be able to know about destination Tanzania and what it has to offer to a wide spectrum of clientele as one of Africas leading travel destination, said the envoy in a speech posted on Tanzanias High Commission website. He told the delegates gathered at the high profile event that Tanzania will not be carried away with the feat; instead take a lead role in marketing its tourism destinations as well strategizing on tapping from emerging markets from the traditional ones. Related 1. Yes. The downtown area needs a good draw. Some quality taverns would be a plus. 2. Yes. Too many storefronts are vacant. Bars could help to bring in needed revenue. 3. No. Putting a number of bars downtown is just asking for trouble. Dont change things. 4.No. Several churches have located downtown. Putting bars close by would be a bad fit. 5. Unsure. It would depend on how the law is written and what standards are enacted. Vote View Results Yves here. America lacks a sense of historical perspective in dealing with long-lived cultures, like that of the Turks. Its also instructive to look at another not-aggreement-capable player. By John Helmer, Moscow. Twitter: @bears_with. Originally published at Dances With Bears Between 11:30 Moscow time on Thursday and 14:00, President Vladimir Putin spent two and a half hours talking with the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with interpreters present but no one else, and including lunch and toilet breaks. The two presidents then spent three hours and twenty minutes in talks with delegations of their officials before appearing at 17:22 for another sixteen minutes in front of the press. The Turkish clock for the negotiations counted 5 hours 40 minutes; the Kremlin clock, six hours. The outcome was a document entitled Additional Protocol to the Memorandum on Stabilization of the Situation in the Idlib De-escalation Area. This comprises an agreement of three paragraphs amounting to ten lines, and a preamble of four paragraphs repeating what professionals call boilerplate; thats to say, points with which everyone agrees in principle, and no one in practice. The difference between the amount of time and effort expended and the outcome isnt between the mountain and the molehill. It is the result of the Russian side applying the brief script dictated to Putin by the Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, the Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and the General Staff led by General Valery Gersasimov, and confirmed the day before by the Security Council. The script is dictated by the principle of the tsarina, Empress Catherine II, during the Turkish-Russian wars of 1768 to 1792. The principle is that nothing the Turks say they agree to or sign can be relied upon; and that everything the Turks cant achieve with their army will be tested again and again, until and unless they are defeated by the battle of arms and the defence of territory by more force than the Turks can overcome. The corollary of the Catherine principle is that the new agreement between Putin and Erdogan cannot last for long. Because both sides know this, their heads were in the down position, their eyes averted, for longer than has ever been recorded at their summit meetings before. The Russian state news agency Sputnik has published this minute-by-minute time line of the Kremlin talks. The Kremlin website has published much less. Erdogan began the negotiations by announcing he didnt want to be there, but agreed out of solicitude for Putin. As you know, he told Putin in the scene pictured below, we were going to hold this meeting in Turkey but due to your ongoing work on constitutional amendments, we decided to accept your invitation and come here. It was difficult for either man to look each other in the eye over a lie like that. A Syrian commentator did not miss the significance of the location, publishing a photograph of the Turkish delegation including Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, MIT intelligence chief Hakan Fidan, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu standing beneath a statue of Catherine which he ringed in red for emphasis. Source: https://twitter.com/Syria_Protector/ The Kremlin has so far been a model of public reticence. The one important photograph published on the Kremlin website of the initial meeting before the talks got under way was of Defence Minister Shoigu shaking hands with Akar and Erdogan. The statue under which they were standing was of Tsar Peter I in military uniform. The day before, Shoigus spokesman at the Defence Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov, had laid down a marker for the incoming Turks. Left image: Erdogan, Akar and Shoigu; right image, Konashenkov. No one in the West notices the actions of the Turkish side, Konashenkov said in a prepared statement, which, in violation of international law, has deployed a strike force the size of a mechanised division to Syrias Idlib in order to enforce the Sochi agreements at any cost. A mechanised division usually amounts to at least 10,000 troops; Russian estimates to date of the Turkish Army deployment in the Idlib zone have counted no more than five battalion groups of about 5,000 men. These numbers were important in the talks between Putin and Erdogan because the Turks want to add more; through Konashenkov the Russians have said there were already too many. There is no telling what Putin replied to Erdogan in their one-on-one session. The terms of agreement released after the meeting of delegations announce a ceasefire along the line of contact between Turkish and Syrian forces, as they are this morning, together with a 6-kilometre deep security corridor on the northern and southern sides of the M4 Syrian national highway, with joint patrolling of the highway and the corridors by Turkish and Russian units, commencing in ten days time. Two sentences in the preamble which the presidents agreed make fresh Turkish arms and additional troops in the Idlib area unlikely. The first is that the Turks accept their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic; the second sentence says there can be no military solution to the Syrian conflict. Western analysts judge these points mean that this for now also ends the Turkish threat to attack the Syrian army and to reconquer all areas it had liberated over the last months. Erdogan, who had made many demands, saw none of them fulfilled. Russian analysts are more cautious: Erdogan had to make substantial concessions to get out of the situation, Boris Rozhin (Colonel Cassad) commented. The new status quo is fixed by the state of the current front line. The Sochi Line is restored. The 5 highway, although not explicitly mentioned, remains in Assads control, and Turkey is obliged to accept this. Turkey undertakes to unlock Route M4 by March 15. This is one of the conditions of the Sochi deal, which Turkey had not fulfilled. Now she has an express deadline. In addition, it should provide a buffer security zone north and south of the route of 6 kilometres. On the other hand, Erdogan has not given specific commitments to separate the moderate and unsettled militants, meaning that the presence of jihadi gangs in Idlib retains a high potential for escalation, both with Turkeys knowledge and simply at the wishes of individual field commanders. Read the full text of the agreement in its English version, published outside Russia for the time being: Source: https://www.moonofalabama.org/images10/memo1.jpg and https://www.moonofalabama.org/images10/memo2.jpg If Erdogan got Putins permission to send in more men, tanks and artillery to fill the corridors and reinforce the Turkish side of the contact line, the paper doesnt say so. As Konashenkov made clear for Shoigu and the Defence Ministry, they do not agree. So far, Lavrov and the Foreign Ministry have remained silent on the talks. The Foreign Ministry website reports Lavrov had a busy day on Thursday, including a meeting with the President of Togo. There is no mention of Lavrov at the Turkish talks. At the presidents press conference both Putin and Erdogan had their heads down to read from carefully prepared scripts before Lavrov and Cavusoglu read out the Russian and Turkish versions of the new protocol. Left to right: Shoigu, Lavrov, Erdogan, and Putin. Source: https://www.youtube.com/ In Erdogans script, he said: Turkey retains the right to respond to any attacks on the part of Syria. Since this refers to the Syrian Armys attempts to operate on Syrian territory to recover Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity, Erdogans claim is his excuse to violate the agreement. This was a press conference without questions or answers. President Donald Trump made the claim when speaking about the flu that he had no clue people could die from the virus - despite it taking the life of his grandfather. Mr Trump's claim came while he was in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday to visit the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters and meet with health officials about the coronavirus. During a press conference, the president spoke about the number of people getting infected by the coronavirus and how it compared to influenza. "Over the last long period of time, you have an average of 36,000 people dying (per year)," he said about the flu. Mr Trump continued: "I never heard those numbers. I would've been shocked. I would've said, 'Does anybody die from the flu? I didn't know people died from the flu.' ... And again, you had a couple of years where it was over a 100,000 people died from the flu." In recent years, about 12,000 to 61,000 people in America have died from the flu in the course of one season, according to data from the CDC. An estimated 34,000 died from the flu last season. So the president was correct on his figures when attempting to calm fears of the coronavirus. But he was incorrect, or misinformed, about not knowing anyone who has ever died from the virus, the Daily Beast reported. Frederick Trump, the president's grandfather, became one of the first people to die during the first wave of the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918 while living in Queens, New York. Donald Trump's grandfather Frederick Trump died from the Spanish flu in 1918. The flue killed more than 675,000 people in the US (Wikimedia Commons) One day in May he was taking a walk with his son when he suddenly felt ill. He went home and died the next day. A second wave hit the US later that year following Frederick's death, and an estimated 675,000 people died in the country from the flu in total. Globally, the Spanish flu killed an estimated 50 to 100 million people. Frederick's son, also named Frederick, was only 12 years old when his father died. He would go on to welcome his fourth child, a son named Donald, with his wife in 1946. The amount of people who died during the Spanish flu was worsened by President Woodrow Wilson and his administration talking down about the health crisis. Experts have now criticised Trump and his own administration over how its handling the current coronavirus outbreak. The Omanhene of Berekum, Daasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo II and the entire Traditional Council boycotted this years Independence Day Parade in the area following a court dispute with the Municipal Chief Executive for Berekum, Kofi Adjei. According to the Traditional Council, the MCE had dragged the Berekumanhene before the Sunyani High Court for allegedly demolishing a dilapidated toilet for the construction of a new one. Kwame Darko, the Public Relations Officer of the Berekum Traditional Council in a Citi News interview said the Council sees no reason to be present at the occasion when the DCE has shown gross disrespect towards the chiefs. He explained that the demolishing of the toilet was done by a group of indigenes currently in the diaspora who are seeking to build a new facility. We have a toilet facility in our area and that toilet is in a dilapidated state so the people of Berekum came to tell Nana, for him to help. We went there to see it and realized that it was true. We called the executives of the party that owned the toilet to repair it for us but they didnt mind us. We have Berekum indigenes in Germany, America and Europe and they raised funds to build a new toilet facility. They started by demolishing the old one but because Nana invited the MCE to dialogue with him, it was assumed that Nana was the one who directed the people to destroy the toilet so they [MCE] took Nana to the Sunyani High Court, he said. According to him, the Chiefs have, on various occasions invited the Berekum Municipal Chief Executive, Kofi Adjei for their festivals but he failed to show up. If you have taken someone to court, how can he join you to celebrate independence anniversary? When we are celebrating our festival, we send them invitations to reconcile but the MCE and the Member of Parliament do not mind us. If you dont mind Nana and his people, how can they join you? We respect Nana Akufo-Addo a lot but this MCE does not respect Nananom, Kwame Darko remarked. Berekum is the capital of the Berekum Municipal in the Bono Region of Ghana. Berekum has a population of 62,364. The native language of the Berekum people is the Bono Twi. Ghana celebrated its 63rd independence anniversary on Friday, March 6, 2020. Although the main independence day parade was held in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, local assemblies in various parts of the country also held such parades in their localities. ---citinewsroom German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal on his recent appointment and expressed her willingness to deepen bilateral relations. "We would like to further deepen our bilateral relations. In the future, we want to make greater use of the opportunities of close economic cooperation," reads the letter posted on the website of the head of the German government. Merkel noted that Germany-Ukraine bilateral relations had reached a high level thanks to increasingly closer cooperation in recent years. She assures that the Federal Government will continue to support the head of the Ukrainian government and the entire Ukrainian government, especially in the areas of decentralization, energy efficiency, the fight against corruption and the judiciary. To discuss these and other topics, Merkel invited the newly appointed Ukrainian Prime Minister to visit Berlin. The timeline of the visit have not yet been determined, but as it became known to an Ukrinform correspondent, late March had been discussed before the new composition of the Ukrainian government was appointed. ol The RJD, which is the largest party in the Bihar Assembly, has already officially declared the name of Mr Yadav as the face of the grand alliance. Patna: With Assembly elections slated to be held this year, the grand alliance in Bihar faces the daunting task of resolving the leadership issue. While the RJD has been in favour of contesting the Bihar polls under the leadership of its leader Tejashwi Yadav, the Congress wants the AICC top leadership to take a final decision on the issue. Congress MLC Prem Chand Mishra Friday raised the temperature in Bihar politics by suggesting that the leader of the grand alliance will be decided at the right time by AICC president Sonia Gandhi. Grand alliance partners, including Jitan Ram Manjhis HAM, Upendra Kushwahas RLSP, and Mukesh Sahanis Vikasheel Insan Party (VIP) have also been reluctant in accepting Mr Yadav as their leader for the Assembly elections. In February, the RLSP, HAM and VIP had created a flutter by holding a meeting in Patna and floating the name of Sharad Yadav as the face of the coalition. Mr Manjhi, along with the others, has also been urging the RJD to resolve the leadership issue through a coordination committee. In an earlier statement, Mr Manjhi had said, The agenda is to strengthen the grand alliance in Bihar. We want all issues to be resolved by forming a coordination committee. On many earlier occasions, Opposition leaders in Bihar have hinted that Mr Yadav lacks the confidence and may not pose a threat to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who has been declared as the face of the NDA. Sources said that the Congresss statement on the issue of leadership may create trouble in the Opposition alliance in the state ahead of the Assembly elections. The RJD, which is the largest party in the Bihar Assembly, has already officially declared the name of Mr Yadav as the face of the grand alliance. Reacting to the issue, RJD MLA and party spokesperson Bhai Virendra said, There is no confusion over the issue as Rahul Gandhi has already clarified that the Assembly elections in Bihar will be fought under the leadership of Mr Yadav. Reports suggest that the Congress has been trying to improve its base in the state, especially in areas which are currently under the BJP or JD(U) hold. Sources said that the party workers have been asked to interact with voters in order to gain in the elections. VANCOUVER, Wash., March 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shared Hope International, a national leader in the fight against domestic minor sex trafficking, today shared its support for the March 8 protest that calls for Pornhubs parent company MindGeek to shut down the website for allegedly aiding and profiting off of the sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. Shared Hope is a nonprofit led by former U.S. Congresswoman and Washington state lawmaker, Linda Smith. The following is a statement from the organization: We support the Pornhub protest taking place this weekend outside of MindGeeks headquarters. There were 18.4 million reports of child sexual abuse imagery online in the last year making up more than one-third of all such reports in the entire history of the internet. We cannot be a society that fosters a culture normalizing sexual harm against children. Pornography websites like Pornhub play an enormous role in conditioning viewers to tolerate the sexualization of and violence against youth, as well as the objectification of women and girls. Because of the great demand for child sexual abuse material in our society, traffickers and exploiters regularly record their victims so they can trade or sell the imagery. Pornhub cannot permit let alone profit off of this exploitation and allow videos of rape and violation of children on their site. We stand with the protesters calling for the website to be taken down. ABOUT SHARED HOPE INTERNATIONAL Founded in 1998 by then U.S. Congresswoman Linda Smith, Shared Hope International strives to prevent the conditions that foster sex trafficking, restore victims of sex slavery, and bring justice to vulnerable women and children. A non-profit Christian organization, Shared Hope engages in diverse activities that confront sex trafficking in communities throughout America. Our efforts include training first responders and community members to identify warning signs of trafficking and employ intervention techniques to rescue child trafficking victims; providing restorative services to affected children and women; and offering legislative support to those focused on strengthening laws that fight child sex trafficking. Our vision is to coordinate a national U.S. network of protection to improve the response to victims of trafficking. We believe we can create a world where every survivor is surrounded by trained professionals, an alert community, just law and policy, knowledgeable service providers and appropriate shelter options. Galveston, TX (77553) Today Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High near 60F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Overcast. A few sprinkles possible. Low near 55F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Harvard University's Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering and its collaborating institutions, the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Dana-Farber), and Harvard's Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, announce the formation of a new NIH-funded Immuno-Engineering to Improve Immunotherapy (i3) Center. The cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary i3 Center includes world-leading researchers in the cancer immunology and bioengineering fields and will create biomaterials-based approaches to enable anti-cancer immuno-therapy in settings where it currently is limited, such as in myeloid malignancies and solid tumors. The Harvard i3 Center is part of NIH's Cancer MoonshotSM initiative that was formed to accelerate cancer research to make more therapies available to more patients, while also improving the ability to prevent cancer and detect it at an early stage. We aim to develop new technologies that induce robust anti-cancer T cell immunity, and we also hope that the i3 Center's highly cross-disciplinary and cross-fertilizing mechanisms will provide a center of gravity for many future efforts in the immuno-therapy space across and beyond our collaborating institutions." David Mooney, Ph.D., Wyss Institute Founding Core Faculty member, one of the two principal investigators (PIs) of the i3 Center Mooney also is the Robert P. Pinkas Family Professor of Bioengineering at SEAS and leads the Wyss Institute's broader Immuno-Materials Initiative. His team has developed a number of strategies that use immune-modulating biomaterials to trigger and enhance T cell-mediated immune responses against tumors. Most notably, together with clinical collaborators, they succeeded in creating the first implantable vaccine ever to eliminate melanoma tumors in mice, which the Wyss Institute and Dana-Farber are investigating in an ongoing Phase I clinical trial at the Dana-Farber. F. Steven Hodi, Jr., M.D., Director of Melanoma Center and The Center for Immuno-Oncology at Dana-Farber, and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS), is leading the clinical cancer vaccine trial, and is the i3 Center's other PI. Hodi has been at the forefront of developing cancer immunotherapies using "immune checkpoint inhibitors," a class of drugs able to re-activate tumor-destroying T cells that are muted in the tumor microenvironment. "The funding for this center provides a unique opportunity to unite key investigators for translating fundamental advancements in immunology and biomedical engineering into highly synergistic approaches to improve the treatments for cancer patients," said Hodi. Using both in vivo and ex vivo biomaterials-based approaches, the i3 Center aims to boost tumor-specific activities of cytotoxic T cells, by boosting different stages of the normal process by which T cells develop, and acquire anti-cancer activity. T cells' normal development starts in the bone marrow where hematopoietic stem cells generate T cell progenitor cells. These migrate to the thymus to differentiate into naive T cells, which then travel further to lymph nodes. There, they encounter cancer-derived antigens presented to them by specialized antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that can activate T cells to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. In relation to "adoptive T cell" therapies in which T cells are given to patients to fight their cancers, one team at the i3 Center will be led by Dana-Farber researchers Catherine J. Wu, M.D., and Jerome Ritz, M.D., who along with Mooney, will develop and test biomaterials that can better mimic normal APCs in activating and directing the function of patient-derived T cells outside the human body, prior to their transplantation. Wu is Chief of the Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies, and Ritz is Executive Director of the Connell and O'Reilly Families Cell Manipulation Core Facility at Dana-Farber. "We need to make efforts to enhance the ability of the immune system to recognize tumor cells. One direction my laboratory is taking makes use of innovative biomaterials to help us to efficiently expand polyclonal tumor-specific functionally-effective T cells ex vivo in a way that can be readily translated to the clinical setting. In our studies, we are currently focusing on melanoma and acute myeloid leukemia," said Wu, whose research interests include understanding the basis of effective human anti-tumor responses, including the identification and targeting of the tumor-specific antigens. A second project explores the use of DNA origami, biocompatible nanostructures composed of DNA, to create cancer vaccines. DNA origami could provide significant advantages in presenting tumor-specific antigens and immune-enhancing adjuvants to APCs because the concentrations, ratios, and geometries of all components can be modulated with nano-scale precision to determine configurations that are more effective than other vaccination strategies. The project will be run by Wyss Institute Core Faculty member William Shih, Ph.D., Derin Keskin, Ph.D., lead immunologist at Dana-Farber's Translational Immunogenomics Lab, and Mooney. In a third project, David Scadden, M.D., the Gerald and Darlene Jordan Professor of Medicine at Harvard University, and Professor at Harvard's Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Mooney, based on their previous work, will engineer biomaterials that recreate key features of the normal hematopoietic stem cell niche in the bone marrow. Such implantable biomaterials could help rapidly amplify T cell progenitor cells, and enhance T cell-mediated anti-cancer immunity. The i3 Center's investigators anticipate that it will stimulate additional cross-disciplinary concepts and research, due to the culture of continuous interactions, sharing of findings, data and samples between all investigators, as well strong biostatistical expertise provided by Donna Neuberg, Sc.D., a senior biostatistician broadly involved with exploring immune-modulating cancer interventions at the Dana-Farber. "This new i3 Center for cancer immunotherapy innovation really embodies how the Wyss Institute with its unparalleled capabilities in bioengineering and serving as a site for multidisciplinary collaboration, and can liaise with clinicians and researchers at our collaborating institutions to confront major medical problems and bring about transformative change," said Wyss Founding Director Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D. He is also the Judah Folkman Professor of Vascular Biology at HMS and the Vascular Biology Program at Boston Children's Hospital, and Professor of Bioengineering at SEAS. On Feb. 18, 2020, in Seoul, South Korea, people wearing face masks pass an electric screen warning about COVID-19. AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon The coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19, is a frightening reminder of the imminent global threat posed by emerging infectious diseases. Although epidemics have arisen during all of human history, they now seem to be on the rise. In just the past 20 years, coronaviruses alone have caused three major outbreaks worldwide. Even more troubling, the duration between these three pandemics has gotten shorter. I am a virologist and associate director of the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory at Penn State University, and my laboratory studies zoonotic viruses, those that jump from animals and infect people. Most of the pandemics have at least one thing in common: They began their deadly work in Asia or Africa. The reasons why may surprise you. Population explosion and changing urban landscapes An unprecedented shift in human population is one reason why more diseases originate in Asia and Africa. Rapid urbanization is happening throughout Asia and the Pacific regions, where 60% of the world already lives. According to the World Bank, almost 200 million people moved to urban areas in East Asia during the first decade of the 21st century. To put that into perspective, 200 million people could form the eighth most populous country in the world. Migration on that scale means forest land is destroyed to create residential areas. Wild animals, forced to move closer to cities and towns, inevitably encounter domestic animals and the human population. Wild animals often harbor viruses; bats, for instance, can carry hundreds of them. And viruses, jumping species to species, can ultimately infect people. Eventually, extreme urbanization becomes a vicious cycle: More people bring more deforestation, and human expansion and the loss of habitat ultimately kills off predators, including those that feed off rodents. With the predators gone or at least with their numbers sharply diminished the rodent population explodes. And as studies in Africa show, so does the risk of zoonotic disease. The situation is only likely to get worse. A major proportion of East Asias population still lives in rural areas. Urbanization is expected to continue for decades. Subsistence agriculture and animal markets Tropical regions, rich in host biodiversity, already hold a large pool of pathogens, greatly increasing the chance that a novel pathogen will emerge. The farming system throughout Africa and Asia doesnt help. On both continents, many families depend on subsistence farming and a minuscule supply of livestock. Disease control, feed supplementation and housing for those animals is extremely limited. Cattle, chickens and pigs, which can carry endemic disease, are often in close contact with each other, a variety of nondomestic animals and humans. And not just on the farms: Live animal markets, commonplace throughout Asia and Africa, feature crowded conditions and the intimate mixing of multiple species, including humans. This too plays a key role in how a killer pathogen could emerge and spread between species. Another risk: bushmeat hunting and butchering, which is particularly widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. These activities, as they threaten animal species and irrevocably change ecosystems, also bring people and wild animals together. Bushmeat hunting is a clear and primary path for zoonotic disease transmission. So is traditional Chinese medicine, which purports to provide remedies for a host of conditions like arthritis, epilepsy and erectile dysfunction. Although no scientific evidence exists to support most of the claims, Asia is an enormous consumer of traditional Chinese medicine products. Tigers, bears, rhinos, pangolins and other animal species are poached so their body parts can be mixed into these questionable medications. This, too, is a major contributor to increasing animal-human interactions. Whats more, demand is likely to go up, as online marketing soars along with Asias relentless economic growth. A matter of time The viruses, thousands of them, continue to evolve. Its just a matter of time before another major outbreak occurs in this region of the world. All the coronaviruses that caused recent epidemics, including the COVID-19, jumped from bats to another animal before infecting humans. Its difficult to predict precisely what chain of events cause a pandemic, but one thing is certain: these risks can be mitigated by developing strategies to minimize human effects which contribute to the ecological disturbances. As the current outbreak has shown, an infectious disease that starts in one part of the world can spread globally in virtually no time whatsoever. There is an urgent need for constructive conservation strategies to prevent deforestation and reduce animal-human interactions. And a comprehensive global surveillance system to monitor the emergence of these diseases now missing would be an indispensable tool in helping us fight these deadly and terrifying epidemics. [Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter.] Suresh V Kuchipudi, Clinical Professor and Associate Director of Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. class="empty" style="padding: 20px;background-color:#333;color:white;text-ali This is the kind of thing youve probably been hearing vaguely on nature programs about Australia for years. But what you might not have heard is that the joey in the pouch is not the only offspring in its mothers body. Almost all kangaroos and wallabies have two separate uteruses, and they usually contrive to have extra, undeveloped embryos waiting in the wings or rather, in whichever uterus was unused in their most recent pregnancy. Often they get pregnant again within days of birth, and their bodies keep the new embryo from developing for months at a time, until its older sibling has reached sufficient maturity. Former Union finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday called for fixing accountability into the Yes Bank debacle and asked if no one in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or the government was accountable. At a press conference, Chidambaram also described the State Bank of Indias rescue operation to bail out Yes Bas as bizarre. Resolution plan proposed by SBI for Yes Bank is bizarre when banks net worth is perhaps 0. It would be better for SBI to take over on RBIs order with Yes Banks loan book at Re 1 and to assure depositors that their money will be returned, he said. He also said that the SBI was not a volunteer in the rescue operation for Yes Bank. I put out some numbers regarding outstanding loans of YES Bank. I am repeating the data: March 2014- 55,633 cr March 2015- 75,550 cr March 2016- 98,210 cr March 2017- 1,32,263 cr March 2018- 2,03,534 cr March 2019- 2,41,499 cr: @PChidambaram_IN #DontBankOnBJP Congress Live (@INCIndiaLive) March 7, 2020 Also read: Blueprint to deal with Yes Bank crisis and beyond | Opinion SBI is not a volunteer in the rescue act just like the LIC was not a volunteer in the IDBI rescue act, he said. He said it was incomprehensible how no one seemed to notice Yes Banks ballooning loan book. Notice the jump from March 2014 to March 2019, loan book was allowed to grow, despite supervision by RBI and government at 35% a year. Also notice the spike in 2016-17 and 2017-18, two years after demonetisation. Is no one in RBI or govt accountable? he asked. How did Rs 55,000 crore loan book in March 2014 jump to Rs 2,41,000 crore in March 2019 when I was not the Finance Minister? Chidambaram said mismanagement and gross oversight led to the Yes Bank debacle. Who authorised grant of new loans after March 2014? Were RBI and the government not aware that Yes Bank was on a loan-giving spree? Did no one in RBI and government read the balance sheet of the Bank at the end of every year? Asked about finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman blaming the UPA government for the crisis at Yes Bank, Chidamabram said, When I hear the finance minister, I feel the UPA is still in power and I am the finance minister and she is in the opposition. He asked the government to come clean on the fiasco and said, Attempts should not be made to sweep things under the carpet. He warned that if the mismanagement continues you will continue to lurch from one crisis to another. I used middle names to protect the identities of the heathens and heroes. An acquaintance finds himself standing trial this month in Dane County for sexual assault, dangerous use of a firearm, disorderly conduct, and child abuse related to his two tween stepchildren. I applaud Kyles wife for turning him over to the police, filing for divorce, requesting a restraining order, and insisting the district attorney bring felony criminal charges. Ann could have made excuses for him. Oh, his drinking gets him into trouble. It wont happen again. We can hire a psychiatrist to fix the kids. She could have blackmailed him into leaving the state. Go away; send me my $25,000 per year child support on our shared two younger children, and Ill look the other way! Instead she knows that a mothers protective role of providing a safe, sane refuge will serve as the pivotal key in the childrens ultimate survival. A parent who prostitutes her kids by refusing to hold the offender accountable is more repugnant than the pedophile. The relative who rebukes the wicked will suffer but may contribute to saving the soul of the innocent, betrayed child. Sexually abused kids often lie, steal, do drugs, binge drink, commit suicide, indulge in promiscuity, engage in dangerous self-destructive behaviors, or turn into incestuous abusers themselves. Thank you to the parents, neighbors, teachers, relatives, and victims who stand up to do the brave and courageous, yet difficult right thing. Truth, justice, and love author miraculous healing. Beth Swift, La Crosse Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Tokayev: CSTO peacekeepers will pull out from Kazakhstan within 10 days Newspaper: Armenia businessmen pay customs duties to Azerbaijanis to go to Iran European Parliament speaker David Sassoli dies Newspaper: Health minister makes decision full of contradictions in terms of Covid-related restrictions in Armenia Newspaper: Armenia authorities once again showed their being unprincipled, worthless, opposition MP says Germany teacher who had cannibalism fantasies is sentenced to life in prison Israel's military and other security services undergo largest rearmament in years Spain PM calls for a debate to consider COVID-19 endemic disease Flyone Armenia and Pegasus receive permission for Yerevan-Istanbul-Yerevan flights Pope condemns "baseless" ideological misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines Arab foreign ministers to visit Beijing Azerbaijanis stoned an Armenian car on the Stepanakert-Goris road Armenian FM has a phone call with his Polish counterpart Macron travels to French Riviera to discuss internal security issues Artsakh Foreign Ministry: Azerbaijan's aggressive behavior aims to disrupt Russian peacekeepers' activities US COVID-19 cases reach 60 million European Parliament President hospitalized due to immune system dysfunction Washington and Ankara discuss normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey WHO excludes emergence of deltacron strain In Karabakh Azerbaijanis shelled tractor Indian Defense Minister tests positive for COVID-19 US-Russia talks on security guarantees lasting for seven hours already NEWS.am daily digest: 10.01.22 Pashinyan appoints Hayk Mkrtchyan as Deputy Governor of Kotayk province Blast in eastern Afghanistan kills nine children Pashinyan: One of key priorities of Armenia presidency at CSTO is strengthening of crisis response mechanisms Internet cut off in Kazakhstan Armenia, Kazakhstan ombudspersons confer on Armenian communitys rights Armenia, Russia defense ministers discuss Kazakhstan Turkey defense minister meets with their envoy in process of normalization of Armenia relations Iranian Foreign Ministry reports progress in Vienna negotiations Dollar continues going up in Armenia New attempt by migrants in Belarus to storm Poland border Skat Airlines resumes Yerevan-Aktau and Aktau-Yerevan flights New Covid-related restrictions to be introduced in Armenia Karabakh police: Firefighters also targeted by Azerbaijan shooting (PHOTOS) Artsakh Defense Army has not fired on Azerbaijan positions Azerbaijani military are protesting amid military awards deprivation Azerbaijanis open fire in Nagorno-Karabakh Karabakh MFA: Events in Kazakhstan are result of actions planned by Turkey Armenia army General Staff has new deputy chief Australia to buy US $ 2.5 billion of armored vehicles Artsakh emergency service: Search for soldiers remains continued during holidays Kazakh Colonel Nazanov dies after heart attack Australia begins to vaccinate children aged 5-11 with COVID-19 vaccine Putin: Peacekeeping contingent to stay in Kazakhstan for a limited period Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan v. premier Pashinyan lawsuit court session is closed Azerbaijan commandos conduct military exercises Part of the Great Wall of China collapsed due to earthquake Armenia MP: Turkey, Azerbaijans regional calculations have mixed up Copper prices decline Armenia ex-President Kocharyan v. PM Pashinyan lawsuit trial resumes Gold is getting cheaper EU is ready to support in addressing Karabakh crisis 126 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Fire in residential building in New York leaves 19 people killed National Center for Infectious Diseases Yerevan branch employees protesting outside center Karabakh President: Radical Pan-Turkic circles are actively involved in process in Kazakhstan Oil is getting more expensive Mars helicopter Ingenuity preparing for difficult 19th flight Interior ministry: About 8,000 people detained in Kazakhstan Earthquake hits Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone Researchers create substitute for egg whites from fungus Kazakhstan official information channel removes message about 164 casualties EC says construction of new nuclear power plants in Europe will require 500 billion in investment Ghost ship that sank 343 years ago discovered in US Post-COVID-19 antibodies may attack healthy cells, scientists say Pope says he was praying for Kazakhstan Media: 164 people die in Kazakhstan during riots Peskov: CSTO session does not plan to sign documents yet Criminal cases launched after bomb threat in Armenian, Belarus embassies in Moscow Norwegian military surrender panties before demobilization Iranian MFA says Tehran is ready for talks on downed plane of UIA Ukraine Russian defense minister says information war is on all fronts Several strategic objects in Kazakhstan transferred to CSTO contingent under protection David Minasyan elected head of Armenia's Parakar community Bloomberg: US is considering issue of limiting supply of high-tech products to Russia Armenia reports 142 COVID-19 new cases Council of Elders meeting continues in Armenia's Parakar White House speaks on Blinken statement on Russian peacekeeping troops Armed people detained at border in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan talks stabilization of situation in all regions of country Azerbaijanis demand Armenian soldier change his faith by taking away his cross, Ombudsman says Armenian painter Mher Mansurian dies in France At least 17 killed in Egypt road accident NATO chief announces Russia forces continued buildup in Ukraine Armenian militarys transfer to Kazakhstan is completed Azerbaijan opens fire on military positions near Armenia village Unidentified persons report threat of explosion at Armenia, Belarus embassies in Moscow Putin confers with Pashinyan, Lukashenko on situation in Kazakhstan Zakharova: OSCE has not provided real assistance to reporters who were attacked in Kazakhstan Lukashenko, Putin discuss situation in CSTO member countries Russia's Putin has telephonic conversation with Kazakhstan's Tokayev Quake hits waters off Chile President Tokayev declares national mourning in Kazakhstan on January 10 US diplomats do not leave Kazakhstans Almaty yet 1 more person dies of coronavirus in Karabakh Artsakh resident, 91 found dead near village Russia MFA reacts to Blinken's words about Russian military in Kazakhstan 195 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia SPRINGFIELD Illinois justice system has a problem, the top courts chief justice told lawmakers this week. There is no statewide system to track how many people are in jail and for how long, for example, or how quickly judges clear their docket. The Illinois Supreme Court, which has authority over all courts in the state, asked members of the General Assembly for the financial resources in part to acquire technology capable of accurately capturing and compiling data from each county, Chief Justice Anne Burke said in separate appearances before House and Senate budget panels. The state has 102 counties, 102 elected county boards, 102 county clerks, 102 sheriffs all independent contractors, she said, adding that a uniform electronic filing system would enable courts and other stakeholders to develop best practices and provide transparency with state agencies. It would cost about $1.6 million to purchase the technology for such a system, according to the judicial branchs budget request. Marcia Meis, director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, estimated it could be in place in six to eight months. In 2016, the high court began an e-filing initiative to simplify the process of submitting documents, save time and resources, and help those representing themselves in court cases. Currently, all filings for civil cases must be electronically submitted about 600,000 documents per month, Burke estimated and circuit courts have the option of allowing the system to be used in criminal cases as well. However, the current system for collecting data has become obsolete, resulting in data that is often unreliable, Burke said. As we move forward, the data collected by the Judicial Branch and the speed and accuracy with which it can be accessed will only continue to grow in importance. Hoffman Estates Democratic Rep. Fred Crespo suggested counties participation in e-filing could be set as a precondition to receive funds from the court. For the next fiscal year, the high court is asking for $483.3 million, not only for electronic filing, but to continue reimbursing costs paid by local governments. That is just more than $29 million more than what the judicial branch received this fiscal year. It used its first budget increase in six years last year to fully reimburse counties for salaries and probation services the first time it was able to do so in 30 years. Statute requires the Supreme Court to refund local governments for those expenses, but after years of not being able to do so, services in some counties were diminished, depending on taxpayers ability or local leaders willingness to bear the financial burden. Those included pretrial services and decreased supervision of adult and juvenile offenders on probation. Instead of being locked in a jail cell, a person on probation is able to live and work in their community. It is a period of supervision different from parole, which is overseen and paid for by the Department of Corrections. Counties were able to fill 86 vacant positions and create 148 new ones to service those that interact with the courts. The majority of these new positions, 119, are dedicated to enhancing pretrial services [which] have, historically, been woefully underfunded but are essential to the criminal justice system, Burke said. Probation is a far more effective use of Illinois taxpayers money, she added. It costs about $38,000 to keep an offender in jail, but approximately $3,000 to $5,000 to have that offender supervised by a probation officer. Rep. Dan Caulkins, a Republican from Decatur, said fully funding that aspect of the courts last year was a priority. I hope that we continue to put emphasis on the probation as opposed to incarceration, he said. Its not just cost savings, but I think it also gives people a better opportunity to get their lives back together. In his budget proposal, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker allocated the Supreme Court an additional $500,000 beyond what it asked for. That money is earmarked for the circuit courts to help clear cannabis expungement cases. On Tuesday, Sen. Heather Steans, a Democrat from Chicago and one of the Cannabis Regulation and Taxation Acts main framers, asked why the high court did not ask for that money. I understand this year we just passed the bill, she said. But now its already in place. The money has been there, we had a process that we thought was set up, so I was just surprised that youre not continuing to ask for that knowing we are going to have more expungements coming down the road. Kara McCaffrey, assistant director of the Administrative Office, said those are funds the General Assembly needs to appropriate from the revenue in sales tax on cannabis products. Burke said the Supreme Court is sending a message of sustainability in its budget request for fiscal year 2021. Full funding of the judicial branch budget is critical to maintaining probation positions and improving a system that is critical to making any criminal justice reform meaningful and successful, she said. Anything less risks a return to higher incarceration rates and higher recidivism, but more burdens on the state treasury and a system that does not serve the people of Illinois. Burkes term as chief justice began on Oct. 26. She is the third female to serve in the position, and the first chief justice in almost a decade from Cook County. Dozens of people were killed when gunmen opened fire at a political rally in Kabul on Friday in the deadliest assault in Afghanistan since the US signed a withdrawal deal with the Taliban. The attack highlights a glaring lack of security in the Afghan capital just 14 months ahead of the scheduled withdrawal of all foreign forces under an agreement signed on February 29 by the US and Islamic militants. Health ministry spokesman Wahidullah Mayar told AFP that 32 people had been killed including five women, while another 58 people were wounded. Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi put the death toll at 29, with an additional 61 wounded. He said special forces units had carried out clearance operations, killing the two gunmen who conducted the attack. The Taliban immediately denied responsibility for the assault, which occurred at a commemoration ceremony for Abdul Ali Mazari a politician from the Hazara ethnic group, most of whom are Shiite Muslims. The Islamic State group claimed an attack on the same ceremony last year, when a barrage of mortar fire killed at least 11 people. Rahimi said gunfire had erupted from a construction site near the ceremony in the citys west, which is largely Shiite. Photos on social media showed several dead bodies being collected from the scene. President Ashraf Ghani condemned the massacre, calling it a crime against humanity. The ceremony was attended by many of the countrys political elite, including Afghanistans chief executive Abdullah Abdullah. The interior ministry later confirmed that all the high-ranking officials were safely evacuated from the scene. We left the ceremony following the gunfire, and a number of people were wounded, but I do not have any reports of martyred people for now, Hazara leader Mohammad Mohaqiq told Tolo News. Continued violence The mass shooting comes less than a week after the US and Taliban signed a deal that would pave the way for the complete withdrawal of foreign troops in 14 months. The withdrawal hinges to a great extent on the Taliban being able to control jihadist forces such as Islamic State. If such groups remain, so too does the American military. A spokesman for US Forces-Afghanistan said the response to Fridays attack was Afghan-led, but the Americans provided medical assistance to the victims. Since the much-trumpeted deal signing in Doha last weekend, fighting has continued to rage across Afghanistan, casting a pall over hopes the agreement would lead to a reduction in violence and talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. Kabul and the Taliban are supposed to meet in Oslo next week, but these discussions look likely to be delayed by a disagreement over a mass prisoner release. The US-Taliban deal states the Afghan government should release as many as 5,000 Taliban prisoners before the talks supposed start date of March 10, but President Ghani has rejected that commitment. The blame game got underway Friday, when the Talibans political spokesman Suhail Shaheen said the insurgents were ready for talks but only if the prisoners were released. If the negotiations are delayed beyond the stated date, the responsibility will rest with the others, Shaheen said on Twitter. Islamic State, which follows a radical Sunni interpretation of Islam, first became active in Afghanistan in 2015 and for years held territory in the eastern province of Nangarhar. It has claimed responsibility for a string of horrific bombings, including several in Kabul targeting the citys Shiite community. In recent months the group has been hit by mounting setbacks after being hunted for years by US and Afghan forces along with multiple Taliban offensives targeting their fighters. Still, it remains in Afghanistan, notably in eastern Kunar province near the Pakistan border, which also neighbours Nangarhar, as well as in Kabul. Workers clean poles during a demonstration for the media of sanitisation operations being used to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Feb 4, 2020. (Photo: AFP/Mohd RASFAN) In a statement, Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said patients 56 to 83 have all been hospitalised for further treatment, and contact tracing for the new cases is underway. With the latest addition of positive cases, the breakdown would be 65 Malaysians, 15 Chinese nationals and three who are from USA, Japan and Italy. In total, 956 close contacts have been identified for all 83 cases, of which 258 were connected to the cluster of Case 26, he said. Dr Noor Hisham explained that of the cluster related to Case 26, 18 people have tested positive while 70 have tested negative, and all have been self-quarantined for 14 days. As for the remaining 170 related to this cluster, they are all awaiting laboratory results and have also been quarantined at home. Case 26, a 52 year old man who has now publicly identified himself as UDA Holdings Chairman Hisham Hamdan had visited Shanghai in mid-January. He had a fever and sore throat on Feb 27 and received outpatient treatment at a private hospital on the same day and later tested positive on Feb 29. He was then warded at the Sungai Buloh Hospital. The ministry is still investigating the case and contact tracing for the cluster is still ongoing to ensure the source and prevent further spreading," Dr Noor Hisham said. He added that after several tests, the ministry found that Malaysia currently did not have sporadic cases of COVID-19. Dr Noor Hisham also said that one more person infected in the first wave has recovered, bringing the total number of discharged patients to 24. Ahead of Women's Day, Netflix has released its much-publicised film Guilty. Starring Kiara Advani in the lead in a punk rock chick look, the film has her play a college band member whose boyfriend is accused of rape. The film touches upon the topics of gender stereotypes, consent and privilege, with the women characters at the fore. For more women-centric content, watch the short Sitara: Let Girls Dream, and animated film about a teenager's attempts to fulfill her dreams. If you want to watch some badass women in a sleek thriller, try the new version of Charlie's Angels starring Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska. Guilty (Netflix) This thriller is directed by Ruchi Narain and written by Narain, Kanika Dhillon and Atika Chohan. The film is the first production venture of Dharmatic, the digital arm of Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. Kiara plays a college girl, a songwriter whose boyfriend is the college heartthrob and is accused of rape. The allegation is made by a less popular small-town student, and the movie unfolds as the authorities try to find the truth. Going by the trailer, it explores the usual stereotypes women are subject to, touching the topics of economic strata, privilege, law, police, and gender perceptions. Sitara: Let Girls Dream (Netflix) Netflix will release the animated short film Sitara: Let Girls Dream from two-time Oscar-winning and three-time Emmy-winning director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy on Women's Day. The short, set in 1970s Pakistan, tells the story of Pari, a 14-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a pilot while growing up in a society that doesnt allow her to dream. "For me, Sitara is more than a film; it is a movement that we want to start across the world, that encourages parents to invest in their girls' dreams, freeing their daughters from the burdens of early marriage," Obaid-Chinoy had said. Pari is a young girl whose dream of being a pilot is crushed when she is forced into child marriage, from @sitarathemovie a short film made w/ @ChimeforChange for #InternationalDayoftheGirl to end child marriage. #LetGirlsDream Share your dream at https://t.co/UtuVtCYIWJ. pic.twitter.com/9dUZ7cYYMd gucci (@gucci) October 10, 2019 Charlie's Angels (2019) (Amazon Prime Video) The action comedy film written and directed by Elizabeth Banks stars Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska as the new generation of Angels who are working for a private detective agency named the Townsend Agency. The film is the third installment in the Charlie's Angels film series and serves as a continuation of the story that began with the television series of the same name, and the two previous theatrical films, Charlie's Angels (2000) and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003). It has been hailed for adding new flair to the franchise with fun performances from its three leads. Passengers (Netflix) This sci-fi romance stars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt as Aurora Lane and Jim Preston, respectively, with Michael Sheen and Laurence Fishburne in supporting roles, plus Andy Garcia in a cameo. The plot depicts two people who are awakened ninety years too early from an induced hibernation on a spaceship, transporting thousands of passengers, travelling to a colony on a planet in a star system 60 light years from Earth. It received two nominations for Best Original Score and Best Production Design at the 89th Oscars. Bhaukaal (MX Player) MX Player is bringing to you a series inspired by the true life events of an IPS Officer (played by Mohit Raina), who drastically brought down the organized crime rates in UP in the early 2000s. Bhaukaal is set in Muzaffarnagar in 2003, which was then better known as the crime capital of India and the series tells the tale of how one courageous officer goes on a clean-up drive to punish criminals, battles local influential personalities and re-establishes the faith of the common man in the law. Follow @News18Movies for more The repeated false claims by the president that the virus was being contained exacerbated the problem. They made it difficult for public health officials to lay out the need to prepare for what happens next, even after most experts had begun to fear the virus was already here and spreading. There was also a ripple effect, with health officials and others not taking the threat as seriously as they should have because Trump kept on making faulty assurances, such as his claim at a Feb. 26 news conference that within the United States, the number of cases was going to be down to close to zero. Anatomy of Anxiety Nashville, renowned for its country music scene, also houses Vanderbilt University and grant-funded research that recently leveled up our understanding of the interconnection between anxiety, stress and cannabis. Published in peer-reviewed scientific journal Neuron, Endocannabinoid Signaling Collapse Mediates Stress-Induced Amygdalo-Cortical Strengthening follows up on research implicating a functional coupling of the amygdala and the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) in the generation of negative affective states, aka stress that inhibit animals from functioning optimally. To explore this neural pathways relationship to stress and anxiety, Vanderbilt researchers formulated and conducted a mouse study of a neurological circuit that links the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex. The study showed that when mice became stressed, the basolateral amygdala (BLA)-prelimbic prefrontal cortex (plPFC) circuit was activated. Researchers also assessed the endocannabinoid 2- Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and its role in mediating signaling. According to a Vanderbilt press release, This finding demonstrates that the cannabinoid signaling system that suppresses information flow between these two brain regions is critical for setting the level of anxiety in animals. The release also notes that paper authors Sachin Patel and David Marcus are interested in studying how the cannabinoid signaling system reacts to chronic stress and whether other environmental exposures can regulate behavior by either compromising or enhancing this system. CC BY Freeman LaFleur via Lending Flower Everything is set and ready to make a reality of local efforts to extend a medical cannabis-filled hand to out-of-state residents registered in their states own medical cannabis program. In Medical cannabis reciprocity on hold, Andy Lyman reports that the reciprocity rule that will enable this reciprocal access actually set July 1 as the scheduled start date. New Mexico Political Report quotes Dr. Dominick Zurlo, the state Medical Cannabis Program director, on the reasoning behind that decision: Thats partly because the seed-to-sale tracking software the state uses is due for an upgrade. Under the new rules, already-qualified cannabis patients from states that have a medical cannabis program could go to any dispensary in New Mexico to register as a reciprocal patient. If youre still hungry for the latest in local and national cannabis newsfrom the new FDA directors openness to CBDs value to the fact that cannabis use among seniors (over 65) has doubled and the US Department of Agricultures delay of a hemp rule to limit who can test plants for THC percentagescope out the latest Baked Goods column. Amid Questions About Political Future, Putin Says He Doesn't Intend To Become Head Of State Council By RFE/RL March 06, 2020 Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he did not intend to head a newly empowered State Council once his presidency formally ends in 2024. In comments on March 6, Putin also said he doesn't want to end presidential term limits. The remarks add to mounting questions about his future plans, as well as uncertainty about Russia's political system amid proposed sweeping changes to the country's constitution. In January, Putin called for a series of constitutional amendments that amounted to a major reshuffling of future legal powers between the presidency and the parliament. The country's parliament is expected to pass a final version of the amendments in the coming weeks, and Russians will vote on them in a referendum on April 22. Among the amendments is a move to formalize the authority of the State Council, which until now has been merely an advisory body for the Kremlin. Some Kremlin watchers predicted that enshrining the State Council in the constitution would theoretically allow Putin to retain a supreme leadership role, once his second straight six-year term ends in 2024. Speaking at a meeting with residents of Ivanovo, a depressed factory city about 300 kilometers northeast of Moscow, Putin was asked about heading the State Council. "There are suggestions to give the State Council some special powers and [for me to] become the head of that State Council. What will it mean? It will amount to the situation of diarchy in our country. Such a situation is absolutely fatal for Russia," he said. He continued: "It is not about me not being willing to [be in power] -- no, I do like my job, but setting up a scheme of power that would be unacceptable or destructive for the country for the sake of retaining my personal powers is precisely what I am afraid of and what I do not want to do." The Russian leader also said that he thought ending presidential terms would be harmful for Russia's future even though, he asserted, the country would benefit from political stability. "Why don't I want to scrap limits?" Putin said. "It's not that I fear myself: I'm not going to lose my mind, it's not about me. Stability, calm development of the country may be more important now, but later when the country becomes more confident and gets richer it will definitely be necessary to ensure government rotation." Under the existing constitution, which limits presidents to two consecutive terms, Putin is barred from seeking reelection in 2024. Putin lamented the state of Russia's political parties, while also downplaying the idea of turning Russia into a parliamentary republic, something that the proposed amendments appeared to do in part. "Our country will not do well without a strong presidential power. We do not have stable political parties, which, say in Europe, have been maturing for centuries," he said. With reporting by AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ russia-putin-political-future-state -council/30473929.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As the numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths in the United States rise, federal authorities are pleading with the public to stop buying surgical masks. "Seriously people - STOP BUYING MASKS!" U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted last Saturday morning. "They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can't get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!" Hours later, during a news conference following a coronavirus death in Washington state, Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the administration's response efforts, said, "Let me be very clear - and I'm sure the physicians who are up here will reflect this as well: The average American does not need to go out and buy a mask." Face masks are recommended for people who are sick and for health-care workers, and the government has contracted with 3M to produce 35 million more for the medical workforce, Pence said Saturday. But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says face masks are not necessary for the general public. That has some people skeptical: If face masks are important for health-care workers, why shouldn't I wear one, too? Is the government trying to preserve the stock of masks for people it believes are in greater need? ADVERTISEMENT No, said Stephen Gluckman, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Pennsylvania. "It's not recommended because it doesn't work," Gluckman said. "They're wasting money and giving people a false sense that they're doing something." Standard surgical face masks - rectangular and secured with thin elastic - do not provide a tight seal around the nose and mouth. Their effectiveness depends on the illness and the size of its particles, Gluckman said. Meningitis, for example, has large particles that a surgical face mask could effectively block. But based on what scientists know about the new coronavirus, its particles are small and could easily get around a surgical face mask, he said. Meanwhile, surgical masks are recommended for people who are sick because the masks can limit how far germs travel when people cough or sneeze. Health-care workers should wear masks because they are treating people who are ill and because the masks they wear are specially fitted to ensure a tight seal around the nose and mouth. Health care workers use N95 respirators, which are made from thicker material and must be individually fitted to be sure there are no gaps, Gluckman said. These hospital-grade respirators are available for purchase, but wearing one incorrectly or without a proper fit could increase your chances of getting sick, as constantly touching or adjusting the mask can expose you to any germs the mask captured. Such masks are needed in a hospital setting because the use of breathing tubes and ventilators can cause tiny, viral particles to become "aerosolized," meaning they are very fine and easily inhaled, said Aaron E. Glatt, a physician with Mount Sinai South Nassau in New York. ADVERTISEMENT "You're standing right over a patient coughing into your face," said Glatt, a spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. "You're going from one patient to another." The mad dash to buy face masks makes sense - it's natural to want to do something to protect yourself when faced with a novel virus. But there are more effective ways to protect against infection outside the hospital. Medical professionals say the best thing you can do to protect yourself from coronavirus - and any other respiratory illness - is to wash your hands. "Part of the reason people are using face masks is because they don't want anything to come into their face. But if we get people to wash their hands, it helps protect the eyes, nose and mouth," said Kelly Zabriskie, director of infection protection at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. "You're cutting out the route of transition into the body." Scientists are still learning about how coronavirus spreads, and it's unclear how close you'd need to be to an infected individual to inhale airborne germs. But lots of germs are spread by touching infected surfaces and objects, then touching your mouth, nose and eyes - all of which can let viruses and bacteria into the body, Zabriskie said. Hand-washing is one of the best protections against germs, but a 2018 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that people aren't doing it right 97% of the time. Here's the right way to wash your hands: Wet your hands and slather on some soap. Turn off the tap to reduce water waste and protect the environment while protecting yourself from illness. ADVERTISEMENT Lather up, making sure to get the fronts and backs of hands, between fingers and under fingernails. Keep it up for 20 seconds - that's about the time it takes to hum the "happy birthday" song twice. Rinse, then dry with a clean towel. Zabriskie recommends using lukewarm water, rather than scalding hot water, to reduce dry, cracked skin, which can let in germs. When in a public restroom, use a paper towel to shut off the faucet and open the door, she said. While your hands should be clean by the time you dry them on a towel, germs like damp environments, making hand towels an excellent breeding ground. The Cleveland Clinic recommends washing bath towels once a week and swapping out washcloths multiple times a week. If possible, spread out towels across a bar to help them dry between uses. Hand washing on the go? Studies have found paper towels are more hygienic than air dryers. Washing with soap and water is more effective than hand sanitizers - even those that claim to kill 99.9% of bacteria. But hand sanitizer gels are still a good backup plan when you're not near a sink. Be sure to buy one that is alcohol-based, as that is the ingredient that breaks down germs. Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose, and mouth. Avoid contact with individuals who may be ill. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it out right away. Stay home if you're unwell. Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces, such as computer keyboards, with a household cleaner. --- (Staff writer Tom Avril contributed to this article.) --- (c)2020 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The agency is likely to recommend that people who can consistently wear N95 or KN95 masks, rather than cloth masks, should do so. Coming Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET British Columbia declared an outbreak of the novel coronavirus at a North Vancouver long-term care home on Saturday, saying two elderly residents were recently diagnosed with the virus along with four others in the province. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. British Columbia declared an outbreak of the novel coronavirus at a North Vancouver long-term care home on Saturday, saying two elderly residents were recently diagnosed with the virus along with four others in the province. Chief provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the two cases of COVID-19 follow an earlier diagnosis of a care worker at the Lynn Valley Care Centre, making them especially concerning as examples of community transmission. The care home is now following an outbreak protocol that restricts visitors and imposes "infection control precautions" on all staff interactions at the facility. "We know that the elderly in our communities are at high risk of having severe disease or complications from COVID-19," Henry said, her voice wavering. "...I'm calling on all of us in B.C. to do what we need to do to protect our seniors and elders in our community and to keep them safe." Henry at one point became choked up, pausing mid-sentence as tears streaked her cheeks. "The last two cases really are the most concerning to us," she told reporters in Vancouver. At least 57 people in Canada have the novel coronavirus, with 27 confirmed cases in B.C., 28 in Ontario two of which were announced in the last day and two in Quebec. There are another two presumptive cases in Alberta that have yet to be confirmed by the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg. Henry urged people who feel sick to stay away from work, school and large gatherings, suggesting virtual meetings instead. "We are in an extraordinary situation. If you or your children are sick, stay home, isolate yourself." She categorized the two cases at the care home as community transmission, distinct from imported cases when a traveller contracts the illness abroad before returning home. B.C. said Friday it activated a pandemics co-ordination plan to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak and is prepared to escalate their response if needed. Four of the 27 British Columbians who have tested positive have recovered and three are now in hospital, with one woman in her 80s in an intensive care unit, Henry said. Meanwhile, a growing list of events are being cancelled around the world in anticipation of fewer people travelling to and from infected areas. The women's world hockey championship was slated to begin later this month in Halifax and Truro, N.S., but the tournament was cancelled on Saturday to protect the health of players and fans. Rene Fasel, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, said teams from eight countries were expected to take part, but travel arrangements were getting complicated. "It's scary," Fasel said, adding that the status of other upcoming international hockey tournaments will be determined next month. The men's world championships are set to open May 8 in Switzerland. "For sure, we are concerned and we are monitoring this." The 2020 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse were similarly cancelled. Canadians planning to travel abroad are also getting hit with demoralizing cancellations. Graham Ereaux, a singer-songwriter with the Nova Scotia-based indie folk band Devarrow, said he was stunned when he learned Friday that the South by Southwest Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, had been cancelled to prevent the spread of the virus. "It's the biggest (musical festival) of its kind in the world," said Ereaux. "It's an emerging artist festival... A main motive for us was to go and get an American booking agent." Ereaux said he's now scrambling to cancel flights, accommodations and other bookings. Canadian health officials are also asking people to avoid cruise ship travel after a cruise liner carrying 237 Canadians reported 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The Grand Princess, which is carrying more than 3,500 passengers and crew, is being held off the coast of San Francisco. U.S officials say they plan to bring the ship to a "non-commercial port." Canadian health officials continue to stress that the risk posed by the novel coronavirus in this country remains low. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam has said most of the cases have been mild, and the patients are self-isolating at home. About seven people are in hospital, but she said that doesn't necessarily mean they are severely ill. Around the country, officials are prioritizing efforts to sanitize places where people gather in close quarters, such as planes, trains, subways and stadiums. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. And on Saturday Tim Hortons got rid of the cups for its annual "Roll Up the Rim" contest, saying "the current public health environment" means "it's not the right time for team members...to collect rolled up tabs that have been in people's mouths." On the international front, the number of infected people worldwide exceeded 100,000 on Friday. The World Health Organization says most of the new cases had shifted from China to other countries. The virus was first confirmed in China's Hubei province on Jan. 7. About 90 countries have since reported infections. The World Health Organization has warned the virus could spread at a rapid rate in countries that don't have the capability to detect it. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 7, 2020. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version erroneously reported that Roll Up The Rim was being cancelled. In fact, the contest will go ahead without the cups. On March 3, 2020, a federal district court in Florida entered final judgments against a Florida-based CPA, a former broker, and the former broker's spouse, in connection with a fraudulent scheme involving the creation and sale of a public shell company. The SEC's complaint, filed on December 3, 2018, charged David Dreslin, CPA, and Michael Toups, who had been a registered representative, with allegedly creating a shell company. As alleged, Dreslin and Toups filed false and misleading registration statements and periodic reports with the SEC, created a phony business plan, and appointed nominee officers and directors to conceal their control over the company. The SEC also charged Toups's wife, Leslie Toups, who allegedly served as the shell's majority shareholder and director and signed false filings and other materially false and misleading documents. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida entered final consent judgments against Dreslin and Michael Toups. The court had previously entered a final consent judgment against Leslie Toups. The three judgments permanently enjoined: (a) each of the defendants from violating the antifraud provisions of Sections 17(a)(1) and (3) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Dreslin from violating Section 17(a)(2) of the Securities Act; (b) Dreslin from violating, and Michael and Leslie Toups from aiding and abetting any violation of, the reporting provisions of Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act and Rules 12b-20, 13a-1, and 13a-11 thereunder; and (c) Leslie Toups from violating the beneficial ownership reporting provisions of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 16a-3 thereunder. The judgments also ordered Dreslin and Michael Toups each to pay a $160,000 civil penalty, and Leslie Toups to pay a civil penalty of $25,000. The judgments permanently barred Dreslin and Michael Toups from participating in an offering of a penny stock and from serving as an officer or director of any public company, and barred Leslie Toups from the same conduct for a period of five years. In addition, the court ordered Dreslin to pay disgorgement of $183,438 and prejudgment interest of $30,197. The defendants neither admitted nor denied the SEC's allegations. The SEC strongly encourages investors to use the agency's Investor.gov website to check the backgrounds of people selling them investments to quickly identify whether they are registered professionals. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Jeffrey D. Felder and Daniel M. Konosky, and was supervised by Kimberly L. Frederick and Kurt L. Gottschall. The SEC's litigation against Dreslin and Michael Toups had been led by Christopher E. Martin and Mark L. Williams and supervised by Gregory Kasper and Jason Burt. Surti girl Nitya Dalmia's first novel "Stuck Up" is set in the beautiful hills of Mussoorie where she studied. Inspired by her struggles as well as her adventures with her friends in school, Stuck Up is a part of a sequel. The characters in the book too are inspired by her friends at school. "To spice things up, I added some romance in my novel. In fact, I have always loved romance as a genre," says 14-year-old Nitya. Nitya who has always enjoyed writing short stories and essays had a long-time dream of pursuing a career in writing. Having studied in Woodstock School, Mussoorie for three years, she recently moved back to Surat to live with her parents. "I would like to thank my parents who have supported me every step of the way and taught me to be strong and hold on to my hopes and dreams even in the darkest of times. I wish to thank Abhishek James Chandran for taking my work to the next level and editing one of the most amazing chapters of my life. Special thanks to Sehar Windlass, my best friend who stood by me through thick and thin, and also the one who inspired one of the main characters in the book," says Nitya. "Thanks to Reyansh Garg, Anamika Seth, Gazal Valvani, Eeshan Chugh, Nakshatra Bajaj, Gursimar Singh Kumar, Adhiraj Kapoor, Ansh Garodia, Yashvarya Goyal, Noor Caroline John, Sumaira Chopra, Amaan Singh Bubber, and everyone else who has inspired my novel. Lastly, I would like to thank Leadstart Publishing, for making my one dream come true and Sanjhee Gyanchandani, who has edited my work and made it the best it could be," added Nitya. Stuck Up is a book about Riya, the protagonist and her love interest Raynak. They met in school and later discovered their feelings for each other. Like any other teenagers, they had no clue about what they wanted to do. Overcoming many hurdles they finally started dating unaware of the consequences they might have to face later. A busy worker, Raynak could not spare time for Riya which caused more problems in their relationship. Riya who had always just wanted love and respect from her boyfriend puts all her effort into getting Raynak's attention. The book explores various nuances of the relationship between Riya and Raynak. This story is provided by News Wire Gujarat. 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.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-08 02:52:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CHICAGO, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Sitting in the safety training room of CRRC Chicago facility, 12 boys from Harlan Community Academy, a high school in the southern suburbs of Chicago, were excited after watching slides of introduction to the Chinese railcar maker. They were curious about everything: How the car is put on the track? Is CRRC making cars for Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)? Does CRRC make buses? The boys were having a career exploration on Friday at the Chinese facility in Chicago, jointly organized by China General Chamber of Commerce Chicago (CGCC Chicago) and Youth Guidance, a counseling and a violence prevention program in Chicago committed to school-based programs that enable children to overcome obstacles, focus on education and ultimately succeed in school and in life since 1924. Site visit at the facility later gave the boys a real-time experience. They followed carefully every procedure of the railcar assembling while a CRRC guide explained the process to them. "Visiting this beautiful facility was to get a firsthand experience or behind the scenes of the trains I commute to and from school ... and to get an idea of the production of it, so I can know who is in charge of making sure the doors don't close on me or just to get an idea of like how the trains are made," said Jake Elliott, a sophomore at Harlan Community Academy. Elliott's primary hope is to attend college, but he does not resist the idea of working at CRRC. "CRRC would definitely be a choice for me because I like mechanism and like things of that nature and they have a lot of electricity going on, a lot of panel boards and stuff like around that area. So I would definitely consider CRRC," he added. Teamwork is what he has learned from the trip. Elliott told Xinhua: "Partnering and teamwork are very important for production overall, because the people who they're making the trains for, they have to make sure everything is safe ... They're doing it safely, efficiently." Jamonte Harris, a senior at the school, echoed Elliott's words. "Teamwork makes the dreamers. So not only one person can do the job by himself, everybody has to pitch in and take apart in what a company will do as a whole team," he said. "It's a great idea for our students to just see something different, and to see how our everyday products are being made," said Randy Johnson, who is in charge of a "Becoming A Man" program at Youth Guidance. "We try to teach our young men to always have some sort of goal. In order to have a goal, you have to see something, you have to see opportunities that you can connect with," Johnson told Xinhua. "That's why we take these opportunities so our boys can just have this experience ... (can) see a quick glimpse at what you could be doing 10 years down the line." Ernest Stanford acts as production supervisor at CRRC Chicago facility. He told Xinhua frankly that the facility is a groundbreaking company right now and is trying to come up off the group and build a business that would "love for all of the citizens of Chicago to have a part of it." "It is part of our responsibility as building a future here also builds careers for the citizens of Chicago," he added. "It's a rewarding career for me," he said proudly. "We encourage the citizens of Chicago to come in and also try to start a rewarding career here." NORRISTOWN In the wake of two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Pennsylvania, Montgomery County officials launched a website that aggregates information and resources about the disease. No cases have been confirmed in Montgomery County as of Friday. Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh discussed the websites unveiling during a meeting Thursday morning. The site includes current links and guidelines about Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19. Officials gathered tweets from the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization and Montgomery County to help area residents stay informed. The county has also been sharing updates on its Montgomery County, PA Facebook page. For more information, visit https://data-montcopa.opendata.arcgis.com/pages/covid-19. The state of Alabama executed Nathaniel Woods, 44, Thursday evening. His execution came nearly 16 years after three Birmingham police officers were shot and killed. Woods was sentenced to death for the 2004 killings despite the fact that he did not fire any shots on what has come to be known as the Deadliest Day in the Birmingham Police Departments history. Nathaniel Woods [Credit: Alabama Department of Corrections via AP] Capital punishment, which is banned in the vast majority of the modern industrialized world, is still legal in 29 of 50 US states, the US federal government and the US military. The death penalty is horrific in its own right, a barbarous practice rooted in vengeance and retribution that has nothing to do with rehabilitation, has been proven not to deter crime and does not provide closure to the victims of crime. In Woods case, the injustice of the ultimate punishment is compounded by the fact that he did not pull the trigger that ended the lives of officers Carlos Owen, Harley A. Chisholm III and Charles R. Bennett. This reality was never disputed by the prosecution in Woods case. By witness accounts, Woods actually ran from the cops who were in the process of arresting him and taking him into custody for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant at a drug house in Birmingham. The man who shot the officers, Kerry M. Spencer, is on death row awaiting execution and has since said that Woods is 100 percent innocent. Michael Collins, another officer at the scene that day, testified at trial that Woods had come out of the house with his hands up and said to the police: I give up. I give up. Just dont spray me with that mace, before Spencer started shooting. However, Collins later changed his testimony from earlier statements to include a claim that Woods had threatened the officers before they were killed. Numerous public figures and celebrities, including Martin Luther King III, O.J. Simpson and Kim Kardashian, protested the execution. More than 75,000 opponents of the execution signed petitions to Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to stop it. Woods sister, Pamela Woods, told Newsweek that her brothers impending execution was a modern day lynching. Woods conviction and sentence were affirmed by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals and the Alabama Supreme Court. Governor Ivey, a Republican, declined to commute his sentence. The US Supreme Court issued a temporary stay of execution Thursday night but lifted it before Woods execution warrant expired, allowing it to proceed. The Birmingham News reported on the grisly scene at William C. Holman Correctional Facilitys execution chamber in Atmore on Thursday. After the curtains to the viewing room opened at 8:37 p.m. local time, the News wrote, Woods sat up on the gurney and stared straight ahead to one of the three viewing rooms. As the warden left the room, Woods laid his head down. At 8:40 p.m., Woods sat back up and began mouthing words. His fists were clenched, while his right-hand index finger was stuck out in an apparent sign of his Islamic faith. Woods laid his head down at 8:43 p.m. as the lethal chemicals proceeded to flow. He moved his arms against the restraints. After an 8:45 p.m. consciousness check, his left arms jerked up against the restraint. No more movement was seen after that and Woods was pronounced dead at 9:01 p.m. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall urged Ivey not to be persuaded by Woods supporters. He wrote, Although Woods was not the shooter, he was hardly an innocent bystander. He cited the testimony of Marquita McClure, Woods girlfriend at the time, who told detectives that she had heard Woods and Spencer talking about killing police before the shootings. However, McClure later told a pretrial hearing that she made that up, according to a 2003 AP report. I told yall what you wanted to hear, she said. The Appeal reported that Woods attorneys argued in an appeal that police had threatened her with parole violations if she refused to testify against him. Woods pro bono attorney Lauren Faraino said McClures testimony had been pivotal in Woods conviction. Faraino told Newsweek, When I became involved, I realized just how deeply this had been messed up by his prior counsel. She said that Woods court-appointed trial attorney, who had never tried a capital case before his, rejected a plea deal by the state which would have seen him sentenced to between 20 and 25 years for a non-capital offense. But they had advised him that he could not be sentenced to death because he was not the trigger man. Well, that is incorrect. In Alabama, even if youre not the trigger man, you can be sentenced to death on the theory of complicity which is exactly how they convicted Nate, Faraino said. She also described other instances of incompetence by his trial attorneys, including missing deadlines so that strong legal claims had been procedurally barred. As Woods was awaiting trial, the judge allowed evidence entered into trial that evidence from deputies that had found a drawing of a bullet-riddled police car in his cell and song lyrics about killing such as, Havent you ever heard of a killa I drop pigs like Kerry Spencer. Cleaning products and bottled water flew off store shelves as the coronavirus arrived in the Houston area this week. Harris County Public Health announced the countys first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in unincorporated northwest Harris County Thursday, March 5. Later that day, officials reported a third presumptive case in northwest Harris County, as well as one in the city of Houston. On HoustonChronicle.com: Coronavirus hits Houston: Everything we know as city tackles new cases in Harris County, Fort Bend Local health care systems, governments and schools have echoed the same sentiments expressed by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in a March 5 press release: heed the advice of public health officials about healthy hygiene habits. If you are feeling sick, stay at home. But do not be paralyzed by fear. Dr. Angela Shippy, chief medical and quality officer with Memorial Hermann, said that similar to recovering from the flu, a majority of COVID-19 patients can be treated at home and wont require hospitalization. The very first step for people who suspect they have COVID-19 is calling their healthcare provider. From there theyll be directed on what they should do next, Shippy said. And the goal of that call is to minimize exposure to others as well as to get them the appropriate help at the right level of care thats needed. On HoustonChronicle.com: Coronavirus expert: We should expect more cases in Houston A person should remain at home if mildly ill, according to the CDC website, and should separate themselves from other people and animals as much as possible. As of March 6, the CDC stated that there havent been reports of pets getting sick, but not enough was known about COVID-19 and whether animals may be able to contract the virus. People can treat their symptoms while recovering at home, just as they would the flu, said Shippy. If you have a cough, something to help you (with the) cough; if you have a fever, something to reduce fever; sore throat, something to relieve that, Shippy said. So, very similar to influenza, where were treating our symptoms that are making us feel bad. Shippy said that health systems across the county continue monitoring information from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, and plans evolve as new developments come to light about the novel coronavirus. Part of the reason why I think this is such big news is this is the very first time that weve seen COVID-19 as an illness. Were all learning as it happens, Shippy said. Related: Houston confirms 2nd coronavirus case in city; area total now at 6 However, coronavirus is an infectious disease and dealing with infectious disease is something health systems do on a regular basis, she said. Shippy added that its currently flu season, so their health system is geared up to handle respiratory illness. We are continuing on that same track, but just keeping in mind what we have to do specifically related to COVID-19, Shippy said. As of March 6, the CDCs website stated that while experts are still learning about how the disease spreads, COVID-19 is believed to be spread by respiratory droplets through coughing or sneezing. For this particular virus, its important that the mask thats worn by the caregiver is an N95, so thats different than a regular surgical mask because this one filters out even more particles, Shippy said. In addition, theres a face shield that goes on and the isolation gown and a pair of gloves. While there is heightened awareness related to hygiene-related precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, she said the same prevention methods hold true for any communicable disease. Whether its flu, whether its COVID-19, whether it would be anything else: good hand hygiene, not coughing and sneezing on other people, making sure youre cleaning up surfaces that other people are touching like a shared phone or door knob or refrigerator handle those things make a huge difference, Shippy said. It is truly the difference between why we do so much better from an infectious disease standpoint now, versus when we didnt know that (those measures) could really work many, many years ago. Someone coughing or sneezing should do so into their elbow. Avoid touching shared surfaces until the surface has been wiped down. Wash hands frequently with soap and water, or if those are not available, use hand sanitizer, Shippy said. Also avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth, all of which are ways that germs can get into a persons system. As the coronavirus and COVID-19 situation continues developing, Shippy said access to credible information sources is important. The best information in terms of What does this mean to me? What will I do next? is going to come from contacting your healthcare provider and looking at the sites at WHO and CDC to see the latest information and recommendations. Successfully communicating updates and illness prevention involves collaboration between community partners to send consistent messages to the public, said Tomball City Manager Robert Hauck. I think the overwhelming point that needs to be made, and I hope is made, is to educate but keep calm. At the end of the day, we need people to stay calm, continue their daily routines and they need to take reasonable precautions, Hauck said. Coronavirus and COVID-19 may be new words to most, but the idea of epidemic or pandemic is certainly not new to the world of emergency management and public safety, Hauck said. Weve dealt with bird flus and swine flus and so these types of events are something that is built into our emergency management plan. Hauck said the city of Tomball has been working with community partners to ensure collective resources are available for whatever local response is needed. Our primary role will be to assist our partners, Hauck said. We will establish a unified command approach, and what that basically means is we put the right decisionmakers together. So youd have police, fire, public works, youd have city management, the mayor, youd have healthcare providers, like (HCA Houston Healthcare) representatives and County Public Health; and so in that unified command approach, we would collectively then address any situations. Hauck said Tomball would be using a variety of platforms to communicate information and updates to the public, including the @CityofTomball Twitter feed, the Tomball Info Facebook page and the citys radio station KTTF 95.3 FM. He added that the city would coordinate communication with community partners, including Tomball ISD and Lone Star College. Northwest area schools Lone Star College Vice Chancellor of Strategic Priorities Kyle Scott stated via email that the LSC system has cancelled all college-sponsored international travel for students, faculty and staff for the remaining of the spring semester and suspended such travel for the summer term. As of last week, the college was developing contingency plans to respond to different escalation levels of COVID-19 in the area. The college uses the LoneStarCollegeAlert system to broadcast important alerts and updates. To sign up for alerts, visit LoneStar.edu/LoneStarCollegeAlert. We are posting and sending out notices in accordance with CDC guidelines for preventing transmission and what to do if someone is ill, Scott said. Lone Star College is utilizing all of our communication channels on campuses in order to get this message out. Lone Star College is engaged in outreach efforts to our local, county, and city officials to coordinate messaging and keep informed on the latest developments. School districts in northwest Harris County have also outlined plans and established communication platforms to provide updates for families. Klein ISD is keeping families informed through regular updates on their dedicated website: www.kleinisd.net/covid19. The district also contacts families through their email and text system, Klein ISD Director of Communications Rachel Trotter explained in an email. Should any of the districts daily operations be impacted, parents and staff would be alerted through the same means used by the district during weather-related incidents. Klein ISD created a 3-level alert status system to indicate responses to different levels of escalation. At Level 1, reported cases in the county or local area are being actively monitored and the district will take measures including more frequently cleaning common areas, communicating information that would help avoid spreading COVID-19, and holding bi-weekly department briefings for regular updates. Level 2, when the county starts seeing community-spread cases, Klein ISD will escalate precautionary measures with actions that include expanding cleaning efforts and potentially limiting unnecessary travel, some events, outside visitors and food deliveries. Level 3, if cases are confirmed among students or staff, could mean the potential closure of campuses, or cancelation of school events and school-related travel, and the district would deep clean all areas. Our Plant Operations Team uses hospital-grade cleaning equipment and solutions to help ensure that our campuses and buildings stay disinfected, Trotter said. As of Thursday, Klein ISDs status was at Level 1, but families can check on the districts latest status level at www.kleinisd.net/covid19. Spring ISD used the districts automated messaging system to send information about COVID-19 to parents and staff the first week in March. The automated system will continue being used for the districts communication, and updates will be added to the Spring ISD Health Services website, www.springisd.org/healthservices, as more information comes to light, Spring ISD Chief Communications Officer Tiffany Dunne-Oldfield said in an email. Spring ISD asks parents to inform the district immediately if their child may have been exposed to or confirmed as having the virus. If cases were to occur in the district, Dunne-Oldfield said that Spring ISD would coordinate with authorities to ensure the health and safety of the infected person and those that may have come in contact with them. As a school district, we will be relying on local, state and federal health officials to assist in the screening and testing of any suspected cases of COVID-19, Dunne-Oldfield said. Should we have any students or staff exposed or test positive, we would also work with local, state and federal health officials to determine next steps, including school closures and/or deep cleaning of school or office spaces. Cy-Fair ISD Superintendent Mark Henry stated in a March 5 letter to the community that the district would be suspending perfect attendance rules for the rest of this school year, so perfect attendance recognition will now be for Aug. 26, 2019 to March 5, 2020. Additionally, the district is suspending exam exemption criteria related to attendance for Spring 2020 exams. Cy-Fair ISD students or staff who are sick should not come to school, Henry states. State medical experts indicate that the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are the same recommendations for preventing the spread of the flu, such as avoiding close contact with those who are sick, proper handwashing, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and staying home when sick, he said. Cy-Fair ISDs dedicated Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates website is at www.cfisd.net/en/parents-students/health/coronavirus. Tomball ISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora released a letter Feb. 26 communicating district emergency response plans and travel advisory information ahead of possible vacation travel over Spring Break. Tomball ISD has had a Pandemic Emergency Response Plan since 2007, she said, which involves education about preventing the spread of viruses, access to hand sanitizer dispensers, campus deep cleaning protocols as well as processes for District administration to review absentee rates for students and teachers to determine if school closures or alternatives need to be taken to protect student and staff safety and health. As we prepare for some much deserved rest and relaxation for Spring Break, please pay particular attention to the established travel advisories and carefully consider the necessity of out-of-country travel, Martha Salazar-Zamora states. Tomball ISD has a COVID-19 information resource webpage, which can be accessed through the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) tab on the districts Health Services Department page. mfeuk@hcnonline.com By IANS MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: While the Enforcement Directorate kept grilling Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor in Mumbai, the central probe agency widened its probe and carried out searches at the residence of his three daughters. An ED source said the central probe agency has expanded its probe in the Yes Bank scam and is carrying out searches at three locations in Mumbai and New Delhi. The source said the searches are being carried out at the residential premises of all three daughters - Rakhee Kapoor Tandon, Roshni Kapoor and Radha Kapoor. The source said the residential premises of Kapoor's daughters are being searched as they were alleged beneficiaries of the scam. ALSO READ| Bailout time! SBI's Rs 2450-crore Yes Bank parachute is ready The action comes in the wake of the Yes Bank crisis that grew on Thursday night. On Thursday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) superseded the Yes Bank board for 30 days and appointed an administrator while putting a cap of Rs 50,000 on withdrawal by account holders for a month. Following the crisis, the ED registered a case of money laundering against Kapoor and others. The agency's action comes at a time, when Kapoor is being grilled by the agency sleuths at his office in Mumbai since afternoon. The ED on Friday night raided Yes Bank's founder residence and also grilled him at his Samudra Mahal residence in Mumbai. ED officials said Kapoor was questioned throughout the night, with some rest time allowed in between. A senior ED official connected with the probe told IANS: "Kapoor will be questioned about Yes Bank loans to Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL)." The official said during searches a lot of incriminating documents were found and the agency wanted to grill him on his links with DHFL promoters and other companies. Kapoor's alleged role in the disbursal of loan to a corporate entity and kickbacks reportedly received in her wife's bank account are also under probe. The ED had filed a money laundering case against Kapoor and raided his residence, apart from issuing a look-out circular so that he does not flee the country. The ED registered a money laundering case against Kapoor as a continuation of its probe against the DHFL wherein it was allegedly that Rs 12,500 crore was diverted to 80 shell companies using one lakh fake borrowers. The transactions with these shell companies are said to date back to 2015. An ED official in New Delhi told IANS that the DHFL probe revealed that funds diverted by the DHFL originated from Yes Bank. He said that the searches at Kapoor's residence on Friday night were meant to find out any irregularity in grant of loans to the DHFL by the Yes Bank. ALSO READ| Chidambaram blames BJP for Yes Bank fiasco, slams 'bizarre' rescue plan The ED has accused Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan of DHFL of purchasing shares in five firms -- Faith Realtors, Marvel Township, Abe Realty, Poseidon Realty, and Random Realtors -- after which they were amalgamated with Sunblink. The outstanding loans of these five firms, totalling around Rs 2,186 crore till July 2019, were allegedly appropriated on to the books of Sunblink to cover up the diversion of loans acquired from DHFL. The ED's action comes after the RBI superseded Yes Bank Board for 30 days and appointed an administrator, putting a cap of Rs 50,000 on withdrawal by account holders for a month. The RBI said that the bank's board was superseded "owing to serious deterioration in the financial position of the bank". Former SBI CFO Prashant Kumar was appointed as administrator of Yes Bank, which has over 1,000 branches and 1,800-plus ATMs across the country. On Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the bank was under watch since 2017 and developments relating to it were monitored on a day-to-day basis. A British scientist in Antarctica has revealed that his team has enough food to survive 'for years' on the frozen continent if the coronavirus outbreak escalates. The UK's Rothera station leader, Michael Brian, also said strict protocols have been put in place to protect the 140-strong team at the base. They have a high risk of catching the virus if it arrives on the continent as they share a food hall and live in close proximity at the base where outside temperatures can drop as low as -20 degrees Celsius. Antarctica is the only continent in the world to remain untouched by coronavirus, which has spread to more than 100,000 people globally. The UK's Rothera station in Antarctica (pictured) has enacted strict protocols along with other UK-bases on the frozen continent to protect staff against coronavirus Measures include testing staff about to travel to the bases that have visited a country with cases of coronavirus. Antarctica is the only continent untouched by the outbreak 'We are well protected here and have good procedures in place to look after our health, but our main concern is for friends and family back home, and we are interested to see how the outbreak plays out in the rest of the world,' Mr Brian told Express.co.uk. 'If the coronavirus outbreak continues to escalate and affect supply lines of fuel and food to Antarctica the base has a contingency plan to "ride out the storm".' Detailing the measures in place, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) said staff travelling to the base following visits to countries with coronavirus cases would be tested. They added that staff members that develop colds will be isolated in order to limit the spread. Head of governance, risk and assurance at the organisation, Steven Marshall, said: 'If a member of the team that is destined for Antarctica has been to a tier one or tier two infected country they will be placed in two weeks isolation before boarding the ship to the continent. 'The ship then takes four weeks to reach Rothera station. This would then be enough time to see if any personnel are incubating the coronavirus.' There is a high risk of staff contracting the infection if it arrives as they share a lunch hall (pictured) and live in close proximity to each other Further measures to be applied by the British Antarctic Survey include isolating anyone that has a cold, as these can spread quickly on the base The Rothera base is mapped above along with the US's McMurdo base, which has flights across the continent during its winter from July to September Whenever colds travel to the base they spread rapidly due to close working conditions. The base remains is connected to the rest of the world by a BAS Dash 7 aircraft that flies in throughout the year from either Stanley in the Falkland islands or Punta Arenas in Chile. A ship carrying supplies, fuel and scientific equipment also visits the base twice during the summer months from December to March. There are also internal flights on the continent between bases run by other countries including Italy, Argentina, Ukraine, Germany, Russia and India. During the June to September winter most flights cease although the US McMurdo base continues to operate flights across the frozen landmass. After the coronavirus outbreak started, China became the only country to pull its staff out of their research stations. The UK has at least five stations on the landmass including the Halley Research Station, Signy Research Station, Fossil Bluff logistics facility and Sky Blu logistics facility. Snow and ice pictured around the frozen Rothera station where temperatures can drop to -20 degrees Celsius BBC4 could be axed to put BBC3 back on TV, it was claimed last night. Corporation bosses are deciding what to include in the broadcaster's Annual Plan. One change, as revealed by the Daily Mail this week, could see BBC3 reinstated to TV after it was moved online-only four years ago a move that was hoped to save more than 50million a year. Axing BBC4 could be seen as being in line with the corporation's plans to focus less on its traditional metropolitan heartlands and more on poorer and younger viewers. But industry insiders say that BBC4's audience includes some of the corporation's most loyal supporters [File photo] But there are concerns that the money needed to reinstate BBC3 would be raised by getting rid of BBC4 and moving its programmes on to BBC2 or online-only. A BBC source said: 'No matter what the BBC does, it can't do something in one area without chopping in another.' Spending on BBC4 shows was 44million, according to the last annual report, though it is unclear what the channel's total budget is. Figures show it reaches 11.8 per cent of the UK population each week. Axing BBC4 could be seen as being in line with the corporation's plans to focus less on its traditional metropolitan heartlands and more on poorer and younger viewers. But industry insiders say that BBC4's audience includes some of the corporation's most loyal supporters. One source said: 'The bad side of taking BBC4 off the television is that opinion-makers and influencers within political circles are probably going to miss BBC4 programming much more than being pleased that BBC3 is reaching a wider base of 16 to 34s. I don't think the BBC4 audience will be as driven to find programming online.' Returning BBC3 to TV would also raise eyebrows as the current trend is towards streaming content online. A BBC spokesman said it hadn't announced its Annual Plan, so people shouldn't 'get ahead of themselves'. Jacom Stephens / Getty Images GREENWICH Officials have closed Guinea Road in Greenwich near the towns border with Stamford due to downed utility wires. Greenwich dispatch tweeted about the closure shortly before 10:00 a.m. Saturday, and police followed suit half an hour later. Cotonou, Benin(PANA) - The Benin government has decided to provide financial assistance to its students in China, following the inconvenience caused by the Covid-19 epidemic, official sources in Cotonou said on Saturday We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton could back down from the forefront of the Royal Family to have a fourth child. The Duchess and her husband Prince William have attracted public attention since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's declaration of independence from the royal family in January. Kate Middleton could attempt for a fourth child as she "doesn't enjoy being at the forefront of royal duties", according to a royal commentator. Kate already has her hands full of Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, 4, and one-year-old Prince Loui but apparently, there is room for more. If so, she is expected to step back from public life. The royal couple has been about how they would prefer a large family. According to royal expert Phil Dampier, there is a possibility for Kate to have another child with Prince William and if this happens, she will have a harder time performing royal duties. "It wouldn't surprise me if they have a fourth child. Not only does Kate love family life in Norfolk, to be honest, it gives her an excuse to not be at the forefront of royal duties for a bit longer, which I don't think she enjoys. I think Kate's been interacting with the public and doing very well recently, but from what I'm told, she'd rather be at home with the children," the royal expert said. Kate has confessed to experiencing 'mom guilt' and has attempted hypnobirthing to cope with severe morning sickness while pregnant. Also Read: Meghan Markle's Biggest Disappointment with Ex-Husband In a candid discussion about parenthood, Kate described herself as a hands-on mom but she often feels she falls short of being suitable enough. Due to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's departure as senior members of the royal family, Prince William and Kate's workload has greatly increased that some people claim Kate has been working 18-hour days in recent weeks. Kate, in particular, has been praised for acting favorably during quite a problematic period for the Royal Family. Royal commentator Phil Dampier said, "It wouldn't surprise me if they had a fourth child." "Not only does she love family life in Norfolk, to be honest it gives her an excuse to not be at the forefront of royal duties for a bit longer, which I don't think she enjoys." He added that Kate has been interacting with the public and doing well, but from what he heard, she would rather stay at home with her children. The information came following Kate and William attending an official royal visit to Dublin, Ireland. Kate already demonstrated to the public that Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are her top priorities as she was supposed to attend the Tusk Awards back in November, but she canceled at the last minute to tend to her children. Five years ago, upon giving birth to Princess Charlotte, Prince William's wife said that becoming a mother has been a rewarding and wonderful experience but still thinks motherhood comes with complex emotions including joy, exhaustion, love, worry, and everything else mixed. Related Article: Prince William, Kate Middleton Display Rare Public Affection @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New Delhi, March 7 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with Nari Shakti awardees on Sunday at his official residence at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. He will listen to the stories of the women achievers. Official sources say it will be a two-way communication. In another event at Rashtrapati Bhawan, President Ram Nath Kovind will give away the Nari Shakti Awards on Sunday morning. The National Award is given annually to individuals, groups, institutions in recognition of exceptional work towards the cause of women empowerment, especially for vulnerable and marginalized women. As promised by the PM, his Twitter account will be handled by the women achievers all through Sunday, on the occasion of International Women's Day. On March 3, PM Modi announced that this International Women's Day, he would be giving up his social media account to women. "This Women's Day, I will give away my social media accounts to women whose life & work inspire us. This will help them ignite motivation in millions," tweeted the PM. He added, "Are you such a woman or do you know such inspiring women? Share such stories using #SheInspiresUs." A day before, PM Modi sent social media into a tizzy by suggesting his exit from all social media platforms. On March 2, he tweeted: "This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube. Will keep you all posted." One single tweet from him was all it took to create a flutter as within minutes #NoSir started to trend, with people urging him to reconsider his decision. As of now, it's clear he will be handing over the access to his social media accounts, it is, however, kept a secret, on who will be the few using of one of the world's most followed social media handles. PM Modi has a whopping 53.4 million followers on Twitter, 35.4 million followers on Instagram and 44,649,542 followers on Facebook. [March 07, 2020] Procter & Gamble Brings Relief to Residents Affected by Devastating Tornadoes in Tennessee With P&G Product Kits and Tide Loads of Hope Laundry Services Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG): This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200307005007/en/ Tide Loads of Hope Laundry Services (Photo: Business Wire) WHO: Families, individuals and first responders in need of personal care items, cleaning products or laundry services in the wake of tornadoes that caused severe damage throughout Tennessee. WHAT: The Tide Loads of Hope Mobile Laundry Unit has been deployed to support relief and recovery efforts in the wake of the devastating tornadoes in Tennessee on Tuesday, March 3. Operated by P&G and Matthew 25: Ministries, the Tide Loads of Hope mobile laundry vehicles will begin services in Nashville, Tennessee on Saturday, March 7, providing free full-service laundry to residents affected. Residents can bring clothes (up to two loads per household) to be washed, dried and folded free of charge. All washable clothing types can be accepted with the exception of heavy bedding. P&G will also be distributing free personal care kits with everyday essentials needed to meet basic hygiene and home care needs as well as cleaning supplies directly out into the affected areas. WHY: Powerful tornadoes hit Tennessee on Tuesday, March 3, with at least one tornado touching down at 175 mph. The tornadoes left destruction to local homes and businesses and has affected thousands of Tennesseans, leaving many without power or access to clean water. P&G has a history of giving back to the communities where we live and work, and we want to provide everyday essentials to those who need it most to help bring a sense of normalcy in this time of need. These services are free and available to people affected by the disaster and the volunteers who are helping to respond. WHERE: Starting on Saturday, March 7, the team will collect laundry from 9am to 5pm CT at the Kroger listed below or until 200 loads are reached (two loads per household). The team will also be distributing personal care kits and cleaning supplies directly out into the affected areas. The Tide Loads of Hope mobile laundry unit will be located at: Kroger 800 Monroe Street Nashville, TN 37208 **For the most up-to-date information on the fleet's location, please visit Tide's Facebook (News - Alert) and Twitter channels at https://www.facebook.com/Tide or @Tide.** ABOUT TIDE LOADS OF HOPE: In 2005, P&G launched Tide Loads of Hope to provide much needed laundry services to families affected by Hurricane Katrina. Since that time, Tide Loads of Hope has washed more than 70,000 loads of laundry for more than 50,000 families impacted by disasters across the U.S. and Canada. The Tide Loads of Hope truck is equipped with high-efficiency washers and dryers donated by Whirlpool and can do up to 200 loads of laundry per day for communities in need. PRODUCT BRANDS: Personal care kits contain P&G brands including Always, Crest, Head & Shoulders, Ivory, Gillette, Old Spice, Oral-B, Pampers, Pantene, Secret and Venus. Cleaning supplies include Bounty, Charmin, Dawn, Febreze, Mr. Clean, Swiffer and Tide. PARTNER: P&G provides these services in partnership with Matthew 25: Ministries, an international humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization. More information can be found at www.m25m.org. HELP: People across the community can help support Tide Loads of Hope by purchasing a Tide Loads of Hope vintage t-shirt or by donating directly at www.tideloadsofhope.com. $4 from the sale of each tee goes toward helping families affected by disaster. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200307005007/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Those with warrants out on them for Class C misdemeanor citations in Conroe will find relief for the next several days. The Conroe Municipal Court is acting as a so-called safe harbor during an amnesty period underway. Were not going to be arresting anyone, Conroe Police Department Officer Raymond McCreary said about the safe harbor court. We try and do everything we can to keep from putting anyone in jail on these warrants. The amnesty period started Friday and ends March 19. Those with Class C warrants can have their outstanding violations resolved by the municipal court without threat of an arrest or fine for failure to appear in court. This effort is the first of two phases the Conroe Police Department is carrying out in addressing outstanding violators. The next phase, starting March 20, will be a warrant arrest round up agencies throughout Texas will be participating in. During that period, violators are taken into custody at their homes or workplaces. In accordance to Texas law, those trying to resolve Class C warrants are not subject to arrest. And those unable to pay can do community service in its place. This isnt about collecting someones money and putting the screws to them, McCreary said. Thats not what were about. Were about compliance and clearing warrants. In order to fully resolve their warrants, violators must pay out the citation fine. If someone has a failure to appear in court offense, they must pay a state-mandated $30 fee, McCreary explained. If someone has been previously jailed, a judge may even offer time served, he added. Were going to make every effort we can to help them out with anything possible, McCreary said. Safe harbor court time and place When: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday Where: Conroe Municipal Court at 2300 Plantation Dr., Conroe For more information, call 936-522-3380. See More Collapse About a month ago, Conroe PD sent out a notice about the warrant amnesty period in water bills to raise awareness for city residents. McCreary is even asking his fellow officers to call him during his day shift if they stop someone with a Class C warrant so he can help violators resolve the issue and keep them from having their vehicles towed. We understand that times are tough for people, McCreary said. We dont want to nickel and dime anyone. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx The Aam Aadmi Party, fresh from a resounding victory in the Delhi Assembly polls, will embark on a three-month drive to strengthen its base in Goa, party MLA Atishi said on Saturday. 'Mission Nirman' will begin after the Zilla Parishad polls on March 22 and a 25-member committee headed by Goa AAP leader Valmiki Naik will oversee the programme, she told reporters here. Atishi, who won the Delhi polls from Kalkaji in south Delhi, said people of Goa were frustrated with the BJP government here while the Congress had reduced itself to a "substitute team" of the saffron party. "Mission Nirman will be carried out over three months at the taluka level to strengthen the party across the state," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The reported armed robbery of a Pizza Hut in Howell early Friday turned out to be a hoax cooked up by an employee who hoped to gain favor with his employer, and hopefully a raise, police said Friday night. Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick said 26 officers responded to the Route 9 pizzeria at 10:30 a.m. after being called by employee, Joseph Baude, 30, of Ocean Township. They spent nearly two hours searching for a gunman that did not exist, the chief said in a statement posted on Facebook. Baude claimed that he was confronted by a man with a handgun who demanded cash and that he fled empty handed after he was able to fight him off, police said. Early on, we were suspicious of this report but obviously had to thoroughly investigate and take precautionary measures, Kudrick wrote. This included providing security for both the Goddard School and the Southard School. Officers eventually watched surveillance footage which showed that no one exited the restaurant as Baude claimed, so the investigation turned to him as the shelter in place for the nearby schools was lifted, authorities said. Baude admitted to detectives Friday evening that he made up the story to look favorable with corporate so he could get a raise, Kudrick said. He was remorseful and realized the extent of his actions, the chief said. Baude was arrested and charged with creating a false alarm and filing a false report to police and was released pending his court appearance, police said. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters Narain Jeet, Police Post Incharge, Attari, on Saturday said that the beating retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border has been suspended till further orders in view of the coronavirus outbreak. Speaking to ANI, Narain Jeet said: "The beating retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border has been suspended until further orders in view of the coronavirus outbreak." Yesterday Amritsar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shiv Dullar Singh Dhillon said that the "public parade ceremony at Attari Wagah border has been discontinued from March 7 in view of the coronavirus outbreak until further orders". As many as 20,000 to 25,000 people take part in the ceremony on all days. "The Health Department's advisory has been issued to the hotel industry representatives. If people come from affected regions, the hotel industry should inform the administration about them. The advisory has been put up in the Golden Temple complex as well for the tourists," he added. 34 confirmed cases of the infection have been reported so in the country. Two suspected cases of coronavirus were reported in Jammu on Saturday. The virus has so far killed more than 3,200 people globally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON Sen. Bernie Sanders' campaign responded to protesters who displayed a flag bearing a swastika during his rally Thursday night in Phoenix. Images of the flag in the crowd circulated on social media posts, which showed the flag unfurling as the crowd cheered for the Vermont senator after he declared how loud they were. The cheers quickly turned to boos as they saw the flag. Sanders' supporters appeared to rip the flag from the protester's hands, and police escorted him out. Addressing reporters Friday morning, Sanders said that he not only speaks as a Jewish American, but he "speaks for the families" of the more than 400,000 American troops who died fighting in World War II "against fascism." "It is horrific, beyond disgusting to see that in the United States of America there are people who would show the emblem of Hitler and Nazism," he continued. If elected, Sanders would be the first Jewish president. Many of his relatives were killed in the Holocaust. From Arizona: Bernie Sanders rally in Phoenix, Nazi flag video surfaces At the time, Sanders did not appear to notice the man, though he later said, Whoever it was, I think theyre a little outnumbered tonight. And more importantly theyre going to be outnumbered in November. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to his supporters at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Az., March 5, 2020. Later, Sanders' communications director Mike Casa told Ruby Cramer of BuzzFeed News that Sanders is aware of the flag with the swastika on it and is disturbed by it. Sara Pearl, supervising producer for Sanders' campaign, tweeted Friday morning that "Last night at Bernies rally in Arizona, someone horrifically unfurled a Nazi flag with a swastika on it. Earlier we had just released this video of what it means for Jews like me to elect our first Jewish President who will stand up to white nationalism and hate." Last night at Bernies rally in Arizona, someone horrifically unfurled a Nazi flag with a swastika on it. Earlier we had just released this video of what it means for Jews like me to elect our first Jewish President who will stand up to white nationalism and hate. Watch pls https://t.co/xF5pSDyBmK Sara Pearl (@skenigsberg) March 6, 2020 Steven Slugocki, chairman of the Maricopa County Democratic Party, of which the county seat is Phoenix, tweeted that, "We can argue about which candidate should get the Dem nomination, but antisemitic acts have no place in this world. This is absolutely abhorrent." Story continues Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Min., condemned the protester via Twitter. Omar endorsed Sanders and has been campaigning for him. She wrote, "This is an appalling display of anti-Semitism against a man whose family perished in the Holocaust." The incidence again raised the issue of security for presidential candidates. More: Secret Service protection of presidential candidates factors in aggressive crowds, mass shootings Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf was urged Wednesday to consider Secret Service protection for Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden, the two top contenders for the Democratic nomination. Both campaigns have been operating without government protection, but the Secret Service's involvement appears more likely as the presidential campaign heats up. The request from House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., came a day after protesters rushed a stage in Los Angeles where Biden was celebrating a string of Super Tuesday primary wins. Biden was not harmed by the sign-waving protesters, who were repelled by his wife, Jill Biden, and a campaign aide. OnPolitics weekly recap: This week was just really quite a lot In a statement yesterday addressing the calls for support, the Secret Service said, "At this time, no candidates have requested protection." Sanders' Thursday night event was also interrupted by multiple supporters of President Donald Trump. This is an appalling display of anti-Semitism against a man whose family perished in the Holocaust. And this SAME white nationalist has been harassing the Muslim community for years. Our struggles are tied.https://t.co/9lsfceJmYQ Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 6, 2020 Former vice president Joe Biden, who is Sanders' main competitor for the nomination, tweeted out his condemnation of the protester, saying, "I don't care who you're supporting, attacks like this against a man who could be the first Jewish President are disgusting and beyond the pale. Hatred and bigotry have no place in America and it's up to all of us to root out these evils wherever they're found." Amy Spitalnick, executive director of Integrity First For America, called the display "sickening." The group, which is funding a lawsuit against the organizers of the Charlottesville march in federal court, put out a statement, saying they are "horrified." "These are not isolated incidents they are part of a wave of anti-Semitism, neo-Nazism, and white supremacy and we cannot let this become normalized." Contributing: Kevin Johnson This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sanders campaign condemns Nazi swastika flag flown by protester at rally For many young women and girls, making safe and informed choices, which could limit their exposure to HIV, is no simple task. A young woman in poverty may be forced to exchange sex for favours, or to accept a marriage proposal from an older man. Those seeking health care may be turned away due to their age, driven away by stigma, or be unable to afford it. In some countries, girls are old enough to marry and become pregnant while considered too young to access sexual and reproductive health services on their own. Every day, 460 adolescent girls become infected with HIV worldwide. Empowering young women to make safer, more informed choices is often hailed as the way to turn this catastrophic situation around. But what does the path to empowerment look like? And who should be leading the charge? Not just health In Zimbabwe, new HIV infections among young women aged 1524 years are almost four times higher than in men their age. Encouraging young women to remain in school and pursue a career, receive healthcare without fear of discrimination, or to find protection in the legal system is not a matter for the health sector alone. It requires comprehensive support which addresses the HIV-related vulnerabilities of women and girls. UNDP and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are working with the National AIDS Council in Zimbabwe to address the drivers of gender inequalities, help young women mobilize, and ensure laws and policies reflect their lives. Education is important Getting and keeping girls in school is important. In countries with generalized epidemics, young people with higher levels of education are more likely to use condoms and less likely to engage in casual sex than their less educated peers. The recent educational subsidies for 6,000 girls is not only keeping them in school, it is also reducing their risk of HIV. We must also ensure that teachers and schools are committed to addressing these issues head on. Which is why Zimbabwean teachers are now being trained to introduce comprehensive sexuality education in school curriculums. Supporting community initiatives is another crucial part of the puzzle. Sista2Sista clubs have provided a safe space for 30,000 adolescent girls to get health information and receive referrals to HIV services. For women affected by domestic violence, free medical and legal services are made available through one-stop centres. Community leaders and men are also being sensitized in safe spaces for open conversations on issues of gender and HIV. Challenging stigma Challenging stigma and providing healthcare alone will not solve the issue. Ensuring laws and policies safeguard the health rights of young people are the cornerstone of empowerment initiatives. This requires young people to be heard by those in power. With support from the Netherlands, UNDP supported dialogues between young women and girls and members of parliament which allowed them to hear first-hand about the challenges that can cause new infections among young people. The aim is to ensure the meaningful involvement of adolescent girls and young women in the drafting of laws, policies and guidelines that directly affect them. The path to empowerment starts by addressing the social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of risk and vulnerability. It must involve families, communities, law makers, health workers, teachers, development agencies and most importantly, young women and girls themselves. Ultimately, it means recognizing that there are many pieces to the empowerment puzzle, and everyone has a role to play. This weekend, female brewers from across the state will gather in Midland to craft a special beer in honor of womens day. Not only is this Sunday, March 8, International Womens Day, but it is International Womens Collaboration Brew Day. So, Leah Witkoske, a brewer at Midland Brewing Company, said shes invited female Michigan brewers, as well as female community members and MBC staff, to join her this weekend in crafting a beer she formulated. While the brew doesnt have a name yet, she said it will be a dry-hop, fruited pale ale. She said the beer will then be kegged and sold on tap at MBC, and a portion of the sales will be used to make a donation to Shelterhouse, which is a Midland-based nonprofit that serves people affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Im so excited, its the first recipe that I was able to formulate in an actual brewery like a professional facility. So, Im excited to have a beer in production that I created, she said. Witkoskes love for brewing began years ago, when she would make home brews with her father as a hobby. She recalled crafting a toasty, pumpkin beer with him, emphasizing that it was not a pumpkin spice flavor, but it was delicious all the same. Over time, her interest in craft beer grew. A mother of two, Witkoske was a stay-at-home mom for a while, but she eventually decided she would make a career out of brewing, so she joined Lock 27 Brewing in Ohio. It made me realize that I didnt have to go through a job I didnt want to do, she said. Because if Im going to pay for daycare its expensive I might as well be making money doing something I enjoy. Before she was ever a brewer, Witkoske was learning the ins and out of brewing by cleaning equipment and packaging beer as a cellar operator. She slowly gained knowledge and worked her way up to becoming a brewer, without any formal training. Now, she is a brewer at MBC, and she has worked there since December. In her time working in the industry, Witkoske said shes only worked directly with one other female brewer, as in her experience, it is a largely male-dominated field. She said the industry lacks diversity all around. Having grown up with three brothers, Witkoske said its not uncomfortable for her to work entirely with men. However, she said, she has found herself having to set the tone in each new workplace when her coworkers werent sure how to act around her. So, sometimes they dont think I cant lift a keg or a sack of grain oh can I help you? (Theyre) careful in that way, or how they talk sometimes theyre afraid to swear, so I have to throw the first swear word out, she said. However, by setting expectations and showing her coworkers she can handle the job, Witkoske said she believes shes helping fight stigmas associated with women in the industry. Witkoske argues diversity in a workplace is value-added, all the way down to what the customer experiences. She said it has been proven that women taste differently than men, which means having all genders in a brewery could translate to a different finished product in the end. Getting those different people, in general, in a workplace is going to give you a different kind of creativity, she said. Youre going to get people from different backgrounds, if theyve grown up in different places, and theyre going to look at things differently than other people. And I think thats really wonderful to have in any environment. Also happening this weekend, is an event hosted by Michigan Brew Supply, which is located at 126 Townsend St., in downtown Midland. They are hosting a collaborative brew day today, March 7, to honor women as well, and they will create tribute beers. On International Women's Day, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan wrote an open letter to all the women employees and backed them to cross all the hurdles that come their way. He added all forms of discrimination are bound to be demolished. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan on the occasion of International Womens Day sent a personal message to all women employees of both Ministries, PSUs and allied bodies. In a nicely worded letter, he asked women employees to shatter all glass ceilings that come their way and said that all forms of discrimination are bound to be demolished. Terming the International Womens Day an occasion to celebrate Ispati Irada or steely resolve of women to excel, serve and inspire, he said that Indian women are excelling and leading in varied endeavours. They are venturing into uncharted territories, creating new landmarks and reshaping our society and economy, he further added. Lauding women discharging critical responsibilities in petroleum and steel sectors, he said that the dedication and determination of women employees he witnessed during various interactions reinforced his belief that the next wave of growth will be driven by women. Whether it is achieving 300 MTPA steel production or providing energy justice to all Indians, contribution of women will drive Indias formidable steps towards these goals and make the team stronger. 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 He also appealed to women employees to contribute to the #SheInspiresUs campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and share stories of triumph, service to the society and efforts which contribute towards building a New India. For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Tests for coronavirus came back negative Friday night for a group of Central Bucks School District residents tested after they came in contact with an infected person. Dr. David Damsker, director of the Bucks County Department of Health, cautioned, however, that because the 14-day incubation period will not end until Monday, we need to remain vigilant during the rest of the weekend," according to a news release from the department. The potential exposure prompted the closure Friday of Central Bucks High School South, Tohickon and Tamanend middle schools, and Butler and Titus elementary schools. "If all goes well, I would hope we can re-open schools on Monday, Damsker said, according to the release. The school closures came the same day Pennsylvania announced its first two cases of the new coronavirus, one in Delaware County and one in Wayne County. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Friday reported 164 cases of the virus, known as COVID-19, in 19 states along with 11 deaths. That count did not include the two Pennsylvania cases, announced by Gov. Tom Wolf and state officials. The states first two positive tests came back early Friday, and the two people are isolated in their homes, Wolf told a news conference at Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Harrisburg. Caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, and had spread as of Fridays CDC count to 89 countries across Africa, Europe, South-East Asia and the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean and Western Pacific. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough and breathing trouble. Most develop only mild symptoms. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal. In Bucks County, Central Bucks Superintendent Dr. John Kopicki, in consultation with the state and Bucks County health departments, ordered the five schools closed for at least one day Friday as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. Kopicki stated all Central Bucks school buildings will be closed to activities throughout this weekend. They will be deep-cleaned during that time, as will district buses, officials said. Kopickis decision came after health officials learned that a person from out of state, who is now known to have coronavirus, attended a recent private gathering at a residence in Central Bucks County. At the time of that gathering slightly less than two weeks ago it was not known to anyone, including the out-of state attendee, that the person was ill with the virus. Confirmation was made at a later date. The Bucks County Department of Health led an effort to identify and contact all who attended the gathering, and to check them for any symptoms of illness, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath. A small number of people found to have cold-like symptoms were tested today for COVID-19 at the state laboratory in Exton. State and local health officials continue to urge residents to practice preventive steps such as: Frequent hand-washing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Avoiding close contact (within six feet) with people who are sick. Avoiding touching ones eyes, nose and mouth. Staying home when sick. Covering ones coughs or sneezes with a tissue and throwing the tissue in the trash. Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces with household cleaning sprays or wipes. Wearing face masks during ones daily routine is not recommended by the CDC as an effective preventive measure against COVID-19 or other respiratory diseases. However, people with symptoms of COVID-19, health workers and people who are taking care of an ill person in close settings should wear face masks, according to the Bucks County Department of Health. The incubation period for a person exposed to COVID-19 the time between exposure and first appearance of symptoms is between two and 14 days. Those who have been in contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or those who have traveled recently to areas such as China where there have been outbreaks, are asked to self-quarantine themselves for 14 days from the time of potential exposure. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Click here to read the full article. With his perverse (and some might say perverted) look at the early life of Canadas longest-serving Prime Minister W. L. Mackenzie King, Winnipeg-born, Montreal-based multi-hyphenate Matthew Rankin proves himself far more than simply the artistic heir to fellow Canuck Guy Maddin. His low-budget, high-concept recounting of political life in the Dominion of Canada circa the turn of the 20th century is both satiric and scurrilous; the more familiar one is with Canadian history, the funnier it is. But even without prior knowledge of our neighbor to the north, it can be enjoyed for its combination of supreme creativity, jaw-dropping audacity and amusing tongue-in-cheek dialogue. Following its world premiere at the 2019 Toronto Film Festival, it was named best Canadian first feature and acquired by U.S. distributor Oscilloscope, which will release it in May. Like Maddin, Rankin ransacks film, theater and art history for his visual style. Here, he creates a compelling pastiche of German Expressionism, early melodrama, instructional films, science fiction, disturbing midnight madness situations (decapitation by ice skate!?!), Monty Python and even Charles Ludlams Ridiculous Theater Company. Men play women and women play men, as what comprises upstanding Canadian manhood constitutes a major underlying theme. Moreover, clever animation, wacky puppets, painted backdrops and masks create a twisted, cult atmosphere as well as pay tribute to film classics, including The Lady From Shanghai. More from Variety The narrative unfolds in 10 portentously titled chapters. Naive 26-year-old King (Dan Beirne, Fargo) lives with his imperious bed-bound mother (Louis Negin) and hen-pecked father (Richard Jutras). His mother has long predicted his political glory, as well as matrimony with a beautiful blonde wearing a crown wreath braid. Story continues At the Dominion School of Nationhood, King competes with other aspiring public servants to be the PM candidate in a hilariously absurd examination of aptitudes and bodily functions that would be prime Python material. Theres ribbon cutting, leg wrestling, waiting your turn, identifying trees by sniffing their stumps, urinating signatures, endurance tickling, butter churning and, more gruesomely, baby seal clubbing. Sadly, for the over-confident King, he ties for second with his nemesis, the macho Arthur Meighen (Brent Skagford). Its his friend, the handsome Bert Harper (Mikhail Ahooja), who becomes the candidate and also wins the heart of the woman with the crown wreath braid, Lady Ruby Elliott (Catherine St-Laurent). Meanwhile, King is burdened by a secret vice, a fetishistic obsession for womens footwear. His masturbatory excesses are grotesquely visualized by an ejaculating cactus. Hoping to break his habit, he consults with a sinister Chinese doctor (Kee Chan) who hooks him up to some futuristic-looking torture devices. But even the doctors interventions cant withstand the seduction methods of Lady Rubys deviant sister, Lady Violet (Emmanuel Schwartz), whose bon mots include such comments as Canada is just one failed orgasm after another. When Harper and Lady Ruby contradict the Canadian Governor Generals condemnation of the Boers, who are fighting Mother England over the Empires influence in South Africa, King gets another chance to be the candidate. It all comes down to a tension-filled race through the ice maze where Kings jilted fiancee Nurse LaPointe (Sarianne Cormier) will once again prove her loyalty. Rankin, who studied Quebec history at McGill and Universite Laval, knows exactly how to best skewer his protagonist and the era. His feature debut comes after 30 shorts, which have received awards at fests including Toronto, SXSW and Annecy. Its pleasing that his talent and vision were recognized this early in his career and that The Twentieth Century gets a life outside of Canada rather than languishing in cult obscurity. It will be interesting to see what he tackles next. The well-cast performers are perfectly in tune with Rankins intentions and hit all the right notes, from the leads to those in bit parts such as the tuberculosis-ridden orphan Little Charlotte (Satine Scarlett Montaz) in the Home for Defective Children and the overbearing Lord Muto (Sean Cullen). Achieving this uncommon projects unique tone owes in part to the production and costume designers, as well as the team of animators and carpenters. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Amid ongoing concern about the new coronavirus, Vice President Mike Pence sought to assure Americans that their health insurance will cover the tests needed for diagnosis. "With regard to the cost, let me be very clear: HHS has designated the coronavirus test as an essential health benefit. That means, by definition, its covered in the private health insurance of every American, as well as covered by Medicare and Medicaid. That got us wondering about Pence's assurance. Can he really claim that this designation means that all Americans with private health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid will be covered? And, is there a difference between coverage and cost? First, what are "essential benefits" and why does that matter? We reached out to the vice president's office for details about his comments but got no reply. Next, we consulted with a range of experts, who helped us fill in the blanks. "There are many things wrong with the statement," said Christen Linke Young, a fellow with the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy. For one thing, many Americans' insurance policies don't have to include coverage of essential health benefits, but more on that later. Still, as Young and other experts helped us piece together the details, it became increasingly clear that this testing will ultimately be covered by most Americans' health insurance. But, it is not a simple process - the actual cost to patients is the biggest uncertainty - and making it happen will require steps not only by the federal government, as Pence suggested, but also by state regulators and private insurers. Lets start with the basics Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans covering individuals and small employers must provide coverage of 10 essential health benefits (EHBs), including prescription drugs, maternity care, hospital care and laboratory services. Lab services could include diagnostic tests for, say, influenza, strep throat or even coronavirus. But there isn't a master list of all the tests covered. "They don't say we only cover these particular diagnostic tests," said Young. "It's a broad category of coverage." So HHS probably does not have to designate the COVID-19 test as an EHB for it to be covered. HHS did not respond to a question from us about whether it had, indeed, designated coronavirus testing as an EHB. States, because they regulate insurers within their borders, are also weighing in to add clarity. New York and California, for example, have ordered insurers to cover coronavirus testing and waive patient costs. It also should be noted that Pence's invoking of EHBs relies on the ACA, even as the administration has been a constant and staunch opponent of the law. "The irony is great with this coming from an administration that has done everything it can to repeal the ACA, roll back essential health benefits and promote short-term plans that don't cover much," said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. But there's another, bigger catch: EHBs apply only to a limited number of insurance plans - those ACA-compliant plans purchased by individuals and small employers, which are defined as businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The requirements don't apply to many workplace plans (including those provided by large businesses and self-insured plans), even though most Americans - about 157 million - who have health insurance get it through their job. Most of these plans, though, do cover a wide range of benefits, including laboratory services, but they are not required by law to do so. Coronavirus testing would likely be lumped in, especially as "employers likewise very much want COVID under control and do not want it spreading through their workforces," said James Gelfand, senior vice president at the ERISA Industry Committee, which represents large employers. Private insurers are beginning to move in this direction, too. America's Health Insurance Plans, the industry's lobbying group, said in early March its members will cover diagnostic testing when ordered by a physician and will "take action to ease network, referral, and prior authorization requirements and/or waive patient cost sharing." And what about Americans who have purchased alternative forms of insurance? The ACA's rules - including those on essential benefits - don't apply to several types of insurance that the Trump administration has promoted, including short-term plans. Such plans have lower premiums than ACA plans, mainly because they don't have to offer a wide range of benefits or meet other ACA rules. Consumers should "read the fine print to see what is in and what is out," said Corlette. Short-term plans also can cap annual treatment payment amounts, reject people with medical conditions - or review their medical records after they make a claim to see if they had a preexisting condition that could disqualify them for coverage. Meanwhile, EHB rules don't apply to Medicare. But that federal health insurance program for seniors and the disabled has made clear on its website that it will cover the test, saying, "This test is covered when your doctor or other health care provider orders it, if you got the test on or after February 4, 2020." The agency that oversees Medicaid, the state-federal low-income health insurance program, issued a release saying that "testing and diagnostic services are commonly covered" and that lab tests are a "mandatory benefit." But does coverage mean the tests will be free or low-cost? No, coverage and cost are not the same. And that's the key issue for policy and health experts. For those who have not yet hit their annual deductible, "the full cost of diagnostic tests will fall on those who get them," said Nicholas Bagley, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School. "That will discourage some people from getting tested in the first place, which is a public health nightmare." Many private plans, both those offered by employers and those purchased by individuals, include deductibles that enrollees must meet before full coverage kicks in. Even after a deductible is satisfied, many plans also require some sort of copayment - be it $10, $25 or more - when seeing a doctor or going for a lab test. For emergency room visits, the cost sharing is higher. If insurers don't waive cost sharing for the test, it could be an issue for some consumers. Still, Bagley said, the federal government is limited in its ability to order insurers or employers to waive patient payments, at least in the short term. Longer term, federal officials could seek to declare the tests "preventive services," like mammograms or vaccines, which are free for insured patients. But that process would take more than a year to implement. In the meantime, it's mainly up to insurers and employers to decide what to do. Cigna has announced it will waive patient costs for testing - and others may soon as well, given AHIP's statement. Another group, the Alliance of Community Health Plans, which represents nonprofit plans, didn't specifically say its members would waive fees but pledged to "ensure affordability is not a barrier to the individuals who are recommended for testing by their doctor or a public health authority." Our ruling Pence said "HHS has designated the coronavirus test as an essential health benefit. That means, by definition, its covered in the private health insurance of every American, as well as covered by Medicare and Medicaid. There are a number of moving parts to this statement, but it tends to leave out important details. For instance, many private and employer health plans have flexibility about what benefits they cover and what consumers will pay. In addition, coverage does not necessarily mean low cost. Bottom line: The idea that "everyone who has private insurance will be covered for this testing" is an overstatement. It fails to acknowledge the need for action at the state level and from the private sector, too. For these reasons, we rate this claim as Half True. Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press The top candidates in primary races for two open state Senate seats on the Peninsula and in the South Bay expanded their leads over their competitors Friday as election officials processed mail ballots. Democratic Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese maintained a commanding lead in the 15th Senate District, encompassing most of San Jose and Santa Clara County, with 33% of the vote. Attorney Ann Ravel solidified her hold on the other spot in the November runoff with 21%, opening distance from former Assemblywoman Nora Campos, in third place with 16%. Only about three percentage points separated the two Democrats on election night. So far, medical advice has focused mostly on the importance of washing our hands - every two hours, with soap and hot water, for 20 seconds each time - which is said to be the most effective way of protecting yourself. But some are now starting to worry about the germs living inside their own homes. Vladimir Todorov, who is head of London-based deep-cleaning firm Cleaner Cleaner, says concern about Covid-19 has caused a "spike in demand" from middle-class families looking for emergency cleans. So should you cancel all engagements this weekend to pull on a pair of Marigolds (or call in someone professional to do it for you)? Here's what the scientists say... Should I be cleaning the house more than usual? There is still a huge amount that we don't know about Covid-19 and scientists are split on the value of constantly cleaning your hard surfaces. Researchers at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention found that the virus can survive on some inanimate surfaces, such as bed frames, door handles and kitchen cabinets, for up to nine days - suggesting that thorough, regular cleaning is essential. But Dr Rick Martinello, medical director for infection prevention at the Yale New Haven Health System in the US, thinks the disease is mostly spread through the coughs and sneezes of infected people, so he "wouldn't recommend anything beyond routine cleaning". There is no harm in putting a cloth around a little more than usual until the panic dies down - especially if you live in a household with many visitors. Which cleaning products should I use? Experts are generally sceptical of herbal-based cleaners, which have not proved effective at neutralising Covid-19, according to Dr Robyn Gershon, professor of epidemiology at New York University. Instead, Dr Gershon recommends buying a tub of home-friendly bleach and using it to disinfect commonly handled objects such as door handles, railings and light switches. Experts say that most disinfectant wipes or spray are effective only if the surface is left to stay wet for a few minutes. But arguably it doesn't need to be so complicated: Dr Bharat Pankhania, clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter, says: "The simplest of products work best. Liquid soap and a wipe-down are as good as any expensive items." If you've run out of soap or detergent and can't find any in the shops (which isn't such a faraway possibility, given the run on hand sanitiser), then you can be creative and use vinegar - just be aware that it can be dangerous to mix it with bleach. What should I clean? Commonly handled objects such as light switches, television remotes and mobile phones are routinely touched 3.3 times each hour, according to a University of Arizona study of 80 office workers. But how often such items should be cleaned is confusing, with the World Health Organisation suggesting that particles can live on hard surfaces for just a few hours. However, we also touch our faces an average of 3.6 times an hour, so these are the objects on which you should focus your cleaning efforts if you want to be safe. Bill Keevil, professor of environmental healthcare at the University of Southampton, says coronavirus can survive for five days on stainless steel, glass, ceramics and plastics, so you should also get into the habit of cleaning your smartphone regularly, as well as other items you might have used at work, such as your office pen. Can the virus live on my shirt and trousers? There is currently "no evidence" that coronavirus can be transmitted from fabrics to humans, according to Harvard Medical School, so you don't need to burn your clothes just yet. That said, Britain's NHS has advised for many years that you should wash underwear, towels and household linen at 60C, or 40C with a bleach-based detergent, if you want to avoid the spread of germs. Prof Keevil says it is a good idea to wash your clothes if somebody has coughed on them, or if they have brushed up against commuters on public transport. Should I take extra care with young children? One of the many unknowns of Covid-19 is why young children seem to escape, with not a single child under 10 having yet died of the condition, according to WHO data from last week. That said, small children can act as "mixing bowls" of illness, says Dr Pankhania, carrying a dozen viruses a year during the early stages of their life, so they are more likely to pass the disease on to parents or grandparents. If you live with children, Dr Pankhania recommends a disciplined regime around handwashing. Try placing a sanitiser at the front door, telling children to spritz every time they enter or leave, so it becomes habit-forming. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Asia India: Thousands of contract teachers strike in Bihar state More than 350,000 contract teachers from Bihar state government and government-aided schools have been on strike since February 17 over long-standing pay and entitlement demands. The contract teachers are demanding a salary rise and equal pay for equal work, which the state government claims has been rejected by the Supreme Court. The current monthly salary of a contract teacher is between 18,000 rupees ($US245) and 30,000 rupees compared with a permanent government teachers salary of between 60,000 and 90,000 rupees. The contract teachers are also demanding a pension scheme and service conditions. There are only 73,000 government teachers so most schools with Class 1 to Class V111 depend on underpaid regular contract teachers. Contract teachers also fill headmasters positions. Over 40,000 high school teachers have joined the strike in solidarity with middle-school teachers and put forward their own demands for a salary rise and education leave. The teachers are organised by the Bihar Rajya Shikshak Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti. Sugarcane cutters in Gujarat strike for better wages Nearly 150,000 sugarcane cutters from South Gujarat struck work on February 28 as part of a five-year campaign for higher wages, improved working and living conditions, and social security. The tribal migrant workers, who are members of Majoor Adhikar Manch union, cut cane for 15 sugar mills. A union leader told the media that the cane cutters work for 12 to 14 hours a day but are only paid 250 rupees. The workers want their daily wages increased to 400 rupees. Protesting cane cutters outside the sugar mills have been threatened with dismissal and harassed by police. Andhra Pradesh transport workers in Kakinada protest against tax increase Transport workers in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, demonstrated in front of the Collectorate on March 1 demanding that the state government immediately withdraw the increased tax on petrol and diesel. The protest was organised by the Transport Association and CITU. They raised slogans denouncing the central and state governments for the frequent increase in prices of petroleum products. Workers said the price increases had made life difficult for transport sector workers. Maharashtra: Head-load workers protest in Aurangabad A group of head-load workerslow-paid labourers known as Mathadi who carry heavy goods on their headsdemonstrated outside the district collectors and labour commissioners offices in Aurangabad on Monday. They were demanding the immediate implementation of the Mathadi wages and conditions law. The protesters submitted a memorandum of their demands which was submitted to the Maharashtra state government. They want a day off each week for warehouse workers, fixed hours, payments for off-day duties or overtime hours, proper notification of duty hours and holidays on notices board. They also want basic work facilities, such as drinking water, restrooms and toilets at warehouses and increased wages. They warned that if the demands are not met before March 15, they will intensify their agitation. Former Comtrust textile factory workers in Kerala continue hunger protest Fifteen former employees of the closed Commonwealth Handloom Weaving Factory or Comtrust have been holding a relay hunger strike protest since October 22 to demand reopening of the factory. The protest is being held outside the Kerala State Industrial Development Council (KSIDC) office in Thiruvananthapuram. Comtrust produced high-quality textiles for the international market and upholstery for leading Indian airlines. When the business was wound up in 2009 a group of employees launched a campaign demanding the government acquire the business. The property is now under the KSIDC and the employees receive a monthly honorarium. After the state government took over the company in 2012 the displaced workers were paid 5,000 rupees ($US68) per month as compensation. These payments were stopped in 2016. The textile workers want the factory reopened and updated and all remaining former employees reinstated. They are also demanding that until the plant resumes normal production workers are provided temporary jobs and all retired employees, and the families of those who have died, be paid their full benefits. Bangladesh truck drivers and depot workers strike in Chittagong Drivers and other employees from 850 prime mover-trailers at 19 private inland depots at Chittagong walked out on strike on February 26 and 27 over several demands. The walkout stopped the movement of over 4,000 containers at Chittagong Port and 60,000 containers at inland wharf facilities. The workers want employers to issue them appointment letters, identity cards for new recruits and licenses for all heavy vehicle drivers. According to the Prime Mover-Trailer Sramik Union, there are 8,000 prime mover-trailers across the country, employing about 16,000 workers. Most of these workers do not have a license for driving heavy vehicles. The unions threatened to continue the strike after discussions between by union officials and the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association failed. Bangladeshi garment workers protest in Ashulia over closed factory About 200 garment workers from the closed Ducati Apparels factory in Ashulia demonstrated on Wednesday calling for the factory to be reopened and for a pay rise. The workers marched along the Nabinagar-Chandra highway and to the Ashulia Press Club where they held a sit-down protest for over an hour. Factory authorities suddenly shut down the sweater-manufacturing facility on February 24 without any prior notice. The workers had been demanding that the piece rate of 16 taka ($US 0.19) per product be increased to 22 taka as per an earlier agreement. The now unemployed workers appealed to the Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments on February 26 but were ignored. President of the National Garments Worker Federation threatened that if the workers demands were not met they would protest outside the factory owners house on March 6. Sri Lanka audit office workers on indefinite strike Audit Services workers began an indefinite strike on Monday to demand they be made a part of the state service and that all auditors across the country are integrated into the public service. Led by the Sri Lanka Auditor Inspectors Service Union, the strikers demonstrated at Lipton roundabout in Colombo on the day before the strike. Central Cultural Fund of Sri Lanka workers demand new pay scheme A group of Central Cultural Fund (CCF) workers demonstrated this week in Anuradhapura, a major city in the North Central Province, to demand the immediate implementation of the promised new wage scheme and the delayed 2019 bonus. The CCF workers say the recently Rajapakse government promised it would improve the working conditions and pay state employees but has failed to make beneficial changes. The workers were employed in the sacred ruined city of Anuradhapura, which is maintained by the CCF. Pakistan: Teachers from rural government schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa protest Teachers at government-run Basic Education Community Schools in Bajaur, Mardan, Kohat and Karak districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa demonstrated on Wednesday over several months of unpaid salaries and ongoing delays in making their jobs permanent as ordered in 2018 by the Peshawar High Court. Some teachers have not been paid since 2018, whilst salaries for others, which are just 8,000 Pakistani rupees ($US52) a month, have not increased in 25 years. The community schools are mostly in rural areas where no other government school is available. In Bajaur, 6,318 students study in 206 community schools, whilst there are 250 such schools in Mardan. The teachers have threatened to expand their protests if the government refuses to address their demands. Burma: Employers use coronavirus outbreak to restructure and slash jobs On Wednesday, the Myanmar Labor Ministry released figures that showed 13 factories in the Yangon and Bagon regions had either shut down permanently or temporarily or reduced their workforces since January. Most were garment factories, as well as shoe, steel, wood, paper and print plants. At least 3,000 workers have lost their jobs. While the government and employers blamed the coronavirus crisis for a lack of raw materials and orders, ten unions and labour rights organisations issued a statement on Tuesday claiming that employers were using the coronavirus as an excuse to break workers factory organisations. Two hundred Hua Meng garment factory workers in the Ayeyarwady region refused to accept redundancy payments when 1,000 were sacked last Saturday in the midst of a dispute over forced overtime and work on public holidays. The protesting workers said they were fired, not made redundant. The Federation of Commerce and Industry is exploiting the virus crisis to ban strikes at factories hit by the virus, reduce redundancy payouts and to call for delays in minimum wage increase due in May until September. Thai Airways maintenance workers protest over job cuts One hundred aircraft workers from the Thai Airways International maintenance facility, located at U-Tapao International airport in Rayong, marched to the Thai governments complaints office on Monday to demand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha scrap plans to relocate the facility. Airline officials were told by the government that the facility must be moved to make way for the expansion of the airport and the Airport City project by the end of the year. Workers are concerned that 1,500 workers at the maintenance depot will be adversely affected, including the loss of over 430 jobs. Taiwan workers organisations demand greater virus protection for migrants Various workers organisations demonstrated outside the Legislative Yuan on Wednesday to demand an amnesty for migrant workers deemed illegal, declaring that excluding them from the epidemic prevention system, amid the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, is dangerous and undermining efforts to stop the spread of the virus. Those involved in the protest included the Taiwan International Workers Association (TIWA), the Taiwan Association for Human Rights, the Green Citizens Action Alliance and the Global Workers Organization, Taiwan. They urged the government to grant legal status to undocumented workers and protested any possible deportations. There are about 50,000 migrant workers deemed to be illegal in Taiwan, with 290 being held in detention centres. A TIWA spokesman said any legal action against migrant workers should be cancelled and immediately included in epidemic prevention measures. Hong Kong medical workers strike over government mishandling of coronavirus A five-day strike of medical professionals began Monday to demand the closure of all entry points to China in order to stem the spread of the coronavirus. A thousand workers are believed to have participated in the strike. The walkout was organised by the Hospital Authority Employees Alliance. The strike began after planned negotiations on Sunday with Chief Executive Carrie Lam failed. Lam did not attend negotiations. Australia and New Zealand Victorian fruit canning factory maintenance workers strike About 280 members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) at the Ardmona fruit canning factory in Shepparton, Victoria walked off the job for one hour on Friday and said they will not work on Monday, a public holiday. The action is part of a long-running enterprise agreement (EA) dispute with SPC which owns the factory. After seven months of negotiations SPC is refusing to budge from its original proposed EA. The company wants to freeze wages for 12 months, followed by a 1.8 percent pay increase in the second year. Wages for casuals were to be frozen. South Australian roadside assist workers strike again About 60 roadside breakdown assist workers from the Royal Automobile Association (RAA)-South Australia walked off the job for four hours from 11 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday in a dispute over managements proposed enterprise agreement. Workers walked off the job in January after RAA management broke off negotiations after members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) rejected a proposed enterprise agreement which included cuts to conditions and allowances. The latest walkout was sparked after management came back with a modified regressive offer that included a cut to allowances and wages for new employees, creating a two-tiered system, and dropped its commitment that all new employees be trade qualified. New South Wales school cleaners protest against offer to clean up after coronavirus in Japan Around 50 Sydney public school contract cleaners and supporters wearing hazmat suits and face masks demonstrated inside the Parramatta headquarters of services giant Broadspectrum on February 27. They were protesting over the companys lack of transparency surrounding recent offers to clean the coronavirus-riddled Diamond Princess in Japan and quarantine areas. The cleaners said they were offered an all-expenses paid trip to Japan and up to $6,000 for the work. A spokesman from the United Workers Union said workers were concerned about the hours of work required of those who took up the offer, their working conditions, the lack of specific training or health screening of volunteers for pre-existing conditions that may make them extra vulnerable to the virus. According to the union, several workers have taken up the offer, but the company did not say if these workers would be paid while in quarantine when they returned to Australia. Jetstar baggage handlers accept inferior offer Some 250 low-paid and under-employed baggage handlers and ground crew across Australia from Jetstar, a Qantas Airways budget subsidiary, ended all industrial action and accepted the companys proposed enterprise agreement of 3 percent annual pay increases over four years and some improvement to rostering and allowances. Jetstar threatened that if its latest proposed EA was rejected it would withdraw a previous offer to back-pay the 3 percent pay increase to March 2019. Isolated and worn down by three sets of limited strike action by the Transport Workers Union (TWU), which began late last year, workers voted to accept the deal. The Jetstar workers had demanded equal rates of pay for equal jobs, improved secure work with a minimum of 30 hours a week, more rest breaks, a guaranteed 12-hour break between shifts and compliance with safety and security. In a survey conducted last year, 80 percent of baggage handlers reported they have suffered injury due to high workload and understaffing, while 90 percent said they want to work more hours. These issues, which workers anticipated would be resolved by the union, remain in place. Unions cancel Auckland bus drivers strike Bus strikes in Auckland were called off Wednesday after NZ Bus and the FIRST Union agreed to resume negotiations. The agreement followed a strike on Tuesday when drivers at the Glenfield and Swanson depots walked out between 4am and 8am. The strike resulted in the cancellation of 144 buses that would have normally operated during morning peak hour. NZ Bus has offered an extra 68 cents an hour to increase wages to $22.75 but the Tramways Union and FIRST Union are seeking $23 per hour and a halt to attacks on conditions. Drivers want changes to 14-hour shifts which are broken up by several hours of unpaid leave. Around 800 drivers were due to vote this week on further strike action following a previous breakdown in talks, but the vote has now been postponed. The negotiations are an opportunity for the company to present a realistic offer for settlement, First Union secretary Jared Abbott said. Tramways Union president Gary Froggatt last week told the media that the unions didnt want to take industrial action during March, the busiest month of the year. NZ Bus, which is contracted by the Labour Party-led Auckland Council, has been in discussions with the unions since December, when the unions called off industrial action, falsely claiming that a council resolution was a step towards resolving the dispute. FIRST Union then turned against migrant workers, scapegoating them for low wages. South Island supermarket workers protest in New Zealand Supermarket workers at PaknSave Richmond and New World Centre City in Dunedin took protest action Wednesday as part of a struggle for better wages and employment conditions. The workers issued a notice informing both managements that they would be distributing leaflets to the public during working hours outlining their claim for a standard collective agreement. FIRST Union said it has been trying to negotiate an agreement with the parent company, Foodstuffs, for three years seeking comparable pay and conditions to the companys North Island workforce. The union is claiming a so-called Living Wage, currently set at $21.15 per hour, which is marginally above the legal minimum of $17.70, but is still too low to live on. FIRST Union Secretary for Retail, Tali Williams, declared that the workers were losing faith after three years waiting to negotiate a very ordinary collective agreement. However, throughout that entire time the union has only ever called limited protest activities, but no strike campaign. The world tourism market has an unprecedented situation: the history of coronavirus negatively affected all segments of the tourism industry, from children to business tourism, as well as related business, especially carriers. According to Maya Lomidze, executive director of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), only aggregators and booking systems were in a more or less stable situation, since all the recommendations that have been accepted so far have not affected this segment of the tourism industry. What hinders the travel industry Rospotrebnadzor, which is competent to assess the safety for life and health of citizens of the Russian Federation in certain countries, recommended refusing trips to South Korea, Iran and Italy. This recommendation was followed by the recommendation of the Federal Agency for Tourism, which states that travel companies are not recommended to sell travel packages in these areas and create separate travel services. The duration of this recommendation is not indicated. At the same time, consumers are aggressively informing about what coronavirus is. In my subjective opinion, this is not sufficiently argued, that is, it is only said that it is very scary, and why it is scary - just because it is transmitted quickly and you can get infected quickly , only because there are a certain number of deaths. These horror stories are not argued, "said Mai Lomidze. Three categories of tourism services consumers According to her, consumers of tourism services at the moment are divided into three main categories. The first category listens carefully to everything that is in the information field, and does not want to go anywhere, cancels its trips booked. And this applies not only to these areas. The second category of tourists is not afraid of anything, they say: "We all paid for the tours. You must send us." Those who say: "We are not afraid, we are ready to go, and not only in designated directions," fall into the same category. These are trips to Italy from the European part of the Russian Federation; about trips to South Korea from the Siberian and Far Eastern federal districts. As for Iran, the flow there was small even before the outbreak of the coronavirus. The third category of tourists is waiting. "Well probably wait until were in principle, were not afraid to fly, but you never know. Suddenly they quarantine them there. Its uncomfortable. Were not afraid, but we want to rest and not think how to get out of this situation later, - tourists say. It is clear that the loss of the entire tourism industry as a result of this story with coronavirus will amount to billions of dollars. This applies not only to the Russian market, this applies to the tourism industry in very many countries, complained Lomidze. Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. The cost of the PCR test is EGP 1,000 for Egyptians, and $70 for non-Egyptians Nancy El-Gendy, head of the Central Department of Laboratories at the Ministry of Health, said that issuing certificates for the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests for travellers to Saudi Arabia is set to start on Sunday. According to the Arabic edition of Ahram News website, El-Gendy added that the PCR certificates will be issued from the central department at the Health Ministry's headquarters, in downtown Cairo. Earlier, Saudi Arabia decided that people wishing to travel to the kingdom using a new visa or a pre-existing valid visa are required to present a PCR lab test certificate proving they are coronavirus-free. Saudi Arabia reopened on Saturday the area around the sacred Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, reversing one of a series of measures introduced to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Last week, Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round umrah pilgrimage and announced the temporary closure of the area around the Kaaba . El-Gendy noted that the cost of the PCR test is EGP 1,000 for Egyptians, and $70 for non-Egyptians, adding that everyone has to present the passport and travel ticket to undergo the test. Search Keywords: Short link: A person was struck by a Norfolk Southern freight train Friday afternoon in Middlesex and taken to a local hospital, police said. The victim person was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick in unknown condition, Middlesex Police Capt. Frank DeNick told NJ Advance Media. Norfolk Southern Police were investigating the incident which happened shortly before 3:30 p.m. near South Main Street, a Norfolk Southern spokeswoman said. The train was en route from Port Reading to Hawthorne, Illinois, when the person was hit occurred, the spokeswoman said. Norfolk Southern is a major transporter of industrial products including chemicals and construction materials and operates on nearly 20,000 miles of track in 22 states. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters The Almajiri, a system of Islamic education practice in northern Nigeria, is as old as time itself. It has been the tradition of Hausa people in northern Nigeria to leave their homes in search of Islamic knowledge. Almajiri is derived from Al muhajirun, an Arabic word which means an emigrant in English. The Almajiri refers to a person who migrates from his home to a popular teacher in search of Islamic knowledge. This system was the only source of gaining knowledge in Hausa land before colonialism and the subsequent introduction of western education in Nigeria by the British. The richest person in Africa, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was a product of the Almajiri system. In an article she wrote in the Guardian newspaper edition of May 29, 2019 , Cheta Nwanze, wrote that Alhassan Dantata, Dangotes great grandfather, the richest person in West Africa during his time, had been an Almajiri. After the death of Abdullahi, Alhassans father and the migration of his mother to Accra, the young Ahassanwas left under the custodianship of a slave called Tata. Tata sent young Alhassan to an Almajiri school in Bebeji, where he worked, and learned from a Tijaniyya mallam, Nwanze further stated. The Almajiri system which Alhassan Dantata and the people of his generation went through was an organised and comprehensive system of education for learning Islamic principles, values, jurisprudence and theology. In those days they modeled the Almajiri schools in Hausa land after the Madrasahs in some Muslim countries. There was inspectorate of Quranic literacy, whose inspectors reported to the Emir of the province, concerning all matters relating to the school(s). It is saddening to note that the Tsangaya (local Islamic schools) and the entire Almajiri system as it is today in the north are the shadows of their former selves. Even though few profiteers of the system will go to any extents to defend it, the truth is; the Almajiri does not serve any purpose. It is in fact our main problem in northern Nigeria today. The system is the leading problem which is trying to bring down the north to its knees. It produces millions of street urchins, uncountable out-of-school children, beggars, a hopeless multitude of young men, drug addicts and an avalanche of army of unemployed youth the terrorists can galvanize and recruit for insurrection. The fear of the dangers of Almajiri is not new. Prominent northern elders had foreseen the danger about 20 to 30 years ago. I could remember a lecture in Kaduna in 1994 when general Hassan Usman Katsina, group captain Usman Jibrin and general Shehu Musa Yaraduwa, among other northern notables, spoke about the impending danger of the Almajiri system. It is sad that the tempo for war against the Almajiri died with the demise of the trio. It is worrisome that the number of Almajiri kids who roam the streets of major cities in Nigeria have skyrocketed several folds in the last few years. The north conflicts with itself. There are close to 2 billion Muslims spread across the countries of the world. It is curious that the Hausa man is the only Muslim who keeps a family he cannot maintain. We are the laughingstock in the country because of the archaic and a progress resistance culture we operate. Experts warn: If we continue this way, about 40 percent extremely poor people will be in Nigeria. Poverty in the South West is 20 percent, in the North, it is 80 percent, Lagos is 8 percent and Zamfara, it is 91 percent. This is scary. Now is the time to tell ourselves the bitter truth and to act. We must change the old ways we do things. With Poverty, Boko, Haram, Kidnapping, banditry and communal feud, northern Nigeria is one of the worst places to live in the world. We are on the eve of destruction. We have to come together to fight the menace of the Almajiri system before it destroy us. When the bubbles finally bursts, those of us who live in the north will be the first casualty of the crises we created, and cannot manage and control. We are all victims. It is therefore a collective responsibility to fight this public menace. As a solution to the problem, northern establishment must think in retrospect and return to the old ways. The Almajiri kids should live with their parents and guardians in their hometowns. The government and individual proprietors of Almajiri schools shall build madrasahs for learning within the immediate environment of the pupils and students. State governors should make education compulsory for school-age children. We hope all the northern States will ban the Almajiri system and make education compulsory for children living in their states.The government should arrest any Almajiri boy who flouts the order and send him back to his parents in his home state. We should critically look at the Hausa culture of polygamy. We must accept the home truth. The emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi the II, advised men to imbibe the habit of marrying the number of wives and children they can cater. This may sound strange to a conservative Hausa man who may use as a defence the hadith of prophet Muhammad ( peace be upon him) that encourages the ummah (community of Muslim believers) to have many children, so he will feel proud of them before the other Prophets and nations on the Day of Resurrection. It is worthwhile to note that the people who prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be Upon him) will be proud of and happy to receive as his people on the day of resurrection are the righteous Muslims- the righteous descendants who the prophets before him (Abraham and Zakariyya) prayed God to grant them. They are the children who are considered a blessing to their parents and to the nation. We need children who are a comfort and a joy to the eyes of their parents, not the ones that the parents dispense with and sent to a faraway place to lead the degrading life of the Almajiri. We must debunk the lie being peddled by some selfish Ulamas and other supporters of the exploitative system. They are exponents of the system because they have been living on the fat of the land while the victims suffered. I fear the time in the foreseeable future when those whom we look down as an unkempt public nuisance will get back at us. I look at the future with a sense of foreboding. The Almajiri is a demographic time bomb about to explode. The earlier we understand this reality and address the problem, the better for Nigeria. Saleh Bature is Abuja based journalist, social commentator and advocate of dialogue. You can reach him via email at [email protected] The eighth symposium "Stability and Security in the South Caucasus. Prospects of German-Azerbaijani Cooperation", dedicated to the next anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, was held in the Parliamentary Society of Germany. The event was organized with the support of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Germany, the German-Azerbaijani Forum, the German Atlantic Society and the SOCAR representative office in Germany. Bundestag Vice-President Thomas Opperman in his speech called the Khojaly events a tragedy of the entire humanity and stressed that Germany was ready to support the process of finding ways to resolve the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. According to him, parties should show their will for speedy settlement of the conflict. In this regard, Opperman noted that Germany is interested in ensuring security in the region. Speaking about the Azerbaijani-German relations, Opperman recalled that their history goes back two centuries. Economic and cultural ties between our countries are at a high level, he said. The speech of the Chairman of the German-Azerbaijani Forum, former Secretary of State Hans-Eberhard Schleier, was dedicated to the topic of the Khojaly genocide and the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, as well as various aspects of Azerbaijani-German relations. Azerbaijani Ambassador to Germany Ramin Hasanov also spoke at the event. Speaking about the Azerbaijani-German relations, he noted that the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the most important issue on the agenda of these relations. Diplomat noted that ending the occupation and returning Azerbaijanis to their homes could be a decisive factor in creating mutual trust between the parties to the conflict. Hasanov also stressed that speedy settlement of the conflict is in the sphere of interests of Armenia, which is suffering from poverty. The entire region and all of its partners are also interested in this. The search for missing Bridgeton 5-year-old Dulce Maria Alavez is hitting millions of mailboxes across the nation thanks to a long-running partnership. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children collaborates with coupon distribution giant Valassis, which sends out coupon booklets via direct mail and newspapers inserts. Each week, the packet includes a Have You Seen Me? box with a photo and information about a missing child. The current child shown is Dulce, who was reported missing from Bridgeton City Park during a family outing on Sept. 16. Her disappearance sparked an Amber alert and a reward stands at $75,000. The FBI is working with local, county and state agencies to locate the child. Valassis has been one of our longest-term partners, said John Bischoff, acting vice president of the missing children division at the national center. For us, its an enormous asset. Dulce Maria Alavez was reported missing from a Bridgeton park on Sept. 16. Since the mid-1980s, the coupon packets have included the familiar missing child feature for an important reason. While technology has evolved and the center shares information across various platforms, the key remains getting those photos in front of as many eyes as possible, Bischoff said. The hope is that someone knows something. Its about getting the picture in front of the right person at the right time. The write-up includes a toll-free hotline 1-800-843-5678 where people can call with tips. Each child is featured for several weeks at a time. Valassis donates the space for this public service each week. While the company has the ability to target the Have You Seen Me? feature to specific states and regions if investigators know that a child is likely in a certain area, Dulces information is being distributed nationwide. Even though nearly six months have passed, Dulce has not been found, so a push like this is important, Bischoff said. Were utilizing every resource we can to keep it out there in the public eye on a nationwide basis, he said. The information distributed by Valassis has helped bring home at least 160 children, Bischoff noted, adding that the figure is probably higher. The center has stringent standards for determining exactly what tip whether it was a billboard, flier or a news report led to a recovery. In addition to the phone number above, authorities ask anyone with information about Dulce to call the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at 609-882-2000, ext. 2554, or the Bridgeton police at 856-451-0033. Anonymous tips may be sent to Bridgeton police by text to TIP411 with Bridgeton in the message line. Tips may also be phoned in to 1-800-CALL-FBI and select option 4, then select option 8. 8 Tribute to Dulce Maria Alavez in Bridgeton City Park, Jan. 16, 2020 Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Calibrating his approach for a tough head-to-head primary matchup in a year when many Democratic voters want to put up a united front, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont on Friday renewed his attacks on former Vice President Joe Bidens record on trade while also conceding that Biden could defeat President Donald Trump. In Michigan, where the Sanders campaign is running a TV ad featuring an autoworker who says his community has been decimated by free trade deals, Sanders attacked Biden for his support of the North American Free Trade Agreement in the 1990s. Joe Biden and I have a very serious disagreement with regards to Nafta, Sanders said at a round table he convened of workers, union leaders and economists in Detroit before a rally attended by thousands. Just last year Im not talking about 20 years ago Joe said that voting for Nafta, quote, was not a mistake, end of quote, and a few years before that he called Nafta a success, Sanders said. Joe, youre wrong. Nafta was not a success. Voting for it was a big, big mistake. As a long line of mostly young supporters filed into a downtown convention centre, organisers called out for any union members to identify themselves. After major disappointments on Super Tuesday, Sanders is hoping for a comeback next Tuesday as six states go to the polls, none more crucial for him than Michigan, the first of several Midwestern industrial states to vote in the next two weeks. Four years ago, he pulled off one of the biggest surprises of his first presidential campaign when he upset Hillary Clinton in Michigan. We are in the midst of a very, very difficult primary process, Sanders told reporters before taking the stage at his rally. Come Tuesday, maybe Michigan is the most important state. Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Show all 29 1 /29 Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states An anti-dairy protester is led away after storming the stage at Joe Biden's Super Tuesday event in Los Angeles, California EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Bernie Sanders cheer as results are announced at a Super Tuesday party in Texas AFP/Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Joe Biden hold up an election pooster from Barack Obama's 2008 run at a Super Tuesday event for the Democratic contender Reuters Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Bernie Sander takes to the stage before supporters during his Super Tuesday event in Vermont EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Bernie Sanders cheer as results are announced at a Super Tuesday party in Texas AFP/Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Bernie Sanders cheer as results are announced at a watch party in Texas AFP/Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Joe Biden gestures to suppporters at a Super Tuesday event for the Democratic contender AP Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Elizabeth Warren waves to supporters at a rally in Michigan as results come in following Super Tuesday Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A spray painted mural of presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders on the side of a building in Kirby, Vernont EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Bernie Sandes cheer at a Super Tuesday rally in Vermont Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Elizabeth Warren hold sings and cheer in Cambridge Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren leaves the voting booth at the Graham & Parks School in Cambridge, Massachusetts Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A poster for sale at a rally for Bernie Sanders on Super Tuesday in Vermont Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democratic voter Elliot Zaagman wears a protective mask as he poses for a photo after casting his ballot in Bangkok, Thailand EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Daisy, a Golden Retriever, outside a polling in San Diego. 1,357 Democratic delegates are at stake as voters cast their ballots in 14 states and American Samoa on what is known as Super Tuesday Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (greets fellow voters after casting his ballot in his state's primary election at the Robert Miller Community Center in Burlington, Vermont Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A first time voter stands behind a voting booth in a polling location for the North Carolina primary Reuters Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg takes part in his Super Tuesday night rally in West Palm Beach, Florida Reuters Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Fourteen states are holding their primaries with more than one third of the total pledged delegates in the Democratic primaries to be awarded on Super Tuesday Getty Images Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren and her husband Bruce Mann greet supporters as they walk to a polling site to vote on Super Tuesday in Cambridge, Massachusett EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Voters cast their ballots at a polling location inside an elementary school on Super Tuesday in Minneapolis, Minnesota EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states AP Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democratic voter Le'ana Freeman poses for a photo after casting her ballot at a polling station in Bangkok EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Voters arrive to cast their ballots at a polling location inside Hunter House at Nottoway Park in Vienna EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democrat Jamie Wilson gets a sticker after voting in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas AP Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A Polling Place sign in the border town of Hidalgo, Texas EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A girl carries her mothers ballot to the table where she will fill in her choice at the Taylor Elementary School polling location in Arlington Getty Images Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A man wearing an 'I Voted' sticker and a 'Bernie Abroad' badge after voting in the American presidential primary in Oxford, England Getty Images Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Stickers for people who vote AFP via Getty Images Asked about Governor Gretchen Whitmers endorsement of Biden on Thursday, Sanders sounded miffed. Well, that wasnt her thoughts when I came here to help her get elected, as a matter of fact, he said. Speaking earlier on Friday with reporters in Phoenix, Sanders also condemned Bidens votes as a senator on trade agreements, while brandishing new attacks over Bidens record on federal funding for abortions, same-sex marriage and the former dont ask, dont tell policy. But in a sign of the careful approach both candidates are taking while seeking to draw distinctions between their campaigns, Sanders reiterated multiple times that he would support Biden if he eventually won the presidential nomination, and, pressed by a reporter, said he believed Biden could beat Trump in November. I think we are the stronger campaign to defeat Donald Trump, but you have not heard me say that I think that Biden cannot defeat Trump, Sanders said. I will certainly do everything I can if he is the nominee. Speaking by phone to attendees at a fundraiser in Bethesda, Maryland, on Friday night, Biden said: What we cant let happen is let this primary become a negative bloodbath. I know Im going to get a lot of suggestions on how to respond to what I suspect will be an increasingly negative campaign that the Bernie Brothers will run. But we cant tear this party apart and reelect Trump. The Biden campaign sent one of its most high-profile new surrogates to Michigan, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, but she was far less visible than Sanders. She toured the backstage areas of an MGM Grand hotel and casino with union leaders, but the event was off-limits to out-of-town reporters. Biden plans to visit Michigan on Monday, but Sanders who cancelled an appearance in Mississippi intends to campaign intensely in the state, visiting Dearborn, Flint, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. Sanders also offered a fresh critique on Friday of Bidens record on the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for most abortions (EPA) After other major candidates quit the Democratic primary race this week, Sanders has relentlessly and repeatedly contrasted himself with Biden. As we enter the moment in this campaign where we come down to a two-person race, I think it important for us to differentiate our records, and I intend to do that, Sanders said in Phoenix. Joe has been around for a long time; so have I. And I think people would want to take a look at those records, he added. All I can tell you, whether its Iraq, whether its DOMA, whether its dont ask, dont tell those were difficult votes. I was there, on the right side of history, and my friend Joe Biden was not. He was referring to the Defence of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and the policy that prohibited openly gay people from serving in the military. As a senator, Biden supported a broad defence bill in 1993 that included the dont ask, dont tell policy but also voted for a failed amendment that would have removed the policy from that bill. He also voted for the Defence of Marriage Act in 1996. But as vice president, he said in an interview on Meet the Press in 2012 that he was absolutely comfortable with same-sex marriage, a stance that was ahead of the Obama White Houses policy at the time. Sanders also offered a fresh critique on Friday of Bidens record on the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for most abortions. Until June of last year, Biden had supported the measure, which critics say disproportionately affects poor women and women of colour. He reversed his position after sustaining attacks early in his campaign. At a time when women are under severe political assault, Sanders said, I think people all over this country women and men are going to look at the record of which candidate has been consistent and strong in terms of defending a womans right to choose. On this issue, Joe Biden repeatedly voted for the Hyde Amendment. Sanders has watched his delegate lead evaporate after the first three nominating contests as Biden racked up wins in South Carolina and several Super Tuesday states, including some that Sanders had hoped would wind up in his column. Moving forward, the two candidates will essentially go head-to-head next week in six states including Michigan, which will present one of their first tests in a major general-election swing state. On Friday, Sanders, who is Jewish, also addressed an episode at a rally for his campaign in Phoenix on Thursday, when a man in the crowd unfurled a flag bearing a swastika before he was removed. It is horrific, Sanders said. It is beyond disgusting to see that in the United States of America there are people who would show the emblem of Hitler and Nazism. And I was shocked to learn about that. Separately, Sanders acknowledged that his team had communicated with the federal authorities about the possibility of Secret Service protection for him. Some Democratic lawmakers have called for added security after Bidens Super Tuesday address was disrupted by protesters who were able to gain access to the stage. New York Times The family of a Plainfield man who died while in custody in 2014 at the Middlesex County jail settled their lawsuit against the county for $5 million, their attorney said. David Yearby was 27-years-old when he died of a broken neck after suffering blunt force trauma, but the county medical examiner at the time did not determine the source of those injuries. No criminal charges were filed in the case. The lawyer for his estate said the settlement is the largest one reported involving a correctional facility in New Jersey. The lawsuit filed by his mother claimed Yearby died in the early morning hours of Nov. 2 after spending nine hours in a restraining chair at the jail. He was maced, beaten and a spit hood was placed over his head while strapped to the chair, the family claimed. Yearby was arrested on Halloween night by Piscataway police who charged him with assaulting two officers. Brooke Barnett, who represented Yearbys estate, said the 27-year-old suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and did not receive the care he needed. "Its obviously a systematic problem where people who suffer from mental health issues and placed in correctional facilities are not cared for, said Barnett, who represented the Yearby estate with Angela Roper. In the end, were all human beings. Middlesex County spokeswoman Kimberly Burnett said the county has an insurer that will pay the settlement. Burnett added that Yearbys tragic death is one of many reasons the county did not renew its contract with a healthcare provider for the jail that was named in the familys suit. We deeply regret the circumstances that led to Mr. Yearbys death, said Burnett in a statement on Monday. While our excess insurance carrier negotiated and paid the settlement with Mr. Yearbys estate, we want to assure the residents of Middlesex County that this decision is not costing the taxpayers any money whatsoever. The settlement was entered into in December, Barnett said, but it was not finalized until February. The family claimed Yearbys sister had notified police about his condition and his need for mental health treatment, but he was taken to jail instead. Piscataway police never told officials about his mental condition or need for mental health attention, the family claimed. "They should have gotten him the help he needed," said Yearbys mom, Veronica Yearby, during a press conference in 2015. "I want other young men with mental health issues to get the help they need when they get arrested. This has got to stop." There were disagreements between the family and their former attorney who was originally handling the lawsuit and the case was almost entirely thrown out. But a team of new lawyers that included Barnett convinced a judge in 2016 to reinstate the complaint. The lawsuit named other plaintiffs, including the township of Piscataway. The township is still involved in the litigation - even though the county settled - and is scheduled to go to trial in May, Barnett said. Its still a pending matter, said Piscataway spokesman Gene Wilk. He died in a county facility not a township facility and the township has no further comment on this matter. Editors note: This story was updated on March 10 with a comment from the Middlesex County spokeswoman. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico. Lipinski continued his efforts to paint Newman as out of touch with the district on the issues of health care and abortion rights. But he also sought to downplay his signature on a letter also signed by conservative Republicans that urged the Supreme Court to consider a case that could lead to a reversal of Roe v. Wade. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 11:31 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068f6168 1 Entertainment jonathan-kuo,Jakarta-Sinfonietta,orchestra,concert-hall,Aula-Simfonia,piano,concert Free Classical piano prodigy Jonathan Kuo will embark on his first concert tour to familiarize the Indonesian public with symphonic music starting on March 25. The Bandung, West Java-based pianist will travel to Jakarta, Bali and Surabaya, East Java, for trio concerts with Indonesian violinist Giovani Biga and Portuguese cellist Goncalo Lelis. World-class musicians Giovani and Lelis are currently pursuing their studies in Germany. This collaboration will be a valuable experience for me. I could certainly gain insights from them and hone my skills, said 17-year-old Jonathan in a recent text conversation. Im also grateful that I can perform together with world-class musicians, he added. For their Chamber Music Concert to be held at the JS Bach Recital Hall inside the Simfonia Concert Hall compound in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, they will perform piano works by composers Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak and Dmitri Shostakovich. Each composition will represent different eras of classical music from pre-romanticism, romanticism and post-romanticism. The tour plan came after his Jakarta concert The Mighty Fifth on Feb. 1, in conjunction with the fifth anniversary of chamber orchestra Jakarta Sinfonietta. Under the direction of conductor Iswargia R. Sudarno, also Jonathans mentor, the concert was held to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethovens birth, as well as the fifth anniversary of the Jakarta Sinfonietta. Jonathan is one of the most talented young pianists in Indonesia today with a lot of potential. I believe he will be the pride of the nation in the future, said Iswargia. At the concert, Jonathan played Beethovens "Overture", "Piano Concerto No. 5" and "Symphony No. 5". The teenager, who received the title Young Steinway Artist in 2018, said the pieces were Beethovens best known works and beautifully constructed. To perform with 45 other musicians is more exciting compared with a solo piano concert. It has a different atmosphere. To perform with an orchestra is also a new challenge for me as I learned how to work in a team and to make each other shine in the performance, he said. (ste) AMHERST Amherst College plans to convert a vacant house at 197 South Pleasant St. into a center for curricular and pedagogical innovation. As part of its plans, the college is seeking the towns permission to demolish a barn on the half-acre property and a garage nearby at 211 South Pleasant St. The house is a large, 2-story brick structure built around 1900. It has a taxable value of $519,596, according to town assessors records. To achieve its vision for curricular and pedagogical innovation, Amherst (College) must create a home for the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Center for Writing and Speaking, the schools website says. The property at 197 South Pleasant St. will be renovated to serve as a welcoming, professional space in which faculty, students, and staff may do intellectually challenging work. The Amherst Historical Commission is scheduled to convene on March 18 to hear the colleges demolition request. The 6 p.m. meeting is in the Glass Room at the Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk. Built in 1930, the barn measures 31 feet by 28 feet. The single-story, wood-framed garage, built in 1966, measures 11 feet by 16 feet. The Historical Commission may impose a one-year demolition delay order if it determines the structures have historical significance and should be preserved. The colleges application says there is no known historical significance to the barn, which has an appraised value of $6,400, according to assessors records. Amherst College trustees sold the property in 1998 to an employee and her husband for $178,750, with a stipulation in the deed that the college had a right to repurchase it. The trustees bought the house back in 2016 for $520,000, Hampshire County Registry of Deeds filings show. Related Content: The Centre' s temporary ban on two Malayalam channels Asianet News and Media One invited widespread criticism. Opinion makers, political leaders, scribes' unions and noted personalities have registered strong protest against the ban. Congress MP from the state and senior party leader Shashi Tharoor expressed his dissent through his twitter handle. How on earth can Malayalam channels inflame communal passions in Delhi? Whereas the truly vicious propaganda channels continue their brazen distortions w/impunity. Asianet News and MediaOne are fine independent media. LiftTheBan now, he tweeted. However, hours after the ban was imposed, Asianet News resumed broadcasting. And the ban on Media One was lifted today morning. The ministry of information and broadcasting announced a 48-hour ban on the two channels on Friday evening for allegedly covering the violence in Delhi in a biased manner. The Kerala Working Journalists Union is organising protest marches and meetings in all districts across Kerala and in New Delhi. The Centre is trying to silence the media for reporting the truth. They are trying to impose an undeclared emergency. It is the most undemocratic stand that media should report as per the wish of government, said K.P Reji, state president of KUWJ. Asianet channel sources said that though they had submitted an explanation earlier to the ministry, they had not been informed about the decision to block the channels. The Media One editor-in-chief CL Thomas made it clear that they will legally fight against the ban. It is a blatant attack against free and fair journalism, he said in a statement. The Centre's decision to lift the ban before 48 hours might follows a strong protest and pressure from various quarters. CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala strongly condemned the ban. The communal riots are engineered by the government support and the Modi government is trying to shut down media organisations which does not report as per its wish, Kodiyeri said. Ramesh Chennithala stressed the need to unitedly resist such fascist steps. REGINA - Federal Conservative leadership candidate Peter MacKay says he regrets how some people interpreted his comment that current leader Andrew Scheer's socially conservative values were a "stinking albatross." Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Conservative leadership candidate Peter MacKay speaks to supporters at a meet and greet event in Ottawa, on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang REGINA - Federal Conservative leadership candidate Peter MacKay says he regrets how some people interpreted his comment that current leader Andrew Scheer's socially conservative values were a "stinking albatross." MacKay made the remark after the last federal election in referring to how Scheer was dogged by questions during the campaign and afterwards about same-sex marriage and abortion. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney referenced MacKay's comment in an email this week in which Kenney endorsed leadership candidate Erin O'Toole. "I regret the way people have interpreted it, how it was torqued, how it was misconstrued and it might have been a little raw at the time," MacKay said during a campaign stop Friday in Scheer's hometown of Regina. "But I think as Conservatives if we want to win, we've got to be honest with ourselves. We have to address some of the shortcomings that Canadians saw in our campaign the last time, and we have to be a little bit more forward-looking and optimistic, and putting things in the window that people can vote for, not just against." MacKay who says he's pro-choice and for equal marriage said his comment was based on the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," which he read as a child. The poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge tells the story of a sailor who kills an albatross. His crewmates hang the dead bird around his neck to remind him of what he's done and he can't get rid of it. MacKay said he's focused on the economy and is pitching a more centrist and moderate message than Scheer, whose roots in Saskatchewan added to the party's popularity in the province that sent only Conservative MPs to Ottawa. Even longtime Regina Liberal MP and cabinet minister Ralph Goodale was defeated. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Despite Kenney's endorsement of O'Toole, MacKay said he's confident his support in the West is strong. He said he views himself as aligned with both Kenney and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe over their concerns with how the federal Liberal government has handled the economy and a carbon tax. A spokesman for Moe said the premier will not endorse anyone in the race. MacKay said he believes Conservatives will continue to perform well in Saskatchewan and Alberta, although they need to grow elsewhere. "People need to see themselves in this party. It needs to modernize. We have to have a comprehensive plan for the environment. "It's not enough to just say we'll get rid of the carbon tax. We have to say what we'll do to address escalating greenhouse gas emissions." This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 6, 2020 Two prominent business industry groups filed a challenge Friday to the Metro homeless services measure headed for the May ballot. The Alliance for an Affordable Metro filed its challenge in Multnomah County Circuit Court, arguing Metros ballot title language and summary is vague and inaccurate. As it is written, they argue, the proposed language also asks too many questions which can disqualify initiatives -- and urges a yes vote. In a statement, the alliance opposed the measure more broadly. We cannot consider these new personal and business taxes in a vacuum, said Shaun Jillions, the executive director of the Oregon Manufacturers and Commerce lobbying group, which appears to be leading the group along with the Northwest Grocers Association. Any new tax, he said, must be considered based on the cumulative effect of taxation on the same dollar. The homeless services measure would impose a 1% tax on people who earn $125,000 a year, or couples who earn $200,000. It would also apply a 1% tax on Metro area businesses that generate more than $5 million annually. The coalition that put the measure together includes homeless service nonprofits, business leaders and representatives from Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties as well as the city of Portland. Metro referred the measure to the May ballot, partially to avoid the possibility of it competing against high-dollar asks from Metro and Portland Public Schools in November. The coalition expects the taxes will raise $250 million a year, which would be distributed to the three counties to be spent on homeless services. Exactly which services and who would provide them has yet to be defined. The measure won support from the Portland Business Alliance -- the citys chamber of commerce -- and Business for a Better Portland, another industry group. However, the leaders of the group challenging the ballot title, argue that those groups should not speak for the entire business community. Unfortunately, the downtown Portland business interests at the negotiating table didnt consider the cumulative impact of the exponentially growing number of state and local taxes that are borne by everyday Oregonians and business owners, said Joe Gilliam, one of the people named on the petition and the head of the grocery industry lobbying group. This measure will increase the costs of basic needs including groceries, housing and utility bills. The Northwest Grocery Association represents some of the biggest chains in Oregon, such as Fred Meyer and Safeway. It previously pushed for privatized liquor and has a long history of opposing business taxes. The petition repeats a criticism of past Metro bonds -- that is doesnt lay out enough details about how it would be implemented or held accountable. However, that complaint hasnt seemed to deter voters from approving bonds in the past, such as the recently passed $475 million bond to improve greenspace and parks owned by Metro. The manufacturers and grocers organizations didnt voice opposition in the public run-up to the ballot referral, a process that included several presentations to the three counties, as well as community forums, to build support. Angela Martin, who is running the campaign for the measure, said that she is not surprised by the filing, but had not heard pushback from the groups before Friday. The fact that theyre weighing in on this, on the unpopular side of doing nothing on homelessness, is not too surprising, Martin said. What is surprising is they are dismissing more than 2,000 business that have been represented at the table for the last two years. She dismissed the claims in the petition and said that 94% of businesses in the Metro area would not qualify to pay the business tax. All they are announcing today is that they proudly have the ability to hire a lawyer and dont prioritize solving homelessness in Portland the way thousands of local businesses of all sizes do, she said. We are in no way concerned with their challenge and hope their lawyers get paid well for their trouble. -- Molly Harbarger mharbarger@oregonian.com | 503-294-5923 | @MollyHarbarger Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. (Natural News) The Chinese city of Lincang recently issued a new mandate that all students and teachers have to take the same Chinese medicines before going back to school for the semester, which began on March 1, in order to stop the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19). Reports indicate that the medicine has not been scientifically proven to either cure or treat the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), and yet those who refuse it have been told that they will not be allowed to receive or administer any education until they do. (Then again, nothing in the world has yet been proven to treat coronavirus.) On March 2, authorities in Lincang, located in southwestern Chinas Yunnan province, issued a statement blaming the local district government for setting these egregious new rules. Not long after, Lincang decided to end the mandate, and even went so far as to punish the officials who were involved. That same day, officials in the Linxiang district of Lincang issued their own statement blaming a local staff member by the name of Ling Bo for apparently failing to understand what the city government is actually requiring, which is not forced standardized medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), whats administered to one person for a certain condition is often different from whats administered to another. There are also dosage variances between what an adult is given versus what a child is given. But under the mandate, all were to be given the same type and dose of medicine, which goes against Chinese law. Back in 2005, a child actually died after being given a dosage of TCM for the chickenpox that was meant for adults. Another 151 others developed diarrhea and other harmful side effects, demonstrating the dangers of applying a one-size-fits-all mandate involving powerful medicines. Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses antiviral herbs and minerals that could help to prevent or treat the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) naturally: Forced vaccination is far worse than forced TCM Those who concocted the plan had the right idea, as the fundamentals of TCM dictate that these special herbal remedies have the power to prevent infection before it happens. Its just that they failed to recognize the unique variances in how its supposed to be administered, not to mention the fact that forced medicine in any form is never a good idea. Here in the United States, TCM is nowhere to be found in government protocols, which focus exclusively on pharmaceuticals and vaccines as the only remedies and prevention options for disease. Consequently, children here are now being forced in many areas to take one-size-fits-all vaccines that are far worse than incorrect dosages of TCM. The fact that Chinese law actually prohibits mandatory medicine at gunpoint while some areas of the U.S. openly sanction it in the name of protecting public health shows that communist China is actually freer than parts of the supposed Land of the Free. After all, if we dont have the right to choose what medicines to put into our own bodies, then how can we be considered free at all? You can be sure that at least some elements of the U.S. government will be pushing for mandatory vaccination against the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) once the first jab becomes commercially available. It could be a while, but this type of situation is certainly coming if recent history is any indicator. Eventually, once the vaccine is rolled out, you will see calls for mandatory vaccines and restrictions on human rights for people who are not vaccinated (no right to hold a job, no right to travel on public transportation, no right to be a parent, etc.), warns the Health Ranger. Prepare to be required to carry proof that youve been vaccinated. Show me your papers.' For more of the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), be sure to check out Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com A price rally to record highs subdued physical gold purchases in India this week, driving bullion dealers to offer deeper discounts, while buying interest was minimal in top-consumer China and Hong Kong. Dealers in India offered a discount of up to $25 an ounce to official domestic prices, the most since late September, and up from last week's $14 discount. The domestic price includes a 12.5% import tax and 3% sales tax. "There was hardly any sale this week. Retail buyers, jewellers, nobody was willing to buy even after offering discounts," Mukesh Kothari, director at dealer RiddiSiddhi Bullions in Mumbai, said. Gold futures hit a record high of 44,961 rupees earlier on Friday. "The falling rupee is making gold even more expensive for Indian consumers," a Mumbai-based dealer with a bullion importing bank said. The Indian rupee fell to the lowest in 16-months on Friday, making imports expensive for consumers in India, which fulfils nearly all of its demand from imports. The country's gold imports plunged 41 per cent in February from a year earlier as a rally in local prices to a record high trimmed retail demand, a government source said on Tuesday. International spot gold prices were on track for their biggest weekly gain since January 2009, as the coronavirus epidemic continued to disrupt economic activity around the world, with infections nearing 100,000. "Only on the investment side, there is demand. Physical demand is lousy," Ronald Leung, chief dealer, Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong, said. In top consumer China, gold was sold at par with the benchmark, compared to discounts of up to $6.8 an ounce last week, while premiums in Hong Kong recovered to $0.30-$1 an ounce from last week's discount of $0.20 to a premium of $0.40. "Demand is at the minimal level, as business activities are still far from the normal levels. No one wants to consume. Not just gold jewellery, but almost across all sectors," said Samson Li, Hong Kong-based precious metals analyst at Refinitiv GFMS. In Singapore, premiums remained largely unchanged at $0.40-$0.60 an ounce from $0.40-$0.50 a week earlier. "Local retail purchase of gold has recovered to normal levels. Better understanding of the coronavirus situation in Singapore could have contributed to that," Silver Bullion sales manager Vincent Tie said. In Japan, gold was sold from flat to a premium of $0.60 an ounce, from last week's flat to $0.50. Also read: SBI Cards IPO oversubscribed 15.49 times on day 3 despite weak market Also read: Gold price likely to hit Rs 50,000 as coronavirus infections spread Arizona health officials said Friday that they have yet to determine how a third patient with the new coronavirus became infected. Public health officials from Maricopa County and Pinal County, where the patient worked and lived, respectively, said they are treating this new coronavirus case as stemming from community spread. The patient is a woman in her 40s who is a health-care worker in metro Phoenix. She nor any of her close contacts had recently traveled to a country with widespread COVID-19 cases. She is hospitalized in stable condition in Maricopa County. The two previous Arizona cases involved people in metro Phoenix. Meanwhile, the Pima County Health Department has assessed 79 returning travelers from China, but no cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed locally, Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said Friday. The county will provide daily, weekday updates regarding the coronavirus on various social platforms through videos featuring Dr. Bob England, the director of the Health Department, and online at pima.gov/covid19, Huckelberry said in a memo. Huckelberry said the county expects local cases and that the impact here will likely look something like a bad flu season. There have been calls by some in our community to close schools, shutter businesses, or cancel events because of the mere threat of the virus coming to Pima County, not just when (and its likely going to be when, not if), there is a confirmed case here, he wrote in the memo. Doing so will only cause severe economic and social disruption beyond what we already experience and will have little to no effect on containing the spread of the virus. We do not close schools due to the flu, and we are going through a pretty bad flu season currently, and we should not close schools and the like for COVID-19. BAYONNE, N.J. - 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. 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. ADVERTISEMENT "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 ADVERTISEMENT 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. --- (Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.) --- (c)2020 Kaiser Health News Visit Kaiser Health News at www.khn.org Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday said CCTVs will be installed in "as many locations as possible" in the state following last week's violence that left three people dead. Meghalaya Police has put in place 30 CCTVs across the city and 28 of these are in working condition and monitored round-the-clock, a senior Home Department official said. "We had a meeting with the chief secretary, director general of police and finance to ensure that CCTVs are put up in as many locations as possible on war footing," Sangma said. There is an urgent need to install CCTVs in populated areas, especially the Iew Duh market area, where a 29-year-old man was stabbed to death on February 29 by masked men, he said. The chief minister also said security has been beefed up as eight companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and one company of Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed in "strategic" locations. "A number of migrant workers in the affected areas have been given safe passage for their return along with food," he said. "It is the priority of the state government to protect all citizens, be it tribals or non-tribals," Sangma said, adding, more than 200 migrant labourers from Assam have been provided safe passage so far. Meanwhile, the curfew imposed in Police Bazaar area has been relaxed from 8 am till 8 pm and in Iew Duh market area from 5 am till 4 pm, officials said. "There was no untoward incident reported during the curfew hours overnight. The situation has become normal but it is under close watch," Assistant Inspector General of Police Gabriel Iangrai said. Violence had erupted in Shillong and its outskirts under East Khasi Hills district since February 28 following the death of a Khasi Students Union (KSU) member during an anti-CAA rally at Ichamati that also demanded the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP). Eight people have been arrested and a magisterial inquiry has been instituted to probe into the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ The highly anticipated third season of Westworld premieres on HBO on March 13. And the series' leading ladies Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton looked more than ready to brave The New World on Friday afternoon during the Westworld photocall in Beverly Hills. Wood suited up for the day's event held at the Four Seasons Hotel, while Newton opted for a traditionally feminine ensemble complete with jeweled appliques. The New World: Evan Rachel Wood attended the Westworld photocall held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on Friday afternoon Stunning: Wood was joined by her Westworld co-star Thandie Newton at the day's event Wood showed off her svelte frame in a charcoal toned pantsuit that showcased a plunging neckline and waist cinching belt. Her strawberry blonde tresses were styled into an elegant half up, half down 'do parted neatly in the middle. With her hair pulled out of her face, the 32-year-old actress was able to draw attention to her enviable makeup application. Leaning on the natural side, Wood's makeup artist applied a generous amount of black mascara, a tinge of dusty rose blusher, and an opaque swipe of mauve lip lacquer. Orange you glad: Newton slipped her slender frame into a orange lace midi dress complete with an embroidered collar Classic: Wood exuded confidence in a charcoal toned power suit that featured a plunging neckline and waist belt Evan kept accessories to a minimum, but did make sure to show off the stunning yellow stoned ring on her left hand. Newton covered the majority of he fit physique in a '60s inspired midi dress that featured an orange lace material. Around the dress' collar were an array of embroidered details including an assortment of jewels closest to the neckline. Lots ahead: The 32-year-old actress returns for season three of the critically acclaimed sci-fi series Westworld, which is set to premiere on March 13 Her voluminous brunette hair swung effortlessly at her shoulders, while one strand remained tucked behind her ear. The 47-year-old stunner slipped her feet into a pair of black velvet heels that showcased a slew of jewels at the toes. Both Wood and Newton graced the red carpet on Thursday evening for the series' official season three premiere held at the iconic TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Big premiere: The red carpet premiere in celebration of Westworld season three went down on Thursday evening at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood; Tessa Thompson, Evan Rachel Wood and British actress Thandie Newton pose with one another at the premiere Dolled up duo: Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton were dressed to the nines for the Westworld season three premiere in Hollywood on Thursday evening The new season of Westworld comes on the heels of the aftermath of the android host rebellion and escape from the Wild West theme park into the real world. This go-around the storyline switches the setting to a futuristic Los Angeles, where those escaped robotic hosts are now being hunted down by humans. Once a madame at the Mariposa Salon, Maeve (Thandie Newton) is now a host at the new 1940's-era theme park that depicts Nazis during WW II. Westworld: The series, based on the script by author Michael Crichton, premiered on HBO in 2016 Outfit #2: Later, Evan changed into a more androgynous gray plaid suit Edgy style: The actress wore her suit with a black blouse and fierce combat boots Sparkler: Thandie changed into a ruffled gold sequined blouse that exposed one shoulder and a pair of relaxed black slacks Glowing: Tessa Thompson shimmered in a rose gold off the shoulder dress and matching pants Natural look: She wore her hair in thick, natural colors and covered her arms in sheer gloves Hanoi authorities quarantine the neighborhood where the new Covid-19 patient was found on Friday's night. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung has asked residents not to panic but to remain alert as the capital records its first novel coronavirus infection. A 26-year old Vietnamese woman returning from Europe became the 17th case in Vietnam after the nation had gone 22 days with no new infection, authorities confirmed late Friday night. She has been quarantined and is undergoing treatment at Campus No.2 of the Hanoi Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases. "I urge Hanoi people to stay calm and yet remain on high alert," Chung told the media Friday night. Soon after information about the new infection was released, Hanoi residents rushed to buy food and essential supplies at supermarkets for stocking up at home so as to avoid going out and contacting too many people in the coming days. Saying that Hanoi has the highest risk of hosting an outbreak as residents of almost all 90 countries and territories hit by the new coronavirus so far are now living and working in the city, Chung said: "I urge everyone to be aware of the risks of infection and how dangerous the epidemic is. Everyone returning to Vietnam from abroad needs to report themselves to the authorities and follow quarantine protocol as regulated. "The authorities are still tracking down anyone that has been in close contact with this patient so as to quarantine them," he said. For now, 29 such people have been identified. The latest Covid-19 patient had left Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport on February 15 to visit family members in London, England. Three days later, she travelled from London to Milan City in the Italian province Lombardy and returned to London on February 20. During her time in Milan, Lombardy had not recorded any Covid-19 positive case. On February 25, the woman travelled from London to Paris to visit her sister. She contracted a cough on February 29, but did not get her health checked by a doctor. On March 1, she reportedly felt body pain and fatigue, but it was unclear if she had a fever. The same day, she boarded flight VN54 of Vietnam Airlines from London and landed in Hanoi at 4:30 a.m. on March 2. She did not have a fever then. After completing entry procedures, the patient was allowed to drive a family car home to Truc Bach Street in Ba Dinh Districts Truc Bach Ward. Later, she developed a mild fever and a severe cough, and was admitted to the Hong Ngoc Hospital in Ba Dinh District Thursday. The very same day, she was transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases where she tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Eight of the patients family members her father, uncle, five janitors and a personal chauffeur are also being isolated at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases. All are reportedly healthy, with no signs of fever or cough. Seventeen doctors from Hong Ngoc Hospital who had been in contact with the patient are also being isolated at the hospital, and in good health. Flight VN54 had carried 201 passengers, and authorities are in the process of verifying their names and whereabouts. After Vietnam reported its 16th Covid-19 infection on February 13, the nation went 22 days without detecting any new case . All the 16 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. As of Friday, 23,228 people were being isolated at home or in communal facilities across the country, an increase of 9,000 compared to the day before, while another 101 infection suspects are being isolated in hospitals. The Covid-19 outbreak broke out in Chinas Wuhan City, Hubei Province in late December last year. By Friday, the disease had infected over 102,200 people worldwide and killed 3,495, mostly Chinese citizens. Italy had recorded more than 4,600 infections as of Saturday morning with 197 deaths, making it the country with the second highest number of deaths after China. Prince Andrew has recruited an extradition lawyer once used by Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet after the FBI demanded an interview with the royal over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, it has been revealed. Claire Montgomery QC, known as the leading extradition lawyer in the UK, is said to be advising the 60-year-old Duke, after being instructed by Gary Bloxsome, a leading defence solicitor who has worked on similar cases in the past. Ms Montgomery, of Matrix Chambers, is a specialist with dealing with 'cross border challenges', according to her resume. Prince Andrew drives from Royal Lodge today to go horse riding in Windsor Castle Grounds Prince Andrew out and about, Windsor, UK yesterday Former Chilean leader and current Commander of the Chilean Armed Forces, Gen. Augusto Pinochet listens to a military band playing before his residence in Santiago 11 September to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the coup he led to overthrow the government of Salvador Allende Among her long list of defence clients are Augusto Pinochet, the former dictator of Chile who was indicted for crimes against humanity by Spain during the 90s. General Pinochet was indicted on an international arrest warrant for human rights violations by Spain, before being arrested in a London hospital where he was undergoing minor surgery in 1998. In 1998 Mrs Montgomery represented the dictator in his case before the House of Lords -then the highest court in the country - in a hard-fought 16-month-long legal battle. She also represented the former Prime Minister of Thailand after he was ousted in a military coup in 2011; and Vijay Mallya, who India seeks to extradite from the UK to face financial crime charges. This March 28, 2017, file photo, provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry, shows Jeffrey Epstein Mrs Montgomery charges fees up to 1,000 per hour, the Telegraph newspaper reported. The FBI, US prosecutors and lawyers for Epstein's victims want to speak to Andrew as part of investigations into the disgraced financier's sex trafficking ring. Ms Roberts, now known by her married name Giuffre, claims she was trafficked to London and coerced into having sex with the Prince on three occasions in London, New York and the US Virgin Islands. The Duke has categorically and repeatedly denied her claims. Last month, US attorney Geoffrey Berman said prosecutors and the FBI had contacted the Duke's representatives but had received no reply. Andrew was said to be 'angry and bewildered' about the claims, saying he had not been approached to speak about the case. Up until now, information about the Duke's legal team had been unknown, with aides at the Palace refusing to give up the information about who he had instructed. We look forward to maintaining and developing trusted relationships with both our current and future customers, and we will strive to provide this same level of excellence in the years to come. Spitzer Acura today announced that it has received the honor of being named a 2020 CarGurus Top Rated Dealer. The CarGurus Top Rated Dealer awards are given to car dealerships that have received the highest average review ratings from shoppers who have submitted dealership reviews on the CarGurus platform. CarGurus uses verified dealership ratings along with other factors like pricing analytics to help shoppers search for a great deal on a vehicle. We are thrilled to recognize Spitzer Acura as a 2020 Top Rated Dealer, said Ashley Karr, Vice President of B2B Marketing at CarGurus. Customer reviews are at the core of CarGurus transparent shopping experience, and is a part of why shoppers have come to trust us. The Top Rated Dealer program gives dealerships like Spitzer Acura the opportunity to showcase their customer service excellence, and we applaud their high standards. Spitzer Acura believes that providing excellent customer service is central to our business, and we are honored to be named a CarGurus Top Rated Dealer in 2020, said Adam Drakulic, General Manager at Spitzer Acura. "We look forward to maintaining and developing trusted relationships with both our current and future customers, and we will strive to provide this same level of excellence in the years to come. CarGurus invites shoppers to review and rate dealerships with whom they have interacted during their car shopping experience on the CarGurus platform. Dealer ratings and reviews are visible to the public on the site, and they are also factored in the algorithm that CarGurus uses to rank search results for shoppers. About CarGurus Founded in 2006, CarGurus is a global, online automotive marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of new and used cars. The Company uses proprietary technology, search algorithms and data analytics to bring trust and transparency to the automotive search experience and help users find great deals from top-rated dealers. CarGurus is the most visited automotive shopping site in the U.S. (source: Comscore Media Metrix Multi-Platform, Automotive Information/Resources, Total Audience, Q4 2019, U.S. (Competitive set includes: CarGurus.com, Autotrader.com, Cars.com, TrueCar.com)). In addition to the United States, CarGurus operates online marketplaces in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain. To learn more about CarGurus, visit http://www.cargurus.com. - Significant increase in application in the food & beverage industry as a preservative and packaging of ready-to-eat food along with rise in demand for safe animal feed drive the global propionic acid market PORTLAND, Oregon, March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Propionic Acid Market by Application (Herbicides, Rubber Products, Plasticizers, Food Preservative and Others) and End-User Industry (Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care, Food & Beverage, Agriculture, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019a2026." According to the report, the global propionic acid industry generated $1.25 billion in 2018, and is estimated to garner $1.6 billion by 2026, witnessing a CAGR of 3.5% from 2019 to 2026. Prime determinants of growth: Significant increase in application in the food & beverage industry as a preservative and packaging of ready-to-eat food along with rise in demand for safe animal feed drive the global propionic acid market. However, adverse side effects on human health and concerns regarding usage of herbicides hinder the market growth. On the other hand, application of propionate esters as solvents and propionic acid as antibiotics provide new opportunities in next few years. Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/5692 The food preservative segment to dominate during the forecast period: Based on application, the food preservative segment accounted for more than two-fifths of the total share of the global propionic acid market in 2018, and is expected to dominate during the forecast period. This is attributed to preference for ready-to-eat food and demand for propionic acid to reduce spoilage. However, the rubber products segment is expected to maintain the highest CAGR of 5.1% from 2019 to 2026. This is due to surge in usage as intermediate for production of rubber from the automobile industry. The food & beverage segment to contribute its highest share by 2026: Based on end-use industry, the food & beverage segment held the largest share of the global propionic acid market, accounting for more than two-fifths of the total share in 2018, and is expected to contribute its highest share throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to application of propionic acid as a food preservative in breads, cheese, cakes, jams, non-alcoholic beverages, jellies, and other processed foods for preventing development of mold and bacteria. However, the agriculture segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGRA of 4.4% from 2019 to 2026. North America to grow the fastest: Based on region, North America is estimated to portray the largest CAGR of 4.0% from 2019 to 2026, owing to the growth of the agriculture sector and increase in demand for poultry products. However, Europe contributed to the highest market share in 2018, holding nearly two-fifths of the global propionic acid market, and is estimated to maintain its dominance in terms of revenue by 2026. This is due to presence of many producers and suppliers of propionic acid and surge in investments in the food industry. For Purchase Enquiry at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/5692 Leading market players: BASF SE Dow Inc. Eastman Chemical Company Perstorp Holding AB Hawkins, Inc. Corbion N.V. Otto Chemie Pvt. Ltd. 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Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Get more information: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Similar Reports: Fluorochemicals Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019a2026 UV Curable Resin Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019a2026 Herbicides Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2018 a 2025 Seed Treatment Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026 About Us:Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." 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Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free):A 1-800-792-5285, 1-503-894-6022, 1-503-446-1141 UK:A +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong:A +852-301-84916 India (Pune):A +91-20-66346060 Fax:A +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web:A https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on LinkedIn:A https://www.linkedin.com/company/allied-market-research Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg A Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 6) The San Juan City government has temporarily closed the prayer hall at Greenhills Shopping Center following confirmation that the country's latest coronavirus case frequented the place. In an interview with CNN Philippines, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said the Muslim prayer area will remain shut "until the [Department of Health] gives the go signal for it to open." Zamora said the prayer room was sanitized and disinfected immediately after the Department of Health confirmed that a 62-year-old Filipino man who regularly visited the place has been found to have the coronavirus disease officially known as COVID-19. The man has no history of travel outside the Philippines, making him the country's first local case, Health Secretary Franisco Duque said in a media briefing. Duque was quick to clarify that this does not necessarily mark the start of community spread since this is just a single case. Zamora also ordered the postponement of all planned public activities in the city this weekend and next week. Zamora clarified that the man is not from San Juan, but confirmed that he was confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in the city and diagnosed with severe pneumonia. The man was transferred to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine after testing positive for the virus on March 5. The management of Cardinal Santos Medical Center said those who handled the coronavirus patient have not exhibited red-flag symptoms for coronavirus infection. "CSMS has taken all the necessary precautionary measures that all those who had contact with the patients have been processed following the protocols of DOH on quarantine, monitoring, and observation," the hospital said in a statement. Zamora said local authorities are working closely with DOH, which has been doing contact tracing, to identify the people who had been in contact with the coronavirus patient. He said the patient's wife is giving them information. Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergerie said one relative who had been with the patient has shown flu-like symptoms. She said the relative was quarantined in a hospital and tested for coronavirus. Meanwhile, the Greenhills Mall management said they are coordinating with the DOH and local government to ensure the safety of all shoppers, tenants, and employees. Zamora said the management has agreed to disinfect the entire shopping center "just to have extra precautionary measures" even if the prayer hall is not located in the main "tiangge" area. Zamora added that the Greenhills Muslim Traders Association, which runs the prayer hall, has been cooperating with the government. The decision to close the area was made even as the World Health Organization said there is no need to do so over one confirmed case. During a media briefing, Health Secretary Franciso Duque urged those who visited the worship area who have fever or respiratory symptoms to call the DOH hotline at (02)8-651-7800. The Philippines now has five confirmed coronavirus cases following DOH's announcement Friday that two Filipinos contracted the virus. The other confirmed case is a 48-year-old man who visited Tokyo, Japan. Earlier, three Chinese visitors have been infected with the virus one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country. The new coronavirus has killed more than 3,300 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province in December last year. It has spread to at least 87 countries and territories, with nearly 98,000 people infected. In a March 4 interview on the Russian state news channel Rossiya 24, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad asserted that the U.S. was behind Turkeys recent string of artillery and air strikes against Syrian regime forces near Idlib. "Obviously, Erdogan threw all his forces [at Idlib], of course on the orders of the Americans, Assad told the interviewer. There is no doubt about that." In fact, there are multiple reasons to doubt that Turkey retaliated at Washingtons behest. For one, Turkeys recent military action came after it suffered losses from Syria regime attacks on Turkish observation posts in the area. On Feb. 3, Turkish soldiers were killed by regime artillery, prompting a counterstrike. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan then demanded that Syrian forces pull back from Idlib by the end of February or be driven back from a de-escalation zone around the city. That didnt happen. Regime forces continued to attack Turkish positions, and by Feb. 27, a reported 33 Turkish soldiers had been killed. The Syrian offensive continued, with heavy fighting in and around the town of Saraqeb. Al Jazeera reported that some 950,000 civilians fled the fighting. An estimated 3.6 million Syrian refugees now reside in Turkey, the result of years of civil war. As Turkeys NATO ally, the U.S. has declared support for Turkeys latest military response. After the Feb. 3 mortar attack, the U.S. Secretary of Mike Pompeo called the event a grave escalation that followed ongoing vicious attacks impacting civilians, humanitarian workers, and infrastructure. We stand by our NATO ally Turkey and fully support Turkeys justified self-defense actions in response, Pompeo said. U.S. diplomats also visited Turkeys southern border area, where many refugees are located, and voiced support for military and humanitarian aid to Turkey. Rather than encourage retaliation, Pompeo on March 5 said that the U.S. State and Defense Departments and were working to figure out how best to deliver less violence, more peace in Syria. The Turkish troops who have been killed were stationed at observation posts in the Idlib area established under an agreement reached in Astana, Kazakhstan, between Turkey, Iran, and Russia in 2017, and reaffirmed by subsequent talks in Sochi, Russia. The United States was not a party to the agreements. In addition, since 2014, Turkey and the U.S. have often been at odds over the U.S. support for the Kurdish YPG/YPJ militias in northern Syria that fought against the Islamic State. Turkey sees those militias as an arm of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), which has been designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States, the European Union, Australia and Japan. Also on March 5, Erdogan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the recent fighting with Turkey. After several hours of talks, Erdogan announced a new ceasefire to take effect after midnight that day. Since then, a tense calm has been reported in the area, although Erdogan said his forces would retaliate if attacked again. A second member of the French Parliament's lower house has tested positive for novel coronavirus, while five other lawmakers are being tested for the illness. A lawmaker with the Republicans party, whose identity has not been disclosed, was hospitalized with the COVID-19 disease in the northeastern region of Alsace on Thursday. France reported 103 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, raising the tally to 716, while a total of 11 people have died from the infection. Worldwide, cases of the infection have been reported in 90 countries, including India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In view of a coronavirus scare, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday constituted a seven-member Group of Ministers (GoM) to monitor the state's preparedness to tackle the disease, an official statement said. The chief minister will hold a meeting every Monday to review and deliberate on the recommendations of the GoM, which will be led by Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra, it stated. Amarinder Singh, who is personally monitoring the situation on a day-to-day basis, has constituted a seven-member GoM to oversee the preventive measures taken by the health department, an official spokesperson said in the statement. Besides Mohindra, the GoM comprises Medical Education and Research Minister O P Soni; Rural Development and Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa; Transport Minister Razia Sultana; Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu; School Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla; and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the spokesperson said. The group has been mandated to submit a comprehensive report to the chief minister after monitoring the entire situation on a day-to-day basis. In addition, the health department will release a media bulletin every day, based on the suggestions and decisions of the GoM. The department has already issued a series of directions to prevent the outbreak of coronavirus and check its spread. Hospitals are on high alert, with specialised arrangements to tackle any exigency arising out of the crisis, which has engulfed the entire world, the spokesperson said. Calling for strict vigilance against coronavirus, Amarinder Singh also backed an appeal by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, to people to avoid large gatherings. Given the growing coronavirus threat, it is in the interest of the people to exercise caution and avoid large congregations, he said. The chief minister suggested that the auspicious 'Hola Mohalla' festival, scheduled to be held next week, may also be celebrated by paying obeisance in gurdwaras and other places in small numbers. A total of 71,900 people have been screened for COVID-19 across Punjab so far. These include 48,867 people at Amritsar airport, 5,116 at Mohali international airport, 5,401 at Wagah-Attari Border and 12,516 at Dera Baba Nanak checkpost, Health Minister Sidhu had said on Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Paytm Payments Bank and PhonePe got into funny banter on Twitter following technical outage faced by the Flipkart-owned payments platform due to restrictions imposed on its banking partner, YES Bank. After YES Bank was put under restriction by the Reserve Bank of India, PhonePe suffered an outage and its users were unable to pay using the platform. The services, meanwhile, have been restored now. Taking on its rival, Paytm Payments Bank invited PhonePe to use its own UPI platform. "Inviting you to @PaytmBank #UPI platform. It already has huge adoption and can seamlessly scale manifold to handle your business. Let's get you back up, fast!" Tweeted Paytm, in reply to a PhonePe tweet where it stated the app was undergoing unscheduled maintenance. Dear @PhonePe_ , Inviting you to @PaytmBank #UPI platform. It already has huge adoption and can seamlessly scale manifold to handle your business. Let's get you back up, fast! - Paytm Payments Bank (@PaytmBank) March 6, 2020 We are temporarily unavailable. We are going through an unscheduled maintenance activity. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We'll be back soon. - PhonePe (@PhonePe_) March 5, 2020 PhonePe quipped saying had Paytm Payments Bank "seamlessly scalable", PhonePe would have approached the platform itself. PhonePe also said there was no point in deserting its partners when they were "down". In the same tweet, PhonePe handed a salvo to Paytm Payments Bank in the form of an age-old adage: 'Form is temporary, class is permanent'. Dear @PaytmBank Inviting you to consider that if your #UPI platform was so 'seamlessly scalable', we'd have called you ourselves. No point getting back up faster, if we have to desert our long term partners when they're down. Form is temporary, class is permanent. - PhonePe (@PhonePe_) March 6, 2020 PhonePe is a UPI-based payments system and digital wallet company based in Bengaluru. Founded in 2015, PhonePe was acquired by Flipkart in 2016 to build its payment business. It is dependent upon YES Bank to process its transactions. On Friday morning, PhonePe founder and CEO Sameer Nigam had acknowledged the outage was due to the RBI restrictions on YES Bank. "Our partner bank (Yes Bank) was placed under moratorium by RBI. Entire team's been working all night to get services back up asap," it stated. YES Bank was placed under a moratorium by the Reserve Bank of India on Thursday evening. Following this, the RBI superseded its board and curtained cash withdrawal limit to Rs 50,000 per account for a month. Due to the RBI superseding its board, the private lender won't be able to lend or renew loans or advances, make investments, incur liabilities or agree to disburse payments. YES Bank will be under the reigns of the RBI-appointed Prashant Kumar, who is a former CFO of SBI for the next month. Also watch: Who is to blame for the Yes Bank mess? Also read: PhonePe services hit as partner Yes Bank collapses Also read: Vijay Shekhar Sharma expects Paytm to turn profitable after two years There is much hand-wringing among Democrats over Elizabeth Warrens departure from the presidential field, which manyPaul Krugman, to name just oneare attributing to sexism among Democratic primary voters. It is commonly said that there are no women left in the race, but in fact there is oneTulsi Gabbard. Elizabeth Warren quit the race because she wasnt getting enough votes to be a serious contender. If her failure to gain support is a sign of sexism, why isnt the same claim being made about Democrats failure to vote for Gabbard? There is one obvious difference between Warren and Gabbard: Warrens candidacy was welcomed and favored by the Democratic establishment, while Gabbards was continually subverted. It is happening again, as Tulsi has been the next debate, and presumably all future debates: Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard the last remaining woman in the Democrats presidential race has been shut out of the partys next debate with a rule change that makes it mathematically impossible for her to claim a podium. To keep me off the stage, the DNC again arbitrarily changed the debate qualifications, Gabbard tweeted late Friday. Previously they changed the qualifications in the OPPOSITE direction so Bloomberg could debate. *** Under the partys most recent set of debate rules, any candidate who had won at least one delegate in the partys first 25 nomination contests had the right to take the stage. Gabbard, who gained two delegates in American Samoas caucuses on Super Tuesday, would have qualified. But on Friday, party poobahs announced new criteria requiring candidates to hold at least 20% of all awarded delegates by the time of the next scheduled debate in Phoenix on March 15. So the debate will be between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. How many times has the DNC changed the debate rules over the course of the campaign? Several, and always, it seems, to Tulsi Gabbards disadvantage. Why is the Democratic Party so anxious to prevent viewers from seeing Gabbard? Why, when cries of sexism are widely being raised, does the DNC go out of its way to bar the last remaining woman from the stage? Its an interesting question. I suspect the answer is that the DNC knows how weak both Sanders and Biden are, and fears that Tulsi could make them both look bad. She is not only effective in debate, she is 40 years younger than Biden and Sandersa fact that might uncomfortably highlight one of their fundamental weaknesses. And, of course, she is a woman. But whether that matters is, it seems, entirely discretionary with the DNC. Legislation announced Thursday aimed at curbing the spread of online child sexual abuse imagery would take the extraordinary step of removing legal protections for tech companies that fail to police the illegal content. A separate, international initiative that was also announced takes a softer approach, getting the industry to voluntarily embrace standards for combatting the material. The two measures come as tech companies continue to detect an explosion of abusive content on their services, and amid complaints that neither Congress nor the companies have been aggressive enough in stopping its spread. An investigation last year by the New York Times found that many companies knew about the problem but failed to quash it, despite having the tools to do so, and that the federal government had not been adequately enforcing a previous law meant to stem the abuse. Multiple U.S. agencies, together with the governments of Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, released a set of voluntary guidelines on how services can stop the spread of online child sexual abuse material, commonly referred to as child pornography. Those recommendations were developed in conjunction with a half-dozen tech companies: Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Roblox, Snap and Twitter. The bipartisan legislation likewise calls for industry standards and creates a strong incentive for companies to adopt them. The bills sponsors, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said it was spurred by the Times investigation. Despite some strong support, the bill faces opposition not only from the tech industry, which considers the changes too broad and a threat to its offering services like encryption, but also from some victim advocates who view it as too narrow an approach to combating harms online. Last year, tech companies reported nearly 70 million images and videos related to online child exploitation. They are obligated to report the material when they become aware of it on their services, but they are not required to go looking for it. Companies are generally not responsible for content uploaded by their users because of a 1990s-era provision in the law known as Section 230. The new bill, called the Earn It Act, would carve out an exception to that rule. Companies that do not follow the recommended standards would lose civil liability protections for that type of content. The legislation would also lower the bar for suing those tech firms. The bill would create a 19-member commission including members representing law enforcement, the tech industry and child advocates to recommend a set of strategies: for instance, how to spot illegal material, categorize it in standardized ways and verify users ages. These practices would be subject to approval by the Justice Department and other agencies, as well as Congress and the president. In an interview, Blumenthal said the bill reflected the ideas that tech was no longer the fragile sector it was in the 1990s and that the public would benefit from reasonable rules of the road. The industry received this sweetheart deal when they were in their infancy struggling to stay alive, and now they are these behemoths that have incredible impact on the lives of ordinary people, he said. They have an obligation to the most vulnerable among us, mostly children who are criminally and cruelly abused, to take some action. Graham said in a statement that it was vital to put some guardrails on tech companies, while recognizing the benefits the industry had brought. Our goal, Graham said, is to do this in a balanced way that doesnt overly inhibit innovation but forcibly deals with child exploitation. In November, as they were drafting the bill, a group of senators including Graham and Blumenthal asked 36 tech companies to provide details on their efforts to combat child exploitation. Blumenthal said he was surprised to learn that some of the most well-resourced companies, including Amazon, had not adopted even basic countermeasures. Yiota Souras, general counsel of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the federally designated clearinghouse for child sexual abuse reports, which supports the bill, said the recommendations would raise the bar for tech companies. We, among everyone else, have witnessed the deficiencies that inconsistent practices in detecting, reporting and removing this material cause, Souras said. The broad application of Section 230 is widely credited with allowing the modern internet to flourish. But some experts say that the laws effectiveness stems from its simplicity and that carving out exceptions for certain types of content, as the bill does, will cause concerns. This wont be an easy bill to pass, said Paul Gallant, a technology policy analyst at Cowen, a financial services firm in Washington. Everyone in Congress supports reducing child exploitation, but theres a broad recognition that these platforms and the American economy have benefited tremendously from lack of liability over user content. Yet the bills bipartisan support from two prominent senators does make it stand out, he said. With Graham and Blumenthal leading the charge, its as well positioned as I could imagine. Elizabeth Banker, deputy general counsel at the Internet Association, a lobbying group whose members include Amazon, Facebook and Google, said Section 230 had benefited the industry by heading off litigation costs that could have hampered tech companies ability to host and moderate user content. The group currently opposes the bill. We have very strong concerns, said Michael Bloom, a senior vice president of the group, that the EARN IT Act as introduced may impede existing industry efforts to combat abuses online. Some feel that a narrow exemption for child exploitation doesnt go far enough and leaves out an array of other harmful online behavior, including terrorist content, defamation and the nonconsensual sharing of nude images, or revenge porn. Its essentially saying there are some harms that we actually do take seriously and others that we dont, said Mary Anne Franks, professor at the University of Miami School of Law and president of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, a nonprofit group dedicated to combating online abuse. Previous leaked drafts of the bill prompted concern within the tech industry and among some privacy experts that the commissions recommendations could prevent companies from offering encrypted services. The American Civil Liberties Union and the conservative advocacy group Americans for Prosperity jointly opposed the bill on Thursday, cautioning that it could be used to outlaw encryption. Encryption would greatly reduce a companys ability to detect the illegal activity and has become a flash point in light of Facebooks decision to soon encrypt its Messenger app, which is responsible for millions of reports a year. Blumenthal said that the commission was specifically designed to include voices from the tech industry with experience in cryptography and information security. We have leaned over backward to make sure they are represented, he said. The two measures are the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at combating online child exploitation, including a more stringent reporting process for tech companies, calls for increased law enforcement funding and a review of the federal governments response to the problem. The voluntary guidelines announced Thursday were described by Attorney General William Barr as a historic event in the fight against one of the most horrendous crimes impacting some of the most vulnerable members of society. They have been in development since July, when representatives from the five countries met with the six tech companies. The guidelines aim to tackle not only illegal images but also more complex threats such as livestreaming and grooming. The WeProtect Global Alliance, a child protection organization with ties to the British government, will work with the six tech companies involved in the initiative to encourage adoption of the guidelines throughout the industry. We must ensure these voluntary principles dont remain just that, said WeProtects founder, Baroness Joanna Shield. In Washington, the Earn It Acts sponsors are hopeful that they can bring quick action on the bill; a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled for this week. I dont want to look around 14 years from now and say, We could have stopped the abject destruction of the lives of children, Blumenthal said. If were going to come together on anything, it ought to be protecting our most vulnerable against these heinously brutal criminal practices. Michael H. Keller is a New York Times writer. Kuwaiti officials have given the go-ahead for the construction of a new airport in the northern part of the country, said a media report. The establishment of the new airport comes in line with the proposals of the country's fourth structural plan. Everything about Amazons planned distribution center at the Colorado Springs Airport shouts big, and the building permit issued for it last month by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department is no exception. The department lists the cost of the 3.73 million-square-foot building at 4222 Integration Loop in the Airports Peak Innovation Park at $368.9 million. Thats the highest-value permit the department has issued since at least 2000 and likely the highest ever, said Roger Lovell, the departments top executive. The previous largest permit was issued in July for the 278-acre Grazing Yak Solar Project near Calhan at a cost of $316 million. The value of a permit is based on the estimated construction cost and doesnt include the cost of buying the land and extending roads and utilities. Since Amazon distribution centers use thousands of robots and have miles of conveyor belts and automated equipment to do a variety of tasks, the company likely will also spend hundreds of millions of dollars on such items. Bob Cope, the citys economic development officer, said he expects Amazon will make a significant investment in equipment but didnt have an estimate. This Amazon facility is going to be the biggest building in Colorado Springs and probably the biggest in the state of Colorado, said Tammy Fields, senior vice president of economic development for the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. In addition to the jobs being created, were excited for all of the innovation that comes along with this project, including the high-tech robotics that will optimize the supply chain process. To put the cost of the Amazon project in perspective, the cost of the distribution center is more than this years city budget of $331.1 million. But big numbers are nothing new for Amazon, which generated $11.6 billion in profit last year on $280.5 billion in sales. That means Amazon generated enough sales to pay cash for the building in 11 hours and made enough profit to pay for it in less than two weeks. Amazon bought the 69-acre site for the center last month from the city for $6.33 million and had been been doing site preparation for weeks before that. The company said the center, which is expected to open in the second half of next year, would employ more than 1,000 to ship customer orders for books, electronics, toys and other smaller items to the Colorado Springs area, across the rest of the state and to surrounding states. Contact Wayne Heilman 636-0234 Facebook www.facebook.com/wayne.heilman Twitter twitter.com/wayneheilman Cases of coronavirus surged in France and Germany yesterday as European officials warned that all countries must prepare to face epidemics on the same scale as Italy. It came as smaller European countries criticised Paris and Berlin for restricting the export of crucial medical equipment such as body suits, masks, and gloves. Health authorities said they had identified 180 new German cases in 24 hours, taking the total to 578 by yesterday afternoon. Doctors in France said the number of confirmed cases had reached 613, including nine dead, up from 423 cases on Thursday. Italy, meanwhile, recorded a death toll of 49 yesterday, its highest since the outbreak began. President Emmanuel Macron urged the French to put off seeing elderly people most at risk from the infection. "Our absolute priority is to protect the people who are the most fragile in the face of this virus," he said on a visit to an old people's home. Speaking after an urgent meeting of European Union health ministers in Brussels, Janez Lenarcic, the EU's crisis management commissioner, warned national governments against stockpiling supplies in a manner that could "favour one member state at the expense of others". "That would undermine our common approach to this crisis," he said. "Preparedness has to be enhanced still further because simply it is more probable that what we have now in Italy will happen elsewhere in Europe." Germany has banned exports of face masks and gloves and France has requisitioned all existing stocks. The Czech Republic has also blocked the export of some supplies such as body suits. The German government has faced increasing public criticism of its handling of the crisis from doctors. Berlin's main hospital, the Charite, has said it will rebel against guidelines that request that medical staff go into quarantine for 14 days if one of their colleagues is diagnosed with the virus. France and Germany are the worst affected European countries outside Italy, which has seen 3,858 people infected and 197 people die since an outbreak began in the north of the country two weeks ago. Meanwhile, in the UK, more than 160 people have now tested positive for coronavirus, in the largest day-on-day increase. In total, 163 people had tested positive for Covid-19 as of 9am yesterday, up from 115 cases reported at the same time on Thursday. Northern Ireland then confirmed its fourth case, bringing the total to 164. A man in his early eighties become the second person to die in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus. The man, who had underlying health conditions, died on Thursday while being treated at Milton Keynes University Hospital. On Thursday evening another patient, reported to be a woman in her 70s, became the first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with Covid-19 while at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. Last week, a British tourist who had been on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined in Japan, became the first UK citizen to die from the virus. In other developments: :: Facebook closed its London office for deep cleaning after a Singapore-based employee who had visited tested positive; :: Scottish government official Professor June Andrew said a coronavirus pandemic would be "quite useful" as it would take out hospital bed blockers, even though it was a "horrific" thing to say; :: Dr Mike Ryan, from the World Health Organisation, said it was "a false hope" that coronavirus would disappear in the summer like flu; :: A 43-year-old British businessman was confirmed with Covid-19 in Thailand, and the Vatican confirmed its first case; :: Organisers of South by Southwest cancelled this year's arts, music and technology festival in Austin, Texas, citing concerns from city officials about the continuing spread of the coronavirus. :: Globally, the number of coronavirus cases has passed 100,000, with a total of 3,400 deaths. Two Irish men have been charged in the UK as part of an investigation into alleged human trafficking. Wayne Sherlock, 39, and Eoin Nowlan, 48, were arrested in Dover, Kent, England, following the discovery of 10 migrants in a lorry carrying tyres near the Belgian city of Ghent. Four soldiers and at least 13 militia members were killed during clashes in eastern DR Congo, the army said. The two sides clashed in the Beni province of North Kivu bordering Uganda on Friday, said Lieutenant Anthony Mualushayi, spokesman for the army in the region. At least another five soldiers were wounded he said on Saturday, adding that the fighting had been particularly fierce because the enemy forces were concentrated. While Mualushayi said 14F militia members had been killed in the fighting, another army spokesman, Sylvain Ekenge, put the figure at 13 in comments to the UN's Okapi radio. TheF began as an Islamist-rooted rebel group in Uganda that opposed President Yoweri Museveni. It then fell back to North Kivu, DR Congo's border province with Uganda, during the Congo Wars of the 1990s. The militia appears to have halted raids inside Uganda and its recruits today are of various nationalities. Already blamed for hundreds of civilian deaths in the Beni region since 2014, the group embarked on a series of massacres after the army launched a crackdown in October. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) California State Sen. Scott Wiener introduced legislation on Friday that aims to increase affordable housing production throughout the state by easing zoning restrictions. Under Senate Bill 899, nonprofit hospitals and faith institutions like churches, synagogues and mosques, would be able to build up to 150 affordable housing units on their excess property, regardless if local zoning prohibits that type of housing. "California desperately needs housing of all kinds, including affordable housing of our low-income residents. Churches and other religious and charitable institutions often have land to spare, and they should be able to use that land to build affordable housing and thus further their mission," Wiener said in a statement." "SB 899 ensures that affordable housing can be built and removes local zoning and approval obstacles in order to do so," he said. The legislation mandates that any organization building this type of streamlined affordable housing must maintain the affordability of the homes for a minimum of 55 years for rental properties and 45 years for properties that can be owned. In addition, density and height restrictions will depend the location of the housing property and its proximity to major thoroughfares and commercial corridors. In low-density residential neighborhoods, affordable housing can be streamlines for projects with up to 40 units and three stories tall, while in mixed-use areas or commercial corridors, affordable housing may be streamlined for projects with up to 150 units and five stories high. San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who has been an advocate for building more affordable housing in the city, said, "Senator's Wiener's legislation is a creative approach to addressing the housing shortage in San Francisco and across California. Our housing shortage is the result of decades of underbuilding and restrictive zoning, and as a result, the cost of housing in San Francisco is unaffordable for many of our residents. We need solutions to eliminate the red tape that gets in the way of creating more affordable homes in our city." Wiener's bill will compliment Senate Bill 1851, authored by Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, D-East Bay, which eliminates residential parking requirements for qualifying housing developments projects on faith-based properties. 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 Telangana government has informed that one of the 25 colleagues of the person who was found positive for coronavirus, was found to be symptomatic and was admitted at RGICD. "A detailed investigation was done to trace the contacts of one person who was found novel coronavirus positive in Telangana and it has been found that at his workplace in Bengaluru, 25 colleagues have been contacted and one is found to be symptomatic and admitted at RGICD," read a government statement. Colleague's samples have been sent for testing and fumigation of the workplace was done on March 3, said Telangana Government in a statement. "The person was found coronavirus positive in Telangana confirmed on March 2, who travelled to from Bengaluru to Secunderabad on 21st February. This person is a software engineer working in Bengaluru travelled to Dubai from Bengaluru on February 15. He stayed in Dubai from February 16 to February 19. After returning on February 20 to Bengaluru he worked in the office for a day on February 21 and he left for Hyderabad by private bus on the same day in the evening," it read. The government said that details on contact tracing with Confirmed Telangana COVID-19 case include--Passengers who were sitting close to the above said passenger were followed and tracked by phone, all are asymptomatic and will be followed up until March 6. "Bus travel details from Bengaluru to Secundrabad--The bus has carried to 32 passengers and 23 passengers have been travelled in the bus, out of which 20 passengers are traced and under house quarantined. The bus driver is under isolation at Hyderabad," it read. The case had travelled from Secundrabad drop point to his residence with his friend's two-wheeler. The chemical disinfection has been done at Hyderabad on March 1, it added. At his residence in Bengaluru, one flat-mate has been contacted and isolated, he is found to be asymptomatic. Fumigation was done at his residence on March 3, read the statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday sought strict action against those charging inflated prices for face masks. His comments come in the wake of shortage of masks and sanitizers in the market and chemists charging higher than the normal price as the coronavirus scare rises. Strict action should be taken against those black marketing the masks, he tweeted in Hindi. Vardhan held a meeting on Friday to review preparedness for managing coronavirus outbreak and stressed on the importance of states keeping quarantine facilities, isolation wards and testing labs in active readiness. So far, India has 31 confirmed cases of the infection while nearly 29,000 people have been put under surveillance. Vardhan held the meeting with health ministers and chief secretaries of all states and Union Territories, Central ministers and representatives from organisations concerned through video conferencing and underlined the importance of communicating with the masses and rasing awareness about steps to prevent spread of the virus. He asked the states to mount information education and communication campaign to deal with misconceptions about the ailment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold a meeting on Saturday with health secretaries and the group of ministers, official sources said. The Federal Aviation Administration recommended on Friday that Boeing be fined nearly $20 million for installing equipment in the 737 Max and other aircraft before its approval. The announcement came hours after Democrats on the House Transportation Committee slammed both the company and the agency for failing to ensure the safety of the Max jets. Two of the planes crashed in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people and leading to the models worldwide grounding. The F.A.A. accused Boeing of installing the equipment, the Head-Up Guidance System from Rockwell Collins, on nearly 800 jetliners from June 2015 to April 2019. The systems included sensors that had not been tested or approved when they were installed, though Rockwell Collins later conducted the necessary testing and risk analysis, the agency said in a statement. In response, Boeing noted that the proposed $19.68 million fine did not involve a safety issue and said a review had found that the systems met or exceeded the original requirements. At the recent ALA Midwinter meeting in Philadelphia, Macmillan CEO John Sargent told librarians that he would come back in March with potential alternatives to the publishers controversial library e-book embargo. And this week, Macmillan made good on Sargents statement, with an email to a select group of librarians seeking feedback on three proposals that could inform new e-book license terms for public libraries. In all three proposals, Macmillans eight-week embargo on new release e-books to libraries is abandoned. Gone, too, however is the single, half-price perpetual access copy. And, as Sargent suggested would be the case during his talk at ALA Midwinter, all three proposals include price hikes for new titles in the first weeks of publication, with reduced prices later in a titles publication cycle. Librarians PW spoke to agreed that the proposals are at least a step toward resolving the most contentious issue in play here: basic access. If Macmillan replaced the current eight-week embargo on new titles with an eight-week, $20 premium, as one proposal does, the basic access issue undeniably goes away. Librarians would still not be happy about the price hike during a book's peak demand, which of course would limit access. But at least the discussion would be a price discussion (which is common in the library e-book market) rather than an explicit infringement on basic access, which librarians maintain is fundamentally unacceptable. During his talk at ALA Midwinter, Sargent told librarians that Macmillan executives would "gather information" and would at some point "sit down and will try to make some good decisions." And while he did not say the company would abandon the embargo, he did not rule out the possibility either. This is a complex ecosystem. What we are trying to do is use the levers we have available to try to figure out an answer, Sargent told librarians in Philadelphia. We tried something. Its clear that the library community did not like what we tried. I still think theres value in it. But, is it the right thing to do? I dont know. We might look at having two models. You can buy it from this model, or you can buy it from that model. We are not saying we are going to do this forever. We are trying to find a way to fix an issue that we all have. As expected, librarians PW spoke to were at first glance not happy with the price hikes. And they were also critical of how the proposals were rolled outto a select group of librarians under a request for confidentiality, with some librarians pointing out the similarity to what librarians say was a flawed feedback-gathering process that preceded the announcement of the embargo last year. I would love to see publishers start doubling down on what e-lending technology can do for them, instead of tinkering with models. Its not that I dont trust Macmillan executives, but I am not trusting this process, said Michael Blackwell, director of the St. Marys County (MD) Public library and an organizer of the ReadersFirst coalition, who posted his feedback on Macmillan's proposals on the ReadersFirst website earlier today. It looks like what they did last year [before the embargo]. And its just a bad way to approach this. Its especially unreasonable at this point to think the library community as a whole would not want to weigh in on this." Carmi Parker, ILS administrator for the Whatcom County (WA) Library System, who maintains a resource for libraries boycotting Macmillan in the wake of the embargo, agrees. Sharing information publicly is the definition of what libraries do, Parker told PW. As tax-payer funded institutions, we have an obligation to be transparent and to share best practices so as to be efficient. This is not to say that we cant work in small groups that then gather feedback from larger groups and make recommendations to [Macmillan]. But that doesnt seem to be what [Macmillan] wants. Librarians, meanwhile, remain eager to have the Macmillan embargo issue resolved. And Parker told PW it's time for librarians and publishers to find a way to constructively address together what she concedes is a common problem. I have been on the advisory committee of the Washington Digital Library Consortium for four years, and I have seen circulation and costs increase between 14% and 20% every year. Most OverDrive libraries across the country report similar numbers, and share our concern that the growth is unsustainable. Fundamentally, I believe that is Macmillans concern too, Parker told PW. If we could identify together the real source of the problem, we might be able to find solutions togetherand its not friction. I would love to see publishers start doubling down on what e-lending technology can do for them, instead of tinkering with models. SAO PAULO, March 6 (Reuters) - LATAM Airlines said in an internal memo to employees on Friday that an employee in Peru has tested positive for the new coronavirus after vacationing in Europe. Peru reported its first case of coronavirus earlier on Friday and LATAM said in the memo that their employee is the same person. A LATAM spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting By Marcelo Rochabrun; Editing by Christian Plumb) VANDALIA FFA students and agricultural advocates from throughout Illinois descended on the Capitol for Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day (IALD) on March 3. As part of the days activities, FFA students reached out to their local elected officials to discuss issues important to the agriculture industry. State Senator Jason Plummer (R-Vandalia) welcomed FFA students from across the 54th District. Sen. Plummer met with Highland FFA, South Central FFA and Edwardsville FFA. Argentine filmmaker Andrea Testa poses with a green handkerchief, which symbolises the abortion rights movement, during an interview with Reuters, in Buenos Aires By Lucila Sigal BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Amid a renewed push in Argentina to legalize abortion, filmmaker Andrea Testa hopes to spotlight the plight of young women in a country where campaigners say that every three hours a girl between 10 to 14 years old gives birth. Testa's new documentary, "Girl Mother", follows women from socially vulnerable backgrounds who are forced to have children under Argentine law where abortion is illegal, except in cases of rape and when there is danger to life or health. "Many girls are in this situation because of violence, not only because of unplanned pregnancies which they have to take care of," Testa, 32, said an interview with Reuters. It comes at a time of potential tectonic shifts in Argentina, where President Alberto Fernandez is pushing a bill to Congress to legalize abortion that would make the country the first major economy in Latin America to do so. A previous bill to legalize abortion up to 14 weeks was passed by the lower house but rejected by the senate after a campaign by the country's powerful Roman Catholic Church. "It's great that (Fernandez) is spearheading this legislation as president. I hope the best possible law comes out," added the director, whose black-and-white film premiered on Thursday ahead of International Women's Day on March 8. The documentary follows young women between the ages of 14 and 24: one teenager goes to hospital to terminate a pregnancy after being raped; another suffers a hemorrhage after taking a pill to end an unwanted pregnancy; a third has a difficult delivery due to injuries from an abusive partner. "It's a painful film about a social emergency," Testa said. One campaign, #NinasNoMadres, founded among others by Amnesty International to denounce sexual violence and forced childbirth, estimates eight girls aged 10 to 14 years old give birth every day in Argentina, one every three hours. Story continues Abortion is illegal in almost all of Latin America, a predominantly Catholic region where only Cuba, Uruguay, Guyana and Puerto Rico have fully legalized the practice. In the homeland of Pope Francis, the fight for legal abortion has been a struggle, with strong opposition from the Catholic Church, which is holding its own rally on March 8 under the slogan "Yes to women. Yes to life." Testa said the push for abortion and other rights remained a battle facing many obstacles. "(These women) face violence from partners, from society, in the hospital. So this is a film about women who survive." (Reporting by Lucila Sigal; Writing by Adam Jourdan; Editing by Nick Zieminski) Donald Trump has been filmed showing zero empathy for an 8-year-old boy during a meeting with families of Tennessee tornado victims. The US president met with the families on Friday in the town of Cookeville as part of a trip to see the devastation caused by this weeks tornadoes. As Trump stood in front of destroyed homes he spoke to the press about an 8-year-old boy who was carried away from his family home by a tornado, only to land alive two blocks away. An 8-year-old boy was ripped out, flown to a certain area and dropped off at the street two or three blocks away and they found him walking and he said I just flew in the air, said Trump in the Fox News video. After asking how did his parents do? and being informed the boys parents and sister had died in the storms he relayed that information to the crowd before moving on by saying So were gonna go see some of the folks. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Trump while visiting tornado victims in TN tells a story about a boy being carried by the tornado, like its the greatest thing hes ever heard! Then he asks about the parents....People tell him theyre dead along with his sister. No emotion, NOTHING! Idiot! pic.twitter.com/0ZqaQN2OzS Mystery Solvent (@MysterySolvent) March 6, 2020 No condolences were expressed from the president. Twitter user @mysterysolvent expressed disbelief at the way he acted. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Trump while visiting tornado victims in TN tells a story about a boy being carried by the tornado, like its the greatest thing hes ever heard! Then he asks about the parents....People tell him theyre dead along with his sister. No emotion, NOTHING! Idiot! User @nightlypolitics echoed that statement accusing Trump of having zero empathy. Watch Zero-Empathy Trump Get Excited Over Tornado Deaths, A Whole Family Got Wiped-Out! Wow what a pig they tweeted. Story continues Watch Zero-Empathy Trump Get Excited Over Tornado Deaths, A Whole Family Got Wiped-Out! Wow what a pig https://t.co/dfsLDO3vce The Resistance (@NightlyPolitics) March 6, 2020 Wearing a hat emblazoned with Keep America Great Trump told the crowd at Cookeville that federal aid to help support the affected areas would be arriving very quickly. What they need. We are going to take care of what they need. said Trump when asked about when they should expect the funding he had earlier approved. After speaking to the press, Trump met with local families where he was applauded by some, with one man telling him "We're a big family. We support you." according to the video. CLEVELAND, Ohio Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont announced he would hold a Tuesday rally downtown as vote totals come in from six states across the country. Sanders will hold the rally beginning at 8 p.m. at the Huntington Convention Center as votes come in from Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington. That sets up a competing Cleveland rally with former Vice President Joe Biden, the lone remaining competitive candidate for the Democratic presidential primary, making Cleveland ground zero for the Democratic race. The candidates decision on Cleveland for their post-election night addresses shows the significance Ohios March 17 primary particularly Clevelands heavily Democratic population will likely play in the Democratic nomination. Sanders, once the national front-runner, and Biden, who rebounded with a strong Super Tuesday, are battling for supremacy in the Midwest. The results from Michigans primary on March 10 will likely give way to an increased focus on Ohio the following week. Three other critical states will hold primaries on March 17: Florida, Illinois and Arizona. Highlights SheInspiresUs campaign has generated huge response Women have shared their own stories of struggles against odds Several ministers have shared stories of women who are setting examples Prime Minister Narendra Modis #SheInspiresUs campaign to honour inspiring women from all walks of life has resulted in hundreds of recommendations made on social media and several among them are women, who have narrated their own stories of overcoming odds ahead of the International Womens Day on March 8. An autorickshaw driver from Patna cited her own example to say that she is earning a living for herself and her three kids by driving an auto in a conservative society inspiring other women. I am driving an auto for the last four years and I am a mother to three children. Now other women are getting inspired to enter the profession they want to learn driving auto, said Sangeeta Kumari. Sangeeta thanked Prime Minister Modi and said he had done a lot for empowering women but demanded that the government offers her and other women in the profession more support. PM Modi has done a lot for women empowerment. The government provided us with the training to drive autorickshaws. It is motivating us. I request for prime ministers help if women are to grow in this profession, she adds. Member of a self-help group made up of women from Madhya Pradesh narrated how they transformed their own financial status by starting several small-scale enterprises including poultry farms. Before joining the group, the financial condition of our families was very grave. But it is good now, the member said. A 23-year old cab driver who often picks up passengers from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi said it was support from her family that helped her enter a profession dominated by men. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets for us then it will benefit us immensely and help our NGO expand. Those who didnt know us before will us recognize us, Aarti said. Another post praise a woman from Rajasthans Jhunjhunu who started a school to teach children from poor families, free of cost. Social worker Suman Chowdhury is providing free of cost education to the impoverished children from a Jhunjhunu neighbourhood through Maa Ki Mamata school. This step is praiseworthy. Your step will not only teach kids about the importance of education but will also shape their future, a post said. Another post praised one Temsutula Imsong for dedicating her life to Swachh Bharat Mission and cleaning up of the Ganga Ghats in Varanasi. Ms. Temsutula Imsong dedicated her life to #SwachhBharatMission, through her #MissionParijat project she ensured that our Holy river, Ganga and ghats of Varanasi are clean. She and her team are dedicated to their mission..All the best!!, the tweet says. Several Union ministers including Ravi Shankar Prasad and Smriti Irani have also posted under #SheInspiresUs campaign. While Irani asked people to tune into Nat Geo India channel for the story on sanitation revolution in India carried out under the present government, Prasad tweeted the story of a village lever entrepreneur from Bihar. Manju Devi of Darbhanga district in Bihar runs a CSC (e-governance service) at Paigambarpur village. She relentlessly trains & motivates villagers to use various govt digital services. Villagers are now also doing online banking, making digital payments & using other digital services, his post claims. The Indian Army and Central Railways have also shared several stories of inspiring women. Will of Steel: Vanguard of the Mountains Sqn Ldr Khushboo Gupta, the first woman helicopter pilot to fly in the high altitudes of Siachen, the Spokesperson of Ministry of Defence, Government of India tweeted. Highlighting achievements of more women in the armed forces, the MoD spokesperson named Captain Ruchi Sharma, Squadron Leader Minty Aggarwal and Dr. Punita Arora for setting up examples for other women to follow. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON On Friday, March 6, hundreds of students at San Ysidro High School in San Diego, California walked out to oppose budget cuts and teacher layoffs. The Socialist Equality Party campaign is fighting to build a socialist leadership of workers and youth to defend public education and all the social rights of the working class. Join the fight at Socialism2020.org Zelenskiy's Big Move: Will 'New Brains And New Hearts' Revive The Same Old Problems In Ukraine? By Todd Prince March 06, 2020 When Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a popular comedian with no political experience, won Ukraine's presidential election in April, many questioned whether he could stand up to the powerful oligarchs that have wielded power in Kyiv from behind the scenes for decades. After all, his fairy-tale win was backed by Ihor Kolomoyskiy, a billionaire reportedly under U.S. investigation for money laundering. But when Zelenskiy's party won a landslide parliamentary victory just three months later, ushering in independent Ukraine's youngest-ever government, many expressed optimism that the 40-something president would finally push the country down the difficult and elusive path of reform that could lead to greater integration with the West. His initial words and actions conveyed that message, enabling him to win the confidence of many U.S. and European officials and business leaders. But that initial impression now appears to be waning amid signs that the rich and powerful are returning to their old-guard role of stifling change. Ukraine's parliament -- on the back of support from Zelenskiy's Servant Of The People party and parties with close ties to the country's elite -- dismissed Prosecutor-General Ruslan Ryaboshapka on March 5, a day after the president sacked most of his government in a major reshuffle. "One can definitely say that today, oligarchs showed their strength," Olena Tregub, secretary-general at the Independent Defense Anti-Corruption Committee, told RFE/RL after Ryaboshapka's ouster. Zelenskiy replaced 34-year-old Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk with Denys Shmyhal, a former executive at DTEK, an energy company controlled by Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine's richest man. Honcharuk's dismissal came just days after he sought to replace the Kolomoyskiy-backed manager of CentrEnergo, a state-owned company and one of the nation's largest power producers. Zelenskiy opposed the management reshuffle. Gone too from the cabinet are Finance Minister Oksana Markarova, who negotiated loans with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Economy Minister Tymofiy Mylovanov, who had been leading the controversial agricultural land-market reform that is now stalled in parliament. Tregub said the outgoing ministers had no prior affiliation with oligarchs, describing it as a departure from Ukraine's political history that is now being reversed. "Nobody is happy about the government changes. Especially given who came to replace the former ministers. And given that everything happened so abruptly and way too fast," said Tregub. Ukrainian prosecutors have long been seen as being at the root of the nation's endemic corruption, using their law enforcement power to settle scores for their oligarch backers. The appointment in August of Ryaboshapka, a lawyer and anti-corruption crusader, was widely seen in the West as a break from the office's reputation of doing the bidding of Ukraine's oligarchs. Ryaboshapka, who quit Ukraine's National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption in protest in 2017 over alleged cover-ups, was overseeing "one of the most comprehensive and meaningful reform efforts in the nation's civilian security sector in years," the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine said in a March 4 statement. Falling Ratings? In explaining his decision to reshuffle the government, Zelenskiy blamed Honcharuk for failing to halt an industrial slump and for not meeting tax-collection targets. Ukraine needs "new brains and new hearts in the government," Zelenskiy told parliament on March 4. However, analysts have suggested the reshuffle was driven by Zelenskiy's falling approval rating, which has tumbled from a high of about 73 percent to just below 50 percent. Mykhailo Minakov, the senior adviser on Ukraine for the Wilson Center's Kennan Institute, offered additional reasons. He said in a March 5 report that the new cabinet ministers are more aligned with the goals of Zelenskiy and his new chief of staff Andriy Yermak, who replaced Andriy Bohdan in February. Minakov also said the dominance of Western-leaning ministers in Honcharuk's cabinet "was not acceptable" to many Ukrainian politicians. Morgan Williams, the president of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council, told RFE/RL that the members of his lobby group highly rated the efforts of Markarova and Mylovanov to improve the Ukrainian economy and investment climate. He said members of the council are "alarmed and confused" about the reshuffle and the impact it will have on reforms. "The business community thought 2020 was going to be a very stable year with the passage of major reforms. Many members were counting on it to justify expansion of their businesses in Ukraine, and now it's all on hold," Williams said. "Why was this necessary?" Reform Agenda Zelenskiy's government reshuffle comes amid an aggressive push to implement key economic and political reforms, including judicial reform, the creation of a land market, the privatization of state-owned assets, and the cleaning up of the defense and banking sectors. Ukraine is one of only six countries, including Cuba and North Korea, that does not allow its citizens to buy and sell land. Economists say land reform would spark a tidal wave of investment in Ukraine and drive economic growth over the coming years. Some of those reforms, especially bank solvency legislation, threaten oligarchs' interests. Zelenskiy is not the first to address the issue, being the third Ukrainian president in the last 15 years to be elected on a reform mandate. Viktor Yushchenko and Petro Poroshenko, who won the presidential elections in 2004 and 2014, respectively, failed in some of their attempts to carry out major reforms due in part to opposition from oligarchs. Ukraine's failure to reform since the collapse of the Soviet Union has left its people among the poorest in Europe. At the dawn of the 1990s, Ukraine's economy was roughly the same size as Poland's. Today its $130 billion economy is less than a quarter the size of its smaller neighbor, according to World Bank data. Moving Faster The U.S. Department of State has said it is looking forward to working with the revamped government, but called on the country to stick to its reform agenda. The United States has been a major supporter of Ukraine financially and militarily over the past six years. "We urge the new Ukrainian cabinet to demonstrate its continued commitment to reform by moving forward with the critical steps necessary to further the country's development, including strengthening the rule of law and combating corruption. The strongest signal Ukraine can send that it remains committed to its reform trajectory is to secure a new IMF [International Monetary Fund] program," a State Department spokesperson said in a statement to RFE/RL. Kyiv is seeking to finalize a long-delayed $5.5 billion loan program with the IMF seen as crucial to economic stability and investor confidence. The IMF program requires Kyiv to carry out legislation that will prevent oligarchs from recovering banks the state nationalized, or from receiving compensation. Kolomoyskiy is seeking to recover PrivatBank, which the state bailed out with a $5.6 billion infusion of cash. Shmyhal, the new prime minister, has said he will continue the reform agenda. In a Facebook post on March 5, he said the government reshuffle "means that we want even better and faster reforms in Ukraine." The new cabinet will continue "prudent fiscal policy and constructive cooperation with the International Monetary Fund and other creditors of Ukraine," he added. However, several analysts have pointed out that new Finance Minister Ihor Umansky has been critical of the IMF in the past and has no experience of working with the international lender. Dragon Capital, a Kyiv-based investment house, also expressed apprehension about the sudden changes. "The composition of the new cabinet -- which failed to include the previous government's key market-orientated ministers -- and [the] little policy detail offered by the new PM thus far are raising questions about the continuation and quality of reforms despite Zelenskiy's pledge of no reversal," Dragon said in a March 5 note. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskiy-s-big-move-will -new-brains-and-new-hearts-revive-the-same-old- problems-in-ukraine-/30474081.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Update: 07-03-2020 | 08:28:35 Vietnam and Russia sought measures to step up their bilateral ties, and discussed regional and international issues of share concern during their 11th strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defence and security in Hanoi on March 6. At the dialogue The dialogue was co-chaired by Vietnams Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and First Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Vladimir Titov. The sides highlighted the trustworthy and close relationship between the two countries and peoples, and rejoiced at the positive developments of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership over the past time. They said diverse activities have been held within the Vietnam Year in Russia and the Russia Year in Vietnam (2019-2020) to mark the 70th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the treaty on fundamental principles of the Vietnam-Russia friendship. Officials also reviewed the implementation of high-level agreements reached during official visits to Russia by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2018, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan last year, among others. The two sides affirmed their resolve to maintain and push the dynamic growth momentum of cooperation across spheres, ranging from politics to economy-trade, national defence-security, science-technology, education-training, culture and tourism, as well as collaboration between localities. They agreed to effectively realise the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union in order to raise trade between the two countries to 10 billion USD. They also shared the views on the profound changes of the regional and international situation, and the need to step up information exchange and close coordination at multilateral forums, especially at the time when Vietnam serves as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 and the ASEAN Chair in 2020. Vietnam affirmed the importance the country attaches to Russias role and voice in global issues and security, while Russia lauded Vietnams increasing position in the region and the world at large, as well as the Southeast Asian countrys active role in ASEAN, the UN Security Council (UNSC) and multilateral forums. They committed to joining hands at the UN and other multilateral forums, and working together to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in Asia-Pacific and the world. The sides also applauded the progress of the ASEAN-Russia relationship over the past time, and pledged that Vietnam and Russia will continue with their close coordination to advance the ASEAN-Russia strategic partnership. They expressed their support for settling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). Later the same day, the two deputy foreign ministers co-hosted a press conference on the outcomes of the dialogue, during which they stressed that the dialogue demonstrates a high spirit of cooperation. The Russian official expressed his hope for more high-level delegation exchanges between the two countries in the time ahead to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties, while the host Deputy FM reiterated that as the ASEAN Chair in 2020, Vietnam stands ready to closely coordinate with Russia to promote the cooperation agenda between ASEAN and Russia, focusing on priority areas set by the grouping. Vietnam appreciated Russias support for the countrys month-long UNSC presidency, and promised to continue its coordination with Russia to ensure the working programme and push ahead with the settlement of issues of international concern, thus ensuring global peace, stability and security. The Russian Deputy FM also spoke highly of Vietnams support for Russias initiatives in various fields. The two sides compared notes on new cooperation orientations to spur regional and global growth./. VNA Hachette Book Group will no longer be publishing Woody Allens memoir. Four days after announcing an April 7 publication date, the publisher said in a statement on Friday that it was dropping Apropos of Nothing, Allens memoir, and would return all rights to the author. The decision to cancel Mr. Allens book was a difficult one, the publisher said in a statement. At HBG we take our relationships with authors very seriously, and do not cancel books lightly. We have published and will continue to publish many challenging books. As publishers, we make sure every day in our work that different voices and conflicting points of views can be heard. Also, as a company, we are committed to offering a stimulating, supportive and open work environment for all our staff. Over the past few days, HBG leadership had extensive conversations with our staff and others. After listening, we came to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible for HBG. The news comes a day after staff at Little, Brown and Co. staged a walkout in protest of the book and in support of its vocal critics, Ronan and Dylan Farrow. Dylan has accused Allen, her adoptive father, of molesting her when she was a child. Employees from the imprints Basic, Orbit, Forever and Hachette Books also walked out. A journalist who had emailed the Hachette imprint received an autoreply informing her of the walkout with the message: We stand with Ronan and Dylan Farrow and survivors of sexual assault. In an email statement Thursday in response to the walkout, Hachette had said: We respect and understand the perspective of our employees who have decided to express their concern over the publication of this book. We will engage our staff in a fuller discussion about this at the earliest opportunity. Janhvi Kapoor Shares How Sridevi Used To Celebrate Her Birthday; Says Mom Would Make Me Feel Pampered Two retired professors of Lincoln University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Iz Osayimwese of the universitys Business & Economics department and Levi Akalazu Nwachuku of the History department died after some illness on February 22 and 28 respectively. Mr Osayimsese died in his retirement home in Providence, Rhode Island and is survived by his wife, Deneese, and three children while Mr Nwachuku died in his retirement home in Oxford Pennsylvania and is survived by his wife, Ugochi, and six children. Before moving to Lincoln University, Mr Osayimwese had worked at the University of Ibadan, his alma mater as senior lecturer in the Economics department, after receiving a doctorate in economics at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He later transferred to the University of Benin as professor of economics and later dean of faculty of social sciences. He took his first retirement from Benin to serve for eight years at OPEC in Vienna as senior researcher. After OPEC, he came to Lincoln University as director of Banking & Entrepreneurship Institute where he also taught econometrics. Mr Osayimweses writings include Mathematics for Economics & Business with Bade Onimode, Development Economics and Planning: Essays in Honour of Professor Ojetunji Aboyade and several refereed articles co-authored at different times with G. Olusanya, Nurudeen Alao, Deji Ojo, and many others on subjects ranging from econometrics to transportation economics, and economic geography. Funeral arrangements are to be announced later. Family can be reached on +1(610) 470-3674 Mr Nwachuku, an alumnus of Lincoln University, did his doctoral study in history at Michigan State University and taught at the Flint campus of the Michigan State University system before returning to Nigeria to teach history at the University of Maiduguri, where he served as Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities. He later re-located to the United States with his family as professor of history at Lincoln University and later as director of African American Experience Program. He served for many years as co-editor of Lincoln University Journal of Social Thought with Judith Thomas and as editor of Lincoln University Press till his retirement a few years ago. Mr Nwachukus publications include Exploring the African American Experience co-authored with Niara Sudarkasa, Troubled Journey: Nigeria since the Civil War edited with G. N. Uzoigwe, A Grandmothers Quest: Aah You Made It, Pride of Lions: A History of Lincoln University 1945-2007 co-authored with Martin L. Kilson and many journal articles. Both Osayimwese and Nwachuku were two of many Nigerian scholars attracted to Lincoln University under the presidency of late Niara Sudarkasa, and Mr Nwachuku was pivotal to second wave of internationalization of Lincoln Universitys faculty and student body about one century after the studentship of Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah, Kalu Ezera, K. O. Mbadiwe, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, etc. Funeral arrangements are to be announced later. Family can be reached on +1(484) 643-8088. Bidens mind-set was formed in the 1950s like Trumps, only different. In Richard Ben Cramers What It Takes: The Way to the White House, a political Bible for many of todays journalists, Biden never thought of himself as a radical either when he was in college in the early 60s, much less now. He thought of himself as an athlete, as well as someone who could get all the way to the White House from the tiny state of Delaware. He still talks about taking Trump out behind the gym, sounding more like a character out of an Archie and Veronica comic than, say, one of Trumps people the president sometimes sics on troublemakers at his rallies. A Co Armagh scientist is at the forefront of the global race to find a vaccine to combat the spread of coronavirus. Professor Paul Duprex, originally from Lurgan, is the director of one of the most advanced centres for vaccine research in the United States. The Center for Vaccine Research at the University of Pittsburgh, which includes a high security containment laboratory, was one of the first in the US to receive samples of the virus. Scientists at the centre are working with "all hands on deck in a rapidly moving situation" to grow and map the virus, then develop animal models as part of a global, and collaborative, race to find a vaccine as soon as possible. "We brought together the entire scientific team, mobilised as soon as we became aware and then got active," said Prof Duprex. Other teams are working on developing drugs, but vaccines are "our game", said the scientist, who graduated from Queen's University, Belfast, with a joint degree in biochemistry and genetics. He gained his PhD in virology and lectured for 16 years at the university before moving to the US. Moderna, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech company, announced yesterday that it plans to begin human trials on a potential vaccine it is developing using RNA coding. "It means there is a vaccine candidate, a step forward," the vaccine research director said, but cautioned that mass doses of a vaccine likely will not be available for a year or more. Prof Duprex said Pittsburgh was chosen as one of the centres to be picked to begin work quickly because of its long history working with viruses. The university is also internationally renowned as the professional home of Jonas Salk, the creator of the polio vaccine. "We have a high security containment laboratory where we are able to work with pathogens safely," he said, adding that the centre staff has worked on other high profile viruses, including SARS and MERS. The scientist explained his team first developed cells on which the virus could be grown into millions of particles. Animal-based models to carry out deep lung tests are then produced. While historically the development of vaccines was slow - sometimes taking years as in the case of polio - times have changed with a variety of different ways to generate them, the former Lurgan College student said. In the case of the coronavirus, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the regulatory bodies charged with policing trials and reviewing drugs and vaccines, have indicated they will speed up the review process. But Prof Duprex noted that it takes six months for a normal flu vaccine to be developed, tested, reviewed and be available in sufficient amounts to meet demand. "We have to be realistic because when you say a vaccine is in development people have to understand what that actually means. It is potentially months, a year, more than a year, probably." The university staff are actively working with other scientists across the globe and co-coordinating with the World Health Organisation (WHO). "No one's ego is more important than the public health and we need to be collaborative," Prof Duprex said. "There is a sharing of data which is not typical within the world wide scientific community, but it is critical that we are good partners." On completion of 100 days in office, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday visited the temple town of Ayodhya and paid obeisance to Ram Lalla at the makeshift Ram Janambhoomi temple here. After the 'darshan' of Lord Ram, Thackeray announced that he would contribute a sum of Rs 1 crore from his personal account for construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The money that he would contribute for construction of the temple would be his own money and not of the state government, he emphasised. "In the last one-and-half years, I visited Ayodhya thrice and it is by the blessings of Lord Ram that I have become the chief minister of Maharashtra," he said. Apparently taking a dig at Shiv Sena's erstwhile ally BJP, Thackeray said, "It must be a sad day for the people who predicted that his government would not survive for 100 hours, while it has successfully completed its first 100 days." "My government will last its full term," he asserted. Thackeray reached Ayodhya on Saturday afternoon amid threats by some Hindu seers here that they would greet the Maharashtra chief minister with black flag for forming government with the people, who dubbed Lord Ram as imaginary figure. Thackeray, who heads a tripartite ruling dispensation in Maharashtra with the the NCP and Congress being two other allies of the Shiv Sena-led government, also asserted that there is no change in his party's ideology. "Lord Ram and Hindutva is not the private property of any political party. I am here in Ayodhya with all my Bhagwa (saffron) supporters," he said. Earlier, hours before Thackeray's arrival here, the Ayodhya administration put three Hindu seers under house arrest for threatening to greet the CM with black flag, said police. The seers had threatened to greet Thackeray with black flag saying that he has formed government in Maharashtra with the help of those who had dubbed Lord Ram as an imaginary figure. The three seers who were put under house arrest on early Saturday morning are Mahant Raju Das of Hanumangarhi Temple, Mahant Paramhans Das of Tapaswi Chhawni Temple and Rakesh Dutt Mishra, the president of Hindu Mahasabha, said Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of police Ashish Tiwari. Thackeray reached the temple town on Saturday afternoon. Sources said three teams of police personnel swooped on the houses of the three saints and served them with the adminstration's order to stay in the house arrest and left after deploying a few policemen outside their residences to prevent them from venturing out. After the Maharashtra chief minister paid his obeisance at the makeshift temple, several seers have now raised the demand to wash the entire temple premises with 'Ganga jal' to purify the premises. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the video, Kher and De Niro are seen dining-in when a miniature chocolate cake is brought to their tables and they start singing the birthday song for him. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: As senior Bollywood actor Anupam Kher turned 65 on Saturday, he celebrated the special day with veteran Hollywood actor Robert De Niro in New York. The two actors have shared the screen in 'Silver Linings Playbook' in 2012. Terming De Niro as 'god of acting,' Kher took to Twitter to share the insights from his birthday celebrations with De Niro as he shared a video. In the video, Kher and De Niro are seen dining-in when a miniature chocolate cake is brought to their tables and they start singing the birthday song for him. "Thank You it means a lot that you are in with me," said Kher after the birthday song is over. De Niro is then seen asking Kher to proceed towards the customary cake cutting and making a wish while blowing the candle. "Nothing can be more magical for an actor than to be able to spend quality time on your birthday with the #GodOfActing #RobertDeNiro third year in a row. I am humbled that Mr. De Niro accepted my lunch invitation. It was magnificent," he tweeted along with the video. "Isko kehte hain 'Kuchh bhi ho sakta hai' ka baap," he further wrote in Hindi. Kher is a senior actor who has featured in scores of blockbuster movies in Indian cinema as well as Hollywood. Some of his notable films include, 'A Wednesday', 'Karma' and 'Saaransh'. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has linked a property worth N200m located at No.44, Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja to one Mrs Moji Oladeji, the elder sister of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose. According to Punch, Olugbenga Falai, a banker revealed this at the continuation of the N2.2bn fraud trial of former governor on Friday, while testifying as the sixth prosecution witness. Fayose, alongside a firm, Spotless Limited, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before the Federal High Court in Lagos. Both defendants have entered a no-guilty plea to the N2.2bn fraud charges pressed against them by the anti-graft agency. In one of the charges against Fayose, the EFCC had alleged that he purchased a property known as No.44, Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja for N200m in the name of your elder sister, Mrs Moji Oladeji. Led in evidence on Friday by the prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Falai told the court that though he now works with Ecobank, he was in the employment of Skye Bank, now Polaris, as of 2016. Falai, who said he worked in the real estate department of Skye Bank, narrated to the court how the bank put up for sale a property known as No.44, Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja for the sum of N200m. He said after an offer and a counter-offer, Skye Bank eventually issued a letter offer to one Signature Integrated Limited in respect. The receipt was issued in the name of Signature Integrated Limited while the Deed of Assignment was in the name of Mrs Moji OIadeji. Falai told the court that Skye Bank received the N200m payment from a Zenith Bank account named Still Earth Limited. He said the N200m was transferred. The Head of Operations at the Ado Ekiti branch of Zenith Bank, Johnson Abidakun, who testified on Thursday in the case as the 5th prosecution witness, had told the court how Fayose allegedly enlisted the services of the bank to move N200m cash from his residence at Afao Ekiti in April 2016 and the money lodged into the account of Still Earth Limited. Under cross-examination by Fayoses lawyer, Mr Ola Olanipekun (SAN), on Friday, the sixth witness, Falai, said he could not tell if there was any transaction between Still Earth Limited and Signature Integrated Limited to which Skye Bank offered the N200m property. Justice C.J. Aneke adjourned further proceedings in the matter till May 18. DEARBORN, Mich. The Democratic presidential primary is down to two major candidates, and it shows. Former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are spending their first weekend as their party's last top White House contenders increasingly taking aim at one another. Each wants to show he's the best choice before six more states Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington vote on Tuesday. It reflects the new contours of a race that once featured 20-plus Democrats. An increasingly bitter matchup could endure for months as Biden and Sanders compete for the right to face President Donald Trump in November. We have a two-person race," Sanders said Saturday in Dearborn, a Detroit suburb with one of the nation's largest Arab American populations. "And all over this country, people are asking themselves which candidate can best defeat Trump. I have zero doubt in my mind that, together, we are the campaign that can beat Trump. Campaigning in St. Louis, Biden took a number of veiled swipes at Sanders, even as he called on Democrats to rise above Trumps division. He told the crowd that if they wanted to nominate a lifelong and proud Democrat, they should pick him. Sanders has run for office as in Independent and identifies himself as a democratic socialist. If you want a nominee wholl bring the party together, who will run on a positive progressive vision for the future, not turn this primary into a campaign of negative attacks because that will only reelect Donald Trump if we go that route if you want that, join us, Biden said. Winning, he added, means uniting America, not sowing more division and anger. The former vice president also knocked Sanders weeks of suggestions that he is the candidate who can prompt record voter turnout in November and defeat Trump, saying that actually were the campaign thats going to do that. Sanders argues that no Democrat will win the presidency with the same-old, same-old politics of yesteryear. And in a sign of how biting the contest may become, Sanders supporters including his campaign manager raised questions about Bidens stamina after he gave a seven minute speech in St. Louis. At his second stop, in Kansas City, he again gave a truncated version of his stump speech, speaking for a little over 15 minutes. Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir issued a tweet noting Bidens short speaking time and highlighting the fact that Sanders had three campaign events on his schedule, each speaking engagement extending for close to an hour. That prompted swift online push-back from Biden allies. Democratic strategist Guy Cecil, who leads the party's largest outside spending group, tweeted, Spreading conspiracy theories online wont help your candidate but it will help Donald Trump win in November. But the focus on Bidens age is somewhat ironic given that the 78-year-old Sanders is actually a year older than Biden. Sanders, who has served in Congress since 1991, says hes bucked the establishment of both parties with decades with unpopular stands that now give him the credibility to lead a political revolution from the bottom up. Sanders is pledging to increase Democratic turnout by drawing younger voters, minorities and working class people to the polls even though they tend to vote in lower concentrations than many other Americans. Strong support among Hispanics lifted Sanders to victories in Nevada and California, but Biden trounced him in South Carolina and throughout much of the Deep South that voted during last week's Super Tuesday. Biden especially ran up the score with African Americans. Some activists are disappointed that a once diverse field of women and minorities has dwindled to two white men in their late 70s. But in Dearborn, Sanders, who is Jewish, said he was inspired by so many Arab Americans backing him. I see people coming together from so many different backgrounds. It is beautiful, he said. He also joked about his age, saying, Sometimes people say, Bernie, youre 33 years of age. How do you keep going?" Top advisers expect Sanders to finish strong in Washington. Still, he canceled a trip to Mississippi to focus on Michigan, Tuesday's largest prize. He made a stop in Chicago's Grant Park on Saturday afternoon, and declared that he has a different vision than Biden, And the American people are going to hear about it. Sanders will spend the rest of the weekend in Michigan, while Biden is in Missouri and Mississippi. Sanders said repeatedly that he and Biden are friends and that, if he's not the nominee, he will support Biden against Trump. But, he added, In the remaining months, I intend to make it clear what my views are and what Joe Bidens are. The campaign is being conducted as the country is contending with the coronavirus outbreak. The AFL-CIO said Saturday that it was canceling a scheduled presidential forum set for Thursday in Orlando in the week before the Florida primary. Sanders has used many of his Michigan events to hammer Biden's past support for the North American Free Trade Agreement, arguing that it moved high-paying U.S. jobs to Mexico and China while devastating manufacturing in a state dominated by the auto industry. He's focused on Biden's years in the Senate, when Biden backed not only trade agreements and the U.S.-led war in Iraq, but also a ban on using federal funds to pay for abortions. Biden announced this summer that he was reversing his position on that, but Sanders said that wasn't enough. "I think we need a candidate that can be trusted on this issue. I am proud to tell you that I am 100% pro choice, Sanders says. The pair are also circling each other on the airwaves. Biden saw a surge of donor support after South Carolina and Super Tuesday, and his campaign announced that it was spending $12 million on a six-state ad buy in places voting Tuesday and the following week. It was his largest single advertising effort of the 2020 campaign. He is using two television and digital ads, one promoting his relationship with President Barack Obama, the other a new effort to counter a Sanders attack on Biden's past record on Social Security. It's a criticism Sanders has used for months. And though he hasn't mentioned it as frequently while campaigning in Michigan, he has released his own ad airing in states voting Tuesday and the following week dinging Biden on Social Security. It features a past clip of the former vice president saying, When I argued if we should freeze federal spending, I meant Social Security. Biden's counter spot has a narrator saying, Biden will increase Social Security benefits and protect it for generations to come." Jaffe reported from Kansas City, Mo. Associated Press writer Sara Burnett in Chicago contributed to this report. D ozens of firefighters battled for more than four hours to bring a blaze at a central London gift shop under control. Oxford Street was partially closed while the London Fire Brigade dealt with a fire at Mayfair souvenir shop Colour London. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called on Friday evening to Gilbert Street, at the junction with Oxford Street, where plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the shop. An LFB spokesman said its control room took more than a dozen calls about the incident. Emergency services attend a large fire at a property on the corner of Oxford Street and Gilbert Street in central London / PA He added: "The ground floor of the five-storey building was alight. "There were no reports of any injuries." Motorists were advised to seek alternative routes as Oxford Street was closed in both directions between Marble Arch and Oxford Circus. Two Roads Brewing Company in Stratford celebrated the first anniversary of Area Two Experimental Brewing on March 7, 2020. The event featured the official release of Black Raspberry Lambic and the Area Two debut of cult-favorite Urban Funk. Surendra Singh Shera, one of the four missing MLAs supporting the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh who went 'missing', returned here on Saturday and stated that he continues to be on the Congress' side. The independent MLA from Burhanpur, who returned by an afternoon flight from Delhi, also denied that he had been abducted. The Congress had alleged that the opposition BJP was trying to poach its MLAs to bring down the state government. Three Congress MLAs -- Hardeep Singh Dang, Bisahulal Singh and Raghuraj Kansana -- are reportedly still untraceable. Minister for Public Relations P C Sharma greeted Shera at Raja Bhoj Airport on his arrival, from where he was taken to the residence of Chief Minister Nath. Talking to reporters, Shera denied that he had been abducted by anyone. "I was not abducted. Nobody can abduct a lion. But efforts were made to delay my flight from Bengaluru...I was misbehaved with and stopped on the way to airport in Bengaluru. Therefore I missed my flight," he claimed without elaborating further. The MLA -- a former Congressman who rebelled when he was denied ticket -- reiterated his support to the government, saying, "I have been with Kamal Nath for the past 25-years." When asked if he will be inducted in the state cabinet, he said, "Surely." Shera also denied that he was in Bengaluru with the missing Congress legislators. Earlier, in a video released on Friday night, Shera had said he was visiting BJP-ruled Karnataka's capital in connection with his daughter's treatment. After Shera's meeting with the chief minister, Sharma said the MLA raised certain issues. "Shera was repeatedly stopped in Bengaluru and Delhi. He is like family to the Congress. He put forward his points before the CM and these issues would be followed up," the minister told reporters. Another Congress minister, Tarun Bhanot, who accompanied the MLA, said "Shera's feelings" will be taken care of at appropriate time. Shera and the other MLAs who went missing were reportedly disgruntled over not finding berth in the cabinet. Asked about missing Congress MLAs Dang, Bisahulal Singh and Kansana, Sharma said they too will return soon. A resignation letter purportedly written by Dang had gone viral on social media but the MLA could not be contacted for verification. Earlier this week the Congress claimed that the BJP had "abducted" 14 MLAs to bring down the government in Madhya Pradesh, an allegation which the opposition party denied. The Congress holds a thin majority in the 230-member Assembly with its own 114 MLAs and support of two BSP, one SP and four independents. The BJP has 107 legislators while two seats are vacant. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - A Starbucks employee in Seattle has been diagnosed with Coronavirus, causing the store to close for a deep cleaning, the company said. The company also said that the employee, who worked at its 1st & University store in downtown Seattle, was self-isolating at home for a period of time. 'We quickly activated our protocols, immediately closing the store and initiating a deep clean overnight, following all recommended guidelines from the City of Seattle and King County public health authorities,' wrote Rossann Williams, president of U.S. company-operated business and Canada for Starbucks, on an open letter posted on the company's website. 'These officials have encouraged us to reopen the store after further preventative cleaning, which we have already conducted, staffed by partners who have no known impact from COVID-19,' Williams wrote in the letter. The company noted that it will continue to follow its COVID-19 protocols, rooted in partner care and expertise from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC. The frequent, additional cleaning and sanitizing procedures already underway in all its stores are fully in line with their guidance. Earlier this week, Starbucks temporarily suspended the use of personal cups and mugs at its North American outlets amid ongoing concerns of coronavirus outbreak. The company then said it would continue to honor its 10-cent discount for anyone who brings in a personal cup or tumbler for coffee, even though customers can't use them. The coffee chain has given customers discounts for using their own cups for new purchases since 1985, according to the company's website. Earlier this week, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook asked their employees to work from home after announcing coronavirus cases. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de With close contact, crowded spaces, heavy breathing and frequently-touched equipment, the gym might seem like a minefield for coronavirus infection. Coronavirus, aka "COVID-19," is believed to spread through inhaling respiratory droplets that are released when an infected person sneezes or coughs, or from touching an infected surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. As of Friday, there are more than 101,000 cases in 88 countries around the globe, according to data compiled by the World Health Organization. And in the United States, there are at least 260 confirmed cases and 14 deaths in 19 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control. As schools and offices close to prevent the virus from spreading, does that mean you should skip your workout class or gym session? It depends where you live, Aubree Gordon, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health tells CNBC Make It. If there's a COVID-19 outbreak in your area, there could certainly be a risk of contracting it at the gym, so it might be a good idea not to go, Gordon says. For example, in Washington state there are 79 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 11 deaths in the Seattle area, as of Friday. In California, there are 66 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and one death as of Wednesday, when Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency. In New York state, there are 22 reported cases as of Friday. Other states, such as Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin have fewer cases, according to the CDC. But even if there are no cases of COVID-19 where you live, "it still might be prudent to take some normal precautions," Gordon says. Of course that includes washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, not touching your face, covering your cough or sneeze and staying home when you're sick. Or you could work out at home. "At this point, people should certainly keep exercising," Gordon says. In fact, physical activity can boost your immune system, Michael Knight, assistant professor of medicine at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Services, tells CNBC Make It. "I would encourage my patients to continue getting moderate amounts of physical activity to lower their overall risk," he says. Here's what you can do to stay safe at the gym: The Chinese owner of Grindr, a dating app geared toward LGBT people, has reached a deal to off-load one of the worlds largest LGBT social platforms, a year after U.S. regulators pressed for disposal over national security concerns. Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. said in a Friday filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange that it has agreed to sell its 99 per cent stake in Grindr LLC to San Vicente Acquisition LLC for about $608.5 million (U.S., or $817 million Canadian). The deal needs the approval of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., better known as CFIUS, which required the Chinese firm to unwind its purchase of Grindr, according to the filing. The sale underscores a growing concern in the U.S. that Beijing could use Chinese tech companies as a tool to amass sensitive data on millions of American citizens. The U.S. watchdog has also begun a review of ByteDance Inc.s 2017 purchase of the business that became TikTok, a viral mini-video app. Kunlun bought a majority stake in Grindr for just $93 million in 2016, and acquired the remaining shares two years later. Prior to the CFIUS inquiry, the Chinese firm was planning an initial public offering for the app overseas. Read more about: This is not a drill. This is not a time for excuses. This is a time for pulling out all the stops. Thats what the director general of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is saying about the new coronavirus outbreak. And hes right. Yet, over and over again, the response from our own federal government has been sluggish and sloppy. As Vice President Mike Pence toured a 3M plant in Minnesota last week as part of his role heading the presidents coronavirus task force, he acknowledged a major gap in efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 in this country: "We don't have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate will be the demand going forward." The government will be able to provide testing "for those that we believe have been exposed, for those who are showing symptoms," Pence said, but it would not have coronavirus test kits for 1 million people by the end of the week, as Food and Drug Administration commissioner Stephen Hahn had promised. The lack of widespread testing means it is impossible to know the precise number of cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. Undetected cases can lead to community transmission and further infections. It puts us all at risk. As of late Sunday afternoon, about 500 cases of the virus had been reported in the U.S., and 21 people had died, according to a daily tally maintained by Johns Hopkins University. In the Houston area, 11 cases had been reported, including three reported in Fort Bend County on Sunday. Around the world, the number of cases passed 100,000 and the death toll was above 3,400. The Trump administrations handling of the crisis has been chaotic and confusing. From the president minimizing the death rate and implying that infected people can go to work to the bumbling of diagnostic testing, the response has stymied the ability of health care workers to contain the spread. Hospitals are also falling short on taking precautions and providing equipment to protect medical personnel. The first version of a coronavirus test developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was flawed, but the agency chose not to use one adopted by the World Health Organization and instead continued to work on its own version. It took weeks for tests to be distributed to state labs, rather than funneling all testing through the CDC in Atlanta. The exact numbers of test kits that have been distributed is still unclear, as are exact numbers of people who have been tested. According to an analysis by The Atlantic, only 1,895 people had been tested for the coronavirus in the U.S. as of Friday, about 10 percent of whom have tested positive. CNNs chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, put the estimate at around 1,500. Compare that with South Korea, which has tested about 140,000 people or to the United Kingdom, which had 163 cases and had tested 20,338 people as of Friday morning. Testing in the U.S. needs to be "much more proactive" to get a true sense of the scope of the outbreak, Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a CNN town hall on Thursday night. "For that reason, we're going to need millions and millions and millions of tests," Fauci said. That was echoed by Dr. Umair Shah, executive director of Harris County Public Health, who also stressed the need for up-to-date guidance from CDC about who should be tested. The key to a strong and robust response is both related to good evaluation, but also related to good diagnostics, Shah told the Editorial Board. The efficiency and ability of public health and health care alike to be able to take appropriate action is really dependent on how quickly we are able to move forward with a variety of strategies. Any delays in that process, including laboratory-related, are concerning and those delays can potentially challenge the very people that are out there trying to protect our communities. In Texas, six of the 10 public health labs, including Houstons, currently have test kits, with the rest expected to have testing capability within weeks. That will allow the state to test 125 people a day, said Chris Van Deusen, spokesman for the Department of State Health Services. Area hospitals are also expected to start receiving test kits next week. The increase in testing will likely result in an exponential increase in cases, which will further strain health care workers already facing shortages of masks and protective equipment. Our nurses are telling us that their facilities are not well prepared. They don't have the equipment. They haven't had the training, Patricia Gonzalez, a registered nurse with National Nurses United, told the Editorial Board. Many hospitals dont have enough protective gear and face masks even though nurses started asking about preparedness as the first cases surfaced in China in late December. Fewer than half of U.S. nurses have been given the information necessary to respond to the coronavirus, a survey conducted by the union showed. Gonzalez also said the CDC is relaxing, rather than tightening, standards for health care workers. This week, the agency changed a policy requiring workers exposed to the virus to self-quarantine if they are asymptomatic. Now that is optional. The CDC needs to maintain the highest standards of protection for health care workers, Gonzalez said. They need to stand by those recommendations of the maximum personal protective equipment for health care workers. Federal agencies, public health officials and hospital administrators need to step up their game and respond to COVID-19 with the urgency a public health crisis of this magnitude merits. President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Nguyen Phuong Nga handed over the Friendship Order, presented by President Nguyen Phu Trong, to the Finland - Vietnam Friendship Association yesterday. At the event In her speech, Nga said the honour is to recognise the FVFAs active contributions to strengthening solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two peoples. Founded in 1971, the association has stood side by side with the Vietnamese people in the struggle for national reunification and construction and defence over the past five decades, she said. The FVFA has offered support to the Vietnamese people via humanitarian and charity projects, such as the one on cooperation with Vietnamese women in six communes of Hoa Binh province and Hanoi during the 1996-2003 period, and another on credit for women in four communes of Son La province from 2001-2007. In Finland, the FVFA regularly holds fund-raising activities in support of Vietnam, seminars popularising the country, its culture and people, as well as offers consultations to Finnish individuals, organisations and businesses that want to explore cooperation opportunities with Vietnamese partners. Nga expressed her belief that the FVFA will continue serving as a bridge linking Finnish and Vietnamese peoples, and partnering with the Vietnamese people in national development process. FVFA President Mauri Raveala, for his part, affirmed the basic task of the association of introducing Vietnams culture to Finnish people and assisting the Vietnamese people via charity projects for the poor. He also pledged that the FVFA will continue making positive contributions to promoting friendship between the two countries in the time to come./.VNA Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri has revealed that he visited Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the general overseer of the Redeem Christian Church of God(RCCG) before the Supreme court ruling ushered him in as governor. Speaking at the churchs headquarters along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway during the Testimony Session at the churchs monthly meeting, Diri said Adeboye told him to go and receive it, adding that he should come back to the church for testimony I contested in the governorship election in Bayelsa State in November 2019 and thereafter I was alleged to have lost the election. I promptly rejected those results and continued with the judicial process in Nigeria. During the process, I visited this church on the 11th of December during the programme of the Great Turn-Around. After the service, I went to see Daddy G.O. He prayed for me and thereafter, he said, It is well. Go and when you receive it, come back to the church. The judicial processes continued until the 14th of February about 24 hours to the swearing-in ceremony of the alleged winner. Brethren, a miracle was accomplished. The Supreme Court declared me the winner of that election. I have come to give Him (God) the glory and to return the glory to Him and to Him alone. I want to thank Daddy G.O. and all of you who stood with me in prayers. Today, I am the governor of Bayelsa State, Diri told the congregation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to Dhaka on March 17 in the midst of rising concerns in Bangladesh over India's new citizenship law and the proposed NRC. Modi is visiting Dhaka at the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina to attend the centenary celebrations of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. During the visit, the prime minister is expected to assuage Bangladesh's concerns over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), sources said. The CAA, which was notified on January 10, grants Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities -- Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian -- who migrated to India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh till December 31, 2014, following persecution over their faith. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla was in Bangladesh earlier this month and during his visit he had assured Bangladesh that the updation of the National Register of Citizens will have "no implications" for its people, asserting that it is a process that is "entirely internal" to the country. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan cancelled their visits to India in December over the prevailing situation following the passage of the new citizenship bill by Parliament. Dhaka was also apparently upset following the roll out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam even though India conveyed to it that the issue was an internal matter of the country. "Updation of National Register of Citizens is a process that is entirely internal to India," Shringla had said in an address in Dhaka. "India assures Bangladesh that NRC will have no implications for the country and its people," he had said. Prime Minister Modi's visit to Brussels this month to hold a summit meeting with the European Union has been postponed in view of the global spread of coronavirus. On Modi's visit to Bangladesh, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the prime minister will go to the neighbouring country to attend the centenary celebrations of Bangladesh's founder. CLEVELAND, Ohio As Democratic presidential primary results rollin from six states on Tuesday, former Vice President Joe Biden will be on stage in Cleveland for his post-election night festivities. Biden will hold a rally starting at 8:30 p.m. at the Cuyahoga Community College recreation center on East 30th Street. It will be open to the public. His choosing Ohio is further evidence of the coalition he is attempting to build as he tries to secure the nomination. The campaign announced Friday afternoon he would be in Ohio on March 10, confirming Friday night he would be giving his post-election night speech in Cleveland. Six states will hold their primaries Tuesday, including Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington. Most importantly that night, however, is Michigan. Michigan is comparable both politically and demographically to Ohio. It also happens to be one of three Midwestern states, along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Democrats are aggressively looking to flip to unseat Republican President Donald Trump in November. Now the front-runner both for the nomination and, arguably, to win the March 17 Ohio primary election Bidens resurgence largely has blue-collar and black voters to thank for his political resurrection, both large constituencies within the Democratic Party in Ohio. The former vice president is hoping Ohio will be fertile ground in the delegate race, with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont his only serious competition left. Biden outperformed almost all expectations on Super Tuesday, securing a significant lead over Sanders with both convincing and, in some cases, surprising wins. A victory in Michigan and Ohio in back-to-back weeks would bolster Bidens claims that he is capable of being competitive with Trump in the Midwest. Biden has institutional backing from Democratic Party higher-ups in the state, including Warrensville Heights Rep. Marcia Fudge and Youngstown-area Rep. Tim Ryan. The limited polling in the state has shown Biden as the favorite over Sanders. Biden will also hold a campaign event in Columbus earlier Tuesday. Details have not been released for that visit. The United States has blocked the adoption of a UN Security Council statement supporting a Syrian ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey, diplomats said following a closed-door meeting. "It's premature," the United States said on Friday, rejecting the joint statement which Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, had asked the other 14 member states to adopt, according to diplomats. "Various countries took note and welcome the agreement," said Nebenzia. "But due to a position from one delegation, it was not possible." Syria's war-ravaged Idlib province woke to relative calm Friday, its skies free of warplanes for the first day in months, following the ceasefire deal reached by Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "There are a lot of questions about how it will work in practice, who will monitor it, what is happening west of Aleppo and critically has the Syrian government formally signed up?" said British Ambassador Karen Pierce. Her German counterpart Christoph Heusgen echoed the sentiment, stating: "We have to see if this will work." "We are concerned about the millions of people who are suffering there and we would (like to) see that this ceasefire leads to a kind of safe zones where people can go back to and they can survive," he added. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Friday he was pleased with the ceasefire during a phone call with Putin. According to diplomats, Moscow signaled that it could oppose endorsement of the US-Taliban peace deal in the Security Council following the US opposition to the Russia-Turkey ceasefire. Syria's conflict, which is about to enter its 10th year, has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced half of the country's population. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP via Getty Images BEIRUT Idlibs skies were completely free of Russian and Syrian government warplanes for the first time in weeks Friday, and residents reported a relative but tense calm as a cease-fire deal brokered by Turkey and Russia took hold in Syrias northwestern province. The truce halted a terrifying campaign of bombing that killed hundreds and sent a million people fleeing toward the Turkish border during the Russian-backed assault by Syrian government forces on the countrys last rebel stronghold. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hengky Ola Sura (The Jakarta Post) Maumere Sat, March 7, 2020 13:15 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068f9487 1 Business farmer,farming,KUR,NTT,micro-credit-disbursement,East-Nusa-Tenggara,Agriculture-Ministry Free Young farmers in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), most of whom have developed their land from square-one, are hoping to have access to the governments first subsidized microcredit program (KUR). The Agriculture Ministry has allocated Rp 1 trillion (US$69.7 million) in KUR to support agriculture and livestock development in the province. NTT agriculture agency head Yohanes Oktavianus said this was the first microcredit program for the province since its initiation in 2007. The allocation for each regency depends on their respective planning. They are welcome to take as much as needed because there are no limits, Yohanes told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. "Farmer communities can learn about entrepreneurship and become independent by utilizing these funds." NTT farmer Gestianus Sino, who was the Indonesian Young Agripreneur Ambassador in 2018, said the provincial agriculture agency should closely monitor the funds disbursement. The 36-year-old farmer is known for developing integrated agricultural land for organic produce with tens of millions of rupiah in monthly income. I suggest these funds be given to farmers who are committed to developing their land, he said. Read also: Radical overhaul of agricultural data-gathering methods in Asia-Pacific needed: Experts Gestianus went on to say that farmers have formed farming groups as part of the funding programs. They later used the money to procure tractors, drills and other farming equipment. However, they did not continue farming after spending the money. Abidin, another young farmer from Megapanda village in Sikka regency, appreciated the governments KUR program. He echoed Gestianus, saying the funds should go to the hard-working farmers instead of new farmers who only wanted money. I will certainly use it to develop my agriculture business, Abidin said. Im currently only working on a rice field. With the microcredit, I will try to develop other plantations as well. According to Statistics Indonesias (BPS) 2018 Inter-Census Agricultural Survey, there are 27.6 million farmers in Indonesia. Around 17.7 million are 45 years old and above, while only 9.77 million are below 45 years of age. However, the number of young farmers aged 25 and below has increased to 273,839 farmers from only 184,734 in 2013. (eyc) EUGENE, Ore. The City of Eugene is still moving forward with plans to open a new homeless shelter after Oregon lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would allocate $5 million for it, Mayor Lucy Vinis said. House Bill 4001 would have declared a statewide homelessness emergency and give money to cities for shelters and lift restrictions temporarily where they could be built. Vinis said the City of Eugenes plans call for a 75-bed low barrier shelter and navigation center so people can get off the streets. She said they plan to have it open in the fall but dont have a location set. It changes the timeline a little bit, perhaps for full implementation, Vinis said. Mostly, I think for us, it creates a little bit of uncertainty. The bill had bipartisan support, but because of the Republican's walkout over the controversial cap-and-trade bill, the funding bill never got to the House floor for a vote since lawmakers didn't have a quorum. RELATED: OREGON LEGISLATIVE SESSION CUT SHORT OVER GOP WALKOUT Vinis said shes hoping lawmakers make it a priority during a special session or next years session. It is deeply frustrating, Vinis said. We need to have, even a short session, we need to make progress because the challenges we face happen year after year after year, we can't take a break. Senator James Manning of Eugene and Junction City said he supports the bill and he's not giving up hope that it's not gone for good. I will continue to fight each and every time in order to relieve the cause of the unhoused, he said. The Oregon Legislature's Joint Emergency Board will meet Monday to provide funding for a response to the novel coronavirus, flood damage in Northeast Oregon and other critical needs. P rince Harry will complete his final engagement as the Captain General of the Royal Marines tonight as the Sussexes continue their farewell tour of royal duties Harry and Meghan will attend the Mountbatten Festival of Music in London, a festival brings together world-class musicians, composers and conductors of the Massed Bands of Her Majestys Royal Marines Harry is attending in his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, a position he will relinquish when the Sussexes step down as senior royals on March 31 This year, the performance will mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britains Commandos Proceeds from Saturdays event go to the Royal Marines Association - The Royal Marines Charity and CLIC Sargent, who support cancer victims aged under 25 and their families Harry and Meghan have embarked on a series of events over the past few days before Megxit Meghan made a surprise trip to the National Theatre in London on Thursday, releasing photographs of her tour via the couples Instagram account on Friday. The duchess, who is patron of the theatre, was shown VR technology aimed at helping people better connect and empathise with each other as people, regardless of race, age or nationality On Friday, Harry officially opened the Silverstone Experience in Northamptonshire, a museum charting British motor racing through the years, alongside Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton The couple also attended the Endeavour Fund Awards on Thursday evening to recognise the achievements of wounded, sick and injured service personnel Barring those of an Italian couple, all the samples collected from suspected coronavirus cases in Rajasthan have tested negative, an official said. The total number of samples tested so far is 282. Of those, 280 have tested negative and two positive (of the Italian couple), Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Rohit Kumar Singh said on Friday. He said no sample was pending as of now. The couple is admitted to the SMS hospital here. Singh said the department was put on alert and all measures were taken to handle the situation. After the confirmation of coronavirus in the elderly Italian couple, who was part of a group of tourists that visited Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur from February 21 to 28, samples of those who came in contact with them were taken. These samples tested negative at the laboratory of SMS Medical College. 280 who came in contact with Italian couple in Rajasthan test negative for coronavirus Sheridan Smith attends the 2017 Olivier Awards with Mastercard ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall on April 09, 2017 in London, England. (Wiktor Szymanowicz / Barcroft Im / Barcroft Media via Getty Images) Sheridan Smith has landed herself a role as the host of a new dog styling series for BBC One, Pooch Perfect. The competition will see 10 pairs of stylists makeover beloved pets to be named the UK's Top Dog Stylist in what will be the actors first primetime presenting gig. Smith said in a statement: "To combine my love of dogs with a brand new job presenting for the BBC was a match made in heaven! Everyone who knows me will understand that animals, and especially dogs are very special to me. Read more: Sheridan Smith reveals shes having a baby boy "I live at home with six dogs, so presenting a show dedicated to our four-legged best friends didn't take much consideration! I'm used to being on set with lots of actors, this time I can't wait to hang out all day with dozens of dogs. It is literally my dream job!" The 38-year-old is currently expecting her first child, a baby boy, with fiance Jamie Horn. She first sparked rumours during an appearance on a cruise ship where she told some passengers she had a baby on board. Smith and Horn began dating early last year after reportedly meeting through dating app Tinder. They are believed to have become engaged after just three months and live together in rural Kent. Sheridan Smith and Jamie Horn attend the Pretty Woman, The Musical Press Night at the Piccadilly Theatre in London. (Keith Mayhew / Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images) The happy news comes after a difficult few years for Smith following her father's cancer diagnosis and subsequent death. At the time, she was starring in a West End run of Funny Girl and had to take a two month break when her mental health deteriorated. She later reflected on the troubled period her life, remarking: "I was totally terrified that I was going to come unstuck, that I couldnt hold these feelings of insecurity in much longer without it coming to a head. My dad getting cancer triggered it, but it had been a long time coming. Kabul was reeling Saturday after Islamic State jihadists killed 32 people and wounded dozens more, with injured survivors describing scenes of terror as gunmen opened fire in the deadliest attack to hit Afghanistan since a US-Taliban deal. The attack at a crowded gathering in the capital has raised questions about Afghanistan's abysmal security situation and uncertain future following the February 29 agreement to pull foreign forces from the country within 14 months. Lying in a hospital bed in a run-down Kabul neighbourhood, 15-year-old Basira said she had attended Friday's annual commemoration ceremony for Abdul Ali Mazari -- a politician from the Hazara ethnic group -- for the first time, accompanied by her father and younger sister. "We were in the middle of the ceremony when the gunfire erupted," she told AFP in a frail voice. "It was non-stop firing for more than an hour," she said, describing chaotic scenes, with terrified people running for cover from the gunmen who appeared to be shooting at them from a height. As shrapnel tore into her right leg, she lost consciousness and was brought to a nearby hospital, along with 28 other wounded. Zamin Ali, who suffered a bullet wound, said hundreds of people had assembled to watch the ceremony, when the attackers began raining down gunfire. "I saw... a dead child lying on the ground", the 60-year-old said. "Everyone was fleeing... while the injured were pleading for help", he told AFP. The Sunni-extremist IS had claimed an attack on the same ceremony last year, which killed 11, and have in the past targeted Hazaras who are predominantly Shiite Muslim. Survivors expressed anger against the government for failing to improve security, with injured teenager Basira saying: "The political elites fled with their convoys and poor and innocent people were martyred and wounded". Several top political officials were at the ceremony, including Afghanistan's chief executive Abdullah Abdullah. All were safely evacuated. The devastating attack, which came days after the Taliban decided to halt a partial truce, ended a brief reprieve for Afghans weary of violence. Organisers of an annual gathering to commemorate the death of former vice president Mohammad Qasim Fahim said they had cancelled the event scheduled for Sunday "because of the sensitive security situation". The attack has cast doubt on whether the Taliban can stop groups such as IS from overrunning Afghanistan after foreign troops withdraw from the country in exchange for security guarantees and a pledge by the insurgents to hold talks with the Kabul government. The Taliban have also ramped up attacks in the country, including one on Friday night in the contested western province of Herat, where they killed seven villagers including two children, government officials said. "They opened fire on civilians killing seven and wounding 10," Jailani Farhad, spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. Lal Mohammad Omarzai, chief of Robat Sangi district, where the shootings took place, said the insurgents were angry over the villagers' refusal to pay them money. Although the Taliban are due to start talks with Kabul on Tuesday, a long-running dispute over a prisoner swap has cast doubt on whether negotiations will in fact begin as scheduled. The US-Taliban accord includes a commitment to exchange 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the Afghan government in return for 1,000 captives -- something the militants have cited as a prerequisite for talks but which President Ashraf Ghani has refused to do before negotiations start. On Saturday, Ghani said his government was willing to free the Taliban prisoners if they do not return to violence, but did not reveal whether he would accede to the insurgents' demands to release them before talks open. In a speech to parliament, Ghani said: "I, as the president, have no wish to have Taliban prisoners." But he added that Afghan "people want guarantees that these released people won't go back to violence". Apparent differences between the US-Taliban agreement signed in Qatar and a separate joint US-Afghan declaration made in Afghanistan underline the obstacles facing negotiators. The Doha deal committed to the release of prisoners, while the Kabul document only required both sides to determine "the feasibility of releasing" captives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After viral proposal, youth pastor marries high school sweetheart on ABCs Strahan, Sara & Keke Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A youth pastor from North Carolina who proposed to his high school sweetheart in a now viral "Family Feud" style event last December topped off his love for her last Friday with a wedding on ABCs "Strahan, Sara & Keke" show. Eight long years ago, I found my best friend and you taught me what true love is. A life of listening, learning and laughing, and I vow to love you through every life lesson. I vow to overcome personal obstacles and open doors to limitless opportunities for us. I vow to pray for you before myself with a vision of virtuous prosperity, Joshua Powell, youth pastor at Pleasant Union Missionary Baptist Church in Riegelwood, told his bride, Kiana, on the Our big fast TV wedding segment of the show. You smile soothes my worries, your heart loves me through my mistakes. And I know I can trust you with my whole heart. You are my dream come true and my prayers answered. These eight years have shown me that our love can withstand all things, Kiana said in her vows to Joshua. Kiana is set to graduate in December from Duke University while Joshua will graduate from North Carolina A&T, according to the Bladen Journal. The couple met at Seventy-First High School in Fayetteville, where they have been together since the end of their freshman year, the Journal said. After Joshuas proposal, which went viral on Facebook and has been viewed more than 3 million times, the couple appeared on ABCs Good Morning America to discuss the event. The producers later asked if they wanted to get married on the show and the couple agreed. They said, lets make a surprise for Kiana and get married on the show, Joshua told the Journal. I said yes and everyone there was great in helping and showing me what to do for it. All I wanted was for it to be special for Kiana. As long as it was special for her I was OK with anything. After the couple got married on Friday, they were surprised again with a honeymoon to Hawaii which left Joshua visibly overwhelmed on the show. I had been the one doing the surprises all week so I was like, are you serious, is this a joke? Where is Ashton Kutcher?, Joshua said of his shock. I was completely speechless and were so grateful to them and hopefully well be able to take the trip very soon. And as they settle into married life, Joshua said so far things still feel the same. Weve been together eight years, he said. The only thing thats really different is the spiritual aspect and that I was able to give my vows in front of God. This has been incredible because she is my best friend and the love of my life. The message is clear: We want a woman, but not this time. As she announced her departure on Thursday, Warren's voice cracked when she talked about meeting so many little girls while campaigning around the country the past year, knowing they "are going to have to wait four more years," at least, to see a woman in the White House. And she addressed what she called the "trap question" of gender in the race. "If you say, 'Yeah, there was sexism in this race,' everyone says, 'Whiner!'" she said. "And if you say, 'No, there was no sexism,' about a bazillion women think, 'What planet do you live on?'" How different things had looked back in the summer, when Warren and five other women a record number appeared on the primary debate stage over two nights in late June, demonstrating the depth and diversity of the female field. Warren and California Sen. Kamala Harris earned top reviews for their debate skills. At the time, Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, had ventured to hope the female candidates could shake up the age-old electability question left hanging by Hillary Clinton's stinging loss to Trump in 2016: Is the country ready to elect a woman president? Writing about developments in Trumplaw here this past Sunday, I confused two Ninth Circuit decisions that were decided on the same day. Both cases are worthy of note; they are a double whammy. In the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant case, the Ninth Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction against enforcement of a rule and presidential proclamation that, together, strip asylum eligibility from migrants who cross into the United States along the southern border of Mexico between designated ports of entry. In the Innovation Law Lab case, a divided Ninth Circuit panel upheld an injunction against enforcement of the Trump administrations Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). Under the MPP, non-Mexican asylum seekers who present themselves at the southern border of the United States are required to wait in Mexico while their asylum applications are adjudicated. The MPP must be the most effective measure implemented by the Trump administration to stem the crushing tide of illegals crossing from Mexico. The Ninth Circuit temporarily stayed its ruling for a few days while it took up additional briefing this week. The court has now entered an order (below) reiterating its ruling but limiting the injunction to Arizona and California (the two border states within its jurisdiction). The court further stayed enforcement of the injunction until March 11 pending possible intervention by the Supreme Court. In the meantime, the Trump administration has to deal with the fallout. As the New York Times puts it, the administration is deploying 160 troops to two ports of entry along the southwestern border before a Supreme Court decision that officials fear could prompt large crowds of migrants to seek entry into the United States. Ya think? 19-15716 Order by Scott Johnson on Scribd The Ministry of Health, Cross River State, has stepped up its sensitisation campaign on the coronavirus, otherwise known as Covid-19, after two infections have been reported in Cameroon. A Chinese worker at Akamkpa, Cross River, who came into the state has been under surveillance and self-isolation, the Commissioner for Health in Cross River, Betta Edu, said. Cross River shares the border with Cameroon, a country of about 20 million population. A visiting French national who has tested positive to the coronavirus and a local woman who had close contact with the person, and has also tested positive, are said to be receiving treatment in Yaounde. Mrs Edu, accompanied by other health officers, visited Calabar Municipality and Calabar South local government areas on Friday to enlighten the people of the areas on the coronavirus and the need for them to maintain personal hygiene and watch out against the early signs of the disease. Mrs Edu spoke with transporters in the areas, including tricycle operators, otherwise called keke riders, and their union leaders at their secretariat. She told them about the outbreak of coronavirus in Lagos and Cameroon and why Cross River has to step up its port health task force for screening and surveillance. The commissioner tasked transporters in the state to be on alert and promptly report anyone noticed having fever, headache, and coughing, and with a history of travel to any of the countries implicated in the outbreak. READ ALSO: She advised transporters to regularly wash their hands with clean water and soap as well as keep an eye on their passengers for any possible signs. The commissioner distributed hand sanitisers and other protective item to the transporters and promised to erect health post to attend to emergency health needs in the area. The Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade, is passionate about the health of all citizens in the state, she said. The Director of Road Traffic Service in Cross River, Paul Bepeh, who welcomed the commissioner and her team to the area, thanked the state government for the proactive measures to ensure that Cross Riverians stay healthy. Mr Bepeh promised to use his office to ensure transporters in the state have their hand sanitisers and also make proper use of it. You may have read about Senior United States District Court Judge Reggie Waltons whack upside the head of Attorney General Barr this week. The whack was administered in Judge Waltons opinion ruling on the Freedom of Information Act case that seeks the Department of Justices release of an unredacted version of the Mueller report. The opinion is accessible online here. Judge Waltons whack is misguided. The Wall Street Journal takes the time to hit back in the editorial Judge Waltons political aside. Thats some aside. It constitutes almost the entirety of Judge Waltons opinion. The Journal editorial explains: In a 23-page ruling demanding that the Justice Department turn over an unredacted version of the Mueller report, Judge Walton accused Attorney General William Barr of a lack of candor. He said the AGs pubic statements led him to question whether Mr. Barr had made a calculated attempt to influence public discourse about the Mueller Report in favor of President Trump when he first summarized the findings. When Mr. Barr sent Congress a four-page summary of the reports principal conclusions in March 2019, special counsel Robert Mueller complained that it did not fully capture the context, nature, and substance of this offices work and conclusion. Mr. Mueller did not claim that Mr. Barrs summary was false or inaccurate. He didnt because it wasnt. In April Justice made public a mildly redacted version of the full report that confirmed the essence of Mr. Barrs summary, as he had promised he would at his confirmation hearing. Mr. Barr had no incentive to mischaracterize a report he knew would be released. Judge Waltons logic appears to be that because he believes partisan critics who claim Mr. Barr wasnt honest in his letter summarizing a report he didnt write, somehow the redactions werent honest either. The absurdity is that Mr. Barr didnt make these redactions. As the Justice Department explained Friday: The original redactions in the public report were made by Department attorneys, in consultation with senior members of Special Counsel Muellers team, prosecutors in U.S. Attorneys Offices, and members of the Intelligence Community. In response to [Freedom of Information Act] requests, the entire report was then reviewed by career attorneys, including different career attorneys with expertise in FOIA casesa process in which the Attorney General played no role. The Journal editorial concludes with the understated observation Judge Waltons decision to add his political broadside [to his opinion] raises more questions about the judge than about the Attorney General. More broadly, however, Judge Waltons opinions seems to me yet another episode in the sorry saga of Trumplaw. UPDATE: In the tweet below Byron York provides the statement issued by Barrs official spokesman. KABUL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th March, 2020) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met with US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, and the parties discussed the future of the peace process and the start of negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban, Afghan president's spokesman Sediq Seddiqi said on Friday. "President Ghani met with Mr. Khalilzad, the U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Peace this evening in Arg. Both sides talked about the future steps in the peace process and start of the negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban," Seddiqi said on Twitter. On Saturday, the United States and the Taliban signed a long-awaited peace deal in Qatar that sets the beginning of talks for March 10, provided that up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners are released from jail by that time in exchange for 1,000 prisoners released by the radical movement. However, Ghani said shortly after that Kabul never committed to releasing this many prisoners as a precondition for the talks, but rather as a part of them. In parallel, the US and the Afghan government released a joint statement, which stated that the US would reduce the number of its troops in Afghanistan and that the complete withdrawal of the US and NATO troops from the country would be completed in 14 months. Moscow welcomed the agreement, but drew attention to the fact that the US, which has been accusing Russia of contacts with the Taliban and violating international law for many years, eventually concluded an agreement with the radical movement. A former Montgomery police officer found guilty in the 2016 on-duty death of an unarmed man will be allowed out of prison while he appeals last years conviction. Retired Dale county Circuit Judge P.B. McLauchlin on Friday granted an appeal bond for Aaron Cody Smith. A Dale County jury in November 2019 convicted Smith in the Feb. 25, 2016, death of Gregory Gunn of Montgomery. The 58-year-old Gunn was walking near his home and unarmed when Smith stopped him for a random frisk. When Gunn fled the pat-down, Smith pursued Gunn and used a baton and Taser to try to subdue him before shooting him seven times. Smith, 27, was indicted for murder but the jury convicted him of the lesser charge of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. His trial was moved from Montgomery to Dale County because of pretrial publicity. Gregory Gunn (AL.com) McLauchlin sentenced Smith to 14 years. He was sent to Limestone Correctional Facility, one of the states five maximum security prisons. In February, Smiths attorney filed a motion asking the judge to change Smiths sentence to a split sentence, with three years to serve in the Dale County jail and 11 years on probation. Richardson noted that the Justice Department alleged last year that the violent conditions in Alabama prisons violate the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Richardson argued, in part, that Smith would be in even more danger than the average inmate because he is a former police officer. Richardson wrote in court documents that when Smith was transferred from the Dale County Jail to Kilby Correctional Center on Feb. 10, 2020, the ex-officer was placed in a segregated housing unit where he found a toothbrush that had been sharpened into a weapon and tobacco, both of which are considered contraband and which he apparently believed had been planted. Defendant was housed at Kilby for less than 48 hours and was threatened by both inmates and staff, the attorney wrote. Smith was then transferred to Limestone Correctional Facility. Montgomery County Deputy District Attorney Benjamin McGough filed an objection to the request, saying it showed the former officer believes he is above the law and deserves special treatment because he wore a badge. His request to serve a reduced sentence in a county jail is just one more instance of his attitude that he is due special treatment and extra respect because he was a police officer," McGough wrote. "Were it not for this attitude, perhaps Mr. Gunn would be alive, and the defendant wouldnt be a convicted killer. Smith is appealing the conviction to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. Smiths defense team argued during the trial that Smith shot Gunn in self-defense and in the line of duty as a police officer after Gunn armed himself with a painters pole he picked up on a neighbors porch. Smith was alone on patrol in a neighborhood plagued by burglaries, the defense argued. Prosecutors said the evidence did not support the claim that Gunn posed a deadly threat to Smith. Richardson also filed a request for Smith to be released on bond pending his appeal. In his ruling on the appeal bond issued Friday, the judge wrote that he anticipated that Smith would remain in the Dale County Jail until the bond hearing was held and Smith would either be released on bond or transferred to the Alabama Department of Corrections. Instead, Smith was transferred to ADOC prior to a bond hearing. The judge on Friday set Smiths appeal bond at $300,000, ordered that he wear an electronic ankle monitor and remain in the state. Smith is still listed as an inmate at Limestone. AL.com reporter Mike Cason contributed to this report. South Africa: SA confirms second case of Coronavirus Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, has confirmed South Africas second case of the Coronavirus while also calling for calm. The second patient who has now tested positive for COV-19 will now be immediately admitted to a public health facility in Gauteng that government has identified as one of the hospitals that are ready to receive COVID-19 positive patients, said the Minister in a statement on Saturday. The patient is a 39-year-old Gauteng woman who is a direct contact of the unnamed 38-year-old KwaZulu-Natal man who tested positive for Coronavirus earlier this week. The pair were part of a group of 10 people who had travelled to Italy. The group arrived back in South Africa on 1 March 2020. The public must be notified that we have information and know the whereabouts of all the other 10 people who were part of the group that had travelled to Italy. All those who came back to South Africa, are currently being tested. We are now awaiting their test results to come out. Since being traced, they have remained in isolation to avoid any further contact with third parties, said the Minister. Protocols that have already been publicly announced in dealing with Coronavirus cases, are currently being followed. At a media briefing in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, Mkhize said South Africas first confirmed Coronavirus patient was in a stable condition at Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, where he is being treated. South Korea case Meanwhile government has been advised that a 39-year-old South African in South Korea has tested positive for COVID-19. We also wish to notify the public that our embassy has advised us that old male South African who works in Daegu, South Korea has also tested positive for COVID-19. He was due to return to South Africa and has since remained in South Korea. The South African government is now following up with the South Korean authorities firstly to obtain formal confirmation of this case and also the details of where the man is being treated. We continue to call for calm and cooperation from the public and the media during this period. We also request that the privacy of the patients, the affected individuals and families be respected. Our commitment to do everything in our power to mitigate against the uncontrollable spread of COVID-19 in our country, remains, said the Minister.-SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-03-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has contributed more than half of the WHO's global target to give healthcare coverage by bringing 55 crore people under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, BJP president J P Nadda said on Saturday. Nadda, a former Union health minister, also said the government aims to open 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres across the country. "The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it will bring 100 crore people under healthcare coverage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already given that to 55 crore people through the Ayushman Bharat Scheme," he said. "It means Modi ji has contributed to over 50 per cent of the world's agenda single-handedly here in India," Nadda said on the occasion of Jan Aushadhi Diwas. The BJP chief said 55 crore people have been given health coverage of Rs 5 lakh each under the scheme. On the occasion, the prime minister interacted with some Jan Aushadhi Kendra owners and Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna (PMBJP) beneficiaries through a video conferencing session, which was attended by Nadda at Krishna Nagar. "In nearly 700 districts, through 6,700 Jan Aushadhi outlets , medicines worth around Rs 2,200 crore were provided to people at a cost of just Rs 390 crore, in 2019-20," Nadda said The prime minister has tried to help the common man with good quality and affordable medicines through these outlets, he said. In 472 districts, 825 dialysis centres have been opened through which 5.80 lakh people have benefited, the BJP president said, adding that poor people are being provided free dialysis through 4,920 machines throughout the country. Nadda said around 20,000 health and wellness centres have already been opened and 25,000 more are to be opened this year. In 2014, when the BJP came to power at the Centre, only 100 medicines were in the national list of essential medicines whose prices are determined by the government, he said. "This number has now been raised to 350 at present. A committee has also been set up so that such medicines that are important for many people are brought under the list," Nadda said. He claimed that due to various initiatives and schemes of the Modi government, the average monthly expenditure of households on medicines has come down from up to Rs 8,000 to around Rs 1,200. Modi's video conferencing programme attended at many places in the city by BJP leaders, including Delhi president Manoj Tiwari and MPs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 17:47:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close By Ndalimpinga Iita WINDHOEK, March 7 (Xinhua) -- For a long time, communal farmer, Nora Mikatazo from the Zambezi region in the northeast of Namibia has been planting the same seed varieties, mainly maize. The consistent planting of the same seeds variety was a tradition passed across generations. "We sowed the same seeds and preserved them as forefathers and generations did," said Mikatazo on Friday. However, despite efforts made to improve, yields either declined or stagnated. Agricultural productivity was also affected by climate variability and unpredictable rainfall patterns. Namibia has been battling with a dry spell over the years. Thwarted by the dwindling prosperity and declining yields, current farming season, Mikatazo decided to try her luck with a new variety of cowpea and groundnut seeds in the current farming season. The shift from an ancient mode of farming to conservation agriculture follows the provision of seeds by the Namibia Red Cross Society. "The aim, is to adopt more climate-resistant seeds and to diversify my household food basket and diversify nutrition at home," said Mikatazo, who also farms with staple crop, maize. The approach has since yielded positive results. "It gives me a sense of security to know that I can depend on more than just one crop harvest time," she said. Another farmer, Rosco Manze, who also adopted the new seeds is prospering. Like other farmers, productivity was also improved through complementary efforts such as the application of conservation methods of tillage and mulching to ensure the minimal use of water. "The aim is to keep the plants alive longer so that I have a good harvest," Manze said. Libalamwe Mayamba, the project coordinator of Namibia Red Cross in the Zambezi region, said that the seeds were sourced through international development aid efforts. According to Mayamba, farmers in the region have been hard hit by climate change over the years, thus experiencing low yields and subsequently, hunger due to a dry spell. More than 289,644 people in Namibia are food insecure due to drought that hard-hit the country's agricultural production and productivity, according to the Namibian Vulnerability Assessment Committee report. "The distribution of cowpea and groundnut seeds responds to the need for diversification of crops, and to ensure that farmers use seeds adaptive to adverse climate conditions. We gave those seeds to help them to maximise on the good rainfall received during the 2020 seasons as they did not harvest much in the previous years," Mayamba said. More than 1,000 beneficiaries also received training on agricultural conservation, using minimal water, said Mayamba. In the interim, Mikatazo shares the best practice with other farmers in the area to divert from conventional techniques of farming to adopt new seed varieties. This is to ensure a snowball effect and present new dawn for Namibian communal farmers. All of these executions were in prison and all the executed prisoners were men. According to news reports, those executed were between 22 and 50 years old, with the highest number of executions in Gohardasht Prison and Zahedan Central Prison. Other executions were carried out in the central prisons of Boroujerd, Dizelabad of Kermanshah, Langrood Qom, Ghezel Hesar, Adelabad of Shiraz, Dastgerd and Shirvan of Isfahan. Charges for those executed were murder and drug dealing. 2. Arrests: In February 2020, 792 people were arrested under different titles. Because of the regimes obfuscations and lies, the real statistics may be much higher. Arbitrary Arrests: Some 680 people were arrested on the pretext of illegal hunting, social activities on telegram and Instagram, and places where boys and girls had mixed parties (which is in Iran prohibited and is considered a social and morality crime). Political Arrests: Some 81 people were arrested on the pretext of protesting against the election process, inciting people not to participate in the elections, implementing prison sentences, cooperating with Kurdish parties, students of different universities who were arrested and released on bail during the November uprising and in the January protests; participating in Students protests, over the past months for participating in labor protests, and directing a film that insulted President Hassan Rouhani. Social Arrest: Some 31 people were arrested as fraudsters, brokers and the General Directorate of Registration of Non-Commercial Companies and Institutions and receiving Bribes. 3. Torture: During this month, according to news reports, the detainees of the November 2019 uprising were subjected to physical, and psychological torture in various prisons. The specific names are not mentioned in the news. In addition, there have been reports of the physical torture of four inmates and the mental torture of four others. Flogging: This month, the news of the flogging of five tourists who went on a business trip to Tabas was released. On the other hand, news agencies reported that flogging sentences had been issued for prisoners, but no news of flogging had been announced. 4. Arbitrary Murder: In February 2020, five Kulbars (porters) were killed by Iranian border guards and law enforcement. Three prisoners due to the overwhelming pressure on prisoners in various prisons committed suicide and unfortunately lost their lives. A prisoner also attempted to commit suicide but was rescued by his fellow prisoners. A prisoner was killed through the beating of the prisons guards. Some 10 Inmates in various prisons lost their lives by the infection of the coronavirus. Read More: Executions in Iran in 2020 and the Names of Those Executed A total of 170 passengers to Kuwait who arrived at the Kozhikode international airport on Saturday morning were sent back after flights from India were banned by Kuwaits Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The Air India Express to Kuwait and Etihad flight to Kuwait via Abu Dhabi have been cancelled. In the wake of Covid 19, Kuwait announced the suspension of all flights to and from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Bangladesh, Philippines, India and Sri Lanka for a week starting Saturday. It also banned the entry of anyone who has been in those seven counties in the last two weeks. The passengers were not informed of the ban and they came to know about it after reaching the airport. The airport authorities said that they received a circular from Kuwaits Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Passengers mainly from Kozhikode, Kannur, Palakkad and Malappuram protested at the airport against the last minute communication regarding cancellation of flights. Auburn, IN (46706) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 28F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low around 25F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Mumbai, March 7 : A day after the Enforcement Directorate registered a money laundering case against Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor and raided his premises, he was taken to the agency's office in Mumbai on Saturday for further questioning. Kapoor, who was grilled by central agency's officials on Friday night at his Samudra Mahal residence in Mumbai, was shifted to the ED office in the metropolis around 12.30 pm. ED officials said Kapoor was questioned throughout the night, with some rest time. A senior ED official connected with the probe told IANS: "Kapoor will be questioned about Yes Bank loans to Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL)." The official said that during searches a lot of incriminating documents were found and the agency wanted to grill him on his links with DHFL promoters and other companies. Kapoor's alleged role in the disbursal of loan to a corporate entity and kickbacks reportedly received in her wife's bank account are also under probe. The ED had filed the money laundering case against Kapoor and raided his residence, apart from issuing a look-out circular so that he does not flee the country. The ED registered a money laundering case against Kapoor as a continuation of its probe against the DHFL wherein it was allegedly found that Rs 12,500 crore was diverted to 80 shell companies using one lakh fake borrowers. The transactions with these shell companies date back to 2015. An ED official in New Delhi told IANS that the DHFL probe revealed that funds diverted by the DHFL originated from Yes Bank. He said that the searches at Kapoor's residence on Friday night were meant to find out any irregularity in grant of loans to the DHFL by the Yes Bank. The ED has accused Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan of DHFL of purchasing shares in five firms -- Faith Realtors, Marvel Township, Abe Realty, Poseidon Realty, and Random Realtors -- after which they were amalgamated with Sunblink. The outstanding loans of these five firms, totalling around Rs 2,186 crore till July 2019, were allegedly appropriated onto the books of Sunblink to cover up the diversion of loans acquired from DHFL. The ED's action comes after the RBI superseded Yes Bank Board for 30 days and appointed an administrator, putting a cap of Rs 50,000 on withdrawals by account holders for a month. The RBI said that the bank's board was superseded "owing to serious deterioration in the financial position of the bank". Former SBI CFO Prashant Kumar was appointed as administrator of Yes Bank, which has over 1,000 branches and 1,800-plus ATMs across the country. On Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the bank was on watch since 2017 and developments relating to it were monitored on a day-to-day basis. Joe Marler demonstrated some impressive handling skills for a front-row forward in England's Six Nations victory over Wales at Twickenham. As players from both sides squared up early on, the England prop could be seen approaching Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones and nonchalantly grabbing the lock's gentials. Gareth Thomas made light of the situation on ITV and said: 'It would have never have happened in my day and I am really upset about that because if it had I would never have retired!' England prop Joe Marler appears to grab Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones in the genitals The veteran lock appears bemused as he attempts to confront Marler in the aftermath Joe Marler on Alun Wyn Jones... pic.twitter.com/YHxoKCkNOf Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) March 7, 2020 Under law 9.27 the low-end entry point for grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals is a minimum 12-week ban the maximum punishment is four years. England would go on to win the match with early scores from Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly, plus a second half try from Manu Tuilagi restoring dominance following Justin Tipuric crossing 40 seconds into the second period. However, a red card for Tuilagi with six minutes left - shortly after Ellis Genge had been sin-binned - put England's position at risk and Dan Biggar and Tuilagi dragged the result back to 33-30. Marler has gained a reputation for bizarre behaviour on and off the field, having earlier this season delivered an analogy that involved a horse impression in an interview for his club side Harlequins. Sportsmail columnist Sir Clive Woodward admitted he could not believe Marler took such a big risk in a huge match. On ITV< pundit and former Wales star Gareth Thomas cracked a joke about the incident Marler is becoming a well-known personality off the pitch for his bizarre antics and interviews He said: 'I have no idea what Joe Marler was up to with Alun Wyn Jones in the first half but I do know Gareth Thomass hilarious comments at half-time were priceless and may well have defused a bizarre incident. 'I was dreading Mark Pougatch coming to me for a comment but Gareth stepped in like the great man he is. 'What did Marler think he was doing? Millions were watching on the TV, including kids, and that has no part in our game. 'And say Jones had chosen to kick off and retaliated with a flurry of punches, that would have been caused totally by Marlers stupidity. 'The authorities might yet take a dim view, Im not sure there is any precedent on this one.' Amidst rebellion by some members against the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) m... Amidst rebellion by some members against the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been scheduled to hold in Abuja on Tuesday, March 17 at 3pm. The organ of the party last met in November 2019 and skirted the demand by some members of the NEC to suspend Oshiomhole then as chairman, over his alleged dictatorial tendencies and paralysing the partys organs. The rebels had also blamed Oshiomhole for the partys losses in Zamfara, Rivers, Bauchi and others. Venue for the new meeting is the National Executive Committee Hall at the partys national secretariat in Abuja, now under cordon by the police and the DSS, following the crisis over Oshiomholes chairmanship. A sign of crisis in the party was that the meeting notice was signed by acting National Secretary, Chief Victor T. Giadom and not Architect Waziri Bulama who was named on Wednesday as substantive replacement for Mai Mala Buni, who had moved on to become governor of Yobe State. Giadom invited all NEC members to attend the emergency meeting in line with Article 25 (B) (II) of the Constitution of the Party. The call came hours after the APC Progressive Governors Forum also called for an emergency meeting of the NEC. President Buhari as the national leader of the party had met on Thursday with Oshiomhole and Atiku Bagudu who leads the Progressive Governors Forum. The agenda of the NEC which last met in December, is predictably going to centre over Oshiomholes position, now being challenged in the court. The NEC may also consider the tempest building over the recent appointments of key officers, supposedly approved by a meeting of National Working Committee of the party on 14 January. Arch. Waziri Bulama was appointed as the Partys Acting National Secretary. He replaces Mai Mala Buni, who is now the Governor of Yobe State. Former Oyo governor Abiola Ajimobi has also been appointed as deputy national chairman(south). He replaces Adeniyi Adebayo, who is now the minister for industries. Mr. Paul Chukwuma is the new National Auditor. The appointments were said to have followed nominations from the respective zones, according to a statement by National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu. But Ekiti state APC has faulted the appointment of Ajimobi, as the replacement for Adebayo. It wanted Senator Gbenga Aluko to take the position. PGFs Director-General, Salihu Lukman described the Abuja High court injunction against Oshiomhole as a big opportunity to reposition the party ahead of the 2023 general election. The forum, while acknowledging the existence of the conflicting court orders of the Abuja and Kano federal high courts, called for the appointment of an acting chairman for the APC until the determination of the issue relating to the legality of the suspension of Oshiomhole in court. The reality is that our party APC is faced with a big problem whereby none of our organs are meeting as provided by the constitution. In fact, we are even not sure who our members are. There is, therefore, the urgent need to resume the process of party building with confirmation of our members as well as recruiting new members, Lukman said in a statement. We need to invoke provisions of Article 17 (vi) which provides that in the event of a vacancy, the relevant Party organ shall appoint another person to act in his place pending ratification by the National Convention or Congress. The forum claimed that members of the Oshiomhole-led NWC have constituted themselves into an unaccountable assembly in the affairs of the party. Already, this is the second year since the last Convention in 2018 where Comrade Oshiomhole-led NWC was elected. What this means is that with or without our current challenges we are actually due for a National Convention, Lukman said. Lukman said once a National Executive Convention (NEC) is convened, there will be an emergence a new atmosphere in the party that will promote reconciliation and re-orient the party to regain its political profile as a party. Oshiomhole is currently in a legal battle to keep his position. Justice Danlemi Senchi of Abuja High Court on Wednesday granted an order of interim injunction restraining Oshiomhole from parading himself as the APC national chairman. However, a Federal High Court In Kano on Thursday set aside the ruling of FCT High Court suspending Oshiomhole. Justice Lewis Allagoa of Kano High Court ordered the police and Department of State Service (DSS) to provide security for Oshiomhole to resume in his office. Oshiomhole had also gone further to file an appeal at the Appeal court. COVID-19, the new coronavirus, is upon us, as everyone knows. It is making for strange politics. In a recent discussion I had with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, I expected to hear the usual and appropriate anti-Trump critique, but I didnt get it. Thats because Trump put his vice president, the usually non-loquacious Mike Pence, in charge of the U.S. response to the spreading virus. Trumps rationale for appointing Pence was that the vice president was once a governor (Indiana) who is familiar with public health issues. As governor, he opposed the needle sharing program meant to help curb the spread of AIDS. He finally came to the right decision, but not before praying over the matter. Cuomo sounded quite conciliatory about his discussion with Pence. This is really not hard to understand. Trump certainly appears to hate New York. He has done everything in his power to punish the very blue state. Every time Cuomo turns around, Trump is doing something to mess with New York. Its as if hes saying to himself, O.K. They hate me, so Ill throw them to my reactionary base and make an example out of them. Thats what happens when you mess with me. He has made traveling to Canada much more difficult for New Yorkers and has put a cap on the deduction of state and local taxes that has infuriated Cuomo. Now the feds will be handing out what looks like billions of dollars to the states to fight the virus. Cuomo correctly wants New Yorks share. As a sometime folk aficionado, I remember the great Tom Paxton song, I Read it in The Daily News. Cuomo made the headlines in last Saturdays Daily News, which headlined, Gov. Cuomo praises Pence, Wants New York to Test for Corona Virus. Its always fun to try to get inside Cuomos head. In this case, he knows that Pence will be able, for example, to allow the state to use its Wadsworth Labs, among the best in the nation, to test for the virus instead of going through the Washington maze before we can get the results we need. Said Cuomo in our conversation, Putting in the vice president was a recognition that this is a government-wide mobilization, and thats intelligent. And for this state, government preparedness means you have to have a plan for almost every contingency. The same day, New York Citys widely unpopular mayor, Bill de Blasio, blasted the Trump administrations COVID-19 response as malpractice. Things havent been exactly cordial between the governor and the mayor, but my bet is that a black plume was coming out of the governors head when he read that. In this situation, Cuomo was absolutely right. There are times when you dont want to risk losing millions in precious resources for the state and de Blasios self-serving intemperance is a perfect example of that. De Blasio is a Bernie Sanders acolyte and is undoubtedly hoping to land a spot in his administration, while Cuomo is remaining relatively silent after almost endorsing Joe Biden. It seems to me that the malpractice in this case belongs to de Blasio. This all proves that when something as dangerous as COVID-19 comes along, politics begin to resemble an octopus with tentacles reaching all over the place. Its obvious to me that Trump understands that if he blows this one, he will be out. In fact, he keeps contradicting himself on the matter. Trump is a man who does not like to share credit for anything good. He has been bragging about the stock market, but now, with the crash in numbers, he is once again blaming the Democrats. This virus is happening on his watch. He well knows how serious this is, so he is willing to allow the governors to handle the mess. Cuomo seems to know that this is no time to fool with dynamite. In this case, hats off to Cuomo. Sunday Freeman columnist Alan Chartock is a professor emeritus at the State University of New York, publisher of the Legislative Gazette and CEO of the WAMC Northeast Public Radio Network. Readers can email him at alan@wamc.org. Im back in Italy, in the salon of the American Academy in Rome, talking with Francesca Marciano about Animal Spirit, her new story collection coming from Pantheon in June. These new stories deal with relationships: between men and women, between friends, between humans and the natural world. Marcianos characters are at various turning points in their livesthe end of adulterous affair, the beginning of romance, the mental breakdown of a long-ago loverand each epiphany is sparked by an encounter with an animal: a vicious seagull, a small dog on a country road, an albino Burmese python, starlings circling in the sky. There is something animalistic, primitive about feelings, about relationships, Marciano says. What is our rage? Its animalistic. I started thinking about stories and animals kept coming up, wild animals. And when I thought about a theme for the collection, halfway through I saw it was animal spirit. Unruly with its own catalogue. There is this intelligence all around us, and we hardly see it. Time to note lifes circles: Marciano lived for years in Kenya, the setting for her first novel, 1998s Rules of the Wild, which marked the beginning of her relationship with Robin Desser, who is now Random Houses editor-in-chief. I remember sending final edits via DHL, while Francesca was camping by a remote river, and worrying if she would ever get them, Desser tells me. Marciano has published three novels, but her heart these days seems taken with stories. She and I first met in 2014, over her previous book, her debut story collection, The Other Language. I love short stories, she says. Im happy to wave that flag. Writing short stories is incredible gymnastics for the brain. A short story is a special formcompressed, decisive. I love the storys need for detail. Nicole Aragi of Aragi Inc., Marcianos new U.S. agent, couldnt agree more. Im the queen of collections, Aragi tells me. There was one year when all I had were collections! I find short stories to be complete experiences. You can pack a lot into 20 pages, and Francesca is a master. She covers wide geographic and emotional territory. Marciano says that with Animal Spirit shes back to lifes priorities. These stories are mature, she says. Love is no longer the fuel that is driving me to write. Alternatives are what interest me. Girl meets boy doesnt satisfy me enough. I want to investigate what brings me to the brink. Its time to look up at the sky rather than down at the ground. Looking wider informed the book, though unconsciously. I saw the design when the collection was finished. I am in a different place in my life, more melancholic but also hopeful. The stories have painful episodes of madness, infidelity, aggression, but I am an optimist. Change is good, and its important to see the good side of things. Marciano relates this idea to the state of her cityPeople criticize Rome: they see the potholes in the street; I see the beauty, the ruinsand the state of the world. Shit happens, she says. It has to happen. The world is threatened by so many things, but hope is something Ive been thinking about. A true Italian and a true Roman, Marciano is also a nomad. Besides the decade in Kenya, she lived a decade in New York City, arriving when she was 21 in the 1970s; she writes in English and speaks perfectly. After Kenya, she traveled to New Mexico, and she has spent time in India as well. She recently had a residency in Chennai, where she finished up this collection. Desser calls Animal Spirit fully, richly voiced, noting that Francesca conjures worlds: Rome, a Greek island, the New Mexican desert. She recalls learning two years ago that Marciano was getting images, characters, and ideas down on the page: Nothing could have excited me more than to hear that. From those early sketches came the six stunning stories in Animal Spirit. Aragi, meanwhile, had taken on Marciano as a client in May 2017. Marciano reached out with some stories, but Aragi had read all of the previous work. They connected via Skype. I remember wandering around with my laptop, nattering, Aragi says. She had the manuscript for Animal Spirit in September 2017. They met that December in New York. Desser bought U.S. rights at Pantheon in May 2019. Publicity and marketing plans include digital advertising, book club outreach, and a six-city tour covering New York City; Portland, Maine; San Francisco; Santa Fe and Taos, N.Mex.; and D.C. The human couplings in Animal Spirit are fraught and consuming, but the animals set the stage. They are exotic, and erotic. Think about dancing with a seven-foot python wrapped around your body. And dont forget the skimpy costume. (L-R) U.S. Vice President Mike Pence looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump leads a meeting with the White House Coronavirus Task Force and pharmaceutical executives in Cabinet Room of the White House on March 2, 2020 in Washington, DC. Topping a week of conflicting statements from the administration about how many tests the U.S. is now able to administer for the coronavirus, President Donald Trump on Friday told reporters at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta that "anybody who wants a test gets a test." U.S. health officials started the week by defending themselves to members of Congress for a shortage of tests across the country. That shortage, along with tight restrictions from the CDC on who could be tested, allowed infected people to go undetected and further spread it, say health experts. After being rebuked for the delays, Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn on Tuesday told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions that, with the aid of private sector partnerships, the government would be able to test roughly a million individuals by the end of the week. But by Thursday, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters he expects public laboratories this week to test 400,000 people. Later that day, Vice President Mike Pence said "we don't have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate will be the demand going forward." Pence is leading the government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak. A spokesperson for the CDC did not respond to requests to confirm the number of people who have been tested for the coronavirus. Part of the administration's hope in expediting its testing capability was partnering with the private sector to help make up for limitations created by what experts say is an underfunded public health system. The CDC is partnering with Integrated DNA Technologies to manufacture the tests under a CDC contract. IDT is partnering with commercial labs, including LabCorp and Quest for the testing, both companies have confirmed. "What was different was this response," said John Auerbach, CEO of the Trust for America's Health and former head of the CDC's policy office. "The administration said it wasn't just going to use public health labs as its core it was going to say to the commercial sector, you develop these, get them out the door. ... [But] that assumed they had the capacity to get these kits out the door." "But there are no real mechanisms for monitoring how much their capacity is it's kind of a wild west." LabCorp said Thursday its coronavirus test would be available at 6 p.m. that day. Quest said its test would be available Monday. Meantime the number of infected people continues to grow. There are at least 245 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Pence said Friday that 21 people on the Grand Princess cruise ship off California have tested positive. The growing count has led to mounting frustration by many in Congress over what they say are the president's conflicting statements and a lack of transparency amid a public health crisis. "They won't disclose how many test kits are now available or when they will be fully deployed, but we know that they haven't come close to the one million mark," said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., in a statement to CNBC. "Congress has done its job in providing emergency funding for the Administration to acquire, stockpile, and distribute an adequate supply of diagnostics," Schakowsky wrote. "The question remains, is this Administration capable of doing so?" LA PAZ, Bolivia - The knock at Orestes Sotomayor's door on the outskirts of this high-altitude metropolis came just as he was about to leave for work. The 35-year-old publisher of the Resistance, a left-leaning online news outlet, answered to find a group of plainclothes police eager to speak with him about a "cybercrime." He accompanied them to the station, where he was informed that he, in fact, was the cybercriminal they sought. The charge: sedition against the state, for running news stories critical of Bolivia's U.S.-backed interim president, Jeanine Anez. "My arrest is part of a much larger effort by this government," said Sotomayor, who spent five weeks in prison before he was transferred to house arrest. "This is no different than what happened in Bolivia during the military governments of the past." Critics cite another glaring similarity. As a right-wing, pro-American government represses, threatens and jails its leftist opponents, the United States has stayed largely silent - just as it did during the abuses of the Latin American dictatorships it supported during the Cold War. Washington's response - or the lack thereof - reflects what analysts say is the most ideological U.S. policy on Latin America by an American administration since the region's shift toward democracy in the 1980s and early 1990s. Critics say the Trump administration has played down a wave of repression unleashed by Anez in Bolivia, the killings of left-wing community leaders in Colombia, police shootings in poor Brazilian neighborhoods and the alleged drug-trafficking links and human rights abuses of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. All are countries run by conservative, pro-Trump governments. At the same time, the Trump administration has led Washington's most aggressive campaign in years against abuses committed by leftist leaders, particularly in socialist Venezuela and communist Cuba. Those abuses are among the most severe in the region. But critics say the failure to also call out wrongdoing by right-wing governments in the region has rewarded leaders who have themselves been seriously and credibly accused. That double standard, analysts say, could be working against the administration's stated goals in Venezuela, where U.S. officials are trying to turn the leftists in President Nicolas Maduro's inner circle against him. Perhaps no country exemplifies the double standard better than Bolivia. When socialist President Evo Morales resigned and fled in November amid accusations of election fraud, Anez was a second vice president of the Senate from a conservative opposition party. In the absence of Morales and other top leaders from his Movement for Socialism, she declared herself the nation's interim president - and was quickly recognized by the United States. Since being sworn in, the fiercely anti-socialist Anez has presided over the detention of hundreds of opponents, the muzzling of journalists and a "national pacification" campaign that has left at least 31 people dead, according to the national ombudsman and human rights groups. Washington has yet to comment. "There is an unwillingness on the level of the Trump administration to hold Anez to account, so she has a lot of room to do what she wants, including what seems to be the carrying out of vendettas," said Michael Shifter, the president of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue. "I think this is only going to further entrench governments like Maduro's. Because they see what's happening in Bolivia, and they know what awaits them if they leave power, despite any guarantees they might be offered." Nadia Cruz, Bolivia's ombudsman, said her office has grown increasingly concerned that protest is being criminalized, and that charges of "sedition" and "terrorism" are being brought for simply disagreeing with or questioning the Anez administration. U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet expressed her "concern" last week over "the prosecution of dozens of former government officials and people related to the previous administration." Human rights groups denounced the Anez administration for vetoing the participation of two experts on a commission linked to the OAS to help investigate abuses in Bolivia during the last months of 2019. Anez and senior members of her government declined repeated requests for comment. Congressman Tomas Monasterio, a solid Anez backer, said the criticisms against her are unfounded. He said Anez represents "a clear vision of the future, of a modern Bolivia, which is why traditional parties want to stop her." Monasterio called allegations of political persecution "fake news." The "true" persecution, he said, occurred during the long rule of Morales' socialists. "We can talk about death threats, but the ones I received," he said. "They and not us are the ones threatening and provoking death." Publicly, the Anez government denies using hard-line tactics - officials say they're simply responding to Morales' genuinely seditious and violent backers. Morales, accused of corruption, controlling the courts and clinging to power, resigned after a scathing report by the Organization of American States upheld opposition allegations of fraud in the October presidential vote that Morales claimed to have won. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently questioned the OAS report, arguing that they found no "statistical support for the claims of vote fraud." An article by the researchers, published by The Washington Post, prompted the Mexican government, which has backed Morales, to demand an "independent" review of the election results. The OAS fired back, saying the researchers' analysis contained "countless falsehoods, inexactitudes and omissions." In Bolivia, even anti-Morales politicians and activists who once backed Anez now say her administration has used threats and intimidation to consolidate power. The targets have included former Morales cabinet ministers and socialist politicians brought up on charges as varied as corruption, sedition and "making illegal appointments." There's a "real persecution of people in the previous government," said Jose Luis Quiroga, the policy director for Carlos Mesa, a former president who finished second to Morales in the October election. Polls now show Mesa running second to the socialist Luis Arce, Morales' former finance minister, in a May do-over. Anez, who at one time pledged not to seek the office, is also running. Morales and another senior socialist ally have been barred by the newly reformed electoral council from running for the senate. "In many cases, they are doing exactly what [the socialists] did to their political enemies," Quiroga said. "A simple accusation is made, and the prosecutor and police go all out." The U.S. government, a sharp critic of Morales, has refrained from criticizing Anez publicly. In December, weeks after protesters were killed in her pacification campaigns, Trump tweeted his support for her "as she works to ensure a peaceful Democratic transition through free elections." The following month, Mauricio Claver-Carone, the director of Latin America policy for the White House National Security Council, traveled to Bolivia "in the name of President Trump to greet and recognize the labor of President Anez at this moment of transition and optimism for Bolivia," he told reporters in La Paz. A senior State Department official, asked why the United States had refrained from addressing alleged abuses by the Anez government, said "our message has been consistent all the way through to all actors, that they need to be able to create a framework of impartiality. . . . That goes for every actor in the system, including the transitional authorities." Morales, Bolivia's president for more than 13 years, resigned Nov. 10 after the OAS issued its preliminary report on the election and Bolivia's military and national police withdrew their support of him. Confusion reigned as the senior socialists next in line for the presidency followed him out the door. Catholic Church leaders called an emergency meeting with Bolivian officials and dignitaries from the European Union and Brazil, according to Waldo Albarracin, a prominent anti-Morales human rights activist who attended. That night, he said, Morales supporters attacked and burned his home. Anez was invited to serve as interim leader. But Albarracin, like others, now denounces her for going back on the promise that she would not seek a full term. "Her role was to lead the country to transition, not to run for president," he said. Critics say Anez has polarized the nation in part through rhetoric - she warned voters in January against allowing the return of "savages" to power, an apparent reference to the indigenous heritage of Morales and many of his supporters. Right-wing Bolivians had long accused Morales of exerting undue pressure on the news media - but Anez's government has appeared to do the same, labeling as "seditious" outlets critical of her administration. Humberto Pacosillo closed his Inti Pacha Radio in November, he said, after he was warned by authorities that he could be jailed for sedition. His station had aired reports that blamed the interim government for the killings of left-wing protesters during clashes that followed Morales' resignation. At least nine people were killed in the central city of Sacaba on Nov. 15, and at least eight more were killed four days later in El Alto, according to the ombudsman's office. "We report on what is going on in our communities," Pacosillo said. "It is the reality, but those in power don't want to hear. They started calling us 'communication terrorists.' " Anez's government initially blamed the killings on Morales supporters, claiming that demonstrators shot their own allies to cast blame on her administration. Officials continue to deny that security forces were at fault, but in mid-February, they began negotiating compensation packages with victim's families. Iveth Saravia, who runs a community organization in El Alto, said she saw police and soldiers open fire on protesters there. The government had said the demonstrators were plotting to blow up a storage facility that provides metropolitan La Paz with cooking fuel - a claim she and other protesters deny. "They claimed we were at fault, but we did not have guns or tear gas," she said. "The only weapon we had was our voice. We pleaded with the military, asking why they were shooting." "It is hard to say anything, because if you talk, they accuse you of all sorts of crimes," she said. "If you post something on social media, it is sedition. They persecute anyone who is critical and praise anyone who attacks their opponents." - - - Faiola reported from Miami. A Virgin Media employee delivering a digital tv reciever. (Photo by: Newscast/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) An unsecured database that left the personal details of almost one million Virgin Media (LBTYA) customers accessible to unknown parties allegedly contained data that could link customers to pornographic sites. Virgin media apologised for the breach on Friday, which affected around 900,000 customers, and insisted that limited contact information had been accessed. However TurgenSec, the cyber security company that discovered the breach, said the database included details of explicit and violent content. These included "requests to block or unblock various pornographic, gore related and gambling websites, corresponding to full names and addresses," according to TurgenSec. Read more: Toxic ideas of masculinity are bad for all employees Information about customer subscriptions to the different aspects of Virgin Media services, including premium components, was also left accessible. The database was reportedly left unsecured since April 2019. A Virgin Media spokesman said: "Out of the approximate 900,000 people affected by this database incident, 1,100, or 0.1%, had information included relating to our Report a Site form. "We strongly refute any claim that we have acted in a disingenuous way. In our initial notification to all affected people about this incident, we made it clear that any information provided to us via a webform was potentially included in the database. "All individuals have been given details on how they can get in touch with us directly to address any queries, or for support and advice. We will be further contacting customers, where appropriate, to provide additional guidance. Read more: Virgin Atlantic bosses to take 15% pay cut in coronavirus response "In addition, we are currently building a bespoke, secure online tool which will allow any individual to find out if they are affected and which data types relating to them was included in the database. "We once again apologise to those who have been affected." (Back) Annette Mangan, Maura OHalloran and Deirdre Coogan with prize-winners Rosie Dunne, Derikas Stankevicius, Colin Staunton, Grace Whelan and Caitlin Evans at the event to mark Scoil Mhuire in Stratford becoming a Fairtrade school Scoil Mhuire in Stratford on Slaney recently took a big step to improve fairness for farmers in the developing world by becoming a Fairtrade school. Baltinglass has been a Fairtrade town since 2008. Fairtrade fortnight began on February 25 and continues until March 8. It focuses on chocolate and it's production and what Fairtrade could mean to chocolate farmers in south west Africa. Part of the process of becoming a Fairtrade school is to host an event and SN Muire decided to run a poster competition between the students of first, second and third classes and fourth, fifth and sixth classes. The children also watched videos on Fairtrade and hosted a question and answer session. They learnt that Fairtrade is about giving farmers in the developing world a fair price for their produce and that Ireland is the third largest consumer of chocolate in Europe. A further element of becoming a Fairtrade school is the use of Fairtrade tea and coffee in the staff room. Maura O' Halloran, well known local painter and art teacher, judged the poster competition. She spoke highly of the quality and clarity of the posters. The prizes were presented in the school on Wednesday, February 26 by Maura along with and Annette Mangan, Theresa Doyle and Deirdre Coogan of Fairtrade Baltinglass. Prizes, which included book tokens and Fairtrade Easter eggs, were awarded to those who came first, second and third in each class. There were also six highly commended works. Annette Mangan thanked the teachers in the school for supporting the children's engagement with Fairtrade. There was some chocolate for the parents who attended the presentation donated to Baltinglass Fairtrade by Chocolate and Love. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Cruise Ship Linked to Coronaviruses Cases in US, Taiwan Quarantined on Nile River An Egyptian cruise ship potentially linked to coronavirus cases in the United States, Canada, France, and Taiwan was placed under quarantine after 12 workers tested positive, Egyptian authorities said. Egypts health ministry said none of the workers were showing symptoms of the virus, which typically include fever, shortness of breath, and coughing. The statement, issued jointly with the World Health Organization, said people on board were tested after a Taiwanese-American woman who was on a cruise tested positive after returning to Taiwan. The workers would be quarantined for two weeks, authorities said, as would everyone who came into contact with them. The ship, named River, was on its way to Luxor from Aswan. Authorities didnt say how many people were on the ship. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks to President Donald Trump during a tour of the National Institutes of Healths Vaccine Research Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on March 3, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Several patients in Canada returned from Egypt on Feb. 20, authorities said, while French authorities said two people who vacationed in Egypt tested positive after returning to France. Officials in Texas said that 10 patients who returned from Egypt last month have tested positive for the virus, though they havent said if its the same ship thats under quarantine. Three cases in the Maryland were linked to a cruise ship in Egypt, Gov. Larry Hogan said late Friday. Officials are still looking into whether the three patients, all from Montgomery County, are a married couple in their 70s and a woman in her 50s. We are providing these updates not to unnecessarily raise alarm but in the interest of full transparency and out of an abundance of caution, Hogan said at a news conference. We are committed to do everything in our power to contain this virus and to limit its spread in our state. Taylor Michel, Director of Operations of Disinfecting Technologies Group, prepares to disinfect the arena following Yeshiva playing Worcester Polytechnic Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 6, 2020. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images) The patients returned to the United States on Feb. 20. The positive results have prompted actions in multiple states. Five Pennsylvania schools were closed on Friday because one of the patients attended an event including people from the schools in late February. And people were being monitored at the Village of Rockville, a retirement community, because another patient attended a public event there on Feb. 28 and came into contact with up to 100 people. People showing symptoms were asked to contact health authorities or their doctor. The new virus spreads primarily through close personal contact such as shaking hands and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. U.S. experts on Friday recommended people with serious health conditions, especially elderly people, think carefully about what they do amid the virus outbreak. Experts say the best ways to avoid infection include frequently washing hands, avoiding sick people, regularly cleaning objects and surfaces, and not touching ones nose, eyes, and mouth with unwashed hands. The first week of a double homicide trial in Missoula County District Court wrapped up on Friday with law enforcement and first responders laying out their response to a shooting at a downtown motel in October 2018. Missoula police detective Sean Manraksa on Friday gingerly held up for the jury one of the nine .380-caliber bullets found in room 228 of the Mountain Valley Inn in the early hours of Oct. 19, 2018, when first responders rushed the lone shooting survivor to emergency care and law enforcement spread through the area looking for suspects. Preston Rossbach, 19, is standing trial alone this month. Prosecutors allege he stabbed the victims in the room after Jonathan Whitworth, 28, shot them in a sort of revenge for selling them drugs that hospitalized a family member. Megan McLaughlin, 31, and Jason Flink, 23, were killed in the shooting. Kaleb Williams survived. Whitworth, the accused shooter, is scheduled to stand trial next month. His attorney has declined to comment on the matters of Rossbachs trial, much of which has included testimony against Whitworth. Detectives also found .380 bullets in the Kelly Tree Service truck Rossbach and Whitworth were seen leaving the hotel in from surveillance footage at the motel. When Melissa Deibert, a critical care paramedic with Missoula Emergency Services, responded to the area that night, she only had to follow the crowd of first responders moving in toward the room, she testified on Thursday. Inside, she saw Williams saturated with blood and looking ill. Deibert tried asking him questions, but she said Williams appeared to be elective about avoiding answers. Williams was going into shock, and soon transported to the Western Montana Emergency Clinic, just a few hundred yards away at Providence St. Patrick Hospital. There, emergency room physician Jordan Guffin saw a broken rib from Williams armpit gunshot wound, as well as a deflated lung. Emergency technicians were able to stabilize Williams, who testified on Thursday he remembered very little about the incident. Back at the Mountain Valley Inn, Missoula Police Sgt. Matt Kazinsky was delegating duties to nearly every officer who was out on patrol that night, he said during testimony on Friday. Surveillance video from the motel showed three people leaving the motel in a white pickup with a tree service logo on the side; law enforcement quickly tracked the vehicle to its owners listed address on Mormon Creek Road outside Lolo. Police deployed their SWAT team to the address, where they believed the suspects may be hiding out. Pat Erbacher, a Missoula Police Sgt. and team leader for the MPD SWAT team, was driving the armored vehicle up Mormon Creek Road to the bunkhouse, he testified Friday. When the unit arrived, he used the vehicles PA system to usher the people inside out of the house; Erbacher on Friday did not describe any struggle in doing so. Initially, Rossbach was actually not pegged as the suspect. Court records filed earlier in the case state law enforcement believed the suspect may have been another man, the defendant's father. As the adults in the bunkhouse were taken to the Missoula Police Station to be interviewed, Missoula County Sheriffs Deputy Christine Hettman gave Rossbach a courtesy ride to the station to be with family if they were released, she testified Friday. Asked if there was anywhere else Hettman could take him that night, Rossbach mentioned he had family in St. Ignatius. That was too far for me to drive, Hettman said Friday. He didnt have anywhere else to go. Hettman took Rossbach to the police station downtown and watched as he headed across the street and through the doors. Rossbach, attorneys have said in previous hearings, waited at the police station for some time until detectives came out to speak with him about the case. Two Missoula Police detectives, Mark Blood and Devin Erickson, then realized their suspect had been sitting in the waiting room. That day, detectives searching the bunkhouse at Mormon Creek Road found the knife prosecutors say Rossbach used to stab the victims at the Mountain Valley Inn. A state crime lab analyst testified Friday no usable fingerprints were recovered from the knife. Rossbachs trial continues Monday at 9 a.m. in Missoula County District Court. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Samsung Electronics Co. said Friday it will temporarily move some of its smartphone production to Vietnam, after shutting down a local factory following a positive coronavirus test there. Samsung shut down the factory in the southeastern city of Gumi after a worker tested positive for the new coronavirus. Samsung said the plant will be closed through Saturday, while the floor where the employee worked will be shuttered through Sunday. Samsung's premium smartphones, the Galaxy S20 series and the Galaxy Note 10, for the domestic market were being mostly produced in Gumi. Its plant in Vietnam will put out up to 200,000 smartphones a month and they will be shipped to South Korea beginning late this month, according to Samsung. Samsung said once the virus crisis calms down, the production allocated to Vietnam will be transferred back to Gumi. Samsung currently runs smartphone factories in Vietnam's Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen provinces. They account for half of the company's smartphone shipment worldwide. The world's largest smartphone maker has so far reported six virus-infected workers at its production sites in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, only about 50 kilometers north of Daegu, the epicenter of South Korea's virus outbreak. In recent weeks, Samsung had to stop smartphone production lines in the city for days several times after its workers have tested positive for COVID-19. Samsung also reported a virus-infected worker at its foundry factory in Yongin, about 50 kilometers south of Seoul, last week but said its chip production has not been affected. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Tuesday visited the company's manufacturing facilities in Gumi and encouraged employees to work to overcome the crisis. (Yonhap) Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on Feb. 24, 2020. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images) Weinstein Moved to Rikers Island Jail After 10-Day Hospital Stay NEW YORKFormer movie producer Harvey Weinstein, who was convicted of rape and sexual assault last week, was transferred to New Yorks Rikers Island jail complex from Bellevue Hospital on Thursday after undergoing a procedure to clear a heart blockage. Weinstein arrived in Rikers North Infirmary Command section, which houses inmates requiring medical care, by midafternoon, according to jail records. The move came after Weinstein underwent the procedure on Wednesday, according to his spokesman, Juda Engelmayer. The former producer had been taken to Bellevue following his conviction on Feb. 24, after his bail was revoked and he was taken into custody. The Rikers Island jail complex, whose main building went up in 1932, has long been plagued by violence and neglect. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed in 2017 to close it within a decade. A Bellevue spokeswoman declined to comment on Weinstein. Weinstein, 67, was found guilty of sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006 and raping former aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013. He faces up to 29 years in prison when he is sentenced on March 11. Jurors acquitted Weinstein on the two most serious charges, predatory sexual assault, which carried a maximum life sentence. More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct. He has denied the accusations. The former producer was a key force behind acclaimed films such as The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love, which both won Oscars for best picture. His former film studio, the Weinstein Co, filed for bankruptcy in March 2018 and is being liquidated. In addition to his convictions in New York, Weinstein also faces several felony charges in Los Angeles in connection with alleged sexual assaults against two women in 2013. By Brendan Pierson Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed global hot spots Friday, while Americas top diplomat again expressed outrage at the U.N.s publication of companies it says are operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank in violation of Palestinian human rights. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric made no mention of the U.N. human rights offices list of more than 100 companies released Feb. 12. But State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Pompeo made clear the U.S. will continue to engage U.N. officials and member states on this matter, will not tolerate the reckless mistreatment of U.S. companies, and will respond to actions harmful to our business community. The list included well known U.S.-based global companies, among them Airbnb, Motorola and General Mills. Although the United Nations says Israeli settlements violate international law, the U.N. human rights office said only that the companies are complicit in violating Palestinian human rights by operating in the settlements. The more than 40-minute meeting between Guterres and Pompeo took place in the secretary-generals 38th floor office. Pompeo refused to answer shouted questions from reporters as he entered and left U.N. headquarters. On the issue of Syria, where Russia and Turkey agreed to a cease-fire in northwest Idlib that began at midnight Thursday, the State Department said Pompeo and Guterres discussed the importance of an enduring ceasefire. READ | World Wildlife Day 2020: UN Chief Calls For 'more Caring' Relationship With Nature Ortagus said they also discussed continuing U.N. authorized cross-border aid deliveries, which have been a lifeline for Syrians, especially in Idlib. In January, Russia scored a victory for its ally Syria by using its veto threat to force the Security Council to adopt a resolution significantly reducing the delivery of cross-border humanitarian aid, which cut off critical medical assistance to over 1 million Syrians in the northeast. As for Afghanistan, the United States is currently seeking Security Council support for its agreement with the Taliban aimed at ending Americas longest war and bringing U.S. troops home. The U.N. is also engaged in trying to end conflicts in Yemen and Libya and in trying to tackle terrorism in the Sahel. At the meeting with Pompeo, the secretary-general expressed appreciation for the continued engagement of the United States in the United Nations and raised questions related to the implementation of the host country agreement, Dujarric said. Under the 1947 agreement between the United States and the United Nations, U.S. federal, state and local authorities shall not impose any impediments to transit to or from U.N. headquarters for representatives of U.N. member nations, with few exceptions. When visas are required by the U.S., the agreement says they shall be granted without charge and as promptly as possible. In the past year, Russia, Iran and others have protested that the U.S. held up visas, preventing their officials from attending U.N. meetings. READ | UN Chief Calls For Ending 'stupid' Women Inequality READ | UN Chief Urges Syria Cease-fire But Russia And China Oppose Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 A TOTAL of 163 Filipinos from Macau were repatriated Saturday, March 7, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. In a series of Twitter posts, the DFA said the Air Macau chartered flight carrying the 163 Filipinos from Macau landed in Manila at past 4 p.m. Saturday. They were assisted by officials of the Philippines Consulate General in Macau. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, in a statement Saturday, said the Philippines is grateful to Macau for arranging the repatriation flight in close coordination with the Philippine Consulate General. He said the chartered flight landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Through the efforts of the Philippine government, a total of 163 Filipinos finally boarded repatriation flight to Manila via Air Macau. The flight is expected to arrive in Manila later this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/xWfUJ42LnX DFA Philippines (@DFAPHL) March 7, 2020 Panelo assured that the Philippine government remains ready and is prepared in serving and protecting Filipinos here and abroad. This is the third batch of repatriates since the novel coronavirus outbreak began in December 2019. The first batch of 30 Filipinos were brought home from Wuhan and have been cleared following a quarantine period of 14 days, the incubation period for Covid-19 respiratory disease. The second batch consisted of 445 repatriates from the coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan. They arrived on February 25, 2020 and are still under quarantine at the New Clark City in Tarlac. (MVI/SunStar Philippines) Counterintuitive as it may sound, people fearing the coronavirus are buying up copies of Albert Camus The Plague, Stephen Kings The Stand, and Dean Koontzs The Eyes of Darkness. If youre one of those who finds consuming pandemic stories to be palliative for your anxiety, I recommend the addition of one of the only pieces of American fiction about the 191819 flu pandemic that was written by a survivor: Katherine Anne Porters Pale Horse, Pale Rider. This short novel, published in 1939, is a story of two doomed lovers caught up in the gears of world war and a deadly virus; somehow, it manages to be romantic and bitter, all at once. Advertisement The story is semi-autobiographical. Porter was 28 during the 191819 pandemic and working for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver. She was dating a young soldier, who was readying for deployment overseas. When she fell sick, he nursed her at her boarding house, until her editor finally pulled strings to get her admitted to a hospital. That hospital was so overcrowded that Porter was left on a gurney in a hallway for nine days, running a fever of 105. When she recovered, she found out that the soldier had died of the flu. Pale Horse, Pale Rider gives the bones of this experience to its protagonist, Miranda Gay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miranda bristles at jingoistic homefront culture, which Porter depicts as a mind virus that rivals the flu. A couple of unctuous war bond salesmen try to guilt Miranda into purchasing a bond she cannot afford; she and the other female reporter at her paper worry that they will lose their jobs if they cant scrape together the money to buy one. The novel shows how the expectation of support for the war colors everyones daily interactions. Miranda describes how everyone reacts in a particular way when they hear the words the war: It was habitual, automatic, to give that solemn, mystically uplifted grin when you spoke the words or heard them spoken. Advertisement Advertisement The war and the flu mingle together as threats to a good thing thats happening in Mirandas life. In this fictionalization of Porters experience, the soldier Miranda is in love with is named Adam, and hes from Texas. Theyve been dating about 10 days, but they both feel like this is something real. Theyve spent those 10 days in the frenzy of early romance: dancing to jazz, going to see plays she needs to write about for the paper, poking around geological museums, skipping out of town to take hikes. They both know that their mutual affection will be short-lived, since hell be going to France soon. What they dont know is that it will be the virus that gets them first. Advertisement Advertisement While Miranda admits to herself how much she would love him if he werent bound for the war, between them, they keep everything light by policy; the flu is no exception. It seems to be a plague, something out of the Middle Ages, Miranda says to Adam, who is about to be sent back to training, about the sickness. Did you ever see so many funerals, ever? Never did, he replies. Well, lets be strong minded and not have any of it. Ive got four days more straight from the blue and not a blade of grass must grow under our feet. With that, they make plans to go dancing. Advertisement Advertisement Slowly, the flu makes its presence known in her body, even as her mind continues to dwell on the war. On the night she collapses from the sickness shes been feeling inklings of for days, Adam and Miranda go to a play together, so she can review it. Its a boring play, but before the third act, a fundraiser comes onstage to implore people to buy war bonds. Its this endless speech, which hits all the patriotic high notes, that catalyzes Mirandas illness, making her head ache and spin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a restaurant after the play, she passes out; when she comes to, Adam is nursing her in her boardinghouse room. Thats the last time she has with him. After shes taken to the hospital and suffers through days of pain and fever dreams, Miranda wakes up, finds out hes dead, and feels profoundly alienated from her body and her life. Can this be my face? Miranda asks when she looks in the mirror after finally regaining consciousness. Are these my own hands? she asks a nurse, holding them up to show the yellow tint like melted wax glimmering between the closed fingers. The books small story of one persons tragedy reminds us that illness is a personal trauma, and a pandemic is a million personal traumas in one. Porter said of the flu pandemic in an interview in 1963: It simply divided my life, cut across it like that. So that everything before that was just getting ready, and after that I was in some strange way altered. Pale Horse, Pale Rider isnt a book about secretly released bioweapons or an epic struggle between good and evil or a metaphor about Nazism; its just a story about people coming to terms with their own mortality. The body is a curious monster, no place to live in, how could anyone feel at home there? Miranda asks. How, indeed? Finance Ministersaid the government had asked the Reserve Bank to look into what went wrong at Yes Bank and fix individual responsibilities. Mumbai/New Delhi: At the end of a chaotic day that saw the stock market crash and the government, depositors, mutual funds, payment platforms all wrung their hands in despair and spent tense hours, hope emerged that the crisis triggered by the overnight moratorium on Yes Bank will have a quick resolution, possibly within a month. A draft scheme placed on Friday by the Reserve Bank of India for the revival of the beleaguered private lender said the State Bank of India (SBI) shall pick up a 49 per cent stake in the reconstituted Yes Bank for about Rs 2,450 crores, and stay invested for at least three years. RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said that the 30-day moratorium deadline imposed on Yes Bank Thursday night is an outer limit, hinting that the restrictions placed on the bank may be lifted before that. He said the interests of depositors will be fully protected. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman also said that the deposits and liabilities of all depositors will be honoured and the jobs and salaries of Yes Bank staff will be protected for at least one year. We are working to protect the interests of the depositors and also those who invested in Yes Bank. Our immediate priority is to ensure that Yes Banks customers are able to withdraw money within the stipulated cap, Mr Sitharaman said. She said the government had asked the Reserve Bank to look into what went wrong at Yes Bank and fix individual responsibilities. The Yes Bank crisis and global sell-off pummelled stocks in Mumbai, as the Sensex shed 894 points after plunging by 1,459 points in intra-day trade and the Nifty crashing below the 11,000-mark. The investors have become poorer by Rs 3.28 lakh crores on Friday. The market capitalisation of the BSE-listed companies dropped by Rs 3,28,684.5 crores to Rs 1,44,31,224.41 crores. The Yes Bank fiasco also hit mutual fund investors in debt and equity hard as the stock fell over 55 per cent. Mutual funds have exposures of Rs 3,345 crores in Yes Bank equity and debt. Nippon India Mutual Fund said it has marked down the value of its investments to zero in bonds issued by Yes Bank. Global rating agency Moodys Investors Service downgraded Yes Banks rating. The ratings remain under review, with the direction uncertain, Moodys said, downgrading the banks long-term foreign currency issuer rating to Caa3 from B2. Digital payment platforms bore the brunt on the moratorium, as transactions were disrupted, with PhonePe facing long outage. (L) Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov arrives during the second day of the EU summit meeting at the European Union headquarters in Brussels on Oct. 18, 2019. (Thierry Roge/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images), (R) Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks during a meeting in Istanbul, Turkey on Feb. 29, 2020. (Turkish Presidential Press Office/Handout via Reuters) Bulgarias PM Fails to Bring Greece, Turkey, EU Leaders Together on Refugee Crisis EU Pledges Aid to Greece Bulgarias Prime Minister Boyko Borissov met with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Turkey, on March 2, to arrange a summit with Greece and some European Union leaders in Sophia, the Bulgarian capital, to discuss options to prevent a refugee crisis due to the situation in Syria. While his attempt failed, he was able to get assurance from Erdogan that Turkey would not allow migrants to force the Bulgarian border. Erdogan announced on Feb. 29 that Turkeys borders with Europe were open for refugees to cross. Since then, thousands of migrants gathering at the TurkishGreek border have tried to sneak into Greece, but Greek authorities pushed them back to Turkey with tear gas and stun grenades. Small groups, however, were able to cross the border unnoticed, both by land and sea. In 2016, an agreement between the EU and Turkey was signed to prevent migrants from flooding into Europe. In return, the European Union agreed to provide financial aid to Turkey to cover the costs of hosting refugees. The European Union has not exactly fulfilled the requirements of the March 18, [2016] agreement, Erdogan said at a joint news conference with Borissov after their meeting in Ankara. The EU applies double standards today as well. Leading E.U. countries still have such double standards that regarding the refugees currently moving towards borders, they say Turkey is making a mistake. We have spent already 40 billion euros ($44.94 billion), he said, adding that the 6 billion euros ($6.75 billion) that the EU committed at the end of last year has not all been paid, and that what has been paid has gone to non-governmental organizations, not the Turkish state. He expected the EU to share this financial burden with Turkey. This situation of Turkey is not understood by the European Union countries, Erdogan said. According to the Turkish government website, there are currently 4.3 million refugees in Turkey, including 3.5 million from Syria. Following the allocation of 6 billion euros in funding last year, no new funding has been allocated this year to help Turkey with the cost of hosting the refugees, said Gerald Knaus, an Austrian social scientist who was the architect of the 2016 EU-Turkey deal and the founding chairman of the European Stability Initiative, according to NPR. The EUs executive European Commission said on Tuesday that of the 6 billion euros, 2.2 billion euros ($2.47 billion) had already been disbursed, according to Reuters. The rest was assigned to specific projects, meaning they should reach beneficiaries soon. Migrants walk near the Pazarkule border crossing in Edirne, at the Turkish-Greek border on Monday, March 2, 2020. (Darko Bandic/AP Photo) Erdogan also pointed out that according to the UNs 1951 Geneva Convention (also known as 1951 Refugee Convention) and the European Convention on Human Rights, refugees seeking asylum can apply to whichever country they would like to live in, and countries like Greece should consider asylum applications without any discrimination based on ethnicity or religion. He said that soldiers of Greece have killed two refugees and one of them was seriously wounded. Athens denied the claim, according to Reuters. However, Turkey has perfect cooperation and solidarity in terms of the national security with Bulgaria, said Erdogan. Borissov said that one of the main principles of the EU is to share [the] burden and to have our fair share. Hopefully, we will have a chance to organize a meeting in Sofia, with the participation of all relevant parties, he said at the time. Since Turkey, Bulgaria, and Greece are located in the same geographic area, they can together work on a good agreement to protect the refugees arriving at their borders, Borissov added. Our relations, I believe, set [an] example for the others and hopefully we will get concrete outcomes, concluded Borissov. Erdogan said that Turkey cannot host the refugees anymore. European Union Promises Aid to Greece Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and European Parliament President David-Maria Sassoli (not pictured) disembark a Chinook helicopter after flying over the Greek-Turkish border, in the region of Evros, Greece on March 3, 2020. (Greek Prime Ministers Office/Dimitris Papamitsos/Handout via Reuters) President of the EUs executive Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, together with other top-level EU officials visited the Bulgarian and Greek borders on March 3. Both borders are external European Union borders with Turkey. At a joint press conference with Borissov, Von der Leyen emphasized Bulgarias strategic role for Europe in dealing with migration and engaging with Turkey. When visiting the Greek-Turkish border, Von der Leyen announced at a news conference in Kastanies, Greece, additional aid of 700 million euros ($782.95 million) to help Greece deal with the refugee crisis. Von der Leyen said in Greece that Frontex, the European Border, and Coast Guard Agency, is ready to deploy its forces at the Greek-Turkish border at the countrys request. She also promised medical assistance, shelters, tents, and blankets that can be provided by the European Union to Greece as needed to assist in dealing with refugees. Turkey is not an enemy and people are not just means to reach a goal. We would all do well to remember both in the days to come, von der Leyen said, thanking Greece for being a European shield. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, accused Turkey of encouraging tens of thousands of migrants to illegally enter Greece during the same press conference. We stand ready to support Turkey in dealing with this refugee problem and find a solution to the Syria conundrum but not under these circumstances, Mitsotakis said. Greece is also doing Europe a great service by protecting the external border of the EU, but Europe has not been up to the task in dealing with the migration crisis, Mitsotakis added. He said he is hoping that this crisis will motivate all to assume their responsibilities. The situation at our border is not only an issue for Greece to manage, it is the responsibility of Europe as a whole, von der Leyen said from Kastanies, Greece. Reuters contributed to this report. Vice President Mike Pence said in a Friday press conference that 21 people on the Grand Princess cruise ship being held off the California coast tested positive for coronavirus, including 19 crew members and two passengers. "Working in close consultation with Governor Gavin Newsom and the State of California, we have developed a process for addressing our findings and resolving the circumstances facing Americans and people from around the world and the crew on the Grand Princess," Pence said. Among the 3,500 people on the ship, 46 people were swabbed Thursday and test results arrived Friday. 21 tested positive for the coronavirus, 24 tested negative, and one test was inconclusive. Pence said the plan is to now test everyone on the ship and quarantine or treat as needed. Federal officials have been working with the state and we have developed a plan to bring the ship to a non-commercial port," Pence said. All passengers and crew will be tested for the virus. Those that will need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those who will require medical help will receive it. Confined to their cabins, passengers aboard a mammoth cruise ship off the California coast awaited coronavirus test results Friday amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of at least 10 cases during its previous voyage. On Thursday, a California Air National Guard helicopter crew lowered test kits onto the 951-foot Grand Princess by rope and later retrieved them for analysis as the vessel waited off San Francisco, under orders to keep its distance from shore. The ship will not come on shore until we appropriately assess the passengers, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday. Health officials trying to establish whether the virus is circulating on the Grand Princess undertook the testing after reporting that a passenger on a previous voyage of the same ship, February 11 to 21, died of the disease. In the past few days, health authorities disclosed that at least nine other people who were on the same journey were also found to be infected. And some passengers on that trip stayed aboard for the current voyage. While the risk to Americans in general remains low, "if you are an individual with a serious health condition or are elderly, it is important to take precautions and use commons sense," Pence said, adding "cruise ships present a unique challenge for health officials and so we would ask elderly Americans to use common sense and caution in planning and cruise ship travel in the future." Another Princess cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, last month because of the virus, and ultimately about 700 of the 3,700 people aboard became infected in what experts pronounced a public-health failure, with the vessel essentially becoming a floating germ factory. An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles said the recirculated air from a cruise ships ventilation system, plus the close quarters and communal settings, make passengers vulnerable to infectious diseases. Theyre not designed as quarantine facilities, to put it mildly, said Don Milton of the University of Maryland. Youre going to amplify the infection by keeping people on the boat. He said the fallout from the ship quarantined in Japan demonstrates the urgent need to move people off the ship. My advice is to get people off and into a safer quarantine environment than a cruise ship, Milton said. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Amy Graff is a digital editor for SFGATE. Email her news tips at agraff@sfgate.com. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: US police believe an Irishwoman killed three members of her own family before taking her own life. She has been identified as the suspect in an apparent murder-suicide in Nevada. Dubai: Two people hailing from India, a 19-year-old has been killed and accompanying him a 42-year was injured in a road accident in Dubai after their vehicle hit a stationery truck, according to a media report. Muhammed Savad who was 19, hailed from Mallappuram in Kerala was in the passenger seat when the accident took place and died on the spot while Mohamed Abdul Bari, 42, who belonged to Kerala as well was driving, and faced injuries following which he was admitted to a hospital in Dubai, the report added. The two, who were from Abu Dhabi, had come in a van to Dubai to buy fish which they supplied to groceries and the accident happened when they were on their way back to the capital, the report added. Actor Ajith Kumar will take legal action against those who forged his signature and published fake news about him. On March 6, a letter, duly signed by the Ajith, declared that the Tamil superstar will re-join social media. The news has irked Ajith and his legal counsels, Anand and Anand, have issued a statement on his behalf. The letter states: Our client has issued a public notice in the past, and has on repeated occasions maintained that, he does not have any social media accounts, and that he does not have or support any official fan page on any stream of social media. The letter also said: Our client would like to state that necessary and appropriate legal action would be taken to the fullest extent possible against the perpetrator who issued the false notice and forged our clients signature. Also read: Neha Kakkar shows pictures of her swanky Rishikesh bungalow and the tiny home she was born in: I always get emotional Popularly known as Thala among fans, Ajith Kumar maintains a low profile and doesnt even attend film events. His films in 2019 Viswasam and Ner Konda Paaravai were blockbusters. The actor is currently working on H. Vinoths Valimai, produced by Boney Kapoor. Recently, Ajith was spotted with producer Boney Kapoor at Sridevis Chennai residence in Mylapore, the video of which is doing the rounds on social media. He even obliged selfies-seeking fans outside the residence. Bollywood actress and Rajinikanths Kaala heroine Huma Qureshi has been roped in as heroine of the venture. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop US President Donald Trump on March 6 reportedly said that the coronavirus poses low risk to Americans adding that the virus was under control in the country. The statement comes as the deadly virus has infected over 335 people and killed 17 in the US. Trump who visited the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday said that the overall risk from COVID-19 to American people remained low. The US President while referring to infections and deaths in other affected nations like China, South Korea and Italy said that the virus was under control in the United States. He added that people should look at other countries which have so many cases with numbers increasing every day. Read: Coronavirus: Government's Unique Bid To Raise Awareness Through Pre-call Messages Read: J&K Reports 1st Case Of Coronavirus, Total Number Of Cases In India Rise To 32 Meanwhile, US Vice-President, Mike Pence revealed that 21 people aboard Grand Princess Ship held off the coast in California have tested positive for COVID-19. Pence, while speaking at a press conference at White House said that everybody on the cruise would be tested and those required to be quarantined would be quarantined. Pence is reportedly leading the US efforts to combat the deadly virus. Lauding President Trump, he said that the President has no higher priority than the health and safety of the American citizens and that he has assembled an extraordinary group of American and agencies. to combat the virus. Read: Coronavirus: Government's Unique Bid To Raise Awareness Through Pre-call Messages Read: Coronavirus: Karnataka Govt To To Suspend Biometric Attendance Temporarily Bhutan reports first case This comes as a US tourist in Bhutan tested positive for the virus on March 7 making it the first case to be reported in the Himalayan nation, international media reported. Incidentally, the US citizen had reportedly spent at least a week on the Brahmaputra river cruise in Assam as part of his India tour in February before he flew to Bhutan. According to the District Collector of Jorhat (city of Assam) Roshni Korati's statement, the US tourist had travelled to Jorhat city on February 22 and then travelled to Guwahati via the river cruise MV Mahabaahu Brahmaputra on February 23. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-08 02:59:51|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close A volunteer (R) helps the local public health bureau to carry packages containing protective suits in Heinsberg, Germany, on March 6, 2020. A group of overseas Chinese living in Frankfurt, Germany have sent some 900 protective suits, packed in 25 boxes, to Heinsberg, a German region heavily hit by COVID-19. (Photo by Liu Yang/Xinhua) FRANKFURT, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A group of overseas Chinese living in Frankfurt, Germany have sent some 900 protective suits, packed in 25 boxes, to Heinsberg, a German region heavily hit by COVID-19. The district of Heinsberg, with a population of about 250,000, is located in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). It has become one of Germany's heaviest hit regions by COVID-19, after a couple from the region were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus last week. According to official data, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in Germany has risen to 795 by Saturday afternoon, nearly half of which were in NRW. In Heinsberg alone, the number was nearly 200. Friday's donation was made in the name of several Chinese universities' alumni associations in Germany, representing hundreds of Chinese living and working in the country. They previously donated medical supplies from Germany to Wuhan, China's worst affected region. The fast development of the COVID-19 situation in Germany and reports of medical supply shortage have prompted the donation, the organizers told Xinhua. At the public health bureau of the district of Heinsberg, Liu Yang, an alumnus from Beijing Foreign Studies University, handed the boxes over to the local authority. Ralf Ortmanns, a local doctor in charge of infectious disease control and prevention, thanked the Chinese donators. He said that most patients in Heinsberg are in good condition and some residents have already been released from quarantine. "We do need medical supply, so we thank our Chinese friends for the donation," Ortmanns said. Ortmanns, who had previously worked in China, said he was concerned with the COVID-19 situation there. The COVID-19 outbreak has not yet peaked in Germany and much remains to be done, he said. "Bless us all and let us fight the disease together," Ortmanns said. Some 49 citizens of Ukraine are on board the Grand Princess cruise ship, the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco is currently finding out information about the possible presence of infected Ukrainian citizens, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said. "According to the U.S. Department of State, 49 citizens of Ukraine are on board the Grand Princess cruise ship. The Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco is now finding out about the possible presence of Ukrainian citizens among the infected people," the press service of the Foreign Ministry told Interfax-Ukraine. According to the report, the Grand Princess liner is currently on a roadstead off the coast of Northern California and there are 3,500 people on board, who are the citizens of 54 countries (1,100 crew members and 2,400 passengers). The competent authorities of California decided to examine the passengers of the ship for the signs of coronavirus pneumonia due to the first fatal case, since the deceased person was resting on this ship in February. "In this regard, the local authorities decided to temporarily ban the specified vessel from entering the harbor of San Francisco. U.S. Coast Guard helicopters delivered tests for COVID-19 on board the liner to check all passengers who could potentially come into contact with the deceased a man in California, as well as with that category of people who have the first signs of a respiratory infection," the report says. Depending on the test results, an appropriate decision will be made on quarantining part of the passengers or the entire vessel, the Foreign Ministry said. This story is part of Stopping Domestic Violence, a CBC News series looking at the crisis of intimate partner violence in Canada and what can be done to end it. Ajoa Ayeko says the day her partner to tried to strangle her was the day she realized she had to leave him. "I would never wish on my worst enemy the feeling of somebody's hands on your neck and looking at somebody that has proclaimed that they love you, but is literally jeopardizing your life," she recalls. Ayeko says it took four years of escalating violence to make the decision to move out, but she had no friends or family who could help her. "I remember sitting on the floor of the dining room and literally not knowing what to do next. I had nobody who I could call and say, 'Oh yeah it's happened, can you come and get me? The one thing I know to be true is that if I don't leave, he'll come back.'" She says an organization called Shelter Movers helped her escape. "They literally carried me, not just literally, but also figuratively, emotionally." Shelter Movers is just one of many grassroots, specialized organizations in the GTA that have sprung up in the last few years that are helping women identify, escape, and recover from domestic violence. These organizations are usually non-profits or charities that are not affiliated with police or governmental agencies. Shelter Movers meets a specific need: helping to move victims of domestic violence out of their homes by giving them a storage facility to keep their things as they try to figure out their next move. "We need to be able to respond very, very quickly. Maybe he's in jail, maybe he's gone to work. She needs an opportunity to get out safely," says the organization's founder, Marc Hull-Jacquin. Natasha MacDonald-Dupuis/Radio-Canada SOCH SOCH, which means "to think" in Hindi, is an organization that focuses on providing members of the South Asian community with tools to deal with mental-health challenges and navigate the mental-health system. Story continues It's run by two registered nurses who grew up in Brampton. As part of their initiative to break down the stigma of mental illness, they have been addressing some of the risk factors that lead to domestic violence including organizing a monthly mental-health forum for Punjabi men called Mind Gym. Supplied by Jasmeet Chagger Co-founder Jasmeet Chagger says the forum provides a safe space for Punjabi men to share their concerns and challenges. "That patriarchal culture that we've cultivated where men aren't supposed to talk about their feelings or share their emotions sometimes unfortunately it comes out in the form of substance use or anger particularly toward your partner." The organization also holds workshops on intimate partner violence, providing people with resources, connecting them to services and developing safety plans. ISEE Initiative ISEE Initiative is a non-profit that works to educate and create awareness about domestic violence in the Tamil community. In 2019, the group helped repatriate Tharshika Jeganathan's body to Sri Lanka after she was killed in a machete attack. Her ex-husband has been charged with first-degree murder. The organization was started by a group of friends in the Tamil community who all work in some aspect of the social sector. They noticed the rising occurrences of domestic violence in Tamil homes and wanted to bring awareness to the issue. Co-founder and co-chair of ISEE Initiative, Cajaani Velautham, says for a lot of women in the Tamil community, there is a lack of understanding that what they are going through is actually domestic violence. "Domestic violence in the Tamil community is far more normalized because it's something we've grown up to see," she says. Velautham says Tamil women face many barriers if they decide to escape an abusive situation at home: language, lack of finances, not feeling dignified using a shelter, and avoiding taking their children away from the father. The organization provides workshops to members of the Tamil community on what domestic violence is, to break down that stigma and educate the community about the impact of the problem. ISEE Initiative does this by holding workshops for the public about mental health and domestic violence, tackling the issue of toxic masculinity through conversations, and running awareness campaigns for bystanders about what behaviours to watch for that constitute domestic violence. GoFundMe The workshops are offered in both English and Tamil and address themes in the Tamil community like patriarchy and colonialism to help the community better understand the factors that contribute to domestic violence. NISA Homes NISA Homes provides transitional housing primarily for immigrant, refugee and Muslim women and children who are fleeing domestic violence. The homes are part of a project run under the National Zakat Foundation, a registered charity that provides financial assistance to people in Canada who can't access basic necessities. There are six houses across Canada with two locations in the GTA, one in Mississauga and the other in Scarborough. Each client has her own room and can stay for up to three months, sometimes longer depending on her housing situation. Clients have access to shared spaces like a multi-faith room, kitchen and children's play area. Yasmine Youssef, the national manager of NISA homes, says the charity also works with women in their mother tongues to help them get back on their feet. They provide case workers, English classes, counselling, and classes about law or the financial system. Youssef says both GTA locations are currently at capacity and there is a wait list for space. "Thirty per cent of the women that actually reach out to us we actually have space for. The rest of the 70 per cent, we don't have space when they call," Youssef says. Youssef says the organization hopes to expand to more locations across the country. She says other shelters sometimes aren't able to understand the particular needs of Muslim and immigrant women. "A lot of these women tell us, 'Well, the only reason I reached out for help or the only reason I came to this home is because I knew that you understood my culture and you understood my religion,'" Youssef explains. If you need help and are in immediate danger, call 911. To find assistance in your area, visit sheltersafe.ca or endingviolencecanada.org/getting-help. If you're worried someone you know may be experiencing intimate partner violence, here are some warning signs, according to the Canadian Red Cross: Google Maps Authorities busted a convoy of seven people as they drove through Montgomery County, hours after police believe they broke into an ATM at a Missouri bank. Houston police tipped off the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office that several suspects linked to the Kansas City heist at a Chase Bank were driving through Huntsville in three cars, authorities said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 21:54:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A batch of medicated soap bars to be sent to Wuhan, Feb. 9, 2020. (Provided to Xinhua) Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, more than 10 million bars of medicated soaps have been used in households across China, giving a helping hand in the battle against the virus. SHANGHAI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Before each meal, Di Yang takes out a purple-red soap bar and washes his hands. "This kind of soap is medicated, and is great for preventing disease transmission," said Di, 42, a Shanghai-based surgeon. As China feels the pinch of the virus outbreak, traditional medicated soaps are giving a helping hand in the battle against the novel coronavirus in the country. So far, more than 10 million bars of medicated soaps have reached households in China amid the epidemic, including Hubei Province, the center of the virus outbreak, according to Shanghai-based soap manufacturer Shanghai Soap, one of the oldest soap bar makers in China. Containing anti-bacterial ingredients, medicated soap bars usually smell like medicine. Before China's reform and opening up in the late 1970s, medicated soap bars had already extended to families in Shanghai as well as in the Yangtze River Delta, and gained great popularity among the general public to help prevent disease transmission. "I remember my parents would buy these medicated soap bars and ask me to wash my hands with them when I was little," said Zhong Ling, a middle school teacher in east China's Jiangxi Province. "I still buy these bars to maintain proper hygiene these days." Medicated soap bars are produced in a factory in Shanghai, east China, Feb. 9, 2020. (Provided to Xinhua) The soap bars have remained popular to this day. "I remember more than 30 years ago, there was a hepatitis A epidemic in Shanghai, and every family bought medicated soap bars for daily cleansing," Di recalled. "Washing your hands with medicated soap was considered one of the most effective ways to prevent infection." Di currently works in a fever clinic in Shanghai. "About a month ago, I was seeing my colleagues off to Wuhan to fight the virus, and all the doctors and nurses had medicated soaps in their suitcases," he said. Medicated soap bars played a role in the prevention and control of hepatitis A, SARS, and the Ebola outbreak in Africa, said Ouyang Yiling, with the Shanghai Soap. Currently, Shanghai exports more than 5,000 boxes of medicated soap bars to Africa annually, according to official figures. In late January, Shanghai Soap's factories already started rolling as the coronavirus hit. The virus disrupted the company's production plans, and it decided to temporarily halt the production of other soap products and focus on making medicated soap bars and other disinfectants. In February, the company's highest daily production reached 700,000 soap bars. "This is a special period, so we adjusted our products and functions," Ouyang said. "We wanted to improve our efficiency and contribute to the fight against the virus." Norwood officials are encouraging parents to send their children to school on Monday as 30 people, including 11 town employees, are self-quarantining following exposure to COVID-19. The group was asked to self-quarantine after attending a party last week with a person who has since tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by a new coronavirus, officials announced Friday evening. On Saturday, officials said Superintendent David Thomson is among the town employees asked to self-quarantine. The superintendent is currently healthy and has not exhibited any symptoms of the respiratory illness. Because he has no symptoms, he will not be tested for COVID-19 unless symptoms begin, officials wrote in a news release. If he remains symptom-free, Thomson will return to school when the self-quarantine period ends on Monday, March 16, according to the statement. I am feeling healthy and will be able to easily work from home next week and expect this to have minimal interference on school operations, Thomson said. The district has remained in close contact with our town health department officials and they assure me that there is no current cause for concern for students when it comes to attending school in Norwood. If there are any changes to that sentiment we will certainly let parents and the school community know as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, town officials announced that all Norwood public schools will be open on Monday and operating in a normal fashion. Parents are encouraged to send their children to school next week. Please stay informed and we will notify parents if there are any updates, said Norwood Health Director Sigalle Reiss. There is no known exposure to the schools and the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus remains low across the state, including in Norwood. The district is calling in custodial staff to sanitize and disinfect all Norwood schools and the district office this weekend out of an abundance of caution. The schools will continue to be cleaned, which is routine during flu season, the statement said. The person who tested positive for COVID-19 after the party is a Norwood resident but not a town employee or town official. Officials are not releasing the persons name. Norwood General Manager Tony Mazzucco is also among the town employees under self-quarantine. Mazzucco has been tested for COVID-19 and is awaiting results, the statement said. A private resident also needs to be tested, officials said. Mazzucco will continue to work remotely from home during self-quarantine. Town Hall will be open during normal business hours, officials said. I am following the instructions of state and local public health officials and I want to thank the Norwood Health Department for their guidance in this matter, Mazzucco said. There were a total of 177 homeless adults in Co Kildare in January, official data shows. The figures which dropped from 184 in December and 203 in November are based on households accessing local authority managed emergency accommodation during the week of 20-26 January, 2020. According to the January data, only Dublin (4,600), Cork (426), Galway (313) and Limerick (268) had higher figures than Co Kildare. The other counties in the Mid East region, of which Kildare is part, are Meath (101) and Wicklow (23). Overall figures from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government show there were 10,271 people in emergency accommodation in January. That is an additional 540 people, when compared with Decembers figures. According to the latest data the number of homeless adults increased by 388 from 6,309 in December to 6,697 in January. The number of homeless families also increased adding a further 152 people to the list. Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said: The increase last month is disappointing. Over the 12 months in 2019 we saw the number of people in emergency accommodation falling for the first time in many years. Challenging This overall fall in numbers was not always obvious from the month to month figures. January has always been a challenging month. The challenge now is to continue the overall 2019 trend through 2020. Focus Ireland CEO Pat Dennigan said that the new Government must prioritise an ambitious but realistic programme for solving the homelessness crisis in all regions. School: Damonte Ranch High in Reno where Adam (17) and Michael Huber (16) were students US police have confirmed that an Irish mother is the chief suspect in the murder-suicide of her husband and two sons. The four bodies were found at the family home in Reno, Nevada, shortly after 11am local time on Wednesday. The woman who died, a native of Coolcuslough, near Killarney in Co Kerry, was named as Kerry native Joan Huber (53). Ms Huber, whose maiden name was Kelly, was found alongside her children Adam (17) and Michael (16). Her 50-year-old husband, also named Adam, was also found dead. The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office, who carried out post mortems on the bodies said: "All died of gunshot wounds." Last night, Reno Police said that the chief suspect in this case has been confirmed as Joan Huber. "Investigation has revealed that Joan Huber, within the preceding days of March 4, shot her husband, 50-year-old Adam Huber, and their two teenage children, before taking her own life," a spokesperson said. "The weapon used in this case has been identified as a firearm. "Reno Police Robbery/Homicide Detectives are still actively investigating this case and there is no known motive at this time." Ms Huber's mother Sheila Doolan and a number of her siblings live in Killarney. They are now preparing to travel to the US. The family have asked that their privacy be respected, but they are understood to be "absolutely devastated". Mayor of Killarney Michael Gleeson addressed the tragedy in Kerry yesterday. Speaking from outside the family home, where Ms Huber's brothers and other siblings had gathered, Mr Gleeson said every possible help and support would be offered to the Kelly and Doolan families. "The entire community is numb with shock and pain. The Kelly and Doolan families have been and are at the heart of the local community in Spa, Killarney and east Kerry. "If there is anything the community in Spa and Killarney can do for them, they will do it," he said. Ms Huber's late father John Kelly was a well-known character in the Spa/Killarney area, and was involved in politics, the GAA and rowing, as well as local history. He died two years ago and had been chairman and president of the East Kerry Board GAA, as well as the Spa GAA Club. He was masseur for the Kerry team in the 1990s. Oppo Find X2 Pro has already accomplished itself as a powerhouse right after its launch. The latest flagship from the Chinese brand has been ranked first in the DxOMark ratings for smartphone cameras. The Oppo Find X2 Pro ties with the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro for the top spot and outperforms the Google Pixel 4 and iPhone 11 Pro Max, DxOMark has noted in its camera test review. The independent benchmarking platform has given the Oppo Find X2 Pro an overall score of 124, which is also what the Mi 10 Pro has scored. Among many qualities of its cameras, Oppo Find X2 Pro has been found to have an excellent autofocus performance, nice colours and wide dynamic range, and that it has excellent image stabilisation. DxOMark flanked the Oppo Find X2 cameras with those on the Mi 10 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max for the camera test. In its test, it also found that, while Oppo and Xiaomi have the same position on the chart, the latter has come to show better texture, rendering, and zoom performance in the photos and videos. By contrast, the Oppo delivers more balanced performance, with results that are close to the best we have seen in almost all Photo and Video sub-categories, noted DxOMark in its results. The primary feature that impressed the reviewers at DxOMark was the capability of the Find X2 Pro to autofocus on objects almost instantly. But while there is a horde of pros for the Oppo Find X2 Pro, the list of cons is also mentioned. According to DxOMark, the Find X2 Pro could not apply the best HDR on portrait shots that are taken indoors. The cameras on the smartphone also tend to drop details towards the edge of a medium-range zoom shot. Even the ultra-wide shots also look less detailed sometimes. The videography on the Find X2 Pro also has some drawbacks, according to the platform. The videos shot on the Oppo Find X2 Pro retain noise outdoors. There are also some exposure instabilities on HDR videos. But, the pros for videos outweigh the cons the Find X2 Pro has excellent image stabilisation, in addition to producing a good dynamic range. The Oppo Find X2 Pro comes with three cameras on the back a 48-megapixel main sensor with an aperture of f/1.7 and a 1/1.4-inch sensor, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, and a 13-megapixel periscope sensor that gives a 5x optical zoom, which is impressive, according to DxOMark. For selfies, the Oppo Find X2 Pro comes with a 32-megapixel sensor on the front. Facebook on Friday announced it is temporarily banning ads and commerce listings selling medical face masks as the company continues to grapple with the reaction of its users to the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Facebook Director of Product Management Rob Leathern announced the change in a Friday tweet. The social media giant will begin to enforce the temporary ban on these type of ads "over the next few days," the company said in a blog post. "We're banning ads and commerce listings selling medical face masks," said Leathern, who leads the product team that enforces ad and business policies across the company's services. "We're monitoring COVID19 closely and will make necessary updates to our policies if we see people trying to exploit this public health emergency. We'll start rolling out this change in the days ahead." @robleathern: Update: We're banning ads and commerce listings selling medical face masks. We're monitoring COVID19 closely and will make necessary updates to our policies if we see people trying to exploit this public health emergency. We'll start rolling out this change in the days ahead. "Supplies are short, prices are up, and we're against people exploiting this public health emergency," tweeted Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram. @mosseri: Update: We're banning ads and commerce listings selling medical face masks on Instagram and Facebook. Supplies are short, prices are up, and we're against people exploiting this public health emergency. We'll start rolling this out over the next few days. The policy change comes one day after a company spokesman told CNBC that Facebook will remove political ads posted on its service if they contain misinformation related to the new coronavirus. Since the outbreak, Facebook has been impacted in a number of different ways. The company on Friday closed its London offices until Monday in response to the outbreak. On Thursday, Facebook told its Bay Area employees to stay home and cancel any trips. And on Wednesday, the company announced that a contract worker in its Seattle office had tested positive for the illness. The company also canceled its F8 annual software developers conference that was scheduled for May and it pulled out of a number of other conferences due to the coronavirus. Globally, there are now at least 102,168 cases of the coronavirus and there have been at least 3,491 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he will be handing over his social media accounts "to women whose life, work inspire us" and launched the She Inspires Us campaign, netizens flooded the social media with suggestions and stories about women who contributed for the welfare of the society in their own way. Since its launch on Thursday, the campaign has been receiving a lot of support. Common people to various personalities including political leaders like Home Minister Amit Shah, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal have tweeted under the hashtag #SheInspiresUS. Moreover, the Indian Army and Central Railways have also shared several stories. Commoners have shared stories of women who they think inspires them. "PM @narendramodi asked who inspire us yesterday. Today I can proudly say and applaud that #NitikaKaul is a real inspiration across the globe. A real example of strength, courage who showcase that female strengths is endless," tweeted a netizen. "Meet Chandro Tomar,(Shooter Dadi), from UP. She spends most of her time training young boys & girls at the shooting range in her village.She has been such a big inspiration for all d girls in d village, she encourages them by not just her words but by her actions," tweeted another. "Long before @narendramodithought of Swach Bharath #BhavyaRani had made a whole village in Tumakuru open defecation free. Left her job reached out every house in the village, convinced dem about using toilets. With her efforts 400+ families use toilet today," said another Twitterati. Political leaders have also tweeted with the hashtag. Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad shared the story of Nilofer Khan, Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) in Common Services, and praised her work in the field of imparting digital literacy among minorities and training villagers. "VLE Nilofer Khan who worked as a lecturer in Rajasthan is now a VLE in Common Services Centre. As a VLE her work in the field of imparting digital literacy among minorities and training villagers on Investor awareness programme are commendable," Shankar Prasad. "Today's woman is leading a life which is catering to various domains starting from family to profession to social arenas and lot more. She performs multiple roles while being in a single body. She is a true inspiration," BJP President JP Nadda tweeted under the hashtags. Railways Minister Goyal talked about women staff in Railways who worked at a traction substation in Kannur South Railway Station in Kerala. "naarii tuu naaraaynnii: Take a look at Railways women staff working at a traction substation in Kannur South Railway Station in Kerala, showcasing proficient skills & a nuanced understanding of technical matters," said Goyal on Twitter. Even the Army shared stories of its women personnel. including Caption Ruchi Sharma, Punita Arora, Minty Aggarwal, and Khushboo Gupta. "Will of Steel: Vanguard of the Mountains Sqn Ldr Khushboo Gupta, the first woman helicopter pilot to fly in the high altitudes of Siachen," the Spokesperson of Ministry of Defence, Government of India tweeted. "Sky is not the limitCapt Ruchi Sharma, first operational paratrooper of the #IndianArmy. She still motivates women of all ages to serve the country. #WomensDay," the spokesperson further tweet. "Women of Honour Salute to Dr Punita Arora, first woman officer from Navy, to be promoted to a three-star rank, second highest rank in Armed forces. She was the first-ever woman Vice Admiral," the spokesperson said in another tweeted. "In complete control, Fighter controller Sqn Ldr Minty Aggarwal was the eyes & ears of Wg Cdr Abhinandan during successful Balakot operation. She's 1st woman #IAF officer to be awarded Yudh Seva Medal for her effort. #WomensDay," the spokesperson further said. The Central Railway has tweeted about the story of Mumtaz Kazi, first woman Diesel driver in Asia, now working as a motor woman in the Mumbai Suburban section of Central Railway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid growing concern over the spread of coronavirus, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday said it is monitoring the situation closely and there is no need to panic. Principal Secretary, the Planning, Development and Monitoring Department, Rohit Kansal, said the primary schools in Jammu and Sambha districts have been shut till March 31 as a precautionary measure. Kansal, who is also the government spokesperson, said 100 per cent self-declaration protocols have already been established at Jammu and Srinagar airports and thermal imaging has also been introduced for all pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Reasi district. "All entrants to Jammu and Kashmir via road are also being monitored at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda respectively. Help desks at railway stations in Jammu and Katra are also operational," he told reporters. Kansal said a total of 287 people were put under observation and 95 of them have completed the surveillance period of 28 days. A total of 28 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far. Of these, 25 have reported negative, while two have high viral-load but the final report is awaited, Kansal said. He said the biometric attendance system in the entire Jammu and Kashmir has also been suspended till March 31. He said an advisory against large gathering has also been issued. "The government strongly urges all social, religious and political organisations to avoid large gatherings. We are grateful that many organisations have responded to our advice and deferred such gatherings," he said. He urged citizens, especially those with travel history to affected countries such as China, Iran and Italy to self declare immediately and to report to the nearest government health facility. When asked about the shortage of face masks, he said the entire administrative machinery is fully geared to handle any challenge and there is no need to panic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DR Congo: Agencies appeal for funding for refugee support and Ebola response 6 March 2020 - Urgent resources are needed to support countries in southern Africa and the Great Lakes region which are hosting more than 900,000 refugees and asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and partners said in a $621 million appeal launched on Friday. They described the situation in the DRC as one of the most complex and long-standing humanitarian crises on the continent. Despite a peaceful transition of power following the December 2018 presidential election, ongoing conflict and inter-communal violence, particularly in the east, continue to uproot civilians both within and outside the country's borders. Most refugees fled to neighbouring Uganda, which is sheltering nearly 400,000 people. Others went to Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola and the Republic of Congo. Host communities under pressure Congolese refugees have found safety in locations where host communities are already under pressure with meagre resources. "Although countries in the Southern and Great Lakes regions of Africa generously host nearly a million Congolese refugees and asylum-seekers, resources have been decreasing in recent years and do not adequately meet protection, shelter, food security, health and other basic needs or minimum humanitarian standards. In many countries of asylum, refugee settlements and camps are already at full capacity", UNHCR spokesperson Babar Baloch told journalists in Geneva. Meanwhile, more than five million Congolese are internally displaced, some repeatedly. A recent humanitarian appeal for $1.82 billion seeks to target more than eight million people in the DRC, which also continues to host over 500,000 people who have fled insecurity in Burundi, the Central African Republic, Rwanda and South Sudan. Ebola milestone Amid ongoing armed conflict, the eastern DRC also was hit by an Ebola outbreak that began in August 2018 and killed more than 2,260 people. This week the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the only person confirmed to have Ebola virus disease (EVD) was discharged from a treatment centre, while no new cases have been reported since 17 February. "This is an important milestone in the outbreak. However, there is still a high risk of re-emergence of EVD, and a critical need to maintain response operations," the UN agency said. Ebola virus may persist in some survivors' body fluids, with potential to infect others, as has happened in at least once instance during the current outbreak, sparking a new chain of transmission that took several months to interrupt. The Ebola outbreak can only be declared over when no infections arise 42 days after the last reported case has tested negative. WHO requires around $83 million to continue response efforts through June but due to funding carried over from last year, the agency is seeking $40 million. "We need to continue this work until the end of the outbreak, to keep the capacity in place to rapidly respond to flare-ups, to keep supporting survivors after the outbreak, and to transition the capacities built in this response toward building a stronger health system", said Dr Ibrahima Soce Fall, WHO Assistant Director-General, Emergency Response. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government, in its update on coronavirus, on Friday, said the Isolation Centre in Abuja will be... President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government, in its update on coronavirus, on Friday, said the Isolation Centre in Abuja will be ready in April. Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said this while responding to the remarks of Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, on the poor state of the facility, NAN reports. The Isolation Centre is located in Gwagwalada, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Lawan, during his visit on Wednesday, condemned what he saw and lamented that not a kobo of the N620 million earmarked to fight coronavirus had been released. But the minister claimed that funds approved to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), had been disbursed. Ehanire added that construction is ongoing and the contractor has also been asked to fast-track it. They said it will be finished by next month. So they used the building which they wanted to use for intensive care. It has been furnished and prepared, staff have been trained and all protocols have been established. The Senate President went there when the finishing touches were being put and I think he expected that the bed was already made. Another team visited the next day, they saw that it was already completed and the chairman of the senate committee said there has been a lot of improvement. All monies approved got to NCDC, but had to go through a lot of process, but NCDC had made procurement on credit from its regular suppliers, they were given materials on credit, but many of them have been settled, Ehanire said. A Federal High Court sitting in Kano State has granted an interim injunction restraining Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Comm... A Federal High Court sitting in Kano State has granted an interim injunction restraining Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission from further investigating Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II. In an exparte order granted by Justice Lewis Allago on Friday, the court instructed the state Anti-Corruption and its Chairman, Barr. Muhuyi Magaji, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of Kano state and Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion. The order dated 6th, March, 2020 and signed by the court registrar Bello Nuhu Ahmed, also directed suspension of any attempt by the commission or any one acting on its behalf pending the hearing which has been fixed for 18th, March 2020. The seven page application for interim order filed by Barr. Nureini Jimoh, counsel to Emir Sanusi, was supported by affidavit of urgency, which was deposed to by Mahammad Minor Sanusi, Chief of staff to the emir of Kano. This came after the state Anti-Corruption agency on Thursday disclosed fresh investigation on Emir Sanusi over alleged illegal sale of landed property. Besides, the commission has issued fresh invitation on the emir to appear before it on Monday 9th of March, 2020, to clear himself of the allegation. The commissions investigation came two days after the state House of Assembly directed the House committee on public petition to also investigate petition filed against the monarch. Although the agency had told journalists that the fresh investigation had noting to do with the pending matter on alleged mismanagement of N3.4bn, the commission had earlier submitted a report to Kano state government recommending the suspension of the emir. Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Mo Bus, the public transport facility started by the Odisha government two years ago, will not charge women passengers in all of its 200 buses on March 8 to celebrate International Womens Day. Dipti Mahapatro, the general manager of the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) which runs the fleet of Mo Bus in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri, said the decision to give the free rides to the women passengers was their way of honouring them. We are happy to share that we had been pioneers in promoting lady guides as part of our workforce since our inception. More than 30% of guides are lady guides who are serving and empowering the favourite public transport brand MO BUS in the Capital Region, Mahapatro said. CRUT runs a fleet of 200 buses that crisscross Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack for more than 12 hours a day. The Mo Bus service, which started functioning in 2018, covers 73% area of the Capital city and makes about 1800 trips every day. After reducing its fares in October last year, its ridership grew by 23%. In October alone, Mo Bus had reached a ridership of 100,000. As a small token of respect and appreciation for all the women @CRUT_BBSR will offer free ride to all our female passenger in Mo Bus on the #WomensDay Please spread the word. pic.twitter.com/jsEQgJGBAn Arun Bothra (@arunbothra) March 7, 2020 The Mo Bus service was adjudged the best city bus service project in November last year at the Urban Mobility India Conference and Expo held in Lucknow. While cities like Lucknow, Kochi and Jaipur have a daily city bus ridership of 25,000-30,000, the Mo Bus ridership has an average ridership of 85,000. As soon as the declaration was made on CRUTs official Twitter handle, it received a positive response from many users. However, there were a few criticisms and memes as well. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 7 Trend: Azerbaijani soldier Eltun Garayev, while performing official duties at the border combat section of the Gazakh separate border division near the Dash Salahly village, received a gunshot wound at 05:40 (GMT+4) on March 7, 2020. The soldier was immediately evacuated to the Gazakh Diagnostic and Treatment Center, but the doctors could not save his life, the press center of Azerbaijans State Border Service told Trend. Head of the State Border Service, Colonel-General Elchin Guliyev and other high-level officials are at the scene. In connection with the incident, the Services Border Troops and the Military Prosecutor's Office are conducting the necessary investigative measures. It was an agonising wait for the loved ones of prison officer Adrian Ismay. They had endured a lengthy non-jury trial which had lasted for over a year. Yesterday their wait for justice was over. Mr Justice McAlinden took nearly five hours to read his forensically detailed judgment in the Queen's Bench No 2 courtroom at Belfast High Court. Read More Throughout, the defendant, Christopher Alphonsos Robinson - wearing a grey jumper - stared mostly straight ahead, chewing what appearing to be gum. There was a heavy security presence for the hearing, with armed officers guarding the courtroom's exits. Meanwhile, Mr Ismay's loved ones sat in the public gallery carefully following Mr Justice McAlinden's every word from his thick document, outlining his judgment. Expand Close Christopher Robinson Photopress Belfast / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Christopher Robinson The judge outlined every strand of the evidence - presented by both the Crown and the defence. The latter had insisted the only evidence against Robinson had been circumstantial. The prosecution had maintained the evening before the explosion, Robinson picked up the Citroen from his brother's west Belfast workplace, and that this vehicle was used to transport the bomb left under Mr Ismay's van. Listening intently as page and page of the judgment was read out, worried expressions appeared on some of Mr Ismay's loved ones' faces when Mr Justice McAlinden stated that he would not draw any "adverse inference" into Robinson's decision not to take the stand. At one stage a young woman was comforted by a hand on a shoulder. Their fears only seemed to fall away towards the close of the judgment, when Mr Justice McAlinden - who added that he had examined the case as a whole - outlined Robinson's "intimate" role in the killing. The judge said evidence had shown the defendant had accessed online material which was militant republican in nature. Expand Close The funeral of Adrian Ismay in Belfast in 2015 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The funeral of Adrian Ismay in Belfast in 2015 Robinson had searched online on multiple occasions for news articles reporting the aftermath of the attack on Mr Ismay's vehicle. The judge outlined CCTV movements of the Citroen - registered to Robinson's sister-in-law - outside Mr Ismay's home when the bomb was planted. The judge said Robinson was linked to the murder through evidence which included his DNA on a poppy appeal sticker that was removed from a vehicle containing traces of Semtex. But Mr Ismay's family were still holding on to hear only one word: guilty. When the word was uttered, the relief was palpable; they cried and hugged each other as Robinson was led out of the courtroom. Xaotamphan.info 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 25 Dec 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the xaotamphan homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the xaotamphan homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the xaotamphan homepage on Twitter + the total number of xaotamphan followers (if xaotamphan has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the xaotamphan homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if xaotamphan has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the xaotamphan homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. Basic Information PAGE TITLE C Y THAN DUOC XAO TAM PH N DESCRIPTION Cay than duoc Xao Tam Phan chua ung thu ac biet hieu nghiem. KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS The title found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Strict CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 SERVER GSE OPERATIVE SYSTEM Character set and language of the site. Type of server and offered services. Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of xaotamphan.info as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for xaotamphan.info 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 URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The type of 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 description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND More than 40 local and international real estate companies and developers are showcasing some of their innovative projects at the seventh edition of the Real Estate Investment Exhibition (Acres 2020) which opened today (March 5) in Sharjah. Acres 2020 is being organised by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) in collaboration with the Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department (SRERD) and Representative Committee of the Real Estate Sector Business Group working under the SCCI umbrella. The event was inaugurated by Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah in the presence of senior officials including SCCI Chairman Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, SRERD Director General Abdul Aziz Ahmed Shams Al Shamsi, Shurooq CEO Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal besides Sharjah Economic Development Department Chairman Sultan Abdullah Bin Hadda Al Suwaidi. A number of directors and heads of government departments, businessmen and real estate investors also attended the event. Following the inauguration, Sheikh Abdullah, accompanied by Al Owais and other officials, toured the exhibition pavilions, where they were briefed on the real estate projects offered by the exhibitors and their future projects as well. Sheikh Abdullah Al Qasimi, commending the organisers for the grand preparations, said events such as these will help reinforce Sharjah's position and reputation as a leading economic hub for entrepreneurship and investment in various sectors. Al Owais said: "At the SCCI, we are keen on organizing such events and exhibitions as they contribute to raising growth rates of different economic sectors, by providing platforms for exchanging experiences and visions between the stakeholders." "Acres is a clear-cut example of those exhibitions thanks to its vital role in promoting Sharjahs real estate sector, by highlighting the facilities and laws encouraging investment in the emirate, shaping future investment trends in this vital sector, increasing synergy the government and private sectors, as well as harmonizing visions about the most effective ways to attract investors and to reinforce the status of Sharjahs economy," he added. Al Shamsi said that Acres was an important milestone to spread the real estate culture, learn about the best projects and practices in the real estate field and raise the competitiveness between the real estate development companies in providing high-quality services and products.-TradeArabia News Service Washington, March 7 : US President Donald Trump is set to host his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Saturday, the White House said. Trump and Bolsonaro will discuss "implementing pro-growth trade policies, and investing in infrastructure", Xinhua news agency quoted the White House as saying in a statement. The statement said the two leaders will also discuss other issues including the situation in Venezuela and the Middle East. "We are having dinner at Mar-a-Lago. He wanted to have dinner in Florida if that was possible," Trump told reporters early Friday. Vice President Mike Pence and Trump's National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien will also attend the meeting. The State Department said Bolsonaro will be in Florida from March 7-10. In March 2019, Trump had hosted Bolsonaro at the White House. Jammu, March 7 : With the constitution of the delimitation commission for Jammu and Kashmir, the process for identification of new Lok Sabha and Assembly seats has been set rolling. Before the abrogation of Article 370 and division of the state into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh, the state had six Lok Sabha seats of Ladakh, Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Jammu and Udhampur. The state Assembly had 87 seats out of which four belonged to the Ladakh region. In addition to this, 24 seats were reserved for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). At present, Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory has five Lok Sabha seats and 83 Assembly seats. Of these, 37 Assembly seats belong to the Jammu region while 46 belong to the Valley. Last delimitation was done in Jammu and Kashmir in 1995-1996. Ever since the last delimitation, there have been growing demands for a fresh exercise since the people of the Jammu region claimed that the delimitation process of 1995-1996 had grossly overlooked demography and other parameters those would favour more seats for the Jammu region. Interestingly, the delimitation commission announced now will have to depend on the statistics of 2011 census since the next census is due in the country in 2021. Fresh delimitation is likely to increase the number of Assembly seats in the Jammu region from present 37 to 44, thereby adding seven new seats. This would largely address the grievances of those who claimed that the Jammu region had been given an unfair deal during the last delimitation process. Besides redefining the boundaries of the existing 83 Assembly seats and five Lok Sabha seats, the commission would almost bring the representative character of the Jammu region at par with that of the valley. After the fresh delimitation, the valley would have 46 while the Jammu region would have 44 Assembly seats bringing the total to 90. Fresh delimitation is likely to end the monopoly of Kashmir centric politicians and parties like the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). For the last 73 years since Independence, political power in J&K has remained in the hands of the valley-centric politicians and this monopoly has largely been responsible for the 'family rule in J&K'. Three generations of the Abdullah family, including the founder of NC, late Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, his son Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah have ruled J&K for over 27 years. In addition to this, Ghulam Muhammad Shah, late Sheikh's son-in-law, who broke away from the NC in 1984 to form his separate Awami NC, also managed to rule the state for nearly two years as the chief minister. Two generations of the Muftis, including late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and his daughter, Mehbooba Mufti ruled the state for six years. Although the NC and the PDP had some representation in the Jammu region, yet the fountainhead of power for these parties was the Muslim majority Kashmir. All this is likely to change after the fresh delimitation process is completed. Political parties will now have to look for a wider base extending from the valley to the Jammu region. Monopoly of region, religion, race and language will cease to exist as politicians will have to depend on their commitment to the overall development of the UT. Reservation of seats for women and those belonging to the under privileged Gujjar/Pahari tribal communities is likely to be addressed through fresh delimitation. Seeking votes by stirring religious or regional sentiments will not work after the new political map of J&K is drawn through the delimitation process. In addition to ending the monopoly of valley-centric parties, the delimitation process will ensure that national parties like the BJP, Congress and others to woo voters from both the regions instead of depending on specific pockets of influence in the Jammu region or the valley. Many got their eyebrows threaded for the very first time, many had their first make-up, many tasted momos for the first time, while several had their first multiplex-like experience it was a womens day out on February 15 in the remote, mountainous village of Seem in Uttarakhand where life is anything, but exciting. Around 300 women from 10 villages had their Khushi Ka Ek Din they pampered themselves, played games, laughed, watched films and sang their hearts out together all thanks to Udhyam, a unique initiative to help entrepreneurs in ... Sri Lankan drug lord linked to Iranian and Pakistani heroin smugglers By Sandun Jayawardana View(s): View(s): A Sri Lankan mastermind overseas is being sought for the narcotics smuggling network that was uncovered this week following a month-long joint operation by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) and the Sri Lanka Navy. As of Friday, 33 suspects including 14 Iranians, four Pakistanis and 15 Sri Lankans were being held for questioning. The police are hunting two other Sri Lankans, while international assistance is being sought to trace the mastermind. The operation was undertaken following information received by the PNB, which sought assistance from the navy to track down vessels that were hauling the drugs to the southern coast. Offshore patrol vessels, Samudura and Sindurala, with several PNB officers on board, spent a month at sea and cornered two foreign trawlers that were not flying the flag of any country and a local fishing boat that had loaded the drugs from those vessels to be brought to shore. A total of 437 kilograms of heroin and about 130 kilograms of methamphetamine, or ice, were seized. The patrol ships operated as far as 6,000 nautical miles (1111 kilometres) off the Sri Lankan coast. This is the biggest drug bust so far by the Sri Lankan agencies in the high seas. Meanwhile, drug peddlers who were waiting on the beach at Kudawella in Dikwella, Matara to take possession of the narcotics were taken into PNB custody as well. The drug-laden vessels were escorted to the Dikowita Fisheries Harbour by the navy on Thursday. Authorities have hailed the detection as a success in a coordinated operation. The foreign vessels are believed to have originated from the Iran-Pakistan coast. The heroin, which is smuggled from Afghanistan, is usually transported to countries such as Sri Lanka via sea from either Iran or Pakistan, according to PNB Director Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manjula Senarath. The foreign vessels are met by local fishing trawlers, either in international waters, or even inside the countrys territorial waters, where a mid-sea transfer takes place. The drugs are then unloaded to small dinghies, which then bring them ashore to a designated point, where they are picked up by yet another team to be transported to hideouts, he explained. While the haul is valued at over Rs 6 billion, the PNB director said its not the monetary value that really matters. According to the latest report from the Government Analyst, their purity levels were only between 2-12%. This means that the heroin was diluted with various chemicals and distributed to increase volume. The 400 kilos of heroin we seized have a purity level of 80%. We know this because a special seal on the packaging indicates its purity level for traffickers. If this consignment of heroin had been diluted to the level of the drugs being sold at street level now, it means they could have been able to make anywhere between 4,000 to 5,000 kilos of heroin from this stock alone. You can imagine how much damage it would have caused if such a vast amount of drugs found their way into the market. Three networks are involved in trafficking narcotics into Sri Lanka international, Asian, and the local network. Those hauling the drugs to shore from the high seas are usually fishermen, some of whom are drug addicts themselves. The drug kingpins recruit fishermen as couriers. They are at the bottom of the network, paid a small amount, but for them, it is sizeable. They are given a satellite phone and a handler sends GPS coordinates to them to rendezvous with the foreign vessel, which is also sent the same coordinates. Once the transfer happens, those from the smaller boats assigned to bring the drugs ashore are also sent GPS coordinates assigning them a point to pick up the drugs and another set of coordinates on where to bring them ashore. The team on the ground is then given the coordinates to pick them up, SSP Senarath said. According to the PNB, the strength of the network is that one group has no idea about the other. Only the handler knows all of them. This means that if police were to arrest a man who came to retrieve the drugs on shore, he would know nothing about those who brought them ashore on the boat. This is very similar to the style adopted by the LTTEs suicide bomber networks during the war, making them extremely hard to dismantle. They are very smart, so we have to be smarter, SSP Senarath stressed. The PNB and the navy analysed a large number of phone records and used various other methods to track down the dhow transporting the drugs. I believe they were surprised at the way we managed to capture all of them, the PNB director quipped. Most international drug traffickers linked to Sri Lanka are known to operate from Dubai and Pakistan. There are also several leading drug traffickers in the country and may operate from prisons. At a media briefing on Thursday, the Director (Legal Division) of the Sri Lanka Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ajith Rohana, said while more than 95% of prison officers could be deemed to be honest, a few corrupt jailers are conduits for mobile phones and SIM cards that are smuggled into the hands of convicts involved in drug trafficking and other crimes. We are constantly in touch with the Prisons Department. They have agreed on the need to constantly search inmates whom we have identified as being linked to drug trafficking. If necessary, they should be sent to prisons such as Angunakolapelessa where there is a Special Task Force detachment, he said. SSP Senarath, meanwhile, said it was frustrating that drug traffickers, some of whom were on death row, or were serving life sentences for drug trafficking, were continuing to run such operations from prison. Installing jammers to block mobile phone reception is not practical as prisons such Welikada are located in densely populated areas. The jammers will also prevent those outside the prison from using mobile phones. The best solution would be to move such prisons to less populated areas so using jammers can be explored. Another major headache for law enforcement agencies is the sheer number of unregistered fishing boats. During the war, all boats set sail from a designated area under a marshaling system, making them easy to track, according to authorities. This is not the case post-war. While multi-day fishing trawlers are registered and must leave and return to a fisheries harbour, many smaller vessels can put out to sea from anywhere. Drug traffickers have recruited a significant number of fishermen as couriers to bring the drugs ashore. The lack of registration makes it extremely difficult to track the small vessels. We have held numerous discussions with the Fisheries Department to find a solution, since the lack of unregistered boats is a serious issue, SSP Senarath said. Cannabis remains the most widely-trafficked narcotic, with Kerala ganja from India being the more popular among traffickers owing to its high street value. Law enforcement agencies have also made large detections of synthetic drugs including methamphetamines, ecstasy and LSD, and kath, a narcotic smuggled in air mail parcels from Africa. They say that kath, mainly smuggled countries such as Ethiopia and Ghana, are being mixed with tea leaves and being re-exported as herbal tea. In the past three months from December 1 to March 6, the PNB says they and the police have seized over 920kg of heroin, 2251kg of cannabis, 155kg of synthetic drugs and 100kg of kath. The large stocks of synthetic drugs seized reflect the demand among youth, authorities say. The drugs are distributed in various forms, such as pills (ecstasy) or stamps and tattoos (LSD). Reducing supply through operations is only a part of the overall strategy. The efforts will not succeed without reducing demand by ensuring people dont fall prey to drugs and also by rehabilitating addicts. Awareness programmes have been carried out involving more than 200,000 school students as well as teachers last year. These programmes will continue. Awareness is being raised through some 14,000 civil defence committees. Authorities are also urging parents to nurture close bonds with children because drug dealers continue to target students. The Sunday Times last week reported that investigations have begun into an alleged operation at a school in Peradeniya where senior students were distributing narcotics-laced toffees in grades six, seven, and eight to encourage dependency. The toffees had apparently been given to senior students by several outsiders. DIG Ajith Rohana, told journalists on Thursday that police will start an anti-narcotics drive in schools, through community police. Undercover police will also operate near schools where drug dealers are operating, especially in the Western Province and Kandy District. By PTI PALGHAR: A man has been booked for allegedly raping a minor girl repeatedly and then assaulting her for refusing his marriage proposal, Palghar police in Maharashtra said on Saturday. The man, identified as Mahendra, was in a relationship with the 17-year-old girl and had raped her several times over the past six months, said a Vasai police official. "He confronted the girl and her mother recently and got enraged when they rejected his marriage proposal. He beat them up. "Mahendra was booked for rape and other offences under IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He has not been arrested as yet," he added. Patients who make a GP appointment online may be phoned back to check that they do not have coronavirus before they come in. NHS officials have told doctors to take the utmost precautions to ensure patients do not unwittingly arrive at surgeries with the illness. They have instructed GPs to carry out a telephone or Skype assessment of anyone who has booked an appointment online. Waterbeach GP Surgery is closed while it undergoes a deep clean earlier this month in Cambridge Many people have taken to wearing face masks on public transport. One many was pictured wearing his headphones over the mask (left) while another was pictured on the tube this morning wearing the full face covering (right) TESCO DELIVERY DRIVERS ADVISE EACH OTHER TO TAKE THEIR EMPLOYER TO COURT IF HAVE TO DELIVER FOOD TO SELF-ISOLATED CUSTOMERS Tesco delivery drivers have advised each other to take their employer to court if they have to deliver food to people who 'they are aware of being in self-isolation' at home due to the coronavirus. In a forum for Tesco employees, the drivers questioned whether or not it was a fair request to be asked to take food shopping into the homes of those who may have Covid 19. One driver said there had been a letter distributed around various stores that stated drivers would still have to deliver to customers who had been told to self-isolate. In response another employee urged them to take the company to court as they claimed it was a breech of its duty of care. Advertisement This is in case they wish to see their doctor because of a sore throat, temperature or cough, the typical symptoms of coronavirus. Often patients who book an online appointment do not need to disclose their reasons, unlike those who ring up and speak to a receptionist. The advice was issued by NHS England to practices on Thursday night to mitigate any risk that potentially infected patients book appointments online and attend the practice. At least 20 GP surgeries have been forced to close for deep cleans in the past month after patients with suspected coronavirus walked into waiting rooms. This is contrary to official advice that says anyone who is worried they might have the illness should ring NHS 111 and await a test. The latest closures involve practices in Essex, Derbyshire, Wiltshire, Liverpool and Hampshire, according to Pulse magazine. Doctors are also being urged not to encourage patients to stockpile their medication by switching to long prescription durations. The new advice says: These actions may put a strain on the supply chain and exacerbate any potential shortages. It comes as the NHS prepares to double the number of coronavirus tests that can be carried out in a day. The health service currently has the capacity to do 2,000 tests a day and they are analysed in one of 12 labs across the country. But this will rise to 4,000 in the coming days as laboratories in NHS hospitals are authorised to do the checks. Customers queue outside Boots in Salisbury, Wiltshire, this morning, amid reports that supermarkets and shops across the UK are running out of hand sanitiser A back log of customers outside Costco in Croydon as shoppers were given hand sanitiser on entrance They will include home tests, drive-through tests where patients are swabbed by a nurse without leaving a car and tests in pods outside A&E units. But if an epidemic takes hold, the NHS will have to give up on testing all possible cases as there could be several thousand a day. Patients and doctors would instead be told to use a clinical definition to diagnose coronavirus based on the symptoms of a cough, sore throat, temperature and shortness of breath. An NHS spokesperson said: Anyone who is worried they have coronavirus should check with NHS 111 online, and for any other health concerns, it remains the case that people can see a GP in your local practice. As a precaution to protect patients, staff and the public, appointments booked online may be followed up with a call by the surgery, to make sure they see the right person in the right place for their illness. There is a constant stream of books and articles telling us, often strenuously and at great length, that the American Founders got the ideas they used for the Founding from the British philosopher John Locke. The Founders would be puzzled by this ongoing effort. They knew different. Locke's Two Treatises of Government appeared in 1690. The articles by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay that became The Federalist began appearing in American newspapers in 1787. Quite a lot had happened during that intervening century. The greatest development of all during that time was the onset of the American Enlightenment, that explosion of human genius that gave America and the world the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and The Federalist. The Founders carried out a revolution in thinking about the meaning and possibilities of human life unlike anything the world had ever known before and by 1776, they were only getting started. Thomas Jefferson later called The Federalist "the best commentary on the principles of government, which ever was written." He was right about that. The distance in thought between Locke's Two Treatises and The Federalist is simply enormous. Even the Declaration boldly declares its distance from Locke's thinking, though we are told unceasingly that it is a Lockean document. Those who say the Declaration is Lockean tell us that if we have a question about the Declaration, all we need to do is consult Locke's political philosophy. Okay, then, here's a question about the Declaration: why "unalienable"? It is, after all, a somewhat odd word. It is familiar to us only because it is there in that sentence we all know: We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights[.] The idea of unalienable rights is in the Declaration because we encounter it everywhere in the writings of the Founders. Unalienable rights and the Founders' understanding of equality are the core ideas of America's revolutionary mind. Here's John Adams: All people are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential and unalienable rights[.] Vermont's constitution presents a slight variation on this constantly repeated refrain: [A]ll men are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and unalienable rights[.] The Founders often used "natural," "essential," and "inherent" in company with "unalienable," but when only one term was used, as in the Declaration, "unalienable" was given pride of place. Why? To answer that question, we need to examine "unalienable" in order to understand what it provides that "natural," "essential," and "inherent" do not. Unalienable, obviously, means not alienable; something that is unalienable cannot be alienated. But what does it mean to alienate something? Or rather, what did it mean to the Founders? Today, we mostly use the term with reference to a breakdown in interpersonal relations. The first definition in my dictionary is "[t]o cause a person to become unfriendly or indifferent; estrange: alienate a friend." That is not what the Founders had in mind. Here is the definition relevant to their meaning: "Law. To transfer property to the ownership of another." We alienate property when we sell it, when we give it away, when we leave it to our heirs. In common speech in the time of the Founders, to alienate was to transfer the title of a property to another person. Consequently, the Founders' use of "unalienable" had a clear significance that was readily recognized in the Founders' time. The Founders had a special purpose in using the language of the legal transfer of property in the negative with reference to our rights. Their special purpose was to make it clear that our natural, essential, and inherent rights are not our property that is, their special purpose was to make it clear they were not relying on Locke's account of rights. In fact, they were doing more; they were evoking a subtle and profound argument that directly challenged Locke's account of rights. To take you to that argument is to take you to the source of the Founders' use of that special word "unalienable." Here is Francis Hutcheson in his A System of Moral Philosophy (1755) rejecting Locke's account of our rights: "Our rights are either alienable or unalienable ... our right to our goods and labours is naturally alienable." Locke, you see, put property at the core of his account: Man ... hath by nature a power ... to preserve his property that is, his life, liberty and estate. For Locke, property is the overarching concept. In fact, property gets a special emphasis by appearing twice; "estate" is another word for property. By making the case that our rights to our life and to our liberty are such that we cannot alienate them, Hutcheson was arguing that Locke had not correctly characterized our relation to our lives and our liberty. Locke had made what philosophers call a category mistake. Property is alienable; unalienable rights are not property. It is because our right to our property is alienable that we can sell, exchange, and bequeath our property. The Founders embraced Hutcheson's argument. They understood that our rights to life and liberty are natural and inherent to our being as humans. Our unalienable right to our life and our unalienable right to our liberty cannot rightfully be sold or transferred as property can be. To say those rights are unalienable is to emphasize how fundamentally different they are from our right to our property and to reject Locke's account. To put this in sharp focus, let's put Locke's account and the Declaration side-by-side: "Man ... hath by nature a power ... to preserve his property that is, his life, liberty and estate." "Men ... are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights[.] ... [A]mong these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Locke's triad is appended to property. The Declaration's triad is appended to unalienable rights and property is missing. These are two fundamentally different accounts. Locke does deserve credit for getting it all started, but Hutcheson and his followers, especially Thomas Reid, who wrote An Inquiry into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense (1764), and Adam Smith, who wrote The Wealth of Nations (1776), used Locke's thinking as a starting point to make a great leap forward in thought. The American Founders took it from there. Hutcheson and his Scottish colleagues provided the American Founders with many of the ideas that inspired them, but the Founders' work is a new creation. The Founders thought and built anew. The world-changing contributions to political thought found in the Declaration and The Federalist Papers, and embodied in the Constitution, are the work of the Founders and the gifts of the American Enlightenment. Robert Curry serves on the Board of Directors of the Claremont Institute. He is the author of Common Sense Nation: Unlocking the Forgotten Power of the American Idea. The worlds women are making gains in several areas, but the United Nations says progress has been slow and uneven. They say some forward moves could even be at risk of setback. Sunday is International Womens Day. In a new report, the U.N. says men still hold a large majority of elected positions, make more money and have access to better jobs and education. In addition, women in many parts of the world are still facing severe difficulties including child marriage, illiteracy, partner violence and a lack of access to family planning. Rural and native women face these problems in addition to greater discrimination and deeper poverty. Seize the chance We see still, even within these conditions, the possibility to change and the possibility to move forward, U.N. Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said at the launch of the report Thursday. Some countries already have seized that chance. The report found that Latin America is one of the few places where the number of women in the labor force has increased in the past 20 years. Countries like Chile and Uruguay have increased childcare coverage, the report noted. Researcher Silke Staab of U.N. Women said that those countries recognized that womens economic empowerment will not become a reality if families are lacking that kind of support. Much of sub-Saharan Africa struggles to provide access to family planning. But two countries Ethiopia and Rwanda have made it a top goal. In the last 20 years, access to birth control methods has grown by 40 percent. Investment in public works, and workers The U.N. says progress has happened in places where governments have invested in health systems, trained workers and improved both the quality of and access to health services. The UN reports progress in keeping more girls in school and the passage of laws to better protect women. It also reports that the number of women who die during pregnancy or childbirth has dropped by half. But there is still much more to do, the UN adds. Staab said, What is needed now is a concerted drive to scale up, expand and deepen policies and programs that can move the needle on womens rights to the benefit of all. Im Ashley Thompson. VOA's Margaret Besheer reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story access -n. the right or ability to approach, enter, or use illiteracy -n. the state of not knowing how to read or write concerted -n. done in a planned and deliberate way usually by several or many people scale up -phrasal verb to increase in size move the needle -expression to make progress benefit -v. to be useful or helpful to (someone or something) In a significant political move, President Gotabhaya Rajapakses government has withdrawn from a UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution adopted in 2015 and a related resolution from last year. The governments aim is to protect the military from any investigation of its war crimes committed during the suppression of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Rajapakse has come to power amid deep social unrest. He depends on the military as his main power base to take on the working class. Rajapakse, an ex-colonel, was defence secretary during the last phase of the communal war under his older brother, President Mahinda Rajapakse, during 20052009. In the final weeks of the war, tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed and many who surrendered disappeared. As well as the military, Rajapakse has been implicated in the war crime allegations. On February 26, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena announced the withdrawal decision at a UNHRC meeting in Geneva, after the cabinet had approved the move on February 17. The October 2015 UNHRC resolution was co-sponsored by Colombo and Washington after Maithripala Sirisena was installed as president in January that year via a regime-change operation orchestrated by the US to oust Mahinda Rajapakse. Washington supported Mahinda Rajapakse regimes anti-democratic rule and the war. However, it considered him too close to Beijing, against which the US was moving economically and militarily. The US wanted Sri Lanka, which is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, to line up with its military drive against China. After taking office, Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe shifted Sri Lankas foreign policy in favour of the US and its ally, India. The Colombo government also began integrating Sri Lankas military with the US Pacific Command, which is focused against China. Washington, which had earlier presented international war crimes investigation resolutions in the UNHRC to pressure the Mahinda Rajapakse regime, changed tack. It co-sponsored the 2015 resolution to establish a domestic inquiry on war crimes, allowing Sirisenas government to let the military and political leaders off the hook. The resolution called for reconciliation and constitutional changes in order to enlist the support of the Tamil bourgeois parties for the pro-US Colombo government. After withdrawing from the UNHRC resolutions, Gotabhaya Rajapakses government said it envisaged devolution of power beyond the present constitutional framework, establishment of hybrid courts to try military personnel accused of human rights violations, abolition of the executive presidency, repealing of the Prevention of Terrorism Act [PTA] and establishment of an office of missing persons. Gunawardena told the UNHRC that its resolutions had dictated changes in the country undermined the national interest and compromised security, including weakening intelligence operations. To pretend that the government has some concerns on human rights, he said Rajapakse would appoint a presidential commission to review previous past commissions reports and take action. These statements point to Rajapakses dictatorial aims, including to strengthen the executive presidency and maintain the draconian PTA, while boosting the military. Establishment of hybrid courts means a domestic inquiry with international observers. This is a watered-down version of what was proposed in the UNHRC resolution. The Sirisena government did not even establish such courts, despite bogus UNHRC criticisms. Nevertheless, during last years presidential election campaign, Rajapakse and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), which supported him, accused Sirisenas government of betraying the military and the country by agreeing to the resolution, and vowed to withdraw from it. Significantly, Rajapakse announced this move in preparation for the next general election. This week, using his executive powers, he issued a gazette notification to dissolve the parliament six months before its term ends. Rajapakse and the SLPP are bidding for a two-thirds majority in parliament to strengthen autocratic rule. One main plank of their propaganda will be the withdrawal from the UNHRC resolutions, supposedly to protect the countrys sovereignty and safeguard the military. The decision to withdraw from the UNHRC resolution was taken just two days after Washington imposed a travel ban on Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the decision was taken due to Silvas involvement in extrajudicial killings during Sri Lankas civil war. As the major human rights violator in the world, the US has no interest in safeguarding democratic rights in Sri Lanka or anywhere else. The travel ban was a threatening message that Washington will not tolerate any attempt by the Colombo government to balance between the US and China. Washington is concerned that Rajapakses government may not proceed with the renewal of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) to allow free access to US military forces, and may not sign the Millennium Corporation Challenge Agreement that allows Washington to enhance its influence. The US has not issued any statement on the withdrawal from the UNHRC resolutions. However, the UN human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet and other major powers expressed concerns. Bachelet said some progress had been made by Sri Lanka in promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights, but the governments inability to deal comprehensively with impunity and to reform institutions, may trigger the recurrence of human rights violations. Bachelets claim of progress is false. The islands war-ravaged north and east, where the majority of Tamils live, continues to be under military occupation. The government is withdrawing rare cases against war criminals and freeing them. It is pressuring the judiciary and police to drop charges against former Navy chief Wasantha Karannagoda and 13 other naval officers accused of abducting and killing 11 youth for ransom in 2008 and 2009. Rajapakse is also militarising the administration, appointing retired senior military officers to key government posts. The UNHRCs so-called Core Group on Sri Lanka issued a statement, saying it is deeply disappointed and concerned that the government has changed its approach to the resolution, but the countries in the group remain profoundly committed to the resolution. This Core Group includes Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, Montenegro and the UK. France issued a separate statement expressing its concerns. These countries supported the US regime-change operation in 2015. Their statements are a warning that they and the US could use war crime charges once again to prevent Colombo drifting toward China. Conscious of these threats, Foreign Minister Gunawardena told Bachelet that his government would continue to engage with the UNHRC, despite withdrawing from its resolutions. The Rajapakse regime faces mounting economic problems and the deepening of the continued social opposition that has developed against successive governments. It wants to politically exploit its withdrawal from the UNHRC resolutions, combined with a communalist campaign against Tamil Muslims, to divert and divide the social anger of working people. Since Rajapakse was elected as president, several struggles of workers and students have erupted. They include strikes in plantations and the Kahatagaha mine, and 200,000 teachers joined a one-day sick leave protest last week. About 15,000 workers sacked by the Rajapakse government are continuing a campaign to demand their jobs back. These struggles are indicative of a socially explosive situation developing. Like his counterparts internationally, Rajapakse is moving toward a dictatorship in response to the rising social tensions. T he Italian government will adopt new tough measures to try to contain the spread of coronavirus, including telling people not to enter or leave the hardest-hit region of Lombardy. Reuters has reported that their reporters have seen a draft of the decree to quarantine Lombardy. So far only a few limited areas of northern Italy, known as "red zones", have been quarantined, but in a dramatic escalation the draft tells people not to enter or leave Lombardy or 11 provinces in other regions. The legislation is expected to be approved later on Saturday, the head of the civil protection agency said earlier, after the number of infections rose by more than 1,200 in the last 24 hours. Tourists wearing protective facemasks visit the Piazza San Marco, in Venice / AFP via Getty Images In all the areas covered by the decree, including towns in the northern regions of Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Piedmont, schools will be closed at least until April 3, all museums, gyms and swimming pools will be also shut and leave is cancelled for all health care workers. Italy has seen its biggest daily increase in coronavirus cases since the outbreak broke out in the north of the country on Feb. 21. The death toll rose to 233 on Saturday / AFP via Getty Images In its daily update, Italy's civil protection agency said the number of people with the coronavirus rose by 1,247 in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 5,883. Another 36 people also died as a result of the virus, taking the total to 233. Worshippers returned to Islam's holiest site on Saturday after Saudi Arabia temporarily lifted its ban on visitors to the Grand Mosque of Mecca, imposed to control the spread of coronavirus. Video showed the first group of worshippers walking around the Kaaba, a place of pilgrimage that Muslims are required to visit at least once in their lifetime. On Friday, cleaning staff moved in to sanitise the mosque, leaving it empty of worshippers on what would normally be the busiest day of the week. The decision to ban access was taken on Wednesday, and could affect millions of Muslims ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan and the annual hajj pilgrimage. Saudi Arabia has confirmed five coronavirus cases so far. Medical Observation and Material Supply for Preventing COVID-19 Intensified in DPRK Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Date: 06/03/2020 Pyongyang, March 6 (KCNA) -- The prevention of COVID-19 is being intensified across the country along with a series of nationwide top-class anti-epidemic measures taken true to the spirit of the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. The passages that can be used for the virus to enter the country are thoroughly blocked and the anti-epidemic work is carried out under strict supervision to cope with the continuous spread of the epidemic worldwide. Relevant units across the country are intensifying the medical examination on those under medical observation while taking active measures for material supply. Out of more than 380 foreigners under strict confined medical observation, 221 people have been freed from quarantine. Under the unified control of the Central Emergency Anti-epidemic Headquarters, ministries and national institutions such as the State Planning Commission are actively conducting the work for producing and supplying materials necessary for those under medical observation. Greater state and social concerns are being paid to the work for providing those under medical observation with good sanitary conditions and material supply like medicines and medical appliances. Officials of anti-epidemic and public health units and Party and government organs in different areas of the country are scrupulously organizing medical examinations in the quarantine places and providing daily necessities on a regular basis, while carefully taking necessary measures. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey has cancelled his plan to relocate to Africa for up to six months in 2020. Jack has described his tweets about moving to Africa as a mistake. In November 2019, after visiting Africa on a month-long trip, Dorsey tweeted: Sad to be leaving the continent for now. Africa will define the future (especially the bitcoin one!). Not sure where yet, but Ill be living here for 3-6 months mid-2020. Grateful I was able to experience a small part. However, Dorsey has now said that he needs to re-evaluate his plans for living in Africa because of the Coronavirus outbreak amongst other things He said this while speaking at an investor conference sponsored by Morgan Stanley. READ ALSO Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey Says Hell Be Relocating To Africa For Three Months Speaking, Jack said: When I tweeted about my intention to spend a few months in Africa this year, I made a mistake and should have provided more context about why. The continent will be one of the most populated in the next 20-30 years, and room for tech innovation there is incredible, but in light of COVID-19 and everything else going on I need to reevaluate. Either way, well continue to pursue opportunities in Africa. Coronavirus aside, Dorsey risks being replaced as Chief Executive Officer of the company he co-founded due to the new activist investors that are currently rooting for his removal. Latest clashes came after a months-long lull in the violence as the warring parties showed interest in de-escalation. Yemen is at a crossroads, the United Nations envoy to the war-torn country has said, as tens of thousands of people flee the northern province of Al-Jawf after fierce clashes. Yemens Houthi rebels seized provincial capital Al-Hazm earlier this month after heavy fighting with government troops, ending a relative lull in the violence that had raised hopes for a more permanent de-escalation. Yemen is, in my view, at a critical juncture: we will either silence the guns and resume the political process, or we will slip back into large-scale conflict, Martin Griffiths said during a visit to Marib province. Fighting needs to stop now. Military adventurism and the quest for territorial gains are futile, he told reporters, according to a transcript provided by his office. They will only drag Yemen to many more years of conflict. Yemens internationally recognised government has been battling the Houthi rebels since 2014 [Hani Mohammed/AP Photo] The latest clashes in northern Yemen came after a months-long relative lull in the violence as the warring parties showed an apparent interest in de-escalation. But efforts to resume a political process appear to be unravelling. 200225071207332 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the fighting between the warring parties in Al-Jawf has displaced tens of thousands of people to Marib province. The ICRC and the Yemen Red Crescent Society have helped around 70,000 people, or 10,000 families, by providing food, tents, blankets, jerrycans, basins and hygiene kits, the agency said in a statement on Saturday. In Al-Jawf governorate, increased clashes have hampered efforts to help patients and those in need. The loss of the strategic city of Al-Hazm means the rebels now threaten oil-rich Marib. At least 2,100 displaced families reached Marib on March 1, the UN humanitarian coordination agency OCHA said last week. Al-Jawf has been mostly controlled by the Houthis, but its capital only 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of the border with Saudi Arabia had been in the hands of the government. Yemens internationally recognised government has been battling the Houthi rebels since 2014 when they captured the capital Sanaa and swathes of the impoverished Arab nation. Since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in March 2015, tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced, in what the UN has termed the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Partnership Revives H-53 Rotor Head Program Navy News Service Story Number: NNS200306-04 Release Date: 3/6/2020 11:12:00 AM By Kimberly Koonce, Fleet Readiness Center East Public Affairs MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (NNS) -- Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) is boosting readiness for the H-53 heavy-lift helicopter by breathing new life into the depot's H-53 rotor head program. A partnership agreement with Sikorsky is generating positive results. In early 2019, fleet demand for H-53 main rotor heads exceeded the number the contractor could produce; additional assets were urgently needed. While FRCE hadn't conducted extensive production of H-53 rotor heads in several years, the depot had the facilities, skilled artisans and historical knowledge needed to successfully produce the component. To reestablish the rotor head program at FRCE, the depot entered into a partnership agreement with Sikorsky: Sikorsky continues to supply completed rotor heads to the fleet, but also supplies FRCE with rotor head parts. The depot's mechanics then provide the labor required to generate the additional rotor heads needed to meet the fleet's demand. Since the agreement went into effect in March 2019, the shop has completed three rotor heads. The shop's goal is to induct six rotor heads per quarter in calendar year 2020. Officials expect the additional rotor heads turned out by FRCE to help boost readiness within the H-53 heavy-lift helicopter program. "We're excited that Fleet Readiness Center East can step up and help increase production numbers on these H-53 main rotor heads, which are a critical requirement for the fleet," said FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. Mark E. Nieto. "Having our depot serve as a second production facility will help prevent future work stoppages on aircraft needing these components. Aircraft maintainers here at FRCE and across the fleet will be able to complete maintenance on these aircraft and get them back to the warfighter without delays." Having two facilities producing the rotor heads also provides redundancy for component testing functions, said industrial specialist Jamie Byrd. "If one test cell goes down, the other facility can assist with no additional contracts required," he explained. The benefit of the FRCE site is that the fleet will have a (government) facility capable of repairing the main rotor head." Allen Broadway, dynamic components maintenance, repair and overhaul branch head, said there was some uncertainty about resuming the program. That's why the facility took a proactive approach to anticipate any barriers to production. A comprehensive logistical assessment was initiated to include key stakeholders such as supervisors, program managers, engineers, hazardous material supply personnel and Defense Logistics Agency employees. Team members brainstormed to plan for any possible hurdles that could get in the way of a successful program. With more than 170 parts making up a rotor head, Broadway said the team had a lot of roadblocks to consider. "When everyone gets in a room, and you brainstorm on everything that could impede you, some of these issues are very small that you can take care of right away, but some are complicated and will take more legwork to get lying flat," he said. "We developed a matrix to identify who had critical items for action, and we would meet every week or so to measure our progress and keep the needle moving in a positive direction. Once we got those logistical elements in place, the artisans, our most valuable assets, should be able to effectively build a rotor head." Broadway said since parts availability had previously created challenges for the program, the team looked for ways to guarantee that artisans would have the parts they needed. One strategy was to set aggressive "full-kit" dates to gather all the individual elements that make up the entire rotor head. "The reason we were so aggressive was to allow buffer for those unknowns, those Murphy's Law things you haven't planned for," Broadway said. "If you know it takes you three weeks to build and a week to test, and you set your full-kit date for five weeks before the rotor head is due for completion, you're setting yourself up for failure." Broadway said the kits had to include every part that made up the rotor head, from the largest to the smallest, so the artisans had everything they need to complete the rotor heads. "They had to go out and make sure they were procuring those little piece parts, the nuts, washers and all that little stuff to enable us to build it," he said. "We've got to have the big expensive parts, but we need those 10 cent washers, as well." Broadway said workforce training was another concern the planning team addressed. "There had been a lot of employee turnaround; a lot of knowledge had been lost due to retirements or promotions," he said. "There was a concern that the rotor head program would be new for a lot of artisans, mainly in the Industrial Processes Branch. Those areas such as cleaning, (non-destructive inspection), the machine shop and the composite shop are integral parts of being successful on a program such as H-53 rotor head. Many of the artisans had never done these processes before." Broadway said senior mechanics shared their expertise with newer artisans to ensure everyone was ready to work on the rotor heads. "One of the contributing factors was experience," Broadway said. "The main production controller in the area has worked rotor head for a number of years, so there was a lot of experience there. The shop supervisor had been an artisan in that shop, so he's not only in tune with the personalities in that shop, but he's also aware of the process and when it needs to be done. That's a great part of our success." Brian Rayfield, the rotor head shop supervisor, said the mechanics were enthusiastic about resuming work on the rotor heads, in addition to repairing landing gear and flight controls. They continued their proactive mindset into their rework processes, he added. "It's a big portion of our workload, but they didn't forget anything. We went right through it, the processes we were familiar with," Rayfield said. "The rotor head team, the mechanics who work on them, they're very proactive. They quickly elevate things, identify issues. If they see a problem with a routed part, they identify it immediately they go so far as to initiate contact with the back shop. It's been a real team effort; everybody has an important part to play. You give the mechanics the things that they need to get the work done, and they will make it happen." FRCE is North Carolina's largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,200 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $835 million. The depot generates combat air power for America's Marines and naval forces while serving as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address An Irishman is second officer of the ill-fated Grand Princess cruise ship which has been struck with the coronavirus off the coast of America. The Department of Foreign Affairs is checking reports that a number of Irish citizens are on board the cruise ship. A total of 21 people have tested positive for the virus on the Grand Princess now moored off San Francisco. The second officer on board the 500m cruiser is Co. Donegal man Pat Kelly. Mr Kelly, from the Inishowen coastal town of Moville, is well-known locally. His family still live on the town's Main Street and he only left the town a month ago to return to sea having spent Christmas and the New Year there. He trained at the National Maritime College in Ringaskiddy, Cork. Mr Kelly has been in touch with his family and friends back in Donegal to let them now that he is in good health. He is still waiting to be tested for the virus. A family friend said: "He is fine and he has been in touch by phone to reassure his family of that. "Pat is young but he is a very experienced seaman and has been at sea all of his life. He has risen through the ranks quickly. "This is just another challenge he will take on board and get on with it." US President Donald Trump said he would prefer the passengers to stay on board, but would listen to experts if their advice is for people to be taken off. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, left, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, and Associate Director for Laboratory Science and Safety Steve Monroe, about the coronavirus at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday. Pic: AP Before the test results were released, he said allowing passengers back onto US soil who might become sick later would end up increasing the number of coronavirus cases in the country. "I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault," he said. A helicopter flew test kits out to the stricken vessel after it became apparent that some of those on board were feeling unwell. Of the 21 positive tests, 19 crew members and two guests have so far tested positive. There are 2,422 guests and 1,111 crew on the vessel and all are now being tested for the virus. A spokesperson for Princess Cruises said: "We can confirm that the results from the first phase of health screenings of 45 guests and crew on board Grand Princess were completed. "We were notified by Vice President Pence while he was conducting a press conference and simultaneously by the CDC speaking to our doctor on board, that among the samples tested, 21 people have tested positive for Covid-19 which includes 2 guests and 19 crew. "We are awaiting official specific plans for future positioning of the ship from relevant authorities. "We will continue to closely follow the guidance of the CDC and other federal and state government authorities, and provide updates as they are made available." Three men are dead and a fourth is in serious condition after a violent high-speed crash in northeast Harris County early Friday morning. Arturo Mireles, 19, the driver of a white Honda Civic, was speeding on Aqueduct Road near North Lake Houston Parkway when he blew through a stop sign and crashed into a tree around 2 a.m., Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. The driver and front passenger were killed instantly, while one of the two rear passengers died on the way to the hospital, Gonzalez said. New York authorities are searching for a man who slashed a bus passenger in the face after being convinced that the stranger was talking about him in another language. At around 5am on Friday, the 20-year-old victim and the man got into a dispute while on board a Q44 MTA bus. The suspect is said to have gotten angry with the victim because he believed he was talking about him in another language, the New York Daily reports. Scroll down for video At around 5am on Friday, the 20-year-old victim and the man got into a dispute while on board a Q44 MTA bus in the Bronx Footage shows the man getting up and approaching the victim. He looks to pull a box cutter out of his pocket. The man suddenly slashes at the victim before jumping off the buss at Brush Avenue and Bruckner Blvd, in Unionport. The suspect is said to have gotten angry with the victim because he believed he was talking about him in another language The victim was taken to the Jacobi Medical Center and treated for a cut to his left cheek. Police describe the suspect as being about 30-35 years old with a beard and a mustache. He was last seen wearing a multi-colored hoodie, a black jacket, dark pants and red and white sneakers. Dawson Knox is hoping to help tornado victims in Nashville. The Buffalo Bills tight end announced on Twitter that he is raffling away signed items along with Tennessee Titans WR AJ Brown. To win, all you have to do is retweet Knoxs post and donate $10. Who wants a chance to win some signed gear from me or @Brown1arthur?! You just need to do two things: 1) Retweet this 2) Donate $10 to the GoFundMe in my tweet below to bring relief to families suffering from the awful storms in Nashville. Well pick random winners next week! Dawson Knox (@dawson_knox) March 6, 2020 All proceeds from Knoxs GoFundMe will go to Hands On Nashville. Below is a link to Knoxs GoFundMe. All money goes to @HONashville!! These families need your help. Click to donate! Any amount is greatly appreciated. https://t.co/0nC9ENq2u4 Dawson Knox (@dawson_knox) March 6, 2020 According to their website, Hands On Nashvilles mission is to meet community needs through volunteerism. It all started with one Nashvillians desire to find meaningful ways for people to volunteer. Their most recent update states that they are working with the City of Nashville and the Office of Emergency Management to send volunteers out safely to areas in need of help. Tuesdays tornado destroyed at least 40 buildings in Nashville while causing multiple fatalities. Max winds reached up to 165 miles per hour. Any fan that donates $10 to Knoxs GoFundMe can win the following items from Knox: Signed cleats, signed gloves or signed pictures. You will also be eligible to win signed cleats or a signed poster from Titans WR AJ Brown. This is what you have a chance to win Please help out my hometown! pic.twitter.com/x1308mYlDc Dawson Knox (@dawson_knox) March 6, 2020 READ MORE Bills free agency 2020: 5 under-the-radar targets Buffalo Bills GM talks potential TreDavious White extension If Jaguars tag Yannick Ngakoue, dont rule out Buffalo Bills trying to trade for him Buffalo Bills promote DC Leslie Frazier to Assistant Head Coach Australia's most epic parent-teacher row has reignited just days after a four-year court battle ended - prompting the school to hire security guards. Tracey Brose, the principal at Tamborine Mountain State High School on Queensland's Gold Coast, took legal action against a group of parents over derogatory remarks they made about her in 2016. The feud was thought to have ended last week with Mrs Brose awarded $6,000 in damages from parents Donna and Miguel Baluskas. But tensions rapidly rekindled over revelations Mrs Baluskas has lodged a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog. The parent wrote a Facebook post on a Tamborine residents' page on the weekend stating that certain allegations had been passed on to 'appropriate authorities', the Courier Mail reports. Tracey Brose, principal at Tamborine Mountain State High School in Queensland, took legal action against a group of parents over derogatory comments made against her in 2016 Amid fears the situation could re-escalate, Mrs Brose said the Education Department were providing on-site security and police had upped their patrols and surveillance of her home. The Crime and Corruption Commission has since confirmed it is reviewing Mrs Balukas' complaint. Mrs Brose said lodging a complaint does not necessarily induce an investigation and the new security measures were undertaken to ensure her family's safety. 'I have taken all the available court and police measures to protect myself and my family,' she told The Sunday Mail. Donna and Miguel Baluskas (pictured) refused to give in and spent four years battling until they lost the case Several parents of pupils at Tamborine Mountain State High School (pictured) were sued for defamation 'Anyone can make a complaint to the CCCit does not mean it has substance or there is, or will be, an investigation.' Mrs Brose spent more than $600,000 fighting the lengthy defamation battle, which drove the Balukas' into bankruptcy and cost them their house. The extraordinary four-year row began when eight parents from Tamborine Mountain, the only state high school in the small community of just 7000, wrote defamatory comments on a Change.org petition regarding Mrs Brose. Some parents removed their comments, while others planned to argue their case in court but later settled when Mrs Brose asked for $150,000 in damages. But Mr and Mrs Baluskas, whose son was expelled from the school for making a comment on a school bus, remained locked in battle until the end of last month. During its peak, Mr Balukas smashed up the Principal's home, with Ms Brose's husband forced to pull a knife on him in defense. Donna Baluskas (pictured) had a vendetta against Ms Brose since her son Harrison was expelled from the school for making a comment on a school bus Earlier this week, Tambourine Mountain community launched a GoFundMe page to help Ms Brose pay off her legal debt after she 'put her entire livelihood on the line' to stand up for Australia's teachers. Ms Brose was handed nearly $200,000 in out-of-court settlements with a number of other parents, but she was left more than $400,000 down following the legal battle. The fundraiser has already reached $6806 out of its $300,000 goal. Ms Brose previously said the defamation case wasn't about money, but about a judge telling the parents to stop their campaign of abuse. 'I don't need money I don't need damages, I need her to say this is not okay and needs to stop. Because if she doesn't say it needs to stop what then? Next week they get back online and write more stuff? They're bashing at your door again?' she said. 'What happens to educators if we can't feel safe doing our jobs?' How the bitter feud between parents and a principal unfolded: February, 2016: Tamborine Mountain State High School principal Tracey Brose is temporarily suspended A petition is launched demanding the education minister to reinstate her Some parents disagree with the petition and falsely write online that Ms Brose was a 'lying, manipulative bully, who gets off by belittling as many people as she can' Ms Brose gets a lawyer involved, who tells parents to delete the comments or face legal action Five parents refuse to apologise and Ms Brose sues them for $1million 2017: Ms Brose reaches an out-of-court settlement with Ian Martin, who agrees to pay her $20,000. The principal also settles with Karl Veasey, receiving $70,000. Trudie Arnold declares bankruptcy. 2018: The case is still going through courts, costing Donna and Miguel Baluskas thousands. The couple have lost their home and are now bankrupt. May 21: Miguel Baluskas storms Ms Brose's home demanding to be let in. When she refuses he smashes a window and attempts to force his way inside. He is later convicted of unlawful damage. February 2020: A judge rules in favour of Ms Brose, ordering Donna and Miguel Baluskas to pay $3,000 in damages each. Advertisement Plans to showcase Tucson arts, cuisine and culture on an international stage have been dashed with the cancellation of Austin, Texas, annual SXSW festival. A contingent from the University of Arizona was expected to travel to SXSW as part of the universitys inaugural Wonder House, which was designed to be a hub for arts, music, food, immersive drama and talks by some of the UAs noteworthy faculty including presidential scholar and photographer David Hume Kennerly, planetary sciences professor Dante Lauretta and renown linguist Noam Chomsky, with PBS host Evan Smith. Wonder House was set to take over the downtown Austin Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao on March 13-15, to present talks, showcase Sonoran cuisine and shine a light on Tucson arts and artists including muralist Jessica Gonzales and photographer Mike Olbinski. Austin city officials on Friday announced that they were canceling the festival in light of growing concerns over the novel coronavirus. The announcement came a week before the festival was to kick off March 13, bringing with it tens of thousands of music, art and technology fans from around the world. Fridays announcement comes after several big names including Twitter, Facebook and TikTok pulled out of the event, citing concerns over travel in light of the virus. SXSW organizers in a statement said they were working through the ramifications of the cancellation and considering options that could include rescheduling the event. Valparaiso, Chile While many retirees flock to warmer climates like Florida, others venture much farther south, with Chile one popular destination. From Mediterranean-like weather in the nations north, stunning mountains and numerous fjords in the south and a highly regarded wine industry, Chile has a lot to offer retirees. So, if your dream is to retire in this Spanish-speaking country of about 18 million people, here are key facts to be aware of before you make that move. Its a good idea to consult with a financial advisor about your retirement plans. Find an advisor today. Average Cost to Retire in Chile Before you grab your passport and head south, its important to determine how much it will cost to retire in Chile and plan accordingly. Like any other country, your cost of living is determined by the city and the lifestyle you choose. According to Numbeo, a website that collects pricing data from citizens, the average cost of living (excluding rent) is 42.79% lower than in the average cost of living in the United States. Retirees should be able to live comfortably on $2,500 to $3,000 per month, according to InternationalLiving.com. The national average for utility costs (include garbage service, electricity, and water) is $100, according to Numbeo. Broadband internet with unlimited data can cost an average of $33, which is important when communicating with friends and family at home. You may also want to sign up for cable TV, which costs another $30 per month. Rent is about 65% lower in Chile than in the United States. The national average for a one-bedroom apartment in a city is about $388 per month and about $330 per month for an apartment in the suburbs. If you want more space, the national average for a three-bedroom apartment is $700 in a city center and an average of $556 in a suburb. However, rent prices will vary depending on what city you choose. For example, a one-bedroom apartment in Santiago averages about $403 per month. Story continues Healthcare in Chile Chilean healthcare is excellent. Its ranked 33rd out of 190 countries ahead of the United States by four places. When living in Chile, you will need either a public or private healthcare plan. If you are taking an income while in Chile, about 7% of your income will contribute to a health plan. Both the public and private healthcare systems have emergency facilities. A hospital is publicly funded, and a clinica is a private facility. The clinicas typically have higher quality services. Most foreigners will not have access to public healthcare, so expatriates in Chile typically choose to use the private healthcare system because it is easier to gain access to and has more English-speaking doctors. The private system, called Las Instituciones de Salud Previsional (ISAPRE), is a group of 13 health insurance companies. You can speak with other expatriates to learn which ISAPRE is most prominent in your area and has the coverage that you need. Visa Laws Many retirees choose to get the retirement visa. It allows people to spend one year in Chile and must be renewed yearly. If you want to work while in retirement, you can apply for a work permit as well. Individuals do not have to prove that they are retired to apply for a retirement visa. This means that people of any age or pension status can apply for the visa. It allows individuals to work, start a business, or invest in a home in Chile. To apply for the visa, you will need a copy of your passport and a passport size photo. There is not a published income minimum to apply for the visa, but you should be able to show that you will be able to support yourself while in the country. Immediately after receiving your visa, you will need to register with the police department and civil register. After one year of holding your visa, you can apply for permanent residency if you have not been out of the country for 180 days consecutively. You must also have paid all your taxes to qualify for permanent residency. Permanent residence lasts for five years. If you are still in good standing with the government at that time, you will be eligible to become a citizen. Housing in Chile As you plan to move, one of the biggest factors you will consider is housing. Santiago is a hotbed for American retirees, but you may want to consider smaller cities as well. Anyone, resident or not, may purchase property in Chile. The average home cost in Santiago is about $200 per square foot for a home in the city. This is among the most expensive in the country as a whole, so if you plan to live in the countryside or a different city, the prices will be lower. This is in comparison to New York City, where homes cost about $1,372 per square foot. Buying a Home in Chile The home purchasing process is a bit different than in the United States. Fortunately, once you have selected a home, the process only takes about a month. The first thing to know is that there are a lot of fees included in purchasing a home. Fees include: Lawyer fees of about 1% of the property value Stamp duty of about 0.2% or 0.3% of the property value Notary fee of about 0.1% of the property value VAT of 19% on the first sale of a new construction When you are searching for a home, you should also assemble the team of professionals that will help you through the home buying process. These professionals should include a notary, a real estate agent, and a lawyer. The lawyer will do all the due diligence on the property, including collecting all the property titles, encumbrance certificates, and any other necessary documents. When you decide on a property that you like, you will get a Rol Unico Nacional (RUT) number. This is a personal ID number that you will use as you would a Social Security number. Then, you will make an offer on the home and agree on a price with the seller. After that, your lawyer and notary will do a title search and orchestrate a transfer of funds. Once all the documentation has been handled and cleared, both the buyer and seller will sign the sales documents in the presence of a notary and the property will change hands. If you need a mortgage, foreigners can borrow money from Chilean banks. This may increase the time it takes to purchase a home, and you will still be required to put at least 10% of the purchase price down on the home. Taxes in Chile Chilean residents are only taxed on income earned in Chile. The rate is progressive and rises to a maximum of 45%. As a U.S. resident, you must file taxes in the United States each year. You will have to report any foreign bank accounts as well. If you earn any money outside of the U.S., you can use a few different provisions to reduce your U.S. taxable income. These include the foreign earned income exclusion, the foreign tax credit and the foreign housing exclusion, among others. If youd like to forecast your tax burden more specifically, you can consult a tax expert who is familiar with both U.S. and Chilean tax laws. Safety in Chile Compared to most South American countries and some of the North American countries, Chile is safe. However, one of the biggest problems that expatriates may encounter is petty theft around the cities. If you decide to retire in Chile, youll want to be aware of your surroundings, keep a low profile and follow instructions of local authorities, including movement restrictions, as well as obey any curfews. The Bottom Line If youre ready to spend your retirement years exploring the wilderness in Patagonia or tasting the countrys wine varietals, Chile has a lot to offer. But, before you begin your journey south, make sure to consult a financial advisor who can help you determine the affordability of living in Chile. Tips for Retiring Overseas Consider talking to a financial advisor about making a plan for retiring overseas. Finding the right financial advisor who fits your needs doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in five minutes. If youre ready to be matched with local advisors who will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. An essential part of saving for retirement is making sure the money you save remains untouched. Dipping into your savings may seem tempting if youre low on cash, but youll pay for it down the line. Consider creating an emergency fund so you can deal with lifes little challenges without raiding your nest egg. Photo credit: iStock.com/pierivb, iStock.com/Radiokukka, iStock.com/Ambasadorka The post How to Retire in Chile: Costs, Visas and More appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. Horrified passengers only learned that nineteen crew members and two tourists aboard Grand Princess cruise ship had tested positive for coronavirus when Mike Pence announced the cases at his press conference. Forty-six people on board were swabbed and 21 of them tested positive, Vice President Mike Pence revealed in a White House press conference Friday. News of the outbreak came as two more deaths were announced in the US Friday night, both in Florida, taking the US total to 17. The ship has been kept in a holding pattern in the Pacific Ocean off San Francisco for nearly two days and will now move on to a 'non commercial port' where all the 3,500 passengers and crew members will be unloaded and tested. Friday's test results come amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of at least ten cases during its previous voyage. The Grand Princess cruise ship passes the Golden Gate Bridge as it arrives from Hawaii in San Francisco. Twenty-one people on board have tested positive for the coronavirus The news came as a shock to many passengers who only found out about the positive test results from Pence's press briefing, a passenger told CNN via video call. 'We apologize but we were not given advance notice of this announcement by the US federal government,' the ship's announcement broadcast was heard in the video. 'It would have been our preference to be the first to make this news available to you.' Another distressed passenger, 17-year-old Kailee Higgins Ott, who is on the cruise with her mother, Leeann Higgins, told how they just happened to find out about the outbreak while watching CNN in their room. She had told USA Today just hours earlier that they had been told to stay in their rooms while people were waiting for coronavirus test results 'We were just informed that after lunch time we need to stay in our rooms until we get the test results. The tests should be finished in about 4-6 hours and we will know results in the morning,' she said Thursday. One angry passenger blasted President Trump's comments that he would rather keep everyone on board the ship to make US numbers around the outbreak look better. 'He's more than welcome to come onto the ship with us and serve us our dinners and bring me my towels,' Debbie Loftus, an American quarantined on the cruise ship with her elderly parents. One angry passenger told how passengers only learned of the confirmed cases when Mike Pence announced the cases at his press conference Vice President Mike Pence announced that 21 people tested positive for the coronavirus on borad the Grand Princess cruise ship docked off San Francisco - 19 crew and two passengers She also voiced concerns that such a move would risk a repeat of the disastrous quarantine on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan, which ultimately saw 700 infected and six die. 'Does he not realize what happened on the Diamond Princess when they did that?' she said, in a video interview with CNN from her cabin. The Grand Princess cruise ship, with some 3,500 people on board, will now not dock in San Francisco but was instead ordered to stay at sea Wednesday evening after several dozen people on board began to show symptoms. A California National Guard helicopter brought coronavirus tests to the ship Thursday The outbreak on board the Grand Princess cruise ship came as: Trump signed an $8.3 billion measure to combat the coronavirus outbreak Friday The president said 'anyone who wants a test can get a test' - despite shortages New York state confirmed 11 new cases Friday, taking its total to 44 Silicon Valley continues to close its doors as major tech hubs of California and Seattle increasingly become virus hotspots Apple told all 12,000 employees at its headquarters Apple Park to remain home Friday, following similar guidance from Facebook and Microsoft Amazon and Facebook both have employees with the disease in Seattle Officials in Austin announced that South by South West festival will be canceled Most US cases have been linked to the Life Care Center nursing facility in Kirkland, near Seattle, which nine deaths are linked to It emerged that three days before the first cases were confirmed, the facility held a 'germ-fest' party meaning the spread could be far wider than thought Pence said the federal government is working with California officials on a plan to bring the ship to a non-commercial port this weekend and the 2,300 passengers, mostly Americans, and another 1,000 crew members, will be tested for the virus. 'We have been in discussion with Gov. (Gavin) Newsom,' Pence said. Federal officials have been working with the state and 'we have developed a plan to bring the ship to a non-commercial port,' he added. 'All passengers and crew will be tested for the virus. Those that will need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those who will require medical help will receive it.' 'The general risk to the American public remains low,' Pence said but added that elderly Americans and those with pre-existing conditions should use caution, especially when traveling. Confined to their cabins, passengers aboard a mammoth cruise ship off the California coast awaited coronavirus test results Friday amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of at least 10 cases during its previous voyage. On Thursday, a military helicopter crew lowered test kits onto the 951-foot (290-meter) Grand Princess by rope and later retrieved them for analysis as the vessel waited off San Francisco, under orders to keep its distance from shore. Princess Cruises said 46 of the more than 3,500 people on board were tested and results revealed Friday that 21 of them tested positive. Twenty-four others tested negative while one test was inconclusive. On Friday, President Trump claimed that he would prefer the passengers and crew to remain on the ship so they don't add to the rising American cases. 'I have great experts, including our vice president, who's working 24 hours a day on this stuff,' Trump told reporters. 'They would like to have the people come off, I'd rather have the people stay. But I'd go with them. I told them to make the final decision.' 'I like the numbers being where they are. 'I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault. And it wasn't the fault of the people on the ship either. 'I can live either way with it,' he continued. 'I'd rather have them stay on, personally. But I fully understand if they want to take them off. I gave them the authority to make the decision' Passengers on board the Grand Princess cruise ship, which had previously carried two passengers who contracted the coronavirus, watch while a U.S. military helicopter hovers The Grand Princess is currently 400 miles off San Francisco and heading for port having returned from Hawaii after 11 passengers and 10 crew reported symptoms of coronavirus. Tests for 21 people on board, including 19 crew and two passengers, have tested positive The US's handling of the cruise ship outbreak has come under fire after the 3,500 people on board - including the captain - were kept in the dark over the confirmed cases until Pence told reporters at the Friday press conference. Loftus spoke of the outrage among passengers that not even the captain was told in advance of the now-confirmed outbreak. 'We were watching NBC and we heard it and were like excuse me, the passengers were supposed to be notified first,' she told CNN. 'I immediately called down to passenger services and said you better get the captain aware of what's going on and get on the intercom. 'And he did come on about 10 minutes later but the fact that we weren't told first made us quite upset and angry.' 'There's no excuse for this,' she added. The concerned passenger said they have no idea how dangerous the situation is. 'We have absolutely no idea except that they are going to be testing every single person on the boat otherwise we have no idea,' she said. But she added that it is 'in all likelihood' that her and her parents - who are in their 80s - will have come into contact with the infected crew members. 'We have no idea what role they had on the ship so we don't have enough information right now.' Loftus said she is worried about her parents, given the higher risk of the infection among older people. 'If they were to get sick then I'd be extremely concerned,' she said. Loftus spoke of the outrage among passengers that not even the captain was told in advance of the now-confirmed outbreak. 'We were watching NBC and we heard it and were like excuse me, the passengers were supposed to be notified first,' she told CNN One angry passenger blasted President Trump's comments that he would rather keep everyone on board the ship to make US numbers around the outbreak look better. 'He's more than welcome to come onto the ship with us and serve us our dinners and bring me my towels,' Debbie Loftus, an American quarantined on the cruise ship with her elderly parents Loftus said that it is 'in all likelihood' that her and her parents - who are in their 80s - will have come into contact with the infected crew members. She is worried for her parents' safety The testing began after it was reported that a passenger on a previous voyage of the ship, in February, died of the disease. In the past few days, health authorities disclosed that at least nine other people who were on the same journey were also found to be infected. And some passengers on that trip stayed aboard for the current voyage. The only people tested were those who were showing symptoms or who had been on the previous trip. 'The ship will not come on shore until we appropriately assess the passengers,' California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday. The ship off California was returning to San Francisco after visiting Hawaii. A Sacramento-area man who sailed aboard the Grand Princess last month during a visit to a series of Mexican ports later succumbed to the coronavirus, according to California authorities. Others who were on that voyage have also tested positive, with seven cases in Northern California and two in Canada, authorities said. However, Mexico's top epidemiologist denied that the passenger who died in California was on a ship that visited Mexican ports. Dr. Jose Luis Alomia Zegarra said the man was on a different cruise that did not stop in Mexico. A cruise ship worker cleans a railing on the Grand Princess off the California coast A group of medical personnel with the 129th Rescue Wing, working alongside individuals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, don protective equipment after delivering virus testing kits to the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of California Three dozen passengers on the Grand Princess have had flu-like symptoms over the past two weeks or so, said Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of San Francisco's Department of Emergency Management. An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles said the recirculated air from a cruise ship's ventilation system, plus the close quarters and communal settings, make passengers vulnerable to infectious diseases. 'Theyre not designed as quarantine facilities, to put it mildly,' said Don Milton of the University of Maryland. 'Youre going to amplify the infection by keeping people on the boat. 'My advice is to get people off and into a safer quarantine environment than a cruise ship,' Milton said. Michele Smith, a Grand Princess passenger, posted a video on Facebook of the helicopter that arrived at the ship. Another video showed a crew member wearing gloves and a mask and spraying and wiping a handrail. 'We have crews constantly cleaning our ship,' Smith was heard saying. In a post, Smith said she and her husband were not quarantined and were told that only the people who had been on the Mexico voyage or those showing flu-like symptoms had to isolate themselves. 'Spirits are as high as can be under these circumstances. We are blessed to be healthy, comfortable and well-fed,' she wrote. Friday's test results come amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of at least ten cases during its previous voyage This handout photo shows an interior view of the Grand Princess cruise ship on March 5 Meanwhile, the US death toll from the coronavirus climbed to 17, with all but three victims in Washington state, while the number of infections swelled to around 300, scattered across about half the states. The latest two deaths were in Lee County and Santa Rosa County, Florida. President Donald Trump has signed an $8.3 billion measure to help public health agencies deal with crisis and spur development of vaccines and treatments. Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 100,000 people and killed over 3,400, the vast majority of them in China. Most cases have been mild, and more than half of those infected have recovered. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRUMP CLAIMS 'ANYBODY WHO WANTS A TEST CAN GET A TEST' AS HE COMMITS $8.3 BILLION TO TACKLING CRISIS President Donald Trump plunged coronavirus testing into chaos Friday when he announced that 'anybody who wants a test can get a test' during a rambling press conference Friday. The president brushed off concerns about the limited number of coronavirus test kits during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta Friday. He left officials scrambling to explain how such a commitment could happen after free-wheeling press availability where he publicly disagreed with his own government's approach to the cruise ship, referenced impeachment, asked about TV ratings, and called a Democratic government 'a snake.' 'The tests are beautiful,' Trump added after meeting with top U.S. scientists amid the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile Maryland announced its first cases; Trump was there on Tuesday to visit the National Institutes of Health's Vaccine Research Center and get an update from Dr. Anthony Fauci 'Anybody who right now and yesterday, anybody that needs a test gets a test,' Trump said. Trump praised his own administration's response amid concerns that the million test kits promised had yet to materialize. 'We've done a tremendous job at keeping it down,' he said. And Trump shared his misgivings about providing on-shore medical treatment to passengers of a Princess cruise liner off the coast of San Francisco. He raised concerns it would spike the numbers of infected Americans. 'I like the numbers where they are. I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship. That wasn't our fault,' Trump said. The president during his trip to the CDC called Washington State Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee a 'snake.' He also appeared to criticize Pence's approach. 'Oh I told Mike not to be complimentary that governor is a snake. I said if you're nice to him he will take advantage,' Trump said. 'We have a lot of problems with the governor, the governor of Washington,' he said, adding: 'Mike may be happy with him but I'm not.' Inslee, who ran for president this year and is overseeing an outbreak in his state, had tweeted last week that he told Pence their work would be more successful if the administration 'stuck to the science and told the truth.' Trump submitted to a series of questions from reporters at the CDC, where his comments veered to his appearance Thursday night at a Fox News town hall. He brought up his appearance on 'a very fine network known as Fox News. How was the show last night? Did it get good ratings, by the way?' he asked. Trump, who wore his signature red 'Make America Great' hat during the briefing about the response to the potential pandemic, swerved between the coronavirus issue and his political grievances. He also invoked his own uncle, Dr. John Trump, in explaining his aptitude for dealing with the issue. 'I like this stuff. I really get it,' Trump said. 'The general risk to the American public remains low,' Pence told reporters in the White House briefing room. 'It is a good time for any American who is elderly and has a serious underlying health condition to think carefully about travel,' he said. Signed: DOnald Trump only asked Congress for just above $2 billion but they rejected that and both houses passed and $8.3 billion spending bill The president's visit to the Centers for Disease Control was in question earlier in th day after abruptly taking the visit off his schedule over a person at the CDC who was being tested for the disease. Trump told reporters Friday morning the trip got scrapped or postponed because a person at the government facility was being tested for the virus that has now resulted in the deaths of 17 Americans. But a few hours later, the White House backpedaled on plans and included a flight to Atlanta and the CDC in the president's official schedule. Trump also signed a bill allocating $8.3 billion to combat the outbreak. The funding measure provides money for public health agencies for tests, vaccines and other treatments. It will also provide money to state and local governments to respond to the epidemic. The House passed the legislation Wednesday and the Senate did so on Thursday, a rapid response to increased public fears about the disease, which has disrupted schools, airlines, and spring break plans. The measure more than triples the $2.5 billion amount outlined by the White House last month, which Democrats criticized as too little, too late. A group of lawmakers from both parties negotiated the increased figure and other provisions in the measure in a rare sign of bipartisanship. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BLOW FOR WORLD'S BIGGEST TECH FIRMS AS SILICON VALLEY SHUTS ITS DOORS AND SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FESTIVAL IS AXED Apple has advised all 12,000 employees at its Cupertino headquarters to work from home The world's tech giants have been dealt a major blow from the coronavirus crisis as Silicon Valley continues to shut its doors and South by Southwest Festival is cancelled. On Friday, Apple became the latest Silicon Valley firm to advise its workers to stay away in coronavirus-hit California. Apple advised all 12,000 employees at its Cupertino headquarters to work from home amid heightened coronavirus concerns as the death toll in the US continued to rise. In a memo seen by DailyMail.com and issued to all staff at the Santa Clara Valley offices named Apple Park, employees were told that the precaution was being taken following recent guidance from public health officials. Staff were advised that offices would remain open but that they were 'encouraging team members' to stay away despite only sending the email when many would already be traveling to work. Tech company office closures: How many are affected? Microsoft: The company has asked its employees in its San Francisco Bay and Seattle HQ offices to work from home if they can do so. The Seattle campus has 54,000 employees but it is not known how many are in the San Francisco Bay. Microsoft has more than 80,000 employees across the country. Facebook: They told employees in its San Francisco Bay offices to stay at home on Friday and cancel all business trips due to the virus. Facebook already announced on Wednesday it has closed its Seattle office until at least March 9 after a contractor there was discovered to have contracted the virus. The two offices have an estimated 17,000 employees. Apple: Advised all 12,000 employees at its Cupertino headquarters to work from home Amazon: Company gave its more than 50,000 employees in the Washington state region a green light to work remotely after one of its headquarter employees tested positive for coronavirus. Google: The company is also encouraging workers in Washington state to stay away from offices and work from home. Advertisement Apple joined Facebook and Microsoft in introducing new policies to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus this week. An estimated 83,000 workers are affected by the closures and work-from-home policies within these three companies alone. Facebook also told employees in its San Francisco Bay offices to stay at home on Friday and cancel all business trips due to the virus. The company is believed to have around 14,000 employees in the Bay Area. The social network is also cancelling any events in the Bay Area. Facebook already announced Wednesday night that it has closed its Seattle office after a contractor there was discovered to have contracted the virus. Between the San Francisco and Seattle closures, around 17,000 employee of the company are estimated to be working from home. The office will be closed until at least Monday, March 9, and the company is encouraging its employees to work from home for the remainder of the month. Amazon confirmed late Tuesday that one of its employees in Seattle had tested positive for coronavirus after going home sick from work on February 25. An Amazon spokeperson told DailyMail.com: 'We're supporting the affected employee who is in quarantine.' Amazon has more than 50,000 employees in Seattle and more than 275,000 full-time workers across the U.S. Last week, Amazon became one of the first U.S. companies to crack down on employee travel due to the outbreak, banning all 'non-essential' work trips. Meanwhile, Google is asking employees in Washington state who can work from home to do so. It has more than 4,500 employees in Seattle. Microsoft has already asked its employees in its San Francisco Bay and Seattle HQ offices to work from home if they can do so to restrict the spread of the virus. The company has over 80,000 employees in the US, 54,000 of whom are based in the Washington state Redmond campus. The company has committed to continue to pay its workers who are paid by the hour during the outbreak even if they can't come to work. There are an estimated 3,000 employees at the Facebook Seattle offices Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park has told it employees to remain at home also Ride-sharing service Lyft said it encouraged its San Francisco staff to work from home for the remainder of the week after it learned one of its employees was in contact with someone who was exposed to COVID-19. Global employer Twitter this week also told all 5,000 of its workers around the world to work from home because of the outbreak. Meanwhile, officials canceled the South by Southwest festival that was set to take place in Austin, Texas, over coronavirus fears. Austin Mayor Steve Adler said on Friday he was issuing a state of emergency that effectively canceled the event, based on the recommendation of public health officials. The festival, known as SXSW - set to take place between March 13 and March 22 brings together the world's biggest tech firms. Several major companies including Amazon Studios, Netflix, Facebook and Twitter had already pulled out of the festival. No cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Austin however, more than 50,000 people had signed a petition seeking to get the festival cancelled, amid concerns that it draws an international audience into close quarters, posing a serious threat of contagion. Many attendees flock from the virus hotspots of California and Seattle. All told, the economic cost of tech events cancelled due to coronavirus has surpassed $1 billion, according to an estimate from ReCode. SXSW 2020 has been canceled by the city of Austin amid concerns over the novel coronavirus. The crowd on 6th street in downtown Austin is seen during the 2015 festival -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NY GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO BLASTS CDC AND 'BAD GOVERNMENT' AS NY CASES RISE TO 44 The number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus in New York state has risen to 44 as at least 4,000 people have been urged to self-quarantine to prevent the spread of the disease. In a press conference on Friday, Governer Andrew Cuomo said that 'most' of the cases are linked to a Manhattan lawyer who tested positive earlier in the week. There are now 33 cases in Westchester County, five in New York City, four in Nassau County and two in Rockland County. Details of all the new cases were not immediately clear, but Cuomo said there were 'a number of young people' and he suspects 'they are related to existing cases. At least five people have been hospitalized across the state. Cuomo blasted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Trump administration over their mixed messages regarding coronvirus testing. Cuomo cited the contradictory statements issued by the federal health agency and Vice President Mike Pence. 'I don't understand CDC's instructions, they say anyone can get tested if they want...but Pence says we don't have enough tests,' Cuomo told reporters. 'How can you bring in more people into the pipeline than you can address at the end of the pipeline?' he said. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed 'most' of the cases in the state are linked to a Manhattan lawyer who tested positive earlier in the week. Eleven of those were new cases reported this morning. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city's latest case is a man in his 50s with 'mild' symptoms 'That is not only bad government and poor planning, it will increase the fear.' It comes just hours after Dr Anthony Fauci, a top official at the NIH, said he can't make any promises about when enough test kits will be made available. Cuomo argued that people will be fearful because they won't understand why doctors don't have the capacity to test them. 'Their position is absurd and nonsensical,' the governor said. 'I think the anxiety and the fear is a bigger problem than the virus.' Cuomo also lamented that CDC and FDA were slow in approving New York's use of private labs as well as giving New York State's Wadsworth Lab And NYC's Public-Health Lab permission to test for the virus. His comments came hours after Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the goal in the next few weeks to have more than a million tests ready but that he couldn't guarantee it. It echoed comments made by Vice President Mike Pence at a press conference on Thursday admitted that there is a shortage of test kits, which currently cannot meet demand. 'I can't guarantee that, that's an issue that would have to go through the FDA and the companies to see if that's available,' Dr Fauci told TODAY. 'So I cannot promise it but that's what the goal is - within the next couple of weeks - to get the million plus [out].' There are 44 confirmed cases in New York state. This includes two cases in Rockland County, five in New York City, 33 in Westchester and four in Nassau County It is believed one of the chemicals used in the test did not work properly, resulting in the test needing to be remanufactured. Another issue was that the CDC initially set narrow criteria on who could be tested. At first, only those with a travel history to China - where the outbreak emerged - or those who had been exposed to a confirmed coronavirus patient were tested. That changed after the first patient of 'unknown diagnosis' was confirmed in California, believed to be of so-called community spread. 'There were certainly some missteps in the beginning regarding getting tests out, some technical issues that slowed down the process,' Dr Fauci told TODAY. 'The Vice President was absolutely correct. There has been a delay and we didn't have enough right now but, hopefully, in the near future hopefully we will.' NEW YORK STATE CORONAVIRUS CASES WESTCHESTER COUNTY: 33 NEW YORK CITY: 5 NASSAU COUNTY: 4 ROCKLAND COUNTY: 2 Advertisement The CDC and other health officials have come under fire for how slowly Americans are being tested. 'I'm not happy about the lack of the appropriate number of test kits - that's for sure - but other areas of the response, I think, are going well,' Dr Fauci said. Heath and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar explained on Thursday the three steps that stand in the way to broader, faster testing. He said that even when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) itself developed a test, it had to get approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before distributing it. That request was submitted February 3 and approved February 4. The CDC didn't start shipping its first batch of tests until February 6. Dr Fauci said he's also frustrated at the lack of screenings at US airports. In a press conference on Monday evening, Pence said there will be 100 percent screening at all airports with direct flights from Italy and South Korea over the next 12 hours. However, Vice News producer Julia Lindau said she did not undergo any health screenings or additional questioning after landing at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York from Italy on Thursday night. 'I just landed at JFK after reporting on #coronavirus in Milan and Lombardy - the epicenter of Italy's outbreak - for @vicenews,' she tweeted. 'I walked right through US customs. They didn't ask me where in Italy I went or if I came into contact with sick people. They didn't ask me anything.' Each year, World Wildlife Day, on March 3, celebrates and raises awareness of the world's wild animals and plants. Australians won't be celebrating much this year as some fires are still burning there. While bush fires are a feature of life in Australia, the 2019-2020 fire season was particularly severe with 34 people killed, 2,779 homes destroyed, 3,121 other buildings lost, an estimated 46 million acres burned, some 306 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted, an estimated one billion animals dead and some endangered species driven to extinction. Globally, biodiversity faces many threats one of them being illegal trade. World Wildlife Day is a United Nations initiative that coincides with the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), an international agreement between governments to regulate global trade in wild animals and plants to ensure that their survival does not become threatened by such trade. Thousands of species are internationally traded and used by people in their daily lives for food, health care, housing, tourist souvenirs, cosmetics or fashion. With 183 contracting parties, 182 countries and the European Union, CITES is one of the world's most powerful tools for wildlife conservation through the regulation of trade. World Wildlife Day is celebrated under a different theme each year. This year the theme is 'Sustaining all life on Earth'. CITES regulates international trade to sustain life on Earth with benefits for both the livelihoods of people and the global environment. Globally, over 36,000 plant and animal species are accorded varying degrees of protection by the CITES convention. Regulations implementing CITES in the European Union list the species relevant to this part of the world and the EU experience of illegal trading in endangered wildlife. Ireland ratified CITES in January 2002 and the convention entered into force here on 8 April 2002. Irish laws follow the EU Regulations and lay out the terms and conditions for possession, use and trade in protected species that are both native to Ireland and non-native species listed under CITES. Trade in marine species such as exotic seahorses, colourful corals and tropical seashells is monitored by customs officials and wildlife officers to ensure that the survival of these beautiful and often endangered life forms does not become threatened by tourists unwittingly buying them as souvenirs while on holidays abroad and bringing them home. Wildlife is best enjoyed and left in the wild where it belongs. Security contractor Erik Prince, who has close ties to the Trump administration, recruited former American and British spies to perform sting operations and infiltrate Democratic organizations, a new report claims. The New York Times reported Saturday that Prince - Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' brother - recruited a former MI6 agent, Richard Seddon, to help run a 2017 sting at the Michigan headquarters of the American Federation of Teachers. During the sting, Seddon was said to have told the operative placed inside the organization - Marisa Jorge, 23 - to copy union files and secretly tape conversations between local union leaders, so they could be made public with the aim of damaging the union. The New York Times reported that Erik Prince recruited a former M16 agent for help with a sting against the Michigan office of the American Federation of Teachers Prince (left) is Education secretary Betsy DeVos' brother and has ties to the Trump (right) administration The American Federation of Teachers is the second largest teacher's labor union in America. Jorge - using a different alias - was also said to have gone undercover in Rep. Abigail Spanberger's (D-Va.) congressional campaign prior to her election in 2018. The campaign discovered the infiltration and fired Jorge, according to the report. It's unclear whether Seddon was also involved in the Spanberger sting, however. Spanberger, a former CIA officer, won the Virginia seat which had been previously held by Republican Dave Brat. Both the American Federation of Teachers and Spanberger stings were said to have been sponsored by conservative news group Project Veritas, which is known for targeting Democratic lawmakers, liberal advocacy groups and news organization. Prince is the former CEO of Blackwater Worldwide, a private security company Betsey DeVos, Prince's sister, has been critical of teachers' unions, claiming that they have a 'stranglehold' over politicians at the federal and state levels this was the picture the AFT used to ID Marisa Jorge as part of James O'Keefe's network https://t.co/iNJxIc2JMT @ryangrim @MaryamSaleh_ pic.twitter.com/aScC3RhQJG Rachel Cohen (@rmc031) September 29, 2017 Enter Ava-Marie Joyce, pictured here. Ava walked into our offices one day looking for a fellowship with the campaign. We typically aligned fellows to an organizer who served as a supervisor/mentor. (6/?) pic.twitter.com/Wu8cs7GEdQ Eric Hinkle (@ehinkle94) October 23, 2019 Seddon's involvement in the American Federation of Teachers sting was revealed by internal emails sent between himself and Project Veritas, which were uncovered during the discovery process in a lawsuit between the news organization and the union. The New York Times reported that Prince, the former CEO of Blackwater Worldwide, a private security company, helped recruit Seddon for the role. Prince was said to have first shown interest in using former spies to train Project Veritas employees in espionage skills during the 2016 presidential campaign. According to the newspaper, Prince had gotten in touch with multiple former spies saying that he wanted to arm the Project Veritas employees with knowledge of how to recruit sources, perform secret recording and engage in other surveillance techniques. Prince was said to have occasionally relied on Seddon to pitch these veteran intelligence operators. The Intercept reported that Prince had invited Veritas employees to his Wyoming ranch and arranged for an unnamed former MI6 agent to instruct them on surveillance and interview tactics during Winter 2017. What is Project Veritas? -Project Veritas was founded in 2010 by James O'Keefe, a conservative activist and 'entrapment journalist' -It claims its mission is to 'Investigate and expose corruption, dishonesty, self-dealing, waste, fraud, and other misconduct in both public and private institutions in order to achieve a more ethical and transparent society' -One of the organization's specialties is carrying out sting operations targeting liberal groups and established media outlets -In 2017, O'Keefe and Project Veritas was outed for trying to plant fake news with the Washington Post, by having a woman lie about having had an abortion after engaging in underage sex with then-Alabama Republican senatorial candidate Roy Moore -In November 2019, Project Veritas released 'hot mic' footage of ABC Good Morning America anchor Amy Robach criticizing the network for not running her report about Jeffrey Epstein in 2016 -In February, ABC News suspended veteran journalist David Wright after being caught by a Project Veritas camera, criticizing news media coverage of Donald Trump, calling himself a socialist and making other statements while at a bar Advertisement Project Veritas head James O'Keefe tweeted at the time that the organization's 'special training,' obtained at Prince's ranch, would make them 'the next great intelligence agency.' Prince 'was weaponizing a group that had close ties to the Trump White House,' aformer White House official familiar with Princes relationship with OKeefe and Project Veritas told The Intercept in the May 2019 report. The New York Times reported that emails obtained during the teachers' union lawsuit against Project Veritas revealed that Seddon gave O'Keefe regular updates about the 2017 sting in Michigan. O'Keefe was said to have written that Project Veritas would be able to get 'a ton more access agents inside the educational establishment.' The emails also referred to additional undercover operations that were being carried out, as well as training activities that involved 'operational targeting.' Those targets were redacted. O'Keefe told the New York Times that the organization is conducting multiple investigations and that sources were 'providing confidential documents, insights into internal processes and wearing hidden cameras to expose corruption and misconduct.' O'Keefe did not comment on Prince and the supposed infiltration operations, but he told the newspaper that 'No one tells Project Veritas who or what to investigate.' It's unclear whether Trump administration officials or advisers had any involvement with the sting operations. Neither Prince nor Seddon have issued comments on the report yet. The American Federation of Teachers Michigan is suing Project Veritas in federal court for alleged trespassing, eavesdropping and other offenses, asking for more than $3million in damages. The union said Project Veritas is a 'vigilante organization which claims to be dedicated to exposing corruption. It is, instead, an entity dedicated to a specific political agenda.' DeVos, Prince's sister, has criticized teachers' unions, claiming that they have a 'stranglehold' over politicians at the federal and state levels. Project Veritas has claimed protection under the First Amendment. The case is expected to go to trial in Fall 2020. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Saturday that M G Vaidya, senior ideologue of the organisation, and his family were exemplars of the Sangh's ideals and values. Vaidya was felicitated at a program here ahead of his 97th birthday on March 11. "Suppose tomorrow some magic happens and except one RSS volunteer ("swayamsevak") and his family all other volunteers vanish, this remaining one family and the volunteer can create the entire RSS by themselves," Bhagwat said. Vaidya and his family were exemplars of such a family, representing the organisation's values, he said. The RSS went through a lot of ordeals in its initial days and every volunteer had to pay a cost for being part of the Sangh and they are still paying that cost, he added. Vaidya, in his speech, said whatever he was, it was because of the Sangh. He also mentioned that the Sangh's 'Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Vibhag (all India publicity wing)' started because of him, and he was the "first spokesperson of the Sangh". Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who was also present on the occasion, praised Vaidya as an "ideal swayamsevak". Vaidya left his teaching job in a college to work for the Sangh and started working at Tarun Bharat, a mouthpiece of the organiation, he said. "It is very rare that a person is a successful professor, journalist as well as a dedicated worker," Gadkari said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) White House staff and the President had lost confidence in Mulvaney last fall after he failed to quickly produce an effective strategy to defend the President after news of an intelligence community whistleblower complaint, which eventually became the basis for the impeachment inquiry, was made public. But the President was convinced not to act by close aides who argued that a leadership change in the White House during impeachment could cause unnecessary chaos. And last October, Mulvaney also irritated Trump when the former acting chief of staff confirmed during a press briefing that the President froze the security aid, in part, to pressure the country to investigate Trump's Democratic rivals. He later tried to walk back his statement. "I have news for everybody: Get over it. There's going to be political influence in foreign policy," Mulvaney said during the briefing. Following the President's request on holding the Ukraine aid last summer, Mulvaney was warned by a staff member at White House Office of Management and Budget when he asked whether a hold could be justified, according to The New York Times. CINCINNATI, March 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As previously announced, Cincinnati Bell Inc. (NYSE: CBB) has received a binding proposal from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets Inc. ("MIRA") that Cincinnati Bell's Board of Directors, in consultation with its legal and financial advisors, determined constitutes a "Superior Company Proposal" as defined in Cincinnati Bell's previously announced merger agreement with Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIP; TSX: BIP.UN) ("Brookfield"). Under the terms of MIRA's proposal, MIRA would acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Cincinnati Bell for $15.50 per share in cash. On March 6, 2020, Cincinnati Bell received notification from Brookfield that Brookfield will not exercise its right to propose any further revisions to its previously announced merger agreement and will let its negotiation period lapse. Accordingly, Cincinnati Bell will be able to, and intends to, terminate the Brookfield merger agreement and enter into a definitive agreement with MIRA with respect to the MIRA proposal on March 13, 2020, which is the earliest Cincinnati Bell can do so pursuant to the terms of the Brookfield merger agreement. The Brookfield merger agreement remains in effect and Cincinnati Bell's Board has not changed its recommendation with respect to the Brookfield transaction, nor has it made any recommendation with respect to MIRA's proposal. Advisors Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Moelis & Company LLC are acting as financial advisors and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, and BosseLaw PLLC are acting as legal advisors. About Cincinnati Bell Inc. With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell Inc. (NYSE: CBB) delivers integrated communications solutions to residential and business customers over its fiber-optic and copper networks including high-speed internet, video, voice and data. Cincinnati Bell provides service in areas of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Hawaii. In addition, enterprise customers across the United States and Canada rely on CBTS and OnX, wholly owned subsidiaries, for efficient, scalable office communications systems and end-to-end IT solutions. For more information, please visit www.cincinnatibell.com. The information on the Company's website is not incorporated by reference in this press release. For more information, please contact: Media Cincinnati Bell: Josh Pichler Senior Manager, Communications and Media Tel: (513) 565-0310 Email: [email protected] Investors Cincinnati Bell: Josh Duckworth Vice President of Treasury, Corporate Finance and Investor Relations Tel: (513) 397-2292 Email: [email protected] Additional Information and Where to Find It This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed acquisition of Cincinnati Bell by Brookfield. In connection with the proposed acquisition, Cincinnati Bell filed a preliminary proxy statement and intends to furnish or file other relevant materials with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in connection with the proposed transaction. The definitive proxy statement will be sent or given to the shareholders of Cincinnati Bell and will contain important information about the proposed acquisition and related matters. Shareholders of Cincinnati Bell are urged to read all relevant documents filed with the SEC, including Cincinnati Bell's proxy statement, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction and the parties to the proposed transaction. Investors and shareholders are able to obtain the documents (once available) free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov , or free of charge from Cincinnati Bell at investor.cincinnatibell.com or by directing a request to Cincinnati Bell's Investor Relations Department at 1-800-345-6301 or [email protected], and Brookfield's annual reports on Form 20-F, reports on Form 6-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge through Brookfield's website at https://bip.brookfield.com/, in each case, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Participants in the Solicitation Cincinnati Bell and its directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be "participants" in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders of Cincinnati Bell in favor of the proposed transaction with Brookfield. Information regarding the interests of these participants which may, in some cases, be different than those of Cincinnati Bell's shareholders generally, is included in the preliminary proxy statement that has been filed with the SEC and will be included in the definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC. Additional information about Cincinnati Bell's directors and executive officers is set forth in Cincinnati Bell's Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 19, 2019, and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which was filed with the SEC on February 24, 2020. These documents may be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain of the statements in this communication contain forward-looking statements regarding future events and results that are subject to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industries in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "predicts," "projects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "continues," "endeavors," "strives," "will," "may," "proposes," "potential," "could," "should," "outlook," or variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of future financial performance, anticipated growth and trends in businesses, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. For example, MIRA's proposal may not result in a definitive agreement for an alternative transaction or an amended transaction with Brookfield (together, the "proposed transactions"). Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the proposed transactions may not be completed in a timely manner or at all; (ii) the failure to receive, on a timely basis or otherwise, the required approval of the proposed transactions by Cincinnati Bell's shareholders; (iii) the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals for Cincinnati Bell will be made; (iv) the possibility that any or all of the various conditions to the consummation of the proposed transactions may not be satisfied or waived, including the failure to receive any required regulatory approvals from any applicable governmental entities (or any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on such approvals); (v) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the proposed transactions, including in circumstances which would require Cincinnati Bell to pay a termination fee or other expenses; (vi) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed transactions on Cincinnati Bell's ability to retain and hire key personnel, its ability to maintain relationships with its customers, suppliers and others with whom it does business, or its operating results and business generally; (vii) risks related to diverting management's attention from Cincinnati Bell's ongoing business operations; (viii) the risk that shareholder litigation in connection with the proposed transactions may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability and (ix) for Cincinnati Bell, (A) those discussed in Cincinnati Bell's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and, in particular, the risks discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Item 1A, and those discussed in Brookfield's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020 and, in particular, the risks discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and (B) those discussed in other documents Cincinnati Bell filed with the SEC. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Neither Cincinnati Bell nor Brookfield undertake any, and expressly disclaim any, obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Cincinnati Bell Inc. Related Links http://www.cincinnatibell.com Dubbed as one of the tallest leaders of the Dravidian movement, veteran DMK leader K Anbazhagan, a close confidant of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi died here on Saturday following a brief illness, the party said. Anbazhagan (97) was the senior most leader in the party after the death of DMK patriarch Karunanidhi in August 2018. Known as 'Perasiriyar' (professor) in DMK circles, he has been the party's general secretary for the last 43 years. He was not keeping well for some time due to age- related ailments and on February 24 was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals here after his health deteriorated. He breathed his last at the hospital at 1 a.m on Saturday, DMK chief M K Stalin said. Anbazhagan who began his political innings under the tutelage of Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar and DMK founder C N Annadurai was also a nine-time MLA. He has also held posts of Minister of Education and Finance during the DMK rule. However, due to ill-health, he kept away from active for some time. In a statement, Stalin said Anbazhagan passed away at 1 a.m and party flags would fly at half-mast during the seven- day mourning. All DMK programmes have been postponed for a week, he added. A host of leaders cutting across party lines offered their condolences to the family of Anbazhagan. Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condoled the death. Deputy Chief Minister and AIADMK Coordinator O Panneerselvam, Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, Tamil film superstar Rajinikanth, actor-politician Kamal Haasan, state Congress leaders K S Alagiri and K V Thangkabalu who paid homage to the departed leader at his house. Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Congress leader P Chidambaram also expressed their condolence. "I am deeply saddened to learn about the demise of the veteran of the Dravidian movement, former Tamil Nadu minister, scholar politician and DMK general secretary K Anbhazhagan", Venkaiah Naidu said in a tweet. "Perasiriyar as called by his admirers was a great orator and a scholar. His wisdom, his ability to constantly pursue the ideology he believed in and his commitment to the cause of people inspires all," he added. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla tweeted his condolence in Tamil and said, "saddened to hear the of demise of former Member of Lok Sabha, seasoned politician, able administrator and DMK General Secretary, Shri K Anbhazhagan." Rahul Gandhi sent a letter to Anbazhagan's son Anbuselvan. "I am deeply saddened by the demise of your father. I can well imagine your anguish and sorrow at losing him. Please accept my heartfelt condolences," he said. Purohit, in his message said, "With a political span covering nearly seven decades his contribution to the development of Tamil Nadu will always remain unforgettable." "His demise is an irreparable loss to the people of Tamil Nadu and particularly to the leader of the DMK and their party members," he added. Palaniswami said the demise of Anbhazhagan was a huge loss to the state. "I extend my deep condolences to his family members and partymen in this hour of grief...," the chief minister said. Speaking to reporters after paying homage to the DMK stalwart, Rajinikanth said, "I extend my deep condolences to his family members and DMK cadres." Later in the evening, Anbazhagan's body draped in a DMK flag was taken in a procession from his residence for cremation. It may be recalled that Stalin chose not to celebrate his birthday (on March 1) due to the hospitalisation of Anbhazhagan. Anbhazhagan is survived by two daughters and a son. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BERKELEY (BCN) A suspicious device that prompted police to cordon off an area of North Berkeley early Friday afternoon has been rendered safe, authorities said. The device was reported on Shattuck Avenue near Rose Street, an area close to the Kamado Sushi restaurant, a CVS Pharmacy store and a Safeway grocery store, according to Berkeley police Lt. Mel Turner. Officers cordoned off the area and the police bomb team responded to the scene and rendered the device safe, Turner said. All the streets in the area have reopened but an investigation is ongoing to determine what the device was, according to Turner. 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. Over the past two weeks in Lesotho, Action Ireland Trust's team of 87 volunteers, mostly drawn from Fingal, worked on a variety of educational and construction skills exchange programs and also completed a new toilet block and playground at Ha Hlalele Primary School. The playground was generously donated by the HSE and shipped to Lesotho by container sponsored by DHL Global Forwarding. Some 47 Transition Year Students from Portmarnock Community School worked tirelessly on a wide range of projects at the Lithabaneng Schools and Ha Hlalele, IT, working with children with disability, swimming classes, art, culture, sport and so much more. Their impact on the students in Lesotho is immeasurable. Likewise the impact on our Irish students traveling to Lesotho is phenomenal in terms of their future education and more importantly the clear creation of young social entrepreneurs and potential future leaders in Ireland and beyond. Action Ireland Trust working in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Training, UNICEF and the Diocese of Maseru have developed a unique Early Childhood Development Centre at Ha Hlalele, Lesotho. The centre, in terms of its building design, its child friendly environment and educational policies form a key component of the international 'Sustainable Development Goals'. It is hoped that this facility will be a leader in Childhood Education. The Centre was officially opened by His Majesty King Letsie III and Queen Masenate in the mountainous village of Ha Hlalele last week when our 87 volunteers were in Lesotho. This was a truly historical event for Action Ireland Trust, our Irish volunteers and the Basotho. The Centre opened its doors to 37 children from 0-5 years, giving them a significant opportunity for early education during their most formative years. His Majesty King Letsie III, stressed the importance of such facilities in Lesotho, particularly at Ha Hlalele where on one site we now have an Early Childhood Development Centre, Primary and High School, underlying the key aim in providing education from 'cradle to career', he said. The Ha Hlalele facility also gives young parents the opportunity to work, knowing that their children are in a safe environment and being educated by qualified teachers. This situation will create a happier and more productive workforce in Lesotho and allows more time to build the 'brains of the future' and ensure economic prosperity for Lesotho. Niall Fitzgerald and Fran Whelan spoke at the event of their absolute delight that this Centre was now open and thanked their volunteers, partners and donors. Niall Fitzgerald, Chairman, Action Ireland Trust stressed the importance of ensuring the children's safety, respect and happiness being at the centre of any educational plan that they undertake. They highlighted that this facility was opened in memory of Senator Feargal Quinn and his family who had very generously supported this project. Fran Whelan, CEO, Action Ireland Trust went on to say that they hoped to replicate the success story of Ha Hlalele within the next five year plan at the Lithabaneng schools in Maseru the capital of Lesotho. Action Ireland Trust aim to improve the Child Friendly Schools policies for the 5500 learners within the catchment and introduce UNICEF's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene program to these schools. Fingal County Council's Planning Team lead an extensive training program on the production of Local Area Plans, they also participated in the Lesotho Institute of Regional and Urban Planning's second Conference in conjunction with the Irish Planning Institute on climate change. Mustafa Karali is a freelance photojournalist and founder of Duzen, a humanitarian organization that runs art, culture, and filmmaking workshops for Syrian and Turkish youth in the border city of Gaziantep. A Syrian national, he worked with reporters James Foley and John Cantlie to cover the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2011. The trio collaborated on multiple stories together until jihadists kidnapped Foley and Cantlie, and forced Karali, then their translator, to flee at gunpoint. After 21 months as an ISIS hostage, Foley was brutally murdered in 2014, in an execution filmed by his captors. The whereabouts of Cantlie remain unknown. I first met James and John at a protest in my hometown of Binnish, in northwestern Syria. They were taking photos and I was working with local media. I wasnt a professional photographer, just a guy with a camera. They came to my home and we ate barbecued chicken. I remember John looked through the images on my SD card and he said, f*** you, youre not a photographer. I got so angry. But I said, okay then, teach me something. He agreed, but he said he would tell me the truth about my work, and if I got upset, hed stop teaching me. John taught me so much about composition and framing; how to shoot fighters on the front lines. James taught me how to work safely because I didnt have any war reporting experience: how to take different routes to avoid snipers and what to do during shellfire. They were great teachers. John put me in contact with news agency the Associated Press and I started shooting for them. The day James and John were kidnapped we were trying to get out of Syria. James had shrapnel in his leg and medics at the local field hospital couldnt take it out. We decided to go to Turkey for treatment but we stopped at an Internet cafe on the way. A jihadi with a beard and a beret came in while we were uploading files. John called out to him, Che Guevara! The man looked at us, opened his laptop for one or two minutes, closed it, and left. I knew we were in trouble. James was angry at John for drawing attention to us. Story continues We told a taxi to take us to the border but on the way, a van approached fast from our left. There were armed men inside wearing masks, four or five of them. They signaled for us to stop. I told the driver to keep going, so did John. James told him to stop because they might shoot at us. The driver was confused. He stopped. One of the gunmen got out and fired bullets into the ground. I didnt know what to do. They said, why are you with these men? I said, I am their friend. They asked me where I was from and I told them Binnish. They asked for my ID. Then they said, go. I said, I wont go without my friends. The man pointed his gun at me and said, if you dont go now, I will kill you here. John looked at me and said not again. Help me. He had been kidnapped before. I remember, he said it twice. Not again. I had tears in my eyes. I will help you, bro, I said. Then the taxi driver said, Mustafa, lets go. John Cantlie with a Free Syrian Army fighter in in Aleppo, Syria, on Nov. 06, 2012. The photo was taken by the author. After the kidnapping, I was traumatized. I couldnt work for six months. Eventually, my producer at AP called and said whats happening Mustafa? Why are you not sending photos? She told me my work was important and encouraged me to continue. She gave me hope and I went back to work, photographing the revolution. In late 2014, I went to Turkey to attend workshops run by Human Rights Watch and Witness, a humanitarian organization that trained me to collect video evidence of war crimes committed by Assads forces and armed factions. By the time I returned to Syria, conditions had worsened. If you wanted to take pictures in the northwest, you had to grow your beard and dress like a jihadi to be left alone. At checkpoints, militants would question me and take my camera and laptop. I was followed everywhere, even away from the front lines just taking photos of civilians at refugee camps. The space for free movement was getting smaller and smaller and I was kidnapped twice more. The second time I think my captors were from Al Nusra, a jihadist group then aligned with Al Qaeda, but I cant say for sure. They held me for two days and accused me of everything: being a thief, working for the U.S. government, working for ISIS. One of the guys dragged me outside. He made me get down on my knees. He loaded a Kalashnikov and put it against my head. My life flashed before my eyes the way it does in films. Then the gunman shot a single bullet into the ground in front of me, right next to my ear. I thought I had been executed, but I could still see and hear. I was touching my head to find the wound. The guy said we are not going to kill you this time. We are just scaring you. It was my wife Hiba that pushed for us to leave. She said, lets go to Turkey, lets go anywhere else but here. She told me to think about my daughter and the danger I was putting her in. I knew she was right. We first tried to cross into Turkey with a smuggler but when they demanded I give my daughter sedatives I refused. Later, a producer colleague helped my family get permission to cross into Turkey legally. Syrians fleeing from clashes between the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants wait at the Turkish-Syrian border to cross into Turkey on Sept. 18, 2014. | Halil FidanAnadolu Agency/Getty Images When we arrived here, I didnt have a plan. For a few weeks, we stayed with my wifes brother in Turkeys southernmost province Hatay, which borders Syria. Then we moved to Gaziantep, a big city in southern Turkey where there are lots of humanitarian organizations and media offices. At first, things were okay. My brother sent me a new camera from Dubai and I picked up assignments with Al Jazeera. I shot photos for them when they did interviews in border areas like Gaziantep, Hatay, and Kilis. Gradually, I saved enough to buy my own camera bag, tripod, and lighting equipment. I also started to work with Gate of Sun, a cultural endeavor that aims to create bonds between Turks and Syrians through filmmaking workshops. This year, my Iraqi friend Bahaa and I set up our own program along similar lines. Its called Duzen, which means balance in Arabic. We teach students how to use simple tools like mobile phones to document their experiences and train them in editing and post-production techniques. We currently have 30 Syrian and Turkish students in Gaziantep and receive funding from the U.N.s International Organization for Migration. Back in 2014, when I came to Turkey for training, things were different. Turkey had granted millions of refugees temporary protection status and nobody seemed to have a problem with us. But over the past few years, the situation has deteriorated. Theres a lot more tension. Last year the Turkish government started to crack down on Syrians living here illegally, sending them back to Syria. That set off a wave of hate speech and gave nationalists and racists a platform to abuse refugees. There were anti-Syrian riots in Istanbul. Refugees were beaten in the streets. Syrian-owned stores were vandalized. Its bad in Gaziantep too. A couple of weeks ago I was playing with my daughter and we were speaking in Arabic. An old man stopped us in the street and asked whether we were Syrian. When I told him yes, he started shouting at us and he spat on me. We cant retaliate out of fear that the government will kick us out. My wife and I started thinking about leaving Turkey last year. We have two daughters now and the eldest is almost ready to start school. If I send them to school in Turkey, they wont learn Arabic or English. When they grow up they will say, Dad, what are we doing here? Then theres the difficulty of finding stable work. As a freelancer, I sometimes have to borrow from friends to pay the rent. This month we were five days late and even though we have been renting our house for more than two years the landlord said we have to leave by the end of the month. I was planning to apply for legal immigration to the Netherlands. Friends have told me there is no racism there and my family can get their papers quickly. Ive contacted people at the Dutch Embassy, and friends have been trying to help. But we cant wait much longer. At the end of February, when Turkey said it would no longer block refugees from leaving, I thought: this is our chance. The war has been going on for nine years and the idea of moving again is difficult. Syria will always be home. I miss it and sometimes I think about whether one day well be able to go back. Now we are going further away but I feel like theres no other choice. Some of my friends in Gaziantep are planning to leave tomorrow. Ive been following the news and have heard stories about violence at the border. They tell me, Mustafa, you have a family, dont put them in danger. They say they will go first and tell me if its safe. If theres a way to get into Greece, we will just leave. I will not wait one minute longer here. As told to Joseph Hincks. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. One in four high school students do not have a positive attitude towards people of the Islamic and Hindu faiths, a major study of "religious literacy" among Australian teens has found. But the study also found that 90 per cent of young people aged 13 to 18 believe that Australias religious diversity makes it a better place to live. Emmaus College students Violet Wallis. Brian Wiltshire, Stephanie Meerwald and Cameron Devey. Violet says they can see the benefits of learning about other faiths. Credit:Eddie Jim This is despite the fact that half of teens surveyed 52 per cent said they do not identify with a religion. The three-year study which analysed the views of more than 1200 students in three states also found that teens who received a general education about religion and spirituality are more accepting of other people's beliefs. Chance the Rapper's big day in Houston is finally here. The hip-hop star and actor was the last addition to this years RodeoHouston lineup. The news was revealed last month at Yates High School. Rapper Bun B and professional tie-down roper Cory Solomon were there to help deliver the news. STAR TURN: Becky G is a RodeoHouston revelation, pays tribute to Selena Chance postponed an October performance at Toyota Center, then canceled his entire tour, including a January makeup date in Houston. He said he wanted to "take this time to be with family, make some new music and develop my best show to date." RodeoHouston, then, has been a long time coming for local fans. Joey Guerra is the music critic for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter. He will be covering every single RodeoHouston concert. Check our RODEO GUIDE for the best concerts, carnival food, rodeo competition and all things RodeoHouston. Time was, when thousands of people milled about the streets of Paris, walking between the iconic Place de la Republique and Place de la Nation during May Day rallies. Those raucous crowds in procession, the banners and flags, the colours and chants, were as much a tourist draw as the vast, ornamental circles to which Baron Haussmanns famous 19th century boulevards led. A citys life and heritage includes its processional culture, the ritual or unexpected uses of its space, whether in protest, display, celebration, or in piety. For instance, in a few weeks from now, Bengalurus old city area will come alive at night when the Karaga threads its way through a unique sacred geography of select streets of the Pete, between the Dharmaraya Temple and several other religious sites, including the Tawakkal Mastan Dargah. Johnson Market, on the edge of Richmond Town, similarly, is completely transformed during Muharram to become a site of somber commemoration of the battle of Karbala. All cities work and rework the relationship between flesh and stone, bringing vibrancy to its monuments, thoroughfares and public spaces through occupation, movement, or even the dramatic suspension of movement (i.e. during bandhs). No doubt, not all such reworkings are designed to bring pleasure to commuters, pedestrians, and may even disrupt everyday life in myriad ways. But they are part of the narrative time of a city that asserts itself as importantly as its monuments. Bengaluru is no exception, with its own share of political rituals that have shaped the use of squares and parks across the city. During the National Movement, the preferred sites of protest were the Banappa Park and Chiklalbagh on the edge of the Pete. Special Branch police in mufti mingled with protesters to file their reports on attendance, speakers and leaders at such meetings and rallies. Mysore Bank Square remained a favourite place for drawing attention to the nationalist cause, and some subaltern protesters, including the weaver Gundappa, lost their lives in firing during the 1937 Nariman agitation. Meera Iyers sumptuous INTACH volume on Bengalurus built heritage traces these memories of Mysore Bank Square, which have been commemorated in stone. Other rallies, in more recent times, often debouched on the narrow Silver Jubilee Park. We know, too, that throughout the 1980s, Cubbon Park was routinely used for every shade of political rally; there was a historic mingling of the Farmers Jatha in 1981 with Bengalurus Public Sector workers, then on strike. Such protests which addressed our political representatives in the Vidhana Soudha and caused them not a little discomfort -- have been progressively banned (beginning with Cubbon Park being made out of bounds for public rallies in 1997). They have been banished to less conspicuous spaces. The Town Hall stands at the junction of the road leading to the Pete and those leading to the erstwhile Dandu Pradhesha, or Cantonment. It had been the site of interesting protests even in the past: for example, the feminist group Vimochana, which organised weekly Women in Black silent demonstrations from 1992, protested the Iraq war in 2003 from the steps of the Town Hall. It has today become another space which is making the City Fathers uncomfortable since it has sprung to life in the most unexpected of ways, its majestic steps a rallying point for those opposed to the Citizenship Amendment Act. Since December 2019, persistent peaceful protests and performances have addressed the commuting public, using not just slogans and banners, but art, performance and speeches. It will certainly go down as the most creative and sustained occupation since the Freedom Struggle. That site now stands threatened by the ban that has been imposed by BBMP. For now, the reasons cited are commercial ones, rather than the rights of the commuting public or even beauty by banning. The BBMP has proposed an alternative site, well tucked away from the clash and roar of traffic, from the curious, or even furious, commuter. But here, we well know, the protesters will largely be speaking to themselves. They will no longer be a reminder to elected representatives and the general public of what is at stake in their opposition to CAA. Such bans, if implemented, will be difficult for any political party to sustain, since our noisy republic relies as much on street mobilisations for its political existence as on elections. Above all, it will diminish the dynamic relationship between monumental city architecture and citizens, between flesh and stone. Photos of a puppy named Dui went viral on Reddit after some people pointed out that he looks like a mix of a dog and a cat. According to the reports, the Vietnam based puppy has the face of a dog and is quite similar to a cat featuring furry gray hair, pointed ears, and longer, docked tail. The three-month-old puppy went viral after being uploaded to Reddit with the caption, "Meet the derpiest fuzzball to ever walk the earth." READ: Boa Constrictor Coils Itself Around Wild Cat In Argentina, Watch Video Dui garnered media attention One Reddit user wrote, "It kinda looks like a corgi-chow?" while another wrote, "He looks like a cartoon". According to the reports, some users thought that Dui resembles a Hmong dog, which is an ancient breed native to northern Vietnam. Hai Anh and Minh Tuan, Dui's owners told the media that they are unsure of the dog's exact mix. Hai Anh reportedly added that he is a mix of a native dog breed and a short-legged dog called Dingo. Anh further said that the dog might have a gene mutation and bought him in a mountain province in Vietnam. The owners of the dog created a Facebook page for Dui where they upload photos of him frequently. The page has managed to garner a large number of followers with more than 135,000 likes. READ: Cat Found In Chennai May Be Deported Back To China Over Coronavirus Fear Two-faced Quimera cat Similarly, a rare and gorgeous two-faced Quimera cat from Argentina with unusual features like two different colours on its face and contrasting colours in their eyes is taking the internet by storm. Dubbed 'Nature's unique creation', a Quimera has garnered netizens' attention with its unique facial features. The unique Argentine breed has got its own Instagram handle and has a lot of followers on its page. The two-faced Quimera is a unique creature and is immensely popular on the photo-sharing app. It has become famous and managed to garner a lot of attention for her unique and exotic features. READ: Lonely Cat Looking For A Forever Home After No One Shows Up To Her Birthday Party READ: Suki The Adventure Cat Globe-trots With Family, Her Travel Diary Will Give Vacation Goals 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. UPDATE: Two more cases of coronavirus reported in Pa. A day after Pennsylvania state officials confirmed two cases of coronavirus, more information has emerged. During a press conference on Friday, Pennsylvanias secretary of health Rachel Levine said two adults in Delaware and Wayne counties were quarantined in their homes and in good physical condition" after testing positive for the virus. She said both patients had recently traveled, one out of state and one overseas. But due to confidentiality, no other information about those patients was made available at the press conference with Gov. Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency officials. Now some more information about those two cases has been made public. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports State Rep. Greg Vitali (D., Delaware-Montgomery) said following a call with county officials, he learned the Delaware County patient is a woman who recently returned from Boston. A handful of cases are linked to a recent conference in that city. The Inquirer reported that Vitalis report was confirmed by another person on the call. Vitali said emergency services officials told him the woman was treated at Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, and her physician was also under quarantine. As for the Wayne County patient, the Citizens Voice reports Wayne Memorial Hospital officials said the man sought treatment March 4 at the hospitals Carbondale Family Health Center, and thats where his symptoms were recognized. Officials said the man had recently returned to the United States after traveling extensively in Europe, including one of the countries where COVID-19 is present. On Friday, Gov. Wolf signed an emergency disaster declaration to provide increased support to state agencies responding to the virus. It is critical to prepare for and respond to suspected or confirmed cases in the commonwealth and to implement measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Wolf said in a news release. "The disaster declaration is an additional way we can be prepared, so I authorized the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director or his designee, to assume command and control of all statewide emergency operations and authorize and direct that all commonwealth departments and agencies use all available resources and personnel as is deemed necessary to cope with this emergency situation. State officials are urging everyone to take precautions from washing hands frequently to disinfecting surfaces to slow the spread of the coronavirus. READ MORE: Dr Debanjan Banerjee By As the world deals with COVID-19, the death toll rises along with the number of affected people globally. This scare, which has reached India as well now, reminds us of two old outbreaks caused by other variants of coronavirus: SARS in 2002-03 and MERS in 2012-13. Both these times, in spite of best efforts to contain the outbreak, mass panic was on the rise. Similarly, this time as the World Health Organization (WHO) declares the coronavirus a public health emergency, the outbreak of myths and misinformation around the illness seem to outpace the virus itself. Any new pathogen tends to baffle the public, especially when the causal deaths are high. Uncertainty leads to doubts, which eventually gives way to panic that paves the path for misinformation to creep in. Most of these facts get circulated on social media and in public meets/forums, and unfortunately gets established by flimsy hearsay evidence lacking adequate scientific backing. These false claims about any illness are harmful as they distort true facts, make people neglect precautions, contribute to wrong treatment and even the spread of the illness. Misinfodemics is a phenomenon through which any form of health-related misinformation contributes to the spread of illness. Patterns like this have happened in the past, contributing to the spread of tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, SARS or the outbreak of Nipah virus in the recent past. It is true that as online connectivity increases, more and more individuals resort to online content as the primary source of health-related information. The sad part is that the authenticity of the source is mostly left unverified and clarification rarely takes place with experts in related fields. It has been well-studied in the past how misinfodemics has adversely affected the practice of vaccination, thus affecting herd immunity, and falsely normalised depression, leading to increase in suicides. It is the collective responsibility of us all to fight the prevalent misinformation around us when an environment of tension already exists. Keeping this in mind, we address some of the false facts commonly in circulation about the outbreak: 1) Despite popular belief, the virus does not spread through the consumption of chicken or seafood. Only human to human transmission is possible, mostly through coughing, sneezing and touch. 2) Another school of thought believes the virus can be spread by cattle, reptiles and insects. Till date, bats are the only animals whose link with the coronavirus has been established. 3) While certain-high risk countries like China, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Germany, etc., are better avoided, there is no generalised ban on travelling. One does not need to cancel trips due to the virus, as long as proper precautions are taken. 4) A very popular myth in India is that you will get infected by the coronavirus if you get a cold. The influenza virus is very different from the coronavirus. There are certain symptoms that overlap between the H1N1 influenza and coronavirus, but there is no study that suggests that catching the flu will make you susceptible to the coronavirus. 5) Many believe that death is inevitable once you get COVID-19, but the mortality rate is just 2%, that too mostly due to pneumonia. It is much lower than that of the earlier SARS outbreak (10%). 6) Many people have been trying to propagate that consuming hot water, herbs, garlic, turmeric, ginger and fresh fruits can treat and prevent the virus. Many ayurvedic, allopathic and homeopathic medicines are also being used over the counter as preventive measures. One must realise that there is no scientific evidence to prove that such measures will work, and it is highly recommended that one consult an expert before using the wrong medicine. This can adversely affect body resistance and immunity. 7) There is also the belief that India has had a lot of COVID-19 cases. This is not true. India only had three confirmed cases through the initial surge of outbreak, all of which were cured. In the past week, the number of active cases has risen to 28, 15 of them Italian tourists. There have been no deaths so far. There is also a conspiracy theory floating around that the virus is being used as a biological weapon as aerosolised sprays and in water. There is no evidence for this as on date and it has been refuted by multiple credible sources like the CDC, WHO, UN, etc. Rumours like these add to the already-existing global tension, causing chaos, anxiety and mass hysteria. So far, using protective N95 face masks, preventing body contact as much as possible, regular hand-washing and covering your face while coughing/sneezing are the recommended strategies. Certain anti-viral drugs and plasma transfusion from recovered patients have shown initial promise but there is no approved medication yet. It is very important that we all rely on set public health communication that has been standardised by authentic national and international platforms. Mindless forwarding of a wrong message on social media can create havoc if it hits the wrong audience. Rumours can create wildfires. Also, fear creates a gullible state of mind that tends to experiment on anything to feel safe. Correcting or clarifying a false fact can be done by anyone irrespective of profession, provided we are interested in knowing the truth ourselves. At difficult times, mutual hand-holding and care serve more than medicines. Let us prevent this epidemic of misinformation just like we want to prevent the viral outbreak, to keep ourselves happy and healthy. Dr Debanjan Banerjee MD, Geriatric Psychiatrist, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru Email: dr.djan88@gmail.com LOS ANGELES - Jesus Tovar Sanchez was 27 when he and a cousin left Mexico for the United States, soon followed by his wife. Over the next 40 years, Tovar rose from dishwasher to owner of a radiator company, bought a house in the San Gabriel Valley, raised five sons and a daughter, and became a U.S. citizen. But as immersed as he was in his new country, it was not where he wanted to be in the end. "When God takes me, he should take me to Guadalajara," he said in April. "That's my wish." He was 74, suffering from advanced kidney disease and thinking about whether his children would honor that desire. ADVERTISEMENT "I'm not sure what will happen because my family is here," he said. "If God calls me, I don't know if they will take me there or if I will stay here." In a world in which international borders are often crossed as people flee war or poverty in search of peace or opportunity, the question of where is home has become increasingly muddled. Perhaps the best answer is the ultimate one: Home is the ground 6 feet above us. Each year roughly 175,000 Mexicans move to the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. And each year thousands of bodies and cremated remains are shipped back to Mexico. It wasn't until Tovar and his wife, Rosario, had been in California for about two decades that they decided to settle there for good. In a sign of their commitment, they purchased a two-person mausoleum at a Los Angeles cemetery. "We said if we're going to stay here, we'll need the basic needs - that's having a house and a final resting place," she said. But after his mother died in 2002, Tovar realized he wanted to be buried next to her - in Mexico. Josefina Sanchez Pelayo had raised him and his six siblings in poverty after their father's death, and though Tovar was her only child to settle outside Mexico, the two remained close. He and Rosario would load the family into the car each December, tie a grill to the roof and drive to Mexico to visit. As Tovar's own health took a precipitous decline last year, his children began to prepare for the end. They raised $3,000 to help cover the eventual cost of shipping his body to Mexico and other expenses. ADVERTISEMENT On a trip last spring to Guadalajara, Tovar handed an envelope full of cash to a niece, who assured him that there would be space next to his mother. "I relaxed a bit," Tovar said after returning from the trip. "I didn't feel sad. Instead, it gave me courage." --- The dream to return to one's roots - even in death - comes from deep in Mexican culture and is embodied in the popular song "Mexico Lindo y Querido." Mexico beautiful and beloved, if I die far from you, let them say that I am asleep and let them bring me here. "There's a lot of love for the motherland," said Angel Priante, general manager of Recinto de la Esperanza, the funeral home in Guadalajara that had agreed to handle Tovar's body when the time came. "They go to the United States for the economy, to discover a new place," he said. "But in the end, the love for the motherland, for their family - because they left by themselves - makes them return." The more than 11 million Mexican immigrants in the United States have maintained deep ties to their homeland. They send back tens of billions of dollars a year to support relatives, join "hometown clubs" and often plan retirements in Mexico. ADVERTISEMENT For those who don't make it back in life, there's always death. The Mexican government does not publish comprehensive data on remains sent from abroad. But the consulate that authorizes all such shipments from Los Angeles County provided statistics showing that over the last five years it approved transport for 6,740 bodies or sets of cremains. Adrian Felix, a professor of ethnic studies at UC Riverside, said the desire to be buried back home can reflect the extent to which migrants feel seen as outsiders. "If migrants don't feel like they're welcome, if they don't feel like they fully belong, they will retain their connection to the community of origin," he said. The Mexican government offers up to $1,550 in financial aid for its citizens to be returned to Mexico for burial. Still, many families take out loans or sell off possessions to cover the full cost, said Felipe Carrera, an official at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles. "It's very hard for a family not to grant that last wish, so they make a series of sacrifices," he said. Carrera said that the federal government has reduced the consulate's budget for assistance in recent years and that he and other officials have been encouraging families to consider the much cheaper alternative of cremation. Chris Aguilar, who immigrated to the United States in 2002 and helped found the Plaza Mexico shopping and cultural center in Lynwood, said that given the enormous contribution of immigrants to the Mexican economy - he sends money for schooling, clothes and other basic necessities for two nieces back in Guanajuato - it's only fair that the government pay for shipping remains. "The least (the government) can do is pay it back a little," he said. "We are here because the conditions in our country didn't allow us to develop ourselves there." The hometown clubs also take up collections to help cover the costs of shipping remains. "It's a very sophisticated network," said Gaspar Rivera-Salgado, a labor studies professor at UCLA. "These poor immigrants - working class - end up collecting anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000 to help the family. Not only do they send the body, but sometimes they fund the relatives to accompany the deceased person." Odilia Romero, who lives in Los Angeles and helps lead a human rights group representing indigenous Mexicans, said that help may depend on whether a person was an active member of a club. "When you leave this earth, it's less likely for you to get home if you don't participate," she said. "But if you were always there passing out water, helping with the cooking, then the community will be super generous to you." --- The question of where to spend eternity can be fraught for families. Zacarias Gomez spent his life as a farmworker moving between California and the central Mexican state of Zacatecas, where he owned a cattle ranch and the cemetery plot he hoped to occupy one day. Hospitalized with prostate cancer in Orange County, he would point to the television every time an airplane appeared on the screen and tell his son Lupe that he wanted to go home. "He wanted to just get up from the bed," Lupe recalled. "He would say, 'Let's go to Zacatecas, my son.' He was on medicine, but his love for his native land was until the end of his life." He hoped to be buried there, but his wife and five daughters, who all lived in California, argued that Mexico was too far away. He finally changed his mind after his wife said she wanted to be buried in California. When Gomez died in 2009 at age 92, he was laid to rest in the city of Orange. Lupe later bought spaces at the same cemetery for himself, his wife and their five children. Some find more creative arrangements. After the balladeer superstar Jose Jose died in September at age 71, half his ashes remained in Miami, his adopted hometown. The other half were shipped to Mexico City for a tribute at the Palace of Fine Arts and then paraded through his old neighborhood before being buried next to his mother. He wanted "the half that remained in Mexico to represent where he was born, where he grew up, where Mexico saw him flourish," his daughter, Sara Sosa, told Univision shortly after his death. "The other half in Miami, the city that accepted him, that helped him be reborn, to escape his addictions, (where) he met my mother." Lupe Rodriguez, who immigrated in the 1970s and now lives in Hawthorne and runs multiple Zacatecas hometown clubs, has kept his options open. He inherited a cemetery plot in Mexico from his father, who wound up being buried in Los Angeles County, where Rodriguez owns another plot. He would prefer to be buried there, because his four daughters and all his grandchildren live nearby. Part of him, though, wondered how much any of this really mattered. "You die and what will you know? It's all over," he said. "You're not going to know if people visit you or not." --- Last Dec. 2, Tovar was propped up in a hospital bed in West Covina. He knew the end was near. Kenia, his daughter, held a phone to his ear to play a message from his sister Maria del Carmen, a nun in Mexico City. "Don't be afraid. Jesus is with you," his sister said. "You should be calm, my son, because God has always been with you and you have been with him." He died at 9:37 p.m. the next day, less than five months shy of his 75th birthday. More than 100 people filed past his open casket at a wake five days later at Guerra & Gutierrez Mortuary in East Los Angeles. Maria Pena de Jimenez, a close friend from Tovar's tiny hometown of Mascota, sat on a bench and video-chatted with his brother Hugo in Mexico. "We see a sense of peace on his face," she assured him. For the next 12 days, his body remained at the funeral home while his family searched for flights and gathered paperwork for the journey to Mexico. His children began arriving in Guadalajara a couple of days before his casket was scheduled to get there. It seemed so ironic to 38-year-old Kenia: Her father had to sneak across the border to reach the United States all those years ago, and now his family was struggling to get him out. Finally, the funeral home placed his wooden coffin in a shipping container and drove it to Los Angeles International Airport, where it was loaded into the cargo bay of Volaris Flight 913 to Guadalajara's Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport. His wake was supposed to start at 3 p.m. that day, but his body remained stuck at the airport as mourners gathered at Recinto de la Esperanza funeral home. A worker politely explained the delay: More than a dozen bodies had arrived from the United States that day. Two hours later, the casket finally arrived in a hearse and was rolled into a viewing room and set on a platform adorned with white flowers. Only three of his six siblings were still alive. All showed up to pay their respects, holding one another as they gazed into the casket. Maria del Carmen whispered a few words to express her gratitude that her brother's wish was being fulfilled, even though she found it deeply disturbing that they were breaking the Mexican tradition of a speedy burial. She stayed with the casket until morning, long after dozens of relatives and family friends had come and gone. The next day, about 100 people gathered for a Mass in a chapel at the Recinto de La Paz Cemetery near Guadalajara. Tovar's children carried his casket about a dozen yards to the burial site, stepping over flat grave markers until they reached his mother's plot. It had been reopened so Tovar could be placed above her. Relatives released doves into the air. A few minutes later, five mariachi musicians appeared carrying guitars, trumpets and an accordion and began playing and singing. The music drifted through the cemetery for the next hour as workers lowered the casket, placed slabs of cement on top and refilled the grave. "I'm at peace now," said his son Tavo. Now 49, he decided several years ago that he wanted to be cremated and scattered in the mountains near his grandfather's ranch in Talpa. On visits there growing up, he said, he had fallen in love with the place. Another son, 47-year-old Alex, who hadn't been to Guadalajara in 20 years, said that having his father buried so far away would be difficult. "I'm not going to see him as often than if we would have buried him back home," he said. "I'd go every weekend or every month." But another fact about his father easily made up for that disappointment: "He's home." --- (c)2020 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Standing inside Cockatoo Island's Turbine Hall surrounded by Ibrahim Mahama's vast artwork, it is easy to understand why it took eight people with cherry pickers to install. Thousands of coal sacks have been draped inside the historic industrial space over the last month to create the Ghanaian-born artist's No Friend but the Mountains. Ibrahim Mahama stands inside Cockatoo Island's Turbine Hall surrounded by his vast art installation No Friend but the Mountains Credit:Nic Walker Mahama's sprawling installation is one of the most striking, and largest, of more than 700 artworks in the Biennale of Sydney, which opens on March 14. Mahama said the artwork had taken on a different character since it was last shown, wrapping historic buildings at art festivals in Europe. WASHINGTON - The Donald Trump show has a consistent script. Same villains. Same nicknames. Same grievances. Same hero: himself. At raucous rallies held mostly in states that are friendly to him, the president tells audiences that he could be presidential, even Lincolnesque, if he wanted to. But that, he says, would be boring. Its easy to be presidential but only have about three people in front of me, Trump said at a recent rally, before breaking into a monotone imitation of a droning politician. Doing this takes far more talent than doing that. Doing that is very easy. This is not easy. As he seeks reelection with little variance from the themes that brought him to power four years ago, a central challenge will be to keep those audiences satisfied and to make sure, like a great entertainer, that the act isnt getting stale. The president retains robust approval ratings among Republicans but even that fealty will be tested as he asks voters for another four years essentially offering them not new promises but more of the same. Trumps campaign remains highly confident it will not only retain those who backed the president in 2016, but will also expand the electorate by turning out people who did not vote four years ago, in addition to peeling off some African American and Latino males. At a rally last week in South Carolina, nearly 29% of those who registered for tickets didnt vote in the 2016 election, according to Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale. But there are other metrics that dont look quite as hopeful. Trumps Twitter following has grown to more than 73 million, up from 25 million at the start of his presidency. But the publics engagement with the president on his favourite social media platform has diminished since his inauguration more than three years ago. Trumps tweets drew an average of 5.37 likes per 1,000 followers at the start of his presidency and were down to 1.29 in February, according to an analysis by Factba.se, a data analytics company that analyzes spoken and written remarks by elected officials. By comparison, top Democratic presidential contenders Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders both of whom have a fraction of Trumps Twitter following tallied 2.13 and 2.73 likes per 1,000 followers respectively last month. The falling engagement numbers come as Trump, who likes to use social media as a tool to reach Americans without the contextualizing of the mainstream media, is relying on Twitter more than ever. Trump broke his personal record for most tweets or retweets in a day in January as the Senate began hearing opening arguments in his impeachment trial, sending out more than 140 posts before most Americans had left work for the day. Trump, who was in Switzerland for an economic forum at the time, mostly posted tweets and retweets attacking Democratic House impeachment managers while amplifying messaging from allies who came to his defence. Brian Ott, a Texas Tech University professor of communications and co-author of The Twitter Presidency: Donald J. Trump and the Politics of White Rage, says that Trumps Twitter following has naturally expanded beyond his fervent supporters and political watchers because of his standing as the worlds most powerful leader. But his hardcore fans dont get the same thrill from retweeting and commenting on Trumps every post, and Russian trolls who were active on social media ahead of the 2016 election have less incentive, at the moment, to interfere and have melted away, Ott said. Trumps campaign speeches have also become longer, according to Factba.se. In 2017, his campaign speeches averaged 59 minutes. Thus far in 2020, hes clocking in at an average of 80.7 minutes. An overwhelming percentage of his discourse is about attacking others, and he simply has more enemies now, said Ott, explaining why Trumps speeches may be getting longer. He uses the campaign rallies to air grievances and hes just got more grievances at this point and never lets go of anything. For even his staunchest supporters many wait hours in line to attend a rally the presidents lengthy remarks can be tough to stick with until the end. At Trumps rally in the swing state of North Carolina earlier this week, his speech checked in at 67 minutes, relatively tight for Trump. But with about 20 minutes to go, dozens of rallygoers who had showed up hours early to get prime spots to stand on the floor of Charlottes Bojangles Coliseum headed for the exits. Several pockets in the seated area that had been filled with men and women chanting Four More Years! and waving campaign signs as Trump took the stage began thinning out a full 15 minutes before the president concluded his speech. Most of those who remained until the end seemed to hang on Trumps every word but were far less animated as they sat with their Promises Kept and Women for Trump signs laying neatly in their laps. Similar scenes played out at recent rallies in Colorado Springs and Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, retirees Jim Haney and wife Theda Haney ran out of steam about nine hours after arriving at the arena and left before Trump finished his speech. They decided to leave early despite snagging a prime spot near the podium. I have no voice left, Theda Haney said. Im ready for a cup of coffee and a nap, her husband added. Trump frequently boasts that his rallies draw more supporters that he can fit in the arena. At his rally in Colorado Springs last month, Trump crowed there were a lot of people, thousands of people that couldnt get in. Indeed, several dozen people camped overnight in sub-freezing temperatures to attend Trumps recent rally in the military town. Some 2,000 people were turned back after the arena filled to capacity, but most stuck around for a while to watch Trump on a large screen in the parking lot. There were only a couple dozen left by the time he finished, with many shuffling their feet and huddling to ward off the cold. For some devoted Trump fans, just getting a small taste of seeing Trump campaign in the flesh is enough. Rodney Siscoe, of Fountain, Colorado, left the Colorado Springs rally after about 10 minutes, walking out with a broad smile and satisfied that he got at least a glimpse of the president in action. Its been a long grueling day, five hours in line, and then I just barely got in, Siscoe said. Im going to head home before it gets dark and watch him in the comfort of my home. ___ Associated Press writers Noreen Gillespie in Charlotte, North Carolina, Ken Ritter in Las Vegas and Jim Anderson in Colorado Springs, Colorado, contributed to this report. COVID-19: countries, businesses must safeguard human rights as virus spreads: Bachelet 6 March 2020 - As the COVID-19 coronavirus continues to spread globally, the UN's top human rights official appealed on Friday to put rights "front and centre" when implementing preventative measures. Liz Throssell, spokesperson in the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR), said rights chief Michelle Bachelet, had noted "people who are already barely surviving economically, may all too easily be pushed over the edge by measures being adopted to contain the virus." Carbon emissions drop? Meanwhile, as record temperatures continued in the northern hemisphere, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) indicated that it was still too early to say whether the global epidemic might lead to a drop in greenhouse gas emissions. According to the World Health Organization, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has neared 100,000 worldwide, with some 3,300 deaths and more than 80 countries now affected. Since the virus emerged in central China in December, WHO has urged countries repeatedly to adopt infection containment measures without delay, as these will give health services more time to prepare for a worst-case scenario. "This is not a drillThis is a time for pulling out all the stops," Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said on Thursday. Be prepared for 'unintended consequences' Echoing the need for swift action from all countries facing the global threat - based on her past experience as a medical doctor and as President of Chile - Ms. Bachelet also cautioned that Governments needed to be ready "to respond in a range of ways to unintended consequences of their actions aimed at the coronavirus. Businesses will also need to play a role, including responding with flexibility to the impact on their employees." The High Commissioner's statement added: "We've got lockdowns, quarantines and other such measures to contain and combat the spread of COVID-19. They should always be carried out in strict accordance with human rights standards and in a way that is necessary and proportionate to the evaluated risk." The High Commissioner's comments follow an earlier appeal at the Human Rights Council, now meeting in Geneva. Then, as on Friday, she urged Member States to protect society's most vulnerable citizens from the health threat posed by COVID-19, and also from any stigma faced by those who had contracted the respiratory disease. Most at risk are already marginalised The most vulnerable are those on low incomes, isolated rural populations, people with underlying health conditions, people with disabilities and older people living alone or in institutions, the High Commissioner explained. "The High Commissioner is not speaking out about specific countries", Ms. Throssell said. "What she's doing is making a universal call to Governments to really consider the impact on economic and social rights by the steps they take that's why she's saying it's so important for human rights to be at the front and centre." Ms. Throssell added: "There are plans in different countries to tackle crises, but I think we all would agree it is somewhat unchartered. And that's why she's encouraging States to share information on good practices; steps that they have taken to mitigate, to alleviate the impacts, the effects of the steps they take; steps that are in many cases extremely necessary to combat, to contain COVID-19." In a related development, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said that although the coronavirus would likely have an impact on greenhouse gas emissions and global warming because of the expected global economic slowdown, it was too soon to say how great that impact might be. What is clear is that "2020 has started out where 2019 left off, with record temperatures. It was the warmest January on record (in Europe)", said WMO spokesperson Clare Nullis, citing data released on Thursday by the Copernicus European Union Climate Change Service. Economic effects likely linked to emissions "Obviously, the impact on carbon dioxide emissions will depend on the global economic slowdown as a result of the coronavirus," Ms. Nullis added, noting that it was still "early days. A lot depends onthe repercussions on international transport." The international aviation industry is reportedly facing a $113 billion loss in sales due to the virus this year, according to projections. Any future assessment of the virus's impact would have to drill down into data on global energy consumption, the WMO spokesperson explained. "Any sort of depression in economic activityreduction in electricity production from coal-powered plants, a reduction in transport, will make a difference", Ms. Nullis said. "But we also need to look at efficiency gains. If these plants are running at half-capacity, or if you've got planes flying which are a quarter full, that's not really going to make a big impact." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Despite a debt figure that peaked at 105 billion in 2019, the Bauchi State government has taken a 3.5 billion loan to procure vehicles for some of the states officials, PREMIUM TIMES can report. The loan, granted by the United Bank of Africa (UBA), was paid directly to the bank account of Adda Nigeria Limited, a company in which Mr Mohammed retains a 20 per cent stake, according to documents seen by this newspaper. Dated August 21, 2019, an approval written by the bank to Adda Nigeria Limited showed that the 3.5 billion loan was for the supply of 105 utility vehicles and operational vehicles to some officials and MDAs in Bauchi State government and was to be repaid within 36 months. Prior to the banks approval, the states House of Assembly had, on July 17, 2019, a day after the state government wrote it for approval, given its go-ahead for the loan. The legality of the purported approval is, however, in question as the states assembly was not properly constituted at this time. The assembly was at the time embroiled in a leadership crisis as 18 of its 31 members declined to be inaugurated. The loan repayment, documents of the deal show, is to be deducted on equal installment from the states FAAC and VAT account domiciled with UBA. The 3.5 billion was paid into a newly opened UBA account of the company on September 9, 2019, documents show. Bauchis debt toll For seven consecutive years, Bauchi State has seen an uptick in its debt figure. The states latest debt figure, according to the Debt Management Office, as of September 2019, is 105.2 billion. In 2018, the states domestic debt figure stood at 92.4 billion; in 2017, it was 74 billion; and 2016 in, it was 70 billion. Also, the 2015 debt profile of the state was 57.6 billion while its 2014 figure was 28 billion. These figures rose from 16.8 billion of 2013 a figure that is exclusive of the arrears owed to the federal government as a result of unanticipated disbursements or exchange rate gains due to exchange rate fluctuations. The chairman, Civil Society Network Against Corruption, Olanrewaju Suraj, said with this toll, borrowing to fund vehicles for government officials is uncalled for. He believes it impoverishes the people and can backfire to trigger unrest in the state. Governors connection with company Adda Nigeria Limited, first incorporated in late 1996 with a share capital of 500,000, has four directors, records obtained by this newspaper on January 8, 2020 show. Abdullahi Salihu Bawa holds 200,000 share capital while each of Bala Mohammed and two other persons, who appear to be Mr Bawas children, have 100,000 share capital. Mr Bawa is a close associate of the Bauchi governor. Mr Mohammed used 227 Gombe Road as his address in the registration forms. PREMIUM TIMES checks in Bauchi show that the house belongs to Sarkin Duguri, Mr Mohammeds father. Relatives of the governor are said to be presently occupying the property, while his brother, the present holder of the Sarkin Duguri title uses the residence when he comes to Bauchi for Sallah festivities. Records obtained by this newspaper from the Corporate Affairs Commission show that Mr Mohammed was in 2006 reappointed as a director of the company. Company filings between 2006 and 2018 filed with the commission show that Mr Mohammed remained a director of the company, including the period he was FCT minister another violation of the law. Section 6 of the Code of Conduct Tribunal Act bars any public official employed on a fulltime basis from engaging in management of any private business, save farming. Denial Mr Mohammed, through his spokesperson, Mukhtar Gidado, had claimed that the Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed listed among the directors of the company was not the governor. The specimen signature appearing against the name of the said Alhaji Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of ADDA Motors Ltd, affixed on Form CAC 7 of the company during incorporation, is entirely different from the signature of Senator Bala Mohammed, CON, Governor of Bauchi State, the official said. Other than name, the official failed to provide other evidences like the portfolio, picture or other clearcut information about of the purported Bala Mohammed. Advertisements Also, Mr Gidado did not deny that the address, 227 Gombe Road, is a family residence of Mr Mohammed. Legal infraction? Due to the immunity state governors enjoy in Nigeria, the prosecution of Mr Mohammed by anti-graft agency EFCC was relaxed upon his assumption of office in 2019. He has denied any wrongdoing. Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 provides for five years imprisonment without option of fine for any public officers found guilty of using their offices to confer an unfair advantage upon themselves, their relation relation or colleagues. READ ALSO: Also, CCBT Act, in its section 5, frowns at public officials from meddling personal interests with public responsibilities. Officials found guilty of these infractions by the Tribunal, are liable to outright sack, disqualification from holding any public office, elective or not, for a period not exceeding ten years. But Mr Mohammed is excluded from these provisions because his immunity is absolute, Ismaila Alasa, a legal practitioner, said. But he can be prosecuted once his tenure expires, he added. What 3.5 billion loan could do for Bauchi people Bauchi, a northeastern state in Nigeria, has 354,373 out-of-school children, the tenth highest in the country and a share of 26.6 per cent of the nations total. The state government believes it is more. If the loan is alternately deployed, the state could build 3000 blocks of classrooms (at the rate of 500,000 per block), fund 1000 SMEs and build over 70 healthcare centres. Last month, the Bauchi State government said it could only sponsor about 13,000 candidates out of 21,000 available students for the Senior Secondary School (WAEC) examinations, because of lack of funds. The action drew the ire of the students who took to the street to protest. The amount in question would have also been enough to give 500,000 loan to 1000 SMEs. Also, according to the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, a Type 2 Primary Health Clinic is expected to cater for a group of villages or neighbourhoods with a population of 2,000 to 5,000 people. This type of clinic could be built for 21 million each, an Africa Check document showed. At this rate, the remaining balance on the loan would build 70 centres. Mr Suraj said priorities should be set by every government and the citizens have to brace up in holding elected leaders to account. He said but because the electoral process in the country is heavily manipulated, the citizens are easily shortchanged. Yet, he noted, non-performing officials need to be shown the power of the people. This can be achieved when citizens have a vivid knowledge of what is happening in their states. Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has detained three senior Saudi princes including Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the younger brother of King Salman, and Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the king's nephew, for allegedly planning a coup, sources with knowledge of the matter said. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman's son and de facto ruler of the country, the world's top oil exporter and a key U.S. ally, has moved to consolidate power since ousting Mohammed bin Nayef as heir to the throne in a 2017 palace coup. Later that year, he arrested several royals and other prominent Saudis, holding them for months at Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton hotel in an anti-corruption campaign that caused shockwaves at home and abroad. Five sources told Reuters that Prince Ahmed and Mohammed bin Nayef were detained in the latest operation. Three of the sources, including a regional source, said Mohammed bin Nayef and his half-brother, Nawaf, were picked up at a private desert camp on Friday. Two sources said Ahmed was taken from his home. Crown Prince Mohammed, also referred to as MbS, "accused them of conducting contacts with foreign powers, including the Americans and others, to carry out a coup detat," the regional source said. "With these arrests, MbS consolidated his full grip on power. It's over with this purge, the source added, indicating that no rivals remain to challenge his succession to the throne. Another source said the princes were accused of "treason". A third source said they had been discussing a coup with the support of powerful tribes but had not reached advanced stages. The Saudi government media office did not respond to a request for comment on the detentions, first reported by The Wall Street Journal. It was unclear where the princes are being held. There was no way to contact them for comment on the coup allegations. "They (princes) have to be treated with dignity," the third source said, referring to their stature within the family. The regional source and another source said King Salman had approved the move and described him as mentally and physically sound. The 84-year-old monarch met British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Thursday in Riyadh. King Salman and the crown prince attended a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Crown Prince Mohammed, 34, has fuelled resentment among some prominent branches of the ruling family by tightening his grip on power. Some critics have questioned his ability to lead after the 2018 murder of a prominent journalist by Saudi agents and the largest-ever attack on Saudi oil infrastructure last year, sources have said. They said royals seeking to change the line of succession view Prince Ahmed, King Salman's only surviving full brother, as a possible choice who would have support of family members, the security apparatus, and some Western powers. Saudi authorities have not commented on issues of succession or criticism of the crown prince's leadership. Prince Mohammed is popular among Saudi youth and has staunch supporters within the royal family, which numbers around 10,000 members. Several Saudis on Saturday tweeted photos of the king and his son under the hashtag "We_are_all_Salman_We_are_all-Mohammed" in a show of support. Some critics of the crown prince, including a dissident prince in exile, posted pictures of Prince Ahmed, pledging allegiance to him. KING SUPPORTS SON Saudi insiders and Western diplomats say the family is unlikely to oppose the crown prince while the king is alive, saying the monarch would not turn against his favourite son, to whom he has delegated most responsibilities of rule. The detentions serve as a reminder to the family "not to cross MbS in any way", said Steffen Hertog at the London School of Economics. "It is unlikely to be a major, advanced plot to change the Saudi leadership, given that none of the individuals arrested have any significant access to state resources anymore." Prince Ahmed has kept a low profile since returning to Riyadh in October 2018 after 2-1/2 months abroad. Saudi watchers have said there is no evidence he is willing to take the throne. During that trip abroad, he appeared to criticize the Saudi leadership while responding to protesters outside a London residence chanting for the downfall of the Al Saud dynasty. Ahmed was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the family's senior members, who opposed MbS becoming crown prince in 2017, sources have earlier said. The movements of Mohammed bin Nayef, who as a senior interior ministry official had deep ties to the U.S. security and intelligence apparatus, have been restricted and monitored since then, sources have previously said. Nawaf, in his early 30s, has a much lower profile. The latest detentions come at a time of heightened tension with arch-rival Iran and as the crown prince implements social and economic reforms, including an initial public offering by oil giant Aramco on the domestic bourse last December. Riyadh also holds the presidency of the Group of 20 major economies. The crown prince has been lauded for easing social restrictions in the conservative Muslim kingdom and trying to diversify the economy away from oil. But he has come under international criticism over the Yemen war, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, and the detention of women's rights activists seen as part of a crackdown on dissent. While thousands of clueless regular customers are running from pillar to post to get their life's savings withdrawn from the crisis-hit Yes Bank, it appears like a few of them saw it coming. It has since emerged that the Vadodara Smart City Development Ltd (VSCDL), the special purpose vehicle floated by Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) for the Smart City project withdrew Rs 265 crore in the nick of time from Yes Bank. BCCL The money was transferred on Tuesday to a nationalized bank, just two days ahead of the restrictions imposed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Sudhir Patel, chief executive officer of the SPV and deputy municipal commissioner of the VMC, said the amount had been received from the Centre as part of a grant under the Smart City Mission and deposited with a local Yes Bank branch. It was withdrawn two days ago considering the problems faced by Yes Bank and transferred to a new account at Bank of Baroda, he said. BCCL Another high-profile depositor that managed to get its funds out of the troubled bank is the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam in Andhra Pradesh. In October last year, TTD Trust Board held a meeting and decided to withdraw deposits of Rs 1,300 crore from Yes Bank and invest it elsewhere. It is reported that TTD Board chairman YV Subba Reddy had foreseen the situation after going through performance reports of certain banks in which TTD has deposits. It should not come as a surprise that a lot of people knew about the impending crisis in Yes Bank. According to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Rana Kapoor-led bank has been in turmoil since 2014. BCCL She also said that the bank was being under watch since 2017 and developments relating to it were being monitored on a day-to-day basis, she said. "Since 2017, the central bank noticed governance issues and weak regulatory compliance at Yes Bank, besides wrong asset classification and risky credit decisions." Sitharaman said that the government has asked the Reserve Bank of India to look into wrongs at the Yes Bank and assign individual responsibilities. The Reserve Bank of India has capped withdrawals at Rs 50,000 and imposed strict limits on operations at Yes Bank, saying it was forced to step in after the lender's latest effort to raise new capital failed and as the lender was facing regular outflow of liquidity. It also superseded Yes Bank's board of directors and appointed former State Bank of India CFO Prashant Kumar as its administrator. DEARBORN, Mich. - The Democratic presidential primary is down to two major candidates, and it shows. Former Vice-President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are spending their first weekend as their partys last top White House contenders increasingly taking aim at one another. Each wants to show hes the best choice before six more states Idaho, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington vote on Tuesday. It reflects the new contours of a race that once featured 20-plus Democrats. An increasingly bitter matchup could endure for months as Biden and Sanders compete for the right to face President Donald Trump in November. We have a two-person race, Sanders said Saturday in Dearborn, a Detroit suburb with one of the nations largest Arab American populations. And all over this country, people are asking themselves which candidate can best defeat Trump. I have zero doubt in my mind that, together, we are the campaign that can beat Trump. Campaigning in St. Louis, Biden took a number of veiled swipes at Sanders, even as he called on Democrats to rise above Trumps division. He told the crowd that if they wanted to nominate a lifelong and proud Democrat, they should pick him. Sanders has run for office as in Independent and identifies himself as a democratic socialist. If you want a nominee wholl bring the party together, who will run on a positive progressive vision for the future, not turn this primary into a campaign of negative attacks because that will only reelect Donald Trump if we go that route if you want that, join us, Biden said. Winning, he added, means uniting America, not sowing more division and anger. The former vice-president also knocked Sanders weeks of suggestions that he is the candidate who can prompt record voter turnout in November and defeat Trump, saying that actually were the campaign thats going to do that. Sanders argues that no Democrat will win the presidency with the same-old, same-old politics of yesteryear. And in a sign of how biting the contest may become, Sanders supporters including his campaign manager raised questions about Bidens stamina after he gave a seven minute speech in St. Louis. At his second stop, in Kansas City, he again gave a truncated version of his stump speech, speaking for a little over 15 minutes. Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir issued a tweet noting Bidens short speaking time and highlighting the fact that Sanders had three campaign events on his schedule, each speaking engagement extending for close to an hour. That prompted swift online push-back from Biden allies. Democratic strategist Guy Cecil, who leads the partys largest outside spending group, tweeted, Spreading conspiracy theories online wont help your candidate but it will help Donald Trump win in November. But the focus on Bidens age is somewhat ironic given that the 78-year-old Sanders is actually a year older than Biden. Sanders, who has served in Congress since 1991, says hes bucked the establishment of both parties with decades with unpopular stands that now give him the credibility to lead a political revolution from the bottom up. Sanders is pledging to increase Democratic turnout by drawing younger voters, minorities and working class people to the polls even though they tend to vote in lower concentrations than many other Americans. Strong support among Hispanics lifted Sanders to victories in Nevada and California, but Biden trounced him in South Carolina and throughout much of the Deep South that voted during last weeks Super Tuesday. Biden especially ran up the score with African Americans. Some activists are disappointed that a once diverse field of women and minorities has dwindled to two white men in their late 70s. But in Dearborn, Sanders, who is Jewish, said he was inspired by so many Arab Americans backing him. I see people coming together from so many different backgrounds. It is beautiful, he said. He also joked about his age, saying, Sometimes people say, Bernie, youre 33 years of age. How do you keep going? Top advisers expect Sanders to finish strong in Washington. Still, he cancelled a trip to Mississippi to focus on Michigan, Tuesdays largest prize. He made a stop in Chicagos Grant Park on Saturday afternoon, and declared that he has a different vision than Biden, And the American people are going to hear about it. Sanders will spend the rest of the weekend in Michigan, while Biden is in Missouri and Mississippi. Sanders said repeatedly that he and Biden are friends and that, if hes not the nominee, he will support Biden against Trump. But, he added, In the remaining months, I intend to make it clear what my views are and what Joe Bidens are. The campaign is being conducted as the country is contending with the coronavirus outbreak. The AFL-CIO said Saturday that it was cancelling a scheduled presidential forum set for Thursday in Orlando in the week before the Florida primary. Sanders has used many of his Michigan events to hammer Bidens past support for the North American Free Trade Agreement, arguing that it moved high-paying U.S. jobs to Mexico and China while devastating manufacturing in a state dominated by the auto industry. Hes focused on Bidens years in the Senate, when Biden backed not only trade agreements and the U.S.-led war in Iraq, but also a ban on using federal funds to pay for abortions. Biden announced this summer that he was reversing his position on that, but Sanders said that wasnt enough. I think we need a candidate that can be trusted on this issue. I am proud to tell you that I am 100% pro choice, Sanders says. The pair are also circling each other on the airwaves. Biden saw a surge of donor support after South Carolina and Super Tuesday, and his campaign announced that it was spending $12 million on a six-state ad buy in places voting Tuesday and the following week. It was his largest single advertising effort of the 2020 campaign. He is using two television and digital ads, one promoting his relationship with President Barack Obama, the other a new effort to counter a Sanders attack on Bidens past record on Social Security. Its a criticism Sanders has used for months. And though he hasnt mentioned it as frequently while campaigning in Michigan, he has released his own ad airing in states voting Tuesday and the following week dinging Biden on Social Security. It features a past clip of the former vice-president saying, When I argued if we should freeze federal spending, I meant Social Security. Bidens counter spot has a narrator saying, Biden will increase Social Security benefits and protect it for generations to come. ___ Jaffe reported from Kansas City, Mo. Associated Press writer Sara Burnett in Chicago contributed to this report. ___ Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly ``Ground Game politics podcast. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: After closure of all the primary schools till March-end, the Delhi government asked schools to suspend morning assembly and biometric attendance as precautionary measures to check the spread of coronavirus. Children and the elderly are most vulnerable to the infection which has now affected 31 people in the country. Moreover, the ongoing spell of cold and damp weather in the city increase the risk of contracting viruses. Do not hold school assembly. Also withhold biometric attendance for staff till further orders, the Directorate of Education said in a letter on Friday to principals of all government and private schools. Though all the primary classes are closed till March 31, no such order has been passed for students of secondary classes and the school staff, both teaching and non-teaching. As of now, the Delhi government is ready with 230 beds in hospitals to deal with corona cases. Isolation wards and special beds have been made in 19 government and six private hospitals to deal with coronavirus. Safdarjung and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital have been set up as nodal hospitals, Health Minister Satyendar Jain said in a press briefing. Coronavirus can be avoided if people are alert. Masks and hand sanitizers are not necessary for common people, he said, commenting on the shortage of these products. Masks are necessary only for doctors and medical staff. Apart from physicians, people who are suffering from cold-cough, cold, fever, etc., can also use the masks. Similarly, since the doctors cant wash their hands after treating every patient so they use hand sanitisers, the health minister told reporters. Meanwhile, Southwest Delhi District Magistrate Rahul Singh ordered the government and private hospitals to reserve 10 per cent beds for COVID-19 patients. As you are aware that there is an emergency situation of COVID-19 in Delhi. Therefore, all government and private hospitals need to create the facility of isolation beds for COVID-19 patients, i.e., 10 per cent of the total bed capacity of all government and private hospitals, the order stated. Anganwadis shut till March 31 The Delhi government on Friday announced the closure of all the 10,740 anganwadi centres across the national capital till March 31. The notification was issued as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus among young children and pregnant and lactating mothers, Women and Child Development Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said. Gurugram reports another case In Gurugram, an MNC employee tested positive for coronavirus. Chief Medical Officer BK Rajora said the patient, a 29-year-old man, returned from Thailand and Malaysia last month. He rejoined work on February 7 but was sent on leave. We had quarantined him and took blood sample. His report tested positive, the CMO said. 11 quarantined at their homes Eleven people, including seven family members of a man who tested positive for coronavirus after his visit to Thailand, have been quarantined at their residences, health officials said. The 25-year-old man, who also travelled to Malaysia, has tested positive, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Delhi to three. Fifty households in west Delhi are under surveillance. WASHINGTON Erik Prince, the security contractor with close ties to the Trump administration, has in recent years helped recruit former American and British spies for secretive intelligence-gathering operations that included infiltrating Democratic congressional campaigns, labor organizations and other groups considered hostile to the Trump agenda, according to interviews and documents. One of the former spies, an ex-MI6 officer named Richard Seddon, helped run a 2017 operation to copy files and record conversations in a Michigan office of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the largest teachers unions in the nation. Seddon directed an undercover operative to secretly tape the unions local leaders and try to gather information that could be made public to damage the organization, documents show. Using a different alias the next year, the same undercover operative infiltrated the congressional campaign of Abigail Spanberger, then a former CIA officer who went on to win an important House seat in Virginia as a Democrat. The campaign discovered the operative and fired her. Both operations were run by Project Veritas, a conservative group that has gained attention using hidden cameras and microphones for sting operations on news organizations, Democratic politicians and liberal advocacy groups. Seddons role in the teachers union operation detailed in internal Project Veritas emails that have emerged from the discovery process of a court battle between the group and the union has not previously been reported, nor has Princes role in recruiting Seddon for the groups activities. Both Project Veritas and Prince have ties to President Donald Trumps aides and family. Whether any Trump administration officials or advisers to the president were involved in the operations, even tacitly, is unclear. But the effort is a glimpse of a vigorous private campaign to try to undermine political groups or individuals perceived to be in opposition to Trumps agenda. Prince, the former head of Blackwater Worldwide and the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, has at times served as an informal adviser to Trump administration officials. He worked with the former national security adviser Michael Flynn during the presidential transition. In 2017, he met with White House and Pentagon officials to pitch a plan to privatize the Afghan war using contractors in lieu of American troops. Jim Mattis, then the defense secretary, rejected the idea. Prince appears to have become interested in using former spies to train Project Veritas operatives in espionage tactics sometime during the 2016 presidential campaign. Reaching out to several intelligence veterans and occasionally using Seddon to make the pitch Prince said he wanted the Project Veritas employees to learn skills like how to recruit sources and how to conduct clandestine recordings, among other surveillance techniques. James OKeefe, the head of Project Veritas, declined to answer detailed questions about Prince, Seddon and other topics, but he called his group a proud independent news organization that is involved in dozens of investigations. He said that numerous sources were coming to the group providing confidential documents, insights into internal processes and wearing hidden cameras to expose corruption and misconduct. No one tells Project Veritas who or what to investigate, he said. A spokesman for Prince declined to comment. Emails sent to Seddon went unanswered. Prince is under investigation by the Justice Department over whether he lied to a congressional committee examining Russian interference in the 2016 election, and for possible violations of American export laws. Last year, the House Intelligence Committee made a criminal referral to the Justice Department about Prince, saying he lied about the circumstances of his meeting with a Russian banker in the Seychelles in January 2017. Once a small operation running on a shoestring budget, Project Veritas in recent years has had a surge in donations from both private donors and conservative foundations. According to its latest publicly available tax filing, Project Veritas received $8.6 million in contributions and grants in 2018. OKeefe earned about $387,000. Last year, the group received a $1 million contribution made through the law firm Alston & Bird, a financial document obtained by The New York Times showed. A spokesman for the firm said that Alston & Bird has never contributed to Project Veritas on its own behalf, nor is it a client of ours. The spokesman declined to say on whose behalf the contribution was made. The financial document also listed the names of others who gave much smaller amounts to Project Veritas last year. Several of them confirmed their donations. The group has also become intertwined with the political activities of Trump and his family. The Trump Foundation gave $20,000 to Project Veritas in 2015, the year that Trump began his bid for the presidency. The next year, during a presidential debate with Hillary Clinton, Trump claimed without substantiation that videos released by OKeefe showed that Clinton and President Barack Obama had paid people to incite violence at rallies for Trump. In a book published in 2018, OKeefe wrote that Trump years earlier had encouraged him to infiltrate Columbia University and obtain Obamas records. Last month, Project Veritas made public secretly recorded video of a longtime ABC News correspondent who was critical of the networks political coverage and its emphasis on business considerations over journalism. Many conservatives have gleefully pounded on Project Veritas disclosures, including one particularly influential voice: Donald Trump Jr., the presidents eldest son. The website for OKeefes coming wedding listed Donald Trump Jr. as an invited guest. Prince invited Project Veritas operatives including OKeefe to his familys Wyoming ranch for training in 2017, The Intercept reported last year. OKeefe and others shared social media photos of taking target practice with guns at the ranch, including one post from OKeefe saying that with the training, Project Veritas will be the next great intelligence agency. Prince had hired a former MI6 officer to help train the Project Veritas operatives, The Intercept wrote, but it did not identify the officer. Seddon regularly updated OKeefe about the operation against the Michigan teachers union, according to internal Project Veritas emails, where the language of the groups leaders is marbled with spy jargon. They used a code name LibertyU for their operative inside the organization, Marisa Jorge, who graduated from Liberty University in Virginia, one of the nations largest Christian colleges. Seddon wrote that Jorge copied a great many documents from the file room, and OKeefe bragged that the group would be able to get a ton more access agents inside the educational establishment. The emails refer to other operations, including weekly case updates, along with training activities that involved operational targeting. Project Veritas redacted specifics about those operations from the messages. In August 2017, Jorge wrote to Seddon that she had managed to record a local union leader talking about DeVos and other topics. Good stuff, Seddon wrote back. Did you receive the spare camera yet? As education secretary, DeVos has been a vocal critic of teachers unions, saying in 2018 that they have a stranglehold over politicians at the federal and state levels. She and Prince grew up in Michigan, where their father made a fortune in the auto parts business. AFT Michigan sued Project Veritas in federal court, alleging trespassing, eavesdropping and other offenses. The teachers union is asking for more than $3 million in damages, accusing the group of being a vigilante organization which claims to be dedicated to exposing corruption. It is, instead, an entity dedicated to a specific political agenda. Project Veritas has said its activities are legal and protected by the First Amendment, and the case is scheduled to go to trial in the fall. Other Project Veritas employees on the emails include Joe Halderman, an award-winning former television producer who in 2010 pleaded guilty to trying to extort $2 million from the comedian David Letterman. Halderman was copied on several messages providing updates about the Michigan operation, and in one message, he gave instructions to Jorge. Project Veritas tax filings list Halderman as a project manager. Two other employees, Gaz Thomas and Samuel Chamberlain, were also identified in emails and appeared to play important roles in the Michigan operation. Efforts to locate Thomas were unsuccessful. A man named Samuel Chamberlain who matched the description of the one employed by OKeefe denied he worked for Project Veritas. He did not respond to follow-up phone messages or an email. Last year, Project Veritas submitted a proposed list of witnesses for the trial over the lawsuit. Chamberlain and Thomas were on the list. Seddon was not. Jorge, 23, did not respond to email addresses associated with her Liberty University account. In an archived version of her LinkedIn page, Jorge wrote she had a deep interest in the conservative movement and hoped one day to serve on the Supreme Court after attending law school. In a YouTube video, OKeefe described the lawsuit as frivolous and pointed to a portion of the deposition in which David Hecker, president of AFT Michigan, said that one of the goals of the lawsuit was to stop Project Veritas from doing the kind of work that it does. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said in a statement: Lets be clear who the wrongdoer is here: Project Veritas used a fake intern to lie her way into our Michigan office, to steal documents and to spy and they got caught. Were just trying to hold them accountable for this industrial espionage. In 2018, Jorge infiltrated the congressional campaign of Spanberger, posing as a campaign volunteer. At the time, Spanberger was running to unseat a sitting Republican congressman in a race both parties considered important for control of the House. Jorge was eventually exposed and kicked out of the campaign office. It was unclear whether Seddon was involved in planning that operation. Seddon was a longtime British intelligence officer who served around the world, including in Washington in the years after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He is married to an American diplomat, Alice Seddon, who is serving in the U.S. consulate in Lagos, Nigeria. OKeefe and his group have taken aim at targets over the years including Planned Parenthood, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Democracy Partners, a group that consults with liberal and progressive electoral causes. In 2016, a Project Veritas operative infiltrated Democracy Partners using a fake name and fabricated resume and made secret recordings of the staff. The year after the sting, Democracy Partners sued Project Veritas, and its lawyers have since deposed OKeefe. In that deposition, OKeefe defended the groups undercover tactics, saying they were part of a long tradition of investigative journalism going back to muckraking reporters like Upton Sinclair. Im not ashamed of the methods that we use or the recordings that we use, he said. He was asked whether he had provided any of the groups secret recordings of Democracy Partners to the Republican National Committee or any member of the Trump family. He said that he did not think so. In 2010, O Keefe and three others pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor after admitting they entered a government building in New Orleans under false pretenses as part of a sting. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Loudspeakers, text messages, public notices and elevator screens are being used in Hanoi and other provinces to keep people updated about the prevention of COVID-19. Loudspeakers have been providing information about how to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. Phan Thanh Hoa from Xuan La Ward in Ha Nois Tay Ho District said she and her family often heard updates about COVID-19 via the wards loudspeakers. "All information related to COVID-19 is broadcast through the loudspeakers," she said. We heard about SARS-CoV-2, the symptoms of COVID-19 and how to wash your hands and wear a mask correctly, as well as what to do if we displayed any symptoms, she added. Nguyen Quoc Huy from Phuc ong Ward in Long Bien District said he and his family had learnt how to protect themselves since the outbreak thanks to the regular announcements. "We cook at home more often instead of eating out at restaurants, cleaned our houses, and wear masks when we are out, and most importantly, we are washing our hands correctly, he said. Nguyen Thu Trang from Yen So Ward in Hoang Mai District said digital screens in the elevators in his building had been displaying information about COVID-19 since early last month. The screens, which were usually used to broadcast advertisements, now display demonstrations of how to wear a mask and how to wash your hands correctly, he said. It also showed instructions in Vietnamese, English and Chinese on how to inform authorised agencies when one showed symptoms of COVID-19, he added. Nguyen Thuy Nga, a worker at a bank in Hoan Kiem District, said she had received a lot of messages from the Ministry of Health to instruct her how to prevent the virus from spreading. In Vinh Phuc Province, which recorded 11 of the 16 COVID-19 cases in Viet Nam, Nghiem Xuan Khoi, secretary of the Party Committee of Ho Xuan Huong Ward, Vinh Tuong Town, said since the COVID-19 outbreak, instructions on how to wash hands and wear a mask correctly and other information related to COVID-19 were being broadcast five times daily. Effectiveness Hoa said the information from the loudspeakers was useful. It tells me exactly I have to do, she added. Trang said not everyone knew how to wear a mask and or wash their hands correctly to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In the meantime, Nga said at first she was very surprised by the detailed instructions from the health ministry, but really appreciated them. According to the Ministry of Information and Communications, the dissemination activities had been effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19. VNS Shop closures in Hanoi, HCM City due to coronavirus fears Many shops and restaurants in Hanoi and HCM City have closed or are looking for new owners due to Covid-19 fears. South Carolina can't get enough of endorsement fever. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn received major buzz for helping former Vice President Joe Biden win the state's Democratic presidential primary last week before traveling to other primary states as a top surrogate. Nikki Haley is trying to work some magic for Republicans. Last month, the former S.C. governor and United Nations ambassador headlined fundraisers for Senate candidate Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Last week, Haley drew 1,100 supporters (and standing ovations) at U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman's reelection kickoff in Richburg. And Monday, Haley is heading to suburban Atlanta, where she will endorse U.S Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who is tying to win the open Georgia seat she filled last year. Haley has been a reliable campaign headliner for other D.C. types, including Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Joni Ernst of Iowa. (However, she's mum on a preference in her own backyard, taking a pass on a recent question from The Post and Courier's Jamie Lovegrove on whether she had a favorite in South Carolina's 1st District congressional GOP race.) Of course, all of this endorsing could boost a potential 2024 bid for the Bamberg native. For now, publicly, Haley is not endorsing that. Who's not running for the Statehouse again With election filing about a week away, at least nine state lawmakers already plan on not seeking reelection this year including six Charleston-area representatives. Nancy Mace, a Daniel Island Republican businesswoman, is running for Congress. Peter McCoy, a Charleston Republican lawyer, is President Donald Trump's nominee as a U.S. attorney for South Carolina. Mike Sottile, a 71-year-old Republican from Isle of Palms, will retire after 12 years. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! Con Chellis, a Summerville Republican, will not return for a second term after trying to commute back and forth to Columbia each day to spend time with his family and insurance business. "With candid humility, that schedule is just not sustainable," the 41-year-old son of a former state treasurer said. Two Charleston-area Democrats are not seeking reelection: 69-year-old businessman Robert Brown of Hollywood, who has spent 20 years at the Statehouse; and 66-year-old radio talk show host David Mack of North Charleston, who will leave after 24 years. Another pair of Republican House members are departing: Gary Clary, a 72-year-old retired judge from Clemson who spent three terms in the Legislature; and Mac Toole, a 73-year-old businessman from West Columbia with 18 years in office. In the Senate, Greg Gregory, a Lancaster Republican, is ending his second Statehouse stint to concentrate on his family's building supply business. He came back in 2011 to fill the unexpired term of Mick Mulvaney after the former-acting White House chief of staff was elected to Congress. (Update Rep. Eddie Tallon, a 75-year-old Spartanburg Republican and assistant House majority leader, announced Sunday he is not seeking reelection after a decade at the Statehouse to spend more time with his family.) 2020 primary data mining Anyone following the S.C. Democratic presidential primary last week knows Biden won every county in his rout of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. So let's look at how the other candidates did based on voting data assembled by The Post and Courier's David Slade. Steyer: For all the money he spent (more that twice than the rest of the field combined), billionaire Tom Steyer walked away atop just six precincts three each in the Lowcountry (Berkeley, Colleton and Hampton counties) and Upstate (Greenwood, McCormick and Oconee counties). He did finish second in roughly 20 percent of the state's 2,259 precincts, mainly in Sumter, Richland and Orangeburg counties. Steyer spent close to $400 for each vote he got. He left the race on S.C. primary night. Buttigieg: Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and the winner in Iowa, won two very small Berkeley County precincts and was second in more than 100 others mainly in Charleston and Beaufort counties. He dropped out before Super Tuesday. Warren: Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren won a North Charleston precinct and was second in eight precincts, mainly near the University of South Carolina and Clemson University. She dropped out Thursday. Klobuchar: Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who was hot after New Hampshire, finished second in three precincts in different parts of the state Lancaster, Georgetown and Dillon counties. She also dropped out before Super Tuesday. Gabbard: Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard tied atop one precinct in South Carolina, knotting Biden 3-3 outside Ehrhardt in Bamberg County. Her best showing statewide was getting 27 votes in a Charleston County West Ashley precinct. Gabbard was still in the race as of press time. Dropouts: Votes for everyone on the ballot counted, including the 3,129 cast for the five candidates who dropped out of the race before their names could be removed. Tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang led the 2020 dropouts with 1,066 votes. His best performance came in Northeast Richland County and the same West Ashley precinct where Gabbard received her most votes. He only received six. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor An innocent Florida man became a suspect in a burglary crime after Google tracked his bike riding history and learned he passed a burglarized home three times. Zachary McCoy, 30, would later learn that authorities were attempting to use a 'geofence warrant' to get his personal information. Geofence warrants are used by authorities to collect the Google geolocation of every single person who was in a designated area at the time of a crime. McCoy, who had been enjoying his usual bike ride, became unintentionally snagged in the virtual 'dragnet' after his locations were shared with authorities. He first discovered he was a suspect in a March 2019 burglary case when Google's legal investigations support team sent him an email in January. They were writing inform McCoy that local Gainesville authorities had requested all information related to his account and Google would release said data to law enforcement unless he blocked the motion in court. Florida authorities issued a warrant for Google to get account information about Zachary McCoy, 30, in January 2019 'I was hit with a really deep fear,' McCoy told NBC News. Like millions of users across the globe, McCoy used an assortment of Google products, like YouTube and Gmail, on his Android. The multinational technology company had become an integrated part of his life. 'I didnt know what it was about, but I knew the police wanted to get something from me. I was afraid I was going to get charged with something, I dont know what,' he said. The charge McCoy was unknowingly being considered for was the burglary of a 97-year-old woman's home. She reported missing several pieces of jewelry missing, including an engagement ring worth $2,000. Using a case number attached to Google's letter, McCoy searched on the Gainesville Police Department's website for information and discovered a one-page investigation report from 10 months earlier. The crime happened less than a mile away from the home McCoy, who recently received an associate degree in computer programming, lived in with two roommates. McCoy knew that he had nothing to do with the burglary, had never been inside the home and didn't know anyone who would've. Still, he was alarmed and anxious over potential allegations. After borrowing thousands of dollars from his parents to hire lawyer, Caleb Kenyon, it was discovered Google's email had been prompted by a 'geofence warrant.' Geofence warrants are an investigative surveillance tool that virtually analyzes crime scenes by collecting Google location data - taken from Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi and cell phone connections - from everyone in the area. The warrants are used to help police find suspects when there are no tangible leads, but they also capture data from law-abiding people who have nothing to do with the incident. Still trying to piece together a potentially looming investigation, McCoy examined his phone for clues. An avid biker, McCoy used the fitness-tracking app RunKeeper to record his rides using his Android's location, which revealed his movements to Google. He brought up his route from the day of the crime and realized he passed the victim's home three times within an hour as part of his frequent loops though the neighborhood. McCoy, an avid biker, used the RunKeeper app (pictured) to record his rides in his Gainesville, Florida, neighborhood McCoy said: 'It was a nightmare scenario. I was using an app to see how many miles I rode my bike and now it was putting me at the scene of the crime. And I was the lead suspect.' Just four days after the woman filed a police report, authorities searching for leads went to an Alachua County judge with a warrant for Google. They demanded records of all devices using Google service products that were near the victim's home at the time of the burglary. The first wave of data would not include any identifying information and officers shifted through the documents for anything deemed suspicious. Kenyon told NBC News that authorities became interested in McCoy's device after dissecting the first batch of information. They didn't have any identifying information about McCoy, so they asked Google to provide names of their users. This request is what caused McCoy to receive a notification from Google as part of its general policy of alerting users about government information requests. While privacy advocates have voiced that geofence warrants could violate constitutional rights, law enforcement officials have championed the tool. Authorities point out that they don't receive any identifying information from Google until they determine a device to be suspicious and, even then, the data is not enough to charge someone with a crime. Google geofence warrants are continually used by law enforcement and is quickly increasing. Use of the tool increased 1,500 percent from 2017 to 2018 and by 500 percent from 2018 to 2019. Law enforcement officials use Google geofence warrant to gather information on potential suspects by gathering data from Google bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi and cell phone connections Kevin Armbruster, a retired lieutenant with the Milwaukee Police Department, said the geofence tool was 'great technology.' During his time on the force, Armbruster oversaw high technology focused investigations that used tools like geofence warrants. 'I would think the majority of citizens in the world would love the fact that we are putting violent offenders in jail,' said Armbruster. Milwaukee authorities said geofence warrants have helped solve several crimes, like shootings, homicides, robberies, kidnappings and sexual assault involving an abduction. There have been a small amount of legal challenges to Google geofence warrants, partially because the warrants are done discretely and defense lawyers may not realize the tool was used to accuse clients. Once McCoy learned why he raised some preemptive red flags in the burglary case, he and Kenyon set out to stop local authorities from encroaching on his personal information and prove his innocence. Kenyon said he called the investigator working the case and told him 'Youre looking at the wrong guy.' Meanwhile, McCoy was coming to terms with Google collecting and possibly sharing his information. McCoy said: 'I didnt realize that by having location services on that Google was also keeping a log of where I was going.' 'Im sure its in their terms of service but I never read through those walls of text, and I dont think most people do either.' He also mentioned that some people said they had no problem letting authorities see phone data along the argument that people had nothing to worry about if they were innocent. McCoy said this mindset doesn't consider situations like his. 'If youre innocent, that doesnt mean you cant be in the wrong place at the wrong time, like going on a bike ride in which your GPS puts you in a position where police suspect you of a crime you didnt commit,' he said. On January 31, Kenyon filed a motion in civil court to make the geofence warrant 'null and void', as well as block the release of McCoy's personal information, Kenyon: 'This geofence warrant effectively blindly casts a net backwards in time hoping to ensnare a burglar. This concept is akin to the plotline in many a science fiction film featuring a dystopian, fascist government' He argued to officials that geofence warrants were unconstitutional because it allowed police to search phone data from an unknown amount of people to find a single suspect. Kenyon wrote: 'This geofence warrant effectively blindly casts a net backwards in time hoping to ensnare a burglar. This concept is akin to the plotline in many a science fiction film featuring a dystopian, fascist government.' Eventually, the state attorney's office withdrew the warrant and removed McCoy as a suspect in the case. Kenyon further proved McCoy was not the burglar by showing screenshots of his client's Google location history in RunKeeper. It showed months of bike rides past the home. McCoy has not faced any charges yet, but Kenyon said:'...There was no knowing what law enforcement was going to do with that data when they got it behind closed doors. Not that I distrust them, but I wouldnt trust them not to arrest someone.' On his part, McCoy admitted that he feels bad for the victim, but the geofence warrant may be a tad much. 'Im definitely sorry that happened to her, and Im glad police were trying to solve it, but it just seems like a really broad net for them to cast,' he said. 'Whats the cost-benefit? How many innocent people do we have to harass?' No one has been arrested for the burglary. A group of migrants have tried to bring down a fence in a bid to break through into Greece, while others hurled rocks at Greek police during ugly scenes at the border with Turkey. Greek authorities responded by firing volleys of tear gas at the youths. At least two migrants were injured in the latest clash between Greek police and migrants gathered on the Turkish side of a border crossing near the Greek village of Kastanies. As in previous confrontations this week, officers in Greece fired tear gas to impede the crowd, before Turkish police fired tear gas back at their Greek counterparts. Migrants try to damage the border fence between Turkey and Greece (Felipe Dana/AP) Groups of mostly young men tied ropes onto the fence in an attempt to tear it down. A Greek government official said the tear gas and water cannon were used for deterrence purposes. Thousands of migrants have headed for Turkeys land border with Greece after Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogans government said last week that it would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing over to European Union territory. Greece deployed riot police and border guards to repel people trying to enter the country from the sea or by land. Mr Erdogan plans to be in Brussels on Monday for a one-day working visit. The announcement came hours after EU foreign ministers meeting in Croatia on Friday criticised Turkey, saying it was using the migrants desperation for political purposes. The Greek government said that around 600 people, aided by Turkish army and military police, threw tear gas at the Greek side of the border overnight. A Turkish soldier walks near migrants as they gather at a fence on the border with Greece (Darko Bandic/AP) It also said there were several attempts to breach the border fence, and fires were lit in an attempt to damage the barrier. The government statement said: Attempts at illegal entry into Greek territory were prevented by Greek forces, which repaired the fence and used sirens and loudspeakers. Thousands of migrants have slept in makeshift camps near the border since the Turkish government said they were free to go, waiting for the opportunity to cut over to Greece. Story continues Mr Erdogan announced last week that Turkey, which already houses more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, would no longer be Europes gatekeeper and declared that its previously guarded borders with Europe are now open. The move alarmed EU countries, which are still dealing with the political fallout from a wave of mass migration five years ago. Mr Erdogan has demanded that Europe shoulder more of the burden of caring for refugees. But the EU insists it is abiding by a 2016 deal in which it gave Turkey billions in refugee aid in return for keeping Europe-bound asylum-seekers in Turkey. Children from Syria sleep outside at a bus station in Edirne, near the Turkish-Greek border (AP) In a phone call with German chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, Mr Erdogan said the Turkey-EU migration deal is no longer working and needs to be revised, according to the Turkish leaderss office. While crediting Turkey for hosting millions of migrants and refugees, European foreign ministers said the bloc strongly rejects Turkeys use of migratory pressure for political purposes. They called the situation at the border unacceptable and said the EU was determined to protect its external boundaries. In Berlin on Saturday, about 1,000 people rallied in front of the interior ministry urging Germany to take in asylum seekers stuck at the Greek border. They then marched through the streets downtown behind a banner reading Europe, dont kill. Open the borders, we have space. Greek authorities said they thwarted more than 38,000 attempted border crossings in the past week and arrested 268 people only 4% of them Syrians. They reported reported 27 more arrests on Saturday, mostly migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Greece has described the situation as a threat to its national security and has suspended asylum applications for a month, saying it will deport new arrivals without registering them. Many migrants have reported crossing into Greece, being beaten by Greek authorities and summarily forced back into Turkey. Bachelor In Paradise star Ashley Salter has welcomed her second child. The reality star shared a gallery of photos of newborn Salter Kennedy Brannen - who is to be known by her middle name - to Instagram. 'We are so glad you're here little princess,' she wrote on Saturday morning, with a revolving hearts emoji. New addition: Ashley Salter, one of the competitors on The Bachelor and spinoff Bachelor In Paradise, became a mother for the second time this week, announcing the birth of a baby girl to her 106K followers on her Instagram Saturday Ashley, 29, was one of the competitors featured on season 19 of hit dating show The Bachelor and season 2 of the spinoff Bachelor In Paradise. In the gallery Ashley shared, the lead image is of the little new addition swaddled in a floral wrap, hair bow included. She wears an adorable name-tag which read, 'hello! my name is Kennedy'. Mom twice over: Ashley welcomed her literal bundle of joy on Friday; seen here six weeks ago at her baby shower on her Instagram Peaceful: It seems appropriate that the name her parents plan to use is her middle one Kennedy, as it appears her first name is her mother's maiden name Ashley and her husband Austin Brannen are already parents to three-year-old son Brooks Hartman, whom they welcomed in April 2016. The pair were college sweethearts who reconnected, and wed in the Bahamas in September of 2016, when their baby boy was just five months old. On Saturday, Ashley's gallery included additional sweet shots of little Brooks meeting his baby sister, as well as doting dad Austin smiling ear to ear at his brand new baby girl. Sweet: On Saturday, Ashley's gallery included additional shots of doting dad Austin marveling at his brand new baby girl Big bro: Her Story included a snippet of little Brooks meeting his baby sister, smiling ear to ear Ashley shared even more joy by included a video of herself in the hospital bed, baby Kennedy crying against her chest, as the doctor checked the little one's heartbeat with a stethoscope. 'Look at that frown,' Austin is heard saying. 'I can't believe you were really in there!' Ashley said to her daughter in delighted disbelief. Salter also shared some lovely snippets to her IG Story, with captions that said 'Sleeping angel' over a shot of the little one fast asleep and 'She is already so loved' with family members in line to meet the precious little infant. The Supreme Court on Friday stayed a Karnataka High Court order granting bail to 21 members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) accused of violence in Mangaluru on December 19 during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Two persons were killed after the protests against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) turned violent. Hundreds of people had defied prohibitory orders imposed by the state police across several cities including Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kalburgi, Hassan, Huballi and Dharwad. Dozens of policemen were injured in the calshes. On February 17, the Karnataka High Court had granted bail to the accused on the pleas filed by Mohammed Ashik and 20 others hailing from Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts of Karnataka. The Karnataka government which opposed the bail, moved the apex court. On Friday, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant issued notice to the accused after taking note of the appeal filed by Karnataka government against the grant of bail by the high court. The High Court, while granting bail, had said that the records produced indicate that the identity of the accused involved in the alleged incident appear to have been fixed on the basis of their affiliation to Popular Front of India (PFI) and they being members of the Muslim community, according to PTI. Earlier this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sent a note to the Union home ministry stating there was a link between protests against the citizenship law in different parts of the country and the PFI. The PFI denies sponsoring the protests against the CAA that have rocked Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana in south India. Hyderabad, March 7 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday revealed in the state Assembly that he too has no birth certificate. "When I myself don't have a birth certificate, how can I produce the certificate of my father," asked Rao, apparently referring to the new format of the National Population Register (NPR), which is set to be rolled out from April 1. "It is causing concern to me also. I was born in my house in the village. There were no hospitals then. The village elder used to write a 'Janma Nama' which carried no official seal," said 66-year-old KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known. "When I was born, we had 580 acres of land and a building. When I can't produce my birth certificate, how will the Dalits, tribals and poor produce their certificates," he asked. Speaking on the issue in the House for the second time in the day, KCR said Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has some firm commitments and principles on which it would never compromise. The Chief Minister said that the most irritating thing about Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is that it goes against the very fabric of the Constitution of India which promises to treat all citizens equally irrespective of their religion, caste and creed. "No civilised society will accept a law which keeps out people of one particular religion," he said. KCR said the House will thoroughly debate the issue and pass a resolution to send a strong message to the entire country as the issue relates to the country's future, its Constitution and its stature in the world. He voiced his concern that the country is losing respectability because of such a law as the issue has been discussed in the United Nations and other world bodies. "We are part of this country. We will not keep quiet. We will do whatever we can in our limits. We will not be afraid of anybody," he said. Hungarian authorities have confirmed the countrys fourth case of the new coronavirus, after the Iranian girlfriend of one of the Iranian students diagnosed with Covid-19 earlier this week also tested positive for the new virus. Both students are now being treated at Budapests St. Laszlo Hospital, the government website providing updates about the coronavirus outbreak said. After the patients test came back positive, the authorities immediately began looking into whom she had come into contact with, the website said. The authorities will provide more information on her condition and the next steps concerning her diagnosis at a later time, it added. Earlier on Thursday, a Hungarian man who recently returned from Milan also tested positive for the new virus. In reaction, Budapests Eotvos Lorand University has ordered a two-week quarantine for students and staff returning form areas affected by the new coronavirus, the university said on its website. The website said staff and students who returned from China, South Korea, northern Italy and Iran in the past 14 days, or met people who did so, are asked to self-isolate in their homes and stay away from university events. Quarantine should be maintained until March 19, the website said. The university is cancelling indefinitely the courses the two students had attended, and has called on staff and students who attended the classes in the past fortnight to stay away from the ELTE campus, the website said. Meanwhile, fifteen Japanese tourists were taken to Budapests St. Laszlo Hospital after displaying symptoms of the new coronavirus, the government website providing updates about the outbreak has said. All of the tourists have a cough but are in good physical condition, the website said. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a video message on Facebook that a Hungarian national infected by the new coronavirus has been quarantined in Brazil. The individual in Brasilia is the 13th Hungarian citizen to be quarantined abroad, Szijjarto said. Brazil is the sixth country to have reported a Hungarian coronavirus patient, he added. The individuals condition has recently improved and they are now symptom-free, the minister said. Now were waiting for a negative test result so that they could leave the hospital before the end of the quarantine. In the meantime, the Hungarian consuls in Brasilia are contacting the individual twice a day and providing any assistance they can, Szijjarto said. MTI Photo: Tamas Soki Kolkata, March 7 : Visva-Bharati University will not hold its traditional Basantotsav (spring festival) celebrations on March 9 in view of the coronavirus scare, an official said on Saturday. Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore had started Basantotsav on the day of Dol Jatra (as festival of colours is called in Bengal) in the Visva-Bharati university founded by him. Over the decades, the festival has become the biggest annual event of the institution and attracts thousands of people from various parts of India and abroad. The Visva-Bharati authorities decided not to hold the festival for the 'time being' in view of a University Grants Commission advisory asking varsities not to hold mass gatherings as a preventive measure against a possible coronavirus outbreak. "Basantotsav has been cancelled this year in view of the UGC directive. We cannot afford to take a risk," said the official. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) By ANI JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir reported its first case of coronavirus, sources told ANI on Saturday. With the new confirmed case, the number of people infected with coronavirus in the country reached 32. The person is receiving treatment at government medical college in Jammu, sources added. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir's administration said that the test results of two persons indicate that there is a high probability of them being positive for the disease. All primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts of J&K to be closed till March 31 with immediate effect. All biometric attendance in J&K to be suspended immediately till March 31. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 10:14 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068eee33 1 National coronavirus,COVID-19,outbreak,Sulianti-Saroso-Hospital,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,symptoms,treatment Free Health authorities are still observing five individuals suspected of having been infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus after they had contact with the countrys first two confirmed cases. The five individuals were in close contact with the first two confirmed patients, identified only as Case 1 and Case 2. They had attended the same dance event as Case 1 in mid-February in Jakarta. Case 1 contracted the virus from a Japanese woman who tested positive in Malaysia in late February. The Health Ministrys Disease Control and Prevention Directorate general secretary Achmad Yurianto said his office was waiting for the patients conditions to improve before discharging them from the hospital. The five patients are being treated in isolation at the Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital in North Jakarta. We will wait until their physical condition improves, since some of them are still suffering from fever, said Yurianto, who also serves as the spokesperson for coronavirus management, on Friday. Read also: 70 medical workers having contact with COVID-19 patients in Depok sent home for self-quarantine He explained patients in other countries, such as Vietnam, had to undergo tests seven times during the observation period. The patients even tested positive for COVID-19 during an eighth test, which was followed by intensive treatment from medical personnel. We have to be really careful with these cases. We shouldnt act rashly and discharge them early because they can create a new sub-cluster if they eventually test positive, Yurianto said. During an earlier press briefing, Yurianto said the number of individuals with contact with Case 1 suspected of having the coronavirus was four. Later, he mentioned that seven were suspected, two of whom had tested positive while the other five were still under observation. The Health Ministry previously confirmed two new COVID-19 cases on Friday. The two patients, identified only as Case 3 and Case 4, were identified following the ministrys effort to trace people who had encountered Case 1 and 2. Health officials later found seven people with contact with Case 1. They were taken to Sulianti Saroso Hospital because they showed physical symptoms associated with influenza, such as coughing and mild fever. Of the seven people, two tested positive for COVID-19. The government plans to continue tracing people suspected of having contact with Case 1 or 2 to prevent the emergence new subclusters. (dpk) The data theft affected the personal information of DHS and Postal Service employees, the government said. The indictment is part of an ongoing investigation by DHS and Postal Service inspectors general and was announced by the two agencies, the Justice Department and the U.S. attorneys office for the District of Columbia, which is prosecuting the case. In a shocking incident, a school teacher arrested by the Telangana Police for the alleged rape of a student has confessed of ten more sexual assaults he had committed. The 27-year-old who worked as a private school teacher in Wanaparthy district was arrested on Friday based on the complaint filed by the parents of one of the victims. AFP The parents who noticed bloodstains on their daughter's uniform quizzed her upon which she revealed the crime. After the crime came to light angry villagers ransacked the school and assaulted the teacher identified as Sama Sharath Kumar. Upon questioning the police said Kumar admitted to committing more such heinous acts. Kumar, who hails from Nagarkunrool district, has been teaching at Swami Vivekananda School in Yedhutla village for the last three years and in the same time period has assaulted 11 girls, aged nine and 10 years old. According to the police Kumar used to give specials classes for students before and after the school hours, where he also sexually abused his students. Some villager also claimed that there are more girls who have been abused, but are reluctant to come forward. Kumar has been booked under Section 376 (punishment for rape), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with the intent to outrage her modesty) and under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Under the amended POCSO Act aggravated sexual assault on minors is a crime punishable by the death penalty. AFP The crime comes to light a few months after the shocking gang-rape and murder of a 26-year-old veterinary doctor in Hyderabad in November. The victim who was returning home at night was abducted, raped, murdered and her body was set on fire by four men. Her charred body was recovered from an isolated spot the next morning. Based on CCTV evidence, the police had arrested the four accused in the case. However, just days later all the four accused, were killed by the police in an encounter after they tried to flee from custody when they were taken to the crime scene for interrogation. The encounter was hailed by many as instant justice who also felt that all rapists should be dealt the same way. REUTERS While others felt that the encounter was a cover-up by the police who had initially come under heavy criticism after the family of the victim said that the cops did not act for hours after they filed a missing complaint. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 48-hour ban on Malayalam TV channels Asianet News and Media One was lifted by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, hours after coming into force. The ban on Asianet News was lifted at around 1.30 am while Media One resumed broadcasting around 9:30 am. It was on Friday night that the Ministry prohibited the transmission or re-transmission of the two channels for 48 hours on any platform throughout the country for 'being critical towards Delhi Police and RSS'. The action came into effect from Friday 7.30 pm and was supposed to be in effect till 7.30 pm on Sunday, March 8. READ HERE | Malayalam TV channels Asianet News, Media One blocked for 48 hours over coverage of Delhi riots According to the ministry, the action was taken for violating the provisions of the Cable Television Networks Rules which prohibits "airing attacks on religions or communities, promoting communal attitudes" and "inciting violence, against law and order maintenance and promoting anti-national attitudes", the order said. Among the reasons cited by the Information and Broadcasting ministry in banning Media One was the "reporting on Delhi violence seems to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters. It also questions RSS and alleges Delhi Police inaction. Channel seems to be critical towards Delhi Police and RSS." Media One Editor-in-Chief CL Thomas had pointed out that such an undemocratic action has never occurred even during Emergency. Such a ban has never happened in the history of the country, he said. The ministry had on February 25 issued a warning to channels against airing contents that incite violence or promote anti-national attitudes. On February 28, show cause notices were served on the channels. The channels later submitted their explanations. The ministry's final notice to Asianet News, issued on Friday, said: "While reporting such critical incident, the channel should have taken utmost care and should have reported it in a balanced way. Such reporting could enhance the communal disharmony across the country when the situation is highly volatile." The notice to Media One said: "Such reporting could enhance the communal disharmony across the country when the situation is highly volatile. The Ministry has time and again issued advisories to all News Channels to comply by the provisions of the rules. Due care and responsibility is expected while reporting news based on such incidents." CPI condemns ban CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran has termed the ban as an attack on media freedom. This is a continuation of the various steps taken by the Modi government against media freedom, he said in a statement issued here. March 7, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on the start of the Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 trial in the Netherlands: Canada welcomes the start of the criminal trial of four suspects charged with the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on July 17, 2014. This is an important milestone in the pursuit of truth, justice and accountability for the 298 victims of this horrific act, which included one Canadian, as well as for their families and loved ones. Canada expresses full confidence in the independence and professionalism of the international investigation and the Dutch legal system. We continue to call on all states, including Russia, to cooperate fully with the Joint Investigation Teams [JITs] ongoing criminal investigation, consistent with the call for accountability and cooperation unanimously adopted in UN Security Council Resolution 2166. Canada again commends the JIT for its tireless work in pursuit of accountability for these crimes. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Saturday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in a letter addressed to the people of the state. "I could not have imagined the greed for power will take BJP leaders to such moral decay, Nath said. "I could not have imagined the greed for power will take BJP leaders to such moral decay that they will start bargaining about the democratic decision of the people of the state," he wrote. The letter was put up by the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee on its Twitter handle. The Chief Minister termed the "unbecoming conduct" by the BJP leader an attempt to blemish the proud history of the state. "I am shocked, from where does the BJP get inspiration for such misconduct," the Chief Minister asked. "Today, the BJP leaders have not just attempted to destabilise the state government, they directly attacked the development of the state, he said. [{b1afcfd6-565d-41b2-a71b-f1a44e495395:intradmin/MP_CM.jpg}] The Chief Minister's comments come in the wake of poaching allegations in Madhya Pradesh Congress. Nath gave a reassurance that all his MLAs were with him. "I am confident that all my MLAs are strongly with the government and are committed to the development of the state," said the Chief Minister. "I want to make it clear to BJP leaders that in my over forty years of public life, I never gave any place to hate and negativity. Remember, when I was a Union Minister, and there was a BJP government in the state, I contributed to the development of the state. I never thought that there is a BJP government in the state and I should destabilise it," he said. Hitting out at the BJP, the Chief Minister said: "I request the BJP leaders to not show such hunger for power that people lose faith in democracy." On March 4, the Chief Minister had accused the BJP government of attempting to destabilise the Congress government in the state with the help of Mafias. "BJP with the help of mafias has been unsuccessfully trying to destabilize the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh," Kamal Nath had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A military helicopter lowered test kits onto the 951-foot (290-meter) Grand Princess by rope Thursday as the vessel lay at anchor off the coast of San Francisco. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Friday that the Princess Cruises' Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of California will dock this weekend in a "non-commercial port," and that all passengers and crew will be tested for the coronavirus. Speaking at the White House on Friday evening, Pence said that 46 people aboard the ship had been swabbed. Of those, 21 tested positive for the virus, he said, 24 were negative and one of the tests was inconclusive. Pence said that of the 21 who tested positive, 19 were crew members and two were passengers, as reported by USA Today. Read alsoNumber of deaths from novel coronavirus rises to 3,491 "It's very likely that the crew was exposed on two different outings," Pence said. "And we know the coronavirus manifested among the previous passengers." The vice president said that crew members would likely be quarantined on the ship. "We will be testing everyone on the ship," Pence said. More than 3,500 people were waiting for news of the test results as more cases connected to the ship came to light. In addition to a 71-year-old man who died from coronavirus after sailing on the ship's previous voyage, The Associated Press reports health authorities disclosed that at least nine other people who were on the same excursion were also found to be infected. And some passengers from that trip stayed aboard for the current voyage. It is reported a military helicopter lowered test kits onto the 951-foot (290-meter) Grand Princess by rope Thursday as the vessel lay at anchor off the coast of San Francisco. At the same time, Director of the Consular Service Department of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Pohoreltsev has said 49 Ukrainians are among passengers on board the Grand Princess cruise ship. The Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco is checking whether there are Ukrainian citizens among those infected with the novel coronavirus. I have just returned from two weeks in the United States, my visit coinciding with the primaries being held to choose the Democratic candidate for the next presidential election. Conversations with American friends were entirely about this topic, contrasting the relative merits of the candidates. In the evenings, in my hotel room, I watched television debates and town halls where candidates made the case for themselves directly. I was impressed by Bernie Sanders earnestness, Elizabeth Warrens intelligence, and Peter Buttigiegs charm, while Joe Bidens track record was not to be scorned either. While I was away, the topic of who might be the next president of Indias main Opposition party was being discussed at home. Some senior Congress Members of Parliament (MPs) had called for an election to decide the issue. Their voices were amplified by younger Congressmen in signed articles in the newspapers, who likewise thought that choosing a fresh face to lead it was the best way for Indias oldest party to renew itself. These calls from within the Congress for electing a new president presumed a one-off event, with individual candidates putting themselves forward, and the 1,200-odd members of the All India Congress Committee voting. However, the example of the Democratic Party in the United States offers another and (as it were) more democratic alternative. Why cant the Congress consider holding a series of televised public debates and town halls, where the candidates present their views and showcase their potential for leadership, before conducting a formal election restricted to party members? Before I say more about what such a process could look like, let me state two important truths about Indian politics today. First, general elections in India are increasingly presidential, and the person who so lamentably failed to take on Narendra Modi in 2014 and 2019 cannot hope to succeed in 2024. This, in itself, should rule out Rahul Gandhi resuming the Congress presidency, or his sister taking the job instead. For young Indians in particular detest family entitlement and privilege. I recently met with some 80 college students in Delhi, almost all of whom were opposed to the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP)s majoritarian politics. When I asked who among them thought Rahul Gandhi could effectively take on Narendra Modi, not one hand went up in assent. The second truth is that despite its decline in recent years, the Congress remains the only party apart from the BJP with a footprint across India. On the choice of its next president critically rests the hopes of the Opposition denying Modi and the BJP a third term in office. That is why it should choose its new leader on the basis of the widest possible consultation and the most transparently open process. The Democratic primary offers an excellent model to emulate, at least in its basic format, if not in every detail. Who are the individuals who should or might put themselves forward for election as Congress president? A student from Odisha recently wrote to me suggesting the names of Captain Amarinder Singh and Shashi Tharoor. The first is an experienced administrator and former Army veteran; the second is formidably intelligent and articulate. A third possibility might be Bhupesh Baghel, currently chief minister (CM) of Chhattisgarh. His first year as CM suggests that he might relish the challenge of a larger responsibility. A fourth candidate could be Sachin Pilot, who played a vital role in helping the Congress win the assembly elections in Rajasthan, and who has been an MP and Union minister as well. A fifth could be Siddaramaiah of Karnataka, an entirely self-made politician with a strong connect to the rural masses, and vast administrative experience. The five people listed above are all members of the Congress. However, the process suggested here would be made more meaningful if it were open to former members as well. I think, in particular, of Mamata Banerjee, who cut her teeth and made her name in the Congress, and left only because the old men of the party gave her no space to grow. If she could join the debate, and make the case for why she should take over the presidency of a once-again united party, it would make the debate more credible as well as more colourful. In fact, there is no reason why (following the model of the American Democrats) such a primary should not be open to those who have never been members of the Congress. Were (for example) a successful entrepreneur and a charismatic social activist to also throw their hats into the ring, the contest would become even more interesting. Rather than choose their new president behind closed doors, the Congress should consider following the model suggested here. It should organise a series of debates between candidates in different cities, conducted in Hindi and in English, and moderated by a television anchor who commands respect, such as Ravish Kumar. The candidates would at the same time be free to state their case in one-on-one interviews to the press, in speeches on the stump, and in individual manifestos. Such a process would take several months. Were it to begin soon, it could be concluded by the end of the year, three-and-a-half years before the next general elections. The winning candidate would have earned his or her victory in an open and transparent manner, giving him or her the necessary authority to lead the party. Perhaps the new presidents first priority would be to bring breakaway units such as the Trinamool Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party, and the YSR Congress back into the main party. The second priority would be to establish close and cordial relations with regional parties with whom it would wish to form alliances. Once these are in place, the Congress could concentrate on raising funds and building organisational capacity to fight the general elections. Its been fun writing this column, indulging in this thought experiment about how a once great, now moribund, party can begin to renew and reform itself. However, while the column may be read, I somehow doubt its recommendations will be acted upon. Ramachandra Guha is the author of Gandhi: The Years That Changed The World The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Picking the right printer is an important decision, whether you are a large business or an everyday user. There are various variables to consider including which features and printing technologies best suit your needs. To find out more, MyBroadband spoke to Timothy Thomas, national sales manager at Epson South Africa, about what customers should consider when purchasing a printer. Business printing Thomas said that for businesses, the first step in the printer purchasing process should be to look at the nature of your business to ensure the printer meets your demands. For offices with more than a handful of employees needing open access to the printer, it is crucial to find network-equipped models that allow multiple users to connect at the same time, said Thomas. Determine what each users requirements will be before you choose your printer. Thomas added that your average printing volume should factor into your decision. High-volume printing inevitably means more ink replacements and higher printing costs over time, he explained. He said that while laser printers may appear to be the obvious solution to this, businesses that require high-quality printing require a more advanced printer capable of high-resolution prints. Its important to ensure that the printer you choose doesnt compromise on quality for the sake of printing large volumes. Thomas said that your business should calculate the long-term costs that it will incur over the lifetime of each printer you are considering. Make your purchase decision on the long-term cost, rather than making an impulse purchase that you may later regret, he said. Other important considerations include printing speeds, first page out speeds, and the warranty offered. Home printing Thomas said that the primary consideration for most home users is the number of pages they plan on printing per month. The average monthly printing volume usually sets the tone for the discussion and this will drive the cost per page point, said Thomas. From there, customers will have a choice between ink cartridge and ink tank printers. Buyers should not simply look at the initial price of the printer, though, as the running costs can mean that a cheap printer can cost you more in the long term. We know that Epsons latest Generation EcoTank printers cut printing costs by up to 90%, making them a useful and affordable solution for students or families on a tight budget, said Thomas. Another consideration that potential buyers should consider is whether the printer supports Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi direct, as these technologies are popular among consumers. Printing industry trends Thomas went on to identify two current trends in the South African printing market. Firstly, he noted that consumers tend to favour laser printers over inkjet printers. However, he said, this is because of misconceptions regarding the cost and productivity of these printer types. Businesses are becoming more aware of the long-term value of inkjet printing over laser and are increasingly making the switch to modern inkjet models in the office, said Thomas. Secondly, said Thomas, ink tank technology is being adopted at a rapid rate. Thomas cited a GFK study which claimed the Continuous Ink Supply System (CISS) and Ink Tank Solutions (ITS) segment grew by 166% in volume and 162% in value over the 2017/18 financial period. In South Africa, Thomas said the market has grown from monthly sales of less than 1,000 units to over 5,000 units in just 18 months. The ink tank industry continues to exceed expectations as the shackles of high-cost printing are being lifted and more users start to realise the benefits of switching over to a greener and more cost-efficient way to print, said Thomas. Toronto Police say they have made arrests in the case of three robberies at pharmacies in Etobicoke and one at Yorkdale mall on Friday afternoon. Police say the first robbery happened at a pharmacy at West Mall Bloor Plaza, near Bloor Street West and The West Mall. Police allege that four teenaged boys entered a pharmacy all carrying handguns. After robbing the store and assaulting a woman in her 70s during the scuffle, the suspects fled in a grey truck, police say. The second robbery occurred, at a plaza near Rexdale and Humberwood boulevards some time later, according to police. Police say a group of young males entered a pharmacy all wearing masks and hoods and carrying weapons. An employee was assaulted. Drugs and money were apparently stolen. The third robbery, took place at Elmhurst Plaza, located near Elmhurst Drive and Islington Avenue, police say. The suspects allegedly assaulted an employee and ran way with drugs and cash. Another robbery took place in at Yorkdale mall. This was unrelated to the pharmacy robberies. Police say five teenagers entered the mall wearing masks with their hoods up. Police arrested a boy as the rest were seen fleeing through the parking lot. The other four were later apprehended. A hammer was also seized during the arrest. Yorkdale mall was placed under hold and secure as a result of the robbery but it has since been lifted. Police reiterated that the pharmacy robberies are not related to the mall robbery. Even as two positive coronavirus cases were detected in Amritsar, the footfall at the Golden Temple remained unaffected. Moreover, incessant rain from the last two days also failed to deter arrival of devotees and visitors. Beside huge number of devotees from different parts of the country, foreign tourists were also seen thronging the Golden Temple. Golden Temple head manager Jaswinder Singh Deenpur said daily average of footfall is 1 lakh devotees and it was even more on Saturday. He said the number is increasing due to Holi ahead. Similarly, pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib via Kartarpur Corridor also saw no dip in devotees visiting the last resting place of Guru Nanak in Pakistan. As per the data shared by an official posted at the corridor passenger terminal, as many as 580 pilgrims took the corridor on weekend. He said this is normal footfall on the weekend. On Wednesday 314 pilgrims took the corridor, 437 devotees used the corridor on Thursday while 360 pilgrims were recorded on Friday. Notably at the Golden Temple, very few visitors were seen wearing masks. Some visitors, primarily from other states, sought masks and sanitisers from the persons doing sewa at Joda ghar (shoe stores) of the shrine. However, neither the state health department nor the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has made arrangements to provide masks to the devotees. The department has set up flu corners outside the shrine to create awareness about the virus. Special attention is being made for sanitation arrangements in the gurdwara and the SGPC is also cooperating with the health department to address any exigencies. An isolation ward and ICU have also been established in the SGPC-run Sri Guru Ram Das Hospital here, said Roop Singh, SGPC chief secretary, adding, The sangat is paying obeisance with same zeal and there was no impact of Covid-19. First nagar kirtan crosses over to Pak through corridor In a first since opening of Kartarpur Corridor, a grand nagar kirtan dedicated to the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak crossed over to Pakistan through the corridor on Saturday. It culminated at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur. The procession that was organised by a Sri Mukatsar Sahib-based religious body Nirol Sewa Sansthastarted from Sultanpur Lodhi (Kapurthala) on Saturday. Led by Panj Pyaras (five beloved ones of the Guru), the nagar kirtan reached Dera Baba Nanak on Friday evening. After a night stay, it left for Kartarpur gurdwara. Apart from hundreds of devotees, saroop of Guru Granth Sahib, Panj Pyaras and five nishan sahib (Sikh flags) crossed over to Pakistan after permission from authorities of India and Pakistan, said Jagdeep Singh Sidhu, one of volunteers of the organisation. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) also sent a special bus to receive saroop of Guru Granth Sahib. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chokniti Khongchum / shutterstock Tropical forests matter to each and every one of us. They suck colossal quantities of carbon out of the atmosphere, providing a crucial brake on the rate of climate change. Yet, new research we have just published in Nature shows that intact tropical forests are removing far less carbon dioxide than they used to. The change is staggering. Across the 1990s intact tropical forests those unaffected by logging or fires removed roughly 46 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This diminished to an estimated 25 billion tonnes in the 2010s. The lost sink capacity is 21 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to a decade of fossil fuel emissions from the UK, Germany, France and Canada combined. How did we reach such an alarming conclusion, and how is it that nobody knew this before? The answer is that we along with 181 other scientists from 36 countries have spent years tracking individual trees deep in the worlds rainforests. The idea is simple enough: we go and identify the tree species and measure the diameter and height of every individual tree in an area of forest. Then a few years later we return to exactly the same forest and re-measure all the trees again. We can see which grew, which died and if any new trees have grown. These measurements allow us to calculate how much carbon is stored in a forest, and how it changes over time. By repeating the measurements enough times and in enough places, we can reveal long-term trends in carbon uptake. This is easier said than done. Tracking trees in tropical forests is challenging, particularly in equatorial Africa, home to the second largest expanse of tropical forest in the world. As we want to monitor forests that are not logged or affected by fire, we need to travel down the last road, to the last village, and last path, before we even start our measurements. First we need partnerships with local experts who know the trees and often have older measurements that we can build upon. Then we need permits from governments, plus agreements with local villagers to enter their forests, and their help as guides. Measuring trees, even in the most remote location, is a team task. Story continues The work can be arduous. We have spent a week in a dugout canoe to reach the plots in Salonga National Park in central Democratic Republic of the Congo, carried everything for a month-long expedition through swamps to reach plots in Nouabale Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo, and ventured into Liberias last forests once the civil war ended. Weve dodged elephants, gorillas and large snakes, caught scary tropical diseases like Congo red fever and narrowly missed an Ebola outbreak. Days start early to make the most of a day in the field. Up at first light, out of your tent, get the coffee on the open fire. Then after a walk to the plot, we use aluminium nails that dont hurt the trees to label them with unique numbers, paint to mark exactly where we measure a tree so we can find it next time, and a portable ladder to get above the buttresses of the big trees. Plus a tape measure to get the tree diameters and a laser to zap tree heights. After sometimes a week of travel, it takes four to five days for a team of five people to measure all 400 to 600 trees above 10 cm diameter in the average hectare of forest (100 metres x 100 metres). For our study, this was done for 565 different patches of forest grouped in two large research networks of forest observations, the African Tropical Rainforest Observatory Network and the Amazon Rainforest Inventory Network. This work means months away. For many years, each of us has spent several months a year in the field writing down diameter measurements on special waterproof water. In total we tracked more than 300,000 trees and made more than 1 million diameter measurements in 17 countries. Managing the data is a major task. It all goes into a website we designed at the University of Leeds, ForestPlots.net, which allows standardisation, whether the measurements come from Cameroon or Colombia. Many months of detailed analysis and checking of the data followed, as did time for a careful write-up our findings. We needed to focus on the detail of individual trees and plots, while not losing sight of the big picture. Its a hard balancing act. The final part of our analysis looked to the future. We used a statistical model and estimates of future environmental change to estimate that by 2030 the African forests capacity to remove carbon will decrease by 14%, while Amazonian forests may stop removing carbon dioxide altogether by 2035. Scientists have long feared that one of Earths large carbon sinks would switch to become a source. This process has, unfortunately, begun. The declining carbon sink results provide pretty grim news and not what we would like to report. But as scientists, we have a job is to follow the data wherever it takes us. That can be far into the rainforests of Congo, or onto the TV to tell people about our work. Its the least we can do in the climate emergency we are currently living though. We will all need to play a role in solving this crisis. Click here to subscribe to our climate action newsletter. Climate change is inevitable. Our response to it isnt. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Conversation Simon Lewis has received funding from Natural Environment Research Council, the Royal Society, the European Union, the Leverhulme Trust, the Centre for International Forestry, National Parks Agency of Gabon, Microsoft Research, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Greenpeace Fund, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Aida Cuni Sanchez and Wannes Hubau do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The 23-year-old British backpacker who was presumed missing when she failed to make contact with her family for over a week, has been found. Lydia OSulliva, a 23-year-old woman is from Whitehaven in the United Kingdom had been missing for more than a week, after she arrived in Fiji. Police in both Fiji and the UK made efforts to look for Ms OSullivan. However, Ms OSullivans sister has confirmed she has been found safe and well and she thanked those on social media who helped find her. Ms OSullivan was found at an eco retreat in the Fijian mountains. My mother has just spoken to her and she is safe and well oblivious to the world search party looking for her, Franciene Nicholson wrote on Facebook. We would like to thank the police forces in Fiji and England for there hard work and dedication to find Lydia. But mostly we would like as a family to thank our amazing friends and everyone that has sent well wishes and offers for help. Lydia O'Sullivan from the United Kingdom has been missing since February 26, according to her sister. Source: Cumbria Police Previously, Ms Nicholson appealed to social media users, asking their help to locate Ms OSullivan. My sister Lydia has not been in touch with home for 7 days now which is out of character, her sister wrote on Facebook, who said Ms OSullivan usually makes daily contact with her family back in the United Kingdom. Ms OSullivans sister asked for people to share the post on social media and said the last contact she had with her was on February 26 (local time), when she landed in Fiji. Ms Nicholson said social media sometimes gets portrayed in a negative light, but after the platform helped locate her sister, she said it was a great day for the power of Facebook. Cumbria Police in the UK, also appealed for information, however their release states Ms OSullivan last made contact on February 28. The police said Ms OSullivan has been travelling around the world and working for the past two years. Recently, she had been residing and working in New Zealand, and it is believed she travelled from Aukland to Fiji. Story continues Lydia is described as around 5ft tall with blue eyes, long brown hair and a petite build, Cumbria Police said in a statement. The 23-year-old reportedly travelled from New Zealand to the Fiji. Source: Getty Images Fiji Police force confirmed Saturday that a taskforce had been set up to look into the alleged disappearance. We have managed to confirm her last sighting in a hotel in the Western Division and that she already checked out, and as of today no missing person's report has been lodged at any Police Station around Fiji, the Fiji Police Force wrote on Facebook. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Agra, March 7 : Hailstorm accompanied by untimely heavy rain flattened wheat and mustard crops and also damaged potato crops in Agra district of Uttar Pradesh, leaving the affected farmers worried about their losses. Some of the affected farmers threatened to commit suicide if the authorities failed to promptly help them in the wake of damage to their standing crops by hailstones on Friday evening. Hundreds of villages in the area continued to remain under knee-deep water. The weather office in state capital Lucknow warned of inclement weather on Saturday as well. "For the past one week, potatoes were being dug out and packed in gunny bags. Rain halted the harvest work. Now, our fields are inundated. Potatoes yet to be harvested could rot; that is our fear," said farmer Ravi Singh living in the Barauli Ahir block. Not only the residents of rural areas, but even those living in the city were affected by the downpour. A large number of city colonies were flooded, with reports of road cave-ins pouring in. Municipal Commissioner Arun Prakash and Mayor Navin Jain assured of prompt help to drain out rainwater and repair of damaged roads. Meanwhile, several teams of district officials have since been sent to assess the extent of losses suffered by farmers, a senior officer said on Saturday. District Agriculture Officer Dr Ram Pravesh Singh said the affected farmers should apply for farm insurance against their crop losses within 72 hours. BJP's Lok Sabha member from Fatehpur Sikri, Rajkumar Chahar, has asked the District Magistrate to halt revenue collection from farmers and instead gear up the process to provide prompt relief to those affected by rain. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The federal government is committing an additional $20 million in funding for research into the COVID-19 outbreak after previously pledging nearly $7 million in February; several B.C.-based researchers are among those receiving grants. Researchers from the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, the University of the Fraser Valley, and Royal Roads University had projects selected to receive the two-year grants, which can amount to $1 million for medical countermeasures, and $500,000 for social and policy countermeasures. "I think this whole collection of researchers makes for a vibrant community and a lot of knowledge sharing," said Dr. Srinivas Murthy, a UBC associate professor in pediatrics, who is leading a project in search of a treatment. Murthy is organizing randomized clinical trials in Canada for patients infected with COVID-19 to see which medication works best to combat the disease. Ben Nelms/CBC "The first drug we're testing is a medication that we use for HIV, which is the virus that causes AIDS so it's a medication that we've had for 20 years now and it's been proven very safe, and a bunch of people have thought that it would be effective against coronavirus," said Murthy. "It works on it in a lab setting, but we don't know if it works in a real life patient setting, and so what we're hoping to do is run a study to see if it does work in that real life setting." Murthy says regulatory approvals for their clinical trials are happening right now, and they hope to operate in 30 to 40 hospitals across Canada. Social scientists examine other aspects But it's not just laboratory doctors who will receive federal funding in the global response against COVID-19. Social scientists and researchers will be looking at completely different aspects of the outbreak. Cindy Jardine, a Canada Research Chair in health and community at University of the Fraser Valley, and Yue Quian, an associate professor of sociology at UBC are two researchers who received funding for their projects. Story continues Quian's project will look at how people and communities react to and cope mentally with quarantine by studying a group of people affected by the quarantine in the city of Wuhan, China, which has effectively been shut down since Jan. 23. The shutdown of the city which has a population of 11 million and is considered the epicentre of COVID-19 is thought to be the largest quarantine in human history. The research has a personal resonance for Quian. She was born and raised in Wuhan, and her father is living alone in the city under quarantine. "I try to contact him very regularly to provide some virtual company to him," she said. "[But] the people in Wuhan now ... they seem to have developed some daily routine to cope with these quarantine lifestyle." Jardine's project will look at the role of travel in the transmission of COVID-19, specifically people travelling back to their countries of origin, and potentially what kind of communication is necessary to adequately confer risk. "We're focusing on how people ... decide to act on information and that's very much determined by the cultural lens in which they view information and decide what's important to them or not," Jardine said. Quian says projects like these provide important context to the headlines. "A lot of times when we think about these contagious disease epidemics, we think about how many people died, how many new confirmed cases we have, but as the WHO has pointed out, we need to remember those are people not numbers," she said. OnePlus released the Android 10 update for the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro last October, and the company said that the 5G version of the Pro variant will get the latest Android release in Q1 2020. Well, keeping its promise, OnePlus has released OxygenOS 10.0.4 for the 7 Pro 5G, which upgrades the phone to Android 10. OnePlus 7 Pro The update brings in the usual bunch of Android 10 goodies, along with new UI and enhanced location permissions for privacy. You can check out the complete changelog below for more details: System Upgraded to Android 10 Brand new UI design Enhanced location permissions for privacy New customization feature in Settings allowing you to choose icon shapes to be displayed in the Quick Settings Full Screen Gestures Added inward swipes from the left or right edge of the screen to go back Added a bottom navigation bar to allow switching left or right for recent apps Game Space New Game Space feature now joins all your favorite games in one place for easier access and better gaming experience Contextual Info Intelligent info based on specific times, locations and events for Ambient Display (Settings - Display - Ambient Display - Contextual info) Message Now possible to block spam by keywords for Message (Messages - Spam - Settings - Blocking settings) OnePlus is seeding the update in a staged manner, meaning only a limited number of users will receive it initially, and a broader rollout will commence in a few days if no bugs are found. It's unclear which region is getting this update, but seeing how OnePlus mentioned Europe for Q1 2020 release of Android 10, it's likely the new build is currently only seeding in the Old Continent. Source BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. - Authorities are awaiting autopsy results after remains of a missing 15-month-old girl were believed to be found in Tennessee. At a press conference Friday night, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office said they believed they found the remains of Evelyn Mae Boswell earlier that evening. The discovery appears to end a 17-day search across three states for the missing toddler. An Amber Alert was issued more than two weeks ago, but authorities have said she hadnt been seen since at least December. The remains are being sent for autopsy and positive identification, Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said. Authorities acting on a tip found the remains on a property in Blountville that is owned by a relative of Evelyns mother, the sheriff said. The TBI and the sheriffs office did not provide updates on the investigation when contacted by email Saturday. Evelyns mother, Megan Boswell, 18, was arrested Feb. 25 on a charge of filing a false report. Authorities said her inaccurate and conflicting statements had impeded the investigation. She initially told state investigators that Evelyn was with the childs father, Ethan Perry, according to court documents from her arraignment. But Perry is stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and did not have Evelyn, WJHL-TV reported. Megan Boswell later said her mother, Angela Boswell, took her daughter to a campground in Mendota, Virginia, not far from Tennessees Sullivan County. Authorities searched multiple campgrounds in that area and found no sign of the girl, the TV station said. Angela Boswell herself was arrested the week before her daughter was taken into custody. She and her boyfriend, William McCloud, were arrested in North Carolina on fugitive warrants unrelated to Evelyns case, authorities had said. Authorities looking for Evelyn searched a pond in the county where they were arrested. Angela Boswell told a judge in North Carolina that she wanted to go home and resolve the situation with her granddaughter, news outlets reported at the time. She was subsequently returned to the Sullivan County jail a day before her daughter joined her there, and arraigned on a theft charge. Bail for Megan Boswell remains at $25,000 after a judge rejected a request to lower it from her lawyer, who cited her lack of a previous criminal record. The lawyer waived a preliminary hearing and the case was sent to a grand jury, with her next appearance scheduled for early May. Investigators with the TBI believed Evelyns mother and grandmother had information about her whereabouts. The Amber Alert issued for Evelyn said she was last seen Dec. 26, but authorities said they werent sure of the date because of the mothers and grandmothers conflicting accounts. Authorities stressed that the investigation was ongoing and there was limited information to provide Friday. The identity of the property owner wasnt revealed, and authorities didnt indicate whether there have been any additional arrests or charges. The districts attorney general, Barry Staubus, said authorities would evaluate the case once the investigation was complete. Based on whats happened tonight, theres a lot of work to be done: forensically and just old-fashioned investigative work, Staubus said. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) on Friday shot off a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Human Resource Development demanding an inquiry into the drastic reduction in positions reserved for SCs and STs in JNU. The teachers association has also demanded action against the university administration and the Vice Chancellor for the grave default. In the letter, the JNUTA has claimed that there should have been at least 85 unfilled positions reserved for SCs and STs, but in fresh advertisements that JNU administration has taken out, there are 33 posts less that have been marked reserved for SCs and STs. The number of positions reserved for SCs and STs should have been in excess of the 85 unfilled positions carried over from the past. However, an examination of two advertisements shows that the total number of positions reserved for SCs and STs as 24 in the Professors cadre and 33 in the Associate Professors cadre - or 57 in all, JNUTA said. Of these, five positions are in the new schools which did not exist in 2017, the teachers body further added. Speaking to IANS the secretary of JNUTA, Surajit Mazumdar said, There are at least 33 position less than what were earlier reserved for the SCs and STs. I wont comment on the motive behind this, but an inquiry is a must in the matter. JNU administration is yet to issue any response on the allegations. Gunmen have kidnapped Madam Appolonia Amaechi, the mother of Ikechukwu Amaechi. Amaechi is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of ... Gunmen have kidnapped Madam Appolonia Amaechi, the mother of Ikechukwu Amaechi. Amaechi is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of TheNiche Newspapers. The kidnappers have demanded N20million as ransom for the 79-year-old grandmother. Madam Appolonia, a retired teacher, was abducted on Tuesday, March 3. She was forcefully taken from her home at Ahiazu in Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State around 8:30 pm. Her son, Ikechukwu, narrated the incident on Friday night. It is true. My younger sister called and was crying. I asked what the issue was, and she said that they kidnapped my mother in the village, Amaechi explained in a down tone. That my mother had just finished dinner and was in the living room watching television when three men with guns and faces covered came in and went straight after her. That she was crying and shouting, and they bundled her into a car they drove into my compound and left. Asked who was at home during the attack, the journalist replied: My younger brothers wife, my young cousin in SS3, among those to sit for WAEC this year. You know the way village setting is, so my cousin, a school principal was around. The publisher confirmed that the abductors have made contact. He recalled that they called him through his sister-in-laws phone which they took when they stormed the residence. It was the phone they used in calling me the following day that they wanted to talk to me. I said okay. They confirmed that they were kidnappers and have my mother. They said I should talk to her. I spoke to my mother and asked where she was. She said that they were inside the bush and that the Tuesday night rain fell on her. She said at a stage, they gave her umbrella as a shade. I asked if she had eaten anything, she said that they gave her N100 cracker biscuit. So, they took the phone and told me that if I want to see my mother, I should bring N20million. Weve been talking since then and I have informed the security people. That is where we are. The kidnappers are insisting on the requested amount even as their location remains unknown. Madam Amaechi is said to be diabetic and has been in captivity without her drugs. By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: A ministerial delegation from Africa visited Odisha to study implementation of best practices of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the State for good governance. The delegation comprising Ministers of Innovation and Technology, Urban Development and Construction, Agriculture and Mines and Petroleum from Ethiopia and Sudan made field visits to different parts of the State to understand the automation of mineral management and dispatch, cereals procurement and smart city operations. Members of the delegation, were inspired by Odishas vision to use technology to transform lives and lauded the 5T initiative of the State Government. They appreciated the emphasis given by the departments in adopting digital archiving of official communication. They also hailed the feedback management system under Mo Sarkar. Their visit was facilitated by CSM Technologies, a GovTech firm serving as a technology partner for the State Government. Business Head (MEA) of CSM Subhendu Mohapatra, said the visit of the African delegation was a great opportunity for the State to share best practices and explore avenues of collaboration for mutual growth. Number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ireland rises to 13 People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:40, March 06, 2020 DUBLIN, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Seven new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Ireland on Thursday, bringing to 13 the total number of such cases in the country, according to the Irish Department of Health. The new cases include four males from the east of Ireland, who had recently traveled to northern Italy, two females from the country's west, who had contracted the virus from a confirmed case, and one male from the south of the country, who is identified as the country's first case of community transmission, meaning the origin of his infection is not known, said the department. The patient from the country's south is being treated at an intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital (CUH), said officials with the department, adding that the patient received medical treatment at CUH last week and was discharged before he was recently readmitted to the hospital and tested positive for the virus. A tracing for all the close contacts with the seven new confirmed cases as well as the previously confirmed six cases has been under way, said the department, adding that the country is now in its first containment phase in the fight against the coronavirus, which focuses on identifying all the cases no matter how mild they are. If the country fails to contain the spread of the disease effectively, it will move to the second mitigation phase which will focus on treating the most severely affected patients, said the department. Ireland reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case on Feb. 29. The case involved a boy student from a local secondary school in the east of Ireland, who had travelled to an affected area in northern Italy. To date, most of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ireland are associated with travel to northern Italy, which is the hardest hit country by the coronavirus outbreak in Europe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Why it matters: Thanks to the constant data collection practices that big tech companies employ these days, protecting your digital privacy is more complicated than ever. Though the biggest offenders in this area tend to be search and shopping giants like Google and Amazon, Microsoft has been known to use telemetry to monitor its Windows 10 users quite closely. While Microsoft isn't likely to put an end to that practice anytime soon, it is at least willing to be a bit more transparent about the process. In the latest Windows 10 Insider Build announcement, Microsoft revealed some changes it's making to the Settings app and the Group Policy editor. First of all, Microsoft is tweaking the way it labels its diagnostic data collection settings. The basic diagnostic data option, which includes information like your IP address and what type of device you're using, will now be known as "required diagnostic data." This should reduce confusion for users who don't understand why the option can't be turned off -- in Microsoft's viewpoint, it needs that basic data to "detect significant feature failures." Presumably, this data is what allows Microsoft to get on top of significant screw-ups like the infamous Windows 10 data deletion bug in a timely manner. Overall, it's not terribly intrusive, though we're certain many users would prefer to block even this level of data collection. Then there's the "full" diagnostic data option, which is disabled by default and lets Microsoft harvest information about the websites you visit and the apps and features you use (among other things). This option will now be called "Optional diagnostic data" to better reflect its intent. This change is minor, particularly for our tech-savvy readers, but less-informed users might have previously assumed that the full diagnostic data option was necessary or beneficial to them. By making this small tweak, those individuals might be more likely to stick to the basic setting without volunteering any unnecessary information. On top of these smaller changes, enterprise customers will get a few more options within the Group Policy editor. This menu will soon include "granular" settings to let workers better configure the data that gets collected from their machine, and other devices in their organization. Microsoft did not elaborate on what those settings might be, nor did it clarify whether they will come to consumer PCs down the line. Five years of solidarity, she added. We cant take it any more. We want our lives back. She and other locals had gathered around a small fire on the side of the road, forming an impromptu roadblock aimed at stopping migrants from walking through the village. On Lesbos, others have been violent. Groups of locals beat up a German photojournalist and a correspondent, and assaulted the local head of the United Nations refugee agency. Aid workers with nongovernmental organizations were run off the island, assaulted and harassed until many organizations decided to evacuate staff and volunteers worried about their safety. Similar scenes played out along Greeces 120-mile northern frontier with Turkey. Though its guarded heavily by the army, ordinary Greeks felt compelled to chip in. Some of the more violent groups seemed to have been mobilized by known far-right extremists, but it was evident that the movement against migrants enjoyed broader social support in the borderlands. Irate farmers lined up their tractors, each adorned with a small Greek flag, and declared they were ready to fight to protect the country. Travelling during the coronavirus outbreak? Here's what you need to know right now As the coronavirus continues to spread globally, there's a growing chance that it may affect your travel plans. If you're booking a trip or contemplating cancelling your current one, here's what you need to know right now. Will my insurance cover me? Many Canadians are discovering that much to their surprise their trip cancellation insurance doesn't provide coverage if they cancel their trip due to fears of the coronavirus. Generally, travellers who bought regular insurance will only get reimbursed for a coronavirus-related trip cancellation if it was booked before Ottawa issued an advisory against non-essential travel to their destination. Currently, China, Iran, Italy and parts of South Korea are on the federal government's travel advisory list because they each have high numbers of coronavirus cases. And a warning: even if your travel destination makes the list, cancellation coverage is no longer guaranteed. In a new development, at least four Canadian insurance providers Manulife, TuGo, Allianz Global Assistance and Blue Cross have stopped offering coronavirus-related cancellation coverage for new customers. WATCH | Manulife and TuGo stop covering coronavirus-related cancellation Trip cancellation insurance is supposed to compensate travellers for unexpected mishaps, and those four companies have now deemed the coronavirus a "known" event that people are well aware of when booking their trips. Travel insurance broker Martin Firestone predicts other companies will follow suit, so he advises travellers to investigate just what their insurance will cover before signing up. "We're in a very fluid situation right now," said Firestone, with Travel Secure in Toronto. For new customers who want a guarantee they'll still be covered, Orion Travel Insurance which is owned by the Canadian Automobile Association pledged on Friday that it will continue to cover coronavirus-related trip cancellations. Story continues Stopovers are included If you have the right cancellation insurance, Firestone said it will kick in even if a country where you have a layover gets added to the government's travel advisory list. "Even a stopover by a plane in one of the affected regions is good enough to trigger the cancel mechanism," he said. "Just because you were flying in for 10 minutes and landing and not even necessarily getting off the plane, that would have been enough." When the government recently advised against non-essential travel to northern Italy, Firestone said that allowed six of his clients to cancel their trip and get a full refund. All six were headed on a cruise that had just one port of call in northern Italy. "One port did it," he said. "They were relieved." WATCH | Tips on how to fly germ-free Marjolaine Savoie of Vancouver hoped the same rules would apply to her family's trip. Back in August, she booked a vacation for herself, her 11-year-old son and her 72-year-old mother to visit Vietnam during March break. As the coronavirus spread beyond China, Savoie decided to cancel her trip, concerned about her mother, who already suffers from diabetes and asthma. "I would never be able to forgive myself if we go and she gets sick." Savoie had purchased cancellation insurance and was disappointed when her provider refused to reimburse her for the $2,590 she spent on plane tickets because Vietnam isn't on Canada's travel advisory list. CBC "Why do we bother buying travel insurance?" said a frustrated Savoie. "I would have expected that they would at least reimburse me a portion of it." She pointed out that her flight had a stopover in Taiwan which, according to China, is part of that country. However, while the Canadian government has posted an advisory against non-essential travel to China, Taiwan, which is listed separately, has no travel restrictions. Added protection For travellers who want bullet-proof protection, some insurance providers offer a "cancel for any reason" option. Firestone said he's not a fan of this option because it's pricey and won't cover the full cost of a cancelled trip. "It's so outrageously expensive that it just doesn't make sense." He does recommend getting medical insurance while travelling, which Firestone said should still provide coverage if you happen to catch the coronavirus as long as you're not visiting a country that's already on Canada's travel advisory list. Another way travellers can protect themselves is to book with a travel provider that offers a flexible cancellation or change policy during the coronavirus outbreak. Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat and Sunwing each recently announced that customers who book a flight or, in some cases, a vacation package, for a specific period in March can make changes without paying a change fee. Some cruise lines are also temporarily revising their cancellation policies, which is timely considering the federal government recently advised that all Canadians avoid cruise ship travel due the the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. For a period of time, Viking Cruises is waiving cancellation fees for customers and Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line will reimburse any change fees in the form of a future cruise credit. Carnival is also offering an incentive for passengers to not cancel. According to the company, customers booked on a cruise departing before April 1 will receive up to $200 US in credit to spend on the ship as long as they don't change their cruise date. More travel providers may start loosening their cancellation policies or offering incentives to book right now, so travellers should shop around before booking a trip during these uncertain times. By Trend Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for financial contribution to the global fight against coronavirus (COVID-19), Trend reports on Mar. 7. "Thank you so much, Ambassador Vagif Sadigov, your government and the people of Azerbaijan, for your financial contribution to the global COVID-19 response. WHO is grateful for your solidarity. Together, for a safer world," Ghebreyesus tweeted. The Azerbaijani government, as a contribution to international efforts to prevent the risk of the spread of coronavirus infection in the world, has decided to provide voluntary financial assistance in the amount of $5 million to the COVID-19 Fund as part of the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP). Azerbaijan highly appreciates the efforts of WHO in the fight against the COVID-19 virus on a global scale, and takes into account and applies the WHO recommendations in connection with this disease. On March 8, 2020, a delegation of experts from the WHO are set to arrive in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan remains one of the countries, least affected by the rapidly spreading coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The country's official structures are applying necessary measures to prevent any possible exposure of coronavirus. Azerbaijan has also imported necessary medical equipment to carry out coronavirus tests. Member of the Operational Headquarters created under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers in connection with coronavirus Yagut Garayeva said on March 5 that at least 500 people have been quarantined in the country. Until now, no deaths from the disease have been recorded in the country. Azerbaijan's official structures have also set up quarantine centers in the country's districts, which would allow to react faster to the possible outbreak due to joint borders. Azerbaijan shares border with Iran, where coronavirus is currently spreading rapidly. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 00:24:47|Editor: zyl Video Player Close Ministers of Foreign Affairs from European Union Member States attend a meeting in Zagreb, Croatia, March 6, 2020. European Union (EU) foreign ministers met in the Croatian capital on Friday to discuss the crisis in northern Syria and the situation at the EU external borders with Turkey. (Josip Regovic/Pixsell/Handout via Xinhua) ZAGREB, March 6 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) foreign ministers met in the Croatian capital on Friday to discuss the crisis in northern Syria and the situation at the EU external borders with Turkey. The EU "strongly rejects Turkey's use of migratory pressure for political purposes. This situation at the EU external borders is not acceptable," EU foreign ministers said in a statement after the meeting. "The EU and its Member States remain determined to effectively protect EU's external borders," they said, expressing "full solidarity with Greece, which faces an unprecedented situation, as well as with Bulgaria, Cyprus and other Member States, which might be similarly affected." EU foreign ministers noted in the statement that migrants should not be encouraged to attempt illegal crossings by land or sea. "Illegal crossings will not be tolerated," warned the statement. "Don't go to the border, the border is not open. If someone tells you that you can freely go to Greece, Bulgaria or Cyprus, that is not true," said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell after the meeting. Syria's northern Idlib province has witnessed an escalation since last December. More than 30 Turkish soldiers were killed last month around the area, which Turkey blamed on the Syrian government. Following the latest developments in Idlib, Turkey said that it would no longer stop refugees from going to Europe, according to media reports. At least 135,000 refugees crossed to Greece, Turkish Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu said on Wednesday. Nazi officers talking with citizens of the Warsaw ghetto in Poland on 1943. (AP Photo) Ex-Nazi Living in US for Decades to Be Deported MEMPHIS, Tenn.The U.S. government said Thursday that it is deporting a 94-year-old German ex-Nazi who has been in the United States for decades. An immigration judge ordered Friedrich Karl Bergers deportation on Feb. 28 after a two-day trial in Memphis, authorities said. Its unclear when he will be removed. Berger, whos been living in Tennessee, has 30 days to appeal the ruling. The government says Berger was an armed guard at a concentration camp near Meppen, Germany, in 1945. The immigration judge found that the prisoners Berger guarded were held in atrocious conditions and were exploited for forced labor. Berger also was accused of guarding prisoners during a forced evacuation to a main camp that took two weeks and left 70 prisoners dead as they traveled in inhumane conditions, according to two government news releases. Berger acknowledged that he never requested a transfer from the concentration camp guard service and that he still gets a pension from Germany. He has been living in the United States since 1959. The U.S. Department of Justices Human Rights and Special Prosecutions unit launched an investigation into Berger in 2017. The Immigration and Customs Enforcements Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center also investigated. In August 2018, American authorities deported a 95-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard who had lived quietly in New York City for decades. The man died in Germany about five months later. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters Bernie Sanders is giving his presidential campaign a reset as he goes head-to-head for the Democratic presidential nomination with Joe Biden, amid signs that the political revolution he hoped to ignite through a surge in voter turnout of young and marginalised Americans is failing to catch fire. Related: Is Joe Biden the American Brezhnev? | Ben Judah The Sanders campaign is seeking to reboot following disappointing results on Super Tuesday, which saw Biden prevail in 10 of the 14 states holding primary elections. In the wake of the surprising setback, the US senator from Vermont is repurposing his insurgent pitch for the White House on several fronts. They include a renewed push for dominance in the midwest before a crucial primary in Michigan on Tuesday. Sanders is also discarding his aversion to negative political campaigning and sharpening his attacks on Biden, running TV attack adds over the former vice-presidents record of supporting social security cuts and free trade agreements, which could be particularly damaging in the midwestern states. In addition, the campaign is scrambling to make fresh appeals to African American and older voters, electoral groups that both came out heavily for Biden on Super Tuesday, when he swept the south and won 10 of the 14 states at stake. The Sanders team signalled that it was shifting focus to the midwest when it canceled a planned rally in Mississippi. Instead, the candidate headed to Michigan for an event on Friday night, while Biden will rally in Jackson, Mississippi, on Sunday. The shift north by Sanders for the weekend was a tacit acceptance that Biden now has a stranglehold on southern states, propelled by his popularity among black voters. It was also recognition of the high stakes of the primary in Michigan, with its rich pickings of 125 delegates out of the 1,991 needed to win the nomination. And on Friday, the Associated Press officially declared Biden the winner of Super Tuesday, denying Sanders the runaway victory many critics feared. Story continues The AP announced it has allocated more than 92% of the 1,344 delegates that were up for grabs on 3 March, and Biden has such a commanding lead that Sanders cannot catch up and snatch a Super Tuesday lead as the remaining votes from that days 14 state primaries are counted. Sanders now sees Michigan as a chance to regain his stride after the knocks of Super Tuesday, having beaten Hillary Clinton there in 2016. He hopes that his focus on policies appealing to working-class Americans, such as a federal $15 minimum wage, will play well not only in that state but across the rust belt in Illinois and Ohio, which hold their primaries on 17 March. Michigan is an enormously important state, Sanders said in a post-Super Tuesday press briefing in his home town of Burlington, Vermont. The people of Michigan were devastated by trade agreements which I vigorously opposed and Joe Biden supported. No matter how much of a bounce he enjoys in Michigan, Sanders faces threats as the race enters its next punishing phase. In particular, the Super Tuesday results exposed a fundamental failure to expand the Democratic base by bringing in millions of new voters. Sanders was in a reflective mood after the Super Tuesday result. It is not easy trying to bring in people who have not been involved in the political process, he said. Have we been as successful as I would hope in bringing young people in? The answer is no. John Della Volpe, the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy Schools institute of politics, whose researchers has been studying the youth vote since 2000, reviewed exit polls from 12 of the most competitive elections. While turnout overall was up in all of the 12 states compared with 2016, the pattern for young people aged 18 to 29 the very core of the Sanders revolutionary army told a different story. In four of the states youth turnout increased, handsomely in the cases of Iowa (36%) and Virginia (38%). But in two states youth turnout was flat, and in six states it actually declined, as much as 18% in New Hampshire and 20% in Texas. Sanders rallygoers in Phoenix on Thursday night. Photograph: Laura Segall/AFP via Getty Images By contrast, voter turnout for older voters who tend to favor Biden increased in all but one of the 12 states. In South Carolina, where Bidens campaign was rocket-launched with a landslide victory last Saturday, the projected turnout of voters aged 65 and older increased 124% the very surge that Sanders had dreamt about for younger voters yet failed to deliver. For any candidate to be the nominee of the Democratic party they have to build a broad and diverse coalition across gender, race, age and educational levels, Della Volpe told the Guardian. Its terrific that Bernie Sanders is building such a great relationship with young voters, but he needs to maximise that support and then expand beyond it, and thats not what we are seeing. Sanders partially blamed his difficulties in mobilising a wider coalition of support on his enemies in the corporate media and establishment politics. As he told Rachel Maddow on MSNBC: One of the problems we have is that people say, Bernie is an extremist. There is nothing we are fighting for which is extreme. It is what the American people want. But there is danger for Sanders here too. By doubling down on his attacks on the media and the Democratic establishment he risks reinforcing the stereotype of himself as a grievance-ridden politician promoted by that same media and Democratic establishment. That rhetoric, in my view, signals to voters that hes a factional candidate, said Mark Longabaugh, a Democratic strategist who advised Sanders in 2016 but is unaligned in 2020. He said such critiques distract from his core economic message, which remains popular with Democrats and independent voters alike. Theres Bernie Sanders on message and Bernie Sanders off message, Longabaugh said. One can win and the other is going to stay at 25%. Behind the scenes, there are indications that the Sanders camp are attempting to address the candidates weakness in the two demographic groups that have flocked to Biden older voters and African Americans. Sanders campaign co-chair, Ro Khanna, told Politico it would be emphasising healthcare issues for seniors as one way to focus in on the high-voting over 65s. With black voters, the latest Sanders advert to be broadcast in Florida raised eyebrows as it consists of a series of clips of Barack Obama praising him as a politician of great authenticity, great passion. For Sanders to look to Obama to rescue his fortunes has an air of desperation, given that Bidens overwhelming popularity among African Americans is largely due to his role as Obamas vice-president. Sometimes the safest choice is also the riskiest choice. John Kerry, Hillary Clinton and Al Gore were all safe choices Rebecca Katz But then, the figures do look desperate. Exit polls from Super Tuesday showed Biden trouncing Sanders with black voters by 41 percentage points. In Alabama that disparity rose to 63 points. Biden built his firewall with black voters in South Carolina based on the endorsement of the influential congressman Jim Clyburn. Sanders defeat there was compounded with the embarrassing disclosure that he hadnt even asked Clyburn to back him. There is hope in inroads made with Latino voters, which helped Sanders clinch California, the biggest delegate prize of any state. In the coming weeks, he will rely on that support to remain competitive in states like Arizona, New York and New Jersey. Related: 'He's working for it': why Latinos are rallying behind Sanders But he is struggling in Florida, where his comments on 60 Minutes praising Fidel Castros literacy program in Cuba has apparently hurt his standing with the states Latinos. The most recent Florida poll taken on 4 March has Biden soaring to 61% with Sanders languishing at 12%. Against such deeply worrying indicators for Sanders, progressives warn that the lessons of the past are once again being ignored. Rebecca Katz, a Democratic strategist who works with progressive candidates, dismissed the idea that Sanders is the risky option in the 2020 race. Sometimes the safest choice is also the riskiest choice, she said. Remember that John Kerry, Hillary Clinton and Al Gore were all safe choices. (@ChaudhryMAli88) TASHKENT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th March, 2020) The government of Uzbekistan will soon submit for consideration by both chambers of the parliament a proposal on the participation of Uzbekistan in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) as an observer, the government's press service told Sputnik. In June 2019, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that the country needed to analyze all challenges when deciding on accession to the EAEU. Uzbek enterprises are not adapted to EAEU requirements, he noted. In January this year, Mirziyoyev said that the issue of Uzbekistan's participation in the union should be comprehensively studied in parliament. "The government will soon submit for consideration by both houses of parliament a proposal on the participation of Uzbekistan in the EAEU as an observer," a government spokesperson said. Based on the results of the analysis, it was concluded that observer status is most preferable for Uzbekistan today, he added. The EAEU was established in 2014 by Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan to create a single market and facilitate economic relations between themselves. Ukraine does not consider a possibility of resumption of water supply to the occupied Crimea. "Ukraine does not consider a possibility of resumption of supply of the Dnieper River water to the occupied Crimea. I want all speculation, suspicion and factoids on this subject to stop," Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said on the air of the Inter TV channel, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. According to him, the negotiations with Russia are currently underway on the release of prisoners, on additional disengagement areas and on holding the Normandy format summit in late April to move towards the de-occupation and restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity. "We make every effort for this meeting to take place in late April," Kuleba stressed. ol International advocates and human rights groups said that while the monetary settlement offered to some Kampong Speu villagers by ANZ Bank last week was a welcome development, challenges remain for thousands of land disputants in light of continued government-private sector impunity. The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ Bank) last week announced it would pay Kampong Speu residents affected by rights abusing sugar plantations an undisclosed amount for a $40 million loan it gave to Phnom Penh Sugar, owned by senator and controversial tycoon Ly Yong Phat. The Australian bank will pay at least 1,000 families the gross amount it received in interest from the controversial sugar firm, admitting that the loan violated the banks own internal human rights standards. At the time, the loan was disbursed through a local subsidiary called ANZ Royal Bank, which was a partnership with another controversial Cambodian tycoon, Kith Meng. The settlement is being viewed as a landmark case of accountability in a country where the impunity enjoyed by Cambodias elites has seen little or no relief for land dispute communities. Phil Robertson, deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch, said it was encouraging to see a bank step up and reflect on the consequences of its actions, even though it was unlikely local Cambodian firms, who were at the forefront of similar rights violations, would adopt a similar approach. Additionally, Robertson said years of sustained advocacy and the concerted efforts of communities, local advocates and international groups were needed to put forth a strong case for the settlement. You know there is a lot of work that went into this campaign in order to finally get ANZ to recognize they did something wrong, Robertson said. You know its very difficult to say that a Chinese company or a Vietnamese company that seize land would do the same thing. Robertson pointed out that the nexus between the government, military and private sector was so deeply entrenched that it was unlikely they would ever admit the adverse implications of their actions. I mean these are companies where again you have military or government people from Cambodia involved and shady investment with these foreigners, taking advantage of the Cambodian people, he said. Cambodian rights group Licadho lists nearly 300 economic land concessions, covering around 2.1 million hectares, across the country that have been leased to private interests for agribusinesses, with little or no consultation with communities living on this land. Many of these ELCs have engaged in forced, often violent, land evictions and other human rights violations in cooperation with local authorities, leaving thousands of Cambodian families to deal with unending land disputes. Eighty per cent of the total population in Cambodia is rural and land grabs are often carried out without consultation or compensation, said Ali Hines, land campaigner at U.K.-based rights group Global Witness. The Kampong Speu agreement came five years after two nonprofits filed a complaint against the bank with a little-known entity within Australias treasury department, the nonjudicial Australian National Contact Point (ANCP), which assesses corporate behavior vis-a-vis guidelines set forth by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Despite the large number of land disputes in Cambodia, Hines said the decision was critical and held wider implications for the investor community, especially for the actions of companies they choose to invest in. This case is an important reminder that investors can no longer be blind to the environmental and human rights abuses carried out by the companies they invest in, she said. The Kampong Speu sugar plantations have routinely been criticized for persistent land rights violations, with even ANZ internal audits showing shortcomings in its protection of human rights and environmental obligations while funding the project, which had long been plagued with accusations of child labor and forced evictions. The European Union, which was a major export destination for Cambodian sugar, partially revoked trade privileges for Cambodia last month on account of systemic human rights violations in the country. One of the areas investigated by the EU Commission was land disputes arising from the sugar sector. In its conclusions on February 12, the commission pointed out that some progress had been made on addressing the dispute but that there were shortcomings in addressing land titling and registration, as well as addressing rights abuses against indigenous communities. As a result, the commission imposed full tariffs on sugar exports to the EU, even though sugar exports to the economic bloc have been near-zero for the last five years. Ear Sophal, associate professor of diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College in California, United States, said that despite the EUs admonition, it needed to directly target individuals and companies involved in land grabs and sanction them. The EU's targeted sanctions on land grabbers will have an impact. It must punish those who have wronged the people of Cambodia, he said. Sophal Ear, who authored a book titled Aid Dependence in Cambodia: How Foreign Assistance Undermines Democracy, said while there was little direct impact of the EUs decision to partially suspend the Everything But Arms (EBA) trade privileges, the ANZ announcement could reverberate on the ground. Indeed, it seems to me that while everyone bemoans the lack of impact on the Cambodian government in terms of EBA suspension, and how Phnom Penh has no daylight between itself and Beijing, there will be an impact on situations like sugar, land, and other abuses on the ground, he said. VOA Khmer attempted to reach Senator Ly Yong Phat and Phnom Penh Sugar multiple times last week but received no response. A 33-year-old former soldier who pleaded guilty to assaulting a man causing him harm has been given time to get more compensation for his victim. Paul Gannon, 1 Assumption Place, Castletown Road, came to Dundalk court last week with 150, a sum described by the judge as an 'absolute insult'. Judge McKiernan heard he struck the other man four or five times in the face with a closed fist. A solicitor for the accused said his client, a trained personal trainer, is unemployed and 'he perceives a difficulty were he to work'. The judge remarked Gannon should be working two jobs to offer reasonable compensation. Evidence was presented that at 1.30am on 2 July, 2018, a man was sitting on a wall outside a licensed premises in Park Street. The defendant came over, there was an altercation and he struck the injured party four or five times in the face with a closed fist. There are no previous convictions for assault. The victim testified that he has lacerations on the inside of his nose that will never heal. He is sometimes afraid to be on his own, and has to be with friends. Solicitor Conor MacGuill said his client couldn't explain why he did this. He apologises for it. He was on a day out and had 'way too much to drink'. Gannon had 150 in court. The judge said that was an absolute insult, noting this happened in July, 2018. Mr MacGuill replied he was not putting up 150 as anything near adequate. Gannon is in a relationship, has two children and another is expected. He doesn't work outside the home. He perceives a difficulty in leaving his home for any length of time, the solicitor continued. 'The injuries could have been an awful lot worse. I'm considering a custodial sentence. This was an unprovoked assault,' said Judge McKiernan. Mr MacGuill asked the court not to finalise the matter, adding he thought his client should be working outside the home. The judge said Gannon should be working two jobs in order to offer reasonable compensation. 'The facts speak for themselves - a closed fist four or five times in the face.' Mr MacGuiill said the accused is a trained personal trainer with a history in the Army, who perceives a difficulty were he to work. The solicitor submitted that any anxiety could be resolved with him linking with the appropriate agencies. 'He's had long enough to deal with it,' said Judge McKiernan, and when Mr MacGuill asked for a probation report, she asked what was that going to tell her that she didn't know today? Replying to the judge from the body of the court, Paul Gannon said he was sorry for what happened. He plays darts on Thursdays in The Bodhran pub and doesn't drink. He wouldn't like if his own son had to come home like the victim did to his parents on the night, before adding the injured party was in The Bodhran playing darts two weeks ago. 'I'm glad', remarked the judge. 'It proves he's resilient. 'You're a big, strong guy. He's smaller than you.' Mr MacGuill suggested a sum of 1,000 compensation. The judge said Gannon would have to come up with 2,500 as a token to avoid a custodial sentence. She asked the defendant would a report benefit him, and he said it would. He said he was sorry for the assault. The case was adjourned to 1 July next for compensation and a probation report. Legal aid was granted. HARTFORD A handful of legislators, including several women, voted against a bill that would provide access to free feminine hygiene products in all middle and high school bathrooms, calling the move an unfunded mandate and raising concerns about the cost of the provision. I spoke to my superintendents and they said students all have access in the nurses office whenever they need to get them, said state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditrea, R-Seymour, prior to to voting against the bill. He also did a study and said for every 1,000 students needing these products, the cost would be approximately $45,000 to the school system. Despite the opposition, the bill will head to the Senate for a vote, passing the legislatures Public Health Committee 18-7. Dozens of high school students traveled to the state capital last week to testify in support of the bill, which they said would help fight period poverty in the state. That is, provide access to expensive feminine hygiene products to help young people, especially girls, cut down on missed school as a result of a natural bodily function. They said requiring students to visit the nurses office when theyre in need of a tampon or pad creates a stigma and implies that periods are an illness. Still, not all legislators are convinced it should be up to the states governing body to impose such a requirement on school districts. Instead, theyd rather leave it up to schools and school districts to determine when, where and how to make feminine hygiene products available. I do feel this is something that could be handled through the state department of education and if this is as big of a concern as the advocates say it is, why couldnt we just ask our board of education to look at this and let us know how much it could cost, said state Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, adding she does not feel the bill is clear on what is required of schools. I think this bill needs a lot more work in its language and its intent. State Rep. Kathy Kennedy, R-Milford, said that while she agrees the bill and its concept is important, schools in her district are already providing the products in some way, and she is concerned a mandate would not have the effect that is intended. Until we have more information, I will be a no, she said. State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus, R-Prospect, also voted against the bill. She said she spoke to all of the schools in her district and none said there was a problem with students accessing products. In the town where I live in Prospect, there is a 30 percent poverty rate and theyve looked into this and there has never been a problem with people that cannot afford these products coming in, Zupkus said. Its an unfunded mandate on our schools and I believe it should be up to the Board of Eds. If this is such a concern they should be looking into it and figuring out how to handle it in their schools. Not all Republicans opposed the bill though. State. Rep. William Petit, R-Plainville, voted in favor of the bill, but raised similar concerns to those of his colleagues. The intent is very good, he said. Public Health Committee co-chair Mary Abrams, D-Meriden, who last week applauded those who testified for bringing the issue of period poverty to her attention, said she understands the concerns of her colleagues but believes the bill provides some leeway to districts and schools to determine the most appropriate way to make products available in bathrooms. Im realistic about the fact that this would cost money,she said. But for me its a bigger cost when we give the message to young women in particular that for somehow their biological needs should not be taken care of when we take care of other biological needs. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt Princess cruise cancels Mexican itinerary after 21 confirmed with coronavirus San Francisco, California A Princess cruise ship that has 21 confirmed cases of coronavirus has been returned to US waters after it was scheduled to dock in Mexico next week. The Grand Princess cruise ship was returned to San Francisco waters after authorities confirmed 21 cases of coronavirus. The announcement was made by US Vice President Mike Pence Friday, who confirmed that 46 ship passengers were tested. He says of those tested for the virus, 21 were positive, 24 were negative and one test was inconclusive. The ship has remained off the cost of California since Wednesday with 2,422 passengers and 1,111 crew members where the national guard dropped off virus test kits by helicopter Thursday. On Friday during his press release, Pence explained that he was working with California Governor Gavin Newsom, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services to move the cruise ship to a non-commercial port. All passengers and crew will be tested for the coronavirus. Those that need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those that require additional medical attention will receive it, Pence added. The ship is carrying more than 3,500 people from 54 nationalities. As of Friday, California reported 65 confirmed cases of coronavirus, one of which, resulted in the death of a 71-year-old man who had recently traveled on a Princess cruise. The Grand Princess was set to sail on a two-week cruise that included a stop in Mexico. An upcoming cruise, that would have included two stops in Ensenada has been canceled. New York (United Nations)- 03 Mars 2020 (SPS)- Polisario Front Representative at the United Nations, Dr. Sidi M. Omar, called on Security Council to hold Morocco accountable for human trafficking and drug smuggling leading to more instability in the region. in his letter to the President of the Security Council, Mr Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of the Peoples Republic of China to the United Nations, Dr. Sidi Omar considered that Morocco should he held accountable for its well-documented role in human trafficking and drug smuggling across our region and beyond. He recalled that Polisario Front strongly calls on the Security Council to compel Morocco to uphold its regional and international responsibilities and to desist from its destabilising actions that are threatening security and stability of its neighbours and the whole region. He further recalled that Polisario Front has alerted on previous occasions that he well-documented connivance between Moroccan military and drug lords is what explains how many tons of Moroccan-produced cannabis are smuggled across the illegal Moroccan military wall in Western Sahara. The Saharawi diplomat believed that Morocco therefore should explain to the United Nations and the international community how it is possible that drug and human traffickers are able to pass through Western Sahara, which is entirely encircled by one of the most heavily manned, guarded and militarised walls in the world, which is infested with millions of landmines and equipped with sophisticated radars and surveillance systems. The letter comes following the success by a unit from the Sahrawi Army, on Sunday 1st March 2020, to intercept and seize 725 kilograms of Moroccan cannabis in the region of Ausard. The drugs were being transported across the illegal Moroccan military wall in Western Sahara. The letter explains that the operation is part of the anti-drug-trafficking operations carried out by the Sahrawi Army throughout the Sahrawi Liberated Territories. In conformity with our obligations as an AU Member State and thanks to the growing cooperation with our neighbours, we have actively contributed to curbing the illicit flow of drugs, especially Moroccan-produced drugs, into and across our region, Polisario Fronts Representative stresses. It is well known, the letter emphasises, that Morocco remains the worlds largest producer and exporter of cannabis, as confirmed by many international reports including the 2018 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report of the US Department of State and the World Drug Report 2019 of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. In this regard, Dr. Sidi adds the illegal breach opened by Morocco through its military wall in Guerguerat in southern Western Sahara serves as a point of passage for all sorts of illicit goods including Moroccan produced cannabis and other drugs, which are becoming a major source of funding for transnational terrorist groups operating in the Sahel-Sahara region. (SPS) 090/500/60 (SPS) Donald Trumps acting chief of staff is to become the US special envoy to Northern Ireland. The US president confirmed Mick Mulvaney has taken up the role in a tweet on Friday. The diplomatic role has remained vacant since former US senator Gary Hart left the position in 2017 when Mr Trump took power. Mr Mulvaney is replaced as the presidents chief of staff by Republican Congressman Mark Meadows. Mr Mulvaney is an Irish-American and has strong links to Co Mayo where his grandparents are from. The Taoiseach has welcomed Mick Tulane's' appointment as US special envoy to Northern Ireland. Leo Varadkar said he has been a "good friend" to Ireland and understands "all the key issues in detail". The appointment came as the White House released details of Mr Trumps meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar next week. Mr Varadkar will travel to the US for the annual St Patricks celebrations. In a statement, the White House said the two men will discuss how to strengthen relations between the US and Ireland, including the robust and cultural ties and joint commitment to maintain the gains of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Trump also said he is looking forward to hosting the Taoiseach at the traditional Shamrock Bowl presentation at the White House. The Irish Embassy in Washington welcomed Mr Mulvaney's appointment, saying: "This is a positive development demonstrating the United States' long-standing commitment to the peace process. "Mick Mulvaney has always had a great personal interest in Northern Ireland and we look forward to continuing to work with him on this and other issues." Xinhua News Agency/Getty HONG KONGPeople in todays China are only too aware that algorithms crawl over all social media posts, and that multiple cameras are aimed at all street corners. But the coronavirus epidemic and its fallout have heightened the sense of dystopian menace as never before. The Coronavirus Epidemic Is Xi Jinpings Epic Fail Every phone and its user is trackable, no matter how careful you may be with your digital footprints, and new tools built by Tencent and Alibaba, two of Chinas biggest tech companies, have made painfully obvious the tight surveillance experienced by people all over the country. Theres a contradiction unfolding throughout China with an inconsistent message coming down from the top: Maybe you should remain in quarantine, but really you should get back to work, and then go spend your money. President Xi Jinping wants people back at their places of employment immediately, but doesnt want the virus to explode again. Top political leaders declared this week that consumption, which has been suppressed or frozen must be unleashed. Ever since the onset of the coronavirus outbreak in December, Xi has emphasized the need to maintain Chinas status as a global economic powerhouse, a sentiment echoed repeatedly by cadres under his direction. On Feb. 11, Cong Liang, the secretary general of Chinas National Development and Reform Commission, an agency that manages the countrys economy, articulated a paradox hard to resolve. If we do not get back to work, he said, epidemic control wont be sustainable. For many CCP officials, falling in line with Xi's order is of paramount importance, logic be damned. Putting hundreds of millions of people back to work in factories and offices is fundamentally at odds with efforts to contain the spread of a rapidly transmissible disease. But its easy to make sweeping declarations while viewing the situation from Beijing. Big tech is supposed to square this circle, helping to reboot the economy without rebooting the disease, steering people back to their workplaces, for better or worse, under the cold stare of all-pervasive algorithms. Story continues COLOR-CODED QUARANTINE Tencent is implementing a QR code system that tracks people who use public transportation. Anyone boarding a bus, taxi, or subway car needs to scan the code, linking their identities with that vehicle. And if they later turn out to be a patient with COVID-19, everyone who has shared a ride with them is notified. Its an imperfect system, one that backtracks to issue warnings rather than actively preventing the dissemination of the disease, but it has a precedent. Alibaba, employing its Alipay electronic wallet, which has 900 million users in China, has been assigning colors to peoplegreen meaning clear for passage in public areas, yellow demanding seven days of quarantine, and red for 14 days of isolation. So, whether you can leave a city, or even your apartment complex, depends on Alibabas algorithm. But your color code is not determined by trained medical personnel. Often enough, the system flags people who arent exhibiting any symptoms and seem to be in perfect health. In physical space, other (sometimes faulty) instruments are being used to carry out Beijings directives. The police have adopted new tools to fortify their arsenal. On the streets of Shanghai, they wear headsets with thermal camera attachments to locate people who may be running fevers. In other parts of the country, they have dispatched drones to monitor public areas, broadcasting messages to steer people indoors. A video publicizing the presence of these eyes in the sky is meant to be cute and folksy, but it is just about as creepy as it could be. The world should thank China Some officials who need to execute Xis diktats are cautious about his push. Last week, Feng Huiqiang, an official with the Guangdong Health Commission in the southeastern quadrant of China, said that migrant workers, who staff factories that export goods to all corners of the globe, should not rush to return to Guangdong. But Xi wont have any of that. For the past two weeks, he has been making calls to world leaders, repeating one talking point over and over again: The fundamentals of the economy [in China] will remain strong in the long run. That may ultimately be the case. But for now, people in China are cautious, precisely because trust in the government has deteriorated as rapidly as COVID-19 has spread among the population. While some parts of the country, like Hubei province, where the virus that causes COVID-19 likely originated, are on forced lockdown, people elsewhere in China are choosing to stay at home and limit their time in public places. Theyre doing so because they believe this will mitigate opportunities for the coronavirus to propagateat home and abroad. Despite the ruling partys reassurances and the tech companies dystopian tools, there is widespread confusion about the immediate future. Several people I have spoken to, all of whom have been working from home in the past weeks, have said that theyre not even sure what conditions need to be in place for them to feel safe about commuting and traveling again. The Russian Models Instagramming From Chinas Coronavirus Capital Another part of Beijings solution for this uncertain future is self-congratulation combined with a transparently cynical effort to rewrite the past. On Wednesday, state-run media outlet Xinhua ran an article titled Rightfully, the world should thank China, along with a photograph of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and others praying in the vice presidents office in the White House. Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, claimed on the same day that the coronavirus origin may not be China at all. Meanwhile China Daily called Wuhans Huanan Seafood Market the place that was once believed to be the origin of the novel coronavirus, thus paving over the fact that about two-thirds of the first batch of COVID-19 patients were linked to this location. The revisionist bureaucrats of the Chinese state even make veiled accusations that the U.S. is the source of COVID-19or a new epicenter in the making, with science skeptic Pence in charge of the outbreak's containment. Meanwhile, they continue to refine surveillance structures using the preservation of public health as cover. Once new systems are in place, it is unlikely that they will be taken offlinean accidental boon for Chinas major tech companies and the Chinese Community Party, who are now that much closer to knowing everything about everyone in the country. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. All primary schools in Bandipora, Baramulla, Srinagar, and Budgam districts will remain closed till 31st March amid coronavirus outbreak, informed Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Two suspected cases of coronavirus have been reported in Jammu and are undergoing treatment at the local Government Medical College. So far, 34 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in India. The virus which originated in China's Wuhan has killed more than 3000 people globally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held a review meeting with health officials on Saturday and asked them to identify locations for quarantine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-06 23:48:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a lovely cartoon drawn on the ward wall of a makeshift hospital in Wuhan. It features Dalian's oyster cheering for Wuhan's hot-dry noodle, which are signature snacks of the Chinese cities of Dalian and Wuhan. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) WUHAN, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Dalian's oysters and Wuhan's hot-dry noodles, as well as the Dalian Railway Station and Wuhan Yellow Crane Tower, lovely cartoon pictures drawn on the ward wall of a makeshift hospital in Wuhan have gone viral online. The pictures are signature snacks and landmarks of the Chinese cities of Dalian and Wuhan. Liu Yu, a post-90s nurse in Leishenshan Hospital in Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) , is one of the artists of those more than 30 wall paintings. She is also one of the 500 medical workers sent to Wuhan from Dalian on Feb. 8 to aid local colleagues to treat patients and contain the virus spread there. "I started to draw a cartoon on the corridor wall of ward A2 in Leishenshan. That helped me relieve pressure after a day's work," said the nurse. "More and more colleagues and patients come to see those pictures. I never expect them to become so popular." Liu's first cartoon tells a story about Dalian's oysters and Wuhan's hot-dry noodles. Personified oysters encourage hot-dry noodles to stay strong with the message: "Wuhan, please hang on!" "I used the signature snack of my hometown to show our support for the virus-hit Wuhan," said Liu. Many of Liu's colleagues who used to draw pictures and write words on their protective suits to cheer up each other and patients also join her. Doctor Wang Wei from Dalian drew a picture of the Dalian Railway Station and Wuhan Yellow Crane Tower. "They symbolize the 'heart-to-heart' solidarity between Dalian and Wuhan people." Among those wall paintings, the one that touches Wang and other medical staff most is a portrait of Zhong Nanshan, a renowned Chinese respiratory specialist, with the words: Wuhan is a heroic city, and people of Hubei and Wuhan are heroic people. Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. It's a portrait of Zhong Nanshan, a renowned Chinese respiratory specialist, with the words: Wuhan is a heroic city, and people of Hubei and Wuhan are heroic people. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) "Everyday, we are impressed by the heartwarming and strong Wuhan people," said Liu. "I still remember the first day when I arrived at Leishenshan Hospital. A local shuttle bus driver made a deep bow and expressed appreciation toward us." Tiger Beach Ocean Park, Xinghai Square... Pictures of famous tourist attractions in Dalian have emerged on the drawing wall in recent days. "This is a travel itinerary we make for patients. I hope they can visit these famous scenic spots in my hometown after they recover," Liu said. "When I drew the Yellow Crane Tower, I made a decision that I would visit the tower and enjoy the beautiful scenery of this heroic city after the epidemic ends," said Wang. Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. In the cartoon, a medical worker gently strokes the head of a kid who is a personified figure of the year 2020, and tells him to stay strong. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. This picture says: winter will end, and spring will come. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a collage on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. It depicts a cherry blossom tree in full bloom in the spring. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. The picture conveys the words: Wuhan stay strong, China stay strong! (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Xu Xinyan, a worker from China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd., draws on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows cartoons on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows cartoons on the door at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Chen Dan, a medical worker from KingMed Diagnostics Group, draws on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a drawing on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on a door in a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. The picture shows a medical worker is cutting hair for a patient. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Xu Xinyan, a worker from China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd., draws on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Chen Liya, a medical worker from the First Hospital of Wuhan, takes photos of a painting on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a drawing on the wall of a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) Photo taken on March 4, 2020 shows a cartoon on a door in a corridor at the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua) ZAGREB, March 6 (Reuters) - Turkey's decision to open its border with Greece to migrants, ignoring its 2016 migration deal with the European Union, is not acceptable and any such political pressure will be rejected, EU foreign ministers said on Friday. "The EU reiterates its serious concern over the situation at the Greek-Turkish border and strongly rejects Turkey's use of migratory pressure for political purposes," the ministers said in a statement after a meeting in Zagreb. "This situation at the EU external border is not acceptable," they said, also telling Ankara: "Migrants should not be encouraged to attempt illegal crossings by land or sea." (Reporting by Robin Emmott Editing by Mark Heinrich) Chennai, March 7 : Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Minister C. Vijayabaskar on Saturday said a 45-year-old male tested positive for coronavirus and has been admitted to a government hospital here. The person, admitted to the isolation ward, had arrived from Oman. In a tweet, Vijayabaskar said the infected person was identified owing to the stringent screening process. The person has been isolated and is undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital here. According to Vijayabaskar, the person is stable and is under hospital observation. Vijayabaskar appealed to people to avoid panic as the state health department is fully functional to control the situation. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The final winning team in the mega finale of the Everest Better Kitchen Culinary Challenge (EverestBKCC) emerged from TS Rahaman-Nhava and the winning students Ashok Kumar and Vishmad Singh walked up to the podium amidst thunderous applause to receive the trophy at the Hall of Culture - Nehru Centre in Mumbai. The first runner up team named Everest Chhole Masala represented by Madhura Devsthali and Pratiksha Patil from Chefs Kitchen Institute of Culinary Arts & Hotel Management, Kolhapur and the second runner up team named Everest Jiralu Masala represented by Harpreet Ahuja and Faizan Ansari from State Institute of Hotel Management, Indore were felicitated by the guest of honour and representatives of the sponsors. The theme of the challenge for budding chefs was 'Flavours of India'. The common intention of the multi-city event is to make Indian food popular across the globe and create awareness about its health benefits. To support the cause, Madhya Pradesh Tourism has associated with EverestBKCC as tourism partner. Prominent chef Harpal Singh Sokhi was the guest of honour and his presence on the stage and his inspiring speech got waves of applause from the finalists from the seven cities and students from Mumbai's culinary institutions who were present in the hall. Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi the guest of honour was happy to see the respect which chefs are getting nowadays from society. He asked students to work hard, respect the profession and learn how to cook best. The award ceremony in Mumbai was attended by leading lights of the culinary world and top representatives of the food and hospitality industry from Mumbai and other cities in India. To provide exposure to the finalist of EverestBKCC, Master Classes were organized by Master Chef India 2020 winner Abinas Nayak and Natasha Gandhi, one of the top five contestants of Master Chef India 2020. The journey of EverestBKCC 2019-2020 started from Bengaluru in January 2020 and moved to Dehradun, Surat, Kolhapur, Bhopal, Pune and Mumbai, wherein more than 200 teams participated. The challenge was supported by industry associations viz Western Chefs Association (WICA) and Hospitality Purchasing Managers' Forum (HPMF). The winners of all seven cities and three wild card entries were selected for the grand finale held at ITM Institute of Hotel Management, Navi Mumbai. There were five rounds of challenge that contestants had undergone to showcase their culinary skills before the jury comprising nine members of WICA namely Chef Nitin Shende, Chef Ranjan Rajani, Chef Ajay Devali, Chef Vivek Kadam, Chef Altamsh Patel, Chef Jerson Fernandez, Chef Tushar Malkani, Chef Dev Kasalkar and Chef Vasant Khot. All of them addressed the finalists and gave them valuable advice on how to achieve success and retain success with hard work and constant innovation. The challenge which began with two cities a year ago and is now the talk of the food industry and the hospitality industry with its huge success this year as a seven-city contest is heading for bigger success as the organisers have planned 15 cities in the next season. Ekta Bhargava the publisher of Better Kitchen announced the 15 cities plan and said she was happy that her dream of bringing together the entire food industry, the hospitality industry, the culinary educational institutions, the ingredients manufacturers, kitchen appliances company and students who are the chefs of the future to participate in an unprecedented event that is aimed at celebrating the goodness and taste of Indian food. "Our objective has been to give a fillip to new talent and innovation in the art of cooking. Also to spotlight the achievements of the chefs who deserve celebrity status and fame as they have taken Indian food to international level and have indirectly given a boost to tourists coming into India in search of its famous exotic food", said Ekta Bhargava. She thanked all the sponsors, host instituted, supporting partners and students for making the challenge the grand success. Dr Nitin Nagrale, Founder and Secretary-General of Hospitality Purchasing Managers' Forum and Ekta Bhargava, publisher of Better Kitchen signed a MoU for five years to bridge the gap between hospitality purchase managers and brands, promote Indian food/products across globe, mentoring new talent, providing incubation centre for developing entrepreneurs and providing a communication platform to industry during the function. The colourful event concluded with a choreographed pageant of dancers aptly representing the varied culture of India by the students of ITM IHM, Navi Mumbai. The title sponsor of the culinary challenge was Everest Spices; uniform partner was Chefs Unlimited while edible oil partner was Idhayam. The gift partners were Wagh Bakri and United Distributors representing Tabasco, Barilla, Lotus and Loacker. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid growing concerns about the spread of coronavirus in the United States, a teacher at Lafayette Middle School is on self-quarantine after traveling abroad recently. The Lafayette Parish School System confirmed to The Acadiana Advocate on Friday that a Lafayette Middle School teacher self-reported his or her travels outside of the United States. Lafayette Middle School teacher self-quarantined after travel abroad A teacher at Lafayette Middle School is on self-quarantine after traveling abroad recently. "The individual did not travel to any of the countries on the CDC's risk-assessed list," Allison Dickerson, spokeswoman, said in an email. "LPSS administrators made the decision to remove the staff member from campus out of an abundance of caution for others on campus. LPSS applauds this staff member for being proactive and reaching out to administrators, as our number one goal is to keep students safe." Self-quarantine, Dickerson wrote, implies that someone has been exposed or potentially exposed to the coronavirus, which is not the case with the Lafayette Middle School teacher. Also on Friday, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette canceled its Study Abroad program in Italy for the summer 2020 semester. This comes as UL continues to monitor the ongoing situation concerning COVID-19, or coronavirus, the university announced Friday in a news release. The summer Study Abroad programs in England and Costa Rica were not canceled. Italy is reporting 197 deaths and 4,636 confirmed cases of the coronavirus today. The 42 students who were scheduled to travel to Italy as part of Study Abroad will receive full refunds, according to the university. Top stories in Acadiana in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up UL cancels Study Abroad program in Italy amid coronavirus concerns The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has canceled its Study Abroad program in Italy for the summer 2020 semester. Parents and staff in Lafayette Parish Schools were notified Thursday about the Lafayette Middle teacher who was removed from the classroom. "A J-Call notification was sent to all parents of Lafayette Middle School making them aware of the proactive measures that were taken on campus that day and assuring parents that our goal is always to keep our campus safe," Dickerson wrote. A letter issued earlier this week makes no mention of the teacher under self-quarantine. It describes ways to prevent the spread of viruses. LPSS told KATC the teacher has been on campus and in the classroom since returning from travel, but will not return to the school until cleared by medical professionals. Students were moved from that teacher's classroom to another location. The room will be disinfected before anyone returns. The CDC recommends anyone who has traveled to a country on the CDC's risk-assessed list wait 14 days before returning to school and work. There are no confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in Louisiana. Four teachers in New Orleans have self-quarantined after travel abroad. None have shown signs or symptoms of illness. The Queen will refuse to be photographed with the ruler of Dubai after a High Court judgement ruled that he kidnapped two of his daughters, it has been reported. The decision to dodge 70-year-old Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Vice President and PM of the United Arab Emirates, and ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, could have a lasting effect on British relations with the Middle Eastern nation. For decades, the Queen and Sheikh Mohammed have been photographed together in public, with the British monarch even inviting the Sheikh to enjoy Ascot from the royal box. Queen Elizabeth II (L) and UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attend Investec Derby Day at the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse on June 4, 2011 in Epsom, England Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Queen Elizabeth II attend the Royal Windsor Endurance event on day 3 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor Great Park on May 16, 2014 in Windsor, England Rumours of a royal snub, reported by the Times newspaper, come after Sheikh Mohammed, one of the world's richest men, was exposed for having waged a campaign of 'fear and intimidation' against his youngest wife, Princess Haya, who fled to Britain last year fearing that he would kill her. She will also avoid being seen with the princess, the Times reported. In the 10-month child custody battle at the High Court, it was also found that the autocratic ruler was responsible for kidnapping his daughter Princess Shamsa from the streets of Cambridge in 2000. Frankie Dettori with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Horse Racing at Newmarket Racecourse, Suffolk, Britain - 23 Sep 2011 He also sent commandos to abduct another runaway daughter, Princess Latifa, from a ship in the Arabian Sea, when she tried to escape her father's clutches two years ago. After the abductions, both women were locked in the Sheikh's palaces, where they remain caged to this day. Up until now, the relationship between the Windsors and Maktoums had long been cemented by racing and a shared love of horses. In 2009, Sheikh Mohammed gifted the Queen four yearlings, one of which nearly one the Derby in 2011. Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein of Jordan (centre) and her lawyer, Baroness Fiona Shackleton (right), leave the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain, 28 February 2020. Princess Haya, the estranged wife of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, is in court during a case about their children's welfare In return, the Queen gave the Sheikh her thoroughbred, Highland Glen, as a present. The friendship extends quite separately to the Sheikh's estranged wife Princess Haya, whose explosive evidence in court helped expose the brutality of her husband. Haya's Anglophile father King Hussein of Jordan was a warm and staunch ally of the UK and a close friend of the royals. Prince Charles attended his funeral in 1999. The princess, an accomplished horsewoman who rode for her country in the Sydney Olympics, lavished praise on the Queen when presenting her with the International Equestrian Federation's first ever lifetime achievement award. 'She is a true horsewoman who rides whenever state business allows,' the princess declared, adding that her 'knowledge of breeding and bloodlines is incredible'. It was against this backdrop of kinship and common interests that the Queen found herself unwittingly drawn into the sensational drama that has played out in the High Court between the sheikh and his wife. Shortly after Princess Haya fled the UAE last year, before any legal proceedings were underway, she met the Queen for tea. Just one month before, the Queen was photographed presenting the Sheikh with a trophy for winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes. If you werent yet panicking about the coronavirus, this weeks tabloids will have you stocking up on Depends adult underwear, toilet tissue and face-masks. "Doomsday is Here!" screams the 'Globe' headline, displaying its usual calm voice of authority with its cover story: "Coronavirus Destroying The World! " Yes, there have been mass deaths in China, the Olympic Games may face postponement, Italy has shuttered fashion shows, America has hundreds under quarantine, and global markets have crashed. Or, as the 'Globe' dispassionately puts it: " . . . the killer coronavirus threatens life as we know it by triggering abject fear, financial chaos, international tension and horror, as stacks of infected corpses are burned to avoid spreading the disease!" Thankfully we find level heads prevailing at the 'National Enquirer,' which calmly predicts: "Coronavirus will infect 100m Americans with 7m deaths . . . Riots, famine, economic collapse" from this "unstoppable plague bringing chaos and economic disaster." But wait! There's great news from the medical experts at the 'Enquirer' who can accurately diagnose celebrity illnesses just from their photographs, and accurately predict how many weeks a star has left to live based solely on "friends' fears": "WE'VE found a cure!" Not to be out-done, the 'Globe' has put its best medical minds to work on COVID-19, and also declares: "We've Found Vaccine To Save Your Life." Can we expect to see the tabloids' coronavirus cures for sale shortly, for three monthly installments of $39.99, plus shipping and packaging? Apparently not. You'll be shocked to learn that neither the 'Enquirer' nor the 'Globe' has actually cured the virus. Rather, both report that pharmaceutical companies are testing a potential drug treatment and a possible vaccine, neither of which are yet proven to work or are anywhere close to declaring themselves a cure. As for "stacks of infected corpses" being burned, those reports have been comprehensively debunked. Rumors of mass cremations exploded last week when website Windy.com posted a satellite image of Wuhan, ground zero for China's coronavirus outbreak, reportedly showing severely elevated levels of sulfur dioxide, claiming that this proved that China is cremating thousands of infection victims. But experts soon weighed in to reveal that the "satellite image" was in fact a computer model used for forecasting, which NASA admits frequently gives significantly higher readings than actually occur. An Italian chemist calculated that Wuhan would have had to cremate 30 million bodies to create the sulfur dioxide cloud claimed over Wuhan a burn rate beyond even China's renown mass-production efficiency. Scientists suggest that sulfur dioxide levels around Wutan are most likely from power plants, and will ultimately prove far lower than the projected figures. Prince William joking about spreading coronavirus during a meet-and-greet at the Guinness brewery in Dublin, Ireland, on Tuesday came too late for the this week's tabloids to declare him a disease vector, but Duchess Meghan might prefer taking her chances with COVID-19 rather than face the attacks that greet her in this week's tabloids. "Defiant Meghan attacks Queen, 93 'Drop Dead!'" screams the 'National Enquirer' cover story. "We're BIGGER than the ROYAL family & don't need YOU!" This deathless exchange, reminiscent of a scene from such classic TV soap operas as 'Dallas' and 'Dynasty,' is revealed courtesy of an unnamed "palace courtier," who miraculously appears to be in every palace room wherever the Queen and Meghan have their death-match throw-downs. With its traditional impartial and fair sense of balance, the 'Enquirer' reveals "spoiled brat" Meghan's "terrible tantrum" and "mean meltdown" in which she told the Queen: "I can do what I want!" For those just emerging from months in a sensory deprivation chamber, Duchess Meghan allegedly clashed with Her Majesty over plans for her and hubby Prince Harry to distance themselves from the Royal Family and seek to become "financially independent" by capitalizing on their brand, 'Sussex Royal.' After the Queen intervened to tell the renegade royals not to monetize the word "Royal," Meghan allegedly went nuclear, confronting the Queen. The 'Enquirer' reports that dumping the "Sussex Royal" brand will "cost the rogue couple an estimated $1 billion in earnings." Presumably because without the name 'Sussex Royal' they're unrecognizable to the world, and their brand is worthless. Right. Makes perfect sense. 'Us' magazine stirs the Royal pot with its sensationalized cover story: "Cruel Meghan 'You'll Never See Archie Again!'" Did Meghan really say that to the Queen? Not according to 'Us' magazine, despite its cover headline. That's simply "Her Majesty's worst fear as Duchess Meghan refuses to bring baby back to Britain." But Meghan isn't refusing to bring baby Archie to England in perpetuity; she simply doesn't want him making the trip from Canada for a few days of Royal engagements at a time when the world is anxiously trying to avoid travel and massed gatherings thanks to the spread of COVID-19. A close read of the mag reveals that Meghan never said "You'll Never See Archie Again!" It's "Royal watchers" (i.e. journalists speculating wildly) who "feel Meghan is using their son as a weapon to get back at the queen." All this despite Harry's four-hour heart-to-heart with HRH this past weekend, which by all accounts went swimmingly. But 'Us' mag won't let a family rapprochement get in the way of a good story. The same could be said of the 'Enquirer,' which continues its two-year campaign to prove that George and Amal Clooney are divorcing, with the headline: "Clooneys in Crisis!" Yet far from splitting up, they couple are together in Spain. But that doesn't stop the 'Enquirer' claiming that the rendezvous is a "secret showdown" for "emergency crisis talks." They won't let a family rapprochement get in the way of a good story. Thankfully we have the crack investigative team at 'Us' mag to tell us that Nicole Scherzinger wore it best, that Josh Radnor "didn't eat eggs until 10 years ago," that 'Dateline' correspondent Andrea Canning carries toothbrushes, wet wipes and hand sanitizer in her MZ Wallace tote, and that the stars are just like us: they grab a drink, go to the post office, and take selfies. Those scintillating celebs. Onwards and downwards . . . Advertisement New York state confirmed 13 new cases of coronavirus Saturday evening, taking the total number of residents infected to 89. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the latest spike in figures in what has been a shock day for New Yorkers, as the number of cases of the deadly disease more than doubled in the last 24 hours and a state of emergency was declared. Cases are expected to rise higher still amid fears that 40 doctors, nurses and medical staff in a Queens hospital may have been infected by an Uber driver, after he walked into the hospital and later tested positive for the virus. Seventy of New York state's 89 cases are based in Westchester, where a Manhattan attorney was first struck down with the virus earlier this week. Cuomo declared a state of emergency Saturday afternoon, when he revealed the number of cases had reached 76. Figures have since been updated to include 13 additional cases. 'We have now been testing around the clock,' Cuomo stated at the afternoon press conference. Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Saturday as coronavirus cases skyrocket across New York Locals and tourists were taking no precautions as they made their way through bustling Times Square. Governor Cuomo has now declared a state of emergency Forty-five new cases have been uncovered since Friday, with the majority related to the New Rochelle lawyer who was diagnosed as New York state's first case earlier this week. There are seven new cases in New York City - taking the total to 11. Disturbingly, there are also signs of wider spread, with two cases now confirmed in Saratoga County in the northeast of the state - hundreds of miles away from any other cases. There are still thousands of New York state residents awaiting the return of coronavirus test results. By declaring a state of emergency, Cuomo said that he is able to free up $30 million that can be used for testing and the purchase of protective gear for healthcare workers. 'I'm not urging calm," Cuomo stated. "I'm urging reality. I'm urging a factual response as opposed to an emotional response... that people understand the information and not the hype.' He added that, at present, there is no need to cancel large gatherings in any part of the state. Meanwhile, a Queens man who drives for taxi and ride-hailing services including Uber has now tested positive for coronavirus after showing up to St. John's Episcopal Hospital in the borough with flu-like symptoms on Tuesday. The driver, 33, went home and returned later when his symptoms worsened, officials said. Tests came back Friday night confirming he had coronavirus. The situation has prompted 40 doctors, nurses and hospital staff to go into self-quarantine amid fears they have now been exposed. The man is now in isolation at the hospital. Investigators are now trying to piece together who he might have driven around in a bid to contain a possible spread. The man was licensed to drive passengers around New York City, but not in the states five boroughs or from city airports, a spokesman for Uber told The Times. 'The hospital will need to replace those people temporarily. They will need money to do that. They need supplies. We need to keep the health care up and running,' Councilman Donovan Richards Jr, told The New York Times. Meanwhile, more than 4,000 people in the state have been urged to self-quarantine to prevent the spread of the disease. NEW YORK STATE CORONAVIRUS CASES WESTCHESTER COUNTY: 70 NEW YORK CITY: 11 NASSAU COUNTY: 4 ROCKLAND COUNTY: 2 SARATOGA COUNTY: 2 Advertisement Most of those are New York City residents who have returned from the coronavirus hotspots of China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea within the past 14 days. Cuomo says he has been informed that many people are not following the self-quarantine requirements. 'When we say you are on precautionary quarantine, that is a serious situation. We expect to act in good faith and comply with it. If you do not comply with it, there are other measures that we could take,' Cuomo threatened. He also warned vendors who are price-gouging on products such as hand sanitizer and surgical masks that their businesses could be shut down. The governor declared that some stores were selling sanitizer for $80. The daughter of one of the New York City cases confirmed on Friday has spoken out, blasting health officials after her mother and another woman were repeatedly turned away from having tests, despite showing symptoms for more than two weeks. Amanda, 31, told Bloomberg that her mother and another New York City woman, who are in their 60s and 70s, fell ill after they returned from a cruise around Egypt in February. Despite showing symptoms for coronavirus and one of the womens conditions deteriorating to a pneumonia-like illness, officials from the New York City health department dismissed their pleas to be tested, telling them they risked infecting others if they traveled to a healthcare facility and that if they did test positive, there was nothing that could be done anyway, the frustrated daughter claims. It then emerged this week that another passenger on the cruise ship tested positive for the virus. The two women were finally tested and results came back positive on Friday two weeks after they first fell ill and three days after the positive diagnosis of the other passenger. Questions are now being asked over whether health officials have risked more lives and helped to fuel the outbreak by refusing to test sick individuals. New York is now the third state to declare a state of emergency over coronavirus cases, following Washington and California. Nationwide, at least 430 people in 31 states have tested positive for coronavirus, and 19 people have died. An anxious man wears a medical mask on a New York City train on Saturday, as coronavirus cases rapidly rise in the area One anxious New Yorker wasn't taking any chances on Saturday as he made his way through a subway station in Midtown Manhattan A woman makes her way through Grand Central Station in Manhattan Saturday morning, just blocks from where the infected New Rochelle lawyer worked John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens was nearly deserted Saturday morning, after the borough announced its first coronavirus case The infected driver walked into the emergency room at St John's Episcopal Hospital in Queens, potentially passing on the disease to dozens of doctors and nurses The state of emergency was declared in New York as 21 people on board a cruise ship floating off the coast of San Francisco tested positive to coronavirus Two elderly people died in relation to the illness in Florida on Friday - the first deaths on the East Coast Stanford University cancelled all in-person classes for the remainder of winter semester after a faculty member tested positive to coronavirus The NBA prepares its stars to play matches without fans in attendance Apple told all 12,000 employees at its headquarters Apple Park to remain home Friday, following similar guidance from Facebook and Microsoft City officials in Austin announced that South by South West festival is cancelled after dozens of stars and companies dropped out --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CORONAVIRUS CRUISE SHIP OFF THE COAST OF SAN FRANCISCO WAITS IN LIMBO Relatives of the 3,500 passengers stranded on board a coronavirus-hit cruise ship off the coast of California are pleading for their loved ones to be evacuated before they become seriously ill. At least 21 people on the Grand Princess have contracted Covid-19 - just under half the number of those tested. California's Governor, Gavin Newsom, is now refusing to allow the vessel to dock in San Francisco. On Saturday, the daughter of one 90-year-old passenger said her father's health is rapidly deteriorating as he remains stuck on the cruise liner. 'Keeping people on the ship is going to be a death sentence for many of the elderly passengers,' panic-stricken Lisa Egan told The Telegraph. 'He has to take several medications daily, and he's going to run out today [Saturday]. I'm sure that's true for many passengers'. Relatives of the 3,500 people on board the vessel say that the decision not to let their loved ones off the ship 'is a death sentence'. The vessel has been floating off the coast of San Francisco since Wednesday Earlier on Friday, military helicopters delivered 46 coronavirus testing kits. 21 of the 46 people who took the tests tested positive to Covid-19 John Miller, who is on board the Grand Princess, told ABC7 Saturday that news the Grand Princess was prohibited from docking in San Francisco was 'the worst possible' thing he could have heard. Overnight, the captin of the ship announced the Coast Guard was arriving to airlift a passenger who required 'medical assistance' to the mainland. A helicopter arrived shortly after, with the unidentified person flown to San Francisco for treatment, according to CNN. It's unclear whether the person was one of the 21 who tested positive for coronavirus. The Grand Princess moved closer to land overnight, and is now floating around 20 miles off the coast of San Francisco - but there are still no details as to where or when the ship will port. An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles says keeping passengers contained on the vessel will amplify the rate of infection. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE AHA: 'MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WILL BE HOSPITALIZED WITH CORONAVIRUS' US hospitals are preparing for 96 million coronavirus infections and nearly half a million deaths from the outbreak, leaked documents have revealed. The spread of the deadly disease could be far worse than officials claim, with 480,000 Americans expected to die from the virus and 4.8 million hospitalized, according to a presentation hosted by The American Hospital Association (AHA) in February. This puts the crisis on a level more than 10 times greater than that seen in a severe flu season. The shock figures fly in the face of claims made by President Trump who has maintained on many occasions that the risk to Americans is 'low'. A woman wears a mask in Boston on Saturday, a day after 60 people were brought into nearby hospitals to be tested for the coronavirus. The virus has now killed more than 3,450 people and infected more than 100,000 across 92 nations since the outbreak began in China late last year Dr. James Lawler, a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, presented the harrowing 'best guess' estimates of the extent of the outbreak to hospitals and health professionals as part of the AHA webinar called 'What healthcare leaders need to know: Preparing for the COVID-19' on February 26. The leaked slides also reveal the significant risks to older people and those with pre-existing health conditions if they catch coronavirus. People aged 80 and over have a 14.8% chance of dying if they contract the infection, the slides revealed. The risk declines with youth, though those aged 70-79 and 60-69 are still placed at a significant risk, with 8% and 3.6% mortality rates respectively. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PRESIDENT TRUMP HEADS TO THE GOLF COURSE AFTER VISIT TO THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL President Donald Trump headed to his golf course in West Palm Beach Saturday, following a visit to the CDC in Atlanta on Friday. During a chaotic press conference with doctors, the Commander-in-chief brushed off concerns about the limited number of coronavirus test kits and announced that 'anybody who wants a test can get a test.' He left officials scrambling to explain how such a commitment could happen. 'The tests are beautiful,' Trump added after meeting with top U.S. scientists amid the coronavirus outbreak. 'Anybody who right now and yesterday, anybody that needs a test gets a test,' Trump said. Trump praised his own administration's response amid concerns that the million test kits promised had yet to materialize. President Donald Trump on Saturday headed to his golf course in West Palm Beach, after a visit to the CDC on Friday President Donald Trump displays a photo of the COVID-19 Coronavirus beside Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, HHS Secretary Alex Azar and CDC Associate Director for Laboratory Science and Safety Steve Monroe during a tour of the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NBA WARNS TEAMS TO PREPARE FOR GAMES WITHOUT SPECTATORS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CRISIS The NBA wants its teams to prepare to play games without fans if necessary because of the coronavirus crisis, but LeBron James already says he won't play basketball in an empty arena. The league circulated a memo to its teams Friday telling them to prepare in case it becomes necessary to play games without fans or media, as sports leagues in Europe have already done. The memo detailed potential actions that teams might need to take 'if it were to become necessary to play a game with only essential staff present.' 'We play games without the fans? Nah, that's impossible,' James said Friday night. The NBA want its teams to prepare to play games without fans due to fears over coronavirus 'I ain't playing if I ain't got the fans in the crowd. That's who I play for. I play for my teammates, and I play for the fans. That's what it's all about. So if I show up to an arena and there ain't no fans in there, I ain't playing. They can do what they want to do.' The memo says teams should identify which team and arena people would be necessary to conduct games, and be able to communicate quickly with non-essential staff, as well as ticket holders and corporate partners. Teams should also be prepared 'for the possibility of implementing temperature checks on players, team staff, referees, and anyone else who is essential to conducting such a game in the team's arena.' Contents of the memo were first reported by The Athletic. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields online platforms from legal liability for content posted by third parties, has long been considered the foundation of free communication on the internet. But a new bill introduced in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursdayand backed by both Republicans and Democratswould strip away many of those crucial protections. Instead the bill, titled the EARN IT Act, would allow internet companies to earn their liability protections by following best practices related to identifying and reporting online child sexual exploitation. The supposed best practices would be defined by a newly created government body, to be known as the National Commission on Online Child Sexual Exploitation Prevention. Companies would be required to certify that they comply with the commissions best practices, in order to maintain legal immunity from child sexual abuse material statutes. Among the bills sponsors is first-term Missouri Republican Josh Hawley, who last year introduced even more drastic legislation that would effectively eliminate Section 230, and require companies like Facebook and Google to show that they are not politically biased. Other primary sponsors of the bill included Democrats Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Dianne Feinstein of California, along with the Judiciary Committees Chair, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham. Oregon Senator Ron Wydenone of only two senators to vote against the FOSTA/SESTA legislation in 2018, which first chipped away at Section 230 protectionsquickly issued a statement opposing the EARN IT (Eliminating Abusive and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technologies) bill. Wyden called the bill a transparent and deeply cynical effort by a few well-connected corporations and the Trump administration to use child sexual abuse to their political advantage, the impact to free speech and the security and privacy of every single American be damned. Major Hollywood studios, including Disney and Fox, have long sought to roll back Section 230, which they see as allowing copyright violations of their corporate-owned content. The digital rights group Electronic Freedom Foundation, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union, called the bill an attack on the right to encryption, a tool which provides safety for activists, domestic violence victims, and millions of others who rely on strong encryption every day, the ACLU said. Photo by Will Brady / Wikimedia Commons Public Domain HARTFORD A newly registered lobbying group opposed to mandatory childhood vaccinations is threatening legal action against state lawmakers who have been critical of their tactics. The CT Freedom Alliance, in a written statement, charged that Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, and Sen. Mary Dougherty Abrams, co-chair of the legislative Public Health Committee, mischaracterized the groups funding sources. The lawmakers earlier this week said three groups, which have led near-record turnout at the Capitol for a public hearing and a committee vote in recent weeks, have expended enough money to reach the $3,000 threshold required for organizations to register as lobbyists under state transparency rules. We are a legitimate grassroots organization [comprised] of parents who are fighting for their children, the statement said. To accuse us of being funded by dark money from foreign sources is not only inaccurate, it is malicious and libelous. They have presented no evidence for their allegations and the reason for this is simple: they have none. Instead they have decided to fabricate these claims as a means of intimidating us into silence, in the hopes that we will stop exercising our constitutionally-protected rights to free speech and assembly. According to the Office of State Ethics, both the CT Freedom Alliance and Health Choice 4 Action registered as lobbyist firms this week while the other major group opposed to mandatory vaccinations - Informed Choice Connecticut - which is registered as a limited liability corporation, has not filled out lobbyist disclosure documents. The Democratic senators said the groups have sophisticated social media sites and have distributed posters and stickers, as well as paid for billbioard rentals. The senators want pu blic transparency on the sources of money for the lobbying efforts. Registered lobbyists are required to submit reports on expenditures with the Office of State Ethics. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT Letters to the Editor View(s): We need to end culture of politicians having a free ride The appalling news that a national list MP, a trade union leader cum civil society activist who supported the Good-Governance in 2015, and was appointed to fill a vacancy at the tail-end of the last Parliament ended his six-day career by pocketing a car permit leaving the poor tax payer to nurse the injury caused by the Rs 15 million [or double the amount?] loss they suffered, is fresh in our minds. A dozen of candidates rejected by the voters were subsequently accommodated through the National Lists by the UNF, UPFA and JVP, with utter disregard for peoples sovereignty, and creating a very bad precedent. This should not be repeated. If the party leaders make a policy statement on non-acceptance of jumping frogs, people will have more faith in the parliamentary democracy. In 2016, after issuing permits to all 225 MPs, the government announced severe restrictions on imports for a period of one year, in a last ditch attempt to ease pressure on the rupee, which included the duty free importation of vehicles by parliamentarians. The downtrodden masses who pay tax on onions, sprats and potatoes have to tolerate these injustices. These MPs or the buyer of their permit gets a luxury vehicle for which we are compelled to pay an exorbitant duty. They utilise the Duty Free Permits to enrich their private coffers, while the country has been deceived at least Rs 7 billion in revenue over the five years due to the abuse. It was revealed that for a luxury vehicle imported by a parliamentarian few years ago, total revenue of Rs. 44 million was waived off as duty by the customs. Article 148 says that Parliament shall exercise full control of the public finance. Therefore, any citizen who gets tax immunity on any item and intends to sell the item should get approval and pay all taxes, fees, fines prior to the disposal of it. Therefore, it is against the law to dispose the vehicle permit by a law-maker who unjustly commits an offence under the Bribery Act of Sri Lanka. Some of them who have been directly involved in bank heists and other corrupt deals should suffer stiffer penalties for the crimes committed; further, they should be left out of nomination lists until proven innocent. If found guilty, their family properties should be confiscated to recover part of the loot. We need a change of culture; politicians make money, enjoy undeserved privileges; its time to end this process. The voter has a right to demand that those elected at the next April 25 election be deprived of such privileges. The former government two years ago approved Rs 100,000 each in addition to the monthly salaries and perks; and a group of about 50 selected UNP lawmakers received in addition a monthly transport allowance of Rs 200,000 to visit their constituencies. The national economy needs an enormous boost to uplift the living standards of the poor people. Party leaders, please ensure you make special clauses in your manifestos to this effect. K.K.S. Perera Via email Solar power: Response to Dr. Tilak Siyambalapitiya Appropos Dr Tilak Siyambalapitiyas (TS) reply (ST March 01) to Prof. Wilfred Pereras (WP)claim (ST Feb 14)that he was able to reduce his electricity bill from Rs 20,000 per month to Rs 100, implying that Prof WP will have no electricity at night time if he disconnects his main electricity supply from the grid, I venture to say that Prof WP can save that Rs 100.00 also and still have electricity even at night if he installs a storage capacity for the surplus electricity he generates through solar during the day, thus freeing himself completely from the CEB, if the Professor so desires. Of course he will have to incur an additional cost for that. In the days when daily power cuts were a regular feature in the country, I installed a similar though small system at home which gave light to a few places such as the pantry, the washroom, dining area and master bedroom, when power was cut. The principle is the same. It is to encourage consumers to turn to renewable energy, reducing the countrys dependence on oil and coal that the government offered to store in the grid the surplus electricity generated by consumers through solar and even pay for it, that this facility was extended to them. Oil and coal are both imported at enormous cost which the countrys economy is unable to bear. This haemorrhage of the economy has gone on for decades without receiving the attention it deserves from our leaders. President Gotabaya Rajapakshas policy to move away from oil and coal, replacing them steadily with renewable energy is highly commendable. Much can be done to resuscitate the economy by implementing this policy. All patriotic and national minded Sri Lankans should rise above partisan politics and support him in this endeavour. It is for our own good after all. Brigadier Ranjan de Silva Via email If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Hyderabad: AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi raised questions about the Telangana Encounter issues during the Telangana budget session today. "In encounters, the state government had ordered an inquiry. But where is the inquiry and what is its status?" he asked. The four men, who were accused of gang raping and killing a veterinarian in Telangana's Shamshabad on November 27 before they allegedly burnt her body, were shot dead by Hyderabad Police in December last year. CM Rao, while replying to Owaisi, said that the state government will hold a separate session in Assembly. "The state government will conduct a separate session (for that). It is a very important issue. We will talk on it for three hours where all the parties will have ample time to express the views," he said. Owaisi also brought attention to the controversy around Citizenship Amendment Bill and the riots that took place in Northeast Delhi recently. "I am standing here to save the Constitution, said Owaisi adding This country does not run on anyone's ideology. People are told 'Goli Maro Inko'. This country is being discriminated against by provocative speeches and violence. This is about Delhi violence, in which many innocent people have lost their lives and property." He opined that Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) are not just issues of Muslims. He also said that demonetization and Goods and Services Tax (GST) have destroyed the economy. "All the secular forces must come together to defeat this (kind of) ideology and thoughts. Our country's biggest problem is unemployment. Our state is (also) facing this problem," he said. In a veiled attack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government, Owaisi said: "The rulers are not concerned about falling GDP or economy. But they are more concerned about CAA. CAA, NPR, and NRC are not an issue (specific) to Muslims but to the whole country. (Yet), in the Governor's address, there was no mention of CAA, NPR or NRC." The AIMIM leader congratulated Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament. "We do not oppose the immigrants from Pakistan. You can give citizenship to all the Hindus in the whole world, we have no problem. We think CAA, NPR and NRC are serious issues," Owaisi said. "The country is diverted from the major issues. My party opposed demonetization and GST. We have made our point through the planning commission. Demonetisation and GST have destroyed the state of the economy," he said. Dubai residents can now experience the latest scents by Arcadia, the Dubai-based perfumery brand, created by Amna Al Habtoor, in its flagship UAE store in Dubais premium retail and gastronomic hotspot, Dar Al Wasl. Located on Wasl Road, and officially opened on March 5, the store will showcase Arcadias full collection, with all 10 scents from the critically acclaimed debut collection, Edition 1, including top seller No.9 Vanilla Pod, and the highly sought after Edition 2 collection, the Dark Series, as well as a number of limited-edition fragrances. Arcadia will also officially launch the new exclusive fragrance Bounded. The limited-edition perfume will feature saffron, rhubarb and honey top notes, while the heart contains rose absolute, Turkish rose, carnation and toffee, and the base notes are made up of amber, oud and patchouli. Bounded, which will retail at Dh700/$190.5 (+5 per cent VAT), comes complete with a 100ml fragrance bottle as well as a smaller every day 15ml bottle. Amna Al Habtoor, the owner of Arcadia, said: The opening of our flagship store in Dubai not only reinforces our goal to be recognised as one of the leading perfumeries in the region, but also reiterates our long-term expansion plans both regionally, and indeed internationally." In celebration of our new store, we have created exclusive fragrance Bounded which combines scents from the Gulfs culture, history and heritage. The narrative for the perfume is based on travelling but always returning, bounded to our roots." Our goal has always been to introduce people to an innovative way of experiencing perfume - our fragrances are created based on memories and nostalgia and come with a unique narrative thats relatable to each and every customer, Al Habtoor said. A calligrapher will be on hand over the course of the opening weekend March 5 till 7 personalising perfume bottles with unique calligraphy. Over the last six months, the company has continued to go from strength to strength with the introduction of our newly rebranded product range, including sustainable packaging and a new website which has enhanced our global reach." Complementing the cruelty, paraben and chemical-free fragrances, we have also introduced new sustainable packaging which consists of pouches made from recycled materials in the UAE, she said. A pioneer in the region for breaking the gender & cultural boundaries with unisex scents, Arcadia which was established in 2018 creates fragrances using the most luxurious ingredients while being environmentally conscious and cruelty-free. - TradeArabia News Service After Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met in Moscow in a six-hour meeting, a ceasefire is declared between Turkey and Russia. Erdogan was said that the ceasefire started at 00.01 Thursday night. He made it clear that he will send forces to attack Syria via Idlib, vowing more defensive action as well. But Putin remarked that Russia did not agree with Turkey, hoping it would serve to lessen tension at Idlib. It will end the fighting and lessen suffering of the civilian population and prevent a crisis. With the ceasefire starting, Turkish troops were able score 21 Syrian troops as casualties, with two artillery pieces and two missile launchers were knocked out, This was for the death of two Turkish soldiers on Thursday at Idlib. Over 300 civilians and 100 children are the death count from military action last December at Idlib. Worst collateral damage is the one million people who were forced to go to the Turkish border, living in camps in the open, which is the worst humanitarian crisis in the Syrian civil war, according to the UN. Both leaders are keen on sending those refugees home and avoid a huge refugee problem. Turkey and Russia will maintain a secure corridor, on the key east-west highway that is located in Syria's Idlib and have joint patrols on March 15. Also read: Russia Sends Fourth Warship to the Mediterranean as Syria and Turkey Tensions Rise In the meeting with the Turkish and Russian foreign ministers, they said the two sides and the secure corridor stretches 6km (3.7 miles) to the north and 6km to the south of the M4 highway. Further talks between their defence ministers will iron the particulars in a week to clear everything out. Before the incident, Putin and Erdogan have kept everything under control even if the Syrians were allied to Russia, and Ankara was partial to the opposition in Idlib. Al-Assad said that Turkey was supporting dissidents, early on Thursday when tension arose between the two leaders, In an interview, Al-Assad told Russia 24 channel,"Erdogan is unable to tell the Turks why he is sending his army to fight in Syria and why his soldiers are being killed there because the issue has nothing to do with Turkish interests but with his Muslim Brotherhood ideology." The skirmish in Idlib that lead to the deaths of Turkish soldiers and the tension with Russia was the first expedition by Ankara to go up against Russian backed by Syrian forces. According to Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra, who reported near the Turkish- Syrian border, that Erdogan got huge concession from the Russian Leader. Ahelbarra was quoted about his opinion on the Putin-Erdogan meeting, which was a victory for Erdogan. The Turkish got the ceasefire plus the safe corridors and also resettlement of the civilians back into their areas. Without a doubt, the Russian and Turkey ceasefire is a success for Turkey. Related article: Russia Sends Fourth Warship to the Mediterranean as Syria and Turkey Tensions Rise @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advertisement Kate Middleton made her first appearance back in London after returning from her and Prince William's official tour of Ireland as she went shopping for books in Kensington. The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, was pictured carrying a huge bag of books as she stepped out of the Waterstones store near her Kensington Palace Home on Friday. A source told MailOnline that the mother-of-three had asked Waterstones staff for history and military-themed books for children. Kate opted for a matching blue polo neck jumper and overcoat, which she teamed with a pair of dark denim jeans, loafers and a black bag on a gold chain. Kate Middleton made her first appearance back in London after returning from her and Prince William's official tour of Ireland as she went shopping for books in Kensington The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, was pictured carrying a huge bag of books as she stepped out of the Waterstones store near her Kensington Palace Home on Friday She opted for a matching blue polo neck jumper and overcoat, which she teamed with a pair of dark denim jeans, loafers and a black bag on a gold chain The Duchess was seen opening her own car door as she stepped off the busy pavement with the Waterstones-branded bag slung over her shoulder As she carried the Waterstones-themed bag The Duchess was seen opening her own car door as she stepped off the busy pavement amid crowds of people. Kate has a keen interest in the development of young children and could well have been stocking up on books for her own children; Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, who is 11 months old. In January, she launched the early years development survey, which aims to spark a UK-wide conversation on raising the next generation. She revealed that 10,000 people had signed up in the first week of its launch. Prince William recently revealed that his children are fans of Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldson. It tells the story of a friendly witch who is threatened by a dragon. While on an engagement in South Wales last year, he said of the book: 'I read this to our children all the time.' Ms Donaldson's other popular book, The Gruffalo, is also read in the Cambridge household. George and Charlotte are also familiar with Harry Potter. Kate revealed in BBC documentary Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70 in 2018 that her husband reads the fantasy series to them. She said: 'He reads Harry Potter and he can do all the different voices and I think the children really appreciate that.' Kate's outing comes just two days after she joined her husband the Duke of Cambridge at a special event in Tribeton, Galway, during their three-day royal tour of Ireland. The couple had enjoyed a clifftop walk, were shown how to play the Irish sport of hurling and met performers, young people and volunteers taking part in this year's Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture events. Kate has a keen interest in the development of young children and could well have been stocking up on books for her own children; Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, who is 11 months old In January, she launched the early years development survey, which aims to spark a UK-wide conversation on raising the next generation Kate was flanked by a bodyguard as she stepped off the pavement in Kensington and climbed into her car Kate and Prince William will make their first public appearance alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle since the latter couple announced that they wish to step down as senior royals when they attend the Commonwealth Day service on Monday at Westminster Abbey. Harry and Meghan have been carrying out a string of final public appearances over the past few days in the wake of their decision to spend most of their time in Canada and earn their own income. The service at Westminster Abbey will be broadcast on BBC One and and across the world. The Queen used her Commonwealth Day message to praise the diversity of the family of nations whose blend of traditions 'serves to make us stronger'. Taking control: The Duchess did not need the help of her security team as she opened her car door She had the Waterstones-themed bag slung over her shoulder as she got into the back of her waiting car Kate was visiting the Waterstones book shop which is a very short drive from her home at Kensington Palace Kate looked calm and collected during her shopping trips for books in Kensington on Friday In her annual message, the head of state highlighted how global connectivity makes people aware their 'choices and actions' can affect the 'well-being of people and communities living far away' - and inspires many to be more careful with natural resources. The Queen's words will be printed in the order of service accompanying the Commonwealth Day service on Monday, which will also be attended by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and a 2,000-strong congregation. During the final day the royal Ireland tour, Kate and Prince William also travelled to the family-owned traditional Irish pub Tig Coili in Galway. The duchess recycled her bespoke military-style khaki coat by one of her much-loved designers, Alexander McQueen, which she wore on a visit to Bradford in January. Kate wore her hair in loose and flowing curls as she donned matching coat and polo neck while out shopping Kate added a pair of velvet loafers for her shopping trip, which she made without her husband, Prince William Kate is clearly a fan of Suzannah - she wore a white button-up gown by the British designer at Wimbledon last year. At one point, Kate looked bemused and ducked out of the way as her husband showed off his impressive juggling skills with four white balls. Kate appears to have taken to literal dressing - which involves turning up at an event and taking the theme of the occasion very literally - this trip, nailing the trend by selecting two green ensembles on day one, and opting for shamrock jewellery. She also wore a khaki green Dubarry jacket for a a romantic clifftop walk in the Howth peninsula with William the day before. The micro-mobility segment in North America has been characterized by companies that exploited city regulations, which neither ban or allow the use of those vehicles on streets, to push their e-scooters across sidewalks and public spaces overnight. Nonetheless, these aggressive techniques did help the micro-mobility segment's fortunes, as e-scooter startups like Bird and Lime soared to billion-dollar valuations in record time. Amongst the current crop of market leaders within the e-scooter space is San Francisco-based Spin, an e-scooter sharing company, which rolls out its e-scooters only across markets with sensible permit programs. "We were the first micro-mobility company in North America, launching in early 2017. The way we differ from our competitors is that we've always believed in innovation through policy," said Euwyn Poon, co-founder and president of Spin. The Ford Motor Company acquired Spin in late 2018, and since then, the company has grown from 24 employees to over 600 employees in North America today. Spin recently announced that it is expanding outside North America to Cologne, Germany, in the spring the first of many markets it is targeting in Europe. In addition to its expansion into Germany, Spin is applying for an e-scooter share permit in France and is also exploring possibilities in the U.K., including private partnerships and pending e-scooter share trials. Poon explained that it is vital for Spin to work with local governments through policy changes to make sure the company has a strong foothold in the markets it enters. "We don't believe in launching without permission. And we are focused on creating a sustainable business both from a unit economics perspective, as well as from a sustainability standpoint," he said. The company runs a Partnership Promise' program, in which it works closely with local governments for permission and also scales up its fleet responsibly. Spin also engages with private companies, advocacy and local community groups to brainstorm alternative mass mobility solutions that address existing challenges. Story continues Poon contended that the micro-mobility market is witnessing explosive growth, showing impressive gains especially across urban areas. The traditional auto industry has taken note, understanding the impact mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) will have on the future of transit. Ford's acquisition of Spin and cab-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft investing in micro-mobility startups and spin-offs bear testament to evolving consumer mobility preferences. "Micro-mobility is about vehicles that can carry one or two passengers up to five miles, while the traditional auto industry is made of heavy vehicles that can seat five passengers or more and travel long distances," said Poon. "Judging by consumer demand, there's plenty for a product that solves the micro-mobility problem we are seeing new business models and new vehicles attack this segment, and we're far from done." Since its inception, Spin has continued to experiment with its vehicle solutions. Though it started with regular pedal bicycles in 2017, Spin's fleet is now primarily concentrated in the e-scooter segment because e-scooters are preferred in the North American and European markets. As micro-mobility goes mainstream, it may set off a corresponding need for more infrastructure not just bike and scooter lanes, but also charging stations similar to the ones serving the electric vehicle industry. "Charging is a big component of our industry. Spin is a leading provider of charging stations, having rolled them out across North America," said Poon. "If users can pick up and drop off e-scooters at the charging station, it will save a lot of effort for the operations team to move the devices to the warehouse and back." Image by Boris Mayer from Pixabay See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. By IANS ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has issued an advisory pertaining to coverage of International Women's Day on March 8 and warned TV channels against airing "unethical slogans, play cards with objectionable content". The advisory issued on Friday urged channels to be "mindful of the fact that telecast of such controversial content is against the commonly accepted standards of decency as well as religious, social, cultural norms and sentiments of the public", Dawn news reported. "Furthermore, the airing of such vulgar/inappropriate content is not suitable for viewing on TV channels," it added. The notification did not elaborate on what kind of content would qualify as "controversial" or "vulgar". It also did not specify the objectionable slogan it referred to in the advisory. Pemra's advisory also instructed anchorpersons to be "careful in the selection of words/gestures and avoid putting such questions/comments which are bold/explicit". Register at porterhealth.com. New Beginnings Tours Expecting parents can get a 30-minute tour of the new labor, delivery, postpartum, and nursery areas at Porter Regional Hospital at 85 E. U.S. 6 in Valparaiso to get a better idea of what their birthing experience will be like. Tours will be held on 2 p.m. on the first two Saturdays of each month and at 6 p.m. on the last two Tuesdays of each month. The free tours will take place March 7, 14, 24 and 31. Space is limited, so register at porterhealth.com. Baby Basics Babies and toddlers are welcome in this class about a baby's development and ensuring a newborn's safety. Parents, grandparents and child care providers can learn about getting ready for baby, bathing, diapering, signs of illness, safety and newborn behaviors. The classes take place 5-7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in the Women & Childrens Pavilion classroom at Porter Regional Hospital at 85 E. US Highway 6 in Valparaiso. The next class takes place on March 9. Visit porterhealth.com to register. Childbirth Refresher GRAND BLANC TWP, MI A house fire in Grand Blanc Township has claimed a mans life. Firefighters at 11:51 p.m. on Friday, March 6, were dispatched to the fire scene at 1171 E. Hill Road. They arrived at 11:57 p.m., said Grand Blanc Township Fire Chief Robert Burdette. When we arrived, we had fire showing from the basement of the residence, he said. The fire was under control in like 20 minutes, but unfortunately, one individual was trapped in the basement. We brought him out and he was pronounced (deceased) once he arrived at the hospital. The deceaseds name is not being disclosed at this time, the chief said. The single-story building contained two apartment units, one in the basement and the other on the ground floor. Two residents of the first-floor unit escaped without injury, Burdette said. The fire started in the basement, but what caused it is unknown and being investigated, Burdette said. The home had no smoke detectors whatsoever, the chief added. The structure is not currently habitable and firefighters have contacted the American Red Cross to assist the survivors, Burdette said. Fire crews cleared the scene about 3 a.m. Saturday. No mutual aid was provided. Related: 2 fires reported in Grand Blanc Township; 3 people displaced New Mexico's history, architecture, and art are strongly rooted in Spanish settlers' traditions, and immigrants from Latin America are still moved by them up to this day. The customs and culture have an important influence throughout the town, from street names to adobe architecture to graphics, dancing and music. One of the easiest ways to improve the perception of Spanish language is to understand as much about the customs of Spanish heritage as you can. The practices are an important aspect of any civilization. Spain, and other Spanish-speaking countries such as Mexico, are filled with unusual customs, and they may only encourage you to plan a visit. Wherever you are in a Spanish course, you will enjoy some of the festivals, holidays and customs of the Mexican and Spanish customs on this list. Spanish Traditions Pinatas Most people might have seen cardboard pinatas on kids birthday parties adorned with brightly-colored paper. The blindfolded players try and hit the pinata with a stick, rip open and spill out inside fruit, candy and other goodies. The actual root of pinata is debated a lot. Many people think they came from China, animal types such as cows and bovines. Many sources claim that pinatas were created with gods and emerged in Mexico from the Aztecs and Mayans. While spiritual meaning lies in the history of the pinata, current pinatas are often used for party and celebration games. It is also one of the Mexican traditions that is most widely popular. Carnival Carnival celebrations are held in the Spanish-speaking countries between the end of January and the beginning of March, prior to Lent. The final hurrah to enjoy Carnival before Lent is generally known. During most of the day and the night there are many parties, including dance and music. Carnival Spanish rituals include costume dressing and wearing. Mexican Traditions Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe On December 12, each year in Mexico, faithful Catholics go to Mexico City every pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe. This date is commemorating the Virgin Mary's presence in 1531 with Juan Diego. Nobody thought that Juan Diego actually saw the Virgin and the people had asked him to return with evidence. As was told in the story, The Virgin reappeared and asked him to collect in his coat flowers. He came back to see Mexico City's archbishop and removed the flowers. A beautiful image of the Virgin had developed on the product that is shown in the basilica today. Many Mexican rituals like this one have religious meaning. Dia de la Independencia Dia de la Independencia occurs on the 16th of September, however the night prior begins when the President of Mexico rings the bell and yells "Vida Mexico!" It's one of Mexico's most famous practices. Every year on September 16, national military parades are held and people are adorned with the colors of the flag, tossed confetti and held parties to mark Mexico's independence from the Spanish colonization. Spanish Holidays Dia de los Muertos It is important to remember families and friends who have passed through in Hispanic cultures. Dia de los Muertos is an important day in Mexico, celebrated on 1 and 2 November. Mexican practices blend Catholic elements with Aztec rites for Dia de los Muertos. People make shrines with images, food as well as other objects in their homes, that have some connection with the departed. People even visit the tombs of their loved ones where they could spend countless hours or even a whole day. Semana Santa Semana Santa (Holy Week) is running from Palm Sunday to Paschal Sunday and it is one of Catholic countries ' main events of the year. During Easter, various regions of Mexico host special events. Many festivities of Week Santa include the dramatization of the Passion of Christ ("Christ's Passion"): cascarones, religious services and Passion Play. Spanish Superstitions Sweeping Over Feet Some Hispanic customs suggest this person would never be married if you sweep across someone's feet. It is also assumed that a reverse sprout will halt unwanted visitors behind your doorstep. Cutting Babies' Hair Maybe you want to think twice before you trim the hair of your baby. In Spanish superstition, the trimming of the hair of a child before it learns to walk would prevent it. Also, do not cut off his or her hair until turning one, if you want to teach your son or daughter how to speak Spanish. Nouakchott (Mauritania), 7 March 2020 (SPS) - Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould El-Sheikh Al-Ghazwani has asserted that Mauritania recognizes the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), and its position on the conflict in Western Sahara is known and is neutral. The Mauritanian president, in a meeting with the Mauritanian press at the presidential palace on Thursday, highlighted that concerning the Western Sahara issue, the Mauritanian position is fixed in this regard, namely, the recognition of the Sahrawi Republic, adoption of a position of positive neutrality and standing at the same distance between the brothers, which is a constant position that does not change. President Mohamed Ould El-Sheikh Al-Ghazwani underlined that Western Sahara is an issue on which Mauritania's position does not change, which is neutrality that should not remain negative as we are trying to be at the same distance between the brothers and neutrality must be positive and not stagnant, he affirmed. (SPS) 062/SPS/T Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment If youre like me, you grew up in a church where Lent was a foreign word. Like most things Catholic, it was ignored if not rejected. In recent years, I have come to see the error of our ways. I am now convinced that Lent holds enormous promise for us. This ancient discipline can be a pathway to healing and hope in our fractured, fearful world. What is Lent? Lent is derived from the Anglo-Saxon or Teutonic word Lencten, which means spring. As strange as it is to our ears, its easier than quadragesima, the Latin term for the period (meaning forty days or more literally, the fortieth day). Greeks called this season tessarakoste (fortieth). As its names imply, Lent is a forty-day observance that occurs each spring. (The forty-day period excludes Sundays, which are to be weekly celebrations of the Resurrection.) Why is Lent forty days long? Because Jesus fasted in the wilderness and was tempted for forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:2). As he used these days to prepare for his public ministry, so we are to use them to prepare for his resurrection and to minister in his name through the rest of the year. In addition, the Hebrews wandered in the wilderness for forty years of purification before entering their Promised Land. The world was flooded for forty days during the time of Noah, washing away the evil that had infested it. According to tradition, Jesus body lay forty hours in the tomb before the Easter miracle. All these facts led early Christians to set aside forty days before Easter for spiritual preparation and purification. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. It is always the seventh Wednesday before Easter Sunday. Its name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes on worshippers foreheads as a sign of mourning over the death which sin brings into the world. This observance reminds us of the death of Jesus and helps us realize the consequences of sin. How was Lent practiced historically? Lenten observance began very early, as both Irenaeus (died A.D. 202) and Tertullian (died A.D. 225) refer to it. It was originally very brief, a forty-hour fast, growing eventually to a week. By A.D. 325, the Council of Nicaea recognized forty days of Lent. In early centuries, Lent was observed with a strict fast. Only one meal a day was allowed, taken toward evening. Meat, fish, eggs, and milk products were forbidden. Over the centuries, regulations have loosened considerably. Today, many people give up something for Lent such as chocolate or television. Many abstain from meat on Fridays, Ash Wednesday, and Good Friday. Lent is also a time of penance, almsgiving, abstaining from festivities, and devoting more time than usual to religious exercises. In recent years, the Roman Catholic Church has placed more emphasis on these aspects than on physical fasting. Why is Lent relevant for evangelicals? Three reasons for observing some form of Lenten practice suggest themselves, in ascending importance. One: we need to live in community with the larger body of Christ. Since the vast majority of Christians practice some form of Lenten observance, joining them in some way is a good step toward solidarity of faith and ministry. This is also an important witness to others, answering Jesus prayer, May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me (John 17:23). Two: we cannot fully appreciate Jesus resurrection unless we have experienced something of his sufferings. A fast of some sort is an appropriate means of spiritual identification with our Lords suffering for us. Three: we need a period each year for intentional spiritual introspection and contemplation. John R. W. Stott said that he required an hour a day, a day a week, and a week a year to be alone with his Lord. We need a time every year for spiritual renewal. Just as students need a Spring Break, so do souls. Lent is a wonderful season for such renewal: as the physical world is renewing itself, so should the spiritual. Can a spiritual discipline practiced for more than seventeen centuries by the vast majority of Christians be irrelevant for us today? Originally posted at denisonforum.org An Garda Siochana would not say if Sean Lucey was sacked after his conviction An Garda Siochana is refusing to say if a Public Order Unit garda who was given a 12-month suspended sentence yesterday for assaulting an RTE cameraman has been sacked. Garda Sean Lucey (42) received a fully suspended year-long sentence for assaulting RTE cameraman Colm Hand during an anti-racism protest in Dublin city centre in February, 2016. When asked if Lucey is still employed by An Garda Sioch- ana, a spokesperson for the force said it does "not discuss or comment on matters of internal discipline". Lessons The refusal to comment comes after Mr Hand said he was pleased with the ruling, but hopes "lessons will be learned" from the incident. "I have enormous respect for the gardai. Through my work as a cameraman I see every day the important and difficult job that they do," he told the Herald. Expand Close Colm Hand / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Colm Hand "However, it is vital that journalists, photographers and camera people are able to cover protests and public-interest events without fear of attack. "I'm pleased with today's outcome and I look forward to putting the incident behind me. "I'd like to thank Judge [Melanie] Greally for her considered judgment, and Stuart Duguid from the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission for his professionalism and fairness in investigating this case. "My thanks also to all of the witnesses in the trial, in particular those who shot videos of the assault and were brave enough to come to court and stand behind them." Lucey, who has been stationed at Crumlin Village and Sundrive Road garda stations, had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of assault causing harm to Mr Hand at Cathedral Street, Dublin city centre, on February 6, 2016 and to damaging his camera. Following a five-day trial last December, a jury convicted him of assaulting Mr Hand and acquitted him of criminal damage. Lucey stepped out from a line of Public Order Unit gardai and struck the camera of Colm Hand, an experienced RTE cameraman covering the protests. He then swung his baton with full force and struck Mr Hand to the groin. The victim sustained significant bruising and pain. Regret Judge Greally rejected a characterisation by Lucey of the assault on Colm Hand as an error of judgment and excessive conduct. She said Lucey's statement of regret fell short of an apology, and an offer to make a donation to a charity of Mr Hand's choice did not represent a suitable gesture of remorse. "There are public interest issues at play in this case. A transgression of this kind must be seen to carry serious consequences," she said. The judge added that she would suspend the prison sentence on the basis of Lucey's absence of previous offending and his unblemished record of service with gardai. Judge Greally said that given these facts, she viewed Lucey's offending as an aberration. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-08 03:25:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAIRO, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Egypt announced on Saturday that 33 new cases tested positive for the novel coronavirus, bringing the number of confirmed cases in Egypt to 48. A total of "33 new cases have been discovered onboard a tourist's Nile cruise ship in Upper Egypt's Luxor city, raising the number of confirmed cases on the ship to 45," Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed told reporters at the Council of Ministers in Cairo. Egyptian Health Ministry announced on Friday that 12 Egyptians on the same ship tested positive for the COVID-19, adding that the individuals onboard were having the needed tests. A total of "11 out of the 12 cases that were confirmed Friday tested negative today and will be transferred to quarantine," the minister said. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, Egypt has adopted an integrated plan which covers early detection, quarantine and treatment measures, as well as raising public awareness. FBI actor Derek Hedlund has revealed doctors warned he could be forced to have his leg amputated - after he became infected by a strain of 'flesh-eating' bacteria. Derek was helping a friend move a jet ski in New Jersey in July when he was clawed by a crab, with the 'tiny' cut swelling alarmingly, he told Page Six. He says a doctor told him: 'You see this line on your leg? That is the [vibriosis] spreading up your leg. You can literally see it.' He was warned that if the bacteria continued to progress, the only solution would be amputation. Back at work: FBI star Derek Hedlund is seen on set, a month after he was told doctors might need to AMPUTATE his leg after flesh-eating bacteria infected a 'tiny' crab scratch The bacterial strain that infected Hedlund was identified as Vibrio, which in rare cases can cause necrotizing fasciitis, or flesh-eating disease. There are around a dozen different types of Vibrio bacteria that can cause various forms of vibriosis, some more dangerous than others. Luckily medics managed to resolve Hedlund's infection - and he was soon back on set, filming the second series of his CBS show. A picture shared to Instagram around this time, showed Hedlund on crutches on the FBI set on August 3. Before the infection: Hedlund on vacation before the incident He wrote: 'When @FBICBS Calls I answer! Even if I cant walk! Wait until you see what Agent JT had to do for this episode even though he showed up in Crutches! Dedication LOL. Catch me in our Season Two Premiere this September 24th on CBS! No breaks for the FBI!' He told Page Six he discharged himself from hospital against medical advice to film the show in August. And one of his first scenes involved chasing terrorists through Central Park. 'I did what I needed to do, and I'm still alive,' the actor said. In 2014 the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) ordered Google and other search engines that operate in Europe to allow individuals to ask the sites to delist certain search results relating to a persons name, if the information is inadequate, irrelevant or excessive in relation to the purposes of the processing. (Photo | Flickr - Ervins Strauhmanis) Madrid: A Spanish court on Friday partially accepted Googles appeal against a ruling ordering it to erase news articles about a psychologist accused of sexual abuse, but said the search engine must show stories about his acquittal first. The unidentified man was tried and cleared of three counts of sexual abuse, for which he faced a possible jail term of 27 years. Spains Data Protection Agency in 2017 ruled in favour of his bid to have Google remove news stories relating to the case that appeared when his name was typed into it, telling the search engine to block eight of 10 contested story links. But Google appealed and on Friday, the National Court ruled that freedom of expression took precedence over personal data protection, although it said the search engine should ensure the more recent stories of his acquittal. It said that because of the mans profession, there is a legitimate interest on the part of internet users to have access to said information, which was published in local media. The court added had also based its ruling on the fact that the news stories were published relatively recently, and not outdated. Google had argued the articles were in the public interest and that access to them should be protected by freedom of speech laws. It also maintained they were of current interest so the right to data protection should not apply in this case. In 2014 the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) ordered Google and other search engines that operate in Europe to allow individuals to ask the sites to delist certain search results relating to a persons name, if the information is inadequate, irrelevant or excessive in relation to the purposes of the processing. Google has said it evaluates each request on a case-by-case basis. The company says it weighs the public interest when determining when to remove a link. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Six more San Francisco residents are infected with COVID-19, bringing the city's total cases to eight, health officials said Saturday. All six are isolated at home and are in good condition, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health "These newly confirmed cases are an indication of the increasing circulation of coronavirus in the community, as expected, given the patterns in our state, region and our own city," said Dr. Grant Colfax, Director of Health. Of the six patients, three are women and three are men. Two are in their 20s, three in their 40s, and one in their 50s. All six have had known contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient, health officials said. The Department of Public Health is working with the patients and their families to monitor their health and precautions are being taken to protect their health and the health of the public, health officials said. "San Franciscans should remain calm, and take appropriate steps for heightened precautions," Colfax said. The news underscores the need for residents to follow recommendations for social distancing, to reduce the spread of the virus and protect community health. Starting Monday, the Department of Public Health will post confirmed cases on their website, updated daily, at www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/coronavirus.asp . A media availability is set for 3 p.m. Saturday with Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco Deputy Health Officer, at 25 Van Ness Ave., room 610 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. WASHINGTON Attorney General William P. Barr testified before Congress last spring that its time for everybody to move on from the special counsel investigation into whether Trump associates conspired with Russias 2016 election interference. Nearly a year later, however, it is clear that Mr. Barr has not moved on from the investigation at all. Rather, he increasingly appears to be chiseling away at it. The attorney generals handling of the results of the Russia inquiry came under fire when a federal judge questioned this week whether Mr. Barr had sought to create a one-sided narrative clearing Mr. Trump of misconduct. The judge said Mr. Barr displayed a lack of candor in remarks that helped shape the public view of the special counsels report before it was released in April. In fact, Mr. Barrs comments then were but the first in a series of actions in which he cast doubt not just on the findings of the inquiry by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, and some of the resulting prosecutions, but on its very premise. In the process, Mr. Barr demoralized some of the departments rank and file and lent credence to Republican politicians who seek to elevate the Mueller investigation into an election-year political issue including Mr. Trump. Patna, March 7 : A Patna court will hear the anticipatory bail plea of expelled Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Prashant Kishor in the content theft case on March 12. Complainant Shashwat Gautam had accused the expelled Janata Dal-United leader and his staffer Osama of content theft for Kishor's 'Baat Bihar Ki' campaign and lodged a fraud case with the Patliputra police station. The case was scheduled for hearing in Patna Civil court on Saturday, but since the police failed to produce the case diary and counsel for the complainant didn't submit the application opposing Kishor's anticipatory bail plea to Kishor's lawyer, the court posted the case for hearing after Holi. Prashant Kishor's media in-charge Shivaji Dubey said, "The police have now given the case diary to the court, and the next hearing in the case will be on March 12." Notably, National Coordinator of the All India Congress Committee's (AICC) Data Analytics Department, Gautam filed a fraud case at Patliputra police station in Patna accusing Prashant Kishor of stealing content for the campaign 'Baat Bihar Ki'. Osama has also been convicted in the FIR. As per the complaint, Gautam created a project called 'Bihar Ki Baat' the details of which were handed over to Kishor by Osama who earlier worked with Gautam, but had resigned. Boris Johnson is to be investigated by Parliament's sleaze watchdog over his 15,000 winter break to the Caribbean, according to reports. The Prime Minister and his partner Carrie Symonds accepted accommodation for a private break in St Vincent and the Grenadines as a post-election victory escape. But confusion reigned after Mr Johnson declared in the register of MPs' interests that he had accepted "accommodation for a private holiday for my partner and me, value 15,000", citing businessman David Ross as the provider. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and partner Carrie Symonds in the stands during the Guinness Six Nations match at Twickenham Stadium, London today. Confusion reigned after Mr Johnson declared in the register of MPs' interests that he had accepted "accommodation for a private holiday for my partner and me, value 15,000", citing businessman David Ross as the provider A spokesman for Mr Ross then denied that the co-founder of the Carphone Warehouse had stumped up any money. But the Conservative Party donor's spokesman later clarified his stance, agreeing it was a "benefit in kind" to the PM and Ms Symonds during their private break to the island of Mustique. The Observer said the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Kathryn Stone, decided to pursue an official inquiry into Mr Johnson on Wednesday, and has requested information from the PM and Mr Ross. It follows calls from Labour for an inquiry into how the PM came to enjoy the free provision of a five-figure villa. In a letter to the commissioner last month, shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Trickett said: "The Code of Conduct requires members to provide the name of the person or organisation that actually funded a donation. Pictured: The Prime Minister, Miss Symonds and Point of Light Award winner Lizzie Carr. Boris Johnson is to be investigated by Parliament's sleaze watchdog over his 15,000 winter break to the Caribbean, according to reports "The evidence now suggests it was not David Ross. The entry made by the Prime Minister therefore appears to be incorrect." The trip provided Mr Johnson with a break after the election campaign, which produced a Conservative landslide for the first time since the 1980s. But he faced criticism for failing to cut the festive holiday short when international tensions rose after the US killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on January 3. The Commissioner would investigate whether Mr Johnson has broken the MPs' code of conduct, and forward any findings onto the Committee on Standards which would review the evidence and, if appropriate, recommend a penalty. Mr Johnson and Ms Symonds announced last week that they became engaged at the end of 2019, and are expecting a baby early this summer. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 22:32:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's government announced on Saturday adopting a number of measures to curb a potential outbreak of COVID-19 in the war-ravaged Arab country. The government's national ministerial committee approved a number of precautionary measures including tightening up surveillance and diagnosis by the health authorities, said a statement released by the state-run Saba News Agency. It added that the country's Foreign Affairs Ministry decided to temporarily suspend issuing visas for foreigners wishing to visit Yemen. It also urged foreigners to clearly disclose whether they have previously visited Iran or other countries affected by the coronavirus during the past 14 days upon their arrival in Yemen. In addition, the Yemeni government called on all of its citizens to abide by the ban on travel to Iran "under any circumstances." To date, the Yemeni authorities have not yet reported a single case of the novel coronavirus in the country's war-ravaged provinces. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of capital Sanaa. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) The Sunday Streets event in the Mission District scheduled for Sunday, the Arbor Week eco fair and a tree planting kickoff scheduled for Saturday, and an American Lung Association stair climb fundraiser are among events in San Francisco this weekend that have been cancelled "out of an abundance of caution" due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency. Events at Davies Symphony Hall scheduled for Saturday through March 20 have also been cancelled under an order from San Francisco Mayor London Breed that closes all War Memorial Performing Arts Center venues for two weeks. "We regret having to make this decision but are following the official recommendation by San Francisco health officials to avoid large, non-essential gatherings," San Francisco Public Works announced Friday in a news release about the tree planting. "Safeguarding our communities and protecting public health is our top priority." The annual Fight for Air Climb, a California benefit for the American Lung Association scheduled for Saturday in San Francisco, has also been called off. "The health and well-being of Lung Association event participants, volunteers, staff and partners remains our top priority. We are especially sensitive to the health of those with lung disease who may have planned to attend our Climb." said Carrie Nash, executive director of the American Lung Association - San Francisco. Livable City, sponsor of Sunday Streets Mission originally planned for this Sunday, said it would also comply with the recommendation to cancel non-essential community events, and the New Conservatory Theatre Center on Van Ness Avenue has cancelled all performances from Saturday through March 21. The Bob Ross LGBT Senior Center in San Francisco announced it has cancelled all programs and group activities scheduled on Sunday and Monday and said the schedule for the remainder of the week is being evaluated. 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. GOVERNMENT has dismissed findings by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food that food shortages in the country are man-made saying the situation is a result of a combination of factors including sanctions and climate change. In her preliminary report at the end of her visit, the Special Rapporteur, Ms Hilal Elve, who was invited into the country by Government last year on a fact-finding mission, concluded that the country was on the verge of a major man-made famine characterised by partisan food distribution and repeated droughts. Presenting Governments response to the rapporteurs findings during the 43rd Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland last week, Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabiza said the report failed to capture the correct picture. Madame President, indeed the Special Rapporteur correctly observed that the country faces economic challenges due to the continued imposition of illegal sanctions, which has hampered the realisation of socio-economic rights, said Mrs Mabiza. This is being compounded by successive droughts and the devastating Tropical Cyclone Idai. These factors have negatively impacted on the food security of our citizens particularly the vulnerable. Mrs Mabiza accused the Special Rapporteur of exaggerating the scale of food shortages and insisted the shortages were not man-made. She added that Ms Elves field visits were limited to places at the extreme end of the food situation spectrum. The Government of Zimbabwe wishes to reiterate that the Special Rapporteurs view that the majority of the population is suffering from food insecurity is grossly exaggerated. Statistics to that effect are clearly illustrated in our submitted response. Furthermore, the assertion that Zimbabwe faces a man-made food crisis is a misrepresentation of our food security situation, which is a direct result of sanctions and the effect of climate change as correctly observed by the Special Rapporteur herself. While the Government acknowledges that there is a need for food aid, it is, however, of the view that the population sampled by the Special Rapporteur was limited and less reflective of the broader context of the food and agricultural situation in Zimbabwe. Her findings were limited to a few field visits, which at a minimum, are at the extreme end of the food situation spectrum. The Special Rapporteur, said Mrs Mabiza, failed to take into account safety nets and measures being implemented by the Government and how they are impacting on the enjoyment of the right to food. Government is implementing programmes that include the targeted food handout scheme for food insecure households, distribution of subsidised maize meal, providing agricultural finance and inputs and importation of maize. Mrs Mabiza said Government was importing grain to boost food security. Regarding sanctions, it is a historical fact that they were imposed by some Western countries in retaliation to Zimbabwes decision to launch the land reform programme in early 2000 to correct the skewed land tenure system inherited from the colonial era, she said. These sanctions are illegal, unjustified and violate Article 41 of the United Nations Charter. As a result of these sanctions, in the past two decades, Zimbabwe lost potential revenue which includes: bilateral donor support; loans from multilateral lending institutions; denial of lines of credit; and the regression of infrastructure development. She added: Madame President, the Government also brings to your attention other unfounded assertions by the Special Rapporteur, which include alleged partisan distribution of food aid and diversion of proceeds from mineral sales respectively. In respect of food distribution, the Government has put in place a structure for the transparent selection and distribution of food relief composed of public servants and NGOs. A poster from 1918 encourages citizens to write a postcard and lobby Congress in support of daylight saving time. Read more One of Americas most contentious hours officially doesnt exist. On the issue of daylight saving time, which began officially at 2 a.m. Sunday or was that 3 a.m.? America is a nation divided. Either way, the citizenry loses a precious weekend hour; in exchange, millions more folks get to eat their dinners before dark. According to the National Conference of State Legislators, lawmakers in 32 states are considering bills that would change the current system of splitting the year into about eight months of daylight time and the rest, standard. Its been a hot issue, said Jim Reed, an NCSL official. And its getting hotter, he added. Every year more state lawmakers are considering changing the system. The preponderance are pushing for year-round daylight time, although Congress has forbidden states from doing so. Pennsylvania has four different proposed time-change bills, and three of those essentially endorse year-round daylight time. Yet, if the issue were put to a national primary, all-standard, all-the-time would win decisively, according to a poll conducted last year. More than 70% of those surveyed said, Please, stop with the changes, period. The nation did try year-round daylight time back in 1974, during an energy crisis brought on by an oil shortage. It was not well-received. It went into effect on Jan. 3, and a whole lot of folks didnt like the idea of the sun rising over what used to be their coffee-break time. By the end of the month, the national school boards association called for an immediate cease-and-desist order because school buses were ferrying kids in the dark. Florida state officials blamed morning darkness for eight deaths. On Sept. 30, Congress decreed an end, and the clocks went back on Oct. 27, 1974. According to the Congressional Research Service, DST began in Germany on May 1, 1916, as a war-conservation measure. The idea caught on across the continent and eventually landed in the United States in 1918. The first DST clock move-up didnt go over well. It occurred March 31, which happened to be Easter. Clergy and church-goers were not pleased at how this affected sunrise services. Congress eventually abolished the plan, but reinstated it for good (depending on ones perspective) in 1966. But not everyone cooperates: The clocks dont change in Arizona or Hawaii, which is about halfway to tomorrow from the Eastern Time Zone. Through the years, DST has encroached on standard time, which is by no means the standard anymore. Its in effect only about four months a year, including day-challenged February. Daylight saving time now constitutes two-thirds of the year. DST critics have pointed to studies pointing to possible connections to an increase in heart disease when the clocks go up, and the impacts of disrupted body rhythms resulting from disrupted sleep patterns. Proponents say later sunsets mean more Vitamin D and more opportunities to luxuriate in the later twilights. All that said, we are confident that the clock change will not be particularly popular on Monday morning. Technavio has been monitoring the hypercar market and it is poised to grow by 2,690 units during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 38% 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. Request a free sample report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200306005300/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Hypercar Market 2020-2024 (Photo: Business Wire) The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Pagani Automobili Spa, Rimac Automobili, Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG and Zenvo Automotive AS. are some of the major market participants. The increase in racing events will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Increase in racing events has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Hypercar Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Hypercar Market is segmented as below: Powertrain type Gasoline Hybrid/electric Geographic segmentation Americas APAC EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40811 Hypercar Market 2020-2024: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our hypercar market report covers the following areas: Hypercar Market Size Hypercar Market Trends Hypercar Market Industry Analysis This study identifies use of ai for the development of autonomous hypercars as one of the prime reasons driving the hypercar market growth during the next few years. Hypercar Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the hypercar market, including some of the vendors such as Pagani Automobili Spa, Rimac Automobili, Toyota Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG and Zenvo Automotive AS. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the hypercar market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Hypercar Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist hypercar market growth during the next five years Estimation of the hypercar market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behaviour The growth of the hypercar market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of hypercar market vendors Table of Content PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Value chain analysis Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2019 Market outlook Market size and forecast 2019-2024 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 07: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison EMEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Americas Market size and forecast 2019-2024 APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 08: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY POWERTRAIN TYPE Market segmentation by powertrain type Comparison by powertrain type Gasoline Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Hybrid/electric Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by powertrain type PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Introduction of new hypercars Use of AI for the development of autonomous hypercars Emergence of electric hypercars PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenario PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc Daimler AG Ferrari NV Koenigsegg Automotive AB McLaren Group Ltd. Pagani Automobili Spa Rimac Automobili Toyota Motor Corp. Volkswagen AG Zenvo Automotive AS PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations Definition of market positioning of vendors PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO 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/20200306005300/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Security Concerns in Kenya Follow Unrest on Somalia Border By Rael Ombuor March 06, 2020 Kenyan authorities say one person is dead and 11 others injured after clashes in Somalia this week spilled across the border into Kenya. Now local leaders from Kenyan border areas are demanding action. Leaders from the region say tensions on the Kenya-Somalia border have been simmering for a while and that Kenya's national government has failed to pay attention. They voiced their concerns Friday during a press conference in Nairobi. Among them, Ali Roba, governor of the Kenyan border town of Mandera. He spoke of the trouble in Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Jubaland, where the Somali military has been involved in clashes with fighters linked to Ahmed Madobe, president of the Jubaland region. "Over the last one month, there has been a major fallout between the regional government of Jubaland and the federal government of Somalia," Roba said. "On Monday, the 2nd of March, the two forces attacked each other with unknown casualties on both sides but left 12 people injured in Mandera town due to stray bullets, where one succumbed to the injuries." Officials in Mandera also say a number of people fearing for their safety fled to safer areas because of the violence. Also this week, Somali media reported that Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo spoke by phone with Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta regarding security and that they agreed to work together on their common interests. Kenya's president had accused Somalia of a "flagrant breach" of Kenya's territorial integrity. Kenya shares a 682-kilometer border with Somalia and has in the past attempted to secure parts of it by building a fence. There have been concerns that terrorists may take advantage of the porous border. Roba says the situation along the border has Kenyans questioning whether their government can adequately protect them. He says the government needs to expel people whom he calls "foreigners" from Mandera. "The situation taking shape in Mandera County is that of eroded public trust in their own government as a result of neglect, misplaced priorities, putting the interest of the external region over and above that of its own citizens," he said. "We refuse to accept that the interests of other external entities supersedes that of our population. We therefore demand that our government expel these foreign forces from Mandera with immediate effect." Regional leaders also asked the national government for humanitarian help for the hundreds of internally displaced persons. Meanwhile, Kenya is considering pulling out of the African Union mission in Somalia after eight years of fighting the Somali militant group al-Shabab. The al-Qaida-linked group has attacked Kenya for its involvement in supporting the AU mission in Somalia. Kenya has also hosted thousands of Somali refugees who fled civil war in their country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zip up your parka, lace up your boots and dress in your warmest woollies for some worship experiences on the wild side. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Zip up your parka, lace up your boots and dress in your warmest woollies for some worship experiences on the wild side. Tonight a pair of United Church of Canada ministers lead a worship service at Assiniboine Park as part of the wild church movement, which calls worshippers out of their church buildings and back to nature. "Going outside and worshipping is connecting what we love with what we want to save," says Lori Stewart, development co-ordinator at Centre for Christian Studies. Stewart and Karen Tjaden, a minister in Carman and Elm Creek, founded Prairie to Pine Church in the Wild last fall after hearing about the movement that ties Christian worship to environmental concerns. Since then, theyve met monthly at various locations near Carman, and their first Winnipeg meeting takes place today at 5 p.m. at the firepits near the volleyball courts in Assiniboine Park. "I like the creativity of preparing worship for an outdoor setting," says Tjaden, who incorporates more movement in outside worship compared to a traditional church service. "All of our worship has incorporated walking or wandering in the setting." They ask potential worshippers to be prepared for the cold weather, with the service running about 60 minutes and including some walking time. "We had to cancel for road conditions once, but I never want to cancel because of the weather," says Tjaden. Wild church worship is more than just moving traditional Christian services outdoors, but instead incorporates aspects of nature and peoples responses to it, says the convener of the Wild Church Network, which has about 75 members across North America. "Its part of the purpose of the wild church movement. No matter what our weather and climate, instead of complaining about it, we just embrace it," says Victoria Loorz, a co-leader of Echoes Wild Church in Bellingham, Wash. Loorz estimates there are about 400 wild church groups, sometimes referred to as forest churches, in North America, with more emerging every month. A new group is just in the organizing stage in Winnipeg, says Justin Eisinga, a graduate theological student at Canadian Mennonite University. "Its about cultivating a discipleship of following Jesus thats intent on caring for the watershed in our own backyard," says Eisinga of the reason for the group. "We gather in that watershed and to listen to and experience God in that place." Loorzs group of up to two dozen people meets monthly at a public park for up to two hours of walking, sharing and prayer. She says every group has a different practice and rhythm, with some wild churches transplanting their denominational liturgy to an outdoor setting and others taking a more ecumenical stance and attracting people who wouldnt attend regular churches. Whatever the practice, Loorz says the wild church movement goes beyond a personal spiritual experience in the mountains or at the lake to bring people together to understand their relationship to creation. "It recognizes that we all come from an indigenous religion that was directly connected with the land, including Judaism and Christianity," says Loorz, who led a wild church in Ojai, Calif., before moving to Washington state a year ago. The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you appreciate that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow us to deepen our reporting about faith in the province. Thanks! BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. She says as people pay attention to the natural surroundings, they also pay attention to their human community in the same settings. Wild church services can also help people deal with the climate crisis as they notice changes in nature, says Loorz. "Its paying attention to the grief I feel were all carrying, this climate grief, even if we dont name it," says Loorz, also a co-founder of an outdoor ministry training program called Seminary in the Wild. "Its giving people a ritual and ceremony and a way to process that grief." Worshipping outside also provides context and meaning to the many biblical passages that refer to nature, says Tjaden, who lives on a rural property near Homewood, east of Carman. "It lifts up that natural and environmental voice in Scripture and helps us hear it in a different way," she says. brenda@suderman.com Port City pact released to RTIC for scrutiny By Ranjith Padmasiri View(s): View(s): Following public hearings under the Right to Information Act (RTI) after environmental activists and affected fisherfolk filed an appeal to the Right to Information Commission (RTIC), the Tripartite Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and CHEC Port City Colombo (Pvt) Ltd was released to the RTIC on March 3. The Port City Agreement, as it is commonly called, was released for the perusal of the Commission by the Urban Development Ministry, which took over as the supervisory agency of the Port City from the earlier Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development. This came after an order issued by the Commission under the RTI Act. The Act allows the Commission to inspect documents withheld from public release by government bodies and decide if the objection to release is legitimate or not. Several citizens had petitioned the Commission against the refusal of the Government to release the Agreement under a Right to Information request. They complained the activities of the Port City had begun without the Agreement being released to the public, without proper environmental approvals and in a context where serious harm had been already caused to the environment. In particular, they pointed out sand mining from the Port City project would result in the erosion of the Western Coast with Negombo fisher folk being badly affected. Further, they also said Port City high-rise buildings would affect Colombo. But the Megapolis Ministry had refused to release the Tripartite Agreement citing confidentiality clauses in the Agreement and arguing that disclosure of the information would cause serious prejudice to the economy of Sri Lanka by disclosing premature decisions to change or continue government, economic or financial policies relating to; entering into overseas agreements. In the hearings before the RTI Commission on appeal, the Government was directed to produce the Tripartite Agreement before the Commission. The order was complied with. The Government was also being called upon to answer as to how a concluded Agreement could be regarded as a premature release of information and if so, to demonstrate by citation of specific clauses where negotiations were said to be ongoing. The fact that confidentiality clauses in an Agreement cannot, by themselves, shut out the RTI Act has been emphasized along with the fact that the information refused to be disclosed must be clearly marked as confidential at the time that the information was given by a third party to the Public Authority. In this case, as it relates to the release of an Agreement between the Government and a third party and is of significant public interest in Sri Lanka, the Government has been directed to strictly substantiate its position as to why the information could not be released. The Urban Development Ministry has, meanwhile, been ordered by the Commission to produce all environmental assessment reports relating to the Port City Project. The appeal is ongoing. The next date on which it will be called before the RTIC is March 17. The federal treasurer is calling on Australians to keep calm over the effects of the coronavirus, as police investigate a physical fight that broke out between three women at a Chullora Woolworths in an apparent dispute over toilet paper. Footage captured by a shopper and circulated on social media on Saturday shows Woolworths staff intervening in the dispute and urging those involved to "back off right now" from a trolley stacked with jumbo packs of toilet rolls. Footage of the women allegedly fighting over toilet paper at the Woolworths in Chullora on Saturday. Credit:Nine News "I just want one pack," a shopper involved in the fracas says to another woman at the helm of the overflowing trolley. The incident is the latest in a series of scuffles in supermarkets as shoppers panic-buy products in a bid to prepare for the likely spread of the novel coronavirus. Supermarket shelves have been stripped bare in some suburbs. Twenty-one people about a Grand Princess Cruise that was headed to San Francisco have tested positive for coronavirus, or COVID-19, Princess Cruises announced Friday. The confirmed cases include 19 crewmembers and 2 guests aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship, which was on its way from Hawaii to San Francisco but due to the circumstances, remains off the coast of California, "We are awaiting official specific plans for future positioning of the ship from relevant authorities. We will continue to closely follow the guidance of the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control) and other federal and state government authorities, and provide updates as they are made available," Princess Cruises officials said on Twitter. Earlier this week, a Placer County resident died from COVID-19 after returning from a cruise to Mexico on the same Grand Princess ship. The ship, carrying more than 3,500 passengers, is expected to dock at a "non-commercial port" in California this weekend, Vice President Mike Pence announced. With two already confirmed cases of coronavirus in San Francisco, city officials on Friday issued new recommendations for residents to minimize the risk of contracting the virus. Officials with the city's Department of Public Health are recommending people stay away from large gatherings for now to stop person-from-person transmission, although essential outings like getting food, going to work, or providing for a sick family member can be continued. The city is recommending large gatherings such as concerts, sporting events, conventions or large community events be cancelled. The San Jose City Council on Monday will discuss a proposal by Mayor Sam Liccardo calling for a temporary moratorium on evictions amid major concerns regarding COVID-19. "We're going to learn as we go here," Liccardo said at a news conference Friday afternoon. "We may need to tweak as we learn more." The proposal, which would last for 30 days, asks that landlords be prohibited from evicting a tenant who has suffered wage loss in the wake of absences from work due to COVID-19. "We know there's no perfect formulation here," Liccardo said. "We're just trying to do the best we can to enable tenants to be able to hang on." He said he hopes the city will not have to enforce such a policy for non-compliant landlords, but said San Jose will likely look toward its "Just Cause" evictions policies for guidelines of enforcement. "Also, we have a lot of small 'Mom and Pop' landlords that are hanging on, depending on this revenue to be able to help them pay their mortgage or to get through the month as well," Liccardo said. "So we want to do everything we can to help them." The California Apartment Association did not immediately return requests Friday for comment on the proposal. A 42-year-old man was killed Monday night in West Berkeley when a vehicle collapsed on him and crushed him to death, police said. An investigation indicated that there had been a recent attempt to remove the catalytic converter of the vehicle that collapsed on the man, who has been identified by the Alameda County coroner's bureau as Omar Zuniga, who had no permanent address. Officers responded to the 900 block of Folger Street at 8:12 p.m. on Monday to investigate a report of a person stuck underneath a vehicle, police said. When the officers arrived, it appeared that the hand-cranked jack Zuniga used to lift the vehicle collapsed, dropping the vehicle to the ground and crushing him underneath the vehicle, according to police. Berkeley firefighters were able to lift the vehicle to free Zuniga but were unable to revive him, police said. Officers located a battery-powered reciprocating saw underneath the rear of the vehicle, according to police. A five-time felon was convicted of first-degree murder and other charges on Friday for the fatal shooting of a longtime friend in East Oakland two years ago. Roosevelt Vines, 40, admitted in his trial that he fatally shot 36-year-old Mario Thomas of Oakland in the 7100 block of International Boulevard at about 4:10 p.m. on Aug. 27, 2018, but claimed it was an accident. Vines said he was just showing off his gun to Thomas when it suddenly went off and a single shot hit him in the head and killed him. Under cross-examination by Alameda County prosecutor Charly Weissenbach, Vines said Thomas "was one of my close friends" and "didn't deserve to die." After deliberating for about two-and-a-half days, jurors convicted Vines, who has long dreadlocks and wore a white shirt when he testified, of being an ex-felon in possession of a gun and dissuading a witness in addition to murder. They also convicted him of the enhancement of causing a death by discharging a firearm. Vines' lawyer Chris Lamiero said he and Vines are "disappointed" by the verdict. A man who later died after seven Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety officers administered CPR in an attempt to revive him Thursday tested negative for the COVID-19 virus, officials said in a news release Friday. Santa Clara County Public Health notified the department Friday of the negative test result. The 72-year-old man had been on a cruise ship with two other passengers suspected of having the coronavirus and the officers were quarantined at home after the potential exposure. Public safety spokesman Capt. Craig Anderson said officers responded Thursday to a call involving a person having some sort of cardiac emergency. The man was unconscious and not breathing. The officers gave him CPR but no mouth-to-mouth contact was made, Anderson said. A suspicious device that prompted police to cordon off an area of North Berkeley early Friday afternoon has been rendered safe, authorities said. The device was reported on Shattuck Avenue near Rose Street, an area close to the Kamado Sushi restaurant, a CVS Pharmacy store and a Safeway grocery store, according to Berkeley police Lt. Mel Turner. Officers cordoned off the area and the police bomb team responded to the scene and rendered the device safe, Turner said. The Sunday Streets event in the Mission District scheduled for Sunday, the Arbor Week eco fair and a tree planting kickoff scheduled for Saturday, and an American Lung Association stair climb fundraiser are among events in San Francisco this weekend that have been cancelled "out of an abundance of caution" due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency. Events at Davies Symphony Hall scheduled for Saturday through March 20 have also been cancelled under an order from San Francisco Mayor London Breed that closes all War Memorial Performing Arts Center venues for two weeks. The annual Fight for Air Climb, a California benefit for the American Lung Association scheduled for Saturday in San Francisco, has also been called off. Livable City, sponsor of Sunday Streets Mission originally planned for this Sunday, said it would also comply with the recommendation to cancel non-essential community events, and the New Conservatory Theatre Center on Van Ness Avenue has cancelled all performances from Saturday through March 21. The Bob Ross LGBT Senior Center in San Francisco announced it has cancelled all programs and group activities scheduled on Sunday and Monday and said the schedule for the remainder of the week is being evaluated. Saturday will be mostly cloudy in the morning before becoming partly cloudy. There will be a chance of showers in the morning. Highs will be in the 50s. West winds will be 5 to 15 mph. Saturday night will be mostly clear before becoming partly cloudy. Lows will be in the mid 40s. Northwest winds will be 5 to 10 mph before switching to north winds after midnight. Sunday will be mostly cloudy. There will be a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs will be in the mid 50s to the lower 60s. East winds will be 5 to 10 mph before switching to south winds of 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. With so much focus on the coronavirus and the Democratic primaries, the media has paid scant attention to two related developments: (1) war between Turkey and Syria and (2) refugees trying to push their way en masse from Turkey into Greece. Turkey has been at war with Syria, and by extension Russia, for a few weeks. The war stems from the push by the Syrian regime, with its usual Russian backing, into one of the last footholds of the anti-Assad resistance in the northern province of Idlib, not far from Turkey. Turkey, hoping to avoid another mass exodus of Syrians into Turkey or up against its border, attacked. This move brought it into conflict not just with Syria but also with Russia. Dozens of Turkish troops were killed by airstrikes, in other words by Russia. Turkish drones and artillery pounded Syrian positions throughout the region, killing dozens of Syrian troops. However, as I understand it, Turkey shied away from attacking Russians. Turkey called for support from NATO. None was forthcoming. In addition, the U.S. reportedly turned down a request for help in the form of Patriot anti-aircraft batteries to protect Turkish troops. It has been suggested that Trumps negative response may have been at least in part the product of anger over Turkeys purchase last year of the Russian S-400 missile and anti-aircraft defense system, over American objections. Sen. Lindsey Graham called for the U.S. to enforce a no-fly zone in the region. This seems like too tall an order at this point. The time for a no-fly zone was before Russia became heavily invested in this war. Had the Obama administration acted at that time, the disasters that followed very probably would have been averted. President Erdogans response to the Wests failure to assist Turkey was the release of large numbers of refugees being held behind a border wall. Greece pushed back against the resulting surge of refugees. Greece and Turkey dispute whether the Greeks have used lethal force to stem the flow. Last night on Christiane Amanpours PBS program, a high level Greek official said that only a small portion 5 percent or less of the refugees who are trying to surge across its border are Syrians. I dont know whether this is true or what Greeces basis for the claim is. However, one of the seriously injured refugees featured in the PBS report is Pakistani, and there is evidence of a significant Afghan presence, as well. Its easy to understand why neither Greece nor Europe as a whole desires more refugees, and even easier to understand why it doesnt want entrants who arent from Syria, where the true humanitarian crisis is. At the same time, one can understand why Turkey, facing an influx of new Syrian refugees, wants to rid itself of a large number of its current refugees. And its natural that Turkey would play the refugee card in order to gain assistance from the West. Meanwhile, Turkey and Russia have agreed to a cease fire in northern Syria. It is Turkey that seems to have backed down, as one would expect given the extreme vulnerability of Turkish ground forces to Russia air attacks. Russia, while desirous of good relations with Turkey in the long term, seems unwilling seriously to compromise its interests in Syria. For Putin, the solution is to seek an end to hostilities that allows Turkey to save face and that somehow minimizes its refugee problem, while at the same time enabling Syria to achieve its military goals. Whether these objectives can be achieved remains to be seen. The current cease-fire agreement, standing alone, doesnt seem to achieve them. Its just a stop gap. I dont pretend to know all the wheels within wheels regarding either the war or the refugee question. I just think that both aspects of the story deserve our attention. Taiwan Australia Composer In this image made from video, a group of workers in hazmat suits disinfect stage inside the National Concert Hall in Taipei, Friday, March 6, 2020. Taiwans National Concert Hall cancels performance for disinfectant on Friday after an Australian composer who had visited was confirmed with coronavirus. (FTV via AP) ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) Musician and composer Brett Dean has been hospitalized in Australia with the new coronavirus. British agent Intermusica confirmed on Thursday that the violist and conductor was in isolation in an Adelaide hospital with the COVID-19 illness. He was to perform with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in a Beethoven concert at the annual Adelaide Festival on Saturday. Festival executive director Rob Brookman says Dean canceled his appearance at the festival due to pneumonia-like symptoms. Brookman says three people who had been in contact with Dean have self-quarantined. The 58-year-old Australian has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Taiwan's National Symphony Orchestra. Taiwan health authorities on Friday said they were investigating the travel and contacts of an Australian COVID-19 patient of that age who had a cough and other symptoms while on the island. Taiwan's CDC statement said the patient was a composer who had concerts in Taiwan Feb. 28 and March 1 without identifying Dean by name. The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has asked airlines to inform all passengers on the requirement to fill in electronic health declaration forms before boarding flights to Vietnam, starting from 6:00 am on March 7. Officers check health declaration forms of passengers at Cam Ranh airport of Khanh Hoa province The declaration could be made on the websites http://tokhaiyte.vn or http://suckhoetoandan.vn/khaiyte. Airports are also requested to work with health authorities to zone off areas for health declarations and examination, as well as notify foreign airlines operating flights from/to Vietnam. One day earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who also head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, ordered compulsory electronic health declarations for all passengers entering Vietnam starting from 6:00 am on March 7. Vietnam reported the 17th COVID-19 case on March 6. The 26-year-old female patient, residing in Hanoi, has been quarantined at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases. The previous 16 patients have been cured and discharged from hospital./.VNA ATLANTA (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Friday he would rather have passengers on a cruise ship, which was denied entry to San Francisco over coronavirus concerns, remain on board the vessel. But Trump said he would let others make the decision whether to allow the passengers to leave the Grand Princess ship, where 35 people have reported flu-like symptoms. ATLANTA (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Friday he would rather have passengers on a cruise ship, which was denied entry to San Francisco over coronavirus concerns, remain on board the vessel. But Trump said he would let others make the decision whether to allow the passengers to leave the Grand Princess ship, where 35 people have reported flu-like symptoms. "I'd rather have them stay on, personally, but I fully understand if they want to take them off," Trump told reporters after touring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (This story corrects name of vessel to Grand Princess) (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Chris Reese) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Hachette Book Group has dropped Woody Allens memoir, Apropos of Nothing, following criticism of the companys decision to publish the book and an employee walkout. The book was scheduled to be published on April 7. The decision to cancel Mr. Allens book was a difficult one, the publisher said in a statement shared on Twitter. At HBG we take our relationships with authors very seriously, and do not cancel books lightly." The statement said executives had met with and listened to company employees concerns about the book. Author and journalist Ronan Farrow, Allens son, had been one of the fiercest critics of the publisher. Little, Brown and Company, an imprint of Hachette, published Farrows best-selling book, Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators," in October. Employees at Little, Brown and Company were among the Hachette employees who staged a walkout Thursday in protest of the Allen memoir. Im grateful to all the Hachette employees and authors who spoke up and to the company for listening, Farrow tweeted Friday. Earlier in the week, Farrow issued a statement on social media about the Allen memoir. Im grateful to all the Hachette employees and authors who spoke up and to the company for listening. Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) March 6, 2020 I was disappointed to learn through press reports that Hachette, my publisher, acquired Woody Allens memoir after other major publishers refused to do so and concealed the decision from me and its own employees while we were working on Catch and Kill a book about how powerful men, including Woody Allen, avoid accountability for sexual abuse, Farrow, 32, said in the statement, referencing his sister Dylan Farrows allegations of sexual abuse against Allen. Dylan, now 34, says Allen, her adoptive father, abused her when she was 7 years old. Allen, 84, has denied the allegations. 75 plus employees of Hachette are standing in solidarity with @ronanfarrow, @realdylanfarrow and survivors of sexual assault and walked out of the Hachette offices today in protest of Woody Allens memoir. #HachetteWalkout #LittleBrownWalkout pic.twitter.com/wTNi3c7gy8 Kendra Barkoff Lamy (@kabarkoff) March 5, 2020 Hachette did not fact check the Woody Allen book, he continued. My sister Dylan has never been contacted to respond to any denial or mischaracterization of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Woody Allen a credible allegations, maintained for almost three decades, backed up by contemporaneous accounts and evidence. In the statement, Farrow encouraged the publisher to fact check the Allen book and said he could no longer work with Hachette. Hey, just wanted to share my thoughts on some recent news: pic.twitter.com/ovPczgx8pB Ronan Farrow (@RonanFarrow) March 4, 2020 Dylan Farrow had called Hachettes decision to publish the book an utter betrayal of Ronan. After the book was dropped, she thanked Hachette employees. To each and every individual who, at great professional risk to themselves, stood in solidarity with my brother, myself, and all victims of sexual abuse yesterday: words will never describe the debt of gratitude I owe to you, she said in a statement shared on Twitter. For someone who has felt alone in my story for so long, yesterday was a profound reminder of what a difference can be made when people stand and united together for whats right. In Catch and Kill, Ronan Farrow, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for his New Yorker reporting on sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein (New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor also won the award for their Weinstein reporting), writes about efforts he says Weinstein operatives made in 2017 to have him followed and intimidate him. Farrows book follows attempts to silence abuse victims and reporters covering their stories. To all the employees of @HachetteUS, @littlebrown, and @GrandCentralPub who took a stand, Im in awe and so very grateful. pic.twitter.com/Si4oXpudde Dylan Farrow (@RealDylanFarrow) March 6, 2020 Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Documents from a leading doctor show US hospitals should be preparing for 96 million coronavirus infections and nearly half a million deaths from the outbreak. The spread of the deadly disease could be far worse than officials claim, with 480,000 Americans expected to die from the virus and 4.8 million hospitalized, according to a presentation hosted by The American Hospital Association (AHA) in February. This puts the crisis on a level more than 10 times greater than that seen in a severe flu season. The shock figures fly in the face of claims made by President Trump who has maintained on many occasions that the risk to Americans is 'low'. Dr. James Lawler, a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, presented the harrowing 'best guess' estimates of the extent of the outbreak to hospitals and health professionals as part of the AHA webinar called 'What healthcare leaders need to know: Preparing for the COVID-19' on February 26. The slides, obtained by Business Insider, suggest that hospitals need to ramp up preparations now to reduce the death toll around the US. US hospitals should be preparing for 96 million coronavirus infections and nearly half a million deaths from the outbreak, a doctor's 'best guess' prediction suggest. People are pictured wearing face masks in Times Square, New York on March 3 At the time of the presentation last week, there were more than 80,000 confirmed cases around the globe. At the time, the US had around 60 cases and no deaths. Fast forward just one week, and the US has more than 430 cases and 19 confirmed deaths. Worldwide, more than 100,000 people have now been infected. The slides also reveal the significant risks to older people and those with pre-existing health conditions if they catch coronavirus. People aged 80 and over have a 14.8% chance of dying if they contract the infection, the slides revealed. The spread of the deadly disease could be far worse than officials claim, with 480,000 Americans expected to die from the virus and 4.8 million hospitalized, according to estimates from University of Nebraska professor Dr. James Lawler. People are pictured buying hand sanitizer in Washington DC Friday These figures put the crisis on a level 10 times greater than that seen in a severe flu season. The shock figures fly in the face of claims made by President Trump who has maintained on many occasions that the risk to Americans is 'low' The risk declines with youth, though those aged 70-79 and 60-69 are still placed at a significant risk, with 8% and 3.6% mortality rates respectively. Lawler also estimated that people with heart conditions have a one in 10 chance of dying from the disease, compared to the less than one in a 100 chance among healthy individuals with no pre-existing medical conditions. A spokesman for Nebraska Medicine told Business Insider that the figures represent the views of Lawler and 'his interpretation of the data available' 'It's possible that forecast will change as more information becomes available,' they said. The AHA added that the views were the speaker's and not its own. President Trump, who has faced criticism for downplaying the risk of the disease, signed a spending bill to allocate $8.3 billion to tackle the crisis Friday The president holds a photograph of coronavirus at the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta Friday. The new funding measure provides money for public health agencies for tests, vaccines and other treatments However, Lawler isn't the first to warn that the disease could spread farther than first thought. Harvard University Professor Marc Lipsitch previously told The Atlantic that up to 70% of the global population will be infected with coronavirus within the next year. Lawler did not give a particular timeframe for the outbreak but his estimates ramp up fears that the disease could push US hospitals to their limits. President Trump, who has faced criticism for downplaying the risk of the disease, signed a spending bill to allocate $8.3 billion to tackle the crisis. The president only asked Congress for just above $2 billion but they rejected that and both houses passed an $8.3 billion spending bill Friday. While the figure more than triples the amount outlined by the White House last month, Democrat rivals have slammed Trump saying it's too little, too late. The new funding measure provides money for public health agencies for tests, vaccines and other treatments. It will also provide money to state and local governments to respond to the epidemic. Medics bring out a patient on a gurney at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, a long-term care facility linked to several confirmed coronavirus cases and at least nine deaths The US death toll from coronavirus rose to 17 Friday, after three new deaths were recorded in Washington state and Florida recorded its first two The House passed the legislation Wednesday and the Senate did so on Thursday, as part of a rapid response to increased public fears about the disease, which has disrupted schools, airlines, and spring break plans. A group of lawmakers from both parties negotiated the increased figure and other provisions in the measure in a rare sign of bipartisanship. The president also said 'anyone who wants a test can get a test', throwing widespread confusion into the air given widespread shortages of tests. The US death toll from coronavirus rose to 17 Friday, after three new deaths were recorded in Washington state and Florida recorded its first two. The Florida Department of Health confirmed the latest deaths Friday night. One of the fatalities was a man in his 70s who had been sick in Santa Rosa County in the Panhandle, and the other was a man in his 70s in Lee County on the Gulf Coast. Both men had reportedly traveled internationally. Alabama inmate Nathaniel Woods' execution grabbed headlines yesterday as his supporters believe his case was wrongfully handled. Woods was put to death by lethal injection Thursday night for his role in the fatal shootings of three Birmingham police officers in 2004, according to an article by NBC News. His scheduled execution was initially delayed when the U.S. Supreme Court interceded to review his case last-minute, however, the court ultimately declined to intervene. Amidst protests demanding Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey grant him clemency, the official said she would not impede the execution, sealing Woods' fate. According to the Alabama Department of Corrections., Woods, 43, was pronounced dead at 9:01 in the evening. He had no last words but was seen to arrange his hands in a sign of his Islamic faith, according to The Associated Press. Days prior to the execution, Woods' family and prominent activists rallied on his behalf, holding signature campaigns, raising concerns that his case was mishandled and scrutinizing over Alabama's criminal laws treatment towards black defendants. Woods' co-defendant, Kerry Spencer, who remains on death row for confessing to being the triggerman denied that Woods was complicit and pleaded to stop his execution. In an open letter, Spencer wrote, "Nathaniel Woods is 100% innocent. I know that to be a fact because I'm the person that shot and killed all three of the officers that Nathaniel was subsequently charged and convicted of murdering. Nathaniel Woods doesn't even deserve to be incarcerated, much less executed." The case drew attention from celebrities and activists, including Kim Kardashian West and Martin Luther King III, asking Ivey to step in. "In the case of Nathaniel Woods, the actions of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Governor of the State of Alabama are reprehensible, and have potentially contributed to an irreversible injustice," King, the son of Martin Luther King Jr., said in a statement after the execution. "It makes a mockery of justice and constitutional guarantees to a fair trial." In a Wednesday statement, however, state Attorney General Steve Marshall called Woods' punishment just. He took issue with those who said Woods was innocent or that he surrendered to police during the June 2004 drug raid. "The falsehoods are the descriptors 'surrendered' and 'innocent': Neither apply whatsoever to Nathaniel Woods, whose actions directly caused the deaths of three policemen and injury to another," the statement said. "Justice is set to be carried out tomorrow. The only injustice in the case of Nathaniel Woods is that which was inflicted on those four policemen that terrible day." Woods was an accomplice, prosecutors say During Woods' 2005 trial, prosecutors claimed he and Spencer were selling crack cocaine in their Birmingham home. Police officers were sent serve a misdemeanor warrant, but Woods, then 27 years old, set up an ambush allowing Spencer to shoot at them multiple times, prosecutors said. Said ambush took away the lives of three officers namely Carlos Owen, Harley Chisholm III and Charles Bennett, and injured another identified as Michael Collins. According to Spencer he only shot the officers in self-defense because they were assaulting Woods, an assertion that the judge did not allow at trial. Later on, another drug dealer who was present at Woods' home accused two of the officers who were killed of being involved in a bribery. He claimed they protected dealers in exchange for money, but the Birmingham police declined to comment on the allegation. Collins said that although Woods didn't fire a weapon, he believed Woods helped plan the shooting. According to him, before the shooting initiated, Woods yelled, "I give up. I give up. Just don't spray me with that mace." The surviving officer added that "I knew it wasn't Nathaniel" who had shot him. Prosecutors didn't argue whether who shot the officers but they tagged Woods as an accomplice. A law in Alabama says that even if a person didn't pull the trigger, they are still eligible for the death penalty. Additionally, Alabama remains the only state in the USA which honors the decision of the jury to impose the death penalty even if it is not unanimous as long as there are least 10 jurors in favor. Incompetent counsel Supporters of Woods insist he fell in the hands of an incompetent counsel who failed to conduct proper investigation and missed important deadlines in submitting appeals. Woods could have benefited from a plea deal of 20 to 25-year prison time, but his ssupporters said he was wrongly informed by his own lawyers. They also argued that he wouldn't be convicted of capital murder because the state needed to provide sufficient evidence that he pulled the trigger and that he plotted the ambush with Spencer. "Mr. Woods did not accept this plea deal because he thought - with counsel's encouragement - that he would be acquitted of these charges because the evidence would prove that he was not the shooter that day," according to a petition against his imprisonment. Since capital punishment was reinstated in Alabama in 1976, Nathaniel Woods was the 67th in the state who faced execution and the first this year. Scott Disick's clothing brand just released a new line that appears to be a reaction to the on-going coronavirus outbreak. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star's Talentless company just dropped it's 'Wash Your Hands' apparel on its website. The limited-edition line of clothes includes unisex Please Wash Your Hands t-shirts and hoodies that come on three colors: white, black and brown with black lettering. New apparel: Scott Disick's Talentless clothing brand just released a new line that appears to be a reaction to the on-going coronavirus outbreak Combating the outbreak: The new line of t-shirts and hoodies have Please Wash Your Hands written on the back of them The tees are selling for $49 while the hoodies are priced at $129. 'You can thank the lord later, and just WASH YOUR HANDS,' Disick, 36, said in a statement. The former beau and baby mama of Kourtney Kardashian founded and created Talentless in 2018. With the brand name, Talentless, Disick took ownership of how he had been mocked over the years for being part of a family 'who are famous for not really having any skills' according to a 2016 GQ article titled, Money For Nothing. New line: The Please Wash Your Hands tees are selling for $49; hoodies are priced at $129 At last check more than 100,000 people have been sickened and over 3,400 have died from COVID-19, otherwise known as the coronavirus. In the United States, there are now more than 300 confirmed cases that spreads across at least half of all states, according to The Washington Post. President Donald Trump signed a bill on Friday, which passed with bi-partisan support, that provides $8.3 billion in emergency spending to combat the virus. The CDC is urging people to regularly wash their hands. The virus primarily passes from one person to others through respiratory droplets from the airways, often during coughing and sneezing. The time between exposure and symptom onset is typically between two and 14 days. Those symptoms include fever, cough and breathing difficulties. ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards showcases winners across seven top industry categories View(s): Organisations the world over are under mounting pressure from their wide array of stakeholders, from investors to governments to non-governmental organisations and even communities and customers, where it has become imperative that entities are transparent and accountable in all their dealings. As such the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Sri Lanka, strengthening its fundamental ethos of rewarding transparency, held its flagship calendar event for the sixteenth year in succession recently at the Cinnamon Grand. Rewarding Sri Lankas most transparent, accountable and responsible entities, ACCA at this event felicitated those companies who have shown immense commitment and dedication to the fundamental principles of accountability and transparency. Under the aegis of Ms. Sarah Hulton OBE, the British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka who was the Chief Guest at the event, an overall winner and runner up were crowned as well as those who have showcased continuous commitment to these principles in the various industries namely, conglomerates and diversified, banking, financial services and insurance, SME, retail and trading, leisure and connected services, general services and utilities. This years awards saw Sri Lankas leading conglomerate John Keells Holdings PLC bagging the Overall winner award, whilst Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC ( DIMO ) was adjudged as the Overall Runner up. Topping the Banking category was National Development Bank PLC, whilst Seylan Bank PLC secured its place as the runner up. John Keells Holdings PLC won the award as the winner of the Conglomerates & Diversified category with Aitken Spence PLC emerging as Runners Up. In the Finance Services & Insurance category, Alliance Finance Company PLC gained the winning laurel, with the Runner Up being Citizens Development Business Finance PLC. Among other notable achievements were Aitken Spence Hotel Holdings PLC being crowned as winners for the Leisure & Connected Services with John Keells Hotels PLC bagging the award that evening as runners up in this category. Retail & Trading category was clinched by Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC whilst Elpitiya Plantations PLC gained the position of runner up. Another key sector gathering momentum was the SME category where Vallibel Power Erathna PLC shone as the winner with Resus Energy PLC securing the runners up position. The ACCA Sri Lanka Awards for Sustainability Reporting launched in November 2004, has up to date been in the forefront of reinstating all organizations on their impact and accountability on the environment and society, be it direct or indirect and has been facilitating corporations to provide comprehensive, credible and transparent analysis of their social, economic and environmental impact. Ms. Nilusha Ranasinghe , Head of ACCA Sri Lanka affirmed that ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards has played a leading role in raising awareness of the benefits of sustainable business practice in the country and our high profile awards acknowledge best practices in environmental, social and sustainability reporting. We are happy to note that today this award has gained the position of being considered to be among the most prestigious awards open to the Sri Lankan corporate sector. We intend to continue our quest over the next decade to encourage corporate accountability and responsible behavior amongst Sri Lankan businesses. Two suspected al-Shabab militants were killed on Friday in Garissa county near the Somalia border, the police said on Saturday, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The police said they also recovered firearms and three magazines loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition from the militants, who were demanding ransom from some Kenyan whom they were holding hostages. The police said the national police reservists (NPR) officers had received information from members of the public that there were bandits who were holding hostages demanding for a ransom. "The seven NPR officers proceeded to the scene where they met two armed bandits and exchange of fire. The two bandits were fatally shot," said the police in a report. There has been heightened security around the country with security agencies at an unprecedented state of alert amid the latest reports that al-Shabab might be planning attacks against Kenya in unspecified locations. The police have also stepped up security around vital installations likely to be targets of attacks by al-Shabab operatives. Enditem MIAMI - People walk by the original Miami, Florida, every day and dont even know it. Or they think the downtown corner where Miamis first residents lived is a ruptured sewage line under repair. It looks horrible and its been like this for years, said businessman Yones Machichi. I figured it was a sewer that went bad or a trash pit. Why would he assume otherwise? The 35-foot wide carved limestone circle is strewn with discarded coffee cups. A plastic bag is stuck on a patch of weeds. No signs hint at the monumental significance of the site. But it was here, 2,000 years ago, that the Tequesta Indians built a village on the banks of the Miami River. By 1838, in the same spot, American soldiers dispatched to the bottom of the Florida peninsula were encamped at Fort Dallas, a strategic post for fighting the Seminole Indian wars. A half century later, Julia Tuttle gave the plot to Henry Flagler, and he extended his railroad to a stop at his grand Royal Palm Hotel, which heralded backwater Miamis new identity as a tourist destination. Guests could purchase Tequesta Indian skulls uncovered during construction as souvenirs. The hurricane-damaged hotel was demolished in 1930, the city grew and three eras of Miami history sat like an entombed layer cake beneath asphalt parking lots until a developer decided to build condos, offices, restaurants, a hotel, a bank, a movie theatre and a grocery store on the four-block property. But, after archaeologists unearthed the treasures below, the developer, MDM, struck a deal in 2014 to preserve a fraction of what was excavated, and display it adjacent to the towers where Miamis 21st-century dwellers would live. The Met Miami development has blossomed, as developments tend to do in Miami, yet the two Tequesta Indian Circles that were saved have not been turned into historic showcases. Artifacts from the village, the fort and the hotel have either been covered by dirt or are collecting dust in a storage area. Its as if Miamis buried past has been forgotten all over again. Historic preservationists, city leaders and stewards of the six-year-old agreement have lost patience and are pushing MDM to comply with requirements to properly conserve, display and interpret the discoveries. The Dade Heritage Trust is demanding that MDM show progress and a good faith commitment to the terms of the plan within the next two months or the city said it will withhold building occupancy permits. They built the buildings and now that they are almost finished its clear that certain stipulations have been ignored, said Scott Silver, an attorney who was a member of the Heritage Trust board when the binding agreement with MDM was negotiated. We have no choice at this point. They want to move forward and we want to work with them but we are still in dispute on several items. The birthplace of Miami is at stake, say preservationists and city activists who hammered out the plan with MDM during contentious mediation sessions. They fear more broken promises. They point to the Miami Circle that was discovered on the south side of the river in 1998 to much international fanfare. The developer of that property was paid $27 million in public funds to shelve his condo project, but the design for the 2.2-acre Tequesta site that was designated a National Historic Landmark has never been realized. The 38-foot-wide circle, probably part of a council house or ceremonial structure for the tribe of hunters and fishermen, was covered with soil to protect it from the elements, and residents dogs relieve themselves on top of it. The first Miami Circle has been treated terribly and disrespectfully, said archaeologist Bob Carr, who excavated both sites and wrote a book called Digging Miami. The public should be able to see this unparalleled piece of North American history, learn about it and enjoy it. I am optimistic the same thing wont happen on the other side of the river, but its a shame its taking so long. What is special about the north side discovery is that it provides a window into Miamis past going back at least 2,000 years. It was like peeling away the skin of an onion, said Carr, who found 11 circles and hundreds of carved postholes that represent the foundations of the Tequesta village and its linear walkways. We see where the Tequestas settled this wild place and created one of the first urban plans in eastern North America. Where Whole Foods is now we found a Tequesta cemetery with 500 graves. Where the hotel pool is now we found a Tequesta midden, or refuse heap. We see where the U.S. Army built its barracks, officers quarters and blacksmith shop over Indian remains. We see where Henry Flagler turned Miami into a city. Among the thousands of artifacts unearthed by Carr and his team were conch shells collected by the Tequestas, bone tools, a brass Spanish trading bell from the 1600s, musket balls and buttons from the fort, and a room key with a leather fob from the hotel. Met Square, bounded by Southeast Fourth Street, Southeast Third Street, Southeast Third Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard is the perfect place for what should be a public exhibit and tourist attraction, Silver said. Most people who travel make a list of the historic places they want to visit in Athens, in Paris, in Peru, Silver said. Everyone thinks Miami started in 1920. I have relatives in Boston with sweaters that old. Yes, we have history ancient history visible in downtown Miami. And you could not find a richer site, one that tells three different stories. MDM should embrace being part of a very cool attraction that puts it on the map. But the project is still stalled two years after stakeholders of the agreement sent a warning letter to the city and MDM expressing deep concern about breaches of both the letter and spirit of the agreement. Many people wanted a recreation of the entire village as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and fewer new buildings by MDM, said Brian Alonso, a downtown businessman who participated in the mediation sessions along with historians, preservationists and representatives from the city, county and state. The citys historic preservation board was expected to reject MDMs Met Square until the developer agreed to build around two of the circles and fund the preservation project, as required by law. We worked really hard to reach a compromise and write a beautiful, innovative plan combining the old and new that the developer is required to pay for. Its demoralizing that it is not happening. Then as now, MDM director Ian Swanson said the company is committed to a first-class exhibit of the circles and artifacts on the property. He said construction delays during the four phases of the massive $1 billion mixed-use project have put them behind schedule. We are trying to push it along. We understand that people are frustrated, said Swanson, who said MDM has spent upwards of $5 million so far on excavation and preservation. Weve been working with Bob Carr since 2004 so we have a lot of time and money invested in this and we want it to be done by the end of the year. Theres no walking away from anything. Swanson, a native of England, said he is a preservationist at heart, having worked on historic projects as an engineer in London and Scotland. We found a Roman market by the Thames while digging foundations. We found mosaics in an office building on Cannon Street and incorporated them into the lobby floor. We preserved castle facades, did structural surveys at the Tower of London and Big Ben, he said. Hadrians Wall, plague pits, Henry VIIIs house my job was focused on ancient monuments and historic buildings. MDMs attorney, Eugene Stearns, initially ridiculed archaeologists drawing of the Tequesta village as hokum because of inconsistencies in their conclusions about the circular structures and postholes and the lack of any descriptions of the village by Spanish missionaries or explorers and he argued during negotiations that little of the site was worth saving. Swanson was also skeptical about ambiguities in the research. But he said MDMs perspective hasnt wavered: We are very sensitive to the value of heritage sites, he said. The main point of contention involves the circle on the southwest corner of Met Square, which is supposed to be enclosed in glass two stories tall, allowing views from the street and an as yet uncompleted restaurant within the commercial complex that would overlook it. But MDM has balked at building the air-conditioned enclosure, saying that water seeping into the circles solution holes at high tide would cause condensation and mould. For now, its simply surrounded by a railing, on a busy corner, with no signage explaining what it is and quizzical looks from passersby who even notice it. We have left it open, anticipating issues with climate control, said Swanson, who showed a drawing of an alternative concept a steel ring suspended above the circle, hung with fluted LED lights. Silver criticized Swansons Plan B. They have tried to talk around it but that feature is non-negotiable, Silver said. If youre telling us its impossible, prove it with an engineers report. But if youre telling us its expensive, do it. Of course they can do it. There are enclosed ruins in humid environments all around the world. Most of the other two dozen elements stipulated in the agreement have not been started and look nothing like the architectural renderings in the agreement. The circle on the northeast corner is inside an unfinished glassed-in room, but the doors are locked and the floor-to-ceiling windows are covered with panels or condo advertisements. Its dark and dank inside and ladders lean against the concrete walls. When its done, Swanson said a glass floor will cover the circle. Interpretive signs, drawings, photos and video screens will line the walls. MDM will lease the space to HistoryMiami, which plans to operate a mini-museum on site. The Met Square plaza is to hold an accessible outdoor gallery of artifacts, some of which are sitting locked inside what is to be a future cafe or shop. Carr has stored brick piers from the Royal Palms veranda colonnade and steps from its original entrance as well as boxes of Tequesta shells there. You can see them only if you press your forehead against the glass doors but, again, no signage. A brick-lined well from Fort Dallas, located next to the southwest Tequesta circle, where the restaurant will go, is supposed to be covered with a glass floor, but its currently buried and covered with steel plates, Swanson said. One feature that has been finished is a stainless steel pathway on the ground of the plaza and on the floor of the Met Muze lobby that traces the original shoreline where the river met Biscayne Bay before it was occluded by fill. But another requirement renaming Met Square to reflect its original inhabitants hasnt been broached yet, Swanson said. MDMs initial rendering of interior design for the 43-story condo was trumpeted as tribal chic, but the dream-catcher and silver jewelry-inspired wall coverings were mocked for resembling Navajo culture of the American Southwest rather than Tequesta culture and was redone to avoid the embarrassment of what happened next to the Miami Circle, where the Related Group built six tall columns at Icon Brickell and decorated them with large, oblong metal heads meant to recall the stone figures on Easter Island, which also have nothing to do with Tequesta history. They were nicknamed the giant potato men by Floridas chief archaeologist, Ryan Wheeler. Miamis indigenous people were driven away in the 1760s when the British ruled Florida and employed a rival tribe to capture and enslave the Tequestas on southern plantations. Other Tequestas petitioned the governor of Cuba to immigrate to the island and work as agricultural labourers, said Carr, who recently returned from an excavation in Cuba. This is a legacy that should be highlighted, accessible, tangible, Carr said. This site has the opportunity just like a site in Rome or Paris where you can actually walk off the street and look down into the ground and see parts of the site preserved. To have this location and this rare opportunity is something no one should ignore. This city has a sense of place that predates Americans, but its been overshadowed by its history of real estate development. I think people would love to learn more about the fascinating stuff thats been happening along the banks of the Miami River for more than 2,500 years. Anupam Kher, who is known to be one of the most versatile actors in Indian cinema, turns 65 today. To make this occasion extra special, the veteran actor extended an invitation to Hollywood legend Robert De Niro, asking him to join him on his birthday in New York. The Godfather actor happily obliged and the two actors had some great time as they chilled together. Anupam shared a video on his Twitter page where Robert De Niro is seen singing 'Happy Birthday' to him as he cuts his miniature birthday cake. The Saaransh actor captioned the video as, "Nothing can be more magical for an actor than to be able to spend quality time on your birthday with the 'God of acting Robert De Niro' third year in a row. I am humbled that Mr De Niro accepted my lunch invitation. It was magnificent." Kher further added in his video,"Isko kehte hain 'Kuchh bhi ho sakta hai' ka baap (This is the daddy of 'Anything can happen')." Nothing can be more magical for an actor than to be able to spend quality time on your birthday with the #GodOfActing #RobertDeNiro third year in a row. I am humbled that Mr. De Niro accepted my lunch invitation. It was magnificent. pic.twitter.com/wUHEUjffAu Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) March 7, 2020 In 2018, Robert De Niro and his wife Grace Hightower had hosted a party for Anupam Kher on his 63rd birthday. Later, the actor had thanked the couple and posted,"Thank you Grace and Mr Robert De Niro for making my birthday the biggest highlight of my entire life. Thank you for the surprise dinner for me at your home. Thank you for singing "Happy Birthday" song for me. Thank you for my ultimate 'Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai' moment." Anupam Kher and the Hollywood star shared screen space in the 2012 film Silver Linings Playbook, featuring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in lead roles. Since then, the two acting legends have been friends. Meanwhile, many Bollywood celebrities took to their Twitter page to wish Anupam Kher on his birthday today. Shatrughan Sinha tweeted, "Warm & loving birthday wishes for a versatile & matured actor, fine human being, a social activist at times#AnupamKher. A self-made man in films & society having made his presence felt in regional films, international films & tv sitcoms with his true sense of commitment & dedication." "Wish you a great birthday Anupam, God Bless!," read Rishi Kapoor's birthday wish for Anupam Kher. Anil Kapoor posted on his Twitter page, "Happy Birthday, @AnupamPKher! My dearest friend since 35 years & counting. We argue, laugh, make fun of ourselves, talk about films, food and fools in the world! There's no one like you & there never will be. Your talent is unmatched. Love you always!" VIDEO: Anupam Kher Hits Back At Naseeruddin Shah For Calling Him A 'Clown And Sycophant' Anupam Kher's Wedding Anniversary Post For Wife Kirron Kher Is Some SOLID Relationship Goals! As Democratic primary voters in Michigan weigh the differences between Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden this weekend, one more to consider is Sanders will be here in person. Sanders has canceled efforts in other states and plans to criss-cross the state this weekend, appearing in Detroit, Dearborn, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. Biden, meanwhile, is sending surrogates while he appears in other states this weekend and plans two in-person events on Monday, the day before the election. Related: A complete guide: How to see Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders campaign events in Michigan this weekend and Monday Candidate visits do make a difference in the vote, experts say. Political scientists have found candidate appearances do make a difference in the votes, said Michigan State University Institute for Public Policy and Social Research Director Matt Grossmann. Its partly because when you have a rally it usually generates local media coverage and people just hear the candidates here, the candidate cares about me.' Sanders told reporters ahead of a rally in Detroit on Friday night he was putting an emphasis on showing up in Michigan, a state he considered maybe the most important on Tuesday. Were going to be here. Michigan is obviously a very important state in terms of the nominating process. Were going to work as hard as we can, Sanders said. The difference between his approach to this weekend and Bidens is one of strategy. But it comes in a state that may be sensitive to candidates putting in the time here because of a perception the 2016 candidate, Hillary Clinton, took Michigan for granted and didnt spend enough time in the state. President Donald Trump, by contrast, spent a lot of time in Michigan, including for his final rally of the cycle, on the eve of the election. It could be true that because of last time, people are watching that more closely, Grossmann said. When it comes to Biden and Sanders, the different strategies may make sense for each of them, he and other experts say. Michigan directly in Sanders path Adrian Hemond, partner and CEO of political consulting firm Grassroots Midwest, points to a difference between what Biden and Sanders need out of Michigan next Tuesday. Michigans a must-win for Senator Sanders. Its not for Biden, Hemond said. Sanders is running behind in the delegate count, with 573 to Bidens 664. Candidate U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, has 2. Michigan, with 125 delegates to add to candidates coffers, is the biggest delegate count state of the ones voting on Tuesday. Sanders canceled an event in Mississippi, which some read as an indication he didnt expect to perform well in the South. He shifted his focus and his schedule to Michigan, a state he won in the 2016 presidential primary, and kicked the weekend off with a rally in Detroit on Friday. Related: The big question for Michigan Democrats: Is Biden or Sanders more likely to beat Trump? The visit earned praise from supporters like Rhonda Cushman, 60, of Redford. Im glad hes here. Im glad hes making the effort," Cushman said. Hes going to be here all weekend. Its good for him to be here. But Biden showed on Super Tuesday he could win in states he didnt personally visit, Grossmann said, while Sanders struggled to turn people out. The people who are going to vote for Biden are going to show up anyway, and thats not true of Sanders potential supporters, Grossmann said. Biden is sending surrogates across the state in the coming days, including former presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, and former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Hes also locked up some key endorsements, including from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and will be here personally on Monday. At a Biden event with Klobuchar in Southeast Michigan on Friday, former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard said he wished Michigan got more time with Biden, but it didnt concern him that Sanders would be here in person all weekend. Hes coming here, I think to ... try to salvage a victory, I think theyre worried, Blanchard said of Sanders presence in the state. I think its still fluid. I mean Joe is moving around everywhere, so well see plenty of him in the last two days. The reality is, the good news is that Joes spent a lot of time here over the years. Hes well-known. Per his campaign, Biden is slated to appear in Missouri and Mississippi over the weekend. He will spend Monday in Michigan and Tuesday in Ohio. Hemond said the dynamics of Michigans primary are different for Biden. I expect he probably will win Michigan, but its not a must-win like Sanders, Hemond said. Both sides expected to show up big post-primary While Democratic frontrunners courted voters in earlier states, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence each spent time in Michigan. Trump visited a Macomb County manufacturer in late January and Pence was most recently in Michigan for a February rally. And Republicans expect President Donald Trump to be in Michigan frequently over the course of the cycle as well. It definitely brings strength to our base, and its good to come and talk to the voters of Michigan. And unlike Hillary Clinton in 2016, Donald Trump will not take the state for granted, said Michigan Republican Party Communications Director Tony Zammit. Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said as the election moves forward, coming in person helps candidates both tell their story and hear about issues that are important with Michigan voters. Absolutely we expect the nominee to come to Michigan over and over again. I think its important for our candidates to be seen and heard in the state," Barnes said. Both Democrats and Republicans are focused on building up their ground games ahead as the election moves forward. Republicans have already Related stories: A complete guide: How to see Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders campaign events in Michigan this weekend and Monday Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorses Biden, joining campaign as a national co-chair Elizabeth Warren tells Michigan shes the woman to beat Donald Trump at Super Tuesday campaign rally What happens if I voted for someone who dropped out of Michigans presidential primary? What Michigan voters need to know about absentee ballots for March 10 primary The big question for Michigan Democrats: Is Biden or Sanders more likely to beat Trump? Mumbai: The BJP on Saturday hit out at Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over his claim that his party, the Shiv Sena, had walked away from the NDA but not from the ideology of Hindutva. Visiting Ayodhya for the first time after he became chief minister, Thackeray said earlier in the day that he might have parted ways with the BJP (but) not with Hindutva, and "BJP and Hindutva are different". The BJP asked why he and his party were silent on certain issues such as comments of Congress leaders berating Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. "Why did you keep quiet when a bust of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was removed by the (Congress-led) Madhya Pradesh government?" the state BJP asked on Twitter. The administration of Sausar in Chhindwara district last month removed a bust of Shivaji using a JCB machine, saying it had been installed without permission. "Why do you keep quiet when the Congress insults (Hindutva ideologue) Savarkar? Why are you giving quota to the Muslim community?" the state BJP tweeted further. Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik recently announced in the Legislative Council that the state government had proposed to give five per cent quota to Muslims in government educational institutes. Thackeray, however, said later that he had not received the proposal and no decision had been taken. State BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar also took potshots at Thackeray, saying that Lord Ram had given blessings to the former allies (BJP and Sena) together, and not to current ruling parties in the state (Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP). "We have never known Lord Ram as someone who loves power. The only Ram we remember is the one who went into exile for 14 years to keep a promise," he said. "It is for that party (Sena) to decide whether it was a visit to seek blessings of the Lord or admit before him that a mistake was committed (by joining hands with the Congress and NCP)," Mungantiwar added. The village of South Jacksonville has approved a 3% municipal sales tax on adult-use cannabis. The tax, given the OK during Thursdays village board meeting, would go into place should a dispensary for adult-use cannabis set up shop in South Jacksonville. The committee voted to adopt the tax so it can be approved before the April 1 deadline for filing the ordinances with the Illinois Department of Revenue. The start date for the municipal and county sales tax is July 1. In September, the Jacksonville City Council approved its own 3% tax on cannabis sales. In January, the city council passed an ordinance on dispensary zoning. In October, Michael Emling of Vermilion County-based Daiven Kayne Enterprises spoke to the South Jacksonville boards committee of the whole about bringing a cannabis-processing field and dispensary to South Jacksonville. After the pitch, the committee discussed bringing cannabis to South Jacksonville. The committee then held a lightly attended forum on recreational marijuana sales in village limits, during which the benefits of raising revenue were weighed against the perceived risks of sales in the village. The committee approved the measure in a 5-1 vote with Trustee Tom Jordan casting the lone vote against establishing the tax. Jordan said he has been opposed to marijuana sales in the village since the start of the discussion. Its not a good fit for our community, he said. Jordan said he was concerned about the potential unforeseen consequences of marijuana sales, which he believes would place an extra burden on the villages law enforcement. Village Trustee Paula Belobrajdic-Stewart, who said in October that she was not in favor of a dispensary coming into the city, said she voted in favor of the tax ordinance so future village boards would have the option to raise the revenue if those boards were to welcome a dispensary. Belobrajdic-Stewart said she was willing to make sure the village had the tax ready to submit by the April deadline. The board decided during a Feb. 26 meeting to table an ordinance on dispensary zoning. A draft ordinance from the Illinois Municipal League to zone a district for special-use permits was presented at that meeting, but the consensus was that the board needed more time to make a formal decision, according to WLDS. She's the rising Australian actress who won the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Great Gatsby. And Elizabeth Debicki cut a quirky figure as she stepped out in a pale green satin dress at the Miami International Film Festival on Friday. The 29-year-old donned the unique maxi-dress on the red carpet for her latest film The Burnt Orange Heresy' at the Miami Dade College. Stunner: Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki (pictured) cut a quirky figure as she stepped out in a pale green satin frock at the Miami International Film Festival on Friday The flattering silk frock featured cut-out detailing near her waist, flaunting her slim figure. The unique colour accented her flawless pale skin, which she highlighted with orange-toned eyelids and blush on her strong cheekbones. The blonde beauty styled her loose, wavy locks into a stylish low-bun, her delicate features framed by a chic side fringe. Stylish: The 29-year-old donned the unique maxi-dress on the red carpet for her latest film The Burnt Orange Heresy' at the Miami Dade College. The flattering silk frock featured cut-out detailing near her waist, flaunting her slim figure The Kettering Incident star styled the swish ensemble with gold dangling earrings with pearl drops and open-toe metallic kitten heels. Elizabeth appeared on at the premiere alongside the film's director, Giuseppe Capotondi and her co-star, Claes Bang, both 52. She plays Berenice Hollis, the lover of an art critic, played by Claes, who is recruited by a powerful art collector to steal a painting by a reclusive artist. Blonde beauty: The unique colour accented her flawless pale skin, which she highlighted with orange-toned eyelids and blusher on her strong cheekbones The film also stars Mick Jagger as the art collector, Joseph Cassidy, and Donald Sutherland as the mysterious artist, Jerome Debney. In an April 2016 chat with Interview, Elizabeth confessed it was 'hard to leave' Australia to further her career in America after growing up in Melbourne. And she said that while she spends a lot of time in Los Angeles, she's still primarily based in Australia. Chic: The Kettering Incident star styled the swish ensemble with gold dangling earrings with pearl drops and open-toe metallic kitten heels 'There's definitely a rite of passage that is this pilgrimage to LA. The comforting thing for Australian actors is that there's a strong community in LA. 'It's almost like you swap one home for another,' she told the publication. 'I didn't feel any pressure [to move]. I still don't live here, I just travel through and spend a lot of time here.' Shekhar Iyer By In just less than three months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be completing his first year of the second term in office after he won a massive mandate in the Lok Sabha polls held in 2019. Modis aides and ruling party members do not deny that this period has thrown up such huge challenges for his leadership that some critics even question whether he retains his old popularity. In a sort of requiem for the present times, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chose to pen an edit-page piece with a very heavy heart. He listed three areas of deep concern the trinity of social disharmony, economic slowdown and a global health epidemic caused by COVID-19 disease. Even BJP leaders acknowledge that, as the ex-PM pointed out, this combination of risks hurts the soul of India and also diminishes our global standing as an economic and democratic power in the world. Modi, who closely follows his predecessors pronouncements, may not entirely disagree with his prognosis, but differ in the final conclusion about his governments capabilities to weather the challenges. But where Modi and his party aides would certainly differ is in identifying the genesis of these problems and the solutions therein for a final resolution. Unwilling to be caught in a senseless blame game before riot-hit North-East Delhis return to normalcy, Modi has so far wanted Parliament to avoid vitriolic debate on the violence that has claimed 50-plus lives and left scores with gunshot wounds, besides leaving several houses, shops and vehicles gutted. The horrible cycle of events started with protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act turning violent near the Jamia Millia Islamia in mid-December and ultimately ended up with showing the ugly side of the inter-community relations in times of Islamophobia in areas known for criminal gangs, outsider-immigrant clash of interests and presence of terrorist sleeper cells. A lot of reportage in the western media, which have gone by coverage done by virulent anti-Modi outlets, have described the incidents as a pogrom against the Muslims, which have deeply upset the Modi government. Authorities have not minced words in describing the reports appearing in foreign papers as highly one-sided in a bid to show one community as perpetrators of the riots when available facts have indicated otherwise. The mob attacks on police officials, causing death of a head constable and an Intelligence Bureau (IB) employee, and grievous assault on a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) are pointers to other narratives of the violence. The discovery of acid cans stored on roof-tops in some localities and launchers for molotov cocktails are cited by them as further indications of a well-prepared plan by groups, which later bore the brunt of a counter-offensive.What has shocked many is the extensive use of country-made firearms in the riots and instances where outsiders led the mobsters and some policemen were said to be not acting in time. However, with a new Delhi Police Commissioner finally in charge, there is a sense of urgency to restore order and getting down to tracking the actual perpetuators who unleashed savage violence on numerous families. Of course, Amit Shah finds his track record of handling challenges since the annulment of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir coming under intense scrutiny. There is speculation over why the PM asked high-ranking National Security Adviser Ajith Doval to visit Delhis North-East areas to restore confidence among the communities and police personnel. On the other hand, the Opposition sees time running out to pin down Shah if the situation returns to normalcy in Delhis troubled localities too soon. Hence, the Congress MPs are more aggressive than ever before in the Lok Sabha where Speaker Om Birla has not taken kindly to their acts of carrying placards, rushing to the well, surrounding his desk and tearing up and throwing up papers at the chair. Consequently, the treasury benches are restive too, and blame the Congress, Left and AAP leaders for inciting the anti-CAA protesters to get violent and even disrupt US President Donald Trumps visit to the Capital. In the meantime, the Delhi government of the re-elected Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has realised the magnitude of the onerous task of getting riot-hit colonies back on their feet. Kejriwal walks on the razors edge under attack from his one-time admirers who see his balancing acts, including silence, as pandering to pro-Hindu voters. It is the handling of the corona contagion that engages Modis full attention. Not willing to be caught unprepared on this score, Modi has led a team of officials to act fast on detecting contacts, containing them and preventing the spread of COVID-19. Once well known in Delhi as the State Health Minister who popularised Pulse Polio campaign in mid-90s, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhans moment of reckoning is back again as the Centres pointsman for determining how well India handles COVID-19. His first tenure as Modis health minister lasted only for five months in 2014 when he was surprisingly replaced by J P Nadda. It was in the backdrop of a row over the AIIMS chief vigilance officer. Modi brought Vardhan back as health minister after the 2019 polls. Shekhar Iyer The writer is a senior journalist. This column will appear every fortnight The multi-award winning Castletownroche photographer Mark Condren has added yet another gong to his bulging trophy cabinet after scooping the prestigious 2020 Press Photographers Association of Ireland (PPAI) photographer of the year award - for the fifth time. Mark, a former photographer with The Corkman whose work has been published across a number of Independent News and Media (INM) titles during his long and distinguished career, is widely regarded as one of the country's most talented and creative photographers. In addition to winning the top prize at last Friday night's PPAI Awards in Dublin, Mark also won the Best Portrait award for 'Head Above Water, a stunning image of fire-fighter and open-water swimmer Rachel Lee, who holds the Irish record for men and women for crossing the English Channel. Judges described the portraits as "exquisitely beautiful...one of our favourite images from the awards. Mark's 'Stormy Times', a photograph of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar sheltering from the driving rain at the commissioning of the Naval Service vessel LE George Bernard Shaw won the 'Best Politics' category. The images were part of a stunning portfolio of photographs taken by Mark over the past 12-months covering a range of subjects. These included: 'Making History' showing a mourner holding a mass booklet at the funeral of Ulick O'Connor; 'Man of the People', showing Leo Varadkar braving the frosty waters at the Forty Foot for a Christmas swim and 'Standing Tall' an unusual image of an Irish soldier standing to attention ahead of his deployment to Syria. The judges described the award-winning portfolio as "demonstrating originality and a willingness to look at things from a different perspective". "Across their portfolio they (Mark) displayed great observational skill with creative and fresh angles while shooting in a distinct personal style. While the final choice of Photographer of the Year was difficult, the judges were unanimous that this photographer was the deserved overall winner." Speaking to the The Corkman the 39-year-old father of three said he was "astounding and overwhelmed" to win the top again. "I remember as a young fella looking at photographs in newspapers and thinking I wanted to be a part of that. Never in my wildest dreams could I have hoped it would take me to this stage," he said. "Winning the top award once is an overwhelming feeling. Winning it five times is just mind-blowing. Particularly given the standard of competition, that seems to get better and better with each passing year," he said. Mark said he had lost none of the enthusiasm and love for photography that initially drove him to get his first camera. "It may sound like a bit of a cliche but it's the kind of job where you wake up in the morning and anything can happen. There is something exciting and strangely addictive about that," said Mark. He said it is a job that can be testing on family life, particularly as Mark has travelled the world covering global news events including famines in Ethiopia and South Sudan, the aftermath of earthquakes in Haiti and Nepal and war zones in Syria, the Gaza Strip and Western Sahara. He also spent two years embedded with the New York Police Department (NYPD), capturing the highs and lows of the city's cops as they went about their daily lives for an acclaimed book on 'New York's Finest'. "Thankfully, my wife Michelle is used to it and has always been hugely supportive. I can't thank her enough for having the patience to put up with me," said Mark. Prime Minister reviewed the situation in the country at a meeting with officials on Saturday and directed them to identify locations for sufficient quarantine facilities and make provisions for critical care in case the disease spreads further. At the meeting with all ministries and departments concerned, he said that in view of expert opinion, people should be advised to avoid mass gatherings as much as possible and made aware of the do's and don'ts. While complimenting all departments for the work done so far, Modi stressed that as the scenario evolves, India has to be prepared in its response. "All departments should work in convergence and action should be initiated for creating awareness in community about the disease and the precautions to be taken," the prime minister was quoted as saying in an official statement. "He exhorted the officers to identify the best practices for COVID-19 management from across the world and within the states, and ensure their adoption," it said. The prime minister also highlighted the need for advanced and adequate planning, and timely response which is critical for managing this infectious disease. According to the statement, the officials were instructed to plan for early testing and evacuation of Indians from Iran where, according to reports, 145 people have died so far due to COVID-19. On Saturday, a flight from Tehran brought to Delhi swab samples of Indians in Iran who are suspected of having the infection. The flight, operated by Mahan Air, then returned with many Iranian nationals. At the prime minister's review meeting, Health Secretary Preeti Sudan made a presentation about the current scenario and action taken by Health Ministry and other supporting ministries regarding preparedness and response to COVID-19. She emphasised on the core areas of surveillance at the point of entry and community, laboratory support, hospital preparedness, logistics and risk communication. The meeting was attended by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, his deputy Ashwini Kumar Choubey, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Niti Ayog member Vinod Paul, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat, and secretaries of health, pharma, civil aviation, MEA, health research, home, shipping, NDMA and others. The secretary in the Department of Pharma informed the meeting about availability of sufficient stocks of medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients and other consumables for use in India. Issues related to the need for continued vigil at all airports, seaports and land border crossings, community-level surveillance, and ensuring availability of sufficient beds for isolation were discussed. While Vardhan emphasised on the need for effective coordination with states for timely response, Niti Ayog Member Vinod Paul stressed on increasing surge capacity for hospitalization. The request obtained for evacuation of Indians from Iran was also highlighted at the meeting. 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Maryland joined the roster Thursday after three Montgomery County residents, a husband and wife in their 70s and a woman in her 50s, were diagnosed with the coronavirus. All three were reported to have contracted the virus while on an overseas cruise. Montgomery County is a Maryland suburb next to Washington D.C. National Nurses United said its members have not been given the resources, supplies, protection and training they need to do their jobs properly. "It is not a successful strategy to leave nurses and other health care workers unprotected," Executive Director Bonnie Castillo said. Castillo, who is a registered nurse, said when nurses are quarantined, "We are not only prevented from caring for COVID-19 patients, but we are taken away from caring for cancer patients, cardiac patients and premature babies." Pence met Thursday with Washington Governor Jay Inslee. Washington is the site of 11 of the 12 U.S. deaths from the virus. Most of the deaths in Washington took place in a nursing home near Seattle. The Trump administration has received criticism about the short supply of test kits. Vice President Mike Pence said in Washington state Thursday, "We don't have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate will be the demand going forward," but added that "real progress" had been made "in the last several days." The U.S. Health and Human Services secretary said Thursday a million test kits for the COVID-19 are expected to arrive this weekend at U.S. labs. Alex Azar said the coronavirus tests are shipping from a private manufacturer. State of Emergency in Palestine In the Middle East, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency Thursday, shutting down schools for 30 days and closing the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem after seven coronavirus cases were confirmed in the city. These are the first cases in the Palestinian territories. Closing the church in the town that worshipers say was Jesus' birthplace will devastate Bethlehem's vital tourism industry and comes just weeks before Easter. The threat appears to be waning in China, where the outbreak erupted in December. The WHO said Thursday there are about 17 times as many new cases outside China now than inside China. On Friday, however, China reported that the number of new cases had risen from 139 Thursday to 143. Korea Travel Hundreds of patients are being released from Chinese hospitals and shuttered factories are starting to reopen. But Chinese President Xi Jinping has called off a scheduled state visit to Japan, where Tokyo has declared that all visitors from China and Korea will be placed under quarantine. Korea has the largest number of coronavirus cases outside China. Australia joined China and Iran in banning travel from Korea. Indonesia is also restricting travel from parts of Korea as well as two other hard-hit nations: Iran and Italy. Both of those nations have shut down schools. The United Nations said the virus has disrupted classes for nearly 300 million students worldwide from preschool through 12th grade. That number does not include colleges that have also been shuttered. Funds to Fight Outbreak In the United States, with more than 150 confirmed cases of the virus and 12 deaths, the Senate Thursday followed the House in approving $8.3 billion in emergency spending to combat the outbreak, including money for developing a vaccine. The measure now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature. Trump took some heat Thursday from health experts after he told Fox News that the World Health Organization is sending out false information, and he suggested infected patients are safe going to their jobs in offices and stores. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the coronavirus is highly transmissible and that people who are sick must stay home. Global markets took another beating Thursday with investors nervous about the coronavirus outbreak and uncertain about exactly which way the situation is going. Experts say the roller coaster ride in the markets is likely to continue as long COVID-19 spreads to more countries, with investors acting out of fear over where the next state of emergency, quarantine or business shutdown will be declared. 'Time to Act' At his daily virus briefing Thursday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus again stressed the seriousness of the virus about which scientists still know little. "This is not a drill. This is not the time for giving up, this is not a time for excuses," Tedros said. "Countries have been planning for scenarios like this for decades, Now is the time to act on those plans." As of late Thursday, there were more than 98,000 COVID-19 cases worldwide and at least 3,300 deaths. Bhopal, March 8 : Two officials of the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education were suspended on the directives of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, after a question paper for Social Science for Class 10 examination on Saturday referred the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as Azad Kashmir. An MPBSE official said the paper setter and the moderator were suspended and disciplinary action would be taken against them. The two questions were scrapped and the maximum marks were reduced to 90, said the official. One of the questions asked the candidates to identify "Azad Kashmir" on the map. The term also occurred in a match-a-pair question. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday hit out at the Congress government in the state. State BJP spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal, who shared image of the question paper on Twitter, said, "Kashmir is an integral part of India. The Indian government has passed a resolution to this effect. Has Madhya Pradesh's Congress regime recognized Azad Kashmir?" He also alleged that senior Congress leaders use the "same terminology" as do Pakistan and separatists. He demanded that a sedition case be registered against the person responsible for the gaffe. The Majors It was another tumultuous week for the European majors, which ended the week in the red following an end of week meltdown. After a bearish start to the week, the European majors had found support off the back of the promise of government fiscal policy and monetary policy support. The upward momentum from mid-week reversed, however, with 2-consecutive days in the red leaving the majors in the red. Questions remain over how far the governments will go so early into the spread of the virus and whether monetary policy easing will have any positive influence. One certainty throughout the week was the fact that the coronavirus continued to spread and that travel restrictions widened. When considering Asia and the spread since January, the virus may well linger for longer. For the week, the CAC40 slid by 3.22%, with the DAX30 and EuroStoxx600 falling by 2.93% and 2.36% respectively. The Stats It was a busy week on the Eurozone economic calendar. Key stats included private sector PMI numbers from the Eurozone and member states on Monday and Wednesday. Retail sales figures from Germany and the Eurozone and inflation and unemployment numbers were also in focus. There was a pickup in private sector activity in February, with the Eurozone Composite PMI rising from 51.3 to 51.6. These were February numbers, however, which were yet to reflect the impact of the coronavirus on the Eurozone economy. With private sector activity seeing a marginal pickup in activity, retail sales were also relatively lackluster in January. At the end of the week, German factory orders also failed to provide support, in spite of a 5.5% jump in January. A grim outlook suggests that a downward trend is likely to ensue. All in all, the stats were not good enough to warrant a breakout, with a stronger EUR adding to further pressure on the equity markets. From elsewhere, a FED emergency rate cut failed to drive demand for riskier assets, with economic data out of China also spooking the markets. Story continues Private sector activity in China contracted at the quickest pace in the surveys history in February The Market Movers From the DAX, it was another bearish week for the auto sector. Continental and Daimler led the way down, sliding by 15.07% and by 7.4%. BMW and Volkswagen saw more modest losses of 1.95% and 1.00% respectively. It was a particularly bearish week for the banking sector, with Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank tumbling by 11.43% and 17.46% respectively. From the CAC, things were not much better for the banks. BNP Paribas slid by 12.04%, while Credit Agricole and Soc Gen tumbled by 13.97% and by 16.37% respectively. The French auto sector took a more modest hit, with Renault and Peugeot sliding by 11.70% and 7.71% respectively. Travel and tourism stocks continued to struggle. While Germanys Lufthansa fell by just 0.77%, Air France-KLM ended the week down by 17.37%. The slide in airline stocks and the impact of the coronavirus on the travel and tourism industry was evidenced in the performance of Airbus in the week. A 7.63% slide on Friday left Airbus down by 17.44%. Travel restrictions and the grounding of fleets led to reports of Airbus receiving zero orders in February. As of 29th February, aircraft outstanding orders reportedly stood at 7,670. Some airlines have also looked to defer delivers near-term On the VIX Index The VIX rose by 5.86% on Friday. Following on from a 23.85% surge on Thursday, the VIX ended the week up 4.56% at 41.9. In the previous week, the VIX had surged by 134.84%. Risk aversion through the 2nd half of the week provided the VIX with support as investors continued to respond to the spread of the virus. It was also the VIXs first visit to 50 levels since 6th February 2018. The upside in the VIX came in spite of the S&P500 rising by 0.61% for the week. The Week Ahead Its a quieter week ahead on the Eurozone economic calendar. Key stats include German industrial production and trade data on Monday. Since these are January figures any major support for the majors would be limited ahead of the ECB monetary policy decision on Thursday. The markets are expecting monetary policy easing, in spite of ECB President Lagarde talking down any support from the ECB in late February Economists, however, have forecasted a hold on monetary policy. The ECB President will likely seize the opportunity to nudge member states to loosen the purse strings. Lagarde had called for fiscal support at her first press conference, so we can expect more of the same. Expect a hold on policy and a refusal by the likes of Germany to loosen the purse strings to weigh on the majors. From elsewhere, trade data out of China on Sunday will set the tone going into the week This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: In this week's 'Rewind,' the monthly feature Years Ago is featured. Robert Smith takes readers back a very long way as he revives a number of stories and shows pictures from the decade of the 1930s. Thanks to some of the great camera work done by the photographers back then, a very real "feel" can be given to the old stories. 1933 - Mary Reynolds Wins 1933 Hambletonian Prominent owner W.N. Reynolds proudly holds his Hambletonian winning mare Mary Reynolds in the Goshen winner's circle. Canadian-born horseman Ben White is in the sulky recording his first of four Hambo victories. The filly was named after Mr. Reynolds' niece Mary who was on hand to enjoy the victory. (Courtesy of Hambletonian Society archives) Prominent owner W.N. Reynolds proudly holds his Hambletonian winning mare Mary Reynolds in the Goshen winner's circle. Canadian-born horseman Ben White is in the sulky recording his first of four Hambo victories. The filly was named after Mr. Reynolds' niece Mary who was on hand to enjoy the victory. (Courtesy of Hambletonian Society archives) William N. Reynolds of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was one of the leading breeders and owners in harness racing until his death in 1951 at the age of 88. Chairman of the Board of Reynolds Tobacco, Reynolds sent his homebred filly Mary Reynolds to the care of trainer Ben White as a yearling. The filly was campaigned lightly at two and wound up the year by winning a heat of the Kentucky Futurity, which was then a two-year-old event. Her three-year-old season set her up as a contender for the Hambo, with several stakes wins and placings to her credit. With a pair of wins and a second on Hambletonian Day, she became the third filly in just eight years to take that classic. Mary Reynolds was unraced at four, but came back to race as a five-year-old before beginning her broodmare career. She was the dam of several stakes winners before she was exported to Europe. (From Hambletonian Society archives) 1935 - Ottawa Fair Races Attract Large Crowds Each year some of Ontario's finest racing took place during the Central Canada Exhibition held at Ottawa's Lansdowne Park. Many horses from Eastern Ontario and the Province of Quebec were among the competitors. In the write up above from the Ottawa Citizen the headline shows a win by Jennie Grattan (Vic Rowntree) owned by Jim Brown of New Liskeard, Ont., the father of Dr. Glen Brown. The 1935 races were hampered by bad weather as heavy rains cancelled several heats and delayed them to the following days of the fair. Despite the inconvenience caused by the downpours fair officials reported near record attendance. As a sign of the dedication of fair goers the following clip appeared in the Ottawa Citizen recap of the fair. "A rather amusing situation occurred when women riding on the Ferris wheels opened their parasols and held them aloft while enjoying their ride." One of the highlights of the several day race meeting was a race that had a special stipulation. It was listed as "2:25 Pace open only to horses owned within 100 miles of Ottawa." Shown above are the entries for the 1935 race. The winner of the first two heats was Bedford Grattan from the stable of Felix Turcotte with Dominion Grattan taking the third and final. 1935 - Driver Sep Palin Becomes First Driver To Drive Double Two Minute Miles - 85 Years Ago Aug, 21, 1935 - Springfield, Illinois - Greyhound, the flashy trotter who had just won this year's Hambletonian a week previous to this day, set a new world's mark for three-year-old gelded trotters when he recorded a mile in 2:00 even at the Illinois State Fair. This new mark eclipsed his own record set in the Hambletonian by 2-1/4 seconds as the son of Guy Abbe took both heats of the Reading Futurity which carried a purse of $1,000. He won 18 of 20 starts as a three-year-old in 1935. Greyhound as he appeared in the winner's circle after winning the 1935 Hambletonian with driver Sep Palin and (far right) owner Col. E.J. Baker (Hambletonian Society) Greyhound as he appeared in the winner's circle after winning the 1935 Hambletonian with driver Sep Palin and (far right) owner Col. E.J. Baker (Hambletonian Society) Later that same afternoon driver Palin also broke the 2:00 barrier while driving the pacer Cardinal Prince who recorded a mile in 1:59 1/2 in the middle heat of three contests, all won by this horse. Race officials announced that it was the first time in Grand Circuit history that one driver had driven two different horses in two minutes or less in the same afternoon. The Springfield mile track was the scene of many great contests and record setting performances as the sport's top horses usually appeared here every year. 1937 - Dates Claimed For many years of its existence The Canadian Sportsman displayed a page that announced the available race dates in the upcoming weeks. Horse people often relied on it to set their schedules especially in the busy fall season. The above list of races scheduled appeared in the August 9, 1937 issue of The Sportsman. The term "Dates Claimed" was the usual heading. The above list of races scheduled appeared in the August 9, 1937 issue of The Sportsman. The term "Dates Claimed" was the usual heading. 1939 - The Driving Colony What did a group of harness racing drivers look like some 80 years ago? Noted photographer Guy Kendall captured the shot shown below around 1939 on the Maine Circuit. It is an excellent piece of photography and beautifully captures the times. A look at a few of the names shows some recognizable personalities. How nice to include the young lad in the front row. Back row, left to right: Chet Stewart, Horace Camron, G. Wilmont (Monte) Gerow, Franklin (Frank) E. Safford, James Phalen, and James (Jimmy) W. Jordan. Seated, left to right: Arthur Lohnes, E. Morgan, A. Jones, W. Carney, C. Smith, Pierce Chappelle, J. Jendron, Brisbin, Wendell Wathen, and Joseph Haddock. (Photographer Guy Kendall) Back row, left to right: Chet Stewart, Horace Camron, G. Wilmont (Monte) Gerow, Franklin (Frank) E. Safford, James Phalen, and James (Jimmy) W. Jordan. Seated, left to right: Arthur Lohnes, E. Morgan, A. Jones, W. Carney, C. Smith, Pierce Chappelle, J. Jendron, Brisbin, Wendell Wathen, and Joseph Haddock. (Photographer Guy Kendall) Quote For The Week: "When you're riding in a car you are inside but you are outside. Also you are sitting still but you are moving." Wisdom from the Seinfeld show. Who Is It? Can you identify the driver and the gentleman standing next to him receiving the tray in this photo from 1981? If anyone else is easily identifiable please send it along. (Abahazy photo collection) As I have stated previously these old photos serve not only as a quiz subject but also provide an avenue to recognize those who have contributed to our sport in the past. Who Else Is It? Who are these two lads taking time out from their duties to lean on the fence? Be sure to stay tuned as the correct answers will appear right here during the upcoming week. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Dubai, United Arab Emirates Sat, March 7, 2020 08:04 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068e7cb0 2 World Saudi-Arabia,crown-prince,Mohammed-Bin-Salman,detention Free Saudi Arabia has detained two senior members of the Saudi royal family - Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the younger brother of King Salman, and Mohammed bin Nayef, the king's nephew, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman's son and the de facto ruler of the world's top oil exporter and key US ally, has moved to consolidate power since ousting his cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, as heir to the throne in a palace coup in 2017. He arrested several royals in an anti-corruption campaign later that year. One source said the detentions took place on Friday. Reuters could not immediately determine the reasons behind the detentions. The Wall Street Journal reported the detentions of the two royals earlier on Friday, and said they related to an alleged coup attempt. Saudi officials could not be immediately reached for comment early on Saturday. The Saudi government media office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Prince Mohammed has fuelled resentment among some prominent branches of the ruling family by tightening his grip on power and some question his ability to lead following the 2018 murder of a prominent journalist by Saudi agents and the largest-ever attack on Saudi oil infrastructure last year, sources have said. They said royals seeking to change the line of succession view Prince Ahmed, King Salman's only surviving full brother, as a possible choice who would have support of family members, the security apparatus, and some Western powers. Saudi insiders and Western diplomats say the family is unlikely to oppose the crown prince while the 84-year-old king remains alive, recognizing that the king is unlikely to turn against his favorite son. The monarch has delegated most responsibilities of rule to his son but still presides over weekly cabinet meetings and receives foreign dignitaries. Prince Ahmed has largely kept a low profile since returning to Riyadh in October 2018 after 2-1/2 months abroad. During the trip, he appeared to criticize the Saudi leadership while responding to protesters outside a London residence chanting for the downfall of the Al Saud dynasty. He was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the ruling Al Saud family's senior members, who opposed Mohammed bin Salman becoming crown prince in 2017, sources have earlier said. Mohammed bin Nayef's movements have been restricted and monitored since then, sources have previously said. The latest detentions come at a time of heightened tension with regional rival Iran and as Crown Prince Mohammed implements ambitious social and economic reforms, including an initial public offering by oil giant Saudi Aramco on the domestic bourse last December. Saudi Arabia is also the current chair for the Group of 20 major economies. Prince Mohammed has been lauded at home for easing social restrictions in the Muslim kingdom and opening up the economy. But he has come under international criticism over a devastating war in Yemen, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate and the detention of women's rights activists seen as part of a crackdown on dissent. Recommendations for those travelling between Italy and UK. Britain's Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not recommend any non-essential travel to the 11 areas of northern Italy (10 towns in Lombardy and one in Veneto) which are currently in lockdown due the outbreak of Coronavirus. British people living in these locations are advised to follow the directions of the local authorities, according to the FCO. If you have travelled to the UK from these 11 lockdown areas of northern Italy in the last 14 days, you are required to stay at home, avoid any contact with other people and alert the NHS-111, regardless of whether or not you have symptoms. If you are travelling to the UK from the rest of Italy (outside of the lockdown areas) and subsequently develop symptoms including a cough, temperature and shortness of breath, even mild, you must stay indoors and avoid contact with other people. British people who fall sick while travelling in Italy should contact the emergency number 112. Operators in English are available. British people living in Italy are advised to consult regularly the FCO Living In Italy guide and subscribe to the newsletter for information on the health service. For more information on Coronavirus and travel advice, see the TravelHealthPro website which has a section dedicated to Italy, and the Viaggiare Sicuri website. Ph: 1000 Words I have been to Amritsar many times. And I always thought the food was great. But is it really one of Indias great food cities? I was never sure. So when I went back for a weekend, I warned my wife that all we would do is eat. I requested Sartaj Chahal, a young and bright IPS officer I know to give me a list of places to try. (I already had several other lists sent in by friends.) Sartaj went one better. It was the weekend, he said, so he would ask two off-duty police officers who were great foodies, to help. Bhagwant Singh and Anoop Saini know the best dhabas in Amritsar (Vir Sanghvi) Which is how I came to meet Inspector Anoop Saini and ASI Bhagwant Singh, both veterans of the force. They say that cops always know the best dhabas and I am here to tell you that they are right. Anoop and Bhagwant took me to place after place, ensuring that I never had a bad meal. And I had some really great ones. It would be too tedious to write about every place we went to but here are the highlights of what I discovered. Kulcha Amritsar is the kulcha capital of India. I am sure there are places in the rest of Punjab where the kulchas are as good (Ludhiana, for instance), but I have long had an enduring love affair with Amritsars kulchas. Anoop and Bhagwant took me to innumerable kulcha places but the ones I really liked were Brothers (part of a chain I went to the branch in the old city) Kulwant (near the Golden Temple), and Kulcha Land (a subject of some controversy because its kulchas are different). At each place I spent time in the kitchen trying to figure out exactly what they were doing. The most helpful were the owners of Kulwant. This is a small (but famous) place with no room for a kitchen. So they have built one on a mezzanine. As there is only a small and awkward staircase, they make the kulchas upstairs and then lower them down in a bucket tied to a rope to waiting servers. It is a slightly bizarre system but it works. You will get free refills of the aloo and the channa at Kanha but each plate has only two pooris (Vir Sanghvi) The secret of a good kulcha is layering. The flour is rolled into thin layers, which are then coated in ghee and put together to create the kulcha. You can use whatever stuffing you like but potatoes and cauliflower seemed to be the most common. To bake a kulcha, you must use a tandoor (non-gas fired is always the best) where the temperature has been kept low. The kulcha is stuck to the wall of the tandoor and then cooks slowly (around 10 minutes). The only place you can get good kulchas is one where there is a designated kulcha tandoor The guy who operates the tandoor has no thermometer so he guesses what the right temperature is. He also has no way of checking when the kulcha is ready to be pulled out so he uses his own judgement. Why dont we get kulchas of Amritsar quality in Delhi? Well, partly because you need an expert kulcha guy with tremendous judgement to make the right calls. In a kulcha shop, there will be upto 10 kulchas in the tandoor at any given time. Each kulcha has been put in at a different time. The kulcha guy needs to recall when he stuck each kulcha to the tandoors walls so that he can judge when it is ready. The other problem is tandoor temperature. My guru, the great chef Manjit Gill, explained it to me. Most Indian restaurants have only one tandoor in which they cook everything. But you simply cannot cook a kulcha at the tandoor temperature required for kebabs. Even if you have two tandoors, there is still a problem because a naan or a tandoori roti require higher temperatures than a kulcha. The key to a good kulcha, Manjit says, is the manner in which you get the ghee to slowly melt and impart a flakiness to the kulcha. That can only happen at a low temperature. So the only place you can get good kulchas is one where there is a designated kulcha tandoor. And outside of Punjab, there arent too many of those. Anoop was keen on Kulcha Land, which he said had the best kulchas in Amritsar. They were different: thinner and crispier but even more delicious for that. When I posted pictures of those kulchas on social media, I was told it was a tourist trap. Well, perhaps it is. But I did not see a single tourist there and my cop friends who swore by it, were hardly tourists. Dal It is the dirty little secret of every Punjabi restaurant outside of Punjab. The black dal they serve is roughly as authentically Punjabi as Donald Trump. The urad dal at Kesar Da Dhaba is slow-cooked for eight hours (Vir Sanghvi) There are no tomatoes in real Punjabi dal. It is not meant to be a dairy dish full of home-made butter and cream. The tomato-butter dal was invented by Moti Mahal in Delhi in the early 1950s, using the same principle as butter chicken gravy: lots of butter and tomato. After Bukhara began serving a fancier version of the dal, that recipe has been copied all over the world while the real thing has not travelled well. In Amritsar you do find the real Punjab dal. According to Manjit Gill, the original name is not Maa Ki Daal to indicate that mummy made it. It is maanh, after the Punjabi name for urad which was, originally, the only lentil in the dal. Anoop and Bhagwant introduced me to the owner of Kesar Da Dhabha, an all-vegetarian establishment that started in Lahore in the early years of the 20th century and moved to Amritsar after Partition. Their dal had no tomato, no home-made butter and no cream. Urad dal was slow-cooked for around eight hours in a large vessel with subtle spicing and lots of ghee. Before service, they did a tadka of onions in more ghee and poured it over each individual bowl of dal. The dal is fat-filled (because of the ghee) but has a deeper and more intense taste then any black dal I have ever eaten in Delhi. Pooris Kanha is an Amritsar institution. It has a limited menu. If you pay for one plate, you get two pooris, channa and an aloo sabzi with a sweet and sour, imli-inflected taste. You will get free refills of the aloo and the channa but each plate has only two pooris. If you want more pooris they charge you extra. Pooris at Kanha are made with a mixture of atta, sooji and maida (Vir Sanghv) It is always full because of the pooris, which are perfectly billowed till they puff up but stay soft and crispy at the same time. Thanks, I suspect, to Bhagwants status as a regular, the owner took me to the kitchen and explained the secret of the pooris. They make them with a mixture of atta, sooji and maida. After the dough is ready, they make the pedas, adding a little urad dal to each one, and leave them for half an hour before frying. The pooris fluff up and that amazing texture is achieved. Naturally, the owners are reluctant to reveal what goes into the dough. Even when they do talk about it, the exact proportions remain a secret. Bheega Kulcha You dont find this at many places. It is not the famous kulcha but a totally different dish: a thin maida kulcha, baked with yeast in a wood-fired oven. On its own, the kulcha does not taste like much but they soak in a dekchi full of channa. When it has absorbed the gravy, they put more channa on top. Bheega kulcha is soaked in a dekchi full off channa (Vir Sanghvi) The Kulcha King of Amritsar (Anoops description) is Hansraj Choleyanwala. Legend has it that he is a multi-millionaire but he is at his little stall every day making his bheega kulcha. I thought the flavour was really in the channa, which Hansraj makes himself at another location in secret so nobody finds out what the recipe is. And when he gave me the channa without the kulcha but with crisp matthi, it tasted even better. Non-Vegetarian Amritsar is not a vegetarian city but it has only a few classic non-veg dishes of its own. The most famous is the fried fish. Usually made with singhada, a fresh water fish, it is lightly battered and should be plump, firm, crisp and delicious. The best fish I had was at Makhan. Bunty, whose family owns the restaurant showed me around the kitchen but avoided giving any detail of the recipes. Manjit Gill says, however, that the secret is that the fish is fried once, put aside and then fried a second time a little later. The best fish I had was at Makhan, and Buntys family has run the restaurant for many generations (Vir Sanghvi) Bunty also offered me his boti kebab, his tandoori chicken and his murgh malai tikka (all fabulous). The key to his food, I thought, lay in the masala mixes, all made in-house including garam masala and chaat masala. The fish at Makhan is a hit (Vir Sanghvi) Then, there are dishes which came to Amritsar from Delhi and have morphed into something different. My friend Rajat Kalia now lives in Australia but when he heard I was in Amritsar, he got his brother to get me tandoori chicken from Beera and butter chicken from Charming Chicken. The tandoori chicken was great but the real revelation was the Butter Chicken, which bore only a passing resemblance to the Delhi original. (It was better.) I guess that if Delhi transformed its dal then Amritsar has a right to re-invent Butter Chicken. So is Amritsar a great food city? How could I ever have doubted that? From HT Brunch, March 8, 2020 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON According to the search warrant application, a suspected drug dealer had targeted the relative of a person he believed stole money from a safe in a house in Virginia. The affidavit says witnesses told police that the relative was lured into a vehicle at a strip mall in Front Royal and driven to the District by the suspected dealer and another person. The apparent plan was to detain the relative until the money was returned. Vietnam on March 7 afternoon reported two more COVID-19 infection cases related to a female patient named N.H.N confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 a day earlier, said the Ministry of Health. browser not support iframe. The two patients include a 64-year-old woman who is the female patients aunt and a 27-year-old man the patients driver. They are among those who had close contact with the 26-year-old patient, N.H.N, and have been quarantined at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases. N.H.N earlier visited her sister in the UK, then travelled to Italy and returned to Hanoi on March 1 on flight VN0054. Earlier the same day, the Ministry of Health confirmed the 18th COVID-19 infection case in Vietnam, who is a patient returning from the epidemic-hit Republic of Korea (RoK). The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology said the 27-year-old male patient from northern Ninh Binh province arrived in the RoKs Daegu city on February 17 and came back to Vietnam on flight VJ981 from Busan to Van Don airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh on March 4. After entering Vietnam, the patient was brought to a concentrated quarantine area and had samples tested positive for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Vietnam has to date detected 20 COVID-19 infection cases. Of them, 16 patients had been successfully cured and discharged from hospitals. Hai Phong mulls quarantining high-risk localities Leading officials of the northern port city of Hai Phong on March 7 agreed to consider quarantining the whole Phu Luu village in Thuy Nguyen districts Phu Ninh commune and Tan Lap residential area in Duong Kinh districts Tan Thanh ward, as they are localities with high risks of the epidemic of the acute respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). At an urgent working session with the participation of the municipal Party Committee secretary Le Van Thanh and Peoples Committee chairman Nguyen Van Tung following the detection of the 17th infection case, whose father is a Hai Phong resident that had contact with the patient, they also reached a consensus of the concentrated quarantine of those who had contacts with the patient and her father. Among those who were on the same flight back to Vietnam together with the patient were about 20 people living in the city and a man of the British nationality named DAND Alexander. Officials also agreed with a proposal by the municipal Department of Education and Training on allowing pupils to stay away from schools through March 15. They instructed lower-level authorities to take measures to stabilise the prices and ensure the sufficient supply of daily necessities. Hanoi-based childrens hospital capable of testing SARS-CoV-2 The Ministry of Health on March 7 decided to allow the Department of Biomolecular Research for Infectious Diseases under the Hanoi-based National Childrens Hospital to perform tests for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. At present, laboratories across Vietnam capable of testing for SARS-CoV-2 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. These facilities also include the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Bach Mai Hospital; the Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City; and Hue Central Hospital in Thua Thien-Hue province. 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-CoV-2 The Ministry of Health on March 7 afternoon confirmed the 18th COVID-19 infection case in Vietnam, who is a patient returning from the epidemic-hit Republic of Korea (RoK). A day earlier, the 17th infection case was reported in the capital city of Hanoi. The 26-year-old female patient earlier visited her sister in the UK, then travelled to Italy and returned to Hanoi on March 1 on flight VN0054. Vietnam has to date detected 18 COVID-19 infection cases. Of them, 16 patients had been successfully cured and discharged from hospitals. Urgent measures requested to contain spread of COVID-19 in Hanoi The national steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control has sent an urgent official dispatch to the Ministries of Public Security and Transport, and the Peoples Committee of Hanoi, asking them to investigate and deal with any possible outbreaks related to a newly confirmed patient in the city. According to the steering committee, the female patient, residing on Hanois Truc Bach street, was tested positive for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on March 6 and has been quarantined at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases. The 26-year-old patient earlier visited her sister in the UK, then travelled to Italy and returned to Hanoi on March 1 on flight VN0054 of Vietnam Airlines. This is the 17th COVID-19 infection case in Vietnam. The previous 16 patients have been successfully cured and discharged from hospital. The Ministry of Public Security was requested to instruct relevant units to verify residence addresses of passengers onboard flight VN0054 and inform local authorities so as to timely quarantine these people and monitor their health in line with regulations. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport was asked to direct competent units to provide the list of passengers on the same flight with the patient to supervise their health and conduct quarantine. The Ministry of Transport was also urged to sterilize relevant aircraft and areas where the patient had gone through or used services at Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport to prevent the spread of the virus. The steering committee requested the Hanoi Peoples Committee to coordinate with units of the Ministry of Public Security to investigate and make a list of people having close contact with the confirmed patient, including the aircrew and passengers on flight VN0054 and ground staff at the Noi Bai airport to quarantine and monitor their health. Those having close contact with the patient must be quarantined at medical establishments while their samples and samples of the patients family members must be sent to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for testing, the steering committee said. Besides, the municipal Peoples Committee must thoroughly sterilize the houses of the patient and neighbouring families as well as vehicles used to transport the patient and other related offices and areas if any. Earlier, Hanois steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control held an urgent meeting at midnight of March 6 to discuss countermeasures right after the new infection case was reported. Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said the risks of confection from COVID-19-hit countries are equal so it is necessary to well carry out the communication work and closely monitor Vietnamese citizens from the disease-affected regions, adding that all of them must make health declarations. Meanwhile, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue stressed that more than 100 people residing on the citys Truc Bach street must be closely monitored and sterilization measures must be conducted. Each resident must strictly observe countermeasures and report their health status to authorities if they show symptoms of COVID-19 infection, he stressed. The city would soon decide the time for local students to come back to school and step up inter-sectoral coordination in the fight against COVID-19 and provide timely and exact information about the epidemic to avoid causing public panics. COVID-19: Vietnam, Japan work to protect health of Vietnamese trainees The Vietnamese Labourers Management Board in Japan has been working closely with Japanese authorities to protect the health of Vietnamese trainees in the context of the complicated developments of the acute respiratory disease COVID-19. In an interview recently granted to the Vietnam News Agency, chief representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in Japan Phan Tien Hoang said immediately after the COVID-19 broke out, the board held a working session with the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) on the issue. The board asked the MHLW to instruct organisations and employers to guide Vietnamese trainees in disease prevention measures. The board has since held many more working sessions with the MHLW to get updated about the Japanese governments measures against the epidemic. It proposed Japanese ministries and agencies consider offering support to Vietnamese trainees, especially those with limited Japanese proficiency, and provide a list of medical establishments with language assistance to Vietnamese patients. The board also contacted many trainees to grasp the situation and remind them to seriously follow instructions by the host authorities. With such drastic actions, Hoang affirmed that no Vietnamese trainees have been infected with the virus so far. According to the Japanese governments statistics, there are about 250,000 Vietnamese workers in Japan at present, including about 200,000 trainees and 50,000 white collar workers with college or higher degrees.VNA Hanoi's Truc Bach Street sterilised after COVID-19 patient discovered Soldiers on March 7 morning sprayed disinfectant to sterilise Tran Vu and Truc Bach streets and surrounding areas in Hanois Ba Dinh district after a COVID-19 case was confirmed a day earlier. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Houston Chronicle Democratic primary voters narrowly outnumbered their Republican counterparts Tuesday for the first time since 2008, according to unofficial results compiled by the Texas secretary of states office. More than 4 million Texans voted in the March 3 primaries, with 2,076,046 votes cast in the Democratic presidential primary and 2,008,385 cast on the Republican side. A detail of an out of order Cash dispenser (ATM) in West Norwood, south London, on 14th November 2019, in London, England. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images) New laws to protect the ability to use hard cash are to be revealed next week. The major boost for millions of people around the United Kingdom who rely on notes and coins will be announced in next weeks Budget. The Treasury is expected to start talks with the industry and regulators the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority and Payment Systems Regulator around legislation immediately after the 11 March Budget. One area being looked at by new chancellor Rishi Sunak is whether to give watchdogs new powers that could force banks continue to provide cash to customers who need it. Read more: Banknotes may be spreading coronavirus The Treasury also wants the banks to create a new system for moving money around the country, so cash remains accessible for those who use it every day and to prevent the creation of cash deserts in parts of the UK. Mr Sunak said: People across Britain work hard for their money, with millions relying on coins and notes to make their daily payments. Thats why, at next weeks Budget, Ill be making sure they can continue to access and spend their earnings in whatever way they want. If action isnt taken, cash as we know it today could be gone in two years time. https://t.co/hUyK2Ign2h#ProtectCash pic.twitter.com/MvpOImJFW1 Which? Money (@WhichMoney) February 26, 2020 Last week the Access to Cash Review warned that the use of physical cash is falling in the country and could collapse. They had previously predicted that society would be at the point of being "virtually cashless" by 2035, with fewer than one-in-10 transactions being made in cash. But trade association UK Finance now expects the UK to hit this point within the next decade. Story continues Around two million people in the UK still rely on cash for their day-to-day spending with three in 10 payments still made using notes and coins. Read more: Gender pay gap hits UK's women in work ranking In 2018, 50 million adults used cash machines, with 87% of them using one at least once a month. The commitment to legislation builds on government efforts to protect cash, including investing 2 billion since 2010 to ensure everyday banking services, including the ability to deposit and withdraw cash, are available at the Post Offices 11,500 branches across the UK. Heres hoping sane counsel prevails View(s): My dear Dappula, I thought I must write to you after watching you work over the past few months and especially over the past few days when you ordered the arrest of Bond Ravi and his band of alleged bank robbers. It was a courageous step, no doubt, and a smart one too, considering the current political environment. The citizens of Paradise have long given up on trying to choose a set of honourable men and women to govern them. They had some hope a few years ago when they booted out the maha rajaa who had won them an unwinnable war and ended 30 years of terrorism and bloodshed. They did so, instead installing Aiyo Sirisena in power a man born to mediocrity, who couldnt rise to the occasion even though his nickname was hitan. In the end, he was a leader like no other in that he betrayed first his own party and then the party which adopted him, like no other had done before him. However, there was a brief period under Aiyo Sirisenas watch when the citizens of Paradise still had hope. That was the time when the 19th Amendment was enacted and when he had the courage to resist the Green Mans sneaky manoeuvres to get the big bank boss from Singapore reappointed to his post. He also appointed a commission to probe the big bank robbery and that is probably where you caught everyones attention. You gave Bond Ravi a hard time and he had to resign although he was shamelessly given a new portfolio afterwards. Yet, the big question for most people is what next? They ask that question because the lot that were booted out of power for alleged acts of corruption are now back running the show, proudly proclaiming that no one among them was convicted although that is more of a reflection of the inefficiency of yahapaalanaya rather than their own innocence. Meanwhile, most people who masterminded the big bank robbery are still free, and most of them are planning to contest the next elections. So, it looks like no matter who we vote for, be it green, blue or the kurahan maroon colour that is now in fashion, we will end up again with a set of crooks. That is why your decision to ask for an arrest warrant for Bond Ravi and his band of alleged bank robbers is important. Someone needs to teach our politicians of all sides the lesson that this country is not for them to loot, so they could live in penthouses that cost a million rupees a month. However, those who will praise you for doing so are the very people who will blame you, if you try the same tactic on one of their own supporters. You got a taste of that when you tried to issue an arrest warrant for a magistrate based on what was revealed in the controversial tapes released by One Shot. For some reason, they wanted that gentleman protected and they went to the extent of saying that you were doing someone elses bidding because you were appointed to the position you now hold during the yahapaalanaya era. We do know you are only doing your job, but that is not how they see it. Of course, no one condones what One Shot did, or the below-the-belt tactics he used, but the irony is that he was promptly remanded but those who are implicated in his audio tapes are still roaming free, although most of the country knows what they did and many of them feel thy should be behind bars. So, you must do as much as you can as soon as you can to clean up this mess. That is because they are already saying that they want to get a two-thirds majority so they could discard the 19th amendment. If that happens, they will try to get rid of you because you are someone who doesnt take sides. The real test for you will come not with Bond Ravi, but with that someones nephew who was our envoy in Russia and the other chap who once headed our airline. If you can get them and those who conspired with them their just rewards, that will be great, but we know that is wishful thinking! We wish you well and hope that you have the courage of your convictions in trying to convict those responsible for fraud, corruption and abuse of power. In doing so, please be mindful that your days may be numbered they may either get rid of you, or they may even give you a kick upstairs! Yours truly, Punchi Putha PS: Its a pity that you could issue an arrest warrant only for Bond Ravi. If you had the ability to issue one for you-know-who, it may have solved the crisis in the Green party. After all, there needs to be some form of opposition, because the Blue party has been well and truly murdered by Aiyo Sirisena. Two men from Punjab, who returned from coronavirus-hit Italy on Wednesday, have tested positive for the disease in the preliminary test, doctors at Amritsars Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH) said on Saturday. The two were admitted to the isolation ward of the hospital after they showed symptoms of the disease on their arrival at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar, through Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, from the European country, the citys civil surgeon Dr Prabhdeep Kaur Johal said while speaking to HT. Watch | Coronavirus outbreak: Doctor explains what to do and what to avoid Highlights The men had returned from Italy on Wednesday but did not show any symptom at the Amritsar airport The men are related and came back along with another family member, who tested negative The confirmation reports of the two men from NIV are yet to come Their samples have already been sent for the second confirmation examination, the results of which will be out by Saturday evening or Sunday morning. This is done to cross-check the preliminary findings, Dr Kaur said. The number of reported cases of coronavirus in India is 31 so far even as the disease continued to spread in new regions of the world and crossing the 100,000 global infections mark in less than three months since it began spreading from central China late in December. The death toll from the outbreak of coronavirus in Italy rose by 49 to 197, authorities in the country had said on Friday. Follow latest updates on coronavirus here It was the largest daily increase in fatalities since the contagion was uncovered two weeks ago in Italy. The country is currently reporting more deaths every day from the virus than any other country in the world and the government this week ordered the closure of schools, universities, cinemas and theatres around the country to try to stem the infections. Both the patients are related and are residents of Hoshiarpur in Punjab. The two, along with another relative, had returned from Italy on Wednesday. They did not show any symptom of the disease when they reached the Delhi airport but one of them was diagnosed with a fever after reaching the Amritsar airport, said local medical officers. Also read- Dont believe in rumours, consult your doctor: PM Modis advice on coronavirus After finding symptoms of novel coronavirus during the screening at the airport, the state health department team took the trio to the isolation ward at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH), Dr Raman Sharma, medical superintendent (MS) of the hospital, said. Their samples, Dr Sharma said, were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune and the Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) in Delhi for testing. Among the three returned from Italy, a man (40) and youth (25) have been tested positive for coronavirus in their preliminary report, which came from the Delhi lab. Their confirmation reports from NIV are yet to come, Dr Sharma said. He added that their relative, a 40-year-old woman, has tested negative in the preliminary report. The positive patients have been admitted in the isolation ward of GNDH and treatment is being given to them by the doctors. They have been kept under close watch and health department have been informed about the preliminary report. Also read- Completely absurd: Chinas coronavirus control tactics trigger outrage among citizens He added there was an improvement in the patients condition and there was no need to worry as the isolation ward is fully equipped to deal with the cases. Precautionary measures in Amritsar In an effort to spread awareness about the coronavirus among local residents and tourists visiting the holy city, the health department on Thursday had set up three Flu Corners in Amritsar, urging people to get themselves tested voluntarily. The self-declaration flu corners have been set up at the Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple and Bhagwaan Valmiki Tirath Sthal, where lakhs of devotees from various countries of the world pay obeisance. Doctors are also present around the clock at the flu corners to spread awareness and screen the people. The health department is also screening flyers at the airport in the city and at the Attari-Wagah border. They have put up banners at the airport with details of the virus, including symptoms, cause, available treatment and contact numbers of the health department to create awareness among those travelling to India from other countries. The Border Security Force (BSF) has also announced it will hold the daily retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border on the Indian side without the presence of visitors with the government issuing guidelines restricting public gatherings in the wake of coronavirus scare, from Saturday. A worker disinfects playground equipment at a kindergarten in Ganzhou, China. The students' return was delayed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, on March 2, 2020. China Daily via Reuters The coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, has spread to 90 other countries. Many cities are disinfecting public surfaces with bleach-and-water mixtures. Experts aren't sure how long the contagious virus can live on surfaces, but say it could range from a few hours to a day or so. Spraying disinfectant solutions into the air is probably not an effective way to kill the virus, but wiping down highly touched surfaces is. Photos show mosques, schools, and streets being sprayed and wiped down around the world. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. One of the most effective ways to fight the spread of the new coronavirus is to disinfect highly touched surfaces. Across the world, disinfection teams have descended upon kindergartens, state capital buildings, markets, mosques, airports, and public roads. Teams of hazmat-suited workers are spraying low-concentration bleach-and-water mixtures from trucks, guns, drones, and robots. Public-health experts think mass disinfection efforts will have mixed effectiveness in outbreak zones. Disinfecting surfaces that are commonly touched, such as in hospitals, schools, and religious sites, can help kill germs. However, misting sanitizer in the air or on the street is likely ineffective, because the virus isn't airborne and people don't touch the street that often. The coronavirus has spread to more than 90 countries since it emerged in Wuhan, China, late last year. In total, at least 100,000 people have been infected, and more than 3,400 have died. (See Business Insider's latest updates here.) Photos from China, South Korea, Iran, Iraq, Russia, Nigeria, and more show how the world is trying to sanitize. China has placed around 56 million people under quarantine. Public gatherings are banned, schools are shut down, and employees are working from home if possible. A worker sprays a street with disinfectant after the novel coronavirus outbreak in Beijing, China, February 23, 2020. .JPG Thomas Peter/Reuters The city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began, has been quarantined since January 23. Transportation buses, subways, ferries, trains, airplanes, and private cars has been halted. Story continues In cities and towns across China, including Shanghai, Beijing, and Wuhan, sanitation workers have been sent to spray down all public areas. Trucks filled with low-concentration bleach-and-water solutions drive through the streets. Workers with protective face masks on ride smart self balancing scooters_chinadaily via reuters.JPG China Daily via Reuters Source: Business Insider. Workers wearing hazmat suits and face masks have swept through train stations, malls, and other destinations, wiping down surfaces to kill viral particles that might linger on them. Worker with sanitizing equipment disinfects inside the Shanghai Stock Exchange building,amid novel coronavirus outbreak, at the Pudong financial district in Shanghai.JPG Aly Song/Reuters Scientists aren't yet sure how long droplets containing the virus can live on surfaces. According to the World Health Organization, "studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days." Sanitation workers disinfect a residential compound, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in Bozhou .JPG China Daily via Reuters The wide range depends on factors like the type of surface a droplet lands on, the temperature or humidity of the surrounding environment, and what kind of droplet a virus is traveling in (saliva or phlegm, say). But sanitizing misters are probably not the most effective way to kill the virus, experts say. The coronavirus mainly travels person to person through saliva and mucus droplets, not through tiny particles in the air. Disinfectant tunnel China News Service via Reuters When people who have COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, cough and sneeze, the viral particles can land on those within 3 to 5 feet and infect them. "I would rather see better efforts to make sure people are disinfecting emergency rooms and high-touch surfaces in hospitals and schools more than I would want to see bleach being sprayed on streets," Saskia Popescu, an infection-prevention epidemiologist, told Business Insider. A volunteer in protective suits controls a drone to spray disinfectants at Zhengwan village, amid coronavirus, in Handan, Hebei province, China January 31, 2020. China Daily via REUTERS .JPG China Daily via Reuters "Honestly, think about how often do your hands or your mouth come into contact with a street?" she said. China also uses spray cannons similar to the ones used for disinfection to combat smog: Industrial misters can spray water droplets that trap and pull dust and pollution particles out of the air in smoggy areas. Workers operate a vehicle to carry out disinfection in Jianghan district_China Daily via Reuters.JPG China Daily via Reuters Source: China Dialogue. Experts stress that basic public-health measures like washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, and staying away from sick people are the best ways to protect yourself. A worker disinfects playground equipment at a kindergarten in Ganzhou, China. The students' return was delayed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, on March 2, 2020. China Daily via Reuters China Daily via Reuters Cases of coronavirus are spiking in South Korea: More than 6,500 people have been infected. An employee from a disinfection service company sanitizes at a market in Seoul, South Korea, February 27, 2020. REUTERS:Heo Ran .JPG Heo Ran/Reuters In South Korea, the virus has spread among a religious group called the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the city of Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city. An employee from a disinfection service company sanitizes Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral in Seoul, South Korea, February 26, 2020. Yonhap via REUTERS.JPG Yonhap via Reuters A 61-year-old churchgoer in Daegu tested positive and caused a "super-spreader" event: Over two weekends at tightly packed prayer services, she came in contact with over 1,000 people. The South Korean government has canceled and postponed public gatherings. Moon Jae-in, South Korea's president, said in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the "entire nation has entered a state of war against this infectious disease." Employees from a disinfection service company sanitize the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, February 25, 2020. Yonhap via REUTERS .JPG Yonhap via Reuters After the country's National Assembly met about its coronavirus response, a sanitation team disinfected the space. Employees from a disinfection service company sanitize the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, February 25, 2020. Yonhap via REUTERS.JPG Yonhap via Reuters Disinfectant products like hand sanitizer are selling out in South Korea, according to Reuters. With soaring demand for ethanol to produce more disinfectant, South Korean soju makers have donated the alcohol that typically goes into the drink. SouthKorea novel coronavirus spread wooha Cho:Getty Images Woohae Cho/Getty Images Source: Reuters Italy has reported more than 140 coronavirus deaths the highest number outside of China. The two major outbreak zones are near Milan and Venice. Specialized operators disinfect a public vaporetto in the depot of the Venetian transport company on February 26, 2020 in Venice, Italy. Stefano Mazzola/Awakening via Getty Images The Italian government has called for the cancelation of any event that would be too crowded for people to stay at least 3 feet away from others. Schools and universities have been closed for more than a week. In Nigeria, an Italian man tested positive for coronavirus after arriving in Lagos from Milan on February 24. He was diagnosed three days later after developing symptoms. It was the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in sub-Saharan Africa. Visitors to a state hospital collects face masks, hand gloves and have their hands sanitised as they walk past the security post entrance in Lagos, on February 28, 2020. Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images The Government of Nigeria has established a "coronavirus preparedness group," led by its Center for Disease Control. The World Health Organization also said that it already has experts on the ground in Nigeria, which it calls a "high priority" country. Iran has over 4,700 coronavirus cases and 124 deaths the second-highest number of deaths in countries outside China (after Italy). Members of a medical team spray disinfectant to sanitize outdoor place of Imam Reza's holy shrine, following the coronavirus outbreak, in Mashhad, Iran February 27, 2020. WANA (West Asia News Agency).JPG WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters About 8% of Iran's parliament 23 out of 290 members is affected by the coronavirus. The country preemptively released 54,000 prisoners to avoid the disease's spread in its crowded prisons. Trucks filled with disinfectants are spraying down streets, shrines, public parks, trash bins, public toilets, and markets in Tehran and other areas with rising case totals, Reuters reported. A member of a medical team sprays disinfectant to sanitize the inside of Imam Reza's holy shrine, following the coronavirus outbreak, in Mashhad, Iran February 27, 2020. WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS.JPG WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters Sanitation teams are also disinfecting religious sites in Iran, but those have not been closed or locked down. "The smell of disinfectants has become my nightmare," Ziba Rezaie, a 62-year-old retired teacher from Qom, Iran, told Reuters. "The city smells like a cemetery, a morgue." Members of the medical team spray disinfectant to sanitize indoor place of Imam Reza's holy shrine, following the coronavirus outbreak, in Mashhad, Iran February 27, 2020. .JPG WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters Source: Reuters. Iran and Iraq share a border, and residents frequently cross for religious, medical, and business visits. Iraq has reported at least 40 cases. Members of the civil defense team spray disinfectant to sanitize surrounding of the Kufa mosque in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq.JPG Alaa al-Marjani/Reuters The majority of these patients are Iraqis who recently visited Iran. The Iraqi government has closed the border with Iran. Authorities have also ordered schools, universities, theaters, restaurants, and other public places to shut down. An Iraqi man looks out of a gateway as a member of the civil defence disinfects a neighbourhood where a recent case of novel coronavirus infection was confirmed in the central shrine city of Najaf, on February 3, 2020. (Photo by Haidar HAMDANI : AFP Haidar Hamdani/AFP via Getty Images The virus is now in at least 90 countries other than China. Workers wearing protective suits prepare to disinfect a Vietnam Airlines plane amid concerns of the spread of the COVID 19 coronavirus at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on March 3, 2020. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN : AFP Nhac Nguyen/AFP via Getty Images Vietnam had 16 confirmed cases, but all the patients have recovered. The country closed its borders with China and closed public schools, according to reports from local media. Some schools in Lebanon have closed as well. An employee from a disinfection company sanitizes a closed school, as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus, in Sidon, Lebanon February 29, 2020. REUTERS:Ali Hashisho.JPG Ali Hashisho/Reuters Source: Reuters. The country of Georgia reported its first case of coronavirus on February 26. Georgian health minister Ekaterine Tikaradze said the citizen traveled to and from Iran. An employee wearing protective gear rides an escalator while spraying disinfectant to sanitize a metro station in Tbilisi, Georgia March 3, 2020. REUTERS:Irakli Gedenidze .JPG Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters The country has suspended travel between Georgia and Iran for two weeks. Travel to China is also banned. Russia has stepped up sanitation efforts. It has also closed most entry points along its 4,200-kilometer border with China and temporarily banned Chinese citizens from entering the country. An employee disinfecting an electric bus at Moscow's trolleybus depot No 6. on March 3 2020 Mikhail Tereshchenko\TASS via Getty Images Mikhail Tereshchenko/TASS via Getty Images The World Health Organization increased the global risk of the new coronavirus to "very high" on Monday. The organization's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said at a briefing Tuesday that containment of the virus is still possible. Hilary Brueck contributed reporting. Read the original article on Business Insider Centre revoked the 48-hour ban imposed on Friday on Malayalam news channels Asianet News and Media One for reportage of Delhi riots that could 'enhance communal disharmony' across the country New Delhi: The government on Saturday revoked the 48-hour ban imposed on Friday on two Malayalam news channels for reportage that could "enhance communal disharmony" across the country. The ban on Asianet News was lifted at 1.30 am, while the ban on Media One was lifted at 9.30 am on Saturday, and both were back on air, a source at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting told PTI. Later in Pune, I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Centre has lifted the ban and the government supports the freedom of the press. While Asianet news editor MG Radhakrishnan said his channel's management had contacted the ministry after the ban was imposed and spoken with relevant people, explaining the channel's position, Media One editor-in-chief CL Thomas said his channel had not reached out to the government and the ministry "suo motu" revoked the ban. "We were proceeding for legal action. Today we got the information that the ban has been revoked, so we did not go ahead with the legal proceedings. We did not contact anyone in the ministry, the government suo motu lifted the ban," Thomas told PTI. "We are happy that the ministry has suo motu lifted the ban. We will continue on the same path we have been following and upholding the classical values of journalism," he said. Radhakrishnan said the channel's management spoke with the I&B ministry in an effort to "convince them". "They (management) seemed to have succeeded in their attempt. Since it was night there was no time for making any formal application. They spoke with all the people concerned in the ministry and convinced them. That is what the minister has also come out saying today," he told PTI. "There was no apology made from our side. The reporting was all factual," Radhakrishnan said. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Javadekar said that he would look into the matter and issue orders if necessary. He said the prime minister has expressed concern over the entire issue. Javadekar also advocated "responsible freedom" for media. The channels were suspended for 48 hours over their coverage of last month's communal violence in Delhi, with the official orders saying they covered events on February 25 in a manner that "highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community". "Channel's reporting on Delhi violence seems to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters," the ministry order on Media One had said. "It also questions RSS and alleges Delhi Police inaction. Channel seems to be critical towards Delhi Police and RSS." The ministry ordered prohibition of transmission or re-transmission of Media One and Asianet News for 48 hours on any platform throughout India with effect from 7.30 pm on Friday to 7.30 pm on Sunday. The Congress and the CPI had come down hard on the government over the suspension of Media One and Asianet News, calling the clampdown as "stifling of media freedom". 34.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard A Florida woman has been arrested for changing the voter registration of 119 Democratic voters to Republican or no affiliation. Via the AP: Cheryl A. Hall, 63, who worked for an organization that helps register voters, turned herself in to Lake County Sheriffs officials Thursday, according to court records. Shes charged with 10 felony counts of submission of false voter registration information. . Hall submitted the forms to the Lake County Supervisor of Elections Office, authorities said. Elections officials flagged the forms because they included incorrect information, including birth dates, Social Security numbers or drivers license numbers. . Sheriffs investigators said all 119 false forms were assigned to Hall, a registered Republican, to collect. Some of the forms changed the registrations of Democrats or no party affiliation to Republican, officials said. Voter suppression, which is what Hall was trying to do, is firmly ingrained in the DNA of the Republican Party. It isnt just elected officials who are trying to prevent Democrats from being able to vote in many states. The Trump mentality of cheat to win trickles down to the rank and file of the party. What happened in Florida was an extreme case, but its not unusual, and if the impacted voters had stayed quiet, Hall likely would have gotten away with her crimes. Republicans keep proving that even they dont believe that their party can win a fair election. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Wycliffe Discovery Center named in top 5 religious museums in US Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Wycliffe Discovery Center, which highlights decades of Bible translation work around the world, has been recognized as one of the top five religious museums in the United States by USA Todays 10 Best Readers Choice Awards for 2020. Were passionate about celebrating cultures, educating people about language groups and highlighting the need to continue this important (of Bible translation) work until all people have access to Scripture in the language they know best, John Chesnut, president and CEO of Wycliffe USA, said in a statement. The center, which opened in Orlando, Florida, in 2002, came in fifth. The awards were based on the input of a panel of subject-matter experts and a public voting period. The center regularly hosts youth events to reach students outside normal school hours, and guests can schedule tours led by active missionaries who can offer first-hand insights into the displays, Wycliffe USA said in the statement. USA Today readers were asked to make their choice based on the stories, collections, and message at 20 U.S. museums, each dedicated to sharing the history, culture, art, and traditions of the worlds diverse religious groups and faith communities. The religious museum category included the countrys best Jewish museums, religious art collections, heritage centers, and other sites, from 14 states and the District of Columbia. The center tells the story of the Bible from an interesting perspective, its translation and distribution to cultures around the globe. Visitors learn what goes into translating scripture and hear talks from missionaries and linguists involved in the work, USA Today said. Whether youre 5 or 75 years old, youll enjoy learning about people, languages and cultures all over the world. Youll also come face to face with the staggering number of people who are still waiting for a single word of the Bible in their own language, the center says on its website. Hear amazing stories of how lives are being changed as Gods Word is made accessible to those who still need it, and find out how you can be a part of what God is doing all around the world through Bible translation. The Ark Encounter biblical theme park with a life-sized Noah's Ark replica, and its sister institution, the Creation Museum, finished No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the awards. Both attractions have made Northern Kentucky the leading faith-based destination in America, the two winners said in a statement. We are so grateful to USA Today for considering our internationally recognized attractions in its contest, said Answers in Genesis Ken Ham, who is also the CEO and founder of the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. By the way, one could make the argument that USA Today should have included the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in its list. While most people would not consider the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. to be a religious museum, it, too, promotes a worldview: atheism, he added. You see, there are no non-religious positions for such museums. Each has a worldview to proclaim. The Ark and Creation Museum are, of course, religious museums in that they promote a theistic Christian worldview. The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., came in third in the awards. YANGONForeign military attaches aboard a Myanmar military helicopter escaped serious injury when it crashed in eastern Burma (Myanmar) on Friday afternoon, a Western diplomat told Reuters. The helicopter was bound for the commercial capital Yangon when it crashed shortly after taking off from Lwe Khan village in northern Shan state, Myanmar military spokesman Zaw Min Tun told Reuters. He said two pilots had been injured but declined to elaborate. Foreign attaches from several countries, including the United States, were on board, a Western diplomat told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. None was injured seriously. They had attended a press briefing in the area, where authorities recently seized $37 million worth of narcotics, chemicals and equipment. Aircraft accidents involving either civilian or military planes are not uncommon in the Southeast Asian country. Myanmar is the worlds biggest producer of methamphetamine, and authorities are often keen to show large-scale seizures to the media. By Shoon Naing Four of New Jerseys five Catholic dioceses have suspended the distribution of communion wine during Mass in an effort to limit the spread of coronavirus, church officials said. The temporary ban on wine, which is usually sipped from communal chalices during Holy Communion, is one of a long list of changes the dioceses are making to help combat COVID-19 disease. The four dioceses -- Newark, Metuchen, Paterson and Trenton -- have also banned the shaking of hands during the sign of peace portion of the Mass. Instead, parishioners are asked to nod at each other and refrain from any contact. The changes affect nearly 3 million Catholics in hundreds of parishes and Catholic schools in North and Central Jersey, church officials said. The Diocese of Camden, the states fifth Catholic diocese, has not adapted the stricter guidelines, a spokesman said Thursday. It is sticking with a looser guidelines issued last month that reminded parishioners they can skip the wine chalice during Holy Communion or pass on shaking hands during the sign of peace if they are concerned about the virus. The Camden diocese includes 62 parishes in Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. The Archdiocese of Newark adopted the stricter guidelines Monday calling for a temporary suspension of the distribution of wine and and a ban on physical contact during the sign of peace. The Trenton, Paterson and Metuchen dioceses followed with similar instructions to their parishes on Wednesday. Many churches are expected to explain the precautionary measures to their parishioners at this weekends Masses. Among the other changes: -- Parishioners are encouraged not to have the Holy Communion host, or bread, placed directly on their tongues. Instead, they are encouraged to the have the priest place the host in their hands. -- Priests, deacons and those distributing Holy Communion are asked to wash their hands or use anti-bacterial hand sanitizer before and after Mass. --The Diocese of Paterson also announced additional measures, including emptying all holy water fonts, including Baptismal fonts, in churches. The diocese also asked that people not hold hands during the recitation of the Lords Prayer. All of the dioceses told people to skip Mass and other parish events if they are sick. The symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, include fever, cough and breathing trouble. Out of charity toward others, those who are ill or who feel unwell should not attend Mass to limit contagion to others, the Diocese of Paterson said in its guidelines. Episcopal parishes also received new guidelines for services in response to coronavirus concerns. The Episcopal Diocese of Newark, which oversees churches in six counties in North Jersey, told its churches to use good sense to limit spreading the coronavirus or any illnesses during communion. But the Episcopal diocese did not ban the use of shared chalices for the distribution of communion wine. Instead, churches were advised to wipe down the rims of cups between sips. Those giving Communion should do so with clean hands and wipe the chalice thoroughly between sips; chalices should be washed with soap and water afterwards, the Episcopal Diocese of Newark said in a statement. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, enter your email address below. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A worker at a factory in Nanjing in China's Jiangsu province sorts face masks on Feb. 18, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) US Removes Tariffs on Face Masks and Other Medical Supplies From China The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has granted tariff exclusions for face masks and other medical supplies imported from China. Applications from 27 companies were approved, The Wall Street Journal reported. Data from the USTR shows the relief was granted to products including surgical drapes, examination gloves, sanitization products, isolation gowns, and some other products. Medline Industries Inc., one of the applicants, said in the application form that there is currently a critical shortage of face masks due to the coronavirus outbreak. At the same time, there are a very limited number of face mask manufacturers in the United States that can produce FDA-approved face masks, and supplies from other countries are not sufficient to replace imports from China. Shifting supply for face masks will take at least 28 months, the company said. One USTR document (pdf) shows that the application from Medline for face masks was granted by the USTR on March 5. The USTR didnt respond to an email requesting comment at the time of publication. U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) urged USTR to remove tariffs from medical supplies critical to the coronavirus response on Feb. 28. To ensure that the United States is prepared to contain and combat the spread of this outbreak, it is crucial that there is a robust supply of critical medical products like gloves, thermometers, and medical caps, Gardner said in a statement on March 6. I applaud USTR for following through on my request to remove tariffs on these items to address medical supply chain concerns and public health demands. However, one company granted tariff relief said the move only has economic implications, but will not change the supply chain pressure following the coronavirus outbreak. This tariff piece is more of an economic piece within the supply chain, Ron Prybella, spokesman for Medegen Medical Products of Hauppauge in New York told The Wall Street Journal. Medegen was granted 16 tariff exclusions by USTR. The Trump administration implemented several measures to increase medical supplies to health care workers and to encourage the production of respiratory protective devices. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an emergency use authorization (EUA) request from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 2 to allow health care personnel to use certain National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health approved respiratorswhich are not currently regulated by the FDAduring the coronavirus outbreak. Two days after the FDAs decision, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that they intend to purchase 500 million N95 respirators over the next 18 months for the Strategic National Stockpile. Through guaranteed orders, this acquisition encourages manufacturers to immediately increase the production of N95s for use by health care professionals. These guaranteed orders offer reassurance to manufacturers that they will not be left with excess supplies if private sector orders are cancelled once the COVID-19 response subsides. Manufacturers typically avoid ramping up production without such a guarantee, the HHS said in a statement. In January, controversy surrounded Oprahs Book Clubs selection of American Dirt, Jeanine Cummins novel about Mexicans fleeing to the U.S. border that was widely criticized for cultural appropriation and the perpetuation of racial stereotypes. Apparently, the drama scared Oprah Winfrey offjust not off American Dirt. Industry newsletter Publishers Lunch reported that the influential book club has decided to drop a different selection, Kate Elizabeth Russells debut novel My Dark Vanessa, following a similar online stir. Advertisement The book, which describes the relationship between a 15-year-old girl and her high school English teacher, was the subject of a different controversy in January after writer Wendy C. Ortiz said that Russells upcoming novel bore eerie story similarities to her memoir, Excavation. [C]ant wait until February when a white womans book of fiction that sounds very much like Excavation is lauded, she tweeted. Ortizs memoir, which came out in 2014, also revolves around a teenage girls relationship with her teacher, and the Twitterverse was quick to suggest that Russell may have co-opted parts of her story. Russell denied the allegations, responding that the story in the novel was based largely on events from her own life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Winfrey held a forum with Cummins and three critics of the book to address American Dirt criticism that aired on Apple TV+ on Friday, but Winfrey said she did not want to wade again into literary controversies that distracted from the books themselves. Russells publisher, William Morrow, said in a statement to AP that it was disappointed by their decision but thrilled to see the incredible response from early readers. My Dark Vanessa, like American Dirt, was one of the most anticipated books of 2020 and involved a seven-figure book deal. Early reviews for the novel, which comes out March 10, have been largely positive. Isami Wada, former chairman of Sekisui House, a Japan-based multinational homebuilder, at the Union League club in Philadelphia, July 2019. Wada and other critics of the company are seeking to oust the current managers. Read more Four deal stories and follow-ups around Philly this week: Bentley Systems, an Exton-based construction software firm with $700 million in yearly sales, says it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to list its Class B common shares on the stock market. The public listing is expected to take place after the SEC completes its review process, subject to market and other conditions, according to the official statement. Founded in 1984, the firm employs 3,500 people and is owned by the five Bentley brothers. A company spokesperson didnt return calls seeking comment. Such share sales dont always come off. Wawa Inc. faced a similar sale in 2004 when the McNeil family foundation sought to sell some shares acquired in the 1990s from one of the founding Wood family. But the Woods didnt want to go public. Sekisui slips as bosses answer reform push Shares of Sekisui House, the $22 billion (yearly sales) Japan-Australia-western U.S. homebuilding giant that is the target of a partly made-in-Philadelphia board-election challenge, fell 6.4 percent on Friday more than double the drop in the Nikkei 225 index after management announced it has resolved to oppose the insurgents. Sekisui bosses, led by CEO Toshinori Abe, offered some concessions to governance-reform advocates, who are critical of top managers response to a $50 million fraud loss two years ago. The leaders proposed a mandatory retirement age of 70, a board efficacy review, additional independent directors (but not the U.S.-style independent majority that the insurgents demand), and increased stock-based compensation to align bosses compensation with investor profits. Management also complained that the insurgents, including former chairman Isami Wada, the companys two highest-ranking U.S.-based executives, and Pamela Fennell Jacobs, of Spouting Rock Asset Management in Bryn Mawr, are recommending no specific management strategies for improvement. Abes team also denied any improper transactions" or improper conduct." We now have the battle lines drawn, said William Uchimoto, a Berwyn-based lawyer for the insurgent team. "It is unprecedented for a Japanese company to announce the slate this early, he added, noting key bad guys including Abe are still on the company slate. Uchimoto said his side took credit for forcing limited reforms by Sekisui House, but added that its proposal amounts only to smoke and mirrors, and said management is using asset sales to temporarily juice profits as future sales prospects decline. The vote is scheduled for April 23. DBOT ATS ceases updates The Delaware Board of Trade Alternative Trading System (DBOT ATS) web site, which formerly listed daily penny-stock trades from more than a dozen customer firms, has stopped updating. The system is operated by Ideanomics Inc.'s Delaware Board of Trade, which has less than a year to go to repay the $3 million it borrowed from New Castle County to create the exchange. "DBOT ATS shut trading down, said Shawn Sloves, whose New York firm, Fundamental Interactions, built DBOTs trading system and has sued DBOT to collect what it says are overdue payments. Sloves added that DBOTs owner, Beijing- and New York-based Ideanomics, could end up "relaunching it in the future, selling it, or abandoning it. Ideanomics spokesperson Tony Sklar, who sits on the DBOT board, says the markets prospects are good. In fact, we are expanding and have been bringing on other exchange partners, he emailed. Let me know if you would like to set up an interview! But Ideanomics spokesperson Jessica Lee wrote back that she and other staffers were currently too busy to explain. Instead, she invited me or anyone interested in the markets future to a DBOT promotional event at Ideanomics office in New York, on March 26. Before that, the company is scheduled to report earnings March 16. AdaptHealth expands again AdaptHealth Corp. of Plymouth Meeting has bought yet another regional home-medical equipment provider. This time its Healthline Medical Equipment Inc., a 22-year-old company, with 13 centers in the Fort Worth and Austin, Texas, areas. Its previous acquisition, Advanced Home Care, an $83 million (yearly sales) firm active in Virginia, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, was completed last week. Boss Dewayne Andrus and his team will keep running Healthline under its current brand, as will Advanced CEO Joel Mills and his team. AdaptHealth CEO Luke McGee said in a statement that, with these latest acquisitions, the company expects sales of around $800 million this year. Profits (before interest, taxes, depreciation/amortization, and after the cost of medical equipment) will total around $100 million minus $15 million for losses, severance, and restructuring from last years McKesson Patient Care Solutions acquisitions. These heartening results were attributed from drastic direction from the Party Central Committee, the full participation of the provincial authorities, and enthusiastic response from local people. From acute awareness and sound decision to drastic actions Soon after two Covid-19 confirmed cases were detected in Vietnam, more cases were continuously reported in our country, with six of them being workers of a Vinh Phuc-based company who were infected after their training course in Chinas Wuhan City the epicentre of the global coronavirus outbreak. Being aware of the complicated situation of epidemics, Vinh Phuc provincial authorities have paid special attention to the prevention and control of the epidemic. Many irregular meetings were held by the provincial Party Committee to discuss and implement response plan for Covid-19. Following the instructions of the Party Secretariat and the Prime Minister, the provincial Party Committee promptly issued documents to mobilise the fullest participation and highest responsibility of the entire political system in the fight against the outbreak. An epidemic response scenario was developed with the worst case being taken into account so that the province could stay alert and active enough to take proper actions. Accordingly, the province authorities directed the local health sector to review its facilities, provide adequate medical equipment and supplies at all medical stations in the province, detect those who needed putting into medical isolation, and spray disinfectant at epidemic-hit areas. A field hospital and concentrated isolation areas were also established in the province to provide medical isolation for suspected cases, those who had direct and indirect contact with patients of coronavirus carriers; and foreigners in the province who previously came from the epidemic-hit areas. At the same time, the province has also accelerated its communication campaign to popularise the Partys guiding documents, the Ministry of Healths recommendations, and latest developments of the outbreak in order to raise awareness about the disease and avoid unnecessary panic among the public. The provincial authorities also decided to stop all festivals and allowed students to remain absent from school since February 10. Although a range of preventive measures were taken, the province faced complicated developments of the diseases as confirmed cases were detected within only five days from February 4-6 and February 8-9. Vinh Phuc recorded the highest number of infection cases, with eleven (eight of them in Son Loi Commune, Binh Xuyen District) of the total of 16 cases detected across the country at that time. Since Son Loi was eyed as an epicentre, the People's Committee of Vinh Phuc Province issued a decision on February 12 on zoning and isolation of Son Loi Commune, which houses more than 10,000 residents, for 20 days, starting from February 13. The move aimed to ensure the highest effectiveness in the prevention and suppression of Covid-19 for the health and life of people in Vinh Phuc Province and the whole country in general, according to Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Hoang Thi Thuy Lan. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Nhu Duong, Deputy Director of the Vice National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, described it as a bold, timely and responsible decision. Maximum efforts taken to control the spread of Covid-19 outbreak Checkpoints were set up along all roads of the affected areas in Binh Xuyen District, Vinh Phuc Province, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Photo: cand.com.vn) During the seal-off period, the province established eight teams to control all means of transport and people in and out Son Loi Commune. Dozens of medical facilities in the province stayed ready to receive, isolate, monitor and treat infected patients under the guidance of the Ministry of Health. Checkpoints were set up along all roads of the affected areas. Vehicles must be sprayed with disinfectant to prevent the virus from spreading. The local authorities also decided to allow local students to leave school for another week, from February 17 to 23, to ensure epidemic prevention. A total of 161 doctors from medical facilities in the province were sent to Son Loi Commune. The Ministry of Health also sent a special task force and two working teams to Binh Xuyen District to assist in zoning off high-risk areas and environmental hygiene, as well as medical treatment. In a similar effort to stop the virus from spreading, the National Lung Hospital sent a mobile radiography truck and ambulances to Son Loi Commune, together with medical supplies and leaflets providing advice on how to prevent Covid-19 infection for local people. Police forces also joined their hands by providing medical equipment and supplies while inspecting key checkpoints around the commune and directing the tasks in ensuring security and order. Vinh Phuc Province also received huge support from organisations, businesses and agencies nationwide. During the deadlock, leaders of the province tighten inspections and toured to hotspots in the province to encourage the spirit of people and functional units who were working round-the-clock to stamp out the epidemic. The maximum efforts made by local authorities, its people and relevant agencies were rewarded, as all 16 people in Vietnam infected with a new coronavirus have recovered, the health ministry said on Tuesday, adding that no new cases have been recorded since February 13. Notably, Vietnams performance in preventing and combating the diseases has been highly appreciated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC). As stated by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Head of the national steering committee on the Covid-19 fight, Vietnam has won the "opening match" against Covid-19 epidemic. While mobilising all resources to fight against the epidemic, Vinh Phuc Province has also determined to maintain economic development and ensure the livelihood of local residents. To date, most enterprises in the province have maintain their production and business activities as usual. In the first two months of the year, the gross regional domestic product (GRDP) of Vinh Phuc Province has increased by 10% compared to 2019. The budget revenue collection has reached more than VND 7 trillion, up 10% year-on-year. The provinces set economical goals for 2020 have still been well realised as planned. As bottles of hand sanitizer fly off store shelves, home recipes for brewing your own coronavirus-killing concoction are piling up online. And some of the posts call for using vodka. A word from medical authorities and even vodka makers: Dont. As soon as we saw the incorrect articles and social posts, we wanted to set the record straight, a spokesperson for the Austin-based distiller Titos Handmade Vodka said.. While it would be good for business for our fans to use massive quantities of Titos for hand sanitizer, it would be a shame to waste the good stuff. The brand said its vodka doesnt contain a high enough concentration of alcohol to fend off viruses, based on guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Per the CDC, hand sanitizer needs to contain at least 60 percent alcohol, the company said. Tito's Handmade Vodka is 40 percent alcohol, and therefore does not meet the current recommendation of the CDC. Embed 4114821Z-1583429168423 Tweet about using Tito's Vodka as a hand sanitizer replacement The government agency urges people to wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap and water, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing their noses, coughing and sneezing. Hand sanitizer is OK when soap and water are not available. DIY recipes online mostly consist of rubbing alcohol and aloe vera, as well as a few drops of essential oils. More Information Metro Health established a hotline to answer coronavirus concerns at 210-207-5779. The department is directing symptomatic residents to first call their primary care doctors, rather than showing up at hospitals or clinics. See More Collapse Hard liquor isnt effective unless youre talking about Everclear, a grain alcohol so powerful that its sale is prohibited in some states. As far as I know, Everclear because of its high concentration of alcohol would be the only agent thats going to be an effective hand sanitizer, said Dr. Fred Campbell, an internal medicine specialist at the Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio. If you want to spend that kind of money, I think itll probably work. The San Antonio physician said studies show that vigorous hand washing, with any kind of soap, is the best way to neutralize harmful microorganisms. On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus prompts a run on hand sanitizer, other germ-killing products While attention now is locked on preventing the spread of the coronavirus, Campbell said, good hand-washing habits also work to prevent the spread of influenza and other more common illnesses. On Monday, the city of San Antonio declared a local state of disaster and public health emergency. Beginning in early February, more than 235 evacuees, including many from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, landed in San Antonio and were quarantined at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The respiratory disease first detected in Wuhan, China, on Dec. 31 has spread to 90 countries, leading to at least 3,400 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. In the U.S., the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has reached 288, including 15 deaths, as of Friday. W.H.O. officials said this week that panic buying has contributed to a global shortage of face masks, which puts health care workers at risk. Hand sanitizer sales in the U.S. are up 73 percent, based on the four weeks ending Feb. 22, compared to the same period a year ago, according to market research firm Nielsen. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox Most hand sanitizers are out of stock on Amazon.com, and San Antonio grocery chain H-E-B is limiting the number of bottles consumers can purchase to four each per shopping trip. These buying trends are expected and at H-E-B, our team is working around the clock to restock our shelves and ensure our customers can find the products they need, spokeswoman Dya Campos said. While hand sanitizer might be out of stock in some stores, this is temporary and we encourage customers to check back with us in store, online or on the H-E-B app. A spokesperson for GOJO, parent company of hand sanitizer brand Purell, said its experiencing a big spike in demand. The company has ramped up production, adding shifts and approving overtime for its workers manufacturing the product in Ohio and France. Making sure you have an adequate supply of the basics is a good move under the circumstances, public health officials say, but hoarding food, hand sanitizer and other staples is unnecessary. 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 ACADEMICS at Mary Immaculate College have been told to urgently devise contingency plans for delivering module content in the event of there being on-campus restrictions due to the coronavirus. While there are no restrictions at place at present, MIC president, Professor Eugene Wall wrote to academics and other staff in recent days following a meeting of the MIC Covid-19 Response Team. The response plan of the College is based on a number of key operational areas in which potential risks arise. In each instance, the Review Team is anticipating what may need to be done that is consistent with the current national strategy for managing the spread of Covid-19 in a containment context, states the letter which has been seen by the Limerick Leader. Planning extends to scenarios that will emerge if the national strategy is escalated. This means in effect, that the College is taking a short-term, medium-term and long-term approach to contingency planning. This also follows from awareness that the situation is currently very fluid and liable to change on a day-to-day basis, adds the letter. Read also: Five new cases of coronovirus confirmed in Ireland In a follow-up email from another senior manager, academics have been told to urgently come up with contingency plans in the event of restrictions being introduced. Obviously, we will be relying on Moodle (Learning Management System) as the main method of delivering module content. We have a very good rate of usage of Moodle in the College, so this should not be a problem. However, we do need to hear from those members of staff who are currently not using Moodle to deliver content; OR members of staff who do not have access to a PC or laptop at home; AND/OR members of staff who do not any or only have limited broadband access, states the correspondence. In addition to lectures, alternative plans are also being drawn up by MIC in relation to exams and asessments. We are aware that there are planned end of semester examinations scheduled. We are keen to work with members of staff to find alternative forms of assessment to end of semester examinations. This could take the form of additional coursework or time-limited Moodle examinations. In addition, there needs to be contingency for accommodating currently planned in-class assessments such as presentations, oral exams etc., where these are used to calculate the final grade. Read also: Visiting ban announced on all six of UL Hospitals Group sites following confirmed coronavirus cases All faculty members have been told to prioritise the development of contingency plans and to submit any proposals by 2pm on Monday. Although there is no decision at present to limit access to campus and we are to continue as normal, I would urge everyone to prepare as much as possible. Hopefully we will not need it, but it will make things much easier if we have contingency plans and plenty of materials / alternatives in place to ensure that our students can achieve all of their learning outcomes successfully, states the letter which was sent to personnel in Limerick and Thurles. ___________________________________________________________________________________ For the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak, visit the dedicated section of our website - click here St. Cecilia Catholic Church near the Hedwig Village area is asking some parishioners who attended an Ash Wednesday Mass to contact the Harris County health department about possible exposure to the new coronavirus. In an email to the congregation Friday night, church officials wrote that one of the Houston-area individuals who tested positive for the virus this week received ashes and had communion in the hand at the 5:30 pm service on Feb. 26. The individual did not receive communion from the cup. The medical clinic has been closed and all patients that came into contact with the doctor, as well as clinic staff, are required to self-isolate for 14 days. The Department of Health and Human Services is contacting them via text message and email with contact details for further advice and they will be monitoring them for signs and symptoms. Loading The department is also working with authorities to obtain the passenger details from the flight. ''I have to say I'm absolutely flabbergasted that the doctor who has experienced flu-like symptoms has presented to work," Ms Mikakos said. GPs are furious with the comments, taking to social media to argue the health minister essentially named and shamed Dr Higgins when he had not travelled to a high-risk zone and therefore did not break any rules. ''The eyes of general practice are on you,'' one GP wrote. ''Now you know we will be thrown under the bus, you don't have our backs.'' ''Demand this ill-informed health minister apologise immediately for her appalling comments, throwing a hard-working GP under the bus for doing his job and following guidelines,'' another GP added. The minister responded that GPs ''play an integral role in our response to COVID-19'' and that patient privacy would be protected. ''However, we have a public health duty to the wider community to provide information about exposure points, which require details about business locations and flights be made public to allow for contact tracing. ''I know this can be very challenging and distressing for those involved and I am deeply sympathetic to this, but public safety has to be our priority.'' A passenger on board the same flight as Dr Higgins, who did not want to be named, said nobody had contacted him by Saturday evening. "I found out about all this when I read the article online, the airline hadn't called me," he said. "I have no idea if I sat near this man or not, it's probably unlikely, but I'm not sure. He said he called the hotline and was told because he wasn't showing symptoms, he wouldn't be tested. "Instead I was asked to isolate myself for seven days since it's already been a week, which I'll do. "It was all quite underwhelming. I thought they'd be sending down an ambulance with a police escort." A fellow doctor at the clinic said staff were on an emergency phone hook-up around lunchtime Saturday discussing how to respond to the diagnosis. He said the clinic strongly defended the sick doctors actions, saying he could not have known his runny nose was not simply a sign of a common cold. He didnt travel anywhere where the source of the virus was. He went nowhere where he thought he would be at risk, the colleague said. Five of the clinics doctors, who were recently in contact with Dr Higgins, are self-isolating at home, he said. Three doctors did not come into recent contact with him and are likely to return to work soon. Victorian Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said each individual organisation was responsible for setting their own occupational health and safety standards. "We expect clinicians to apply their own judgement. If they feel unwell and think there is a chance they have an infection, they should not go to work," he said. The department advised that testing should be considered in all returned travellers if they have symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said that until now, the 'general principle' for testing included people who are coming from high-risk counties or medium risk countries (the US is not on that list) to be tested. However, he said given the extensive spread of the virus he believed "anyone who returns from travelling should consider that." Ms Mikakos advised people who are concerned to contact the Department of Health and Human Services hotline for information on COVID-19 on 1800 675 398. "Weve had almost 8000 calls to the hotline number since its been established. ''We do expect well get inundated with calls today as a result of this," said Ms Mikakos. Four COVID-19 screening clinics opened on Saturday, at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, The Alfred hospital and The Austin and at Box Hill Hospital. Loading "In recent weeks I have been advising the community about our health system preparedness as we gear up for what is a likely pandemic," she said. "We do expect we will have a significant increase in demand as this virus spreads in the community." Ms Mikakos stressed that the clinics were not for walk-in patients, and that people should call the COVID-19 hotline before attending a clinic, as well as call ahead to the hospital they intend to visit. "People will be checked for symptoms and they will have a swab collected if that's required," she said. "(Patients) will present at the ED triage, and will then be sent to the screening clinic for testing. In coming days, some hospitals will establish separate entrances." There have been 3000 coronavirus tests in Victoria and more than 2500 negative results. The president of Australian Medical Association Victoria, associate professor Julian Rait, urged medical practitioners to "exercise extreme caution" and refrain from going to work if they have any symptoms of illness "even a runny nose or a scratchy throat, which could be the first signs (of coronavirus)". "Doctors who have been travelling to high risk countries should have a high level of suspicion should they develop any respiratory tract symptoms, or even gastrointestinal symptoms. They should not go to work," he said. "That said it is unfair to apply retrospective judgements about health workers given the rapidly evolving nature of this epidemic and the advice that has been given." He said businesses should be preparing work-from-home plans for staff to try to reduce the reproduction rate of the virus. "We're moving to a stage now where we need to consider those sorts of measures ... if we're seeing sustained community transmission then those plans need to be enacted. Businesses need to be considering that now. "The main thing is to reduce the opportunity for the virus to spread and if we can reduce the replication rate to under one (person) we can hope to contain it." Ms Mikakos said the department had had discussions with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency about the matter and was requesting AHPRA and the federal government to issue advice to all doctors around the country reminding them of the types of things they should be looking for and "to make sure they are not presenting a risk to their patients". Victorias Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton said it was "imperative" that healthcare workers understood their risk. "It is irresponsible for people to be going to work if they are unwell. That's not just healthcare workers, that's everybody in the community needs to take this very seriously," Dr Sutton said. "In general practice there are lots of elderly patients, these are exactly the patients who are at higher risk for severe disease." Loading "So you have a particular obligation to exclude yourself from work if you are unwell and if you have an inkling that you might have COVID-19 then you need to isolate, then get tested, get the result and return to work quickly. "We can turn the result around within 24 hours, so you shouldnt feel shy about getting tested. He said people who are over 65 years old, and those with pre-existing illnesses are at particular risk and so aged care is an area where people need to take absolute precautions. Mass gatherings such as the Grand Prix and Moomba are still going ahead at "this early stage", but anyone with symptoms should stay away. ywp033402 wrote: Dear , thank you very much for providing this platform for potential MBA applicants. I am planning to apply for MBA this summer and would greatly appreciate if I can have an honest review especially on the two questions below: 1) What are my chances of receiving an offer from my target schools (listed belo)? (a % figure will be great if possible) 2) What are some areas that I can work on to maximize my chance of receiving an offer from my target schools? Please see my background information below: Demographic Chinese male, 24 years old, 25 by the time of application, will be 26 years old by September 2021 Education University: Top 3 university in my country, GPA: 3.52 (First Class Honor, top 10% of class), major in Business Management High school: Top 3 secondary school in the UK GMAT Overall: 710 (91st percentile) Quant: 49 (75th percentile) Verbal: 37 (83rd percentile) IR: 8 (93rd percentile) AWA: 6 I know that as a Chinese male, this score will most likely put me as a disadvantage; unfortunately, I have already taken the GMAT more than 3 times and I believe 710 is my bottleneck since I haven't been able to achieve a higher score... so I somehow doubt I should spend more time on this... (this is actually a very big question mark for me since what I have read on this forum seems to lean towards the opinion that without 750 I basically have no chance with my target schools...) Work experience - Fresh out of university in 2018, 2 years working with MBB as a consultant by the time of application: specific experience includes transformation projects for local bank, productivity uplift program for front-line staff in a global bank, digital strategy for one of the largest regional insurance player, 10 years vision international strategy for a local rail operator, cost-savings initiatives for international supermarket chain (industry norm is 24 months as the minimum tenure for promotion) Extracurricular activities - Chairman of university consulting club in the last year of my university, overseeing 120+ business students and participating in multiple international case competitions - After graduation, I am still helping the consulting club in weekend career sharing events and training for competitions Post-MBA goals - Probably too early to tell at this stage, but I would like to continue working in MBB and (hopefully) become a partner one day - MBA will be a great platform to meet with other business elites and build up my business skills Target schools - Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Wharton, Booth, Kellogg, Columbia Nisha Trivedi mbaMission Senior Admissions Consultant 35 positive reviews on GMATClub, 2020 Top 20 of admissions consultants across the industry per P&Q: https://poetsandquants.com/2020/08/26/best-mba-admission-consultants-of-2020/ Sign up for a free 30-minute consultation at https://www.mbamission.com/consult/mba-admissions/ Read our Insider's Guides to the top b-schools: http://www.mbamission.com/guides.php?category=insiders Signature Read More Hi, and thanks for writing! The fact that you're working at an MBB will carry some weight - however, consulting applicants are heavily represented in the pool. Question, since you're considering returning to consulting post-MBA - will your firm sponsor you? If so, this would help your chances since the schools will see how much they value your potential. And, would they want to sponsor you this year, or wait a year until you're promoted ? 2 years is on the low end of experience for an applicant, so waiting until next year to apply could benefit you by giving you a chance to add more accomplishments to your resume, including that promotion. Have you had a chance to work on any engagements outside of China? This would strengthen your profile as well given how much schools value international experience.I'm glad to see that you're still involved with your undergrad consulting club - be sure to highlight the impact you've made on your resume and application.From what I've seen with Chinese applicants, a high GMAT score (730+) really is necessary to secure admission into a top program. It sounds like you've already given it a fair chance, but if there's any possibility that there are points to be gained, I'd consider taking it again. If you really don't feel that you can increase it, I would broaden your list of schools to the U.S. #10-25 range._________________ Building owners in Richmond, Va., were in for a terrifying surprise after a tenant complained about bees in their apartments air conditioning ducts. On Facebook, the Virginia Wildlife Management and Control posted that a massive 8-foot-long hive was hidden in the ceiling over the living room. a hive of that size could support 100,000 to 150,000 bees. Luckily, the hive was not fully occupied when the discovery was made. Rich Perry, the owner of the wildlife control company, it was extremely unusual to have a hive of that size inside the home. The apartment was between tenants at the time, which would explain why no one heard thousands of bees buzzing. Perry estimates that the hive was at least two years old. The Virginia Wildlife Management and Control has a no-kill policy when it comes to hives. Unfortunately, all plans to move it failed, and the hive could not be saved. Its unclear what ended up happening with the bees Parliament This Week in Parliament Face-masked military lawmakers at the Union Parliament on March 5. / The Irrawaddy Monday (March 2) Parliament took a day off to mark Peasants Day. Tuesday (March 3) The Union Parliament continued heated debates on the charter amendment bills. Military lawmakers raised objections to a proposal to scrap an article that says the commander-in-chief of the defense services is the supreme commander of all the armed forces. Military lawmaker Brigadier-General Win Moe discussed the proposed amendment regarding the right to recall lawmakers, insisting that the existing provision be kept unchanged. The existing provision says a minimum of 1 percent of the original voters can submit a complaint with the Union Election Commission against their lawmaker. The proposed amendment suggests a minimum 20 percent of original voters should be required to file a complaint. Wednesday (March 4) At the Union Parliament, Brigadier-General Maung Maung, who leads military-appointed lawmakers, said the proposed amendments by the National League for Democracy (NLD) to the 2008 Constitution would undermine the democratic transition, national unity and civil-military relations. Thursday (March 5) NLD lawmaker U Ne Myo Tun objected when military member Lieutenant-Colonel Nyi Nyi Lwin asked who built the Parliament complex. In response to criticism over the militarys opposition to the charter amendment bills submitted by the NLD, the military lawmaker implied that the military would not have built the parliamentary buildings if it did not want democracy. Arakan National Party (ANP) parliamentarian U Pe Than said he was shocked and sad that the NLD lawmakers objected to amending Article 261, which ethnic parties believe to be the first step toward a federal, democratic Union. The amendment proposes to have chief ministers selected by their regional and state legislatures rather than appointed by the president. NLD lawmakers said the amendment would have granted greater authority to military lawmakers who also held 25 percent of the seats in the regional and state parliaments. Friday (March 6) Questions were raised in the Upper House on whether the government planned to increase the rent for land leased to Chinas Wanbao Mining Co. to operate the Letpadaung copper mine in Sagaing Region in line with market prices. It was also proposed that a higher level of compensation, preferably 19 million kyats (US$13,700) per acre, be paid to farmers who refused to accept compensation for land confiscated for the project. The military-appointed deputy defense minister, Major-General Myint Naing, replied that further compensation was being given in line with the recommendations provided in the final report of Letpadaung Copper Mines Investigation Commission led by then-parliamentarian Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in 2013. Negotiations are ongoing with the farmers who refused to accept compensation but the government has no plan to increase compensation payments because it could impact other projects in Myanmar and the farmers who accepted compensation would demand further payments. The Lower House approved for discussion a proposal submitted by lawmaker Dr. Aye Min. It urged the Union government to form community-based health awareness groups consisting of general practitioners, health care specialists and enthusiasts to boost health awareness and standards among the public. According to the population and housing census of 2014, the average life expectancy in Myanmar is 66 and the average number of healthy years is 57. You may also like these stories: NLD Constitutional Amendments Would Disrupt Democratic Transition: Military MPs Myanmar Parliament to Vote on Proposed Constitutional Amendments Next Week Donald Trumps acting chief of staff is to become the US special envoy to Northern Ireland. The US president confirmed Mick Mulvaney has taken up the role in a tweet on Friday. The diplomatic role has remained vacant since former US senator Gary Hart left the position in 2017 when Mr Trump took power. Mr Mulvaney is replaced as the presidents chief of staff by Republican Congressman Mark Meadows. Mr Mulvaney is an Irish-American and has strong links to Co Mayo where his grandparents are from. The appointment came as the White House released details of Mr Trumps meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar next week. Mr Varadkar will travel to the US for the annual St Patricks celebrations. In a statement, the White House said the two men will discuss how to strengthen relations between the US and Ireland, including the robust and cultural ties and joint commitment to maintain the gains of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Trump also said he is looking forward to hosting the Taoiseach at the traditional Shamrock Bowl presentation at the White House. Northern Irelands First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill welcomed Mr Mulvaneys appointment. Mrs Foster said: We met Mr Mulvaney during his recent trip to Belfast and welcomed his interest in the restoration of a powersharing Executive. The United States has been a loyal friend to Northern Ireland and the appointment of the new Special Envoy will be important in developing that friendship. The US is a key market for us and we will be using our time in Washington next week to get the message across that we are open for businesses, an attractive place to invest with a skilled and strong work force. Ms ONeill said: I welcome the appointment of Mr Mulvaney and hope this role will allow him to build on the work of those who held the role before him in supporting the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement. We have strong historical, political and economic connections with the US and I look forward to working with the new Special Envoy during his term in office to build on those links as we work to protect our interests after Brexit. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tweeted: Really pleased Mick Mulvaney has been appointed as US special envoy to Northern Ireland. He has been a good friend to Ireland and understands all the key issues in detail. Hell have a hotline to President Trump when it comes to issues affecting Ireland, north and south. MEDFORD, Ore. A woman accused of robbing a Medford bank in broad daylight on Thursday was scheduled to make her first appearance in court a day later. Officers and detectives with Medford Police swarmed Mechanics Bank shortly before 2 p.m. after the robbery came in to dispatch. At the time, neither police or bank staff would comment on what had happened. Court documents reveal that officers responded to a hold-up alarm at the bank, arriving to find that a bank robbery had just occurred. A teller told investigators that she had buzzed in the suspect, thinking she was a customer. The suspect came in wearing a "medical mask and glasses," then slipped the teller a note demanding cash and saying that she was armed with a bomb, but didn't want to hurt anyone. According to court documents, the teller slipped the suspect "bait money totaling $90." While the suspect left the building, a branch manager saw her get into a small white car and made a note of the license plate. Investigators quickly ran the plate, which was registered to a Klamath Falls woman 48-year-old Amy Marie Bender, police said. Medford Police informed law enforcement in the Klamath Falls in an attempt to locate Bender. Oregon State Police found Bender on Lakeshore Drive and detained her, bringing her into the OSP Klamath Falls office. According to the probable cause statement, Bender admitted to the robbery during an interview. Bender told police that she had a bill at a local car dealership, and was "upset because she had to use her rent money to get her car out," the probable cause statement said. A search of Bender's vehicle found all of the bait money and the clothing that was used during the robbery, police noted. Bender was arraigned in a Jackson County court on Friday for a second degree robbery charge. She has an extensive history of criminal charges, according to court records particularly in Klamath County, and most frequently for theft. WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases Don't believe in rumours, consult your doctor: PM Modi's advise amid coronavirus scare India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Mar 07: Allying fears over coronavirus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked people to stay away from rumours regarding coronavirus and emphasised on the need to follow the advice of doctors in this regard. He also asked people to avoid handshakes and start greeting others with 'namaste' once again. "Some people say this is not to be eaten, that is not to be done, some people will bring four new things that coronavirus can be avoided by eating this. We have to avoid these rumors too," he said, asking people to follow the advise their doctor. He said at-risk people should take precautions against the disease. Of the 31 people infected with the coronavirus in India, 16 are Italian tourists. The most recent was a Delhi man who had travelled to Thailand and Malaysia. The patient is stable and being monitored. The World Health Organisation said over one lakh people have been infected and 3,500 deaths have been reported globally. The Novel Coronavirus was first detected at a seafood market in China's Wuhan. It spread quickly from there. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 The Indian government intensified universal screening of all international passengers irrespective of nationality. India also began efforts to evacuate its nationals from coronavirus-hit Iran. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Friday tweeted that an Indian medical team was landing in Iran to establish a clinic in the city of Qom there by Friday evening for screening of Indian nationals. He added that New Delhi was also working out the logistics of their return with Iranian authorities. Incidentally, this comes amid a spat between the two countries over statements made by Iran on the recent Delhi riots, which New Delhi has categorically rejected. The health ministry has begun national-level training of personnel to deal with COVID. Adedeji Rasheed, the Director of Cocoa Research Department of Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) believes Nigeria can return to the glory days of leadership in cocoa production. In this interview with Abdulkareem Mojeed, he spoke on the problems facing the cocoa value chain and current solutions being effected to revive the sector. Excerpts: PT: At what point do you think Nigeria lost leadership in cocoa production? Adedeji: Before Nigeria discovered oil, cocoa was the number one foreign exchange commodity and from there a lot of things was achieved, by then western region of Nigeria. Things like University of Ife, Liberty stadium, NTA and so on. Nigeria got it wrong the time we discovered petroleum. It seems easier to get money from petroleum than agriculture. We abandoned agriculture, many farmers abandoned their farms. In agriculture, when your crop is becoming old and the productivity is coming down, you need to replant and rehabilitate all those ones that are jettisoned. Just as we know that any plantation that is not being well taken care of, will not have the ability to produce to the maximum productivity level. That is how Nigeria lost its position as the second largest producer of cocoa in the world. It became fourth, gradually sixth and seventh. However, the trend was challenged especially in 2011, when the then Federal Government set up National Cocoa Development Commission (NCDC). Between 2011 and 2015, CRIN gave out 601, 000 pods freely to farmers to produce seedlings from our newly developed cocoa varieties. This helped to some extent. However, the other part of the project that has to do with monitoring and evaluation were not properly done and with that, the country could not get expected results. Later on, another government came and brought in Cocoa transformation agenda. During that period, some inputs were also provided to farmers and CRIN played a pivotal role. However, all these efforts have not been actually yielding enough results that could catapult Nigeria back to second largest cocoa producers. PT: Your institute is supposed to help drive the sector with research as done in other countries. What major findings have they made that should be useful in driving the cocoa value chain for Nigeria? Concerning the activities of CRIN in cocoa production, the institute was established to tackle the problem confronting the cocoa value chain all over the world. To be precise, West African Cocoa Research Institute (WACRI) was established because of Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV) that ravaged almost entirely the cocoa plantation in cocoa producing countries like Ghana and the rest. Since then, WACRI and later CRIN has been working on how to protect all existing cocoa plantation, how to develop new varieties, how to produce products and bye products from cocoa and how to extend the results of our findings to farmers as well as organizing farmers into cooperatives and teaching them new ways of cultivating cocoa in a profitable, sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. In 2011, CRIN released eight new cocoa varieties, we call them T.C Series. These T. C Series varieties is so interesting when you compare its performance with what we have in the past. The latest we had before TC series had a maximum production of about 400kg/ha/yr, every other things put into place, you cant get more than that but for the recent T.C series, the minimum production you can get per hectare per year is about 1500 kg/ha. You can even get up to 2300kg per hectare per year. The one produced before T.C series, starts fruiting after 5-7years of planting but T.C series will start producing in twenty-four months and at times it may be less than that. And these T.C series are more resistant and tolerant to diseases as well as insect pests of cocoa. All these are parts of CRINs contributions, and these are the backbone of the progress Nigeria has made so far on cocoa. On the issue of adding values, from cocoa we have produced different types of bye products that we have a patent on and we have extended to entrepreneur. We have developed cocoa wine, we have developed cocoa soap, we have about four chocolates, we have cocoa butter cream, we have cocoa powder, we have cocoa bread, we have chocolate garri and so on and so forth. We have different products and bye products like cocoa pod husk fertilizers, animal feed produced from cocoa pod husk, for pigs, livestock, rabbits and the rest. We have all these bye products produced from cocoa and we do organize training for farmers across all cocoa growing states, then we do help in establishing plantations, we collaborate with FG, state governments like Ekiti state, Cross River state, Ogun state, Ondo state and what a view. PT: How much of partnership does CRIN have with universities and other countries like Ivory Coast and Ghana who are already getting cocoa right? On the issue of partnership, we do not partner with government agencies alone, we also collaborate with other non-governmental agencies, universities- Olabisi Onabanjo University, University of Ibadan, University of Agriculture Abeokuta, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and so on and so forth. We have different types of collaborations, some of these institutions will send their post-graduate students to come and do their research on cocoa and we co-supervised them. Some of them do extend community services to their host communities. They invite us to collaborate in the distribution of planting materials, training local dwellers on how to produce bye products from cocoa. Outside Nigeria too, we collaborate with the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) and World cocoa foundation. PT: Have these research outcomes been implemented by the government? The reason why the results of our efforts is not that felt can be attributed to the fact that what is happening to every other thing is happening to cocoa too. Our borders are too porous. Most commodity crops are being taken out of Nigeria through back doors. Something like kola, when you go to records, most of our neighbouring countries claim to be the major producers of kola, meanwhile, it has been established that Nigeria is the major producer. When you get to our markets, you will see fairly used jute bags imported from Ghana, written there Ghana cocoa, our farmers will buy it and use to bag our cocoa then, export it through back doors. When you see that one outside the country, you will think it is a cocoa from Ghana. So a lot of things are playing out that is affecting the actual production figure value of Nigerias cocoa. Another thing is lack of adequate cooperation among all players across cocoa value chains. Like I told you the other time, for instance, between 2011-2015, we gave out 601,000 pods for farmers to produce additional seedlings in order to improve upon what we have on the field. Our findings later made us establish that most of the farmers that collected thousands of cocoa pods free did not put into adequate use in producing seedlings. So, these are some of the problems the cocoa industry is facing in Nigeria. Insincerity across board, because of this, the latest support the government gave was not free. The federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development bought 8100 pods of cocoa. They subsidized it, a pod cost N300 from our end but they subsidized it to N60 per pod to farmers. PT: What Mechanism would you use to achieve getting the inputs directly to the real farmers? The inputs are going to be given to NGOs that are working on cocoa, farmers cooperative and there is a current vibrancy in the cocoa farmers Association of Nigeria. Initially we have only Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN). CAN comprises of farmers, input sellers and agents that are buying cocoa and the rest. But CFAN is mainly for cocoa farmers alone, and whenever support is coming, the identified and registered association are going to benefit. With this we will be able to monitor that the input support is going to make adequate use of them. PT: Do you think Nigeria has the potential to reclaim its position in the cocoa global market? Yes! We have the potential. Number one potential is that we have land more than any of these countries ahead of us Cote dvoire, Ghana. We have land that is very fertile, some states are still having virgin forests. If some percentages are given to cocoa farmers and properly managed, well overtake these countries. Another thing is that, we are encouraging farmers to use these new varieties we have produced to replace the old ones. Although, many farmers are finding it difficult to cut off the old cocoa trees to plant new ones, we told them to phase it out, i.e. if you have up to 10 hectares, you can start by replacing 2 hectares. When they start producing, you can be phasing out the old ones gradually in that manner. By the time all these are put in place, were going to have enough to overtake all the countries that have overtaken us in the global market. So, we have the potential, the government should support research institutes more, reason being that one of our major problems is that we have enough technology on shelf, but to get them across to farmers, the support is not all that there. If all these are put together and duly monitored as it is supposed to be monitored, we have the potential to overtake countries at the peak globally. And there is a blessing in disguise presently in the way the price of petroleum is fluctuating in the market, it has given us that sense of looking back to agriculture to save the situation. On a daily basis farmers visit this office to get ideas, many of them are showing interest and were ready to partner with anybody. Advertisements PT: Cocoa farmers are lamenting about the high cost of inputs like fertilizers, seedlings, chemicals among others and lack of government support across value chains of this commodity. How will you react to this Sir? The problem is the price. When you get to our market, because of the porosity of our system, you will get a lot of adulterated chemicals. It will interest you to know that we have not for sale from Ghana in our market. Most of these not for sale from other countries have expired, and discarded from these countries. All these chemicals find their way to our market. When the farmers get to the market, they will see that they are very cheap, they will buy it and it will not work. Those chemicals that weve screened and recommended to them, they will be complaining that the prices are too high, the farmers cannot afford it. Were appealing to the government to develop strategies of subsidizing it. They can do this by reducing tax on materials used in producing these chemicals so that the producers will produce at a cheaper rate and then sell at reduced rates to farmers. This is part of the ongoing effort. Into The Wild, featuring Rajinikanth and Bear Grylls, will premiere today on Discovery Channel. The much-awaited episode will hit the mini-screens at 8 pm, today. The Superstar will be seen wandering into the wilderness of Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka in the survival show. Earlier, to turn up the heat, the makers had released a teaser where Thalaiva was seen in a complete action mode and also going back in time. His conversations with the survivalist about being a bus conductor at the age of 18 and his initial days in Tamil cinema, has been highly admired by the netizens. Also, the sweet gesture of Bear Grylls tying up the actor's shoelace has been appreciated in the comment section of the video, with a majority calling him a gentleman. The channel had also come up with a dance challenge #ThalaivaOnDiscovery urging people to share their dance moves on Vaanga song. Discovery took to it's Twitter handle with a video of people dancing on the dappankuthu (a South Indian music genre) beat. Rajinikanth had earlier expressed his joy in making his television debut with Into The Wild, "Bear Grylls has tested the survival skills of multiple celebrity guests, pushing them to their limits. I look forward to the survival challenge in the mesmerizing wilderness of India". Interestingly, Rajinikanth becomes the second Indian to be featured in the Grylls show after Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As ISIL fighters take advantage of an uncertain situation in northern Iraq, we meet the villagers left alone to defend themselves. Reports are growing of attacks by ISIL (ISIS) fighters in northern Iraq as the group takes advantage of an uncertain security situation. In January, Iraqs Parliament called for foreign troops to be expelled after Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was killed in a US air raid. Al Jazeeras Simona Foltyn met villagers in northern Iraq who have been left alone to defend themselves. - Whatsapp has been ranked as the most popular social media platform in Africa and it accounted for about half of internet data in Zimbabwe in 2017 - Modified versions introduced by third parties have, however, led to changes in internet usage by African mobile users - Variations of Whatsapp, used in several African markets, often offer various packages to users unavailable in the original version Africas most popular social media platform, WhatsApp, has other versions which are more popular with users in the continent, a new report has revealed. In Zimbabwe, WhatsApp accounted for about half of the internet data in the country in the year 2017. READ ALSO: Kipyegon Kenei: Tears flow freely as late officer's body arrives in Nakuru READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Ministry of Health to inform Kenyans about virus through text messages However, its popularity has been under-reported as third parties have introduced modified versions, leading to changes in usage among African mobile internet users. Known as WhatsApp mods, they are shared from one device to another or downloaded from sources outside official portals. READ ALSO: Msanii wa Sauti Sol, Bien afunga pingu za maisha na mrembo wake Chiki This, according to Quartz Africa implies that they do not show up on the download lists of major app stores. Bryan Pon, co-founder of Caribou Data, reveals that people are attracted to them because the apps offer several packages compared to WhatsApp. GB WhatsApp, which is the most widely used mod across important African markets, gives users the opportunity to operate multiple accounts, restore deleted messages and send and receive larger media files, up to 50 megabytes. It also offers users more control of privacy settings, including hiding features that notify others when users are online, recording a voice-note or typing a message. Besides these reasons, users of modified apps can still seamlessly communicate with contacts using official WhatsApp versions. Caribou Data analysed 230 unique app sessions in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa shows that GB WhatsApp was the second most used social messaging app only behind WhatsApps official version. 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 The agony of underage mothers in Nairobi slums | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke The minister's figures on Saturday bring the total number of cases announced in the country to 48 Egypt's health minister Hala Zayed said on Saturday that the number of coronavirus cases on board the Luxor Nile cruiser has risen to 45. The minister's remarks came at a press conference on Saturday announcing that 33 new cases have tested positive. Zayed said the infected include 19 foreigners. She noted that the boat carried 171 people on board, including 101 foreigners and 70 Egyptians. Zayed explained that the Preventive Health Ministry Team repeated the tests on the 12 cases reported positive carriers of the virus yesterday, and found that 11 cases tested negative. "They [all the recently-announced cases] are now on their way to be isolated in a hospital in Marsa Matrouh," Zayed said. In a joint statement on Friday, the health ministry and the World Health Organisation reported Egypt said it detected 12 coronavirus cases on a Nile cruise ship on its way from Aswan to Luxor. The minister's figures on Saturday bring the total number of cases announced in the country to 48. Last week, Egypt announced the first confirmed case in the country of an Egyptian, a recent returnee from Europe. While the two previous cases were both foreign nationals; one has since recovered. Search Keywords: Short link: Murambiwa revealed that he was going to treat himself to a brand new car only. The rest of the money, however, is going to be put into savings for later investments. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 23:09:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JAKARTA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- More than 800 residents have fled home in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua as rebels threaten to launch attacks on the the military and the police there, a police officer said on Saturday. Scores of members of the separatist group which the government calls "the criminal armed group" have been appearing in the villages in Mimika district, Provincial Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw said. The police chief said by Saturday residents there had kept escaping their villages for fears of the presence of the rebels. The presence of the separatist group has made the residents uneasy and they have chosen to flee, the police chief said. Waterpauw stressed that he will take stern actions against the separatists. The police chief and Provincial Military Commander Major General Herman Asaribab on Saturday visited the place attacked by the rebels days ago in Mimika District's city of Tembagapura, local media reported. Spokesman for the provincial police office Senior Commissioner A.M. Kamal said that the residents felt that the situation in their villages are not safe with the presence of the rebels. The rebels have taken foods from the residents by pointing a gun on them, he said. Most of those fleeing home are children, women and elderly persons, according to Agus Beanal, one of the youth leaders in the area. Papua province is home to the separatist Free Papua Movement which has been seeking an independent state through guerrilla wars. Laura says it is a "sharp, shooting pain, like someone sticking needles into you". Malika compares it with fire: "You feel as if you are burning inside". Jessica admits that for years she had to self-medicate with Enantyum every four hours to cope with the pain. Mari Carmen believed that "I was going to die if it carried on like that". These women all have endometriosis, and have become very accustomed to hearing people say "Endo what?" This illness, which is a growth of the tissue that coats the interior of the uterus, affects more than ten per cent of women. Most are unaware that they have it. They grew up thinking that heavy blood loss and waves of pain were normal symptoms of menstruation. A lack of research and general lack of knowledge of the problem, including among the medical community, have meant that it is often not diagnosed for eight to ten years. By then the illness has spread, forming cysts in different parts of the body, from the ovaries to the intestine and even the lung. These cysts, although benign (non-cancerous) put pressure on different organs and can burst, causing frequent episodes of pain. However, it is not always like that. Sometimes there are no symptoms and the endometriosis, which lies behind a high percentage of cases of infertility and miscarriage, has been classified in four categories: minimum, slight, moderate and severe. The treatment depends on the severity. In the first two categories the illness is usually kept under control with contraceptive pills or a hormone-releasing intrauterine device (the Mirena IDU). More severe cases need surgery, and this has historically been aggressive, removing the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Now, new technologies mean there is less damage to healthy tissues and the treated organs can be preserved. Jessica, 33: I didnt say how much pain I was in because they didnt believe me She has had three miscarriages and undergone four ovarian stimulations and two embryonic transfers but has not managed to become a mother. But I want to say that you do cope, she says. Before being diagnosed, women with endometriosis normally go through endless consultations, tests and uncertainty. Their symptoms are often confused with other problems and they are treated for cystitis, gases, hemorrhoides and even depression. On other occasions they are accused of exaggerating their pains, or are not believed at all. Jessica began to think she was suffering from mental illness. "I didn't want to tell anyone how much pain I was in because they didn't believe me. My family has always supported me, but nobody understood that this was happening all the time and every ten minutes I would throw myself on the floor because of the pain," she says. A resonance scan revealed that she had "slight endometriomas". The doctors didn't recommend surgery, but she insisted. "I went into the operating theatre thinking I was mad," she says. Although she didn't expect it, they also removed her fallopian tubes and the left ovary because an endometrioma had attached to her uterus and it hadn't been spotted until then. She wasn't crazy after all. Since 2016 she has suffered three miscarriages and undergone four ovarian stimulations and two embryonic transfers. She recently had her 33rd birthday and is still not a mother. The other women agree when Jessica talks of her experience. They are of different ages, professions and even nationalities, but they share the same sensation of incomprehension. This illness, they say, affects social and emotional relationships and their work. Laura, 41: They referred me for mental health treatment A doctor told her mother that she was attention-seeking, but her pains were real: she has had five operations because of the cysts and surgeons removed her fallopian tubes, one ovary and part of the other. She was a young mother. Laura was often signed off work for "menstrual pain" until not long ago. A company threatened to sack her. Now she has managed to get her GP to write "endometriosis" on her certificates. And friends and relatives still say "Endo what?", even though she has lived with the illness all her life. She had surgery for the first time when she was 16. Since then they have removed her fallopian tubes, left ovary, almost the whole of her right ovary and nearly 20 per cent of her uterus and womb. She has had five operations, but even so on one occasion they referred her to a mental health unit, insinuating that she was exaggerating her pains: "They told my mother I was attention-seeking. Even the specialists themselves don't believe you," she says. After a high-risk pregnancy, Laura had become a mother at a young age (the possibilities of gestation reduce with age), giving birth to a daughter in the seventh month. Now aged 41, she is a grandmother. Endometriosis is a chronic condition, although if diagnosed in time its development and symptoms, which tend to start with the first period, can be controlled. This is why associations of sufferers have spent years calling for specific training in the medical profession. In 2008 the Women's Health Observatory produced a guide for nurses on treating women with the illness, but many professionals are still unaware of its recommendations. In addition to the pain, the cysts can cause vomiting, migraines, constipation, chronic fatigue, early menopause, pelvic pain, arthritis, hypothyroidism, discomfort when urinating and having sexual relations, excessive blood loss during menstruation and diarrhoea, among other symptoms. Malika, who is 34 and comes from Tangier, has lost ten kilos due to intestinal problems caused by the illness: "The worst moment of the day is when I go to the loo," she says. She gets upset as she recalls her unsuccessful attempts to become a mother. "My partner and I separated recently, because of that among other things. I'm always tired and I have no appetite". Malika, 34: I have lost my appetite and the will to live Her illness was diagnosed early but she was not given suitable treatment. She has tried unsuccessfully to become a mother and recently separated from her partner, because of that, among other things. Now doctors are studying her scan and deciding whether to operate. Mari Carmen, 33, was diagnosed early. She began to menstruate before her 11th birthday and since then her "very painful" periods have been accompanied by vomiting and dizziness. She thought it was normal, until her symptoms became even worse when she started at university. Although at first doctors thought it could be a digestive disfunction, her gynaecologist soon sensed that it could be endometriosis and subsequent tests confirmed it. Hormonal treatment kept the pain at bay and also meant that surgery wasn't necessary. "I have been very lucky with the specialists who have treated me. The evolution of the illness is highly controlled. I have check-ups, but I basically lead a normal life," she says. Motherhood doesn't feature in her plans at present, "but they haven't told me it would be impossible". Despite being recognised in 2018 as a benchmark centre for the illness, the Regional Hospital in Malaga has just suspended its operations for severe endometriosis because of a lack of surgeons. The Asociacion de Afectadas (Adaec) patients' association has criticised the cutbacks and is calling for the department to incorporate physiotherapy, nutritional and psychology services. "They send us to a psychologist because they think we are exaggerating our pain, but when we are finally diagnosed and it is confirmed that we have a chronic illness, which is the time we really need emotional support, they leave us on our own," says a spokeswoman. The association also says that scientific androcentrism "has perpetuated the discrimination and invisibility of women in medicine" and wants a gender perspective to be applied to achieve "equality in health" and overcome the normalisation of the pain traditionally associated with menstruation. Clinical test Mari Carmen, 33: I was very lucky in terms of the diagnosis She has grade two endometriosis which is kept under control thanks to early diagnosis and receiving the treatment she needed. Now she lives a normal life although she has to go for check-ups, and for the moment she has no plans to become a mother. The department in the Materno hospital, run by Dr Emilia Villegas, has gynaecology, surgical, radiology, anaesthesia and urology services and treats around 700 women a year, of whom about 30 per cent need surgery for endometriosis. As well as causing fertility problems, the illness causes adherences and anatomical distortions and alters the immune system. The lines of research so far have been on genetic inheritance and possible treatments with drugs. Dr Villegas' team is also taking part in a clinical test on the effectiveness of molecules which could help to reduce the pain. "But I want to say that you do cope with it," says Jessica. "It's hard, it's painful, but we have to stay mentally strong and look for the treatment that means we don't end up in Emergencies every couple of days". Her marriage, she says, is stronger, even though one of the doctors she consulted looked at her husband and said "You do know it might stop you becoming a father"? The other women are not surprised. They have spent half their lives putting up with people questioning their symptoms, erroneous diagnoses, incredulous looks. Even they began to think they were obsessed, crazy, that the pain must be normal but they were exceptionally weak. Now they know that they have always been ill and that their problems have a name and also a treatment. They no longer feel so alone. And they are prepared to answer calmly and patiently the eternal question: "Endo what"? "Mexican workers would travel with tamales in coffee cans," Williams said. "Other families working in the same cotton fields were introduced to tamales and started to develop their own recipes, passing that tradition down generation to generation." Recipes are closely guarded, and good tamales are a point of family pride. "Most of the people we met who are great at what they do in the tamale game, they're old and they've been doing this for decades after their parents and their grandparents," Williams said. "Of course they're not going to tell us their recipes, so we just ate our way through the Delta until we figured out what we were going to do. "The Mississippi Delta is a hidden gem," Williams added. "You get more than just good eating. You get amazing stories to go along with it." Just down the street from the famed Crossroads, where bluesman Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the devil (before penning his 1930s ode to the hot tamale), you can find Hicks' World Famous, 305 S. State St. Williams calls it "arguably the best tamale joint in the Mississippi Delta." Sanders stays upbeat but concerns grow after difficult night By Ed Pilkington View(s): View(s): Despite promising signs in California and among Latinos, there are several reasons for the Vermont senator to worry When Bernie Sanders came out to face his supporters in his home town of Burlington, Vermont, on Tuesday night he projected no signs of self-doubt. We are going to defeat Trump because we are putting together an unprecedented grassroots multi-generational, multi-racial movement, he boomed, thumping the podium. Even by that point in the night, though, the Super Tuesday results were pointing to a movement coalescing not around Sanders but around his resurgent opponent Joe Biden. By the morning after, the hangover had worsened data from several states suggested that Sanders core support had softened a little and had doggedly failed to expand. Vermont, the bastion of the Sanders revolution since he won his first mayoral election in Burlington exactly 39 years ago to the day 3 March 1981 itself told a story. In 2016 Sanders polled 116,000 votes in his home state to Hillary Clintons 18,000; on Tuesday he gained 80,000 to Bidens 35,000. Certainly, there were positive takeaways for the night for Sanders. California, the biggest prize, gave him a much-needed shot in the arm with his 34% to Bidens 25% victory. Sanders made large and possibly game-changing strides with Latino voters here, building on his success among this demographic in Nevada. Some 55% of Latinos came out for him in California and a stunning 84% of younger Latinos aged 18 to 29. Sanders will cling to those achievements as the next stage of the primary contest now opens, arguing with some justification that the youth insurgency he unleashed in 2016 has matured in 2020 into a young, liberal, Latino insurgency which can take on Trump. As he told his people in Burlington on Tuesday night: You cannot beat Trump with the same-old, same-old kind of politics. But against those promising signals there are many reasons for anxiety tucked into the Super Tuesday vote. Perhaps the greatest cause for concern is the most simple the moderate alternative voice to Sanders, which stands for evolution rather than revolution, regaining Americas dignity rather than transforming the nation, has finally taken form in Biden. Nowhere was that clearer than in Minnesota, the upper midwestern state that Sanders won handsomely in 2016 by 62% to Clintons 38% (it ran a caucus system in 2016 and has since changed to a primary). On Tuesday Biden took the state by 39% to Sanders 30%. Exit polls suggested that about half of the voters in Minnesota had decided their vote just in the last few days, underlining the importance of Amy Klobuchar, the home US senator, quitting the race on Monday and endorsing Biden. That pattern of a rapidly congealing coalition you might use Sanders own word, movement forming around Biden is bound to intensify with Tuesdays departure of the billionaire former mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg. With Sanders no longer able to benefit from the splintering of the moderates, he must now also worry about the struggle he has experienced to deliver on his main promise: turnout. He told his crowd on Tuesday night that he would secure the highest voter turnout in American political history but that task is proving elusive. Nate Silver, editor of the political analysis website FiveThirtyEight, noted that the most notable turnout of the night was in Virginia, which Biden won by 30 points, surging from about 800,000 to 1.3m. It doesnt seem great for Sanders electability narrative that turnout seems to be increasing more in states where he isnt doing as well, Silver said in a tweet. Even his core base young voters who are absolutely essential to his vision of a transformative moment in American history, seem to have missed the message. Exit polls used by a number of news outlets showed that while California lived up to Sanders dream of a youth revolution with seven out of 10 young voters turning out for him, in North Carolina the proportion of youth support actually fell from 69% in 2016 to 57% in 2020. There will also need to be some difficult de-briefing in the Sanders camp over data that suggests that support for his individual policies notably government-run universal healthcare did not translate into votes. In Alabama, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, exit polls from Super Tuesday suggested that at least half of all Democratic voters support Medicare for All, yet these states all went for Biden, who opposes the idea. So there is a lot to think about as the contest marches on to a flurry of states, including delegate-rich Michigan, on 10 March, and Arizona, Florida, Illinois and Ohio on 17 March. Does Sanders hold firm and try and rekindle his unprecedented movement in the face of Bidens explosive rise, or does he try something new as suggested by his latest campaign ad in Florida that shows him embracing, and embraced by, Barack Obama? Courtesy Guardian Italy on March 7 announced that it was recruiting retired doctors in an effort to bolster the healthcare system with 20,000 additional staff. This move was made in order to better fight the fast-spreading viral coronavirus epidemic. This is just one of the few measures adopted by the country that has become the epicentre of the virus outbreak in Europe. Confined to the richer north According to reports, the coronavirus is spreading fast in Italy, and this has emptied Italian train stations and airports while turning usually crowded parts of Rome into a ghost town. The city's outdoor cafes and restaurants were on March 6 closed or had dozens of empty tables with nothing to do. As per reports, the government's current concern is that the coronavirus outbreak that has till now been contained in Italy's richer north will start to spread into the poorer and medically less equipped south. Read: India And Italy Join Hands For Positive Bilateral & Global Agenda Amid Coronavirus Scare Read: Inter Milan Donate 100,000 For Coronavirus Research As Italy Reels Under Fear Fear of virus preventing travel Italy has emerged as the focal point for the coronavirus outbreak in Europe. As per reports, Italy is the region's weakest economy, and things have not been made better with the recent viral outbreak. Due to fears of the rapidly spreading coronavirus, tourists have stopped visiting its cultural treasures or buying its prized artisanal products, from fashion to food to design. According to reports, Italy might be Europe's third-largest economy but it has long been amongst the slowest growing in the region. Italy has amassed the largest number of virus infection outside Asia. Entire towns in the country's north have been quarantined, the north of the country is the heart of Italy's manufacturing and financial industries. Read: Coronavirus: Indonesia Bans Entry Of Foreign Visitors From Iran, Italy And South Korea Read: Coronavirus In Italy: England's Six Nations Championship Game Against Italy Postponed Airlines have also cut back on flights going to Italy, meaning millions of fewer tourists and traveller that can result in a loss for hotels, restaurants, tourist sites and many others amounting in billions, as per reports. The turmoil threatens to send Italy back into a recession and weigh heavily on the entirety of Europe as even trade-focused countries like Germany, France and Britain battling a global disruption in the supply chain. Reports indicate that tourism officials expect 32 million fewer foreign visitors and a loss of 7.4 billion euros ($8.1 billion). Many in the tourism industry are blaming the virus coverage by the media. People like Luca Patane, the president of tourism association Confturismo-Confcommercio believe that media coverage of the virus has been much more lethal than the virus itself. Chairpersons and senior members of relevant committees will be able to consider the assistance package before the Congress is officially notified Open source Members of Congress have been informally notified of the Defense Department's plans to provide $125 million in new military assistance to Ukraine, including armed patrol boats. This is reported by congressional aide and US official, according to CNN. The chairs and ranking members of the relevant congressional committees will have a chance to review the aid packages before Congress is formally notified. This is the first half of the $250 million in Ukraine Security Assistance that has been appropriated by Congress. The new assistance package includes counter-artillery radars and armed Mark VI patrol boats, the latter of which is seen as particularly important given Ukraine's tensions with Russia in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. "As a matter of policy, the Department of Defense does not comment on or confirm potential or pending security assistance packages while under Congressional review," Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Carla Gleason told CNN. Hundreds of trees were destroyed in a massive fire which engulfed a forested area in Malanggad of Maharashtras Thane district on Thursday evening, officials said on Friday. The patch on the Malanggad Hill in Kumbharli village under Ambernath taluka, around 50 kilometres from Mumbai, caught fire at around 6.00pm and the blaze engulfed a major area. The fire was reported on a major patch of land on Malanggad mountain on Thursday evening. It took over six hours to douse this fire which was finally doused around 12.50am, a forest department officer said requesting anonymity. Many trees have died in this fire. However, we have not still estimated the damage to the flora or the cause of the fire, the officer said. This is the second time a fire has been reported from the area in at least a year. Eighty acres of land, where several trees had been planted in a plantation drive, was destroyed in a fire in Mangrul village near Malanggad in February last year. Repeated fires on this mountain have led to suspicion that people have deliberately started fires in the forested areas. In another incident, a fire was reported on a garbage heap behind Modi Compound in Bhiwandi on Thursday. However, no one was injured in this fire, which took more than three hours to douse. The fire broke out on a heap of garbage around 10.00pm and the situation was brought under control around 1.30am. There was no damage to life or property, a fire official from Bhiwandi said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When the new European Commission was appointed, foreign policy was largely considered one of the priorities for the next five years. President Ursula von der Leyen's "geopolitical commission" seeks to strengthen Europe's international presence and even elaborate on military capabilities. However, while words are easy, real problems provide an opportunity to test the political will of those involved. The beginning of March 2020 finds the EU embroiled in coping with a serious deterioration of the refugee crisis. Turkey has decided to refrain from stopping refugees who want to go on to Europe. Chaos has been generated on the Greek-Turkish border at the Evros River while several Greek islands near the Turkish coast are receiving a rising number of boats with displaced people. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu tweeted that the number of migrants who left Turkey to cross into Greece reached 135,844 as of 9 pm local time (0600GMT) on March 4. While Bulgaria could have been another destination option, the fence across the Bulgarian-Turkish land border seems to be discouraging refugees, while Bulgaria shares no maritime border with Turkey as is the case with Greece. Greece already overburdened since 2015 closed for the first time its borders, strengthened army surveillance and temporarily suspended acceptance of asylum applications. The EU leadership visited the Evros River border and is prepared to mobilize necessary operational support for Greek authorities and provide financial support. It is also negotiating with Ankara how the EU-Turkey agreement of April 2016 on the management of the refugee crisis can be applied once again. As it is the case with Greece, Turkey has also undertaken a heavy burden by hosting numerous refugees for years. However, it has not seen its demands in exchange for its cooperation following the 2016 deal satisfied. In particular, the Turkish government complains about the lack of progress on talks with the EU on issues such as the visa liberalization agreement and the customs union upgrade. So, it decided to unilaterally withdraw from the 2016 accord in order to highlight its critical international role on the matter and diplomatically press its interlocutors. Turkey's goal is obvious: to send a clear message to the EU, even if the means it employs to achieve this goal have been internationally criticized. It is uncertain if these tactics will produce results as far as relations between the EU and Turkey are concerned. Ankara will perhaps receive a higher amount of European funds; however, the grim reality is that most EU member-states do not care about the drama of the refugees. They prefer to work on easy solutions such as financial support of countries such as Greece, Italy and Turkey,and leave them alone to face the difficult task of integrating the refugees. A better distribution of displaced people would be the key,but there is lack of political will. That is why the borders of many EU member states have been closed since 2015. The Schengen area still exists, yet, travelers across member-states are often asked to present their passports. Against this backdrop, Turkey rather creates a problem for Greece than the EU at large. Greece is naturally under pressure. Its strict measures are fair and understandable, but they only delay the arrival of refugees. The maritime border, for example, cannot be very well protected. So, even if the Evros border is sealed, the refugees will find other routes, leaving unanswered the critical question ofhow their future will be. What is equally worrying is that messages sent by politicians on both sides tend to exacerbate hostility. Greece and Turkey should collaborate at the EU level, because their demands on the refugee crisis are fair. They both need the political backing of Europe. Last but not least, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is a good diplomatic gambler. He assesses that the West is concerned about the deepening of relations between his country and Russia. He therefore tests the U.S. reaction following the ongoing confrontation of the Turkish military with the Syrian one in Idlib and beyond by asking for NATO verbal and practical support. He is doing so not only to test the West, but also to empower his position in negotiations with Moscow. Several Western commentators anticipate a crisis in Turkish-Russian relations because of Idlib and Ankara's recent opening up to NATO. Turkey and Russia, however, value the importance of their cooperation and are expected to reach solutions. George N. Tzogopoulos is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/GeorgeNTzogopoulos.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Rupe said he will be doing an administrative review of several of the license requests because of "issues" that he declined to specify. He did say, however, that administrative reviews are not unusual. The Liquor Control Commission has the ultimate say over whether a license is granted, taking into account whether the requests get support at the local level. The Columbus City Council approved a liquor license request for a Family Dollar store there on Feb. 17. According to the minutes of the meeting, there was no public testimony and the vote was unanimous. It appears that city councils in Madison and Schuyler also approved license requests for Family Dollar stores in those towns. But other cities have not been as welcoming. The city council in David City held a hearing Feb. 12 on a liquor license request for the Family Dollar store there, but it decided not to take a position on the application, Mayor Alan Zavodny said. In Omaha, a groundswell of community opposition led the council to recommend against granting both liquor licenses applications, which were for stores that are in lower-income areas. Sorry! This content is not available in your region MIDDLETOWN Native son Tom Nicholas, a painter who now lives in Rockport, Mass., is hosting an art show through April in Massachusetts with his son T. M. Nicholas. A Father & Sons Journey in Paint comprises more than 40 works covering the gamut of oils, watercolor and graphite. The vibrant experience of viewing the traditional plein-air painting scenes of pere et fils, [from father to son in French] is contrasted with the romantic idealism of studio work, according to a press release. It is a journey not to be missed, the release said. The exhibit can be viewed through April 12 at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester. The Tom Nicholas Gallery can be found at 65 Main St., Rockport, Mass., at 65 Main St. Tom Sr., who has won more than 300 awards over the years not to mention membership of the National Academy is modest of his successes and claims his proudest accomplishment is that I instilled in my son a need to be ethical in his lifestyle and to have integrity in his work, the release said. His son sees fulfillment from a very personal point of view. As a kid, I dreamed of the day when my father would look at me as another artist. Now I look forward to those times when we go off as two artists to paint and talk about art. Its wonderful, he said in a prepared statement. It is perhaps remarkable that two family members have each achieved top honors and celebrity in todays artistic world. However, this winter the Cape Ann Museum of Gloucester, Massachusetts, is featuring an exhibition of selected works from the long and prestigious careers of Tom Nicholas, National Academician, and his son, T.M. Nicholas. Tom Nicholas went from grade school to the Horace C. Wilcox Technical School in Meriden, where he was mentored by instructor Ernst Lohrmann, a graduate of the Munich School. Tom always did more than was expected of him, Lohrmann recalled. He was the most perceptive boy I ever had as student. During these years, Nicholas was awarded a three-year scholarship to New York Citys School of Visual Arts. A fire broke out in the Trinity Lodge Public House in the Turf Lodge area on Saturday. Picture by Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. The owners of a west Belfast pub that was gutted in a fire have vowed to rebuild the premises. A blaze broke out in the Trinity Lodge Public House in the Turf Lodge area on Saturday. Pictures show part of the roof collapsed during the blaze. No-one has been injured in the fire, which the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) understands to have been accidental. In Facebook post, Trinity Lodge said: Hard one for us all this morning. Just to let everyone know all staff got out safe and sound. NIFRS Statement - Trinity Lodge, Belfast - 7th March 2020 NIFRS are dealing with a fire in Trinity Lodge Public House,... Posted by Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service on Saturday, March 7, 2020 Fire fighters still in attendance. We will post some news as and when we receive it. Main thing is that no one was hurt and buildings can and will be built again. A fire service spokesman said: NIFRS are dealing with a fire at Trinity Lodge Public House, Belfast. The fire was well developed in the kitchen area when firefighters arrived. The fire has been brought under control by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using firefighting jets, and through jets from two aerial appliances. There are five fire appliances and two aerial appliances in attendance. There were no casualties. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental. By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 24 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns. 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. --- A father who murdered his daughter for experimenting with hard drugs is on suicide watch after being sentenced to 20 years behind bars. Convicted heroin dealer Petrit Lekaj, 49, brutally killed his daughter Sabrina in the white Mercedes Benz he had given her for her 18th birthday during a psychotic episode in July last year. The former property developer is now living out his days at the Yatala Labor Prison's high dependency unit after being convicted of his daughter's murder on Tuesday. He was sentenced to at least 20 years behind bars and is currently being kept in isolation. Despite the brutal crime, his wife of 43 years, Romina has been sticking by him and regularly visits him in prison, reported Adelaide Now. Scroll down for video Petrit Lekaj, 49, who murdered his daughter for experimenting with hard drugs is still being visited by his wife Romina in prison despite breaking apart the family She has partially blamed the family breakdown on failures within the state's medical system after her husband's sentencing hearing. 'I just would like to say that this is a family tragedy, a family destroyed by the incompetence of our doctors to diagnose mental illness (on my husband's side) and the drug epidemic engulfing our state, where even our smartest kids are falling prey to it,' she said. 'I hope this is a wake up for to save some other family.' Petrit Lekaj (left), 49, murdered his daughter Sabrina (right) in their luxury Mercedes last July Notes from forensic psychiatrist David Kutlaca in February 2019 revealed Petrit Lekaj started experiencing mental health problems more than six months before killing his daughter. After years of marital problems from a lack of family support and money problems, Lekaj stopped working. 'I couldn't do much, I was trouble sleeping, for no particular reason. I started having stomach problems and heart swelling,' he told the doctor. Supreme Court Justice Trish Kelly on Tuesday handed him a life sentence with the mandatory minimum 20-year non-parole period. Justice Kelly said the murder was a 'catastrophic breach' of the bond between a father and daughter. She said Lekaj's violent reaction to his daughter's recreational drug use was 'ironic' given he had previously spent more than four years in jail for drug trafficking. Ms Lekaj's body was found inside her white Mercedes-Benz (pictured) sedan just outside their home on Kidman Avenue, in Adelaide's western suburbs, about 11.30pm on Sunday, July 21 Romina Lekaj (left) the mother of Sabrina and wife of Petrit Lekaj leaves the supreme court in Adelaide, Tuesday, after his sentencing Sabrina's mother Romina didn't give a victim impact statement on Tuesday, and made no comment as she left court 'It seems clear enough from the evidence before me that the insolence of your daughter that day and her response to your distress and anger incensed you and you lost your temper to the point where you stabbed her eight times,' she said. 'In those few moments you simultaneously destroyed your life as well as Sabrina's. 'You also changed forever the lives of each member of your family, your wife and your young son. 'You will have to live with those consequences for the rest of your life.' Lekaj, a well-known member of Adelaide's Albanian community, took a 15-centimetre knife with him when he drove his daughter to get takeaway food. Sabrina had been partying the night before with friends at Hindley Street nightclub Dog and Duck where she took cocaine, ecstasy and Xanax. Lekaj claimed Sabrina was 'throwing her life away' and she replied that she 'didn't care' before her murder Petrit Lekaj (left), a well-known member of Adelaide's Albanian community, took a 15-centimetre knife with him when he drove his daughter Sabrina (centre) to get takeaway food. Pictured with wife Romina and son Pyrrhus on Sabrina's 18th birthday While stationary in her luxury car, which was birthday present from him, the father-of-two confronted her about her party lifestyle and recreational drug use. He claimed she was 'throwing her life away' and she replied that she 'didn't care', the court previously heard. Lekaj took the knife to 'scare' his daughter - but he pulled it from his trousers and stabbed her in the stomach while she was looking out the passenger window. As she screamed for help, he then got into the back seat, strangled her and stabbed her seven more times, the court heard. After the murder, Lekaj was found next to his daughter with a serious stomach wound and was treated at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Prosecutor Melissa Wilkinson previously told the sentencing submissions hearing: 'He told police he believed that his daughter was throwing her life away and the accused responded to that by violently taking her life from her.' 'It's difficult to overstate how deeply troubling it is that a father would arm himself with a knife, even to scare his daughter, and then in such ordinary or commonplace circumstances his conduct escalates to murder.' Defence lawyer Ben Sale said the judge should take into account that Lekaj instantly admitted he had killed the 'apple of his eye'. 'It was the realisation that his daughter the apple of his eye has been lying; she's been living another life with friends that involves the use of drugs,' Lekaj's lawyer Ben Sale previously told the court. 'It wasn't a frenzied attack committed in a moment of provocation but a deliberate decision to get out of the car, back in the car, to continue to stab until she's dead.' Last week, Lekaj's chilling police confession, recorded at a mental health facility, was revealed to the public. Supreme Court Justice Trish Kelly on Tuesday handed Lekaj a life sentence with the mandatory minimum 20-year non-parole period. Pictured: Lekaj's chilling police confession, recorded at a mental health facility When asked why Sabrina was found with stab wounds all over her torso, the father whispered: 'I did them.' 'I started to do the first one, I was sitting in the first (driver's) seat,' he said in the interview. 'I just kept stabbing ... she was kicking, kicking the door and the window. And then I go to the back of the car ... and did the rest.' When he finally dropped the knife, Lekaj said he put his hand over her mouth and strangled her. After Sabrina stopped struggling, he turned the knife on himself. Lekaj was found next to his daughter with a serious stomach wound 250 metres from the family's suburban home in Kidman Park. He was treated at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Sabrina (left) was a top student who had graduated Nazareth Catholic College in 2016 with a score of 99.35 Romina Lekaj (left) hugs her son Pyrrhus and is comforted by a mourner at the funeral of their daughter and sister Sabrina 'I wish I wasn't... I wish I... I wish I wasn't here,' he stuttered. 'It's unspeakable to think what I did, I did it.' In December, an antecedents report detailing Lekaj's criminal history was tendered by prosecutors and released to the media. Reports stated that Lekaj's drug-related offending goes back to August 1996, when he was jailed for his involvement in the sale of a controlled substance. The previous year he was unanimously found guilty of selling heroin, district court records show. The 49-year-old spent at least two years in jail, after his minimum non-parole period of two-and-a-half years was cut by six months. At her funeral, Sabrina was remembered as a good friend and top student who had graduated Nazareth Catholic College in 2016 with a score of 99.35. She was accepted into the University of South Australia where she studied both classical piano performance and medical imaging. Coronavirus: Ham radio event postponed in Iceland As a result of coronavirus Iceland's IRA board has decided to postpone the amateur radio flea market announced on the winter schedule to be held on Sunday, March 8 The national amateur radio society IRA say: The reason is, prevalent conditions due to the spread of coronary virus causing CONVID-19 disease, in Iceland there have been a total of 35 cases. The flea markets of the IRA have, in recent years, been the most visited events in the organisation and there have often been over 50 people in Skeljanes. Clearly, when such a crowd meets in the hall, there will be great congestion. Professionals were asked for an opinion on this today and we are advised to postpone the event, if possible. It has therefore been decided to postpone the flea market of IRA 2020 until Sunday, May 3. As sorry as it is to postpone events, it is our opinion that it is better to show precaution in this matter. Source IRA https://tinyurl.com/IcelandIRA VSIS to widen Dialog offering in Sri Lanka View(s): Dialog Axiata PLC, in a bid to widen its enterprise service offering in Sri Lanka and across the Axiata footprint in Asia, recently entered into an agreement to acquire the Systems Integration (SI) business of privately owned V S (Vidya Shilpa) Information Systems (Pvt) Ltd which has been named VSIS Enterprise Solutions (VES). The acquisition of VES by Dialog is aimed at widening our Enterprise service offering in Sri Lanka and across the Axiata footprint in Asia. The combination of VES and Dialog will no doubt strengthen our offering in terms of empowering our customers with the tools and infrastructure necessary to compete in an increasingly technologically sophisticated global marketplace, Supun Weerasinghe, CEO Dialog told the Business Times. The acquisition will be done through Dialog Broadband Network. VES generates an annual turnover of Rs. 2.7 billion. The transaction is expected to be completed by April 2020. Mr. Weerasinghe also said that Dialog Axiata Digital Innovation Fund will continue to invest in start-ups. This fund, which had Roar, insurance broker, InsureMe and integrated healthcare platform MyDoctor.lk as its first phase of investments, will invest in start-ups that have strong business models, have proven product market fit, demonstrated some ability to expand in Sri Lanka and have the potential to become market shaping digital businesses in the country and beyond. A young lady has written anonymously to popular Nigerian relationship blogger, Joro Olumofin on Instagram. The lady, from Joros post, was complaining about how she mistakenly transferred tithe of N400,000 rather than M40,000 to her churchs account via her banks mobile app. To get her money back, she revealed she has contacted the churchs office to refund her money as she needs the money to pay the rent for her shop, but they went adamant on her, claiming that it was a blessing in disguise. READ ALSO Coronavirus: Joro Olumofin In Tears As He Shaves Off His Beards (Photo) Many people online have advised her to reveal the name of the church and ensure that they pay her back her money. See Photos Here: No panic: Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan (left) and deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn at the Department of Health in Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins Four more cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in the north and south of Ireland. The Department of Health said that one new case has been confirmed in a male patient in the east of the county. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said the case is associated with travel from northern Italy. Read More The Northern Ireland Health Department also confirmed that the latest three cases in Northern Ireland are all adults who had recently travelled from Italy and are linked to a previously confirmed positive case. It means there are now 19 confirmed cases in the Republic of Ireland and seven in Northern Ireland. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the HSE is now working to trace any contacts the infected man has had in recent days. She said the National Public Health Emergency Team met today to consider guidance from the its expert advisory group on managing healthcare workers who are close contacts of a confirmed case. This guidance was developed in light of the recent diagnosis of COVID-19 in a patient hospitalised in Cork University Hospital, which has led to a significant number of close contacts with healthcare workers, she added. Dr Cillian de Gascun, Chair of the Expert Advisory Group, said patients are at risk of picking up the coronavirus from healthcare workers. Health care workers who have had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and have developed symptoms should be excluded from work "Health care workers who have had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and have not developed symptoms, and are deemed to be essential workers, may work, provided they observe strict adherence to infection prevention and control precautions, and undergo twice daily active monitoring by occupational health, for 14 days after contact with a confirmed case of COVID19. This 19th case of the virus in the Republic comes just a week after the first case was reported. The first case was confirmed last Saturday after a Dublin student who had travelled from northern Italy was isolated in hospital with the virus. By Tuesday the number of cases had doubled. A family of four from county Clare were confirmed to have the coronavirus on Wednesday before the total number of cases again doubled on Thursday to 13. This included a patient in hospital in Cork who was the first confirmed case to not be associated with travel to northern Italy. On Friday, the Department of Health confirmed there were five further cases, including a female health worker whose case was associated with the Cork patient. Two persons from Andhra Pradeshs Kadapa district, who returned from recent overseas trips, were admitted to a government hospital in the temple town of Tirupati on Friday night with symptoms of coronavirus. Dr N V Ramanaiah, Superintendent of Sri Venkateshwara Ramnarain Ruia Government General Hospital, told reporters on Saturday that one of them had a history of travel to Kuwait, while the other had returned from the Netherlands. They were admitted to an isolation ward, after they arrived at the hospital with severe colds and high temperatures, both considered symptoms of the virus. We have collected their blood samples and sent them to Sri Venkateshwara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), which has been equipped with special kits to test the coronavirus, Ramanaiah said. Up till now, persons displaying symptoms of coronavirus were being referred to hospitals in Hyderabad or Pune. The preliminary test results, which are expected on Saturday evening, will later be referred to Punes National Institute of Virology for further tests and confirmation, the superintendent said. Meanwhile, another person from Taiwan, who was also admitted to SVR Ruia Hospital four days ago with similar symptoms, tested negative. He was discharged immediately, the hospital authorities said. In a fresh bulletin issued on Saturday afternoon, the state medical and health department said till date, as many as 378 passengers who returned from coronavirus affected countries have been identified and placed under surveillance. Of them, 153 people are under home isolation and 218 people have completed the 28 days observation period. Only seven passengers are in hospital admission and are stable, the bulletin said. So far, as many as 27 samples were tested in the last two days of which 20 samples tested negative for the virus. The results are awaited for seven fresh samples, the bulletin said. The department issued an advisory to the returnees from coronavirus affected countries saying that they should remain under strict home isolation for 28 days from the date of arrival in India, irrespective of whether they have the symptoms or not. They are advised not to have close contact with other family members, allow any visitors, go out to public places. If symptoms like cough, fever, and difficulty in breathing are developed, they should immediately put on a mask and contact the nearest government health facility, the bulletin said. Special chief secretary of the medical and health department K S Jawahar Reddy said no positive case had been reported in Andhra Pradesh till now. We have kept a vigil on the people coming from affected countries. Special screening facilities have been provided at all ports and airports, he said. In Telangana, the lone coronavirus positive patient - a techie working in Bengaluru, who has been undergoing treatment at an isolation ward at Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad, is recovering fast. State health minister Etela Rajender visited the hospital and had a personal interaction with the patient, who had tested positive last week on his return from Dubai. He is stable and is recovering, the minister said. Rajender also went around the hospital and talked to all the other patients. He told them not to panic as there are no coronavirus cases in the state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Elaine Clancy (Parents Council) and the Zakrit family Amar, Jawaher, Tasneem, Ghazi, Khaled and Muhamed with Rachel Fitzgerald (Parents Council Chairperson) at Mercy Mounthawks Syrian food and culture night. Photo Joe Hanley The community at Mercy Mounthawk enjoyed an evening of Syrian food and culture last Wednesday evening week. The event - the third in the school's series of intercultural culinary nights - was warmly hosted by the Zakrit family in the school who came to Ireland from Syria four years ago. Before tasting the range of enticing delicacies the family had spent the entire day preparing, there was a presentation for guests about Syria. Parents were captivated by beautiful images of one of the oldest cities in the world - Damascus, and of the city nearest to where the family lived - Homs. Guests listened intently as the family shared the story of their journey from Syria living in a tented camp in Lebanon for years before eventually arriving in Tralee. More recent images of the beautiful cities were shown, now devastated and in ruins. Many of the other parents were visibly moved by the experiences the family shared and were admiring of their resilience and grace in adversity. "We are running these events to give parents opportunities to connect through food in a relaxed and enjoyable way. It's part of a wider intercultural programme that is working towards greater mutual understanding and integration of the different cultures that make up the school community," said Chairperson of Mercy Mounthawk Parents' Council Rachel Fitzgerald. FUEL is readily available for motorists buying in foreign currency, but not for those using local currency who have to queue for hours to access the commodity. This supply situation of diesel and petrol has exposed social imbalances as those with foreign currency find it easy to access fuel while the rest spend long hours in queues, in some cases failing to get it. Long, winding queues at service stations selling in local currency and people waiting for public transport for hours drive home the impact of the fuel shortage. In Bulawayo on Thursday most fuel stations selling the commodity in local currency did not have the product except for Engen and Total service stations but by 1PM it had run out. Yesterday motorists were queuing at most service stations hoping there would be deliveries. The situation was different for those selling in forex as they had short or no queues at all as motorists refilled their tanks with much ease. Motorists told Chronicle that while buying fuel in local currency is much cheaper, some of them were forced to buy at service stations charging in foreign currency as it was convenient. Mr Ozias Moyo who was queuing at Engen Service Station which sells in local currency at the corner of Fife Avenue and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street said he had joined the queue at 8AM but had not refueled by 1PM. He was not sure if he was going to get the petrol as there were claims that it was running out. Right now, my tank is empty that is why you are seeing me pushing my vehicle while in the queue. I should have been in Maphisa at 10AM where I have business interests but Im still here. Its a great inconvenience. My business has been greatly affected. But we are left with no option but to queue as we have no access to foreign currency. In case I get the foreign currency, it would be too little to buy enough fuel, said Mr Moyo. Ms Beatrice Sibanda said the situation is even worse for women as some men jump the queue. At the Zuva Service Station which sells in forex along Leopold Takawira Road, diesel was going for US$1,36 but there was no queue. They were waiting for a petrol delivery. The fuel station has pumps for those buying in local currency, with petrol pegged at $20,30 per litre while petrol was $19,04 diesel, but nothing was available. At Busuman Service Station along Fife Street between 14 and 15 Avenues there was a continuous flow of traffic as motorists refilled their vehicles with much ease at US$1,25 per litre for both petrol and diesel. A motorist who only identified himself as Ranger and was refilling at Busuman said he opts for the service station as he had heard that the fuel lasts longer. The reason why we are buying from this station is because there are no queues and the fuel last longer. For instance, if I buy 10 litres here, the fuel comes from Botswana its not blended and it can last me three and a half days but if I buy the ethanol blended fuel from other stations it just lasts me two days. This also means I will not be buying from other recently licenced foreign currency selling stations as they are selling blended fuel even if they do not have queues, said Ranger. Chronicle could not immediately verify his claims. However, he said he was able to access foreign currency as his operations are in the mining sector. There was also no queue at Flo Service Station that sells in forex along Khami Road where petrol and diesel were being sold for US$1,18 per litre. The discrepancies in the price of fuel sold in forex was attributed to the absence of a gazetted price in forex. Asked why there was no gazetted price for fuel being sold in forex, Energy and Power Development Minister Advocate Fortune Chasi said Government is working on a framework to address that. We have set up the Direct Fuel Import arrangement which principally deals with those that import fuel directly. A framework has been developed but in addition to that we have a regulation that will soon kick in to ensure that there is regulatory clarity in this area. The publication is imminent, said Adv Chasi. For those who do not have foreign currency, trying to get fuel is now a huge inconvenience. In Gwanda motorists are struggling to access fuel which is in short supply and some are forced to buy it from the black market in forex. There is no licensed service station selling in forex in the mining town. A motorist, Mr Leonard Sibanda said: The fuel situation in this town is so bad that its either there is no fuel at all at all service stations or there will be only one service station with fuel and there will be long queues. I have opted to buy fuel from the black market which is going for R110 for 5 litres as the situation is unpleasant. This situation has to be addressed as soon as possible. Ms Faith Shumba said when fuel was there it was difficult to buy it as most service stations were demanding cash. In Gweru, fuel was readily available at service stations like Flo in the central business district and Clemond in Woodlands Park which sell the commodity in United States dollars There wasnt any fuel at service stations that sell in local currency in the CBD. Such service stations like Zuva said they last received supplies more than a week ago. In Victoria Falls only Zuva service station had fuel on Thursday which was being sold in United States dollars. A litre of petrol was being sold for US$1.25. In Plumtree, fuel is in short supply both at service stations and on the black market. Fuel on the black market was also in short supply with dealers saying they were having problems getting forex to source the commodity in Botswana. In Beitbridge, some people have resorted to crossing into Musina to buy the commodity. There are also three service stations that sell fuel in forex. Speaking in the National Assembly during the Wednesdays Question and Answer session, Power and Energy Development Deputy Minister Magna Mudyiwa said the decision to blend fuel with ethanol, was meant to increase volumes. I think we are aware that we are having a serious shortage of fuel in the country. So, if we do not blend our fuel we will need much more forex to buy the fuel. So that is why we had a policy to do the blending, she said. Currently, we are blending at five percent, at some point we went to as far as 20 percent. We do not have enough fuel in the country so there is no choice for motorists to choose whether they want to use the blended fuel or the unblended. Chronicle Deputy Minister Mudyiwa said while Government was addressing problems in the sector, foreign currency challenges continue to hinder adequate supplies.Chronicle The Saudi Ministry of Interior stated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken several preventive and precautionary measures according to the recommendations of the competent health authorities in the country, to prevent the transmission, trapping and elimination of the emerging corona virus, in order to protect citizens and residents and ensure their safety. The Saudi News Agency quoted the decisions of the Saudi government, which stipulates in its first clause, temporarily restricting entry to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to those coming from the United Arab Emirates, the State of Kuwait, and the Kingdom of Bahrain, to the air ports in the following airports (King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Airport) Abdulaziz International in Jeddah, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam). And that the traffic pass through the land ports between Saudi Arabia and the mentioned countries for commercial trucks only. Provided that the Ministry of Health takes all necessary precautions at the aforementioned airports, as well as vis-a-vis the drivers and escorts of those trucks in the land ports, where these measures start immediately. I also confirmed that with regard to the entry of Saudi citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia from the three countries, this procedure will take effect at exactly 11:55 pm on Saturday, 7 March 2020. In its second clause regarding Saudi visitors according to the visas, it stated the following: Whoever desires to come to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under a new visa or a valid visa, from any country in which the risk of spreading the Corona virus appears, according to the list approved by the competent health authorities in the country, that It provides a PCR laboratory certificate proving that it is free from infection with the new coronavirus. This applies to those who resided in those countries during the (14) days prior to entering the Kingdom. She called on all air carriers, to ensure the safety of the laboratory certificate, and that it is recent and issued during the twenty-four hours before the passenger boarding. She emphasized that the embassies of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in the countries mentioned in the second item will select specific laboratories accredited by the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control. And he exempted the Saudi Ministry of Interior from the previous procedures, humanitarian and social cases, based on what the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health deemed necessary. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form AUSTIN, Texas, March 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, Academic and Commercial Reference Laboratory Executives met with Vice President, Mike Pence and members of the White House's Coronavirus Task Force to collectively discuss diagnostic testing availability for COVID-19. Jerry Hussong, MD, MBA, the Chief Executive Officer of Sonic Healthcare USA (Sonic), was among those who met on behalf of the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) with key government officials, the CDC, and the FDA. At the meeting, key stakeholders discussed the role of state and local public health and commercial laboratories, hospitals, and academic medical centers to increase access to testing for the Coronavirus. "Our main goal, as a commercial laboratory, is to ensure those patients in need or at high-risk can access testing. By working together, we can accelerate those efforts with a coordinated and comprehensive approach," said Dr. Hussong. Dr. Hussong added, "Sonic Healthcare is working with its Medical, Scientific and Operational Leadership to make patient testing available through its network of commercial laboratories in the United States and will follow the FDA guidelines for Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs)." The FDA has recently updated its policy, thus providing an expedited pathway for the availability of diagnostics for COVID-19. Sonic Healthcare will continue to lead and collaborate with colleagues, government officials, and our local medical communities in response to this immediate public health crisis. Read the ACLA Statement on COVID-19 Testing About Sonic Healthcare USA Sonic Healthcare USA is a subsidiary of Sonic Healthcare Limited, one of the world's largest medical diagnostic companies, providing laboratory services to medical practitioners, hospitals and community health services, with operations in eight countries, on three continents and providing care to over 100 million patients each year. Sonic Healthcare USA is a leading provider of state-of-the-art laboratory services and pathology practices throughout the USA with nine operating divisions and nearly eight thousand US based employees. Sonic Healthcare USA utilizes a federated business model that emphasizes medical leadership and community based testing services to provide outstanding quality and service to the doctors and patients that they serve. For more information, visit the Sonic Healthcare website at www.sonichealthcareusa.com. MEDIA CONTACTS: Sonic Healthcare USA Dr. Jerry Hussong, MD, MBA Chief Executive Officer [email protected] 512.531.2216 SOURCE Sonic Healthcare USA Related Links http://www.sonichealthcareusa.com Grand mistress Joan Beggs joins senior Orangewomen in looking over some of the artefacts on display To coincide with International Women's Day, the Orange Order has unveiled an exhibition tracing the history of Women's Orange lodges in Ireland and throughout the world. There are currently 90 women's lodges in Ireland alone. Entitled 'In the name of the Sisterhood', the exhibition at the Museum of Orange Heritage in Belfast until May 30 reveals the history of those associations and the women whose ideals forged them. Grand mistress of the Loyal Association of Orangewomen of Ireland Joan Beggs said: "I hope that many people, both within our association and outside, come to see it and learn a bit about the Association of Loyal Orangewomen of Ireland." European Union health ministers held an extraordinary meeting to discuss the latest developments regarding the coronavirus outbreak. The continental bloc is trying to improve its collective response to the coronavirus outbreak, aside from some members' decision to ban the export of protective equipment such as masks. The last time EU health ministers met, on Feb. 13, no deaths had yet been reported in Europe. Now there have been more than 110 coronavius fatalities on the continent, according to the latest figures from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC). With confirmed cases being reported daily in Italy and France, some member states are moving unilaterally to protect against the outbreak, but officials say a coordinated approach is most effective. EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides says each state's readiness is important but so is acting in coordination. "We need to remain calm, we need to remain focused but the greatest strength that we all have, as an EU is our solidarity. And we need to work together and work closely because it is on this strength that we would be able to overcome these difficulties," Kyriakides said. A recent article in the Washington Post reported that Unilever had decided not to advertise its ice-cream products to children under the age of 12, to help combat childhood obesity. When one of the largest consumer goods advertisers in the world decides NOT to advertise certain products to a specific group of customers, this is major industry news. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion A recent article in the Washington Post reported that Unilever had decided not to advertise its ice-cream products to children under the age of 12, to help combat childhood obesity. When one of the largest consumer goods advertisers in the world decides NOT to advertise certain products to a specific group of customers, this is major industry news. This certainly appears to be a significant move by a company that generated US$58.22 billion in revenue in 2019. Unilever owns ice-cream brands Ben & Jerrys, Talenti, Breyers, Klondike and Good Humor. They also own ice-cream treat brands Magnum, Cornetto, Viennetta, Choc Ice and more. So, what is the reason behind the decision to stop advertising ice-cream treats to children? Is this just a case of a large company choosing to do the "right thing?" Are we to simply believe it has made this decision for all the right reasons? Unilever has four core values: integrity, respect, responsibility and pioneering. Its corporate website states "Doing business with integrity has always been at the heart of our corporate responsibility commitments. Integrity defines how we behave, wherever we are. It guides us to do the right thing for the long-term success of Unilever." The last statement is telling because the focus is clearly on doing what is best for the company. As we dig a bit deeper on this issue, these products are still advertised to consumers over 12. Parents are included in this group. Therefore, arent children still going to see some of these ads and have access to the products at home? Unilever is simply not advertising on mediums that primarily target children under 12 or using social media influencers that target this age group. Nowhere in the Washington Post article does Unilever say it will stop all advertising or production of these products. Children will still be able to eat these products if their parents buy them. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. By comparison, the U.S.-based pharmacy chain, CVS, made a corporate decision in 2014 to no longer sell tobacco products in its stores. The company estimated the decision would result in US$1.5 billion in lost annual tobacco sales with an additional US$500 million in lost revenue from people who would purchase tobacco and other items when they were in store. To me, CVS is an example of a company making a major decision despite the painful financial consequence. CVS, like Unilever, lists "integrity" as one of its core values. CVS also describes how they want to operate, "This is health with heart: our promise that no matter where someone is on their path to better health, well be with them all the way." Can you see the difference in the actions of each company based on the same core value of "integrity?" We can also look at the alcoholic beverage industry for another approach to dealing with a potential negative impact on personal health. We know that advertising is designed to increase consumption. Beer companies were arguably the first alcoholic beverage producers to add a social conscience to their advertising. In all the advertising I have seen, I do not remember ads suggesting that consumers should set out to consume so much beer or spirits that they dont remember the night before. They always have a message that you need to control your consumption. These beverage companies now add the concept of "drink responsibly" or "enjoy responsibly." If Unilever is trying to create a winning game plan by adjusting its market messages, they might want to consider the successful approach that these alcoholic beverage companies have used. Another aspect to this story concerns the employees. There are Unilever employees around the world involved in producing these ice-cream treats. By making this change to its advertising, what message is the company sending to its employees? Many of these employees may have families of their own. How should Unilever employees feel about making ice-cream products that apparently contribute to childhood obesity? The leadership in companies typically sets its corporate core values. Ideally, leadership decisions and actions show employees how the values should guide all organizational activities. Then, employees can believe in and live the values each day, confident that the company is operating in a positive, socially responsible manner. Unilever only made a minor adjustment to its advertising plan, believing this was enough action for the cause. And like so many other companies, Unilever displayed minimal effort that did not demonstrate integrity as a core value. Conversely, CVS showed what a core value of integrity looks like by doing the right thing; knowing there would be a substantial negative financial impact. CVS clearly is a model for others to follow. Tims bits: We all have choices to make in the food, beverages and everyday items we purchase. If we want to purchase a product with a potential negative side-effect resulting from excessive consumption, we should be aware of the potential outcome. And yes, the company also has a responsibility to advise of the possible side-effects in its advertising messages. However, we must self-police ourselves as thinking and responsible human beings. As my Dad used to say, "everything in moderation." Tim Kist, CMC, a certified management consultant by law, works with organizations to improve their overall performance by being truly customer-focused. NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. There are bar and bat mitzvahs canceled this weekend. A family sitting shiva for a deceased loved one who can't accept some visitors. There are the sick among them, including their rabbi. The families and congregants of Young Israel of New Rochelle are in the midst of an extraordinary and serious situation, with about 1,000 people associated with the tightly knit community under precautionary quarantine for as many as 14 days because of coronavirus. For the orthodox Jewish community that mainly lives around the temple, it has meant not being able to attend daily services, or leave to go to the store, or to work, or to school. The members, though, and community leaders said the congregants have been steadfast in their resolve to abide by the quarantine in order to keep themselves and others safe. "Our community has gone to great lengths to respect our state, county and city authorities and to accept their guidance for the benefit of not only our own safety, but of the health and safety of people around us," said Mark Semer, a past president of Young Israel. Coronavirus updates: SXSW canceled; 21 aboard Princess cruise ship infected The rabbi wrote to members on Friday morning to confirm his diagnosis. "I have the virus and am doing reasonably well," his message, posted on The Yeshiva World, said. "But I must caution all of you who have had personal contact with me to seek counsel from your health practitioner as to how to proceed." He asked the congregation, which has about 400 families, to show patience, noting their Jewish teachings. "This circumstance certainly gives us the opportunity to think. Our attention turns to mortality and our vulnerability," he wrote. "We sometimes find ourselves victims of lifes fragility and tentativeness. This is one of those times. It can help us to reorient our ultimate goals in life. Contemplation is good for the soul." Story continues Young Israel of New Rochelle March 3, 2019. Local and state leaders have praised the cooperativeness, saying they have received the full support of the congregation. The temple is closed through at least Sunday. Of the 44 coronavirus cases in New York, most are connected in one way to the synagogue after the first case, a congregant and lawyer, was first diagnosed Tuesday and remains in the hospital. Overall, about 4,000 New Yorkers are under a "precautionary quarantine," meaning they have been encouraged to stay in their homes and not leave, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said late Friday. "A quarantine at a minimum is deeply disruptive, and you layer on top of that concern for the health of ones family, the health of neighbors, the health of friends," New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson said. "At the same time, I have been enormously impressed by the strength and the resiliency of the community. There has been no panic." Westchester County Executive George Latimer; New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson; Sara Kaye, a New Rochelle Council Member and Kenneth Jenkins, the Deputy County Executive enjoy their lunch at Eden Wok on North Avenue in New Rochelle, March 5, 2020. They were there to speak to the press about eating out in public in the Wykagyl neighborhood in New Rochelle. On Tuesday, the Westchester County health department said it directed the temple to halt all services due to potential COVID-19 exposure after the lawyer tested positive. The virus appears to have spread after the man had attended services and a bat mitzvah at the temple in late February when he was unaware of his condition. He is now intensive care at a New York City hospital. The county said those who attended those events, which appears to be hundreds of people, must self-quarantine until at Sunday, but state officials said some quarantines will remain in place for 14 days. "There has been a calm acceptance of direction from public health authorities," Bramson said. "Neighbors have come together to support each other and have really demonstrated a level of resilience and maturity that speaks very well of everyone involved." The quarantine has prompted other temples in Westchester to reorganize some events. Some temples have cancelled celebrations around the Jewish holiday of Purim, which starts Monday. Others have offered online streaming of their services, said Elliot Forchheimer, the CEO of the Westchester Jewish Council. Other discretionary events have been postponed. "Obviously the Orthodox community and the Westchester community is a very close knit community; its a very small community," Forchheimer said. "There will be a whole lot less walking traffic this Shabbat because the synagogue is closed. People will be staying at home. You can pray at home. You can pray privately." Follow Joseph Spector on Twitter: @GannettAlbany This article originally appeared on New York State Team: New Rochelle synagogue shows 'resilience' amid coronavirus quarantine Tunisia Targets Terrorist Hideouts After Suicide Bombing Near US Embassy By Edward Yeranian March 06, 2020 Two assailants on a motorcycle Friday attacked a Tunisian security forces checkpoint outside the U.S. Embassy in Tunis, blowing themselves up, killing one police officer and wounding four others plus a civilian. Police launched raids on the homes of the suspected bombers shortly after the attack. Tunisian police appeared to chase possible accomplices of the suicide bombers through the streets of Tunis near the embassy, following the explosion shortly before noon local time. Amateur video showed a security forces vehicle and checkpoint in front of the mission damaged in the attack. Debris and what appeared to be the body parts of the suicide bombers lined the street in front of the embassy compound. Bystanders crowded the area to see what was happening, despite efforts to close it off. Arab media showed amateur video of Tunisian police storming the suspected homes or hideouts of the two suicide bombers and possible accomplices in a working-class neighborhood of the capital. Interior Minister Hichem Mechichi told journalists Friday afternoon that the operation was part of an ongoing effort to capture terrorists and their accomplices. He said security forces surrounded the area and took measures to determine the identities of the assailants and their links. Interior Ministry spokesman Colonel Walid Hakim told Tunisian TV that the terrorist operation was "a desperate and pointless attack and that the two suicide bombers blew themselves up for no obvious reason." Egyptian political sociologist Said Sadek, who frequently spends time in Tunis, told VOA that there were a number of possible motives for the attack but that it was unlikely that the attackers really believed they could blow up the embassy, given that it is so heavily guarded. "This operation [Friday] is aimed at destabilizing the Tunisian economy, making it difficult to revive and gives this image of instability to the whole world," Sadek said. Sadek pointed out that several previous high-profile attacks in Tunis over the past several years including one on the Bardo Museum, frequented by Western tourists, and the beach hotel in Sousse, which left a number of tourists dead or wounded were also intended to sabotage the Tunisian economy. The Associated Press contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Quarantine recommended but enforcement unclear BANGKOK: Authorities scrambled yesterday (Mar 6) to ease worries about new self-quarantine measures for arrivals from six virus-hit countries and territories, a day after announcing compulsory isolation. COVID-19corruptionChinesetourismtransportimmigrationhealth By Bangkok Post Saturday 7 March 2020, 09:18AM A view inside Suvarnabhumi airport at 5pm on Monday. The number of foreign travellers arriving in Thailand has fallen by half since the virus outbreak. Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul / Bangkok Post But confusion persists over whether the government is ordering or merely recommending self-quarantine for 14 days, with punishment for travellers who ignore the advice. South Korea, China, Macau, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran on Thursday were officially designated as dangerous communicable disease areas. Public Health Ministry spokesman Rungrueng Kiphati told Reuters on Thursday that people arriving from those six places would be fined B20,000 if they did not self-quarantine for 14 days at home or in a hotel room, where they have to report themselves to the authorities every day or officials will come to check on them. On Friday, however, other ministry officials took a slightly softer line. For now, we are recommending people to exercise home quarantine. But if you dont follow that, then we will use the law to take you to government quarantine centres, said Sukhum Kanchanapimai, the ministrys permanent secretary. The governments Public Relations Department, meanwhile, appeared to be reading from a different script. On its verified Twitter account on Friday, it repeated the threat of a B20,000 fine for those who failed to self-quarantine. Tanarak Plipat, deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control, told reporters the health ministry would issue regulations requiring all arrivals from the six areas to report their health condition daily. If people dont follow the rules or falsely report their condition, like they have a cough but said they do not, then they would be breaching an official order and that will be punishable, he said, adding that the daily health report could be done by phone, mobile app, or other channels that the ministry will create. The ministry also said the measures could become stricter depending on the circumstances. On Tuesday, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had posted on his Facebook page that all arrivals from Japan, Germany, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, France, Singapore, Italy or Iran must be quarantined for 14 days before deleting the post just a few hours later. Over the following two days, officials pared down the list of targeted countries to six but continued to send mixed messages about exactly what travellers from those locations could expect when they reached Thailand. Other ministries have issued different regulations on home quarantine. The Education Ministry recommended to schools that children who had travelled from France, Germany, Japan, Singapore or Taiwan stay home under quarantine, according to an email sent to parents on Friday from the International School of Bangkok, even though the health ministry did not recommend this. Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry said people coming from Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands and the United States are recommended rather than required to quarantine themselves for 14 days. The Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific said in an advisory that travellers from China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Iran and Italy are allowed to enter Thailand but have to self-quarantine at their hotel or residence. The tourism-reliant economy is reeling from the travel curbs sparked by Covid-19, which globally has infected almost 100,000 people and killed over 3,000. The Tourism Authority of Thailand confirmed Thursday the country could see a loss of six million visitors in 2020. The country reported one new case of infection on Friday, taking its total to 48. There has been one fatality, while 16 people remain in hospital and the rest have been discharged. But the number detected has remained surprisingly low, in a country visited by tens of millions of people each year. Speculation is pointing at a limited testing regime in a country determined not to frighten off visitors. Read orignal story here. 07.03.2020 LISTEN I seem to come across too blunt with my publications without the slightest display of diplomacy. Yes, that is my preferred style of communication. Why should a fool not be told that he is a fool for him to change for the better? This phrase is not intended to insult anyone but to emphasise that the truth needs to be told as it is, hence the saying, calling a spade a spade Why should a fool be lied to for him to believe in his minds eye that he is wise? Can you effect any positive change in a fool that you want to change to become wise by continuing to deceitfully heap praises on him for being intelligent in his current state of complete foolishness? No!!! In Ghana, we often say, "Knowledge is power". However, my White tutor once corrected me saying, "Knowledge makes you more confident" Anyway, they both go to explain the importance of acquiring or possessing knowledge. How do we acquire knowledge? It is mostly acquired through formal education. Please note, I am not discussing the acquisition of wisdom which often comes as hereditary within a family. Subsequently, if you are offered the chance on a silver platter to acquire intelligence, thus knowledge, will you exchange that golden opportunity for say, a hundred Ghana Cedis (GHS100) that can only last you three days? Possession of knowledge opens all the floodgates of job employment to you. It paves the way for your life success. It is like when you feed on fish for your daily staple, is it he who provides you with fish everyday, or the one who shows you how to fish, that has saved your life forever? Think deep about this. Let me give you a clue. If the person supplying you fish everyday falls sick for a week, what will you do? But if you know how to fish with a big lake teeming with fish close by your house, could you not go fishing to get your daily need whenever you want? Now, the way has been paved for you to acquire knowledge free of charge through the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) education policy by a government. Another individual, or political party, aspiring to come to power is offering you say, GHS100, to buy your vote, thus, induce you to vote for them. However, they have decided to eventually cancel the free SHS when they come to power. Which of the two political parties, the one offering you knowledge through the free SHS, or the one decided to cancel it, is serving your best future interest? Which of them is helping you to acquire knowledge that will help catapult you into the sphere of the competitive global market to better not only your personal circumstances, but also, that of your entire family and by extent your country? The very person telling you that the provision of free SHS education is not possible, or is not good, has himself been the product of free education. This had enabled him to come to rule you. Please Ghanaians, we have come of age so we should not continue to allow ourselves to be fooled all of the time by these political criminals. If you will allow them to take away your only life chance to becoming knowledgeable to serve you better, then it is your cup of tea. Look, it is not the survival of the fittest or the strongest animal in the jungle that is able to survive. However, it is any of the animals that is able to adapt to the conditions of the wild life environment that survives. If you want to survive in Ghana, please acquire knowledge, and your knowledge will be the light to shine to take you through the lifes darkest tunnel. A word to the wise is enough. Rockson Adofo Saturday, 7 March 202o File photo: A flight attendant, is seen on a plane, in Ankara, Turkey on May 23, 2018. Mehmet Ali Ozcan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Airlines in the US and around the world are canceling flights, reducing service, and cutting costs, as coronavirus fears lead to plummeting travel demand. Although many have chosen to cancel or postpone their travel plans, fearing that they'll catch the virus on an airplane or in a hotel, flight attendants don't have that option. Business Insider spoke with flight attendants who said that while they weren't too concerned about the virus, they've become increasingly worried about being able to make ends meet if the public continues to avoid flying. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has led to turmoil for the airline industry. Over the past two months, airlines have seen their stock hit new multiyear lows as plummeting travel demand has forced them to suspend routes, reduce flights, waive ticket policies, and find other ways to cut costs. Although the drop in demand initially seemed limited to flights going to one of the destinations with major outbreaks: China, Japan, South Korea, and Italy public anxiety over the virus has led travelers to postpone vacations, and corporations to suspend business travel and cancel major conferences and expos, regardless of location or destination. While some are nervous about being in close proximity to other people on airplanes or in airports, and others thanks to nightmare stories about quarantines are worried about traveling anywhere away from home, there's one group of people that can't avoid flying: Flight attendants. Business Insider spoke with flight attendants from several different airlines to see how they feel about being on airplanes during the outbreak, now that it's more widespread, and the impact has been more costly to airlines, than it was just one month ago. After all, according to Sara Nelson, head of the Association of Flight Attendants, they're literally "on the front line of any communicable disease." Story continues Most of the workers said they weren't terribly concerned about the virus, even if they were being careful and hoped to avoid contracting it. However, through multiple discussions with flight attendants on background, one underlying concern was evident: That as airlines' pockets continue to lighten as passengers put off travel, hoping to avoid the virus, the flight attendants' job security could erode. As they continue to take to the skies, here's how America's flight attendants are dealing with the threat of the coronavirus. Are you an airline employee with thoughts on the current situation? Contact this reporter at dslotnick@businessinsider.com. "I wouldn't describe myself as 'anxious' so much as 'aware,'" one flight attendant for American Airlines said. flight attendant Adnan Abidi/Reuters Flight attendant schedules work differently than most workers' in other industries, but they'll typically spend 75-100 hours a month in the air, plus more on the ground. With all that time spent on airplanes, with people from all places and all walks of life, flight attendants are frequently in close proximity to people with colds, the flu, or other illnesses and viruses known or unknown. "As a flight attendant I'm exposed daily to so many germs," said a United Airlines flight attendant who, like everyone who spoke with Business Insider for this article asked not to be named because of their airlines' media policies. "I feel like we realize that we could potentially be exposed to anything and just take general universal precautions (which is something I always do regardless). "I wouldn't describe myself as 'anxious' so much as 'aware,'" one flight attendant for American Airlines said. "In my line of work, you always have to be conscientious about your health, so washing my hands frequently, eating healthy, and trying to get enough sleep is always a priority, and in light of the COVID-19 situation, I am trying to be even more dedicated to these precautions." "As a young, reasonably healthy person, with a non-compromised immune system, I am not overly concerned that I would catch anything more than a mild case," she said, adding that she nevertheless considers it "a civic responsibility to try to avoid spreading the illness if I can." Other flight attendants suggested that while they could have been more concerned, personal experience, conversations with medical professionals, and research had them feeling more confident. "I did a lot of research on it myself," a New York-based American Airlines flight attendant, who has a background in healthcare, said. "And my sister-in-law is actually a physician, so I chatted with her." "I'm not worried at all," a Chicago-based flight attendant for the airline said. "I'm a data person, and more people die from the flu." "From what I can tell, I'm not at much of a high risk for death as I'm not elderly or have any immune issues," he added. "Which I think you could say is most of our workforce." Still, while many expressed confidence, others said they were taking extra precautions. "I have grown a little more anxious as the virus has spread more throughout the US," a flight attendant for Spirit Airlines said. "Since I'm married to another flight attendant, we are taking some extra precautions to try to avoid the spread. We are Lysol'ing our hotel rooms, jump seats, and work supplies more than ever." "I've never experienced the airline industry being as engaged and proactive as they have been with this." Flight attendant mask Kirill Kukhmar\TASS via Getty Images Since the early days of the coronavirus' spread, in mid-January, airlines have taken extra precautions to protect employees and passengers. "I've never experienced the airline industry being as engaged and proactive as they have been with this," Nelson, the flight attendant union leader, told Business Insider. "So I want to really applaud the airlines." "We're constantly getting email updates," the United flight attendant said. "I feel like the airline is taking appropriate precautions and keeping us in the loop as to what is going on." "They've put more supplies on certain routes such as masks which can be used on the layover as well," she added. "I have received weekly to daily emails from the company with general information updates and reminders about the general precautions to take," an American Airlines employee said. "Soap, sanitary wipes, and gloves are all regularly stocked on the planes just like always, and, of course, our first-aid supplies include protective gear like face masks in the event they're needed." Another American flight attendant agreed. "Our union and American have given us fairly regular updates as the situation evolves," he said. "They have added extra cleaning procedures for international routes and hand sanitizer has been provided for us as well," another employee for the airline added. The Spirit Airlines flight attendant, however, said that while the airline had distributed supplies, communication has been poor. "The airline still does not want employees wearing face masks but they have provided us with extra alcohol wipes and gloves to try and keep hands clean at work in addition to our normal hand washing," he said. "Besides that the communication about the virus is little from management." Spirit did not return Business Insider's request for comment. Although the flight attendants said they hadn't experienced reduced hours, and didn't expect such a thing thanks to airlines' cost-cutting measures, being able to work enough flight hours if demand continues to drop is a definite concern. Flight attendant airplane oxygen mask safety demonstration Robert Alexander/Getty Images Being a flight attendant can be a "comfortable" job for the most senior employees at an airline. Senior flight attendants get preference when choosing the flights they'll work for a month bidding, as it's called in the industry and make top pay for the hours they're in the air. "A flight to Asia is like a 30-hour, three-day trip," a Chicago-based flight attendant for American Airlines, who, like everyone who spoke with Business Insider for this article asked not to be named, explained. "Those go very senior because you'd only need to work three trips a month to make a living. A comfortable living at that, when you're at top pay." Despite many routes to Asia being suspended, and service on other routes being reduced, most flight attendants said they had not had any trouble getting their normal number of work hours, and didn't expect to at least, not at first. That's because some flight attendants choose to work fewer hours per month, either because they're earning top pay and can afford fewer hours, they have side gigs to supplement their income, or even just because they want or need some time off. "I've actually been working more it seems, which is really surprising due to the circumstances," the United flight attendant said. "But that's usually totally normal around this time of year, so that's positive. I know March is a time when many senior flight attendants take their vacation as well, which leaves some open trips." "I'm worried though as the virus spreads that hours and flights will be cut," the Spirit employee said. "Especially to international destinations that we serve. It's scary that we may lose a lot of flying." "They are working on pay protections for the crews who suddenly lost hours," the Chicago-based American Airlines worker said. "They are also allowing people to start the month with no hours, typically you would be forced no less than 40 but on average about 70-75 hours scheduled." "That helps a lot when you have people who would rather not work, allow those who do, work the trips," he added. However, as flight schedules continue to be reduced with dropping travel demand, some of the flight attendants said they were beginning to feel more anxious about their work situations. Flight attendants at airlines with a labor contract, including American and United, said that they expected the airline to offer voluntary unpaid leaves if they end up needing fewer workers until demand picks back up. Flight attendants taking those leaves would not be paid, but would continue accruing seniority, would retain benefits including healthcare, and could continue using their employee travel benefits. For someone wanting time off, or with a side job, the leave can be appealing, and would mean that the flight attendants who want to continue working will still have enough hours available. On Wednesday, United announced it would reduce its domestic schedule by 10% and its international network by 20% for April and May, and said it would offer the leaves. Before the announcement the United flight attendant said that she had heard it was a possibility. After an email from the airline's CEO and president, she said that while she was still hopeful and positive, she was beginning to feel slightly anxious. "I just really hope enough people take those offers," she said. "Everything is so uncertain right now." "This sort of thing is definitely unnerving," an American flight attendant said. "Rumors of furloughs have been flying around unchecked lately, and true new hires, the ones with barely a year or two or in some cases only a few months under their belts are clearly distressed." "There are flight attendants in my base with upwards of 40 years seniority, so getting my hours in, holding decent trips that's always something of a concern," she added, noting that she was short of 10 years of seniority. "Whether or not a pandemic will make that even more difficult going forward I suppose it just doesn't pay to borrow trouble." One thing that had her especially anxious was the airline's sick-leave policy, which she described as "notoriously punitive" industry-wide. "If, like me, you have an interest in internal advancement, calling in sick can come back to haunt you," she said. "How am I supposed to care for myself, my coworkers, and the public without sabotaging my career?" Despite her anxieties, she said she was also going to try and stay positive. "There's very little I can do to prepare for that except try not to be frivolous in my spending, so I'm trying to just go about my life and not assume the worst." While most passengers seem to be going about their business as usual, flight attendants say that some seem genuinely concerned though possibly misguided. Face mask airplane coronavirus Valery Sharifulin\TASS via Getty Images Even though demand continues to drop, leading airlines to cancel flights and suspend routes, most of the flight attendants said that so far, load factors have seemed more-or-less normal. "I have noticed that our flights are still full and the demand at least at our airline is still high," the Spirit flight attendant said, including on international flights. "Domestic flights are still completely full," the United employee said. "However I did notice that Europe flight loads are definitely down. "Business class was still full, but economy wasn't even halfway full. I'm not sure if that's normal for this time of year." Flight attendants for American had similar observations. "Passenger loads appear mostly the same to me, at least domestically and in the Caribbean," one worker said, noting that she did not typically work on flights to Europe due to seniority. "Internationally, the flights are wide open," the Chicago-based flight attendant said. He added that he was planning to use his travel benefits more, to take advantage of seat availability. Among the passengers who choose to fly, the flight attendants said that they had noticed some who weren't behaving any differently, some who seemed to be taking prudent steps like washing hands and others who were behaving more irrationally. "Unfortunately, it always seems to be one extreme or the other, even before worrying about the coronavirus was common," an American Airlines crewmember said, noting that people still "walk around barefoot, don't wash their hands," alongside those "from the other camp, who won't touch anything on the aircraft and who would probably spray me with Lysol given the opportunity." "Masks are becoming something of a fashion trend," she added. I see more and more of them, even on domestic flights, which definitely speaks to the shortage of medical masks I've heard about. Amusingly, masks are definitely being worn by both the mysophobes clinging to their sanitary wipes and the careless bare-footers." The Chicago-based employee noticed the same thing. "I've seen someone with a face mask walk barefoot into the lavatory," he said. "You would be really surprised as to how gross people can get." Another American Airlines flight attendant said she had seen the same thing. "Medical professionals who need the masks daily aren't able to find them because of this trend," she said. "Whether it's the coronavirus or the flu, wash your hands," the New York-based flight attendant with the healthcare background said. "Don't touch your face, don't put your fingers in your mouth. Wearing a stupid mask that healthcare providers need more than you isn't going to help do you even know how to use it properly?" She said she had seen some passengers wearing masks and gloves to wipe their seats down before placing a plastic tarp over it, and added that a coworker had joked that in a few weeks, the workers who normally clean the airplanes could leave it to the passengers, who were doing their jobs for them. "So many more people wearing masks, wiping everything down frantically when they get on the plane," the United flight attendant said. "People are definitely freaked out and some going to extremes. But then I look around at the families walking around the airport who don't seem concerned at all, still going about their lives and going on their vacations!" Read the original article on Business Insider A LIMERICK councillor has called for the citys St Patricks Day festivities to be cancelled as the coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen. While the Government has said it is not recommending the cancellation of large gatherings, a number of smaller parades in Cork and Waterford have been cancelled by the organisers. Read also: No current plans to cancel large gatherings in Limerick over coronavirus In addition to Limerick city parade on March 17, thousands of people are expected to attend the 50th International Band Championship on Sunday March 15. In a statement, issued this Saturday, Cllr Sheehan said he believes both events should not proceed. We have seen other towns around Ireland call a halt to festivities in light of the worsening public health situation. There is a precedent here as St Patricks Day parades were cancelled in 2001 due to the foot and mouth outbreak, he said. With thousands expected on the streets over St Patricks Weekend and medical advice advising against mass gatherings, the public health and well-being of the people of Limerick must come first. The risk is too big and the situation is getting worse by the day. The Council need to make a hard decision and cancel the parade, he added. .@LimerickCouncil should cancel St Patricks weekend festivities in light of the worsening public health situation surrounding #COVID19 Cllr Conor Sheehan (@ConorSheehan93) March 7, 2020 When contacted by the Limerick Leader a spokesperson for Limerick City and County Council said: We are following the advice of the Government and health experts. We will be guided by them. __________________________________________________________________________________ For the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak, visit the dedicated section of our website - click here China's UN envoy on Friday said China welcomes the Russia-Turkey agreement on a ceasefire for Syria's northwestern province of Idlib. In a press encounter after a close-door Security Council meeting on Syria, China's Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun said "for China, we welcome the agreement signed by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey, and we welcome the diplomatic efforts along this direction." He said the signing of the agreement is conducive to finding "what we have always longed ... a comprehensive solution to the issue in Syria." It's a step forward in promoting a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process, facilitated by the UN, he said, expressing the hope that the agreement will be fully implemented. Zhang stressed that in the process of implementation, Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence should be fully respected. He said China hopes the international community will continue to commit to the fight against terrorism in the process. "We do hope that we will see more encouraging progress." The Chinese envoy voiced support for the humanitarian effort made by the UN, pledging that China will do whatever it can to provide humanitarian aid. "We also hope that the comprehensive humanitarian situation in Syria will be taken care of by the international community." He also urged parties concerned to avoid any attack on the civilians in Idlib and in Syria as a whole. Russia and Turkey agreed Thursday on a ceasefire in the de-escalation zone in Idlib, a development that could ease escalating conflicts and facilitate a peace process in the war-torn country. The ceasefire became effective from 00:01 a.m. on Friday local time. Russia and Turkey also agreed to create a safety corridor 6 km to the north and 6 km to the south from the strategic M4 highway, which connects Aleppo in northern Syria with Latakia in the northwest. Also in the press encounter, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said the ceasefire does not "exempt" operations targeting terrorists in the area, and that he hopes the sporadic fighting after the ceasefire took effect will be put out. Britain and Germany's UN ambassadors also expressed hope that the fresh ceasefire will last. In 2018, the two countries agreed on a deal in the southern Russian city of Sochi, which created a "de-escalation" zone in Idlib and allowed for the deployment of 12 Turkish observation posts. However, the "de-escalation" zone has been repeatedly violated. More than 30 Turkish soldiers were killed last month around the area during an operation of the Syrian government, which Russia backs. The operation was attempting to regain control of the final rebel stronghold in the country after nearly nine years of war. In response, Turkey targeted Syrian positions with aircraft, drones and artillery, raising fears of a direct military confrontation between Russia and Turkey. Since March 2011, Syria has been in the throes of a conflict that has forced more than half of all Syrians to leave their homes. According to The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, an estimated 5 million Syrians have fled the country, 6 million others are internally displaced, over 13 million people need assistance and an untold number of men, women and children are suffering greatly. Since the age of 10, Larissa Meneri has had one dream: I wanted to make a difference for my people. Now, at 35, she is living that dream as an Aboriginal health practitioner in the intensive care unit at the Alice Springs Hospital in the Northern Territory. Aboriginal health practitioner Larissa Meneri helps medical staff communicate with Indigenous patients at the Alice Springs Hospital. While doctors and nurses tend to patients, Ms Meneri performs a different, yet still vital, role, acting as intermediary between medical staff and Aboriginal families, many of whom dont speak English as a first language. Raised in the Aboriginal community of Hermannsburg, an hour from Alice Springs, the Western Arrernte woman had seen her own family struggle to navigate the health system. One of the six pillars of the Chester County Historic Courthouse on North High Street will shine in blue light on January nights beginning Tuesday evening in recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. DANBURY A New York resident who recently worked shifts as an employee at Norwalk and Danbury hospitals has tested positive for coronavirus. This is not unexpected, Gov. Ned Lamont said at a news conference Friday night at Danbury City Hall. Weve been prepared for this well prepared for this. Kerry Eaton, chief operating officer for Nuvance Health, the parent company of the hospitals, said it is believed the employee contracted the disease in New York. She is now in Westchester County under self-quarantine, Eaton said. The employee went into self-quarantine on Wednesday when she was notified by New York officials that she may have come into contact with someone with the virus, Eaton said. Eaton said the employee worked in a relatively isolated part of Norwalk and Danbury hospitals and came into contact with a limited number of employees and patients. The employees were notified Friday and furloughed for 14 days, Eaton said. The two hospitals are part of the Western Connecticut Health Network, which includes New Milford and Sharon hospitals. That group is part of Nuvance Health, with seven hospitals in total, based in the Hudson Valley. Eaton said hospital officials have been preparing for a possible case of the coronavirus since mid-January and expressed confidence in staffers ability to handle the situation, noting that employees deal with infectious diseases every day. Renee Coleman-Mitchell, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, said during Friday nights news conference that 42 possible cases of coronavirus have been tested at the state lab in Rocky Hill. All have come back negative. Another 11 samples are set to be examined, she said. The state has one examination kit, allowing for 600 tests to be conducted, Coleman-Mitchell said. Lamont has requested another kit from the federal government, which could be obtained by early next week, she said. In a statement, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the case highlighted the need for federal action and support. This unfortunate news highlights the need for heightened preparedness swift and strategic action to prevent COVID-19 from spreading further. The CDC should immediately provide Connecticut with tests already promised now more necessary than ever, Blumenthal said. Other federal support should follow, such as reimbursement for local and state expenses, assistance for local health officials and first responders, and aid for small businesses. My thoughts are with the patient and prayers for a swift and complete recovery. Hospitals across Connecticut spent Friday preparing for an influx of people wondering whether theyve contracted coronavirus by making plans for triage centers outside their main buildings. The centers could be tents in hospital parking lots, or temporary trailers or office space, not necessarily near the hospitals that would open them. The extra infrastructure would be used primarily for screening and testing, not treatment, to keep people who think they may have contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus out of waiting rooms and emergency departments where people with otherwise compromised immune systems might be. If you dont have a hospital in your neighborhood, a testing site that is isolated from everything else to reduce the contamination of other people and the other health care workers, said Dr. John Rodis, president of St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford. Hospitals are in the early stages of preparations, but the need may increase rapidly in the coming days. Officials in New Haven have confirmed a person has been exposed to someone who had the virus, and a number of cases have been detected in Westchester County, including Port Chester, N.Y. If we cant get it right here in Connecticut, who can, Lamont said during a news conference at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center on Friday morning. Were prepared, weve been preparing for this for a while ... probably its going to look like a bad flu season. Rodis said many hospitals already have hazmat tents that can be set up on short notice, and that hospitals are working with the Department of Public Health for approvals and to determine if and when its necessary, to keep people from inundating emergency departments. The tents and other temporary facilities would not need full certificates of need from the public health department a process that can take many months for regular construction. Within our hospital we have about 40 isolation rooms that the air is changed six to 12 times an hour. We also have emergency tents, most of us do, just for hazmat spills and chemical exposures. So we could set up a hazmat tent outside our ED (emergency department), and we have done that because we have had hazmat spills back in the anthrax days and that kind of thing, so we can pop up a tent in an incredibly short time. Av Harris, communications director for the state Department of Public Health, said hospitals are isolating screening and testing for coronavirus because there is no vaccine or treatment medication, and the virus is highly contagious. Thats in comparison to the annual flu, he said, for which all health care workers are vaccinated, and anti-viral medications are available. Josh Geballe, the chief operating officer, said the addition of triage centers will be handled by each hospital depending on the need and infrastructure they have available. Geballe said the hospitals will be responsible for incurring the cost of the additional infrastructure for the time being. This could look like a tent in a parking lot across the street, Geballe said. I know one hospital in Connecticut is in the process of setting up (shipping) containers and theyre putting negative air compression in those and they will be collecting samples in those. Youre going to see a lot of creativity in our hospital systems. While the Connecticut State Health Lab in Rocky Hill has limited testing capacity, Quest Diagnostics, a private provider of diagnostic information services, announced it will begin to offer testing for the virus nationwide on Monday, pending approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Thats a big deal because that significantly expands the national capacity for processing tests, Geballe said. Many of our larger hospitals are also going through an FDA process right now in order to be able to do their own testing on site, so we are days away from having dramatically increased capacity to process tests. Those tests will require health care providers to take the swabbed samples from patients which could put pressure on hospitals and physicians offices. Then the bottleneck shifts to collecting the specimens from potential patients and so thats the concept of alternative testing sites, Geballe said. That is keeping people who are not critically ill away from our EDs, preserving our most critical resources, which are the beds for the people who are critically ill. Associated editor and columnist Dan Haar contributed to this story. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt CLARKS HILL, Ind. (WLFI)- One young woman is optimistic after she and her fiance lost everything except pictures in a fire earlier this week. "It was a total loss so we don't have anything the firefighters were able to salvage some pictures so we have some keepsakes of like things that we made each other, Said Samantha Klemme who lost everything in the fire. That was kind of them to go in and get those for us." The fire took place on March third, and lucky for the couple they weren't home when it started. "Our bedroom was pretty much destroyed by the fire, so it's a really big blessing that either of us and our dog was not home at the time," added Klemme. This fire isn't the first hardship Samantha has faced in the last year. "I had Epithelioid Sarcoma which is a rare form of cancer, said Klemme. We got treatment in MD Anderson in Houston, where they have certain specialist and Sarcoma doctors and they are more familiar with the type of cancer." Samantha is now in remission and recovering after she had surgery to get rid of cancer in January. "I'm on my way to recovery but still doing therapy and that type of thing," added Klemme. Now, the couple is focusing on the future, which Samantha says wouldn't be as easy without support from their loved ones and her faith in God. "My journey has brought me closer to Christ which I think is important it's been a really valuable lesson, said Klemme. It's also brought me closer to friends and family and shown me different ways I never thought would have been possible to grow closer to them." She hopes by sharing her story, she can inspire others going through a rough time to look on the bright side. "I have had it rough the past year, said Klemme. I have taken from it all the positives of it that I can. I think that's important to do that, also just know no one is ever truly alone." The couple has added several things they need on their wedding registry. If you are interested in helping them out you can find the link to their registry by clicking here. We reached out to the Clarks Hill-Laramie Township Fire Department to ask about the cause of Tuesday's fire. Our call wasn't returned. Peter MacKay is running for leader of the Conservative Party. Why? Because he did such a stellar job the first time around? Peter MacKay is a traitor to both his party and the country. He was chosen with the promise he would never merge with this rag tag group then known as the Reform Party. And the first thing he did was hand over the reins of power to Stephen Harpers band from the West. MacKay gave respectability to this localized group of right-wing zealots by selling off the name of one of Canadas great and historic parties. Again why? For his choice of plum Cabinet positions, the opportunity to use a government helicopter to go fishing and the opportunity to date Belinda Stronach. (Who could forget the photos of Peter in the pumpkin patch Down East bemoaning the fact that he had been very publicly dumped?) This is truly yesterdays man, and, these days, he cannot even get through a CTV televised interview without walking out when the questions get a bit too uncomfortable. Please tell me that the Conservative Party is not seriously considering this return to the past. The Coalition Inclusion Quebec a group that includes Roman Catholics, Jews, Sikhs and Muslims is challenging the law in court, along with three teachers, including two Muslims and a Roman Catholic. Perri Ravon, a lawyer who has worked on two of the lawsuits against the ban, said that at least for now, the law is disproportionately affecting Muslim women because the hijab is an outwardly visible religious symbol. She noted that a Catholic cross was less conspicuous since it could be concealed in a blouse or a shirt while at work. Nonetheless, the Catholic teacher named in one of the suits, Andrea Lauzon, who wears a visible cross and medallion of the Virgin Mary, said in court papers that her faith and identity were inextricably bound, and that her constitutional right to freedom of religion was being breached. The ban has its roots in Quebecs historic evolution into an abidingly secular society with a visceral distrust of religion, stemming from the so-called Quiet Revolution in the 1960s, when Quebecers revolted against dominance of the Roman Catholic Church. Jean Duhaime, emeritus professor of religion at the University of Montreal, said that even before the recent law, the wearing of crosses in the public sector was stigmatized and discouraged in Quebec society. He said Catholic opponents to the ban were in solidarity with other religious groups, adding that many proponents of the law saw Muslims wearing head scarves as the phantom of religion reappearing in Quebec while viewing the hijab as an instrument of patriarchal domination. U.S. Rep. Will Hurd was elected to the nonprofit Alamo Trusts board. Hurd, a San Antonio native who did not seek re-election to Congress and is serving out his current term through the end of the year, will provide leadership and strategic direction during the implementation of the Alamo plan, according to a news release Friday. "As a champion of our national parks in Congress, it is an incredible honor to be named to the Alamo Trust, Inc. Board, Hurd said. The Alamo is a state and national treasure as well as a symbol to the world that a few can stand up to the many for a just cause." Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush said Hurd will help promote awareness of the 1836 battle in San Antonio. Will is just the individual needed to help us unite Texans on this historic undertaking to protect and preserve the Alamo for generations of Texans to come, Bush said. The release also said Hurd will provide guidance and direction on telling the full story of the Battle of the Alamo and Alamo Mission. Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA If you're a regular visitor to shows in the Abbey Theatre, the chances are your eyes have been drawn at least occasionally to a sign language interpreter over at the side of the stage, translating the main action into the native language of the Irish deaf community. But far from just facilitating essential access for deaf users of Irish Sign Language, some theatre production teams at the Abbey have gone out of their way to integrate the interpreters more into the action. For instance, during the last run of Roddy Doyle's smash-hit show, Two Pints, experienced interpreter and long-time Abbey collaborator Caroline O'Leary sat at a table on the stage not far from the bar where the two main characters sat, as if she was in the pub. As well as that, O'Leary was told that she had three different outfits to change into as the story runs over three nights in the pub. (Normally, they just wear black). "That's the first time that's ever happened with me," she said. "Then they said 'Now you can even help us by putting a packet of crisps on the table and eating them'." Amanda Coogan has also interpreted plays at the Abbey where she has been more immersed in the main action. In a 2008 production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, she was allowed to shadow all over the stage the central character of Ui, played by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor. In this instance, it helped that her husband, Jimmy Fay, was the play's director, but she would always aim to be as immersed as possible. "My approach to tackling a play is that, first and foremost, I'm a translator," she says. "So like Seamus Heaney's translation of Sophocles's Antigone, or Tom Murphy's version of The Cherry Orchard... all these great translations are an art form in themselves, is what I would claim. But of course, there are productions that just can't embed you as much as you would like." Although Irish Sign Language was only recognised as an official language in Ireland in late 2017 with the passing of the Irish Sign Language Act, the Abbey Theatre has been consistently providing sign language interpreted performances (SLIPs) of all its shows for just over 20 years, along with captioning for the hard of hearing or audio-description for visually impaired folks. And since last year, the Gate Theatre has now been making the same commitment to SLIPs. Lianne Quigley is probably one of the Abbey's most loyal customers. A native ISL user and regular actor and director with the Dublin Theatre of the Deaf, she has attended nearly every SLIP the Abbey or the Gate has put on since leaving college in the middle noughties. As a child she would have gone to the Abbey and the Gate regularly with her mother, who would have done her best to help Lianne follow the show, but needless to say, with qualified, experienced theatre interpreters involved, she says the difference in terms of access is night and day - even compared with captioning. Video of the Day "As a theatregoer, I want to see plays and be emotionally involved and engaged with the content of the play, but with captions I don't get that so much without being able to hear if the actor's voice is conveying sadness, happiness or anger. With an ISL interpreter, I get that full access." She is also full of praise for staff at the Abbey, particularly outreach officer Lisa Farrelly, for their hard work in co-ordinating SLIP shows and communicating with the deaf community about them. But it's no surprise to hear that there is more preparation for theatre work than for any other type of interpreting assignment. "The theatre is my guilty pleasure; I absolutely love doing theatre work," says Vanessa O'Connell, who has been interpreting shows for 15 years. "However, there is a lot of work involved." There is no formal interpreter training for theatre work, but O'Leary and others have developed some basic rules and regulations over the years. One of them is that they need to watch the full show at least three times before doing a SLIP. "So even if the show is an hour long or three hours long, you have to go three times," says O'Connell. "And then you'll get your scripts and you work with the script. "For the first viewing, I like to just go and enjoy the show. Subliminally, you will be taking into account set changes or if there's downtime, as we call it." It's also the opportunity to determine if a show needs two interpreters rather than one. Other theatres are a long way behind the record of the Abbey and now the Gate in terms of putting on SLIPs, but Coogan acknowledges that it's mainly a funding issue, particularly given that the Abbey and the Gate get the lion's share of Arts Council funding. However, she suggests that theatre companies designate a percentage of their funding applications in the name of accessibility rather than consider it as an afterthought. "It's not only an accessibility piece", she says, adding that she has had several hearing people come to her saying they saw a SLIP before and it gave them a whole new reading on the show. "It also enriches the production." The enhanced visibility for ISL through the national theatre is another ancillary benefit. "I've noticed over the last few years that the audience are more respectful of the language," says Quigley. "You rarely get anyone complaining that it's distracting or getting in the way of their enjoyment of the show. "I've also noticed that the actors, when they give their bow at the end of the show, they wave their hands in the silent applause to the interpreter, which is really lovely." While Coogan and Quigley are adamant about the "cultural weight" that good ISL theatre interpreters bring to a production, O'Leary admits to once being reluctant to let the crew and the audience acknowledge her role at the curtain call. "It took me a long time to come around to being able to take the bow at the end of the show for my part," she says. "I hated that part for a long, long time. I would just want to disappear off the stage but I have come around now to say, 'It's a job well done', as deaf people want to applaud and show that they enjoyed the show because I was there." The next SLIP at the Abbey Theatre is of 'The Fall of the Second Republic' on Thursday March 12 Australia's Marnus Labuschagne hit a maiden one-day international century on returning to his South African roots ? but could not prevent South Africa from completing a series clean sweep in the third and final one-day clash at Senwes Park on Saturday. Applauded by a large group of his South African family, Labuschagne made 108 in an Australian total of 254 for seven after they were sent in to bat. South Africa were always ahead of the required rate and coasted to a six-wicket win with 4.3 overs to spare. Man of the match Jon-Jon Smuts (84), Kyle Verreynne (50) and man of the series Heinrich Klaasen (68 not out) made half-centuries. Klaasen hit 242 runs in the series and was only dismissed once. "It's been a fantastic couple of weeks for me," he said. It was South Africa's third successive one-day series win against Australia and their 11th win in 12 matches against them, going back to September 2016. "It's been disappointing but credit to South Africa, they put us under pressure with bat and ball," said Australian captain Aaron Finch. It was a bitter-sweet day for Labuschagne, who was born in Klerksdorp, 50km away, and started school in Potchefstroom before his family moved to Australia when he was nine years old. He said it was "very special" to score a century so close to the town where he was born. "I carried on like a bit of a goose," he said on SuperSport television of his emotional celebration on reaching his hundred, "but it was amazing. I have 50 of my family members out there from all over South Africa." But he was quick to add there were no divided loyalties. "I left so young, I love Australia, it's my country," he said. "Although I was born in South Africa and there's a little spot in my heart for the country, I'm Australian through and through." Labuschagne, with help from D'Arcy Short (36), Mitchell Marsh (32) and Jhye Richardson (24 not out) had to rebuild the innings after the South African bowlers took advantage of early life in the pitch and reduced Australia to 55 for three after 15 overs. By contrast, Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock gave South Africa a fast start, putting on 47 for the first wicket off 49 balls before both were dismissed in quick succession by Josh Hazlewood, one of three changes among the Australian bowling attack. Smuts and Verreynne steadied the innings with a third wicket partnership of 96 off 103 balls before Klaasen helped Smuts add 79 for the fourth wicket. Smuts was caught in the deep but Klaasen finished the series in style by hitting Mitchell Marsh for two fours and a six off successive balls. Australia's batsman Marnus Labuschagne hit a century The Centre on Saturday lifted the 48-hour ban imposed on Friday on two Malayalam news channels for reportage that could "enhance communal disharmony" across the country, sources said. The ban on Asianet News was lifted at 1.30 am, while the ban on Media One was lifted at 9.30 am on Saturday, a source at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting told PTI. Sources said the two channels had written to the ministry seeking revocation of the bans, following which it was lifted. The channels were suspended for 48 hours over their coverage of last month's communal ... By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United Nations has cancelled some meetings in Bonn, Germany, and elsewhere planned in the run-up to a crucial U.N. climate summit to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November due to the coronavirus outbreak, an official said on Friday. "This exceptional measure aims to contain the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard the health and safety of participants attending UNFCCC meetings in Bonn and elsewhere," Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said in a statement. The UNFCCC secretariat will not hold any physical meetings in Bonn or elsewhere between March 6 and the end of April, she said in a statement. The Glasgow summit in November is expected to be the most important round of climate negotiations since the 2015 Paris agreement was reached. Speaking at the United Nations in New York, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said countries should not allow the virus to distract them from the urgent task of making more ambitious climate commitments under the Paris process. "Our task is made more difficult by the postponement of many meetings due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak," Guterres told a summit briefing session. "But even as we work to contain and address the virus, we must also look to use every opportunity to build our climate action agenda." Concern over the spread of coronavirus has led to the cancellation of dozens of major global events. Earlier this week, organizers cancelled the CERAWeek energy conference, one of the biggest gatherings of oil ministers and top industry executives in Houston. Jennifer Tollmann, a policy adviser with international climate change think tank E3G, said the upcoming meeting that had been due to take place in Bonn in March was a highly technical preparatory session, which should be easier to conduct via videoconference than a much more significant meeting that is still due to take place in Bonn from June 1-11. Story continues "If they cancel the June meetings, though, that would be a bigger issue for COP26 and the UK," Tollmann said, referring to the acronym for the climate summit and its host. The June conference in Bonn is seen as an important opportunity for climate envoys from around the world to find ways to address outstanding issues ahead of the Glasgow summit. The June meeting also represents an opportunity for pre-summit diplomacy for the British hosts, led by Business Minister Alok Sharma, who Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed to lead the Glasgow proceedings last month. (Additional reporting by Matthew Green in LONDON; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Diane Craft) Tony Petty, 53, of Gary appeared earlier this week before Magistrate Judge John E. Martin to admit he played a minor role in a conspiracy to sell heroin out of an apartment in Garys Glen Park neighborhood. His change of plea follows admissions of guilt made in court last summer by Katrina Owens, 25; Leroy Coleman, 56; and Augustine Pike, 46, all of Gary. No sentencing date has been set for Petty. U.S. District Court Judge Theresa Springman sentenced Owens to three years probation. The judge similarly granted probation release to Leroy Coleman and Pike last year. Lamont Coleman is awaiting trial, which was scheduled for next month but may be postponed. Federal prosecutors allege Lamont Coleman ran the drug trafficking operation in Gary from a house and apartment building he owned in Garys Glen Park neighborhood. They allege Lamont Coleman used Owens, Leroy Coleman, Pike and Petty as drug runners who took telephone calls from customers placing orders for heroin, delivered the heroin and took payment for it. GARDAI have issued an appeal to help find a missing teenager (17) last seen in Cork. Mary Ellen ODonnell was last seen on the main street in Cork City on February 28 and is five foot five inches in height. She is described of being of medium build, with long black hair and blue eyes. Gardai are urging the public to contact any garda station with information. Anyone who can assist Gardai in locating Mary Ellen are asked to contact Fermoy Garda Station on 025-82100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station,a garda spokesperson said. This comic insight chronicles the making and the unmaking of a racist, told with heartfelt affection and warmth, a journey specific to her own experiences and universal to many. She's Back! Carolyn Meyer, author of fiction and non-fiction for children and young adults, decided that sixty books were enough, and two years ago she launched a new career as a comedian and storyteller. Her solo show, Dont Call Me Young Lady!, played for more than a dozen sold-out performances at The Cell before heading to New York in October for the United Solo Theatre Festival. With a stone-cold gaze and comic insight, The Old White Lady Tells It chronicles the making and the unmaking of a racist, from the naming of her first puppy at the age of four, through the writing of a college essay that would bring cheers from the KKK, and to ultimately standing in front of a black congregation on a Sunday morning. Told with heart-felt affection and warmth, Meyer takes a writers surgical precision to growing up in America, a journey specific to her own experiences but also universal to the experiences of many people. The show plays SundaysFebruary 23rd, March 1st and March 8th at The Cell Theatre, 700 First Street NW in Downtown Albuquerque. The performance starts at 4pm. Tickets are $20 and can be ordered at www.forumabq.com. He was rushed to a hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 9:33 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiners office. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More An across-the-board selloff swept Dalal Street, forcing equity indices to settle with deep cuts on March 6 as the Reserve Bank of India's decision to place Yes Bank under a moratorium spooked investors. Weak global cues fanned by coronavirus fears persisted, making the situation worse. Most Asian and European markets suffered big losses as concerns over the economic fallout of the virus roiled sentiment. "We continue to maintain our cautious view on Indian markets and expect volatility to remain high in the near-term. The updates on the spread of coronavirus cases would be the single biggest factor dictating global markets going forward. On the domestic front, updates on the resolution plan for Yes Bank along with the spread of coronavirus cases would be actively tracked by traders and investors," said Ajit Mishra, VP-Research, Religare Broking. For the week, the Sensex lost 721 points, or nearly 2 percent, while the Nifty retreated 212 points or nearly 2 percent. Here's a look at the top 10 stocks which move the most this week: Top Gainers Oriental Bank of Commerce, up 39% Share price of Oriental Bank of Commerce jumped over 39 percent for the week after the government approved a scheme for the amalgamation of 10 state-owned banks into four. Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will combine to form the nations second-largest lender. Effective from April 1, 2020, the balance sheets, as well as stocks of these banks, will be integrated, according to the scheme of amalgamation approved by the Union Cabinet. Future Consumer, up 27% Future Consumer share price shot up 27 percent for the week after the company said there is no material impact of coronavirus on its business. "We, the entire team of FCL, would take this opportunity to firmly assure our stakeholders that fundamentally it is business as usual and there are no pressures or any invocation of FCLs pledge shares. Any rumours on the fundamentals of the Company are totally baseless and false. The Company continues to build its position from strength to strength, it said. 3M India, up 9% Share price of 3M India gained 9 percent for the week after reports that the sale of face masks, sanitizer, and gloves have soared in the country amid the coronavirus fears. 3M India manufactures over 8,000 products including personal healthcare and safety products such as face masks and sanitizers. Pfizer, up 5% Share price of Pfizer jumped 5 percent for the week after reports suggested that its parent company has found some antiviral compounds that can inhibit coronavirus. Drugmaker Pfizer Inc. said on March 2 that it identified certain antiviral compounds it had in development that have the potential to inhibit coronaviruses and is engaging with a third party to screen the compounds. Top Losers Tata Chemicals, down 56% Share price of Tata Chemicals plunged 56 percent for the week after its shares turned ex-date on March 4 and began trading on the bourses without the conglomerates food business. Tata Group in May 2019 decided to demerge the consumer business of Tata Chemicals and merge it with Tata Consumer Products, formerly Tata Global Beverages. According to the plan, 114 shares of Tata Global will be issued for every 100 shares of Tata Chemicals. The demerger of the consumer business would help Tata Chemicals deploy resources to expand its chemical portfolio towards high-margin products, brokerages and experts said. YES Bank, down 53% Share price of YES Bank tanked 53 percent for the week after the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on March 6 put restrictions on the bank shares in various segments, including futures and options. In a rare move, capital-starved Yes Bank was on March 5 placed under a moratorium, with the RBI capping deposit withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account for a month and superseding its board. There is a liquidity crunch and nothing in the stock. RBI ban suggests that there could be some hidden problems such as capital crunch, NPA issue, etc. RBI ban suggests that there would not be any business and investors should ideally stay away, said Sanjeev Jain, VP Equity Research at Sunness Capital India. JP Morgan is underweight on YES Bank and has cut target to Re 1 while UBS has maintained a sell call with the target at Rs 20 per share. Macquarie has an underperform call on the stock with the target at Rs 25 per share. SpiceJet, down 24% SpiceJet share price fell over 24 percent for the week amid rising coronavirus cases make the skies gloomier for air carriers. As per rating agency ICRA, the outlook for India's aviation industry remains "negative" in the wake of the viral outbreak. The outbreak is bad news for the Indian aviation industry already reeling under passenger traffic slowdown. The international traffic growth in the nine months of FY2020 declined 8.4 percent. Vodafone Idea, down 14% Share price of Vodafone Idea fell 14 percent for the week after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) sent fresh notices to telecom operators on pending adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues. Part payments would not be considered as compliance of the Supreme Court order, the notices said, asking the telecom operators to pay the outstanding amount at the earliest. With the Supreme Court-mandated dues pushing Vodafone Idea to the brink, Vodafone Group CEO Nick Read on Friday met Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to discuss relief options to keep the company afloat. The meeting assumes significance as Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL), where the British telecom giant holds just over 45 per cent stake, is staring at Rs 53,000 crore in unpaid statutory dues, having paid only Rs 3,500 crore in two tranches so far. Tata Motors, down 11% Share price of auto major Tata Motors shed over 11 percent for the week after it announced a drop in China sales due to coronavirus. The coronavirus significantly impacted China sales, with February retail down around 85 percent against the previous year, the company said in a release. However, Jaguar Land Rover sales grew on an average 25 percent year-on-year for the six months from July through December 2019. The strong growth continued in the first three weeks of January, it added. The spread of the virus to other markets such as South Korea, Japan and Italy will also impact sales in those markets, the company said. State Bank of India, down 10% PSU banking major SBI's share price was down over 10 percent for the week following reports it is picking up stake in Yes Bank. According to CNBC-TV18 sources, SBI and LIC are likely to each pick up 24.5 percent stake in the Yes Bank and likely to appoint a new MD for Yes Bank and get the board control. Kotak Institutional Equities has maintained buy rating with a target at Rs 420 per share. Broking house believes that SBI is the best proxy to invest in the corporate NPL recovery theme as it offers the best risk-reward. The financial investment can ideally limit the loss as compared to a merger, it added. : The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. One of the world's largest facilities for producing clean-burning hydrogen marked its opening on Saturday, in a demonstration of northeastern Japan's revival from the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Located in the town of Namie, just north of the ruined Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the solar-powered hydrogen station can produce enough gas to fill 560 fuel cell vehicles a day. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the opening ceremony for the government-backed project, which involves Toshiba, Tohoku Electric Power and natural gas distributor Iwatani. For Abe's government, the effort's tie-in with the Olympic Games offers a high-profile chance to counter criticism of foot-dragging in the fight against climate change. Japan has taken heat for its reliance on coal-fired plants and its funding of them overseas. The partners look to eventually transplant the hydrogen production technology abroad. "Hydrogen can be produced in other countries with lower renewable energy costs and shipped to Japan," said Iwatani executive Manabu Tsuyoshi. A Toyota fuel cell vehicle. Liquefied hydrogen is easier to transport and can be immediately used as fuel for cars or electricity generation. Reuters The country still faces higher generation costs for renewable energy than for thermal or nuclear power. Officially named the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field, the facility will serve as a proving ground for technology developed by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, a Japanese government agency. Project costs total about 20 billion yen ($189 million). The facility makes hydrogen by decomposing water, using electricity generated from its solar power plant. It contains a total of 20 megawatt capacity of solar panels in an area of 180,000 sq. kilometers in Fukushima Prefecture. Technavio has been monitoring the protective workwear market in Europe and it is poised to grow by USD 779.1 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 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. Request a free sample report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200306005308/en/ Technavio has announced its latest Europe research report titled Protective Workwear Market in Europe 2020-2024 (Photo: Business Wire) The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. DuPont de Nemours Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Kimberly-Clark Corp., MSA Safety Inc. and Sioen Industries NV. are some of the major market participants. The rising number of construction activities in Europe will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Rising number of construction activities in Europe has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Protective Workwear Market in Europe 2020-2024: Segmentation Protective Workwear Market in Europe is segmented as below: End-User Manufacturing Construction Healthcare Others Geographic Segmentation Germany UK France Rest of Europe To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40823 Protective Workwear Market in Europe 2020-2024: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our protective workwear market in Europe report covers the following areas: Protective Workwear Market in Europe Size Protective Workwear Market in Europe Trends Protective Workwear Market in Europe Industry Analysis This study identifies growing emphasis on smart protective workwear as one of the prime reasons driving the protective workwear market in Europe growth during the next few years. Protective Workwear Market in Europe 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the protective workwear market in Europe, including some of the vendors such as DuPont de Nemours Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Kimberly-Clark Corp., MSA Safety Inc. and Sioen Industries NV. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the protective workwear market in Europe are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Protective Workwear Market in Europe 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist protective workwear market in Europe growth during the next five years Estimation of the protective workwear market in Europe size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behaviour The growth of the protective workwear market in Europe Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of protective workwear market in Europe vendors Table of Content PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis Value chain analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2019 Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market outlook PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY END-USER Market segmentation by end-user Comparison by end-user Manufacturing Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Construction Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Healthcare Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Others Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by end-user PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison Germany Market size and forecast 2019-2024 UK Market size and forecast 2019-2024 France Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Rest of Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Growing emphasis on smart protective workwear Increasing number of collaborations among vendors Growing demand for lightweight protective workwear PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenario PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors 3M Co. Alpha Pro Tech Ltd. Ansell Ltd. Cintas Corp. Dragerwerk AG Co. KGaA DuPont de Nemours Inc. Honeywell International Inc. Kimberly-Clark Corp. MSA Safety, Inc. Sioen Industries NV PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations Definition of market positioning of vendors PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO 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/20200306005308/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Highlights New political outfit named Apni Party to be launched in Jammu and Kashmir Former PDP minister Altaf Bukhari heading the new outfit The new party wont demand restoration of Article 370 A new political formation named Apni Party is being launched in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday by a former minister of the erstwhile state, Altaf Bukhari. The new outfit, the first to be launched in J&K after its loss of special status and statehood is being joined by dozens of local leaders including former ministers and MLAs. Apni Party will be launched at Sheikh Bagh in Srinagar the house of Bukhari,-- where a briefing will be held to reveal more details related to partys constitution, philosophy and flag. Hindustan Times had earlier reported that Bukhari and other former legislators will launch the outfit in March and it will fight for the statehood and domicile rights of the people of J&K. Bukharis efforts to get PDP patron and former deputy CM Muzaffar Hussain Baig on board failed. Sources said Baig wanted some strong commitments from Altaf Bukahri and others, which didnt materialise. Baig was recently awarded Padma Bhushan by the centre and had recently been advocating for the restoration of J&Ks statehood. Bukhari had also met BJP general secretary Ram Madhav in Gulmarg last month, though Bukhari later said it was a chance encounter and he didnt discuss politics with Madhav. Altaf Bukhari and other party members plan to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah after the launch. Bukhari, who is seen as the chief ministerial face of the new outfit, had recently told HT that the new party will work for the people of J&K who need relief and a shoulder to cry. The party will be J&K centric and will have leaders from both Jammu as well as Kashmir and wont be confined to Kashmir only, he had said. He had also said that his party will not demand the restoration of Article 370 that was scrapped by the Centre last August taking away the limited autonomy enjoyed by J&K and added that the party will never make promises that cant be fulfilled. Our targets will be small achievable things this big group of politicians has come together for, he had said. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category An Phat Holdings has entered into a partnership with various US companies to expand in North America On March 3, An Phat Holdings held a working session with Ford Motors, Samsung, DFC, and The Asia Group to discuss co-operation strategies. Especially, it discussed with The Asia Group about developing biodegradable products in the North America market. The US is considered one of the key markets of the group, which accounts for 10 per cent of the revenue of its packaging segment. In early 2019, An Phat Bioplastics, a member company of An Phat Holdings, announced plans to invest in the construction of an environmentally friendly bag manufacturing factory in the United States in order to meet the increasing demand for this kind of product in the next five years. At present, the group is one of the few manufacturers who hold technologies and copyrights in this segment. Furthermore, the US government's incentives for environmentally friendly products are head and shoulders above other countries, which will set the group up for success in the North America market, especially the US. Pham Anh Duong, chairman of An Phat Holdings, said, The group established a co-operative relationship with Samsung and has the same manufacturing area as Ford (the manufacturing facilities of both groups are located in Hai Duong province). We expect that the co-operation will continue outside Vietnam. In recent years, the group has increased investment in the supporting industry, high-tech sectors, while simultaneously increasing the localisation ratio of its products. It is currently a vendor of Samsung and provides components for automobiles and motorcycles. In Hai Duong, An Phat Holdings is a leader in the project to develop local supporting industries implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Hai Duong Peoples Committee, and Samsung Vietnam. In addition, the group is a leading industrial real estate developer in Hai Duong. Accordingly, An Phat Complex is not only a production base but also a manufacturing facility for large foreign groups. After two years in operation, the occupancy rate reached 65 per cent and is expected to reach 100 per cent by the end of this year. Furthermore, the group plans to invest in another industrial zone in Hai Duong named An Binh-Quoc Tuan. The construction of the first phase will be implemented on an area of 180 hectares and is expected to finish by the end of the year. The group develops green, high-tech industrial parks that offer full utilities to lure in foreign investors, including the wave of US investors relocating to Hai Duong. The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has launched its campaign to recruit Saudi student volunteers, in partnership with the Emirates Foundation and universities across the UAE. In this context, a workshop took place involving presidents of Saudi students clubs and students in seven Emirati universities, kicking off the process to enlist an estimated 1,000 student volunteers to work in the Saudi Arabia Pavilion for the duration of Expo 2020. The authorities are inviting students to apply via a bespoke digital platform (www.volunteers.ae/KSAPavilion/) linked to the Saudi Arabia Pavilions official website. Successful applicants will undergo a research-based selection process, including personal data validation, a pre-assessment interview and a skills assessment. Once they progress from this stage, the students will receive intensive training for specific positions based on their skill sets and, upon completion, be awarded at a graduation ceremony, they stated. The ratio of males to females accepted on the program will be 50:50 in line with the policy of equal opportunity. Dr Fahad bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Yabis, Commission General and Project Manager for the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: "We are delighted to launch this campaign which is designed to attract a wide variety of ambitious young Saudis talent." "The campaign will help us to identify and nurture the finest young talents that Saudi Arabia has to offer. Volunteering is an essential component of our strategy as it aims to highlight and hone volunteers capabilities, enrich their practical skills, unleash their creativity and energy in a way that enhances the image of the kingdom and its youth, stated Dr Fahad. Thurya Al Badran, the head of visitor services and head of the Volunteering Program at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, said: "Our program provides these students with the opportunity of a lifetime to act as ambassadors for our country on a global stage. Take on diverse volunteering roles at Expo 2020 and gain unrivalled hands-on experience, the students will gain unique experience and develop themselves both personally and professionally." "Expo 2020 Dubai provides Saudi people a chance to show the world how relatable we are, and these student ambassadors will be shining examples of this," Al Badran stated. Ahmed Talib Al Shamsi, Acting CEO, Emirates Foundation, said: "We are committed to providing volunteering opportunities for young people to enable them to build their capabilities and develop their leadership skills, and our partnership with the Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is in line with this commitment." "The selection of volunteers is just the beginning of our partnership, following which we will work jointly to train and empower the volunteers with the required skills through specialized training workshops to equip them manage the Saudi Arabian Pavilion in an optimal way," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Some users demanded an investigation into how the hotel could have collapsed. About 30 people remained trapped early on Sunday after a five-storey hotel being used for coronavirus quarantine collapsed in the southeast Chinese port city of Quanzhou, state media said. About four hours after the collapse, the Quanzhou municipality said 38 of the 70 or so people who had been in the Quanzhou Xinjia Hotel had been rescued, as reported by Reuters. A video stream posted by the government-backed Beijing News site showed rescue workers in orange overalls clambering over rubble and twisted steelwork carrying people towards ambulances. The hotel collapsed at about 7:30 p.m. (1130 GMT) on Saturday evening. Read alsoTwenty-one test positive for coronavirus on cruise ship off California coast, 49 Ukrainians among passengers media "I was at a gas station and heard a loud noise. I looked up and the whole building collapsed. Dust was everywhere, and glass fragments were flying around," a witness said in a video posted on the Miaopai streaming app. "I was so terrified that my hands and legs were shivering." A woman named only by her surname, Chen, told the Beijing News website that relatives including her sister had been under quarantine at the hotel as prescribed by local regulations after returning from Hubei province, where the coronavirus emerged. She said they had been scheduled to leave soon after completing their 14 days of isolation. "I can't contact them, they're not answering their phones," she said. "I'm under quarantine too (at another hotel) and I'm very worried, I don't know what to do. They were healthy, they took their temperatures every day, and the tests showed that everything was normal." Read alsoNumber of deaths from novel coronavirus rises to 3,491 The municipality said 36 emergency rescue vehicles such as cranes and excavators, 67 firefighting vehicles, 15 ambulances, and more than 700 firefighters, medical and other rescue workers were at the scene as the operation stretched into the night. Quanzhou is a port city on the Taiwan Strait in the province of Fujian with a population of more than 8 million. The official People's Daily said the hotel had opened in June 2018 with 80 rooms. Beijing News' video stream was viewed by more than 2 million Weibo users on Saturday evening, and the hotel's collapse was the top trending topic on the Weibo site, China's close equivalent to Twitter. Some users demanded an investigation into how the hotel could have collapsed. Anger has been building up against the authorities in China over their early handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 3,300 people globally, most of them in China. The Fujian provincial government said that as of Friday, the province had 296 cases of coronavirus and 10,819 people had been placed under observation after being classified as suspected close contacts. The official Xinhua News Agency said the committee responsible for working safety under the State Council, China's cabinet, had sent an emergency working team to the site. Many of the delays were a consequence of a backroom fight over the budget. In particular, the Senate was refusing to go along with a House plan to freeze tuition at public colleges and universities for the coming year. House Democrats retaliated by refusing to transmit to the Senate its version of a proposed constitutional amendment to set up a redistricting commission. Until the measure is sent back to the Senate, the House could try to bring it back up to reconsider the vote. A spokesman for Egypts Health Ministry declined to comment on the presence of quarantined Americans or other foreign nationals on the ship. A U.S. Embassy official in Cairo did not respond to a request for comment. The embassy on Saturday tweeted a statement that read: The Embassy has been informed that there are U.S. citizens on a Nile Cruise ship on which 12 crew members tested positive for the coronavirus. The Embassy is working to provide consular services and assistance, in coordination with the Egyptian government. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has signed a bipartisan $8.3 billion aid package aimed at developing a vaccine for the coronavirus and helping states deal with the spread of the disease. Congress approved the emergency spending bill earlier this week, which is multiple times the $2.5 billion the Trump administration had requested initially and slightly less than the $8.5 billion Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y. had proposed as a counteroffer. "I asked for $2.5 (billion) and I got $8.3 (billion)," Trump told reporters shortly after signing it. "I'll take it." Here's a look at where that money will go: First, what exactly did Congress pass and sign? The spending bill was expedited and passed by both the House and Senate with huge bipartisan support in just two days, an unusual show of unity due to a public health crisis. Three Republicans Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado and Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona were the only members of Congress to vote against the emergency supplemental spending bill. The bill is called a supplemental because it was passed outside the normal spending process. Democrats demanded that the bill include restrictions to keep Trump from using the money for other things, such as building a wall at the southern border, and it states that the funds could be used only to combat the spread of the new coronavirus and other infectious diseases. They also insisted on language to help ensure that the treatment or vaccine created with the help of taxpayer money can be purchased by the government at a "fair and reasonable price," and instructs the secretary of Health and Human Services to make sure they will be affordable and accessible on the private market. Where does the virus money go? The bulk of the funds, $6.5 billion, goes to the Department of Health and Human Services for vaccine research or supporting state and local government response. Of that, $2.2 billion is designated specifically for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Within that, there's $950 million for state and local response, including lab testing and tracing the contacts of infected people. Half of that money must be allocated within 30 days. It also instructs the CDC to reimburse states and local governments for the cost of responding to the coronavirus, or their preparations to do so, since January. The $6.5 billion for the HHS also includes more than $3 billion for research and development of vaccines and diagnostics to prevent or treat the new coronavirus, and $1 billion to buy pharmaceuticals and medical supplies like masks and protective equipment to send to hospitals and clinics. Some of that money will also go toward training medical staff and first responders on how to keep from getting sick themselves. Where does the rest go? The emergency supplemental also includes roughly $500 million to allow Medicare providers to use expand the use of "telehealth" services so that elderly patients, who are at greater risk from the virus, can receive care at home. Normally an elderly patient must live in a rural area to receive care through telehealth, a system that allows patients to receive healthcare or speak to a doctor via phone or internet rather than in person. More than $1 billion will be sent overseas for evacuating embassy personnel, and humanitarian and economic aid to prevent the spread in other countries. The package also includes $1 billion in new subsidies for the Small Business Administration to provide to small businesses, farmers and nonprofits financially affected by the outbreak. The bill also reimburses hundreds of millions of dollars that the administration had already transferred from other programs in HHS. What was left out? The bill doesn't address some of the broad societal changes that advocates have argued are necessary to stem the spread of the coronavirus, like expanded access to healthcare. With the federal government scrambling to provide widespread access to test kits, people feeling ill are being encouraged to stay home for up to two weeks to keep the virus from spreading, something low wage or hourly workers without paid time off will struggle with, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., told reporters this week. "Imagine if you are a low-income worker or your boss says you can't stay home. People want to be safe and protected. They do not want to spread this. They want to take care of themselves. But we don't have the capability right now to do it with the policies we have in place," she said. On Friday, Murray and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., filed legislation to require employers to provide workers with 14 days of paid sick leave to be used during a public health emergency, including the current coronavirus outbreak. It is unlikely to pass in an election year. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Following the news of two presumptive cases of coronavirus in South Carolina, one of the state's hospitals is opening a resource for residents of the state to consult with health experts from home. The resource offers an option to talk to a professional without immediately heading to a hospital or doctor's office. Anyone can use the free application via a phone, tablet or computer, leaders at the Medical University of South Carolina said Saturday. To talk with a health professional Go to www.musc.care to talk with a health care provider about your symptoms. MUSC Health is recommending you speak with someone using the online application first. The application is free. Just use the code COVID19 at checkout. Call 843-792-7000 for more information. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control said late Friday two patients tested positive at its labs, one in Kershaw County and another in Charleston County. DHEC is awaiting confirmation of the cases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the time being, state leaders are urging residents to go about their usual business. Gov. Henry McMaster said the state has been prepared for weeks. "This is precisely what we have been planning for," McMaster said. "There is no reason for alarm. We ask that people go about your daily lives. Both of the patients who tested presumably positive began having symptoms during the last week of February. A woman in her 80s first went to the KershawHealth hospital in Camden. She was transferred yesterday to another facility in the Midlands. Dr. Linda Bell, DHEC's epidemiologist, did not specify which facility the woman is staying in. The woman is in quarantine at the hospital. DHEC officials said Friday night they are not sure how the woman contracted COVID-19; she has no known travel history. She did not live in a nursing home, Bell said. Karlin Ferguson, a spokeswoman for KershawHealth, said she could not release any more information about the woman. She said a number of hospital staff members who examined the patient are out of work and going through health officials' monitoring guidelines. The other presumptive case is in an MUSC staff member. She fell ill after returning from a trip to Europe through the Charleston International Airport, and self-quarantined. She did not return to work at the Charleston hospital. She is a member of our MUSC family," Dr. David Cole, president of MUSC Health, said. Shes making the right decisions, and the system has been working. Cole said the woman "is doing quite well," and had mild symptoms for less than two days. Adam Benson and Seanna Adcox contributed reporting. Anti-Semitism is 'alive and well,' disguised among America's elites, Gary Bauer warns Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment NASHVILLE, Tenn. American Values President Gary Bauer warned that the ancient evil of anti-Semitism is alive and well among those in powerful positions both in the United States and abroad. During a breakfast to honor Israel at the NRB 2020 Christian Media Convention, Bauer, recently appointed by President Trump to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, said he worries about subtle anti-Semitism in the U.S. Often, he said, it comes disguised and all dressed up. You have people in powerful positions, people who went to all the right schools, who run the universities, who deliver us the news. The anti-Semitism is alive and well among those people, he said at the breakfast sponsored by Combat Anti-Semitism, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem and NRBTV. Sometimes anti-Semitism comes disguised as a little old lady, Bauer said, referring to longtime White House correspondent Helen Thomas, who once said the Jews need to go back to where they came from Germany and Poland. (Watch Helen Thomas' comments here.) Anti-Semitism has climbed out from underneath its rock, he emphasized. Bauer pointed out that in several major European cities, mobs walked through the streets chanting, Death to the Jews. The Labor Party of Great Britain is also riddled with anti-Semitism, and in the United States, synagogues have been routinely attacked. Weve had Jews beaten on the streets not only of European countries. Weve had Jews beaten in recent months on the streets of New York City, a city that prides itself as being one of the most progressive cities in America, Bauer said. Weve got anti-Semitism in the finest universities in America. ... Normal, good Americans save all their lives to send their children to these universities, and some professor is giving them Jew-hatred in the classroom. Anti-Semitism is becoming so normalized in America, that when Congress tried to pass a resolution condemning the anti-Semitic comments of two of its members, the politics got so involved that before it was over, the resolution was condemning every hatred known to man, and of course by doing that it wasnt doing anything. They couldnt bring themselves to simply condemn anti-Semitism by members in their ranks, Bauer stressed. If you hear somebody questioning the historic presence of the Jews in the Holy Land, theres only one motivation for that. Thats anti-Semitism. But the Palestinian Authority does it regularly. So does the United Nations, he continued. Christians have an obligation to fight anti-Semitism, Bauer stressed, because an attack on the Jewish presence in their homeland is an attack on Christianity too. The Jews in Israel are not visitors. They didnt arrive yesterday. They didnt move to Israel a few years ago. Israel is the cradle of the Jewish people. It is their past, it is their present, and it is their future, Bauer said. He also criticized Christian denominations that pass resolutions not condemning countries such as Russia, China, or Venezuela countries known for severe human rights abuses but condemn Israel. And they do it in the name of Christ. Its outrageous, Bauer said. ... These mainline denominations and their hateful resolutions do not speak for us. You cannot be a Christian and hate Jews. You simply cant. Bauer said Israel is the only nation on Earth that was created by a sovereign act of God, adding, The Jewish people dont occupy the land. They own the land. Amid rising anti-Semitism, Christian United for Israel, the largest pro-Israel organization in the U.S., will be releasing an upcoming documentary, titled Never Again? The film engages contemporary audiences with the horrific events of the Holocaust and demonstrates why the events of 75 years ago must be understood and remembered by the coming generation. Writer/producer Rick Eldridge told The Christian Post that the film has a current and relevant message for today as we are still seeing that same sort of prejudice going on, even in America. Could [the Holocaust] happen again? The answer is yes. Maybe in different ways than a concentration camp, but its happening on the streets of Brooklyn, in synagogues, he said. It could happen again because people are indoctrinated and it all begins with words, he added. Words hurt. Words become actions and actions become philosophies and ways of life and before long, we have it built into us. Weve seen it in our culture throughout history, and its hard to explain and understand when you see what people do to each other. If we stop and look and listen and begin to evaluate, Why do we feel the way we feel? maybe things would change, he added. Weve used the word tolerance instead of love. Tolerance has limitations, love is universal. The hope is well educate and understand the heart of this matter and people will leave with a better understanding and personal place of, What can I do to make a difference? The message of the film is love, not hate. Its an acceptance and tolerance of all people and all cultures. NASA satellite offers urban carbon dioxide insights A new NASA/university study of carbon dioxide emissions for 20 major cities around the world provides the first direct, satellite-based evidence that as a city's population density increases, the carbon dioxide it emits per person declines, with some notable exceptions. The study also demonstrates how satellite measurements of this powerful greenhouse gas can give fast-growing cities new tools to track carbon dioxide emissions and assess the impact of policy changes and infrastructure improvements on their energy efficiency. Cities account for more than 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions associated with energy production, and rapid, ongoing urbanization is increasing their number and size. But some densely populated cities emit more carbon dioxide per capita than others. To better understand why, atmospheric scientists Dien Wu and John Lin of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City teamed with colleagues at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. They calculated per capita carbon dioxide emissions for 20 urban areas on several continents using recently available carbon dioxide estimates from NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) satellite, managed by the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Cities spanning a range of population densities were selected based on the quality and quantity of OCO-2 data available for them. Cities with minimal vegetation were preferred because plants can absorb and emit carbon dioxide, complicating the interpretation of the measurements. Two U.S. cities were included--Las Vegas and Phoenix. Many scientists and policymakers have assumed the best way to estimate and understand differences in carbon dioxide emissions in major cities is to employ a "bottom-up" approach, compiling an inventory of fossil fuel emissions produced by industrial facilities, farms, road transport and power plants. The bottom-up method was the only feasible approach before remote sensing data sets became available. This approach can provide estimates of emissions by fuel type (coal, oil, natural gas) and sector (power generation, transportation, manufacturing) but can miss some emissions, especially in rapidly developing urban areas. But for this study, researchers instead employed a "top-down" approach to inventory emissions, using satellite-derived estimates of the amount of carbon dioxide present in the air above an urban area as the satellite flies overhead. "Other people have used fuel statistics, the number of miles driven by a person or how big people's houses are to calculate per capita emissions," Lin said. "We're looking down from space to actually measure the carbon dioxide concentration over a city." Published Feb. 20 in the journal Environmental Research Letters, the study found that cities with higher population densities generally have lower per capita carbon dioxide emissions, in line with previous bottom-up studies based on emissions inventories. But the satellite data provided new insights. "Our motivating question was essentially: When people live in denser cities, do they emit less carbon dioxide? The general answer from our analysis suggests, yes, emissions from denser cities are lower," said Eric Kort, principal investigator and associate professor of climate and space sciences and engineering at the University of Michigan. "It isn't a complete picture, since we only see local direct emissions, but our study does provide an alternative direct observational assessment that was entirely missing before." The density factor Scientists have hypothesized that more densely-populated urban areas generally emit less carbon dioxide per person because they are more energy efficient: that is, less energy per person is needed in these areas because of factors like the use of public transportation and the efficient heating and cooling of multi-family dwellings. Satellite data can improve our understanding of this relationship because they describe the combined emissions from all sources. This information can be incorporated with more source-specific, bottom-up inventories to help city managers plan for more energy-efficient growth and develop better estimates of future carbon dioxide emissions. The OCO-2 data show that not all densely-populated urban areas have lower per capita emissions, however. Cities with major power generation facilities, such as Yinchuan, China, and Johannesburg, had higher emissions than what their population density would otherwise suggest. "The satellite detects the carbon dioxide plume at the power plant, not at the city that actually uses the power," Lin said. "Some cities don't produce as much carbon dioxide, given their population density, but they consume goods and services that would give rise to carbon dioxide emissions elsewhere," Wu added. Another exception to the higher population density/lower emissions observation is affluence. A wealthy urban area, like Phoenix, produces more emissions per capita than a developing city like Hyderabad, India, which has a similar population density. The researchers speculate that Phoenix's higher per capita emissions are due to factors such as higher rates of driving and larger, better air-conditioned homes. Looking ahead The researchers stress there's much more to be learned about urban carbon dioxide emissions. They believe new data from OCO-2's successor, OCO-3--which launched to the International Space Station last year--along with future space-based carbon dioxide-observing missions, may shed light on potential solutions to mitigating cities' carbon emissions. "Many people are interested in carbon dioxide emissions from large cities," Wu said. "Additionally, there are a few places with high emissions that aren't necessarily related to population. Satellites can detect and quantify emissions from those locations around the globe." Launched in 2014, OCO-2 gathers global measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide--the principal human-produced driver of climate change--with the resolution, precision and coverage needed to understand how it moves through the Earth system and how it changes over time. From its vantage point in space, OCO-2 makes roughly 100,000 measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide over the globe every day. JPL manages OCO-2 for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. While OCO-2 wasn't optimized to monitor carbon emissions from cities or power plants, it can observe these targets if it flies directly overhead or if the observatory is reoriented to point in their direction. In contrast, OCO-3, which has been collecting daily measurements of carbon dioxide since last summer, features an agile mirror-pointing system that allows it to capture "snapshot maps." In a matter of minutes, it can create detailed mini-maps of carbon dioxide over areas of interest as small as an individual power plant to a large urban area up to 2,300 square miles (6,400 square kilometers), such as the Los Angeles Basin, something that would take OCO-2 several days to do. For more information on OCO-2 and OCO-3, visit: https:/ / www. nasa. gov/ oco2 https:/ / ocov3. jpl. nasa. gov/ ### This story has been published on: 2020-03-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. My favourite Glaswegians Illyus & Barrientos will be touching down in Toronto for a show at Rebel on March 21st so in honour of that event this episode of The Deep Blue will be an artist feature on the house duo from Scotland. Event Listing: https://www.facebook.com/events/1299160726942326/ Takin' Over Illyus & Barrientos - Takin' Over - DFTD Do Anything You Wanna Illyus & Barrientos - Do Anything You Wanna - Glasgow Underground Together ft. Georgia Cecile Illyus & Barrientos - Red - Mother Recordings So Serious Illyus & Barrientos - So Serious - Toolroom M.E.A. Illyus & Barrientos - M.E.A. - Toolroom Promise Illyus & Barrientos - Promise - Toolroom - Promise - Shout Illyus & Barrientos - Shout - Toolroom Can't Get Enough! (Illyus & Barrentos Extended Club Refix) Can't Get Enough! - Can't Get Enough! - Soulfuric Deep Need (extended mix) Illyus & Barrientos - Need - Toolroom Red Illyus & Barrientos - Red - Mother Recordings The One Illyus & Barrientos - The One - Toolroom For The People (Illyus & Barrientos remix) Robosonic - For The People - Armada Subjekt In the Night (Illyus & Barrientos Remix) Claptone - In the Night - Different I Wanna (Illyus & Barrientos dub mix) Sean Roman - Ibiza 2018 Part 2 - Cr2 Without You Leftwing:Kody, Camden Cox - Without You - Toolroom - Without You - Rabbit Hole (Extended Mix) Camelphat Ft. Jem Cooke - Rabbit Hole - RCA - Rabbit Hole - Danzer Darius Syrossian - Danzer - Hot Creations HAYDYL (RoelBeat Remix) Ivan Spell - HAYDYL (2019 Rework) - Exx Muzik Pass The Bottle PAX - Pass The Bottle EP - ABODE HAL Tiga, Kolsch - HAL - IPSO - HAL - Take Me Away Wh0 and Dombresky - Take Me Away - Toolroom - Take Me Away - Old School Tim Taylor - Old School EP - Low:Res Dirty Beats (Jerome Robins Redux Remix) DJ PP, Jerome Robins, MC Flipside - DJ PP, Jerome Robins, MC Flipside, Flipside - Jungle Funk - DJ PP, Jerome Robins, MC Flipside, Flipside - Dundalk Theatre Workshop are on tour with their production of 'Duet for One' starring Gabrielle Tuomy and Tim Ahern. They are competing in festivals on the amateur drama festival around the country, starting in Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone at the end of February. This week they are taking part in the Kildare Drama Festival on Friday, then it's on to the North Cork Drama Festival in Charleville on Thursday March 12, and to the West Cork Drama Festival on Friday March 13, and to Waterford Saturday 14 March. Later in the month they take part in drama festivals in Bangor Cavan Drama. Dundalk writer Jaki McCarrack takes up the post of visiting scholar and spring writer in residence at the Irish College in Belgium later this month. She is one of two Irish writers who take up a residency in the college which is housed in an old monastery and forms part of The Leuven Institute for Irish Studies. Jaki is an award-winning writer whose plays, 'The Belfast Girls' and 'The Mushroom Pickers' have been staged in the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe. Writing workshop Following the success of last year's event, writer, performer and casting director Nick McGinley returns to Roe River Books, to lead a Creative Writing Workshop on Thursday April 2. All ages welcome, and no previous writing experience needed. It'll be a fun, interactive creative experience. Cost 10. Anyone interested should call into the shop at Park Street or make contact on Facebook. Womens Day event To celebrate International Women's Day, Culture Club and Roe River Books, Park St. are hosting a special free event 'Words and Music: A Woman's Circle' on Sunday at 12pm. Performers including Alice Robinson, Ines Khai, Sophie Coyle will sing songs intersperced with readings by the participants of Spoken Word Dundalk of poetry and prose inspired by International Woman's Day. There will be a special offer discount on all titles by female authors on the day. All welcome. New Delhi: Countries like China and Pakistan have been found to be behind several cyber attacks by hacking into over 1 lakh India websites by breaking their security systems. The attacks have posed to be a great cyber threat. In the last five years, as many as 1,29,747 Indian websites have been hacked, the Ministry of Electronics and Technology informed the Rajya Sabha while replying to a question on Friday (March 6, 2020). The CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) has tracked some foreign hackers who have been regularly attacking Indian websites and their security features. Apart from China and Pakistan, hackers from countries such as France, Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, Taiwan and Tunisia have also been found to be behind these cyber attacks. In 2015, as many as 27,205 websites in India were hacked, while more than 33, 000 Indian websites were under cyber attack in the year 2016. The number dipped slightly in 2017, with at least 30,067 websites reportedly being hacked. In 2018, as many as 17,560 websites were hacked while in 2019, at least 21, 767 websites came under cyber attacks. The Centre also informed that work was being done on a large scale to improve India's cybersecurity. The threat of new challenges and alerts are being worked on and a detailed list of responsibilities has been handed over to the Chief Information Security Officer. The government has conducted several mock drills in many ministries on the subject of cybersecurity. In the 44 mock drills that have been completed, the cybersecurity of at least 265 government organizations will be given maximum attention. An Egyptian cruise ship with over 100 foreign tourists on board remained in quarantine in the southern city of Luxor on Saturday, after 12 crew members tested positive for the new coronavirus. A Taiwanese-American tourist on board the ship tested positive for the virus upon return to Taiwan, and Egyptian authorities tested all those who came in contact with her in response. The Egyptian crew members tested positive, and were transferred to a hospital isolation ward, while remaining suspected cases were quarantined for another two weeks. The liner had been on a Nile cruise traveling from the southern tourist hotspot of Aswan to Luxor. From 2013 to June 2017, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements New York Field Office determined that about 47 percent of detainees designated as low risk should be released while they waited for their immigration cases to be resolved, according to FOIA data obtained by the New York Civil Liberties Union. But something changed in the middle of 2017. From June 2017 to September 2019, that figure fell to 3 percent: Virtually all detainees, the data shows, had to wait weeks or even months in custody before their first hearing, even if they posed little flight risk. Advertisement All that time, ICE used the same software to determine a detainees fate: the Risk Classification Assessment tool, which is supposed to consider an individuals historyincluding criminal history, family ties, and time in the countryto recommend whether that person should be detained or released after 48 hours of arrest. When ICE introduced the algorithm in 2013, the Intercept reported Monday, it gave four options: detention without bond, detention with the possibility of release on bond, release, or referral to an ICE supervisor. In 2015, the algorithm was edited to remove the option for bond. Then, it was changed again after the 2016 election to remove the release output. According to the NYCLU and Bronx Defenders, the possibility of bond or release has been all but eliminated. (ICE personnel can still technically override the recommendations of the tool, which may explain why that 3 percent of low-risk detainees were still released.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Feb. 28, the NYCLU and Bronx Defenders filed a lawsuit alleging that as a result of this change, ICE has illegally detained virtually all the thousands of people its New York Field Office has arrested over the past three years. ICE, the NYCLU argues, has a legal obligation to consider whether release is appropriate within 48 hours of arrest. The lawsuit aims to restore due process and end what it calls ICEs manipulation of the legal process, by requiring ICE to make individual assessments and abandon its hijacked algorithm. If the New York Field Office were actually conducting individualized determinations pursuant to its stated criteria, the lawsuit says, according to the Intercept, the percentage of people released should have actually increased since 2017 because more people arrested qualified for release. Advertisement ICEs reliance on a risk assessment tool is not unusual, even as it becomes increasingly clear that algorithmic biases tend to affect marginalized communities and people of color. Risk-assessment algorithms in particular have been in use for decades and, more recently, have become an integral part of the criminal justice system, from policing to evidence to sentencing. Algorithms have started to replace bail hearings to help determine who goes to jail, for instance, and police departments use them to predict future unlawful activity, which civil liberties groups say leads to heavier policing of communities of color. In large part, we still dont know how these algorithms workmany of them are kept secret from the public, often in the name of protecting intellectual property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One reason for the dependence on algorithms is automation bias, in which humans attribute more weight than is sometimes deserved to computer decisions, says Colleen Chien, a professor at Santa Clara University School of Law who researches innovation and the criminal justice system. Theres been a lot of criticism of risk assessment tools, like this one, particularly in the bail and pre-trial contexts, Chien said. But the reality is that human beings like to get information from what they think is an objective source. Advertisement Advertisement This veneer of objectivity and certainty, as Chien puts it, is particularly attractive to government agencies. The reality is that administrators in governments have to make hard decisions every day, said Chien, who served in the Obama White House as a senior adviser on intellectual property and innovation. And they are going to use tools that help them do it more efficiently, do it more consistently, and more accurately. Advertisement Sometimes, as in the case of ICEs Risk Classification Assessment, these tools can start to feel like an algorithmic rubber stamp, Chien said. But algorithms tend to reflect the systems and agencies that use and create them. In this context, the data behind ICEs tool is perhaps unsurprising, since the agency has escalated its terror tactics and become an arm of Donald Trumps nativist agenda since 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Chien stressed, however, that algorithms also hold potential for making systems more efficient and for upholding the presumption of innocence. For instance, [t]he criminal justice system is notoriously biased in terms of its history, Chien said. So when you look at whats the impact of the algorithm, you need to take a baseline, and then you need to measure how are we changing from [that] baseline, she said. Chien advocates for a clean slate policy, which would use algorithms to seal or clear Californians criminal records. She also pointed out the potential of facial recognition technologies, which are often criticized, for exonerating suspects. Advertisement I think theres a lot of ways in which algorithms can be very beneficial in criminal justice, said Chien. But I think the reality is, again, that theyre being used whether or not the public thinks theyre beneficial. (A recent report by the Administrative Conference of the U.S. details how pervasive AI tools are across federal agencies.) The stories you read about are just the tip of the iceberg, said Chien. Given the ubiquity of these algorithmsand the secrecy in which theyre currently allowed to operateit only becomes more necessary to hold government agencies accountable for their algorithmic practices. The ICE case is just the latest, and most public, example of how algorithms can be weaponized, under the guise of impartial justice, to a certain end. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Nine News/Twitter Abdu Sharkawy, a doctor in Toronto, Canada, wrote a Facebook post late Friday that's going viral. The doctor, an infectious disease expert, argued that, while the coronavirus will be bad, people's selfishness could make it far worse. He cited incidents like people stealing face masks from hospitals and panic-buying supplies as proof that the virus is bringing out the worst in people. The post urges people to be calm and compassionate instead. It has been shared at least 300,000 times. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Shoppers in Sydney, Australia, argue over toilet paper in a video posted on March 6 by Nine News. A post from an infectious disease expert is going viral after he warned that people's exaggerated reactions to the spread of the coronavirus could do more damage than the disease itself. Abdu Sharkawy, a doctor and expert at the University of Toronto in Canada, wrote late Friday that the disease is indeed dangerous but that the often self-interested measures to contain are in some cases proving worse. His post, which has been shared around 310,000 times at the time of writing, attacks the "spellbinding spiral of panic" he observes around the world as the number of cases increases. "I am not scared of Covid-19," Sharkawy wrote, using the scientific name for the disease caused by the coronavirus. However, he continued: "What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. "I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. "I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they 'probably don't have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know...'" Story continues Sharkawy appeared to be referring to widespread prepping in countries including the US and UK, where many stores abruptly found themselves sold out of essential items like toilet paper and hand sanitizer. A sign in a US branch of Costco warning customers of shortages. AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus Police in Australia on Saturday reminded the public that the situation "isn't 'Mad Max,'" a post-apocalyptic dystopia, after shoppers were videoed brawling over toilet paper in Sydney. Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) March 7, 2020 On Friday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo said that people had been looting surgical masks from local hospitals, and asked police to investigate. As well as criticizing individual-level actions, Sharkawy warned of over-zealous actions by governments, like restricting travel and trade, which would disrupt people's lives and economic growth. International travel has been hit hard by the outbreak. As well as a slump in demand from cautious travelers, governments have blocked flights to afflicted areas, particularly China, and are examining the travel histories of those who have been to at-risk areas for fear that they will import the virus. Sharkawy concluded that, though the coronavirus will take its toll on the elderly and those with poor immune systems, "the fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives." "But our own behaviors and 'fight for yourself above all else' attitude could prove disastrous," he added. 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of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Sadly, it does exist. Some 60,000 migrants, mainly from Central America, have been returned by U.S. officials to Mexico over the past year to await adjudication of their asylum claims. Many have given up. Those who remain, stranded in squalid shelters and tent camps along the frontier, are easy prey for Mexican crime cartels. More than 1,000 reported cases of kidnapping, rape torture and other violent crimes targeting migrants waiting in Mexico have been documented by Human Rights First, an advocacy group. Independent journalists have also confirmed such cases, often involving Mexican criminals who use the migrants as leverage for ransom demands aimed at their relatives at home or in the United States. Sustainability is bouncing back after appearing to be on the wane in 2019, spurred on by the public re-definition of corporate purpose by the Business Roundtable, which commits large US companies to deliver value to a wider range of stakeholders. Just over 90 per cent of analysts covering the US and Canada cite a growing emphasis on ESG, compared with about 57 per cent in 2019. ESG, mostly environmental, is definitely becoming more important for US companies, says one US energy analyst, but from a relatively low base. These companies need more than incremental change to their business strategy; they need a big leap. Europe and Japan continue to power ahead on ESG. In Europe, analysts observe that all the firms they cover pay close attention to ESG, compared with 92 per cent last year. Japan, too, is at 100 per cent up from 79 per cent in 2019 as the government pushes companies to simplify shareholdings and appoint more independent directors. Board structure and composition have attracted more attention, with 73 per cent of Japan analysts citing these factors as an important part of decision making at their companies, surging from just 18 per cent last year. One Japan-based analyst notes: Japans big institutional investors have become much more demanding, particularly on governance, and many more companies now take these developments seriously. This is in response to the introduction and revision of Japans stewardship code and the trend has been accelerating over the past year or two. Energy and industrials When it comes to sectors, energy and industrials look set for an ESG resurgence after being distracted by poor financial performance in 2019. Three-quarters of energy analysts say that most companies they cover are stepping up their ESG efforts, compared to just one-third last year. For industrials, it almost trebled to 45 per cent, from 16 per cent. Healthcare has also seen a big rise. Among healthcare analysts, 45 per cent reported increased ESG focus, up from 29 per cent in 2019. However, the stand-out sector is utilities, where ESG focus has been rising for the past three years. One utilities analyst says: ESG comes up in every single management meeting and analyst call without fail. A few years ago, it was only mentioned sporadically, with the odd off-hand comment. Now it dominates the conversation. Analysts covering other sectors are more worried about climate change than last year, with 59 per cent expecting it to have a negative impact on their companies, up from 35 per cent last year. However, among utilities analysts, 80 per cent expect a positive impact from climate change recognition, compared to just 8 per cent of analysts from other sectors. Loading This difference is being driven by greater climate-change awareness specifically, a growing appreciation of its impact on asset values and a realisation that companies adopting mitigation and adaptation strategies stand to benefit from greater business resilience as well as new opportunities. Assets of companies that still rely on traditional generation (especially coal) will naturally attract a valuation discount versus renewables, as they will be phased out and therefore have a more limited life span, says one European analyst. According to the Fidelity survey, utilities are ploughing a greater proportion of their capital expenditure into growth, as opposed to maintenance, funding investment in grid expansion, renewables and other types of power generation needed to electrify heating and transport. China hotspot Energy hungry China could be a particular hotspot for renewables investment in 2020, according to one Hong Kong-based analyst. The country is ending subsidies for new onshore wind-power projects next year, incentivising companies to launch projects ahead of the deadline. Solar subsidies are also being cut as solar energy prices fall towards those of coal. The analyst says: A large number of companies will increase investment in China in the next 12 months, not only in renewables and the grid, but also in gas companies, as China encourages coal-to-gas conversion as another way to lower carbon emissions. The hot topics for boards this year will include carbon emissions and climate change, waste management, health and safety, data protection, reinvestment policies and executive pay. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram New Delhi, March 6, 2020 The Indian government should immediately lift the 48-hour ban imposed on Malayalam-language news channels Asianet News and MediaOne TV, and must stop arbitrarily censoring coverage of sensitive topics, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued two orders today, one to each broadcaster, ordering the stations to stop airing any programs for 48 hours as a penalty for their coverage of riots in Delhi, which the ministry alleged was biased and constituted incitement, according to the orders, which CPJ reviewed, and news reports. The bans went into effect at 7:30 p.m. this evening, according to those reports. In the orders, the ministry alleged that Asianet News and MediaOne TVs coverage of the riots could incite violence and pose danger to maintenance of law and order. Demonstrations against a new citizenship law and national registry, which protesters say would discriminate against Muslim citizens, have been taking place in cities throughout India since December. Violence erupted in Delhi on February 23 after a local leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party threatened a crackdown against the protesters, according to news reports. At least 53 people, a majority of whom were Muslims, were killed in riots over four days, according to reports. The Indian government and Delhi police should focus on actual measures to stem the violence taking place in the city, instead of censoring news outlets and journalists for reporting on the riots, said Aliya Iftikhar, CPJs senior Asia researcher. The riots are an issue of national importance and the media should be allowed to do their job without retaliation. Authorities should immediately withdraw the ban on Asianet News and MediaOne TV and allow them to continue broadcasting. The Ministry of Information and Broadcastings order accused MediaOne TV of siding with a particular community in its coverage, and of improperly questioning the role of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organization of the Bharatiya Janata Party, in the violence. The order also said the network inappropriately alleged that Delhi police had failed to intervene and stop the riots. The order against Asianet News also accused the station of being sympathetic to a particular community, and highlighted a report by P. R. Sunil, a reporter at the network, which claimed that Delhi police merely watched while rioters burned mosques and attacked bystanders, asking their religion. The order also said the network improperly alleged that the central government did not act to control the riots. Both channels contested the bans before they were put into effect, according to the orders. MediaOne TV editor-in-chief C. L. Thomas said the organization will legally challenge the governments order in a statement, which CPJ reviewed. Asianet News editor-in-chief M.G. Radhakrishnan told CPJ via messaging app that his outlet was deciding how to respond to the ban. CPJ emailed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for comment but did not immediately receive any reply. More than a dozen journalists were harassed and attacked while reporting on the riots in late February, according to CPJ research. The shoot of Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai in Azerbaijan has been cancelled. According to a report in Mid Day, the cancellation came about following the dangerous spread of coronavirus.A song and an action sequence were to be shoot there. Salman Khan and Disha Patani were to travel to Baku in Azerbaijan via Dubai or Doha, the report says. A unit source mentioned, Considering the coronavirus outbreak, its scary to travel with a large number of unit hands abroad. It doesnt make sense. Now, it will have to be shot elsewhere. The report adds that some members of the crew had already left for Baku for prep for the shoot. They have reportedly been called back. This film will be the second time Salman will work with Disha after their hit film, Bharat. Speaking about her role in the film, Disha told PTI, Salman sir just asked me if I would like to do the film. I said yes. There is a reason why I chose to do the film, besides the fact that it had Salman sir and it was directed by Prabhu Deeva sir. It has to do with the story and my character. Also read | Neha Kakkar shows pictures of her swanky Rishikesh bungalow and the tiny home she was born in: I always get emotional Radhe will also star Randeep Hooda, Jackie Shroff and actor Govind Namdev. Deepak Dobriyal was to work, too, but could not owing to date issues. Speaking to PTI, he said, We were going to collaborate on Radhe but I couldnt be part of it due to date issues. It was a positive role. It would be unfair now to talk about the role. We couldnt adjust the dates as I had the promotions of Angrezi Medium and then another film of mine got pushed so things didnt work out. Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai is being co-produced by Salman Khan, Sohail Khan and Atul Agnihotri under the banners Salman Khan Films, Sohail Khan Productions and Reel Life Production. The film will hit theatres on Eid this year which is in May. (With agencies inputs) Follow @htshowbiz for more (Natural News) Despite being told by her doctors that she most likely contracted the coronavirus (COVID-19) after traveling to Italy, a Miami woman said Monday that state and federal health officials refused to authorize an official coronavirus screening. Instead, she was sent home and told to self-quarantine. The woman, who requested anonymity, told CBS Miami that she had just returned from a week-long trip in Northern Italy, where several towns have already been put under lock-down, in the wake of Europes biggest coronavirus outbreak. According to the woman, she flew home to Miami on February 26, adding that she was already feeling unwell by the time she left the European country. The woman said she was not screened at the airports in Miami and Madrid, even though she already manifested several symptoms such as a severe sore throat, a headache and a mild cough earlier that same day. As relayed by the woman to CBS News, she stayed at her home for the next two days before calling her physician, who then advised her to go to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami to check if she had the coronavirus. The woman, upon arriving at the hospital, said she was immediately admitted and tested by health workers she described as wearing protective gear. Very quickly I was placed in a room. And they started diagnostic testing. Everybody who was coming into the room was very well protected with goggles and all the necessary protective gear, the woman said. Her preliminary results showed she tested positive for two earlier strains of the coronavirus. According to the copies of her test results, which she shared with CBS Miami, the woman tested positive for earlier strains of the virus coronavirus 229E and NL63. The woman then said that her doctor told her that based on her initial results and symptoms and compounded by her travel to northern Italy during the outbreak, he was confident that she would test positive for the COVID-19 strain. Her doctor, however, told her that they wouldnt know for sure unless she undergoes a test conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. There was only one problem: That test would not be done on her because she was not considered to be in a high-risk category. The woman in question is in her 30s and is considered healthy. The doctor himself told me that, you know, he thinks that the results of my tests mean that I most likely have the COVID-19, but that the Department of Health did not want to pursue it further, the woman said. It was either the Department of Health or the CDC that decided not to further pursue the inquiry. But I was basically told that it is most likely that I have this virus and that I should self-quarantine. Obviously, I would have liked to know if, in fact, I have this virus, the woman said in her CBS Miami interview. The doctor said that there was basically nothing he could do, she said, noting that her doctor, who recommended that she get tested, was quite frustrated with the whole situation. According to the woman, all she was given after being denied screening were face masks. I was given masks, I was instructed to wear the masks. I was asked to self-quarantine. I was given a note not to go to work for a number of days. And that was pretty much it, the woman said, adding that she was told that if her fever increased or if her symptoms grew worse, she should return to the hospital. A similar case was reported by the National Review in which officials from the University of California Davis Medical Center revealed that they had asked for a patient to be tested for days, but were denied by the CDC because the patient did not fit the existing CDC criteria. Florida confirms COVID-19 cases Following the airing of the Miami womans story with CBS Miami, five Florida residents have now tested positive for the new coronavirus, while a man in Santa Rosa County was a presumptive positive for the virus, Florida governor. Ron DeSantis said Thursday. The five residents are currently under quarantine in Washington state after traveling from China, according to DeSantis. Theyre not going to be released from quarantine before testing negative, so we dont anticipate that having any impact on the people actually living in Florida, DeSantis said in a statement. DeSantis, meanwhile, said the man in Santa Rosa County is elderly with severe underlying health conditions. According to DeSantis, while the man had indeed been traveling internationally, he did not disclose the places he had traveled to. In addition, as the mans case is still a presumptive positive one, DeSantis said it will still need confirmation from the CDC. (Related: Coronavirus spreads to NYC, Texas, New Jersey, Tennessee and Nevada as epidemic sweeps across America.) Figures released by the Florida Department of Health showed that seven Florida residents and one non-Florida resident have tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. In addition, there were 69 test results pending and 31 negative test results, with 248 people being monitored. According to the DOH, a total of 948 people in the state have been monitored to date. Florida had previously come under fire for its weeks of silence on the coronavirus, particularly its plan on preventing the spread of the new disease, as well as the number of people that had been tested or were being monitored for it. Scott Rivkees, Floridas Surgeon General, previously said state law protecting individuals private health information prohibited him from releasing numbers at a much earlier date. As of press time, the CDC pegs the total number of coronavirus cases in the US at 99, with total deaths pegged at 10. Sources include: Miami.CBSLocal.com Newsweek.com NationalReview.com NBCMiami.com FloridaHealth.gov MiamiHerald.com CDC.gov Large number of people assembled on Saturday outside Yes Bank branches and ATMs in Thane and Palghar districts to withdraw money. The Reserve Bank on Thursday superseded the board of Yes Bank and put a moratorium till April 3 during which customers are not allowed to withdraw more than Rs 50,000 from their account, even if one holds multiple accounts with the lender. The RBI said the restrictions were imposed due to the ailing financial condition of Yes Bank which had failed to raise capital to keep itself going. On Saturday, queues of worried people, several of them senior citizens, were seen outside the bank's branches and ATMs in Dombivali, Kalyan, Palghar, Tarapur, Thane, Ulhasnagar and Vashi. Several of these people claimed authorities and bank officials were not divulging information on the status of the lender, and this was increasing anxiety among depositors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a major embarrassment to Pakistan, Senge H Sering a political activist from Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday (local time) urged India to acquire control of the region to save its people from the "brutal colonial reign of Pakistan". He also said that people of Gilgit-Baltistan are under constant threat of terrorism perpetuated by the Pakistani military. "People of Gilgit-Baltistan, who are constitutional citizens of India as part of the union territory of Ladakh, are under constant threat of terrorism perpetuated by the Pakistani military," Sering, Director of Institute of Gilgit-Baltistan Studies, said during the 43rd session of United Nations Human Rights Council here. He added, "70 years ago, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) asked India to station troops in Jammu and Kashmir to protect locals. Today, as a native of Gilgit-Baltistan and Jammu Kashmir, I request India to resume constitutional responsibility and acquire the control of Gilgit-Baltistan to save us from the brutal colonial reign of Pakistan." Further, Sering said that the locals who are trying to protect natural resources peacefully are threatened with abduction, genocide and economic blockade. "Locals who are trying to protect the natural resources peacefully are threatened with abduction, genocide and economic blockade as it happened recently when pro-Taliban Pakistani citizens called for a massacre of Shias and Ismailis of Gilgit-Baltistan travelling through their district," he said. Earlier on Friday, Sering told the UNHRC during his intervention, "The people of Pakistan-occupied-Gilgit-Baltistan continue to face torture, sedition and terrorism charges and life-imprisonment for opposing onslaught on their resources and cultural identity. Locals are losing battle against worst demographic engineering due to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor that encourages illegal settlements of Pakistanis and Chinese". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Douglas Loverro, NASAs associate administrator for the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, announced Friday that he was formally triggering a deeper probe into why software safety blunders turned Boeing Cos December Starliner uncrewed orbital flight test (OFT) into a $6.8bn flub. Boeing officials were taken by surprise by the announcement of the formal investigation, the results of which the associate administrator said he expects will have ramifications for other NASA programmes and associated contracts with commercial providers. During a Friday telephone press conference, Loverro said the findings recently produced by an independent review team, charged with investigating the Satrliners OFT failures, compelled him to announce, I have decided to go ahead and do something within NASA that we call issuing a high-visibility close call.' Loverro explained that by designating the Starliner OFT a high-visibility close call event, United States government regulations would now require NASA to initiate another, more penetrating investigation called an organisational root cause assessment. He said the results of the new investigation will inform how NASA moves forward in contracting with commercial space transportation providers, specifically mentioning the Human Landing System (HLS) programme. NASA plans for HLS programme providers to ferry astronauts between a space station near the moon down to the lunar surface. There is no question that we will change how it was planned to manage HLS from the knowledge that we get from that [assessment], Loverro said. NASAs new organisational investigation Loverro said that the independent review team, constituted directly after the OFT failure and made up of both NASA and Boeing representatives, found that there was too little oversight over the Starliners software development and testing. He said the new investigation was needed because organisational processes allowed for changes in software coding and other unspecified actions to be approved without coordination with the Starliner engineering review board, which he called a standard process in any engineering organisation. Were going to look at both Boeings organisational processes and NASAs organisational processes in order to go ahead to make sure we truly do learn from this event and that we know how to fix it and make sure that it doesnt happen again, Loverro said. Jim Chilton, Boeings Space and Launch senior vice president, also on the telephone line, responded to the announcement by saying, The organisational assessment that Doug described is emergent to Boeing. We dont know about it. We embrace it. What happened to Boeings Starliner During the December 20 OFT, bad software coding caused Boeing Cos Starliner capsule, which is designed to carry humans into space, to fail to reach the correct orbit, which forced the spacecraft to forego a key test and contractual milestone a rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was then cut short, from seven days to two. Just before returning the capsule to Earth, Boeings ground teams identified more bad code, which if it had gone undetected, could have caused the loss of the spacecraft. According to space agency and company officials, the review teams report, which has not been made public, detailed 61 actions that should be taken before Boeing Co can return the Starliner to the launchpad. Space agency and company officials would not specify when the fixes would be completed, or whether the next Starliner would carry astronauts. Boeing says its willing and able for what comes next Anticipating that NASA may require another uncrewed orbital flight test, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told investors in his latest earnings call on January 29 that the company was taking a $410m pre-tax charge to provision for the additional uncrewed mission for the Commercial Crew programme as well as several performance items. During the telephone news conference on Friday, Chilton reiterated that commitment by saying, Boeing stands ready to repeat an OFT We just want to make sure that whatever we fly next is aligned with NASAs preferences and of course all of us want crew safety. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Mostly sunny and bitterly cold. It will feel like it's in the single digits and low teens.. Tonight Partly cloudy and extremely cold. Wind chills around or below 0 degrees. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 7 By Jeyhun Alakbarov - Trend: Disinfection work is being continued in Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), Trend reports with reference to AZAL. In order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), all objects of civil aviation are disinfected. After flights, aircraft are treated with special solutions. All aircraft of AZAL and Buta Airways are equipped with universal preventive kits, masks and disinfectants. Aircrafts air filters are regularly replaced. As part of the above measures, in order to respond promptly if a passenger suspected of having a disease is detected on board the aircraft, trainings for the flight personnel were also conducted. Azerbaijan remains one of the countries, least affected by the rapidly spreading coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The country's official structures are applying necessary measures to prevent any possible exposure of coronavirus. Azerbaijan has also imported necessary medical equipment to carry out coronavirus tests. Member of the Operational Headquarters created under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers in connection with coronavirus Yagut Garayeva said on March 5 that at least 500 people have been quarantined in the country. Until now, no deaths from the disease have been recorded in the country. Azerbaijan's official structures have also set up quarantine centers in the country's districts, which would allow to react faster to the possible outbreak due to joint borders. Azerbaijan shares border with Iran, where coronavirus is currently spreading rapidly. As a contribution to international efforts to prevent the risk of the spread of coronavirus infection, Azerbaijan's government provided voluntary financial assistance worth $5 million to the COVID-19 Fund as part of the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP). On March 7 World Health Organization officially thanked Azerbaijan for its financial contribution to the global COVID-19 response. By Trend Kazakhstans ventures operating on the territory of Almaty Industrial Zone will enter new foreign markets, Head of the Industrial Zone Azamat Baygubesov told Trend. Currently, 54 ventures the value of investments into creation of which amounted to 237 billion tenge ($624 million) are operating in the industrial zone. Baygubesov added that launch of 11 projects worth 39.7 billion tenge ($104.5 million) is planned in 2020. As many as 1,575 new jobs will be created as a result. In turn, launch of another 31 projects worth 129 billion tenge ($339.6 million) is planned in 2021 and the following years; it is expected to create 4,624 new jobs. Talking about the goods export, Baygubesov said that eight ventures of the industrial zone are currently exporting their goods including BIZHAN meat processing venture (export to Russia), BRB APK (Russia), Asia Steel Pipe Corporation (China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkemistan), ??? Investment (Eurasian Economic Union, China, Persian Gulf countries), Hyindai Trans Kazakhstan (CIS countries), Almapack Co LTD (Kyrgyzstan), ASSET (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan), and DOC Co.LTD (Russia, Belarus). Another two ventures which are operating on the territory of the industrial zone are currently looking to launch export. Thus, the Almerek venture which is concerned with medical products manufacturing is planning to launch export to Russia, Uzbekistan and Qatar. In turn, the KazTigerTape company which is concerned with tape production is aiming to start exporting goods to Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. After dozens of residents tested positive, two South Korean apartment buildings have been quarantined. According to reports, the apartment buildings are heavily occupied by members of a religious sect that has been linked to most of the country's coronavirus cases. The announcement of the quarantine was made by authorities on March 7. Residential buildings quarantined The announcement comes just after the country announced two new deaths due to the coronavirus, raising the death toll to 44. The authorities also announced 448 infections, this takes the total number of cases to 7,041. As per reports, the apartment complexes that have been put under quarantine are located in Daegu, which is the country's fourth-largest city and the epicentre of the coronavirus cases in South Korea. The buildings house 140 people, 94 of which are members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The Shincheonji has also been referred to ads a cult and is linked to most of the coronavirus cases in the country. Read: South Korea Increases Travel Alert Level For Japan Amid Coronavirus Fears Read: South Korea Confirms 174 New Coronavirus Cases, Total Rises To 6,767 As per reports, the two apartment buildings are examples of the first residential community to be isolated over the outbreak. The apartment buildings are owned by the city government and only single women aged 35 or under are allowed to stay there. The authorities have claimed that they are carrying out checks on more than 260,000 people who are closely associated with the church. Raises travel alert South Koreas Foreign Ministry announced on March 7 that it was raising the travel alert across all regions of Japan. The announcement was made in light of growing concerns regarding the number of coronavirus cases in Japan. The threat level increase will go into effect from March 9 onwards. Read: Coronavirus Claims Two More Lives In South Korea, Death Toll Reaches 46 Read: Bhima Koregaon Case: SC Extends Till Mar 16 Protection From Arrest Granted To Navlakha, Teltumbde Last week, Seoul had advised 'caution', which is a threat level lower than 'restraint' which is what has been announced now. According to reports, during its announcement, the ministry claimed that it had taken the drastic step because of the continued spread of the coronavirus in Japan and its effect on Koreans. In brief: In the continuing war on robocall, FCC Chair Ajit Pai put forth new rules that would require carriers to implement the SHAKEN/STIR framework. This protocol is used to authenticate callers. It should be able to identify when a company is spoofing numbers. In 2018, the FCC wanted cellular providers to have the SHAKEN/STIR protocol implemented by the end of 2019. Many carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Comcast, already have the framework set up. However, spammed calls are still a problem. Last February, Pai promised "regulatory intervention" if telecoms did not combat the nuisance calls by 2020. The new rules seem to be an attempt to make right on that promise. "It's clear that FCC action is needed to spur across-the-board deployment of this important technology," said Pai in the FCC announcement. "There is no silver bullet when it comes to eradicating robocalls, but this is a critical shot at the target." The new rules would mandate mobile providers to set up the call authentication network, where previously it was only strongly encouraged. The Commission already passed regulations last June that allow carriers to block spoofed numbers by default. However, it's not all up to cellular companies. In October, we reported that while the SHAKEN/STIR framework has already been implemented with some providers, some phone manufacturers like Apple have failed to update their devices to identify the signal sent by the protocol in a meaningful way. While iOS 13 can receive the SHAKEN/STIR signal, it does not display a message indicating the call may be spam. Apple's workaround is to "silence unknown callers." However, this is not practical in situations where you may get an urgent call from an unknown number, like your child's school. A better solution is to use a spam filter like AT&T's Call Protect app. It is far from perfect, but better than ignoring every unknown call. The FCC is expected to vote on the newly proposed rules later this month. Analysts say banking will be one of a few sectors to benefit from Covid-19 as the central bank may loosen the monetary policy to support the economy in crisis. The reports released by securities companies also give an optimistic assessments about bank shares and recommend that investors buy shares of leading banks. VietinBank shares increased by 40 percent in price recently, the most impressive increase so far this year. The upward trend has been empowered by the news that the State would pour more money in Q1 2020 to help it raise charter capital. However, VietinBank share price is just equal to 50 percent of BIDV share price and 30 percent of Vietcombanks. Meanwhile, VietinBanks profit made a jump in 2019, becoming higher than BIDVs and equal to 50 percent of Vietcombanks. VietinBanks shares have been struggling for a year, since the bank unexpected reported loss in Q4 2018. The bank could not find the solutions to increase charter capital, and therefore, cannot expand its business. Analysts say banking will be one of a few sectors to benefit from Covid-19 as the central bank may loosen the monetary policy to support the economy in crisis. Meanwhile, Vietcombank has been performing very well with the profit double during that time and BIDV has been rising over the last six months, especially after wrapping up the share sale to KEB Hana Bank from South Korea. The stories of the three banks show that besides the business results, it is the investors psychology and tastes, the prospect and the sale of shares to foreign investors which determine the market prices of shares. The gap in share prices not only can be seen among state-owned banks, but also in listed private banks. The Sai Gon Hanoi Bank (SHB) has total assets among top 10, but its share price has been hovering around VND6,000-7,000 for a long time, below the face value. With the price level, it is belonging to the same group with small banks such as Kien Long (KLB), National Citizen (NVB), LienViet Post Bank (LPB). Its share price is even lower than the price of Bac A (BAB) which is listed on UpCom (VND18,000 per share). The SHB price had soared by 45 percent thanks to the news that the 2019 profit increased sharply by 47 percent compared with 2018, and that SHB presidents son successfully bought 35.9 million shares. The price of NVB, with the rumour about the sale of shares to foreign investors, is also expected to increase from the current level of VND9,000 per share and exceed the face value. Most recently, the son of the banks president registered to buy 8.2 million shares. Meanwhile, Sacombank share price is still at low level, VND10,000-11,000 per share, as the bank is undergoing the restructuring. The good news is that the banks profit recovered strongly in 2019. Kim Chi Four Vietnamese bank shares to gain maximum 68 percent in 12 months: JP Morgan Shares of four Vietnamese banks may rise 14-68 percent in 12 months, according to JP Morgans Asia Pacific Equity Research. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 15:42 674 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068fdfc9 1 National COVID-19,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,outbreak,dies,patients,health-ministry Free Indonesia has confirmed four cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but concerns remain as to whether tests run by the Health Ministry's laboratory are accurate. At least five people suspected of having COVID-19 have died since late February before authorities eventually announced two confirmed cases on Monday. Some of the suspected patients died while waiting for their test results, although all of their tests eventually came back negative. In one case, a health official even admitted to the possibility of flawed results from the test. Foreign envoys have reportedly questioned the country's testing capabilities, while experts have urged the government to partner with independent laboratories and send samples to other countries as a comparison. It was only after the country's first confirmed cases that the Health Ministry announced its decision to assign regional labs to test people suspected of carrying the novel coronavirus. Read also: Indonesia to test more people for COVID-19 Indonesia has tested 227 samples as of Thursday evening, excluding at least 257 people evacuated from cruise ships who are currently quarantined at the Sebaru Island off the coast of Jakarta. Here are five cases in which patients suspected of having COVID-19 have died across the country, but whose tests reportedly came back negative. 1. Singaporean man in Batam, Riau Islands The first death was reported in Batam, Riau Islands, where a 61-year-old male Singapore national suspected of having the virus died on Feb. 22 at coronavirus-referral BP Batam Hospital. The man was initially admitted to Awal Bros Hospital in the city two days earlier. He was eventually referred to the isolation ward of BP Batam Hospital for showing symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever and shortness of breath. He was in Singapore days before being admitted to the hospital. Batam Port Health Office (KKP) head Achmad Farchanny confirmed to the Post that the patient's samples were sent to Jakarta on Feb. 21 to be tested at the Health Ministry's laboratory. The patient, however, died on Feb. 22, before the lab returned the negative results. AA, 66, a Singaporean male patient suspected of COVID-19 who died in Batam on Feb. 22 buried in Batam on Wednesday night in a quiet funeral. (JP/Fadli) The Batam Health Agency soon announced that the Singaporean died of another illness. However, the Health Ministry ordered the Riau Islands Health Agency on Monday to observe people who had had contact with the late patient. Riau Islands Health Agency head Tjeptjep Yudiana said the measures were needed as there was a possibility of flawed results from the test, saying: "There might be errors. Were only human." As a result, 33 people in contact with the patient have reportedly been observed and undergone tests, including doctors, nurses, room service staff and drivers, while the patient's wife and two daughters were also monitored. Read also: Singaporean man earlier suspected of COVID-19 buried in Batam 2. Male patient in Semarang, Central Java A male patient suspected of COVID-19 died on Feb. 23 at Kariadi Central General Hospital in Semarang, Central Java, after being treated in an isolation room for nearly a week. The patient reportedly returned to Indonesia on Feb. 12 from Spain via Dubai and presented COVID-19 symptoms after his arrival, including fever, coughing and shortness of breath. He was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 17 and transferred to an isolation room two days later. Kariadi Hospital doctors said the patient's test results came back negative a day after he was cremated. They said at the time that the patient had died of bronchopneumonia. Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said on Feb. 27 that the man had tested positive for the H1N1 virus, which is a known cause for swine flu. Terawan said both viruses were similar in terms of symptoms, adding that the patients body was treated in accordance with the established protocol to contain H1N1. Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto speaks to the press at Sulianti Saroso Infection Hospital (RSPI Sulianti Suroso) isolation building in Jakarta, Monday, March 2, 2020.The Minister of Health stated that two Indonesian citizens were positively affected by the corona virus and were currently in the isolation room of the RSPI Sulianti Saroso. (JP/Seto Wardhana) 3. Male patient in Cianjur, West Java A 50-year-old male suspected of having COVID-19 died at Dr. Hafiz General Hospital in Cianjur, West Java, on Tuesday, just weeks after his trip to Malaysia. The man, an employee of state-owned telecommunications company Telkom, had been in Malaysia from Feb. 14 to 17 and started developing symptoms on Feb. 20, according to Cianjur acting regent Herman Suherman. Herman said the patient was treated at a hospital in Bekasi, West Java, from Feb. 22 to 26 before he went to Cianjur on Feb. 29 for a vacation and to seek the help of a traditional medical practitioner. In Cianjur, the patients health dropped significantly and he was rushed to the isolation room of Dr. Hafiz General Hospital on March 1. The regent said the patient had complained of shortness of breath as well as pain in his lungs and heart. The Health Ministry's disease control and prevention directorate general secretary, Achmad Yurianto, denied that the patient had died from COVID-19. He added, however, that the ministry would have to ask the hospital first for the patient's actual cause of death. Telkom issued a statement following the patients death, saying that his medical records showed a history of inflammation in his respiratory airways as well as common colds. Read also: Indonesia launches official protocols for COVID-19 outbreak 4. Patient with COVID-19 contact history in Jakarta A 65-year-old patient suspected to have contracted COVID-19 died on Thursday at the Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital (RSPI Sulianti Saroso) in Jakarta. RSPI Sulianti Saroso director Mohammad Syahril said the patient had been in contact with people who came from a country with confirmed COVID-19 cases and was already suffering an underlying medical condition, including high blood pressure, kompas.com reported. A security personnel walks past in front of the isolation room of Sulianti Saroso Infection Hospital in in Jakarta on Monday. The government has appointed 100 hospitals as referral centers in efforts to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus amid the global outbreak. (JP/Seto Wardhana) The patient was transferred from a private hospital to RSPI Sulianti Saroso while in deteriorating condition and needed the use of breathing support. Yurianto said the deceased patient had tested negative for COVID-19 but showed signs of suffering bacterial sepsis from pneumonia. Read also: Indonesia's first COVID-19 patients recovering, hospital says 5. Patient in Yogyakarta A 74-year-old patient suspected of having COVID-19 died on Thursday at the Dr. Sardjito General Hospital in Yogyakarta after returning from umrah (minor haj). During the trip, the patient also had a one-night layover in Malaysia. Antara news agency reported that the patient was transferred from Yogyakarta Regional General Hospital (RSUD Yogyakarta) to Sardjito Hospitals isolation ward on Monday. The patient suffered from breathing difficulties, coughing and a fever. The patient died hours before the test results came back negative for COVID-19 and also Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) on Thursday evening. The hospital's pulmonologist, Munawar Gani, said that the patient had suffered from pneumonia caused by the klebsiella bacteria. He said the patient had been getting better before he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, which the patient also had a history of, Antara quoted. (ars) New guidelines for Int'l travellers: From South Africa to Mauritius, here is a list of at-risk countries What to expect from the Indo-China military commander level talks India strongly condemns terror attack in Kabul India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 07: India has strongly condemned the terror attack at an event in Afghanistan capital Kabul that killed at least 32 people and injured dozens. In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the international community must unite in the fight against terrorism and hold the perpetrators and sponsors of terrorism to account. A number of political leaders were present on Friday at the event, organised to commemorate Shaheed Mazari, who was a leader of Afghanistan's ethnic Hazaras community. "India strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attack at the event commemorating Shaheed Mazari in Kabul today, where a number of senior political leaders were present," the MEA said. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 Further breakthroughs in Pulwama attack case as NIA nabs two more "We express heartfelt condolences to the relatives of the deceased and the injured and to the Government and people of Afghanistan," it said. The terror attack came days after the Taliban and the US inked a landmark peace deal, which provides for withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. The Islamic State terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 9:04 [IST] At least 34 people have been rescued from a collapsed hotel in the southeastern Chinese province Fujian that held people under quarantine amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, South China Morning Post reports, citing several local media outlets. What's happening: About 70 people were in the Xinjia Express Hotel when it collapsed on Saturday evening local time, AP reports. The hotel was reportedly converted by the city to observe people who had contact with virus patients. The big picture: There are currently more than 80,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in mainland China. In January soon after the outbreak became public many people in China struggled to find a hospital that would admit them or quickly test them for the virus, the New York Times reports. "Despite having dealt with the SARS coronavirus nearly two decades ago, many Chinese hospitals in smaller cities are not fully prepared to deal with a major outbreak like the current virus," the NYT's Sui-Lee Wee wrote in January. Rescuers carry an injured man out of the rubble on March 7. Photo: STR/AFP via Getty Images A woman is rescued from the rubble on March 7. Photo: STR/AFP via Getty Images A man is helped by rescuers as he is pulled from the rubble on March 7. Photo: STR/AFP via Getty Images Rescuers search for survivors of the collapsed hotel in Quanzhou on March 7. Photo: STR/AFP via Getty Images A man is helped by rescuers as he is pulled from the rubble on March 7. Photo: STR/AFP via Getty Images A woman and others are rescued from the rubble on March 7. Photo: STR/AFP via Getty Images Go deeper... Coronavirus updates: More than 100 countries report cases Lebanon cannot meet its forthcoming debt maturities, the prime minister announced on Saturday, setting the heavily indebted state on course for a sovereign default as it grapples with a major financial crisis. In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Hassan Diab declared the suspension of a bond payment of $1.2 billion due on March 9, saying foreign currency reserves had hit dangerously low levels and were needed to meet basic needs. Diab said Lebanon's public debt had reached around 170% of gross domestic product, meaning the country was close to being the world's most heavily indebted state. "The debt has become bigger than Lebanon can bear, and bigger than the ability of the Lebanese to meet interest payments," he said. "In light of the current situation, the state cannot pay the coming maturities ... "The Lebanese state will strive to restructure its debt in line with the national interest by holding fair, well-intentioned negotiations with all lenders," he added. The default will mark a new phase in a crisis that has hammered the economy since October, slicing around 40% off the value of the local currency, denying savers full access to their deposits and fuelling unrest. The crisis is widely seen as the biggest risk to Lebanon's stability since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. Lebanon has a total of some $31 billion in dollar bonds that sources told Reuters on Friday the government would seek to restructure in negotiations with creditors. (REUTERS) * Bourses fall in virus worries * Europe's bank at lowest since 2009 Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters. You can share your thoughts with Thyagaraju Adinarayan (thyagaraju.adinarayan@tr.com), Joice Alves (joice.alves@tr.com), Julien Ponthus (julien.ponthus@tr.com) in London. STOCK PICKING TIPS (1540 GMT) Here are some stock picking tip from BNP Paribas' Edmund Shing. "You will find that stocks that are sensitive to bonds, relatively speaking are caught up better than the market overall. Now the stocks that tend to be more bond sensitive are defensive, and tend to be located in sectors like healthcare and utilities for instance," he told us in an interview. "That is often because they have lots of debt," he adds. Shing also gives hints on how to pick the best stocks in the coronavirus era, beyond the big utilities names. "It's very difficult: One strategy you can employ is looking for companies that are falling off," he says, if you don't find an explanation - like a profit warning or something fundamentally wrong - this company may be your pick. Smaller companies often suffer when there is a big sell-off, because in panic selling investors rush to take some profits off the table, but "in fact the companies that suffer the sharpest fall sometimes can be those which have very strong fundamentals, which explain why they had such good performance before the crisis". "When fundamentals and valuations are diverging, there is a chance that at some point the price will shoot up, and prices at some point rejoins fundamentals". (Joice Alves) ***** WHAT A RIDE FOR UTILITIES! (1411 GMT) The sector is losing some ground today, although it's still outperforming the others in the daily coronavirus sell-off we've been seeing of late in Europe. Year-to-date it has been a darling among investors surviving the meltdown in markets. European utilities have delivered a double-digit return so far this year and there is more to that than the bond yield, DB's James Brand writes. Here is his guess why: - The turn in earnings cycle and return to growth - Enthusiasm for ESG - The coronavirus driven rotation into defensives "Interestingly our correlation analysis suggests that this could be justified just by the drop in bond yields. However, our view is that robust medium-term earnings growth and long-term investment opportunities related to ESG may be better reasons to remain bullish," Brand adds. (Joice Alves) ***** CARNAGE! (1323 GMT) Are markets losing it? Bear market territory is not too far away for many bourses. The pan-European STOXX 600 index has now fallen close to 16% from record highs. Wall Street meanwhile is getting ready for a 3.2% drop. "We think that equities will need more visibility if they are to manage to build a viable bottom or to be able to tap into the power afforded by a reasonable sense of relief for example, as a result of easing in the momentum of new coronavirus cases also outside China," Christian Stocker at UniCredit says. (Thyagaraju Adinarayan) ***** EUROPE'S BANKS AT LOWEST SINCE 2009 (1110 GMT) European banks are down close to 4% and have now hit their lowest since 2009 as the coronavirus scare cuts deeper into global markets. We're past bear territory with a fall of about 25% since February. Seems there's a combination of straight recession fears (with all that means in terms of toxic NPLs quickly building up) and expectations of another ECB cut which would bite hard into margins again. Germany's 10-y govt bond yield fell to -0.740%, which is very, very close to its record low of -0.743 of September 2019. "The situation of the European banking sector is completely different from what it was in 2009", Jerome Legras, head of research at Axiom Alternative Investments just told us. "Theres the psychological aspect of hitting the same level but Im not more worried about their solvency than I was three weeks ago", he added. "Profitability is a different story though..." Take a look: (Joice Alves and Julien Ponthus) ***** OPENING SNAPSHOT: NOT THE TIME FOR TRAVEL & LEISURE (0823 GMT) European bourses open in negative territory as coronavirus fears continue to drag down the stock market. The pan European index is on track for its third straight day of declines and needless to say the travel and leisure space is lagging behind all the other sectors, down more than 3%. In terms of single stocks, Italy's Prysmian started the day among the top movers, down almost 10%, after it warned that core profit will not grow this year, blaming trade tensions, higher tariffs and the coronavirus outbreak. Capita's capitulation continues as brokers cut price targets after the company's update yesterday sent shares down 40%. (Joice Alves) ***** STOCKS TO WATCH: INFINEON, AIRBUS, ESSILORLUXOTTICA (0745 GMT) Futures point to another blow for European bourses with 2% plus declines across the board as coronavirus anxiety continues to grip investors. In the corporate world, Infineon in focus after a Bloomberg reported that Washington recommended Trump to block the German chipmaker's proposed $10 billion deal to buy Cypress Semiconductor as it poses a security risk. Airbus shares could take a hit as it got zero orders for February due to coronavirus, but worth remembering that the recent sell-off has likely priced-in most of the bad news. EssilorLuxottica is the other name to watch out for after the company said it expects is first-half revenues to be slower (I'd let you guess the why here). Non-virus news: British pharma AstraZeneca seen down 2% after its combination treatment for a form of bladder cancer failed to meet the main goal. (Thyagaraju Adinarayan) ***** ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER SELL-OFF (0637 GMT) Stocks are seen opening sharply lower again today on top of yesterday's ugly sell-off that took bank stocks into bear market territory along with autos, travel & leisure and oil & gas. The number of global coronavirus cases is fast approaching the 100k mark with fears of a massive economic damage sending shivers down investors' spine. Financial spreadbetters IG expect London's FTSE to open 114 points lower at 6,592, Frankfurt's DAX to open 255 points lower at 11,690 and Paris' CAC to open 116 points lower at 5,246. "Markets have shifted from pricing temporary China weakness to a more protracted global event, which will see a good chunk of global GDP go up in smoke," said Stephen Innes, chief market strategist at AxiCorp. (Thyagaraju Adinarayan) ***** (Reporting by Joice Alves, Julien Ponthus and Thyagaraju Adinarayan) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 07 By Fidan Babayeva Trend: Presently, FINCA Azerbaijan non-bank credit organization is in the process of negotiations with the relevant structures within CLARA project and plans to take advantage of this program in the near future to accelerate the lending process, Acting Head of FINCA Azerbaijan PR and Marketing Department Zaka Guluyev told Trend. "CLARA system, specially designed for lending for the agricultural sector, will provide FINCA Azerbaijan with high-quality analysis of applications," Guluyev added. "FINCA Azerbaijan is introducing an innovative FINCARD system, through which a client withdraws the amount from the card," acting head of the department added. "A client may use this amount at his/her discretion by withdrawing money partially or at once, as well as for various non-cash payments." "FINCA Azerbaijan has been connected to ASAN finance system and provides customers with more accessible information," Guluyev said. "This digital solution allows us to be closer to customers and make decisions on loans rapidly." "FINCA Azerbaijan provided more than 7,000 customers with microloans in 2019," acting head of the department said. "Over the reporting period, more than 15 million manat ($8.8 million) was issued to customers, of which more than 75 percent was allocated to the individuals living in villages and engaged in agricultural activities." "Since the creation of FINCA Azerbaijan, it has issued the loans worth more than $1 billion," acting head of the department said. "These resources have been allocated to support small and medium-sized businesses in Baku and districts of the country." FINCA International has been operating in Azerbaijan since 1998. There are 16 branches of the organization in Baku and the country's districts. It is part of FINCA Impact Finance, a global network of 20 microfinance institutions and banks that render the innovative financial services to the low-income customers to help them expand their funds. FINCA Azerbaijan, the country's leading non-bank credit organization, offers a variety of loan products to encourage small businesses to increase their revenues. The organization pays more attention to the agricultural loans. BERKELEY (BCN) A 42-year-old man was killed Monday night in West Berkeley when a vehicle collapsed on him and crushed him to death, police said. An investigation indicated that there had been a recent attempt to remove the catalytic converter of the vehicle that collapsed on the man, who has been identified by the Alameda County coroner's bureau as Omar Zuniga, who had no permanent address. Officers responded to the 900 block of Folger Street at 8:12 p.m. on Monday to investigate a report of a person stuck underneath a vehicle, police said. When the officers arrived, it appeared that the hand-cranked jack Zuniga used to lift the vehicle collapsed, dropping the vehicle to the ground and crushing him underneath the vehicle, according to police. Berkeley firefighters were able to lift the vehicle to free Zuniga but were unable to revive him, police said. Officers located a battery-powered reciprocating saw underneath the rear of the vehicle, according to police. 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. Nine people were killed in a bloody confrontation Friday in western Mexico between a criminal gang and agents investigating a suspected kidnapping, officials said. The dead included two officers and six people believed to have been held captive in a house in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco state, the state prosecutor's office said. Another man died on the street. Jalisco has been hard-hit by violence linked to organized crime, particularly the powerful Jalisco New Generation drug cartel. In the latest incident, the kidnappers opened fire on the officers and shot their captives when they were cornered, state prosecutor Gerardo Octavio Solis Gomez said. After the gang shot at them, the agents returned fire and requested backup. Dozens of police and elements of the army supported by two helicopters were deployed to begin a house to house search for the attackers. A woman who asked to remain anonymous said the man who was killed in the street was her 43-year-old brother who had gone to visit his daughter. "They shot him in the heart, but he had nothing to do with it. He was already dead when I arrived," she said. Around 300 assault rifle shells were scattered at the scene. Neighbors described moments of panic during the shooting and the search operation. "They banged on the door, the windows were broken. We weren't given a chance to go and open the door," a neighbor who identified herself as Gabriela told AFP, adding that officers went up on the rooftops. In a nearby kindergarten, teachers followed safety protocols to protect the children. "They grabbed the children and then laid them down on the ground, they had them all protected," Josefina, 40, told AFP. Police patrol after nine people were killed in the La Huertas neighborhood of Tlaquepaque, Mexico Jalisco state has been been hard-hit by violence linked to organized crime in recent years A fire engulfed a refugee shelter on the island of Lesbos as Greece announced further restrictions towards asylum seekers in response to a migration surge enabled by Turkey. The fire on Saturday at One Happy Family, a Swiss-operated family care centre for refugees just outside the island capital, came after violence at the weekend directed at aid groups and journalists on Lesbos. "The school building has a lot of damage, we can't say more at the moment," a source among the operators told AFP. "The fire brigade is there, our team on the ground as well," they added. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Over 1,700 migrants have landed on Lesbos and four other Aegean islands from Turkey over the past week, adding to the 38,000 already crammed into abysmal and overstretched refugee centres. The new surge has ramped up already high tensions on Lesbos, an island that has been on the migration frontline for years. Frustration exploded into violence last weekend with mobs setting up roadblocks, attacking cars carrying NGO workers and beating journalists. Earlier Saturday, the Greek migration minister announced plans for two new camps to house asylum-seekers who arrived after March 1, when Turkey announced it would no longer prevent people from trying to cross into the European Union. On the land border with Turkey, tens of thousands of asylum-seekers have been trying to break through for a week. There have been numerous exchanges of tear gas and stones with Greek riot police. Turkey has accused Greece of injuring many migrants and killing at least five, a claim Athens denies. "We want to build two closed centres in (the northern region of) Serres and the greater Athens area with 1,000 places," migration minister Notis Mitarachi told Skai TV. "We need the backing of local communities. We cannot leave all (these) people on the islands," he said. Mitarachi also said state support for refugees would be drastically reduced, and that they would be asked to leave camps after securing protected status. "Accommodation and benefits for those granted asylum will be interrupted within a month. From then on, they will have to work for a living. This makes our country a less attractive destination for migration flows," the minister said. Far-right militants from other parts of Europe have travelled to Lesbos and the Greek border with Turkey, among them Swedish far-right leader Jimmie Akesson, who reportedly handed out flyers at Edirne with the message "Sweden is full". On Friday, two Germans and two Austrians -- identified as hardline nationalists by local media -- told police they had been attacked and beaten on the central Lesbos market. One of the four, who claimed they were journalists, was identified as Mario Mueller, a German member of the far-right Identitarian Movement. On Saturday, anti-fascist activists organised a gathering in support of refugees on Lesbos. "We need to react in some way because we've reached a point where fear is taking hold," said Maria Psomadaki, a retired teacher. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Proud Source Water, a Mackay, Idaho-based brand bottling naturally alkaline spring water, closed its first institutional funding round. AF Ventures (formerly AccelFoods) was the lead investor in the round. The company intends to use the funds to expand distribution and brand presence. Led by President CJ Pennington, Proud Source Water offers naturally alkaline spring water with zero additives, and packaged in infinitely recyclable aluminum bottles. The company has seen growth in alternative distribution points in natural grocery, food service and direct-to-consumer sales. It is a certified B-Corp. FinSMEs 07/03/2020 Ask any of your Gen X working mother mates what they would most like for themselves on International Women's Day and my money's on a one-word answer: sleep. Closely followed by "someone to be me for the whole of next week". Preferably two people. No day spa required, no mindfulness workshop or pedicure or post-yoga brunch in P.E Nation tights; only the chance to switch off for 24 hours from the perpetual motion of womanhood, circa 2020. To sit on the couch and ... spread out. There is certainly an appetite for it. When American Gen X journalist Ada Calhoun turned her viral essay on why many of her contemporaries are battling with feelings of anxiety, stress and overwhelm into a book released last month, it became a New York Times bestseller. Credit:Dionne Gain In Why We Can't Sleep Calhoun described how, living a middle-class life stuffed with multi-faceted engagement never expected of (or afforded to) women of the past, many she spoke with were emotionally struggling. This was apparent across cultural demographics. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Health started to test for the new coronavirus on Saturday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced. The highest-risk cases -- patients who are elderly, people with health conditions or compromised immune systems and health workers -- will be tested by the state because the turnaround is fastest. Lower-risk cases will be tested by the private facilities in Ohio, which can take more time because the labs are usually running a variety of tests on all kinds of illnesses from the general population. Most Ohioans who become sick will be lower-risk patients. Tests can only be run with an order from a doctor, nurse practitioner or physicians assistant. LabCorp can test for coronavirus now. The company has labs all over the country and Ohio cases are being tested locally. Another private lab, Quest Diagnostics, is expected to be able to begin testing on Monday, the governor said during a news conference at the Ohio Statehouse. Further, we would expect some hospitals to be able to do testing within approximately two weeks, he said. When the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested samples for COVID-19 at its two labs, it took three to five days to get results. The turnaround time we expect generally, for the Ohio Department of Health, will be eight to 24 hours, DeWine said. In Ohio, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19, DeWine said. As of Saturday morning, seven people tested negative and five are in the process of being tested. Of those five: The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is testing one Two are being tested by the Ohio Department of Health Two are being tested by LabCorp In a few weeks we will have some of the hospitals in Ohio also be able to add to that capacity," DeWine said. The state health department will receive all test results because its epidemiologists are expected to track whether cases have been spread from traveling or whats called community spread, person to person spread when overseas travel was not involved. The Ohio Department of Health can only test an estimated 300 to 400 people, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said. Were hoping to get more reagents soon, Acton said of the testing kits. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton is also able to test, but it is handling exclusively military personnel testing, she said. Private lab and hospital tests The lower-risk tests -- estimated to be used on about 80% of people who become sick with suspected coronavirus -- are only allowed after a provider has ruled out other common illnesses, such as the flu or other respiratory problems, Acton said. When feeling symptoms, Acton said that people need to first call the doctors office, nurse health line or use telemedicine to talk about the illness. Then, they can have an appointment at which the provider will rule out other possible illnesses. Its not available just ubiquitously, she said. A three-pronged approach Much of what DeWine and Acton discussed at the Saturday afternoon news conference was how theyre planning to approach COVID-19 at this stage. They discussed a three-pronged approach -- with the first two having to do with how theyre going to address higher-risk and lower-risk possible patients. Third, they said, is sustained surveillance of the disease, which will help epidemiologists get a sense of community spread, or person to person spread that doesnt involve travel overseas. Community spread is already occurring in the United States and likely will occur in Ohio, Acton said. The health department will look for unexpected clusters of things that tested negative for the flu, she said. Its sort of a complicated process, but its our way of trying to see if theres community spread, Acton said. So this is a very well thought-out plan. Im very proud of our state. Im proud of our epidemiologists because as you know, in this situation were sort of having to create a process that doesnt really exist." A pandemic Meantime, Acton said the illness has spread to a level worldwide to be called a pandemic. This is an outbreak," she said. "It can be labeled a pandemic. In a pandemic there are going to be disruptions in our daily lives. There are 377 cases In the United States. Sixteen people have died of the virus. Worldwide, 105,000 people have been infected, 3,555 have died, according to tracking by Johns Hopkins University. Running tests The Ohio Department of Healths lab is in east Columbus. Its where scientists run screenings for newborns, and test for anthrax, rabies and other diseases. Medical workers collect specimens for testing from people who may have COVID-19. Samples are tested from swabs, sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage and other methods. Each patient sends you two to three specimens, Acton said. The CDC had sent testing kits to the states in February, but the kits had problems and some of the regents, or chemical compounds, were producing inaccurate results. That created a delay while the issue was addressed, Acton said. Other coronavirus coverage: University of Akron cancels all university-sponsored international travel through May 31 due to coronavirus concerns How coronavirus is limiting drug exports from India, China Another Ohio COVID-19 test comes is negative, bringing total to 8 Coronavirus update: Cases top 100,000 as economic impact snowballs Coronavirus in Ohio: Department of Health opens call center to field questions, open 7 days a week Coronavirus in Ohio: Department of Health opens call center to field questions, open 7 days a week Insulin is essential to survive for many people with diabetes. At a Feb. 13 Senate committee hearing on a proposal to establish an emergency insulin fund in Minnesota to help protect the lives of diabetics who have run out of insulin due to tremendously high cost, Sen. Carla Nelson voted against the interests of taxpayers in the Rochester region. The proposal required that Minnesota taxpayers pay for the emergency insulin fund. An amendment was offered requiring the pharmaceutical industry to pay for at least a part of that fund. On a recorded roll-call vote, Nelson voted against the amendment. Due to the votes of Nelson and several other committee members, the amendment failed. Insulin manufacturers have increased the price of the drug by 700% over the past 20 years; the pricing and rebate system in America encourages high list prices, and patients who are uninsured/underinsured bear the cost. Many people with diabetes make the painful choice between paying for insulin or fundamentals like rent and food. Young Minnesotans with type 1 diabetes have died while rationing their insulin, trying to make it to the next paycheck. Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi are fighting to prevent amendments from going into law that would hold them responsible. Nelson listened to pharmaceutical lobbyists rather than to citizens, medical professionals, and people with diabetes like me of the Rochester region. How many more of us have to die? "Insulin does not belong to me, it belongs to the world" Sir Frederick Banting. Paul Belmonte,Rochester By Faith Karimi, Dan Simon and Amir Vera, CNN (CNN) -- Twenty-one people aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship tested positive for coronavirus, Vice President Mike Pence said Friday. BREAKING: 21 people on Grand Princess cruise ship docked off the California coast tested positive for coronavirus, including 19 crew members and two passengers, Vice Pres. Mike Pence says. 24 people tested negative. https://t.co/uktXUEaeda pic.twitter.com/lWinXTb4QV ABC News (@ABC) March 6, 2020 A total of 46 people on the ship were tested with 21 testing positive for the infection, 24 were negative and one was inconclusive, Pence said during a Coronavirus Task Force press briefing. Of the 21 people who tested positive, 19 were crew members of the ship and two were passengers. The Grand Princess had been in limbo off the California coast with thousands aboard since Wednesday and the California Air National Guard dropped off test kits by helicopter to the ship on Thursday, when officials learned that a California man who'd traveled on that ship last month contracted coronavirus and died this week. Passengers on the ship found out about the test results from Pence's press briefing, according to a video from a passenger on the ship. "We apologize but we were not given advance notice of this announcement by the US federal government," according to an announcement broadcast on the ship and recorded on the video. "It would have been our preference to be the first to make this news available to you." Pence said Friday he's working with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan for the Grand Princess to return to a "non-commercial port." "All passengers and crew will be tested for the coronavirus," Pence said. "Those that need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those that require additional medical attention will receive it." There are more than 3,500 people aboard the Grand Princess -- 2,422 guests and 1,111 crew members, Princess Cruises said. They represent 54 nationalities. As of Friday afternoon, California had 56 positive confirmed cases of coronavirus and one death. CONTEXT: What we know so far about the new coronavirus, COVID-19 A two-week trip is cut short The Grand Princess was on a two-week trip from San Francisco to Hawaii and was scheduled to return Saturday. The ship was diverted toward San Francisco on Wednesday -- with a planned stop in Mexico canceled -- after the California man's death in Placer County. His was the first coronavirus fatality outside Washington state in an outbreak that's killed 14 people nationwide. The man, who hasn't been named publicly, was 71 and had underlying health conditions, Placer County health officials said. He was likely exposed to the virus on a Grand Princess cruise between February 11 and 21 from San Francisco to Mexico. Shortly after the Grand Princess finished its Mexico trip last month, it started the latest cruise, with some people from the February cruise remaining on the ship for the current cruise. Some of those identified for testing included several who were on the Mexico voyage with the victim. At least six passengers who disembarked from that February trip tested positive, including the man who died. The latest person to be infected was a Ventura County resident who has been quarantined at home with mild symptoms, according to county officials. No guests were allowed to disembark until all test results were received, Princess Cruises said in a statement. The captain advised passengers Thursday night that more people than the initial 45 may be tested on Friday, according to a video clip CNN obtained from inside the ship from passenger Teresa Duncan Johnson. Though all guests have been asked to stay in their rooms, "we're in discussions with the CDC regarding time for guests to access the open deck for fresh air and exercise," the captain says, referring to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RELATED: Oregon officials say 'no new cases' of coronavirus found, almost 200 being monitored A race to trace possible infections Newsom has declared a state of emergency, saying local health officials are working with their federal counterparts to trace people who had contact with the man who died. Princess Cruises has shared relevant data with the CDC to help notify state and county health officials, who will follow up with anyone who may have been exposed to coronavirus, cruise line officials said. "Cruise ships are posing probably one of the biggest challenges that we are seeing in this outbreak," said Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, infectious diseases director at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "We know these cruise ships are essentially ... we've been calling them incubators, they are incredibly very healthy environments for the pathogens that we're talking about." Another cruise ship was linked to the virus Another Princess Cruises ship, the Diamond Princess, was the site of a major coronavirus outbreak as it was docked at Yokohama, Japan, last month. After the first handful of cases were reported from the Diamond Princess, Japanese officials decided to keep people aboard and quarantine the ship. Eventually, more than 700 people aboard became infected with coronavirus. "The problem with the Diamond (Princess) cruise ship, as we've learned, was that when you quarantine people like that, with a few possible infected people, the likelihood of infecting many more people goes up," CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta said. A top Japanese government adviser has said the quarantine of the Diamond Princess "may not have been perfect." Infected crew members may have passed on infections to other crew members or guests, said Dr. Norio Ohmagari, director of the Disease Control and Prevention Center at Japan's National Center for Global Health and Medicine. It's impossible to fully isolate staff members during a cruise ship quarantine, other said. "Unfortunately, to maintain daily life of the more than 3,700 passenger cruise, we needed help, we needed support from cruise members to maintain the daily life," said Yosuke Kita of Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. US infection cases are going up Health officials are urging local communities to consider ways to stop the coronavirus from spreading as the number of infections soared to at least 282 nationwide. That number includes at least 46 former passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Besides the former Grand Princess passenger in California, 14 people have died in Washington state -- including many who are linked to a long-term nursing home near Seattle. Italy has emerged as the focal point for the coronavirus outbreak in Europe. As per reports, Italy is the region's weakest economy, and things have not been made better with the recent viral outbreak. Due to fears of the rapidly spreading coronavirus, tourists have stopped visiting its cultural treasures or buying its prized artisanal products, from fashion to food to design. Fear of virus preventing travel According to reports, Italy might be Europe's third-largest economy but it has long been amongst the slowest growing in the region. Italy has amassed the largest number of virus infection outside Asia. All towns in the country's north have been quarantined, the north of the country is the heart of Italy's manufacturing and financial industries. Airlines have also cut back on flights going to Italy, meaning millions of fewer tourists and traveller that can result in a loss for hotels, restaurants, tourist sites and many others amounting in billions, as per reports. The turmoil threatens to send Italy back into a recession and weigh heavily on the entirety of Europe as even trade-focused countries like Germany, France and Britain battling a global disruption in the supply chain. Read: India And Italy Join Hands For Positive Bilateral & Global Agenda Amid Coronavirus Scare Read: Inter Milan Donate 100,000 For Coronavirus Research As Italy Reels Under Fear Reports indicate that tourism officials expect 32 million fewer foreign visitors and a loss of 7.4 billion euros ($8.1 billion). Many in the tourism industry are blaming the virus coverage by the media. People like Luca Patane, the president of tourism association Confturismo-Confcommercio believe that media coverage of the virus has been much more lethal than the virus itself. The deadly coronavirus that began in China's Wuhan province has been officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation. While the majority of reported cases are still present in mainland China, the virus has spread to multiple countries around the world and infected 103,817 people worldwide. The death toll from the virus stands at 3,522 world wide. Read: Coronavirus: Indonesia Bans Entry Of Foreign Visitors From Iran, Italy And South Korea Read: Coronavirus In Italy: England's Six Nations Championship Game Against Italy Postponed By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/06/2020 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. : Before the 90 Days star Geoffrey Paschel has responded to protestors who want him kicked off the TLC spinoff's fourth season due to his criminal past and the alarming abuse charges against him.A Change.org petition titled "Remove Geoffrey Paschel from TLC shows" surfaced earlier this week asking Geoffrey be removed from : Before the 90 Days because his legal history includes allegations of "kidnapping, abuse, rape, child endangerment, dealing drugs, felony larceny, theft and battery."As of March 6, the petition had nearly 2,800 signatures.Days after the petition was posted, Geoffrey, 41, took to Instagram and issued a lengthy statement on why he chose to appear on : Before the 90 Days despite his "checkered" past."I have been repeatedly asked why I would EVER want to be on a show (the best show FYI) where my life would be put in front of everyone to pick apartaespecially with my checkered past. Well, guys, it is MY past. It is MY life. It is MY choice. If we were all the same: thought the same, looked the same, or acted the same, how lame would that be?" Geoffrey wrote."My closed-up life was the only way I knew to live. I hid so much about myselfawhether it be my age, my history, or even my relationships. What crazier, whacked up way could I have done it any better than blasting out there? With the path I chose, it cannot EVER be reversed."Multiple women have made numerous accusations against Geoffrey, who has been married four times and is also currently facing charges he attacked a former live-in girlfriend in 2019.Last month, Geoffrey appeared in court in Tennessee and pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated kidnapping, domestic assault, interference with emergency calls and vandalism.The charges relate to a June 2019 incident in which the alleged victim -- Geoffrey's then-girlfriend, a 30-year-old woman he lived with who has not been identified by name -- accused him of physically attacking her in the home they had shared, according to the Knox News Sentinel.Geoffrey, however, insists his ex-girlfriend has made the allegations to sabotage his ongoing custody battle involving a different woman, Geoffrey's estranged fourth wife (the couple is not formally divorced yet).According to the petition Geoffrey's ex-girlfriend filed when seeking an order of protection, Geoffrey "repeatedly bashed/slammed my head into the hardwood floors of my home," the Knox News Sentinel reported."He dragged me through the house by my hair and continued throwing my body into walls and furniture. I know this because of blood on my walls, furniture, etc."Geoffrey also allegedly disabled the ex-girlfriend's phone before she took off to a neighbor's house and called the police from there.Geoffrey was reportedly arrested that night, and the woman sought medical treatment at a local hospital, where she was told she had suffered a concussion.In addition, Geoffrey is also reportedly accused of "pushing, hitting, choking" and verbally threatening the woman on four other occasions dating back to September 2018.The current criminal charges are merely the most recent disturbing allegations in Geoffrey's personal history.In her 2005 divorce documents, Geoffrey's second ex-wife -- whom he married in 1998 and had two sons with -- claimed he "repeatedly raped" and assaulted her during their marriage, according to Starcasm.After obtaining an order of protection against Geoffrey, Geoffrey's second ex-wife also reportedly filed court papers alleging he had "assaulted" and tried to "choke [her] to death."Some of her other allegations reportedly included claims that she had to "wrest a shotgun away from him" when he threatened to kill them both, and that he also "held a knife to her throat [and] told her he would kill her" during two additional incidents.In the Instagram statement Geoffrey posted this week, he continued, "Everything about me is out there for the world to see, whether it is true or fantasy. I can never go back, and honestly, I would not have it any different.""I have realized who my 'people' are and, opposingly, who only want to hold me down and set me back. Luckily, I NOW have a strong support system via mostly complete strangers who have lifted me up SO high and have shared their love."He concluded in his Instagram post, "Here is to finding MY light and new beginning at the other end of the tunnel! When things no longer work, find YOUR tunnel! See you tonight as I start my new quest to the other side of the world... I love you guys-always do YOU!"Geoffrey also added the following hashtags: #90dayfiance #90dayfiancebeforethe90days #beforethe90days #mountains #nature #beard #knoxvilletennessee #knoxville #knoxvilletn #beyourself #journey #missingyou #always #kazhempaschel #cayvanpaschel #geoffreypaschel.This past week's : Before the 90 Days episode featured Geoffrey acknowledging he has a criminal history, but not providing very many details.Geoffrey shared with viewers that he grew up very poor and dealt drugs when he was young in order to make money. According to Geoffrey, he was eventually arrested and sentenced to 30 months in prison.Starcasm reported Geoffrey served three years in federal prison between 2000 and 2003.In 2013, Geoffrey was also reportedly charged with felony larceny for an incident in which he and a friend attempted to steal more than $500 worth of lights from a Home Depot store.He eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail, but he appears to have actually served nearly all that time on supervised probation.In 2014, Geoffrey was also arrested on theft and battery charges in Florida, according to Starcasm, which reported that, in addition to his second wife, Geoffrey's third and fourth wives have also accused him of abuse in legal filings.In court documents, Geoffrey's estranged fourth wife Brittany -- who was reportedly 19 when they began dating in 2014 -- claimed he "strangled, slammed and punched" her several times, restricted her access to automobiles, and even "abandoned Brittany in a hotel room" when she was in heavy labor with their second child.Geoffrey's third wife -- who was reportedly 21 when they got married in 2007 -- also accused Geoffrey of being an opiate drug dealer and using his children as a "cover" or "mule" in a protection order request she had filed in 2018 during the couple's ongoing custody case, Starcasm reported.The couple reportedly separated in 2013, less than two years after the birth of their only child, and finalized their divorce in 2014.Geoffrey, who has billed him as a landlord from Knoxville, TN on the TLC show, was just shown flying to Russia and meeting his new love Varya, 30, in person for the first time on : Before the 90 Days' fourth season after a five-month romance.Before his trip, Geoffrey was shown raising three children -- two adults boys and a four-year-old son Cayvan -- from two previous relationships.Geoffrey said it was hard to trust women since he had so many failed marriages, so he changed up his dating style and met Varya on an international dating website.Geoffrey apparently loved Varya's look, personality and ambition, and so their connection grew exponentially in a short time. He was hoping for the best because he wasn't sure he'd make it through another heartbreak after losing a newborn son named Kazhem.Geoffrey claimed he needed to determine whether Varya's intentions were pure but there was a chance he might leave Russia an engaged man. His family and friends, however, didn't want to see him rushing into another relationship.But Geoffrey hadn't been honest with Varya about his criminal past, and he worried she wouldn't accept him once she learned the truth.Once the pair reunited in the airport in Moscow, Geoffrey gushed, "It was like an angel was standing there. She is real and it's not something I had just built up in my head. She's just as beautiful as I thought she was. She is everything and more."But their first interactions were a little awkward with "uncomfortable silences," according to Varya.: Before the 90 Days currently airs on Sunday nights at 8PM ET/PT on TLC.Want spoilers? Click here to visit our Spoilers webpage! It started as a Golden Girls parody puppet show during the Sydney Mardi Gras called Thank You For Being A Friend. It ended in a bitter falling out between friends and a costly Federal Court fight. On Thursday, the court dismissed two lawsuits brought by scriptwriter, director and producer Jonathan Rockefeller, a protege of Baz Luhrmann, against his one-time friend and writing partner Thomas Duncan-Watt and theatre producer Neil Gooding, which made allegations ranging from defamation to misleading and deceptive conduct. The Golden Girls was a critically acclaimed American sitcom in the 80s and 90s, Justice Thawley said. Credit:AP At the heart of the dispute was a Muppets-style musical theatre parody of the US sitcom, described by Federal Court Justice Thomas Thawley as a "critically acclaimed" show centred on the lives of four women "living out their 'golden' years as house-mates in Miami, Florida" that was "well known for its acerbic humour, racy dialogue [and] sexual innuendo". The parody show, titled Thank You For Being A Friend in a nod to the sitcom's popular theme song, debuted at the Comedy Store in Sydney in February 2013 during the Mardi Gras Festival and was co-written by Mr Rockefeller and Mr Duncan-Watt. The bulk of the writing was done by Mr Duncan-Watt, Justice Thawley said. In photos shared on Saturday, the Prime Minister and his finance were pictured at an event for International Women's Day ahead of the official date on Sunday. The pair were speaking to Lizzie Carr, the winner of the Points of Light Award, which recognises outstanding volunteers. Some 50 teenage students from five secondary schools were also invited to the event on Thursday. Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds talk to Lizzie Carr (Andrew Parsons / 10 Downing Street) / Andrew Parsons/10 Downing Street It is the first time Ms Symonds has been seen since she posted a photo of her and Mr Johnson on Instagram to announce their pregnancy news and engagement last Saturday. Dressed in a floral maxi dress, the mum-to-be looked radiant and she and Mr Johnson spoke with women in Downing Street. Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds in Downing Street / No 10 Downing Street A wedding date has not been confirmed but it will be the first time in 250 years that a sitting Prime Minister has wed while in office. It is thought Ms Symonds will give birth to her first child in early Summer. Carrie Symonds attends International Woman's Day event / No 10 Downing Street Announcing the news last week, she shared an intimate photo of her and Mr Johnson with the caption: "I wouldn't normally post this kind of thing on here but I wanted my friends to find out from me. "Many of you already know but for my friends that still don't, we got engaged at the end of last year... and we've got a baby hatching early summer." Carrie Symonds announced the news of her engagement and pregnancy on Instagram / Carrie Symonds Earlier this week, Mr Johnson appeared flustered when asked if he will be changing nappies when his new baby arrives. Appearing on ITVs This Morning, host Holly Willoughby told the Prime Minister: We cant let you go without saying congratulations. Mr Johnson admitted he was very excited, but did not add anything else, prompting co-host Phillip Schofield to ask: Is that it? When Schofield then asked: How good are you at changing nappies? Will you change nappies?, the Prime Minister appeared flustered before eventually saying: I expect so. He would not answer when asked how the rest of his family are taking the news, and when Schofield questioned him on his reticence to discuss his personal life, saying: All family life is happening in Downing Street and you wont talk about it, Mr Johnson replied: Very sensibly. He added: Ive spent an awfully long time deliberately not going on about it, for the very good reason that there are people that I love that I dont want to put in the debate and thats the reason. Election Day will be March 17. The primary elections will determine the major party nominees who will appear on the ballot in November for various offices, including president, U.S. senator and U.S. representative, as well as judicial and statehouse candidates. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Thursday, March 5 10:35 p.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to Warren Township for a report of a wrong way driver southbound on M-18. The 9-1-1 caller followed the vehicle until it went eastbound in the westbound lanes of US-10. The caller paralleled the vehicle on U.S.-10 until a deputy arrived and was able to get the vehicle to stop in Lincoln Township. The driver was a 74-year-old Saginaw man who stated he became disorientated while trying to drive home from Midland. The driver's oxygen tube became unhooked and this further caused him to be disorientated. EMS responded and the man refused treatment. A friend arrived on scene and drove the man home to Saginaw. 10:01 a.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Princeton Court and Jefferson Avenue. 9:54 a.m. -- Officers performed a warrant arrest in the 200 block of Fast Ice Drive. 7:57 p.m. -- A 23-year-old Homer Township man was arrested on several fugitive warrants out of Midland County after a traffic stop in Lee Township for a seat-belt violation. The man did not have a valid license. 5:40 p.m. -- A 37-year-old woman reported her 15-year-old son ran away from their Midland Township residence. The juvenile was later located by deputies in the basement of the residence. 8:33 a.m. -- A deputy responded to a two-vehicle crash in Larkin Township. A citation was issued to the at-fault driver for failure to yield. 6:39 a.m. -- A deputy responded to a car-deer traffic crash in Larkin Township. Wednesday, March 4 11:33 p.m. -- Officers performed a warrant arrest in the 100 block of Fast Ice Drive. 9:22 p.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 3900 block of North Saginaw Road. 9:08 p.m. -- Deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash in Homer Township. The at-fault driver was cited for failure to yield and a UD-10 traffic crash report was completed. 9:07 p.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Crescent Drive and North Saginaw Road. 7:59 p.m. -- Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Larkin Township. 5:11 p.m. -- Deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash causing injuries in Homer Township. 4:15 p.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 400 block of South Saginaw Road. 4:05 p.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence in reference to a 13-year-old misusing 9-1-1 text. The 13-year-old girl had several previous incidents regarding the misuse of texting 9-1-1. When the deputy tried to inform the girl of the consequences of misusing 9-1-1, the 13-year-old "laughed the situation off." 2:44 p.m. -- A deputy, Michigan State Police, fire and EMS responded to a Geneva Township residence after a 34-year-old man intentionally overdosed on an unknown substance. The man was transported to the MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland ER. 1:04 p.m. -- A 68-year-old Greendale Township man was arrested for driving while license restricted after a traffic stop in Lee Township. 11:39 a.m. -- An unknown subject in a silver car failed to pay for $30.46 in fuel at a Sanford station. The subject had an out-of-state plate that was not legible. 11:15 a.m. -- Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Hope Township. 9:53 a.m. -- Officers responded to vehicle crash in the 4000 block of Wellness Drive. 9:30 a.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 1300 block of Eastlawn Drive. 9:02 a.m. -- Officers responded to a domestic assault in the 500 block of Whisper Ridge. 8:53 a.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 3100 block of Boston Street. 8:09 a.m. -- Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash in the area of North Saginaw and Perrine roads. 7:47 a.m. -- Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Larkin Township. 7:34 a.m. --Officers responded to a disorderly person in the 2500 block of Waldo Avenue. 6:47 a.m. -- Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Midland Township. 4 a.m. -- Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash in the area of East U.S.-10 and East Patrick Road. 12:10 a.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Greendale Township residence in reference to a 38-year-old woman who reported her 31-year-old boyfriend was highly intoxicated and had discharged a firearm into the floor of their residence. The 38-year-old said she was not assaulted nor threatened. The 31-year-old was arrested for interfering with 9-1-1 and reckless discharge of a firearm. Wearing gas masks and waterproof fatigues, members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard now spray down streets and hospitals with disinfectants as the Islamic Republic faces one of the world's worst outbreaks of the new coronavirus. Its commanders likely hope it also will wash away something else the anger the public feels toward the powerful paramilitary force stained by its shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger jet in January. All 176 people on board most of them Iranian citizens were killed. The push by the Guard comes as the new virus has infected and killed members of Iranian officialdom. Ensuring the survival of the government as well as its own place in power remains paramount amid one of the world's deadliest virus outbreaks outside of China. Fear over the virus and the government's waning credibility has become a major challenge to Iran's leaders, who already are reeling under the weight of American sanctions. We have prepared all our health care facilities and specialized cadres that will expand this sacred jihad, said Brig. Gen. Gholamreza Soleimani, who commands the Guard's volunteer Basij force. That the Guard is involved in the relief effort of a major catastrophe is not surprising in Iran. The Guard, whose forces include an estimated 125,000-plus troops and 600,000 mission-ready volunteers, routinely respond to the earthquakes that shake the country. Recent floods saw its troops mobilize as well. Its forces, which include virologists, faced chemical weapons during Iran's eight-year war against Iraq in the 1980s. It expanded into private industry after the war years to help the country rebuild. And the Guard, also known by the acronym IRGC, has conducted polio and other immunization drives in the past. The IRGC sees itself as the lead agency in any threat against the regime, said Afshon Ostovar, an assistant professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in the United States who wrote book on the Guard. Whether it's protests, a state adversary or a virus, the IRGC will position itself publicly as Iran's frontline defender. Today, the Guard controls broad parts of Iran's economy, including its powerful construction company Khatam al-Anbiya. Exactly how much it controls is in dispute, with estimates ranging from below 10% to as much as 40%, but Iran's government needs the Guard's economic muscle in times of crisis, especially as it faces crushing sanctions from the U.S. The Guard's troops have moved into hard-hit cities like Tehran, Rasht and Qom. Using modular construction, they've quickly built hospitals and created a headquarters called the Coronavirus Fight Base, staffed with so-called modern warfare units who focus on responses to chemical, biological and cyberattacks. Wearing gas masks and suits designed to protect during chemical weapons attacks, Guard members have been seen washing down areas to kill lingering traces of the virus that causes the COVID-19 illness. They've touted operations to target those hoarding desperately needed medical supplies. Their show of force regarding the coronavirus is as much political theater as a public health effort, Ostovar said. It comes as propaganda images created amid the outbreak have shown doctors and nurses in the foxhole with troops. That contrast also helps mock Iran's civilian government, whose esteem among the public already is reeling since President Donald Trump's decision to unilaterally withdraw the U.S. from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Now, hospitals are Iran's front line," one volunteer at an Iranian hospital said her mother told her in a widely shared online video. "If you leave the front line, you'll be deserter and I do not welcome a draft dodger in my home. That kind of spirit comes as a balm for Guard members, who have seen themselves widely criticized after shooting down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on Jan. 8. That same day, the Guard had launched a ballistic missile attack on U.S. forces in Iraq. That attack came as a response to the U.S. drone strike in Baghdad killing Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a top commander responsible for the force's expeditionary operations across the wider Mideast. Even before that, the Guard and security forces cracked down on protesters across the country in November, reportedly killing at least 300 people amid a nationwide internet blackout. Some bitterly note the irony of the Guard using the term suppression to describe their anti-virus operations in the wake of the crackdown. On COVID-19, it's clear that there's been a great deal of mismanagement and so the Guards are now trying to present themselves as the saviors, said Ariane Tabatabai, an Iran analyst at the U.S.-based RAND Corp. And of course, it doesn't hurt to be able to change the conversation from the airliner episode although, this will be a hard task to achieve given that both are examples of incompetence and mismanagement. The risks, however, are clear. If Iran doesn't get a handle on the virus outbreak, it's more than just the Guard's reputation on the line. Already, top officials in Iran's civilian government and its Shiite theocracy have contracted the virus, with several dying. Given that the virus is sweeping through the upper-echelons of power in Tehran and its front-line operation in hospitals, Guard members may too come down with COVID-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 06, 2020 | 04:19 PM | FRANKFORT At a Friday press conference, Beshear confirmed the case, which is in Lexington. The infected person is in isolation at a medical facility. "While the overall threat to Kentuckians is still low, we as a state are going to take every necessary action to protect our people." Beshear continued, "To our Kentucky families out there that are nervous, this is what we've been preparing for, and we are ready. There is no need to panic." Beshear also announced he has declared a state of emergency so that they had every tool they need to address the issue. He also mentioned the activation of the Emergency Operation Center at level four, the lowest level. Officials are also repurposing the poison control unit hotline for any members of the public that are concerned. He continued by saying that since we have experienced the first case, we should expect other confirmed cases at some point and reinforced the importance of good hygiene. Governor Andy Beshear has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. On the Net: Advertisement A bouncer at a bar in London's The Shard checked the temperature of guests last night as they entered amid the coronavirus outbreak panic. Pictures show what is believed to be a member of security staff with a 'thermometer gun,' checking people entering Bar 31 in The Shard near London Bridge on Friday night. The device is equipped with an infrared sensor that can quickly measure surface temperatures of the skin to determine if someone is unwell. The thermometers have been widely used across the world since the virus outbreak. Friday night revellers waited at the entrance before going up to the bar and restaurant area after having the test. Bar 31 have been approached for comment. It comes as two people have died from the virus - which has a mortality rate of 15 per cent in those over 80 - on British soil so far, both of whom were elderly. Meanwhile it was business as usual for cities across the rest of the country, with drinkers hitting the town in Birmingham and Leeds to celebrate the start of the weekend. Guests entering Bar 31 in The Shard near London Bridge last night were seen having their temperatures checked as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus Friday night revellers waited at the entrance before going up to the bar and restaurant area after having the test. Pictured: the bouncer holds the equipment up to one woman's forehead The device is equipped with an infrared sensor that can quickly measure surface temperatures of the skin to determine if someone is unwell Can drinking alcohol on a night out also raise your body temperature? Drinking alcohol on a night out can impact body temperature and affect the reading given by infrared thermometers. Contrary to popular belief, alcohol actually lowers body temperature by sending blood to the skin's surface, increasing heat loss. Although this raises skin temperature, it is considered unlikely to impact an infrared thermometer's accuracy, as they are pointed at the forehead when used. According to thermometer sales website Fluke, they have an accuracy of within one degree Celsius. MDMA and Marijuana, however, both raise the internal body temperature. Party drug ecstasy adds between 0.2 to 0.8 degrees Celsius to the body's core temperature, a study published in journal Temperature in 2014 found. Scientists gave the drug to mice before measuring the effect it had on their bodies to get their results. Marijuana, on the other hand, caused a temperature rise of between 0.6 and one degree Celsius, according to a 2008 study published in the journal of Brain Research. Advertisement Other businesses across the country have also responded to the virus outbreak as customers at a Costco in south London were 'disinfected' at the front door yesterday. Shoppers 'lined up obediently' at the Croydon store's entrance before being stopped by a staff member to be sprayed with a 'disinfectant-like liquid', the person who filmed the incident told MailOnline. Costco denied the claims, saying only trolley handles were sprayed not customers. As coronavirus fears take hold in the UK now that 164 people have been diagnosed and the virus is known to be spreading inside the UK, anxious Britons have resorted to wearing gas masks and blankets on public transport in desperate attempts to protect themselves. Meanwhile, supermarkets up and down the country have again been left bare amid rushes to stockpile household goods such as hand soap, nappies and dried foods like pasta and rice. Customers in Marks & Spencer and some Boots stores are now being limited to the amount of hand sanitiser they are able to purchase some to two bottles per person. The pictures taken at the bar in London come as party-goers braved the cold and windy conditions to enjoy a night out on the town, with many donning their best going out outfits for the occasions in Leeds and Birmingham. Guests wait in the entrance to the swanky bar in London Bridge that is based in The Shard building as bouncers take their temperature The thermometers have been widely used across the world since the virus outbreak, particularly in airports to identify those who may have the illness Left: A woman stands still as the bouncer puts the equipment near her forehead to take the test. The thermometers determine temperature by measuring the heat emanating from the surface of a person's body It comes as a patient who was Birmingham's first known case of coronavirus was discharged from hospital yesterday. The person, thought to have contracted the virus at a work event outside Birmingham, will continue to self-isolate at home, the city council said. Meanwhile, two events due to be held at the city's NEC have been cancelled due to the virus. The number of people in the UK diagnosed with the virus has reached 164. It seemed there was a back log of customers outside the Costco in Croydon yesterday as they were given hand sanitiser on entrance A commuter on the London Underground wears a gas mask on Friday morning as the capital was gripped by coronavirus fears after the UK's first death Special Meadowview Baptist Church, 105 Nathan Ave., Winston-Salem, will have revival services with Evangelist Darrell Hayes of Fayetteville, Georgia, today through Friday. Todays service will be at 5 p.m. Sundays services will be at 9:45 and 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday services will be at 7 p.m. The following area churches and pastors will also be involved in the services, today will be Jerry Walker and Oak Level Baptist Church of Stokesdale; Monday will be Chris Simpson and Walters Grove Baptist Church of Denton; Tuesday will be Tommy Holder and Old Time Baptist Church of King; Wednesday will be David Hedrick and Promise Baptist Church of Thomasville; Thursday will be Erick Goff and Lexwin Baptist Church of Winston-Salem; Friday the Scott Agee Family will be singing. For more information, call Pastor Robert Hutchens at 336-782-3747. LAS VEGAS As coronavirus grips the globe, government agencies and employers are giving advice that could be problematic for this tourism mecca: Travel less. What impact could coronavirus travel fallout have on Las Vegas a land that depends on people coming and going all the time? Its a bit hard to predict, said Stephen M. Miller, an economist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. If coronavirus sticks around for three months a quarter of the year it would have a significant effect on visitors, taxable sales, gaming revenue and employment in the hospitality sector. Heres a look at some of the potential outcomes of coronavirus visiting Las Vegas. Fewer passengers Southern Nevada health officials this week revealed a man in his 50s has tested positive for coronavirus, the Silver States first case. Yet planes continued to touch down at McCarran International Airport, where a record 51 million people landed last year. The USA TODAY Network asked McCarran Airport officials for statistics showing whether the coronavirus outbreak has stunted passenger numbers, but the numbers are not ready. Our passenger numbers are released towards the end of the following month, said Joe Rajchel, the airports public information administrator, in an email. So we wont have our February numbers for a couple more weeks. Are more coronavirus travel restrictions coming? Experts say they only delay the inevitable The nation's largest domestic airline, Southwest, has seen a noticeable decline in bookings a decline that continues daily, according to CEO Gary Kelly. In the wake of coronavirus, companies nationwide are increasingly telling their employees to avoid nonessential travel or large gatherings such as conferences a pillar of the vast Las Vegas convention market. Cancelled conventions Every year, nearly 24,000 conventions come Las Vegas. Most of the people attending end up in hotel rooms on the Strip. At MGM Resorts properties, 20 percent of rooms are booked for convention-goers. Story continues Coronavirus has disrupted convention plans here and around the world. Many Las Vegas conventions are proceeding despite the coronavirus threat, but some events like the live segments of Adobe's annual conference and a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have been postponed or canceled. Chad Beynon, a gaming analyst with Macquarie Securities, referenced the third quarter of 2018 a time when there was an absence of demand in Las Vegas. There werent any big conferences or events, and profits declined for companies like MGM and Caesars, Beynon said. That was just shortage of events in Las Vegas not a big travel warning. If you have a travel warning, were talking about shows, sporting events conferences. It could be pretty bad. Discount rooms: Bad for casinos, good for you When an event like the coronavirus outbreak dissuades a large number people from flying to Las Vegas, occupancy rates in hotels along the Strip drop. That means room rates drop, too. So far, room rates in Las Vegas have dropped more than 10 percent. What's a bargain for consumers is a bane for casinos. Coronavirus: AIPAC says two people at DC conference attended by Pence have tested positive for coronavirus Were talking about a service industry where labor is a big portion of the daily cost for these companies, and when theres irregular demand, theres nothing you can do on the cost side, Beynon said. Employees are still getting paid. Theyre still working, so you just burn cash. Thats the scary thing. The 9/11 precedent To better understand the implications of a global threat mixed with a fear of flying in Las Vegas, it helps to look in the past. There is not much precedence when it comes to global events significantly impacting travel in Las Vegas, but the era between 2001 and 2003 featured the same central ingredient: A public afraid to travel. More: South by Southwest becomes latest coronavirus cancellation. Here's the full list. After the 9/11 attacks, the number of people traveling to destinations like Las Vegas plunged. The number of passengers deplaned at McCarran International Airport dropped from a peak of 36.9 million to 35.1 million. A view of the New York New York hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Casino revenue also plummeted. A year earlier, Las Vegas generated a record $7.7 billion in revenue. By the end of 2001, that figure dropped $35 million. The tumble was the first of its kind in three decades. It took until 2004 for visitor numbers to hit pre-attack peaks. The fear thinning airplanes today is similar to what unfolded after 9/11, according to analysts. Youve got the age-old problem of we have nothing to fear but fear itself, said Hugh Anderson, managing director and financial advisor at HighTower Las Vegas. This is a human emotion at this point where people are afraid for their own health and the health of others. When you have that component, you have the mix for a declining economy. The recession test The recession that crumbled Las Vegas tourism was perhaps the market's greatest test and a barometer of the city's ability to overcome financial forces out of its control. The financial collapse between 2007 and 2009 caused unprecedented disruptions in consumption-related industries. During that time, MGM Resorts stock price dropped from $99.75 a share to $1.89 a share. Visitor volume dropped by almost 3 million. Nevadas unemployment rate hit 11.8 percent and more than 19,000 workers in the hospitality business lost their jobs. If the number of coronavirus cases levels-off and declines, Las Vegas will have little trouble recapturing what was lost during the outbreak. As the worst of the fears of a horrific epidemic outbreak begin to abate," Anderson said, "youll see Las Vegas snap back vigorously." Vegas survives everything Anthony Curtis, founder of LasVegasAdvisor.com, has a been tracking the feelings of tourists on the Strip since the 1980s. People are completely bonkers nervous about this, said Curtis, who often stops in bars on his way home. On a trip this week, the bars were empty. I stopped at three bars. Each had one or two patrons. I talked to the bartenders and asked, Is this whats going on here? Nobodys sure. Here are the signs YESCO Sign Company designed and built in Las Vegas. Curtis has few worries about the future of business here. Coronavirus may slow this glittering vacation town, he said, but it will never shut it down. Vegas was hit really hard with the recession, but Vegas didnt close, Curtis said. Vegas survives everything. Contributing: Dawn Gilbertson, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Coronavirus in Las Vegas: It will test the tourism economy. Here's how An Indonesian man believed to be 103 years old and a bride, who is 27, have broken some convention by getting married. The wedding took place in the regency of Wajo in the central Indonesian province of South Sulawesi. The grooms relative Ayu Anggreni Muchtar told local media, Yes, the wedding was held this afternoon at the brides home on Galico Street! Ayu added that the centenarian grooms name is Puang Katte while the brides name is Indo Alang. He said, Im not really sure about their exact ages, but Katte is definitely over 100 years old.He was a fighter during the Dutch colonial era. His wife is still in her 20s. Aye told local media that the elderly groom paid 5 million IDR (about R5 600, about $343) as the bride price as is customary during Islamic weddings. According to reports, marriages with this large age gap are uncommon. Another uncommon marriage in the region took place between a 71-year-old woman and a 16-year-old boy, according to local media. The countrys legal minimum age for women to marry is 16. However, a loophole in Indonesias marriage law has reportedly allowed men to wed girls much younger. Videos showing the hunched old groom being supported by a young man as he staggers down the aisle to meet his young bride have been shared on Facebook and Twitter, putting the question of arranged marriages into question once again. Interestingly, the dowry paid by Katte to his brides family wasnt that substantial, according to local media reports. he allegedly only paid 5 million rupiah ($343) and a gold ring. The two are currently living at the grooms house in South Sulawesi. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates WASHINGTON, March 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Sleep Foundation's (NSF) annual Sleep in America poll shows Americans feel sleepy on average three times a week, with 62% trying to "shake it off" as their primary response. "I have patients in my office every day who can't understand why they are always so sleepy," said Dr. Paul Doghramji, physician at the Collegeville Family Practice. "It's concerning to see so many sleepy Americans with no plan other than to shake it off," Dr. Doghramji added. Those who feel sleepy five to seven days a week report especially high rates of irritability (52 percent), headaches (40 percent), and feeling unwell (34 percent). "Frequently, friends and family notice the effects of sleepiness including changes in mood and irritability before you do," said Dr. Temitayo Oyegbile-Chidi, Pediatric Neurologist, Georgetown University Hospital. The Sleep in America poll found when people feel sleepy, more Americans say it's generally because they're not sleeping well enough (55 percent) as opposed to not having enough time to sleep (44 percent). "Not getting the restorative benefit of sleep when you give yourself enough time for sleep could be a sign of other issues and should not be ignored," said Dr. Oyegbile-Chidi. "These data suggest that people continue to avoid sleepiness as a symptom, but disregarding persistent sleepiness is ill advised," said Dr. Patrick Strollo, Professor of Medicine and Clinical and Translational Science, University of Pittsburgh. "Sleepiness isn't normal. If you experience routine sleepiness you should address it," added Dr. Strollo. The NSF recommends 7-9 hours of sleep for adults aged 18-64 and 7-8 hours for older adults aged 65 and over. Characteristics of a good night's sleep include waking up feeling refreshed, alert, and able to be fully productive throughout your waking hours. The NSF's Sleep Health Index score based on measures of sleep quality, sleep duration and disordered sleep is worse among people who report having more sleepy days. In the 2020 Q1 Sleep Health Index, sleep quality, rated 64 on a scale of 0-100, was below average compared to prior Indexes. "We know from prevalence and longitudinal data that one third of the population is concerned over their sleepiness as it affects their lives and ability to perform their jobs," said Dr. Maurice Ohayon, Director of the Stanford Sleep Epidemiology Research Center. There are simple and effective sleep tips to help you get a good night's sleep. Sticking to a sleep schedule, even on weekends, and practicing a relaxing bedtime ritual are great first steps. The easiest way to get started is to start tracking your sleep. There are many devices and apps available to help you sleep better. About the National Sleep Foundation The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the NSF is committed to advancing excellence in sleep health theory, research and practice. thensf.org SleepHealthJournal.org About the Sleep in America Poll The Sleep in America poll is the National Sleep Foundation's premier annual review of current sleep topics. The poll was first conducted in 1991 and has been produced since 2018 by Langer Research Associates. Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday, March 8. Changing our clocks is a practical reminder of the negative effects of sleep loss. For the last thirty years, the NSF has released its Sleep in America poll with the start of Daylight Saving Time. The full Sleep in America poll findings, the Langer Research Associates report, including methodology, can be found at sleepfoundation.org or the Sleep Health Journal. About the Sleep Health Index The Sleep Health Index is a quarterly fielded, nationally representative survey of American adults; it tracks trends and chronicles our nation's sleep health over time. This quarterly Sleep Health Index was administered alongside the Sleep in America poll and explored stress and sleep. For more information on the methodology, go to the Sleep Health Journal. SOURCE National Sleep Foundation Related Links http://www.sleepfoundation.org Prince Salman, the de facto ruler of the kingdom, arrested several royals in an anti-corruption campaign in 2017 - Pavel Golovkin/AP Three senior members of Saudi Arabia's royal family, including King Salman's brother, have been arrested and accused of plotting to overthrow the secretive kingdom's leadership. According to the Wall Street Journal, guards from the royal court detained Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al Saud, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and Prince Nawaf bin Nayef, at their homes before charging them with treason. Saudi officials are yet to respond to the reports, which appear to be part of a wider attempt by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king's favourite son and de facto Saudi ruler, to consolidate power. A source told the Wall Street Journal that the arrests took place on Friday morning. The Crown Prince also arrested nearly a dozen senior royals in 2017, supposedly in a crackdown on corruption, after ousting Mohammed bin Nayef, who at that time was heir to the throne. Prince Mohammed is said to have alienated swathes of the ruling family since taking power, and some have questioned whether he is fit to rule after he was accused of ordering the murder of a respected journalist in Turkey who had publicly criticised him, something that he strenuously denied. Saudi Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman is trying to consolidate power - AP The murder sparked an international outcry and furious condemnation of the Saudi state and Prince Mohammed, who has otherwise attempted to present himself as a progressive, reformist leader. Though reports of a coup attempt were not confirmed, a handful of Saudi royals are reportedly trying to change the line of succession, with some regarding Prince Ahmed, King Salman's only surviving full brother, as one option. However, Saudi insiders and western diplomats told Reuters news agency it was unlikely the Crown Prince would be deposed while King Salman, 84, is still alive. Prince Ahmed has largely kept a low profile since returning to Riyadh in October 2018 after two years abroad. During the trip, he appeared to criticize the Saudi leadership while responding to protesters outside a London residence calling for the downfall of the Al Saud dynasty. Story continues He was one of only three people on the Allegiance Council, made up of the ruling Al Saud family's senior members, who opposed Mohammed bin Salman becoming crown prince in 2017. The latest detentions come at a time of heightened tension with regional rival Iran and as Crown Prince Mohammed pushes for ambitious social and economic reforms. Prince Mohammed has been lauded at home for easing social restrictions in the Muslim kingdom and opening up the economy. But he has come under international criticism over the Saudis' devastating war in Yemen, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate and the detention of women's rights activists as part of a broader crackdown on dissent. Simran Ahuja By Express News Service BENGALURU: King Richard Srinivasan gave himself the best birthday gift he could ask for. The biking enthusiast completed his cross-country biking expedition just a day short of D-Day, which had him whizzing past three continents and 15 countries on his 250 kg Triumph Tiger. I wanted to cover North America, South America and Australia this time, says the 45-year-old businessman, who travelled through USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Chile and Australia, among other countries, over five months. The journey began in USA in August last year, with Srinivasan being accompanied by his friend Vijay Narayan till Peru, after which the duo returned to India mid-October. After a two-month break, the Bengalurean embarked on a solo expedition to South America and Australia. I usually rode for eight hours but when I had to cross a countrys borders, I only got 3-4 hours of riding time since the rest was spent on paperwork, he explains, adding that the trip was self-funded. Ask him about his favourite country and he mentions Chile, gushing about the ultra HD colours of the region. But the most challenging ride was at Ushuaia, Argentina, which is often nicknamed the End of the World. With strong winds pushing you, lack of control over speed can cause a rider to fly away, explains Srinivasan, adding, The wind can topple a lorry. This, however, was not his first international trip, since he took a 72-day trip from Bengaluru to London in 2018. The journey is coloured with many stories, of difficulty in getting fuel in China and riding on two-day old snow in Kyrgyzstan to acts of kindness in Russia, where a woman offered him a meal though he didnt have the local currency. The most loving people were in Uzbekistan, where everyone would greet you with warmth, he recalls. While the urge to whisk away on his bike is strong, planning is hardly spontaneous for Srinivasan, who runs a machine-manufacturing factory. I planned for two years for the London trip and a year for the recent one, he says. The time is spent researching bike mechanics and the regulations to be followed in each country. Srinivasan is already plotting his next escape the last continent left for him to ride. I cant ride a bike through Antarctica so I want to try Africa next year. Its just a matter of convincing my wife, he laughs. No speed bump too big Srinivasans journey gave him a bag full of stories, but none as gripping as travelling through the 2019 Ecuadorian protests. We carried signs saying we are two Indian riders on a motorbike trip and are trying to reach Peru. We often saw people rushing towards us with sticks and they would stop after reading that, he recalls. There are many moments when you wonder why you are doing what you are doing. When you look back, you feel nothing but glad to have overcome yet another challenge. Phillips was critical primarily of the school district but expressed frustration with how the officer handled the situation, too. She said her base-level issue was that the officer was called in the first place. "His disability is he can't calm himself," she said of the student. "What should you do, put him on the ground and handcuff him? Would anybody think thats an appropriate intervention for a kid? I get hes a traffic cop and he got called, but I think I could go after the school and win. Where are the teachers? Where are the interventions? Not one teacher there who could put the kid in a nonviolent hold until he calmed down? Why did that not happen?" Additional concerns Harris' allegations extend beyond the incident with the officer. She says her son was able to get out of the front doors of the school repeatedly when he had behavioral issues in school. She said he'd been forgotten by staff members in the school and had been able to wander freely. She said her son needs quiet space, which -- she says -- the school has been unable to provide. That forms one of the allegations being investigated by the Office of Civil Rights. PINCKNEYVILLE For the first time in many years, Perry County was unable to provide 24/7 law enforcement coverage this week, Sheriff Steve Bareis said. Bareis said he personally worked more than 80 hours, pulling Monday through Friday overnight shifts, in addition to attending a required 911 training seminar in Harrisburg for three of those days. Because he had to get a few hours sleep between assignments, no deputy was on duty between the hours of 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. With the critical staffing shortage facing the Sheriffs Office, weeks like this are becoming the norm, he said. Thats why hes asking the public to vote in favor of a half-cent public safety sales tax ballot referendum. If it were to pass, the public safety tax would likely generate about $600,000 dedicated solely to the Sheriffs Office. It would increase the countys existing half-percent public safety tax to a full 1%. Ive put out the slogan, Back the Badge because thats really what its about. Its about providing backup for my guys, Bareis said. Right now, Im running one guy on patrol for the entire county. On nights and weekends, Ive got one person in the jail. Bareis said everyone on his team is sacrificing to maintain the public safety services that citizens expect. But the bottom line, he said, is that safety has been compromised because deputies and correctional officers are working without backup and response time is slower when theres only one person on duty. Ive got a cot in my office, and Ive gone to sleep and told dispatch, If a call comes in, wake me up and Ill respond, he said. With the patrol staff down to five, deputies have had to endure shifts as long as 24 hours, work solo without backup, and manage sporadic schedules that frequently rotate between days and nights. But you can only do that so long, Bareis said. You cant work your people 60 hours a week, and not to mention, have the money to pay them (overtime). A second try This is the countys second attempt at levying an additional 0.5% sales tax amounting to 50 cents on a $100 bill to assist the Perry County Sheriffs Office. The measure was first on the ballot during the April 2019 municipal election. It was soundly defeated, with 72% of voters rejecting the tax, and 28% voting in favor of it. Later that month, the Perry County Board passed a resolution declaring a state of financial emergency, and also hired a consultant, Bruce DeLashmit of Bellwether LLC, to help dig the county out of its predicament. By mid-May, Bareis was forced to send layoff notices to 14 employees, including four full-time patrol officers and three county correctional officers. The loss of staff has affected departmental operations, he said. Weve already seen a decrease in arrest numbers because were not doing any proactive policing, he said. In September, the county lost the ability to house federal inmates because federal guidelines require that jails entering into cooperative agreements with the U.S. Justice Department have a minimum of two correctional officers on duty at all times. Bareis previously said that the department was no longer able to maintain those staffing levels after weathering a significant budget cut. Currently, there is only one correctional officer at the jail on nights and weekends, he said. The decades-old jail is also in need of significant repairs, including a new roof, and theres not a dedicated revenue stream for capital improvements. An uphill battle Still, as it did last year, the referendum faces an uphill battle. Du Quoin Mayor Guy Alongi said that he believes a sales tax increase to fund county operations places an unfair burden on the citys businesses. Because it hosts Perry Countys most vibrant business district, more than 70% of the countys overall sales tax collections come from within the city limits of Du Quoin, he said. And it would make us one of the higher sales tax communities in Southern Illinois, if not pretty well throughout the state of Illinois, Alongi said. Du Quoins sales tax rate is 9.25% citywide, and 9.75% in its business district, which incorporates General Cable, as well as retailers such as Walmart and those in the SouthTowne Shopping Center. Sales tax rates fluctuate across the state because home-rule cities such as Du Quoin have the ability to increase sales tax to generate more income for operations. Counties can also generate additional sales tax funds via referendum for specific purposes such as public safety, building funds for schools and new facilities. Du Quoins 9.25% sales tax rate breaks down as follows: 6.25% state sales tax (1% of which is returned to Du Quoin); 1.5% home-rule city tax (the revenue from 0.5% of this amount is paid to Du Quoin Community Unit School District 300 to reduce the bond debt on the high school); a 0.5% county public safety tax (the countys ballot referendum would raise this to 1%); and a 1% countywide school facilities tax. The additional half-cent sales tax in the business district goes into a dedicated fund to assist with business development, Alongi said. Alongi bemoaned the fact that other governmental entities are looking to get in on the sales tax action in Du Quoin. He also said he believes this creates the impression that the city of Du Quoin is responsible for the higher-than-average sales tax rate within the Du Quoin city limits, when the citys portion accounts for only $2 out of $9.25 on a $100 bill, and $2.50 of $9.75 in the business district. (That amount is determined by the citys $1.50 or $2 home-rule sales tax less the 50 cents dedicated to the school district plus the $1 that is returned to Du Quoin from Illinois standard state and local tax). Most of the sales tax collected -- 5% -- goes to the state. The remainder is split between the county and local school districts. I dont want people to think were anti-police in Du Quoin because we are not, he said, but its just a hard pill to swallow that 72% of this tax would come from Du Quoin and we wouldnt get much out of it. To put it to you bluntly, Alongi added, theres a lot of hogs in our trough. The cities of Du Quoin and Pinckneyville both have their own police departments, while the sheriffs deputies are primarily responsible for policing the unincorporated areas. The Sheriffs Office is responsible for maintaining and operating the jail, which primarily houses inmates from municipal jurisdictions. Comparing nearby places Sales tax rates vary widely across the state, and even across Southern Illinois. To name a few examples: The sales tax is 7.75% in Pinckneyville, a non-home rule city, as well as in the unincorporated parts of Perry County. It is 9.75% in Carbondale (and 11.75% on meals purchased at a Carbondale restaurant). Its 9.5% in Marion; 8.5% in Benton; and 8.25% in Sparta, according to data from the Illinois Department of Revenue. Perry County is not alone in asking for a sales tax increase to fund county operations. It is among 40 counties in the state that levies a sales tax for public safety, facilities or transportation purposes. Its request to raise its public safety tax to a total of 1% would put it in the middle of the pack for the counties that have the tax, though many operate without it. Others in Southern Illinois with the tax include Union County (1.5%); Johnson County (1.5%); Franklin County (1%); and Saline County (0.75%). Right now, I think every county in the southern part of the state is trying to generate some type of revenue somehow, said Perry County Board Chairman Dallas Bigham. Bigham said he sympathizes with Du Quoin leaderships position, but said he favors the tax because it seems necessary to adequately staff the Sheriffs Office and repair the jail, which was built in 1984. The city and the county Nobody likes taxes, I mean, man, I dont like taxes, Bigham said. But I think its probably the fairest tax there is. Its better than property taxes. Bigham said he believes its a fairer tax because it also captures revenue from people who visit Perry County to shop and dine, but who dont live in the county, whereas a property tax is paid exclusively by county residents. Alongi disagrees. Many residents who live in the western part of the county do their shopping in Sparta, Alongi said. Those are the people who would benefit most from increasing the number of deputies on patrol, and who contribute least to Du Quoins sales tax revenue, he said. He noted that Pinckneyville residents also opposed the measure last time it was on the ballot. Alongi said Perry County government has to learn to live within its means. But he said that if theres a public safety crisis the county truly cant fix with its existing revenues, that it should look to increase property taxes across the entire county rather than asking for Du Quoin shoppers and businesses concerned the increased tax will run off their customers to carry the load. Du Quoin residents would not be spared the property tax increase, but doing that would make sure that those who would most benefit by bolstering the Sheriff's Office are contributing their fair share, he said. 'All one in this county' Though some may go to other counties to do their shopping, Perry County Treasurer Mary Jane Craft said that there are numerous people who dont live in Du Quoin who contribute to the Du Quoin sales tax because they shop in the city. Craft, of Pinckneyville, said shes among them. She said she tries to spend as much of her paycheck as possible within the Perry County limits, and much of it in Du Quoin. She encourages others to do the same. She said the debate shouldnt be viewed as us-versus-them, but rather that everyone who lives in the county is under the same roof, even if they also live in a municipality. We are all one in this county, she said. Some who have reservations about the tax have said its also because of the countys financial problems, raising questions about its ability to manage money. Recent audits have unveiled numerous budgetary missteps that culminated in the county declaring a financial crisis last year. These problems had been brewing for many years. That they went unaddressed for so long is likely contributing to shaken voter confidence as the county seeks more funding, several people said. Craft, who was elected in 2014, said that the county is working to get back on solid financial footing. But county services, she said, are critical for everyone in the county. Are we just going to say, Well, oh well, were just going to let that house fall in because we dont want to put the money in there. Well, youre living in the house whether you like it or not. Election Day is March 17. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mumbai, March 7 : A day after the Enforcement Directorate registered a money laundering case against Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor and raided his premises, he was taken to the agency's office in Mumbai for further questioning. Kapoor, who was grilled by central agency's officials on Friday night at his Samudra Mahal residence in Mumbai, was shifted to the ED office in the metropolis around 12.30 pm. ED officials said Kapoor was questioned throughout the night, with some rest time. A senior ED official connected with the probe told IANS: "Kapoor will be questioned about Yes Bank loans to DHFL." The official said that during searches a lot of incriminating documents were found and the agency wanted to grill him on his links with DHFL promoters and other companies. Kapoor's alleged role in the disbursal of loan to a corporate entity and kickbacks reportedly received in her wife's bank account are also under probe. The ED had filed the money laundering case against Kapoor and raided his residence, apart from issuing a look-out circular so that he does not flee the country. The ED's action comes after the RBI superseded the Yes Bank Board for 30 days and appointed an administrator, putting a cap of Rs 50,000 on withdrawals by account holders for a month. The RBI said that the bank's board was superseded "owing to serious deterioration in the financial position of the bank". Former SBI CFO Prashant Kumar was appointed as administrator of Yes Bank, which has over 1,000 branches and 1,800-plus ATMs across the country. On Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the bank was on watch since 2017 and developments relating to it were monitored on a day-to-day basis. Reuters By Echo Wang and Chibuike Oguh (Reuters) - Chinese gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech Co Ltd <300418.SZ> said on Friday that it has agreed to sell Grindr LLC, a popular gay dating app it acquired in 2016, for about $608.5 million. The deal comes after a U.S. government panel asked Kunlun to divest itself of Grindr. The panel, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), has not disclosed its concerns about Kunlun's ownership of Grindr. However, the United States has been increasingly scrutinizing app developers over the safety of personal data they handle, especially if some of it involves U.S. military or intelligence personnel. Kunlun said it agreed to sell its 98.59% stake in Grindr to San Vicente Acquisition LLC. Reuters reported earlier on Friday that Kunlun was close to signing a sales deal, citing people familiar with the matter. San Vincente Acquisition comprises a group of entrepreneurs and investors in the technology, media and telecommunications industries, a source close to the deal told Reuters. One of the investors in the group that is nearing a deal to acquire Grindr is Chinese-born U.S. citizen James Lu, a former executive at Chinese search engine giant Baidu , three of the sources said. The identity of the other investors in the consortium could not immediately be learned. CFIUS needs to approve the latest deal, according to one of the sources. Based in West Hollywood, California, Grindr has over 4.5 million daily active users, and describes itself as the world's largest social networking app for gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. Kunlun is one of China's largest mobile gaming companies. It acquired a majority stake in Grindr in 2016 for $93 million and bought out the remainder of the company in 2018. It did so without submitting the transactions for CFIUS review. CFIUS' subsequent intervention in the Grindr deal underscored its focus on the safety of personal data, after it blocked the acquisitions of U.S. money transfer company MoneyGram International Inc and mobile marketing firm AppLovin by Chinese bidders. Kunlun's control of Grindr has fueled concerns among privacy advocates in the United States. Democratic U.S. Senators Edward Markey and Richard Blumenthal sent a letter to Grindr in 2018 demanding answers about how the app would protect users privacy under its Chinese owner. Reuters reported last year that Kunlun had given some Beijing-based engineers access to the personal information of millions of Americans, including private messages and HIV status. (Reporting by Echo Wang and Chibuike Oguh in New York; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert Birsel and Jonathan Oatis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Cyprus riot police used pepper spray on Saturday to thwart Turkish Cypriot protesters trying to shove their way through a barricaded crossing point in the heart of the ethnically divided island nation's capital. Several dozen protesters tried to push their way through a cordon of riot police on the Greek Cypriot side of the east Mediterranean island nation, but were held back. Police said one Greek Cypriot officer was slightly injured during the brief protest. Last week, the Cypriot government closed four of nine crossing points along a 120 mile, United Nations controlled buffer zone, justifying the move on public health grounds. It said it would better enable medical staff to screen for potential coronavirus carriers crossing from the breakaway, Turkish Cypriot north, to the internationally recognized, Greek Cypriot south. Additional health workers have have been posted to the other openings for more thorough checks. Cyprus has so far no confirmed coronavirus cases. Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades pointed to the fact that 3,000 Iranians live and study in the north. Iran has been hard hit by the new virus. This division is not acceptable, this is not a coronavirus issue," said Turkish Cypriot activist Murat Kanatli. Greek Cypriot protesters on the opposite side of the barrier voiced their support for the Turkish Cypriots, with some directing chants of shame toward the police. This follows another protest a week ago that saw the arrest of a demonstrator who allegedly slapped a Greek Cypriot soldier. Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence. Although Cyprus is a European Union member, only the south enjoys full membership benefits. Turkish Cypriot officials have denounced the closures and have complained to the U.N. and the European Union. The UN peacekeeping mission on Cyprus expressed concern over the disruptive closures, earning a rebuke from the Cypriot president not to meddle in government affairs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pixel 4 Face Unlock feature is getting a new eyes open option to increase security but is disabled for now. Pixel 4 Eyes Open Face Unlock option disabled for now The new eyes open option provides additional security for Googles latest Pixel flagship. The device, announced last Fall, comes with a Face Unlock feature that allows device unlocking when user eyes are closed. The problem with this version of Face Unlock is that it allows someone to unlock a phone that is not theirs when someone is sleeping or has their eyes closed. The feature becomes useless at that point. It should prevent intruders, not make it convenient for them. The new Eyes Open option is available in device settings but is a toggle that is disabled for now. Google has placed it in settings but doesnt allow users to enable it at the moment. Advertisement The new Eyes Open option allows users to tell their Pixel 4 to unlock only when someones eyes are open. Face Unlock takes photos of a persons eyes and distinguishes one set of eyes from another. In such a scenario, someone can open their eyes to bypass the lock screen but wont be able to because theyre not the device owner. Pixel 4 Eyes Open unlock toggle: an update for a flaw Facial Unlock is what many know as biometric authentication. That is, when it works well, it requires a users eyes or fingers to bypass a lock screen. The lock screen is a barrier that keeps peeping eyes out of a devices contents and notifications. Facial Unlock has a flaw when, like the Pixel 4, users can bypass the lock screen with eyes not open. It is no different than enabling fingerprint ID, only to discover one can swipe across the screen to unlock the device. If the swipe option is disabled, then users shouldnt be able to bypass the lock screen. In this scenario, the Pixel 4 should maintain Face Unlock and keep out intruders by requiring eye scanning. Advertisement Pixel 4 March 2020 update: feature drops or flops? Google may decide to roll out the new eyes open option in an upcoming update. The company does schedule new feature drops every month to beef up the Pixel lines functionality. This months feature drop brings 12 new features to the Pixel 4, including Dark Mode scheduling, new Motion Sense gestures, and new Google Pay shortcuts. One feature in particular that has been getting some criticism in the press is the new firm press feature. It works akin to Apples 3D Touch. Some find the new Pixel 4 feature to be unintuitive and unwanted, but usefulness is always in the eye of the user. Googles true Facial Unlock feature (with the Eyes Open option on, of course) is one of those features Google promised in the Pixel 4 that may have been planned for a 2020 unveiling. Companies do this regularly, though it proves frustrating for users to hear of something they dont see until months later. In the case of the Pixels March update, US carrier AT&Ts update was pulled. Google says it wasnt ready to release it that day but intends to roll it out a few days from now. Advertisement Other options for phone security For now, some, in their frustration with Googles patience on a necessary security fix, may choose to abandon Face Unlock and go with another security method. There is always fingerprint unlock, a tried-and-true unlocking method for many. There are pattern unlocks and the four-digit PIN users can select to maintain phone security. Until Google turns on the switch for Eyes Open, the best thing to do is keep your eyes open and disable Face Unlock altogether for now. Additional reporting by Digital Desk Latest: The Irish Patients Association says people need to stop blaming others when it comes to Coronavirus. The IPA Director, Stephen McMahon, said some are taking to social media to post negative and hurtful comments, about people who have contracted the virus. McMahon says anyone with Coronavirus is a patient who needs care, not online abuse. He said: "Once they are a patient they are on our turf." "And they need to be treated with dignity and respect. "It's not their fault that they have caught this virus." McMahon added: "It is not a question of fault, its just nature being nature. "And we have to be caring in the way that we actually look after those who are falling victim tot this." Update - 1pm: Visitor bans remain in place at a number of Irish hospitals due to concerns over the coronavirus. while elective surgeries and outpatient appointments on Monday and Tuesday at six hospitals across Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary have been cancelled. There are now 18 confirmed cases in the Republic - seven in the west, seven in the east and four in the south. Stephen McMahon from the Irish Patients Association says people need to know that hospitals will be able to cope. He said: "We have people with heart conditions, with diabetes, with cancer, and a whole range of other chronic illnesses. And they still need their treatment and care ongoing." Earlier: A doctor from the Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons has said he thinks Covid 19 has become a national emergency. Professor Sam McConkey said an Emergency Cabinet involving all parties should be set up to take stronger action. It comes as five new cases were confirmed in the Republic of Ireland, bringing to 18 the number of confirmed cases in the country. On Newstalk Breakfast with Susan Keogh this morning, Professor McConkey said Irelands response so far has been like a small mouse facing an elephant. We havent got into the really sweeping, all of society, all of industry, all of Government response that is needed to deal with this, he said. He said he views the outbreak as the biggest challenge to the functioning of our State that we have ever seen. This is a very, very big national emergency and there are a suite of about 20 or 30 very dramatic actions that we could take as a people to fix it. China has done that and we have not even touched on that yet. Otherwise, it is just going to spread through our population like the cruise ship, the Diamond Princess. He said the response requires a strong, powerful central government It will require cross-party support, he said. As in the leaders of five or six of the biggest parties coming together in an Emergency Cabinet to lead us through this Covid-19 emergency. Major tracing operation underway as five more Covid-19 cases confirmed Additional reporting by Eoin English A major tracing operation was under way last night as the Government revealed a further five new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. It brings to 18 the number of confirmed cases in the country. Of the five new cases, two are females in the south of the country, one of whom is associated with travel from northern Italy, and the other is a healthcare worker who had close contact with a confirmed case. The third female is in the west, with her case linked to close contact with a confirmed case. Of the two males, one is in the south of the country, with the case simply described as associated with travel. The other male is in the east of the country, and he is also associated with travel from northern Italy. A test result presumed to be positive for the virus has also been confirmed in the North. The result is from an adult who had recently travelled back from Italy and is linked directly to someone who has previously tested positive. It will be sent to the Public Health England Laboratories to be verified. The HSE is working rapidly to identify any contacts the five new cases may have had, to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Meanwhile, an expert in emergency medicine has warned that the State may have to consider locking down public buildings, schools, stadiums, and even towns and cities to control the outbreak. The way this disease unfolds in this country will hinge entirely on the way the population behaves at home and on the street, said Chris Luke, consultant in emergency medicine and adjunct senior lecturer in public health at University College Cork. It comes as the HSE has identified some of its buildings in Cork City as possible coronavirus isolation units. Two vacant buildings on its St Marys healthcare campus in Gurranabraher are being considered for use as isolation units, or for the decanting of patients in the event of a flood of new cases. It is one of the many options being considered as part of the emergency response to the first confirmed case of community transmission of the corona-virus in a patient in Cork University Hospital (CUH). You dont want to be overly alarmist but there is no doubt there is every possibility we are facing into an epidemic which is a rapidly evolving situation where an infection spreads, said Dr Luke. Ronan Glynn, deputy chief medical officer at the Department of Health said: The past number of weeks have been challenging for everyone in our healthcare system. This challenge is going escalate as the number of cases here rise. We must prioritise the protection of our frontline healthcare staff and as part of this, the National Public Health Emergency Team has established a sub-group to identify and implement appropriate measures to protect them. Some 60 healthcare staff at CUH continue to self-isolate following confirmation of the coronavirus in a male patient on Thursday, and more than 20 hospitals across the country have introduced visitor restrictions as a precautionary measure to minimise the spread. Simon Harris, the health minister, attended an emergency meeting of the European health ministers in Brussels yesterday. Ministers discussed the ongoing outbreak and the effects on health services. It is essential we plan ahead, protect our healthcare workers, and do our best to provide accurate, evidence-based, and timely information to our people, Mr Harris said. It was revealed yesterday that the HSE is using a former garda station in Co Clare as a pop-up facility to test people for Covid-19 as part of ongoing contact- tracing procedures. Meanwhile, as a result of the virus, there has been an 80% drop off in corporate bookings for restaurants, and while St Patricks Day celebrations can go ahead, Cork towns Youghal, Cobh, and Midleton cancelled parades. There are now almost 100,000 cases of the virus identified globally, with almost 3,500 deaths. Following on the heels of several major cancellations of events the past few days, including the SXSW conference in Austin and the tech conference SaaStr, Stanford University, which is located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Palo Alto, California, announced late Friday that the school would cancel in-person classes for the final two weeks of the university's winter quarter in response to the expanding outbreak of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. In a statement posted by the university, Stanford's provost Persis Drell announced that the university would cancel two weeks of classes leading up to the university's winter quarter exams and "to the extent feasible" migrate classes to online formats. In addition, professors are being encouraged by the administration to find ways of delivering functionally equivalent course material through online formats, and all exams for winter quarter are expected to be delivered remotely. The policy takes effect immediately starting with classes this coming Monday, March 9. Furthermore, the university is canceling its annual Admit Weekend, where newly-admitted prospective freshman visit the palm-lined campus and learn more about the school before making a final decision on where to head for their undergraduate degrees. Tours of the campus have also been canceled. The university in a separate note today acknowledged that two students are in self-isolation after "possible exposure" to the novel coronavirus. The university emphasized that neither student has affirmatively tested positive for the infection at this time. The San Francisco Bay Area has seen increasing numbers of potential exposures to the novel coronavirus. Stanford itself has been on the vanguard of responding to the global pandemic, announcing the development of its own test earlier this week to detect the infection. (Newser) Jane Fonda has been making headlines in recent months for her Fire Drill Fridays protests against climate change, where she's often accompanied by other celebrity activists. But on Friday, during her latest demonstration in California, she made the news for another reason: her endorsement of Bernie Sanders. "We have to get a climate president in office, and there's only one right now, and that's Bernie Sanders," she told USA Today at the Los Angeles rally. "I believe you have to support the climate candidate." The paper notes Fonda had previously thrown her support behind (and donation dollars to) Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren, but she switched over to Sanders once the other two dropped out of the race this week. story continues below The Hill notes that Sanders has put out a "sweeping climate plan" that hopes to get the US to using only renewable energy for transportation and electricity by 2030, and finished with decarbonization 20 years after that. He also claims his plan will create 20 million new jobs in a variety of fields. The Hollywood Reporter notes that stars who joined Fonda on Friday in LA included Diane Lane, Lily Tomlin, Rosanna Arquette, and Sam Waterston. (Read more Jane Fonda stories.) Update: Port Neches City Manager Andre Wimer on Tuesday said that replacing the depiction of the Indian Spirit on the water tower is a part of the bid requirements for whatever company is awarded the job. Original story: One of two water towers in Port Neches adorned with the iconic Indian Spirit mascot will soon come down. The Texas General Land Office recently gave the city $2.9 million that will be used, in part, to demolish the 250,000-gallon water tower on Magnolia Avenue and build a new 300,000-gallon elevated water tower. The money will also allow the city to replace some existing water lines. In its application for the funds, Port Neches noted that Tropical Storm Harvey in 2017 overwhelmed the citys water system and caused the main source of water intake to be shut down. This forced the city to rely on limited water storage, which resulted in a threat to public health, safety and welfare. The new water tower is expected to create enough storage for potable water and pipe pressure to get the water to residents in a similarly sized disaster. City Manager Andre Wimer did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Mike Gonzalez, superintendent of the Port Neches-Groves Independent School District, said he had only recently been informed about the impending demolition and assured the water tower by Port Neches Riverfront Park is not being removed. He said he did not know who originally painted the Indian Spirit on the Magnolia Avenue tower or whether it would be replicated on the new tower. Water lines to be replaced include those along the Drainage District 7 drainage canal north of Twin City Highway and on Georgia Avenue and Mockingbird Lane to Alabama Avenue and Hogaboom Road. More Information Recent GLO allocations by city Rose City, $2 million for acquisitions Silsbee, $1.2 million for buyouts West Orange, $3 million for acquisitions Pine Forest, $2 million for acquisitions Orange, $3.2 million for acquisitions Sour Lake, $2.3 million for sewer system and streets, $1.6 million for buyouts Port Neches, $2.9 million for water facilities See More Collapse Altogether, the project is expected to benefit more than 3,000 people. Related: GLO allocated $4 million for continued Harvey recovery The money is just part of nearly $21 million headed to Southeast Texas through the General Land Office to help communities continuing to recover from Harvey. The majority of the money will go to the buyout and acquisition of more than 100 homes in Rose City, Orange and Silsbee, among other areas. The announcement of this funding came just days before Land Commissioner George P. Bush arrived in town on Friday for an event at a Port Arthur elementary school and to meet with Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick to discuss long-term recovery. I want to know better where we are in the process as far as the federal government approving the state action plan for the allocation of (hazard mitigation funding), Bush said during his visit. I think the state moves very quickly, but most of our delays in mitigation funding, long-term housing and everything result from the code of federal regulations, so we are anxious to get it done more expeditiously. The Land Office, through regional councils of governments, has been awarding $413 million allocated for infrastructure projects and $275 million for buyouts and acquisitions to protect communities affected by the storm. Related: Nearly 40 SETX homes likely to be bought out The agency also is working on how to best use $4.3 billion for flood mitigation projects. The Land Office has submitted its proposed rules for awarding the money, but its waiting for federal approval. Bush said he expects this summer his agency will begin the process of actually distributing the money. While the majority of the recently awarded funding will go to move willing residents from homes located in the floodplain or repeatedly flood-prone areas, about $2.9 million will go to improve water facilities in Port Neches and $2.3 million will improve streets and the sewer system in Sour Lake. The Sour Lake money will fund the construction of a 3.5-million-gallon storage basin to combat water inflow into the water treatment plant that, during Harvey, flooded the city with untreated sewage, according to the citys funding application. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox The rest of the money will go toward repairing and reconstructing five sections of streets, including Barfield Street south to the end of the street, Old Beaumont Road south of the city limits and north to the end of the street. The other grants will fund buyouts and acquisitions. Buyouts allow the government body to purchase land at its prestorm value, clean it up and permanently own the property, while acquisitions allow the governmental body to buy it at post-storm values and resell it, as long as the purchasers comply with floodplain rules for construction. Applications for the funding do not require the money to be spent on specific homes, mandating only that the homes be in a floodplain or an area that has flooded repeatedly. Branick has said hes working with state officials to expand county governments authority over codes so that it doesnt have to hold onto and mow an increasing number of empty lots. He said certain regulations could be implemented so the land could be used again without putting people at risk. Isaac Windes contributed to this report. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 14:51:01|Editor: yhy Video Player Close BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's logistics activities slowed in February due to the impact of the novel coronavirus outbreak, industry data showed. The logistics performance index for February came in at 26.2 percent, retreating from 49.9 percent in January, according to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing. A reading above 50 percent indicates expansion while a reading below reflects contraction. He Hui, director of the China Logistics Information Center, attributed the slowdown to disrupted logistics activities during the epidemic. As China is intensifying efforts to curb the virus and accelerate work resumption, the epidemic will only affect logistics demand in the short term, he said. The sector's growth will return to a stable trajectory as the epidemic control improves, according to He. New Orleans police were investigating an apparent double shooting in the 2200 block of Louisiana Avenue Friday afternoon. The double shooting comes in the heels of a fatal shooting earlier Friday nearby on Washington Avenue. NOPD reported the double shooting to the media around 5:17 p.m. and said initial reports show two male victims with gunshot wounds. Police said the victims were transported to an area hospital, but had no other information. New Orleans police investigate fatal shooting in Central City on Friday afternoon New Orleans police were investigating a fatal shooting in Central City on Friday afternoon. About an hour earlier, police reported a fatal shooting in the 2100 block of Washington Avenue. In that case, NOPD said officers received a call of a shooting around 4:09 p.m. and found one male victim with multiple gunshot wounds in the breezeway of an apartment complex. The victim was pronounced dead the scene, police said. The shooting scenes are within a few blocks of each other, but NOPD said investigators do not believe they are connected at this time. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 02:16:24|Editor: yhy Video Player Close Tunisian Foreign Minister Noureddine Erray (2nd L, Front) visits the project site of Tunisian diplomatic academy which is constructed by a Chinese company in Tunis, Tunisia, on March 6, 2020. (Photo by Adele Ezzine/Xinhua) TUNIS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Foreign Minister Noureddine Erray on Friday expressed support for China's efforts to combat the novel coronavirus. The foreign minister made the remarks during his visit to the project site of Tunisian diplomatic academy which is constructed by a Chinese company. "We fully believe that China has the ability to control and defeat the epidemic. Tunisia stands firmly with the Chinese side and is willing to work with the China to fight the epidemic," the minister said. He added that the academy is a landmark project of cooperation between the two countries, which fully reflects the friendly relationship. He stressed that the two sides should further strengthen cooperation, adding that "we are committed to expanding the friendly cooperative relations between Tunisia and China into other fields." Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wang Wenbin thanked the Tunisian government for its support for China's fight against the epidemic. He said that the Chinese government is confident and capable to win the battle against COVID-19. Wang added that China is willing to join hands with the international community, including Tunisia, to fight the virus and promote bilateral cooperation. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said the Centre has lifted the 48-hour ban on two Malayalam channels, which were suspended over their coverage of the communal violence in Delhi, and stated that the government supports the freedom of press. Speaking to reporters in Pune in Maharashtra, Javadekar said that he would look into the matter and issue orders if necessary. He said the prime minister has expressed concern over the entire issue. Javadekar also advocated "responsible freedom" for media. The 48-hour ban was imposed on Asianet and Media One on Friday for reportage that could "enhance communal disharmony" across the country. "Two Kerala channels were banned for 48 hours. We immediately found out what exactly happened and therefore we immediately restored the channels," Javadekar said. The minister said that transmission of Asianet was restored on Friday night after its owner talked to him, and that of Media One on Saturday morning. "Our basic thought process is that the freedom of press is absolutely essential in the democratic set up and that is the commitment of Modi government," he said. Referring to the Emergency, Javadekar said the freedom of press was suppressed in those days. "We went to jails against that and we secured the freedom of press," he added. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed concern over the entire issue. "I will definitely go into the details and take essential steps if there is any wrongdoing. But let me also tell you that everybody should accept that there has to be responsible freedom," Javadekar said. The minister said that views of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) have been sought after he spoke with its president Rajat Sharma. "We have sought their inputs so we will take correct actions. I am very much sure that the media will also exercise responsible freedom," he added. The channels were suspended for 48 hours over their coverage of the last month's communal violence in Delhi, with the official orders saying that they covered events on February 25 in a manner that "highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community". "Channel's reporting on Delhi violence seems to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters," the ministry order on Media One had said. "It also questions RSS and alleges Delhi Police inaction. Channel seems to be critical towards Delhi Police and RSS." The ministry had ordered prohibition of transmission or re-transmission of Media One and Asianet News for 48 hours on any platform throughout India with effect from 7.30 pm on Friday to 7.30 pm on Sunday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said despite the global economy facing downturns, India has seen minimum impact due to the government's pro-active steps. He said the Modi government was dealing strictly with both corruption and cronyism, adding his government had focussed on "simplification, rationalisation and transparency". The Prime Minister, during The Economic Times Global Business Summit, said the government was working at four levels to achieve the $5 trillion economy target -- collaboration, competition and creation of wealth. The PM, talking about the initiatives taken by his government on replacing old laws, said: "To promote fair competition, we are dealing strictly with both corruption and cronyism. Be it banking, FDI (foreign direct investment) policies or allotment of natural resources -- cronyism is being removed from every sphere. We have focussed on simplification, rationalisation and transparency." On India's role in the global economy, the PM said the country had become a major part of the global economic system. "Recently, we have become the worlds' fifth-largest economy. Six-year-ago, we were at the 11th spot. In such a short time, we have come to the fifth spot," he said. Referring to the 'Vivad Se Vishwas' scheme, the PM said his government de-criminalised several provisions of the Companies Act. The bill, passed in the Lok Sabha recently, aims to resolve 4.83 lakh direct tax cases worth Rs 9.32-lakh crore that is currently locked up in various appellate forums such as Commissioner (Appeals), ITAT, High Courts, Supreme Court and Debt Recovery Tribunals. Also read: 'Convince not through words, but deeds': Manmohan Singh makes heartfelt appeal to PM Modi Talking about new global challenges, the PM said the world was facing a huge challenge in the form of 'Novel Coronavirus'. "We have to face this challenge together and emerge victorious with the resolution power of Collaborate to Create," he added. Listing out his government's achievements, the PM said in the last six years, the pace of highways construction, railway electrification, capacity addition in airports, increased cargo handling at our ports had led major economic boost. The Prime Minister said India was among the major countries where corporate tax was the lowest and had improved 77 ranks in the Ease of Doing Business rankings in just five years. "In 2019, the Foreign Direct Investment of about 48 Billion Dollar came in the country. This growth was more than 16 per cent. Similarly, Private Equity and Venture Capital Investment of 19 Billion Dollars came to India last year. It also grew more than 53%," he added. Also read: 'NO Yes Bank' tweets Rahul Gandhi; alleges Modi's 'ideas' have destroyed Indian economy Unitarian Universalist Church of Brazos Valley , 800 George Bush Drive within the Texas A&M Hillel building, will meet at 10:30 a.m. for the service Healing What Is Broken in Ourselves by the Rev. Donna Renfro. A special congregation will follow service. The UUCBV invites you to Taco Ted Talks, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Enjoy breakfast tacos, juice and coffee while you watch a Ted Talk, followed by discussion. St. Francis Episcopal Church, 1101 Rock Prairie Road, will celebrate Holy Communion Sunday at 8 a.m. (Rite 1) and at 10:30 a.m. (Rite 2). Childrens Sunday school begins at 10:30. Flour and sugar will be collected for the food pantries in Bedias and Iola. At the later service, the choir and instrumentalists will be offering Psalm 23: A Journey with the Shepherd by Pepper Choplin. Coffee and snacks will be served following the service. Also, the author of Highland Justice, Doug Godsman, will discuss his new book. For weekday classes, and other events, contact the church office at 696-1491 (voice mail). Online: www.stfrancisbcs.org or www.facebook.com/StFrancisOnline. By Online Desk A man from Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, who had returned from Oman, tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday, taking the total number of confirmed cases in India to 34. He has been admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai. Two positive cases were also reported from Ladakh. Both the patients had a travel history to Iran. All three are reported to be in stable condition. Two other people from Punjab who had returned from Italy also tested positive in a preliminary test of their samples which had been sent to AIIMS, Delhi. Their samples have been sent to Pune for confirmation. The two have been admitted to the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar. Malaysians protest Muhyiddin Yassins appointment as prime minister during a rally at the Dataran Merdeka [Independence Square], in Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 29, 2020. Updated at 1:34 p.m. ET on 2020-03-10 When he first addressed the nation as Malaysias new prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin vowed to serve all Malaysians, but non-Malays already are criticizing his government by saying that his largely Malay-based ruling coalition could effectively shut out minorities. Muhyiddins Perikatan Nasional (National Alliance) bloc is dominated by parties whose members belong to the Muslim Malay majority, and there are only three lawmakers from parties affiliated with the coalition that represent minorities. Thats in stark contrast to the Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope), where minorities were well represented, but which collapsed last week less than two years after it won a historic election. Charles Santiago, an MP representing the multi-cultural Democratic Action Party (DAP), took aim at Muhyiddins move to remove himself from Pakatan to gain power by aligning his party with a coalition that had ruled the multi-ethnic country before the 2018 election. Malaysia is set up as a multicultural, secular nation by the founding fathers. This is a test of the founding fathers vision of Malaysia, Santiago told BenarNews. It is now a government that is far removed from the reform agenda brought about in GE14 by all Malaysians. Non-Malay voices will be subdued, he said, referring to the countrys 14th general election in May 2018. Muhyiddin and former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad created the Bersatu political party, which joined other parties in 2018, including the Peoples Justice Party (PKR), to defeat the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and its coalition, which had been in power from Malaysias beginning as a nation in 1957. Santiago said he had fears about UMNO, the party of former Prime Minister Najib Razak who faces a slew of criminal charges tied to the alleged embezzlement of billions of dollars from a state fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). He worried that UMNO would use its regained power to push Muhyiddin to drop charges against Najib and others, including UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who faces corruption charges not tied to 1MDB. If the PM does, then he will be seen as weak and complicit with those who were rejected by the people. This will be a difficult government to manage and I dont know how they will do it, Santiago said. He said he also feared that the conservative Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), which allied with Bersatu and the UMNO-anchored Barisan Nasional coalition to form Perikatan, would seek to introduce sharia law into the criminal justice system. Shortly after taking the oath of office on March 1, Muhyiddin, a non-elected PM, tried to alleviate the concerns of the nations minorities. Malays account for about 60 percent of Malaysias 32 million people. I am prime minister for all Malaysians, from Perlis to Sabah. Whatever race or ethnicity, I am your prime minister. Give me a chance to use my 40 years of experience in politics and government to steer Malaysia to glory, the 72-year-old career politician said in a nationally televised speech the next day. His assurances did not sit well with some minority voters. I feel betrayed, like my voice doesnt even matter in the grand scheme of things, comic artist Kelvin Ng, 34, told BenarNews. Ng, an ethnic Chinese, said he was particularly worried about the status of the trials involving Najib, Hamidi and Najibs wife, Rosmah Mansor, who also faces charges related to 1MDB. U.S. prosecutors allege that more than U.S. $4.5 billion (18.8 billion ringgit) was embezzled from 1MDB. Im worried those charged will get away with it, and I am disappointed that this country is yet again run by corrupt people, said Ng. Another ethnic Chinese, Bok Chek Chu, a 58-year-old Penang resident, said he had no hope for the three non-Malay MPs who are part of the new ruling coalition. They are from MCA (the Malaysian Chinese Association) and MIC (the Malaysian Indian Congress), which were clearly rejected by the people in the last election, he said. Taking office in May 2018 after the electoral upset, Mahathir took steps to create an inclusive cabinet. Among his first moves was appointing Tommy Thomas as attorney general. The appointment of Thomas, a Christian who was the first ethnic Indian to hold the post as the nations top lawyer, angered rightwing Muslim Malays who feared for the status of Islam as the federal religion. Thomas resigned from his post last week, leading Muhyiddin to name Federal Court judge Idrus Harun to serve as attorney general on Friday. Soon after taking office two years ago, Mahathir also named Lim Guan Eng, an ethnic Chinese member of DAP, as finance minister. So far, only a few days into Muhyiddins term as prime minister, neither DAP, PKR or what is left of Pakatan Harapan have come out with any public statements questioning the stark lack of minority representation in the new government. UMNO politician: No big deal However, former UMNO supreme council member Shahrir Samad said the lack of such diversity in Muhyiddins coalition should not be an issue. It is no big deal except for the racists. Lim Guan Eng was at the helm and it did not make matters any better for the Chinese, said Shahrir who lost his seat in parliament to a Pakatan candidate in 2018. He called members of the ethnic Chinese community pragmatic, adding that their concerns were more about what the new government would do to make life better after a dismal 2019, and how it would deal with COVID-19. I reckon everyone knows it is going to be a tough year. So it will be tough for Muhyiddin too, he said. Mono-ethnic government The new coalition could be making a mistake by not recognizing that Malaysia is a multicultural country, said James Chin, an analyst at the Asia Institute at University of Tasmania. He described the new reality of Malaysian politics as a mono-ethnic government in a multicultural country. It is dangerous that they are trying to run a government that is just for one race, he told BenarNews. PAS, I believe, will again try to push for RUU355, this time as a ruling party meaning they wont be blocked from tabling it in parliament, he said. RUU355 refers to PASs previous unsuccessful attempt to introduce amendments giving the nations sharia courts greater power. Meanwhile, Awang Azman Awang Pawi, a political analyst at the University of Malaya, suggested that non-Malays would quietly make a comeback after the collapse of Pakatan and the rise of Perikatan. I believe there is growing talk of their voices being denied by what happened last week, Awang Azman said, adding, their leaders of choice won fairly and democratically in the previous election. Some, but not all, ethnic Chinese might become apathetic and see the sentiment of democracy as a waste of time, he said. For others, the change of leadership will serve as a catalyst. They have not given up on democracy, they will rise back up in silence, he said. Nisha David in Kuala Lumpur contributed to the report. This report has been updated to correct the name of Kelvin Ng. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is concerned over the situation in Kashmir and wants a peaceful settlement of the issue, a top official said on Saturday. OIC Secretary General's Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir Yousef M Al Dobeay said the resolution of Kashmir and Palestine issues remained on the organisation's top-most agenda, Pakistan Foreign Office quoted the envoy as saying in a statement. Dobeay, who led a six-member delegation on a five-day visit to Pakistan, said the OIC was concerned about the situation in Kashmir. The envoy said Jammu and Kashmir was an "internationally recognised" dispute and called for its peaceful settlement. "The OIC will take all necessary steps to alleviate the sufferings of the Kashmiris and help resolve the dispute according to the wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said. During the visit, the envoy called on Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and held meetings with the other top ministers. During the meetings, the Pakistani leadership apprised the delegation of the situation in Kashmir. The delegation also held meetings with the top leadership of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and visited the Line of Control (LoC) as well as a refugee camp in Muzaffarabad. This was the first visit of Dobeay to Pakistan and the PoK after his appointment as the OIC Secretary General's Special Envoy for Jammu and Kashmir during the 14th Summit of the OIC in Makkah in May 2019. The OIC is a 57-member grouping of Muslim majority nations, including Pakistan. The OIC has usually been supportive of Pakistan and often sided with Islamabad on the Kashmir issue. Pakistan has been unsuccessfully trying to drum up international support against India for withdrawing Jammu and Kashmir's special status on August 5 and bifurcating it into two Union territories. India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Tim Reid and Simon Lewis (Reuters) - Two former presidential rivals endorsed Joe Biden on Friday in the latest sign that the Democratic establishment is coalescing around the former vice president to stop the candidacy of Bernie Sanders, who ratcheted up attacks on his rival ahead of crucial contests next week. Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and John Delaney, a former Maryland congressman - both onetime 2020 candidates - backed Biden, as did a slew of other Democratic officials in states soon to hold nominating contests. Sanders, who is desperate to regain some momentum after Biden's strong 'Super Tuesday' showing this week, launched a full-throated attack on his rival, assailing Biden over his record on trade, abortion, gay rights and Social Security. The pair contest six Democratic nominating contests on Tuesday, including the big prize of Michigan, with 125 of the 1,991 delegates needed to win the nomination at stake. Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont who was until recently the front-runner in the party's race to face Republican President Donald Trump in November, now trails in delegates. A big win for Biden in Michigan would deliver another major blow to Sanders' hopes of becoming the nominee. Ahead of Michigan's primary, the state's lieutenant governor, Garlin Gilchrist II, backed Biden, as did part of the state's United Food and Commercial Workers Union, and former U.S. Senator Carl Levin. Four other states will hold primary elections on Tuesday: Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri and Washington state. North Dakota will hold caucuses. At a news conference in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday, Sanders dug deep into Biden's 40-year record. He criticized Biden for having opposed the rights of gay people to serve in the U.S. military and for voting against federal funding for abortions, stances the former vice president has since rejected. "I was there on the right side of history, and my friend Joe Biden was not," Sanders said. Story continues Sanders also lambasted Biden for supporting trade deals he said had been "a disaster for Michigan" and accused Biden of trying in the past to cut Social Security, the government-run pension and disability program. Biden, who denies ever advocating cuts to Social Security, snapped back in a tweet on Friday: "Get real, Bernie. The only person who's going to cut Social Security if he's elected is Donald Trump. Maybe you should spend your time attacking him." The exchange reflects mounting tension between the two White House hopefuls. The race became a tight two-way contest after U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and billionaire former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg ended their White House bids after disappointing showings in the Super Tuesday primaries. Sanders, 78, said he would support Biden, 77, if he becomes the Democratic nominee but insisted that only he, not Biden, could "energize the American people" enough to beat Trump. Warren's exit meant that what had been hailed as the most diverse field of candidates in U.S. history narrowed to a race for the nomination between two white, septuagenarian men. Tulsi Gabbard, a congresswoman from Hawaii with virtually no chance of winning, is the only other remaining Democratic candidate. On Friday, the Democratic National Committee, which oversees the party's presidential debates, released new qualifying thresholds for the next debate in Arizona on Mar. 15. Candidates will need at least 20% of delegates awarded so far, essentially excluding Gabbard, who has won less than 1 percent. Biden's Super Tuesday turnaround benefited as the Democratic Party establishment began mobilizing this week to try and stop Sanders, a democratic socialist. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota dropped out of the race and endorsed Biden. The former vice president said at a private campaign event on Friday that his campaign had raised about $22 million over five days. Biden also received endorsements on Friday in other states with upcoming primary contests, including from Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan in Washington state, and Ruben Gallego, an Arizona congressman. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois are expected to soon announce endorsements of Biden, according to a source familiar with the matter. Illinois and Arizona vote on March 17, along with Florida and Ohio. (Reporting by Tim Reid in Los Angeles, Simon Lewis in Washington and Trevor Hunnicutt in New York; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Rosalba O'Brien) Sources from the Delhi Police on Saturday informed ANI that it has recovered the pistol of Shahrukh, the man who opened fire and pointed the gun at cops on February 24 during violence in the capital northeast area, from his residence. The Delhi Police sources on Friday revealed that it has also recovered the car of the accused in which he had fled from the spot. Shahrukh initially kept roaming around in the capital before slipping away to Punjab and Uttar Pradesh's Shamli from where he was arrested on Tuesday. According to sources, on February 24, after the incident, Shahrukh went back home and was petrified to see his photos flashing on the television screen. He then changed his clothes, drove to Hauz Khas and kept roaming around in the clubs there. On February 25, Shahrukh kept roaming in Delhi's Connaught Place, parked his car in the parking area and slept in the vehicle itself. On February 26, he drove to Punjab's Jalandhar and called up a friend there who refused to meet him having watched him on television. On February 27, 28 and 29 he remained in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli with one of his friends. On March 1, he left Shamli and kept wandering in buses in Punjab. On March 2, he returned to Shamli. On March 3, Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested Shahrukh from Shamli bus stand. He has been sent to four-day police custody. During the investigation, Shahrukh revealed that the car he used belonged to his uncle's son. He had left the car in a garage in Haryana after it broke down. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAGHDAD Terrorism generates corruption and corruption generates terrorism, stressed Abu Ali al-Basri in his soft-spoken but acutely focused voice. Basri leads Iraq's elite Falcon Intelligence Cell, which was created to focus on extremist groups including Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS). The counterterrorism intelligence unit has become better known after some high-profile cases and successes in recent years. Basri told Al-Monitor in a Baghdad interview in late February 2020 that the unit has also at times been involved in corruption cases linked to terrorism. Only on extremely rare occasions does Basri grant in-person interviews to journalists. His real identity, name and identifying details must remain a secret for security reasons. This reporter was previously granted another interview with him in mid-July 2019, when he discussed mainly the hunt for IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as well as intelligence exchanges between different countries leading to key arrests and killings. Basri claimed the Falcon Intelligence Cell had arrested some 2,500 people for involvement in IS in the last six months of 2019 and 2,600 others for cases linked to terrorism such as kidnappings and killings not related to IS. He said some of the 1,500 alleged IS members handed over to Iraq who had been caught and imprisoned in territory currently held by the Syrian Democratic Forces last year turned out not to be of Iraqi origins, such as a Chinese national, a Palestinian, a Tunisian and two Iranians. But since they committed crimes against Iraqis on Iraqi soil, they are being tried and sentenced here, he said. IS members who escaped capture continue to be found and arrested, and attacks attributed to the terrorist group, though less frequent, continue to occur in Iraq. Basri said the province of Salahuddin, followed by other areas between Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Iraqi central government territory, including Diyala and Kirkuk, were where the greatest concentration of IS-linked groups and individuals are located and are at the highest risk for attacks. Basri said Anbar in western Iraq along the Syrian border has a lower risk and has seen fewer attacks. IS was concerned that some of the shepherds in the mostly desert region may be our sources, and IS thus no longer trusted the area as much, he added. He cautioned, however, that there is a large number of IS supporters currently in the KRG, but they are not active for the time being," adding that the Falcon Intelligence Cell had arrested one or two Iranians from the Ahwaz region who had crossed into Iraq and were involved with IS in 2019. Former IS leader and Iraqi national Baghdadi blew himself up after being cornered by the United States during an Oct. 26 raid in the Idlib province in northwestern Syria. IS confirmed his death Oct. 31 and named a new leader they referred to as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi. The organization claimed the man was part of the Qureishi lineage and thus related to the Prophet Muhammad. Basri confirmed, however, that a Jan. 2020 article was correct in stating that his real name was Amir Mohammed Abdul Rahman al-Mawli al-Salbi a Turkman from Tal Afar with family members in Turkey. He said the name announced by IS was an attempt to make the leader seem more palatable to followers expecting him to be of the Qureishi. Basri said Salbi had been in Mosul prior to when IS took control of the city in June 2014, and he had been more "takfiri," or extremist, than Baghdadi in terms of accusing other Muslims of apostasy. When asked to cite an example, he said Salbi had wanted all teachers who had worked with the Iraqi government to be executed. The intel chief said the new IS leader is absolutely in Syria. Basri noted that the Falcon Intelligence Cell can carry out arrests only after getting a judicial order to do so. But prison capacity in the country is limited, he said, and often the Falcon Intelligence Cell ends up holding those it has arrested in its own detention facilities longer than necessary the unit carries out arrests, investigations and interrogations, but the prisoners should be moved to a regular prison afterward simply because there is no space left in prisons under the Justice Ministry. Basri said collaboration between US and Iraqi forces had stalled for a period of time after the Jan. 3 killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis sparked tensions, but it has fully resumed. Over two years after the official declaration by then-Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in December 2017 that IS had been defeated in the country, some of the focus has shifted to the ways in which terrorist groups fund their activities and recruitment. Abadi had announced in December 2017 that a war on corruption would begin. However, ongoing anti-government protests across central and southern Iraq that began in October have focused on this very issue, which is that corruption is still rife across the country. Basri said the Falcon Intelligence Cell could take on a greater role in fighting corruption and another similarly structured tactical team should be formed if not. As the Falcon Cell, we have earned a very good reputation over the years in fighting terrorism and even in protecting women through tracking down men trying to blackmail women online through inappropriate personal photos and videos, he said. No one can fight IS if they are corrupt, he said, and the cell worked hard for years and was successful. He noted he had raised the idea with the government but has not yet received a response. France on Thursday summoned Mali's ambassador after dismissing as "false" and "unacceptable" his claims of rowdy behaviour by French soldiers helping the West African nation combat an Islamic insurgency. Toumani Djime Diallo was summoned to the foreign ministry, where "we expressed our indignation at his baseless and shocking remarks on behalf of an allied country in the fight against terrorism," the ministry told AFP. France has 5,100 soldiers in Operation Barkhane, a mission to roll back jihadism in Mali as well as Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania and Chad in the Sahel region of Africa. But its presence has been criticised by some in the region, who balk at the prominent military role played by a former colonial power. On Wednesday, Diallo complained to the French Senate of "problems" caused by what he said were French Foreign Legion soldiers deployed on Malian soil. He pointed to "excesses" in the capital Bamako. "At times you see them in the red-light districts of Bamako, their bodies completely covered in tattoos, behaving in a way that does not correspond to the [French] army we know," Diallo said. "It makes people afraid, it makes tongues wag." Making such allegations while French troops are risking their lives to protect citizens was "indecent," Defence Minister Florence Parly's office said in a statement sent to AFP. "Rather than channelling and spreading false accusations, we expect the ambassador of Mali to devote all his energy to implementing the Pau summit and achieving success for everyone," the statement added tartly, referring to a meeting between France and its Sahel allies last month. The Malian presidency has yet to respond to France's objections. - 'Down with France' - There were "hardly any" French soldiers stationed in Bamako, said the statement, adding the charges were "unacceptable and indecent when France has resolutely committed itself to fighting terrorist groups that threaten the people of the Sahel." France's deployment is by far the largest foreign contribution to the fight against extremists aligned with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. Last month, hundreds of people gathered in Bamako to protest the presence of French soldiers, holding aloft placards reading "Down with France, Barkhane must leave" and "France is a brake on our development." Such criticism has riled French officials, especially after 13 soldiers were killed in a helicopter collision in Mali while pursuing jihadist fighters -- the deadliest toll for the French military in nearly four decades. Last month in Pau in southwest France, French President Emmanuel Macron and the leaders of five Sahel countries pledged to jointly bolster efforts against jihadists fighting the increasingly deadly insurgency. Macron has denounced "foreign powers" for stirring up anti-French sentiment amid reports that Russian paramilitary fighters were increasingly active in the Sahel. And he has complained of a lack of "clear political condemnation of anti-French feelings" on the ground, saying he was loath to send soldiers to countries where their presence was not "clearly wanted." Despite the French presence and a 13,000-member UN peacekeeping force in Mali dubbed MINUSMA, the conflict that erupted in the north of that country in 2012 has since spread to its neighbours, especially Burkina Faso and Niger. Thousands of civilians and hundreds of soldiers have been killed and more than a million people have been displaced. France has lost 41 soldiers. burs-dla/mlr/pma Washington: Influential US pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC said on Friday that two people who attended its annual Washington conference alongside dozens of lawmakers had tested positive for coronavirus. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee said in an email to attendees, speakers and congressional offices that the pair had traveled from New York to go to the March 1-3 event. The event attracted high-profile attendees including Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Democratic former White House hopeful Mike Bloomberg. "We have confirmed that at least two Policy Conference attendees from New York have tested positive for the coronavirus," AIPAC said in the message, posted to its Twitter account. Officials said on Friday that 22 new cases had been confirmed in New York State, mostly in a Westchester County cluster north of New York City, bringing the total to 44. "We have continued to remain in constant communication with the Westchester County Health Department and the DC Health Department which is coordinating with the New York Health Department, and national health authorities," AIPAC added. Lawmakers from all political stripes make an annual pilgrimage of sorts to AIPAC to pledge their support for the state of Israel on a grand stage. About 18,000 people had been expected to travel from across the US to attend the conference, which typically attracts around two-thirds of the members of Congress. Attendees swamped Capitol Hill in their hundreds during the event, as is the custom. "If you test positive for Coronavirus, we urge you to inform your local health authorities so they can properly coordinate the response to this situation with the appropriate health authorities," AIPAC said. The virus has now killed more than 3,450 people and infected more than 100,000 across 92 nations since the outbreak first emerged in China in December. Over 3,000 of those deaths have been in China. British ex-spy Christopher Steele has spoken out in public for the first time since the revelation of his 'dirty dossier' alleging Russian influence over President Donald Trump. Steele's dossier, which was funded by the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's campaign, became FBI evidence in the FISA warrant applications against Trump advisor Carter Page. He has not spoken publicly since the dossier was leaked weeks before Trump's inauguration, but surfaced on Friday to address a group of students at Oxford University in England, where a Daily Beast reporter was present. Steele said he had been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into potential collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and the Russian government for 'two whole days' but was disappointed with Mueller's final report. British ex-spy Christopher Steele has spoken out in public for the first time since the revelation of his 'dirty dossier' alleging Russian influence on President Donald Trump Steele said he had been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's probe for 'two whole days' but was disappointed with Mueller's final report 'I was surprised that very little of what I had discussed with them appeared in the final report,' said Steele, a former intelligence officer who ran the Russia desk at MI6. He criticized the report for being 'too narrow' and failing to follow up on crucial evidence. 'There were many things about the report that were good but other (aspects) that were not so good,' he said. Steele said the fact that 'a number of witnessesincluding for instance, Donald Trump Jr.' had avoided being interviewed 'wasn't great.' Dismissing longstanding allegations of political bias, Steele described himself as simply 'an opponent of President Putin.' Steele said that Trump is naturally hostile toward the intelligence community. 'Trump himself doesn't like intelligence because its ground truth is inconvenient for him,' he said. Steele surfaced on Friday to address a group of students at Oxford University in England Steele said that Trump is naturally hostile toward the intelligence community 'because its ground truth is inconvenient for him' Steele said he would refuse to participate in U.S. Attorney John Durham's 'investigate the investigators' probe, which is looking into potential wrongdoing in the Trump-Russia probe. He said that he and his private investigation company had 'done our duty' by cooperating with a separate Inspector General probe. Durham's prosecution team recently approached representatives of Steele, sources said. Steele's representatives told Durham's team that the former officer for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, was not interested in cooperating with Durham's investigation and would not speak to his team, sources said. Steele was concerned that Durham's investigation was overly politicized and he would not be treated fairly, the sources said. A spokesman for Durham said the prosecutor had no comment. Spokespeople for the Justice Department and Orbis Business Intelligence, Steele's London-based private investigations firm, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. U.S. Attorney John Durham (above) has been appointed to conduct a separate investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, that has since turned into a criminal matter Reuters was unable to determine what the prosecutors specifically wanted to question Steele about, but Durham has been assigned by Barr to examine the origins of investigations into Trump and his campaign's contacts with Russia. Some of those targeted by Durham, including senior former aides to President Barack Obama who raised questions about Trump's connections to Russia before the 2016 election, have expressed concern the probe could be used to retaliate against them. The investigation into Trump and his campaign's contacts with Russia conducted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller found there was not sufficient evidence to prove that Trump's 2016 campaign coordinated with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election. Trump has strongly denied any such coordination and denounced both the Mueller investigation and Steele dossier as products of political witch-hunts. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Daniela Desantis (Agence France-Presse) Asuncion, Paraguay Sat, March 7, 2020 09:41 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068ecf62 2 Sports soccer,player,Ronaldinho,Brazilian,Paraguay Free Former Brazilian forward Ronaldinho Gaucho was arrested in Paraguay on Friday for attempting to enter the country with an adulterated passport, Paraguayan police said. Gilberto Fleitas, the head of the investigations unit of the Paraguayan police, said Ronaldinho and his brother were taken into custody just hours after a judge refused to ratify a prosecutor's proposal for an alternative punishment. "The detention order has been carried out," Fleitas told Reuters. TV pictures showed the pair being taken in a police vehicle from the Sheraton hotel in Asuncion to a police station on the outskirts of the city. Ronaldinho and his brother and business manager Roberto Assis arrived in Paraguay on Wednesday and were questioned by law enforcement after they were found in possession of adulterated Paraguayan passports. Topics : soccer player Ronaldinho Brazilian Paraguay The Socialist Party of America observed the first Womens Day on February 28, 1909, while in 1911 International Womens Day was marked for the first time across Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. It was in 1975 that United Nations began celebrating International Womens Day and in 1977 the UN General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for womens rights and world peace. No particular organisation, government body or NGO is solely responsible for the celebration of International Womens Day. Instead, people from all walks of life in every country celebrate it. International Womens Day is observed for promoting gender equality. The UN theme for International Womens Day 2020 is I am Generation Equality: Realizing Womens Rights. The theme aims to bring together people from every gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion and country to create a world of equality. On this day, several events are organised in different parts of the world to spread awareness about gender equality as it is important for economies and communities to thrive. Here are some of the wishes and messages that you may also share with your family, friends and colleagues. 1. Happy Womens Day to all the wonderful and strong women. You make the world such a better place to live in. Happy Womens Day! 2. We all know that this world would mean nothing without women. Women are stronger than anyone can imagine. Lets celebrate their endless power today. Happy Womens Day! 3. May the marvelous feminine energy cover our world with its warmth and greatness. Happy Womens Day! 4. Women are worlds greatest inspiration. Lets praise our muses and never forget how amazing and wonderful they are. Respect and cherish them every single day. Happy Womens Day! 5. Women have deserved so much than just a day in a year. The power they have inside is enormous. This day is a reminder for every human being in the world to love and admire women, for they deserved it. Happy Womens Day! Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Kabul: Gunmen opened fire Friday at a ceremony in Afghanistan's capital attended by prominent political leaders, killing at least 32 people and wounding dozens more before the two attackers were slain by police, officials said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack on its website. Afghanistan's upstart IS affiliate has declared war on the country's minority Shiites. Many of those at the ceremony were Shiites because it was commemorating the 1995 slaying of Abdul Ali Mazari, the leader of Afghanistan's ethnic Hazaras, who are mostly Shiite. The Taliban said they were not involved in the attack, which came less than a week after the US and the group signed an ambitious peace deal that lays out a path for the withdrawal of American forces from the country. Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said 32 people were killed and 81 wounded in the attack in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood of Kabul. The Health Ministry also reported 32 people were killed but said 58 were wounded. Opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah, who is the country's chief executive and was a top contender in last year's presidential election, was among several prominent political officials who attended the ceremony but left before the attack and were unhurt. Several TV journalists were covering the ceremony inside a walled compound when the gunmen began shooting, and a reporter and a cameraman for a local broadcaster were among the wounded. Karim Khalili, the chief of Afghanistan's high peace council, was delivering a speech when the gunfire interrupted him. He was not hurt and later went on TV to denounce the violence. Several witnesses said that, amid the panic, members of the security forces guarding the event had fired on civilians in the crowd. "Individuals with military uniforms who were there targeted people, there were casualties, dead and wounded, said witness Ghulam Mohammad, according to Associated Press video. Another survivor, Noor Mohammad, said: Everyone was running. Three casualties were on the ground in front of me. I ran out of there to save my life. After opening fire, the two gunmen holed up in a half-finished apartment building, leading to a five-hour standoff with security forces. They were eventually killed and security forces were clearing the building, Rahimi said. The area was cordoned off by dozens of security forces. All of the casualties were civilians, Rahimi said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadliest attack in Kabul last year, when a suicide bomber killed 63 people and wounded 182 at a wedding. All were from the Shiite Hazara community. Any US troop pullout from Afghanistan would be tied in part to promises by the Taliban to fight terrorism and IS. During the withdrawal, the US would retain the right to continue its counter-terrorism operations in the country. The Taliban have been fighting Islamic State militants in its headquarters in eastern Afghanistan. US military officials have said IS has been degraded because of US and Afghan operations but also by Taliban assaults. A US Defense Department official told the AP that they worried IS was expanding its footprint into Kunar province, where the Taliban knows the terrain and could be an asset in tracking down IS. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island University Hospital is expected to independently run tests for coronavirus (COVID-19) by next week, a spokeswoman confirmed to the Advance/SILive.com. Northwell Health which operates Staten Island Universitys Ocean Breeze and Princes Bay campuses made the announcement this week as the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light for outside labs to conduct the COVID-19 tests once appropriately validated, Jillian OHara said. Northwell Health labs will start to process between 75 and 100 tests daily. Once the process becomes automated, labs will have the capability to process hundreds and eventually thousands of tests daily, OHara added. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** The expanded ability to test patients for COVID-19 will greatly enhance Northwells ability to manage patients with potential infection, said OHara. However, given the limited testing capacity and the CDCs current recommendations, patients with milder symptoms who do not require hospitalization will not be tested. The tests will be reserved for those who have been in contact with someone infected or those who will require hospitalization because of their medical conditions. In an interview with the Advance last week, Dr. Theodore Maniatis, who is responsible for all medical affairs, quality management, patient safety issues and standards of care at the hospital system, told the Advance/SILive.com that being able to do the test at a Northwell lab would cut down the time it takes to get results. Meanwhile, Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton currently does tests on site, but has to send them to a lab in New York City for their results, RUMC spokesman Alexander Lutz said. We get the result within 24 to 48 hours, Lutz said. While there are a handful of individuals quarantined on Staten Island with suspicious symptoms, there have been no confirmed cases reported on the borough at this time. In a press conference Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency in New York, saying there were 76 cases statewide and 11 in New York City. RELATED LINKS: Coronavirus: New cleaning protocols set for schools across New York MTA to fully disinfect subways, buses every 72 hours to combat coronavirus Cuomo orders insurance companies to waive cost sharing for coronavirus testing Coronavirus preparation on Staten Island: What you can do Student safety: Heres how NYC schools are working to combat coronavirus Who is most at risk for coronavirus? How to protect yourself from deadly coronavirus What are the symptoms of coronavirus? Student safety: Heres how NYC schools are working to combat coronavirus Port Authority ramps up cleaning efforts at airports amid coronavirus Regular deep cleaning of Staten Island Ferry planned to prevent coronavirus MTA to fully disinfect subways, buses every 72 hours to combat coronavirus Staten Island Chinese restaurant owners say coronavirus fears hurting business Coronavirus can linger on surfaces, so use these precautions, CDC says Ontario Liberals have elected Steven Del Duca to lead them out of the political wilderness and back to the promised land of power. Del Duca vanquished his five rivals Saturday in a first-ballot victory with almost 59 per cent of the vote. For his efforts, he is now tasked with rebuilding a party that was trounced by Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservatives in 2018, ending almost 15 years of Liberal rule. The former cabinet minister, who lost his Vaughan seat when Ford nearly wiped out premier Kathleen Wynnes Grits, won 1,258 of 2,140 eligible ballots cast at the delegated convention attended by more than 2,500 partisans. It took Doug Ford and his friends 15 years to win an election, the 46-year-old married father of two daughters told the party faithful at Mississaugas International Centre. We know they will not give up easily because for them, sadly, governing is a game, said Del Duca, the first-generation Canadian son of a Scottish mother and an Italian father. Theyve made it clear that their power and their party is their only priority, he said, warning the attacks will be ugly, they will be personal, and they will not be honest. Indeed, at a Tory fundraiser Thursday night that was closed to the media, attendees said Ford likened Del Duca to a gangster and predicted a bruising battle with his new Liberal adversary. Del Duca countered that Doug Ford can remain focused on me and on us, but we will remain exclusively and relentlessly focused on the 15 million women and men who call our province home. Likening Ford to a climate-change dinosaur for scrapping Ontarios carbon cap-and-trade environmental alliance with Quebec and California, the Liberal leader promised a greener future for the province. We need a premier who really accepts that climate change is a scientific fact, said Del Duca, who also pledged to return peace to Ontarios tumultuous education sector, which has been roiled by rotating teachers strikes for months. But the new leader has his work cut out for him. The Liberals hold just eight seats in the 124-member legislature four shy of official party status and still owe millions of dollars from the bruising last campaign. Del Duca does not plan to seek a seat in the legislature before the next election unless Tory MP Michael Tibollo, who beat him in 2018 and is now a junior health minister, steps down in Vaughan. Rival Liberal candidates all appealed for unity. The Grits suffered the worst defeat in our history and yet here we are 3,000 Liberals from across the province, who believe in our future, said MPP Michael Coteau (Don Valley East), who finished second in the leadership race with 363 votes, or 17 per cent. Our opponents should know by now, when things get tough for Liberals, we do what we do best: we come together, rethink, reorganize and reimagine. And we are just getting started, he said. Coteau, a former Wynne minister, said the sobering 2018 defeat and the partys need for a comeback should remind us of our ability to reimagine Ontario and bring people together. Third-place finisher Kate Graham, a former Liberal candidate who has emerged as a rising star in the party, received 299 votes or 14 per cent. Graham, a Western University professor who is pregnant with her first child and joked about wearing maternity tights while delivering her speech, said the Liberals must appeal to a new generation that wants to move beyond partisanship. Were here because we cant afford to settle for less. Were here because we have to prove were capable of giving people more, she thundered. We have to do more than fundraise using fear. We have to restore trust. In the conventions lightest moment, a beaming Graham belted out an impromptu rendition of ABBAs Take a Chance on Me, which delighted delegates. MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough-Guildwood) came fourth with 122 votes or 5.7 per cent, but delivered perhaps the most rousing speech of the day. All around us theres polarization and a sense of division and, sadly, no force is more polarizing than the current Ontario government and its leader, Hunter said in a slap at Ford. The time for looking in the rear-view mirror has passed. I am laser-focused on the future. I am committed to leaving this convention as one member of a united Liberal team committed to leading Ontario to real change, she said. Alvin Tedjo, a former Liberal candidate who finished fifth with 74 votes, or 3.5 per cent, echoed that and urged the party to embrace his controversial proposal to eliminate publicly funded Catholic schools in favour of one secular system. We should never again be afraid to do the right thing, said Tedjo. Brenda Hollingsworth, an Ottawa lawyer new to politics, received 24 votes, or 1.1 per cent. Hollingsworth said she took a chance because the party needed a fresh voice with her business and legal experience. I felt an urge to step out of my very comfortable life. People around me told me youre making a big mistake, youre not a politician but my heart was simply not going to take no for an answer. Former premier Dalton McGuinty, who rebuilt the Liberals between 1996 and 2003 before winning three elections, well understands the challenges that Del Duca faces. He brings a lot of experience, but more than that, he brings capacity to grow, said McGuinty, for whom Del Duca worked in opposition 20 years ago. Ive known Steven for a long time and hes humble enough to recognize that hes a work in progress, he said. Im confident hes going to surround himself with some really good people, some thoughtful people. Im confident hes going to listen carefully. But Del Ducas critics were ready to pounce on his baggage, old and new. Progressive Conservative government house leader Paul Calandra said the Liberal leaders latest trouble a backyard swimming pool too close to the lot line is a serious issue that recalls his push as transportation minister to build the Kirby GO station in what was then his riding. Is there an arrogance that returns to the Liberal party with the election of Mr. Del Duca? Calandra asked reporters after the new leader repeatedly ducked pool questions in a news conference. How, possibly, could he not know that it would be against the rules to build a swimming pool backing onto a conservation area? said Calandra, who impishly distributed small inflatable pools to reporters covering the convention. New Democrat MPP Taras Natyshak (Essex) said electing Steven Del Duca as the leader of the Liberal party is bringing someone back from the past and someone that represents a litany of failures on behalf of their government. Natyshak said it not only represents a return to the old days, but also a tactical shift to the right for the party. It opens up a large space for New Democrats and for progressives who are looking for a home, he said. Green Leader Mike Schreiner blasted the Liberals who he said lost the trust of Ontarians because of a string of scandals and backroom deals that put their political interests ahead of the people of Ontario for turning to a veteran of the McGuinty-Wynne era. I am not sure that someone associated with the old guard of Liberal establishment and embroiled in past controversies can deliver the leadership that Ontario needs, Schreiner said. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 18:31:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A passenger (R) is ready to leave the airport after his flight was suspended, at Kuwait International Airport in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, March 7, 2020. Kuwait has decided to suspend all flights with seven countries for one week as part of the precautions against the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Kuwaiti government said Saturday. The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the Kuwaiti government on Friday night, and the seven countries are Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) KUWAIT CITY, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait has decided to suspend all flights with seven countries for one week as part of the precautions against the spread of the novel coronavirus, the Kuwaiti government said Saturday. The decision was made at an emergency meeting of the Kuwaiti government on Friday night, and the seven countries are Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt. All arrivals who are of these nationalities or have a valid residency in these countries, as well as non-Kuwaitis who have entered or transited in these countries during the past two weeks, will be denied access into Kuwait, according to the government decision. The number of the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kuwait has grown to 61, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Health. State Bank of India Chairman Rajnish Kumar, during a press briefing on Saturday, said YES Bank restructuring plan had been received by the state-owned lender and that its legal team was working on it. He also added its total quantum of investment in YES Bank would be Rs 2,450 crore. Reiterating his earlier statement on fears around the RBI ban on cash withdrawals, Kumar said the depositors' money was not at risk at all. The Reserve Bank of India on Friday announced a reconstructing scheme for the revival of YES Bank. It said that State Bank of India had expressed interest to invest in the troubled bank and participate in the reconstruction scheme, adding the investor bank or SBI would invest in the equity of YES Bank to the extent that it would hold 49 per cent shareholding post the infusion. On potential investors, Kumar said that SBI was looking at company investors - anyone who wanted to go beyond 5 per cent. "...There're certain regulatory norms but there's considerable investor interest for YES Bank," he added. He added that investors had reached out to the lender and its investment team is holding discussions with them. He added that after consultation with the RBI, the SBI will may present plan to RBI. "...but first, we have to wait for the draft which will then to go to the RBI board," he added. Also read: RBI announces restructuring of Yes Bank; SBI to hold 49% stake The SBI Chairman assured the lender's plan would be approved and implemented before the RBI deadline of one month. "It's matter of few days...depositors should not worry about safety of their money," he said. He also said that the bank's capital adequacy ratio would not be affected due to investment in YES Bank. "So, our shareholders shouldn't worry," he added, explaining the bank wanted to invest in the cash-strapped lender because "we will get good returns". He said the failure of any banking institution had huge consequences and that the SBI standing behind it makes a difference. "Any enterprise, irrespective of ownership, is a national asset," he clarified, adding that as the largest bank of the country, SBI had a role to play. He also said that institutions should not suffer for individual's mistake. "YES Bank employees are good and qualified, and they will get relief," said Kumar. He also said the ED raids on YES Bank founder Rana Kapoor's residence would not have any impact on the bank's functioning. Also read: Will RBI increase Yes Bank withdrawal limit to above Rs 50,000? The SBI board gave an "in-principle" approval to invest in the capital-starved Yes Bank on Thursday. "The matter regarding Yes Bank was discussed at the meeting of the central board of bank on Thursday and an in-principle approval has been given by the board to explore investment opportunity in the bank, it said. In its reconstructing scheme, the RBI on Friday said the new value of Yes Bank will be Rs 24,000 crore and that the SBI-led consortium will have to invest at least Rs 11,760 crore to own 49 per cent stake. The apex bank said SBI's investment would be done at a price not less than Rs 10. Also read: Yes Bank crisis: 'I have no clue, have not been involved for 13 months,' says Rana Kapoor A new board will be constituted and the office of the administrator appointed by the RBI will stand vacated when it's done. The RBI said that the employees will continue their services with the same salary and terms as are already applicable for at least a year. The RBI stated that all the offices and branches of Yes Bank will continue to function in the same manner and place as they are currently operating. Also read: YES Bank Collapse: Rana Kapoor faces money laundering charges, ED raids residence Just hours after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced reconstruction of battered Yes Bank, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at residence of the bank's former chairman Rana Kapoor. Sources told Moneycontrol, the ED has conducted searches at Kapoor's residence under the Prevention of Money laundering Act (PMLA) case pertaining with their investigation against DHFL. Yes Bank has exposure in DHFL's non-convertible debenture which was under the scanner of the ED. RBI on March 5 said it is superseding the board of troubled private sector lender Yes Bank with immediate effect. Also Read: Soft and safe landing for Yes Bank; can't have better pedigree than SBI as investor: Rana Kapoor Former State Bank of India CFO Prashant Kumar has been appointed the administrator. "This has been done to quickly restore depositors' confidence in the bank, including by putting in place a scheme for reconstruction or amalgamation," the RBI said in a statement. The central bank has also imposed a moratorium on the private lender till April 3, 2020. Withdrawals from the bank have been capped at Rs 50,000 per depositor. The move by RBI comes nearly six months after it did the same with Mumbai-based Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank. Yes Bank has been grappling with mounting bad loans and has been struggling to raise fresh capital. I realized I was responding to being in a deeply unfamiliar setting but also to being in a society that Hollywood portrays as a continentwide war zone full of machete-wielding militiamen and witch doctors, leaving the impression a lion lurks around every corner, making you feel you always must be on guard. Paranoid State Department travel warnings didnt help matters. The truth is that Senegal is one of the most peaceful places Ive lived. But I did have to travel to other places that were at war. The New York Times had prepared me for the worst of what I might possibly encounter on this new assignment, a safety measure it offers to all of its international correspondents. They offered extra life insurance policies and emergency evacuation insurance and measured me for my own bulletproof vest. They enrolled me in a hostile environments training course where I learned how to treat bullet wounds and mitigate demands for bribes by border police. They gave me a GPS tracker that would emit a ping to help the paper find me anywhere in the world. I filled out forms with proof-of-life questions that only I would know in case I got kidnapped and my captors were to call the office and start making demands. If the bad guys offered my maternal grandmothers middle name, then my employers could trust that they really had me in their clutches. But for me, the best preparation for my new job was reading the criticism of Western reporters who seemed to focus on wars, on disease, on famine, on corruption, on voodoo or wild animals, furthering stereotypes of savagery. Scholars have argued that kind of reporting leads to the perpetuation of a belief that tragedy in Africa, a place presented as so backward seeming, is inevitable and not newsworthy. British Columbia declared an outbreak of the novel coronavirus at a North Vancouver long-term care home on Saturday, saying two elderly residents were recently diagnosed with the virus along with four others in the province. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. British Columbia declared an outbreak of the novel coronavirus at a North Vancouver long-term care home on Saturday, saying two elderly residents were recently diagnosed with the virus along with four others in the province. Chief provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the two cases of COVID-19 follow an earlier diagnosis of a care worker at the Lynn Valley Care Centre, making them especially concerning as examples of community transmission. The care home is now following an outbreak protocol that restricts visitors and imposes "infection control precautions" on all staff interactions at the facility. "We know that the elderly in our communities are at high risk of having severe disease or complications from COVID-19," Henry said, her voice wavering. "...I'm calling on all of us in B.C. to do what we need to do to protect our seniors and elders in our community and to keep them safe." Henry at one point became choked up, pausing mid-sentence as tears streaked her cheeks. "The last two cases really are the most concerning to us," she told reporters in Vancouver. At least 57 people in Canada have the novel coronavirus, with 27 confirmed cases in B.C., 28 in Ontario two of which were announced in the last day and two in Quebec. There are another two presumptive cases in Alberta that have yet to be confirmed by the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg. Henry urged people who feel sick to stay away from work, school and large gatherings, suggesting virtual meetings instead. "We are in an extraordinary situation. If you or your children are sick, stay home, isolate yourself." She categorized the two cases at the care home as community transmission, distinct from imported cases when a traveller contracts the illness abroad before returning home. B.C. said Friday it activated a pandemics co-ordination plan to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak and is prepared to escalate their response if needed. Four of the 27 British Columbians who have tested positive have recovered and three are now in hospital, with one woman in her 80s in an intensive care unit, Henry said. Meanwhile, a growing list of events are being cancelled around the world in anticipation of fewer people travelling to and from infected areas. The women's world hockey championship was slated to begin later this month in Halifax and Truro, N.S., but the tournament was cancelled on Saturday to protect the health of players and fans. Rene Fasel, president of the International Ice Hockey Federation, said teams from eight countries were expected to take part, but travel arrangements were getting complicated. "It's scary," Fasel said, adding that the status of other upcoming international hockey tournaments will be determined next month. The men's world championships are set to open May 8 in Switzerland. "For sure, we are concerned and we are monitoring this." The 2020 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse were similarly cancelled. Canadians planning to travel abroad are also getting hit with demoralizing cancellations. Graham Ereaux, a singer-songwriter with the Nova Scotia-based indie folk band Devarrow, said he was stunned when he learned Friday that the South by Southwest Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, had been cancelled to prevent the spread of the virus. "It's the biggest (musical festival) of its kind in the world," said Ereaux. "It's an emerging artist festival... A main motive for us was to go and get an American booking agent." Ereaux said he's now scrambling to cancel flights, accommodations and other bookings. Canadian health officials are also asking people to avoid cruise ship travel after a cruise liner carrying 237 Canadians reported 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The Grand Princess, which is carrying more than 3,500 passengers and crew, is being held off the coast of San Francisco. U.S officials say they plan to bring the ship to a "non-commercial port." Canadian health officials continue to stress that the risk posed by the novel coronavirus in this country remains low. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam has said most of the cases have been mild, and the patients are self-isolating at home. About seven people are in hospital, but she said that doesn't necessarily mean they are severely ill. Around the country, officials are prioritizing efforts to sanitize places where people gather in close quarters, such as planes, trains, subways and stadiums. And on Saturday Tim Hortons got rid of the cups for its annual "Roll Up the Rim" contest, saying "the current public health environment" means "it's not the right time for team members...to collect rolled up tabs that have been in people's mouths." On the international front, the number of infected people worldwide exceeded 100,000 on Friday. The World Health Organization says most of the new cases had shifted from China to other countries. The virus was first confirmed in China's Hubei province on Jan. 7. About 90 countries have since reported infections. The World Health Organization has warned the virus could spread at a rapid rate in countries that don't have the capability to detect it. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 7, 2020. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version erroneously reported that Roll Up The Rim was being cancelled. In fact, the contest will go ahead without the cups. To answer this often-asked question, it helps to first understand what the term Founding Fathers means. Basically, it is the group of men who worked to create the United States of America. The historical events they influenced took place from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth centuries, and include: The drafting and signing of the U.S. Constitution The drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence Winning independence from Britain Establishing the first 13 colonies of the United States. There is no definitive list of Founding Fathers, but most historians agree that the events took place from 1763 to 1820, and list of political leaders consists of politicians, statemen, other governmental officials. 12. George Washington A portrait of George Washington. Image credit: Rembrandt Peale/Public domain As the nations first president and Father of the Country, George Washington is always at the top of Founding Fathers lists. Washington was also the Continental Armys commander throughout the Revolutionary War. He led the 1787 Constitutional Convention, which established the federal government. 11. Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Frankling. Image courtesy: USCapitol/Flickr.com Benjamin Franklin is also up there. He helped draft the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, and was an ambassador to France. He has also received accolades for his work as a political philosopher, inventor, scientist, writer, and statesman. 10. Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson. Image credit: Rembrandt Peale/Public domain Thomas Jefferson is another important figure here. He penned the Declaration of Independence and is credited with the statements all men are created equal and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. He also served as vice president, and then president in 1801. 9. Samuel Adams A portrait of Samuel Adams. Image credit: John Singleton Copley/Public domain Samuel Adams helped drum up resistance to the British, and probably organized the Boston Tea Party of 1773. He also signed the Declaration of Independence, and later served as governor for Massachusetts. 8. John Adams John Adams. Image credit: Gilbert Stuart/Public domain Second cousin to Samuel Adams, John Adams worked with Ben Franklin to write the Declaration of Independence and traveled with him to France to settle the Treaty of Paris. In 1788, he served as George Washingtons vice president. Adams was also the President of United States from 1797 to 1801. 7. Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton. Image credit: John Trumbull/Public domain Hamilton was a key contributor to the Constitution, and also helped establish the United States financial system. He fought alongside Washington in the Revolutionary War, and was involved with Continental Congress and New York legislature, forming the bulk of the countrys commercial laws. 6. James Madison James Madison. Image credit: GPA Photo Archive/Flickr.com James Madison first served in Virginias state legislature. At 1787s Constitutional Convention, he was the one who designed the means to split the federal government into its legislative, executive, and judicial branches and the system of checks and balances. This is why he is called the Father of the Constitution. He also helped write the Federalist Papers and advocated for the Bill or Rights. He later served as secretary of state for Jefferson and became president in 1808. 5. John Jay John Jay. Image credit: Wikimedia.org Though his name may be less familiar, John Jay is worth mentioning. He was a diplomat to Spain, and also helped John Adams and Ben Franklin with the Treaty of Paris. He wrote part of the Federalist Papers and was secretary of foreign affairs. He was also the very first chief justice for the U.S. Supreme Court, before he became governor of New York. 4. Paul Revere A portrait of Paul Revere. Image credit: John Singleton Copley/Public domain Known for his famous The British are Coming! ride, Paul Revere made this famous journey on April 18, 1775 from Boston to Lexington, Massachusetts. His mission was to let John Hancock and Samuel Adams know that British troops were on their way to arrest them. Revere also played important roles in the Boston Massacre and Tea Party. 3. Thomas Paine Thomas Paine. Image credit: Laurent Dabos/Public domain A renown author, Thomas Paine wrote Age of Reason, Common Sense, and Rights of Man. He was one of the first people to use the term United States of America, and tried to eliminate slavery in the Declaration of Independence and during the Louisiana Purchase. 2. Abigail Adams Abigail Adams. Image credit: Gilbert Stuart/Public domain Many scholars feel that certain Founding Mothers should make the list, starting with Abigail Adams, who was married to John Adams. She advocated for womens rights and womens education, and opposed slavery. She also was her husbands advisor and confidant. The couple was the First Family to live in the White House. Abigail supported her son John Quincy Adams too, and he was elected president in 1824. 1. Dolly Madison Dolly Madison As the fourth first lady of the U.S., Dolly Madison was wed to James Madison. She is best known for her participation in the activities surrounding the War of 1812. Washington, DC was invaded by British troops, and even though James fled the city with his cabinet members, Dolly remained in the White House. Her efforts to ensure the safety of important artwork and documents were widely recognized. She stayed on there, providing an example of the countrys ongoing strength even though much of DC was burned. Looking Back In the 21st century, some consider the very label Founding Fathers to be controversial: In addition to not usually seeing females recognized for their contributions, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were known slave-owners. It is clear that both issues were representative of that time period, but it was not until hundreds of years later that people pointed it out. Political institutions are continually in flux, as is public opinion. There is no question that the Founding Fathers efforts united the 13 colonies and won independence from Britain. They also created the governing documents that established the nations core values and still guide decisions today. Looking back on this centuries later, it is interesting to see it all from todays perspective. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 15:41:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NANJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- East China's Jiangsu Province has announced 10 measures to speed up the technological innovation in culture-related businesses, according to local authorities. Jiangsu will support the applications of key technologies including 5G, artificial intelligence and big data in the cultural industry, and issuing preferential policies for technological cultural programs, according to a policy released by the province Thursday. The new policies encourage cultural enterprises to set up research and development centers in fields including digital films, online games and digital music, actively fostering the new growth engine of the industry. Theater performances, films and television shows are encouraged to be produced with digital techniques, said the policy. The province will provide assistance to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises lower their financing costs during the epidemic, it added. According to the policies, the value of new loans granted to small and micro enterprises in 2020 shall not be less than that of the same period last year, and loans to epidemic-hit technological cultural enterprises shall not be suspended or withdrawn. In recent years, Jiangsu has vigorously promoted the in-depth integration of culture and technology, launching nearly 400 provincial technological culture programs with social investment totaling 6.4 billion yuan (about 924 million U.S. dollars). By Online Desk India's first coronavirus death was confirmed in Karnataka taking the total number of cases to 79. A 76-year-old man from Kalburgi who passed away on Wednesday has been confirmed for COVID-19. Kerala also saw a spike in cases after two more gulf returnees from Kannur and Thrissur tested positive. One Andhra student who tested positive has been admitted to the Government General Hospital in Nellore and his condition is reported to be stable. Earlier, Indian markets suffered a bloodbath after the government shut its doors on visa holders and US President Donald Trump banned all travel from Europe, with the exception of the UK. Over eleven lakh crore of investors wealth was wiped out in trading on Thursday. The Sensex crashed by nearly 3000 points, while the Nifty shed over 860 points. These are levels the two indices have not breached on the lower side since late 2017 and early 2018. The market panic stemmed from the sharp escalation in the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent containment measures announced by the world's major economies, including the United States, India and several European nations. United States President Donald Trump's decision to announce a 30-day ban on all travel from Europe to the US and India announcing the suspension of all visas until April 15 triggered investor panic as the scale of the disruption seems likely to be a lot larger than earlier expected. ALSO READ | 'Wasn't afraid after getting symptoms': How India's first coronavirus patient was cured COVID-19: CHECK THE STATUS OF YOUR STATE HERE In its ongoing drive against drug trafficking, Himachal Pradesh police arrested two Ivorians and a Nigerian from Delhi for allegedly supplying heroin to youth in the state. Ehou Jean Claude (36), Kouakou Cyprien (30) and Chukwu Friday Tobias Nwachukwu (40) were brought to Kullu on Saturday after arresting them from Delhi's Nawada area, Kullu Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said. The SP said the three men were arrested by a six-member police team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Hari Singh of Manali police station. They were charged under Section 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. While Chukwu hails from Nigeria, both Ehou and Kouakou are permanent residents of Ivory Coast, the SP added. Further, Chukwu was also found to be living illegally in India after failing to produce any documents including a passport or visa, the SP said adding that a case was also initiated against him under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act. However, the two Ivorian accused came to India on tourist visa, he added. With this arrest, the number of foreigners caught by police in Kullu for supplying heroin since July last year has risen to 20, the SP pointed out. They include 15 nationals from African countries with all of them still in jail, he further said. The three accused were found supplying heroin during investigation of a case registered on March 4 at Manali police stating in Kullu district where two youth - Suraj and Praveen - had been arrested after being charged under Sections 21 and 29 of the NDPS Act, he said. The SP said the probe revealed that the three accused had sold 12.1 grams of heroin to Praveen on March 3, which was also recovered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday appointed a federal court judge as the nations top lawyer amid questions over how the new government would pursue ongoing trials against key figures linked to the multibillion-dollar theft at state fund 1MDB. Yassins office announced that Judge Idrus Harun would be the new attorney-general on the same day that the nations anti-corruption chief confirmed that she had tendered her resignation, the second senior official to quit after the ruling alliance led by Mahathir Mohamad collapsed last week. Idrus appointment came after the king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, also known as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, had accepted Tommy Thomas application to shorten his service as attorney-general. The government wishes to record its gratitude to Tan Sri Tommy Thomas for his service to the country during his tenure of office as Attorney-General, a statement from the prime ministers office said, using an honorific. Thomas, who filed corruption charges against former Prime Minister Najib Razak over the 1MDB financial scandal, resigned last week saying he had to step aside and give way to the new government to appoint his successor since he was a political appointee. His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to the appointment of Tan Sri Idrus bin Harun, the Federal Court Judge, as the new Attorney-General for a two-year term effective March 6, 2020, the statement added. Latheefa Koya, chief of the Anti-Corruption Commission, said she was not pressured to resign. Speculation that pressure was brought up upon me was baseless, she said in a statement Friday, emphasizing that her decision would allow her to work again as a human rights advocate. Latheefa and Thomas were appointed by Mahathir after his Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition brought down Najibs corruption-tainted government in 2018. Their decisions to quit came after a change in government that surprised the nation following a week of political infighting and horse-trading that led to Mahathirs resignation. Mahathir resigned, saying he refused to work with graft-tainted politicians. He also accused the new governing coalition of joining forces with kleptocrats embroiled in the embezzlement of money from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). As I had repeatedly stated, I am against any form of cooperation with individuals who are known to be corrupt and was part of the kleptocratic administration which the Pakatan Harapan government had worked hard to rid off, Mahathir said in his Feb. 29 statement. Mahathir, who was ousted as prime minister as a result of the realignment of political affiliations that required the kings intervention, had accused Najib and his party United Malays National Organization (UMNO) of engineering the political crisis to avoid conviction in his 1MBD-related cases. Muhyiddin came to power after his Bersatu party formed an alliance with UMNO, the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and other parties. If Najib can be part of the government now, he can do all sorts of things to free himself, Mahathir told reporters on Sunday. It was not immediately clear how Muhyiddin reacted to Latheefas resignation. The Prime Ministers Office did not immediately respond to a BenarNews phone call seeking comments. The resignations raised questions on the future of the 1MDB trials. But Cynthia Gabriel, director of the anti-corruption watchdog C4 Centre in Kuala Lumpur, told reporters that the worst-case scenario is that these grand corruption trials will be dropped through judicial interference and more. Latheefa said that she had a meeting with Muhyiddin on Thursday during which she discussed the ongoing efforts to recover the stolen 1MDB funds. He was fully supportive of these actions, she said in a one-page statement issued to media. Local reports said MACCs deputy chief commissioner of operation, Azam Baki, would take over Latheefas place starting Monday. Latheefa announced her resignation a day after she testified in court about recordings of phone calls released by her office that she said included Najib, his wife, Rosmah, and various individuals linked to the 1MDB probe. Rosmah, 68, and Najib, 66, are at the center of a wide-ranging corruption probe into 1MDB. After Mahathir took power, he barred the couple from leaving the country and authorities raided their properties, confiscating up to U.S. $273 million in cash, jewelry and luxury handbags that, critics said, symbolized the couples ostentatious lifestyle. Najib is also facing 42 counts of graft, breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering related to allegations that about $4.5 billion had been siphoned off from 1MDB, which he founded in 2009. If found guilty, Najib could spend the rest of his life in prison. Prosecutors also filed three counts of corruption against Rosmah in November 2018. Among other things, Latheefa was asked about her intention in revealing the audio to the public. It contains a very serious matter of public interest, local newspapers quoted her as saying. It reveals conversations where members of the government and institutions were involved in conspiring to cover up certain investigations against persons. It was outside a Dunnes Stores in Dublin three years ago that newly co-opted local councillor Kevin Meenan started to realise his life was spiraling dramatically into the unknown. Earlier that day, the 47-year-old had gone to the Beaumont Hospital at the urgent request of his doctor. He had, for some time, been experiencing difficulties walking, which manifested itself in numbness and something called 'foot-drop' in his left leg - basically an inability to lift your foot off the ground at times. His partner felt it was something he should be concerned about, and so he went to get it checked out, eventually. When youre walking, its like youre dragging it (the leg) a bit, Cllr Meenan says of the symptoms he felt. I noticed one day, I was walking funny and I fell that day and I thought I broke my leg. I rang my partner and she came home and they were asking me up in the hospital, what happened to you? How did you fall? and I said I didnt know, but I was walking funny all day. Then, when I got off the crutches a week later, I was still doing the same thing and I remember being in Tescos, and my daughter was way off ahead of me and I was trying to keep up with her and the more I was doing it, I was thinking thats not right. I said it to my partner the next day - it was Mothers Day actually - will you look at the way Im walking here, its not right? He continues: We were sitting down that evening and I turned around and I said: that wont lift (pointing to his leg) and she said: thats foot-drop, you need to go and get that seen to. So I went to the doctors on Tuesday. He checked all the signs and he said: Beaumont, tomorrow morning. After a series of tests that day in the Beaumont he was told that he wasnt going to be going home that night, as initially expected. There was something more going on. We went up and met a doctor and he didnt really understand what it was, and then we were hanging around for a bit of the day and then he came back into me and walked me through a corridor. Then he stopped to watch me from behind and the man in front said: keep coming and walk towards me and he was a neurologist and he said: it could be one of two things - it could be your back, but your eye has dropped, did you know that?. He then added: I want to go away and talk to some people and were going to send you for an MRI. So we were sitting there that day, it was around 5pm and he came back in and he called me into the room and I knew then it wasn't going to be great. He said: its not your back, we want to keep you. I was there: Ah sure Ill come back and they said: no youre staying, youre admitted through neurology. Cllr Meenan smiles when he remembers what was on his mind at that moment: I had an interview for a job in a bakery in Annagassan and they rang me when I was there (in the hospital), I said: Ill ring you on Monday. I remember saying to the doctor, Ive an interview on Monday and he said: youre going nowhere. You wont be doing anything. An emergency dash to the aforementioned nearby Dunnes Stores to pick up clothing for what would turn out to be a longer spell of testing, waiting and worrying followed. Probably one of the worst things you can do is Google things and youre doing all these tests - MS, Motor Neurons Disease (MND) and youre going through them all. That initial hospital stay brought with it difficult, darker moments, says Cllr Meenan, as he reflects on it now, three years on. I remember lying in the hospital and I knew just the way the people were going about me, the way thered always be doctors around you, coming in and they were walking away and chatting and coming back, and youre sort of saying: this is not great, you know? He adds: The body language isnt great. Youre studying everything and theyre not having conversations in front of you, theyre walking away. The consultant came in and she was looking at my eye again and coming back again. And they did all the tests that you would get done if you had MND and you get the needles into your legs. He continues: They did another where they sent electrical pulses into your legs. I read about them the night before, that they were horrific tests, but actually, they werent. I was prepared for the pain barrier. The tests continued, but a definitive diagnosis of the problem was not found. He was able to return home, but he, and the doctors, were still none the wiser. He was a sitting local councillor with Sinn Fein throughout all this, but he decided - after much thought - that he needed to fully focus on his health and his family. He stepped aside. So then it was back and forwards for the next six months and in between that the party (Sinn Fein) were looking for who would be standing again (in the the next local elections) and my family were saying: take a break and come out of it. I didnt know what lay in store, so there was no point in me saying Ill go ahead, and sometimes you might not get a diagnosis for a year and then youre diagnosed straight away. So, I just said lets concentrate on my health. He had a lot of time for reflection then, he says. The other thing is, youre running around and youre doing this and doing that, and whos around the bottom of your bed? Your family. And you dont have that much time for them because youre doing this and doing that. The weeks, and the months ticked by. Kevin admits that he withdrew somewhat. I wanted to stay at home. I didnt want to bump into people or see people, because Im not one for how are you? I would meet a lot of people in town and Im not going through answering this question a hundred times a day. I only went from there (his home) to my mum's house. Eventually, the doctors returned with news around October 2017. They came back and said there is something there, maybe the pains and numbness in the hands was rheumatoid arthritis and I had to see a rheumatologist. That, coupled with whatever happened the peripheral nerve, had mimicked something that was more serious. They (the doctors) were happy enough because I went to a physio, I did everything. Id be at home every night doing all the exercises and I was looking at it (the leg) and thinking: why isn't that going up? and it wasnt sore and when I was in the hospital it wasnt sore at all. You know the way you know theres something wrong with you, but youre not even sore? And sometimes that can be worse. So, Im going to see a rheumatologist next month - took me two years to see one, he adds. Three years on from that Mothers Day in 2017, newly co-opted Sinn Fein councillor Kevin Meenan sits across the table sipping tea and unravelling that six month period of his life. After the news from the doctors and an extended period of recovery and rest, Kevin says he started to dip his toe back into community work. I wanted to be active, he says firmly. A youth work job came up, doing cultural awareness in Muirhevnamor, I knew the organisation that got the tender for it and they wanted me to do it because I would know everybody and I could hit the ground running ahead of everybody else. I don't want to sit at home. Im 47. I still consider myself fairly young and active. Ive always been active and held two jobs down. The youth work job is coming to an end now and the funny way things pan out, Ruairi (O Murchu) gets TD and it frees up the seat and they were looking for someone to do it. It took a lot of discussion and soul-searching with his family, before he committed to re-entering local politics. My partner wasnt keen on it at the start, but my daughter was very keen into it and I just thought it could be a good thing to keep her on track as well. And I just thought maybe the timing is right. I always believe in faith and maybe this came at the right time for me. I (had) said no, no, no and I really only indicated to the party on the day of the count (recent general election) that I would go back. Thats the day we (Kevin and his family) decided: okay, were doing it. So, what are his plans now that hes back? Its still a strange feeling being back there. Im taking it a day at a time. Im not going in with any mad, grand plans. I know Ill pick up my speed as things go along. These are things I would have said to other councillors throughout the years. I would have seen councillors come in and Id say: its not a race. Its a five year race, dont burn yourself out in the first year and issues will come to you that you don't see. The interview is drawing to a close. The teapot is drained and a days work is still to be done. Kevin sums up his health scare just before we leave. It was pretty sobering. Youre up there (in the hospital) thinking what was the last 20 years about?. Why did I not go and see people quicker? Do things differently. Silly things like that. I could see myself running around working and not even calling in to see my mum. And I would suggest that to anyone - lifes too short. CECC isolates 103 for contact with Australian COVID-19 case ROC Central News Agency 03/06/2020 07:05 PM Taipei, March 6 (CNA) The Taiwanese authorities have placed 103 people under home isolation after they had contact with an Australian classical musician who was diagnosed with COVID-19 following a Feb. 23-March 2 visit to Taiwan, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Friday. At a CECC press conference, Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang () said 147 people have been identified as having had contact with the man, who performed at the National Concert Hall in Taipei on Feb. 28 and March 1. While the CECC declined to name the man, he was identified in media reports as the composer and violist Brett Dean, which has since been confirmed by his agents. According to Chuang, the CECC has placed 103 people under home isolation in connection with the case, including 19 National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) musicians, 17 hotel staff, 15 drivers, eight reporters, three of the man's friends and 18 passengers on the flight he took to Taiwan. The remaining 23 people under isolation orders are audience members who came within two meters of the man during his Feb. 28 performance, Chuang said, adding that others who attended the performances should practice 14-day self-health management. Regarding the man's case, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung () said the overall risk of transmission is low, given that he spent most of his time in his hotel and conducting rehearsals, and did not use public transportation. Despite the low risk level, Chen said the CECC has asked all NSO members who are employed as teachers to suspend classes for a period of two weeks. Asked whether the CECC would make public the man's movements, as it did with an Indonesian caregiver who contracted the virus in late February, Chen said that given the limited amount of time the man spent in public places, such a move was not warranted. According to details the CECC provided on Thursday, the 58-year old musician departed London Feb. 22, and entered Taiwan the next day after transiting through Bangkok. On Feb. 27, he sought medical attention at a clinic after developing a cough and runny nose, before departing Taiwan on EVA Air's flight BR315 to Brisbane on Monday. During the press conference, Chuang said the symptoms the man sought treatment for did not meet COVID-19 screening standards, and he was diagnosed with a common cold at the time. The CECC said Thursday that the case was likely imported, as the man was already suffering from a mild cough when he arrived in Taiwan. As of Friday, Taiwan had recorded 45 cases of COVID-19, including one fatality and 12 who have been discharged from the hospital after mandatory quarantine periods. The Australian man's case, which was diagnosed following his departure from Taiwan, is not reflected in Taiwan's overall figure. (By Chen Chih-chung, Chang Ming-hsuan and Matthew Mazzetta) Enditem/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By AFP VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis decided to deliver Sunday's prayer by livestream and Italy called in retired doctors as the new coronavirus epidemic gathered strength, emptying streets in Europe's worst affected country. The 83-year-old pontiff broke with centuries of tradition by enlisting the help of technology to keep crowds from descending on Saint Peter's Square for the traditional Angelus Prayer. "The prayer will be broadcast via livestream by Vatican News and on screens in Saint Peter's Square," the Vatican said in a statement. It had originally promised to review the Argentine-born pope's schedule "to avoid the dissemination" of the new COVID-19 disease. The Vatican appears to believe that the pope's absence from his traditional spot at the window will keep the crowds on the vast square down and the threat of contagion low. The pope himself has been out of action for more than a week with a cold. The Vatican is in the process of unrolling unprecedented health precautions designed to keep the city state's 450 mostly elderly residents safe. It recorded its first COVID-19 infection on Thursday and was awaiting the results of a test on another person who appeared at a Vatican-organised event last month. That conference was also attended by Microsoft President Brad Smith and European Parliament President David Sassoli. The Vatican said all those present were being notified about the test as a precaution. Coalition leader gets virus The Italian government has found itself at the forefront of the global fight against an epidemic that has convulsed the markets and paralysed global supply chains since first emerging in China late last year. Ministers decided at an all-night emergency meeting to call in retired doctors as part of an effort to bolster the strained healthcare system with 20,000 additional staff. Italy recorded 36 more deaths on Saturday and has now seen 233 die from COVID-19 in two weeks -- the most outside China itself. The head of the Italian ruling coalition's junior partner became the latest high-profile figure to confirm they had been infected. "I am fine," the Democratic Party's Nicola Zingaretti said on Facebook. "I will have to stay at home for the next few days." The accelerating spread of the illness emptied Italian train stations and turned usually thronged parts of Rome into a ghost town. Many of the city's outdoor restaurants and cafes were either closed on Friday night or had free tables overseen by forlorn staff with little to do but chat. The street that runs from Rome's Colosseum along the Forum was deserted and the magnificent ruins stood in their natural splendour -- without being swarmed by tourists -- on a sunny Saturday afternoon. "The situation here in Rome really is catastrophic," city guide Francesca Sposito told AFP outside the Colosseum. "I think the newspapers have really exaggerated things and scared people away." 'Focus on containment' The sharp drop in visitor numbers is wreaking havoc with the Italian tourism industry and contributing to fears that the anaemic economy is about to tip back into recession. But the government's most immediate concern is the threat of infections that had been largely contained to pockets of the richer north, spreading to the poorer and the south where medical services are weaker. The World Health Organization urged the Italian government to keep "a strong focus on containment measures". The government said its medical recruitment drive should increase the number of intensive care beds from 5,000 to 7,500 in the coming days. The number of Italians receiving intensive care treatment for COVID-19 reached 567 on Saturday. Italy's relatively high mortality rate of 3.96 may be explained by its relatively older population. Most of Italian victims have been in their 80s and 90s. The rate in South Korea - A new weekend-long music festival will take place in County Wexford this year in honour of the legendary uilleann piper, Leo Rowsome. Born in 1903, Mr Rowsome was the third generation in an unbroken line of uilleann pipers and he was also a manufacturer and teacher of the instrument. At the recent meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council, District Manager, Ger Mackey, said a new festival is planned for the weekend of September 18 to 20, during which the life of Mr Rowsome will be celebrated. The event will take place in Ferns, near the Rowsome family's ancestral home. At the meeting Mr Mackey said: 'It's proposed that the Municipal District will organise the inaugural Leo Rowsome Weekend in Ferns.' 'This inaugural event will celebrate the contribution that Leo Rowsome made to traditional Irish music and in particular the uilleann pipes,' he said. Mr Mackey acknowledged the fact that Mr Rowsome was credited with keeping alive the tradition of pipe making and playing during the formative years of the Irish state. 'It is appropriate that the [local authority] would commemorate this extraordinary exponent of traditional Irish music on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his death,' said Mr Mackey. If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear. George Orwell PR-Inside.com: 2020-03-07 12:09:36 Press Information William Hanna !4 Howley Place, London W2 1XA William Hanna Author +44 797 996 2050 email http://www.https://www.williamhannaauthor.com Published by William Hanna 447979962050 e-mail https://www.williamhannaauthor.com # 307 Words !4 Howley Place, London W2 1XAAuthor+44 797 996 2050William Hanna447979962050 Haunted by the Spectre of a Nazi Past, the German People Cannot Ignore the Crimes Committed by Israel?Every person shall have the right freely to express and disseminate his opinions in speech, writing, and pictures and to inform himself without hindrance from generally accessible sources. Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship. Basic law of the German Constitution, Article 5 (1)With Germany being one of the acknowledged leaders of the European Union, the German people though still haunted by the spectre of a Nazi past while being blackmailed by a pernicious Holocaust Industry nonetheless have a responsibility to themselves and the rest of humanity to unconditionally condemn and oppose any racial ideology that asserts its own people are superior and/or Gods chosen. This onerous responsibility has recently become even more pressing as a consequence of the world leadership vacuum created by the United States an already morally decrepit superpower subservient to the dictates of an Apartheid Jewish State which recently further diminished its world standing and relinquished any semblance of national character and fortitude by electing a deranged buffoon for President.In fairness, however, the reality of the U.S. now resembling George Orwells 1984 with a government persecuting individualism and independent thinking as a thoughtcrime to be enforced by a Thought Police [AIPAC] cannot be blamed entirely on the unstatesmanlike buffoonery of the incumbent President. This is because subservience to the pro-Israel lobby has over a period of many decades become the hallmark of successive U.S. governments as has just occurred with the condemnation of a State Department report blaming Israel for terrorism and claiming that Palestinians rarely incite attacks.To continue reading the rest of this article please click on the following link: https://bit.ly/38rsVnL Officials in California were deciding Saturday where to dock a cruise ship with 21 coronavirus cases aboard and four US universities canceled in-person classes as Western countries imitate China by imposing travel controls and shutting down public events to contain the outbreak. The Grand Princess cruise ship was waiting off San Francisco with 3,500 people aboard. Authorities want it to go to a non-commercial port for everyone aboard to be tested amid evidence the ship was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of 10 cases during an earlier voyage. Those that will need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those who will require medical help will receive it, said Vice President Mike Pence. President Donald Trump, speaking at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said he would have preferred not to let the passengers disembark onto American soil but would defer to the recommendations of medical experts. In Egypt, a cruise ship on the Nile with more than 150 passengers and crew was under quarantine in the southern city of Luxor after 12 people tested positive for the virus. The passengers include American, French and Indian travelers. A Taiwanese-American passenger tested positive after returning to Taiwan in February, Egyptian health authorities said. A health official said the 12 people who tested positive were isolated inside the ship while the rest await results. The incident raised Egypt's total number of cases to 15. Also Saturday, the port of Penang in Malaysia turned away the cruise ship Costa Fortuna with 2,000 passengers and crew because there were 64 people aboard from Italy, the center of Europe's epidemic. It was the second port to reject the ship after Phuket in Thailand on Friday. The Costa Fortuna was making its way to Singapore, according to Phee Boon Poh, an executive councilor of Penang state. The global death toll has risen past 3,400, with more than 100,000 cases reported. South Korea, the hardest-hit country outside China, reported 448 new cases for a total of 7,041. China, where the disease first emerged in December, reported 99 new cases on Saturday, its first daily increase of less than 100 since Jan. 20. The government reported 28 deaths in the 24 hours through midnight Friday. China has 22,177 patients in treatment and has released 55,404. The epidemic appears to be easing in China but countries elsewhere are reporting increasing numbers of cases. The World Health Organization has warned against false hopes that the disease will fade when warmer summer weather arrives in northern countries. The Netherlands reported its first virus death Friday. Serbia and Slovakia in Europe, Peru and Colombia in Latin America and Togo and Cameroon in Africa announced their first infections. Authorities in Florida reported the first two U.S. deaths away from the West Coast. They said the two patients were in their 70s and one had underlying health problems. The University of Washington and two other universities said campuses in Seattle would hold classes online instead of in-person. Stanford University, south of San Francisco, announced similar plans. Also in Seattle, Starbucks announced an employee of one of its cafes was diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. The company said the store would reopen after a deep clean. On Saturday, South Korean officials said a Korean Air flight attendant who was in Los Angeles on Feb. 18-21 has tested positive for the coronavirus. The 36-year-old woman began suffering fever and muscle pain on Feb. 27, said Mayor Baek Kun-ki of Yongin, a city near Seoul, on Facebook. Officials at Korean Air didn't respond to repeated phone calls. The woman in Yongin was the second Korean Air flight attendant to test positive for the virus. The earlier case was a flight attendant who worked on a flight from Israel to South Korea on Feb. 15-16. The 100,000 figure of global infections dwarfs other major outbreaks such as SARS, MERS and Ebola. The virus is still much less widespread than annual flu epidemics, which cause up to 5 million severe cases around the world and 290,000 to 650,000 deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization. Governments have imposed restrictions on visitors from China, South Korea, Italy and Iran. In Switzlerand, which reported 210 new cases Friday, the military was being readied to provide support services at hospitals. Serbia said it might deploy the army. The top U.N. climate change official said her agency won't hold meetings in person until the end of April. French Health Minister Olivier Veran said children would be banned from visiting patients in hospitals and other health facilities. He said patients would be allowed one adult visitor at a time. Spanish officials announced a monthlong closure of 200 centers in and around Madrid where the elderly go for daytime care and activities. The global economy faces mounting damage due to anti-virus controls that shut down much of China's economy and are disrupting travel and trade worldwide. Airlines, hotels, cinemas and other businesses have lost billions of dollars in potential revenue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If oil fails to quickly recover from a recent collapse that saw prices plummet 30 percent Monday morning, thousands of Houston jobs are in danger and the prospects are raised of a second industry downturn in five years. Brent crude fell nearly 23 percent to $34.89 while West Texas Intermediate crude fell 9.7 percent to $31.57 as of about 8 a.m. Monday, the biggest same-day loss since the first Gulf War in January 1991. The crash, which started when a global glut was made worse by the economic effects of the new coronavirus, capped Friday when OPEC and its allies failed to reach a deal with Russia to cut production during meetings in Vienna. Crude prices plummeted on the news, with the U.S. benchmark closing down 9 percent at $41.28 per barrel a price not seen since April 2016, while the international benchmark, Brent, also settled 9 percent lower at $45.86. Many U.S. companies, especially those in Texas, need crude prices at about $50 to break even, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Monday's plunge was the largest same-day loss since the first Gulf War in January 1991. If the price of West Texas Intermediate rests at $40 per barrel for two or more quarters, the Houston area could shed about 14,000 oil and gas jobs, said Bill Gilmer, an economist with the University of Houston. Job losses in the industry, which employs more than 265,000 in the region, could rise to 19,000 when including layoffs already caused by the price of crude stuck between $50 and $60 for almost all of last year. Oil employment moves very slowly in Houston, Gilmer said. For the whole process to work out, it takes four, five or even six quarters. NEWS IN YOUR INBOX: Sign up for breaking news email alerts from HoustonChronicle.com here Though there is almost no oil drilling in the Houston area, the region employs the technical experts, office workers and equipment manufacturers. Metal shops, fabricators and equipment manufacturers will be the sector to watch, Gilmer said. Thats where jobs will be lost first, he added. The U.S. benchmark has fallen 35 percent since its high this year of $63.27 on Jan. 6, a week after the new coronavirus was identified. Prices will continue to fall until production is reduced, said Bob McNally, president of Maryland consulting firm Rapidan Energy Group, in a statement. The depth of the oil bust from 2014 to 2016 saw prices drop to about $26 per barrel before OPEC cut production and restored market balance. Without that signal that whistled investors back, prices wouldve kept falling, McNally said. Fuel Fix: Get energy news sent directly to your inbox Production needs to be cut by about 2 million barrels per day to stabilize prices, Norwegian energy research firm Rystad Energy estimates. But where those cuts will come from remains up in the air. The 14 OPEC countries sought to cut production by 1.5 million barrels a day, with nonmember allies such as Russia absorbing 500,000 barrels of that cut. Russia, however, refused, and OPEC officials adjourned their meeting Friday. In the meantime, U.S. oil production has grown to more than 13 million barrels per day, with the Permian Basin in West Texas and eastern New Mexico pumping out about 4.8 million barrels each day, according to the Energy Department. Irving-based Exxon Mobils discovery off the coast of Guyana is expected to add 750,000 barrels per day starting in 2025. OPECs failure to cut production combined with slumping global demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak is a double whammy for the industry, said Ann-Louise Hittle, of energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. But the effects could be more pronounced for the U.S. shale industry, which had already squeezed 2020 drilling and completion budgets, she said. A sustained bout of low oil prices will further reduce cash flow and investment into the U.S. oil patch, causing further hits to Lower 48 production growth later this year, Hittle said in a statement. It takes at least six to nine months for reductions in spending to lead to lower oil production in the U.S. Lower 48. More: Read the latest oil and gas news from HoustonChronicle.com While the industry braces for several weeks of $40 oil or lower, it appears confident to be able to shake short-term effects of the coronavirus. Nearly 35 percent of industry investors expect the coronavirus to peak in the U.S. in May, and a majority believes Chinas economy will be back to normal by summer, according to a survey by New York investment banking advisory firm Evercore. Ups and downs are part of the oil and natural gas business, and companies have proven themselves nimble and innovative in challenging times, Texas Oil & Gas Association President Todd Staples said. We have to remember that not five years ago, oil prices were half what they are today, and free-market principles, science-based regulations and ingenuity helped Texas operators weather the downturn. During the 2014 to 2016 downturn, the industry tightened spending, adopted cost-cutting technology to reduce expenses and increased automation. This time around, the industry may seek to lean on artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to improve efficiencies and lower costs at drilling and production sites. American oil and gas provides our allies with safe and clean energy, while protecting our national security interests, American Exploration & Production Council CEO Anne Bradbury said. Sound regulations and policies that enable U.S. independent producers to continue leading the world in energy development are needed to ensure that our allies do not need to rely on Russian-produced energy and that our country retains the energy independence we sought for decades. sergio.chapa@chron.com twitter.com/sergiochapa Searching for a holiday destination around 8 March, International Women's Day, could draw our attention to places where women's rights have a special significance. The historical bravery of mothers, wives and daughters has led to a famous annual event in a village near Segovia, while on an Estonian island women rule all year round. Zamarramala The beauty of the magnificent Segovia is best seen from outside - from the hill where the village of Zamarramala is. Now part of the municipality of Segovia, until 1970 Zamarramala was an independent village with its unusual customs. A fiesta to remember brave women Zamarramala is a village in the municipality of Segovia, situated in Castilla y Leon. In the past, it had its own town council. In the 1970s it became part of Segovia. There are 512 people living in Zamarramala. To this day Zamarramala is famous for its women's tradition. For centuries every February a festival known as Festival de Santa Agueda (St Agatha's Day) has been celebrated here with pomp by the local women. They take total power, albeit for one day only. As for the local men, they take this women's superiority easy as they consider it as a sort of Thanksgiving Day. The women really deserved their thanks in 1227. The Moors had occupied the Alcazar fortress in Segovia. While the men were preparing to attack and reconquer the fortress, the women of Zamarramala risked their lives to distract its occupants by entertaining them with dancing. Since then the feat of those women has been remembered as a festival. Every year on the Sunday after 5 February the guests of honour wear special striped skirts, extravagant earrings and other various relics. On that day, the women of Zamarramala are not only honoured, but they are entitled to govern the village. This years symbolic alcaldesas take over from the mayor of Segovia. / SUR According to the tradition, they elect two women to be the Alcaldesas (mayors) - to run the city's affairs during the day. At the end of the day a man is ceremonially burned by the women - they set fire to a stuffed effigy representing a man in the main square. This has come to represent the women's rebellion against a male-dominated society. Thanks to this local Women's Day, Zamarramala has been declared as a place of national tourist interest. The island of Kihnu, Estonia On 8 March millions of women will call for equality and to draw attention to the challenges they still have to face in many areas of daily life. But life on the Estonian island of Kihnu, lost in the Baltic Sea, is quiet. Nothing special happens on International Women's Day because the spirit of the day is here throughout the year, as it has been for decades and even centuries. The local women don't need to struggle for equality and demand their rights because on Kihnu they already have them. Since ancient times, people on the island have lived under women's rule. The Kihnu women began to govern the island at the same time as men started fishing. The fishermen used to go out to sea for months at a time, leaving the women on their own. One of the last matriachal societies The island of Kihnu is part of one of the smallest municipalities in Estonia. The size of Kihnu is 16.4 square kilometres: length - 7km and width - 3.3 km. There are 604 people living on the island. On the island there are four villages - Saare, Lemsi, Rootsikula and Linakula. So they had to learn to manage without men's help. In order to survive, the local women eventually took over the control. In the end this little island in the Baltic Sea became home to one of the world's last matriarchal societies. Today all this feminism on Kihnu is more associated with folk traditions than with female dominance. Thanks to the women, the unique culture has been preserved. Even nowadays the Kihnu women proudly wear "kort" - traditional homespun woollen vertically striped skirts, as well as ornamented mittens and "troi", symbolising the ethnicity. The Kihnu women often gather at the community centre to play games and for almost non-stop dancing and singing traditional songs. That is mainly why 17 years ago Unesco proclaimed the island Kihnu as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Kihnu is often called a women's paradise. So, after the regular struggle for equality in society here in Spain, women may do well to relax by spending some time on the island where to be a woman is synonymous with strength and power. The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) on Saturday said it has registered a case against Aastha Apparels Pvt Ltd and others for fraudulently claiming refunds on export of goods of over Rs 61 crore. "DGGI booked a case on March 6, 2020 against Aastha Apparels Pvt Ltd & others. Aforesaid companies have fraudulently claimed IGST refunds on export of goods to the tune of more than Rs 61 crore," the Finance Ministry said in a release. The intelligence directorate said the Aastha Apparels Pvt Ltd and others availed input tax credit (ITC) fraudulently on the basis of invoices received from non-existent or non-functional firms or from companies which have indulged in circular trading. DGGI said two directors of the exporting companies have been arrested on March 7, 2020 under Section 69(1) of CGST Act, 2017 for offences under provisions of Sections 132(1)(b) and 132(1)(c) of the CGST Act 2017. "The said firms/companies also did not have commensurate purchases backwards. It has been further revealed that the supplier companies to these exporter companies are controlled and managed by few persons only and they are also engaged in claiming of suspect IGST refunds," said the release. These companies have created a complex web of circular trading among themselves without commensurate payments or actual supplies of goods to pass on ineligible ITC to the exporters, it added. Role of suppliers and other persons associated with these Exporters is under investigation. "Further investigations in the matter are in progress," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five-year-old Autumns sick day became a bit more exciting when her dad, Victor Peoro, set up a pretend roller coaster experience for her right in their living room in Hellertown, Pennsylvania. Peoro played a video taken on the Toy Story ride at Disney World as he picked up Autumn in tote bag and moved her around according to the roller coasters path. Autumn can be heard laughing as her dad mimicked sound effects to match the twists and turns of the ride. She had the flu, so I wanted to give her a good time by pretending she was on the roller coaster, Peoro told Storyful. Credit: Victor Peoro via Storyful Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Patrick Ziegenhain (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 Just recently we witnessed a change of government in Malaysia. It did not happen through elections but because a relatively small group of parliament members crossed the floor from the government camp to the opposition camp so that the latter had a majority in the Dewan Rakyat, the national parliament of Malaysia. At first view, this is not a tragedy but quite a common procedure in a parliamentary system where, in contrast to presidential systems of government like in Indonesia or the United States, the government relies on the constant support of a parliamentary majority. In 2018, for example, the prime ministers of Spain and Sweden, Mariano Rajoy and Stefan Lofven, were removed from their positions after motions of no confidence were successful. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. The nation's jails and prisons are on high alert, stepping up inmate screenings, sanitizing jail cells and urging lawyers to scale back in-person visits to prevent the new coronavirus from spreading through their vast inmate populations. There have been no reports of COVID-19 inside U.S. jails or prisons. But more people are incarcerated per capita here than in any other country in the world and prisons have become hot spots in other nations touched by the outbreak. Coronavirus suddenly exploded in China's prisons last week, with reports of more than 500 cases spreading across five facilities in three provinces. Earlier this week in Iran, 54,000 inmates were temporarily released back into the country amid virus fears. Jail operators in the U.S. are coming to the growing realization that it's only a matter of time before it strikes here. Jails are, you know, just prime opportunities for something like this to spread, said Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington, the president of the Louisiana Sheriff's Association. I'm a realist and I suspect more than likely sometime it's going to pop up in somebody's jail. Health officials have been warning for more than a decade about the dangers of outbreaks in jails and prisons, which are ideal environments for virus outbreaks: Inmates share small cells with total strangers, use toilets just a few feet from their beds, and are herded into day rooms where they spend hours at a time together. Practicing even the most simple hygiene, such as washing hands, is not a given in such environments. Hand sanitizer is often treated as contraband because it contains alcohol. Inmates go in groups to court, where they wait together in cramped holding areas. Many are poor, meaning that when they're released they often must get on public buses or trains to get home. Reports of illness spreading in a jail are fairly common, and occasionally outbreaks of influenza have required quarantine. Most often, the numbers of inmates who come down with the flu at the same time don't climb higher than a couple of dozen, but there have been exceptions. In 2013, an outbreak of the stomach flu at Cook County Jail in Chicago, the largest single site jail in the U.S., prompted the quarantine of 700 inmates. We are used to dealing with this kind of thing like flu outbreaks that a lot of places aren't," said Brad Curry, the chief of staff for the Cook County Sheriff's Office, which operates the jail. After the swine flu outbreak in 2009, which infected hundreds of prisoners across the country, most prison systems did create pandemic preparation plans. Before worries of the coronavirus, the Philadelphia Prisons Department had a medical quarantine for inmates coming into its system, which houses about 4,600 inmates. New detainees go through a medical screening and are segregated for at least 10 to 14 days while they wait for the results of any medical tests, said James Garrow, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. The screening has since been updated to include COVID-19, not only in Philadelphia, but also in Dallas, Houston, Miami, Chicago and other cities. No prisons have yet obtained the medical kits to test for the virus, however. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has instituted a new screening tool that includes question about whether inmates or staff members have traveled through any risk countries, had close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 or been deployed to areas with the virus within two weeks. The tool, obtained by The Associated Press, also looks to assess possible symptoms, including fever, cough and shortness of breath. But only about 175,000 of the nation's more than 2 million incarcerated people are detained in federally run facilities. The rest are held in hundreds of prisons, jails and immigration detention centers around the country. Local city and county correctional facilities bear the brunt of screening incoming prisoners because those facilities are often the first stop while someone awaits court hearings or arraignments on local, state or federal charges. Local corrections officials realize they're on the front lines of possible outbreaks and are working on protective measures. In New York City, the Department of Correction is cleaning and sanitizing cells, common spaces, showers and transport buses more regularly. Anyone sick at Rikers Island, the notorious New York City jail where Harvey Weinstein is being held, is screened and could be sent to an area hospital or the department's communicable disease unit. In Miami, any newly arrested person suspected of having the virus will be diverted to a hospital, said Corrections and Rehabilitation Department spokeswoman Dominique Moody. She said the department has also secured space for a medical quarantine for any of the 3,900 inmates already in custody if it becomes necessary. Prison staff are being trained in many facilities on how to recognize symptoms and are being given supplies for protection, such as masks, gloves and eye protection. Officials in Philadelphia, meanwhile, are working to secure more money to cover costs if city employees, including jail guards, need to stay home sick. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Griffith University criminologist Dr Danielle Harris. A national public register of child sex offenders in Australia would be a "massive disaster" by bringing a false sense of security and possibly identify victims, Griffith University criminologist Danielle Harris says. She said Australia's criminal justice system was consistent with cutting-edge research. "It will be difficult for those convicted to re-integrate into society and it has the potential to identify past victims and survivors of abuse," she said. "It also creates a false sense of security because it means that people think they know where the danger lies. In 2018, a poor-quality video of a couple of bros hanging out in their living room drinking beer to a quirky tune went viral. The tagline: Its Modelo time. Since then, video quality has improved drastically and the internets cruel humor has swapped beer brands for a more timely joke. Its Corona time," is now trending on TikTok as users all over the world document their fear of the virus comedically. A good few of those videos are being posted from college dorm rooms and study abroad apartments. While some students use the impending sense of dread and doom to acquire TikTok fame, colleges across the state are in mobilization mode, said Michael Tullier, senior director of communications, public relations and marketing for Tuskegee University. And the preparation is warranted, as two Jacksonville State University students were recently exposed to a confirmed case in Georgia. Its one thing to be prepared for prevention, he said, and a whole other plan for when students get back from a week of Spring Break travel. Tuskegee University -- like Auburn University and a couple of other higher education institutions across the state -- are freeing their students starting Friday night for over a week of relaxation or adventure. Universities across the state are reevaluating their college-sponsored trips to ensure the safety of students and faculty. Spring Hill College in South Alabama brought students back from Bologna, Italy, and has suspended all of those courses for the semester. Travel suspensions have been taken at many of Alabamas largest universities, and university officials are encouraging students to pay close attention to the Center for Disease Controls guidelines, as well as setting up microsites for students to check frequently for updates. With Spring Break coming up next week, we know students are going to be less apt to check their email, so well be updating the Coronavirus information page frequently, Tullier said. In addition to full-blown information websites and university messaging through flyers and announcements, some universities are focusing on putting personal hygiene at the forefront. Spring Hill students might notice heavier cleaning in high-traffic areas on campus, as well as more handwashing stations, according to Ashley Rains, director of media and public relations at Spring Hill. The Jesuit liberal arts college is going a step further to protect its students. On Monday, the college will begin paying the co-pay of students experiencing upper-respiratory issues or flu-like symptoms, Rains said. Even if our students arent doing anything for Spring Break that doesnt absolve them because we, down here on the Coast, are a destination for students all over the country," Rains said. Coronavirus or Canvas? Really does make you think. (Credit unknown. Will the real Canvas meme creator please stand up? We'll give you credit.) Further up the state, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is looking ahead to the possibility of online courses if cases were to arise, said Suzanne Austin, senior vice provost and senior international officer at UAB. While UAB has already taken steps at canceling university-sponsored travel, Austin said faculty is working to make sure students dont lose the studies they would have participated in overseas. In general, Tullier of Tuskegee said, universities across the state are trying to implore students to be more safe than sorry," as confirmed cases around Alabamas borders pop up. For more information from your college of choice: Auburn University University of Alabama University of North Alabama University of Alabama at Birmingham Tuskegee University University of South Alabama University of West Alabama Spring Hill College University of Mobile Calhoun Community College Birmingham Southern More breaking news on the Coronavirus: Coronavirus likely to spread to Alabama, says U.S. research director 2 Jacksonville State University students exposed to coronavirus patient, school says Gov. Kay Ivey names task force to prepare for coronavirus Local Mobile church group tested for coronavirus, quarantined to hotel in Bethlehem, Israel Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday came down heavily on the BJP-led government at the Centre for imposing a ban on two Malayalam channels in connection with the Delhi violence reporting, saying an "undeclared emergency" was prevailing in the country. Terming the ban as a "dangerous trend", the left leader said it was an indication of the coming dangers. "The Centre has made an infringement into the freedom of the press, crossing all limits. There is a threat that if anybody criticises RSS and Sangh Parivar, they will be taught a lesson," he said here in a statement. The channels-Asianet and MediaOne-were suspended for 48 hours over their coverage of last month's riots in Delhi, with the official orders saying they covered events on February 25 in a manner that "highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community". However, the ban was lifted on Saturday morning. Urging everyone to adopt a "democratic vigil" against such trends, the Chief Minister said the tactics of the Centre was to bring everyone under its control by instilling fear. It was seen that such an approach had repeatedly been made on Parliament, constitutional bodies and judiciary in recent times, he said. Claiming that one of the reasons for the ban was criticism of RSS and the Delhi police by the channels, he said no one is beyond that. "How can it be illegal to criticise RSS? The Constitution guarantees the right of any citizen to express his opinion fearlessly," he said. People have the right to know what is happening in the country and the media has the right and responsibility to report it, Vijayan said adding that the fourth estate should be allowed to act "freely and equitably". The ban on Asianet was lifted at 1.30 am, while the ban on Media One was lifted at 9.30 am on Saturday, a source at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting told PTI. Sources said the two channels had written to the ministry seeking revocation of the bans, following which it was lifted. "Channel's reporting on Delhi violence seems to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters," the ministry order on Media One had said. "It also questions RSS and alleges Delhi Police inaction. Channel seems to be critical towards Delhi Police and RSS." The ministry had ordered prohibition of transmission or re-transmission of Media One and Asianet for 48 hours on any platform throughout India with effect from 7.30 pm on Friday to 7.30 pm on Sunday. The Congress and the CPI had flayed the government over the suspension of Media One and Asianet News, calling the clampdown as "stifling of media freedom". Former chief minister Oommen Chandy said the ban on the two malayalam channels was an "affront" on the democratic rights of the media. The fourth estate is the pillar of democracy and attempts to suppress the media by the government is "extremely worrying", he said in a facebook post. "I join all democratic minded citizens in strongly condemning such attempts to muzzle the media by the government," he said. Meanwhile, Press Club, Kerala Union of Working Jouranlists (KUWJ) and Kerala Newspaper Employees Federation (KNEF) took out a march to the General Post Office here against the Centre's action on the two channels. Media personnel holding placards and raising slogans participated in the march against the centre's decision. Similar protests were held in various parts of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 7 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 24 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The Armenian armed forces were using large-caliber machine guns. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. SXSW 2020 banners are seen in the Red River Cultural District in Austin, Texas, on March 6, 2020. (Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images) South by Southwest Conference Canceled Over Coronavirus Fears Officials in Austin, Texas, ordered the cancellation of the South by Southwest conference, citing the new coronavirus. Austin Mayor Steve Adler said at a press conference Friday that the order was based on the recommendation of the citys public health officer and director of public health. Ive gone ahead and declared a local disaster in the city, and associated with that, have issued an order that effectively cancels South by Southwest, he said. There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new virus, in Austin or the county its located in, Travis County. This is an effort to carefully consider and weigh the risk of introducing a spread of COVID-19, Dr. Mark Escott, interim health authority in Austin, told reporters. Evidence suggests mass gatherings can accelerate the spread of the virus, Escott said. He cited the size of the event and the lack of a vaccine for the new virus, which also has no proven treatment. Sixth Street during South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, on March 12, 2016. (Rich Fury/Invision/AP) Under Adlers disaster declaration, any events expected to exceed 2,500 attendees will be canceled unless organizers can show city officials that mitigation plans for infectious diseases are in place, officials said in a statement. Key factors examined by a panel of health officials include the likelihood for extended close personal contact, crowd density, and whether events include a significant number of people traveling from areas experiencing person-to-person spread of the new illness, including inside and outside the United States. Facebook, Intel, Twitter, and TikTok were among the companies pulling out of the South by Southwest conference in the days leading up to the cancellation. Organizers said in a statement that the city canceled the March dates for the conference and that they would faithfully follow the Citys directions. We are devastated to share this news with you. The show must go on is in our DNA, and this is the first time in 34 years that the March event will not take place. We are now working through the ramifications of this unprecedented situation, they wrote. Organizers said they were exploring options to reschedule the event and could provide a virtual experience. David Byrne takes part in the Reasons To Be Cheerful featured session during the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas, on March 13, 2019. (Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP, File) Nick Barbaro, co-founder of the conference, who also publishes The Austin Chronicle, said in a statement published by the paper that the cancellation wont be covered by insurance. We have a lot of insurance (terrorism, injury, property destruction, weather). However, bacterial infections, communicable diseases, viruses, and pandemics are not covered, Roland Swenson, another co-founder, told the paper. Some 73,716 people attended the conference last year, over 19,000 of whom traveled from outside the country. Organizers said that the conference had an estimated economic impact on the city of $355.9 million. This years conference was slated to start on March 13 and run through March 22. A number of other large events have been canceled over the new virus, including the Mobile World Congress and the Geneva International Motor Show. Some believe the 2020 Olympics will be postponed or canceled, though organizers have said things are moving forward for now. The virus has infected over 100,000 people around the world, killing thousands. The United States has seen a growing number of cases, including clusters in Washington state, New York, and Boston. ATLANTA President Donald Trumps visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday turned into a scattershot defense of his administrations handling of the coronavirus outbreak, veering into political score-settling, exaggerations and talk harking back to his impeachment. With financial markets slowing and the virus spreading, Trump tried once more to quell the growing alarm that has prompted travel to be curtailed and events to be cancelled from coast to coast. But Trump, wearing his Keep America Great campaign hat while discussing the global worry, repeatedly detoured from his message of reassurance. Trump called Washington states governor, who is dealing with the most serious outbreak in the nation, a snake. He said hed prefer that people exposed to the virus on a cruise ship be left aboard so they wouldnt be added to the count for the nations total number of infections. And he falsely claimed that a test for the virus was available immediately to all who want it. He also suggested the accuracy of the coronavirus test was perfect like the letter was perfect. With that, Trump was making a comparison to the July phone call with Ukraines president that led to his impeachment. Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate last month, has insisted he did nothing wrong. Before departing Washington, Trump signed an $8.3 billion coronavirus response funding bill at the White House and instructed the public: Be calm. It will go away. We have very low numbers compared to major countries throughout the world. Our numbers are lower than just about anybody, Trump said about cases of the virus. But his messaging was more scattered at the CDC, reflective of the on-again, off-again, on-again nature of the trip itself. The White House had announced early Friday that Trumps trip to the CDC was canceled because of concern about a possible infection there, but that person tested negative and Trump ended up going after all. During his visit to the CDC, Trump touted the ratings of his town hall this week on Fox News and mocked a CNN reporter. He cut off Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar as he tried to counsel Americans to be patient. And despite calling this week for bipartisanship during the crisis, Trump said he told Vice President Mike Pence not to be complimentary during his Thursday meeting with Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington because he is a snake. So I told Mike not to be complimentary of the governor because that governor is a snake, OK? Inslee. I said, If youre nice to him he will take advantage. And I would have said no. Let me just tell you: We have a lot of problems with the governor, the governor of Washington. So Mike may be happy with him but Im not. Trump also insisted that for those concerned about the virus, Anybody who wants a test, can get a test. Pence, who chairs the federal coronavirus task force, at a later briefing suggested a timeline of weeks before the test would be widely available to the general public. Pence was also asked whether Trumps comments about Inslee and impeachment raised questions about how seriously the president was taking the virus. The vice president responded, I promise you, President Trump has no higher priority than the health and safety of the American people. Inslee tweeted his own response to Trumps comments: Its important for leaders to speak with one voice. I just wish the president and vice president could get on the same page. Trump also said he talked on the phone with California Gov. Gavin Newsom about the 3,500 people stuck on a cruise ship anchored off the coast of California. He said hed prefer for the passengers to remain on the ship in part so they would not count against the total number of victims in the United States. I dont need to have the numbers double because of the people on that ship, he said. Trump did say he would defer to the medical experts and Pence later said the ship would be brought to a U.S. port. The legislation Trump signed at the White House provides federal public health agencies with money for vaccines, tests and potential treatments and helps state and local governments prepare and respond to the threat. Its an unforeseen problem, Trump said of the virus. It came out of nowhere. Were taking care of it. The president, while touring the CDC, talked up his ability to understand the virus, although he has repeatedly misstated how long it would take for a vaccine to be developed and available. I like this stuff. I really get it, Trump said. People are surprised that I understand it. Maybe I have a natural ability. ___ This story has been corrected to add full name of CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. __ Riechmann reported from Washington. Lemire reported from New York. Manuel Marruenda, the man who turned a garage startup into a multimillion-dollar Mexican tropical drink empire, died of natural causes Sept. 28 in San Diego. He was 81. Born in Mexico City in 1936, Marruenda is survived by four children, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and his business, Fiesta Pacific Products. If youve had tropical drinks such as horchata, jamaica, or tamarindo in a taco shop, odds are they came from Fiesta Pacifica. Marruenda introduced those flavors to the San Diego market when he started the company out of his southeast San Diego home in 1980, recalls his sister-in-law and the companys office manager, Laura Escajadillo. Advertisement The company started out by selling soda fountains to taco shops. But instead of Pepsi or Sprite, they came with traditional Mexican flavors. Fiesta Pacifics client list is a whos who of San Diego taco shops. Its roster includes Lolitas, Robertos, Albertos and Santanas. As those mom-and-pop taco shops grew into regional chains, Marruendas business grew with them. When Robertos opened a store in Las Vegas, Marruenda began selling tropical drinks throughout Nevada. When another shop, Betos, opened in Utah, Marruenda went with it. Today, Fiesta Pacific is in 17 states, including Washington, Illinois, Texas, and Iowa. And the company is growing, particularly in non-Hispanic markets. It used to be only Hispanic people knew what horchata was, said salesman Sean McNaughton. But now its so widespread everybody uses it. The company prepares drinks in mixable concentrates that restaurants can put into machines. But lately clients have found interesting uses for the mix. A chain of doughnut stores uses it to make horchata-flavored coffee and a local distillery, Cutwater, uses it to make horchata vodka, McNaughton said. Fiesta Pacific makes about $1 million in revenue a month, McNaughton added. Even later in life, Manuel Marruenada kept his office and asked for monthly financial statements that showed how much they sold and how much money came in. (Handout) Since Marruendas passing, the companys Otay Mesa headquarters has received flower vases on an almost daily basis. Employees, many of whom have worked there for decades, remember Marruenda fondly. It was Marruenda, or El Patron, as his employees called him, who hired David Bernal Salazar 28 years ago. Salazars first job was to clean the bathrooms. Then he moved on to cleaning offices, then production, working and operating the machines. Today, Salazar prepares the ingredients for each product. Its a big loss but hes still in our hearts, Salazar said of Marruenda. Hes the one who gave me a chance. I started cleaning bathrooms and never thought Id be where I am now. It seems kind of incredible. Salazar turned 52 on Oct. 13. But he wasnt celebrating. Thats the same day Marruendas family held a funeral service at the Little Chapel of Roses in Glen Abbey Mortuary in Bonita. I was going to celebrate but I prefer to spend the day with my boss, he said. Most employees at Fiesta Pacifica have a story about how Marruenda helped them in one way or another. El Patron had a habit of asking employees about their families and life outside of work. Hed help people fix broken down cars or even tackle bigger projects. Domingo Hernandez, 30, remembers Marruenda offering money to help Hernandez build his house in Rosarito. One day he asked me to stop by his house after work, Hernandez said. He gave me an envelope and told me its so I can finish my house. Thats the kind of man he was. Hernandez, who lives in that house today, declined to say exactly how much money was in the envelope. But the money made a big difference, he said. Hernandez said Marruenda was special in how much attention he paid his employees. Manuel Marruenda, who made a multimillion-dollar horchata empire in San Diego, enjoyed driving around Coronado. (Handout) I think because he started this from nothing he never lost that humility, he said. He knew what it means to fight on. While Marruenda had a big heart, he had a reputation for being a demanding boss and overseeing every aspect of the business. He was very strict, Escajadillo said. I remember back in the days before cellphones, he would call each client to see if the salesman went to do their daily visit. He would call the clients and ask if the salesman had stopped by. Even later in life, after his sons Manny, Paco and Juan began running the day-to-day operations, Marruenda kept his office and asked for monthly financial statements that showed how much they sold and how much money came in. This was everything to him, McNaughton said. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter Illustrated London News Britain was once among the most enthusiastic of slave-trading nations. But just over 200 years ago, the country dramatically changed course and used its naval dominance against the transatlantic trade in enslaved African people, one of the worst historical crimes against humanity. After the Abolition Act of 1807 made British involvement in the transatlantic slave trade illegal, the country switched rapidly to an extensive commitment to enforce its abolition. For the next 60 years, the Royal Navys West Africa Squadron worked to suppress the human traffic between West Africa and the plantations of the Americas, as Britain exerted increasing diplomatic and coercive pressure on nations continuing the slave trade such as Spain, Portugal, France and Brazil. At its peak in the 1840s and 1850s, British operations off the West African coast involved up to 36 vessels and more than 4,000 men, costing an estimated half of all naval spending amounting to between 1% and 2% of British government expenditure. In all, nearly 200,000 African men, women and children were released by the navy. Its a huge number of people, but represents only a relatively small share of the estimated 3.2 million who were taken from West Africa as slaves between 1808 and 1863. Nevertheless, the work of the West Africa squadron was the first chapter in a long history of British naval campaigns against international slavery, including in the Indian Ocean from the 1860s, and in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf in the 1920s and 1930s. Witnessing slavery first hand My new book Envoys of Abolition looks at the personal experiences of British sailors serving in West Africa, including their relationships with the African people they met while intercepting and detaining slave vessels at sea, and while spreading the British anti-slavery message on shore. Alongside their official duties of law enforcement, chase and capture, sailors experiences of anti-slave trade service included their roles as negotiators, guardians, humanitarians and liberators. Story continues Conditions of this service were extraordinary, and the naval personnel involved need to be recognised as more than just sailors performing a job. Their stories uncover notions of duty and a sense of moral and religious imperative to end the slave trade, but also raise questions of racial identity and the meaning of freedom. A snapshot of the human interactions at the heart of slave trade suppression is the prize voyage, where intercepted slave vessels were transported to Admiralty Courts, usually in the British colony of Sierra Leone. The terrible conditions for those captive aboard slave vessels on the infamous Middle Passage across the Atlantic meant dysentery, fever, small-pox and eye diseases were common, compounded by over-crowding and poor ventilation below deck. These conditions were not easily alleviated if the ships were taken under the control of the Royal Navy. In a letter written home from Sierra Leone in 1863, naval officer James Bowly described how on one captured vessel only around 200 of the 540 original captives survived the passage to Sierra Leone: They were in the most dreadful condition that human beings could be in I should never have believed that anything could have been so horrible some of them mere walking skeletons. Diseases were easily transmitted to sailors, and the squadron suffered significantly higher mortality rates than other naval stations in this period. As one officer noted: I dread sending away an officer and men in such a floating pest house! Witnessing the distressing realities of the slave trade was for many a transformative experience. Commodore John Hayes, a hugely experienced officer, witnessed cases too horrible & disgusting to be described. His compassion for the enslaved led him to plead, in his correspondence with his seniors: Gracious God! Is this unparalleled cruelty to last for ever? Sir George Collier, appointed as the first leader of the squadron in 1818, believed the dreadful realities of transatlantic slavery roused active benevolence and philanthropic feelings in his fellow crewmembers. However, the conditions of the prize voyage could also contribute to tensions between sailors and recaptured Africans. BBC/A+E In the hands of new conquerors Regrettably, few African testimonies survive, although its possible to create an idea of the conditions of captivity that led former slave Mahommah G. Baquaqua to declare: my wretchedness I cannot describe. Were recaptured Africans even aware of a favourable change in their circumstances? Born in present-day Nigeria, Samuel Ajayi Crowther was released from a Portuguese slave vessel in 1822 and went on to have a remarkable career as a respected missionary and, later, the first African Anglican bishop. Crowthers first-hand account reveals the distrust inherent in these initial encounters with the Royal Navy. We found ourselves in the hands of new conquerors, he wrote, whom we at first very much dreaded. Naval officers were tasked with maintaining order and discipline on prize vessels as on any other ship. Tensions were exacerbated by language barriers, as Africans enslaved from diverse communities invariably spoke different languages. Racial prejudices of the time also played a part. Some naval men were prepared to assert control in ways reminiscent of those used by the trade they were attempting to suppress. When an African man on his prize vessel was accused of stealing a 4lb piece of beef, Lieutenant Philip de Sausmarez tied the man in the rigging with the piece of beef suspended above him, and made the slaves process around him as an example. While Britains abolitionist campaign was presented to the rest of the world as a shining example of the countrys benevolence, the reality revealed in the accounts from the front line is more nuanced. The granting of liberty (or more accurately, British perceptions of liberty) to captive Africans was riddled with ambiguities. This continued after recaptured Africans were resettled in British territories, where, rather than being repatriated, they became part of the wider British anti-slavery campaign to end slave trading within Africa by civilising the continent via Christian education and European commerce. We should also remember that until the Emancipation Act of 1833, many Britons still owned slaves in the Caribbean. The British commitment to anti-slavery operations in this period is rightfully commended. The insight offered by the personal experiences of British sailors from the West African coast, however, serves to remind us of the complexities of British abolitionism in this period. Mary Wills is the author of: Envoys of abolition: British Naval Officers and the Campaign Against the Slave Trade in West Africa. Liverpool University Press provides funding as a content partner of The Conversation UK This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Conversation Mary Wills has received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Typically, the story of war has been a masculine story, Ethiopian-American author Maaza Mengiste tells us. But this was not true for Ethiopia and it has never been that way in any form of struggle. Women have been there, we are here now. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Typically, the story of war has been a masculine story, Ethiopian-American author Maaza Mengiste tells us. "But this was not true for Ethiopia and it has never been that way in any form of struggle. Women have been there, we are here now." The Shadow King, Mengistes second book, is set in Ethiopia in 1935 during its war with fascist Italy. Inspired by her great-grandmothers experience, Mengiste, who is a professor in the MFA programme at Queens College, New York, puts Ethiopian women in the midst of the struggle, fighting alongside the men. It is a violent story, driven from page to page by rage, in a world where women are raped and beaten into submission by their men. There are three women Aster, Hirut, and the cook who are central to much of the action. Aster is the wife of Kidane, an officer in the Ethiopian army. Hirut is a young peasant girl brought to live with Kidane and his wife after her parents die. The cook, much older, was stolen years ago from her own family. Mengiste, who was born in Addis Ababa, transitions quickly from one emotionally charged scene to the next. Asters wedding night, for example, is essentially a matter of child rape, with Mengiste painting a painful picture of the young girls terror. The cook offers her pragmatic advice; since there is nothing to be done to prevent it, "Take whatever comes and wake up in the morning and live." Kidane and Aster fight over her desire to join the men in battle. She says she has earned the right, but the cook mutters on the sidelines: "What has she earned more than the rest of us Whos doing all the work?" It is a hint of the class war going on in Ethiopia, where many have joined the invading Italian forces, and women walk away from Asters call to defend the country. "Who wants your king?... Let the Italians come." Sometimes the reader joins Haile Selassie, the besieged Ethiopian emperor, who is trying to understand the Italian mind by playing their music, particularly the opera Aida, the story of an Ethiopian princess abducted into Egypt. Eventually, he concludes the Italians have been "weaned on lies set to music." In Kidanes army encampment one night, after Selassie has fled to England, Hirut notices the strong resemblance one of the peasant soldiers has to the emperor. He is groomed and dressed to look like the emperor, and Hirut and Aster are dressed as guards to accompany him. They bring to life an old legend of a shadow king, making appearances, from a distance, to rally peasant support by showing them their emperor is still standing with them. The Italian forces are led by Carlo Fucelli, a notoriously cruel officer who is building a new prison. But his real goal with the prisoners is to throw them off a cliff to kill them. A young Italian soldier, Ettore Navarra, photographs deaths of the Ethiopians, and documents activity at the prison at Fucellis command: "Ettore points the lens toward the bodys head and chest, hoping to catch that faint threshold between what lives defiantly and what is waiting to die." In a letter home, almost a confession, Navarra tells of his torment. "They are going to fling men into the sky who have no wings. They are going to test the laws of gravity and terror and order me to photograph the ascent and fall." Mengiste serves up many subtle twists, multi-faceted characters and ironies to keep the reader alert, not once finding it necessary to resort to vulgarity despite the violence. Set aside at least a couple of days to read this book longer if you can only take your violence in small doses. It is a thoughtful, angry, presentation of the life of women at war. Gordon Arnold is a Winnipeg writer. Help India! TCN News Sparked by BJP leader Kapil Mishras communal remarks at a rally last week in Delhi, anti CAA protests have taken an ugly turn. While large scale protests continue across the country, a brutal crackdown by police forces is running parallel to it. Many international organizations have condemned the crackdown, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) being the latest. Support TwoCircles In its latest report, USCIRF, chaired by Tony Perkins and Gayle Manchin, has reminded the Government of religious freedom, regarding CAA as unconstitutional. USCIRF has professed its siding with Indian political parties, non-governmental organizations, and religious groups petitions against CAA saying it violates Section 14 (Equality before the Law) of the Indian Constitution. In its detailed factsheet released in February 2020 edition. USCIRF has issued a joint statement that it stands with the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee in expressing serious concerns over the CAA in India. The factsheet outlines the amendments covered in the latest Act, along with a background of Hindutva in the country. The USCIRF statement remarks that The CAA and NRC must be understood in the context of the growing prominence of the BJPs Hindutva ideology, identifying Hindutva as an ideological frame that claims India as a Hindu state (with its definition of Hinduism inclusive of Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs) and Islam as a foreign and invading religion. The factsheet also mentions how BJP Chief Minister of UP, Yogi Adityanath, in 2005 in a rally had sparked communal sentiments by promising he would cleanse India of other religions and make it the century of Hindutva. The factsheet, signed by policy analysts Harrison Akins and Keely Bakken, with inputs from other researchers and Communications Specialist, Danielle Ashbahian, strongly condemns CAA and NRC suggesting that, The NRC process in Assam and the challenges plaguing it demonstrate that Indian citizens could be stripped of their citizenship in a nationwide NRC. It concludes that CAA and NRC come with protections for non-Muslims in place so the Government must do away with such discriminatory citizenship laws as in future such processes would largely impact Muslims alone. On Mar 5, 2020, we issued an updated research report on Terex Corporation TEX. The company is progressing well on its strategic transformation plan, and ongoing initiatives in Aerial Work Platforms (AWP) and Materials Processing (MP) segments. Its focus on introducing innovative products and adding to manufacturing capabilities will also fuel growth. However, the overall slowdown in industrial equipment demand and the impact of the coronavirus outbreak remains a headwind. Weak Q4 Performance Terex reported adjusted earnings per share of 36 cents in fourth-quarter 2019, reflecting a decline of 55% from the prior-year quarter. This highlights the ongoing challenging global market conditions for industrial equipment. Revenues in the quarter declined 16% year over year to $885 million. Weak Industrial Demand, Coronavirus to Impact 2020 Results The coronavirus outbreak has dealt a severe blow to the U.S manufacturing sector, which was already reeling under the U.S.-China trade tensions and waning global demand. Weakening global economic conditions and the impact of the coronavirus outbreak are weighing on consumer confidence. Customers have taken a conservative stance to manage their businesses by aggressively destocking inventory and holding back on new product launches. This slowdown in customer orders remains a major headwind. The company also stands the risk of supply chain disruptions thanks to the spread of the coronavirus. For the Aerial Work Platform segment, there has been a downward trend in net bookings since fourth-quarter 2018. Terex anticipates the segments sales to be down 7-10% in 2020 from the prior year. Demand in the major markets for Aerial Work Platforms segment has declined, putting pressure on sales. Consequently, Terex is cutting down production and managing inventory levels to align with demand. Moreover, lower volume, adverse foreign exchange rates and product mix will weigh on margins for the year. The company projects lower sales and earnings from the AWP China facility in the first half of the year thanks to the coronavirus outbreak. Story continues The Material Processing (MP) segments sales in 2020 are now expected to be down 8-11% from the prior year. Global market uncertainty is weighing on the segment. Cautious customer sentiment is leading to delayed capital purchases of crushing and screening products, material handlers, and environmental equipment. Terex projects earnings per share of $1.85-$2.35 for fiscal 2020 on net sales of approximately $3.9 billion. The sales guidance projects a decline of 6.3-7.3% from the prior year, while earnings are anticipated to decline 35%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2020 earnings is at $1.99, suggesting decline of 39% from the prior year. The estimate has gone down 11% over the past 30 days. Strategic Initiatives to Reap Benefits Despite the near-term headwinds, Terexs AWP segment will gain from strategic source and savings, operational execution, strengthening global footprint and innovative new products in the long haul. The utilities business will gain from the new manufacturing facility being built in Watertown, SD, which will increase capacity and significantly improve productivity. The utility equipment market has significant potential in North America and developing markets. In the MP segment, the company continues to invest in India to capitalize on the country and the surrounding markets prospects. Its strong product pipeline and consistent strong execution also positions the segment well for growth. Execute to Win strategy: A Key Catalyst Terex has made considerable progress in its strategic transformation plan that has three principal elements Focus, Simplify and Execute to Win. While the Focus element calls for increased investments on high performing businesses, the Simplify aspect focuses on complexity reduction and cost management. The Execute to Win is focused on three key management processes talent development, strategy development and deployment, and operational excellence. In sync with this, Terex sold the Demag mobile crane business and exited the mobile crane product lines manufactured at Oklahoma City facility, to improve operating performance. Driving parts and service growth is one key element of its Execute to Win initiative. To deliver industry-leading customer service, the company is providing distribution partners easy-to-use digital tools that help them to service their customers more efficiently. This maximizes their opportunity to win business. This will provide Terex a competitive edge and accelerate parts growth. Healthy Balance Sheet Bodes Well Terexs net debt to adjusted EBITDA remains a healthy 1.6x as of Dec 31, 2019. This along with a healthy cash flow enables Terex to invest in future growth and creating additional value for shareholders. The company continues to invest in innovative products, the most recent introductions being the Terex Ecotec Shredder and Terex Advance mixer truck. In addition to expanding product offerings, the company is also investing in adding to its manufacturing capabilities to ensure future growth. It has brought online new manufacturing capabilities, including Campsie facility in Northern Ireland and expanded the Hosur, India facility. This will enable the company to cater to global demand. Its new utilities facility will consolidate multiple production buildings into one state-of-the-art, world-class manufacturing and engineering facility. The Changzhou, China facility, which will undergo an expansion in 2020 to accommodate the market growth in China for aerial products, will be another growth driver. Price Performance Over the past year, shares of Terex have decreased 41.7% compared with the industrys decline of 5.9%. Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider Terex currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the Industrial Products sector include Tennat Company TNC, Graco Inc. GGG and Sharps Compliance Corp SMED. All of these stocks sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Tennant Company has an expected earnings growth rate of 40.7% for the current year. The stock has appreciated 18% over the past year. Graco has a projected earnings growth rate of 4.3% for 2020. The companys shares have rallied 6% over the past year. Sharps Compliance has an estimated earnings growth rate of 767% for the ongoing year. In a years time, the companys shares have gained 65%. Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, its expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity. A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time. See 8 breakthrough stocks now>> Click to get this free report Graco Inc. (GGG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Terex Corporation (TEX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sharps Compliance Corp (SMED) : Free Stock Analysis Report Tennant Company (TNC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Newsroom (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 16:15 674 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068fe96d 1 SE Asia Myanmar,Indonesia,accident,military,helicopter-crash Free An Indonesian official who was traveling with other foreign military attaches aboard a Myanmar military helicopter escaped unscathed when it crashed in the country's east on Friday, a Foreign Ministry official confirmed on Saturday. The helicopter was bound for the commercial capital of Yangon when it crashed shortly after taking off from Lwe Khan village in northern Shan state, Reuters reported. A Myanmar military spokesman was quoted as saying that two pilots had been injured. No further details were given. Indonesia's defense attache to Myanmar, Col. (ret.) Fajar Rusdianto, who was among the passengers on board the military helicopter, escaped unhurt, said Judha Nugraha, the ministry's director for overseas citizen protection. "Thank God he is safe. All the passengers and the pilots also survived, although some sustained minor injuries," Judha said on Saturday. They had attended a press briefing in an area close to the border with China, where the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) recently raided a narcotics factory, the official added. Authorities recently seized US$37 million worth of narcotics, chemicals and equipment there, Reuters reported. Myanmar is the world's biggest producer of methamphetamine, and authorities are often keen to show large-scale seizures to the media. Aircraft accidents involving either civilian or military planes are not uncommon in the Southeast Asian country and other parts of the region. In 2015, Indonesian diplomat Burhan Muhammad succumbed to injuries from a helicopter crash in Pakistan that also took the lives of his wife, the ambassadors to Norway and the Philippines, as well as three Pakistani crewmen. (tjs) Cheese lovers, assemble. (Getty Images) The UK is a nation of cheese obsessors. If you - like most of us - like to keep a selection of cheeses in your fridge (just in case), you might want to add this Swiss gruyere to your selection. The gruyere has been named as the worlds best cheese at the World Champion Cheese Contest. The prestigious event takes place every two years, bringing together cheeses from 26 different nations. Read more: Americans are not impressed with beans on toast This years cheese winner was Michael Spycher from Bern, Switzerland. His gruyere was very popular beating the record of 3,667 entries in previous years. It achieved an impressive 98.81 out of 100. Spycher is no stranger to the cheese award circles, he also reigned victorious in the 2008 awards. His gruyere was described as a subtle, sophisticated flavour by the judges, making it a must for cheeseboards around the world. The runner up was also from Switzerland. It was a hard cheese made from cows milk by Hardegger Kase AG. In third place was a type of gouda cheese from the Netherlands. Does anybody else have a hankering for a cheese board right now? Read more: School girl fills empty lip balm with cheese The competition - which is the largest of its kind - brings 55 judges together to look at products, making assessments on scent, taste and texture. The judges come from an array of cheese-based backgrounds; cheese graders, cheese buyers, dairy science professors, and researchers. The Wisconsin-based event saw a judging panel from 19 nations and 14 states. Read more: This bacon-scented patch is meant to help people go vegan As has been the case with a number of other events around the world, the Coronavirus did stop one judge and 30 people from a university in Japan from attending the event. The organisers said they were not permitted to travel internationally due to the virus. That didnt stop cheese lovers marvelling over the sheer volume of different cheeses at the event. Read more: Experts say ketchup should live in the cupboard Story continues Were a nation of cheese lovers, so its no surprise that gimmicks like cheese hotels are particularly popular with us. In fact, we almost lost our collective minds when McDonalds released the new cheese share box. All we care about right now, though, is how we can get on the panel for 2022s cheese tasting event. My last two published cookbooks include many recipes from the annual event which Ive been attending since nearly its inception, when the idea was dreamed up by Arlene Jawor and launched in 2001. While pouring through my four cookbooks containing more than 700 columns and more than 1,000 recipes, I discovered Ive never shared a recipe for minestrone soup. Chef Elida Abeyta, hospitality program chair at Ivy Tech Community College, helped create and serve a delicious minestrone soup as the first course for last Sundays gala dinner. She calls it Minestrone alla Emiliana and describes it as vegetable soup Emilia Romagna style. Since it is meat-free, its perfect for Lenten menus. Delhi Police arrested a 28-year-old man allegedly wanted in at least 15 criminal cases, including murders, kidnapping and attempts to murder in the National Capital Region and parts of Uttar Pradesh. Police said the man had been hiding in different hotels and guest houses in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Gurugram and in adjoining states for past one year months to evade arrest. Deputy commissioner of police (special cell) Pramod Kushwah identified the arrested man as Vicky Pehalwan, a resident of Ghaziabad, UP. Pehalwan was arrested from near Mandi village on Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road on Friday night following a police raid. A pistol was recovered from him, he said. Kushwah said Pehalwan was absconding for past one year. He is wanted in 15 criminal cases including seven of murder and others of attempt to murder, hurt, assault, criminal intimidation, extortion, under gangster act and for kidnapping in Delhi and UP. He was carrying a reward of 75,000 on his arrest from both Delhi and UP police, the DCP said. He said, most of Pehalwans involvement in heinous crimes are from 2019. In May 2019, Pehalwan shot dead his rival Prince Chaudhary near a shopping mall in south Delhis Saket. The same year in February he had demanded money from a resident of Laxmi Nagar. When he refused, Pehalwan shot at him multiple times to intimidate him. The man had sustained several bullet injuries, but had survived. In November he also shot dead another criminal to settle scores with him. The same year Pehalwan also killed a man named Vinod in Bagpat and kidnapped the manager of a call centre for ransom. Kushwah said Pehalwan was wanted in all these case. Two malayalam TV channels were banned for reporting on Delhi violence Pune: Union Information and Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar on saturday said the centre has lifted the 48-hour ban on two Malayalam news channels, which were suspended over their coverage of the communal violence in Delhi, and stated that the government supports the freedom of press. Speaking to reporters in Pune in Maharashtra, Javadekar said that he would look into the matter and issue orders if necessary. He said the prime minister has expressed concern over the entire issue. Javadekar also advocated responsible freedom for media. The 48-hour ban was imposed on Asianet News and Media One on friday for reportage that could enhance communal disharmony across the country. The channels were suspended for 48 hours over their coverage of the last month's communal violence in Delhi, with the official orders saying that they covered events on february 25 in a manner that highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community. The ministry order on Media One said that Channel's reporting on Delhi violence seems to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters, Two Kerala channels were banned for 48 hours. We immediately found out what exactly happened and therefore we immediately restored the channels. Prakash Javadekar, Union I&B minister The minister said that transmission of Asianet News was restored on friday night after its owner talked to him, and that of Media One on saturday morning. He also added, Our basic thought process is that the freedom of press is absolutely essential in the democratic set up and that is the commitment of Modi government. Referring to the Emergency, Javadekar said the freedom of press was suppressed in those days. The ministry had ordered prohibition of transmission or re-transmission of Media One and Asianet News for 48 hours on any platform throughout India with effect from 7.30 pm on Friday to 7.30 pm on Sunday. Vietnamese army forces including chemical soldiers were deployed to disinfect a number of streets in Hanoi on Saturday morning after a local tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). As the female patient, 26-year-old N.H.N., resides on Truc Bach Street in Ba Dinh District, the disinfection was carried out on Tran Vu and Truc Bach Streets, as well as on some other neighboring streets in the district. The woman recently returned to Hanoi from a trip across three European countries, namely the UK, Italy, and France, from February 15 to March 1. After arriving in Hanoi on March 2, N. developed a fever on the same day. Her situation worsened three days later when the woman recorded body temperature of 38 degrees Celsius and began coughing harder and feeling fatigued. She went for a health checkup at a private hospital before being transferred to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi at 6:00 pm on Thursday. She was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 on Friday night. At least 26 people in Hanoi are said to have had close interaction with the patients, in addition to 217 passengers and crew members who were on the same flight with her. Authorities in protective suits prepare to disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities in protective suits disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Army forces are deployed to disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Army forces are deployed to disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities in protective suits prepare to disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities in protective suits prepare to disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities in protective suits prepare to disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities in protective suits prepare to disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities in protective suits disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Authorities disinfect a neighborhood in Hanoi's Ba Dinh District where Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient resides, March 7, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! U.S. SCHOOLS LBS AND INSEAD GOALS, WHY MBA, WHY XYZ SCHOOL YOUR INTERNATIONAL QUESTIONS FREE CONSULTATION NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (March 7, 2020) reviewed the steps taken by the government and concerned ministries to prevent Coronavirus from further spreading across the country. At a meeting with Health Ministry officials, the PM asked them to identify sufficient locations for quarantine and also for critical care provisioning in case of the disease spreads further. The Prime Minister also directed them to identify best practices for COVID-19 management from across the world. The crucial meeting was attended by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Cabinet Secretary, Rajiv Gauba; Member of Niti Aayog, Vinod K Paul, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat among others. Secretaries of Health, Pharma, Civil Aviation, External Affairs, Health Research, Home, Shipping, NDMA and other officials were also present during the meeting. After reviewing the situation, the PM said that all departments and concerned ministries should work in convergence and action shall be initiated for creating awareness in the community about the disease and the precautions to be taken. The PM also complimented all departments for the work taken up so far and mentioned that India has to be prepared in its response as per the evolving scenario. He said that people should be advised to avoid mass gatherings as far as possible and be made aware of the Dos and Don`ts. During the meeting, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare made a presentation on the current scenario and action taken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other supporting ministries with respect to preparedness and response to COVID-19. While addressing the media, Sanjeeva Kumar, Special Secretary (Health), said, "52 laboratories are now operational across the country for testing COVID-19 virus. Additional 57 laboratories have been provided with Viral Transport Media and swabs for sample collection." "Between yesterday morning and today, 73,766 passengers from 573 flights have undergone screening at airports. This brings the total number of passengers screened to 7,26,122 from 7,108 flights," Kumar said. Meanwhile, three more cases of coronavirus were found to be positive on Saturday - two in Ladakh and 1 in Tamil Nadu - taking the total count in India to 34. This was confirmed by the Union Health Ministry. The positive cases include two from Ladakh with travel history to Iran and one from Tamil Nadu with travel history to Oman. All the cases are stable. Of the total 34 of cases reported from India so far, three patients have been discharged already which means that the number of active cases is 31. Of these, 16 are Italian and 15 are Indian citizens. With regard to the two American nationals who were found positive in Bhutan with a travel history of various places in India, more than 150 contacts have been put under IDSP surveillance by the government agencies. So far, 34 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in India. Editor: Two men at the peak of their careers made a calculated decision putting greed, ambition and personal redemption before the welfare of their country. Both had ties to New York. One has a monument of only his boot in the Saratoga National Park. The inscription the below it reads, In memory of the most brilliant soldier in the Continental Army who was wounded on this spot, Winning for his countryman the decisive battle of the American Revolution and for himself the rank of Major General. The soldier was a major general in the Continental Army in the fledgling American Republic. Newly appointed head of the Citadel at West Point and American forts south to the British lines in Westchester. The other is the 45th President of the United States who has been known to hug the flag as a symbol of his love for his country. The history of the first is well known. The treason detailed in his correspondence was self-admitted. He fled from his post as commandant of West Point fearing for his life just before a scheduled inspection by his commander, Gen. George Washington. The major general abandoned his hysterical wife to face the consequences of his betrayal. The most recent treason is just unfolding in plain sight and in constant barrage of tweets. An American president could be a well-financed stooge or agent of Russian president and former KGB East German field agent Vladimir Putin. The Trump-Russian connection has been ongoing for at least two decades and as documented by Malcom Nance in his recent book Plot to Betray America. The Mueller Report too details connections between Party A (President Trump), his campaign and Russian agents. Denis Foley, Saratoga Springs Love 11 Funny 10 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Refugees attempting to enter Greece were stripped to their underwear as they were forced back into Turkey on Thursday. Photos taken on March 5 show groups of migrants huddled together to keep warm after reportedly trying to wade across the Evros River in northwestern Turkey. Another photo shows a male refugee with cane marks on his back. More than 10,000 migrants mostly from Syria, other Middle Eastern states and Afghanistan, have gathered at the Greek border hoping to get to western Europe. The situation arose after Turkey said it would no longer uphold a 2016 deal with the European Union to keep hundreds of thousands of migrants on its soil in return for EU aid. It comes after Turkish officials alleged Greek forces killed a migrant and wounded five others on Wednesday as they tried to cross the border between the two countries. The Greek government has strongly denied allegations, calling them fake news On Friday morning, March 6, Greek authorities were filmed using tear gas and a water cannon to stop groups pushing through the border, while Turkish authorities fired volleys of the chemical weapon which can cause difficulty breathing, skin irritation and chest pain, back onto Greek soil. Turkey has said it is deploying 1,000 special forces police on its side of the border to prevent Greek authorities from pushing back migrants. During a visit to Edirne on Thursday, interior minister Suleyman Soylu reportedly accused Greece of mistreating migrants and refugees, saying Turkey would not allow it. In a statement, the EU Council representing the 27 foreign ministers said the council expressed its solidarity with Greece and strongly rejects Turkeys use of migratory pressure for political purposes. A woman police official probing a Rs 200-crore corporate hacking case in which seven people were arrested was fired upon in Virar in Palghar on Saturday night, an official said. Assistant Inspector Sidhbhava Jaybhaye was traveling when the firing took place at around 9pm, an official said, adding that a team has rushed to the spot in Virar Phata. "Initial reports have said the official, attached to the Crime Branch of Palghar police, is safe and unhurt. We are checking CCTV footage. Masked men fired one round and fled," he said. She was instrumental in foiling a hacking bid by seven people of a bank account of a corporate entity. The accused were trying to steal Rs 200 crore from a bank account in neighbouring Mumbai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka finance companies under regulatory pressure: Fitch View(s): Sri Lankas finance and leasing sector will face added pressure for consolidation as deadlines for the implementation of tougher capitalisation requirements approach in 2021, says Fitch Ratings. We view further consolidation of the sector as positive for financial sector stability in Sri Lanka, but the process could be impeded by a challenging operating environment, the rating agency said in a media release on Monday. Gross loan growth for Sri Lankas finance and leasing companies (FLCs) has slowed sharply in a sluggish economy, coming in at only 0.5 per cent year-on-year (yoy) at end-September 2019 against 12.9 per cent on average between end-2015 and end-2018. The capacity of some of smaller FLCs to withstand asset-quality pressures stemming from this more challenging environment has been weak, owing in part to thin capital buffers. Figures from the Central Bank (CB) indicate that FLCs accounted for 7.6 per cent of total financial system assets at end-2018, so developments in the sector are significant for the overall stability of the financial sector. The top 10 FLCs accounted for 69 per cent of the sector assets at end-September 2019, with 33 smaller FLCs representing the remaining 31 per cent. Fitch said the CB has sought to reduce risks by raising capital thresholds to encourage consolidation. FLCs are required to meet an enhanced Rs. 2.5 billion absolute capital requirement by January 1, 2021, up from Rs. 2 billion at present. We believe the CB is unlikely to delay the deadlines for raising capital thresholds. It has already taken action against several FLCs that failed to meet capital requirements. In 2019, the regulator cancelled licences held by TKS Finance and issued a notice of cancellation for the licence held by The Finance Company and Sinhaputhra Finance, it said FLCs may face difficulty improving their profitability, as Fitch expects economic growth to remain subdued. This could impede efforts to meet enhanced regulatory capital requirements by generating capital internally or by raising capital externally. We believe this risk will be higher for smaller standalone finance companies. Those FLCs that have raised external capital recently, as part of efforts to meet the higher capitalisation standards, have benefited mainly from support from their major shareholders. The tough operating environment may also impede consolidation, as asset-quality issues and limited near-term growth prospects for the sector could make M and A less attractive. We estimate that Fitch-rated FLCs would require additional equity capital of around Rs. 5.5 billion to meet the absolute regulatory capital thresholds by next January. We believe that generating this internally through profits may be difficult and therefore might require additional external capital raising. Capitalisation factors are likely to remain a prominent rating sensitivity for most of our rated standalone FLCs, Fitch said. She recently returned home after being part of the three-week Strictly Come Dancing Live tour. And now Katya Jones, 30, is taking a well-deserved break from her hectic schedule by posing up a storm in an Instagram post uploaded on Saturday. The professional dancer looked radiant as she donned a skimpy blue bikini with delicate tie-up detail on the briefs. Angelic: Katya Jones, 30, posed up a storm in her latest Instagram post on Saturday as she donned a skimpy blue bikini with delicate tie-up detail on the briefs Katya complemented the look with a pair of yellow-tasseled drop earrings with her sleek tresses swept away from her face. She posed daintily in front of an angel-wing mural with her feet delicately poised and her arms raised in the air, showcasing her washboard stomach and toned physique. The Strictly star, who was partnered with BBC presenter Mike Bushell during the most recent series, uploaded the image alongside the caption: 'My wings were no gift. I had to grow my own.' The snap comes after the Strictly Come Dancing Live tour, hosted by Stacy Dooley, came to an end last month. Showcase: Katya only recently returned home after being part of the three-week Strictly Come Dancing Live tour Dynamic duo: The Strictly star was partnered with BBC presenter Mike Bushell during the most recent series (pictured together) The group put on shows up and down the country including Birmingham, Aberdeen, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow and Nottingham before concluding in London. But the showcase did not run smoothly with pros Dianne Buswell and Karen Hauer being forced to pull out due to illness. Tour organisers were also forced to apologise to fans after two live shows were cancelled due to a leaky roof at Glasgow's SSE Hydro. Attendees were left out in the cold and were even ordered to leave the venue at the last minute for health and safety reasons meaning that they missed out on the opportunity to see the likes of 2019 champ Kelvin Fletcher and YouTuber Saffron Barker take to the stage. BOISE, Idaho, March 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Albertsons Companies, Inc. announced today that it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering consisting of common stock to be sold by certain of its stockholders and the issuance by the company of Series A mandatory convertible preferred stock. The amount of securities offered will be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of the offering. The number of shares of stock to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined. BofA Securities, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan and Citigroup are acting as lead joint book-running managers for the proposed common stock offering. Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Securities, Barclays and Deutsche Bank Securities are acting as book-running managers for the proposed common stock offering. BMO Capital Markets, Evercore ISI, Guggenheim Securities, Oppenheimer & Co., RBC Capital Markets, Telsey Advisory Group, MUFG, Academy Securities and Blaylock Van, LLC are acting as co-managers for the proposed common stock offering. BofA Securities, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan and Citigroup are acting as lead joint book-running managers for the proposed preferred stock offering. Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Securities, Barclays and Deutsche Bank Securities are acting as book-running managers for the proposed preferred stock offering. BMO Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets and MUFG are acting as co-managers for the proposed preferred stock offering. The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained from: BofA Securities, Inc., One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, Attn: Prospectus Department, Email: dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attn: Prospectus Department, Telephone 866-471-2526, Facsimile: 212-902-9316, Email: prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, Telephone 866-803-9204, Email: prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, Telephone 800-831-9146. Story continues A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Albertsons Companies Albertsons Companies, Inc. is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. Albertsons Cos. operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaws, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements regarding the Companys expectations, perspectives and projected financial performance, are forward looking statements. The words expect, believe, estimate, intend, plan and similar expressions, when related to the Company and its subsidiaries, indicate forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on the Companys current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding our current expectations and beliefs as to our ability to consummate the initial public offering, the intended use of proceeds thereof, other pending transactions, and other future events. The Company cautions that actual results could differ materially from the expectations described in the forward-looking statements. The Company also cautions that undue reliance should not be placed on any of the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no responsibility to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect actual outcomes. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in the Company's filings with Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the most recently filed Forms 10-Q and 10-K and the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1, including the preliminary prospectus, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2020. Melissa Plaisance Albertsons Companies 925-226-5115 melissa.plaisance@albertsons.com The first Penny Dreadful series was a supernatural horror on Showtime that aired from 2014 to 2016, but this new show is actually not connected to it at all. The official trailer for the new Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels dropped on Friday, and with it comes a fair share of excitement and intrigue around the new show that combines the macabre and occult with a true-to-life historical context based in the Los Angeles of nearly a century ago. Actress Natalie Dormer, most well known for her turn as Margaery Tyrell in Game Of Thrones, anchors the new series, playing a foreboding character in black known as Magda. Foreboding: The official trailer for the new Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels dropped on Friday, anchored by Game Of Thrones actress Natalie Dormer The inciting incident for the trailer, and the series as a whole, is a 'grisly murder' that shocks the LA community of 1938, with the corpse of a young woman horrifically made up to look like an effigy from the Day of the Dead. A message nearby scrawled in blood says (in Spanish): 'You take our heart we take yours'. 'If this gets out,' a police chief warns, 'We're looking at a damn race war.' The detectives assigned to the case are played by actors Daniel Zovatto, who has appeared in several notable horror entries including the chilling It Follows and Fear The Walking Dead, as well as veteran performer Nathan Lane of Birdcage and Lion King fame. Terrifying: The inciting incident for the trailer, and the series as a whole, is a 'grisly murder' that shocks the LA community of 1938, with the corpse of a young woman horrifically made up to look like an effigy from the Day of the Dead Reacting: The detectives assigned to the case are played by actors Daniel Zovatto (right), of It Follows, as well as veteran performer Nathan Lane of Birdcage fame (left) Watch out: A message nearby scrawled in blood says: 'You take our heart we take yours' (in Spanish) Police brutality erupts, targeting the Mexican community of the time. Soon, a blond woman of the church, dressed in priestly golden robes emblazoned with a cross, exclaims, 'Satan is here!' Enter Natalie, shrouded in a (rather well-fitting) black leather gown, as she stalks the street. Violence: Police brutality erupts, targeting the Mexican community of the time Soon: A blond woman of the church, dressed in priestly golden robes emblazoned with a cross, exclaims, 'Satan is here!' Here comes the devil: Enter Natalie, shrouded in a (rather well-fitting) black leather gown, as she stalks the street 'Children, you are not safe, lord save us!' the priestess continues. As Dormer's Magda continues her devilish procession, windows spontaneously explode and shatter in her wake. Later, her character is seen in an entirely different outfit and hairstyle, suggesting her nefariousness can take many forms. Boom: As Dormer's Magda continues her devilish procession, windows spontaneously explode and shatter in her wake Later: Her character is seen in an entirely different outfit and hairstyle, suggesting her nefariousness can take many forms Culture clash: The new show combines the macabre and occult with a true-to-life historical context based in the Los Angeles of nearly a century ago 'All mankind needs to be the monster he truly is,' Magda whispers, 'is being told he can.' As if in response, Lane says in voice-over, 'It's a wicked world, and it's only got you and me to save it.' His character is seen in a stairwell, his face constricted in an expression of anguish and horror as he kneels on the landing. 'It's a wicked world': Lane's character is seen in a stairwell, his face constricted in an expression of anguish and horror as he kneels on the landing The ghost of a little boy is seen in a burning field. And as the trailer builds to a climax, other disturbing images are seen, including a Nazi flag stashed next to an American one in a closet, and mobsters shooting up a street. Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels premieres on Showtime, and on Stan in Australia, on April 26th. Another creepy moment: The ghost of a little boy is seen in a burning field Don't look now: As the trailer builds to a climax, other disturbing images are seen... ...like mobsters shooting up a street Birthdays only come once a year, which is why many seize the opportunity to praise and celebrate life. Nollywood actress, Tawa Ajisefini who is known for her versatility is celebrating her special day with very beautiful and captivating pictures she shared on her Instagram page. It has been an excellent year for the fast-rising actress. She got married to her abroad-based lover last year and relocated with him to the United States of America. Tawa, also known as Monkele, was born into the family of four and hails from Osun State of Nigeria. She attended Police children school, Eleyele and Our lady of Apostles for her primary and secondary school education. Her passion for acting while in secondary school made her join the movie industry in the year 2003. Prior to her fame, Tawa was a personal assistant to popular Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele. The talented actress has been acknowledged and recognized with numerous nominations for her efforts in the industry. We wish her more years in life. See pictures below: Photo credit : Instagram The White Sox have already reached new agreements with a host of players of late, with Yoan Moncada recently joining Aaron Bummer, Luis Robert, and Jose Abreu just this winter. Tim Anderson and Eloy Jimenez inked deals previously. So whats one more? The starting rotation is noticeably underrepresented from the ranks of the extended core. While a few hurlers could become candidates in short order, theres probably only one whos really primed for a deal: Lucas Giolito. Giolitos path is remarkably similar to that of Moncada. They both came over in back-to-back trades in the 2016-17 offseason each of which, somewhat ironically, involved White Sox stars (Chris Sale and Adam Eaton) who had loads of trade value thanks to their own early-career extensions. There were some growing pains and moments of doubt for the long-hyped Giolito and Moncada. Then came 2019 While the White Sox werent all that competitive as a team last year, they had some exceedingly promising outcomes from individual players. On the pitching side, nobody came close to Giolito, who was one of the top dozen or so starters leaguewide. He completely reversed a miserable 2018 season, vaulting to new personal highs in velocity (94.6 mph average fastball), swinging-strike rate (15.0%), and K%-BB% (24.2%). Theres not much to dislike about Giolitos effort. He didnt excel at limiting the long ball, but was slightly better than the league mean in homers allowed (1.22) and homers-per-flyball rate (13.6%). Statcast indicated that Giolito largely deserved the outcomes, crediting opposing hitters with a meager .275 wOBA and .280 xwOBA. Giolito dominated opposing lefties in 2019. There were health concerns when Giolito was drafted, but he already got Tommy John surgery out of the way and has mostly been healthy since. (He ended 2019 with a mild lat injury and is now dealing with a pec issue, but both seem rather minor.) The question, really, is one of faith. Giolito is only 25 years of age and has a top-shelf pedigree. The results finally matched. So do the White Sox let things play out through arbitration like Moncada, Giolito is still a full season shy of arb qualification and four campaigns removed from free agency or chase yet further upside with yet another extension? That may depend upon the cost. While Giolito was a first-round pick, he fell to the 16th pick of the 2012 draft. He still got a big signing bonus, but at just under $3MM it was less than a tenth of what Moncada commanded. For a pitcher that has already dealt with some health issues, and hasnt yet reached that first big payday, theres definitely greater sense in selling away some earning ceiling in exchange for security. Giolito wouldnt be the first starting pitcher to do so. In fact, this stage of a career just before arbitration is quite the popular time for hurler and team to line up on a deal. Jon Lesters 2009 pact with the Red Sox five years, $30MM plus an option proved a market-setting contract. The total guarantee has crept up a bit in some cases in recent years and weve seen various ways of tweaking the model, but thats still the core structure of many such contracts. In this case, the White Sox would probably be thrilled to slot Giolito into that five-year, mid-thirty plus option(s) sort of a deal. Theres really not all that much risk. Sure, youd always rather pay less for more, but even one more elite season or a couple of good-but-not-great efforts would justify that sort of cost. And there are loads of scenarios where the organization could clean up. The team just promised Bummer, a non-closing (for now) reliever, $16MM. Doubling that (plus change) for a high-end starter is more or less a no-brainer unless the club has some inside cause for concern. All that points to an argument that Giolito really shouldnt be slotted into the classic form of Lester and progeny. After all, lower-ceiling lefty Marco Gonzales just got a $30MM guarantee over four years with a single option. Giolito looks more like German Marquez, who recently commanded $42MM+ on a four-year term while giving up one option year. Then again, perhaps Giolito can present a case for something more akin to the deal inked between Blake Snell and the Rays. That accord included over $49MM of new money and only required Snell to hand over control over one would-be free agent season one less than the other two deals just discussed thus leaving him more future earning upside. Snells Cy Young Award gave him a boost, to be sure, but his pact also came together on the heels of a weak market for free agent pitchers. We just saw Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg blow the top off of the rotation market. Itll be interesting to see how this one shakes out, if indeed serious talks occur. Maybe Giolito will get a Snell-like agreement but fall a bit short in terms of guaranteed cash. Or perhaps hell look to build upon the Marquez deal, giving up that extra season of control (in Giolitos case, his age-30 season) to boost the up-front cash promise. Regardless, Ill go ahead and guess that a contract would land in the realm of a $45MM guarantee. Photo courtey of USA Today Sports Images. By Nelson Banya HARARE (Reuters) - When Dominic Benhura started creating traditional Zimbabwean stone sculptures as a teenager four decades ago, he never imagined that art would bring him fame or fortune. Born to a peasant family in 1968 in Murewa, 90 kilometres northeast of Harare, Benhura is now a globally acclaimed artist and a leading proponent of the style. Sculptors from Zimbabwe's Shona ethnic group use basic tools to carve deeply expressive art into heavy blocks of stone, that often weigh several tonnes. They explore traditional African themes such as motherhood in both realist and abstract forms which periodically catch the eyes of curators in far flung Western capitals. The art form traces its lineage to the medieval empire of Great Zimbabwe, founded in the 11th century, whose most renowned artefact is a fish eagle hewn from soapstone. A Shona sculpture exhibition has been running for the past month at ValleyArts a New Jersey, USA, arts centre. Shona sculpture is also on display at New York's Museum of Modern Art, Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History, Indianapolis Museum of Art as well as the British Museum. Benhura learnt the art from other sculptors, including his cousin, after moving to the capital Harare in 1979, the year before Zimbabwe won independence from Britain. "I was so fascinated by people creating something out of stone, so I asked them if I could help them polishing and finishing their work," he told Reuters at his workshop. Eventually, Benhura found his own niche. His forerunners' work was mostly static, he says, so he created forms in motion. "My art celebrates life and I am inspired by my day-to-day life. I do animals, I do plants, I do birds, but I'm more inclined towards women and children," he says, explaining this was because he was brought up by his mother and aunt after his father died shortly before he was born. Benhura's work propelled him out of poverty and early family tragedy to a life he describes as blessed. At 23, he bought his first house in one of Harare's townships. He now lives and works at his gallery in one of the capital's more affluent suburbs. Story continues He also has permanent exhibitions in Atlanta, Colorado, Victoria Museum in Melbourne, Australia, and in Siena, Italy. "As much as Zimbabwe is renowned for this stone sculpture .... we do not have many pieces in museums because in Africa we don't have (enough of) our own museums," Benhura laments. "I wish we'd have more so that our work is also retained in Africa for our future generations." (Editing by Tim Cocks and Alexandra Hudson) (Photo : BRIAN SNYDER on Reuters) CONFIRMED Coronavirus Disinfectant Brands: Clorox, Lysol, Purell and Others Verified to Kill COVID-19 (Photo : ANDREW KELLY on Reuters) CONFIRMED Coronavirus Disinfectant Brands: Clorox, Lysol, Purell and Others Verified to Kill COVID-19 Coronavirus continues to spread all over the United States of America, causing over 300 confirmed cases and 17 deaths as of Thursday, Mar. 6. U.S. health experts advised everyone to undergo proper hygiene with the use of hand sanitizers, regular washing of hands, and recently released the complete list of verified disinfectant brands that can kill COVID-19. Some of them include Clorox, Lysol, Purell, and other disinfectant brands. These disinfectant brands will keep you safe from Coronavirus, say experts If you are looking for that perfect and effective disinfectant brands and products, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or US EPA has recently released the complete list of all disinfectant brands and products that they identified that could kill the virus once used or sprayed. SARS-CoV-2, which contains the Coronavirus, according to EPA, are "enveloped viruses, meaning they are one of the easiest types of viruses to kill with the appropriate disinfectant product." EPA mentioned that in order for companies to be included on the list, the manufacturers have to provide the agency with data that show their products are effective against harder-to-kill viruses than SARS-CoV-2. "EPA reviews the supporting information and determines if the claim is acceptable. Once approved, a company can make certain off-label claims as specified in the policy in the event of an outbreak such as the SARS-CoV-2," said EPA. Here is the summary of the verified disinfectant brands that are included on the list from EPA: Clorox toilet cleaner with bleach Clorox disinfecting spray Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Lysol disinfectant max cover mist Lysol toilet bowl cleaners Lysol multi-surface cleaner and disinfectant spray PURELL Professional Surface Disinfectant Wipes BLEACH DISINFECTANT CLEANER LONZA DISINFECTANT WIPES For the complete list of all confirmed disinfectant brands and products verified by EPA, visit their website here. Since not all products in the list are all ready-to-use or RTU products, EPA made a warning to all users to carefully identify and follow the needed concentration-time for each product to work effectively. "EPA strongly recommends following the product label use directions for enveloped viruses, as indicated by the approved emerging viral pathogen claim on the master label," said EPA. "If the directions for use for viruses/virucidal activity list different contact times or dilutions, use the longest contact time or most concentrated solution." Other items like vinegar are not yet verified whether they can use against COVID-19, says EPA ABC News reported that EPA has not yet reviewed other items that rumored to kill Coronavirus like vinegar and other household items. But the agency said that it is safer for households to choose the tested products on the list to protect them from potentially getting the virus. As of today, Mar. 6, Coronavirus has already killed less than 4,000 confirmed victims and has over 100,000 cases around the globe. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The government of Uttarakhand on Saturday announced that there have been no positive cases of Coronavirus in the state till date. The government also said that the situation is being monitored regularly. This statement comes in response after Congress MLA Qazi Nizamuddin and members of the house asked the government to take all precautionary steps. "In totality, 17, 387 people have been scanned besides this, 1215 people have been scanned at the airports out of which 425 people are of foreign nationals. He further added that 319 have been placed in quarantine zones out of which, 118 are still in quarantine to date," the government statement added. Parliamentary Affairs Minister added that necessary instructions have been conveyed to all the districts by the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and people were also being informed through the helpline number. The country's total number of positive cases of coronavirus touched 33 on Saturday. The virus which originated from China's Wuhan has so far killed more than 3,200 people globally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As murderous mobs rampaged through the streets of northeast Delhi last week, setting homes on fire and unleashing chilling brutality, many residents rose above the communal divide, with some ensuring safety of homes of their neighbours who were forced to flee and others offering them refuge in their homes. The narrow lanes of Shiv Vihar, one of the worst-affected areas, tell scores of such tales of amity. In phase 7, a predominantly Muslim neighbourhood, the two-storey house of Mohsin Khan (35) stands intact between a burnt car and a row of charred houses. His house was spared because Meenakshi (47), his neighbourhood 'auntyji', told a group of attackers that it was her sister's. "Had it not been for 'auntyji', my house too would have been burnt down like the rest of the Muslim houses in the area," Khan told PTI. After the first round of violence, security personnel evacuated all Muslims in the area on the intervening night of February 25 and 26. On the afternoon of February 26, Meenakshi recalled, the rioters returned to ravage the Muslim houses, ransacking them before setting them on fire by blasting cooking gas cylinders. "When they approached his (Khan's) house, I shouted that it was a Hindu's house. I told them it was my sister's place. I had to do whatever I could. How could I not?" she said. The tale of Omkar (62) and Mohammad Gayur (45), who have lived opposite each other for nearly 25 years now, is similar. Omkar opened his home to his Muslim neighbours when the violence was at its peak. He took in at least 35 people, including Gayur and his family, when they had nowhere left to go. Gayur's house was burnt down by a mob. Three motorcycles on the ground floor were set afire and cooking gas cylinders blasted on the floor above, causing the roof of two of the three rooms in the house to collapse. "We have been visiting each other's homes for over two decades. We eat together, we drink together. How can we forget all of that suddenly in one night?" Omkar said, showing the damage in Gayur's house. Despite losing everything in the violence, Saimur Khan (42) and Musa (38) say they don't feel any animosity towards their neighbours. "We have been living together in perfect harmony for years. They are our friends. They would never harm us. Those who took away everything from us were outsiders," said Nafis, who claims he incurred losses worth over Rs 12 lakh. He lived in a three-storey house in lane no. 12 with his family of 15. The house, which also housed his car seat cover warehouse, was burnt down. Cash and jewellery were looted by the rioters. Musa, whose one-room house has been reduced to ashes, said, "I am not angry at my neighbours. They were not the ones who attacked us." "There isn't one neighbour I have who doesn't greet me with a smile every time I pass by. There hasn't been an Eid when they were not here for sheera, and there hasn't been a Diwali when I was not invited for festivities," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In our current political moment, there is a lot of talk about the division in the Democratic party about the moderate versus the progressive wing of the party. Moderates, according to the progressives, are folks who just want to keep the corrupt establishment working on behalf of themselves and are unwilling to enact real, transformative, change that is essential to make our government work for all of the people. Progressives, according to the moderates, are those who simply want to tear down the entire system that our nation has been working to build for two centuries, and who want the government to answer all of societies problems (most of them are financial) with the snap of the fingers without consideration of the effects such changes would have on every aspect of our society. Both have fair critiques of the other, and the truth is that there is substantial difference between the two groups within the Democratic party. But much of what has been said on social media and in partisan publications about the other is projection, demonization, and fearmongering at best. As a Christian Pastor, I spend a lot of time thinking about the example of Jesus, who for me is more than a religious figure, but was and is a compelling social revolutionary. The socio-political movement that he started has been at work in the world for over 2,000 years and, when its been used in the way he intended, has been incredibly effective at transforming both individual lives and societies. Jesus was a political radical, a progressive one might say, who was unafraid to call out social injustice where he saw it in the sharpest language possible. When he saw economic exploitation, he engaged in direct action and acts of protest. When he saw the establishment seeking to perpetuate oppression, he stood arm in arm with the oppressed, risking his own life and calling out their own evil. At the same time, Jesus understood something profound about human nature- that substantive change was a process and was most effective when people underwent a true transformation of heart and mind which he called metanoia, which is often translated as repentance but is better understood as the expanding of the mind. He spoke of his social revolution in terms that frustrated his followers because it failed to deliver his vision of a utopian society immediately- he said, the kingdom of God is like a seed planted in a field, which in due time will grow into a large tree. Time and time again, he used metaphors for the expansion of the Kingdom (which was just a word that meant, the world as God intended it to be) that implied that it would be a measured process of expansion and growth through the transformation first of individuals, who then would transform societies and the world. Jesus understood something about how social change must happen- he instructed his followers to work to ensure that the poor had food, clothing, and shelter, and to sacrifice their own good for the common good of others. In other words, start engaging in doing tangible acts of justice right now, and at the same time, resist the evil of the empire and push for change both through direct action and through winning individuals over to his vision for the good of the world. And this is how Christians functioned for the first few centuries after Jesus was on earth. They began creating radical change on the grassroots level in their own communities, they engaged in evangelizing which was less about inviting people to a new religion, and more about inviting them to a new socio-political vision for the world, and they resisted and strongly opposed unjust rulers in their day. In other words, the example of Jesus is one the married the so-called progressives demand for justice now and the so-called moderates desire to make change through a measured process. And I believe that this model is essential for us in this moment of American history, not only if were going to win the election, but if were actually going to be effective agents of change in the next administration. The truth is that we need each other- progressives and moderates- if were going to transform this nation into the more just and equal country we hope for. Were not each others enemies, and as long as we act as if we are, we significantly stifle our ability to bring about the change that we long for. Progressives need moderates, because the truth is that if we dont seek to convince people across this country that our answers will actually benefit them and the country as a whole, theyre not going to vote for us. Super Tuesday gave us a glimpse into the truth of this- Senator Sanders believed that he had built a broad and diverse coalition among people of color in the South, and yet badly lost the black vote to a so-called moderate Vice President Biden. Why? Most analysis shows that the progressive failed to convince voters that their vision was even possible and could ultimately beat President Trump. Because progressives have relied primarily on their righteous indignation and allowed group think to take over making them believe that everyone would simply see how right their way was, they have left behind what looks like a majority of the country. Moderates, likewise, need progressives. The truth is that there are major aspects of our system that are broken, and there are far too many political and business leaders that are content to keep things as they are because it benefits them instead of everyone else. To simply write off the real anger and outrage of the progressive coalition (and even the anger of the far right) shows that moderates are truly out of touch with the lived reality of so many Americans- especially minorities. We got a glimpse of this in the Nevada Primary race, where Senator Sanders mobilized an overwhelming majority of Latinx voters across the state who have suffered under both Trump and Obama era policies regarding healthcare, immigration, and education. To tell these voters that we really need is a return to Obama era policies is not only offensive, but is in itself unjust. A promise of a return to the way things have been is unacceptable, and unless moderates wake up to the new for what Elizabeth Warren called big structural change, we will likewise isolate a majority of the country. Both the progressive and moderate Democrat approach to transforming our country are necessary to create substantive and lasting change. Our experience and perspective may lead us to different dispositions in our political engagement, but the truth is we both by and large want the same things. We want a country that works better for everyone, especially minorities and the disadvatanged. We want a democracy free from political corruption and corporate greed. We want everyone to have access to adequate healthcare, a good education, and a chance to build a prosperous life without crushing debt. We all know that we must take drastic action to reverse climate change, and we all desire a robust approach to address the systemic racism that has been infused into the fabric of our national identity. We may disagree on how this should happen, but we do agree that these things should happen. So then, what are we to do? The fact is we do have two candidates that starkly represent these two positions. Some of us support one and some of us support the other. And were likely going to be frustrated by one another as the fight between the two campaigns gets even more aggressive in the coming months. The truth is that I dont have any answers. My hope is that whomever becomes the Democratic nominee will choose a Vice President and administration officials that represent the other side of the party- because again, we need both the progressive and moderate energies in order to create lasting change in this country. But my bigger hope is that we would reflect on and remember that when were feeling the most angst and frustration between now and November, that our Democratic others are by and large our siblings in the fight for a better future of our country. Both sides energies are essential. And generally were fighting for similar ends. If we can remind ourselves of these things, then maybe our own fears will be quelled just a little bit more, and maybe we wont sling so much mud at each other. Maybe our debates will become a little more civil, and the message that we send to the rest of the nation is not that our party is hopelessly divided by enemies within, but that change is possible and that there is a light at the end of this exhausting and terrifying tunnel after all. Maybe, just maybe. It seems well worth a try. The potential cancellation of Winnipeg Transit's U-Pass is "a slap in the face" to thousands of the city's post-secondary students, advocates say. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The potential cancellation of Winnipeg Transit's U-Pass is "a slap in the face" to thousands of the city's post-secondary students, advocates say. The City of Winnipeg's preliminary 2020-23 budget released Friday calls for Transit to eliminate the reduced-priced student U-Pass once current agreements end in May, halt its Downtown Spirit service, and cut the hours on 14 additional routes. WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The City of Winnipeg's preliminary 2020-23 budget calls for Transit to eliminate the reduced-priced student U-Pass once current agreements end this May. As city council had previously approved an extension of U-Pass and a fee hike, and University of Manitoba students had voted in February in favour of keeping the program, Friday's announcement amounted to "a slap in the face," said Jakob Sanderson, president of the U of M Students Union. "What makes the U-Pass work is that its universal. So youre convincing 25 per cent of students, and weve seen this, to switch from driving every day to bussing. Thats taking cars off the road, its helping reduce traffic, its helping the city reduce emissions This isnt just about saving students money; its about creating a program where we can have a real impact on climate change," said Sanderson. Budget documents note the loss of the U-Pass will be offset by a 20 per cent student discount on an adult Transit fare. Some post-secondary pupils could also be eligible for a low-income bus pass, which the budget confirms will begin to be phased-in May 1. While he supports the low-income pass, Sanderson said those options wont come close to the incentive U-Pass which was mandatory for full-time students and purchased along with registration fees at the beginning of each term offered to lure U of M and University of Winnipeg students out of their cars and onto buses. The proposed budget also calls for reduced service hours on 14 Transit routes, including the removal of all Saturday service on Nos. 68, 82, 85, 89, 93 and 95, as well as the loss of all Sunday service on Nos. 83, 85, 93 and 95. The financial blueprint does offer some new investments, including a plan to start offering free transit for children under age 12 in 2021. The budget also includes $13 million over the next four years to add a new "spine-and-feeder" model to improve frequency in south Winnipeg. The investment would add 28 new, 18-metre buses and seven new stations along the Southwest Rapid Transitway. City council is scheduled to vote on the budget March 25. A transit advocate who has lobbied the city to increase Transit frequency called the route cuts "devastating." "I think were moving backwards," Derek Koop, president of Functional Transit Winnipeg, said Friday. Koop said removing entire days of service from certain routes is especially concerning. He said it could force some Winnipeggers to buy cars and ditch Transit, since buses might no longer serve all of their transportation needs. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Youre going to see a reduction in ridership when you see a reduction in service," he said. Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface), public works committee chairman, said this years strict financial targets made Transits budget a challenge, with the department initially asked to limit new annual spending increases to two per cent. Transit is now expected to experience hikes that average around 2.5 per cent annually, but even the revised limit required some tough choices, said Allard. "I think its generally going in the right direction... There is a list of services that is being eliminated, but its much, much smaller than what was originally proposed and it really is pruning the system. These are the lowest performing routes, so this is the least impactful proposal for the public," he said. Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga Zelensky thinks the era of the political outsider is just starting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will not stay longer at the post since all totalitarian regimes end the same way. "Of course a new president will appear there. Of course it will happen. What kind of president it will be, I don't know. But we can see that all totalitarian regimes end the same way," he told the Guardian in an interview. Read alsoZelensky: Ukraine's government must be effective, bring results To the journalists' remark that Putin would never simply give up power to a Zelensky figure in Russia, the Ukrainian president said: "I don't want people to die anywhere. But we should understand that if you keep tightening the spring, at some point it will snap." Zelensky thinks the era of the political outsider is just starting and his own campaign model could succeed elsewhere. "I am certain it could, especially where people are tired, where they are running like squirrels on a wheel, and there are these long-standing politicians with big financial resources. In these places, where people are searching for a breath of fresh air, it should work." A Santa Cruz County resident who recently traveled on the Grand Princess cruise ship is the county's first confirmed case of COVID-19, officials said Saturday. Test results on Friday night confirmed the diagnosis, county Public Health Division officials announced Saturday morning. The resident, whose identity and hometown were not released, had traveled on the Grand Princess from San Francisco to Mexico from Feb. 11-21. The ship, carrying more than 3,500 passengers, was recently on its way from Hawaii to San Francisco but remains off the coast of California while authorities determine a "non-commercial port" for it to dock. Officials say 21 people aboard the ship have tested positive for the virus and that 19 of them are crewmembers. Santa Cruz County officials are investigating any possible exposures the resident may have had with others. "We are taking this situation seriously and are taking steps necessary to protect the health and safety of Santa Cruz County residents," said Dr. Gail Newel, County of Santa Cruz Health Officer. The California Department of Public Health previously alerted counties of an exposure risk due to several travelers returning from the Grand Princess cruise ship, including travelers residing in Santa Cruz County. All are being actively monitored and are under self-quarantine, with daily contact with public health officials. Testing is requested for those exhibiting symptoms. While COVID-19 represents a serious public health threat, the risk to Santa Cruz County residents remains low but officials anticipate there will be additional local cases. Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to the flu, which include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or up to 14 days after exposure. Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19 or had recent travel to countries with COVID-19 outbreaks should contact their primary care physician's office. Before seeking medical attention, call first to prevent possible transmission in the health care setting. For local information, residents may visit www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text "coronavirus" to 211211. Messaging rates may apply. 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. TOKYO, March 6 (Reuters) - Japan's government defended new, tighter travel restrictions on visitors from China and South Korea, saying they were not too late to help slow the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, as Seoul protested the measures as "excessive." "The decision was the result of a comprehensive review of the information available about the situation in other countries and the effects of other measures," chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference on Friday. "I think the timing is appropriate." Starting Monday, people arriving from China and South Korea will be quarantined for two weeks at designated sites. Japanese nationals will also be subject to the measures, Suga said. South Korea strongly protested the move, calling it "unreasonable, excessive and extremely regrettable". Seoul's foreign ministry will summon the Japanese ambassador on Friday to lodge a complaint, after calling in a senior diplomat late on Thursday to request explanations, it said in a statement. The number of coronavirus cases in Japan climbed to 1,057 as of Friday morning, an increase of 21 people over the previous day, according to national broadcaster NHK. (Reporting by Kevin Buckland. Editing by Gerry Doyle) This announcement brings the total cases in the country to 15 Egypt has said it has detected 12 new coronavirus cases on a Nile cruise ship coming from Aswan to Luxor, a joint statement by the health ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) said, bringing the total number of cases observed in the country to 15. Health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said the detection came after information from WHO that a Taiwanese-American tourist, who was on board the cruise, had tested positive after returning home end February. She has been confirmed as an index case, a first documented patient in the onset of an epidemiological investigation carried out by Egypt on the cruise ship. Egypt had previously provided, in an epidemiological inquiry into recent reported cases in several countries, a breakdown of the nationalities of passengers who were aboard the ship from 5-19 February, including 11 from France, 31 from the US, seven from Canada, three from China, two from Malaysia and one from Bangladesh. A security source told Al-Ahram Arabic website on Friday that the Nile cruise ship has been evacuated in order to sterilise and disinfect it. The process is being carried out in the El-Baghdadi area, which is located 20 kilometres from the city of Luxor. The source said that the detected cases were now in Luxor, ahead of the planned transfer to an isolation hospital. The ship had arrived in Luxor on Thursday following a three-day trip in Aswan. While in Aswan, the passengers had visited several historical sites in the city, including Kom Ombo and Edfu, before travelling to Esna and Luxor. However, the 12 cases, all Egyptian workers on the ship, tested positive after a PCR test was carried out following the conclusion of the 14-day incubation period. Megahed said the ministry has followed up on medical conditions of those who were in contact with the tourist over the past 14 days and they did not show any symptoms. The 12 cases are set to be referred to an isolation hospital, with others believed to be in contact with them currently placed in quarantine for 14 days, to follow up on their health conditions. The statement didn't clarify how many passengers were on the cruise at the time of detection or their nationalities. Friday's announcement comes one day after Egypt announced the first confirmed case in the country of an Egyptian, a recent returnee from Europe. The two previous cases were both foreign nationals; one has since recovered. John Jabbour, the WHO representative in Egypt, said the detection of the cases confirms the efficiency of Egypt's preventive plan to combat the disease and deal with infected cases following their detection. He praised Egypt's transparency and fast response in notifying the WHO about the cases, the statement said. Search Keywords: Short link: Stay awake: Dictators dreams are nightmares for people By Priyanee Wijesekera Strengthening the Executive presidency with a two-thirds majority may lead to erosion of democracy and constitutional checks and balances View(s): View(s): It is election time once again and the Presidents party is seeking a two-thirds majority for the purpose of establishing a stable Government by amending the Constitution to strengthen the Executive Presidency. A Constitution is a document which guarantees the rights of a citizen by limiting the powers of the Government. The history of the British Constitution is one of centuries of conflict by which the common people wrested power away from the all-powerful monarch. The history of liberty is the history of limitation of Governmental power; not the increase of it. A dictators idea of paradise is where he has absolute state powers and no critics. His idea of a patriotic citizen is one who is loyal to himself; not one who pledges allegiance to the country. Different constitutions have different ways of dividing the powers of the state. Most constitutions divide the powers of the state vertically, according to the classic French concept of separation of powers, into the three main branches of Government, i.e, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. State power is horizontally divided by devolution, i.e, by the allocation of certain powers to sub-national units. To concentrate all powers in one individual is what is called a dictatorship. Since the enactment of the second Republican Constitution of Sri Lanka in 1978, almost every election manifesto pledged to abolish the all-powerful executive presidency established thereby. Over the decades, the powers of the executive presidency and the central Government were gradually reduced. The 13th Amendment devolved certain powers to the provincial councils while the 17th Amendment diluted the grip of the Executive President in the appointment of officers to certain vital positions in the state services by the creation of a Constitutional Council and a number of independent commissions. The 18th Amendment reversed this trend and in fact made the Executive President more powerful than under the original constitution in 1978. It abolished term limits for the President and replaced the Constitutional Council with a Parliamentary Council. Main features of 19A The 19th Amendment was enacted at a time when democracy was greatly weakened by the 18th Amendment. The main features of the 19th Amendment should be carefully assessed to figure whether it in fact destabilises the state. The most important feature of the 19th Amendment is the restoration of the Presidential term limits. Political power is highly addictive and most people who have once tasted such authority would not like to surrender its powers and privileges. A dictators greed to hold political power permanently may not be confined to his lifetime, but may extend even to his descendants. It is in recognition of this human failing that most national constitutions contain term limits for the head of state purely as a safeguard against perpetuating dictatorial tendencies. The 1978 Constitution originally prescribed a maximum of two six-year terms for the Executive President. The 18th Amendment was introduced by the very persons who once howled in horror about the evils of the executive presidency and pledged to abolish the odious office. Instead the 18th Amendment abolished the term limits, thereby enabling the President to contest for any number of times. The Executive President enjoys total immunity from legal action during his term of office. If such a person was to hold the office for life anyone who is aggrieved by his acts would have no remedy before the law. The 19th Amendment restored the term limits and also reduced the duration of the term to five years. It also introduced a disqualification for dual citizens to contest elections. The 19th Amendment also removed the sole discretion of the Executive President to dissolve Parliament at his whim and fancy. The Parliament is elected by the people for five years and giving the right to the President to dissolve it arbitrarily is a challenge to the will of the people. Discretionary powers should only be used with a sound rational foundation. The tendency for an all-powerful President to abuse his power is illustrated by the dissolution of Parliament in 2001 (a mere year after it was elected) for no valid reason. Even after the enactment of the 19th Amendment, the President in October 2018, in an act of supreme contempt for the Constitution, attempted to dissolve Parliament thus violating the Constitution he solemnly vowed to uphold at the beginning of his term of office. However, the President still retains the right to prorogue Parliament. Prorogation is a temporary recess of Parliament particularly after a heavy session of work. Even this power has been abused by the Presidents in the past. In 2001, Parliament was prorogued to frustrate an attempt to impeach the Chief Justice and in 2018 it was prorogued to give time for the President to entice members of the governing party to defect to the opposition thus effecting a change of Government and also to prevent the introduction of a no-confidence motion against the newly appointed illegitimate Prime Minister. Therefore, it would be appropriate for future constitutional reformers to consider whether prorogation should be done on a resolution of Parliament or on the advice of the Speaker. The 19th Amendment also restored the Constitutional Council which was originally established by the 17th Amendment. Its role is to advice the President on making appointments to the independent commissions and important government positions. It originally consisted of a certain number of Parliamentarians and a majority of civil society members. The 18th Amendment restored the grip the President had in making these appointments. It created a Parliamentary Council which was no different to just another Parliamentary Committee consisting exclusively of Parliamentarians. The Parliamentary Council could only make its observations within one week and if such observations were adverse it would be of no consequence because the President could disregard them. The 19th Amendment restored the Constitutional Council but with a majority of Parliamentarians. However the persons recommended for appointment by this council could be appointed even without the consent of the President. The President can also not appoint persons to the independent commissions unless approved by the council. To abolish the Constitutional Council would be to re-invest the Executive President with absolute and unquestioned authority to fill all vital positions in the government including judges of the superior courts. The 1978 Constitution had the right to free speech, expression and publication as a fundamental right. The 19th Amendment introduced the right to information as a constitutional right. Government information shrouded in secrecy leads to suspicion and thereby becomes a breeding ground for fake news and increased tension. Giving the citizen the right to Government information makes for a sunshine Government. Should this right be removed it would be a severe blow to the democratic rights of the citizen. Under the 19th Amendment the President continues to be the head of the Cabinet but is legally obliged to consult the Prime Minister in determining the number of Cabinet and non-Cabinet Ministers and the assignment of subjects to them. Furthermore the Presidents right to dismiss the Prime Minister or any Minister at his will was removed. Under the 19th Amendment, the President is also not entitled to hold any Ministerial portfolio. However, he continues to hold considerable executive powers, particularly the right to appoint secretaries to ministries, governors of the provinces and ambassadors. A stable Parliament While the legislature is entrusted with lawmaking, oversight of the executive and the control of public finance, the executive has the powers of administering the laws and running the Government. The function of the judiciary is to determine whether the laws are properly administered. Therefore, the separation of powers is a system of checks and balances to ensure that powers are not abused. The proportional representation system in elections is also tied to the executive presidency. It tends to prevent the formation of steam-roller majorities and is a check on the uncontrolled abuse of power by a President. An Executive President who is supported by a massive majority in Parliament has a blank cheque to abuse power. It may be a dictators dream of a stable government but it has all the potential of being a nightmare for the citizens. Parliament and other representative assemblies exist as a safeguard against executive abuse of power. Parliament is not a mere matter of proving numbers. It is a place where peoples hopes and fears are spotlighted for the attention of the Government. Therefore, a parliament that can be manipulated by the Executive President, supported by a massive majority is not a strong legislature. In October 2018, we had the unpleasant experience of an Executive President breaching the Constitution. First, he used his discretionary power to prorogue Parliament for the blatantly illegal purpose of buying time to entice Government members to cross over to the opposition to alter the power balance. It was also to prevent a motion of no confidence being brought against the illegally appointed Prime Minister. His efforts were frustrated by the Speaker who firmly upheld the rights of Parliament. His efforts being thus frustrated, he proceeded to directly violate the Constitution by dissolving Parliament. However, the Supreme Court which has the ultimate jurisdiction in constitutional matters struck down the dissolution as invalid. Therefore, those who rush to condemn the Constitution and the 19th Amendment would do well to ponder whether something is wrong with the Constitution or whether something is clearly wrong with those who violate it. No Constitution can be perfect. It has to be admitted that the second Republican Constitution with its 19th Amendment may have certain shortcomings. While these can be identified and corrected, it requires the constant vigilance of the citizen in safeguarding their civic rights. The Constitution itself cannot guarantee the success of democracy. It is spine chilling to recall how that masterpiece of statecraft, the Weimar Constitution of Germany, could not prevent the emergence of a brutal monster in the shape of Adolf Hitler who, in the guise of a saviour, led the country to destruction. It is the duty of the citizens to give serious thought to the gravity of the choice before them and what the country stands to lose. The strengthening of the Executive Presidency is one side of the coin, the other being a slavish legislature and a helpless judiciary. The stability of a nation is based on a sound economy where wealth and opportunities are equitably distributed, where people are cultured and where the law reigns supreme. Therefore, in attempting to repeal the 19th Amendment it should be remembered that it was the fragile thread on which the civic rights of over 20 million people hung when the former President, hell-bent on destroying constitutional government in Sri Lanka, created an unnecessary crisis in October 2018. (The writer is a retired Secretary General of Parliament and former ambassador to Austria.) Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday visited Ayodhya and announced an aid of Rs 1 crore for the construction of Ram Temple while stressing that his party, the Shiv Sena, is committed to Hindutva even though it has broken ties with the BJP. Thackeray, on his first visit to Ayodhya after becoming CM last November and completing 100 days in office on Friday, also said the aid will be given on behalf of a trust and not the Maharashtra government. He was accompanied by his wife Rashmi, son and Maharashtra tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray and Congress leader Sunil Kedar. "In Marathi, there is a phrase 'phool na phoolachi paakli' (one should offer a petal if not the whole flower). SoI am humbly announcing Rs 1 crore assistance for temple construction, not on behalf of the (Maharashtra) government, but our trust," chief minister Thackeray said. "We are humbly requesting the members of the (Ram temple) trust (formed to construct the temple on the Supreme Court's orders) to accept the small contribution from Ram bhakts (devotees of Lord Ram)," Thackeray told reporters before offering prayers at the makeshift Ram Lalla temple. Asked about the BJP's criticism that the Sena turned its back on the Hindutva ideology after joining hands with the NCP and Congress to form government in Maharashtra, Thackeray said the Sena still espouses Hindutva. "I have perhaps parted ways with the BJP (but) not with Hindutva. The BJP and Hindutva are different. BJP does not mean Hindutva," he said. He also referred to the Sena's vocal support for the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation when his father Bal Thackeray was at the helm of the party. "Bricks bearing the word 'Shriram' were sent here from Maharashtra in those days. Those bricks could still be here," he added. The Ram temple which will come up in Ayodhya will be for all, and it should be built on such a scale that people from world-over would come to see it, Thackeray added. Asked if he will attend Bhumi-pujan (ground-breaking ceremony) of the temple, Thackeray replied in affirmative. "Whenever Lord Ram wishes, we will come," he said. Thackeray did not perform 'aarti' during the visit, contending precautions should be taken in view of the coronavirus (to avoid crowds). "I wanted to perform the aarti...But will definitely do it the next time," he said. Kedar, who visited the temple with the Thackeray family, told Marathi newschannel TV9 that he had come here for "darshan" of Lord Ram and his visit had nothing to do with his party. "When the CM of the state can take blessings, we too will take blessings. This is not about any party but faith. The party and faith are different things," he said. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29, ESV and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, Behold, the Lamb of God!" John 1:36, ESV And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Rev. 12:11, ESV But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. Rev. 21:27, ESV Who Is the Lamb of God in the Bible? We know in the Gospel of John that John the Baptist was referring to Jesus when he exclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God!" There were also Old Testament prophecies concerning the sacrifice of a servant for his people. Jesus was prophesied as the Lamb of God in Isaiah 53:7 and Isaiah 53:12, which reads: Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice; He chose to sacrifice His life for us so that in Him, we would have new life. The substitutionary death of Christ takes away the sin of the whole world, including all Gentiles - a shocking revelation to the Jewish readers (Moody Bible Commentary). Jesus chose to sacrifice His life for all people. In the greatest act of love the world will ever witness, God sent His only Son to be sacrificed for all mankind: I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? So Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. - John 6:51-56 Sacrifice in the Bible There were several types of sacrifices in the ancient Jewish faith, but notably with the lamb, which the Jewish audience would have thought of at Johns remark, were the sacrifice of lambs at Passover (Exodus 12:11-13) and the sacrifice of two lambs daily at the temple (Exodus 29:38-42). A sacrificed animal took the place of the person who committed the sin(s). Yet, obedience through faith was the founding principal behind the sacrifices (Exodus 19:4-8). There was nothing magical about the animals themselves, it was the act of obeying God's Word in faith. (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia ) Sacrifice without obedience was worthless. Obedience has always been Gods desire for us. When Gods ancient people fell short of obeying, they sacrificed to atone their sin and return to fellowship with God. Sacrifice may well have seemed to them the natural expression of homage and gratitude, G.F. Moore in Encyclopedia Biblica admits of the Old Testament prophets, and of atonement for sin, and full fellowship with God. Once the covenant was established, sacrifices were made on the altar, and the blood would symbolize the community of life between Yahweh and Israel (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia). The Bible tells the story of rebellion, sin, and atonement to God through sacrifice. In particular, the Book of Leviticus outlines laws and rules regarding ritual sacrifice. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins, says the epistle to the Hebrews (9:22), wrote Gordon Wenham. Over and over again, Gods people disobeyed and rebelled, and God through His faithfulness would continually draw them back to Him, even through disaster and consequence. When John the Baptist said, Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), he was most likely seeing Christ as the perfect Passover lamb, an image Paul also uses when he speaks of Christ, our Passover lamb (1 Cor. 5:7), wrote Gordon Wenham. When John the Baptist saw Jesus a second time, he again said, Look, the Lamb of God! (John 1:36) Christ Jesus, as the sacrificial lamb, is significant. The blood of the Lamb of God brings us back into fellowship with God the Father. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. The spotless lamb, Jesus was fully God and fully man and did not sin. God made a way for the sacrifice required to forgive sin to be atoned for eternally. Salvation through Jesus means we are no longer chained by the ancient spin-cycle of sin. We are free to accept and proclaim Christ as our Savior. What Is the Meaning and Context of John 1:29? Every Jewish family was required to sacrifice a lamb at Passover, killing and roasting it for the traditional Passover meal. Can you imagine as many as 100,000 lambs roasting all over the city of Jerusalem? The air would be filled with the aroma, wrote Allen Jackson in A Perfect Lamb, When John the Baptist declared that Jesus was the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world! the people had a very vivid picture of what the sacrifice would mean. The Apostle John began his gospel account by identifying Jesus as the Word of God, the second person in the Trinity, and present with God the Father at Creation. Jesus, the Word of God, encompasses all rituals and rules regarding sacrifice. Every biblical sacrifice pointed toward Jesus. The meaning and context of John 1:29 is significant to the Christian faith because Jesus sacrificed His own life for ours. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. (John 1:6-8) In writing these divinely inspired lines about John the Baptist from the marks of his memory, the Apostle Johns goal is to draw readers to Christ through John the Baptists testimony and witness to Christ Jesus. While baptizing people in preparation for the Messiah, he is very clear not to claim he is the Messiah. I baptize with water, John replied, but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. (John 1:26-27). In John 5:35 the apostle records Jesus, Himself, referring to John the Baptist as a lamp but not the light (NIV Study Bible). The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14). The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, Look the Lamb of God! (John 1:29). This exact phrase appears only here and in John 1:36, When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, Look , the Lamb of God! The Passover was significant to the Jewish faith, to Gods chosen people. The reason the Lord instituted the Passover was so that people of Israel would always remember and proclaim their redemption from Egypt, wrote Jon Bloom. Jesus came to do what we could never accomplish by our efforts or sacrifice. But by His sacrifice, we are set free. His blood was shed for our freedom. John the Baptist, upon recognizing the Messiah, said he was unworthy to tie Jesus sandals. God redeemed Israel over and over again. Their story is our story, the story of redemption. Jesus redeemed all of Gods children for all time. The ultimate Israel is Jesus himself, D.A. Carson. How Can Christians Behold the Lamb of God? The death of Christ does not exhaust the significance of the sacrificial system for the Christian, Gordon Wenham wrote, We too are expected to walk in Christs footsteps and share His suffering (1 Peter 2:21-24). So we are encouraged to present our bodies as a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1). Christianity is a sacrificial faith. We sacrifice ourselves; our very lives are a living sacrifice because Jesus lives in us. Christ-followers submit to Gods will and authority over our own. We behold the Lamb of God, when we take up our crosses daily, as God instructs, and follow Christ. We can see the greatest event in the world happening, and yet not see it. We can hear without hearing. We have an incredible capacity for assessing spiritual things wrongly, John Piper preached, And one of our greatest weaknesses- more today than ever probably- is that we do not meditate on the great things. We do not stop and ponder the things of God. Jesus, to defeat death, laid down His life, willingly, not for good people, but for all who could never measure up to the bar of righteousness that would grant us access to God the Father. Jesus is our substitutionary sacrifice. Behold, the Lamb of God! Life, within the love of Christ, brings glory and honor to God. When we truly embrace and receive the sacrificial gift of life Jesus died to give to us, we become a channel of His love. A Prayer to Behold the Lamb of God God our Father, You are sovereign over all and Creator of each and every one of us. Your ways are not are ways. Your thoughts are not our thoughts. Give us perspective, as we seek to understand ancient sacrifice and its significance in our modern lives. Reveal to us the wisdom we need to embrace and fully receive salvation. May our lives behold the Lamb of God. Jesus, Your defeat of death will not be lost on us. We will daily take up our crosses to follow You, until the day we hug You in heaven. What a Savior, You are! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Let our hearts be full of gratitude for the gravity of the cross. In Jesus Name, Amen. Photo credit: GettyImages/Jorisvo The Chief Rabbi of Panama, David Perets, commended King Mohammed VI for his sustained efforts to promote coexistence between different religions, pointing out that the Monarchs vision is worthy of appreciation and emulation. Through the institution of the Commandery of the Faithful, the King is the supreme representative of the Nation and the symbol of the unity of all religions, the Chief Rabbi of Panama, David Perets, said during a Jewish celebration in Panama on Thursday, March 5. Panama City hosted the Jewish celebration of Hiloula on Thursday to honor the death of Rabbi Isaac Bin Walid (1777-1870). Rabbi Isaac Bin Walid, one of the most eminent rabbis of the Sephardic community, is buried in Moroccan Northern city of Tetouan. During the event celebrating Moroccos history of religious tolerance, Rabbi Perets highlighted the history of the Jewish community in Morocco, acknowledging the Moroccan monarchys role in maintaining religious coexistence in the predominantly Muslim nation. King Mohammed VI has become a symbol and a model throughout the world given his pioneering role in consolidating the values of peace and coexistence, Rabbi David Perets said, stressing that the Sovereigns high concern for Moroccans of the Jewish faith is an effort worthy of recognition. About the efforts made by the Kings of Morocco to protect their citizens of the Jewish faith, the chief rabbi of Panama underlined King Mohammed Vs pivotal role in protecting Jews in Morocco during World War II. He recalled the categorical refusal by the late Mohammed V to introduce anti-Jewish laws at the time of the Vichy regime and his refusal to hand over the countrys 250,000 Jews to the Nazi regime during the World War II. At the time, neighboring countries as well as European States did not have the same wisdom, he said. He also mentioned the contribution of the late Hassan II to the promotion of rapprochement and peace in the Middle East. Continuing the legacy of his grandfather and his father, King Mohammed VI consistently demonstrates respect for the role of Judaism in Morocco, the Rabbi stated further, mentioning among King Mohammed VIs achievements, the inclusion in the preamble of the 2011 Constitution of the Hebrew heritage as a component of national identity as well as his efforts to rehabilitate Moroccos Jewish heritage in Fez, Essaouira, Marrakech I couldnt hold back my tears when I visited the neighborhood in Marrakech where my father was born and saw how it has recovered its former name, he said. The Chief Rabbi also highlighted the special and unique attachment of Moroccan Jews to their country of origin, Morocco, as translated by their regular visits and the preservation of Moroccan customs and culture during all their family and religious celebrations. Echoing him, Rabbi Yahia Assouline, grandson of the Chief Rabbi of Taroudant, David Ben David Barroukh, commended the monarchs continued concern for Moroccan Jews inside and outside the Kingdom. Assouline, who was born in 1952 in Casablanca, recalled the atmosphere of peace and harmony in which Jews lived alongside Muslims in Morocco, stressing that Moroccan Jews never broke the links with their country of origin. Rabbi Isaac Bin Walid devoted his life to the study of the Torah and wrote his famous book Vayomer Yitzchak, which contains a series of questions and their answers. This book became an essential reference for the decision-makers who consult it before issuing legal decrees. According to the Encyclopaedia of Jews in the Islamic world, Rabbi Isaak Ben Walid was appointed, in 1835, head of the rabbinical court in Tetouan. Before dying, on 9 Adar 1870, in Tetouan, Rabbi Issak Ben Walid was reportedly the instigator of the opening of the first school of the Alliance Israelite Universelle in 1862. The Hiloula of several Jewish saints is celebrated across Morocco by the Moroccan Jewish community. The Jewish community has been present in Morocco since antiquity and grew over the centuries, particularly with the arrival of Jews expelled from Spain by the Catholic kings after 1492. The Atlantic city of Essaouira houses a memorial to Moroccos Judeo-Islamic heritage, Bayt Dakira, and Casablanca hosts, since 1997, a Moroccan Jewish Museum, the only one of its kind in the Arab world, while a museum dedicated to the Jewish memory is under construction in Fez, the countrys spiritual capital. Scientists and engineers working at the frontier of nanotechnology face huge challenges. When the position of a single atom in a material may change the fundamental properties of that material, scientists need something in their toolbox to measure how that atom will behave. A research team led by the University of Leeds, in collaboration with colleagues at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France, have shown for the first time that it is possible to develop a diagnostic technique loosely related to the idea of a tuning fork. A tuning fork produces a fixed tone when energy is applied to it - in that case, when it is struck. But if the fork is somehow altered, it goes out of tune: the tone changes. The technique being used by the research team involves firing a beam of electrons at a single atom in a solid. That energy stream causes it and the atoms that surround it to vibrate. This creates a unique vibrational energy fingerprint, akin to the fixed tone from a tuning fork, which can be recorded by an electron microscope. But if a single atom impurity is present, another chemical element, for instance, the vibrational energy fingerprint of that impurity will change: the material will 'sound' different at this precise location. The research opens up the possibility that scientists will be able to monitor materials for atomic impurities. The findings, Single Atom Vibrational Spectroscopy in the Scanning Electron Microscope, are published today (March 5) in the journal Science. Quentin Ramasse, Professor of Advanced Electron Microscopy at Leeds who led the project, said: "We now have direct evidence that a single "foreign" atom in a solid can change its vibrational property at the atomic scale. "This has been predicted for decades, but there has not been any experimental technique to observe these vibrational changes directly. We have been able to show for the first time that you can record that defect signature with atomic precision." The researchers used the SuperSTEM Laboratory, the UK National Research Facility for Advanced Electron Microscopy, supported by the Engineering and Physical Research Council (EPSRC). The facility houses some of the most advanced facilities in the world for investigating the atomic structure of matter, and is operated under the auspices of an academic consortium led by the University of Leeds (also including the Universities of Oxford, York who were involved in this project, as well as Manchester, Glasgow and Liverpool). The scientists located a single impurity atom of silicon in a large graphene crystal (a form of carbon only one atom thick) - and then focused the beam of their electron microscope directly on that atom. Professor Ramasse said: "We are hitting it with an electron beam, which makes the silicon atom move around or vibrate, absorbing some of the energy of the incoming beam of electrons in the process - and we are measuring the amount of energy that is being absorbed." The animation illustrates schematically how the silicon vibrates, and how that vibration begins to affect neighbouring atoms, and is inspired by extensive theoretical calculations by the team of Dr Guillaume Radtke at the Sorbonne University, who collaborated on this project. (The animation can be downloaded from: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DIct9Wg6lqd6PdO2stLKK8orq1Idcezq "The vibrational response we observe is unique to how this particular silicon atom is located within the graphene lattice," added Dr Radtke. "We could predict how its presence would perturb the surrounding network of carbon atoms, but these experiments represent a real technical achievement because we are now able to measure with atomic precision such a subtle change." ### The research and electron microscopy facilities were funded by the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council. Notes to Editors For more information, please contact David Lewis in the press office: d.lewis@Leeds.ac.uk or 0113 343 2049 Images can be downloaded here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DIct9Wg6lqd6PdO2stLKK8orq1Idcezq Please credit: The animation: D.Kepaptsoglou, SuperSTEM The image show the single atom of silicon in the graphene lattice: Q. Ramasse, SuperSTEM 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 Follow University of Leeds or tag us in to coverage Twitter Facebook Carl Rice (above) and Jennifer Page (below) from Go Greener with Grangecon meeting President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at Aras an Uachtarain Members of a west Wicklow environmental group recently attended a special reception at Aras an Uachtarain. Two representatives of Go Greener with Grangecon, Carl Rice and Jennifer Page, were invited to attend the event hosted by President Michael D Higgins and Sabina Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain on Friday, February 21 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Wheel, Ireland's national association of charities, community and voluntary organisations and social enterprises. In a speech to honour such groups, President Higgins acknowledged that they have a 'critical role to play in helping Ireland to meet its commitments as signatories to the 2030 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.' He also stated that 'our greatest challenge is in delivering the consciousness, the will, to realise that the damaging, dysfunctional connection with which we have lived between ecology, economy and society has brought us to the edge of a precipice. We need a paradigm shift in our thinking as to how we will combine ecology, economy, and society so as to provide for the greatest of human needs.' Go Greener with Grangecon were winners of the Mobiliser award at last October's Spark Change Awards ceremony, which was organised by The Wheel in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin. The group has developed a range of initiatives with the aim of reducing the ecological footprint of the community in Grangecon. (Natural News) Whether its night or day, at least 40 percent of the people in the world are on their phones and browsing through social media. That means at least a staggering three billion thumbs are scrolling mindlessly through all sorts of apps and websites, from Facebook and Instagram to Twitter. On average, people spend about two hours a day on these platforms. Some look at photos, leave comments and likes or check out what their friends are doing. However, while social media can be used to connect with new friends or reconnect with old acquaintances, its frequent use is also associated with adverse side effects. It can even negatively affect your mental health. Social media and negative feelings At first glance, everyone on social media seems happy. But how do people really feel as they view photos of their friends taking vacations in beautiful and exotic places? Studies on the use of social media suggest that users often feel lonely. Frequent users also report that they often experience social isolation. Even if users arent physically or emotionally separated from their friends and loved ones, they may still feel that way since spending more time on their preferred social networks is strongly associated with greater feelings of loneliness and isolation. Additionally, research suggests that frequent social media use is linked to higher anxiety. While these studies dont prove causation, they imply that spending more time on social media is caused by loneliness and anxiety, and not vice versa. Social media use can also affect your ability to have a healthy self-esteem. Data from survey studies suggest that more than 60 percent of Facebook users often feel inadequate. In a 2012 survey called Swedens largest Facebook study, researchers discovered an inverse correlation between Facebook use and self-confidence among female users. The results showed that Facebook use is linked to happiness among women. Findings from other studies suggest that some women may compare themselves to others on Facebook, with users feeling that other people are more attractive than them. This negative view can damage both their body image and self-esteem. It may even have repercussions on their emotional well-being. Because users often show their lives through filters, with almost none of their negative experiences being shown online, others who see their posts and photos tend to compare their own lives to heavily filtered images. You may even start thinking that your life is lacking compared to your friends, which isnt a healthy habit to have. And even if you dont compare your life to that of your Facebook friends, what you see on social media can negatively affect you since any form of self-comparison tends to negatively affect your mood. In addition, researchers have also identified a link between social media use and clinical depression. (Related: Is social media making you depressed? Science concludes yes.) According to an Austrian study, even using Facebook for a short period can cause negative emotions. Results showed that simply browsing your feed for 20 minutes causes sad or depressing feelings. How to manage your social media use Other studies have found that spending more time on social media can make you feel worse. In fact, users who spend more time on their social media feeds are at least three times as likely to feel depressed and anxious. Overall, social media users also tend to report reduced life satisfaction. If using Facebook negatively affects your mood, try going on a digital detox by following the tips below. Is Facebook making you depressed? Limit your social media use to 30 minutes or less a day. Taking a social media break may help reduce your fear of missing out (FOMO) and unhealthy envy. Clean up your newsfeeds. Hide everyone except family members and your closest friends and only follow reputable sources of news and information. Is Facebook making you miss out on real-life friendships? Put your phone down and spend more time talking to your best friend over a cup of coffee. If social media is negatively affecting your mood and mental health regularly, it may be time to quit it for good. Even if you dont have the photos to prove it, your own life is just as happy and enjoyable as the people on your Facebook feed. The only difference is, you dont let these moments pass you by since youre not busy taking photos to post on social media. Sources include: PsychologyToday.com GreaterGood.Berkeley.edu LIMERICK City and County Council was forced into a U-turn over its proposals for flood defences in the Potato Market, its been claimed. As part of a raft of measures for flood defences along the Kings Island, which are currently being deliberated upon, the local authority proposed to install a ramp in the Potato Market, which is owned by the Limerick Market Trustees. The facility beside City Hall provides vital funds for the Milk Market, and these proposals would have seen a reduction in car parking spaces. While the Market Trustees, which owns the land, were happy to see flood defences built in the car park, they were dismayed when they saw what the council were proposing. Informed sources have indicated it was not until the trustees sought legal advice that the council changed tack and came back with a revised application. Former chairman of the Market Trustees Cllr Jerry ODea said: The councils initial plan would have removed quite a number of car parking spaces. When this was pointed out to them over a period of months, they came back with an engineers solution to the problem which allowed the application to go ahead, but not impinge on the viability of the Potato Market. The new proposal, which is currently being deliberated on, and will be decided on by councillors in the coming months, does not include the ramp. The flood relief scheme is set to provide protection right around St Marys Park, the Lee Estate, the Island Field and into the city, following the devastating flooding of 2014. Cllr ODea said the money raised from parking charges in the Potato Market is vital for the survival of the Milk Market, which is the jewel in the trustees crown. He said: What people dont know is the revenue of the Potato Market subsidises the Milk Market. The market doesnt make a profit. Essentially its a public service. The revenue from the parking helps subsidise the market allowing it to fulfil a public need. Metropolitan district leader, Cllr James Collins, a former market trustee, had raised the matter at a monthly meeting. He said: The reality of it is the Milk Market loses money every year. Its kept afloat by parking at the Potato Market. The Market Trustees arent in the business of providing car parks. Its done out of necessity. Wed love to have something else at the Potato Market, but the reality is the money raised there keeps the market going. He described what the council was proposing was a big lump of concrete in there, impacting on the number of parking spaces, and depleting the revenue raised from parking. The Milk Market needs to be supported. We dont need the council doing things like this which are undermining its viability. They need to invest in the Milk Market. Its on a knife-edge financially, Cllr Collins told the Limerick Leader. A spokesperson for City and County Council said they do not comment on individual planning applications which are in progress. Ukrainian farmers export almost 42 mln tonnes of grain since July 1 12:20, 07.03.20 549 Ukraine has already shipped some 16.7 million tonnes of wheat abroad. Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said that balance sheet of Yes Bank, which is facing a crisis, showed that outstanding loans were jumping at 35 per cent and sought an inquiry into "how it was not noticed by officials in government or the RBI". Addressing a press conference here, he said that the resolution plan proposed to deal with Yes Bank crisis does not give the impression that SBI is a volunteer and these are "command performances." "I don't get the impression that SBI is a volunteer in the rescue act just as LIC was not a volunteer in the IDBI Bank rescue act. These are command performances," Chidambaram said. The former finance minister said loan book of Yes Bank jumped from Rs 55,633 crore in March 2014 to Rs 2,41, 499 crore in March 2019. He said every commercial bank is subject to an internal audit, a concurrent audit and an external audit and the balance sheet has to be submitted to the RBI. "Quarterly and half-yearly statements have to be submitted to the RBI. No one in the RBI seems to have read the balance sheet. If you would have simply read the balance sheet, you will know the outstanding loans is jumping at the rate of 35 per cent a year. And why did somebody not stop it sometime say 2015 or 2016," he said. "This is a matter that must be thoroughly inquired into. How is that no official of the Department of Financial Services, no official of the RBI, no auditor noticed that the jump in the loan book at 35 per cent year... During that period, 2014-19, the loan book of the entire banking system was growing at about 9.5-10 per cent a year. And here you have Yes Bank loan book growing at about 35 per cent a year," he added. Taking a dig at Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Chidambaram said, "Sometimes when I listen to the Finance Minister, I get the feeling that the UPA is still in power, I am still the Finance Minister and she is the Opposition." Chidambaram said whoever takes over Yes Bank "must takeover with the condition that all depositors' money is safe." "Finance Minister mentioned yesterday about the mergers done under Governor Reddy. The mergers that we did under Governor Reddy ensured that every depositor got the last pie. Our insistence will be whatever is the new management of Yes Bank, the depositors must be completely safe because they are the most innocent and least involved in this fiasco," he said. Answering a query about a debate in Parliament over Delhi violence not having been held in the first week of the second half of the budget session, Chidambaram said the party was very disappointed. "We are very, very disappointed that the debate was not taken up in the first week of Parliament. In fact, somebody tweeted, there is a Parliament which is discussing the Delhi riots and it is not the Indian Parliament. The discussion took place in the House of Lords in England. I sincerely hope that both presiding officers will allow a debate to start at 11 am on March 11," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of International Women's Day, Manipal Hospitals Bangalore honoured ten incredible women for their courage and grit to combat their medical illnesses. To celebrate the spirit of womanhood and appreciate their strength and unwavering willpower displayed to overcome deadly diseases, these brave women were honoured with the title of 'Woman of Victory' to acknowledge their fighting spirit. Rachna Singh, the renowned author who is best known for her debut best-seller 'Dating, Diapers and Denial' was the guest of honour for the occasion. Each of these incredible women shared several heart-warming stories of struggle and bravery. The case of Jumana Hozef Chinikamwala, a 46-year-old entrepreneur was a great example of fighting the Big C with a positive attitude. When she was detected with breast cancer 3.5 years ago, Dr Shabber Zaveri, Consultant - Surgical Oncology, Manipal Hospitals Old Airport Road Bangalore, explained the disease and gave her the confidence she needed. Determined to fight the deadly disease and with a positive outlook, she overcame the condition and started work on third-day post the surgery. She feels that women are quite strong to overcome any difficulties in life with inner strength & willpower. Gayathri Rao had spine issues termed thoracic scoliosis, due to which she was unable to walk properly. She underwent scoliosis corrective surgery at Manipal Hospitals Bangalore under the consultancy of Dr Vidyadhara S - HOD & Consultant Spine Surgeon - Spine Care, Manipal Hospitals Old Airport Road Bangalore. Sridevi Krishnamurthy was diagnosed with colon-rectal carcinoma or peritoneal cancer- stage 4, in March 2019. With the help of Dr Ashwin Rajagopal, Consultant - Surgical Oncologist and Dr Amit Rauthan - Consultant, Cancer Care, Manipal Hospitals Old Airport Road Bangalore, she underwent an 11-hour surgery using novel technology HIPEC for cancer cure. In less than a year, she continued her journey as a survivor with maintenance medication. Abantika Baidya was having a problem with her second pregnancy, with a morbidly adherent placenta. She was in complete bed rest due to the tendency of bleeding. Dr Gayathri Karthik Nagesh - Consultant - Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Manipal Hospitals Old Airport Road Bangalore suggested a caesarean section with hysterectomy and part of the urinary bladder to be removed with premature delivery. The final decision was to go for caesarean section with premature delivery. Sunitha Atinus was admitted to Manipal Hospitals after a road traffic accident. Multiple facial injuries and fractures were fixed by the efficient team of doctors under Dr Srikanth V, Consultant - Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, Manipal Hospitals Old Airport Road Bangalore, Dr Ashok BC, Consultant - Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, Manipal Hospitals Old Airport Road Bangalore, Dr Anantheswar YN, Consultant - Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, Manipal Hospitals Old Airport Road Bangalore and was taken good care by the nursing team. She recovered with the best possible face in two months. She had around 27 surgeries and procedures in total until January 2014. Jessica, a 50-year-old entrepreneur was fighting multiple severe health issues due to obesity. Even after innumerable tries, she could not overcome the issue due to her hormonal changes. Dr Mohit P Shetti, Consultant - Gastroenterologist, Manipal Hospitals, Old Aiport Road, Bangalore advised her to undergo Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) which was a safe, non-surgical, minimally invasive, endoscopic procedure for her weight loss and after a tough long life, she managed to take control back into her hands. Lipika Phani now counsels cancer patients, after fighting her own battle with fallopian tube cancer treated by Dr Poonam Patil, Consultant - Medical Oncology, Manipal Hospitals, Old Aiport Road, Bangalore. Pushpa Sevenraj went back to being a loving mother after her liver transplant, the donor was her son Bharath Raj and similarly, Bhagyalakshmi too underwent a liver transplant and their treating doctor was Dr Ravichand C Siddachari, Consultant HPB, Organ Transplant, Liver Transplant Surgery, Manipal Hospitals, Old Airport Road, Bangalore. Shibani Choudhury went back to her job and active lifestyle after three heart attacks. Dr Prof Ranjan Shetty, HOD & Consultant - Interventional Cardiologist, Cardiology, Manipal Hospitals, Old Aiport Road, Bangalore who performed angioplasty. After angioplasty, 95 per cent blockage was observed in the heart. Later, the doctor placed a stent. Although she has fully recovered, it took a long time to get over her emotional saga. Pooja Bajaj, who began riding a bike at the age of 15, always had a passion for the wheels, until a recent accident of a broken collarbone posed as a roadblock and she did not let it stop her from getting back on her beloved bike. Dr Hemant K Kalyan, Consultant - Orthopaedic Surgery, Manipal Hospitals, Old Aiport Road, Bangalore gave her a new lease of life. "It is a proud moment for Manipal Hospitals to honour these 'Women of Victory' who have overcome their illness with much strength and will power. We are happy to have touched so many lives and are committed to offering the best clinical outcomes. On this International Women's day, salute the brave hearts who are an inspiration to people", said Dr Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman Manipal Hospitals. This story is provided by PRNewswire. 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.) Busted! NYPD makes arrest in Staten Island bank-robbery pattern There were violent threats against bank security, two stolen vehicles, bills shredded by an implanted device and stories about an alleged accomplice named Blackie. Following the arrest of a man authorities say amassed more than $34,000 during a citywide bank robbery spree -- including four on Staten Island -- new details of the alleged crimes have emerged. Click here for the full story. Don't Edit NYPD: Man arrested in connection with TD Bank robbery Police arrested a man in connection to a robbery at a TD Bank branch in Port Richmond Center Wednesday, an NYPD spokesperson told the Advance. Francis Grady, 40, of the 600 block of Cary Avenue, West Brighton, was arrested last Friday at 11:20 a.m., the spokesperson said. Grady is facing robbery charges. Click here for the full story. Don't Edit Woman charged in stabbing of off-duty NYPD officer A Staten Island woman is in police custody after allegedly stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer Sunday night, in what authorities are calling a domestic incident. Marisol Ramirez, 28, of the 300 block of Thornycroft Avenue in Eltingville, was charged with assault, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the incident, an NYPD spokesman said Monday. Click here for more details. Don't Edit NYPD: 14-year-old hit in the head during altercation at the Staten Island Mall A teenager was hit in the head after an altercation at the Staten Island Mall in New Springville last Friday afternoon, according to police. Police responded to a report of an assault at the food court of the mall at around 5 p.m. after a female hit a 14-year-old in the back of the head, causing redness and pain, an NYPD spokeswoman told the Advance. Click here for the story. Don't Edit Masked suspects in larceny spree at private apartment buildings sought by police Police are asking the publics assistance in identifying four individuals sought for questioning in connection with a larceny spree last week at multiple apartment buildings in New Springville. Four masked individuals dressed in dark clothing forced open a door from the outside of what was thought to be a secure, private parking garage at one of the buildings on Wellington Court, according to police and witness accounts. Click here for more details. Don't Edit Don't Edit A license-plate violation, a loaded gun and now a conviction A jury on Tuesday convicted a New Brighton man of possessing a loaded gun inside a car in West Brighton last year. Jaime Medina, 31, was arrested on Feb. 5, 2019, said a criminal complaint. Medina was seated in the rear left side of a car which cops had pulled over for an alleged license-plate violation at about 7:55 p.m. on the 1000 block of Castleton Avenue, according to police and a criminal complaint. Click here for more details. Don't Edit A loud bang then an arrest: Hes accused of DWI crash on Hylan A 62-year-old man was drunk when he smashed a car into a utility pole on Hylan Boulevard in Grasmere, authorities allege. Leszek Bialy, 62, of the 400 block of East 7th Street, Brooklyn, allegedly was the unlicensed driver of a 1998 red Oldsmobile that hit the pole on the 900 block of Hylan on Monday at about 10 p.m., according to the criminal complaint and police. Click here for more details. Don't Edit Man charged in alleged swindle of 35,000 gallons of gas; valued at $85K Talk about having a lot of gas. A Georgia man is accused of swindling a supplier out of $85,000 worth of high-quality gasoline about 35,000 gallons - and selling the fuel at a cut rate to a Staten Island company. Decarlos Butler, 34, pulled off the scheme last spring, prosecutors allege. Click here for more details. Don't Edit 2 sought for questioning in connection with theft of credit cards at Costco The NYPD is asking for the publics help to identify individuals sought for questioning in connection with the theft of a cell-phone case with credit cards from a shopping cart in Greenridge. A 72-year-old woman was shopping inside of Costco at 2975 Richmond Ave. when she realized that her cell-phone case containing her credit cards had been taken from her cart on Feb. 20 at about 7:30 p.m., according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Click here for the story. HOUSTON, March 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- EP Energy Corporation ("EP Energy" or the "Company") (OTC Pink: EPEGQ) today announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (the "Court") has confirmed the Company's Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan"). The Company expects to complete its financial restructuring process and emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as a private company in the coming weeks. Upon emergence, the Company will reduce its debt by approximately $3.3 billion, will receive approximately $629 million in senior secured exit financing from the Company's existing revolving loan lenders, and approximately $325 million of new-money equity financing from certain of its existing noteholders. Such deleveraging and financing will ensure that EP Energy will have greater financial flexibility to support ongoing operations. President and Chief Executive Officer Russell Parker said, "This milestone represents the commitment of our financial restructuring, which is being achieved on an expedited basis thanks to the support of our creditors and stakeholders and their confidence in our long-term value creation opportunities. Confirmation of our Plan enables EP Energy to begin taking the final steps in a process that will significantly reduce our debt and strengthen our capital structure. Based on the strength of our assets and our continued improvement on our operational execution and capital efficiency, EP Energy is poised to succeed in this operating environment and drive value for all our stakeholders." Mr. Parker continued, "I want to thank our dedicated team of employees, who have maintained an unwavering focus and advanced our turnaround plan in the face of continued challenging industry dynamics. On behalf of the EP Energy Board and management team, I also want to express my appreciation for the continued partnership and support of our vendors, lessors and royalty owners. We look forward to completing this process over the coming weeks and beginning our next, stronger chapter together." Additional Information Additional resources for vendors, royalty owners, lessors and other stakeholders is available on EP Energy's restructuring website at www.EPEnergyRestructuring.com. Court filings and other documents related to the Chapter 11 process are available on a separate website administered by EP Energy's claims agent, Prime Clerk, at https://cases.primeclerk.com/EPEnergy. Information is also available by calling 877-502-9869 (toll-free in the U.S.) or +1-917-947-2373 (for calls originating outside the U.S.) or sending an email to [email protected]. Additional information regarding the Chapter 11 filing is contained in a Current Report or Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is serving as the Company's legal counsel, Evercore LLC is serving as financial advisor and FTI Consulting, Inc. is serving as restructuring advisor. About EP Energy Corporation The company focuses on enhancing the value of its high quality asset portfolio, increasing capital efficiency, maintaining financial flexibility, and pursuing accretive acquisitions and divestitures. EP Energy is working to set the standard for efficient development of hydrocarbons in the U.S. Learn more at epenergy.com. Forward Looking Statements This release includes certain forward-looking statements and projections of EP Energy. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from the Company's expectations, including the following: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's chapter 11 cases (the "Chapter 11 Cases"), including but not limited to, the effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company and on the interests of various constituents, Bankruptcy Court rulings in the Chapter 11 Cases and the outcome of the Chapter 11 Cases in general, the potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company's liquidity or results of operations; the Company's ability to obtain debtor-in-possession financing and the amount, terms and conditions of any such financing; uncertainty associated with evaluating and completing any strategic alternatives as well as the Company's ability to implement and realize any anticipated benefits associated with any alternative that may be pursued; risks related to the expected deregistration of the common stock of EP Energy, and the suspension of our Securities and Exchange Commission reporting obligations; the effects of disruption from the Chapter 11 Cases making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships, to retain key executives and to maintain various licenses and approvals necessary for the Company to conduct its business; the consequences of the acceleration of the Company's debt obligations; risks related to the trading of the Company's securities on the OTC Pink Market; as well as the risk factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, as updated in the Company's subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. While the Company makes these statements in good faith, neither the Company nor its management can guarantee that anticipated future results will be achieved. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by the Company, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on the Company's behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contacts: Investors Jordan Strauss Investor and Media Relations (713) 997-6791 [email protected] Media Meaghan Repko / Jed Repko Joele Frank Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher (212) 355-4449 SOURCE EP Energy Corporation Related Links http://www.epenergy.com What is the most pressing issue in your community and how would you address it? Carlson: In every decision we make, Fitchburgs leaders must think about the impact of climate change. It may not be obvious, but it is urgent. Every residential and commercial project we approve, every plan for infrastructure, and every service offered to residents ought to be seen as a chance to make Fitchburg a model of sustainability. Strassman: I hear concerns regarding public safety, affordability and density the most. Currently, there are more rental than owner-occupied units in Fitchburg so it is clear we must do more to make sure people have the chance to own and build equity. What should your community do to make housing more affordable? Carlson: So many things we can do! Revolving loan funds, land trusts, public and private partnerships, reduced fees and more. We need to prioritize the refurbishment of housing in some of Fitchburgs oldest neighborhoods and the creation of compact new neighborhoods, and attend to the needs of residents of all ages. Strassman: As a single mom and renter, I want to see Fitchburg be affordable for everyone. I watch my dollars and cents and I will do the same with taxpayer dollars. We must make sure people can afford to live here, no matter their economic background or circumstance. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 70 people trapped as hotel used for coronavirus quarantining collapses in China Pakistan's first coronavirus patient discharged from hospital after full recovery: official The coronavirus epidemic has affected livelihoods millions across the planet as it crossed a milestone of affecting more than a million people. The novel covid-19 has now killed 3,400 people across 90 nations. China has reported 28 new deaths due to coronavirus infection on Saturday along with 99 new cases. Originating from a seafood and poultry market in Wuhan, covid-19 crossed borders and affected international markets, places of worship in Iran and the Vatican, dealt a blow to Japan's 2020 Olympics preparations forcing G-20 nations and their central banks to come together to find means to tackle the outbreak which the World Health Organisation has graded 'very high' in terms risk to human life. In India, 34 cases have been diagnosed and 31,000 have been put under quarantine across several hospitals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked citizens to stay safe and not pay attention to any rumors regarding the coronavirus outbreak. Here are the live updates: The uncle of a young man, whose suicide in 2014 sparked a campaign for a crisis intervention service in Londonderry, has hit out at the Department of Health for refusing to further fund the service. The recovery of Andrew Quigley's body from the river by Foyle Search and Rescue (FS&R) after a six-week search prompted calls for a crisis intervention service in Derry. A pilot scheme operated by Extern has been in operation for the past 18 months, during which time over 250 vulnerable people have been helped. Funding for the scheme is due to run out at the end of this month and Derry City and Strabane Council received confirmation this week that the Department of Health will not provide any further funding The 20-year-old's uncle Dee Quigley said other families will suffer their loss if the service isn't saved. He said: "Having a crisis centre has no doubt saved lives of our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, friends and neighbours, but not having it will sadly run the risk of more families being devastated by the sudden loss of a loved one. "I hope and pray that this decision will be overturned. "The very fact some members of our community end up needing a intervention by a crisis team just shows you the lack of investment into mental health services in Derry. "Having the crisis service within our community has shone a very bright light into the lives of people who only see the darkness at that point." Chairman of Foyle, Search and Rescue Stephen Twells described the department's decision as "an absolute disgrace". He challenged all government ministers to come to Derry and spend a weekend on patrol with FS&R volunteers. Mr Twells said: "The fact that the Department of Health is refusing to meet the cost of the suicide prevention service is an absolute disgrace. The fact that any department within Stormont refuses to help fund this is a disgrace. "It's not that the Community Crisis Intervention Service (CCIS) is believed to have saved lives in its pilot year - it has saved lives. "We work very closely with this organisation, signposting those in need to them. They do make a difference." A spokeswoman for Extern, which runs the service, said: "Extern is now continuing to engage with partners in pursuit of a solution which will enable the service to continue to operate, and to allow us to continue to play our part in supporting those people who need our help the most in times of acute distress." A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "It is recognised that the service is not solely a health issue. The department is not in a position to meet the full 215k funding requirement for this service in 2020/21. "The department has urged the council to convene a multi-agency meeting to discuss potential funding options." New Director General at Board of Investment (BOI) View(s): Sanjaya Mohottala assumed duties on Monday as the new Director General of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI). A BOI statement said that Mr. Mohottala was a Managing Director and Partner at the Boston Consulting Group where he was responsible for corporate development, principal investors and private equity practices and led the Transport and logistics practice across Asia Pacific. Mr. Mohottala holds a BSc from Moratuwa University, Sri Lanka and MBA from the Anderson School of Management of UCLA USA and is a Fulbright Scholar. The BOI said that, Mr. Mohottala shared his vision for BOI, and how Sri Lankas position can be enhanced as an attractive investment destination when addressing the staff. He also spoke of the need to grow the ICT/knowledge sector of the economy, and shared some of his views on the way the BOI could operate more effectively by making the organisation a One Stop Shop. The focus would be to embrace digital technology and also strengthen work processes to ensure that the investor gets the best possible service from the BOI, he has said. Indian American Sonia Syngal, the chief executive of Old Navy, which is owned by Gap, is all set to take over at the parent company. According to reports, Syngal will replace interim chief Bob Fisher, a member of the founding family behind Gap, who will also step down as chairman of the companys board. Twitter With the new post as the CEO, Syngal has set a precedent in the white-male dominated corporate world. She is now the highest-ranked Indian American female CEO of a Fortune 500 company after Indira Nooyi stepped down as the PepsiCo head in 2018. Robert Fisher, the son of Gaps founder who has served as interim CEO while the company looked for a permanent replacement, said that Syngal will deliver value from our portfolio of brands over the long term." The company also named Bobby Martin, a Gap board member and former CEO of Walmart Inc.s international business, to take over as executive chairman. Fortune.com The India-born Syngal, moved to Canada and later to the US when she was a child. She has worked in several Fortune 500 companies, including 10 years at Sun Microsystems and six years at Ford Motor Co. before she joined Gap Inc. in 2004, reports TOI. For the uninitiated, GAP owned brands include Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta and Hill City. Facebook Its an honour to build on this companys rich heritage and lead our nearly 130,000 employees in transforming our business and operations to successfully compete in the future, The Indian Express quoted Syngal as saying. Im committed to fully realising the potential of our portfolio and the advantage of our scale, with a focus on strengthening the love that our millions of customers have for our brands. To do that, we must better prioritise initiatives and capabilities that will improve execution and drive value creation, she added. (Corrects to say this weekend, not Saturday) WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he will meet with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in Florida this weekend. Trump announced the meeting while speaking to reporters at the White House, saying the two leaders would have dinner at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump did not offer any other details. Sources had earlier said the meeting was in the works, and one person familiar with the matter earlier told Reuters that Bolsonaro said he was "called" by Trump. "He wanted to have dinner," Trump told reporters. The meeting is expected to be closed to the press without any public statements, two others sources said. A preliminary schedule for Bolsonaro's U.S. visit had shown the Brazilian conservative president would be in Florida from Saturday to Tuesday, including a meeting with a senior U.S. military official, an investor seminar and visit to a plant run by Brazilian planemaker Embraer SA. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Susan Heavey in Washington and Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia Editing by Paul Simao) President Donald Trump smiles while Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.) stands next to him at a Keep America Great campaign rally in Wildwood, N.J., on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. Van Drew switched over to the Republican Party. Read more Brigid Callahan Harrison is the likely front-runner in the Democratic race to challenge U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, but some who oppose her are questioning the depth of her ties to the South Jersey district she hopes to represent in Congress. Harrison is a native of Runnemede, Camden County. She has been registered to vote in Atlantic County since 1983. She has owned property there since at least 1998, and has had a house in Longport, blocks from the beach, since 2014. But since she announced her candidacy for New Jerseys 2nd Congressional District seat, some political analysts have asserted she spends more time in North Jersey and New York City than in the district. She is a professor at Montclair State University 130 miles northwest of Longport, essentially at the other end of the state. Her husband rents an apartment in Manhattan and is registered to vote in New York. Her daughter attended a private school in the city from 2013 to 2019 before heading to the U.S. Naval Academy. Also, the mayor of Longport a Shore town that has fewer than 1,000 year-round residents says he had never met Harrison or had any contact with her until she decided to run. Ive been the mayor for 12 years, and I really, really dont know who she is, said Nick Russo. If she was active, I would certainly know who she was. Text messages obtained by The Inquirer show that Russo and Harrison communicated in December, after Harrison announced her candidacy, but the mayor says he is endorsing Harrisons opponent, Amy Kennedy, whom he knows. He said he thinks Harrisons lack of presence in the district is worrisome. Wheres her loyalty? Thats what people are going to question, Russo said. Bill Hughes and Frank LoBiondo clearly were connected in this area for many, many years.... Shes not going to be able to say that. Hughes and LoBiondo are two former congressmen from the district. Residency questions and carpetbagging claims have dogged candidates for more than a century, including two named Hillary Clinton and George H.W. Bush. Sometimes the issues are damaging, but other times, candidates weather them. Harrison, a political scientist, says anyone casting doubts on her ties to the district has it wrong. Her campaign aides also provided photos of Harrison attending local Fourth of July and Memorial Day celebrations, when asked about her links to the district. What a nothingburger, said Matthew Frankel, senior adviser to Harrisons campaign. Atlantic County is the only place Brigid has voted since 1983. She has never owned a home anywhere but Atlantic County. She has never paid taxes anywhere but Atlantic County. She also happens to be a statewide figure, serves on local boards such as Holy Spirit High School and Stockton University.... I dont think anyone in her district, other than an out-of-touch mayor, needs further proof of Brigids commitment to her community. The U.S. Constitution says only that a House member must be at least 25 upon taking office, a citizen for seven years, and a resident of the state at the time of election. Voters in the South Jersey district have always placed a value on politicians deeply connected to the area, like Hughes and LoBiondo. Van Drew was recruited by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to run partly because of his ties to the area. He had served as a state lawmaker in South Jersey since 2002. The Democratic race for Van Drews seat has been heated. Seven candidates are running in the primary, and Harrison has established herself as the early front-runner with support from the Democratic establishment. Six of eight party chairs have endorsed her, along with Sen. Cory Booker, as have unions including the American Federation of Teachers. Kennedy has come to be seen as the leading outsider candidate, despite her pedigree as a member of a Democratic royal family. She has significant name recognition and the potential to tap into a powerful national fund-raising network tied to her husband, former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy. Other candidates include Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett and Will Cunningham, a former Booker staffer.. On Sunday, candidates will face a critical test that could alter the race, when the Democratic committee in Atlantic County where 37% of the districts voters and 41% of its registered Democrats live decides whom to endorse. An endorsement confers a prime position on the countys primary ballot. Michael Suleiman, the countys Democratic Party chair, says that hes staying neutral until the convention, and that endorsements alone shouldnt be the judge of a candidate. Everybodys got a right to endorse, Suleiman said. I think all of the delegates on Sunday are going to be looking at peoples track records, backgrounds, and all that sort of stuff, and what theyre going to do in office. Also running are former FBI Special Agent Robert Turkavage, West Cape May Commissioner John Francis III, and retired banker Frederick John LaVergne. Highlights KCR proposed introducing an identity card for Indian nationals KCR says he doesnt have a birth certificate Telangana government says it will bring resolution to oppose CAA Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday suggested that the Centre should introduce a national identity card for the citizens, instead of pushing controversial provisions like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NRC) that create a wedge in the society. Intervening during a discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governors address in the state assembly, KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, alleged people were being asked to produce birth documents of their parents to prove their citizenship as part of the NPR exercise and said it was wrong. Honestly speaking, I dont have my birth certificate. If I am asked who I am in this country, what should I say? How do I prove? I was born in my native village, in our own house. There were no hospitals then; so, I dont have birth certificate, the chief minister said. He recalled that in the older days, elders used to get horoscopes prepared by priests. That is treated as birth certificate. There is no official stamp on it. Even today, I have my birth star document. It is with my wife. Except for that document, we dont have any other documents. Should I die, if I am asked to bring my fathers birth certificate, when I myself dont have one? KCR asked. The chief minister reasoned that if he didnt have the birth document despite coming from a wealthy family that owned 580 acres of land and a huge building, it would be unreasonable to expect the marginalised section to have it. Having born in such a big family, I dont have a birth certificate. How will Dalits, STs (Scheduled Tribes) and poor people have the birth certificates? If they ask for all these details today, where to get them from? Why this huge turmoil in this country? What we suggest is to introduce a national identity card or something else instead, he said. He alleged respect for India was eroding world over due to CAA, NRC and NPR. It is an issue connected with Indias respect in the world. The United Nations is discussing, international assembly is discussing. A lot of negativity about the country has already been created. How can we all keep quiet to such things that harm the reputation of the country? We will definitely oppose, KCR said. He said the CAA was against the very fundamentals of the Indian Constitution. The very first sentence in the Constitution is without any religion, caste and creed. But, if they say exclude a particular religion, then that is not acceptable to us. We wont agree. Not just we, no civilized society will accept it, he said. He said a resolution would be introduced in the Assembly in the coming days and a half-day discussion would be allowed. We should live with dignity. Yes, we are a part of this country and we have a right. We will certainly raise our voice. Let BJP members also speak on the resolution. We will record the views of everybody here. Let it then be placed before the public. They will judge what is correct, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail Jammu and Kashmir former Minister and MLA Mohammad Ashraf Mir resigned from the primary membership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday. In another political development in the Union Territory, former PDP leader Altaf Bukhari on Saturday was unanimously elected as the president of 'Apni Party' scheduled to be launched in Srinagar on Sunday. Bukhari is seconded by former legislator Ghulam Hassan Mir and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Vijay Bakaya, along with more than 30 former legislators. Earlier today, the former PDP leader had told ANI that the party will be formally launched at 2 pm in Srinagar on Sunday. Sources said that the main focus of the party will be the of development and that the outfit will have representatives from Jammu and Kashmir, while it is also likely to include the Kashmiri Pandits. The development has come more than six months after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Sources close to Altaf Bukhari said that the party will be "pragmatic and rational" in its approach, with its focus on the socio-economic and political development for the people of the region, and will aim at the "decentralisation of power" in the region, following the abrogation of Article 370. The formation of a political outfit by a former PDP leader -- with the inclusion of leaders from the PDP and NC, and representation from pan Jammu and Kashmir -- could be seen as the beginning of the political process in the region outside of the "family rule party system. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The cobalt blue and white gourd, which represents an imperial dragon with five claws in search of the sacred pearl, went to a Chinese buyer by telephone A Chinese porcelain gourd which once belonged to the 18th century Chinese Emperor Qianlong sold for 3.4million at auction. The cobalt blue and white gourd, which represents an imperial dragon with five claws in search of the sacred pearl, went to a Chinese buyer by telephone. Auctioneer Olivier Clair, who found the object while executing a will in a Parisian apartment, said that with fees, the sale amounted to more than 4.9 million euros. 'There have been a number, but it remains very rare,' he said. 'The gourd was intended for Chinese pilgrims. Little by little, it has become a decorative symbol like a coronation sword. It is an object that interests the Chinese because it is their heritage.' The gourd was possibly looted, along with many other objects, during the sack of the Summer Palace by a Franco-English expeditionary force in 1860 but Clair said its path to Europe was unclear. Auctioneer Olivier Clair, centre, who found the object while executing a will in a Parisian apartment, said that with fees, the sale amounted to more than 4.9 million euros. 'There have been a number, but it remains very rare,' he said 'We do not know how the object arrived in France, we only know its history for three generations. 'It belonged to an old family of the paper industry which had links with the political sphere of the 19th century, no doubt relatives of Mac Mahon and Napoleon III.' Imperial items from the Qianlong reign (1735-1796) are particularly sought after. A pink family porcelain bowl sold for $30.4 million in April 2018 at Sotheby's in Hong Kong. In June 2018 a Chinese porcelain vase created for Qianlong reached 16.2 million euros at Sotheby's in Paris and a gourd of the same era fetched 5.1 million euros at a sale near Tours. (SIMON WEISENTHAL CENTRE) A new document containing the details of 12,000 Nazis who fled to Argentina has been published after it was discovered in an old storage space in Buenos Aires. The US-based Simon Weisenthal Institute, which has been instrumental in tracking down Nazis, published a few pages of the document on Monday. The NYC based centre says that many of the people listed had Swiss bank accounts - shining new light on the finances of war criminals who are said to have stolen from persecuted jews. In a statement, the centre said: We believe that these long-dormant accounts hold monies looted from Jewish victims. Soldiers from the US Army hold items of looted art treasures hidden by the Nazis. (Getty Images) Following the collapse of the dictatorship, known Nazis fled mainland Europe to avoid being brought to justice for their crimes - with many heading to Argentina. What were the Ratlines? The "Ratlines" were a system of escape routes for Nazis and other fascists fleeing Europe in the aftermath of World War II. In 1930-1932 Argentina had a pro-Nazi military regime led by President Jose Felix Uriburu - nicknamed "Von Pepe" - and his successor Agustin Pedro Justo from 1932-1938. Read more: The fearless, forgotten hero who humiliated the Nazis on horseback Argentine army general Juan Peron, who later became President for three terms, secretly ordered diplomats and intelligence officers to establish escape routes - which later became nicknamed ratlines. The routes were designed to go through ports in Spain and Italy, in order to smuggle thousands of former SS officers and Nazi party members out of Europe to South America. The Simon Weisenthal Center claims the newly unearthed documents show Credit Suisse could have held the accounts of thousands of Nazi sympathisers and SS members. (PA) Argentina: The Nazis' "Cape of Last Hope" Argentina had an affiliation with the Axis of dictators in Europe, because of the countrys close cultural ties with Germany, Spain, and Italy, with many of the countrys citizens of European descent. Reports and archives states claim wealthy Germans and Argentine businessmen of German heritage were willing to pay the way for escaping Nazis. Read more: The Hanau shooting shows how Germany is returning to its Nazi past Story continues The Weisenthal Centre, which published the documents, it alleges that Argentine banks with ties to Germany took the money stolen from the regime's victims and transferred them to what was then called Schweizerische Kreditanstalt - now known as Credit Suisse. In response to a request from AFP, Credit Suisse said that between 1997 and 1999, an independent commission of experts, chaired by Paul A. Volcker, investigated Credit Suisse and sixty other Swiss banks with the aim of identifying accounts that may or may have belonged to victims of Nazi persecution. Josef Mengele fled to Argentina after the collapse of the Third Reich. (Getty Images) A host of top ranking figures in the Nazi regime sought to escape South America. Josef Mengele, the doctor nicknamed the Angel of Death, who conducted experiments among the prisoners at the Auschwitz death camp, fled to the country. Read more: Jewish-German pensioner 'lived next door to Hitler' during rise of Nazi Party Josef Schwammberger, a leading SS commander in charge of three labor camps in the Jewish ghettoes of Nazi-occupied Poland during WWII, also escaped to Argentina. Walther Rauff, who invented the infamous gas chambers used to kills millions of Jews, fled using the ratline to Quito, Ecuador, before arriving in Chile. Adolf Eichmann Who Is One Of The Founders Of Gas Chambers And Other Extermination Equipment In Oswiecim (Auschwitz) After Arrest In Israel. World War Ii. (Photo by: Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Were they brought to justice? Most of the Nazis who went to Argentina looked to remain low key, fearing repercussions if they were too vocal or visible from hunters. dedicated to tracking down war criminals. Many high profile figures in Hitlers regime were among those who entered Argentina. Adolf Eichmann, one of the architects behind the Holocaust, was snatched off a street in Buenos Aires by a team of Mossad agents and whisked off to Israel where he was tried and executed. Read more: Former neo-Nazi leader arrested in swatting scheme Other wanted war criminals remained cautious: Josef Mengele drowned in Brazil in 1979 after having been the object of a widespread manhunt for decades. But unfortunately, some escaped their crimes altogether. West Germany requested the extradition of Walter Rauff in 1963 but the request was expired under Chile's statute of limitations. Rauff became a wealthy food producer and died of a heart attack on May 14, 1984. POPE PIUS XII - UNDATED - (AP-PHOTO) What's happening today? There is speculation that the Catholic Church turned a blind eye to the Nazi regime, with some claiming the church helped to facilitate the escape of Nazi war criminals to South America. Critics say Pope Pius XII - labelled "Hitler's Pope" during his tenure at the time of WWII - knew Nazi Germany was murdering Jews but failed to act. But on Monday, church historian Hubert Wolf together with a team of historians said they planned to spend the next four months combing through archived Vatican documents from the papacy of Pius XII. An employee opens the Vatican Secret Archives area on the pontificate of Pope Pius XII in Vatican City, Vatican. (Getty Images) It is the first time the Holy See has published the archives from Pius' tenure - with some hoping it will offer a chance to investigate the role of the church in the escape of Nazis from Europe when the Third Reich collapse. The University of Munster professor told DW."It's an incredible opportunity to answer several pending questions from the era, and a huge challenge. We're talking about 300,000 - 400,000 documents of 1,000 pages each." "It may transpire that the pope knew nothing of any concrete help and that some people ruthlessly exploited that. Or Pius knew all about it, and turned a blind eye. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 14:42:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The following are the highlights of China's science news from the past week: RED PANDA Genome sequencing has shown that red panda, the endangered furry mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, are two different species, providing a theoretical basis for more targeted conservation efforts. Researchers from the Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences did whole-genome sequencing on 69 red pandas. They also analyzed 49 red panda's mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited only from the mother, and the Y chromosome sequencing from 49 male red pandas. Based on the analysis results, red pandas fall into two genetic clusters, and the two clusters are distinct enough to be classified as two distinct species. DINOSAUR FOSSILS An international team has found possible evidence of fossilized cell nuclei and chromosomes within preserved cartilage of baby duck-billed dinosaurs dating back 75 million years. The research was conducted by a team led by Alida Bailleul, of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Mary Schweitzer, of North Carolina State University in the United States. DESERT LOCUSTS Chinese researchers have used satellite data and meteorological data to monitor desert locusts and offer early warnings, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences. They conducted research on the temporal and spatial distribution of desert locusts' reproduction and migration in Africa in February and made predictions on their migration to China. NERVOUS SYSTEM INFECTIONS Chinese doctors have proved for the first time that the novel coronavirus can cause damage to patients' central nervous system. Doctors from Beijing Ditan Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, a designated institution treating the COVID-19, announced Thursday that they have cured a male patient whose cerebrospinal fluid had the virus. COVID-19 DATABASE China's National Genomics Data Center has updated its novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) database. The quality assessment information of each genome sequence and each variation site are provided in the columns of Released Genome Sequences, Data Statistics and Variation Annotation. North Chinas Tianjin and the city of Anyang in Central Chinas Henan province both reported two new cases of the highly transmissible omicron variant over the weekend. Both cities have launched new rounds of mass testing and designated more Covid-19 risk areas to control the spread of the virus Jan 10, 2022 06:18 PM A 27-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly being involved in another man's killing during the communal violence in northeast Delhi, police said. The Crime Branch, which is probing the murder cases registered during the riots, has arrested Shahnawaz for allegedly killing 20-year-old Dilbar Singh Negi and is trying to identify the other suspects. Negi's decapitated and charred body was found in Brahmpuri on February 26. He had come to the national capital six months ago from Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand and was working at a sweet shop in Delhi's northeast area. On February 24 afternoon, Negi had gone for a nap to a nearby building that served as a storage space for the sweet shop. Later, at around 3 pm, a mob gathered near the shop and started throwing stones. The building was set on fire around 11.30 pm. On February 26, when the sweet shop's owner Anil Pal went to visit his building with some police personnel, they found Negi's decapitated and charred body on the second floor. Negi had planned to visit his family on Holi, according to his co-workers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Friday decided that all cases concerning land use changes and other allied issues relating to redevelopment of Lutyens Delhis Central Vista area should be heard by it, considering the larger public interest involved in the matter. In order to do so, a bench of justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari transferred the cases being heard by the Delhi high court on this issue to the Supreme Court. in larger public interest, we deem it appropriate that the entire matter pertaining to challenge pending before the High Court is heard and decided by this court expeditiously, the top court ordered. The court was hearing an appeal filed against a February 28 order passed by a Division bench of the high court which had granted relief to the central government by staying a judgment of the single judge of the high court. The Central Vista houses iconic buildings like the Parliament House, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the North and South Block buildings, which house important ministries, and the India Gate. The Union government is proposing to redevelop the same by constructing a new parliament house, a new residential complex that will house the Prime Minister and the Vice President besides several new office buildings. The single judge bench of justice Rajiv Shakdher had, on February 11, ordered that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) should approach the high court before notifying the proposed changes in the land use. The order was passed in two petitions, one filed by Rajeev Suri and the other by Lt Colonel Anuj Srivastava. Suri challenged the alterations proposed by the government on the ground that it involves changes to land use and standards of population density and that the DDA is not vested with the requisite power to bring about such changes. He submitted that the power, if at all, for bringing about such like changes lies with the central government. Srivastava, meanwhile, challenged the public hearings held for hearing objections to the exercise arguing that the hearings were a mere formality devoid of any meaningful exercise. In case, a decision is taken to notify the proposed changes in Master Plan Delhi 2020-21, the DDA will approach the court before notifying such decision, justice Shakdher had ordered while issuing notice to the centre and DDA in both the petitions. The division bench of chief justice DN Patel and justice C Hari Shankar, however, stayed the order of justice Shakdher prompting Suri to move the Supreme Court. In our opinion, it is just and proper that writ petition itself is heard by this Court instead of examining the grievance about the manner in which the interim directions have been passed and then vacated by the High Court, the apex court said transferring both the petitions before the high court to itself. Patna, March 7 : A Patna court on Saturday rejected the bail plea of political strategist Prashant Kishor in a fraud case involving content theft. Complainant Shashwat Gautam had accused the expelled Janata Dal-United leader and his staff Osama of content theft for Kishor's "Baat Bihar Ki' campaign and lodged a fraud case with the Patliputra police station. Osama had fought the Patna University students union elections. He had resigned from Kishor's project that was set to be launched in future. He had allegedly handed over all the content related to the project to Kishor. Kishor had moved the city court to seek bail in the case, which the court rejected after Saturday's hearing. As a preventive measure in the view of novel coronavirus, Chandigarh Administrator VP Badnore has directed that bio-metric attendance system in government/private institutions be suspended till further orders. "The Chandigarh Administration has taken all measures with regard to containment measures being taken to avoid the spread of said disease by setting up 24X7 helpline, dedicated ambulance and fully equipped isolation wards in all the three hospitals namely GMSH-16, GMCH-32 & PGIMER," an official release of Chandigarh Administration said. The Administrator also appealed to the residents to avoid public gatherings or postpone, more so in view of 'Holi Festival'. "Police department was also directed to stop the usage of breath analyser being used for checking alcohol level as a containment measure in controlling the spread of disease till further orders," read the release. The Director Skill Development and Industrial Training Institute has ordered all Industrial Training Institutes (ITI s) in Haryana to suspend the biometric attendance. Bhupendra Singh, Principal, ITI Ambala city said: "Due to coronavirus, the bio-metric attendance system at ITI institutions in Ambala has been suspended till further orders. There are 10 ITIs in Ambala out of which six are of government and rest are private." "Around 5,000 students are being imparted training at these centres. We are also holding discussions to aware students about coronavirus," he said. Earlier on Friday, the central government requested all the ministries and departments to discontinue their biometric attendance system in wake of the spread of coronavirus in the capital. "In view of coronavirus, all Ministries/Departments are requested to exempt their employees to mark biometric attendance in Aadhaar-based Biometric Attendance System till 31 March 2020. However, all employees are required to mark their attendance in a register," Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions stated. The Director Skill Development and Industrial Training Institute have also ordered all ITIs in Haryana to suspend the biometric attendance. These developments come after the number of confirmed coronavirus cases reached 31 in India. The deadly virus has caused more than 3200 deaths across the world. The novel coronavirus disease, dubbed COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in late December 2019 and has since spread to more than 20 other countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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Students have protested daily in universities across the country since the Constitutional Court dissolved the Future Forward Party, which came third in last year's general election with more than six million votes. The court ruled that the party had broken the law by taking a 191 million baht ($6 million) loan from its founder, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. The action against Future Forward took place less than a year after Thailand held the election to end direct military rule, strengthening the position in parliament of a coalition led by Prime Minister Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former junta leader who took power in a 2014 coup. Thanathorn, who was banned from running for political office or becoming a member of a party for 10 years, said he would continue his political struggle by forming the "Future Forward Movement" to promote local elections. "We will campaign in universities, we will campaign in communities, we will campaign in trade unions... We will do it online, offline, we will do on the ground, there are many different battlegrounds," Thanathorn said. He said the movement would work along side his former colleagues in parliament who were not banned by the court. They in turn were planning to form a new party, he said. The Future Forward Party initially captured 81 out of 500 parliamentary seats in last year's election but has lost many lawmakers through defections and political bans. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday said the state government would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the coronavirus infection does not spread in the state. The virus has actually not spread in the state and not a single person in the state is affected by it, he said in the Assembly. The man from Telangana, who tested positive for the virus, had gone to Dubai and went to Bengaluru before reaching Hyderabad, the chief minister said. He is recovering in the state-run Gandhi hospital, Rao said. "We will not let it spread with the ability that God gave us and by spendingRs 1,000 crore if necessary. We will face it, if it spreads. We will use all our might," he said. He dismissed opposition Congress MLA D Anasuya's claims that masks were not available in the state, amid concerns over COVID-19, and asked why masks are needed for all. He said he had no knowledge about coronavirus and quoted a scientist as having told him that there is no need to panic over the virus and that "it is enough to take a paracetamol tablet." Meanwhile, Health minister E Rajender asked district health officials to be ready with a concrete plan of action to handle the situation arising out of coronavirus (COVID-19) and if required, send suspected cases to Hyderabad for further examination. Rajender, who conducted a video conference on COVID-19 with district medical and health officials, said the state machinery is fully prepared to tackle the situation. Rapid response teams should be ready in each district and awareness among public, particularly in maintaining proper hygiene should be created, he said. "Only one positive case of COVID-19 has been identified in Telangana so far and people need not panic. There is no impact of coronavirus in Telangana but if anyone coming from foreign countries are found to be having the symptoms, appropriate treatment is being provided after required tests," the minister said, according to an official release. Rajender said stern action would be taken against those selling masks at higher rates. The state reported its first COVID-19 case on March 2 when a 24-year-old software personnel, who recently returned from Dubai, tested positive for the virus. Against the backdrop of various fears about how the virus spreads and high demand for masks in spite of repeated assurances by the government that there need not be any panic, Rajender on Friday visited the state-run Gandhi hospital here, where the man who tested positive for the virus and those with suspected symptoms are treated. The minister also interacted with the man. A media bulletin on COVID-19 issued by the state government on Saturday said results of 14 samples (cumulatively) were awaited. Five of the 19 samples collected had tested negative. On Saturday, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan visited the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here and inspected the precautionary measures taken up by the airport authorities to prevent the virus infection. Cyberabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar said a coordination committee has been formed with various government agencies and IT firms and industry bodies. The committeeheld a meeting and discussed key action items including on developing a Standard Operating Protocol document to be used by IT companies in case of any suspect case surfacing and on how to deal with the situation. The scope of document is to address, among other things, steps involved in guiding the suspected case and persons around, communication to neighbouring occupants and the building management for further action. The IT companies reported that attendance was quite normal in their respective campuses and that it is business as usual across their facilities in Hyderabad. A techie working in the IT Corridor here tested negative for coronavirus recently, though the IT corridor witnessed a panic few days ago over unconfirmed reports that the IT employee had tested positive for the virus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ALBANY The New York State Association of County Health Officials are demanding that the state immediately hand over $20 million to address their efforts to combat the coronavirus outbreak. In a Friday letter to state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker, the association said it needed the money to ensure we have the capacity needed to continue response efforts. The health officials also demanded answers by the end of the business day on Friday to a five-page list of questions including those on response, testing, travel, schools and media. They also want weekly calls with health officials. Their demands came a day after health officials traveled to Albany for a mandatory meeting on the virus with state health officials. (County health officials) hesitantly left their jurisdictions during this incredibly busy and sensitive time with the hope to obtain state guidance and relevant information about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and response tactics, read the letter signed by Daniel Stapleton, the public health director in Niagara County, and Sarah Ravenhall, executive director of the association. Unfortunately, there was no new information provided during this meeting and there was an apparent lack of preparedness. What was learned during this meeting, is that local health departments need state guidance immediately. We also need to ensure that lines of communication are open and collaborative during this time. Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Gov.Andrew M. Cuomo, said the Albany meeting was to glean their input on the best ways to handle the coronavirus. He also said their perspectives were taken into account. We turned it around in 24 hours and have issued the final regulations, Azzopardi said. I'm shocked that their position now is that they didn't want to be consulted, and had we issued protocols without consulting them, I'm sure they would have complained about that. Sometimes, people just like to complain." Zucker sent out a statement on Friday evening said at the meeting the state heard from county health officials to "get their input before we promulgated state regulations concerning coronavirus. He also said the discussion is being extended to county executives. "Having received the input of our stakeholders, we are issuing regulations, and thank them all for their input," Zucker said. He also released guidelines on testing, quarantine and isolation. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The Greater New York Hospital Association President Kenneth Raske said on Friday that the state's interim guidelines are "sensible standards" that will "help ensure that hospitals and public health departments are only testing and caring for those who need it mostsuch as the seriously ill who have not tested positive for other viruses." "DOHs standards are especially important for as long as testing capacity remains limited," Raske's statement continued. "Currently, only public health labs can test. Some hospital laboratories ... and some commercial laboratories anticipate having testing capabilities soon." Beyond the guidelines, the county health officials also called the $20 million a starting point and expected they will likely need more money. As we continue to see more positive cases, we will need additional funding to expand and enhance response efforts, the letter stated. California lawmakers want to add $2 billion each year to the states ongoing efforts to battle the homelessness crisis, the biggest financial ask ever made to address the issue. Frankly, right now we are failing we are failing as a state, said Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland. "We need to make sure the cities and the counties are equipped to do the work we know they can and want to do. AB 3300 would add $2 billion annually, starting in the 2020-21 fiscal year. The funds would be used for housing and rental assistance and wraparound services, as well as affordable housing development. Funds would be distributed to communities to address problems at the local level. If passed, officials say it would provide a vital safety net for the local programs that have already demonstrated success, but that rely on state funding to survive. We will fall off the cliff if the funding does not become ongoing, said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. Oakland, which saw a 47% increase in homelessness since 2017, has been able to increase its shelter beds and other programs with help from the state but the one-time funds already made available could dry up quickly. What we are doing now will have to be shut down unless ongoing resources are established, Schaaf said during a press conference at the Dorothy Day House, a community resource center in Berkeley, Calif., with other prominent state Democrats. California Assemblymember Rob Bonta and Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf spoke about a new bill to address homelessness in Berkeley, Calif. The source of funding is still to be determined The bill calls for $1.1 billion to be distributed to counties and continuums of care, $8 million would go to cities with more than 300,000 residents, and $1 million would fund nonprofit housing developers. Accountability measures, currently not specified, would be set by the state and distribution of the funds would be based on the results of point-in-time counts that show which jurisdictions need the grants most. The money would come from the states general fund, but Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda, said discussions are still ongoing about where exactly the money will come from. Story continues Two billion certainly sounds like a lot and it is, he said, adding that the large sum measures up with the enormity of the issue. More: As Trump visits CA, Governor Newsom calls homelessness issue 'a disgrace', vows change By the last official count, about 151,200 people were homeless in California, the highest number in more than 10 years. The number is considered a conservative estimate. In the last two years, the number of people living on the streets or in cars rose by nearly 17%, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Officials expect it to creep even higher this year when the results from Januarys count are released. Gov. Gavin Newsom said homelessness is his top priority. Lets call it what it is a disgrace, he said during his February State of the State speech. The richest state in the richest nation, succeeding across so many sectors, is failing to properly house, heal and humanely treat so many of its own people. Hes also thrown a lot of money at the problem. Building on former Gov. Jerry Browns $500 million emergency funding in 2018 the same year voters passed Prop. 1 and Prop 2, measures that collectively added $6 billion to the coffers for affordable housing and supportive housing for people with mental illnesses Newsom added a record $1 billion in one-time investments to fight homelessness in his first year. The latest budget proposes even more. The governor outlined an additional $1.4 billion in one-time funding, and issued new directives to open public land for emergency housing, reallocated 100 trailers from emergency services to be used as shelter, and softened regulations, which slow down building development. Newsom also assembled a task force to come up with out-of-the-box ideas and concrete strategies to combat homelessness. The task force is co-chaired by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, and also includes Schaaf. So far, the recommendations they have floated have fallen flat. The first, proposed by Steinberg, put the burden on homeless people to accept shelter if it was available. The second called on the legislature to pass a constitutional amendment creating a mandate that would add steep penalties for localities that failed to reach ambitious benchmarks in reducing the numbers of residents living on the streets. Candace, an unhoused Berkeley, Calif. resident, addresses reporters during a press conference on Assembly Bill 3300 new legislation that seeks to add $2 billion to the battle to address homelessness. She was joined by Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks and Rob Bonta, Berkeley mayor Jesse Arreguin, and Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf, at the Dorothy Day House in Berkeley, Calif. Newsom dismissed that proposal in his State of the State speech, but doubled down on calls for accountability. One thing I cant support is continuing to send out money with no accountability attached. No expectations, no metrics, no transparency, he said. I will not support any additional appropriations not one dollar unless its attached to real accountability and results. But the state's nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office found Newsom's plans are likely not enough to have a meaningful impact on the issue. Writing that his budget proposal "falls short of articulating a clear strategy for curbing homelessness in California," analysts took issue with the governor's decision to shift authority away from local governments. Schaaf said this new bill would help solve some of the problems with one-time funding from the state, empowering local leaders and programs that have proven success. Californians need accountability, Schaaf said, calling the current system a failure. They need to see that we in government are consistently analyzing whats producing the most results. Coronavirus could cause a funding-crunch The bill was announced just days after the governor declared a state of emergency over a very different concern the spread of COVID-19. Following the state's first fatality, an elderly man who contracted the virus while on a cruise, efforts to contain the virus have increased and the governor made emergency funds available to help local public officials prepare. As of Friday afternoon, in addition to the one person who died, there are 60 confirmed cases and 9,400 people are being monitored across 49 California counties. A cruise ship, which was carrying the victim who died, returned to San Francisco this week and is docked offshore while its current passengers are being tested. There are more than a thousand people on board, some already showing flu-like symptoms. Along with the funding that will need to be diverted to stop the outbreak, the virus is expected to take a big economic toll. California was already preparing for the possibility of a recession, with economists projecting slowed growth in the coming years and the virus has added a new dimension to those financial concerns. More: How to prepare for a coronavirus emergency: What you need to get Bonta acknowledged that the virus could impact the state's financial planning. "Yes, there is economic impact now," he said, adding that there is a lot of uncertainty. "It could hurt our ability to spend money on the priorities that we have, being chief among them, addressing our homeless crisis. That is a possibility." But he dismissed the idea that the uncertain future should give them a reason to pause their plans. "We need to do this period. Maybe it changes how we do it, and what sort of ongoing source we connect the $2 billion to, but it doesnt change whether we do it." Schaaf agreed, emphasizing that both a recession and the threat of an outbreak would make it even more difficult to help those in need. "Recessions affect our most vulnerable populations first, and worst," she said. "Both the threat of an impending recession and the virus makes the need for this legislation even more urgent." Public health officials are calling on communities to prioritize hand washing, good hygiene, and social distancing to combat the virus, strategies that unhoused residents might find hard to employ. In Berkeley, where there's one case confirmed, Arreguin said they are trying to urgently address those issues and this funding would be a game-changer in helping those efforts into the future. "The people who would be most affected by the coronavirus are people who dont have access to shelter, who dont have access to running water, dont have access to hand-washing stations or restrooms," he said. "Thats why having funding to get people off the streets and buy basic sanitation services is so essential to help mitigate and contain the virus to the extent we can." Like stories about the Golden State? Click here to get our In California newsletter in your inbox. Gabrielle Canon is a California Reporter for the USA Today Network. You can reach her at gcanon@gannett.com or on Twitter @GabrielleCanon. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill calls for $2 billion to fight homelessness in California About 33,00 hectares of rice fields have been damaged. Almost 70,000 households suffer from water shortages. Vietnam is the worlds third largest rice exporter after India and Thailand. Salinity affects about half the districts in 10 of the 12 provinces in the Mekong region. In 2016, drought caused US4 million worth of losses. Hanoi (AsiaNews/Agencies) Vietnam's "rice bowl", the Mekong Delta, could be empty. Five of its provinces Kien Giang, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Ca Mau, Long An have declared a state of emergency because of years of drought and rising salinity. Vietnam is the worlds third largest rice exporter after India and Thailand. Usually, its south-western region produces more than half of the countrys rice. However, water shortages have negatively affected some 33,000 hectares of rice fields and almost 70,000 households, Vietnams national television reported on Friday, citing the latest data from the countrys department of water resources. This month salinity is set to rise by four grams per litre in the Mekong Delta, affecting as many as 110 kilometres in some major estuaries, Ho Chi Minh Citys Southern Institute of Water Resources Research reports. This is three to five kilometres more than in the same period in 2016. Vietnams National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting expects greater salinity on the short run. Meanwhile, water flowing from the Mekong River into the region this month should remain very low, about 20 per cent less than the same period in 2016. For Hoang Phuc Lam, the Centres deputy director, the lack of rain, growing water consumption in river tributaries, and greater water storage in dams are likely to cause drought and make saline intrusion worse and last longer. The government estimates that 362,000 hectares of rice fields and 136,000 fruit trees in the Mekong Delta will be affected by drought and salinity this year. The net result is that more than 120,000 families will experience water shortages. As of this month, salinity affected about half of the districts in 10 of the 12 provinces and one city in the region. The 2016 delta drought caused losses worth 8.9 trillion dong (US4 million), wiping out 250,000 hectares of rice fields, 130,000 hectares of cropland and 30,000 hectares of fruit trees, local media reported. CLIFTON PARK Spurred on by concerns of the new coronavirus, town officials and medical personnel are teaming to form a public health committee. Supervisor Phil Barrett said the committee, meant to be a rapid response team that cuts across all public sectors, includes Barrett, Town Board member Amy Standaert, pediatrician Dr. Gayle Buckley, Shenendehowa School Superintendent L. Oliver Robinson, the school district's Director of Policy and Community Development Rebecca Carman and members of Clifton Park Halfmoon EMS. We need to be more aggressive and proactive in matters of health, Barrett said. We need to consistently disseminate information that would be helpful to families and people who live in town. If circumstances dictated, the committee could act quickly as a team if we had a widespread health issue. The team could make decisions on policy, protocol and other general operational decisions. The policymakers will be working directly with medical professionals and first responders. Its the perfect mix when considering quick decisions. Barrett said the team is not just focused on COVID 19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus that erupted late last year in China. He said there are also concerns with influenza, which also can also spread quickly and potentially be fatal. He said the team is meeting regularly to discuss any developments. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Hopefully, we never need to have a rapid response team, Barrett said. If we do have the need, we have one in place. Its impossible to guess what might happen. As of Friday evening, 44 cases of COIVD-19 have been confirmed in New York state. The cases are centered in New York City, Westchester, Rockland and Nassau counties. British police said Saturday they were reviewing an investigation into the disappearance of the ruler of Dubai's daughter after a court found that she had been abducted by her father. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, who is vice-president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, orchestrated the forcible return home of Sheikha Shamsa from Britain in 2000, the High Court ruled earlier this week. The finding was part of a damning judgement that also revealed the sheikh had seized Shamsa's sister Latifa, now 35, twice and returned her to Dubai. Police in the English city of Cambridge investigated Shamsa's disappearance there two decades ago when she was 19, but there was insufficient evidence to take any further action. A review in 2017 came to a similar conclusion, but the police force is now conducting a further review in the wake of the court ruling. A spokeswoman for Cambridgeshire police noted that the standard of proof in criminal cases is significantly different from that in family court hearings. "However, in light of the recent release of the judgement, aspects of the case will now be subject to review," she said. The ruling was issued as part of a legal dispute between the sheikh and his ex-wife, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, who applied for protection for their two school-age children. It found the sheikh had subjected Princess Haya, a half-sister of Jordan's King Abdullah II, to a "campaign of fear and intimidation", forcing her to flee to London. In a statement after the publication of the rulings, Sheikh Mohammed strongly denied the claims. The case has reportedly prompted some concern at Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth II and the sheikh both share a love of horse racing and have a close relationship going back decades. But The Times reported that the queen would ensure she is not photographed with him or the princess in public from now on. The palace did not immediately comment. The British government also has close ties to the UAE, and there have been questions over whether the Foreign Office intervened to stop the police investigation into Shamsa's disappearance. The detective in charge, David Beck -- now retired -- was quoted in British media Saturday as saying he was told the case was shelved because of "significant sensitivities". At a hearing in the case in November, details of which were made public this week, Princess Haya's lawyer, Charles Geekie, said then British foreign minister Robin Cook expressed a "direct interest" in the probe. The court ruling confirmed that Beck had been refused permission from the state prosecution service to visit Dubai to interview potential witnesses. It also said the Foreign Office has information relating to that request, which it has declined to publish, citing concerns about the harm posed to UK-UAE relations. "But it is not possible to find on the balance of probability that permission for Mr Beck to visit Dubai was refused because of the direct intervention of the FCO," the judgement said. Human rights groups have now called for the release of Shamsa and Latifa, who the court found had been effectively imprisoned in Dubai since their attempts to flee. "Abducting family members abroad and continuing to confine them shows the extent to which UAE rulers behave as if they are unaccountable for their actions and above the law," said Rothna Begum, senior women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The UAE authorities should immediately free Sheikha Shamsa and Sheikha Latifa, allow them to leave the UAE if they wish, investigate their abduction and allegations of torture, and bring those responsible to account." Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International's Middle East research director, added: "State-sanctioned abduction and inhuman treatment is not a family affair. It is a serious human rights violation and a matter of international concern. "Federal law in the UAE leaves women unprotected and undermined, which too often leaves them vulnerable to abuse by male family members." GARY The Gary Community School Corp. has received offers on two dozen vacant properties. The state takeover district held a community meeting in January announcing it would list 24 properties for sale after the body of a missing Portage woman was found in the school corporation's abandoned Norton Elementary school in November. The window for proposal submissions to the Gary school district closed March 4. The school corporation received more than 70 offers on its 24 properties the largest being just more than $1.8 million from G.M. Howard Financial to turn the Wirt-Emerson Visual & Performing Arts High Ability Academy into a small business incubator. Other proposed uses for the Gary properties include residential development, urban farming, environmental preservation, educational centers and more. The City of Gary brought offers of $1 plus the cost of demolition services for the use of six properties as a part of its city development plan. Those properties include Ambridge Elementary School, Brunswick Elementary School, Nobel Elementary School, Edison Elementary School, Wirt-Emerson Visual & Performing Arts High Ability Academy and the Deep River Educational Center. New Delhi, March 7 : A Delhi court on Saturday granted bail to Kapil Gujjar, who fired three shots in the air near Shaheen Bagh, last month. Kapil, who belongs to east Delhi's Dallu Pura area, had on February 1 fired three bullets in the air after warning anti-CAA protesters to disperse. He also shouted communal slogans. Additional Sessions Judge Gulshan Kumar let him of on bail on Friday on a bail bond of Rs 25,000 and a surety of like amount. During the course of proceedings, the police strongly opposed the bail application and contended that the allegations against Kapil are serious in nature and the investigation in the case is at initial stage. The counsel, representing him, however, told the court that his client will not tamper with the evidence or influence the witnesses in the case. "It is further submitted that applicant has clean antecedents and he has never been involved in any other case in past," advocate Narveer Dabas told the court while seeking bail for his client. Retailers suffered through their worst Christmas and New Years period ever after Australia's devastating bushfire season left department stores empty. This is only expected to get worse as the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus continues to spread around Australia. Experts are fearing that the virus could result in 100,000 people being left without a job on top of the already 750,000 unemployed that were recorded in January. Shopping malls that were once full of eager customers have since been turned into ghost towns with a string of retailers being forced to close their doors for good. Retailers suffered through their worst Christmas and New Years period ever after Australia's devastating bushfire season left department stores empty Due to the devastating bushfire season and coronavirus, Australia's retail market is only expected to get worse In January, retail turnover fell 0.3 per cent, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics Retail Trade figures. This follows a 0.7 per cent drop in December. Department stores took the biggest hit with sales falling 2.2 per cent and personal accessory retailing fell 1.1 per cent. The ACT suffered the most with sales dropping by 2.3 per cent as a result of the territory recording the world's worst air pollution at the height of the fires. Western Australia had sales plummet by 1.1 per cent, and New South Wales and Queensland sales both dropped by 0.1 per cent. The pressure of online retail is believed to have contributed to the drops in store sales with online stock making up 6.3 per cent of total retail in January this year. Many shoppers are too afraid to leave their homes in fears they may contract the virus Sydney shopping malls have seen huge drops in customers as the virus continues to spread A mother and child are seen wearing face masks after arriving in Sydney Airport Ben James, Director of Quarterly Economy Wide Surveys, said stores suffered as a result of the bushfires. 'Bushfires in January negatively impacted a range of retail businesses across a variety of industries,' Mr James said. 'Retailers reported a range of impacts that reduced customer numbers, including interruptions to trading hours and tourism.' BIS Oxford Economics chief economist Sarah Hunter said the drops in retail were only expected to get worse. 'With the disruption from the coronavirus only really materialising from early February onwards, we expect to see a substantial worsening in retail conditions in the near term,' she told The Age. In the wake of the bushfires, the ACT had retail sales drop by 2.3 per cent (pictured: fire truck in Nan Glen near Coffs Harbour) 'Although the drag from the bushfires has eased as weather conditions have improved, the ban on arrivals from China and other countries will weigh heavily on the sector.' A report issued by S&P Global Ratings on Friday estimated that COVID-19 could wipe out a staggering $320billion from Asia Pacific economies. Unemployment in Australia was at 5.3 per cent in January but the report from S&P expected it to grow by one per cent which could see a further 100,000 people out of work. Asia-Pacific chief economist Shaun Roache said the economy that was already suffering in the wake of the bushfires would be further affected by coronavirus. 'If the unemployment rate rises by up to one percentage point, as our models suggest, this will further dampen consumer confidence, drag on spending and could stall the nascent property market recovery,' he said. Despite retailers suffering due to the catastrophic bushfire season, Australian supermarkets have benefited from coronavirus-related panic buying. The threat of the virus has sent Australians into chaos with many stockpiling on basic supplies like toilet paper. People lined up outside the door outside a Coles in Wollongong at 6am in a bid to buy whatever was left. One photo shows people lining up out the door outside a Coles in Wollongong at 6am in a bid to buy whatever was left The past year has seen dozens of stores enter into administration with the retail apocalypse only expected to get worse. Colette by Colette Hayman was put into administration last month. Dropping like flies: Some of Australia's recent retail casualties 2016: Dick Smith, Masters hardware, Payless Shoes 2017: Topshop Australia 2018: Avon, Espirit, Toys 'R' Us, Max Brenner, Roger David 2019: Ed Harry, Diana Ferrari, Napoleon Perdis, Ziera, Bardot, Harris Scarfe 2020: EB Games, Colette by Colette Hayman Advertisement Harris Scarfe, Bardot, Roger David, EB Games and Napoleon Perdis all failed in the last year. Experts have claimed consumers are now turning to online shopping over bricks and mortar stores. Australian retail growth is at its worst level since the early 1990s recession and international giants like Amazon and Aldi threaten to make life even more difficult for local brands. Harris Scarfe, founded in 1849, took consumers by surprise when it entered administration in December and is now about to close at least 21 stores. Days later the country's sixth-largest wine company McWilliam's Wine, which has been around for 140 years, announced it had appointed voluntary administrators. Popular video game chain EB Games was next, with the business announcing the closure of 19 stores across Australia in early January. Major fashion chain Bardot also announced plans to close 58 stores nationwide before March. Vietnam has recently created several favourable policies, including the Politburos Resolution No.55-NQ/TW on the orientation of Vietnams national energy development strategy to 2030 with a vision towards 2045. Vaibhav Saxena, lawyer at Vietnam International Law Firm, ventures into the policy outlook on renewable energy in this country, which may prove extremely beneficial for financiers who expect to grow their energy investments. Vaibhav Saxena, lawyer at Vietnam International Law Firm The Civil Affairs Committee at the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) in January released Resolution No.21/NQ/BCSD on principles and procedures for adjustments and supplements of master plans of power projects. Accordingly, the supplement of master plans shall be implemented with priority given to power grids over power sources; and regions with fewer renewable energy projects and capable of releasing capacity (with calculated release capacity) will be prioritised. Other regions should also be carefully considered, in particular two groups. The first is grouping based on the power grid for the ventures. Priority order shall be as follows: - Group of transmission power grid projects not in the Power Development Master Plan VII (PDP7) as amended and not requiring dossiers, including power grid projects approved in the five-year Plan of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), and power grid projects with a voltage level of 220kV approved in the master plan on development of electricity in provinces and municipalities in the period of 2016-2025, with consideration until 2035; - Projects included in the PDP7 as amended but requiring adjustments to operating progress and scale; - Power grid initiatives serving the capacity release of sources of hydroelectricity or renewable energy; - Grid projects supplying power to new loads or adjusting power supply plan to loads such as industrial zones and factories using high capacity; and - Power sources connecting projects approved in the master plan, but not approved for connection or being proposed for suitable amendments. The second group is based on the power source of the ventures. Priority order for master plan approval here is outlined as such: - Wind projects with plants and power grids likely to be completed before November 2021 in areas where grids have not been overloaded, with priority given to projects that have completed the first stage, and proposals to expand capacity or utilise existing connection infrastructure to proceed to the second stage; - Waste power projects; - Biomass power schemes; - Small and medium-sized hydropower projects requiring adjustments to the installed capacity; - Small and medium-sized supplementary hydropower projects; and - Traditional power projects, with priority given to power sources that support integrating large amount of renewable energy such as large hydropower or electrification. However, further research for these projects is required due to their high complexity. Individual planning of solar power projects shall not yet be considered. Game changer for the energy arena There will be competent authority for appraisals and decisions on adjustment of master plans. For power grid projects, the MoIT shall appraise and submit power grid projects to the PM for deciding on the adjustment of the planning of electrical grids with voltage level of 220kV or higher. The ministry will also issue a document to consistently adjust provincial electricity master plans with respect to local proposals for electric grids with voltage level of 110kV or lower. For power projects, the MoIT shall appraise and approve additional adjustments to the master plan for power projects with wattage scale of under 50MW (except for some types of power resources with separate regulations); and appraise and submit to the PM for approving additional adjustments to the master plans of power projects with scale wattage of more than 50MW. Also involved are procedures for adjustments and supplements to master plans for wind power projects. There is a two-step priority order for this. First, master plan supplement appraisal priority shall be given to provinces with fewer proposals for adjustments and capable of improving capacity, such as Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Hau Giang. After that, it proceeds to provinces with more project proposals, with priority given to regions with calculated master capacity release, such as the southwest region, or the central province of Quang Tri. Meanwhile, there are processes for provinces with more proposals for supplements to master plans. Based on these, submitted by the provincial peoples committee, the Electricity and Renewable Energy Agency under the MoIT shall arrange an appraisal meeting to review projects suitable for the land, capable of connecting and achieving commercial operation date no later than November 2021 for consideration to be supplemented to the master plans. That is carried out first with projects that have been appraised. Projects submit for supplement to master plan on a first-come, first-served basis. Secondly, other projects shall be considered according to its date of submission for supplement on the basis of first submitted, first considered. Corporate PPAs Vietnam has released Proposal No.544/TTr-BCT on the issuance of a draft decision of the prime minister on piloting the direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) mechanism. The DPPA draft promotes a closer relationship between renewable power producers and users. The goal of the DPPA programme is to pilot a direct power purchase mechanism between renewable power producers and end users. The programme is under review and is planned to be launched at a pilot stage in the first quarter of 2020. Scope, scale, and subjects Under the DPPA draft, the programme will be piloted nationwide with a capacity scale of 400MW to 1GW and is suggested to run for two years. In order to participate in the DPPA programme, the seller and the buyer must satisfy several conditions. In particular, the seller shall be the renewable energy producers who: - Register for participation in the pilot DPPA programme; - Have power plants installed capacity of over 30MW. However, 30MW shall be taken as global generation capacity or local? In Vietnam the status is unclear and such conditions may be a hurdle for the new investors; - Are approved in the relevant power development master plan, with priorities given to projects in areas with zero- to low-risk of grid congestions; and - Are financially and technically capable, and are experienced in the development and operation of renewable power projects. The buyer in the DPPA programme would be the power users who use electricity for industrial production and register for participation in the pilot stage; buy electricity at a voltage level no lower than 22kV; are financially and technically capable; and with priority given to buyers who have given international undertakings concerning environmental goals, anti-global warming, and sustainable development. Wholesale electricity As provided in the DPPA draft, the transactions in the DPPA programme would be conducted via the Vietnam wholesale electricity market (VWEM), which is now mainly regulated by Decision No.8266/QD-BCT dated 2015, approving the detailed design of VWEM and 2018s Circular No.45/2018/TT-BCT regulating its operation. The major players in VWEM include, among others, EVNs five electricity corporations (ECs) and high-capacity customers (customers purchasing power at a voltage level of not lower than 110kV) as the buyers; and power producers with installed capacity of power or hydropower plants exceeding 30MW as sellers. VWEM could be considered as a transparent platform for the sale and purchase of power. The market could allow the ECs (as the buyer) and the seller to directly enter into a model PPA whereby the parties could negotiate on the amount of power produced and the feed-in tariff using the formula provided in the model. DPPA payment mechanism Under the DPPA draft, the buyer would enter into a power purchase agreement with the ECs with the selling price equal to the buying price of the ECs on the VWEM during each transaction cycle of 30-60 minutes plus the DPPA service fee over each electricity unit. As mentioned, the DPPA programme would be conducted via VWEM; therefore the DPPA service fee could be understood to be paid to the National Power Transmission Corporation. Besides the PPA between the buyer and the ECs, the buyer also directly purchases power from the seller through a negotiated contract for differences (CfD) with a term of at least 10 years. The price and the amount of electricity sold shall be subject to the agreement of the buyer and the seller. Under the DPPA draft, the seller would enjoy the payment for the electricity it generated and transmitted to EVNs grid; and differences between prices under the CfD and that of VWEM. Similarly, the buyer would pay the ECs for the power provided under the PPA; and the seller under the terms and conditions of the CfD. Vietnam is going through a transitional phase which every emerging economy experiences. Although enormous efforts are being made by the government to safeguard the interests of investors, the outcome is much awaited and 2020 will be a crucial year for the country. VIR Energy strategy fit for private backers Vietnam has enacted its strategic orientations for energy development through to 2030 and with a vision for the next quarter of a century, encouraging more of the private sector to develop for the future, and ensuring energy security. A group of people crowded around a shipping container in the parking lot of the San Antonio Clubhouse, a community and resource center for adults with mental illness. Inside the 40-foot long container is a hydroponic farm, which produces as many crops as a three-acre farm, simply with water and lights. But the best part of Clubhouse Grows the new indoor water-based, high-tech farm isnt that it sprouts an abundance of leafy greens. Its that it also serves as a recovery-oriented volunteer opportunity for the people the nonprofit serves. We are working together as a Clubhouse community on this farm, said Mark Stoeltje, the executive director of San Antonio Clubhouse. It is providing meaningful work for our members, but it is also providing a product. Clubhouse Grows, which was unveiled Friday, was made possible with a $100,000 grant from Impact San Antonio, a womens philanthropic non-profit that awards grants to local organizations. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio nonprofit receives $1 million to help adults with mental illness Jennifer Bennett , president of Impact SA, said one of the reasons the group chose to award Clubhouse a grant was because of the multilayered benefits that it delivers to the community. A lot of our citizens who have mental health challenges do not get the degree of support that they need to help them live lives that feel good to them, Bennett said. Clubhouse is really unique to doing that in our community. The plants in the 320-square-foot freight container do not rely on soil. Instead, they grow on 88 black foam and metal panels, which have water pumped through them. Powerful LED red and blue lights that emulate the sun are on 18 hours a day. And the climate-controlled space remains stable between 65 and 68 degrees. The extra sunlight, combined with the fact that its never cloudy and we dont have to worry about different seasons, really helps accelerate the plants growth, said Brandon Wagner, a staff member and project lead for Clubhouse Grows. On ExpressNews.com: South San Antonio elementary students growing food with a larger goal in mind Crops planted include five types of lettuce, kale, beets, arugula, basil, oregano and even some flowers. Wagner, who has been prepping the new farm and working with it for around a month, said he has found it to be very therapeutic. You zone out and just concentrate on the work, he said. You are planting 300, 400 or up to 500 seeds at a time, so there is a very meditative work flow. While the farm only uses about 25 gallons of water a month, Wagner said, it can grow 550 small and crisp heads of lettuce alone each week. I love lettuce, but that is more lettuce than we can eat, Stoeltje said. So, in addition to using the produce at the Clubhouse facility, the organization plans to donate some to local non-profits. Stoeltje said while healthy eating is important, the farming process seeding, maintaining, relocating and harvesting crops is also a chance for Clubhouse members to work hard, work together, hone new skills, reach goals and ultimately feel a sense of accomplishment. San Antonio Clubhouse, which was founded in 2003, operates under a national model that's based on the belief that everyone deserves to be part of a caring community and has talents to share. The non-profit helps its more than 2,000 members gain work experience through volunteering at the center, job training, resume building, job-search assistance and advocating to potential employers. This is the perfect project for us because we are founded on two principles, Stoeltje said, meaningful relationships and rewarding work. sara.cline@express-news.net A corporate site that promotes itself as the "go-to hub" for International Womens Day is out-ranking the United Nations' website on Google and potentially confusing organisers of events. The site internationalwomensday.com, which declares that "equality is not a women's issue, its a business issue", is the top-ranking organic search result for "international women's day". The company behind the site, Aurora Ventures, "works with stakeholders" to come up with business-friendly themes. This year it is #EachforEqual and previous themes have included #BalanceforBetter and #PressforProgress. A lot of International Women's Day celebrations involve cupcakes. Credit:AFP Meanwhile, the UN Women theme for 2020 is #GenerationEquality. Another Yankee is out of commission for a while, and the fanbase doesnt know whether to be upset or confused about the laundry list of injuries surrounding their team. Manager Aaron Boone announced on Friday that tests revealed the discomfort outfielder Aaron Judge has been feeling during spring training is the result of a fractured right rib. The Yankees believe this issue dates to late last season when Judge was injured diving for a sinking liner during a Sept. game at Yankee Stadium against Los Angeles Angels. He missed one game, then played the rest of the regular season and in the playoffs. Boone explained the long delay in diagnosis on the difficulty of spotting it. He ended up going through 10, 11, 12 different tests. My understanding is its a hard thing to find because youre not going to find it in MRIs or different scans. He had MRIs on the shoulder, chest bone scans, CT scans, X-rays, all these things, and it was this particular CT scan that ultimately found it. So for whatever reason, its an injury that was difficult to spot in the battery of tests that you have. That doesnt make Yankees fans feel any better. How did Aaron Judge have a fractured rib for MONTHS and not know? My brain is broken. Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) March 6, 2020 It is CRAZY how incompetent the training staff was last year. All these injuries are from last season. Cressey has to be seeing this shit and losing his mind. Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) March 6, 2020 Took more than 2 weeks to figure out his rib was fractured?? What is going on with these dollar general tests? 28 (@jakeplumley31) March 6, 2020 Paxton, Severino and Judge have all had their injuries issues since last season and it's starting to feel like a malpractice on the Yankees end at this point. How do all of these injuries get dealt with during Spring Training? Dan Federico (@DanJFederico) March 6, 2020 Im afraid of potentially having to have this conversation 10 years from now: Remember that Aaron Judge guy? Lol he had his own section in Yankee Stadium and everything Kyle (@KyleNYY) March 6, 2020 The #Yankees medical staff may be shortening players careers Vinny (@vsiino21) March 6, 2020 Why are the #Yankees still so bad at diagnosing injuries? Since when is a sore shoulder a cracked rib? These mistakes in the medical department have gone on far too long. https://t.co/eIwiziTuE3 Mike Calendrillo (@MACalendrillo) March 6, 2020 The Yankees say they have no idea at this point how long Judge will be sidelined other than hell rest for two weeks and then be rechecked. A CT scan that revealed the issue indicated that Judges rib is healing, and if thats the case then its possible he wont miss significant time. Buy Yankees tickets: StubHub, SeatGeek Surgery is an option though, Boone said. I wouldnt say thats off the table, but you wouldnt want to do that right now, especially if the bone is healing, Boone said. (NJ Advance Medias Randy Miller contributed to this report.) Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @briannnnf. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7 2020 The government has stepped up its efforts to contain the coronavirus COVID-19 by tightening health screenings at borders and testing more people after confirming four cases in the Greater Jakarta area this week. Scientists, however, say there is still a crucial element lacking in the war against the virus: transparency. A number of scientists have highlighted the importance of involving more people, including independent scientists, in the handling of the virus outbreak, saying it is essential that health authorities work effectively and scientifically. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Known mutations of the novel coronavirus have not affected overall progress of drug and vaccine development, and scientists will keep monitoring the virus's evolution and plan research projects accordingly, senior scientists said on Friday. This week, Chinese scientists announced that they had discovered that the virus had evolved into two major subtypes, and detected 149 mutation points across its genomes. The L subtype, considered more aggressive, is believed to have been more prevalent during the early stages of the outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei province, than its S subtype ancestor, which is relatively more prevalent now. Zhou Qi, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the virus's mutations require further research, and China is conducting a coordinated research effort to evaluate the virus and develop a vaccine. "All research is under control," he said. "The mutations that we now know have not affected our drug, antibody or vaccine development. We will keep monitoring the mutations the virus generates and plan related research projects accordingly." Zheng Zhongwei, director of the Development Center for Medical Science and Technology of the National Health Commission, said China has nine ongoing research projects on vaccine development, and some will hopefully enter clinical trials in April. The five main types of vaccines that China is working on are an inactivated vaccine, recombinant subunit vaccine, adenoviral vector vaccine, live attenuated vaccine and nucleic acid-based vaccine. Zheng said he had not seen reports of foreign researchers working on an inactivated vaccine, which consists of virus particles that no longer have disease-producing capability. As for the recombinant and vector vaccines, he said both have moved into animal trials and their progress is on par with that of other countries. For drug development, China has expanded the use of trial drugs and treatments, including plasma transfusion, artificial extracorporeal liver support often called liver dialysis and traditional Chinese medicine, said Sun Yanrong, deputy director of the China National Center for Biotechnology Development. Advanced treatments such as stem cell and monoclonal antibody therapies are also being researched as a way to save patients in critical condition, she added. Chloroquine phosphate has moved from trials to clinical treatment, and no obvious side effects were found in the 285 severely ill patients taking the drug. Scientists have expanded clinical trials for favipiravir a Japanese antiviral drug that showed promise against the virus in clinical trials in Shenzhen, Guangdong province to cover patients in Wuhan. Doctors from hospitals in Beijing and Harbin, Heilongjiang province, are doing clinical trials for stem cell therapy and preliminary results have found the treatment safe and effective, Sun said, adding that its use will be expanded in Wuhan. Clinical results for artificial liver support show it can significantly reduce the treatment time for critically ill patients and improve their recovery rate, she said. Tocilizumab, a drug that suppresses overreactions of the immune system, has recently been added to the latest treatment and diagnosis guideline of the National Health Commission. It helps to inhibit a deadly medical condition called a cytokine storm an overproduction of immune cells that damages healthy tissues which is also one of the main causes of death for critically ill patients. Sun said around 272 severely ill patients are being treated with Tocilizumab. The patients came from 14 hospitals in Wuhan, Zhou added. Early clinical data showed that 20 severely or critically ill patients had fevers lowered within a day after receiving the drug, and 19 patients had recovered within two weeks. There have been over 100,000 cases of COVID-19 reported worldwide, and the virus has killed more than 3,400 people. Confirmed cases in the United States have risen past 300, the New York Times reported Saturday. The situation is constantly changing. Heres the latest. 1. Two Connecticut hospital employees have tested positive for the virus. A New York resident who works in Danbury and Norwalk hospitals has tested positive for COVID-19, officials announced Friday. That marks Connecticuts first confirmed case. But no Connecticut residents have tested positive for the virus, according to a release from Governor Ned Lamont. The patient, who is now self-isolated in New York, contracted the disease after being exposed to the virus in Westchester County, Lamont said. The employee worked in an isolated part of the hospital, according to Kerry Eaton, Chief Operating Officer of Nuvance Health, the hospitals parent company. Other employees who had contact with the patient have been furloughed for two weeks, Eaton said. We have been expecting exposure of this virus in Connecticut for several weeks, so its presence should not surprise anybody. This is no cause for panic or anxiety as our public health officials and medical experts have been making every effort to put every precaution possible in place, Lamont said. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released a statement Saturday about the confirmed case. We always knew it was a matter of when, not if, the COVID-19 would touch Connecticut. As we continue to monitor possible exposures related to a hospital worker I stand ready to do everything I can at the federal level to make sure the governor and Connecticut's state and local health officials have all the resources they need to contain and stop the spread of the coronavirus in Connecticut, he said. A second employee working at Bridgeport Hospital has tested positive for coronavirus while nine more patients in Connecticut are being tested for the disease. Both cases have been traced back to an outbreak in New Rochelle, New York. At a Saturday press conference, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency that allows additional resources for local health departments to deal with the outbreak. 2. 11 tests are pending, 42 came back negative By Friday evening, the state Department of Public Health had tested 42 people in Connecticut for COVID-19, and all of the tests came back negative, Lamont announced in his release. 11 cases were still pending, he said. The state has one test kit, which has the capacity to test around 600 people. Lamont requested more tests in a letter to the CDC, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said Friday his delegation was writing in support of the request. Connecticut is currently testing those who have shown symptoms of the virus and traveled to a country where the outbreak is more acute, officials told Lamont in a Thursday briefing. But there may be one more option for folks to get tested: two private labs, Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp, would begin processing coronavirus tests, the companies announced Thursday. 3. Connecticut is monitoring at least 200 people for COVID-19 Although the state has only tested several dozen for the virus, it is monitoring some 200 individuals for COVID-19, health officials told Lamont Thursday. Those monitored were asked to self-quarantine for two weeks. There are likely cases in Connecticut that have gone unconfirmed because of limited testing, officials have said. Hearst Connecticut Media reporters Emilie Munson, Ben Lambert, Kaitlyn Krasselt, Katrina Koerting and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Authorities in Lucknow put up roadside banners with photographs of people asked to pay compensation for damage to public property during anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests, triggering outrage among those being named and shamed. IMAGE: People walk past a poster displaying photographs of those who have been identified to pay the compensation for vandalising public properties during protests against CAA, in Lucknow, on Friday. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo The banners came up at major road crossings in Lucknow late on Thursday night on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, an official said. They bear photographs, names and addresses of those accused of vandalism during protests in December against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Some activists who figure in the posters have said they will go to court over the 'public humiliation' when the charges against them are yet to be proved. Opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party government for branding the protesters guilty. A government spokesman said the posters have been up on the chief minister's directive at important intersections, including the main crossing in the busy Hazratganj area and in front of the Assembly building. He said the people on the posters are those who had damaged public property under the pretext of protests, and notices have already been issued seeking compensation from them. The posters say that property of the accused will be confiscated if they fail to pay the compensation. Activist-politician Sadaf Jafar, who is among those whose photos appear on the posters, termed the move unethical and vowed to take legal recourse. "How can we be publicly humiliated for something that has not yet been proved in court," she said. "This is not Afghanistan. Legal issues cannot be brought into public like this. Our bail order says there is no adequate evidence against us," Jafar told PTI. She was arrested after the violence in Lucknow and later granted bail. "We are not absconding," she said, adding that they have appeared before the court and police whenever asked. "Why are we being targeted like this? Did they put up posters of Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi at all airports? Had they done it they would have not fled with the country's wealth," she said, referring to the two absconding businessmen. Former Indian Police Service officer, S R Darapuri claimed that the move is illegal. "Our life, property and freedom have been put in jeopardy by putting up these posters and our reputation has been damaged," he said. Darapuri added that he is writing to the state home secretary, director general of police and police commissioner, telling them that if they faced any trouble because of the posters, it would the administration's responsibility. "We will challenge it in court collectively and demand the immediate withdrawal of the posters as well as action against the officials responsible for it," Darapuri said. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav asked how the government could publicly declare someone a culprit without a court order. "The BJP government is out to crush all those opposed to it. These posters cannot be termed as right in any way. Announcing anyone a culprit is against the democratic system," Yadav said. Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Kumar Lallu said the courts need to take cognizance of the posters on their own. "Police so far have not been able to produce proper evidence in the court against these people," Lallu said. The Congress leader said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself faces cases against him and if recoveries are to be made, they should start from him. Lucknow District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash said three orders have been issued for recovery of damaged property worth Rs. 1.61 crore in four police station areas of the state capital. Recovery notices have already been issued for this. If police get more evidence and other people are identified, more notices will be served, the DM said. He said the recovery notices allow a 30-days period for their implementation. After this, the offenders' property will be confiscated. In Lucknow, around 50 people were identified by police as alleged rioters and were served such notices. After the violent protests in December, Adityanath had warned that those who took part in any vandalism will have to pay for the damage. A man who brazenly stole alcohol from various Liquor Marts across Brandon eight times in a two-month period has been sentenced to six months in jail. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us A man who brazenly stole alcohol from various Liquor Marts across Brandon eight times in a two-month period has been sentenced to six months in jail. Jonathan Pylatyk, 35, pleaded guilty in Brandon provincial court on Thursday to eight counts of theft under $5,000 and breaching court-ordered conditions not to attend any Manitoba Liquor Mart in Brandon. The string of thefts was first brought to police attention on Oct. 11, Crown attorney Caroline Lacey told the court, when they were called to the Liquor Mart on Victoria Avenue. Employees told police the suspect had walked out with a bottle of Captain Morgan rum, Lacey said, and officers were able to identify Pylatyk as the suspect through video surveillance. Pylatyk struck various Liquor Marts four more times at the end of October and into November, Lacey said, each time walking out with a bottle of vodka. From Dec. 8 to Dec. 10, Pylatyk stole from the same Liquor Mart on 18th Street three days in a row, Lacey said, each time leaving with a bottle of rum. In total, Pylatyk made away with $447.62 worth of alcohol, Lacey said. There was no violence involved in any of the thefts, and he never ran from the store or employees, Lacey said he simply walked into the store and concealed a bottle in his jacket before leaving. "We have someone who quite literally on some days went to the same places day after day," Lacey said. "These Liquor Mart thefts are a huge problem in Manitoba right now, not just in Brandon but across the province. The community needs to be sent the message that when you commit thefts like this, there are going to be strong penalties." The Crown recommended a total sentence of six months in jail, which defence lawyer Ryan Fawcett agreed was an appropriate sentence. Pylatyk does suffer an addiction to alcohol, Fawcett said, and stole from liquor marts out of desperation. "Its not one of those cases that have caused a lot of alarm across the province," Fawcett said, referring to recent thefts from Manitoba Liquor Marts that have involved violence. "Its a case where you have someone who is desperate and who knows they can go into a liquor store and simply select a bottle and walk out." Pylatyk has also taken part in some programming while in custody, Fawcett added, and is at a stage where he realizes this isnt the life he wants to live. "Im going to stop doing it Im going to choose a different path in life," Pylatyk told the court. "Alcohol has ruined your life what are you going to do about it? Thats the question," Judge Geoffrey Bayly said to Pylatyk. "You need to grab ahold of this addiction. You need to take positive steps to change your life." Pylatyk was sentenced to a total of six months in jail. After a credit for time in pre-sentence custody, he has 55 days left to serve. Bayly also sentenced Pylatyk to one year of unsupervised probation, during which he must not attend any Manitoba Liquor Mart in Brandon. He was also ordered to repay $447.62 in restitution. edebooy@brandonsun.com Twitter: @erindebooy A 45-year-old man from Tamil Nadu, who recently visited Oman, has tested positive for the coronavirus infection, state health minister C Vijayabaskar said on Saturday, adding he was stable and under observation. This is the first positive case from the state. When he arrived at the airport here on February 28, he was subjected to screening and isolated for further treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government hospital here, Vijayabaskar said and appealed to people not to panic. "Patient is stable and under hospital observation.TN Health department is fully functional to combat the situation. Please avoid state of panic," he tweeted. Earlier,Union Health ministry said three more positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in India taking the total number of confirmed cases to 34. Of the three, two were from Ladakh with travel history to Iran while one from Tamil Nadu who had visited Oman, the ministry said. After reviewing arrangements to screen passengers for virus at the airport here on Saturday, the minister said the government was continuously monitoring the situation across the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 2:00PM by Nathaniel R Whistlers , the Romanian submissions for this past Oscar race opened in a few US cinemas this past week (we reviewed it in November). It's a blackly comic noir that's been compared to the work of the Coens and it comes from one of the most celebrated Romanian New Wave auteurs, Corneliu Porombiou. Romanian cinema was largely neglected and underfunded until after the fall of Communism in 1989. Things began to pick up after that. In the mid-Aughts the country's cinema became a critical cause with prize-winning films emerging with great frequency. The country's most acclaimed cinema is often categorized by gallows humor and incisive or satiric socioeconomic and political commentary. For the second episode of this new season of "Posterized" and "Making Waves" a retrospective of Romanian cinema currently playing a US tour, we've selected the (arguably) 15 most famous and/or acclaimed films from the country over the past 30 years. How many of these have you seen? Don't feel bad if your number is very low (we haven't seen the majority of them either) but do you see anything you've been meaning to catch up with or that now piques your interest? Carnival Scenes (1981, Lucian Pintille) Banned until the fall of Communism in 1989, this influential bitter ensemble comedy eventually became their Oscar submission in 1990. Hotel de Lux (1992, Dan Pita) - Oscar submission. An allegorical film about a luxury hotel that operates like a Communist country. It won the Silver Lion at Venice Philanthropy (2002, Nae Caranfil) - Oscar submission. Another dark comedy, this one about a middle aged teacher out for a quick buck who falls for a young fellow con artist posing as his wife. The Death of Mr Lazarescu (2005, Cristi Piuiu) -Oscar submission. A damning critical sensation (it won the Un Certain Regard at Cannes and many other prizes) about medical bureaucracies and a old widower who lives alone with cats and the nurse who attempts to help him. The running time has thus far kept me away but I've only ever heard that it's brilliant. Have you seen it? 12:08 East of Bucharest (2006, Corneliu Porumboiu) - A comedy about a talk show host, a professor, and a pensioner and the history of their town. Camera D'Or winner at Cannes and an Indie Spirit nomination too. The Way I Spent the End of the World (2006, Catalin Mitulescu) -Oscar submission. A film about a teenage girl and her little brother, one dreaming of escaping Communist Romania by swimming across the Danube, the other plotting with other children to assassinate the dictator. A Best Actress prize in Cannes Un Certain Regard section. 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days (2007, Cristian Mungiu) - This abortion drama won the Palme D'Or at Cannes before a Golden Globe nomination, and an infamous Oscar snub. It helped change AMPAS rules leading to the formation of the Executive Committee to make Oscar's international category safer for instant masterpieces. It is also the highest grossing Romanian film in the US, cracking a million in US arthouses in the early months of 2008 despite or perhaps because of the controversy surrounding the Oscar snub. Police, Adjectif (2009, Cornelia Porumboiu) - Oscar submission. A drama about a policeman investigating a teenage boy's drug use. It won the Jury Prize at Cannes Un Certain Regard. Tuesday, After Christmas (2010, Radu Muntean) - a must-see for fans of relationship dramas. An uninhibited drama about an extramarital affair. Amazing performances. If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle (2010, Florin Serbian) - Oscar submission. A drama about a juvenile offender about to be released from prison whose mother resurfaces. Beyond the Hills (2012, Cristian Mungiu) - Oscar submission. A drama about two women in an Eastern Orthodox convent. Unless 4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days was in the dread sixth spot at the Oscar (we'll never know) this other critical darling from Mungiu is the Romanian film that came closest to a nomination as it made the finalist list (the two-step process initiated shortly after 4 Months's snub). Sadly, no Romanian film has ever been Oscar-nominated and this is the sole entry that has made the finalist list to date. Winner of Best Screenplay at Cannes. Child's Pose (2013, Calin Peter Netzer) - Oscar submission, festival favourite (Berlin's Golden Bear), and a must-see for Actressexuals with a totally fierce performance by one of Romania's most exciting actors Luminita Gheorghiu (EFA nomination) as a grieving but amoral mother. Aferim! (2015, Radu Jude) - Oscar submission. While the bulk of popular Romanian films are set in the present or the very recent past this adventure film about a cop trying to find a Gypsy slave is set in the 19th century. Best Director at Berlin and a Foreign Film win at the OFCS. Graduation (2016, Cristian Mungiu) - This parental drama won Best director prize at Cannes (for the oft-celebrated Mungiu) plus Cesar and EFA nominations... but it wasn't Romania's choice for the Oscar submission. Due to... Sierranevada (2016, Cristi Puiu) - Oscar submission. A three hour dramedy about a family gathering for the patriach's funeral. How many of those 15 pictures have you seen? If it's only 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days... which of these titles most intrigues you? If you're interested in this topic be on the lookout for "Making Waves" a 30 Film Retrospective on Romanian Cinema that is touring various museums and arthouses through May 2020. It's hitting Philadelphia's Lightbox Film Center in March and is also playing at the Northwest Film Forum in Seattle. Three more positive cases of novel coronavirus have been reported in India taking the total number of confirmed cases to 34, Union Health ministry said on Saturday. Of the three, two are from Ladakh with travel history to Iran while one is from Tamil Nadu who had visited Oman, the ministry said, adding all the patients are stable. In the wake of more than 30 confirmed cases of coronavirus in India so far, the Union health ministry made 52 laboratories functional for testing samples while 57 labs are designated for helping in sample collection. The ministry also said more that 150 people, who had come in contact with two American nationals who tested positive for coronavirus in Bhutan and had toured various placed in India, have been put under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). A man with symptom of 'fever and cough' has been kept in isolation at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal, Manipur as a precautionary measure, health officials say. PM Narendra Modi reviewed coronavirus situation in the country at a meeting with officials and directed them to identify locations for sufficient quarantine facilities, and make provisions for critical care in case the disease spreads further. Also, 108 swab samples of Indians in Iran were received on Saturday morning. These sample arrived on a Mahan Air flight from Tehran. The flight went back with many Iranian nationals. The samples are being tested at the laboratory in AIIMS, the health ministry said. Six scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have been stationed in Iran. Equipment and reagents, worth approximately 10 crore have been dispatched to enable them to set up a laboratory there, the ministry said. It also said that 7,26,122 passengers from 7,108 flights have been screened at airports. Between Friday morning and Saturday, 73,766 passengers from 573 flights have been screened. With inputs from PTI Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! CHEYENNE For nearly a century, the Colorado River Compact has practically been seen as scripture for states from Wyoming all the way down to the Mexican border. The compact written in the years populations in the American Southwest first began to explode has been the code by which life along the Colorado River Basin has been granted, a strict allocation of the snowmelt from the highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the Arizona desert and the parched reaches of the expansive fields of Southern California. In recent decades, however, some have begun to challenge the law one so sacred that some have claimed that suggestions to tamper with it significantly hurt the late John McCains presidential chances in 2008. The concept of climate change once a faux pas to even suggest in fossil-fuel dominant western states has significantly impacted the hydrology of the watershed, weakening springtime river flows and shrinking the depths of crucial reservoirs along the river like Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Meanwhile downriver, metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix places that live and die by the rivers flows have continued to swell, putting additional strain on a river already pushed to its limit. The past two decades from a hydrological perspective are the driest in historical record, Jason Robison, a professor at the University of Wyoming who specializes in water law, said in an interview. And it has policy managers throughout the basin states and in the federal government really concerned. As the reservoirs continue to dry, states in the lower basin realizing how little water there was and states in the upper basin who are seeking to avoid being called for the water they are obligated to provide under the terms of the compact have begun to realize that the time for a reckoning might soon be here. Last April, President Donald Trump signed a plan intended to cut back on the use of water from the basin, calling on every state in the compact to come up with a drought contingency plan tailored to their own needs in an effort to strike some sort of working understanding with the states. [States like Wyoming] dont want a compact call, said Robison. And Lake Powell contains the flows needed to satisfy the upper basins obligations. If they can get demand management in the upper basin figured out on an intrastate basis, they can get the water levels in Lake Powell up, keep hydropower revenues flowing and avoid any liability. Since September, that effort has been overseen by the executive branch and state engineers office, which working with the University of Wyoming Extension has held a series of more than 60 meetings around the state since 2013 exploring the viability of such a plan and whether it would be in Wyomings best interests to pursue one. The initial outreach phase, according to a handout provided to lawmakers, is anticipated to wrap up by December. With a sparse population, Wyoming currently boasts among the highest unobligated shares of water of any state within the compact, with most of its water tied in a number of areas, including the states heavy industries and its municipalities. Both, Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, said in the House Appropriations Committee this week, could likely see a reduction under any drought management plan as part of the effort to stabilize the water levels in Lake Powell. If we were facing a curtailment in other words a regulatory call on the Colorado it would be our municipalities and our heavy industries that are the first ones that are going to get shut off, he said. What a demand management program contemplates is the ability for someone to do a temporary negotiation with the senior water right holder and acquire that water for their purposes in lieu of some form of compensation. And lawmakers want a seat at the table. On Friday, the House Appropriations Committee advanced Senate File 95 to the full House of Representatives. If passed, it would establish a committee comprised of everyone from municipal leaders and agriculturalists to legislators and mining industries to lend their perspectives to the roll-out of a management plan for Wyomings tributaries to the river, which predominantly sit in the southwestern corner of the state. Naturally, lawmakers and their constituents have their fair share of concerns, and want to be sure their interests are consistently represented. It goes back to the old adage that whiskeys for drinkin and waters for fighting, particularly in the arid West, Senate President Drew Perkins, who voted against SF-95, said in an interview last week. Water is more valuable than any resource we have. As you look at it, you have tremendous growth in agriculture and in population, particularly in the south basin, and they have a higher demand for water. So there is now more pressure to ensure theres more water for them. But at the same time, everybody else wants to protect the right they have. Gov. Mark Gordons office has pushed back on the effort, calling it duplicative and unnecessary particularly in a process likely to take several years or longer to complete. The governor hopes the committee will consider what it truly is were hoping to accomplish here, Beth Callaway, Gordons natural resources policy adviser, told committee members this week. The road to consensus isnt a sprint; its not something we can fix overnight. But we do have time. And thats represented in the efforts weve discussed today that are already underway. And it should be a deliberative process. The state engineers office, Gordon and eight appointees of his choosing would be included in the committee. Lawmakers say they still feel excluded from the process, even though Callaway noted there had been a total of 14 meetings directly involving members of the legislative branch in the time since theyve begun their outreach work. At the end of the day, the less opportunity politics has to be included in the process, said Robison, the better the outcome, particularly for an issue as historically divisive as the Colorado River Compact. When it comes to water relations particularly interstate or even international relations over some of the rivers originating in our beautiful mountains you cant really be parochial, he said. It doesnt work. It is a self-defeating policy strategy. You have to play nice with your neighbors. I understand the tendency to put on the brakes and figure out whats being given up or what the trade-offs are, but none of that stuff exists in isolation. It just doesnt work that way, and its never worked that way in the Colorado River Basin. Those supporting the bill agree that politics cannot be inserted in the process, nor is that their intent. Rep. Albert Sommers, R-Pinedale who opposed the prospect of a drought management plan in a newspaper column last summer said that the committee is intended more to improve the quality of the dialogue around the proposal. Regardless of whether the state decides to form a drought management plan of its own, having a consistent group offers stability throughout the process. I want a consistent group of water right holders in those meetings all the time, he said in an interview in the Capitol on Friday. Ive been involved in this process when it comes to my part of the state, and youll get a different three or four irrigators at the same time. Theres no consistency in the people representing those groups, whether its conservation, irrigation, municipal, whatever. I want a consistent group to look at all this public input, distill it and provide a set of recommendations to the decision maker, which is the governor. To me, it wouldnt matter if we took legislators out of the bill, he added. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A portion of a flyover at the Delhi-Jaipur rail line near Pataudi collapsed on Saturday. The flyover was inaugurated by the Haryana Public Wealth Department in September 2019 and collapsed just six months after its unveiling. No loss of life or property has been reported as of now. It is alleged that the use of substandard material and unseasonal rainfall are the reasons behind the collapse. "This is because of the carelessness that was on show by the authorities. The authorities never showed up when this flyover was being constructed," Pradeep Kumar, Sarpanch, Pahari Village told ANI. Further details are awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In less than a month, Prince Harry and Meghan will officially step down from their position as senior members of the royal family as they "transition" to their non-royal life away from the U.K. This week, the Sussexes have returned to London and have already made their first official appearance since "Megxit" to attend the Endeavour Fund awards for sick and injured servicemen and women. Without their 10-month-old son Archie, the 38-year old Duchess of Sussex flew in from Canada to join her husband, Prince Harry as they begin their final round of public engagements. With that said, everyone is looking forward to the much-awaited Fab Four reunion. It has been reported that while Queen Elizabeth's grandsons Prince Harry and William have ended their royal rift, Kate and Meghan have not yet spoken since the bombshell news broke out. Duchess Kate 'Instrumental' In Saving the Queen from 'Disaster' Interestingly, with Kate being around the Sussexes for the couple's last royal engagement, there are high hopes that the Duchess of Cambridge will be "instrumental" for Queen Elizabeth II in showing a united royal family. According to royal expert Angela Mollard during her ROYALS podcast, she claimed that Kate will play a pivotal role as a "great family pacifier" in the strained relationship between the royal family. "This is his final royal event before they live more permanently in Canada," Mollard said. "This was the transition phase that the Queen talked about and then of course after April the new sort of way of being comes into play. "I hope that we see friendliness between them, I hope we see them speaking to each other. I think it would be disastrous if there was no connection at all, absolutely disastrous. That would fully confirm that this was a major miss for the Queen and the Royal Family." The royal expert was also confident that with Kate's cheerful vibe, it will be easy for the royal family to have a "united front." "I think Kate in these situations always looks like the great family pacifier, she is always smiling and laughing. She will be instrumental in what happens on that day," the royal expert furthered, Mollard also mentioned in her previous episode that with Harry and Meghan set to exit the royal family and leave behind their public duties, the remaining members must need to step up with their roles. Mollard then praised Prince Charles and Prince William for doing their part and exerting efforts in high profile engagements. Queen Elizabeth Pushing Harry, William to Set Aside Royal Rift It was previously reported that the 93-year old monarch was forcing Prince Harry and William to set aside their issues and put on a united front as the Sussexes bid farewell to their royal position. Queen Elizabeth II will do everything in her power to keep the monarchy tied in. Prince Harry and Meghan's final day as senior royals will be on March 31, but they will first join the Queen and other senior royals at Westminster Abbey for the traditional Commonwealth Day service on March 9. Malaysia's anti-corruption chief, who had been investigating scandal-hit state fund 1MDB, said Friday she had resigned after a reformist government collapsed and a graft-tainted party took power. The "Pact of Hope" alliance, which stormed to a historic victory in 2018 and ousted a long-ruling coalition, fell apart amid infighting last week and prime minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned. Mahathir, 94, then sought to return as premier but unexpectedly lost to ex-interior minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who heads a coalition dominated by the multi-ethnic country's Malay Muslim majority. Latheefa Koya, a leading human rights activist who had been head of the anti-corruption commission since June, said she had informed Muhyiddin she was quitting earlier this week but insisted she was not pressured. "I also briefed the prime minister about our ongoing actions and efforts for the recovery of the stolen 1MDB monies from abroad," she said in a statement. "He was fully supportive of these actions." Last week, Malaysia's attorney general Tommy Thomas, who had brought corruption charges against ex-premier Najib Razak over the 1MDB controversy, also resigned. Billions of dollars were stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad and spent on everything from a super-yacht to pricey artworks, in a fraud allegedly involving Najib and his cronies. Najib's coalition, which had governed Malaysia for six decades, was ejected from power in 2018 in large part due to the 1MDB allegations, and he is on trial for corruption. Mahathir's government had started recovering money from overseas allegedly looted from the fund. But the new ruling coalition includes Najib's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party, and there are concerns his trial and others linked to the 1MDB scandal could be affected. Will Gompertz is well known as one of the most influential commentators on the global art scene. Author of the bestseller What Are You Looking At?, the BBC's arts editor will be in Malaga next Wednesday to give a talk at the Picasso Museum titled Genealogies of Art in the Blink of an Eye. Tickets ran out fast. In your book What Are You Looking At? you design a map of contemporary art similar to a subway map. Almost a century after Barr's diagram exhibit (currently in the Museo Picasso Malaga), is a basic diagram still the best way to avoid getting lost in the art system? I certainly think it helps. Maps are a good way of helping us navigate and understand unfamiliar territory. We have always used them for this purpose. They simplify and contextualise in order to bring clarity and direction, which is definitively needed with modern art! You defend that each artistic movement is part of a chain, connected with the previous and the next. How did we end up with sharks in formaldehyde? It is the fault of the mischievous French artist Marcel Duchamp and his infamous 1917 urinal (Fountain). The moment he entered it for an art exhibition (it wasn't shown) is the moment when art could suddenly be anything an artist chose it to be, from unmade beds to sharks in tanks. Turner Prize Has contemporary art lost its ability to surprise? Excellent question. I think it has a bit. Although, there are always exceptions, such as the decision by the finalists of the 2019 Turner Prize in the UK to become a collective to avoid one or other of them being selected as the outright winner. It was a smart move, which in a way, was one of the best artworks of the year. And it was a complete surprise. Which contemporary artist will we still be talking about in 50 years' time? Ai Weiwei, Kerry James Marshall, Njdeka Akunyili Crosby, David Hockney, Jeff Koons, Bridget Riley, Doris Salcedo. Is the market or the Academy worse for art? Art and money have always gone hand-in-hand, someone has to pay the piper. It used to be pharaohs, monarchs and popes, now it is self-made oligarchs. The Academy is a more recent invention. It can both stifle and inspire. The 19th century French Academy looked down on the Impressionist painters leading to Monet and his friends striking out on their own and, in doing so, laying the ground for modern art. So, while the Academy was not good for them, it was unintentionally good for art. What do you think when you see a museum room full of visitors? I am happy to see people enjoying art, although if there are too many people it can compromise the experience. Do you think the number of visitors defines the work of a museum? I think a public museum is there to serve its public. Visitor numbers are one way of measuring success but it is not the only method. The quality of the museum's research, displays and special exhibitions are more important. Have museums become amusement parks for tourists? I don't think so. People don't tend to go to a museum to be entertained. They go to learn, discover and appreciate. You're visiting Malaga next week, what is your opinion about the rise in the number of museums in the city? I was very happy to visit them all when last in Malaga. And what do you think about the plan of museums like Pompidou or the Russian Museum to open extensions in other countries in exchange for money? I think it is fine if all parties are satisfied, everything is out in the open and has been properly scrutinised in public. Partnership can help a museum improve its research, collection and connection with the public. Many galleries, bienals and art fairs are as powerful or even more so than a lot of museums, Have the museums lost their role as 'influencers'? No, I don't think so. That is why artists still want their work collected and displayed in museums, which continue to have a powerful role in shaping public thought and taste. Your talk at the Museo Picasso Malaga is sold out. Do you feel part of the 'star system' of contemporary art? No! I am far from being a star. "Nobody has surpassed Picasso," you said. Do you think anybody will? I don't think so, not in terms of his innovations and experiments. He was a brilliant artist who happened to be in the right place at the right time to respond to the provocation of the camera, aeroplanes, and huge political and social shifts. The way we saw the world changed comprehensively over a few decades, and Picasso reflected that like no other artist. US President Donald Trump on the Fox News town hall stage boasted of his "very good relationship" with the North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-Un on March 6, and lambasted his predecessor Barack Obama. In a conversation with Fox News, Donald Trump claimed that Obama had called the dictator of North Korea "many times", however, Kim Jong Un was unwilling to speak to him. "I have a good relationship with him (Kim Jong-Un). He called him many times, and Kim Jong-Un did not want to talk to him and me he wanted to talk to. We met in Singapore, we met in Vietnam. I also went to the border, (the) first person ever to walk over. We have a very good relationship, understanding," Trump said. Speaking about his last meeting with Obama, Trump said, "I was at the funeral of President Bush, I sat next to him and said 'Hello' and then I said 'Goodbye' that's about it. I didn't like the job he did. I didn't like the position he put us in and what he did to our military." However, Obama's national security advisor Susan Rice called out the US President's statement on Kim Jong-Un, as "total fabrication". She said, "Trump is completely delusional, and its scary." "Kim Jong Un did not want to talk to him. And me he wanted to talk to ... we have a very good relationship." -- Trump sides with totalitarian dictator Kim Jong Un in his feud with President Obama pic.twitter.com/jwZpBIrCw6 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 6, 2020 READ| Trump asks, "Where's my favourite dictator?" refers to Egypt President Donald Trump's amiability with dictators Trump's fondness for dictators has been a known affair considering his affability with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, China President Xi Jinping amongst others. For instance, while Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's name is affixed with the brutal proxy war in Yemen, human rights violations within the Kingdom and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi for the world, however, his relations with Donald Trump are unaffected, who considers the monarch as a "great friend." Making a landmark visit, Donald Trump met the Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North Korea and South Korea, becoming the first-ever US President to do so. Trump calling the meeting "very historic." Trump, moreover stated that he and the North Korean Supreme Leader 'liked each other' since the day they met. He said, "A lot of really positive things are happening. Tremendously positive. We met and we liked each other from day one, and that was very important." READ| Trump becomes the first U.S president to step in North Korea to meet Kim Jong Un, says, "We liked each other from day one" READ| Trump says his 'genius' son could have built a better website than Obamacare [March 06, 2020] LMN Celebrates International Women's Day with Female Disruptors in the Landscape Industry MARKHAM, Ontario, March 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- LMN, the leading business management software for the landscape industry, is celebrating International Women's Day by applauding and supporting equality for women in the landscape industry. LMN highlights women in landscaping who are making waves for women in an industry traditionally dominated by men. While 83% of landscape companies are owned by men, that's not stopping women like LMN COO and co-founder Janna Bradley from stepping up and paving the way for women to thrive in this sector. Equality at LMN and the Landscape Industry Landscaping is a $93 billion industry in America and growing, with 10% more companies now than just five years ago. In spite of the male-dominated statistics, inside LMN and its partners and users, women are flourishing. LMN's executive team is fifty percent female and forty percent of its staff are female setting a precedence impact on the business as well as the landscape ndustry. "At LMN, we understand the importance of creating a positive space for women in the landscape industry," said Mark Bradley, CEO and co-founder of LMN. "I know first hand that in growing my landscape business, some of my best supervisors and staff were women. They deserve equal acknowledgment as their male colleagues." LMN celebrates women in the landscape industry by featuring and highlighting stand out team members, partners, educators and leaders including: Janna Bradley - co-founder and COO LMN Abbey Gilhula - VP of Marketing & Strategy LMN Pam Dooley - Owner, Plants Creative Landscapes Brittany Auman - LMN VIP and landscape business owner ( Auman Landscape ) - LMN VIP and landscape business owner ( Savanaha Spencer - LMN VIP and landscape business owner ( Spencers Lawn Care ) - LMN VIP and landscape business owner ( Jessica Plemons - LMN VIP and landscape business owner ( Plemons Lawn Care ) - LMN VIP and landscape business owner ( Jackie Hart - Owner, Consulting By Hart Leading up to International Women's Day on March 8, 2020, LMN will be highlighting each of these influential women across all platforms. They will share insights and quotes on how each of them launched their careers, their biggest influences, and their advice to future female landscapers. Read the full story here . International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality. International Women's Day (IWD) has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific. #IWD2020 #EachforEqual About LMN Founded in 2009, LMN is a leading provider of business management software for landscape professionals. Its proprietary cloud-based platform is used by over 85,000 professionals every day across Canada and the US. Visit https://golmn.com/ . Media Contact: Jess Rafaeil 404-936-0191 [email protected]il4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lmn-celebrates-international-womens-day-with-female-disruptors-in-the-landscape-industry-301019196.html SOURCE LMN, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Two Russian nationals have been detained by police in Sweden in connection with what authorities are calling the attempted murder of a prominent blogger and critic of the Chechen government last month. Tumso Abdurakhmanov, who fled Russia several years ago, said he survived the February 26 attack by overpowering an assailant armed with a hammer. It was the second attack outside of Russia this year on a critic of Chechnya's Kremlin-backed leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Media watchdog groups expressed alarm over the assault on Abdurakhmanov, including the Committee to Protect Journalists. Abdurakhmanov live-streamed the aftermath of the attack, standing over a bloodied man on the ground, asking him in Russian: "Who sent you? Where are you from?" The man replies: "From Moscow ... They have my mother." Local Swedish prosecutor Therese Stensson told Reuters on March 6 that the prosecution was studying the video, which was widely shared on social media but not independently verified. She added that the attack had taken place in the town of Gavle. A 29-year-old Russian man has been detained since March 1 on suspicion of attempted murder, the prosecutor said, while on March 6 Gavle District Court ordered into custody an alleged accomplice, a 30-year-old woman also from Russia. In online posts and videos, Abdurakhmanov has been highly critical of Kadyrov for oppressing opponents. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on February 27 played down the incident and other attacks on critics of the Chechen leader, saying: "We are not inclined to draw parallels." The incident was first reported by a Chechen rights group, though it had given the location as Poland. In the past, Abdurakhmanov had sought asylum in Poland, but was turned down, despite appeals from human rights groups, including Amnesty International. Human rights workers have accused Kadyrov of widespread abuses in the region, allegations he denies. They say Kadyrov is ultimately responsible for the violence and intimidation of political opponents by Chechen authorities, including kidnappings, forced disappearances, torture, and extra-judicial killings. Supporters claim Kadyrov has brought relative calm to the volatile region following two wars between Moscow and separatists after the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union. In late January, the body of Imran Aliyev, another Chechen blogger known for his criticism of Kadyrov, was found in a hotel room in the northern French city of Lille with stab wounds, according to French media. The Committee to Protect Journalists said the attack on Abdurakhmanov was "alarming and must be thoroughly investigated." "Bringing the perpetrators of this attack to justice is crucial for ensuring the safety of Chechen dissidents living in Europe," said Gulnoza Said, Europe and Central Asia program coordinator at the New York-based media watchdog. "Alarmed by the reported attempt to assassinate" Abdurakhmanov, the representative on Freedom of the Media for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Harlem Desir, tweeted on February 27, noting that the attack came after last months suspected murder of Aliyev in France. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alan Levin (Bloomberg) Washington, United States Sat, March 7, 2020 14:50 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068fb784 2 World Ethiopia,Boeing-737-MAX,plane-crash,flight-safety Free Ethiopian crash investigators have tentatively concluded that the crash of a Boeing Co. 737 Max last year was caused by the grounded planes design, according to a draft report thats being circulated to participants in the probe. The conclusions, which say little or nothing about the performance of Ethiopian Airlines or its flight crew, have raised concern with some participants in the investigation, according to three people familiar with the situation. The Ethiopian draft contrasts with conclusions by Indonesias National Transportation Safety Committee after a prior 737 Max crash in October 2018. Indonesian investigators cited multiple factors in the accident, including the planes design, poor maintenance and the pilots actions. Rather than release a full report, the Ethiopian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau plans to publish an interim update before the anniversary of the March 10, 2019, crash. The conclusions, which include recommendations, are only in draft form and could be altered before release, said the people, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. Its possible the US National Transportation Safety Board could request changes to the report or offer a dissenting opinion. Under United Nations provisions, other nations participating in an accident investigation should get 60 days to comment on a final report. The Ethiopian report wasnt sent out for comment until about a week ago, according to one of the people involved. The provision doesnt apply to an interim report, but they typically dont include formal conclusions about the cause. The NTSB has received a copy of the draft interim report, spokesman Eric Weiss said. The safety board cant comment on the contents of the draft, Weiss said. A Boeing spokesman declined to comment on the draft. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement it cant comment before the report is released. The FAA isnt a direct participant in the accident investigation, but is providing technical support under the NTSB because it certified the plane. The Ethiopian Transport Ministry and Ethiopian Airlines didnt immediately respond to messages left after business hours. Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 suffered a malfunction to a sensor moments after liftoff. This triggered a safety feature known as Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System or MCAS that was programmed to automatically lower the nose and activated about 80 seconds into the flight. A preliminary report released by the Ethiopian investigators last April made clear that the MCAS system played a role in the accident. But it also said that pilots had let the plane fly too fast, which made it more difficult to control. The pilots began a Boeing procedure to disable MCAS, but apparently reactivated the system shortly before the plane entered a steep dive, according to the preliminary report. A committee of the US Congress released preliminary findings from its investigation on Friday, blasting US regulators and Boeing for a series of design and safety blunders. The 737 Maxs design and development was marred by technical design failures, lack of transparency with both regulators and customers, and efforts to obfuscate information about the operation of the aircraft, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said in a summary of preliminary findings from its nearly yearlong probe of the aircraft. The U.S. government says it is sending 160 military police and engineers to two official border crossings to deal with asylum seekers in case a federal appeals court strikes down one of the Trump administration's key policies. Senior Customs and Border Protection officials said Friday that active duty personnel will be in place by Saturday at ports of entry in El Paso and San Diego. They'll also send aviation support. The deployment is in response to a crowd of asylum-seekers that gathered at an El Paso crossing last Friday after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily struck down the program known as 'Remain in Mexico,' which forces asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases wind through court in the U.S. Officials shut down that border crossing for several hours that evening before the court reversed itself. Deployment: Troops are being sent to the border including engineers like these who were deployed near Brownsville in Texas in November 2018 Ready: A new immigration holding facility at El Paso, Texas. On Wednesday, the court again made a decision on the case, this time blocking the program in Arizona and California, the two border states under its authority. About 60,000 asylum-seekers have have been returned to Mexico while awaiting their immigration hearings in the U.S. It's unclear why the government is sending military police to El Paso, which isn't subject to the current injunction blocking the program. SCOTUS bid: The Trump administration wants the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice John Roberts to rule on 'stay in Mexico' When asked about that, a senior official said military members can be moved to different ports of entry in response to shifting needs. Critics call the program inhumane and dangerous, forcing vulnerable people to wait in high-crime Mexican border cities where they are often subjected to violence, extortion and kidnapping. But 'Remain in Mexico,' which the government calls the Migrant Protection Protocols, has been one of the most successful tools in the administration's battle to stem the large number of asylum seekers looking for refuge in the U.S. The Trump administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court, which has consistently ruled in the administration's favor on immigration policies, to intervene and wants the policy to stay in effect until next week to give the high court time to decide. In the meantime, authorities say they're preparing for more large groups of asylum seekers in case the appeals court strikes down the policy. Seeking asylum at ports of entry is legal, but the government has gone to great lengths to prevent migrants from doing so, including a 'metering' policy that requires asylum-seekers to wait on an unofficial list for months before they are even allowed to walk up to a U.S. agent and seek protection. CBP officials who provided the information on Friday provided few details about what exactly the military police will be doing, but did say military police won't be conducting immigration enforcement. In a statement, the Department of Defense said military members will place temporary barriers to restrict access through ports of entry and provide protection for CBP personnel. The service members will come from the 687th Engineer Construction Company and the 519th Military Police Battalion at Fort Polk, Louisiana. CBP says the deployment is scheduled to last two weeks but could be extended if necessary. The deployed soldiers will come from Ft. Polk, Louisiana. The Trump administration has used the National Guard at the border before, although they're not allowed to participate directly in law enforcement activities like arrests. Since Remain in Mexico began a year ago, officials have increasingly hardened the El Paso Paso Del Norte bridge. Rolls of razor wire and forklifts with concrete barriers have been a regular fixture on the bridge for months, drawing the ire of local business leaders who say it turns off Mexican shoppers and visitors who keep the El Paso economy afloat. Womens days forgotten women View(s): The world celebrates today another annual International Day dedicated to women. Various womens organisations from Jaffna to Colombo and beyond are holding programmes to mark the day with themes ranging from gender equality and empowering women to protecting them. The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka held a seminar on Friday on technology-based violence against women an increasing form of violence that occurs via offline and online media. Technology, they say, is the newest tool that is used to commit violence against, and exploit women. Women In Need together with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), also addressing the issue of cyber harassment, has just launched the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Police in Addressing Complaints on Cyber Harassment while presenting key findings on their research on the technology facilitated violence against women and girls in this country. While these are growing and dangerous problems, each year, the same old issues persist with little done for the emancipation of the so-called weaker sex. The majority are quick to cash in on the marketing opportunities International Womens Day presents with numerous offers of consumer products for the fashion conscious and more privileged. But it is no different the world over womens issues not receiving the attention they should. In neighbouring India, nationwide protests continue over gang rapes and assaults on young women, while in the US and Europe campaigns against sexual harassment at workplaces continue as too the movements demanding equal pay for equal work and attempts at breaking the glass ceiling that prevents women from advancing to high positions in management. This is while there are still countries where women are expected to live as in medieval times forced to dress according to the dictates of their male family members, not allowed to pursue their education or drive a vehicle. Easily ignored in this country are the problems of the thousands of courageous, persevering women who continue with back-breaking work on the plantations of this country, the garment factory worker, and particularly the women toiling in West Asia, Europe and the Far East doing menial work to keep the home fires burning. It is the Sri Lankan women working abroad who must attract the highest priority of any Government. Unfortunately it has not been the case with whichever Administration of recent years even when numbers rose to nearly a million Sri Lankan migrant workers, the bulk of them women. A Government does not need a new Constitution or to change the 19th Amendment or a two-thirds majority for an Executive President or Prime Minister to take charge of the subject that brings in USD seven billion annually into the country helping to pay the countrys oil bill and for other essential exports. The video clip of the Sri Lankan woman who has contracted the coronavirus from the household in which she works in Italy should pull at anyones heartstrings as she relates her plight, and her anxiety, all alone in a hospital in a faraway country. A Government owes much more to these women. Gender parity in politics On the eve of the dissolution of the last Parliament, all, or most of the women legislators set aside their political differences to join hands in a rare show of unity demanding greater gender representation in elected office. At a news conference which hardly received the media attention it might have otherwise warranted, these women asked political parties to put forward more female candidates at the upcoming general election and by extension, for the voters to pick them so that the country could be better served by their presence in the august assembly. They also wanted more female presence at the Pradeshiya Sabhas and municipalities for the same reasons. Moves to have a quota, or a minimum number of candidates on offer by each party were looked at by numerous parliamentary committees that have gone into electoral law reforms over the years. These quotas are always a departure from merit-based systems. It is understandable that countries that discriminate against persons depending on their caste, colour or gender are given quotas in university enrolments or government jobs even promotions. Whether such discriminatory practices apply to Sri Lanka can be hotly debated. Caste politics played an influential role once upon a time, especially in the North and the deep South. Over the years, however, this influence has waned and had the legislators at the time introduced quotas on a caste basis, the question would have been whether it would have only aggravated the divisions in the social fabric of the country. The recently dissolved Parliament had only 12 female MPs out of 225 members. Of the dozen, ten have been either widows, sisters or daughters of male politicians. They have continued the trend set by the worlds first woman Head of Government, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike who stepped into her assassinated husbands sandals six decades ago. There is the question of whether Parliament is a suitable place for any decent woman given the foul language, sexist bullying and uncouth, rowdy behaviour of many male MPs. The people have witnessed this in full measure in recent years. However, a research paper on the performances of these lady MPs, at least in Parliament unfortunately is not particularly impressive. The best performer in her contributions to parliamentary debates has been a TNA MP who has participated in 104 debates, speaking on 15 topics with an overall rank of 74/234 (234 being the number of MPs who sat in the entire four and a half years of this Parliament minus the Speaker). Other than for two female MPs, all others score a pitiful ranking of over 100/234. No doubt there could be a counter argument to show that many male MPs have fared worse. That is a wholly different matter which is not gender based but an example of the general deterioration in the calibre of men holding public office. A recent remark by the Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC) that defeated candidates should be eligible to enter Parliament through the National List has drawn some criticism as well. These are not areas the NEC Chairman needs offer his unsolicited advice on. He seems to revel in controversy, and on the basis that any publicity is good publicity. Yet, if one were to go into that subject, the problem of defeated candidates being eligible for National List appointments, through the back door as it were, is not wrong in principle if that candidate can make a genuine and worthwhile contribution to the work of the Legislature. In earlier Parliaments, there were Appointed MPs who were to represent minorities and otherwise unrepresented groups. What has been a worrying factor in recent years with the National List is that the political leadership of this country has abused the category. Many entered Parliament through this list because they had the thick skin to hang around the leaders house and show their loyalty only for some of them to stab their leader in the back later. Unfortunately, the political leaders did not spend time to scout around for the great and the good who could add some brilliance to an otherwise lacklustre Legislature be they men or women. March 5 marked the 50th anniversary of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) going into force. Why it matters: While the number of atomic warheads in the world has fallen considerably since the darkest days of the Cold War, the club of nuclear-armed countries has expanded. With countries including the U.S. updating their nuclear arsenals and arms control treaties in danger of collapsing, many experts believe the risk of nuclear conflict is rising. Flashback: In the early days of the Cold War, it seemed inevitable that we would face "a world in which 15 or 20 or 25 nations may have [nuclear] weapons," as President John F. Kennedy said in 1963. That didn't happen thanks to renewed arms control efforts in the 1960s that led to the signing of the NPT, under which states that lacked nuclear weapons pledged not to acquire them and existing nuclear powers committed to eventual disarmament. Another factor was Washington's willingness to extend its nuclear umbrella to its allies so that they didn't need to develop their own nuclear programs. Yes, but: More recently that commitment has wavered, as former U.S. ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder wrote in the New York Times. Russia has shown its willingness to use force in Ukraine, while North Korea has defied Washington in developing a growing nuclear program. Last year the Trump administration withdrew from a treaty banning short-range nuclear missiles. The New START Treaty between the U.S. and Russia is set to expire in less than a year. If it isn't extended, it would signal that for the first time in more than four decades "there is no arms control regime in the world," as Sen. Jack Reed said in a congressional hearing last month. The bottom line: The NPT was one of the first steps the world took to reduce the risk of a global nuclear holocaust. If we forget its lessons, we will be risking our future. Editor's note: The photo in this story has been changed to depict the USS Arizona Memorial Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a Police Inspector identified as Tuddy Warebayigha for shooting his wife dead. He was said to have committed the crime following a lingering dispute on custody of some of their nine children. The inspector, serving at Kaima Police Division in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, reportedly shot his wife, Charity, at close range on her legs and stomach. The deceased, who was a teacher reportedly died on the spot following the shooting that threw the entire Sampou community into mourning. A man who spoke with newsmen in the community said the Inspector was known for his erratic behaviour and heavy alcohol consumption lifestyle. One of the sources, who spoke in confidence said: Sampou indigenes that witnessed the incident, said though the couple were no longer together as husband and wife, the Police inspector usually threatened to deal with the wife. As she was on her way home from the farm, her armed and tipsy husband accosted her and demanded the whereabouts of the children. The deceased did not react to all the abuses by her husband. Her police husband cocked his rifle and shot her in the leg. Other sympathizers attempted to grip him from behind and possibly disarm him but failed. He threatened to kill anyone who intervened. After he shot her in the stomach, he was seen making phone call to an unknown person boasting that he had shot her and taught her a lesson. However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Butswat Asinim, who confirmed the incident said, On 24/02/2020 at about 1350 hours, Inspector Tuddy Warebayigha, serving at Kaima Police Division, Bayelsa State shot his wife, Mrs Charity Francis Tuddy on her way to the farm at Sampou, Kolokuma/ Opukuma Local Government Area, over marital misunderstanding. The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead. The suspect was arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation. He has defaulted and if found culpable, will be dismissed and charged to court. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Highlights The Oppo Watch comes with a Snapdragon 2500 chipset. It also has an ECG sensor and other health-related functions. The Oppo Watch starts at around Rs 16,000. Oppo Watch was formally launched at the Find X2 event in China. The first smartwatch from the Chinese brand packs some interesting features that make it a strong contender against the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 and, probably, the Apple Watch Series 4. The Oppo Watch has been headlining the rumour mill for quite some time its features were even detailed officially by Oppo executive a few days back. It has an AMOLED display with a 3D curved glass and an ECG sensor onboard. Moreover, while it looks exactly like the Apple Watch, it is priced less comparatively. Oppo Watch Price The Oppo Watch comes in two sizes - the smaller 41mm version will be available for a price of CNY 1,499, which is approximately Rs 16,000, and the bigger 46mm variant costs CNY 1,999, which translates to roughly Rs 21,400. The smartwatch has been launched only in China for now, but the company laid down its plans to bring the Oppo Watch to other markets, including India. The pricing in India, of course, will be affected by its rivals, especially in the mid-range segment. Brands such as Noise and Huami have a strong presence in the wearable market in India while Samsung and Apple attract premium buyers. Oppo Watch Specifications The Oppo Watch comes in 1.6-inch and 1.9-inch display sizes. The display uses a 3D curved AMOLED panel that covers 100 per cent of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. There are minimal bezels around the watch's display, surrounded by an aluminium casing. There are two physical buttons on the smartwatch, located on the right side. These buttons trigger various functions on the Oppo Watch and are responsible for navigation on the watch. The smartwatch comes in two colours, gold and black the straps are interchangeable as well. Embedding an ECG sensor under the hood, the Oppo Watch can record the heart rate patterns and analyse the health status of the user with the help of a quad-optical heart rate sensor. The ECG functionality will definitely work in the China region but it is not confirmed whether it will work for the models that may be launched outside China. The ECG functionality on a smartwatch in its price segment is rare, which is why Oppo Watch could attract health-conscious users who would have rather gone for the likes of Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, or Apple Watch Series 4 or above. There are other physical exercises presets on the Oppo Watch that can either be manually selected or are automatically triggered basis the bodily functions. The Oppo Watch is powered by a dated Qualcomm Snapdragon 2500 processor with an Apollo 3 co-processor. The choice of the processor is strange, considering most smartwatches from the last year have the latest chipsets. The smartwatch runs ColorOS, which is claimed to be based on an unspecified version of Android. It is not clear whether Google Play services will work on the smartwatch as they do on a Wear OS smartwatch. The Oppo Watch also comes with support for an eSIM, which will allow making and receiving calls, and sending SMS without having to rely on the paired phone. Since it is also a fitness-centric smartwatch, Oppo has given water resistance on the Oppo Watch for up to 5ATM. The Oppo Watch supports VOOC charging technology that is rated to top up half the battery in 17 minutes. In cases where the battery needs to be conserved, the Oppo Watch will switch from the Snapdragon 2500 SoC to the Apollo 3 chip. This will help the smartwatch last longer Oppo claims a single charge can offer a battery life of 40 hours on normal usage while the battery saving mode can take the longevity of the battery to about 21 days. The University of Washington said on Friday that it would cancel in-person classes and have students take courses and finals remotely while the Seattle area grapples with a growing coronavirus outbreak, in a move that other colleges around the country are preparing to follow if the virus becomes more widespread. Over the last few days, a growing number of universities have mobilised emergency planning teams to envision what a shutdown would look like, especially if students bring the virus back with them from spring break, which starts Friday on many campuses. Already, some students have been warned that they should be prepared to learn online as many students studying abroad in Europe and Asia have been forced to do. At Stanford University, officials announced late Friday that classes would not meet in person as of Monday and that any looming exams would be changed to a take-home format. The level of concern rose Thursday with the announcement that a junior at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee who had been studying in Italy had tested positive for the virus after his study abroad program was cancelled and he returned to his hometown, Chicago. UCLA also said three of its students were being tested and self-isolating off-campus. Im, like, on the run from the virus, said Zara Khan, a junior at the University of California, Berkeley, who left a study abroad program in Florence, Italy, for London five days ago. I could go back to the States, she said on Friday, but thats not even safe anymore. The University of Washington, with 50,000 students on three campuses across the Seattle region, was apparently the first large college in the United States to make the shift entirely to online classes amid virus concerns. It said the change would begin Monday and continue through the remainder of the winter quarter, which ends 20 March. The universitys president, Ana Mari Cauce, said she was hopeful that normal classes would resume during the spring quarter. The announcement was the most sweeping decision yet for leaders in the Seattle area rushing to contain the spread of coronavirus, which has been linked to at least 14 deaths and 84 infections in the state. Our goal is to complete this academic quarter with as little disruption to our students and their educational progress as possible, Cauce said. The university also announced Friday that one of its employees had tested positive for coronavirus but said the decision to close classrooms had been made before that. Seattle University, with about 7,300 students, also said it would move to online classes for the rest of the winter quarter, and Northeastern University in Boston will do the same for students on its Seattle campus. The Lake Washington Institute of Technologys 6,000-student campus in Kirkland, Washington, shut down for cleaning after several students and faculty members visited a nursing home near Seattle where many coronavirus cases have been confirmed. And in New York City, Yeshiva University cancelled classes on two of its campuses until March 10 after a student tested positive for the virus this week. 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 Other universities have warned their students to be prepared for similar actions if they become necessary. Duke University sent a campus-wide alert Thursday laying out extensive guidance for students leaving for spring break, advising them to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from events or venues with a lot of people. The note said the school was bracing for the possibility that on-campus classes would have to end if a student or teacher got infected, and students could be forced to finish the semester remotely. We hope this will not be necessary but want to be prepared, Duke said. Concern that classes could be cancelled after spring break is rampant on many campuses, with shutdown rumours spread from student to student by text message and reinforced by professors who have been told by administrators to start thinking about putting their classes online. An email sent by the dean of Yale College on March 3 caught the attention of some students when it said, And if you will be travelling home for spring break, consider bringing any items you will want with you if your return to campus is delayed. When some students began to interpret that as a warning that the school could close, Yale officials denied any plans to close and warned against spreading panic. In making any decisions about new actions we might take in response to Covid-19, such as the implementation of social distancing or a full or partial closure, Yale leadership will rely on guidance from federal, state and local authorities and from our own faculty and staff experts, said Karen Peart, a Yale spokeswoman. But students and professors said it was hard not to think that spring break could be a turning point. Trump shows off a bipartisan $8bn funding bill he signed to combat the coronavirus outbreak (Getty) (Getty Images) Spring break is actually whats making the timing of the spread especially alarming because everyones leaving, said Kahlil Greene, Yales undergraduate student body president. Everyones dispersing, and then everyones coming back together. In many peoples minds, that makes it more likely that something is going to happen on campus. Some colleges are encouraging students not to travel. Schools like Duke, New York University and the University of Chicago are asking students and faculty to register their travel plans, even locally, on a web-based form developed for emergencies like earthquakes and terrorist attacks. And many universities have cancelled school-sponsored spring break trips abroad. The University of Chicago, Fordham and others sent email messages to families in recent weeks saying they would support students who wanted to remain in the dorms over spring break to avoid the risks of travelling. The University of Pennsylvania is adding extra dining hours for students who want to stay. Many universities are also discouraging trips to China, Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan, where the infection is more severe, and asking students and faculty members to isolate themselves for two weeks if they return from those countries. Syracuse University said Friday that it was watching travel warnings from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention closely and would reevaluate whether to continue study abroad programmes in places like the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Chile. Since returning from Italy to her home in Weston, Connecticut, Molly Morris, a student at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, has been following her doctors advice to stay away from other people and monitor her temperature. She is not allowed to go to the grocery store or exercise class. After her isolation period, at the end of next weeks spring break, she plans to go to New York City for her mothers birthday to visit some museums and restaurants. Some students are hoping to salvage at least the minimum accomplishment of getting credit for their courses through online learning. But students and instructors alike describe the remote courses as improvisational and primitive. Its a bit of a disaster, said Marilynn Johnson, a history professor at Boston College whose study abroad program in Venice, Italy, was shut down. I feel like Im teaching out to the void. But it may be good preparation for what is to come. New York Times Tense clashes have broken out between police and thousands of migrants amassed along the Greek-Turkish border where they anxiously await entry into Europe. For the migrants squatting at the Pazarkule crossing, living conditions are rapidly deteriorating. FRANCE 24's reporters Catherine Norris-Trent, Bilal Tarabey and Abdallah Malkawi filed this exclusive report from inside the zone. Tear gas and explosions have turned the closed-off buffer zone at Pazarkule, on the Turkish border, into a battle zone between migrants and Greek border police. While Turkish police have banned journalists from accessing the makeshift migrant camp at Pazarkule, some migrants are managing to sneak out via back roads to tell their stories. One of them is an Iranian man who spoke to FRANCE 24 about the daily violence against migrants by Greek border patrols. "These are the tear gas and the smoke grenades that the Greek government are throwing at the people that are on the border," he said. "An Afghan friend of mine was hit with a tear gas canister near the border fence. I went to help, they fired tear gas at me too and I got injured." He has been filming the dire conditions for migrants squatting in the camp for more than a week. Queues for rare charity food handouts stretch out of sight and there are simply not enough meals to go around. The migrants sleep under improvised shelters in the litter-strewn forest. "The world needs to know what's going on here and where things are going, that's why I'm speaking out to you," he said. Click on the player to watch FRANCE 24's report. National security has become an afterthought in the latest national-security debate. The debate centers, instead, on what is called FISA reform, the imperative of which appears to be making foreign intelligence surveillance powers harder to use. Ive long been worried that this was the way the wind was blowing. That would be apparent to anyone who read Ball of Collusion, my book about the absurd political narrative that the Trump campaign conspired with Russia to steal the 2016 election from Democrats through cyber-espionage operations (mainly hacking), after which the new president was to become the Kremlins agent in the White House. This narrative fueled a wide-ranging government investigation, launched by the Obama administration. Under the rubric of highly classified foreign counterintelligence operations, the investigation prominently featured FBI spying on the Trump campaign. (As I noted yesterday, the New York Times is back to describing the FBIs covert monitoring as spying, so Im assuming the era of garment rending at utterance of the dread s-word is over.) In the course of that investigation, as catalogued by the Justice Departments inspector general and highlighted by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, the FBI serially abused its authority: providing misleading information to the FISC, falsifying a key document, running confidential informants at Trump campaign surrogates in the absence of a sound investigative predicate, making public statements that suggested the president was a criminal suspect (while privately telling him he was not), making private statements (dozens of them) that have convinced reasonable people that bureau decisions were influenced by political bias, and so on. I am as interested as the next talking-head in history and politics. The improbable 2016 election and its aftermath will be a source of fascination for us for years to come. This, however, has not been my principal motivation for following the story closely through the last few years. I come at this primarily as a former government lawyer who worked on national-security investigations. I learned that in national security, more than in regular criminal prosecutions, more than in other aspects of governance, federal officials have to be able to say, You can trust us. Story continues It is impossible to protect the country i.e., to gather intelligence about hostile foreign powers that mean us harm without being able to keep secrets. The public vests national-security officials with highly intrusive intelligence-gathering powers, but it is with the proviso that these powers will be used only for the purpose of safeguarding the United States not for lesser purposes, and most certainly not for political purposes. There is great potential for abuse. But these powers are entrusted in government because we understand them to be essential for our security, not because we want to empower government officials. There is thus an implicit bargain: If government officials abuse the national-security powers entrusted to them, they must be held accountable. Sounds right . . . but it is much easier said than done. Abuses of government power are always improper, but that does not make them illegal. Often, they are not. To conduct law-enforcement and security operations effectively, officials have to be given broad discretion. Because they operate in the gray area of judgment calls, it is extraordinarily difficult to apply the criminal law to these officials. Criminal law involves clear penal statutes, and prosecutors bear the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that an offense was committed with criminal intent. It is not an easy fit when law-enforcement and national-security agents must be given the latitude to make mistakes (lest they be paralyzed by indecision, leaving us with no security). Because the law gives them broad discretion to consider an array of factors, their intentions and motivations are frequently ambiguous. When power has been abused, it is usually not hard to conclude that an official is unfit for his duties, or warrants suspension or transfer. It is much harder to conclude that he can be prosecuted successfully, or that prosecution would be prudent. There is not just the challenge of proving criminal intent; we must also worry about the debilitating effect prosecuting some officials could have on other officials those currently performing vital security jobs in which tough judgment calls must be made. Thus the conundrum. When the publics trust has been abused, the publics idea of accountability is prosecution. But prosecution may not be practical. If there is no prosecution, though, the implicit bargain power conferred by the public in exchange for accountability if power is abused is broken. If the government says its officials cannot be held accountable, the public (through its congressional representatives) is apt to reply, In that case, no government official should be trusted to wield national-security powers. Demands are made that these powers be pared back or repealed entirely. It is an understandable response, but it does not make the threats to the United States any less real, or the need for these powers to be responsibly exercised any less imperative. Were there. That is, we have arrived at the juncture I always feared: National-security powers are at risk of being repealed because people are angry that officials who abused their power are not being held accountable. As I explained in a column on Friday, three national-security powers will lapse next week unless action is taken to renew them. They should not be controversial. They are commonsense measures that enable intelligence investigators to obtain business records; to continue court-ordered surveillance without interruption if the target switches communications devices; and to surveil a foreigner who appears to be engaged in terrorist activities but whom investigators have not yet tied to a known terrorist organization i.e., a lone wolf. These authorities have nothing to do with the FBIs misconduct in deceiving the FISC so the bureau could monitor Carter Page. It would be recklessly irresponsible to allow these authorities to sunset out of fury over the bureaus unrelated wrongdoing. No, counters Senator Mike Lee (R., Utah). To renew these powers, rather than using them as leverage for a more wholesale revision of FISA law, would be one of the dumbest things we could do an act of policy and political malpractice. With due respect, physician, heal thyself. When lawmakers are responsible for the national security of the United States, it is malpractice to risk losing laws that actually promote security in pursuit of a vague reform vision that will necessarily make it harder to monitor real anti-American spies and jihadists. If the reformers wanted to scrap FISA in favor of a politically accountable system of aggressive congressional oversight, Id be right there with them though I would not delay the renewal of sensible national-security tools in order to force the issue; I would give it whatever time it took to get the new system right. That, however, is not what the reformers are pushing for. With apparently little appetite to examine the FISA courts own performance, they propose to give the judges even more oversight power. They want to beef up the courts resources so that surveillance warrant applications can be challenged more effectively. In essence, theyd turn national-security surveillance a core political responsibility of the executive branch, on which Congress should be the check into an adversarial judicial proceeding. Suspects would have representatives who, like criminal-defense lawyers, would demand discovery of U.S. intelligence files for the purpose of discrediting the governments factual assertions and sources of information. You want to say that the FBI has that coming after what happened to Carter Page? Well, the vast majority of suspected foreign agents are not Carter Page types. We are talking about the monitoring of real foreign threats, not politicized investigations. If we make it harder to investigate real foreign agents, we will not be giving wayward FBI officials their comeuppance; we will be endangering the American people. Understand this about the ongoing FISA-reform dispute. National security is not the top priority of the reformers. Libertarians such as Senators Lee and Rand Paul prioritize individual liberty and appear to doubt that Americans should be subjected to national-security surveillance at all even though we have seen our share of jihadists and clandestine foreign agents who are American citizens. They seem to believe the government has not established that foreign intelligence surveillance authorities meaningfully improve our security that all we can say for sure is that these authorities hold great potential for abuse, and have, in fact, occasioned abuse. That is a debate worth having. But the senators should not be forcing us to have it under the gun, at the risk of a windfall for alien enemies. Lee and Paul find allies among Democrats. Yet, the latter have no problem empowering the government. Philosophically, Democrats want national security treated like a criminal-justice issue. Courtroom due process would be ratcheted up, not just for Americans but for everyone. The judges, not the executives intelligence agencies, would make ultimate decisions on foreign-intelligence collection operations. Finally, President Trump and his House Republican allies talk a good game on national security, on the need to crush terrorists and be tough on hostile regimes. Nevertheless, they are pushing to enhance the rights of suspected agents of foreign powers, and to make the FBIs task of thwarting them more difficult. The point seems to be validation of the presidents position that he was the victim of an elaborate hoax, that the Democrats and the deep state perpetrated it to undermine his presidency, and that he must make changes to ensure that it never happens again. It is a personal case for the presidents reelection, rather than a policy case for FISA reform. How strange to reform national security in a way that can only render the nation less secure. More from National Review recession-resistant cities The Great Recession, which began in 2007 and extended into the early 2010s, wreaked havoc on the global economy at large and the finances of individual Americans alike. When the U.S. unemployment rate peaked at 10.1% in October 2009, many Americans struggled to make their mortgage payments and save money. Whats more, government spending on social safety net initiatives like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rose by almost a third from 2007 to 2010. Though the U.S. unemployment rate currently sits at 3.5% and the Dow roared toward 30,000 in early 2020 after a decade-long bull market, there are signs of economic vulnerability: At the end of February, the Dow had its worst week since 2008. The economy could crash again, but not every city is equally equipped to weather the next downturn. To find the most recession-resistant cities in the U.S., we examined nine metrics across three overarching categories: employment, housing and social assistance. Our employment category factors in current unemployment rate, change in unemployment rate during the Great Recession from 2007 through 2010 and the current labor force participation rate. Our housing category factors in housing costs as a percentage of income, change in home value during the Great Recession from 2007 through 2010 and mortgage delinquency rate. Our social assistance category factors in the percentage of the population relying on public assistance, average annual amount of assistance per household and state rainy-day funds as a percentage of state expenditures. For details on our data sources and how we put all the information together to create our final rankings, check out the Data and Methodology section below. Key Findings Many Texas cities are recession-proof. The five Texas cities in our top 10 Frisco, Plano, Denton, Austin and Lubbock rank in the better third of the study for four metrics: change in unemployment rate during the Great Recession (from 2007 through 2010), change in home value during the Great Recession, percentage of the population relying on public assistance and state rainy-day funds. Bottom-ranking cities saw unemployment rates spike and home values dip during the last recession. Across the 10 worst-ranking cities in our study, the unemployment rate from 2007 through 2010 increased by an average of 8%, compared to a 5.2% average increase across all 264 cities in our study for that time period. The same 10 cities saw an average decrease of 26.9% in home values during the same period, compared to a 13.7% decrease across all cities in our study. Among those 10, unemployment spiked the most in Detroit, Michigan and home values fell the most in San Bernardino, California. Story continues 1. Frisco, TX Frisco, Texas ranks within the top 35% of the study across all individual metrics. Furthermore, it ranks within the top 11 for each of the three categories we considered: employment, housing and social assistance. In terms of employment, Frisco performs particularly well for its relatively low 2018 unemployment rate tying for the 17th lowest, at 3.1%. In terms of housing, it scores best for housing costs as a percentage of income ranking fourth overall, at 18.2%. Finally, in terms of social assistance, Texas performs particularly well for its states rainy-day funds as a percentage of state expenditures ranking second-highest of all 50 states at almost 19%. 2. Cedar Rapids, IA Cedar Rapids, Iowa ranks sixth-highest in the employment category, 12th-highest in the housing category and 10th-highest in the social assistance category. Cedar Rapids has top-10 rates out of all 264 cities in our study for five individual metrics across the three main categories we examined: two in employment, one in housing and two in social assistance. Cedar Rapids has the sixth-lowest 2018 unemployment rate in the study, at 2.7%, and ranks third-best for change in unemployment rate during the Great Recession, given its 0.6% decrease in unemployment during that time. The city has the third-lowest housing cost as a percentage of income, at just above 18%. Furthermore, it has the 10th-lowest percentage of its population relying on public assistance, at 0.9%, and the second-lowest average annual amount of assistance per household, at $826. 3. Plano, TX Also one of the best cities to buy a family home, Plano, Texas ranks within the top 10% in each of the broader categories we considered and thus demonstrates the strength and potential resilience of its local economy. In particular, the city ranks within the top fourth of the study for all of its employment metrics. In the housing category, it ranks within the top 15% for two of three metrics: housing costs as a percentage of income (ranking 17th-lowest, at approximately 19.4%) as well as change in home value during the Great Recession (ranking 37th-highest, an increase of about 5.6%). Finally, Plano ranks within the top 10 of the study for two of the three social assistance metrics we considered. It comes in ninth for the low percentage of its population relying on public assistance (at 0.8%), and the state of Texas ranks second for the relatively high amount of funds it has saved for a rainy day (at approximately 18.7%). 4. Denton, TX Denton, Texas is the No. 4 recession-resistant city in the U.S., in keeping with its status as the No. 2 boomtown in America. It ranks within the top 20% of the study in each of the broader categories for which we looked at data. Specifically, of 264 cities, it ranks No. 34 for employment, No. 50 for housing and No. 3 for social assistance. Using Census Bureau data, we found that the city ranks within the top 16% of the study for two of the three employment metrics we considered: its relatively low increase in unemployment during the Great Recession as well as its relatively high 2018 labor force participation rate. Denton ranks within the top half of the study for all three metrics in the housing category. Finally, it ranks within the top 20% of the study for all three social assistance metrics. 5. Austin, TX Austin, Texas ranks within the top 11% of the study in each of the categories we considered. Specifically, it ranked 13th-best for employment, 29th-best for housing and 26th-best for social assistance. Austin also holds top-15 rates for individual metrics in each of those categories. In terms of employment, its 2018 labor force participation rate is 10th-highest in the study, at 74.0%. In terms of housing, the average home value in Austin increased by almost 10% during the Great Recession. Finally, Austin ties for the 15th-lowest percentage of the population relying on public assistance, at approximately 1%. 6. Sunnyvale, CA Sunnyvale, California ranks within the top fifth of the study for all three categories we considered. Sunnyvales 2018 unemployment rate as well as 2018 labor force participation rate also rank within the top 20% of the study, at 3.8% and 73.3%, respectively. In terms of housing, Sunnyvale has the 27th-lowest housing costs as a percentage of income in the study, at about 20.3%, and ties for the lowest 2018 mortgage delinquency rate, at 0.3%. Furthermore, the city ties with Austin for the 15th-lowest percentage of its population relying on public assistance, at approximately 1%. 7. Lubbock, TX Lubbock, Texas takes seventh place in our study on the most recession-resistant cities in the country due to its top-fourth rankings in all three of the categories we considered: It ranks 29th overall for employment, 59th overall for housing and fourth overall for social assistance. The city has a consistently strong workforce, with the eight-lowest 2018 unemployment rate and the 14th-lowest increase in unemployment rate during the Great Recession at 2.8% and rising by only 1.2%, respectively. In the housing category, Lubbock has the fourth-highest increase in home value during the Great Recession, at 13.9%. Finally, the city ranks within the top 20% of the study for all of the social assistance metrics, including its relatively low percentage of the population relying on public assistance (approximately 1.5%) and its low average annual amount of assistance per household (approximately $1,852). 8. Cary, NC Cary, North Carolina holds top-10 spots for both categories of employment and housing, and it ranks within the top 40% of the study for the social assistance category. Census Bureau data shows that Cary performs the best for the lowest housing costs as a percentage of income in the entire study, at less than 17%. Also within the category of housing, Cary had both a relatively high change in home value during the Great Recession, increasing about 4.5%, and a relatively low 2018 mortgage delinquency rate, at 1.4%. On the employment front, the 2018 labor force participation rate in Cary was the fourth-highest in our top 10, at 71.3%. Furthermore, the 2018 unemployment rate was 3.2%, tying for the 20th-lowest overall. Finally, although Cary ranks in the bottom half of the study for one of its social assistance metrics (average annual amount of assistance per household), it has a top-35 rate for the percentage of its population relying on public assistance, at approximately 1.3%, meaning that most residents can support themselves relatively well. 9. Raleigh, NC Raleigh, North Carolina comes in at No. 9 in our study on the most recession-resistant cities in the U.S. Of the 264 cities, Raleigh is No. 49 in the employment category, No. 8 in the housing category and No. 31 in the social assistance category. The city stands out in employment for its top-25 2018 unemployment rate, at a relatively low 3.3%. In the housing category, it performs particularly well for change in home value during the Great Recession, at an increase of almost 8% during that time. Finally, in the social assistance category, Raleigh has a relatively low percentage of its population that relies on public assistance, approximately 1.4%. 10. Sioux Falls, SD Sioux Falls, South Dakota ranks within the top half of the study for all three categories we considered, specifically fourth for employment, 18th for housing and 113th for social assistance. Furthermore, it ranks within the top third of the study for six of the nine individual metrics we factored into our rankings. In terms of employment, Sioux Falls ranks within the top 30 of the study for all three metrics. Young professionals looking to start a career in Sioux Falls will likely benefit from the relative health of its job market. In terms of housing, Sioux Falls ranks within the top 30 of the study for two out of three metrics: housing costs as a percentage of income and change in home value during the Great Recession. Finally, in terms of social assistance, Sioux Falls ranks within the top third of the study for the relatively low percentage of its population relying on public assistance. Data and Methodology To find the most recession-resistant cities in the U.S., we pulled data for 264 of the largest cities in the country. The data we looked at fell into three categories and included nine individual metrics, three for each category. Specifically, we looked at the following: Employment. For our employment category, we looked at the unemployment rate in 2018, change in unemployment rate during the Great Recession (from 2007 through 2010) and labor force participation rate in 2018. Data comes from the Census Bureaus 2018, 2010 and 2007 1-year American Community Surveys. Housing. For our housing category, we looked at housing costs as a percentage of income, change in median home value during the Great Recession (from 2007 through 2010) and the 2018 mortgage delinquency rate. Data comes from the Census Bureaus 2018, 2010 and 2007 1-year American Community Surveys, as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Social Assistance. For our social assistance category, we looked at the percentage of the population relying on public assistance, average annual amount of assistance per household and state rainy-day funds as a percentage of state expenditures. Data comes from the Census Bureaus 2018 1-year American Community Survey as well as the Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50: State Trends and Analysis report. We created our final ranking by first ranking each city for each metric. Then we averaged the rankings across the three categories listed above, giving all metrics an equal weighting. For each category, the city with the best average ranking received a score of 100. The city with the lowest average received a score of 0. We then created our final ranking by averaging each citys score in the three categories. Cities with the highest average ranking are the most recession-resistant while those with the lowest average ranking are the least. Tips for Preparing for an Economic Recession Assemble rainy-day funds. Just as state budget offices have rainy-day funds, it is important for individuals to have ones as well. Its never too late to shape up your budget and see how you can strengthen your strategy in order to put aside more for your savings. Use our comprehensive budget calculator to crunch the numbers on your own. Fortify your portfolio by rethinking how you allocate. Does your investment profile need to be more conservative, moderate or aggressive? Understanding what the right balance is for you may help you prepare in the event of an economic recession. Use SmartAssets asset allocation calculator to get a sense of what different portfolios can look like for you. Recession-proof your finances with some expert guidance. If youve studied your own numbers and still feel at a loss, consider talking your situation through with a professional advisor. Many of these experts may have insight into how to fortify and/or recoup your assets in the event of an economic recession. It may sound just as difficult to navigate the world of financial advisors, but finding the right person who fits your needs doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. If youre ready to be matched with local advisors that will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Questions about our study? Contact press@smartasset.com Photo credit: iStock.com/Ridofranz The post Most Recession-Resistant Cities 2020 Edition appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. Good Morning, welcome to Information Nigerias Newspaper headlines for today, 7th March 2020. Here are the major headlines. I Have No Plans To Take Over From Buhari Fayemi Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti state, says he has no plans of taking over from President Muhammadu Buhari. The governor spoke through Segun Dipe, his senior special assistant on public communications. They Are After Me Because Of 2023 Oshiomhole Adams Oshiomhole, the embattled national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has stated that his recent travail at the Abuja high court was because of 2023. Nigeria Needs N1.6b To Fight Coronavirus NCDC The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says N1.6 billion emergency funding is needed by the country to fight coronavirus. Precillia Ibekwe, deputy director, special duties, NCDC, made this known at a news briefing addressed by Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, in Abuja on Friday. Lecturers Not On IPPIS Wont Get February Salary Finance Minister Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed has stated that lecturers who have not enrolled for the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) will not get their February salary. Two Out Of Three Coronavirus Cases In Lagos Test Negative Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, on Friday, said two out of the three suspected cases of coronavirus have tested negative for the disease. The minister said they were still awaiting the result of the third suspected case. Shehu Sani Begs Ganduje To Forgive Emir Of Kano State Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has pleaded with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to forgive the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi ll of any wrongdoing. New NIMASA Boss Is Buharis Son In-law Fani Kayode Former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed his son-in-law, Bashir Jamoh as the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. Oshiomhole Meets Buhari At Presidential Villa Reports have it that the embattled National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is at the presidential villa, Abuja for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. Fani Kayode Hails South-South Governors Over Plans In Creating Security Outfits Femi Fani Kayode, a former minister for aviation and peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain has hailed the move by the South-South governors to launch their own regional security outfit. EFCC Arrests 42 Suspected Internet Fraudsters In Ogun State Not less than 42 persons have been apprehended by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for their alleged involvement in internet-related fraud. Broadcaster Robert Peston has accused the BBC of pulling a news report on Scottish independence because bosses feared it might upset Alex Salmond, Scotlands then First Minister. Peston, the BBCs Economics Editor in 2014 when Scotland held its referendum, claimed his report on the votes economic implications was ditched minutes before it was due to be broadcast. Speaking at the 2020 Hugh Cudlipp journalism lecture, Peston said: A couple of days before the referendum, and just ten minutes before going to air on the ten oclock news, a piece I had made on the economic implications of Scottish independence was pulled, on the orders of the Corporations most senior executives, who feared the ire of Alex Salmond. Peston, the BBCs Economics Editor in 2014 when Scotland held its referendum, claimed his report on the votes economic implications was ditched minutes before it was due to be broadcast. Alex Salmond is pictured above Mr Peston, 59, said those who run the BBC had a sheer terror of prompting a political backlash. Consequently, he said, the Corporation was now afraid to stick its neck out and give a view. He added: The least edifying aspect of the incident is that assorted bosses subsequently rang me to distance themselves from the decision, just in case it leaked and became a cause celebre. Broadcaster Robert Peston has accused the BBC of pulling a news report on Scottish independence because bosses feared it might upset Alex Salmond, Scotlands then First Minister Peston, now the Political Editor for ITV News and the host of his own weekly political show, said he had watched with disappointment the BBCs coverage of the Brexit referendum, which he said had confused balance with due impartiality. The reporter, who spent nine years with the BBC before moving to ITV, also claimed that Jeremy Corbyn had refused to be interviewed by him during last years General Election campaign because of concerns about his reporting. Peston said Seumas Milne, Mr Corbyns director of communications, had accused him of slanted editorialising when it came to coverage of Labour and anti-Semitism. A Labour spokesman said: Concerns were raised about Pestons unbalanced and slanted reporting across a range of topics, including Brexit and economic issues. A BBC spokesman added: 'From our interview with Prince Andrew, to an investigation into Chinas re-education camps and a Panorama on the alleged cover up of war crimes by the British army - it is difficult to argue that the BBC lacks confidence in our journalism. 'We are committed to impartiality and make considered editorial judgments every day.' A video shows the damage done to a west Belfast pub following a fire on Saturday. The incident at the Trinity Lodge Public House in the Turf Lodge area began at 11am on Saturday. NIFRS Group Commander Alan O'Neill, speaking yesterday, told the Belfast Telegraph that on arrival the blaze was well developed. "The fire originated from the kitchen which spread into a roof void which has caused a partial collapse in the building. We now have five fire fighting appliances and two air ladder platforms at the scene. "The incident is well under control and firefighters will remain at the scene for the next few hours." There were no reports of injuries and the cause of the fire is believed to be accidental. Footage from inside the pub shows the devastating impact the blaze had on the building, which has been completely gutted. In Facebook post, Trinity Lodge said: "Hard one for us all this morning. Just to let everyone know all staff got out safe and sound. "Firefighters still in attendance. We will post some news as and when we receive it. "Main thing is that no one was hurt and buildings can and will be built again." In a message posted on Sunday, Trinity Lodge said: "We are just overwhelmed by the support we are receiving both online and personal phone calls yous are truly amazing people and we appreciate every single word and gesture of support. "Thank you very much from the owners and staff at our beloved Trinity Lodge." 2020 marks the centennial of the ratification of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, though New York state granted women the right to vote in the state elections in 1917. It took decades of organizing, lobbying and protest to reach this goal. In New York, the New York State Woman Suffrage Association was instrumental in these efforts. The NYSWA developed a grassroots strategy: Auxiliary offshoots of the state organization were organized across the state. These auxiliaries Political Equality Clubs were established at the county level, and subsequently expanded into clubs organized in towns and villages. The clubs were well-organized, with monthly meetings, speakers, tactical planning and discussions of current events. Besides the Cayuga County Political Equality Club, headquartered at 9 Exchange St. in Auburn, there were clubs in Sherwood, Union Springs, Port Byron, Moravia and Weedsport, as well as meetings in other towns and villages throughout the county. Three well-known activists of the day Eliza Wright Osborne of Auburn, Emily Howland of Sherwood, and her niece, Isabel were closely associated with the Cayuga County Political Equality Club. These women gave time and treasure to support the cause; their influence and work as leaders of the movement has been well-documented. But leaders do not alone constitute a political movement, and dozens of others supported the cause of suffrage. Retrieving their names and even short biographies begins to reveal the breadth and scope of the organization and action that was undertaken in Cayuga County. This column is too small to list their many names and it would be a fruitful project to identify and restore the legacy of these activists. But a short focus on three representative women, who on many levels personify the movement, offers us an expanded understanding of the interests, talents and backgrounds of suffrage organizers who were active in the struggle. Zobedia Alleman lived in Union Springs; she was born in a log cabin in Fayette, Seneca County, in 1849. Widowed in 1904, she served multiple terms as an officer in the Cayuga County Political Equality Club, was a delegate to the state suffrage convention, and was the state chair of the School Suffrage Committee of the NYSWSA. At the age of 90, she was still active in community affairs, giving, according to newspaper accounts, a pleasing senior program at a meeting of the Sherwood Orange Grange No. 1034, which described her as the oldest Granger in Cayuga County. A side note: Her obituaries misspelled her last name as Allerman, a mistake that perhaps helped to obscure her legacy in the movement. Another pillar of the local suffrage movement was Dr. Amelia Weed Gilmore, who was born in 1842, in Amboy, Oswego County. Widowed in 1879, she attended the Womens Medical College of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1888, and settled in Auburn to begin her practice in 1889. Like Alleman, Gilmore often served as an officer of the county Political Equality Club, and was active in both the Womens Christian Temperance Union and the Womens Educational and Industrial Union. As Alleman was active with the Grange and its focus on community issues, Gilmore focused on improving medical services in Cayuga County. Early in her career, she was instrumental in initiating a nurse training program offered by the WEIU, a project that not only improved the delivery of medical care, but also offered young women career training with a chance at self-reliance. She died in 1928. And there was Julia C. Ferris, an educator from Auburn. Born in 1844, Ferris taught school for 53 years in Aurelius, Meridian and Auburn, retiring in 1913. In 1914, she was elected to the Auburn school board, serving on it until her death in 1928. She, too, was extremely active in the Cayuga County Political Equality Club. Her obituary claimed that the whole city is in mourning for this beloved educator and activist. Isabel Howland wrote in memory of Julia Ferris: The work could hardly have gone on without her, though we probably did not realize at the time how far her influence went in the understanding of our suffrage question to Auburn. A few months later, Howland wrote again of Ferris, this time in conjunction with the passing of Dr. Amelia Gilmore. Her remarks could well apply to the dozens of others who worked to secure suffrage for women: They were alike in devotion to the principle of equal rights, in their loyal courage in supporting that faith, and in their utter self-forgetfulness. Ruth Bradley is the Cayuga County historian. For more information, call her office at (315) 253-1300. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 - Maalim dismissed Uhuru's letter that warned Somalia against unwarranted provocations as mere noise - The former Lagdera MP further cast aspersions on a secret meeting held in Somalia between North Eastern leaders and President Farmajo just days to the attack - Heavy gunfire and explosions were witnessed in Mandera on Monday, March 2, when Jubbaland forces and those from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) engaged in a fight Former deputy speaker Farah Maalim has accused the government of fanning and sponsoring violence that has spilled over to Mandera county from the Kenya-Somalia border. Heavy gunfire and explosions were witnessed in Mandera on Monday, March 2, when Jubbaland forces and those from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) engaged each other in a protracted fight that lasted for close to five hours. READ ALSO: True to his words: Uhuru makes surprise visit to Nyeri to personally inspect project Ex-deputy speaker Farah Maalim has accused the government of fanning violence in Mandera. Photo: Farah Maalim. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Dad you were amazing: Kenei's son gives emotional tribute to late father during burial The former Lagdera MP now suspects the Kenyan government has a hand in the unrest that has engulfed the North Eastern county for the better part of the week. "Kenya arms and supplies a fugitive warlord, then allows the warlord to attack Somalia from inside Kenyan territory under cover of Kenyan artillery shellings. When the SNA defends itself by firing back Uhuru screams loud that Somalia is attacking Kenyan territory. GOD save us," said the former MP via his Twitter account. Maalim said the situation was deteriorating in Mandera and would soon degenerate into full-blown violence if the President Uhuru Kenyatta would not to take decisive action against the warring factions. "I dont know the wisdom imbedded in our latest actions in Mandera but suffice to say the region is slipping into a dangerous phase. Uhuru needs to de-escalate the brinkmanship. Was the secret meeting with Somalia justified?" Posed said. During the Monday attack, communication was cut off as explosions and gunshot sounds rent the air for the better part of the day. The FGS troops have reportedly been camping at Bula Hawa, a town neighbouring Mandera, for over a month, planning a raid to capture a fugitive Jubbaland minister who is hiding in the county. The wanted minister, Abdirashid Hassan Abdinur, alias Abdirashid Janan, arrived in Mandera town on January 30 and was booked into a local hotel. 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 husband made me a chokora, used the money I sent from abroad on another woman - Nancy | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke A Bucks County school district closed five schools on Friday "out of an abundance of caution due to possible exposure to coronavirus. Central Bucks School Districts superintendent Dr. John Kopicki ordered the schools closed as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. Butler Elementary, Central Bucks South, Titus Elementary, Tohickon Middle School and Tamanend Middle School were not in session. The closure came after health officials discovered a person from Maryland tested positive for the virus and had attended a recent gathering at a residence in Bucks County, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Several district students and staff had attended the same gathering. On Friday evening, the Inquirer reported officials said students and staff had tested negative for coronavirus. Very few had any possible symptoms," county spokesman Larry King told the news outlet, adding the virus 14-day incubation period will be over by Monday. The Inquirer reported the schools will be closed throughout the weekend for deep cleaning and to disinfect school buses. We need to remain vigilant during the rest of the weekend. If all goes well, I would hope we can re-open schools on Monday. Dr. David Damsker, director of the Bucks County Department of Health, told Fox 29 in Philadelphia. READ MORE: 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. In December 2012, twenty-three-year-old Nirbhaya was gang-raped and fatally injured in a Delhi bus meant for chartered services. This not only led to questioning of sexual assault laws in the country but many Indian families also started to worry about the way a woman commutes, especially if she is in a different city. In these eight years, concerns surrounding their commuting may still be there in the minds of dear ones, but working women have changed the way they travel about. Increasingly, women have started using pooling services for private cars, taxis and buses. They are even ... YEREVAN. Zhoghovurd daily of Armenia writes: According to the information Zhoghovurd daily has received, the representatives of the authorities have ordered that the MPs from the NA [majority] My Step faction, the members of the [ruling Civil Contract] CC [party] should take to the streets as of this morning and start an active campaign in connection with the referendum on constitutional amendments. According to our information, all lawmakers living in Yerevan are instructed to walk around the courtyards having posters and leaflets campaigning YES in their hands. That is to say, the authorities, in fact, will be engaged in active campaigning from today. The CC members will be active these days in the provinces, too, and the legislators elected from the province will have daily meetings. And next week, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who will tour the provinces, will also carry out active campaigning. Our sources report that 10 days before the referendum, the authorities intend to concentrate all their forces on the referendum work to have an unprecedented outcome after so many discussions St Cronan's National School is celebrating 200 years of educating boys in Bray this year. The school kicked off the celebrations last week with a drone photo of all their students. 'We have planned a number of events and activities to celebrate this momentous year,' said teacher Karl O Broin, who is chairperson of the 200th anniversary committee. 'There are very few schools in the country which have served their community for 200 years, and we are very proud of this tradition in Bray.' The school began in 1820 in a number of cottages as Bray Male School. In 1880, due to rising numbers, the school moved into what is now known as The Little Flower Hall beside The Holy Redeemer Church. It was during this time its most famous past pupil was enrolled, Cearbhall O Dalaigh, who would go on to become the fifth President of Ireland. Cearbhall was born in 1911 above 85 Main Street, Bray, which is now the Jasmine House Restaurant. In 1932, the school moved to a new premises on the Vevay Hill, and was renamed St Cronan's Boys' National School. The school was led by many noteworthy principals during this time, including Paddy McDonnell, Martin Daly, Jim French and Sean Cotter. When Vaughan Dodd arrived as principal in 1991, he lead a campaign for a new school building to cater for the growing school. A new building in Vevay Crescent was completed in 1999 and has been home to St Cronan's ever since. The original Vevay Hill school building is now used by Gaelscoil Ui Cheadaigh. 'We are very excited about the 200th anniversary of our school and of celebrating the great history that St Cronan's has in Bray,' said current school principal Maeve Tierney. 'We are appealing to all past pupils of the school to get in touch with us if they have photos from St Cronan's in times gone by, or if they have stories from bygone years to share with us,' said Karl O'Broin. 'They can do so by emailing history@stcronans.ie.' Assam Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami on Saturday said he will discuss with the state government and opposition parties the issue of the budget being uploaded on an official website hours before its tabling in the House. Though "leaking" of the budget is not a breach of privilege, but data security is prime in the age of digitisation, Goswami said. "I will discuss the issue with the parliamentary affairs minister, law and justice minister and the leader of the opposition to see what can be done to prevent such incidents in future," he said. Hours before Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma read out the state budget for 2020-21 on Friday afternoon, the copy of the speech was uploaded on the official website of his department, but pulled down later. The incident led to chaos in the assembly with the opposition interrupting Sarma while he was presenting the budget. They alleged breach of privilege, which was turned down by the Speaker. The Opposition Congress had staged a walkout in protest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Morrison government has no plan to evacuate citizens quarantined on a cruise ship off the coast of California after fellow passengers tested positive to the novel coronavirus, despite expert warnings it could spread quickly on board. Four Australians are trapped on board the Grand Princess along with more than 3500 other passengers, after the ship was quarantined near San Francisco when 21 people, including 19 crew members, tested positive for the virus. Four Australians are quarantined on the Grand Princess cruise ship off the California coast. Credit:AP Leading virologist Ian Mackay from the University of Queensland said infectious disease experts had learned from the case of Diamond Princess, quarantined off the coast of Japan last month, that cruise ships were "not the ideal environment" in which to quarantine people and that the passengers should be brought to the mainland. "We know that cutlery and crockery can be fomites [objects that transmit infectious diseases]," Associate Professor Mackay said. The Facebook ad purchased by a page called "Angry Buckeyes" in December seemed ordinary at first: It cited a news article that claimed President Donald Trump's tariffs on China could cost Americans. But the ad actually belonged to an apparent cluster of pages that paid to promote similar messages, didn't fully disclose their backers, and sought to influence voters in key battleground states - deficiencies that have cast fresh doubt on Facebook's efforts to protect users from manipulation. The discovery is one of several weaknesses uncovered by experts at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering, who performed a security audit of Facebook's online ad archive between May 2018 and June 2019. Their conclusions, spelled out in a new paper shared with The Washington Post, point to myriad opportunities malicious actors may have had to exploit the platform's powerful targeting tools while hiding their tracks, misleading users and evading Facebook's enforcement. In the years after Russian agents weaponized the social-networking platform as part of their sweeping efforts to sway the 2016 presidential election, Facebook developed verification measures designed to prevent foreign actors from purchasing political ads. It also undertook transparency initiatives that placed paid posts in a public archive. But researchers Laura Edelson, Tobias Lauringer and Damon McCoy found a series of defects that still could "enable a malicious advertiser to avoid accurate disclosure of their political ads," as they wrote. More than 86,000 Facebook pages ran at least one political ad that was not properly disclosed, according to the report. Facebook later caught and included these ads in its archive, but it remains unclear whether the company ever fully vetted nearly 80 percent of the pages that paid to promote their messages in the first place. Roughly 20,000 ads also had been purchased by "likely inauthentic communities," according to the report, which they defined as clusters of pages that appear to be linked because they promoted the same or similar messages. That included businesses looking to advance their interests without clear fingerprints, for example, and more opaque entities that hawked potentially fraudulent insurance products. These ads touched on political themes, resulting in their being included in Facebook's archive. In one example, the Facebook page Angry Buckeyes, currently followed by 21,000 users, appeared to belong to a cluster of pages organized around topics including race, religion and other traits. Researchers discovered the link because some of the pages in the cluster ran identical ads. Nowhere, however, did the pages disclose their possibly shared roots. The lack of transparency troubled the trio of digital experts, who expressed fear that "the disinformation campaign" orchestrated by this cluster was "attempting to sway voters" in key political swing states. Facebook said that in recent months it had remedied the deficiencies that researchers identified in their study. The company, for example, has sought to require more information about Facebook pages - who is behind them and who is paying for their ads. "Our authorization and transparency measures have meaningfully changed since this research was conducted," spokesman Joe Osborne said in a statement. "We offer more transparency into political and issue advertising than TV, radio or any other digital ad platform." But Edelson, one of the authors of the NYU study, said some concerns persist - including fears that Facebook isn't aggressively enforcing its own rules. "Facebook's ad platform and their transparency mechanisms were simply not built with security in mind," Edelson said. The researchers' findings could seed further doubt among regulators and the public about Facebook's preparedness for the 2020 presidential election. In 2016, Russian agents used narrowly targeted political ads to bait unsuspecting users into joining seemingly innocuous pages and groups, where they were then bombarded with divisive and false posts, photos and videos. In recent years, Facebook has sought to toughen its defenses. It hired more workers to review its site and put in place new policies to stamp out what it labels "coordinated, inauthentic behavior," resulting in the removals of accounts and other content linked to Russia and malicious actors. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg since has touted recent successes in elections around the world, including the 2018 congressional midterms. Central to Facebook's transparency efforts is its ad archive, which it unveiled in 2018 under pressure from lawmakers. The public repository shows that campaigns, businesses and other organizations have spent roughly $1.1 billion on ads since the repository came online. But it also reflects a wide array of misleading or troubling ads about drugs, insurance and housing, and false, paid political posts from candidates including President Donald Trump, that Facebook has refused to remove. In their study, NYU researchers point to other troubles. Sixteen clusters of Facebook pages, for example, purchased roughly $3.8 million in potentially problematic political ads. These "inauthentic communities" included pages named "Our Part of Ohio," which focused on users in the state, or "Giving Care," which primarily served as a hub for seniors. Much of the content on these pages was apolitical, the NYU report found, but periodically they would purchase political ads that contained similar or near-identical text. In May, for example, the page Giving Care ran a national ad about the high costs of prescription drugs viewed up to 5,000 times. Another page, called "Middle Class Voices of Pennsylvania," ran the exact same ad, at the exact same time, reaching many of the same states. Neither page, however, indicated that it might be affiliated with the other, or disclosed the person or organization that funded the ad, the report found. That raised concerns among researchers that the activity might be coordinated and inauthentic. Attempts to reach the owners of the pages over Facebook were unsuccessful. Some businesses, meanwhile, engaged in "astroturfing" - setting up seemingly fake entities to push messages that benefit their for-profit businesses. In one example, researchers found ads from pages called "Isabella Wind" and "Neosho Ridge Wind" that paid to promote the exact same message - about the economic benefits of wind power for farmers - in different parts of the country. Only by navigating off Facebook would a user discover they are part of the same energy firm. Still another cluster of 13 pages identified by researchers sold questionable insurance products, including "TrumpCare," seeking to play off the president's supporters to sell coverage. One page in this group, called "National Veteran Loans," sought to pitch former military service members in Nevada, Florida and elsewhere on home-financing options. These Facebook pages often were viewed by older users, researchers said, relying on seemingly innocuous names. But some of the ads didn't link to legally registered businesses, the report found, concluding they are "likely violating Facebook's policies." Some of the organizations continue to advertise on Facebook. Facebook pointed to some of the steps it has taken since researchers concluded their report. The company in October began requiring Facebook pages that purchase political ads to provide more information about their identities, such as their tax-identification number. And the tech giant says it now requires suspicious pages to verify who is behind them and share that information publicly. Edelson and her fellow researchers acknowledged some of those changes would help, particularly in ensuring large pages and significant spenders are more transparent in their ads. But, she said, Facebook's efforts to protect voters from manipulation largely come down to its own vigilance. "Enforcement really needs to be stepped up," she said. The BJP on Saturday hit out at Maharashtra Chief Minister over his claim that his party, the Shiv Sena, had walked away from the NDA but not from the ideology of Hindutva. Visiting Ayodhya for the first time after he became chief minister, Thackeray said earlier in the day that he might have parted ways with the BJP (but) not with Hindutva, and "BJP and Hindutva are different". The BJP asked why he and his party were silent on certain issues such as comments of Congress leaders berating Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. "Why did you keep quiet when a bust of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was removed by the (Congress-led) Madhya Pradesh government?" the state BJP asked on Twitter. The administration of Sausar in Chhindwara district last month removed a bust of Shivaji using a JCB machine, saying it had been installed without permission. "Why do you keep quiet when the Congress insults (Hindutva ideologue) Savarkar? Why are you giving quota to the Muslim community?" the state BJP tweeted further. Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik recently announced in the Legislative Council that the state government had proposed to give five per cent quota to Muslims in government educational institutes. Thackeray, however, said later that he had not received the proposal and no decision had been taken. State BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar also took potshots at Thackeray, saying that Lord Ram had given blessings to the former allies (BJP and Sena) together, and not to current ruling parties in the state (Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP). "We have never known Lord Ram as someone who loves power. The only Ram we remember is the one who went into exile for 14 years to keep a promise," he said. "It is for that party (Sena) to decide whether it was a visit to seek blessings of the Lord or admit before him that a mistake was committed (by joining hands with the Congress and NCP)," Mungantiwar added. On a day Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president is visiting to commemorate 100 days in office, the Sena, which heads the tripartite dispensation in the state, on Saturday said there is no change in its ideology. Launching a veiled attack on its erstwhile ally BJP, an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' also said that Lord Ram and Hindutva is not the sole property of any single political party. The Sena also said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government--which also comprises the NCP and the Congress-- has completed 100 days, much to the chagrin of those who were claiming that the new dispensation will not survive more than 100 hours. "Those whose government lasted for 80 hours were claiming that the Thackeray regime will not last for even 100 hours. But this MVA government not only thrived but has instilled trust in the minds of people during this period with its performance," the editorial said. The Sena was apparently referring to the second inning of the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis government which lasted for only 80 hours in November last year. "Hence, CM Thackeray's visit to has to be welcomed as he is offering the flowers of works (done by the government) at the feet of Lord Shriram," it said. The Sena said Thackeray's visit to the temple town is out of devotion for Lord Shriram. "The government in Maharashtra comprising three ideologically different parties is working as per Constitution and Thackeray is leading such government," it said. The edit said on this background various questions were raised over Thackeray's visit to by his political opponents. "The government maybe backed by anyone, but and the Shiv Sena remain the same from within and outside. There is no change in the ideology. Lord Shriram and Hindutva is not the property of any single party," it stated. Referring to senior RSS leader Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi's remark that the Hindu community is not synonymous with the BJP and that opposing the BJP does not amount to opposing Hindus, the Sena said similarly Ayodhya belongs to all. "The political and cultural battle in Ayodhya is now over. The Supreme Court cannot be thanked enough for this (for its verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute case that allowed construction of the Ram temple)," it said. Hailing the Supreme Court's November, 2019 verdict, the Sena said the country had to fight a big battle to prove that Ayodhya belonged to Lord Shriram. "In that battle, several (people) were unmasked. But only (late) Shiv Sena president Balasaheb Thackeray stood behind the Ayodhya (temple) campaigners like a mountain," it said. Bal Thackeray created trust among Hindus from across the world about the creation of the temple, the Sena said. The party further said late Thackeray's assertion that he was proud if the Babri mosque was razed by Sena workers and that the temple of Lord Ram would come up in Ayodhya was akin to the thunder of "thousands of lightnings" in the sky. "The Hindu culture got lit up in the glow of that lightning. The resplendent rays showed the path of power to the Hindu community. Hence, no one can deny the contribution of the 'Hinduhridaysamrat' (Bal Thackeray) as good as that of Lord Shriram, in creating the current political order in the country," the Sena said. "We have experienced several times that Balasaheb lives in the mind of Ayodhya. Now himself is going there with the same faith. He had gone there when not in power. He is going there now after becoming chief minister with the same humbleness. Lord Shriram is of everyone," the Sena said. The party said Maharashtra is being run on the path shown by Lord Shriram and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "A Ram Rajya entails fulfilling promises made to the people. This is precisely what Mahatma Gandhi wanted, and the government following this ideology is in place in Maharashtra. It will continue work on that line. Ultimately, Lord Shriram is there to support it," the Sena said. Thackeray completed 100 days in the office on Friday. He had assumed office as the chief minister of the Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government on November 28 last year, after the Sena joined hands with the NCP and the Congress. Senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut had said that Thackeray will not take part in the 'aarti' programme on the banks of river Sarayu in the temple town. A man accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman has been served with a book of evidence and sent forward for trial. The 53-year-old, from North Dublin, who cannot be identified, is alleged to have raped the woman on dates between November 1999 and April 2002 at a location in north Dublin. He faces trial on indictment on three charges of rape and four charges of sexual assault on the same woman. The book of evidence was served on the accused at Balbriggan District Court and Judge Dermot Dempsey made a return for trial order at the request of the Director of Public Prosecutions. After he was sent forward for trial, the accused was told by the judge that he had 14 days to notify the State if he intended to use an alibi in his defence. The accused has been returned to the present sitting of Dublin Central Criminal Court. He did not address the court and has not yet indicated how he will plead. His solicitor was assigned one senior counsel and one junior counsel and a Section 56 order of a copy of any recording of questions of the accused by gardai while he was detained at a garda station was also granted. He has been remanded on his own bond of 500 subject to certain conditions. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 23:10:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Emergency Management sent a work team to the city of Quanzhou, Fujian Province, after a hotel building there collapsed Saturday evening. The work team will help with rescue work and investigate the cause of accident, said a source of the ministry. The ministry urged all-out efforts to rescue the victims and emphasized the prevention of secondary disasters, while ensuring the safety of rescue teams. The accident happened at around 7:15 p.m. Saturday in Licheng District, and further rescue work is underway. As of 9:00 p.m., 23 people had been rescued. Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Cory M. Fisher, 29, homeless, was arrested at 6:50 p.m. Thursday on a warrant accusing him of driving while license is revoked and criminal trespassing. THEFTS, BURGLARIES Someone took a lawn ornament from a yard in the 900 block of North Prairie Street between 10 p.m. Thursday and 4 a.m. Friday. The decoration was valued at $100. Calhoun County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Aaron K. Johnson, 40, of Batchtown was booked into the Greene County Jail at 7:10 p.m. Feb. 29 on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence, illegal transportation of cannabis, violation of liability insurance law, improper signaling and not wearing a seat belt. Greene County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Danny J. Newingham, 51, of Patterson was booked into the Greene County Jail at 7:52 p.m. Tuesday on a battery charge. Jaken L. Farris, 26, of Roodhouse was booked into the Greene County Jail at 11:38 p.m. Sunday on a charge of having no valid drivers license. Nickolas L. Gray, 20, of Greenfield was booked into the Greene County Jail at 8:52 p.m. Feb. 26 on a charge of driving while license is revoked or suspended. Greenfield Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Omar A. Garcia-Prado, 26, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was booked into the Greene County Jail at 1:44 a.m. Tuesday on charges of speeding and driving while license is revoked or suspended. Timothy R. Baggett, 32, of South Roxanna was booked into the Greene County Jail at 6:19 p.m. Feb. 28 on a charge of driving while license is suspended or revoked. Roodhouse Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Angel Jo Gettings, 27, of Roodhouse was booked into the Greene County Jail at 11:35 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and causing a child to be endangered. Sandra E. Fishel, 54, of Roodhouse was booked into the Greene County Jail at 11:39 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Lawrence L. Seymoure, 51, of Roodhouse was booked into the Greene County Jail at 10:47 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kevin L. Murrow, 37, of Roodhouse was booked into the Greene County Jail at 8:09 p.m. Feb. 26 on a violation of a court order. Terry P. Gibson, 29, of Roodhouse was booked into the Greene County Jail at 4:19 p.m. Feb. 26 on a burglary charge. State police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Trevor W. Hardwick, 38, of Patterson was booked into the Greene County Jail at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday on a possession of methamphetamine charge. White Hall Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Dorothy A. Brown, 36, of Fairfield was booked into the Greene County Jail at 6:44 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hypodermic syringe and possession of drug paraphernalia. Patricia Hillman, 39, of Roodhouse was booked into the Greene County Jail at 1:23 a.m. Sunday on charges of driving under the influence, improper lane use and illegal possession or transportation of liquor by a driver. Scott County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS David L. Wilson, 36, of Jacksonville was booked into the Greene County Jail at 2:40 a.m. Tuesday on an attempted burglary charge. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer and Darren Iozia Spring break starts next week for many Texas school districts, but the normally relaxing pause has education leaders worried that as thousands of students and teachers travel, some may bring back COVID-19 illness caused by the new coronavirus. North East Independent School District in San Antonio and the Houston, La Porte and Dickinson ISDs in the Houston area told families and staff late this week to self-quarantine for 14 days if they travel to any of the countries listed on the U.S. Centers for Disease Controls travel warnings list. As of Friday morning, those countries included China, Iran, South Korea and Italy. If you travel to one of these countries, please let the District know and then self-quarantine for two weeks, Maria Perez, the NEISD health services director, wrote in a note to parents Friday. Stay home and avoid contact with others. Do not go to work or school for this 14-day period, Perez wrote, saying the the district will provide alternative learning opportunities for students who are quarantined. Public health authorities have called the risk of an outbreak at San Antonio schools low, several school districts noted. But the possibility of students being isolated was brought up in a letter sent this week to school districts by the City of San Antonio and the Metropolitan Health District containing advice on dealing with employee illness. If any students and staff are asked by Metro Health to self-quarantine, we encourage schools to support them by permitting absences, providing study materials so students can work from home, and delivering sack lunches if a student is eligible for school lunch, the letter said. Other districts referred to the CDCs travel advisory and advice for preventing the virus spread. And the Texas Education Agency told districts Friday that students who are looking to enroll in a Texas school district and recently traveled to one of the countries on the CDCs list must be quarantined for 14 days before they can begin classes. In a note about spring break to parents in San Antonios largest school district, Superintendent Brian Woods stopped short of saying the district would keep children out of schools if they travel to countries on the CDCs advisory list. But Woods warned that health officials could subject such travelers who also show symptoms to immediate quarantine and testing and that those who dont show symptoms could still be quarantined and monitored. While kids are out of class next week, maintenance and custodial crews will do extra cleaning inside all Northside campuses, Woods said. At this time, we have no plans to close schools, Woods said. We will continue to provide updates as the situation progresses. Alamo Heights ISD Superintendent Dana Bashara sent a letter to parents this week updating the districts efforts to clean campuses and encourage behavior designed to keep illness from spreading. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox For families who might be traveling abroad during spring break, the US Department of State issues travel bans and warnings to ensure the safety of all travelers, she added. Traveling out of town over spring break does not automatically increase a risk of exposure to others upon your return, but it is important to consult government travel advisories. San Antonio area school districts and universities have cancelled study arrangements abroad or student trips to other nations scheduled for spring break and afterward. A spokeswoman at Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) said Friday that the school had postponed indefinitely a study tour to Japan by its School of Business and Leadership that had been set for next week. Pearland ISD Superintendent John Kelly said officials there are rethinking some school-sponsored trips. But even if the district changes its plans, officials cannot control where students and teachers travel during their week-long spring vacation, he added. If someone wanted to spread a disease, theyd say, Hey, why not let students and staff loose for a week to go all over and come back. Thats basically what spring break is, Kelly said. So, we need to be prepared for eventualities, but at the same time not cause unnecessary anxiety. On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus risk abroad has San Antonio area universities yanking 100-plus students home The concern comes after six people in the Houston area were diagnosed with the virus this week. A Fort Bend County man in his 70s was the first to be diagnosed on Wednesday, and four others in Harris County, including a Rice University employee, were reported infected Thursday. All five had traveled to Egypt on the same trip but did not begin showing symptoms until they returned to Texas in late February. A sixth person was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Friday and health officials said it also was travel related. Seventeen doctoral students, staff and faculty who had direct contact with the Rice researcher are self-quarantined away from campus. The University of Houston said Wednesday that six students and faculty members were self-quarantined after returning from trips to South Korea and Italy as a precautionary measure. The TEA said in February that 50 schools across the state had closed this flu season due to high absenteeism, but Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told the Texas Tribune on Friday that the potential absences due to students self-quarantining because of COVID-19 may prove more challenging to handle. That is because Texas schools are funded by daily attendance numbers. Morath said if 10 percent of a districts students self-quarantine for 14 days at a time, how do you fund those schools? He said officials will work to answer those questions in the coming weeks. shelby.webb@chron.com The head of a local Catholic church in Sri Lanka on Saturday threatened to take to the streets if a transparent probe is not conducted in the last year's devastating Easter Sunday terror attack that killed over 250 people. Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said there must be thorough questioning as to how the bombings took place on April 21 and who helped the attackers. Nine suicide bombers belonging to local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat (NTJ) linked to ISIS carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and as many luxury hotels on the Easter Sunday, killing 258 people, including 11 Indians. "I will not hesitate to hit the streets to safeguard the rights of our people", Ranjith told reporters at a religious event at Ragama in north Colombo. The Cardinal said that although he was happy with the ongoing presidential probe launched by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's predecessor Maithripala Sirisena, yet he saw a process that lacked transparency. "I can sense that some of the things which need to come out are being hidden who was responsible?, who aided them and kept contact with them (the jihadi group)?," he asked. "There must be questioning from the highest to the very lowest level," he said. In February, the Sri Lankan government appointed a six-member team to help police collect authentic information and expedite an ongoing presidential probe into the devastating attack. President Rajapaksa decided to "speed up the ongoing investigation into the attack which had proved crucial in his decisive electoral victory last November. Rajapaksa used the Easter Sunday terrorist attack to portray himself as the leader who could stop terrorism. The voters gave him a big mandate and elected him as President in November last year. Rajapaksa stormed to victory, trouncing his nearest rival Sajith Premadasa by a margin of over 13 lakh votes - 52.25 per cent of votes polled against 41.99 per cent. The previous government headed by Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe was blamed for its inability to prevent the attacks despite the prior intelligence made available on the impending attack. Rajapaksa, who pledged an independent probe, continued with the same panel appointed by Sirisena. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Theres still time for victory. Photo: Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images After a major reversal of electoral fortunes, what is Bernie Sanderss strategy to get back on track in the Democratic primaries? I spoke with national political correspondent Gabriel Debenedetti to try to figure out the path forward. Ben: A couple of weeks ago, Bernie Sanders seemed like an almost unstoppable front-runner. Now the nations foremost election nerds agree that it will take a miracle for him to beat Joe Biden and capture a plurality of delegates before the Democratic convention this summer. Youve been traveling with the Sanders team on and off; whats the general mood among the campaign? It is, after all, used to being in this insurgent position. Gabriel: First, Id argue with the premise that he seemed unstoppable, though its definitely true he looked to be in a great position. The mood now has clearly changed, and not for the better. Theyre digging in for another 2016-style fight now and again putting a huge premium on what happens in Michigan, as symbolically important a state as any, on Tuesday. Ben: Must you always take issue with my premises? Gabriel: I must. Anyway, theyre not shying from the reality that the path looks pretty tough now, especially with the next few weeks looking Biden-friendly. Ben: As you said, Michigan looms large; yesterday, Sanders canceled a planned rally in Mississippi to focus on that state instead. But Bidens got all the momentum and some key endorsements, including that of the states popular governor, Gretchen Whitmer. If Biden shellacs Bernie there on Tuesday, is there a sense that it really might be the end? Gabriel: I really dont see a world where Sanders stops running after Michigan, and a shellacking is unlikely. But theres no doubt its a really important potential inflection point. Heres a hot take: Watch Washington on Tuesday too. Thats a big state Sanders is supposed to win. If its closer than hed like, that could be a massive problem. For all these reasons, BTW, I would expect to see Sanders going really hard at Biden at the debate next Sunday. Ben: What points do you expect him to hit hardest? Its going to be a completely different dynamic with just the two of them onstage Sanders has certainly been much steadier on his feet during these things than Biden has. Gabriel: I think some of it depends on what happens in Michigan and the degree to which Sanders still sees a path available to him through other midwestern states. If hes feeling optimistic about that, NAFTA and trade will be front and center, though other old standbys like his Iraq War vote and record on Social Security funding will be there, too. Its like we always predicted: The race will come down to mid-90s and early-00s legislative records. Its a lot harder to predict what that would look like if Sanders gets clobbered in Michigan and looks like hes going to be destroyed in Florida the next week too. Sanderss whole bet right now is that hes the guy who can win over working-class white men in industrial areas as well as Latinos. Those are both hugely important groups for the general election. But if those two states look out of reach in the primary, its a hard case to make. (Im trying to be careful, by the way, not to conflate primary and general-election viability in specific states. The precise point Im trying to make centers around the fact that Sanders pitches himself as ESPECIALLY able to appeal to those groups.) Ben: What states look promising for Bernie in the coming month? What could keep this race close? Gabriel: Sanders feels good about Michigan and Washington, and Idaho could be good for him, too, next week. The following week, though, could be tough: Hell likely need to do well in Illinois and Ohio, which might be pretty Biden-friendly, while keeping margins down in Arizona and Florida. Georgia might be hard for him, too. And then were in April. So it could be a long month for him. Ben: And a poll came out yesterday showing him down, oh, about 45 points in Florida. Gabriel: Dont call it a comeback! (Seriously, dont.) Ben: The other day, Sanders held a press conference at which he played up his anti-Establishment bona fides, criticized the media, and generally gave no sense that he was adjusting his message to try to win over the older moderate Democrats who have shunned him in primaries so far. Now that his campaign has hit this big roadblock, you see people wonder why he never tried to pitch himself as a mainstream-adjacent, unthreatening choice but of course the strategy hes always taken turned out to be pretty damn successful this time around. All of which is to ask: Do you see him softening his message much (or at all) as we approach some of these later primary states? Gabriel: Again, it depends on which part of the electorate he sees the biggest opportunity with. He and his campaign are sophisticated enough to know that you can send different messages to different groups witness: Hes running ads hitting Biden on Social Security and trade but also another ad hugging Obama tight, almost hilariously so. But I dont think anyone would be more offended than Bernie Sanders by the implication that he might change his tune. So far at rallies, hes been ramping up his criticisms of Biden. But as to the broader point, Id just note that hes zeroing in on the corporate Establishment and the political Establishment; he rarely mentions the Democratic Establishment anymore. Ben: In 2016, there was obviously a tremendous amount of bitterness between the Clinton and Sanders camps, mostly over the DNC putting its thumb on the scale for Clinton. This time around, you dont hear as many accusations of institutional chicanery, exactly but it is nevertheless true that a slew of moderate candidates consolidated at the last minute with the express purpose of stopping Sanders in his tracks. To what extent do you feel that people are putting the blame on the political Establishment you mentioned, as opposed to the Sanders campaign itself, for simply not appealing to enough voters particularly black voters in the South? Gabriel: I dont think theres anywhere near the same amount of bitterness now as there was last time (yet?). And I think a lot of the frustration in Sanderss orbit is around how his pitch about turning out voters who dont usually weigh in isnt panning out. Hes using the Establishment as a foil but knows that only goes so far if he cant expand his base to areas that are relevant in the next few states. Ben: At the aforementioned press conference the other day, Sanders reiterated his stance that the candidate with the most delegates going into the convention should get the nomination. At a recent debate, when he was poised to amass a big delegate lead, he was the only person onstage to endorse that view. Were you surprised that he held fast on the position even though hes far less likely to have that lead at this point? Gabriel: I think one couldve been surprised he took it in the first place, since its the opposite of what he said in 2016. But I think its basically moot at this point: There are only two candidates really fighting for delegates. One will probably get the majority! The upshot was that the self-proclaimed medical savant came off looking less interested in his administrations unsteady efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus than he was in bolstering his own status in a campaign year. Trump repeatedly sought to judge his administrations performance by the numbers of how many have been shown to have contracted the virus and comparing it to other nations and, in doing so, appeared to be making judgments based solely on that scorecard. Sydney/Tokyo: In Australia, major grocers have restricted supplies to one pack per person. In Japan, rolls are chained to the wall in public toilets. In Hong Kong, armed robbers carried out a heist as supplies were delivered to a supermarket. Toilet paper has emerged as the unlikely No.1 stockpiling target for people across Asia who are worried that the spread of the coronavirus epidemic will lead to supply shortages. While other household products including disinfectants, tissues and staples like rice and pasta have also proved popular, it is the humble toilet roll that has inspired showdowns in supermarket aisles and countless social media memes. The demand has caught many shoppers and sellers short, but psychologists say hoarding is a natural human reaction in times of high anxiety and a desire to ensure sufficient supplies for lavatory visits in particular is not too much of a surprise. "When we're buying stuff, things close to the body are very comforting, whether that be food, body care or in this case toilet paper," Adam Ferrier, a Melbourne-based psychologist who specialises in consumer behaviour, said. "The size of toilet paper makes it feel like a substantial, big purchase. It makes it feel like you're doing something. It taps back into that need for control. If you're buying a hefty big pack of toilet paper, you kind of feel like you're 'stocking up'. You signify to yourself that you're in control," he said. Photos posted on social media showed plenty of shoppers in Asia seeking control this week as they pushed precariously overloaded carts to checkout counters after stripping shelves bare. In Australia, police were called out to settle grocery aisle disputes, a delivery truck catching fire due to a mechanical fault made national headlines, and outback newspaper The NT News published an eight-page lift out of blank paper saying the move was to give the nation what it wanted. "It's been a wild week. Everyone's been on the edge of their seat looking at what's happening," said Simon Griffiths, co-founder of Who Gives A Crap, a social enterprise that sells recycled toilet paper and gives half its profit to sanitation-related charity. The company had to suspend store sales and new subscriptions on Wednesday when sales volumes jumped 1100% the day before. SOCIAL MEDIA ROLE In Japan, the economy ministry has launched a publicity campaign to urge calm, posting daily photos on its Twitter account of delivery trucks carrying toilet rolls arriving full at their destinations and of replenished store aisles. "We wanted to send a message for consumers to understand that inventory was arriving," ministry spokesman Yasushi Nozawa told Reuters, adding that while there was no shortage of supply of toilet rolls, distribution networks were struggling to keep up. "Inventory has piled up at warehouses," he said. "We have requested a doubling of daily delivery capacity from 20 million rolls to 40 million." It's not the first time Japan has succumbed to toilet paper fever. During the global oil crisis of 1973, there were violent scenes in some stores as people rushed to buy bathroom tissue, fearing disruption to production. Singapore-based academics Roland Bouffanais and Lim Sun Sun said this time around, social media played a major role in making the worries of a toilet paper crunch "propagate like a wildfire." "Collective behaviours among humans are remarkably similar to processes in the animal kingdom such as schooling among fish and flocking among birds," they wrote in an editorial about toilet roll hoarding in the Straits Times newspaper. STACKING UP The situation has also led to some unusually frank comments by Asian politicians. Singapore Trade Minister Chan Chun Sing was reported by local media as calling the panic buying idiotic in a meeting with business leaders, quipping: "Why stock toilet paper? If you eat all the rice and instant noodles you confirm diarrhoea." In Taiwan, during a brief toilet paper panic last month, Premier Su Tseng-chang called for calm on his Facebook page, saying people "only have one butt-hole," to widespread amusement across the island. After a week of panic buying, Japan's biggest supermarket chain Aeon Co resorted to stacking up 12-roll packs in prominent displays at some of its stores to reassure customers there was plenty to go round. "Our goal is to eliminate people's fears," said Aeon spokesman Daisuke Yokota. "So we're piling them into these huge towers, to send the message: boom, theres plenty." Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 03:17:41|Editor: zyl Video Player Close Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) delivers a speech after Friday prayers in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 6, 2020. Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said he hopes that the cease-fire in the Syrian northwestern province of Idlib reached between Turkey and Russia the previous day would continue, putting an end to the conflict in Syria. (Xinhua) ISTANBUL, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said he hopes that the cease-fire in the Syrian northwestern province of Idlib reached between Turkey and Russia the previous day would continue, putting an end to the conflict in Syria. "Finally, we sat at the table yesterday and agreed on the declaration of a cease-fire as of midnight last night," Erdogan said after Friday prayers in Istanbul. "We hope that it continues," he stressed, noting that he also expects that the cease-fire would bring an end to the conflict. Further details of the deal would be discussed, Erdogan added. The Turkish leader and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed on the cease-fire in Idlib, the last rebel-held stronghold in Syria, after six hours of meeting in the Russian capital Moscow. The Kano State Government has set up a 14-member technical committee to sanitise operations of broadcast media in the state with Muhammad Garba, Commissioner for information as Chairman. Mr Garba made the disclosure on Friday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting. He said the technical committee would among other things, look into the issue of professional misconduct and abuse of privilege by some media organisations in the state. Mr Garba said: Kano State has 13 broadcast stations, which is the highest in northern Nigeria, mainly owned by individuals. That is why we set up a committee of professionals to monitor radio stations in the state in order to ensure that they adhere to broadcast code and also to sensitize them. As a government; we are not doing this to stop people from airing their views or stop the Freedom of Information (FOI), we are doing it to sanitize the sector for the overall good of the state. Mr Garba disclosed that a professor, Umar Pate, was appointed as co-chairman while Commissioners for Justice and Religious Affairs, Ibrahim Mukhtar and Muhammad Adam would serve as members, respectively. Others are Ismail Naabba, Director General Kano State Censorship Board, Representatives of Police, National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), among others . The commissioner disclosed that the council approved N245 million for the settlement of excess work load for three academic sessions for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Kano University of Science and Technology (KUST), Wudil. Garba revealed further that the council also approved N552 million for the rehabilitation of Phase I Kafin-Ciri Dam in Garko Local Government Area of the state. The council also approved N122 million for erosion and wash out control in Garko while N38 million was approved for replacement of batteries in 50 enrollment centres of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), he said. He added that the council equally approved N16 million for the upgrade of vocational skill acquisition centres in the state. (NAN) After two years in special education, she completed a masters degree in social work at Aurora University, specializing in gerontology. That led her to with older adults diagnosed with Alzheimers disease and dementia before moving to a career in hospice, a position she was inspired to pursue after her father battled cancer for two years. This black leather shoe really isnt much to look at. It is scuffed and worn and only has traces of its shoelaces remaining. Its just a shoe, and it is very old. Its been through the mill and might easily have been tossed out a hundred years ago. But this lone shoe has a story to tell in fact, a pair of stories. The shoe illuminates the lives of two local immigrants who lived most of their lives in the Onalaska area, Tobias Nelson and Theodore Comeau. Tobias Nelson was born in Norway in 1847 and came to this country in 1868. He married Nettie Swinson, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants, in 1875. They had nine children. Nelson must have trained in the craft of shoemaking in Norway, for he practiced that trade here, first in La Crosse, then in Onalaska after his marriage. Tobias made shoes by hand during a time when shoes were made in factories. On the East Coast, Chicago and St. Louis, factory-made shoes and boots were rapidly replacing those made by hand. While Nelson may have sold the factory shoes, he also handcrafted custom shoes. He practiced the traditional method of using wooden pegs to hold the layers of the sole together and sewing the upper pieces with waxed linen thread. Tobias Nelson made this shoe for another immigrant, Canadian Theodore Comeau. Born in 1838 in Quebec, Comeau arrived in the La Crosse area in 1858, probably to work in the lumber industry. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War and married Isabelle Hutchinson when he returned in 1865. They reared 12 children. Comeau was listed as a laborer during his working years in Onalaska. He purchased a pair of shoes in 1895 from shoemaker Tobias Nelson to wear in his job on the Black River. These were not ordinary street shoes. Nelson inserted nine metal spikes on the bottom of the shoes, especially for the Canadian mans occupation. The spikes allowed the lumberman Comeau to have the traction and control he needed to stand on a log and tug or heave trees downstream. Historical Society records indicate that Comeau wore these shoes to break up log jams in the river. This remaining shoe saw some heavy wear and tear in the logging industry. No wonder it looks a bit bedraggled today. This old shoe brings back to life the stories of two immigrants from two different nations who came to La Crosse County to make better lives for themselves. From their homelands, each brought the skills and ingenuity they needed to make a living. Both Nelson and Comeau found wives in La Crosse County and had large families, their paths crossing in 1895 when Tobias Nelson crafted this shoe for Theodore Comeau. That is some shoe. See this and other objects in the collections of the La Crosse County Historical Society by checking its online database at lchshistory.org. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has provided financial assistance of over Rs 5 crore to 399 people suffering from various diseases. The financial aid of Rs 5 crore 91 lakh and 31 thousand was distributed from the Chief Minister's Discretionary Fund from February 29 to March 6. The beneficiaries include Pancham Yadav of Azamgarh district, Asha Devi of Kaushambi and Ashok Kumar of Rae Bareli among several others. Most of the beneficiaries are suffering from cancer, heart, kidney and liver-related diseases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Photo by Horacio Villalobos#Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) UK holidaymakers could be left stranded as a number of airlines are ramping up cancellations and pausing flights unless passengers are cleared of the coronavirus. EasyJet (EZJ.L) announced that it is cancelling some flights as a result of the outbreak, including that to and from Italy. Some staff have been offered unpaid leave, according to the Mirror. It said that due to the increased number of coronavirus cases in Northern Italy, it has seen "a significant softening of demand and load factors into and out of our Northern Italian bases. Further, we are also seeing some slower demand across our other European markets. READ MORE: Europes economy braces for coronavirus hit as market panic grips "As a result we will be making decisions to cancel some flights, particularly those into and out of Italy, while continuing to monitor the situation and adapting our flying programme to support demand, it added. "While it is too early to determine what the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak will be on current year outlook and guidance for both the Airline and Holidays business, we continue to monitor the situation carefully and will update the market in due course." EasyJet's shares have dropped 30% since Monday, down to 1,110p: easyJet shares. Chart: Yahoo Finance Meanwhile, fellow UK airline Jet2, owned by Dart Group (DTG.L), has refused to fly back any people who have been staying at a hotel in coronavirus lockdown until they have tested negative for the virus. Currently, there are around 168 Brits remain confined to the H10 Costa Adeje Palace in Tenerife after at least four guests were diagnosed with the illness. Around 50 of them were reportedly told by Spanish authorities they were free to leave on Thursday, if they wished. READ MORE: Coronavirus epidemic boosting Dettol sales In a statement sent to Yahoo Finance UK the airline said: We are continuing to remain in contact with customers at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace in Tenerife, and we also have designated 24/7 telephone assistance in place. Story continues Their health and safety is our absolute priority, as it is with every single one of our customers and colleagues. Therefore, to help prevent any potential spread of coronavirus, we have asked all customers to remain in the hotel, which remains under quarantine, until any potential incubation period, as defined by the World Health Organisation, has passed (10 March). "We will not fly any customer who has stayed at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace during the quarantine, until this incubation period has passed or unless they have been explicitly tested for COVID-19 by a recognised authority and are confirmed as clear of the virus. We will continue to release more information as it becomes available. Shares in Dart Group are down around 5% on Friday morning: Dart Group shares. Chart: Yahoo Finance Whats the current travel advice? Since developments there are developments on the coronavirus happening daily, its worth checking your carriers website regularly to see if your flight is still running. It is also essential to check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for updates. The FCO currently is warning against all essential travel to 11 quarantined towns in Italy and two cities in South Korea and mainland China. This could be set to change. Britains Department of Health also warns that travellers should call the NHS 111 helpline and self-quarantine themselves at home if they have returned from FCO-specified parts of Italy as well as those who have returned in the past 14 days from Hubei Province in China. It is also worth checking with the company you work with if there are international flight restrictions. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Finance UK By Trend Pakistan has allowed Iranian trucks to enter the Pakistani territory today (March 7) to bring in Iranian exports, said spokesperson for the Iranian Customs, Rouhollah Latifi, Trend reports citing Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA). According to Latifi, this permission was granted after 12 Iranian trucks crossed the border and were inspected by the Pakistani side. Latifi added that after the necessary inspections, another 12 trucks have also crossed the border. "The Iranian Customs is in talks with the Pakistani side to accelerate the transit of Iranian trucks," he said. Iran is one of the recent countries, affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 4,700 people have been infected, 124 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 900 have reportedly recovered from the disease. 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. The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The sanctions included an asset freeze and a travel ban. The decision of the Council of the European Union to lift sanctions against former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Minister of Energy and Coal Industry Eduard Stavytskiy (also spelled Stavytskyi) came into force on March 6. In particular, information about Azarov and Stavytskiy has been removed from the list of individuals and legal entities, as well as organizations and authorities, according to the Official Journal of the European Union. Read alsoEU prolongs sanctions against Yanukovych, allies journalist The relevant decision was adopted by the EU Council on March 5. The document came into force from the date of its publication in the EU Official Journal. The sanctions included an asset freeze and a travel ban. NEW YORK, March 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Aarons, Inc. (Aarons or the Company) (NYSE: AAN) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, for the Southern District of New York, and indexed under 20-cv-01796, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired Aarons securities between March 2, 2018, and February 19, 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 Aarons securities during the class period, you have until April 28, 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. 7980. 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] Aarons was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The Company operates as an omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions to underserved and credit-challenged customers, and also engages in the sale, lease ownership, and specialty retailing of various products. Aarons operates in three reportable segmentsProgressive Leasing (Progressive), Aarons Business (AB), and Vive Financial, LLC (Vive). The Progressive and AB segments are subject to federal regulatory agency oversight and scrutiny, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 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: (i) that Aarons had inadequate disclosure controls, procedures, and compliance measures; (ii) that, consequently, the operations of Aarons Progressive and AB segments were in violation of the FTC Act and/or relevant FTC regulations; (iii) that, consequently, Aarons earnings from those segments were partially derived from unlawful business practices and were thus unsustainable; (iv) the full extent of Aarons liability regarding the FTCs investigation into its Progressive and AB segments, Aarons noncompliance with the FTC Act, and the likely negative consequences of all the foregoing on the Companys financial results; and (v) that, as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On July 26, 2018, during after-market hours, Aarons filed a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission, reporting the Companys financial and operating results for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2018. That Quarterly Report disclosed that, in July 2018, Aarons received civil investigative demands (CIDs) from the FTC requesting the production of documents and answers to written questions to determine whether disclosures related to financial products offered by the Company through its AB and Progressive segments were in violation of the FTC Act. On this news, Aarons stock price fell $5.38 per share, or 11.01%, to close at $43.47 per share on July 27, 2018. On April 25, 2019, during pre-market hours, Aarons filed another Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC, reporting the Companys financial and operating results for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2019. That Quarterly Report disclosed that, in April 2019, Aarons AB segment received an unrelated CID from the FTC focused on certain transactions involving the purchase and sale of customer lease agreements, and whether such transactions violated the FTC Act. Then, on February 20, 2020, Aarons issued a press release announcing the Companys financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2019. Among other results, Aarons reported that the Companys Progressive segment had reached an agreement in principle with FTC staff regarding the CID from the FTC that Progressive received in July 2018. Aarons advised investors that [u]nder the proposed agreement, which requires final approval by FTC Commissioners and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Progressive will make a payment of $175 million and enhance certain compliance-related activities, including monitoring, disclosure and reporting requirements. On this news, Aarons stock price fell $10.70 per share, or 19.06%, to close at $45.45 per share on February 20, 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 A 19-year-old Indian national has been killed and another injured in a road accident in Dubai after their vehicle hit a stationery truck, according to a media report. A Dubai Police official told Gulf that the accident happened around 5:27am on Friday on the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. The van, in which they were travelling, hit the stationery truck and the passenger in the van was killed. Muhammed Savad, who hailed from Mallappuram in Kerala, was in the passenger seat when the accident took place and died on the spot, the Gulf reported. Mohamed Abdul Bari, 42, who was driving, was injured. He also belongs from Kerala. He has been admitted to a hospital in Dubai, the report added. The two, who were from Abu Dhabi, had come in a van to Dubai to buy fish which they supplied to groceries. The accident happened when they were on their way back to the capital, the report said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump likes to say that he fell into politics almost by accident, and on Friday, as he sought to calm a nation gripped with fears over coronavirus, he suggested he would have thrived in another profession - medical expert. "I like this stuff. I really get it," Trump boasted to reporters during a tour of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, where he met with actual doctors and scientists who are feverishly scrambling to contain and combat the deadly illness. Citing a "great, super-genius uncle" who taught at MIT, Trump professed that it must run in the family genes. "People are really surprised I understand this stuff," he said. "Every one of these doctors said, 'How do you know so much about this?' Maybe I have a natural ability." But for members of the general public alarmed by more than 300 diagnosed cases in the United States - including at least 21 that his administration announced Friday were discovered on a cruise ship off the San Francisco coast - Trump's performance during an impromptu 45-minute news conference at CDC was not necessarily reassuring. Sporting his trademark red 2020 campaign hat with the slogan "Keep America Great," the president repeatedly second-guessed and waved off the actual medical professionals standing next to him. He attacked his Democratic rivals - including calling Washington Gov. Jay Inslee a "snake" for criticizing his response - and chided a CNN reporter for smiling and called her network "fake news." And he described coronavirus testing kits - which his administration has been criticized for being slow to distribute - as "beautiful" and saying they were as "perfect" as his Ukraine phone call last summer that led him to be impeached. The upshot was that the self-proclaimed medical savant came off looking less interested in his administration's unsteady efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus than he was in bolstering his own status in a campaign year. Trump repeatedly sought to judge his administration's performance by the numbers of how many have been shown to have contracted the virus and comparing it with other nations - and, in doing so, appeared to be making judgments based solely on that scorecard. He declared he would prefer to keep the thousands of passengers and crew on the cruise ship off the California coast aboard the vessel rather than bring them ashore for quarantine, though he acknowledged that Vice President Mike Pence and other top aides were arguing for the ship to be brought to port. "I like the numbers being where they are," Trump said. "I don't need the numbers to double because of one ship that wasn't our fault." He had been furious last month upon learning that Americans in China with coronavirus were flown back to the United States in a decision made by the State Department without consulting him. Asked if a decision had been made about the latest ship's fate, Trump appeared uncertain. "Uh, that's a good question," he responded. He later said he authorized his aides to decide - and Pence announced at a news briefing in Washington shortly after the president concluded his remarks that the ship would, in fact, be directed to a noncommercial port where everyone on board would be tested. For the president, the reporters' follow-up questions about the rate of coronavirus testing were a nuisance. CDC Director Robert Redfield and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar stressed that the administration had authorized tens of thousands of testing kits to be distributed. But as Azar sought to parry with a reporter by calling on Redfield to back him up, Trump, without looking at Azar, raised his right hand and waved him off. Redfield said the agency had sent out 75,000 kits. Then Trump jumped in: "Anybody who wants a test will get a test, that's the bottom line." A few moments later, he jokingly compared the situation to his phone call last summer in which he had pressured Ukraine's president to launch an investigation into Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son. "The tests are all perfect, like the letter was perfect, the transcription was perfect, right?" Trump said. "This was not as perfect as that, but pretty good." Trump argued that the death rate in the United States - 15 Americans have died of the virus, though Trump said 11 - remains artificially high because many people who have the illness are not reporting to hospitals because their symptoms are minor. While experts have said that is probably true, the argument seemed to undercut Trump's efforts to minimize the scope of the crisis. While explaining this, Trump appeared irritated by the reaction of a reporter. "You're smiling when I say that. Where are you from?" he asked. When she replied CNN, the president snapped: "I don't watch CNN. That's why I don't recognize you. I don't watch CNN because CNN is fake news." The medical professionals around him smiled uncomfortably. The president had a more positive reaction to Fox News. While explaining he had watched the network's coronavirus coverage aboard Air Force One en route from Nashville - where he had toured tornado damage earlier in the day - to Atlanta, Trump cut himself off. "How was the show last night?" Trump asked a Fox reporter in the room, referring to a Fox News-produced, town-hall-style event in Scranton, Pennsylvania, that he had participated in the night before. "Did it get good ratings?" Trump said. The reporter said he didn't know. "Oh, really?" Trump continued. "I heard it broke all ratings records. But maybe that's wrong. That's what they told me." As his aides did their best to curry Trump's favor - they praised his leadership and sought to reinforce some of his pronouncements - the president opined on the falling stock markets, insisting he is happy that Americans are canceling travel plans abroad to "stay in the United States and spend money in the United States." Though his CDC trip had been canceled over a coronavirus scare at the agency - before being reinstated after the employee tested negative - Trump boasted that he was taking no special precautions while touring the labs. "Not at all," he said. "I'm not a person who has been big on handshaking. They used to make fun of me. But as a politician, you walk in and the doctors have their hands out, 'Hello, sir.' That's my business. I never thought I'd be a politician. But I feel very secure." A has granted bail to Kapil Baisala, arrested for firing in the air in southeast Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area during a protest against the new citizenship law. The court granted bail to Baisala on Friday after hearing arguments from the lawyers appearing for him as well as police. "On considering the totality of facts and circumstances, the accused Kapil Baisala is admitted to bail on furnishing bail bond in a sum of Rs 25,000 with one surety in the like amount," Additional Sessions Judge Gulshan Kumar said. Baisala's counsel submitted to the court that his client has deep roots in society and there was no possibility of his absconding from the law. The application added that Baisala had clean antecedents and he had never been involved in any other case in past. "It is further submitted that the applicant has the responsibility of his wife and minor child. It is further submitted that no purpose will be served by keeping the accused in judicial custody," the application said. The police opposed the bail application, stating that the allegations against Baisala were very serious and the case was at an initial stage. On February 1, Baisala fired two rounds in the air at Shaheen Bagh, where an anti-CAA protest is under way, police said. After being overpowered by police personnel, Baisala chanted "Jai Shri Ram" and said, "Hamare desh me aur kisi ki nahi chalegi, sirf Hinduon ki chalegi (only Hindus shall have a say in our country, no one else)," as he was taken into custody by Delhi Police. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Sat, March 7, 2020 21:03 674 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2069044ca 2 News Tourist,tourism,travel,United-Nations,UN,coronavirus Free The number of international tourist arrivals is expected to drop sharply this year, the World Tourism Organization said Friday, reversing a previous forecast for a substantial increase. The United Nations' UNWTO said in a statement that arrivals were now projected to fall by 1.0-3.0 percent in 2020, instead of a previous forecast of growth of 3.0-4.0 percent. This will lead to an estimated loss of $30-50 billion in international tourism receipts, the Madrid-based body said. If confirmed, this will be the first annual decline in the number of international tourist arrivals since 2009 when the global economic crisis hit the travel and tourism sector hard. "This first assessment expects that Asia and the Pacific will be the worst affected region, with an anticipated fall in arrivals of 9.0 percent to 12.0 percent," the statement said. "Estimates for other world regions are currently premature in view of the rapidly evolving situation." Read also: Indonesian tourism could lose US$4 million amid coronavirus outbreak: Wishnutama The UN body said travel restrictions and flight cancellations had "significantly diminished the supply of travel services while demand continues to retract." It called for "financial and political support for recovery measures aimed at tourism". "Small and medium-sized enterprises make up around 80 percent of the tourism sector and are particularly exposed with millions of livelihoods across the world, including within vulnerable communities, relying on tourism," said the head of the body, Zurab Pololikashvili. International tourism arrivals rose by 4.0 percent in 2019 to 1.5 billion, with France the world's most visited nation, followed by Spain and the United States. They generated around $1.5 trillion in receipts. The novel coronavirus strain that erupted in China this year and causes the COVID-19 disease has killed more than 3,400 people and infected over 100,000 in about 90 nations. US President Donald Trump on March 6 said that the Taliban could possibly overrun the US-backed Afghanistan government after foreign troops withdraw from country as a part of the deal signed last week. As per the Afghan peace deal, the US committed to withdrawing all of its military forces from Afghanistan within 14 months. "It possibly will" On Friday, while speaking at a White House press conference, Trump said that countries have to take care of themselves. "You can only hold someone's hand for so long," he added. When asked if the Taliban could eventually seize power from the Afghan government, the President said that it is not supposed to happen that way but it possibly will. Read: Pakistan Against India's Security Role In Afghanistan On The Backdrop Of US-Taliban Deal Talking about military withdrawal, Trump said that the US forces could not be there for 20 more years. He added that they have already been there for 20 years protecting the country. He went on to say that eventually, Afghans will have to protect themselves. Read: Taliban Attacks Kill 20 Afghan Soldiers Hours After Trump Call: Report The statement came as the Taliban launched an offensive on March 3 killing 20 Afghan army and police officials in a string of overnight attacks. Following which, the US in retaliation March 4 launched an airstrike on the Taliban's fighters in Helmand, international media reported citing US officials. Read: Trump Holds Phone Call With Taliban Leader Baradar: Insurgents Read: Days After The Peace Deal, US President Donald Trump Had 'good Talk' With Taliban Leader Commenting on the Afghanistan government, Trump said that he didnt know if they had the ability to defend itself from Taliban fighters after the US troops pull out. Talking to reporters, he asserted that he could not answer a question on Afghanistan governments capability before saying that they will have to see what happens in the future. As per international media reports, US is now seeking UN Security Council backing for the ambitious peace deal it signed with the Taliban aimed at ending Americas longest war. Read: Pakistan Against India's Security Role In Afghanistan On The Backdrop Of US-Taliban Deal School year kicks off with renewed rallies as students take to streets to denounce structural inequality in education. Antofagasta, Chile High school students in Chile are leading a resurgence in the protests against structural inequality that have rocked the country in recent months. This week, as a new school year began, many high-school students took to the streets instead of returning to classes, organising marches and other protest actions throughout the country. There is a lot of anger and discontent, Coordination of Antofagasta Secondary Students spokesperson, Miyaray Jimenez, told Al Jazeera at a student march in Antofagasta, a city 1,335km (830 miles) north of the capital, Santiago. For those of us who study in free municipal high schools, the education they give us is terrible, the 17-year-old added. Along with an overhaul of healthcare and the privatised pension system, the countrys education system is a top priority for protesters and Chileans in general. The disparity in quality between public and private school education is a key concern, as is university student debt. We want to get the marketplace out of education, Jimenez said. 445 documented eye injuries High school students protests in October sparked nationwide mass demonstrations against the countrys economic model and structural inequality. Over the past four-and-a-half months, thousands of protesters have been arrested and injured. Arson, police and military crackdowns and accidents have left more than 30 people dead. Protests waned in size and frequency by late December, the start of summer holidays in the southern hemisphere, but were expected to pick up again this month. The writing was literally on the wall in Antofagasta, where March is coming messages began popping up last month among the streams of political graffiti in the city centre. High school students lead a multisector march in downtown Antofagasta, in northern Chile [Sandra Cuffe/Al Jazeera] Students at several local high schools organised sit-ins, walkouts, blockades and marches at their schools and united to lead broader local marches in the city this week. Classes were suspended at some locations, and the Carabineros police force cracked down on student protests, resulting in dozens of arrests in Antofagasta and elsewhere. We cannot normalise arrests of minors, Patricia Romo, president of the Antofagasta chapter of the national teachers association, told Al Jazeera. Police also continue to use controversial pellet projectiles that have caused many of the more than 445 documented eye injuries since protests began in October. A 17-year-old in Antofagasta sufferedan eye injury this week during a police crackdown on protests, according to Chiles National Institute of Human Rights. In Mejillones, a town 65km (40 miles) north of Antofagasta, an 18-year-old was hit, resulting in a total loss of vision in one eye. We condemn the repression against our students, Romo said. No response Two-thirds of Chileans believe protests should continue, according to a recent poll by CADEM, a respected polling company. President Sebastian Pineras approval rating is 12 percent. The government has been rolling out incremental reforms for pensions, wages, healthcare and other issues, but they have fallen far short of social movement and protester demands for system change. Pineras government has also been pushing the National Congress to pass a bill to permit military deployment to protect critical infrastructure. Arson, looting and property destruction since October have resulted in billions of dollars in property damage. During a state of emergency in October, military deployment resulted in grave human rights violations, including killings. In a televised interview on Sunday, Pinera said he will decree another state of emergency if he deems it necessary to protect public order. Crackdowns are not going to put an end to protests, according to Ayalen Salgado, 18, a spokesperson for the national Coordinating Assembly of Secondary Students. People are still in the streets because they know that even though repression has intensified and more repressive laws have been enacted, there has still been no response to what people are demanding in the streets, Salgado told Al Jazeera. What we have achieved beyond that is unity and organisation between diverse sectors, she said. Around the country, women are preparing for massive International Womens Day marches on Sunday and feminist strike actions the following day. Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday (March 7, 2020) continued to grill the crisis-hit Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor in connection with a money laundering case probe against him and others. Kapoor was grilled hours after the agency raided his residence in Mumbai on Friday evening. The agency officials said that Kapoor was brought to the ED office in the Ballard Estate area in the afternoon for questioning. On Friday night, the ED officials had raided Rana's residence in the upscale 'Samudra Mahal' complex in the Worli area and had grilled him there too. The case against Kapoor is linked to the scam-hit DHFL as the loans lent by the bank to the company allegedly turned non-performing assets (NPAs), they said. Action against Kapoor is being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the ED. The central agency is also probing Kapoor's role in connection with the disbursal of loans to some corporate entities and the subsequent alleged kickbacks reportedly received in his wife's accounts. Other alleged irregularities are also under the agency's scanner, including the one related to the alleged PF fraud in the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation, they added. The CBI has recently taken over investigation into the Rs 2,267-crore Employees' Provident Fund fraud in Uttar Pradesh, where hard-earned savings of power sector employees were invested in Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL). The ED action came after the Reserve Bank on Thursday imposed a moratorium on the capital-starved Yes Bank, capping withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account and superseded the board of the private sector lender with immediate effect. Yes Bank will not be able to grant or renew any loan or advance, make any investment, incur any liability or agree to disburse any payment. As per the RBI's draft reconstruction scheme, State Bank of India will pick up 49 per cent stake in the crisis-ridden Yes Bank under a government-approved bailout plan. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty OXFORD, EnglandChristopher Steele, a former British spy who compiled the notorious dossier on Donald Trumps relationship with Russia, attacked the Mueller Report and Trumps Department of Justice officials on Friday, in his first public remarks since his bombshell allegations were published in 2017. Speaking to students at Oxford University in England, he described the probe into Russian interference as having failed to do any drilling down into financial networks and leverage, which he said was the way Russian influence works. His appearance at the Oxford Union, a 200-year-old debating society, was held in private but attended by The Daily Beast. Steele said he had been interviewed by Robert Mueller's team probing potential collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and the Russian government for two whole days but said: I was surprised that very little of what I had discussed with them appeared in the final report. He criticized the report for being too narrow and failing to follow up on crucial evidence. There were many things about the report that were good but other (aspects) that were not so good, he said. Steele said the fact that a number of witnessesincluding for instance, Donald Trump Jr. had avoided being interviewed wasnt great. The former head of the Russia desk at Britains MI6 said it was no surprise that Trump did not appreciate the work of the secret service. Trump himself doesnt like intelligence because its ground truth is inconvenient for him, he said. Steele also attacked the U.S. Department of Justices inspector general report on the Russia probe, which criticized the FBIs interactions with him, when The Daily Beast asked him about its findings. Steele described having cooperated with the inquiry over 4 to 5 months but he said he had seen some very bad qualities from U.S. officials, whom he accused of acting in bad faith. Trumps attorney general, Bill Barr, has now appointed U.S. Attorney John Durham to lead a further probe into the origins of the Russia investigation, which was originally labelled Crossfire Hurricane. Story continues Barr has asked Durham to examine whether there was any criminality involved after DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz found serious errors in the FBIs work, conducted amid the tumultuous conditions of the 2016 presidential campaign. Steele said he would not cooperate with Barr and John Durhams new investigation, saying he and his private investigation company Orbis Business Intelligence had already done our duty by cooperating fully with the IG report. As far as Im concerned, he told students. Weve said everything we have to say on the matter. He said that he had fulfilled his obligations toward them, "including confidentiality," but that they had failed to reciprocate. Steele would not say whether anyone from the Department of Justice had contacted him in relation to Durhams new probe. Steeles dossier on Trumps dealings with Russia sensationally alleged that Russian intelligence had spent many years compromising the former businessmanincluding rumors that Trump had been filmed in a Moscow hotel engaging in lewd acts with prostitutes. The Mueller Report dismissed many of the claims in the dossier, including the allegation about the compromising hotel tape. The special counsel also discounted allegations that Trumps lawyer Michael Cohen had traveled to Prague to meet Kremlin officials and claims that Carter Page had met with senior Russian figures. Steele told the students in Oxford that he was still confident in his reports conclusions. We stand by the integrity of our work and the integrity of our sources, he said. Steele also advocated for Western governments to take a more aggressive stance against Russian interference, describing President Putin as a bully and pointing out that the psychology of bullies suggests that if you hit them once, they might hit you back, but they wont bother you again. Many Republicans, led by President Trump, have alleged political bias in Steeles work because his research company was hired by American firm Fusion GPS, which had been conducting opposition research on Trump on behalf of his Republican primary challengers. The Clinton campaign later picked up the tab. Steele dismissed the allegations of bias, describing himself as simply an opponent of President Putin. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Jennifer Garner gave a stylish shout-out to farmers on Friday. The 47-year-old was spotted rocking a 'hug a farmer' T-shirt as she ran errands in Los Angeles on Friday. It's no wonder the actress had kind words for the industry, given that Jennifer launched the baby food company Once Upon A Farm in 2018. Scroll down for video Mom on the go: Jennifer Garner was spotted busy running errands in Los Angeles on Friday The message was written in a cursive font as she carried a take away coffee cup and white paper bag. She paired the tee with medium wash straight jeans and white Gucci sneakers. The 13 Going on 30 actress had her signature brown hair pinned up into a messy bun and covered her eyes with large black sunglasses. Spread love to a farmer: Written across her grey t-shirt was 'hug a farmer' in a cursive font as she carried a take away coffee cup and white paper bag She kept accessories to a minimum, wearing a think gold chain necklace and black leather tote bag. Back in 2018, she founded Once Upon a Farm growing fruits and vegetables and making baby food with no preservatives, concentrates or pre-processed ingredients. After going for a quick food run, she enjoyed some quality time with her 11-year-old daughter Seraphina. Mom and me: After going for a quick food run, she enjoyed some quality time with her 11-year-old daughter Seraphina Along with Seraphina, Garner also shares daughter Violet, 14, and son Samuel, eight, with The Way Back actor. Meanwhile, Affleck was spotted hanging in Cuba with his Deep Water co-star Ana de Armas, weeks after they finished filming. The two stars were seen dining together in Havana at a cozy restaurant. And the photogenic duo were also seen chatting while walked around the picturesque town, even stopping in a market at one point. I'm a farmer too: Back in 2018, she founded Once Upon a Farm growing fruits and vegetables and making baby food with no preservatives, concentrates or pre-processed ingredients Romance or friendly get away: Meanwhile, her ex-husband Ben Affleck was spotted hanging in Cuba with his Deep Water co-star Ana de Armas, weeks after they finished filming It seems Affleck took a liking the rising star, who was recently in Oscar nominated Knives Out and will be a Bond Girl in No Time To Die releasing in November. They were seen by fans who took photos of the pair while enjoying Cuba. Their film, Deep Water, will also be released in November. Affleck and Garner were married from 2005 until 2018. Virginie Viard recontextualised the grey Parisian rooftops in her Spring 2020 outing and then recreated Coco Chanels Art Deco apartment located on the Rue de Cambon in her Pre-Fall2019 showcase. She took us to the Abbey of Aubazine (the orphanage where Coco Chanel grew up) with her Spring 2020 couture. Every outing has been a thoughtful homage to the hallowed French houses rich archive - toasting the legacy of Gabrielle Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld while making it more of-the-moment, pared-down and with a freewheeling weightlessness. The Byzantine embellished cross on a piece brought to mind the embroidered Christian Lacroix jacket on Vogues November 1988 cover featuring shot by Peter Lindbergh and featuring featuring model Michaela Bercu. For Chanels Fall-Winter 20/21 collection too, Viard had Gabrielle Chanels racehorse Romantica on her mind and also a portrait of Karl Lagerfeld in a striped suit with riding boots on her moodboard. And who could overlook her lover Boy Capels (an English polo player) impact on her work? Models saunter down Chanels dramatic runway. Exploring the idea of tough femininity, she sent out 72 looks, each presented with two-toned chunky heeled boots. While there were no dresses on the runway, Edwardian inspired crop tops and blazers had a conversation with micro shorts and long cocktail coats. One of the standout looks was the artful reinterpretation of Pegasus on a jacket with delicate lace. The Byzantine embellished cross on a piece brought to mind the embroidered Christian Lacroix jacket on Vogues November 1988 cover featuring shot by Peter Lindbergh and featuring featuring model Michaela Bercu. For Chanels Fall-Winter 20/21 collection too, Viard had Gabrielle Chanels racehorse Romantica on her mind and also a portrait of Karl Lagerfeld in a striped suit with riding boots on her moodboard. Adding to the gamine allure were the jodhpur pants with side leg seams press-stud closures. The knee-length tweed coats clashed with micro shorts wreaking a delectable visual dichotomy. Gigi Hadid who walked hand in hand with other models gave us major squad goals. Their fluid mane tied half up was a strong nod to the 90s and models sported a radiant glow, strong eyes and healthy lips. Virginies Chanel girls are fun and fearless and their clothing picks radiate a sliver of insouciance which has long been part of the DNA of the brand. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON According to SAG-AFTRA, Ms. Gordon was the first woman to do network promos and to serve as an announcer for a political convention on national TV. She was active in the union and, in 1966, became the first woman to lead one of its chapters when she was elected president of the New York branch. 'Both sides will suffer on this," says White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow: AP Donald Trump's top economic adviser has acknowledged that officials dont actually know what the magnitude of the coronavirus is going to be amid a global outbreak while stressing that Americans should continue to work. Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, told CNBCs Squawk on the Street that Americans should remain calm as the death toll from the virus surpasses 3,400 worldwide, with at least 250 cases confirmed across the country. I dont want to downplay anything, the White House adviser began. Worry about the effect on human beings, for heavens sake. He added: But Im just saying, lets not overreact. In many ways, America should stay at work. Mr Kudlow also suggested the mysterious virus believed to have originated in a market in Wuhan, China wouldnt result in a major outbreak in the US. We dont actually know what the magnitude of the virus is going to be, he said, although frankly so far it looks relatively contained. Those comments appeared to reflect statements the president made during a town hall with Fox News on Thursday night, in which he celebrated the stock markets performance surrounding coronavirus. Look, we were set to hit 30,000 on the Dow, Mr Trump said. And even though its down 10 or 11 percent, its still the highest its ever been, by far. It certainly might have an impact. He added: At the same time, I have to say, people are now staying in the United States, spending their money in the US and I like that. People are now staying in the United States, spending their money in the US, and I like that. Ive been after that for a long time. He once again echoed those comments on Friday morning, telling reporters at the White House a lot of people are staying here due to coronavirus and were going to have Americans staying home amid the outbreak. Meanwhile, US health officials have warned the spread of the virus was inevitable and have encouraged citizens to take proactive measures to avoid contracting the virus. Story continues A Reuters report on Friday also suggested the US was considering discouraging Americans from travelling on cruise ships, where a number of coronavirus outbreaks have occurred in recent weeks after the virus initially began spreading from China. Read more Trump links solid jobs report to people staying in US over coronavirus Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) A police official from Norzagaray, Bulacan was arrested after authorities discovered an inmate was working as his "personal driver," the Philippine National Police said Saturday. The PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group said they caught town deputy chief Captain Wilfredo Dizon Jr. inside his vehicle with the male detainee, Friday afternoon. Were conducting an accounting of prisoners in the said police station in coordination with the Bulacan police headquarters. Again, this is a grave offense which will not be tolerated by the PNP leadership, said Colonel Ronald Lee, director of the new integrity enforcement group, in a statement. Lee said he will recommend grave misconduct charges against Dizon. Dizon will also face raps for bribery, graft and corruption, and violation of Article 156 of the Revised Penal Code, the statement said. Those who shall remove a person from jail or help in an escape by means of violence, intimidation, bribery or other means shall face imprisonment of up to six months, it added. This comes a day after the group also caught Argao, Cebu police chief Major Idelfonso Miranda Jr. sleeping with a female inmate. He was also charged with the same violations as Dizon. The family of a 27-year-old Dauphin County told Pennsylvania State Police that he has been missing since March 4. Nicholas Allen Feidt was last seen in the central Pennsylvania area. His name has been entered into the National Crime Information Center, according to the state police missing persons report. As of Friday evening, state police did not have a current picture of him to publish. He is described as approximately five feet 10 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds. He has blue eyes and shaved brown hair. He was last seen wearing tan military boots, blue jeans, tan vest, and a dark-colored winter cap. Troopers said he is believed to be operating a dark blue 2014 Subaru Outback limited registered in Pennsylvania. The license plate is KYB-5744. He is thought to be in either Pennsylvania or New York, troopers said. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at Lykens at 717-362-8700. 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. I was joking with our nurse that day that my life goal has changed now. Everyday I wake up, I look forward to getting the injection, then I look forward to my meal. Because I believe you can cure us. We are not afraid anymore because you are guarding us. We want to go for a walk by the river now, with masks of course. Do you guys want to have a walk too? I am going to have double insurance. Daddy do you need a mask? Let me get you one. Okay, Ill get it myself. Do you have one, Junting? I do. Mommy is so wise. Mommy foresaw this outbreak two years ago a hunch. And I bought so many masks. 100! I can give you one. How long have you been staying home? I havent gone out for six days. Buttons of the elevator are all wrapped up. Happy New Year! We all wear big masks! Just keep wearing it! The news just said today the U.S. will start travel control tomorrow. Yes. Its not lucky to be back at this time. Well we cant have a big family meal this year. Ah, no need! He still should have the lucky money! Thank you! That mask looks good! Did you make it? Of course not! This is N95! N95? You cant find them now but experts say it is a waste for us to use. My mom hasnt stepped out of the apartment. Today is my first time out for the past week also. We went out everyday and people said we are so bold. They said it is not human-to-human and it is controllable. And now its all out of control. This wont work! This is working. Dont mess up the plant! Just put it here! Please hold on! Please wait! Please wait! Wait! Wait! Please wait a bit! Thanks! Ah, theyre coming! All local government departments must obey the order from the central. Dear passenger, the flight you booked...January...New York...flight...the departure date has been changed to...February 7th! Damn, I just requested a refund! You requested a refund? Damn. This is so dramatic! Okay. Let me call them. For inquiries, please press one. Damn! How long have you been on the call? Already 20 minutes. 20 minutes and 18 seconds. We have too many requests. Just let it go. Lets see how it goes tomorrow. We still have...lets see...We have some. But we still have two months ahead. If we use one mask at a time, we wont last for a month. What about the ones I bought? Yours have Yes lets count everything. Two...Four...Six...Seven! There are seven left of the ones you bought. I will figure it out. Mommy is all about solutions. Mommy is very incredible, Im telling you. You can tell from all the masks I prepared beforehand. That is completely luck. Well do you have such luck? Well it only means you are a lucky person. Luck roots in intelligence! My brother just told me all the masks in the pharmacy go to the hospital first. Im fixing this mask. Somehow the strap is broken here. Its gone and Im sewing it back. Like this. There are two layers. Ill wash this layer when we get home. Wash it with soap and put it in boiling water. Then we can use it again. Two layers. One layer is enough. Two layers! The delivery guy had two layers yesterday! People found a way to continue using the mask! Please press your left hand thumb. Please lift your finger. Fingerprints are collected. Please wait. In the beginning, the airline sent us a message saying the flight was cancelled. So were supposed to request a refund. So I requested the refund immediately. Later they sent a second message saying the flight was changed to February 7th. Mommy asked them to cancel the refund. Look at how many messages I sent to them. They finally responded to my request. Dont you feel like CCTV talks about the same stuff everyday? Well, it is what it is. We need positive energy. But dont you feel like youll never know what its like in Wuhan? No, I dont know. Well, there are a lot of rumors on WeChat. I mean on the news. We can see nothing on the news. We can only read some rumors on WeChat. But unregulated articles will get deleted. Our news is about praising. News abroad is about critique. Theres a big difference. How many days have you been back? 23, 24, 25, 26... So its how much less? Two weeks less. Junting, how should we take the photo? How should we do it? Whichever way you like. It doesnt matter. How does Mommy want it? If we shoot the whole body, we will see Mommys pajamas. It has some characters. Sit closer, sit closer. Hello, body temperature check. Our family wont lose. Because of Mommys genes. Your turn. What? Because of Mommys genes. It goes without saying. They dont allow filming here, Junting. Every day brings more tumult to the Bay Area as the region grapples with the impact of the coronavirus, along with COVID-19, the deadly disease it causes, and the efforts to keep it from spreading out of control. This update, drawn from questions that have been sent to The Chronicle, starts with concerns about how the infectious virus might be transmitted. We will continue to update this feature and you are welcome to send your own inquiries to sfchronicle.com/coronavirus-questions. Q: Can you catch COVID-19 again, after having suffered through it once? After you recover from the virus, are you safe? A: This is one of many as-yet unknown aspects of a virus that was unknown before early December. A disease like measles can only infect you once; respiratory illnesses such as a cold or the flu can recur again and again. With the coronavirus, early evidence suggests that reinfection isnt likely. Earlier this month, however, there were reports from Japan that a passenger who had tested positive on the Diamond Princess cruise ship seemed to recover from the virus, but then tested positive a second time. Q: When people go outside for walks, is it possible for the virus to live on sidewalks and trails and then be tracked into the home? A: The fact that something can persist on a surface does not mean it is infectious, said Dr. David Witt, an infectious disease specialist with Kaiser Permanente. Viruses need our lungs and respiratory tracks to grow. They become less vital anywhere else. Q: Can the virus be transmitted sexually? A: Not that we know of, Dr. Witt said. But any sexual encounter is likely to involve forms of contact such as kissing and hugging, which would enable the transfer of infectious virus droplets from one person to the next. Q: My boyfriend and I don't live together. During the shelter in place are we allowed to see each other? A: The reality is, were humans. We need contact, said Carla Schoof, a San Mateo County spokewoman focused on coronavirus-related topics. And if theyve been together frequently up until the order, being together in one or the others apartment is much like family. Nonetheless, Schoof urges caution: Lets think about it this way. Did they have to travel to get there? Were they driving or on a bus? ... These are challenging things. Q: We are parents. Can we leave the house to move our child out of college? A: That makes perfect sense, Schoof said. As for one Napa parent who asked if a pregnant daughter could leave her San Francisco apartment to return home to a much more spacious house and backyard, family members relocating is OK. Q: Will mass transit be suspended? Now Playing: Here is what you need to know about the coronavirus. Video: Manjula Varghese A: Maybe not officially but as shown by the March 26 announcement that BART will close at 9 p.m. until further notice and open at 8 a.m. on weekends beginning March 28, the reductions in service are real. Q: But could the regions 26 transit agencies all be told to idle their engines? A: Shutting down all transit would be a significant step. I dont even know how that would happen, said Randy Rentschler, legislative director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The commission is the closest thing to an oversight agency for the regions transit systems. That said, Rentschler emphasized nobody knows what the next few weeks look like. Weve all drawn up emergency response plans for years, planning for things like an earthquake or a terrorist attack, Rentschler said. I dont ever recall a scenario situation involving a contagious disease. Q: If we bring home food that someone with the virus has coughed on, will the virus die in the refrigerator or freezer? Or does it revive when the germs warm back up? A: All evidence suggests that the viruses are unlikely to survive refrigeration. And if your ingredients go into a meal prepared on the stove or in the oven, all will be well. When you cook it, you kill it, said Dr. George Rutherford, a professor of epidemiology at UCSF. Viruses are environmentally fragile. Q: How long does the virus remain infectious when its on a solid surface? A: The answer depends on the surface: according to a new study that was published online by the New England Journal of Medicine and sponsored in part by the National Institute of Health,a virus can remain active on surfaces ranging from four hours on copper to 24 hours on cardboard and two to three days on plastic or stainless steel. But the findings are preliminary, and Dr. Rutherford is skeptical that the virus would remain potent for that long. Not only is the data preliminary, those tests are done in perfect lab conditions, he pointed out. Which means that in real-life settings, the viability probably fades more quickly. See our detailed FAQ on the coronavirus and surfaces. Q: People with HIV are afraid that because of their weakened immune system they are more likely to die if they catch the virus. Is this the case? A: As with so much related to COVID-19, No one knows, Rutherford said. No study has been done, and the virus has yet to spread widely in places like San Francisco, where there are large numbers of people living with HIV. But the grim reality of HIV is that it reduces a persons ability to fight off viruses that he or she encounters. If you have HIV, you have an increased risk of getting symptoms and having diseases whatever they might be, Rutherford said though he added that people whose immune systems have recovered and are on antiretroviral therapy likely are at no greater risk than people of the same age. Q: Do we have specific demographics of people who have tested positive in the Bay Area? A: Not yet doctors and scientists are busy responding to the challenges of the moment, at a time when the number of cases is increasing by the day. The biggest such study so far looked at Chinas 44,672 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Feb. 11. It was done by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and found that 2% of the cases were in people 19 years and younger, 8% were ages 20-29, 87% were ages 30-79 and 3% were ages 80 and above. In terms of mortality rate, however, the study found no deaths associated with children younger than 9. The mortality for older people climbed from 4% for ages 60-79 to 8% for ages 70-89 and 14.8% for ages 80-89. Q: Are there any categories of people who dont seem to be getting the virus, such as breast-feeding babies or children reaching puberty? A: As the numbers above indicate, not quite. And even if relatively few children show COVID-19 symptoms, it appears that they can still be asymptomatic carriers passing on the virus to other people even if they dont themselves get sick. Q: Can the requirements to get Real ID on my drivers license be extended several months? Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. A: The federal government has not rolled back the Oct. 1 for Americans to be approved for REAL ID if they want to use their drivers licenses to travel by plane. At least so far. But if you need to renew your driver license, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has asked police and the California Highway Patrol to allow a 60-day leeway period in their enforcement of driver license and vehicle registration expiration dates. This would apply to people including those who are 70 and older, and anyone needing to visit the DMV in person for a license renewal. Q: How do we get help with income loss, and preventing eviction? A: Governments at every level are wrestling with how to provide aid to people whose economic stability is imperiled. San Francisco and other Bay Area cities have implemented or are drafting moratoriums on evictions. Landlords arent allowed to force tenants out of their apartments if their income suffers because their business closes or their work hours are reduced. San Francisco also is creating a $10 million fund that businesses can draw on to provide five extra days of sick leave to employees in need because of business closures or reduced hours. It has established a fund www.give2sf.org that people can contribute to. The assistance would go to everything from individual assistance to bridge funds for cash-strapped small businesses. See our detailed FAQ on the coronavirus and the economy. Q: Is it OK to meet friends to exercise outside? A: Not really. The Bay Areas shelter-in-place orders allow people to engage in outdoor activity ... such as, by way of example and without limitation, walking, hiking or running. But youre also ordered to engage in social distancing practices and stay 6 feet from other individuals. Touch football, for instance, is strictly taboo. Q: Can one ride a bike for exercise? A: Its good to go out for exercise, San Mateo Countys Schoof said. Bicycling is OK. Parks are OK. Q: How can I, a senior, protect myself when I go grocery shopping? A: Its not a fail-proof answer, but supermarket chains and many independent groceries are beginning to hold early shopping hours often starting at 7 a.m. when only older residents are asked to come into the store. This reduces the likelihood of exposure to the virus because of exposure to crowds, or younger people who may be asymptomatic. Q: Isnt the coronavirus really just another form of the flu? A: The answer is no. The symptoms are very simple, almost indistinguishable, but the virus itself is very different than the flu, which is influenza, said Dr. Susan Philip, director of disease prevention and control at the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Thats why so many aspects of what might lie ahead make many people fearful. We have a lot of experience with the flu, Philip said. COVID-19 is a completely new human infection. We dont know if it will be seasonal, or year-round, or if it will stop being transmitted among humans, as was the case with SARS, another virus that raised the specter of pandemic in the early 2000s. Q: Are automobile accidents down with more people staying home? A: With the exception of traffic being lighter than usual, its pretty much business as usual, Off. John Fransen of the Golden Gate Division of the California Highway Patrol said earlier this month. Drivers do some crazy things. John King is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron Hogan (R) urged people who attended the conference in Prince Georges County to take their temperature twice a day and notify their health-care provider and local health department if that temperature exceeds 100.4 or if they develop a cough, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Anyone with those symptoms should remain at home until they receive instructions about next steps from their health-care provider or local health department, Hogan said in a statement. (Photo : REUTERS/Sergio Flores) Pedestrians walk through downtown after the South by Southwest (SXSW) music and tech festival was canceled over growing concerns related to the coronavirus outbreak in Austin, Texas, U.S. March 6, 2020. Tech companies, such as Twitter, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, made announcements this week for treating their respective contractors and hourly employees with some love and decency. As the coronavirus prompts tech giants to ask salaried personnel to work from home, tech contractors lacking the same benefits won't have to choose between health and bills. If you're an hourly cook in a tech campus' kitchen and salaried personnel forestalls entering the workplace due to the virus, the official time for the disease because of the illness, your services aren't as needed. They won't translate to a pay cut. ALSO READ: 6 Ways To Be Productive When Working From Home Twitter Twitter told Mashable it would give hourly workers, including those who can't perform their responsibilities from home, their regular pay while travel restrictions are in effect. "All employees, including hourly workers, will receive reimbursement toward their home office set up expenses, and we are working with our vendors to ensure our contractors' WFH needs are met as well," a Twitter spokesperson told Mashable. Google, Facebook Google, for its part, confirmed over email that office contractors will still receive a commission in locations that have work-from-home policies in place. Facebook also followed through, according to TechCrunch. In an email, company spokesperson Chloe Meyere said the tech corporation is working closely with its vendors to prioritize its employees' health and safety. "Facebook will pay contingent workers that cannot work due to reduced [staff] during voluntary work from home, when we close an office, when we choose to send an employee home, or when they are sick," the email added. Microsoft Microsoft, in a Thursday evening blog post, said it recognizes the hardship that lost work can mean for hourly employees. The tech company, as a result, decided to continue to pay all our vendor hourly service providers their regular pay during this period of reduced service needs. Apple Mashable reached out to Apple to confirm if it had made a similar decision but received no immediate response. The Verge, meanwhile, reports that the tech giant will "supply hourly workers their normal pay." Amazon Amazon told Axios it will also pay its almost 10,000 hourly employees on its Seattle-area office - including food service, security guards, and janitors - when regular employees are asked to work from home. The e-Commerce company would also subsidize one month of rent for the local small businesses that operate in its own buildings to help support them during this period. The company has also reached its work from home recommendations to San Francisco Bay Area employees. Silicon Valley A week ago, Silicon Valley called on the tech sector to include subcontractors and gig workers in Coronavirus response systems. In a Tweet, Silicon Valley lauded the tech giants for doing the right thing. ALSO READ: 6 Ways To Be Productive When Working From Home Silicon Valley, the home to many start-ups and global technology companies in the world, urged the rest of the industry to follow suit to avoid public health crises in the tech sector. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NEW SOUTH WALES: 61 January 25 Three men aged 43, 53, and 35 who had recently travelled to China contracted the disease. Two flew in from Wuhan while the other arrived in Sydney from Shenzhen, south China. They were treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital. January 27 A 21-year-old woman is identified as the fourth person to test positive for the illness in NSW. The woman, a student at UNSW, flew into Sydney International Airport on flight MU749 on January 23 and presented to the emergency department 24 hours later after developing flu-like symptoms. March 1 A man in his 40s is confirmed as the fifth coronavirus case in the state and a woman in her 50s as the sixth. Both returned to Sydney from Iran. March 2 The 41-year-old sister of a man who had returned from Iran with the disease was one of three confirmed cases. The second locally-acquired case was a 53-year-old male health worker who hadn't travelled for many months. The other new case is a 31-year-old man who flew into Sydney on Saturday from Iran and developed symptoms 24 hours later. March 3 Six more cases are confirmed in NSW. They included a 39-year-old man who had flown in from Iran and a 53-year-old man who arrived from Singapore last Friday. It also included two women aged in their 60s who arrived in Sydney from South Korea and Japan respectively. A man in his 30s who returned from Malaysia to Sydney on Malindo Air flight OD171 on March 1 was also one of the six. A 50-year-old carer was the final of the day's six people diagnosed with coronavirus. The woman is a carer at a nursing home in Macquarie Park in Sydney's north. She had not been overseas and contracted the virus in Australia. March 4 A 95-year-old woman died at a Sydney hospital on Wednesday night after developing a respiratory illness from the coronavirus, bringing the death toll to two. A Macquarie University lecturer tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday after returning from Iran. A further six cases confirmed on Wednesday evening. They included an 82-year-old aged care resident from the Dorothy Henderson Lodge, where the 95-year-old woman was staying. The new cases include a female doctor who works at Liverpool hospital, a female patient from the Northern Beaches, a male from Cronulla, a woman who returned from the Phillippines and a woman in her 70s. March 5 A health care worker, who attended the same conference as the doctor from Ryde Hospital, also tests positive. A boy from Epping Boys High School is diagnosed with COVID-19 forcing the school to temporarily close. A Goulburn resident who had recently returned from Singapore and travelled on to Darwin was also diagnosed with the virus. A fourth resident, aged 94, from the Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care facility in Macquarie Park was also diagnosed. March 6 Two more workers at the Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care centre are diagnosed with coronavirus. A 24-year-old female and 21-year-old male have now been confirmed as cases at the facility. An 18-year-old female has also been diagnosed. March 7 Six new cases are diagnosed. This includes a man in his 50s and a woman in her 40s, who are a close contact of a previously confirmed case. Also included was a man in his 40s and a woman in her 40s, both family members of a previously confirmed case. A man in his 20s, also a close contact of a previously confirmed case, was also included. A man in his 70s, who returned from Italy and who exhibited symptoms a day after returning. NSW Health is contacting flight passengers on flight number QR908 which left Doha on 1 March. A second male in his 40s, who is a known close contact of a previously confirmed case, is being tested. He travelled on two domestic flights on 28 February while symptomatic but before he had been identified as a close contact. Another man in his 60s who recently returned from Italy and a second man in his 40s who is a known close contact of a previously confirmed case, were confirmed late Saturday. NSW Health says the man in his 40s travelled on two domestic flights on 28 February while symptomatic. March 8 A female care worker in her 30s at Ryde Hospital is among new cases in New South Wales. She had been in contact with a case in Macquarie Park aged care facility which had already been confirmed. Another woman, in her 50s, was the other person confirmed to have caught the disease. She had also been in contact with a previous case. An 82-year-old man, who contracted the coronavirus from an infected aged care worker at BaptistCare's Dorothy Henderson Lodge in his Sydney, died on Sunday. A man in his 70s was diagnosed after presenting to Sydney's St Vincent Hospital on Friday. He hadn't recently travelled overseas and the source of his infection is not known. A man in his 40s who recently travelled overseas was confirmed on Sunday night as NSW's 40th case. No other details about the case are available. March 9 St Patricks Marist College in Sydney's north west is forced to close after two students in grade 10, one boy and one girl, are diagnosed with coronavirus. Both fathers of the year 10 students, aged in their 50s have also tested positive, including a third member of the ADF. The father of the male St Patricks Marist College student is diagnosed with coronavirus. He is also the third Australian Defence Force member to test positive. A grade 7 student at Willoughby Girls High School was another confirmed case on March 9. The girl's mother, who is Iranian, was also diagnosed. Woman aged in her 30s was diagnosed on Monday having recently returned from the Philippines. NSW Health is establishing her travel movements and identifying any contacts who may require self-isolation. March 10 Cases confirmed on Tuesday March 10 include a woman in her 20s who had contact with a previously confirmed case at Ryde Hospital and a woman in her 40s who recently returned from South Korea. NSW Health is separately working to establish how three others were infected: two women in their 30s and 40s and a man in his 70s. Two other cases are related to the outbreak at the Dorothy Henderson Lodge nursing home in Macquarie Park. Another case was confirmed. A man in his 70s, a woman in her 30s and a woman in her 40s test positive, as well as three other people. VICTORIA: 21 January 25 A Chinese national aged in his 50s becomes the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Australia. The man flew to Melbourne on China Southern flight CZ321 from Wuhan via Guangzhou on January 19. He was quarantined at Monash Hospital in Clayton in Melbourne's east. January 29 A Victorian man in his 60s is diagnosed with the coronavirus. He became unwell on January 23 - two days after returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The man was confirmed as positive on January 29 and was subsequently seen by doctors at the Monash Medical Centre. January 30 A woman in her 40s is found to have coronavirus. She was visiting from China and mostly spent time with her family. She is being treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital. February 1 A woman in her 20s in Melbourne is found to have the virus. February 22 Two passengers taken off the Diamond Princess cruise ship test positive. February 25 Another passenger taken off the cruise ship tests positive. March 1 Victorian man confirmed to have coronavirus after the 78-year-old was evacuated to Melbourne from a Darwin quarantine centre. It is confirmed a Victorian woman in her 30s has tested positive for coronavirus after flying from Malaysia to Melbourne via Indonesia. March 4 Victorian man in his 30s confirmed to have coronavirus after returning from Iran. Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the man was 'almost symptom-free' after self-isolating March 7 A doctor working at a clinic in Toorak, Melbourne has been confirmed to have coronavirus and is now in isolation at home after returning from a trip to the US. The doctor came into contact with around 70 patients who have been told to self isolate. March 8 A woman who arrived in the state from Indonesia has tested positive March 9 Authorities confirmed on Monday two new cases in returned travellers from the United States. A third case was diagnosed on Monday in a passenger who recently returned from Iran. One of the cases is a woman in her 50s who returned from Tehran via Kuala Lumpar on MH0149, arriving on March 6, and is in hospital in isolation being treated for pneumonia. March 10 A man in his 70s who returned to Melbourne from Singapore on March 6 at 12.15am on flight EK404 was confirmed to be carrying the disease. A Victorian man in his 20s who recently returned from Hong Kong was diagnosed. A teacher from Carey Baptist Grammer was diagnosed. The school will closed until next week while students are tested March 11 A male teacher at Yeshivah-Beth Rivkah college was diagnosed with coronavirus after arriving in Australia on a flight from Los Angeles on March 6. QUEENSLAND: 19 January 29 Queensland confirms its first case after a 44-year-old Chinese national was diagnosed with the virus. He is being treated at Gold Coast University Hospital. January 30 A 42-year-old Chinese woman who was travelling in the same Wuhan tour group as the 44-year-old man tests positive. She is in Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition. February 4 An eight-year-old boy was diagnosed with coronavirus. He is also from the tour group where the other Queensland cases came from. February 5 A 37-year-old man, who was a member of a group of nine Chinese tourists in quarantine on the Gold Coast, also tested positive. February 6 A 37-year-old woman was diagnosed with coronavirus from the same travel group that flew to Queensland from Melbourne on January 27. February 21 Two Queensland women, aged 54 and 55, tested positive for COVID-19 and will be flown to Brisbane for further treatment. A 57-year-old woman from Queensland also tested positive for the virus. February 28 A 63-year-old woman was confirmed to have the virus after returning to the Gold Coast from Iran. March 3 A 20-year-old man from China was confirmed as the tenth person to be infected by the coronavirus in Queensland. The man had travelled to Dubai for at least 14 days before entering Australia, via Brisbane on February 23. March 4 A 26-year-old man from Logan in Brisbane is diagnosed with coronavirus. He arrived back in Australia from Iran. March 5 An 81-year-old man who had returned to Brisbane from Thailand and a 29-year-old woman who had come via Singapore from London are diagnosed with coronavirus. March 6 A 28-year-old man in Brisbane was diagnosed after returning from Iran. March 8 A 38-year-old woman is confirmed to have tested positive for coronavirus after returning to Australia from London via Dubai. March 10 A 42-year-old female is n the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition. She is the partner of the 38-year-old woman, who travelled from London through Dubai. A 46-year-old female from Brisbane, who recently travelled to Austria and France, is confirmed to have contracted the illness. A 22-year-old male from Brisbane is in a stable condition in The Prince Charles Hospital. He recently travelled to Spain, Italy and France. March 11 A student at the University of Queensland was diagnosed with coronavirus. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 7 February 1 A Chinese couple in their 60s who arrived in Adelaide from Wuhan to visit relatives are confirmed to have coronavirus. A 24-year-old woman from South Australia was transferred to Royal Adelaide Hospital. March 4 Mother, 40, is diagnosed after flying to Australia from Iran via Kuala Lumpur. Another 24-year-old woman, not related to the previous woman, was in a stable condition in Adelaide hospital after falling ill following overseas travel. March 5 The eight-month-old child of the 40-year-woman, diagnosed on March 4, is also diagnosed with coronavirus. Renowned Australian music composer Brett Dean, 58, who travelled to SA on March 3 from Taiwan also tests positive. He's receiving treatment in an Adelaide hospital. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 6 February 21 A 78-year-old man from Western Australia was transferred to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth. On February 28, he was taken into intensive care in a 'serious' condition and later died. His wife was also diagnosed with coronavirus. March 1 The elderly man died in the early hours of the morning from the virus at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. March 5 A woman in Perth is diagnosed with the virus after flying into the city from the UK, via Dubai March 8 A Perth woman, aged in her 70s, was confirmed as WAs fourth coronavirus diagnosis. She had been in Cuba in recent weeks had flown from London to Perth on a direct flight on March 5. The woman was tested for COVID-19 on Friday but didnt wait for the results before attending a the West Australian Symphony Orchestras Absolute Beethoven concert on Saturday night. March 9 A West Australian woman in her 60s contracted coronavirus from her husband after he returned from Iran, making her the state's first person-to-person transmission of COVID-19. TASMANIA: 2 March 2 The man who travelled from Iran to Australia on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19. March 7 A man in his 20s was diagnosed with coronavirus after returning to Tasmania from Nepal on February 26 and experiencing cold-like symptoms the next day. He is in the Royal Hobart Hospital in a satisfactory condition. NORTHERN TERRITORY: 1 March 4 A tourist in Darwin has tested positive for coronavirus in what is the first confirmed case in the Northern Territory. NT Health confirmed the 52-year-old man as the first case of COVID-19 in the community on Wednesday evening. The man recently arrived in Darwin via Sydney and has had limited contact with the local community, NT Health said in a statement. By PTI COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's opposition United National Party (UNP) on Saturday said it will contest the impending parliamentary elections in the country, days after its faction led by Sajith Premadasa forged an alliance with smaller parties. Premadasa, the deputy leader of the UNP, on March 2 launched the new Samagi Janabala Wegaya or the United People's Force with the traditional minority Muslim and Tamil allies of UNP joining the coalition. The new alliance was launched despite an impasse over its symbol. The alliance was formed amid speculation that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would dissolve the Parliament this week, paving the way for snap elections in April, months ahead of the schedule. President Rajapaksa, who named his elder brother and former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime minister of the caretaker cabinet in December, can now legally dissolve the Parliament and call an election. He had earlier said he wanted two-thirds seats in the 225-member assembly. The main faction of the UNP led by former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has officially conveyed to the Elections Commission that they would be contesting the election. The UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam on Monday wrote to the Elections Commission chief about the party's intention to contest the polls. The move is contrary to the UNP's apex body's approval to form a broader opposition alliance under the leadership of Premadasa. Meanwhile, analysts say it is becoming increasingly likely that the UNP would split as the leaders file nominations between March 15-22 to fight the polls. Serious differences have emerged within the UNP as the Wickremesinghe camp and the Premadasa camp had not arrived at an agreement on the symbol. The UNP has decided to contest the election under the 'elephant' symbol while Premadasa-led alliance wanted a different symbol. The UNP working committee has approved Premadasa, who lost the presidential candidate in November, as the party's prime ministerial aspirant in the upcoming election. Fraud gangs may have got away with crimes that raked in millions of pounds because of an IT failure in the system recording complaints from victims. The problem meant there were delays of 15 months in passing on the details of up to 400,000 cases to the police, according to the consumer group Which? The system for reporting fraud has been repeatedly accused of letting down victims with many complaining about a lack of action, feedback and support. Any delay in passing the details of a scam means those involved remain free to continue to dupe and steal. Which? said the failure stemmed from a breakdown in information shared between the National Fraud Database, maintained by Cifas, which describes itself as 'the UK's leading fraud prevention service', and the City of London Police's National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB). The problem meant there were delays of 15 months in passing on the details of up to 400,000 cases to the police, according to the consumer group Which? (file photo) Which? found the data was not automatically shared between the two from October 2018, when the City of London Police started developing a new crime-reporting service. As a result, hundreds of thousands of cases may have been investigated without crucial pieces of evidence or, potentially, not at all. Which? says that at least 300,000 crimes may not have been shared since the issue began, but that number could be as high as 400,000. The findings are the latest in a series of alarming revelations about the system for investigating fraud - a crime estimated to have cost victims 2.2billion between April 2018 and March 2019. The real figure, however, is likely to be much higher as many victims do not report the crime. Which? is calling for Cifas and City of London Police to account for the unacceptably long breakdown in fraud reporting. The editor of Which? Money, Jenny Ross, said: 'The UK is in the grip of a fraud crisis and, with police already struggling with complex investigations, it beggars belief that one of the country's most crucial reporting tools did not function properly for so long. 'People are suffering from the devastating financial and emotional impact of scams every day, and victims need to know the authorities are taking these crimes seriously. To restore public confidence it's vital that the Government, industry and police work together effectively to show they are addressing serious flaws in the system.' A City of London Police spokesman said the 'technical difficulties' which led to the problem had been resolved. He added: 'The vast majority of outstanding reports - over 95 per cent - have now been brought across, and new records are routinely feeding in on a daily basis.' A spokesman for Cifas said that during the development of the new crime-reporting system it had 'continued to support City of London Police by manually supplying data to support their investigations'. He added: 'The NFIB has recently confirmed that their new system has been implemented and Cifas data has now been uploaded successfully.' Chino, CA (91710) Today Mostly clear. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) President Rodrigo Duterte will declare a state of public health emergency as the Department of Health confirmed the coronavirus disease could be spreading within local communities and reported the sixth infection case in the country, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go disclosed on Saturday. This announcement came shortly after the Department of Health and Go, who is also Senate Committee on Health and Demography chairman, said they have recommended the declaration of a public health emergency, amid the threat of local transmission, which Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said could trigger work and class suspensions. Duque said in a briefing on Saturday that the official declaration could be made by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday: We are looking at Monday for the release or issuance of document that will say the President has approved our recommendation. Under Republic Act 11332, a public health emergency refers to an occurrence of an imminent threat of an illness or health condition which could pose a high probability of a large number of deathswidespread exposure to an infectious agent. Under the law, unauthorized disclosure of private and confidential information of patients medical condition or treatment is prohibited unless legal order by a court compels the institutions to do so. The top health official said this will allow for an easier access to financial resources which will be used to control the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Earlier this week, Duque said they are still awaiting for the passage of the measures seeking to give DOH an over P2 billion in supplemental funding which will be utilized to purchase surgical masks and personal protective equipment for health workers in the frontlines battling the viral disease. The House of Representatives committee on appropriations has yet to approve the bills as there is an ongoing power struggle among the lawmakers in the lower chamber. Duque also said the declaration is a signal to all concerned agencies, local government units and healthcare providers to be ready to implement planned response measures. The DOH confirmed on Saturday that the Philippines 5th case of COVID-19 is the first case of local transmission in the country. He is a 62-year-old Filipino male who is in critical condition at Research Institute of Tropical Medicine due to various illnesses. He lives in Cainta, Rizal province. The second case of local transmission is his 59-year-old wife. READ: Coronavirus patient from Cainta, Rizal in 'critical condition' The total number of people who got afflicted of the viral infection in the Philippines is now at six. Wicklow's growing network of walking trails has received a boost after receiving a grant of over 150,000. Funding of 152,560 has been allocated to the project under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure (ORI) scheme administered by the Department of Rural and Community Affairs and Failte Ireland. Led by Wicklow County Council in conjunction with Wicklow Uplands Council, the grant will be used to interconnect and further develop new and established trails throughout the north and east of the county. Following the announcement, Brian Dunne, co-ordinator of Wicklow Uplands Council said: 'News of this funding, along with last year's allocation for the construction of the Avonmore Way Link Bridge, brings the council's overall vision of creating a new, long distance upland trail from Bray to Woodenbridge ever closer to becoming a reality. 'We are delighted that the scheme recognises the valuable contribution that these trails make to opening up parts of our uplands and other natural settings for local communities and visitors to enjoy.' One of the key objectives of the project's funding is to connect a series of existing trails such as the Bray Head Loop, Belmont Way, Sugar Loaf Way and the Roundwood Reservoir Vartry Trails. This network of trails forms part of Wicklow Uplands Council's proposal to develop and map a series of walks on designated trails that will offer visitors a scenic 60km route beginning at Bray train station. This route will take in some of the most beautiful scenery found in Ireland and could link the villages of Kilmacanogue, Roundwood, Annamoe, Laragh and Rathdrum before finally finishing at Woodenbridge. Once completed, it is envisioned that the networks of trails could be enjoyed in sections or in its entirety. It is also hoped that connections will be developed to established trails such as St Kevin's Way, the long-distance Wicklow Way and the planned Shillelagh to Arklow Greenway. A host of public and private transport services allows for greater access and the choice of starting and finishing points. Highlighting the project's partnership approach, Mr Dunne said: 'It is through close cooperation with all stakeholders including landowners and local communities that has enabled over 500km of waymarked trails currently found in Wicklow, to be developed and maintained.' Michael Nicholson, Director of Services at Wicklow County Council, welcomed the funding, noting that it brings further opportunities to attract people to the county's beautiful outdoors. 'Wicklow County Council is excited that Wicklow's growing network of trails has received this important funding allocation under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.' 'We have a spectacular landscape that deserves to be discovered and enjoyed by all, and our trails offer a perfect opportunity to attract visitors keen to experience Wicklow's renowned beauty.' County Wicklow Partnership and the Rural Recreation Officer, a post formerly held by Bryan Fennell, also collaborated extensively with this project. The 44 projects. which received funding under Measures 2 and 3 of the ORI scheme. were announced last week. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 17:57:07|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close BANGKOK, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The Thai Ministry of Public Health on Saturday confirmed two more new cases of the COVID-19, bringing the total to 50. The ministry also said that of those cases, 31 have fully recovered and most have returned home, and 18 are still in hospital with one in fatality. "The two new cases are both Thai nationals, aged about 40, who are among a group of six being kept under close watch after their return from a business trip to Italy," Sukhum Kanchanapimai, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Public Health, said. "Since the six were isolated for observation, no other people have been exposed." Regarding a Thai female worker who just returned from South Korea and was found by health officials to have a fever upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi international airport on March 5, two laboratory tests have come back negative for the virus, whereas a severe case at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute is currently in critical condition, although the case has been cleared of the COVID-19, said Sukhum. Sukhum also said that there are several more European countries on the ministry's COVID-19 watch list. He asked Thai people who have visited these countries to monitor their health upon their return for the public's sake as well as their own. He also warned the media not to focus on just the negative aspects of the situation, but to include positive elements as well, such as good behavior of Thai returnees from high-risk countries as they voluntarily observe self-quarantine. San Antonio police are investigating a pair of overnight shootings that left one man hospitalized and another under arrest. The first shooting occurred about 11:15 p.m. after officers say a man fired an AK-47 into the air while driving down Interstate 35. Police say a man angry over a breakup with his girlfriend was leaving a gun range on the Northeast Side when officers saw him, driving on I-35 near Weidner Road, fire off about 30 rounds from the rifle into the air while driving. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox As the man drove north along I-35 to OConnor Road he began waving a handgun out of the window, police say. He was pursued through several neighborhoods by officers and SAPD air assets until he arrived at a residence on Misty Run. The man was arrested and now faces multiple charges. About an hour later, across town, a man was discovered in his vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound in an unrelated incident, according to police. A witness tells police a man was traveling west along the 1600 block of Vance Jackson Road about 12:45 a.m. when they saw the man's vehicle drive off the road and hit a light pole. When the witness stopped to offer aid she noticed the man had been shot and called authorities, according to police. The victim was taken to University Hospital in critical condition. No information has been released on how he was shot. At least 117 former terrorists have been deradicalized since the start of the new year, Indonesias security minister said Friday as he responded to criticism that a government program to persuade militants to renounce their violent ways has been ineffective. Of those, nearly 50 are inmates at high-security facilities on Nusakambangan island who have pledged loyalty to the Indonesian state, said Mahfud MD, the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs. During 2020 there are already more than 117 (who have been deradicalized) throughout Indonesia. We have deradicalization programs, so those who have been exposed to or have been involved in terrorism can come to their senses, Mahfud told reporters in Jakarta. In Nusakambangan there are already 48 former terrorist inmates who have returned to the fold of the Republic of Indonesia, pledged loyalty to the state and showed behavior befitting of (citizens) of Indonesia, he said. Nusakambangan is a prison island for hardened criminals that lies off the coast of Java. The penal complex consists of several prisons and houses 200 inmates who have been convicted of terrorism charges, according to the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. Mahfud did not say when the 117 prisoners started joining the program. In November 2019, Mahfud challenged a call by House Speaker Puan Maharani for the deradicalization program to be evaluated, saying a review was not necessary. Revocation of passports On Friday, the security minister said he and ministry of law officials discussed the idea of revoking passports of Indonesians who had joined the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in Syria and Iraq. We can confirm that it is a decision made during a cabinet meeting, that FTF (foreign terrorist fighters) who have been identified will have their passports blocked, as they are not allowed to return, he said. The government in early February announced that it would not repatriate hundreds of Indonesians who had joined IS and would block them from returning to their home country, saying the decision was made to protect citizens from the threat of terrorism. Meanwhile, some observers questioned the effectiveness of the governments deradicalization programs, citing high recidivism among former terrorism convicts. Zaki Mubarak, a terrorism researcher at the State Islamic University Jakarta, said only about 30 percent of those convicted of terrorism who participated in the program were genuinely repentant. It is impossible for people who have been brainwashed for years with radical teachings to change after participating in a one- to three-month deradicalization program, Zaki told BenarNews. He said those programs should be reviewed and updated to better assist those former inmates who want to change. Supporting them through work training programs and providing working capital is also very necessary. At the same time they can be monitored and take part in anti-radicalism campaigns, he said. Transparency needed On Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Miyake told a security conference in Jakarta that the Indonesian government should be transparent about what works to instill confidence in its deradicalization efforts. They seem to be left alone without supervision, Miyake said of the former militants. The government needs to do something so they dont rediscover radical ideology. A 2016 report by the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), a Jakarta-based think tank, said poor prison infrastructure, overcrowding and inadequate staff aided in facilitating radicalism. Prison authorities in Indonesia have had a few small successes in managing extremist prisoners, but overall, structural problems of the prison system and inadequate staff continue to defeat efforts at deradicalization, disengagement and rehabilitation, IPAC said at the time. Despite donor funding aimed at improving prison management and capacity, pro-IS inmates continue to recruit and radicalize fellow prisoners with impunity, it said. A few have organized terrorist actions from inside prison more than once and former prisoners continue to show up in new terrorist plots with alarming regularity, IPAC said. A mother was shocked to discover her young son was allegedly bashed in the street by a 13-year-old while his father allegedly stopped bystanders from intervening. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received the gut-wrenching call that her son had been badly bashed on Tuesday afternoon. He was allegedly attacked at the intersection of Scarborough and Young streets at Southport, in the Gold Coast. Both boys had arranged to meet after school about a disagreement but the 12-year-old was unaware the boy's father would be there too. The mother was left fuming after discovering the 48-year-old man was allegedly involved. A man, confirmed to be the father by police, can be seen blocking off bystanders as his son allegedly brutally assaults another young boy 'I was completely angry. I couldnt believe a grown man would do that to a 12-year-old child,' she told the Gold Coast Bulletin. The son, 13, and the father, 48, have both been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm. Footage of the alleged attack shows a young boy cowering on the footpath as he is allegedly brutally pummelled by another teenager. The father and son can be seen standing over the other boy as he lays on the ground covering his head with his arms. Two bystanders eventually rushed to the boys aid and the father and son quickly walked away. A police spokeswoman said the two teenagers are known to each other and had arranged to meet at the corner when a fight allegedly ensued. She said witnesses told police the father allegedly prevented bystanders from approaching as they attempted to break up the fight. The man allegedly only tried to stop the fight when it appeared his son was losing. He will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on March 17. Two score years of elite soldiering As the Commando Regiment celebrates its 40th anniversary, Sunil Peiris, its first Commander, looks back View(s): View(s): Almost to the date forty years ago, the Gazette notification giving birth to the then Commando Squadron was released with no pomp and pageantry. Go back to the history of the Special Forces, and you find that in this long journey, they have from meagre beginnings of living in cadjan accommodation and borrowing resources for training from other regiments of the Army, today risen to stand tall as the best equipped military outfit to meet any contingency in the defence of the sovereignty of the nation. The Commando Regiment has even ventured into other countries wearing the light blue beret of the United Nations, to keep the peace between warring nations. The men who laid the foundation for this Regiment had the vision of the need for a Special Forces outfit that would deliver the punch with sufficient force at the speed of greased lightning to destabilise and knock out any prospective threat. This cutting edge expertise, instilled with impeccable discipline and steel-like mental agility, the wisdom of a serpent and gentleness of a dove, has stood unshaken with the test of time. As the man who guided the destiny of this regiment, whenever I spoke to the men, I would remind them that they were second to none. I would say, When you walk, make sure you do so six inches off the ground. Remember that once a Commando you are always a Commando. That unshakeable foundation is built on the regimental motto Nothing Impossible. When a Commando is made, yes made, it is at a tremendous cost of time, money, sweat, blood and tears. He comes out as a man willing to face any challenge before him, with no holds barred, no quarter given and none taken, with no malice to anyone. His only objective is his mission. He can be gentle when required and above all, he is a man with great dedication and commitment. Talk to him on morale, on esprit de corps, on sacrifice and on self-discipline and he will convert you. Forty years are but a short space of time. Flashing past my thoughts are the moments when I as the father lost my sons in the ugly face of conflict. The many instances when I watched the last breath from the son fallen by my side, the times when I would helplessly watch a son bleed to death, and hear of the commando who has gone missing never to return. What do I as the father of this outfit tell the parents, the spouse, and the children of a fallen commando? The thoughts of the moment when the mother or spouse of the commando pinned the commando badge on his lapel at the very solemn and moving graduation ceremony. They would then come to me and say, Sir, now he is in your care, you are the father. Forty years and how many laid their lives down to safeguard the sovereignty of our beloved motherland. So, as it is with all anniversaries where it is a time for stock taking, I would rather call upon those in service to look forward to another 40 years and dream of the ethos of the regiment as a superlative Army outfit that would stand for professionalism, courage, justice and righteousness. The tenets of the commando spirit were laid as its foundation integrity, honesty, truthfulness and incorruptibility. Soldiering in an elite regiment as the commandos is unique in every sense once a commando always a commando. Not simply for glamour, benefits or the outward show but standing up for the national cause with pride and glory. I am proud to be the father of this elite regiment and I still stand tall walking six inches above the ground. In this image from video, provided by the California National Guard, a helicopter carrying airmen with the 129th Rescue Wing flies over the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of California Thursday, March 5, 2020. Vice President Mike Pence said Friday that 21 people aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship moored off the coast of California have tested positive for COVID-19. The ship will be brought to a non-commercial port, Pence said, and everyone aboard the ship will be tested. He did not say which port the ship will go toward or when it is expected to arrive. Of the 21 people who tested positive, he added, 19 are crew members and two are passengers. Pence said health officials tested only 46 people aboard the ship. "We are instituting the strongest testing protocols to ensure that not only those on board receive the treatment that they need, but that the American people can be confident there will be no erosion in our preventative efforts to keep the coronavirus from spreading throughout our country," Pence said Friday alongside other members of the White House COVID-19 task force at a news briefing. There are more than 3,500 people aboard the ship, the operator, Princess Cruises, which is owned by Carnival Corp., said in a statement. The ship was due to arrive in San Francisco on Wednesday, California officials said on Thursday, but was held at sea, off the coast of California while testing was conducted. The California National Guard delivered test kits to the ship by helicopter on Thursday. The ship, which was on a two-week voyage to Hawaii, was ordered to return early to San Francisco, California, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday, adding that passengers and crew developed symptoms. A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that three passengers who were previously on the ship have tested positive, including one who has died. Ant Middleton has a period of unemployment after he left the Army Ant Middleton has climbed Everest and served three tours of Afghanistan, yet the SAS: Who Dares Wins Chief Instructor says his lowest and life-changing moment was on the steps of a job centre. Speaking on White Wine Question Time, the former Marine revealed he hit a low point in his life aged just 21 during a spell of unemployment after leaving the army, which he had joined aged 17. When I left, I decided to tackle the big wide world by myself and that didn't quite work out, he revealed to podcast host Kate Thornton. There was this window where I couldn't find a job. I walked to the job centre and I walked out of there jobless, and I remember just sitting down on the steps and thinking to myself, 'Oh, how did I get here? Why am I sat on these steps?' I had a train ticket in my back pocket. That's all I had. READ MORE: Ant Middleton shares five of his most effective life tips Ant, who excelled in his early military career, winning various accolades such as best recruit, started questioning why his time in the army hadnt worked out as expected. He said: When I found myself on the job centre job centre steps, I just remember thinking to myself, 'Wow, how come you're here?' The best-selling author said it was the first time he can remember being brutally honest with himself. I remember flipping the mirror on myself whilst I was sat on those steps, he recalled. I started sort of ripping myself to shreds saying, 'Well, Ant you think you're better than everyone else? You rested on your laurels in the army. You thought everything was going to come to you because you were best recruit, best PT, one of the youngest paras in the squadron. You're sat here isolated because you're not a team player! In Ants case, honesty definitely proved to be the best policy as he said this talking to freed him although he understands it not an easy thing for everyone to do. Story continues It sort of allowed me to take charge of what was wrong in my life, said Ant. It was such a clear moment in my life, but not a lot of people can do that because it's very, very, very hard to be brutally honest with yourself. Ant also has one person to be thankful for that day a fellow job centre visitor, who sat alongside him on the steps. READ MORE: AJ Odudu says she was traumatised after Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins When I sat down on the steps, I looked to my right and there was a guy obviously a drug addict and he had about two teeth in his head, he recalled. He just sat there, and I looked at him and I thought to myself, 'I'm no different to that guy there.' And it was a wake-up call. I thought to myself, 'He's sitting there with no money in his pocket. I'm sitting here with no money in my pocket. He's got no job, I've got no job.' And it was just like, 'Whoa! You can either ruin your life now or you can do something about it.' Ant Middleton, pictured with host Kate Thornton, appears on the latest episode of White Wine Question Time His revelation led him to going straight off to enlist in the Royal Marines. Ant later joined the Special Boat Service, the sister unit of the SAS. Honesty is something that Ant still lives by today, even though his life is more likely to include photoshoots than actual shooting. I tackle everything with integrity now, he told Kate. Everything starts obviously with myself - I just make sure that I'm honest with myself because when you're honest with yourself, it allows you to be honest with the situation. READ MORE: Holly Willoughby clashes with Ant Middleton over his parenting It allows you to be honest with other people and ultimately, the problem's right in front of you. There are no distractions. You can take ownership of it. And even to this day, 19 years later, Ant has never forgotten that poor bloke on the job centre steps. He told Kate: When I always get too big for my boots and I get a bit above my station, I always take myself back to those steps. Hear Ant Middleton talk about SAS: Who Dares Wins, his love for his family and much more on this weeks episode of White Wine Question Time. Listen now on iTunes and Spotify. Ms. Allens main goal was to get Ms. McClendon to take her medication regularly to avoid hospitalization. The hospital is the dirtiest place there is, she said. All the germs are there. In California, black adults ages 18 to 39 are hospitalized for preventable asthma problems more than four times as often as white asthma sufferers. Ms. McClendon, who goes to the emergency room about once a month because of her asthma, conceded that she was being a bad girl and not taking her orange inhaler, Flovent, daily. The medication is meant to help keep her airways clear and reduce hospitalizations. She was in the process of getting Medicare but did not go to the doctor for regular checkups. She promised Ms. Allen to be better about taking the inhaler for now. A vegan who believes in herbal medicine, Ms. McClendon insisted that once she got her nutrition right, that would be enough to keep her asthma from flaring up. Still, she does worry about the coronavirus, she said. She is using hand sanitizer more and regularly disinfects her car, which she uses to drive for Uber 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week. I know that if Im not eating right, Im going to get congested and then I will be a perfect breeding ground for the virus, she said. Ms. Blackshear, whom Ms. Allen met later on a sidewalk to administer a nebulizer to help with her coughing and wheezing, had only just started hearing about the coronavirus. While living on the streets, she said, she had little access to news media. She has heard enough to know to use hand sanitizer a lot. But she does not have the luxury of staying away from people she needs public transit to get around and sometimes sleeps in homeless encampments. Homeless for the past five years since reporting her former partner for domestic violence, Ms. Blackshear said she had not been able to work because of her asthma and mental health and substance abuse problems. The Ministry of Health has confirmed New Zealands fifth positive COVID-19 test which fits the existing pattern of spread primarily within families. This positive result is for a New Zealand citizen in her 40s, the partner of the third case announced earlier last week. All five cases follow the pattern identified by the World Health Organisation joint China Mission in February that around 80 per cent of all human to human transmission occurred in families. Immediate details of the case history of the Auckland couple, whose family members recently arrived home from Iran on February 23, were outlined on Thursday. Casual contact tracing is underway for this individual and close contacts are already in self-isolation. This woman is already in self-isolation at home and has been since Thursday. She has appropriate clinical support from public health and district health board staff. Like three of our positive cases, this person doesnt require hospital level care and neither does anyone else in the family home, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. The Ministry of Health was notified on Friday of eight New Zealanders who travelled on a previous cruise, the Grand Princess, currently in quarantine off California. Of the eight people on that cruise, five are well and have passed the 14-day period of concern. Of the remaining three passengers, one woman in her 70s has been in hospital for a respiratory illness, recovered and discharged early in March, but is now in hospital for an unrelated-condition. The woman has now been tested and although negative, is considered a probable case. We take the same precautionary actions for a probable case as we do for a positive case, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. This means a number of North Shore hospital staff involved in her treatment who are well, but regarded as close contacts, are in the process of being stood down as a precaution for the balance of the 14 days since they were in contact. Another two former passengers who have mild symptoms have been tested and are in self isolation. The test result of one is negative, however she remains in self isolation as a close contact of the probable case. The other test result is pending. The woman currently in hospital returned home on Air NZ flight NZ007 from San Francisco arriving in New Zealand on February 25. It has been 11 days since the flight arrived, close contacts are now being identified and contacted. Others on the flight, not being contacted are regarded as casual contacts and should be aware to contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 if they become unwell. We are in a phase where we are seeing more cases, and we are actively trying to find cases through testing, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. We have a good plan and a thorough public health response that has been demonstrated to work both here and elsewhere. As the Head of the World Health Organisation said yesterday: This virus can be pushed back. The WHO also confirmed that scientists do not believe asymptomatic transmission (that is people who do not have symptoms) are a major driver of spread. Our own efforts to encourage everyone to play their part are picking up and from today well see more public messaging in bus shelters about the steps people can take to protect themselves and others by covering coughs, sneezes and washing hands. Other messaging on social media is also ramping up. "I say this frequently, but I want to say it again: washing hands thoroughly and frequently is the most powerful way people can help stop the spread of COVID-19 and other infections," says the Ministry's Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. The Ministry of Health advises that with continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low. People coming into New Zealand should check the information for travellers arriving to New Zealand as they may be subject to border controls or asked to self-isolate. The Ministry of Health is also asking people who have visited countries or areas of concern and who have developed symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath to seek medical advice phone Healthlines dedicated COVID-19 number 0800 358 5453 or contact your GP, including phoning ahead of your visit. For COVID-19 health advice and information, contact the Healthline team (for free) on 0800 358 5453 or +64 9 358 5453 for international SIMS. Cameroon Calls for Increased Hygiene Measures After First Coronavirus Case By Moki Edwin Kindzeka March 06, 2020 Cameroon confirmed the central African state's first case of COVID-19 on its territory Friday. Officials say it was discovered in a French citizen who arrived in Cameroon on Feb. 24. Cameroon Health Minister Manaouda Malachie says the 58-year-old man was immediately placed in solitary confinement in a special hospital in. Malachie credited surveillance measures put in place by Cameroon after COVID-19 appeared in China with detecting the case and called on Cameroon's population to be calm. He said shortly after it was suspected the man was a carrier of the virus, he was immediately confined to avoid contact with others. Malachie said health officials started tracing the people the infected man contacted from the airport of departure through the plane's arrival in Cameroon, as well as taxis or cars he used. They also disinfected places he visited. Malachie said this wasn't the first case in which COVID-19 was suspected, but previous cases were found to be negative after thorough investigations. Malachie called on citizens to be calm and vigilant, saying that medical staff in the country has been advised on how to handle coronavirus cases. But news of the first coronavirus in Cameroon has scared people. Some rushed to hospitals and pharmacies to ask for advice or buy medical facemasks. Forty-three-year-old Isaac Dufe, who bought three masks for his wife and two-year-old baby, said he doesn't have confidence that the Cameroon government will be able to control the virus's spread should many more people be found with it. "Cases of diseases have been recorded in this country, for instance, a case like cholera," he said. "When there is an outbreak of cholera, in many situations in claims a lot of lives. But now we are talking about a very complicated disease like Coronavirus, so I am so scared that if adequate health measures are not taken, then the situation might be very difficult in Cameroon." Phanuel Habimana, a World Health Organization representative for Cameroon, said it is following up on the case. He says Cameroonians should not panic, but must make sure they respect basic hygiene norms. "Cameroonians should remain calm," Habimana said. "Cameroonians should not rush to pharmacies to try to get masks. Cameroonians should abide to the measures that the minister [of health] has been repeatedly mentioning. Personal hygiene, washing hands several times a day, when someone is coughing, cover the mouth and nose with handkerchiefs and also make sure that people do not get in contact closely with people who are suspected to be sick." Last January, Cameroon health officials announced they had improved checkpoints around airports as they feared the virus could be brought into the country by travelers from China and other countries. Health Minister Malachie said as part of epidemiological surveillance, measures had been put in place to prevent any possible importation of the deadly virus, which he said was an epidemic that causes diseases in mammals and birds and that in humans, the virus causes respiratory infections, which are typically mild but, in rare cases, can be lethal. Symptoms include running nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever and the feeling of being unwell. B There is no vaccine for this virus and the only way to protect oneself is through prevention, health officials in Cameroon say. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani on Saturday released a report on Status of Women in Media in South Asia and said investing in women is not just a social expenditure but an investment in the economy of the country. The event was organised by the Press Information Bureau and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) on the eve of Women's Day. According to a release by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Irani said the ministry will be happy to collaborate with the IIMC to conduct a study on the impact of evolving technology on women in media. She congratulated IIMC for bringing out this report and urged that it must be shared with the heads and owners of media houses in order "to bring to their notice the gender gap and inequity that exists in newsrooms". The minister said that research needs to be done on women in regional media and the support ecosystem required by them during their job in the field. The report sponsored by the UNESCO has been researched jointly by the South Asia Women's Network (SWAN) and the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development. The working conditions of women in media was studied in the nine countries of South Asia and has been brought out in two volumes, the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The global death toll from coronavirus has risen above 3,400, with more than 100,000 cases now reported. The Netherlands reported its first virus death on Friday, while Malta, Serbia, Slovakia, Peru, Togo, Colombia and Cameroon announced their first cases of the condition as it continues its spread across the world. The 100,000 figure of global infections dwarfs other major outbreaks in recent decades, such as Sars, Mers and Ebola. (PA Graphics) But the virus is still much less widespread than annual flu epidemics, which result in up to five million annual severe cases around the world and 290,000-650,000 deaths each year, according to the World Health Organisation. China reported 99 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, its first daily increase of less than 100 since January 20. The government reported 28 deaths in the 24 hours through to midnight on Friday. Overall, China now has 22,177 patients in treatment, while 55,404 have been released. South Korea, the hardest-hit country outside China, has reported 448 new cases to bring its total to 7,041. In Iran, newly-elected politician Fatemeh Rahabar, 55, died from the virus as the number of infections there rose by more than 1,000 overnight, with 145 deaths. Mimicking measures imposed in China six weeks ago, Western governments are now increasingly imposing travel controls, telling people to work from home if possible and sanitising public spaces. Many governments have imposed restrictions on visitors from China, South Korea, Italy and Iran. Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant in the departure terminal at the Rafik Hariri International Airport, in Beirut (Hassan Ammar/AP) Serbia said it might deploy the army to keep the virus at bay, while in Switzerland the military is being readied to provide support services at hospitals after 210 new cases were reported on Friday. French health minister Olivier Veran said children will be banned from visiting patients in hospitals and other health facilities across the country, and patients will be limited to one adult visit at a time. Spanish officials have announced a month-long closure of 200 centres in and around Madrid where the elderly go for daytime care and activities. The global economy, meanwhile, faces mounting damage due to anti-virus controls that shut down much of Chinas economy and are disrupting travel and trade worldwide. Airlines, hotels, cinemas and other businesses that rely on public activity have lost billions in potential revenue. Is the conference cancelled? How coronavirus is upending the conference industry. 7 Shares Share Nearly 100,000 pop culture fans flocked to Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle last year, including many dressed as superheroes, aliens, and robots. But something scarier than a comic book villain is roiling the conference this year the spread of the coronavirus. Ten people have died from novel coronavirus in King County, Washington, where Seattle is located, according to the Washington State Department of Health. At least 70 people have tested positive statewide. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, criticized the decision to go forward with the event, set to begin March 12. Meanwhile, Comic-Con will bring together 100,000 people in Seattle in a week, Gottlieb tweeted Thursday. Into an area of Americas only known, potential larger outbreak. Mathematical disease models suggest that the coronavirus could be far more pervasive in Seattle area, Gottlieb tweeted. With hundreds or maybe low thousands of undetected cases. The Seattle area is on the cusp of intense community spread, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. An event the size of Comic-Con might create a surge of cases, Adalja said. These are often difficult decisions, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. While viruses can spread at crowded outdoor gatherings, Adalja said, they tend to infect even more people at indoor events such as Comic Con at the convention center in downtown Seattle. The events organizers have offered refunds to anyone afraid to attend. Tickets for the four-day event cost up to $52 a day, with sold-out premium packages running $349. Reedpop, the company that organizes the convention, said it will employ enhanced cleaning guidelines, precautions, and procedures. On its website, organizers acknowledged that their decision is controversial: We recognize that not everyone will agree with our decision: it is our feeling that this community values coming together and building connections, even in difficult times. At least two major publishers that had planned to attend the convention DC, which includes DC Comics, and Dark Horse Comics announced they were pulling out. It is with the safety and well-being of our staff and creators in mind that we have come to this decision, Dark Horse Comics tweeted Monday. Seattle has legal authority to cancel conventions during a public health emergency, said Dr. Lawrence Gostin, faculty director of Georgetown Universitys ONeill Institute for National and Global Health Law. But canceling big conferences has large economic implications, said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Meetings and conferences generate $330 billion a year in the United States, according to Meetings and Conventions, a website for event planners. I do not think it is necessary to cancel events in low-risk cities, but in a city undergoing an active outbreak, it is irresponsible, Gostin said. Business must not trump health and welfare. Other groups are taking a more cautious approach. Some of the countrys leading tech companies Adobe, IBM, Google, and Facebook have canceled upcoming conferences. Others have restricted nonessential travel, including Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, and The Washington Post. Companies such as Twitter and Square, the San Francisco-based electronic payment company, are encouraging staff to work at home. A health care group announced Thursday that it would cancel its Orlando conference next week, even though President Donald Trump was scheduled to speak. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, known as HIMSS, was scheduled to begin Sunday in Orlando. The conference attracted 42,500 people last year. Other top officials who had been scheduled to speak included Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services, and Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Several corporate giants including Amazon, Intel and Cisco had already announced they wouldnt attend the conference. We recognize all the hard work that so many have put into preparing for their presentations and panels, said Hal Wolf, president and CEO of HIMSS. It is clear that it would be an unacceptable risk to bring so many thousands of people together in Orlando next week. Spokesperson Karen Groppe said the society hadnt decided about refunds. Theyre working through it, she said. Leigh Burchell, vice president of government affairs for Allscripts, which sells electronic health systems, said HIMSS made the right decision, especially given the risk of exposing front-line health care workers who may be even more important to addressing the virus outbreak in the coming months. At least 230 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers. Worldwide, coronavirus infections have been confirmed in nearly 100,000 people, with more than 3,300 deaths. Health officials in Washington state are providing real national leadership with their handling of the coronavirus, said Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota. Rather than focus on particular events or meetings, state health officials are looking at the big picture to develop comprehensive policies to control the outbreak, said Osterholm, who has been in frequent contact with Washington state health leaders. If there is any local and state health department combination thats prepared to handle this, its them, Osterholm said. KHN senior correspondent Fred Schulte contributed to this report. Liz Szabo is a senior correspondent, Kaiser Health News. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Traceys breadth of experience and dedication for improving public housing make her a perfect fit to lead the Chicago Housing Authority as we embark on our ambitious agenda to transform our citys economic landscape, Lightfoot said in a statement. Stable housing is a first step toward creating opportunity and building a future for Chicagos communities, and I look forward to working closely with Tracey and the team at CHA to provide access to safe, affordable housing for all our residents. Three years ago, Tran Thi Hoang Anh from Central Highlands Gia Lai Province decided to give up a job as an accountant to establish her own business. Tran Thi Hoang Anh (right) introduces her honey products at a trade fair. Photo gialai.gov.vn This was a hard decision for 32-year-old Anh as she had to leave her familiar job to start a new business producing honey products. My father and uncles have raised bees for 20 years. However, they often sell all raw materials to wholesalers for low prices, she said. After learning that the price of honey products in the market was much higher, it prompted me to do something to help my family members earn better profit, she said. So the Ia Grai Phuong Di Honey Cooperative was set up in the provinces Ia Grai District in early 2017, Anh said. It was named after my daughter, she added. However, it was not easy at first, according to Anh. I started my business from zero. The lack of knowledge and experience caused many difficulties at first, she said. However, I was lucky to find a local start-up club where I had opportunities to meet, share and learn from many other start-ups, she said. After two years, her business gradually developed and the honey sources from her family and relatives could not meet her companys demand for processing. To expand our production, I mobilised the participation of local beekeepers in order to create a stable area of raw materials for honey production, she said. But it took a lot of time to encourage locals to join the cooperative as most of them were used to do business with wholesalers, Anh recalled. Another challenge was to ask the cooperative members to improve the bee-raising process to create honey sources with higher quality, she added. It was a long and hard process and sometimes I felt tired but I have never thought of giving up, Anh said. Busy as a bee, Anh did not hesitate to do everything, from raising the bees, harvesting honey to designing brands and diversifying products. Her products range from honey and royal jelly to medical and cosmetic products made from honey. In order to promote the products, Anh has tried different methods, from introducing them on social platforms to attending trade fairs. For Anh, product quality is the main factor that distinguishes her products from others. The most important factor is the quality of the product. Every step must be done following quality standards, she said. When introducing our products at trade fairs, I realised that the most common concern from customers and partners is about the products quality, so I had to make them different from products of other businesses, she said. That prompts us to strictly follow standards to ensure product quality in order to compete and expand in the market, she added. Her cooperative was the province's pioneer in raising bees and exploiting honey following VietGap standards. Lam Quoc Son, a member of the cooperative, said joining the cooperative he was trained and carefully guided on how to raise bees following VietGap standards, from regulations about tools, raising process, storage and honey harvesting. All are done more professionally and scientifically, helping to improve the products quality and value, he said. The cooperative products are not only sold in the domestic market but are also now exported to other countries, helping to promote made-in-Vietnam honey products around the world. Anhs cooperative had an initial investment capital of VND200 million (US$8,600) and now its charter capital is VND1.5 billion ($65,000) after three years. Vice Chairman of the provinces Young Entrepreneur Association Tran Van Trong said Hoang Anh is a young businesswoman with great passion and creativeness. She has proactively taken part in many start-up activities held by the local start-up club. And with her passion and hardwork, Anh hopes to taste sweet success by developing more honey products and expanding her market, bringing Vietnamese honey to more foreign customers. VNS Khanh Van Sweet profits for Gia Lai honey hunters Rice harvest season just ended, but many farmers in the Central Highlands provinces are still hard at work. No honey means no money for these villagers Ho Van Phuoc is absolutely buzzing about bees. That's because the Phuoc Loc Commune, Phuoc Son District, Quang Nam Province resident has hundreds of nest boxes on tree trunks that provide the main source of income for his family. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2020) - Unigold Inc. (TSXV: UGD) ("Unigold" or the "Company") announces the retirement of John Green from the Company. Mr. Green has served the Company for many years in both the CFO and Corporate Secretary roles. Joe Hamilton, Chairman & CEO of Unigold, comments: "I have had a chance to work closely with John over the past ten years. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank John for his years of diligent and dedicated service to Unigold. John has played a key role in the management of Unigold since his appointment in late 2010 and has supported a number of management teams. His firm hand and welcome advice will be missed. We wish John all the best in his retirement." The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Donna McLean as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Ms. McLean has over 30 years' experience working with numerous publicly traded and private companies, specializing in the areas of financial reporting, controls and administration. She has served as CFO for several junior mineral exploration companies. The Company has also retained Grove Corporate Services Ltd. to provide administrative and corporate secretarial support. Grove's Ms. Helga Fairhurst has been appointed as the Corporate Secretary of the Company. Ms. Fairhurst has over 12 years' experience with providing corporate administrative and secretarial services to public mining and exploration companies listed on the TSX, TSXV, and the CSE. In addition, the Company has appointed Adelaide Capital Markets to assist with its marketing and Investor Relations programs. Adelaide Capital is a full-service Investor Relations firm with extensive capital markets experience specializing in small and mid-cap companies. Adelaide will help the Company to develop a tailored, strategic Investor Relations program that will allow the company to have a larger impact with investors throughout North America and around the world. Further, the Board of Directors has granted, in aggregate, 150,000 stock options to members of management and consultants. The options have an exercise price of $0.15, a term of five years and vest over various periods. About Unigold Inc. Unigold is a Canadian based mineral exploration company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol UGD, focused primarily on exploring and developing its gold assets in the Dominican Republic. For Further Information please visit www.unigoldinc.com or contact: Mr. Joseph Hamilton, Chairman & CEO jhamilton@unigoldinc.com 416.866.8157 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53240 After a brief ban two Malayalam TV channels back on air India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 07: Asianet which was banned for 48 hours for its reporting on the Delhi violence is back on air. Media One, which was banned is also back on air. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Friday, 6 March, suspended the broadcast of two Kerala-based news channels (Media One TV channel and Asianet News TV channel) for 48 hours over their coverage of the violence in northeast Delhi saying such reportage could enhance communal disharmony. The 48-hour ban on the two channels will be effective from 7.30 PM on Friday (5 March) till 7.30 PM on 8 March, the order had said. The two channels - Media One and Asianet News TV - were earlier issued a show cause notice and after they filed their replies, the ministry found them to be in violation of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. The government order expressed dissatisfaction on reports broadcast by the two channels on the recent carnage in Delhi. The two TV channels were accused of covering the violence in Delhi 'in a manner which highlighted the attack on places of worship and sided towards a particular community.' The order read, "Channel's reporting on Delhi violence seems to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters." NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 Govt bans 2 Malayalam channels for 48 hours over Delhi riots coverage "Such telecast could incite violence & pose danger to maintenance of law & order situation, particularly when the situation is already highly volatile & charged up & riots are taking place in the area with reports of killings & bloodbath," the notification added. Earlier on Friday, a Delhi court sent suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain to seven-day police custody in connection with the Ankit Sharma murder case. The death toll due to the violence in northeast Delhi last week rose to 53 on Thursday. Forty four deaths have been reported from the GTB hospital, five from RML hospital, three from LNJP hospital and one from Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital. New Delhi, March 7 : Three more cases of coronavirus have been found to be positive on Saturday -- two in Ladakh and 1 in Tamil Nadu -- taking the total count in India to 34. This was confirmed by the Union Health Ministry. The positive cases include two from Ladakh with travel history to Iran and one from Tamil Nadu with travel history to Oman. All the cases are stable. Of the total 34 of cases reported from India so far, three patients have been discharged already which means that the number of active cases is 31. Of these, 16 are Italian and 15 are Indian citizens. With regard to the two American nationals who were found positive in Bhutan with travel history of various places in India, more than 150 contacts have been put under IDSP surveillance by the government agencies. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) They are scenes reminiscent of a zombie movie: photographs and TV footage of people pushing trolleys up and down supermarket aisles in a frantic search for necessities, only to be confronted with empty or ransacked shelves. But its not the desperate survivors of an apocalyptic invasion by the Walking Dead whove swept through Tesco, Lidl or Sainsburys, but those living in fear of the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. Everything from hand-sanitising gel, loo rolls and kitchen towel to tins of baked beans and packs of bottled water have been snapped up as consumers stockpile in anticipation of a looming Armageddon. Measured against many other viral outbreaks and common diseases, Covid-19 appears at least at this stage to be less contagious or deadly. People are pictured wearing face masks as they walk through London Enough already! We all need to calm down NOW! Even if the coronavirus, Covid-19, does become an epidemic in Britain, giving in to panic is never the sensible option. As weve seen this week, it just makes us behave irrationally. We human beings are incredibly bad at assessing risk and good at giving in to panic. We are complacent in the face of threats weve become accustomed to while we over-react to novel sources of danger. I once hosted a birthday party for my mum in London a few years ago, shortly after a terrorist attack. A worried auntie called to tell me that she dared not risk coming to the capital. Its safer here, she said. Everything from hand-sanitising gel, loo rolls and kitchen towel to tins of baked beans and packs of bottled water have been snapped up as consumers stockpile in anticipation of a looming Armageddon. An empty pasta shelf in a supermarket is pictured above in London This made me chuckle. Many more people die each year from falling down the stairs more than 5,000 older people in the UK died as a result of a fall in 2017 than at the hands of violent radicals. But, as we stand at the top of the stairs, we feel its less risky than exposing ourselves to the unknown dangers of the outside world. What my aunt really meant was that the risk of a terrorist attack was unknown, unpredictable and, therefore, incredibly scary. The same is true of the coronavirus. Measured against many other viral outbreaks and common diseases, Covid-19 appears at least at this stage to be less contagious or deadly. Seasonal influenza, for example, results in three to five million cases of severe illness worldwide every year, and 290,000 to 650,000 deaths. Yet the annual take-up of the flu vaccine is abysmal. People simply dont see influenza for the killer that it is. Enough already! We all need to calm down NOW! Even if the coronavirus, Covid-19, does become an epidemic in Britain, giving in to panic is never the sensible option. As weve seen this week, it just makes us behave irrationally It couldnt be a more different story when it comes to the coronavirus: instead of complacency, panic appears to be the preferred option. People are calling up hospitals, GP surgeries and the NHS 111 switchboard at the slightest sniffle. Dare I say it, but most of them are the worried well or looking for a bit of attention or two weeks off work. And yet, the result of this self-indulgent worrying is that the health service risks being overwhelmed, while people who are genuinely at risk because they have returned from a coronavirus hotspot abroad or been in contact with someone who was can take hours to get through for the advice they need. The lesson to be learned about panic is that people all too often get hurt, not by an actual threat, but by others fear of it. Its something we would all do well to bear in mind today. We human beings are incredibly bad at assessing risk and good at giving in to panic. We are complacent in the face of threats weve become accustomed to while we over-react to novel sources of danger Of course, the prospect of a viral pandemic is worrying but listening and acting on official advice, taking precautions and looking out for others particularly the elderly and frail is far more productive than turning into a nation of Corporal Joneses. And what if supplies of hand sanitiser are running perilously low in the shops; good old soap has been around for thousands of years the Babylonians were the first to use it in 2800BC. Its cheap and plentiful and washing your hands remains the most effective way of protecting us against infections. If the worst does come to the worst and there is an epidemic in Britain, the vast majority of those of us who contract Covid-19 will recover because almost all the evidence points to it being a mild, self-limiting illness in most people. That knowledge alone should be enough to stop panic in its tracks. My goofy gnashers made me paranoid Im a great believer in people getting their crooked teeth fixed. How you look when you smile can affect your confidence and how others perceive you. But the British Orthodontic Society warned this week that people are putting their dental health at risk by buying DIY kits to correct crooked teeth. The idea that anyone would risk damaging their teeth this way horrifies me. When I was in my late teens, the teeth on one side started collapsing inwards and pushed my front teeth so they started to stick out. My upper lip sat over one protruding tooth like a permanent snarl. I became paranoid about my goofy teeth, rarely smiled and covered my mouth whenever I did. How you look when you smile can affect your confidence and how others perceive you. But the British Orthodontic Society warned this week that people are putting their dental health at risk by buying DIY kits to correct crooked teeth [File photo] My dentist told me the problem was so extensive that the best option was to replace the teeth with dentures. I was devastated. Thankfully, a relative paid for me to have work done. It took five years, but it changed my life and my personality from a self-conscious introvert into a confident and cheerful chap (I like to think!). Ive seen some daft things on the internet, but few as bonkers as the latest ludicrous fad: dry fasting. This involves abstaining from liquids of any sort for around ten hours a day in order to give the kidneys a break. This displays such woeful ignorance of how the body works that its difficult to know where to start. Its like saying Give your lungs a break by stopping breathing for a bit! The fact that this absurd craze has gained any sort of traction suggests we are failing to teach the young basic biology. Give new mums a break from pain Midwives helping women in labour are being told to stop refusing them epidurals pain-killing injections into the spinal canal to numb the lower half of the body. This edict was prompted by a government investigation which found that, in breach of official guidelines, many women who requested them were being turned down. Staff shortages, cost, and a belief that labour is meant to be hard work were among several factors. Its remarkable how the pregnant body has become politicised. In every other area of medicine, we strive to treat patients as adults who are capable of making decisions about their own lives. Midwives helping women in labour are being told to stop refusing them epidurals pain-killing injections into the spinal canal to numb the lower half of the body [File photo] As soon as a woman becomes pregnant, however, diktats rain down on her head and shes made to feel guilty and a failure if she doesnt comply. Take caesareans, another area where women seem to be deemed incapable of making the right choice. All too often, doctors and midwives decide on a vaginal delivery when the mother-to-be would much prefer a C-section. The natural birth is best brigade should back off, listen to new mums and give them a break. We all know that sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being. Now a study published by the American College of Cardiology has found that middle-aged shift workers who have erratic sleep patterns are twice as likely to develop heart disease. This adds to the growing evidence that its not just the amount of sleep someone gets that matters, but the regularity of their sleeping pattern. I see many patients plagued with sleep trouble either lying awake for hours or constantly waking up. Ive written before about how sleep deprivation is a national crisis with consequences both for individuals and the NHS. I just wish it was being taken more seriously. A study published by the American College of Cardiology has found that middle-aged shift workers who have erratic sleep patterns are twice as likely to develop heart disease [File photo] Dr Max prescribes... RESPECT: CONSENT, BOUNDARIES AND BEING IN CHARGE OF YOU by Rachel Brian (Wren & Rook) This book is an incredibly useful tool for parents starting conversations about these important issues with their children. The author explains the importance of the concepts in the title through simple comic strips, drawn in a way thats accessible to children as young as seven, but will also appeal to teen and adult readers. Its never too early to teach your child about their rights, especially when it comes to their bodies, and particularly in the era of social media. Coronavirus in India: PM Narendra Modi advised people to avoid handshakes, greet with namaste, consult doctors, and not to go by rumours being spread about coronavirus on social media. He also held a meeting with officials to review the preparations and current situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held another review meeting on coronavirus situation in India, which has been detected in over 1 lakh people and claimed 3515 lives worldwide, on Saturday, March 7, to check on the preparations to curb and fight the virus, and asked countrymen to prefer Indian style of greeting, Namaste over handshakes. PM said the world today has shifted from handshakes to namaste, if by any mean someone has forgotten to greet by joining hands, its the right time to do so. So far, the doctors have confirmed 34 cases of coronavirus in India and all patients have been kept in isolation. PM Modi said the people of the country need to be aware of hygiene and theres absolutely no need to panic. Advising people to take proper precautionary measures, PM added people often make mistake while wearing the face mask, they touch their face which may increase the chances of spreading coronavirus. With the rising number of cases, there have been several false advises and misconception about the virus spread out through social media. In view to such WhatsApp messages and information, Prime Minister said there have been several texts doing rounds the internet about prevention from coronavirus, people should stay away from wrong information and rumours. He asserted that one should consult the doctor, instead of becoming a doctor. 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 A few days ago, Prime Minister of Israel Netanyahu too had appealed his countrymen to greet people using namaste instead of a handshake. Netanyahu said Indian style of greeting, namaste, may help curbing coronavirus and be safe, instead of the usual handshake, and it should adopted in day-to-day life. For all the latest National News, download NewsX App PCA church explains why it allowed transgender performance on its property Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment After drawing severe criticism, Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Missouri, seeks to explain why a theatre production, called Transluminate and which highlighted the work of several transgender playwrights, was held at a venue space owned and operated by it. The church does not believe in transitioning to a different gender, Memorial Presbyterian Church said in a statement. However, we want to affirm the human dignity of people with gender dysphoria. Transluminate is a short-play festival and celebration of transgender, agender, non-binary, genderqueer, and genderfluid artists, read the public invite to the event, held Feb. 29 and March 1 at The Chapel arts venue that Memorial owns. Criticizing the church, The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood noted, Details from the Transluminate event announcement describe performances that include themes of gay marriage, transgenderism, and even trans-speciesism. The announcement also included the following content warning: Plays may contain adult language and frank sexual situations. The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood pointed out that the celebration would seem to be at odds with the confessional standards of the PCA, referring to the Westminster Larger Catechism. How can a PCA church host an event that contradicts its own confessional standards? How can this church allow a celebration of the very sin that scripture binds them to oppose? it asked. Zach Groff, lecturer in Old Testament Hebrew at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, highlighted in an article published on the website of Reformation21 what Memorial Presbyterian Church says about its arts venue: We host The Chapel, a volunteer-led not-for-profit arts venue. The Chapel provides all services including drinks free of charge to artists, theatre companies and their guests. This is a practical, real-life way that we can support local artists and manifest the Welcome of Jesus through our hospitality and through our service. Setting aside the issue of whether God mandates His church to facilitate art installations and live musical/theatrical performances, what do we make of the relationship between Memorial PCA and Transluminate insofar as the festival is hosted and sponsored by The Chapel, which is in turn partnered with (i.e. subsidized and served by) Memorial PCA and its church members? Groff asked. Memorial argued that the art venue is a separate entity. One of the buildings the church owns became a secular arts venue named The Chapel, Memorial Presbyterian Church said. Modeled after the Harrison Center for the Arts in Indianapolis, The Chapel has a separate, subsidiary board, a separate public identity, a separate building and a separate street address. Memorial also said: Our ministry to our local arts community has flown under the radar for a long time and allowed us to love people different from ourselves and do so without worrying our friends at a distance. We realize we at Memorial are now under a scrutiny we were not under 13 years ago when we began this ministry. The church added that it does not endorse art at The Chapel. Responding to this, Groff wrote, Taken at face value, the language of our ministry clarifies that The Chapel is at least a part and unavoidably an integral part of Memorial PCAs outreach to artists, musicians, and thespians in St. Louis. Groff also pointed out that Memorial Presbyterian Church hosted the first Revoice Conference, a gathering of LGBT Christians who seek to adhere to biblical standards of sexual ethics, not as a safe guide on issues of gender and sex. Memorial Presbyterian Church pastor Greg Johnson spoke at Revoice in 2019 and is slated to speak again in 2020, The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood wrote. In its statement, Memorial Presbyterian Church sought to explain: Christian freedom is not getting as close to sin as you can without crossing a line. Rather, Christian freedom is getting as close to sinners as you can by crossing a different set of lines. We will be looking into how the decision was made to host this theatre production and will be seeking to assess whether the right lines or wrong lines were crossed. We understand it is strange for a church to own a secular arts venue. We know of only two in the PCA. But for us, it has opened the door for conversations with people who often are hostile to Christianity. That is why we gave up use of one of our buildings and handed it over to use by artists. Thats why we have served them these past thirteen years. The FBI has released new photos they hope will aid in the search for Lori Vallows two missing children and theyre encouraging anyone with photos from that day to come forward. The photos, taken on September 8, 2019, show Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow at Yellowstone National Park. The photos are notable because they are the last known photographs of Tylee, who hasnt been seen since the family took a day trip to the park. Her younger brother, J.J., was last seen on September 23 at his school in Rexburg, Idaho, before Lori unenrolled him and told the principal she was planning to homeschool the boy. RELATED: Lori Vallow: Tracking the Movements of Idaho Mom Now Under Arrest After Her 2 Kids Went Missing An ongoing investigation has determined that the children were in Yellowstone National Park on that date with their mother, Lori Vallow, and uncle, Alex Cox, the FBI said in a statement. The group was traveling in a 2017 silver Ford F-150 pickup, with Arizona license plate CPQUINT. J.J. Vallow, Tylee Ryan Lori, 46, was extradited this week to Idaho from Hawaii, where she was arrested on February 20 in Kauai. She faces multiple charges including two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children, resisting or obstructing officers, contempt of court and criminal solicitation to commit a crime. Lori and her husband Chad Daybell a religious doomsday author have been accused of lying about the childrens whereabouts, and police in Rexburg have said that they strongly believe that Joshua and Tylees lives are in danger. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLEs free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. FBI Loris bond was set at $5 million, and she waived her right to an extradition hearing on February 26. She is set to appear in court later on Friday. That investigation has since yielded a second look at the deaths of Lori and Chads former spouses. Chads wife, Tammy, died in her bed on October 8 a death which officials now call suspicious. Loris ex-husband, Charles, was shot by her brother, Alex Cox, during an alleged altercation. Story continues Cox, who is seen in the recently-released FBI photos, claimed self-defense and was not charged in the shooting. He has since died under mysterious circumstances. Authorities are investigating his death. RELATED: Grandfather Asks Lori Vallows Husband to Do a Lot of Soul Searching and Return 2 Missing Kids Rexburg Police Department (2) Lori and Chad were tracked by authorities to Kauai in January, where Lori was arrested after failing to turn over the two kids to police or child welfare authorities in Idaho by the deadline set in a court order. There have been no signs that the children were ever in Kauai with the two adults. Lori has not yet entered a plea, but her lawyer has said the charges against her are false accusations. PEOPLEs calls to Loris attorneys Mark Means, Brian Webb and Edwina Elcox on Friday werent immediately returned In a brief comment to ABC News as he prepared to leave Hawaii ahead of his wifes extradition, Chad claimed the the kids are safe, but did not disclose any other information on their whereabouts. Chad has not been charged with a crime. Anyone with information on the missing kids is asked to call the Rexburg Police Department at (208) 359-3000 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST). 2.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Business leaders are turning on Trump and working on their own without the White House to respond to the coronavirus crisis. MSNBCs Stephanie Ruhle said on Deadline: White House: This is the first time we have seen global business leaders, who were happy to take the tax cut because it worked for them, leave the president. And I assure you hes not happy about it but they dont have anyone to trust. Whether youre talking SARS, Ebola or the financial crisis. You would have business leaders and government leaders in a room saying how are we going to solve for this? Tell me who are the grown-ups in the room? It was Larry Kudlow days ago saying buy the dip. And today saying this is just seasonal. Even this morning when the president said its going to be great for American business because people are going to go on vacation here. Tell an airline that. Two days ago Mike Pence had to solve a rift between airline CEOs and the White House because they were debating over passenger data. Without credible sources inside the White House, corporate America the business roundtable has formed its own corona task force. Video: Stephanie Ruhle says the business community has turned on Trump over his bungled coronavirus response. pic.twitter.com/QEtADHBvL4 PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) March 6, 2020 The White House is spending their time lying about the outbreak to the business community and the American people about the number of coronavirus cases and the administrations response. The plunge on Wall Street is caused by the fact that the business community no longer trusts Trump. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook He developed the suit over decades following studies of neuroanatomy Buggy Rollin suit is made of 32 wheels and body armour, and can reach speeds of 78mph on roads An eccentric French inventor has become an internet hit for his superhero-like body-worn roller suit, which can reach speeds of 78mph. Jean-Yves Blondeau, also known as Rollerman, has been developing the piece of body armour equipped with 32 wheels on the feet, knees, back, stomach and arms for decades. And while the 49-year-old did receive short-lived celebrity status in his native France back in late 1990s for the unique invention, he could soon see a resurgence in interest. Eccentric French inventor Jean-Yves Blondeau has become an internet hit for his superhero-like body-worn roller suit, which can reach speeds of 78mph (pictured in 2007) Videos of Mr Blondeau riding his Buggy Rollin suit down hills with his nose centimetres off the ground have become seriously popular in China. One has had 55 million views on a Chinese social media network. The inventor also sparks huge gatherings of spectators when performing public stunts. Mr Blondeau, also known as Rollerman, has been developing the piece of body armour equipped with 32 wheels on the feet, knees, back, stomach and arms for decades 'I wanted to do something that other people didn't do,' said Mr Blondeau, who began working on his suit when he was at university in Paris. Born 1970 in Alpine town Aix-les-Bains, Mr Blondeau originally designed his roller suit as his graduation project at the industrial design school Ecole nationale superieure des arts appliques et des metiers d'art (also known as the Olivier de Serres) in Paris. He at first wrote a scientific thesis on 'systems that show the displacement of the centre of gravity of the human body through the displacement of its fulcrum with the aim of displacement in space, sensations, feeling and locomotion'. But a practical purpose for the theory took a bit longer to be fully realised. Videos of Mr Blondeau riding his Buggy Rollin suit down hills with his nose centimetres off the ground have become seriously popular in China But after studying neuroanatomy, which involves observation of the nervous system, and researching astronauts and acrobatic performers, he devised a prototype for his wheel suit. Taking to the streets of Paris in the mid-1990s, he remembers how 'people looked at me in a strange way', before realising he looked like an 'American superhero'. Since then, he has created 20 generations of the superhero-type outfit, ranging from basic kneepads with rollers to sophisticated full body armour like the one worn in the Tianmen Mountain stunt. Taking to the streets of Paris in the mid-1990s, he remembers how 'people looked at me in a strange way', before realising he looked like an 'American superhero' (pictured right, Robert Downey Jnr as Iron Man) It was using a model with 26 wheels at Mont Ventoux, Provence, that Mr Blondeau made his speed record of 116km/h (70mph). He also worked as a stunt coordinator for the 2008 comedy film Yes Man, starring Jim Carrey, and taught Jackie Chan to use a wheel-suit for his 2012 movie, CZ12. Describing the motivation behind his invention, Mr Blondeau told French paper Dauphine Libere earlier this year: 'I wanted to work with the human body. Do feel the sensation of balance and locomotion.' While his pet project has never become the global phenomenon - with only a dozen people paying 5,000 for one of his suits - there is hope that interest from China could change his fortunes. He is also currently developing a version of the suit with an electronic motor. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 23:55:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GARISSA, Kenya, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Two suspected al-Shabab militants were killed on Friday in Garissa county near the Somalia border, the police said on Saturday. The police said they also recovered firearms and three magazines loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition from the militants, who were demanding ransom from some Kenyan whom they were holding hostages. The police said the national police reservists (NPR) officers had received information from members of the public that there were bandits who were holding hostages demanding for a ransom. "The seven NPR officers proceeded to the scene where they met two armed bandits and exchange of fire. The two bandits were fatally shot," said the police in a report. There has been heightened security around the country with security agencies at an unprecedented state of alert amid the latest reports that al-Shabab might be planning attacks against Kenya in unspecified locations. The police have also stepped up security around vital installations likely to be targets of attacks by al-Shabab operatives. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 09:56:22|Editor: zyl Video Player Close WELLINGTON, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A fifth case of COVID-19 was confirmed in New Zealand on Saturday. The case involves a New Zealand citizen in her 40's, the partner of the third case announced earlier this week, Director-General of Health Dr. Ashley Bloomfield told a press conference. The woman has stayed in self-isolation at home since Thursday. "Like three of the previous positive cases, this person doesn't require hospital level care and neither does anyone else in the family home," Bloomfield said. Casual contact tracing is underway for the individual and close contacts are already in self-isolation. Meanwhile, one woman in her 70s, who is among the eight New Zealanders who travelled on a cruise ship, the Grand Princess, had been in hospital for a respiratory illness, recovered and discharged early in March, but is now in hospital for an unrelated-condition. The woman, although tested negative for COVID-19, is considered a probable case. Close contacts of the woman, including a number of medical staff are standing down for 14 days as a precautionary measure, Bloomfield said. The United States said Friday that 21 people on the Grand Princess cruise ship tested positive for COVID-19, including 19 crew members and two passengers. The cruise ship was linked to the first coronavirus death in California amid possible virus spread aboard. It was banned from docking at San Francisco, after one of its former passengers died from COVID-19 Wednesday. "New Zealand is in a phase where we are seeing more cases, and we are actively trying to find cases through testing," Bloomfield said. But he maintained that New Zealand government has a good plan and a thorough public health response that has been demonstrated to work both home and abroad. The 2020 Hyundai Palisade is available now at Cocoa Hyundai. Shoppers can find all sorts of informative and comparative research pages regarding the crossover on the Cocoa Hyundai website. For those shoppers torn between two brands, there is all sorts of comparative model research to find on the internet. Car buyers in the Cocoa, Florida, area can now research how several popular Hyundai models fare against some of their segment competitors thanks to new comparison pages on the Cocoa Hyundai website pitting certain cars and crossovers against their rival Ford models. Some of these pages include the brand-new 2020 Hyundai Palisade squaring off against the Ford Explorer and the all-new, next-generation 2020 Hyundai Sonata going up against the Ford Fusion, among others. These pages highlight a few of the most significant specifications shoppers should be considering when shopping for vehicles in their respective segments while detailing the differences between the two models. Hyundai versus Ford arent the only pages found on the websites relatively comprehensive database of information, which is consistently being updated. Potential buyers can also find out how the Hyundai model theyre interested in measures up to competing class rivals from brands like Honda, Kia, Nissan and Toyota as well. Any shoppers looking for information on how Hyundai models stack up to some of their competing brands can find these comparison pages on the dealerships website at http://www.cocoahyundai.com. Potential car buyers in the area itself are also encouraged to reach out to the sales desk with any questions they might have by calling 321-241-2063. Cocoa Hyundai is located at 1825 West King St. in Cocoa. The Assam government on Saturday asked people not to panic in the wake of a US tourist testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Bhutan after leaving the state, saying "special measures" were taken at the places where he had visited. No person has tested positive for the coronavirus in Assam and the state government has put in place stringent screening procedures, Minister of State for Health Pijush Hazarika said. "There is no need to panic as the US tourist had tested positive three days after leaving Assam. Wherever he had travelled in Assam, we have taken special measures in those places," he told a press conference. The second floor of the hotel in Guwahati where the 76-year-old man had stayed was sealed and a medical team sent to Neamatighat in Jorhat district which he had visited, the minister said. "The 127 people who came in contact with the American have been identified and kept under surveillance," he said. The river cruise ship M V Mahabahu on which the US tourist had travelled from Guwahati on the Brahmaputra has been quarantined at Neamatighat, he said. Medical teams are examining passengers and crew members of the ship, the Jorhat district administration said, while the ship's operator claimed that the entire vessel has been properly fumigated. The authorities of the hotel where the US tourist had stayed on March 1 said the second floor with 18 rooms was sealed as per the protocol received from the Assam government, and the room and floor sanitised. The staff of the hotel, who came in close contact with the American, have been identified and kept in isolation and under observation. The employees of a Jorjhat resort where he had stayed as part of the river cruise, and drivers of buses in which he had travelled were also examined by medical teams and kept under observation, district officials said. The Bhutan government on Friday announced that a US tourist tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the Himalayan country's first reported case since the outbreak of the disease in China. Eight Indian passengers who travelled with the American on a plane from Guwahati to Paro have been quarantined and it is closely working with the Indian Embassy on the matter, the Bhutan government said. An Italian has also been kept under observation at a hotel in Tezpur in Sonipur district on suspicion that he has been infected by the novel coronavirus and his condition was stated to be fine, Hazarika said. Hojai district officials said two local persons, who had returned from their travel to Bangkok, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines, were kept in isolation for observation. Urging people not to panic but be careful, the minister said surveillance teams were deployed by the Assam government in all the airports in the state and set up isolation wards in various hospitals. Private hospitals across the state were also asked to set up similar facilities, he said adding that special ambulances and health care teams have been kept in readiness at the airports. "We are checking passengers for fever as soon as they alight from an aircraft. We have told all the airlines' authorities to inform us about any passenger with fever or showing signs of the virus attack so that we can isolate them and provide medical treatment," Hazarika said. So far 585 passengers have been screened at the state's seven airports. Of them, 112 are Indians coming from abroad and they are under observation, the minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The expenses are in line with nearly $12,000 the city spent in 2010 on security personnel accompanying former mayor Adrian Fenty (D) on six trips to four states, according to the Washington Examiner. The purpose of those trips was not specified. Top European Union officials called on Friday for solidarity among member countries in the face of the coronavirus, responding to moves by some nations to restrict exports on equipment that could be used to combat the outbreak. France, Germany and other countries have imposed limits on the export of protective medical equipment, some of which is badly needed but in short supply. Janez Lenarcic, the blocs top official for crisis management, said such bans were permitted under European treaties but hinted at a desire to have them removed. Member states should make sure that protective equipment is available across Europe, he said. Stella Kyriakides, the European Union health commissioner, put it in simple terms: Solidarity is key. Maggie De Block, Belgiums health minister, said on Friday that European Union countries had to be united in the distribution of protective face masks. Shopkeepers of Shaheen Bagh meet senior police officials over anti-CAA protest India oi-PTI New Delhi, Mar 08: A delegation of Shaheen Bagh shopkeepers on Saturday met senior police officials of southeast district and asked for a solution to the anti-CAA protest in the area so that they can open their shops. According to police, the delegation members raised their concerns as their shops have been shut for almost three months. The officials heard the delegation members and told them that the matter is sub-judice and they can not comment on this. A section of SHaheen Bagh protesters has blocked the Kalindi Kunj-Noida link road while demonstrating against the new citizenship law for the past almost three months. The interlocutors appointed by the Supreme Court have visited Shaheen Bagh several times and told the protesters that the top court has upheld their right to protest but it should not affect the rights of other citizens. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, March 8, 2020, 0:05 [IST] SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A property manager at an apartment building on the East Side of Syracuse has been accused of stealing at least $6,895 from a property management company, according to police. Montoyez Harper, 43, of Syracuse, was charged with third-degree grand larceny and second-degree falsifying business records, police said. A Syracuse police officer wrote in court records that Harper signed a notarized affidavit and admitted to stealing the money from Vintage Management. Harper logged false move-in dates for tenants at Briarcliff Estates, located at 300 Audubon Parkway, near the campus of Le Moyne College. The entries listed tenants as moving in later than they actually had, an officer wrote. Harper would still collect rent for the undocumented months in which tenants had been living there even though there, the officer wrote. The scheme ran from Oct. 17, 2017, through July 19, 2019, police said. Harper was booked on March 3, but appears to have been released, according to inmate records. In 2015, Briarcliff Estates then-property management company, AIM Properties Management Corp., settled with New York State to return security deposits to former tenants who were entitled to the deposit and interest. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter. 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. Kathaleen Pittman still cant believe that she and her little abortion clinic from Shreveport, Louisiana, has a case before the highest court in the nation. Had anybody told me three years ago we would be preparing to go before the court this week, I would have thought they were crazy. I mean, we had precedent on our side, or so we thought, Pittman said. What shes referring to is a Texas law that required doctors to have admitting privileges and for abortion clinics to meet the standards of ambulatory surgical centers; it was struck down by the Supreme Court just four years ago, after the court found that it placed an undue burden on a womans ability to obtain an abortion. Her clinic is now challenging a Louisiana law that requires doctors to have admitting privileges in nearby hospitals, and the Supreme Court heard opening arguments for both sides on Wednesday. If you review the two bills side by side, all they did was adjust the wording in different orders. Theyre virtually the same, they truly are, Pittman told "Nightline." I think it's just disingenuous, really. PHOTO: Kathaleen Pittman traveled to Washington D.C. to fight for her small, nondescript Hope Clinic in Shreveport, Louisiana. (ABC) Louisiana argues that the two laws are different enough to merit a distinction, and that the state law helps guarantee a basic standard for womens health. We looked at the facts, looked at the decision from the Supreme Court, looked at our case. They were very, very different. So it just wasn't a hard decision, said Elizabeth Murrill, the Solicitor General for Louisiana who represents the state in the case. I mean, our facts are different, our law's different, our regulatory structure is different. The history in our state is different. I mean, it's a good law. It protects women. We have a history of very serious health and safety violations and noncompliance by doctors, by abortion doctors, she said. Yet for critics of the Louisiana law, this is yet another attempt by a state to try and inhibit women from being able to access abortions; a procedure abortion rights advocates call safe with extraordinarily low risks of complications at less than 1%, especially if done in the early term. Story continues MORE: Swing state senators face pressure as Supreme Court hears Louisiana abortion case PHOTO: Clinic escort Kathryn Simpson was inspired to put the phrase on her umbrella for protesters to see while she shields patients. (ABC) If the Supreme Court were to rule in favor of the state, Pittman says that the new state requirements would mean that only one abortion facility in Louisiana would remain open: her clinic, Hope Medical Group. She fears that other states would quickly follow suit and enact similar laws restricting abortion access across the nation. That's going to put abortion care out of reach for a lot of women. And we're going to have some serious concerns about women's health, Pittman said. Women attempting to take matters into their own hands. Women continuing in pregnancies that they cannot take care over, afford, because they can't afford to travel to another state to get care. Once again, we'll be back in the situation where women of means will be able to obtain care and the poor women or, you know, are going to be the ones faced with not being able to access care. Tightening restrictions across America PHOTO: Hundreds of anti-abortion and abortion rights advocates showed up on the steps of the Supreme Court. (ABC) Pittmans worries may not be unfounded. Over the past few years, several other states have passed laws and regulations, making it harder for abortion clinics to operate. Last year, Alabama passed a bill making it a felony for doctors to perform abortions, causing an uproar across the country. Missouri also tightened regulations on abortions, and nearly shuttered the states only clinic, withholding the clinics license after an audit last year. Dr. Colleen McNicholas, OB-GYN, Reproductive Health Services of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region, says the proposed regulations are a strategy to make it harder for the clinics to operate. The services that we provide in this clinic really aren't requiring or deserving, I should say, of any special regulation, McNicholas told "Nightline." There are procedures that we could provide in our own office, but one of the strategies that the anti-choice movement for a long time has been to try and find ways to chip away at access to abortion care and through regulations. MORE: Louisiana abortion case may hinge on Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts PHOTO: Dr. Colleen McNicholas is the director of the last clinic in Missouri. (ABC) According to the Guttmacher Institute, there are 24 states impacted by laws or policies that regulate abortion providers and go beyond what is necessary to ensure patients safety, a series of what abortion-rights advocates call TRAP, or targeted regulation of abortion providers, laws. And after President Donald Trump, who has made banning abortion a legislative priority of his administration, appointed two new conservative-leaning justices to the Supreme Court, there is a belief there could be many more. We have seen a flurry of activity in the states, really in the last year-and-a-half to restrict abortion in ways that we actually hadn't seen previously, said Kate Shaw, a professor at Cardozo Law. Since the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a lot of states [that] have looked to the Supreme Court have said, You know what, I think that the legal landscape has really changed, and they have moved to restrict. Core of the Case PHOTO: Inside the Hope Medical Clinic for Women in Shreveport, Louisiana. (ABC) In the last 10 years, the Louisiana state legislature has passed several bills regulating access and functions of abortion clinics. Advocates say these laws have caused a gradual decrease in the number of clinics in the state. Through all this, Hope Medical Group has managed to keep its doors open. But in 2014, Louisiana passed a law requiring doctors who perform abortions in the state to have admitting privileges to a hospital no more than 30 miles away should urgent care be necessary. [Its] basically a law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have a relationship with a nearby hospital what's called an admitting privileges relationship, Shaw said. One reason it's difficult to get these privileges is that there isn't even always a hospital nearby. Another reason is that these privileges often require a certain number of admissions in each calendar year, and very early abortions are extremely safe procedures and doctors who perform abortions just may never need to admit patients, thus undermining their ability to even get these privileges, she said. Hope Medical Group and its supporters agree. Admitting privileges sound good on paper. But they're really a catch-22. Doctors don't need admitting privileges to provide abortion care. And the real kicker is, doctors can't get admitting privileges if they provide abortion care, said Travis. J. Tu, Senior Counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights and one of the lawyers representing Hope Clinic in the Supreme Court case. If this law goes into effect, all the doctors at Hope Clinic will be put out of the practice of medicine and Hope will close. That makes no sense. MORE: Schumer says he regrets comments Chief Justice Roberts called 'dangerous' threats Murrill says that the idea that abortion clinics will not be able to obtain admitting privileges is false. The evidence said it. They could get them. They did get them during the course of the litigation. So it's not just me saying it. They demonstrated, during the course of litigation, that they could get them. One of the doctors already had them. He'd had them for 30 years. Two of the doctors obtained them during the course of the litigation in New Orleans and in Baton Rouge. So this idea that all the clinics are going to close, that they can't get privileges, that there will only be one abortion-- I mean, that's all simply not accurate, she said. It's not even accurate to say that the clinics would close. Murrill continued. Because there are multiple ways they can avail themselves of administrative procedures so that they can stay open even if they're not compliant yet. They just need to call the department of health and work out a compliance plan. But during oral arguments before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, lawyers representing Hope Medical Group stated that doctors faced significant challenges in trying to obtain these admitting privileges, citing attempts to 15 different hospitals over the past year and a half to obtain admitting privileges. These kind of details are really besides the point, said Tu. Doctors should not need to make herculean efforts to obtain something that does not benefit them or their patients in any way. Both the trial court and Fifth Circuit found that admitting privileges have no health or safety benefit for abortion patients, so forcing doctors to obtain them is illogical and a clear attempt to shut down clinics. PHOTO: Protesters picket outside the Hope Medical Clinic for Women in Shreveport, Louisiana. (ABC) Because of the hurdles abortion providers face in obtaining admitting privileges, clinics in Louisiana fear that if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the law, women would technically not be able to easily access an abortion provider. Roe has no purpose. If there is no access to abortion, it basically becomes ineffective. One doesn't have to overturn Roe. All we have to do is keep chipping away at this through the states, through the trap laws, keep chipping away at access, Pittman said. And you can say, oh, but Roe is still the law of the land, but without access to it. It's nothing. Its meaningless. For Pittman and her 21 staffers at Hope Medical Group, they feel the responsibility keenly. Their clinic services not just 3,000 women from Louisiana, but also several neighboring states as well. Pittman says that women travel from Arkansas, Nebraska, Texas and Nebraska to come to her clinic for services. She fears that if her clinic were to be the last abortion care facility left in Louisiana, the doctor providing abortions will be overwhelmed by the number of patients, and the scrutiny, and quit. I won't lie and say I don't lose sleep over that, Pittman said. But I think, at the end of the day, when I'm talking with the staff about it or even talking with the patients who are aware of what's going on, I say, What we need to do is concentrate on the here and now, take care of the patients that are currently in our care and make sure they have everything they need and really hope for the best. 'Last clinic' standing? Critics fear abortion case before Supreme Court could have nationwide impact on abortion facilities originally appeared on abcnews.go.com SEATTLE Days after a coronavirus outbreak emerged inside a nursing home in suburban Seattle, leaders at two other complexes that serve older residents in the region said on Friday that each of those facilities had a resident who had tested positive for the virus. Washington State has seen more than 80 cases of the virus, including the first case reported by Starbucks on Friday night at one of its downtown Seattle stores, but the new cases were troubling because older people are seen as most vulnerable to the infection. Ten deaths have been connected to Life Care Center of Kirkland, and other people associated with the facility, which was first linked to the coronavirus about a week ago, have tested positive. The future work of dozens of researchers seeking to develop a low-carbon "energy superpower" vision hangs in the balance after support from both the German and Australian governments was halted. The Energy Transition Hub, a five-year $20 million venture signed in 2017 to foster research by Australian and German universities, stops receiving funds from Germany this quarter, with the Morrison government's support ending in June. Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed in 2017 at the G7 leaders' summit to back an energy transition hub that is now facing an uncertain future after both nations ended their support. Credit:AP The German government did not extend its 2.5-year initial funding, while Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reneged on its five-year pledge two years early, saving $1.75 million. In an email to staff and researchers on Friday, the hub's directors said they had been "recently informed by DFAT" of its decision not to "follow through on its original commitment" to fund the hub until 2022. As hospitals, schools and businesses prepare to deal with the spread of coronavirus, the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago released guidelines for parishioners concerned about the potential spread of the disease. Effective immediately, all priests, deacons, altar servers and ministers in parishes in the archdiocese must wash their hands before the beginning of Mass. Those distributing Communion also are being told to use antibacterial solution before and after distributing Communion. Additional guidelines for parishioners during Mass services include, according to a list distributed by some churches: Avoiding physical contact during the sign of peace. Given the direct contact with saliva, do not distribute Communion via the chalice. Do not hold hands during prayers such as the Lords Prayer. Refrain from using holy water fonts. The archdiocese also emphasized that those who are sick or experiencing symptoms should not feel obligated to attend Mass. The warnings come after a letter released by Bishop Richard Pates last week advised all parishes in the Diocese of Joliet to stop handshaking, embracing during the sign of peace and distribution of Communion in the chalice. Other diocese throughout the world also are limiting how Communion is distributed and taking other steps. At this time, because of unknown dimensions of this virus and its rapid spreading world-wide, prudence and prayer are called for, the letter states. The third and fourth cases of coronavirus in Illinois were reported Monday -- a husband and wife in their 70s both tested positive for coronavirus, but the results still needed to be confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another suspected case was reported Tuesday. That patient was being treated at the University of Chicago Medical Center. The hospital said it was waiting for lab test results to determine if the person has the virus. The first two cases in Illinois have been confirmed by the CDC. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A man in his 30s arrested in connection with the abduction and assault of Kevin Lunney, has been released without charge. On Thursday, gardai arrested the man and detained him at Cavan Garda station. United States President Donald Trump's re-election campaign on March 6 reportedly sued American media outlet, CNN, for libel over a piece that claimed that the campaign had left open the possibility of seeking Russia's help in the 2020 election. According to an international media outlet, the lawsuit was filed in US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and cited a June opinion article written by Larry Noble, who is a former Federal Election Commission general counsel. Trump's campaign also filed a similar lawsuit against The New York Times and The Washington Post. In the article, Noble argued that the former special counsel Robert Mueller should have charged Trump for soliciting help from Russia in his 2016 campaign. He further also wrote that the campaign assessed the potential risks and benefits of again seeking Russia's help in 2020 and has decided to leave that option on the table. However, Trump's campaign reportedly said that CNN was well aware that the statement was untrue and piece reflected its 'systematic pattern of bias' against the campaign. READ: Trump Cites "tremendous Lack Of Talent", Not Sexism For End Of Elizabeth Warren's Campaign READ: Overall Risk To The American Public From Coronavirus Remains Low: Trump 'False and defamatory' Trump's campaign senior legal advisor Jenna Ellis, in a statement, also claimed that the article by Noble was '100 per cent false and defamatory'. The lawsuit reportedly also said that there is 'extensive evidence' of bias against the president from both Noble and CNN. Furthermore, the lawsuit claimed that the president's legal team asked CNN to retract the article in February, but CNN refused to do so. Trump campaign's lawsuit against all the three media outlets claim damages worth millions of dollars. While speaking to an international media outlet, Ellis said that the new lawsuits against the media companies were meant to hold the publishers accountable for their reckless false reporting. She further added that it is also to establish the truth that the campaign did not have an agreement, quid pro quo, or collusion with Russia, as the Mueller Report concluded. READ: Trump Names Rep. Mark Meadows His New Chief Of Staff READ: Melania Trump Promotes Awareness To Opioid Crisis As a rule, young kids touch everything around them with hands that frequently make their way to their mouths, as well as to the faces of their adult companions. This alone makes it easier for them to get infected and to pass along any illnesses and it also makes it less safe for them to travel, said Chad Sanborn, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Palm Beach Childrens Hospital. If you do plan on traveling with young children, make sure their vaccines are up to date, and take at least an extra two weeks worth of any essential medications with them should they need to be quarantined. New Delhi, March 7 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked senior government functionaries to identify sufficient locations for quarantine and also for critical care provisioning in case the coronavirus spreads further. He also urged them to adopt best practices for coronavirus (Covid-19) management from across the world. After reviewing the situation and the actions taken by the various ministries on the growing coronavirus scare in the country, the Prime Minister said that an immediate exercise should be taken up to identify "sufficient locations for quarantine and also for critical care provisioning in case the disease spreads." He emphasised on the need for advance and adequate planning, saying that timely response is critical for managing the infectious disease. The Prime Minister said that the concerned officials should identify the best practices for Covid-19 management from across the world and within the states and ensure their adoption. He added that people should be advised to avoid mass gatherings as far as possible and be made aware of the Do's and Dont's with regard to the virus. The Prime Minister also instructed the concerned officials to plan for early testing and evacuation of Indians from Iran. The meeting was attended by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Minister for State Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Niti Aayog member Vinod K Paul and Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, among others. The Health Ministry informed the Prime Minister about the measures taken to contain the virus. Senior government officials told Modi that it is vital to maintain constant vigil at all airports, seaports and land border crossings, besides ensuring the availability of sufficient beds for isolation. Harsh Vardhan emphasised the need for effective coordination with the states for timely response. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) A Missouri man was stabbed nine times by an employee at a local Pizza Hut after he complained that they got his delivery order wrong. Police said the incident occurred Monday at about 8.15pm outside a Pizza Hut in St. Louis, Missouri. Isiah Hudson, 29, suffered nine stab wounds during the incident - two wounds in his neck, two on his left arm, four on his back and one to his chest - according to a GoFundMe that his brother, Nathaniel Hudson started. Isiah Hudson, 29, was stabbed nine times by a Missouri Pizza Hut employee after he complained that his order was incorrect. Hudson is pictured in the hospital after the incident Hudson, a father of three, was stabbed in the neck, arm, back and chest. His relatives said that four Pizza Hut employees were involved in the incident Nathaniel told KMOV that Isiah, a father of three, had ordered $60 worth of pizza from the restaurant, but later found the order was wrong. When Isiah called to complain, Pizza Hut employees supposedly didn't care about the mistake and told him it would be a two-hour wait to correct, Nathaniel said. Nathaniel said that the employees then hung up on Isiah, only to start calling him from their personal phones so that they could threaten Isiah. Hudson (pictured with children) was said to have been stabbed in front of his wife and children and that his wife drove him to the hospital after the stabbing Rather than wait for the delivery, Nathaniel said Isiah decided to go to the Pizza Hut himself, at which point, 'He was met with four employees that told him to step outside because they had something for him,' told the news station. According to Nathaniel, two of the employees recorded what happened, one carried a chair and the last employee was carrying a Pizza Hut knife. 'I don't know who was there to witness it but I know his kids were,' Nathaniel told KMOV. 'When he got in the car he bled all over the car. He bled on his children. He bled on his wife.' Isiah's wife, Teneisha Cruz, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that after the stabbing, she pulled Isiah into the family car and drove him to the hospital. 'Blood went everywhere,' Cruz said. 'My oldest daughter, she seen everything once he got in the car, and she said, "Daddy, youre gonna be OK, dont leave me."' Isiah received numerous stitches at the hospital and, according to Nathaniel, had 'His ear was sewn back together.' Isiah is said to be in the hospital in critical, but stable condition. According to an update on the GoFundMe page, Isiah received a blood transfusion on Thursday night and has not been able to walk yet. A 24-year-old Pizza Hut employee was arrested in connection with the incident. Prosecutors said that they would not be charging the 24-year-old Pizza Hut employee because he acted in self-defense during the incident. The incident occurred outside this Pizza Hut But, on Friday, a spokesperson for the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office told the Associated Press that they will not be filing the police recommended first-degree assault charges against the Pizza Hut employee. According to the spokesperson, prosecutors have determined that the employee, who has not been named, was acting in self-defense. Prosecutors said that the customer - Isiah - arrived at the Pizza Hut, angry and ready for a fight with the Pizza Hut employees, drawing them outside where he then drew a knife and told the workers that he had a gun. The spokesperson said that was when one of the workers stabbed the man. Pizza Hut said in a statement obtained by the Associated Press that the franchisee was cooperating with law enforcement. DailyMail.com has reached out to Pizza Hut for comment. WORCESTER, Mass. - A medical student from China who U.S. authorities say tried to smuggle cancer research material out of the country has been freed on $100,000 bond over the objections of federal prosecutors. Zaosong Zheng, 30, walked out of U.S. District Court in Worcester, Massachusetts on Friday but will remain under GPS-monitored house arrest, The Telegram & Gazette reported. His passport has also been confiscated. Zheng was arrested in December at Logan International Airport in Boston with 21 vials of cancer cells in a suitcase he was taking to China, authorities said. Zheng stole the materials from his lab at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, authorities allege. The hospital has fired him. Hes charged with smuggling goods from the U.S. and making false statements. The government has opposed his release. Prosecutors argue that he is a flight risk and may be working with the Chinese government, and have raised questions about the source of bail money posted by his wife. Zheng has not been charged with conspiring with the Chinese government, and a federal judge Friday denied multiple requests from prosecutors that he remain in jail. Zheng and his wife declined comment outside of court. One of his attorneys, David Duncan, said he does not believe his client did anything wrong. Federal authorities haven been aggressively going after Chinese researchers in the U.S., some of whom they say work on behalf of the Chinese government to steal the work of American academics. Last month, a Harvard University professor was charged with lying about his ties to a Chinese-run recruitment program and concealing payments he received from the Chinese government for research. According to InterPressNews Four Georgian sailors, captured by pirates in Africa on February 20, has been released and will return home in the coming days. As InterPressNews was told by the Georgian Maritime Transport Agency, the Agency, along with the Foreign Ministry, has been involved in the process since the kidnapping of the sailors. Due to the confidentiality reasons and the interests of the sailors' personal safety, we refrain from disclosing details, but we would like to note that all parties acted in a coordinated and highly professional manner, which gave the result in a very short period of time. The efforts of the shipbuilding company are worthy of special mention, which has done everything to safely release of the sailors. We thank the family members of the abducted sailors who have shown exemplary peace in this difficult situation and contributed to the successful completion of the process, the Maritime Transport Agency said, InterPressNews reports. Pune, Mar 7 (UNI) Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the issue related to the banning of two Malayalam news channels, and said that the government has lifted the 48-hour ban. Two Malayalam channels were banned 48 hours for telecast. We immediately found out what actually happened and therefore we immediately restored the channels. Owner of one the channel talked to me. By night only his channel, Asianet news was on and Media One is also on from today morning, Mr Javadekar told mediapersons. The Ministry, on Friday, suspended the two news channels for 48 hours over their coverage of last months communal violence in Delhi, with the official orders saying they covered events on February 25 in a manner that 'highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community. Channels reporting on Delhi violence seem to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters. It also questions RSS and alleges Delhi police inaction. Channels seem to be critical towards police and RSS, the Ministry had said in its order. Mr Javadekar, however, said that the Modi government is in favour of press freedom. Because our basic thought process is that press freedom is absolutely essential in democratic set up. That is the commitment of Modi government. Because we fought emergency in which press freedom was suppressed. We went to jail to remove the press muzzling and we secured press freedom, he said. He said the Prime Minister expressed concern and now I will definitely go into the details and take essential steps if there is wrong doing. The Union Minister also said the National Broadcasters Association president Rajat Sharma also talked to him, and they have sought, their inputs. So we will take correct action. Mr Javadekar said that everybody accepts that media will also exercise responsible freedom. UNI KNA ADG 1453 06.03.2020 LISTEN Former President John Dramani Mahama on Friday 6th March 2020 decided not to take part in the 63rd Independence Day Celebrations in Kumasi. A special seat reserved in his name appeared empty as shown in the photo. This year's celebrations are being held in Kumasi by President Nana Akufo-Addo under the distinguished patronage of his Majesty Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II with a line-up of activities for the day. Ghana's Independence Day which is celebrated on 6th March every year marks the declaration of independence from the United Kingdom by Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah on 6 March 1957. There are some special courtesies usually extended to former presidents on this special day. But it appears former President Mahama according to sources did not honour the invitation from the sitting President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akfuo-Addo and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). As it stands, it is not clear what might have led to his absence from this official government business. There are reports that Ex-President Jerry John Rawlings was also absent. Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday continued questioning Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor in connection with a money laundering probe against him and others, officials said. They said Kapoor was brought to the agency's office in the Ballard Estate area Saturday afternoon. The ED had searched Rana's residence in the upscale 'Samudra Mahal' complex in the Worli area on Friday night and had grilled him there too. The questioning of Kapoor is continuing, they said. The case against Kapoor is linked to the scam-hit DHFL as the loans lent by the bank to the company allegedly turned non-performing assets (NPAs), they said. Action against Kapoor is being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the ED. The central agency is also probing Kapoor's role in connection with the disbursal of loans to some corporate entities and the subsequent alleged kickbacks reportedly received in his wife's accounts. All 3 Daughters of Rana Kapoor are also being raided by ED. Rakhee Kapoor Tandon, Roshni Kapoor and Radha Kapoor are being raided as they were alleged beneficiaries of the scam. Other alleged irregularities are also under the agency's scanner, including the one related to the alleged PF fraud in the Uttar Pradesh power corporation, they added. The CBI has recently taken over investigation into the Rs 2,267-crore Employees' Provident Fund fraud in Uttar Pradesh, where hard-earned savings of power sector employees were invested in Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL). The ED action came after the Reserve Bank on Thursday imposed a moratorium on the capital-starved Yes Bank, capping withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account and superseded the board of the private sector lender with immediate effect. Yes Bank will not be able to grant or renew any loan or advance, make any investment, incur any liability or agree to disburse any payment. As per the RBI's draft reconstruction scheme, State Bank of India will pick up 49 per cent stake in the crisis-ridden Yes Bank under a government-approved bailout plan. ROSEBURG, Ore. -- A petition rally is being planned in Roseburg with hopes of moving Oregon's border. The initiative hopes to separate most of southern, central and eastern Oregon from Portland and Eugene. Organizers of Move Oregons Border for a Greater Idaho said rural Oregon doesnt feel like theyre being represented by Gov. Kate Brown or the legislators in Salem. They said they dont want to move to Idaho, so they thought it would be better to become a part of the state. They need a certain amount of signatures in each of the 20 counties that are trying to secede. That is determined by population. Organizers said Douglas County needs around 3,000 signatures in order to get it on the November ballot. Because its not about Oregon," said Mike McCarter, chief petitioner. "Its not about Idaho. Its about freedom and its about hope. They started collecting signatures in Douglas County last week. The first petition rally will be held in Roseburg at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Douglas County fairgrounds. Hachette Book Group has decided not to publish embattled filmmaker Woody Allen's memoir "Apropos of Nothing" following a massive backlash. Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group (HBG), acquired the memoir a year ago and will bring it out on April 7, the company said earlier this week. Allen has become a subject of discussion over the resurfacing of the sexual assault allegations levelled against him by his step-daughter Dylan Farrow, journalist Ronan Farrow's sister, which caught steam in the wake of the #MeToo uprising. He has repeatedly denied the accusations. The company's decision didn't go down well with many, including both Ronan and Dylan as well as its own staff who staged a walkout in protest on Thursday. In a statement, obtained by Deadline, a representative of the publishing house said the decision to cancel the book's publication was a "difficult one". "We take our relationships with authors very seriously, and do not cancel books lightly. We have published and will continue to publish many challenging books. As publishers, we make sure every day in our work that different voices and conflicting points of views can be heard... "Over the past few days, HBG leadership had extensive conversations with our staff and others. After listening, we came to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible for HBG," the official said. It was reported last year that Allen was pitching his memoir to several publishers but but was rebuffed in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Incidentally, Hachette's division Little, Brown and Company published "Catch and Kill", by Ronan Farrow in 2019, in which he wrote about his reporting during the #MeToo movement that led to the downfall of many powerful Hollywood executives, including Harvey Weinstein, over sexual abuse allegations. Ronan, who had severed his ties with the publishing house after its decision, on Saturday thanked the company for listening to the voices of people who are opposing Allen's book. "I'm grateful to all the Hachette employees and authors who spoke up and to the company for listening," Ronan tweeted. Dylan posted a statement on Twitter and said she is in "awe and so very grateful" to Hachette Group's employees for taking a stand. "To each and every individual who, at great professional risk to themselves, stood in solidarity with my brother, myself, and with all victims of sexual assault yesterday: words will never describe the debt of gratitude I owe to you," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korea's coronavirus cases jumped above 7,000 on Saturday, up by 448 from the previous day, with more than half of the total number linked to a secretive church at the centre of the country's outbreak, health authorities said. The death toll rose by two to 46, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Since mid-February when a woman tested positive after attending services at a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southeastern city of Daegu, the number of infections has exploded in South Korea, giving it the most cases ... If you're looking to stretch your retirement budget as far as you can and are up for an exotic adventure, consider retirement in Thailand. This country has a low cost of living as well as some of the world's most beautiful beaches. However, the culture shock of living in Thailand can be significant for Americans. Before considering a move overseas, ask yourself if you will find the reality of life in Asia thrilling and invigorating or intimidating and stressful. Here's what you need to know about retirement in Thailand. The Cost of Housing in Thailand Renting before you consider a property purchase is a good idea. The cost depends on the location. You can rent in some parts of the country for as little as 6,000 baht ($190) per month, but accommodation that tends to appeal to American retirees generally starts at around 10,000 baht ($318) per month. Most apartments and many houses come furnished. Utilities are usually paid by tenants, although extras like Wi-Fi and cable TV are sometimes included in the rent. Most contracts are for a year, but six-month leases are also common. Upon signing you'll typically hand over the first and last month's rent, plus a security deposit of one month. If you use a real estate agent to find a place, the standard commission is one month's rent for a 12-month contract and is paid by the landlord. Foreigners can own property in Thailand with restrictions. You can own a condo as long as total foreign ownership is less than 50% of the building. Foreigners cannot own land. [See: The 10 Best Places to Retire in Asia.] Owning a Car in Thailand There are many affordable public transportation options in Thailand. However, if you decide to invest in a car of your own, you'll find that vehicles are reasonably priced in Thailand, as many are assembled here. Insurance is affordable, and full coverage on a midsize late model car should run about 20,000 baht per year ($635). However, financing is normally unavailable or difficult to obtain as a foreigner. Story continues Thailand Transportation Alternatives Motorbikes and scooters rule the roads in Thailand. They are cheap to own and operate. A new Yamaha Fino automatic scooter can be purchased for 44,000 baht ($1,400). You could rent the same motorbike for about 3,000 baht ($95) per month. They are easy to drive, maintain and park. For Thai families, the household motorbike is an indispensable necessity, and many foreign retirees and expats come to feel the same way. Three-wheeled tuk-tuks can be loud and hot, but they are affordable, and they do have a certain charm. Even more ubiquitous than tuk-tuks are the bright red "baht buses" or songtaews. A songtaew is a heavy-duty pickup truck with a cabin and seating built onto the bed. Never get into a tuk-tuk or songthaew without agreeing on the price in advance. When possible, ask a local how much the fare should be, so you know if you're being overcharged. Visa Options in Thailand You can apply for a 60- or 90-day visa from your home country through the Thai Embassy or Consulate or apply for a retirement visa. To qualify, you must be 50 years of age and be able to show an adequate income from outside Thailand or deposit 800,000 baht ($25,400) in a Thai bank. While "adequate income" isn't formally defined, unofficially it's about $1,800 a month. The retirement visa is for one year and must be renewed annually. You can process the paperwork yourself and pay about 2,500 baht ($80), or you can seek help from an attorney who will charge 10,000 to 15,000 baht ($318 to $475). [See: The Best Affordable Places to Retire Overseas in 2020.] Food Markets in Thailand Local Thai markets are usually open-air establishments either in a static location or recurring at a set place and time weekly. Most markets offer a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and other cooking products. Thai markets also offer prepared foods, most commonly roast duck and chicken. A rotisserie roast chicken costs just 140 baht ($4.50). Spicy salads such as som tum (papaya salad) can be made to order for 30 baht (95 cents). Street Food in Thailand Food carts are a way of life in Thailand. Most carts are attached to a motorcycle, and many operate from the same spot for decades. Try one thing at a time until you acclimate to the local food. Returning to the same vendor again and again is a great way to make a local friend. One unique kind of street food is fruit. Vendors offer fresh pineapple, mango, watermelon and even stinky durian. Smiling vendors slice up the fruit into bite-sized chunks and hand it to you in a plastic bag with a bamboo skewer. For about 80 cents, you get a bag full of fresh and healthy fruit to go. Alcohol in Thailand While Thailand is a very affordable place to eat, drinking can be expensive. Prices for alcoholic beverages are inflated thanks to import duties and taxes. Beer can be affordable if you drink locally produced brands such as Singha, Chang and Leo, which sell for about 30 baht (86 cents). Foreign brands that are licensed to be produced in Thailand like Heineken, Tiger and San Miguel Light are available for slightly more. More exotic imports can cost as much as $5.50 each. The biggest import duties are slapped on wine, causing outrageous prices. An average Australian table wine that would cost about $8 in the United States is $27 in Thailand. Many foreign restaurant owners offer by-the-glass wine promotions to attract diners. The Cost of Health Care in Thailand Quality health care is widely available in major Thai cities at affordable prices. Patients are flown from all over Asia for life-saving and one-of-a-kind procedures that can only be performed in Bangkok. Bumrungrad International Hospital hosts a million medical tourists per year. Professional athletes come to Piyavate Hospital for orthopedic surgery critical to their careers. Health professionals here are trained all over the world, including Germany, France, Switzerland and the United States. A visit to the dentist that includes a cleaning and cavity filling is less than $30. Most surgery costs 30% to 40% less than in western countries. [See: The Best Places to Retire in 2020.] Language in Thailand Even for the linguistically talented, Thai is difficult to learn. It's a tonal language with a lot of dialects that make it even harder to understand than it is to speak. Many Thai people speak English. However, do not expect to find English to be spoken or understood everywhere you go. You should learn how to count at least to 10, direct a driver, order food and ask directions to the bathroom. Just those few phrases will make life much less stressful. Part-Time Retirement in Thailand While the weather is hot and humid year-round, some months of the year are hotter than others. And in some parts of the country, farmers burn their fields from the middle of March through May to prepare for the next planting, creating air-quality concerns. For these reasons, Thailand can be a top choice for part-time retirement overseas. You could create a retirement overseas plan that allows you to enjoy the best months of the year in Thailand. More From US News & World Report Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2020) - Unigold Inc. (TSXV: UGD) ("Unigold" or the "Company") announces the retirement of John Green from the Company. Mr. Green has served the Company for many years in both the CFO and Corporate Secretary roles. Joe Hamilton, Chairman & CEO of Unigold, comments: "I have had a chance to work closely with John over the past ten years. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank John for his years of diligent and dedicated service to Unigold. John has played a key role in the management of Unigold since his appointment in late 2010 and has supported a number of management teams. His firm hand and welcome advice will be missed. We wish John all the best in his retirement." The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Donna McLean as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Ms. McLean has over 30 years' experience working with numerous publicly traded and private companies, specializing in the areas of financial reporting, controls and administration. She has served as CFO for several junior mineral exploration companies. The Company has also retained Grove Corporate Services Ltd. to provide administrative and corporate secretarial support. Grove's Ms. Helga Fairhurst has been appointed as the Corporate Secretary of the Company. Ms. Fairhurst has over 12 years' experience with providing corporate administrative and secretarial services to public mining and exploration companies listed on the TSX, TSXV, and the CSE. In addition, the Company has appointed Adelaide Capital Markets to assist with its marketing and Investor Relations programs. Adelaide Capital is a full-service Investor Relations firm with extensive capital markets experience specializing in small and mid-cap companies. Adelaide will help the Company to develop a tailored, strategic Investor Relations program that will allow the company to have a larger impact with investors throughout North America and around the world. Story continues Further, the Board of Directors has granted, in aggregate, 150,000 stock options to members of management and consultants. The options have an exercise price of $0.15, a term of five years and vest over various periods. About Unigold Inc. Unigold is a Canadian based mineral exploration company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol UGD, focused primarily on exploring and developing its gold assets in the Dominican Republic. For Further Information please visit www.unigoldinc.com or contact: Mr. Joseph Hamilton, Chairman & CEO jhamilton@unigoldinc.com 416.866.8157 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53240 GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The Detroit Youth Choir, famous for their second-place run on Americas Got Talent, will perform this May at an annual fundraising event for Opera Grand Rapids. The fundraising event is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 7 at 20 Monroe Live. Tickets are $250 a person. The Detroit Youth Choir gained national fame for their performances on Americas Got Talent. Their audition song was Cant Hold Us by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. The choir later performed the song again during the finale in September 2019. They finished in second place, losing to Kodi Lee. The theme of this years gala fundraiser is modern Tokyo. Attendees are asked to dress in modern Toyko attire. Proceeds from the fundraiser support music education in West Michigan through Opera Grand Rapids. Attendees will be treated to a strolling dinner and cocktails from an open bar. The Detroit Youth Choir will perform after dinner. One promising opera student will receive the Betty Van Andel Scholarship at the event from Kyle Van Andel. The $2,000 award is given annually to an exceptional candidate who is either a resident or a student resident in West Michigan. The funds are intended to cover the expenses of an opera-related program outside of a traditional degree program, according to the website. Tickets to the gala can be purchased here. Read more: Detroit Youth Choir performs at Michigan Capitol Detroit Youth Choir on Americas Got Talent finale: There are no words, That was unbelievable Detroit Youth Choir gets second place in Americas Got Talent Detroit Youth Choir blows Americas Got Talent judges away with this quarterfinals performance Michigan choir gets golden buzzer on Americas Got Talent and brings Terry Crews to tears Puducherry Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao on Saturday visited mohalla clinics in Green Park Extension and Panchsheel Park in south Delhi to understand the functioning of these primary healthcare units. According to a statement, Rao interacted with mohalla clinic staff members during his visit and took note of their working. "The Puducherry health minister was briefed about how these clinics function on the ground. During the discussion, he explained about how similar healthcare centres are successfully functioning in Puducherry as well," the government said in the statement. On Friday, Rao had met Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain. "Delhi has a very large population and these clinics are doing a great job in catering to the needs of the people. Delhi model has received attention nationally and internationally," Rao was quoted in the statement as saying. Rao praised the commitment of Delhi government towards providing no-cost, accessible primary healthcare in every neighbourhood, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) L-R: Julissa Arce, Reyna Grande, Jeanine Cummins, Oprah Winfrey Photo: Courtesy of Apple TV/YouTube The highly anticipated, already-controversial American Dirt episode of Oprahs Book Club on Apple TV+ dropped on Friday and, just as Oprah promised in January, it brought people together from all sides to talk about this book, and who gets to publish what stories. In the two-part special filmed in front of a live audience in Tuscon, Oprah gave a platform to author Jeanine Cummins, vocal Latinx critics of the book and members of the DignidadLiteraria movement, scholars and volunteers specializing in migrant trauma, publishing gatekeepers, migrant mothers, and people living in America under DACA. Here are the most resonant moments from the two-part episode. Oprah gives an opening address. Oprah opens up the episode by addressing the crowd with the following monologue about her beliefs about artistic liberty, and how shes been listening to the conversation about who gets to tell what stories: My belief is that reading allows people to feel all aspects of the human experience more deeply. So I fundamentally, fundamentally believe in the right of anyone to use their imagination and their skills to tell stories, and to empathize with another story. To write, and to act, to sing to create to perform, whatever they choose. And if one artist, one author, I felt, is silenced, were all in danger of the same. So the furor around American Dirt has sparked a number of questions about who has the right to tell what stories, who books are chosen to be published, which authors voices are amplified, which still struggle to be heard. And I hear and I respect that dialogue, and Im looking forward to have that conversation today. Theres a social-media montage. For those members of the audience who are maybe less online than others, Oprah invites American Dirt author Jeanine Cummins onstage and immediately has her sit through a montage of tweets and comments, both positive and negative, about her book, read aloud by voice actors like they were Civil War letters in a Ken Burns documentary. Cummins remains stoic while tweets like some stories are not yours to tell and HARD PASS flash onscreen above her. Cummins is held accountable for some of the more objectionable language in her book. Namely, Oprah asks Cummins to explain her rationale behind the authors note in which Cummins cursorily acknowledges her privilege and writes that she wishes someone slightly browner than herself had written it. Cummins responds, I think its indicative of my own grappling with identity in these pages. I never meant to suggest that people havent already written their migrant stories. I think it was a very clumsy phrase. I wish I hadnt used it. Cummins also explains that she was afraid of getting things wrong when telling this story, but was inspired to go ahead with it a week before the 2016 presidential election following a death in the family. A panel of three Latina writers who had all published pieces criticizing American Dirt and its selection for Oprahs Book Club are invited onstage to share their opinions and concerns. Author Reyna Grande explains, When we approach a publisher with our stories, what we are told is our stories dont matter, our stories dont sell well, because readers are not interested in these kinds of stories, and they make us feel ashamed about our immigrant experiences and notes the double standard, marketing budget, resources, and fanfare given to Cumminss white perspective, in contrast. Writer Julissa Arce explains how stories like Dirt should not be taken as representative of the full spectrum of migrant experiences, and calls for more platforms for the stories of Dreamers who find themselves in limbo because this administration has rescinded DACA, asylum seekers, families separated at the border, and people in detention. The panel also tells off the MacMillan President and American Dirts Flatiron publisher to their faces. We have to give Oprah credit for making good on her promise of creating a space where both sides can interact. The third Latina writer on the panel, Esther Cepeda, directly calls out Don Weisberg, president of MacMillan, and Amy Einhorn, American Dirts Flatiron publisher, who are in the audience. When Weisberg weighs in on what hes learned from the backlash, saying that theyve hired strategists and consultants, Cepeda immediately fires back with: Did they tell you to hire more Latinos? The women on the panel also express their disappointment with the offensive language Flatiron used in their statement canceling the book tour, which framed it around an image of angry Latino violence. Oprah visits the border wall. In part two of the special, Oprah visits the border wall in Nogales, Arizona, accompanied by Luz Maria Garcini, a scholar specializing in trauma in Latinx migrant communities, who herself was a migrant mother from Mexico. As they walk along the barbed wire-topped wall, Garcini explains the irreparable, lifelong traumas dealt with by those who make the journey and face violent altercations and separations under U.S. Border Patrol, and stresses that those who attempt to make the border crossing do so out of necessity for shelter and safety. Real migrants tell their stories. Oprah then devotes the rest of the episode to letting migrants from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala share their stories. One woman in the audience now lives in Arkansas, and shares stories of sexual violence that she faced during the process of crossing the border. A man in the audience explains the violent, frightening treatment he faced as a child at the border and how he lives under the stress and fear that it is very likely that DACA will be rescinded, under this administration and the current Supreme Court, and the uncertainty stemming from the fact that the nine justices in the Supreme Court will decide our future. He also has this to say for American Dirt: Im sure Oliver Twist was not a perfect book for its time. The episode ends with a segment where anonymous mothers at migrant shelters at the Mexican border were interviewed about their experiences traveling thousands of miles to the border with children. This part of the episode is much more enlightening, moving, urgent, and tragic than the book talk in part one, illustrating how powerful it can be when institutions give a platform to migrants to tell their own stories. THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Saturday, March 7, advised Filipinos to postpone their pilgrimage tour to the Holy Land as the threat of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues to spread worldwide. In an advisory, DFA urged Filipinos to postpone their planned trips until further notice. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) advises all Filipinos planning to undertake pilgrimages to the Holy Land to postpone their trips until further notice, the DFA said. According to the advisory, the Palestinian Authority has decided to temporarily ban the entry of all tourists into the West Bank, including Bethlehem and Jericho. The Israeli government also decided to restrict all travels to Bethlehem from Israel. Prospective travelers are therefore advised to coordinate with their tour operators to avoid any inconvenience, the department said. Worldwide, there are already 101,000 reported cases of people who have been infected by Covid-19, while reported deaths already stood 3,400. The Philippines has already recorded six confirmed cases of the virus as of Saturday. (SunStar Philippines) Beijing: China's exports plummeted in the first two months of this year on the back of a coronavirus epidemic that forced businesses to suspend operations, disrupting the world's supply chains. Exports fell 17.2 percent from a year ago, the biggest drop since February 2019 during the trade war with the United States, and imports dropped 4 percent, according to customs data released on saturday. A Bloomberg poll of economists had expected a smaller fall in exports, by 16.2 percent, but had forseen a much starker drop on imports of 16.1 percent. Coronavirus cases were first reported last December in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei province, prompting a lockdown of the key industrial region with some 56 million people, from late january. Measures to contain the outbreak that has killed over 3,000 in the country, including travel curbs and quarantines, have hit the workforce and supply chains. China's trade surplus with the US a key point of contention in the trade dispute between the two countries sharply narrowed 40 percent in the first two months, from $42 billion last year to $25.4 billion. It is the first time Chinese authorities have published combined trade data for january and february. Moody's Analytics economist Xu Xiaochun told on saturday that the slowdown is likely to continue into parts of march. Outbreaks beyond China, such as in South Korea and Europe, will further harm Chinese exports since external demand will be lower, Xu said. In another early sign of the economic impact to come, China's manufacturing activity fell to its lowest level on record in february, and non-manufacturing activity plummeted too. What began as a supply shock in China has morphed into something much more serious. Oxford Economics said in a report on friday. The disruptions call into question China's ability to hold up its end of a partial trade deal signed with the US in January, in which Beijing committed to boost purchases of US goods and services by $200 billion. But Chinese authorities have stressed that the impact of the epidemic would be short-term and has rolled out a host of support measures. From ELLE Meghan Markle did more than just attend the Endeavour Fund Awards yesterday in London. The Duchess of Sussex paid a visit to the National Theatre, one of her patronages. She shared photos of herself there on her SussexRoyal Instagram and gave her fans a clear look at the gorgeous all white outfit she wore. Meghan paired a sheer puff sleeve Topshop blouse with a print Roland Mouret pencil skirt. Her hair was down, and she carried a mini black purse. Meghan accessorized minimally, wearing stud earrings and a pendant necklace. Go ahead and scroll through all the photos Meghan shared to see details: The National Theatre shared its own set of images too taken by Chris Allerton, including a candid shot of her laughing. In the SussexRoyal Instagram caption, the Duchess confirmed her recent trip to Stanford University and detailed her activities at the National Theatre. Her team wrote: Story continues Yesterday, The Duchess of Sussex, Royal patron of the National Theatre, visited the Immersive Storytelling Studio in London, where emerging technology like Virtual Reality is being used to develop new forms of emotive storytelling. Recently, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also visited Stanford University where part of their learning journey included a virtual reality presentation that allows the user to experience life through another persons point of view. The goal of this method of virtual reality is to enable us to better connect and empathize with each other as people, regardless of race, age or nationality. The Duchess is pictured here with Nubiya Brandon and her hologram, featured in the Nationals exhibition All Kinds of Limbo, which is currently being presented at the Tate Modern. Meghan is due out next for the Mountbatten Festival of Music tomorrow night, which she will attend with her husband Prince Harry. This is the couples last series of events as working senior royal family members. Their transition out of those roles will begin on March 31. You Might Also Like - AD Patrickson said he worked hard from being a night watchman on oil vessels to CEO of an oil and gas company - The ambitious young man added he had to put in a whole lot of hard work to achieve his dream - Patrickson said he became the first owner of a local downstream company in Cameroon without any expert support Nothing beats passion and hard work. A man identified as AD Patrickson has narrated his inspiring success story of how he became an owner of an oil and gas company. READ ALSO: Kenyan graduate who made 200 job applications without success now earns KSh 1m monthly On the left side was Patrickson when he was starting out. On the left, he is sitting as the CEO of his company. Photo source: LinkedIn Source: UGC READ ALSO: Nairobi County leaders say rift at finance department delaying employees salary Before he became the influential man he is today, Patrickson worked as a night watchman on oilfield vessels for years. "Several years ago, I began my oil and gas career journey as a night watch on an oilfield supply vessel," Patrickson wrote. Narrating his story on his LinkedIn account, he said that to achieve his dream, he had to put in his all. READ ALSO: Kenyans praise matatu crew who helped pregnant woman deliver in Ruiru He added that passion also made him improve his academics despite the hardship he had to endure while pursuing it. "My desire to succeed in the industry made me work so hard both professionally and academically," he said. Now that his commitment has paid off, he is the CEO of Source Rock, the first local Cameroonian company that runs a natural gas facility without any expert help. READ ALSO: Fish shortage hits Homa Bay, prices soar as traders turn to Tanzania for Omena The downstream expert said he also contributed to his country, Cameroon, during the pursuit of his career goal as a way to give back to society. "I had the opportunity to work with some of the best oil and gas companies in the world and I became the first Cameroonian local to run a natural gas facility without expert help," he said. "I have been involved in some very significant projects for my country in the course of my career. Today I'm proud to say I am an oil and gas expert and I head my own company Source Rock,'" he added. READ ALSO: Best friends married to brothers discover they are sisters after 17 years In his final words on his LinkedIn post, he encouraged every dreamer like him, asking them never to give up, that the goal is closer than they think. Patrickson is a petroleum engineer turned oil and gas consultant with more than 12 years industry experience with reputable companies like SHELL, ADDAX, EXPRO, among others. His solid work experience, his entrepreneurial skills and approach to business makes him a better team player, manager and business associate. 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 San Antonio businesses are scrapping international travel plans and, in some cases, clamping down on trips within the U.S. as the coronavirus outbreak grows. The travel restrictions are among a slew of new rules aimed at keeping the virus out of the workplace. Some of the rules center on workers who feel ill. Companies dont want their employees heroically showing up at the office when theyre under the weather. Working from home is OK. Employees who feel sick are encouraged to stay home, and either work from there or take a sick day, Frost Bank spokesman Bill Day said. At some companies, managers have decreed that a bottle of hand sanitizer be placed at each employees desk. Other firms are installing sanitizer stations throughout the workplace. As of Friday, health authorities have reported more than 280 coronaviris cases in the U.S and 100,000 globally. On ExpressNews.com: At some San Antonio companies, threat of coronavirus means no hugging or handshakes. As the epidemic expands, companies that have foreign operations or foreign customers are tightening restrictions on travel. Two weeks ago, many firms limited business travel to outbreak hotspots: China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Italy. Now, they have ended all international travel for the near future. San Antonios second larger private employer, insurer and financial services company USAA, isnt just banning international travel. Its asking all employees returning from overseas trips for business or pleasure to work from home for 14 days, spokesman Christian Bove said. The company is recommending that employees avoid personal international travel. USAA, which employs 19,000 in San Antonio, is also barring workers from participating in external conferences and training events. The insurers new policies, and those of other companies here and across the country, are dealing a blow to airlines and the hospitality industry. Some airplanes are nearly empty, hurting airlines finances and leading them to cut flight schedules. Canceled conventions and empty hotel rooms threaten to dent the economies of destination cities across the globe, including San Antonio. The broader impact of the restrictions could get worse. Bove said USAA is carefully evaluating and canceling some large company-sponsored events. He didnt offer details. San Antonio grocer H-E-B, the citys biggest private employer, is restricting international travel as well as barring employees from traveling domestically on business, according to spokeswoman Dya Campos. In addition to restricting travel for our partners, we are using technology to conduct meetings with our vendors and have restricted in-person meetings and travel from our vendors, she said. Toyota Motors Corp., which operates a truck plant in San Antonio, is also limiting travel for its executive staff. At this time, Toyota is currently restricting all travel outside North America to only that which is business-critical, said Kelly McNeff, a spokeswoman for the Japanese automaker. The same is true for our Japanese staff. They are only traveling outside Japan for business-critical purposes. Frost Bank also has banned both domestic and international trips, except those within Texas. Because all of our banking operations are inside Texas, business travel outside the state falls into the less necessary category, Day said. Management is also asking employees to cancel plans to attend industry conferences. Another large San Antonio employer, pipeline operator NuStar Energy, is discouraging its employees from taking international business trips, but has not banned them, spokesman Chris Cho said. Its not only big companies that have put the brakes on travel small and midsize businesses are doing it, too, said Brian Sumers, senior aviation business editor at travel website Skift. Employers do not want to send their workers on business trips and have those workers get sick, he said. Even if they dont get sick, there are potential complications. Employees who go somewhere where there is a coronavirus outbreak might be subject to a quarantine upon their return, for example. Companies also have to worry about the virus hurting the economy and cutting into the bottom line. With markets cratering, businesses arent sure what the next 12 months will bring, Sumers said. Business travel is expensive, and during recessions, companies cut back on it. In most cases, business travel is a discretionary cost. Business travel columnist Joe Brancatelli, who runs the business travel website JoeSentMe, said the travel restrictions may be a bad sign for the entire economy. Business travel is the leading indicator of a downturn and a trailing indicator of a recovery, he said. So when business travel begins to slump, bad things are ahead for the economy at large. Randy Diamond covers aviation, energy and manufacturing in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read his stories and more local coverage on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | randy.diamond@express-news.net Straight-ticket voting is quick, convenient and easy. Its also damaging to democracy. Heres an example to illustrate what I dislike about it: In 1956, with popular Republican President Dwight Eisenhower at the top of the ballot, Connecticut voters elected six Republicans to Congress. Two years later, all six GOP congressmen got straight-ticketed right out of office, purely because a popular Democrat, incumbent Gov. Abe Ribicoff, happened to be heading the ticket. Those congressmen were irrelevant to Connecticuts straight-ticket voters. Their names were not seen, their records were not considered and their opponents were not vetted. They were simply beneficiaries and collateral damage of straight-ticket stampedes. These kinds of election debacles contributed to a growing national sense, over the past 60 years, that the voting process should ask more of us than the single push of a button; that we should be required to evaluate each race on the ballot. In 1960, half the states in this country employed straight-ticket voting. Today, its used in only seven states. Texas is set to abandon the practice for this years November election. If you wanted to convince me, however, that straight-ticket voting is not merely acceptable but essential, this week would be a good time to make your case. Last Tuesday, the Texas primary produced ridiculously long voter lines. At Texas Southern University in Houston, some people waited more than six hours to vote. The thought of making voters wait until after 1 a.m. to cast a ballot is obscene and inexcusable. The possibility that it could occur again in November, on a bigger scale (given the inevitable turnout increase well see for a general election), is disturbing. Thats why you have to give some credit to the Texas Democratic Party for good timing. The party organization (joined by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee) filed suit Thursday in federal court, challenging the states move to end straight-ticket voting. The court filing states that by eliminating the straight-ticket option, Texas has recklessly created a recipe for disaster at the polls in 2020. The complaint argues that the change in state law will force Texans who wish to exercise their fundamental right to vote to first endure unreasonably long wait times. The lawsuit also contends that the elimination of straight-ticket voting will uniquely and disparately impact minority voters, because African American and Latino Texans utilize STV at a higher rate than white Texans. At first glance, its a persuasive argument. The longer each person takes filling out a ballot, the slower the lines move and the longer the wait times for everyone. It becomes less persuasive, however, the more you think about it. The Democratic Party is arguing that its wrong to require voters to work their way through a long ballot, one election race at a time. But thats exactly what the party asks its voters to do in every primary election. Primaries, by nature, demand that voters evaluate each election contest. In fact, primary ballots are a longer slog than general-election ballots, which routinely offer voters a binary choice between the Democratic and Republican nominees. In a primary, the list of candidates in each race can be endless as in this states recent Democratic battle for the U.S. Senate, which featured 12 candidates. Besides, its wrong-headed to blame the long lines on voters taking too much time to fill out their ballots. This states problem is that we have too few polling sites (750 have been eliminated since 2012), too few election workers and too many voting machines that are on the verge of breaking down. You dont deal with heavy demand at a restaurant by forcing patrons to gulp down their food in two minutes. Ideally, you increase the number of tables and hire more staffers. The straight-ticket issue tends to cut along partisan lines, because Democrats generally benefit from the option. Democrats argue that the denial of the straight-ticket option puts an unfair burden on their voters. Republicans describe straight-ticket voting as an antiquated approach that shows no confidence in voters to make their own decisions. When I think of straight-ticket voting in Bexar County, I always go back to the case of Democratic state Rep. Phil Cortez. In 2014, Cortez spent six months campaigning to defend his seat, but lost in a Republican wave election to an unknown challenger named Rick Galindo. In 2016, Cortez spent six months serving an Air Force Reserve assignment in Southwest Asia, barely making it back to San Antonio for the start of early voting. Nonetheless, with the benefit of a local Democratic wave, Cortez beat Galindo. Its not that voters wanted Cortez out and then two years later wanted him back in. Half of the voters never even saw his name on the ballot. And thats no way to vote. Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 Alvin Garcia noticed the hit immediately after San Franciscos emergency declaration to prepare for a coronavirus outbreak. His burger joint, Popsons, on Market Street next to the Golden Gate Theater, lost sales from older theater-goers. Business is now down 25%. We reduced staff, Garcia said, sipping a coffee near his restaurant in an almost-empty cafe near closing time on Thursday. Jean Padilla, a barista at the cafe, Pentacle Coffee, said things were slower this week, especially in the mornings, with office workers in the area staying home and telecommuting. As the community spread of the coronavirus outbreak grips the Bay Area reducing travel, canceling events and emptying offices San Francisco is reeling. This coronavirus is having a significant impact on our economy, Mayor London Breed said at a news conference Thursday. Conference cancellations, lost hotel taxes and other impacts will bring a significant reduction to our budget in the coming year, she said, adding that safety is the citys top priority. In the citys interconnected economy, canceled flights at San Francisco International Airport mean fewer hotel bookings, restaurant dinners and local purchases. Major companies are banning domestic business travel and implementing work-from-home policies, which means fewer commuters and less money spent downtown. The citys conventions, which draw thousands to the Moscone Center, have taken one of the most obvious blows. Participants at a slew of tech gatherings have pulled out, with seven events through May at Moscone nixed entirely, according to San Francisco Travel. Some 182,000 hotel rooms had been booked for those events, though not all have necessarily been canceled, and the associated spending in the city before the cancellations had been expected to total around $138 million, the agency said. Kevin Carroll, president and CEO of the Hotel Council, which represents 85 hotels and two-thirds of the rooms in San Francisco, said cancellations have been very significant for the past month, but especially this week. It includes blocks of rooms for now-canceled business trips, conventions, tourist groups or airline crews. Its a situation where its hitting on all fronts, Carroll said. That in turn has a ripple effect on small businesses, restaurants and taxis, he said. Loss of business directly impacts workers. Hotels, for example, often have flexible staffing, so if a big banquet is canceled, they dont bring in the labor force, Carroll said. Although city officials said its too soon to measure or predict the numbers, it doesnt look good. Ted Egan, San Francisco chief economist, said the city will feel the spending shock associated with travel and tourism, especially if coronavirus cases mount. The Chronicle spoke to Egan shortly before the first coronavirus cases were reported in San Francisco on Thursday. Now Playing: Here is what you need to know about the coronavirus. Video: Manjula Varghese Empty hotel rooms mean a loss of some of the citys 14% hotel taxes, which accounted for more than $231 million of the citys revenue this fiscal year out of a $12.3 billion budget. The 8.5% sales tax pumped close to $112 million into the citys coffers. And if San Francisco goes the way of other counties suspending community events, it could also miss out on around $326,000 in stadium admissions tax. Transit agencies BART, Muni and CalTrain said it was too soon to calculate numbers on reduced ridership. But CalTrain spokesman Alex Eisenhart said its likely the agency could see an effect if events for which it provides special train service are ended. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes SFO is losing thousands of dollars a day in landing fees from canceled flights to a growing number of international and domestic destinations (nearly 3% of all flights have been cut, the airport says). It calculates that it contributes several billion dollars in state and local tax revenues, through direct and indirect means (like workers spending their paychecks), and sends a $49 million yearly service payment to the city. Businesses at SFO are hurting for lack of travelers. United, which accounts for 40% of the airports flight traffic, is reducing routes, freezing some hiring and salary raises, and offering voluntary unpaid leave to workers. Around 13,000 are based at its SFO hub. As news about the coronavirus in California dominates national headlines, officials are pleading with the public to not shun the state. On Friday, Visit California President & CEO Caroline Beteta, said in a statement that the governors emergency declaration was a proactive and quick response and commitment to preparedness. Fortunately, there are no further travel implications, and visitors should feel safe and welcome to travel the state freely, maintaining the same standard precautions they would at home, she said. Chronicle staff writers Roland Li, Dominic Fracassa and Chase DiFeliciantonio contributed to this report. Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench [March 06, 2020] MOLSON COORS INVESTIGATION INITIATED By Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of Molson Coors Brewing Company - TAP Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into Molson Coors Brewing Company (NYSE: TAP). On February 12, 2019, before the market opened, Molson Coors announced that its "previously issued consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 should be restated and no longer be relied upon" due to errors regarding the acquisition of its remaining interest in MillerCoors, LLC in 4Q16, and that such restatements would "increase its deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax expenses by $399.1 million, with a corresponding decrease in net income and earnings per share." Thereafter, the Company and certain of its executives were sued in a securities class action lawsuit, charging them with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws, which remains ongoing. KSF's investigation is focusing on whether Molson Coors' officers and/or directors reached their fiduciary duties to Molson Coors shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws. If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of Molson Coors shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-tap/ to learn more. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200306005550/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Italys already weak economy is said to be taking a massive hit from the countrys coronavirus outbreak which is the biggest in Europe as foreigners cancel visits and reject Italian-made products. Entire towns are quarantined in the north, the heart of Italys manufacturing and financial industries, and airlines have cut back on flights to the country, meaning millions fewer travellers are expected. The result is losses of billions among the nations hotels, restaurants and popular tourist sites and many others. The turmoil is expected to push Italy back into recession and weigh more broadly on the European economy, with trade-focused countries like Germany, France and Britain also struggling with the global disruption to supply chains and travel. A seller waits for customers at the Campo de Fiori street market in Rome (Andrew Medichini/AP) Stefania Stea has two hotels in Venice, where the recent cancellation of the annual carnival emptied the city in a single afternoon and sent occupation rates plunging to an unheard of 1-2%. Ms Stea, who is vice-president of the Venice hoteliers association, is tallying cancellations worth 7,000-10,000 euro (6,000-8,500) a day for her 39 rooms which are all currently empty. She said: I am getting cancellations through to June. The only reservations I am getting are for Christmas or New Years Eve, with people hoping for a deal. Italys economy is forecast to shrink this quarter, with Bocconi university economist Francesco Daveri predicting a 0.3% contraction. That would match a surprise shrinkage in the last quarter of 2019 and would put the country in a technical recession. The country has already shed 4% of GDP in back-to-back recessions in the first two decades of the century, and recovery has been stalled for the last two years. Banks are still trying to burn off a pile of bad loans left over from the financial crisis a decade ago and the governments public debt load the highest in Europe after Greece limits the countrys ability to significantly ramp up spending to help the economy if needed. Story continues Empty tables line the usually busy streets of Rome (Andrew Medichini/AP The tourism and luxury industries were the first, but not last, to sound the alarm. Tourism officials are projecting 32 million fewer foreign visitors and a loss of 7.4 billion euro (6.3 billion) in the second quarter alone, before the arrival of the make-or-break summer travel season. Even before the virus arrived in Italy, luxury fashion officials projected a 2% first-half contraction. That was based solely on weaker spending by Chinese consumers, who are the biggest luxury buyers in the world accounting for 35% of global sales. Now the virus, which began in China, is discouraging well-heeled shopping tourists to Milans MonteNapoleone district and Romes via Condotti, while spreading to the US and European neighbours, key export markets. Making things more complicated is a lack of knowledge about the viruss true risks and whether it is spread, for example, through exported goods. Shop assistants await customers in the Monte Napoleone shopping street in Milan (Antonio Calanni/AP) Industry groups and policymakers have signalled incidents of importers of Italian goods in other EU countries seeking additional certification that the goods are virus-free. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio this week protested against what he called indiscriminate limits on Italian exports. It is not acceptable to block Italian goods or ask for a certificate of guarantee beyond what exists in commercial agreements, he said. Merchandise does not have anything to do with the virus. What if the solution to homelessness is really as simple as offering everyone a place to live? Ezra holds his little dog Muppet to his chest against the blowing cold. It's -20 C in Edmonton on the day he's decided to visit the abandoned shack where he spent last winter huddled against the elements. Ezra, 42, had been homeless off and on since the late '90s and struggling with addiction when he stumbled on the tiny building and found it unlocked. "This was top of the top for a homeless person to have this," he says. "I had everything. I was out of the elements. I had a thermostat, a plug, some cardboard." Ezra was careful to hide his footprints in the snow so no one would see them. He bought a lock and attached it to the door so he could keep his things inside during the day. "It was a godsend, but security went by at least 30 times a day," he says, "so I always had to hide down under the desk." Even though Ezra and Muppet don't live in the shack anymore, some of their old things are still inside a jacket, a few cushions and Muppet's bowl. A little over a year ago Ezra was able to secure an apartment through Edmonton's Housing First program originally an experimental initiative that has now become a regular part of the city's social services system moving from the shack to a permanent home. Nick Purdon/CBC He wonders what would have happened to him if he hadn't. "I could very well be dead," he says. "On the street, anything is possible at any time. "But I don't have to come here anymore. I have a home now," he says to his dog as they huddle beside the shack. "We have a home." Housing First Trent Agecoutay, 44, is an outreach worker with Homeward Trust in Edmonton, the organization behind the city's Housing First homelessness strategy. "Housing First is exactly what it says it puts housing first. It's not putting any stipulations on housing," says Agecoutay. "We don't require that people get sober to get housing. We just want people to get off the street and get into safe places." Story continues Nick Purdon/CBC The approach was developed at a community agency in New York City in the 1990s by a Canadian psychologist named Sam J. Tsemberis. Since Edmonton started using housing-first in 2009, the city has housed 10,000 homeless people through the program. Agecoutay says the idea is to view housing as a form of harm reduction. He says once a person is away from the violence and stress of street life, they usually want to fix other parts of their lives. "There are people who want to find employment," Agecoutay says. "Others want trauma support, or schooling. If they want help with addiction, we will help them with that too." The Housing First initiative aims to eliminate chronic homelessness in Edmonton by 2022. Nick Purdon/CBC Housing First doesn't require applicants with addictions to undergo treatment. That can sometimes be a hard-sell in the wider community, admits Agecoutay, but he says that's because people can be hypocrites. "Not everyone that lives in a house doesn't drink every day," he says. "Just because they have never experienced homelessness, that doesn't mean they don't drink every day and have a drinking problem, but they are able to maintain their housing. "We are worried about helping people maintain housing that's it." How it works There is only one demand the Housing First program makes of its clients. A homeless person must take the first step and visit the downtown offices of Homeward Trust, where the housing program is run. On this day a man in his 50s named William Miller arrives at the office. "I am deteriorating so fast it's unbelievable," Miller says. "There is a lot of violence on the street, and I am too old for it. I am not even the same human being as I was." Nick Purdon/CBC Agecoutay chats with Miller and shows him a list of vacancies in downtown Edmonton, going over how much the rent is for each apartment. Almost 80 per cent of the clients housed through Edmonton's Housing First program pick their neighbourhood and apartment from rentals on the open market. "We're not taking people and saying you are going to live here they choose where they live," Agecoutay says. There's no waiting list in the conventional sense for Edmonton's Housing First program. Instead the city has built a thorough list of all 1,700 local people who, like Miller, are chronically homeless including names and basic details about their lives. This allows Homeward Trust quickly prioritize who needs help the most. Agecoutay says it typically takes an average of 45 days for a person to be housed. During that time a housing outreach worker accompanies each homeless client to meet potential landlords. Once a lease has been signed the homeless client's rent is subsidized for a year, and during that time a case worker helps them with the transition from the streets. The program has an 85 per cent retention rate through the first year. Agecoutay says he's seen how having a place to live helps a person in all aspects of their lives. "That's why it drives me because it works," he says. "I saw the results as a housing outreach worker. I saw people change their lives." Edmonton's Housing First program is funded by all three levels of government. The city says it has helped to reduce overall homelessness in the city by 43 per cent in the past decade. Its proponents also point out that every dollar spent to fund a housing-first model saves society an estimated $4 in shelter, medical, law enforcement and health costs. "We are saving lives and we are saving the government money by doing this programming," says Agecoutay. "They are not spending money on hospitals for people who end up there who experience homelessness, or the justice system where people sometimes get incarcerated on purpose because they don't want to face -30 C in the winter." Ezra's home Nick Purdon/CBC Standing on his back stoop, Ezra sweeps the snow off his stairs and lets Muppet out to run around. Ezra says his dog kept him going through the tough times when he was homeless. "On the street, different people have different things. You carry what you have, and I had Muppet," he says. "Without her I probably would have fell deeper into addiction. But she kept me going," he adds with tears in his eyes. Today Ezra says he appreciates the simple pleasures of having an apartment that he can lock his door and cook when he wants. "When you are homeless you dream about being warm, you dream about eating," he says, adding that that for the first time in years he's now started to think about his future. "Having an apartment has given me the means to have [bigger] dreams." WATCH | From The National, How Edmonton got 10,000 people off the streets and into housing: The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (CDC) is looking for passengers on two Vietnam Airline flights linked to the countrys 17th confirmed case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection. Flight VN0054, which departed from London on March 1 and landed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi at 4:30 am on March 2, carried N.H.N., a 26-year-old woman who has now tested positive for COVID-19. There were 217 people on the flight, including 201 passengers, four pilots, and 12 flight attendants, according to an official government portal. Twenty-one of them were seated in the same business class as N. Hanoi authorities previously reported that there were only 197 passengers and crew members on the London - Hanoi flight. Some passengers on flight VN0054 boarded a connecting flight, VN233, to Ho Chi Minh City on the same day. The flight landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in the southern metropolis at 9:54 am on March 2. All passengers on the two flights are requested to immediately contact the CDC by phone at 0869.577.133 to receive support in carrying out necessary preventive measures as per regulations, it said in an urgent statement issued on Saturday. N. was on a trip across three European countries, namely the UK, Italy and France, from February 15 to March 1. N. had reportedly developed symptoms of COVID-19 infection since February 29, but was only taken to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi at 6:00 pm on Thursday. She was confirmed infected on Friday evening, becoming the 17th COVID-19 patient in Vietnam and the first case reported in the Southeast Asian country in three weeks. A Vietnam Airlines representative said on Saturday morning it has quarantined all crew members and ground staff linked to flight VN0054. The national flag carrier has also provided authorities with a list of passengers on the flight, including those seated next to N. The area that N. occupied on the plane was very private with limited access, so close contact with other passengers were minimal, a Vietnam Airlines representative said at a meeting of Hanois COVID-19 prevention committee on Saturday morning. It is working with competent authorities to collect information regarding the passengers travel history, the representative said. COVID-19, which first surfaced in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 101,900 people and killed 3,488 globally as of Saturday morning, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. Vietnam has so far confirmed 17 infections, including the latest case in Hanoi. Fourteen of them are Vietnamese, while the other three patients include two Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese American. Sixteen of the patients have recovered and been discharged from the hospital. N. was the first confirmed infection in Vietnam since February 13. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Punjab has reported two fresh cases of coronavirus, taking the total number of cases in India to 33. Both the patients, who came back from Italy last week, have been admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar. India has reported a total of 33 cases so far and around 29,607 people have been kept under observation at the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) netwok for novel coronavirus till March 5. Around 6,49, 452 passengers were screened for COVID-19 at 30 Indian airports as of March 6. In wake of the rising coronavirus cases in India, Union Health Minister Harshwardhan will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apprise him of the situation today. Modi will also speak about the coronavirus challenges at the Jan Aushadhi Diwas interaction. The Union Health Minister told Parliament this week that the government was taking all necessary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "The scale and extent of our interventions has increased in alignment with the evolving situation of COVID-19 across the world and India in particular," he added. Jammu and Kashmir has also reported two suspect cases of COVID-19. Principal Secretary of Planning, Jammu and Kashmir, took to his Twitter account to declare that all primary schools in Jammu and Sambha district will be closed till March 31. The Health Minister also held a review meeting on Friday to evaluate the preparedness in managing novel coronavirus outbreak and also stressed on the importance of states keeping quarantine facilities, isolation wards and testing labs ready. He also sought action against all those charging higher prices for face masks amid the coronavirus scare. Around 100,000 cases have been reported worldwide as of March 7 whereas the coronavirus death toll in China has breached the 3,000 mark. Countries such as Bhutan, Serbia, Cameroon and South Africa have also reported first cases of the novel coronavirus. USA has reported at least 299 cases of COVID-19 and 14 people have also succumbed to the deadly virus. In Italy, the number of coronavirus positive xases reached 4,636 and the death toll is 197. Talking of iran, total 4,747 COVID-19 cases have been reported whereas 124 people have died. Also read: Trump signs $8.3 billion bill to combat coronavirus outbreak in US Also watch: Coronavirus news: Ways to avoid fake news amid virus scare By PTI BENGALURU: As a precautionary measure to control the spread of coronavirus in Karnataka, the state government has planned to suspend biometric attendance for the time-being at its offices, also in corporate and IT companies, Medical Education Minister DrK Sudhakar said on Saturday. He said the government has taken all precautionary measures to control the spread of the virus in the state. "Our Additional Chief Secretary has already spoken to IT companies yesterday on behalf of the government regarding guidelines that need to be followed, it is part of it. "We will do it in the government also in the days to come," Sudhakar told reporters here. ALSO READ: Coronavirus effect - SAI to suspend biometric attendance across all its centres He was responding to a question about suspending biometric attendance at offices in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Asked about suspending biometric attendance at government offices, he said, "we have planned to do it yesterday." Sudhakar said so far in Karnataka not even one case has been identified, to that extent we have been taking precautionary measures effectively. ALSO READ: Keeping coronavirus at bay, Delhi govt offices stall biometric entries He said from villages to state capital Bengaluru at all levels the health department officials have been activated as part of the precautionary measures. Also, committees headed by Deputy Commissioners have been formed in all district, he added. "We have given certain guidelines to people. We have also included private hospitals. We have taken all precautionary measures to stop the virus from entering the state," he added. In response to a question regarding masks, the Minister clarified that those who have the symptoms of the disease only should use them. He said, "N95 masks are required only for those who have tested positive, there is not even a single positive case in the state so far. Surgical masks that will have three layers can be used by those who have symptoms like cough, cold, fever." In the state, as a precautionary measure, 2,500 beds have been kept ready if the situation arises, despite not having a single case. EDMONTON, AlbertaCanadian Douglas Plaxton of Edmonton isnt the first audience member to give such a glowing affirmation about the New York-based classical Chinese dance company Shen Yun Performing Arts. But on opening night in the northern Albertan city, Plaxton reached deep into his soul to describe the profound way Shen Yuns dances, music, songs, and stories made him feel. Shen Yun makes me feel alive, he said. Moving, very moving, said Plaxton, a property administrator who attended the performance on March 6, 2020, at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. I was especially moved during the persecutions [pieces]. That just brought tears. Among Shen Yuns roughly 20 vignettes per performance, the storytelling dances and bel canto vocal performances include themes from Chinas deeply spiritual 5,000-year-old culture. A select few of these portray a modern-day spiritual struggle taking place in China today: practitioners of an ancient meditation practice called Falun Dafa face violence and brutality at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP perceives the moral teachings of Falun Dafa and its popularity as a threat to its own legitimacy and power. As for the spirituality found throughout the production, Paxton felt its very close to the same thing that we havetheres one God. The dancing was phenomenal, he continued, adding that he couldnt decide if he preferred the male or female dancers more. Its difficult because I studied years ago as well. So both. I mean, the men, its a more powerful one, but the women are very delicate and very light. But also theres strength in there, too. But they have the beauty. Shen Yun Performing Arts World Companys curtain call at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, March 6, 2020. (Hugh Zhao/The Epoch Times) Shen Yun sends an orchestra to accompany each one of its seven touring companies around the world, with music that is composed by Shen Yuns artistic director anew each year. Its another aspect that made Plaxton feel alive and filled him with feeling. You can dance without the music, he observed, but you have that internal music. So when you put it together with live instruments, it just brings it to a new height. I love the way they played off each other, Paxton said, about the large cast of performers working in harmony. I think they were absolutely phenomenal. I get lost inI get all teared up and, I get caught up in the emotion, he said as he was trying to describe the effect of the combination of Eastern and Western instruments that is unique to Shen Yuns orchestra. But Plaxton found his bearings again when he spoke about the belief that traditional Chinese culture is handed down from heaven and has been refined over five millennia. Thats mind-blowing because I didnt realize it was that old. And my understanding when he [the emcee] stood up there and he explained that aerobics, gymnastics, and all that was derived from that [classical Chinese dance]. Didnt know that. What a revelation. The belief in a Creator who will one day return to earth for all mankind is a belief that Paxton and Shen Yuns artists share. He appreciated seeing their interpretation of this ancient Chinese legend, found so often around the world, and the hopefulness that it brings. I think itsits true, he said. I love the concept of that there will be a new heaven and new earth and no more tears. So thank God for that one. With reporting by Sophia Zheng and Brett Featherstone. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. Boeing's new CEO David L. Calhoun. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Boeing's chief executive, David Calhoun, deflected blame for two fatal 737 Max crashes that killed 346 people and he dodged a question about pilots during an interview with The New York Times. Calhoun follows in the footsteps of Dennis Muilenburg, who was fired after Boeing's 737 Max's were grounded. Now, Calhoun is trying to get them back in the air. Calhoun could receive a $7 million bonus if his efforts to get the 737 Max flying again are successful. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Boeing CEO David Calhoun deflected blame for two deadly 737 Max crashes and dodged a question about pilots' ability to overcome technical issues during an interview with The New York Times. Calhoun succeeded Dennis Muilenburg as Boeing's chief executive in January after Muilenburg was fired from Boeing after a series of mistakes in managing the crises that resulted in the shutdown of the 737 factory and multiple investigations. In October 2018, a Boeing airliner crashed in Indonesia killing 189 people. Then in March 2019, another Boeing plane crashed in Ethiopia killing 157 people. Both crashes resulted from a defect in an automated flight control system, designed to make the plane handle similarly to previous generations of the 737. 737 Max flights have been grounded around the world and Calhoun is working to get them back in the air. In the past, Calhoun has come to Muilenburg's defense for how Muilenburg handled the situation, the Times points out in its report. But now, as Boeing's chief executive, Calhoun has criticized the way Muilenburg operated the company and said the former CEO made some decisions that prioritized profit over quality. "I'll never be able to judge what motivated Dennis, whether it was a stock price that was going to continue to go up and up, or whether it was just beating the other guy to the next rate increase," Calhoun told the Times. Story continues He also called the Boeing's assumption that pilots could successfully maneuver the system's anti-stalling software "a fatal mistake." Calhoun is eligible to receive a $7 million bonus dependent on his success to get the 737 Max flying again. Boeing is currently trading at around $256, down from roughly $359 before the deadly crashes. After Calhoun referenced the training of pilots from Indonesia and Ethiopia, "where pilots don't have anywhere near the experience that they have here in the U.S.," the Times asked the CEO if he thought American pilots could have responded better to the defect in the flight system's software. Calhoun declined to answer the question on the record. "Forget it," Calhoun told the Times. "You can guess the answer." Boeing did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider over Calhoun's remarks to the Times. Read the full interview over at The New York Times. Read the original article on Business Insider WINSTED Around 1900, a group of women started an auxiliary group to support the Litchfield County Hospital, located on Spencer Street. Members organized themselves and started up a thrift shop, collecting unwanted items, cleaning them up and reselling them. Later, when the medical facilitys name changed to the Winsted Memorial Hospital, the auxiliary continued its work, until 1996, when the hospital went bankrupt. The members of the auxiliary wanted the thrift shop to continue, so they changed the name to the Auxiliary for Community Health, said longtime member Milly Hudak, a lifelong resident. The name means that anything they do with the money has to be related to the health of the community. The bylaws also mandate that every penny earned by the thrift shop must go back into the community and Hudak is adamant on that point. The thrift store is run completely by volunteers, most of them women, who work three-hour shifts throughout the week to clean and sort donations, wait on a steady flow of customers, and keep the store neat and clean. The store is located on Willow Street, next door to Levine Auto & Truck Parts, a great location, Hudak said. We compliment each other, she said. When people come to shop, the men go to Levines and the women come here. The men come in here now, too, added volunteer Patty McDonald, who has been an auxiliary volunteer for nearly 30 years. They find things for themselves. Thats true, Hudak said. We get a lot more men in here than we ever did before. Were busy all the time. The stores inventory is typical of a community thrift stop. Theres crystal and china, collectibles and housewares, linens and homemade afghans. A craft corner provides everything from yarn to dollmaking supplies. The clothing is clean and gently used, organized by size for women and men, teens and children, along with shoes, lingerie and pajamas, active wear, coats and sweaters. A childrens toy corner is filled with games, action figures and dolls. DVDs and books are displayed on a long shelf in the back; by the cash register, a glass case displays a variety of jewelry. We are providing many services here, Hudak said. Were giving people a place to shop. If we didnt support the Winchester Center and Winsted fire departments and the police department, theyd have to budget the money to buy it themselves, and that would come from the town ... so were helping to keep taxes down. Were also helping people clean out their homes, and get rid of the things they dont need. Thats what pleases me the most, she said. We are really serving the towns. Those towns include Winchester Center and Winsted, Norfolk, Riverton, Colebrook, New Hartford and Barkhamsted. An organization can apply for auxiliary funding at any time. The request is brought before the groups board members for approval once its approved, the group receives the money. Last year, the auxiliary purchased seven defibrillators for the police department, and has provided funding to install defibrillators in local schools, churches and fire departments. Each year, it donates $20,000 to the Greenwoods Scholarship Fund, which provides money to students pursuing careers in health-related fields. A few years ago, Hudak said, a teacher in one of the local schools was having trouble communicating with some of her students who were hearing impaired. They wore hearing aids, but all they could hear were the noises all around them, like another child tapping a pencil on a desk, she recalled. We got the teacher a device (to wear) that transmitted her voice directly to the kids. It helped her and it helped the kids. The Norfolk Ambulance Association also benefited from the auxilarys fundraising. The association is all volunteer, and some of the members are a little older, Hudak said. They were having trouble carrying a patient on a stretcher from the house to the ambulance going down a flight of stairs was difficult for them. We got them a new one (that can be raised up and down, with wheels) that made it easier for them to transport that patient. After that, we started getting more donations from people in Norfolk. The auxiliary also donates money annually to the police departments D.A.R.E. program, for sixth-graders in the public schools, teaching them the dangers of drug use. Theyve also incorporated (anti)bullying into that program, and it really helps the kids, Hudak said. Another benefit of the auxiliary, Hudak and McDonald said, is the volunteers. A lot of us are retired, and some of us are widowed, Hudak said. Being here gets them out, it allows them to be social, plus were helping other people. They enjoy being here. The most important part of the thrift stores success, members said, is the donations and support from the communities they serve. We want the donations to keep coming, Hudak said. Thats the only way well be able to keep doing what were doing. WE want the public to know how much they help, that every penny we make, thanks to their donations, goes back into the community. It helps everyone. The Auxiliary for Community Health Thrift Store is located at 120 Willow St., and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-noon, closed on Sundays. The groups Facebook page is updated almost daily with photos of new inventory, sale information and other news. To reach the store, call 860-379-1997 during business hours. New Delhi: The Union government on Friday suspended the broadcast of two Kerala-based news channels for 48 hours over their coverage of the riots in Delhi, saying such reportage could fuel communal disharmony across the country when the situation is highly volatile. The Congress and CPI came down hard on the government over the suspension of Media One and Asianet News, calling the clampdown as "stifling of media freedom". The two channels were issued a show cause notice on February 28 and after they filed their replies, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting found them to be unsatisfactory and the reportage violative of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. The ministry ordered prohibition of transmission or re-transmission of Media One and Asianet News for 48 hours on any platform throughout India with effect from 19:30 hrs on March 6 to 19:30 hrs March 8. In its orders for the two channels, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the channels appeared to have covered the violence on February 25 in a manner that "highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community". Quoting reports from their coverage, the order says that such reporting could "enhance communal disharmony" across the country when the situation is highly volatile. "Channel's reporting on Delhi violence seems to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters. It also questions RSS and alleges Delhi Police inaction. Channel seems to be critical towards Delhi Police and RSS," the ministry order on Media One said. In response to its show cause notice, the Media One channel management maintained that the allegations made were "arbitrary and unreasonable". On Asianet News reportage, the order said that while reporting such a critical incident, the channel should have taken utmost care and should have reported it in a balanced way. The channel, in its response to the show cause notice, had said that the reports published by them were factual and never intended to attack religions or communities by words or gesture. "Due care and responsibility is expected while reporting news based on such incidents. However, it is abundantly clear that the channel has not adhered to the Programme codes and has shown irresponsibility by not fully complying to them," the ministry order on Media One said. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hit out at the government saying, "BJP government will have 'no discussion' on Delhi Riots! But they have clamped down upon @asianetnewstv & @MediaOneTVLive! Subjugate, stifle, suppress is the 'mantra' of BJP! Is this 'New India'?" Condemning the move, CPI general secretary D Raja said, "This is nothing but strangling the voice of media. This is fascism in action". The Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) have called for a protest against the 48-hour ban on Asianet and Media One at Jantar Mantar here. Gorey's Malcolm Byrne has received a nomination from the Drama League of Ireland to contest for a place on the Cultural and Educational Panel of Seanad Eireann in the upcoming elections with polling due to take place on Tuesday, March 31. Incredibly, this will be the fifth election campaign in less than 12 months for the former TD and county councillor as he contested the local elections, European elections and was elected a TD as a result of the Wexford by-election in 2019. He ran in hope of retaining his not long held seat in the recent general election but lost out on that final fifth seat to Fine Gael's Paul Kehoe. Of a total of 60 Seanad seats, there are five seats on the Cultural and Education panel, which is the smallest section. Knowing these odds, Malcolm Byrne said that he will not be backing down from the challenge of the campaign ahead. 'It's going to be a difficult campaign, I'm not under any illusions on that. These campaigns to contest the Seanad are very tough, you need backing from TDs, Senators and Councillors so from now on I will be trying to convince those people to vote for me. 'My party will still make their own selection, but although I won't be running in that panel I will be a Fianna Fail candidate. 'I'm honoured by the nomination and the support. After the general election I had to sit back and reflect. I came to realise that I still have some work to do and I can contribute at a national level. 'I'm giving it a go, and we have no Seanad representative in our area,' he said. Malcolm Byrne approached the Drama League Of Ireland, whose patron is President Michael D Higgins, to request the nomination. 'The Seanad is important and it's an opportunity for me to be able to have an impact on legislation. I'm in politics as someone who wants to make a difference so I'd like to have that opportunity. 'People thought my seat was safe in the general election but there are no certainties in politics. I'm hoping that now is my time to bounce back'. Each Seanad panel is made up of experts and people with vast experience in certain fields, and the Cultural and Educational panel includes people that have knowledge and practical experience of certain interests and services such as the national language, culture, literature, art, education, law and medicine. Under the constitution, a general election for the Seanad must take place no later than 90 days after dissolution of the Dail, which took place on January 20. Of the 60 members, 11 are nominated by An Taoiseach and the remaining 49 seats (including those in the Cultural and Educational panel) are contested, voted on by members of the Dail, the outgoing Seanad, and members of city and county councils qualified to vote. There are also three seats by way of an election for university members from the National University of Ireland, and three seats by way of an election for university members Trinity College Dublin. Texas insurance regulator hit Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas with a $10 million fine for misrepresenting policy and benefit terms to thousands of members and delaying the handling of out-of-network emergency claims. The health insurer, a division of Chicago-based Health Care Service Corp., also must repay affected customers. Consumers who had higher out-of-pocket costs due to the errors will get refunds, Texas Insurance Commissioner Kent Sullivan said in a statement Friday. Ensuring the fair treatment of consumers and clear, timely consumer information are priorities for the Texas Department of Insurance. BCBSTXs fine is due within the next 30 days, according to a department order filed Friday. On ExpressNews.com: Texas official warns health insurers: Anti-surprise bill law will mean big changes The insurer filed and implemented a plan to address shortcomings found by department examiners. The company will begin sending the consumer notices starting May 1. BCBSTX takes responsibility for any confusion caused to our members or delayed payments to providers, company officials said in a statement. The issues have been resolved. According to the order, the regulator reviewed the companys communications between Jan. 1, 2016, and Sept. 30, 2018, focusing on how it processed out-of-network emergency claims and its explanation of benefits sent to members. The state found BCBSTX sent incorrect information about how to resolve bill balances to more than 15,000 Blue Advantage Plus members who received out-of-network emergency care. The TDI also looked at how promptly the company handled out-of-network emergency claims. In one instance, the insurer failed to resolve 6,400 of 8,000 of these claims, or 80 percent, by its 30-day deadline, department officials said. In addition, a review of marketing and sales practices found BCBSTX provided plan summaries containing discrepancies to more than 450,000 of its HMO and PPO members. The investigation also revealed a clerical error led to incorrect information on plans sold to 70,000 people on the federal insurance exchange. The insurer sent a correction to enrollees. The insurer agreed to pay restitution to HMO members with claims for out-of-network emergency service with dates from Aug. 1, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2019, who received the incorrect notice, and who received bills the company hasnt already reimbursed. BCBSTX members enrolled in certain 2018 or 2019 plans who had higher out-of-pocket costs because of incorrect information in plan documents also can receive reimbursement. laura.garcia@express-news.net Bill Maher came to Chris Matthews defense Friday night, excusing the former host of MSNBCs Hardball for making kind of creepy remarks to women over the years and mocking a journalist who accused him of inappropriately flirting. A friend of mine lost his job this week, Chris Matthews. I wanted to give him a shout-out because I will miss him and a lot of other people will too, Maher said Friday on his HBO show, Real Time. I thought we would talk about it because MSNBC used to run this thing, This is who we are. Well, I dont like who you were this week, and I dont think a lot of people who work there liked this either. Matthews abruptly retired on-air at the start of Hardball on Monday following a string of comments that raised eyebrows, all of which Maher pointed out in detail and poked fun at. Also Read: MSNBC's Chris Matthews Announces Retirement on Air, Apologizes for Past Inappropriate Comments I just want to go through some of the horrible things Chris Matthews did, Maher said. Reading off a list of that ended with journalist Laura Bassett, whose accusations of inappropriate comments by Matthews in GQ last week precipitated his ouster. In the article, titled Like Warren, I Had My Own Sexist Run-In with Chris Matthews, Bassett said Matthew told her, Why havent I fallen in love with you yet?' Maher defended Matthews comment. He said some things that are kind of creepy to women. Ya know, guys are married for a million years, they want to flirt for two seconds, Maher said. Yes, it is creepy, but she said, I was afraid to name him at the time for fear of retaliation. Im not afraid anymore,' Maher said, adding sarcastically, Thank you, Rosa Parks. Also Read: MSNBC's Chris Matthews Accused of 'Inappropriately' Flirting With Journalist Who Was Guest on His Show Chris did apologize for all of this. He said, Ya know, the way I talk to women, its not right now and it wasnt right then, which is gracious of him. But I find it such a cheap way to look enlightened that people do nowadays. Im not doing this thing that you did THEN. Yeah, but if you were around then, you would have! Story continues Roundtable guest and anti-#MeToo writer Caitlin Flanagan jumped in, saying, How fragile can one woman be? adding that she was probably booked on Hardball because she looked good on camera. Maher didnt let it rest, saying, Is she a compliment-victim or a compliment-survivor? Bassett responded Saturday morning to Mahers comments, writing on Twitter: Hey @billmaher hows this for fragile: F you. Read original story Bill Maher Mocks Chris Matthews Accuser, Defends Married Guys Who Want to Flirt for 2 Seconds At TheWrap Good crisis management must constantly re-examine its assumptions. During the Obama administration, I coordinated the Agency for International Developments West African operations to end the 2014 Ebola outbreak. We constantly thought about potential weaknesses in our strategy. The White Houses Ebola czar, Ron Klain, was notorious for pressing agencies to review potential weaknesses in strategy, demonstrate that they were thinking around corners and test underlying presumptions. My team once spent a weekend gaming out what would happen if commercial air travel to West Africa was shut down. We did not expect this to happen, but if it had it would have torpedoed our entire strategy by keeping us from moving Ebola responders in and out of the region. The Trump administration failed to apply another lesson of the Ebola fight: Overseas containment and domestic readiness go hand in hand. The two cases of Ebola transmission in Dallas in October 2014 revealed that hospitals were not always ready to manage new infectious threats. After those incidents, the Obama administration began investing in health systems readiness and created a new team on the National Security Council to coordinate readiness for outbreaks abroad and at home. Yet, in an astonishingly shortsighted move, John Bolton dissolved that directorate upon his arrival as national security adviser. The White House followed this up by allowing post-Ebola investments in American and global outbreak readiness to lapse after their Obama-era funds began expiring. Were seeing the results of these cascading mistakes. In California, 124 health care staff members went into self-quarantine, unable to do their jobs, after exposure to a single person who had gone untested because of C.D.C. guidelines. A transmission cluster in a Kirkland, Wash., nursing home exposed numerous staff members and residents and forced a quarter of the towns firefighters into isolation. Nurses in California have bemoaned the lack of support and advance planning, which has put them at risk. Twitter has been full of complaints about people with Covid-19-like symptoms unable to access testing. Whats most infuriating is that these risks were widely predicted by experts outside government. To give but one example, two people who had served in the Trump administration the former Food and Drug Administration commissioner Scott Gottlieb and a former National Security Council official, Luciana Borio wrote in The Wall Street Journal on Jan. 28 that the United States should immediately scale up testing and get the hospital system ready. The strategic miscues, the surveillance failures and the lack of attention to domestic readiness all flow from the same source: a White House strategy driven more by a political narrative than public health expertise. Many officials have a hand in this mess, but the president is the crucial variable. Errors happen in any crisis. But when a president insists on claiming success irrespective of reality, it becomes much harder for those under him to acknowledge and correct mistakes. When he shows more interest in calming markets than in protecting Americans, he makes it very hard for senior public health officials to take aggressive action. (Mr. Trump reportedly became furious after a senior C.D.C. officials prescient comments on looming risks sent markets tumbling.) As Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health told Politico in an interview last week, there is always a strong pull to tell the president what you think he wants to hear, even as officials have to walk the fine balance of making sure you continue to tell the truth. These things should not be mutually exclusive in a public health emergency. An Australian think tank has traced the supply chains of major U.S. companies back to Chinese companies that use Uighur forced labor. Why it matters: It's against U.S. law for companies to import products made through forced labor but proving those links is often difficult. As more information comes to light, expect more government action to combat tainted imports. "Uyghurs for Sale," a report published on March 1 by the Canberra-based think tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), traces the supply chains of more than 80 international companies back to Chinese companies that use Uighur workers who have been compelled to work there. The companies mentioned in the ASPI report include Nike, Apple, Gap, Huawei, Samsung, Sony and Volkswagen. Context: The Chinese government has waged a years-long campaign to eradicate the culture and religion of its predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities, particularly the Uighurs, who number around 11 million. More than one million Uighurs have been detained in internment camps. Many are now being transferred to forced labor facilities. Previous reports have indicated Uighur forced labor is concentrated in the textile industry, and brands like H&M, Adidas, and Uniqlo have sourced their cotton from Xinjiang. The new report goes further, identifying specific Chinese companies from which many international brands source their products, and showing that those companies employ Uighur forced labor. That evidence may help U.S. officials enforce a prohibition against importing products made through forced labor. The Forced Labor Division, housed in Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, is tasked with enforcing the ban. How it works: With sufficient evidence, the Forced Labor Division can issue a withhold release order (WRO) to keep imports suspected of ties to forced labor from entering U.S. ports. Companies then have 90 days to demonstrate that their imported goods aren't tainted. Even if they manage to do that, it's a lengthy process that delays product delivery and can cut into profits. That serves as a powerful deterrent from any supply chains even suspected of links to forced labor. Yes, but: In a tightly restricted region like Xinjiang, it's very difficult to compile sufficient legal evidence to issue a WRO. In 2019, the Forced Labor Division issued a WRO related to Chinas Hetian Taida Apparel, which supplied college sportswear to U.S. retailers. But few others have been issued so far. Axios reached out to companies listed in the report for comment. Their responses: "Apple is dedicated to ensuring that everyone in our supply chain is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve," spokesperson Josh Rosenstock told Axios in a statement. "We work closely with all our suppliers to ensure our high standards are upheld." "Huawei requires all our suppliers to comply with international standards and applicable laws as a condition of doing business with us. We have read the ASPI report and are looking into the matter," spokesperson Glenn Schloss told Axios. Nike and Volkswagen told the Washington Post they are committed to adhering to international labor laws. The bottom line: Outside reports aren't themselves sufficient; the division must legally verify such findings. But the new report will make that less difficult. CORVALLIS, Ore. - Massive freshwater river flows stemming from glacier-fed flooding at the end of the last ice age surged across eastern Washington to the Columbia River and out to the North Pacific Ocean, where they triggered climate changes throughout the northern hemisphere, new research published today in Science Advances shows. The findings provide new insight into the role the North Pacific Ocean plays in the planet's climate, said Alan Mix, an oceanographer and paleoclimatologist in Oregon State University's College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences and one of the study's authors. "We look to the past to give us context for what might happen in the future," Mix said. "We didn't know before this research that the increase in freshwater flows was going to trigger widespread changes. It tells us this system is sensitive to these kinds of changes." The lead author of the study is Summer Praetorius, a research geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey who first started constructing records involved in the project as a doctoral student at Oregon State more than a decade ago. Praetorius, Mix and OSU co-authors Maureen Walczak, Jennifer McKay and Jianghui Du collected data and analyzed records from across the Northeast Pacific region. They also examined an aggregate of data spanning several decades that was collected by scientists around the globe. Alan Condron, a modeling expert from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, also contributed to the analysis. The researchers used computer modeling to project the rapid movement of floodwaters during deglaciation between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago, showing the flow from the Columbia River traveling along the coastline north to the Gulf of Alaska, across the Bering Strait and to Japan, as well as northward into the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Freshwater is less dense than saltwater, sitting on top of the saltwater like a blanket and mixing down with the saltwater slowly, Mix said. The layers of water can change how heat moves around in the ocean, leading to less moderating of the climate. The Columbia River runs along the dividing line between the subtropical region of the Pacific to the south and the subpolar region to the north. While some of the freshwater flowing out during the floods traveled south and dissipated, more of the water went north, where it flowed like a river along the coastline. "This spread of floodwaters along the Alaskan coast was a big surprise," said Condron. "The model showed that water from the Columbia River can impact most of the North Pacific and might even leak across the Arctic Ocean and into the Atlantic." Marine geologists from Oregon State then worked like crime scene investigators, tracing the impacts of the floodwaters through time using chemical "fingerprints" left in fossil shells that were alive during the flooding but sank and accumulated in muddy sentiments on the ocean floor along the floodwater's path. Mix led an expedition to collect sediment cores along the path of the floodwaters in 2004. The cores were then stored in OSU's Marine and Geology Core Repository while the research was underway. "The expedition yielded a treasure trove of mud from places nobody had thought to examine," he said. "It has taken more than a decade of painstaking work sifting through the mud we retrieved looking for fossil shells that could help tell the story of the floodwater's impact." Praetorius used the data from the shells and the modeling to show how the repeated flooding over 1,000 years cooled the ocean, which in turn impacted the climate across North America. "Our findings suggest that freshwater flows into the North Pacific can have far-reaching impacts, changing ocean temperatures and steering winds and storm tracks in North America," she said. "What happens in the North Pacific won't stay in the North Pacific, but instead will cause changes far and wide." The warming underway today is opposite of what occurred at the end of the last ice age, Mix said, but understanding circulation patterns in the North Pacific gives researchers insight into what might happen as more warm water flows into the North Pacific as the planet warms. "What we expect in the future is lower river flows and warmer water in the North Pacific - the opposite of what we saw at the end of the last ice age," Mix said. "But the past is still informative, because it tells us how the circulation system of the North Pacific works." ### A desperate rescue attempt is underway to save 30 people still trapped in a collapsed five-star hotel China. Xinjia Hotel in Quanzhou City was recently converted to a quarantine facility for people who had recent contact with coronavirus patients, the People's Daily state newspaper reported. A video stream posted by the government-backed Beijing News site showed rescue workers in orange overalls clambering over rubble and twisted steelwork carrying people towards ambulances. The 80-room hotel collapsed at around 7.30pm (11.30am GMT) and at least 40 people had been rescued by 9pm, according to a local government statement. 'I was at a gas station and heard a loud noise. I looked up and the whole building collapsed. Dust was everywhere, and glass fragments were flying around,' a witness said in a video posted on the Miaopai streaming app. 'I was so terrified that my hands and legs were shivering.' Around 70 people were trapped after a hotel collapsed in China's eastern Fujian province on Saturday evening, officials said Xinjia Hotel in Quanzhou City collapsed around 7:30 pm (11:30 GMT) and around 23 people had been rescued by 9:00 pm, according to a local government statement Footage has captured rescuers searching for injured people after the hotel collapsed overhead. The horrific aftermath, which was caught on camera, shows the hotel levelling to the ground as rescue workers battled on. No reason for the collapse was given. State news agency Xinhua said rescue efforts were ongoing. A woman named only by her surname, Chen, told the Beijing News website that relatives including her sister had been under quarantine at the hotel as prescribed by local regulations after returning from Hubei province, where the coronavirus emerged. She said they had been scheduled to leave soon after completing their 14 days of isolation. "I can't contact them, they're not answering their phones, she said. "I'm under quarantine too (at another hotel) and I'm very worried, I don't know what to do. They were healthy, they took their temperatures every day, and the tests showed that everything was normal." The municipality said 36 emergency rescue vehicles such as cranes and excavators, 67 firefighting vehicles, 15 ambulances, and more than 700 firefighters, medical and other rescue workers were at the scene as the operation stretched into the night. Quanzhou is a port city on the Taiwan Strait in the province of Fujian with a population of more than 8 million. The official People's Daily said the hotel had opened in June 2018 with 80 rooms. Beijing News' video stream was viewed by more than 2 million Weibo users on Saturday evening, and the hotel's collapse was the top trending topic on the Weibo site, China's close equivalent to Twitter. Some users demanded a investigation into how the hotel could have collapsed. The 80-room hotel (pictured) was recently reportedly converted to a quarantine facility for people who had recent contact with coronavirus patients Shocking footage captures vehicles left underneath the falling debris. A separate clip showed rescuers searching for injured people after the hotel collapsed overhead The horrific aftermath, which was caught on camera, shows the hotel levelling to the ground as rescue workers battled on Anger has been building up against the authorities in China over their early handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 3,300 people globally, most of them in China. The Fujian provincial government said that as of Friday, the province had 296 cases of coronavirus and 10,819 people had been placed under observation after being classified as suspected close contacts. The official Xinhua News Agency said the committee responsible for working safety under the State Council, China's cabinet, had sent an emergency working team to the site. China, where the new virus first emerged in December, has confirmed more than 80,000 cases, by far the most in the world. China reported 99 new cases on Saturday, its first daily increase of less than 100 since Jan. 20. The government reported 28 new fatalities, raising the mainland death toll to 3,070. Italy recruits retired doctors to battle coronavirus crisis as deaths rise to 197 while more than 60 mourners at a funeral in Spain have been infected as the WHO warns all countries to make containment their 'highest priority' Italy is recruiting retired doctors in a bid to battle the spread of deadly coronavirus as the World Health Organisation warned all countries to make containment their 'highest priority'. Italy has seen the biggest coronavirus outbreak in Europe with 197 deaths and more than 4,600 cases. The decision to bring in 20,000 additional staff to fight the escalating epidemic was one of several measures adopted by the government during an all-night cabinet meeting after the country reported 49 more deaths in one day. It comes as the WHO told all countries to make containment 'their highest priority' as the global death toll reaches 3,000 with more than 100,000 confirmed cases. Italy is recruiting retired doctors in a bid to battle the spread of deadly coronavirus as the World Health Organisation warned all countries to make containment their 'highest priority'. Pictured: A woman wearing a mask at the bottom of the Spanish Steps in Rome Italy has seen the biggest coronavirus outbreak in Europe with 197 deaths and more than 4,600 cases. Pictured: A tourist wearing a face mask takes pictures inside the Duomo cathedral in Milan Three health workers in protective suits wait to check a motorist at a drive-through testing centre for coronavirus in Seoul The WHO called the spread of the coronavirus 'deeply concerning'. The Italian government said its medical recruitment drive should help double the staff of hospitals' respiratory and infectious disease departments. It should also increase the number of intensive care beds from 5,000 to 7,500 in the coming days. Similar methods are being adopted in China where veteran Dr Dong Jie - who helped combat the SARS outbreak in 2003 - has been drafted back in to help deal with coronavirus. More than 60 people are believed to have caught coronavirus after attending a funeral in northern Spain. Today, another passenger on the Diamond Princess cruise ship has died, bringing ship's death toll to seven. The passenger, a non-Japanese male, died on Friday. A man wears a protective mask as he shops in a supermarket in Hanoi, Vietnam, after a 26-year-old Vietnamese woman recently back from Europe tested positive for coronavirus Indian security personnel wear facemasks as preventive measures against the spread of coronavirus in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata Health chiefs have confirmed they are looking at 'one isolated event' as the source of the outbreak that has potentially infected about 60 people from Alava and La Rioja, according to the results of tests carried out at the National Centre for Microbiology. It comes as Vietnam reported its first new coronavirus case in three weeks as a woman who had returned from a trip to Europe during which she visited London, Milan and Paris. Nguyen Hong Nhung, 26, was admitted to a hospital in the Vietnamese capital on Thursday suffering from a fever. In Greece, a row has erupted between doctors and the influential Church of Greece over whether to restrict Holy Communion amid a rising number of coronavirus cases. The Vatican is also unrolling unprecedented health precautions designed to keep the tiny city state's 450 mostly elderly residents safe. Pictured: A man wearing a mask in St Peter's Square at the Vatican In Greece, a row has erupted between doctors and the influential Church of Greece over whether to restrict Holy Communion amid a rising number of coronavirus cases. Pictured: A man wearing a mask in Thessaloniki, Greece The federation of hospital doctors this week stressed that no exception 'for religious, sacramental or metaphysical reasons' should be made to state health warnings to please the Church. Greece has so far confirmed 45 coronavirus cases, most of them among a group of pilgrims that travelled to Israel and Egypt last month. But in the run-up to Orthodox Easter in April that traditionally sees a high turnout, the church is holding its ground. 'It's not possible to shut down churches, or to not give out Holy Communion,' bishop Chrysostomos of Patras, one of the areas with the most virus cases, said this week. 'Whoever believes that holy communion is life has nothing to fear, it's a matter of faith. 'Across the centuries, there is no case of sickness spreading through Holy Communion,' he told Open TV. Greece has so far confirmed 45 coronavirus cases, most of them among a group of pilgrims that travelled to Israel and Egypt last month. Pictured: A woman wears a protective face mask as she walks in front of the Patras University Hospital in Greece, where three patients infected with coronavirus Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism Klaus Regling bump fists instead of shake hands in Athens, Greece In Romania, the Orthodox Church has allowed worshippers to bring their own spoon to communion and to kiss icons in their own homes. The accelerating spread of coronavirus emptied Italian train stations and airports while turning parts of Rome into a ghost town. Many of the city's outdoor restaurants and cafes were either closed on Friday night or had free tables. The expansive street that runs from Rome's Colosseum along the Forum was deserted and the magnificent ruins weren't swarmed by tourists. The sharp drop in visitor numbers is wreaking havoc with the Italian tourism industry and contributing to fears that the anaemic economy is about to tip back into recession. In Egypt, a cruise ship on the Nile River - with over 150 tourists and local crew - is in quarantine after 12 people tested positive for the new coronavirus But the government's most immediate concern is that coronavirus infections that had been largely contained to pockets of the richer north will start spreading into the poorer and less medically equipped south. The World Health Organization concluded a mission to Italy on Friday by recommending the government keep 'a strong focus on containment measures'. The Vatican is also unrolling unprecedented health precautions designed to keep the tiny city state's 450 mostly elderly residents safe. A first coronavirus infection was recorded at one of its clinics on Thursday. The Vatican is expected to announce Saturday whether Pope Francis will still deliver his Angelus Prayer from a window facing Saint Peter's Square on Sunday afternoon. Workers disinfect the ground around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia There has been media speculation that the pope might deliver the prayer by video link for the very first time. The Vatican said on Thursday is was considering changes to the pope's schedule 'to avoid the dissemination' of the new disease. With the elderly among the most at-risk groups, French President Emmanuel Macron urged people to limit visits to the old and infirm as much as possible to avoid further spread. 'The nation is behind our old... (but) during this epidemic and we need to limit our visits as much as we can,' Macron said. There have been nine recorded virus deaths in France. Meanwhile in Switzerland, the authorities urged the over-65s to avoid travelling at peak hours and banned meetings of more than 150 people. A Taiwanese-American tourist who had previously been on the same ship tested positive when she returned to Taiwan In Washington, the coronavirus is getting a new name from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - the 'Wuhan virus' - to the anger of China where the virus was first detected. The Netherlands reported its first virus death on Friday, while Malta, Serbia, Slovakia, Peru, Togo, Colombia and Cameroon announced their first cases . The 100,000 figure of global infections dwarfs other major outbreaks in recent decades, such as Sars, Mers and Ebola. China reported 99 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, its first daily increase of less than 100 since January 20. The government reported 28 deaths in the 24 hours through to midnight on Friday. Overall, China now has 22,177 patients in treatment, while 55,404 have been released. South Korea, the hardest-hit country outside China, has reported 448 new cases to bring its total to 7,041. In Iran, newly-elected politician Fatemeh Rahabar, 55, died from the virus as the number of infections there rose by more than 1,000 overnight, with 145 deaths. Many governments have imposed restrictions on visitors from China, South Korea, Italy and Iran. Serbia said it might deploy the army to keep the virus at bay, while in Switzerland the military is being readied to provide support services at hospitals after 210 new cases were reported on Friday. In Iran, newly-elected politician Fatemeh Rahabar, 55, died from the virus as the number of infections there rose by more than 1,000 overnight, with 145 deaths. Pictured: A man in a protective suit walks in Beit Jala, West Bank French health minister Olivier Veran said children will be banned from visiting patients in hospitals and other health facilities across the country, and patients will be limited to one adult visit at a time. Spanish officials have announced a month-long closure of 200 centres in and around Madrid where the elderly go for daytime care and activities. The global economy, meanwhile, faces mounting damage due to anti-virus controls that shut down much of China's economy and are disrupting travel and trade worldwide. In Egypt, a cruise ship on the Nile River - with over 150 tourists and local crew - is in quarantine after 12 people tested positive for the new coronavirus. A Taiwanese-American tourist who had previously been on the same ship tested positive when she returned to Taiwan. The World Health Organization informed Egyptian authorities, who tested everyone currently on the ship. Health authorities in Egypt released a statement Friday saying they'd found a dozen Egyptian crew members on the ship had contracted the fast-spreading virus, but did not show symptoms. The statement said the 12 will be transferred to isolation in a hospital on Egypt's north coast. The passengers - who include Americans, French and other nationalities - and crew will remain quarantined on the ship awaiting further test results. A man in a protective suit walks outside Angel Hotel where, according to a Palestinian government official, a group of American visitors have been quarantined as part of precautions against the coronavirus in Israeli-occupied West Bank The new virus cluster brought the total number of cases in Egypt to 15. It came just days after three people were diagnosed with coronavirus in the U.S. state of Texas. Officials in the city of Houston said Thursday that they believe the three were exposed to the virus while on a trip to Egypt in late February. It was not immediately clear if the Texan tourists were on the same boat where the cluster occurred, how long the passengers on the ship had been quarantined, nor where exactly the initial Taiwanese tourist had contracted the virus. The United Arab Emirates reported 15 additional coronavirus cases on Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 45. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, announced there would be no spectators for sports competitions and games starting Saturday in order to combat the spread of the virus. The kingdom has five confirmed cases, but has taken unprecedented measures against the virus' spread, including halting all pilgrimage in Mecca, Islam's holiest site. BEIJINGAs the new coronavirus races around the world, tanking markets, cutting off global travel and suspending school for hundreds of millions of children, governments are desperate for ways to contain it. China, the place where it first appeared, says it has the answers. To the surprise of some, the country that concealed and mismanaged the initial outbreak appears to be bringing it under control, at least by its own official figures. The number of new cases reported has fallen dramatically in recent days even as infections are surging in other countries. The World Health Organization has praised Beijings response. Officials reported only 99 new cases on Saturday, down from around 2,000 a day just weeks ago, and for the second day in a row, none were detected in Hubei province outside of its capital, Wuhan, the center of the outbreak. China says the trend proves that its containment measures which include a lockdown on nearly 60 million people in Hubei and strict quarantine and travel restrictions for hundreds of millions of citizens and foreigners are working. And it has begun trying to promote its efforts as successful in propaganda at home and abroad. The rest of the world, much of it fearfully confronting its first cases, has taken note. But there is also concern that Chinas numbers may be flawed and incomplete. The real test will be whether the virus flares again when children return to classrooms and workers to factories, and commuters start taking buses and subways. Chinas blunt force strategy poses deeper questions for other countries. Its campaign has come at great cost to peoples livelihoods and personal liberties. Even countries that could copy China still have to ask whether the cure is worse than the disease. I think they did an amazing job of knocking the virus down, said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. But I dont know if its sustainable. What have the Chinese really accomplished? Have they really contained the virus? Or have they just suppressed it? Elsewhere, Italy, South Korea and Iran are struggling to control the spread of the virus. In the United States, where there are now more than 300 confirmed cases, the government has been criticized for fumbling its rollout of test kits and allowing the virus to spread in vulnerable communities like a nursing home in Seattle. The outbreak now threatens global growth and is intensifying a backlash against immigration and globalization. Countries studying Chinas approach would need to consider how it has upended nearly every corner of Chinese society. The economy has ground to a near standstill, and many small businesses say they may soon run out of cash. Patients with critical illnesses are struggling to find timely care, and some have died. Hundreds of millions of people have been placed in some form of isolation. As of Friday, about 827,000 people remained under quarantine in Beijing, according to the state-run China Daily newspaper. I have been worried about all the focus on just controlling the virus, said Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. She recommended a more measured response, such as that taken by the governments in Hong Kong and Singapore. Officials there enacted targeted quarantines but did not shut down workplaces altogether, allowing their respective economies to continue operating while so far successfully containing the virus. We have to take a broad view of the impact on society, Nuzzo said, and do a better accounting for the social tolls of these measures that is not just focused on the numbers. For China, the numbers are key. The number of cases reported on Saturday was a substantial decline from 2 1/2 weeks ago, when China was recording around 2,000 new infections and as many as 100 deaths a day. Twenty-eight new deaths were reported on Saturday, all in Hubei. By comparison, Italy reported 49 deaths from the virus on Friday. Outside of Wuhan, the spread has effectively stopped, according to the official figures. All but one of the 99 new cases reported on Saturday were in Wuhan or were people who had traveled to China from abroad. The World Health Organization says Chinas containment measures may have saved hundreds of thousands of people from infection. Its efforts show that uncontrolled spread of the virus is not a one-way street, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the groups director general, said on Thursday. This epidemic can be pushed back, Tedros said, but only with a collective, coordinated and comprehensive approach that engages the entire machinery of government. WHO experts sent to China have also highlighted clinics that could diagnose hundreds of cases a day with CT scans and laboratory tests, and the mass isolation centers in stadiums in Wuhan that separated people who had mild infections from their families. Theres no question that Chinas bold approach to the rapid spread of this new respiratory pathogen has changed the course of what was a rapidly escalating and continues to be a deadly epidemic, Dr. Bruce Aylward, the leader of the WHO team that visited China, told reporters in Beijing late last month. The numbers suggest that aggressive quarantine measures, when fully enforced, could choke the spread of the virus, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University. This is the largest public health experiment in the history of humankind, Schaffner said. They cant turn it off, but they did turn it down. And it did provide the rest of the world with some extra time. Still, the total number of infections in China, at more than 80,000, is staggering. And there are reasons to doubt the official figures. In the early days of the outbreak, a shortage of test kits and hospital beds meant that many were not able to get tested. Many mild infections are likely going undetected. The government has changed how it counts cases several times in recent weeks, prompting large fluctuations in the reported figures, though experts say such adjustments are not unusual. Medical experts say that there have been few signs that the government has aggressively tested for the coronavirus outside of medical facilities in Hubei. Until they broaden the scope of testing, experts say, it will be impossible to determine the true extent of the epidemic because those who have mild infections might not see a doctor. At the moment we are focused on the tip of the iceberg, said David Hui, director of the Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The ruling Communist Party hails the slowdown of the outbreak as a sign of the superiority of its authoritarian, top-down political system that gives officials nearly unchecked power. But its heavy-handed measures are testing the patience of its citizens, many of whom think such a clampdown could have been avoided if officials had not first hid the scale of the outbreak and silenced whistleblowers. The impact of the restrictions has been felt most acutely in Hubei, where 56 million people have been effectively penned in since January. For more than five weeks, the typically bustling hub of universities, commerce and transportation has been transformed into a collection of ghost towns as the virus has ravaged communities, ensnared entire families and infected thousands of medical workers. Chinas experience combating the virus has also highlighted the risk of family transmission if hospitals run out of beds and testing kits, as they did in Wuhan, where for weeks, many who were sick were sent home and infected their relatives. Roadblocks have sealed off cities, public transportation has been shut down and private cars have been mostly banned from the roads. In Wuhan, restrictions on individual movement have been stepped up in recent weeks, with residents now mostly barred from leaving their homes. Among residents in Hubei, there are signs that anger and frustration are mounting. Chinese social media sites are flooded with posts from residents saying they have lost their jobs because of the extended lockdown, making it difficult to make payments on mortgages and loans. Others have described food shortages in their communities. On Thursday, in a rare public rebuke of the government, disgruntled people in a residential community in Wuhan heckled high-level officials as they walked through the neighborhood on an inspection. Fake! Everything is fake! shouted one resident at the delegation, which included Sun Chunlan, a vice premier leading the central governments response to the outbreak. The state-run Peoples Daily newspaper later said that the accusations were aimed at local neighborhood officials who had faked delivery of vegetables and meat to residents. Sun ordered an immediate investigation into the issue. Wang Zhonglin, the party secretary of Wuhan, announced plans on Friday to teach the citys residents to be grateful to the party, a move that was quickly met with derision and anger on Chinese social media. Relationships are also fraying as families are forced to live for extended periods in confined spaces. Guo Jing, a feminist activist in Wuhan, said she and other volunteers had fielded a number of requests for help from residents reporting physical abuse by their family members at home. Under these circumstances, its really difficult for them to find help during the epidemic, said Guo. Its so difficult to leave the house. Fang Fang, a writer who has been keeping a widely read and often-censored online journal of life in Wuhan, said that the lockdown was exacting a psychological toll on residents. Ordinary people have no source of income and lack a sense of certainty even about when theyll be able to go out, she wrote in a recent entry. When you cant feel the ground or you lose control over a situation, its easy to lose the most basic sense of security. Outside of Hubei, China wants to fire up its economy, but local officials are also under immense pressure to take no risks in order to reduce the number of infections. Even as provinces have lowered their alert levels for the virus, many companies are choosing to err on the side of caution. Some have even faked electricity consumption rates in order to hit stringent back-to-work targets, according to a recent report by Caixin, an influential Chinese magazine. Some experts are increasingly wondering if Chinas lockdown will become pointless the more widespread the virus becomes. Given the global spread of the virus and the difficulty of spotting mild cases, they say, it is unlikely that it will ever be completely eliminated even in China. I do think the declining case numbers likely mean that all these incredible measures that have been taken are probably having an effect, said Marc Lipsitch, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. But I dont think zero is zero. Technavio has been monitoring the electric vehicle (EV) charging station market and it is poised to grow by USD 19.9 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 34% 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. Request a free sample report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200306005318/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, Tesla Inc. and Webasto SE are some of the major market participants. The growing adoption of BEVs and PHEVs will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Growing adoption of BEVs and PHEVs has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market 2020-2024: Segmentation Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market is segmented as below: Type Ac Dc Geographic Segmentation APAC Europe MEA North America South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40837 Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market 2020-2024: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our electric vehicle (EV) charging station market report covers the following areas: Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market Size Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market Trends Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market Industry Analysis This study identifies deployment of smart grids for EVs as one of the prime reasons driving the electric vehicle (EV) charging station market growth during the next few years. Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market 2020-2024: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the electric vehicle (EV) charging station market, including some of the vendors such as Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, Tesla Inc. and Webasto SE. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the electric vehicle (EV) charging station market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist electric vehicle (EV) charging station market growth during the next five years Estimation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging station market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behaviour The growth of the electric vehicle (EV) charging station market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of electric vehicle (EV) charging station market vendors Table of Content PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Value chain analysis Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2019 Market Outlook Market size and forecast 2019-2024 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY TYPE Market segmentation by type Comparison by type AC Market size and forecast 2019-2024 DC Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Market opportunity by type PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024 North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024 South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Increasing number of launches in the field of EV charging solutions Vehicle-to-grid infrastructure for decentralized power generation Deployment of smart grids for EVs PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenario PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors ABB Ltd. ChargePoint Inc. Efacec Power Solutions SGPS SA ENGIE SA EVgo Services LLC Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc. Schneider Electric SE Siemens AG Tesla Inc. Webasto SE PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations Definition of market positioning of vendors PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO 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/20200306005318/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ He's creating a new life in Italy after being held in ICE custody in the United States following his release from prison after serving a 41-month sentence for mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud. And Joe Giudice shared a somber post reflecting on the past with a picture taken by his daughter Milania of his father Francesco's grave site. The 47-year-old reality star admitted he was consumed with a 'terrible feeling' for indiscretions which caused him to be far away from his family. Difficult: Joe Giudice shared a somber post reflecting on the past with a picture taken by his daughter Milania of his father Francesco's grave site 'My mistake has caused me literally not to touch my daughters everyday and you again,' he wrote. 'This terrible feeling continues as tears stream down my face knowing I can't see you. 'My promise to you dad and my girls I will never make the same mistake again. I must accept my flaws and forgive myself to go forward.' The Real Housewives of New Jersey star tagged his daughter and estranged wife in the post. Sad: The 47-year-old reality star admitted he was consumed with a 'terrible feeling' for indiscretions which caused him to be far away from his family He also added: '#dad #missyou #mistakesarelessons #feelings #forgiveness #angel thank you buddy for visiting Nonno. I look up to you daughters more and more each day. #truth #screwup.' Milania also shared a throwback photo of the family with Teresa's parents as she mourned the three year anniversary of her grandmother's death. Joe shares four daughters Gia, 19; Gabriella, 16; Milania, 15; Audriana, 11 with his estranged wife. The couple were married in October 1999 but 'have been separated' since December when People reported that neither was interested in a long distance relationship once he moved back to Italy. Tough: Milania also shared a throwback photo of the family with Teresa's parents as she mourned the three year anniversary of her grandmother's death 'They discussed their future when Teresa and the girls went to Italy in early November and they agreed that each had to move on. They are doing so amicably and very slowly,' the source said. 'Joe has been out on a few dates, Teresa has not. She has been too busy with the girls, with work obligations and taking care of her father. 'She is happy for Joe. They have been very friendly with one another and are very supportive of each other's happiness. They still love one another, but as Teresa told Andy Cohen on the WWHL special, they are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Neither is interested in a long distance relationship.' Despite moving to the U.S. as a child, Joe's green card was revoked and he was placed in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention following his release from prison in March. After spending six months in the detention center, Joe requested to be sent back to Italy as he awaited the final decision in his case. Teresa also served time for mail, wire, and bankruptcy fraud, although the couple were allowed to serve their sentences in succession so the children would have a parent at home. Jammu and Kashmir reported its first case of coronavirus, sources told ANI on Saturday. With the new confirmed case, the number of people infected with coronavirus in the country reached 32. The person is receiving treatment at government medical college in Jammu, sources added. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir's administration said that the test results of two persons indicate that there is a high probability of them being positive for the disease. All primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts of J & K to be closed till March 31 with immediate effect. All biometric attendance in J & K to be suspended immediately till March 31. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) STAFF at University of Limerick are reportedly being subjected to bullying and harassment under what has been described as dictatorship management within the university. The universitys union, UL-Unite, also stated in its February newsletter that members have claimed bullying has escalated to a very dangerous level, and is affecting the mental health of some staff. A motion of no confidence in ULs senior management was passed at a UL-Unite meeting in January, as well as a motion for the unions executive committee to draft a campaign plan to progress on staff issues. We have always advised staff when they feel they are experiencing this to keep a full record of things done and said, by whom and dated, added the newsletter in relation to alleged bullying; unfortunately, even then, some staff do not feel able to process officially their grievance out of fear of doing so. It was added that the union has supported numerous individuals being subjected to such treatment, with twenty or so individual cases being dealt with at present in total. So many staff across the university are particularly concerned about the direction, culture, management style, and the financial viability of the university in its current modus operandi given the expanding range of expenditure in an array of fields, the letter reads. It was stated that the breakdown of goodwill across all grades of staff has become evident in the university, with members believing that loyalty to the university is not recognised and individual staff concerns are being ignored, or, worse, still exacerbated. The newsletter also outlines how the withdrawal of the Job Evaluation Scheme two years ago by management has side-lined its staff who deserve better treatment, as well as issues surrounding the suspension of ULs Long Service Leave Policy. Furthermore, it was stated that the universitys development of its workload allocation model reflects a managerial style that doesnt trust its staff, with there also being complaints made regarding the allocation of workload for part-time and female lecturers. A UL spokesperson said: There is no evidence of an increase in cases of bullying at University of Limerick. All members of the University of Limerick community are encouraged to, and supported in, reporting any instances of bullying and harassment that they may experience. In December 2019, a ballot for industrial action was called off by UL-Unite after UL President Des Fitzgerald acknowledged that mistakes were made in the much-questioned formulation of the plan, which is now paused. 7.5k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Trump held a pep rally for himself at the CDC, where at one point the president compared the test to the coronavirus to his extortion of Ukraine. Trump said, As of right now, and yesterday, anybody who needs a test, and thats the important thing, and the tests are all perfect, like the letter. The transcription was perfect. Right? Not as perfect as that, but pretty good. Video: "The [coronavirus] tests are all perfect. Like the letter was perfect. The transcription was perfect. This was not a perfect as that, but pretty good." is Trump referring to the transcript of his phone call with the Ukrainian president here? pic.twitter.com/FU5XxPTu7Z Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 6, 2020 Donald Trump was referring to the phone call where he tried to extort Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden by withholding military aid. The transcript of his Ukraine call that the White House released was not really a transcript. It was a rough summary to use their original terminology. If you had no idea what the president was talking about, you arent alone. Trumps inability to lead has done nothing but add to the fear, chaos, and confusion that is growing by the day. There still arent enough coronavirus tests to meet the demand as Americans arrive at hospitals with symptoms. The business community has dumped Trump over his total failure to lead in the middle of a public health crisis, as his comments showed that he thinks the coronavirus is a political problem just like his attempt to extort Ukraine. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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Established in 1931 as The Houston Fat Stock Show, the inaugural event was held at Sam Houston Hall in 1932, according to the RodeoHouston website. Focused: President Donald Trump is in a combative mood to take on Biden. Photo: Getty Images Donald Trump mocked Joe Biden's cognitive abilities during an event in the former vice president's home town, sharpening his line of attack against the Democratic front-runner. Mr Biden's prospects of winning the Democratic presidential nomination surged this week after he won 10 of 14 states on Super Tuesday. He is now the favourite to take on Mr Trump in November's election. But the 77-year-old has faced questions over his age after a string of verbal gaffes and stilted debate performances. Mr Trump (73) was quick to seize on those concerns. Appearing at a town hall event staged by Fox News in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the president said he had been "mentally" prepared to take on Bernie Sanders, Mr Biden's left-wing rival. "I'm all set for Bernie, communist. And then we have this crazy thing that happened on Tuesday, which he thought was Thursday," Mr Trump said, referencing a verbal slip by Mr Biden who referred to voting day as "Super Thursday". He added: "But he also said 150 million people were killed with guns, and that he was running for the US senate. There's something going on there." Mr Trump doubled down on his attacks yesterday, stating: "He's got a lot of people that are left-wing and they'll be running the government. He's not going to be running anything." One man at the Scranton event, who was identified as a supporter of Mr Trump, asked the president if "we can deliver your message without the controversial rhetoric". A notably subdued Mr Trump twice said that he appreciated the question, but defended how he communicates as his way of responding to criticism. "When they hit us, we have to hit back," Mr Trump said. "I could turn my cheek, but I wouldn't be sitting up here if I turned my cheek." Meanwhile, a federal judge has accused William Barr, the US attorney general, of misleading the public over the contents of the Mueller report into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Mr Barr has been under fire since March last year when he released a summary of the Mueller report, saying that it had found no evidence of a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Russians. Within days, Mr Mueller disputed Mr Barr's summary, which Mr Trump had already seized upon to claim "total exoneration". Substantial portions of the report were redacted when it was released and the Department of Justice has been under pressure to disclose its full contents amid allegations that the findings had been distorted by Mr Barr. Reggie Walton, who was appointed to the federal bench by George W Bush, ordered the Department of Justice to show him a completely unredacted version of the report. Judge Walton's remarks were delivered as he ruled on a freedom of information case brought by the Electronic Privacy Information Centre and Buzzfeed demanding the publication of the unredacted report. He said that the court was unable to reconcile Mr Barr's summary with the report itself. The court "seriously questioned whether Attorney General Barr made a calculated attempt to influence public discourse about the Mueller Report in favour of President Trump". Daily Telegraph London Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] If you say olives to people, they say Greece. If you say olive oil, they say Italy, declares author, journalist and all round expert Judy Ridgway. The reason for that is two words: good marketing. From the moment us Brits started developing a taste for this green gold of the Mediterranean as early as the 19th century the Italians were paving the way for their country in general (and Tuscany in particular) to be considered the place for good olive oil. The bottles looked expensive; the labels boasted family crests. It sounds superficial and it was superficial, but the Greeks hadnt really got it together on the packaging front, says Charles Carey. Our British connection with Italy and our historic fondness for it as a country meant we have always assumed Italian olive oil was the best. The founder and owner of the Oil Merchant in west London, Carey speaks from personal experience. Though today he sources olive oils from across the Mediterranean, when he first embarked upon his quest to bring fine olive oil to London it was to Tuscany he initially headed. In Greece, everyone uses extra virgin, even for cooking and baking cakes and biscuits Judy Ridgway A few years later, with Spanish and French oils in his stock now as well as Italian, he turned to Greece and tried importing to here but there just wasnt the market for it he recalls. The perception if there was one at all was that Greek oil was for cooking with. Only in the past year or so have people started looking at Greek olive oil with the respect that it deserves. Of course, Carey is talking pretty mainstream here: his customers include Waitrose and Harvey Nichols. South of the Thames, Marianna Kolokotroni has been selling organic, single estate Greek olive oil at Borough Market from her shop Oliveology since 2009. Many of her customers have been with her for years. Recommended 11 best extra virgin olive oils that should be a kitchen staple The main reason the oil of her homeland isnt known more widely, she says, is because it hasnt had much going spare until recently. We were exporting our olive oil to Italy in bulk, where it was mixed with other European oils, bottled and sold as Italian oil. It was the easiest way for our farmers to sell it, so thats what most people were doing. With neither the resources nor business acumen of their Italian counterparts, only a handful of Greek olive oil producers (Kolokotronis among them) could afford to bottle and sell their own. Which is a shame, Ridgway explains because when it comes to quality, Greek olive oil has always been very consistent. I am right behind the idea of going for Greek olive oil. It doesnt have the reputation or cache of Italian but that can mean it offers better value for money, she continues. You dont really find the lower grade industrially produced oils because the landscape of Greece is so mountainous, you cant get big machines around the olive groves Judy Ridgway It is also versatile, being generally speaking milder and more delicate in taste. Kolkotroni agrees: I am biased of course, because Im Greek and used to what I grew up with but Ive been to many trade fairs, and I do find the Greek olive oils a bit smoother, a bit more easy-going. I love the pepperiness of Italian, but Id probably use it more for salad whereas the Greek olive oil you can drizzle over everything. You can and they do. With more than 24 litres of olive oil per capita, per year, the Greeks are by far the biggest consumers of olive oil in the world. They are also the biggest producers of extra virgin olive oil: the highest grade of olive oil classification, which must be extracted entirely by mechanical means that is, without the use of any solvents and under temperatures that will not degrade its quality. In Greece, everyone uses extra virgin, even for cooking and baking cakes and biscuits, Kolokotroni continues. You dont really find the lower grade industrially produced oils because the landscape of Greece is so mountainous, you cant get big machines around the olive groves. The producers still have to pick and process by hand: theres no large-scale, commercial production, and that makes for better quality. You get what you pay for: at 18.50, Lia is great quality olive oil The sadness is that for decades so much of this hand-harvested olive oil was ending up in pan-European blends of varying standards, bottled and sold as Italian olive oil. Labelling laws today are stricter than they were, but that doesnt stop big Italian brands passing off oil they have sourced from a variety of countries off as entirely their own. Carey describes one he found the other day: Farchioni. Italys favourite olive oil, it says on the front. Nice Italian name, Farchioni. On the back it says cold extraction, produce of Farchioni. Only below that does it say produce of the European Union. Its probably mostly Spanish. Selling to huge brands like these, Greek producers were never going to make much of a profit either to invest in marketing advice or in better equipment. Then the Greek financial crisis hit and, while big business floundered, Greeks food and drink offering began to gradually improve. Kolokotroni recalls how young people who had been working the white-collar jobs born of Greeces joining the EU (and the subsequent cash-injection it brought) came back to the land, as the opportunities dried up in the city: They took over the vineyards and olive groves of their parents and grandparents, and started to put their ideas and their energy into packaging the product properly and promoting and exporting it. They brought their banking skills, their marketing skills, says Ridgway and the thing that had previously impeded their profits, their having to harvest olives by hand, began to work in their favour, as a rich and varied offering of single estate olive oils emerged from the ruins of their economy. Growing up in Greece, olive oil was just olive oil, says Jenny Pagoni, a Greek-born photographer and restaurateur. It was everywhere, and it was good quality, and we sort of overlooked it. Today, a beautiful, single estate Cretan olive oil is front and centre of the menu of Ampeli, the Greek restaurant she has just opened on Londons Charlotte Street. In fact Carey believes Greece is now one of the biggest producers of single varietal and single estate olive oils that is olive oil produced by one estate, or from one variety of olive from a single estate. Ben Cooke of Little Gloster (Little Gloster) Other countries tend to blend varietals. The one were importing and selling now, Lia, won 2019 Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil Monovarietal Award at the Flos Olei. Youll find it in Waitrose and if youre looking for proof that Greece has upped its design and marketing game, this is it. A tall, shapely bottle in Grecian statue white with fine gold lettering carries a price tag of 18.50 the most expensive extra virgin olive oil on the shelf, and yet given its quality (it is the only single estate, monovarietal there) great value for money. After years of being in thrall to Italian and then Spanish olive oils, even non-Greek chefs are starting to clock onto the affordability, quality and versatility of Greeks liquid gold. Recently we were sent a free sample of Greek olive oil, and we loved it so much Ive started buying it and using it on some of our pasta dishes dont tell the Italians! laughs Ben Cooke of Little Gloster on the Isle of Wight. Its cheaper, and the one we have is beautifully smooth and balanced with a delicious buttery acidity. Tom Kemble, of his eponymous at Tom Kemble at The Pass, in Sussex, is another convert: It was only a few years ago that I started to work with Greek olive oils, and my favourite is a new season Koroneiki olive oil. I use this over everything; dressing bread, salads, fish and meat. In the restaurant we actually pair this kind of olive oil in a dessert, seasoning a lemon and basil curd accompanied with blood oranges. Discerning customers looking for an easy and affordable way to bring an extra dimension of flavour and indeed beauty, olive oil bottles being one of the more on show ingredients there are to their homes could do worse than follow their lead. Storyful Supporters of world No.1 Novak Djokovic gathered outside a courthouse in Melbourne on January 10 as the player appealed against his deportation from Australia in the hope of staying to play in the Australian Open.According to court filings, Djokovics lawyers say he was granted a visa on November 18. An exemption certificate was issued by Tennis Australias chief medical officer on December 30, they said.The hearing on Monday was due to start at the Federal Circuit and Family Court at 10am but was delayed multiple times due to technical issues. According to local reports, Judge Anthony Kelly said a professor and an eminently qualified physician have produced and provided to the applicant a medical exemption.Further to that, that medical exemption and the basis on which it was given was separately given by a further independent expert specialist panel, established by the Victorian state government. And that document was in the hands of the delegate.And the point Im somewhat agitated about is, was what more could this man have done? Judge Kelly asked.Footage by Slobodan Bendjo shows fans waving Serbian flags and dancing outside the Federal Circuit and Family Court in Melbourne. Credit: Slobodan Bendjo via Storyful In these fraught times, we've just been doing our best to remind you all to wash your hands and what better way to do that than with a meme? From dance videos about proper hygiene to the World Health Organization joining TikTok, everyone's been memeing like crazy to spread awareness amidst growing concern surrounding the coronavirus including us. Related | Ariana Grande Responds to Fans Criticizing Her Outfits So yesterday, we posted that classic video of "Ariana Grande" washing her long sleeve-covered hands in an effort to get everyone to stick to proven sanitary practices. Granted, what we didn't expect was for Ariana herself to respond to our little joke though we honestly shouldn't have expected any less from the verifiable queen of the comeback. So what did she think of our video? Well, given her past response to jokes about her love of a long sleeve, it wasn't too much of a surprise that she commented "hate u all" under our post. That said, we'd also like to take this opportunity to reiterate that we adore you (and your sleeves), Ari and, honestly, your response kind of makes us love you even more. But to everyone else: Wash your damn hands and please stay healthy! In the meantime though, see her response for yourself, below. 'Human nature is such that unless there is major panic, you hang on to hope that things will improve. If you have five negative signals and two positive signals you prefer to hang on to those two positive signals and ignore the five negative ones.' Independent market analyst Ambareesh Baliga points out the red flags that retail investors should not have ignored and lists three scenarios -- two of these scenarios offer a glimmer of hope to retail shareholders of Yes Bank -- that could play out in the coming days. "In the first scenario, there is nothing left for retail investors. The second scenario is the best scenario for Yes Bank shareholders. In the third scenario there is at least something left for investors. They may get something back over the next five-eight years," Baliga tells Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore. What were the warning signs that retail investors ignored while buying Yes Bank after first signs of trouble became evident? The first sign was evident when Yes bank began reporting NPAs and then there was a clear differential between the RBI-reported NPAs and the company-reported NPAs. Later, when the RBI said there was a divergence between their figures and what Yes Bank was reporting was also a major sign that trouble was brewing at Yes Bank. These were the initial feelers that everything was not okay with Yes Bank. When CEO Rana Kapoor was asked to step down was another major pointer to investors as well as depositors. But then there was a glimmer of hope when the new CEO (Ravneet Gill from Deutsche Bank) took over. Again, with the sort of investors that he (Gill) was trying to get in (to buy a stake in Yes Bank), or he was promising to get in, especially the guy (Erwing Singh Braich of Canada; external link)who wanted to invest $1.2 billion just because he liked the Yes Bank logo. That was a very clear giveaway that nothing serious was happening at Yes Bank (Yes Bank rejected the offer) as far as fund-raising was concerned. You can't take someone seriously when he says that he is investing $1.2 billion just because he liked the logo of the bank. These were some of the major giveaways which retail investors kept ignoring. But then human nature is such that unless there is major panic, you hang on to hope that things will improve. If you have five negative signals and two positive signals you prefer to hang on to those two positive signals and ignore the five negative ones. Today, even if you tell (Yes Bank's) depositors that their money is safe because government has stepped in and will ensure that a strong company will take over Yes Bank they will not believe you and they will queue up outside Yes Bank (to withdraw the Rs 50,000 that they are getting). So, what could happen now to Yes Bank? There are talks that the State Bank of India will step in, but that is still speculation. Have they said (officially) that they are buying Yes Bank? The way I see it, three different scenarios can emerge. 1. In the first scenario, the SBI takes it over just like Global Trust bank was taken over by Oriental Bank of Commerce (in 2004), in which case the shareholders of Yes Bank get nothing. Shareholders' share is zero and everything else is taken over. However, if it is being taken over by SBI, it will be a bit negative for the SBI shareholder because you are taking over a complete liability. 2. In the second scenario, as per what the market is saying, both SBI and LIC together will take 51 per cent stake in Yes Bank. If they buy 51 per cent stake at Rs 2, it works out to around Rs 600-odd crore. But this paltry sum is not enough to revive Yes Bank. They need about Rs 10,000 crore. How and from where will the balance Rs 9,500 crore come? That's the answer we don't know yet. But if that happens, it is a positive for Yes Bank shareholders. It is also positive for SBI because in this scenario, SBI will only be a shareholder and manage Yes Bank from an arm's length. In this scenario, the existing shareholders of Yes Bank could still own 50 per cent of the bank. Once Yes Bank revives, your equity will still hold some value. You are still better off than what you have today (as on March 6, 2020). 3. The third scenario is when SBI, LIC and whoever else brings in the Rs 10,000 crore required as equity to revive the bank. If equity grows to Rs 10,000 or Rs 13,000 crore, what happens is the existing Yes Bank shareholders become micro-minority. They hold about five per cent (of Yes Bank) only. The rest will be held by SBI, LIC and the rest. This is also a win-win for both sides but Yes Bank shareholders would be at a slight disadvantageous position. But in all the three scenarios, the depositors' money -- about Rs 2 lakh crore or Rs 2 trillion -- will be safe. I think that is the main thing which the government is looking at. Having said that the disclaimer is these are just talks and tentative scenarios and nobody knows what will happen finally. How do you look at the Yes Bank Reconstruction Scheme, 2020, which the RBI has kept in public domain Friday evening (this happened after the interview was done and so this question) as per which SBI shall pick up 49 per cent stake in the reconstituted Yes Bank for a price not less than Rs 10? As per this scheme, Yes Bank's authorised share capital will increase to Rs 5,000 crore from the existing Rs 600 crore. Given that Yes Bank's current equity is about Rs 500 crore, which will be increased to Rs 4,800 crore, and then SBI will apply for 49 per cent stake at Rs 10, at a premium of Rs 8 premium (on a face value of Rs 2). Now the question that arises is, if 49 per cent goes to SBI, the existing shareholders would be holding around 12 per cent (in the reconstituted Yes Bank as per this scheme), then who will subscribe to the remaining 39 per cent equity in the reconstituted Yes Bank? Will they make a rights issue to existing shareholders at Rs 10 or will they be getting new investors to subscribe to the 39 per cent equity? The last set of foreign investors who had shown interest in Yes Bank had put forth a condition that they would invest only if SBI or any other PSU bank buys 49 per cent equity. One needs to get clarity on would these foreign investors buy the 39 per cent equity or will there be a rights issue (which will give the right to existing shareholders, including retail shareholders, to buy shares at Rs 10)? If they go for a rights issue for the rest 39 per cent, then only scenario number three, which I mentioned above, becomes better for retail shareholders because instead of 5-6 per cent they will be owners of 12 per cent equity in the reconstituted Yes Bank. A lot of retail investors would actually go for the rights issue because if somebody has bought Yes Bank for Rs 100, Rs 200 or Rs 300, why won't they buy it for Rs 10! On March 5, eight crore Yes Bank shares were bought for delivery after news came in that SBI was taking over Yes Bank and the stock price shot up from Rs 28 to Rs 37. Who were the buyers? Who is trapped here? (On March 6, after the RBI imposed a moratorium on deposit withdrawals the stock price plummeted more than 50 per cent and closed the day at around Rs 16). Were these small retail investors, the foreign institutional investors or domestic institutional investors? Retail investors! The FIIs and DIIs have all been exiting Yes Bank right through (when the first signs of trouble became evident). A stock which is moving from Rs 28 to 37 when suddenly there is news that SBI is taking over, there are enough suckers in the market. Was this a trap to ensnare retail investors? (There is) No doubt about that. Who laid this trap and shouldn't the market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, SEBI, come down heavily upon these operators with an iron hand? We can't say for sure who laid the trap but it is quite possible that over the last few months some of the operators must have been getting into this stock (hoping to sell it at higher price) and they themselves must have got trapped (by buying it at a higher price; in April 2018, Yes bank shares were trading around the Rs 286 level). So, they must have been watching out for bigger fools. Basically, whoever sold (on March 5) in large quantities needs to be investigated because clearly it (SBI taking over Yes Bank) was a planted story. What should retail investors who have bought Yes bank at higher levels do now? Should they hold, add or exit? There are three scenarios. In the first scenario, there is nothing left for retail investors. The second scenario is the best scenario for Yes Bank shareholders. In the third scenario there is at least something left for investors. They may get something back over the next five-eight years. Your advice for Yes Bank's retail investors... There is nothing much to lose. You have already lost most of it. If you look at the three scenarios above and work out the probability, there is 66 per cent chance (two out of three scenarios) that you will at least still get something back. 33 per cent chance (one out of three) that you will get nothing. So, possibly, they can hold on. If you are still a shareholder of Yes Bank after the takeover (the second and third scenario), then your wait could be well over three-four years. I wouldn't recommend buying Yes Bank at this stage because we don't know which of the three scenarios will play out. But if one has already bought it at Rs 200-300, then you have already lost most of it. You can hold hoping things work out. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters The president of Uzbekistan has signed a decree ordering the abolition of the state-order system for cotton crops, in effect ending a decades-old arrangement that encouraged forced labor. As Eurasianet reports, under the decree signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on March 6, the government will from 2020 cancel quotas for the production and sale of cotton, leaving farmers who rent land from the state free to cultivate alternative and more lucrative crops. The same reform will see the state-set quota for grain reduced by 25 percent. This marks a decisive development in Uzbekistans stated ambition to nudge its agriculture sector, which is one the of countrys main sources of employment, toward more market-based rules. In January, Mirziyoyev approved a decree envisioning a gradual reduction in the volume of grain that the state purchases through its order system starting from 2021. Even as the government withdraws from these key areas of the economy, however, it has pledged to retain a key role in agriculture, at least to ensure that grain prices remain stable and so staple food supplies are not interrupted. Jonas Astrup, a technical advisor for the International Labor Organization, or ILO, based in Tashkent, hailed the scrapping of the cotton quota, which he described on Twitter as a historic development. Uzbekistan is currently the worlds 10th largest producer of cotton, but as the country reforms its economy, the emerging aspiration is to transition toward greater production of valued-added exports, such as textiles. Part of the intent behind moving away from the mass output of raw cotton is also to improve Uzbekistans international image. The existence of quotas and the strict regime under which they were enforced have over the decades served as irresistible contributing factors toward the perpetuation of a system of forced labor that saw students, government workers and even children marshaled into doing harvesting work for little or no pay. Efforts to stamp out forced and child labor have won plaudits from the likes of the U.S. government, which had previously imposed restrictions on Uzbek cotton, and organizations like the ILO. In addition to enhancing the respectability of Uzbek cotton, the broader reform agenda is, so officials hope, helping make the country more appealing to outside investors. By Chris Reed The coronavirus outbreak gathering speed around the world is scary enough. But even after (and assuming) the virus ultimately fades away, whether its overall impact is akin to the average annual global deaths from seasonal flu ranging from 291,000 to 646,000 people much less than that, or much worse, the outbreak seems certain to worsen an existing American epidemic: the high levels of mental illness linked to technology and/or extreme isolation. It also seems likely to deepen divisions nationwide. Lets look at technology first. Smartphones and social media are blamed in nations rich and poor for creating vast alienation and loneliness among the young. Instead of bringing people closer, the ability to quickly connect with others lives via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter makes us feel alone in the virtual crowd because everyone else can seem more popular, more clever, more attractive, better off financially or to have happier families. In her 2017 essay in The Atlantic Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation? San Diego State University psychology professor Jean M. Twenge laid out the case that devices and social media had laid waste to the mental health of millions of children from grade school to high school. That same year, University of Pittsburgh physician/researcher Brian E. Primrack and his colleagues established a nexus between social media use and feelings of social isolation among Americans up to 32 years old. Theres been less academic research into whether social media and smartphones have taken a similar toll on middle-aged and older Americans, but studies show one-third of those in that age range also face an epidemic of loneliness with few friendly voices in their lives. Many live alone and have little connection with other adults, their children or co-workers. So at a time when millions of Americans can go days without having a meaningful personal interaction with another human being, along comes a health threat that authorities say is most easily avoided by not having any such contact. Lengthy isolation is obviously not what U.S. authorities have advised. But from Japan and South Korea closing schools for a month to Switzerland forsaking gatherings of 1,000 or more people to airlines canceling flights to China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Iran and parts of Italy, the message seems clear: Large groups of people are risky to be with so avoid them. When these admonitions go away, will people return to their old habits? Many probably will. But there is plenty of academic research into epidemics and pandemics and their fallout that suggests some wont. Large-scale disease outbreaks can promote depression, stigmatization and xenophobia, and can weaken peoples belief in the efficacy of authorities. In other words, they make matters much worse for those who already suffer from or are inclined to alienation and loneliness. Thats not all. Pandemics also have the potential to turn large segments of the population against each other. When authorities respond to a virulent pandemic, A unified perception of shared disaster will reduce psychiatric casualties, Dr. David J. Rissmiller wrote in Psychiatric Times magazine in 2007. Or not, he added. Alternatively, a perceived bias in pandemic resource allocation, such as hospital respirators and beds will fuel a fractious response that will amplify psychiatric suffering. In other words, this is a divisive crisis waiting to happen. In the United States, there are only 62,000 full-featured mechanical ventilators and a 2005 federal study showed the nation would need 12 times that many in a mass respiratory-related outbreak. In China, an immense shortage of hospital beds has hindered its response to the COVID-19 epidemic. If it emerges that Chinese President Xi Jinping gave Communist Party big shots and their families much better COVID-19 care, a convulsive reaction is likely. China may have a second cultural revolution that doesnt turn out as well for Xi as the first one did for Mao Zedong. In Iran, the powers that be already tragically have some cover. An aide in the inner circle of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died of coronavirus on Monday, and the deputy health minister and at least 23 lawmakers have tested positive for the coronavirus. If the U.S. has its own epidemic, those who decide who gets ventilators and who gets beds could face enormous blowback from those who dont and their families. If there is a perception that certain states or regions or rich people are favored, watch out. If you thought Americans were already divided and prone to isolation and disillusionment before COVID-19, you havent seen anything yet. Chris Reed is the deputy editorial and opinion editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Twitter: @chrisreed99. Email: chris.reed@sduniontribune.com. 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. Darvell Dixon, of the 6200 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue; Levale Dixon, of the 6600 block of South Wolcott Avenue, who was also wanted on a warrant; and Green, of the 13900 block of South State Street in Riverdale, were expected to appear before a judge at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Saturday afternoon. The Delhi BJP slammed AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan over his tweet on Saturday and asked the Assembly's peace and harmony committee to take action against him. Khan, who is also chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, in a tweet sought to defend AAP councilor Tahir Hussain, arrested in connection with the killing of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer Ankit Sharma during the recent violence in northeast Delhi. "Tahir Hussain is facing the punishment just because he is a Muslim. Perhaps, being a Muslim is the biggest crime in India today. It may happen in coming time that it is proved that the violence in Delhi was incited by Tahir Hussain," Khan tweeted in Hindi. Hussain was sent to police custody for a week by a city court on Friday. He was arrested on Thursday after a court here dismissed his plea seeking to surrender before it in connection with the murder case. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor demanded action against Khan in a letter to Saurabh Bhardwaj, chairman of the Assembly's peace and harmony committee. "Today, Delhi's MLA Amanatullah Khan wrote a tweet which is very venomous and aimed at inciting Muslims. I believe you will agree with me and take punitive action against MLA Amanatullah Khan through the committee," Kapoor said in his letter. The Delhi Assembly's peace and harmony committee will on March 10 launch a mobile number and an email ID for people to complain against hate messages and fake on social media in the wake of the recent communal violence in parts of northeast Delhi. The committee, formed recently in the wake of the riots, has issued an email ID and a whatsapp number to receive complaints regarding social media content that could lead to enmity between different communities. Another Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra, who is himself facing allegations of inciting violence, also assailed Khan and sought to know from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal if the MLA's view was the AAP's official party line. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One transgender barista said his supervisors kept writing Jessica instead of Jay on his work schedule. They stared at his stubble and frowned at his deepening voice. A manager even laughed when he told her to stop referring to him as she, said the barista, Jay Kelly, who works at a Starbucks at Orlando International Airport. Its like a bullet to my heart, he said. They look at me like Im disgusting or like Im not human or a type of animal that doesnt belong in that airport. Kelly, 25, is one of some 300 employees who responded to a union survey about conditions working for HMSHost, a travel food service company that has long operated Starbucks and other coffee shops in airports nationwide. His allegations and others including that dozens of employees were told to speak English were made in a report the union released amid tense negotiations with HMSHost, and as labor groups reach out to marginalized people to increase their membership. HMSHost denied any discrimination and accused the union, Unite Here, of spreading false information to gain leverage at the bargaining table. We do not discriminate against any associate based on race, ethnicity, national origin, LGBTQ status or any other reason, the company said. Our fair treatment policy ensures an open and inclusive environment. Laura FitzRandolph, HMSHosts chief human resources officer, said the company takes complaints of discrimination seriously. If an issue comes to our attention, as in this case, we swiftly investigate and resolve it, she said in a statement. In its survey, the union said that the median pay for black baristas was less than for white baristas, based on an analysis of wage data for more than 2,000 unionized employees. HMSHost said the pay analysis was misleading and accused the union of using isolated complaints to undermine the company and unionize more shops. Unite Here has been organizing at Starbucks airport locations in Orlando, Denver and other cities. The union has deployed a well-known tactic of using the media to frame its false narrative to negotiate these agreements, the company said. HMSHost declined to comment on specific allegations, employees or managers, citing privacy concerns. Caught between the union and HMSHost is Starbucks, which does not employ the workers who wear its signature green aprons. Adam Yalowitz, a research coordinator with Unite Here, said the union wanted Starbucks to pressure HMSHost to improve conditions for the employees and to emulate the more progressive policies of Starbucks, which has touted its support of same-sex marriage, adapted its computer system to reflect the preferred names of employees and added coverage of sex reassignment surgery to the companys health benefits. Workers are publicly calling on Starbucks to fix the problems at these stores, Yalowitz said. A Starbucks spokesman referred questions to HMSHost. The unions focus on transgender issues is the latest effort by labor organizations to tap into social groups that have felt disempowered to mobilize workers, said Jonathan Cutler, a sociology professor at Wesleyan University who has written about the labor movement. Organized labor often lives or dies by its ability to tap into broader social movements, he said. In this case, youre seeing the most public effort to organize around transgender issues. The union said the employee data showed that 79% of workers were women and 64% were black or Latino. Many of them are gay or transgender, according to the union. These are key demographics for unions like Unite Here, which tend to represent workers in low-wage industries, said Kate Bronfenbrenner, the director of labor education research at Cornell University. Women and people of color, those are the workers most likely to organize, she said. Unions have to be strategic and work with their community allies. And the LGBTQ community, particularly the people of color in the LGBTQ community, are often very good allies. Unite here released the survey results in a report that featured photos and accounts by Kelly and other baristas around the country, including Martha Mendoza, a barista at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport who said her manager scolded her because she spoke English with an accent, and Connie Fong, a barista at Portland International Airport who said her supervisor chanted build the wall at her. Maria Cramer is a New York Times writer. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: As many as 11 members of a family from Hyderabad on pilgrimage in Iran are currently stranded in the Coronavirus-hit country. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi urged Ministry of External Affairs Subramanyan Jaishankar to rescue Darulshifa-based family who are stranded in Mashhad. In a video message available on social media, a member of the family said, We are 11 people together Eight women and three men. Before we came to Mashhad, Air Arabia had confirmed that our return flight was on course. However, after we reached, we received a message saying that the flight was cancelled. It is tough for us because we had brought supplies thinking that it would be a short trip. Owaisi, while responding to the post, requested KCR, NRI Affairs minister KT Rama Rao and Union Minister of External Affairs to rescue the family. He said, I request @TelanganaCMO & @MinisterKTR to also represent to @DrSJaishankar to bring back the Hyderabadi family stuck in Mashhad ,Iran. I request @TelanganaCMO & @MinisterKTR to also represent to @DrSJaishankar to bring back the Hyderabadi family stuck in Mashhad ,Iran https://t.co/O6eb6Quot4 Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) March 5, 2020 Earlier, Jaishankar had clarified, Update for Indians stranded in #Iran and for their families: Our medical team for screening arrives in Iran today. Hope to establish first clinic at Qom by this evening. Screening process will start immediately thereafter. Working on logistics of return with Iranian authorities. Medicines for riot-hit Meanwhile, MIM on Friday contributed essential medicines for the victims of the riots in North-East Delhi, worth `4 lakh. The medicines were urgently needed to meet the needs of victims who are currently living in relief camps. Asad handed over the medicines to the Citizens Collective for Peace & Helping Hands Donation Drive. All AIMIM representatives have pledged their one months salary for victims. Bill Maher has come to the defense of Chris Matthews, the former host of MSNBCs Hardball," after Matthews retired from MSNBC on March 2 in the wake of several controversies, including allegations that he made sexist comments. Maher, who called Matthews a friend, spoke in support of the recently retired MSNBC host on Fridays Real Time with Bill Maher, decrying the cancel culture that he said was to blame for Matthews exit. MSNBC used to run this thing: This is who we are,'" Maher said on his HBO show (which is not included in the clips below). Well, I didnt like who you were this week and I dont think a lot of people who worked there liked this either, and I think this cancel culture is a cancer on progressivism. Liberals always have to fight a two-front war. Republicans only have to fight the Democrats. Democrats have to fight the Republicans and each other. GQ columnist Laura Bassett accused Matthews, 74, of making sexist comments when she was a guest on Hardball in 2016. She alleged Matthews said Why havent I fallen in love with you yet? among other remarks. Compliments on a womans appearance that some men, including me, might have once incorrectly thought were OK, were never OK," Matthews said on his last show. Not then and certainly not today. And for making such comments in the past, Im sorry. Yes, he said some things that are kinda creepy to women, said Maher, 64, who grew up in River Vale. You know, guys are married for a million years, they want to flirt for two seconds. She said, I was afraid to name him at the time for fear of retaliation, Maher said of Bassett, Matthews accuser. 'Im not afraid anymore. Thank you, Rosa Parks, Maher said, mocking Bassett. I mean, Jesus f---ing Christ." Caitlin Flanagan, a writer for The Atlantic and guest on Real Time, backed Maher up in supporting Matthews. How fragile can one woman be? she said. Shes a freelancer at home, gets a big invitation to go on TV, very excited, she goes over, 30 minutes later, someone tells her shes beautiful, she freaks out, she, like, loses all her vocabulary on air, she decompensates, and they still have her back on because she probably looks good on camera, its a visual medium. And then again, she gets a compliment." Is she a compliment victim or a compliment survivor? Maher said. Hey @billmaher hows this for fragile: F--- you, Bassett tweeted in reply to Maher and Flanagans comments. "People are really outraged that a rich as hell 74-yr-old man had to retire after being called out for 20 years of objectifying women in the workplace? This is not about me, and if your inclination is to attack me, consider putting that energy into therapy or anger management. Matthews had also been criticized for comparing the Bernie Sanders campaign to Nazis invading France and mixing up the names of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jaime Harrison and Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who are both black. The former Hardball host also came under fire for his approach to interviewing Sen. Elizabeth Warren about why she believed a female Bloomberg employee who accused Mike Bloomberg of telling her to kill it when she was pregnant. In other topics, Maher criticized former President Bill Clinton for saying his affair with Monica Lewinsky was a way of managing my anxieties" in the new Hulu documentary series Hillary." Maher also touched on the coronavirus during his opening monologue. Being asked not to touch your face really makes you want to touch your face, Maher said. Its like my face Me Tood my hand, he joked. Yesterday I made a sandwich with my elbows. Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. A 28-year-old notorious gangster, involved in seven murder cases and carrying a total reward of Rs 75,000, was arrested near Mehrauli-Gurgaon road in Delhi, police said on Saturday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah identified the man as Vicky, a resident of Ghaziabad and member of the Rohit Chaudhary gang of South Delhi. Vicky had been absconding for an year and was arrested on Friday afternoon, said Kushwah. He carried a reward of Rs 25,000 from Delhi Police and Rs 50,000 from UP Police. Vicky was wanted in more than 15 criminal cases, seven of them related to murder. In May 2019, Vicky and his associates killed Prince Chaudhary, a rival gang member, near Saket Mall in Delhi. In July last year, he shot dead Vinod, a resident of Bagpat in UP, due to rivalry, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Like most, Chris Carmack is still trying to process last nights emotional episode of Greys Anatomy. One day after the show bid farewell to Justin Chambers character Alex Karev, Carmack who portrays Dr. Atticus Lincoln on the ABC medical drama shared his thoughts on how Chambers exit affected the cast, how Alexs storyline played out, whats in store for Alexs wife Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington) will get through the heartbreak, and the personal tie he has to the episode. [Chambers] contributions to the story over the years was one that was difficult to say goodbye to, Carmack, 39, exclusively told PEOPLE. The Greys community is definitely a family and supportive of one another. There was an emotional fallout amongst cast and crew when we found out. And after watching last nights episode, Carmack said he was drenched in tears. It was really kind of beautiful to look back on Alex Karev and his 16 years of life on the show, he said. Watching him and Meredith and their first go around, and him and Izzie. How incredible to see a flashback of 16 years ago that was actually shot as part of the television show. It was very tangible and emotional. It wasnt just a flashback from that episode. Those were scenes that fans had invested in so long ago. To see them all back to back was very powerful. RELATED: The Most Dramatic Greys Anatomy Departures Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic Chris Carmack During Thursdays episode, fans and Karevs wife and close friends finally got answers as to why the pediatrician decided to leave: Hes moved to Kansas to be with his ex-wife, Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl), and their 5-year-old twins. Jo is a tough character, Carmack, whose character is best friends with Alexs wife Wilson. She has come so far and has grown so much. Shes a survivor she can stand on her own. I think shes going to rise from the smoke of all this. I dont think you can just crush this one-off, its tough. Shes a strong cookie. She has a lot to give to the world and the medical community and to the patients at Grey Sloan. I think, as a viewer, shes going to rise and be okay. Story continues To Carmack, the episode will be one to remember for many reasons. Carmack and his wife, Erin Slaver, recorded a cover of Ingrid Michaelsons Turn to Stone, which played in last nights episode. [Showrunner] Krista [Vernoff] had shown a little interest in hearing the music before we release our EP, Stonewall, Carmack, whose band is called Life On Eris, said. We played it for her and she was a big fan right off the bat. It was happening concurrently with this episode and this idea she was having to revisit Ingrid Michaelsons version of Turn to Stone which was the original Alex Karev and Izzie montage when they got married. She told us there were two different montages that were going to be happening in this episode. She was thinking, Do I use this song twice in one episode? Then she had this idea to ask us to take a stab at doing a cover. Jason Davis/FilmMagic Chris Carmack and Erin Slaver This was the first time as a band, the two of us, would be doing something for some else, Slaver added. We were ecstatic. In January, ABC confirmed to PEOPLE that Chambers, 49, was not returning to the franchise. Theres no good time to say goodbye to a show and character thats defined so much of my life for the past 15 years, Chambers said in a statement to PEOPLE. For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices. And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time. He added, As I move on from Greys Anatomy, I want to thank the ABC family, Shonda Rimes, original cast members Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens, and the rest of the amazing cast and crew, both past and present, and, of course, the fans for an extraordinary ride. Greys Anatomy airs Thursdays (9 p.m. ET) on ABC. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 13:50:03|Editor: zyl Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. space agency NASA's cargo provider SpaceX launched a Dragon spacecraft on Friday, starting its resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft, packed with about 2,500 kg of supplies and payloads, including critical materials to directly support more than 250 science and research investigations, lifted off at 11:50 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time (0450 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the U.S. state of Florida. NASA confirmed via its official twitter account that the Dragon is on its way to orbit on a cargo resupply mission to the space station about 10 minutes after its liftoff. The reusable Dragon spacecraft previously supported two resupply missions in February 2017 and in December 2018, and the Falcon 9 first stage booster in this mission previously flew on the previous SpaceX resupply mission to ISS in December 2019. ISS crew members will use the station's 17.6-meter robotic arm to capture Dragon and attach it to the orbiting lab on Monday, according to SpaceX. Dragon's payloads include an experiment that will look at the complex structures of micron-scale colloidal particles, and how they assemble in microgravity conditions. The results may be used to develop more complex nano-scale structures for photonic and electronic devices. Also, an experiment sent to the space lab will create midsoles for the sportswear company Adidas by blasting thousands of small pellets into a mold, making the shoes more comfortable. The spacecraft will spend approximately four weeks attached to the ISS before returning to Earth. The mission is the final flight for SpaceX under its first commercial resupply services contract with NASA. Afterwards, SpaceX is expected to use its newly-developed Crew Dragon to transport supplies to ISS. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 23:29:15|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close NEW DELHI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the COVID-19 situation in the country at a meeting with all ministries and departments concerned on Saturday. "All departments should work in convergence and action should be initiated for creating awareness in community about the disease and the precautions to be taken," Modi was quoted as saying in an official statement. Modi directed the officials to identify locations for sufficient quarantine facilities and be prepared in case the disease spreads further. He also called on people to avoid mass gatherings as much as possible and made aware of the dos and don'ts. India confirmed three more cases of the COVID-19 on Saturday, taking the total number of the cases to 34, according to the country's Ministry of Health. All the three cases are stable and under treatment, the ministry stated. The three new cases include two from Indian-controlled Kashmir with a travel history to Iran, and one from southern state of Tamil Nadu with travel history to Oman. The first three cases found in southern state of Kerala had been successfully treated last month. In a decision that would offer him considerable relief, a Delhi court on Saturday accepted the clean chit handed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to its former special director Rakesh Asthana in an alleged case of bribery registered against him in October 2018 at the peak of his feud with his boss and CBI director Alok Verma. The special CBI court also agreed with the agencys decision to absolve deputy superintendent of police Devender Kumar, and summoned Dubai-based brothers Manoj and Somesh Prasad as accused in the case. Special CBI judge Sanjeev Aggarwal said in his order that there wasnt sufficient material against the public servants Asthana and Kumar. Saturdays court order accepting the clean chit means there is no investigation pending against Asthana or Kumar any more. The truth ultimately prevails, Asthana told HT, hours after his exoneration of all the charges in the case. The development is significant because Asthana, a 1984-batch Gujarat-cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, would now be eligible for inclusion in the panel of candidates for the next CBI chief when the government starts looking for a replacement for incumbent RK Shukla in January next year. Shukla will retire in January 2021-end. Asthana is currently the director general of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Asthana had been booked for alleged criminal conspiracy, corruption and criminal misconduct under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) on a complaint filed by Hyderabad-based businessman Sathish Babu Sana. In February, the CBI said there was no evidence to show that Asthana ever demanded or paid any bribe to save the complainant in a money laundering case related to controversial meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Asthana has maintained from day one that the fabricated FIR, dated October 15, 2018, against him was filed at the behest of Verma after he exposed alleged corruption on the part of the then-CBI director before the cabinet secretary in August the same year. Asthana also informed the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) and the government that Verma had taken 2 crore from Sana. Verma was removed by the government from the CBI directors post in January last year after a CVC enquiry into the allegations of corruption. He was made director general of fire services, civil defence and home guards; he declined the posting and put in his papers. CBI itself is conducting an enquiry against Verma in at least three matters of corruption and criminal misconduct. Verma did not respond to a text message from HT on Saturday. Agreeing with CBIs decision to absolve Asthana and Kumar, Aggarwal summoned Manoj Prasad, his brother Somesh Prasad and the latters father-in-law, Sunil Mittal, as accused under sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, extortion, as well as under a section of the PC Act. The FIR against Asthana, filed on a complaint by Sana, stated that Manoj Prasad told Sana about his good connections in CBI and that his brother Somesh Prasad would help save him in the Moin Qureshi case, being investigated by a special investigation team (SIT) led by Asthana since 2017. Sana claimed that when he met Somesh Prasad in Dubai, he was told that Asthana would surely save him in the case. Somesh Prasad claimed that he had been managing the CBI officers investments in Dubai and London for many years. The businessman claimed he saw Asthanas photo on Someshs WhatsApp account and paid the first instalment of a bribe 1 crore to Manoj Prasad in Dubai, and later 1.95 crore to Mittal on December 12, 2017 at the Press Club of Indias parking area on Delhis Raisina Road. Sana also alleged that he paid 25 lakh on October 10, 2018, and 25,000 dirhams (around 5 lakh) and 30,000 dirhams (around 6 lakh) to Manoj Prasad in Dubai around the same time. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2020) - TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FSE: TH8) ("TransCanna" or the "Company") announces the appointment of Mr. Bob Blink, founder of Lyfted Farms, Inc. ("Lyfted") to the Board of Directors. Bob joined the Company with TransCanna's acquisition of Lyfted in November of 2019. He brings a wealth of experience in the cannabis industry and the California market to the Board. Bob has been in the medicinal and commercial cannabis markets in California since 1997. He founded and grew Lyfted into one of the premier cannabis producers, distributors and manufacturers in the Central Valley. "We welcome the Bob to our Board and look forward to the contributions he will make. Bob is one of the most knowledgeable people in the cannabis industry. He is well known as a trusted resource and has in depth experience in everything from cultivation to distribution. Having his level of industry expertise on our board is a huge competitive advantage for TransCanna" said Steve Giblin President and CEO of TransCanna. "I am truly excited about joining the board and moving the company forward" said Bob Blink "We have significant opportunities for growth, and I know my industry expertise and relationships can help guide board decisions". Additionally, further to the Company's press release dated February 19, 2020, and in substitution for the awards of restricted share units, performance share units, deferred share units, and bonus shares described therein under TransCanna's long-term incentive plan ("LTIP"), and based on new recommendations of TransCanna's Human Resource and Compensation Committee (the "HRCC"), the Company announces that its board of directors (the "Board") did not proceed with any of the awards under the LTIP, and has instead granted to its directors, key employees and consultants, incentive stock options under the Company's stock option plan to purchase up to 2.0 million common shares of TransCanna at an exercise price of $1.00 per share until March 6, 2025. These new stock options are intended to incentivize and compensate the option holders for their future performance, vest in installments over the next two years, and have predetermined performance-based milestones which must be achieved before they vest and may be exercised. In addition, after reviewing their past services and performance during 2019 and based on the recommendations of the HRCC, the Board has also granted bonuses as of the 2019 fiscal year end to certain key individuals responsible for the current stage of development of TransCanna and who are directors, key employees, or consultants of TransCanna, totaling $520,000, which indebtedness will be settled by the issuance of 650,000 common shares of the Company. These shares will be subject to a hold period and may not be traded until July 7, 2020. About TransCanna Holdings Inc. TransCanna Holdings Inc. is a California based, Canadian listed, company building cannabis focused brands for the California lifestyle, through its wholly-owned California subsidiaries. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com or email the Company at info@transcanna.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors Steve Giblin President 604-207-5548 The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans, and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance of the Company and its subsidiaries may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: Timing of the expected benefits of Lyfted Farms, Inc. and the Daly Avenue Facility to the Company's business, regulatory permitting and compliance, changes to regulations affecting the business of the Company or its subsidiaries, achievement of revenue targets, market demand for and associated changes in the demand for the Company's products, operating costs, as well as general economic, business and political conditions. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. 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. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53236 Portland Dining Month is designed to be a win-win, offering diners the chance to eat a three-course meal at some of Portlands best restaurants for $33, and restaurants the chance to fill some seats during what is typically one of the slowest months of the year. Thats doubly true this year, with coronavirus fears leading to anecdotal reports of quiet nights at restaurants that typically fill up during dining month. Right now, local health officials say that as long as youre feeling well, theres no reason to stop living your life. That includes going out to restaurants. But Portland Dining Month does offer one further barrier to entry -- with more restaurants participating than ever this year, its difficult to tell which of the many three-course menus on offer are worth your time and money. And so weve sifted through the more than 140 restaurants participating in Portland Dining Month to pick you 33 most likely to give you good bang for your buck. As usual, we looked for either exciting new restaurants that might still be on your must-visit list, or classics that went all in with generous dining month menus. Here are Portlands 33 best $33 dining month deals. Acadia This charming Cajun/Creole restaurant is something of a close-kept secret among its Irvington neighbors. Drop by during Portland Dining Month for a $33 menu that includes a choice of four mains, including cornmeal fried Louisiana wild catfish with stewed black eyed peas and bacon-chicory jam and a Cajun jambalaya with smoked chicken, andouille sausage and tasso. For dessert? The restaurants signature bread pudding with bourbon caramel sauce. 1303 N.E. Fremont St., 503-249-5001, acadiapdx.com Arden It was one of our favorite new restaurants of 2018, and its now home to the chef at our 2010 Restaurant of the Year. One thing we can say for sure: The dining month menu at this Pearl District wine bar and restaurant doesnt stint on the creativity, from the roast beet starter with, labneh and fried chili dukkah (an Egyptian herb and nut mix) starter to the chili noodle main with its Kung Pao sausage, rapini and bay shrimp. 417 N.W. 10th Ave., 503-206-6097, ardenpdx.com Another upscale restaurant with creativity in spades, Sarah Pliners Aviary offers up an ambitious dining month menu with hoisin-braised lamb ribs with turnip cake, green papaya, Thai chili and mint as a first course. Stick around for the pan-seared salmon with romanesco and trout roe and the chocolate brownie with passion fruit cream and cherry sorbet for dessert. 1733 N.E. Alberta St., 503-287-2400, aviarypdx.com Bar West Found inside the longtime home of Wildwood, Bar West is serving an intriguing dining month menu built around porchetta meatballs with fermented winter cabbage, sun-dried tomatoes and polenta from Portlands own Three Sisters nixtamal. With a butter lettuce salad dressed in green goddess at the start, you should have room for the citrus olive oil cake with rosemary and Cara Cara marmalade. 1221 N.W. 21st Ave., 503-208-2852, westportland.com The cassoulet at Bistro AgnesThe Oregonian Bistro Agnes Youll want to start with the duck rillettes and finish with the malted chocolate mousse at James Beard Award winning chefs Greg and Gabi Dentons downtown bistro, but in between youll have the choice of roasted chicken confit, pork belly, or mussels in a white wine and shallot broth. We love choices during Portland Dining Month. 527 S.W. 12th Ave., 503-222-0979, bistroagnes.com Bluehour Longtime Portland restaurateur Bruce Careys restaurants tend to go all-in for Portland Dining Month, with 23Hoyt, Clarklewis and Saucebox all offering up intriguing options. With its gnocchi vs. cassoulet main choice, the menu at Bluehour might actually be the least interesting of the four, but dining month represents one of your only chances to visit one of Portlands most soigne dining rooms for just $33. 250 N.W. 13th Ave., 503-226-3394, bluehouronline.com Bullard Typically, we avoid highlighting too many restaurants that only offer one dining month main, if only because half the fun is getting to explore a new restaurants menu. But well once again make an exception for this Texas-inspired restaurant, if only for chef Doug Adams elk meatloaf and mashed potatoes and the lemon semifreddo for dessert. This is the place to go if youre considering dining out solo. 813 S.W. Alder St., 503-222-1670, bullardpdx.com Campana The new pasta restaurant at Northeast Portlands neighborhood-friendly Campana is offering a dining month menu with four different starters, six (!) different mains (including a classic risotto and chicken cacciatore) and four desserts. Unless our limited math skills deceive us, that means you could visit Campana 120 times this month without having the same meal twice. 901 N.E. Oneonta St., 503-841-6195, campanapdx.com Canard Yes, you can eat well for a relatively low price any month at our 2018 Restaurant of the Year (especially during happy hour). But the dining month menu, with its choice of pork belly mac and cheese or Thai fried trout with green curry guacamole and bananas Foiester sundae dessert (banana soft serve, foie gras caramel and pecan golden graham crunch) is certainly enough to put Canard at the top of any dining month list. 734 E. Burnside St., 971-279-2356, canardpdx.com Can Font This Spanish import in the Pearl District starts its dining month menu with pan con tomate (toast rubbed with tomato jap) and ends with two intriguing desserts -- leche frita, with fried milk, caramel and brandied cherry coulis and a crema Catalana with bruleed cinnamon and lemon custard. 1015 N.W. Northrup St., 503-224-3911, canfontportland.com Clydes Prime Rib This castle-like prime rib house rolls out a trio of seafood preparations -- including a shrimp cocktail with horseradish and lemon -- a choice of prime rib with garlic mashed potatoes or ravioli and a dessert selection of creme brulee or chocolate brownie ice cream sandwich. All for $33, not much more than youd typically spend on prime rib alone. 5474 N.E. Sandy Blvd., 503-281-9200, clydesprimerib.com DavenportLC- The Oregonian Davenport Heres your chance to try Kevin Gibsons carefully considered cooking -- along with one of Portlands best wine lists -- with a choice of two salads; a steak with potatoes, greens and shallot vinaigrette or seared scallops with fennel and pomegranate; and a cheese plate or panna cotta for dessert. 2215 E. Burnside St., 503-236-8747, davenportpdx.com Deadshot Now this is interesting. Deadshot, the cocktail bar sister to fixed price chefs counter Holdfast Dining, is typically the place to come for creative bar snacks (and clear daiquiris). This month, they join their next door neighbor with an inexpensive tasting menu with tempura squash with buttermilk sauce, a maple reduction and fried sage; chicken with half sour pickles, lime aioli and potato salad and a sourdough cookie for dessert. 2133 S.E. 11th Ave., 503-504-9448, deadshotpdx.com Dottir Last year, Portland welcomed a second location of the Icelandic hostel KEX, complete with a restaurant and bar in the lobby. That restaurant, Dottir, is serving a dining month menu built around either a petit pork loin with manila clams, bacon-braised mustard greens and Hollandaise; seared salmon with duck fat potatoes; or the kitchens signature roasted cabbage with butter, apple vinegar, whey caramel, sweet and sour dill and breadcrumbs. Dessert is a chocolate and cardamom sugar doughnut. 100 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 971-346-2996, kexhotels.com/eat-drink/dottir Farmhouse Thai Kitchen This Southeast Portland outpost of a colorful San Francisco Thai restaurant is serving a sort-of Issan-style tuna tartare starter, a choice of the famed Northern Thai dish khao soi or another curry noodle dish built around braised bone-in short-rib, plus a chefs choice of dessert and vegetarian options at every turn. 3354 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., 503-432-8115, farmhousethai.com Flying Fish Check out the Laurelhurst neighborhoods new fish market and seafood restaurant during dining month for a choice of oysters raw or grilled, a flying Louie salad with Dungeness crab and Oregon bay shrimp or local albacore fish and chips with jo-jos and a savory third course of either steamed clams or curried mussels. Vegetarian options, drink pairings and desserts available. 3004 E. Burnside St., 971-806-6747, flyingfishportland.com Gado GadoDave Killen Gado Gado This modern Indonesian restaurant in Northeast Portlands Hollywood District is throwing down with a choice of six appetizers, including grilled beef or beef skewers (satay), plus a chicken leg in curry with aromatic rice for the main and a pandan-tinted kaya cake with orange marmalade. 1801 N.E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., 503-206-8778, gadogadopdx.com Headwaters Chef Vitaly Paleys Heathman Hotel seafood restaurant only offers one option per course, but seeing as one of those courses is Maine lobster in chili verde with tomatillo, avocado crema and crispy rice, were including it anyway. As with Bullard, this is a great option for someone looking to dine out solo during dining month. 1001 S.W. Broadway, 503-790-7752, headwaterspdx.com Higgins Unless you head to the bar, a trip to chef Greg Higgins eponymous farm-to-table restaurant will probably cost you more than $33 these days, sometimes for the main course alone. That makes this three-course meal, which includes prosciutto with fruit mostarda, a choice of risotto or lamb sausage and chocolate pave with Oregon honeycomb, a great value. 1239 S.W. Broadway, 503-222-9070, higginsportland.com Il Solito Downtown Portlands Italian-American restaurant should leave you feeling full after a dining month deal that includes garlic knots or Caesar salad, a meatball burger and fries or chicken or eggplant Parm with bucatini and a choice of gelato, sorbet or polenta with berries and whipped cream for dessert, all for $33 a head. 627 S.W. Washington St., 503-228-1515, ilsolitoportland.com Irving Street Kitchen Irving Street Kitchen chef Sarah Schafer is offering a three-course meal with early spring greens, sesame and sumac crusted Oregon rockfish with a wam chickpea salad or veal linguica with grilled sprouting broccoli and soy-pickled mushrooms and butterscotch pudding with chocolate bark for dessert. 701 N.W. 13th Ave., 503-343-9440, irvingstreetkitchen.com JacquelineLC- The Oregonian Jacqueline The selection is limited to one option per course, but those courses are interesting, and weve learned to trust this Southeast Portland seafood restaurant. Jacquelines dining month menu offers green garlic arancini, a seafood medley of mussels and clams and pork belly with kimchi and a buttermilk panna cotta with wild huckleberries, lemon curd and graham cracker crumble at the finish. 2039 S.E. Clinton St., 503-327-8637, jacquelinepdx.com Ned Ludd One nice part about the dining month menu at this Northeast Portland restaurant is that the mains are things wed probably order any month of the year, with the whole-roasted trout arriving with shaved vegetables, charred leeks and caper herb vinaigrette and the slow-cooked pork belly in a brown butter sauce with red cabbage and cherry-cider mostarda. Meals begin with an arugula salad and end with the signature wood-fired chocolate chip cookie. 3925 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 503-288-6900, nedluddpdx.com Normandie Were curious what this chic bistro just off East Burnside street does with its smoked beet and sheeps milk mousse or scallop crudo with citrus appetizers and its coq au vin or salmon in miso broth mains. And were extra curious to try Normandies miso caramel ice cream or mini madeleines for dessert. 1005 S.E. Ankeny St., 503-233-4129, normandiepdx.com OK Omens This Southeast Portland resto-bar is the place to send the wine-loving vegetarian in your life, with its choice of burnt beets or a salad zapped with creamy cilantro dressing, the Impossible Burger option for the main course and the Kinda like a McFlurry vanilla ice cream, Butterfinger candy and chocolate dessert. 1758 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., 503-231-9939, okomens.com Olympia Provisions NW One of two restaurants from the famed charcuterie makers, the Northwest location is rolling out four different entree options, including grilled Olympia Provisions sausages (theyre very good), braised beef rump or a choice of smoked trout or vegetarian risotto. Desserts include a smores pudding with chocolate mousse, burnt marshmallow cream and graham crust. 1632 N.W. Thurman St., 503-894-8136, olympiaprovisions.com Paleys Place Another opportunity to visit one of Portlands farm-to-table institutions without breaking the bank. Paleys Place offers a no-choice menu of roasted beet and kale salad with horseradish vinaigrette, Braised lamb shoulder with borscht and caraway sour cream and an orange blossom pavlova with lemon chamomile cream and honeycomb. 1204 N.W. 21st Ave., 503-243-2403, paleysplace.net Please Louise You might be curious to learn what this Slabtown pizzeria can do with a chicory-black garlic Caesar salad, a lamb sausage with carrot-chile puree or a main of pork osso buco with saffron tagliatelle (pizza is also an option). For dessert, a dulce de leche panna cotta with chocolate sauce and candied pistachios. 1505 N.W. 21st Ave., 503-946-1853, please-louise.com Q Restaurant & BarLC- The Oregonian Q Restaurant Another no-option dining month menu, meaning a perfect one for anyone heading out to eat alone. Q Restaurant, which inherited much of the staff from the old VQ, offers a classic dining month menu of Tuscan roasted garlic soup with pecorino and sage, crispy duck confit with winter greens and dried cherry salad and a tiramisu with chocolate pistachio biscotti crumbs 828 S.W. Second Ave., 503-850-8915, q-portland.com Quaintrelle and Radar Were cheating a bit here, but seeing as these two restaurants are just across Mississippi Avenue from each other (and next to each other alphabetically), lets roll with it. Quaintrelles menu leans lighter, with oysters or delicata rings in chili honey, a second course of farm greens or hamachi and prawns or duck confit for the savory third. Radar offers a seafood bisque, braised pork cheeks or pan-roased scaloops and an olive oil cake with Meyer lemon sorbet. Radar: 3951 N. Mississippi Ave., 503-841-6948, radarpdx.com; Quaintrelle: 3936 N. Mississippi Ave., 503-200-5787, quaintrelle.co Renata This gorgeous close-in Southeast Portland Italian restaurant offers light Belgian endive or Dungeness crab starter, a choice of strozzapretti bolognese or ravioli di fiore pasta and milk-braised pork or porchetta-style chicken for the third-course main. Does that leave room for an a la carte dessert? 626 S.E. Main St., 503-954-2708, renatapdx.com St. Jack One of Portlands finest French restaurants, St. Jack offers offers a stinging nettle vichyssoise starter with poppy seed lavash, a choice of stuffed duck neck with Lyonnaise pork sausage and red wine demi-glace or a Lyonnaise tarte with cervelle de canut (a cheese dip) and a poached egg with the kitchens signature fresh-baked madeleines for dessert. 1610 N.W. 23rd Ave., 503-360-1281, stjackpdx.com Taqueria Nueve With last years closure of Autentica, Portland is down to just a handful of sit-down Mexican restaurants. Taqueria Nueve is one of them, and the close-in Southeast Portland restaurant is offering a generous dining month menu, including your pick of an egg-battered chile relleno, an achiote-marinated trout with rice and beans or a chicken tamale for the main. Dessert bring a choice of tres leches cake, churros with housemade goat milk cajeta caramel sauce or a citrus flan with Grand Marnier and orange-flavored custard. 727 S.E. Washington St., 503-954-1987, taquerianueve.com -- Michael Russell Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. A garbage hauler wants to expand its Slate Belt landfill so it can continue dumping for 20 more years. Waste Management has submitted a zoning amendment/rezoning request to Plainfield Township for 211 acres adjacent to the Grand Central Sanitary Landfill. The company is scheduled to give a 15-minute presentation to the townships board of Supervisors at a March 11 meeting at 7 p.m. at the Plainfield Township Fire Company Banquet Facility at 6480 Sullivan Trail. The application seeks to rezone the land for use as solid waste processing and disposal. The land is currently zoned for forest and farm use. The property is on the east side of Pen Argyl Road across the street from the current landfill. The property borders Delabole Road to the southeast and Bocce Club Road to the north. There will not be any official action taken concerning the application at the March 11 meeting, according to township manager Tom Petrucci, but supervisors will eventually decide whether to rezone the land. The Plainfield Township Board of Supervisors has the exclusive final authority on zoning amendment/rezoning requests, Petrucci wrote in an email. Waste Managements initial plans said 81 acres would serve as new landfill area, 52 acres would be used for support activities and 192 acres of woods and wetlands would remain untouched by the expansion project. The current landfill has about eight more years of permitted availability to accept trash based on current inbound trash tonnage, according to Waste Management representatives. The $42 million expansion would extend that by 20 years. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission will review the application. The expansion also requires Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection permits. In addition to the March 11 presentation, Waste Management has scheduled three public information meetings to discuss the project and answer questions. Meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. March 18 at the Plainfield Township Fire Hall; 1 p.m. March 19 at the Wind Gap Fire Social Hall; and 6 p.m. March 19 at Lookout Fire Companys new social hall in Pen Argyl. Information about plan can be found at the sites Website at grandcentrallandfill.com and on the companys Facebook page. John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath is working on preparing the roadmap for the development of the state for the next four years. He wants to give a new recognition to the state so that it is no longer be seen as a state of mafias or Vyapam scam Image Source: Amlan Paliwal/IANS Bhopal, March 7 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has written a letter to the people of the state in which he has accused the BJP of reducing the democratic decision of the people to "buyable commodity". "I could never have imagined it. I did not know that the BJP would stoop morally so low to try and come to power," said the Chief Miniter's letter. Kamal Nath said Madhya Pradesh's glorious history is being tainted by the indecent conduct of BJP leaders. "I don't understand where the BJP gets the inspiration to do all this. Are the people of BJP inspired by the mafia whom I have resolved to eradicate?" Kamal Nath said the BJP has not only tried to destabilize the government but has also attacked the development of Madhya Pradesh. Constant investment is flowing into the state, which is creating possibilities for a better future. The government waived the debt of farmers, took the initiative to provide employment opportunities to the youth, while the people were also getting electricity at cheaper rates. BJP's tactics are creating a bad effect on all this, he said, adding "I have faith in all my MLA colleagues who stand by the government for the development of the state". Warning BJP leaders, Nath wrote that hatred, despair and negativity never had a place in his political and public life for more than 40 years. "When I was a minister at the Centre and there was a BJP government in the state, I also contributed to the development of the state with full enthusiasm. I never thought that there is a BJP government in the state and I should destabilize it, I always want the progress of the state". Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Domingo Leyba, who started his career in the Detroit Tigers organization, has been suspended for the first 80 games of the 2020 season for violating an MLB drug test. Leyba tested positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid, according to the league. Leyba, 24, originally signed with the Tigers out of the Dominican Republic and played at Class A West Michigan for part of the 2014 season. He was shipped to the Diamondbacks after the 2014 season along with pitcher Robbie Ray. As part of the deal, the Yankees sent pitcher Shane Greene to the Tigers and acquired Didi Gregorius from the Diamondbacks. Leyba made his Major League debut in 2019 and was competing for a bench role this spring prior to his suspension. FURTHER READING Will Tigers pick a hot bat to head north? These 2 outfielders are hoping for a shot. Tigers Rule 5 pick Rony Garcia in midst of most important tryout of his career Meet the homegrown Tigers who spend winters at Comerica Park The Miggy experience on Day 1: Everything gets louder Ranking all 69 Tigers in camp on their chance of making the team (hint: Miggy is No. 1) Cameron Maybin Q&A: Expect more dingers in Round 3 with Tigers Give Tigers GM Al Avila an 'A' for winter work, but bigger challenges loom Once the Tigers top prospect, Franklin Perez is only 22. Dont count him out yet. What the Tigers love and hate in MLBs new playoff proposal Justin Verlander signed a long-term deal 10 years ago. Should Matthew Boyd be next? PECOTA projections say Tigers might not be as bad as you think Can Tigers JaCoby Jones put it all together in 2020? Homecoming for newest Tiger, who grew up as loyal fan Justin Verlander was a vocal foe of sign-stealing. Then he became an Astro. Tigers Al Avila says its his job to listen, even to critics: Ive got to have a pulse U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad, left, and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar after signing the peace agreement on Feb. 29 in Doha, Qatar. (Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) On the surface, one winner in the peace deal the United States signed with the Taliban on Saturday is Afghanistans neighbor Pakistan, which has been a longtime supporter of the Islamist group that may now be in a position to regain at least a share of power in the Afghan government. But the deal also poses long-term risks to Pakistan, whose intelligence service has spent years empowering militants that may no longer be under its control, according to analysts and former military officials. From its formation in 1994 through its 1996 seizure of power in Kabul, the Talibans battlefield successes owed much to the help of the Pakistani militarys Inter-Services Intelligence agency, known as the ISI. The peace agreement, a clear victory for the Taliban, is in some ways a culmination of the ISIs longtime support for the militant group. The Pakistani military intelligence, Im sure theyre relieved, because they wanted this kind of an outcome, said Hassan Abbas, a professor at National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, D.C., and a former Pakistani official. If the Taliban enter into some form of power-sharing agreement with the current Kabul government, that would mean Pakistan will be able to push back on Indian interests in Afghanistan, added Abbas, who authored the 2014 book The Taliban Revival. For Pakistan, he said, the Taliban represent a tool to confront India. The agreement commits the United States to almost immediately begin reducing its military force in Afghanistan from about 12,000 troops to 8,600 by July 13, and then to completely withdraw from the country within 14 months, subject to the Taliban fulfilling its part of the deal by refraining from attacking U.S. and allied forces and by preventing others from doing so. The deal also requires the Taliban to begin negotiations with the Afghan government on March 10. Those talks might result in a power-sharing deal that gives the Taliban, which is dominated by ethnic Pashtuns, a significant role in a coalition government in Kabul. But if the Taliban and the government of Ashraf Ghani fail to reach an agreement, which seems increasingly likely, the U.S. military withdrawal will only serve to enhance the Talibans battlefield position. Story continues Either option would likely be acceptable to Pakistan, which has traditionally sought a compliant, Pashtun-dominated government in Kabul. However, a stronger Taliban will likely embolden other regional militant groups that are not under Pakistans control. Islamabads support for the Taliban, as well as for jihadi groups targeted at India, has already led to the emergence of other rogue Islamist militant groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban, sometimes known as the Pakistani Taliban, which have taken aim at the Pakistani state itself. A screengrab from 2008 video footage shows Maulana Fazlullah, newly appointed chief of Tehrik-i-Taliban, speaking with local journalists in Pakistan's northwestern Swat valley. (AFP via Getty Images) Pakistans security services have paid through the nose because they knew that [because of] the policy of supporting the Afghan Taliban, they had to allow these other Taliban types to function in Pakistan, and all of those have created havoc in Pakistan, Abbas said. The ISI must now face the potential consequences of its decision to continue supporting the Taliban in the years following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Although Pakistan has always denied it, most analysts accept that, following a brief pause after the United States (helped by the Tajik- and Uzbek-dominated Northern Alliance) drove the Taliban from power in late 2001, the ISI revived its relationship with the group it had nurtured since the mid-1990s. The rationale for the ISIs actions remained the same: Pakistan has traditionally regarded Afghanistan as strategic depth in the case of a war with its fierce rival India, and for that reason wants a government in Kabul it can control. Irrespective of whether the peace talks end with the Taliban gaining a role in government, or simply improving their military position by virtue of the U.S. withdrawal, Pakistan, and in particular the ISI, may therefore welcome the latest turn of events. Regardless of the outcome, I think this puts Pakistan including the ISI closer, either politically or militarily, to getting more influence in Kabul, which is what they wanted, said Seth Jones, director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retired Army Col. Tom Lynch of NDUs Institute for National Strategic Studies said the U.S. military withdrawal without defeating the Taliban gives Pakistan an I told you so moment, because it has proved Pakistans argument to the United States, which Lynch summarized as You cant succeed in Afghanistan independent of us, because we manage, if not actually control, the militant framework in that country. But Lynch, who also agreed that Pakistans policy has led to attacks on its own government, described any victory the ISI might claim from the peace deal as Pyrrhic. A return to power for the Afghan Taliban would reenergize the very Islamist groups that have created so much trouble in Pakistan, according to Abbas. An empowered Afghan Taliban are automatically going to empower, inspire [and] motivate the Pakistani Taliban, he said. Any smart strategist in Pakistan at this moment should be quite worried. Pakistan finds itself in this situation because since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the ISI has walked an extraordinary diplomatic tightrope, supporting the Taliban as they were killing Americans in Afghanistan, while simultaneously helping the United States conduct counterterrorism operations against al-Qaida in Pakistan and elsewhere. The Taliban were responsible for the vast majority of the almost 1,900 American troops killed in action in Afghanistan. An American soldier is evacuated after being shot near the village of Zunchorah, close to the Pakistani border, in 2004. (Emilio Morenatti/AP) Pakistan, particularly ISI, has successfully run a not-so-covert covert action program for almost the last two decades to provide assistance and sanctuary to the Taliban, said Jones. Its actually an amazing feat, to allow sanctuary and provide assistance to the same group that is killing American soldiers, and to keep diplomatic relations with the United States. The most important assistance the ISI provided the Taliban, according to Jones, was to allow their leaders to base themselves in Quetta, home of the Pakistani militarys command and staff college, while permitting the Haqqani Network, a particularly dangerous self-contained group allied to the Taliban, to base itself in Pakistans Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border. For anybody whos studied the successes or failures of insurgencies, having an external sanctuary for your leaders directly next door to a border that [your enemy] cant control is a huge upside, Jones said. While military officials have no doubt that Pakistani intelligence supported the Taliban, theres disagreement about the types of support the ISI did and did not give the Taliban. There was obviously a tolerance of Taliban and Haqqani Network headquarters on Pakistani soil, retired Gen. David Petraeus, who commanded U.S. forces in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011, told Yahoo News. However, he added, it was difficult to precisely confirm what was provided in terms of funding or weapons. The catalyst for the ISIs decision to continue its support of the Taliban appears to have been the Pakistani governments realization around 2004 that the U.S. government was developing increasingly close ties to India, which had begun to invest in Afghanistan, according to Abbas. From that point, Pakistani military intelligence revived or expanded their support for the Afghan Taliban, he said. This support took the form of small arms and ammunition, intelligence and money, according to analysts. But the ISI made sure to limit the lethality of the Talibans arsenal. They manage very carefully the things that they do not want in the hands of the Afghan Taliban or anybody else out there, said Lynch, a former military assistant to the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan. In particular, the ISI worked hard to prevent the Taliban from getting shoulder-held antiaircraft and antitank weapons, he said. But unlike the support it provided to the Taliban during the 1990s, in the post-Sept. 11 era the ISI did not make a habit of sending military advisers into Afghanistan with the Taliban. Absolutely not, Lynch said. They would not take that risk. Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the Haqqani Network, during an interview in Pakistan in 1998. (Mohammed Riaz/AP) In general, the ISI adopted more of a hands-off approach to the Talibans war against the U.S. and coalition forces, according to Lynch. The Pakistanis gave the militants strategic guidance, using the ISIs vast network of cutouts (mostly ISI alumni and contractors), but ISI would not have been engaged or involved in planning Taliban military operations, he said. However, Lynch and Abbas agree that, in the case of the Haqqani Network, a militant group that is now part of the Taliban, the ISI exercised a much tighter degree of control, particularly when it came to attacks against Indian targets in Afghanistan. Where I know personally the ISI would be intimately involved would be in specifying timing, targeting and effects desired against Indian targets, Lynch said. The Haqqanis have always been the favorite guided missile of the ISI. Despite the support that most senior U.S. officials realized, or strongly suspected, the ISI was giving to the Taliban, for almost 10 years those officials refrained from publicly castigating the Pakistani government, even as U.S. casualties in Afghanistan continued to mount. A major factor behind this reticence was the invaluable help the ISI was providing the United States in stopping terrorist plots by al-Qaida. Indeed, the reason the U.S. government has tolerated the ISIs support for the Taliban is that Pakistan was simultaneously assisting the United States with counterterrorism, according to Lynch. The head of the ISI helped us capture and/or kill some of the most notorious terrorists and intercept some of the most diabolical plots that we have seen hatched by international terrorists in the last 20 years, he said, pointing to the ISIs role in foiling plots to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge in 2003 and the Baltimore tunnels in 2005, and the capture of senior al-Qaida figure Younis al-Mauritani in 2011. There have been at least, to my knowledge, six to eight documented major intercepts, disruptions and defeats of international terrorists that we owe to the ISI, and thats the tip of the iceberg, Lynch said. Thats why our intelligence community has been so adamant for so long that we not just throw away that relationship in frustration over the fact that there are these three degrees of separation [between the ISI and] how our forces have died in Afghanistan. Soldiers of Pakistans paramilitary force guard an area in Shakai, along the Afghan border, in 2004. (Amir Khan/AP) As a result, the United States entered into what Lynch termed a Faustian bargain with the ISI, maintaining a relationship with it and refusing for many years to publicize its role as a supporter of the Taliban, in order to benefit from its help countering al-Qaida and similar international terrorist groups. Lynch likened this dilemma to the dirty hands decision an FBI agent must make when hes running a mob informant who is providing valuable intelligence, even though the informant himself might be a murderer. The United States made the right decision, Lynch said, adding that he lost three close friends killed by the Taliban. It still sticks in my craw, he said. But I understand the strategic dynamic in what we were trying to do there. Because we werent going to go to war with a country of 180 million people with nuclear weapons. The Pakistanis also understood this, according to Lynch. Theyve always had us by the short hairs, he said. Because theyre so intimately intertwined with those jihadi networks that they knew stuff that we needed to know. It would be a mistake to assume that the current crop of senior Taliban leaders are beholden to Pakistan, according to Abbas. As an example, he cited Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the former deputy Taliban commander who languished for more than eight years in a Pakistani jail before being released at the United States request in 2018. He soon became the militants lead negotiator in Qatar, where the peace deal was signed. Leaders like Baradar are skeptical about Pakistan, despite the ISIs long-standing support of the Taliban, Abbas said. They will play their own cards very, very carefully. Members of a Taliban delegation, led by chief negotiator Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, center, leave after peace talks with Afghan senior politicians in Moscow in May 2019. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters) _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Salihu Lukman, director-general of Progressive Governors Forum, has asked the partys national executive committee (NEC) to appoint a ... Salihu Lukman, director-general of Progressive Governors Forum, has asked the partys national executive committee (NEC) to appoint a new national chairman to replace Adams Oshiomhole. On Wednesday, an Abuja high court ordered the suspension of Oshiomhole as chairman pending the determination of a substantive suit seeking his removal but, on Thursday, another high court in Kano issued an interim order halting his suspension. In a statement on Friday, Lukman said retaining Oshiomhole as the APC national chairman might cost the party governorship tickets in the forthcoming elections in Edo, Ondo and Anambra states. First, pending the settlement of all the cases around Oshiomholes membership, we need to invoke provisions of Article 17 (vi) which provide that in the event of a vacancy, the relevant party organ shall appoint another person to act in his place pending ratification by the National Convention or Congress, he said. The relevant party organ, in this case, may have to be the NEC. Combinations of majority of the remaining members of the NWC in consultation with President Buhari, Governors, other party leaders who are leading members of the National Caucus can resolve all these issues and convene the NEC to appoint an Acting National Chairman. He said the party is in a mess because of the way the Oshiomhole-led NWC members constituted themselves into an unaccountable assembly with a thuggish temperament, which seeks to browbeat every member of the party especially aspiring candidates into submission. Whether we want to accept it or not, we today found ourselves with the embarrassing situation whereby almost all the structures of the party have been frozen at all levels, he said. He said it would be inadvisable if the Oshiomhole-led NWC conducts the Edo, Ondo and Anambra governorship primary elections with all the challenges on the ground. He added that it would be reckless of any politician to aspire to contest on the platform of the party with Oshiomhole as the national chairman. He said: It is important to ask the question, assuming in all of these, Oshiomhole remained as the National Chairman and proceed to organise primary elections for Edo, Ondo, and Anambra, how advantageous will that be to APC? Let us also assume for the purpose of analysis that undisputed candidates emerge from the primaries in which no one within the party is contesting the results. Whether those undisputed candidates include Governors Godwin Obaseki of Edo State and Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN of Ondo State is immaterial. The Zamfara and Bayelsa judicial cloud would appear to have already gathered with any opposition party led by PDP just positioned to harvest what will come with such clouds. Given such reality, it will be foolhardy for any upright thinking politician to aspire to contest on the platform of the party with Oshiomhole as the National Chairman. The only possible remedy will be if Comrade Oshiomhole is able to humble himself and go back to the root cause of the problem and resolve it. He asked Oshiomhole to humble himself and go back to his roots and resolve all the causes of the problem. Three seers who had threatened to greet Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray with black flag were put under house arrest ahead of the Shiv Sena chief's visit to the makeshift temple in Ayodhya Ayodhya: The Ayodhya administration on Saturday, hours before the arrival of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray here to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla at the makeshift temple, put three Hindu seers under house arrest for threatening to greet the CM with black flag, said police. The seers had threatened to greet Thackeray with black flag saying that he has formed government in Maharashtra with the help of those who had dubbed Lord Ram as an imaginary figure. The three seers who were put under house arrest on early Saturday morning are Mahant Raju Das of Hanumangarhi Temple, Mahant Paramhans Das of Tapaswi Chhawni Temple and Rakesh Dutt Mishra, the president of Hindu Mahasabha, said Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of police Ashish Tiwari. Thackeray reached the temple town shortly after the noon. Sources said three teams of police personnel swooped on the houses of the three saints and served them with the adminstration order to stay in the house arrest and left after deploying a few policemen outside their residences to prevent them from venturing out. With the Maharashtra chief minister reaching the makeshift temple, several seers have now raised the demand to wash the entire temple premises with 'Ganga jal' to purify the premises. Pupils on Friday had been told to expect a VIP, & between them they speculated that perhaps Boris Johnson, Beyonce or even Jackie Chan might be visiting For a woman who plans her every public appearance in meticulous detail, it must have come as quite a surprise when 16-year-old Aker Okoye bounded on to the stage and went straight in for a kiss on the cheek. To rapturous applause from fellow pupils at Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, East London, Aker beamed as the Duchess of Sussex laughed and wagged her finger in mock admonishment. And he still wasnt finished. Waiting for the cheers to die down and with excellent comic timing he then leaned in to the microphone to say: She really is beautiful, innit. Cue more whoops. Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (left) goes to embrace student Aker Okoye during a school assembly as part of a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex, on March 6, 2020, in support of International Women's Day Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) embraces student Aker Okoye during a school assembly as part of a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex, yesterday, in support of International Women's Day Irish trip puts Wills and Kate ahead in battle of Instagram Drinking pints of Guinness, posing in his-and-hers wax jackets and learning how to juggle. There was nothing remotely controversial in the picture highlights of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges Ireland tour on the couples KensingtonRoyal Instagram account. But their Irish photo album has been enough to nudge them into the lead over the rival account run by Harry and Meghan. In January, the Sussexes were in the lead with 11.1 million followers on their SussexRoyal Instagram account, while the Cambridges trailed with 11 million. Now Kate and William have surged to 11.3 million thanks to last weeks successful tour, while the Sussexes have 11.2 million. Harry and Meghan launched their site last April when Kate and William already had seven million fans. Since then, Harry has been gaining on his brother and briefly led the field with a popular New Years video montage. Advertisement This was Meghans final solo engagement as a working member of the Royal Family, and for those present not least head boy Aker it will be remembered for ever. The Duchess had chosen to mark todays International Womens Day with a visit to Dagenham, where a group of women machinists at the nearby Ford car factory sparked a famous revolution not to mention a feature film with their demands for equal pay. Showcasing her favourite themes of female empowerment and education, Meghan could hardly have picked a better way to bow out. Pupils arriving at school on Friday had been told to expect a VIP, and between them they speculated that perhaps Boris Johnson, Beyonce or even Jackie Chan might be paying them a visit. Not even those names would have outshone the Duchess for full Hollywood charm, however. She was in no way deterred by the minor matter of coronavirus. Teachers who met her joked they werent sure whether to offer her a handshake or elbow bump. Its OK! she said, holding out her hand. As ever, Meghan had done her homework. When introduced to one of the teenagers in the debating team, she recognised his name from her briefing notes and said: Youre student mayor as well, arent you? Impressive. An endless supply of gushing compliments (Amazing! Talented!) was punctuated with rhetorical questions Am I right?! and motivating soundbites about how we must all stand in our truth. Im just so proud to be able to witness so much of this activism and this energy that you have in this room, she told one group. So well done. You guys are going to do great. Meghan dropped another clue about her private thoughts in a poetry lesson when a pupil explained that she felt a particular connection with a poets Sikh heritage. Oftentimes, when its someone who looks like you and comes from where you come from, its easier to connect, replied the Duchess. Only when she met Geraldine Dear, 66, one of the women who took part in the 1984 strike for equal pay at the Ford plant in Dagenham, did Meghan appear to hit a rare false note. Well done on making such an important change for this country, she told Geraldine, whose bravery had helped bring about the Equal Pay Act. Im sure its not an easy thing to do but its the right thing to do. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) smiles as the student Aker Okoye speaks during a school assembly as part of a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex yesterday in support of International Women's Day. Aker broke protocol and kissed Meghan on the cheek Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) smiles as the student Aker Okoye speaks during a school assembly as part of a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex, yesterday, in support of International Women's Day Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) smiles as the student Aker Okoye speaks during a school assembly as part of a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex, yesterday, in support of International Women's Day If Geraldine felt slightly patronised, she didnt show it: It wasnt easy but it was the right thing to do, she confirmed. Standing up in front of the school assembly, Meghan was in her element: Your school mantra, as you all know is what? Excellence for all, excellence from all, right? she asked the room. So if thats the case, how does that apply in your mind, do you think, to International Womens Day? I think its very much the same thing, isnt it? This idea of excellence for all and from all; equality for all and from all. And thats when she called for a brave young man to come up on stage to explain the importance of it all and for one rare moment, Meghan found herself upstaged by 16-year-old Aker. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits the the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham to attend a special assembly ahead of International Womens Day (IWD) held on Sunday 8th March, on March 6, 2020 in London, England The Duchess of Sussex talks to pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrives to visit the Robert Clack School in Essex, yesterday, in support of International Women's Day I had to speak the truth there, he told the room. International Womens Day is a reminder to everyone that women can do it all and do do it all. This is more of a message to all you guys. Maybe this Sunday could be the one day we dont look at women as objects. Well done. Very well said, replied Meghan as Aker hugged her and left the stage. And incredible confidence, wont you all agree? Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex poses with school children making the 'Equality' sign following a school assembly during a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex, on March 6, 2020, in support of International Women's Day Aker is not the only one to be dazzled by Meghan, of course. This is a woman whose unrelenting optimism and love of the limelight gives her public engagements a real sense of razzmatazz. The Duchess might have been the first person ever to describe the town of Dagenham as incredibly profound, but she got away with it. It's not a dance - It's a demand for equality... People are being urged to post pictures on social media making the equals sign the official symbol for todays 2020 International Womens Day. To strike the pose, put your arms across the front of your body so they are parallel, with one arm slightly higher than the other, and palms facing downwards. Organisers of this years event say the symbol shows that you are committing to being each for equal and that you will challenge the status quo and help forge womens equality. Ideally this should be done in a group, with one or more of the group foregoing the stance to hold up a Selfie Card, which can be downloaded from the IWDs site. Post snaps on social media using hashtags #IWD2020 #EachforEqual. Advertisement It was, she said, because of Geraldine and the other women who had the strength to really stand up for something that needed to be done. No matter how small you might feel you have a voice. Before she left, headmaster Russell Taylor asked all the students to pose for a picture with the Duchess, holding their forearms parallel to make an equals sign this years IWD symbol for equality. Meghans tub-thumping speech about how you can be whatever you want to be might seem schmaltzy to some but will be remembered for ever by these teenagers. That, and the fact that their chum wangled a kiss from a Duchess with a real talent for this sort of thing and a clear wish to emulate the grace of Michelle Obama. Why, then, is Meghan quitting Royal life? Is it because, with the Duchess of Cambridge in the mix, Meghan would never be Head Girl? What a pity that Meghan couldnt take her own advice that, no matter how small you feel, you can still make a difference. And she could still be everything she wants to be while staying in the Royal Family to such effect. The IIFA 2020 and Lotus Makeup India Fashion Week have been postponed. New Delhi: One more suspected case tested positive for Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in New Delhi on Friday, taking the overall number of infected cases in India to 31. The new confirmed case from Uttam Nagar has a history of travel to Thailand and Malaysia. According to the Union health ministry, the patient is now in hospital quarantine and is stable. A 13-member group of tourists from Italy have been out on quarantine at a hotel in Amritsar. They were asked to not go out till their medical examination is completed, a Punjab government official said. We are conducting a proper medical examination. If any of them are found symptomatic (for coronavirus), samples will be taken, an officer said. A group of 16 Italians is now undergoing treatment in India after testing positive for COVID. In an interesting incident, an Irishman suspected of COVID infection fled from a hospital in Cuttack but was traced to a hotel in Bhubaneswar, where he has been kept in isolation with another person with whom he had come into contact, officials said. In accordance with protocols to manage coronavirus cases, they will be kept in mandatory isolation for 14 days. The rising cases in India has led to wide cancellations of major events. The IIFA 2020 and Lotus Makeup India Fashion Week have been postponed. The CISF too has put off its anniversary celebrations at Ghaziabad on March 13, while the CRPF deferred its March 8 event. Wings India 2020, a major civil aviation sector event scheduled for March 12-15, will be held on a truncated basis and large public gatherings will be avoided. In fact, in view of travel restrictions, the local representatives of companies would be attending the event. While the BSF is going ahead with its daily retreat ceremony with Pakistan at the Attari border, the public or spectators will not be allowed to attend it. This is in line with the governments guidelines to avoid large congregations of public in the wake of the coronavirus scare, an official said. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that anganwadi centres have been closed in view of the coronavirus scare. Citing the coronavirus scare, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math in Kollam too decided not to let anyone to enter its ashram as a preventive measure. The math said these curbs apply to Indian nationals as well as foreign citizens (including OCI holders). The Indian government intensified universal screening of all international passengers irrespective of nationality. India also began efforts to evacuate its nationals from coronavirus-hit Iran. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar on Friday tweeted that an Indian medical team was landing in Iran to establish a clinic in the city of Qom there by Friday evening for screening of Indian nationals. He added that New Delhi was also working out the logistics of their return with Iranian authorities. Incidentally, this comes amid a spat between the two countries over statements made by Iran on the recent Delhi riots, which New Delhi has categorically rejected. The health ministry has begun national-level training of personnel to deal with COVID. The first round was attended by 280 health officials from all states, and the hospitals of the railways, the military and paramilitary forces. In Delhi, 10 per cent beds in all government and private hospitals have been asked to be kept for COVID patients. Due to COVID Indias poultry industry sales dipped to nearly 80 per cent over false claims that chickens were carriers of the new coronavirus and could pass it on to humans. Messages warning people to stop eating chicken because of the contagion have been widely shared on he social media, including Facebook and WhatsApp, in recent weeks. While the Indian authorities have repeatedly said there was no scientific evidence showing chickens could carry or transmit COVID-19, many Indians and restaurants have stopped buying the meat. People are not eating poultry at home. They are not going out to eat, said Gulrez Alam, secretary of All India Poultry Breeders. The strange little man currently on trial for a 2000 murder in Los Angeles admits he has killed before. He is now charged with putting a 9mm bullet into the head of his longtime friend, Susan Berman, a woman who authorities believe knew his deepest, darkest secrets. In 2001 in Texas, this man admitted he shot his aggressive next-door neighbor in the face. The jury believed his self-defense claim and acquitted him even though the dead mans dismembered body parts, found floating in Galveston Bay, did not include the head, which would have either proved or disproved the killers story. This same defendant is also suspected in the disappearance/murder of his first wife, Kathleen, in New York back in 1982. But since no body was found, no charges were ever filed. Oh, and homicide detectives in both Vermont and two locations in California believe he might have also been involved in the murders of three young women between 1971 and 1997. Robert Durst, 76, connected to one of the largest real estate fortunes in America, is suspected by some to be Americas most wealthy serial killer. Durst has lived much of his adult life wandering the country, sporadically living in low-rent apartments and operating under stolen identities in at least eight states. Sometimes Durst posed as a woman, cross-dressing to look the part. He admits he is a longtime drug user and was disinherited by his family. Patriarch Seymour Durst gave his oldest, erratic son a massive nest egg to go away. Roberts current net worth is reported to be $100 million. During interviews for a 2015 HBO documentary on his troubled life filmmakers caught Durst on tape muttering to himself off-camera saying, What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course. That admission prompted police to arrest Durst for the murder of Susan Berman. He was hiding in New Orleans at the time, reportedly preparing to flee the country. Since that arrest, Durst has been in custody awaiting trial for the murder of his friend. The theory of California prosecutors today is that everything goes back to the suspected murder of Dursts beautiful med-school student wife, Kathleen in 1982. When the tabloids breathlessly reported her disappearance Wife Missing: 100G Reward! and Robert became a prime suspect, it was Susan Berman who stepped up to act as Roberts spokesperson, defending him as a grieving husband. She, prosecutors maintain, had been Dursts most trusted confidante for decades. Berman, prosecutors believe, literally knew where the bodies were buried and was the primary link to the truth about Dursts demons. The search for Kathie Durst went cold for years. But in late 2000, new information surfaced, and New York detectives contacted Berman to say they needed to re-interview her. Berman told her friend Bobby about the pending appointment with police and just a few days before the interview she was executed in her home on Dec. 24, 2000. Police received a cryptic note informing them there was a cadaver at Bermans address in Beverely Hills. The misspelling of Beverly was later found to be a habit of Dursts. His lawyers now concede Durst wrote the note, but they maintain his innocence. After Bermans execution-style murder Durst disappeared, secretly moving to Galveston, Texas, and living as a mute woman. Less than a year later, Durst allegedly killed and dismembered his elderly neighbor, Morris Black, who had reportedly discovered the real estate heirs true identity. After Durst was charged in that killing and was out on bail, he vanished once again. He was soon arrested in Pennsylvania while shoplifting items he could easily have paid for and returned to Texas to stand trial. Naturally, Dursts inherited wealth allowed him to hire the best, most creative defense lawyers. Attorney Dick DeGuerin won Durst the acquittal in Texas, and DeGuerin is once again representing him in the California case. This time it will be an uphill battle. Longtime friend Nick Chavin has already told the court Durst confessed to him saying, I had to. It was her or me, I had no choice. Of course, Durst confessed to the Texas killing too, and a jury let him go. For a man worth $100 million, paying for another jury trial is a risk worth taking. www.DianeDimond.com; e-mail to Diane@DianeDimond.com. KABUL Gunmen opened fire Friday at a ceremony in Afghanistans capital attended by prominent political leaders, killing at least 32 people and wounding dozens more before the two attackers were slain by police, officials said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on its website. Islamic State militants have declared war on Afghanistans Shiites, and many of those at the ceremony were from the minority Shiite sect. The ceremony commemorated the 1995 slaying of Abdul Ali Mazari, the leader of Afghanistans ethnic Hazaras, who are mostly Shiite Muslims. The Taliban said they were not involved in the attack, which came less than a week after the U.S. and the group signed an ambitious peace deal that lays out a path for the withdrawal of American forces from the country. Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said 32 people were killed and 81 wounded in the attack in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood of Kabul. The Health Ministry gave the same death toll but said 58 were wounded. All of the casualties were civilians, Rahimi said. Opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah, who is the countrys chief executive and was a top contender in last years presidential election, was among several prominent political officials who attended the ceremony but left before the attack and were unhurt. Several TV journalists were covering the ceremony inside a walled compound when the gunmen began shooting, and a reporter and a cameraman for a local broadcaster were among the wounded. Karim Khalili, chief of Afghanistans high peace council, was delivering a speech when the gunfire interrupted him. He was not hurt and later went on TV to denounce the violence. After opening fire, the two gunmen holed up in a half-finished apartment building, leading to a five-hour standoff with security forces. They were eventually killed, Rahimi said. Tameem Akhgar is an Associated Press writer. Alwar's Juvenile Justice Board on Saturday deferred the judgment on the sentencing of two minors convicted by it in the Pehlu Khan lynching case of 2017. "The board deferred the judgment today (Saturday)," a senior police official said, adding that the verdict is likely to be delivered on the next date to be fixed by the court. The JJB on Thursday pronounced that the minors were part of a mob that had allegedly lynched 55-year-old Khan, a dairy farmer, in 2017. This is the first conviction in the sensational case. In August last year, six men who were accused of lynching Khan were acquitted by a lower court of Alwar. The six accused - Vipin Yadav, Ravindra Kumar, Kaluram, Dayanand, Yogesh Kumar and Bheem Rathi - were given the benefit of doubt and were acquitted. The state government filed an appeal against the trial court order in the Rajasthan high court in October. Khan, his two sons and a few others were transporting cows from Jaipur when they were intercepted and thrashed by cow vigilantes near Alwar's Behror on April 1, 2017. Khan died on April 3 in a hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 20:17:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian revolutionary guard member was gunned down in the capital Damascus on Friday, a war monitor reported Saturday. The Iranian commander, identified as Farhad Dabirian, was killed by a silenced gun in the Sayyidah Zaynab area south of Damascus, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Britain-based watchdog said Dabirian had led operation on the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and was in charge of the military operation in Palmyra against the Islamic State (IS). He was also close to Hassan Nasrallah, secretary-general of the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah group. The observatory gave no further details about the assassin, but several Israeli airstrikes on Syria targeted pro-Iranian fighters in Syria. Iran has been a key backer of the Syrian government forces in the nine-year-long war, which raised the ire of Israel whose leaders have repeatedly vowed no tolerance of any Iranian influence in Syria. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 08:36 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068e898d 1 Editorial #Editorial,international-womens-day,gender-equality,women-rights,gender-based-violence,violence-against-women,gender-diversity Free The annual celebrations of International Womens Day, which falls on Sunday, will see people marching in cities worldwide for diverse battles: global, local and personal. More men are needed in these campaigns for better policies, attitudes and realities to guarantee a safe environment for all genders, young and old. Indonesia has much to celebrate on Womens Day, such as the recent landmark increase in the legal marriage age, which is now 19 for males and females, while it was earlier 16 for girls. While it took three female child-marriage survivors to finally win a second legal challenge to increase the marriage age, officials and activists have said we need more male clerics, fathers and officials, and other male local leaders to actively educate society on the harmful effects of child marriage. From the last legislative elections, we also have the highest female representation in the House of Representatives at more than 20 percent, 118 of 575 lawmakers. The figure is still way under the 30 percent women that is considered the minimum needed to enable gender-sensitive policies. Today, however, the relatively high number of women lawmakers is not being celebrated amid the controversial family resilience bill, which is seen as an attempt to domesticate women rather than strengthen families. The latest bill merely confirms what many knew from the beginning of the campaign for affirmative action; that having more female lawmakers does not necessarily translate into gender-sensitive policies, and that both women and men need intensive training on values that might differ from our patriarchal societies. Therefore, we need bold men who are not afraid of being sneered at when they stand up for policies and measures that are sensitive to the needs of diverse genders, including sexual and gender minorities. Similar Asian patriarchal societies like South Korea and Japan can be among our models, to expand fathers parental leave entitlements, currently still limited to civil servants, for instance. Despite this landmark policy in 2018, Indonesian male civil servants may be reluctant to apply for the one-month parental leave for fear of being mocked for nursing the baby and taking over domestic chores. Changing attitudes takes time; reports say South Korean male private employees who took paternity leave exceeded 22,000 last year, up 26 percent from the previous year. Our normalization of violence against the weak has partial roots in acceptance of male authority, however abusive. Indonesias womens movement has successfully resulted in the Domestic Violence Law, yet the wide range of sexual harassment and violence outside home remains unaddressed. Again we see cynicism toward and the dismissal of the sexual violence eradication bill in the House, particularly surrounding reported fears of men being punished for catcalling. Lawmakers need only look to the Religious Affairs Ministry, which last year issued guidelines on preventing and handling sexual harassment and sexual violence in Islamic higher education institutions. The guidelines, which followed reports of rampant harassment and sexual abuse even in Islamic institutions, show state acknowledgement of a previously ignored problem, and determination by male and female decision-makers to bring Indonesia closer toward ensuring a humane, secure society for all. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) A total of 163 Filipino workers who were stranded in Macau due to the coronavirus-related travel ban on China's special administrative region are now back in the Philippines. Manila International Airport Authority said the special Air Macau flight carrying the passengers landed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 at 4:15 p.m. The majority of them were undocumented and irregular Filipino workers and the rest were documented employees, the DFA said. All passengers consisting of workers, minors, senior citizens, tourists and five infants underwent quarantine procedures upon arriving at NAIA, it added. DFA previously said 167 Filipinos will be evacuated. It is unclear why fewer evacuees were flown back home. The Foreign Affairs department earlier said only those without symptoms of the coronavirus disease will be allowed to board the plane. But if any of them show signs of the COVID-19, they will immediately be referred for hospital care to undergo treatment and tests. Flights to and from Macau have been suspended since early February amid the Philippines' travel ban to mainland China and its special administrative regions. Exempted are those living, working and studying in Hong Kong and Macau. Filipinos and their foreign spouses or children, as well as holders of diplomatic visas could enter the Philippines, but they are the required to undergo a 14-day quarantine. The government has previously evacuated Filipinos from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, which was quarantined at the Japanese port of Yokohama, Tokyo following the discovery of COVID-19 cases there, as well as from Wuhan the Chinese city as the epicenter of the outbreak. A Chicopee man was sentenced to federal prison on Friday for using a secret child pornography bulletin board on the dark web, officials said. Victor Stepus, 51, was sentenced in federal court in Springfield to serve seven years in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release. Stepus has been in custody since he was arrested in 2015 after investigators learned he had regularly used his home computer to download child pornography, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling. Stepus was an active user of the now-defunct Playpen, a secret child pornography bulletin board that advertised and distributed child pornography online. The site also included discussions surrounding the sexual abuse of children, Lellings office said in a statement. The website existed on the dark web, which let Stepus access the site anonymously, prosecutors said. When authorities seized Stepuss personal computer, they found more than 8,000 images and 33 videos of child pornography, including images showing the sexual abuse, including bondage, of girls as young as eight years old. Stepus admitted to authorities that for several years he used his home computer to access and download child pornography two to three times per week. When investigators obtained logs from the Playpen site, they found Stepus was an active user for six months during 2014 and 2015, Lellings office said. In November, Stepus pleaded guilty to three counts of receiving child pornography, and one count of possessing child pornography. The U.S. space agency NASA on Thursday named its next-generation Mars rover "Perseverance." The rover is designed to better understand the geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient life and is scheduled to be launched in July to August this year. The name, submitted by seventh grader Alexander Mather from Virginia, was chosen from 28,000 entries from K-12 students in the United States. Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the NASA Science Mission Directorate, hosted a naming event at Mather's school. "Alex's entry captured the spirit of exploration," said Zurbuchen. "Like every exploration mission before, our rover is going to face challenges ... that inspiring work will always require perseverance. We can't wait to see that nameplate on Mars." The rover is part of NASA's larger exploration program that includes missions to the moon as a way to prepare for human missions to the Red Planet. Perseverance, expected to land on Mars in February of 2021 at the site of an ancient river delta in a lake that once filled Jezero Crater, will collect and store rock and soil samples in sealed tubes, and will search for signs of past microbial life The rover is about 3 meters long, 2.7 meters wide and 2.2 meters tall, and weighs 1,025 kg. It will be powered by heat from the natural decay of plutonium-238 to generate electricity. Perseverance currently is undergoing final assembly and checkout at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to NASA. She has attended an International Women's Day reception at Downing Street. (Getty Images) Carrie Symonds has shown off her growing baby bump for the first time since her and Boris Johnson announced that theyre expecting. She attended a reception at Downing Street for International Womens Day earlier this week. The photos of the event were shared on the prime ministers twitter account on Saturday. The mum-to-be opted for another of her signature floral dresses, this one a tiered maxi dress from Anthropologie. Her oval cut emerald engagement ring was also on show for the first time. Tomorrow its #InternationalWomensDay. We celebrated earlier this week by hosting a reception at Downing Street. pic.twitter.com/Ew2VrD6PjK UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) March 7, 2020 The 31-year-old is thought to be due to give birth in early summer after announcing her pregnancy and engagement simultaneously on her private Instagram account last week. She wrote: Many of you already know but for my friends that still dont, we got engaged at the end of last year... and weve got a baby hatching early summer. Feel incredibly blessed. Read more: Carrie Symonds Whistles dress is on sale She attended the International Womens Day event to speak with Lizzie Carr, the winner of the Points of Light Award, an award which recognises outstanding volunteers. 50 teenagers from five secondary schools were invited to the event which took place on 5 March. Although its the first time weve seen the UKs first girlfriend since the announcement, Boris Johnson appeared on This Morning this week following the reveal. He was quizzed by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby about his preparedness for their new arrival where he admitted he was very excited about their news. A date for the wedding hasnt been set yet, but it will mark the first time more than 250 years that a sitting prime minister has got married whilst in Downing Street. Story continues Read more: Carrie Symonds work wardrobe This isnt the first time Symonds has opted to wear Anthropologie. Late 2019, she was seen on the steps of Downing Street wearing a 98 velvet polka-dot skirt from the laidback luxury retailer. It's not the first time we've seen Carrie Symonds wear Anthropologie. (Getty Images) In a bid to do her bit for the environment, it was also recently revealed that Symonds pays 10-per-month to rent designer clothing. The stylish PR executive reportedly uses the site My Wardrobe HQ to hire out looks - including a blue-and-white check ensemble she wore to meet the Queen. YouTube / Hulu Bill Clinton has described his affair with Monica Lewinsky as one of the ways he managed his anxieties. The former president discusses his infidelity as such in Hillary, a new documentary series coming to Hulu this Friday. At one point, hes asked: Why do you think you took that risk with your marriage and your child and your country? Everybodys life has pressures and disappointments, terrors, fears of whatever, he says in part in his response. Things I did to manage my anxieties for years. Im a different, totally different person than I was, a lot of that stuff 20 years ago. Clinton also says he regrets the toll that the headline-making affair has taken on Lewinskys life, stating: I feel terrible about the fact that Monica Lewinskys life was defined by it unfairly, I think. Over the years Ive watched her trying to get a normal life back again. But youve got to decide how to define normal. Hillary, out on 6 March and described by Hulu as remarkably intimate portrait of a public woman, will consist of four episodes. The programme documents her life and political ascent from First Lady of Arkansas to Senator, Senator, Secretary of State, and ultimately, presidential candidate. Read more Mischa Barton hits back at reports she has been fired from The Hills Alex Trebek discusses great pain one year after cancer diagnosis Patricia Arquette slams Trump on climate change and womens rights Rare blueprints for the original World Trade Center have been saved from the trash and are now on sale for $250,000 at a New York book show. James Cummins Bookseller, a dealer of rare books based in Manhattan, is selling the documents at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair. The event is running through Sunday at the Park Avenue Armory. James Cummins Bookseller, a dealer of rare books based in Manhattan, is selling the documents at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair The event is running through Sunday at the Park Avenue Armory The set of blueprints were taken to Denver in the 1970s by architect Joseph Solomon when he moved from New York City. The World Trade Center opened in 1973. The set includes more than 500 plans of the Twin Towers and other site components and are the largest collection of blueprints for WTC ever offered for sale, the Wall Street Journal reports. Smaller sets have been sold but those were connected to the reconstruction of the World Trade Center following the 1993 bombing. 'I think you do get a sense of what a massive undertaking this was,' Brian Kalkbrenner, a seller with James Cummins, said of the Solomon set of designs. The set of blueprints were taken to Denver in the 1970s by architect Joseph Solomon when he moved from New York City. The World Trade Center opened in 1973 (WTC in 1971) The blueprints include more than 500 plans of the Twin Towers and other site components Solomon's daughter, Amy Lee Solomon, shared that her father decided to leave New York City as the construction industry struggled. The blueprints were 'one of the things he took with him,' she shared. Solomon died in November 2017 at the age of 89, after having continued doing architecture work in Colorado. In May 2018, Amy Lee began going through her father's belongings and tossed out the blueprints - which had been stored in the garage on the top of old cabinets. They are the largest collection of blueprints for WTC ever offered for sale Solomon's daughter, Amy Lee Solomon, shared that her father decided to leave New York City as the construction industry struggled. The blueprints were 'one of the things he took with him,' she shared Smaller sets have been sold but those were connected to the reconstruction of the World Trade Center following the 1993 bombing (WTC in 1998) Jake Haas, a Denver-area resident who sells antiques and collectibles, happened to be driving by the Solomon home at the time Amy Lee was ditching the items. Haas stopped once he spotted what he believed were antique maps and 'stuff that could be worth $40 or $50 apiece.' He purchased the blueprints, realizing what they were later. Haas then sold them to Angelo Arguello, an owner of three pawnshops in the Denver Area. It was Arguello who then connected the blueprints with James Cummins, letting the dealer sell them on a consignment basis. Denver resident Jake Haas found the blueprints as Solomon's daughter was throwing them out Haas then sold them to Angelo Arguello, an owner of three pawnshops in the Denver Area The blueprints could be worth even more as the 9/11 Memorial & Museum said that it only has some of the site's development. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the owners of the original site, can't say whether they have a complete set either. They lost many documents during the September 11 attacks. Solomon's daughter doesn't hold a grudge for what has become of the blueprints. 'This was the quintessential project of his life,' she said. It was Arguello who then connected the blueprints with James Cummins, letting the dealer sell them on a consignment basis The blueprints could be worth even more as the 9/11 Memorial & Museum said that it only has some of the site's development It doesnt look like too many are getting this thing. (Stock picture) An Irish woman suspected of having the Covid-19 virus who reportedly fled from the isolation ward of an Indian hospital was subsequently found in a nearby hotel. Indian officials reported yesterday that an Irish national, along with another person she was travelling with, had fled the hospital in the eastern state of Odisha. However, the woman has since been found in a hotel in state capital Bhubaneswar. The Irish woman was screened at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, yesterday showing flu-like symptoms. She was then taken to the city's Capital Hospital, just over 1.5km from the airport. He was referred to the isolation ward of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, along with another person who was accompanying her, Dr Bulu Maharana, emergency officer of the hospital, reported. The couple are believed to be a man and a woman. Indian officials said prior to her found that the woman would be reported to police in the region. "It's not yet clear how both of them escaped. "Once someone is suspected to be infected with coronavirus, they have to be kept in isolation. It's compulsory," a health department official said. "We are trying to find out the exact timeline of how it happened. "We have lodged a case with Mangalabag police station," he said. It is unknown at this time if a report has been made to the police force, or the reason for the woman leaving the hospital by the Bay of Bengal. The Department of Foreign Affairs informed the Irish Independent that it has not yet received any report of the incident. With the new coronavirus steadily spreading across the global, Reed Exhibitions spent a number of days last week debating whether to go ahead with the London Book Fair, which was set to run March 1012. After deciding on March 3 that it was moving ahead as planned, Reed canceled the event the next day. The organizer had defended its decision to proceed with the fair based on a report from the U.K. government, which issued a three-part action plan to confront the coronaviruss potential spread and which did not mandate the shutdown of large events like the fair. The decision came even as many companies and literary agencies from different regions pulled out of LBF. In the U.S., all Big Five trade houses said they would not attend, along with some other major players that included Amazon Publishing, Ingram Content Group, and OverDrive. A large number of American literary agencies also decided not to attend, and some were critical of Reeds decision to proceed with the event. Among the agencies that canceled was the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. I am disappointed that the LBF has not offered the rights center attendees a refund as they did when the volcano hit, said Jennifer Weltz of JVNLA, referring to the eruptions in Iceland in 2010 that disrupted air travel just before LBF. The official word worldwide is that no one should be doing nonessential travel, so many of my appointments are canceling. Reeds change of heart about the fate of LBF on March 4 seemed to be spurred by reports that a number of U.K. houses, both large and small, dropped plans to send reps to Olympia Hall, where the fair was set to be held. Shortly after Reed announced it was going ahead with LBF, Hachette said it was not sending any U.K. employees to the fair, and other publishers soon echoed that sentiment. Indeed, Reeds decision to call off the fair came shortly after HarperCollins announced it had decided to not send any local staff to the show. A statement released by Reed cited growing public concern over the coronavirus as the key factor in not going ahead with LBF. The effects, actual and projected, of Coronavirus are becoming evident across all aspects of our lives here in the UK and across the world, with many of our participants facing travel restrictions, the statement read. We have been following UK government guidelines and working with the rolling advice from the public health authorities and other organisations, and so it is with reluctance that we have taken the decision not to go ahead with this years event. LBF was far from the only book fair to be canceled due to the virus. Prior to Reeds announcement, the Paris Book Fair was called off. The French government had said that it is banning gatherings of more than 5,000 people in any enclosed space for the foreseeable future. The event was to be held March 2023. Germanys primary consumer-facing book fair, the Leipzig Book Fair, was also canceled. The event, scheduled for March 1215, was expected to attract 300,000 people and host 2,500 exhibitors from 51 countries. And the Bologna Childrens Book Fair, originally set for the end of March, has been moved to May 47, a date that fair was still holding to at press time. AWP and BookExpo Attendance at the Associated Writers and Writing Programs annual AWP Conference & Bookfair, which ran from March 47 in San Antonio, Tex., was notably sparse. Organizers decided to hold the event despite the fact that a public health emergency was declared in the city due to the spread of the coronavirus therea decision that led to the resignation of the AWP coexecutive director Diane Zinna. On March 5, Kathleen Driskell, board chair of the AWP, said the organization still expected as many as 7,500 attendees over the course of the four-day event, as well as 500 vendors, with 200 panels scheduled to go ahead. These figures seemed to present a best-case scenario. When the event opened, approximately half the vendor tables at the book fair were unoccupied, traffic at the registration and book fair was light, and attendees complained that the online scheduling tool lagged behind in noting the numerous event cancellations. Board member January Gill ONeil expressed hope that there was something to learn from the experience. Maybe the smaller fair will teach us some things and give us ideas about how to have an even better conference next year in Kansas City, she said. AWP had previously tweeted that it would offer refunds or credits toward the 2021 conference to anyone uncomfortable with traveling to San Antonio. In addition to running LBF, Reed organizes BookExpo and BookCon, which are set for May 2731 in New York City, and the company reported that those two events are proceeding as planned. In a statement, BookExpo and BookCon event director Jenny Martin noted, We do not anticipate any changes or delays to our event. Martin added that Reed and its partners are monitoring the Covid-19 virus situation daily and are following guidelines and precautions suggested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and New York state and city agencies. We will continue to monitor the status and guidelines closely, Martin said. Should anything change we will, of course, promptly keep our customers informed of the action to be taken. The UK is set to be lashed by wet weather and faces potential flooding misery as some areas experiences a month's worth of rain in 24 hours. 136 flood alerts have been put in place - mostly in the South - while the north has large yellow rain warnings for today before some respite on Sunday. Downpours will be heaviest in west Scotland throughout the day, with the Met Office warning up to 70mm (2.8 inches) of rainfall could be possible over some regions. In March, the usual UK average rainfall is 64mm, or 2.5 inches. Following this will be lashings of showers across the country overnight, before people will wake up to clearer skies on Sunday. The UK is set to be lashed by wet weather and faces potential flooding misery as some areas experiences a month's worth of rain in 24 hours 136 flood alerts have been put in place, mostly in the South as well as areas of Yorkshire and on the Welsh border affected by Storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge The Met Office has placed two large yellow rain warnings for today before some respite on Sunday There are warnings that bus and train services will probably affected with journey times taking longer due to spray and flooding on roads probably making journey times longer. There is a possible risk that a few homes and businesses could be flooded in more vulnerable areas. Traffic Scotland warned: 'Outbreaks of rain will become persistent and occasionally heavy through Saturday across much of Western Scotland and parts of Southern Scotland. '20-30mm will fall widely across the warning area in 15-18 hours with 50-70mm building up on some hills. This, in combination with a partial thaw of lying snow is likely to lead to some flooding in a few places.' The weather reports follow two months of misery for people in the north of England, who have seen their homes flooded by three consecutive storms: Ciara, Dennis and Jorge. An average of 202.1mm rainfall fell in February, breaking records set back in 1990, when 193.4mm fell. People in parts of the UK have had to be evacuated from their homes as a result of the latest storm, Jorge, after the River Aire in East Yorkshire over-flowed. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said that initial estimates show the industry expects to make payments of 363 million to customers who have been affected. People in parts of the UK have had to be evacuated from their homes as a result of the latest storm, Jorge, after the River Aire in East Yorkshire over-flowed (pictured: Flooding in Goole on Humberside) The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said that initial estimates show the industry expects to make payments of 363 million to customers who have been affected More than 7.7 million in total was spent on emergency payments to get home owners and businesses back on track in the immediate aftermath of the flooding and wind damage, including paying for temporary accommodation when homes were uninhabitable. But with the waters only beginning to recede now, the true toll of the damage is yet to be fully accounted for. Extra rain which fell last week also affected areas of the West Midlands including Shropshire and Worcestershire along the River Severn. The Met Office have however also warned of a risk of showers in nearby western areas, especially in south Wales and south-west England. Rain, heavy and persistent over hills in north Wales, Cumbria and western Scotland. Windy too with coastal gales. Largely cloudy elsewhere with some bright spells to the east of high ground. Mild. An average of 202.1mm rainfall fell in February, breaking records set back in 1990, when 193.4mm fell More than 7.7 million in total was spent on emergency payments to get home owners and businesses back on track in the immediate aftermath of the flooding Rain sweeping southeast to affect the rest of England, followed by blustery heavy showers across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and western England. Rain clearing the far southeast during the morning. Elsewhere, sunny spells and blustery showers, heaviest in the west with a risk of thunder. Feeling cold in the wind. After a dry, chilly start on Monday, wet and windy weather spreads to all parts. This clears Tuesday to leave it colder with showers, some of these heavy and wintry. Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: 'Any extra rain falling after such a wet February could cause some extra problems. But with the waters only beginning to recede now, the true toll of the damage is yet to be fully accounted for 'There will be more rain this weekend particularly in the west on Saturday. That rain is likely to pep up on Saturday night and its also going to turn windy during the day and night on Saturday.' He continued: 'Its blustery into Sunday with some sunshine but also some heavy showers. 'Showers are likely to be heavy and blustery with the wind swinging in from the west. 'Chiefly therell be rain and possibly hail at times, but it will be blustery so at least the showers will be moving through.' Rainfall forecast for the next few days is hoped to mark the end of a difficult few weeks for people in the Midlands and Yorkshire. Its here the new coronavirus and Houstonians arent sure just how nervous to be. Five people had tested positive in Harris County and three more had done so in Fort Bend County as of late Friday, bringing concerns about the virus closer to home than ever before. All eight had been exposed to the virus in Egypt, on the same trip. In other words, the area is now confronting a scary new virus that has spread to more than 65 countries since emerging in China late last year and led to the treatment of more than 300 patients across the United States, 15 of whom had died as of Friday. Dr Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told Congress this week that the outbreak will likely be deemed a global pandemic by the World Health Organization and epidemiologists have said that a majority of the worlds population could be infected eventually. So it was predictable that coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-2019, would eventually come to the densely populated and highly globalized Houston area. And now that it has, its unclear what we can do on an individual basis other than following the now-familiar advice from public health officials: wash your hands frequently, for example, and avoid touching your face. That being the case, some Houstonians are responding stoically. Im washing my hands, Im using hand sanitizer arent you? Im trying to be clean, said Geoffrey Berg, a Houston attorney. But this is the burden of being a primate, I suppose. State Rep. Gene Wu, who represents House District 137 in west Houston, has been keeping a close eye on both the outbreak itself and the public reaction to it for months. Along with his wife, journalist Miya Shay, hes hosted a number of dinners in Chinatown in recent weeks as a way of supporting restaurants at risk of a sharp downturn in business due to speculation and fears. I think my description would be nervous hopefulness, Wu said when I called him Friday. I think were concerned that its going to get worse, but at the same time Im confident that our local people are going to do a really good job of managing and containing it. That confidence appears warranted: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Fort Bend County Judge KP George have all taken the threat seriously and addressed the public about cases reported so far and the precautions being taken in response. Also reassuring is that all of the cases reported so far are travel-related. Houston is not experiencing community transmission of the type being reported in Seattle. In many ways, it seems like business as usual in the Houston area. Although the organizers of South by Southwest on Friday canceled their annual March festival in Austin, Houston-area residents waited in long lines to vote in the Texas presidential primary on Tuesday and streamed into the grounds of NRG Park for the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. There was hand-shaking and hugging, celebrating and sharing snacks and commiserating over the long lines at polling places. We were also going to work, to classes and to worship services. We were snuggling with our pets, such as dogs that give us sloppy kisses, despite the fact that the World Health Organization had reported a Pomeranian in Hong Kong had tested positive for the virus. But the news Wednesday night that an elderly man had recently tested positive in Fort Bend County followed by the confirmation of cases the following day in Harris County did make a big impression in Harris County. By Thursday afternoon, a Bath & Body Works in Rice Village was nearly sold out of hand sanitizer, with just a few bottles left in the Japanese Cherry Blossom and Watermelon Lemonade scents. The H-E-B in Montrose, similarly, was entirely out of Clorox wipes and nearly out of toilet paper, and customers were raiding the aisles for staples such as shelf-stable milk, flour, canned soup and pasta. Similar scenes were playing out across the city. The anxiety is understandable. The new coronavirus is known to be highly transmissible, and the disease it causes is considered to pose a particular risk to certain populations the elderly, for example, and people with pre-existing health conditions. In the United States, the vulnerability of those populations as well as fears among the public writ large have arguably been increased by a slow-to-the-point-of-bungled federal response. President Donald Trump, who has sought to play down fears about the virus and at one point dismissed Democratic concerns about his response to it as a hoax. Its now clear that Trumps assessment was overly optimistic, and limited testing has hurt efforts to get an understanding of the depth of the problem. Trump on Friday morning signed an $8.3 billion emergency spending package to combat the virus and the administration is scrambling to increase testing capacity. Meanwhile, local officials keep a wary eye out for new cases. Ten people in Fort Bend have been contacted about self-quarantining, for example. Whether these precautions are sufficient to contain the outbreak locally remains to be seen. Houstons such a big place, and were not few and far between, Wu said. If there were an uncontrolled spread, I think you would see it immediately. erica.grieder@chron.com Before Meghan Markle, it was Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy who experienced all the awful things the Duchess of Sussex has faced and continues to be facing. When she was with Prince Harry, Chelsy is said to have never enjoyed the publicity or the pressure that came with their high-profile romance. Speaking to Tatler, Davy confessed to having a turbulent relationship with Prince Harry that led to a lot of heated arguments. Express reported that the 34-year-old called off her romantic relationship with the royal after it became difficult for them to date because of constant media scrutiny. The contributing factor to their split had to do with her not being able to handle the paparazzi. Davy, who is the Duke of Sussex's most well-known former girlfriend, started dating him back in 2003 and many believed that they would stay together forever. However, Chelsy told the Daily Mail previously that she was forced to break up with Prince Harry because it got to the point where she could not cope. She said it was "crazy, scary and uncomfortable," adding, "I found it very difficult when I was bad. I couldn't cope. I was young. I was trying to be a normal kid and it was horrible." Prince Harry and Davy first met while she was a teenager at Cheltenham, and then they got together during the royal's gap year in Cape Town. Later on, Davy returned to the U.K. to study in Leeds and be closer to the prince. Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy split for good in 2011 -- shortly after Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding that year -- after a seven-year on-again, off-again relationship. Following their split, Chelsy, who is from Zimbabwe, felt like she needed to get away. She went back to Africa after the split. Despite admitting that it was a difficult time, Davy went on to say that everything is fine between her and Prince Harry. Years after their breakup, Davy even attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in May 2018. A couple of media outlets reported that they had closure during an emotional phone call the night before the nuptials. A source dished out to Vanity Fair: "It was their final call, a parting call in which they both acknowledged Harry was moving on. Chelsy was quite emotional about it all. She was in tears and almost didn't go to the wedding." Davy is now in London, although she flies back and forth to Africa. However, she distances herself from the Sussexes' drama. When asked what she thinks about the intense level of scrutiny the couple has been under, Davy told the publication firmly that she would "really rather not say anything about Harry and Meghan." In an interview with Tatler, the jewelry businesswoman revealed that she is happy and in a relationship. "Yes, there is someone, and I am quite taken by this one, but it's very new and I don't want to say too much," Davy said. Davy also admitted that she is happy where she is right now and is "happy with everything, everything is falling into place." In The Know by Yahoo An Indiana woman took her mother to a club on a cruise and almost immediately regretted it. In June 2019, Alicia Cheng, a third-year pharmacy student at Purdue University, went on a seven-day cruise to Jamaica, Mexico and Haiti with family. One night, Cheng and her sister Angie decided to party at one of the boats clubs. My mom heard us talking about it and followed us along (my sister loved it, but I was obviously super embarrassed), Cheng told In The Know. This was her first time going out with us, and she was a rockstar. Still, Cheng couldnt help but feel slightly embarrassed about how much fun her 59-year-old mother, Jia Li Mason, had on the dance floor with Angie. My mom didnt notice I was recording because she was too busy watching other people dance and mimicking them, Cheng said. If you watch the videos closely, you can see her watching the people in the background and copying their moves. My mom always wiggles her hips and moves her butt at home to exercise so the dancing at the club wasnt that much different for her! Mason, who owns a hair salon, reportedly got her moves while performing at the Beijing opera as a pipa player. When I was young, I always liked dance, just different dances, the mother said. I liked to dance traditional dances, not like the freestyle dances you kids do. I just make it up. Last Wednesday, Cheng shared videos of her mother dancing on the Facebook page subtle asian traits. Never. Bring. Asian. Mom. To. The. Club, she joked. Chengs post immediately went viral it received nearly 3,000 reactions and over 1,000 comments. I feel the embarrassment, one person wrote. Bruh I love her lmao Id bring her every time! another wrote. Mason has since taken her newfound fame in stride. I feel great! At my age, I can let the younger generation like it, Chengs mother said. I think they should encourage their parents to go and do that with them too! Life too short. Be with the kids and have more fun, it feels great! I am so glad that people like how I dance, they dont look at me like Im old. Im so proud and happy people liked it! Story continues See more videos of Chengs hilarious videos below: More to read: This $8 hack prevents that annoying, post-ponytail hair crease Dermatologists highly approve this $11 body wash on Amazon This keychain LED flashlight is a late-night lifesaver The post Woman takes mom to club, instantly regrets it appeared first on In The Know. A passenger arriving in Mumbai from Brazil's Sao Paulo via Ethiopia's Addis Ababa was intercepted at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on March 2 and 312 gram of cocaine was recovered from his possession. While 11 pouches of cocaine were detected inside the abdominal area of the passenger, two more pouches of cocaine were recovered from the body cavity. Further, an investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PHOENIX President Donald Trump's administration will immediately deploy 160 active-duty soldiers to two key cities along the U.S.-Mexico border in response to a series of adverse federal court rulings limiting the implementation of his restrictive border enforcement policies, as well as growing concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Friday that it would deploy 80 active duty troops to San Diego's San Ysidro border crossing and 80 more to El Paso's Paso del Norte bridge as early as Saturday to provide "military police support, engineer, and aviation support" to customs officials at those two ports of entry. The border agency's announcement emphasized the role that a Feb. 28 ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco factored into their decision to deploy troops to those two cities. A panel of judges blocked the U.S. government from sending asylum seekers to Mexico for the duration of their proceedings under the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as "Remain in Mexico," finding that the program was in violation of U.S. immigration laws. Confusion on the border: Court halts Trump's 'Remain in Mexico' rule then reverses itself The Paso del Norte International bridge was reopened on Saturday morning after being closed Friday night. In response, dozens of asylum seekers sent back under MPP congregated at border crossings from Tijuana to Brownsville, Texas, asking to be let into the country. CBP temporarily shut down at least one border crossing in El Paso to keep people from rushing the port of entry. "CBP Ports of Entry (POEs) are not designed or equipped to handle extremely large groups of travelers arriving all at the same time and temporary closure of a POE is contemplated as an extreme option, as necessary for public safety and border security," the agency said in a written statement. Compounded in response to Friday's (Feb. 28) amassment of large groups in Mexico with the potential to forcibly enter the United States, CBP closed or partially suspended operations at multiple locations in order to maintain safety and security." Story continues The 160 troops are part of the Defense Department's Crisis Response Force, which the Pentagon has made available to CBP since Trump initially deployed soldiers to the border in November 2018 in anticipation of the arrival of a large caravan. A CBP spokesman said the deployment to San Diego and El Paso would begin Saturday and last for two weeks. The agency has the option, based on current needs, to extend the deployment and even "lift and shift" to other border crossings, he said. The timing of the troops' deployment is tied to an upcoming deadline that the 9th Circuit set this week. The federal judges presiding over the case allowed "Remain in Mexico" to continue, but only until March 11. At that point, the court will block the program in Arizona and California the states under its jurisdiction unless the Supreme Court stays its ruling. To date, the Supreme Court has not intervened. The U.S. government has sent back more than 60,000 people, mostly Central American migrants, to await their asylum proceedings in Mexico. The two border cities of Tijuana, located across from San Diego, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, across from El Paso, received the most returned migrants. Top U.S. officials, including CBP's Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan, have called the Migrant Protection Protocols a "game-changer" that have allowed them to reduce the flows of large numbers of Central Americans to the U.S.-Mexico border. Customs and Border Protection also cited the U.S. government's "COVID-19 containment and mitigation concerns" in its decision to deploy the military. The agency said it faces a "delicate" balance in providing border security while facilitating legal trade and travel that last year topped $600 billion in goods and services between the U.S. and Mexico. More than 188 million people crossed the border, according to government figures. Community groups and elected leaders along the U.S. border reacted with a mix of concern and outrage at the Trump's administration's response to the court's rulings, as well as the use of coronavirus worries as justification to deploy troops. U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, a freshman Democrat from El Paso, said in a written statement that the Trump administration is using COVID-19 as "an excuse to sow fear about asylum seekers in an effort to continue to violate the law." "While it is no surprise, it is nonetheless deeply disappointing that the Trump administration would use the coronavirus as an excuse to sow fear about asylum seekers in an effort to continue to violate the law," Escobar said. "It is because we are all concerned about the coronavirus that we need to focus our resources on our real challenges, like the limited number of tests available, something that troops on the border wont address." Dylan Corbett, founding director of Hope Border Institute a binational advocacy group in the El Paso-Juarez region expressed concern over the deployment. "There's always a liability and risk when you send military to the border, knowing that you are sending them for a mission that they have not been trained," he said. Migrants from Central America and Mexico were trying to decide to cross with the help of human smugglers in Nogales, Mexico, or wait in a long line at the U.S. Port of Entry to seek asylum. President Trump is directing asylum seekers to go to the ports, but the metering policy at the ports drives some asylum seekers to cross illegally with the help of smugglers because the waits are so long. Corbett added that it's troubling that the government doesn't have a clear, comprehensive plan for dealing with COVID-19, but recently decided to shut down the ports of entry instead of processing migrants. That's a sentiment echoed by Vicki Gaubeca, the director for the San Diego-based Southern Border Communities Coalition, a collective of more than 60 community and advocacy organizations along the border. "We don't need more boots on the ground. What we need are more trauma specialists, more medical professionals, more asylum officers," she said. Gaubeca called the situation "a crisis that is of the (Trump) administration's own making" because it chose to implement an illegal program. She and other advocates were anxious about whether the Supreme Court would step in and side with the Trump administration. "We have volunteer groups in the communities where they're going to be deploying the military who stand at the ready to receive these individuals," she said. "So it's not something the government has to do alone." Contributing: Eleanor Dearman and Maria Cortes Gonzalez El Paso Follow Rafael Carranza on Twitter at @RafaelCarranza. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump to deploy troops to border in response to rulings, coronavirus Derek OBrien demands discussion on Delhi violence. New Delhi: Having been unable to speak in the Rajya Sabha on the Delhi riots till now, Trinamul Congress MP Derek O Brien on Friday found a novel way to be heard by giving a 10-minute speech from the Parliament corridors instead of the House to protest the governments reluctance to discuss the spate of violence in the national capital. Despite massive protests from the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament demanding immediate discussion on the riots in which more than 50 people said to have died, the government has stuck to its guns and has announced that any such discussion would be held only after Holi. Rajya Sabha chairperson M. Venkaiah Naidu has already announced March 12 as the date for the discussion in the Upper House. Mr OBrien, who is the leader of his party in Rajya Sabha, said that Opposition parties have given notices five days in a row to discuss the issue, but these have not been accepted. Accusing the government of stalling work in both the Houses, he said: I have been ready with the speech on behalf of the TMC. Mr Chairman sir what can I do, the government is stalling Parliament. Today on Friday, I need to make my speech and I am making it not in the chamber downstairs but on the first floor. We have to look at different ways to have our voices heard. So here I am. He said that the last time a notice of an opposition member to discuss issues was accepted was in November 2016. What does an opposition member do in desperate times like this? I am not going to wait. I hope this speech goes out to the young people of India. I want to ask where is the prime minister. It took him 69 hours after the genocide to respond, that too on Twitter. We are making a laughing stock of ourselves, he added. The TMC MP also uploaded a video of his speech on social media in which he spoke about different stories of pain and loss during the violence in northeast Delhi. Amid a poaching row between the ruling Congress and BJP in Madhya Pradesh, the latter has submitted a memorandum to Governor Lalji Tandon accusing the Kamal Nath government of working with political vengeance against the saffron party. A BJP delegation under Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Gopal Bhargav, submitted the memorandum on Saturday evening, claiming the MP government was misusing official machinery to harass elected representatives of the opposition. The memorandum said businesses of BJP leaders were being destroyed, and MLAs and their kin were being harassed, and that there was a serious threat to their live. It said the MP government was misusing the state's plane and helicopter to achieve political goals and asked the governor to intervene. Earlier on Saturday, Umaria district authorities razed an encroachment in a resort owned by BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak, who is said to be a key figure in the poaching row in the state. On Wednesday, the government had ordered closure of an iron ore mine owned by Pathak. Pathak and BJP MLA from Narela (Bhopal) Vishwas Sarang, both former ministers, also claimed threat to their lives after the state government reportedly withdrew their personal security officers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Their 'farewell tour' draws to a close tomorrow, the curtain falling - apparently for good - on their Royal life. But for the Duke of Sussex - if not the Duchess - the day is unlikely to prove as poignant as the event attended by the couple last night at the Royal Albert Hall. They were, however, determined to go out in style. Drawing gasps from the waiting crowd, the Duchess dazzled in a 1,300 Safiyaa Kalika scarlet gown, more than complementing the red ceremonial uniform Harry wore in his final engagement as Captain General of the Royal Marines. It is the highest ranking of his honorary military titles which he will relinquish under the Megxit terms agreed with the Queen. Severing them has been acutely painful, perhaps explaining Harry's rather gloomy demeanour last night. Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving at the Royal Albert Hall in London last night as they attended a charity event ahead of their quitting public life on March 31 He spent a decade in the Army and, as stirring military laments echoed around him at the Mountbatten Festival of Music, few would have blamed him had tears welled up in his eyes. As it was, he appeared visibly moved when he and his wife received a long round of applause and a standing ovation as they took their seats in the Royal Box. The event marked the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain's Commandos and showcased the 'outstanding versatility of some of the world's finest military musicians'. At one point, the Duke and Duchess sang and clapped along to Delilah during a medley of Tom Jones hits. This was Harry's penultimate fixture, while Meghan will today attend an event to mark International Women's Day. Tomorrow will see the Sussexes' last official engagement before they step down as working Royals on March 31. Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan were moved as they received a long round of applause and a standing ovation before they took their seats in the royal box Pictured: The royal couple met with band members before the performance backstage Pictured: The Duke of Sussex appeared in his capacity as Captain General of the Royal Marines Normally the Royal Family's participation in the annual Commonwealth Day service stirs only moderate interest, but this year is, of course, different. On a day laden with significance, not only will Harry and Meghan take their final bow before the watching world at Westminster Abbey, they will be publicly reunited with the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - the very relatives the newly exiled Sussexes wounded when they plunged the House of Windsor into turmoil by quitting their front line roles. Awkward doesn't begin to cover it. Pictured: Harry and Meghan shared an intimate moment before entering the royal box; the photo was published on Instagram Yet while every glance and gesture will be weighed and scrutinised for evidence of discomfiture, it is unlikely that any of the senior Royals will betray the backstage tensions of recent weeks. After all, The Firm is well drilled in putting on a united front. Gauging the mood of the Duchess of Sussex, a former actress, during the final whirl of duties before she and Harry finally quit has not been straightforward for Royal watchers. Her retreat to Vancouver Island has left her refreshed and upbeat, but a source said it would be wrong to imagine she approached these engagements 'without some trepidation'. So far, though, any nerves have been masked by an ever-present Hollywood smile. The Mail on Sunday understands that the Duchess flew in from Canada last Monday but waited in the wings at Frogmore Cottage, the couple's home in Windsor, until Thursday before making her first public appearance on British soil since January 7. After attending a Buckingham Palace investiture, the Sussexes had lunch with friends at the nearby Goring Hotel where Meghan appeared in good spirits. For reasons unclear, the couple left separately but later arrived arm-in-arm beneath an umbrella at Mansion House for the annual Endeavour Fund Awards ceremony. There was some booing but it was the couple's joyous entrance that made headlines. Inside, their ebullience was not always so evident. Meghan kept contact with other guests to a minimum while Harry ignored a request for a photograph with a former Coldstream Guard. The soldier said: 'I wanted a picture with them but they got up and did their speeches and were then ushered out by their bodyguards. 'I shook Harry's hand as he was leaving and I said we served in Afghanistan together but then his bodyguard grabbed him to go. I said, "Please can I have a picture", practically begging, and he just smiled and walked off. I was quite surprised.' The following day, the Duke was at the Silverstone circuit to open a new museum, accompanied by Lewis Hamilton, the Formula 1 world champion. Once again the public turnout was low. Although police had set up barriers, only ten people turned up - and they all appeared to be fans of Hamilton. Harry remains sixth in line to the throne and will retain his military ranks of major, lieutenant-commander and squadron leader, but not use his honorary military positions. The roles will remain unfilled during a 12-month trial period, leaving the door open for him to return. The Victorian Labor party could lose its grip on its western Melbourne heartlands as voters on the citys fringes are increasingly squeezed out by population growth, a former key ALP strategist has warned. Traditionally safe seats, including Werribee held by State Treasurer Tim Pallas, will become vulnerable to independent politicians appealing to new residents of the growing outer suburbs who are feeling all the pain of Melbournes phenomenal growth but little of its benefits. Simon Welsh, who led the research effort for Labors resounding 2018 victory, says evidence is mounting that the electoral ground is shifting in Labors traditionally solid voting base in the west, as the pressure grows on house prices, local services, infrastructure and jobs. The researcher points to some polling booths in previously solid ALP seats that swung dramatically against Labor in 2018, bucking the statewide trend of a thumping primary swing to the Andrews government of nearly six per cent. An 82-year-old man who spent most of his adult life behind bars for robbing banks was convicted again for carrying out an armed heist at an Arizona credit union as he struggled to adjust to life outside prison. Robert Francis Krebs faces a maximum 25 years in prison after a jury found him guilty Wednesday of armed bank robbery. The January 2018 holdup in Tucson came about seven months after he was released from prison. Krebs served more than 30 years for a 1981 bank robbery in Florida and was sentenced to three years in prison after a 1966 conviction in Chicago for embezzling $72,000 from a bank where he worked as a teller. Robert Francis Krebs was convicted for robbing a bank in Tuscon in 2018 He also served an additional 17 years for theft and armed robbery convictions from Arizona dating to 1980. In the Florida robbery, the branch manager and teller tripped a silent alarm and were later put in the bank vault. Krebs, who was arrested as he walked into the bank's parking lot, was disguised in a wig, had cotton in his cheeks and varnished his fingertips to leave no fingerprints, according to news accounts by The Orlando Sentinel. Krebs attorney, Leonardo Costales, didnt immediately return a phone call and email Friday seeking comment on his clients latest conviction. Krebs told investigators that he didnt wear a disguise in the 2018 Tucson robbery because he wanted to get caught and return to prison, according to court records. Krebs walked into the Pyramid Federal Credit Union in Tucson a BB gun and demanded cash Documents say he also told authorities that he committed the robbery because his monthly $800 Social Security payment wasnt enough to live on and that the months before the robbery were the worst in his life. Last summer, a judge ruled Krebs was mentally fit to stand trial despite his claim that he has symptoms of Alzheimers disease. Krebs told investigators he didn't wear a mask to rob the bank because he wanted to be caught Krebs said he robbed the bank because he couldn't live off of his $800 monthly social security check After serving more than 30 years in prison for a Florida bank robbery and spending most of his adult life behind bars, Krebs struggled to adjust to life as a free man Two mental health experts said Krebs was mentally competent and believed he was malingering, with one expert saying Krebs had "embellished or grossly exaggerated" his condition to avoid prosecution. The judge who declared Krebs psychologically fit said he was able to meticulously tell FBI agents how he planned and carried out the robbery. Prosecutors said Krebs decided the credit union was an easy target because there was no glass separating customers and tellers and that he picked a lending institution near a mall, where it would be harder for police to find him. Authorities said Krebs walked into a Pyramid Federal Credit Union branch on Tucson's northern edge, put a handgun that turned out to a BB gun on the counter and demanded cash. Authorities say he walked away with nearly $8,400 and later told investigators that he almost got struck by a vehicle while crossing a roadway. He was later arrested at a hotel. Bank robbery experts say its unusual for older people to hold up lending institutions. Typically, bank robbers are in their 20s. J.L. Hunter "Red" Rountree, who has been dubbed Americas oldest bank robber, was convicted of committing two robberies in his mid-80s and was 91 at the time of his last heist in the early 2000s. He robbed banks in Mississippi, Florida and Texas. Rountree died in prison at age 92. CAIRO, March 6 (Reuters) - Turkey killed 21 members of the Syrian government armed forces and destroyed two artillery pieces and two missile launchers after two Turkish soldiers were killed earlier, the state-owned Anadolu news agency reported on Friday, citing the Turkish Defence Ministry. On Thursday, two soldiers were killed and three others were wounded after Syrian government forces opened fire in the northwestern Syrian town of Idlib, the Turkish Defence Ministry said. A ceasefire deal between agreed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan came into effect at midnight in Idlib. (Reporting by Samar Hassan; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) PM Modi expected to travel to Bangladesh on March 17 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 07: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to Dhaka on March 17 in the midst of rising concerns in Bangladesh over India's new citizenship law and the proposed NRC. Modi is visiting Dhaka at the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina to attend the centenary celebrations of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. During the visit, the prime minister is expected to assuage Bangladesh's concerns over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), sources said. The CAA, which was notified on January 10, grants Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities -- Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian -- who migrated to India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh till December 31, 2014, following persecution over their faith. Coronavirus scare: Like PM Modi, why you should avoid celebrating holi Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla was in Bangladesh earlier this month and during his visit he had assured Bangladesh that the updation of the National Register of Citizens will have "no implications" for its people, asserting that it is a process that is "entirely internal" to the country. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan cancelled their visits to India in December over the prevailing situation following the passage of the new citizenship bill by Parliament. Dhaka was also apparently upset following the roll out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam even though India conveyed to it that the issue was an internal matter of the country. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 "Updation of National Register of Citizens is a process that is entirely internal to India," Shringla had said in an address in Dhaka. Rs 446.52 crore spent on foreign visits of PM Modi in last five year: MEA "India assures Bangladesh that NRC will have no implications for the country and its people," he had said. Prime Minister Modi's visit to Brussels this month to hold a summit meeting with the European Union has been postponed in view of the global spread of coronavirus. On Modi's visit to Bangladesh, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the prime minister will go to the neighbouring country to attend the centenary celebrations of Bangladesh's founder. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 9:53 [IST] Hollywood became synonymous with increased income and long absences from home. The manna from Faulkners work on screenplays and the movie options on his novels was very welcome indeed, but it did not come without cost to his marriage. When Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer offered six weeks at $500 a week in May 1932, the couple was significantly overdrawn and without credit. Faulkner literally spent his last few dollars wiring MGM that he would accept their offer. He then asked his uncle for a five-dollar loan. John Falkner instead offered a $500 loan to cover his nephews overdraft, but Faulkner declined and held out for a studio advance. Los Angeles Review of Books I wrote an article last year February headlintitled T&T and Guyanasame curse. As I am reading the election news coming out of Guyana, I am not one bit surprised. You see the thirst for corruption and greed is real. With the monumental amount of wealth about to bestow this underdeveloped country, did you think those in power would allow that opportunity to slide by? No, not by any means necessary. Mexico is the best country in Latin America when it comes to technology. Technological investments have propelled the country for the past few years and now boasts the most promising tech scene in the region. Conversations about Latin America's ecosystem will not be completed without including Mexico. It is the second-largest country in the region that received almost a quarter of technological investments in the region in 2017. The country has also been the entry point and became the second home of well-known tech companies like Google, Facebook, Uber, and now the biggest online streaming video in the world, Netflix. It is not surprising anymore why Mexico is getting into the technological scene. But, what made Mexico as the technological hub in Latin America? Here are the things that you should know according to a published article in Launchway Media: 1. Mexico was the first country in Latin America to pass a law that regulates fintech. Mexico's congress passed a bill in March 2018 that aimed to regulate the growing fintech market in the country. This is a clear manifestation that the country has fully embraced the full potential of technology towards the economy. Moreover, the bill will help to prevent money laundering and corruption. 2. Mexico received almost one-quarter of technological investments in Latin America. Mexico received the second-highest level of technological investments in Latin America according to LAVCA in 2017. They are next to Brazil. Overall, the country has accumulated $80 million worth of investment and making the country the second biggest player in Latin America. To name a few, most of the technological investors were fintech, edtech, e-commerce and more. 3. Mexico is the fifth-biggest user of Facebook in the world. Mexico has a total population of approximately 120 million and around more than 85 million of its population have a Facebook account. This means that more than half of the country's population is actively using Facebook. These numbers only speak that Mexico is the fifth-biggest user of Facebook in the world. 4. Goldman Sachs predicts that Mexico will be the world's fifth-biggest economy by 2050. Goldman Sachs predicted that Mexico has a big potential to become one of the biggest economies in the world by 2050. The giant company also added that with the young and highly connected population that tries to transition into a middle-class, the country is expected to lead Latin America in the coming years. 5. The Mexican government has committed over $600 million startups fund Mexican government through the Instituto Nacional del Emprendedor (INADEM) has committed a startup fund of over $600 million. Since 2014, the government has distributed an amount of $658 million to over 620,000 entrepreneurs. According to the INADEM, it helped to open 6,000 companies and more than 73,000 jobs. It is not a big surprise anymore why Mexico became the new haven of technological business in Latin America. In the previous report of Latin Post, it was reported that Netflix will have its new base in Mexico because of its growing customers in Latin America. With this, it is expected that Mexico will become the center of the technological revolution in the years to come. We blue it. Thats the stunning admission from Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservative government about the defective double-blue licence plates, which will soon be consigned to the dustbin or survive as curios. The Star has learned that a new white design will be unveiled within days to replace the governments flawed Tory-blue plates that are illegible in some lighting conditions. That means the revamped plate will more closely resemble the traditional white design in place since 1973, though they will not have the raised letters and numbers that are prone to peeling. The new white plate will use the slogan, A Place To Grow, introduced with the blue plate instead of the current Yours To Discover. Commercial plates will have the slogan, Open For Business. The colour shift is an embarrassing U-turn for the Conservatives, who launched the blue plate, which resembled a Q-tip box, with much fanfare in then treasurer Vic Fedelis poorly received budget last April. Ford was so unhappy with the rollout of the spending plan which featured hidden cuts to services that hurt the Tories politically he replaced Fedeli with Rod Phillips just 10 weeks later. But that June cabinet shuffle was well before the snafu with the blue plates erupted last month. The problem emerged when a Kingston police officer tweeted a photo of one plate that was impossible to read due to glare. At first, Government and Consumer Minister Lisa Thompson denied there was anything wrong and dubbed the current white design with blue letters and numbers as Liberal plates even though former Tory premier Bill Davis introduced them. Thompson quickly backtracked, blaming the problem on manufacturer, 3M Canada, which is currently paying to fix the problem. The actual cost of correcting the flaw is protected by a nondisclosure agreement signed by the government and the company. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has asked Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk to investigate how the boondoggle unfolded. Earlier this week, Ford blew his top when pressed about the fiasco by reporters. Youve got to be kidding me. Im shocked youre even asking me that I know the media wants to pound on little things. Were looking at the big vision, the premier said Monday. Lets make no mistake about it, I was frustrated, the minister was frustrated, said Ford, who ran his familys label-printing business before entering politics. Our minister has responded, the vendor has responded. The vendor had an issue. Were correcting it. Theres zero expense to the taxpayers. About 71,000 of the double-blue licence plates have been issued since Feb. 1. Motorists who have already received the illegible plates will be contacted by mail with instructions on how to get the white replacements. Licence plate validation stickers will also be reissued with new plates and any remaining stock of the blue plates will be recycled. Until the new white design is ready later this month the familiar white Yours To Discover plates will be issued. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: Its no small honor to be asked to pour at the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Festival in Paso Robles. American craft breweries clamor to get on the exclusive summer lineup, establishing the Central Coast town known for its vineyards and varietals as a bona fide beer town. This year, fewer than 60 breweries, including a few international ones, received an offer to come to the Firestone Invitational which includes invitations to numerous side activities Firestone Walker Brewing Company plans for them. Keeping the list short ensures not just that the weekend is manageable for event planners, but also that the bar for the quality of beer at the festival remains as high as possible. Its a phenomenal event and it has risen in the industry to (become) one of the premier beer festivals in the country, without question, says Tom McCormick, executive director of the California Craft Brewers Association. That translates well to the consumer and in how fast it sells out. If youre in the industry, you want to go, as a brewer or consumer. Its at the top of everyones list. This years roster included California brews from Monkish and Sante Adairius, as well as national whales a term for very rare beers from Bostons Trillium, Brooklyns Other Half, St. Louis Side Project and Indianas Three Floyds. Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo, founders of Russian River Brewing Company, busted out a magnum of their 2010 batch 5 of Temptation, a sour blonde ale aged in chardonnay barrels. Across the Paso Robles Event Center, Swedens Omnipollo and New Zealands Garage Project each poured beer-slushie concoctions to hundreds. Besides the quality of the beer on offer, the Firestone Invitational is unique from other American beer festivals in one major way: It focuses as much on the experience of the visiting brewers as the experience of the attendees. Every year, Firestone Walker welcomes hundreds of national and international brewery founders and staffers for a weekend of water park fun, beer shares, wine tasting and communal dinners, all in addition to the Saturday festival itself. Firestones reasoning: If the brewers have a fun visit, theyll keep coming back. Its like if you focus on those brewers having a good time, the festival will just happen in a magical way, Brynildson says. This is almost like a brewers gathering, and sometimes a festival occurs. That kind of thinking has made the Firestone Invitational a massively popular event, not only with brewers but with many devout craft beer drinkers. Every year, nearly 3,500 tickets for the festival are snatched up in 15 minutes or less. For the sake of comparison, thats roughly as many tickets as the much older Paso Robles Wine Festival sold this year. The festival has become a force behind the citys new economic and tourism initiative: Brew Paso. The campaign is a response to legislation the city passed in January 2018 to rezone portions of Paso Robles to allow for taprooms and tasting rooms to be built in bustling parts of downtown. Brew Paso was created by the Chamber of Commerce to seize the opportunity to market our city to prospective investors, says Josh Cross, director of economic development for Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce. Its purpose is to attract those local beer and wine businesses, like Firestone Walker, to further invest in the city, but also to promote other non-wine Central Coast companies: distilleries, cideries, coffee roasters and craft soda makers. The Firestone Invitational was the ideal vehicle for the launch of Brew Paso, Cross explains, because of how exemplary it is as a tourism revenue source. Vendors are traveling from all over the U.S. and world to spend three to five days in Paso, Cross says. This means that many are staying in hotels, dining in our restaurants, and spending money at our wineries and craft beverage businesses. For one such hotel, the budget-friendly Adelaide Inn, Firestone Invitational weekend represents the biggest single Friday and Saturday nights of the year. The inns pool becomes a go-to place for post-fest crowds to share a growler from home while cooling off from the hot June Central Coast sun. Brew Paso will go a long way in moving Paso forward. We dont want to be just known for our wine anymore, says Adelaide Inn General Manager Bill Roof. We did 20 years ago its very promotable but weve become a lot more than that. Alyssa Pereira is an SFGate producer. Email: apereira@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @alyspereira. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Billie Jones (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7 2020 Aceh is the only province in Indonesia that legislatively prohibits lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) activity. Vigilantes and sharia police raid the homes and workplaces of many in the LGBTQI community, making public displays of their unnatural behavior. The distinct visual contrast between waria or transwomen and heterosexual individuals makes them incredibly vulnerable to such raids, leaving many transwomen fearful for their livelihoods. Law No. 18/2014 on mental health guidelines categorizes homosexuals and bisexuals as people with psychiatric problems whilst transgender people are said to have mental disorders the distinction being that psychiatric conditions, if not treated, will put people at risk of developing a mental disorder. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Now that the Religious Right has nearly complete control of the executive branch of the federal government and, thanks to Moscow Mitch, has gone a long way toward controlling the federal courts as well, the sex lives of Americans are undoubtedly in for a long, hard slog. After all, as every True Believer knows, sex outside of marriage is a sin (and there are apparently a few sinful ways to do it inside a marriage as well); having sex with a same-sex partner is likewise a sin; and transgender people don't really existand those who think they are transgender are simply mistaken; just ask any of the shrinks and "counselors" who practice "deprogramming" trans folks. But arguably, among the worst sexual "crimes" the ultra-religious commit is their dedication to making sure that those who reach puberty (or are about to) remain as ignorant of all things sexual as they were the day they were born. Sure, men have dicks and women have vulvas, but until they're married, those organs should perform no sexual functions. That's why Planned Parenthood, which has a vested interest in kids not getting pregnant, has studied how sex ed is taught in schoolsif it's taught at all. Sure, 27 states do require both sex ed and information on HIV, but only 17 of them require that such information be medically accurateand while 20 states require such sex ed courses to include information on contraception, a full 39 of them require that such courses provide information on abstinence, and 29 require that such "abstinence ed" be "stressed," even though all actual scientific studies have found that abstinence ed is a surefire way to increase teen pregnancies and STDs in a community. And let's not even talk about the seven states that require only negative information be provided about homosexuality! And there's another problem that's come to the fore in recent years: State prosecutors cracking down on teens sexting each other, either with just words or naked selfies as welland the legal "wisdom" on that is that somehow, the under-18 gals are both child pornographers and victims of child porn simultaneously! Clearly, all these are important topics that the next president (assuming the current Felon-In-Chief doesn't get reelected) will have to deal withbut surprise, surprise: Not one single question regarding sex (other than sexual harassment) has been asked of any 2020 presidential candidate during the debates that have so far taken place! Never fear, though: Dr. Marty Klein, psychotherapist and marriage counselor, author of the ground-breaking study America's War On Sex, is here to help. Even though there will be, at most, only four Democratic candidates on stage at the next debate, and no one knows whether President Narciscisstic Personality Disorder will agree to debate whoever the Democrats' pick to run against him, Dr. Klein has put together a list of questions aimed at getting the candidates to reveal how they would treat sexual issues if elected. For example, Klein would like the candidates to be asked, "Will you encourage Congress to pass a law requiring all sex education to be medically accurate?" (The doctor then explains, "After all, we expect geography and chemistry curricula to be accurate. Most of todays federally-funded sex 'education' is filled with gender stereotypes, moral judgements, and outright lies. No wonder America leads the developed world in teen and unintended pregnancy.") But of perhaps greater interest to the adult industry, Dr. Klein would like candidates to respond as to questions such as, "Will you challenge state attorneys general to require local communities to prove they have a good reason to shut down strip clubs, swing clubs, and sex toy stores? Will you instruct the Department of Justice to examine the legality of cities inventing a Sexually Oriented Business category to create punitive zoning and taxation policies?" Also in his queue: "Will you discourage states from passing legislation declaring pornography a public health hazard? Every one of these declarations contains blatant lies (e.g., 'porn is responsible for the increase in sexual violence' [which doesnt exist]) and ridiculous, unproven assertions (e.g., 'porn is reducing young mens motivation to marry')." Dr. Klein's full list of proposed questions can be found hereand it's well worth reading. Gunmen on Thursday night, abducted Madam Beauty Nimizuoa, the 80-year-old mother of the Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Uroupaye Nimizuoa. According to eyewitnesses, the octogenarian was kidnapped at about 11.40pm at her Agudama-Ekpetiama country home in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State, few metres away from the community secondary school. The five-man gang, according to eyewitnesses, stormed the area by road in a Nissan Pathfinder, shot sporadically to scare the natives before swooping on their target. Spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat who confirmed the abduction, said the Command has launched manhunt for the kidnappers to rescue the victim. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Latin and ballroom duo Michael and Jovita have been named winners of The Greatest Dancer. They triumphed over Scottish dance troupe Dancepoint, young duo Lily & Joseph and contemporary dancer Harrison. The duo, who are also a real-life couple, will perform at Strictly Come Dancing later this year and win a 50,000 prize. Their victory marks a second consecutive victory for their dance captain Mabuse, who also mentored last years winner Ellie Ferguson. Jovita said: I dont know what to say, thank you Michael for lifting me every day, for 12 hours a day. Mabuse added: Im so proud of you two, that 50,000 is going to pay back the life they have given up for this show. The final saw all four dance captains, Mabuse, Matthew Morrison, Cheryl and Todrick Hall, take to the stage with their acts to perform a special routine. Dancepoint performed a Mad Hatters Tea Party themed dance, with Hall joining them as the Mad Hatter to perform to his own song Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels. Video of the Day First stop: wonderland! Dancepoint and @Todrick are putting on a tea party you won't want to miss #GreatestDancer pic.twitter.com/n3F82ulNed The Greatest Dancer (@GreatDancerTV) March 7, 2020 Cheryl joined Lily & Joseph to perform a dream-like routine to Pure Imagination from the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Michael and Jowita were joined by Mabuse to perform an energetic and lift-filled routine to Ballroom Blitz by Sweet, while Morrison joined Harrison to perform a Broadway-inspired number to the Robbie Williams and Michael Buble song Soda Pop. Unfortunately, it's time to say goodbye to Dancepoint. You have all been AMAZING #GreatestDancer pic.twitter.com/C6UzFXGaA1 The Greatest Dancer (@GreatDancerTV) March 7, 2020 Dancepoint were eliminated halfway through the final, before Lily & Joseph, Harrison and Michael & Jowita went head-to-head to perform their favourite routine from the series. The winning duo reprised their Monte Carlo routine as their final performance of the series. .@JowitaMichael are taking us on a return trip to Monte Carlo and getting this Final party started! pic.twitter.com/3smdjpNuuc The Greatest Dancer (@GreatDancerTV) March 7, 2020 The second series of the show was the first for new captain Hall, who first found fame on American Idol. The first series of the show featured only three dance captains. Everyday Corona's havoc is increasing so much that the effect of this disease is being seen on humans as well as animals. In the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh, the district administration is on high alert due to the possibility of being caught by the biggest Purnagiri fair in Kumaon amid the knock of coronavirus. The absence of a system of health check-ups of people going to the Indo-Nepal open border of Mahakali river is also a problem. According to the information received, it has been learned that during the Mela period, apart from UP and Nepal, about 20 to 25 lakh devotees come from different parts of the country. Keeping this in mind, seeing the number of devotees coming to the fair, it will be a big challenge to prepare camps and deploy doctors for corona examination. However, CMO Dr. RP Khanduri says that a letter has been sent to the Director-General of Health for the deployment of more doctors in the Purnagiri fair. The Mela will monitor the health of the people, deploying 20 staff in place of five along with two medical camps in the area, running a mobile medical van with an additional ambulance for 24 hours at Thuligad. Prevention of Corona, facility, nothing: It is also being said that the Health Department has opened investigation centres at many places including SSB checkposts located on the Indo-Nepal border but did not make any arrangements for the medical staff posted in these centers. has gone. Due to this, in the rainy season on Friday, the medical team had to stand and perform health tests with the help of umbrella. Also Read: MLA-MP will count achievements of Yogi government after 3 years completion Congress received a major blow, these two veteran leaders left the party 'There is no dispute in our family' says Shivpal Singh At least 80 hospitalised after gas leak at chemical factory in Karachi An appeal has been made in the Supreme Court against the death sentence of former President and dictator Pervez Musharraf in India's neighboring country of Pakistan. Pakistan Bar Council has challenged the decision of Lahore High Court against the death sentence of Musharraf. The media report said on Friday that the Pakistan Bar Council has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Lahore High Court's order to ban former dictator Pervez Musharraf on death sentence in the sedition case. They tease those who do the right thing: PM Modi On December 17 last year, a special court in Islamabad sentenced 74-year-old retired general Pervez Musharraf to death in Dubai. The ruling was delivered six years after the high-profile sedition case was heard against him. However, on 13 January Musharraf's trial in the sedition case was declared unconstitutional by the Lahore High Court, which announced the death sentence against the former president. Was done. Coronavirus had killed many high officials in the Iranian government The Pakistan Bar Council on Thursday filed a petition against this decision of the Lahore High Court. According to the Pakistani newspaper, a petition filed on behalf of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Vice Chairman Abid Saki and Supreme Court Bar Association President Syed Qalab-e-Hasan demanded the top court to defer the decision of the Lahore High Court has gone. Many serious questions have been asked in this. "We have leaders and still rats are responsible for scams", says Rabri Devi RTHK: Twenty-one on stranded US cruise ship test positive Twenty-one people onboard a cruise ship stranded off the coast of San Francisco have tested positive for the new coronavirus, Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday. "Among those positive for coronavirus were 19 crew members and two passengers," said Pence, who has been tasked by President Donald Trump to coordinate the US government's response to the outbreak. Pence said the ship will be brought to a non-commercial dock this weekend and all 3,533 passengers and crew will be tested. "We will be testing everyone on the ship and quarantining as necessary," Pence said. "But with regard to the 1,100-member crew, we anticipate that they will be quarantined on the ship." The Grand Princess has been stranded off San Francisco since Wednesday - when it was supposed to dock - after it emerged that two people who had been on the ship during its previous voyage had contracted the virus. One later died. Pence said he believes the numbers of those infected was high among the crew as they had likely been exposed during two previous outings. Passenger Carolyn Wright, 63, told the AFP news agency that guests were hoping the ship will dock soon. "Looks like we'll be stuck here for a while," she said, adding that she was crossing her fingers that neither she nor her friend would end up sick. Pence said he expects four million tests to be shipped to states impacted by the end of next week. More than 200 people have contracted the virus in the United States, and 12 have died, 11 of them in the state of Washington. Worldwide, the virus has killed more than 3,450 people and infected more than 100,000 across 92 nations, according to the latest count by AFP. Earlier on Friday, President Donald Trump signed an emergency US$8.3 billion spending bill to fight the outbreak and visited the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in Atlanta. Meanwhile, the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas and the Ultra electronic dance festival in Miami were cancelled by authorities as scrutiny ramps up on events that draw large crowds. More than 400,000 people attended the 2019 edition of SXSW, a music, tech and film festival that was slated to take place March 13-22 although Netflix, Apple and Amazon had already pulled out. Ultra, scheduled for March 20 to 22, regularly draws in more than 160,000 revellers. The cancellation poses a challenge for Miami, which relies on tourism especially in March and April, when thousands of young people fly south for spring break. The spread of the disease has prompted some universities and schools in Washington state to cancel classes or move them online. In an email to students on Friday, the University of Washington said all classes and final exams for the winter quarter, which ends March 20, will take place online. "We plan to resume normal class operations when spring quarter begins March 30, pending public health guidance," university president Ana Mari Cauce said. Another school, Boston-based Northeastern University, which has a satellite campus in Seattle, also said its campus will move to online teaching on Monday. In California, where more than 60 people have been diagnosed with the virus - including two airport medical screeners - and one person has died, health officials were bracing for the numbers to spike as more and more people are tested. The person who died was a 71-year-old man who had been onboard the Grand Princess during its previous voyage between San Francisco and Mexico. Health officials sounded the alarm over the cruise ship after several passengers who were on the previous voyage and remained on the vessel for its next trip to Hawaii developed flu-like symptoms. Princess Cruises said there were 3,533 people aboard, including 2,422 passengers and 1,111 crew. In total, they represent 54 nationalities. Princess Cruises operates the Diamond Princess - the coronavirus-stricken ship held off Japan last month from which more than 700 people tested positive and six died. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-03-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. ALTON Madison County Catholic Charities will present its 20th annual fundraiser, Help On The Move, at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at Bluff City Grill, 424 E. Broadway, Alton. Our annual fundraiser provides us with critical funding to help meet the needs of our clients, said Denise Brown, Area Director for Madison County Catholic Charities. The people of Madison County have been very supportive of our efforts for almost 70 years now. Annually Madison Catholic Charities serves hundreds of children and families by bringing a Mobile Food Pantry to communities in Calhoun, Jersey and Bond counties. It is important that we seek out people living in rural communities who are suffering from hunger in isolation, said Brown. These folks deserve mercy and assistance just as much as anyone else, but they are most oftentimes forgotten. The event will include the presentation of the Father Jack Quilligan Award to Al Womack, Jr., executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Alton. He has been involved with the club for more than 22 years. Al epitomizes what this award is all about, said Steven Roach, executive director for Catholic Charities in the Springfield Diocese. His dedication to the youth of this community is unmatched. He is a hero in real time. The Mary Alyce Beardslee Award also will be presented posthumously to Tori Harrison, the wife of the late David Harrison. As coordinator of the Madison County Community Development Homeless Prevention program, Harrison dedicated 20 years to helping people find stable housing, get off of the streets and have their dignity restored. The evening includes a cocktail hour, games, dinner, music by the Owlz Band, an auction and a $10,000 raffle drawing. Proceeds will support the services of Madison County Catholic Charities, including the Mobile Food Pantry, Professional Counseling Solutions, Homeless Prevention & Crisis Assistance, MedAssist, Guardian Angel Food Pantry and the Catholic Charities Legal Services programs. Tickets, $40 each, are available online at cc.dio.org or by calling 618-462-0634. Since 1941 Catholic Charites has provided services in Madison County, operating offices in Alton and Granite City. Advertisement Boris Johnson's fiancee Carrie Symonds showed off her emerald engagement ring estimated to have cost between 25,000 and 30,000 as she debuted her blossoming baby bump today. Miss Symonds and the Prime Minister attended the reception for International Women's Day in No. 10, the first time she has been seen since the couple's shock announcement that they are expecting a baby in the early summer. Never one to shy away from bold colours and fashion-forward silhouettes, the former Conservative Party press officer donned a long-sleeve tiered maxi dress from Anthropologie for the reception while sporting her new engagement ring. Her colourful frock beautifully complemented her engagement ring, a square emerald surrounded by petal shaped diamonds. Ms Symonds shared an intimate photo of her and Mr Johnson, 55, last Saturday with the caption: 'I wouldn't normally post this kind of thing on here but I wanted my friends to find out from me.' Boris Johnson's fiancee Carrie Symonds debuted her blossoming baby bump today, a week after announcing they were expecting their first child in early summer. Pictured: The Prime Minister, Miss Symonds and Point of Light Award winner Lizzie Carr She colourful frock beautifully complemented her engagement ring, which a top jeweller believes is a blue sapphire, notably the stone of choice for Princess Diana's engagement ring The date of their wedding has not been announced, but it will mark the first time in at least 250 years a sitting prime minister has married while in office. Pictured: Miss Symonds shows off her bump while mingling with guests at the awards It marks the first time Miss Symonds has been seen since she shared an intimate photo of her and the PM last Saturday with the caption: 'I wouldn't normally post this kind of thing on here but I wanted my friends to find out from me'. Pictured: Mr Johnson addresses the crowd at the awards Managing director of 77 Diamonds Tobias Kormind had earlier suggested the ring was a blue sapphire. He said: 'Without examining it through a microscope, what looks really interesting is in some of the pictures it looks like a blue sapphire. 'It is actually quite similar to the Diana ring that Kate wore but it is not as big, that is for sure.' He added: 'With sapphires it is quite difficult to tell the quality from looking at them. There could be a wide range of qualities from the value but it is likely between 25,000 and 30,000. It could be a bit less than that.' 'Many of you already know but for my friends that still don't, we got engaged at the end of last year... and we've got a baby hatching early summer.' The date of their wedding has not been announced, but it will mark the first time in at least 250 years a sitting prime minister has married while in office. The appearance book ends a difficult week for Mr Johnson, starting with accusations from Labour MPs that his pregnancy announcement last Saturday was a ploy to distract attention from a damaging Home Office row engulfing the government and Priti Patel. Managing director of 77 Diamonds Tobias Kormind said the ring 'is actually quite similar to the Diana ring that Kate wore (pictured) but it is not as big, that is for sure' Mr Johnson was under the spotlight for his slow response to the coronavirus outbreak and faced a backlash for not visiting flood-hit communities during the recent storms, instead staying put at the government's grace-and-favour country retreat in Kent, at the time. The same day the pregnancy announcement was made, Home Office mandarin Sir Philip Rutnam resigned following an ugly briefing war with Ms Patel. Sir Philip claimed there had been a 'vicious and orchestrated' campaign against him and added that he intends to sue the Government for constructive dismissal. Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds are engaged and expecting a baby in early summer Ms Symonds is the first unmarried partner of an incumbent British prime minister. She has largely kept out of the public eye since Mr Johnson, 55, took the reins of government in July (pictured February 14, the last time Ms Symonds was seen before the pictures emerged today) After persistent reports of a major rift between them, the 33-year civil service veteran walked out with all guns blazing, launching a withering attack on Ms Patel in a statement on live TV. Managing director of 77 Diamonds Tobias Kormind believes the ring is a five carat blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds on a white gold band, notably the stone and design of choice for Princess Diana's engagement ring Towards the end of the week, Mr Johnson tried to reassure Britons that he would 'keep the country fed' during the coronavirus outbreak in a bid to stop panic-buyers from raiding supermarket shelves and stockpiling food. The PM said he had faith in the ability of the public to see the 'balance of risk' with the disease, and he hoped they would carry on with 'business as usual' despite the number of infections soaring into triple digits. Speaking to reassure the country during his appearance on ITV's This Morning Mr Johnson was asked if he could guarantee Britons will still be able to get food, and replied: 'Yes.' On the same This Morning interview, the PM admitted he was 'very excited' for the birth of his child with Miss Symonds, but did not add anything else, prompting co-host Phillip Schofield to ask: 'Is that it?' When Mr Schofield then asked: 'How good are you at changing nappies? Will you change nappies?', the Prime Minister appeared flustered before eventually saying: 'I expect so.' The Prime Minister has at least five children, although he has never confirmed the exact number after imposing a blanket ban on talking about his family. This will be the first child born to his 31-year-old partner. Mr Johnson, who has been married twice previously, this month finalised his divorce with estranged wife Marina Wheeler, with whom he has two daughters and two sons. Last night, Downing Street would not confirmed if the decree absolute had been granted. On Thursday, Mr Johnson tried to reassure Britons that he would 'keep the country fed' during the coronavirus outbreak in a bid to stop panic-buyers from raiding supermarket shelves and stockpiling food while appearing on ITV's This Morning While he was still married to barrister Ms Wheeler, he began dating Ms Symonds, and the couple are believed to have been in a relationship for over a year. A spokesperson for the couple said: 'The Prime Minister and Ms Symonds are very pleased to announce their engagement and that they are expecting a baby in the early summer.' Ms Symonds and Mr Johnson, who live together in Downing Street, recently enjoyed a luxury Christmas Caribbean vacation in Mustique where he is believed to have proposed. The couple's relationship has been firmly in the public spotlight, and a row in her Camberwell flat during last summer's Tory leadership election wobbled Mr Johnson's bid for the top job. On Friday, it emerged Ms Symonds had hired a media professional to handle her communications and help on her campaigns as she molds into the role of the UK's first lady. But she has already been described as the power behind the throne, with reports of her and Downing Street supremo Dominic Cummings in a tug of war for the PM's ear. Mr Johnson shook hands with both Phil and Holly - and insisted there was no problem with the traditional greeting if everyone was washing properly Ms Symonds is the first unmarried partner of an incumbent British prime minister. She has largely kept out of the public eye since Mr Johnson, 55, took the reins of government in July. She was scarcely seen at the PM's side on the general election campaign trail, but waved with her soon-to-be husband on the steps outside the famous black door following the Conservatives' thumping victory. The couple chose to live at the larger four-bedroom flat at No 11 Downing Street instead of the smaller two-bedroom official residence at No 10. They already share a dog, Dilyn, with the PM saying that he helped keep his stress down during the election campaign. It has been suggested in the past that Ms Symonds could not become a fully-fledged 'first lady' until the couple were married. Mr Johnson was coy when asked about the subject last year, telling reporters that marriage speculation was 'a tiny bit premature'. Pictures from the awards earlier this week were shared to No. 10's official Twitter page with the caption: 'Tomorrow its International Womens Day. We celebrated earlier this week by hosting a reception at Downing Street.' The couple were pictured with Point of Light Award Winner Lizzie Carr, 32, who teaches volunteers how to ride inflatable paddle boards and then puts them to work with litter pickers on rivers and canals. In 2017, the cancer survivor became the first woman to paddle board solo across the English Channel. The Point Of Light award recognises outstanding volunteers across the UK. It docked at Tien Sa Port along with cruiser USS Bunker Hill and a destroyer. The carrier has 5,000 crew members while the other two have a total of 1,500. The Theodore Roosevelt is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered carrier, 1,092 feet (332.8 meters) long and with a displacement of 117,000 tons and capacity to carry 90 aircraft. Following directions from the MoIT, retailers have tripled stocks in anticipation of an outbreak On the morning of March 7, the MoIT issued a quick notice on the situation of goods supply in Hanoi. According to quick reports from some retailers, the number of customers has increased sharply since the morning of March 7 but supermarkets can still meet the demand. Previously, under the guidance of the MoIT and assessing the purchasing demand of people during the epidemic, suppliers have gradually tripled their stockpiles of goods. These preparations are now paying off, as the first COVID-19 infected patient has been reported in Hanoi, raising concern among the populace of the capital. The MoIT has issued a written directive to retailers (supermarkets and convenience stores) in Hanoi to increase the supply of goods, especially essential consumer goods, to ensure the needs of the people. Duong Thi Thanh Tam, deputy general director of Vincommerce (the owner of the Vinmart and Vinmart+ chains) also affirmed that the supermarket chains are restocking shelves continuously throughout the day. However, fears of the epidemic drive Hanoians to supermarkets to stock up on consumer goods. On the morning of March 7, Hanoi People's Committee continued its meeting on COVID-19 in the capital. The city party secretary Vuong Dinh Hue said, "I spoke with the leaders of large supermarket systems in the area and they committed to ensuring enough goods supply." The Hanoi party secretary also affirmed that besides the supermarket system, the city has other channels which are capable to ensure the necessities of the people. "If a large number of shoppers do not take adequate safety measures, there would be risk of contagion. People might worry but they must remain level-headed and practical in protecting the health of their families or informing the functional authorities on their health status," Hue recommended. Authorities say shortages are only temporary and suggested supermarkets to inform people of the availability of goods. Currently, the city has 455 markets, 26 commercial centres, 142 supermarkets, 1,800 convenience stores, and a large number of online businesses. The following photos are courtesy of nhipsongkinhte.toquoc.vn. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency Saturday as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state rose to 76. Most of the infections in the state are just north of New York City in Westchester County, where there are 57 confirmed cases in total. But there is increased concern about the spread of the virus in New York City, where there are 11 confirmed cases. The declaration makes it easier for the state to hire people and buy any needed supplies. Advertisement The emergency declaration came a day after two people who tested positive for the new coronavirus died in Florida, marking the first known deaths on the East Coast. The two people who died were in their 70s and had traveled overseas, according to officials. These two deaths bring the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 to 17, of which 14 were in the state of Washington and one in California. Health officials also said two older male patients in Broward County, Florida, had tested positive for the new coronavirus. Later in the day, Washington state said two more people had died, raising the states total toll to 16, and the countrys to 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of suspected cases continued to spread, and half of all U.S. states have confirmed cases. There are a total of 312 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in the United States and that does not count the 21 people who have tested positive in a cruise that is being held off the coast of California. There are about 3,500 people aboard the Grand Princess, which will be taken to an unspecified noncommercial port, where everyone will be tested.* Those that need to be quarantined, will be quarantined. Those that require additional medical attention will receive it, Vice President Mike Pence told reporters. That seemed to contradict what President Donald Trump had expressed Friday afternoon, when he said that he would prefer to keep passengers on the cruise. I dont need to have the [infection] numbers double because of one ship that wasnt our fault, and wasnt the fault of the people on the ship either, he said. I can live either way with it. Id rather have the people stay on, personally. Advertisement Advertisement Even as officials tried to bring calm to a jittery public, music festivals and conferences are being canceled. Some universities are also taking measures to avoid public gatherings with Stanford University and the University of Washington both saying classes would not meet in person as of Monday. Globally, more than 100,000 cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed and more than 3,400 people have been killed. Around 3.4 percent of confirmed cases have died, according to the World Health Organization. In China, a hotel that was being used for observation of people who had been in contact with coronavirus patients collapsed, trapping 70 people. This post has been updated with new information since it was first published. WATERLOO, N.Y. -- A utility worker was killed early Friday when a drunken driver crashed into his work truck in Seneca County, deputies said. The accident happened around 12:20 a.m. in Waterloo. The utility worker, Paul J. Kelley, 49, of County Road 132, Ovid, was working on Burgess Road, Seneca County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. Traffic cones were set up and the Kelleys truck had hazard lights on, deputies said. Jon Lamere, 29, of Caroline Road, Waterloo, did not see the cones or hazard lights when he rear-ended the truck, hitting Kelley, deputies said. Kelley was pronounced dead at the scene, deputies said. Lamere has been charged with: Driving while intoxicated Second-degree vehicular manslaughter Reckless driving Unlawful possession of marijuana Using a cellphone without a hands-free device Lamere will be released, deputies said, and will appear later in court. In addition to deputies, the Waterloo Fire Department, the Waterloo Police Department and North Seneca Ambulance. Burgess Road was closed for hours while deputies worked to reconstruct the scene. The accident remains under investigation 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 PARIS A powerful deputy mayor of Paris, who has been criticized for his links to the pedophile writer Gabriel Matzneff, said on Friday that he had learned only recently of the authors abuse of prepubescent boys and teenage girls. Despite a long association with the writer, the deputy mayor, Christophe Girard, in an interview with The New York Times, denied almost any knowledge of the abuses by the writer, who has written and spoke openly about his pedophilia since the 1970s and even dedicated a book to him. Instead, Mr. Girard said he had discovered Mr. Matzneffs abuses only after reading Le Consentement, or Consent, which was published in early January. The book is the first account by one of Mr. Matzneffs former victims, Vanessa Springora. On Wednesday, Mr. Girard was questioned as a witness for four hours by detectives now investigating Mr. Matzneff. Only then, he said, was he shown book passages in which Mr. Matzneff wrote about having sex with boys. No country in the world says everybody is welcome, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, hitting out at those criticising India over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Jaishankar criticised the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for its criticism on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, saying its director had been wrong previously too and one should look at the UN body's past record on handling the Kashmir issue. "We have tried to reduce the number of stateless people through this legislation. That should be appreciated," he said when asked about the CAA at the ET Global Business Summit. "We have done it in a way that we do not create a bigger problem for ourselves." "Everybody, when they look at citizenship, has a context and has a criterion. Show me a country in the world which says everybody in the world is welcome. Nobody says that" the minister said. READ| 'Indian Embassies exude receptivity and extend support,' says EAM S Jaishankar The external affairs minister said moving out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was in the interest of India's business. Asked about the UNHRC director not agreeing with India on the Kashmir issue, Jaishankar said: "UNHRC director has been wrong before. "UNHRC skirts around cross-border terrorism as if it has nothing to do with country next door. Please understand where they are coming from; look at UNHRC's record how they handled Kashmir issue in past," he added. UNHRC on CAA The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday issued a statement on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights filing an intervention application in the Supreme Court pertaining to the petition challenging the Citizenship Amendment Act. Stressing that the CAA was an internal matter of India, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar categorically stated that no foreign party had any locus standi on issues concerning Indias sovereignty. Moreover, he emphasised that the CAA was consistent with Indias commitment to addressing human rights issues arising out of the partition. Thereafter, Kumar exuded confidence that the CAA would withstand legal scrutiny in the Supreme Court. The CAA seeks to provide citizenship to the minority communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be applicable to the members of these communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. Moreover, they will not be considered as illegal migrants. Additionally, the mandatory residence period for naturalised citizenship for these communities has been reduced to five years. The Opposition contends that the Act discriminates on the basis of religion. (With PTI inputs) READ| 'Our world today is in the middle of a real transformation': S Jaishankar at CPR 2020 READ| Need to have sober conversations: Jaishankar on changing nature of geo-politics Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Attributing his ascendance to the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister to the blessings of Lord Ram, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray claimed that he had dissociated with his ally for decades the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but not Hindutva. Thackeray, who was on a days trip to Ayodhya along with his wife Rashmi and son Aditya, also announced a contribution of Rs 1 crore towards the construction of the temple. He was visiting the temple town on Saturday after completing 100 days in office, accompanied by 18 MPs and 40 MLAs of his party. The Maharashtra CM said that he had come to seek the blessing of Lord Ram along with his 'Bhagwa Parivar'. "I might have parted ways with the BJP but am still with Hindutva. Hindutva and BJP are two different entities. This has been my third visit to Ayodhya in the last 1.5 years and I shall keep coming to this place," said Thackeray amid cheers of Jai Shri Ram by his partymen. He reminded the gathering of his association with Ayodhya since the days of his father Bal Thackeray and his role in the temple movement. ALSO READ: As Uddhav visits Ayodhya to commemorate 100 days in office, Sena says no change in party ideology Conceding that he had never even dreamt of becoming the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav said that it was due to the blessings of Lord Ram. "Merely a year after my Ayodhya visit in November 2018, not only did the Supreme Court deliver the verdict in favour of temple but I was made the Chief Minister of Maharashtra also. It was because of the blessings of Lord Ram," said Thackeray while interacting with media persons before going to have darshan of Ram Lalla in the makeshift temple in the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. While making the announcement to donate Rs 1 crore towards the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Maharashtra CM also appealed to UP CM Yogi Adityanath to allocate a piece of land to his government in Ayodhya where a Maharashtra Bhawan could be constructed to facilitate the stay of Ram Bhakts who thronged the temple town from Maharashtra. While Uddhav and his family reached Ayodhya by road after landing in Lucknow on Saturday morning, scores of Shiv Sainiks reached the temple town by a special train a day earlier on Friday evening. Earlier, the Sena chief had planned to perform Aarti alongside the holy Saryu but he cancelled the programme owing to the coronavirus scare as it would have led to a huge gathering. Meanwhile, in another development, the district authorities of Ayodhya had put a number of saints, seers and leaders of the Hindu Mahasabha (HMS) under house arrest anticipating opposition to the Sena chief visit after he joined hands with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to form a government in Maharashtra. A number of Ayodhya saints including Tapasvi Chhavni chief Mahant Paramhans Das and HMS leader Rakesh Dutt Mishra had openly opposed Uddhav Thackreys visit accusing him of breaching his fathers ideology and colluding with the Congress, a party which had deemed Lord Ram an imaginary figure." Saudi Arabia limited on Saturday land crossings with the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain to commercial trucks only, with arrivals from the three countries temporarily limited to three airports as a precaution taken over the spread of the coronavirus, Saudi news agency SPA reported. The three airports are King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, SPA added. Kuwait suspends flights to and from seven countries Kuwait suspended on Saturday all flights to and from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Bangladesh, Philippines, India, and Sri-Lanka for a week starting on Saturday, Kuwait's civil aviation directorate said in a tweet. Kuwait also banned entry of anyone who has been in the seven countries in the last two weeks except for Kuwaitis coming from the seven countries, who will be allowed entry but will have to submit to quarantine procedures, the civil aviation directorate added. US raises travel alert levels for Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan over coronavirus The U.S. State Department on Friday raised its alert level for travel to Azerbaijan, warning Americans to reconsider travel there due to a coronavirus outbreak and response measures implemented by the country's government. The State Department also raised its alert level for travel to Turkmenistan due to travel restrictions and quarantine procedures instituted in response to the virus. Neither country has reported many cases but both border Iran, which has been hard hit by the coronavirus. The U.S. State Department slapped a travel advisory warning on Iran last month, urging Americans not to travel there. Pet therapy is gaining fans in health care and beyond. Animal-assisted therapy can reduce pain and anxiety in people with a range of health problems. What is pet therapy? Pet therapy is a broad term that includes animal-assisted therapy and other animal-assisted activities. Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field that uses dogs or other animals to help people recover from or better cope with health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and mental-health disorders. Animal-assisted activities, on the other hand, have a more general purpose, such as providing comfort and enjoyment for nursing-home residents. How does animal-assisted therapy work? If youre in the hospital, your health care provider might mention the hospitals animal-assisted therapy program. If youre interested, an assistance dog and its handler will visit your hospital room. They stay for 10 or 15 minutes. Youre invited to pet the dog and ask the handler questions. After the visit, you realize you feel a little less tired and a bit more optimistic. Who can benefit? Animal-assisted therapy can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue in people with a range of health problems: Children having dental procedures. People receiving cancer treatment. People in long-term care facilities. People with cardiovascular diseases. People with dementia. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. People with anxiety. And its not only people with health problems who reap the benefits. Family members and friends who sit in on animal visits say they feel better, too. Pet therapy also is being used in nonmedical settings, such as universities and community programs, to help people deal with anxiety and stress. Does pet therapy have risks? The biggest concern, particularly in hospitals, is safety and sanitation. Most hospitals and other facilities that use pet therapy have stringent rules to ensure that the animals are clean, vaccinated, well-trained and screened for appropriate behavior. Animal-assisted therapy in action More than a dozen registered therapy dogs and their handlers are part of Mayo Clinics Caring Canines program. They make regular visits to various hospital departments and even make special visits on request. The dogs are a welcome distraction and help reduce the stress and anxiety that can accompany hospital visits. Bucharest, March 8 : The Republic of Moldova confirmed on Saturday its first case of the novel coronavirus, the Health Ministry announced. The case involves a woman who just returned on Saturday by plane from Italy. She was in serious health condition and was taken to a hospital by the 112 service straight from the international airport in Chisinau, on a separate corridor, the Xinhua news agency reported. The 48-year-old woman has bilateral bronchopneumonia, acute respiratory failure, fever and cough, according to the Ministry. She also suffers from several chronic diseases: diabetes, grade 2 overweight and hypertension. An additional reconfirmation test is to be carried out soon, according to the Ministry. The health authorities called on all passengers of the flight from Italy to remain in quarantine at home and immediately inform the family doctor for examination and monitoring. The government announced to hold an extraordinary national meeting of public health on early Sunday to deal with the situation. Italy is a popular destination for job seekers from Moldova because of similar language. Although there is no official statistics, it is generally estimated that at least 5,00,000 Moldovans, or one-seventh of Moldova's population, are working in Italy. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New York, March 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cloud ITSM Market by Component, Organization Size, and Industry Vertical : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20182026" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05868988/?utm_source=GNW IT service management is explicitly proposed to improve the organizations way of managing, approaching, and delivering IT services. In addition, cloud ITSM is frequently employed using a defined processes and framework, and mostly Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). Moreover, Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) is a set of policies, procedures, and processes, which improve, automate, and integrate the IT staff support for an organizations employees. Furthermore, cloud ITSM increases organizations operational efficiency and enhances employee/workers productivity by improving visibility and intorducing automation into financial & service data. Factors such as increase in adoption of cloud-based technologies is the key factor driving the market growth for cloud ITSM industry. In addition, integration of AI-Enabled tools with ITSM solutions is also expected to boost the market growth. However, security & privacy concerns for confidential data and business processes is expected to impede the market growth during the forecast period. Furthermore, widespread adoption of BYOD trend and increase in mobile workforce are expected to provide major growth opportunities for cloud ITSM market in the upcoming years. In addition, rise in demand among small & medium enterprises is also anticipated to provide lucrative opportunities for the market growth in the forthcoming years. The global cloud ITSM market is segmented on the basis of component, organization size, industry vertical, and region. By component, the market is bifurcated into solutions and services. By organization size, the market is divided into large enterprises and small & medium enterprises. By industry vertical, the market is classified into IT & telecommunication, BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, education, and others. By region, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. The report analyzes the profiles of the key players operating in the market. These include Axios Systems, BMC Software, CA Technologies, Citrix Systems, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), ManageEngine, Micro Focus, Microsoft Corporation, and ServiceNow. KEY BENEFITS The report provides an in-depth analysis of the global cloud ITSM market, outlining current trends, key driving factors, and potential areas for product investments. Key players are analyzed with respect to their primary offerings, recent investments, and future development strategies. Porters five forces analysis illustrates the potency of buyers and suppliers operating in the industry. The quantitative analysis of the global cloud ITSM market from 2018 to 2026 is provided to determine the market potential. KEY MARKET SEGMENTS BY COMPONENT Solutions Services BY ORGANIZATION SIZE Large Enterprises Small & Medium Enterprises BY INDUSTRY VERTICAL IT & Telecommunication BFSI Healthcare Manufacturing Retail Education Others BY REGION North America o U.S. o Canada Europe o UK o Germany o France o Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific o China o India o Japan o South Korea o Australia o Rest of Asia-Pacific LAMEA o Latin America o Middle East o Africa KEY MARKET PLAYERS PROFILED IN THE REPORT Axios Systems BMC Software CA Technologies Citrix Systems Hewlett Packard Enterprise International Business Machines Corporation ManageEngine Micro Focus Microsoft Corporation ServiceNow Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05868988/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ The effects of climate change often fall hardest on the poorest and smallholder farmers in developing countries are among those most at risk. With limited savings, limited access to credit, and uncertain access to land, water and so on, poorer farmers are unable to cope with increasingly frequent natural disasters, bad growing seasons or the degradation of agricultural land. Because of this, building resilience to climate change among smallholders is a major focus of development agencies and philanthropic organisations including the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation, and Gates Foundation. Current solutions often focus heavily on individuals and households, for instance by improving access to insurance or more drought-resistant seed. This is all very well, but such a focus tends to overlook the deeper historical roots of vulnerability to climate change and so fails to consider the longer term. Across much of the developing world, the historic legacies of colonialism play a very important role in shaping vulnerabilities in the first place. This is true in the general sense that patterns of inequality are often very strongly shaped by colonial legacies, but also in more specific ways. For example, in my research on the history of debt, drought, and peanut cultivation in Senegal, Ive shown how climate vulnerability is rooted in patterns that developed during the early 20th century. The peanut boom Peanut farming in Senegal is mostly reliant on rainfall for water. As a result, its particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in annual rainfall. There have been severe droughts and failed crops several times in the last decade, and a catastrophic drought through most of the 1970s and 1980s had lasting impacts on vegetation and soil quality. Peanut growing areas, which cover 40% of Senegals agricultural land, are still significantly less likely to have access to irrigation, and disproportionately affected by fluctuations in rainfall. This is even true in comparison to other areas in Senegal, where horticultural production was adopted starting in the 1980s, and the Senegal River Valley, where rice has emerged recently as a major export crop. Story continues Peanut growers reliance on rainfall is in fact the product of very specific historical circumstances. Peanuts arent a native species. They were introduced from South America in the 16th century, likely by Portuguese traders. They were initially cultivated in small quantities, along with a range of other subsistence and commodity crops, in the Gambia river basin. This changed in the mid-19th century. The French were concerned about their growing reliance on British-controlled India for plant oils, and sought to encourage imports from their own colonies. This coincided with the end of the Atlantic slave trade. Slaveholders in West Africa were pushed to redeploy slave labour in producing peanuts for export, rather than selling enslaved people themselves. As a result, peanut exports from Senegal boomed in the second half of the 19th century. In 1840, an estimated metric ton of nuts were exported. The equivalent figure in 1898 was 95,000. Export volumes continued to grow steadily until the mid-1920s. Peanuts consistently made up roughly 90% of exports from Senegal, and often about half of exports from French West Africa overall. Climate vulnerability in Senegal today is shaped profoundly by the way that peanut cultivation and export were organised during this long boom. Climate vulnerability One important factor was a shift in the epicentre of production away from the Gambia river basin. This was driven by the need to expand the amount of land under cultivation, and by the development of transport infrastructure. The first railway line in the territory, built in 1885 and running between major coastal cities of Dakar and St Louis, was particularly important. Thies, a trading post along the line, became a crucial hub for the expanded peanut trade. Notably, Thies was far from either major river basin in the country and in semi-arid terrain. The area had soils that were well-suited to peanut cultivation. But rainfall was the only available source of water for crops. Farmers in this area were made much more vulnerable to fluctuating rainfall as a result. Another significant factor was the reliance of major trading firms on credit and debt as means of controlling crops and cultivation. Trading firms were able to control peanut exports by making loans to farmers during the dry season, which were paid back out of harvests. In this way, commercial trading companies obtained crops for export at very low cost, and without assuming the risks associated with investing in agricultural production. And so traders depended on the vulnerability of farmers to changing seasonal patterns of rainfall. If farmers had had more regular incomes or other means of accessing survival needs during the dry season, the trading economy couldnt have worked in the way that it did. In short, climate vulnerability was baked in to the colonial economy. This is true both in the kinds of infrastructures that were and werent built, and in the way that the peanut trade operated. The colonial administration and French businesses controlled lucrative activities facilitating the export of agricultural goods. They left agricultural production itself, which was riskier and less rewarding, to Senegalese peasants. Why does this matter? This example shows that deep rooted differences in the development of infrastructures, in patterns of investment, and in access to inputs are at the root of contemporary vulnerabilities. Better seeds, improved farming practice, or access to insurance might blunt some of the risks involved for some farmers, but at best these kinds of measures can only address the superficial reasons for climate vulnerability, rather than the deep-lying legacies of colonialism. This means that climate vulnerabilities will prove very difficult to address properly without a further-reaching rethinking of development models. This likely requires significant transfers of resources from the historic beneficiaries of colonial economies to those who remain systematically disadvantaged by the legacies of colonialism. Click here to subscribe to our climate action newsletter. Climate change is inevitable. Our response to it isnt. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Conversation Nick Bernards receives funding from the Social Science and Humanities Council of Canada. A woman in Gauteng has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. This makes it the second confirmed case of the coronavirus in South Africa. News24 reported that a 39-year-old woman from Gauteng has been diagnosed with the virus. The woman is part of a group who recently travelled to Italy the same group from which a man with the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in South Africa was in. The man with the first case was a 38-year-old who lives in KwaZulu-Natal. They were part of a group of 10 people and they arrived back in South Africa on March 1, 2020, said the Department of Health earlier this week.. The patient consulted a private general practitioner on March 3, with symptoms of fever, headache, malaise, a sore throat, and a cough. Second case The Department of Health stated that the rest of the the travel group who returned to South Africa are being tested for the coronavirus. The second patient who has now tested positive for COVID-19 will now be immediately admitted to a public health facility in Gauteng that government has identified as one of the hospitals that are ready to receive COVID-19 positive patients, said the department. The department has noted a number of COVID-19 symptoms to be on the lookout for. These include: Coughing Fever Shortness of breath Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure, the department noted. Yes Bank has the potential to come of the administration soon and resume normal banking function, State Bank of Indias Chairman Rajnish Kumar said Saturday. Yes Bank can come out of administration soon, Kumar told reporters a day after the government unveiled a rescue plan for the crisis-hit Yes Bank under which SBI - the countrys largest lender by assets - will pick up a 49 per cent stake in the private sector lender. He said SBI has received the plan on Yes Bank restructuring and is conducting due diligence and will revert to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) by Monday. Plan has been received by SBI and the legal team is working on the plan. We had informed through the stock exchange that SBI board has given in-principle approval of exploring possibility of picking up a stake of up to 49% in Yes Bank, he said. On Thursday, the RBI had placed Yes Bank under a moratorium and said it would swiftly work on a revival plan. It also imposed a withdrawal limit of Rs 50,000 on its account holders till April 3. Kumar said many potential investors in Yes Bank have approached the SBI after the governments bailout plan. He said saving Yes Bank and restoring it to health was a priority. Survival of a bank is a must.. the failure of a bank has huge consequences for the economy, Kumar said and cautioned that the failure of the kind that brought down the Lehman Brothers in the United States in 2008 should not be allowed to unravel in India. SBI has size and credibility. We have role to play, he said. The total quantum of investment in Yes Bank is at Rs 2,450 crore. Depositors money is not at risk, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 22:57:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TIRANA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A total of 920 illegal migrants were detained in February at Kapshtice border, southeastern Albania for illegal border crossing, Albanian State Police said on Saturday. The migrants, all third country nationals, were detained in operations organized by the Albanian Border Police in Kapshtice in cooperation with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), Albanian State Police said in a press release. The main entry points of illegal migrants to Albania are Kapshtice and Kakavije in the south, both bordering Greece. Starting from May 2019, Frontex has deployed 50 police officers to support Albania in border control and tackling cross border crimes. Albanian police have also taken additional security measures at the borders with Greece. When the Jaws of Life dont work and a man is dying, a little ingenuity and a big engine could prove to be the best combination. West Springfield and Westfield firefighters pulled a crashed vehicle apart with a fire truck to extricate a seriously injured driver Wednesday, said West Springfield Lt. Andrew Lyne. Paramedics were worried he might not live through the episode, Lyne said. As West Springfield firefighters were called to a large blaze at the Courtyard by Mariott hotel on Riverdale Street Wednesday afternoon, one engine was sent to the report of a head-on crash on Prospect Avenue just before 3 p.m. Lyne, the commander of Engine 2, said responders found a car and a large dumpster-hauling truck had collided head-on. The impact of the crash dislodged the engine of the car, spinning it 180 degrees and pushing it into the passenger compartment something Lyne said he has never seen in 28 years as a firefighter. The front bodywork of the car was strewn across the road. The driver was pinned in the wreckage by the steering wheel. The driver suffered multiple fractures in the collision and was in excruciating pain. He was not tolerating the conditions in the wreckage and did not have long to live, Lyne said. Firefighters first used Jaws of Life pneumatic tools to remove the doors and tried to push the dashboard and steering column away from the victim, but that only caused him more pain. West Springfield responders called for help, but assistance had to come from Westfield as other West Springfield units battled the Riverdale Street fire. After conventional techniques for extrication did not work, firefighters from the two cities wrapped a chain around the cars steering column and attached it to the tow hook on the bumper of one of the fire engines. The fire engine backed away from the car, slowly pulling the dashboard out and up just enough to allow firefighters to slide the victim out of the wreckage. The injured man was transported to the Baystate Medical Center, where he underwent surgery, Lyne said. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured. The West Springfield Police Accident Reconstruction Unit is investigating the crash. By IANS NEW DELHI: Reliance Jio has proposed to TRAI that wireless data prices are gradually increased to Rs 20 per GB from Rs 15 per GB currently, after six to nine months while suggesting floor rate for data prices. While advocating for TRAI's intervention to prescribe floor price for wireless data service, Jio said that voice tariff should continue under forbearance as before as the same will affect the masses and will be difficult to implement. In its response to the consultation paper of TRAI on 'Tariff issues in Telecom Services', the company said the typical Indian consumer is very price sensitive and target floor price should be implemented in 2-3 tranches so as to minimise the impact of increase in tariff. It further said once data floor price is implemented, it should be uniformly implemented across all tariffs and applicable to all segments - individuals and corporates. The Mukesh Ambani company said the data floor price should also cover the bundled tariffs with clearly defined elements. The Montana Board of Regents has approved two key new graduate degree programs at Montana Technological University. "I am elated," Tech Chancellor Les Cook said Friday. "We had a successful and productive regents' meeting." Tech was given the green light for its second doctoral program a doctor of philosophy in earth science and engineering. Also, it gained a master's degree program in ecological restoration. Both programs are perfectly congruent with Montana Tech's new status as the only "special focus" institution in the Montana University System. "The foundation for this has been in the works for awhile, and we have incredibly committed, passionate faculty here that want to do things to help Montana Tech align with what we're about," Cook said. "The thing that is so reaffirming for me is that we were recognized as a special focus institution in 2017. We took time to step back and reflect on what that meant. "Our primary focus is and must be undergraduate education with a mix of research-intensive graduate programs. "But in order to fulfill the mission, the campus realized that we will provide a small number of doctoral programs that span that special focus. We're not primarily a doctoral-granting institution. We are, however, an institution that grants doctorates." Tech's first doctoral program, in materials science and engineering, has already matriculated 25 students in its four years of existence, and has awarded six doctorates so far. "So much of what we do has to be cross-disciplinary," Cook said. "The Earth Science and Engineering program will involve 20 faculty members across eight departments across the institution, including the Bureau of Mines and Geology." He said the program will be comparatively inexpensive to develop because about 80 courses toward the degree are already in place. "There will not be a lot of new course development required," he said. The program is expected to increase enrollment slightly in several departments, but Tech also expects it to enhance peer learning among students bringing different backgrounds to the program and fit with other degree programs across the university system. The master's program is also right in Tech's wheelhouse. "We're the greatest show on earth when it comes to restoration ecology," Cook said. The program is expected to complement bachelor's programs in biology, environmental engineering, mining engineering, geological engineering, petroleum engineering and chemistry. "It's so much in alignment with things we already do," Cook said, "and there's no greater living learning laboratory for ecological restoration than Butte." Cook said the mission of the university is sharpened by the additions. In talking with University of Montana Chancellor Seth Bodnar at the regent's meeting, Cook noticed the contrast in strategies between the institutions. "UM is undertaking a huge effort to broaden its offerings to increase enrollment, and we're really honing in on our special focus," he said. "I am incredibly pleased with the support and guidance from the regents with both of these programs," Cook said. "We got confirmation that yes, this is what makes Montana Tech a special focus institution." Also, the regents approved Montana Tech moving forward with a new Nursing Simulation Center to be built on campus, The addition of the SIM Center will provide opportunities for a significant increase in the number of nursing students at Montana Tech. Construction is expected to begin in late summer, largely underwritten by private donation. Love 16 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 3 MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Barbara never thought she would leave Nicaragua. But early one morning, she kissed her sleeping son goodbye. She had spent the night watching him in his bed. It was almost his 10th birthday. "Fue el peor momento de mi vida," Barbara said. It was the worst moment of my life. It had been nearly a year since Barbara had been left for dead outside her clothing store, a victim of the Nicaraguan government's bloody campaign to silence pro-democracy protests that rose up in 2018. She knew she had to flee, but she didn't think she could protect her son on the notorious migrant trail. She wasn't willing to risk him. ADVERTISEMENT So the 29-year-old entrepreneur escaped north alone, putting herself at the mercy of the U.S. asylum system - a system meant to protect the world's most vulnerable. The San Diego Union-Tribune is not fully identifying Barbara or many of the witnesses interviewed in Nicaragua because of the danger that the government might retaliate against them or their families. Barbara is in Tijuana, one of tens of thousands of people waiting for a chance to argue for protection in the United States, part of a changing wave of migration that the Trump administration has labeled a crisis. She exists in a constant state of uncertainty, and she realizes now just how much she underestimated the challenges that still lie ahead. Idiosyncrasies of the asylum system make anyone's outcome difficult to predict - even for those whose stories seem to meet the international definition of a refugee. Over its 40-year history, capriciousness and politicized justice have plagued the system. For the people it chooses to protect, asylum offers a new chance at life. For those it does not, the outcome can be tragic. Recent policy changes have only made it more difficult for people like Barbara to make their cases. About six months before Barbara arrived at the border, officials began forcing asylum-seekers to wait for U.S. immigration court hearings in Mexico, where they are often victims of robberies, assaults, kidnappings or worse. ADVERTISEMENT Among them was Barbara. --- Before the protests, Barbara lived well in Nicaragua. A deteriorated marriage left her a single mother at 22, she said, but that did not slow her down. She raised her son in a lively home full of extended family members young and old and a dining table big enough for them all. She founded a clothing shop, selling first online and then in a storefront near a university in the capital city of Managua. The troubles began in the spring of 2018, when a wildfire broke out on a biological reserve. Students protested the Nicaraguan government's response, which they viewed as slow and inadequate. Then came cuts to the country's pension system, and demonstrations against president-turned-dictator Daniel Ortega dramatically increased. ADVERTISEMENT Barbara, like many of her generation, joined in the demands for democracy happening in the streets. She has photos of herself in a sea of blue and white - the colors of the Nicaraguan flag. On the first day of pension protests, the Ortega regime's response was violent. By the second day, there were casualties. The death toll rose as the protests continued. Some were killed by police and others by pro-government groups that became known as the "paramilitary." People quickly learned the danger of being out after 6 p.m., when the paramilitary began to patrol the streets in their signature Toyota HILUX pickups. They came to be known as "camionetas de la muerte," or death trucks. Students and other protesters responded to the violent attempts to quiet them by taking over university campuses. They built barricades in the streets out of tires or retaining wall blocks. Barbara said she brought basic supplies - water, gauze and rice - to the protesting students entrenched on a campus near her store. Even bystanders couldn't escape the violence. Near Barbara's store, according to interviews with neighbors, the government's tear gas choked residents hiding in their homes. Today, people are still afraid to talk about what happened to them, let alone be identified. They know what retribution can look like. --- Hundreds of thousands of protesters chose to commemorate the country's Mother's Day with a march. Mothers of students who had been slain by their government led the procession. "Eso fue el principio del fin. De eso, toda mi vida cambio," Barbara said about that day, May 30, 2018. That was the beginning of the end. From that, my entire life changed. In Managua, the demonstration stretched for at least a mile down a main thoroughfare. Barbara and her brother marched in the crowd. Gunfire from a police staging area sent protesters into a panic. At least 17 people died in marches that day, according to Amnesty International. "El regalo que nos entrego el dictador asesino fue la muerte de nuestros hijos," said Josefa Meza, whose son, Jonathan, was killed that day. The gift that the dictator assassin delivered to us was the death of our children. Barbara took a taxi back to her store, where her car was parked. She frantically called to check on her brother. When she reached the shop, she went inside to get her car keys. Then she heard a noise on the street. She saw students running and, thinking of her brother, motioned for them to come inside. --- Barbara sheltered 21 students for hours. After that day, she knew she would need to move her store. If the government had noticed what she did, she would be on its list of enemies. She planned to bring home all of her inventory to regroup in case the government decided to retaliate. On her way to her shop, two days after the march, she saw a paramilitary man on a motorcycle following her car. She took photos of him and then managed to get away before continuing to her store to pack. She did not yet know how futile that escape would be. The scene replays slowly in her mind when she thinks about it now. She remembers parking and crossing the street to her shop. She was wearing a pink shirt. She remembers thinking that she should've worn a red one instead. She remembers thinking that the pants that she was wearing weren't very comfortable. She decided not to carry them in her business anymore. The song "La Cumbia Chinandegana," a popular Nicaraguan dance track, could be heard pulsing through the university neighborhood. She heard two Toyota HILUX trucks pull up quickly and brake. She heard her name, spoken with force but not yelled. She froze. "Hasta aqui llegue, ya mori," she thought to herself. I've made it this far. Now I'm going to die. As she started to turn around, she was surrounded by paramilitary. One of them struck her in the head with a gun. She lost consciousness. They continued to beat her. "Cuando me atacaron, no iban con la intencion de asustarme, sino de matarme, de dejar una voz mas en silencio," she said. When they attacked me, they didn't do it with the intention of frightening me, but rather of killing me, of leaving one more voice in silence. A photo taken of her face after the attack shows the neckline of her pink shirt stained with blood and a gash splitting open her forehead. Her face and neck are bruised and swollen. A family member found her lying on the ground outside her shop, dizzy and disoriented, propped up slightly on one elbow and struggling to move. She woke up days later in a private hospital, the only place where wounded protesters could go and not be turned away or arrested. She couldn't move her feet. Her head and back were badly injured. Her business was gone. Her store had been ransacked down to the last cordoba in her cash register. She has photos of that, too. She stayed in the hospital for about a week, then shuffled between homes of family members so that she would be more difficult for the government to locate. Some in her family grew distant because they couldn't handle the pressure of what had happened to her. Some of her family members still support Ortega. --- When Barbara's aunt, a U.S. citizen in Miami, learned about what had happened to her niece in Nicaragua, she offered to take Barbara in. Barbara explained to her son that they would be separated temporarily, but that he would join her in the United States soon. That's what she hoped. She left before dawn on May 30, 2019 - exactly one year after the march - sneaking out of the country over the mountains. She knew the government would not allow her to leave. She found out that her passport had been flagged on "la lista negra," a black list of people who were part of the dissent. She traveled in a car, on horseback, by bus, by truck and on foot through the mountains to Honduras. On the way, her guide abandoned her. She eventually found another one and continued up through Guatemala. She passed through Belize and crossed into Mexico via Cancun. She was robbed at gunpoint in southern Mexico but negotiated with the thieves to keep her most important documents - the ones she believed she would need to prove her asylum case. A stranger let her borrow a phone to call her family for help. She finally arrived at the U.S. border in June 2019, just in time for her 29th birthday. She thought she'd made it. At the port of entry in San Diego, she asked for asylum. She was handcuffed for the first time in her life. While in custody, she had an anxiety attack, a symptom of the lasting effects of what happened to her back home. She did not realize that she had been selected for Migrant Protection Protocols, a program known widely as "Remain in Mexico," until officials walked her back to Tijuana. She would have to wait across the border for her asylum case. She called her family in tears, unsure of where to go or what to do. She counted 158 days until her first court hearing. Her aunt wired her some money. When she picked up the funds from a store, a man put his arm around her threateningly and told her to act like they were together. Then he robbed her. Eventually, she settled into a small apartment with a couple of younger men from Cuba who had also been returned to Mexico to await their asylum cases. The Tijuana neighborhood where they found a place that would rent to them scared her. She saw someone get assaulted. Then her roommates, too, robbed her. --- In moments of self-doubt, Barbara sometimes wonders how she got so unlucky. But in many ways, Barbara could have ended up in a worse situation. Many sent to Tijuana under "Remain in Mexico" end up living on the streets or moving from shelter to shelter. Barbara began the asylum process just weeks before July 15, the day another Trump administration policy went into effect. It barred anyone who had crossed through another country from seeking asylum in the U.S. unless they first tried in that country. Barbara had passed through four. Though discouraged by her situation, Barbara tries to remain positive. A neighbor studying to be a beautician painted Barbara's nails blue and platinum, like the Nicaraguan flag, a small way to continue her protest. On the front of her refrigerator, Barbara inscribed in black marker: "Lo facil, ya lo hice. Lo dificil, lo estoy haciendo, y lo imposible, me tardare, PERO, lo lograre." The easy, I've already done it. The difficult, I am doing it, and the impossible, it will take me longer, BUT, I will succeed. She added in the margins: "Yo puedo. Dios es bueno. Dios me ama." I can. God is good. God loves me. She began feeding scraps from her meals to a family of kittens that was born around the time she was returned to Tijuana. She calls them her therapy. She found a job at a Japanese restaurant near where she lives. She works long shifts six days a week to distract herself. Her boss calls her "my angel." Barbara hopes that if she is able to live in the United States, she will be able to open her own business again. And that she'll be able to apply for her son to join her. She talks to him daily over the phone and helps him with homework. Family members said that the distance is taking its toll on the boy. "Es mi futuro, mi vida," she said. He is my future, my life. --- Barbara worries about Nicaragua, and the rest of the people she left behind. Government operatives still come looking for her at the homes of family members. "Mi pais, mi pais," she says, her voice full of emotion. My country, my country. The government has blamed all of the violence on the protesters. But the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights placed responsibility on the government. A scathing U.N. report documented repression and abuse on behalf of the Nicaraguan government during the first four months of protests. At least 300 people were killed during that time, and another 2,000 were reported injured. As time passed, the Nicaraguan government has tried to eradicate most visible traces of the resistance. But the signs of surveillance and repression are easy to read. There is a lack of trust, the idea that a neighbor could be watching, the knowledge that the police already are. Police stand in intersections and traffic circles holding AK-47s and other rifles. Riot squads patrol in the backs of Toyota HILUX trucks. Despite the government's pressure, Nicaraguans have made an effort on private property to preserve the memory of what was done to them. At the Parroquia Jesus de la Divina Misericordia, a Catholic church in Managua, bullet holes riddle the sides of the chapel. A barrage of gunfire spider-webbed, and in some places shattered, the chapel windows when student protesters took shelter there in July 2018, six weeks after Barbara's assault. The tabernacle, a sacred golden vessel that houses the Eucharist in the chapel, is also scarred from a round. Susana Lopez's son Gerald died at this church during that attack. Gerald, 20, studied traditional Nicaraguan dances and was known for dancing in the barricades during the protests to keep morale up, Lopez said. She has a video of his final moments that someone sent her. In it, a priest administers last rites as Gerald's friend screams and sobs over his body. Families like Lopez's came together to make a temporary museum called Museo de la Memoria Contra la Impunidad, or Museum of Memory Against Impunity, inside a private university that was at the heart of the protest. When mothers of victims come into the space, many change into shirts with their dead children's faces emblazoned on them. "It's the only place they're allowed to grieve," said Emilia Yang Rappaccioli, director of the museum. --- Barbara is one of an estimated 88,000 Nicaraguans who have fled the country since April 2018 because of its political crisis, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Many, including prominent journalists whose headquarters were taken over by the Ortega regime, remain in exile. Others have returned home. Some who returned were then imprisoned. One man was forcibly brought back from Costa Rica, detained, beaten and tortured, according to Carla Sequeira, director of legal services at the Comision Permanente de Derechos Humanos, a human rights organization in Managua. Stories like his weigh on Barbara as she waits in limbo. Most of the exodus went to Costa Rica, but some traveled north instead. They followed well-worn migrant paths and mixed in with growing communities of asylum-seekers from around the world in border towns just south of the United States. Not everyone who comes to the border is eligible for asylum. Some are economic migrants. Some are fleeing violence. Some left their homes because of the impacts of climate change. Some are on the move for a combination of reasons. Then there are those whom the U.S. asylum system was originally intended to help. Asylum systems were born out of the Western world's failure to protect Jewish migrants fleeing the horrors of the Holocaust. There are strict requirements for asylum. People who are afraid to go back to their home countries must show that they have been or are likely to be persecuted by their government or by a group that the government cannot or will not control. They also have to show that their persecution is because of at least one of five reasons: their race, nationality, religion, political opinion or membership in a social group such as the LGBTQ community. In recent decades, the U.S. government has tried to balance its humanitarian responsibilities with its longtime goal of deterring unauthorized immigration at the southwest border. Though President Donald Trump pushed for immigration restrictions since the early days of his campaign, his administration zeroed in on the asylum system after two closely watched caravans of Central American migrants arrived at the Tijuana-San Diego border in 2018. The Trump administration said that people who did not have legitimate asylum claims were taking advantage of the system to gain access to the United States. "The asylum system has become the world's largest immigration loophole," a senior administration official said in October 2018. In response, the president and top administration officials pushed for stronger deterrence methods to stop migrants from coming. But the Trump administration's increased focus on stopping cross-border migration has ramped up to the point that even those the asylum system was most explicitly designed for may very well be left out. (On Friday, a federal appeals court decided to block Remain in Mexico.) --- The night before her first court hearing, at the end of November 2019, Barbara worked until 11:30 p.m. at her job at the Tijuana restaurant, bouncing to an eclectic variety of music. She felt positive about her case, she said. She had already decided to represent herself. The next afternoon, that optimism was gone as she sat silently in the downtown San Diego courtroom of Immigration Judge Philip Law. She was nervous, and she struggled to understand the legal jargon that Law used. "These are removal proceedings," Law said in a group hearing through an interpreter to the 16 people before him. "The government has charged that all of you have violated immigration law." Periodically, Law paused and told them to raise their hands if they did not understand. Though others asked questions, Barbara kept her hands down. She accepted the judge's offer of more time to find a lawyer. She didn't think she understood the judge well enough to proceed on her own. With all of the changes that the Department of Justice has made to the asylum system over the past three years, having legal help navigating the process is more important than ever, attorneys say. Out of the 35,465 people in "Remain in Mexico" whose cases have finished, 263 have won asylum, according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. That's less than 1 percent, far lower than normal grant rates. About 58% of those granted asylum had attorneys. Even with an attorney, an asylum-seeker's chances of winning can vary from judge to judge and court to court. There's the example of Tibetan co-stars who sought asylum after facing persecution for their starring roles in a political movie. While the male actor won his asylum case, the female lead lost hers in the same immigration court, said the woman's Boston-based attorney Sarah Sherman-Stokes. The actress ultimately won asylum, but only upon appeal. Barbara's chances are made especially complicated by the fact that she will have to prove that she cannot return to either of the countries where she has citizenship - Nicaragua, and Cuba, where she was born. She already left behind her first homeland, fleeing at age 4 with her mother from the starvation and the political reality that was Cuba in the early 1990s. They resettled in Nicaragua, the country of her father. If she loses, she could be deported to either one. --- Since her first hearing, Barbara has not been able to find a lawyer to represent her. Many won't take cases of people waiting in Mexico. Her aunt tried to find an attorney but couldn't afford the $8,500 that the cheapest one offered to charge. Barbara went to a legal services organization in Tijuana, called Al Otro Lado, for free help filling out her asylum application. She wrote a personal statement in Spanish to submit with it. Since all court documents must be in English, her aunt found someone to translate her statement. The phrasing is stilted and unnatural. Barbara's work is not over. She has to prove to the judge that the paramilitary targeted her because of her political opinion and that the members are part of the Nicaraguan government or a group that the government cannot or will not control. She will also have to convince Law that her story is true, that it actually happened. She has her photos and a handful of documents, including medical records and business records, to present as evidence. What she does not have: witnesses who will testify in court. The people she left back in Nicaragua are too scared of Ortega's regime to mail letters of testimony corroborating her story. Most of her case will hinge on her own testimony and whether the judge believes her. In January, Barbara went before Law again to turn in her official request for asylum. To bolster her confidence, she bought a new pair of jeans to wear for the occasion. She got up in time to put on makeup and style her shoulder-length, curly hair, even though she had to be at the port of entry by 4 a.m. for her hearing. Law set her trial date for April. Her face fell when she heard that she would have to spend at least three more months in Tijuana. On that date, she will appear alone in a private four-hour hearing. Law and an attorney representing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will question her, looking for gaps in her story and details that don't line up. Even if Law grants her asylum, the U.S. government may try to send her back again while it appeals the decision. Many people returned to Mexico under the program give up on their cases. But Barbara believes she has no other choice but to wait. In the weeks before Barbara's first court appearance, a group of protesters in Nicaragua held a hunger strike inside a church in Masaya, a city near Managua. They used it to denounce the continued imprisonment of their family members in the aftermath of the protests. Police quickly surrounded the church and wouldn't let anyone in or out. A group of young people who tried to bring water to the protesters were taken as political prisoners. "It's not safe," said Sequeira, the human rights worker. "It's not safe to return to Nicaragua." Barbara hopes that she won't have to. --- (c)2020 The San Diego Union-Tribune Visit The San Diego Union-Tribune at www.sandiegouniontribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Attack on Kabul Rally Kills 32; Top Afghan Politicians Unhurt By Ayaz Gul March 06, 2020 Officials in Afghanistan say at least 32 people were killed and around 60 injured Friday when gunmen opened fire on a gathering in Kabul, with high-profile opposition politicians in attendance. Witnesses said the shooting started when a former vice president, Karim Khalili, was delivering his speech to a ceremony in the Afghan capital, organized to commemorate the death of a prominent minority Shi'ite Hazara politician. The event was being shown live by Afghan television stations and Khalili could be seen running for cover along with others when the gunfire erupted from a nearby under-construction building. There were women and children among those killed and injured, and Afghan health officials say they expect the death toll to increase. Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said Afghan security forces later engaged three assailants and killed them in the ensuing hours-long clash to end the siege. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, saying two heavily armed men carried out the massacre. The Taliban insurgency swiftly denied its involvement. The Islamic State terror group's regional affiliate, known as Khorasan Province or ISKP, has claimed responsibility for previous attacks on Shi'ite gatherings and worship places in Afghanistan. Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former president Hamid Karzai were also among guest speakers at Friday's gathering. Both of them escaped unharmed. However, a former provincial governor was said to one among those wounded. President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack as a "crime against humanity", saying the violence was directed at Afghan national unity. Last year's commemoration of Abdul Ali Mazari's death anniversary, which is mostly attended by Shi'ite Afghans, had also come under attack. About a dozen people were killed and many more were injured. That attack was claimed by Islamic State. The ethnic Hazara leader was assassinated in 1995 after being taken hostage by militants when Afghanistan was in the grip of a deadly civil war. US-Taliban deal Friday's violence comes nearly a week after the United States and the Taliban sealed a landmark peace agreement in Qatar to try to bring an end to the Afghan war, now in its 19th year. The deal signed last Saturday, subject to Taliban counterterrorism and political assurances, set the stage for Washington to close America's longest war and bring back home in the next 14 months roughly 13,000 troops currently deployed to Afghanistan. The U.S.-Taliban agreement binds Afghan parties to the conflict to open direct negotiations to agree on a permanent cease-fire and power-sharing in post-war Afghanistan. Those intra-Afghan talks are to begin on March 10, but they are facing uncertainty over a prisoner swap controversy. Within 24 hours of the signing of the historic agreement, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced he had not given any commitment to Washington to free Taliban prisoners. The U.S.-Taliban deal, however, in the run-up to the intra-Afghan talks set for March 10, says that up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners being held in Afghan jails, and 1,000 Afghan forces' members in insurgent custody, are to be freed by March 10. Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban political spokesman and a member of its negotiating team, said Friday if the intra-Afghan negotiations could not begin in time, the responsibility will rest with the other side. "If the provisions of the agreements are implemented and prisoners are released, the Islamic Emirate [Taliban] is prepared for intra-Afghan negotiations on March 10. Our negotiation team and agenda are ready and will go ahead as agreed," Shaheen stressed. The U.S.-Taliban agreement also requires both of the adversaries not to attack each others' forces and binds the insurgent group not to carry out suicide and other bombings in Afghan urban centers. There has been an upsurge in battlefield violence during this week, but U.S. military commanders have played it down and vowed to uphold their part of the deal. "Of significance, there's no attacks in 34 provincial capitals. There's no attacks in Kabul. There's no high-profile attacks. There's no suicide bombers. There's no vehicle-borne suicide, no attack against U.S. forces, no attack against coalition. There's a whole laundry list of these things that aren't happening," Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a congressional hearing earlier this week. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Attorney-General Christian Porter is "carefully considering" a plea from Australia's Muslims for more protection in new religious discrimination laws, as the community warns it has "never felt this unsafe" as the first anniversary of the Christchurch mosque massacre approaches. In a submission on the second draft of the bill, more than 160 Muslim organisations renewed their calls for anti-vilification measures to be included in the religious discrimination bill, arguing anti-Muslim hate networks are growing online, "thanks to an environment of legal uncertainty". Muslim Australians say they need greater protection against vilification and violence. Credit:Lisa Wiltse "The atrocity of the Christchurch terror attack continues to reverberate in the Australian Muslim community," the Muslim community submission says, referring to the March 15, 2019, shooting that killed 51 people. "Australian Muslims have never felt this unsafe." Their warning coincides with concerns raised by new Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation head Mike Burgess about the growing threat of right-wing extremism. Residents and elected officials are still in mourning across the city of Cleveland following the tragic news that Mayor Otis Cohn succumbed to his long battle with cancer. He put up a really good fight and stayed positive throughout it all keeping his family and the city first, said Cleveland City Manager Kelly McDonald. Viewing is set for Tuesday, Mar. 10, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pace Stancil Funeral Home, 303 Crockett, Cleveland, TX 77327. The service will be on Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2020 beginning at 10 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 816, N. Blair Ave., Cleveland, TX 77327. He was a really good person to serve beside through these years, not only as council member but also as mayor moving the city forward and transitioning into the growth were seeing, she said. We are truly saddened by it. He will be sorely missed, McDonald said. Cohn began serving on the city council in 2011 and was in his second term as mayor for the city with a little more than a year remaining. Mayor Cohn has been instrumental in leading our transformational progress over the last several years, and his leadership and friendship will be missed by all of us, said Mayor Pro-Tem Carolyn McWaters on behalf of the city council. On behalf of the city of Cleveland and all of its employees, our deepest condolences are extended to his wife Mary and his family. In honor of his lengthy service to our community, city property flags will be flown at half-staff for several days, she said. Jim Carson, vice president and COO of the Greater Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, sent out an email to staff and chamber members notifying them of the passing of the mayor. Mayor Cohn has always been a Champion of Cleveland Texas and will be dearly missed. Our prayers go out to his family, he said in his letter. McDonald said there were times when Cohn would come to council meetings and they knew he didnt feel like being there. He felt it was very important to the community to be there and he pushed through that a lot of times, she said. One of the efforts Cohn was noted for was his push for the downtown revitalization. He hoped that it would bring in more retail to the downtown area which meant jobs. He was also interested in expanding league play for young people, giving them opportunities to participate in sports and develop them physically to meet the expectations of coaches in the upper levels of middle school and high school. His love for the youth of the community included creating an organization to learn about local government and entice them to be a part of the leadership in their community. Whether it was before or after they left for college, he wanted them to return and participate in the democratic process of their own community, McDonald said. To work, live, play and participate in their community was his mantra, she said. Councilmen Clay and McWhorters pushed forward with city staff in forming a youth advisory council. We are working with the school district to select students for that council who will be interested in their local government, McDonald said. We hope they will be leaders in our community in the not too distant future. You always new where you stood with Mayor Cohn. He was always passionate about what he did for the city, she said. When he wanted something done that would have a positive effect on the community, he would see it through to the end. His friends said he had a heart as big as Christmas. He had one of those types of personalities that drew you to him, McDonald said. He was also a history buff. If you wanted a 30-minute answer to a history question, he was the guy. Not everybody agreed on every item on council, but we agreed to disagree and move on, she said. He was always open-minded. Cohn exercised a calm hand and quick judgment when the growth started to come. It came faster than we anticipated. He embraced it and made the best of it and tried to ensure with the rapid growth that it was good growth and something that would make residents happy, she said. He spent hours working with the district and county officials to coordinate the growth and bring about a positive outcome. dtaylor@hcnonline.com Climate action conference at, Seafield hotel and launch of community habitat restoration at, Glen Aoibhinn; back, Malanie Croce executive director Seal Rescue Ireland and Roisin Clancy Gorey AIB branch manager. Front, Jeshua Taucher Seal Rescue Ireland, Laurence Kinsella general manager Plant and Grow for Tomorrow, Karin Dubsky director Coast Watch and Lar Behan director None-So-Hardy. A crowd of activists gathered for a Climate Action Conference and launch of the Glen Aoibhinn Habitat restoration project at Seafield Hotel, Ballymoney. The event was hosted by Plant and Grow for Tomorrow and the overall theme was how solutions, knowledge and action combine to combat climate change. Laurence Kinsella of Plant and Grown said it was a memorable day, with guest of honour keynote speaker Karin Dubsky speaking about her work with Coastwatch as well as Melanie Croce and Jesua Taucher giving a presentation on the work of Seal Rescue Ireland. 'Plant and Grow for Tomorrow aim to educate, empower and enable people to take actions to combat climate change. This week we will launch our Glen Aoibhinn Habitat Restoration project in Riverchapel With Seal Rescue Ireland. This will create a bio-diverse habitat area approximately half a kilometre long beside the river. 'It's just one of our partnerships, others have been the local schools programme and I thank all those we have partnered with for their participation'. Karin Dubsky spoke to the crowd on the ecological benefits of the ponds, wetlands, biodiversity for marine life and the current statistics for ponds and wetlands loss. She advised on different ways that people can protect wetlands on a local level, highlighting information that is available on coastwatch.org. 'Solutions are all around us but we must implement the solutions,' was the message. Laurence Kinsella said that the conference was truly inspiring and uplifting for all present. Melanie Croce and Jeshua Taucher of Seal Rescue Ireland gave an engaging presentation encouraging understanding and insight into the work they do, explaining how the seal is at risk as a result of climate change due to extreme weather events, pollution and changing habitat. Jeshua Taucher also detailed how the Glen Aoibhinn Restoration planting project will make a difference, with hundreds of trees set to be planted locally. He said that the rivers water quality is being monitored and annual report will be issued to measure the impact on carbon levels, water quality, biodiversity, habitat uptake and visual betterment. The intention from here is to roll this type of project solution to more areas, with more trees being planted across Wexford and elsewhere with the next planting session taking place this Friday, March 7 in Riverchapel. True-crime podcasts are going like gangbusters, pardon the expression, over the past few years. Serial, a bona-fide phenomenon, is the most famous, but there are several others, including West Cork, which revisited the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case. The Nobody Zone is an interesting addition. A six-part series co-produced by RTE and Third Ear in Denmark, it tells the weirder-than-fiction story of Kieran Kelly, a homeless man from Laois who confessed to multiple murders. Arrested in London for stealing a ring, Kelly killed another man in his cell. Police were then stunned when he claimed to have committed a dozen murders over 30 years, pushing people off the Tube tracks. Amazingly, Kelly was never convicted; The Nobody Zone asks why. It tells this fantastical tale in great style, accentuated by an evocative soundtrack and unobtrusive narration, both by Tim Hinman. And they've pushed the boat out in terms of listener experience. The podcast, uploaded every Tuesday morning, is available in five languages (English, Danish, Spanish, German and Irish). There are also video versions on RTE Player and YouTube. TD Mattie McGrath was on The Hard Shoulder (Newstalk, Mon-Fri 4pm), arguing that Seachtain na Gaeilge should be expanded to three times its size. Ivan Yates did his usual annoying thing of pretending to know nothing about the language. He asked, quasi-perplexed, "What's that?" about Seachtain na Gaeilge, and acted like he didn't know how "pog mo thoin" was pronounced. But methinks he doth protest too much. The man grew up here; he must have a few basics, same as everyone. I realise Ivan's role is as a full-time contrarian, but the Irish-bashing - "bad enough having to watch Nuacht every night" - is getting boring. Anyway, Mattie believes "there's a certain residue of Irish in all of us" and we should be using it more, encouraging kids to speak it, and treasuring this unique heritage. We'll only miss Irish when it's gone, he added. Very true, and then it'll be all "ochon, ochon". (Ivan, that roughly translates as "Alas/oh woe is me". You're welcome.) Video of the Day Irish culture of a slightly different stripe was explored by stand-in Oliver Callan on Ryan Tubridy (Radio 1, Mon-Fri 9am). The magnificently named Turtle Bunbury was promoting the latest of his excellent social history books, Ireland's Forgotten Past, which looks back at some of those fascinating little moments which time and tides have now lost. The book sounds utterly charming, and their chat was informative and often amusing - particularly when Turtle explained the name. It's a corruption of Tertius but that's not his name either. Alexander was the third child of his Latin-speaking dad, hence Tertius, hence Turtle. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 07:22:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday at a press briefing that 21 people on the Grand Princess cruise ship were tested positive for COVID-19, including 19 crew members and two passengers. Pence said that a total of 46 people aboard had been swabbed for a coronavirus test with 24 of them showing "negative" and one "inconclusive." The cruise ship was linked to the first coronavirus death in California amid possible virus spread aboard. It was banned from docking at San Francisco, after one of its former passengers died from COVID-19 Wednesday. There are more than 3,000 people aboard the ship, according to local media reports. Srinagar, March 7 : In the wake of coronavirus threat the Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered the closure of all primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts till March 31. The government has also suspended biometric attendance till March 31. Principal secretary planning, development, monitoring and J&K government Spokesperson Rohit Kansal, tweeted: "All primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts of J&K to be closed till March 31 with immediate effect. All biometric attendance in J&K to be suspended immediately till March 31." The health department in J&K has been put on alert to deal with possible cases of COVID-19 in Kashmir. Trained staff has been mobilised and an isolation ward has been established. Doctors have been deputed at medical centres across Kashmir. The J&K government has also deputed medical staff to screen foreigners at Srinagar airport. Dr Shafqat Khan, Nodal Officer, Coronavirus Control, told IANS, "7000 cases have been screened in J&K so far, 300 cases have been put under surveillance and 27 have been sent for testing to Delhi." "The administration is planning to set up a laboratory in J&K so that samples are not sent outside and tests are conducted in the union territory to avoid time lapse," he said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Conservative congressman from North Carolina once suggested that then-US President Barack Obama was not born in the US. Under fire for his handling of the coronavirus crisis, US President Donald Trump on Friday announced a significant staff overhaul, naming North Carolina politician Mark Meadows as his new chief of staff, and replacing Mick Mulvaney, who has been acting in the role for more than a year. Trump announced the surprise staff reshuffle in a series of Friday night tweets, saying Mulvaney would become the US special envoy for Northern Ireland. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one, he wrote, thanking Mulvaney who never shook his acting title for having served the Administration so well. The long-rumoured move makes Meadows, who announced he was not seeking re-election for his House seat, effectively Trumps fourth chief of staff since taking office in 2017. In 2012, while seeking a seat in Congress, Meadows suggested that then-US President Barack Obama be sent home to Kenya or wherever it is, wading into the dubious controversy that the 43rd president was not born in the United States. At that time, businessman Trump was also involved in the controversy. Meadows was also entangled in a sexual harassment scandal involving his former top assistant. Trumps decision to appoint Meadows comes as his administration has faced criticism for its handling of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Mulvaney had been leading the inter-agency response to the virus until Trump designated Vice President Mike Pence to lead the whole-of-government effort more than a week ago. Mulvaney has been marginalised inside the White House for months, taking on an increasingly narrow role. And Trump has been eyeing the change for months but wanted to wait until after impeachment, according to a person familiar with his thinking, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorised to discuss it publicly. Mulvaneys allies, however, had long brushed off rumblings off his imminent departure and had said as recently as last month that he planned to stay at least through the election in November. In Scandinavian Noir: In Pursuit of a Mystery (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, May.), critic Lesser contrasts the Scandinavia depicted in Nordic noir to the real thing. Whats the appeal of Scandinavian noir to you? Does it differ appreciably from other crime fiction? I think it does differ. I read all kinds of crime fiction. I love English and French crime novels. Also Japanese crime fiction. And American writers like Michael Connelly, whose work is very much like Scandinavian noir. A distinct difference in Nordic noir is how it depicts the nature of the police force and of society at large. In these books, crime is portrayed as a social problem, not the work of a malignant individual. Its a different take on the subject. Where did the idea for the book come from? I started reading Scandinavian noir fiction for pleasure. I first read Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloos 10-book Martin Beck series. Then Henning Mankells Kurt Wallander series. And then the dam burst on the whole scene, with Stieg Larssons Lisbeth novels. But they opened up everything else for me. I read Jo Nesb for fun, too. I had wanted to go to Sweden for years, but I always thought it was too expensive. But for my last book I traveled to Estonia, where I was practically looking across the sea at Sweden. That experience made me think, Why not go and see what Scandinavia is really like, since reading crime novels was a bizarre way to get to know these countries. What do you feel were the greatest similarities and differences between the Scandinavia of noir fiction and the real Scandinavia that you encountered? The great similarity between the novels and the reality of the countries is their social concerns. Theres a strong sense that the government is there to take care of people. The most amazing difference is the proportion of women in the police force. Women account for 50% or more of the homicide divisions in all three countries. In the novels, the women on the police force tend to be these solitary, beleaguered figures in their departments. Its quite strange. Either the writers havent checked in with the real police force, or theyre relying too much on genre history and on continuing a tradition. What do you hope readers will come away from your book with? I hope that it will send readers to these great crime series that I cover. I also hope my book shows people that escapist fiction often isnt just escapist, but that it offers sustenance and consolation as well. And I hope it may inspire readers to travel to Scandinavia and see a different culture and its way of life. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As coronavirus community spread becomes a greater concern, city and state officials provided updates Friday on the situations in their respective jurisdictions. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a Friday evening press conference that the total number of cases in the state had risen to 44 -- up 11 from the start of the day. None have been confirmed on Staten Island. Coronavirus: Full coverage on SILive.com Ive said every day the number of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus will keep going up, and as we expand our testing capacity we will only see that number continue to rise, Cuomo said. Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a separate press conference that new testing available from the citys private sector will increase the daily test capacity for the virus from dozens to hundreds. He said the ultimate goal is to get that capacity into the thousands, and that the city needs the help of President Trumps administration to get there. Were on the way there, but what would help us immensely -- and this is still where we need help from the federal government -- we need the FDA to approve testing that is faster and more efficient, he said. "They have the capacity to do that. Weve obviously made that request. At a third press conference, federal health officials joined Vice President Mike Pence to update the American public on the situation across the country. Across the United States, the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus -- COVID-2019 -- is over 200. Pence said that two of the nations largest private medical test providers -- LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics -- will be able to begin providing tests Monday. We will continue to put the health and safety of Americans first, Pence said, adding that approximately 900,000 tests were distributed across the country from Monday to Thursday. Public and private officials are taking precautionary measures against the spread of the virus that first manifested in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019. City officials from Austin, Texas, cancelled the widely popular arts festival South by Southwests dates next week. Festival organizers issued a statement saying they will be abiding by the citys decision. De Blasio said most New Yorkers showing symptoms similar to the common cold or flu should stay home for a few days and see a doctor if the symptoms persist. Nearly 2,800 New Yorkers remain self-quarantined. However, the mayor said he saw no reason to invoke his emergency powers to stop travel, work, and social events to help fight the disease. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-08 00:53:24|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RAMALLAH, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The West Bank city of Ramallah on Saturday embarked on sterilizing public places as a precaution against the outbreak of novel coronavirus. Ramallah municipality said that it is implementing an emergency plan to take precautionary measures, starting with sterilization of a number of the city's institutions. The municipality's teams began by sterilizing churches, mosques, Ramallah City Hall, and homes of the elderly people, public service societies and municipal facilities. The teams will then sterilize waste containers as well as waste transport vehicles, the municipality said. Mayor of Ramallah Mousa Hadid told reporters that these measures are aimed at securing the city's residents and visitors. As part of its emergency plan, Ramallah municipality suspended all activities during March and closed many of its facilities serving the public, including the tourist information center, the city recreational complex and all public parks. Aaron Brady, who denies the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, told his girlfriend to 'tell the truth' after she lied to police officers about his whereabouts on the night of the shooting, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Jessica King told the trial that she initially did not tell police the truth because Mr Brady was on bail and under curfew and she didn't want to get him into trouble. She later realised 'what this was about' and when she spoke to Mr Brady on the phone he told her: 'Go in and change that and tell the truth'. Ms King also described Mr Brady as a 'messer' and 'a bit cheeky' and said he was always 'smiling and joking'. She said he came to her house the night of the shooting and was the same as always. She agreed with defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC that there was no 'bother on him'. She further revealed that when Mr Brady told her he had work that night from 8pm to 10pm she presumed he meant he was working in a diesel laundering yard near her home in south Armagh. Mr Brady (29) from New Road, 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 on active duty shortly before 9.30pm on January 25, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location. Ms King told Lorcan Staines SC for the prosecution that she started going out with Mr Brady around September 2012. On the 24 January 2013 she said she went to Ridley's nightclub in Dundalk with some friends. Her friend's boyfriend picked them up and they collected Mr Brady along the way but he was 'annoyed' that she was wearing 'a boy's hat' and wanted to know where she got it from. She said she had expected that they would go for a house party on nearby Lough Road where Mr Brady sometimes stayed with friends but instead he was dropped off and she went home. The following day they put the argument behind them and in a series of text exchanges he told her he was working that night loading a lorry. She understood him to mean he was working in the diesel laundering yard on Concession Road. She said she later deleted some of those messages before handing her phone to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) because she 'knew things were a bit more serious' and she was 'afraid of getting him in trouble with the diesel and the curfew and I just panicked.' That evening Jade Fitzpatrick called to Ms King's home on Concession Road and they spent the evening in Ms King's bedroom watching a film and looking at shoes on the internet. At 22.47 that night she received a text from a second phone belonging to Mr Brady saying: 'You awake babes.. Sorry other phone went dead couldn't text you.' She also missed a call from the same number and she texted him back to say she was awake. He asked if he could call over and she said, yeah. He arrived a short time later, came up to her room and they watched a movie. 'We probably had the craic and that was it,' she said. At one point she said Mr Brady went downstairs and came back and said he had seen on the news about the garda who was shot. He didn't say anything else about it, she said. Mr Brady left at between 2am and 3am when his friend, who drives a BMW, collected him. The witness could not remember if Mr Brady was communicating with anyone else while he was in her house. He was wearing a Liverpool jumper, jeans, white Air Mac runners and his hair was gelled, she added. She later noticed that Mr Brady had left behind his second phone and texted him to let him know. The following day she missed a call from Mr Brady's main phone at 13.33 and received a text from him saying 'ring me' at 13.41. When she spoke to him he said he had been stopped by the gardai at a checkpoint. He said roads were closed off and it 'could be to do with what had happened at the credit union'. He told her he and his friend were questioned about it and he asked her to say that he was at her house 'a bit earlier and left a bit earlier in case I get in trouble with the curfew'. Members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland called to Ms King's house and asked if she was Mr Brady's girlfriend and what time he was at her house. She told them he arrived at 19.30 and left at 21.30. She said: 'I was afraid of getting him in trouble over the curfew and I didn't realise what it was about.' She said she later corrected the times to the gardai. When asked why she said: 'We had realised what this was all about and Aaron said to me on the phone, 'go in and change that and tell the truth.'' Mr Brady arrived at Ms King's home some time around 11pm and left, she said, at about 2.30am. Ms King also spoke about a phone conversation she had with Mr Brady after he had moved to America. She had been told something about a stolen car that he was involved with some years earlier, before he knew her. She said she was angry about it and he told her he was 'a part of it' but named two other men who he said had stolen the car. He said he hadn't ever been in the car and didn't steal the keys for the car. Asked what would have happened if she thought he was involved in that kind of thing she said: 'I wouldn't be with him. He knew that. I just think he knew I wouldn't put up with something like that.' Under cross examination Ms King told Michael O'Higgins SC for the defence that in January 2013 there had been a plan that Mr Brady would buy Ms King's sister's car and give it to her. She said this had caused 'hassle' as her parents 'weren't too thrilled about the car being bought between sisters'. She was, she said, 'sick and tired of the car' and by mid-January had decided there was not going to be any deal with the car. She further agreed with Mr O'Higgins that Mr Brady had emphasised the need for her to tell the truth about the times when he arrived and left her house. Jessica's mother Alison King told Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution that she remembered Mr Brady arriving that night while she was watching the Late Late Show. She thought that he left at about 2.45am. One juror of the 15 who were sworn was discharged today and the trial continues in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of seven men and seven women. 2.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The reason why Trump cant lie his way out of the coronavirus is that the virus is spreading faster than his lies and disinformation. Here is a brief timeline of Fridays coronavirus spread: Latest @CNN reporting: 4:25 p.m: Minnesota reports first coronavirus case 5:20 p.m: First coronavirus case in Oklahoma 6:35 p.m: Connecticut reveals first coronavirus case 7:18 p.m: First coronavirus case in Kentucky reported 8:05 p.m: Nebraska reports first coronavirus case Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) March 7, 2020 Most of those of the reports of new cases in states happened after Trump spoke at the CDC and told Americans not to worry about the coronavirus, because he is really smart and he has a natural talent for outbreaks and epidemics. Trump has finally met a crisis that he cant lie or misinform his way out of, so he is raging and firing those beneath him. Trump fired his chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and brought in Mark Meadows because he is unhappy with his messaging on the coronavirus. The president didnt bring in more experts to handle his administrations response to the virus. He made a token change at the top of his administration because he views the coronavirus as a political problem and not a matter of public health. The backbone of Trumps brief political career has been his ability to lie in overwhelming quantities to create doubt among his supporters about facts. Even an accomplished liar like Donald Trump cant keep up with the spread of a virus. The virus is spreading faster than Trump can lie. If the president had managed the coronavirus as a medical problem, instead of a political issue, none of this would be happening. Trump is powerless to stop the coronavirus. His lies arent working, and the public health at risk, his presidency has been exposed. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook A DISQUALIFIED driver who drove at high speed through Adare village when he encountered gardai was banned from driving for ten years. Brendan OConnor, 37, who has an address at Kylefea, Croom was convicted of dangerous driving and driving without a licence or insurance. He was before Newcastle West Court in relation to an incident which occurred a number of hours after he was released on bail having been charged with driving without insurance the day before. Garda Errol Flynn of the divisional Roads Policing Unit said he and a colleague were on duty near Adare at 5.13pm on May 17, 2018 when they observed a red Honda which was being driven by a male. He said he observed the car did not have any tax or insurance displayed and that the vehicle began to speed up when gardai began to follow it and positioned the patrol car behind it. Judge Mary Larkin was told the Honda reached speeds as high as 120km/h in a 50km/h zone and that it performed a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre while travelling around a bend near the village. After entering Adare, the Honda made a sharp turn and entered the Deerpark estate where a number of children were playing. Garda Flynn said he recognised the driver as Brendan OConnor when he got of the vehicle and began to run away. I told him to stop, he went into the back of a private house and I could not locate him after that, he said. The garda added that he had observed Mr OConnor at a sitting of Newcastle West Court earlier that day and that he was wearing the exact same clothing when he observed him in Adare. Solicitor John Cussen put it to Garda Flynn that the incident occurred a good while ago and that he was mistaken. You cannot positively identify the defendant. Is there not a glimmer of doubt in your mind? he asked to which Garda Flynn replied: I have no doubt whatsoever. Mr OConnor who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for a separate driving offence, told the court he had thumbed a lift home following his court appearance and that he was at home for the evening. He must be mistaking me for somebody else, he said. I cant be in two places at once. While Mr OConnors mother, Anne, gave evidence that he was at home with her and his children, she added that she wasnt in his company all evening. Convicting the father-of-two, Judge Larkin said she did not accept Mrs OConnors evidence which she described as vague. She said the minimum amount to get through today, she commented. The defendant, who has 46 previous convictions in total, was fined a total of 1,300 and disqualified for ten years. (Natural News) Theyre not sending their best. During a Thursday discussion over the amount of money Mike Bloomberg has spent on advertising during the 2020 election some $500 million, MSNBCs Brian Williams and New York Times editorial board member Mara Gay promoted a Twitter users very incorrect math. (Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com) Somebody tweeted recently that actually with the money he spent he could have given every American $1 million, said Gay. Ive got it, lets put it up on the screen, replies Williams. When I read it tonight on social media it kind of all became clear, added the MSNBC host, who then reads the actual (now-deleted) tweet. Bloomberg spent $500 million on ads. The U.S. population is 327 million. He could have given each American $1 million and still have money left over, Williams read. Watch: MSNBCs Brian Williams reads a tweet: "Bloomberg spent $500 million on ads. U.S. Population, 327 million. He could have given each American $1 million" NYT Editorial Board Member Mara Gay: Its an incredible way of putting it. Its true. Its disturbing It's $1.53 per person pic.twitter.com/dIiwCESgh8 Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) March 6, 2020 In reality, Bloombergs advertising dollars would have amounted to roughly $1.53 per American. Keep in mind Williams and Gay obviously dont understand math. But that tweet made it all the way through MSNBCs editorial process and was made into an in-show graphic. And none of them caught the obvious error. Werent members of the media just laughing about how they know math and those tin toothed rube voters didnt? Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) March 6, 2020 The author of the original tweet has set her account to private. Her bio now reads I know, Im bad at math. Read more at: ZeroHedge.com WASHINGTON After weeks of conflicting signals from the Trump administration about the coronavirus, the governments top health officials decided late last month that when President Trump returned from a trip to India, they would tell him they had to be more blunt about the dangers of the outbreak. If he approved, they would level with the public. But Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, got a day ahead of the plan. At noon on Feb. 25, just as Mr. Trump was boarding Air Force One in New Delhi for his flight home, she told reporters on a conference call that life in the United States was about to change. The disruption to everyday life might be severe, she said. Schools might have to close, conferences could be canceled, businesses might make employees work from home. She had told her own children, she said, to prepare for significant disruption to our lives. Experts say hard and bitter lessons in dealing with SARS helped Taiwan quickly respond when new virus emerged. Taipei, Taiwan With some 850,000 Taiwanese living and working in China, Taiwan could have been one of the hardest hit when the coronavirus outbreak emerged in late December in Wuhan, a central Chinese city of 11 million people and the epicentre of the outbreak. But Taiwan, an island democracy with a population roughly the size of Australia, has so far managed to keep confirmed cases to 45 and one death, even as infection rates in China have topped 80,000 and the virus has mushroomed in places like South Korea, Japan, Iran and Italy. The timing of the outbreak was devastating for China and the rest of the world, as it began to accelerate around Lunar New Year, a time when hundreds of millions of Chinese travel. Taiwans success so far in handling the infection has largely been due to its early response at a time when the virus was still poorly understood and its transmission rate unclear. It also relied on historical experience rather than waiting for cues from the World Health Organization (WHO), which continues to deny Taiwan observer status for political reasons. Taiwan was hard hit by SARS and, with that hard and bitter lesson, Taiwan came very prepared, said Chunhuei Chi, a professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University. After the SARS epidemic, Taiwan established a central command centre for epidemics the following year, putting it a few steps ahead of other places in Asia before the coronavirus hit, Chi said. The command centre made it easier for medical authorities to gather data, redistribute resources, investigate potential cases and follow up on their contact history, while they also were able to quickly isolate patients found to be carrying the virus. Learning from SARS, Taiwan also quickly implemented health checks on passengers from Wuhan in early January, well before it was understood that the virus could pass between humans. Super alert By the first week of February, Taiwan began rationing surgical masks and restricting the entry of passengers with a travel history in China, while requiring a 14-day quarantine for those who had been to Macau and Hong Kong. Hand sanitiser and fever checks became customary in many public buildings, while the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and other agencies issued daily mobile phone alerts about the latest cases and information on the places they had visited. Jason Wang, director of the Center for Policy, Outcomes and Prevention at Stanford University, said the Taiwanese government was really super-alert in its response. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen speaks about the coronavirus situation in Taiwan during a news conference at the Centers for Disease Control in Taipei in early February [File: Fabian Hamacher/Reuters] When it became clear it was going to become a big issue, they started to do more. They were prepared. Experts said Taiwans success is comparable to Singapores. While there are now more than 100 coronavirus cases in Singapore, early action kept the illness from spreading further despite its high-risk status as a major Asian transit hub and strong trade ties with China and Hong Kong. Learning from SARS, Singapore also moved quickly to impose health checks before closing its borders in late January to most travellers from China, as well as imposing heavy fines on anyone found violating self-quarantine orders. It also closed schools and universities. Both Taiwan and Singapore also offered large stimulus packages as the economy felt the impact of the coronavirus and a loss of tourism from China. In an article published in The News Lens, Roy Ngerng wrote that Taiwans handling of the crisis was even better than Singapore. Others slow to act While Taiwan and Singapores leadership acted swiftly, other countries hit by the virus were slower to act, or to be open with the public about possible risks. My impression is [although] Im at some distance that the political leadership [in Singapore and Taiwan] took this cue and advice from the ministry of health, from the scientists and the clinicians. I think thats a very good formula, said William Schaffner, infectious diseases specialist at Vanderbilt University. He said places like the US have been slow to act. Taiwans actions contrast sharply with Chinas, where decisive action came only after the outbreak had already spread. Japan and South Korea have also been criticised for their response. Infections in both countries have now reached 1,045 and 6,767 respectively, as of Saturday. South Koreas outbreak picked up following infections at the Shincheonji Church of Jesus megachurch in February, while Japan saw a spike from the large group of people on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined in Yokohama. Virus still spreading Critics say Japans Shinzo Abe may have been slow to respond because he was also preoccupied with preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in July and the now-delayed visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in April. South Koreas Moon Jae-in has also come under scrutiny as he downplayed the threat of coronavirus, saying in mid-February that the worst appeared to be over shortly before cases began to skyrocket. As the coronavirus continues to spread east and west, many other countries are finding themselves unprepared to deal with a large-scale epidemic, the likes of which has not been seen for decades. Official records say at least 124 people have died of coronavirus in Iran as of Friday [WANA via Reuters] In Iran, political infighting and restricted access to information have been cited by experts as reasons why cases have now reached 4,744, with at least 124 deaths, after the virus reportedly first broke out in the holy city of Qom. Narimon Safavi, an Iranian American entrepreneur and frequent commentator on Iran, said powerful conservative clerics prevented government health authorities from quarantining the city or halting travel there, including from China. Top leaders and regime insiders have also continued to travel to Qom, an important political and religious centre, Safavi said, spreading the virus even among the Iranian elite, including Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi and an adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei. Dilemma in Europe In Italy, authorities were forced to scramble as the coronavirus spread rapidly across its northern towns. There were at least 4,646 cases and 197 deaths in Italy as of Saturday. Europes Schengen Treaty, however, presents several challenges to EU health authorities, as it guarantees the free movement of people, according to Claire Standley, assistant research professor at Georgetown Universitys Center for Global Health Science and Security. Matthew Kavanagh, also a global health expert at Georgetown University, added that many world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, have repeated the mistakes of their Asian counterparts. At least 197 deaths linked to the coronavirus have been reported in Italy as of Saturday [Yara Nardi/Reuters] We had an opportunity to really robustly get out there Instead, Trump focused on a policy that was purely containment keeping it out of the US through travel bans and quarantine, Kavanagh said. Delayed action from the US and much of Europe means that effective but laborious options that were available to Taiwan and Singapore, such as isolating anyone in contact with the virus, are no longer available because it is already spreading within the community. The US Congresss emergency $8.3bn coronavirus fund will go to initiatives such as rapid testing to assess how far the virus has already spread, public information campaigns, and offsetting economic losses as large scale gatherings and events are cancelled. Community spread is happening At this point in China, in Italy, in South Korea and in the US, we are moving into a place where community spread is happening, which means you cant quarantine all the people, you cant stop things through a travel ban, Kavanagh said. As new challenges from the coronavirus continue to emerge and community infections take root, political leaders who have struggled to act quickly to contain the virus could face more trouble ahead. In South Korea, more than 1.5 million people have signed a petition calling for Moon to resign, while approval ratings for Japans Abe fell eight points to 41 percent in February the steepest decline in nearly two years according to Kyodo News Agency. US President Trump, who has faced several concurrent political scandals, could also face more serious questions about his handling of the crisis, threatening his bid for a second term in November. Commentators say even Irans seemingly impenetrable leadership is under fire, while Chinas all-powerful Communist Party has been forced to allow some public criticism over its handling of the outbreak. Meanwhile, Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen, who was re-elected by a landslide in January, may find that even as the island remains isolated from the WHO, her position may emerge even stronger. Nine people in Ukraine are currently being tested for the novel coronavirus COVID-19, according to the Health Ministry. "Today the Public Health Center has received nine reports of suspect cases of Covid-19, laboratory tests are being carried out at the virology-reference laboratory," reads the statement. The Health Ministry reported that 98,387 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed worldwide as of the morning of March 6, along with 3,383 deaths. Outside China, 17, 673 cases were recorded in 84 countries/ territories/regions. At the same time, a total of 55,441 people (56.3%) recovered. As Ukrinform reported, Ukraine confirmed the first Covid-2019 case on March 3. The infection was found in a man from Chernivtsi who returned from Italy with his wife. The man was hospitalized in an infectious ward. iy Two of five suspects in a Jefferson County murder case reached plea agreements in District Court this week. Logan Evans, 21, was initially charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in the case. On Thursday, he entered a no contest plea to a reduced charge of attempt of a class 2A felony. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 3. Also on Thursday, Caitlyn Grable, 21, entered a guilty plea to being an accessory to second-degree murder. Her sentencing is also scheduled for Sept. 3. Cases are pending against the three remaining suspects in the case. Jerry W. Gilbert, 25, is charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, unlawful discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and tampering with a human body. His case is scheduled for a jury trial starting Aug. 17. Trey D. Saathoff, 23, previously pleaded not guilty to being an accessory to second-degree murder and is scheduled for a jury trial beginning May 19. Realidy A. Schram, 19, was initially charged with accessory to second-degree murder, but entered a guilty plea to a reduced charge of obstructing government operation and is scheduled for sentencing on May 7. The victim of the July 1 shooting was identified as Marc C. Jarrell, 28, of Lincoln. Schram, a transient originally from Fairbury, and Saathoff were allegedly there when the victim was shot. Gilbert led authorities to the victim's body, which was found along a road southeast of Fairbury. The body was transported to Douglas County for an autopsy. Investigators found spent shell casings in a portion of Crystal Springs Park in Fairbury, and video surveillance of frantic movements between two cars and several people on July 1, according to an investigative report filed in court. A body was seen on the video falling out of one of the vehicles and then being moved toward the trunk of a silver Honda with Texas plates, the court document said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Fair Lawn Police were searching Friday for a woman they said robbed the Columbia Bank on Fair Lawn Avenue, the department announced on its Facebook page. The robbery happened shortly after 2 p.m. when the robber passed a note to a teller while keeping one hand in her jacket pocket. She then brought her pocketed hand on top of the counter for the teller to see and then made off with an unspecified amount of money, police said. The department released photos of the woman on social media and asked the public if they had any information on the robbery to call them at 201-796-1400. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters CLEVELAND, Ohio A Columbus man is charged in the killing of a man found shot inside a van on Clevelands East Side. Amando D. Smith, 34, is charged with aggravated murder in the Jan. 17 killing of Josh Williams, according to court records. Police arrested Smith on Friday, court records say. Details of his arrest were not immediately available. The shooting happened about 7:20 a.m. Jan. 17 on Dickens Avenue near East 93rd Street, in Clevelands Kinsman neighborhood, police said. Officers found Williams shot multiple times in the van. Williams, 30, of Streetsboro, died after an ambulance took him to University Hospitals. Investigators learned a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a hat shot into the minivan, then left the area in a dark-colored vehicle, police said. Investigators have not provided a motive in the shooting, or said why Smith and Williams were in Cleveland. Smiths criminal history includes felony convictions for aggravated robbery, drug trafficking and drug possession in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, records say. He was released from prison Dec. 31 after serving a 17-month sentence for drug trafficking, according to Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records. Read more crime stories: Cleveland man pleads guilty to raping woman in downtown parking garage as part of crime spree Judge wont reduce $350,000 bond for Cleveland police recruit accused of sexually assaulting woman in University Heights Cleveland man charged in hit-and-run crash that hurt 9-year-old girl getting off school bus By IANS MUMBAI: A day after the Enforcement Directorate registered a money laundering case against Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor and raided his premises, he was taken to the agency's office in Mumbai on Saturday for further questioning. Kapoor, who was grilled by central agency's officials on Friday night at his Samudra Mahal residence in Mumbai, was shifted to the ED office in the metropolis around 12:30 pm. ED officials said Kapoor was questioned throughout the night, with some rest time. A senior ED official connected with the probe told IANS: "Kapoor will be questioned about Yes Bank loans to Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL)." The official said that during searches a lot of incriminating documents were found and the agency wanted to grill him on his links with DHFL promoters and other companies. ALSO READ| Bailout time! SBI's Rs 2450-crore Yes Bank parachute is ready Kapoor's alleged role in the disbursal of loan to a corporate entity and kickbacks reportedly received in his wife's bank account are also under probe. The ED had filed the money laundering case against Kapoor and raided his residence, apart from issuing a look-out circular so that he does not flee the country. The ED registered a money laundering case against Kapoor as a continuation of its probe against the DHFL wherein it was allegedly found that Rs 12,500 crore was diverted to 80 shell companies using one lakh fake borrowers. The transactions with these shell companies date back to 2015. An ED official in New Delhi told IANS that the DHFL probe revealed that funds diverted by the DHFL originated from Yes Bank. He said that the searches at Kapoor's residence on Friday night were meant to find out any irregularity in grant of loans to the DHFL by the Yes Bank. The ED has accused Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan of DHFL of purchasing shares in five firms -- Faith Realtors, Marvel Township, Abe Realty, Poseidon Realty, and Random Realtors -- after which they were amalgamated with Sunblink. ALSO READ| SBI set to tick Yes Bank checkbox, take on its debt burden The outstanding loans of these five firms, totalling around Rs 2,186 crore till July 2019, were allegedly appropriated onto the books of Sunblink to cover up the diversion of loans acquired from DHFL. The ED's action comes after the RBI superseded Yes Bank Board for 30 days and appointed an administrator, putting a cap of Rs 50,000 on withdrawals by account holders for a month. The RBI said that the bank's board was superseded "owing to serious deterioration in the financial position of the bank". Former SBI CFO Prashant Kumar was appointed as administrator of Yes Bank, which has over 1,000 branches and 1,800-plus ATMs across the country. On Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the bank was on watch since 2017 and developments relating to it were monitored on a day-to-day basis. Firefighters in Maghera are hoping to raise 20,000 for three different charities after some of them were touched by the charities' support in recent months. This week we hear the story of Barney Regan, whose son Michael was diagnosed with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (JMML), a life-threatening form of leukaemia, at just five months old. Michael was born with low platelets, which was a worry from the start, Barney told the County Derry Post. He started to take one infection after another and then after five months he was diagnosed with JMML. The staff at in the haematology department at the Royal Victoria Hospital were brilliant and really helpful. Transplant Michael required a bone marrow transplant and when his six-year-old brother Charlie was discovered to be a 10/10 match, he volunteered to undergo a procedure many adults shy away from. It was a brave thing for Charlie to do, said Barney. There are lots of adults that go as far as saying theyll donate and then when it comes to the point where they discuss sticking needles into the bottom of their spine and hips, they say no. For a six-year-old to do it is so brave, and its not like we were saying youre going to do this. A team came out to talk to him and used a toilet roll tube to show how the bone marrow was extracted. If they find, at any stage, he has a fear of any aspect, they stop it, but he kept saying Im doing this for my brother. Hes amazing. With the procedure unavailable for children in Belfast or Dublin, the Regan family travelled to Bristol in September 2018, but, heartbreakingly, the transplant failed. Unfortunately, Michael picked up an infection and it didnt work. We were going back and forward to Bristol to get different top-ups and things to see if it would kickstart the transplant, but unfortunately it didnt, so the world-wide search began again. We got a match in June 2019. A woman in Canada donated her newborn baby girls placenta and they had taken stem cells from it, known as a blood cord donation. To get a match from a totally unrelated stranger across the world is phenomenal. Thankfully, hes now on the right path and theyre starting to wean him off anti-rejection drugs - his medication has gone from a full kitchen worktop down to three or four bottles. Finding a donor was so crucial and Id encourage everyone to sign up to the stem cell donation list. Michaels second procedure was shorter than expected, and the family got to spend Christmas together at home. Stressful Barney reflects on a stressful time and is thankful for the family support, particularly that of his mother Karen. There was unbelievable stress on the family and on the business I run Regans bar in the town. For the second transplant, Charlie was at home with my mother, who has been amazing. She looked after Charlie for three months after he donated his stem cells and then again during Michaels second transplant. She was looking after him and the bar at the same time, keeping the business going. Barneys chosen charity is Angel Wishes, a Northern Ireland-focused cancer charity, who are volunteer-run, with every penny raised going to charity. Angel Wishes first got in contact with us after Michaels second transplant. Gaye, who runs the charity, rang to ask how he was as hed slipped their radar. My wife Nicola told her hed had to go for a second transplant, and from that day, Gaye gets in contact every week to see how he is. She sent toys when he was in Bristol every week and the charity gave us a financial donation for flights back and forth. The NHS pay for flights over and back but anything in between times, we have to fund ourselves, so the donation helped us to fly Charlie over to visit to break the whole thing up. Street collection A team from DKMS Donor Registry will be at the street collection on May 2. If you would like to make a donation to the firefighters fundraising effort, you can donate via their Just Giving Page - https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/magherafirefighters-runforlife-1 question marks written reminders tickets Lightspeed POS (TSX:LSPD) has been one of the most successful Canadian tech IPOs in recent times, hitting a high $49 per share, five months after its debut. Now, despite following a strong quarter, Lightspeed is trading well below that high-water mark thanks to a bought deal and unfavourable market conditions. Trading at just $32 per share, the stock looks like a bargain at these levels, that is, if you dont mind a few hiccups. Strong Q3, but acquisition strategy will need time to play out Lightspeed reported strong numbers for its third quarter, with total revenues growing 61% year over year to $32.3 million, and ahead of previous guidance. Recurring software and payments revenues also grew 58% year over year to $28.4 million, while gross margins expanded by a whopping 18% over the same time frame. Lightspeed also inched closer to profitability, with net losses falling to $15.8 million from $71.1 million in 2018. Although these numbers are great at first glance, there are a few gremlins under the hood. First, the year-over-year top line growth was not entirely organic and considers two acquisitions Lightspeed closed in 2019 of POS solutions providers, Kounta and iKentoo. Second, even accounting for these two acquisitions, Lightspeeds growth slowed down somewhat sequentially, with Q4 sales expected to grow by ~10%, down from the mid-teens. Moreover, as far as acquisitions go, Lightspeed does not seem to have a clear direction mind. For example, Kounta is a small POS solutions provider in the hospitality industry in Australia and New Zealand, with 7,000 customers. Lightspeed paid roughly $43 million for the company, or over $6,000 US per customer. In January of this year, Lightspeed closed yet another deal, paying ~$101 million for German iPAD based POS system, Gastrofix, and its 8,000 customers, or $12,500 US per customer. And now, with the recently closed bought deal of C$288 million, Lightspeed is apparently gearing up for even more acquisitions. Story continues While Lightspeeds ambition should be applauded, the company might be stretching itself too thin, especially at such an early stage. Global expansion is a lofty goal, but I would prefer the company first address the still largely underpenetrated North American market. Of course, the hyper competitive environment facing Lightspeed is proving to be tougher than anticipated. So far, the acquisitions Lightspeed has made have not exactly been cheap, especially as there will be near-term drags on monthly average revenue per user (ARPU) as Kounta and Gastrofix make significantly less per customer than Lightspeed. Moreover, companies like Kounta operate on more hardware (lower margin) intensive businesses, and which could tilt Lightspeeds revenue mix away from software during the integration period. Finally, lofty goals come with their own set of risks, and as an investor I would like a contracted multiple to account for any execution issues that might arise. Note that Lightspeeds customers are small- to medium-sized businesses, which are particularly susceptible to economic doldrums. Looking at the valuation, Lightspeed is trading at 14 times forward enterprise value to sales compared to Squares multiple of seven times forward sales, making it a very pricey stock despite the recent selloff. For a bullish case for Lightspeed, please visit my colleagues article here. The post Is Lightspeed POS (TSX:LSPD) a Buy After the Recent Selloff? appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Fool contributor VMatsepudra has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Lightspeed POS Inc. 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 The focal point of the coronavirus emergency in Europe, Italy, is also the region's weakest economy and is taking an almighty hit as foreigners stop visiting its cultural treasures or buying its prized artisanal products, from fashion to food to design. Europe's third-largest economy has long been among the slowest growing in the region and is the one that is tallying the largest number of virus infections outside Asia. Entire towns are quarantined in the north, the heart of Italy's manufacturing and financial industries. Airlines have cut back on flights to the country, meaning millions fewer travelers are expected - causing billions in losses for hotels, restaurants, tourist sites and many others. The turmoil is expected to push Italy back into recession and weigh more broadly on the European economy, with trade-focused countries like Germany, France and Britain also struggling with the global disruption to supply chains and travel. "I am getting cancellations through June,'' said Stefania Stea, who has two hotels in Venice, where the Carnival cancellation emptied the city in a single afternoon and sent occupation rates plunging to an unheard of 1 per cent-2 per cent Stea, who is vice president of the Venice hoteliers association, is tallying cancellations worth 7,000-10,000 euros ($7,700-$11,000) a day for her 39 rooms all currently empty. "The only reservations I am getting are for Christmas or New Year's Eve, with people hoping for a deal." Italy's economy is forecast to shrink this quarter, with Bocconi university economist Francesco Daveri predicting a 0.3 per cent. That would match a surprise shrinkage in the last quarter of 2019 and would put the country in a technical recession. 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 country has already shed 4 percent of GDP in back-to-back recessions in the first two decades of the century, and recovery has been stalled for the last two years. Banks are still trying to burn off a pile of bad loans left over from the financial crisis a decade ago and the government's public debt load - the highest in Europe after Greece - limits the country's ability to significantly ramp up spending to help the economy if needed. The tourism and luxury industries were the first, but not last, to sound the alarm. Tourism officials are projecting 32 million fewer foreign visitors and a loss of 7.4 billion euros ($8.1 billion) in the second quarter alone, before the arrival of the make-or-break summer travel season. Foreign airlines are canceling flights to Milan, Italy's financial and fashion capital, and to Venice, a top destination. The tourism industry decries what it describes as confusing and hyperbolic media coverage of the virus outbreak, creating more concern among Italians, travelers and business partners than perhaps warranted. "Unfortunately, we are paying the price of a media communication that has been much more lethal than the virus,'' said Luca Patane, the president of tourism association Confturismo-Confcommercio. Even before the virus arrived in Italy, luxury fashion officials projected a 2 percent first-half contraction. That was based solely on weaker spending by Chinese consumers, who are the biggest luxury buyers in the world accounting for 35 percent of global sales. Now the virus, which began in China, is discouraging well-heeled shopping tourists to Milan's MonteNapoleone district and Rome's via Condotti, while spreading to the U.S. and European neighbors, key export markets. "It is starting to impact Japan and Korea, and most probably will impact Europe and other countries as the virus spreads. We hope it will not spread too fast,'' said Federica Levato, partner at consultancy group Bain. Bain is, for now, maintaining its forecast for 3 percent-5 percent year-on-year growth in global luxury goods sales through 2025. Levato noted that in the 2003 SARS epidemic, spending rebounded "as soon as the crisis passed.'' How deeply the virus will hit the rest of the Italian economy remains to be seen. WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases Coronavirus outbreak: Flight brings swabs samples of over 100 Indians from Iran India oi-PTI New Delhi, Mar 07: More than 100 swab samples of Indians in Iran who are suspected of having coronavirus infection were brought to the national capital on Saturday in a flight, which returned to Tehran with nearly 200 Iranians, according to officials. The flight, which was operated by Iranian carrier Mahan Air, is part of India and Iran's efforts to bring back their nationals in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The flight from Tehran landed at around 5.30 am and returned at around 10.30 am, an official at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here said. A senior official at aviation watchdog DGCA told PTI that about 108 swab samples were brought in the flight and nearly 200 Iranians went in the return flight. Official sources said the swabs would be taken to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune for tests. Based on the outcome of the tests, Indians in Iran who have tested negative for coronavirus infection are expected to be brought back to India. However, on Friday, officials said around 300 swab samples of Indians suspected of having coronavirus infection would be brought in a ferry flight from Tehran. There are about 2,000 Indians in Iran, one of the countries which has been severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak. A similar number of Indians are also there in the Persian Gulf country. On Friday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said evacuation of Indians from Iran was being planned in consultation with the health ministry and the Iranian government. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 21:10 [IST] Advertisement They threw an epic Greatest Showman-themed party for their daughter Nelly's fifth birthday. And Billie Faiers and her husband Greg Shepherd pulled out all the stops for son Arthur's third birthday on Saturday with a lavish jungle-themed party. The Mummy Diaries star, 30, shared a collection of pics to her Instagram of the special day which included a gigantic five-tier spinning cake and impressive balloon display. Family: Billie Faiers and her husband Greg Shepherd pulled out all the stops for son Arthur's third birthday on Saturday with a lavish jungle-themed party (pictured as a family at the party with daughter Nelly, five) The first sweet family photo showed Billie don a simple white T-shirt with a rainbow embellishment paired with ripped blue jeans. Holding Arthur on her hip, the birthday boy looked adorable in a matching two-piece outfit while Greg carried daughter Nelly, five. As well as the family pic, Billie shared a collection of images that showcased the impressive display at the party that included a giant sign with Arthur's name and a rose gold letter three. Woah: The Mummy Diaries star, 30, shared a collection of pics to her Instagram of the special day which included a gigantic five-tier spinning cake and impressive balloon display Next to the five-tier spinning cake, which was adorned with blue clouds, animal faces and giraffe heads, was a giant adorable stuffed giraffe. Other details at the party included bundles of balloons in various shades of green styled into decadent displays, animal print iced cookies and lavish party bags fastened with huge leaves to stay in line with the jungle theme. Earlier in the day the former TOWIE star shared a montage of pics that started with snaps from the day Arthur was born. Alongside the adorable collection of photos from the early years, she penned: 'Happy 3rd Birthday to my beautiful Little darling Arthur. How wonderful life is while your in the world.' Amazing: As well as the family pic, Billie shared a collection of images that showcased the impressive display at the party that included a giant sign with Arthur's name and a rose gold letter three Finishing touches: Next to the five-tier spinning cake, which was adorned with blue clouds, animal faces and giraffe heads, was a giant adorable stuffed giraffe Yummy! The children attending were treated to animal print iced cookies that spelled out 'A' and 'three' in delicious looking icing What's in the bag? They also left with lavish party bags that fastened with huge leaves to stay in line with the jungle theme and had gold monkeys on the front She added: 'I cant believe my baby is three ! ... You truly are my little Sunshine, you have grown into the funniest, cheekiest, loving, cute little darling I know 'Your smile and personality brings so much joy and happiness to us all, Im going to kiss those beautiful little cheeks forever ... we love you so so much... I cant wait I to celebrate your special day today! Love you chops' Last weekend Billie was jetted to the Maldives for a surprise wedding anniversary celebration. Happy birthday to you: Once the party got started the children gathered round while Billie sang to little Arthur beside his decedent cake Impressive: Around the room were bundles of balloons in various shades of green for a very fancy touch Looking back: Earlier in the day the former TOWIE star shared a montage of pics that started with snaps from the day Arthur was born Emotional: She wrote a sweet birthday message that began 'Happy 3rd Birthday to my beautiful Little darling Arthur. How wonderful life is while your in the world' She was only on the idyllic island for 48 hours, but the star filled her Instagram feed with photos of the sun soaked trip. The couple were reminiscing over their wedding which took place this time last year in the Maldives. Despite it taking approximately 11 hours one way to travel there by plane, Greg surprised Billie with a weekend trip to celebrate their anniversary. She continued: 'I cant believe my baby is three ! ... You truly are my little Sunshine, you have grown into the funniest, cheekiest, loving, cute little darling I know' Family: She shared many imaged from the first three years of Arthur's life including snaps from the hospital The mum-of-two shared a snap to her Instagram that showed her standing in front of crystal blue waters in a orange summery dress and holding a basket bag. She captioned the sun-kissed shot: 'Paradise for the weekend! I cant believe we are actually here. Thank you @gregory-shep for surprising me to celebrate our first wedding anniversary ... wow what a year it has been ! '... Its a long way to come for a few days .. but Im not complaining and I couldnt be happier [sic].' Gorgeous: Last weekend Billie was jetted to the Maldives for a surprise wedding anniversary holiday to celebrate one year of marriage Bhopal, March 7 : The Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday decided to go all out against the BJP in retaliation to its attempts to destabilise the government. It opened a new front in the ongoing war when the Umaria district administration bulldozed unauthorised structures of BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak's tourist resort in Bandhavgarh on Saturday morning and razed the crop in the nearby field. The district administration said directives for the action were issued on February 12 after 11 resorts in the area were found to have violated Forest land regulations. Pathak's resort is said to have encroached upon two acres of forest land. Pathak has allegedly financed the Operation Lotus launched by the BJP to poach the Congress MLAs. Earlier on Thursday, the iron ore mine of Sanjay Pathak's family was forced to shut down at Sihora near Jabalpur. Pathak expectedly cried foul saying the government action was vengeful. How could they raze the standing crop on agricultural land? According to the administration, Bandhavgarh action started with Pathak as his was the largest unauthorised occupation of forest land. On Friday, Pathak said that his life is in danger because of the political turmoil. State Minister P.C. Sharma promptly said the action was initiated strictly under rules. The new director general of police Rajendra Kumar in his first orders withdrew the security of most BJP veterans. The government has withdrawn the services of jawans engaged in the protection of many leaders including former ministers Sanjay Pathak, Narottam Mishra, Arvind Singh Bhadoria, Vishwas Sarang. Meanwhile, Sanjay Pathak and Vishwas Sarang have alleged that the state government has exposed the BJP MLAs' lives to risk. In a cascading effect, 30 MLAs from the state have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking security as they were being targeted for raising their voice against the Kamal Nath government. Economic Offences Wing (EOW) raids The EOW has started clamping down on former minister Narottam Mishra. It resumed investigation of the land purchased in Ratanpur in the name of farmers. An EOW tam led by inspector Jitendra Pathak, has started an investigation into the matter on Friday. The team also reached Mishra's home town of Dabra. Apart from this, the team has also questioned the farmers in whose name the land was purchased. Mishra claims it was one of the old tricks of harassing opponents. The EOW started an investigation against Mukesh Sharma, a confidant, of Mishra. Investigations revealed that Sharma's company funded the purchase of land in the name of 14 farmers in Dabra and Bhitarwar and 21 properties were registered for land purchased near Bhopal on a single day. The deal appeared to be carried out under benami transactions. The BJP has also decided to take the Congress head on. At Friday's meeting at the house of Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava, National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, Prahlad Patel, Narottam Mishra are learnt to have decided to go aggressively to persuade many Congress MLAs to resign so that it can turn its current strength into a magic figure of majority and win an extra seat in the Rajya Sabha. The Congress has so far been sure of winning two seats from the state with the present count of 114. Each Rajya Sabha candidate needs 58 votes to win a seat. Independent MLA Surendra Singh Shera reached Bhopal on Saturday and met with Kamal Nath. Shera, who was in Bengaluru with the family for four days, had clarified that he was backing the Kamal Nath government. With one BSP MLA suspended, the other can be lured to cross the floor. The BSP, which is supporting the Kamal Nath government from outside, is also preparing to field candidates against the Congress in Jaura and Agar in the upcoming by-elections. The BSP has started electoral preparations. The BSP has also conducted an election survey regarding the by-election. The Kamal Nath government may soon expand the cabinet to avert the crisis. There are indications that all the ministers have been instructed to stay in Bhopal on March 8. Speculation is rife about a possible rejigging of ministry with the chief minister inducting independents and SP-BSP and dissident Congress MLAs. On Friday, all ministers offered to resign to pull the government out of the crisis. They said the Chief Minister would thus get free hand to reconstitute the Council of Ministers. Meanwhile one BJP legislator, Sharad Kol, who had along with Narayan Tripathi cross-voted in favour of Congress during the previous Monsoon session, has gone missing since Friday. Kole had met Shahdol Collector Lalit Dahima at around 9 p.m. on Thursday, after which he has not returned till Saturday afternoon. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7 2020 Around 20 excavators and giant cranes could be seen operating on a muddy 26-hectare site in Papanggo subdistrict, North Jakarta, on Tuesday afternoon. Some workers were also seen adjusting approximately 2-meter high steel bars that will be used as foundation materials for the construction of the Jakarta International Stadium. The ambitious Rp 4.5 trillion (US$315.5 million) project is expected to finish by the end of October 2021. However, while construction rolls on at the site, legal matters relating to land clearance remain. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Jude Abaga, born 4th October 1981 and better known as MI Abaga, is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter and record producer. MI became the CEO of Chocolate City from June 2015 to 2019 after just recently being signed by the music group. The talented rapper has won himself notable awards and nomination; MIs story, however, is one that transcends obscurity. Abaga has won Best Hip Hop and Best New Act at the 2009 MTV Africa Music Awards and was nominated in the Best International Act category at the BET Awards 2010. The rapper rose to prominence in 2006 when his song Crowd Mentality became popular in his hometown of Jos. His critically acclaimed debut studio album Talk About It was released on 11 December 2008. Four years after that, he released The Chairman as his third studio album. On the 6th of March 2020, M.I Abaga announced his exit from Chocolate City Music and launch of another record label Incredible Music. Just before he left Choc City, MI had been tagged both controversial, misunderstood, over and underappreciated, and a host of other things. Heres A Timeline Of His Activities Just Before He Left The Group The Transition From Signee To CEO M.I moved from being an artist who signed to Chocolate City without an advance as he pointed out in Head of The Family, in 2016 into being the rapper who gave a chance to his comrades, Jesse Jagz and Ice Prince. Then, in an excellent change of story, the rapper became a shareholder on Chocolate City (as he rapped on The Viper) and then, CEO. The Warner Deal And The Rumours The Warner deal is the partnership announced by Chocolate City and Warner Music Group on March 28, 2019. This would ordinarily mean more reach, more buzz and more for Chocolate City, but rumor had it that Abaga was fired from his position as C.E.O by Maikori who is the C.E.O of Chocolate City Group, the parent company of Chocolate City Music. However, that seemed phony except the articles of association of the Chocolate City Group gives such power to the group CEO (Maikori) to fire any of his subordinates. The First Two New Company TASCK, Loopy Records On April 13, 2012, MI Abaga announced Loopy Records his own record label. Interestingly, Audu Maikori, Paul Okeugo and Yahaya Maikori were missing at the launch. At the time, rumors swirled that he had left Chocolate City. On September 11, 2019, M.I. Abaga alongside, AQ, Loose Kaynon and Blaqbonez of 100 Crowns released their second Martell Cypher within the space of seven months. It was released under Chocolate City, 100 Crowns and a new company, TASCK. On the evening of the same day, M.I. Abaga posted a picture on his Twitter page. It was beneath an inscription, TASCK. MI As Choc City Boss (2015-2020?) M.I. Abaga had a four-year stint as the Chief Executive Officer of Chocolate City Music. He assumed the role on June 30, 2015. One of his first acts as CEO was to green-light the Indestructible Choc Boi Nation. It was a step in the right direction, but it came too late. Before then, Brymo and Jesse Jagz had left the label. On the roster were Ice Prince, DJ Caise, Pryse, Victoria Kimani, and so forth. During Abagas stint, Koker, DJ Lambo, CKay, Classiq, Kahli Abdu, Dice Ailes, Yung L, and Ruby Gyang were signed to the label. Jesse Jagz also returned to the label in 2015. Abaga himself has also released three projects since he became C.E.O. During that period, he had the hit clarion call, You Rappers Should Fix Up Your Lives. Track was on the album, Yxng Dxnzl: A Study On Self-Worth. For the track, Abaga was named Lyricist on the roll at the Headies Awards in 2018. The Beef Between Other Rappers MI Vs Kelly Handsome: M.I. Abaga is one of the greatest rappers of his generation, for that, he is not liked by his peers and he knows it. Some of these were addressed on M.Is seventh studio project, Yxng Dxnzl: A Study on Self-Worth. Its only normal that greats are not liked because they cant please everyone who has a theory about how they should act. Even though the dislike has always been alive, M.Is first beef was with Kelly Handsome. On his track, Talk About It MI rapped that, Kelly Handsome is Handsome, Ill tell him when I see him. If I wanted a man, it would be Keke (Kenny Ogungbe) or D1 (Dayo Adeneye) More currently MI has had his moments with Vector the Viper, Iceberg Slim and many more. EDMONTONThe poster plastered on a Red Deer lamp post comes across as harmless at first glance: A symbol featuring the rising sun nestled behind the Rocky Mountains and three maple leaves, surrounded by two wheat stalks with the words Think Green, Buy Local. There is also a URL for a website that tells a very different story. The website identifies ID Canada as Canadas leading identitarian movement and says it was created as a response to Canadas decaying identity, increased third-world immigration and the prevalence of anti-European sentiments. Canada is not a Nation of immigrants. The Dominion of Canada was formed by Europeans, the website reads. Alberta recently received international attention when an energy company was connected to a decal of a cartoon depicting what appeared to be the sexual assault of 17-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Another decal of a train driving through protesters was also criticized as incitement of violence toward those who support Wetsuweten blockades. The decals are part of a rising trend involving the spread of offensive messages through stickers and posters, and experts in extremism say people should be paying attention. Experts have observed a trend across Canada of far-right groups spreading their messaging through posters and stickers in public places, especially since the election of Donald Trump. They say theres been a shift of far-right groups moving from the online sphere, where extreme ideologies are typically disseminated and welcomed, as they try to target a wider audience in mainstream society. People expressing offensive sentiments through a sticker and decal on their car is different than ideological groups advertising themselves on an anonymous poster, because theres a level of ownership, said Barbara Perry, director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech University. But they both show how people are increasingly willing to air views that would be perceived as offensive by most Canadians. She pointed to a 2018 Ipsos poll where more than 30 per cent of respondents said they felt freer to express their views about minority religions and ethnicities. It is another symbol to the extent of which people do feel emboldened to express those kinds of sentiments There is a public recognition that its more OK now than say 2016, 2015, to make those kinds of public statements. On Friday, OUTSaskatoon, an LGBTQ+ community organization, and the Saskatoon Open Door Society, which helps immigrants settle, both told the Star their buildings were targeted this week with posters that raise alarm about the Great Replacement of European Canadians. Last month, the anti-racism activism group Yellow Vests Canada Exposed posted another Red Deer ID Canada poster with the same URL, symbol and the words Defend Canada, Join the Fight as well as one in Edmonton. ID Canadas posters have also been spotted in Calgary and Strathmore, Alta., and Peterborough, Ont. The Canadian Anti-Hate Network said theyve noticed a spate of postering in the last month or so, with about six to 12 incidents in the last month, particularly in Ontario and Alberta. Most recently, a Twitter account called Red Deer Antifa posted the Think Green, Buy Local poster on Wednesday. Buying local means buying white, Yellow Vests Canada Exposed tweeted in reference to the most recent Red Deer sticker. These stickers popped up around the time the racism targeting Chinese Canadians increased, due to coronavirus. The Organization for the Prevention of Violence describes the so-called identitarian movement as a form of right-wing extremism that advocates for the reinforcement or re-establishment of the privileged position of individuals of European heritage in Western societies. The movement is linked with white supremacy and groups such as Soldiers of Odin and Blood & Honour, groups that have seen an increase in activity in recent years. The groups differ in their branding and symbolism but are all driven by the same grievance, Perry noted. Its a fear of a loss of privilege Its not just change, its what that change implies for white cultural supremacy, she said. That fear and anger over loss of status is boiling over from the dark corners of the internet into community centres, Legion halls and downtown streets. Its almost a resurgence of old-style recruitment, Perry said. As if with the online recruitment they recognize thats not enough, not everyones going to find them randomly. Individuals who fall into the online rabbit hole of extremism, racism and hate tend to seek out those materials themselves and self-radicalize by lurking on fringe forums and watching YouTube videos. But this form of activism is more in your face and harder to ignore, Perry said. It could signal an attempt to expand extreme messaging to a wider and different audience. Are these old-school attempts, the posters, the decals, the pamphlets on peoples windshields, are they an attempt to broaden to an older demographic as well? Because thats one thing we are seeing with the movement there are more middle aged and older people sort of being lured into the movement, she said. We certainly saw that with the yellow vesters and I think were seeing that with the fringe of the Wexit movement as well. Omar Kinnarath, an organizer with a Winnipeg anti-hate group called Fascist Free Treaty 1, has torn down posters in his city advertising ID Canada and The Base, a group that has been described as a neo-Nazi terror network. Hes noticed an uptick in the posters in the last three years. Basically after Trump won the election, there was a big spike in these kind of postering campaigns, he said. He believes the reason the posters are showing up more is because the far-right groups have received push back from anti-hate groups when they try to hold public events. But he says he thinks the postering campaigns are intended to incite and provoke, rather than recruit. Theyre showing up right in the middle of downtown Winnipeg, which is like 70 per cent Indigenous and immigrants, he said. The only reason theyre doing that is to get a reaction. Groups like ID Canada often present their message in an innocuous and unobjectionable way. Its a sort of bait and switch, Perry said, to seduce Canadians who may be more wary of blatantly racist or anti-immigrant messaging. Theyre trying to present them in very palatable neutral terms, if you will. What could possibly be wrong with defending Canada? Perry has observed posters with slogans similar to the Defend Canada one seen in Red Deer, but also others saying Defend the family. Its here where the movement shows its true colours, she said. That hearkens back, really, to the roots of defending which family? That traditional white Christian nuclear family. This is very much part of a broader trend, she said. The words Think Green, Buy Local dont come across as hateful, but Perry acknowledged that the Buy local phrasing could be interpreted as a racist dog whistle. The environmental component could be a nod to a growing movement called ecofascism, she said. She compared them to eco-warriors of the right. They lay the blame for environmental problems, global warming, climate change, at the feet of the Far East in particular, the expansion of non-white populations and unbridled growth, she said. ID Canada did not respond to a request for comment. Another example of extreme messages being presented as merely a harmless defence of traditional Canadian values was a series of posters with the phrase Its OK to be white displayed at universities nationwide. Some who study hate crimes saw it as a deliberate attempt by far-right internet trolls to get the media to report on racism in order to trivialize and mock the issue. Some of those posters were displayed at MacEwan University, where Irfan Chaudhry manages the Office of Human Rights, Diversity and Equity. Chaudhry, who researches hate crimes, said theres been a steady stream of pamphlets and stickers with extreme messages popping up in Canadian cities, especially at universities. Whats interesting with some of the right-leaning and even borderline hate groups is the amount of stickers that they go through, he said, noting that stickers advertising the Proud Boys, a far-right organization, were recently seen in downtown Edmonton. Physically distributing their material to the public not only offers a larger and more diverse audience, but is also seen as more effective, Chaudhry said. Handing out a physical thing makes you feel like youre doing something versus kind of posting something or retweeting or liking something (on Facebook), he said. Moving from the underbelly of the internet to posters on downtown lamp posts shows that these groups do believe there is a section of Canadian society that is receptive to their ideas. But Perry says they also seem to recognize that its a minority. I think there is still some concern about, for all that theyve been louder and bolder in the past, theres still some level of uncertainty for whos going to be sympathetic to that kind of narrative as opposed to pushing back, Perry said. Bumper stickers and decals with distasteful messages are nothing new, Chaudhry said, but they seem to be more common in Alberta as the political climate becomes more polarized. He referenced decals of former Alberta premier Rachel Notley being urinated on by a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon character, and the ubiquitous Turdeau decal. When he was recently attending a meeting of a federal committee on radicalization toward violence, he mentioned a decal he had seen on a vehicle in Alberta with a picture of the province and the words Fit in or F- off. I shared that with the intention in my mind that I was going to hear other similar stories from the folks across the country. And they all just had their jaw to the ground saying Weve never seen anything even like that in our province, Chaudhry said. I think its an Alberta thing You do have a strong sentiment there where people do want others to know how they feel about left-wing governments, essentially. In April, the Star reported that Alberta is home to a disproportionate number of extremist groups, according to a report by the Organization for the Prevention of Violence. Read more about: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Sydney, Australia Sat, March 7, 2020 12:43 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068f82d2 2 World #Australia,#coronavirus,death-toll,doctor Free Australian health authorities said on Saturday they had closed a clinic and were contacting around 70 patients of a doctor who has been diagnosed with coronavirus after recently returning from the United States. The Melbourne-based general practioner returned to Australia on Feb. 29. He became unwell with a runny nose on an internal flight from Denver to San Francisco before flying to Melbourne on United Airlines flight 0060, Victoria State Health Minister Jenny Mikakos told a televised news conference. He saw about 70 patients between March 2 and March 6. "The doctor...most likely acquired his infection in the United States," Mikakos said. "I have to say I am flabbergasted that a doctor that has flu-like symptoms has presented to work," she said, adding the clinic has been closed until further notice. Mikakos said patients have been contacted while the passengers on the flight will be contacted as soon as the manifest is available. Four special coronavirus clinics have now been opened in Melbourne to reduce the strain on emergency departments and GP clinics. New South Wales state reported six new cases of coronavirus overnight bringing the total cases in Australia to nearly 70. Australia will release 260,000 surgical masks from medical stockpiles for immediate use, deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly told a media briefing in Canberra. The outbreak has killed more than 3,400 people and spread across more than 90 nations, with seven countries reporting their first cases on Friday. The economic damage has also intensified, with business districts starting to empty and stock markets continuing to tumble. Cyanobacteria -- colloquially also called blue-green algae -- can produce oil from water and carbon dioxide with the help of light. This is shown by a recent study by the University of Bonn. The result is unexpected: Until now, it was believed that this ability was reserved for plants. It is possible that blue-green algae will now also become interesting as suppliers of feed or fuel, especially since they do not require arable land. The results have now been published in the journal PNAS. What do rapeseed, avocado and olive tree have in common? They are all used by humans as producers of oil or fat. However, the ability to produce oil from water and carbon dioxide with the help of light is something that is essentially common to all plants, from unicellular algae to the giant sequoia trees. "We have now shown for the first time that cyanobacteria can do the same," explains biologist Prof. Dr. Peter Dormann from the Institute of Molecular Physiology and Biotechnology of Plants (IMBIO) at the University of Bonn. "This was a complete surprise, not only to us." Until now, experts had assumed that cyanobacteria lack this property. After all, they are actually bacteria, even if their trivial name "blue-green algae" suggests otherwise. They therefore differ considerably from plants in many respects: Cyanobacteria are closer related to the intestinal bacterium E. coli than to an olive tree. "There are indeed ancient reports in the literature that cyanobacteria can contain oil," says Dormann. "But these have never been verified." The scientist has been working at IMBIO for many years on an enzyme that catalyzes one of the steps in oil synthesis in plants. The enzyme is active in the chloroplasts, the green-colored cell components that are responsible for photosynthesis. It is thanks to these that plants can produce energy-rich chemical compounds with the help of sunlight. Many scientists suspect that chloroplasts originally come from cyanobacteria. This is because they, unlike all other groups of bacteria, also master the photosynthesis typical of plants, with the release of oxygen. According to this theory, more than a billion years ago, a primordial plant cell "swallowed" a cyanobacterium. The bacterium then lived on in the cell and supplied it with photosynthesis products. "If this endosymbiont hypothesis is correct, then the oil synthesis enzyme of the chloroplasts might originally come from cyanobacteria," explains Dormann. Oil synthesis enzyme similar to that of plants He pursued this possibility together with his doctoral student Mohammed Aizouq. The scientists searched the genomes of various cyanobacteria for a gene that is similar to the genetic make-up of the enzyme involved in plant oil synthesis. With success: They found a gene for a so-called acyltransferase in the blue-green algae; the plant enzyme also belongs to this group. Further tests showed that cyanobacteria do actually produce oil with this enzyme, even if only in small quantities. The result is on the one hand interesting from an evolutionary-biological point of view: It shows that a certain part of the oil synthesis machinery in the chloroplasts of the plants probably originates from cyanobacteria. However, plants today mainly use other metabolic pathways to produce oil. Furthermore, the result may open up new possibilities for producing animal feed or biofuels. This is because, unlike oil plants such as rapeseed, cyanobacteria do not need arable land to grow -- a container with culture medium and sufficient light and heat is enough for them. This may make them suitable for deserts, for example, where they can be used to produce oils for car engines without competing with food crops. Especially since combustion would only release the carbon dioxide that the cyanobacteria had previously extracted from the air during oil production. The microorganisms would thus make a contribution to climate protection. In any case, the cyanobacteria living in the world's oceans bind considerable quantities of the greenhouse gas. It is estimated that without their contribution, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would be twice as high. "Similar experiments are already underway with green algae," explains Dormann. "However, these are more difficult to maintain; moreover, they cannot be easily biotechnologically optimized to achieve the highest possible oil production rate." This could be different with cyanobacteria. The species studied at the University of Bonn produces only very small amounts of oil. "It is nevertheless quite possible that other species are considerably more productive," says the biologist. Furthermore, blue-green algae can be genetically modified relatively easily, similar to other bacteria. "It is therefore certainly possible that the oil yield could be significantly increased again with biotechnological means." APALACHIN, N.Y. -- An autopsy has found no obvious signs of trauma on a Tioga County woman who was found dead days after she went missing on Sunday after a party, according to the New York State Police. Casie Weese, 37, Glen Aubrey, was found dead in a wooded area on Thursday near a fence along State Route 434 between Apalachin and Vestal, police said. Apalachin is a small hamlet west of Binghamton. The official cause of death has not yet been determined, police said Friday in a news release. They are awaiting toxicology results and further investigation, which could take several weeks, police said. Police used a drone, a helicopter and a K-9 from another police department to search for Weese. Officers and people from other agencies also joined in the search. New York State Police have yet to find Casie Weese, 37, who was reported missing on Sunday morning. Early Sunday, the couple left the party in their car and started driving east on Main Street in Apalachin, troopers said. They only traveled a short distance when their car broke down on Main Street with a flat tire, troopers said. Casie Weeses husband, Ronnie Weese, told police he and Casie had a disagreement hours earlier, police said. She was last seen walking east on Main Street in Apalachin. When state police interviewed Ronnie Weese troopers said they saw a spare tire on the car. They also said he was cooperating with the investigation. Ronnie Weese posted on social media several times, urging his wife to come home and asking for people to watch out for her. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter. A state police helicopter searches for Casie Weese, a missing 37-year-old woman, in Apalachin, N.Y. on Monday, March 2, 2020.Provided by New York State Police 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. Theres been a lot of craziness on display in response to the new coronavirus in New York. Hand sanitizer is sold out everywhere, people are stocking up on bottled water for some reason and at least one guy thinks spraying Febreze at a random Asian man on the subway is going to keep COVID-19 at bay. One of the craziest things perhaps is a major televangelist selling something called Silver Solution consumption of which the CDC warns could cause serious harm as a cure for the new coronavirus. This apparently caught the attention of state Attorney General Letitia James, who has actually issued a cease-and-desist letter to get him to stop. Remember, no need for snake oil, just wash your hands and quit touching your face so much. For more on the new coronavirus, and the rest of the weeks news, keep reading. Michael Bloomberg drops out Several months after he announced his bid for president, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg ended his campaign and endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden. He spent more than $500 million on ads, the most ever spent by a candidate during a primary, that flooded the media markets of Super Tuesday states, the first places his name appeared on the ballot. But when it was do-or-die time, Bloomberg fell short. He performed poorly on Super Tuesday, only winning the caucuses in American Samoa and placing no higher than third in any of the 14 states that voted. All told, according to The Associated Press Bloomberg now has 60 delegates more than any other New York City mayor in history, but nowhere near what he had been hoping for. In an emotional address to his supporters, Bloomberg said that while he was ending his campaign, he will still do whatever he could to ensure that President Donald Trump doesnt get reelected. Schumer gets reprimanded U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer received a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts and backlash from Republicans after making controversial comments during an abortion rights rally. Schumer said that U.S. Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trumps two appointees to the court, would pay the price for making decisions that would limit abortion rights. Roberts called Schumers threatening statement both inappropriate and dangerous. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also condemned Schumers remarks, calling on him to apologize, while Trump tweeted that Schumer brought great danger to the Supreme Court steps. For his part, Schumer expressed regret for his poor choice of words, insisting that he was not threatening Kavanaugh and Gorsuch, but also defended the passion with which he spoke. Coronavirus continues to spread The state has confirmed roughly three dozen people have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus, COVID-19. The majority of cases are in Westchester County, with many connected to a man who had previously tested positive, including members of his family and a neighbor who drove him to the hospital. There have also been cases reported in New York City and Long Island. The outbreak has led to several public school districts to temporarily close in Westchester County, as well as some private schools, as precautions. State University of New York and City University of New York students studying abroad in affected countries like China, Italy and Iran have also been ordered to come back, while the future study abroad trips to those countries have been canceled. Gov. Andrew Cuomo last Tuesday signed a bill authorizing $40 million to fight the spread of the new coronavirus. The bill, which quickly passed in the state Legislature, also expands Cuomos emergency powers. It permits him to suspend any state or local law and to issue any directive through executive order. Congress also passed an $8.3 billion funding to aid in the coronavirus response, including $35 million for New York. However, Cuomo said that sum is insufficient. New York City sees a spike in crime For the second month in a row, the New York City Police Department recorded a sharp increase in major crimes, and officials are placing the blame squarely on bail reform. Overall, crime is up 21% so far this year compared to the same period last year. The NYPD said that since the beginning of 2020, 482 people released without bail on felony charges were rearrested for 846 crimes. However, a coalition of public defenders allege that the NYPD is artificially inflating the crime stats by arresting more people who dont end up getting formally charged. According to the public defenders, the number of complaints on court dockets in the city has decreased over the past year, a fact that appears to be at odds with a supposed increase in crime. PHILIPSBURG:--- People of St. Maarten, I hereby address you, as Prime Minister and Chair of the EOC (Emergency Operations Center), in this official update concerning the COVID-19 preparedness, prevention, mitigation and response of the Government of St. Maarten. Our priority remains to educate the population and ensuring the protection and awareness of our front-liners who are in constant contact with the public. COVID-19 is a global health crisis, which is affecting countries around the world. As such, St. Maarten, although, having no probable or confirmed cases as of today March 6th, 2020, is continuously assessing, and addressing our levels of preparedness in order to be able to contain the spread should a case be identified on St. Maarten. The EOC meetings which have taken place this week, were held on Wednesday March 4, and today Friday March 6, 2020. I can hereby update that there have been no new cases of COVID-19 identified on French St. Martin and that the two diagnosed patients remain in isolation at the Louis Constant Fleming Hospital. Any reports to the contrary has been deemed as incorrect. Taking St. Maartens size and capacity into account, and in order to further mitigate St. Maartens exposure to the COVID-19 virus, after consultation with EOC members, it has been determined that implementing travel restrictions is an appropriate measure at this time. As such travel restrictions have been communicated via TIMATIC, which gives notifications to airlines pertaining to restrictions for travel. As such, all passengers and crew members traveling to St. Maarten who have been in the last 14 days visiting the cities and or countries of China (People's Rep.), Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, are not allowed to transit or enter Sint Maarten. Let me be clear. This travel restriction does not apply to nationals of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which includes The Netherlands, St. Maarten, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. This also does not apply to residents of St. Maarten. This allows for a first level of screening of passengers prior to check in to travel to St. Maarten. The St. Maarten Immigration Department will be executing a second check upon arrival. They will be utilizing key questions to ascertain if visitors or residents have traveled to areas within the high rates of infection within the past 14 days. Passengers identified as having traveled from these areas within 14 days, will receive a bookmark with key information on what to do in the event they could start to experience/develop symptoms associated with the COVID-19 virus. Established protocols as related to cruise travel will also continue to be strictly enforced in order to safeguard the safety and security of our residents. As well as maintain our good reputation as a safe and viable destination for our visitors, which is serious about the prevention, mitigation, and response to the COVID-19 virus. These measures are deemed necessary even as we work to increase our capacity to effectively deal with the challenges which would arise should cases be identified. In addressing our capacity. Due to limited capacity at our St. Maarten Medical Centre, more options for quarantine and isolation spaces have been identified in order to increase capacity to be able to provide good medical services in a safe and controlled environment in advance of a potential outbreak. Through the department of BAK (Department of Interior & Kingdom Relations), under the Ministry of General Affairs, international assistance in the form of technical support for our health officials is being arranged through PAHO, UNDAC, as well as our colleagues in the kingdom. Other streams are also coming up on board. Our cooperation with French St. Martin is also ongoing and we have committed to meet once per week to update and cement any new agreements necessary to collectively mitigate the spread of this virus our lovely island. To update on our Department of CPS (Collective Prevention Services): Training has continued during this week at Princess Juliana International Airport, Heineken Regatta volunteers and workers, school boards and an information session will be planned for parents in the coming weeks. The red cross will be providing training sessions on proper hygiene and handwashing techniques at schools in the next week. The Heineken Regatta has been inspected and is adhering to the protocols established and laid down by the health department. Controls will continue for the duration of the festival and will be evaluated thereafter. As Prime Minister, I would like to encourage our citizens and visitors to remain calm, stay informed and be prepared as countries all around the world are currently either already affected or expect to be within the near future. St. Maarten is no exception, and as such we must continue to be prepared and take all necessary measures to be ready to deal with the covid-19 virus. The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) hereby reminds the general population that we should step-up our handwashing, cough and sneeze etiquettes in order to prevent the spreading of COVID-19. The general public, as well as our visitors, are encouraged to follow regular updates via recognized and credible news sources. Public announcements will continue on all radio stations. Digital billboards will have messages as well as the print media. For more information, call the following emergency hotline number 914 of the Collective Prevention Service (CPS). Follow our Government Radiostation 107.9FM. For official information, statements and news updates or visit the Government website at www.sintmaartengov.org/coronavirus and our Facebook Page: Government of Sint Maarten. As Prime Minister of St. Maarten, I wish to encourage all of us to remain steadfast in preparing for what is to come. Just as we prepare for Hurricane seasons every year. Knowledge is power! Stay informed and prepared. Ensure you have a disaster preparedness kit that can sustain your family for at least 14 days. We are strong, resilient and faithful people and trust that this too shall pass. God bless St. Maarten and her people and God protect her shores! Guinea-Bissau Crisis Deepens as UN Urges Peaceful Solution By Ricci Shryock March 06, 2020 An ongoing dispute in Guinea-Bissau over December presidential election results, is casting a military shadow over the West African country. After rival parties both inaugurated different presidents, troops this week occupied the Supreme Court building and shut down state broadcasters, raising concerns of a possible coup. Guinea-Bissau's military is occupying the Supreme Court and other government buildings, and state media has been shut down as the two main political parties compete for power. The military this week oversaw the placement of ministers appointed by opposition Madem G15 party leader Umaro Cissoko Embalo, who won a surprise victory in December's presidential election. The electoral commission says Embalo won the December 29 polls with around 54% of the vote. But, the long-ruling African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) has alleged fraud and misdeeds. "We are not okay with the results that were given, he says, because we think there were a lot of irregularities in the electoral process," Ansoumane Sanha, director of Cabinet for the president of parliament, which is dominated by the PAIGC, told VOA. When the ruling party sought to challenge the election results for the third time at the Supreme Court, the military moved in. Embalo held a hasty inauguration ceremony last week in a privately-owned hotel that used to be a Portuguese military base. The military then went to the homes of the existing government of Aristides Gomes and confiscated the keys to government cars. Gomes spoke to journalists about the incident on Sunday in his living room. "I was clearly threatened," he said, adding, "it's a bad sign." The ruling-party-led National Assembly countered on Friday by inaugurating its member and president of parliament Cipriano Cassama as interim president. But Cassama stepped down on Sunday, citing alleged threats to himself and his family. "I have no security," he said. "I decided to take this decision to avoid the confrontation of the two sides, he says, and to avoid war." Despite the military and political maneuvering, analysts argue Embalo is the legal president. "After the elections that everyone called the most transparent elections, free elections, everyone, even the international community, the situation is that there was no reason for PAIGC to go to the Supreme Court," said Amadu Djamanca, the executive secretary of the Guinea-Bissau Observatory of Democracy and Governance. But the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called Embalo's swearing-in of his government as "outside of the law." Defense Minister for Gomes' ousted government Luis Melo said he fears the situation may get worse. "I think there needs to be an urgent intervention," he said. The U.N. Security Council called on all parties in Guinea-Bissau Thursday to respect legal and constitutional frameworks. The U.N. statement expressed support for a mediation team from ECOWAS, which is expected to meet with the Supreme Court and the National Electoral Commission. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Three more cases of Coronavirus have been confirmed in India, taking the total to at least 34. Union Special Secretary (Health) Sanjeeva Kumar, on Saturday evening, said that two cases of Coronavirus were confirmed in Ladakh and one in Tamil Nadu. He also instructed officials to plan for early testing and evacuation of Indians from Iran. "Officials have been instructed for early testing and evacuation of Indians from Iran. In addition to 31 cases, 3 more cases have been found positive. 2 from Ladakh and 1 from TN. All are stable," said Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health, Sanjeeva Kumar. READ: South Korea Increases Travel Alert Level For Japan Amid Coronavirus Fears The two patients in Ladakh had a travel history from Iran and the patient in Tamil Nadu had a travel history from Oman. No details regarding nationality, age, sex, was provided by the government official. PM Modi's review meeting Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting with concerned ministers, including Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, EAM Dr. S Jaishankar, General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff, etc. The Secretary of Health and Family Welfare made a presentation regarding the action taken by the Ministry to tackle the virus. A government release stated that "the presentation emphasized on the core areas of surveillance at point of entry and community, laboratory support, hospital preparedness, logistics and risk communication." The Prime Minister appreciated all the efforts taken to fight the virus but "mentioned that India has to be prepared in its response as per the evolving scenario." On Friday, the Health Ministry also advised the citizens from across the country to avoid mass gatherings. In a notification issued, the Ministry stated that all mass gatherings may be "avoided or postponed till the disease spread is contained". The notification further stated that if mass gatherings are organized, states will have to take "necessary action to guide the organizers on precautions to be taken as per the risk communication material already sent so as to avoid any Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) cases and Influenza-Like Illness (ILIs) including Covid-19." READ: California: Stanford University Cancels In-person Classes Amid Coronavirus Scare Coronavirus outbreak Globally, more than 3,400 people have died, with the epicentre being in China. The virus has infected more than 1,02,000 people globally and has now spread to North America South America, Europe, New Zealand, and as many as 80 other countries. On March 1, UN Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock today released US$15 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to help fund global efforts to contain the virus. The announcement came soon after the WHO upgraded the global risk of the Coronavirus outbreak to "very high" its top level of risk assessment. The WHO has said there is still a chance of containing the virus if its chain of transmission is broken. READ: Coronavirus: Karnataka Govt To To Suspend Biometric Attendance Temporarily READ: Coronavirus: Government's Unique Bid To Raise Awareness Through Pre-call Messages By Trend Azerbaijani Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov, who is on a visit to Vienna, met with Saudi Arabian Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Trend reports on March 6 referring to Azerbaijani Energy Ministry. The factors affecting the reduction in oil demand and its price, issues of regulating the oil market in terms of the negative impact of coronavirus on economic development were discussed during the meeting with the Saudi Arabian minister, the statement said. The importance of constant support for the oil market by OPEC + countries was emphasized. The issues of bilateral energy cooperation were also discussed during the meeting, the statement said. The significance of the contract related to the project on the wind energy with a capacity of 240 megawatts, signed between the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy and ACWA Power company, for the development of energy cooperation between the two countries was also stressed. The Saudi Arabian minister agreed to participate in the signing ceremony of the relevant contracts with ACWA Power company for the implementation of the investment project in connection with the construction of a wind farm, the statement reads. The development of the oil market in the short and long term was discussed during the meetings with Barkindo and Novak, the statement said. The sides exchanged the views on limiting production to reduce price volatility and the difference between supply and demand. The need for cooperation and fulfilment of obligations by OPEC and non-OPEC countries was emphasized. I put it to Andy Simionato that hes creating the TikTok of literature. I think that should offend me, he says. But I like it. Melbourne couple Simionato and Karen ann Donnachie - artists, designers and academics - say they are trying to imagine the future of the book itself. Karen ann Donnachie and Andy Simionato review Breakfast at Tiffany's Credit:Eddie Jim And if this is the future of literature, its hilariously terrifying. Or terrifyingly hilarious. Or something. Update: More than 60 staff at Cork University Hospital have been asked to self-isolate due to coronavirus. A crisis management team has been launched at the hospital where a middle-aged male patient is being treated in isolation for Covid-19. The patient presented at CUH a number of days ago, according to Tony Holohan, chief medical officer with the Department of Health. The HSEs national director of acute operations, Liam Woods, has issued an appeal to the public not to call emergency numbers 999 or 112 when seeking information about the coronavirus. He told RTE radios Morning Ireland that the emergency numbers should be for emergencies only and that anyone seeking information should phone 1850 24 1850 or to use the live chat facility on www.hse.ie. Mr Woods said that it is now likely that more cases will be diagnosed, but he said that the majority of people will be able to cope with the virus in their own home environment. Contact tracing in the first case of community transmission in Cork has been completed, he said, and people who were in contact with the patient have gone into voluntary self isolation. He said that while all 13 cases in Ireland are at present being treated in hospital as per European Centre for Disease Control guidelines, should numbers grow that position will be reversed. The majority can manage the condition at home. Mr Woods said that all hospitals have plans in place having carried out risk assessments and that the health service will create capacity when and where necessary. Contingency planning will make sure that there is adequate space, he added. Health care workers who may have been in infectious areas in other countries are being asked to self isolate and measures are in place to ensure that hospitals have the necessary equipment to do their job, he said. Meanwhile, Irish-born microbiologist and head of life sciences at Nottingham University, James McInerney, told Morning Ireland that he would cancel public events such as St Patricks Day parades. He said he has stopped shaking hands and that people need to be mindful to stop such contact. Vivienne Clarke Covid-19: Race to track CUH case as infections rise to 13 A major operation is underway to trace those who came in contact with the first case of Covid-19 confirmed in Cork, the first community-acquired case of the virus in the country. Trinity College Dublin has also confirmed one of the seven new cases of coronavirus revealed last night in the Republic was diagnosed at its campus. At Cork University Hospital (CUH) a crisis management team has been launched where a middle-aged male patient is being treated in isolation. The man has not travelled to an affected area, and so far the public health team has not been able to identify any contact he may have had with a confirmed case, the National Public Health Emergency Team confirmed last night. The patient presented at CUH a number of days ago, according to Tony Holohan, chief medical officer with the Department of Health. During the period of [his] admission, the diagnosis was made after a number of days, said Dr Holohan. The question of potential contact with healthcare workers and others has arisen. Some days lapsed after his admission before the diagnosis was made, meaning that healthcare workers may potentially be contacts, he said, adding that a risk assessment is underway. Other patients within the hospital who may have been in contact with the man are also included in this exercise, which is being carried out by clinical staff and public health officials. Medical staff at CUH who are known to have come into contact with the man have been sent home and instructed to be self-isolated, the National Public Health Emergency Team confirmed. Last night, seven new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed; aside from the confirmed case in Cork, four men in the east of the country are being treated in hospital. Their conditions relate to travel from northern Italy. Trinity College Dublin said it has been informed of a positive case of coronavirus on its campus. In a letter to staff and students, the university says the HSE will trace anyone who's been in contact with the affected person. Some areas of the campus have been closed as a precaution. Two further cases involve females in the west of the country and are associated with close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. This brings the total number of cases so far confirmed in the Republic to 13, with 16 cases confirmed so far on the island of Ireland. Of the previously confirmed existing cases, two are in the east and there is a cluster of four in the west. Each of these are associated with travel from the same affected area in northern Italy. However, there are no plans to introduce a travel ban, the National Public Health Emergency Team confirmed last night. Thursday saw major developments in the global spread of Covid-19: The UK reported its first death from the virus, with 116 cases confirmed so far. The patient, a woman in her 70s, had an underlying medical condition; The World Health Organisation said the current outbreak is not yet at pandemic level, but there are very concerning signs; The Central Bank in Dublin confirmed that one of its employees was being tested for the virus; The University of Limerick told students it is likely to restrict numbers on campus in future. Separately, staff at University College Cork were advised the university is rolling out a contingency plan. Strict visitor restrictions have now been introduced at Cork University Hospital (CUH), where the patient is being treated in isolation in the Intensive Care Unit. Critical patients are continuing to be seen but outpatient appointments were cancelled today. The Cork patient is understood to have presented at CUH a number of days ago with complications arising from an existing underlying health condition. When his condition did not improve, new tests were ordered, including a test for Covid-19. It returned positive. An extensive contact tracing exercise is now underway to identify close contacts, including the mans family members, medical staff, patients, and medical students. In a statement last night, CUH said it had introduced strict visitor rules as a precautionary measure. We are advised by our experts that in the interest of patient safety we are currently restricting access to the hospitals facilities to patients only, a spokesperson said. This is in the interest of patient care and in order to prevent the spread of infections within the hospital. Meanwhile, fear dominated financial markets again yesterday and US stocks fell sharply on worries about the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak. It is the latest shudder in Wall Streets wildest week in over eight years. Major US indexes lost roughly 3.5% and Treasury yields touched more record lows. The slide nearly wiped out the surge that stocks had ridden just a day earlier, which came in part on hopes that moves by authorities around the world could cushion the economic fallout. These vicious swings are likely only to continue, as long as the number of new infections continues to accelerate, many analysts and professional investors say. The global financial uncertainty took its toll on Europes largest regional airline, Flybe, which yesterday finally collapsed into administration, threatening thousands of jobs and the future viability of a number of airports across the UK. Flybes demise, announced early yesterday and blamed in part on a drop in demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak, sparked fierce condemnation from unions and opposition politicians, who criticised both the airlines owners and the Government for failing to act to save it. British transport secretary Grant Shapps said everyone was gutted about the news but said: We really tried to do everything we could back at the turn of the year. Unfortunately, with the situation that has developed with (coronavirus), an already weak company, Im afraid, just hasnt been able to survive, he said The carrier narrowly avoided going bust in January but has continued to lose money since then. It operated one flight out of Cork Airport, to Cardiff. Useful information The HSE have developed an information pack on how to protect yourself and others from coronavirus. Read it here Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus who has been in close contact with a confirmed case in the last 14 days should isolate themselves from other people - this means going into a different, well-ventilated room alone, with a phone; phone their GP, or emergency department - if this is not possible, phone 112 or 999 and in a medical emergency (if you have severe symptoms) phone 112 or 999 Eoin English, Sean O'Riordan, Jess Casey Gov. Kristi Noem drafts bill limiting 'action civics' This legislation prohibits colleges and schools from directing, requiring or compelling students to protest or lobby as part of a grade or a class. In a reactionary move that targets left-wing organizations and free speech in general, Ontarios provincial parliament has voted to move forward with legislation that would delegitimize and potentially criminalize all criticism of Israel and its far-right Israeli government by qualifying it as anti-Semitic. Bill 168which is backed by Ontarios Conservative government, the New Democratic Party (NDP) official opposition, and the Liberalsmandates the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances working definition of anti-Semitism as a guide for government policies and public institutions. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition equates criticism of Zionism with anti-Semitism. The 11 examples the IHRA has attached to its definition include criticism of the establishment of Israel as a racist endeavour, applying double standards to Israel by requiring of it a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation, and comparing the Israeli governments policies with those of the Nazis. The scope of the working definition is so broad that even Kenneth Stern, a US academic who helped draft it, has rejected its use as a legal instrument. On February 27, the Ontario legislature voted 55-0 to refer the bill to Third Reading, the final stage of consideration before it is passed into law. Tory MPP (Member of Provincial Parliament) Robin Martin, a co-sponsor of the bill, made clear its anti-democratic intent by smearing recent pro-Palestinian protests at Torontos York University as anti-Semitic in arguing for Bill 168s adoption. The York protests were mounted against a meeting last November that featured Israeli army reservists as speakers and sought to whitewash the crimes of the Israeli Defence Forces. The meeting was supported by the Jewish Defence League, which even the US FBI has been compelled to designate a terrorist organization. The social-democratic NDP is playing a particularly foul role in legitimizing this frontal assault on democratic rights. Not a single NDP MPP opposed Bill 168 in the parliamentary debate or vote. Moreover, those who did speak sought to allay the entirely justified concerns that Bill 168 will be used against left-wing groups and opponents of Canadian imperialisms close alliance with the right-wing Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu. Bill 168 is not intended to be legally binding, asserted NDP MPP John Vanthof, who went on to claim the legislation should function as an expression of our shared commitment to fight anti-Semitism. The only shared commitment within Canadas ruling establishment is to prevent any public criticism of its aggressive imperialist policies in alliance with Washington in the Middle East. A key plank of this is Ottawas staunch support for the Israeli governments dispossession and oppression of the Palestinian people. Regardless of whether the hard-right Conservative Stephen Harper or the Liberal Justin Trudeau has occupied 22 Sussex Drive, successive federal governments have rejected any criticism of Tel Avivs illegal settlement program in the West Bank, its discrimination and racist policies aimed at Palestinians and Israeli Arabs, and its frequent military onslaughts against the defenceless Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip. Like Washington, Canadas close military-strategic ally, Ottawa views Israel as a key ally in the Middle East for pushing back Iranian influence and consolidating US hegemony over the energy-rich and strategically critical region. Canada pursues this policy not as a vassal of the United States, as many pseudo-left groups claim, but as an imperialist power that calculates it can best realize its own predatory interests by bolstering US hegemony against its main rivals, Russia and China. The Trudeau government paved the way for the introduction of Bill 168 by adopting the IHRA working definition on anti-Semitism last June in a strategy document on combating racism. Underlining the authoritarian intentions of this move, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather encouraged local communities to employ the IHRA definition when determining whether groups or individuals critical of Israel should be allowed to use their facilities. Less than two weeks prior to the Ontario legislatures vote on Bill 168, the Trudeau government sent a letter to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague to oppose it investigating Israeli war crimes. A report released by ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Binsouda in December called for an investigation into disproportionate attacks by Israeli soldiers, willful killings, and the infliction of serious injuries on Palestinians. Canadas letter, employing typical bullying imperialist language, warned the court that Canadas annual contribution is more than C$10 million, before affirming the ICC has no jurisdiction to rule on the case because Palestine is not a state. The universal support for the IHRA definition within ruling circles is part of a wider attack on dissent and social opposition. Those who protest against Canadas outrageous support for, and complicity in, Israeli war crimes will be branded as anti-Semites. Meanwhile, right-wing and even far-right forces are being given free rein to whip up Islamophobia, justify imperialist war crimes, and incite racism and xenophobia against immigrants. This is part of an international process. The IHRA working definition was a key instrument in the hands of the Blairite wing of the British Labour Party and its right-wing allies in a sustained and ongoing smear campaign that labeled Jeremy Corbyn and others within the Labour Party critical of Israel as anti-Semites. Led by figures with close ties to Israeli and US intelligence, this campaign has served to delegitimize any criticism of Israeli policy and British imperialism, and shift politics further right. Canadas ruling elite is pursuing similar goals. Alongside its push for Bill 168, the right-wing populist government of Doug Ford has demanded that all universities and colleges adopt a free speech policy if they wish to continue receiving provincial funding at current levels. This initiative is aimed at pressuring university administrations into providing a platform for far-right speakers on campuses, including the likes of fascist ex-Rebel Media journalist Faith Goldy and Trump ally Milo Yiannopolous. While such reactionary figures are to be welcomed in the name of free speech, left-wing criticism or dissent is being suppressed. Three years ago, Ontario became the first Canadian province to publicly condemn the Boycott, Disinvestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement on the spurious grounds that because it is anti-Zionist it is anti-Semitic. This action was meant to encourage university and college administrations to bar access to pro-BDS activists. The BDS campaign promotes Palestinian nationalism and the misguided claim, as manifested in its call for a boycott of all Israeli academics and artists, that the entire Israeli population is responsible for the criminal actions of the Israeli government. The Ontario legislatures unanimous vote in favour of Bill 168 underscores that Canadas pro-Israel policy enjoys the support of the entire political establishment. However, opposition to the attempt to ban entirely legitimate left-wing criticisms of militarism and war are growing. More than 400 academics from across the country have signed an open letter demanding that Bill 168 be rejected. The letter explains the grave consequences for democratic rights, including academic freedom and freedom of speech, if criticism of Israeli government policy is prohibited. In an article for University Affairs magazine, Jeffrey Sachs pointed out that the introduction of the IHRA working definition in the United States has resulted in a sharp rise in legal proceedings against academics and student groups critical of Israeli government policy. The US Department of Education has already initiated investigations into Duke University, Williams College, and Rutgers University with the claim that they allegedly enabled anti-Semitism on their campuses. In Canada, the IHRA working definition has been adopted by student governments at Ryerson and McGill universities since 2017, opening the door to their preventing left-wing students from accessing meeting rooms and other resources. Efforts to encourage cities to adopt the IHRA working definition have also met with resistance. In Montreal, a motion to have the City Council approve the definition was withdrawn in January after Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), which is associated with the BDS movement, and the Canadian Palestinian Foundation campaigned against it. IJV was also involved in successful counter campaigns in Vancouver and Calgary, with hundreds of people contacting their city councils to oppose adoption of the IHRA definition. The author also recommends: Trudeau reaffirms Canadas support for Israeli aggression [30 December 2020] Trump signs executive order aimed at suppressing criticism of Israel [12 December 2020] New Delhi, March 7 : The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) may have announced free entry for women visitors at its protected monuments on the occasion of International Women's Day, but that may not help much in increasing the footfall, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. There are 174 monuments in Delhi and those which have ticket based entry have seen as much as 50 per cent decrease in footfalls ever since the coronavirus came knocking up north. Even those monuments, which are free of cost to enter, have not been attracting any visitors. Last year in the Rajya Sabha, Culture Minister Prahlad Patel said, over 170 monuments and sites in the national capital have been declared as 'monuments of national importance'. These include the Qutub Minar, Muhammad Shah Sayyid tomb, Safdurjung tomb, India Gate among others. One of the most popular, free of entry monuments for Delhiites has been the India Gate that remains choc a bloc during the weekend, particularly in this time of the year. However, last weekend it wore a relatively deserted look and the hawkers finding it tough to sell their items. In Qutub Minar too, a minaret and "victory tower" that forms part of the Qutub complex, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mehrauli area, saw no queues for the last one week. People have been scared, especially, after the news about six visitors from Agra testing positive broke out. Agra is barely 230 km from the national capital. And adding to the scare is the fact that the person, who they got infected from, was living in the NCR and is under quarantine now. Meanwhile, the ASI has said that they do not have the technology or the equipment to screen the estimated 30,000 people who visit the Taj Mahal every day. This too has sobered the footfalls in the Taj. Moreover, the government has stalled visas from many countries affected by the virus. This has resulted in the monuments wearing a relatively deserted look. Vice President of Tourism Guild, Agra, Rajiv Saxena, said, "The government's decision to cancel the visas to the Italians, Koreans, Iranians and Japanese tourists is a knee jerk reaction". Knee jerk or not, but that certainly has forced many visitors to stay away from the monuments in Delhi. "Tourists travelling to India on valid visas are being unnecessarily harassed despite adhering to all the prerequisite terms and conditions of the government. Instead, we should restore confidence in them that India is safe," Saxena added. Meanwhile, the number of coronavirus affected in India has jumped to 31. The first coronavirus case in Delhi was detected on Monday. Six suspected cases were also detected in Agra after they came in contact with the person from Delhi found to be infected. So far, more than 3,000 people have died across the globe due to this highly contagious virus. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pet therapy is gaining fans in health care and beyond. Animal-assisted therapy can reduce pain and anxiety in people with a range of health problems. What is pet therapy? Pet therapy is a broad term that includes animal-assisted therapy and other animal-assisted activities. Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field that uses dogs or other animals to help people recover from or better cope with health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and mental-health disorders. Animal-assisted activities, on the other hand, have a more general purpose, such as providing comfort and enjoyment for nursing-home residents. How does animal-assisted therapy work? If youre in the hospital, your health care provider might mention the hospitals animal-assisted therapy program. If youre interested, an assistance dog and its handler will visit your hospital room. They stay for 10 or 15 minutes. Youre invited to pet the dog and ask the handler questions. After the visit, you realize you feel a little less tired and a bit more optimistic. Who can benefit? Animal-assisted therapy can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue in people with a range of health problems: Children having dental procedures. People receiving cancer treatment. People in long-term care facilities. People with cardiovascular diseases. People with dementia. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. People with anxiety. And its not only people with health problems who reap the benefits. Family members and friends who sit in on animal visits say they feel better, too. Pet therapy also is being used in nonmedical settings, such as universities and community programs, to help people deal with anxiety and stress. Does pet therapy have risks? The biggest concern, particularly in hospitals, is safety and sanitation. Most hospitals and other facilities that use pet therapy have stringent rules to ensure that the animals are clean, vaccinated, well-trained and screened for appropriate behavior. Animal-assisted therapy in action More than a dozen registered therapy dogs and their handlers are part of Mayo Clinics Caring Canines program. They make regular visits to various hospital departments and even make special visits on request. The dogs are a welcome distraction and help reduce the stress and anxiety that can accompany hospital visits. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On Jan. 31, over a month ago, the Trump administration made an excellent decision: In an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus, it forbade most foreign nationals from entering the United States if they had recently traveled to China. This move was immediately attacked in the language of cosmopolitan sophistication, which assumes that because travel bans and quarantines are associated with things liberals consider bad nationalism, hardened borders, migration restrictions they necessarily must not work as well. But this supposed sophistication is really just a superstition. Its certainly true that the travel ban could not, and did not, prevent the coronavirus from reaching the United States. But as with local quarantines and closings all of which emphatically do work, whether youre looking at the history of the Spanish flu or Hong Kongs success combating the coronavirus today you dont need 100 percent effectiveness for travel restrictions to be wise and helpful. What they buy you, above all, is a slower rate of spread, and with it precious time for preparation. So Trump made the right call, and in so doing he briefly vindicated a case that his supporters have always made for him: He acted like the guy who would make common-sensical choices in the national interest, even when they went against the nostrums of globalization and the supposed wisdom of the do-gooders. Ahead of International Womens Day, research shows that firms are learning that more diversity equals better profits. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Sunita Mei-Lin Rajakumar is a woman at the top of her game, in a country that has made unusually big strides in boosting the representation of women in corporate leadership positions. Sunita, 51, is the independent chair of Caring Pharmacy Group, Malaysias largest pharmacy chain. She also founded a venture capital fund, and is an independent director on the boards of several other firms. She is among a growing number of women who have trumped gender stereotypes, not only in Malaysia but globally, to rise to the top of the male-dominated corporate sector in recent years. Changing attitudes among the men who have traditionally dominated business driven by government policy and media campaigns is one of the reasons for the rise. But another factor is a mounting body of research that shows greater diversity leads to higher profits. But despite gains in certain countries, globally, women remain hugely underrepresented at board level. To get to the top, women still need to overcome many hurdles that their male counterparts do not encounter. The challenge for me was not so much being a woman, but in [developing] my own personal identity and strength in business, Sunita said. If women are coming to the workplace and still thinking of themselves as women only, theyre doing themselves a disservice, she told Al Jazeera in the run-up to International Womens Day on March 8. Malaysia has the highest ratio of women 26.4 percent in the top 100 publicly listed companies of any Asian country, according to the findings of a study carried out by the 30 Percent Club, a global nonprofit that advocates having more women in boardrooms. That is higher than the proportion of women in similar positions in the United States 23.6 percent and on par with Canada at 26.6 percent. Malaysia also has the highest percentage of women 33 percent in senior management teams compared with a global average of 29 percent, according to the 2020 Grant Thornton International Business Report. To Sunita Mei-Lin Rajakumar, chairperson of Malaysias largest retail pharmacy chain Caring Pharmacy Group Bhd, the gender narrative has never held her back from corporate success [Samantha Ho/Al Jazeera] So what has Malaysia done right? According to Marcella Lucas, CEO of LeadWomen, a consultancy, which has worked with women in Malaysia and Kenya to make them board-ready, a combination of well-publicised government targets, support from big private firms, corporate governance revisions from regulatory bodies and supporting organisations like hers have been vital in boosting Malaysias female representation at senior levels. Lucas told Al Jazeera that another finding of her work is that boards she has worked with who hire their first female director typically come back for more. For instance, one multinational company in Malaysia has gone so far as to include diversity programmes for board members in recent years, said Lucas, who also leads the research working group of Malaysias chapter of the 30 Percent Club. Women are becoming a greater presence on boards in many developed countries too. Last year marked the first time ever that women made up 30 percent of board positions of companies listed on the United Kingdoms FTSE 350 index, according to data compiled by the 30 Percent Club. It is now a similar story in Australia. The same trend has been reflected in senior management, where 87 percent of midsized companies globally have at least one woman in senior management, an increase of almost 20 percent over the last five years, according to Grant Thorntons research. Companies generally only change the way they operate for two reasons: they are either compelled to do so by regulators, or doing so makes them more profitable. And the latest research suggests that hiring more women is actually paying off for firms. An S&P Global study in 2019 found that companies with female leaders became more profitable and posted better share price growth compared with the market average. In the UK, [achieving 30 percent of women in boardrooms] was driven by the private sector and supported by the media, said Lead Womens Lucas. Diversity fatigue But while a significant number of companies have been proactive in diversifying their board composition, many more are facing what Lucas described as diversity fatigue, where companies have grown weary of keeping diversity at the top of their agendas. Globally, only 16.9 percent of women held board seats in 2019, a 1.9 percent increase from 2017, according to a report by Deloitte. An even smaller percentage are chairs: only 5.3 percent in 2019, and only 4.4 percent are CEOs, the report said. The board is a very intimate setting, there are high stakes and only a few people involved. Bringing in an outsider can be quite daunting, Lucas said. Caring Pharmacys Sunita said being an outsider in a companys boardroom comes with its own challenges in meeting due diligence criteria, especially as boards only convene a handful of times a year. One minority voice is not enough. There is tremendous pressure (against diverse opinions) if theres only one minority voice, she said. This is why 30 percent is hailed by advocates as the minimum ratio of minorities needed within an organisation to have their concerns judged on their own merit, and not as a minority voice, according to the 30 Percent Club. Michele Kythe Lim, CEO of the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia, said while most male directors she has met are not opposed to more women being in boardrooms, they may need help in finding candidates. A lot of independent directors are the same ones going around different companies because the pool of directors is only so big. And why that happens is [because] a lot of companies will say, Oh, we want someone we know who has experience already on a board. So if you look for someone thats experienced, its the same pool, she told Al Jazeera in an interview. This causes a lack of diversity when it comes to age as well, she said. As the pool of directors remains stagnant, you will find that the average age is about 60, and the same guys are getting older and older. Age, skill sets, professional backgrounds and geography are other categories that boardrooms are seeking diversity in, she said. Fortunately, Lim said, the institute has seen just as many women seeking training and boardroom opportunities as men. Susian Yeap, the chief operating officer and co-founder of Kuala Lumpur-based Supahands, works with more than 11,000 part-time employees across Southeast Asia, of whom almost 60 percent are female [File: Supahands] Taking ownership Someone else who smashed through the proverbial glass ceiling is Susian Yeap, the chief operating officer and co-founder of data labelling startup Supahands. She wants her employees to be recognised as great engineers or fantastic product designers instead of being labelled according to gender. We arent women in tech, we are engineers, developers, and managers at Supahands. I think the next step towards supporting women in the workforce is taking ownership of our hard work and not singling out success because we are women who are doing something, Yeap told Al Jazeera. Supahands works with more than 11,000 part-time workers across Southeast Asia, of whom almost 60 percent are female, to provide training data for artificial intelligence and machine learning models to clients as far away as the US and Denmark; 52 percent of its core employees are women. Our SupaAgents are moms, students, business analysts, some of them work in medical technology or are doctors its lovely to see how diverse our pool of SupaAgents is, Yeap said. She also downplays the importance of gender in her work with co-founder and CEO Mark Koh, who worked with her to start Supahands in 2014 in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. It wouldnt matter if my co-founder was male or female I guess the key is to find someone who compliments you and supports you, and someone whose vision you can align with, she added. Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, on his first visit to Ayodhya after coming to power in Maharashtra, reiterated that his party, Shiv Sena, stands by its Hindutva ideology despite not being an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). I have parted ways with BJP, not Hindutva. BJP and Hindutva are not the same. BJP is not Hindutva, he said on Saturday, after visiting the makeshift Ram Lalla temple. Thackeray also announced a donation of 1 crore from his trust, as a contribution towards the construction of a new temple. Not as the chief minister or from the government of Maharashtra, but I am contributing this money because I am a devotee of Lord Ram, he said. Thackeray also expressed a wish to construct a Maharashtra Bhavan in Ayodhya, as a pilgrim centre for people from the state who visit the Ram Temple. I spoke to the chief minister Yogi Aadityanath and requested him to identify and give land to Maharashtra government so we can construct a Maharashtra Bhavan in Ayodhya, said Thackeray, who was accompanied by son and state minister Aaditya; party MPs Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, Rahul Shewale; and all Sena ministers from the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. State minister Sunil Kedar from the Congress, too, was part of the group at Ayodhya. The MVA government is a three-party coalition between Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress. Thackeray had earlier visited Ayodhya on two occasions in November 2018 and in June 2019. Senior political analyst Abhay Deshpande termed Thackerays decision to visit Ayodhya as part of a balancing act the Sena is doing. This is like a balancing act, because Sena left BJP, and has allied with Congress and NCP, but Uddhav Thackeray is now trying to show that opposing BJP does not mean Sena has become anti-Hindutva. The BJP has tried to create a narrative that Thackeray has become anti-Hindutva. The chief minister is trying to combat this and trying to set up a right-centre politics, balancing with the left-centre politics of NCP and Congress, said Deshpande. The MVAs political compulsion has had them set up the common minimum program (CMP) for governance. There are differences in the alliances ideological inclinations. The government will run on the basis of the CMP. With other things they want to show we have not left our original agenda. Because of CMP, Thackeray has left aside some core issues, but he wants to show it does not mean he has dumped them. The visit was timed to coincide with the MVA government completing 100 days in power on March 6. Thackeray was sworn-in as chief minister on November 28 last year. When I came to Ayodhya to take blessings from Lord Ram for the first time in November 2018, I had said I will visit again, and I will visit again, and I will keep visiting. Every time I have come here, I have returned with blessings of Lord Ram, and good things have come my way. I came in November 2018, amid uncertainty of whether the temple will be built, and who will build it. Then the Supreme Court Verdict came. Exactly one year after my visit, I became chief minister of Maharashtra, something I had never dreamt would happen. I came before Lok Sabha elections with all MPs and we had a good victory in Maharashtra, said Thackeray on Saturday. The chief minister was initially also supposed to attend an aarti on the banks of the Sharyu River, but the event was cancelled owing to concerns over coronavirus. Thackeray said he will visit again for the aarti. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said anyone can visit Ayodhya in personal capacity. Chief minister Thackeray did so on Saturday. As long as the issue of construction of the Ram temple is concerned, Congress has never opposed it. The only question we have raised is where; and have clarified that the Supreme Court should take a final decide. Now that the Supreme Court order has clarified it, we have always said, there should be a Ram temple, said Sawant. As far as the MVA is concerned, the government functions on a CMP. It was clear before the alliance was made that the parties have differences in ideologies, and those can remain independent of each other and the government. The BJP, however, hit out at Thackerays Hindutva barb. Nobody needs to teach BJP the meaning of Hindutva. Shiv Sena is now rubbing shoulders with Congress, the party that always opposed Hindutva. So only time will reveal if Shiv Senas Hindutva will last. BJP did not insist that Shiv Sena should hold onto our alliance, said Praveen Darekar, leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative council. WASHINGTON - A growing number of Republicans are working to fix the party's most fundamental electoral problem, its rapidly diminishing support in suburbs that once were GOP strongholds. The talks and proposals are happening outside the bounds of formal leadership circles and beyond the Republican National Committee, entities that, for now, are heavily focused on President Donald Trump's short-term interest of winning reelection with his continued style of pugilistic insults that alienates many suburban voters. Inside the Capitol, more than 40 House Republicans have rebooted the Suburban Caucus, a group that is focusing on building out policy proposals that resonate with higher-income, college-educated voters who have broken sharply from the GOP in the Trump era. That the caucus went dormant for almost a decade is the perfect metaphor for Republican struggles in localities outside Philadelphia, Atlanta, Phoenix and Denver. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., who narrowly survived a tough race in the St. Louis suburbs, woke up the morning after the 2018 midterm elections with a sense of fear and fury. "We've lost the majority, and I'm looking at so many of my friends that lost seats in majority-suburban districts," Wagner said, recognizing that Democrats won a huge chunk of their 40-seat gain by defeating her GOP allies. "We cannot be the majority party if we are going to be a party that appeals only to rural America," she said. Within a few months, she relaunched the GOP's Suburban Caucus. On Monday, Wagner and other members of her caucus will be onstage at a summit arranged by N2 America, a new nonprofit started by a trio of female Republican strategists who are trying to work on both policy proposals and communications strategy for rehabilitating the GOP brand in the suburbs. One key factor, according to the lawmakers and strategists, is that Republicans are hemorrhaging suburban votes because of Trump's tone, which has been adopted by a growing number of rank-and-file GOP lawmakers in the Capitol. These suburban voters are often tuning out good economic news in their region because the political news is dominated by put-downs and counterpunches. "Suburban voters are discerning and sophisticated. We've just got to get the personalities out of it and focus on policy," said Liesl Hickey, a former executive director for the National Republican Congressional Committee who served as chief of staff to former congressman Mark Kirk, R-Ill., who founded the Suburban Caucus 15 years ago. The group's board is a collection of top strategists for the past 15 years from the Bush administration, the Republican Governor's Association, congressional leadership and unsuccessful presidential candidates such as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Clyburn knew Democrats needed a signal to rally around Biden. His endorsement created a political surge. The degree of difficulty keeps getting more pronounced with each election held in one of these former bastions of Rockefeller Republicans. Twelve years ago, in the Democratic presidential primary, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's epic clash drove up record turnout in many places, including propelling 1 million voters to Virginia's primary. On Tuesday, in a race that previously seemed to lack energy among the top Democrats, more than 1.3 million voters turned out, delivering a blowout victory for former vice president Joe Biden. The Virginia suburbs told the story. In Fairfax County, Democratic turnout jumped from about 161,000 voters in 2008 to roughly 245,000 in 2020. Neighboring Loudon County, once more of a conservative exurb, saw an even sharper tilt, with its Democratic turnout more than doubling from 35,000 voters 12 years ago to almost 72,000 on Tuesday. That followed a pair of devastating elections for Republicans at the state and local level in 2017 and 2019, turning Virginia from the quintessential swing state into a commonwealth with Democrats holding every statewide office and majorities in the state legislature as well as a majority in its congressional delegation. Republicans who have survived these suburban waves are trying to preach a new religion to a party that has drifted further to the right. "I worked my butt off," said state Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R, who won reelection by less than 1,400 votes in her suburban Richmond district last fall. Dunnavant, who will be on hand at Monday's suburban summit, said every Republican in these regions needs to work on "practical things" that relate to these neighborhoods and communities in ways that cut through the permanent echo chamber of national news. In her first term, she worked on laws to make it easier for community college credits to transfer to four-year colleges, workforce training and battling the opioid epidemic. She found a "voter fatigue" throughout her suburban district in the national news of Trump clashing with congressional Democrats. So, Dunnavant said, "I brought the conversation back to what I was doing." Suburban Republicans will try to make the self-described democratic socialist policies of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., part of their 2020 strategy, even if Biden continues his surge to the Democratic nomination, arguing the race will pull the former vice president in Sanders's direction. "These socialist policies that Bernie Sanders and others have gotten on board with do not resonate in a suburban district like mine," Wagner said. Prospect of Sanders as presidential nominee divides Senate Democrats Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, whose district does a 270-degree turn around Houston, won with less than 53 percent in 2018 but said he appeals to suburban voters with pitches that find middle ground, particularly on climate change. "They want to care about the environment but they want to do it in a smart way," Crenshaw said. "They want solutions that are based on science and engineering, not fantas.," Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., who co-founded the Suburban Caucus with Wagner, said he is focusing on legislation designed to improve "financial literacy" for parents and students taking out loans for higher education, as well as tax incentives for employers to pay off those loans when they hire college graduates. Wagner said her caucus was working on a next round of policy proposals that would serve as "niche issues" that, assuming the Democratic majority does not take them up in the House, GOP candidates could use as a menu of options in the fall elections. "It's kind of like our 'Contract with Suburbia'," she said, a play on the GOP's "Contract with America" that propelled Republicans to the House majority in 1994. If they can find these issues that resonate in the suburbs, Republicans argue that they can overcome the Trump bombast at the top of the ticket in down-ballot races, avoiding the din of the 2018 election when presidential behavior, not the growing economy, seemed to overwhelm the suburbs. "Certainly his tone and style were issues," Hill said. "As we go into 2020, I think we need to talk about the results of the Trump administration." Governor Andrew Cuomo has declared a state of emergency in New York following the coronavirus outbreak as the total number of infected nationwide hit 400 and two deaths in Florida became the first fatalities on the East Coast. Mr Cuomo made the announcement on Saturday when speaking at a press conference in Albany, New York. Twenty one new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed by the governor, bringing the total number in New York state to 76. Of the 76 confirmed cases, 57 of them come from Westchester, which is posing a problem for the state. "Westchester is an obvious problem for us," Mr Cuomo said. They talk about the contagion in clusters and the clusters tend to infect more and more people. In New York City, there are currently 11 cases of the virus, with seven new cases confirmed on Saturday. Ten people have been hospitalised over the illness. An issue areas across the US are experiencing is the lack of tests available. New York has commissioned for "hundreds" of coronavirus tests and intends to request many more, Mr Cuomo said. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention gave New York permission to develop its own coronavirus test in commissioned labs. But Mr Cuomo also implored the agency to now allow automatic testing because it would "exponentially increase the number of tests you can do." Officials in the state are also being "hyper-cautious" about nursing homes and other senior facilities because of elderly people's vulnerability to contract the virus. But despite the growing number of cases, Mr Cuomo encouraged people to remain calm. He referenced numbers from Johns Hopkins showing that of the more than 105,000 positive cases, over 58,000 people have recovered from the virus. New York joined other states like California, Maryland, and Utah to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus. Declaring a state of emergency can help expedite funding. Amtrak has also suspended its nonstop train service between New York City and Washington DC after the US East Coast confirmed its first two deaths from the coronavirus in Florida. "The safety of Amtrak's customers and employees is our top priority," the company said in a release on Saturday. "We are closely monitoring the coronavirus and are taking action based on guidance from public health experts." The Acela service will stop starting on 10 March until 26 May. Amtrak said it would be removing train cars or cancelling services all together when there are convenient alternatives for customers. Reasoning behind cancelling trains comes as the company's experienced reduced demand for its services. Like other public transport services in the US, the company said it was improving its cleaning protocol by sanitising stations and trains multiple times per day. New York City's subways and buses enhanced its own cleaning protocols this week. More than 400 cases of the coronavirus in the US are confirmed as of Saturday. Washington state revealed two more people died, making it a total of 19 people in the US to have passed away from the virus. Vice president Mike Pence later said that Americans should not be overly concerned, reiterating that it was the elderly with underlying conditions who were most at risk. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 06:57:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PRAGUE, March 6 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic issued a new measure on Friday, asking residents back from Italy to report to their doctors upon arrival and then undergo a two-week home quarantine. The new measure, to be taken into effect on Saturday, is due to the spread of coronavirus in Italy and the fact that most of the confirmed cases in the Czech Republic were infected during their stay in Italy, said the ministry. The new measure is mandatory and those violating the quarantine may be fined up to 3 million crowns (130,000 U.S. dollars), according to the ministry. There are about 16,500 Czechs in Italy now, according to data provided by the ministry. Most of them went to Italy for the ski season. The ministry also asked employers to adopt a positive attitude to their staff and to agree with them on the job from home. The Czech Republic has 19 cases of confirmed novel coronavirus as of Friday night. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Cash-strapped Pakistan may face losses up to USD 61 million due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak, the ADB has said in its assessment report on the impact of the novel COVID-19 outbreak. The virus that first emerged in China's Wuhan city in the Hubei province in December last year has spread to 97 countries and has infected 102,180 people, including 80,651 in China, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus tracker. In Pakistan, six cases of coronavirus have been reported and all have a history of travel to Iran. Three of the cases are in Karachi and three in Gilgit-Baltistan. The Manila-based Asian Development Bank has projected that Pakistan's economy may face USD 16 to USD 61 million losses due to the coronavirus outbreak, The Express Tribune quoted a report published on Friday. "In moderate case scenario, the projected losses to be faced by Pakistan are USD 34.2 million. In worst case scenario, the projected losses to be faced by Pakistan are USD 60.8 million," the report said. The report also gave estimates about global losses due to the novel virus. The bank gave a "hypothetical worst case scenario" that shows Pakistan's economy sustaining a whopping USD 5 billion loss due to spread of the virus. The report said that in this case, Pakistan's GDP will loss 1.57 per cent and 946,000 people will be unemployed. The report showed that the global GDP will also be affected from USD 77 billion in best case scenario to USD 347 billion in worst case scenario, with China affected the most. In a one-page paper issued by Tola Associate - tax and corporate advisors - it was also claimed that Pakistan's economy will sustain USD 5 billion loss due to coronavirus. The firm based its claim on an ADB publication. According to the estimates published by the ADB the impact of the coronavirus, in terms of the global GDP ranges from USD 77 billion in best case scenario to USD 347 billion in worst case scenario, or 0.1 per cent to 0.4 per cent of the global GDP. The report said the total losses likely to be sustained by Pakistan will be only USD 16.23 million in best case scenario. It projected that in best case scenario, Pakistan's agriculture and mining sector could sustain a loss of USD 5.5 million; business trade, personal and public service USD 5.54 million; hotels and restaurants USD 0.67 million; light and heavy manufacturing USD 3.6 million and transport services USD 0.92 million, the report said. In the worst case scenario, Pakistan's agriculture and mining sector will face USD 21.7 million losses; business and trade USD 18.8 million losses; hotel and restaurants USD 2.4 million losses; light and heavy engineering USD 14.6 million losses; and transport services USD 3.4 million, it said. In addition to the global slowdown, the fear caused by the COVID-19 is going to cause an estimated loss of USD 1.5 trillion across the globe in hypothetical worst case scenario. The lockdown has slowed down the pace of the Chinese economy, if compared to the last 30 years. Coronavirus losses will depend on the magnitude of the problem and the scale of the underlying uncertainties in countries which have strong trade and production linkages with China, according to the Tola Associate. The cash-strapped Pakistan government has been implementing austerity measures to improve the country''s finances. In July last year, Pakistan registered a currency reserve of less than USD 8 billion -- enough to cover only 1.7 months of imports. The International Monetary Fund formally approved a USD 6-billion loan to Pakistan in July 2019, citing "significant" economic challenges. Pakistan has so far received billions in financial aid from friendly countries like China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE during the current fiscal year. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 02:10:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close OTTAWA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Canada's international trade deficit rose to 1.5 billion Canadian dollars (about 1.1 billion U.S. dollars) in January from 732 million in December 2019, according to Statistics Canada Friday. Total exports fell 2.0 percent in January to 48.1 billion Canadian dollars, with nine of 11 product sections posting declines. In real or volume terms, exports were down 3.1 percent. Exports of motor vehicles and parts registered the largest decline in January, down 4.1 percent to 7.3 billion Canadian dollars, the lowest level since May 2018. Exports of energy products were down 1.7 percent in January, mainly on decreased exports of natural gas, which plunged 26.2 percent. Total imports were down 0.5 percent in January to 49.6 billion Canadian dollars. Imports of consumer goods posted the largest decline, dropping 6.3 percent on lower imports of pharmaceutical products. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 18:47:14|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SYDNEY, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The total number of the COVID-19 cases in Australia reached 72 as of Saturday evening with six new patients tested positive in the state of New South Wales (NSW). Meanwhile, there are now 14 confirmed cases in the state of Queensland, 11 in Victoria, seven in South Australia, three in West Australia, two in Tasmania and one in the Northern Territory. Among the six new patients in NSW, which brought the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 34, five are either close contacts or family members of those people who already tested positive to the virus. The sixth most recent case returned from Italy on Qatar Airways flight QR 908, and the NSW Health is contacting flight passengers on that flight, which left Doha on March 1. According to NSW Health, screening continues at the Sydney International Airport. As of midnight Saturday, a total of 23,814 passengers have been assessed, and a total of 77 were sent for testing. The Minister of Mining, Baldo Prokurica, headed the Chilean delegation to this year's PDAC trade show where he launched a book with details of 40 mining investment projects in Chile SANTIAGO, Chile, March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chilean government has launched the book "Chile: Leader in metals that facilitate the future,"A setting out details of 40 mining projects whose implementation would contribute to the country economically and in terms of sustainability. It was prepared by the Mining Ministry with the support of InvestChile and was presented this week at the 2020 trade show of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), the world's premier mining exploration venue. Out of the 40 projects described in the book, 34 are at the exploration stage and six at the pre-development stage. The projects are located in eight regions of Chile and 26 correspond to copper, 11 to gold, one to salt, one to titanium and one to a zinc polymetallic deposit. Mining Minister Baldo Prokurica indicated that the Chilean government is promoting these initiatives "because we are aware that our country is a great facilitator of natural resources for the technologies of the future and electromobility." He added that "we have a great opportunity to create jobs and generate development if we can position ourselves in the value chain." The director of InvestChile, CristiAn RodrAguez, emphasized that the international mining industry has known Chile for a long time. "That is why, together with the Ministry, we have also sought to renew our offer of opportunities, looking for attractive projects to encourage overseas companies to explore our country," he said. According to the Chilean Copper Commission (COCHILCO), 44 mining projects, which together represent an investment of US$72.5 billion, will start operations between 2019 and 2028. The Antofagasta Region of northern Chile leads the list, accounting for 34% of the total expected investment, and 96% of the investment in this Region will be in copper. Chile is the world's leading producer of copper and rhenium, the second of lithium and molybdenum, and the sixth of silver. It accounts for 55% of international output of rhenium, 28% of copper, 22% of molybdenum, 19% of lithium and 5% of silver. "Chile: Leader in metals that facilitate the future" is available in Spanish and English and can be downloaded free-of-charge from https://tools.investchile.gob.cl/miningguide. Media Contact: Francisca Schwerter Phone: (56-2) 26639200 Email: fschwerter@investchile.gob.cl DenisseA VAsquezA Phone:A (56-2) 26639200 Email: dvasquez@investchile.gob.cl Related Images chile-leader-in-metals-that.png 'Chile: Leader in metals that facilitate the future' The Chilean government has launched the book 'Chile: Leader in metals that facilitate the future,' setting out details of 40 mining projects whose implementation would contribute to the country economically and in terms of sustainability. Related Links 'Chile: Leader in metals that facilitate the future' At least four Saudi princes have been ensnared in a wave of detentions ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a person close to the royal family said Saturday. Prince Nayef bin Ahmed, who held senior positions in the military, was detained on Friday along with at least three other senior members of the royal family. The full extent of the roundup remains unclear. Analysts who follow the royal family said Saturday that the latest wave of arrests raised questions about whether Crown Prince Mohammed would soon seek to take formal power from his aging father, King Salman, 84. Others suggested the crown prince, who has established himself as the de facto ruler of the kingdom in the name of his father, was worried about discontent within the royal family as plummeting oil prices strained the countrys budget and economy. They say he may have ordered the roundup in part because he feared a challenge to his power. Prince Nayef has held positions in the interior ministry and military and once headed army intelligence, according to a Saudi military website. He was detained together with his father, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, who is the last surviving full brother of the king. Crown Prince Mohammed, 34, has established a track record of bold and ruthless moves with few precedents in the modern history of the kingdom. He has led a five-year military intervention in Yemen that has created one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters without any sign of victory. He also has cracked down on the privilege and clout of his sprawling royal family in order to tighten his own grip on the kingdom, including by detaining hundreds of wealthy princes and businessmen in a Ritz-Carlton hotel that he repurposed as a prison. He demanded that they turn over large sums of their wealth as part of what he portrayed as a crackdown on corruption. Outside Saudi Arabia, the prince is best known for his association with the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a dissident and newspaper columnist, by Saudi agents in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. But even for Crown Prince Mohammed, the detention of his uncle, Prince Ahmed, startled many analysts. It is surprising he would move on Prince Ahmed with the kings authority still there, said Kristin Smith Diwan, a scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, a former crown prince and former interior minister who had close ties to American intelligence agencies, was also detained. His younger brother, Prince Nawaf bin Nayef, was also taken by security officers. David D. Kirkpatrick and Ben Hubbard are New York Times writers. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday announced names of 4 party candidates including a trade union leader, a Muslim leader and an OBC woman for the 4 Rajya Sabha seats from the state going to polls this month. One seat fell vacant in May last year and 3 seats would be falling vacant on April 2 with the completion of tenure of Ranjib Biswal of the Congress party, Narendra Swain and Sarojini Hembram of the BJD. Patnaik announced the name of Mamata Mahanta, an OBC leader, Munna Khan, a Muslim, trade union leader Subash Singh and technocrat Sujeet Kumar for the four Rajya Sabha seats; the polls to which would be held on March 26. The nomination of Mahanta, a woman leader from the OBC section is seen as Patnaiks attempt to curry favour with the OBCs as well as revive the partys fortune in tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district where the BJP outshone BJD in last years Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. Similarly, the nomination of Munna Khan, nephew of late Congress leader from Nabarangpur district, Habibulla Khan is being seen as an attempt to placate the Muslim community after BJD supported the Citizenship Amendment Act in Parliament. Though Patnaik has stressed that Muslims have nothing to fear from CAA and his party would never support NRC in future, there have been protests against CAA by the minority community across the state. Subas Singh, though a lightweight trade union leader from Cuttack, has been a Naveen Patnaik loyalist and worked hard to get the vote of the construction workers in the urban areas. Singh is also seen as close to Panchayati Raj minister Pratap Jena, a highly influential minister. The fourth nominee, Sujeet Kumar, a graduate from Oxford University and Harvard University and part of the BJDs thinktank, currently serves as the advisor of the Special Development Council in the state government. Unlike last year, when Patnaik conceded one of the 3 Rajya Sabha seats to BJP, this time the announcement of the 4 names much ahead of the nomination process has triggered speculations of the BJD chief trying to force BJPs hands for a deal. BJP leader Pradipta Naik, who is Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly said the partys parliamentary board would soon take a decision on whether to nominate someone for the RS polls. If BJP announces a candidate of its own, there would surely be a contest for the 4th seat as BJD would fall short of 6 votes to reach the magic mark of 30 votes to get through. It would be interesting to see whether Patnaik would prefer a contest or opt for a consensus candidate propped up by BJP, said political science professor, Prabhat Mohanty. In the 147-member Odisha Assembly, BJD has 113 members followed by BJP with 23. Congress has 9, while CPM has 1. There is one independent MLA. In the event of Congress deciding to abstain, the magic mark would be 28. BJD would still need the support of the CPM and independent MLAs and cross-voting by at least 2 from BJP to get its 4th candidate through. Mohanty said by announcing all the names, Patnaik may be setting terms for a deal with BJP. If BJD manages to get the nod for the 49-member Legislative Council in lieu of one Rajya Sabha seat for BJP, it would be a good deal. For the BJD top brass, a Legislative Council would allow it to accommodate several disgruntled elements who could not make it to Rajya Sabha, said Mohanty. There is also intense speculation over the possibility of hotelier and former union minister Dilip Ray trying his luck as an independent candidate. Ray was rumoured to join BJD ahead of last years polls, but the deal came unstuck as he insisted on getting his long-time friend Bijoy Mohapatra along with him. Rays candidature may make the race for the 4th seat a close one in case BJP decides to support him. Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty So now there are none, women, that is, running for president, leaving out the quixotic Tulsi Gabbard. Elizabeth Warren suspended her campaign Thursday but didnt do what others have done endorse Joe Biden, the candidate her party has coalesced around as the one who can deprive Donald Trump of another four years. Bernie Sanders, whos treated his so-called friend like gum on his shoe in the course of his campaign, is hoping that means her endorsement will come his way. He might not want to hold his breath. Warren should send Sanders packing in a Massachusetts minute, and it sounds like she might. Elizabeth Warren is Strong. So is the Glass Ceiling. Talking with Rachel Maddow Thursday evening, Warren discussed this onslaught of online threats where her supporters felt really under attack. She said that we are responsible for the people who claim to be our supporters and who really threaten ugly, dangerous things to other candidates. Maddow interjected: And its a particular problem with Sanders supporters. And Warren replied: It is. It just is. She said that shed talked with Sanders about that particular problem, and that it was short. She added that Its a real problem. Past that, Warren declined to characterize her conversation with Sanders (which of course was one of the things that led his supporters to that real problem the last time she did so), saying Its something he should speak for himself on. The Warren-Sanders interplay tells us a lot about why the Democratic primary that started out with six women has devolved into an uninspiring one between between two men, both white, both flawed, and both over 70. In exiting, Warren said she started out believing there was room for her and Sanders in the race but Evidently, I was wrong. True, but what an admission. Sanders drove her off the shoulder of the road in his Humvee with his left blinker flashing constantly and she let him, although she was the much better person, an actual Democrat and capitalist, to carry the progressive torch. Story continues Warren had a plan for everything. Bernie has a plan for nothing, or vague ones in a briefing book somewhere. If you have a question, she has an answer and if you waited long enough after a speech, she held office hours where she would explain the finer points of restructuring institutions holding working people downa health care system that bankrupted them, college costs that crippled them, and banks that exploited them. And then shed pose for selfies where shed get contact info for her massive operation of field directors, paid staff and volunteers, and a get-out-the-vote effort in states others hadnt set foot in. By the fall, after hundreds of lectures, rallies attracting 10,000 roaring fans, and stellar performances at debates, she was a front runner. It didnt last. When everyone was yelling last fall for a price tag for Medicare for All, Warren, the A student, stepped up and offered one. That bought breathing room for Sanders, who still hasnt. And Warren suggested there would be a transition period before anyones private insurance would be taken away. That was heresy to purists but not enough reassurance to moderates to keep her from sinking in the polls. Last month, Warren took the risk of being too aggressive, which for a woman means being aggressive at all, and took down Mike Bloomberg. I havent heard Sanders or Biden thank her for that, which had the added benefit to them of reducing the time she had to point out their shortcomings. It had been a sideshow but a telling one when Warren was rattled by Sanders underhanded breach of their non-aggression pact. His campaign had been making calls to voters claiming that she was too elite to win. In the dust-up that followed, she was more hurt than angry. She shot back that hed told her a woman couldnt be president. He denied it, and she asked him, off mic, if he was calling her a liar. He was. But voters couldnt follow the dust-up, and the betrayal, like so much else, didnt stick to him. When Sanders did pay attention to Warren, it was to compliment her on agreeing with him on issues he took up first. Mostly he treated Warren like a supporting actress in his star turn as a romantic revolutionary admiring of Fidel Castro. Good luck with Floridas 29 electoral votes if he makes it to the general election. You only have to look at the debate stage next week, emptied of women, to know somethings wrong in our politics. It used to be Id vote for a woman, just not this one. Now we know theres always something that makes any woman just not right. If we're going to have a Hollywood ending, where my daughter cheers at the inauguration of the first woman president, it may be that we have to have a Hollywood candidate. We know the first isn't going to look like Warren, or Amy Klobuchar, or Hillary Clinton. She's going to look like Tea Leonis Madame Secretary (whose show was canceled after she became president) or Julia Louis-Dreyfus (whose show petered out after the Veep moved into the Oval Office), or Sela Ward who studied Clinton in 2016 thinking the first female president to-be would provide pointers for her role as commander-in-chief in Independence Day 2. Sanders welcomed Warrens supporters into his fold earlier on Thursday, remembering Warren with cold words like disciplined, focused, and hard working. He told Maddow that its too early to talk about her as a running mate but I would love to sit down and talk to her about what sort of role she could play in my administration. I have an idea, how about if she runs it? Warren got emotional earlier on Thursday when she lamented all those little girls she made pinky promises to who would have to wait another four years for a woman president. And she tiptoed up to gender, the third rail of politics for women. If you say, yeah, there was sexism in this race, everyone says whiner. And if you say no, there was no sexism, about a bazillion women think, what planet do you live on? I promise you this, I will have a lot more to say on that subject later on. Well be listening, and hoping that Warren will stick with her initial decision not to endorse anyone. Biden doesnt need it and Bernie doesnt deserve it. Heres hoping that, after a lot of hard knocks, a woman can learn. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. U.S. Rep. Amory Houghton Jr., R-N.Y., speaks during a U.S. Congressional delegation visit in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sept. 18, 2004. (Jim MacMillan/ Pool,File/AP Photo) Businessman, Ex-congressman Amory Houghton Jr. Dead at 93 Amory Houghton Jr., who led his familys glass company in upstate New York and later spent nearly two decades in Congress as a Republican with a reputation for breaking with his party, died on March 4. He was 93. Houghton, who was known as simply Amo, was first elected at age 60, after spending nearly two decades as chief executive of Corning Glass Works, which was started by his great-great-grandfather in 1851 and became one of the worlds biggest glassmakers. Houghton died at his home in Corning, New York, the company, now Corning Inc., announced in a post on its website. A cause of death was not given. The descendant of business people and ambassadors, Houghton, was elected in 1986 to represent the Corning area and its blue-collar families that would be hit hard by an economic downturn. Considered a moderate Republican who was able to get along with politicians across the aisle, Houghton was reelected eight times. Among the wealthiest politicians of the time, due to Corning stock and other investments, he was a fiscal conservative and social-policy moderate who often strayed from the party line during times of contention and war. A natural consensus builder, he never pretended to be someone he wasnt and used his patient salesmanship to defuse partisan disagreements in order to tackle problems the only way that made sense to himcooperatively, according to the obituary posted by a funeral home. Houghton, who supported abortion rights and advocated for additional funding for the arts, was one of six Republicans to vote against a 2002 resolution that gave President George W. Bush the broad authority to invade Iraq. He also voted against substantial tax cuts that were widely supported by Republican lawmakers during the Bush administration. Four years earlier, Houghton and just a handful of other Republicans opted not to vote for the impeachment of President Bill Clinton for lying about his affair with a White House intern. He also voted against a charge of obstruction of justice. In 1997, Houghton founded the Republican Main Street Partnership, a group of moderate GOP members dedicated to conservative, pragmatic government that works to better American communities across the country and advancing common-sense policies that can command bipartisan support, according to the organizations website. Houghton would again break with some of his colleagues on minimum wage and a ban on military rifles for public use. He supported higher wages andwhile a member of the National Rifle Associationa ban on military-style assault weapons. I am a member of the NRA, Houghton told the Los Angeles Times. Its going to hurt me politicallyno questionbut I think its the right thing to do. Houghtons committee assignments included Foreign Affairs, Budget and Ways and Means. He also served as the co-chairman of the Faith and Politics Institute with Rep. John Lewis, a close friend, and Georgia Democrat. In 1998, Houghton opposed Republican legislation put forward to amend the Constitution to allow organized prayer in public schools. Staying true to his political approach, Houghton began to organize bipartisan retreats for politicians and their families so that they could get to know each other on a human level, beyond the inflexibility of what politics has become, his obituary said. He retired from Congress in 2004. Born in Corning on Aug. 7, 1926, his political blood ran deep. His grandfather, Alanson Bigelow Houghton, was a member of Congress, served as ambassador to Germany under President Warren G. Harding and to Britain under Calvin Coolidge, and was president of Corning. His father, Amory Houghton Sr., would become president and chairman of Corning and later ambassador to France under President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Houghtons mother, Laura Richardson, a native of Providence, Rhode Island, was a philanthropist and former chairwoman of the Girl Scouts of America. The soon-to-be glass magnate served in the Marine Corps during World War II and later received both a bachelors degree and MBA from Harvard. He began working at Corning as an engineer soon after and rose to the roles of chairman and chief executive in 12 years. He served as CEO from 1964 to 1983. Houghtons first marriage, to Ruth West, ended in divorce. His second wife, Priscilla Blackett Dewey, died in 2012. They had been married for 22 years. Houghton is survived by two daughters, two sons, nine grandchildren, a great-grandson, and a brother. He remained vocal about politics after leaving Congress and often commented on divisiveness within the House and among Americans. He was also critical of President Donald Trump. The pendulum swings back and forth in lifeand it sure does in politics, Houghton told The Leader, a newspaper in Corning, in 2017. But you have to have somebody thats willing to fix it. Or a group of people who are. The coronavirus Covid-19 has forced health authorities to ask the public not to visit patients at Leinster hospitals in Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Offaly which are overseen by the HSE's Dublin Midlands Hospital Group. Restrictions came into force Saturday evening, March 7 and will continue into next week. They will be kept under review as efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus continue. The hospitals in the group are Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, Naas General Hospital, St Luke's Hospital, Rathgar, Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital and St James's Hospital. More details about what the HSE is asking of the public below graphic. The HSE said in a statement that the restrictions are being put in place due to infection control measures and to protect patients and staff. We are asking the public not to visit the hospital other than end of life situations and other exceptional circumstances as agreed with the ward manager in advance of visiting. To arrange a visit, families should telephone the hospital and request to speak to the relevant ward manager who will decide if a visit can be facilitated without compromising the welfare of the patients on the ward. Children in particular should not visit patients in hospital. We recognise that the visiting restrictions may be challenging for patients and their families, however, our priority must be to protect the patients in the hospital who are vulnerable to infection. We would like to thank members of the public for their co-operation, said the statement. Read also: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ON THE CORONAVIRUS One more case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Ireland on Saturday by the National Public Health Emergency Team. It involves a male in the east of the country who returned from Italy. It brings the total number of confirmed cases in the Republic of Ireland to 19 by lunchtime on Saturday. Testing of patients in Northern Ireland has resulted in three new cases on Saturday bringing the total to seven since testing began in the six counties. More below poster. The Department of Health said on Saturday that it is working rapidly to identify any contacts the latest confirmed infected patient may have had, to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. The Department said the National Public Health Emergency Team met on Saturday 7 March, to consider guidance from the Expert Advisory Group on managing healthcare workers who are close contacts of a confirmed case. It said this guidance was developed in light of the recent diagnosis of COVID-19 in a patient hospitalised in Cork University Hospital, which has led to a significant number of close contacts with healthcare workers. Dr Cillian de Gascun, Chair of the Expert Advisory Group, said: "There is a risk to patients of acquiring COVID-19 from an exposed health care worker. However, if a health facility cannot be staffed safely to provide critical services, then the following guidance to mitigate risk will assist: - Health care workers who have had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and have developed symptoms should be excluded from work - Health care workers who have had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and have NOT developed symptoms, AND are deemed to be essential workers, may work, provided they observe strict adherence to infection prevention and control precautions, and undergo twice daily active monitoring by occupational health, for 14 days after contact with a confirmed case of COVID19." Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health, spoke after todays National Public Health Emergency Team meeting. "COVID-19, as with other infectious diseases, creates risk to patient care in two ways - the risk of transmission from an infected health care worker and the risk of serious impact on patient care by loss of significant numbers of essential staff. "The National Public Health Emergency Team has decided to adopt the guidance of the Expert Advisory Group, to be implemented in Cork University Hospital and Limerick Hospital immediately." A statement said HSE senior management met with staff in the affected hospitals, offering guidance and support. Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer in the HSE, also commented. "Healthcare workers are at the frontline of this virus outbreak. The Department of Health and the HSE are equally dedicated to protecting and supporting this vital group of people, along with ensuring patient care," he said. More about the cornonavirus from the HSE It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) to show. Symptoms may include: a cough shortness of breath breathing difficulties fever (high temperature) COVID-19 (Coronavirus) can also cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. Things you can do to protect yourself from getting COVID-19 (Coronavirus) include: wash your hands properly and regularly cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze Wash your hands properly and regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub: after coughing and sneezing after toilet use before eating before and after preparing food Got a question? Callsave the HSE at 1850 24 1850 Phone: 041 6850300 Tweet: @HSELive Monday to Friday: 8am - 8pm Saturday and Sunday: 10am - 5pm Former US Vice-President Joe Biden had voted, as a senator, to approve the 2008 nuclear deal that fundamentally altered relations between the Washington and New Delhi. Senator Bernie Sanders, his rival for the Democratic presidential nomination in a two-man race now, had voted against it. Biden has been consistently supportive of India even when criticizing it, and Sanders has been consistently critical and occasionally prejudiced. In October 2008, the two men, both members of the US senate, vote diametrically opposite on a legislation to approve an agreement that is now seen as a turning point in ties between the United States and India, the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement. The legislation to ratify the deal was called the United States-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act. The House of Representatives endorsed in on September 27 with 298 votes in favour of it while 117 members voted against it. In the Senate on October 1, the deal got 86 votes in favour and 13 against. President George W Bush signed it into law a week later. Biden voted in support of the deal and Sanders voted against it. Biden, in fact, played a larger role in the passage of the bill as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Ten years ago, Biden said in 2015, as vice-president, at an event commemorating 10 years of the conceptualization of the agreement, I had the honor of -- because of my position as chairman of the Committee -- of leading the US Senate in an effort to ratify the US-India civilian nuclear agreement, and it helped, in my view, to remove the single largest irritant between two of the worlds greatest democracies. Bidens support for India was evident even in his criticism of Indian nuclear tests in 1998. Describing the tests as a grave miscalculation, Biden had said at a senate hearing that India is not a rogue state. It is not a Libya, a North Korea, or an Iraq. It is the worlds largest democracy and it is a country with which we share much in common. Bidens portfolio of support for India is capped by a highly successful visit to India as vice president in 2013, accompanied by the second lady Jill Biden. Before setting off, he posted an aspirational target of $500 billion for bilateral trade between the two countries, nearly the same as the value of trade between the US and its largest trading partner China. And, while in India, he first talked about the Bidens of India, a family line started there by a great-great-great grandfather who went to India as an army officer with the East India Company and married an Indian woman and settled down there. Sanders, on the other hand, has built himself a bulging portfolio of remarks and observations so critical of India he has seemed prejudiced, as presaged by his vote against the nuclear deal. In August, he called for the lifting of restrictions in Kashmir and for the US to back a UN-driven resolution of India-Pakistan dispute, in a stark departure from stated US policy, endorsed by both Democratic and Republican administrations, that India and Pakistan should resolve their differences bilaterally. Sanders sided with Pakistan on this in an unmistakably partisan move, and looked complicit in Prime Minister Imran Khans campaign launched around then calling for intervention by the UN, or any third party, abandoning Pakistans commitment to resolve the dispute bilaterally under the Simla Agreement. A few weeks ago, the senator slammed President Donald Trump for dismissing protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act as an internal matter of India during his visit and then criticized the defense deal signed by the two countries at the time, saying they should be working together, instead, to combat climate change, as if they were a binary choice. When humans plumbed upstate New York with 500 miles of canals for shipping, they connected the Great Lakes, the Hudson River and Lake Champlain. Their goal was to easily move goods. The plan workedspectacularly at the time. But the builders of the 19th century gave little thought to the bad things that happen when fish and plants move through canals and end up in places they dont belong. The answer is damaging invasionsinsatiable foreign fish that crowd out native fish, non-native weeds that cover acres of water, and colonizing mollusks that cling to concrete and clog pipes. Now, long after trains and trucks took business away from barges, officials are turning their attention to stopping invasive species, perhaps even at the expense of boats passing easily through the canals. In and around the Adirondacks, the biggest route for invaders may be the Champlain Canal, which connects Lake Champlain to the Hudson River with a series of boat locks that, depending on which way youre going, begin or end along the lake near Whitehall. There are already about 50 invasive species in Lake Champlain. Officials have spent millions trying to eliminate just a few of the most destructive invasive species, like Eurasian watermilfoil and water chestnut, two plants that form thick mats atop water and make it hard for boaters to boat and swimmers to swim. More may be on their way. Like our own circulatory system, if poison gets in the blood one place, itll eventually find its way everywhere. Non-natives proliferate The most would-be invaders lurk in the Great Lakes, often having hitchhiked on ocean freighters that head up the St. Lawrence Seaway. More than 200 non-native species infest the Great Lakes, with dozens more threatening to arrive. The Hudson itself has more than 100 non-native species, including some that came down from the Great Lakes. Lake Champlain is connected to the Great Lakes two ways, through a Canadian canal to the St. Lawrence River and through New Yorks canal system, because the Erie Canal ties together the Hudson and the Great Lakes near Buffalo. Researchers dont know how every invader got to Lake Champlain, but their best efforts to find out suggest half entered the lake through one of the two canals and most used the Champlain Canal. Now, for the first time in a long time, theres serious talk of trying to stop the spread of species by creating barriers in the canal system or even closing part of it entirely. Were considering both, said Matt Cosby, the chief of staff in the Army Corps of Engineers New York district office. The Army Corps is studying how to deal with invasive species in the Champlain Canal, which is operated now by the New York State Canal Corp. If anything happens, itll likely take awhile. Most people still shy away from close. Its almost like a curse word to boaters who still use the canals and in towns that exist thanks to the canals and still benefit from the tourism they bring Instead, government officials, researchers and environmentalists who combat invasive species are focused on a hydrologic separation. Thats a fancy way of saying theyd like to see boats able to move from one place to another while water and critters stay put. Possible solutions How would a boat move between watersheds without mixing water? First, officials could close locks, the water-filled chambers that boats enter to be raised or lowered between different stretches of a canal. Then, they could build a boat lift, which would hoist boats out of a canal and move them by land around a closed lock. Another idea is to replumb the canal so that water cant go back and forth between the Hudson and Champlain, but that would require a new water source. Right now, there are 11 locks in the Champlain Canal. Locks 12 through 9 help raise boats out of Lake Champlain starting at Whitehall until they are 140 feet above sea level. Then locks 8 through 1 help lower them back down, this time into the Hudson River, 60 miles away. To go from the Hudson to the lake, the process is reversed. (The numbers dont add up because Lock 10 was planned for but never built.) For years, officials in Vermont have wanted New York to do something about the Champlain Canal because water climbing the locks from the Hudson can mix with water dropping to the lake. In 2012, Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, called on New York to close part of the canal but to keep an invasive crustacean known as the spiny water flea from entering Lake Champlain. The flea eventually made it to the lake, though it may have gotten there another way. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has given some in Vermont reasons to hope. Last May, he launched a program to reimagine the canals. So far, the focus has been on the Erie Canal, which connects the Great Lakes to the Hudson River. But the project is giving heart to people trying to save Lake Champlain by stopping species traversing the Champlain Canal. Closing the canal is basically off the table, at least it was until recently, and that might have changed, said J. Ellen Marsden, a biology professor at the University of Vermont who has studied whats living in the Champlain Canal. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. One of the states own consultants threw out a bunch of ideas, including closing and draining part the canal system, closing locks and installing boat lifts. The consultants also recommended strobe lights that would repel fish, but thats another story. When news of those findings and the word close became public, the New York State Canal Corp. tried to downplay the plan, which freaked out local officials along the Erie Canal. The report, by R2 Resource Consultants, purposefully didnt talk about the Champlain Canal because of the Army Corps ongoing study. But the Canal Corp. is as protective of the Champlain Canal as it is the Erie Canal. The entire system will remain fully open for navigation, Canal Corp. spokesman Steven Gosset said during a recent tour of Lock 12. Thats the final lock near Whitehall that moves boats in and out of the lake. Marsden said another option is to only open the final lock once a year for a major haul, like a barge. Were not trying to stop all the exotics coming into the lake, were trying to minimize the problem, she said. Difficult hurdles Invaders can still hitch a ride in other ways, like on the hulls of boats, in bilge tanks, in bait buckets or even through another canal, the Chambly Canal on the Richelieu River, which enabled shipping through Lake Champlains natural outlet to the St. Lawrence in Canada. This winter, Lock 12 on the Champlain Canal has been drained so workers could inspect it and make repairs. What workers said were zebra mussels coated the walls of the lock. The clingy bivalves from the Black and Caspian seas made it into Lake Champlain decades ago, and can clog intake pipes, mess up boats and muscle out native species. Pleasure boaters still use the canal in season, and people who bring their boats up from warm winter waters to Lake Champlain in the summer need it. The lock closest to the lake opens about 1,000 times a year to let boats through, sometimes several boats at a time. But John Rozell, Whitehalls town supervisor, said he remembered when two or three barges a day came through there. Now, there might be that many commercial barges in a year that pass all the way through the Champlain Canal. Some companies, particularly quarries, still use part of the canal to ship rock, and theyre worried about where any new barrier would go. Jessica Ladd, a spokeswoman for Champlain Stone, which has a quarry near Whitehall, said its cheaper for the company to ship stone to Manhattan by barge than any other way. The company is very concerned about a barrier that could block their shipping route. Rob Goldman, who co-owns the New York State Marine Highway Transportation Company, which operates barges that use the canal, said putting in a barrier sounded crazy. He said one quarry he worked for didnt need to use the whole length of the canal, but he has shipped oversized components and heavy equipment all the way through to Lake Champlain. This is never gonna happen, are you kidding me? Its the most crazy thing Ive ever heard, Goldman said. They dont have enough money to do other things they have bridges that need work. BEIJING As the new coronavirus races around the world, tanking markets, cutting off global travel and suspending school for hundreds of millions of children, governments are desperate for ways to contain it. China, the place where it first appeared, says it has the answers. To the surprise of some, the country that concealed and mismanaged the initial outbreak appears to be bringing it under control, at least by its own official figures. The number of new cases reported has fallen dramatically in recent days even as infections are surging in other countries. The World Health Organization has praised Beijings response. Officials reported only 99 new cases on Saturday, down from around 2,000 a day just weeks ago, and for the second day in a row, none were detected in Hubei Province outside of its capital, Wuhan, the center of the outbreak. China says the trend proves that its containment measures which include a lockdown on nearly 60 million people in Hubei and strict quarantine and travel restrictions for hundreds of millions of citizens and foreigners are working. And it has begun trying to promote its efforts as successful in propaganda at home and abroad. 2.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Trump is already getting desperate, which is why he sued CNN for libel as he plans to run his reelection campaign against the media. Trump gave the news of the lawsuit against CNN to Fox News first: The complaint alleges CNN was aware of the falsity at the time it published them but did so for the intentional purpose of hurting the campaign while misleading its own readers in the process the campaign filed this lawsuit against CNN and the preceding suits against The New York Times and The Washington Post to hold the publishers accountable for their reckless false reporting and also to establish the truth, Senior Legal Adviser to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. Jenna Ellis told Fox News. Brian Stelter of CNN tweeted: Trump 2020 has filed a libel lawsuit against CNN, according to Fox, which was given the news in advance. Similar suits against NYT and WaPo are a Trump re-election strategy. Experts say the suits are unlikely to prevail in the courts. No comment from CNN. https://t.co/Z1q8T3rJxZ Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 6, 2020 Legally speaking, the lawsuits are a joke, but Trump has two motives for filing them. Donald Trump wants his supporters to focus their rage on the media. He doesnt want them to weigh the issues or think about their lives under his presidency. Trump is pulling straight from the Roger Ailes playbook and playing into the longstanding myth on the right of liberal media bias. Trump is also tipping his hand on his reelection strategy. Trump is afraid of running directly against Joe Biden, so his campaign is going push the bogus Ukraine conspiracy theory to smear the former vice president while firing up their voters against the media. It is a desperate strategy that is destined to fail. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook As of the end of 2019, Vietnam had over 16,000 additional expired cars still in circulation out of the total 206,000 cars. They are a threat to traffic safety and environment. Of the 16,661 expired cars, 2,618 were passenger cars and 14,043 cargo cars. Most of the expired vehicles were in HCM City (3,309) and Hanoi (1,670). Meanwhile, the number of revoked vehicles just accounted for 30 percent of total expired vehicles. On December 11, 2019, a 16-seat car carrying eight people crashed into a cliff on Pha Ban slope in Ky Son of Nghe An province, causing three deaths and four injuries. The vehicle had expiration date of January 1, 2017. The Vietnam Register (VR) has asked motor vehicle registry centers across the country to provide data to the traffic police and local transport departments, and coordinate with on-site control units to seize expired vehicles. The Vietnam Register (VR) has asked motor vehicle registry centers across the country to provide data to the traffic police and local transport departments, and coordinate with on-site control units to seize expired vehicles. Twice a year, the agency reviews and reports to the Ministry of Transport, the National Traffic Safety Committee, the Traffic Police Department and local authorities, proposing to take the expired vehicles out of circulation. The details of the cars can be seen on the official website of the agency. In addition, there will be a red cross on the stamp the agency gives in the last registry, three months before the expiry date. This allows relevant agencies to easily monitor and handle vehicles when they reach expiry date. The expired cars will be locked and eliminated from the list of registered vehicles, a VRs official explained. VR inspection tours to localities have found that expired vehicles were still running there. In general, expired vehicles are mostly brought to construction sites, remote and rural areas, where they can more easily escape the supervision. However, also according to the official, the confiscation of expired vehicles must be implemented by the police, not a registry agency. If relevant agencies dont handle the problem with a heavy hand, there will be more and more expired vehicles in circulation, which will threaten traffic safety, he said. Hanoi Vice Mayor Nguyen The Hung has asked the transport department and the police to report the handling of expired vehicles. According to the Chief Secretariat of the Office of National Traffic Safety Committee Nguyen Trong Thai, the registry agency provides a list of vehicles with expiration dates to the transport police and relevant agencies every year. Expired vehicles clearly are no longer safe for circulation. Most of the vehicles are registered in cities but are later brought to rural areas, he said. Linh Ha Hanoi mayor wants to recall old cars, motorbikes Saying that private vehicles are the biggest source of pollution, Hanois Mayor Nguyen Duc Chung supports the policy to recall old cars and motorbikes. ISTANBUL/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Saturday there had been no violations of the ceasefire in Syria's Idlib, as part of an agreement with Russia, while Russia said there have been a few shootings in the region. "We will continue to be a deterrent force to prevent any violation to the ceasefire. None occurred since ceasefire entered into force," the Turkish Defence Ministry quoted Akar as saying. The ceasefire was reached in Moscow on Thursday after talks to contain an escalating conflict. Nearly a million people have been displaced in a three-month Russian-backed offensive by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in northwest Syria. Ankara supports rebel fighters, although it has less sway over jihadists who control large parts of Idlib. Russian news agencies, citing the defence ministry, said there have been three cases of shooting in Idlib in the past 24 hours. It also said there were seven cases of shootings in Latakia and nine in Aleppo. The defence ministry also reported that 860 refugees have returned to Syria from Jordan and Lebanon for the past day. Akar also said Turkey would use its right to self-defence if there is any attack targeting its forces or bases in the region. The deal called for joint patrols of Turkish and Russian forces around the M4 road in Idlib region starting on March 15. Turkey has started to work on the procedures and principles of the safety corridor around the road, Akar said, adding that a Russian military delegation will visit Ankara next week for discussions. Russia and Turkey back opposing sides in Syria's nine-year conflict, with Moscow supporting Assad and Turkey backing some rebel groups. Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed. (Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun in Istanbul and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Shri Navaratnam and Frances Kerry) Red pandas are native to the high forests of Asia. They are only a little bigger than a house cat and considered to be endangered. Scientists reported last month that not all red pandas belong to the same species. There are two different species of this animal, not just one, a study found. The scientists reported finding major differences in three genetic markers between Chinese red pandas and Himalayan red pandas. Scientists identified the markers after studying DNA from 65 of the creatures. DNA carries genetic information for the development, growth and reproduction of living things. Documenting the existence of two separate species could help guide efforts for protecting red pandas, scientists added. Chinese red pandas live in northern Myanmar, as well as southeastern Tibet, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces in China. Himalayan red pandas are native to Nepal, India, Bhutan and southern Tibet in China, the researchers said. Conservation biologists Yibo Hu and Fuwen Wei led the study. Their findings were published in the journal Science Advances. To conserve the genetic uniqueness of the two species, we should avoid their interbreeding in captivity, Hu said. Interbreeding between species may harm the genetic adaptations already established for their local habitat environment. Scientists had earlier suggested there were two species of red panda. But the new study was the first to provide the genetic information necessary to permit such a judgment. International experts estimate a total population of around 10,000 red pandas in the wild. The two species differ in coloration and skull shape. The Himalayan red panda is the rarer of the two. Major threats to red pandas include deforestation and habitat loss. While they have similar names, red pandas and giant pandas are not closely related. Giant pandas are one of the worlds eight bear species. Red pandas are sometimes called living fossils because they have no close living relatives. They are the only remaining member of their mammalian family.* Im John Russell. *The family is called Ailuridae Will Dunham reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story species n. a group of individuals who have common qualities conservation n. the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources often used before another noun uniqueness n. the quality or state of something being unlike anything or anyone else interbreed v. to cause animals of two different species to produce young animals that are a mixture of the two species skull n. the bones of the head habitat n. the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 22:03:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A view of the City of London, in London, Britain, March 4, 2020. The impact of coronavirus on British economy could "prove large but will ultimately be temporary", Mark Carney, governor of Bank of England (BoE) said Tuesday. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua) IMF forecasts global growth in 2020 would drop below last year's level of 2.9 percent. China brings hope of recovery with a "good sign for the global economy." BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- As the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide has reached over 100,000, the world's major economies including the United States, Europe and South Korea have felt the resulting impact on their markets. Meanwhile, positive developments such as a nationwide return to work and resumption of production in China bring hope of recovery, which, as some experts said, is a "good sign for the global economy." On Friday, U.S. stocks ended lower as the market sell-off continued amid concerns of slower economic growth. The German DAX index continued to fall and has so far decreased by more than 13 percent within the last two weeks. A trader works at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, the United States, on March 6, 2020. U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts global growth in 2020 would drop below last year's level of 2.9 percent on Wednesday. In February, the IMF already revised down 2020 global growth to 3.2 percent. Europe's leading economy Germany saw a rising number of infected people this week as the Federation of German Industries warned that "the coronavirus and its worldwide distribution currently has the greatest negative impact on the economic development in Germany." Supply chains were already at risk and "major problems would be inevitable," said Germany's Institute for Economic Research. However, major economies, especially those hit hard by the disease, have rolled out economic stimulus in response. South Korean army soldiers in protective suits sterilize the Kim Kwangseok street in Daegu, South Korea, March 5, 2020. (Photo by Lee Sang-ho/Xinhua) South Korea with the most COVID-19 cases outside China has unveiled 9.8 billion U.S. dollars' worth as part of an extra budget on Wednesday to boost private consumption, which was the country's biggest extra budget in seven years. The supplementary budget bill came hours after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut its target rate by 50 basis points in its first emergency move since the 2008 global financial crisis. Italy, the European country with the most COVID-19 infections, passed an emergency package worth about 1 billion dollars to support companies and households in the 11 towns put under quarantine in northern Italy. The measures included the suspension of some payments and delays in taxes and house mortgages. On Thursday, the Italian cabinet announced a second and broader package of financial stimulus. Furthermore, what is happening in China, including the restarting of roughly 60 percent of production in the country and supportive measures to help foreign trade enterprises, is appreciated by foreign industry leaders and economic experts. Commending the Chinese government's measures in response to the epidemic, especially those taken by the Ministry of Commerce to assist foreign companies, Richard Burn, Britain's HM Trade Commissioner for China, said, "these assistance policies apply to domestic and foreign enterprises alike, providing a strong guarantee for British companies to overcome difficulties." The economic effect of the epidemic both for China and other countries which do business with China would be transitory, CEO of Turkey's industrial conglomerate Ciner Group Gursel Usta has said. Usta said that China has developed a strong industry, particularly in chemistry and engineering, and he is confident about future cooperation with his Chinese partners. An employee inspects the electrolytic cells at the United Initiators Hefei Co., Ltd. at a circular economy demonstration park in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Feb. 18, 2020. (Photo by Zhou Mu/Xinhua) China's technological prowess has aided the country's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, said Po Chun Lee, a professor of public economic policy at Ecuador's National Institute of Higher Studies. Calling the resuming activity of China's offices and factories since February "a good sign for the global economy," Lee said as the world's second largest economy, China's COVID-19 battle is bound to have a wider impact, particularly on global production chains, tourism and stock markets. Singapore Business Federation chairman Teo Siong Seng also expressed his confidence in Singapore-China trade relations despite the COVID-19 outbreak, saying their trade relations will remain strong and robust. Citing positive developments in fighting the novel coronavirus in China, U.S. macroeconomic research body MRB Partners said that in their view, investors "will conclude that while the immediate impact on Q1 and possibly Q2 is negative, there is no risk of global recession in 2020." (Xinhua correspondents Liu Yanan in New York, Wang Feng in Istanbul, Elena Chuquimarca in Quito, Li Jie in Rome, and Zhu Sheng in Berlin also contributed to the story) Till now, Mr Gandhis official reaction had been that the Congress needs to find a non-Gandhi president. New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi on Friday reignited the debate on the leadership vaccum in the Congress by telling some of his party MPs that there was a group of people who were not on the same page as him as far as fighting the BJP was concerned, and he would not return as the Congress president until these differences were resolved. These remarks by Mr Gandhi, who resigned as Congress president in the wake of the severe drubbing the party got in last years Lok Sabha polls, can be seen as a bid to corner his critics in the party, which comprises a section of the senior leadership, before what many say is his imminent return as party chief. On Friday, right after the Lok Sabha was adjourned in the morning, after vociferous protests by the Congress over the suspension of seven of its MPs on Thursday, Mr Gandhi was seen talking to some MPs like Manish Tewari, Hibi Eden and Shashi Tharoor. He is learnt to have told them the Congress must be more aggressive in fighting against the BJP, and there wassome confusion in the party over this matter. Sources said when the MPs asked about his comeback as party chief, he had said: If this is the way the party is run, I am not willing to take up the leadership. The way certain leaders function is not right. It will be difficult for me to work with them as our approach is different. I am very clear about how to fight against the BJP. He is learnt to have added the fight has to be ideological, and no adjustments should be made. We need to have a bigger struggle. These isolated, small protests would not work, he had said. Till now, Mr Gandhis official reaction had been that the Congress needs to find a non-Gandhi president. Amid speculation that a plenary may be held in Udaipur to select a new president and effect certain basic changes in the organisation, some party leaders have come out in the open demanding an end to the uncertainty. Mrs Sonia Gandhi has been officiating as interim party president since Mr Gandhi resigned in May last year. President Donald Trump has struck out at Washington state's governor, who is dealing with the most serious coronavirus outbreak in the nation, calling him a 'snake.' Speaking at CDC headquarters on Friday, Trump said he told Vice President Mike Pence not to be complimentary during his virus task force meeting with Governor Jay Inslee the day prior. 'So I told Mike not to be complimentary of the governor because that governor is a snake, OK? Inslee,' Trump told reporters of Pence's trip to Washington state. 'I said, 'If youre nice to him he will take advantage',' Trump continued. 'Let me just tell you: We have a lot of problems with the governor, the governor of Washington. ... So Mike may be happy with him, but I'm not.' Speaking at CDC headquarters on Friday, Trump said he told Vice President Mike Pence not to be complimentary during his virus task force meeting with Governor Jay Inslee the day prior Vice President Mike Pence bumps elbows with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, left, during a news conference, Thursday at Camp Murray in Washington state. Pence was in Washington to discuss the state's efforts to fight the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus Trump said that 'if we came up with a cure right now' and the outbreak was stopped in it's tracks, Inslee 'would say Trump did a terrible job'. Pence was later asked whether Trump's comments about Inslee raised questions about how seriously the president was taking the virus. The vice president responded, 'I promise you, President Trump has no higher priority than the health and safety of the American people.' Inslee tweeted his own response to Trump's comments: 'It's important for leaders to speak with one voice. I just wish the president and vice president could get on the same page.' Inslee is a strident Trump critic who has not hesitated to lash out in the president in the past. He tweeted on February 27: 'I just received a call from @VP Mike Pence, thanking Washington state for our efforts to combat the coronavirus. I told him our work would be more successful if the Trump administration stuck to the science and told the truth.' Trump speaks during a tour of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta King County Metro equipment service worker Raymond Determann sprays the interior of a King County Metro Transit bus with disinfectant cleaner in response to the outbreak It came as Trump's CDC visit turned into a scattershot defense of his administration's handling of the coronavirus outbreak, veering into political score-settling, exaggerations and talk harking back to his impeachment. With financial markets slowing and the virus spreading, Trump tried once more to quell the growing alarm that has prompted travel to be curtailed and events to be cancelled from coast to coast. But Trump, wearing his 'Keep America Great' campaign hat while discussing the global worry, repeatedly detoured from his message of reassurance. 'It's an unforeseen problem,' Trump said of the virus. 'It came out of nowhere. We're taking care of it.' The president, while touring the CDC, talked up his ability to understand the virus, although he has repeatedly misstated how long it would take for a vaccine to be developed and available. 'I like this stuff. I really get it,' Trump said. 'People are surprised that I understand it. ... Maybe I have a natural ability.' He also suggested the accuracy of the coronavirus test was 'perfect - like the letter was perfect.' With that, Trump was making a comparison to the July phone call with Ukraine's president that led to his impeachment. Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate last month, has insisted he did nothing wrong. Before departing Washington, Trump signed an $8.3 billion coronavirus response funding bill at the White House and instructed the public: 'Be calm. It will go away.' 'We have very low numbers compared to major countries throughout the world. Our numbers are lower than just about anybody,' Trump said about cases of the virus. Lazio Governor Nikola Zingaretti informed he is infected with coronavirus. The doctors told me that Im infected with COVID-19, the governor twitted. The politician added that he feels good, but he will be forced to spend the next few days at home, TASS reports. Joseph R. Biden Jr.s campaign organization in key Super Tuesday states was so flimsy that it shocked and alarmed Democratic Party leaders. Mr. Biden had little cash for advertising on the airwaves. His message just days before the big vote was sometimes unfocused and meandering. But when 14 states voted on Tuesday, none of that mattered: Mr. Biden swept to victory in 10 of them, reflecting a quickly coalescing moderate wing of the Democratic Party and a desperation among voters to start taking the fight to President Trump. Theres no analogous situation that I can think of in presidential politics where a candidate who was really on the brink of extinction came back and, over four days, took command of a race without benefit of media or organization, said David Axelrod, who served as chief strategist for President Barack Obama. Its an unparalleled situation. Mr. Biden was greatly aided by the late endorsements of two former rivals, Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., who exited the race at the beginning of the week. Mr. Bidens overwhelming victory in South Carolina last Saturday, powered by African-American voters, injected a stunning dose of momentum into the campaign after losses in the first three nominating contests. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Anuraag Singh By Express News Service BHOPAL: Blunders in examination question papers are becoming a regular feature in Madhya Pradesh. The latest faux pas occurred in the Social Science paper of the ongoing Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education's Class X examinations, in which Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has been referred to as Azad Kashmir. Shockingly, Azad Kashmir was mentioned not in one but two questions of the Social Science examination which was held across the state on Saturday. Question No. 4 asked examinees to match six pairs of sub-questions and sub-answers. The words Azad Kashmir formed one of the sub-answers. Also, in Question No. 26, the examinees were asked to plot Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bangladesh, Azad Kashmir, Betwa river and Nepal on the map of India. The development stoked a political controversy in the already politically volatile state, with the opposition BJP attacking the Kamal Nath government over the issue. Class X students appearing in the MP State Board exam are being asked to show Azad Kashmir on Indias map and are also asked to match Azad Kashmir with the suitable sub-question. This is happening despite both houses of the Parliament in 1994 having unanimously adopted the resolution that the entire Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and that Pakistan must vacate parts of the state under its occupation, state BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said. Asking students to show Azad Kashmir on Indias map is shocking. The state government not only needs to punish those responsible, but also come clear on what is its stand on Jammu and Kashmir. Such developments indicate that the Congress government in MP toes the line of its MP from West Bengal Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on the Kashmir issue, Agrawal added. Senior Congress leader Narendra Saluja, who is also the CMs media coordinator, responded, The CM has taken prompt notice of the highly objectionable development and ordered strict action against those responsible for it. Acting on the CMs directions, the concerned question paper setter has been suspended with immediate effect. Its not the first time blunders in exam question papers have sparked a row in Madhya Pradesh. In January 2020, a controversy erupted over the MP Public Service Commission (MPPSC) state service prelims examination question paper, which asked five questions based on a passage containing objectionable content about the Bhils -- the most populous tribe in MP. A fortnight before that, a similar controversy erupted over the use of the term revolutionary terrorist in the MA (Political Philosophy) question paper of Jiwaji University, Gwalior. Stephen King warns that a book publishers decision on Friday to cancel a planned memoir by Woody Allen is censorship. The Hachette decision to drop the Woody Allen book makes me very uneasy, the bestselling author tweeted on Friday. It's not him; I don't give a damn about Mr. Allen. It's who gets muzzled next that worries me. The announcement Friday by Hachette Book Group followed days of criticism focused on allegations that Allen sexually abused his daughter Dylan Farrow. Bestselling author Stephen King (left) says he feels 'uneasy' about a publisher's decision to cancel a planned memoir by Woody Allen (right) The Hachette decision to drop the Woody Allen book makes me very uneasy, the bestselling author tweeted on Friday. It's not him; I don't give a damn about Mr. Allen. It's who gets muzzled next that worries me The decision was made after staffers at Hachettes imprint, Little, Brown and Company, staged a walkout in protest of the planned memoir, titled Apropos of Nothing. Dylan thanked the staffers who protested Thursday after the cancellation was announced telling them she 'will never describe the debt of gratitude I owe to you'. Between 75 and 100 staff in total are reported to have downed tools. Allen's book was scheduled to come out in April. The rights of the memoir will now return to him. The book was previously considered unpublishable in the #MeToo era. 'The decision to cancel Mr. Allens book was a difficult one. At HBG we take our relationships with authors very seriously, and do not cancel books lightly,' senior vice president of communications Sophie Cottrell said in a statement to DailyMail.com. Hachette came under fierce criticism for its collaboration with Allen in light of allegations that the famed filmmaker sexually abused daughter Dylan Farrow, pictured Pictured: Employees at Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, marched on the company's human resources offices in Midtown Manhattan at around 3pm Thursday to express outrage at the group's decision to publish Woody Allen's new memoir 'We have published and will continue to publish many challenging books. As publishers, we make sure every day in our work that different voices and conflicting points of views can be heard. 'Also, as a company, we are committed to offering a stimulating, supportive and open work environment for all our staff,' Cottrell continued. Woody Allen's long-rumored memoir Apropos of Nothing 'Over the past few days, HBG leadership had extensive conversations with our staff and others. After listening, we came to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible for HBG.' The move was quickly commended by Dylan Farrow who tweeted her gratitude to the staff members who walked out. 'To each and every individual who, at great professional risk to themselves, stood in solidarity with my brother, myself, and all the victims of sexual abuse yesterday: words will never describe the debt of gratitude I owe to you,' she wrote. 'For someone who has felt alone in my story for so long, yesterday was a profound reminder of what a difference can be made when people stand and unite together for what's right. Thank you so much. 'I'm in awe and so very grateful,' she added. The announcement of the cancellation was also retweeted by her brother Dylan. Dylan Farrow tweeted her gratitude for the staff members who walked on Friday This tweet announcing Hachette's decision was retweeted by his son Ronan Farrow Allen's memoir was due to be published with the imprint Grand Central Publishing. It is believed the autobiography, which would cover Allen's family life and his movie career, was first acquired by the the publisher last year but remained a secret from Hachette staff until Monday's announcement. 'Obviously, they must've known that they were doing something wrong,' an anonymous staffer told Slate. The rights to the book will now return to Allen. Hachette is considered one of the 'Big Five' houses in trade book publishing. The agreement with Hachette meant that Allen briefly shared a publisher with one of his biggest detractors, his son Ronan Farrow, whose 'Catch and Kill' was released last year by the Hachette division Little, Brown and Company. Catch and Kill focused on Farrow's involvement in the #MeToo movement and his role in exposing sexual abusers, Employees at Little, Brown and Company, downed tools and marched on the company's human resources offices in Midtown Manhattan at around 3pm Thursday to express outrage at the group's move. 'The biggest complaint is that we feel strongly about everyone's right to tell their own story, but we don't agree with giving Woody Allen a platform with which to tell it that includes distribution, marketing, publicity,' one anonymous employee told Refinery29. 'I think we feel he does not deserve a platform, that by publishing him we are in some way validating his story.' The walk out came after Ronan and Dylan Farrow were left seething amid Monday's news that Hachette was joining forces with their estranged father Allen - who allegedly sexually abused Dylan as a child. Woody Allen's son and prominent journalist Ronan Farrow, who has threatened to walk away from his publisher after it emerged it was putting out the filmmaker's memoirs Ronan took to social media on Monday to express outrage that the same company that he wrote his Pulitzer Prize-winning book with had chosen to work with his estranged father and then 'concealed' it from him 'Hachette's publishing of Woody Allens memoir is deeply upsetting to me personally and an utter betrayal of my brother whose brave reporting, capitalized on by Hachette, gave voice to numerous survivors of sexual assault by powerful men,' Dylan Farrow said in a statement Monday hours after details of the book were released by The Associated Press. Ronan Farrow followed up a day later, calling Hachettes decision 'wildly unprofessional.' Both he and his sister complained that the publisher had not reached out to fact check their fathers book. In a statement he tweeted on Tuesday night, Ronan said: 'I was disappointed to learn through press reports that Hachette, my publisher, acquired Woody Allen's memoir after other major publishers refused to do so and concealed the decision from me and its own employees while we were working on Catch and Kill - a book about how powerful men, including Woody Allen, avoid accountability for sexual abuse. 'Hachette did not fact check the Woody Allen book. My sister Dylan has never been contacted to respond to any denial or mischaracterization of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Woody Allen - a credible allegation, maintained for almost three decades, backed up by contemporaneous accounts and evidence.' He went on to call Hachette 'wildly unprofessional' and said the company's conduct shows 'a lack of ethics and compassion for victims of sexual abuse'. Ronan proceeded to cut ties with his publisher. Allen has long denied his daughter's allegation that he sexually assaulted her. Dylan's allegations against her adoptive father first became public in the 1990s. She said she was seven at the time and that it happened in her mother, Mia Farrow's home. Allen denied it but a judge noted in the 1990s how he had been inappropriate towards her. He was never convicted of sexual assault. Evangelicals view Supreme Court most favorably amid big term for religious freedom cases: poll Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment With the U.S. Supreme Court set to hear a handful of religious freedom-related cases in 2020, a new report from Pew Research suggests that Christians are more likely than religiously unaffiliated Americans to hold a positive view of the nations high court. According to a Pew survey of over 1,500 adults in the United States conducted in July 2019, 62 percent of Americans say they have a favorable opinion of the Supreme Court while 31 percent said they hold an unfavorable view of the Supreme Court. When broken down by religious affiliation, the survey shows that 69 percent of Christian respondents view the Supreme Court favorably compared to just 51 percent of religiously unaffiliated respondents. Meanwhile, 41 percent of religiously unaffiliated respondents said they view the Supreme Court unfavorably and 24 percent of Christian respondents said the same. But more than seven-in-10 (72 percent) of self-identified white evangelical Protestants and 72 percent white non-evangelical Protestants said they have favorable views of the Supreme Court. Seventy percent of Catholics said the same. Only 20 percent of white evangelicals said they hold an unfavorable view of the Supreme Court while 23 percent of white non-evangelical Protestants said the same. With several religion-related Supreme Court cases in the news, we wanted to examine how attitudes about the court and some of the issues its tackling this year differ by religious identity and political affiliation, Pew senior writer Dalia Fahmy wrote in the report. The results come as todays Supreme Court leans conservative thanks to the confirmation of two justices nominated by President Donald Trump during his three years in office: Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. In 2020, the Supreme Court will hear cases related to social issues that many conservative Christians voters consider important, such as abortion and the intersection of religious freedom and LGBT rights. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case involving a court-blocked Louisiana law that requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Since June Medical Services v. Russo is the first abortion-related case the Supreme Court will hear since the confirmations of Kavanaugh and Gorsuch, abortion rights proponents fear the potential for the court to deal significant blows to previous rulings that have codified abortion as a national right. The court announced last month that it would weigh the legality of the city of Philadelphias move to expel a Catholic charity from its foster care program because the organization follows Catholic teachings and does not place children in the homes of same-sex couples. Also, the Supreme Court will hear at least three cases this year that deal with whether a Title VII law banning discrimination based on sex also protects bans discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The most prominent of the three cases is one involving a Christian-owned funeral homeowner who faced action from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission after he fired a transgender employee who refused to wear clothing that corresponds with the employees birth sex. In recent years, the Supreme Court has issued favorable rulings in prominent religious freedom-related cases. Those include the courts ruling in 2018 in favor of a Christian baker punished for refusing to bake a custom cake for a same-sex wedding, and a 2017 ruling in favor of a church daycare barred by the state of Missouri from a secular funding program. According to the new Pew report, Americans views on the Supreme Court diverge along party lines. Three-quarters (75 percent) of Republican respondents or Republican-leaning Independents said they viewed the Supreme Court favorably with just 18 percent saying they hold an unfavorable view of the court. By contrast, only 49 percent of Democrats or Democrat-leaning Independents said they hold a favorable view of the Supreme Court. Forty-four percent of Democrats or Democrat-leaning Independents said they hold an unfavorable view of the Supreme Court. Religiously unaffiliated adults that is, who identify as atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular are largely Democratic, while white evangelical Protestants are solidly Republican and Republican-leaning, Fahmy wrote in her analysis. Part of the reason why President Donald Trump had such strong support among conservative white evangelicals in the 2016 presidential election was due to the promises he made to appoint originalist and conservative judges to the Supreme Court and federal courts. While much has been made about the confirmations of Kavanaugh and Gorsuch, Trump has boasted about how 218 of his judicial nominees have been confirmed as federal court judges in the last three years. Pew reports that Republicans and white evangelicals view the Supreme Court much more favorably than they did during the years of Democrat Barack Obamas presidency. In 2015, the same year the Supreme Court made same-sex marriage a national right and upheld a key element of Obamacare, only three-in-10 white evangelicals held favorable views of the Supreme Court. But in 2019, Pews research shows that white evangelicals (61 percent) were the group most likely to say that they favor overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Courts landmark 1973 decision making abortion a national right. By comparison, just 26 percent of white non-evangelical Protestants and 28 percent of Catholics agreed. But 89 percent of religiously unaffiliated respondents and 87 percent of Democrat and Democrat-leaning Independents said they oppose overturning Roe. Wow. Princess Haya claims an arranged marriage was being sought between her daughter Jalila who is 12 and Saudi crown prince MBS. "I have seen what has happened to their sisters and I cant face the fact that the same might happen to them," she said.https://t.co/MyTNukBQQk Alison Meuse (@AliTahmizian) March 5, 2020 Princess Haya, younger sister of the current King of Jordan and former wife of Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, is currently living in London with her two children and involved in a court case to prevent their father from gaining custody of them. The UK courts made several judgements about their case today:- Courts found validity in Haya's claim that Mohammed arranged for the kidnapping of two of his daughters after they tried to flee Dubai: Shamsa in 2000, and Latifa in 2018- Mohammed order for Haya to be intimidated and harassed after claiming she had an affair with a bodyguard- Haya only found out recently that Mohammed had divorced her and believes he date he chose, the 20th anniversary of the death of her father, was a deliberate sleight- her reason for fleeing was due to her ex-husband's wanting to marry their 12-year-old daughter Jalila to Saudi Arabia's 34-year-old crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman- Sheikh Mohammed didn't show up in court and claims the allegations are all lies and one-sided but admitted that he wasn't honest with the court regarding Latifa and Shamsa The enemy did not attack Ukrainian positions from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv time on March 7. Russia's hybrid military forces on March 6 mounted five attacks on Ukrainian Army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action. "The Russian Federation's armed forces violated the ceasefire five times on March 6. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded as a result of enemy shelling," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said in an update posted on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on March 7. Read alsoThree Ukrainian soldiers wounded amid 10 enemy attacks on March 5 Moreover, yesterday, on March 6, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and another three were injured when an infantry fighting vehicle hit an unknown explosive device. The enemy opened fire, employing proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms. Under attack came Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Pisky and Zaitseve. The enemy did not attack Ukrainian positions from 00:00 to 07:00 Kyiv time on March 7. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 22:05:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A rescue vehicle heads to the accident site in Quanzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 7, 2020. A hotel building collapsed in the city of Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, Saturday evening, local authorities said. Rescue work is underway. (Str/Xinhua) FUZHOU, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-three people have been rescued after a hotel building collapsed in the city of Quanzhou, east China's Fujian Province, Saturday evening, local authorities said. The accident happened at around 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Licheng District. According to the preliminary report, about 70 people were trapped. As of 9:00 p.m., 23 people had been rescued. Further rescue work is underway. Conrad Gray aka G Money is a radio host at Homeboyz radio and also doubles up as a DJ. The legendary DJ was born in London and schooled in Jamaica. READ ALSO: Diamond's sister Esma Platinumz says Tanasha converted to Islam 1. Kenyans have embraced him as one of their own as he is one talented man with knowledge in music. READ ALSO: Mad rush: Mom hurries to drive kids to school only to realise she forgot them at home 2. G Money has DJed for some of the biggest names in the world among them Ja Rule, Jay Z and Lauryn Hill. READ ALSO: Marekani yakiri haina vifaa vya kutosha vya kupima virusi vya corona 3. The DJ is very calm and collected but a beast when it comes to his work. 4. G Money has worked as a radio presenter not only in Kenya but also in the UK. 5. While he is not on the radio, the DJ is entertaining fans in clubs with his dancehall mixes. 6. Using his 20 years of music experience, the DJ has created a name for himself in East Africa and around the globe. 7. He is also a producer who has worked with a lot of Kenyan artistes and his work is dope. 8. G Money is also a man who loves travelling and this has exposed him to the world more so in music. 9. His record is one that majority of Kenyan DJ's will struggle to beat. 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. Kenyans weigh in on Coronavirus | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke A very awkward math mistake endorsed by two journalists on TV has gone viral with many questioning how they got it so wrong. Veteran TV journalist Brian Williams, from NBC, was joined by Mara Gay, a New York Times editorial board member to discuss Mike Bloomberg who recently abandoned his bid for the US presidency. The two journalists were discussing a tweet which claimed Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York who is estimated to be worth more than $US65 billion, could have better utilised his wealth, instead of spending it on ads in his failed presidential bid. Mara Gay joined Brian Williams on his show and the two discussed and tweet claiming Mike Bloomberg could give each American $1 million instead of spending $500 million on a failed presidential campaign. Source: Twitter Bloomberg spent $500 million on ads, a freelance journalist tweeted on March 3, local time. The US population is 327 million. He could have given each American $1million and still have had money left over. I feel like a $1million check would have been life-changing for most people. Yet he wasted it all on ads and STILL LOST. The journalist who made the initial blunder has since updated her Twitter bio to I know, Im bad at math. But the error didnt noticed in a cringe-worthy segment on NBC. Its an incredible way of putting it, Mr Williams said after reading out the tweet, to which Ms Gay echoed that it offered an incredible perspective. Its true, its disturbing, Ms Gay said. It does suggest what were talking about here which is theres too much money in politics. It didnt take long for viewers to poke fun at the faulty thinking. See if you can spot the math error. pic.twitter.com/V3b7pRqYUe Scott English (@iamscottenglish) March 6, 2020 The American population amounts to roughly 327 million. If Bloomberg was to equally distribute the money he spent on his campaign to 327,000,000 Americans, each person would receive approximately $1.50, not one million. Snopes, a fact-checking website, crunched the numbers and reported even if Bloomberg gave the entirety of his estimated wealth, each American would receive less than $200. Story continues For each American to be gifted $1 million Bloomberg would have to be worth $327 trillion, and be in a very generous mood. How did two highly accomplished and supposedly educated people like Brian Williams and Mara Gay simultaneously make such a stupefyingly asinine mistake? And it cannot be chalked up to being "bad at math". It's beyond belief. Driver621 (@driver621_) March 6, 2020 The awkward mishap between the two journalists on television forced Mr Williams show The 11th Hour to release a statement on Twitter. Tonight on the air we quoted a tweet that relied on bad math, the statement said. We corrected the error after the next commercial break and have removed it from later editions of tonights program. We apologise for the error. Ms Gay also poked fun at the mistake on Twitter. Buying a calculator, brb, she joked. Bloomberg funds anti-Trump operation Although he has dropped out the of the Democratic presidential race, Bloomberg will still be throwing money around to oust Donald Trump as president in November. The day after he bowed out of the race, an aide said the billionaire businessman will focus his money on six key battleground states: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Bloomberg has insisted his entire campaign was to take down fellow billionaire businessman, Donald Trump. In a statement released announcing he was dropping out, Bloomberg said uniting behind one candidate was the best way to get rid of Trump. After yesterdays vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden. Ive known Joe for a very long time. I know his decency, his honesty, and his commitment to the issues that are so important to our country including gun safety, health care, climate change, and good jobs. Three months ago, I entered the race to defeat Donald Trump. Today, I'm leaving for the same reason. Defeating Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. It's clear that is my friend and a great American, @JoeBiden. pic.twitter.com/cNJDIQHS75 Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) March 4, 2020 It is not yet clear if Bloomberg will support any other Democratic candidate against Trump. It is unlikely Bloombergs operation will support Bernie Sanders should he go onto to win the Democratic nomination. Aides attached to Sanders campaign said they do not want Bloombergs money. with AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Afghanistan has long been suffering from an unstable security situation. The government has struggled to contain the Taliban movement, which has been waging a war against Kabul for almost two decades, Trend reports citing Sputnik. Six Taliban members have been killed and 10 others injured in clashes with local police officers in Afghanistan's eastern province of Laghman, the Afghan government armys eastern division, known as the 201 Selab Corps, said on Saturday in a statement. "Taliban militants attacked a local police post in Alishang district of Laghman province yesterday, due to the clash between Taliban and local police officers, 6 Taliban members were killed and 10 others were injured", the statement read. Last Saturday, the Taliban and Washington signed a peace deal that stipulated, among other things, a withdrawal of foreign troops from the Afghan territory in exchange for guarantees that the country would not become a safe haven for terrorists. Despite the signing of the agreement, the Taliban said earlier this week that it would further attack the Afghan forces in the wake of Kabul's refusal to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners. New Councillors Jodie Neary and Erika Doyle (centre) with Cllr Irene Winters, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Deputy Jennifer Whitmore, Deputy Steven Matthews and Frank Curran, Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, at the special meeting of the county council last week A special meeting of Wicklow County Council held last week saw replacements co-opted to Wicklow County Council for Jennifer Whitmore and Steven Matthews after their successful election to the Dail. Greystones native Jodie Neary of the Social Democrats will replace Deputy Whitmore, while Erika Doyle of the Green Party takes up the council seat previously held by her husband, Deputy Matthews. Cllr Mags Crean proposed Jodie Neary to fill the casual vacancy arising from the election of Deputy Whitmore. She firstly described the recently elected TD as 'a great local representative, who is very hard working and committed.' Cllr Crean then welcomed Cllr Neary to the chamber, describing how the new Councillor worked for eight years as a parliamentary advisor and party administrator in Leinster House. 'She is a local to Greystones and she has her husband and two twins here to celebrate. She worked for over eight years in Leinster House in different capacities. She worked with Independent TD Thomas Pringle and has been involved in six General Elections, four referendum and two Seanad campaigns. She will make an excellent local representative and it's very reassuring to get someone of that political expertise and knowledge,' said Cllr Crean. Her proposal was seconded by Cllr Anne Ferris, who said she and Cllr Neary shared many of the same passions, such as gender equality and social inclusion. 'I know Jodie from during my five years as a TD. I got to know her and saw for myself just dedicated how she was,' said Cllr Ferris. Cllr Lourda Scott proposed Erika Doyle to take the seat of Deputy Matthews. She described the outgoing Councillor as: 'A great addition for Wicklow County Council and Bray. It was evident from my very first day in this council chamber just how well liked and respected he is.' Cllr Scott felt that Cllr Doyle's journalistic background would prove helpful in her role as a Councillor. 'Erika has a great range of knowledge in council matters having covered meetings as a journalist for 12 years. She has a great relationship with the Council Executive and all the political parties across the county. I'm also delighted to welcome another woman. We are growing steadily here going forward.' Again, Cllr Ferris seconded the proposal. She wished Deputy Matthews well in his new Dail role. 'I know how hard he worked. He was an excellent Chairman in Bray and had the respect of all the management team. He works well with everybody and every party.' She also had little doubt that Cllr Doyle would make an excellent local representative. 'It's a great pleasure to second Erika. I've known her longer than I've known Steven. She is very much involved in the local community and on the environment and climate change.' Cllr Joe Behan recalled teaching Cllr Doyle at St Fergal's. 'She was a sixth class pupil of mine at St Fergal's. She was a brilliant student, especially in English. She was extremely fair as a journalist and has been magnificent support for Steven,' he said. Cllr Irene Winters, the Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, said: 'I welcome you both to the Chamber and congratulate you on your positions. It's a great honour and with it comes great responsibility.' Cllr Shay Cullen welcomed the two new Councillors, while also taking time to pay his respects to the General Election candidates who failed to win a seat. He said: 'I also pay tribute to anyone who put themselves forward and think they deserve an awful lot of credit.' Wicklow County Council Chief Executive, Frank Curran said: 'It's a great honour to represent your local community and we will do everything to assist you. I also thank Deputy Whitmore and Deputy Matthews for all their support here, especially in the area of climate change.' Cllr Paul O'Brien said he was wearing a purple tie to reflect solidarity with the women of Ireland, while also reflecting on some of the online abuse female politicians in particular seem to be singled out for. Cllr Tom Fortune said Deputies Whitmore and Matthews would 'no doubt make a serious contribution to Dail Eireann and to Wicklow.' He added that he has known Cllr Doyle for a good number of years. 'I know her father for even longer. This is a great honour. Erika was a fantastic journalist for many years and has very good knowledge of how the system works.' Cllr Pat Fitzgerald said: 'There is no doubt that both Cllr Neary and Cllr Doyle will be a huge addition to this chamber in the coming years.' Cllr Grace McManus recalled her first day working as an advisor in Leinster House, when Cllr Neary proved to be of great assistance. 'I actually know you from when I worked in Leinster House. It was my first day and I was very nervous. I ran into you and you asked me how I was getting on. You told me I would be "grand" and if I needed anything to just stop you and ask. Now, if I can be of assistance, then just ask,' said Cllr McManus. Sweden has always been a country of pioneers and innovators. After all, it was a Swede that gave the world the Celsius scale, and another who founded the binomial nomenclature that began modern plant and animal taxonomy. No surprise then that this Scandinavian country is playing the part of trailblazer once again this time in the currency sector. More specifically, they unveiled a pilot program for the e-krona, a digital alternative to paper cash. The Swedish national flag. Swedish central bank Sveriges Riksbank has explained that in recent years theres been a general decline in the use of Swedish banknotes and coins, with many people preferring to pay via mobile payment system Swish, which was introduced in 2012 by six of Swedens large banks, after which it quickly became the payment method of choice not just for individuals but also small businesses looking to sidestep credit card fees. As NS Banking has reported, Swish has been a driving force behind Swedens digital payments revolution, which has pushed the country ever closer to becoming a cashless society. This growing trend away from cash has also led the Riksbank to consider replacing Swedens official currency, the kronor, with a state-issued electronic money, the e-krona. In a recent statement, the Riksbank revealed that the e-krona pilot program is to last until at least 2021. The initiative is meant to determine whether the electronic money can actually make for a viable alternative to cash and, in doing so, help make transactions simpler, more accessible to everyone, and more user-friendly for individuals, businesses, and banks. If it proves successful, Sweden will become the worlds first country to debut a central bank digital currency, or CBDC. According to the test environment parameters, simulations will allow users to pay, deposit, or withdraw with e-krona. These can be achieved in one of three ways: with a mobile app, with a wearable like a smartwatch, or with a card. Story continues Swedish Kronor Why is the Riksbank interested in forging ahead with the e-krona? Ever since Bitcoin was released in 2009, cryptocurrencies have been growing in popularity, with Facebooks Libra being the latest contender for the top spot. The social media titans move into the cryptocurrency sector has sent red flags that the future of money might no longer be in the traditional control of centralized banks unless those banks get on the digital bandwagon via CBDCs. And so, with the Riksbanks testing of the e-krona, the Swedes can feel confident that no competing private currency alternative will weaken their nations currency, in terms of both security and performance. But Reuters is also quick to point out that central bankers fret that Libra could reach billions and quickly erode sovereignty over monetary policy. In other words, these central bankers fear that individual countries might no longer have exclusive legal control over their respective national currencies. Instead, if Libra takes hold as the dominant currency of choice, then Facebook will have more sway, than, say the Swedish government on monetary policy. To guard against this, the central banks of several different countries will have no choice but to explore CBDCs. A 2019 study published by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has stated that across the world, central banks are reportedly thinking about how new central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) could replace traditional money. At that time, the number of central banks exploring CBDC was 63, representing jurisdictions covering close to 80 percent of the world population. A Swedish cash register displays kronor values. Meanwhile, the Global Government Forum emphasized that the central banks at the forefront of CBDC development include (alphabetically) the Bank of Canada, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Swedish Riksbank, the Swiss National Bank, European Central Bank, and the Bank for International Settlements. But Swedens now deployed e-krona pilot program puts it slightly ahead of the pack, bringing it closer to being the first major country to launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC). GST on textiles will not be increased from 5 to 12 per cent: FM Sitharaman It is not BJP money: Nirmala Sitharaman on IT raids on 'Samajwadi perfume' trader Yes Bank update: FinMin in continuous interaction with Reserve Bank India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 07: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman assured cash-starved Yes Bank depositors that their money is safe and the RBI is working on an early resolution of the issue. "I'm in continuous interaction with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The central bank is fully seized of the matter and has assured they will give a quick resolution. I want to assure every depositor that their money shall be safe. Their monies are safe," Sitharaman told reporters here. She said the steps taken are in the interest of depositors, banks and the economy. "We are fully of seized of the development. RBI governor has assured me that there will be no loss to any depositor," she added. Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoors residence raided by ED in Mumbai The Reserve Bank on Thursday imposed a moratorium on the capital-starved Yes Bank, capping withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account and superseded the board of the private sector lender with immediate effect. Yes Bank will not be able to grant or renew any loan or advance, make any investment, incur any liability or agree to disburse any payment. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 Sitharaman insisted the immediate priority to ensure Yes Bank customers are able to withdraw money within Rs 50,000 limit. For the next month, Yes Bank will be led by the RBI-appointed administrator Prashant Kumar, an ex-chief financial officer of SBI. The board of country's largest lender State Bank of India on Thursday gave an "in-principle" approval to invest in the capital-starved Yes Bank. Did TTD foresee Yes Bank crisis? Tirumala temple trust withdrew Rs 1300 cr recently Yes Bank has been struggling to execute a capital raising plan for the last six months. Its core equity tier-I ratio had slipped to 8.7 per cent as of September. The bank had also delayed its December quarter results. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 7:54 [IST] A Federal High Court in Kano on Friday restrained the states Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) from investigating the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, pending the hearing of the appeal filed by the monarch. The judge, Lewis Allogoa, ordered the maintenance of a status quo pending the hearing of the matter. The interim injunction showed that Mr Sanusi had filed an ex-parte motion asking the court to stop Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, the Kano Attorney General, PCACC and its chairman, Muhuyi Rimingado, from investigating him. The judge adjourned the matter to March 18 for hearing. The court had earlier dismissed the preliminary report released by the commission recommending the suspension of the emir pending the outcome of a final investigation. The court ruled that PCACC did not give the emir an opportunity to be heard before releasing the report, adding that this was against the principle of fair hearing. Earlier on Thursday, the spokesperson of PCACC, Usman Bello, told journalists the agency is conducting a fresh investigation on Mr Sanusi over alleged land racketeering at Hotoron Arewa and Bubbugaje. Other persons being investigated by the commission over the alleged racketeering include Sarki Ibrahim (Makaman Kano) and Shehu Dankadai (Sarkin Shanun Kano). The probe against Mr Sanusi is widely seen as an attempt by Mr Ganduje to tackle the emir, whom he has been having running political battles with over the years. Mr Ganduje recently carved out four new emirates: Gaya, Rano, Karaye and Bichi from the Kano Emirate apparently to curtail Mr Sanusis influence. Arlene Foster has told the Secretary of State that Westminster should not "interfere" with Northern Ireland's abortion law and it should be up to MLAs to make decisions on the issue. The DUP leader met Brandon Lewis at Stormont on Friday to discuss a range of issues, including Brexit. The Secretary of State also met the Ulster Unionists. Afterwards Mrs Foster released details of a letter on abortion that she had given him. She said that since devolution had been restored, it was up to MLAs to decide abortion law. "The fact that the Northern Ireland Assembly was not functioning last year was used to justify the highly unusual occurrence of Parliament legislating on a sensitive devolved matter," she said. "HM Government has consistently maintained that it would not interfere with the Northern Ireland legal position, and that it was for a Northern Ireland Executive and locally elected public representatives to determine." Mrs Foster said that "the DUP along with other parties believe the Assembly chamber is the appropriate place to deal with abortion". "It should be elected representatives from Northern Ireland, representing the electorate who voted for them, taking the decisions," she added. Under Section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 passed last July, the government must introduce new abortion laws to come into effect here on March 31. Mrs Foster described her meeting with Mr Lewis as "useful and constructive". She voiced her opposition to an Irish Sea border and said Britain was Northern Ireland's "largest market and it is critical that we have unfettered trade with that market". UUP leader Steve Aiken said he had a "very frank discussion" with the Secretary of State. He told him that the Government must act on the issue of air passenger duty following Flybe's collapse. Calling for more NHS funding, Mr Aiken said: "Before the first cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in Northern Ireland, Health Minister Robin Swann stated publicly that the health service needed 661m to address waiting lists and maintain the service. "It is now more vital than ever that the health service gets the investment it needs and the Government has a major role in seeing that delivered." Mr Aiken repeated UUP objections to the legacy proposals in New Decade, New Approach. "The last thing Northern Ireland needs is the 'Ulsterisation' of legacy where former police and soldiers here are left high and dry whilst those in Great Britain are allowed to move on. "That would be totally unacceptable. The Secretary of State was left in no doubt about our views," he said. Meanwhile, both Mr Aiken and Mrs Foster stressed that their parties would not engage in political conversations about a united Ireland. They were responding to remarks by Alliance leader Naomi Long that she would be willing to be involved in discussions about Northern Ireland's constitutional future and urging unionists to do likewise. "I can assure you that nobody from the Ulster Unionist Party is going to be involved in any conversation about a united Ireland - not now, not ever," said Mr Aiken. Asked if Mike Nesbitt would take a different view, he added: "I, as the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, make it very clear. "Shall I say it again? The Ulster Unionist Party will not be involved in any conversation about a united Ireland. Not now, not ever." Mrs Foster said: "Time spent talking about a united Ireland is not time spent dealing with the things that we need to deal with which is around health, which is around education, the things that matter most to people." A former Scottish government official has said a coronavirus pandemic would be quite useful in taking out hospital bed blockers. Professor June Andrews said coronavirus would help hospitals with delayed discharges to function as these people would be taken out of the system. She admitted that her comments sounded horrific but insisted they were an honest assessment of the consequences of a COVID-19 outbreak. More than 160 people so far have in the UK have been diagnosed with coronavirus, with one confirmed death. Scotland has 11 confirmed coronavirus cases. Professor Andrews is a former director of the Scottish Governments Centre for Change and Innovation. She was also previously the Scottish Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing and the director of nursing at NHS Forth Valley. Speaking at the Scottish Parliaments public audit committee on Thursday, she said: As a nurse my job is to be kind, but I also rip off sticking plasters, so sometimes it seems unkind what you have to say. Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /106 Coronavirus - In pictures A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images Customers wearing face masks shop at the pork counter of a supermarket following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province Reuters Westminster Bridge is deserted in London the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA Canadian passengers Chris & Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam, Holland America Line cruise ship, during the coronavirus outbreak, off the shores of Panama City via Reuters A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City Reuters The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Commuters cope with Coronavirus Jeremy Selwyn Milan's Piazza del Duomo empty AFP via Getty Images People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran AP Martina Papponetti, 25, an ICU nurse at the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital in Bergamo, Italy poses for a portrait at the end of her shift AP Pope Francis celebrating a daily mass alone in the Santa Marta chapel at the Vatican, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Imag Vysheyshaya Liga - FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino v FC Belshina Bobruisk - Torpedo Stadium, Zhodino, Belarus, March 27, 2020 Players in action during the match despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Hanks and Wilson both have coronavirus Tom Hanks General view of an emergency makeshift field hospital as it is set up at Pacaembu Stadium for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with a capacity of 200 beds in Sao Paulo, Brazil Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, work from home if possible and avoid all non-essential contacts and travel in order to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic PA Naomi Campbell catches a flight in a hazmat suit with goggles, a surgical mask and rubber gloves @naomi Sophie and Emily Ward pose for a photograph with their hand-drawn picture of rainbows and a message on their window in St Helens, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Corona virus outbreak. PA Shoppers queue outside a branch of Costco, in Croydon, south London, on the weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs and restaurants across the country to close PA Charing Cross Tube Bakerloo Line very quiet at 8.15am Jeremy Selwyn A woman with a plastic box over her head on the London Underground. PA A Racegoer attend Cheltenham Festival on Ladies Day wearing a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale PA A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A couple kiss in Milano Centrale railway station in Milan on March 8, 2020 AFP via Getty Images A combination picture shows visitors wearing protective face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) looking at blooming cherry blossom nd a pigeon walking at an closed cherry blossom viewing spot during the first weekend after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike (not pictured) urged Tokyo residents to stay indoors, in a bid to keep the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from spreading Reuters This combination photo created on March 5, 2020 shows tourists visiting Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on March 16, 2019 (top) and on March 5, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump looks at the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package bill as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Vice President Mike Pence stand by during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House Reuters A satellite image shows an empty South Beach during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Miami, via Reuters General view inside the empty stadium as the two teams line up prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes UEFA via Getty Images A Sainsbury's supermarket in Cambridge is among those to sell out of antibacterial hand sanitizer PA Tents and ambulances are set up next to the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise as it sits docked in the Port of Oakland on March 09, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Princess Cruises Grand Princess has been held from docking until today as at least 21 people on board have tested positive for COVID-19 also known as the Coronavirus Getty Images Medical staff produce traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Army soldiers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea AP Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing protective gear walks at a hospital for patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the outskirts of Moscow via Reuters A woman who has recovered from the COVID-19 is disinfected by volunteers as she arrives at a hotel for a 14-day quarantine AFP via Getty Images Passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship are seen as the ship arrives at Daikoku Pier where it is being resupplied and newly diagnosed coronavirus cases taken for treatment as it remains in quarantine after a number of the 3,700 people on board were diagnosed with coronavirus Getty Images Dave Abel pictured in hospital in Japan Manchester United fans in the stands during the Premier League match at Old Trafford PA Police officers wearing masks stand in front of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in La Caleta, in the Canary Island of Tenerife AP Carnival revellers wear protective face masks at Venice Carnival Reuters A general view is pictured of Burbage Primary School in Buxton, Derbyshire after the closure of the school as a pupil's parent has tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Images People wearing face masks walk past the Olympic rings in front of the new National Stadium, the main stadium for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Game Getty Images People leave Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes where Coronavirus evacuees are due to be released from quarantine today and allowed to go home PA Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA A woman wears a mask while crossing London Bridg Getty Images A general view of Worthing Hospital in West Sussex PA Passengers relax on board the Holland America-operated Westerdam cruise ship, which has been denied permission to dock in Thailand over coronavirus fears via Reuters A child waves as she sits in a vehicle carrying residents evacuated from a public housing building, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, outside Hong Mei House, at Cheung Hong Estate in Hong Kong Reuters A woman wearing a Minnie Mouse face mask looks at her mobile phone in Beijing on February 11, 2020 AFP via Getty Images The Costa Smeralda cruise ship of Costa Crociere, carrying around 6,000 passengers, is docked at the Italian port of Civitavecchia after a health alert due to a Chinese couple and a possible link to coronavirus on board, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters A patient covered with a bed sheet at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital as it starts to accept patients displaying mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images A medical official takes the body temperature of a man at the departure hall of the airport in Changsha, Hunan Province, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, China Reuters The view of the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center Getty Images A plane carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arrives at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire A police vehicle enters the gates of the Royal Air Force station RAF Brize Norton in Carterton AFP via Getty Images Passengers wear face masks as the push their luggage after arriving from a flight at Terminal 5 of London Heathrow Airport AFP via Getty Images French citizens arrive and settle aboard of an evacuation plane with destination southeastern France, before departure from Wuhan Airport (WUH), China AFP via Getty Images Police stand at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge that crosses from Hubei province in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, China Reuters A member of staff at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside prepares for a bus carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China PA Doctor Paul McKay, who is working on an vaccine for the 2019-nCoV strain of the novel coronavirus, poses for a photograph with bacteria containing fragments of coronavirus DNA, at Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) in Londo AFP via Getty Images Workers produce masks at the Thai Hospital Product Company Ltd. factory in Bangkok AFP via Getty Images Passengers wearing face masks are seen on a bus after disembarking from the Costa Smeralda cruise ship, after tests on a woman from Macau with suspected coronavirus came back negative, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters People hoard bottles of alcohol after the Philippine government confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the country, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Reuters Taking precautions: with fears growing that the coronavirus will spread from China, a health official checks a womans temperature on the underground in Beijing Getty Images An empty road is seen in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020, amid a deadly virus outbreak which began in the city AFP via Getty Images Students wearing masks meditate prior to a lesson at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia AP Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital wear protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus AFP via Getty Images Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, where some infected with a new virus are being treated, in Wuhan, China AP Workers driving excavators at the construction site of a field hospital In Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The builders will complete the 1,000-bed hospital by February 3 to cope with the surge of 2019-nCoV patients in the city Getty Images Buddhist monks wear masks as they walk near Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodi AP A woman and a child wearing protective masks walk toward check-in counters at Daxing international airport in Beijing AFP via Getty Images An employee sprays disinfectant on a train as a precaution against a new coronavirus at Suseo Station in Seoul, South Korea AP A policeman wearing a mask walks past a quarantine notice about the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China at an arrival hall of Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan Reuters Paramilitary police wear face masks as they stand guard at Tiananmen Gate adjacent to Tiananmen Square in Beijing AP The resident wear masks to buy vegetables in the market in Wuhan Getty Images Staff sell masks at a Yifeng Pharmacy in Wuhan AP Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV AP If youre on the board of a care home company a pandemic is one of the things you think about as a potential damage to your business because of the number of older people it is going to take out the system. Curiously, ripping off the sticking plaster, in that hospital Im thinking about that has 92 delayed discharges, a pandemic would be quite useful because then your hospital would work because these people would be taken out of the system. She added: Now that sounds like a horrific thing to say, but it is the case that somehow or other we have put people in the wrong places by not having the kind of strategic views we should have. That means that politicians who don't want to think about bad things before the election, need to think about putting income tax up even higher in order to pay for more care in care homes and they need to think about whether they reinstate geriatric hospitals. Dr Lewis Morrison, Scottish chair of the British Medical Association, told the committee that with the prospect of a coronavirus outbreak there was potentially a clear big mismatch between the health and social care needs and targets health leaders are asked to meet. I actually think that one of the ill wins if we do have a significant viral outbreak is that I think it will teach us, probably some hard lessons, but its going to teach us some very, very important things about services which we must learn from, he added. Coronavirus infections are most fatal for the elderly. In Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began, between eight and nine percent of over 80s who caught the disease died. The UK government has drawn up specific advice for the elderly to avoid catching the virus. Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty told the Commons health and social care select committee: One of the bits of advice we will give when this starts to run is for people who are older or who have pre-existing health conditions to have some degree of isolation from more public environments. One of the key things on this it is clear from the modelling one of the best things we can do reduce the impact on older people and reduce the impact on the NHS as well is to isolate older people from the virus. Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir reported its first case of coronavirus on Saturday (March 7), an ANI report said. With the new confirmed case, the number of people infected with coronavirus in the country reached 32. The person is receiving treatment at government medical college in Jammu, sources added. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir's administration said that the test results of two persons indicate that there is a high probability of them being positive for the disease. In the meantime, the state authorities have directed all primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts to be closed till March 31 with immediate effect. All biometric attendance in Jammu and Kashmir to be suspended immediately till March 31. Principal secretary planning, development, monitoring and J&K government Spokesperson Rohit Kansal, tweeted: "All primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts of J&K to be closed till March 31 with immediate effect. All biometric attendance in J&K to be suspended immediately till March 31." The health department in the state has been put on alert to deal with possible cases of COVID-19 in Kashmir. Trained staff has been mobilised and an isolation ward has been established. Doctors have been deputed at medical centres across Kashmir. The J&K government has also deputed medical staff to screen foreigners at Srinagar airport. Dr Shafqat Khan, Nodal Officer, Coronavirus Control, told IANS, "7000 cases have been screened in J&K so far, 300 cases have been put under surveillance and 27 have been sent for testing to Delhi." "The administration is planning to set up a laboratory in J&K so that samples are not sent outside and tests are conducted in the union territory to avoid time-lapse," he said. It is to be noted that on Saturday, two persons from Hoshiarpur tested positive for COVID-19, the novel coronavirus at the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar. The virus has killed so far 3,497 people globally. Officials in India reported that an Irish woman had fled the hospital in the eastern state of Odisha. An Irish patient who is suspected of having the coronavirus and was reported to have fled from the isolation ward of an Indian government hospital, has been found in a nearby hotel. Officials in India reported yesterday that an Irish woman, along with another person she was travelling with, had fled the hospital in the eastern state of Odisha. However, the woman has since been found in a hotel in state capital Bhubaneswar. The Irish national was screened at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, yesterday, showing flu-like symptoms. The woman was then taken to the city's Capital Hospital, just over 1.5km from the airport. Isolation From there she was referred to the isolation ward of SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, along with another person, an emergency officer of the hospital reported. Before her whereabouts were established, Indian officials said that the patient would be reported to police in the region. One official said: "It's not yet clear how both of them escaped." The Department of Foreign Affairs told the Herald that they have not yet received any report of the incident. Dozens Killed In Kabul Attack Claimed By Islamic State By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan March 06, 2020 KABUL -- Gunmen have opened fire at a ceremony in Kabul, killing at least 32 people in the first major attack in the Afghan capital since the United States and Taliban agreed to a troop withdrawal. The Health Ministry said that 58 people were also wounded in the March 6 attack, which was claimed by Islamic State (IS) militants, according to the extremist group's Amaq news agency. Five women were among those killed in the attack targeting a memorial marking the anniversary of the death of a Shi'ite leader that was attended by several high-level officials, including Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, who escaped unharmed. IS militants, who see Shi'a as heretics, claimed responsibility for a similar assault at the same memorial last year. The Interior Ministry said the March 6 attack triggered sporadic clashes between special police forces and gunmen in the area. "Three terrorists" were killed and the area was "cleared," it later said. The IS group said two brothers had targeted the gathering with machine guns, hand grenades, and rocket-propelled grenades. Police said gunfire had erupted from a construction site near the event. The Taliban, which signed a deal with the United States last week aimed at putting an end to the 18-year war in Afghanistan, immediately denied responsibility for the assault. At the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the attack "unacceptable" and said that "those who carry out such crimes must be held accountable," according to spokesman Stephane Dujarric. "The attack is an inhuman crime against the national unity of Afghanistan," President Ashraf Ghani said on Twitter. "The security forces will deal decisively with the culprits of this event," he added. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that Washington "condemns in the strongest terms today's despicable" attack. "Attacking the innocent and defenseless at a memorial event is a sign of weakness, not a show of strength. Our thoughts are with victims and their families, as well as the brave Afghan security forces who defended against the terrorists," he added. The attendees had been commemorating the death of Abdul Ali Mazari, an ethnic Hazara leader who was killed in 1995 after being taken prisoner by the militants. Abdullah, runner-up in the last three Afghan presidential elections, has served as chief executive of a coalition government since 2014. He has disputed all three election losses. With reporting by Reuters,AFP, and Tolo News Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/several-wounded- in-kabul-attack-abdullah-escapes -unharmed/30471867.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A total of 103 countries and territories were imposing entry restrictions or stricter quarantine procedures on people from South Korea over coronavirus fears Saturday, despite Seoul's stepped-up efforts to ease the measures. As of 2 p.m., 36 countries and territories were enforcing an entry ban on people who have been in South Korea during the past two weeks, according to the foreign ministry website. The tally is down by one from late Friday's tally, as Sao Tome Principe, an African island nation, was deleted due largely to confusion from within its government, a ministry official said. Bhutan has been newly added to the list since late Friday as it announced it will bar the entry of all foreigners over the next two weeks. Austria was also added to the list as the country will request all people flying in from South Korea, some regions in China and Iran to submit documents proving they are not infected with the virus from Monday. The number of those imposing an entry ban on people from Korea's two main epicenters of COVID-19 outbreaks -- Daegu city and the nearby North Gyeongsang Province in the southeast -- remained unchanged at six, including Japan. But Japan is expected to be reclassified as it has announced it will temporarily adopt a two-week quarantine and suspend the no-visa entry program for South Koreans starting Monday through end-March. Effective Saturday, Fiji bars the entry of people from all of Korea, expanding the restriction from Daegu and Cheongdo, a county in North Gyeongsang Province. Seoul has stepped up diplomatic efforts to persuade foreign countries to refrain from taking what it calls "excessive" restriction measures, reassuring them of Korea's active and prompt containment efforts to fight the virus. On Friday, Seoul's foreign ministry hosted a second briefing for foreign diplomats, less than two weeks after the first session, in a bid to reinforce such calls. A total of 15 countries and territories, including 18 Chinese provinces, are currently quarantining people from South Korea or other virus-affected countries at designated facilities. The number of countries and territories imposing stricter immigration controls or recommending quarantine programs for Koreans stood at 45. South Korea's virus cases topped 7,000 on Saturday, with a death toll standing at 44. (Yonhap) Delhi riots: Cops hold meetings at Noida, Ghaziabad India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 07: Delhi Police's eastern range held a meeting with Ghaziabad and Noida police to discuss whether the bordering areas had any connection to the recent communal riots in the national capital, officials said. The meeting was held to discuss coordination among the police forces investigating the riots. "We have conducted a meeting with Ghaziabad and Noida police. The meeting was held on the matter that how can we cooperate in the investigation of the recent riots in the northeast part of the national capital," Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern range) Alok Kumar said. Police are trying to identify the people who were part of the unlawful assembly and indulged in the February 23 violence. Several people have already been identified, they said. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 A senior officer said the police are investigating the riots from all angles and putting all possible efforts to identify and nab the accused persons. Govt bans 2 Malayalam channels for 48 hours over Delhi riots coverage As of now, 683 cases have been registered in connection with the riots. In total, 1,983 people have been either detained or arrested so far in connection with the communal violence, police said. Although the Delhi government has maintained that 53 people were killed in the violence last week, it has not provided a break-up of the death toll yet. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 9:12 [IST] A high school in Hanoi is vacant amid a prolonged break to prevent spread of Covid-19, March 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh. High school students in Hanoi will stay home until March 15, another week later than previously scheduled, as the city's first novel coronavirus case was confirmed on Friday. High school students in the capital city were earlier scheduled to return to school on March 9 onwards while kindergartens, elementary schools and middle schools would remain closed until the end of the week. However the city's Party leader Vuong Dinh Hue decided at an urgent meeting Saturday morning that all schools from kindergarten to high school levels in the city will remain closed for another week. The city plans to broadcast teaching sessions on television from Monday to help ninth grade and 12th grade students, who have to take graduation exams this year, keep up with their programs. Hanoi recorded Friday night its first Covid-19 patient, a 26-year old woman returning from Europe. It was the first case in Vietnam after 22 straight days of recording no new infection. 12th graders back In HCMC, the city's 73,000 twelfth grade students would also return to school next Monday, and would be provided with two face masks each on their first day back. Kindergarteners, students from first to eleventh grade and students at language, IT, tutoring and soft skill centers would continue to have their break extended until the end of next week, while students at many universities and vocational schools, who are more independent in their training programs, would get at least the entire month March off. HCMC Vice Chairman Le Thanh Liem said that students returning to school early is a common wish of the public, but the city cannot take rash decisions as the top priority is the health and safety of the people. The city had no Covid-19 infection as of Friday, while four cases of suspected infection were still awaiting test results, according to the city's health department. A total of 567 people were still being quarantined at centralized quarantine facilities and 526 people others quarantined at home. The Covid-19 outbreak broke out in Chinas Wuhan City, Hubei Province late December last year. By Friday, the disease had infected over 100,000 people worldwide and killed 3,412, mostly Chinese citizens. A Delhi court on Saturday said there was not sufficient evidence to summon former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special director Rakesh Asthana in a bribery case lodged by the agency. Special Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal made the observation while taking cognisance of a charge sheet filed by the CBI, in which Asthana's name was mentioned in Column 12. Column 12 means there is not enough evidence to make a person an accused. The court made a similar observation about CBI Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Devender Kumar, who was arrested by the agency in 2018 and later got bail. His name was also mentioned in Column 12 of the charge sheet. The court, however, summoned "middleman" Manoj Prasad, who was arrayed as an accused in the charge sheet. It also summoned Prasad's brother Someshwar Srivastava and father-in-law Sunil Mittal, saying there was sufficient material to proceed against them. Both Srivastava's and Mittal's name had cropped up during the probe. The court directed Prasad, Srivastava and Mittal to appear before the courton April 13. There is sufficient evidence to proceed against Manoj Prasad, Someshwar Srivastava and Sunil Mittal. I summon them forApril 13. Rakesh Asthana and Devender Kumar are not being summoned since there is no sufficient evidence against them, the judge said. The CBI may file a charge sheet if it finds anything against Asthana in its ongoing probe, Aggarwal said. The judge took cognisance of the charge sheet filed under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) and 385 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The court was earlier told by the former investigating officer of the case, A K Bassi, that there were "clinching evidence" against Asthana. The charge sheet, filed on February 11, had only arrayed Prasad as an accused. Asthana and Kumar were named in Column 12 of the charge sheet in the case since there was not enough evidence to make them accused. Suspended DSP Kumar was the investigating officer in a 2017 case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Hyderabad-based businessman Satish Sana, who was arrested for alleged links to the Moin Qureshi money laundering case, had also claimed links to senior CBI and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officials. The current case of alleged bribery was lodged on a complaint of Sana. The court had on February 12 expressed displeasure over the CBI's investigation into the case and it had asked why the accused with bigger roles were roaming free while the probe agency had arrested its own DSP. The CBI had registered the case against Asthana on the basis of the complaint from Sana. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra State Consumer Redressal Forum has directed a builder to pay a flat-buyer Rs 75,000 in compensation for not handing over possession of the flat for ten years, even after accepting 95 per cent of the sale price. Anil Sharma, a retired Navy official, had alleged that he and his wife booked a flat in a scheme being developed by Star India Projects at Karjat near Mumbai for Rs 13,74,600. He paid the firm Rs 13,32,870 betweeen July 2010 to April 2014. The flat was to be handed over by May 2012, but the construction suddenly stopped and the flat buyers were not intimated about it, Sharma alleged. Finally, he and his wife moved the consumer forum, seeking refund of the money paid. Star India Projects' lawyer argued before the forum that it was ready to hand over the possession but the complainant refused to accept it. But the forum didn't find any merit in the real estate firm's contentions as it did not submit any supporting documents. "Till today complainants did not get possession of their dream house. Builder cannot ask flat purchaser to wait for indefinite period for getting possession of their dream house despite payment of full consideration," the forum observed. In its order earlier this week, it held Star India Projects guilty of "deficiency in service" and "unfair trade practices", asking it to refund Rs 13,32,870 alongwith Rs 65,100 paid for stamp duty and Rs 14,910 paid for registration charges. The forum further directed Star India Projects to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation for "mental and physical harassment" and Rs 25,000 towards litigation cost. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NEW HAVEN Carolyn Kornegay remembers the mold and damaged clothes and furniture when water would come through her ceiling during the last few years she was a tenant at the Church Street Souths housing complex. She called the apartment project home from 1986 to 2016 and said there were good and bad times, with an emphasis on the negative later in her tenancy as the infrastructural issues with leaking roofs were particularly bad. Kornegay was also among residents of the Diego Court section of the sprawling 300-unit apartment project who suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning in January 2011 that was traced to improperly installed boilers, while one home had a faulty oven. She started to tear up thinking of that episode when she, her daughters and a grandson complained of headaches before the problem was discovered and she underwent hyperbolic oxygen therapy at Hartford Hospital. Now in a renovated unit at Brookside apartments, Kornegay came to the Trinity Lutheran Church on Orange Street Friday to hear attorney David Rosen explain the $18,750,000 settlement he reached with the Northland Investment Corp. in a class action suit over the conditions at Church Street South before it was evacuated starting in late 2015. It has since been razed and Northland wants to build an estimated $500 million 1,000-unit complex on the site that will feature some 300 low-income apartments, if and when, it can find outside assistance. The vast majority of the apartments will be market rate, but the plan is for all to feature passive house design to cut energy consumption. Northland bought the problematic property in 2008 from Community Builders at the request of then Mayor John DeStefano Jr. While Northland, which had never managed low-income apartments funded under federal Housing and Urban Development rules, put millions into into the site, the suit charged it was not enough or was improperly invested. Superior Court Judge Linda Lager received a motion for preliminary approval of the class action settlement Friday morning with a July 6 deadline for final approval of the deal. Im sad we had to go through this to get to this point, Kornegay said. She was joined by about 40 others who came to hear Rosen explain who qualifies for the payout and when. There will be a second meeting at 2 p.m. at the church on Sunday for people who missed that session or have questions. Each of the 956 tenants in the class, which includes about 450 children, who lived there between Dec. 2013 and 2016, are entitled to a base payment of $5,000 and $3,000 for each additional year up to $17,000. A process for holding the childrens money will be worked out with the probate court, while the tenants will have assistance in deciding how to structure their payments. Those suffering from mold-related ailments could also qualify for part of $2.650 million in an enhanced payment. Separate from the award to the tenants was $2.85 million for Rosens firm and $200,000 for an administrative fund. While there were agreements for his firm to take one-third of the settlement, Rosen said it is 1/7th because that is fair. In explaining the process, Rosen asked rhetorically if there had ever been a larger payout for these kind of injuries. Is this the most that anyone has ever paid for people being injured by mold ... Maybe, I dont know. You dont keep statistics. If it isnt the most, I dont know what is, Rosen said. Rosen encouraged people not to opt out of the settlement, as going up against Northland alone in a new suit was a losing proposition. As for other benefits, he said tenants who have used Medicaid or food stamps or other federal programs, based on an opinion from Attorney General William Tong, dont have to use the base payments to repay them. That means you actually get the money, Rosen said. He said the tenants also get first shot at any new apartments that Northland builds on the former Church Street South site. Holly Henderson, who spent four years at the complex with her four children, was thrilled with the proposed settlement. Since moving out, she said her new apartment is well kept and close to her childrens school, with a timely response for repairs, when needed. She gave a special thanks to Amy Marx, the New Haven Legal Assistance Association attorney, who started the turnaround at Church Street South with legal action to protect clients living in unsuitable units. HUD then found Northland was violating its contract to provide safe and sanitary apartments, which led to tenants moving into new units and eventually the site was cleared. She helped us out for years, Henderson said. A company has been hired to locate the tenants in the class and to send them notices directing them to apply for the settlement funds. The claim forms are due back by Aug. 13 with payments likely by late summer. Rosen emphasized the importance of applying for the money, telling the crowd if anyone missed this opportunity, it would be a tragedy. mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com;203-641-2577 March 6, 2020 Ottawa, Ontario Department of Justice Canada The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and diversity, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity. Claudia P. Premont, a partner at Brodeur, Premont, Lavoie, Avocats, in Quebec, is appointed a puisne judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the District of Quebec. Madam Justice Premont replaces Mr. Justice C. Bouchard (Quebec), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective October 22, 2019. Philippe Cantin, a partner at McCarthy Tetrault LLP in Quebec City, is appointed a puisne judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the District of Quebec. Mr. Justice Cantin replaces Mr. Justice P. Ouellet (Quebec), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective December 1, 2019. Biographies Justice Claudia Premont received her Bachelor of Laws degree from Universite Laval in 1989. She began her practice at the firm of Gagnon, de Billy, Cantin, Martin, Beaudoin, Lesage, now Lavery. She joined Marie-Josee Brodeur at Tremblay Bois in 1996 and they went on to found Brodeur, Premont, Lavoie in 1999, where Justice Premont was still practising at the time of her appointment. Specializing in family, human rights and estate law, Justice Premont has argued before the Quebec Superior Court and Court of Appeal throughout her career. She is also a mediator and is trained in collaborative law. She is the co-author of specialized works on family law and has published widely on the subject as well as a regular speaker at events for colleagues, the judiciary and litigants. Justice Premont was the President of the Quebec City bar in 2007 and of the Barreau du Quebec from 2015 to 2017, as well as chair of the Family Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association. She has been a member or chair of many committees of the Barreau du Quebec. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Centre dacces a linformation juridique (CAIJ) and President of the Board of Directors of Justice Pro Bono at the time of her appointment. She was awarded the distinction of Lawyer Emeritus in 2010 by the Barreau du Quebec and was named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2018. Justice Premont and her husband, Christian, are the parents of one son and two daughters and have recently become grandparents. Justice Philippe Cantin obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from Universite Laval in 1996 and was called to the Barreau du Quebec in 1997. Until his appointment, he was a partner in the firm of McCarthy Tetrault, where he had practised since 2007. In his legal practice, Justice Cantin argued primarily before the Superior Court of Quebec and the Court of Appeal of Quebec in the areas of civil law, medical professional liability, disciplinary law, administrative law, and insurance law. He has also published academic articles on civil procedure and has been a speaker at conferences for medical professionals. Throughout his career, Justice Cantin has been involved in training and mentoring young lawyers. He and his wife, Olga Farman, are proud parents of a young boy. NEW DELHILying under a striped blanket, her face blank with exhaustion, Shabana Parveen described how she and her family had run for their lives. Rioters armed with rods and sticks surged into her lane in northeast Delhi last week looking for Muslim homes. Parveen, 26 years old and nine months pregnant, said they broke down the door, punched and beat her, yelled abuse and told her family to get out. Then they destroyed everything inside. A Hindu neighbour sheltered the family for the night, but urged them to flee to a Muslim area as soon as they could. The next day, Parveens son was born in a rudimentary clinic filled with people injured or displaced by the riots. There is nothing left, she said as her tiny son slept beside her. If we go back, they will kill us. Indias capital is grappling with the aftermath of the worst communal violence in Delhi in decades. More than 45 people, the majority of them Muslims, were killed in the clashes. Hindu mobs swept through lanes targeting Muslim homes and set up roadblocks looking for Muslims to attack. Crowds of Hindus and Muslims threw stones and Molotov cocktails. The violence which unfolded as U.S. President Donald Trump visited the city marks a major turning point for the nation and for the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since winning a landslide reelection in May, Modi has pursued his partys agenda of Hindu primacy in India amid a dramatically slowing economy. In the last six months, he revoked Kashmirs autonomy, jettisoning decades of policy toward Indias only Muslim-majority state. His government said it would move ahead with the construction of a grand Hindu temple at the site of an illegally razed mosque. And he enacted a controversial law that excludes Muslim migrants from a fast track to citizenship. Now that agenda has sparked violence along the oldest fault line in India, a Hindu-majority nation created as a secular republic thats also home to 200 million Muslims. Its a defining moment for Modi, whose government directly oversees law enforcement in the national capital. The police are accused of doing too little to stop the riots and, in some cases, joining in. The violence erupted after a local leader of Modis party threatened to clear a protest against the citizenship law. Modi called for calm on Wednesday, but has not mentioned the violence since. The riots were not a tactical aberration, some absent-minded lapse of attention, wrote Pratap Bhanu Mehta, a prominent political scientist. There is no doubt that the state could have stopped the violence more quickly if it had wanted. The consequences for this nation of more than 1.3 billion people are likely to be far-reaching. Saba Naqvi, the author of a book on the recent history of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said Modi and his party are now pursuing a path of complete polarization between Hindus and Muslims because they have no other path to offer. A BJP spokesperson denied that the partys policies were polarizing. Muslims are afraid, party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said, because they have been intimidated by propaganda spread by opposition parties. He said the BJPs opponents are fostering a situation where some unrest can be created in the country so the government gets a bad name at the international level. Inside a narrow lane in Mustafabad, a densely packed, predominantly Muslim neighbourhood in northeast Delhi, refugees from the violence picked through a mound of donated clothes. Many had fled Shiv Vihar, another riot-hit area about two miles away. Zaitoon, 40, who goes by one name, half-cried as she rummaged through the items. She said mobs entered her lane shouting Jai Shri Ram, or Victory to Lord Ram, a slogan favoured by Modis party, and demanded to know which houses were occupied by Muslims. She said she saw a neighbour set on fire in front of her, an account repeated by other witnesses. Police arrived Wednesday morning to escort Muslims to safety, she said. They had 10 minutes to gather whatever they could carry. Down a nearby alleyway, plastic chairs were set out to accommodate mourners at the home of two brothers killed in the riots. Aamir Khan, 30, and his brother Hashim, 19, were on their way to Mustafabad on Wednesday night but never arrived. The next day, their brother Sheruddin said, police showed the family photos of the motorcycle they had been riding, now burned, and of their bodies, both with stab wounds. Their mother sat on the floor in a cramped room, surrounded by women, her face contorted by grief. Aamirs wife lay next to her, immobile under a brown blanket. We are being killed, we are being slaughtered, and they are blaming us, cried their sister Naghma Alvi, as a neighbour held and rocked her. The brothers were buried on Saturday. Research on religious violence in India suggests that Modis party has little political incentive to prevent such clashes. Researchers at Yale University who examined Hindu-Muslim riots in India from 1962 to 2000 found that when such riots took place, the BJP increased its share of votes in the next state-level election. When state legislators from the opposition Congress Party were elected, the probability of riots in their districts in the following years fell by a third. When Modi was elected prime minister in 2014, Muslim voters were wary. As chief minister of the state of Gujarat, he presided over the worst outbreak of communal violence in recent Indian history, when more than 1,000 people were killed, mostly Muslims, in three days of riots in 2002. A court-appointed investigation cleared him of any involvement. For years afterward, the United States declined to issue Modi a visa. Modis first term as prime minister saw increasing reports of Muslims being lynched on the suspicion of transporting beef or slaughtering cows, considered sacred by many Hindus. The passage of the citizenship law in December has stoked fears that the Modi government intends to make Muslims prove their legal status in the country. Trump praised Modi last week for his incredible efforts to promote religious freedom. Political scientist Sudha Pai co-authored a recent study on communal violence in Uttar Pradesh, Indias largest state. She said Indian Muslims have now reached a point where they realize either they fight back, or something terrible is going to happen. In the riots that swept northeastern Delhi, Muslims mobilized to counter perceived threats and clashed with Hindus. A two-lane road separates Muslim-dominated Mustafabad from Hindu-dominated Bhagirathi Vihar. Hindus say a large mob approached from the Muslim side Tuesday night, throwing stones and Molotov cocktails and firing guns. It became difficult to save our lives, said Yogesh Kumar, 24, an accountant. When the fire spreads, everything gets torched, Sanjay Kumar, 40, said bitterly as he looked around at the destroyed storefronts and burned facades along a lane leading from the main road. He blamed Kapil Mishra, the BJP leader who issued the original threat to protesters who mounted a sit-in. Mishra thought he could do the work of the police, Kumar said. Why did he step in? Area residents said nothing like the violence had ever occurred there before, and relations between the two communities were generally peaceful. Paramilitary troops patrolled the streets and people began to venture out on Friday afternoon, but shops remained shuttered. The Farukhiya mosque, next to a canal choked with garbage, stood deserted and burned. On Tuesday, Hindus and Muslims threw stones at each other from behind makeshift barriers near the mosque, witnesses said. The pitched battle subsided before the evening prayer. Then the police arrived. Officers barged into the mosque, sending the women worshippers fleeing. Police beat the imam, the muezzin and an elderly caretaker so badly they were sent to the hospital, according to family members and one of the victims. When Waheeda Khatoon, 30, the muezzins wife, finally found him, he was unrecognizable, she said. Khatoon said Muslims had no hope of getting justice. We are helpless, she said. The government and the police belong to them. Read more about: California employees who lose work because of the coronavirus may be eligible for a range of benefits including paid sick leave, paid family leave, unemployment insurance and state disability insurance. To inform employees and employers of their rights and responsibilities, the California Department of Industrial Relations and Employment Development Department have issued FAQs related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, for programs they administer. For an overview, see labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/. Here are some benefits that employees sidelined by the coronavirus might get. Disability insurance: If a medical professional has certified that you cant work because you have or have been exposed to COVID-19, you can file a claim for state disability insurance. It provides short-term payments to eligible workers who lose some or all wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy for up to 52 weeks. Paid family leave: If you cant work because you are caring for a relative who is sick or quarantined by COVID-19, you can file for paid family leave, which provides up to six weeks of benefits (up to eight weeks starting July 1). The family member must be a relative covered by the program and have a medical certification. Disability insurance and paid family leave are part of the same program, called state disability insurance. Its funded by employees through payroll deductions, usually marked as CASDI. Each provides about 60% to 70% of pay up to a maximum of $1,300 a week. Not all California employees participate in the program. State and local government employees, including those employed by public schools, are exempt, although some workplaces participate through an elective coverage program. Also, some employers offer a voluntary plan for disability insurance and paid family leave instead of the state program. Contact your employer for claims related to voluntary plans. Independent contractors may be eligible for these benefits if they pay into disability insurance elective coverage, said EDD spokeswoman Loree Levy. Unemployment benefits. If your employer has reduced your hours or shut down operations due to COVID-19, you can file for unemployment insurance. You must be able and available to work to get benefits, which generally range from $40-$450 per week for up to six months. However, if you are getting reduced benefits because you are working less than full time, you could get more than 26 weeks, Levy said. Self-employed people can opt in to elective coverage, and if they meet all the requirements, could qualify for unemployment benefits, Levy said. Work sharing: Employers whose business has slowed down because of the coronavirus can apply for the unemployment insurance work sharing program. It lets employers reduce employees hours and wages, which can be partially offset with unemployment insurance. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes For more on these and other programs administered by EDD, see https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm. Paid sick leave: The industrial relations department administers the states paid sick leave law, which requires almost all public- and private-sector employers to give almost all workers in California at least three paid sick days per year. If they have leave available, employees can use it for absences due to illness, the diagnosis, care or treatment of an existing health condition or preventative care for the employee or the employees family member. Preventative care may include self-quarantine as a result of potential exposure to COVID-19 if quarantine is recommended by civil authorities or in other situations, such as exposure to the virus or travel in a high-risk area, the department says. For other FAQs related to paid sick leave and its coordination with other benefits, see https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.htm. Note that some cities have paid sick leave ordinances that provide higher benefits. San Franciscos requires employers to provide paid sick leave to all employees who work in the city. Employees earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, but employers can cap their balances at 72 hours (10 or more employees) or 40 hours (smaller employers). Kathleen Pender is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: kpender@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kathpender Eight-year-old climate change activist Licypriya Kangujam has turned down Prime Minister Narendra Modi's honour of joining the #SheInspiresUs campaign ahead of International Women's Day on Sunday. On Friday, the government took to Twitter to share the story of the eight-year-old as an inspiration. "@mygovindia @LicypriyaK is a child environmental activist from Manipur. In 2019, she was awarded a Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award, a World Children Peace Prize, and an India Peace Prize. Isn't she inspiring? Do you know someone like her? Tell us, using #SheInspiresUs". Responding to the government's tweet,Kangujam said: "Dear Narendra Modi ji, Please don't celebrate me if you are not going to listen to my voice. Thank you for selecting me amongst the inspiring women of the country under your initiative #SheInspiresUs. After thinking many times, I decided to turn down this honour. Jai Hind!" Kangujam is also known as Indian 'Greta', after being compared to award-winning Swedish teenage environment activist Greta Thunberg, for her passion towards the fight against climate change. The #SheInspiresUs is a social media campaign dedicated to women "whose life and work will help ignite motivation in millions". On March 3, Modi had tweeted, "This Women's Day, I will give away my social media accounts to women whose life and work inspire us. This will help them ignite motivation in millions. Are you such a woman or do you know such inspiring women? Share such stories using #SheInspiresUs". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aerial photo of Tesla factory in New Lingang District, Shanghai. The number of black and white model 3 cars in the parking lot is about 500. Tesla has received government approval to produce the long-range rear-wheel-drive version of its Model 3 vehicle at its Chinese factory, according to documents posted Friday on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology website. Reuters was the first to report the story. Tesla started producing a standard-range-plus rear-whee-drive version of the Model 3 at its Shanghai factory late last year. The first deliveries began in early January. This approval allows Tesla to add another variant to its Chinese portfolio. Eventually, Tesla plans to manufacture the Model Y electric vehicle at the China factory. The move is notable because Tesla discontinued production of the long-range RWD Model 3 in the U.S. and now only offers that variant as a dual-motor all-wheel drive. It also appears to be a shift from Tesla's initial plan to sell a more basic version of the Model 3 in China. The standard-range-plus Model 3 can travel 276 miles on a single charge, according to Tesla's China website. The company hasn't posted a range on its Chinese website for the longer-range variant. Tesla struck a deal with the Chinese government in July 2018 to build a factory in Shanghai. It was a milestone for Tesla and CEO Elon Musk, who has long viewed China as a crucial market. And it was particularly notable because China agreed for this to be a wholly owned Tesla factory, not a traditional joint venture with the government. Foreign companies have historically had to form a 50-50 joint venture with a local partner to build a factory in China. When the head of the World Health Organization said this week that the new coronavirus's death rate was an estimated 3.4 percent, the figure seemed to shock both experts and President Trump. What a 3.4 percent death rate looks like: Note: Data as of March 3. Source: W.H.O. inspector generals opening remarks I think the 3.4 percent number is really a false number, Mr. Trump said in a Fox News interview. Now, this is just my hunch, but based on a lot of conversations, he added, Id say the number is way under 1 percent. By definition, the case fatality rate is the number of deaths divided by the total number of confirmed cases, which appears to be what the W.H.O. did to arrive at its rate. Is 3.4 percent a misleading number? We spoke to a number of experts in epidemiology, and they all agreed that 1 percent was probably more realistic (the W.H.O. has also said the number would probably fall). But they also said evidence about the spread and severity of the disease was still too new and spotty to know for sure. The fatality rate is a key figure that public health officials use to respond to disease outbreaks. The more deadly a disease, the more aggressive theyre willing to be in disrupting normal life. But current data allows scientists to measure only a crude statistic called the case fatality rate, which is based on reported cases of an illness. Eventually, they hope to have a more comprehensive number called the infection fatality rate, which includes everyone who is infected with the virus. Its essential for understanding how big our response should be, said Marc Lipsitch, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard. All responses have costs. If we think the risk is higher, then we should be willing to tolerate bigger costs, more inconvenience and the mental health loss from social distancing. There are several reasons we still dont know the right number. Insufficient testing, for example, may be making the fatality rate look larger than it actually is but deaths where a coronavirus infection was never diagnosed could make it look smaller. These are the key biases that epidemiologists and public health officials think about when looking at the case fatality estimates so far, and how they might change in coming weeks and months. Not enough people have been tested The fewer people you test for a disease, the fewer infections you are going to measure. In the United States, until this week, the only people being tested for the disease were those who had traveled to China or were known to have had contact with other ill people. Those strict standards were driven in part by a shortage of reliable tests. But we now know that there were many infected people in the country who werent being counted. An example of how the death rate could go down Think about that problem on a much larger scale. If there were a magical way to test everyone in the world for the disease, we would know exactly how many people have the infection. Discovering every case would tend to drive down the fatality rate, since the number of deaths would be divided over a much larger number of living infected people. There is increasing evidence that some people infected with coronavirus have few or no symptoms. Those people are the least likely to seek or receive tests. Limited testing in many countries means that the reported death rates probably skew high. Since most cases are mild, and testing has not been universal, almost by definition we are failing to detect and therefore count all of the cases, said Mark Lurie, an associate professor of epidemiology at Brown University. Over the long term, epidemiologists often do a kind of blood testing of large numbers of people in a given community. By testing their immune systems, they can measure how many people have been exposed to a disease. That type of research is often the gold standard for getting a real infection rate and a better fatality rate, called the infection fatality rate. The infection fatality rate for the flu, for example, is about one tenth to two tenths of 1 percent far lower than any of the estimates for the coronavirus. But that measurement technique is most useful after a disease has already spread widely, so it cant be easily used now. The number of deaths could be wrong Compared with infections, deaths are relatively easy to count, especially now that we know that this disease exists and what its symptoms look like. But public health experts say we still may not have a complete count of all coronavirus deaths. In some countries, frail people have died of pneumonia and werent tested, including an elderly Spanish patient who was tested for the coronavirus only after his death. If sick people are dying without going to a hospital, they could be missed. An example of how the death rate could go up But the biggest challenge for measuring deaths right now is that people can be infected with coronavirus for a long time before becoming sick enough to be at risk of death. Currently, we are counting everyone who tests positive for the virus as infected and alive. But, in the future, some of those people will die of Covid-19, the illness caused by the virus. Justin Lessler, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins, was part of a team of scientists who studied a group of Covid-19 cases in Shenzhen, China. He found that most people who died had been sick for longer than 30 days.Think of when all the cases outside of Hubei have occurred, he said of the province whose capital is Wuhan. If its 30 days or even two weeks, were really at the tip of the iceberg. Generally, epidemiologists like to measure the fatality rate for a disease over a set period. They look at everyone who gets sick and see how many are still alive over weeks, months or years, depending on the disease. So far, scientists have been unable to do those kinds of studies for the novel coronavirus. Conditions in countries vary Right now, the global estimates are combining deaths and cases from countries around the world with very different populations and different health systems. But experts say differences between populations in each country and in the nations health systems may make death rates higher in some places than in others. Examples of how death rates can vary between people ... The risk factors for death or severe illness from coronavirus are still being studied, but there is strong evidence that older people are at a higher risk of dying. There are very few documented cases of children who have developed serious illness. A disproportionate number of deaths have been among patients older than 65. The share of people over 65 in China is 11 percent, and in Italy its 23 percent. In the United States, its 16 percent. Countries like Italy, with more older people, may end up with a higher rate of death. Smoking may also play a role, evidence suggests, and the smoking rates in different countries vary considerably. Smoking among men in China is common. In the United States, smoking rates are substantially lower. Other health problems, like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and lung ailments like asthma, may also predispose people to a greater chance of severe illness, though the effects are still being studied. The sophistication and capacity of the health care system most likely matters a lot, too. Patients with severe Covid-19 often need complex care for pneumonia and respiratory failure, sometimes including mechanical ventilation. The quality of that care will probably depend on the availability of ventilators and trained staff to monitor them. When facilities got overwhelmed, there were more deaths, said Dr. Thomas Frieden of the experience in China. Dr. Frieden, who was the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Obama administration, said that when he was in government, he worked to expand the countrys strategic reserve of ventilator machines. Whether there will ultimately be enough hospital capacity for everyone with serious illness in the United States depends on how quickly and broadly the virus spreads. Researchers are racing to develop treatments for the disease, as well as a vaccine. Once there are better ways to help people who are infected, the fatality rate may go down for everyone. Eventually, scientists should be able to offer still more granular estimates of risk. This would allow people of different ages and health histories, in different countries, to estimate their risk of serious illness or death. When I looked at the 3.4 percent number and where they got it, I thought this is both wrong and irrelevant, said Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute. Its not relevant to nearly any single person. This is a worldwide average. As Dr. Jha noted, most people want to know their personal risk, not the risk for the average person worldwide. Developing estimates with that level of nuance will take even longer than building a more reliable infection fatality rate. Home Secretary Priti Patel has faced a barrage of racist and sexist abuse on social media since allegations that she bullied her staff emerged last week. Online trolls some of whom told her to go back to India and who mocked her Ugandan background claimed to be members of Labour, the SNP and Green Party. One Twitter user calling himself AJ and claiming to be a Labour member in the North, said: Priti Patel is like the woman off GoldenEye who gets an orgasm from killing people, shes absolutely vile. Twitter hashtags such as #Pritiawful were trending last week, with online trolls using the handles to leave abusive messages. The Home Secretarys own Instagram account was also targeted Arthur OConnor, who claims to be a Green Party member, tweeted: Priti Patel must have her citizenship removed after all Idi Amin couldnt stand her family he didnt like currey [sic]. Why should we have his leftovers? He added: Isnt it time Priti Patel took herself off to India? She is only here as an undesirable immigrant. While Ms Patels family did come to Britain from Uganda, they arrived here well before the expulsion of Asians in 1972. A user calling himself Dan Lee and claiming to be an SNP member tweeted: Its not sexism, its that shes a total c***. Hateful woman who has no moral base. The abuse aimed at the Home Secretary erupted after her most senior civil servant, Sir Philip Rutnam, resigned last weekend, accusing her of orchestrating a culture of bullying. Twitter hashtags such as #Pritiawful were trending last week, with online trolls using the handles to leave abusive messages. The Home Secretarys own Instagram account was also targeted. The abuse aimed at the Home Secretary erupted after her most senior civil servant, Sir Philip Rutnam, pictured above, resigned last weekend, accusing her of orchestrating a culture of bullying Last night, most of those behind the abusive messages declined to respond to requests for comment. But Mr Lee stood by his tweet, saying he had no regrets. The Home Office has also declined to comment on the abuse that Ms Patel has faced. Last night, a friend of Ms Patel said: Certain sections of the Left refuse to accept that Priti has different views to those that they think a daughter of immigrants should have. Nearly two months after being postponed due to inclement weather, the Springfield Women's March will kick off Sunday afternoon in front of the Capitol. The rescheduled date has symbolic significance as it falls on International Women's Day. And it comes just nine days before the Illinois primary. While not having an overarching theme as some marches have had in the past, organizers say the message relayed to attendees is to "take action" on the issues they care about. "A lot of times at the Women's Marches, there's a lot of talk about ideology, there's a lot of talk about issues," said Keri Tate, an organizer with local activist group Resistor Sisterhood. "This time, there will be those discussions, of course. But, each of our speakers has issued a call to action something that people can leave the march with, go home and do." Among the issues expected to be addressed: women's reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration, racism and health care. Though organizers said they are not advocating for any specific political party or candidate, among the slated speakers is Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, a candidate seeking the Democratic nomination for the 13th Congressional District in the upcoming election. Debbie Bandy, the sister of U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, will deliver opening and closing remarks. After the speaking portion of the event, the plan is to march toward the Old State Capitol. Tate said the event is "a labor of love" and "something that we all look forward to every single year." The march is being jointly sponsored by Resistor Sisterhood, Action Illinois, Black Lives Matter and Indivisible Springfield. Tate said organizers conservatively expect between 300 and 400 people to attend. Photos: 'Die-in' protests American Health Care Act Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 er the last few months, with no signs of it being eradicated anytime in the near future, could cause millions of Chinese businesses to go bankrupt in coming months. This will no doubt have a serious effect on the global supply chain, which includes many Vietnamese enterprises. On the other hand, this must be seen as an opportune time for businesses in Vietnam to restructure, innovate, accelerate reforms, improve performance and quality, and gradually reduce dependence on China. Current implications According to economic analysts at US based investment services of Morgan Stanley, production activities of Chinese enterprises since the outbreak of Covid-19 have dropped to just around 30%. Morgan Stanley assessed that Chinese enterprises will only be able to return to normal production by the end of March, and only if the spread of the disease is well under control. This expectation is looking more and more doubtful as new and unusual developments in the Covid-19 epidemic are being seen across the globe. In these circumstances, millions of businesses across China are expected to go bankrupt within the next one to three months, with even the Chinese banking system expected to face a crisis battering. Ed Hyman, an economist and chairman of Evercore ISI, predicts that Chinas economy of more than one billion people will grow a flat 0% in the first quarter of 2020. In the current scenario, manufacturing in China has become paralyzed ever since the Chinese government locked down entire cities to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Since China has long been the worlds manufacturing hub, stagnant production has disrupted the entire global supply chain and risk of bankruptcy of millions of Chinese enterprises looms large. The direct impact of this disruption is being felt worldwide with negative consequences. Vietnam too has been heavily impacted. For many years, Vietnam's manufacturing and products industries have depended solely on the supply of raw materials and components imported mainly from China. Now, many businesses say their stocks of spare parts may last only until the middle or end of March. Textile, footwear and handbag units say that they have raw material stock that will finish by the beginning of April. All these units will likely have to suspend production or possibly completely shut down. Those enterprises that are manufacturing and assembling cars are also in distress as they rely on 70% components imported from China. Other businesses from steel to furniture are also in trouble and more than 50% of construction businesses are having difficulty in sourcing. According to data published by the General Department of Customs in February, total value of the countrys imports and exports in January were only at USD 36.62 bn, down 18.4% compared to the previous month and down 16.2% compared to the same period in 2019. With this fall, the country's trade balance of goods in January saw a deficit of USD 232 mn, which in the same period last year saw a surplus. Opportunity for reform Many people are concerned that this disruption and break in production in so many Chinese enterprises could lead to a "domino effect" and cause Vietnamese enterprises to shut down as well. This concern is not unwarranted, when looking at the degree of dependence of Vietnamese enterprises on import and export from the Chinese market. According to statistics from the General Department of Customs, Vietnam's export turnover to China in 2019 reached USD 75,452 bn, accounting for nearly 30% of Vietnam's total export turnover, while imports reached USD 41,414 bn. However, many economic experts believe that this is an opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to retrospect and innovate and join other production chains, which will then reduce dependence on the Chinese market. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lowered its forecast of growth of China's economy to 5.6% in 2020, down by 0.4% compared to the estimate given in January this year. The IMF also forecasts that the global economy will reduce growth rate by about 0.1% in 2020. Talking with Saigon Investment, Asso. Prof. Dr. Dinh Trong Thinh, a financial expert, said that it should be seen as an opportunity for businesses to change radically and develop and grow to a higher level. That is, instead of processing for exports, Vietnamese enterprises must move towards high technology and apply it in production and increase value of products, as China is not the only market for Vietnam. Currently, there are many large markets and several other opportunities for businesses. For example, when the CPTPP Agreement comes into effect, Vietnamese enterprises will have a potential market and Vietnamese businesses will be given tax incentives, have access to more export markets and be able to import raw materials for production from elsewhere. However, for this, businesses will have to innovate and willingly change their way of working. Asso. Prof. Dr. Dinh Trong Thinh also feels that in the long term, Vietnam needs to have a strategy to develop support industries, focus on some important basic material industries such as steel, fabric and materials, and thereby reduce dependence on imported raw materials and components from China. In addition, it is necessary to focus more on supporting capacity of enterprises through credit solutions, improve quality of human resources, innovate, create and develop markets as well as provide many tax and land incentives. From a macro-economic perspective, PhD. Le Dang Doanh, former head of the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM), said that the crisis caused by the Covid-19 epidemic was also a "high dose vaccine", a test to check the "health" of Vietnamese businesses. He believes this is also an opportunity for Vietnam to accelerate its reforms, reduce dependence on China, and step by step rebalance the structure of the economy. To do this would require greater effort and even accept initial economic disadvantages, as in this situation, Vietnam's economy will have to restructure, renew production, find new markets, components and new cooperation channels as well. This should be seen as an opportunity and Vietnam should take full advantage of this. Translated by Mathew Hung Luu Thuy AgustaWestland: After saying witness may have died, ED cites a little birdie to say he is alive Malaysia ups the heat: Is it game up for radical Islamic preacher, Zakir Naik Summoned at first, now Malaysia bars Zakir Naik from addressing Islamic event INX Media: Chidambaram likely to be made main accused, five officers to be probed ED questions Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Mar 07: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday continued questioning Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor in connection with a money laundering probe against him and others. Kapoor was brought to the agency's office in the Ballard Estate area Saturday afternoon. The probe agency had on Friday raided the Mumbai residence of Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor on Friday night, a day after the crisis-hit bank was placed under a moratorium with withdrawals capped at Rs 50,000. The Reserve Bank on Thursday imposed a moratorium on the capital-starved Yes Bank, capping withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account and superseded the board of the private sector lender with immediate effect. Yes Bank will not be able to grant or renew any loan or advance, make any investment, incur any liability or agree to disburse any payment. As per RBI's draft reconstruction scheme, State Bank of India will pick up 49 per cent stake in the crisis-ridden Yes Bank under a government-approved bailout plan. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 Yes Bank update: FinMin in continuous interaction with Reserve Bank The raids come on a day finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had spoken about Yes Bank's funding of stressed corporate such as DHFL as one of the reasons for its failure. Rana Kapoor joined Bank of America (BoA) as a management trainee in 1980. He worked at BoA for at least 16 years where he managed corporate, government and financial institution clients. In September 2018, Yes Bank announced that they had ordered Kapoor to step down from his CEO position in January 2019. Council highlights three priority areas as part of B20 policy recommendations RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In concert with International Women's Day, to be celebrated on Sunday 08 March, B20 Saudi Arabia, the official business voice of the G20 community, profiled several priorities for the Women in Business Action Council. The Council, the first of its kind for the B20, will ensure that issues surrounding gender diversity in business and economic empowerment of women are placed at the center of the B20 Saudi Arabia. While the B20 task forces work on policy recommendations, the Action Council has identified three priority areas that need immediate action: Level the playing field for women by driving reforms to unlock their full workforce potential, fostering an enabling environment, encouraging new ways of flexible working and closing the gender pay gap. A call to action for countries to create the environment and to improve access to resources for women to succeed in starting their own businesses. Bring all stakeholders together to accelerate progress, developing an institutional framework while designing user-centric policies that enable women to thrive. The B20 Saudi Arabia has established six task forces that concentrate on specific economic priority areas, with 656 task force members across all G20 members. The Women in Business Action Council sits across all six task forces, a structural change from past B20 cycles. Women make up 43% of the B20 Saudi Arabia Task Force and Action Council Chairs, the highest proportion in the group's history. Furthermore, the B20 Secretariat established criteria for Committee Membership that has resulted in 33% of participants being women, the highest percentage among some of the most recent B20 cycles (Turkey 23% in 2015, Germany 22% in 2017, Argentina 28% in 2018). "The Women in Business Action Council is the first initiative of its kind in the history of the B20. It has been established with the recognition that mainstreaming women in business is key to improving the standards of business conduct including integrity, empathy, and creativity, thus adding to economic growth and productivity," said Mr. Yousef Al-Benyan, Chair of the B20 Saudi Arabia. Aligned with the key theme of International Women's Day 2020 "I am generation Equality: Realizing Women's rights," the Council is primarily focused on addressing gender inequality, increasing women's participation in the workforce and their representation in leadership positions. It comprises 52 members from the global business community and is represented by every one of the G20 members. "The Women in Business Action Council is addressing workplace challenges by looking at related life-cycle solutions ranging from higher education & STEM to addressing impediments to professional advancement and leadership positions using a mix of organizational culture to legislative / regulatory options," said Ms. Rania Nashar, Chair of the Women in Business Action Council and CEO of SAMBA. "We will be bringing our efforts around women empowerment to life over the course of the next year by participating in a number of initiatives in the region and abroad." To help socialize their priorities and secure input from the broader B20 community, the B20 Women in Business Action Council will participate in a number of high-profile global events over the course of the next year. Further information on B20 Saudi Arabia: Contact Us: connect@b20saudiarabia.org.sa Reach Us: +966 (11) 280 4947 Visit Us: www.b20saudiarabia.org.sa About B20 The Business Twenty (B20) is the official G20 dialogue with the business community. As the voice of the private sector to the G20, it represents the global business community across all G20 members and all economic sectors. Formed in 2010, it is the first engagement group of the G20. The B20 supports the G20 through specific policy recommendations, the consolidated representation of business interests and economic expertise. It also fosters dialogue between the public and private sector. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1120976/Infographic_Women_in_Business_Action.jpg Related Links http://www.b20saudiarabia.org.sa SOURCE B20 Saudi Arabia A doctor has advised hospitals to prepare for up 96 million coronavirus infections and 500,000 potential deaths as a worst-case scenario for the potential extent of the outbreak, leaked documents reveal. The documents, obtained by Business Insider, come from a presentation made during a webinar hosted by the American Hospital Association (AHA). Dr James Lawler, a professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Centre, shared a series of slides with attendees about what his "best guess" was when estimating how the outbreak could impact hospitals and health officials. His webinar, titled "What healthcare leaders need to know: Preparing for the COVID-19", was presented on 26 February. He estimated 96 million could become infected, and of those people 480,000 could die from the coronavirus based on how the virus might spread. Leaked documents from his presentation also showed the expert anticipated the virus would hit the elderly population the hardest. People aged 80 and over have a 14 per cent chance of dying if they have the infection, Dr Lawler estimates. Those aged 70 to 79 and 60 to 69 have an estimated mortality rate of 8 per cent and 3.6 percent if they contract the virus. Medical conditions can also influence someone's risk. Dr Lawler estimates those with heart conditions would have a one and 10 chance of dying from the disease. For people without any pre-existing medical conditions, there is only a one in 100 chance they could die. Dr Lawler reported his estimates to encourage hospitals to prepare for high numbers so each facility can limit those who die. A spokesperson for Nebraska Medicine told Business Insider the figures Dr Lawler presented represent his views and "interpretation of the data available". "It's possible that forecast will change as more information becomes available," the spokesperson added. The AHA also told the publication the views were that of Dr Lawler. Story continues "The American Hospital Association said the webinar reflects the views of the experts who spoke on it, not its own," a statement said. Dr Lawler served as a member of the Homeland Security Council for President George W. Bush and as a member of the National Security Council for President Barack Obama. In recent weeks, he's helped treat US patients with the coronavirus who travelled from China and the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Response to the coronavirus has heightened in recent days with Mr Trump signing an $8.3bn emergency funding package on Friday to go towards combating the spread. New York state announced a state of emergency after the total number of cases increased to 76 on Saturday. The US death toll from the virus has also increased with 19 people dying, 16 of whom lived in Washington state. In total, the US has experienced more than 400 cases of the coronavirus. Globally, the number of cases has increased to more than 105,000 with over 3,500 deaths. Read more Trump's grandfather died of the Spanish flu UK coronavirus cases soar to 209 as panic buying sets in Melania Trump hits back after her tweet was criticised Coronavirus sees tourism dwindle in Orlando Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Gallup High School senior Mariana Vega grilled Sandia National Laboratories engineers with questions as she watched demonstrations at the labs advanced testing facility on Wednesday. She and 43 other students looked on as model airplanes and other objects were pushed to the limits to determine how real vehicles would hold up under launch acceleration and vibration in high rates of speed. The 18-year-old had more than a passing interest than just getting a break from the classroom with a trip to Albuquerque. This is really a great experience learning about what jobs you can do, Vega said. Im planning on attending New Mexico State University with a major in engineering. The experience is exactly what Carrie Lovato, director of college and career readiness for Gallup-McKinley County Schools, and Sandia officials had in mind when they set up the first of what they hope to be many STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) days between the school system and the laboratory. This is a nice way to expose them to STEM, engineering career opportunities, she said, pointing out that, while some of the job opportunities at the labs required college degrees, others did not. She said the students were from four of the systems nine high schools. Physics and engineering can be very rigorous, Gallup High physics and engineering teacher Eric Schieldrop added. Its really valuable for students to see real world applications. Amy Tapia, Sandias manager for community involvement, said some of the engineers doing demonstrations were from the Gallup area and came from similar backgrounds as the students. That was the case with Sandia engineer Jhana Gearhart, who was fielding questions from students like Vega. Take advantage of the engineers who are here, Gearhart, who is from Chinle, Arizona, told the students. Find out what they do. Find out how they got here. The students found different parts of the tour and demonstrations appealing. Jacob Fernandez, a junior from Myamura High School, said it was fascinating to learn about how nuclear bombs were made and the process they go through to make them safe. Gallup High School junior Colt Johns favorite part of the tour was the demonstration of how an airplane handled vibrations through a test called a frequency sweep. This really helps me see what kind of a job I could have and what kind of an environment I would be in, he said. SUNDAY, MARCH 8 EXHIBITION On loan from the Natural History Museum in London, Wildlife Photographer of the Year (until October 11) has whittled down more than 50,000 entries from around the globe to create an astonishing collection of images featuring animals and landscapes. 9.30am-5pm, Australian National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, $20, sea.museum EXHIBITION Grab a heart-worthy selfie at Happy Place (until May 3), a pop-up immersible installation direct from North America, which lets visitors stroll through a series of quirkily decorated spaces, including a confetti dome, an upside-down room that appears to defy gravity and even a cookie room scented by chocolate biscuits. 10am-8pm, Broadway Sydney, 1 Bay Street, Ultimo, $39, happyplace.me Author Lindy West is appearing at the All About Women festival at the Opera House. FESTIVAL Annual feminist gathering All About Women returns with an excellent line-up of speakers, including American opinion writer Lindy West, Melbourne artist Stanislava Pinchuk (a.k.a. Miso) and astrophysicist Jo Dunkley, as well as a show from performance collective the Working Bitches. 10.30am-7.30pm, Sydney Opera House, various prices, sydneyoperahouse.com Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has released a comic book on the life and works of legendary leader and his father Biju Patnaik. The book, 'Adventures of a Daredevil Democrat' published by the Kalinga Foundation Trust and the Creative Warehouse, is a first of its kind comic book on the life and works of Biju Patnaik. Senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra, senior BJP leader KV Singhdeo and other dignitaries attended the book release event on Friday. "Biju Patnaik was a legend in his lifetime ... In fact he was a man of a million legends. As we celebrate his 104th birth anniversary, people recall his memories with great respect, love and admiration," the chief minister said. Biju Patnaik was born on March 5, 1916. He said the book 'Adventures of a Daredevil Democrat' is one such endeavour to remember one of the most loved leaders of Odisha, Biju Patnaik. Naveen Patnaik, who is the younger son of Biju Patnaik said many people describe him (Biju) in their own perspectives and display many facets of his life. His adventures culminated in the rescuing of Indonesian leaders, his patriotism culminated in his participation in war missions, his compassion for poor reflected in doubling the minimum wage at one go, ... the list is endless, he said. During the freedom movement, despite working as a pilot in Royal Air Force, he (Biju) assisted nationalist leaders like Aruna Asaf Ali, Ram Manohar Lohia and carried them in a plane to safe places. He was a true nationalist leader who was at the forefront to reach Srinagar first during Indias war against Pakistani intruders in Kashmir operation, the CM said. "The development of Odisha was the single most important thing for him. He never thought of anything else. He was a fast mover who wanted to get things done very quickly. He wanted to see his Odisha be at the top at the earliest possible time," the chief minister said on his father Patnaik hoped children will be inspired, encouraged, and follow Biju Babus footsteps to serve the motherland with similar commitment and courage. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to travel to Dhaka on March 17 in the midst of rising concerns in Bangladesh over India's new citizenship law and the proposed NRC. PM Modi is visiting Dhaka at the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina to attend the centenary celebrations of Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. During the visit, the prime minister is expected to assuage Bangladesh's concerns over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), sources said. The CAA, which was notified on January 10, grants Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities -- Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian -- who migrated to India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh till December 31, 2014, following persecution over their faith. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan cancelled their visits to India in December over the prevailing situation following the passage of the new citizenship bill by Parliament. Dhaka was also apparently upset following the rollout of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam even though India conveyed to it that the issue was an internal matter of the country. READ| 'Bangladeshis who have been voting are Indians,' says CM Mamata; 'Oxymoron,' replies BJP Prime Minister Modi's visit to Brussels this month to hold a summit meeting with the European Union has been postponed in view of the global spread of coronavirus. On PM Modi's visit to Bangladesh, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the prime minister will go to the neighbouring country to attend the centenary celebrations of Bangladesh's founder. Foreign Secretary on NRC in Bangladesh India on Monday assured Bangladesh that the updation of the National Register of Citizens will have no implications for its people, asserting that it is a process that is entirely internal to the country. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan canceled their visits to India in December over the prevailing situation following the passage of the new citizenship bill. Bangladesh was also apparently upset following the roll out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam even though India conveyed to it that the issue was an internal matter of the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had taken up the issue of NRC with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their bilateral meeting in New York in September. "Updation of National Register of Citizens is a process that is entirely internal to India," Foreign Secretary Shringla said on Monday. "India assures Bangladesh that NRC will have no implications for the country and its people," he said at a seminar 'Bangladesh & India: A Promising Future' held in Dhaka. READ| Seven Rohingya shot dead near Bangladesh refugee camp READ| Amal Clooney to represent Maldives in UN court for Rohingyas By Kartik Chandramouli A bright-yellow bird zipped over our heads while we stood at the fringe of a field nestled in a forest. Aa aamtiki che. (This is an oriole), said Pratik, pointing to the black-hooded oriole that disappeared into the thick canopy of the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary in south Gujarats Dang district. After a few moments of birding action and then the lack of it, when the group was contemplating to move to the next spot, a shaheen falcon swooped into the scene and perched atop a barren tree. The 16-year-old struggled to recollect the Dangi name of the worlds fastest flying bird (only when diving), but eventually remarked, Sasin! Pratik and his two friends, who came birdwatching for the first time, added that they dont see the bird often in their area. The trio, who were from a school near Purna Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS), were part of a mixed flock of 12 birdwatchers, including first-timers, beginners, experts, forest guards and volunteers, on a nature trail during the Dang Bird Festival 2020 organised and funded by the forest department. Eight such teams set out before the crack of dawn on eight earmarked trails in the 160.84 square kilometer sanctuary every day between 7 and 9 February. The participants, most of them from Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, had the objective of watching birds and listening to them, identifying the species and noting observations in this lesser-known forest habitat approximately 130 kilometers from Surat. Above photo: Pratik and his school friend from a school near Purna Wildlife Sanctuary in Dang participated in the Dang Bird Festival 2020. Image via Mongabay-India/ Kartik Chandrmouli Pratiks team, labelled as the Heart-Spotted Woodpecker, saw birds such as the crested serpent eagle, black-rumped flameback (woodpecker), white-cheeked barbet on the Breeding Center trail marked with teak, bamboo and mixed forests. A flock of four male black-hooded orioles on the tree canopy and a racket-tailed drongo livening the forest floor with its metallic calls were more among the groups 70 observations. The facilitator of the event, Pranav Trivedi, wanted the habit of closely observing birds take root in participants, and not just the process of making species checklists. I call it an awareness and educational event first, and then a citizen science activity, said Trivedi, an ecologist and nature educator. Apart from the knowledge, you need to spread the enthusiasm first and attract the fence-sitters. But most importantly, it is for awareness among the local students. Two groups were led by the youth from the local tribal community who have been trained over the years in natural history and hospitality through the forest department. Most of the local youth is familiar with the Dangi bird names and would have seen them at some point, said Agneeshwar Vyas, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Dang (North) Division. But hunting with catapults is an issue in this landscape. So, the experience and knowledge sharing between the kids from this area and outsiders can generate awareness and spark new interests. During the daily evening gathering sessions at the base, Mahal Eco-Campsite on the banks of river Purna inside PWS, participants ranging from teens to fifty-year-olds shared their days experiences while experts spoke about birdwatching, its ethics and the avian biodiversity of Dang. But the birdwatchers afterparty was games such as naming Dang specific raptors (birds of prey), frugivorous and insectivorous birds and imitating bird calls. In this photo: Agneeshwar Vyas, Deputy Conservator of Forest, Dang (North) Division, addressing participants during the Dang Bird Festival organised by the forest department. Image via Mongabay-India/ Kartik Chandramouli The three-day exercise recorded 113 species of birds belonging to 45 families. A 2004 study in PWS which Trivedi was also a part of, conducted by the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation and Gujarat Forest Department, recorded 139 species from 41 families. Dang forests form the northern end of the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot. Among the Western Ghats endemic species, sightings of Malabar trogon, Malabar whistling thrush and white-bellied woodpecker were most noteworthy said the organisers. Other important observations included nine species of flycatchers (resident and migrant) such as ultramarine flycatcher and Tickells blue flycatcher and seven species each of woodpeckers and raptors. We didnt see the black eagle which is generally sighted here and there was no sign of the long-billed vultures too, said Trivedi, who has worked in the Dang region since 1987. But he added that further data analysis is needed to show bird species trends. According to Trivedi and Vyas, this fifth edition of the event will help them optimise and standardise the data gathering process. The open-access report, once ready, will be sent to all participants and submitted to the forest department. A Shaheen falcon in Purna Wildlife Sanctuary. The three-day Dang Bird Festival recorded 113 species of birds belonging to 45 families. Image via Mongabay-India/ Kartik Chandramouli The Dang forest habitat and its medicinal plants The Dang district that lies at the border of Gujarat and Maharashtra has one of the largest extant and dense forests in the state. Around 7.5 percent of Gujarats 1,96,244 square kilometre geographical area is covered with forests while the 1,766 square kilometer Dang district has a forest cover of over 77 percent. The very dense and moderately dense forests of the region, make it a unique landscape as compared to Gujarats mangroves, grasslands and scrubland ecosystems. If you think of Gujarat, the Gir forest or Kutch comes to your mind, not the Dang forests, remarked Vyas. We get the Malabar whistling thrush, Malabar trogon this is the upper distribution limits of these Western Ghats birds. This is also the northernmost limit for the bonnet macaque and one of the few places it shares with the rhesus macaques, he added. Passing through the hilly terrain of the PWS in north Dang that contains dry and moist deciduous forests, one can see the habitat fragmented with the dominating teak tree plantations and bamboo monocultures. Dang is a tribal district in south Gujarat with a population of around 2.3 lakhs. The region forms the northern end of the Western Ghats and has some of the densest forests in the state. Image via Mongabay-India 95 percent of the population in Dang belonging to the scheduled tribe communities. The people have a heavy dependence on the forests for their daily lives and cultural practices. Image via Mongabay-India/ Kartik Chandramouli On another birding trail at the Preservation Plot, participants meandered through old and massive trees it took five people to surround and hug a Kalam (Mitragyna parvifolia) tree. Some of the other common trees of the forests shading the trail were sadad (Terminalia crenulata) and dudhkadi (Wrightia tinctoria). Back on the Breeding Center trail that leads towards a captive breeding center for the spotted deer, the forest rangers stop amidst a patch of bamboo forests that is cut by a dry stream bed. They point out the spot where their camera traps have captured clips of leopards, hyenas and porcupines. Other mammals such as the tiger, wild dog, sloth bear, smooth-coated otter and the Indian giant squirrel are believed to have faced local extinction in the landscape due to hunting and loss of habitat. High hunting pressure, habitat fragmentation, land-use change, cultivation, overgrazing, hydrological changes to the rivers around continue to threaten the biodiversity of the region. Dang is a tribal district with 95 percent of its 2.3 lakh population belonging to the Scheduled Tribal communities. The Bhils, Kunbis and Varlis are the prominent communities of the region. All the tribal communities have a high dependency on the forests for produce such as firewood, bamboo, vegetables, fruits and tubers. But one of the richest resources of these forests is its medicinal plant diversity. Out of 2205 recorded angiospermic plants in Gujarat, 1315 (59.6 percent) plants have been identified with medicinal value. South Gujarat has a high density of these plants. Around 410 plant species from the Dang district itself were added to the states gazetteer in 2012. Above photo: Barks and roots of medicinal trees and plants collected by a bhagat (local healer). Image via Mongabay-India/ Kartik Chandramouli Deepak Acharya, co-founder of Abhumka Herbal, makes herbal medicines based on tribal knowledge from central and western India and shares the profit with the tribal community. He has been documenting the medicinal plants and practices of the bhagats (local healers) from Dangs for over 20 years. His aim is to digitize the documentation. If a bhagat dies, the traditional knowledge disappears, he said. If we document, study and validate their practices, modern medicine can use them too. Lalubhai Wadhwi, 55, a bhagat from Sawardakasad village was trained by his father. Villagers and some people from cities in Gujarat and Maharashtra, arrive at his doorstep to get cured of issues such as skin diseases, swellings, joint pain, fractures and diabetes. Now the next generation doesnt want to learn the tradition. And the worst is that its hard to find many medicinal plants. Minoo Parabia, former head of the bioscience department at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) and medicinal plant expert, links the diminishing trend of Dangs medicinal plants to overexploitation by locals and pharmaceutical companies and tree girdling. Biopiracy could also pose a threat to Dangs plant biodiversity and the bhagats he adds. A few kilometers from his house, Lalubhai takes us to show the ragat rohida (Tecomella undulata) tree that is now a rarity in the Dang forests. He says the bark of the tree is used to heal injuries and fractures. After scanning the thick vegetation on the side of a road, he spots the tree and exclaims that overharvesting of the bark and greed have made the tree disappear. He chips off a small piece of the trunk with a stone instead of a knife, to show the reddish-white inside of the bark that is utilised in medicines. Lalubhai then keeps back the stone on the exact same spot it was picked from and says that this is the way his father would have left the forest floor in its original state. In this image: Lalubhai Wadhwi, a local healer, holds a ragat rohida (Tecomella undulata) tree that has declined in numbers. Image via Mongabay-India/ Kartik Chandramouli Dangs fascinating forest owlet Another aspect to put the spotlight on Dang forest, is the presence of the forest owlets (Heteroglaux blewitti), an endangered bird endemic to India with a population range between 250 to 999. It was thought to be extinct for over 100 years until its rediscovery in 1997 in Khandesh, Maharashtra. The fragmented population of this diurnal (active during the day) owlet has been reported from the dry deciduous forests of central India, in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. In 2014, the forest owlet was spotted for the first time in Gujarat in Dangs PWS. A subsequent study found 84 individuals in the protected and non-protected areas of Dang claiming that it could be the second largest population of the bird after Melghat, Madhya Pradesh. It is very strange that the bird is endemic to central India and found only in pockets, said Shomita Mukherjee, Principal Scientist at Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History. Because the landscapes where they are found are not so unique. You find those habitats elsewhere in India too. So, what limits the birds to these regions? The endangered forest owlet is endemic to India. It was spotted in Purna Wildlife Sanctuary in north Dang for the first time in 2014. Image via Mongabay-India/ Wikimedia Commons One of the institutes ongoing projects is to develop a conservation action plan for the forest owlet. So, one of our main objectives is to go to areas such as the Dang forests and find out how much of the area is occupied by the bird and try and identify the factors that determine their presence, she said. Pankaj Koparde, an assistant professor at the MIT World Peace University who has studied the forest owlet earlier, said, It is observed that the bird occupies areas at the edge of a forest and agricultural landscapes. So, theyll be vulnerable to cultivation expansion and land-use change. He added that in regions such as Dang, hunting could still be an issue despite the bird falling under Schedule 1 species of Wildlife Protection Act. While the Dang Bird Festival did not record any forest owlets this year, it didnt dampen any spirits. Irshad Theba from GEER Foundation, an expert birdwatcher and a volunteer at the event, said, Birdwatchers and researchers will come and go to this remote location. Its the local community thatll continue to stay. Sensitising and empowering them towards protecting nature will be good for this ecosystem. Sanjana, a student from the local community, convinced the organisers to allow her to attend the event for the second time. She expressed that the highlight of the event was to learn the English names of her homelands birds. Its surprising to see people come from far to see birds and study about them. Ill tell my people about this, she said. A trail inside Dang forests that belongs to the dry and mix deciduous forests type largely dominated by teak forests. Image via Mongabay-India/ Kartik Chandramouli *** Banner image: Participants on a trail inside Purna Wildlife Sanctuary during the Dang Bird Festival 2020. Image via Mongabay-India/ Kartik Chandramouli This article was originally published on Mongabay.com. Mongabay-India is an environmental science and conservation news service. This article has been republished under the Creative Commons licence. Lydia O'Sullivan was staying at an eco-retreat (Picture: SWNS) A British backpacker whose family reported her missing was actually staying at an eco-retreat in the Fijian mountains. The relatives of Lydia OSullivan, 23, from Whitehaven, Cumbria, contacted police when they did not hear from her for nearly a week. She usually messages her family daily but she had not been heard from since February 28. It turned out Ms OSullivan, who has been travelling abroad for the past two years and recently arrived in Fiji from New Zealand, was staying at the Namosi Eco Retreat. Read more: Man who stabbed officer was convinced he was using 'Jedi-like' mind powers Ms OSullivan was staying at a retreat in the Fijian mountains (Picture: Getty) Her sister Franciene Nicholson wrote on Facebook: "We are absolutely elated that Lydia O'Sullivan has been found safe and well on an Eco retreat in the Fijian mountains. "My mother has just spoken to her and she is safe and well oblivious to the world search party looking for her. "We would like to thank the police forces in Fiji and England for there hard work and dedication to find Lydia. "But mostly we would like as a family to thank our amazing friends and everyone that has sent well wishes and offers for help. "The Fijian people have been so kind. They all went the extra mile to help find Lydia. The retreat also posted a picture of Ms OSullivan online, adding: "A HUGE thank you to Lydia for staying with us this week. The village kids miss you already! Safe travels and God Bless." Read more: Mum given suspended sentence after admitting launching furious attack on cabin crew Cumbria Constabulary issued an urgent appeal to help find Ms OSullivan on Friday and a major search was launched. A police spokesman said: "Cumbria Constabulary is liaising with Lydias family and agencies including the police in Fiji but would ask anyone with any knowledge of her whereabouts to contact police immediately." Prior to visiting Fiji, Ms OSullivan had been living and working in Auckland. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 17:24:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, March 6 (Xinhua) -- There are 11 Chinese nationals who work as crew members on the Grand Princess cruise ship that was barred from docking at San Francisco port due to coronavirus infections on the ship, the Chinese diplomatic mission here said Friday. The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco has kept in contact with the Chinese employees, who "remain healthy and in stable condition," sources with the consulate said. While the consulate has reminded the Chinese employees on the ship to pay closer attention to their own protection, the sources said they are still working to verify whether there are any passengers of Chinese nationality traveling on the cruise ship. The Chinese consulate will, if necessary, offer those Chinese nationals timely consular protection and assistance in light of the evolving situation concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), said the sources. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said earlier Friday that 21 people on the Grand Princess cruise ship have been tested positive for coronavirus. The infected included 19 employees and two passengers after 46 passengers were tested for COVID-19 on the cruise ship, which has been held off San Francisco's shore for two days. Pence said 24 people showed negative results and one was inconclusive after medical staff conducted tests on them with the test kits airlifted by the California Air National Guard to the ship Thursday. The ship, which has 3,500 people on board, was linked to the first COVID-19 death in California after one of its passengers who had traveled on the ship during a previous voyage to Mexico last month died from coronavirus following his return home. Media reports said the crew members are likely to be quarantined aboard the ship and the passengers at military bases. New Delhi, March 7 : While Delhi Police bore the brunt of being "mute spectators" during the riots in northeastern parts of the capital recently, it has sprung back to action and detailed a chronology that led to the Delhi violence. The police have detailed how BJP leader Kapil Mishra sent text messages to his followers and Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad mobilized people from minority-dominated areas to be a part of the riots that have led to the death of 53 people so far. The police's internal report accessed by IANS states that it was pro-Citizenship Amendment Act protesters who carried out attack on a Bhim Army vehicle. The Bhim Army activists then mobilized local people and retaliated. The internal status report on riots in Delhi states: "On February 22, 2020 around 10:30 p.m. nearly 500 women began a protest near Jafrabad Metro Station against Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens. Seeing them, about 2,000 local youths join the protest." In the report, the police also stated that they tried to control the situation and roped in Maulana Shameem and Maulana Dawood for support and contained that situation. "On February 23 morning, Kapil Mishra and Deepak Singh sent a message to their followers using social media, calling them to assemble at Maujpur Chowk in favour of CAA and NRC at 2:30 p.m. and to oppose the protest at Jafrabad," the report said. The police noted that Mishra accompanied by Deepak Singh arrived at the spot at 2.30 p.m. and stayed there for almost three hours. "Deepak Singh was kept away from the spot," stated the report adding, "Bhim Army led by Chandrashekar had given a call for Bharat Bandh the same day." The police thereafter explains how rioting began at 5 p.m. the same day. "One vehicle carrying Bhim Army supporters was attacked by pro-CAA supporters at Maujpur Chowk," the report said. "They (Bheem Army) retaliated by calling more people from Kardampuri and Kabir Nagar which led to incidents of stone-pelting from both sides," the report stated. The police point out that police personnel were inadequate and that two companies led by a police officer were sent to contain the situation. Around 8 p.m, Kardampuri became a flash point with both sides trying to take on each. This led Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar and Deputy Commissioner of Police North East Ved Prakash Surya to rush to the spot to control the situation. In police report, February 24 is known as the 'Fateful Day'. On February 24, the rioting started at 10 a.m. The aggression from both sides escalated in Kardampuri, Chand Bagh, Bhajanpura, Yamuna Vihar, Brij Puri T point. Both groups started clashing and shouting slogans. Five Deputy Commissioners of Police and a Joint Commissioner of Police were deployed in a coordinated matter to contain the situation. However, massive stone pelting started at Kardampuri and Sherpur Chowk. Two policemen -- DCP Shahadra Amit Sharma and ACP Gokulpuri Anuj Kumar -- suffered injuries and Head Constable Ratan Lal lost his life after being hit by rioters. The clashes continued the entire day and many shops were gutted and a petrol pump burned and looted. Many houses were also burnt and damaged. A lot of people could have died or injured. "Places such as Ghonda, Noor-e-Elashi, Brahmapuri Lane Number 1 and 3, Chand Bag and Sherpur Bazar became another fresh flashpoints," stated the police report. On February 25, riots, arson and looting were witnessed at nine police stations -- Khajuri Khas, Sonia Vihar , Welcome, Jafrabad, Dayalpur, Jyoti Nagar, Gokulpuri, Bhajanpura and New Usmanpur. As many as 25 flashpoints surafaced which included Shiv Vihar, Karawl Nagar, Ganga Nagar and Bhagirathi Vihar. The rioting spillover continued into February 26. The police report stated: "Sufficient outside police force was deployed in addition to local strength. The rioters and police fought several pitched battles." When asked about police's internal repot, which highlights the role of Kapil Mishra and Chandrashekhar Azad in the riots, Additional Commissioner of Police and Delhi Police's Public Relations officer M.S. Randhawa said, "I am not aware about any such report." Randhawa further pointed: "Delhi police is probing riot incidents with all angles. Whoever figures during the investigation will be probed and booked accordingly. We have registered more than 600 cases so far and detained nearly 1,800 people." (Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 15:12:51|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW YORK, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States have risen to over 330 by midnight Friday with 14 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 213 cases and 11 fatalities as of 4 p.m. Friday (2100 GMT). Twenty-one people on the Grand Princess cruise ship have tested positive for COVID-19, including 19 crew members and two passengers, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Friday. The San Francisco-based cruise ship in connection with the first coronavirus-related death in the U.S. state of California had been ordered to delay its return to the city and was held off the coast. Coronavirus test kits were delivered via helicopters to the cruise ship on Thursday. A total of 46 people have received the test. Twenty-four of them have tested negative and one inconclusive, Pence said at a press briefing. There are more than 3,000 people aboard the ship, according to local media reports. The Grand Princess belongs to the same company that owned the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where more than 700 people tested positive for coronavirus during a mass outbreak on board and were trapped at a port in Japan for weeks last month. Pence announced a plan to bring the ship to a non-commercial port and have the infected passengers quarantined at a U.S. military base. As to crew members, he said, "we anticipate that they will be quarantined on the ship, (and) they will not need to disembark." He noted that "everyone on the ship" would be tested, and they would be "quarantined as necessary." The U.S. state of Indiana on Friday reported the state's first COVID-19 patient who returned from a conference in Boston, Massachusetts, prompting the state's governor to declare a public health emergency. The patient "has taken responsible steps to stay isolated," Governor Eric J. Holcomb told a press conference. The male patient had three tests to confirm he was infected with the virus, and is not in the highest risk age category, local media quoted a doctor as saying. Authorities are working to identify and notify air travelers who were on the patient's flight from Boston and had close contact with the individual. Also on Friday, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh confirmed there are three new presumptive positive cases among Boston residents, all from a recent conference organized by Biogen, a multinational biotech company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The University of Washington (UW) in the city of Seattle on Friday announced the suspension of all in-person classes for this semester as the COVID-19 outbreak infected more people in the state. UW, which is the first large U.S. university to take such a measure, said all classes, starting next Monday, will no longer meet in person and instructors will conduct classes and exams online until March 20. "The last week or so has been difficult as the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has gained a foothold in our region and country," said UW President Ana Mari Cauce. While the university is transitioning to online classes, its campuses will remain open for those who need campus services, including medical needs, dining services and residence halls. Meanwhile, UW also announced that one of its employees has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been in self-isolation at home. The Roosevelt Commons East building on the university's Seattle campus, where the employee was working, has been closed for deep cleaning. "All occupants of the building who were in close contact with the ill employee have been notified and are asked to stay home for 14 days since their last contact with them," the university said. Washington state is home to the first U.S. confirmed COVID-19 case, and has reported 13 of the 14 fatalities nationwide. The OPEC+ format has not exhausted itself despite the groups failure to agree on output cuts to shore up falling crude prices, the spokesman for Azerbaijans state oil giant SOCAR said on Saturday, Sputnik reports. "The OPEC + format has not exhausted itself despite its alleged inability to reach a consensus at its last meeting. Experts agree that the common goals of its participants, which brought them together in the first place, continue to be relevant. They are the intent to jointly regulate the oil market and stop oil prices from entering a free-fall", Ibrahim Ahmedov said. He said the OPEC+ group, which includes OPEC members and their allies, such as Azerbaijan and Russia, would likely return to talks on deeper output cuts. He added that some oil producers apparently wanted lower oil prices to put a damper on shale oil exporters. "Some participants probably see a dip in oil prices as useful. As it was back in 2014, the goal appears to be putting pressure on non-conventional oil producers, such as shale oil producers, because their break-even point starts at a higher price than that of conventional oil producers", Ahmedov suggested. (Natural News) Most supporters of President Donald Trump know that Leftist Democrats and their allies love to insult his intelligence. To them, hes nothing but an ignorant ogre who cant figure out the simplest things, let alone run a country as powerful as the United States. Never mind that he won the presidency on his first attempt, never having been in politics at all, and after everyone and we do mean everyone in the political/media complex wrote him off as a carnival act. Trump supporters also know that these same Leftists think the same thing about them theyre ignorant, dumb, stupid, bumbling, simple, uneducated, and drone-like. They cant think for themselves and they have no ability to reason, to deduce, to analyze, to look at things critically. That would include, we presume, our inability to do basic math. But lo and behold, as luck would have it, we supporters of the president were gifted a perfect example of Left-wing hypocrisy when it comes to the brains department, compliments of none other than the perpetually-Trump-triggered lunatics at MSNBC. Late this week, host Brian Williams, he of fake Iraq war hero fame, was lambasted on social media (and news and opinion websites) after he quoted from a tweet claiming that former 2020 Democratic presidential contender and billionaire Michael Bloomberg could have given each American $1 million and still have money left over during an interview with NY Times editorial board member Mara Gay. The Hills Joe Concha notes: The blowback comes two days after Bloomberg dropped out of the 2020 presidential race. The billionaire had a dismal Super Tuesday showing that registered no wins in any of the 14 Super Tuesday states although he did capture some delegates in the U.S. territory of American Samoa despite spending more than $500 million on the race after jumping in last November. Epic fail doesnt begin to describe this stupidity Bloomberg spent $500 million on ads. The U.S. population is 327 million. He could have given each American $1 million and still have money left over, I feel like a $1 million check would be life-changing for people. Yet he wasted it all on ads and STILL LOST, Williams said in quoting a tweet by journalist Mekita Rivas. (Related: Mikey beholden to China? Wife of former Bloomberg journalist says he tried to ruin me for speaking out against Communist regime.) Its an incredible way of putting it, Williams noted without a hint of awareness or irony. Its an incredible way of putting it. Its true, Gay responded, equally clueless. It should be noted that the current population of the United States is 327 million people. Bloomberg reportedly spent roughly $500 million on his ultimately unsuccessful campaign. Simple math: That comes out to around a buck-fifty-three per person, not at all close to $1 million. One Twitter user, Sven Henrich, founder of financial firm Northman Trader, called it the saddest clip in TV history. This is the saddest clip in TV history.pic.twitter.com/ruIFoAckom Sven Henrich (@NorthmanTrader) March 6, 2020 Perhaps. Or, maybe, just about any other TV clip taken from one of the least-watched cable news channels on the air today which, actually, saved Williams and Gay even further embarrassment. Imagine if the network had an audience, how much more mocking there would have been. The problem here may not even have been the inability to do basic math, although thats part of it. It could just be that these people are so jealous of success like Bloomberg or not, he earned his tens of billions they just cant help themselves when it comes to telling the wealthy how they ought to be giving away their money. Williams apologized on-air after commercial, when, no doubt, some stage hand walked over with his or her smartphone with the calculation on it. But alas, it was too late. TVs saddest moment was a reality. In any event, the next time some Leftist calls a Trump supporter stupid, show em this clip. Sources include: TheHill.com TheGuardian.com NaturalNews.com The St. Patricks Day parade will be a week earlier this year and led by longtime Jacksonville resident Jim Duncan, commander of AmVets Post 100. The parade will be at 11 a.m. March 14. Im very proud and very honored, Duncan said of being asked to be parade marshal. I get to ride and not walk this year, he said, jokingly. Duncan, a 1967 graduate of Routt Catholic High School, joined the U.S. Army two years after graduation in 1969, finding himself overseas in Vietnam for the duration of his military career. I was an infantry adviser. We taught them better tactics, Duncan said of his duties and working with South Vietnamese troops. It wasnt until 1972 that Duncan was back stateside and studying at Lincoln Land Community College in Jacksonville. After obtaining his associates degree, Duncan transferred to Illinois College, graduating in 1976 with a degree in business accounting. Labeling himself a non-traditional student, Duncan explained with a smile his life in college. I would work construction between semesters I basically worked, drank and went to school full time, he said. After graduation, Duncan spent the next decade traveling, including to Texas, before going to work in 1986 for the State of Illinois. Throughout his career with the state, Duncan worked in contracting, the Department of Transportation and small business enterprises, with a focus on minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Duncan was able to apply his experience to help others succeed. There was a lot of training involved, he said of the work. Retiring from the state in 2009, Duncan then devoted his time to his community and helping others a trend that has not stopped. Duncan has made himself busy in Jacksonville by being on community boards, serving as commander at AmVets Post 100 and volunteering his time to Vet to Vet, a consumer-provider partnership program that helps veterans in recovery. We were the second chapter to open up in Illinois, Duncan said. Its peer-to-peer counseling. The program helps struggling veterans work on things like resumes, attend job fairs and find direction for their lives. We meet about once a week and there are no dues, he said. We have had a good success with getting them jobs. The St. Patricks Day Parade is sponsored by Dons Place, WJVO and Robert Chick Fritz Distributors. Dan Kindred, owner and operator of Dons Place, thought having Duncan as the parade marshal was an easy choice. Honestly, hes very popular in the community and he does a lot within the community, Kindred said. Duncan and Kindred have been friends since the 1960s. There is nobody in this town that does what Danny does; for him to ask me is very heartwarming, Duncan said. I joked with Dan when he asked; I said he must be out of people to ask. Kindreds only response was that he had to ask his boss permission first. My wife, Kindred explained. The parade will start on Clay Avenue and travel west along East State Street to the square and then down Morgan Street to end at Dons Place. The parade will have four judged contests: best float, best bicycle, best antique car and best tractor. Prizes will be awarded starting at noon at Dons Place. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) The 62-year-old resident of Cainta, Rizal province, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus is in "critical condition," health authorities said Saturday. According to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, where the patient is confined, the man has been diagnosed with acute kidney injury as well, on top of severe pneumonia, hypertension, and diabetes milletus. The kidney injury "may be due to multiple factors present in the patient," RITM Director Celia Carlos said in a media briefing. She said some "good developments" were also seen in the patient. "His oxygen requirement is less and his need for drugs to elevate his blood pressure is also less," Carlos said. Still, Health Secretary Franciso Duque said, "That's critical condition." He added that based on the experiences of other countries, it takes "a very long time" for patients with severe clinical conditions to recover from coronavirus. The average is three to six weeks, he said. In an earlier interview with CNN Philippines, Cainta Mayor Johnielle Keith Nieto said the patient is "getting better, he's recovering fast." He said this is based on a report from the municipal health officer who is monitoring the patient's case. READ: Cainta, Rizal steps up coronavirus measures amid confirmed case The patient was first confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on March 1 and diagnosed with severe pneumonia. He was confirmed to have the coronavirus disease on March 5, and was transferred to the RITM in Muntinlupa City. The Department of Health on Saturday confirmed that the man is the country's first case of local transmission, since he had no recent travel history abroad. His 59-year-old wife also tested positive for the coronavirus disease. Aside from the couple, another confirmed case is a 48-year-old man who works for Taguig-based consulting firm Deloitte Philippines. He recently traveled to Tokyo, Japan. READ: Philippines confirms 2 cases of local coronavirus transmission Carlos said the two other patients are exhibiting mild respiratory symptoms and are in stable condition. The Philippines now has six confirmed coronavirus of coronavirus. Earlier, three Chinese visitors have been infected with the virus one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country. The new coronavirus has killed more than 3,400 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province in December last year. It has infected over 101,300 people worldwide. Coronavirus scare: 2 suspected case in J&K, schools shut till Mar 31 India oi-Deepika S Srinagar, Mar 07: All primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts have been shut down after two people were suspected to be infected by the highly contagious Novel Coronavirus, the government said today. "The test reports of the two suspected coronavirus patients were received, which spoke of them being high viral-load cases. There is a high probability of their testing positive for the infection," Principal Secretary of Planning in the newest Union Territory Rohit Kansal tweeted this morning. He added that both the patients were kept in isolation at the Government Medical College, Jammu. "They are stable and all protocols are being followed," the spokesperson said. Don't believe in rumours, consult your doctor: PM Modi's advise amid coronavirus scare The two patients with a travel history to coronavirus-hit Italy and South Korea had fled the hospital's isolation ward on Wednesday shortly after their admission, but were brought back within hours. Their samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 The government appealed to the public to fully cooperate wherever quarantine was advised. Of the 31 people infected with the coronavirus in India, 16 are Italian tourists. The most recent was a Delhi man who had travelled to Thailand and Malaysia. The patient is stable and being monitored. Coronavirus update: Death toll in China touches 3,042 The World Health Organisation said over one lakh people have been infected and 3,500 deaths have been reported globally. The Novel Coronavirus was first detected at a seafood market in China's Wuhan. It spread quickly from there. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 12:19 [IST] By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Industries, Commerce and IT Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy held talks with the ambassadors of Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corporations Hans Dannenberg, who is the chief coordinator for the 159 Embassies in New Delhi. This first-of-its-kind internal interface meet was hosted at the residence of Peter T Hassan, Advisor to Chief Minister for investment promotion and external affairs, in Delhi. The minister discussed the possibilities of Russian companies setting up bases in Andhra Pradesh, and the proposal elicited a positive response from the Ambassador. He also welcomed the Saudi Ambassador and the Singapore High Commissioner to make AP as their destination for investments. Recalling the recent visit of AP delegation to Saudi, the Saudi Ambassador welcomed a larger official delegation, led by the Chief Minister, and said his proposal should be evaluated as there was so much scope for strong business ties and investments from Saudi Arabia into AP. The Ambassador assured of all assistance, including appointments with the royals, key ministers, chiefs of companies like Aramco and others. Singapore related issues were discussed with the High Commissioner too. Goutham Reddy in his deliberations emphasised on the steady growth and development of the State and invited the heads of mission to visit the State. He also announced that a new industrial policy was underway and that would surely encourage investments through established incentives. Chief Secretary chairs SIPC meet The State Investment Promotion Committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney in the Secretariat on Friday. It discussed the incentives to be given for those coming forward to invest in the State as per the new industrial policy. The meeting reviewed the proposals that came from several companies. Special Chief Secretaries D Sambasiva Rao was present. Spanish police have arrested 89 people suspected of belonging to a crime ring that smuggled both migrants and hashish from North Africa to mainland Spain. The Civil Guard on Saturday said that the smuggling network used speed boats to bring people and drugs across the Strait of Gibraltar from Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in northern Africa. The national law enforcement agency said investigators found evidence that 11 speed boats carried a total of 269 people and over 10,000 kilograms of hashish. The ring used radar systems and lookouts on the coast to avoid detection, the police said. The migrants were allegedly held by the traffickers in Spain until their families paid 5,000 euros ($5,600), the police said. The Civil Guard did not say when the 89 arrests took place, but said another 39 people were under investigation in the case. The police agency said its officers so far had confiscated over ten tons of hashish, 26 boats, 29 vehicles, 250,000 euros ($282,000) in cash and 12 firearms as a result of the investigation. Spains southern coast is a major entry point for illegal drugs into Europe. Amount with Yes Bank is in form of fixed deposits; Temple wants to shift funds to nationalised bank. Critics said that it is illegal to deposit Lord Jagannaths funds in a private bank. Bhubaneswar: With Yes Bank getting placed under the Centres moratorium from March 5, the fate of the Rs 546-crore deposits of the Lord Jagannath temple of Puri now hangs in the balance. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in a press release on Thursday, announced that Yes Bank has been placed under the Centres moratorium owing to the potential loan losses and resultant downgrades. As per the RBI directive, depositors cant withdraw more than Rs 50,000 from their bank accounts for a month starting March 5. While the announcement has triggered panic among Yes Bank customers who are rushing to withdraw cash from the bank ATMs, it stoked fear among the servitors and devotees of the Jagannath temple, who said there is uncertainty over the massive deposit. Expressing his anger over the development, senior Daitapati (priest) Binayak Das Mohapatra on Friday said, Keeping such a huge amount in a private bank was a mistake. The person responsible for this should be punished. Mr Priyadarshan Patnaik, convener of Jagannath Sena, a cultural organisation, also criticised the Odisha government saying, It is illegal to deposit Lord Jagannaths funds in a private bank. Nobody, including the managing committee of temple, knew about this gross irregularity. Reacting on the issue, Odisha law minister Pratap Jena said, The amount parked in Yes Bank is in the form of fixed deposits. It has been decided by the temple managing committee that the money will be transferred to a nationalised bank once the deposits mature later this month. Though I havent spoken with the bank authorities, I am sure we will be able to transfer the money seamlessly, Mr Jena added. Ex-Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty said, The then chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) did a big mistake by depositing the money in the private bank in order to get more interest. The present situation is worrisome, so SJTA should discuss with RBI to withdraw the money. CAMEROUN :: Trafficker arrested in Bandjoun :: CAMEROON A man was arrested in Bandjoun on February 24, 2020 by wildlife officials for trafficking in five leopard skins. He was arrested at a filling station when the car he was boarding stopped at the petrol station for fuel. The arrest was carried out by the Koung-Khi Divisional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife in collaboration with Bandjoun gendarmerie brigade. A non-governmental organization called LAGA provided technical assistance during the operation. Wildlife officials and the gendarmerie had been tracking the car that left Bafoussam that morning and was moving to Bandjoun. The trafficker sat at the backseat with a bag containing the skins and when the vehicle that stopped to refuel at a petrol station along the Bafoussam Bandjoun highway, officials who had been bidding their time sprang into action and surrounded the car. The trafficker was quickly asked to present the contents of his bag and upon verification by a member of the arresting team, the leopard skins were immediately found. He was driven to the Bandjoun gendarmerie brigade where the process of his prosecution began. According to preliminary investigation he is suspected to belonging to a trafficking network that runs the leopard skins trade in the West Region. According to sources close to the matter that requested for anonymity, the network equally deals in several other wildlife contraband. The arrested trafficker runs a shop at one of Bafoussams main markets. Trafficking in leopard skins in the West Region is commonly seen and last year, three traffickers were arrested with four leopard skins in Loum. The leopard is totally protected by 1994 wildlife law and anyone found in possession of her skins is liable to a prison term of up to 3 years and or a fine of up to 10 million francs. Since 2016, the IUCN classified the leopard as vulnerable and therefore almost threatened with extinction. The animal faces several threats especially at the hands of poachers who go after the species for her skins used in luxury and prestige objects while it bones are used in traditional Asian medicine despite doubtful therapeutic properties. This explains why it is given the highest level of protection by the convention regulating the international trade in wildlife species. The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) listed the leopard in Appendix I, the highest protection it gives, since 1975. The Dja reserve has some of the last populations in the country and seemingly it is becoming an imperative to step up protection for the elusive feline species. Kerala Director General of Police (DGP) Lokanath Behera on Saturday directed all district police chiefs to handover duty of station house officers (SHO) to women police personnel on the occasion of International Women's Day, which will be celebrated worldwide on March 8. "Maximum number of police stations will be managed by women SHOs on International Women's Day. In police stations without women SHOs, senior civil police officers will carry out the duty. They will interact with the public and will investigate the complaints received," said Kerala DGP in a directive. Women commandos will be on duty at the Chief Minister's vehicle escort on International Women's Day. They will be assigned duties at the Cliff House, the official residence of the Chief Minister and at the Chief Minister's office in the North Block. Meanwhile, Kerala Women and Child Development Minister KK Shailaja informed that in a first, a train will be run entirely by women as part of International Women's Day. "The Venad Express, which leaves Ernakulam at 10.15 am on March 8, will be run by women. Loco pilot, assistant loco pilot, pointsmen, gatekeeper and track woman are all women. Women will also manage the ticket booking office, information centre, signal, carriage and wagon. Women officers will be in charge of security Railway Protection Force, " she said. This train mission will be led by Southern Railway Thiruvananthapuram. The Minister said that this is a matter of "great pride" for the state. The women will take charge of Venad Express 16302 from Thiruvananthapuram to Shornur. A reception by Railways will also be arranged for the women employees of the train leaving Ernakulam South station at 10.15 am tomorrow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new study has found that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy could be effective in treating COVID-19, according to research published in the peer-reviewed journal Aging and Disease. The study, conducted by a research team led by Robert Chunhua Zhao, a professor from Shanghai University and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, assessed clinical outcomes of seven patients treated with MSC therapy at Beijing You'an Hospital for 14 days. They found that MSCs could greatly optimize the functional outcomes of the patients without observed adverse effects. "The pulmonary function and symptoms of all patients with COVID-19 pneumonia were significantly improved two days after MSCs transplantation. Among them, two moderate and one severe patient were recovered and discharged in 10 days after treatment," wrote the research paper. According to Ilia Stambler, director of research and development at Shmuel Harofe Geriatric Medical Center in Israel, the exact mechanism by which MSCs deliver benefit is mainly revealed, and a major theory is that MSCs have the ability to restore the immune balance, especially of the elderly patients. MSCs can reduce the overproduction of immune cells caused by a reaction to the virus and reduce excessive levels of inflammatory substances, thus regulating the immune system and the entire organism back to a normal state, said Stambler. Stambler said that treatments for COVID-19 are only emerging, and it is too early to compare their effectiveness with other approaches. "More research will be needed to evaluate their effectiveness and safety. It may well be that the most effective therapy will be a combination of different approaches," he said. What can be safely said at this stage, following this pioneering study, is that MSCs show great potential to become an essential part of the therapeutic arsenal, Stambler added. Jaipur: Alwar's Juvenile Justice Board on Saturday deferred the judgment on the sentencing of two minors convicted by it in the Pehlu Khan lynching case of 2017. "The board deferred the judgment today (Saturday)," a senior police official said, adding that the verdict is likely to be delivered on the next date to be fixed by the court. The JJB on Thursday pronounced that the minors were part of a mob that had allegedly lynched 55-year-old Khan, a dairy farmer, in 2017. This is the first conviction in the sensational case. In August last year, six men who were accused of lynching Khan were acquitted by a lower court of Alwar. The six accused - Vipin Yadav, Ravindra Kumar, Kaluram, Dayanand, Yogesh Kumar and Bheem Rathi - were given the benefit of doubt and were acquitted. The state government filed an appeal against the trial court order in the Rajasthan high court in October. Khan, his two sons and a few others were transporting cows from Jaipur when they were intercepted and thrashed by cow vigilantes near Alwar's Behror on April 1, 2017. Khan died on April 3 in a hospital. One of Donald Trump's main campaign promises was that he would enforce America's existing immigration laws. This involved building a wall not to keep Americans in, as happens in totalitarian countries, but to prevent illegal entry from those who cannot be bothered by America's immigration laws. It also involved promising to remove from America those here illegally, especially those who, while here, have broken other laws. From his first day in office, Democrats and other leftists, aided by activist judges on federal courts, have fought Trump tooth and nail. Trump successfully managed to get funding for the wall, which is finally going up. Even more importantly, working with Sen. Mitch McConnell, Trump shifted the composition of the federal Judiciary. Where there was once a majority of judges whose ideology dictated their rulings, the new majority consists of judges who look to the constitution, legislation, and precedent for guidance. This reformed Judiciary recently ruled that so-called "sanctuary" cities and states cannot demand federal money to fight crime if they block federal authorities from arresting illegal aliens who commit crimes. Also, on Friday, the New York Times despairingly reported that ICE is now targeting those sanctuary regions (which makes sense if you're not the New York Times because sanctuary policies mean those regions are the ones with a plethora of criminal illegal aliens): Intensifying its enforcement in so-called sanctuary cities across the country, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has begun 24-hour-a-day surveillance operations around the homes and workplaces of undocumented immigrants. The agency plans to deploy hundreds of additional officers in unmarked cars in the coming weeks to increase arrests in cities where local law enforcement agencies do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. ICE leadership has requested at least 500 special agents who normally conduct long-term investigations into dangerous criminals and traffickers to join the enhanced arrest campaign rolling out in sanctuary cities, according to an internal email reviewed by The New York Times. The request follows an earlier decision, made public last month, to deploy elite tactical BORTAC agents immigration SWAT teams that are normally assigned to risky border smuggling, rescue and intelligence operations to help arrest and deport immigrants in sanctuary cities. Democrats are outraged. They've invested a lot of time and energy in cultivating illegal aliens. States with high numbers of illegal aliens, all of whom have been counted in past decennial censuses, have more representatives in Congress and more electoral college votes. Additionally, Latin American immigrants often come from countries that have failed economies thanks to socialist policies. Rather than giving up on the policies, many of the immigrants seek those same policies, only in a more prosperous country. They become a reliable Democrat/socialist voting bloc, whether they vote legally or illegally. Twitchy found some anguished tweets. Annie Correal, who covers immigration for the New York Times, received an artistic picture of ICE in action: This was taken through a peephole in the Bronx yesterday and just released by advocates and a councilman. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/7s9kBTIWF2 Annie Correal (@anniecorreal) March 4, 2020 She conceded that ICE confirmed that it was executing a criminal arrest warrant but seemed to feel that it was just so wrong... ICE was attempting to execute a criminal arrest warrant, ICE told me, and deportation officers were assisted by a Special Response Team. Hence tan/olive uniforms. No BORTAC agents were present. Annie Correal (@anniecorreal) March 4, 2020 UPDATE: ICE said it was a criminal arrest warrant issued by a federal judge, noting ICEs local SRT is used for criminal arrests/high-risk enforcement. Residents tonight said officers who went door to door did not show a warrant with a name or ask for a specific person. Annie Correal (@anniecorreal) March 6, 2020 Meanwhile, an NPR reporter was horrified by the fact that the Trump administration was actually following the law: I have gotten frantic texts from ppl that they are spotting ICE in their NYC buildings knocking on doors. They are terrified. This is happening TODAY. RIGHT NOW. People being hunted down. And when you get down to it, the reason why? They were not born in this country. We I mean. Maria Hinojosa (@Maria_Hinojosa) March 5, 2020 Ive said it in the past but Im gonna say it once again. This kind of targeting and dehumanization of immigrants of all races is based on anti-blackness and the hatred of the black body of men, women and children in this country. Maria Hinojosa (@Maria_Hinojosa) March 5, 2020 Like most leftists, whether deliberately or not, Hinojosa is unclear on the difference between people who enter America legally and need not worry about ICE arresting them and those whose very entry into America is an illegal act, and who are therefore correct to worry about deportation. Americans are not hostile to immigrants; they are hostile to people who break the law. Hinojosa and her ideological cohorts are never outraged when American citizens are arrested for having broken into someone's home or business. However, when ICE sends packing a prospective Democrat voter who will help swell a blue state's representation in the House and the Electoral College, it's a new Holocaust. The real Holocaust occurs when people legally in America are raped or murdered by people who ought not to have been here in the first place. Even one of those crimes is one too many. It's a wonderful thing that we finally have a president who takes seriously his obligation to carry out duly enacted legislation. Kumail Nanjianis Little America debuted on Apple TV+ in Jan. 2020. Already, the series is being lauded by critics and fans alike. Each episode devoted to a single story following immigrants and first-generation Americans who live in the U.S. With something so timely, why is Little America banned in nearly a dozen countries? What is Little America? Joshuah Bearman, Lee Eisenberg, Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani and Alan Yang attend the screening of Little America | John Lamparski/Getty Images Before season 1 of Little America debuted on Apple TV+, it snagged a second season. Executive producer Kamail Nanjianis latest creation tells the stories of immigrants living in America by necessity or choice (or both). Inspired by real-life stories featured in Epic Magazine, the events within each chapter in Little America are fictionalized. The comedic actor recently told NBC News he understands the feelings associated with trying to figure out where you belong while navigating conflicting values of the East and West. Its not something that Ive figured out. I think my identity is still a work in progress. I dont feel Pakistani because I dont live in Pakistan and because people in Pakistan dont accept me as their own and then same in America, he said. He continued: I think so much of feeling like youre part of a group depends on the group accepting your membership. And I feel like especially now in America, there are significant portions of the country that do not see me as American. Why is Little America banned in some countries? In season 1 of the hit series, an episode titled The Son followed a gay Syrian refugee seeking asylum in the United States. Because of this, Little America has been banned in 11 countries in the Middle East and Asia. Non-binary episode co-writer Amrou Al-Kadhi is said to be heartbroken, but not surprised, adding they knew we wouldnt come this far without major setbacks from portraying negative perceptions of Middle Eastern culture at points. We were extremely keen to avoid the narrative that an immigrant escapes scary brown Arab land and comes to happy white American land, and we really wanted to mine the complexities of the Middle East its majestic culture while also exploring its homophobia without judgment, they told PinkNews. Heres how those who lived the real stories behind Little America feel about the series The true story behind the episode is based on Shadi Ismails account of relocating from Syria to Boise, Idaho, fearing for his safety. His story previously appeared on Queerty. Ismail reportedly said the portrayal of his story moved him to tears. All my life I was hoping to see a gay Arabic man on TV, he told the Washington Post. In our culture, were told we should be killed because nobody wants us. And then it turns out my story will be the one on TV. Even the actors playing the roles felt the effect of filming a show with controversial topics. In order to cast Arab actors, production moved to Canada due to the current travel ban. Even leading actor, Adam Ali, couldnt enter the country from Dublin after flying from Libya. There are countless other Rafiqs right now whose lives are threatened because of the current global politics, and what we wanted to do was give them a voice, Al-Kadhi said. As long as a blanket generalization exists such as the one being enforced by the ban, millions of people like me today will be held back from being able to participate in changing the world. The 11 countries whove banned Little America havent all been disclosed. Though the show wasnt created to make a political statement, Nanjiani said they werent naive when developing the concept. We understand that showing immigrants as human beings is, unfortunately, a political statement. So we felt like we didnt need to make explicit political statements within the show because its very existence of the nature of the stories were telling are the political statement, he said. Whether or not it can change peoples minds, I dont know. I would love for people who have all sorts of political stances to see it because I do think theyll see themselves as people who dont look or sound like this at all. Whats up next for Nanjiani? On Nov. 6, Nanjiani will debut his newly sculpted superhero body as Kingo in Marvels Eternals. His character is part of the group living on Earth to defend it from the Deviants. A lot of it takes place in the present day, he told Deadlines New Hollywood podcast. My character, for instance, is like, OK were supposed to keep a low profile, no-one should know. So I become a Bollywood movie star, thats my secret identity. Were supposed to keep quiet, and Ive become the biggest Bollywood movie star. He said working with the largest Asian cast in the history of MCU moved him. I was like, Oh my god, we went from none of us to so many in one scene, he said. by Blaine Blontz | Raiders Correspondent | Fri, Mar 6th 9:10am EST Chris Burke notes that the Lions could pursue free-agent running back Kenyan Drake since they showed interest in him during the 2019 season before he was traded to the Cardinals. (Chris Burke on Twitter) Fantasy Impact: Drake came on late last season to be a league-winner for some after his trade to the Cardinals. It's unclear where he'll be suiting up in 2020, as well as what role he'll carry. If he were to land in Detroit, that would seem to limit his value as well as that of Kerryon Johnson. Currently, Drake is the RB18 in our early expert consensus rankings. The Niger State government has confiscated about 33 trucks loaded with 518 bags of charcoal suspected to be produce of illegal tree felling in the state. The Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Matane, said this in a statement in Minna on Saturday. He warned that government would not hesitate to deal decisively with anyone caught engaging in such indiscriminate act. Mr Matane said that in spite of efforts by the present administration to fight the trend, there were few unscrupulous elements undermining such efforts. Government would leave no stone unturned in ensuring the protection of the forests in the state, he said. He said that soil erosion, desertification and land degradation were some of the challenges faced by the people as a result of indiscriminate felling of trees. Mr Matane said the act of felling of trees in the name of timber and charcoal remained a threat to the community. READ ALSO: He called on the Ministry of Environment and the Task Force Committee on Forest Exploitation in the state to intensify effort towards putting an end to this unfortunate incident. Mr Matane appealed to Niger people to report activities of unscrupulous Timber and Charcoal vendors to security agencies for necessary action. (NAN) Whenever someone has an urge to list Connecticuts failures and that includes more people than any of us should be comfortable with high on that list is the departure four years ago of one of the best-known corporations on the planet. What kind of disaster of a state could possibly let General Electric slip from our grasp, the naysayers constantly say? This one is due for a reevaluation. GEs time in Boston has been less than a rousing success, and its hard to quantify what the state is supposed to have lost. A few hundred jobs left when the company abandoned its Fairfield headquarters, but many more moved down the road to Norwalk. The company never paid much of anything in taxes when it was based here. But it fits the narrative so perfectly job-killing Connecticut sends corporations fleeing that critics, in this case mostly state Republicans, cant seem to let it go. Another opportunity to flog the issue arose last week with the death of longtime GE head Jack Welch. Bob Stefanowski, a former GE executive as well as a once-and-surely-future gubernatorial candidate, lavished praise on his former boss, including his penchant to fire (sorry, counsel out) the lowest-performing workers every year (most reports put the number at 10 percent of the company; Stefanowski says 5 percent). Stefanowski, who said Connecticut could learn a few things from Welchs example, says any company that doesnt follow his lead will ultimately fail, which ignores the many companies that both dont fire people en masse every year and also dont fail. But whatever one wants to say about Welch as a CEO (and people have said plenty), maybe we could dispense with the notion of lessons from the boardroom guiding state government. The government cant choose what services it wants to provide. It cant sell off unproductive sectors. It cant prize efficiency over efficacy, and it cant act like the companys stock price matters more than anything else. We ought to be past the point of modeling our governing strategies off what comes out of the corner office. To his credit, Stefanowski keeps his recommendations for the state pretty low-key, including a plea for the state to save money by not overspending on vehicles and other small-bore matters. This is a bit rich coming in the context of GE, where the CEO who followed Welch used to travel around in a private jet with a backup private jet along for the ride just in case something happened to the first private jet. Regardless, sure, the state could afford to be more frugal. Politically speaking, a bigger problem for Republicans is that the other party has adopted all its business-friendly talking points. Every Democratic policy proposal is framed in terms of creating or saving jobs, with even environmental groups selling bills based on their promised economic impact. It may not work in practice, but it has the effect of blunting Republican messaging. If both sides are talking the same language, neither side gains an advantage campaign-wise. That leaves Republicans looking elsewhere, but culture war issues, which have served them so well around the country, do next to nothing for them in Connecticut. Railing about abortion or gay rights might play in Alabama, but not here. That leaves Republicans seeking out new culture-war territory, as evidenced by their attempt to turn transgender rights into a political wedge. That wont work, either. So the messaging reverts to CEO talk. And there really is a lesson to be derived from GE leaving Connecticut, but it has nothing to do with taxes. Company leaders were very clear that they thought they needed to be based someplace more interesting if they wanted to attract young talent. GE workers, extant and prospective, had no interest in what one top executive said was an office park they likened to a morgue. I can walk out my door and visit four startups, then-Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Bornstein said of the companys new Boston home in 2017. In Fairfield, I couldnt even walk out my door and get a sandwich. Theres a potent lesson in economic development there if anyone in Connecticut is interested. Hugh Bailey is editorial page editor of the New Haven Register and Connecticut Post. He can be reached at hbailey@hearstmediact.com. Iran seems to be developing an ICBM openly, but not openly. Instead, Iran launches what it says are efforts to put satellites into orbit and despite numerous failures to do that, the launches continue. Since an SLV (satellite launch vehicle) can also deliver a nuclear warhead over huge distances, the only real difference between an SLV and an ICBM is that the third stage of an ICBM has a warhead, not a satellite. For an ICBM to work you have to get the first two stages working reliably. In ICBM mode the flight control software is modified to go for distance, not orbital altitude. For example, in February 2020 Iran failed, for the fourth time in a row, to launch a satellite using its three-stage Simorgh SLV. The previous failures were in early 2019, mid-2017 and early 2016. The first two launches were tests with no payload. The first test was declared a success anyway even though the SLV did not reach a high enough altitude to achieve an orbit. The second test experienced a failure in the second stage while the 2017 test saw the third stage fail. During the latest, the satellite failed to reach orbit. While that is a failure for an SLV it is good enough for an ICBM. The third stage of an SLV has a much more complicated job than the third stage of an ICBM. In effect, these four failed Simorgh SLV launches were a success for a Simorgh ICBM. To make this deception work Iran has to make a major effort to sell the SLV story. When Iran announced a successful second test launch of the Simorgh SLV in mid-2017, the claim was quickly demonstrated as false. Within a week American intelligence officials revealed that while the Simorgh took off and disappeared from view of people on the ground without visible problems, as it approached the point, outside the atmosphere where, as an SLV, it would insert a satellite into orbit,.the Simorgh malfunctioned and fell back to earth without accomplishing anything. Moreover, American, South Korean and UN ballistic missile experts agree that the Simorgh appears to be based on the North Korean Unha SLV/ICBM design. Why do so many different sets of experts agree on what Simorgh actually is and its origins? Thats because Iran and North Korea have been trading weapons and weapons tech since the 1980s. After 2001 that relationship, never really publicized by either party, tried to disappear from public view. Simorgh/Unha is a good example of why disappearing has not worked. Simorgh itself is an 87 ton two-stage liquid-fuel rocket that can put satellites of up to 350 kg (770 pounds) into an LEO (low earth orbit) of 500 kilometers. The first test was in early 2016 and it was not successful. Iran says it plans to use Simorgh to put surveillance satellites into orbit. That was supposed to happen earlier in 2017 but apparently another test launch was considered necessary and since the second test also failed more are apparently on the way. The Simorgh appears to be stuck at the same stage of development as the North Korean Unha it is based on. In early 2009, using a modified Shahab 4 two-stage ballistic missile, now called the Safir 1 SLV, Iran put a crude satellite into low earth orbit. This was done to coincide with the 30th anniversary of their Islamic revolution. The satellite was described as a "communications satellite", but it was actually nothing more than a transponder, giving off a signal that could be tracked. What Iran has done is carry out the same kind of early satellite launches Russia and the United States did in the 1950s. Iran says it is building four more satellites, but given the level of technology they have access to, these will be low capability birds, launched into low orbit with short lifetimes. Since 2008 Iran has used the Safir 1 eight times in efforts to put satellites in orbit. Since 2004 there had been reports of a longer range Shahab 4, based on Soviet-era SS-9 ICBM and North Korean No-Dong 2 missiles, under development. This ICBM was also large enough to put a satellite into orbit. Iran claimed Shahab 4 had a range of 3,000 kilometers. Former Soviet and Chinese rocket engineers are alleged to have helped the Iranians design this missile, and adapt it serve as a satellite launcher. This rocket became an SLV with the modification of the third stage to put a satellite into orbit. Iran began working on the Shahab 4 in 1997 and used it to try and launch a satellite in 2008, but it failed to achieve orbit. In 2007 it tested the Shahab 4 as a satellite launcher, without attempting to actually orbit a satellite. The key to putting a satellite in orbit is the final (second or third) stage containing the satellite and small maneuvering rockets and a computer to align and inject the satellite at the right time, speed and altitude to achieve orbit. They were successful in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015. The two attempts since 2015, both in 2019, failed. Iran has been launching satellites using its own SLVs since 2009 and having the Russians or Chinese do it for them twice in 2005 and 2008. Since then Iran has put four rather crude satellites into orbit using its own SLVs. Most of these satellites had short lifespans. But the SLV tests were a longer term investment in developing ICBM technology. The first Iranian satellite launch efforts were similar to the Russian Sputnik launch of 1957, which was the first satellite ever put in orbit. The U.S. followed in 1958. Since then, eight other nations, including Iran, have done the same. Ukraine was the last to do so, in 1995. Israel launched its first satellite in 1988. France launched its first satellite in 1965, Japan and China in 1970, Britain in 1971, and India in 1980. Early ICBMs used the same tech as existing SLVs. After the Cold War ended in 1991 there were thousands of unneeded ICBMs to be deposed of. The U.S. and Russia agreed to allow each other, after verification, to use many of those surplus ICBMs to launch. This was economically viable because satellite technology had made it profitable to launch smaller and lighter satellites that could do useful work and pay for themselves. SLVs are larger than ICBMs because SLVs lift much heavier third stages. ICBMs as SLVs can still reliably but a few tons of satellites into orbit and many have done just that. Iran noted that and is using that capability in reverse. It is developing SLVs that, if unable to reliably launch satellites, can be put into service delivering nuclear warheads. This photo taken on March 7, 2020, shows the "Han Ma Eum" apartment complex in Daegu that has been under isolation after group transmissions of the new coronavirus broke out among its residents. Yonhap A virus-hit apartment tower here has been under tight control as a third of its residents were infected with the new coronavirus, city officials said Saturday. According to the city's health authorities, 46 out 142 residents at the apartment block were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19. The city put the residential complex under group isolation. The city authorities said 94 of the residents were members of the Shincheonji church, which is largely responsible for the virus outbreak here. The religious sect has been associated with around 60 percent of all confirmed cases in the country. Among the patients who have been infected, 14 have been hospitalized, while the remaining 32 were waiting to be transported to hospitals. South Korea has so far reported 6,767 cases, with more than 5,000 infections reported in Daegu and nearby North Gyeongsang Province, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The apartment block, which consists of two five-story buildings, is run by the city for unmarried working women who are under 35 years old. A total of 142 people live in 100 flats. Cohort isolation is a way to contain the virus by putting patients and medical personnel under a group quarantine. Following a mass infection at a hospital ward in Cheongdo County in North Gyeongsang Province near Daegu, province officials recently carried out cohort isolation at 581 welfare facilities as part of precautionary measures. The city government said it has sent text messages to residents notifying them of a full entry and exit ban, which applies to all residents and delivery workers. (Yonhap) Library media specialist Dana Fontaine is looking to give her students at Fremont High School a chance to read a pair of novels through a donation drive. The drive looks to bring The Prince and the Dressmaker and The Poet X to the bookshelves inside the FHS Media Center. The goal is set at $687 and has accumulated approximately $103 from four donors so far. Fontaine has had previous donation drives throughout the year, all of which have been successful. She said she has a poll where students at the school can vote for what books they want to bring into the library next. My kids are voracious readers, she said. They read books like water. That means finding books to fill her students appetite can be difficult. Without a new bookstore in town and a lack of money in the budget to purchase new books, it can be difficult to keep new books on the shelves. There really isnt an option for us to buy books, Fontaine said. ...Its just to get books in the hands in students, because I want them to be excited about what they read. The Poet X is about a young Harlem girl who uses slam poetry to understand her mothers religion and her own relationship to the world, according to a Goodreads summary. The Prince and the Dressmaker discusses the fictional relationship between a Parisian prince and a dressmaker. The book reveals that the prince is hiding a secret life, one where he wears dresses and takes on the city under a different name. Fontaine said The Prince and the Dressmaker was controversial, but she wanted to make sure the schools LGBTQ population feel like they have a place in the universe, according to her donation drive. There is a huge population at our school that is LGBTQ and I think its important that they are represented, she said. Fontaine began the drive last week. She said each drive usually takes a couple months to reach its goal. Fontaine emphasized that these books were chosen by students. She said nobody is required to read the books, its just what students thought was popular at the time. Students are not forced to read these books, this is just what they voted on, she said. I dont want people to think Im forcing this into their hands, its just whats popular. Those interested in donating to the drive can visit Fontaines donation drive here. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Honda Cars India is all set to launch the WR-V facelift in April this year. With just a few days left for the unveiling of Honda WR-V facelift, the automaker has revealed images of the crossover version of the Jazz hatchback. Honda took to Twitter to share a clip of the new WR-V which will come with BS6-compliant engine and will be available in both diesel and petrol variants. The bookings for the updated WR-V has begun for a booking amount of Rs 21,000 across Honda dealerships. New WR-V coming soon. Available in BS6 Petrol & Diesel. Share your interest: https://t.co/hXZlGRSu7a pic.twitter.com/35SiTxwJnG Honda Car India (@HondaCarIndia) March 4, 2020 The 2020 Honda WR-V will sport a new front bumper with bold grille, new fog lamp housings with black inserts and a silver skid plate. The new horizontal slat grille replaces the existing honeycomb mesh unit. The headlamps of the upcoming Honda car are the same but it will sport LED lights. The 2020 Honda WR-V is expected to come with new alloy wheels. As for the interior of the upcoming Honda car, the seats are expected to get a revamp with fabric upholstery. The facelift will sport an updated touchscreen infotainment system. It will also come with one-touch electric sunroof and cruise control steering. The WR-V facelift will be one of Honda Car India's new launches in BS6-compliant form. It will continue to get the 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine options. Once launched, the Honda WR-V facelift will compete with Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport and Mahindra XUV300. Latest flare-up on Turkish-Greek land border comes as Erdogan orders coastguard to prevent Aegean Sea crossings. Greek police have fired tear gas at refugees and migrants attempting to cross the border from Turkey, in the latest incident since Ankara declared its borders with the European Union open. Saturdays unrest also saw tear gas coming from Turkish territory and being fired towards Greek police near the crossing at the Pazarkule border, known as Kastanies on the Greek side, according to reports. Meanwhile, hundreds of people could be seen on the Turkish side of the high perimeter fence, with some pushing at it. A Greek government statement issued on Saturday said nearly 600 people, aided by the Turkish army and the military police, threw tear gas canisters at the Greek side of the border overnight. There were several attempts to breach the border fence, and fires were lit in an attempt to damage the barrier, the statement said. Sea crossings The development came after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered the coastguard to prevent migrants crossing the Aegean Sea because of the risks. On the orders of the president permission will not be given for migrants to cross the Aegean Sea because it is dangerous, the coastguard tweeted on Friday. The approach of not intervening against migrants wishing to leave Turkey remains in practice but this [new] approach covers sea crossings because of the dangers, it added in another tweet. The coastguard said 97 migrants were rescued on Thursday after the Greek side flattened three boats and left them in a half-sinking state in the middle of the sea. The instruction comes after Erdogan said last month that refugees and migrants would not be prevented by Turkish authorities from leaving Turkey if that was their wish. That move came after an escalation of violence in Syrias northwest that saw dozens of Turkish soldiers killed in Syrian government air raids amid an offensive by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad aimed at seizing the war-torn countrys last rebel bastion. The Russia-backed military push has forced nearly one million people towards the shut Turkish border, prompting fears of a major humanitarian catastrophe. Already hosting 3.6 million Syrian refugees, Ankara is determined to prevent any further influx from Syria while also accusing the EU of not fulfilling its promises under a 2016 migration deal. On Saturday, the Turkish presidents office said Erdogan plans to be in Brussels on Monday for a one-day working visit, in a statement that came hours after EU foreign ministers meeting in Croatia on Friday criticised Turkey. The ministers said Ankara was using the migrants desperation for political purposes. New migrant camps Also on Saturday, the Greek migration minister said Greece plans to build two new temporary camps to house hundreds of additional asylum seekers who arrived in recent days. We want to build two closed centres in [the northern region of] Serres and the greater Athens area with 1,000 places, Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi told Skai TV. We need the backing of local communities. We cannot leave all [these] people on the islands, he said. Mitarachi said the camps would host asylum seekers who arrived after March 1. Residents of a Serres town rumoured to host one of the camps staged protests earlier this week and local officials declared their opposition to the plan. More than 1,700 migrants have landed on Lesbos and four other Aegean islands from Turkey over the past week, adding to the 38,000 already crammed into abysmal and overstretched refugee centres. The new surge has ramped up already high tensions on an island that has been on the migration front line for years. Frustration exploded into violence last weekend with mobs setting up roadblocks, attacking cars carrying NGO workers and beating journalists. Does evil prove the existence of God? Apologist Frank Turek answers Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The existence of evil, while sometimes put forth as evidence against the existence of God, is actually evidence for the existence of God, said Christian apologist Frank Turek. Turek, author and president of the apologetics website Cross Examined, gave a speech last Saturday at the reTHINK Apologetics Student Conference, held at Cottonwood Creek Church in Allen, Texas. Turek focused on the existence of evil and suffering, putting forth an argument that some atheist intellectuals have made, which is that evil proves there is no God, for if there is a good God, why is there evil? He replied to his own question by declaring that evil actually shows God does exist, because to believe in evil pre-supposes an objective good and objective good requires God. In other words, evil doesnt exist on its own. Evil only exists as a lack in a good thing. Evil is like cancer: If you take all the cancer out of a body, youve got a better body, said Turek. What happens if you take all the body of the cancer? You got nothing, it doesnt exist on its own. Evil is like rust in a car. If you take all the rust out of a car, you got a better car. If you take all the car out of the rust, you just got a rough spot on the pavement. Theres nothing there. Turek added that if youre going to say somethings evil, youre presupposing somethings good. But something good can only exist in an objective way if God exists. If there is no God, everything is just a matter of opinion, its just your opinion against, say, Hitlers opinion. Or your opinion against some kid whos bullying your opinion, he said. If there is no God, you cant say bullying is wrong, you cant say murder is wrong, you cant say rape is wrong, you cant say slavery is wrong, you cant say anything is really wrong. It's just your opinion thats wrong. Turek then quoted famed Christian author C.S. Lewis, who once wrote: My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust? Turek also discussed suffering and how he believed suffering can be spiritually beneficial, saying that in our fallen state, knowing God and growing in God often requires pain. When discussing the issue, Turek surveyed the audience to see how many became Christian because of pain and suffering, with several members of the audience raising their hands. When asking how many of the audience have gotten closer to Jesus through pain and suffering, the vast majority of the audience raised their hands. You need difficulty, because difficulty, suffering creates character, said Turek, who then briefly addressed the prosperity gospel view advanced by the Word of Faith movement. [Word of Faith says,] if youre not healthy and wealthy its because you just dont have enough faith. That can be refuted by one simple observation: Jesus and the Apostles werent healthy and wealthy, dont tell me they didnt have enough faith! Turek was one of several speakers at the ReTHINK Conference at Cottonwood Creek Church, with others touching on different topics regarding Christian faith and morality. Last Friday, the first day of the conference, featured remarks by Alan Shlemon, author and speaker with the apologetics group Stand to Reason. Shlemon laid out the three steps that Christians should use to help guard against false religious ideas, which included reading the Bible, getting advice from older believers, and examining the consensus of historic Christianity. Chances are, you dont know the Bible entirely, you dont have perfect theology, you dont understand the Christian worldview completely, and guess what? Thats OK. I dont either. Nobody does, Shlemon said. But what that means is you can and should seek wise counsel. People who might be more biblically mature than you or walked with Jesus longer. TANZANIA, Tanzania - Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed global hot spots Friday, while Americas top diplomat again expressed outrage at the U.N.s publication of companies it says are operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank in violation of Palestinian human rights. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric made no mention of the U.N. human rights offices list of more than 100 companies released Feb. 12. But State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Pompeo made clear the U.S. will continue to engage U.N. officials and member states on this matter, will not tolerate the reckless mistreatment of U.S. companies, and will respond to actions harmful to our business community. The list included well known U.S.-based global companies, among them Airbnb, Motorola and General Mills. Although the United Nations says Israeli settlements violate international law, the U.N. human rights office said only that the companies are complicit in violating Palestinian human rights by operating in the settlements. The more than 40-minute meeting between Guterres and Pompeo took place in the secretary-generals 38th floor office. Pompeo refused to answer shouted questions from reporters as he entered and left U.N. headquarters. On the issue of Syria, where Russia and Turkey agreed to a cease-fire in northwest Idlib that began at midnight Thursday, the State Department said Pompeo and Guterres discussed the importance of an enduring ceasefire. Ortagus said they also discussed continuing U.N. authorized cross-border aid deliveries, which have been a lifeline for Syrians, especially in Idlib. In January, Russia scored a victory for its ally Syria by using its veto threat to force the Security Council to adopt a resolution significantly reducing the delivery of cross-border humanitarian aid, which cut off critical medical assistance to over 1 million Syrians in the northeast. As for Afghanistan, the United States is currently seeking Security Council support for its agreement with the Taliban aimed at ending Americas longest war and bringing U.S. troops home. The U.N. is also engaged in trying to end conflicts in Yemen and Libya and in trying to tackle terrorism in the Sahel. At the meeting with Pompeo, the secretary-general expressed appreciation for the continued engagement of the United States in the United Nations and raised questions related to the implementation of the host country agreement, Dujarric said. Under the 1947 agreement between the United States and the United Nations, U.S. federal, state and local authorities shall not impose any impediments to transit to or from U.N. headquarters for representatives of U.N. member nations, with few exceptions. When visas are required by the U.S., the agreement says they shall be granted without charge and as promptly as possible. In the past year, Russia, Iran and others have protested that the U.S. held up visas, preventing their officials from attending U.N. meetings. As demand of masks and hand sanitisers has gone manifold in view of the coronavirus scare, many chemists have resorted to black marketing to take advantage of the opportunity. Punjab minister of medical education and research OP Soni on Saturday held a meeting with deputy commissioner Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon in this regard and directed him to take stringent action against those indulging this practice. Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujla, who was also present in the meeting, said every effort will be made to tackle this deadly virus. Sources said a section of wholesellers and retailers has started to freeze stock of these essentials to sell them on high prices. A mask costing 15 is being sold at 30. Some companies have deliberately increased the prices of medicines commonly used to treat symptoms of coronavirus. Amritsar Chemist Association, a body of 450 wholesale and 2800 retail chemists, on Saturday issued a circular asking vendors to stop hoarding these products. We have been informed by commissioner of police Sukhchain Singh Gill that some chemists are indulging in black marketing. This is inhuman. We should rather make efforts that these items reach to every person in this hour of crisis, said Rajiv Kapoor, general secretary of the association. Rajesh Mahajan, president of District Chemist Association Pathankot, claimed that his unit members have already passed a resolution to not to indulge in any such practice. Our all India body has also issued a letter to help administration ensure that nobody is involved in black marketing of masks and sanitisers. We will inform administration if someone tries to take advantage of this crisis, he added. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray in Ayodhya said Shiv Sena has parted ways with the BJP, not with Hindutva. He also announced to donate Rs 1 crore for temple construction and his lawmaker urged PM Modi to have a Sena member in Temple trust to overview the construction work and speed. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who parted ways with long time ally BJP and formed the government with the Congress and the NCP a few months ago, visited Ayodhya on Saturday, March 7 and announced to donate Rs 1 crore for Ram temple building. While addressing media and a public gathering in Ayodhya, Thackeray made it clear that the BJP doesnt mean Hindutva, asserting he has broken up the BJP, not with Hindutva. Maharashtra CM was scheduled to perform an aarti, but it was cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus. Recalling his previous visits, CM Thackeray said whenever he has visited Ayodhya, he has received a piece of good news. He further said that he spoke to UP CM Yogi Adityanath and requested him to give some place in the devotional city for Maharashtras Ram devotees who may join in for help in temple construction. Meanwhile a Shiv Sena lawmaker Pratap Sarnaik has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to appoint a Sena member in the Ram Temple Trust to overview the speed and quality of construction. Sarnaik, who represents Thans Ovala-Majiwada assembly, also invoked Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackerays contribution in the Ram Temple building campaigning. 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 Earlier in November, the Supreme Court had ended almost 3 decades long Ram Janam Bhoomi title suit with a decision in favour of Ram Lallla Paksh. The Court also had ordered the Utar Pradesh government to give 5 acres of land in the city for building a mosque. After which, on February 5, UP minister Srikant Sharma said the government has offered land Dhanipur Village in Ayodhya near the Lucknow highway. For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Facebook reportedly said on March 6 that it was closing down its London office and part of its Singapore base for "deep cleaning" after a Singapore based employee in the Asian city-state was diagnosed with COVID-19. A spokesperson told media that a worker at Marina One office in Singapore tested positive for the deadly coronavirus. He reportedly said in a statement that they have immediately closed the affected areas for deep cleaning and advised its employees in the affected area to work from home until March 13. READ: Facebook Closes Seattle Office After One Of Its Workers Tested Postive For Coronavirus Work from home According to the reports, the infected employee also visited Facebook's London offices between February 24 and 26. The spokesperson said that they are therefore shutting down the London office until Monday for deep cleaning and employees will be working from home until then. The company reportedly said that it was in touch with the individuals who had direct contact with the infected person and had asked them to self-isolate and monitor for any potential symptoms. READ: Facebook Provides Free Ads To WHO In A Major Step Towards Increasing Coronavirus Awareness Facebook shuts Seattle office Facebook has reportedly shut down its Seattle office in the US after a contractor was tested positive for the coronavirus. It asked the employees to work from home until the end of the month as directed by the health officials. The office is expected to remain closed for at least a week, confirmed international media report. According to the reports, Facebook revealed that the infected worker was last seen at the Stadium East facility on February 21. It said that its employees were notified, and the company was following strict public health safety protocols to prioritize everyones health and safety. International reports revealed that apart from Facebook, Google and Amazon employees also contracted the strain of the disease elevating health concerns. A spokesperson for Amazon told the media that an employee had been affected, and the company was fully supporting the affected person. It said that the patient had been quarantined. The spokeswoman confirmed that all the co-workers in contact with the affected employee, who worked at Amazon's South Lake Union office complex in Seattle, had been informed. The company informed that two of its employees in Milan had also been infected with COVID-19 and were under mandatory quarantine. READ: Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft Advise Employees To Work From Home READ: Pelosi Lambasts Facebook About Trump Ad A Week Before Census Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Dubai, United Arab Emirates Sat, March 7, 2020 22:31 674 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206907565 2 World Iran,Middle-East,Iran-US,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,outbreak,health Free Iran's death toll from coronavirus reached 145 on Saturday after another 21 people were confirmed to have died during the last day, among them a conservative lawmaker from Tehran, officials and local news agencies said. Announcing the latest deaths from the virus, a health ministry official said in a televised briefing that the tally of confirmed infections had increased by more than 1,000 during the last 24 hours, totaling 5,823 by Saturday. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called for world opposition to US sanctions which he said were draining Iran's resources needed in the fight against COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus. "[President Donald Trump] @realDonaldTrump is maliciously tightening US' illegal sanctions with aim of draining Iran's resources needed in the fight against #COVID19 - while our citizens are dying from it," Zarif said in a tweet. "The world can no longer be silent as US #EconomicTerrorism is supplanted by its #MedicalTerrorism," Zarif said, without referring to any new sanctions. Trump has said he hopes the sanctions will limit Tehrans ballistic missile program and influence across the Middle East. Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and its missiles are for deterrence and defensive purposes. In Zurich, a senior Swiss government official said on Saturday that a Swiss channel to export food and medicine to Iran's struggling population without running afoul of US sanctions is off to a good start, with dozens of companies keen to take part. Iranian Lawmaker Fatehmeh Rahbar was among those who died on Friday, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, in another sign that the disease is spreading within state institutions. On March 2, Tasnim reported the death of Mohammad Mirmohammadi. He was a member of the Expediency Council, an entity that resolves disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council - a hardline watchdog body. Deputy Health Minister Iraj Harirchi and another member of parliament, Mahmoud Sadeghi, have said they have also contracted the virus. As authorities work to contain the outbreak, Iran's Mosque Authority postponed all gatherings and celebrations until further notice, the Mehr news agency said. Iran is the epicenter of the outbreak in the Middle East as most of the cases reported in the region are either people who were in Iran or who caught the virus from people who had visited the country. President Donald Trump insists his administrations response to the novel coronavirus outbreak has been exemplary -- and he wont accept anyone saying otherwise. On Friday, he admitted hes trying to undercut Washington state Gov. Jay Inslees credibility. I told [Vice President Mike Pence] not to be complimentary of that governor because that governor is a snake, Trump said at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. So Mike may be happy with him, but Im not, OK? Pence is heading up the administrations efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. Washington is the state thats been hit hardest by the outbreak. There have been 12 coronavirus deaths in the state so far, most in the Seattle area, and Clark County just announced its first coronavirus case. Inslee, who unsuccessfully ran for president last year to highlight the need for more action on climate change, has criticized what he considers the Trump administrations anti-science attitude on various issues. Referring to the coronavirus outbreak, he tweeted last month that he told Pence our work would be more successful if the Trump administration stuck to the science and told the truth. Trump on Friday also said hes quickly become an expert on the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. I like this stuff. I really get it, he said. People are really surprised I understand this stuff. Every one of these doctors said, How do you know so much about this? Maybe I have a natural ability. -- Douglas Perry @douglasmperry Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. A Kashmiri pandit, whose father was killed by terrorists in 1997, on Saturday moved the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, seeking a CBI probe into a slew of terror cases against outlawed terror outfit JKLF' former leader Farooq Ahmed Dar alias "Bitta Karate". Karate, who was arrested last year by the National Investigation Agency in a terror funding case, had earlier been in jail for nearly 16 years between November 1990 and 2006 on various charges ranging from murders to other heinous acts terrorism. He was was granted bail by a TADA court in 2006 on ground of inordinate delay in framing of charges against him. After his release, Karate had parted ways with Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front led by Mohammad Yasin Malik and is now part of another faction of the JKLF. The plea against Karate to the high court was made by Vikas Raina, a migrant Kashmiri pandit, whose father Ashok Raina, the principal of a higher secondary school, was killed by Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in Gool in 1997 along with two other teachers of the school. In his petition, filed through advocate Utsav Singh Bains, Raina has annexed a list FIRs pertaining to a series of heinous cases of murder and other acts of terrorism, pending against Karate. Seeking a fresh investigation by the CBI into cases against Karate, Raina has also annexed a video footage with his petition in which Karate is purportedly seen confessing to having killed 20 kashmiri pandits on camera, a court official said. He said Raina's petition is likely to come up for hearing by the high court on March 11. Seeking the transfer of cases against Karate to the CBI and their trial to Jammu, Raina also referred to his release by TADA court, saying that "the apathy of the government and the police has led to a travesty of justice in which a dreaded terrorist like Karate has walked out after murdering scores of Kashmiri Pandits". "This is not only haunting the migrant Kashmiri pandits but also shakes the confidence of law-abiding citizens of this country in the criminal justice system," the petition said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2020) - TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FSE: TH8) ("TransCanna" or the "Company") announces the appointment of Mr. Bob Blink, founder of Lyfted Farms, Inc. ("Lyfted") to the Board of Directors. Bob joined the Company with TransCanna's acquisition of Lyfted in November of 2019. He brings a wealth of experience in the cannabis industry and the California market to the Board. Bob has been in the medicinal and commercial cannabis markets in California since 1997. He founded and grew Lyfted into one of the premier cannabis producers, distributors and manufacturers in the Central Valley. "We welcome the Bob to our Board and look forward to the contributions he will make. Bob is one of the most knowledgeable people in the cannabis industry. He is well known as a trusted resource and has in depth experience in everything from cultivation to distribution. Having his level of industry expertise on our board is a huge competitive advantage for TransCanna" said Steve Giblin President and CEO of TransCanna. "I am truly excited about joining the board and moving the company forward" said Bob Blink "We have significant opportunities for growth, and I know my industry expertise and relationships can help guide board decisions". Additionally, further to the Company's press release dated February 19, 2020, and in substitution for the awards of restricted share units, performance share units, deferred share units, and bonus shares described therein under TransCanna's long-term incentive plan ("LTIP"), and based on new recommendations of TransCanna's Human Resource and Compensation Committee (the "HRCC"), the Company announces that its board of directors (the "Board") did not proceed with any of the awards under the LTIP, and has instead granted to its directors, key employees and consultants, incentive stock options under the Company's stock option plan to purchase up to 2.0 million common shares of TransCanna at an exercise price of $1.00 per share until March 6, 2025. These new stock options are intended to incentivize and compensate the option holders for their future performance, vest in installments over the next two years, and have predetermined performance-based milestones which must be achieved before they vest and may be exercised. Story continues In addition, after reviewing their past services and performance during 2019 and based on the recommendations of the HRCC, the Board has also granted bonuses as of the 2019 fiscal year end to certain key individuals responsible for the current stage of development of TransCanna and who are directors, key employees, or consultants of TransCanna, totaling $520,000, which indebtedness will be settled by the issuance of 650,000 common shares of the Company. These shares will be subject to a hold period and may not be traded until July 7, 2020. About TransCanna Holdings Inc. TransCanna Holdings Inc. is a California based, Canadian listed, company building cannabis focused brands for the California lifestyle, through its wholly-owned California subsidiaries. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com or email the Company at info@transcanna.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors Steve Giblin President 604-207-5548 The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans, and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance of the Company and its subsidiaries may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to: Timing of the expected benefits of Lyfted Farms, Inc. and the Daly Avenue Facility to the Company's business, regulatory permitting and compliance, changes to regulations affecting the business of the Company or its subsidiaries, achievement of revenue targets, market demand for and associated changes in the demand for the Company's products, operating costs, as well as general economic, business and political conditions. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. 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. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53236 Vadodara Smart City Development Company, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), withdrew Rs 265 crore from Yes Bank a day before the Reserve Bank imposed a moratorium, an official said on Friday. On Thursday, the RBI restricted withdrawals from Yes Bank to Rs 50,000 per depositor due to the private lender's precarious financial situation. Sudhir Patel, chief executive officer of the SPV and deputy municipal commissioner of the VMC, said the amount had been received from the Centre as part of a grant under the Smart City Mission and deposited with a local Yes Bank branch. It was withdrawn two days ago considering the problems faced by Yes Bank and transferred to a new account at Bank of Baroda, he informed. Also Read: YES Bank crisis: How SBI executed a perfect 'rescue plan' Also Read: YES Bank Collapse: ED grills Rana Kapoor; raids continue on second day Jammu/Geneva, March 7 : A young Kashmiri woman activist, Syed Tehmeena, has slammed militancy in Kashmir at an international forum in Geneva, arguing that it oppressed and deprived women of their rights in the Valley. Tehmeena, while speaking at Geneva Press Club on a discussion on 'Jammu and Kashmir: Sifting Facts from Fiction', on the sidelines of 43rd session of United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), said Kashmiri women had been "victims of social practices and militancy in the state." Terrorism, she said, "snatched their rights," adding women were deprived of education, faced domestic violence, a declining sex ratio and exclusion from politics. The rural parts of J&K, she said, are "steeped in feudal and medieval outlook, refusing to grant women equal say in the matters of their education, marriage, dress code, profession and social interactions to some extent." "Not only me but many young boys and girls have left the valley and settled in other parts of the country because the terrorist ideology has curtailed opportunities. Moreover, the ideology of freedom movement does not stand for the freedom of women," she said. In recent years, she recalled, extremist groups have shaped Kashmir's image of radicalization. "Their message of intolerance has drastic consequences for J&K," she warned, adding radicalization had worsened due to the availability of weapons (infiltrated from Pakistan). Radicalization, Tehmeena said, has a deep impact on Kashmiri society which can further lead to less socio-economic development of the state. "The tentacles of radicalization have struck deep roots in Kashmir. There is a need to take a comprehensive approach which encompasses preventive measures," she said. The activist said that youth should have a constructive contribution to political and economic development of Kashmiri society. "India's diversity has ensured its colorful fabric and it should reflect in every state. Mixed home allotments should be given and mixed spaces should be developed from different religions," she said, hoping that women empowerment is extended to rural and backward areas of J&K. The event was attended by several activists and journalists from Indian Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), European parliamentarians and foreign experts. (Newser) Toronto police have found a 14-year-old boy who apparently got abducted over his brother's staggering drug debt, the CBC reports. "He's now safe with his mom and dad," says Police Chief Mark Saunders. "I want less focus on this young man. He's been through enough already." Police say several men pushed the boy into a Jeep on Wednesday morning, so he never got to school, but the Amber Alert didn't go out until midnight. Luckily a torched vehicle resembling the Jeep was located at 10pm Wednesday, and police found the boy unharmed in a barn in rural Brampton the next morning. "There was a lot of cooperation from a multitude of law enforcement agencies," adds Saunders, per CP24. "Tips were coming in." story continues below Now the Sun reports that the Toronto District School Board is investigating four teachers who didn't report the boy's absence by the 11am deadline, delaying the Amber Alert; a TDSB rep says they might face "disciplinary action" if authorities deem them "culpable." As for the drug debt, investigators believe the kidnapping was inspired by $4 million in cocaine allegedly stolen last summer by the boy's stepbrother, who has since fled Toronto. Police say they plan to learn more by interviewing the boy once he's ready. So is he still at risk? You'd "have to be a fool" to try kidnapping him again, says Saunders. "He probably will be the most watched young man in the city of Toronto right now." (Read more kidnapping stories.) Television and radio host Deborah Knight revealed she is constantly harassed by online trolls about her appearance. When the 47-year-old shares pictures of herself without makeup to social media, she says she is flooded with negative comments. Speaking to the ABC at the Women in Media event in Brisbane on Friday, Deborah condemned the pointless abuse. 'You look different without makeup': On Friday, former Today presenter Deborah Knight (pictured) fired back at online trolls commenting on her appearance 'Even yesterday - I post pictures of who I interview on radio and I had just spoken to Wally Lewis, so I posted a picture,' Deborah started, setting the scene. She continued: 'Immediately someone posted on my Instagram account saying, 'Well, you look so different without makeup'. And it is like, 'No s**t, Sherlock', you know?' Deborah appears to delete hateful messages on her social media, but reveals she finds the trolling 'tiresome'. 'No s**t, Sherlock': Deborah posted a picture with Wally Lewis (pictured right) after the interview and a troll immediately commented, 'Well, you look so different without makeup' Trolls have also attacked her for not spending enough time with her three children: Darcy, 11, Elsa, nine, and Audrey, four. But the celebrated journalist pointed out it was rare to see the same criticism towards her 'male colleagues'. 'I think I should be setting a strong example for my daughters by being successful and working hard,' Deborah hit back. 'I should be setting a strong example for my daughters by being successful': Trolls have also attacked her for not spending enough time with her three children Deborah was booted from Channel Nine at the end of last year, alongside Georgie Gardner and weatherman Steve Jacobs due to poor ratings. They were replaced on The Today Show by Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon. Deborah now works as a radio presenter on Sydney-based commercial radio station 2GB. Agra: In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Agra Mayor Naveen Jain has asked the Centre to close the iconic Taj Mahal for the time being, much to the annoyance of the tourism industry. In a letter to the Union Tourism Minister, Jain said: "If the monuments remained closed, the inflow of tourists to Agra could be checked to prevent people here from falling victim to the virus. From October to March-end is the tourist season when lakhs of tourists visit the city. "The people here were scared of all the foreigners and looked at them with suspicion. This situation could turn nasty and tarnish India`s image internationally," he said. The visit of the 14 Italian tourists, who later tested positive to the virus, to the city has raised concerns of the administration, and the hotel management was passing the buck to the administration. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Mukesh Vats, however, said the central protocol and guidelines will be strictly followed. So far, 127 samples have been sent to Lucknow for testing, five were found positive. Testing of remaining samples is underway, officials said. The tourism industry leaders, however, are not happy with the Mayor`s demand to close the Taj and other monuments till March end. Several hoteliers said this would send a wrong message and adversely affect the tourism industry in the long run. The hospitality industry has already taken a dent this season with an all-time decline in the number of visitors to Agra in February. The annual 10-day cultural extravaganza, the Taj Mahotsava proved to be a flop, with hardly any visitors to the fair at the Shilpgram, 500 metres from the Taj Mahal. The city is already in high alert mode. Health Department officials have screened more than 55,000 people in 18 areas. Fogging and cleaning campaigns are being run in congested localities. The hotel floors were being washed twice a day and a close watch was being kept on all the tourists. Groups of doctors have held meetings in colonies to sensitise the people against the coronavirus. There were some prayers and havan held on the banks of Yamuna. Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his statement on Yes bank crisis and said that he should be worried about his party's growth. "Rahul Gandhi should be worried about the growth of his party. Congress party's growth is deteriorating day by day," Naqvi told ANI "Country's economy is in strong and safe hands. Even when the world economy is crashing, we have maintained the growth," he added. This comes a day after Rahul Gandhi had attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Yes Bank crisis and said his ideals have destroyed India's economy. "No Yes Bank. Modi and his ideas have destroyed India's economy. #NoBank," Gandhi had tweeted. RBI on Thursday said a "moratorium" has been imposed on Yes Bank stressing that the bank's financial capability has undergone a steady decline largely due to the inability of the bank to raise capital. During the period of moratorium, the Yes Bank Limited shall not, without the permission in writing of the Reserve Bank of India, make, in the aggregate, payment to a depositor of a sum exceeding Rs. 50,000 lying to his credit, in any savings, current or any other deposit account. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From being a daughter, to a mum, to a businesswoman or an office-goer, women take on innumerable roles each day. While it may not seem much, every year March 8 is observed as International Womens Day to celebrate all those women who take on multiple roles with elan in their daily lives. International Womens Day celebrates womens contributions to society, raises awareness about gender equality and inspires everyone to support organizations that help women globally. While International Womens Day was first marked on March 19, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, the United Nations began celebrating International Womens Day in 1975. In 1977, the UN General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for womens rights and world peace. While a simple gift may not be much to thank the innumerable women in our lives, giving them a token of appreciation on International Womens Day could be a wonderful gesture towards celebrating womanhood. ALSO READ: 8 thoughtful gifts you can gift your special lady, on Womens Day and everyday Take her out for lunch/ dinner: Why not give her a break from kitchen duties and take her out for lunch or dinner. There must be innumerable offers around town that have curated a special menu for women. Take the women in your life to one of these many luncheons or dinners so that they can spend some time away from daily chores. Books: What can be a better gift than a pile of books? There are a number of them authored by women on women out there that can be an absolute delight to read. From Toni Morrisons The Measure of Our Lives with a foreword by Zadie Smith to Simone De Beauvoirs The Second Sex, or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichies We Should All Be Feminists, there are a number of stellar works to choose from. Camera: Is your mother one of those who will whip up her smartphone and start clicking groupfies the moment a social occasion arises? Why not let her celebrate her passion with a polaroid instead? Best part is that she will be able to see the fruits of labour instantly. Diffuser and essential oils: The perfect mood setter, a diffuser and essential oils combination can relax, refresh or comfort. Essential oils, often used in aromatherapy, are a form of alternative medicine that employs plant extracts to support health and mental well-being. They are obtained through distillation (via steam or water) or mechanical methods such as cold pressing. Buy related products: B07Z43956G, B00OXNFNFM Gift them time: You might be busy at work throughout the day, but the moment you step home do you not have a plate of a hot meal ready for you? Women have to take on multiple jobs every day. From excelling in the professional world to be the perfect homemaker, society puts insurmountable expectations on them and they excel. What can be a better way to celebrate International Womens Day then to take out time for them from your schedule? Have a conversation, cook a hot meal for them, and listen about their lives to end the day on a high note. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. Passenger With a Fever Dies on a Long Distance Bus Journey Video #1 Background: A bus from Hunan Province arrived at the long distance bus station in Shantou City, Guangdong Province, and reported the death of a passenger who had had a fever. Location: Shantou City, Guangdong Province, China Date: March 3, 2020 The majority of the passengers on the bus are likely migrant workers returning to work, because Guangdong Province is the number one destination for Hunan residents seeking employment. In this video, the white van with orange red lines is a medical ambulance. Several medical professionals in white protective suits are seen working in front of the bus. Man in the background: This is the bus from Hunan Province to Shantou. One of the passengers who had a fever died on the bus. Video #2 Background: In a factory in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, an employee suddenly collapsed to the ground. Location: Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province Woman in the background: One of the employees just fell to the ground. Arent you afraid? There has been footage and images circulating online which show people collapsing on the street and also in hospitals in Wuhan since late January. A few days before the trial over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was due to begin, Russia continued to deny any involvement in the catastrophe, denouncing what it called a "media campaign" which was "(manipulating) the facts". The trial is due to start on Monday in the Netherlands, for three Russians linked to their countrys security and intelligence services, as well as a Ukrainian rebel commander. Neither Russia nor Ukraine extradites its citizens, and the suspects are expected to be tried in absentia under Dutch law. They are accused of mass murder for their alleged roles in shooting down the Boeing 777 on July 17, 2014, as it passed over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew. Russia has consistently denied involvement in the downing, even after prosecutors alleged that the Buk missile system which destroyed the passenger plane was transported into Ukraine from the Russian 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigades base in Kursk and the launching system was then returned to Russia. Alexander Borodai, who was head of the rebel government in eastern Ukraine at the time, said the probe was politically motivated. "Western countries need to accuse both Russia and Donbass of being involved in this tragedy," he said. While admitting that Ukrainian military planes were in the air the day before MH17 was shot down, he maintained that rebels did not deploy Buk missile systems. After a painstaking investigation spanning years, an international team of investigators and prosecutors last year named four suspects: Russians Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinskiy and Oleg Pulatov as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko. More may follow as investigations continue. Key questions remain over who authorized the missile's movement and who fired the Buk that brought down MH17. For many Ukrainian lawmakers, there is no doubt that Russia was involved in the crash of the plane. It remains to be seen whether the trial, expected to last months, will provide the answers. DGAP-News: Sona Nanotech Inc. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2020) - Sona Nanotech Inc. (CSE: SONA) (OTC: LMTCF) ("Sona") is pleased to provide an update on its Covid-19 rapid screening test as well as announcing the addition of Fiona Marshall and Sandy Morrison as scientific advisors for the Covid-19 test development. Fiona Marshall will assist the Sona team with scientific considerations of test development, manufacturing set-up, quality control and regulatory approval. Ms. Marshall is the current CEO of AgPlus Diagnostics Limited and has extensive experience in the lateral flow industry having been responsible for establishing a US based R&D and production facility for the development and manufacture of various lateral flow tests, including tests for class 3 deadly pathogens that served US military contracts. She also oversaw the development of a rapid-response test development program during the 2013 Ebola outbreak as well as other tests for influenza, narcotics and explosives. Sandy Morrison is the President of Quality Systems Atlantic and has over 30 years of experience in the medical device industry, with leadership roles in manufacturing, quality systems and regulatory affairs. He was involved in obtaining regulatory approval of the first rapid assay for HIV approved by Health Canada and the US FDA. He will be assisting Sona in its ongoing submission for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) with the FDA. Darren Rowles, CEO of Sona Nanotech said, "We are very happy to welcome Fiona and Sandy and the invaluable input they will provide us in developing our Covid-19 rapid response test. We are also pleased to report that our initial laboratory work is progressing well and as a result of our collaboration with GE, we expect to accelerate an aggressive pace in the development of this critical test." Fiona Marshall added, "I am quite familiar with, and happy to join the team Sona has built around the Covid-19 rapid response test. I look forward to working with industry-leading partners like The Native Antigen Company and General Electric Health Care Life Sciences, and in particular working with the highly-sensitive Sona nanoparticles to get this much-needed test to market as quickly as possible." Sona expects to provide near-term updates on the development of its rapid-response Covid-19 test. For More Information For more information about Sona, please contact: Darren Rowles President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (902) 442-0653 Email: Darren Rowles, darren@sonanano.com About Sona Nanotech Inc. Sona Nanotech Inc. is a nanotechnology life sciences firm that has developed two proprietary methods for the manufacture of rod-shaped gold nanoparticles. The principal business carried out and intended to be continued by Sona is the development and application of its proprietary technology for use in multiplex diagnostic testing platforms that will improve performance over existing tests in the market. Sona's gold nanorod particles are CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium) free, eliminating the toxicity risks associated with the use of other gold nanorod technologies in medical applications. It is expected that Sona's gold nanotechnologies may be adapted for use in applications, as a safe and effective delivery system for multiple medical treatments, pending the approval of various regulatory boards including Health Canada and the FDA. Sona is a publicly listed company on the Canadian Securities Exchange existing under the laws of Nova Scotia, with its operations in Nova Scotia. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. There are several important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to Sona's proposed business, such as failure of the business strategy and government regulation; risks related to Sona's operations, such as additional financing requirements and access to capital, reliance on key and qualified personnel, insurance, competition, intellectual property and reliable supply chains; risks related to Sona and its business generally, such as infringement of intellectual property rights and conflicts of interest. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any time. Corporate Logo To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53221 Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser,to view the associated documents http://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/53221 News Source: Newsfile 06.03.2020 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 BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense on Friday refuted a U.S. media report about a Chinese navy destroyer firing laser at a P-8A reconnaissance aircraft of the U.S. armed forces from the Philippine Sea. Spokesman Ren Guoqiang said the U.S. media report did not accord with the reality, when responding to a query about the alleged incident. On Feb. 17, when Chinese navy fleet formation was conducting routine exercises in the international waters, the American P-8A aircraft carried out long-period circling reconnaissance at low-altitude despite repeated warnings from the Chinese side, said Ren. The Chinese warship's operation was safe and professional, which was also in line with relevant international laws and common practices, while the American aircraft's behavior was unfriendly in intention and unprofessional by operation, which severely threatened the safety of the vessels, aircraft and crew of both sides, he said. China firmly opposes such act of the U.S. side and had lodged solemn representations to the U.S., Ren said. "We demand that the U.S. side should immediately stop such provocative and dangerous acts, and cease making groundless accusations and smearing against China in order not to harm the overall relations between the two countries and armed forces," Ren stressed. The president said the course of Ukraine had not changed from the staffing reshuffle. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the government of Ukraine must be effective and bring results. "It was necessary to respond to the effectiveness of the work of the Cabinet [of Ministers]," he said in an interview to Bloomberg, explaining the latest staffing changes voted by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, according to the president's press service. "When you make such profound changes in the country, you cannot lose. The point is not in your personal ratings, not that you can be banished from power, but that Ukraine may not have a chance to make these changes anymore," Zelensky said. Read alsoUkraine's parliament approves new Cabinet The president said the course of Ukraine had not changed from the staffing reshuffle. Ukraine is still focused on implementing reforms announced in Zelensky's program. In particular, further cooperation with the International Monetary Fund, the implementation of the land reform, the elaboration of the necessary bill on banks that will not allow the former owners to return them. The new government has ample opportunity to prove that critics' doubts are unfounded, Bloomberg reports. "I do not plan to replace any person in the country who works fairly and effectively," Zelensky said, referring separately to the positions appointed by the president. He also emphasized the oligarchs do not influence the new government. "They [oligarchs] own 70-80% of assets in Ukraine. Every manager in Ukraine has worked for one of them or is in some way related to one of them. After all, they hire the best we have to understand that," the president said. The port of Fusan, circa 1904. Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff On September 5, 1905, the Russo-Japanese War ended. Celebrations were held at the Japanese consulate in Fusan (Busan) and cheerful crowds perambulated the streets. Everywhere there was joy, except at Paolo dall' Aquila's home. With the ending of the war and the realization that Korea would become a Japanese protectorate, Aquila's position with the Korean Customs department would soon end. He was torn. Should he marry Ofujisan (his nickname for her was Fujisan) and take her back to Italy? This would deprive her of the company of her mother and sister and would thrust her into a foreign culture. If they married and stayed in Japan, he knew that after a few years he would grow tired of the culture and want to return to Europe again depriving her of her family. Should he just abandon her? Fujisan realized the anguish he was going through and made it easy for him. She declared that her mother's health was poor and that the Korean climate did not suit her. She also argued that it would be better for her younger sister to return to Kobe so that she could attend school. She could not let them go alone and would accompany them. They both knew it was her way of providing him with time to think. The days flew by quickly each was spent doing a "final": a final boat ride, a final feast, a final walk along the beach and a final night of sleeping in one another's arms. All too soon it was time for them to part. Pusan Customs, circa 1910-1920s. Robert Neff Collection At the dock Aquila recalled: "Ofujisan, paler than he had ever seen her, was still smiling, but the parting, more than any other he had ever experienced, was like death itself." Fujisan and her family returned to Japan with the promise that he would soon visit her and they continued to correspond but, "little by little, her letters became rarer." On October 16, the anniversary of their meeting, he received a letter from her. In it she wrote: "[Even] if fate should take me far from you, I want you to live your life without thinking too much about me. When my heart was thirsting for love you appeared the incarnation of everything I had imaged as ideal and splendid. You took me with you and I followed because I felt it was the will of the gods that our souls should meet in the sweet ardor of love and that I was destined to be your love, what else could interest me?" Aquilla and Fujisan, circa 1905. Courtesy of Giorgio Olivotto New Delhi, March 7 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi late on Friday evening. However, the agenda of the meeting was not clear. But it is believed that there have been talks about the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and the alliance. On January 16, Shah said in his Bihar tour that the NDA will contest elections under the leadership of Nitish Kumar in the state. Apart from NDA's allies BJP and JDU, Lok Janshakti Party President Chirag Paswan has also said that he will go to the polls under Nitish's leadership. It is clear that Nitish Kumar is the undisputed face of the NDA in Bihar. All the major leaders are trying to keep the alliance with the parties. Nitish Kumar and Shah's meeting is being linked to this. Significantly, Nitish Kumar had come to Delhi on Friday evening to attend the wedding ceremony of son of BJP President J.P. Nadda. When he wasnt in St Tropez basking in the sun, or at the horse racing in Pariss Bois de Boulogne, the New York Times man in Moscow could usually be found at the bar of the Russian capitals Metropol hotel. A veteran correspondent of the First World War, Walter Duranty became, in the early 1930s, widely recognised as the top authority on the Soviet Union. The British-born journalists shrewd assessments of Bolshevik power struggles were front-page news for at least a dozen years. He was the best-known newspaperman in the world, credited with gaining diplomatic recognition in the US for the fledgling Soviet state and while the Western world was mired in economic depression for lauding Stalins Five-Year Plans as models of efficiency. The West believed Durantys assessment of the triumphs of Communism. But his cover-up of a man-made famine in 1932 and 1933, when the Russian dictator confiscated food from Ukrainian farmers, causing the deaths of millions led him to be described as Stalins apologist. Walter Duranty covered up a famine in the USSR between 1932 and 1933 which was caused when Russia confiscated grain from Ukrainian farmers Despite the loss of his left leg in a train accident, Duranty possessed an extraordinary attraction for women. Short, bald and unprepossessing, he seemed an unlikely sex symbol. But young American students hovered around him like rock stars groupies, hoping to engage his attention. And they often succeeded, despite his having a Russian mistress discreetly at home in Moscow and a French wife, even more discreetly at a villa on the French Riviera. In the recently released film Mr Jones, Duranty is the villain pursuing exotic pleasures even as he covers up the genocidal famine. Gareth Jones, the Mr Jones of the films title, was a young Welshman who, on a three-week walking trip to Ukraine, discovered a population starving to death and reported it to the Western press. As improbable as his story must appear, it is based on actual events. But for almost 100 years, the famine has been largely forgotten, or ignored by those who knew it happened but dismissed it as an inconvenient truth. So who was Duranty? As a boy, he had to leave Harrow School when his family suffered a reversal in fortune. He transferred to a less prestigious public school, Bedford, with a scholarship extremely talented but deeply embittered by his exclusion from the ruling classes where he believed he belonged. He went on to study at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and graduated in Classics with honours. Spending time next in the seedy underworld of Paris, he befriended Aleister Crowley, the self-styled Beast 666, who dabbled in psycho-sexual seances and black magic. Duranty wrote poems that were chanted at the ceremonies: People upon the worlds, are like maggots upon an apple. All forms of life bred upon the worlds are in the nature of parasites. In Paris, he became a regular smoker of opium. He married Crowleys discarded mistress, Jane Cheron, an opium addict herself conveniently in possession of a small fortune. He managed to wean himself off the drug but Cheron succumbed to her addiction. At the start of the First World War, Duranty turned up at the Paris offices of the New York Times and so impressed bureau chief Wythe Williams that he was engaged as a stringer and later a war correspondent. He possessed writing skills that amazed Williams and the editors back home. His talent not only provided a good living but also served to keep Duranty out of the fighting, though he later said that in the face of so much death and self-sacrifice, he was not over proud to be among the living. Children starving in the famine pictured in Golodomor, Kiev. Duranty was considered an authority on the Soviet Union in the early 1930s The fighting he observed in his first year of covering the war accounted for his ambivalence towards moral and ethical issues. In his own words, he felt a measure of indifference to blood and squalor and fear and pity. Sudden death would become a commonplace, and vermin a joke. It was an attitude that came in handy when he later covered the rise of the Bolshevik regime. Having gone to Moscow, Duranty was accompanied by Cheron but she soon returned home to the more suitable French Riviera. With one leg, he was an unlikely sex symbol, but young women flocked to him Duranty and Gareth Jones met in the Russian capital in the spring of 1933. By then Duranty was not just a thrill-seeker who enjoyed moments of depravity (in the film, hes depicted naked at a party where young Russian girls are on offer and heroin in hypodermic needles is served on a silver salver) but a sophisticated, world-weary intellectual who sought his pleasures in the imaginative moral turpitude of the age. The genesis of the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33 was sown in Stalins first Five-Year Plan. The Russian dictator dreamed of an industrialised nation, competitive with the great powers of the world. But whereas the Industrial Revolution in England and elsewhere had been relatively slow, Stalin required speed. He wanted dams, grand edifices and triumphant monuments, and most of all, he wanted armaments. But how was he to finance this plan and feed the heroic workers of industry? The answer was collective agriculture. Farmers in the great breadbasket of Ukraine were to have their farms confiscated and be forced to join huge collectives where they would work, in effect, as slaves for their room and board. Any excess produce and grain would be sold abroad to finance Stalins grand plan. Stalin is pictured above having tea with his children. Duranty said he had grown into a fine statesman while ruler of the Soviet Union In defiance, many farmers destroyed their animals and burned the grain theyd grown rather than cave in to the diktats of the Soviet state. And for a brief period, some gorged themselves on their grain and farm animals, slaughtering them wholesale, rather than see their hard-won profits go to Stalins state machine. In any case, they reasoned, what could Stalin possibly do to retaliate? Starve them all to death? Stalin had always been suspicious of the so-called kulaks, a class of prosperous peasants scapegoated as the cause of trouble in Russia. Classed as farmers who owned as many as three cows, some chickens and a few acres of land for an average family of seven, they were targeted for extinction and called bloodsuckers or vermin. Three years before the actual famine, there was a widespread deportation of as many as five million kulaks to Siberia. One of the few records kept of the liquidation of the kulaks as a class was a report from the Soviet secret police, the NKVD. Deportees were stripped of their shoes and clothes, crowded into carriages and dropped in Siberia. Once there, they were abandoned without shelter in extreme cold and ordered to build dwellings. Many did so by working almost around the clock, without sleep so they wouldnt freeze to death. Inevitably, most died their numbers replenished by the arrival of new deportees. The peasants were targeted for extinction - and labelled bloodsuckers Ironically, those who were deported turned out to be the lucky ones. Those left behind were fated to become the victims of slow death by starvation in the famine. The symptoms of starvation are harrowing. There is a brooding for nourishment, a psychological obsession, which leads to involuntary movement of the jaws, as if chewing. The gums turn white, the skin grey, suggesting a disease more like leprosy than hunger. There is an unnatural ageing that causes even children to look old. As the body shrinks, the eyes become large and unfocused, bulging and immobile. Childrens bodies swell and their stomachs distend hugely. Festering sores appear, and the diarrhoea associated with starvation begins. As the body consumes itself, there are sometimes hallucinations and other symptoms of madness. Once this stage begins, cannibalism is frequent. In Ukraine, there were many reports of parents eating their own children. Stalin meets Churchill at the Livedia Palace, Yalta, for a summit in February 1945 In the film Mr Jones, this is shown when Welshman Jones is given a meal in which a family of children have stripped away the flesh of their dead brother. Although there is no evidence this particular event actually occurred, it is used as a filmic device to show the horrors of starvation to a generation who have never known hunger. Yet, outrageously, Duranty wrote to a friend in June 1933: The famine is mostly bunk. This letter was written after Joness eyewitness accounts of starvation and cannibalism in Ukraine. Joness dispatches had been published by the Manchester Guardian in March, and the newspaper had earlier printed similar accounts by Malcolm Muggeridge, the only other person to write about famine in Ukraine. Muggeridge, later best known as a born-again Christian and television presenter, had travelled with his wife Kitty to the Soviet Union. He had passed through Ukraine and witnessed the rotten core of Paradise. Those travelling by train were prevented from seeing the full extent of the starvation of the populace by the simple expedient of being ordered to pull down the carriage blinds. But Muggeridge, like Jones, witnessed the bleak, empty countryside and bodies left to rot along the road. On his return home, he published several harrowing accounts. He wrote: At a railway station early one morning, I saw a line of people with their hands tied behind them, being herded into cattle trucks at gunpoint all so silent and mysterious and horrible in the half light, like some macabre ballet. For his troubles, Muggeridge was sacked by the Manchester Guardian and found himself for a long while unable to get work in Britain. He told the world Stalin had grown into a really great statesman The disturbing fact was that people in the West believed Durantys published denials of a famine and, in particular, the Left was not inclined to reverse the accepted party line. Indeed, the prominent Socialists Sidney and Beatrice Webb excoriated Muggeridge for his abandonment of the great experiment. A defiant Duranty attacked both Muggeridge and Jones, saying that the latter, like so many others before him, was predicting the smash of the Soviet Regime and his reports were those of a foolish young man. But Jones, who had a First in Russian Studies from Cambridge and had been personal secretary to former Prime Minister David Lloyd George, stoutly defended himself. He said he pitied journalists such as Duranty who had been turned into masters of euphemism and understatement. Hence, they give famine the polite name of food shortage, while starving to death was described as widespread mortality from diseases due to malnutrition . Given his pro-Stalin views, perhaps it was not surprising that, in September 1933, Duranty was the first of the Moscow press corps to be permitted by the Soviet authorities to go into the affected areas. Duranty duly reported: Early last year, under the pressure of the war danger in the Far East, the authorities took too much grain from the Ukraine. Meanwhile, a large number of peasants thought they could change the Communist Partys collectivisation policy by refusing to co-operate. Those circumstances produced a very poor harvest last year. The situation in the winter was undoubtedly bad. It was an admission of sorts. But he was still in denial. However, was this what he really believed? Returning to Moscow, Duranty gave a secret report to officials at the British Embassy. He told them: The Ukraine had been bled white. The peasants were dying off like flies. Houses stood open, corpses were stacked up. He estimated it was entirely possible that as many as ten million people may have died. Durantys estimate of the numbers was the highest recorded of the Ukraine famine. His duplicity is a mystery. Many have speculated as to his motives in covering up genocide. But no one who knew him considered him a fellow traveller, a true believer in Stalinism. Could it have been something as simple as the desire to identify himself with the ruling classes? Or to see himself as the judge of history? Or was it simple arrogance? The closest we can come to understanding his motivation is in his acceptance statement in 1932 for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize awarded for the most disinterested and meritorious public service rendered by any American newspaper during the preceding year. He said: I went to the Baltic states viciously anti-Bolshevik. It was then widely believed that the Bolsheviks were enemies of the human race [But] I discovered they were enthusiasts, trying to regenerate a people that had been shockingly misgoverned and I decided to give them their fair break. I still believe they are the best for the Russian masses but more and more I am convinced it is unsuitable for the United States and Western Europe. He added that he had learned to respect the Soviet leaders, especially Stalin, whom I consider to have grown into a really great statesman. If, on the other hand, he had bravely taken a stand against Stalin, he might now be recognised as one of the centurys great uncompromising reporters. But he did not. PS: The New York Times has never rescinded his Pulitzer Prize. Although it conceded that his work, measured by todays standards for foreign reporting, falls seriously short, there was not clear and convincing evidence of deliberate deception. THERE are meetings going on behind closed doors that are critically important to how justice will be delivered in Manitoba, including for First Nations. These decisions will affect real people, families and communities for many years to come. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion THERE are meetings going on behind closed doors that are critically important to how justice will be delivered in Manitoba, including for First Nations. These decisions will affect real people, families and communities for many years to come. The management team of Legal Aid Manitoba and justice department officials are deciding how to implement the provinces "Review of Legal Aid Manitoba", written by Allan Fineblit, a lawyer and former legal aid executive director, which was released last month. Two-thirds of all legal aid clients are Indigenous, yet the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs was not consulted in the creation of this report, and is not included at the decision-making tables. As we seek, collectively, to carve pathways toward reconciliation, this is a profound disconnect. This week, Justice Minister Cliff Cullen received his mandate letter, which charts the way ahead with several bullet points that warrant deeper scrutiny. He is to: "Enhance the provision of legal aid to ensure it delivers on its core mandate to efficiently provide legal services for those who cant afford them; and transform support for the Public Interest Law Centre to secure its independence from government." The days of designing systems that are imposed on First Nations without consultation and consent must end. It is a flawed, one-way process that does not work. Manitobas Aboriginal Justice Inquiry, the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions calls to action and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls have each produced groundbreaking reports which conclude that First Nations people must be at the heart and centre of all decisions which impact their lives. Their recommendations also emphasize the importance of supporting First Nations institutions and laws. As a direct result of the damaging impacts of colonization, First Nations continue to be over-represented in Euro-Canadian legal systems, including justice, child welfare and social assistance. Our goal is to revitalize First Nations laws; however, in the short term, legal aid plays an essential role in this transition, in representing First Nations citizens in the courts. If we were invited to provide input into the changes ahead, we would tell legal aids management team it is time to understand their clientele more definitively. "Indigenous" is a catch-all phrase; we need data on how many of those seeking legal help in Manitoba are First Nations people. Each brings different life stories and needs into our courtrooms, and that must inform the shape and delivery of our legal aid system. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. We would also tell Minister Cullen that access to justice goes beyond the individual. Within legal aid, the Public Interest Law Centre has operated for almost four decades to challenge unjust laws and biased policies. It has won significant victories on behalf of First Nations and other groups, including people with low incomes, and in the process, has strengthened Manitoba and provincial institutions. The idea of a PILC that is independent of government is a good one, but only provided it receives the necessary resources and financial support to continue serving Manitobans. Untethering PILC to float aimlessly around would be 10 steps backward for human rights, reconciliation and the value that binds all Manitobans: fairness. We hope Manitobans want to live in a province where everyone can achieve their full potential, regardless of their ancestry or socio-economic background. Sometimes that requires a champion, like PILC, that can get binding, legal results. The assembly strongly asserts that the importance of the public interest law service, which is accessible to First Nations, must be respected; it is the only legal avenue that represents the collective, rather than focusing on individual grievances. For so many years, the term "public interest" was used to exclude First Nations; PILC is a way the Manitoba government, regardless of which party is in power, demonstrates the importance of including First Nations voices. We are at a crossroads.There can be no viable justice system in Manitoba without the full participation of First Nations. The Manitoba government is poised to create fundamental changes in our justice system, and that must begin by opening the back-room doors and inviting those directly affected by decisions to the table to participate in a respectful, transparent and inclusive process. Arlen Dumas is Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, which represents 62 First Nations. T he Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a standing ovation at the Royal Albert Hall as they attended one of their final public engagements before they step back as senior royals. The couple arrived in matching red outfits for the Mountbatten Festival of Music, the duke wearing a Royal Marines officer's mess jacket and Meghan a red dress. Harry is Captain General of the Royal Marines and the couple were greeted warmly when they arrived at the venue in South Kensington. The duke and duchess then received a long round of applause and a standing ovation from the audience as they took their seats in the royal box. Meghan made a surprise trip to an East London school on Friday (Reuters) / REUTERS The couple will step down as senior royals on March 31 but have carried out a series of engagements over the past days. The festival brings together world-class musicians, composers and conductors of the Massed Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines. The couple were greeted warmly / PA The Albert Hall performance marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain's Commandos. Proceeds from the event go to the Royal Marines Association - The Royal Marines Charity and CLIC Sargent, who support cancer victims aged under 25 and their families. The concert comes a day after Harry officially opened the Silverstone Experience in Northamptonshire, a museum charting British motor racing through the years, alongside Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton. Meanwhile Meghan made a surprise trip to the National Theatre in London on Thursday and an east London school on Friday. PDP leader and former minister Ashraf Mir on Saturday resigned from the party and will join a new outfit being floated by former finance minister Altaf Bukhari. Bukhari, who also left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year, is expected to announce the new formation here on Sunday. "Yes, I resigned from the PDP today and join Bhukhari led party," Mir told PTI. Mir, the former MLA from Sonwar, was a minister in the Mehbooba Mufti-led cabinet. Mir had defeated NC leader Omar Abdullah in the 2014 assembly polls. Abdullah also contested from the Beerwah constituency in central Kashmir's Budgam district, which he won. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brussels: The European Union is scrambling for a new agreement with Turkey to prevent migrants from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and beyond flooding into Europe and risking a repeat of the refugee influx of 2015. But there is little sign so far that Ankara is ready to accept the terms Brussels is offering. Since Turkey announced on February 28 that it would no longer abide by a 2016 deal to keep refugees on its territory, accusing the EU of falling short on commitments of financial support, some 35,000 migrants have massed on the border with Greece where they have been thrust back by Greek forces. Greek soldiers arrest migrants in the village of Kastanies, near the Greek-Turkish border on Friday. Thousands of refugees and other asylum-seekers have tried to enter Greece from the land and sea in the week since Turkey said it would no longer block their passage. Credit:AP EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday in Zagreb, where its foreign ministers met to weigh the crisis, that member states were willing to offer more money to Turkey beyond the 6 billion ($10 billion) pledged in 2016. But Turkey, which hosts almost 4 million refugees and migrants, first had to stop using migrants as a bargaining chip. "Turkey has a big burden...and we have to understand that," Borrell said. But at the same time, we cannot accept that migrants are being used as a source of pressure." Actor turned politician Rajinikanth on Saturday paid last tributes to DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan, who passed away in Chennai earlier today. "Peraasiriyar (professor) death is a huge loss. He was in public life for more than 60 years. He was known for two things -Value and respect. My deepest condolence to his family members, Thalabathi (Stalin) and his party cadres," Rajinikanth said. K Anbazhagan passed away on Saturday at the age of 97 at a hospital in Chennai following a prolonged illness. Anbazhagan served as the General Secretary of the DMK for 43 years. He was appointed to the party General Secretary post in 1977. He was a nine-time MLA, one-time Lok Sabha member and former finance minister of Tamil Nadu and a close friend of former Chief Minister late Karunanidhi. Anbazhagan was called Peraasiriyar (professor) as he worked as a lecturer in Pachayappa college from 1944 to 1957, later he resigned and contested election. DMK President MK Stalin released a statement on Anbazhagan's death on Saturday."DMK condoles the demise of General Secretary K. Anbazhagan. DMK postpones all its party functions for one week and all DMK flags to fly half-mast for a week," the statement read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAGHDAD A group of protesters in Saadoun Tunnel under Tahrir Square in the center of Baghdad were chanting on Friday night, March. 6, calling on Coronavirus to come to Iraq and take revenge from the militias and corrupt politicians who killed them during the 5 months of protests. "Listen to us Corona, come and visit the thieves who stole our wealth, come and take revenge from who stole our dreams, we only loved our homeland but they killed us," protesters were chanting. Despite the rapid spread of the coronavirus in Iraq, protesters have maintained a steady presence in Baghdad's Tahrir Square and other public areas, with no sign of intent to retreat or scale back their demonstrations. On March 5, hundreds of university students in Basra took part in a rally, chanting, Politicians are the real virus, Corruption is the real virus and You are the corona, in reference to the politicians the protesters accuse of being loyal to Iran instead of Iraq. Basra has been the site of several other rallies as well, demanding the border with Iran be closed after many cases of the virus were traced to people coming from Iran. The Ministry of Health reported a third death from the coronavirus and three new cases of infection March 5, increasing the total number of people infected to 40. Most of the COVID-19 cases have been linked to neighboring Iran, where 107 people have died in the worst outbreak in the Middle East with a reported 3,500 infected. In the southeast of the country next to Iran, the local Basra government has closed schools and universities in the province until the mid-March and is expected to extend the closures after that. The central government in Baghdad plans to implement the same measurements for the rest of Iraq and the Health Ministry ordered the closure of cafes, restaurants and cinemas to prevent the spread of the virus. Many religious institutions all over the county have canceled gatherings until further notice. Despite all the precautions, the protesters who have been gathering in the squares and streets during the last five months in most of Iraq's central and southern cities are not staying home. Not only are the protesters holding firm, but more people are joining their ranks. On March 1, as Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi missed the deadline to form his Cabinet, thousands of protesters from Dhi Qar, Wasit, Karbala, Najaf, Babil and other parts of southern Iraq joined the protesters in Baghdad and moved toward the Green Zone, where the parliament and most of the government buildings are located. Some of them are from Sunni areas such as Salahuddin, northern Baghdad, and Anbar province. Activist Khalil al-Assadi from Nasiriyah, who has remained in Baghdads Tahrir Square since attending the March 1 rally, told Al-Monitor, I am going to die either way, from the virus or fighting against the government, but at least I know I'll have died fighting for change rather than from a virus at home. The death toll from the virus is much lower than the number of casualties killed by pro-Iranian militias during the last five months, he added. Nearly 700 people have been killed and about 30,000 wounded since the protests began in October. Distrust toward the Iraq health care system has led some protesters not to take the authorities' advice seriously. Iraqs health care system, which once had the highest medical standards among the Middle Eastern countries, has declined significantly due to decades of wars, sanctions, corruption and political crises. Yusuf Mikhaiel, a Christian protester and a medic from Baghdad, told Al-Monitor, Iraq's Ministry of Health is pathetic, dysfunctional and underfunded. The virus will eventually spread everywhere, due to years of negligence and government corruption. He added, The real virus is the government. The protesters accuse the government of hiding the actual numbers of those infected and the virus' transmission from elsewhere to Iraq. Iran is a state of liars. It lied about the numbers of casualties in the anti-government protests, lied about the Ukrainian airplane for four days and is lying about coronavirus now as well, tweeted Iraqi activist Ahmed Fawzi, adding, Iran is the reason for the virus' spread in Iraq and everywhere in the region. Iran's regime is always lying about everything, just like the Iraqi government Iran puppets, another Iraqi protester tweeted Feb. 23. The protesters' strong feelings against Iran's influence in Iraq have contributed to the formation of conspiracy theories. Some believe that the virus was intentionally transmitted from Iran to Iraq to end the protests. The government uses coronavirus as an excuse to end the protests. They tried everything snipers, live bullets, tear gas, abduction and so on and on but they failed, said Yasamin Mustafa, a teenage protester from Basra. They are now finding another way to stop us, but they will fail again. Washington: "Lack of talent." Unlikable. "Mean." President Donald Trump laced into former Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren on Friday, insisting that sexism wasn't to blame for the end of the Massachusetts senator's presidential campaign, even as he used attacks often directed at female politicians. Speaking to reporters as he signed an emergency $8.3 billion funding package to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak, Trump was asked whether he thought sexism had anything to do with Warren's departure from the Democratic presidential race. "No, I think lack of talent was her problem. She has a tremendous lack of talent," Trump responded. The president commended her debate performances, saying she "was a good debater" who had "destroyed" the candidacy of former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg "like it was nothing." "But people don't like her," he went on to say. "She's a very mean person. ... People don't want that. They like a person like me, that's not mean." It's the kind of attack often directed at female politicians, including when former President Barack Obama condescendingly called his then-rival Hillary Clinton "likable enough" during the 2008 Democratic primary campaign. And Trump, of course, has a long history of making less-than-kind comments himself. While he has defended himself as an equal-opportunity insulter, Trump has made particularly harsh comments about women, going after their physical appearances, comparing them to animals and seeming to dwell on their attacks on him. After moderator Megyn Kelly confronted Trump during the first Republican debate of the 2016 cycle over his comments about women, Trump later said of her: "You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever." Warren dropped out of the race Thursday after a disappointing showing in early-state voting, including failing to win a single Super Tuesday state. Trump's campaign had once seen her a potentially formidable challenger, and Trump went after her early, derisively labelling her "Pocahontas" over her claims of Native American heritage. Ukraine, the Netherlands, Belgium, Malaysia and Australia, which are members of the Joint Investigation Team into the MH17 crash, have formally notified the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council of the start of the MH17criminal trial in the Netherlands on March 9. "Five countries Ukraine, the Netherlands, Belgium, Malaysia and Australia notified by a joint letter the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council about the start of MH17 criminal trial in the Netherlands," Spokesperson for the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the UN Oleh Nikolenko told Ukrinform. He provided a copy of the letter sent to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the UN Security Council. The start of the criminal trial on 9 March 2020 marks an important milestone towards establishing the truth and achieving justice for the victims of Flight MH17 and their next of kin, and holding those responsible for the downing of Flight MH17 to account, reads the official letter. As noted, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine have full confidence that the abovementioned legal proceedings will contribute to achieving justice in accordance with the highest international legal standards of professionalism and independence. It is also reminded that the UN Security Council resolution 2166 demands that those responsible for the downing of civil jet be held to account. The trial will be based on evidence gathered by the Joint Investigation Team with the participation of the law enforcement agencies of Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands and Ukraine. Since 2014, JIT has been conducting an independent international criminal investigation into the downing of flight MH17 by Russian forces over Ukraine. On June 19, 2019, the international Joint Investigation Team named four suspects believed to be involved in the transportation and combat use of the Buk missile system, from which MH17 flight had been downed. Three of them are Russians: Igor Girkin, retired officer of the Russian Armed Forces, and former colonel of Russias Federal Security Service; Sergey Dubinskiy, colonel of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces; Oleg Pulatov, lieutenant colonel of the Russian Airborne Forces Reserve. The fourth suspect is Leonid Kharchenko, a Ukrainian civilian, who fought on the side of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic. Oleg Pulatov expressed a desire to join the legal proceedings and will be represented in court by a Dutch law firm. Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over conflict-hit Donbas in July 2014. There were 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. All of them died. The JIT reported that the plane had been shot down from a Buk missile system that belongs to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Kursk. ol Tennessee authorities say they have found human remains that they believe belong to 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell. The remains were located on a property belonging to a relative of Evelyn's mother in the girl's hometown of Blountville, Tennessee. The toddler is believed to have vanished sometime in December, but her family didn't report her missing until February 18, according to officials. Her mother, Megan Boswell, 18, was arrested by authorities on a charge of making a false report. Police say she lied to investigators about her daughter's whereabouts. Bond was set at $25,000 on Monday. The toddler's grandmother is also in police custody in connection with the case. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the remains will be sent to a coroner for an autopsy. Investigators have been searching for young Evelyn since February 19, when an Amber Alert was issued. Investigators believe they have found the remains of missing 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell who was allegedly last seen by her family in December The toddler is believed to have vanished sometime in December, but her family didn't report her missing until February 18 The toddler's mother Megan Boswell, pictured left, was arrested on February 25 for allegedly providing conflicting accounts to investigators about her daughter's whereabouts. She is seen right in a Bristol, Tennessee, courtroom on Monday The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office began investigating the disappearance of Evelyn Mae Boswell on February 18, after the Department of Children's Services reported the child as missing. Evelyn's last sighting was initially reported as December 26, 2019, according to the TBI. This has now been updated to a confirmed sighting back December 1 although a babysitter claims to have been with her on December 9 or 10. Last month, Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy spoke of his frustration with the investigation because the missing child's mother has changed her account of what happened to Evelyn on multiple occasions. 'There's not really much that we can answer due to the irrelevant information from Megan,' he said at a press conference. 'Every time we talk to her, her story changes.' Police searched a trailer park in connection with the missing girl last Friday Police are reported to have removed possible evidence from under a mobile home in the trailer park The Lakeshore RV Park near Boone Lake in Sullivan County, Tennessee, was searched Friday Last Friday, police moved in on her uncle's trailer park. A witness has claimed that the toddler once lived in the trailer park with her mother. The search focused on one mobile home and police are said to have removed possible evidence. Zachary Warfield, who now lives in the mobile home, said he believes Evelyn and her mother lived there for a long time. 'They pretty much searched all throughout my house. But they didn't really take anything from inside the house they just found whatever they did under the house,' Warfield told WVLT. He added that he saw investigators digging up 'soft ground' near the mobile home. Deputies received a tip and began to search the Lakeshore RV Park near Boone Lake in Sullivan County around 12.30pm last Friday. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) spokesperson Leslie Earhart said they were executing a search warrant 'as part of an active and ongoing investigation'. 'That was not the first search warrant executed in this investigation, and it will probably not be the last.' The trailer park lists Tommy Boswell Jr., Evelyn's uncle, as the owner One investigator is seen lowering a long yellow rope into the water in the 'inconclusive' search In the video, a small boat was seen siting on the grass next to a few SUVs Aerial footage showed investigators at the pond (pictured) preparing to search the area According to Fox 8, the trailer park searched is listed as owned by Tommy Boswell Jr., Evelyn Boswell's uncle. Megan Boswell was locked up on February 25 for allegedly giving police several conflicting stories about her daughter's whereabouts. She claims to know who has the toddler but police say she has been providing them with false information. Megan claims she left Evelyn with a person she trusted while she was at work. '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 after first reporting her missing daughter. '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.' Her arrest came just hours before the Wilkes County Sheriff's Office said a search of a pond in the Shepherds Crossroads Community, in Wilkes County, was 'inconclusive'. Aerial footage from WJHL showed investigators preparing to search the water, using a Remote Operated Vehicle device. In the video, a small boat was seen sitting on the grass next to a few SUVs. An investigator was also seen lowering a long yellow rope into the water. Angela Boswell, right, and boyfriend William McCloud are in jail. They were arrested last month in North Carolina on fugitive warrants unrelated to the toddler's disappearance Authorities confirmed they are looking into a tip that the girl was seen with her grandmother, Angela Boswell, and Boswell's boyfriend William McCloud at a KFC in North Carolina Sheriff Jeff Cassidy (pictured) spoke of his frustrations after the girl's mother had changed her story multiple times during the hunt for her daughter. She was arrested on February 25 However, investigators confirmed nothing related to the investigation was recovered. Evelyn's grandmother was also arrested last month in connection with her disappearance. William McCloud, 33, and Angela Boswell, 42, were arrested and charged with possession of stolen property after they were seen in a vehicle involved in the Amber alert for the toddler. The gray 2007 BMW, which was said to have front-end damage, was reported stolen and the drivers are believed to have information on the missing child. No charges have been placed in connection with the Amber Alert and there have been no confirmed sightings of Evelyn. Authorities followed up on a further tip in North Carolina which claimed that the girl was seen with her grandmother Angela and McCloud at a KFC in Yadkinville. Investigators were reported to be reviewing the fast-food outlet's CCTV and speaking to employees. According to court documents, Megan Boswell first claimed that her daughter was with the child's father. Evelyn's biological father, Ethan Perry, is an active-duty US Army soldier stationed in Louisiana. He is said to be cooperating with the case. Guwahati, Mar 7 (UNI) The entire second floor of Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati was evacuated as the US man who tested positive for Coronavirus in Bhutan had stayed in the hotel prior to his arrival in the Himalayan kingdom. According to reports, the 76-year-old American tourist had travelled to Bhutan via Guwahati and had stayed in Radisson. The tourist stayed in Room No. 224 in the second floor of the hotel on March 1. Further, 23 staff of the hotel who came in contact with the tourist are kept under special observation. Earlier, the US national flew to Jorhat on February 22 in an Indigo flight and checked into MV Mahabahu for a seven-day cruise which took them to Majuli as well as Kaziranga on his way to Guwahati. Later he travelled to Paro where he was tested positive of Coronavirus. Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering announced on Friday morning that one positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the country and the patient is a 76-year old tourist from the United States who arrived in the country on Monday. He come to Bhutan through Guwahati, India. According to the Health Ministry of Bhutan, the patient was touring India from Feb. 21 to March 1. He started his travel from Washington D.C. on Feb. 18. The Patient was travelling with his partner, who is aged 59, and there were 10 passengers on board at the time he arrived in Bhutan, of which eight were Indian nationals. BELLEVILLE After an emergency meeting Thursday, the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois voted to close all four of its remaining camps including Camp Chan Ya Ta near Worden and Camp Torqua near Edwardsville by Dec. 31. Im disappointed that we did not get a straight answer for many of our questions, said troop leader Theresa Pitts-Wuebbels via email Friday. We left angry and disappointed. Our girls will really suffer. Volunteers have already struggled to trust council; this meeting just added to the disconnect. Some girls and their troop leaders reportedly left the meeting at St. Matthews United Methodist Church in Belleville crying after, earlier this week, troop leaders learned of the councils decision to sell the camps. Troop leader Christina Wright summarized the 45-minute meeting as less than helpful. Armed security was hired by the CEO and the board of directors, seemingly to protect them from all us scary moms, aunts and grandmothers, she said. Also closing will be Camp Butterfly near Farmington, Missouri and Camp Wassatoga near Effingham. The choice the board of directors has selected will not provide financial security for the council, said Wright. It removes experience opportunities for the girls it is meant to be serving, and in direct response, this decision will push girls to quit or move to [the Boy] Scouts. The Boy Scouts began accepting girls as members more than a year ago. The four Girl Scouts camps are expected to generate around $3.5 million for the council, which plans to invest the funds and, using $200,000 a year, will fund what it calls The Girl Scout Experience Fund, or GSE Fund, which will let troops and leaders to take the funds to use for whatever experiences they like. The sale also will reinforce the councils finances which were reportedly $740,000 in the red last year, with the council run at a loss for the past decade or so. Leadership officials said they believe the funding shortfall has compromised their ability to steward the camps properly and pushed some troops to seek experiences elsewhere. Troop leaders disagree. They fear taking girls to state parks or other places on trips or overnight camping jaunts. It definitely adds a big burden as a leader, troop leader Crystal Guard said. I probably would not sleep at night, honestly, if we camped anywhere else. She said at Camp Butterfly and the other GS camps she knows who the staff are, who the neighbors are, and the girls can get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom safely as long as they use the buddy system. At a state park, anyone can camp there, she said, and it is a completely different environment. Other troop leaders questioned why all four camps had to close. Girl Scout officials said picking one camp to remain open would encourage favoritism between the more rural and more suburban areas of the council, which were two separate councils until 2009. Last nights meeting was nothing less than a figurative slap in the face to those who drove hours to attend, gave up another night of family time to be involved and disrespectful to those who had followed the directives provided that werent followed, Wright said on Friday. A peaceful protest of the camp closures has been scheduled across from the Girl Scouts Annual Meeting at 7 p.m. March 28 at 225 E. A St., Belleville. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at (618) 659-5735 In an improvised therapy room in a large house in the center of Mexico City, a group of men aged between 20 and 70 close their eyes, inhale and exhale. Each places his hand on his heart and -- in a moment of honest reflection -- takes time to think about the violence he inflicted on women and the consequences of those actions. Im Jaime. This week I committed verbal and emotional violence against my partner. Im here to help and be helped, said a 63-year-old before a dozen other men replied in unison: I will help you. Mexico is suffering from a femicide crisis, with 10 women murdered every day, and increasingly men are questioning the prevalent male chauvinism -- or machismo -- deeply entrenched in society. Ive never been physically violent with a woman, but yes Ive done it in other forms: emotionally, verbally and sexually because several times I was unfaithful, said Jaime, who withheld his surname to protect his family. I recognize that and I want to change. Jaime approached Gendes, a gender and development center, a couple of years ago on his partners advice as they struggled with relationship problems. Founded in 2009, Gendes conducts studies about social inequality and supports activism in a bid to rehabilitate male chauvinists. - Violence, domination and force - Masculinity has always been associated with violence, domination and force, but now thats changing. New (perceptions of) masculinity propose the idea of promoting equal treatment of men and women, said psychotherapist and Gendes director Mauro Vargas. He aims to teach the 1,200 men per year who attend his meetings to understand and confront the different types of violence against women: sexual, physical, economic, verbal and cyber. Mexico has long faced governmental indifference and ineffective policies when it comes to tackling violence against women. Women have begun to take to the streets to demand immediate action to reduce the number of femicides, which grew by 136 percent between 2015 and 2019. Two brutal murders last month, including that of a seven-year-old girl, highlighted the issue ahead of International Womens Day March 8 and ignited protests. Vargas says daily occurrences such as wolf whistling, sharing photos of naked women or sexist comments about female colleagues perpetuate an inequality that results in violence against women. The therapy at Gendes helps men unlearn what society has taught them within a macho and misogynistic environment, said Vargas. - A man in deconstruction - Although there is no official data on their numbers, groups exploring a non-traditional type of masculinity to break from a patriarchal culture are multiplying in Mexico. Using mostly social medial, men organize meetings in spots such as urban art galleries or book shops to debate their role in a growing feminism movement. But Arturo Reyes, a 29-year-old psychologist and an instructor at Gendes, says he believes men cannot themselves be feminists. There are allies to feminism, but there are no men feminists. The fight is for women only, said Reyes. He says machismo is a cultural decision rather than an individual affliction. A macho in rehabilitation is a man in deconstruction, he added. In the house in the central Roma neighborhood of Mexico City, those in therapy fix their eyes on the floor. When theyre ready, they raise their faces, take a deep breath and drum up the courage to relate their own personal experiences. One visibly stressed man confesses to having assaulted his son. For Reyes, the most satisfying element of the therapy is when one of the men approaches him afterwards with a hug and says: Thanks to these sessions, my wife and children can now approach me without fear. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter New Delhi: Trouble for senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan seems to increase further as the Uttar Pradesh government is reportedly mulling to take over the control of the jailed MLA's dream project Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. According to reports, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government is likely to appoint an administrator of the university. Azam is currently in jail along with his wife Tanzeen Fatima and son Abdullah in a fake birth certificate case. A court had sent them to judicial custody till March 2 in a fake birth certificate case after they surrendered before it on February 26. The case relates to two birth certificates for Abdullah Azam, who allegedly gave a wrong date of birth while filing his nomination papers for the assembly elections in 2017. Abdullah's election was set aside by the Allahabad High Court last December, and on March 5, the UP Legislative Assembly also disqualified him as a member and declared his seat Suar in Rampur as vacant. A Rampur BJP leader Akash Saxena had lodged an FIR at Gang police station on January 3, 2019 alleging fraud related to Abdullah Azam's two birth certificates. In April, police filed the charge sheet in court. It alleged that Azam Khan's son also had two passports and two PAN cards. In one birth certificate, issued by the Rampur municipality, Abdullah's birth date was mentioned as January 1, 1993. The other certificate said he was born in Lucknow on September 30, 1990, according to the charge against him. A case was also registered against Azam Khan and his wife as they had submitted an affidavit testifying their son's second birth certificate. Azam Khan represents Rampur in the Lok Sabha and his wife is an MLA from the Rampur assembly seat. Their son Abdullah won from the Suar assembly segment in 2017. In recent years, Azam Khan has also faced charges of encroachment of land around Rampur's Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, where he is the chancellor. On February 26, the Allahabad High Court had stayed the demolition of the boundary wall of the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Uttar Pradesh`s Rampur till March 31. The court was of the view that as the matter relates to an educational institution, therefore, some relief must be given till the filing of revision and subsequent decision on the petition filed before the SDM concerned. Last week, the Rampur district administration had demolished a portion of the boundary wall of the Jauhar University, which was allegedly raised illegally on government land, to provide a passage to the farmers to their land on the university campus. Meanwhile, in a related development, a local court in Rampur has ordered attachment of the properties of Azam Khan, his wife Tanzeen Fatima and son Abdullah Azam after non-bailable warrants were issued against them as they had not appeared in the court. On February 23, the district administration of Rampur seized 104-bigha land inside the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University campus on the directions of revenue board court in Prayagraj. The revenue board court had found that rules were flouted in the purchase of plots of land from a group of Dalit farmers. The administration also sealed a semi-constructed building inside the varsity campus over non-payment of taxes. One of the buildings of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University was seized after the Jauhar Trust failed to deposit a cess of Rs 1.37 crore for the construction of the varsity. Under the Building And Other Construction Workers Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service Act 1996, all buildings, above the cost of Rs 10 lakh, constructed in the state have to pay a cess of 1 per cent to the board that spends it on welfare measures for workers. The university was established in 2006. Spread in over 500 acres, it is run by Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust. President Donald Trump's chief economic adviser is continuing to send mixed messages that the COVID-19 coronavirus is under control in the U.S. despite cases in the U.S. continuing to rise. As of Saturday afternoon there were more than 366 cases across 21 states resulting in 17 deaths. During an interview shown on CNBC, Kudlow said the virus has been 'contained' in the U.S. He had made the exact same claim one week earlier despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warning the virus could severely disrupt everyday life. Larry Kudlow, right, discussed the outbreak Friday on with host, David Faber, left, on CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street,' with saying that Americans should remain calm The mixed messages came as the stock market tumbled for a second straight week. Kudlow portrayed the stock market's slide as a buying opportunity for investors. 'Our economy is in good shape,'he said. 'This virus won't last forever. We have contained it.' 'We don't actually know what the magnitude of the virus is going to be, although frankly, so far, it looks relatively contained,' Kudlow told CNBC on Friday. 'The vast majority of Americans are not at risk of this virus.' Kudlow went on to say that 'America should stay at work.' 'I just don't want to panic. I don't want to panic on the economy, which looks sound. I don't want to panic on the virus, which frankly, most Americans are not at risk. And I don't want to panic on policy measures. Let's try to be calm and not overreact,' he said. 'We don't actually know what the magnitude of the virus is going to be, although frankly so far it looks relatively contained,' Kudlow said As of Saturday there were more than 366 cases across 21 states resulting in 17 deaths 'I don't want to downplay anything. Worry about the effect on human beings, for heaven's sake. But I'm just saying, let's not overreact. In many ways, America should stay at work,' he said. 'I will still argue to you that this is contained. It can't be airtight, but ... in a relative sense, relative to our population, relative to ordinary flu's ... I think it is relatively contained,' he continued. Interviewer David Faber told Kudlow that coronavirus is 'much more serious than the flu, as you know.' Faber then told told Kudlow that 'it's very hard to say whether it really is in any way contained or whether we are not all at risk.' 'Well, I'm not sure where you're going on that,' Kudlow responded. 'For most people, if you're healthy, you should go to work. Go about your business. That's our advice,' Kudlow said. 'In many ways, America should stay at work,' Kudlow said during an interview on CNBC U.S. health officials say there's no mixed messaging they have previously warned that they expect some spread around the country. The message has become more urgent as they work to educate Americans about the risk, and about the steps that would happen if they are unable to contain the new virus by quarantining travelers coming to the U.S. Now, 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. 'The immediate risk to the general American public remains low, but that has the potential to change quickly,' he added. The mixed messages came as the stock market tumbled for a second straight week (file photo) '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.' The quickly spreading virus has slammed the economy of China, where the virus originated, and caseloads are rapidly increasing in countries such as South Korea, Iran and Italy. More than 102,000 people around the world have been infected, with more than 3,500 deaths, mostly in China. Advertisement The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a long round of applause and a standing ovation from the audience in the Royal Albert Hall in London as they took their seats at the Mountbatten Festival of Music. Prince Harry, who attended the event at the South Kensington venue in his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, wore a mess dress uniform complete with medals awarded from two tours of Afghanistan. It is the final time that the Duke will go on an engagement in his official Royal Marines capacity, having inherited the rank of Captain General from his 98-year-old grandfather Prince Philip in 2017. Meghan Markle, who arrived at the venue with a huge smile on her face, wore a red full-length 1,295 Safiyaa dress, jewelled Simone Rocha earrings, and gorgeous red Stuart Weitzman heels. She and Harry were greeted by five members of the Royal Marines, before they were escorted to the royal box to enjoy a night of musical entertainment for the Royal Marines Association - The Royal Marines Charity. Members of the Royal Marines showcased their musicianship and pageantry during the two-day festival, which is marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. It is also marking the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain's Commandos. Proceeds are going to the Royal Marines Association - The Royal Marines Charity, and cancer support charity CLIC Sargent. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a long round of applause and a standing ovation from the audience in the Royal Albert Hall in London as they took their seats at the Mountbatten Festival of Music Prince Harry, who attended the event at the South Kensington venue in his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, wore a mess dress uniform complete with medals awarded from two tours of Afghanistan It is the final time that the Duke will go on an engagement in his official Royal Marines capacity, having inherited the rank of Captain General from his 98-year-old grandfather Prince Philip in 2017 This intimate picture of the Sussexes about to attend their seats in the royal box was shared on the couple's Instagram page Meghan Markle, who arrived at the venue with a huge smile on her face, wore a red full-length 1,295 Safiyaa dress, jewelled Simone Rocha earrings, and gorgeous red Stuart Weitzman heels The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a standing ovation at the Royal Albert Hall as they attended one of their final public engagements before they step back as senior royals on March 31 Harry is Captain General of the Royal Marines, having taken over the role from his 98-year-old grandfather Prince Philip in 2017, and the couple were greeted warmly when they arrived at the venue in South Kensington The Duke and Duchess then received a long round of applause and a standing ovation from the audience as they took their seats in the royal box before the national anthem - and singing hits from Sir Tom Jones The arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan to the Royal Albert Hall for the Mountbatten Festival of Music in London The festival brings together world-class musicians, composers and conductors of the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines Prince Harry and Meghan went backstage to meet The Royal Marines Band backstage at the half time interval at the Royal Albert Hall in London, where they had the opportunity to laugh and joke before the second act Proceeds from the event go to the Royal Marines Association - The Royal Marines Charity and CLIC Sargent, who support cancer victims aged under 25 and their families (pictured, Meghan at the event) The arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan to the Royal Albert Hall for the Mountbatten Festival of Music in London Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan attend the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall in London The Albert Hall performance marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain's Commandos (pictured, Meghan shakes hands at the event) Meghan Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry leave the Royal Albert Hall following the event on Saturday It was the couple's penultimate engagement before they step down as working Royals on March 31 Harry waves goodbye as he and Meghan leave following their attendance at the Royal Albert Hall in London this evening The Albert Hall performance marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain's Commandos (Harry is pictured leaving) The couple will step down as senior royals on March 31 but have carried out a series of engagements over the past days (they are pictured leaving the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday) The Sussexes received a round of applause and a standing ovation before singing the National Anthem. John Suchet, compering the evening, told how 'honoured we are' to have the pair in attendance. Harry and Meghan took their seats in the royal box in the astounding 5,272-capacity concert hall, which was commissioned and opened by Queen Victoria in 1871 for her late husband Prince Albert. The royal couple had the opportunity to laugh and joke with uniformed band members and dancers backstage, before heading onto the stage to meet more attendees and musicians. They walked off stage hand in hand, and went to take their seats for the second part of the show. During the performance, the audience were led in a singalong of Sir Tom Jones hits including Delilah and It's Not Unusual. The concert also featured Judy Garland classic Over the Rainbow, and the Gladiator film theme. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex arrive to attend the Mountbatten Music Festival at Royal Albert Hall Harry is Captain General of the Royal Marines and the couple were greeted when they arrived at the venue Warrant Officer, Reg Sheen, the festival manager, said it was 'absolutely fantastic' to see the Sussexes (pictured) and that he was 'delighted' that Harry was the force's Captain General Harry is Captain General of the Royal Marines and the couple were greeted warmly when they arrived at the venue She and Harry were greeted by five members of the Royal Marines, before they were escorted to the royal box to enjoy a night of musical entertainment for the Royal Marines Association - The Royal Marines Charity Their appearance comes after Meghan made a surprise trip to the National Theatre in London on Thursday, releasing photographs of her tour via the couple's Instagram account yesterday Harry and Meghan have embarked upon a series of high-profile engagements in recent days, ahead of their departure from public life after March 31 - a day that has been branded 'Megxit' (pictured arriving at the Royal Albert Hall) Harry and Meghan took their seats in the royal box in the astounding 5,272-capacity concert hall, which was commissioned and opened by Queen Victoria in 1871 for her late husband Prince Albert The event marked the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain's Commandos. Proceeds are going to the Royal Marines Association - The Royal Marines Charity, and cancer support charity CLIC Sargent Meghan and Harry were greeted by five members of the Royal Marines, before they were escorted to the royal box to enjoy a night of musical entertainment for the Royal Marines Association - The Royal Marines Charity Meghan Markle, who arrived at the venue with a huge smile on her face, wore a red full-length 1,295 Safiyaa dress, jewelled Simone Rocha earrings, and gorgeous red Stuart Weitzman heels Warrant Officer, Reg Sheen, the festival manager, said it was 'absolutely fantastic' to see the Sussexes and that he was 'delighted' that Harry was the force's Captain General. Mr Sheen, who was a member of the greeting party when the couple arrived on Saturday evening, added: 'The reaction they got from the audience when they arrived was very emotional for the Royal Marines.' As crowds marvelled at the couple, their body language suggested that the pair were dealing with the evening in very different ways. While Meghan seemed to embrace the spotlight, Harry seemed ill at ease, a body language expert has said. Speaking to The Mirror, body language expert Judi James said it was clear the couple were trying to make a statement as they once again co-ordinated their outfits. She also compared Meghan to the First Lady of the United States: 'The statuesque styling looks like a power statement as it closely mirrors the recent looks worn by the First Lady of America, Melania Trump, and Meghan's body language reflects that mood of star status, confidence and resilience.' Tonight was the last time that the Duke will attend any engagement in his official Royal Marines capacity, having inherited the rank Captain General from his 98-year-old grandfather Prince Philip in 2017 The couple arrived in matching red outfits for the Mountbatten Festival of Music, the duke wearing a Royal Marines officer's mess jacket and Meghan a red dress by London-based fashion label Safiyaa She and Harry were greeted by five members of the Royal Marines, before they were escorted to the royal box to enjoy a night of musical entertainment for the Royal Marines Association - The Royal Marines Charity The Sussexes received a round of applause and a standing ovation before singing the National Anthem. John Suchet, compering the evening, told how 'honoured we are' to have the pair in attendance Members of the Royal Marines will showcase their musicianship and pageantry during the two-day festival, which is marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War This is while she claimed Harry looked like he was sweating and said it looked as though he 'might be struggling'. 'Harry looks like a man in a hurry, striding out ahead as he leads his wife by the hand, Meghan's backward tilted posture looks straight off a runway as she smiles to engage with the crowds and her hosts'. Ms James added that Harry looked to be suffering from some tension and appeared to be restless - fiddling with his fingers, suggesting 'mounting pressure'. Harry and Meghan have embarked upon a series of high-profile engagements in recent days, ahead of their departure from public life after March 31 - a day that has been branded 'Megxit'. The event comes one day after Harry officially opened the Silverstone Experience in Northamptonshire, a museum charting British motor racing through the years, alongside Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton. The Prince was driven to the doors of The Silverstone Experience in Northamptonshire yesterday morning in a 65,000 electric Mercedes EQC 400 AMG by six-time champion Hamilton. Meanwhile, Meghan made a surprise trip to the National Theatre in London on Thursday, releasing photographs of her tour via the couple's Instagram account yesterday. It is also marking the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britain's Commandos. Proceeds are going to the Royal Marines Association - The Royal Marines Charity, and cancer support charity CLIC Sargent Harry and Meghan took their seats in the royal box in the astounding 5,272-capacity concert hall, which was commissioned and opened by Queen Victoria in 1871 for her late husband Prince Albert The royal couple had the opportunity to laugh and joke with uniformed band members and dancers backstage, before heading onto the stage to meet more attendees and musicians All eyes were on Meghan, 38, who has not been seen in this country since she and Harry made the dramatic announcement that they were quitting public life in early January, much to the distress of the Queen They walked off stage hand in hand, and went to take their seats for the second part of the show. During the performance, the audience were led in a singalong of Sir Tom Jones hits including Delilah and It's Not Unusual The couple (pictured at the Royal Albert Hall this evening) have decided to leave Archie in Canada, meaning his British family haven't seen him for more than four months. The Queen was believed to be 'very sad' at this Meghan 'oozes confidence' while Harry looks to be 'in a hurry', says body language expert Meghan Markle and Prince Harry last night stunned crowds at the Royal Albert Hall in London as they took their seats at the Mountbatten Festival of Music. As crowds marvelled at the couple, their body language suggested that the pair were dealing with the situation in very different ways. While Meghan seemed to embrace the spotlight, Harry seemed ill at ease, a body language expert has said. Speaking to The Mirror, body language expert Judi James said it was clear the couple were trying to make a statement as they once again co-ordinated their outfits. She also compared Meghan to the First Lady of the United States: 'The statuesque styling looks like a power statement as it closely mirrors the recent looks worn by the First Lady of America, Melania Trump, and Meghan's body language reflects that mood of star status, confidence and resilience.' This is while she claimed Harry looked like he was sweating and said it looked as though he 'might be struggling'. 'Harry looks like a man in a hurry, striding out ahead as he leads his wife by the hand, Meghan's backward tilted posture looks straight off a runway as she smiles to engage with the crowds and her hosts'. Ms James added that Harry looked to be suffering from some tension and appeared to be restless - fiddling with his fingers, suggesting 'mounting pressure'. Advertisement The Duchess, who is patron of the theatre, was shown VR technology aimed at helping people 'better connect and empathise with each other as people, regardless of race, age or nationality'. She also visited a comprehensive school in east London this afternoon on her second day back in the UK. The couple also attended the Endeavour Fund Awards on Thursday evening to recognise the achievements of wounded, sick and injured service personnel. The annual event celebrates the achievements of wounded, sick and injured servicemen and women who have taken part in sporting and adventure challenges. All eyes were on Meghan, 38, who has not been seen in this country since she and Harry, 35, made the dramatic announcement that they were quitting public life in early January, much to the distress of the Queen. She presented the Celebrating Excellence Award during the event, saying: 'Its very nice to be back. Its the third year I've had the incredible fortune of joining my husband here. It's just the most inspiring space. 'When we were watching the [nomination] videos all the way in Canada we had the same moment of 'how are you going to choose?' Well, we've done our best.' The event is just one of just a handful of engagements the couple are undertaking this weekend in the UK before returning to Canada to embark on their new life, ahead of their official departure on March 31. On Wednesday, Harry waved to well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace as he was driven away in a Range Rover after a series of internal meetings with his team. It came after they had a 'heart to heart' for four hours in her private apartments at Windsor Castle on Sunday about his imminent departure from the Royal Family. Harry is said to have requested the meeting, and the Queen - who last saw her grandson during their showdown at Sandringham in January after Harry broke the news that he and Meghan were quitting - was happy to agree. It is the first time Meghan has carried out a public royal duty in the wake of the Megxit crisis. The evening event is the couple's first joint official appearance since announcing their decision to step down as senior royals, which takes effect on March 31 The couple put on a confident display as they arrived in pouring rain at the annual Endeavour Fund Awards at London's Mansion House on Thursday, smiling broadly during the event The Duchess wore a Topshop blouse, a white bodycon pencil skirt, small gold hoop earrings and a gold coin pendant from Missoma for yesterday's trip to the Theatre, where she is patron The Duchess of Sussex said it was 'very nice to be back' as she made her first public appearance in the UK last night The Queen is believed to have told her grandson that she was keen to keep the door open for him and Meghan to return, and stressed that he would be welcomed back from Canada at any time. Harry, who has always enjoyed a warm relationship with his grandmother, was apparently keen to 'clear the air' before he and Meghan formally step down as working royals on March 31. It is understood that he and his grandmother shared a light lunch and tea on Sunday as they discussed his future. Harry has been staying at Frogmore Cottage, the couple's home on the Queen's Windsor estate, since returning to the UK last week to undertake a handful of final official engagements. He and Meghan have agreed to pay back 2.4million in taxpayer funds used to rebuild the property in light of their decision to move to North America. The Queen was left deeply upset after Harry and Meghan decided to suddenly announce their plans to step down and move abroad in early January in an apparent effort to bounce the Royal Family into agreeing to their demands to retain the trappings of royal life, while pursuing independent commercial careers. And the couple were taken aback when Buckingham Palace made clear its displeasure and insisted that Harry would have to relinquish his HRH title as a non working royal and hand back their official patronages and his military positions, as well as dropping their plans to market themselves as 'Sussex Royal'. The Queen is said to be 'very sad' that she sees so little of Harry and Meghan's son Archie, her great-grandson. Last autumn, American former Suits actress Meghan opened up about her struggles with royal life in an ITV documentary filmed on their Africa tour. She revealed that she had tried to cope with the pressures by putting on a 'stiff upper lip', but admitted she was not prepared for the intensity of tabloid interest. 'It's not enough to just survive something, that's not the point of life. You have got to thrive,' she added. Meghan told presenter Tom Bradby: 'Not many people have asked if I'm OK.' The Sussexes attended the previous annual Endeavour Fund Awards ceremony in February 2019, when the Duchess was heavily pregnant with Archie. They were last seen together on an official engagement on January 7 when they visited Canada House to thank the nation for hosting them during their festive break in Canada. She really is beautiful, innit': Head boy, 16, steals a kiss and a hug from Meghan Markle during her final solo engagement as a working member of the Royal Family to an east London school By KATE MANSEY DEPUTY FEATURES EDITOR FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY For a woman who plans her every public appearance in meticulous detail, it must have come as quite a surprise when 16-year-old Aker Okoye bounded on to the stage and went straight in for a kiss on the cheek. To rapturous applause from fellow pupils at Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, East London, Aker beamed as the Duchess of Sussex laughed and wagged her finger in mock admonishment. And he still wasnt finished. Waiting for the cheers to die down and with excellent comic timing he then leaned in to the microphone to say: She really is beautiful, innit. Cue more whoops. Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (left) goes to embrace student Aker Okoye during a school assembly as part of a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex, on March 6, 2020, in support of International Women's Day Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) embraces student Aker Okoye during a school assembly as part of a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex, yesterday, in support of International Women's Day Irish trip puts Wills and Kate ahead in battle of Instagram Drinking pints of Guinness, posing in his-and-hers wax jackets and learning how to juggle. There was nothing remotely controversial in the picture highlights of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges Ireland tour on the couples KensingtonRoyal Instagram account. But their Irish photo album has been enough to nudge them into the lead over the rival account run by Harry and Meghan. In January, the Sussexes were in the lead with 11.1 million followers on their SussexRoyal Instagram account, while the Cambridges trailed with 11 million. Now Kate and William have surged to 11.3 million thanks to last weeks successful tour, while the Sussexes have 11.2 million. Harry and Meghan launched their site last April when Kate and William already had seven million fans. Since then, Harry has been gaining on his brother and briefly led the field with a popular New Years video montage. Advertisement This was Meghans final solo engagement as a working member of the Royal Family, and for those present not least head boy Aker it will be remembered for ever. The Duchess had chosen to mark todays International Womens Day with a visit to Dagenham, where a group of women machinists at the nearby Ford car factory sparked a famous revolution not to mention a feature film with their demands for equal pay. Showcasing her favourite themes of female empowerment and education, Meghan could hardly have picked a better way to bow out. Pupils arriving at school on Friday had been told to expect a VIP, and between them they speculated that perhaps Boris Johnson, Beyonce or even Jackie Chan might be paying them a visit. Not even those names would have outshone the Duchess for full Hollywood charm, however. She was in no way deterred by the minor matter of coronavirus. Teachers who met her joked they werent sure whether to offer her a handshake or elbow bump. Its OK! she said, holding out her hand. As ever, Meghan had done her homework. When introduced to one of the teenagers in the debating team, she recognised his name from her briefing notes and said: Youre student mayor as well, arent you? Impressive. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) smiles as the student Aker Okoye speaks during a school assembly as part of a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex yesterday in support of International Women's Day. Aker broke protocol and kissed Meghan on the cheek Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) smiles as the student Aker Okoye speaks during a school assembly as part of a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex, yesterday, in support of International Women's Day Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) smiles as the student Aker Okoye speaks during a school assembly as part of a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex, yesterday, in support of International Women's Day Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits the the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham to attend a special assembly ahead of International Womens Day (IWD) held on Sunday 8th March, on March 6, 2020 in London, England The Duchess of Sussex talks to pupils at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham, Essex, during a surprise visit to celebrate International Women's Day Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrives to visit the Robert Clack School in Essex, yesterday, in support of International Women's Day Meghan Markle told Dagenham schoolboys to 'protect the women in your life' and 'stand up for your rights' during her last solo royal engagement 'Good afternoon, everybody. I thought you knew I was coming so I'm sorry for the surprise.It is such an honour for me to be here today. 'When we thought about what I wanted to do for International Women's Day this year, for me it was incredibly important to be with the women of our future. And that is all of you young women here, as well as you young men who play a very large part in this. 'I think specifically coming to your school made a lot of sense for me because of this social justice and the impact that it's rooted in. 'Your school mantra as you all know is excellence for all, excellence from all, right. So if that's the case, how does that apply in your minds do you think to International Women's Day? 'I think in many ways it's very much the same thing isn't it, the idea of excellence for all and from all, equality for all and from all. 'Before I continue I'm going to go off the cuff here because I do think what's really key is if there's one brave young man in this room who wants to come and say what he thinks the importance of International Women's Day is, I know there's going to be one of you.' Meghan picked a volunteer from the audience, 16-year-old Aker Okoye, who discussed the importance of men supporting International Women's Day - after first saying the duchess is 'beautiful'. Afterwards, Meghan continued: 'Well done, very well said, and incredible confidence, don't you all agree? 'I think that is the point, right? In many societies, it doesn't matter where you are, it's very easy to sometimes compartmentalise or silo this idea of International Women's Day solely being about women - but it's not, it's about all of us. 'So I think what you said is incredibly important for all of us to remember, not just on Sunday, not just on International Women's Day, but every day to remember the value that we all bring to the table. 'And I think being able to be in Dagenham is incredibly profound because as you can see with Geraldine (Dear) and the other women who had the strength to really stand up for something that they knew needed to be done is the best example of no matter how small you might feel, how low you may feel on the ladder or the totem pole, no matter what colour you are, no matter what gender you are, you have a voice and you certainly have the right to speak up for what is right. 'And I think what's really key for all of you to remember is especially looking at the people who have paved the way for you to get to this point in your lives and be able to have the access that you do, it's not just an opportunity to continue that, it's a responsibility. 'So I just encourage and empower each of you to really stand in your truth, to stand for what is right, to continue to respect each other, for you young men to continue to value and appreciate the women in your lives and also set the example for some men who are not seeing it that same way. 'You have your mothers, sisters, girlfriends, friends in your life, protect them. Make sure that they are feeling valued and safe and let's all just rally together to make International Women's Day something that is not just on Sunday, but frankly feels like every day of the year. 'So thank-you so much for having me, it's really a privilege to be here, thank-you.' Advertisement An endless supply of gushing compliments (Amazing! Talented!) was punctuated with rhetorical questions Am I right?! and motivating soundbites about how we must all stand in our truth. Im just so proud to be able to witness so much of this activism and this energy that you have in this room, she told one group. So well done. You guys are going to do great. Meghan dropped another clue about her private thoughts in a poetry lesson when a pupil explained that she felt a particular connection with a poets Sikh heritage. Oftentimes, when its someone who looks like you and comes from where you come from, its easier to connect, replied the Duchess. Only when she met Geraldine Dear, 66, one of the women who took part in the 1984 strike for equal pay at the Ford plant in Dagenham, did Meghan appear to hit a rare false note. Well done on making such an important change for this country, she told Geraldine, whose bravery had helped bring about the Equal Pay Act. Im sure its not an easy thing to do but its the right thing to do. If Geraldine felt slightly patronised, she didnt show it: It wasnt easy but it was the right thing to do, she confirmed. Standing up in front of the school assembly, Meghan was in her element: Your school mantra, as you all know is what? Excellence for all, excellence from all, right? she asked the room. So if thats the case, how does that apply in your mind, do you think, to International Womens Day? I think its very much the same thing, isnt it? This idea of excellence for all and from all; equality for all and from all. And thats when she called for a brave young man to come up on stage to explain the importance of it all and for one rare moment, Meghan found herself upstaged by 16-year-old Aker. I had to speak the truth there, he told the room. International Womens Day is a reminder to everyone that women can do it all and do do it all. This is more of a message to all you guys. 'Maybe this Sunday could be the one day we dont look at women as objects. Well done. Very well said, replied Meghan as Aker hugged her and left the stage. And incredible confidence, wont you all agree? Aker is not the only one to be dazzled by Meghan, of course. This is a woman whose unrelenting optimism and love of the limelight gives her public engagements a real sense of razzmatazz. The Duchess might have been the first person ever to describe the town of Dagenham as incredibly profound, but she got away with it. It was, she said, because of Geraldine and the other women who had the strength to really stand up for something that needed to be done. 'No matter how small you might feel you have a voice. It's not a dance - It's a demand for equality... People are being urged to post pictures on social media making the equals sign the official symbol for todays 2020 International Womens Day. To strike the pose, put your arms across the front of your body so they are parallel, with one arm slightly higher than the other, and palms facing downwards. Organisers of this years event say the symbol shows that you are committing to being each for equal and that you will challenge the status quo and help forge womens equality. Ideally this should be done in a group, with one or more of the group foregoing the stance to hold up a Selfie Card, which can be downloaded from the IWDs site. Post snaps on social media using hashtags #IWD2020 #EachforEqual. Advertisement Before she left, headmaster Russell Taylor asked all the students to pose for a picture with the Duchess, holding their forearms parallel to make an equals sign this years IWD symbol for equality. Meghans tub-thumping speech about how you can be whatever you want to be might seem schmaltzy to some but will be remembered for ever by these teenagers. That, and the fact that their chum wangled a kiss from a Duchess with a real talent for this sort of thing and a clear wish to emulate the grace of Michelle Obama. Why, then, is Meghan quitting Royal life? Is it because, with the Duchess of Cambridge in the mix, Meghan would never be Head Girl? What a pity that Meghan couldnt take her own advice that, no matter how small you feel, you can still make a difference. And she could still be everything she wants to be while staying in the Royal Family to such effect. Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex poses with school children making the 'Equality' sign following a school assembly during a visit to Robert Clack School in Essex, on March 6, 2020, in support of International Women's Day When elementary teacher Barb Bottle asked her art class at Margaret Park School what they knew about Indigenous artists, she was surprised by the response. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. When elementary teacher Barb Bottle asked her art class at Margaret Park School what they knew about Indigenous artists, she was surprised by the response. A student raised their hand and explained, bashfully, that Indigenous people were the first people of Canada, but they werent alive anymore. "It was shocking," Bottle says. "Even when you think youre doing a really good job, you ask a little child a question and they come up with a very honest answer that makes you realize theres still more to do." The exchange happened while Bottle was teaching a lesson based on the Resilience: 50 Indigenous Art Cards and Teaching Guide published by Mentoring Artists for Womens Art (MAWA). Since last November, the organization has distributed the bilingual teaching tool kit free of charge to every public school in Winnipeg and every band school and rural school district in Manitoba. Artist Lita Fontaine (left) and art teacher Barb Bottle at Margaret Park School with the MAWA art cards. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) The goal is to start a dialogue among school-aged kids about contemporary Indigenous issues and realities which is exactly where the conversation went in Bottles classroom. Each set contains 50 full-colour prints and an in-depth teaching guide based on MAWAs 2018 exhibition Resilience, which was curated by Lee-Ann Martin and saw artwork by 50 contemporary First Nations, Inuit and Metis women displayed on billboards across the country. "It positioned contemporary Indigenous womens art in the public eye, specifically in inner cities and on highways from which so many women have disappeared," says Shawna Dempsey, MAWAs co-executive director. The idea to turn the exhibition into a teaching tool came from conversations with Manitoba educators. "Teachers started telling us, yes, I would like to integrate Indigenous perspectives, Indigenous histories in the classroom, but as a non-Indigenous person, Im not sure how to do that or Im afraid of causing offence," Dempsey says. The project came together in just nine months after MAWA secured funding from the Winnipeg Foundation, the province and the Manitoba Association for Art Education. So far, the organization has spent $70,000 on publication and distribution within Manitoba and is starting to promote the tool kit across Canada. "The goal is to get them in classrooms any way we can do that," says Dempsey, adding that the kits can also be purchased by the public for $40. For Bottle, who is a visual artist and vice-chairwoman of MAWAs board, the Resilience cards have provided an easy way to introduce contemporary art and Indigenous perspectives to her students, who range from kindergarten to Grade 5. Lita Fontaines art card is a photograph of pipeline protesters at The Forks. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) "Im trying to bring it into the now, as opposed to the old dead white guys way that art has been taught. I mean, how many Starry Night (by Vincent van Gogh) reproductions can be done?" she says. "Through these cards... we can say this is whats happening right now and this is how these artists are responding to it." The topics explored in the Resilience kit are wide-ranging from residential schools to treaties to family history to racism and the material can be modified for different grade levels. Bottles approach has been to start with artwork that deals with tangible things, such as environmental issues, before moving on to heavier topics such as missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. "A lot of this stuff is pushing boundaries and its pushing them harder if youre nine years old, but I really like going there with kids," she says. "They can handle it." Lita Fontaine is an artist-in-residence with the Seven Oaks School Division and one of the artists featured in the original Resilience exhibition. "I like the term resilience," says Fontaine, who is Anishinaabe, Dakota and Metis. "For me its bouncing back and facing the hardness we had in our life and springing back and standing up again... I learned that from my mother and I think as an Indigenous woman its in us because we survived for the past 500 years." Her submission was a photograph of pipeline protesters taken at The Forks in 2016, entitled Mni Wiconi Water Is Sacred. "At the time I was photographing and speaking about water issues," Fontaine says. "Im a sun dancer, so I know the sacredness and the importance of water. (By) sacrificing water for four days I realize how sweet and beautiful it is to have. If we didnt have it, we would die." Fontaine has helped Seven Oaks teachers incorporate art into the curriculum for 20 years. During that time, she has seen Indigenous education gain prominence in the division. Artist Lita Fontaine (left) and art teacher Barb Bottle with the MAWA art cards, which includes a teaching guide informed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions calls to action on education. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) "We have sweat lodges here in our division, we have three elders in our community," she says. "When I started there was nothing like that; we really moved it forward." Fontaine is one of the authors of the teaching guide that accompanies the Resilience art cards. The guide is informed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions calls to action on education and includes background information about the artists and their work, as well as ways to promote classroom activity. "The idea is to get the voices and the visuals in the classroom to enhance their learning about contemporary and historical issues," she says. While the Resilience kit is a substantial resource for teachers who have time to get acquainted with the material, both Fontaine and Bottle worry the boxes could be overwhelming for the uninitiated. "Im an artist, Im a teacher, I know this project because Im connected to MAWA, so of course I opened it up," Bottle says. "But it does need followup." MAWA has hosted one workshop on the tool kit for teachers and plans to offer more as needed. Schools can also contact the organization to sign up for an in-house training seminar. MAWA is hosting its annual Over the Top Art Auction and Cupcake Party fundraiser later this month at The Edge Gallery, 611 Main St. The silent auction will feature work by more than 150 established and up-and-coming artists. Bidding runs from March 20 to 22, with a cupcake party from 1 to 5 p.m. on the final day of the auction. Tickets are $10 in advance at mawa.ca and $12 at the door. eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @evawasney If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. Advertisement A series of photos of iconic Sydney pubs dating back as far as the 1900s show the radical changes the city has undergone in the last century and opens a window to a bygone era. The oldest photographs show the famous watering holes standing on streets that are alive with horse-drawn carriages and Sydneysiders wearing flowing full-length gowns, three-piece suits and trilby hats, while other pics reveal wide-open spaces that are now crowded with buildings. The images have been dug out by researchers from the Australian National University where they have gathering dust in the Uni's Noel Butlin Archives Centre. Sydney streets come alive with horses and carriages and patrons wearing flowing full length gowns and three piece suits and trilby hats in archival images from the 1900s Archivists are working to preserve a part of Sydney's history through the project, which features hotels and establishments owned by Tooth and Company across the city and regional New South Wales. The company was founded in 1835 and owned and operated hundreds of hotels, pubs and breweries across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory from Wagga Wagga to Goulburn and Newcastle. The pub empire is now run by Carlton and United Breweries after being sold in 1983. Among some of the most iconic pubs are the Golden Sheaf in Double Bay, the Burdekin Hotel in Darlinghurst, the Hotel Canterbury, the Australian Hotel in Sydney's CBD, and the Vauxhall Inn in Granville. Slide me Among some of the most iconic pubs are the Golden Sheaf in Double Bay, the Burdekin Hotel in Darlinghurst, the Hotel Canterbury, the Australian Hotel in Sydney's CBD (pictured), and the Vauxhall Inn in Granville While some of the pubs look dramatically different today, others look like they haven't changed at all since they were first built - even though their surroundings are almost unrecognisable. Archivist Rachel Armstrong told Daily Mail Australia the photos tell a story about what life looked like 100 years ago. 'We see the architecture and design of hotels change significantly through the decades, usually to reflect the popular styles of the time,' she said. Slide me The Bull and Bush Inn at Baulkham hills 'It was common for hotels to include a balcony or verandah as part of their original design in the 1800s and early 1900s and then common for these to be removed as the hotel was renovated in later decades. We also see the addition of modern features such as bottle shops attached to hotels in later years.' Ms Armstrong said people give people a chance to take a walk down memory lane and revisit a time before the city's streets emptied with the introduction of lockout laws. 'Whenever we post images of Tooth hotels on our social media accounts we receive a huge response, with many people commenting about their familys ownership of a particular hotel or the fact that they always used to drink at a particular hotel when they lived or worked in the area,' she said. Slide me Granville's Voxhaull Hotel Slide me The Golden Sheaf Hotel, Double Bay Slide me The Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst Members of the Wexford branch of the Green Party believe that a return to government might be a wise move in order to secure a reduction in carbon emissions and tackle climate change. Meeting for the first time since the Green Party success in the recent general election with twelve TDs elected across five counties, local delegates gathered in Enniscorthy to consider the pros and cons of a potential return to a coalition government. The Green Party which previously served in government with Fianna Fail from 2007 to 2011, will be the fourth largest party in the new Dail. Green candidate Paula Roseingrave, who secured over two thousand first preference votes in the Wexford constituency, told the packed IFA centre meeting about the urgency of the climate agenda. She said there is a ten year window in which to implement measures to reduce carbon emissions and to plan for the devastating changes as a result of current global warming. Ms. Roseingrave explained that if the Green Party served a complete five year term in government, necessary legislation could be enacted to reverse Ireland's 'appalling record in the area of climate action.' The general consensus among Wexford members is that it is vital that the incoming government faces up to its environmental and societal responsibilities. This means respecting the electorate's demand for a new approach to dealing with health, housing, homelessness and climate change. Wexford Greens are in no doubt that they want to be part of the new approach. However, delegates were emphatic in their insistence that any decision the Greens take on entering into government must be policy based with a pre-determined time-frame. These policies should be costed in advance, deliverable within the given time-frame and should form a central plank of government's overall policy set. There was also agreement that the party must avoid 'playing politics' and keep its eye on the goal of policy implementation. By Gabriella Borter March 6 (Reuters) - After the first two cases of the novel coronavirus in the state of Georgia were confirmed this week, Leigh Creel, who is 20 weeks pregnant and lives outside Atlanta, made a nervous phone call to her doctor to ask about the risk to her and her fetus. The response she got was not comforting. Health experts do not know if pregnant women are more susceptible to the virus or if contracting it will increase the likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as pre-term labor or transmission of the virus in utero. They are racing to learn more about the sometimes fatal respiratory disease that has rapidly spread worldwide from China, including how it might uniquely affect pregnant women. For expectant mothers, the mystery surrounding the virus is worrying. "Its concerning to me when I feel like I know as much as the healthcare professionals," said Creel, who works in sales and lives with her husband and toddler. The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 now stands at 14, most of them in Washington state, where 12 people have died in a cluster of at least 50 infections in the Seattle area. More than 3,400 people have died worldwide. Public health officials in Washington's Seattle and King Counties have advised that people at "higher risk of severe illness," including pregnant women, should avoid physical contact and going out in public. Dr. Laura Sienas, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of Washington Medical Center, said most of her pregnant patients have asked what they can do to protect themselves. Sienas said her hospital has stopped short of urging pregnant women to quarantine themselves, contrary to local public health official guidelines. Instead, she has emphasized diligent hygiene and avoiding close contact with others, the same guidance the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has offered on its website. To that end, Sienas has tried to arrange check-ups via telephone, aiming to limit the number of in-person visits pregnant patients make to the hospital. Story continues "Theres definitely that fear of the unknown, and pregnancy is a time when there are a lot of things that you dont know and cant control," Sienas told Reuters. "Trying to give people small steps that they are able to control, like handwashing, has been a bit reassuring to patients." 'WE DON'T REALLY KNOW' Scientists have not yet developed a vaccine against the virus, and research on its transmission and effects on pregnant women has been limited. A narrow study of nine coronavirus-positive pregnant women in the Wuhan region of China, all in their third trimester, found no evidence that COVID-19 was transferred in utero. The women showed symptoms similar to non-pregnant adult patients. The World Health Organization published an analysis of 147 pregnant women (64 of whom were confirmed to have COVID-19, 82 who were suspected and 1 who was asymptomatic) and found that 8% had a severe condition and 1% were critically ill. "Theres some suggestion from other coronaviruses such as SARS that pregnant women may have a more severe disease, but we really dont know," said Dr. Denise Jamieson, chief of gynecology and obstetrics at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta and a former epidemic intelligence officer at the CDC. Normal immunologic and physiologic changes in pregnant women might make them more susceptible to viral infections, including COVID-19, according to the CDC. "There doesnt seem to be any great answers out there for anyone, so your mind can really run wild with the possibilities," said Rachel Storniolo, 36, who lives in Philadelphia and is due to give birth in May. The study of the Chinese women, published in the scientific magazine The Lancet, found no traces of the virus in breast milk. Still, Jamieson said she would warn coronavirus-positive mothers that they risk transmitting the virus to their infants through respiratory droplets if they choose to breastfeed. "If a woman has confirmed coronavirus, the safest thing in terms of ensuring that the infant does not get infected from the mother is to separate the mom and baby," she said, adding that separation might be necessary for several days until the mother is asymptomatic. Officials have not reported any cases of pregnant women with coronavirus in the United States, and they believe pregnant women - and the rest of the general public - who live outside the outbreak areas are at low risk. But some women, like Brandi Cornelius, 36, of Portland, Oregon, who is 23 weeks pregnant, are not taking any chances. "I went to the bank and I used hand sanitizer three times while I was there," she said. "It helps my body to go to prenatal yoga, for example, but do I want to be in a room full of people?" (Reporting by Gabriella Borter in New York; Editing by Frank McGurty and Dan Grebler) Arklow Girl Guides brought their 80th year celebrations to a close with a special afternoon tea in Arus Lorcain. Photos of outings and holidays were on display which were very popular as members remembered enjoyable times past. The afternoon's delicious offerings included tea, scones, sandwiches and cakes. A number of events have taken place over the last year to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Arklow Girl Guides. These included a special Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin at the Church of Ss Mary's and Peter's. Thanks were extended to the Sisters of Mercy for their support in the early years of the Arklow Girl Guides. St Mary's College and Arus Lorcain were also thanked for providing space for the guides to meet. Arklow Girl Guides also thanked leaders past and present who volunteered with the group. * PetroChina suspends gas contracts as coronavirus hits demand * Buyers in India, South Korea seek cargoes * S&P Global Platts reports its first Asian LNG derivatives trade By Jessica Jaganathan SINGAPORE, March 6 (Reuters) - Prices of Asian spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) edged up this week as supply for cargoes to be delivered in April tightened, but traders expected prices to remain low for a while as demand continued to be weak amid the coronavirus outbreak. The average LNG price for April delivery into northeast Asia is estimated at about $3.20 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), 20 cents higher from the previous week, but still near record low prices, several traders said. Prices for cargoes delivered in May are estimated to be at the same level as April, they added. "Supply for April has more or less dried up as U.S. cargoes are unable to make it to Asia," a Singapore-based trader said. Low spot prices was also attracting buying interest from South Korean and Indian firms, traders added. Still, market sentiment was bearish after PetroChina declared force majeure on natural gas imports including on piped gas and LNG, sources said this week. PetroChina meets 40% of its total gas needs through imports and about 70% of imports are through piped gas from central Asia, Myanmar and Russia, while the rest are through LNG, one of the sources said. "The supply cuts will fall on suppliers proportionately but LNG suppliers will have a lesser impact versus those on piped gas," said one of the sources with direct knowledge of the situation. It was not immediately clear what volumes PetroChina had declared force majeure on or the time period the notice covers. "China has been hit with a double whammy of industrial slowdown and also the end of the heating season, so this is going to bring the demand down for gas sharply," a trading source said. Still, the low spot price attracted buying interest from South Korea and India, as well as a buyer in China. Story continues China's Guangzhou Gas is seeking two cargoes for delivery over second-half of April and first half of May, while India's GSPC was seeking six cargoes for delivery over March to November through two separate tenders, sources said. South Korea's POSCO bought a cargo at about $3.20 per mmBtu, industry sources said. Meanwhile, price agency S&P Global Platts said on Thursday it had facilitated a first trade for the Japan-Korea-Marker (JKM) derivatives in its pricing process also known as market-on-close (MOC). Commodities trader Trafigura bid for 5 lots of April JKM at $3.45 per MMBtu to which trader Vitol eventually sold, Ciaran Roe, head of LNG pricing at S&P Global Platts, told Reuters. (Reporting by Jessica Jaganathan; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced his social media sabbatical earlier this week and following a lot of online buzz he later broke the suspense behind his cryptic tweet. He revealed that he planned to hand over his social media accounts to women, whose work and life inspire us, commemorating the International Women's Day on March 8. Following this, the government chose young Indian environment activist Licypriya Kangujam from Manipur, as one of the inspirations. Taking to Twitter, MyGovIndia wrote, "LicypriyaK is an child environmental activist from Manipur. In 2019, she was awarded a Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award, a World Children Peace Prize, and an India Peace Prize. Isn't she inspiring? Do you know someone like her? Tell us, using #SheInspiresUs." @LicypriyaK is an child environmental activist from Manipur. In 2019, she was awarded a Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award, a World Children Peace Prize, and an India Peace Prize. Isn't she inspiring? Do you know someone like her? Tell us, using #SheInspiresUs . pic.twitter.com/bJLEDIwfpH MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) March 5, 2020 But as it turns out, Licypriya decided to turn down the honour because the PM doesn't "listen" to the young activist's voice. In a reply to the given honour, young Licypriya said, "Dear Modi ji, please dont celebrate me if you are not going to listen my voice," further adding, "Thank you for selecting me amongst the inspiring women of the country under your initiative #SheInspiresUs. After thinking many times, I decided to turns down this honour (sic)." Dear @narendramodi Ji,Please dont celebrate me if you are not going to listen my voice. Thank you for selecting me amongst the inspiring women of the country under your initiative #SheInspiresUs. After thinking many times, I decided to turns down this honour. Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/pjgi0TUdWa Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 6, 2020 In another tweet, she said, "Government dont listen to my voice and today they selected me as one of the inspiring woman of the country. Is it fair?" Government dont listen to my voice and today they selected me as one of the inspiring woman of the country. Is it fair? I found that they selected me amongst the few inspiring women from 3.2 billion people under the initiative of Prime Minister @narendramodi ji #SheInspiresUs. https://t.co/N6Vmahm2PM Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 5, 2020 And not just Licypriya, Twitter seemed to agree with the "hypocrisy" of the government. Many felt that the government was miles away from taking serious actions against climate change yet celebrated women, who have devoted their time and effort to fight one of the most threatening issues concerning the blue planet. Twitterati came together to hail Licy's stand and bravery. Small hands but tight slap on this government. Good one kiddo. Chirag Ojha (@ChiragOjha) March 6, 2020 Jo Bade bade na kar paye inhone kar diya pic.twitter.com/suKxLvtJ7V Dr. Achambit Santra (@5trillion_jumle) March 6, 2020 Such conviction and moral fibre at this age! Wholeheartedly support your decision to reject an 'honour' that holds no meaning for you ShrinkInDistress (@GoddessShrink) March 6, 2020 In the past Licypriya had been often dubbed 'Greta of India', which spurred a lot of discontentment in her. She expressed a loss of identity that such comparisons invariably bring. Since then, she has urged people to stop referring to her as India's Greta because she wasn't doing her "activism to look like Greta Thunberg." BMW finally revealed the BMW i4, digitally, at the 2020 Geneva International Motor Show. Although it was a concept, it previewed what we can expect from the production version that slated to launch in 2021. To put it simply, the i4 will essentially be a 4 Series GT with an electric powertrain. From what we know so far, the i4 seems to be a strong competitor, but does it have enough to go up against the Tesla Model S? Lets compare them both and see what the differences between the Tesla Model S and BMW i4 are, and why those differences matter. Exterior Design What Makes the i4 Different from the Model S When you talk about looks, these cars sit on opposite sides of the world. While the Model S is a plain-looking, elegant car, the i4 is completely funky. The i4 will be toned down a bit in production form, but it still wont match the ageless looks of the Model S. The Model S features swept-back headlights with integrated LED Daytime Running Lights, and a nearly non-existent grille. There is subtle use of chrome all over the body. The i4, on the other hand, features a huge kidney grille that has drawn polarizing opinions. The slim, aggressive headlights do look good, though. BMW also used the i4 to display its latest logo. It is transparent in the outer shell and looks less 3-D now. This will be carried onto other vehicles as well. The Model S is quite simple and plain from the sides and back as well. Everything is functional and there are no extra shenanigans. The i4s side profile and derriere dont look as gaudy as the front fascia, and in fact, is pretty much in line with the rest of BMWs current crop. The i4 features slim LED L-shaped taillights which look bright and crisp compared to the Model S thick taillights. Both the cars feature an all-glass roof that makes interesting for passengers. On the utility front, the glass roof on the Model S is roof-rack compatible. Well have to wait and see if the i4s will be the same. For a car to extract maximum range, a lot of it depends on the cars dynamics and proportions. The Tesla Model S is currently the most aerodynamic car in its class. It boasts a drag coefficient of just 0.23 which, according to the company, is the lowest for any car on earth! A carbon fiber spoiler at the rear also helps with the aerodynamics. The numbers for the i4 are not out yet, but to put things into perspective, the 2019 BMW 3 Series sedan also has a 0.23 coefficient of drag, whereas the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe the car the i4 is based on has a drag coefficient of 0.28. The BMW i4 features a lot of panels to direct the airflow and has a simple side profile without a lot of cuts and creases, so we can expect a better rating here than its alter-ego. Exterior Colors The Tesla Model S is available in five colors: Pearl White (Multi-Coat) Solid Black Midnight Silver Deep Blue Metallic Red (Multi-Coat) BMW has not announced the color palette for the i4 yet, but the copper-peach color that the German chose for the i4s unveil looks weird. Some photoshopped images on the internet show that the car would look good in solid matte shades, where the creases and cuts dont get highlighted like they do in the copper tone. The 4 Series Gran Coupe, however, is offered in 13 different colors, so it is safe to assume that the i4 will be offered with a similar color palette. Exterior Dimensions The Tesla Model S is a fairly large vehicle and the dimensions show the same. The figures for the BMW i4 arent out yet, but it doesnt seem to look as big as the Tesla in the images. The only comparison we can do is with the 4 Series Gran Coupe and assume it to be similarly-sized. Tesla Model S vs BMW i4 - exterior dimensions Tesla Model S BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe Length 195.9 inches 182.7 inches Width 77.3 inches/86.2 inches (with wing mirrors folded/unfolded) 71.9 inches Height 56.5 inches 54.7 inches Wheelbase 116.5 inches 110.6 inches Interior Design BMW i4 Interior The i4s cabin seems like a safe haven with a neutral setup. Some things that could make their way in the production-spec i4 are the flat-bottom steering wheel, and the curved display that includes the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system. Ambient lighting in the footwell and door panels could be a nice touch as well. The concept showcased a four-seat setup on the i4, but the production car could offer a bench in the rear to accommodate three passengers. Then, of course, theres the panoramic sunroof as well. Tesla Model S Interior The Model S has one of the simplest, clutter-free cabins on the market. Its the same with all Teslas, for that matter. The company started the trend to make it a touch cabin and replace all the buttons with touch panels. There are lot of storage spaces all around the cabin and everything is practically laid out. Although its a simple cabin, its not boring. Theres a huge 17-inch touchscreen system on the dash thats staring in your face. The larger wheelbase and the lack of transmission tunnel makes sure that all the three passengers in the back also have ample legroom. Tech Features 2021 BMW i4 Curved display that integrates the instrument cluster as well as infotainment system Automatic-opening doors Sounds for different drive modes, warnings, etc. developed with the legendary Hans Zimmer iDrive system with a crystal dial Intelligence Panel on the outside grille that houses various sensor for driver-assisted features 2020 Tesla Model S 17-inch portrait-style touchscreen system Streaming Services and Web Browser Auto-raising Adaptive Suspension Easter Eggs Autopilot BMW has the complicated-yet-proven iDrive system, but Tesla has a more expansive and user-friendly infotainment system. The system has a lot of tricks in its pocket and users keep finding Easter Eggs from time-to-time. Not a lot of features are known about the i4 yet, but there are a few really exciting ones. For starters, the Bavarian company has collaborated with the legendary Hans Zimmer to add various sounds to its sound emulator. However, Tesla keeps constantly sending over-the-air updates that keeps things from getting boring. In fact, Tesla just announced that a new infotainment system upgrade for Model S built prior to March 2018 that brings in Sentry Mode, streaming of Netflix, Hulu, YouTube etc. to the infotainment system, and a lot more, for $2,500. Auto Pilot Is the BMW i4 Self Driving? Tesla Autopilot is a suite of advanced driver-assistance system that features stuff like lane centering, adaptive cruise control, self-parking, etc., and basically helps reduce your workload as a driver. You can purchase a full self-driving capability package as well, but the technology is still under development and will be updated to your car over the air once its launched. BMW has a similar technology which it calls Personal CoPilot. Just like Tesla, even this technology hasnt achieved Level 5 autonomy yet, but the Bavarian will be releasing a fleet of cars in 2021. So, to answer the question No, the i4 is not self-driving. The first self-driving car from BMW will be the iNext SUV. Safety According to the NHTSA Safety Ratings, the Tesla Model S has received a five-star rating, scoring full marks in Frontal Crash, Side Crash, and Rollover. The Model S was also named as the second safest car ever made. The first and third place are taken by Model 3 and Model X. The i4 is yet to be crash-tested and rated, but that can only happen once the production-spec i4 is ready. It will be nearly impossible to beat the Model S safety rating, but BMW will roll out a strong vehicle to be closely placed with the Tesla in this department. Seating 7 vs. 5 The Tesla Model S is primarily a five-seater, but it used to be offered with two-rear facing seats for children as well. But, that model is discontinued and currently it is available only as a five-seater. However, Musk did tease a seven-seater Model S in September last year when he tweeted that a seven-seater Model S is at the Nurburgring to break the record that Porsche set. We have yet to see the seven-seater come up for sale again, though. The i4 Concept was strictly a four-seater, but it will most likely be sold as a five-seater. Cargo Space The Model S comes with a cargo space of 28 cubic-feet.. The rating for the i4 is not yet available, but the 4 Series Gran Coupe comes with 14 cubic-feet of cargo space. This number is not official and is for the Gran Coupe, but BMW needs to make sure the cargo space on the i4 is in the Model S ballpark at least. Powertrain, Performance, and Range Tesla Model S The Model S used to come with single-motor setup, but currently the company sells it only in a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configurations. As of the time of this writing, Tesla sells the Model S in the Performance and Long Range Plus trims. In the Performance spec, the car sprint to 62 mph from a standstill in 2.4 seconds, thanks to the 762 horses available in Ludicrous mode. The top speed is rated at 163 mph. and It comes with an EPA-estimated range of 348 miles, which is very good for a car that weighs almost 5,000 pounds. The other trim is the Long Range Plus that emphasizes on range over performance and churns out 417 horses. The Model S in this trim takes 3.7 seconds to sprint to 62 mph, and tops out at 155 mph. The EPA-estimated range here is 390 miles. Both the trims come with a 100kWh battery pack. When connected to the Supercharger, the Model S needs about an hour to charge completely. 20 minutes of charging will add about 125 miles of range. Tesla Model S specifications Tesla Model S Long Range Plus Tesla Model S Performance Horsepower 417 HP 762 HP Range 390 miles 348 miles 0 to 60 mph 3.7 seconds 2.4 seconds Top Speed 155 mph 163 mph BMW i4 As for the i4, it will be powered by a single motor, but will churn out about 530 horses. The company claims a 0-60 mph run in four seconds. It will offer three driving modes as well Core, Sport, and Efficient all of them seem to be self-explanatory. Forget about the Model S Performance trim; this is a lot slower than even the Long Range Plus trim. The i4 will come packed with an 80kWh battery pack that is good to go for 373 miles on a full charge. Range has never been BMWs strong suit, but this claim is a positive news for all potential owners. This, however, is rated by WLTP which is a lot more lenient than EPA. But, anything over 330 miles should make it a strong competitor. The i4 will support 150kW charging that can charge up to 80-percent in just 35 minutes. BMW Concept i4 specifications Powertrain Electric motor Horsepower 530 HP EPA Range 300 miles WLTP Range 373 miles 0 100 km/h (62 mph) 4.0 seconds Top Speed > 200 km/h (124 mph) Pricing The Tesla Model S Long Range Plus trim comes with a sticker price of $79,990, whereas the Performance will be priced at $99,990, before incentives. The i4 is expected to slot between the Model 3 and Model S in terms of pricing. The estimated starting price for the BMW i4 will be around $55,000. Anything above this will be a bummer and BMW will have a tough time moving it. By the time its launched, expect Tesla to make a move by either offering some freebies or making the sticker price a little lighter. BMW will also have the price advantage because it is still eligible for federal cap benefits of up to $7,500. Conclusion Is the BMW i4 Better Than the Tesla Model S? Even though the i4 feels like one hell of a car from the initial impressions, it does not feel better than the Model S. BMW has smartly slotted the i4 in between the Tesla Model 3 and the Model S. This allows customers from both the spectrums to consider the BMW i4. However, this also means BMW will have to fight off two rivals from the most popular EV company at the same time. A lot of factors are yet to be determined; like the real-world economy figures, pricing, crash test ratings, etc. In terms of performance, cargo space, and seating, the Model S wins by a fairly good margin. For people who detest the Tesla, or who dont like the minimalistic design will like the i4 better. There are a few nice touches on the BMW, like the sound effects with produced with Hans Zimmer which we are curiously looking forward to and the drive-centric design of the layout. However, it lacks in terms of performance and the battery range has always been the companys Achilles Heel. So, despite the impressive paper-figures, we have our apprehensions. On the other hand, the Model S is an accomplished performer. Recently, a test concluded that the Model S battery is still at 98-percent capacity after seven years of usage. Then there are the Supercharger station benefits. Not to mention, the number of over-the-air updates Tesla keep providing make a lot of difference. However, if BMW can surprise us and launch the i4 is the ballpark of $45,000, it could be a game-changing product for the company. Employers will be allowed to pay staff ahead of tax bills if they face cash-flow problems amid the coronavirus crisis, under a dramatic new plan. High-level talks are under way between government officials, unions and employer representatives, which are set to continue this weekend, in a bid to agree a protocol for staff in the private sector. Under proposals being explored to support workers forced to stay at home, the State may also fund extra illness benefit payment. It is also understood the parties are trying to find an alternative to avoid medics facing a deluge from workers who require signoff to apply for illness benefit. Details of a financial package for private sector workers affected by the virus are due to be announced within days after talks kicked off yesterday. It is understood the potential for employers to withhold VAT or PRSI to fund sick leave for those self-isolated or caring for others is among the options being discussed. A final proposal is set to be ready for a Cabinet meeting on Monday. Concern A key concern is that workers who are not entitled to sick pay will turn up for work even if they have symptoms of the virus. Although they can apply for State-funded illness benefit if advised to self-isolate, they cannot claim it for the first week of illness. Public sector workers are already guaranteed full pay if they self-isolate under a plan announced during the week. Neil McDonnell, of business group Isme, who attended yesterday's meeting, noted employers who lay off staff could face redundancy payment claims. "It could be a mess," he said. "The State needs to support employers in bridging the gap if they have to send someone home when very few of our members have a paid sick leave policy." Maeve McElwee, of Ibec, said there were challenges around ensuring workers had some security in the event they need to take some time off to self-isolate. "We have to ensure they are not left with a choice between doing the right thing and loss of income," she said. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to hold discussion on hosting the 13th edition of Aero India in 2021 in the city, and has sought approval and pre-assigned dates for the event. The Chief Minister called on Singh in New Delhi on Friday evening. "It was a pleasure meeting @rajnathsingh ji to discuss the conducting of Aero India 2021 in Bengaluru. We look forward to hosting this premier biennial air-cum defence exhibition and have sought the approval and pre-assigned dates for the same," Yediyurappa tweeted on Saturday. In a letter submitted to the Defence Minister, Yediyurappa said that Bengaluru has become synonymous with Asia's premier airshow "Aero India," and this biennial air-cum defence exhibition attracts giants of the industry as well as general public. Since its inception in 1996, Bengaluru has been hosting the event at IAF's Yelahanka Air force Station. Ahead of 2019 air show, there were speculations that the venue for the mega event may be shifted after the defence ministry indicated that it was examining requests from a number of states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh to host the 12th edition of Aero India. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had then made a request to to the then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to select Lucknow as the venue for Aero India, triggering angry reactions from various political parties in Karnataka. The then Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and met the Defence Minister, insisting that Bengaluru would be the "best choice" for the event. During his meeting with Singh, Yediyurappa also sought his intervention into expedition of transfer of defence land required for Bangalore Metro Project. "Request was also made to facilitate the transfer of the defence land at Vellar Junction for the Bengaluru Metro Project," the chief minister said in another tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bond scam: About 25 CID teams search for Ravi; but former minister missing View(s): Criminal Investigations Department (CID) sleuths yesterday carried out searches for former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake and eight suspects wanted in connection with the case related to the Central Bank bond scam, but failed to find them, a senior CID officer said. He said several locations where they believed Mr Karunanayake would be taking shelter were searched within the day, but the CID could not locate him. Journalists and photographers who gathered outside Mr Karunanayakes residence, off the Parliament drive, in Sri Jayawardenepura-Kotte were told by his aides that the former MP might surrender on Tuesday. However, there was no confirmation. The CID officer said about 25 teams had been deployed to search for the suspects, in line with the arrest warrant and search operations would continue until they were found or they surrendered. The CIDs Airport detectives have also been alerted about the arrest warrant issued on the suspects. One of the wanted suspects Perpetual Treasuries Ltds former Director Muthurajah Surendran was arrested by the CID yesterday. He was produced before Colombos Additional Magistrate and remanded until March 18. On Friday, Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake issued warrants on 10 suspects wanted over the Central Bank bond scam that took place on March 27 and 31, 2016. The ten suspects are: Mr Karunanayake, the Central Banks former governor Arjun Mahendran, Perpetual Treasures Limited director Arjun Aloysius, PTLs chief executive Kasun Palisena, PTLs chairman Geoffrey Aloysius, PTL directors Chithra Ranjan Hulugalle, Muththurajah Surendran and Ajahn Gardiye Punchihewa, Central Bank public debt department official Sangarapillai Pathumanathan and Employees Provident Fund official Indika Saman Kumara.Mr. Karunanayake and others face charges under the Criminal Procedure Code over criminal misappropriation, profiting from insider dealing, and market manipulation from two bond auctions totalling Rs 51.89 billion on March 27 and 31 in 2016. However, the magistrate said there was no need to issue an arrest warrant against the 10th suspect, Buddhika Sarathchandra, who was the former head of the public debt department of the Central Bank as he did not participate in a criminal act by having a conversation with an official of a state bank. The magistrate said it was apparent that the suspects had acted in a way that would generate profit for the Perpetual Treasuries Limited. The court ordered warrants after evidence was submitted by Senior Deputy Solicitor General Haripiya Jayasundera, Senior State Counsel Lakmina Girihagama, State Counsel Udara Karunaratne and Chathuri Wijesuriya. On Friday morning, Magistrate Dissanayake instructed the Attorney General to provide more information on certain suspects before deciding whether arrest warrants should be issued on former minister Karunanayake and 11 others. A questionnaire was handed to Senior Deputy Solicitor General Jayasundare. She was requested to provide answers in written form to court. Ms. Jayasundare told court they would be able to obtain answers on behalf of the Attorney General and make submissions, including answers by 2 p.m. The case was called up at 3:30 p.m. After studying the information provided by the Attorney General, the magistrate said there was sufficient information to issue arrest warrants against the suspects. The court was told of the allegation that Mr Karunanayake had influenced the three leading state banks the Bank of Ceylon, the Peoples Bank, and the National Savings Bank from being primary purchasers of Central Bank bonds. The minister had obtained a luxury apartment from profits received from creating an artificial market, making it possible for the first suspect Perpetual Treasuries to play a vital role in bond purchases. The magistrate said that Mr. Karunanayake had been communicating with suspect Arjun Mahendran and suspect Indika Saman Kumara over the purchase of bonds in favour of Perpetual Treasuries and that it had been clear from evidence given by P.W.D.N.R. Rodrigo, former director of domestic operations of the Central Bank, to the Presidential Commission. The magistrate said PTL then sold the bonds to the EPF in the secondary market when the EPF was able to buy bonds in the primary market, causing losses and being forced to pay interest on the bonds. Warrants were issued to arrest Arjun Aloysius and Kasun Palisena for obtaining internal information from the EPF and providing confidential information to PTL, while the directors are to be arrested for aiding and abetting. Indika Saman Kumara from the EPF and Muththurajah Surendran are to be arrested for providing confidential state information to outside parties, while being employees of state institutions. SDSG Jayasundare had informed court that the suspects could face charges under Section 386 and 398 of the Penal Code as well as the Public Property Act. After all the hullabaloo, the CT scan and dozens of tests, the doctors said they did not believe I had coronavirus. But confirming that with actual test results would require consulting the local health department, which would require approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which would take time and might or might not happen after all that. There was no way to know. I was not under a mandatory quarantine order. His ex Teresa had her breasts augmented again just over a month ago. And Joe Giudice seems to be a fan. The 47-year-old Real Housewives Of New Jersey star got flirty with his ex-wife, also 47, on social media after she shared a sultry snapshot on Instagram on Thursday. Wow factor: Teresa Giudice shared this sultry snap on Instagram thursday 'Nice new boobs': Her ex-husband Joe Giudice, 47 got flirty with his ex-wife, also 47, as he commented on her recent breast augmentation Joe did not wax-poetic as he complimented his ex commenting: 'Nice new boobs [thumbs up emoji].' Back in January, Teresa revealed that she had her breasts augmented again as she shared a snap with her physician and the lengthy caption: '10 Years after my first Breast Augmentation I decided to have my breasts re-done. 'I am so thankful for Dr. Preminger @premingermd.... I was very nervous to re-do my breasts, but I felt it was necessary for me to feel like my best self. 'I encourage anyone who doesnt feel their best self to work on feeling better. Even if it is the smallest thing every day. If it is something that requires cosmetic surgery to feel better I highly recommend Dr. Preminger @premingermd, and could not be happier with the results. I felt like she understood me, and really made me feel comfortable. 'I decided to have my breasts re-done': Back in January, Teresa revealed that she had her breasts augmented again as she shared a snap with her physician and the lengthy caption 'I am grateful to have had such a professional approach. 'Dr. Preminger is Harvard, Cornell & Columbia educated Board Certified plastic surgeon. Based on my experience I can see why Dr.Preminger sits on the board of American Plastic Surgery, was the Chair of Ethics for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for 2 years, and why she has an ethics faculty appointment at Cornell University Medical College.' Just days ago Joe revealed on Instagram that he got a new tattoo on is chest for his daughter. 'Alright Gia, I just want you to know that Im doing this because of you,' wrote the star who was in prison for three years for fraud. 'This hurts and I hate it.' Ouch: Joe Giudice wants his daughter Gia to know he is thinking about her. The estranged husband of Real Housewives Of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice got the new ink on his chest, he revealed on Instagram Birds: 'Alright Gia, I just want you to know that Im doing this because of you,' wrote the star who was in prison for three years for fraud. 'This hurts and I hate it' The tattoo seemed to be of an eagle flying with wings high above his head. The bird was inside a larger bird. His 19-year-old eldest daughter left a comment for her dad, who moved to Italy to be with family after being held in ICE in the US. 'Looks so good,' the teenager commented underneath. When he was getting the tattoo he looked calm but he said it really hurt. In the background he played Bohemian Rhapsody. His second caption read: 'This is it Gia hope you like it. I got this to symbolize that I will always be my girls because it flies higher than any other. 'I want to give them strength to mount up with wings as eagles, they shall always run and not be spent. My girls will always be powerful and courageous women. 'I promise to look over you as strength and shield them from. Daddy loves you forever.' Now covered up: The reality TV sensation was also seen in a black Balmain T-shirt as she was on the same chair with the same purse; her ex added a comment He can't let go: And her ex noticed as he added four fire emojis in her comment box In addition to Gia he has Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 11. This comes after he added sweet messages for his ex Teresa when she was in Miami. He added four fire emojis in her comment box in a shot where she had on a Balmain T-shirt over her swimsuit. The TV vet looked incredible in the unforgiving suit that showed off not just her chest but also her small waistline and toned legs. The former prisoner had on tinted sunglasses with her long raven hair worn down over one bare shoulder. There were gold bracelets on her arm as she flashed a fresh French manicure. New body: The 47-year-old siren was showing them off in a plunging black-and-gold one-piece swimsuit here Next to her was a silver purse that had butterflies on the front from designer De Vesi. The reality TV sensation was also seen in a black Balmain T-shirt as she was on the same chair with the same purse. Her caption read, 'Feeling Miami Heat.' His fire emojis are not new. He did the same for a photo she shared on the carpet at the Paws 4 charity gala on Saturday night. Joe shared five fire emojis and one rose emoji in one of the first comments on her post. Failed: Just one day after admitting he 'failed' in his 20-year marriage to Teresa, Joe left some flirty emojis on Teresa's Instagram whens he was at Paws 4 in Miami on Saturday Flirty: Joe, 47, responded with five fire emojis and one rose emoji in one of the first comments on her post Teresa did not respond to her ex-husband's comment, but other fans did, with one, xo_alley_p stating she hopes they 'find your way back to each other.' 'One way or another, you will always be in each others lives. You both did an amazing job raising those 4 beautiful daughters. Stay positive, and keep loving,' she said. The flirty comment comes as Giudice reflected on his marriage to Teresa, which lasted from 1999 to 2019 when Joe was deported to his home country of Italy. Marriage: The flirty comment comes as Giudice reflected on his marriage to Teresa, which lasted from 1999 to 2019 when Joe was deported to his home country of Italy 'No matter how much energy and time I devoted to trying it failed. I did my best and put all efforts into making this a great experience for my family,' Joe began. I did try to address issues in the relationship that bothered me throughout the years in return portrayed it as Criticism! My key role was to always to be a great father and husband not the (male symbol),' he added. Today, I cant allow others to keep lingering toxins and undesirable demands around me. I choose to have a solid foundation with strong and inspiring people around me in IT,' he concluded. Energy: 'No matter how much energy and time I devoted to trying it failed. I did my best and put all efforts into making this a great experience for my family,' Joe began Joe's post comes just days after Wednesday night's Season 10 finale of the Real Housewives of New Jersey. The episode followed Teresa and their four daughters visiting Joe in Sala Consilina, Italy, where he's been living as he waits for an appeal on his deportation decision. 'I mean, we've got 20 years in our marriage,' he told her after hinting that he hoped they'd sleep together that night. Finale: Joe's post comes just days after Wednesday night's Season 10 finale of the Real Housewives of New Jersey. But Teresa said they haven't been together in four years and it would be 'weird' with Joe adding that was the 'Aha' moment he knew the relationship is over. 'A lot's happened. We live in two different countries,' she said, though the two ended their evening with a hug. Joe also confirmed that he and his family are safe after an outbreak of the Coronavirus in Italy. Petronas Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Malaysia has a lot to offer retirees, from its sandy beaches to its extensive rainforests to its dazzling capital city of Kuala Lumpur. On top of all this, it also boasts relatively inexpensive living costs, so its no wonder retirees are heading to Malaysia. If you want to retire in this southeast Asian nation, youll need to understand things like the culture, visa laws, taxes, and more. Heres a summary of what you should know about retiring in Malaysia. Cost of Living in Malaysia One of the key factors when planning for retirement is assessing your cost of living during your golden years. Youll need to account for housing costs, utilities, travel, and expenses associated with your lifestyle. Therefore, before you can decide if it makes sense to move to Malaysia, youll need to complete a cost analysis to decide if a life there fits within your budget. According to Numbeo, a website that collects pricing data from citizens, the average cost of living in Malaysia is 47.19% lower than in the United States. Its important to note, however, that this number doesnt include rent. Renting in Malaysia is, on average, 73.73% less expensive than rent in the United States. Of course, your cost of living and rent will depend on your lifestyle as well as the city you choose to live in. For example, a one-bedroom apartment in the capitol of Kuala Lumpur will cost about $517.45 a month in the city center, and a one-bedroom apartment in the suburbs will cost on average $297.71. Whereas a one-bedroom apartment in the smaller community of Ipoh would cost, on average, $254 per month in the city center and $166 per month outside the city. Many expats chose to live on the island of Penang, off the nations west coast. For $2,500 per month retirees can live extremely well, according to Internationalliving.com, and get a three-bedroom condo with a balcony overlooking the ocean. If you can do without such a view or dont need to live right off the beach, $2,000 per month will more than suffice. Story continues Visa Laws American citizens can visit Malaysia and receive a visa on arrival for up to three months. When you move to Malaysia, you will need to go through the Malaysian Representative Office to arrange a visa. To get your visa, you will need approval from the Department of Immigration before applying. Once you have gained approval, you will need to submit your passport and two photocopies of the ID page, two copies of the visa application form, two passport photos and a visa fee. You will likely also be asked for a bank statement, an invitation letter and two copies of your plane tickets. Then, the Malaysian Representative Office will evaluate your visa application and either approve or deny it. Healthcare in Malaysia Muslim physician talks with patients. Malaysia is known in the region for its affordable, high-quality healthcare. The World Health Organization ranks the nations healthcare system at 49th out of 191. Malaysia was once colonized by the British, so many of the doctors speak English. Additionally, the medical system adheres to Western medicine standards. To receive healthcare from a specialist, you simply go to the doctors office, register and wait to be seen. Unlike in the U.S., patients do not have to schedule appointments for months in advance and prescriptions typically cost about a third of what they do in the United States. The cost of healthcare is also small in comparison to the U.S. A first-time doctors visit typically costs about $15-$65, depending on the needs of the patient, and follow-up visits are around $11-$20. If you need an overnight stay in a hospital, a private room will cost about $200. Specific tests typically cost less than $100, including ultrasounds and more. Malaysia has a two-tier healthcare system: government-run and private. Expatriates can choose whatever hospital they want to go to and may pay out of pocket if they do not have insurance. The private hospitals are subsidized by the government, so those who can afford it typically opt for private care. Residents of Malaysia can buy private insurance. A deductible is typically less than $70 and costs an average of $100 per month. This is significantly less than most insurance options at home. Housing As you plan to move, one of the biggest factors you will consider is housing. Many retirees choose to live in Penang, an island state in northwest Malaysia. If beaches arent your thing, plenty of people choose Kuala Lumpur or the southern state of Johor. Depending on your tastes, the cost of housing can fluctuate. The average home cost in Kuala Lumpur is about $275 per square foot. This in comparison to George Town, the capital city of Penang, where an apartment costs about $154 per square foot. When we compare these cities with New York City, where homes cost about $1,372 per square foot in the city, Malaysian homes are quite inexpensive. Home Buying in Malaysia House in Malacca, Malaysia The purchasing process is a bit different than in the United States but is relatively simple. As with home buying in the U.S., the first step is to do plenty of research. You will want to understand what types of homes you can buy and a little bit about the lending process. If you plan to build a home, you will want to start to research possible developers. Once you have done some research and have an idea of what area you want to live in, hire a real estate agent. They will be able to help you through the rest of the process and give you a good idea of how much you can expect to spend. The first thing you will want to consider is if you have enough for a down payment in your desired area. Most people make a down payment of at least 10% of their homes total value. You will also be required to pay stamp duties, legal fees, and a sales and purchase agreement fee. The next step is to apply for a loan. Foreigners can get a loan in Malaysia. The amount you can purchase depends on your credit score and income. Once you have procured the funds for your home, you will want to hire a lawyer. Your real estate agent might be able to help you choose a good lawyer that has worked with other foreigners in the past. The lawyer will help you draft and sign any loan agreements and the sales and purchase agreement. Then, you will make an offer and close the deal. While the process is straightforward, buying a home in Malaysia can take several months, so do your research upfront and be prepared to work with your real estate agent and lawyer to find the best property for you. Taxes in Malaysia Malaysia only taxes income earned in Malaysia. Therefore, if you are only earning retirement income from a pension or Social Security, you will not be required to pay taxes on your income. If you do work in Malaysia, you will be taxed up to 30% depending on your income bracket. As a U.S. resident, you will be expected to file taxes in the United States each year. You will have to report any foreign bank accounts as well. If you earn any money outside of the U.S., you can use a few different provisions to reduce your U.S. taxable income. These include the foreign earned income exclusion, the foreign tax credit and the foreign housing exclusion, among others. If youd like to forecast your tax burden more specifically, you may want to consult with a tax expert who is familiar with both U.S. and Malaysian tax laws. The Bottom Line Malaysia has everything from beaches to jungles and is, therefore, an attractive place to retire. Buying a home in Malaysia is relatively simple, and individuals do not get taxed on income earned outside of the country. Overall, Malaysians are very friendly and welcomes foreigners who want to retire there. Tips for Retiring Overseas Consider talking to a financial advisor about making a plan for retiring overseas. Finding the right financial advisor who fits your needs doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in five minutes. If youre ready to be matched with local advisors who will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. An essential part of saving for retirement is making sure the money you save remains untouched. Dipping into your savings may seem tempting if youre low on cash, but youll pay for it down the line. Consider creating an emergency fund instead. Photo credit: iStock.com/FilippoBacci, iStock.com/stockstudioX, iStock.com/Sam Song The post How to Retire in Malaysia: Costs, Visas and More appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. He also discussed his unwanted role in the attempted impeachment of the U.S. president. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he remains ready to travel to the U.S. White House for a meeting with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump despite a politically charged U.S. election campaign. According to him, nearly 10 months after his first telephone conversation with the U.S. president, a concrete invitation to Washington has not arrived yet. "I was told it's being prepared," Zelensky told the Guardian in a rare interview, to be published in full on Saturday. "It's hard for me to hear that. I am a person who works to deadlines. Our diplomats are discussing it with American diplomats. I would like us to have a fruitful meeting." Read alsoUkraine president: Putin has one year to strike deal to end war media Zelensky admitted it was "unpleasant" to hear reports that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had made comments questioning whether Americans cared about Ukraine, but insisted the U.S. official had brought personal assurances of support during a visit to Kyiv earlier this year. "The U.S. is supporting us," he said. "I want them to support us more strongly." Zelensky also discussed his unwanted role in the attempted impeachment of Donald Trump and his relations with the U.S. following the conclusion of the trial. by Wang Zhicheng Only 99 cases were reported yesterday, 74 in Wuhan. Chinas tally stood at 80,813, 3073 dead, and 55,477 recovered. Only 30 per cent of labour force are back to work. In Guangdong, the economic crisis has pushed some people to stage a protest. Churches are not yet allowed to reopen. Online communities have been blocked. Worldwide cases number 21,231 in 92 countries, with 417 deaths. Beijing (AsiaNews) For the first time in more than a month, China reported less than a hundred cases of coronavirus in one day. Chinas National Health Commission reported 99 new cases yesterday, 74 in Wuhan (Hubei), the epicentre of the outbreak. The others are mostly backflow cases involving people who contracted the virus outside the country and brought it back. By the end of yesterday, China had 80,813 confirmed cases, more than 67,000 in Hubei province almost 50,000 in Wuhan. So far 3,073 people have died, whilst 55,477 have recovered. According to Chinese authorities, the lower daily number of infected people is a sign of hope that the outbreak can be contained and life return to normal. Although many factories have reopened, only an estimated 30 per cent of the labour force are back to work. Many cities still look like ghost towns and public transportation is but deserted. The lack of work and income has prompted about a hundred people to stage a protest against shop rents, asking for a delay in monthly payments. The incident took place two days ago in Guangzhou (Guangdong), at the New China shopping mall (pictures 1,2, 3). Churches have not yet received permission to reopen and the faithful are making an effort to sanctify Sunday through prayers and Bible reading at home. Attempts to broadcast Masses on the Internet or hold prayer meetings via social media have run up against religious regulations that require specific authorisation. Many online community groups have seen their websites blocked. This morning, a total of 21,231 cases were reported in 92 countries other than China with 417 deaths. The Covid-19 epidemic has now topped 100,000 cases worldwide. South Korea, Iran and Italy continue to be the most affected countries, but the situation is a source of great concern in Japan, Germany, France, Spain and the United States. It would have been a blessing in many ways, although Im pretty sure I would have wanted them to be my parents when it suited me, and not be my parents when it didnt. Doting grandparents at ones disposal, but not meddling ones. How would we have negotiated all that? I havent had parents for such a long time I can only imagine what it would have been like to go through my own young adulthood, two marriages, child-rearing years, career crossroads, with Mum and Dad in the next room or out the back, ever present. And how would those husbands have felt? (I can picture my practical father eyeing off their bungling attempts at DIY; my mother with a raised eyebrow as she overhears a marital row or a child sobbing.) The horror, you might say. Or the joy. Family life has a way of being both feverishly complicated and blood simple, lurching between Modern Family and Electra, contingent on stage of life or time of day or whether you dont mind being told how to stack the dishwasher. Only some people want to extend the lease. Then there are the happy families who actually like the idea of several generations living in the same household, day after day. Sometimes for decades. Happy home: children Manning and Audrey with mother Zoe Flanagan-Field, Zoes parents, Robin and Warwick Mosman, and father Craig Field, outside the home they share in the Blue Mountains. Credit:Jennifer Soo It is not true, as Tolstoy declared, that all happy families are alike. Some happy families, for example, know the only way to stay happy is not to live together any longer than strictly necessary. For them, the extended-family holiday that ran a little too long, the clan barbecue that ended in a clash, the unsolicited advice about where theyre going wrong on raising children, all stand as sobering reminders of why, when it comes to relatives, distance lends enchantment to the view. So if you spoke to your friends and said, Mums annoying me today, they might say, Well, of course, why did you let her move in? Whereas if you were in China, friends would be sympathetic and give you tips and normalise it. So we dont always have the social supports. It can be seen as quite a negative thing to do, which means you can feel a bit out on a limb. There are great advantages to living together, says Elisabeth Shaw, a psychologist and CEO of Relationships Australia NSW. Weve just got to be aware that many of us who are very entrenched in a Western society dont have a framework for understanding and accepting it. The best thing about living with extended family? Theres always someone there. The worst thing? Theres always someone there. And more than 40 per cent of children in their early 20s and almost 20 per cent in their late 20s are still living at home, according to a recent Australian Institute of Family Studies report, including the so-called boomerang children who leave and return home because they cant afford to live elsewhere or because of some life shock, like divorce. While more people than ever, especially the elderly, are living alone about 25 per cent of households on latest figures its also true that about 20 per cent of people who live in Australia live in a multi-generational household (when defined as more than one generation of related adults), according to research by Edgar Liu, senior research fellow at the University of NSWs faculty of Built Environments City Futures Research Centre . I realise were having a very Anglo-centric conversation. In southern Europe, many parts of Asia and the Middle East, its perfectly normal for extended families to live together, as it once was here. They take the rough with the smooth, even if its in tiny apartments with only one bathroom. Many families with those cultural roots keep up the practice here and maybe thats reminded nuclear families what theyre missing out on. Add in housing affordability, dual careers, childcare, the frightening quality of a lot of aged care, and its starting to seem like a fine idea, even if it does come with a few inconveniences. I tell a friend in his 60s that Im writing about what appears to be a renewed trend for several generations to live together. What a great thing, he says. The family compound. Communal living. There should be more of it! He goes on for a bit about the sterile existence of the nuclear family. Children encouraged to leave as soon as they can, parents rattling around empty houses, doomed to loiter in a post-child twilight, elders cruelly put out on the ice. How did we come to that, he laments. So hed like to be living with his kids and grandkids then? Actually, no. I just like the idea. In the case of boomerang children, it also changes the parent-child relationship. Some parents said to us, I now need to see my child as an adult and not as my child. So it shifts to something more like friendship and that can be quite tricky to navigate because at the end of the day, you are still their parent. Within the household, there tends to be one person whos related to everybody, Liu explains. With three generations, it could be the mother who is related to the grandparents and the children, and the husband has married into the family. So the mother might be the person who cops all of the criticism and all the whingeing. Psychologist Anne Hollonds says attitudes to multi-generational living are changing. In the days when I left home, you never dreamt of going back. Its different now." Credit:Peter Rae Whatever the reasons, it certainly changes the relationships. Often for the better, although theres also plenty of opportunity for triangulation where two generations, or two parties, play each other off or gang up. And its not unusual for some hapless family member to end up playing a role between UN peacemaker and whipping boy, just like in a nuclear family, only worse. Some families choose to be together, even building housing for the purpose; others are thrown together. Living together can be tricky if the reasons are tinged with something else, Shaw says. For example, if something has gone wrong financially and theyre forced into it, or theres no one else to care for mum or dad and someone ends up feeling lumped with it. Theres often a sweet spot in life when a shared arrangement best suits everyones needs, says Shaw. For example, while you might be really pleased to have your parents live there when youve got littlies, by the time your children are teenagers, maybe everybody doesnt want the grandparents input. Or youre now dealing with both elderly parents and teenagers acting up, and you can feel squeezed. So what went very well at one life stage can start to become more difficult. But even for those raised in more communal cultures, privacy is the biggest loss. Researcher Edgar Liu tells the story of the interview subject who, asked what he liked most about living with extended family, said, Theres always someone there. The worst thing? Theres always someone there. Hollonds feels attitudes are changing. In the days when I left home, you never dreamt of going back. Its different now and the stigma about it is going. If you can work out how to live in the same household as adults, under the same roof it bodes well for the future. Even close families need to develop a certain saintly tolerance. Its not a parent-child relationship in the same way it was. Its adults sharing a house, allowing for privacy, showing respect, and being able to compromise. There are tremendous benefits on the whole, for all three generations, she says. Of course, there are some families where it would never be a possibility because of the level of conflict and disagreement and perhaps past resentments. Then there are questions of inheritance. If a parent buys a house with one child with a view to shared living, what happens when the parent dies? How does the other sibling, for example, get their half? Do they even get a half? I heard of one case where an elderly parent paid for changes to her sons house so she could be accommodated, then changed her mind about moving in and wanted to get her money out. Some families dot every i and cross every t; others leave it to goodwill. Less obvious, perhaps, is the way this kind of shared arrangement can change the landscape outside the household. Particularly if there are siblings involved, says Liu. A lot of people we interviewed said things like, Yeah, my mother lives with me but my brother now expects me to take care of everything. Pay for all her needs, all her food, look after all her emotional support. Theres often this idea, Oh, Mum lives with you, so its great that you get free childcare all the time and I dont need to do anything. Robin Mosman, at left, in her apartments kitchen. The door into the kitchen of daughter Zoes family is the junction between the two homes. Credit:Jennifer Soo At the first, a man in his 40s answers with the polite but harried air of someone who was in the middle of something. This must be Craig, the son-in-law, a musician and music producer, and this must be his sound-proofed studio, and this must happen to him a lot. He not only works from home; he also lives in a family compound. I know Im at the right house because its the only one with a huge banner on the fence that reads Grandparents for Climate Action Now. The right house, a big weatherboard in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, with a 79-year-old activist somewhere inside, but not the right door. Three doors run down the side entrance and theres nothing to tell them apart. For all of that, it says something about love and kinship that, even if the decision to live together is prompted by financial considerations, the main benefit people list has nothing to do with money. According to Lius research, its a much more precious commodity: companionship and support. In an ideal world, advises Elisabeth Shaw, people would spend time conjuring up worst-case scenarios before they went into any shared arrangement. No ones in the firing line at that point, she says. So let your imagination run wild about all the things that could happen ... Do we formally ask you to babysit or just assume that if youre home, youre it? What if we need breathing space? Is there a sunset clause? The boomerang-child phenomenon, she argues, is actually working as a useful social training ground. If you can work out how to live in the same household as adults, under the same roof and its not easy for anybody, really it bodes well for the future in terms of mutual support up and down the generations. Craig Field lives here with his wife, Zoe Flanagan-Field, their three children, aged 8, 10 and 14, and Zoes parents, Robin and Warwick Mosman. Robin, 79, is the activist. Warwick, 83, is a retired builder. Theirs is a success story in shared living, given the two families have been here for 10 years. The younger generations occupy the much bigger, rambling part, and Warwick and Robin are settled in a spacious, purpose-built apartment joined onto the back: a tasteful model of late-life serenity with its own kitchen, laundry, living area, bedroom and study. It became clear early on that everyone needed their own space. Zoe and Craig bought the house in a 50-50 split with her parents and Warwick set about extensively renovating it to suit. Its very good, Warwick says. Each part of the house is self-contained, so we can go weeks without saying a word to them if we choose. Not that we do, Robin adds. A shared door between the kitchens is the entry into each half. The door is never locked and when the kids were younger, Robin says, they were always popping in. Id had the impression from an earlier conversation that the adults would text first, or at least knock, but apparently its more a matter of sticking a head through the door and seeing if anyone is there. Its an informal arrangement that sounds excellent if you need a cup of sugar or some company, but that could suit some of the parties more than others, depending on age and what youre likely to be up to. On both sides were very respectful of each others privacy, Robin says when I ask her about it. We dont go barging in. Sometimes, people walk around half-naked or that sort of thing. Also, you dont want to go barging in on a personal conversation. We did ask Mum to knock at one stage, Zoe says later, when I meet her and Craig separately, and she did for a while. I dont knock but I dont think it bothers them. Its different for them. Who gets to be the decider of things that affect everybody? Can parents pull rank? The generations happiest about shared living tend to be the young and the old. Its the middle generation who, while grateful for the help, can miss their privacy more acutely, feel its all too much, or wonder what it means for their independence or their own happiness, aside from their childrens. While it suits her and Craig, Zoe agrees that many friends her age cant imagine living like this. Their general view is, Better you than me. I couldnt live with my parents. Its different for Mum. A lot of her friends envy her. They think, Wow, youve got a great set-up. I dont think any of the grandmothers think, Id never do that. Robin and Warwick have another daughter, who lives nearby with her family. Is the joint investment in this property likely to complicate questions of inheritance? I dont see it being a problem, Robin says. Its not spelt out but I know theres not going to be any fight over each ones share of this part of the house. Theyre very loving of each other and have great integrity. I ask Zoe how it would play out if, say, she and Craig were to divorce. Is that complicated splitting of assets something theyve thought about? Were not planning to get divorced, Zoe says firmly. Shes already gone through one trauma. The first time her parents raised the idea of her moving in with them, she was 35, with a new baby, and had just lost her first husband to cancer. Dad had suggested it then, Zoe says, but it didnt feel like the right time. Craig met her when she was still fragile and he quickly realised how much her family meant to her. Even when we were courting and engaged, Zoes whole focus was her family, her parents and her sister, Craig says. When the idea of buying a house together came up, I was all for it. Zoe wasnt as sold on the idea. I didnt want to feel like I was just moving back in with my parents. Part of what made me get over that was the fact we were going halves and we were getting our own space. There are many things to navigate in multi-generational households such as whether pets are allowed. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos I knew I loved them and could deal with any quirks they had, the location was handy and it seemed crazy to be living in separate houses, to-ing and fro-ing. I just wasnt sure if that was enough to make me commit to it. In the end, Craigs willingness made me up for it. Theyre obviously a close, loving family, but, like any household, it has the occasional strained moment. Take, for example, the puppy I notice leaping out of its basket in Zoe and Craigs section of the house. Innocent enough, but apparently the source of some debate. Who gets to be the decider of things that affect everybody? Can parents pull rank? Well, they can try. Robin and Warwick had always been opposed to a dog on the property, Zoe says, yet here one is, even if Warwick is still waging a small war of resistance by declining to install a back gate. (He has, however, agreed to a system of dog-confining electric flags on the lawn. Compromise!) Naturally, there have been other minor tugs-of-war. Zoe is still smarting over losing a long-ago battle over the exterior paint colour. The painter agreed with my parents, she says. We had to accept things like that. A little thing but also a big thing, because its your house. But is it their house, when owned 50-50? Thats where its very blurred, Craig says. Zoe has said a few times, I feel like Im living in my mothers house but those kind of tensions can happen at any Christmas lunch. Theyre pretty normal. Its like a marriage. Youve just got to make it work and its not all about you. When I come back into Robin and Warwicks apartment, the children and a cousin are piled happily on a sofa, their devoted elders looking on as the kids watch a video. The scene is idyllic: the spread of ages, their ease with each other. The way more of us should be living? Close encounters There isnt much loving parents wont do for their children at any age. Even so, I can think of a few who might baulk at the idea of giving up their own three-bedroom house for their adult daughter and her family to live in, and moving themselves into a 20-square-metre dwelling in the backyard. This little space has to accommodate a kitchenette, small dining table, window seat, bedroom, bathroom and two people. A stylish caravan comes to mind. You have to admire inner-city couple Emma and Jims* sense of sacrifice, not least because the tiny house has also replaced Jims shed. Yet the pair, who dont wish to be identified, seem sanguine about this being home for the foreseeable future. Then again, theyve only been in it for three weeks when I visit. Im sure there are things we do that annoy them. I try not to be a hovering grandmother but its hard not to get it wrong some of the time. Emma* They actually handed over the big house a few years back, when their daughter was about to give birth to her second child and her family had to move out of their rental property at short notice. It made more sense for them to have it, Emma says. They didnt want to do it at first but we talked them into it, as a way of giving them stability for a while, to see how it went. We rented a house around the corner. They effectively paid our rent on the smaller semi. Building the tiny house was, as they see it, the next logical step. No rent, environmentally sustainable, closer to the family. A lot closer. In fact, only five or six metres away. Its a noble experiment, Emma says. But weve also put some of the furniture into storage, so we havent totally burnt our bridges. If anything, their greatest worry seems to be about imposing on their daughter and her family by living on the same block, even though they own it. A couple of times Emma talks about her fear of being too on top of them here. Thats why theres a blind on this window that looks towards the house. Well only ever use the back entrance. We havent set any rules. If our door is open and the grandkids want to come in, they can, but we dont go in there unless we send a text or have some arrangement. Loading If it doesnt work out, she says, theyll sell the lot, get themselves something else tiny and give the kids the money. They have another daughter. Shes very happy with this arrangement, Emma says. She knows we havent given the house to her sister. Thats been made very clear. Still, inheritance aside, I cant help thinking that the size of their quarters puts quite a lot of pressure on the older couples own relationship. Its been all right so far, Emma says, glancing at Jim, a retiring man who is happy to let his wife do the talking. We still like each other. Both of them like being so near to the grandchildren, being able to help with breakfasts, school runs, etc. But for the middle generation? Im sure there are things we do that annoy them ... I try not to be a hovering grandmother but its hard not to get it wrong some of the time. In the end, this arrangement was more about love than practicalities. Weve never been good thinking about things in a financial way, or weve chosen not to. This is an investment in the fabric of our family. * Not their real names. Space: the final frontier Talk to anyone about the key to successful shared housing and the answer is one word: space. California-born Leah Salo, 47, and her Australian husband Tim, 43, took that to heart. When they couldnt find a suitable house to buy, they built one, on the Gold Coast. An enormous one, even for six people. The floor space is 550 square metres, with a separate self-contained wing downstairs for her parents, shared family spaces on that floor, and an entire upper floor essentially, a self-contained four-bedroom house in itself for Leah, her husband and their two daughters, now 10 and 11. Leah Salo (second from right) with husband Tim, her parents Mark and Dixie, and kids Annalia (at left) and Savanna at their Gold Coast home, which incorporates shared and separate family spaces. Credit:Paul Harris Her parents moved out here from the US about 10 years ago, in their 60s. We actually bought some land for them on our street before they emigrated, Leah says. We built them a custom-made house four houses away, so that way we couldnt see each other but we were close by. But it meant we each had a five-bedroom, triple-bathroom house. We were thinking, This is crazy: between us weve got 10 bedrooms, four refrigerators, two internet bills, two energy bills. Why are we doing this? And we spent half the time together anyway. They tested the waters by renting a house together for a year. It didnt put them off the idea, but they realised the house was too small and not designed for shared living. The biggest thing we learnt in talking to people about it was that every generation has different needs. So my parents need to have a private area of their own their own offices, their own en suite and bedroom. They need an area where we dont go and we need the same, and my children need the same. Its my parents giving to us now what we would have inherited from them, but they live in it, so they have a great standard of living. Leah Salo Leah put a lot of thought into setting up the financial side. Youve got two ways. Everybody owns 25 per cent, or the last one standing gets it. The first way, everybody has a percentage. The other way is that everyone owns the property and when one person dies, three people own it, when the next dies, two own it. Then its the last one standing. Her parents paid a bit more than 50-50 towards the house because they could, Leah says. Basically, its my parents giving to us now what we would have inherited from them, but they live in it, so they have a great standard of living. She acknowledges that siblings can complicate matters and she herself has a brother who lives in the US. But hes not worried because hes independently wealthy. And, of course, in years to come, it means the care of her parents is most likely to fall to her. Shes already factored that in with wide hallways for mobility equipment. What about her husbands equity, given they are her parents, not his? We set up a prenuptial agreement when we were first married to determine what the split would be. At that time, my parents had given me some money to get my first house. It wasnt so much to protect my assets as to protect my parents assets. Wed seen other couples get divorced and fight over money. Loading Do they spend much time together communally? Probably not a lot, to be honest. Thats part of us trying to be respectful of everybody and their own space. We try to find a nice balance. The biggest plus, hands down, she says, is the time her children get to have with their grandparents. And when her parents need it, shell be there to care for them. It wasnt abnormal to live like this 50 years ago. Were just going back to what works. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times. Ways to make an ever-popular New Year's resolution a reality Getting started on a healthy program can be easy with some professional help. (Newser) Boeing faces 61 safety fixes following last year's botched test flight of its Starliner crew capsule, NASA said Friday. NASA has also designated December's aborted space station mission as a serious "high-visibility close call" that could have destroyed the capsuletwice, the AP reports. In releasing the outcome of a joint investigation, NASA said it still has not decided whether to require Boeing to launch the Starliner again without a crew, or go straight to putting astronauts on board. Douglas Loverro, NASA's human exploration and operation chief, told reporters that Boeing must first present a plan and schedule for the 61 corrective actions. Boeing expects to have a plan in NASA's hands by the end of this month. story continues below Loverro said the space agency wants to verify, among other things, that Boeing has retested all the necessary software for Starliner. "At the end of the day, what we have got to decide is ... do we have enough confidence to say we are ready to fly with a crew or do we believe that we need another uncrewed testing," Loverro said. Boeing's Jim Chilton, a senior vice president, said his company is ready to repeat a test flight without a crew, if NASA decides on one. "All of us want crew safety No. 1," Chilton said. "Whatever testing we've got to do to make that happen, we embrace it." Loverro said he felt compelled to designate the test flight as a "high-visibility close call." He said that involves more scrutiny of Boeing and NASA to make sure mistakes like this don't happen again. (Read more Boeing stories.) New concerns about the coronavirus after the number of cases worldwide tops 100,000. The World Health Organization says only 3.4 per cent of the total number of people who contracted the virus have died from it. But this figure is being disputed. Some health experts believe the number would be much lower if more people were tested. Al Jazeera spoke to a Wuhan resident who barely had any symptoms and did not even know he was infected until he was tested. Al Jazeeras Katrina Yu reports from Beijing. Fernando Lavoz / Associated Press 2018 MEXICO CITY The Vatican has suspended a clerical sex abuse fact-finding and assistance mission to Mexico due to the spreading coronavirus in Italy and now the Vatican. The Mexican Episcopal Conference said in a statement that the Holy See had suspended all foreign activities after registering its first positive test Thursday. The Vatican announced no such ban publicly and the Vatican spokesman didnt return messages seeking comment. The United Nations has reportedly asked nine countries to delay the rotation of their peacekeeping forces in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak. According to media reports, the countries including India, China, and South Korea were asked to delay the rotation to maintain operational strength. Often referred to as Blue Helmets or Blue Berets, peacekeeping forces include military, police, and civilians and currently 13 peacekeeping active operations around the world led by Department of Peace Operations (DPO) of which majority are deployed in the African continent. The decision to delay the rotation is aimed at keeping the forces healthy while maintaining the continuity of operations. Coronavirus epidemic has become a major concern around the world as the more than 100,000 cases have been confirmed globally. The worst affected countries are China, South Korea, Iran, and Italy with around 3,500 deaths due to COVID-19. Read: Coronavirus: Facebook Shuts London, Singapore Offices After Employee Tests Positive According to the latest report, 28 new deaths in China due to coronavirus infections have been confirmed, taking the total death toll because of the deadly virus to 3,070. While most of the cases are from Hubei province of China and the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, other countries, including the United States, Iran, Italy, and South Korea, have also reported deaths related to COVID-19. Read: Coronavirus: PM Modi To Meet Harsh Vardhan After 31 People Test Positive 'Encouraged by accelerated research' The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that they are continuing to recommend that all countries make containment their highest priority. Speaking at a daily media briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that they are encouraged by accelerated research as part of the response. WHO has received applications for 40 diagnostic tests, 20 vaccines are in development and many clinical trials of therapeutics are underway. Even as we test therapeutics, we need to ensure that supplies of those medicines are available should they prove effective. WHO has been monitoring the potential risk of a disruption to medicines supplies as a result of the COVID19 epidemic, said Ghebreyesus. Read: Coronavirus: Death Toll Crosses 3,000 In China, Cases Surpass 100,000 Globally Read: Overall Risk To The American Public From Coronavirus Remains Low: Trump (With agency inputs) And then there were just two. In a matter of days, Joe Biden resuscitated his near lifeless campaign for the US presidency and stunningly became the Democrat to beat for the party's nomination and the White House. After failing to win any of the first three February contests (Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada), the former two-term vice president appeared overshadowed principally by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont but also by other contenders. A fifth-place finish in the New Hampshire primary prompted vigorous hand-wringing and sotto voce talk about withdrawing. But the American political landscape dramatically changed last Saturday with the South Carolina primary. Mr Biden amassed 48.4pc of the vote in a seven-person field, with Mr Sanders collecting just 19.9pc. The victory was not only decisive. It was also the first time in Mr Biden's three attempts to capture the Democratic presidential nomination that he prevailed in any contest. His previous White House campaigns, in 1988 and 2008, went nowhere. Expand Close Focused: President Donald Trump is in a combative mood to take on Biden. Photo: Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Focused: President Donald Trump is in a combative mood to take on Biden. Photo: Getty Images Four springs ago, Donald Trump benefited from having several competitors vying to be the Republican Party standard bearer. Well into March, three other hopefuls divided mainstream party support, while the mogul-cum-television performer - and genuine GOP outsider - deftly navigated his way past well-known political professionals to victory. Right after the South Carolina ballots were counted, Democrats demonstrated that the Republicans in 2016 taught them a lesson for 2020. Former Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg, who won the most delegates at the Iowa caucus, and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, a strong third in New Hampshire, slipped to fourth and sixth respectively in South Carolina, with neither gathering 10pc. On Monday, Mr Buttigieg and Ms Klobuchar, with both their campaigns suspended after South Carolina, enthusiastically backed Mr Biden during rallies in Texas, solidifying his standing with moderate Democrats. These endorsements and widely reported whispering that former president Barack Obama was advising political associates to get behind his eight-year number two set the stage for the 16 contests that took place on 'Super Tuesday' this week. Mr Biden finished first in 10 of the 14 state primaries, showing remarkable strength in the south (Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas) and scoring a surprise triumph in delegate-rich Texas. "For those who have been knocked down, counted out, left behind, this is your campaign," he boomed after the scope of his success became clear. The Yankee-style Lazarus went on, "I'm here to report we are very much alive." Though Mr Sanders secured the biggest prize, California, and three other states, his overall performance didn't match the expectations of pundits or punters. The consolidation of support behind Mr Biden and recent media reports that Mr Sanders spoke favourably about the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro years ago affected the lacklustre outcome. Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who invested well over $500m of his personal fortune in just the last three months to bankroll his late-entry campaign, was considered the platinum-plated wildcard going into Super Tuesday. Would the torrent of television adverts broadcast everywhere and at all hours translate into voter acceptance at the ballot box? In a word, the "no" was resounding and deafening. On Wednesday the billionaire aspirant, who jumped in last November because he thought Mr Biden didn't stand a chance, dropped out, saying he'd back "my friend and a great American, Joe Biden". Mr Bloomberg's limitless antipathy to his fellow New Yorker, Mr Trump, could become significant to the Biden campaign. The existing Bloomberg political organisation and related activities he intends to fund will operate in key battleground states with the singular objective of removing the current president from the Oval Office. With Thursday's decision by Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts that she'll also suspend her campaign - a disappointing third on Tuesday in her home state's primary proved a death knell - the Democratic nomination will definitely be decided by whatever takes place between Mr Biden and Mr Sanders in the near future. There are already full-throated complaints from the Sanders camp that the party establishment is working overtime to make sure the self-described democratic socialist gets derailed before the nominating convention in July. Similar charges circulated in 2016, and the senator's faithful did little to help former secretary of state Hillary Clinton wage her battle against Mr Trump that year. Amazingly, Mr Sanders has sought the Democratic Party's highest political prize twice without ever becoming a rank-and-file member of the party. In the Senate, he participates in the Democratic caucus, yet he does so while proudly calling himself "an independent". What Mr Sanders says and does during the next several weeks will unquestionably, and unpredictably, influence the final reckoning in November. Will he be able to find a way to broaden his devoted constituency to challenge Mr Biden effectively through the nominating contests that continue through early June? If he can't do that, will he instruct the members of what he calls his populist "movement" to throw its support, along with its passion, behind Mr Biden for the general-election campaign? They might not like it, but these two septuagenarians -Mr Sanders is 78 and Mr Biden 77 - will need each other for the Democrats to have a fighting chance against Mr Trump and the Republicans come election day. Vietnam offering thriving prospects for UK groups British Ambassador to the ASEAN Jon Lambe told VIR that with the UK having left the EU to enter a transition period just days before the EVFTA was ratified by the bloc, it is now free and flexible to negotiate its own FTAs with any partners around the world. The UK is beefing up its bilateral co-operation with Vietnam. We are negotiating a bilateral FTA with our friends here, and things are going very well, Lambe said. We look forward to and hope for negotiations to be concluded sometime this year. The agreement is important for both the UK and Vietnam as it will foster trade and investment relationship between both sides. According to Baker McKenzie Vietnam, the UK and Vietnam may negotiate their own FTA, entering into force any time after the UK has fully exited from the EU. Whether Vietnam may offer the same terms of trade to the UK alone as it offered to the entire EU market remains to be seen, said the firms report on the EVFTA and Brexit, involving the future of trade between the UK and Vietnam. According to the UKs Department for International Trade, Vietnam is an exciting place to do business. It cites a large, young population and a growing middle class, with a fast-growing economy and government reforms that can open up markets for British companies. There are opportunities for such companies across a broad range of industries. The departments trade advisers in Vietnam have identified particular opportunities for UK businesses in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and education. For example, the department said Vietnam is moving away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy, currently dominated by hydroelectricity. This is creating excellent opportunities for UK groups specialising in the sustainable energy field. In the infrastructure sector, Vietnam has excellent openings for British companies to get involved in its ambitious programme of infrastructure development, which includes new urban railways and an international airport. According to the Asian Development Bank, Vietnam spent 5.7 per cent of its GDP on infrastructure development in 2017, the highest figure in Southeast Asia. The department is also seeing Vietnams expanding public transport network as an opportunity for UK investors. Vietnams plans to build eight metro lines in Hanoi and another eight in Ho Chi Minh City are in the early stages. A planned project to build a high-speed North-South railway is also expected to start in 2020. This is creating opportunities for UK businesses that have products and services in the railway supply chain, said the department on its website. Recently, at the 11th meeting of the UK-Vietnam Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) in the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh, the UK and Vietnam committed to further strengthen partnerships, with discussions focused on a range of issues including bilateral trade and investment ties, as well as co-operation in education, healthcare, energy, agriculture, and financial services. Vietnam is one of the most dynamic markets and a key trading partner for the UK going forward, with UK exports to the nation worth over 800 million (over $1 billion) in 2018, said the UKs Minister of Trade Policy Conor Burns. The first official UK-Vietnam JETCO took place in 2007. To date, it has given UK pharmaceutical companies the ability to export vaccines to Vietnam that have been in the UK market for over five years without the need for local clinical trials, allowing life-saving drugs to enter the market. Currently the UKs total registered investment capital in Vietnam is $3.7 billion, according to Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment, although registered capital of the UK overseas territory of the British Virgin Islands and territories collectively known as the British West Indies sits at $21.72 billion and $947.5 billion, respectively. By Express News Service KARUR: BJP national secretary H Raja on Friday took potshots at DMK chief MK Stalin, saying the latter had transformed the party into Muslim League. Stalin has transformed DMK into a Muslim League as he is protesting in favour of Muslim intruders from Pakistan and Bangladesh. The majority of DMKs Hindu cadre told us that they are not happy with their chief. There is no one in Shaheen Bagh now except for five to six persons due to funds crunch. Violence and threats are Jinnahs weapons and anti-CAA protesters have taken those weapons in their hands, Raja said in Karur. On the recent Delhi riots, Raja said he was not in a position to speak in favour of or against (BJP leader) Kapil Mishra, who is accused of making hate speech. Three goats named Hunter, Ranger and Alvin are the unlikely subjects of a zoning skirmish in Piscataway that has dragged on for nearly a year. The goats and at least 50 chickens are living at John and Joans Road Stand, a family-owned business founded in 1958 that sells fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants and other items. Kristin Lauria said her 85-year-old grandmother received a letter, last April 1, from the township informing her that farm animals are not allowed in a residential zone. The letter, from assistant property maintenance and enforcement officer Ben Pobicki, spelled out some potentially dire consequences from a $500 fine to up to 90 days in jail for failing to comply with the 1953 zoning law. Please remove the chickens and goats from your property, read the letter, provided to NJ Advance Media. In response, Lauria who has been running the road stand since 2012 got a lawyer and has been seeking to find a way to keep the goats and chickens. The zoning board of adjustment will hold a hearing on April 23 on the farm stands request for a land use variance, with if granted would allow them all to stay. Lauria said her family has housed geese, ducks and rabbits, in addition to chickens and goats, over the decades without incident. We actually always hatched the chickens ourselves when my grandfather was alive as my grandfather had an incubator, she said. John and Joans Road Stand in PiscatawayPhoto courtesy of Kristin Lauria It appears a 2004 subdivision on the familys property, totaling 1.25 acres, is at the root of the conflict. Piscataways municipal attorney, Jim Clarkin, said the family received permission to divide their property into three lots. Two were approved for single-family homes, though only one has been built, with the farm stand continuing on the third lot. All 1.25 acres were farmland prior to Piscataway adopting the residential zoning law, meaning that goats and chickens would have been grandfathered in as a permitted use. The subdivision, though, apparently changed the equation. "Decreasing the size of the lot amounts to an intensification of use, Clarkin said. This is a case of the township planning staff routinely applying established New Jersey Superior Court case law and requiring that a use variance be applied for, in order to continue the non-conforming use on approximately one-third of the lot area that was originally available for keeping the chickens and goats," Clarkin said. It is not clear why it took so long for Piscataway to raise the issue. Clarkin said the abatement notice from last year was not prompted by a complaint. Rather, the inspector spotted the goats and chickens while driving by the farm stand on Stelton Road. Lauria said she thinks she knows how that happened. My cousin cut down a couple of trees, Lauria said. The conflict was playing out mostly behind the scenes until Wednesday night, when Lauria set up a GoFundMe account seeking to defray legal costs. The three goats were born on Feb. 12, 2015 at Hawk Haven Farm in Stockton. Theyre a joy. The kids love to come see them, Lauria said. Theyre contained. They dont hurt. They dont bite," she said. Her grandparents, John and Joan Lauria, started the business in 1958 by selling vegetables. John Lauria died in 1995. John and Joans Road Stand is closed for the winter but expected to reopen in early April, she said. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. After the devastating tornado that ripped through Nashville and central Tennessee on Tuesday, volunteers immediately began looking for ways to help. However, few expected one of those helpers to be a 3-year-old on a tricycle! Susan Stout Dyer posted a photo Friday of her grandson, Dax, riding his trike through her devastated neighborhood of Cookeville, Tennessee. Apparently, the little man was on a mission to rebuild his neighborhood. "My grandson Dax, in our subdivision," she captioned the photo of the little boy in a green dinosaur T-shirt on his red trike. "He told me 'he had to come work to help his neighbors with their broken houses.' He said thats what God wants us to do ... what you cant see, he has his hammer and tools on the back of his trike!" Dax looks at the damage after the tornado Tuesday. (Susan Stout Dyer / WBIR) "Our neighborhood was the first touch down of the tornado," Dyer told TODAY. "Day care was closed, and his mom was at work so he was spending the day with me. The next morning, Dax heard me speaking with his older brother about going to help down the street. He got his tools and placed them on his trike, put on his goggles and off we went. He said to me, 'Suesue, are we going to help our neighbors because their houses are broken?' I replied yes, and asked him why he thought we should do that. His reply was 'because thats what God wants us to do, help our neighbors!'" Dyer lives in Prosperity Point in Cookeville, one of the areas affected by the tornado that killed at least 24 people, destroyed homes and buildings and caused major power outages across the state. There has been an outpouring of support for the tornado victims, including help from celebrities and members of the music community urging people to donate. But no one could have imagined such a small boy would try to make his own impact in the aftermath. "God Bless you Dax for having such a compassionate heart!! So precious and may God Bless you all in Tennessee," one person posted after viewing the heartwarming photo. Story continues Dax on his tricycle in his family's neighborhood in Cookeville. (Susan Stout Dyer / WBIR) "Out of the mouth of Babes!" wrote another person. "I Love how he thinks at such a young age! You are so Blessed as a grandma to have him as your grandson. God is speaking to him and he is listening." Earlier this week, Gov. Bill Lee addressed the residents of Tennessee saying, "In the worst of circumstances the best of people comes out, and thats what were seeing here in Tennessee." Apparently, Dax got the memo and is proving that even in the worst of times, there is always hope. "As a grandparent I try to be very intentional with using the time I spend with him to teach him what love really looks like based on our faith," said Dyer. "I wasnt surprised at all because he is a sweet child! Our community has experienced something horrible and something beautiful at the same time. We are broken but we are strong." KABULISIS terrorists opened fire at a ceremony in Kabul on March 6, killing at least 32 people in the first major attack in the city since the United States reached an agreement with the Afghan Taliban on a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops. A top Afghan political leader, Abdullah Abdullah, was present along with other key political figures and escaped unharmed. Some 81 people were wounded, a government spokesman said, adding that the death toll could rise. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, the groups Amaq news agency reported on its telegram channel. The Taliban, who were ousted from power by U.S.-led troops in 2001, denied involvement almost immediately. The gathering marked the 25th anniversary of the death of Abdul Ali Mazari, an ethnic Hazara leader who was killed in 1995 after being taken prisoner by the Taliban. Several people were killed in a similar attack on the same commemoration last year, which ISIS had also said was carried out by its terrorists The attack started with a boom, apparently a rocket landed in the area, Abdullah and some other politicians escaped the attack unhurt, Abdullahs spokesman, Fraidoon Kwazoon, who was also present, told Reuters by telephone. Broadcaster Tolo News showed live footage of people running for cover as gunfire was heard. Afghan defense forces continued to fight gunmen throughout the day, finally securing the area by killing about three gunmen in the late afternoon, according to ministry of interior spokesman Nasrat Rahimi. President Ashraf Ghani tweeted that the attack was a crime against humanity and against the national unity of Afghanistan. Abdullah was runner-up in the last three Afghan presidential elections, each of which he disputed. He has served as chief executive of a coalition government since 2014 and is also a former foreign minister. Ghani said he had telephoned Abdullah, his longtime political rival. Abdullah is contesting an Electoral Commission announcement last month declaring Ghani the winner of Septembers presidential election. Dozens of relatives gathered at the morgue of a hospital not far from the blast, with many breaking down in tears as they waited to identify their loved ones. Ambulances and stretchers bustled back and forth at the hospital to deliver the wounded for treatment. I was at the ceremony when gunshots started. I rushed toward the door to get out of the area but suddenly my foot was hit by a bullet, Mukhtar Jan told Reuters from a stretcher at the hospital. Ali Attayee, at the hospital to support his wounded brother, said: Those who committed this crime want to destroy our people. Were sorry for those committing such crimes. Representatives of the United States, European Union and NATO condemned the attack. Attacking the innocent and defenseless at a memorial event is a sign of weakness, not a show of strength. The Afghan people deserve a future free from terror, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The attack was one of the largest on civilians in Afghanistan in a year. Horrific attack in Kabul today heartbreaking and unacceptable. We are tired of war and violence, said Shahrzad Akbar, head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. Hazaras are mostly Shiite Muslims. Minority Shiites have been repeatedly attacked by Sunni militants in Afghanistan. The United States has sought to spearhead efforts towards a lasting peace arrangement. Violence decreased during a seven-day hold-down accord with the Taliban before last Saturdays deal, though the Taliban have since resumed attacks on Afghan forces. By Abdul Qadir Sediqi and Orooj Hakimi The three suspected Coronavirus patients quarantined in Lagos have tested negative to the deadly disease, Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi said on Friday evening. Abayomi had on Thursday said three people had been quarantined at its isolation centre in Yaba area of Lagos on suspicion of Coronavirus. One of the suspects quarantined was a Nigerian who travelled to France eight days ago and arrived the country four days ago. He developed headache and respiratory symptom which led to him being quarantined. Two other travellers from England and China were also quarantined for coronavirus after they developed certain symptoms. According to Abayomi, their samples were collected for tests to ascertain if they have been affected by Coronavirus. However, the commissioner tweeted on Friday evening that the three suspects had tested negative to the deadly disease. He said the three people had been discharged after they were certified free from Coronavirus. Breaking! #COVID19Lagos All the three #COVID19 suspected cases; travellers from France, England and China whose samples were collected yesterday for analysis have tested negative and they have been discharged, he wrote on his twitter handle. However, Abayomi had said on Thursday that the index case, an Italian was seriously responding to treatment at the isolation centre, as his clinical situation was stable. He stated that the Italian was in high spirit, but that he required psycho-social support as he was getting depressed for being in isolation alone, adding that the patient was in touch with his family and friends in Italy. Abayomi, however, said the level of viral load in his body had gone down and that if that continued, in the next few days, he might be discharged if he tested negative to the disease. He said the government would not just release him immediately he tested negative to the disease, but would still keep him and run a second test in few days to ascertain he was completely free of the disease before letting him go back to his country. On the people who alighted from the Turkish Airline on arrival in Lagos, he said government had been able to trace 13 of the remaining 15 contacts, leaving only two that had not been reached, saying that if at the end of today, they could not be reached, he would release their names to the media declaring them wanted. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 8F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 5F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. "In times of crisis, we were there," he said. "When Hammond made public transportation not a priority, we made sure 52,000 got rides. When BP Amoco Local 7-1 went on strike, we were at the union hall and made sure they had access to health care (after workers lost theirs). With our Hardest Hit Fund, we kept them in their houses. I will continue that type of support." Touches our hearts Re: Seeing possibility through eyes of Larry P. Johnson, by Katya Harmel, Other Views, Saturday: I love reading Larry P. Johnsons op-eds in the Express-News. They are always well-written and balanced. His blindness does not prevent him from seeing more about life than those of us with eyesight. They are positive and inspiring. Many of them reflect our common humanity and touch our hearts. Judy Peterson, Boerne On ExpressNews.com: Commentary: Seeing possibility through eyes of Larry Johnson Hes great at dominoes Thank you for the great words about my friend Larry Johnson. He has been an inspiration to me as well. I had to return home once from Austin and tell people I lost a dominoes game to a blind man! Walter Graham On a bicycle built for 2 I enjoyed the op-ed on Larry Johnson. Ive always admired his work and Im old enough to remember his stint on Channel 12. I met Johnson back in the late 70s when I was a bicycle mechanic. Local bike shops, including the Bike Barn where I worked, sponsored a tandem bicycle ride at Fort Sam Houston for blind folks. Local tandem owners brought their bikes and took blind riders on the back seats the stoker. I didnt ride, but I remember Larry being there, and being quite complimentary of the fajitas I grilled at the after-ride picnic. Like you, I was quite impressed with Mr. Johnson and was always pleased when I saw him at later times to know he remembered that day and the good times that were had. Rick Yanas Strong, then and now My family moved to Mexico City also from Chicago when I was 4, and, although a bit younger than Larry Johnson, I distinctly remember listening to his evening radio show as a kid. I feel I may be a hybrid version of him, encompassing the strength of my 100-year-old mother, who moved to Mexico in the 1950s with four children, and my experiences growing up in the hustle and bustle of a very different, yet great city. I suspect Johnson would agree. I wouldnt trade the experience of the Golden Years of Mexico for anything. His story is one of strength and perseverance. And although I think he might be going a bit over the top with the skydiving part, I hope he gets to do it. George Kauss ANM Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd. with the support of Millennial India International Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and the Embassy of India in Baku is organizing the 7th edition of BEST OF INDIA - Biggest Exclusive Indian Product Trade Show in Baku, Azerbaijan, during March 06-15, 2020 from 11:00 AM to 07:00 PM at Baku Sport Hall, 26a M. Huseynov street (old Neftchilar avenue), Baku, Azerbaijan. The series of shows held overseas have consistently presented Indian industrys high quality goods, services and technologies in varied industrial sectors to the world. The Best of India - An Exclusive India Product exhibition has a participation of about 60 companies from India showcasing high quality Products and Services including Rice, Tea, Spices, Gifts & Handicrafts, Home Furnishing, Textile & Garments, Jewellery, Cosmetics. A major attraction in the event is the Exhibition of Khadi and Village Industry products displayed by the Embassy of India to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Khadi, also known as muslin or mulmul, is a hand spun and hand woven natural fibre cloth, made by Indian artisans. Cotton, wool & silk and combinations of these natural fibres make Khadi, which is symbolic of self-reliance of rural people in India. Apart from business and commerce, the event is also focusing on portraying the rich Indian cultural heritage through the folk dances etc. all adding to Best of India Experience. Entry to the exhibition is free. The Best of India show was inaugurated by H.E. Mr. B. Vanlalvawna, Ambassador of India to Azerbaijan and Mr. Anil Trigunayat, President, MIICCIA Chamber of Commerce, New Delhi on March 06, 2020 at 1600 hrs. Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) graced the event. Earlier, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Millennial India International Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (MIICCIA), New Delhi and The Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI), Baku in order to jointly promote trade. The MOU was signed by Mr. Anil Trigunayat, President, MIICCIA and Mr. Niyaz Ali-Zada, President, ACCI in the presence of Mr. B. Vanlalvawna, Ambassador of India to Azerbaijan at the premises of ACCI in Baku on March 05, 2020. India and Azerbaijan enjoy close friendly relations based on historical links and growing bilateral cooperation. Total bilateral trade turnover between India and Azerbaijan has reached US$ 1092 million in 2019. India and Azerbaijan have growing cooperation in capacity building under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme which provides fully paid training programes for Azerbaijani profesionalls and students in Indian institutions. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Male media personalities and sporting stars have shared their thoughts on what needs to be done to achieve greater gender equality. In The Sunday Telegraph's Stellar magazine for their International Women's Day edit, David Campbell suggested it starts with 'really hearing' what women are saying. Peter Helliar urged others to 'practise empathy', while Adam Goodes has made female Indigenous scholarships a priority for his GO Foundation. 'Really hear what women are saying': David Campbell (pictured), 46, and other male stars suggested what needs to be done to achieve greater gender equality, in The Sunday Telegraph's Stellar magazine for their International Women's Day issue 'Don't speak. Just listen. Listen to what women are saying. Really hear them,' David, co-host of Nine's Today Extra said. 'When you do speak, instead of offering a solution, ask 'How can I help?'' The 46-year-old urged employers to 'raise' their staff, and for those married, to support their other half. Co-host of Ten's The Project, Peter Helliar, 44, urged male readers to 'practise empathy' as men and women are 'actually on the same side'. Allow women to have a voice: David, co-host of Nine's Today Extra, said: 'Don't speak. Just listen. Listen to what women are saying. Really hear them' In it together: Co-host of Ten's The Project, Peter Helliar (pictured), 44, urged male readers to 'practise empathy' as men and women are 'actually on the same side' 'Don't wait until you or someone you know is personally affected for you to consider the ramifications. We need to be all in,' he said. AFL great Adam Goodes, 40, is also doing his part to help, ensuring 60 percent of girls are included in his Indigenous scholarship program. One of the GO Foundation's goals is to increase the number of scholarships available to Indigenous students from kindergarten to university. 'I have seen too often that young girls, especially Indigenous girls, are not getting the same opportunities as boys,' he said. Charitable: AFL great Adam Goodes (pictured), 40, is also doing his part to help, ensuring 60 percent of girls are included in his Indigenous scholarship program International Women's Day seeks to bring to light the changes that still need to be made to support women's rights. Meanwhile, Australian songstress Tina Arena told The Australian on Friday that while there's not a 'simple solution', a starting point could be 'offering women more support to re-enter the workforce'. 'More workplace flexibility and finally, just not expecting women to be anything but women. We need to celebrate our uniqueness and the beautiful differences we bring to the world,' the 52-year-old continued. Tina urged women to support and love one another, as we can only achieve great change together. A North Carolina English teacher has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a student, according to the sheriff's department. Carly Erin Kaczmarek, 32, of Belews Creek, North Carolina faces charges of felony sexual activity with a student and felony indecent liberties with a student. But the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said it plans to file more charges against her later. Kaczmarek has worked as an English language arts teacher at Walkertown Middle School since 2014. She has now been fired. At the time of her arrest, Kaczmarek had already been suspended and was under investigation for another unrelated incident, according to officials for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. Kaczmarek allegedly had sex off school grounds with an unnamed student in November 2019. That student's age is also being withheld. Carly Erin Kaczmarek, 32, of Belews Creek, North Carolina allegedly had sex with a student off campus faces charges of felony sexual activity with a student and felony indecent liberties with a student Kaczmarek faces charges of sexual activity with a student and indecent liberties with a student, which are both felonies taught English Language Arts teacher Middle School in Belews Creek, North Carolina Kaczmarek taught English language arts at Walkertown Middle School in North Carolina A statement from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools said: 'Kaczmarek had already been suspended pending investigation for a separate, unrelated matter.' It continued: 'Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools will continue to work with law enforcement through this investigation and always encourages parents and students to make us aware of any situation or relationship that concerns them.' She is currently being held at Forsyth County Law Enforcement Detention Center on a bond set for $50,000 Kaczmarek was arrested at her home on March 6 and police expect her to face more charges Kaczmarek had already been suspended from teaching at Walkertown due to an unrelated matter (Newser) The former head of Blackwateryes, the private military companyhas privately recruited former spies to infiltrate liberal groups and report to the conservative Project Veritas, the New York Times reports. Per documents and interviews, Erik Prince helped find American and British ex-spies to dig up intelligence on labor organizations, Democratic congressional campaigns, a teachers union office, and other groups opposed to President Trump's policies. That includes a former MI6 officer who apparently ran an infiltration operation at the Michigan office of the American Federation for teachers. A spy identified as Marisa Jorge infiltrated the group in 2017 to record conversations and copy files. In one email she tells her handler that she managed to record a union leader. story continues below "Good stuff," he writes back. "Did you receive the spare camera yet?" AFT Michigan later sued Project Veritas for offenses including trespassing and eavesdropping; Project Veritas said it's protected by the First Amendment, and the trial is slated for this fall. Other apparent targets included the congressional campaign of Abigail Spanberger (who won a Virginia House seat) and the liberal consulting group Democracy Partners. Meanwhile, both Prince and Project Veritas have known links to the Trump family and each other. The Intercept reported last year that Prince had Project Veritas workers over at his Wyoming ranch for training in 2017. James O'Keefe, who heads the group, said the visit would help make Project Veritas "the next great intelligence agency." (Prince was involved in a controversial Trump Tower meeting.) Education Minister Peter Weir has called for "radical change" in the way that school inspections are carried out. Mr Weir said the culture of inspections has to change, with more trust placed in the professionalism of teachers as "experts in their field". He was speaking at the annual conference of teaching union INTO in Newry yesterday. Teaching unions have been seeking reforms to the school inspection process, including inspectors being subject to more accountability. Mr Weir said there has been good engagement between the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI), which inspects schools, and unions. "There has been material produced to help clarify and reduce the documentation required for inspections, including myth-busting information, and this is something I think will roll out," he said. "However, what I would say is, this can only be the start to the change of inspections. We must see a radical change in the direction of travel of inspections. "I detailed this in a previous policy paper 'Reducing the Burden' and how I would like to see inspections reformed." Mr Weir said the culture of inspections had to change, based around three key principles. He added: "We need to see a higher trust in the professionalism of teachers and to allow teachers to deliver, and, accompanying with that, a light touch regime when it comes to what monitoring needs to happen. "Secondly, we need to reach a point where there is no additional data to be produced, by schools, ahead of any inspection. We should trust teachers as experts in their fields and not just data providers. The best schools are schools which start from the point of self-evaluating. "Thirdly, there must be a change in the approach and in relationships. "We need to shift away from the current model to an educational improvement service based around collaboration, based around supporting schools, based around mutual respect and generating two way discussions." INTO's Northern secretary Gerry Murphy said teachers finally have something to look forward to. "The round of applause and standing ovation said it all," he said. "The burden they have had to put up with, by carrying out a regime which generates so much stress and pressure on top of their already pressured jobs, is unwarranted, unnecessary and unfair." WASHINGTON Mick Mulvaney, President Trumps third and least powerful chief of staff, was replaced by North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, an announcement Trump made in a Friday night tweet. Trump named Mulvaney special envoy to Northern Ireland after a 14-month tenure in which he made few, if any, attempts to curb the presidents often impulsive actions and statements. Meadows, one of the most conservative members of the House since 2013, has been a staunch Trump defender and leading surrogate during the recent impeachment. Mulvaney, a former member of Congress from South Carolina, ascended to the chief of staffs post in January 2019 after the departure of John Kelly, a retired general who as chief of staff became marginalized after he attempted to impose more discipline on the presidents decision-making process and restrict the access that some of Trumps friends and informal advisers enjoyed. Trump made it clear that he resents such restrictions and, at least initially, was comfortable with Mulvaneys laid-back approach. But Trump, who prefers to keep staffers on a short leash, never gave Mulvaney the formal title of chief of staff, calling him acting chief throughout his tenure. Though Mulvaney said he did not mind the slight, it was a constant reminder that his lease on the job was subject to Trumps whims. His most notable and publicly embarrassing moment came in October, when he held a rare White House news briefing. He said Trump had temporarily held up nearly $400 million in congressionally approved aid to Ukraine until President Volodymyr Zelensky satisfied three conditions, including Trumps request that the government investigate Democrats, and a debunked claim that Ukraine played a role in influencing the 2016 election. I have news for everybody: Get over it. Theres going to be political influence in foreign policy, Mulvaney said words that quickly became emblematic of his view of Trumps powers. Mulvaney later defied a House subpoena to testify in the impeachment investigation at the request of Trump. From day one, Mulvaney abdicated the most important duty of any White House chief of staff, which is to be able to tell the president what he doesnt want to hear, said Chris Whipple, author of The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency. Noah Bierman and Eli Stokols are Los Angeles Times reporters. MATTOON Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation recently announced the recipients of the Coles County Peace and Justice Fund for 2019. The recipients include Douglas-Hart Foundation, Eastern Illinois University Understanding Human Rights, One-Stop Christmas, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Illinois and Eastern Illinois University Making Excellence Inclusive Committee. The Coles County Peace and Justice Fund Board members include Bob and Marilyn McClean, Bruce Karmazin, Elaine Fine, LaTonya Davies, Taneya Higginbotham, and Vinnie Walk. Douglas-Hart Foundation was granted $3,000 to support the Find Your Voice program at the Douglas-Hart Nature Center. Find Your Voice is a sustainable movement and organization centered on todays youth who will be faced with difficult decisions about the future. The program is focused on environmental protection but with an overarching theme, that includes social justice for the environment and an examination of human rights at the same time. Eastern Illinois University Understanding Human Rights was granted $1,000 to support a summer camp dedicated to human rights issues. The Understanding Human Rights program is an immersive, weeklong experience for high school students to explore the history and politics of human rights. One-Stop Community Christmas was granted $500 to support the purchase of a diverse selection of books for families to choose from. One-Stop Community Christmas is a collaborative effort of over 200 area organizations to provide support for families in seven counties during the holiday season. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Illinois was granted $1,500 to support new LGBTQ and Sensitivity training that is being offered online, regionally and nationally for staff members. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Illinois provides at-risk youth with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships The Making Excellence Inclusive Committee at Eastern Illinois University was granted $1,000 to support a series of events that invite community members from across Coles County to the EIU campus. The events are designed to encourage mutual trust and promote cross-cultural understanding on matters of social justice and human rights through an informal, community-based approach to diversity training. The Coles County Peace and Justice Fund is a fund of Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation that awards grants to organizations in Coles County for programs and activities that encourage mutual trust and promote cross-cultural understanding on matters of social justice and human rights, religious tolerance, and environmental protection. For more information, contact Maggie Meylor, Grants Administrator, at 217-342-5413 or maggie@enrichingourcommunity.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In Chefs Fridges (Harper Design, May), food photographer Carrie Solomon and food writer Adrian Moore open up the home refrigerators of big names in the culinary world, giving readers a peek at how the pros cook when they trade their whites for slippers. (Hint: all the condiments.) PW spoke with the authors about some of the surprising things they found in what Moore calls Willy Wonka fridges. Whats the most ingenious, or unusual, item you saw in a chefs refrigerator? A.M.: Kristian Baumann [of the sustainability-minded Restaurant108, in Copenhagen] is Korean and was adopted by a Danish couple; when he went to Korea for the first time a few years ago, he said, he stepped out of the airport, smelled the spices on the wind, and felt at home. His fridge contained foraged mushrooms from a park in Copenhagen, soybean paste made by seven nuns from a mountaintop temple near Seoul, and a honey-preserved pinecone. C.S.: Sean Brock [Audrey, Nashville] had lots of little containers of what you could call garbage garamgaram is a sauce from Roman timeswhich is a way of using up everything from his restaurant kitchen, from fish to meat to vegetable scraps. What surprised you? A.M.: Fridges looked really different depending on whether the chefs were married, lived alone, had kids, etc. Some had cannabis extractsBarbara Lynch [multiple restaurants, Boston] was experimenting with gummies. Mette Sberg [Noma, Copenhagen] had a slice of wedding cake in her freezer from her sisters wedding. Pascal Barbeau (Astrance, Paris) had half French luxury products, half Asiansardines and caviar, supermarket rice pudding, and a 100-year-old egg between them. Dan Barber (Blue Hill, New York City) had a completely wrapped childs birthday cake, and also leftover Halloween candy. What home cooking tips did you glean from speaking with the chefs? C.S.: Prep and freeze. Sean Brock kept prepped potatoes for hash browns in the freezer; Amanda Cohen (Dirt Candy, New York) froze a green vegetable reduction, which could be used to make quick five-minute meals. David McMillan [Joe Beef, Montreal] kept canned peaches in the fridge, and used the syrup instead of maple syrup. And they all had a ton of condiments, both commercial and homemade. Any leftovers can be made better with condiments, especially Asian ones; regardless of their specialty, a lot of chefs had gochujang, or ponzu, or chili garlic sauce. Hugh Acheson (5&10, Athens, Ga.) made his own vinaigrette out of kimchi. Whose home fridge situation sparked the most envy? C.S.: Ivan Orkin [Ivan Ramen, New York] had four fridges. Upstairs, one for family meal prep; downstairs, three more: one for beer, one was a freezer for prepped seafood, and one was for everything else. Return to the main feature. Authorities have arrested a Harvey man wanted for allegedly breaking into his former girlfriends apartment and shooting another man who was inside the residence. Donald Green Jr., 35, was booked Thursday with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault with a firearm, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and domestic abuse, said Capt. Jason Rivarde, a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman. +2 Man booked with murder of boss after using chokehold during fight at hotel: Kenner police A roofer from Arizona was jailed on a murder charge Thursday night after authorities say he put his boss in a chokehold during a fight inside The shooting occurred the morning of Feb. 27 in the 700 block of Carrollwood Village Drive in Terrytown. At the time, Green was already wanted on a warrant accusing him of domestic abuse after his ex-girlfriend, 25, said he choked her and tried to smother her with a pillow during a fight in December. Despite an order of protection prohibiting Green from having contact with the woman, authorities say he went to her apartment just before 10 a.m. and kicked in the front door, Rivarde said. Green barged into the apartment armed with a gun and shot a 33-year-old man who was there with the woman, according to the Sheriffs Office. The woman described the man as a friend. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up +2 Judge hands down consecutive life sentences in Metairie double murder Calling out his lack of remorse and "callous" behavior, a Jefferson Parish judge on Thursday sentenced Melvin Miller to two consecutive life s The man suffered a gunshot wound to his side. He escaped the apartment by leaping from a second-floor window, Rivarde said. The man then ran to a nearby business to call for help. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Green fled the apartment before authorities arrived. He was taken into custody in New Orleans before being transferred to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna later Thursday. Green was being held there without bond Friday. (Photo : Axiom Space) Elon Musk's SpaceX Invites Tourists to Fly in Space For 10 Days; How Much Will it Costs? (Photo : Axiom Space) SpaceX, a space transportation services company and aerospace manufacturer-- owned by billionaire Elon Musk, is now offering non-astronauts or tourists to travel with them in deep space. Here's the catch. If you're friends with Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates or you know their bank accounts, the space travel fare would be a bargain price for you. If not, Houston, we have a problem! Elon Musk's SpaceX tourist space travel is cheap-- if you're Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates As first reported via the New York Times, Axiom Space-- a company run by a former manager of NASA's part of the space station, had announced on Thursday that regular people can now travel with them in space, seat on where astronauts seat, eat on where they eat and see what they see outside of the world. "I think you'll see a lot more energy in the market as people come to realize it's real, and it's happening," said Michael T. Suffredini, the president and chief executive of Axiom. Apparently, the company signed a contract with Elon Musk's SpaceX to travel additional three non-astronauts in order to make this very first possible fully private human spaceflight to travel across space. If you are aiming to go to space, make sure that you contact now the Axiom Space or SpaceX as only two seats are now available on their spacecraft. According to NYT, one of the available space travel seats was already taken by a somehow multi-millionaire that does not want to be identified. How much is the ticket? Whether you have lots of millions of dollars to spare or just madly want to be in deep space, Axiom Space did not provide detailed how much will be the ticket price for space travel. However, Axiom already confirmed in the past that an amount of $55 million is the usual ticket price for their future private space travel. For those people that will avail of the last two remaining tickets, Axiom Space guarantees that you will be experiencing extreme out-of-this-world space travel. Clients are reportedly be using SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule wherein they will be joined with a company-trained astronaut who would serve as the flight commander of the spacecraft. Tourists will be able to stay eight days on the lab and additional two days traveling to and from the space, which brings a total of ten days of deep space travel. "Crew will live aboard the ISS and experience ... microgravity and views of Earth that can only be fully appreciated in the large, venerable station," said Axiom Space. The space launch will be scheduled in late 2021. NASA approves private space flights National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA approves of companies dealing with private space flights in order to achieve budgets for their next space missions. "NASA has been very forward-leaning, and we're taking advantage of that," said Suffredini. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Police said on Saturday it has registered almost 700 cases and held around 2,200 people in connection with last month's communal riots in northeast Of the total 690 cases registered, 48 were related to the Arms Act, Police said in a statement. In total, 2,193 people have been either detained or arrested so far in connection with the communal violence, the police said. Out of the 2,193 people held, 50 have been arrested on charges under the Arms Act, they said. Total 262 meetings with the Aman Committee have been conducted across the capital, a senior police officer said. The Delhi government has maintained that 53 people were killed and over 200 injured in the violence in the northeast area of the capital last week. A man arrested after engaging in a Bourbon Street brawl with former State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson on Lundi Gras and seriously injuring one of Edmonsons companions vigorously defended himself through his attorney at a court appearance Friday. Robert Harris Jr., a Hurricane Katrina evacuee who now lives in Houston, returned to his hometown to answer to a felony charge of second-degree battery in which he is accused of throwing a punch that landed Texas attorney Stuart Yoes in the hospital with a brain injury. Harris attorney, retired 4th Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Charles R. Jones, said the altercation happened after a member of Edmonsons group placed an offensive sticker on the breast of a woman who was with Harris. He said the action amounted to battery. According to Yoes, Edmonson has gotten together with the same group of friends in the French Quarter on Lundi Gras for several years, handing out beads and stickers that match the cat costumes worn by some female members of the group. The stickers say Krewe of P****, which Yoes said is meant as a humorous double-entendre. When Harris took offense at the sticker being placed on his friend, Allen and Yoes say Edmonson stepped in as a peacemaker. They said they believed the former top cop had successfully defused the argument when Harris threw the punch. But Jones offered a less benign version of what happened. He (Harris) and his family were victims of a group of men who precipitated the incident, Jones said. If you put a sticker on a womans breast, thats battery. Just wait until these women take the witness stand and youll hear what really happened. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up After Yoes was punched, both sides acknowledge that others joined in the scuffle, leaving Edmonson bruised and bleeding from a scratch near his eye. Jones said it is unfortunate that Yoes suffered a serious injury, but you didnt hear about our injuries. One of these women got bitten on the hand. There are two sides to every story, Jones said in an interview after the brief appearance in magistrate court. This is a civil rights case. A group of white guys get into an altercation with one black guy and the black guy gets arrested? That right there is suspicious. When told about Jones version by phone Friday, Yoes said, Thats B.S. Hes grasping at straws for anything he can find. First of all, there was no actual argument, he said. We were trying to apologize if anyone was offended and we were walking away. Edmonson talked him down three times. We thought it was over. So why was he following us? Yoes said he is still suffering from nerve damage and some facial paralysis. He said he is being treated by a neurologist. District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro's office said Friday it has formally accepted the felony battery charge against Harris and added a second charge of simple battery, a misdemeanor. Despite the new count, Harris was granted permission by Magistrate Judge Harry Cantrell to leave the jurisdiction and return home under his original $4,500 bond, denying a prosecution motion to increase bail. New Delhi, March 7 : More than 1.09 crore persons have sought employment on the job portal of the Modi government. Responding to the requests, the government provided information on about 67.99 lakh vacancies. However, data on the jobs taken up by the registered unemployed is not available on the portal. Minister of Labour and Employment Santosh Gangwar, in response to a question in the Lok Sabha, clarified earlier that the data of people getting jobs through the National Career Service (NCS) portal is not maintained. Rather, the portal has the data of registered vacancies and unemployed people. The NCS portal was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to bring organisations looking for suitable candidates and the unemployed people on one platform. On this portal, an unemployed person can create a profile with all necessary details while the companies can register to share job opportunities. Since 2015, job creation has not been satisfactory compared with the number of job seekers. In 2015-16, as many as 147,780 jobs were shared on this portal, whereas job seekers were 3,232,916. In the first year, only 559 companies registered on this portal. In 2016-17, the registration of unemployed people was more as the portal was much known by then. As many as 1,433,075 vacancies were shared on the portal, whereas the number of unemployed was 44,73,989. Similarly, in 2017-18, as many as 5,251,432 people were looking for jobs whereas only 23,54,047 vancacies were available. The number of unemployed registering on the portal increased to 8,541,273 compared with only 4,041,848 jobs in 2018-19. In 2019-20, the number of unemployed went up to 10,987,331 while the vacancies were only 6,799,117. The situation is even worse when we see the data of active job seekers and available vacancies. Currently, 1,454,808 people are unemployed, for whom only 326,308 vacancies are on offer on the portal. Karnataka tops the list of highest number of jobs available at 45,764, followed by Maharashtra at 42,506 jobs. In West Bengal, 40,417 jobs are available and 30,428 in Uttar Pradesh. In Gujarat, 20,081 jobs are available and 13,739 in Madhya Pradesh. There are 274 jobs in Jammu and Kashmir. As of now, out of total 3 lakh jobs, only 21,334 are in the government sector. Only 23,010 jobs are available for retired soldiers and only 4,986 for women. Only 208 jobs are available for physically challenged people while only 347 opportunities are there for apprenticeship. A Ministry of Labour and Employment official told IANS: "Through the NCS portal, the unemployed people get information about job opportunities while companies can get information on deserving candidates. Awareness about this portal is been spread among the public. We are also encouraging companies to join the portal due to which we have seen growth in the registration of both -- job seekers as well as job givers." (Navneet Mishra can be contacted at navneet.m@ians.in) The long-awaited ouster finally arrived. President Donald Trump announced Friday that Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina would be his new White House chief of staff, a dramatic shake-up at the top of his administration at a time of a growing health crisis in an election year. Meadows will be Trumps fourth chief of staff in just over three years. By tapping Meadows, Trump selected one of his most loyal congressional allies to take the key spot and made clear what had been whispered about in Washington for monthshis relationship with acting White House chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney had become untenable. Mulvaney never managed to drop the acting from his title despite being on the job for 14 months and is now being appointed special envoy for Northern Ireland, a move the New York Times describes as a consolation prize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ....I want to thank Acting Chief Mick Mulvaney for having served the Administration so well. He will become the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Thank you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 7, 2020 Some advisers had reportedly warned Trump not to make such a high-profile change during the coronavirus crisis because it would further rattle markets. And Trumps decision to make the announcement after the markets had closed Friday was partly an effort to minimize the damage that could come from the decision. But it seems Trump had enough and wasnt willing to wait any longer. The president had reportedly wanted to get rid of Mulvaney for months but did not want to make such a key change in the middle of the impeachment battle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Mulvaney have had a tense relationship for months and that sometimes spilled into public view. After all, who can forget when the president kicked Mulvaney out of the room when he began coughing during an interview with ABC News? If youre going to cough, please leave the room, Trump said on-camera. You just cant, you just cant cough. Many were also surprised when Mulvaney was not seated with Trump at the wedding between Stephen Miller, an adviser to the president, and Katie Waldman, Vice President Mike Pences spokeswoman. The final indignity for Mulvaney came Friday, when he found out that he was out of a job a day after Trump called Meadows to offer him the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pres. Trump says he might turn over his financial statement to Congress. I hope they get it, because its a fantastic financial statement, he tells @GStephanopoulos in the Oval Office. https://t.co/8q0FwFD9qt pic.twitter.com/fw1tIc0vxO ABC News (@ABC) June 17, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement With his choice, Trump tapped a lawmaker who was first elected in the post-Tea Party wave of 2012 and served as chairman of the Freedom Caucus. Meadows has been a key Trump ally since 2016 and the two reportedly talk frequently. During the impeachment battle, Trump and Meadows, who was instrumental in designing the presidents defense, talked several times a day. Advertisement Advertisement "We'll send him back to Kenya, or wherever it is," GOP Rep Mark Meadows said about President Obama, while laughing hard. This is the second video to surface today where Meadows promotes the racist birther conspiracy theory. Uncovered by @TheDemCoalition. pic.twitter.com/USxMc8U98F Democratic Coalition (@TheDemCoalition) February 28, 2019 Meadows also shares something else with the president, a past questioning of former President Barack Obamas nationality. While campaigning in 2012, Meadows was asked if he would pursue an investigation to find out if Obama really is a citizen. Yes, Meadows responded. If we do our job from a grassroots standpoint, we wont have to worry about it. Well send him back home to Kenya or wherever it is. He later disavowed those remarks. I dont even remember that quote, Meadows said in 2015. Obviously I distance myself from that. Last year, Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Meadows took part in a heated discussion, with the lawmaker from Michigan calling him out for what she described as a racist act. Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court suggested that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) should consider developing a new proforma of cheque which includes purpose of payment, a step which the court opined would increase credibility of cheques and prevent its misuse. Besides, the top court, with a view to speed up trial of accused in cheque bounce cases under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act (which fastens criminal liability for cheque bouncing), also asked banks to consider developing an information sharing mechanism to share details of the accused with the complainant and the police. Such details should include email address, mobile phone number and address of the accused so that the presence of the accused at the trial can be ensured. With ensuring the credibility of cheques, it is equally important that cheques are not allowed to be misused giving cause to frivolous litigation. The Reserve Bank of India may consider developing a new proforma of cheques so as to include the purpose of payment, along with other information mentioned above to facilitate adjudication of real issues, a bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and justice L Nageswara Rao held. The decision was given on March 5 in a cheque bounce case from Gujarat which was contested for more than 15 years in various courts right up to the Supreme Court. The apex court noted that one of the main reasons for delay in deciding cases under section 138 was due to the absence of the accused before the court for trial. As per recent study, more than half of the pending cases, i.e. more than 18 lakh cases, are pending due to absence of accused, the court observed. In order to evolve a concerted mechanism for speedy adjudication of cheque bounce cases, the court registered a suo motu case titled Expeditious trial of cases under Section 138 of NI Act, 1881. It also requested senior advocate Sidharth Luthra and advocate K Parameshwar to assist the court as Amici Curiae (friend of the court) in the matter. Notice was issued to the central government, all high courts, the Director General of Police of all the states and union territories, the National Legal Services Authority, RBI and Indian Bank Association, Mumbai as the representative of banking institutions. The case will be heard next on April 16. The court, in its order, noted that the problem of absence of accused persisted despite service of summons to the accused through speed post, courier, e-mail or through a police officer. In order to address this issue, the court said that banks, being an important stakeholder in such cases, have the responsibility to provide requisite details and facilitate speedy trial mandated by law. An information sharing mechanism may be developed where the banks share all the requisite details available of the accused, who is the account holder, with the complainant and the police for the purpose of execution of process. This may include a requirement to print relevant information, viz the email id, registered mobile number and permanent address of the account holder, on the cheque or dishonour memo informing the holder about the dishonour, the court said. Besides, the court also asked the RBI to evolve guidelines to facilitate procurement of requisite information for the trial of these cases. A separate software-based mechanism may be developed to track and ensure the service of process on the accused in cases relating to an offence under Section 138 of NI Act, the court suggested. It even batted for coercive measure against the accused including attachment of property to secure the presence of the accused. Further, a mechanism may be developed to ensure the presence of the accused even by way of coercive measure, if required, taking effect from Section 83 of Cr.P.C. which allows attachment of property, including movable property, the judgment said. In addition to the above, the Supreme Court also urged high courts to consider setting up of exclusive courts to deal with matters relating to Section 138 in places where the pendency of such cases is high. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 17:41:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Out of a growing concern over the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, some universities in the United States have decided to move classes, lectures and seminars online. Stanford University announced late Friday that it would move classes online for the final two weeks of the winter quarter, and that upcoming exams would be changed to a take-home format. Stanford also considered cancellations or adjustments of large events. "The university is actively monitoring the local and global health situation and is taking precautionary measures in an effort to help limit the spread of infection," officials said in a statement. The University of Washington announced Friday that it was transitioning all instructions online for the next two weeks, keeping more than 50,000 students out of classrooms as the death toll from COVID-19 in that region continued to rise. Seattle University, with about 7,300 students, also said it would move to online classes for the rest of the winter quarter. Northeastern University in Boston will do the same for students on its Seattle campus. The New York-based Yeshiva University has canceled classes on two of its campuses until March 10, after a student tested positive for the virus this week. The University of Southern California said Friday that it would conduct lectures and seminars online rather than in classrooms for three days next week. This move will test the ability to operate remotely if COVID-19 spreads and forces the campus to suspend in-person contact. Lots of universities have warned their communities to increase preventative measures and be prepared for the spread of the virus. The University of California (UC) Office of the President has activated its Emergency Operations Center and is holding frequent conference calls, including medical, environmental health and safety, administrative, and emergency management leadership from across the entire UC system to ensure a coordinated and timely response to this fluid situation. Womens Day: As US-Taliban talks go on, UN seeks bigger role by women in Afghanistan peace process Modi reveals why he is giving up his social media accounts on Sunday How Women's Day celebration turned into a nightmare to many unemployed teachers in India Women's Day: PM Modi to interact with 'Nari Shakti' awardees India oi-PTI New Delhi, Mar 07: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with "Nari Shakti" awardees and his Twitter account will be handled by women achievers to mark International Women's Day on Sunday, the Prime Minister's Office has said. The interaction will take place after President Ram Nath Kovind gives away the "Nari Shakti" awards at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday morning. "Prime Minister's Twitter account would be handled by women achievers tomorrow on the occasion of International Women's Day," the statement said on Saturday. The "Nari Shakti" awards are given annually to individuals, groups, institutions in recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of women empowerment, especially for vulnerable and marginalised women. PM Modi expected to travel to Bangladesh on March 17 NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 Modi had on Tuesday said he would be handing over his accounts on various social media platforms to women who inspire. "This Women's Day (March 8), I will give away my social media accounts to women whose life & work inspire us. This will help them ignite motivation in millions," he had tweeted. The prime minister has accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. The prime minister is one of the most-followed world leaders on social media with 53.3 million followers on Twitter, 44 million on Facebook and 35.2 million on Instagram. The Twitter handle of the Prime Minister's Office has 32 million followers. In September 2019, PM Modi was the third-most followed world leader on the microblogging site, behind only US President Donald Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama. Don't believe in rumours, consult your doctor: PM Modi's advise amid coronavirus scare The Prime Minister was the first Indian to cross the 50-million followers mark on Twitter. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 15:46 [IST] Outbound travel agents blown away by coronavirus View(s): While low cost carriers like Malaysias Malido or Thai Lion have either cut down flights or completely stopped flying into and out of Colombo due to diminishing load factors, the bigger East Asian airlines are maintaining flights. The coronavirus has badly dented the local travel industry with several outbound agents reporting cancelled bookings of incentive groups to overseas holiday destinations. Airlines like Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Thai Airways are continuing as usual, industry officials said. One big outbound travel agent said their business has dropped by 50 per cent. They mostly deal with corporate business travel and incentive groups. Our business is badly his but somehow we have to survive. I dread to think how other smaller agencies are faring, he said. Corporate travel has come to a standstill amidst concerns that travellers may be subject to sudden quarantine measures. In one case, a group of Sri Lankans on a 14 day holiday tour to Italy and other cities in Europe, found themselves quarantined for the entire 2-week period in an Italian hotel, according to one agent. Business travellers are not sure whether they would be subject to quarantine measures when travelling abroad and hence are playing it safe and not travelling. This is impacting on the corporate travel business, he said. Airlines, understanding the crisis, are allowing cancellations and postponements without any additional costs to agents and travellers. The worst hit for outbound travel agents are the incentive tours organised by companies, in some cases in groups of 150, for their agents or staff which have been cancelled or postponed particularly to popular cities like Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Singapore. Agents said that business persons who are compelled to travel to confirm sourcing needs for their industries are continuing to travel overseas. A scientific advisor on the 2011 film Contagion, which has soared in popularity since the outbreak of coronavirus, has said people should have taken the movie much more seriously. Contagion, which stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Damon, imagines a global epidemic that originates in Hong Kong and results in millions of fatalities. Veterinary pathologist Tracey McNamara, who worked as a scientific adviser on Contagion, told BuzzFeed News the film should have served as a cautionary tale. She said: If people are watching it again, and if federal and state officials are watching it again, I hope theyre realising that the movie was really about what can happen with a novel pandemic threat, and I think people should have taken it much more seriously. I wish people had paid closer attention to it when the film came out, because it really was a warning to the federal government that this could happen and you need to prepare. McNamaras job was to make the fictional disease in Contagion seem as realistic as possible, and she said the movie really rang true in terms of its depiction of how disease spreads and how long it takes to develop a vaccine. In the wake of coronavirus dominating headlines, the film experienced a renaissance, rising to become one of the Top 10 most popular rentals in iTunes film chart. Buzzfeed News also reports that it is the second most popular Warner Brothers film in 2020. Contagions producer recently told the publication: "It was very deliberately designed to be a cautionary film. We got the science right." Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. Life.Church pastor Craig Groeschel quarantined for 2 weeks after coronavirus exposure Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Life.Church Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel and pastor and innovation leader at Life.Church Bobby Gruenewald have been quarantined by health officials after being exposed to the coronavirus at a conference in Germany. In a video titled "Something Different This Month, Groeschel, whose church has 90,000 attenders at its 34 campuses spread over 10 states, broke the news to Life.Church members late Wednesday afternoon. "You might notice that the background for this month's video update looks a little different. Watch this video to find out why," Groeschel said, revealing he taped his video from his home instead of the church's headquarters. "If it looks like I'm shooting out of my bedroom, the reason is it's because I'm shooting out of my bedroom," he said. Groeschel said he and Gruenewald, founder of the YouVersion Bible app, were already on a plane headed home when they learned that someone at the three-day Willow Creek Germany summit had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. After sharing the news with a flight attendant, the pastors were met with health authorities once they landed. "We decided to isolate ourselves for the full 14 days, no contact with anyone whatsoever," Groeschel said. The good news is, Ive gotten time to pray, he added. Ive written sermon outlines through like, the end of May. In his video, he made sure people knew that he and Gruenewald would not be at church to prevent any possible spread of the disease, adding that both men felt great. "We will not be at church, don't worry. We're going to stay completely away. We're trying to do this out of an abundance of caution to ensure that everyone is safe," Groeschel said. In the video, he did not specifically say when the quarantine period will be completed but he hinted that it would be over soon. Groeschel asked that church members pray for him because he missed his family. I dont think we need prayers for our health, I need prayers because I havent seen Amy or my kids in a long time, he said. Were all doing great. Willow Creek Deutschland Leitungskongress 2020 took place Feb. 27-29 in Karlsruhe, in southwest Germany. The summit ended early after organizers become aware of the diagnosis. In a statement, they said the decision was a "preventative measure." "We would like to inform you that we have ended the Willow Creek Leadership Summit 2020 in Karlsruhe early," said the announcement. "This was done for reasons of safety. According to health officials, participants were never in any danger. "Nonetheless, we have decided to end this event as a preventative measure so all participants can get home safely." As of Thursday, more than 87,137 cases of the illness had been reported globally, according to the World Health Organization. The United States confirmed its 11th death from the outbreak on Wednesday, along with more than 150 confirmed cases. More cases of COVID-19 are likely to be identified in the coming days, including more cases in the United States, the CDC said on its website. Its also likely that person-to-person spread will continue to occur, including in communities in the United States. Its likely that at some point, widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the United States will occur. Vice President Mike Pence was assigned by President Trump to spearhead the U.S. federal governments response to the global outbreak of coronavirus. Last week, the White House Flickr account posted a photo taken on Feb. 26 showing Pence praying with members of the White House Coronavirus Taskforce in his White House office. The photo shows Pence in a circle with others bowing their heads in prayer. Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham and the head of Samaritans Purse evangelical humanitarian charity, called the photo touching and powerful. Lets join them in asking God for His wisdom, direction, & help in the response to this virus, Graham tweeted. In another effort to consolidate power, Saudi authorities detained three members of the royal family including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans brother and nephew. According to US media reports, the monarchs brother Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and nephew Prince Mohammed bin Nayef were accused of treason. The Crown Prince's recent efforts to bring social reforms gained attention but his crackdown on any kind of opposition has tarnished his image. The arrest of members of the royal family is the latest case of power consolidation after Bin Salman locked up hundreds of royal relatives and Saudi businessmen in a Ritz-Carlton hotel in 2017. Following his demonstration of grip on power, Bin Salman gained notoriety in 2018 for presiding over the murder of The Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. In December last year, a Saudi court sentenced five people to death and prison term to three people in the case related to Khashoggi killing but exonerated Crown Princes inner circle. 'Masterminds barely touched' Just after the verdict, UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial Executions Agnes Callamard lashed out at Saudi Arabia saying the hitmen were sentenced to death while the masterminds were barely touched by the investigation and the trial. She called it obstruction of justice and a violation of the Minnesota Protocol for the investigation of arbitrary killings. Read: Video Shows Empty Kaaba As Saudi Shuts Mecca For Pilgrims Amid Coronavirus Dread Hatice Cengiz, Khashoggi's fiancee, also reportedly said that the execution of five people would further conceal the truth because the reason behind the murder is still not out. Cengiz, in a statement, said that if the people sentenced to death get executed without giving them a chance to explain the reason behind the murder, the truth behind the murder would never come out. Read: Saudi Arabia Imposes Temporary Ban On Umrah Pilgrims Over Coronavirus Fears Saudis controversial figure is also accused of hacking Amazon CEOs Jeff Bezos phone. On January 22, two United Nations experts confirmed the report, by The Guardian, of hacking in a statement that read, The information we have received suggests the possible involvement of the Crown Prince in surveillance of Bezos, in an effort to influence, if not silence, The Washington Post's reporting on Saudi Arabia." Read: Saudi Arabia Suspends Entry Of Citizens From Gulf Cooperation Council Read: Pilgrims Continue To Worship At Mecca In Saudi Arabia Despite Coronavirus Fears (With agency inputs) Emergency Preparedness Coronavirus App to Provide At-Home Risk Assessment Researchers at Augusta University are creating an app that will allow users to assess their COVID-19 infection risk at home in minutes, based on how they feel and where they've been. The app will direct at-risk individuals to the nearest testing facility, and provide local and public health officials with real-time data on the demographics of those most in need of prevention and treatment initiatives. "We wanted to help identify people who are at high risk for coronavirus, help expedite their access to screening and to medical care and reduce spread of this infectious disease," explained Arni S.R. Srinivasa Rao, director of the Laboratory for Theory and Mathematical Modeling in Augusta's Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Division of Infectious Diseases, in a statement. Rao and Jose Vazquez, chief of the MCG Division of Infectious Diseases, are working with developers to finalize the app within a few weeks. The app will ask users for a variety of information: Where they live; Demographics like gender, age and race; Recent contact with any individuals who are known to have coronavirus or who have traveled to hotspots like Italy and China; and Whether they've experienced common symptoms of infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, sputum production, headache, diarrhea and pneumonia) and their duration. An artificial intelligence-powered algorithm will then asses the user's information and assign a risk level: no risk, minimal risk, moderate risk or high risk. It will also alert the nearest facility with testing ability when it determines a health check is needed. In addition, the collective information gathered by the app will provide researchers with data on where the virus is circulating as well as help them learn more about how it is spreading. Rao and Vazquez have published a paper on their project in the in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. They plan to make the app available for free on the Augusta University website as well as through the Apple and Android app stores. Kabul: Everyone has been troubled in today's time due to increasing crime and terrorist attacks. At the same time, every day such a case comes to the fore, which surprises and even bothers people. There has been a huge terrorist attack in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Friday, in which Afghanistan's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah narrowly escaped. On Friday, gunmen opened fire at a program in Kabul, killing at least 32 people. Apart from this, dozens of people have been injured. Officials said that in retaliation, the police have also killed two gunmen. The terrorist organization IS claimed responsibility for this attack, while the Taliban said that they had no hand in this attack. IS militants have declared war against minority Shias. The program in which the shootings took place was mostly Shia. According to the information, the event was organized on the death anniversary of Shia Hajra leader Abdul Ali Mazari in Afghanistan, in which most of the people involved were Shia. Mazari was assassinated on this day in 1995 by the Taliban. In this program, many veteran leaders including Afghanistan CEO Abdullah Abdullah participated. Abdullah Abdullah is also the leader of the opposition in Afghanistan. In the presidential election last year, he gave a tough fight to Ashraf Ghani. It is also being told that immediately before this terrorist attack, Abdullah Abdullah and other leaders had left. If they stayed there for a while, the gunmen could have come under attack. This terrorist attack in Afghanistan is seen when the peace agreement between the US and Taliban is signed. Under this, the US has agreed to withdraw its army from Afghanistan. The United States has also imposed a condition on the Taliban to end its ties with terrorist organizations. Also Read: Every human being on earth will get one thousand crores if NASA sold this thing Nobody got majority in Israel even after 3 elections "World should show more seriousness to fight Coronavirus", says WHO People's mentality came out on Women's Day Castro, Fillmore, North Beach, Pacific Heights Vanick Der Bedrossian (center) with managing partners Alicia Vanden Heuvel (left) and Trevor Ledergerber (right). | Photo: Courtesy of La Mediterranee A few weeks ago, the building that houses the Castro location of La Mediterranee (288 Noe St.) went up for sale, causing concern among some neighbors. The Mediterranean restaurants co-owner, Vanick Der Bedrossian (who owns the building with his father, Levon Der Bedrossian), said they listed it just to feel out the market and having done so, he recently took down the listing. Even in the event of a sale, he said, the restaurant wouldnt have gone anywhere. In fact, La Mediterranee which started at 2210 Fillmore St. in 1979 and has since expanded to the Castro, Berkeley (2936 College Ave.), and a catering facility in North Beach (1624 Powell St.) received SF Legacy Business status in 2019, to help ensure its future. It's also updating itself for the modern era, earning certified green business status from the SF Green Business Program and tweaking its menu to add new items. Interior of the Castro location. | Photo: Alisa Scerrato/Hoodline In order to earn green business status, La Mediterranee now powers all of its restaurants with renewable energy and LED lighting. Its takeout containers and supplies have been revamped to be fully compostable, and its menu has been re-centered on local, sustainable producers Marys chicken, Superior Farms lamb and beef from a pasture rental in Oregon. Der Bedrossian said that the changes stemmed from his personal preference for being more environmentally responsible, as well as the tastes of younger generations. Personally, Ive been taking a personal approach to zero waste," he said. Some menu items will also change: the plan is to offer more mini appetizers and small plates at an affordable price, such as baked pita chips brushed with olive oil and za'atar, served with a cucumber-yogurt djajiki dip and a harissa, tomato and walnut dip. Another new addition is lamb shawarma, which might appear as a lunch special but eventually be extended to dinner. Der Bedrossian said that each location is unique and has its own menu and clientele, so the new additions will vary slightly. Story continues Salad Mediterranee. | Photo: Alisa Scerrato/Hoodline As far as the Castro location is concerned, Der Bedrossian said it has a strong following in the neighborhood and partners with a number of nonprofits for fundraisers. The business is rolling out changes at its Fillmore location today, and will be transitioning them to its other restaurants in the coming weeks. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has approved the merger of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) party, led by Babulal Marandi with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The poll body had issued a notice on the same on Friday (March 6, 2020). "Taking into consideration all the documents on record including the report of CEO, Jharkhand, the Commission is satisfied that JVM(P) has merged with the BJP, a Party. Accordingly, the Commission has decided under the provisions of Paragraph l6 of the Symbols Order, that on its merger with the BJP, the JVM(P) has ceased to exist as a separate political party and the name of the 'Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik)' be removed from the list of political parties," the letter from the ECI read. Notably, JVM merged with the BJP at an event in New Delhi on February 17 in the presence of Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah. Addressing the gathering, Shah had said, "I have been trying to bring Babulal Marandi into BJP since I was made BJP chief in 2014. Someone rightly said that he is quite stubborn. We couldn't persuade him easily. He has now joined BJP as per the wish of the people of Jharkhand." The Union Home Minister had also stated that BJP will oppose attempts of encouraging Naxalism, terrorism and corruption. "While being in opposition, BJP will support the public welfare schemes of the Jharkhand government. But we will oppose attempts of encouraging Naxalism, terrorism and corruption. We will fight against these issues in and outside the Assembly". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Northeast Community College in West Point will offer a series of classes on digital photography during March and April. In the beginning-level class, Digital Photography I (ARTS 5105/20S & CRN #70117), to be held Thursday, March 19, participants will learn the basics of their digital camera such as the different controls and modes it has to offer as well as how to compose a good image. In addition, a discussion will focus on the different brands of cameras and various lens options. The class is the beginning of taking an individual from auto mode to full manual. In Digital Photography II on Thursday, March 26, students will build on what they learned in week one by becoming familiar with other photography gear like memory cards and batteries. They will also learn about additional items, such as umbrellas, flashes, soft boxes and other gear. In the final part of the series, Digital Photography III, on Thursday, April 2, participants will take what theyve learned about ISO, aperture and shutter speed and move into full manual mode. They will practice what they have learned during a real photo shoot as the instructor guides them as they learn how to compose a good shot, work with lighting and take great photos in full manual mode. All three classes will meet from 6-9 p.m., in the Northeast Community College Extended Campus, 202 Anna Stalp Ave., Room 212. Cost of each class, with Erin Beutler the instructor, is $30. Pre-registration is required. To register for any or all of the courses, call Northeast Community College in West Point at (402) 372-2269. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Cloudy and windy. High 43F. Winds SW at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Low 37F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Protesters will take to the streets of Dublin city today demanding to oppose a government involving Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. A coalition of groups will march in the capital this afternoon to show their desire for change, after the general election result. People Before Profit TD Brid Smith said a return of a Fine Gael-Fianna Fail government is becoming increasingly likely. She said people need to mobilise to support the Left. Ms Smith said: "The left are not going to give up on the idea that it is possible to form a government of change with a Left minority government. "We are still talking to each other, we are still looking at the details of a programme. "We do have a very good manifesto but it does look increasingly likely that Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, despite the pronouncements of discomfort on either side, that they will move towards stitching up some kind of a coalition." The march is set to get underway at Parnell Square at 1 pm this afternoon. It will make its way to Government Buildings. Ms Smith said left-wing parties have a mandate to try and solve the housing and health crises, while reducing the cost of living and taking action on the climate. She said the thirst for change is undeniable. This is an expression of that desire for change which often is sought and comes from the streets. We saw that with the water charges, with the Repeal campaign; that is was a mobilisation of masses of people that forced whoever is in power at the time to recognise that that change is desired and required. This was a night that was supposed to bring clarity to the Democratic race Hello, hello, hello, hello! Heres what is clear. I dont know whats going to happen later tonight. and establish whether there was one clear front-runner or maybe two clear front-runners, or no front-runners at all. Weve covered contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. Can I get you to wear a button? Im with the press. Sure I know, Im just trying. And now weve arrived at Super Tuesday. Super Tuesday is the single most important date on the primary calendar. You have more than a dozen states and territories voting at the same time. And it is the first real test of which candidates are drawing broad national appeal. Winston-Salem, thank you! Hello, Denver! Tennessee will deliver. This is the Volunteer State. The biggest prizes on the map are Texas and California. But all told, youre looking at about a third of all the delegates that are at stake in the Democratic primary are at stake on Super Tuesday. This was a good night, especially for Joe Biden. Its a good night! Its a good night! We have seen that Biden has been regaining traction in the race over the last couple of days. It aint over, man. Were just getting started. But he pulled off a series of big wins and upsets in places where even a newly revived Biden campaign wasnt terribly optimistic about winning. Over the last few days, we have seen an extraordinary coalescing of support around Joe Biden. I am ending my campaign and endorsing Joe Biden! When he collected those endorsements on Monday from Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, that only accelerated his new momentum. So many of Joe Bidens most important and biggest victories on Super Tuesday came in states where black voters make up either a majority or a very, very large share of the primary electorate. We just got in from Alabama. We won Alabama! Joe Biden edged out a narrow victory in Texas, but it was a close outcome. And Bernie Sanders recorded very significant support, especially from Latino voters and progressives. This was a solid night for Bernie Sanders. This was not some massive setback. It was not the massive breakthrough that his campaign hoped it would be. But what we did see him do, was continue adding significantly to his delegate count in a series of states where his progressive base was strong. Hi, my name is Tom. Im from the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign. Most importantly, California. In his speech on election night This will become a contrast in ideas. Bernie Sanders made it pretty clear that in the coming weeks he is going to be going after Joe Biden even more aggressively. One of us in this race led the opposition to the war in Iraq youre looking at him. It was not such a good night for Michael Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren. Warren has needed to make a comeback, and she did not carry a single state. She even came in third in her home state of Massachusetts. This was the first time that Michael Bloombergs name appeared on a ballot in this Democratic primary. He spent hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising, and other campaign operations in the Super Tuesday states. In the end, he only won a single contest in American Samoa. Ultimately, Bloomberg and Warren both dropped out. For the first time in this campaign, you really have the two wings of the Democratic Party organized under a pair of clear front-runners. Joe Biden, closer to the political center Look, most Americans dont want the promise of a revolution. They want results. They want a revival of decency, honor and character. and Bernie Sanders, further to the left. From day one, we have been taking on the establishment. It is no surprise, they do not want me to become president. There is clearly a real hunger among many voters in the party to coalesce quickly around someone they see as an electable challenger for President Trump. Do you want some kind of salutation or Producer: No, no. Its only March, and weve got a long way to Election Day. The Times will continue covering the campaign from all angles, from the campaign trail to investigations to analysis and beyond. For our latest reporting, go to nytimes.com/2020. Thanks for watching. AFP Another resident of the Chernivtsi region was hospitalized in the regional clinical hospital due to suspected coronavirus Covid-19. This was reported by the press service of the regional state administration on Facebook. "Another person with suspected coronavirus was hospitalized today, March 7, at the regional clinical hospital. The patient has signs of an infectious disease and arrived from a country where cases of Covid-19 infection were recorded," the statement said. Thus, a total of 7 people were hospitalized in the area with suspected coronavirus. Related: Two doctors diagnosed with coronavirus in US On board the cruise ship Grand Princess, where the coronavirus Covid-19 was recorded, there are 49 Ukrainians. The director of the consular service department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Serhiy Pohoreltsev said tnis to UNN. "According to the US Department of State, 49 citizens of Ukraine are on board the Grand Princess cruise ship. Now the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco is finding out information about the possible presence of infected citizens of Ukraine," - he said. Now, according to Pohoreltsev, the liner is on a raid off the coast of Northern California. In total, there are 3,500 people on board the ship, citizens of 54 countries As we reported before, Ukraine is considering evacuating its citizens from Japan. The statement was made by Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Viktor Liashko during a briefing The brewery, adjacent to the Athens Cotton Press, is the fifth to open in Athens, the first in the Normaltown neighborhood and the smallest in the city. 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, For what may be the final time, Prince Harry last night appeared in his role as Captain General of the Royal Marines, wearing his dress uniform. The scarlet Mess Jacket featured silver-embroidered rank badges of a star above a crossed sword and baton on each shoulder strap. Each lapel is decorated with the Corps badge of the Royal Marines, consisting of a globe, laurel and crown, the battle honour 'Gibraltar', an anchor and the Corps motto 'Per Mare Per Terram' (By Sea, by Land). Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex arriving for the Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall in one of their last outings as senior royals before March 31 Pictured: Prince Harry dressed in full dress mess uniform with lapels on pins Pictured: Prince Harry wore full mess dress uniform at the Royal Albert Hall, which boasted his medals from having served two tours of Afghanistan on its lapels Pictured: The Duke of Sussex, who will step back from senior royal duties on March 31, met with band members backstage at the Mountbatten Music Festival The Prince wore his Army Air Corps Wings, which he received in 2010 after completing advanced helicopter training. By tradition, he wears these on his left, above the military medals. Last night, he sported four medals the KCVO (Knight Commander of the Victorian Order), his Afghanistan campaign medal, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. Below his bow tie was the Star of the Grand Cross Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Friday night criticised rival Joe Biden for supporting the North American Free Trade Agreement more than two decades ago. He described the agreement as a "tax" on the working class and said it was unfair that American workers were competing with Mexican and Chinese workers earning "starvation wages". Sanders added that the agreement, alongside Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China, had cost the US "over four million good-paying jobs". Earlier in the day, he had organised a roundtable with union autoworkers and activists. They blamed NAFTA for the closing of American plants throughout Michigan - often, they said, because US firms shifted their manufacturing to Mexico, where labour was cheaper. Sanders, a Vermont senator, has increasingly gone on the attack against Biden as the once-crowded Democratic presidential primary field has narrowed to a contest between the two of them. Michigan is one of six states voting on Tuesday. Polls suggest a tight race between Sanders and Biden. Hindu and Muslim outfits observed a dawn-to dusk bandh on Saturday to condemn the recent attack on a functionary of a saffron oufit and two mosques here. Almost all shops in the city downed shutters in response to the bandh call given by Hindu Munnani and Federation of Islamic Organisations. The Hindu Munnani had on Thursday given the shutdown call to protest the attack on its district secretary Madukkarai Anand by unidentified men on Wednesday night, while the Muslim outfits demanded that those involved in the attack on two places of worship here be arrested. Majority of private buses, autorickshaws and taxis stayed off roads, while government buses plied as usual with fewer passengers, police said. Commercial establishments in Mettupalayam, Karamadai and Pollachi were also shut. Over 2,500 police personnel and armed para military forces were deployed in and around the city, particularly communally sensitive areas. No untoward incidents were reported so far, they said. Meanwhile, the police took out a march through the main streets of Gandhipuram to instill confidence among the public. Madukkarai Anand, District Secretary of Hindu Munnani, was attacked by some unidentified people, who came on bikes, while he was returning home after participating in a pro-CAA 'dharna' in the city on Wednesday. In suspected retaliation to the attack, a petrol bomb was hurled at a mosque in Ganapathi locality, while there were reports of stones thrown at another place of worship in Kovaipudur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The father of a two-year-old who was horrifically raped and left with a sexually transmitted disease has shared his emotional reaction to the crime that shocked the nation. A 27-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to sexual intercourse without consent at the Alice Springs Supreme Court on Friday, and was sentenced to a prison term. The toddler suffered severe internal injuries including cuts, bleeding, swelling and bruising after the man raped her in her home at Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory while her mother was sleeping in 2018. He said he couldn't expressed his sadness and had no words for what had happened to his daughter, according to AAP. Remote Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory where the horrific child rape occurred Crown Prosecutor Glen Dooley read the father's victim impact statement to the court. '[He] says firstly that his family and he are strong, that he just can't express his sadness and he has no words,' Mr Dooley said, according to NT NEWS. 'He comments on the situation with his wife. He says that she is just trying to be a mum and doesn't want to know or think about this business.' Horrific details of the crime were revealed to the court during sentencing. The rapist infected the child with the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhoea, in the attack on February 15, 2018, and she suffered severe psychological damage. Mr Dooley told the court the offender had removed the little girl from the lounge room where she was sleeping, and took her to the bedroom where he raped her. When he was done, he put her back in the lounge room. Tennant Creek is far away from major urban centres Darwin and Alice Springs, and has suffered social problems such as substance abuse, crime and sexual predation of children Sometime later that night, another man saw the girl bleeding and woke her mother who dressed her and hailed an ambulance and police vehicle, ABC news reported. After being treated at Tennant Creek Hospital she had to be flown to Adelaide where she had a blood transfusion due to the severity of her injuries. Mr Dooley told Judge Judith Kelly that the offending was in the worst category with a maximum penalty of life in jail. 'This is a crime that deeply disturbed the Tennant Creek community and the nation,' he said. The Crown Prosecutor said the man had shown no remorse, denied the offense and constructed an alibi that police investigators had dismantled. The man's defence lawyer, John McBride, admitted it had been a terrible act against a vulnerable child but said a psychologist's report showed the offender had shown some remorse for his actions. Then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was so shocked by the horrific crime he flew to Tennant Creek to see first hand what could be done to fix the social problems He told the court the man had suffered since age 15 from bouts of homelessness and substance abuse. The man has been in custody since his arrest. News of the rape shocked Australia when it happened. Children's Commissioner Colleen Gwynne's released a redacted report into the toddler's rape in April 2018 that revealed child protection authorities had been notified many times about the girl's welfare but had failed to act. Then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was so shocked after reading the graphic details in the uncensored report that he flew to Tennant Creek. A $78 million regional deal to improve economic and social services in the town followed along with emergency liquor restrictions The man was jailed for 13 years with a non-parole period of nine-and-a-half years. The drag of the coronavirus on the global economy is massive. While the real tragedy is lives lost, the economic effect is a hugely significant secondary consideration. Businesses around the world are feeling serious pain. A recession might be in the offing. And yet some companies are benefiting from the crisis. Not because they necessarily sought to but because they happen to have the right product or service. Zoom Video which provides conferencing that obviates the need for in-person meetings, is one. Clorox, which of course produces bleach, 409 and other cleaners, has seen its stock rise 13% year-to-date (while the market is down over 9%), is another. And then theres Purell, maker of the famous hand sanitizerwhich must be selling like crazy, right? Thats probably the case as its sold out all over the place, yet we dont really know because Purell is owned by a private company, GOJO Industries. So whats up with Purell and GOJO? We did some digging around and found out. First, while the Akron, Ohio-based company says its ramping up production, it declined to tell us by how much, or how much Purell it sold last year. In fact GOJO wouldnt answer any of our questions and instead sent us a Q and A prepared for media that it said we could attribute to GOJO spokesperson Samantha Williams. It reads: ...orders of the companys products have increased very significantly. We stepped up production in January and are continuing to bring additional capacity online to meet this heightened demand should it continue...We have added shifts and have team members working overtime. I bet they are. The communique also notes that GOJO employs about 2,500 people and manufactures Purell products at facilities in Wooster and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and France. (You have to wonder if these employees would be exempt from a work-from-home order.) Bottles of Purell hand sanitizer sit on display. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Next question, how effective is Purell against the coronavirus? The company states that Purell...kills 99.99% of most common germs that can make you sick. Sounds impressive, but note the phrase, most common germs. Does that include COVID-19? No one really knows. Story continues In fact, on January 17, just as the coronavirus was becoming a global news story, the FDA sent Purell a letter warning the company about statements in its FAQ sections of websites which suggested that PURELL Healthcare Advanced Hand Sanitizers are intended for reducing or preventing disease from the Ebola virus, norovirus, and influenza. The FDA noted it had no evidence that Purell is effective against those diseases. The FDA stated: ...we are not aware of evidence demonstrating that the PURELL Healthcare Advanced Hand Sanitizer products as formulated and labeled are generally recognized by qualified experts as safe and effective for use under the conditions suggested, recommended, or prescribed in their labeling. Williams told FOX Business at the time the company immediately took action after receiving the letter and "have begun updating relevant website and other digital content as directed by the FDA." So does Purell do anything to prevent COVID-19? The active ingredient of Purell is really just 70% ethanol or ethyl alcohol. Experts generally agree that a solution containing in excess of 60% alcohol can be effective in some instances, like for wiping down a tray table on an airplane, and maybe as a hand sanitizer. Actually, that distinctionsurfaces versus handsfalls under the auspices of the EPA, in terms of the former, and the FDA for the latter, as the GOJO Q and A reflects. Check this out: ...under the EPAs Emerging Pathogen guidance, our PURELL Surface Spray can be used to kill COVID-19 on hard, non-porous surfaces when used in accordance with the directions and a 1-minute contact time. But it goes on to say, The FDA, which regulates hand sanitizer, and the EPA, which regulates surface disinfectants, have different rules. The EPA permits manufacturers to answer questions about efficacy against viruses. Tanya Crum, an assistant professor of biology at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois says that soap and water is always best, but that if youre somewhere where soap and water is not available, having hand sanitizer is great. I wouldnt use it first, I would use it just in case or second. Crum also says that Theres varying effectiveness in terms of hand sanitizer killing viruses, but thats because COVID-19 is a virus with a capsid protein or whats called a coat, it may be easier to kill with a hand sanitizer. Potentially good news there for Purell. Purells humble beginnings GOJO has an all-American backstory. The company was founded in 1946 by Goldie and Jerry Lippman (and is still controlled and run in part by family members). Goldie and Jerry worked in tire and aircraft factories in Ohio during World War II. They found they had a hard time washing tar and other greasy stuff off their hands after work, and so the couple worked with a chemist at Kent State to develop a hand cleaner. (The first product was GoGo, Goldie's nickname, but another company had already used the name, so the founders came up with GOJO, with the "G" standing for Goldie and the "J" standing for Jerry, according to company history.) Later Jerry came up with the first-ever portion-control dispenser, for which he was granted a patent in 1952. The company proudly reports: Every soap dispenser on the wall today, anywhere in the world, is a descendant of that first dispenser Jerry invented! GOJO didnt create Purell until 1988, but it has become the company's flagship product. Pfizer distributed Purell for a time in the 2000s, a business that was bought by Johnson & Johnson, but GOJO reacquired Purell from J&J in 2010. Smart move. Along the way somebody put Purell dispensers in nearly every elevator bank in nearly every office building in America. Purell hand sanitizer dispenser at the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 05, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) People certainly are crazy for Purell now. Stores are sold out. You cant buy it onlinewell you can but for ridiculous prices. This week, U.S. Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass) sent a letter to Amazon demanding it take action to stop third-party sellers from price gouging Purell. Reuters reports that a box of small Purell bottles that usually sells for $10 was listed online for $400, he said. One third-party seller listed a bottle for $600 on Wednesday afternoon. However, the Amazon brand of hand sanitizer was listed for $8.25 for a large bottle. GOJO disavows the gouging, saying (twice!) in its Q and A: ...we feel strongly that there is no place for price-gouging, especially during times of elevated public health concern. Reuters reports that Amazon called the price-gougers bad actors. There is no place for price gouging on Amazon, a spokesman said in a statement. We continue to actively monitor our store and remove offers that violate our policies. For most of us the coronavirus could turn out to be a nightmare. For Purellnot that the company wants it and not that its product is any sort of panaceaCOVID-19 is already a dream come true. This article was featured in a Saturday edition of the Morning Brief on March 8, 2020. Get the Morning Brief sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Friday by 6:30 a.m. ET. Subscribe Andy Serwer is editor-in-chief of Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter: @serwer. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Read more When paradise bloomed View(s): Japanese ambassador Akira Sugiyama was a most interested chief guest at the Shi-En Ikebana and Floral Art Society of Sri Lankas annual exhibition Paradise in bloom at the Marino Beach Hotel recently. It was a striking show of flowers presented both in Japanese and western style arrangements by the societys members, unleashing their creativity in different ways. Guest of honour, advisor to the Association, Harijanto Satiawan, the floral expert from Singapore also presented a demonstration. Part proceeds of the exhibition will go to the Sahana Medura Project of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI). Last year at this time, Democrats were proudly touting the most diverse field in history for their presidential campaign one that they said reflected their voters. It included six women, two African Americans, three Asian Americans, a Latino and a gay man. Now the list of major candidates consists of two white men in their late 70s and some are wondering how that happened after four years of womens marches, record numbers of African American women being elected to office and a burst of progressive grassroots activism. The electoral journey that led to Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders began even before people jumped into the race, said Ashanti Gholar, president of Emerge, which recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office. All people would ask was, Who can beat Trump? The fact that Hillary (Clinton) lost made people think, therefore, a woman cant take him on even though she got more votes, Gholar said. And when pundits started saying that Trumps election was a backlash to Obama, then being a person of color was seen as being a detriment. Amanda Renteria, an adviser to Clintons campaign four years ago, said that people ran back to 2016 as opposed to looking at the data in front of us in 2018, when a record number of Democratic women were elected to the House. We went back in time to be where we ended up today. Electability became the dominant word to many Democratic voters from the start. In June, a Gallup Poll found that 58% of Democrats surveyed said it was more important that a candidate be able to beat President Trump than that their views on the issues line up. Majorities also said it was not more important to pick a woman instead of a man, or a person of color instead of a white candidate. That single-minded Trump focus never faded and led Democrats to Biden, a 77-year-old three-time presidential candidate who had never won a primary until a week ago, and Sanders, 78, a Vermont senator who was runner-up to Clinton four years ago. Exit polls showed Biden was the overwhelming favorite of Super Tuesday voters who said they preferred a candidate who could beat Trump. The former vice president won 10 of the days 14 contests. He won states where he barely campaigned, including Massachusetts, home state of campaign rival Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Texas, where Sanders outspent him on advertising by more than 40 to 1. Its almost like Democrats have amnesia and forget that Barack Obama is the only Democrat that was elected to be president over the last 20 years, said Aimee Allison, founder of She the People, which works to advance women of color in politics. His being black was actually an asset, as it brought out a lot of different kinds of voters, Allison said. But for some reason, this amnesia has led to Democrats giving a lot of grace and credit to where it is really not deserved. Rep. Barbara Lee got her start in politics volunteering in 1972 for Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to seek a major partys presidential nomination. I heard the same types of terrible narratives and questions being asked then, the Oakland Democrat said. Can a black woman win? Is it time for a woman? Im furious with how the race has shaken out, said Lee, who supported Kamala Harris before the California senator ended her presidential campaign in December. Lee said she has asked both the Biden and Sanders campaigns to choose a black woman for vice president. But James Taylor, a professor of politics at the University of San Francisco, said some progressives were too willing to overlook flaws in candidates that deterred other Democratic voters for whom race and gender were secondary. We have to take a step back and look at Elizabeth Warren as a candidate and then as a woman, said Taylor, author of Black Nationalism in the United States: From Malcolm X to Barack Obama. Its possible sexism contributed to her candidacys demise, he said, but Warren also made critical strategic errors at bad times in her campaign, when she was being viewed as the front-runner last fall. Some advocates argue that the nominee-selection process is stacked against even high-quality candidates who arent white men. They floated suggestions for changes, including: Downplay Iowa and New Hampshire: Candidates emphasizing issues important to nonwhite voters are at a disadvantage when the electorates of the first two states on the calendar are 90% white. Instead, start with a set of five states that better represent the partys demographics, said Jenifer Fernandez Ancona, co-founder of Way to Win, which aims to spend $50 million on minority- and female-led community groups organizing in 10 battleground states this year. Georgia could be one early state, Ancona said. It is both urban and rural and has a diverse population and affordable media markets. The states should be small enough so that, as in Iowa or New Hampshire, a lesser-funded candidate can emerge from the pack, she said. Then rotate the states every year, Ancona said. It would be an interesting baby step to take. The political website FiveThirtyEight suggested a reordered Democratic primary calendar by ranking the states by how closely they matched the race, ethnicity and education levels of Democratic voters nationwide. The No. 1 state by those factors: Illinois, followed by New Jersey and New York. California was No. 21. Allison proposes an easier route: Go straight to Nevada and South Carolina. It was the reality of what the electorate looks like in (Iowa and New Hampshire) that took out Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Julian Castro, because they werent seen as viable there. They would have done better if we started in Nevada. 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. Reform the debates: By the time many voters started paying attention to the race in January, only white candidates met the Democratic National Committees qualifications to be on the debate stage. It was such a crucial part of winnowing the field this time that weve got to get it right, Addisu Demissie, who managed Bookers campaign, told The Chronicles Its All Political podcast. The party set polling and fundraising criteria as qualifying standards. Critics said early polls favor candidates with strong name identification, such as Biden and Sanders, and that campaigns that have more money to start with are better able to raise additional donations. If you put enough ads out there, youll find somebody who is willing to give you money, Demissie said. Ancona suggested allowing outside groups to stage debates and pick the candidate participants. For example, environmental groups, African American groups and organizations representing rural interests could all sponsor debates. Switch to ranked-choice voting: Ancona said allowing voters to choose their top three candidates in primaries would give people of color a better shot at breaking through. A 2018 study of four Bay Area cities that use ranked-choice voting showed that more people of color have been elected in those cities since the system went into effect. The study was done by Fair Vote, a nonpartisan organization that advocates for electoral reforms. It takes away that pressure that weve been seeing in this election of voting for who you think other people want to vote for, instead of who you want to win, Ancona said. In other words, Democrats need to revise their idea of who is electable. Electability should not be the new way to separate candidates, because were extraordinarily bad at it, said political scientist Corey Cook, an administrator at St. Marys College in Moraga. Were evaluating candidates based on what we believe are other voters perceptions. That wasnt what happened in 2008, when Obama was the riskiest choice, but Democrats decided to pick who they thought was the best candidate, even if he was the least known, Cook said. Gholar, the leader of Emerge, said Democrats should remember the phrase that many Warren supporters circulated online and wore on T-shirts: Shes electable if you vote 4 her. Just because other people are framing the discussion around electability, Gholar said, doesnt mean they are right. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer and John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com, jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli, @jfwildermuth Teachers and members of the Committee for Public Education (CFPE) campaigned in Melbourne last weekend to win support for the freedom of Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning. The campaign was organised in the aftermath of the opening week of Assanges US extradition hearing in London, which was exposed as a political show trial aimed at condemning the WikiLeaks founder to life imprisonment for exposing US war crimes. Teachers for Assange and Manning was initiated by the CFPE as a result of a series of resolutions passed at Footscray City Secondary College moved by Will Marshall, a longstanding Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and CFPE member. The resolutions opposed the ongoing persecution of Assange and demanded the Morrison government do everything in its powers to secure the safe freedom of Assange. The resolution also called for a broadening of the campaign to other schools and workplaces. Following the political lead given by Footscray educators, a meeting of the Hills Association of the New South Wales Teachers Federation in northwest Sydney unanimously passed a similar resolution moved by Erika Laslett, a secondary teacher and SEP member. Last week, the same resolution was again passed unanimously by more than 30 teachers at a meeting of the Illawarra Teachers Association in Wollongong. The resolution read: That this meeting of teachers opposes the ongoing persecution of journalist publisher and founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange and courageous whistleblower, Chelsea Manning. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer warns specifically that Assanges continued exposure to arbitrariness and abuse may soon end up costing his life. We insist that the federal Morrison government use its diplomatic powers to organise the safe return of Assange to Australia. We resolve to send this resolution to other schools and workplaces. In moving the resolution, Pietro Mascetti, a secondary teacher, said he felt compelled to raise the resolution because a great travesty of justice is being committed which has extremely serious consequences for teachers, for our children and for the world. We are in the business of educating, of informing our students and developing critical thinking attitudes, all of which are being attacked in the persecution of Julian Assange. The active intervention of teachers and education support staff at workplaces and schools is just one indication of the growing concern among millions of people that a terrible injustice is being carried out and that Assanges persecution has immense implications. This was evident on the Melbourne campaign, as workers and students stopped to talk to the campaign team, took leaflets, made comments, donated and signed up for more information. Alan Alan said: Ive followed Assange for a long time. I have researched this and the Five Eyes [surveillance] network which was set up to counter the Soviet Union. Now its being used for economic espionage on an industrial scale. The US wants to use it and Australia is a minor partner. Assange has exposed things like that. But his prosecution opens up the floodgates to other journalists. He didnt break any laws. Hes not a US citizen. This is draconian. Yvon, a retired worker, said: We need to save him. If Julian Assange goes, then freedom of speech is gone. He has committed no crime. He has published the truth. Liz a disability worker added: Because of Assange, any journalist today is going to be vulnerable. The fight for Assange and Manning has coincided with an upsurge of workers struggles internationally. Teachers have been at the forefront of this growing movement, battling the assault on public education and fighting for decent working conditions. Yvon and Liz Last month 200,000 teachers in Ontario went on strike to oppose the austerity program of the provincial government. This was followed by a national strike by 200,000 teachers in Sri Lanka. This week, teachers in the US walked out in Salt Lake City while graduate students at the University of California continued wildcat strikes. Some 50,000 academics in Britain took industrial action and maintained picket lines against casualisation and increasing workloads. Several teachers stopped to discuss freedom for Assange, the suppression of democratic rights and the assault on public education. Jude, a retired art teacher said: I dont know all the ins-and-outs of what has happened to Julian Assange, but I do know he is in jail in the UK and faces extradition to the US. I know his health is not good and I am very concerned about both his physical and mental health. Jude The Australian government should be doing something about his situation. This is all about freedom of speech and censorship. Assange is doing an important job by exposing war crimes. If people like him dont stand up or cant stand up, then we are living in a fascist state. Jude was aware of the teacher strikes in the US over the last two years and commented on the retrogressive changes being imposed in public education. She commented: I have a friend who is a middle school teacher in Texas. He is an art teacher and has 50 students in class. He is a fantastic teacher and gives the students great art projects, but this is impossible. Mandy, who is a primary teacher and CFPE member, explained why she had joined the campaign: The more I learn about the situation with Assange, the more outraged I become and the more I feel the need to tell other people. Others have to understand and become outraged too, and together we need to do something. The government wont do anything, but we need to. Assanges freedom can only come from what ordinary people do. Teachers rights are being suppressed. We dont have a voice in what happens in education. Assanges situation is a very extreme example of that same process. There is a link between democratic rights and suppression of freedom of speech and that is what attracts teachers. If we stand by and let this happen to Assange it will get worse for everyone. Kate a secondary teacher and CFPE campaigner, said: There is a lot of support out there for Julian Assange. Many people want to find a way forward. There is real concern about what his prosecution means for democratic rights. People are concerned that the truth is being concealed. They dont like it that governments are hiding what is going on. One man said to me on the campaign that Assange is the last bastion of democratic rights. That really stood out in my mind. Phoebe, Kate and Mandy Phoebe, who works in the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) sector and took part in the campaign, said: I joined the team because if Assange is extradited to the US and sentenced for publishing the truth, it will create a precedent for anyone to be persecuted by the ruling elite for going against their narrative and their secrecy. This is a grave miscarriage of justice. I found a lot of people to be very open towards the campaign. You could see that they had respect for teachers being at the forefront of this campaign. Teachers taking a stand is important as it is also against the ruling elite, who feel threatened by the power of public education and intellectualism. In contrast to the positive and enthusiastic response of teachers and other workers to the campaign for freedom of Assange, the trade union apparatuses, including the teacher unions, are maintaining a complicit silenceas is the official media and the official political parties. To secure the freedom of Assange and Manning, educators, workers and young people need to act independently of the official organisations. Pass resolutions at your school, establish a defence committee, and send delegations to other workplaces. Teachers and education support staff who wish to take forward this critical fight contact the CFPE. For further information: Email: Cfpe.aus@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/commforpubliceducation/ Twitter: @CFPE_Australia As Canadians wait for doctors, 170 family medicine residencies are left vacant, March 3 The real shame is that, while Canadian medical graduates eschew family medicine positions, each year more than 1,300 fully qualified Canadian citizens and permanent residents who studied abroad are unable to match due to restrictive quotas. Many of these unmatched doctors have a strong interest in primary care in underserved areas. They are competitive applicants, but are not allowed to compete freely for all positions. Instead, they are restricted to only 300 residency positions. This is a case of the Canadian faculties of medicine protecting their own graduates against competition from other Canadians, contrary to the public interest. And the provincial ministries of health and colleges of physicians and surgeons are allowing it to happen. If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants primary care for all Canadians, the solution is simple: Fund more family medicine residencies and, as a condition of funding, insist on full and equal competition, so that the best candidates become future family doctors. The controversy surrounding the planned publication of Woody Allens memoir Apropos of Nothing, slated to be released in April, has taken another turn. Hachette Book Group, which was slated to publish Allens book via Grand Central Publishing, announced this afternoon that it would no longer publish the memoir, and that all rights to the book have reverted to Allen. The statement read, in part: Also, as a company, we are committed to offering a stimulating, supportive and open work environment for all our staff. Over the past few days, HBG leadership had extensive conversations with our staff and others. After listening, we came to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible for HBG. This news follows Ronan Farrows very public break with Hachette due to their decision to publish Allens memoir, along with a walkout by Hachette Book Group employees protesting the books release yesterday. It also comes not long after the director settled a lawsuit with Amazon for payment guarantees connected to Allens film A Rainy Day In New York. Amazon was set to distribute the film, but pulled out after public outcry, and also pulled out of producing three more of the 84-year-olds movies. The fate of A Rainy Day in New York and the other films is unclear. Given that The New York Times reported last year that Allen had been unsuccessfully pitching a memoir, its unclear whether any other publishers will opt to pick up this one in Hachettes wake. Given the overwhelming response in opposition to the planned publication of Apropos of Nothing, its difficult to imagine. Update: Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, issued a statement about the books cancellation: This case represented something of a perfect storm. It involved not just a controversial book, but a publisher that was working with individuals on both sides of a longstanding and traumatic familial rupture. This presented unique circumstances that clearly colored the positions staked out and decisions taken. If the end result here is that this book, regardless of its merits, disappears without a trace, readers will be denied the opportunity to read it and render their own judgements. As a defender of free speech and the availability of a wide breadth of books and ideas, we also fervently hope that the outcome does not lead publishers to shy away from manuscripts that editors think are worthwhile but that are about, or even by, people who may be considered contemptible. Writer Stephen King also offered his commentary on the cancellation via his Twitter account, stating that I dont give a damn about Mr. Allen. Its who gets muzzled next that worries me. The Hachette decision to drop the Woody Allen book makes me very uneasy. It's not him; I don't give a damn about Mr. Allen. It's who gets muzzled next that worries me. Stephen King (@StephenKing) March 6, 2020 Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter. The post Hachette Drops Woody Allens Memoir After Controversy appeared first on InsideHook. Rain comes in stinging gusts and the snow-covered hills on the Argyll shore are only a faint blur. But the gloom which envelops the Ferguson Marine shipyard here in Port Glasgow has nothing to do with the weather. Two rotting 'ghost' ships haunt this stretch of the Lower Clyde. The 102 metre hybrid-powered 'superferry' MV Glen Sannox is tethered to the quayside. A few figures in high-vis jackets can be seen moving in desultory fashion among the scaffolding on her stern. She looks as if she has already spent years at sea. But the 'windows' on her bridge are mere squares of black paint, which were to make her look more 'finished' when she was launched in late 2017. She has yet to make her maiden voyage. Some here think she never will and would be better off scrapped. Her sister ship - known only as Vessel 802 - remains high and dry on the nearby slipway of the recently bankrupted Ferguson yard; a huge rust-coloured box with innards gaping to traffic on the Greenock Road roundabout. Pictured: Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with then First Minister Alex Salmond at the SNP's annual conference in Perth, November 2014 This is a story of parochial incompetence at its worst. It encompasses a reckless attempt by the Scottish National Party to steal headlines from a visiting English chancellor, a bumper contract for a billionaire Scottish government adviser based in the tax haven of Monte Carlo, huge interest-free loans from the Scottish public purse now written off as lost - and a still unstaunched bleed of taxpayer's money. Police speak to 16-year-old boy who was bombarded with 270 messages by disgraced Scottish finance secretary Derek Mackay By Jack Elsom for MailOnline Scottish police have spoken to the 16-year-old schoolboy who was blitzed with 'predatory' social media messages by disgraced SNP politician Derek Mackay. Detectives have not 'received any complaint of criminality' but are 'assessing available information' in the wake of the bombshell revelations the MSP bombarded the teenager 270 times on Facebook and Instagram. As Nicola Sturgeon's finance secretary and heir apparent, he looked set to have a bright political future and was tipped to become next party leader. But accusations of 'grooming' torpedoed his career. Mr Mackay has resigned from the Scottish government and been turfed out of the SNP. Advertisement If ever completed, this 'wonderful' project will cost perhaps three times the original price - a good deal more than a quarter of 1billion. The saga has resulted in a welter of mutual recrimination. But most fingers point to the SNP government at Holyrood. And in particular at its increasingly authoritarian and scandal-battered First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. The ghost ships, intended to service highlands and islands routes from 2018 onwards, were her babies. It was she who, amid the skirl of pipes, smashed a bottle of champagne against the Glen Sannox's bows, having boasted that the 'state-of-the-art' vessels were symbolic of 'Scotland's world-leading climate change goals.' The subtext was clear. The superferries - the first in the UK to be powered by liquefied natural gas as well as diesel - would symbolise the boundless innovation of an independent Scotland under a Prime Minister Sturgeon. Instead, they are nautical white elephants. Until last month, the man with responsibility for managing this disaster was the SNP finance minister Derek Mackay, a key Sturgeon lieutenant. But he resigned after it was revealed he had sent hundreds of inappropriate social media messages to a 16-year-old schoolboy. His fall from grace was seen as further proof that something is rotten at the heart of the electorally all-conquering SNP. Pictured: Scotland's ex-Finance Secretary Derek Mackay, who resigned with instant effect after allegations that he had sent hundreds of messages to a boy, 16, emerged (February 2020) Pictured: Ferguson Marine shipyard at Port Glasgow (photo taken February 2020) While it failed by 55 to 45 percent to secure independence in the referendum of 2014, the party won all but two of the 58 Scottish Westminster seats in the General Election of the following year. It did almost as well in December 2019. But the mood within the SNP has slowly soured. Alex Salmond appears at High Court in Glasgow over 14 sex assault charges including claim he 'stripped naked and tried to rape woman in bed at his Bute House residence while SNP leader' By Lara Keay for MailOnline Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond appeared at the High Court to face a string of sex assault charges, including one of attempted rape. Salmond, 65, was flanked by police officers as he entered Glasgow's High Court for the preliminary hearing. He is accused of one count of attempted rape, one of sexual assault with intent to rape, 10 of sexual assault and two of indecent assault. The charges, which he has 'vigorously' denied, relate to 10 different women and cover a time period from June 2008 to November 2014. The former MSP is accused of attempting to rape a woman at Bute House, the official residence of Scotland's First Minister, during the independence referendum campaign. Prosecutors allege he placed her legs over his, repeatedly kissed her face and neck, groped her then blocked her path. He is then alleged to have pinned her against a wall, pulled at her clothes and stripped himself naked before trying to rape her on a bed. The 65-year-old is also accused of sexually assaulting a woman with intent to rape in December 2013. He is alleged to have forced a woman to lie on his bed at Bute House, lay on top of her, groped her, struggled with her and pulled up her dress with intent to rape her. The first of the charges accuses Salmond of indecently assaulting a woman by allegedly kissing her mouth and groping her on various occasions around Glasgow between June 29 and July 24, 2008. It is further alleged he sexually assaulted a woman on various occasions between May 2011 and June 2013 at the Scottish Parliament, Bute House and elsewhere by touching her bottom and stroking other parts of her body. He is also accused of taking off a woman's shoe and trying to kiss her foot in October 2013. The indictment states that in September 2014, the month of the independence referendum, he grabbed a woman by her shoulders at Bute House, repeatedly kissed her face, tried to kiss her lips and touched her leg and face. Several charges involve Salmond allegedly groping women, including one incident at the Ego nightclub in Edinburgh in December 2010 or 2011 and another at the Ubiquitous Chip restaurant in Glasgow in March 2012. Details of the hearing, which follows two others in Edinburgh in November and January, cannot be reported for legal reasons. Mr Salmond was First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014, before he resigned following the Scottish Independence referendum. A four-week trial is fixed for March. He denies the charges. Advertisement The independence movement is a broad church. Yet there is schism and a growing feeling, articulated to the Mail by several SNP sources recently, that Ms Sturgeon and her faithful will listen only to those who share a particular Left-wing view. Colleagues fear to speak out. And at the top, decision making is opaque and the leadership behaves as if it is untouchable. Looming over this is the start on Monday of the trial of Ms Sturgeon's immediate predecessor, former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond, with whom she has fallen out bitterly. He faces 14 charges of indecent and sexual assault, including attempted rape allegedly carried out over several years when he was First Minister. Mr Salmond denies all charges. In the meantime Ms Sturgeon - who had called the 2014 poll a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' - continues to beat the drum for a second independence referendum. Her insistence that she can force through 'Indyref2' within the next 12 months baffles pragmatists within her party. They do not feel the time is yet right; they cannot be at all certain of victory and a second defeat now would lay to rest the SNP's raison d'etre for at least a generation. Former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars told the Mail: 'There won't be an independence referendum this year and Nicola Sturgeon has to appreciate this before she makes any more foolish statements. I think we should be grateful Boris Johnson has rejected a referendum in 2020.' Another senior SNP source said: 'People are very anxious about the Derek Mackay revelations. There's an awareness that there might be more to follow - and there is a real sense of fear. How can we have a referendum when things are so unstable?' Other observers believe Ms Sturgeon does not really want an imminent Indyref2, but is instead performing a charade to mollify those in her party who do. 'She has to keep marching the independence hardliners up that hill lest they get disillusioned with her,' said one. Among those is potential leadership rival Joanna Cherry, who this week, it was claimed, was embroiled in a spat with Mhairi Black - the young Sturgeon-loyalist MP over the visit of a drag queen to a Scottish primary school. Ms Black, 25, accompanied 'Flow Job' when the said drag queen read a story to children in Paisley, just down the road from the ghost ships. It subsequently emerged Flow Job's social media profile contained sexually explicit content and the local council apologised. The two SNP MPs have clashed before over the Scottish government's plans to make it easier for young people to change their legal genders. Ms Cherry feels the move threatens women's rights. Ms Black, who is gay, accused concerned parents of homophobia and Ms Cherry of trolling her on Twitter. Following the Flow Job controversy, there was yet another 'chaotic' meeting of the SNP's Westminster representatives. Meanwhile, opponents from rival Scottish political parties insist there are more basic reasons for disillusionment with Ms Sturgeon. They claim the Indyref2 debate serves as a smokescreen for the everyday failures of the devolved government which has seen the cost of establishing Scotland's new benefits system more than double to 651million. Certainly, the statistics for the most important areas of Scottish life - health, education and the economy - are damning. Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly claimed education is her 'top priority', yet results for maths and science are at a record low. Last month, the Scottish Government was forced to launch a review of its new curriculum for excellence (CfE), which it introduced in 2014 and which has since been criticised by parents, pupils, teachers and academics. Official figures show attainment has plummeted in two-thirds of senior school subjects over the past five years. The Scottish healthcare system is in a similarly dire state. Last November, Scotland's biggest health board was placed into 'special measures' following the deaths of two children in a cancer ward at a new hospital where the water was contaminated. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and the 840million Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH), which only opened in 2015, will now have to be supervised by a government-appointed oversight team. Five other of Scotland's 14 regional NHS boards have been ranked as being at various levels of risk. In Edinburgh last summer, the Scottish Government was also forced to delay the opening of the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children and Young People, over fears that the ventilation system posed an infection risk. Originally set to open in 2017, the building remains empty. However, taxpayers are being forced to fork out 1.4million a month for the hospital. Sound familiar? It does on the banks of the Clyde where shipyard workers are also being paid by government to do very little. To understand why, we must turn to Glaswegian billionaire Jim McColl, 68, who made his fortune by astute investments and management in the engineering industry. Eventually, he had made enough for him to feel the need to relocate to the tax-free climes of Monaco. But the exiled Mr McColl was also a staunch supporter of independence. The SNP wanted men like him on board. In 2007 Alex Salmond appointed him to the Scottish Council of Economic Advisers. In 2014, Ferguson Marine went into administration. This was a big deal in Scotland. Ferguson was the last shipyard on the once-thriving lower Clyde. But help was at hand. Mr Salmond brokered a deal which saw Mr McColl buy the yard for 600,000. Mr Salmond stepped down as leader later that year, to be replaced by Ms Sturgeon. She reshuffled her economic advisers but retained Mr McColl. The following year, Ferguson was awarded a 97million contract to build the superferries for the ports and ferry quango Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) despite it being the most expensive bid. The deal was announced by Ms Sturgeon on the day Chancellor George Osborne visited the nearby Royal Navy nuclear submarine base at Faslane to announce a 500million investment. A coincidence? Many thought not. Hundreds of new workers were employed. But just as swiftly the ferry project began to unravel - even though the Scottish government gave the company 45million in loans. Deadlines were not met, costs spiralled, the ferry designs were changed on the hoof. CMAL and Mr McColl had a very public falling-out. Last summer, Ferguson went bust. In December it was taken into public ownership by Holyrood. Mr Mackay announced the cost had risen to 200million. So far. Then came a number of devastating testimonies before an inquiry into the project by Holyrood's rural economy committee. Scottish Government ferry adviser Roy Pedersen testified the shipyard had been awarded the contract through either 'incompetence, vested interest or corruption'. Other experts weighed in. The marine engineer called in by the Scottish government to rescue the project wrote a report in which he said the ships were less than half finished, despite appearances. Work had started even before the design was completed. Miles of piping would have to be removed from the Glen Sannox and replaced. The word 'garbage' was used more than once. Dr Alf Baird, another transport adviser to the Scottish Government said that the officials involved in overseeing the project were 'people who either don't know much about the global ferry industry, or don't care.' Paul Sweeney, the former shadow Scotland Office minister said the 'ferries fiasco is one of the biggest public procurement disasters in Scottish history. Decisions made by the ministers caused it.' The condemnation culminated with the devastating appearance before the inquiry of Mr McColl himself. He did not hold back in his scorn for both the 'passive' First Minister and her finance chief and the CMAL quango which kept changing the design. He claimed that Ferguson was bounced into accepting an unrealistically low-costed project by Ms Sturgeon's unilateral announcement of the 97million deal. Like Mr Pedersen, Mr McColl believes the ships would be better off scrapped and the project started again. He puts the cost of seeing through the project at more than 300million. 'I think this should be going to a public inquiry because this is a mess that is not going get any better,' he concluded. One Scottish political commentator wrote of the SNP zealots: 'Critically, there is now a substantial minority in Scotland who do not care how many Health Boards are in crisis, how filthy our streets are, how many hundreds of millions are squandered on unbuilt ferries, what proportion of our children can read and write... 'These are the politics of the past. Their belief is vested in a mirage of the future...' Scottish Conservative spokesman Murdo Fraser agrees. He told the Mail last night: 'The Scottish public isn't foolish. After 13 years in charge, the SNP is exhausted, out of touch, mired in sleaze and scandal and unable to improve public services.' In Port Glasgow the rain gave way to hail. Plastic sheeting flapped wildly along the forlorn carcase of Vessel 802. 'You chose a bad time to visit,' said the man in the cafe where the Mail took shelter. 'And I think the weather is not the only thing about to get worse.' External affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday the United Nations rights body has been wrong before amid its decision to approach the Supreme Court challenging the amended citizenship act. Highlights India has already said the citizenship act is an internal matter of India Highlights UNHRC commissioner has said they will file an intervention application in Supreme Court over CAA Highlights Maybe, we are getting to know who our friends really are, Jaishankar said The commissioner of the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC), Michelle Bachelet, had on Monday informed India that her office has filed an intervention application in Supreme Court over the Citizenship Amendment Act or CAA. India has already said the citizenship act is an internal matter of India and that no foreign party has a locus standi on issues related to the countrys sovereignty. And on Saturday, Jaishankar said every country, including the US, has different citizenship criteria which are based on context and social criteria. Also read: Indian agencies point to Pak link in anti-CAA protests The minister also pointed out that the international body has been wrong before as he cited its reports and statements on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir They carefully skirt around the problem of cross-border terrorism in the region as if it has nothing to do with Kashmir, he said at the Global Business Summit, according to news agency ANI. Jaishankar was also asked if India has not been able to explain its position on CAA or has been misunderstood. There are sections of the world outside the media. I engage governments. I was in a room with 27 foreign ministers in Brussels whom I was talking to Point we make on CAA is that it cant be anybodys case that a government and parliament doesnt have the right to set terms of citizenship, he said in his reply, ANI reported. We have tried to reduce a large number of stateless people we have in this country. Everybody, when they look at citizenship, has a context, he added. Also read: UN rights chief to move SC over CAA, irks India Jaishankar also said New Delhi is now getting to know who its true allies were when he asked if we are losing friends in the world. Maybe we are getting to know who our friends really are, he said. Bachelet has also expressed serious concern over CAA and the riots in north-east Delhi and called on Indias leadership to prevent further violence. The United Nations human rights office had described the citizenship act as fundamentally discriminatory in nature and had called for it to be reviewed shortly after it was passed by Parliament in December last year. India has said CAA was aimed at protecting minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, but the UN body noted that the law does not extend the same protection to Muslims, including minority sects. For decades, British shoppers have preferred brown eggs to white in the mistaken belief they are a healthier option. But now farmers are urging consumers to make a switch to reduce animal cruelty. While there is no nutritional difference between the two types of egg, the farming of brown ones requires hens to have their beaks trimmed with an infrared laser beam, which is said to be painful. The Government wants to stamp out the controversial practice but farmers say they are only responding to demand. Farmers are urging consumers to buy white coloured eggs instead of brown ones If consumers were to eat white eggs then it would help with animal welfare and give farmers the confidence to farm hens which have not had the infrared treatment, said Robert Gooch of The British Free Range Egg Producers Association. Variation in egg colour depends on the breed that lays them. Broadly speaking white-feathered hens lay white eggs and brown-feathered hens lay brown ones, although the colour of the earlobe is a more reliable indicator. Dark-earlobed breeds that produce brown eggs, such as the Lohmann brown, are typically more aggressive, so have their beaks blunted when they are day-old chicks to stop them pecking each other as adults. They have been known to peck each other to death to establish their hierarchy and are even prone to cannibalism. Mr Gooch said white eggs used to be the norm in Britain but shoppers switched to brown in the 1970s under the misconception that they are more rustic or natural. The Government describes the blunting of beaks as a mutilation while Compassion In World Farming claims it can cause long-term pain and prevent birds from displaying natural behaviour such as foraging. Its chief policy adviser Peter Stevenson said: It would be so good for animal welfare if consumers went to work on a white egg. If consumers say this is what we want, the market tends to respond. This is because chickens laying brown eggs have their beaks trimmed after hatching - as they tend to be more aggressive than their white egg laying counterparts The beak trimming process is said to be painful for the birds as day old chicks Currently, Britains 944 million-a-year egg industry produces 11 billion brown eggs but just 45 million white eggs, less than 0.5 per cent of the market. John Kirkpatrick, Tesco agriculture manager, told The National Farmers Union conference last month that he could see the benefits of white eggs, but added: The challenge keeps coming back to the customer. Farmer Tim Bradley, from Bourne, Lincolnshire, who has a flock of 8,000 white-feathered birds, said: I would love to sell my white eggs to supermarkets but there is no demand at the moment so my eggs are sold to processors. White birds are more docile and like their own space and they just do not peck each others feathers as much as brown birds. He said that white birds were also better for the environment because they eat less grain, so less crop needs to be grown to feed them. White eggs are the norm in many parts of the world, including the United States, with 93 per cent of the market, and India, with 92 per cent. The Netherlands has made the switch from predominantly brown eggs to white ones in recent years, and industry sources said it would take the UK about 18 months to build up enough white hens to meet Britains demand for eggs. Organic egg laying brown chickens on a farm in Cheshire, England The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published a policy document last month which suggested farmers could be paid to stop using hens that have had their beaks mutilated. But Richard Jackson, vice-president of The British Veterinary Poultry Association, said: It would be too much of a generalisation to say white-feathered hens are always docile. Other measures to help prevent birds pecking each other include having smaller flocks and plenty of materials for foraging. Youth pastor's 4-year-old daughter killed in Tennessee tornadoes; Trump visits devastated areas Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The 4-year-old daughter of a youth minister is among the victims of tornadoes that tore through Tennessee just after midnight on Tuesday. According to The Christian Chronicle, a Church of Christ news publication, it was confirmed Tuesday that Hattie Collins, the daughter of Matt Collins, who is the youth pastor at Collegeside Church of Christ, lost her life in the storm that struck Nashville and surrounding areas. The young girl "passed from this world today into the loving arms of Jesus. Please continue to keep this family and all of the others affected by this tragedy in your prayers, the Cookeville, Tennessee, church said on its website in response to the tragedy. GoFundMe crowdfunding pages have been set up, one for the Collins family and another for other members in the community who need to rebuild. As of Saturday afternoon, over $137,600 has been raised for the Collins family and over $85,300 for the community. Matt, Macy and their infant daughter, Lainey, were all inside their home and sustained severe injuries from debris. The storm destroyed their home and the family was later transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. "While the family is in stable condition, the injuries sustained were severe, and recovery will take time," their GoFundMe page notes. A Thursday update added that the family is indeed recovering and "making improvements." Residents impacted by the tornadoes described their community as looking like a "war zone." The Christian Chronicle noted that a mere days before the tornadoes devastated their community, the opening song at the Sunday service was "Raise a Hallelujah" by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser of Bethel Music. Some of the lyrics in that song are: "I'm gonna sing in the middle of the storm, Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar. Up from the ashes, hope will arise; death is defeated, the King is alive." President Trump visited the ravaged state on Friday, landing in Nashville and took a helicopter to Cookeville, in Putnam County, which bore the brunt of the storms and has tabulated 18 deaths, reports say. Thus far, the storms have claimed the lives of 24 people. "You just see the trees are just laying down, houses gone, and all you see is concrete foundations," said Cookeville Mayor Ricky Shelton. "Our road crews were having to take heavy equipment to bulldoze our way through these streets, because they were covered in trees and power lines and poles." Trump opened up federal funds for the counties most afflicted by declaring a disaster in the state. "It's been a painful, tragic week for our state," said Gov. Bill Lee during a joint news conference with the president, "but Tennesseans are hopeful." March 6, 2020 News By David Vergun Defense.gov DOD's Chief Management Officer Leads Servicewide Reviews The Defense Department's chief management officer is leading each of the military, departmentwide reviews with the aim of ranking programs needed for the fight against near-peer competitors, said a DOD official. This effort will be reflected in the fiscal year 2022 through 2026 defense budget cycles, he said. In the past, this process took place within each of the services, he noted. Now, the chief management office will examine each of their budgets to better align all of them with the National Defense Strategy. John E. Whitley, who is performing the duties of director of the Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, said the National Defense Strategy DOD's playbook is focused on possible future threats from China and Russia. He spoke March 4, at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference, in Washington, D.C. As such, there are programs that are important in answering those threats, he said. The programs include hypersonics, missile defense, artificial intelligence, 5G, modernizing the nuclear triad and readiness. In the aggregate, that's a big expense, he said, and the department doesn't anticipate increases in future budgets to cover them, so DOD had to look within to find savings. The department already completed its Defense-Wide Review, which looked at all organizations not owned by the military services such as the Missile Defense Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Defense Information Systems Agency, and the Special Operations Command. That review, which lasted from August through November, freed up about $6 billion for high-priority items that were reflected in the fiscal year 2021 budget, he said. For instance, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency had gradually expanded its Cold War mission when it focused on nuclear materials. It had expanded, he said, into biological and chemical programs in non-threat areas, so sizeable reductions were made. Likewise, 50 military treatment facilities were right-sized to better serve members and cut operating costs, he said. That doesn't mean programs that were cut, delayed or reduced were not important, Whitley added. Tough choices had to be made to free the needed funding for the most important programs. Besides freeing up money, that review identified another $2 billion in programs that made more sense to turn over to the military services, and that was done, he said. "We anticipate additional savings from the defense wide accounts," Whitley said. A third review is now examining each of the combatant commands with an eye for rebalancing manpower and material for the high-end fight, he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New York The new FX series "Devs" may be set in the world of high tech, but its creator is politely asking you to put yours down while checking it out. Alex Garland wants you to choose to watch his show really be present not half-watch while fiddling with your phone. It's not that kind of show. "If somebody was spending a lot of time sending text messages or checking what's going on in the news on their phones while watching the story, it would make very little sense," he says. Garland, who wrote and directed each episode, has a point: "Devs" is an absorbing meditation on the very essence of human existence and free will, all hidden in an elegant techno-thriller. It's worth putting down your gizmo. The eight-part limited series is available starting Thursday exclusively on FX on Hulu and centers on the character of Lily, a young computer engineer working for a cutting-edge tech giant on a sprawling San Francisco campus. When Lily's boyfriend disappears while working in the secretive Devs complex where the company plans its coolest developments Lily investigates. Along the way, Garland explores quantum physics, determinism and the laws of the universe. Seriously. "As the story was coming to me, one of the things I kept thinking is: 'I don't know how I could possibly tell this in a two-hour narrative,'" he says. Embracing TV made sense: "It was unbelievably liberating from my point of view." Fans of Garland's breakthrough film "Ex Machina" will find familiar stylish fingerprints: Unrushed storytelling, cool menace, elegant doses of philosophy, an affinity with darkness and stillness, profound musical choices and striking visual effects. One image clearly stands out: A gigantic statue of a girl towering over the tech company's campus. It's both adorable, odd, menacing, creepy and innocent an unsettling exclamation point for this ambitious series. The Hollywood Reporter calls "Devs" "haunting and hypnotic, a show of marrow-seeping mood and a unity of vision that carries through every frame." Decider calls it an " indisputably stunning mystery." TV Insider cheered its "life-affirming heart." Sonoya Mizuno plays the obvious heroine Lily, but to paint the enigmatic tech giant boss played by Nick Offerman as the show's villain is to underestimate Garland. "The moral landscape of the story is much more complicated than that," Garland says. "People do have mixed motivations. They're not typically all good or all bad." If you detect a touch of Steve Jobs in Offerman's character a workaholic with a cult of personality and a genius-level mind you're not wrong. Garland is fascinated by the people behind the technology. "In part, 'Devs' is concerned with the messianic qualities that the bosses at tech companies seem to contain," he says. "When I see a big product launch and the enthusiastic audience, I think there is a lot that is church-like about that. It feels like a devotional exercise." Alison Pill, who plays the tech boss' top lieutenant, was a fan of "Ex Machina" and devoured all eight "Devs" scripts within hours when they were sent. "Everything that I sort of expected was upended," she says. Pill describes a rehearsal process for the series like no other, including frank discussions about the fundamental differences between waves and particles. "When I say it's about everything. It's about everything," she said, laughing. Garland's often sidelong glance at technology and society have given him a bit of a reputation as someone who views the future negatively, but that's not how he or Pill see it. "A lot of people make Alex out to be a pessimist, and I absolutely disagree with that notion," Pill says. Garland also dismisses being dystopian, saying "Devs" is about compassion: "There's nothing misanthropic about the story. It's exactly the opposite." Garland reunited with many of the artists who made "Ex Machina" so exhilarating, including cinematographer Rob Hardy and production designer Mark Digby. Pill called Garland a respectful collaborator, one who is open to suggestions. "You might not expect that from these auteur type of guys. I've seen that play out and it can be unpleasant," she said. "This is something that feels like such a community. We all would happily join the cult if he ever decided to start one." The resulting series is a dizzying trip into Garland's mind, one that mixes the poets Philip Larkin and W. B. Yeats, references to the Kennedy assassination, Marilyn Monroe and "Jurassic Park," and songs by '70s rockers Free and John Martyn. It's a strange trip indeed and that's the point. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 08:57 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068e981f 4 National Diamond-Princess,Sebaru-Island,coronavirus,COVID-19,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,suspected-with-COVID-19,isolation,RS-Persahabatan-hospital Free A crew member of the coronavirus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship has been put in isolation at Persahabatan Central General Hospital (RSUP) in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, over fears of having contracted the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). There were 69 Diamond Princess crew members that we picked up, and they are now located on Sebaru [Island]. Of the 69, there is one that has been put into isolation. Read also: BREAKING: Indonesia confirms two new COVID-19 cases Although [the patient] is in good condition, we are suspicious that he has probably been infected with COVID-19, government spokesperson for COVID-19-related matters Achmad Yuri Yurianto said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com. Yuri said the 10 medical workers who had gone to Japan to pick up the crewmen had been observed and had tested negative for the virus. Read also: Indonesia launches official protocols for COVID-19 outbreak The 10 people are now on Sebaru Kecil Island and are monitoring the quarantined crewmen with the help of 20 more medical personnel. In total, there were 78 Indonesian nationals working as crew members aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship. (gis) Coronavirus death toll hits 124 in Iran, 913 patients recover IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, March 6, IRNA -- Iran's Health Ministry Spokesman Kianoosh Jahanpour announced that 1,234 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since yesterday that is associated with the more activeness of the country's laboratory system. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Jahanpour said that there are 1,234 new cases of coronavirus infections in the country, increasing the total number to 4,747. The vast majority of cases are in Tehran, with 1,413 infected, he said. Jahanpour went on to say that 124 people have died and 913 people have recovered. Iran's Health Ministry Spokesman also warned people to stop traveling to touristic cities, including Isfahan, Gilan, Mazandaran and southern provinces of Iran. 9455**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As the coronavirus spreads to the Southeast, South Carolina churches are taking health precautions to protect parishioners. Seacoast Church, which draws around 7,000 attendees for services in Mount Pleasant every weekend, has added 20 sanitation stations to its main campus, which now features more than 50 total dispensers. The church also installed 18 sanitizer stations at Seacoast satellite locations in the tri-county region. Pastor Josh Surratt said the church still plans to host Saturday and Sunday services, but faith leaders are examining the church's online streaming services to ensure it can handle an uptick in web viewership. What were seeing as the biggest preventive is sanitation and washing hands," he said. "Weve encouraged our people if theyre sick, stay home and watch online. Georgia, North Carolina and Florida all have confirmed cases of the coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. The potentially deadly virus has symptoms similar to the flu. Seacoast is considering how it could support churches financially in the event local governments decide to restrict public gatherings as a safety mechanism, which could have implications on congregations dependent upon regular tithes and offerings. Surratt anticipates a decline in Seacoast attendance in the coming weeks, and the church has decided to not print worship guides and sermon notes for a few weeks to cut back on costs. Were trying to figure out how to serve the community if something like this breaks out," he said. "We always want to be positioned to serve others. The Rev. Krystal Sears, pastor of Greater St. Luke AME on the peninsula, said the main takeaway from a Wednesday meeting with the Charleston Health and Wellness Advisory Committee was for parishioners not to panic, and instead focus on health-conscious practices. Sears said health officials encouraged churchgoers to replace handshakes with fist-bumps. For many churchgoers, greeting each other with hugs and kisses is a regular part of worship. Sunday's "pass the peace" moment at Greater St. Luke will have a twist as worshippers replace kisses and hugs with elbow nudges to minimize contact. We just have to be conscious," she said. "We hug and kiss everybody in the church. Those days are over right now. The pastor said congregants should combine common sense hygiene with prayers for protection, adding that prayers could be the reason S.C. hasn't yet seen a confirmed case. "You have to ask God for his protection from seen and unseen dangers," she said. Faith leaders aren't shutting down services. The Rev. Al Zadig, rector at Saint Michael's Church in Charleston, said sanitizers have been installed at entrances throughout the building. Well never cancel church," he said. Of all times, this is the time to get together, but wisely." He said public health crises aren't new to humanity. The moments offer an opportunity for the church to point people towards Christ, he said. Do we go to a place of fear, or do we go to a place of prayer and ask God to intervene?" he said. "Our actions as a church help teach people where to go." Congregations outside the Lowcountry are making preparations as well. In addition to suspending "handshake/kiss of peace" gestures during Masses, Catholic congregations across the state should not to drink from the communion cup, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston said. The South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church said Methodists should engage in "social distancing" by keeping three feet between themselves and someone who is coughing or sneezing. Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, who presides over the conference, said in a statement parishioners should base precautionary actions on information offered by health experts, such as the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Lome, Togo (PANA) - The University of Lome has launched a competitive fund of 100 million CFA francs to finance scientific research and technological innovations, PANA learned on Saturday from official sources in the Togolese capital Worries over the coronavirus have spread to every sector of the economy includes the arts. The Norman Rockwell Museum has suspended its Virtual Reality Rockwell, an event set for Saturdays that uses virtual reality headsets to place users inside of Rockwells Four Freedoms paintings. On the museums website, the museum said the suspension is temporary due to public health concerns. "We disinfect the headset every time," said the museum's Communication Manager Alyssa Stuble. "But the Lysol wipes might not be enough. We are looking at temporary covers for the head sets or other cleaners. This is all preventative. We just want to be careful." It's not just the museum. On Friday, members of the Upstate Theater Coalition for Fair Game had a conference call to discuss preparedness and policy if a public health crisis strikes. The Collaborative, a Proctors website that reports on news of the area arts scene, reported that Proctors, as well as executives with the Times Union Center, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, The Palace Theatre Albany and others were on the call. Jon Elbaum, executive director of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, said after the call that the general consensus was to take a watch-and-wait approach. There is a concern, but we will be looking to government authorities, Elbaum said. We have done a few things. We have reviewed our emergency preparedness, added sanitizing stations and looked at our general policy of exchanging tickets if someone is feeling ill. There is no standard response. If the music venue shuts down, however, the financial impact Elbaum said would be potentially quite severe. We are moving into uncharted territory, Elbaum said. We have business interruption insurance, but that will take a while to catch up. We have contracts with artists, we have patrons with tickets, we have employees that need to pay their mortgage. Its complicated. Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center, said that the organization is monitoring COVID-19 and with its first event two months away, there are not plans to change the amphitheater's schedule. "The safety and security of our guests, employees, volunteers and artists is our highest priority," Sobol said on Friday night. "We are following the lead of our city, state and elected officials and are prepared to implement strategies recommended by public health authorities. ... We remain vigilant and prepared to make decisions based on current needs, as well as in response to changing conditions. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The Collaborative also reported that Proctors will form a task form with other organizations to address its response to the virus. In the article, Proctors CEO Philip Morris said the organization is taking a calm but kind approach and will be creating protocols we can lean on for the future. At this point, Elbaum is also concerned with the publics reaction to news of more cases of COVID 19. We also are looking at our communication infrastructure, Elbaum said. News spreads quickly, more quickly than the virus. On Friday afternoon, New York State reported 44 cases of COVID 19. The house at 125 Truc Bach Street, where the country's 17th Covid-19 patient stays, was sealed and disinfected. Nguyen Hong Nhung, who returned from Europe, was confirmed positive for Covid-19 on Friday night. The 26-year-old woman is the first infection case in Hanoi and Vietnam's 17th after the country went 22 days with no new infection. A group of New Orleans artists will host a gathering to remember art critic and photographer D. Eric Bookhardt on Sunday, March 8, at The Music Box Village. Bookhardt, who wrote for numerous publications, including Gambit, died on Nov. 8 at the age of 73.A group of New Orleans artists will host a gathering to remember art critic and photographer D. Eric Bookhardt on Sunday, March 8, at The Music Box Village. Bookhardt, who wrote for numerous publications, including Gambit, died on Nov. 8 at the age of 73. A few artists are already planning to share remarks at Sunday's memorial, and Music Box co-founding sound artist Taylor Lee Shepherd will perform a short, one-man piece on the village's musical houses. The work is inspired by the Bookhardt's and writer Jon Newlin's 1978 book, "Geopsychic Wonders of New Orleans," for which Bookhardt took photos and wrote the introductory essay. Organizers of the memorial are encouraging attendees to share their own anecdotes, readings and remembrances of Bookhardt, says Delaney Martin, New Orleans Airlift founder and artistic director. Curator Claire Tancons, who now lives in Berlin, will be sending remarks and Martin will be reading some of Bookhardt's writings. "I think that will probably be one of the best ways to honor him he had such a iconoclastic voice," Martin says. The small gathering is being organized by a few friends from across New Orleans' arts community, and is intentionally informal. Bookhardt would have probably bristled at some large formal event, Martin says. "We felt like the art community just wanted to honor him," says Martin. "'Geopsychic Wonders of New Orleans' alone is such an important piece of writing and documentation. I think it's important to acknowledge his work and its impact on the community and to give people a place to gather." Bookhardt was born and raised in New Orleans and attended the University of New Orleans. In the late 1960s, he moved to New York City, where he worked as an archivist at the Museum of Modern Art. When Bookhardt returned to New Orleans, he pursued his own photography and became an arts writer, contributing to Gambit for close to 30 years, Sculpture magazine and others along with running his own website, www.insidenola.org. He also served as a regional editor for Art Papers. Eric was among a handful of early contributors who helped establish Gambit as a leading voice for the arts in New Orleans," former Gambit owners Clancy and Margo DuBos said in a statement following Bookhardt's death. "Through the years his columns gave art lovers valuable insights into the local art scene, and his critiques consistently raised the bar for galleries and artists. He was a gifted writer and a great friend to all of us at Gambit. He will be missed by all who knew him and by many more who read his columns. Martin says she admired Bookhardt for having a unique voice that took arts in New Orleans seriously. He had an "ability to concoct worlds with his writings that sort of helped cement the vision of the artists that were making the work and possibly even expanded on their own ideas in ways they hadn't imagined," she says. "But to me, he was just somebody that was so great to run into." Sunday's memorial to Bookhardt runs 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Music Box Village, 4557 N. Rampart St. The event is public and the mic will be open to those who would like to share. Questions can be directed to Martin at delaney@neworleansairlift.org. Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi on Saturday directed officials to undertake a survey to ascertain the extent of losses in crops due to the recent hailstorm in the state. In a statement issued here by the UP government, Shahi said, "The department officials must ensure that survey is conducted to ascertain the extent of loss in terms of crops by farmers in the state caused by hailstorm and rain. The state government is committed to compensate the losses caused to the farmers." Instructions have also been issued to insurance companies to ascertain the extent of loss, and pay for the damage caused to farmers. Shahi also said that farmers can register their losses with a toll-free number 1800120909090. President of Rashtriya Kisan Manch Shekhar Dixit told PTI, "The hailstorm and rain in different parts of the state has damaged 70 per cent of the crops. We have already written a letter to the UP Chief Minister drawing his attention towards the problems faced by the farmers. In 2015, during the SP regime, hailstorm had taken place in some parts of the state. The money, which was meant for the farmers, never reached them. The state government should act in time, else it would be too late for the farmers." Convenor of UP Congress (media department) Lalan Kumar, while reacting to the step made by the UP government, told PTI, "The farmers are feeling frustrated in the BJP regime, as their problems are yet to be redressed. The BJP government has done nothing concrete for the farmers, and seems to be only interested in branding itself. The farmers are feeling devastated."Lalan added, "On the other hand, UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu visited villages to get a first hand idea of the damage caused to the crops. The farmers have made up their mind, and in the next Assembly elections, they will teach a lesson to the BJP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) " " Lady Godiva, escorted by a nun, is oblivious to Peeping Tom's watchful eyes. Photo by Mark Kauffman//Time Life Pictures/ Getty Images After the Norman Conquest, writers endeavored to record the lore and history of England. Their goal seemed to be quantity over quality -- the accuracy of many of these accounts is debatable, and the Lady Godiva tale is one sterling example of a pseudo-historical yarn that was woven again and again through the centuries. As we've learned, Roger of Wendover is credited with the first instance of the Godiva legend. His monastery had been almost solely founded by Godgifu. Roger may have been trying to glorify the generous patron: In his account, the Countess Godiva is infallibly pious (Leofric is begrudgingly righteous in the end). Matthew Paris went on to paint her even more colorfully in Flores Historarium when he succeeded Roger in the late 13th century. Their versions were pretty similar, though Paris took more liberties with fleshing out the characters. In the 14th century, other historians added that the ride occurred in the morning and that the townspeople continued to pay taxes on their horses. Advertisement But in the 16th century, Grafton's "Chronicle" added a new twist to the story. He cited Gaufride as his source -- but no one is sure who Gaufride was. Scholastically speaking, this makes Grafton's version more tenuous, but it proved far more entertaining (later, it would inspire countless poems and ballads about Godiva). According to Grafton, the townspeople had been ordered to stay inside while Godiva rode through the town. One man couldn't resist sneaking a peek as she processed down the streets. As he peered through the window to the street below, a divine force intervened to strike him dead, or in some versions blind. He became known as Peeping Tom. This tension between the exhibitionist and the scopophiliac (one who finds pleasure in looking at things) was later a critical point in Sigmund Freud's theories about human psychology. For years, Lady Godiva and Peeping Tom were inextricably connected, though today we use the colloquial expression "Peeping Tom" to refer to someone -- male or female -- who looks at things he or she isn't supposed to. By the 19th century, the Godiva legend had taken on a new meaning. The lower classes were at last able to afford private homes and came to know the luxury of personal space. People accepted that some things are better shielded from public eyes, and they began to consider Godiva as a representative of modesty. In 20th century and modern popular culture, these symbolic parts of the story started to fade away, but concrete images like the noblewoman's naked body and her long hair still resonate with people -- even if they don't know why Godiva took that naked horse ride. So is it worse to remember history inaccurately or not remember it at all? We learned earlier that Godgifu entered into her marriage with some property in her name and that Coventry was one of those places. Since she owned Coventry, Godgifu would've made the call to lower or abolish taxes. What's more, 11th-century Coventry was a provincial parcel of farmland [source: Stephens]. There were no taxes. And the land wasn't big enough or prosperous enough to warrant a taxation system until the 12th or perhaps 13th century. Therefore, Godiva's ride never happened because there simply was no need for her to prove anything. That hasn't stopped people from celebrating it. Beginning in 1678, a Godiva Procession was held in Coventry to commemorate and recreate the event. Maidens tapped to play the part of Godiva wore a flesh-colored body stocking and were offered free liquor by the local pubs -- liquid courage for the ride. Today, Coventry carries on the tradition. Even if it's just lore, the Lady Godiva tale is part of the town's identity. To read more about Godgifu, alias Lady Godiva, peruse the links on the next page. Android YouTube users will finally have access to a feature allowing more intuitive filtering of users Subscriptions page by channel. The change, spotted by 9to5Google, is subtle and centers around the top carousel found in the Subscriptions tab in the app. Thats the segment of the UI that lets users select a channel for viewing its videos. Now, that Subscription feed allows users to select a channel and have that channels videos brought to the forefront. The selected channel is highlighted and the videos shown are only from that channel. Other channels are still shown in the carousel. That wasnt previously the case, requiring extra taps to get back to the list. YouTube has also added a View channel link at the top-right, just below the carousel. That takes users to the profile page for the channel thats been selected. Advertisement YouTube isnt just making these minor changes though Now, changes to how YouTube handles channel filtering in Subscriptions arent the only ones YouTube has been making. Theyre also arriving a bit late since they landed on iOS way back in May of last year. Apples users have the additional benefit of sorting by Today, Continue Watching, Unwatched, and Live as well. Android users wont likely see that feature for some time. The scheduling isnt wholly unexpected, give the number of widespread app changes the Google-owned company has been undertaking. Aside from recent alterations to the entire UI of the YouTube Music app, intended to make controlling playback and other features easier, the company has also been combatting conspiracy theories. Advertisement The former change brings forward all of the buttons and interactive elements rather than tucking them behind taps on other UI. Thats a bit more cluttered than the previous look but should make things easier to find. The latter effort addressing conspiracy theories has been accented by success to a certain extent. Particularly where easily debunked claims such as flat earth and 9/11 conspiracies are concerned. Other conspiracies, relating to topics from alien influence in human history to climate change denial have gone unchecked. So YouTube has its hands full and its not overly surprising that it hasnt gotten around to relatively minor changes in its primary app just yet. None of that necessarily excuses YouTube for taking so long on the Subscriptions page channel filtering feature. But the company has plenty of changes in other apps and pressing issues to address. Advertisement Getting started with the new feature As might be expected, getting started with the YouTube Subscriptions channel filtering doesnt really require any extra effort from users. Instead, it appears to be rolling out across every Android device via an update landing in the Google Play Store. There arent any settings to adjust or toggles to flip. Instead, users just need to navigate to the Subscriptions tab, found on the bottom bar of the YouTube app UI. From there, YouTube will present users with a blue pop-out cue indicating that reads New! Tap to filter by channel. Then, its just a matter of scrolling through subscribed channels and selecting one. Authorities searching a stretch of the Blue Mountain in northern Northampton County for a missing man called off the effort after a few hours, state officials said. The search was called off at 4:49 p.m. Friday, according to an incident summary from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency provided Saturday morning to lehighvalleylive.com by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The search began at 12:56 p.m., focusing on a 7-mile area of the mountain in Lehigh Township, PEMA reported. Searchers assembled at the parking lot for State Game Lands 168 off Blue Mountain Drive, according to the agency. The Pennsylvania Game Commission was continuing to investigate, with a possible sighting of the man in Lehigh Gap by the Lehigh River, according to PEMA. The Appalachian Trail runs atop the mountain in the area of the search. Authorities were said to be searching for a missing man "who is homeless and lives off the land. The male has been missing for over a week and police were aware but have more urgency due to predictions of inclement weather," according to initial information Friday from the emergency management agency. Further details from local authorities were not immediately available. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Australian clothing designers are reeling after Myer drastically reduced prices of their stock amid the department store's move to shake up its fashion business. The retailer is hoping to turn around the struggling brand by spring with the new chief executive announcing a strategy to consolidate their range of womenswear labels and focus on accessories. Part of this strategy includes getting rid of many of the designer labels that have contracts with the store - with current stock being reduced by up to 70 per cent on Saturday and Sunday. Australian clothing designers are reeling after Myer drastically reduced prices of their stock amid the department store's move to shake up its fashion business We Are Kindred is near the end of their contract with the store and are seeing their remaining stock heavily discounted (pictured are co-founders Lizzie and Georgie Renkert) The move is in sharp contrast with Myer's previous efforts to stock a wide range of labels - with 40 brands added to the store in the last half of 2019. Founder of one of those brands, Ainsley Hansen of Hansen & Gretel joined Myer just four months ago and was notified in late January that her line would be deleted from the store. Ms Hansen told the Sydney Morning Herald that Myer reneged on their minimum spend commitment and she felt 'utter dismay' over the retail giant's decision. 'Future projections of our business were based on the grounds of our contract with them. The very major [retailer] that is supposed to support you in the industry ends up choosing to drown you instead,' she said. Ainsley Hansen of Hansen & Gretel joined Myer just four months ago and was notified in late January that her line would be deleted from the store Myer CEO John King is pictured with Myer brand ambassador Asher Keddie We Are Kindred is another label who, despite being near the end of their contract with the store, are seeing their remaining stock heavily discounted. Co-founder Lizzie Renkert said the move was damaging to her brand. 'This collection is retailing really well for us in our flagship store and e-boutique. To see it so heavily discounted... is soul destroying,' Ms Renkert said. 'I can't understand why you would sell something brand new for less than what you bought it for... they're not even giving it a go on the floor.' Myer's aggressive strategy to consolidate its labels is being spearheaded by CEO John King who joined the company in 2018. The move, he hopes will turnaround the struggling retailer's bottom line. Myer posted a 36.5 per cent fall in it's half-year profits on Thursday citing restructuring costs and poor performance in its women's clothing department were key factors. King said the retail franchise would 'exit' labels that are not performing and focus on women's accessories, their own 'in-house' clothing lines, and on building the presence of the brands they do keep. Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded a contract worth Dh450 million ($122.4 million) for the upgradation of the Falcon Junction, in a bid to improve the Al Shandagha Roads Corridor to cope with the sustained urbanisation of the locality. The Falcon Junction work is a part of Al Shandagha Roads Corridor Improvement Project undertaken over five phases extending 13 km along the Sheikh Rashid, Al Mina, Al Khaleej and Cairo Streets, said a statement from RTA. Upon completion, the Falcon Junction, which borders Al Khaleej, Khaled bin Al Waleed and Al Ghubaiba Streets, will link with Shandagha Bridge (Infinity) Northwards, it stated. Due to the massive scope of Al Shandagha Corridor Project, which has a cost tag of Dh5.35 billion, it had been split into five phases, two of which have been completed. Works completed included upgrading the junction of the Sheikh Rashid-Oud Metha Streets junction (Wafi Junction), and the intersection of the Sheikh Rashid-Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Streets, which included the construction of two bridges on the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street comprising of two lanes in each direction. It also included the construction of a one-lane bridge from Zabeel Street in the direction of Sheikh Rashid Street and a tunnel on the Sheikh Rashid Street in the direction of Al Mankhool Junction comprising four lanes in each direction. On the project, Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, the Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, said: "Upgrading the Falcon Junction will ensure free traffic movement across Al Shandagha Corridor (Al Khaleej and Al Mina Streets), and step up the intake of both streets. It will also enhance traffic safety, provide entry/exit points for Rashid Port, and provide more parking spaces under the new bridge to serve the area." "The project includes the construction of two bridges along Al Khaleej Street. The first bridge extends 750 m, northwards, and the second, stretches 1,075 m southwards; comprising six lanes in each direction with a capacity of 12,000 vehicles per hour, per direction," noted Al Tayer. The scope of work includes construction of a single-lane 250-m bridge for a right turn from Khaled bin Al Waleed Street to Al Khaleej Street with a capacity of 1,600 vehicles per hour. The construction of a two-lane 500-m tunnel for left turns from Khaled bin Al Waleed St to Al Mina St capable of handling 3,200 vehicles per hour, in addition to a surface signalised junction linking Al Khaleej with Al Ghubaiba and Khaled bin Al Waleed Streets. The project includes other works like pavements, lighting, traffic systems, rainwater drainage network and irrigation systems," added Al Tayer. A few years after graduating from college, Molly Hayward was invited on a volunteer trip to Kenya by A Voice Is Heard, a small non-profit organization based in Pennsylvania. She accepted the invitation and decided it was a great way for her to get back to helping others after a few stressful years in the workforce. While in Kenya, she met Purity, a teenager living in a local village. While speaking to Hayward about day-to-day life, Purity revealed that she and her female classmates would typically skip school during their periods because they couldnt afford sanitary pads. The trip turned out to be a life changing experience for Hayward, who went on to create Cora, a subscription bladder- and period-care brand that provides pads and health education to a girl or woman in need with every purchase made. Since 2016, Cora has donated over 10 million pads and has helped provide reproductive health education to roughly 15,000 girls in Kenya and India. Ashley Turner In observation of International Womens Day on Mar. 8, Cora is celebrating the lives of women and helping a girl in need with their #FormerCurrentChallenge. Post photos of your former and current selves on social media during the month of March, and for every post, Cora will give pads and health education to those that need them. Here, Hayward elaborates on why access to menstrual supplies and reproductive health education is key to worldwide prosperity. InStyle: Its been great to speak to some of the girls in Kenya and hear how Cora has changed their lives and enabled them to attend school. What changes have you witnessed firsthand? Molly Hayward: Rebecca's story is the first that comes to mind, shes a student I met in Nairobi. Rebecca was excelling in school with the dream of becoming a neurosurgeon, but when she started her period, she began missing school because her family could not afford to purchase menstrual supplies. It was commonly accepted in the community that this was a legitimate reason to miss school. With the supplies and health education that Cora provided to Rebeccas school, she was better able to understand and navigate the changes happening with her body and confidently return to school. Story continues How does Cora distribute menstrual supplies to girls in need in Kenya and India? With every months supply of Cora products purchased through our website, we provide a months supply of pads plus health education to a girl in need through our partner, Aakar Innovations, in India. And, with every product sold at Target or other retailers, we give 10% of our net profits to ZanaAfrica, a Nairobi-based foundation that equips teenage girls in Kenya with access to pads and reproductive health education. We are currently looking into expanding our giving and have been working with Kin Travel and Cottars Wildlife Conservancy Trust, to see how we can help provide menstrual supplies and health education to young girls in the Olderkesi Community, located in the Masaai Mara. We invest in these local organizations because we believe its most effective to provide long-term, local investment in a way that promotes economic growth and opportunity. Why are you so passionate about this cause? Its easy to think of menstrual health and access in a silo as it relates to womens health, but this is an issue that literally touches everything. When girls dont have access to period products, they are more likely to drop out of school. When girls drop out of school, they are less able to pursue the future they have dreamed for themselves, or to support themselves or their families. With less education, they are more likely to marry young and have more children, which impacts the global economy, the health of the environment, the number of women we have in power everything. From the very beginning, our social mission has been absolutely core to Coras business model, its the reason we exist. We intentionally designed our business model to encompass social initiatives so that as we grow, so does our positive impact. We need to stop treating period inequality and stigma like a womens health issue and understand its global implications, and I passionately believe that Cora and our partners are at the forefront of doing that. VIDEO: When Girls Miss School Because of Their Period, We All Lose RELATED: The Government Is Using Womens Period Information Against Us What keeps you motivated? I recently heard a story from Megan Mukuria, the founder of ZanaAfrica. She asked a young girl how she would feel if someone gave her pads that would last her the whole year, she said the girl responded, I would feel like the whole world loved me. This reaction is hugely motivating as it helps ground me in the understanding that this work is having a truly critical impact on how girls see the world and how they feel about themselves. Ashley Turner As a female founder, what makes you proud to be part of Coras story? Im incredibly proud of what weve built at Cora. At the end of the day, were changing the lives of girls and women around the world. You literally cant put a value on that. What is your broader vision for helping girls around the world who are experiencing period poverty? My greatest hope is that this issue will become a non-issue in my lifetime and that is why we work hard to initiate partnerships with great organizations and communities all over the world to continue to reach more and more girls. Our work doesnt stop with the communities we serve in Kenya, India, and the U.S. because there is still so much work to do and so many girls around the world who arent getting what they deserve which is a world where they dont have to put their dreams on hold because of something that occurs naturally every month. This year, third-level colleges were granted approval for 20 women-only professorships, an initiative aimed at tackling gender inequality in higher education. The journey towards gender equality within academia has been long and difficult. With that in mind, University College Cork, celebrating its 175th year in 2020, is highlighting Mary Ryan for this years International Womens Day. Ms Ryan is a pioneer who paved the way for female academics in Ireland. She became the first female university professor in Ireland on June 25, 1910, when she was appointed chair of romance languages at UCC. While records of her appointment barely mention her gender, it was, nonetheless, a major breakthrough for full female participation in university life. Moreover, it came during a period of rapid progress for women in higher education and Irish society. The National University of Ireland Act (1908) had, for the first time, recognised the principle of gender equality, which was then enshrined in the new charter under which Queens College Cork (QCC) became UCC. Women were first admitted as students to QCC in 1886, but numbers remained small, in part owing to the opposition of Irelands Catholic bishops to the colleges. Ms Ryan herself noted that there were difficulties about Catholic women students attending lectures at QCC. Ms Ryan took her BA degree in the Royal University of Ireland (RUI) in 1895 without setting foot in a university college, instead preparing for examinations through private study, supported by her secondary school, St Angelas College. In 1902, Ms Ryan joined the Cork branch of the newly formed Irish Women Graduates Association, which campaigned for better opportunities and facilities for women in Irish universities. A leading figure in the Cork branch was Lucy Smith, one of QCCs first female medicine graduates in 1898, who highlighted, in particular, the exclusion of women medical students from practical classes, with some professors still refusing to admit them. This happened against the backdrop of the era of womens suffrage agitation and reform, culminating in equal voting rights from 1922. Change came gradually at first in UCC, then quickly. The first female staff appointments were those of Ms Martin as lecturer in methods of education in 1905, and of Ms Bowen-Colthurst as demonstrator in mineralogy in 1907. Ms Ryan was appointed lecturer in German in autumn 1909, having delivered lectures in French and German earlier in the year, when she covered for William F Butler, professor of modern languages. She was joined by two more female professors in July 1911, following a change to university statutes which saw lecturers in certain subjects promoted. These included Ms Ryans old friend, Elizabeth M OSullivan (methods of education), who had attended St Angelas with her, and her colleague Walberga (Wally) Swertz (German). In 1909, Dr Lucy Smith became the first woman to be appointed to UCCs new governing body. After 1908, the new university structure, now supported by the Catholic bishops, saw a sharp increase in numbers of female students. For example, while there were only 17 in 1906, this had risen to 74 by 1910, and represented nearly 20% of the total student body. Referring to herself and Ms OSullivan, Ms Ryan noted that, on our appointment to UCC, it was assumed by everyone, including ourselves, that we must take a special interest in the women students. Throughout their careers, both acted as womens dean of residence, president and treasurer of the womens club, and as representatives on the governing body, and promoted the interests and wellbeing of female students. At the time of Ms Ryans retirement (1939), female students made up almost 30% of the total. By the 1980s, women would outnumber men, a century after their first admission. Ms Ryans promotion of French culture saw her become the first Irish woman to be awarded the Legion dHonneur, Frances highest order of merit, in 1935. In 2015, one of her successors as professor of French at UCC, Grace Neville, became the third Irish woman to receive this award. As an undergraduate, Prof Neville had won the Edward and Matilda Ryan Scholarship, founded by Mary Ryan in honour of her parents. Mary Ryan Scholarships are now offered to language students in UCC. Timothy OConnor is university archivist at UCC Palo Alto police are investigating a fatal collision in which a flatbed truck struck and killed a middle school boy in Palo Alto on Friday evening. The bicyclist and the truck driver were both heading east on California Avenue near El Camino Real with the boy riding on the sidewalk, police said. The driver of the white International flatbed truck, a man in his 60s, made a right turn onto El Camino and struck the boy and the bike. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with police, they said. A US cruise ship hit by coronavirus was given permission late Saturday to dock, while New York announced a state of emergency as confirmed cases across the country surged past 400. The fast-spreading virus has already spread to 30 US states, killing at least 19 people, while the American capital announced its first case Saturday and citizens were coming to terms with public events being canceled across the country. The Grand Princess cruise ship has recorded 21 COVID-19 infections on board -- 19 crew and two American passengers -- out of 45 people tested. Authorities ordered the vessel to remain at sea off the coast of San Francisco, where it was due to dock Saturday following a 14-day trip to Hawaii, after it emerged that a passenger on a previous voyage had contracted the virus and later died. The vessel will instead go to nearby Oakland on Monday and begin disembarking passengers in need of "acute medical treatment," vessel owner Princess Cruises said in a statement. The ship's crew will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship, the company added. Around half of the vessel's 1,100 crew hail from the Philippines and several are among those diagnosed with the virus, according to Princes Cruises. Vice President Mike Pence, who is managing the US government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak, said earlier that all 3,533 passengers and crew would be tested for coronavirus and quarantined if necessary. Further south in Los Angeles, passengers aboard another cruise ship were told they must remain on the vessel overnight. The order came after a woman was taken off the Carnival Panorama cruise ship to be tested for the virus, the Long Beach Post reported. - 'Not concerned' - Nationwide, more than 400 people have contracted the virus so far, with dozens of new cases emerging daily. New York became the latest state to declare an emergency as the number of patients there rose to 89, including a driver who apparently worked for ride-sharing company Uber. The announcement came as the first US service member stationed at home tested positive. Maryland officials also reported that two people who were at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference attended by Pence and President Donald Trump had tested positive for the virus. Starbucks reported that one of its employees in downtown Seattle had tested positive, and the store shut for cleaning. Asked whether he was worried about the virus getting closer to the White House, Trump said he was "not concerned at all." He also said he did not plan to cut his public engagements. "We'll hold tremendous rallies," said Trump before hosting a dinner in Florida for the president of Brazil. - 'Kept in dark' - Public events have been canceled across the US in an effort to contain the epidemic. Casualties include Texas-based South by Southwest festival, a Mariah Carey concert, the Facebook F8 Developers Conference, Miami's Ultra Music Festival and several university sports events. The fate of the Grand Princess is reminiscent of the Diamond Princess, a sister vessel that suffered its own coronavirus outbreak while moored off the coast of Japan. Carolyn Wright, 63, a passenger on the Grand Princess, told AFP that there had been growing concern and frustration aboard the vessel. "I'm really happy there's finally a plan, I just wish we knew more as to what's going to happen to us," she said. Fellow passenger Kari Kolstoe, 60, told CNN she had stage 4 cancer and was worried she wouldn't make it home in time to start chemotherapy treatment on Monday. "I'm in extremely delicate health right now," Kolstoe, who is traveling with her husband, told the outlet. "If I don't have the coronavirus, I need to get that found out sooner rather than later." The number of worldwide coronavirus cases exceeds 100,000 and the overall death toll is more than 3,500 across 95 nations and territories, according to the latest count by AFP. Princess Cruises said there were 3,533 people currently onboard the Grand Princess, including 2,422 passengers and 1,111 crew US President Donald Trump with his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida Push is a documentary by Swedish filmmaker Fredrik Gertten that follows UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, Leilani Farha, as she travels around the world trying to understand why housing has become so expensive. Housing prices are soaring everywhere. Mortgages and rents take up an ever-increasing proportion of income, that have fallen in real terms since the global financial crisis in 2008. In Toronto, for example, house prices have risen by three times the increase in income over the last 30 years. In London, it takes four incomes to afford a two-bedroom apartment. The high cost of housing is pushing people into poverty and homelessness. Many of those made homeless are families with children. London [Credit: Sasha Snow] In the poorer countries, the number of people living in informal housing (which includes unplanned, squatter and marginal settlements, unconventional dwellings, non-permanent structures, inadequate housing, slums, housing not in compliance with planning and building regulations, etc.) exceeds 1 billion, one seventh of the worlds population. This is testimony to the flagrant breach by governments worldwide of international law that enshrines the right to housing under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966. The films director, Gertten (born 1956), worked for several decades as a journalist before moving into television film production. More recently, his work has focused on global issues and injustice. Bikes Vs. Cars (2015), looked at the conflict between cyclists and motorists in cities around the world; Bananas!* (2009) treated the battle of Nicaraguan fruit workers against the international corporation Dole, winning Gertten several awards. Big Boys Go Bananas (2011) dealt with the legal issues involved in the attempt, withdrawn after two months, by Dole to sue Gertten and the films producer Margarete Jangard. Dir Fredrik Gertten [Credit: Gerhard Joren] Push is significant because it rejects gentrification as the sourceas opposed to a manifestationof the problem. Instead, Gertten seeks to understand the lack of affordable housing and the injustices that arise from a broader economic perspective. He provides a devastating exposure of the criminal role of the finance industry, aided and abetted by an army of lawyers, advisors and not least governments, in evicting people and jacking up rents after giving properties a superficial makeover. Released last year, the film is currently screening in several cities in the UK. It is available for showing at events on request to the distributors. The film shows Farha, an energetic and passionate Canadian lawyer and director of an anti-poverty NGO in Ottawa, conducting extensive research and interviews into how and why people are being pushed out of their homes in Valparaiso, London, Barcelona, Stockholm, Toronto, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul. In some cases, this is carried out by thugs hired by the corporate property owners. Leilani Farha on official mission to Korea [Credit: Janice dAvila] She asks why 72 residents of Grenfell Tower in the richest borough in London were killed. One of the tenants, Nick Burton, whose wife died of injuries sustained in the fire, movingly describes the events of that night. He speaks about their rescue after a two-and-a-half hour wait and the horror of having to leave his dog behind and clamber over bodies as he escaped down the stairwell. Burton notes that many of those made homeless were, at the time of filming, still in temporary accommodation. Farha describes the Grenfell inferno as a physical representation of the displacement of a community. For me thats the narrative of the world right now. The problem, she says, goes far beyond gentrification: housing has been financialized by big capital. She says, I believe theres a huge difference between housing as a commodity and gold as a commodity. Gold is not a human right, housing is. Leilani Farha meeting residents in Barcelona [Credit: Janice dAvila] In an interview, Saskia Sassen, professor of sociology at Columbia University in New York and author of Global City, says, This is not at all about housing. The buildings function as assets. She describes the investments in housing as high-end land grabs, explaining that an empty apartment is sometimes a better asset than its use as a home. The value of all real estate that functions as an asset is $217 trillion, more than double the global GDP of all the countries in the world. Sassen argues that the heart of the issue lies in the finance industry that sells something it does not have and thus needs to invent brilliant instruments that allow it to invade other sectors. In a telling metaphor, she compares the financial sector to mining, Once it has extracted what it needs [from housing], it doesnt care what happens to the rest. The corollary is that those who are pushed out of their homes are the slag. Leilani Farha on official mission to Chile [Credit: Janice dAvila] Joseph Stiglitz, a former chief economist at the World Bank and professor of economics at Columbia, explains the role of the 2008 global financial crisis and the US government in enabling private equity and the hedge funds to become global landlords. He does not mince his words, stating, Rather than helping the homeowners who were losing their homes, [the government] sided with the banks. They encouraged foreclosures to clean up the books, gave the money to the hedge funds and private equity firms, who then bought the distressed assets to make money. Thats how the 2008 crisis played an important role in increasing wealth inequality. Farha interviews Roberto Saviano, the Italian writer and author of Gomorrah, which exposed the workings of the Camorra crime syndicate and organized crime more generally. Ever since the books publication in 2006, when Saviano received death threats from the mafia, he has lived under police protection. Local housing activists in Valparaiso, Chile [Credit: Janice dAvila] Saviano outlines the role of tax-havens in the property money-laundering business, explaining, Tax havens are where criminal capitalism and legal capitalism meet and merge. Mafia organizations were the first to create and facilitate money-laundering mechanisms through tax havens. You buy things with legal moneya restaurant, hotel or housesthen you sell those properties to your company in a tax haven. If you want to bring your dirty money back into your country, you simply buy it from yourself at a much higher price than you paid. He adds, Companies dont want inexpensive real estate. They want to pay as much as possible, to be able to hide more money. As he points out, Londonwhich has some of the most expensive houses in the world, many unoccupiedhas become the money laundering capital of the world. Leilani on official mission in Valparaiso, Chile [Credit: Janice dAvila] Push cites the activities of the private equity firm Blackstone as one of the largest corporate owners of housing, including former public housing estates. Since the financial crisis, Blackstone has spent some $9.6 billion buying up hundreds of thousands of low-income houses across the US at big discounts, hiking up rents, evicting tenants for nonpayment and destroying local communities. Blackstones president, Jonathan Gray, admitted in an archived interview that the 2008 financial crisis was the source of a huge pool of cheap assets in the form of homes, whose owners had defaulted on their mortgages. Farha visits Uppsala, Sweden, where she says Blackstone raised rents by 50 percent as they upgraded a housing estate, a claim the company denies. Tellingly, Blackstone boss Stephen Schwarzman cancelled a meeting with Farha at the very last minute, without rescheduling itseeking to avoid any scrutinyand thereby conceding the films claim. Farha recognizes she cannot reverse the situation on her own and to that end has formed The Shift as a global movement based on retaining the fundamental human right to housingto move away from housing as an asset to housing as a place to live in dignity, to raise families and participate in community. Real estate agent in Toronto [Credit: Iris Ng] Her conception, however, is very limited. Despite all the evidence she has gathered, including the refusal of Blackstones boss to meet her and the companys responsibility for the ongoing destruction of the Amazon rainforest, in order to facilitate the cultivation and export of grain and soybeans, Farha says, I dont believe that capitalism itself is hugely problematic. But she adds, Is unbridled capitalism in an area that is a human right problematic? Yes. The film ends with a round-table meeting of mayors pledging to do a bit better. There is much that is valuable and gripping in the film, but this needs to be distinguished from its bankrupt political perspective of pleading for reformssuch as rent control as in Berlinfrom governments that have facilitated these rapacious corporations at the expense of the working class, or applying pressure on pension funds to divest from real estate investment trusts (REITs). The film also pointsby omissionto the impotence of the UN and the limitations of the international human rights approach. The UN Special Rapporteur for the Right to Adequate Housing was set up by UN member states to examine, monitor, advise, and publicly report without providing the mandate holder with any power of enforcement against the member states. Thus, all the Rapporteur can do is raise awareness, make recommendations to the authorities and call for people to put pressure on them to uphold human rights. This passionate and informative film should be seen by everyone. It provides the most convincing case for the production of high-quality housing, so essential to humanity, on the basis of social need, not profit, and available to all. But that cannot be achieved without a social and political struggle against inequality and the capitalist profit system. The productive forces of societythe giant banks and corporations, including the property companiesmust be taken out of the hands of the financial elite and placed under the democratic control of the population. Combined with a major redistribution of wealth, such measures would free up immense resources for building homes and social infrastructure and ensuring all the rights of working people. Its become common to see the year 2030 as the tipping point when auto transportation will be historically transformed with plug-in vehicles making up 100 percent of new vehicle sales in a few countries with mandates, and that electric vehicles will take up a big share of global sales. But a new study took a deep look into the numbers and found a more realistic scenario for when EVs could make up about half of global sales; and that will be far beyond 2030. Making 2030 the magic year comes in large part from planned mandates being made across Europe, with some of them setting even quicker targets than 2030. Norway wants to have all its new vehicles sold to be battery electric or plug-in hybrid by 2025; Netherlands is considering banning all gasoline and diesel vehicles by that year; Germany could be banning internal combustion engines by 2030; and France is considering ending gasoline and diesel car sales by 2040. But these mandates have yet to be enacted outside of the UK and its more gradual net zero target. Theres also zero emission mandates being pushed in China and California that would gradually mandate EV sales along with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in growing volumes over the coming years. The most commonly cited forecast on 2030 being the historic EV benchmark year comes from the International Energy Agencys New Policies Scenario. The study expects that by 2030, global plug-in vehicle sales will reach 23 million for that year and the stock of owned EVs will exceed 130 million vehicles (excluding two and three- wheelers). Thats under one forecast including the impact of announced policy ambitions by several governments; the IEA scenario includes one other potential outcome where the number shoots up to 43 million with the stock coming to more than 250 million if even more stringent policies are adopted in key nations. Related: Oil Price Armageddon As OPEC+ Disintegrates Story continues Thereve been other forecasts along these lines. In May 2019, mining and resources giant BHP forecasted that electric vehicles could achieve more than 50 percent share of global new vehicle sales by 2030, and 100 per cent of all vehicle sales by 2050. The study, Will we see transformation of ground transport by 2030? published by auto industry newsletter, Green Auto Market, presented the numbers with year-over-year ratios on how plug-in vehicles sales have gone since their mass production first started in 2010. The study sees it coming much closer to 2050 when new EVs could come near the 50 percent mark of new vehicle sales based on government mandates, vast improvements in the technology, and the expectations that oil and motor fuel prices will be seeing a gradual increase over those years. Between 2011 and 2018, new EV sales in the US averaged a 56.8 percent annual increase, and global sales had an average of 67.34 percent. To refine the numbers to more recent market trends, between 2014 to 2018 the average annual growth for US plug-in sales came to 33.69 percent. For global sales, the average annual sales growth between 2014 to 2018 was 57.14 percent with China leading the boom. Last year saw a reverse in the market, with Chinas new energy vehicles seeing a downturn from overall new vehicle sales facing a dramatic drop along with tightening up of generous government incentives to purchase new EVs. The US had a similar trend thats been tied to the overall market, and fluctuations in demand similar to 2015 sales in that country. EV sales growth in Europe evened out the playing field with nearly a 10 percent growth mark for the global market; that was dramatically lower the previous seven years. So lets say market conditions look similar in the next few years, without big changes enacted such as a fossil fuel ban in a sizable country. What would that look like? At the rate of 57 percent in global annual EV sales increases, plug-in vehicles would make up 100 percent of the global new vehicles sales market during 2027. That scenario would be impossible to reach aside from an unforeseen miracle. Related: Does Saudi Arabia Really Fear A Bernie Presidency? A much lower percentage growth rate is to be expected if China were to reduce its subsidies, blockades for mandates on fuel efficient and electric vehicles continue coming from the Trump administration, downward auto sales in several countries will continue for a while, gasoline prices are staying fairly low, and challenges persist for convincing consumers and fleets to transfer over to EV purchases charging infrastructure, battery capacity, range getting much better, and perceived long-term value and trustworthiness of transitioning over from ICEs to EVs. Perhaps 2040 to 2050 is a more realistic scenario for EVs playing a major role in new vehicle sales, emissions reductions, and having a major impact on oil prices in terms of hitting the 50 percent mark, according the study. If government mandates are enacted and enforced, it would be closer to 2040. But thats yet to be seen with these policies still going through the review and approval process outside the UK. BloombergNEFs Electric Vehicle Outlook 2019 report came to a similar conclusion. The report shows that EVs will take up 57 percent of global passenger vehicle sales by 2040. Electric buses will dominate their sector, holding 81 percent of municipal bus sales by the same date, according to the report. Norway, Germany, France, China, Costa Rica, South Korea, the UK, Japan, Spain, Taiwan, Portugal, Netherlands, Israel, India, Denmark, and Ireland have proposed a ban on fossil-fuel powered vehicles. Previous Prime Minister Theresa May in June signed the net-zero mandate that would cut emissions 80 percent by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. Britain is the first G7 country to commit to a net zero greenhouse gas emissions target for 2050. The latest Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, is continuing support for the net-zero emissions mandate. EVs have the potential to become the leading powertrain system used in autonomous vehicles in the next three decades or more. The study also looked at self-driving vehicles along with adoption of other new, advanced technologies and mobility ride-sharing services. For these transformations, much is in the works, but 2030 looks quite unrealistic to see all of it reaching a tipping point by that year. By Jon LeSage for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Read this article on OilPrice.com No more Bollywood stars, Narendra Modi to be the next brand ambassador of Incredible India campaign Coronavirus: Whereabouts of 450 Iranian tourists in India being tracked India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 07: The Tourism Ministry is tracking the whereabouts of 450 Iranian tourists who entered the country in February this year, in view of the spread of coronavirus in their home country, senior officials of the ministry said on Friday. The officials said the Health Ministry has written to them to track these tourists who had entered India before the travel advisory became applicable for Iranian nationals. Iran has the third-highest number of deaths, currently standing at 124, following Italy where 148 deaths have been confirmed so far after China that has recorded the highest number of 3,042 deaths due to COVID-19. Irishman with coronavirus symptoms flees Cuttack hospital, found & kept in isolation "Most of these tourists have not been found at the hotel addresses that they had provided on their visa application forms. Tourists often change their hotels while touring. "We are trying to track them through tour operators and agents. However, I would like to clarify that it is not that they are infected patients of coronavirus. They are persons of interest only because they have come from a country that has reported such cases," said a senior official of the tourism ministry. The official also said there is no protocol in any country to keep tabs of the whereabouts of incoming tourists after they land in the country. "We are awaiting an updated list from immigration authorities as there could be many on the present list who could have flown back to Iran. We should be able to track the rest in a day or two," the official said. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 Most of the passengers are visiting India on tourism and business visas. 4 with suspected symptoms of coronavirus hospitalised in AP Earlier on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs said arrangements are being made to facilitate the return of stranded Indians from Iran in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak through normal civil aviation channels. Until Tuesday, travellers from only 12 countries were being screened for coronavirus, but after new cases erupted on Wednesday, the Union Ministry has now decided that every passenger coming on an international flight will be screened. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 8:02 [IST] PITTSFIELD Another of four people charged in a series of home invasions and residential burglaries has pleaded guilty to nine felonies in exchange for an agreement to cap his prison time at a maximum 40 years. Tyler J. Runk, 22, of Jacksonville pleaded guilty Thursday in Pike Circuit Court to three counts of home invasion, one count of residential burglary, one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, one count of possession of a stolen firearm, and three counts of felony theft. Judge J. Frank McCartney conditionally concurred in the agreement to cap Runks potential prison time at 40 years. Sentencing is scheduled for May 13. Because of a statutory minimum on the first home invasion count, the minimum sentence Runk could receive is 26 years. I look forward to the sentencing date and to bringing some measure of justice, restitution and closure to these victims, said Pike County States Attorney Zack Boren, who prosecuted the case. The case began Aug. 15 with a series of residential burglaries in Pike, Scott and Adams counties and continued with two home invasions in rural Pike County in the early morning hours of Aug. 16. One of those charged, Edwin L. Powell, 29, of Jacksonville, is scheduled to be arraigned March 31. He is charged with three counts of home invasion. Germarco D. Tate, 26, of Jacksonville pleaded guilty Oct. 22 to three counts of home invasion and one count of residential burglary. He was sentenced to 32 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. He has filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and is scheduled for a hearing March 24. Jordan T.R. Gallup, 28, of Jacksonville pleaded guilty Dec. 19 to two counts of residential burglary and one count of unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison on the residential burglary counts, concurrent with seven years on the charge of possession of a stolen vehicle. The Pike County Sheriffs Department was the lead investigative agency for Runks case, with Sheriff David Greenwood and Sgt. Matt Frazier conducting a majority of the investigation. Assistance was provided by other Pike County deputies, Illinois State Police, Jacksonville and Pittsfield police and the Scott County and Adams County sheriffs departments. All the law enforcement officers involved did excellent work on this case from beginning to end, Boren said. I commend them for their quick response and coordination. With their help, my office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who commit violent crimes in Pike County. Google Maps St. Cecilia Catholic Church near the Hedwig Village area is asking some parishioners who attended an Ash Wednesday Mass to contact the Harris County health department about possible exposure to the new coronavirus. In an email to the congregation Friday night, church officials wrote that one of the Houston-area individuals who tested positive for the virus this week received ashes and had communion in the hand at the 5:30 pm service on Feb. 26. The individual did not receive communion from the cup. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A raid of an alleged Syracuse drug house yielded fentanyl, crack, cocaine, heroin and seven arrests, Syracuse police wrote in court records. On Thursday afternoon, police raided 237 McKinley Ave. and found enough fentanyl to charge seven people with the highest state-level drug offense. One of the men arrested, Gregory Griffin, 35, was previously convicted in a 2005 federal RICO prosecution of the Elk Block Gang. Federal inmate records show Griffin was released on March 29, 2019 -- less than a year ago. According to court records, police watched the house for months before they obtained a search warrant on Wednesday. On Thursday, the following men were arrested and are being held without bail: Moab A. Agnew-El, 27 Rayquann Hudson, 32 Gregory M. Griffin, 35 Jamall T. McLaurin, 31 Christopher Caldwell, 30 Arthurdale McCutcheon, 31 Michael A. McCutcheon, 34 During the raid, police found 9.05 ounces of fentanyl, 2.06 ounces of heroin and 6.3 ounces of cocaine, detectives wrote in felony complaints. When police raided the house, Caldwell ran to the 200 block of Elk Avenue, detectives wrote. He was eventually arrested with 21.6 grams of crack cocaine, court records said. In the house, police say they found glass bowls, metal spoons, a plastic mixer, four boxes of baking soda and Mannitol. Baking soda and mannitol, a diuretic, are often used to turn cocaine into crack. Detectives also found other packaging materials, they said. A Taurus Millennium Pro 9mm gun was found loaded with five rounds in the drawer of a television stand, detectives wrote. All those arrested have been charged with first-, second- and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to inmate records. Theyve also all been charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm, inmate records said. The men also face other drug-related charges. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter. Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. The Delhi High Court has asked the Bar Council of India (BCI) to undertake an inquiry into alleged irregularities by the Jamia Hamdard law school with regard to its functioning and specifically the qualifications of all the faculty members on board. Justice Rajiv Shakahar has issued the notice, after arguments at length, to all the respondents including Hamdard Jamia, UGC, BCI and the incumbent Dean, Hamdard Institute of Legal Studies and Research. The petitioner through Advocate Mobashshir Sarwar, primarily sought the removal of the incumbent Dean (SM Khan - a retired public servant), by way of a judicial order as he was not eligible to hold the post of Dean/Principal in any law school of India. Khan's counsel appeared on advance notice and accepted the notice on behalf of him. The matter has been fixed for further hearing on May 12, 2020. Sarwar argued that the functioning of the said school in its entirety is a colorable exercise of power and in flagrant violation and total non-compliance of the statutory provisions of the UGC (Minimum qualifications for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges and measures for the maintenance of standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2010 (for brevity 'the UGC Regulations, 2010') and subsequent modifications/amendments carried out thereto as well as the Bar Council of India - Rules of Legal promulgated under the Advocates Act, 1961. The court was hearing the petition filed by an activist Nidhi Bobal, seeking court's order directing and commanding the BCI to forthwith undertake a necessary inspection to the entire functioning of the Jamia Hamdard law school and submit an action taken report before the court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When Lauren Johnson reached for a squirt of hand sanitizer on her way out of the doctors office, she regretted it immediately. In the Central Texas prison where she was housed, alcohol-based hand sanitizer was against the rulesand the on-duty officer was quick to let her know it. He screamed at me, she said. Then, she said, he wrote her up and she lost her recreation and phone privileges for 10 days. The incident was a minor blip in Johnsons last prison stay a decade ago, but the rules hold true today and underscore a potential problem for combating coronavirus: Behind bars, some of the most basic disease prevention measures are against the rules or simply impossible. Jails and prisons are often dirty and have really very little in the way of infection control, said Homer Venters, former chief medical officer at New York Citys notorious Rikers Island jail complex. There are lots of people using a small number of bathrooms. Many of the sinks are broken or not in use. You may have access to water, but nothing to wipe your hands off with, or no access to soap. An inmate stands at his cell door at a maximum security facility in Arizona. So far, the respiratory virus has sickened more than 97,000 people worldwide and at least 200 in the U.S. More than 3,300 people have died. As of late Thursday there were no reported cases in American prisons, though experts say its just a matter of time. Advice they cannot take To minimize further spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests things like avoiding close contact with people who are sick, covering your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, disinfecting frequently-used surfaces and washing your hands or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer. But these recommendations run up against the reality of life in jails and prisons. Behind bars, access to toilet paper or tissues is often limited and covering your mouth can be impossible if youre handcuffed, either because of security status or during transport to another facility. Typically, facilities provide some access to cleaning products for common areas and individual cells, but sometimes those products arent effective, and Johnson recalled women stealing bleach and supplies so they could clean adequately. Story continues More: These cleaners kill coronavirus: Lysol, Clorox, Purell products make EPA's disinfectants list More: Tracking the spread of coronavirus cases in the US and worldwide More: Coronavirus a concern in nursing homes, where 75% have been cited for infection control errors Hand sanitizer is often contraband because of the high alcohol content and the possibility for abuse (the alcohol can be separated out from the gel). A spokesman clarified Thursday that the Texas prison system now sells sanitizer on commissary, though it is a non-alcohol-based alternative, which is not what the CDC recommends. Even something as basic as hand-washing can be difficult in facilities with spotty water access or ongoing concerns about contamination, such as in the recent Legionnaires outbreak at one federal prison complex in Florida. (Legionnaires is caused by contaminated water, though the source of that water is not clear in Florida). Aside from all that, prisons and jails are large communities where a sicker-than-average population is crammed into close quarters where healthcare is often shoddy, and medical providers are often understaffed. In an infectious disease outbreak, health experts recommend separating sick people from well people to prevent the disease from spreading, but in prison that can be nearly impossible, since prisoners are already grouped according to security and other logistical considerations. New tactic: mass releases? Given all that, correctional facilities often respond to outbreaks with the same set of tools: lockdowns, solitary confinement and visitation restrictions. Thats what some prisons and jails did during the 2009 swine flu pandemic, and its what happened more recently in the Florida federal prison complex struck by Legionnaires'. In Texas and other states, prison officials regularly shut down visitation or institute partial lockdowns during mumps and flu outbreaks. This time, though, some public health officialsincluding former Rikers health official Ventersare proposing a different solution: large-scale releases, like those already underway in Iran. There, officials approved the temporary release of more than 54,000 prisoners in an effort to combat the spread of the new virus. Thats a gauntlet for the U.S., said Jody Rich, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Brown University. Really? Iran's going to do it better than we are? Advocates in Indiana on Thursday called on the governor to consider releasing large numbers of elderly and sick prisoners, who are at highest risk of complications from coronavirus. People with chronic illnesses are vastly overrepresented in U.S. prisons and jails, and elderly inmates are the fastest-growing share of prisoners. Some in law enforcement immediately criticized the proposal. "I dont think a viable solution for the safety of our community is to have mass releases from jails, said Joe Gamaldi, president of the Houston police union. As much as we have to balance the dangers that coronavirus poses to the community, we also have to balance that against the danger of letting violent criminals back out on the streets." Its not yet clear whether any prisons or jails are seriously considering widespread releases. A spokeswoman for the federal prison system did not respond to questions about the idea, instead saying that the isolating nature of prisons could be an asset in handling any potential outbreak. The controlled environment of a prison allows the Bureau of Prisons to isolate, contain and address any potential medical concern quickly and appropriately, said Nancy Ayers, the spokeswoman. Every facility has contingency plans in place to address a large range of concerns. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Prison policies bar inmates from using best coronavirus practices The city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank has been placed in lockdown after the first Palestinian cases of the new coronavirus were discovered there and authorities announced a state of emergency, Aljazeera reports. Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said on Friday a total of 16 cases of the COVID-19 illness caused by the virus had been detected in the West Bank, including nine new cases in Bethlehem, according to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa. A public health advocate once named among the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time magazine will visit SVSU next week to discuss her role in uncovering the Flint water crisis. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha will appear for her presentation at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, in SVSUs Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts. The event is free and open to the public. Hanna-Attisha is a pediatrician, scientist, and public health advocate whose research and insistence helped reveal dangerous levels of lead in Flint's water supply following a change in the city's water source. In a bestselling book, she chronicled her role in discovering the Flint water crisis, detailed how officials initially resisted her findings, and described the fallout that followed its public exposure. What the Eyes Don't See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City was named to The New York Times "100 Notable Books of 2018" list and was selected as the 2019-20 Great Michigan Read by Michigan Humanities. Hanna-Attisha is the founder and director of the Michigan State University-Hurley Childrens Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, a model program aimed at mitigating the impact of the water crisis. The program combines community and clinical programs, childhood health policy and advocacy, and robust evaluation to provide Flint children the best chance at success. She was recognized for her public health advocacy, courage and expertise by agencies and organizations across the nation. She testified twice before the United States Congress, was awarded the Freedom of Expression Courage by PEN America, and was named among Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2016. In a summary of the doctor's selection to the prestigious list that year, Time published the following about Hanna-Attisha: "Residents knew something was wrong right away, but to get anyone to listen, it took civil-engineering professor Marc Edwards blowing the whistle on lead in the water and then Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a local pediatrician, testing Flints kids, proving theyd been poisoned. Up against official ignorance and indifference, Edwards and Hanna-Attisha were right, they were brave, and they were insistent. Flint is still a crime scene, but these two caring, tough researchers are the detectives who cracked the case." Hanna-Attisha's appearance at SVSU is made possible through the universitys Early Assurance Program partnership with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. The event is sponsored in part by the SVSU Foundation Resource Grant Program. Her visit is part of the annual Your Health Lecture Series initiative between SVSU, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, and MidMichigan Health. While admission is free, RSVP is requested by going online at https://bit.ly/32H6ZDU or by calling 616-234-2694. Copies of Hanna-Attishas book will be available for purchase with a book signing following her presentation. SEOUL - Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) said on Friday that it would temporarily move some smartphone production to Vietnam from South Korea after another of its Korean staff tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing it to close a factory. A company spokeswoman said the group had suspended operations at its factory in the southern city of Gumi in South Korea after a worker tested positive for the virus. The plant, which makes Samsungs premium phones like S20 and Z Flip foldable phones, will resume production on Saturday, she said. Since late February, a total of six workers have tested positive at the factory complex in Gumi, close to the city of Daegu - the epicenter of South Koreas virus outbreak - leading to previous temporary closures at the plant. The move to shift output of some premium smartphones to Vietnam intends to supply products to consumers in more effective, stable and timely manner, Samsung said in a statement. Once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes, we plan to move back the output to Gumi, it said. Samsung has already shifted much of its smartphone production to Vietnam over the past decade, where it makes over 50 percent of its phones and has so far seen little production disruption. Its Gumi factory makes up for a small portion of its total output. Samsung on Friday launched its S20 flagship smartphones globally as scheduled amid concerns that the virus would dent demand for premium phones at home and overseas markets. American coffeehouse chain Starbucks on Friday (local time) ordered to close down its store in Seattle after an employee was diagnosed with coronavirus. In a memo on Friday, Starbucks - founded in Seattle, Washington, in 1971-- said that the worker who tested positive is currently quarantined at home, CNN reported. The store where the patient worked is closed, and the local health department has given it the go-ahead to return to business following the cleaning, the coffee house said. However, there is no announcement on when the store will reopen. Starbucks said that it'll continue to follow the coronavirus protocols, in care for employees and expertise from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "The frequent, additional cleaning and sanitising procedures already underway in all our stores are fully in line with their guidance," said Rossann Williams, Starbucks' executive vice president. Just this week, the company announced it is temporarily suspending the use of personal cups and tumblers at its stores around the to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Washington state has recorded 14 deaths so far, including at least seven at a longterm nursing facility, a major concern for the vulnerable elderly population. Seven of the state's deaths have been connected to the Life Care Center of Kirkland. Two other cases were reported at elderly living facilities in the state -- the Ida Culver House in Seattle and the Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Issaquah. Earlier this week, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook also encouraged their employees to work from home after announcing coronavirus cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Almost two dozen U.S. soldiers in Norway for a large-scale exercise are in quarantine isolation after possibly encountering a Norwegian service member who tested positive for the coronavirus, the Marine Corps said Friday. The U.S. soldiers are among the roughly 1,500 personnel from the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy in Norway participating in Exercise Cold Response 20, slated to run through March 18. The Norwegian service member and the 23 soldiers were training at Skjold Garrison in the Troms region of Norway, the Marine Corps said in a statement. The soldiers, with the 500th Engineer Support Company, 15th Engineer Battalion, based in Grafenwoehr, Germany, have not shown any signs or symptoms of the virus and were put in isolation "as a precautionary measure," the Marine Corps said. The Marine Corps did not specify where the U.S. soldiers were being quarantined. "We remain in close coordination with the Norwegian military and public health authorities to ensure the well-being of our personnel and local population," the Marine Corps said. Since the first coronavirus infections were found in China in January, the disease it causes, COVID-19, has spread through much of the world, with more than 101,800 known infections and more than 3,400 deaths. Seven personnel affiliated with U.S. Forces Korea have tested positive for the virus in South Korea, while the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, has isolated 134 people with symptoms typical of the virus. In statements issued this week offering guidance on monitoring and controlling coronavirus during Cold Response, the Norwegian Armed Services said that exercising units would be responsible for handling any suspected infections because of limited capacity at "patient holding facilities" at Elvegardsmoen and Setermoen/Skjold military camps. "Isolation means that the person is kept separated from other personnel, including separate sleeping and ablution facilities," said a Norwegian Armed Forces statement issued Friday. "The person should be isolated until she/he is no longer suspected to be infected, or no longer a possible transmitter of the disease. Remember that being isolated is psychologically challenging. Provide the necessary welfare for the person isolated." About 15,000 personnel are taking part in the large-scale tactical field training exercise, which is intended to enhance cold-weather warfighting capabilities. Other participating nations are the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Sweden. The U.S. sent about 3,000 fewer troops than originally planned to Norway as the Pentagon shifted personnel in the wake of recent tensions in the Middle East between America and Iran, the Barents Observer, an online news site, reported this week, citing Norwegian Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Ivar Moen as the source. The European Union has extended the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Plus status for cash-strapped Pakistan for two years, allowing the country access to preferential duties on exports to the EU Islamabad: The European Union has extended the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) Plus status for cash-strapped Pakistan for two years, allowing the country access to preferential duties on exports to the EU, according to a media report. The GSP allows vulnerable developing countries to pay fewer or no duties on exports to the EU, giving them vital access to the EU market and contributing to their growth. The move comes at a time when Pakistan is facing serious economic crisis with short supplies of foreign currency reserves and stagnating growth in recent years. Since assuming power in August 2018, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been appealing to close allies like China and Saudi Arabia to provide loans at lower rates to overcome the financial woes. According to a report in the Dawn newspaper, the International Trade (INTA) Committee of the EU Parliament extended the GSP-Plus status of the country for the next two years. The GSP-Plus facility was available to Pakistan since January 2014, the report said. Pakistan's first biennial assessment of GSP-Plus was conducted in 2016, followed by another assessment in February 2018, while the third biennial assessment report was published by the European Commission on February 10 this year, it said. The third biennial assessment report was discussed by the INTA on February 19 and by the GSP Working Party of the European Council a week later. The European Commission and External Action Service recommended at both the forums to continue the country's GSP-Plus scheme. Reacting to the development, Pakistan's Ministry of Commerce in a statement hoped that the country's "business community will capitalise further on this trade enhancement opportunity". A hotel being used for coronavirus quarantine in Quanzhou, China, collapsed on March 7, 2020, trapping an estimated 70 people. CNS Photo/Reuters The Xinjia Hotel in Quanzhou, China, collapsed around 7:30 p.m. Saturday local time. The building was being used to quarantine people who had either tested positive for COVID-19 or had come in contact with those had already been infected. An estimated 70 people were trapped when the hotel caved in, but Reuters said at least 38 have since been rescued. A woman, who identified herself as Chen, told the Beijing News that her sister was at the hotel. She isn't answering her phone now, Chen said, adding, "I'm under quarantine too and I'm very worried. I don't know what to do." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. A hotel in China that is being utilized to quarantine coronavirus patients collapsed on Saturday, leaving around 70 people trapped beneath the rubble. The five-story, 80-room Xinjia Hotel is located in Quanzhou, in the southeastern Fujian Province, Reuters reported based on information from the city's government officials. It remains unclear what caused the collapse and how many people who either tested positive for COVID-19 or had come in contact with someone with coronavirus were quarantined at the hotel, which opened in 2018, the People's Daily, China reported. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. local time. Since then, 38 people have been safely rescued, Quanzhou authorities told Reuters. The Xinhua News Agency reported that emergency personnel had been sent to the site. Videos from the scene showed people dressed in orange clambering over the fallen structure. Around 70 people were trapped when the Xinjia Hotel collapsed on Saturday evening. Emergency personnel have rescued at least 34 of them. CNS Photo/Reuters A woman, who identified herself only as Chen, told the Beijing News that her sister was at the Xinjia Hotel. Her quarantine began on Feb. 25 after she returned from Hubei province, where the coronavirus originated late last year, Reuters said. "I can't contact them, they're not answering their phones," Chen said. "I'm under quarantine too and I'm very worried. I don't know what to do. They were healthy, they took their temperatures every day, and the tests showed that everything was normal." Story continues On Saturday evening, the hotel collapse was the top trending topic on Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media platform, with people demanding an investigation into how the building fell down. Reuters reported that anger is mounting against Chinese authorities who are accused of mishandling the coronavirus outbreak when it was in its early stages, by preventing doctors from speaking out and misrepresenting the number of COVID-19 cases. As of Friday, the Fujian provincial government reported 296 cases of coronavirus, Reuters said, adding that 10,819 people had been placed under observation. The coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 101,000 people worldwide more than 80,000 of them are in China and killed around 3,300, according to experts from Johns Hopkins University. Read the original article on Business Insider New Delhi: The Indian government has strong evidence that anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) demonstrations were conducted across the country at the behest of Pakistan. For this, along with getting directions from Pakistan, funds were also made available. Even Islamabad had tried its best to match the Delhi riots with the 2002 Gujarat riots at the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. Media reports have revealed that Indian intelligence agencies have collected call records of phone conversations between the two countries. Where he believed that Pakistani henchmen are closing their sources after not having enough funds to mobilize enough crowd for the CAA Protest on 3-4 March. In a call like this heard by a top media company, the handler scolded his contact that he had to tell his bosses about the decreasing crowd at the demonstrations. However, the context of the call is clear, but the said media channel does not certify when it was recorded during the conversation between the two speakers. Analysts believe that it is necessary to include human and material costs in the Delhi riots. It is quite natural that Pakistan and its friends use it to radicalize young Muslims through videos and speeches against the Narendra Narendra Modi government in north India. Also Read: JDU attacks Lalu Yadav, wrote, 'Family demands status of special prisoner' PM Modi's big announcement, "Do Namaste instead of handshake" Labs made for investigation of Coronavirus all over the country Big statement of Defense Minister Rajnath, says, "Important contribution is being played by India" tupungato/iStock(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump has replaced acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney after 14 months on the job, tweeting late Friday that he has tapped Rep. Mark Meadows to fill the role. Mulvaney will become U.S. special envoy for Northern Ireland. The president shared the news in a tweet: "I am pleased to announce that Congressman Mark Meadows will become White House Chief of Staff. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one. I want to thank Acting Chief Mick Mulvaney for having served the Administration so well. He will become the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Thank you!" Meadows is currently a GOP congressman from North Carolina, representing the state's 11th Congressional District. He has served in that role since 2013 and, as chair of the House Freedom Caucus, was considered one of Trump's closest allies in the House of Representatives. "It's an honor to be selected by President Trump to serve alongside him and his team," Meadows said in a statement Friday night. "This President and his administration have a long list of incredible victories they've delivered to the country during this first term, with the best yet to comeand I look forward to helping build on that success and staying in the fight for the forgotten men and women of America. "In particular, I want to recognize my friend Mick Mulvaney," Meadows continued. "Mick is smart, principled, and as tough a fighter you'll find in Washington, D.C. He did a great job leading the President's team through a tremendous period of accomplishment over the last year plus." There was no announcement whether Mulvaney will continue to serve as director of the Office of Management and Budget, a position he maintained throughout his tenure as acting chief of staff. Mulvaney was Trump's third chief of staff, replacing retired Gen. John Kelly, who succeeded former Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus in July 2017. Trump announced Mulvaney's appointment as acting chief of staff in a tweet in December 2018, and he assumed the role at the start of 2019. Mulvaney called the job a "tremendous honor" in a tweet following his appointment, adding, "I look forward to working with the President and the entire team. It's going to be a great 2019!" He served as chief of staff in an "acting" capacity, despite the fact that the White House chief of staff serves at the pleasure of the president and does not require Senate confirmation. Many of the other cabinet officials appointed by Trump as "acting" require a Senate vote to serve in a permanent capacity. Mulvaney presided as chief of staff during some of the Trump administration's most turbulent moments, including the impeachment of the president over a scheme to pressure Ukraine into investigating Trump's political rivals by withholding foreign aid. During an October 2019 press conference, Mulvaney directly involved himself in the impeachment scandal, admitting that there was a "quid pro quo" in Trump's now-infamous July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. "So the demand for an investigation into the Democrats was part of the reason that he ordered you to withhold funding to Ukraine?" asked ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl. "Look back to what happened in 2016, certainly was part of the thing that he was worried about in corruption with the nation," Mulvaney said. "And that is absolutely equivalent." "What you described is a quid pro quo," Karl pressed. "It is: Funding will not flow unless the investigation into the Democrats' server happens as well." "We do that all the time with foreign policy," Mulvaney answered, further fueling House Democrats' impeachment probe. Mulvaney also told reporters to "get over it. There's going to be political influence in foreign policy." After the press conference, Mulvaney walked back his statement, saying the press misconstrued what he had said. Less than four days later, he appeared on "Fox News Sunday," completely denying the exchange he had with Karl. "Why did you say, in that briefing, that President Trump had ordered a quid pro quo that aid to Ukraine depended on investigating the Democrats?" Fox's Chris Wallace asked. "Again, that's not what I said." During the same press conference, Mulvaney announced that the 2020 G-7 Summit would be held at the Trump National Doral Miami resort. This immediately sparked concerns on both sides of the aisle about whether this would be in direct violation of the Constitution's Emoluments Clause, because the president would be benefiting from the office. Less than three days later, Trump had to walk back this announcement on Twitter, blaming the "Hostile Media & their Democrat Partners." The 2020 G-7 Summit will now be held at Camp David. Mulvaney did have some support as acting chief of staff. Conservative leaders released a letter in late October stating he was "the most successful chief of staff" Trump has had. But news in December that Meadows would be joining the administration in a still-undefined role fueled rumors that he might be a replacement for Mulvaney. Meadows has readily expressed a desire to serve as Trump's chief of staff in the past, but has not elaborated on what role he will ultimately take in the administration. "This President has accomplished incredible results for the country in just 3 years, and I'm fully committed to staying in the fight with him and his team to build on those successes and deliver on his promises for the years to come," Meadows said in a statement. As recently as Feb. 7, Trump denied rumors that he would replace Mulvaney with Meadows. "That was a false report," Trump told reporters. "I have a great relationship with Mick. I have a great relationship with Mark. And it's false." Prior to joining the Trump administration, Mulvaney spent six years in Congress representing South Carolina's 5th Congressional District. He was a founder of the hardline conservative Freedom Caucus, and pushed for House GOP leaders to shut down the government in 2013 over Obamacare. Mulvaney unenthusiastically supported Trump's 2016 presidential bid. Just days after being named acting chief of staff, video surfaced of Mulvaney describing then-candidate Trump as a "terrible human being" during a congressional debate that took place days before the election. "Yes, I'm supporting Donald Trump," Mulvaney said in the clip that quickly went viral. "I'm doing so as enthusiastically as I can, given the fact that I think he's a terrible human being, but the choice on the other side is just as bad." Days before his tenure as acting chief of staff began, Mulvaney told ABC's Jonathan Karl on "This Week" that he and the president "joked" about the video. "What's wrong with Washington, DC? People spend a lot more time looking at what people say instead of what they do. I think my actions for the last two years -- in fact, I know they have because I asked the president about this -- he knows that I've been fighting with him to fight for ordinary Americans for the last two years. He likes having me around, and I like working for him," Mulvaney said. Mulvaney served as director of the Office of Management and Budget for the first two and a half years of the Trump presidency and assumed the role of acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in November 2017 following a months-long battle over the position with the agency's No. 2 during the Obama administration. Mulvaney was replaced at CFPB in December 2018 with a Senate confirmed appointment, but remained OMB director throughout his tenure as acting White House chief of staff. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. GRANBY, N.Y. -- A town official in Oswego County has resigned after pleading guilty to an election-related crime. Cheryl Holmes, 70, of Granby, has pleaded guilty to misconduct in relation to petitions, the state Office of the Attorney General said Friday. As part of her plea, she has resigned from two positions: Her position as a Granby town councilor and her role on the Granby Republican Committee. Leslie Holmes, Cheryl Holmes husband, pleaded guilty to filing a false statement about an election-related crime, the state AGs office said. He also resigned from his position on the Granby Republican Committee. The couple is set to be sentenced to probation next month. And while theyre on probation, Cheryl and Leslie Holmes cannot be politically active -- aside from voting or registering to vote, the AGs office said. Rose Anthony, a former town board member and businesswoman in her 90s, made a complaint to police about the couple in September 2018. Anthony, a Democrat, told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard she accused the couple of submitting nominating petitions with intentionally duplicated signatures and collecting signatures from people who did not live in Granby. The couple was arrested by the New York State Police late last year. In exchange for pleading guilty to misconduct in relation to election petitions, Cheryl Holmes is slated to be sentenced to one year of probation, the AGs office said. That includes paying a $500 fine and doing 100 hours of community service. For pleading guilty to second-degree offering a false instrument for filing, Leslie Holmes is expected to be sentenced to serve three years of probation. As part of his probation, he must pay a $1,000 fine and do 100 hours of community service. 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 'Please don't celebrate me if you are not going to listen to my voice.' IMAGE: Licypriya Kangujam protests in the rain outside Parliament, pleading with Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi to pass a climate change law. Photograph: Licypriya Kangujam 'Do you know someone like her? Tell us, using #SheInspiresUs,' the MyGovIndia tweet said. 'Please don't celebrate me if you are not going to listen to my voice,' tweeted eight-year-old Licypriya Kangujam from Manipur in response to the MyGovIndia tweet that praised her environmental activism. A homeless child, climate change activist and World Children Peace Prize Laureate 2019, A P J Abdul Kalam Children Award and Indian Peace Prize awardee, Licypriya lists her concerns that have been ignored by the Modi government in an e-mail interview with Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com. Why have you refused to be part of the PM's #SheInspiresUs campaign? First when I heard the news, I couldn't believe it. After confirming the news, I felt proud in one sense, but I also felt very sad. This made me ask myself hundreds of questions whether I should accept such recognition or honour rather than keep pushing my demands to the government. IMAGE: Licypriya argues with the Delhi police for stopping the climate change protest outside Parliament. Photograph: Licypriya Kangujam After thinking many times, I decided to turn down the honour because over the years they haven't listened to any of my demands despite protesting continuously in front of Parliament and many other places across the country with thousands of children and youth. Our politicians don't take this issue seriously. Not a single politician called upon me or invited me to discuss my concerns. I believe my rejection will draw the attention of the government to fulfil my demands. Because our leaders and politicians never take climate change seriously. This is the saddest part. On June 25, 2019, they discussed the issue only once in the Rajya Sabha after my protest on June 21 in front of Parliament. Seven MPs brought the issue of climate change as a calling attention motion, but the environment minister replied, 'India will not bow down to international pressure on climate change', which is a completely senseless response. That was the first time a discussion on climate change was initiated in Parliament. I have no objection or reservations to the prime minister's #SheInspiresUs initiative. My only condition is please listen to my voice first before celebrating me. What went in your mind before you made the decision to refuse the honour? I felt no regret to refuse such big honour of my life. I feel many opportunities will come in future if I deserve them. What are your views about the #SheInspiresUs campaign? I don't want to comment on this initiative by the Honourable PM of India Shri Narendra Modiji. It may be a good initiative, but considering the present situation of problems like crimes against women and children and their safety, I don't think this initiative can solve anything. This will be like putting fairness cream over our face, but it will be the usual face after a wash out. Instead, I want him to listen to my voice and take climate change seriously. You are a climate change activist. In this context how do you look at this government's policies to fight climate change? Is this government, or even the previous government, serious about fighting global warming? Our government, politicians and leaders don't consider climate change a serious issue. I have three major demands to safeguard the future of India's children: Firstly, I want our government to enact a climate law so that we can regulate carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases. This will bring transparency and accountability to our leaders. This will benefit millions of India's poor people. Secondly, inclusion of climate change as a compulsory subject in our school education curriculum. This will help to fight climate change from the grassroots and also it will help educate our leaders about climate change by their own children and grandchildren as they don't seem to believe in science and that climate change is for real. Thirdly, every student in India must plant a minimum of 10 trees every year to pass in their final exam. In India, we have 350 million students. If 350 million students plant minimum 10 trees every year then we will plant 3.5 billion trees a year. Trust me, India will be green in 5 years! All the above three policies are possible to implement and other countries of the world can follow India. This can help fight climate change. IMAGE: Licypriya with landslide victims of Odisha's Gajapati district in the rain outside Parliament. Photograph: Licypriya Kangujam How prepared is India to face global warming and the destruction it will wreak in our country? Still, India doesn't have early warning system for landslides. But for other disasters, the government has taken some measures. We need to focus more on the technology which can tackle landslides to save human lives and properties. India ranks as the fifth-most vulnerable country in terms of extreme weather events. Studies show that the current level of efforts to slow down global warming will see average temperatures in India rise by 1-2C by 2050. Climate change will have deep economic and social impact. The precarious balancing act of realising sustained economic growth essential to improving the living standards of all its people without endangering the well-being of the planet even as it is constrained by a rapidly warming world requires bold leadership and massive investments. To this end, the government should signal its intent to transform India into a sustainable, low-carbon, high-growth economy. Why have you requested the media to stop calling you 'Greta Thunberg of India's? Yes, I found some national and international media referring to me based on my work as 'Greta of India'. Actually, I already began a movement to fight climate change even before Greta started in August 2018. We are good friends. We equally respect each other. The media seems to like to differentiate between us. But I want to ask on what ground or capacity? She is also a climate activist. I'm also a climate activist. We are the same. We give voice to concerns of millions of people on this planet. I have my own identity, own country and own story. Even during COP25, when I traveled all the way from India to Europe for raising funds they began calling me 'Greta of India'. I addressed the world leaders but some media highlighted it as 'India's Greta urges world leaders to act on climate change'. I think such news headline is not fair. I want to ask them if they are highlighting my voice or someone else's voice. Greta is already at another level and has achieved global recognition. That's why I wrote today on my Twitter, 'If you call me Greta of India, you are not covering my story. You are deleting a story'. A few days back also, when I went to address some international conferences, instead of calling out my name, they called me out as 'Greta of India' and it hurt me a lot. Even when people come to take pictures with me, they ask, 'Are you Greta of India?' I think this is not fair. This problem is everywhere. Every climate activist in any region or country of the world is referred to as Greta of those areas. We (Greta and I) had several discussions in the pasts when we met. This sort of comparisons deletes unique stories, identities, names and movements. Now, the media will learn a new lesson and will be more cautious before deleting unique stories of all climate change activists all over the world. Everybody will get to share her/his unique voice and story. How would you want India to fight climate change? India should take the lead in implementing Paris Climate Agreement. But our leaders as well as global leaders are failing us since the last 25 years. India needs to abandon the fossils fuels economy. How are you going to celebrate International Women's Day? I will celebrate in various places across India. The main event will be at the UN office at New Delhi on March 11. I am also preparing to plant 1,000 trees in an outskirts area of Bengaluru on March 21. The best gift parents can give to their children is the beautiful planet. Only 1,895 people in the US have definitively been tested for coronavirus, according to a new investigation. The Atlantic could only verify that as many tests had been run, despite federal officials claims that they now have capacity to test 15,000 Americans for the virus that's infected nearly 300 across the country and killed 15. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been widely criticized for first distributing a flawed test, then only providing states with a couple hundred test each. And officials from President Trump's coronavirus task force have had to walk back many of their promises for expediting and more widely distributing tests. Meanwhile, US officials have so far declined to use the 15 minute blood test for coronavirus that a South Carolina company, BioMedomics, claims to is already helping Japan, China and Italy catch and isolate cases faster. It's not clear why the test is unable to move forward, but comes amid widespread frustrations over the limited availability of slow tests for the virus sweeping the nation. Only about the coronavirus testing of 1,895 Americans could be fully validated by an investigation conducted by the Atlantic In lieu of a treatment of vaccine for the new virus, COVID-19, testing is essential if the US is to have any hope of containing the deadly disease that has now infected people in more than 20 states. 'The CDC got this right with H1NI and Zika, and produced huge quantities of test kits that went around the country,' Thomas Frieden, former director of the agency told The Atlantic. 'I dont know what went wrong this time.' On Monday, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn said that up to a million tests could be performed by the end of the week. By Thursday it was abundantly clear that US health officials weren't going to come anywhere near that number of screens run. For one, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar explained on Thursday that each person actually requires two tests. So even if those million tests were run, it would only mean getting results on 500,000 patients, at best - and that doesn't account for tests that might return inconclusive results. Azar kicked the same number - a million tests - down the road to the end of the next week, and trimmed off 100,000 likely results to account for potential errors. 'We believe by the end of the week we will send out enough [its] to test one million specimens, the equivalent of about 400,000' people he told reporters. But before those test results can be revealed, they'll have to be validated, which he said could take between a week and two weeks. By the end of the week, he said the CDC's test or New York's - which is already authorized - would be available for the testing of 75,000 people in free public health labs. In the same short briefing, Azar said that the current testing capacity for the entire US was 15,000 people (30,000 or so test kits). After calling the public health departments of each of the 50 states in the US, mining websites, and contacting state officials, The Atlantic team couldn't find evidence of nearly that many tests. Testing is one of the best ways to identify people with the virus and stop it from spreading - and so far it has not kept coronavirus from sickening more than 300 Americans Only 1,895 of the tests were verifiable - less than 13 percent of the capacity Azar estimated America has the capacity to run. Of note, one reason The Atlantic cited for such dismally low numbers of tests run was that information was simply inaccessible. Despite the World Health Organization's (WHO) insistence that transparency is key and even US officials initial concerns that the China would not be forthcoming with its tests, American federal and state governments offered the Atlantic little information. In fact, the CDC has stopped reporting how many people are under investigation for the virus and now only updates its national data - which are inevitably far behind state and county counts - once a day. So it is difficult to get a hold on how many tests have been run and how short each state is falling. The greatest number of tests had been run in Washington, with 1,000 performed. But the state is also the epicenter of the US epidemic, with more 84 cases, meaning more than eight percent of those who have been tested - and are likely the most severe cases - are positive. California is close behind Washington for the most cases of coronavirus. The state claims to have the greatest capacity of any state in the nation, according to The Atlantic. By Thursday, March 5, the testing of just 516 people could be confirmed including 53 who were positive at that point. Granted, by Friday, the number of people positive for the virus in California had risen to 79 (including at least nine who were among evacuees from either Wuhan, China, or the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Oregon only has an estimated capacity to test 40 people a day, while the Texas Tribune reported the state, which has 17 cases, can test some 30 a day. Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that the state had set up a 'network' of six labs that can test for coronavirus. Federal officials on Saturday cleared the way for more places to make more tests and distribute them across the country, via an expedited process called an emergency use authorization. According to the new policy, a qualifying lab just has to notify the CDC and FDA that they are making or have made a test, then, within 15 days of beginning to administer the test, they have to send results to be validated by the CDC, and start the process of getting the EUA - a faster version of getting a drug or diagnostic FDA-approved. The labs have to score in the highest third for complexity under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Scoring ranks labs based on how equipped they are to handle highly complex testing, measures based mostly on experience, good judgement, expertise, careful handling, maintenance and quality control. Criteria like these are there to ensure test samples aren't mishandled and to minimize the risk of reporting incorrect results to potentially devastating results. Still, whether it be that criteria are strict for the labs to qualify to make tests, or because the CDC is not validating tests fast enough, one thing is clear: the US is far behind other nations like South Korea, where more than 66,650 people were tested for coronavirus within a week of the nation's first reported case, The Atlantic reported. Three years after a wildfire burned more than 450,000 acres in Kansas, officials are warning that an abundance of dry grass could raise the risk of fires across the state. Last year's heavy rainfall means more grass is quickly drying up as temperatures rise. Firefighters in some areas of Kansas have already fought large wildfires. In a fresh turn of developments, Delhi Crime Branch sources on Saturday informed that around 3-4 people in Mustafabad had helped suspended Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain hide during Chand Bagh violence. These people have now come under the radar of the probe organisation. They will soon be called for the interrogation, the Delhi Crime Branch sources added. A Delhi court on Friday sent suspended Hussain to 7-day police custody, in connection with the alleged murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma, during the violence in north-east Delhi last week. At least 53 people including Ankit Sharma and a Police Head Constable Rattan Lal have died while around 200 people sustained serious injuries in the violence that raged for three days in north-east Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Once one of Detroits oldest and grandest neighborhoods, the area had been marred by abandoned buildings and blighted homes. Now it is full of shops and restaurants with a brand-new streetcar line that ferries residents and visitors from the area into a booming downtown a transformation spurred in part by the Obama administrations help after the citys 2013 bankruptcy. Biden, who will not visit the state until Monday, was the administrations point man on Detroit a fact he repeatedly touted on the debate stage here last summer, as the political world marveled at the transformation of a city that was once left for dead. AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi on Saturday said that Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Population Register (NPR) and Register of Citizens (NRC) are not just issues of Muslims and also said that demonetization and Goods and Services Tax (GST) have destroyed the economy. Speaking at the Telangana Budget session, Owaisi said: "This country does not run on anyone's ideology. People are told 'Goli Maro Inko'. I am standing here to save the Constitution. This country is being discriminated against by provocative speeches and violence. This is about Delhi violence. Many innocent people have lost their lives and property." "All the secular forces must come together to defeat this ideology and thoughts. Our country's biggest problem is unemployment in the country. Our state is facing this problem," he said. In a veiled attack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government, Owaisi said: "The rulers are not concerned about falling GDP or economy. But they are more concerned about CAA. CAA, NPR, and NRC are not only an issue to Muslims but to the whole country. In the Governor's address, there was no mention of CAA, NPR or NRC." The AIMIM leader congratulated Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament. "We are not opposing the immigrants from Pakistan. You can give Citizenship to all the Hindus in the whole world, we have no problem. We think CAA, NPR and NRC are serious issues," Owaisi said. "The country is diverted from the major issues. My party opposed demonetization and GST. We have made our point through the planning commission. Demonetisation and GST have destroyed the state of the economy," he said. Owaisi demanded that CM KCR should bring a resolution to give Kaleshwaram project a identity. Speaking on Telangana encounter, "In encounters, the State Government has ordered an inquiry. But where is the inquiry and what is its status?" The four men, who were accused of gangraping and killing a veterinarian in Telangana's Shamshabad on November 27 before they allegedly burnt her body, were shot dead by Hyderabad Police in December last year. CM Rao while replying to Owaisi said that the state government will hold a separate session in Assembly. "We have opposed in Parliament and along with that, the state government will conduct a separate session. It is a very important issue. We will talk on it for three hours where all the parties will have ample time to express the views," he said. Responding to BJP MLA Raja Singh, CM KCR said: "GST money is not being given to the state. You are opposing Akbaruddin Owaisi but he is addressing a necessary and main issue, allow him to speak. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Apostles Creed has been with the church from almost the very beginning (in some form). It is a statement of belief that contains the important facets of what Christians should hold as true. The Apostles Creed is not a statement to be made that guarantees a person salvation if they recite it, it is a condensed theological system that reflects what is right for a follower of Jesus Christ to believe. The English version is as follows: I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen. History of the Apostles Creed Why would something like the Apostles Creed come into existence and then become very widely disseminated and used? Consider the early days of the Christian faith. Even as the letters of the New Testament were being written, there are hints that the writers were responding to beliefs about the nature of Jesus Christ that were not considered true by the founding members of the church. Secular and religious ideas, such as Gnosticism, the worship of Diana, and the Roman Imperial Cult, were migrating into local congregations and these would have eventual effects as they spread around the world. The Gospel message of salvation by grace through faith can become very difficult to perceive if the nature of Jesus existence is not actually believed. How could they keep the faith true and uncorrupted? Add to this that most of the world in that day were uneducated and illiterate, and teaching everyone theological ideas becomes a difficult, almost impossible task. A creedal statement that is easy to memorize fits the bill nicely. The earliest known form of creed was called the Roman Symbol and is known to have existed by the mid-second century AD. It contains most of the main components of what is now known as the Apostles Creed. The earliest documented reference to the current Apostles Creed is from a letter to Pope Siricius in 390 AD, as explained here by Herbert Thurston for the Catholic Encyclopedia. These creeds appear to have become popular because of the Christian belief that people must confess/profess their beliefs with their mouths to be saved. Early church leaders would have taught the creeds so that a person could recite them to the congregation and witnesses to their baptisms. Are There Other Creeds? Another creed that is perhaps more used than the Apostles Creed is the Nicene Creed. Its name comes from the area of Nicea near Constantinople where the Council of Nicea was held in 325 AD. This council was held to address the Arian Heresy which disputed the nature of Christ. Church leaders of the day were pressured to resolve the issue by Emperor Constantine of the Roman Empire so that the empire itself would maintain a more peaceful status and not descend into a religious conflict. As such, the Nicene Creed builds on a similar formula as the Apostles Creed by keeping a Trinitarian formula that describes the nature of God, but it further explains the substance of Jesus as being the same as God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Essentially, one God with three distinct natures. The following is a translation from the Latin version (note the language regarding the substance issues): I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Among the other creeds is one called the Athanasian Creed and it focuses on the nature of God as the Holy Trinity and the nature of Jesus Christ as being fully human and fully divine. There has been considerable argument recently as to the authorship of this creed, but the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches have considerable weight of argument available to support Saint Athanasius as the author of said creed. All that being considered, if you read it, you will discover a very beautiful description of the nature of the Godhead and the Christ. It is an unusual creed in that not only does it prescribe what a person should believe about God, it also describes specific condemnations for those that do not believe the truth found in these statements. Variations and Controversy The Apostles Creed does vary within denominational contexts. The Roman Catholic and Orthodox versions both refer to believing in a catholic Church, while Protestants use an uncapitalized church. The lower-case version is an emphasis on the broader or more universal nature of the entire church due to a perception that capitalizing Church emphasizes the specific Roman portion of the church. The word catholic actually means universal, so some church bodies reflect that word in their versions of the Apostles Creed to avoid the controversy within their contexts. Along this same line of thought, there is a difference in understanding regarding the Communion of the Saints belief contained within the Apostles Creed. For Orthodox and Catholic Christians, this statement describes succinctly the belief that on earth, we have the ability to communicate with the church-canonized saints (usually martyrs) who have passed to eternity, and ask them to pray for us in their proximity to God in heaven. This concept is explained more here by Catherin OConnell-Cahill. For many Protestants, this presents a theological problem as most do not hold a belief that allows for praying to the dead (in heaven) or praying for the dead (in purgatory). A Protestant understanding of this expression is that all believing Christians are saints and that we have a commonality of belief and eternal hope with those who have gone before us in the faith. In both expressions, it is held that all Christians past, present, and future have a shared heritage and faith regarding the coming kingdom of God, and that the honored dead should be remembered in prayer. Another controversy deals with the teaching that Jesus descended into Hell or descended to the dead. As an example, the United Methodist Church has a version of the creed that removes this teaching, but John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, always included it when recounting it in his writings. The Apostles Creed has normally included this statement and is a reference to the Apostle Peters teaching that between the death and resurrection events, Jesus descended to the dead and preached the message of deliverance to the prior dead (1 Peter 3:18-20) (1 Peter 4:6). Some claim that this teaching is not validated enough in the scriptures, and so they exclude the statement from their version of the creed. Is the Apostles Creed Biblical? The Apostles Creed has been broken down into twelve sections by most of the older branches of the Church. Each of these sections contains Biblical support that has been cited over the millennia. There have also been significant arguments regarding some of these beliefs and their Biblical support. This article does not propose to make an argument for or against the items of the creed, but it does intend to share what parts of the Bible have been cited as support. Some of the creedal items have several Bible verses that support them, some only a few. I will share one or two per section for the sake of brevity and I would encourage you to read the verses and prayerfully decide for yourself. 1. I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. (Deuteronomy 6:4) (Gen 1:1) 2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. (John 3:16) 3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. (Luke 1:26-38) 4. Under Pontius Pilate, He was crucified, died, and was buried. (Luke 23:23-25) 5. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. (1 Peter 3:18-20) (1 Cor. 15:3-5) 6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. (Mark 16:19) 7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. (2 Timothy 4:1) 8. I believe in the Holy Spirit, (John 15:26) 9. the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, (1 Cor 12:12-13) (Revelation 8:3-4) 10. the forgiveness of sins, (Matthew 6:14-15) 11. the resurrection of the body, (John 6:35-40) 12. and the life everlasting. (1 John 5:11-12) While the Apostles Creed contains the main message of the Gospel within it, it actually has a broader scope. The creed was used as a confessional statement (and still is) for people preparing for baptism so they are already saved. The role of the creed in those moments is to formulate a statement of belief that incorporates ideas regarding Gods nature and the nature of the Church. Though there has been controversy over the Apostles Creed over many years of the history of the Church, it has been a part of church life for a very long time. It is a powerful tool for teaching Christian doctrine that a person can access from memory. When we do this, we are acknowledging the wisdom of the ancient Church in creating an educational product that combats subversive ideas that can be dangerous to a persons faith. So read the Apostles Creed. Get to know it and let it help you grow in your faith. Photo credit: Unsplash/Sarah Noltner Larry White is the pastor of Ephesus Baptist Church near Sanford, NC "If we've got a severe rainstorm or something right now, we could have some significant problems up there." -- Burleigh County Engineer Marcus Hall, talking about River Road, where there have been two landslides in three months. q q q They may not be able to go to the Louvre in Paris, but they can see the natural beauty of Arizona. -- David Tamisiea, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Mary, which is temporarily closing its Rome campus and setting up an alternate program for students there to complete their classes at the school's Arizona campus. q q q "We've had Hoeven wine, we've had Dalrymple wine, we've had Cramer wine. We've had all of them. So it just so happened that we had the wine done, and we're not going to condemn her. I'm just not." -- Republican District 12 Chairwoman Delores Rath, on a fundraising tradition of auctioning bottles of wine named for and signed by the keynote speaker at a Lincoln Day Dinner. This year's speaker, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler, signed bottles days after her arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. q q q "The individuals that we are monitoring, they are voluntarily practicing social distancing. They have been cooperative in that endeavor. What they do is that they have agreed to limit their activities so that they're not going out into crowded areas or running into people, and basically keeping themselves at home as much as possible." -- State Division of Disease Control Director Kirby Kruger, on the state Department of Health monitoring people who have returned from China, where the new coronavirus originated. q q q Its really important to our local communities for people to participate in the census because these numbers have a 10-year impact, and there are no go-backs. We dont get to update these numbers halfway through. We want to make sure we get it right this time. -- Lindsey Harriman, co-chair of the Williams County Complete Count Committee, on the importance of the 2020 census accurately reflecting the population of the oil patch. q q q "We're trying to basically keep up with the driving trends of the general motoring public. We need to be able to identify that to hopefully prevent crashes -- both property injury and fatality injuries. Basically, it comes down to trying to save lives, time and money." -- North Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper Tarek Chase, state coordinator of a program that trains law officers to recognize signs associated with drug use by motorists. q q q Its like what happens for the migrants -- theres no information. We didnt know what to do. -- Bismarck resident Don Morrison, part of a group of people who got caught along the southern border amid confusion over a court ruling on immigration policy. q q q The whole idea is to give people a reason to come downtown. -- Mandan City Administrator Jim Neubauer, on upgrades planned for Morton Mandan Public Library and Dykshoorn Park. q q q Theyve been more of a family to me than an enemy. -- Mandan High School junior Cody Holzer, on how his view of law officers has been influenced by the Mandan Police Explorers program, which gives participants a realistic view of police work through hands-on training. q q q "It's basically just to try to get a handle on this type of information, the races we're dealing with and numbers and all that." -- Northeast District Judge Anthony Swain Benson, discussing a proposed collection of race data on criminal defendants in North Dakota's court system. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Islanders are still unable to buy hand sanitizers and surgical masks at most pharmacies on the Island, and other items, such as bottled water, non-perishable foods and even dog food and toilet paper have become scarce as residents stock up while the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in New York grows. Shoppers this week have been greeted with sights too familiar before a hurricane or blizzard, with packed parking lots, crammed aisles and empty shelves. Employees at supermarkets say they have been experiencing this kind of volume for some time now, as some people have been preparing for weeks for a potential outbreak. *** CLICK HERE FOR FULL COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** WHATS LEFT Probably two weeks now weve been this busy,'' said a manager at ShopRite in New Dorp on Wednesday. Were trying to fill the holes in the shelves as quick as possible but its tough when people keep sweeping the shelves of almost everything we got as soon as we replace stock. Its mainly been water, hand sanitizer, pasta, cans, things like that. Even dog food actually. When the Advance/SILive.com visited the ShopRite again on Friday, an employee told us that theyre starting to get some of the sold out items back in, but those items are going quick again. Dog food is back, but almost gone again. Water came back yesterday but were almost through that now too." The CVS pharmacy in Dongan Hills was out of surgical masks, hand sanitizer, hand wipes and Lysol spray. An employee told us that theyre also out of rubbing alcohol and aloe vera due to people making their own hand sanitizer. When the rubbing alcohol sold out, people quickly turned to hydrogen peroxide. The situation is similar at Walgreens in Grasmere -- they have no masks, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, Lysol and rubbing alcohol. Even toilet paper was nearly out. Stop & Shop in New Dorp has just recently received shipments of water, but soap is nearly gone, there are no hand sanitizers or wipes and pet food has been limited. HIGH TENSIONS As an Advance/SILive.com reporter walked down the aisle for soup and canned foods on Wednesday, a man was trying to pass a woman wearing a medical mask, but the carts didnt fit. An aisle 12 curse-word battle erupted. Many people were trying to make a quick trip to the supermarket but were trapped on long lines. Its coming, its inevitable. Theres so many people here who work in Manhattan, said one woman who wished to remain anonymous. I just tried coming here for some water and some other quick things because I already did my shopping. I knew the lines were going to be long -- the parking lot was crazy." The Advance/SILive.com reporter was met with questions from concerned Staten Islanders asking us whether we knew some sort of inside information about if there were any confirmed cases of coronavirus on the borough. They dont want to tell us, if the government told us these lines would be doubled in size. People would be going crazy, said a woman on line at ShopRite. On Friday many shoppers were back in supermarkets getting items that they forgot or just building to their already large stockpiles. We did our shopping at Costco, this is just some extra things," said 65-year-old Joe Suarez. Shopping was crazy, every place Ive been is out of toilet paper, low on water. People are getting whatever they need." SECOND THOUGHTS? My kids birthday party is coming up and we wanted to go to Manhattan but weve been having second thoughts," said Vinessa Graulich, 43, Dongan Hills. "We were going to go to Times Square, then take the train to a steak house but I want to stay away from the subway. Were just going to walk up to the steak house. A couple of Staten Islanders who spoke with the Advance/SILive.com this week told us that they had no fears at all. They were just doing their regular weekly grocery shopping. I dont think theres anything to really worry about. Im just doing my shopping. If it (coronavirus) gets me, oh well," said Arrochar resident, Nancy, 49. Its not something to live in fear over. Weve lived through so many viruses. Next year itll be a new virus with a funny name. Another shopper at ShopRite on Friday took a similar stance: The only way Im preparing is with a twelve-pack of Corona (beer). Local officials all the way up to nationally-known politicians have urged citizens not to panic over fears of the virus. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has cautioned that the rise of confirmed cases in New York should not cause panic. Remember: We have been expecting more cases and we are fully prepared. There is no cause for undue anxiety, he said, adding, We have an epidemic caused by coronavirus but a pandemic caused by fear. RELATED LINKS: Coronavirus: New cleaning protocols set for schools across New York MTA to fully disinfect subways, buses every 72 hours to combat coronavirus Cuomo orders insurance companies to waive cost sharing for coronavirus testing Coronavirus preparation on Staten Island: What you can do Student safety: Heres how NYC schools are working to combat coronavirus Who is most at risk for coronavirus? How to protect yourself from deadly coronavirus What are the symptoms of coronavirus? Student safety: Heres how NYC schools are working to combat coronavirus Port Authority ramps up cleaning efforts at airports amid coronavirus Regular deep cleaning of Staten Island Ferry planned to prevent coronavirus MTA to fully disinfect subways, buses every 72 hours to combat coronavirus Staten Island Chinese restaurant owners say coronavirus fears hurting business Coronavirus can linger on surfaces, so use these precautions, CDC says CITY HALL -- The Archdiocese of New York and the New York City public schools are taking very different approaches to travel safety requirements for its staff and students amid the coronavirus outbreak. The private Catholic school system with a 62,000-student enrollment across the region is asking students and staff who visited any country in the world to get a doctors note before returning to school, while the citys public school system is only requiring school personnel and students coming back from affected countries to self-quarantine. Coronavirus: Full coverage on SILive.com As of March 2, The Archdiocese of New York advised parents and staff at the end of February that students and school personnel returning from any international travel would be required to get written medical clearance from their physician before returning to school. Parents must submit this written medical clearance letter signed and stamped by a licensed physician to the principal, read a letter sent to parents and staff from Monsignor Farrell High School families at the end of February. Some 6,538 students are part of the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York on Staten Island. As of Thursday, the Department of Education said it is only requiring staff and students who have traveled to countries on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory list -- China, South Korea, Italy Iran -- and Japan -- to self-quarantine at home for 14 days from the time they left the affected country. Were following [Health Department] and CDC guidelines which only apply to these five countries at this time, DOE spokesperson Miranda Barbot said. If returning travelers from affected countries develop fever, cough or trouble breathing, they should call their medical provider and tell them about their symptoms and recent travel, Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza told principals in an email Thursday. The varying approaches to travel safety requirements at schools within the city come as Mayor Bill de Blasio said this week that a teacher from James Madison High School in Brooklyn tested negative for the coronavirus after returning from a school trip to Italy. Some 44 students and six other staff members were also on the trip with that teacher in Italy, the mayor said. As of Thursday, the mayor said officials were still assessing the other staff and students on the trip but none has shown any symptoms. De Blasio also said two other teachers had recently returned from vacation in Italy over winter break and were being tested for the virus. According to a report from THE CITY, one of those teachers returned to her classroom for several days after the trip before showing any symptoms. Carranza said Thursday that, moving forward, the DOE would have an inventory of all school-organized trips abroad to affected countries. But by Friday, the DOE did not return requests for comment on how many school- sanctioned trips had taken place since the outbreak and to which countries. In his message to school principals, Carranza noted that the New York State Education Department has advised the cancellation of all study abroad programs including the ones where students were scheduled to come from other countries to stay with host families in New York City and those in which DOE public school students are hosted abroad. T.J. McCormack, a spokesman for the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York, said there are currently no plans for Staten Island Catholic schools to cancel any scheduled field trips and that there were no restrictions on field trips outside of New York City. The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is our primary concern and as such we will continue to provide updates to our schools in a timely manner," said McCormack. "The Health and Safety Task Force from the Archdiocese of New Yorks Office of the Superintendent of Schools continues to monitor the Coronavirus situation daily and remains in contact with the Centers for Disease Control, the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health. McCormack did not say when pressed on how many students and school personnel needed to get a doctors note to return to school after traveling from abroad. This week, a spokesmen for Monsignor Farrell High School said it planned to cancel its upcoming Easter trip to Europe. In light of the growing concerns over the coronavirus and the State Department, CDC and World Health Organization raising their advisories, we feel that this course of action is necessary to best safeguard our faculty, students and school, the schools president and CEO Louis R. Tobacco and Principal Lawrence V. Musanti, said in a letter to parents this week. The City University of New York (CUNY), which oversees the College of Staten Island (CSI) in Willowbrook, and St. Johns University, which has a campus on Grymes Hill, have already canceled some study abroad programs located in areas with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) level 3 travel health notices. Wagner College has not curtailed any study abroad, exchange programs or other college travel overseas, according to a spokesman. Meanwhile, the DOE is also ensuring that all of its 1,800 schools have adequate hygiene and cleaning materials so that bathrooms are constantly stocked with soap and paper towels. The DOE also said it is supplying all schools with face masks for students and staff if they show symptoms and require isolation prior to transport to a doctor or testing. As of Friday, The total number of people who tested positive with the coronavirus in New York State has jumped to 33, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced. Overall, there are 11 new positive cases since Thursday. FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. Coronavirus: New cleaning protocols set for schools across New York Coronavirus Preparation on Staten Island: What you can do Who is most at risk for coronavirus? MTA to fully disinfect subways, buses every 72 hours to combat coronavirus Union minister Prakash Javadekar said on Saturday the government always supports press freedom after his information and broadcasting ministry lifted the 48-hour ban on two Malayalam news channels over their coverage of the recent violence in north-east Delhi. Asianet News TV and Media One were issued a show-cause notice and the government said it had found them in violation of the programme code under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. Under Rule 6(1)(c) of the act, no broadcast should contain an attack on religions or communities, or visuals or words contemptuous of religious groups. The two channels were ordered not to transmit or re-transmit for 48 hours from 7.30pm on March 6. We immediately found out what actually happened and therefore immediately we restored the channels. Our basic thought process is that press freedom is absolutely essential for a democratic setup, Prakash Javadekar said, according to news agency ANI. Javadekar, while speaking to reporters in Maharashtras Pune, said he would look into the matter and issue orders if necessary. He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed concern over the issue. And that is the commitment of the Modi government as we fought Emergency in which press freedom was muzzled. So even, the PM expressed concern on this issue. I will go into details and take essential steps if any wrongdoing he said. Asianet News TV, in its response to the governments notice, had said its reports were factual and that it never intended to attack any religion or a community. The governments order on Media One also raised questions on the channels content and said that the ministry previously issued advisories that norms should be followed. Media One said it reported what its correspondents witnessed on the ground when it responded to the ministrys notice earlier. The Fermoy Camera Club swung back into action for February with their latest monthly competition, with an 'open printed' theme allowing members to let their creative juices flow. Competition judge, Doneraile photographer Rodney Doyle critiqued the 24 entries across a variety of styles offering his informed feedback on each one. First place went to Tom Quish for his enigmatic black and white image entitled 'Character at Ballinasloe Fair', with Karen Fleming's intriguing portrait of her niece coming second followed by Jim Heffernan's beautiful 'Fox and Cub's' taken in Clondulane taking third place. Norma Brennan won the Grade 2 section with her image of a one-eared owl taken in Killmallock with the Grade 3 accolade going to Mary Thornhill with her colourful 'Rice and Petals' photograph. "Once again the quality of entries was extremely high, giving Rodney a tough job choosing the winners. Our thanks to him for giving up his time, congratulations to the winners and well done to all who entered," said club PRO Helen Arnold. The club's February meeting also saw a display of images by Finbarr O'Hanlon, Tom Quish and Donnagh Cronin who picked up a clutch of medals at the recent Irish Photographic Federation (IPF) in Carlow. These came on the back of a numbers of medals and honourable mentions earned by members at the Southern Association of Camera Clubs in Thurles. Helen said that the club is organising a number of workshops and outings over the coming months, details of which will be announced shortly. "The enjoyment of photography has always been at the very heart of the club, with members going away on regular field trips and enjoying presentations by professional photographers. The club is open and friendly, with a heavy emphasis of having fun while at the same time being respectful of each others talents," she said. Meanwhile, the theme of the March competition will be 'Artificial Light'. "New members are always welcome, so why not come along to our fortnightly meetings at the community centre in Fermoy, meet our members and find out how to become part of this vibrant club," said Helen. For more information about the club and its activities visit www.fermoycameraclub.ie. In route news this week, Lufthansa makes drastic cuts, but there are a few positive notes including new Southwest service to Hawaii from Oakland and San Jose; more Turkish Airlines flights to SFO; a starting date for Americans Seattle-Bangalore flights; new U.S. routes from Air Canada and Volaris; and more Delta and Alaska service coming at Seattle. On the negative side, coronavirus continues to batter airline schedules worldwide as bookings plunge: Lufthansa is cutting its schedule in half; United, Delta and American have cut back Italy service; American drops a Seoul route and Korean Air reveals more U.S. cutbacks; and Delta is shrinking its Japan schedules. Several airlines have overhauled change fee policies for reluctant customers. And theres airport news about Sacramento, New Orleans and Berlin. After announcing a 25% cut earlier in the week, Lufthansa said Friday that it is reducing its capacity in the coming weeks by as much as 50 percent of pre-coronavirus outbreak levels. Lufthansa, the largest carrier in Europe after discounter Ryanair, says it has suffered "drastic declines in bookings and numerous flight cancellations" and that the upcoming cuts should reduce the financial consequences of the slump in demand." The company, which operates SWISS and Austrian Airlines, also says its considering whether to suspend service of its 14 Airbus A380 superjumbo jets, one of which flies daily between San Francisco and Munich or Frankfurt. A few new routes: With so much airline service being eliminated or scaled back, its worth a reminder that some new routes are still being added although these days, all news about routes is subject to change without notice. Anyway, lets start with the positive news, led by Southwests route expansion scheduled for March 7. That includes the latest additions to the airlines Hawaii network, with daily flights starting on that date from Oakland to Lihue, Kauai and to Kona on the Big Island; and daily flights from San Jose to the same two destinations. Also on tap for March 7 is new daily Southwest service from Sacramento to Kahului, Maui. Elsewhere, Southwest is due to begin new daily Denver-Des Moines flights on March 7 along with twice-daily service between Atlanta and Memphis. And on March 8, Southwest plans to start twice-daily flights from Houston Hobby to Cozumel, Mexico. All great news for now, but keep in mind what Southwest Airlines' CEO Gary Kelly said Thursday on CNBC: that the carrier has experienced a very noticeable, precipitous decline [in bookings]. Its continued on a daily basis. New international service in the works includes news from Turkish Airlines that it will increase San Francisco-Istanbul capacity by adding a second flight three days a week this summer. The extra flight, using a 787-9, will depart SFO at 2:45 p.m. on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from June 7 through October 4. Turkish also plans to boost its Chicago-Istanbul schedule from seven to 10 flights a week starting May 7. Meanwhile, we have new details on American Airlines recently announced intention to begin ultra-long-haul service from Seattle to Bangalore, India, as part of its newly expanded partnership with Alaska Airlines. Subject to government approvals, American filed plans to introduce the route on October 25, operating daily departures with a 787-9. On the same date, American will begin a daily 787-9 flight between Los Angeles and Seattle. In North American news, Air Canada said it will add new daily year-round service on June 15 between Vancouver and Orange County, California, with an A319. And Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris will begin twice-weekly A321neo flights in late June from Morelia to Sacramento, Portland and Seattle, along with weekly Oaxaca-Chicago OHare service. On the domestic side, Delta announced it will launch two new routes out of Seattle on June 8, including three daily roundtrips to Dallas/Ft. Worth and one to Columbus, Ohio, using new Airbus A220s on both routes. Delta will also add a second daily frequency from Seattle to both Austin and Orlando on that date. And Alaska Airlines said it will introduce a new daily 737 roundtrip between its Seattle hub and Cincinnati beginning August 18. More bad news: Now lets jump back into bad news the latest wave of coronavirus-related schedule and policy changes, which are plentiful this week. As we reported the other day, United said it expects to cut domestic capacity by 11 percent in April (including non-stops from SFO to New Orleans, Ft. Lauderdale and Bentonville, Ark.), mostly by reducing flight frequencies or downsizing aircraft, and to slash international capacity by 20 percent (including routes already cut.) And JetBlue expects to reduce its passenger capacity by 5 percent. Late Friday, El Al announced that it would make deep cuts to its schedule, including the elimination of its relatively new SFO-Tel Aviv flight. It's also laying off thousands of workers. This is an unprecedented crisis, a senior El Al official told the Ynet news site. The consequences of this crisis are huge and we are trying to do everything we can [to handle it], he said. Currently, United's SFO-Tel Aviv nonstop is still in operation. It looks like darker times lie ahead for the airline industry. The International Air Transport Association this week increased its estimate of 2020 passenger revenue losses worldwide from the previous $29 billion to $63-$113 billion as reservations dry up and cancellations continue to mount. That would make it the worst period for the airlines since the Great Recession. There were anecdotal reports this week that air travelers have been posting photos on social media of almost-empty airplane cabins and airport concourses. And while coronavirus wasnt totally to blame, it may have claimed its first airline victim: The U.K.-based regional airline Flybe, which was purchased last year by a Virgin Atlantic-led consortium, this week canceled all its flights and shut down. Across the Atlantic, northern Italy is now a coronavirus hot spot, and the government recommends avoiding unnecessary travel there. Subsequently, Delta suspended its New York-JFK Milan service at least through May 1 and pushed back the start of its seasonal JFK-Venice flights from April 1 to May 2. The airline will also trim its Detroit-Rome service during April from daily frequencies to three a week and will reduce Atlanta-Rome from five flights a week to four during March and April. American Airlines has suspended its daily Milan flights from JFK and Miami at least through April 24, and United has halted Newark-Milan service through March 14. South Korea remains the focus for new transpacific virus-related schedule changes. Last week, Delta, United, Hawaiian and Korean Air all cut back service to Seoul Incheon, and this week American Airlines did the same, suspending its Dallas/Ft. Worth-Seoul flights through April 24. Korean Airlines has added more service cutbacks to its earlier ones, filing plans to cancel Boston-Seoul, Las Vegas-Seoul and Dallas/Ft. Worth-Seoul flights through April 25 and to trim its Atlanta-Seoul schedule from seven flights a week to four, Chicago-Seoul from seven a week to three, and Los Angeles-Seoul from two flights a day to one. And Asiana Airlines has suspended its five weekly Seoul-Seattle flights from March 16 to 28. Japan schedules are also facing more shrinkage. Last week, we mentioned Uniteds plans to reduce its U.S.-Japan operations, and this week Delta got on board with its own. Effective March 7 through April 30, Delta is suspending its daily Seattle-Osaka flight, trimming its Tokyo frequencies from daily to five a week from Atlanta and Minneapolis/St. Paul, and reducing service from daily to three flights a week between Portland-Tokyo, Detroit-Nagoya, Honolulu-Nagoya and Honolulu-Osaka. Delta said it remains on track to consolidate all its Tokyo flights at close-in Haneda Airport at the end of March. Airline cancellation policies in flux: As airlines become desperate to keep bookings coming in, they are increasingly easing up on restrictive flight change and cancellation fees and policies; in fact, some airlines have relaxed those policies twice in just the past week. In the latest developments, United said passengers who book a flight from now through March 31 can change it for free over the next 12 months. Deltas most recent update said change fees are being waived for flights booked between March 1-31 and for international flights booked previously that are due to fly in March. American is also waiving change fees for flights purchased through March 31. Alaska Airlines said customers who buy a Saver fare through March 31 can cancel the trip and deposit the money into their My Wallet account; so can purchasers of nonrefundable first class or Main fares, but they can also make a one-time change for no fee. And Hawaiian Airlines is allowing fee-free changes to flights booked between March 1-16. Don't miss a shred of important travel news! Sign up for our FREE bi-weekly email alerts Airport news: No boarding passes, United Club, Berlin (finally!) In airport news, flyers departing SFO and Sacramento International dont have to show their boarding pass at TSA checkpoints anymore. Instead, TSA agents are now using a new ID verification system called Credential Authentication Technology. By scanning the travelers drivers license or other ID, the TSA agent can verify that the individual is ticketed to fly out that day, and can also check their identity against the governments Secure Flight database to make sure theyre not on the Do Not Fly list. The technology is being rolled out at a number of U.S. airports in the weeks ahead, including Seattle, Austin, Miami, Charlotte, Phoenix and Pittsburgh. United has added a new United Club to its network, this one in the new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International. The 6,000 square foot United Club is located near Gate C7, serving up complementary food and beverages, beer, wine and cocktails. The facility seats 95 and offers free high-speed Wi-Fi and plenty of power outlets and USB ports. United said it expects to open a new Polaris lounge at Washington Dulles this summer and another new United Club at Phoenix Sky Harbor later this year. Remember Berlin Brandenburg? Thats the name of the new airport for Germanys capital, located 11 miles south of the city center; it was supposed to open back in 2011, replacing Berlin Tegel, but it never did for a number of reasons including complications with its safety infrastructure. Officials kept pushing back the airports opening date again and again until it became a national joke, and as the years went by, people generally forgot it was there. But theyve been working on Berlin Brandenburgs (BER) problems all this time, and now its getting ready to open at last. Lufthansa said this week that all of its Lufthansa Group member carriers will move there from Tegel this fall. Austrian Airlines, SWISS and Brussels Airlines will commence operations at BER together with Lufthansa on 8 November. According to current plans, Eurowings will already have its first flight from BER on 4 November, the company said. Lufthansa added that passengers who encountered security checkpoint bottlenecks at Tegel will be relieved to find that BER has a centrally organized security checkpoint, more modern technologies at the control lanes and more spacious terminals (that) should make the processes more efficient. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE biweekly email updates! SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Mumbai, March 7 : The Mumbai Police are investigating a possible Kerala connection in a racket of fake Indian currency note printing which was busted in Navi Mumbai, official sources said. While two persons have been arrested, one has been detained in Idukki for the clandestine racket of printing superior quality Rs 500 notes with a face value of Rs 2.95 lakh and slipping them into the market circulation with genuine currency notes. "The arrested are Vishnu Vijayan of Pondikolam in Thiruvananthapuram and Don Verkey, a former shipping company employee of Idukki. We have also detained for investigation one Leo George in Idukki. Prima facie he is suspected to be the kingpin of the racket which may have its tentacles in Kerala and Tamil Nadu," Mumbai Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police Akbar Pathan told IANS. Vijayan is an electronics engineer, Verkey was the investor who put in Rs 10 lakh to buy a workshop and a press to print the fake notes, he added. Police sources further said that George is believed to be involved in a similar FICN printing case and arrested by the Kerala Police in July 2018, along with an actress and her relatives. "At that time the Kerala Police had seized Rs 57 lakh worth of FICN and later arrested a Malayalam teleserial actress Surya Sashikumar and two of her family members for their alleged involvement in the racket," the official, declining to be identified said. When asked of their likely involvement in the Navi Mumbai operation, DCP Pathan merely said that, "we are investigating from all possible angles and take action against anyone found involved in the crime". The covert operation of Navi Mumbai was busted after a tip-off to a policeman Amit Mahangade that a couple of men were expected to deliver a FICN consignment at a location in the posh Veera Desai Road in Andheri west. After due verification, a team led by Unit IX Senior Police Inspector Mahesh Desai and Inspector Asha Korke swooped on the accused duo - Vijayan and Verkey - late on Thursday. They were produced before a Mumbai Court and remanded to police custody till Wednesday, March 11. The Crime Branch team also recovered nearly 600 FICN of Rs 500 denomination and were stunned to see that the watermark on the fake notes was strikingly similar to the genuine currency notes, though certain other minor features were not matching. The team raided the Navi Mumbai printing press and recovered printers, laptop, high quality GSM paper, a metal scale bearing a stamp of the Reserve Bank of India, which is suspected to have been stolen, weighing instruments, and heat-resistant packet in which the printed fake notes were placed and ironed to give a crispy new note feel to the FICN. The owners of an adult store that experienced a spate of sex toy thefts have set up their own 'Wall of Shame' in an effort to embarrass thieves into paying for what they stole. The Facebook page of the Peaches and Cream chain of sex shops in New Zealand shares CCTV pictures of people they allege have stolen from their stores. The adult store has shared photos of more than 28 people they claim have stolen sex toys - pocketing items such as dildos and fake vaginas. A manager at one of the stores told weird news website OK Whatever that the tactic was effective in getting those who have participated in heists to pay up. The adult store has shared photos (pictured) of more than 28 people they claim have stolen sex toys The owners of an adult store that experienced a spate of sex toy thefts have setup their own 'Wall of Shame' in an effort to embarrass offenders into doing the right thing The business Facebook page of the Peaches and Cream string of sex shops in New Zealand now posts CCTV pictures of people they allege have participated in sex toy heists One of the alleged thieves was surprised to find her image on the business's page Other people speculated about what motivated the robbers Peaches and Cream have been using the method since January 2019 - saying the tactic has the dual advantages of crowdsourcing information such as names and also embarrassing offenders into paying up. Manager at one of the franchise's 12 stores, Mel Vogel, who has been with the company for six years said thieves will try and nab anything not nailed down or behind glass. This includes the display items and, it gets weirder, items from the trash. 'We actually had to start cutting the toys that we threw away in half because people would go through the rubbish bins at least five times a day trying to retrieve stuff,' Vogel told the website. She said after working in the store for so many years there is not a particular type of person she could spot as a thief. The images from the business's 'Wall of Shame' show this to be the case with pictures of grey haired academic types with glasses, hipsters with man-buns, young ladies with expensive jewelry, and surfer dudes in board shorts splashed on the page. In October 2019 an Elvis Presley impersonator was caught on CCTV pocketing a plastic vagina and prompting a police investigation. He had tried to purchase the item a month earlier but his card had been declined. An Elvis impersonator was caught on CCTV allegedly stealing from the store in 2019 Staff member at that store Kat Maher said the Auckland shop had been robbed about once a week with the discerning thieves targeting high-end items. She said in another incident a woman stole vibrating sex toys and bolted out of the store into a waiting getaway car. Maher said the woman acted so quickly that she must have been planning the caper for a while. In another incident the store in the town of Petone was targeted by two women described as 'rugged-looking' who stole more than $1,000 worth of items including leopard printed clothing. 'I think when people rip places off, they don't actually think that it's a person they're doing it to, you know? They just look at it as a business and they don't see that there are actually lots of people behind it who get affected,' Ms Vogel said. She said the company discourages staff from chasing down offenders but does employ a person whose only job is to trawl through CCTV footage and identify possible thieves. She said the stores approach gives the thieves a chance to return to the store and pay up - they don't want the items back - before they hand the matter over to the police. 'A lot of people do own up and pay, The people we've shamed on social media also don't seem to come back and do it again, so that's good.' Ms Vogel said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to roll in around the globe, many residents may be rethinking their travel plans. Ultimately, whether or not you decide to travel is a personal decision that only you can make. That being said, theres tons of information available to prospective travelers to help them assess the risks associated with their trip. Research is important to any traveler ahead of a trip. Its no different with the coronavirus, said Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel. Become familiar with the Centers for Disease Controls recommendations, consult your healthcare professional, talk to your travel provider about waiver policies and chat with a travel agent about travel insurance possibilities before making any decision. Coronavirus: Full coverage on SILive.com The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that travelers avoid all non-essential travel to countries with widespread sustained transmission, including China, Iran, Italy and South Korea, with entry of foreign nationals from the first two countries currently suspended. Older adults and those with chronic medical conditions are recommended to postpone travel to Japan, where there is sustained community transmission. If traveling to Hong Kong, where there is risk of limited community transmission, travelers should practice typical precautions, with no recommendation to suspend or postpone trips. Currently, these are the only six countries with CDC-issued travel advisories. If you choose to travel, the CDC advises that you avoid contact with sick people, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, clean your hands frequently with soap and water and carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60% to 95% alcohol. Staten Islanders are depleting stores supplies of hand sanitizer, which is thought to help prevent the spread of the deadly illness. And despite the current shortage, it is possible to make it at home. If you decide to cancel or postpone your travel, check with your respective airline to determine whether or not you are eligible for a refund. Many popular airlines -- including Delta, JetBlue and American Airlines -- are waiving cancellation or change fees, dependent on when you booked your flight. Contrary to popular belief, despite being a close-quartered, enclosed environment, airplanes do not pose an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Because of how air circulates and is filtered on airplanes, most viruses and other germs do not spread easily on airplanes, according to the CDC. However, those planning on taking a cruise may want to consider that the isolated environment may place them at an increased risk of exposure. Cruises put large numbers of people, often from countries around the world, in frequent and close contact with each other. This can promote the spread of respiratory viruses, such as the virus that causes COVID-19. You may get sick from close contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces, according to the CDC. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the leading voice of the global cruise industry, recently announced a host of additional enhanced screening measures in response to COVID-19, including pre-boarding screenings and denial of boarding to all those who may have come in contact with the virus. The adoption of these measures further demonstrates the cruise industrys unique ability to respond quickly as circumstances evolve, said Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of CLIA. We remain in close contact with local governments around the world, and while we regret that these changes will result in the denial of boarding for some of our guests, travelers should know that their health and safety is the absolute priority for the industry. AAA advises that while travel insurance generally excludes epidemics, theres a chance that you could be entitled to at least a partial refund, depending on the specific coverage. If you purchased travel insurance before the coronavirus was recognized as an epidemic, your policy likely provides at least some level of protection. Customers who purchased cancel anytime or cancel for any reason insurance prior to February 3, when coronavirus was recognized as an epidemic, or soon thereafter may be able to cancel their trip and receive reimbursement for a portion of their non-refundable travel deposits, according to AAA. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced this week that the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New Yorks (CUNY) study abroad programs in China, Italy, Japan, Iran and South Korea have been suspended effective immediately. MAX ROSE PENS LETTER TO CDC On Friday, Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn) sent a letter to Dr. Robert R. Redfield, director of the CDC, encouraging the agency to ramp up screening efforts for travelers returning from Italy, Iran and South Korea, similar to the existing screening efforts for those returning from China. I write today to urge you to immediately issue coronavirus guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to set the policy that all passengers coming to the United States from Italy, South Korea, Iran and any other high-risk nations should be screened at the airport as we are doing for those traveling from China, Rose wrote. These nations have already been designated as Level 3 Travel Health Notice countries along with China -- yet unlike China, the CDC has not implemented airport screening for passengers returning from these countries It presents a significant risk to our community if travelers do not self-isolate or follow the other protocols that the CDC recommends. But without comprehensive screening and guidance by American personnel at our airports, many travelers may not know of this guidance," he continued. Earlier this week, Rose pushed for the passage of a massive bipartisan spending package to address COVID-19, which was signed by President Donald Trump on Friday morning. The legislation provides $8.3 billion in funding, $950 million will go to state and local health agencies for surveillance, laboratory testing, infection control, contact tracing, and mitigation. CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: A woman walks past the logo of Uniqlo at Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul TOKYO (Reuters) - Fast Retailing <983.T>, which operates casual clothing chain Uniqlo, said on Friday it had reopened more than 100 stores in China in the past week, while 125 remained closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. The company operates 750 Uniqlo stores in China, its key growth market at a time when it faces slow growth in Japan. China has also been Fast Retailing's crucial production base, with 128 of its 242 global sewing factories located there. A few items were missing from the Japan launch of its Uniqlo U spring/summer collection last week, raising fears the supply chain disruption in China was beginning to affect business outside the country. Almost all partner factories have restarted, although not all workers were back at work, the company said on Friday. "At present, we have secured most of the necessary inventory for our current needs," it added. Uniqlo's mix of affordable basics and on-trend items has been popular with China's growing middle class, and the company said it remained committed to the market. "While Uniqlo continues to expand into new markets in such regions as Europe and Asia for example, Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) and Southeast Asia will continue to serve as the key pillars of its business growth," a spokeswoman said in a statement. (Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Vinay Dwivedi) New Delhi, March 7 : A Delhi court on Saturday gave assent to the charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a bribery case, in which agency's former special director Rakesh Asthana was recently given a clean chit. "There is no sufficient ground to proceed against Rakesh Asthana and DSP Devender Kumar. We will see if anything comes in future investigation being conducted by the CBI," Special CBI Judge Sanjeev Agarwal said. Asthana and Kumar, who was arrested in 2018 and later released on bail, were named in column 12 of the charge sheet since "there was not enough evidence to make them an accused". The charge sheet, filed on February 11, had only arrayed "middleman" Manoj Prasad as accused. The court took cognizance of the charge sheet and said that there are "sufficient grounds to proceed against accused Manoj, his brother Someshwar Prasad and father-in-law Sunil Mittal." Now, the court has summoned both Someshwar Prasad and Mittal and asked them to appear on April 13. The court took cognizance of the offences under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating), 385 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 7 (expecting to be a public servant) and 8 (taking gratification) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI had, on October 15, 2018, registered an FIR against Asthana for allegedly accepting a bribe from an accused probed by him in return for ensuring relief and was given clean chit in the case. The complaint was filed by Hyderabad-based businessman Satish Babu Sana who was being probed by Asthana as part of a probe into money laundering by meat exporter, Moin Qureshi. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has asked his ministers to visit areas where crops have damaged due to recent rainfall and hailstorm in Rajasthan. The ministers in charge of districts will visit the affected districts and meet farmers on Sunday. "The chief minister has directed the ministers to visit the affected areas on March 8," according to a release. "They will assess the situation and meet the farmers whose crops were damaged due to the hailstorm on March 4, 5 and 6." On direction of the chief ministers, Chief Secretary D B Gupta has already instructed all the district collectors to assess losses. Compensation will be given after the assessment work is over. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Help India! Mahesh Trivedi, Twocircles.net Differently-abled Ghulam Murtaza, better known as Babubhai, has a heart of gold. Both his legs are paralyzed and the middle-aged man walks with crutches and yet his spirit of kindness is stronger than the rest. Support TwoCircles The small scale scrap dealer Murtaza, despite being physically challenged, always champions at lending a helping hand to others like him. No wonder, Rotary Club of Ahmedabad in Prime Minister Narendra Modis home state of Gujarat recently honored Murtaza with its prestigious Annual Vocational Award for exemplary social service. The Good Samaritans most noteworthy service has been to organize every year, a one-of-its-kind, interfaith mass wedding ceremony for cash-strapped couples where both the bride and the groom are disabled and hail from different religions or communities. Rain or shine, for days on end, Babubhai frantically goes around the city on his weather-beaten, three-wheeler scooter, spotting economically struggling Hindu and Muslim youngsters wanting to tie the knot. He subsequently collaborates with philanthropists and priests who can voluntarily perform various religious rituals at marriage ceremonies. Each pair of these poor men and women gets household goods worth Rs 50,000 to start their new life, says Babubhai who has been doing this for the past 32 years to bring smiles on the faces of such less fortunate souls. At such annual mass wedding ceremonies, the crippled, visually-impaired, deaf or mute beneficiaries aged between 24 years and 42 years found by Babubhai, come dressed in their Sunday best and are gifted a sofa set, a double bed, a steel cupboard, a kitchen set, a sewing machine, grains for one month and, of course, religious books after their marriage is solemnized. Apart from orchestrating mass marriages for the needy, he also distributes essential food items among them at special occasions like Ramadan. And all of this, despite himself being no better economically. Last years Ramadan has remained etched in the memories of several such citizens of Muslim-dominated industrial locality of Vatva in Ahmedabad. Thanks to Vikalang Sahyak Kendra, a voluntary organization headed by Murtaza, that distributed Rs 500 cash and a food kit to some 250 disabled and penniless residents, most of them Muslims living nearby. The kit contained basic food items like rice, sugar, dates, custard, sherbet, wheat flour, gram flour, edible oil, tea leaves and chilli powder, just enough to last for a month. Time and again, Babubhai also fixes up functions with the support of golden-hearted lawmakers and businessmen to hand over books, blankets, tricycles and self-employment kits to the poor leading a wretched life in the BJP-ruled Gujarat, infamous for one of the bloodiest communal clashes that had claimed 1,500 lives, mostly Muslims, in 2002. Because of tough documentation, government schemes for the differently-abled remain only on paper, sighs Babubhai. Surprisingly, the Gujarat government has a scheme for providing financial aid for marriages of underprivileged classes but boasts no such facility for its handicapped citizens who are an unhappy lot. NGOs and other voluntary organizations receive millions of rupees and grants. But Babubhai has single-handedly done what they have not been able to achieve for years, says industrialist Magan Patel, one of Babubhais handful of soft-hearted financial backers who always give him a leg up in his noble mission. According to a 2018 NSO Survey, 2.21% of Indian population has one or the other kind of disability, which means 26.8 million people in India. Out of this, 23.8 per cent are included in the labour force, which again differs for different age groups and genders. While the literacy among the disabled in India is 19.3 per cent, it is easy to understand that they are groping in the dark for opportunities in addition to their already existing health issues. While any institute that is funded by the government must have a 3% representation by the disabled employee, this isnt met compulsorily, Babubhai explained, regarding employment of the disabled. He added that employment in the private sector had been growing at an increasing rate in the last two decades but representation of people with disabilities in the workforce was very low. Low literacy, few jobs and widespread social stigma are making disabled people among the most excluded in India, says Babubhai, pointing out that the disabled employees contributed to a businesss diversity and competitive edge by offering fresh perspectives and ideas to accomplish tasks and implement strategies. He further opined that it was high time equal job opportunities were offered to people with disabilities which are at par with others on the basis of their skills and ability to perform the job. To contribute his own bit, the big-hearted Babubhai from Ahmedabad is now readying up an employment centre at his Vikalang Sahyak Kendra. PALO ALTO (BCN) A Palo Alto boy riding a bicycle was killed Friday night after colliding with a flatbed truck, Palo Alto police said. The bicyclist and the truck were both headed east on California Avenue, with boy riding on the sidewalk, about 7:40 p.m. when the truck made a right turn onto El Camino Real and collided with the cyclist, police said. Police did not release the name of the middle-school-age boy. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, a Palo Alto man in his 60s, stayed at the scene and cooperated with police. He was not cited or arrested, pending the outcome of an investigation. Police do not believe that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the collision. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision and who has not already spoken with police about it is encouraged to call the police department's 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voicemail to (650) 383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through a free mobile app, downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay. 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. Fenit Development Association chairperson Mike ONeill, right, and John Moriarty are framed in the first full breach of the Fenit dunes blown out by the recent storms roughly three-quarters of the way to Fenit Island from Fenit back beach. The community is now pleading for help to the State to repair the damage before the erosion gets worse An officer for the National Parks and Wildlife Service over the Kerry district told The Kerryman no ranger is currently available in the north of the county to inspect the scene of a recent major blow out in the dune system in Fenit. The response comes amid growing concern locally in Fenit over the rapidly escalating erosion - which for the first time ever has completely blown out a section of the precious dune system between Fenit back strand and Fenit Island. It forms a key part of the Tralee Bay Complex Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of the EU Habitats Directive and of a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive; under the auspices of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Locals said they had never witnessed a single instance of damage as destructive as the recent blow out on the dunes habitat that separates the open ocean from the tidal flats on the Barrow side. It also forms the Fenit Within tombolo, connecting Fenit Island - reportedly the birthplace of St Brendan - with the mainland. "The big concern here is that what is left now is open on both sides. That was never the case before, but it has blown completely through now and we're worried things will get worse fast if it is not repaired as a matter of urgency," Chairperson of the Fenit Development Association Mike O'Neill said. Kerry County Council officers inspected the damage in recent week, but The Kerryman understands the Authority is not responsible for the matter. A district officer with the National Parks and Wildlife Service confirmed to The Kerryman the service is charged with monitoring protected areas, but said they knew nothing about the damage. "I've had no correspondence from anyone on it," he said. The Kerryman informed him of the extent of the damage. But, he said, there was no ranger available in North Kerry to inspect it and that he was too busy in his Cork base to respond. It's a response that will do nothing to quell the fears of locals. "It's been over three weeks now and we've faced into other storms since so it is a worrying time. Meanwhile the tidal movement from the Barrow side tends to eat at the base of the dunes so it doesn't help the situation." Much of the sand blown out remains strewn on the leeward side of the dunes and could be used to rebuild the gap - if work gets underway soon. Otherwise, it'll simply be blown away in the coming weeks, Mr O'Neill said. Yet again, the absence of a meaningful State response is put into sharper relief by local volunteers. Mr O'Neill and fellow organisers of the Wild Mind Festival in Fenit next month will oversee the only substantial response to the erosion in Fenit when they lead a marram-grass planting event during the celebration of Fenit's marine beauty. "We won't, of course, be able to get anywhere close to achieving what is needed but it will be something in the right direction." What's needed is a response with the weight of the State behind it. But the environmental concerns in Fenit are exacerbated by the deafening silence from officialdom at national level. "Our concerns are heightened by the lack of awareness as to who takes responsibility for this. People don't know who to contact on the matter," Mr O'Neill added. Far from being of importance only from a wildlife-oriented point of view, the dune system plays a vital part in the human community, providing the only 'bridge' onto Fenit Island, and sheltering its vehicle access. The tombolo is likely to be wiped out, with Fenit Island to become an island proper by the second half of this century, according to projections for rising levels caused by climate change. "This is going to be the reality for low-lying coastal communities into the future, unfortunately" IT lecturer and member of the Maharees Conservation Association Martha Farrell said. "Climate change is behind it all, it's the underlying issue and it's probably going to cut off Fenit Island by 2100 as we're looking at a rise of half a metre by then. It will happen gradually as people see the effects of it slowly creeping in with erosion to be exacerbated by the rising waters and volatile weather," Ms Farrell added. If nothing is done to keep rising temperatures to a minimum - as seems increasingly unlikely - it is even projected that Tralee could find itself under water in as far as the Square. That's if nothing is done. Ms Farrell credits Kerry County Council with being pro-active in the area, having applied to the OPW for the commission of a coastal erosion risk investigation study. It's already now underway with a report, complete with recommendations for actions, expected later this year. In the meantime, the Maharees exists as a gold standard example of what local volunteers are capable of when it comes to protecting precious ecosystems. "We didn't have a breach like Fenit, but we combated the erosion in a three-step process. One, we fenced off the affected area to prevent foot traffic; two, we set marram grass extensively, which is the natural dune grass that helps bind the dunes and actually collects blowing sand in its leaves, keeping it on the dunes; and, three, we raised awareness of the issue locally, explaining how vulnerable the affected dunes are to foot traffic and much else. "Some people thought we were being dictatorial when the fencing went up but four years on everyone is acknowledging the benefits with the dunes growing again in an amazing regeneration," Ms Farrell said. Traffic is another exacerbating factor in Fenit. Mike O'Neill explained the area is frequently hit by young lads racing and pulling 'doughnuts' in souped-up cars late at night. "It certainly doesn't help the situation," he said. Tobacco tycoon Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon is on the hunt for a 'bubbly' and 'adventurous' new girlfriend to move into his Gold Coast Candyshop Mansion. The Queensland businessman opened up applications for a new woman to join his harem of beautiful mistresses who are often seen by his side bikini-clad. In an advertisement posted on his website the 48-year-old says he is seeking a '100 per cent confidential' relationship with a woman who is 'totally loyal' and willing to live in his palatial Helensvale property full time. 'Not only must you be attractive to be considered as a girlfriend, but you must be fun, bubbly, out-going, spontaneous, adventurous and respectful to everyone,' the ad states. Tobacco tycoon Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon is on the hunt for a 'bubbly' and 'adventurous' new girlfriend to move into his Gold Coast Candyshop Mansion The Queensland businessman opened up applications for a new woman to join his harem of beautiful mistresses who are often seen by his side bikini-clad Girlfriends must be 'totally loyal' and willing to live in his palatial Helensvale property full time, the ad states 'Travers promotes a strong family unity in the house. (Drama is not welcome at anytime).' He is also offering his next girlfriend a life of luxury, promising to spoil them with designer clothing and accessories, fine dining, private parties, and '5-star travel around the world.' The Gold Coast playboy also requires contenders to maintain an appropriate presentation at all times, which includes keeping their nails manicured, hair well-kept and styled, make up done 'to a high standard' and even maintaining a tan. They must also eat well and stay in shape and will be provided an allowance of $100 to $500 a week. Girlfriends are also expected to attend family dinners and help out around the mansion. Only two 'deal breakers' are listed on the advertisement: Being in a current relationship and getting into any relationship other than one with Mr Beynon while living at the mansion. The Goldcoast playboy also requires contenders to maintain an appropriate presentation at all times, which includes keeping their nails manicured, hair well-kept and styled, makeup done 'to a high standard' Girlfriends are also expected to attend family dinners and help out around the mansion. Pictured: Some of the girlfriends hanging out poolside at the palatial Helensvale property The advertisement, however, has been met with backlash ahead of International Women's Day, with critics calling it disrespectful and 'distasteful.' Gold Coast MP Meghan Scanlon slammed the ad, telling the Courier-Mail: 'It's outrageous to say that in the 21st century, women should be purchased and treated as property.' 'I am surprised to still see this sort of attitude from men in this day and age I thought we'd moved forward more than clearly we have.' Mr Beynon has up to 30 women at his home on a weekend, but only two girlfriends live and sleep with him and his wife full time. Those women are asked not to date anyone else and can bring their families to the mansion to visit. Beynon is also offering his next girlfriend a life of luxury, promising to spoil them with designer clothing and accessories Despite their unusual living arrangement, Mr Beynon has previously told Daily Mail Australia he enjoys a strong and loving relationship with his wife. The notorious playboy said his unusual marriage works because Taesha loves their extraordinary sex lives. 'We're very happy,' he said in 2018. I've been married to my wife for eight years and our relationship - in a fun sense, in a family sense, and in a sexual sense - is like we first met.' 'At the weekends up to 30 other women join us and my wife loves that part of it. She absolutely gets involved with the other girls.' Chandigarh, March 7 : In a first, CII Northern Region has elected its new office-bearers digitally to tackle the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19). Also, it conducted its annual meeting via video conference. While Nikhil Sawhney took over as the Chairman of the CII Northern Region, Abhimanyu Munjal was elected Deputy Chairman. Sawhney is the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Triveni Turbines Ltd, while Munjal is the Joint Managing Director and CEO of Hero FinCorp Ltd. Aligning to the government's mandate, CII Northern Region attempted to safeguard the interests of its members as well as the community at large by conducting the annual regional meeting digitally, the industry body said in a statement. CII members utilised the video conferencing facility to accomplish the proceedings, as in a first, a crucial session was conducted without mass assembly, thus mitigating the risk of coronavirus, it said. "It is indeed a matter of great pride for me that CII Northern Region adopted this unprecedented initiative; creating a balance between business and social security of the citizens," Sawhney said. The annual meeting took place via a teleconference in Chandigarh with participation from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and New Delhi. Sawhney said this year is a very special year as the CII is completing 125 years of its service to the nation. There would be year-long celebrations by way of taking new initiatives, which will help the industry grow. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Connecticut parents and education reformers recently marked a major victory after the state, facing a legal challenge by Hartford black and Hispanic parents, announced it would at last end its longstanding policy of race-based quotas that penalize marginalized children of color in Hartfords interdistrict magnet school system. For those of us who have been involved in this issue of unjust racial quotas, it was cause for celebration and an illustration of how committed parents and activists can bring positive change in the lives of our most vulnerable children striving for safe, quality educational experiences. But the demand for educational freedom shouldnt stop there: its time for Connecticut to take the next steps to end racial discrimination in public schools statewide once and for all. It might seem surprising to hear that Connecticut schools have a problem with racial discrimination, given the legal and cultural victories achieved since the Civil Rights era. But todays school discrimination is different: It comes not in the form of openly segregationist policies but in the form of a rigid racial quota system that rations seats in schools based on a students skin color. The bitter irony is that while this system was intended to be fair and equitable, it ended up reinstating segregation under another name racial quotas. Heres how it worked in Hartford, to the tune of several billion tax dollar investments: the state had established a network of high-quality magnet schools over the last couple of decades to address an earlier school integration decision. Before the recent changes, those magnet schools were required by law to limit minority enrollment to 75 percent of the student body, with attendance decided by lottery. The remaining 25 percent of seats had to be reserved for white and Asian students. Magnet schools that failed to meet those proportions faced steep financial penalties and could even be forced to close. So what happened when there werent enough white or Asian kids to fill the available seats? Those seats went empty because adding additional African-American or Hispanic children would have disrupted the 75/25 balance. It was a terrible waste of educational resources, as well as an echo of a shameful past we thought wed left behind (which was recently illustrated in the mini-documentary, Quota). The good news is thats now changing, thanks to the efforts of a group of black and Hispanic parents in Hartford who decided in 2018 to fight back. Seeking improved educational opportunities for their kids, they filed a federal lawsuit challenging the states race-based quota policy in federal courts as a violation of their childrens constitutional rights. (Full disclosure: I have filed a similar federal suit in Connecticut along the same lines). In light of the recent changes to Hartfords school-enrollment policies, the plaintiffs dismissed their lawsuit. While the parents and reformers who pushed for this change have reason to cheer this outcome, the real winners in this settlement are Hartfords vulnerable black and Hispanic children. Going forward, if there are not enough white or Asian students to fill a classroom, it will open up an opportunity for an African-American or Hispanic child. Thats a true victory for educational progress. It took a lot of courage for those parents in Hartford to step forward to challenge this unjust system and demand that their kids and all kids receive a fair and just opportunity to learn. Theyve sent a clear message that discrimination even when its government-sanctioned discrimination is wrong. To their credit, Connecticuts government officials heard that message and got rid of the racial quotas in Hartfords interdistrict magnet schools. But work continues. In 2017, the Connecticut Legislature adopted a statewide racial quota, and this law still applies to all Connecticut interdistrict magnet schools outside of Hartford. This policy forced New Havens popular and successful Creed High School to close it was facing financial penalties because it had too many minority students. Now its time to take the next step: the state Legislature should act to extend the values articulated in the Hartford settlement to all schools statewide. Connecticuts racial quota system may have been well-intended and may even have been a viable solution a couple of decades ago. But today, the policy has resulted in unintended injustices against the families who rely on the public education system to provide their children with the best learning opportunities. Lets urge our states elected leaders to put an end to racial discrimination in Connecticuts schools once and for all in the 2020 Connecticut General Assembly legislative session. Gwen Samuel is president & founder of the Connecticut Parents Union . This is my first time voting, but my whole life Ive just been so frustrated watching everything happening in front of me, Strahl said. I know my future is at stake, and I just want to make it right. Patna, March 7 : Eleven people were killed on the spot in a horrific road accident in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district on Saturday. The road accident took place in the wee hours of Saturday when a Scorpio collided with a tractor at NH-28 near Sarmastpur Healthcare in Muzaffarpur's Kanti block. The collision was so intense that the scorpio turned into pieces. The death toll may increase, said police. Following the accident, Muzaffarpur police reached the spot. Hundreds of people also gathered at the scene. The injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital. The deceased are residents of Hathauri. The dead bodies have been sent to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, Muzaffarpur. Photo: The Canadian Press This May 30, 2017 file photo, shows Saudi Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman, (MBS), in Moscow's Kremlin, Russia. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Saudi officials have arrested two members of the royal family for allegedly plotting to oust King Salman and the son he has designated to succeed him, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Friday, March 6, 2020. Saudi officials arrested two members of the royal family early Friday for allegedly plotting to oust King Salman and the son he has designated to succeed him, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Wall Street Journal reported. Quoting unidentified sources, the Journal said guards from the royal court detained one of the king's brothers, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al Saud, and one of his nephews, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef. Both men were arrested at their homes and charged with treason, it said. There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on the report. Mohammed bin Nayef, a once powerful figure as head of Saudi counterterrorism efforts, had been crown prince until 2017, when King Salman took away the title and put his son first in line for the throne of the longtime U.S. ally. The crown prince, who is in charge of day-to-day governance in the kingdom, has been praised in the West for implementing social reforms, but he also has drawn intense criticism for a tough crackdown on Saudis perceived as critics of his policies. He also came under criticism after the 2018 killing of Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Critics accused him of being linked to the slaying, but he denied it. A Saudi court sentenced five people to death for the killing, but did not hold any high-ranking officials responsible. Congress has also harshly criticized Saudi Arabia for its war in Yemen, which has led to the world's worst humanitarian disaster. O ne of the USs biggest arts and technology festivals has been cancelled amid the outbreak of coronavirus. South by Southwest (SXSW) had been scheduled to take place in Austin, Texas, from March 13 until March 22. However, officials called off the major event on Friday, declaring a local disaster in the city. Austin Mayor Steve Adler told reporters: "I've gone ahead and declared a local disaster in the city, and associated with that have issued an order that effectively cancels South by Southwest this year. Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /106 Coronavirus - In pictures A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images Customers wearing face masks shop at the pork counter of a supermarket following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province Reuters Westminster Bridge is deserted in London the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA Canadian passengers Chris & Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam, Holland America Line cruise ship, during the coronavirus outbreak, off the shores of Panama City via Reuters A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City Reuters The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Commuters cope with Coronavirus Jeremy Selwyn Milan's Piazza del Duomo empty AFP via Getty Images People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran AP Martina Papponetti, 25, an ICU nurse at the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital in Bergamo, Italy poses for a portrait at the end of her shift AP Pope Francis celebrating a daily mass alone in the Santa Marta chapel at the Vatican, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Imag Vysheyshaya Liga - FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino v FC Belshina Bobruisk - Torpedo Stadium, Zhodino, Belarus, March 27, 2020 Players in action during the match despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Hanks and Wilson both have coronavirus Tom Hanks General view of an emergency makeshift field hospital as it is set up at Pacaembu Stadium for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with a capacity of 200 beds in Sao Paulo, Brazil Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, work from home if possible and avoid all non-essential contacts and travel in order to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic PA Naomi Campbell catches a flight in a hazmat suit with goggles, a surgical mask and rubber gloves @naomi Sophie and Emily Ward pose for a photograph with their hand-drawn picture of rainbows and a message on their window in St Helens, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Corona virus outbreak. PA Shoppers queue outside a branch of Costco, in Croydon, south London, on the weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs and restaurants across the country to close PA Charing Cross Tube Bakerloo Line very quiet at 8.15am Jeremy Selwyn A woman with a plastic box over her head on the London Underground. PA A Racegoer attend Cheltenham Festival on Ladies Day wearing a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale PA A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A couple kiss in Milano Centrale railway station in Milan on March 8, 2020 AFP via Getty Images A combination picture shows visitors wearing protective face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) looking at blooming cherry blossom nd a pigeon walking at an closed cherry blossom viewing spot during the first weekend after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike (not pictured) urged Tokyo residents to stay indoors, in a bid to keep the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from spreading Reuters This combination photo created on March 5, 2020 shows tourists visiting Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on March 16, 2019 (top) and on March 5, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump looks at the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package bill as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Vice President Mike Pence stand by during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House Reuters A satellite image shows an empty South Beach during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Miami, via Reuters General view inside the empty stadium as the two teams line up prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes UEFA via Getty Images A Sainsbury's supermarket in Cambridge is among those to sell out of antibacterial hand sanitizer PA Tents and ambulances are set up next to the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise as it sits docked in the Port of Oakland on March 09, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Princess Cruises Grand Princess has been held from docking until today as at least 21 people on board have tested positive for COVID-19 also known as the Coronavirus Getty Images Medical staff produce traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Army soldiers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea AP Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing protective gear walks at a hospital for patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the outskirts of Moscow via Reuters A woman who has recovered from the COVID-19 is disinfected by volunteers as she arrives at a hotel for a 14-day quarantine AFP via Getty Images Passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship are seen as the ship arrives at Daikoku Pier where it is being resupplied and newly diagnosed coronavirus cases taken for treatment as it remains in quarantine after a number of the 3,700 people on board were diagnosed with coronavirus Getty Images Dave Abel pictured in hospital in Japan Manchester United fans in the stands during the Premier League match at Old Trafford PA Police officers wearing masks stand in front of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in La Caleta, in the Canary Island of Tenerife AP Carnival revellers wear protective face masks at Venice Carnival Reuters A general view is pictured of Burbage Primary School in Buxton, Derbyshire after the closure of the school as a pupil's parent has tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Images People wearing face masks walk past the Olympic rings in front of the new National Stadium, the main stadium for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Game Getty Images People leave Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes where Coronavirus evacuees are due to be released from quarantine today and allowed to go home PA Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA A woman wears a mask while crossing London Bridg Getty Images A general view of Worthing Hospital in West Sussex PA Passengers relax on board the Holland America-operated Westerdam cruise ship, which has been denied permission to dock in Thailand over coronavirus fears via Reuters A child waves as she sits in a vehicle carrying residents evacuated from a public housing building, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, outside Hong Mei House, at Cheung Hong Estate in Hong Kong Reuters A woman wearing a Minnie Mouse face mask looks at her mobile phone in Beijing on February 11, 2020 AFP via Getty Images The Costa Smeralda cruise ship of Costa Crociere, carrying around 6,000 passengers, is docked at the Italian port of Civitavecchia after a health alert due to a Chinese couple and a possible link to coronavirus on board, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters A patient covered with a bed sheet at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital as it starts to accept patients displaying mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images A medical official takes the body temperature of a man at the departure hall of the airport in Changsha, Hunan Province, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, China Reuters The view of the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center Getty Images A plane carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arrives at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire A police vehicle enters the gates of the Royal Air Force station RAF Brize Norton in Carterton AFP via Getty Images Passengers wear face masks as the push their luggage after arriving from a flight at Terminal 5 of London Heathrow Airport AFP via Getty Images French citizens arrive and settle aboard of an evacuation plane with destination southeastern France, before departure from Wuhan Airport (WUH), China AFP via Getty Images Police stand at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge that crosses from Hubei province in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, China Reuters A member of staff at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside prepares for a bus carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China PA Doctor Paul McKay, who is working on an vaccine for the 2019-nCoV strain of the novel coronavirus, poses for a photograph with bacteria containing fragments of coronavirus DNA, at Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) in Londo AFP via Getty Images Workers produce masks at the Thai Hospital Product Company Ltd. factory in Bangkok AFP via Getty Images Passengers wearing face masks are seen on a bus after disembarking from the Costa Smeralda cruise ship, after tests on a woman from Macau with suspected coronavirus came back negative, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters People hoard bottles of alcohol after the Philippine government confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the country, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Reuters Taking precautions: with fears growing that the coronavirus will spread from China, a health official checks a womans temperature on the underground in Beijing Getty Images An empty road is seen in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020, amid a deadly virus outbreak which began in the city AFP via Getty Images Students wearing masks meditate prior to a lesson at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia AP Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital wear protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus AFP via Getty Images Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, where some infected with a new virus are being treated, in Wuhan, China AP Workers driving excavators at the construction site of a field hospital In Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The builders will complete the 1,000-bed hospital by February 3 to cope with the surge of 2019-nCoV patients in the city Getty Images Buddhist monks wear masks as they walk near Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodi AP A woman and a child wearing protective masks walk toward check-in counters at Daxing international airport in Beijing AFP via Getty Images An employee sprays disinfectant on a train as a precaution against a new coronavirus at Suseo Station in Seoul, South Korea AP A policeman wearing a mask walks past a quarantine notice about the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China at an arrival hall of Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan Reuters Paramilitary police wear face masks as they stand guard at Tiananmen Gate adjacent to Tiananmen Square in Beijing AP The resident wear masks to buy vegetables in the market in Wuhan Getty Images Staff sell masks at a Yifeng Pharmacy in Wuhan AP Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV AP The decision comes just two days after public health officials said the event would take place as planned, despite a string of high-profile dropouts and widespread calls for its cancellation. Twitter was the first big name to drop out of the festival, followed by Netflix, TikTok, Facebook and Intel. More than 50,000 people had signed a petition seeking to get it cancelled. It comes as the US death toll from the Covid-19 disease climbed to 14, with all but one victim in Washington state. Palestinian officials announce state of emergency as number of infections rises to 16. The city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank has been placed in lockdown after the first Palestinian cases of the new coronavirus were discovered there and authorities announced a state of emergency. Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said on Friday a total of 16 cases of the COVID-19 illness caused by the virus had been detected in the West Bank, including nine new cases in Bethlehem, according to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa. The Israeli defence ministry said it had imposed emergency measures on Bethlehem, with everybody forbidden from entering or leaving the city. It added that the lockdown had been imposed in coordination with the Palestinian Authority (PA). Israel controls all entrances to the West Bank but the Ramallah-based PA has limited autonomy in cities. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh made a special broadcast late on Thursday to announce the 30-day lockdown, saying the measures were essential to contain the disease. All but essential travel between Palestinian governorates was now prohibited, while all schools and educational facilities would close, he said. Public parks and tourist sites would close while large sporting events, conferences and other major gatherings were cancelled, Shtayyeh added. Muhannad Qaisy, a Bethlehem resident, told Al Jazeera it was nothing the Palestinians had not experienced before. To be honest, were used to such measures, to be under closure, people staying at home for many nights, but for a different reason, because we live under occupation, he said. The streets of Bethlehem and Ramallah were near-empty on Friday morning, with most shops closed. Al Jazeeras Nida Ibrahim, reporting from Ramallah, said some people panicked. Despite officials telling them to stay calm, some people stocked up on food, water and cleaning supplies out of fear that the shutdown will go on for some time, she said. Church of Nativity visits The Palestinian health ministry said the cases had first been detected at a hotel in the Bethlehem area. The head of the local health directorate, Imad Shahadeh, told AFP that a group of Greek tourists had visited the hotel in late February, with two later diagnosed with the virus. Several suspected cases have since been identified among hotel workers, he said. The Church of the Nativity, built on the site Christians believe was the birthplace of Jesus, was closed on Thursday and, along with other sites, is expected to be shuttered for a month. Asbed Balian, senior cleric of the Armenian church at the Church of the Nativity, said infected visitors had entered the site. People affected by corona[virus] visited the church, he told AFP. Issa Thaljieh, a priest at the Nativity Church, told Al Jazeera the church had been disinfected. Yesterday, the church was sterilised and cleaned so that when people come back after 14 days everything will be safe, he said. COGAT, the Israeli body responsible for civilian activities in the Palestinian Territories, said it was working closely with the Palestinian Authority to stem the spread of the virus. All tourist buses to and from Bethlehem were banned until further notice, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said. According to the AFP news agency, about 20 buses were stuck at a checkpoint run by Israeli personnel at the entrance to the Palestinian city, which is about 10km (six miles) south of Jerusalem. Witnesses said some tourists in Bethlehem were trying to bypass military controls to reach Jerusalem. SYDNEY, March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, partners from theA Catalyst Network A flew into Sydney to bring equipment and assist Australian partners Be Challenged deliver VR team building mega event,A The Infinite Loop . The Catalyst Network is the world's largest team building network. Its members are 50 of the world's best team building providers. It's a pretty unique organisation. Members collaborate daily sharing best practise. Instead of competing, they celebrate each other's successes. Catalyst Network collaboration makes scalability possible When Oliver Sheer got the brief for a 700 pax VR team building activity for medical technology giant Stryker, he put the call out to the Catalyst Network. It was more efficient to bring in equipment and know-how than to hire it. And, who wouldn't turn down an offer to run an event in one of the world's most stunning cities, Sydney? Global technical and operational expertise Alongside the Be Challenged team, there were partners from Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Malaysia and Hong Kong.A And, the technical support team fromA Synergy in Tunisia . On the day there were 127 headsets needed to run the event for 720 people. Event organiser, Mark Preston said, "It would have been impossible without the help from partners in the Catalyst Network." The Infinite Loop AsA The Infinite Loop A story goes, a young man has been physically absorbed into a VR game. The team's mission is to go back and forth between the virtual, and real worlds, finding clues to help him return to the real world. Iterative learning, combined with continuous feedback, and improvement, makes the teams solve problems in more efficient ways. Fund Raising for Bush Fire Relief Australia had just experienced its worst-ever bush fires. During the Black Summer of 2019-2020, at least 34 people were killed with an estimated 19 million hectares and 5,900 buildings destroyed. The event raised $150,000 for Red Cross Australian bush fire relief by Stryker. Large events? No problem.A Oliver Sheer, Managing Director of Be ChallengedA said "a we have just finished a 700-person Infinite Loop. anot just the equipment but the expertise (from the network) aallows us to make sure we can sell it with absolute confidencealike 700 give us 1700 peoplea because of the network we will make it happen and we will make it happen world class." Once again, global collaboration made scalability of a world-class team building product a reality. CONTACT: Marketing@catalystglobal.Com Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1098950/1.mp4 Esther Gianan, a retired registered nurse, prays for those who are affected by the coronavirus during Mass at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Tampa, Fla., on March 6, 2020. (Octavio Jones/Tampa Bay Times via AP) Coronavirus Kills 2 Florida Patients Two patients died from the new coronavirus, Florida officials announced late Friday. Both patients were described as elderly and both are believed to have contracted the virus while traveling outside the country. One patient lived in Santa Rosa County and the other lived in Lee County. The latter case was newly confirmed. Officials also said two people, a 65-year-old man and a 75-year-old man, in Broward County tested positive for the new virus. Both were already isolated and will continue to be isolated until theyre cleared by public health officials, the state Department of Health said in a press release. The department urged anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, within 14 days after travel from China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan, and any other destination under a federal travel advisory, should stay at home and call their doctor or health authorities. People who have had close contact with someone showing these symptoms who has recently traveled from this area or been in contact with a person with a laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 case should also call their doctor or health authorities. People should mention their recent travel or close contact. A man wearing a mask walks in St. Peters Square at the Vatican on March 6, 2020. (Andrew Medichini/AP Photo) Officials previously said five patients tested positive for the new virus in Florida, including an adult in Hillsborough County who recently traveled to Italy and a non-Florida resident. Another five patients who were repatriated to the United States from China or Japan have tested positive elsewhere in the country. Those groups were being held at military bases in California, Texas, or Nebraska. Nearly 200 people have been tested so far in the state, with 100 testing negative and 88 results pending. Officials are monitoring 278 people and 1,010 people have been monitored to date. Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a public health emergency because of the new virus on March 2. He asked state lawmakers for $25 million to respond to the spread of the virus and said he expects to receive at least $27 million from the federal government. The deaths bring the U.S. death toll to 16, with all but the two Florida deaths and one death in California taking place in Washington state. Symptoms of the new virus are similar to the flu and around 80 percent of patients show no, mild, or moderate symptoms, according to health experts. The other patients require hospitalization, with some requiring intensive care. There is currently no vaccine or proven treatment for the new virus, which causes a disease called COVID-19. Experts say ways to avoid getting the virus include frequently washing hands, avoiding sick people, and not touching ones nose, eyes, or mouth with unwashed hands. Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international non-profit that empowers and champions women leaders around the world, partnered with artist Gayle Kabaker to create a ground-breaking art exhibit Akanksha Hazari, CEO and founder of m.Paani, is the only Indian tech entrepreneur to be chosen and featured in this unprecedented art exhibition and companion coffee table book, celebrating 100 global women leaders who are redefining power. Akanksha will be featured in the series alongside the likes of Melinda Gates, Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, Beyonce, Serena Williams and many other inspiring women. Vital Voices: 100 Women Using Their Power to Empower - in conversation with Alyse Nelson featuring paintings by Gayle Kabaker - will feature a selection of original portraits, accompanied by thought-provoking excerpts of the first-person narratives included in the book. Candid and compelling, each leader shares personal stories, insights and ideas, showing us that women lead differently and that this difference is sorely needed in our world today. While each woman is path-breaking in her own right, it's together that these 100 voices illustrate the transformative power of women's leadership across cultures, industries, and generations. "I feel incredibly humbled to be a part of such an amazing group of women, who inspire me and teach me. Women stand on the front line of critical change the world needs today. They make me bullish about the future," shared Akanksha Hazari. m.Paani is leading the revolution to empower India's 60 million-plus local retailers by digitizing and organising them to deliver the neighbourhood shopping experience of the future. "Local Retailers are the foundation of a thriving community and India's economy. Small businesses account for almost 40% of the country's employment. m.Paani is enabling local shops to go online, digitise their consumer relationships, access data and insights, and manage their operations more effectively. We empower local retailers to thrive in a rapidly changing world," added Akanksha. At 21, Akanksha Hazari was a founding partner of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, the world's first policy think tank for young people; today YPFP serves young people in nine countries and boasts a global membership. She also led 5 major economic initiatives in Gaza and the West Bank, including a USD 200m loan guarantee facility to support Palestinian owned SMEs and led a pan-India agritech project where she spent a year living in villages across India looking at how mobile technology can be used to increase farmer income. Akanksha is a Princeton University and Cambridge University alumnus, Ashoka Fellow, and former competitive squash player ranked in the top 20 juniors internationally and is a two-time HK and Indian national champion, among winning multiple other international titles. She speaks six languages. Akanksha won the USD 1 m Hult Prize 2011 awarded by President Bill Clinton, and received the Vital Voices Global Economic Empowerment Award 2016 from Secretaries of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Madeline Albright, and is recognised in US Senate Resolution 418. Other notable women included in the select 100 leaders featured in the exhibit and companion book are, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, US Supreme Court Justice, Rihanna, and Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, amongst others. Vital Voices has worked with over 18,000 women leaders across 182 countries and territories for the past 20 years. From that experience, the organization understands that women lead differently; the thousands of women leaders Vital Voices has partnered with have been resolute in their sense of purpose and commitment towards making positive change. "2020 marks a significant year for women, with the centennial of women's suffrage in the United States and the 25th anniversary of the historic United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women. It is a critical year for taking stock of all that's been achieved in the global movement for gender equality," said Alyse Nelson, President, and CEO of Vital Voices. "As we look to the future, and the great unfinished that remains, we turn to 100 of the most daring and creative leaders of our time, who share their vision and solutions in Vital Voices: 100 Women Using Their Power to Empower," added Nelson. Each painting in the series is being produced by Gayle Kabaker. Kabaker is an award-winning illustrator and writer living in Western Massachusetts whose work has been used for everything from fashion and general illustration, to animation, web design, logo and brand development. She had her first New Yorker magazine cover 'June Brides' celebrating gay marriage in 2012, and has had a total of five covers since then. Her work tends to be very feminine, exploring beauty in all forms. "Painting such a wide range of women of all ages, from all over the world and 'getting to know' each of these amazing, strong, brave women by reading about them and studying their faces carefully from photos in order to catch their likeness in a painting, has felt like such a privilege," said Kabaker about the exhibit. "It's been quite an education. Sometimes uplifting and exciting, other times, really painful to realize the tragedies in these women lives that led them to become activists. I am so lucky to have an amazing creative collaborator in Vital Voices President, CEO and Co-founder Alyse Nelson, who gave me lots of creative freedom to let each painting dictate what felt right. This has been one of the most rewarding projects I've ever worked on," added Kabaker. The exhibit will debut on International Women's Day (March 8, 2020) and will be on display in the Hall of Nations at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts through March 21, 2020, as a part of DIRECT CURRENT, the centre's two-week contemporary culture immersion. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dear Minister Harris, I have concerns regarding the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and our country's early response to it. South Korea has the second highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases after China (6,593 confirmed cases on 06/03/20). 80,000 people have been tested. Whenever a new case is identified an emergency text message is sent to everyone letting them know where. Next a timeline is given of the person's whereabouts over the previous 48-72 hours so that if someone has been to those areas, they can present for testing. Those places are immediately shut down and sterilised. (This could be an invasion of personal privacy, but it shows the lengths some countries are going to). All schools and many businesses have been shut the past week and will remain shut next week. In Daegu, 1900 Shincheoji Church members at the epicentre of the outbreak were tested. 1300 had symptoms, 600 did not. Among those 1300 with symptoms, 87.5% were confirmed coronavirus. Of the 600 WITHOUT symptoms, 70% were confirmed with coronavirus. Contrast this with Italy: testing is now only on individuals showing symptoms. Here in Ireland after the first confirmed case Dr. John Cuddihy, director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, said 'It is important to note that the risk of transmission through casual contact is low'. This is strictly probably true but very misleading as we know each person passes it to between 3 to 7 others and often do so before they realise they are a vector themselves. Approximately 80% suffer mild symptoms, 15% need hospitalisation and 5% require ICU. If 0.2% of Ireland's 5 million people contract this virus, that would mean 1,500 hospitalisations and 500 ICU admissions. Our secondary care system simply cannot manage it. We only have approximately 250 ICU beds in the whole country and they are at maximum capacity. Thankfully no deaths have been reported in those aged under 9 years. At this moment it only appears like cases in Europe are manageable. Ten days ago Italy was the only country in Europe with more than 100 cases. Today, 06/03/20, Italy has 3,858, France 577, Germany 578, Spain 386, Switzerland 214, UK 163, Netherlands 128, Belgium 109, Norway 108, Sweden 101). The first 2 cases were confirmed in Italy on January 31st. Now on March 6th, 35 days later there are 3,858 cases in Italy including a staggering 148 deaths and 351 in serious/critical condition. This equates to a doubling time of close to 3 days. In Ireland we are currently in the early phase of exponential growth. Exponential growth is a pattern of growth that shows greater increases with passing time. It is easier to understand when viewed on a graph (see below). The slope is gradual at first (allowing people to think that cases are under control). However, once a critical number is reached the graph bends steeply upwards as cases appear at quickening pace. I believe the critical number could be approximately 100 cases. In Ireland the testing criteria were changed yesterday morning after the confirmation last night of our first case of community transmission in Cork. The criteria now include those with fever of unknown cause plus other specific symptoms. This is to be welcomed. However, the testing criteria are still too strict. We will soon need to start testing anyone with any symptoms and even those without symptoms like is happening in South Korea or we will miss the potential for early identification of pockets of severe outbreaks. There are anecdotal reports of people returning from holidays in Italy over the past month with flu-like illness but not meeting the criteria for testing. This raises the possibility that coronavirus has been circulating undetected for the past 4-5 weeks. Around the world the strategy is containment but very soon will be mitigation. China (30% of the world's manufacturing) shut down almost all their industry in Hubei and the Greater Pearl River Delta. Japan has shut down schools. South Korea has closed schools and churches. Iran has mobilised 300,000 soldiers and volunteers. The US states of California, Maryland and Washington State have declared a state of emergency. Italy quarantined 11 towns in Lombardy and Veneto and is considering expanding the 'red zone'. France has banned gatherings larger than 5000 in a confined space. Sweden has banned gatherings larger than 1000. Schools have been closed in Italy and in Greece. Europe is moving towards mass quarantine and social distancing. The HSE is wisely promoting: - Wash your hands properly and often - Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when you cough and sneeze - Put used tissues into a bin and wash your hands - Keep hands away from face (nose, mouth, eyes) - Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces - Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell This advice is sensible and important. However, we must consider much more stringent measures. I believe these measures must be put into place in the next week or the virus may have spread too widely to contain. Consider that the doubling time of COVID-19 is approximately three days. We currently have 13 cases in Ireland, doubling every three days opens the possibility of 250-300 cases in 2 weeks time and greater than 1000 cases in 3 weeks time. Over the next few days people must be informed of the necessary social distancing measures so that they can prepare both psychologically and organisationally. We need to strongly consider the following: - Cancel all St. Patricks Day celebrations - Cancel all sporting events - Cancel large social events - Restrict all non-essential travel - Close all schools and universities and put in place home schooling measures - Early adoption of working from home where possible Once a total number of 100 cases has been reached in a country, it seems almost impossible to contain. Singapore and Hong Kong (which is a Special Administrative Region of China) are the only two to hold their cases at around 100 (even Singapore reported 13 cases today). These are both city states so may have an advantage over other countries. I realise these are highly unpalatable measures for anyone to implement. As a doctor I am only looking at what needs to be done to save lives. The government is faced with the uncomfortable responsibility of balancing three areas: stopping the virus, keeping the economy going and avoiding overloading the hospitals. Strong leadership is required. Draconian measures like shutting down whole cities was what was required in China's worst affected regions. We must act quickly and decisively in the hope that we delay the spread until summer when warmer weather and sunlight may arrest COVID-19's growth. Failure to put in place these measures now will leave our most vulnerable citizens: the elderly, the immunocompromised and those with chronic diseases, requiring ICU beds and mechanical ventilation machines that will be simply unavailable. Our already understaffed and under resourced health system will be unable to cope. We need to take early and decisive heed of the lessons from China and Italy. This is more contagious and causes more ICU admissions than viruses we have seen before. It can spread before someone shows symptoms. Other countries have reacted too late to the extreme, unpalatable measures that will be required to reduce the peak number and speed of spread of this infection. Yours sincerely, Dr. Domhnall Heron GP Registrar Italys government is taking the extraordinary step of locking down entire sections of the countrys north, restricting movement for a quarter of the population in a sweeping effort to fight the coronavirus not seen outside of China. We are facing an emergency, a national emergency, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in announcing the government decree in a news conference after 2 a.m. The move is tantamount to sacrificing the Italian economy in the short term to save it from the ravages of the virus in the long term. The measures will turn stretches of Italys wealthy north including the economic and cultural capital of Milan and landmark tourist destinations such as Venice into quarantined red zones until at least April 3. They will prevent the free movement of roughly 16 million people. Funerals and cultural events are all banned under the measures. The decree required distance of one meter, including in sporting events, bars and supermarkets Democrats can resort to this sort of sniping, too. Many Trump critics in 2016, and in the year after his election, pushed the idea that his father had suffered from Alzheimers and now Trump was losing it and that his vocabulary was eroding. And it has become common among his attackers to say the president is deranged, suffering from malignant narcissism. In his new book, Front Row at the Trump Show, Jonathan Karl, the chief White House correspondent for ABC News, reports the surprising fact that one of those calls on Trump derangement came from inside the White House. Karl recounts that when Mick Mulvaney became acting chief of staff, he took senior White House staffers to Camp David for a weekend retreat. He recommended they read a 2011 book, A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness, by Nassir Ghaemi, director of the mood disorders program at Tufts Medical Center. This book argues that in at least one vitally important circumstance insanity produces good results and sanity is a problem, Ghaemi writes in his introduction. In times of crisis, we are better off being led by mentally ill leaders than by mentally normal ones. Lincoln and Churchill had bouts with depression and Gen. William Sherman suffered from paranoid delusions during the Civil War. But less mercurial leaders like Neville Chamberlain and Gen. George McClellan fared badly. As Karl writes: The new acting chief of staff seemed to be saying President Trump was mentally ill and that this was a good thing. The corollary to that theory: Dont try to control the man in the Oval Office. What you think is madness is actually genius. Kolkata, March 7 : Gearing up for a tough challenge from the BJP in next year's state assembly polls, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress has now turned to its workers who were associated with the party since its birth over two decades back but have now become inactive feeling neglected. Trinamool secretary general Partha Chatterjee made clear the party's strategy on this issue on Saturday while inaugurating the mass outreach campaign Banglar Gorbo Mamata (Bengal's Pride Mamata) in his assembly constituency Behala West. "Many of those workers who were involved with the party during its formation in 1998 have now become inactive. They are sulking. We have to bring them in our fold again showing them the utmost respect. We shouldn't give any importance to those who may not like this plan," Chatterjee said addressing Trinamool workers. The conflict between the original Trinamool workers and the late entrants -- particularly those who have joined the party after it came to power in the state in 2011 -- has been continuing for years. There are many Trinamool old hands who resent the importance given by the leadership to the new recruits, many of whom were bitterly opposed to the party when it was in the opposition. With the BJP virtually breathing down Trinamool's neck by capturing 18 of the 42 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Trinamool leadership now seems desperate to reach out to its old warhorses. Chatterjee indicated as much. "You can't neglect our old workers, whether you like them or not. Forget who has abused whom, whether somebody has worked during election time or not. "They have to be called back. Felicitate them on the stage and give them the recognition they deserve as oldtime workers," he said. In fact, the programme Bengal's Pride Mamata, devised by election strategist Prashant Kishore and his I-PAC team roped in by the party after its Lok Sabha setback, has created a window for assuaging these disgruntled workers. On March 15, the party would felicitate around 10,000 veteran Trinamool workers as a mark of recognition of their contribution to the party. In every constituency, 35-40 such workers would be invited to have lunch with the local party leadership. They would also be presented scarves. The party during the day made a big-bang start to the Bengal's Pride Mamata campaign by holding workers' conferences and press meets in all the 294 assembly constituencies in the state. In each of the constituencies, either the local MLA or the assembly seat coordinator inaugurated the campaign. The 75-day outreach programme divided into three phases aims to mobilise over 75,000 leaders and more than five lakh grass-root workers to reach out to 2.5 crore people across Bengal. A murder investigation has been launched after a three-month-old baby girl was found unconscious in her cot. Bellah-Rose Salafia was found unresponsive at a Department of Housing home in Zillmere, in Brisbane's north, just before 6am on Saturday. She was rushed to Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside but later died. A number of people are assisting police with their inquiries. Bellah-Rose Salafia (pictured) was found unresponsive in her cot in a Zillmere home at around 6am Saturday. She later died in Prince Charles Hospital Forensic investigators spent the day at the scene as police await post-mortem results. No charges have yet been laid. Police would not confirm whether the babys parents or carers are involved in the investigation. Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it was too early to discuss circumstances. 'Tragically a child has passed away at that household,' she said. 'Early days for us, so I cant say much more than that. We have all our expert police out there looking at it at the moment, but I dont know exactly what the cause is there is a lot more to be done in the investigation first.' Emergency services found the infant face down in her cot, the Courier Mail reports. Toys and carseats, believed to belong to other children who live at the Handford Road property, were visible in the yard. Forensic investigators spent Saturday at the property on Handford Road (pictured) Krystal Forsyth, who said she is the girl's aunt, took to Facebook to make a touching tribute to the little girl. 'I love you endlessly my sweet niece, my heart is broken and forever will be,' she wrote. 'You are and always will be so loved, my heart aches my angel, rest peacefully our beautiful girl. 'Ill help look after your mum and your three brothers always and know that you will have justice.' Detectives have established a major investigation centre at Boondall Police Station and are appealing anyone who may have dashcam footage from along Handford Road between 4.30am and 6.30am on Saturday to come forward. Touching your face is not as safe as it used to be with the threat of catching COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Experts advice that washing your hands can make a lot of difference. By reflex, most of touch our faces, but training yourself to avoid doing that is not as easy as it seems. In a study conducted in 2015, many subjects touched their faces on the average of 23 times in an hour, this includes the mouth, eyes, and nose. Part of the face, like the mucus membranes is easy for viruses and bacteria to make anyone sick, which may become a spreader for diseases like COVID-19. Sanam Hafeez, a psychologist in New York said that it causes acne, so she advised to break the habit for beauty. She also said that someone touching their face incessantly "appears less confident, attentive, and present than someone who is not." The HuffPost interviewed Hafeez and other experts to help teach methods in managing not to touch the face which is not so easy for most of us to manage. Also read: Coronavirus Effects: How it Harms Human Body Organs Know your habits Knowing why you do something reflexively or by habit is a good start. Recognize the triggers to help you analyze your habit. Paul Hokemeyer, a New York-based psychotherapist said that most will touch their faces without thinking. Although it looks harmless, this is not safe now for everyone, which may even be deadlier. Develop a sense of hyperawareness of all habits and what will prompt you from doing it. Practice how to stop and discriminate between motivation and action. Paul DePompo, a clinical psychologist in Southern California, said that it happens without consciousness so better note when it does happen to keep track of it. Touch something but the face Hafeez suggests that to keep our hands from our faces, reach out and touch something else when doing activities. Denise Cummins suggests that breaking a habit is achieved with "something incompatible" which affects thinking and decision making. Other ways to do it is getting anything that keeps your hands busy, like a plush toy or fidget spinner, and do not forget to disinfect these objects. Prevent touching face by discomfort Use any gloves that have an unpleasant and gross texture on your face that can irritate you a lot. But be sure to keep the glove sanitized all the time. Other means is wearing glasses, wear makeup, or use nail polish which will help women most. Put a post on your computer monitor that says, "do not touch your face." Be more mindful The hands-on face is all about anxiety, so avoid anxiousness, as a rule to get it done. Practice intentional breathing and do meditation to have less anxiety all the time. These methods will make triggers less likely to cause the action. Rewards or punishment If you still do not stop touching your face, do the finger stretch for two minutes to remind you. Bear in mind that avoiding contact between your fingers and face keeps the COVID-19 at bay. Related article: Coronavirus May Live in Room's High Contact Surfaces, Singapore Study Says @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Three Leaving Certificate Applied students from Enniscorthy Vocational College travelled to the Louise Weiss chamber of the European Parliament last week to represent their country. The students, Aaron Larkin, Alehandro Fusteac and Ricardo Marcut, were part of an Irish delegation of students who joined with students from all members states of the European Union. A spokesperson for the Vocational College spoke to this newspaper about the visit and outlined aims of the trip. 'The purpose of the visit was to engage in debates and intra-policy discussions on six issues of common concern across the continent of Europe,' he said. The six topics included: the environment; international security and human rights; addiction and young people; migration; youth unemployment and the future of Europe. 'The Enniscorthy students were also involved in presenting working papers to the Parliament itself and their visit to the EU institution concluded with them being presented with Euroscola certificates and the playing of the European anthem 'Ode to Joy',' said the spokesperson. Over the course of their week-long visit the students toured Strasbourg and stayed in the picturesque town of Kiel, in Germany. The students returned home to Ireland on an Aer Lingus flight from Frankfurt, Germany, on the Friday morning. The school spokesperson said special thanks was extended to the Michael Sweetman Trust for its continued support, and the Leaving Certificate Coordinator, Conor Dempsey, who organised the trip. The three students were also praised for the manner with which they represented their school, county and country while in Strasbourg. Joint Statement on the Signing of the U.S.-Taliban Agreement Media Note Office of the Spokesperson March 6, 2020 The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Russia Federation on the occasion of the signing of the U.S.-Taliban Agreement on February 29 in Qatar. The Representatives of the United States of America and Russia met on February 28 in Doha, Qatar and: 1. Welcomed the February 29 United States-Taliban Agreement as an important step towards ending the war and opening the door to intra-Afghan negotiations on March 10. 2. Committed to work with all Afghans, including the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, political leaders, civil society, and the Taliban, to bring about a comprehensive and sustainable peace agreement that ends the war and contributes to regional stability and global security. 3. Reiterated that a comprehensive and sustainable peace can be achieved only through an inclusive negotiated political settlement among Afghans. 4. Reaffirmed that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is not recognized by the international community and at the United Nations, and furthermore, the international community will not accept or support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. 5. Welcomed the Taliban committing to join a political process and their prospective role in a new post-settlement Afghan Islamic government as determined by the intra-Afghan negotiations. 6. Appreciated the February 22-28 reduction of violence and urged all sides to further decrease violence in order to create an environment conducive to intra-Afghan negotiations. 7. Called on the Taliban and other Afghan violent groups to take concrete steps to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan should not be used by al-Qa-ida, Daesh, or other international terrorist groups to threaten or attack other countries. 8. Stated their expectations that all sides will observe a ceasefire for the duration of intra-Afghan negotiations to enable participants to reach agreement on a political roadmap for Afghanistan's future and the modalities of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. 9. Called on all Afghans to begin discussions immediately on issues of mutual concern, such as prisoner releases and a ceasefire. 10. Committed to provide political support and economic and development assistance to a future Afghan government provided that it respects the rights of all Afghans, including women, youth and minorities, and responds to the desire of Afghans to build on the gains achieved since 2001. 11. Expressed readiness upon the commencement of the intra-Afghan negotiations to review the status of sanctions designations in order to support the peace process, noting that Taliban action to further reduce violence and otherwise cease to engage in or support activities that threaten the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan or other countries will affect the review. 12. Encouraged all countries to support the Afghan people and contribute to a lasting peace settlement in the interest of all. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Diri and Adeboye According to The PUNCH, Bayelsa State Governor Duoye Diri has said he visited the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, during his election travails. Diri said this on Friday at the churchs international headquarters along the LagosIbadan expressway during the Testimony Session at the churchs monthly meeting. I contested in the governorship election in Bayelsa State in November 2019 and thereafter I was alleged to have lost the election. I promptly rejected those results and continued with the judicial process in Nigeria. During the process, I visited this church on the 11th of December during the programme of the Great Turn Around. After the service, I went to see Daddy G.O. He prayed for me and thereafter, he said, It is well. Go and when you receive it, come back to the church. The judicial processes continued until the 14th of February about 24 hours to the swearing-in ceremony of the alleged winner. Brethren, a miracle was accomplished. The Supreme Court declared me the winner of that election. I have come to give Him (God) the glory and to return the glory to Him and to Him alone. I want to thank Daddy G.O. and all of you who stood with me in prayers. Today, I am the governor of Bayelsa State, Diri told the congregation. Number of Coronavirus Cases in South Korea Rises to 6,284, Deaths Increase to 42 Sputnik News 01:52 GMT 06.03.2020 South Korea remains one of the countries affected most by novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outside China, where the virus originated last December and has since spread to at least 85 countries, according to the latest data provided by the World Health Organisation. The number of people infected with coronavirus in South Korea has risen to 6,284, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday. At least 42 have died so far, it added. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CEO Eun-Kyung Chung) said that as of 6 March, the total cumulative number of patients [confirmed with coronavirus] was 6,284, of which 108 were released", the statement said. According to the latest data, out of 518 new cases, 367 were identified in the city of Daegu, the fourth-largest city in the country and where the outbreak is believed to have originated. 123 more cases were registered in Gyeongbuk province, and the rest were identified in other regions of the country. A total of 21,832 people are waiting for test results. Due to the outbreak, the authorities have raised the highest level of alert in the country. Schools remain closed until 23 March. The coronavirus outbreak in South Korea is traced back to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. One of its branches in the city of Daegu was identified as a hotbed for COVID-19 after hundreds of its followers tested positive for the virus and thousands were told to self-isolate. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine is not considering the possibility of resuming water supply from the Dnipro River to the occupied Crimea, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has stated. "Ukraine is not considering the possibility of resuming the supply of Dnipro water to the occupied Crimea. Thant's it! I want all speculations, suspicions to stop," he said in the Podrobytsi Tyzhnia program on the Inter TV Channel. At the same time, Kuleba emphasized that the authorities are working to ensure that the summit of the Normandy Four leaders is held in late April and called the liberation of Ukrainian prisoners "task number one." "We are now talking with Russians about the release of prisoners, about additional disengagement points and the holding of the Normandy summit in late April in order to take another systematic step towards the de-occupation and resumption of the territorial integrity of Ukraine," the minister said. - Kim Chiu got traumatized when the van she was riding was shot multiple times by unidentified gunmen days ago - After the shooting incident, Kims vlog from months ago about her luxury van has gone viral again - What caught the attention of many netizens regarding the vlog was the moment when Kim talked about being safe when riding a car or van - According to Kim, she always sits behind the driver because it is safer that way PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Kim Chiu made headlines days ago after the van she was riding was shot multiple times by unidentified gunmen in Quezon City. KAMI learned that after the shooting incident, Kims vlog from months ago about her luxury van has gone viral again. According to the actress, her enormous van was customized by Atoy Customs, which has customized different cars and vans for many celebrities. However, what caught the attention of many netizens regarding the vlog was the moment when Kim talked about being safe when riding a car or van. The Kapamilya star said that she always sits behind the driver because it is safer that way. She explained that when there is danger, it is a drivers instinct to maneuver the car in a way that would protect him or herself. For this reason, the person sitting directly behind him would also be protected as well. Dito talaga ako palaging nakaupo, sa likod ng driver. Kasi sabi nila its safer to seat behind the driver kapag nakasakay ka or nasa long drive. Kasi yung driver ang instinct niya iiwas niya yung self niya if may mangyaring masama. Oh Lord, sana wag naman. So pag iniwas niya yung self niya pati ikaw nakaiwas din. So for safety reason, pag bumabiyahe ng malayo, always seat behind the driver, Kim said in the vlog. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! KAMI reported earlier that Kim still went straight to work even after figuring in the shooting incident. Kim Chiu is one of the most well-known actresses in the Philippines. She broke through in showbiz by joining Pinoy Big Brother. The Kapamilya star is in a relationship with actor Xian Lim. Her former boyfriend is Gerald Anderson. Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters! The cast of Descendants of the Sun including Dingdong Dantes, Jennylyn Mercado, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and Rocco Nacino spoke to KAMI about their primetime series! Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh K Ezhilarasan By Express News Service TIRUCHY: In a video clip that was released a few months before his death, DMK leader M Karunanidhi, sitting in a wheelchair, calls out 'Perasiriyar' with much effort. Hearing the word, his daughter Kanimozhi showed where K Anbazhagan was standing in a small crowd at his Gopalapuram residence. Then, sporting a broad smile, the two old friends shook hands. The moving clip is once again going viral after Anbazhagan breathed his last on Friday in a Chennai hospital. When Karunanidhi died in 2018, the duration of their friendship had already crossed a platinum jubilee. Karunanidhi first met Anbazhagan in 1942 when the latter came to Tiruvarur along with former Chief Minister C N Annadurai to participate in a memorial event for Sikandar Hayat Khan organized by Muslim youth. In fact, this was the first time Annadurai met Karunanidhi and appreciated him for his write-up in the Dravida Nadu journal. At the time, Anbazhagan -- two years older than Karunanidhi -- was a student at Annamalai University. Two years later, in 1944, Karunanidhi invited Anbazhagan as a speaker for an event held by the Tamil Nadu Tamil Maanavar Mandram, a student body run by the former at Tiruvarur. Since then, their friendship grew stronger and lasted through several ups and downs. In the next five years when Anna launched the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 1949 at Robinson Park in Chennai, both of them became founding members and functionaries of the party. The following decades saw the two friends crisscrossing Tamil Nadu addressing meetings to garner support for their newly formed party. Both of them edited their own journals for the party and excelled in writing. While Karunanidhi edited Murasoli, Anbazhagan edited Puthu Vazhvu. Their hard work helped the party ascend to power within just twenty years of its launch. In the aftermath of Anna's death in 1969, when the DMK was searching for a new leader, Anbazhagan threw his weight behind Karunanidhi, despite the fact that his close associate Navalar Nedunchezian aspired for the CM post. Within a few months of Anna's demise, Anbazhagan lost his wife Vetriselvi. It was the then chief minister Karunanidhi who unveiled the portrait of Vetriselvi and delivered a condolence speech. Anbazhagan first became a minister in Karunanidhi's government in 1971. He became the health minister, a portfolio which was sought by MGR himself but in vain. Although many leaders departed from the DMK to join the AIADMK, Anbazhagan remained by Karunanidhi's side. Even during the dark days of the Emergency, Anbazhagan was there to lend his support to Karunanidhi through all his sufferings. Anbazhagan often introduced himself in meetings in the following way: "I am a cadre of Periyar, brother of Anna and friend of Karunanidhi." When did Karunanidhi actually became a leader to Anbazhagan? Well, as Anbazhagan himself put it, "Only after seeing Karunanidhi's relentless fight against the Emergency, I started addressing him as 'leader'." In 1983, both Anbazhagan and Karunanidhi together resigned as MLAs condemning the Centre and state for failing to protect the Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka. After Nedunchezian switched camps and went to the AIADMK, the post of DMK general secretary fell vacant. The then DMK president Karunanidhi made Anbazhagan the general secretary, a post which he held for over four decades till his death. After Karunanidhi's death on August 7, 2018, Anbazhagan paid his respects during the burial at the Marina beach. That was the last time he saw his friend. Karachi: The health of eighty people deteriorated due to a gas leak from a plant in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and capital of Sindh province. The condition of one of them is stated to be critical. According to the report published in the Pakistani media, at least 80 people were affected due to gas leaks at the plant of Angro Polymers and Chemicals, a chemical factory located in Port Qasim area of Karachi. Police has said that the accident happened due to the bursting of the gas pipe in the factory. This worsened the condition of the people present there. Pipe repair is in progress. All the employees were evacuated from the factory. Later, he was allowed back to the factory. A report by Dawn Online states that Angro Polymers and Chemicals has issued a statement saying that preliminary investigation seems to have caused the accident due to the leakage of chlorine gas from a hole. The statement said that the company is investigating to find out the real reasons for the gas leak. The company has said that necessary medical facilities were provided to the affected people immediately and the condition of none is critical. However, Dr. Simi Jamali, Executive Director of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center said that the condition of one of the people brought to the hospital is critical. Others have been discharged after giving necessary treatment. Also Read: Coronavirus: 49 people died in a single day in Italy Delhi's shooting World Cup canceled due to Corona virus Terrorists attack on IS, 32 people killed Every human being on earth will get one thousand crores if NASA sold this thing BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7 Trend: As of today, likelihood of coronavirus spreading in Azerbaijan is not very high, said Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev during a meeting with the staff of Goranboy District Central Hospital. I congratulate you on the opening of Goranboy Central District Hospital. I am very pleased that an excellent medical center has been established in Goranboy in a short time. Two and a half years ago, the construction began on my instruction and we are opening this hospital together today. As you can see, all the conditions here meet the highest standards. Both the building is quite modern and beautiful, and the equipment installed here is manufactured by leading companies. This equipment is no different from the equipment of the leading hospitals in the world. And this should be the case. I said that the material and technical infrastructure of the public health sector in Azerbaijan should be at the highest level, and we are achieving this, said the head of state. President Ilham Aliyev said that over the past 16 years, 22 new hospitals, 15 diagnostic and treatment centers were built in the regions of Azerbaijan alone. Twenty-eight central district hospitals have been overhauled. The construction of five hospitals is under way. Thus, 70 modern medical facilities have been commissioned in the regions alone. Of course, these medical facilities serve public health. The construction and renovation of many hospitals has also been completed in Baku. In general, more than 700 medical institutions have been built and overhauled in our country over the past 16 years. Of course, this requires major funds, and they are being allocated through the state budget. This hospital, too, was built as part of the state investment program and on the basis of state programs on the socioeconomic development of the regions. The main goal of this is to provide people with quality medical services, said the head of state. President Ilham Aliyev pointed out that today, it is possible to say that modern medical institutions operate in all our cities. They have all the opportunities for both treating and diagnosing patients. It is no coincidence that the number of our citizens undergoing examination is growing every year. Last year it reached 5 million people. More than five million people underwent medical examination. Ten years ago, I recommended that people undergo annual examination so that both themselves and doctors have an idea of their health and, if necessary, treatment or surgical operation are carried out. There were no conditions at that time, but they are available now. Therefore, the establishment of such an excellent medical center is an indicator of our policy. There is a modern medical facility not so far from here, in the city of Naftalan, and it might have seemed to some people that this hospital would serve the residents of Goranboy too. But I said that a separate central district hospital should be built in Goranboy too because the old hospital building did not meet the standards any longer, said the head of state. President Ilham Aliyev noted that this shows again that a focused state policy is being pursued in this area. In such excellent conditions, doctors, of course, should provide patients with quality medical services. The hospital is also the workplace for doctors. I am told that 125 doctors and a large number of medical personnel are working here. Therefore, the creation of such wonderful conditions should increase the responsibility of doctors. Patients need to be treated with attention, taken care of and receive high-quality medical services. I am sure that doctors of this hospital will provide high-quality medical services to our citizens, said the head of state. President Ilham Aliyev pointed out that currently, the key issue on the global agenda is the problem of coronavirus. This issue is discussed practically in all countries. As for Azerbaijan, I can say that the situation is under control. A special operational headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers has been set up on my instruction. In addition, I have issued the instruction to allocate an additional 10 million manats to expedite the adoption of necessary measures. Special measures are being taken to evacuate Azerbaijani citizens from Iran. They will be brought to Azerbaijan both through the land border and by air. However, everyone should understand that they will have to spend some time in quarantine in order to prevent the spread of the disease in Azerbaijan, said the head of state. He noted that at the same time, relevant instructions have been issued on the temporary closure of schools, universities and kindergartens. The purpose of this is to protect children and teenagers from the disease. So all necessary measures are being taken. As of today, the likelihood of this disease spreading in Azerbaijan is not very high. However, I can say that this issue is monitored in the country several times a day. Special devices have been installed at all border checkpoints, said the head of state. President Ilham Aliyev noted that no country has introduced restrictions on cargo transportation, including Azerbaijan. As you know, Azerbaijan is a transit country. We have been trying to expand our transit potential for many years and have been able to achieve this. There are no restrictions for transit cargo. However, paying special attention to this area, we work in an organized manner to deliver transit goods, in particular the goods arriving in our country from the southern direction for both Azerbaijani consumers and for those in neighboring countries. Special columns composed of relevant trucks are formed and police escort is provided. In addition, I have asked for foreign drivers to be provided with food so that they dont get often leave their cars and visit public places. In other words, careful steps thought to the smallest detail are being taken, and their purpose is to protect the citizens of Azerbaijan from this disease. So far, all our actions have been successful. We are always in contact with the World Health Organization. Work is under way to deliver tests to our country. This issue is being resolved, said the head of state. One new case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Northern Ireland, bringing the total number to four. The infected person is an adult who previously travelled from Italy and is linked to a previously confirmed case. Public Health Agency staff are working to identify anyone who has been in contact with the person in order to prevent the further spread of the virus. Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said: "Further positive cases have been expected and we anticipate the number will increase in the days and weeks ahead. "Northern Ireland remains in the containment phase and it is important to emphasise that. This will obviously be kept under constant review. "As has previously been stated, there will not be a sharp transition between containment and delay phases. Many of the actions taken during containment will still continue in any delay phase. Responses may vary between different regions, depending on the circumstances." It comes as five new cases were identified last night in the Republic of Ireland bringing to 18 the number of confirmed cases in the country. The National Public Health Emergency Team announced the new cases. Among them is a female healthcare worker in the south of Ireland and her case is associated with a close contact with a confirmed case, the National Public Health Emergency Team announced. The other four cases are a male in the east of Ireland and a woman in the south whose cases are associated with travel from northern Italy; a female in the west of Ireland whose case is associated with close contact with a confirmed case; and a male in the south of the country whose case is associated with travel. Liam Woods, HSE director of acute operations, said: "Healthcare workers are at the frontline of this virus outbreak. The Department of Health and the HSE are equally dedicated to protecting and supporting this vital group of people." Dr Ronan Glynn, Ireland's deputy chief medical officer, said: "The past number of weeks have been challenging for everyone in our healthcare system. This challenge is going escalate as the number of cases here rise. "We must prioritise the protection of our frontline healthcare staff and as part of this the National Public Health Emergency Team has established a sub-group to identify and implement appropriate measures to protect them." More than 160 have now tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, in the largest day-on-day increase. In total, 163 people had tested positive for Covid-19 as of 9am on Friday, up from 115 cases reported at the same time on Thursday. On Thursday evening another patient, reported to be a woman in her 70s, became the first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with Covid-19 while at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. Last night, a man in his early 80s with underlying health issues became the second to die in the UK. Meanwhile, St Patrick's Day events across Northern Ireland are still scheduled to go ahead as planned despite fears over the spread of the coronavirus. At present Belfast City Council has no plans to cancel its annual St Patrick Day celebrations Belfast City Council spokesperosn Organisers of the biggest event in Belfast and another major gathering in Armagh say that while they are watching the situation closely, there are currently no plans to call off the traditional March 17 celebrations. "At present Belfast City Council has no plans to cancel its annual St Patrick Day celebrations," a Belfast City Council spokesperson said. "We will continue to follow public health advice and will act in accordance with any advice received." Thousands of people from all around the world are expected to attend the city centre celebrations. An independently organised parade in Armagh is also scheduled to take place. Chairman of the city's St Patrick's Day Celebrations Committee, Stephen Fields said: "It is expected to be a bigger and more colourful event than last year. "Organisers are keeping a close eye on any possible developments in the coronavirus issue but as it stands currently the parade is still going ahead as planned. If public health officials' advice was to change we would certainly take this on board." The first two parade cancellations in Ireland were announced on Friday, with events in Cork called off due to public health concerns. But Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said yesterday that mass public gatherings such as St Patrick's Day parades will not be cancelled amid the spread of Covid-19. Speaking following a stakeholder meeting with health officials yesterday, he said: "We are not recommending at this stage that any major events be cancelled but this of course will be kept under review." I think the risk is too big to go ahead and I think it's time to make a hard decision Professor Kingston Mills That was despite a warning from a top scientist at trinity College's School of Biochemistry and Immunology. Professor Kingston Mills said: "It's still at the very early stages so I don't think we need the measures that were required in China, but we do need to be a little more stringent. "St Patrick's Day, personally, I don't think they should go ahead. "I think that's a mass gathering that involved a lot of people that will have come from outside Ireland. I think the risk is too big to go ahead and I think it's time to make a hard decision." It came after more than 60 staff at Cork University Hospital were asked to self-isolate following the identification of a case of community transmission of the virus at the site. In another development, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald announced she was cancelling plans to visit Washington DC next week for St Patrick's events. Mrs McDonald's children attend a school that has been closed due to a coronavirus case. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yuliasri Perdani and Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) The Hague/Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 10:03 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068ed6d9 1 National kris,Dutch,Indonesia Free The Netherlands returned a gold-inlaid kris (dagger) that belonged to Prince Diponegoro to Indonesia on Tuesday, a week before Dutch King Willem-Alexanders state visit to Indonesia. Prince Diponegoro the eldest son of the Yogyakartan Sultan Hamengkubuwono III led a five-year campaign against Dutch colonial rule in the 19th century. The war ended with his arrest on March 28, 1830, and his subsequent exile. In Indonesia, he is celebrated as a national hero and also as a charismatic Javanese prince who personified a blend of Islam and mysticism. Dutch culture minister Ingrid Van Engelshoven handed over the dagger to the Indonesian embassy in The Hague, the Netherlands. Based on the 1968 cultural agreement with Indonesia, the Dutch government returned a number of Prince Diponegoros belongings including a saddle and a spear in the 1970s. The kris was not included as it was missing. A team of Dutch and Indonesian researchers later managed to locate the kris at the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden. Art historian Jos van Beurden attributed the kriss disappearance to a lack of organization and an unwillingness to hand treasures back to the Indonesians. But that is changing now among the museums, he said, as quoted by the Guardian. The kris handover fittingly took place ahead Dutch King Willem-Alexanders visit to Indonesia, where he is scheduled to meet Sultan Hamengkubuwono X in Yogyakarta on March 11. During a meeting with several Indonesian journalists at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague last month, King Willem-Alexander said that the Yogyakarta Sultanate had played in an important role in history and in the modern 21st-century Indonesian state. The meeting placed a strong emphasis on the past and future of Dutch-Indonesian relations. In addition to Yogyakarta, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and their delegation will also stop in Jakarta, Sebangau National Park in Central Kalimantan and Lake Toba in North Sumatra during the four-day visit. Prior to the kris handover, the Netherlands had sent 1,500 historical artifacts from the Nusantara Museum in Delft to the National Museum in Jakarta. The repatriation process symbolically started in November 2016, when Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte presented President Joko Jokowi Widodo with a Bugis kris from the museums collection. The 100-year-old Nusantara Museum was the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated specifically to art and cultural objects from Indonesia, a former Dutch colony. It closed its doors in 2013 due to financial difficulties and a limited number of visitors. The museum initially offered to hand over about 18,000 artifacts to Indonesia, but Indonesia opted to accept a selection of 1,500 objects instead. Prinsenhof Museum director Janelle Moerman, who was involved in the deaccessioning process, said that a lot of objects went to museums in the Netherlands, Austria and Sweden. In Asia, objects went to National Museum Sarawak in Malaysia, the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore, and over 7,700 are now part of the collection of the Asia Culture Center in South Korea, she said in Delft on Feb. 18. The museum was initially founded in 1864 as an institution called Indische Instelling. It provided an educational program for civil servants assigned to the Dutch East Indies (as Indonesia was formerly known). Immediately after its establishment, the institution placed ads in newspapers calling on citizens to donate objects from Indonesia that would be used as visual tools for the education program. When the educational program was discontinued in 1901, the collection consisted of about 5,000 objects. This collection provided the basis for the Nusantara Museum, Moerman said. Yolande Melsert, the head of culture and communications at the Netherlands embassy in Indonesia, said that the Nusantara Museum collection signified the two nations shared history. Since the independence [of Indonesia], we are building on the new relationship. And I think in the last few years, it has been getting better and better, Melsert told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on March 2. Topics : kris Dutch Indonesia Lazio Region president tests positive for Coronavirus. Nicola Zingaretti, the leader of Italy's centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) and president of the Lazio Region, has tested positive for the Coronavirus. The 54-year-old, whose party rules alongside the populist Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S) in Italy's coalition government, announced the news in a Facebook video. "I am fine and will remain at home for the next few days, said Zingaretti, who is currently in isolation with his family. The Regione Lazio president has received messages of support from politicians across the spectrum, including mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi of the M5S. Zingaretti is the first leading Italian politician to test positive for the Coronavirus. The news comes as Italy reports more than 4,600 Coronavirus infections and 197 fatalities, the second-highest number of deaths in the world after China. Doug Roland, a filmmaker, was walking home from a night out at 4 a.m. in the East Village when he saw a man standing on a deserted street corner in need of help. After trying to speak to the man, Mr. Roland, 35, noticed he held a sign explaining that he was deaf and blind and needed help crossing the street. He then scribbled on a notebook that he also needed help finding a nearby bus stop. It was the first time Id met a deaf-blind person and he just took my arm and trusted me, a total stranger on a New York street, to direct him, recalled Mr. Roland, who instinctively used his finger to trace his end of the conversation on the mans palm, with the man responding on notebook paper. There was a gift in every one of those exchanges, Mr. Roland recalled. In that chance encounter, there was an instant connection with someone from a community I knew nothing about. By Liz Hampton and Devika Krishna Kumar March 6 (Reuters) - The oil and gas industry is cancelling key networking events and academic and technical meetings, shifting some to virtual conferences, due to concerns about the coronavirus and its fast-growing toll of more than 100,000 cases worldwide. A major energy conference planned by investment firm Scotia Howard Weil in New Orleans in late March may go virtual, a spokesperson for the company said on Friday, suggesting speakers could present via webcast. No official decision had been made, she added. That conference, which would feature presentations from major firms like Schlumberger and Occidental Petroleum Corp, is typically a chance for energy companies to discuss quarterly earnings and their outlook for the year. The Society of Petroleum Engineers rescheduled its Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference in Bogota, Colombia, citing public health concerns, according to its website. In addition, oil companies and service providers have started cancelling events planned around the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) annual meeting in Austin, Texas, from March 22-24. The conference itself is still scheduled to go ahead, an AFPM spokesman said. Price reporting agency S&P Global Platts has cancelled a planned event, according to a spokeswoman. Oil major BP and Total SA's trading arm Atlantic Trading & Marketing Inc are not hosting any events this year, sources familiar with the matter said. Neither company was immediately available for comment. This week S&P Global Platts told employees at its Canary Wharf office in London to work from home until further notice after a visitor was diagnosed with the virus. BP has also cancelled plans to send executives and employees to the South by Southwest music and tech festival in Austin, a spokesman said. Commodity broker Marex Spectron said this week that one of its London employees had tested positive for the virus. The same person had attended a company-sponsored event during London's IP week, a major oil industry gathering. Last week, IHS Markit cancelled its annual CERAWeek energy conference, one of the world's largest gatherings of oil ministers and executives, which was to kick off in Houston on March 9. (Reporting by Liz Hampton and Devika Krishna Kumar; Additional reporting by Jessica Resnick-Ault and Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Tom Brown) Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) is conducting a pilot program testing what the railroad describes as a "breakthrough in track inspection technology." The Eastern U.S. railroad is deploying an autonomous track geometry measurement system, which Norfolk Southern (NS) says is the first technology of its kind among the North American freight railroads. While the autonomous track inspection systems available today are installed on converted freight or passenger rail cars and require an external power source to operate, the NS system is mounted on a locomotive. "With our locomotive-based system, we use an existing asset to increase the frequency of our track inspections, without adding another piece of equipment that has to be run across the railroad," said Ed Boyle, NS vice president of engineering. The pilot is occurring on a mainline between Norfolk, Virginia, and Portsmouth, Ohio, on a route that has a range of track and operating conditions, such as straight and curved track, hilly terrain and high tonnage loads, NS said. NS says the autonomous system enables real-time, precise and quality track inspections while trains are loaded and going at track speed. The data from the autonomous system will help NS determine track activities and capital budgeting needs. NS says the system will help NS be compliant with company and Federal Railroad Administration track safety standards. "With this innovative system, any time this locomotive is moving and pulling freight, it is testing track at the same time," said Mike Allran, NS manager for track inspection and development. Allran helped lead the development of this system. "This gives us more robust data for use in predictive-modeling to determine track maintenance intervals, which enables us to maximize efficiencies that will generate significant cost savings." The railroad's track inspection group within the NS engineering department developed this system. It is mounted in a ruggedized box under a six-axle road locomotive between the snow plow and the first set of wheels, NS said. A computer, housed inside the electrical locker in the locomotive cab, powers the system. Story continues NS describes the autonomous system as consisting of "lasers, gyros, accelerometers, and global positioning system sensors [that can] detect defects or anomalies in track geometry, including track gauge, or the distance between rails, and the elevation and curvature of track. The system transmits inspection data wirelessly to office locations, where track geometry engineers confirm potential defects and notify track maintenance personnel." The railroad expects the system on the locomotive to supplement existing testing already occurring through a fleet of manned tracked geometry cars and hi-rail trucks. NS hopes to equip additional locomotives with this technology; the railroad also plans to upgrade the technology through the addition of an optical system to evaluate track components such as fasteners, rail welds and switch points. Image Sourced from Pixabay See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. School districts across Delaware County are reacting to the first presumed case of coronavirus by cleaning up their act literally. Local school districts are bush cleaning and disinfecting schools, preparing for all possible scenarios as they continue to take the coronavirus seriously. The Upper Darby School District has, to date, sent four communications to parents encouraging vigilance and suggesting precautionary measures. Parents are asked to encourage their children to maintain healthy habits such as covering a cough and sneeze, washing their hands frequently, and avoid touching their face or eyes. Also, if a child is ill, the district requests the child be kept home until they are feeling better, and be at least 24 hours fever free without medicine before returning to school Edward Marshaleck, assistant superintendent of Student Services, urged parents to be vigilant, monitor children for signs of illness and recognize signs of illness in themselves. We ask you to contact your medical health care provider with any symptoms, Marshaleck wrote. We will continue to monitor the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Pennsylvania Department of Health and provide updates to our school communities as necessary. In the Penn-Delco School District, absenteeism has been low this winter and as of now, there are no plans to close the schools. District spokesperson Lisa Palmarini said preparations have been made in case of a coronavirus outbreak. She said the district is monitoring the situation and district officials are in constant contact with school administrators, faculty and staff. Like all districts throughout the region, Penn Delco central administrators are closely monitoring the evolving situation involving the coronavirus as we follow guidelines established by governmental health agencies, said Superintendent of Schools Dr. George Steinhoff. While there is no evidence of the coronavirus currently affecting the Penn Delco School District, we have forwarded links to health-related advice to parents, and nurses continue to monitor absence rates in our schools, which continue to be normal for this time of year. Penn-Delco has several emergency closing dates at its disposal were we to see any direct impact from the virus. In the event the virus should force the closure of schools throughout the region for an extended period of time, parents would receive information and links to remote and at-home learning opportunities for students. Importantly, our staff will continue to reassure students at a time when the 24/7 news cycle regarding the virus can cause alarm among young children. In the Garnet Valley School District, plans are in place for all classrooms, beginning on Monday to receive new cleaning supplies and new rules in keeping the buildings clean, due to the coronavirus threat. On Friday, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia sent directives to all 17 Archdiocesan high schools in the five-county region. A letter issued by Archdiocese of Philadelphia Superintendent of Secondary Schools Sister Maureen McDermott, IHM, stated that practices have been implemented based upon guidelines set forth by the CDC and the Pa. Department of Health. Providing for the health, welfare and safety of the young people and staff in our schools is of the utmost importance to us, wrote Sister Maureen. As such, we have been monitoring developments relative to coronavirus closely. The archdiocese has increased cleaning in the schools and will continue monitoring the CDC recommendations and adjust policies accordingly. President Trump called Washington Gov. Jay Inslee a "snake" on Friday while touring the Centers for Disease Control headquarters in Atlanta, as Washington state battles a coronavirus outbreak that has killed at least 11 people. Driving the news: Vice President Mike Pence held a press conference with Inslee on Thursday to address the state's efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus. "So I told Mike not to be complementary to the governor because that governor is a snake, okay. Inslee. I said if you're nice to him, he will take advantage ... we have a lot of problems with the governor ... So, Mike may be happy with him, but I'm not." President Trump, speaking to reporters on Friday Flashback: "I have had more than very robust disagreements with the current president, but I want to focus today on the work we need to do this is a good partnership moving forward," Inslee said in his joint presser with Pence on Thursday. He emphasized that the "life and death" nature of the coronavirus supersedes disagreements with "one individual." Inslee competed for the 2020 Democratic nomination and dropped out in August. The big picture: There are now more than 300 coronavirus cases in at least 18 states throughout America, with the newest reports coming from a cruise ship outside California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Tennessee. Colorado public health officials are monitoring multiple presumptive case. Go deeper: 21 test positive for coronavirus on cruise ship linked to first California death Forty four-year-old Nate Woods was executed around 9:00PM in Alabama yesterday, despite a mass protest effort by activists, civil rights groups and celebrities, including Kim Kardashian, T.I. and Martin Luther King III. More importantly, Woods was executed despite all parties' knowledge that he did not commit the murders he was convicted for. Woods was convicted in 2005 for the 2004 murders of three Birmingham police officers, although his friend and co-defendant Kerry Spencer testified that he killed the three officers alone. The police officers' deaths were the result of a drug bust gone wrong. At his sentencing, prosecutors painted Woods as the "mastermind" who lured the officers into a house to be killed, as well as someone who hated cops, reports the New York Times. Spencer has said Woods wasn't involved, and ran from the scene as soon as he heard shooting. Although there was never any question Woods was the gunman, a jury voted 10-2 in favor of the death penalty. "Nate is absolutely innocent," Spencer, who also is on Alabama's death row, told CNN. "That man didn't know I was going to shoot anybody just like I didn't know I was going to shoot anybody that day, period." "Under Alabama law, someone who helps kill a police officer is just as guilty as the person who directly commits the crime," said Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey in a statement. "Since 1983, Alabama has executed two individuals for being an accomplice to capital murder." Over the last fifteen years, Woods' case has become a symbol of the criminal justice movement, because of concerns about the prosecutor's tactics, Woods' inept legal representation, and Alabama's harsh death penalty law. The Southern state is the only in the nation which doesn't require a unanimous jury decision to hand out a death sentence. This week prior to the execution, activists and celebrities urged Governor Ivey to intervene. The United States Supreme Court Supreme Court issued a temporary stay for several hours on Thursday evening, but lifted it after Governor Ivey responded calling it "unwarranted," moments before the execution was scheduled to take place. Michael Harriot at the The Root called Woods' death an "assassination," while advocates like Rep. Ayanna Presley are doubling down on calls to abolish the death penalty. Read a poem by Woods, which he asked his sister Pamela to share after he was executed, here. The Facebook ad purchased by a page called Angry Buckeyes in December seemed ordinary at first: it cited a news article that claimed President Donald Trumps tariffs on China could cost Americans. But the ad actually belonged to an apparent cluster of pages that paid to promote similar messages, didnt fully disclose their backers, and sought to influence voters in key battleground states deficiencies that have cast fresh doubt on Facebooks efforts to protect users from manipulation. The discovery is one of several weaknesses uncovered by experts at New York Universitys Tandon School of Engineering, who performed a security audit of Facebooks online ad archive between May 2018 and June 2019. Their conclusions point to myriad opportunities malicious actors may have had to exploit the platforms powerful targeting tools while hiding their tracks, misleading users and evading Facebooks enforcement. In the years after Russian agents weaponized the social-networking platform as part of their sweeping efforts to sway the 2016 presidential election, Facebook developed verification measures designed to prevent foreign actors from purchasing political ads. It also undertook transparency initiatives that placed paid posts in a public archive. But researchers Laura Edelson, Tobias Lauringer and Damon McCoy found a series of defects that still could enable a malicious advertiser to avoid accurate disclosure of their political ads, as they wrote. More than 86,000 Facebook pages ran at least one political ad that was not properly disclosed, according to the report. Facebook later caught and included these ads in its archive, but it remains unclear whether the company ever fully vetted nearly 80 per cent of the pages that paid to promote their messages in the first place. Roughly 20,000 ads also had been purchased by likely inauthentic communities, according to the report, which they defined as clusters of pages that appear to be linked because they promoted the same or similar messages. That included businesses looking to advance their interests without clear fingerprints, for example, and more opaque entities that hawked potentially fraudulent insurance products. These ads touched on political themes, resulting in their being included in Facebooks archive. In one example, the Facebook page Angry Buckeyes, currently followed by 21,000 users, appeared to belong to a cluster of pages organised around topics including race, religion and other traits. Researchers discovered the link because some of the pages in the cluster ran identical ads. Nowhere, however, did the pages disclose their possibly shared roots. The lack of transparency troubled the trio of digital experts, who expressed fear that the disinformation campaign orchestrated by this cluster was attempting to sway voters in key political swing states. Facebook said that in recent months it had remedied the deficiencies that researchers identified in their study. The company, for example, has sought to require more information about Facebook pages who is behind them and who is paying for their ads. Our authorisation and transparency measures have meaningfully changed since this research was conducted, spokesman Joe Osborne said in a statement. We offer more transparency into political and issue advertising than TV, radio or any other digital ad platform. But Edelson, one of the authors of the NYU study, said some concerns persist including fears that Facebook isnt aggressively enforcing its own rules. Facebooks ad platform and their transparency mechanisms were simply not built with security in mind, Edelson said. The researchers findings could seed further doubt among regulators and the public about Facebooks preparedness for the 2020 presidential election. In 2016, Russian agents used narrowly targeted political ads to bait unsuspecting users into joining seemingly innocuous pages and groups, where they were then bombarded with divisive and false posts, photos and videos. In recent years, Facebook has sought to toughen its defences. It hired more workers to review its site and put in place new policies to stamp out what it labels coordinated, inauthentic behaviour, resulting in the removals of accounts and other content linked to Russia and malicious actors. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg since has touted recent successes in elections around the world, including the 2018 congressional midterms. Central to Facebooks transparency efforts is its ad archive, which it unveiled in 2018 under pressure from lawmakers. The public repository shows that campaigns, businesses and other organisations have spent roughly $1.1bn (842m) on ads since the repository came online. But it also reflects a wide array of misleading or troubling ads about drugs, insurance and housing, and false, paid political posts from candidates including President Donald Trump, that Facebook has refused to remove. In their study, NYU researchers point to other troubles. Sixteen clusters of Facebook pages, for example, purchased roughly $3.8m in potentially problematic political ads. These inauthentic communities included pages named Our Part of Ohio, which focused on users in the state, or Giving Care, which primarily served as a hub for seniors. Much of the content on these pages was apolitical, the NYU report found, but periodically they would purchase political ads that contained similar or near-identical text. Zuckerberg has been under pressure to better control political advertising on his social media site for some time now (Getty) In May, for example, the page Giving Care ran a national ad about the high costs of prescription drugs viewed up to 5,000 times. Another page, called Middle Class Voices of Pennsylvania, ran the exact same ad, at the exact same time, reaching many of the same states. Neither page, however, indicated that it might be affiliated with the other, or disclosed the person or organisation that funded the ad, the report found. That raised concerns among researchers that the activity might be coordinated and inauthentic. Attempts to reach the owners of the pages over Facebook were unsuccessful. Some businesses, meanwhile, engaged in astroturfing setting up seemingly fake entities to push messages that benefit their for-profit businesses. In one example, researchers found ads from pages called Isabella Wind and Neosho Ridge Wind that paid to promote the exact same message about the economic benefits of wind power for farmers in different parts of the country. Only by navigating off Facebook would a user discover they are part of the same energy firm. Still another cluster of 13 pages identified by researchers sold questionable insurance products, including TrumpCare, seeking to play off the presidents supporters to sell coverage. One page in this group, called National Veteran Loans, sought to pitch former military service members in Nevada, Florida and elsewhere on home-financing options. Recommended Facebook reveals new plans to stop spread of lies and rumours These Facebook pages often were viewed by older users, researchers said, relying on seemingly innocuous names. But some of the ads didnt link to legally registered businesses, the report found, concluding they are likely violating Facebooks policies. Some of the organisations continue to advertise on Facebook. Facebook pointed to some of the steps it has taken since researchers concluded their report. The company in October began requiring Facebook pages that purchase political ads to provide more information about their identities, such as their tax identification number. And the tech giant says it now requires suspicious pages to verify who is behind them and share that information publicly. Edelson and her fellow researchers acknowledged some of those changes would help, particularly in ensuring large pages and significant spenders are more transparent in their ads. But, she said, Facebooks efforts to protect voters from manipulation largely come down to its own vigilance. Enforcement really needs to be stepped up, she said. The Washington Post Manama The Kingdom yesterday condemned the terrorist bombing that targeted a security patrol in the city of Tunis in the Republic of Tunisia, which resulted in the death of a security officer and the injury of others. In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry affirmed that the Kingdom of Bahrain stands by the brotherly Tunisian Republic in its efforts to combat violence, extremism and terrorism. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its sincere condolences to the family of the victim, and wishes a speedy recovery to all those injured as a result of this heinous terrorist act. The Ministry also stresses the importance of joining all regional and international efforts to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and to confront all terrorist organisations and those who support or fund them, the statement added. Two militants on a motorbike blew themselves up outside the US Embassy in Tunisia yesterday, killing a policeman and wounding several in the North African countrys most serious attack in months. The explosion took place near the embassys main gate, where a Reuters journalist saw a scorched, damaged motorbike and a damaged police vehicle lying amid debris as police gathered around and a helicopter whirled overhead. No group immediately claimed responsibility. The Interior Ministry said two militants were killed carrying out the attack and five police were wounded, while a civilian suffered minor injuries. State news agency TAP reported that one policeman was killed. We heard a very powerful explosion ... we saw the remains of the terrorist lying on the ground after he went on the motorbike toward the police, said Amira, a shopkeeper. The United States was outraged by the attack, a spokesman for the State Department said, and was saddened to hear reports of a fatality from Tunisias security services. We are working with local authorities to investigate, he said. Among the injured was a locally hired employee of the US Embassy, the spokesman added. Sirens could be heard on the major highway linking the Lac district, where the embassy is located, with Tunis and suburbs in the north. The U.S. Embassy in a tweet urged people to avoid the area. Roads around security installations were closed in some parts of the capital and some international institutions were put on lockdown or evacuated. Photographs of the blast site posted on social media showed debris strewn around the area of a security checkpoint that controls access to the embassy and damaged vehicles. Last summer, Islamic State said it was behind militant blasts that struck the capital over the course of a week, including one near the French Embassy that killed a policeman. Tunisias critical tourism sector is highly vulnerable to militant violence and was devastated after two attacks in 2015 which killed scores of visitors at a beach resort and a museum. Diplomats who have worked with Tunisia on its security capacity say it has grown more effective in preventing and responding to militant attacks in recent years. An Al Qaeda group has been sheltering for years in the desolate, hilly terrain along a stretch of the border with Algeria and sometimes clashes with security forces there, but is regarded as having been closely contained. Hundreds of Tunisians have also traveled to Iraq, Syria or Libya in recent years to join Islamic State, and in 2016 members of the group rampaged across the border with Libya and fought the army in a border town, but were repulsed. The attack indicates that the security challenge remains a major challenge in Tunisia, local security analyst Ali Zarmedini said. The reservation cancellations began Feb. 25 for Hayes Valley restaurant Nightbird, first with a party of eight. Then a party of two. And then a party of three. Its an unusual thing for chef Kim Alter, whose restaurant can command a high cancellation fee due to the small restaurant size. So when the head of the party of eight cited coronavirus and the citys declaration of emergency as his reasons for not wanting to pay the full price for his cancellation, it certainly caught Alters attention. "It was five o'clock where [the reservation] starts to be a full charge if he doesn't come, because that's a third of my dining room," Alter told SFGATE. "[The diner] just said, 'This was for a company that was bringing in a special guest, and the special guests felt uncomfortable coming to San Francisco," and brought up the citys declaration of a state of emergency. Alter said at the time that she was busy in the kitchen and hadnt realized the announcement had come from the city. Thrown off guard, Alter began quickly researching the situation, but that didnt stop other parties from canceling. So Alter decided to take her astonishment to Twitter, asking others: "So we had of our reservations @sfnightbird cancel due to a Coronavirus alert. Said they were afraid to come to SF. Did this happen to anyone else?" Others had noticed the same thing. At the time of the emergency declaration, there were no cases of coronavirus in the city that figure has since changed to two confirmed cases in San Francisco as of Friday and it seemed that along with conferences canceling their plans to take place in San Francisco, others were canceling their travel plans to the city, including their restaurant reservations. Now, the city has released new, "aggressive recommendations" asking vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with compromised immune systems to limit outings and to avoid gatherings of 50 or more, unless essential. So in the week following the emergency declaration, chefs such as Telmo Faria with Uma Casa noted that his restaurant was seeing a slower-than-usual week, with a lower amount of reservations going into the weekend. "What we've really noticed is the amount of reservations that we'd normally have, and it's even more telling during the weekend, Faria told SFGATE last week. "Friday is the lowest reservations we've ever had on a Friday and, just being local, being in over three years of business, and the telling sign there is that we have as many cancellations as we do reservations." (Faria confirmed Thursday that business continues to be down by about 20%.) In fact, many other restaurateurs and chefs were talking about the sudden downturn in business over at the Golden Gate Restaurant Association. Laurie Thomas is owner of Roses Cafe and Terzo in San Francisco and on the GGRA board of directors. Not only has she seen traffic at her restaurant go down she said Thursday night last week was down 40% from normal shes been in contact with other members, who all say they took a hit last week and continue to see even more cancellations of large parties and events this week. "One large restaurant group in the city had seven groups cancel, citing specifically the coronavirus; another guy's losing events rapidly over in [downtown San Francisco]," Thomas said to SFGATE. "Another board member had another event pull out [and] another one of our board members down in the Embarcadero area has lost three big events totaling $25,000 in the last couple of days." Although most could cite a few specific instances where coronavirus was named as a reason for cancellation, the overall sense is that diners are reluctant to be out in the midst of the COVID-19 news. While the restaurateurs we spoke with couldnt firmly say all of their cancellations were due to being cautious about being out cancellations made online, for instance, dont often require a reason the dip in numbers is still spooky for everyone. For Stacy Jed, owner of Bluestem Brasserie in downtown San Francisco, her restaurant relies on not just locals for business, but tourists and conferences that come to town. With the citys announcement last week, that business has since slowed. Coming from the Financial District, the[traffic] still seems relatively the same, but what we're experiencing is several groups that were booking events that were tied to a conference have canceled as a result of their concerns around traveling, and the news they are reading and seeing what's going on with the coronavirus," Jed said. "Tourist [traffic] would be in our market predominantly on the weekend come in Thursday, Friday, staying through the weekend and then leaving Sunday night so that traffic has definitely been directly affected. We're going into our weekend with probably 50% of what we normally see on the books, so that's certainly concerning." The result goes beyond the restaurants bottom line; employees are also affected as waiters and hosts are being told to stay home due to the lack of customers and reservations, Jed and Thomas said. Should the downturn continue, there is an open question as to how this will spread to other businesses. "If this [downturn in business] happens to continue with this and this reaction to the misunderstanding about [San Franciscos] emergency announcement, we will start to have to cut back; it will affect other vendors," Thomas said. "We'll have to cut back on our food orders, we'll cut back on our wine orders, we'll cut back on our linen orders and so that'll ripple through the rest of the economy. It's not just isolated to restaurants and bars." San Franciscos Chinatown has been taking a much harder hit, as many of the restaurateurs SFGATE spoke with acknowledged, with some businesses in that area estimating as much as an 80% decrease in foot traffic, the Guardian reported. Chinatown has done as much as it could to encourage business, including a well-publicized visit from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to rallies meant to drum up business for the hard-hit area. "I did say this to the mayor's chief of staff, I understand that the restaurants in Chinatown have been taking a much deeper, worst hit than us. So what I was trying to get across to him is that now that the city has [declared an emergency declaration that] I know that they have to do I understand why they did it but now it has rolled completely across the rest of the city's restaurant and bar and event providers," Thomas said. "It's gone from just affecting Chinatown because people had misperceptions or were biased or whatever, to what Stacy [Jed]'s saying: People are like, 'We're just not going to travel. Maybe we shouldn't go [out]. Maybe we shouldn't be that far from home. What if something happens in [my home] and where I live? What if the kids don't go to school? So I think there's just a lot of what-if'ing going on and the easy thing to do is, you don't have to go out to dinner." While the restaurateurs SFGATE spoke with understood the reasoning behind the emergency declaration by San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Thomas voiced some frustration about the city not informing small businesses. "I wish that I would've had a heads up about it," Thomas said. "Maybe there were organizations that were given a heads up before it happened [and] I don't know if that would have changed anything, but I would have felt a little more included." Thomas has made it a point to get in touch with and speak to the citys Department of Emergency Management, and said she is feeling much better now that GGRA is "in the loop" with the DEM and, she said she ultimately supports the mayors decision. Faria, meanwhile, said that while he understood the citys actions, he feels unsupported by the city as a small-business owner. "You have the mayor of a major city and tourist hub in the United States declaring a state of emergency, it instantly became a headline and every ticker of every news channel and every outlet you just see, coronavirus, San Francisco state of emergency, that just really kind of gives off the air that there's a widespread pandemic of the coronavirus that actually happened in San Francisco and at the time there was no reported confirmed cases," Faria said. "For me, it was just frustrating, because I felt like small businesses have been already dealing with so many obstacles and hurdles, and our concerns weren't being listened to and that the city really wasn't going to bat for us and doing things to make it easier and now, it's just one more thing," he added. What all the restaurateurs said is that they want to show that theyre open for business, and that theyre here for those in the city who want to dine out. "I think it's important that people realize that restaurants take a very active role in maintaining the health and cleanliness of the environment and that, you know, we have all been very much talking about it and our staff is concerned," Jed said. "Perhaps people think of things as institutions and they don't think of it as human interaction [but] my bartender is just as concerned about getting a virus from the guests coming in as much as the guest is concerned about it. Everyone is on high alert, and everyone is washing their hands far more than I've ever seen them. "Our team is asking us for precautions [such as hand sanitizers and wipes] just as much as the community is asking for them, Jed added. So it's important to recognize that we are all here as people, all being affected by the same thing, just one person's on one side of the bar and there's someone on the other." MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Dianne de Guzman is a Digital Editor at SFGATE. Email: dianne.deguzman@sfgate.com Returning to Campus We will continue to monitor all guidance and information provided by the CDC and our local public health experts. If the situation changes, we will take the appropriate steps to change, as well, in order to make sure the health, safety, and welfare of the Ram Family continues to be our top priority. Safety Standards Students, faculty and staff are required to complete the wellness screening every day before coming to campus or leaving their residence hall. Visitors will also be required to complete the visitor wellness screening. All campus event attendees should be prepared to show your wellness screening badge, as well as have your temperature checked before entering the facility. Masks are strongly encouraged. Washing hands is highly encouraged to prevent the spread of all germs. Students who do not pass the wellness check should contact their instructors, just as they would for any illness. Students who do not feel comfortable coming back to in-person classes should look for online class opportunities or seek an ADA accommodation. Questions can be directed to communications.marketing@angelo.edu. We encourage the Ram Family to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and keep the Ram Fam Healthy. Resources The Centers for Disease Control have introduced new guidelines for those who have been fully vaccinated. Resources for COVID-19 testing and vaccination are listed below. Check out CDC guidance and resources if you have not been vaccinated. Healthcare leaders and experts from Texas Tech University System schools Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso hosted a town hall Wednesday, Aug. 18, providing facts and information about the COVID-19 vaccine. Watch Town Hall Kremlin Critic Navalny Files Suit Against Russia At European Rights Court By RFE/RL March 06, 2020 Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) have lodged a complaint against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights claiming authorities are "unlawfully" impeding their political activities. The European Human Rights Advocacy Center (EHRAC), which is part of the team representing the applicants in the case, said in a statement on March 6 that "a large and invasive criminal investigation into alleged money laundering by FBK staff" by Russian officials is little more than an attempt to stall their pro-democracy efforts. "I have repeatedly faced persecution by the Russian authorities for my political activities. The pressure is not only directed at me, but at the structures that I have created and the employees of these structures," Navalny said in the statement. Navalny, 43, has been one of President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critics for the better part of a decade, enduring multiple incarcerations, a barred attempt to run for president, and a hamstrung bid for the Moscow mayor's post. Most recently, Navalny and FBK chief Ivan Zhdanov said on March 3 that their bank accounts had been emptied and all their payment cards and those of relatives were blocked in what they described as a move to discredit and disgrace them. "This is a hugely important case for the defense of democratic freedoms in Russia, and for the effective safeguarding of human rights defenders and other 'critical voices' whose activities are constantly threatened by the arbitrary conduct of the Russian authorities," EHRAC Director Philip Leach said. Russia passed a "foreign agent" law -- which requires all nongovernmental organizations receiving foreign funding to register -- in 2012 following a major wave of anti-government protests. The Justice Ministry labelled FBK a foreign agent in October. The FBK has refused to register as a foreign agent, saying it has never received financial support from foreign entities. Since October, the FBK has unsuccessfully tried to appeal the decision of being branded a foreign agent. Navalny has said that the move was another way of imposing pressure on his organization. Last year, the "foreign agent" law was amended to brand reporters who work for organizations officially listed as foreign agents as foreign agents themselves. The money-laundering case was launched by investigators last August as Navalny encouraged pro-democracy rallies over the rejection of most opposition candidates in municipal elections. The protests, which ran for weeks, were some of the biggest in years. Navalny has long been a thorn in Putin's side. He was barred from running for president in 2018 due to a tax fraud conviction that he has called trumped up. Putin easily won the election. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-critic -navalny-files-suit-against-russia-at- european-rights-court/30472643.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Doctors wear protective gears before going into the quarantine room at a hospital in Saigon, March 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. With the personal chauffeur and an aunt of Hanoi's first Covid-19 patient also testing positive, Vietnam's total has risen to 20 infections and that of the capital city to three. The 27-year-old chauffeur and the 64-year-old aunt of 26-year-old Nguyen Hong Nhung, who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus Friday, are residents of Truc Bach Street in Ba Dinh District and were in close contact with her. Both were identified as being at high risk of contracting the infection from Nhung. Tests ordered by health authorities confirmed they are the 19th and 20th Covid-19 infection cases in the country. 25 others in close contact with Nhung had earlier tested negative for the coronavirus. Hundreds of people who might have come in contact with Nhung have been quarantined and are being closely monitored. Vietnam has recorded four new infections within 24 hours after Nhung became Hanois first Covid-19 patient in Hanoi and the 17th nationwide. Before she tested positive for the virus, the country had gone 22 days with no new infection. The Health Ministry had on Saturday afternoon confirmed the 18th infection, a 27-year-old man who has been quarantined in northern Ninh Binh Province upon returning to Vietnam from Daegu City in South Korea since Wednesday. Nguyen Hong Nhung had left Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport on February 15 to visit family members living in London, England. Three days later, she traveled from London to Milan City, in the province of Lombardy, Italy, and returned to London on February 20. During her time in Milan, Lombardy had not recorded any Covid-19 positive case. On February 25, the woman traveled from London to Paris to visit her sister. She contracted a cough on February 29, but did not get checked up. On March 1, she reportedly felt body pain and fatigue, but it was unclear if she had a fever. The same day, she boarded flight VN54 of Vietnam Airlines from London and landed in Hanoi at 4:30 a.m. on March 2. She did not have a fever then. After completing entry procedures, the patient was allowed to drive a family car home to Truc Bach Street in Ba Dinh Districts Truc Bach Ward. Later, she developed a mild fever and coughed a lot, and was admitted to Hong Ngoc Hospital in Ba Dinh District Thursday. The very same day, she was transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases where she tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Flight VN54 carried 201 passengers, and authorities are in the process of verifying their names and whereabouts. Saying that Hanoi has the highest risk of hosting an outbreak as residents of almost all 90 countries and territories hit by the new coronavirus so far are now living and working in the city, Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung said: "I urge everyone to be aware of the risks of infection and how dangerous the epidemic is. Everyone returning to Vietnam from abroad needs to report themselves to the authorities and follow quarantine protocol as regulated. All 16 persons confirmed with Covid-19 infections in Vietnam earlier have been discharged from the hospital. The Covid-19 epidemic has spread to 100 countries and territories around the world with global death toll climbing to 3,500. Starting Saturday, everyone coming to Vietnam have to fill health declarations. Two United States Army soldiers have become the first women enlisted with the National Guard to graduate from Army Ranger School. Sergeant Danielle Farber and Staff Sergeant Jessica Smiley graduated Ranger School at Fort Benning in Georgia on Dec. 13, 2019. Both women represent the National Guard, Farber for Pennsylvania, Smiley for South Carolina. Sgt. Farber and Sgt. Smiley graduate from U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia, on Dec. 13, 2019 (Sgt. Brian Calhoun/South Carolina National Guard/U.S. Army National Guard) Despite feeling as physically and mentally prepared as she could have been, Farber, 30, admitted that the 61-day course was grueling. Youre cold, youre wet, everythings frozen, and youre tired, she explained, as per the U.S Army. I was ready to be done because it was all of the things I hate, combined, Farber continued, adding, All your squad-mates and the guys in your platoon, they get you through it. You 100 percent dont get through Ranger School on your own. Sgt. Danielle Farber at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, displays her Ranger tab on Jan. 9, 2020. (Brad Rhen/U.S. Army National Guard) Farber works full-time as a medical instructor at Fort Indiantown Gaps 166th Regiment Regional Training Institute in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Smiley is a military police non-commissioned officer serving with the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. My mindset going into this was to leave 100 percent on the table, Smiley explained in a statement to the National Guard, and never have a regret or look back and say, I should have pushed harder or I should have done something different. (LR) South Carolina National Guard senior leaders: Brig. Gen. Jones, Sgt. Maj. Vickery, Col. Jones, Lt. Rice, and Sgt. Smiley at the U.S. Army Ranger School graduation at Fort Benning, Georgia, on Dec. 13, 2019 (Sgt. Brian Calhoun/South Carolina National Guard/U.S. Army National Guard) Smiley knows she gave the task 100 percent effort. I think the long hours, the sleepless nights, and the mental resiliency of seeing such harsh conditions kind of put it in perspective that it was a completely doable task, Smiley told Military.com. One is, it could always be worse and two is, that in the end, I knew I would be able to accomplish it. Smiley went on to explain that her and Farbers decision to enroll when they did was based solely upon a previous ban on women in combat arms; they enlisted when the option was made available. Now, Smiley hopes that other women will follow in their footsteps. U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Smiley graduates U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia, on Dec. 13, 2019 (Sgt. Brian Calhoun/South Carolina National Guard/U.S. Army National Guard) As per Military.com, just 43 women have enrolled and received their Ranger tabs since the Pentagon lifted the ban and made Ranger School available to women in 2015. First Sergeant Troy Conrad, the officer in charge of the Ranger School training program, explained that willingness to learn is of the utmost importance in any potential graduate, regardless of gender. You can take somebody thats maybe a little bit sub-par physically or doesnt quite have the knowledge base to succeed in that type of environment, and you can build them out, he said, as per the U.S. Army. Conrad added that only about 48 percent of soldiers in the program actually succeed in graduating from Ranger School. As per Task & Purpose, the first women ever to complete Army Ranger School and receive their Ranger tabs were Captain Kristen Griest and 1st Lieutenant Shay Haver. They graduated in 2015. Command Sergeant Major Russ Vickery of the South Carolina National Guard expressed great pride in both Smiley and Farbers achievement, calling it a big deal to be the first enlisted females in the National Guard graduating Ranger School. Its groundbreaking, he said, as per the National Guard. Physical size is not the limitation; its the amount of heart and soul that a soldier brings. Farber advised other aspiring women to train hard. Come into it knowing youre going to be doing things that every other male that comes through here has to do, she said. (Illustration Bumble Dee/Shutterstock) Theres many women out there who are completely capable of doing it, Smiley added. Put in the hard work, put in the dedication to accomplish the goal. Both women hope to use their Ranger tabs to empower them toward better leadership. This day to me is not the end of the school, Smiley said upon graduation, as per the U.S. Army, but its the beginning of the new chapter in my career, not only for myself but for future soldiers. Vatican: The Vatican said Pope Francis will deliver Sunday's Angelus Prayer by livestream instead of in person from his window overlooking Saint Peter's Square out of concern over spreading the new coronavirus. "The prayer will be broadcast via livestream by Vatican News and on screens in Saint Peter's Square," the Vatican said in a statement. The Vatican on Friday reported its first coronavirus case and closed some offices to protect hundreds of the micro-state's priests and residents as the virus rages across surrounding Italy. The Vatican on Friday reported its first coronavirus case and closed some offices to protect hundreds of the micro-state's priests and residents as the virus rages across surrounding Italy. The confirmed case prompted a sympathetic message from the Pope but emptied Saint Peter's Square. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) There are now two cases of local coronavirus transmission in the country, prompting the Department of Health to raise the nationwide alert level to contain the spread of the virus. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III in a media briefing on Saturday confirmed that the 62-year-old Filipino man from Cainta, Rizal province, had no recent travel history abroad, based on Immigration records. Duque said the government's contract tracing teams have yet to determine how he contracted the virus. READ: Cainta, Rizal steps up coronavirus measures amid confirmed case The man's 59-year-old wife also tested positive for the coronavirus disease of COVID-19, making her the second case of local transmission. The DOH has raised its coronavirus alert system to Code Red sublevel 1, with Duque stressing that this is "a preemptive call to ensure that national and local governments and public and private health care providers can prepare for possible increase in suspected and confirmed cases." "At this stage of localized transmission, intensified contact tracing and home quarantine of close contacts of confirmed cases, improved hospital preparedness, enhanced Severe Acute Respiratory Illness surveillance, and activation of other laboratories outside of [the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine] to increase capacity to diagnose are now being implemented," Duque said. He stressed that there is no community transmission, since there are no "unlinked" clusters of cases. But once several transmissions are reported in different places, Duque said sublevel 2 would be raised, meaning the implementation of community-level quarantines or lockdowns. Under this alert level also, classes and work may be suspended. The DOH has recommended to President Rodrigo Duterte placing the country under a State of Public Health Emergency to facilitate faster mobilization and procurement of necessary resources. He expects the President to make the declaration on Monday. The Philippines now has six confirmed coronavirus of coronavirus. Aside from the couple, the other confirmed case is a 48-year-old man who works for Taguig-based consulting firm Deloitte Philippines. He recently traveled to Tokyo, Japan and returned on March 3 on board flight PR421 from Haneda Airport. Earlier, three Chinese visitors have been infected with the virus one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country. How are the coronavirus patients? The country's latest case had cough and was admitted at the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine on March 5. She is in "stable condition," Duque said. She is exhibiting mild respiratory symptoms, like the patient from Tokyo, according to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. However, her husband is in "critical condition" because of various ailments. Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that aside from hypertension and diabetes milletus, the man has been diagnosed with acute kidney injury as well. Duque said that based on experience in other countries, patients with conditions take a "very long time" to recover from coronavirus. The new coronavirus has killed more than 3,400 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province in December last year. It has infected so far over 101,300 people worldwide. Local authorities are also monitoring the situation of 500 Filipinos on board the quarantined cruise ship in California. World Health Organization Country Representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe said they have received information that six Filipino crew members have tested positive for coronavirus, but this has yet to be confirmed. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 07:04:39|Editor: zyl Video Player Close Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, attends a press conference after the EU Health Affairs Council in Brussels, Belgium, on March 6, 2020. Health ministers of the European Union (EU) member states met here on Friday, calling for strengthened solidarity, cooperation and exchange of information in tackling the spread of the disease. (Photo by Riccardo Pareggiani/Xinhua) BRUSSELS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Health ministers of the European Union (EU) member states met here on Friday, calling for strengthened solidarity, cooperation and exchange of information in tackling the spread of the disease. The ministers agreed on further raising public awareness about the threat posed by COVID-19, developing a coordinated approach to prevention and protection of people at risk, and establishing coherent containment measures, including evidence-based advice concerning travel to and from risk areas. "The EU's response to the outbreak and the cooperation between all parties have been very good, but the situation has changed," explained Croatian Health Minister Vili Beros, who chaired the meeting. "Our debate today showed that member states are ready to adapt their response, strengthen their cooperation and undertake the appropriate measures to focus both on prevention and treatment," he added. The officials also highlighted the need for monitoring at European level of the availability of medical equipment and medicines to secure the production, stocking, availability and rational use of protective equipment. "The important principle here is that of partnership," said Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety on Twitter. She urged EU member states to continue cooperation and share information in an open and transparent way, as well as to reinforce communication to citizens on the importance of personal hygiene. Also on Friday, the European Commission announced to increase the research funding with an additional 37.5 million euros (42.3 million U.S. dollars), following an earlier allocation of 10 million euros in January. The funding will finance 17 projects involving 136 research teams from across the EU. The researchers are now working on development of vaccines, new treatments, diagnostic tests and medical systems. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 03/07/2020 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Nicole Nafziger continues to defend her fiance Azan Tefou , slamming claims he will flake on her again if she attempts to travel to Morocco in the near future.Nicole first revealed last month she had an exciting "trip coming up," and then she teased her upcoming vacation again on March 4."My last week of work until my trip! I'm so excited for this vacation," Nicole reportedly teased alongside a photo of herself working as a barista at Starbucks. "Where do you think I'm going?"Nicole has yet to reveal where she is actually headed, allowing fans to speculate she'll be visiting Azan in Morocco -- especially since she had confirmed in a recent Q&A session she'd be seeing her love "soon," according to In Touch Weekly.Comments then started to pour in on Nicole's post that clearly rubbed her the wrong way."Hope he doesn't cancel this one too," one follower wrote, referencing a previous trip to Morocco Nicole had to cancel because Azan allegedly had a family dilemma to deal with.And another Instagram user commented, "I hope you buy travel insurance [because] there's a 99.999 percent chance he will flake out."Nicole therefore reportedly felt the need to clap back and speak her mind."Azan has only ever canceled one trip and that was for a family emergency," Nicole slammed her haters. "I canceled my last trip there."Nicole added, "I do plenty of things with my daughter in my local area. Moms need vacations too."One day later, Nicole reportedly confirmed that she hasn't left for her trip yet but is really looking forward to some time away.According to In Touch, Nicole recently confirmed Azan is still her fiance and she loves him with "all" of her heart after four years. She reportedly said they're just trying to "navigate this challenging thing called life together."In November 2019, RadarOnline reported it had been two years since the couple last saw each other "They still talk occasionally, but there have been a lot of fights between them on the phone," a source said. "The family is surprised they're still together."The source also insisted Nicole and Azan had "no plans for a wedding.""He can't get a visa," the source explained to the website. "She's talked about going back to Morocco, but she doesn't have money. She has to save."Nicole and Azan met on a mobile dating app years ago when she was 21 years old and living in Bradenton, FL. Azan was 23 years old and from Agadir, Morocco, at the time.Nicole and Azan got their start on reality TV by starring on Season 4 of the original series, followed by Season 5 of the series.That later led into an appearance on Season 3 of : Happily Ever After? and then Season 4.Nicole and Azan's initial wedding plans in Morocco in 2018 fell through due to alleged time and financial constraints.At the time, Azan seemed to convince Nicole to invest $6,000 of her wedding money into opening a beauty store instead, while he planned to contribute $500 to the overall cost.It's unclear whether that store was a real possibility or will ever actually open considering both Nicole and Azan have made different claims in recent months.Nicole then planned to meet Azan for a fun vacation in Grenada, but that's the trip Azan chose to cancel due to an alleged "family emergency."Nicole therefore booked a trip back to Morocco in 2019, when she thought a wedding would be "highly likely." But the trip got canceled just two weeks later.Nicole never disclosed the reasons behind canceling her latest trip to Morocco, but the frustration and disappointment all over her face on Season 4 of : Happily Ever After? pointed to Azan being the decision-maker.During the Tell-All special for the spinoff's fourth season, Nicole announced her trip to Morocco didn't happen "because sometimes, things are just personal."In August 2019, a source told In Touch that Nicole was getting her life "back on track" with a her new job as a barista and an apartment of her own. Nicole had also enrolled May, now 5, in kindergarten.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our webpage! Congress president Sonia Gandhi has written to the chief ministers of the states ruled by the party, asking them to mount an effective response mechanism to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Writing that there is an urgent need for an effective domestic response, as the number of confirmed cases have spiked over the last week, Gandhi said that the capacity of public healthcare facilities must be augmented. The letters were sent to Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh, Chhattisgarhs Bhupesh Baghel and Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy. Increased disease surveillance, and strengthening the testing facilities could help early detection and containment. The State Government must lend all possible support to public health care responders to carry out their duty effectively, Gandhi wrote. It is critical for the State Government to put in place effective response and preparedness measures. The capacity of public healthcare facilities must be augmented to respond to any potential outbreak, the letter read. Gandhi also said in her letter that the World Health Organization (WHO) had warned of severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), especially for frontline health workers, and had estimated that manufacturers must increase production by 40% to meet requirements. She asked the state chief ministers to ensure adequate supply of the equipment and asked them to step up efforts to stop black marketing. This is not the ticket dispenser at the deli counter; its a public health emergency! the nurse, who was not named, wrote in a statement shared by the California Nurses Association. I am a registered nurse, and I need to know if I am positive before going back to caring for patients. I am appalled at the level of bureaucracy thats preventing nurses from getting tested. That is a health care decision my doctor and my county health department agree with. Delaying this test puts the whole community at risk. Having made an announcement to run 4,000 playschools in the state during the recently concluded budget session, the Haryana government is gearing up to start at least half of them from next month and remaining ones in September. Till now, there were no playschools in Haryana. Of about 14,000 schools in the state, 8,600 are primary, 2,800 middle, 1,600 high and about 2,100 senior secondary, where 98,000 teachers teach 20.8 lakh students. Importantly enough, it was only about a couple of months back that the government had planed to shut 1,016 schools where the total strength of students was less than 25. The issue assumed significance as senior Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal, who herself was education minister in the previous Congress regime, raised questions during the budget session on the governments move to run 4,000 playschools for children in the age group of three to six. Suspecting ambiguity in governments plans, Bhukkal asked the education minister where would these schools be opened and who would run those? She also suspected that the government might double up anganwadis as playschools run by anganwadi workers and helpers. There are about 24,000 anganwadis with around 50,000 workers. Bhukkal also pointed out that any such move by the government would fail the very purpose of both anganwadi and playschools, which were two different entities. However, as per senior officials, there was no ambiguity in the plan as per which, one such proposed playschool would be set up at the primary schools in about 900 mahagrams (villages with over 10,000 population), 945 urban schools and 423 primary schools wherein Class 1 and 2 have already been made English-medium and bag-free. They said the remaining playschools (about 1,700) will be set up in the rural areas, where intake in Class 1 has gone alarmingly down. Education department secretary P Amneet Kumar said that a policy in this context was being finalised. She specified that these schools would be run from government schools by adding one more section with a focus on preschool education inclusive of vibrant infrastructure and specially trained teachers. She said it would be governments focus to maintain these preschools as activity-based and English-medium and the footfall at these playschools would encourage the overall enrolment in the government schools. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Duke of York has hired Britain's most respected extradition lawyer as the FBI investigates his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The 60-year-old Duke is receiving advice from Clare Montgomery QC, whose clients have included Augusto Pinochet, Chile's former dictator, and Nirav Modi, who is wanted for India's biggest fraud, the Daily Telegraph has revealed. She is briefed by Gary Bloxsome, a criminal defence solicitor who has defended British troops against war crime allegations. He is understood to have been appointed directly by Prince Andrew. The powerful legal team was assembled following a demand by the FBI and US prosecutors to interview Andrew about his links to Epstein, who was found dead in prison. Until now, the identities of the legal team have been shrouded in secrecy, with Buckingham Palace aides refusing to reveal who is acting for him. The disclosure that he is using such an eminent team of lawyers suggests Andrew is taking seriously the threat of investigation by the FBI. It is understood to be the first time the royal family has needed to use such a powerful team of criminal lawyers. Ms Montgomery, a senior barrister at Matrix Chambers, co-founded by Cherie Blair, is thought to command fees of about 1,000 (1,152) an hour. Her clients have included Shrien Dewani, charged with, and acquitted of, murdering his wife in South Africa. She also prosecuted the Metropolitan Police over the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, shot dead in a failed anti-terror operation. An online profile of Mr Bloxsome reveals he receives instructions from "leading companies and ultra-high net worth individuals" in international jurisdictions as well as in the UK. He is also known for reputation and crisis management. One acquaintance said: "He's as sharp as a blade, he's absolutely brilliant." In January, US prosecutors took the unusual step of publicly accusing Andrew of ignoring attempts to contact him. Geoffrey Berman, US Attorney for the southern district of New York, said he had given "zero co-operation". In response, sources close to the Duke accused US prosecutors of "failing to play with a straight bat". A friend suggested he was "angry and bewildered" by the suggestion he had refused to co-operate, insisting he had not been approached. Buckingham Palace has distanced itself from the ongoing crisis, saying Andrew is no longer a working royal and, as such, it does not represent him. It says that the issue is being dealt with by the Duke's legal team. By Jiraporn Kuhakan PATTAYA (Reuters) - After temperature checks for contestants and with a smaller crowd than last year because of coronavirus fears, Mexico's Valentina Fluchaire was crowned in Thailand as winner of what is billed as the world's biggest transgender pageant on Saturday. Although Miss International Queen 2020 went ahead, unlike many events cancelled around the world since the coronavirus outbreak emerged in China, the crowd was markedly smaller than in previous years, with many empty seats. Organisers had advised anyone who felt unwell not to attend. To allay worries, the entire venue in the seaside resort city of Pattaya was disinfected the day before the event by staff in protective suits. The contestants all had their temperatures taken with hand scanners before being allowed to go on stage in national costumes, swimsuits and glamorous evening gowns. Fluchaire hailed her victory as a win for all trans-women in Latin America. "This is for you, I made this for you," she said. The second and third place went to contestants from Brazil and Thailand. Thailand was the first country outside China to record an infection with the new coronavirus, but with only 50 cases recorded so far, it is no longer even in the 20 worst affected countries. With the infection rate slowing in China too, the Chinese contestant hailed efforts to stop the spread of the virus there. "I'm so proud of my country. It's like a lesson for everyone, for the earth, we can get through it," said the contestant, who gave her name just as Lacey to conceal her identity because of prejudice. The annual pageant the pageant was in its 15th year. Thailand has built a reputation as a place with a relaxed attitude towards gender and sexual diversity since homosexuality was decriminalised there in 1956. But activists say LGBT+ people face discrimination and stigma in schools, the workplace and health facilities, and are often rejected by their families. (Editing by Matthew Tostevin) Detriot/Los Angeles: US Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders will campaign in the Midwest on Saturday, as the two prepare for a showdown in Michigan, Missouri and four other nominating contests next week. Sanders, 78, who until recently was the front-runner in the party's race to face Republican President Donald Trump in November, is now trailing in delegates and desperate to regain momentum after Biden, 77, received a rush of endorsements from party establishment figures following his strong "Super Tuesday" showing this week. Below is what is happening on Saturday: BIDEN WARNS AGAINST PRIMARY 'BLOODBATH' After Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, ramped up his attacks on Biden on Friday, Biden told a crowd at a fundraiser in Bethesda, Maryland, he was worried his battle with Sanders for the Democratic nomination could turn ugly. What we cant let happen is let this primary become a negative bloodbath. We cant tear this party apart and re-elect Trump. We have to keep our eyes on the ball," Biden said as he telephoned in to the Bethesda event. Sanders, a US senator from Vermont, had assailed Biden's record on trade, Social Security, gay rights and abortion on Friday - although he did promise to support the former vice president if he becomes the nominee. The race has become a two-man contest between Biden and Sanders. Tulsi Gabbard, a Hawaii congresswoman, is the only other Democratic candidate still in the nominating contest, but has virtually no chance of winning. Biden and Sanders will face off on Tuesday in Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Washington state, North Dakota and Michigan. A big win for Biden in delegate-rich Michigan would deliver a major blow to Sanders' hopes of becoming the nominee. Showing continued momentum following his Super Tuesday wins, Biden's campaign said on Friday it had raised about $22 million in five days. BIDEN WINS DOZENS OF ENDORSEMENTS IN MISSOURI The moderate wing of the Democratic Party has been rapidly coalescing around Biden to stop a Sanders nomination, since Biden's big win in South Carolina on Feb. 29. On Saturday morning the Biden campaign announced another slew of endorsements from Democratic lawmakers in Missouri - over 60. Missouri is one of six states to vote on Tuesday, where Biden was due to hold two events on Saturday. Jay Nixon, the state's former Democratic governor, swung his support behind Biden, leading a well-choreographed army of Missouri officials - 68 in all - to come out in support. They included current and former state politicians, judges, council members and aldermen. Biden was due to campaign on Saturday in St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, where he is scheduled to be joined by U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, a former Congressional Black Caucus chairman who endorsed Biden in September. SANDERS FOCUSES ON MICHIGAN On Saturday, Sanders begins a weekend of campaigning in the crucial battleground state of Michigan, which offers 125 of the 1,991 delegates needed to win the nomination. Sanders, who won the Michigan primary in 2016 when he ran unsuccessfully for the nomination against Hillary Clinton, will hold a rally in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, and a town hall focused on racial and economic justice in Flint. On Sunday he is set to visit Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor. Speaking to a crowd of more than 6,000 in downtown Detroit on Friday, Sanders continued to assail Biden for voting for the war in Iraq and trade deals, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, which he said had cost millions of American jobs in Michigan and other battleground states. "Now, if we are going to defeat Trump in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, it will be very hard for a candidate who voted for these disastrous trade deals," Sanders said. Sanders questioned whether Biden could generate enough energy and enthusiasm to prevail against Trump. But he also called Biden a friend, and said both were in agreement that they would support the other against Trump should the other win the nomination. A hotel being used as a coronavirus quarantine centre in China has collapsed, leaving 70 people trapped. The five-storey building in Fujian province was being used to house and observe people who had come into contact with Covid-19 patients when it collapsed at around 7:30pm local time. Some 38 people have so far been rescued from the wreckage of the Xinjia Express Hotel in Quanzhou, local officials announced four hours later. :: Follow live updates on the coronavirus here :: Nearly 150 firefighters are thought to be engaged in the rescue operation. Footage shared to social media shows emergency service workers clambering among the rubble and using powerful torches to search for survivors. I was just having dinner and I suddenly heard a loud bang and thought it was an explosion, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported a man who lived in the building opposite as telling state-affiliated media. It was not until I ran to my balcony that I saw that the entire hotel building had collapsed. The hotel is one of two buildings being used as a quarantine centre in the citys Licheng district, after opening as a hotel in June 2018, according to SCMP. The reason for the collapse is not yet known. An unidentified hotel employee cited by the Beijing Youth Daily said the owner carried out foundation-related construction before the disaster. It gave no details. Beijing has sent a working team to aid with the rescue operation, according to state media. One woman told Beijing News that her sister and other relatives had been quarantined at the hotel after returning from Hubei province, the outbreaks epicentre. She said they had arrived on 25 February and had been scheduled to leave soon after completing their two weeks of quarantine. I cant contact them, theyre not answering their phones, she said. Im under quarantine too [at another hotel] and Im very worried, I dont know what to do. They were healthy, they took their temperatures every day, and the tests showed that everything was normal. Additional reporting by agencies Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse teenager took the witness stand Thursday to accuse his older siblings of planning and executing the robbery of two Eastwood men in 2018 that ended in a double murder. Brendell Elmore, who was 13 at the time, says his older sister, Jazzmin, wanted to rob somebody and his older brother, Treamon, told him to leave seconds before Treamon executed the two men, Luis Sepulveda, 21, and Christopher McLaurin, 28, with bullets to the back of their heads. But Brendells story has a bloody glove problem: the youngsters DNA was found on the inside of a blue latex glove that had blood from one of the victims on the outside. Treamon and Jazzmin Elmore are pinning their defenses on convincing the jury that Brendell could have been the actual shooter at the Lynwood Avenue residence, and that he later framed his older siblings for the crime. Prosecutors say a 13-year-old framing his mid-20s siblings defies common sense. After nearly a full day of testimony on the witness stand, Brendell Elmores shifting story over the bloody glove has proven the biggest revelation. At one point, Brendell Elmore tried to interrupt his testimony to talk to his lawyer about what to say. A judge told him that wasnt allowed. Its sparked some references, among courthouse observers, to the famous bloody gloves in O.J. Simpsons 1995 double murder acquittal in California. In that case, Simpsons lawyers told the jury that the glove didnt fit their clients hand. And a police officer was accused of wrongdoing in the discovery of a second bloody glove at Simpsons residence. In the Elmore case, Syracuse prosecutors admitted that they had no good explanation for how Brendells DNA ended up on the incriminating glove. And Brendell Elmores attempt to clear things up Thursday may have backfired in cross-examination Friday. Brendell Elmore testified, for the first time Thursday, that he was preparing for the robbery outside the victims apartment when Treamons own latex glove ripped. Brendell testified that he gave one of his gloves to his brother, who then killed the victims. But Ben Coffin, defense lawyer for Treamon Elmore, pointed to Brendells prior statements to police, prosecutors and grand juries to show that Brendell had never gave such an explanation before in the year and a half old case. In fact, Brendell Elmore had once told a grand jury that he ended up with only one glove during the robbery because he forgot his other one in the car. There was no mention, during that sworn testimony, of giving his other glove to Treamon, Coffin noted. When confronted with the conflicting testimony, Brendell simply said he didnt remember what he said before and vowed he was telling the truth now, at trial. I dont remember, has been Brendell Elmores common defense when confronted with uncomfortable questions during his roughly six hours of testimony over two days. Treamon and Jazzmins lawyers have spent the bulk of their cross examination trying to destroy Brendells credibility. They accuse him of being a hardened, violent, gang member despite his young age. Brendell set up the robberies and murdered the victims, they say, before trying to blame them for the crime. So far, the teens testimony has been everything both sides had promised the jury. He calmly walked prosecutors through his version of the murders Thursday, then gave ample room for defense lawyers to question his credibility and point out his violent history Friday. Jazzmin Elmores defense lawyer, Graeme Spicer, pointed to Brendells numerous Facebook posts in which he appeared to be pointing at the camera while mimicking a gun. Brendell testified he didnt remember why he pointed his fingers that way. In one, Brendells picture appeared above a caption: I live the life of a villain. In another, his picture appeared above the words: Youll shoot a shooter and Ill shoot a shooter. And before his arrest in the murders, Brendell told a friend on social media: I dont care. Im not going to jail for anybody, according to records obtained in the case. Brendell Elmore testified he didnt remember the specifics behind any of those posts. In perhaps the most striking exchange, Treamon Elmores lawyer, Coffin, read aloud Brendells horrendous elementary school record that included multiple acts of recorded violence, including: Injuring two teachers in separate attacks, kicking another teacher in the private areas and punching yet another in the stomach Numerous instances of pointing his fingers in the form of a gun and threatening to shoot teachers and students Threatening a pregnant woman, saying hed shoot her and punch her baby out of her stomach. Making a credible threat to another student that was backed up by social media posts Punched a girl so hard she lost a tooth and bled from her face Prosecutor Michael Whalen twice objected to some of Brendells transgressions coming into trial, noting that the episodes date back to fifth grade. But Judge Gordon Cuffy allowed dozens of examples to be read into the record. Brendell Elmore testified he didnt remember any of the most violent episodes. He admitted simply that he got into a lot of fistfights and did a lot of bad things in school. He did acknowledge two less-serious incidents: telling a teacher they should fight and flipping chairs. I flip a lot of chairs. I do that a lot. In his last year in school, at age 12, Brendell Elmore was sent to the office 28 times and suspended from school for 30 days, records show. I got suspended a lot, Brendell testified. I ended up just not going. So far, defense lawyers have not questioned him directly about the murders themselves. The entire defense strategy is based around suggesting that Brendell was the planner and shooter. Instead, defense lawyers have aimed at Brendell Elmores troubled, violent past. He began testifying around 3 p.m. Thursday. Hes due back to the witness stand for further cross-examination Friday afternoon following a lunch recess. Prosecutors are counting on the jury believing Brendell Elmores story enough to convict Treamon of being the shooter -- punishable by up to life in prison without parole -- and Jazzmin as the mastermind -- punishable by up to 25 years to life in prison. For his part, Brendell Elmore was not charged as a shooter and so cant be tried for murder due to his young age (only a 13-year-old who pulls the trigger can be charged with murder). He has remained in juvenile detention since the June 2018 murders and will likely spend a few more years in a secure detention facility under his plea agreement. Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070. 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. Youth voter turnout so far in the Democratic primaries is either flat or declining compared with the 2016 primaries. Why it matters: Sen. Bernie Sanders has based much of his strategy on the hope that he could turn out large numbers of young voters. The apparent decline is bad news for him, but it will also make it more difficult for future-focused issues like climate change to gain political traction. Context: According to the Harvard Institute of Politics, while raw turnout is up in all 12 of the states with competitive elections, the youth vote has only risen in four states, and is flat in two other states. Of the 14 states that held primaries on Super Tuesday, participation by voters younger than 30 didn't exceed 20% in any state, according to exit poll analyses. Young voters have always turned out at lower percentages than their older counterparts. But in Sanders, young Americans had a candidate who is explicitly pushing for their support yet so far it hasn't seemed to matter. Yes, but: Some experts suggest that the picture isn't as bad as it looks. The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University told the Washington Post that youth turnout so far is mostly higher compared with 2012. "It's possible this cohort is less ideological than we thought, and is willing to show up to combat Trump more than they're willing to show up to support a Democratic socialist agenda," said Charlotte Alter, a national correspondent for Time and the author of the book "The Ones We've Been Waiting For." The bottom line: Young people have the greatest stake in the future. But they can't shape it if they don't vote. Go deeper: 2020's new voters Another child for Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge could mean less time in the glare of the royal spotlight. Any parent knows having a child is a full-time job. Even though Catherine and Prince Williams schedules as senior members of the British royal family keep them very busy, they make time for their kids. Sure, they get help from royal nannies and have personal assistants to manage their jam-packed schedules but theyre all about family. Thats why one royal commentator thinks if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge do one day decide to have another child, Catherine would take a break from her royal duties. Prince William and Kate Middleton have three kids Prince William and Catherine are parents to three children. On July 22, 2013, the couple welcomed their first child, Prince George of Cambridge, who is now 6 years old. Then almost two years later on May 2, 2015, they gave Prince George a sibling when his younger sister, now-4-year-old Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, arrived on the scene. Prince William and Kate Middleton stand with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis at Trooping the Colour on June 8, 2019 | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images Catherine and Prince William added a third child to their growing family on April 23, 2018, when they welcomed Prince Louis of Cambridge. Royal commentator says Kate Middleton would rather be at home with the children With people always wondering whether or not the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have more children, royal author Phil Dampier feels the possibility is likely. It wouldnt surprise me if they have a fourth child, he told Fabulous Digital in Sept. 2020 per Express. Why? Because it would give Catherine a chance to take a break from her responsibilities as a working royal. Kate Middleton with Prince George and Princess Charlotte at a charity polo match on June 10, 2018 | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Not only does [Catherine] love family life in Norfolk, to be honest, it gives her an excuse to not be at the forefront of royal duties for a bit longer, which I dont think she enjoys, Dampier said. He continued, saying its his understanding shed prefer to spend time with her children than take part in official royal engagements. I think Kates been interacting with the public and doing very well recently, but from what Im told, shed rather be at home with the children, he said. Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are both hands-on parents Following the lead of his late mother, Princess Diana, the Duke of Cambridge has been an involved father. He took paternity leave from royal duties after Catherine gave birth to each of their children. When he returned to his normal schedule, he made time to drop his kids off at school and pick them up. The activity remains something he and Catherine both do to give their kids a sense of normalcy. Kate Middleton and Prince William take their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte to school on Sept. 5, 2019 | Aaron Chown WPA Pool/Getty Images Having grown up as a commoner, Catherine spent lots of time with her family and has continued that tradition with her own children. Shes been known to cook and play with George, Charlotte, and Louis regularly. While we dont know for sure whether or not the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have a fourth child, its safe to say theyll take a similar approach to what theyve done in the past although Catherine said on a podcast in Feb. 2020 shed change a few things. Despite the tweaks shed make, wed expect the Duchess of Cambridge to cut back on royal duties because of her history with severe morning sickness during pregnancy. And she and William both would likely take a step back from royal duties immediately following the babys birth. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge finished up an official tour of Ireland in early March 2020 and have more travel planned for the future. WASHINGTON Former Vice President Joe Biden has put an exclamation point on his Super Tuesday victories by winning the most delegates on the presidential primary calendars biggest night. The Associated Press has allocated more than 92% of the 1,344 delegates that were up for grabs on Tuesday, and Biden has such a commanding lead that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders cannot catch up as the remaining votes from that days 14 state primaries are counted. Biden built his delegate lead on Tuesday by racking up huge victories in Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia, while scoring a narrow win in Texas. In all, Biden won 10 states and Sanders won four. Look, not long ago the press and the pundits declared this campaign dead, but this week we saw tremendous support across the nation, Biden told supporters. We changed the whole narrative. Sanders won California and three other states Colorado, Utah and his home state of Vermont. Although Sanders won the biggest state, California, he didnt rack up the commanding lead required to surpass Bidens haul. Biden has won at least 610 delegates from Tuesdays contests, while Sanders has won at least 513, according to the AP count. There are 102 delegates still to be allocated. Most of the delegates still not allocated are in California, with the next biggest chunks in Colorado and Utah. Many of the delegates are being withheld because it is unclear whether former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg will finish above the 15% threshold in California, which would score him a significant number of statewide delegates. Regardless of whether Bloomberg reaches the threshold, Sanders cant catch Biden because many of the remaining delegates would then go to Biden. Bloomberg dropped out of the presidential race on Wednesday. Overall, Biden has 664 delegates to Sanders 573. Sanders started the week with a six-delegate lead. Bidens performance was all the more remarkable considering his slow start in the first three contests. Less than a month ago, Biden didnt win a single delegate in New Hampshire. The contest could now become a drawn-out, two-man battle for delegates to win the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in July. It takes a majority of pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses 1,991 to win the nomination on the first ballot. The race now enters a key stretch as voters in 10 states cast ballots over the next two weeks. Sanders scrapped an appearance Friday in Mississippi to campaign in Michigan the largest prize on Tuesday, when six states representing 352 delegates vote. Seth Borenstein and Nicholas Riccardi are Associated Press writers. The Trudeau government quietly communicated something to the Indian government this week about that country's latest paroxysm of anti-Muslim violence. But it is hard to know what that message was. Certainly, an official Canadian government "readout" of the conversation between Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, offers little insight. After touching on other matters, such as the COVID-19 outbreak and upcoming summits, the readout ends with this short sentence: "Minister Champagne raised recent events in Delhi and expressed concerns over the lives lost." The statement's wording could have applied to lives lost to a cyclone or mudslide rather than a wave of mob violence that evidence suggests was fuelled in part by the indifference of the government in Delhi, if not by outright encouragement by members of the governing party. Nor did the readout give any suggestion that Canada is concerned about the passage of laws that India's 200 million Muslims and opposition parties have said are designed to strip Muslims of their citizenship. "We aren't hearing much from Trudeau," said Indo-Canadian secularist Gurpreet Singh of British Columbia, co-founder of Indians Abroad for a Pluralist India. "We aren't hearing much even from the south Asian members of his cabinet or his caucus. And it's very unfortunate." Singh said the Modi government is destroying the democratic, civic vision of an India for all its peoples the India of Gandhi and Nehru and "the response from Canada so far has been very weak, very lukewarm and quite meaningless." Readout delay It's normal practice for the government of Canada to put out a communique or "readout" of any conversation between the prime minister or foreign minister and their foreign counterparts. On Tuesday, when CBC News contacted Global Affairs to ask about its silence on events in India, an official speaking on background revealed the conversation had occurred the day before. When asked about a readout, CBC News was told the department had not issued one. Story continues The official said the purpose of the call was to discuss concerns about violence and minority rights in India. On Wednesday, Global Affairs issued its readout. It mentioned the deaths in India only at the end and made no reference to new discriminatory laws. Staffers for the four Indo-Canadian cabinet ministers referred CBC News to that readout as the government's official position. Global Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office have issued dozens of readouts so far in 2020. A search by CBC found only one that was issued two days after the original conversation it describes. Citizenship under threat The latest round of violence in New Delhi began after a Hindu nationalist politician associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued inflammatory threats against a group of Muslim women staging a sit-in protest against a discriminatory citizenship law brought in by the BJP. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed in December, opens a pathway to citizenship for any non-Muslim who has illegally immigrated to India in recent times but explicitly bars Muslims. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters Many Muslims and secular Indians see the law as part of a government push to strip native-born Muslims of their citizenship. Already, the Indian government has implemented its National Register of Citizens program in the state of Assam, declaring 1.9 million people to be non-citizens. Some of those people are Hindus, but they can regain their citizenship through the CAA. Large numbers of those disenfranchised were Muslims, and they are barred from applying under the CAA. India's powerful home affairs minister, Amit Shah, has referred to Muslims suspected of being in the country illegally as "termites" and "infiltrators" and has promised a BJP government will "throw them into the Bay of Bengal." Video and photo evidence has appeared to back victims' claims that Delhi police, controlled by the national government, sometimes aided and abetted the mobs. The ruling BJP party has been mostly silent on India's epidemic of lynchings of Muslims as Hindu mobs rampaged through New Delhi. But it loudly and aggressively calls out "minority appeasement" by other political parties that don't engage in Muslim-baiting or resist discriminatory laws. Deadly protests The Citizenship Amendment Act passed India's parliament on Dec. 11, triggering protests around the country that were often met with lethal police violence. On Dec. 19, after about two dozen deaths in disturbances led Canada to issue a travel advisory for northeast India, the situation was serious enough that the government suspended constitutional guarantees in the capital and some other parts of the country, banning all gatherings of more than four people. The Associated Press But after Champagne met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Dec. 20, there was only a general reference to rights concerns in the Canadian readout: "Minister Champagne also discussed pluralism, human rights and issues of regional concern, including the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. Human rights, diversity and inclusion are at the core of Canada's foreign policy; their importance is reflected in all of our discussions with international partners." Gurpreet Singh said India is a blind spot in Canada's focus on human rights in South Asia. "This government clearly has its eyes on that region," he said. "They opened doors for Hindus and Sikhs being persecuted in Afghanistan, which is fair enough. They also opened doors for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was facing the death sentence in Pakistan. "So if they are keeping an eye on that region, how come they are ignoring what is happening in India under Narendra Modi?" 'Silence' of Indo-Canadian MPs Singh said the government's silence is all the more unusual because it always has had strong representation from a community that knows all about state-sponsored persecution in India: Canada's Sikhs. A pogrom against Sikhs in New Delhi in 1984 was a watershed event in the history of Canada's Indian diaspora, propelling an exodus of Sikhs from Delhi and the Punjab to Canada. There are three Sikh ministers in Trudeau's cabinet Navdeep Bains, Bardish Chagger and Harjit Sajjan as well as Canada's first Hindu cabinet minister, Anita Anand. "When it comes to south Asian MPs, they definitely are scared that they'll be denied visas to visit their home country if they annoy Modi and the Indian government," said Singh, who remembers that two prominent Indo-Canadian politicians NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal received that treatment. "This is the only explanation I can find" to account for their silence, said Singh, citing one exception. "Jagmeet Singh has done a good job," he said. "He's definitely been very vocal on these issues in the past. He was vocal on the issue of Sikh genocide, he raised the issue of the CAA. He has been vocal about the violence against the so-called Untouchables." A federal government spokesperson declined to comment on why its ministers have not spoken out publicly. Courting Modi Several Canadian politicians have cultivated ties to the BJP and to Modi, and used those ties to boost their support in Canada's Hindu community. Former prime minister Stephen Harper leveraged his Modi connections when Modi visited Canada during Harper's time in office flying with the Indian leader to Toronto, where the two appeared together at a rally. Harper campaigned in 2011 alongside one of Modi's biggest celebrity backers, Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, who was later given a special grant of Canadian citizenship. Harper visited Modi during a visit to India last year, praising his "courageous (and) visionary leadership." Western governments muted Canada's government is not the only Western government that is reluctant to call out Indian abuses. U.S. President Donald Trump was in New Delhi as the riots unfolded he had little to say about them. But the U.S. government's Commission on International Religious Freedom did condemn the attacks and called on the Indian government to protect all its citizens. Individual British MPs and opposition parties have also spoken out. The mob violence in India has also led to protests in the diaspora outside Indian consulates and embassies. Gurpreet Singh said Delhi's actions have united people from different traditions in defence of a common ideal of India. "People who are really Indian at heart, who believe in secularism and diversity, this is something we are all worried about." Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday expressed disappointment that the communal violence in Delhi has not been debated in Parliament so far, but hoped that discussion on the issue would be allowed in the House on Wednesday. The opposition has been demanding a discussion on Delhi riots, but the government has not relented. Functioning in both houses of Parliament has been affected following opposition uproar over their demand that has led to adjournment of both Houses. "We are very-very disappointed that the debate was not taken up in the first week of Parliament. In fact somebody tweeted, there is a parliament which is discussing the Delhi riots and it is not the Indian Parliament. "The discussion took place in the House of Lords in England. I sincerely hope that both presiding officers will allow a debate to start at 11 am on March 11," Chidambaram told reporters. The former union minister also criticised the government over the ban imposed on two Malayalam channels, which were later revoked. He said the reasons cited for the ban were "atrocious". The government on Saturday revoked a 48-hour ban on the two leading Malayalam channels hours after imposing the punitive measure on separate charges of being critical of the RSS, Delhi Police and siding with one community while covering last month's violence in the national capital. "The reason is atrocious, the ban is even more atrocious. Thankfully wiser counsel prevailed and lifted the ban at about 9.30 or 10 this morning," Chidambaram noted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UTICA N.Y.- The Utica St. Patricks Day Parade is just around the corner, and Friday night the Traditional Passing of the Shillelagh took place at the Irish Cultural Center. Its the first in a string of activities leading up to the parade. The 2020 Grand Marshall Nicholas Durr received the signature walking stick from the 2019 Grand Marshall John Sullivan. Durr is looking forward to the parade and says it will be a great event. A lot of special thanks and this is what its all about in the Mohawk Valley. Many organizations keep the spirit alive for Saint Patricks Day. said Durr. Heres a list of upcoming events leading up to the parade. -Wednesday March 11th is the Irish Flag Raising at Utica City Hall -Friday March 13th is the Painting of the Green Line on Genesee Street in front of the Stanley Theater. -And of course, the St. Patricks Day Parade on Saturday March 14th. Family members of condemned Alabama inmate Nathaniel Woods speak to reporters outside Holman Correctional Facility ahead of his scheduled execution on Thursday, March 5, 2020 in Atmore, Alabama. His sister, Pamela Woods, holds a page from the trial transcript that she shows that her brother was surrendering when three police officers were shot by another man in 2004. AP Photo/Kimberly Chandler Alabama inmate Nathaniel Woods was put to death by lethal injection on Thursday night. Woods was convicted in 2005 of killing three Birmingham police officers, though his co-defendant, Kerry Spencer, has admitted to killing the men and said Woods was "100% innocent." Spencer said Woods did not have a gun the night of the shooting and had fled when shot rang out. The US Supreme Court briefly delayed Woods' execution but ultimately decided they would not intervene. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Alabama inmate Nathaniel Woods was put to death on Thursday night after the US Supreme Court temporarily delayed his execution to review his case. Woods, 43, was convicted in 2005 of killing three Birmingham police officers in 2004, though his co-defendant admitted to firing the gun, and has said Woods didn't have a gun and had run away when shots rang out. He was pronounced dead at 9:01 p.m. by lethal injection. He appeared to arrange his hands in the sign of his Islamic faith before his death, but had no last words, according to The Associated Press. Priotr to his death, Woods shared a poem with his sister Pamela, and asked that it be published in The North Star originally an abolitionist newspaper that was revived by Shaun King in 2018 in the event that he was executed. In the poem, he speaks of his case and death. He ends it with: "No living being knows the time of its end/Man makes provisions for a hundred years/yet, knows not that he might die the next minute." Death row inmate Nathaniel Woods is seen in Atmore, Alabama. Alabama Department of Corrections/Handout via REUTERS In the days leading up to Woods' death, his family members and prison reform activists pushed for his execution to be called off and collected signatures in hopes that Republican Alabama Governor Kay Ivey would grant Woods clemency. Another death row inmate who admitted to killing the police officers says Woods was '100% innocent' Story continues Woods' co-defendant, Kerry Spencer, called for the execution to be stopped in an open letter from death row seen by CNN. Spencer has confessed to being the gunman in the 2004 killings, and said Woods was "100% innocent." "I know that to be a fact because I'm the person that shot and killed all three of the officers that Nathaniel was subsequently charged and convicted of murdering. Nathaniel Woods doesn't even deserve to be incarcerated, much less executed," he said. Spencer told CNN that he alone shot officers Harley Chisholm III, Charles Bennett, and Carlos Owen when they stormed a crack house he and Woods were sleeping in. He said the officers pointed a gun at him, so he opened fire with a rifle. A fourth officer was shot in the leg but survived. The US Supreme Court did briefly delay Woods' execution to review the case, but said they would not intervene. Ivey also said she would not step in to halt the execution, describing Woods as a "known drug dealer" who played an "integral participant in the intentional murder of these three officers." "This is not a decision that I take lightly, but I firmly believe in the rule of law and that justice must be served," she said, according to CNN, adding that there was no evidence "Woods tried to stop the gunman from committing these heinous crimes." Kim Kardashian West and Martin Luther King III voiced support for Woods ahead of his death Celebrities including Kim Kardashian West, activist Shaun King, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s son, Martin Luther King III, all voiced support for Woods ahead of the execution. King referred to Woods' death as "a modern-day lynching" on Twitter. Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) March 6, 2020 Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) March 6, 2020 A relative of one of the officers killed called Woods' death "partial justice." "Partial justice has been served today for our families. One cop killer down as we patiently wait for the next one," Starr Sidelinker, Harley Chisholm III's sister, said in a statement to CNN on behalf of Chishom's sister Rhonda. Testimony showed that the officers had approached a house where Woods and Spencer were believed to be dealing drugs, and after talking to Woods through a back door, Owen and Chisholm entered the building. Woods told state lawyers that he was surrendering to officers when Spencer opened fire. Prosecutors told jurors that Woods was used as "bait" to lure the officers into the house, though no evidence was produced showing that Woods had plotted with Spencer. Woods was convicted in December 2005 with a verdict of 10-2. "Under Alabama law, someone who helps kill a police officer is just as guilty as the person who directly commits the crime," Ivey told NBC News. "Since 1983, Alabama has executed two individuals for being an accomplice to capital murder." Alabama is the only state in which a jury doesn't have to be unanimous to impose the death penalty. Read the original article on Insider Every morning, managers at Dealmed Medical Supplies meet to discuss which customers they can provide with face masks from their dwindling stock. On a recent morning, they decided a local hospital would get 10 boxes of masks fitted with N95 respirators, a total of about 200 masks. The hospital had requested 60 boxes. A request from a chain of dialysis centers also went on the "yes" pile. Dealmed, an independent medical supplier based in the northeast, a supplier of face masks, gloves and other protective equipment for hospitals, clinics and doctors' offices, has seen skyrocketing demand for masks since the outbreak of novel corouavirus, the company says it hasn't received any new supplies. The Chinese factories that usually make them haven't shipped any new stock in two months, Dealmed President Michael Einhorn said. We're absolutely going to run out, but we have contingency plans in place," Einhorn said. "We're trying to do the best we can for our customers." Industry experts say China is the world's largest global supplier of medical face masks. While the Chinese Commerce Ministry says it's not restricting exports of medical face masks, Dealmed isn't the only company facing a supply crunch. Medicom, a Canadian manufacturer, has three factories in China, but the Chinese government has requisitioned all production and nothing is being exported, according to the company's COO, Guillaume Laverdure. Factories in France and Taiwan are subject to official export bans. Laverdure said the company is trying to increase its capacity, and it's adding both equipment and staff at its US and French factories. For the moment, though, the company is prioritizing its existing customers, mainly medical distributors and some hospitals. "We estimate that around 80 percent of the face masks worldwide are manufactured in China," Laverdure said. "Overnight it was 80 percent of the world supply which was cut so that creates a huge demand on the existing production capacities outside of China." In the United States, the government has not officially banned mask exports or taken supply of the supply chain. The US Department of Health and Human Services has committed to buy 500 million N95 masks or respirators over the next year and a half in order to support domestic manufacturers, and build up the Strategic National Stockpile, the country's reserve of medical supplies for public health emergencies. Dealmed is working to find new sources of face masks outside of China. In the meantime, company officials are left with the constant question of who should get the ones they have left. Einhorn says he tries to make allocation decisions based on which customers are most vital to public health, and where the patients are the sickest and therefore the most vulnerable to this particular virus. "It's a moral decision, and it's not a position that we feel comfortable being in, but we're going to do the best we can," he said. Chandler Thornton and Kelly Burns contributed to this report. Turkey under the Erdogan regime has intensified its traditional revisionist and destabilising policy that it implemented in various forms in the recent historical past. Many states in the greater region realise by now the implication of Turkey in an ongoing and ever escalating revisionist and confrontational policy. Turkeys destabilisation projects manifest themselves with varying degrees of success in a perceived periphery of states over which Ankara aims to project military power or strategic influence. The two Hellenic states, Greece and Cyprus, were and continue to be the primary targets of this revisionist policy that Turkey has pursued initially vis-a-vis Greece and Cyprus since the 1970s. Now, Turkish revisionism has been felt by other states as well, as it has spread over the last decade, affecting to a varying degree in the recent historical past Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Libya and the greater region of the Eastern Mediterranean in general. In Syria, Turkeys destabilising actions have reached a focal turning point. As the Bashar Al-Assad regime is steadily regaining territorial control over the north-western part of the country, restoring Syrian national sovereignty, Turkey attempts to maintain a disruptive presence in the greater region of Idlib with direct military interference inside Syrian territory. Turkish military operations in Syria take advantage of close ties Turkey has developed over recent years with Russia. The cooperation between Turkey and Russia is limited on a tactical level and does not extend on a strategic level, where the conflict of interests between the two actors is now evident with massive losses for Turkish forces. Turkey aims to permanently destabilise Syria and avert the possibility of any Kurdish proto-political structures on its borders. In Libya, Turkey provides continued military and operational support to the Fayez Al-Sarraj government of Tripoli that itself is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, the most vicious and dangerous Islamist organisation of modern times. Turkey continues, until recently, the deployment of both military equipment for the crumbling Tripoli regime and Syrian Islamist terrorists that fight against the Libyan National Army. According to reports, the Syrian Islamist fighters deployed by Turkey in Libya amount to 4,700. Concerning other countries of Northern Africa, Turkey is hostile towards Egypt, a hegemonic power in the Arab world, while it also pursues establishing naval or military bases in Algeria and Tunisia, albeit unsuccessfully so far. Turkish interference in Libya took its most aggressive diplomatic form with the signing in late November of the two Memoranda of Understanding between Turkey and Al-Sarraj, prime minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord. The Memorandum of Understanding for the delimitation of maritime zones between Turkey and the Tripoli government, an illegal action from the point of international law, serves Turkish geostrategic ambitions against Greece and Egypt. Specifically, Turkeys main concern is the disruption of the evolving strategic alliance between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus and the extended cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt with the support of the United States in energy and security issues. The existence of the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Tripoli regime and its violations of international law forms a threat to the strategic interests of Egypt, as well as Greece and Cyprus. In Egypt, the failure of Turkish interference is evident over the recent period. During the last decade, Turkeys destabilisation plans included extensive support for the regime of the Muslim Brotherhood and for terrorist groups in Sinai (Hamas members and local Islamists) with shipments of guns. Egypts dynamic comeback under President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi has diminished Turkish ambitions in the Arab world. Towards neighbouring Greece, Turkey uses migration flows as a strategic weapon in order to destabilise Greece. Turkey uses illegal migration as part of its hybrid warfare against Greece and the European Union. Turkeys strategic use of migration is a form of demographic terrorism aimed directly against Greek sovereignty. Greece, a NATO and EU member, is the only neighbouring state of Turkey in the scenario of a military confrontation that can cause considerable military damage to Turkey due to its considerable air and naval forces and the proximity of major Turkish urban centres to Greeces geopolitical centre, the Aegean Sea. Greece has the 16th strongest air force globally in total fighter and interceptor aircraft fleet strength. Turkeys revisionist policy forms part of an approach that includes specific short-term and mid-term goals all in service of a greater strategic neo-Ottoman vision. Turkey aspires to: - Enhance its regional role in the Eastern Mediterranean and its southern land borders in Western Asia through the use of political, diplomatic and military means. Turkey aspires to obtain hegemonic status throughout the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean, although this attempt has failed dramatically and is now in its death throes. - Increase its military presence abroad on an independent basis (ie, outside the legal framework of NATO). This attempt of Turkey includes the use of foreign mercenaries that shall operate in various local fields in countries of interest. This policy has so far been implemented in Syria, where Turkey initially supported the Islamic State and then other radical Islamist groups, in Libya with the transfer and deployment of foreign mercenaries, and in the Sahel region with the indirect support of terrorist groups. In this manner, Turkey aims to create a nexus of military influence that will implement its neo-Ottoman vision, either through direct implication or with a network of proxies. - Project the growing capabilities of its developing defence industry with the corresponding use of exported military equipment manufactured by Turkish companies. - Project the capabilities of its state-owned petroleum company (TPAO) with the use of drilling ships and research vessels. In this manner, Turkey aspires to obtain an economic presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and potentially also in other seas in the future on a cooperation basis. Turkeys revisionist policy against the national interests of many states of the Eastern Mediterranean does not remain unanswered. New regional alliances are being forged gradually in the Eastern Mediterranean on a diplomatic, economic and military levels. On a diplomatic level, Greece, Cyprus and Egypt are working closely together for a considerable period establishing networks of mutual assistance. In the field of energy cooperation, the East Mediterranean Gas Forum has been founded by a network of closely working states in the region. Egypt, Greece, Cyprus and Israel are members of the seven-member East Mediterranean Gas Forum formed in 2019 with the declared aims of creating a regional gas market serving the interests of its members by ensuring supply, optimising resource development, rationalising the cost of infrastructure, offering competitive prices and improving trade relations. On the military level, Greece, Egypt and Cyprus have conducted numerous joint military exercises projecting air and sea power over an extended area and in their respective Exclusive Economic Zones. This military cooperation could be significantly upgraded with the signing of extensive military cooperation memoranda. States of the region also enhance their capabilities individually, not in order to take part in regional antagonisms but to safeguard regional stability and their respective national interests. Egypt has over the last decade successfully overcome the negative consequences of the Islamist takeover by the Muslim Brotherhood with the establishment of the government of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. Egypts growing confidence and her leading role in the greater region is evident in a number of diplomatic initiatives and the strengthening of Egypts position in the Global Firepower Index for 2020, where Egypt occupying ninth place surpassed Turkey. Greece has intensified its diplomatic ties and military cooperation with the major Western sea power, the United States. In January 2020, Greeces parliament ratified the updated Mutual Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States for a major expansion of military cooperation, as tension between Greece and Turkey escalates. According to the new agreement, Greek military bases and facilities shall be used for increased joint US-Greece and NATO activities in strategic points of Greek territory (ie, in Alexandroupolis, a port at the border with Turkey that oversees the Dardanelles Straits, and at the Souda Bay US Naval Base on the island of Crete, the most important US base in the Mediterranean Sea). Greece also cooperates closely with Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Greece has deployed some of its Patriot defence missiles to Saudi Arabia under a programme involving the US, Britain and France, in order to aid Saudi Arabia to deal with potential Iranian aggression. Cyprus has strengthened its links to both the United States and France which has increased drastically its military and diplomatic presence and initiatives in the Mediterranean. The destabilising actions of Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean demonstrate Turkish revisionism and imperial ambitions. Still, they create a counterbalance by a network of states that aims to maintain international security on an inter-state level and the national interests of each state on a national level. In this context, the deepening of military, diplomatic and economic cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt benefits their national interest agenda and their interlinked strategic goals. The writer is lecturer in geopolitics at the University of Athens, Greece. *A version of this article appears in print in the 5 March, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Three senior members of Saudi Arabia's royal family, including the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's brother, have been arrested for unexplained reasons, media reports said on Saturday. The detentions took place on Friday morning, the BBC quoted the New York Times and Wall Street Journal as saying in their reports. The three men reported to have been arrested are the King's younger brother Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, and a royal cousin, Prince Nawaf bin Nayef, according to the reports. Mohammed bin Nayef was the Kingdom's Interior Minister until he was removed from his role and placed under house arrest by incumbent Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in 2017. Guards arrived at the homes of the royals wearing masks and dressed in black, and searched their homes, the BBC cited the Wall Street Journal as saying in its report. But there has been no immediate official confirmation or denial of the reports. Prince Ahmed bin Abdelaziz is one of the last surviving sons of the King, and widely respected amongst older members of the ruling family, said the BBC. The other senior prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, was next in line to the throne before he was suddenly replaced three years ago. As Interior Minister, he was credited with defeating the Al Qaeda insurgency that gripped Saudi Arabia in the 2000s. In a similar incident in 2017, dozens of Saudi royal figures, ministers and businessmen were confined to the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh after the Crown Prince ordered their arrests. Reuters BEIJING (Reuters) - Tesla Inc has advertised for solar and energy storage project managers in China, as the U.S. electric vehicle maker moves to expand its energy business into the country. The two posts on the Tesla human resources department's official WeChat account mark the first time the California-based automaker has looked to hire for such roles in China. Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Its billionaire chief executive Elon Musk said on Twitter last month the firm would "soon" announce timings for solar projects in China and Europe, without providing more details. One post says Tesla is seeking project managers to design and execute solar projects for commercial or residential customers, while a second seeks managers to develop photovoltaic energy storage projects. The roles are advertised as based at its $2 billion factory in Shanghai, which started delivering China-made Model 3 electric sedans at the end of last year. Tesla moved into the solar business in 2016 with its $2.6 billion purchase of California-based SolarCity, and has said it is keen to develop its energy business. Its solar services include Solar Roof, a power generating system meant to look like normal roof tiles, and Powerwall, which can store power generated by solar panels. China's energy administration announced in January that it will allocate 1.5 billion yuan ($217.27 million) to new solar power projects in 2020. (Reporting by Yilei Sun and Brenda Goh; Editing by Jan Harvey) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Shortly after Rachel Sutton texted Meredith Mechanik and asked her on a third date, Ms. Mechanik texted back and said she no longer wanted a romantic relationship with Ms. Sutton, and hoped instead that they could remain friends. Ms. Sutton (left), who is now 29 and an assistant director of graduate admissions at the University of Tampa, was on her cellphone chatting with her mother when Ms. Mechaniks text dropped like a dagger, and she began to cry. I just didnt see a breakup coming so soon, said Ms. Sutton, who met Ms. Mechanik on Tinder in June 2014. After all, we had a lot of fun on those two dates. Indeed, Ms. Mechanik, now 30 and a student program coordinator at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, seemed to be nothing but pleased after Ms. Sutton had taken her on a first date to a concert in Tampa, where they chatted over sandwiches. Their conversation was interrupted by canvassers from Equality Florida, one of whom asked Ms. Mechanik and Ms. Sutton,Do you two support same-sex marriage? They signed the petition, and both said they managed to refrain from shouting, Were on a gay date! Physical Culture, or "Physie", as it is affectionately known by its enduring legion of female practitioners, might seem a curious subject with which to launch the new season of Compass, the ABC's program about religion, ethics and social values. Since ABC journalist Kumi Taguchi took over in 2017 the role of host, held by Geraldine Doogue since the show's inception in 1988, the focus has shifted away from religion and towards broader concepts of connection and belonging. But surely a report on women and girls marching in leotards is stretching the brief? Not at all, says Taguchi, who chose the one-hour special to air on International Women's Day. "That story is beautiful because it's about intergenerational relationships. A non-Compass program would probably tell that story differently, but the stories we commission go deeper into the human side of life. It's not just about Physie. It's about grandparents and grandchildren and a home and a family that might not be blood, but it's where you belong." Taguchi, who says she has "no issue with religion, but it's not my area of passion", suspects some viewers "preferred the previous incarnation" of the program. "I've been really proactive and determined to shift the perception of Compass as 'that religious show off to the side' to one that looks at the core issues of our life: Why are we here? Why do we do what we do? What's our purpose in life? How do we live a meaningful life?" These are questions Taguchi sought to answer for herself last year, when she travelled to Tokyo to trace her late fathers footsteps. It was the first time she, or Compass, had done a story in which the journalist became the subject. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 09:54:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Flags at the Tian'anmen Square and atop the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, March 5, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Zongyou) The Chinese warship's operation was safe and professional, which was also in line with relevant international laws and common practices, while the American aircraft's behavior was unfriendly in intention and unprofessional by operation, which severely threatened the safety of the vessels, aircraft and crew of both sides, A spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense said. BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense on Friday refuted a U.S. media report about a Chinese navy destroyer firing laser at a P-8A reconnaissance aircraft of the U.S. armed forces from the Philippine Sea. Spokesman Ren Guoqiang said the U.S. media report did not accord with the reality, when responding to a query about the alleged incident. On Feb. 17, when Chinese navy fleet formation was conducting routine exercises in the international waters, the American P-8A aircraft carried out long-period circling reconnaissance at low-altitude despite repeated warnings from the Chinese side, said Ren. The Chinese warship's operation was safe and professional, which was also in line with relevant international laws and common practices, while the American aircraft's behavior was unfriendly in intention and unprofessional by operation, which severely threatened the safety of the vessels, aircraft and crew of both sides, he said. China firmly opposes such act of the U.S. side and had lodged solemn representations to the U.S., Ren said. "We demand that the U.S. side should immediately stop such provocative and dangerous acts, and cease making groundless accusations and smearing against China in order not to harm the overall relations between the two countries and armed forces," Ren stressed. The Hollywood Reporter reported that Disney+ is developing a prequel for the live-action Beauty and the Beast remake. Luke Evans and Josh Gad would reportedly return as Gaston and LeFou. Once Upon a Time creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz would showrun the series too. They just executive produced the Amazing Stories revival for Apple TV+. Gad would also co-write the show. L-R: Luke Evans and Josh Gad | Laurie Sparha/Disney The show would be an origin story, a musical and run for six episodes. Beauty and the Beast composer Alan Menken is already in talks too. Heres what a Beauty and the Beast prequel series needs to have. Luke Evans can go back to Gastons buffoonery before Beauty and the Beast Gaston is the villain of Beauty and the Beast. His aggressive courtship of Belle (Emma Watson) would not fly in modern day, and should never have been accepted. Eventually, Gaston leads the charge to Kill the Beast and thats poignant. The lovable incorrigible goofball will eventually become dangerous and deadly, so its important to nip those behaviors in the bud. Emma Watson and Luke Evans | Laurie Sparham/Disney Well, Gaston got thoroughly nipped in Beauty and the Beast. As long as the prequel takes place long before he ever met Belle, Gaston can go back to being the lovable goofball. Hes a narcissist, sure, but an entertaining one and Evans was magnificent in those earlier scenes. Six episodes worth of that is worth a Disney+ subscription. Josh Gad can really explore LeFous romance Beauty and the Beast made LeFou the first openly gay character in a Disney film. LGBTQ viewers were understandably disappointed that the film didnt pay more attention to LeFous sexuality. So a series would be the perfect medium through which to explore LeFou going on dates and dealing with persecution in his French society. Eh? Eh? Thats probably a long shot. Considering Disney+ thought the Love, Simon series Love, Victor was too edgy for their family audience, its doubtful they will use a Disney branded show to go there. At least give LeFou more subtext. More Menken music! Its good news that Disney+ is having talks with Menken. Though his collaborator Howard Ashman passed away during the writing of Aladdin, Menken continues their tradition with Disney music. He writes new songs for the live-action as he did for the Broadway shows like Beauty and the Beast. Luke Evans | Laurie Sparham/Disney Musicals on television have become much more lucrative. Besides Glee with cover songs, there was Crazy Ex-Girlfriend with new originals every week, and that was on a weekly broadcast schedule. Now theres Zoeys Extraordinary Playlist, and six episodes of new music would be doable for Menken. Also Gaston and LeFou only get a couple of songs in Beauty and the Beast. Evans was so magnificent singing Gaston that giving him new songs every week will be a treat. Of course Gad has plenty of musical experience from The Book of Mormon to the Frozen movies and the upcoming Apple TV+ Central Park. Give him more to sing too. The Luke Evans/Josh Gad bromance Beauty and the Beast was, obviously, about Belle and The Beast (Dan Stevens). They could only take so much time out of their story to spend on Gaston and LeFou. When they get their own series, it can be all about them. L-R: Josh Gad and Luke Evans | Laurie Sparham/Disney Since this will be a prequel, it can be a bit of When Gaston Met LeFou. We can see how their bromance began. Maybe they werent friends at first. Maybe they had a will they/wont they before the shenanigans we saw in Beauty and the Beast. Anythings possible. Philadelphia and the world have lost a titan of modern jazz. McCoy Tyner, 81, the profoundly influential pianist who gained renown as a key member of saxophonist John Coltranes trailblazing early 1960s quartet and went on to an adventurous and successful solo career, has died. His nephew Colby Tyner, a radio executive and former Philadelphia DJ, said Friday afternoon that his uncle had died at his home in North Jersey. No cause of death was announced. On Friday, the Philadelphia bassist and bandleader Christian McBride called Mr. Tyner a giant among giants and wrote on Facebook: May the pride of West Philadelphia rest easy. Mr. Tyner was one of jazz pianos great stylistic innovators, a mild-mannered man known not only for the rumbling physicality of his sound and the bass notes that emanated from his powerful left hand but also for the stylistic grace and harmonic invention in his playing. Raised in West Philadelphia, Mr. Tyner starting playing at age 13 in mother Beatrices beauty parlor, in the front room of the family home. The spinet fit nowhere else in the house, so the young musician heavily influenced by Bud Powell, who lived in Willow Grove gathered his friends to practice even during her business hours. Shed be in there doing hair, and shed tell us, Yall go in there and jam. Go on ahead and play,' Mr. Tyner recalled in a 2010 interview. My mother was my biggest fan, even after I went to New York City and was making records on my own. I learned later that she used to call jazz DJs in the area including Joel Dorn, who had a big jazz show back then, and ask them to play selections from my albums, he told the Los Angeles Times in 1999. He was 17 when he met Coltrane, and they agreed that the piano player would join the saxophonist when he was ready. Mr. Tyner was teamed with Philadelphia sax player Benny Golson and trumpeter Art Farmer in 1960 when Coltrane, out on his own after playing with Miles Davis, came calling. The results were historic, starting with the album My Favorite Things, with Coltrane and Mr. Tyner joined by drummer Elvin Jones and bassist Steve Davis. The quartet, which took its classic form when Jimmy Garrison became the bassist in 1962, developed a style of modal jazz on a series of albums that peaked creatively in 1965 with A Love Supreme. Hes sort of the one who gives me wings and lets me take off from the ground from time to time, Coltrane said of Mr. Tyner in 1961. The sax visionary also expressed wonderment at his bandmates technique: Tyner plays some things on the piano, but I dont know what they are. We got to the point where the music would just be totally made up, with no guidelines, Mr. Tyner said of Coltrane in a 1997 Inquirer interview. And wed usually been playing the material we were going to record, so there was no time to fret over anything. I think thats why the music sounded the way it did, because we were all so connected to each performance. It became a very intuitive thing." Mr. Tyner was the last living member of the John Coltrane Quartet. Ethan Iverson, pianist in the acclaimed jazz quartet the Bad Plus, wrote a tribute to Mr. Tyner on his 80th birthday in 2018. No one not Art Tatum, not [Bud] Powell, not [Thelonious] Monk, not Bill Evans dropped a bomb on jazz pianists quite like McCoy Tyner. He added, There was pre-McCoy and post-McCoy, and that was all she wrote. The guy is a line in the sand on a pianistic level, said Aaron Levinson, the Grammy-winning Philadelphia music producer. He adds a kind of muscularity. He embraces Brazilian music, Afro-Cuban music, African music. Hes an eclectic experimenter of the keyboard. Hes connected to the piano in a way that even Herbie [Hancock] wasnt. Hes really responsible for bringing the piano back to jazz as a percussion instrument. Mr. Tyner put out Inception, his first album as leader, in 1962, and left the Coltrane band in 1965. In 1967 he put out the classic The Real McCoy. He released over 80 albums during his career. He won four Grammys and was named a jazz master by the National Endowment for the Arts. In April 2015, Philadelphia honored Mr. Tyner during Jazz Appreciation Month. It feels great because I grew up here and I went to school here, he said. Its good to be back here and to be received in the town where you were born. At the awards ceremony, Maureen Malloy, jazz music director at Temple University radio station WRTI-FM (90.1), asked Mr. Tyner about his rugged approach to his instrument. I asked him about his left hand, and if it had gotten him into trouble throughout his career, and even growing up, with pianos, she said. He laughed really hard about it, and said thats why hes a Steinway artist now, because they would tailor things to him so he wouldnt break them. Tyners death follows that of Philadelphia saxophonist Jimmy Heath, who got his start in an earlier era and died in January at age 93. Longtime WRTI DJ Bob Perkins spoke of Mr. Tyners death on Friday as another irreplaceable loss for Philadelphia and the jazz world at large. When you hear the first couple of notes with McCoy, that powerful stride ... no one had the same drive that he did," Perkins said. "He was like a giant at the piano. You know it was McCoy when you heard it. Perkins recalled a performance at a West Philadelphia club in the 1980s where a tribute to Mr. Tyner was staged: The place was packed with around 200 people, and there were great musicians in the house, including Grover Washington Jr., who could play jazz like a fiend when he wanted to. And they were all just silent and watched and listened when McCoy played. It was like God was in the house that night. TAIPEI, TAIWAN / ACCESSWIRE / March 6, 2020 / National Chengchi University M.A Program in Communication(EMA) held a seminar on Media Ecology Course on March 7th. Professor Herng Su led the EMA students to discuss the theme of "evolution of paper media, journalism in the 21st century and fake news". Analyze the impact of the transformation of the journalism industry and the phenomenon of fake news in this course. There is no doubt that online journalism is having a positive impact on society. It brings huge benefits, but also brings many new challenges that cannot be tackled, such as fake news. Digitally changing the mode of communication, and the popularity of the Internet and mobile devices has made information transfer faster and more free, which has become a challenge for the news industry. This seminar explores three academic journals, including "When the News Meets Social Media: A Study of Journalistic Practices in the Diffuse Media Field", "Digitalization of the American Newspaper Industry: The Phantom of Reality", "Truth is what happens to news: On Journalism, fake news, and post-truth", guided by five EMA students and answering questions from classmates. Media Ecology Course aims to discuss the relationship between traditional media, new media and the ecological structure of the Internet, activities and the external environment, and to consider the impact of digital media development on the economy, culture, politics and ethics. With the perspective of social ecological history, select important topics of new media and the Internet, and use phenomena, science and case studies to discuss the entire media transformation and ecological development trends. Course Information: Date And Time: March 7, 2020, 9 am to 12 am Location: School of Communication, Chengchi University, No. 64, Section 2, Guide Road, Wenshan District, Taipei City,Taiwan About NCCU EMA EMA was founded in September 2001, and was renamed " National Chengchi University M.A Program in Communication " in September 2004. It is expected to establish a diversified dialogue platform such as news, advertising, public relations, radio and television, and digital video and audio, to provide a space for elites from the industry to communicate. Through media learning, communication management, advertising marketing and communication technology and other learning processes, train students to think independently and solve problems Ability to expand communication horizons and raise practice standards. Story continues Contacts: National Chengchi University EMA Program Le Yu leyu@wpr2.com https://ema.comm.nccu.edu.tw/ SOURCE: NCCU EMA View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/579462/Recommended-Courses-21st-Century-Journalism-and-Fake-News-at-NCCU-EMA-on-Mar-7 The Morrison government is preparing to stockpile "essential drugs" including antibiotics and will consider pack limits in pharmacies to stop panic buying, amid concerns about an impending global shortage due to the impact of the coronavirus on production in China. Australia's deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly said his department was "very actively looking, both internationally and locally" at sourcing key products, including drugs, protective masks and medical devices, in response to the disrupted supply of medicines and ingredients out of China. Antibiotics makers rely on China for their ingredients. Credit:Nine He said the Therapeutic Goods Administration, which handles medicine shortages in Australia, held a teleconference on Thursday to discuss the issue with the World Health Organisation and health authorities from the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. "We're looking actively as to whether we need to be thinking about stockpiling some of these drugs in our national medical stockpile," Professor Kelly told reporters in Canberra on Saturday. Political activists from Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) have raised concerns over the worsening human rights situation in the region. The issue was brought up during the 43rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday, March 6. Senge H Sering, President of Gilgit-Baltistan Studies, claimed in the Council that the people of PoK continue to face torture and the locals are losing the battle. He also added that the "China-led genocide" is enabling the fast depletion of flora and fauna with impending environmental catastrophe. "The people of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir continue to face torture, sedition and terrorism charges and life-imprisonment for opposing onslaught on their resources and cultural identity. Locals are losing the battle against the worst demographic engineering due to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor that encourages illegal settlements of Pakistanis and Chinese," Senge told the Council during his intervention. He added, "China-led genocide is enabling fast depletion of flora and fauna with impending environmental catastrophe. Further, a permanent resource-use ban on locals is enabling Chinese companies to enjoy an advantage to exploit indigenous mineral wealth," he added. READ: Cyprus president scolds UN for comments on crossing closures Constant threat of terrorism perpetrated by the Pakistani military Further in his intervention, Senge said that people of Gilgit Baltistan, who are constitutional citizens of India as part of the Union Territory of Ladakh are under constant threat of terrorism perpetrated by the Pakistani military. He further urged India to resume constitutional responsibility and acquire control over Gilgit Baltistan. He said, "Locals trying to protect natural resources in a peaceful manner are threatened with abductions, genocide and economic blockade as happened recently when pro-Taliban Pakistani citizens called for the massacre of Shias and Ismailies of Gilgit Baltistan travelling through their districts". "Seventy years ago, United Nations Security Council asked India to station troops in Jammu Kashmir to protect life, honour, and assets of locals. Today, as a native of Gilgit Baltistan and Jammu Kashmir, I request India to resume constitutional responsibility and acquire control over Gilgit Baltistan to save us from the brutal colonial reign of Pakistan", Senge told the Human Rights Council. READ: Coronavirus: Health Min Harsh Vardhan assures coordinated action with states as cases rise Gross Violation in J&K Muhammad Sajjad Raja, President of Jammu Kashmir National Awami Party (UK) told the Council that his NGO is concerned with the fact that the people of Jammu Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan experience gross violation of their basic human rights as guaranteed by article 20 of the Declaration of Human Rights and as reinforced by Article 21 of ICCPR. He said, "In Pakistani occupied areas people continue being subjected to arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions and enforced disappearances by authorities". READ: UN Human Rights chief urges countries to respect rights of quarantined people READ: Mesmerizing photo of coronavirus patient watching sunset with doctor brightens internet Google and Facebook could face a full-blown investigation into their iron grip on digital advertising in a move that might even lead to the internet giants being broken up in the UK. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that senior staff at Britains competition watchdog are pushing for an investigation over concerns that the two American firms have become too dominant. In a scathing 283-page report by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in December, Google was found to control more than 90 per cent of the UKs 6 billion search market for adverts that appear when internet users are trying to find information. Facebook was found to control nearly half of the UKs 5 billion display market for adverts that appear as web-page images that users are encouraged to click on. The watchdog stopped short of launching a full market investigation on the back of its study, hinting it might instead recommend tighter regulations such as forcing Google and Facebook to share data with rivals to boost competition. In a letter sent to Lord Tyrie after he became CMA chairman, seen by The Mail on Sunday, Lord Howard (pictured) criticised the ability of a relatively small number of large international companies to earn super profits because of the dominant position they occupy in their market places But now sources say senior CMA figures feel this does not go far enough and are still pushing for an in-depth probe that could open the door to a major crackdown. At the end of a full market investigation, the CMA can order companies to be broken up to improve competition. This would represent the most drastic action available to the watchdog and could see Google and Facebook forced to sell parts of their businesses. The competition watchdog, which is chaired by former Tory MP Lord Tyrie, is set to publish its final report by July 2. An investigation would deliver another blow to Google, which also faces two separate US probes into its dominance of online advertising one by the Department of Justice and the other by a coalition of the legal chiefs from all 50 states. Last night, former Conservative Party leader Michael Howard called on Lord Tyrie to be tough on the tech giants. In a letter sent to Lord Tyrie after he became CMA chairman, seen by The Mail on Sunday, Lord Howard criticised the ability of a relatively small number of large international companies to earn super profits because of the dominant position they occupy in their market places. He added: They have done this by buying up potential competitors, lobbying for regulations which skew the playing field in their favour and generally using their dominant power to the advantage of their shareholders and detriment of consumers. The only remedy for this is much tougher and more vigorous competition policy. I realise that there are legal constraints on your ability to deliver this but I would urge you to do whatever you can to invigorate the UKs competition policy in order to contribute to this objective. Last night, former Conservative Party leader Michael Howard called on Lord Tyrie (pictured) to be tough on the tech giants Lord Tyrie served as Shadow Treasury spokesman under Michael Howard while the Tories were in Opposition between 2003 and 2005. Lord Tyrie took charge of the CMA in 2018 and the watchdog has since taken a robust stance on Silicon Valleys tech companies. Its interventions have included launching an investigation into Amazons deal to buy a stake in British takeaway delivery company Deliveroo. A full-blown probe into digital advertising would be the clearest signal yet that Lord Tyrie plans to crack down on the tech giants. Critics argue Google and Facebook have created a duopoly in digital advertising that has stifled competition and forced up prices for firms, which pass the extra costs on to consumers. In its interim report, the CMA said it was concerned Google and Facebook were both now so large and have such extensive access to data that potential rivals can no longer compete on equal terms. It added: Weak competition in digital advertising can increase the prices of goods and services across the economy and undermine the ability of newspapers and others to produce valuable content, to the detriment of broader society. Richard Kramer, a senior analyst at technology research firm Arete Research, urged the CMA to launch a full investigation. Doing a deep dive would potentially put a lot of data into the public domain that should see the light of day, he said. In March last year, a separate Government-commissioned review by Harvard economist Jason Furman, a former adviser to Barack Obama, found that web giants had bought more than 400 smaller companies over the past decade. The move to swallow up rivals was described as a killer strategy to extinguish competition. In a statement, the CMA said: Our online platforms and digital advertising market study is still ongoing and, as such, no final decision has been made. In our interim report in December, we consulted on not carrying out a market investigation, on the basis that making recommendations to Government for regulatory reform would be the most effective way of tackling the concerns we identified. Ultimately, the final decision will be made by the CMA board before the deadline of July 2, taking into account the responses to our consultation, market developments and the Governments emerging position on regulatory reform in this area. The ACV proposal to renovate the airstrips at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat international airports may not be eligible to access state financing While recognising the need to renovate and upgrade the runways of Vietnams largest international airports to ensure safe operations and accommodate more modern aircraft, Vietnamese ministries are hard-pressed about the legal viability of allocating public funds for the purpose. Due to the over-exploitation and the use of new-generation aircraft with large load and wheel pressure (such as A350-900, B787-9, B787-10), since 2017 the airport system of Tan Son Nhat International Airport area has been deteriorating at an accelerated rate. Similarly, Runway 1B in Noi Bai International Airport has also been overloaded and seriously damaged, requiring renovation, upgrade, or complete replacement. To cover these works, Airport Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) has sent a written request in January to the MoT and CMSC to propose necessary mechanisms and policies to raise VND4.15 trillion ($180.43 million) for renovating and upgrading the airport infrastructure systems at the two airports. According to ACV, the total capital necessary to renovate and upgrade Runway 25R/07L at Tan Son Nhat is VND1.88 trillion ($81.74 million), and Runway 11R/29L (1B) at Noi Bai is VND2.28 trillion ($99.13 million). ACV leaders commented in last September that the Government Office has started collecting opinions on the project from ministries. If everything goes smoothly, the project will take at least six months to be approved and about six months more to reach a final policy. These are all extremely urgent projects because the infrastructure systems of these two international airports are showing signs of damage of increasing severity which can directly impact the safety of operations and exploitation, said Vu The Phiet, AVC general director. However, there is significant confusion as to the possibility of ACVs projects tapping into the state budget, with different ministries on different sides of the fence. In official Dispatch No.1972/BTC-TC sent to the government office, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said that ACVs plan is in accordance with the Law on State Budget and the Law on Public Investment. However, as cited in the decisions of the prime minister and the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) on the allocation of medium-term public investment funds, the renovation and upgrade of the airstrips of Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai international airports are not included in the medium-term public investment portfolio for 2016-2020 of the Ministry of Transport (MoT). The projects are not included in the medium-term public investment plan for 2016-2020 either, according to Document No.8572/BKHDT-TH dated November 13, 2019 of the MPI on the allocation of state investment in 2020. The MoF has also pointed out that the principles, criteria, and norms for allocating investment capital from the state budget in 2021-2025 have not been approved yet by the competent authorities. Therefore, the ministry argues that it has no basis to consider ACVs proposal to allocate capital yet. Earlier, in early January 2020, in document No.265/BGTVT-KHDT, the MoT proposed the PM to allocate about VND950 billion ($41.3 million) from the state budget capital in 2016-2020 to cover part of the VND4.15 trillion ($180.43 million) cited by ACV for these projects. The remaining VND3.2 trillion ($139.22 million) would be allocated from the medium-term state budget for 2021-2025. In addition to the plan of using public investment capital, the MoT also proposed the PM to consider assigning the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) to study the plan of using the capital of Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to implement the projects soon. The repayment of capital to ACV (if any) will be considered in detail after the plan to assign ACV to manage and exploit aviation assets is decided by the competent authority. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky says he is ready to walk away from Russia talks unless there is progress on the settlement of the situation in Donbas. Time is tickingThe government can spend one year on the entire agreement. Then it should be implemented. Any longer is prohibited, Zelensky told The Guardian in an interview. Zelensky said his meeting with Putin in Paris in December had a few emotional parts. He believes he got through to Putin during the meeting: I think he listened to me. I had that feeling. I hope its not a false feeling. Ukraines president believes he can negotiate a deal with Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, but has threatened to walk away from talks after a year if there is no progress with his Russian counterpart. Zelensky gave a deadline of a year from Decembers first summit with Putin to find a breakthrough. I wont give my five years, which were given to me by the Ukrainian people, to work on Minsk for five years. I wont do it, he said, adding there were two or three plans of what to do after walking away from talks, but declining to elaborate. The President of Ukraine said the peace negotiations were a distraction from his domestic agenda, which has been hampered by political infighting that culminated in his decision this week to oust the prime minister. ol The North Korean Foreign Ministry recently accused European nations of 'illogical thinking' as they called a closed-door UN Security Council meeting to condemn missile launches. While speaking to a North Korea's local media outlet foreign ministry spokesperson said that the illogical thinking and sophism of these countries are just gradually bearing a close resemblance to the United States. The spokesperson further described the European action as 'reckless behaviour instigated by the US'. The European countries including Britain, Germany, France, Estonia, and Belgium reportedly raised North Korea's latest missile firings at the UN Security Council. They called them a provocative action that violated UN resolutions. The European countries' concern came after North Korea fired two short-range missiles off the east coast into the sea. READ: North Korea Ends Quarantine Of Some Foreigners In Virus Move READ: North Korea Cancels Pyongyang Marathon Over Coronavirus Dread North Koreas resumed weapons demonstrations after months-long hiatus. The launches also came after North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un supervised an artillery drill aimed at testing the combat readiness of units in front-line and eastern areas. Kim Yo-Jong, sister of Kim and a senior government official even defended the missile launches as military drills. She further reportedly also said that the missile launches were not meant to threaten anyone. Warnings against missile tests North Korea has been sanctioned by the UN since 2006 and has been intensified by the 15-membered UNSC over the years in order to halt the funding of Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. However, the UN monitors have noted that the sanctions have still not been successful. Nonetheless, these sanctions have also caused an escalation of tensions between North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-Un and US President Donald Trump. READ: North Korea's Kim Expresses Condolences Over Virus In South Korea On December 11, US Representative to the United Nations Kelly Craft, while speaking at the Security Council, warned North Korea against further missile and nuclear tests. She had raised concerns about Norths indication of intercontinental ballistic missile tests which will bring the US in its range. Craft said that the US has sought to engage in robust diplomacy with the DPRK, but the signs were deeply troubling. Let me be clear, we have not asked North Korea to do everything, before we do anything. We are prepared to be flexible, but we cannot solve this problem alone, remarked the Ambassador after the Council meeting. Craft suggested North Korea avoid provocations and engage in dialogue. Peace is a better way, and peace can only be achieved by doing this together, she said. READ: North Korean Leader Sends Letter To S Korea Expressing Condolences Over Coronavirus Crisis READ: North Korean Swagger May Conceal Brewing Virus Disaster (with inputs from agencies) SPRINGFIELD Misrepresenting a dog as trained a service dog could soon come with a hefty fine under the terms of a new proposal in Springfield. House Bill 3905 would require a person to have their dog professionally trained to wear anything indicating the animal is a service dog or be brought into any business that only allows service animals. The second time someone is found to have misrepresented their pet as a service animal, they could be fined hundreds of dollars. State Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, told the House Judiciary Criminal Committee that this practice can be dangerous. When you have a misrepresentation of a dog that is represented as a service dog, thats a public nuisance and could cause harm to the public, he said. The Department of Transportation is proposing a crackdown on people who misrepresent their pets as service or emotional support animals to allow them on flights. The bill is an initiative of one of Fords constituents who trains service dogs. State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, opposed the bill. She said some dogs are comfort animals that are partly trained. People have access to animals that are functioning in their lives as service dogs, she said, adding that a formally trained dog could cost too much for some people to afford the help. This, she said, would put them at risk of being fined. Were now narrowing the definition of a service dog to be a very specific training program that a dog has to go through. The bill passed from committee, but it was contingent on if Ford changed it to reduce the up to $1,000 fine. It was updated to a maximum of $500. The fines would go toward a fund that would offer grants to help low-income people afford the cost of service dog training. As the UK prepares new post-Brexit sanctions targeting human rights abusers, some lawmakers want assurance that those sanctions will apply to Chinese doctors known to be involved in forced organ harvesting. A tribunal concluded last June that forced organ extraction has happened on a substantial scale in China and still continues. The tribunal, chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, found that practitioners of the banned spiritual discipline Falun Gong have been one of the main sources of organs, and cited recent evidence showing the mass medical testing of the Uyghur ethnic group. The UKs current Magnitsky-style sanctions give the British government the power to impose sanctions on people who commit gross human rights violations, and the ruling Conservative Party says it will go further than existing legislation. Lord Philip Hunt, a former UK health minister, told NTD, [The UK government] must consider using them against doctors and other people involved in this horrific human rights abuse. He added: We know that China claims to have a voluntary donation procedure as we do in this country, in the United Kingdom. The number of transplants that take place in China is so large compared to the number of volunteers. We know that there has to be another way in which those organs are obtained. Speaking at the UKs secondary lawmaking chamber on Monday, Hunt referred to a report from the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong that lists over 7,000 doctors suspected of murdering prisoners for their organs. The UKs human rights minister, Lord Tariq Ahmad, said he was not yet able to comment on the specifics of the legislation. He said he would fully consider the China Tribunal report. A full report (pdf) detailing the tribunals final judgment was published earlier this month, reaffirming the June 2019 judgment that forced organ harvesting is still taking place in China. UK foreign minister Dominic Raab said at a press conference in January that Magnitsky-style sanctions in the UK would be introduced reasonably swiftly after the Jan. 31 Brexit date. The United States has already passed similar legislation. The Magnitsky Act was passed in 2012 to target Russian officials connected to the death of Sergei Magnitsky, a tax adviser who died in jail after alleging Russian officials were involved in large-scale tax fraud. A global version of the Magnitsky Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 2017, allowing the United States to sanction human rights abusers across the world. The 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is set to arrive at Coastal Hyundai this spring! Last month the Hyundai brand unveiled the next-generation 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, the next step in the brands electrification plan for the next few years. The redesign brings the Sonata Hybrid in line with its non-hybrid counterpart, which was unveiled much earlier, with a few extra bonuses and enhancements. Residents of the Brevard County area, especially those in Melbourne, Florida, specifically, can find all sorts of information regarding the all-new 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid on the website of Coastal Hyundai, an automotive dealership local to the area. An informative research page on the website details many of the exciting specifications and features the hybrid sedan has to offer, while the dealerships blog houses a few posts that dive into more specific details on the hybrid sedan. New features found in the 2020 Sonata Hybrid include things like its solar panel roof, which not only enhances the unique aesthetic of the vehicle but is also meant to charge the sedans batteries, which leads to an increase in mileage. Shoppers in the area that truly want to know all there is to know about the redesigned hybrid sedan can find all this information and more on the Coastal Hyundai website, http://www.coastalhyundai.com. Interested buyers are encouraged to check back often as more information is sure to be added. Specific questions that arise in regard to the updated hybrid sedan can be directed to the dealerships sales desk at 321-723-4500. The dealership itself is located at 915 New Haven Ave. in Melbourne. Amazon said it has removed hundreds of thousands of "high-priced offers" and suspended thousands of sellers who have engaged in price gouging on its marketplace. The company acknowledged the move on Friday in a letter it wrote to Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. Earlier this week, Markey wrote a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos seeking more information on what steps the company is taking to crack down on price gouging and how it determines whether an item is unfairly priced. Brian Huseman, Amazon's vice president of public policy, said in the company's response to Markey that Amazon is "proactively monitoring" the marketplace for unfair prices and "aggressively" enforcing its fair pricing policy "in order to protect our customers." Amazon says it has removed 530,000 offers from the marketplace for coronavirus-based price gouging and suspended more than 2,500 seller accounts in its U.S. marketplace for violating its price-gouging policies. Huseman said Amazon is working with state attorneys general to prosecute bad actors. The letter comes after CNBC previously reported Amazon, Walmart and other e-commerce companies have struggled to curb third-party sellers who are overcharging for products that have spiked in demand amid the spread of the coronavirus. Sellers inflated prices for hazmat suits, face masks and hand sanitizer, among other products. For example, before Amazon ran out of stock, N95 face masks were priced at $13.28, but CNBC found examples of face masks being sold for as much as $195. Huseman also provided details around how Amazon detects price gouging, saying the company continuously compares prices submitted by sellers with current and historic prices within and outside of Amazon. The company uses machine learning models, in part, to detect price gouging, but has recently stepped up human monitoring as price gouging has spread in light of the coronavirus. Amazon is now deploying "an additional dedicated team" that's working "24 hours, seven days a week" to spot price gouging on items like protective masks and hand sanitizers, Huseman said. "We have also instituted additional manual audits of products in our stores due to the increased risk of price gouging from unscrupulous sellers seeking to evade our automated systems and take advantage of customers," Huseman wrote. Last week, Amazon said it blocked or removed more than 1 million products that made suspect or misleading claims about the coronavirus. CNBC previously found examples of third-party sellers exploiting fears about the virus by incorrectly marketing face masks with specific keywords such as "coronavirus face mask" or "N95 face mask," referring to a specific type of respirator that keeps out small airborne particles. Representatives for Markey didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Officials scrambled to make plans late Friday to disembark more than 3,500 people stuck on board Princess Cruises' Grand Princess off the coast of California after 21 people aboard the ship tested positive for coronavirus. Officials had ordered the ship to hold in waters near San Francisco after a 71-year-old man died of coronavirus after sailing on the ship's previous voyage last month. Some public health experts worried that leaving the passengers and crew on the ship risked a repeat of the Diamond Princess, which was quarantined for two weeks in Japan last month. Nearly 700 people on the ship ultimately became infected with coronavirus. Six have died. Both ships are operated by Princess Cruises. Vice President Mike Pence said Friday that the Grand Princess will dock this weekend in a noncommercial port, and that all passengers and crew will be tested for the coronavirus. Speaking at the White House on Friday evening, Pence said that 46 people aboard the ship had been swabbed. Of those, 21 tested positive for the virus, he said, 24 were negative and one of the tests was inconclusive. Pence said that of the 21 who tested positive, 19 were crew members and two were passengers. "Its very likely that the crew was exposed on two different outings," Pence said. "And we know the coronavirus manifested among the previous passengers." Pence said that elderly Americans could use common sense and caution in planning cruise ship vacations. He said that the ships present a unique challenge to health officials. The vice president said that crew members would likely be quarantined on the ship. "We will be testing everyone on the ship," Pence said. Officials are not likely to want a repeat of the evacuation of roughly 400 Americans from the Diamond Princess last month. Officials boarded 14 people who tested positive for coronavirus on two U.S. State Department chartered flights with other passengers who had tested negative. In all, 46 Americans from the ship contracted coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Several remain hospitalized as they recover. Story continues Those on board the Grand Princess may have been exposed to coronavirus after sailing with 62 passengers who company officials say had previously been on the ship's Mexico voyage with a man who eventually died from the virus. Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said in a video posted to Twitter that their ships are like "small floating cities" and like life in a city, good and bad happens on board. We learned a lot from our recent experience in Japan, and we are taking those lessons into account as we continue to support our fleet and our guests," Swartz said in the video. We have been on the frontier of fighting this disease, and we are sharing what we learned with the hospitality and the travel industry." Some public health experts, though, saw officials repeating the same mistakes with the Grand Princess. "Were making the same blunders," said Lawrence Gostin, professor of global health law at Georgetown University. "Its turning into a debacle." Gostin said the Diamond Princess experience proved that keeping passengers on the ship put more of them at risk for infection. "Every hour and day theyre on the ship, theyre at greater risk," he said. California and its federal partners need a plan to disembark the passengers quickly and put them in medical isolation, Gostin said. They should be tested and quarantined if necessary. Anyone who does not need treatment should be sent home. "They should have been tested days ago," he said. "We should have picked up on the fact that there was an infection on board much earlier." A cruise ship worker cleans a railing on the Grand Princess, March 5, 2020, off the California coast. 'We can't screw this up again' On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised guests stay in their rooms for the remainder of a cruise but had not declared a quarantine, according to a statement from Princess Cruises provided by spokesperson Alivia Owyoung Ender. Dr. Eric Cioe Pena, director of global health at Northwell Health, said that infection and spread of this virus is not a "possibility" but an "eventuality" due to the environment on board cruise ships. Cruise ships are a unique environment when it comes to health concerns, according to the CDC. In an article on its website, the CDC says that, "Outbreaks on ships can be sustained for multiple voyages by transmission among crew members who remain onboard or by persistent environmental contamination." Again, were looking at the quarantine of a cruise ship off of the coast of California because theres a fear there may be coronavirus exposures as we saw with the Diamond Princess," Cioe Pena said. "This is a very high-risk procedure." Cruise ships, Cioe Pena said, are not meant to be treated like isolation wards or hospitals, and the passengers on board are being put at risk of an infection that could potentially spread throughout the ship. "We need to be very careful with how we protect the people on the ship and make sure that, especially the people that are medically fragile and showing no signs of illness, are rapidly disembarked from the vessel," he added. "We cant screw this up again." Quarantine process in Japan 'failed,' top health official said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, told the USA TODAY Editorial Board and reporters last month that the original idea to keep people safely quarantined on the Diamond Princess ship wasn't unreasonable, but "as it turned out, that was very ineffective in preventing spread on the ship." "The quarantine process failed," Fauci said. "I'd like to sugarcoat it and try to be diplomatic about it, but it failed. People were getting infected on that ship. Something went awry in the process of the quarantining on that ship. I don't know what it was, but a lot of people got infected on that ship." Contributing: Maureen Groppe and John Fritze, USA TODAY SOURCE Princess Cruise Lines; maps4news.com/HERE; USA TODAY reporting; 1 As of March 5 10 a.m. ET This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Cruise ship off California coast at risk of Japan repeat? Click here to read the full article. Deep in the heart of the mountainous kingdom of Lesotho, the arrival of new settlers has upset the balance of power. These economic migrants from China have called old laws and gods into question, and in the uncertainty over what new way of life will emerge, only one rule holds true: eat or be eaten. Days of Cannibalism is the feature debut of documentary filmmaker Teboho Edkins. Produced by Frances KinoElektron, South Africas Day Zero Film, and the Netherlands Keplerfilm, it world premiered in the Panorama section of the Berlin Film Festival. World sales are being handled by Indie Sales. More from Variety Edkins was drawn to his subject around a decade ago, as Chinas growing investment in Africa was prompting skepticism about what many commentators saw as a new era of colonialism on the continent. The director, who grew up partly in Lesotho, soon befriended a Chinese man who had immigrated to the remote town of Thaba-Tseka. Gradually Edkins gained the trust of the local community, visiting over the course of nearly four years to witness and record the changes spurred by a wave of new Chinese arrivals. The evolving relationship between the Chinese and the Basotho people rekindled an old flame for Edkins. Ive always wanted to make a Western, he said. He cited the influence of his former film professor Valeska Grisebach, the director of the Cannes Un Certain Regard player Western, who described a Western as a film about a space in which the rules are still in flux, and the balance of power is in negotiation. Edkins added: Its really about a frontier space. With that realization, the pieces of Cannibalism began to fall into place. In Basotho culture, the cow is referred to as the wet-nosed god, an indication of the animals primacy in almost every aspect of daily life. Men who own large numbers of cattle are respected in their communities, while using their positions to benefit those around them. Story continues For the Basotho, the cow has great symbolic importance. But for the new Chinese immigrants, the animal performs a more transactional role on its journey from the field to the butchers block. Growing poverty has led to another seismic shift in Lesotho, as increased cattle rustling has frayed the bonds that have long held communities in the small, southern African nation together. You see how this whole system is beginning to collapse, said Edkins. Despite Chinese investment in large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa, and other efforts by the Chinese government to curry favor on the continent, the director said the larger story of Chinese immigration in Africa isnt part of a master plan. Its just individual people going out and trying to find a better life for themselves. Those personal journeys are set against an evolving relationship between China and Africa that, unlike previous Western engagements with the continent, isnt burdened by the weight of a colonial past. Its fresh, and in a way its innocent, said Edkins. Or you can say its completely utilitarian. Its two culturesmaking use of each other on the most base level. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. King County public health officials disclosed Friday that 10 of the 12 Washington residents who have died from coronavirus were associated with the Life Care Center nursing facility: nine patients and one visitor. Apart from people connected to the nursing home, where deaths from COVID-19 began on Feb. 26, only two people in Washington have died from the outbreak: a King County man in his 50s and a person in Snohomish County. Based on additional reports from local hospitals not yet reflected in King Countys tallies, the Seattle Times reported Friday that three more people died of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing Washingtons death count to 15 and the nations to 16. Most of the people sickened by the Life Care outbreaks are elderly residents. But two employees in their 40s also tested positive for the disease, as did a teen girl associated with the center and the visitor who died. The nursing facility, located in Kirkland, has played a pernicious role in spreading the contagious disease in a population of extremely vulnerable people. Coronavirus is by far the most dangerous for elderly adults and people with underlying health conditions. A massive study by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention that surveyed nearly 45,000 cases in the country found that about 15% of people 80 years and older who were infected ultimately died. The death rate was 8% for people in their 70s, 3.6% in their 60s, 1.3% in their 50s and 0.4% or lower for people 49 and younger. The outbreak at the Life Care facility has also spread the disease significantly in the Seattle-area population. More than half of King Countys residents who have tested positive are associated with the nursing home: 34 of the countys 58 COVID-19 cases. The cases include 18 residents, six employees and 10 visitors or family members, King County public health officials said. Although Seattle is the epicenter of Washingtons outbreak, people in four far-flung Washington counties have tested positive for COVID-19. -- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @OregonianPol Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. The Umaria district administration on Saturday demolished an encroachment in a resort owned by BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak, who is said to be a key figure in the poaching row in the Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh. Notably, the government on Wednesday ordered closure of an iron ore mine owned by Pathak. While Pathak has termed the demolition as a "politically-motivated malicious action", the district administration called it a routine removal. "This is a routine encroachment removal. On February 12, Manpur tehsildar had ordered the removal of encroachment at Syna Resort within seven days and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000," said Umaria district collector Swarochish Somvanshi. On the basis of that order and subsequent notice served to the resort, the encroachment was removed on Saturday morning, he added. Similar action has also been taken against 10 other resorts and removal of encroachments will continue throughout the day, he said. The resort, owned by Pathak's family members, is located at Tala in Umaria district's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Meanwhile, BJP's Umaria district president Manish Singh told PTI that the demolition is an act of vengeance by the state government. "The Congress government has been conspiring to harass not only the BJP MLAs, but their families, party workers and other leaders as well. This is a murder of democracy," he said. Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi, on the other hand, said the action was taken as per law. "The encroachment on government's land in Bandhavgarh was removed in accordance with law. Similarly, the action taken against Pathak's mines was also as per a Supreme Court order. There is no political vendetta. They (BJP) may cry foul to gain sympathy," he said. A former Congressman, Pathak had joined the BJP and served as a minister in the erstwhile Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. In a Tuesday late-night political drama, the Congress claimed the BJP took eight MLAs of the ruling party to a hotel in Haryana as part of a conspiracy to topple the state government. The BJP has denied the Congress charge that it was attempting to poach MLAs to topple the Kamal Nath government. According to sources in the Congress, Pathak was one of the key figures allegedly involved in efforts to convince a section of MLAs to change sides. Pathak, son of former Congress leader Satyendra Pathak, is the MLA from Vijayraghogarh in Katni district. On Thursday, Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh alleged that Pathak and four other leaders of the BJP were responsible for the alleged poaching attempt. The Congress had said in Delhi that the BJP had "abducted 14 MLAs" to bring down its government in Madhya Pradesh. In the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the Congress has 114 MLAs, followed by the BJP with 107. The simple majority mark in the house is 116. Four Independent MLAs, two lawmakers of the BSP and one of the Samajwadi Party are providing crucial support to the Congress government. Two seats are currently vacant. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Meadows thanked Trump in a statement Friday night. Its an honor to be selected by President Trump to serve alongside him and his team, he said. This President and his administration have a long list of incredible victories theyve delivered to the country during this first term. With the best yet to come and I look forward to helping build on that success and staying in the fight for the forgotten men and women of America. Sprinting shoppers, rationed mineral water and not a roll of toilet paper to be seen: panic-buying sparked by the new coronavirus soared in Los Angeles this week. Two days after California declared a statewide emergency, wholesale stores visited by AFP on Friday were unable to keep up with soaring demand for a range of staple items, as citizens prepare for the worst. Its pandemonium -- our numbers are double the usual, said Rene, an employee at a Costco supermarket in Burbank. Today has been out of control. Thats why were out of toilet paper, out of almost all water, out of hand sanitizer. One person has died so far in California, which as of Friday had registered 69 coronavirus cases -- second in the US only to nearby Washington state. Despite officials pleas for restraint, Californians have begun emulating the panic-buying seen across swathes of Asia and other regions. Its been nuts, Costco CFO Richard Galanti told analysts on a call Thursday. The same day, police in San Bernardino County, near Los Angeles, were called to one store after customers became enraged by the lack of supplies. On Friday, Costco shoppers were restricted to two crates of water, down from four the previous day. Several tried to ignore the rule and saw their extra waters confiscated at checkout, leading to some pushing, a little bit, an attendant said. A worker wheeling an overloaded cart of confiscated bottles back to their shelf was repeatedly stopped by new customers grabbing what they could. Even Costcos famous free food samples had been suspended for fear of spreading the virus, another employee confirmed. With the madness here, its starting to really set in, said Lisa Garcia, a 30-year-old retail worker who admitted she was growing seriously worried. We were thinking of stocking up on paper products, but look at those empty shelves! she told AFP. At another nearby branch, employees reported shoppers dashing at full pace through the doors as the store opened, desperate to grab supplies. By midday, only expensive sparkling Perrier bottles remained, to the disappointment of several shoppers. But some shoppers, though concerned, managed to see the lighter side of the situation. Im guarded, said emergency responder Andrew, who did not want to give his last name, wheeling a trolley filled with water, paper towels, limes and ginger ale. I want to make sure we have the essentials -- some mixers, some wines, you know, so if things go bad I can make a drink. Im here just in case the apocalypse is going to happen, joked Carlos Gonzalez, a 35-year-old student. I guess theyve found a good way to sell a lot of stuff. For the first time, entry will be free for all women visiting monuments under the ASI across the country on International Women's Day on Sunday, the culture ministry said. According to an order issued by the ministry, on March 8, no fee will be charged from women visitors at all the monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The move comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he will hand over his social media accounts to women on Sunday. "In our country, women are worshipped from much before the International Women's Day was conceived. In our culture, women have the status of goddesses since ancient times. This is a great initiative," Culture Minister Prahlad Patel said on Saturday. Earlier, the minister had announced the creation of baby-feeding rooms at all centrally-protected monuments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shenzhen reports second imported COVID-19, patient traveled to Spain Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/3/6 20:38:40 South China's Shenzhen reported its second imported COVID-19 infection on Friday, with the patient traveling to Spain in early January and transferred flight in Abu Dhabi on her way back to China. The 70-year-old female departed on Sunday. She transferred flight in Abu Dhabi when returning to China and landed in Beijing on Monday. She returned to Shenzhen, where she lives, on Monday. The female began to experience symptoms the following day and was diagnosed positive for the virus on Friday. She and her seven close contacts are under quarantine. Shenzhen's disease control and prevention center notified three flights she took, and is trying to reach 47 close contacts on her flight from Beijing to Shenzhen. Shenzhen reported its first imported case of coronavirus infection on Sunday. The patient came from London and returned to Shenzhen via Hong Kong, according to media reports. A total of 93 people have been identified as having close contact with the patient. Before the case, the city had reported zero new infections for 8 consecutive days. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The European Union has urged migrants in Turkey not to go to the border with Greece because it is a closed door, as thousands clashed with Greek police on Friday. Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign affairs chief, called on countries involved in the situation to stop this game during a press briefing held after a Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Syria in Zagreb. Hopeful migrants travelled in huge numbers towards the border after Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his government would stop controlling its land and sea borders with Europe and it was open for migrants to cross. Mr Borrell made a direct appeal to migrants in Turkey and said: The news about the alleged openness [of the Greek-Turkish border] is false and people should not try to move there. If we want to avoid critical situations, people have to know the truth. Lets stop this game. Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Show all 20 1 /20 Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants from Afghanistan arrive on a dinghy on a beach near the village of Skala Sikamias, after crossing part of the Aegean Sea from Turkey to the island of Lesbos, Greece Reuters Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants waiting on the Turkish side of the border AFP via Getty Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece A migrant woman holding her child sits in a field near the Meric (Evros) River at the Turkish-Greek border EPA Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants run to avoid tear gas thrown by Greek police during clashes near the Pazarkule border gate AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Refugees walk back after a failed attempt to pass the Greek border near the Meric EPA Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece A child cries as migrants arrive at the village of Skala Sikaminias AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece A migrant runs during clashes with the Greek police AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants use an inflatable boat as they attempt to enter Greece from Turkey by crossing the Maritsa river, near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey, 29 February 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece A migrant from Cameroon detained by Greek authorities sits in a room in the village of Marasia AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants walk towards the Greek border near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, 29 February 2020. AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece A migrant carries his belongings as he walks toward Meritsa river AFP via Getty Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Riot police detain a migrant AFP via Getty Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants prepare an inflatable boat as they attempt to enter Greece from Turkey by crossing the Maritsa river, near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. On February 29 2020, AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants use an inflatable boat as they attempt to enter Greece from Turkey by crossing the Maritsa river, near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey, 29 February 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants walk to the Greek border near the Pazarkule border gate at Edirne, Turkey AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Migrants walk to the Greek border near the Pazarkule border gate at Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, February 29 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Greek border guard use teargas on migrants trying to enter Greece, at Pazarkule border gate, Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, 29 February 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Greek border guard use teargas on migrants trying to enter Greece, at Pazarkule border gate, Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, 29 February 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Greek border guard use teargas on migrants trying to enter Greece, at Pazarkule border gate, Edirne, Turkey, Saturday, 29 February 2020 AP Migrants trapped between Turkey and Greece Greek border guard use teargas to push back migrants who try to enter Greece AP He added: Dont go to the border. The border is not open. If someone tells you that you can go because the border is open, you can go freely to Greece, thats not true. Avoid a situation in which you could be in danger. Avoid escalation of the crisis. Avoid moving to a closed door. Please dont tell people that they can go because its not true. Many of the migrants now camped along the border are from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Africa. Nearly 4 million refugees reside in Turkey, many of whom fled the war in Syria, making them the largest refugee population in the world, according to the World Economic Forum. Mr Erdogan declared the borders open on 28 February after dozens of Turkish soldiers were killed in a regime airstrike in Syria, in a bid to pressure the EU over the crisis. He said: We will not close the gates to refugees. The European Union has to keep its promises. We are not obliged to look after and feed so many refugees. The Council of EU governments told Ankara to stop spreading false information that the EUs borders are open. In a statement, the council said: The Council calls on the Turkish government and all actors and organisations on the ground to relay this message and counter the dissemination of false information. Air India, like every year, is celebrating International Women's Day in its traditional style by operating several all-women crew flights on its international and domestic routes including the non-stop Delhi to San Francisco flight. "Women cockpit and cabin crew of Air India are operating both wide and narrow-body aircraft to all corners of the world and across the nation to salute woman power in sync with our socio-cultural ethos," an official statement read. Air India is perhaps the only single airline to operate so many domestic and international flights operated and supported by only its women employees - reiterating the equal role and opportunity that women deserve in every organisation, the statement informed. "It is a moment of pride and honour for Air India as our women employees are leaving their mark in the annals of the aviation sector on a global scale. I would like to congratulate our women crew for operating so many flights on various international and domestic routes," Air India spokesperson was quoted as saying. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kabul: Islamic State gunmen opened fire at a ceremony in Kabul on Friday, killing at least 32 people in the first major attack in the city since the United States reached an agreement with the Afghan Taliban on a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops. A top Afghan political leader, Abdullah Abdullah, was present along with other key political figures and escaped unharmed. Some 81 people were wounded, a government spokesman said, adding that the death toll could rise. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, the group`s Amaq news agency reported on its Telegram channel. The Taliban, who were ousted from power by U.S.-led troops in 2001, denied involvement almost immediately. The gathering marked the 25th anniversary of the death of Abdul Ali Mazari, an ethnic Hazara leader who was killed in 1995 after being taken prisoner by the Taliban. Several people were killed in a similar attack on the same commemoration last year, which Islamic State had also said was carried out by its militants. "The attack started with a boom, apparently a rocket landed in the area, Abdullah and some other politicians ... escaped the attack unhurt," Abdullah`s spokesman, Fraidoon Kwazoon, who was also present, told Reuters by telephone. Broadcaster Tolo News showed live footage of people running for cover as gunfire was heard. Afghan defence forces continued to fight gunmen throughout the day, finally securing the area by killing about three gunmen in the late afternoon, according to the ministry of interior spokesman Nasrat Rahimi. President Ashraf Ghani tweeted that the attack was "a crime against humanity and against the national unity of Afghanistan". Abdullah was runner-up in the last three Afghan presidential elections, each of which he disputed. He has served as chief executive of a coalition government since 2014 and is also a former foreign minister. Ghani said he had telephoned Abdullah, his longtime political rival. Abdullah is contesting an Electoral Commission announcement last month declaring Ghani the winner of September`s presidential election. Dozens of relatives gathered at the morgue of a hospital not far from the blast, with many breaking down in tears as they waited to identify their loved ones. Ambulances and stretchers bustled back and forth at the hospital to deliver the wounded for treatment. "I was at the ceremony when gunshots started. I rushed toward the door to get out of the area but suddenly my foot was hit by a bullet," Mukhtar Jan told Reuters from a stretcher at the hospital. Ali Attayee, at the hospital to support his wounded brother, said: "Those who committed this crime want to destroy our people. ... We`re sorry for those committing such crimes." Representatives of the United States, European Union and NATO condemned the attack. "Attacking the innocent and defenceless at a memorial event is a sign of weakness, not a show of strength. ... The Afghan people deserve a future free from terror," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The attack was one of the largest on civilians in Afghanistan in a year. "Horrific attack in Kabul today ... heartbreaking and unacceptable. We are tired of war and violence," said Shahrzad Akbar, head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission. Hazaras are mostly Shi`ite Muslims. Minority Shi`ites have been repeatedly attacked by Sunni militants in Afghanistan. The United States has sought to spearhead efforts towards a lasting peace arrangement. Violence decreased during a seven-day hold-down accord with the Taliban before last Saturday`s deal, though the Taliban have since resumed attacks on Afghan forces. These days, a large number of consumers are still struggling to make ends meet every month as the effects of the recession continue to fade from view. But few Americans are likely struggling as much as military families. While the federal government allows for military members serving in active combat overseas additional pay, housing allowances and tax exemptions, many of their families are still struggling financially for a number of reasons, according to a report from CBS News. For one thing, those families who are being moved around with regularity may have trouble finding employment for the other spouse, and they may incur some moving costs not covered by federal allowances. The unemployment rate among military spouses is roughly 26%. The stress factors with the families is just unbelievable, Roger Mealey, a Vietnam veteran who runs a website to aid struggling military families, told the news service, adding, It just frustrates me. If were asking them to serve their country and put their life on the line, I dont think their families should be put in the position where theyre sleeping on the floor or dont have enough food to feed their kids. A recent survey found that 27% of service members had more than $10,000 in credit card debt, which can be difficult to deal with, the report said. Thats compared with just 16% of civilians. In addition, more than one-third of military families responded that they struggle to pay the bills every month, and 20% also had to borrow money from entities other than banks. Problematically, there is help available to service members, but they may not always use it, the report said. For example, the military provides financial counseling services, but many troops may not seek it out because they dont want their peers or commanders to know theyre having money trouble. Further, there are a number of nonprofit organizations like Mealeys that exist specifically to help military members make ends meet. Military members who are having financial difficulties should seek out help wherever they can find it. Even if they dont want to go through official channels, conducting a simple search online might help them to find some form of assistance that they may not have known about. Get the Latest Financial Tips Whether you're trying to balance your budget, build up your credit, select a good life insurance program or are gearing up for a home purchase, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com and get the latest military benefit updates and tips delivered straight to your inbox. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star & PSAD Staff Mar. 07, 2020 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star & PSAD Staff Mar. 07, 2020 | 03:09 PM | PADUCAH West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Paducah School of Art and Design (PSAD) opens two exhibitions with a reception March 5 and March 10, both at its 2D Graphic and Design Building at 905 Harrison St. Retrograde-select works by Shannon Duffy and Erich Neitzke opens March 5 and the 21st Century McCracken County Community Centers opens March 10. Both events begin at 5 pm and are free and open to the public. Retrograde features works by PSAD adjunct instructors Shannon Duffy and Erich Neitzke, with Duffy exhibiting jewelry and metalsmithing and Neitzke, exhibiting relief prints, screen prints, and print inspired wall pieces. The 21st Century McCracken County Community Centers exhibition features works by McCracken County public school students participating in this year's 21st Century art program, encouraging participation in afterschool educational programs in other areas of academic need. Participating schools include Heath Middle School, Hendron-Lone Oak Elementary School, Lone Oak Middle School, McCracken County High School, Reidland Elementary School, Reidland Intermediate School, and Reidland Middle School. "PSAD is pleased to recognize both the skills and expertise that our adjunct faculty members bring to our classroom and studios and the artistic accomplishments of the diverse 21st Century art students and their determination to increase skills and knowledge in other areas of study," said art school director Paul Aho. The exhibitions will remain on display through April 10. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm; Saturday 10 am to 4 pm. West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Paducah School of Art and Design offers an associate in fine arts degree in visual art and an associate in applied science degree and certificate programs in visual communication: multimedia, as well as studio art classes for students of all levels and disciplines. Classes are offered on WKCTC's campus; at 905 Harrison Street; and at 919 Madison Street. For more information about PSAD, call 270-534-3901. Marin County Public Health on Friday said two people who were on a Grand Princess sea cruise to Mexico Feb.11-21 have been hospitalized and tested for the COVID-19 in the county. "As of today, no Marin County residents have tested positive for COVID-19," Marin County Public Health Officer Matt Willis said in a news release. MONTREAL - Experts say the novel coronavirus could force millions of people across the globe to work from home, posing potential challenges and benefits. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. MONTREAL - Experts say the novel coronavirus could force millions of people across the globe to work from home, posing potential challenges and benefits. Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay, a business professor at the University of Quebec's distance-learning school, says studies show telecommuting may result in higher productivity and quality of work, despite the disruption to routine. She says that outcome demands structure, discipline and a resolve to overcome the connotations of "phoning it in." Tremblay notes that working from home remains a hypothetical for most businesses in Canada, but that employers and employees would do well to confront the possibility and head off any problems down the road. She says effective telecommuting requires remote access to relevant work tools such as software and databases. It also includes setting up a distinct, office-like space at home rather than just a laptop on the couch or the kitchen table. Johanne Brunet, a marketing professor at the Universite de Montreal, suggests offsetting the isolation of telecommuting by socializing more with friends and family. The number of infected people worldwide exceeded 100,000 on Friday. The World Health Organization says most of the new cases had shifted from China to other countries, including more than 50 confirmed or presumptive cases in Canada. Health officials in Ontario, British Columbia and across Canada have said the risk posed by COVID-19 in this country remains low. New Mexicos public school funding for at-risk children in 2020-21 is projected to exceed $300 million out of total school spending of about $3.5 billion. The at-risk money is intended to help students with extra needs mainly poor students and English language learners overcome obstacles to learning. Though still short of the 25% extra spending per at-risk student that many experts consider minimally adequate, these at-risk dollars, if used as intended, could boost results for many students who would otherwise be low educational performers. In its editorial of Dec. 21, 2019, the Journal embraces Judge Sarah Singletons finding that a new accountability system (is) critical for ensuring the needs of at-risk students are met. It then notes, pointedly, that no such system exists. But while the Journals editorial rightly emphasizes the importance of measuring educational results, it does not address another essential aspect of accountability: ensuring that districts and schools spend their at-risk dollars to augment services for at-risk students and do not treat that money as part of their general funding. I outline here the provisions needed to accomplish this task. First, to establish a foundation for accountability, either the Legislature or the Public Education Department (PED) needs to clarify several matters concerning uses of at-risk funds: How are districts supposed to distribute at-risk funds among schools? Right now, it is unclear even whether at-risk students must be served in all schools and at all grade levels, much less how a district is to determine each schools share. Which students should be served? Apart from ELLs, who have rights to services under federal law, the definition of intended beneficiaries is murky. Should students be selected based on indicators of at-risk status, such as family poverty; measures of educational need, such as low proficiency in reading; or some as-yet-undefined amalgam of the two? What services qualify for at-risk funding? The state is likely to leave decisions about specific services to districts and schools, but to ensure the purpose of at-risk funding is achieved, it must require that the services be truly supplemental meaning additive to regular school services supported with general funds and distinguishable, qualitatively or quantitatively, from services for the general student population. Once the foregoing issues have been sorted out, success in directing extra resources to at-risk students will depend on how rigorous a reporting and monitoring system the state establishes. The Legislature has mandated annual reports on uses of at-risk funds from every district and school, but PED has not yet said what these reports should contain. A meaningful school report would present the following information for each activity supported with at-risk money: Which students were served and what services they received e.g., small-group after-school tutoring for third-graders having difficulty learning to read How many students participated and for how much time Who the service providers were and how much they were paid What other costs were incurred non-personnel expenses, administrative and support costs The total cost and the cost per student served And, especially important, what was the excess cost net of the cost of regular school activities that the at-risk services may have replaced as only excess costs are legitimately payable from earmarked at-risk funds PEDs monitoring function would entail reviewing and responding to these reports from more than 800 schools, interacting with districts and schools as questions arise, overseeing needed corrective actions and, where necessary, conducting field visits or audits to verify that supplemental services are being delivered and costs are being incurred as claimed. The reporting and monitoring requirements, taken together, imply that substantial new capacity will have to be created within PED to ensure that at-risk funds are being used as the Legislature intended. Stephen M. Barro served as an expert witness for plaintiffs in the Yazzie/Martinez school finance litigation. The GP at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak in Co Clare sought advice from the HSE following his return from Italy and was cleared to work, it is understood. The father-of-two initially contacted public health officials on his return over two weeks ago and again within the past seven days. As he was not showing symptoms, he was advised it was safe to keep working. The HSE has refused to comment. The Irish Independent understands when the doctor returned from Italy the area he had travelled to was not in the at risk region and this meant he was not obliged to isolate himself for 14 days unless he had symptoms. Locals in the town where the GP is based spoke highly of him, but criticised the HSE response. One woman whose husband attended last week said they found it very difficult to get information. Read More "When we heard about our doctor being diagnosed, we contacted the national helpline. Then today after waiting for 20 minutes we got through to someone who told us to contact our GP. "Today, we were informed about a local HSE helpline and they were much better. "They have advised us to isolate for two weeks and are sending out someone to test my husband today. "I feel very sorry for our doctor, he is a lovely man and a very caring doctor. "All he did was go on holidays and then follow HSE advice. I think it's awful he has been criticised online. "That's very difficult for him and his family. They are totally blameless." The HSE used a former Garda station as a pop-up facility to test people in the area yesterday. Ambulance service staff took swabs and carried out a preliminary assessment. Another local man who attended the GP at an out-of-hours service over the weekend has been in isolation since Tuesday awaiting test results. The Irish Independent understands he was contacted at midnight on Tuesday at his place of work. He was advised to go home and isolate and at 4am testers arrived in an ambulance and tested him. Read More A local councillor said people are concerned about the outbreak: "In general people are a bit nervous they don't know what's going on. "We have two schools closed, and the attendance in the other schools that stayed open is way down today. "Maybe if things calm down over the weekend, people will let their kids back to school. "I appreciate the HSE are dealing with a difficult situation, but I think a more localised response would have been better here." Another local woman said there is widespread sympathy for the GP and his family but people are anxious. "He's an excellent doctor and is very kind to people." From fixing Torontos transit to what its like to go through a family members medically assisted death, weve selected the best long reads of the week on thestar.com. Want to dive into more long features? Sign up for the Weekend Long Reads newsletter to get them delivered straight to your inbox every Saturday morning. 1. Can we fix Torontos transit by 2030? With an expected population of 8 million, experts say its already too late Even if dozens of planned transit projects get the funding they need and go ahead, it will hardly make a dent in the percentage of people commuting by public transit, Metrolinx predicts. 2. Mum asked us to arrange a medically assisted death for her. Why it was good. Why it was hard. It was Saturday night dinner at Mums place: Grandma, 4 children, 3 spouses, 4 of her 6 grandchildren. Mum was tucking into her fifth lamb chop when the doorbell rang. It was a public health nurse arriving to put shunts in Mums arms. Through these shunts would be administered three lethal injections tomorrow morning. At age 95, Mum had received an untreatable leukemia diagnosis, and had chosen to die by medically assisted death. This was the Last Supper. 3. Did free cash drive people to quit work? Not according to a new study of Ontarios basic income experiment Three-quarters of people who were employed before joining Ontarios ill-fated basic income pilot project continued to work while receiving the no-strings-attached monthly stipend, according to a new study. And more than one-third of those low-wage workers were able to move to higher paying and more secure jobs. 4. This GTA teacher was accused of sexually assaulting a student. Now the charges are dropped, but can life go back to normal? Although there are no longer criminal charges hanging over Krystal Wilsons head, the impact on her health and reputation may be long-lasting. Will the strange looks, the whispers, the comments from strangers online ever stop? 5. We are fighting a big machine. Gentrification is pulling apart Torontos communities. How do we prevent it? As cities develop, what is protecting the neighbourhoods that make them unique? Its a question Toronto is grappling with as gentrification creeps into neighbourhoods around the city. If small, locally-owned businesses diminish, the collective history of that neighbourhood, of (that) space will be gone. And its kind of destroying the urban fabric, says one urban planning professor. 6. How this womans fight with Engineers Without Borders sparked an #AidToo uproar Chelsey Rhodes said her supervisor became overly hostile and abusive, toward her. She alleges that he drew diagrams he said demonstrated her flaws in front of co-workers, and that he made comments about colleagues breasts in front of her. She says that at times he would become so angry he would scream at her in public until they were asked to leave. She was offered a settlement and asked to sign a confidentiality agreement. 7. I helped break the Rob Ford crack story. Heres whats good and bad about the movie version, Run This Town What this movie does well is tell one fascinating slice of the Rob Ford story, a slice that troubles me to this day: how Fords political staff sheltered his bad behaviour, with only minor consequences, writes Kevin Donovan, who investigated and wrote more than 60 stories about Ford and his cabal, the crack video scandal, Fords henchmen and the extensive police investigation. 8. Some funeral homes really are out to gouge you. Heres how to make sure they dont Tom Niebuhr dug deep into the cost of dying while planning numerous faux funerals for his website called InMemory. The Surrey, B.C. resident, family members and associates visited funeral homes posing as the soon-to-be-bereaved so they could collect prices and fees for a cost-comparison database of almost 700 funeral homes across Canada, including 86 in the GTA. Niebuhr, who left a 25-year career in banking in 2017, says as mystery shoppers they experienced aggressiveness, pressure and upselling tactics at some establishments. 9. At 82, hes the Boston Marathons oldest qualifier. We went running, and he told me his story Dont let this mild-mannered grandfather who does the New York Times crossword every day fool you. When I call to see if I can tag along for one of his training runs, he asks: Not to sound condescending, but how much running have you done recently? 10. Dinosaurs saved Drumheller from extinction. But now its time for a new era Every summer, tourists flock to Drumheller and the surrounding valley, the resting place for thousands if not millions of fossils, a fraction of which are on display at the internationally renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum. Even with Drumhellers claim to fame, some residents are worried about the towns future. PHILADELPHIA The nations jails and prisons are on high alert, stepping up inmate screenings, sanitizing jail cells and urging lawyers to scale back in-person visits to prevent the new coronavirus from spreading through their vast inmate populations. There have been no reports of COVID-19 inside U.S. jails or prisons. But more people are incarcerated per capita here than in any other country in the world and prisons have become hot spots in other nations touched by the outbreak. Coronavirus suddenly exploded in Chinas prisons last week, with reports of more than 500 cases spreading across five facilities in three provinces. Earlier this week in Iran, 54,000 inmates were temporarily released back into the country amid virus fears. Jail operators in the U.S. are coming to the growing realization that its only a matter of time before it strikes here. Jails are, you know, just prime opportunities for something like this to spread, said Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington, the president of the Louisiana Sheriffs Association. Im a realist and I suspect more than likely sometime its going to pop up in somebodys jail. Health officials have been warning for more than a decade about the dangers of outbreaks in jails and prisons, which are ideal environments for virus outbreaks: Inmates share small cells with total strangers, use toilets just a few feet from their beds, and are herded into day rooms where they spend hours at a time together. Practicing even the most simple hygiene, such as washing hands, is not a given in such environments. Hand sanitizer is often treated as contraband because it contains alcohol. Inmates go in groups to court, where they wait together in cramped holding areas. Many are poor, meaning that when they're released they often must get on public buses or trains to get home. Reports of illness spreading in a jail are fairly common, and occasionally outbreaks of influenza have required quarantine. Most often, the numbers of inmates who come down with the flu at the same time dont climb higher than a couple of dozen, but there have been exceptions. In 2013, an outbreak of the stomach flu at Cook County Jail in Chicago, the largest single site jail in the U.S., prompted the quarantine of 700 inmates. We are used to dealing with this kind of thing like flu outbreaks that a lot of places arent," said Brad Curry, the chief of staff for the Cook County Sheriffs Office, which operates the jail. After the swine flu outbreak in 2009, which infected hundreds of prisoners across the country, most prison systems did create pandemic preparation plans. Before worries of the coronavirus, the Philadelphia Prisons Department had a medical quarantine for inmates coming into its system, which houses about 4,600 inmates. New detainees go through a medical screening and are segregated for at least 10 to 14 days while they wait for the results of any medical tests, said James Garrow, a spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. The screening has since been updated to include COVID-19, not only in Philadelphia, but also in Dallas, Houston, Miami, Chicago and other cities. No prisons have yet obtained the medical kits to test for the virus, however. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has instituted a new screening tool that includes question about whether inmates or staff members have traveled through any risk countries, had close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 or been deployed to areas with the virus within two weeks. The tool, obtained by The Associated Press, also looks to assess possible symptoms, including fever, cough and shortness of breath. But only about 175,000 of the nation's more than 2 million incarcerated people are detained in federally run facilities. The rest are held in hundreds of prisons, jails and immigration detention centers around the country. Local city and county correctional facilities bear the brunt of screening incoming prisoners because those facilities are often the first stop while someone awaits court hearings or arraignments on local, state or federal charges. Local corrections officials realize they're on the front lines of possible outbreaks and are working on protective measures. In New York City, the Department of Correction is cleaning and sanitizing cells, common spaces, showers and transport buses more regularly. Anyone sick at Rikers Island, the notorious New York City jail where Harvey Weinstein is being held, is screened and could be sent to an area hospital or the department's communicable disease unit. In Miami, any newly arrested person suspected of having the virus will be diverted to a hospital, said Corrections and Rehabilitation Department spokeswoman Dominique Moody. She said the department has also secured space for a medical quarantine for any of the 3,900 inmates already in custody if it becomes necessary. Prison staff are being trained in many facilities on how to recognize symptoms and are being given supplies for protection, such as masks, gloves and eye protection. Officials in Philadelphia, meanwhile, are working to secure more money to cover costs if city employees, including jail guards, need to stay home sick. The precautions have extended outside prison walls to the legal community. Throughout the country, criminal attorneys are meeting with clients via video conference and exercising caution over how they handle and exchange legal documents with inmates. San Antonio-based attorney Joseph Hoelscher said several judges there have encouraged attorneys to postpone routine courthouse appearances for cases that are not nearing trial to avoid having to bring prisoners to the courthouse. We are not going to any jails, he said. That would be the first population where it would spread. And they would get the worst medical care. In New York City on Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen McMahon quietly ordered all inmates at the nearby federal jail to be screened for fevers, and said they should not appear in court if they have a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Jeremy Corbyn is bequeathing his successor a Labour Party so out of touch with mainstream British values that almost half of its members are ashamed of their own countrys history, according to a new poll. After four years with Mr Corbyn at the helm, barely one in three of the Labour faithful are proud of the nations past, compared to more than 50 per cent of voters. The YouGov survey also shows the partys 500,000-plus members are wildly at odds with the public on wanting to ditch the Monarchy, and with many in denial about Labours problems with anti-Semitism. Last night, former Labour MP Ian Austin who quit in protest at Mr Corbyns leadership said the outgoing leader was handing his successor a toxic legacy of a party gripped by extremism and poisoned by anti-Semitism. Labour party members want to abolish the Monarchy and deny their party has a problem with anti-Semitism, a poll by YouGov has revealed It comes after just four years under Jeremy Corbyn's disastrous leadership and two defeats at general elections as the party's policies failed to chime with voters Mr Austin, chairman of cross-party anti-extremism group Mainstream, also predicted it would take years to purge Labour and restore its reputation as a mainstream party that shares the values and views of hard-working Britons. The survey comes as the contest to succeed Mr Corbyn enters its final stages, with Sir Keir Starmer still favourite to be named new party leader on April 4 ahead of rivals Rebecca Long Bailey and Lisa Nandy. Mr Corbyn has spoken of his pride in building up Labours membership. But the new poll, commissioned by Mainstream and carried out last week, contrasted their views with those of the public at large and found huge differences. More than half of Brits 53 per cent were proud of the last 300 years of the nations history. But only 29 per cent of Labour members agreed, while 48 per cent of them said Britains past in that period was something to be ashamed of. Similarly, the poll found widespread support for the Monarchy among ordinary Britons, with 63 per cent wanting the institution to continue. In contrast, 53 per cent of the Labour faithful wanted to see the Royal Family replaced with an elected head of state. Britain's main opposition Labour member Ian Austin shown speaking in the Commons A huge divide also opened up over who was to blame for Labours historic General Election defeat last year, with nearly half of general voters blaming Mr Corbyns leadership but only 36 per cent of Labours members agreeing. And Labours grassroots was at odds with the public over anti-Semitism, with 78 per cent of party members believing the problem was either exaggerated (53 per cent) or that there was no problem at all (25 per cent). But only 29 per cent of ordinary voters thought it had been over-stated and just 10 per cent thought Labour did not have a problem with anti-Semitism. Last night, Mr Austin said: Almost half of Labour members are ashamed of Britains history and more than half want to do away with our Monarchy. Contrast that with the values and views of the general public a nation proud of its rich heritage and history and supportive of the Monarchy and you will see what a toxic legacy the new Labour leader will inherit from Jeremy Corbyn next month. Labour sought to dismiss the Mainstream poll findings last night by launching a fierce personal attack on Mr Austin, adding: No one who associates with him is a mainstream or credible voice. OTTAWACanadian researchers are developing a lab-in-a-box that could make it cheaper and faster to diagnose cases of the novel coronavirus, particularly in remote areas of the world. The project received $1 million from the International Development Research Centre as part of the $27 million in coronavirus research the federal government announced Friday. The technology being developed by Keith Pardee, an assistant professor of pharmacy at the University of Toronto, aims to make it possible for people in remote areas to test for the virus very quickly. Xinyu Liu, an associate professor of engineering at the university, is working to make the test portable. The ultimate goal is to create a kit that would fit into a container about twice the size of a standard moving box, which would contain the diagnostics and hardware to perform 14,000 COVID-19 tests. What we are trying to do is make that functional clinical capacity available more globally, Pardee said. The World Health Organization has warned of the danger of the virus spreading in countries without the capability to detect it in patients, which could facilitate an even larger global outbreak. Pardee hopes this technology will eventually be able to help curb that. It could also be useful here at home, in remote northern communities for example, or ports of entry. In places like Canada, our technology would be best suited for decentralized places, like airports and maybe your neighbourhood pharmacy. Pardee first developed the technology while working on his postdoctorate in 2014, which allowed he and his fellow researchers to make paper sensors for particular diseases. The team tested the technology on the Zika virus and have validated the diagnostics in patient trials with teams in Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia. The technology is already reliable in a lab setting, Pardee said, and the grant money will go toward making it accessible to people without specific scientific skills. Once its finished, the lab-in-a-box could be repurposed to respond to future potential pandemics with only a few weeks lead time. Four labs are working on different parts of the project, including teams of viral respirologists in Vietnam and Brazil who will be focused on patient testing. The federal $27-million package will support 47 research teams from across Canada to develop, test, and implement ways to deal with the global COVID-19 outbreak. This is about making sure that Canada is able to participate in this research that is happening globally, that we have Canadian solutions being developed, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said Friday in Montreal. [March 06, 2020] Rayonier Advanced Materials Announces Additional Corporate Governance Enhancements Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE:RYAM) today announced that the Company's Board of Directors will nominate and appoint two new independent directors to the Board. The Board will nominate David C. Mariano as a Class III Director, along with Paul Boynton and De Lyle W. Bloomquist, at the upcoming 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting"). The Board will also appoint Ivona Smith as a Class II Director at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting. In addition, longtime directors C. David Brown (News - Alert) and Mark Gaumond have announced that they are planning to retire from the Board, effective as of the Annual Meeting. "We look forward to having both David and Ivona join our Board," said Paul Boynton, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We expect to benefit from David's expertise in the cellulose specialties business, as a successful investor, as a strategist, and as a current significant stockholder in our company. Ivona has a proven track record as an investment professional and fund manager with significant knowledge and insights regarding the financial community. Their decades of relevant experience and perspectives will be invaluable to the Company as we execute on our strategic priorities and continue the Board's efforts to build value." Mr. Boynton added, "We greatly appreciate the dedicated service, insights and guidance from both David and Mark over the past six years, and we wish them all the best in the future." The Board also announced today that it will separate the roles of Chairman and CEO, effective immediately after the Company's Annual Stockholder Meeting in May. The Board will name a non-executive Chairman immediately after the Annual Meeting. In connection with these changes, the Board will discontinue the role of Independent Lead Director. Mr. Boynton, who currently serves as Chairman, will continue in his role as President and CEO, and as a director of the Company. Mr. Boynton concluded, "The steps we are taking today, in addition to our previously announced proposals to declassify the Company's Board and to eliminate supermajority voting requirements from our governance structure, further underscore our commitment to strong corporate governance practices and proactive Board refreshment. Today's announcements reflect the results of our engagement with our stockholders and their valued feedback. We will continue to regularly review our Board's expertise, skills and experience as we execute on our strategic priorities to improve profitability and drive sustained value creation." In conjunction with today's announcement, the Company also announced that it has entered into an agreement with Ortelius Advisors, L.P. ("Ortelius"), which currently owns approximately 5.2% of the Company's outstanding shares. As part of the agreement, Ortlius has agreed to vote in favor of all of the Company's nominees at the upcoming Annual Meeting. Additional information about today's announcement will be filed on a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Peter DeSorcy, Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Ortelius, said, "We are pleased to have worked collaboratively with the Board and management team to reach this agreement. We are confident that the additions of David and Ivona to the Rayonier Advanced Materials Board will advance the Company's efforts to enhance stockholder value." Centerview Partners LLC is serving as Rayonier Advanced Materials' financial advisor, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as legal counsel. Polsinelli PC is serving as counsel to Ortelius. About David Mariano Since 2011, Mr. Mariano has been Managing Director of DCM (News - Alert) Capital, a private investment firm with holdings in the equity and debt of public and private companies. From 1998 to 2011, prior to founding DCM Capital, he was Managing Partner of Wellspring Capital Management, a registered investment advisor focusing on turnaround and restructuring opportunities in a range of industries. From 2006 to 2011, Mr. Mariano served as Executive Chairman of the Board of Neucel Specialty Cellulose, a manufacturer and seller of dissolving wood pulp products, including high purity specialty cellulose and viscose pulps, and in that role he gained extensive experience in operations and building customer relationships in the markets served by Neucel. Since the sale of Neucel in 2011, Mr. Mariano has been a consultant, advisor and investor involving many companies in the dissolving wood pulp industry. During his tenure at Wellspring, Mr. Mariano also served on the boards of several of its portfolio companies, including Paragon Trade Brands, Residential Services Group and Home Decor. Prior to his career at Wellspring, Mr. Mariano was a Managing Director at the Blackstone Group and a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young. Born and raised in Manila in the Philippines, Mr. Mariano holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Gustavus Adolphus College and an MBA from Duke University. About Ivona Smith Ms. Smith is an advisor at Drivetrain LLC, an independent fiduciary services firm. She has over 25 of experience in the financial services industry, providing financial and investment advisory services and acting as portfolio manager and managing director at various investment management and advisory firms, including Restoration Capital Management LLC, a hedge fund that she co-founded in 2001. She also previously served as Managing Director, Fair Oaks Capital LP, Co-Portfolio Manager Tribeca Investments, LLC, a subsidiary of Citigroup/Traveler's, and as an Analyst and Financial Consultant at various firms, including Kidder Peabody and Ernst and Young. Ms. Smith previously served as an independent director of ITN Networks LLC. Ms. Smith holds a bachelor's degree in finance from Fordham University and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. About Rayonier Advanced Materials Rayonier Advanced Materials is a global leader of cellulose-based technologies, including high purity cellulose specialties, a natural polymer commonly found in cell phones, computer screens, filters and pharmaceuticals. The Company also manufactures products for lumber, paper and packaging markets. With manufacturing operations in the U.S., Canada and France, Rayonier Advanced Materials employs approximately 4,000 people and generates approximately $1.8 billion of annual revenues. More information is available at www.rayonieram.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this document relating to Rayonier Advanced Materials' future events or developments are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "estimate," "believe," "intend," "forecast," "anticipate," "guidance," and other similar language. However, the absence of these or similar words or expressions does not mean a statement is not forward-looking. While we believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable when made, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance these expectations will be attained and it is possible actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks and uncertainties. Rayonier Advanced Materials assumes no obligation to update these statements except as is required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200306005535/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New guidelines for Int'l travellers: From South Africa to Mauritius, here is a list of at-risk countries Hindu American foundation accuses US body of misinformation on CAA International oi-PTI Washington, Mar 07: A top Hindu-American body has accused a US commission on international religious freedom of conducting hearings that perpetuate misinformation about the intent and impact of India's amended citizenship laws. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Wednesday expressed concern over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying it could result in the "wide-scale disenfranchisement" of Muslims in the country. Members of the commission along with an invited panel of experts convened a hearing mainly focused on CAA and the Rohingya Muslims issue in Myanmar to help develop policy recommendations for the US government in response to the issues. The new citizenship law passed by the parliament in December 2019 offers citizenship to non-Muslim persecuted religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. After the enactment of the law, protests erupted across the country over fears that the CAA may marginalise the minority Muslim community. The government has maintained that the CAA is an internal matter of the country and stressed that the goal is to protect the oppressed minorities of neighbouring countries. "It's deeply troubling to see US governmental bodies, such as the USCIRF hold hearings that perpetuate misinformation about the intent and impact of India's Citizenship Amendment Act," Hindu American Foundation (HAF) Managing Director Samir Kalra said. 5 foreigners asked to leave for taking part in anti citizenship law protests "This (USCIRF hearing) only serves to further compound the irresponsible statements that have come from the media and some US lawmakers, which has only fuelled more tension and violence in India," Kalra said. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 "Tragically, lost in all the false and misleading propaganda are the real victims that the CAA intended to help - the religiously persecuted refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who are stuck in legal limbo and living on the margins of Indian society," he said. HAF also recommended that the government reconsider the definition of religious and ethnic refugees as "members of a religious or ethnic minority community who are unable to return to their home countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan, and unable to obtain protection in those countries due to past or well-founded fear of future persecution on account of religion or ethnicity." Indian-American Sunanda Vashisht, who last year testified before the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights on Kashmir, slammed Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies Ashutosh Varshney's comments at the USCIRF hearing that CAA, and the National Register for Citizens (NRC) "can render stateless a large number of Muslims, even if they were born in India and lived in the country for decades, as have their ancestors." "I am not sure how Prof Varshney arrived on this conclusion," Vashisht said. "CAA has no provision of rendering anybody stateless. It gives citizenship to persecuted minorities of three neighbouring countries. Nationwide NRC does not exist so to assume anything about that is merely fertile imagination." Unless Varshney "is talking about Assam NRC, which is a culmination of a long-protracted struggle by the Assamese and is being implemented under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India. Assam NRC has a totally different context and has nothing to do with the present government at all," said Vashisht. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 14:04 [IST] A hospital consultant on trial for sexually assaulting three women has been accused of 'exploiting' medical examinations for his 'own sexual gratification', a court heard. Dr Narendra Kochar, 50, from Timperley, Greater Manchester, denies six counts of sexual assault on three women when he worked at the Manchester Royal Infirmary. Prosecutors at Manchester Crown Court allege that Dr Kochar, a consultant gastroenterologist, 'touched' the three patients 'inappropriately' during examinations. Dr Narendra Kochar (above), 50, has gone on trial accused of sexually assaulting three woman who he was performing medical examinations on. He denies six counts of sexual assault The charges relate to alleged sexual touching by Dr Kochar on three women. Prosecuting, Darren Preston said: 'All of them separately allege that this defendant touched them inappropriately during examinations that were undertaken for various conditions from which they suffered. 'It is the prosecution case that this defendant exploited what were relatively intimate examinations of these patients for his own sexual gratification.' Jurors heard that one alleged victim saw Dr Kochar at the hospital for a colonoscopy. She claims that while he was performing the procedure, Dr Kochar put his hands between her legs and touched her genital area. At first she thought it was accidental, the court heard. She asked for the procedure to be stopped, but nurses also present thought this was in relation to the invasive nature of the procedure and sought to reassure her, jurors were told. Prosecutors claim that Dr Kochar committed the alleged act 'quite deliberately, without any clinical justification'. She didn't report her allegations immediately, but later told a therapist. A second female complainant went to see the doctor for an examination to her abdomen. The allegations relate to patients Dr Kochar saw at the Manchester Royal Infirmary (above). Mr Preston said that 'without warning' Dr Kochar put his hand under her bra and touched her breast. At first she 'passed it off as clumsiness', jurors heard. Dr Kochar is also accused of putting his hand on her thigh on the same occasion. A third complainant claims Dr Kochar sexually assaulted her on a number of occasions. She says that she had about 13 appointments with Dr Kochar, and that there were 'only about two or three where he didn't touch her'. It is alleged that Dr Kochar put his hands in her underwear near her genital area. Prosecutors say that he didn't use gloves during the examinations, and that she was not offered a chaperone to attend appointments with her. Dr Kochar was interviewed by police in relation to the allegations made by the three women. He denied any wrongdoing. He claimed the third complainant had 'blown kisses' at him, and that he learned she had 'behaved inappropriately' to staff at a hospital in Leeds. Dr Kochar denied the touching of second complainant's breast was sexually motivated, saying if he did it was 'inadvertent'. He said touching a woman's genitals was 'something he would never do'. Dr Kochar denies six counts of sexual assault. The trial continues. One of the 25 colleagues of the person who was tested positive for novel coronavirus was found to be symptomatic and was admitted at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases (RGICD), said Telangana government in a statement. Colleague's samples have been sent for testing and fumigation of the workplace was done on March 3, says Telangana government. The statement reads, "The person was found coronavirus positive in Telangana confirmed on March 2, who travelled to from Bengaluru to Secunderabad on 21st February. This person is a software engineer working in Bengaluru travelled to Dubai from Bengaluru on February 15. He stayed in Dubai from February 16 to February 19. After returning on February 20 to Bengaluru he worked in the office for a day on February 21 and he left for Hyderabad by private bus on the same day in the evening." "A detailed investigation was done to trace the contacts of one person who was found novel coronavirus positive in Telangana and it has been found that at his workplace in Bengaluru, 25 colleagues have been contacted and one is found to be symptomatic and admitted at RGICD," it added. The government said that the passengers sitting close to the symptomatic passenger were tracked by phone and followed, all are asymptomatic. "Bus travel details from Bengaluru to Secundrabad -- the bus has carried to 32 passengers and 23 passengers have been travelled in the bus, out of which 20 passengers are traced and under house quarantined. The bus driver is under isolation at Hyderabad," it read. The symptomatic person travelled from Secundrabad to his residence with his friend on a two-wheeler. One flat-mate from symptomatic person's Bengaluru residence has been contacted and isolated is found to be asymptomatic. Fumigation was done at his residence on March 3. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said around thirty people had been confirmed with coronavirus infection in India. Vardhan said infected people were sent to Indo-Tibetan Border Police's (ITBP) quarantine facility in Chhawla, New Delhi. After this, two more cases have come to light. (with agency inputs) Also Read: Govt invites EOI to sell entire stake in BPCL; $10 billion net worth must for bidding Also Read: YES Bank crisis: How SBI executed a perfect 'rescue plan' Also Read: YES Bank Collapse: ED grills Rana Kapoor; raids continue on second day According to reports, Pope Francis will deliver Sundays Angelus Prayer by Livestream to avoid the usual crowds forming. This is due to the fear of the deadly Coronavirus spreading to people who come for the prayer. Also Read: Pope Francis Tests Negative For Coronavirus This decision is coming few days after the Pope tested negative to the deadly disease. Recall that the Vatican confirmed the walled city-states first case of the new coronavirus Friday and closed some offices as a precaution. The virus which has reportedly been contacted by over 102,000 people across the world has led to the decision to cancel the mass gathering of people in the Vatican. South Africa: Update on repatriation of SA citizens in China Government is in the process of identifying facilities that will accommodate South Africans who will be repatriated from China, says Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize. We can confirm that government is currently sourcing suitable accommodation facilities all over the country. The process is now almost concluded. This includes hotels, game reserves and resorts in remote areas, said the Minister in a statement on Saturday. Mkhize said government has in the past three weeks, been in consultations with stakeholders in the hospitality industry and all spheres of government. The consultations he said, were held with the view to identify suitable accommodation facilities for South African citizens who will be repatriated from Wuhan City, in China. Located in Hubei Province, the city is the epicentre of the Coronavirus in China. About 151 South Africans --who are currently living under lockdown conditions following the outbreak of the Coronavirus-- will be repatriated. We wish to reiterate that none of the affected individuals have been diagnosed with the virus nor have they exhibited any symptoms thereof, said the Minister. Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the repatriation of South African citizens from Wuhan. Cabinet decided on this course of action after due consideration of the circumstances, and following several requests from the families of South Africans in the city. Earlier this week, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) announced that an aircraft with the capacity to bring back citizens from China, has been secured. Quarantine and the viewing of facilities As an added precautionary measure, it was decided that upon arrival in South Africa, these citizens will be placed in quarantine, said the Minister. In addition the viewing of various facilities has been underway. Once a decision is made to select specific facilities has been made, further consultations with stakeholders including leaders of society and communities at large will be undertaken, said the Minister. The Department of Health assured the public that the quarantine facility will have very strict military security parameters. These are some of the measures that will be put in place to ensure that communities that live nearby such a facility are not in any way exposed and there is no contact with people who will be under quarantined. Meanwhile the department has requested all facilities it has engaged with over the last three weeks to desist from engaging with the media as this may prejudice governments planning and compromise security measures meant for local communities as well as citizens who will occupy the accommodation. The welfare of all of our people both in the country and those that are in Wuhan is of priority to us. We will continue to work towards strategies that are aimed at protecting our own, during this outbreak. Access to information Mkhize expressed appreciation to the members of the media who have fulfilled their duties while exercising restraint, to allow for government to fulfil its duty to its citizens. The Minister further urged media to be sensitive in their reporting adding that information that may be prematurely disclosed by the media without being released or confirmed by government may be disruptive. The release of such information he said, could be disruptive to operations, planning processes and implementation strategies that government is working on. We have committed to being transparent, keep the media and the public fully informed on all relevant information. We will not renege on this commitment, he said. Government remains committed to minimising the spread of the virus. Confirmation of a second case of the Coronavirus The Ministers comments come following his earlier confirmation of South Africas second case of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). A Gauteng woman tested positive for the virus. The 39-year-old is a direct contact of the unnamed 38-year-old KwaZulu-Natal man who tested positive for Coronavirus earlier this week. The two were part of a group of 10 people who had travelled to Italy. The group arrived back in South Africa on 1 March 2020. The woman, said the Minister on Saturday, would be treated at a public health facility in Gauteng that government has identified as one of the hospitals that are ready to receive COVID-19 positive patients. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-03-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Heavy rainfall is expected in a number of counties until Tuesday. The weather advisory affects Connacht, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Donegal, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary. The periods of heavy rainfall may lead to some local flooding as river levels remain elevated. Some 40 to 50 millimetres is expected to fall in places. After heavy rain in some areas on Saturday, there will be more early on Monday and Tuesday in particular. The weather advisory is in place until 6pm on Tuesday. An official uses a thermal screening device on tourists, in wake of the deadly novel coronavirus, at Junagarh fort in Bikaner, Rajasthan (PTI) Jaipur: Barring those of an Italian couple, all the samples collected from suspected Covid-19 coronavirus cases in Rajasthan have tested negative, an official said on Saturday. In the wake of two positive cases, the state government has also decided to conduct screening of every foreigner who visits the state. Instructions have been issued to discontinue biometric attendance system in government offices and the use of breath analysers by traffic police till further orders. Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Rohit Kumar Singh said 282 samples have been collected so far with 280 negative cases and two positive (of the Italian couple). The couple is admitted at SMS Hospital in the city. The senior official said the health department is on alert and all necessary measures have been taken to handle the situation. After confirmation of novel coronavirus in the elderly Italian couple, who were a part of a tourist group that visited Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur from February 21 to 28, samples of those who came in contact with the affected couple were taken. The tests were found to be negative after confirmation from a laboratory test at SMS Medical College. Meanwhile, Singh informed that all foreign nationals will be screened by teams of medical and health department in the state and if found with symptoms, they will be kept in an isolation ward of a hospital. Railways and state roadways officials were asked to ensure that foreign nationals are screened in coordination with the health department. Similarly, transport department officials were also asked to make sure that the foreigners who are travelling by road, through government and private vehicles, are screened. Directions have been given to stop employees from registering their attendance through biometric system till further orders. Traffic police have also been asked to not use breath analysers, he said. Private medical colleges and all major private hospitals were also asked to make arrangements for isolation wards. The officer said public awareness about novel coronavirus was being created through a mobile caller tune and through garbage hoppers used in door-to-door collection. Clint Walker Community Content Coordinator Follow Clint Walker Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Growing up in Cooks Mills without cable TV and pulling down our TV shows off an antenna mounted to a tall tower planted in concrete, we only had so many programs to pick from; even less so when you didnt have a set in your room to retreat to when you wanted to watch something hip like that cherished three-hour block of Beverly Hills 90210, Alien Nation, and Star Trek: The Next Generation. And on those, in the living room with your parents weeknights, of course Roseanne was a big deal. It was a popular enough show to enter syndication almost instantly after it went off the air, and thats how I really became acquainted with it. For those out there who loved their off-hour cable TV viewing, you no doubt recall that Roseanne reruns were on all the time. And I truly mean all the time. TBS used to play two solid hours of it back-to-back every afternoon around 4, the perfect antidote to that stack of papers I was supposed to be writing. In the years since, Roseanne reruns did what reruns often do: They make their way from afternoons to evenings to late nights, bouncing to whatever channel wants to pay for the rights. Then, before you know it, the show youve been watching on a constant loop is 10 years old and on some weird network like Oxygen. Then in another blink of an eye its suddenly 20 years old and there you are, watching it on your flat-screen smart TV, not streaming like everything else you watch, but over the digital antenna you have taped to the window because you cut the cord and still wanted to be able to watch football or local storm coverage when spring rolls around. My personal favorite thing about Roseanne was that, unlike most other sitcoms at the time, if you strung all the episodes together you have quite the little rural epic on your hands; just a bunch of folks trying to get by in a small town where it seems like nothing ever changes and yet everythings always changing at the same time. Its the mark of anyone whos watched too much of anything that they can handily obsess over whether they can remember the small details. Roseannes various jobs from start to finish, for instance. Lets see she worked at Wellman Plastics before she quit that job and did phone magazine sales. Then she worked at a fast-food chicken place until that incident with her manager and his fuel manifold. Then there was the stretch of episodes where she swept the floor and shampooed hair at a salon full of obnoxiously wacky characters (something they did away with quickly) before becoming a waitress at the in-house luncheonette at Rodbells department store (a nice throwback to when places like Kmart had snack bars), a department store that if you noticed had an elevator, meaning their mall was large enough to have two-story anchor stores, so perhaps Lanford, Illinois was bigger than I thought. Eventually Rodbells closed the cafe and she opened a loose meat restaurant which carried her all the way until that final season where, yes, the Conner clan won over $100 million in the state lottery. Sigh. Seriously, that last season would have worked if they had only won, say, $500,000 and maybe ditched the episodes where she fought terrorists on a train. Speaking of Lanford, Ive spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out exactly where that might actually be using whatever clues I could get. And trust me, they do give you clues. They mention Springfield on the show exactly once, on the episode where Aunt Jackie spills the beans to her worried parents about how she was leaving for the police academy, and even then she says she has to go down to Springfield, meaning I guess Lanford is somewhere in northern Illinois. But even then the trip to Chicago to visit Darlene at her writing school supposedly took two hours, which doesnt make sense. A trip to the internet revealed that Lanford is supposedly an exurb. A word I swear Ive never heard before and that apparently means, long story short: the suburbs of the outer edge of the suburbs, which if youre talking about Illinois, would mean anywhere in Grundy or DeKalb counties. Other clues abound. Anyone remember the episode where Darlene wanted to see the Daisy Chainsaw Concert? That was over in Rockford which was apparently nearby, and yes, Daisy Chainsaw was also a real band. And wasnt Aunt Jackie always making runs to places like Elgin and Moline all the time when she was a truck driver? What about that tornado episode from season one, actually a very accurate depiction of what life is like on storm nights; if you listen to the weather warning it mentions Fulton County, which is at least closer to us here than those other places. Geez even Ferris Buellers Day Off, the most suburb-y of all suburb-y movies, mentioned Decatur. It hits me now Ive only talked a little bit about the actual show itself. Makes sense though, right? These old TV shows have a tendency to become this comforting fog of chatter and canned laughter running in the background of our lives while folding laundry on boring afternoons. So much so you dont even notice youre focusing on the weirdest things like how you notice that the current syndicated package has been cropped and zoomed in weirdly as to avoid those weird black bars on the sides of the screen youd get because TVs are rectangular now; or that theyve somehow cut even more jokes out of the episodes to make room for two more minutes worth of commercials; or how the teenage waiter waiting on Dan and Roseanne during their date night from episode three would probably be about sweet mercy 50 years old now. I wonder what job he has now, or if hes even still kicking around Lanford, Illinoiswherever that may possibly be. "The Throwback Machine" is a weekly feature taking a look back at items of interest found in the JG-TC online archives. For questions, suggestions, or his "Song of the Day" recommendation, contact him at cwalker@jg-tc.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. FLINT, MI -- The good news is testing shows bottled water distributed in Flint just before Christmas doesnt appear to have been contaminated. But the bad news is the task ahead: Figuring out the most efficient way to empty and dispose of about 76,000 plastic bottles that remain and that wont be distributed out of an abundance of caution and to protect public health. To my knowledge, this is still being discussed, Jennifer Holton, director of communications for the the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal. Holton said Friday, March 6, that all parties involved in the distribution and testing of the water shipment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency agree that it should not be consumed because best by dates have been passed or have nearly passed and because of previous complaints about the smell and taste of some of the water when it was handed out in December. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration said this week that the water it tested from the shipment was negative for bacteria, particulates or chemicals, and earlier testing by the Genesee County Health Department also showed safe pH levels and no coliform or E. coli bacteria. Before the FDA testing, MDARD secured the remaining FEMA water at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, the site of the distribution. The Agriculture Department did tag the shed to make sure it wasnt going out, said the Rev. Daniel Moore. The last word I got was they were just looking for a way to dispose of it. Moore said there are 38 pallets of water in storage and 84 cases, each with 24 bottles, on each pallet. Its a lot of water," the pastor said. Moore said he agrees with disposing of the water even though testing showed it wasnt contaminated because there are still serious questions about its quality. FEMA has yet to release findings of its investigation into the origin of the water, including how it was manufactured, stored and shipped. FDA finds no contamination in bottled water from December Flint giveaway Flint church warns of possible issues with bottled water from FEMA A bill in the Alabama legislature would end the states practice of combining the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday with the birthday of Confederate general Robert E. Lee. Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, is sponsoring the legislation that was introduced Thursday and referred to the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. Figures said she has been working on the bipartisan legislation with Rep. Steve McMillan, R-Gulf Shores, for two years. McMillan didnt return a call from AL.com for comment. [Read the legislation here or at the bottom of this story] Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert E. Lee were two men with totally different agendas, beliefs and goals, Figures said in an email to AL.com. To separate them as individual holidays is the right thing to do. Related: In Alabama, Martin Luther King Day also honors Confederate General Robert E. Lee Figures bill proposes creating a separate holiday, Robert E. Lee Day, on the second Monday in October. Lee, a commander of the Confederate army, died on Oct. 12, 1870. The second Monday in October is already a federal holiday in observance of Columbus Day. Figures said the goal of the legislation is to set aside a day to honor Lee without creating a new state holiday. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday thats observed on the third Monday in January. Alabama and Mississippi are the only states that honor both King and Lee on that day. King was born on Jan. 15, 1929 and Lee was born on Jan. 19, 1807. While other Southern states have stopped observing some Confederate holidays, Alabama has three. In addition to the combined holiday for King and Lee in January, Alabama observes Confederate Memorial Day on the fourth Monday in April and the birthday of Jefferson Davis, who served as president of the Confederacy, on the first Monday in June. Alabama honors the life of civil rights leader Rosa Parks on Dec. 1. Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day isnt a full-fledged holiday on which state offices close, the Associated Press reported, but county and city governments can choose to observe the holiday. Each resident of Alabama is encouraged to observe the day with suitable activities," the states 2020 holiday calendar says. Last year, Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, sponsored legislation to separate the King and Lee holidays. His bill, which sought to move Lees recognition to Confederate Memorial Day, died in the Governmental Affairs Committee. Figures, who said she discussed the new bill with Rogers, told AL.com she believes there is bipartisan support for the legislation. I do believe this will pass because it is a positive bill for the state that we believe will have broad support from both parties and the citizens of Alabama, she said. Again, it is the right thing to do. Actor Nicholas Tucci has died. He was 38. His father Alexander Tucci announced the news in a statement on Facebook on Friday, explaining Nicholas had an illness that he chose to keep private. This is Alexander Tucci, Nicks father. On Tuesday, March 3, Nick died at the Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, Alexander shared. Nick chose to keep his illness private so that he could continue to pursue his professional and artistic dreams for as long as possible, the statement continued. In the last year, he was able to audition, go on location, and continue the work he loved so much. Alexander then went on to thank the many people that have supported his son throughout his career. To those of you in the film, television, and theater communities thank you for guiding, encouraging, and supporting Nick. To those of you who enjoyed Nicks work on the screen and stage thank you for recognizing his talent and appreciating his efforts. To all thank you for your gift of friendship to my son. PEOPLE has not been able to confirm independently what illness Nicholas had. A rep for the actor declined to comment further, but told PEOPLE, Nick and I recently started to work together again and Nick was very excited about his future in the business. I was shocked to receive a phone call from his dad a couple days a go informing me of his passing. https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fntucci24%2Fposts%2F10102688339647594&width=500 Nicholas, who is originally from Middletown, Connecticut, has appeared in a number of films and television series including, Pose, Ramy, Homeland and Quantico. He is perhaps best known for his role as Felix in the 2011 horror movie Youre Next, which follows a wealthy family as they come under attack by a gang of killers during their wedding anniversary getaway. RELATED: Remembering the Stars Weve Lost in 2020 Since his death, a number of fans have paid tribute to him on social media. Story continues Youre Next is my top 5 favorite horror movies of all time and I loved how he portrayed Felix. RIP Nicholas Tucci, one fan tweeted. On what feels like a weekly basis, without any sort of reason or context whatsoever, Ill find myself muttering the words Felix, you f lowlife because of how much I love Youre Next. RIP Nicholas Tucci, a different user expressed on Twitter. I love the movie Youre Next is really scary slasher dark comedy and Nicholas Tucci is really his best horror villain RIP, another fan wrote. RELATED: The Walking Dead Actor and Firefighter Dango Nguyen Dies from Cancer: He Touched Many Lives Youre next is a favorite of mine and his work in it was amazing very sad news RIP Nicholas Tucci! another fan tweeted. RIP Nicholas Tucci. Incredibly nice man, and our limited interactions were really great. My condolences to his friends, family and loved ones, a different tweet read. The too-isms always followed him, said Tom Sheridan, a consultant in Washington who has worked with Congress to expand legal protections for people with AIDS and disabilities. He was too young, too straight-acting, too boring, too inexperienced because he was mayor of a city that was too small. To many who felt a sense of empowerment from his campaign, though, those misgivings felt disconnected from their reality. Mr. Buttigieg described the gratitude and optimism he often encountered when he was traveling the country, and acknowledged it was so powerful it took him aback at first. Even I thought, OK, maybe this is not all that much of an event, he said in an interview last year. Strangers would approach him and try to convey how much it meant to see someone so public and so prominent talk about his experience as an L.G.B.T. person. One was just 9, a boy in Denver who told Mr. Buttigieg at a rally a few days before he dropped out of the race, I want to be brave like you, and asked, Would you help me tell the world Im gay, too? Sometimes they were much older, like the flight attendant who was so overcome with emotion when he encountered Mr. Buttigieg at an airport that he was unable to speak. He just made eye contact and came to the point of tears, Mr. Buttigieg recalled. And then walked off not knowing what else to do. Even in 2020, part of the paradox of running a successful campaign as an openly gay man meant that his orientation could not define him to voters who might not fully accept it. He understood this, and ran his campaign in a way that always sought equilibrium. The protective armor against his sexual orientation seemed in many ways to be his resume. He was Mayor Pete the Rhodes Scholar, Navy veteran, pianist and technocrat conversant in eight languages. Sunitha Natti By Express News Service HYDERABAD: In all likelihood, state-run SBI will take over struggling private lender Yes Bank in the next 28 days flat. SBI may acquire majority stake or 49 per cent for a bill of Rs 2,450 crore or roughly $330 million. A formal announcement is expected on Saturday. The proposed forced buyout was engineered by the RBI and the Central government as Yes Banks self-help plan finding a white knight fell flat, not once but thrice. Traders pulsating with anxiety following the governments one-month moratorium and board suspension, dumped Yes Banks shares in toto. On BSE, the scrip fell 56 per cent to touch an all-time low of Rs 5.55, but eventually recovered to close at Rs 16.20. Investors were also on the edge amid intense activity with SBI Chairman calling on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who in turn assured that depositors money was safe. The future of Yes Bank and the potential systemic risk its collapse could cause weighed heavily on benchmark Sensex, which itself gyrated on fears of spreading coronavirus, shedding over 890 points. ALSO READ | SBI likely to buy 49 per cent stake in Yes Bank for Rs 2,400 crore: RBI Technically, this isnt a government bailout, but one borne by bondholders. As per RBIs Yes Bank Ltd Reconstruction Scheme 2020, announced on Friday, Yes Banks Additional Tier-1 bonds worth Rs 8,800 crore will be written off permanently. SBI or any investor need not honour payments to bondholders. These bonds (otherwise called debt) helped Yes Bank raise capital to meet the Basel III requirements. They promised high interest but such bonds come with a rider: when trouble hits, financially struggling banks can simply choose not to repay. And if such debt gets written off, it improves banks core equity and reduces overall capital requirement. For Yes Bank, the government-blessed bond write off bumps up the its capital adequacy ratio by 4 per cent. In other words, liquidity in excess of $1 bn, (half of the $2 bn Yes Bank planned to raise) is created with just one stroke. Sources said, this was one of the key conditions put forth by potential investors in the bank. Besides, investors also sought writing down tier-II bonds aggregating Rs 14,000 crore. Good thing is, as per the draft scheme, in the near-term, theres no redact on tier-II bonds, an official told this newspaper. ALSO READ | This company withdrew Rs 265 crore from Yes Bank a day before RBI imposed moratorium That said, the actual extent of Yes Banks stressed loans remains unknown. Analysts peg it at Rs 45,000-50,000 crore, though its exact quantum and provisioning thereof too is unclear. To that extent, the banks turnaround depends on both fresh capital and loan recoveries. The investor (SBI) can opt for a rights issue or a QIP to raise capital, the official added. As per RBIs scheme, SBI must hold 26 per cent stake for three years or until 2023. Meanwhile, RBI-appointed administrator Prashant Kumar will have a tenure of one month. When he vacates, a new board comprising a CEO and MD, a Non-Executive Chairman, two Non-Executive Directors and two nominee directors of SBI will takeover. With US coronavirus cases topping 220 across 19 states and the death toll climbing to more than a dozen, state governments have asked thousands of residents to seclude themselves from the rest of the community to help contain the virus. In New York alone, more than 2,500 people were instructed to self-quarantine as health officials scour for anyone who may have been exposed to the state's first coronavirus cases. At least 22 have tested positive and are in isolation. In California, health officials said Thursday more than 9,700 returning travelers were told to stay at home and monitor their health. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency earlier this week after California saw its first virus-related death. As numbers climb, states are grappling to keep an eye on the thousands of residents shuttered in their homes who may have come in contact with someone infected in efforts to stop the spread of the illness. Here's what you need to know: What is the difference between self-isolation and self-quarantine? Those who have been asked to quarantine themselves in their homes haven't necessarily been infected with the virus. While the practices of both self-quarantine and self-isolation are used to help curb the spread of the virus, they target a different group of people. People who are in isolation are those who have contracted a contagious disease -- in this case, people who tested positive for the coronavirus. That includes the North Carolina resident who was isolated after testing presumptive positive this week and the Tennessee resident who tested positive after out-of-state travel and is also currently in home isolation. Meanwhile, residents who are in self-quarantine are the people who may have come in contact with someone who was infected. Officials ask these individuals to stay at home for two weeks until it can be determined that they are not ill. For about 14 days, individuals under self-quarantine can't go to "work, school or any other public places where they could have contact with others," according to Seattle & King County's department of public health in Washington state. Do residents have to follow those orders? While residents across the states have so far been compliant about going into self-quarantine voluntarily, health officials can issue orders making both quarantines and isolations mandatory. Violating those orders could result in legal repercussions. Last week, a New Hampshire medical center employee who was told to self-isolate attended a private event, prompting the state's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to issue an official order for isolation, according to a department news release. Violating an official order issued by the DHHS commissioner can result in a misdemeanor, according to New Hampshire law. As for New Yorkers who tested positive with the virus, isolating themselves is mandatory. "That is policed," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo told CNN affiliate WCBS. "That is monitored and policed. We check on those people and make sure they are doing it." Following the announcement of the state's first positive case on Monday, Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler directed a temple to suspend all services and asked people to self-quarantine. The man who tested positive attended Temple Young Israel and officials said they were worried about potential exposure. "Those who do not self-quarantine will be mandated to by the County Department of Health to do so," a Westchester County statement said. But with no official orders, the governor says the quarantine is voluntary. "Out of an abundance of caution it would be helpful if ... you agree to quarantine, isolate yourself for 14 days, we don't have any direct reason, you haven't tested positive, you're not symptomatic, but we're all good citizens, we're all trying to do what we can to stop the spread, that would be helpful," Cuomo said. How are those in self-quarantine monitored? Local and state governments largely follow CDC guidance on how they check in on their quarantined population. Those individuals should be interviewed by either telephone, text monitoring system or video conference by health officials, according to CDC guidelines. Public health personnel can also interview residents in person, keeping a distance of at least 6 feet. But in many communities, reaching out to quarantined residents may mean largely relying on the honor system. "The process we're using is to have telephone call checks to call into a family," Westchester County Executive George Latimer said. "We're working off of faith at this point but if we call, and you're not home a couple of times then we're going to have to ramp up ... to another level." He said local health officials are the ones reaching out and informing certain residents they should stay at home. "We've heard all kinds of rumors, many of which are untrue, but we've heard some rumors that some of the individuals have decided individually to go out in the community just to do one or two little things and we're trying to make sure we get the message to everybody using emails ... do not leave your home because even if you go across the street to the ... ATM you could interact with somebody," he said. In communities within Washington state --- which has seen the highest number of cases --- officials say they check in via a phone call at least twice during quarantine period: on the first day and on the last. "Some (residents) receive instructions to stay home and let us know if they have symptoms," a Snohomish Health District spokeswoman told CNN. "Others get texts, or daily calls if they don't use text. We do a call at the beginning and call at the end of 14 days to release if symptom-free." What happens to people who miss work? But as more individuals are forced to stay home, communities are also having to come up with solutions to accommodate their needs -- financial stability and food. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee announced the state would assist both employers and employees, with efforts such as providing paid leave benefits for workers who need to take time off. If the virus results in a "mass layoff or closure," the governor said the state will work to provide resources and funding to help "impacted workers get connected to unemployment benefits and re-employment services, including re-training, worker support services, and referrals to other social services." As for food delivery, one county told CNN it's usually allowed for those in quarantine and in some cases, the local health district provides groceries. Other communities have begun encouraging companies to allow their employees to work from home. King County released new recommendations Wednesday which included that workplaces "should enact measures that allow people who can work from home to do so. "Taking these measures can help reduce the number of workers who come into contact with COVID-19 and help minimize absenteeism due to illness," the county's health department said. New York officials have also encouraged similar procedures. "Some workers may be able to make arrangements with their employers, in consultation with their local health department, such as telecommuting, or other work arrangements where the individual would not be in close contact with other workers or the public," the New York Department of Health said. South Africa: Health Minister to engage KZN community Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize is expected engage the community of the Umngungundlovu District in KwaZulu-Natal on the Coronavirus. Following the announcement of the first COVID-19 confirmed case in Umngungundlovu District, KwaZulu Natal, the Minister of Heath, Dr Zweli Mkhize, will continue to engage the community of the District including religious leaders, business and civil society in an effort to allay fears, educate stakeholders and respond to questions, said the Department of Health in a tweet. Sundays engagement is set to get underway at 2pm at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall. The Minister will be joined by MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu. On Saturday, the Minister confirmed South Africas second case of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) after a Gauteng woman tested positive for the virus. According to the department, the 39-year-old is a direct contact of the unnamed 38-year-old KwaZulu-Natal man who tested positive for Coronavirus earlier this week. The two were part of a group of 10 people who had travelled to Italy. The group arrived back in South Africa on 1 March 2020. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said the woman did not have symptoms related to COVID-19 when she arrived back in South Africa. As part of the contact tracing [process], the team took swabs and conducted laboratory tests which came out positive for COVID-19. The patient has been self-isolated at home and has now been admitted to the isolation facility. All other contacts are actively being followed up, said the NICD. Impact on tourism Meanwhile Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane is expected to meet with the tourism industry on Monday. This is in light of the latest development around COVID-19. The focus of the engagement will be on the impact of COVID-19 to tourism and the recovery plan, said the Ministry of Tourism. Kubayi-Ngubanes engagement is scheduled to start at 5pm at Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg. More educative information on the Coronavirus can be accessed on http://www.health.gov.za/index.php/outbreaks/145-corona-virus-outbreak/465-corona-virus-outbreak. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-03-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Land Commissioner George P. Bush stopped by two Southeast Texas schools Friday to help students learn about civics and the oil and gas industry. The visit was part of Bushs Year of Energy initiative, which builds on last years Year of Education, to use General Land Office resources to teach various topics in classrooms across the state, noting that there is a lack of civics in the state curriculum. Last year was a lot more focused on the Alamo, and Texas state yesterday, Bush told The Enterprise. We decided to leverage our platform, particularly the management of oil and gas minerals, to get in the classroom and just talk about what the energy industry has meant for the history of Texas, now and the future. Last years effort brought Bush to a Beaumont elementary school. Related: GLO Commissioner brings cannonball, maps to Beaumont classroom On Friday, Bush stopped at Nederland High School, where he talked about job gaps and the need for skilled laborers in industries across the region. Our students were able to learn more about how our area and the state of Texas plays such an important role as an energy provider across the country, Nederland High School Principal Steven Beagle said. Bush was eager to discuss Texas rich history and what the future looks like for energy planning and preservation. After Nederland, Bush headed to a Port Arthur elementary school, where he spoke with students participating in a mobile learning lab sponsored by the Texas Oil and Gas Association and provided by the Oilfield Energy Center. Port Arthur and Southeast Texas is the hub of all oil production, Travis Elementary School Principal Israel Taylor said. These kids are learning early on how oil is discoveredand what they can do to contribute when they become active members of society. Bush said the lab was particularly relevant as students look towards the future. It ties more than likely into their future economic opportunity, Bush said. It also ties into their families, who are more than likely either employed directly by the energy industry or have a business that supports the energy industry. Nguyen Tran, who is in fifth grade and traveled to Travis from Adams Elementary, said everyone should learn the fundamentals of the petrochemical industry. It is important to be learning these things because one day, you never know, you might want to work in the refinery, Tran said. It is also good to know all this stuff, even if you are not planning to work there. The event at Travis was split into several stations, where students learned the history, science and technology behind oil extraction. We are learning about oil and the capacity inside of a gallon and how much it costs and where it comes from, Travis Elementary fifth grader Jose Blanco said. Chase Arceneaux said he learned how oil was processed after it was extracted, and the applications of oil beyond gasoline. LTunya Bernard, the elementary science supervisor for the district, said the event comes at a critical time for students, especially girls. Since our girls usually lose interest in science around sixth or seventh grade, this gives them an opportunity to anchor their interest, Bernard said. The kiosks are all an extension of the curriculum, so they are able to work with industry officials and see what it is actually like in a refinery. Student Isabela Oliveras said the exercise broadened her understanding of what science entails. I thought science was more about how things change and the solar system, Oliveras said. I never thought it would have so much to do with oil and plastic and all these things. Fellow classmate Emilie Lua agreed, saying that she didnt know science included so many practical applications. Students also talked about the need to conserve fossil fuels, and the trend towards alternative energy sources. If we dont start conserving the fossil fuels we are going to run out in the future, Tran said. Because if we run out, we wont have gas for our cars and other everyday things that we need fossil fuels to do. Bobby Holden, with the Oilfield Energy Center, said that even with those shifts, oil and gas products will remain relevant. Even if we are trying to move away from it, we have to take into account that it is a significant change that we have to do to get away from it because we have been so integrated, said Holden who ran the lab. Todd Staples, the President of the Texas Oil and Gas Association which sponsored the event, pointed out that 96 percent of products we use daily have a component of oil and gas. We dont know what the energy sources will be in the future, Staples said. But we know that for many decades oil and natural gas will play a part of that. Bush told The Enterprise that the state was already moving in that direction without subsidies or grants just private market development. Weve had some thought leadership in some discussions with parents and teachers, Bush said. I think the consensus has been that overnight we can not turn the switch off immediately on fossil fuels. Also in attendance was Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick, who stressed the importance of the petrochemical industry in the area. The more we have an understanding of all of our business and industry the better, Branick said. If they are going to critique something they ought to understand it. Bush, a former teacher, said the experience was something he wished he would have had when he was in school, noting that the Year of Energy initiative aims to visit as many high schools and middle schools as possible this year. My personal experience is that I never got a tangible physical experience with any kind of industry, he said. So the fact that the energy industry is coming here today to provide this unique education opportunity, I mean look at them they are laughing, totally engaged. That is what kids should have exposure too at a young age. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes Wife of abducted Malaysian pastor Raymond Koh honored as 'Woman of Courage' by State Dept. Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The wife of a Malaysian pastor who was abducted in 2017 was among 12 women honored Wednesday with the U.S. State Departments International Women of Courage Award. Susanna Liew, the wife of pastor Raymond Koh, was honored by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and first lady Melania Trump for fighting on behalf of religious minorities who've disappeared under similar circumstances as her husband and those facing persecution for their religious beliefs in Malaysia. The International Women of Courage Award, which has been given out by the secretary of state for 14 years, recognizes women who demonstrate exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and womens empowerment, often at great personal risk and sacrifice. Over the years, 146 women have been honored from 77 countries. Koh, who along with Liew founded a nonprofit to serve the poor and underprivileged, was abducted near their home in West Malaysia on Feb. 13, 2017, when three black SUVs surrounded him in his car. The abduction was captured on surveillance cameras (watch here) but neither Koh nor his car have ever been found. Liew pressed for answers surrounding the disappearance of her husband and others during the Malaysian Human Rights Commissions 2018-2019 inquiry into enforced disappearances. She is still calling on the government to investigate the cases and hold those responsible accountable. Despite police harassment and death threats, she continues to advocate for her husband and others, not because of her faith or theirs, but because of their rights as Malaysians, a State Department press release explains. A task force was formed after Malaysias Human Rights Commission found last year that Malaysias Special Branch intelligence service was likely behind the disappearances of Koh and Muslim social activist Amri Che. However, Malaysias Ministry of Home Affairs said in January that the task force needed more time to prepare its report. Last month, Liew said that she is going to sue current and former police officials because she did not receive any resolutions regarding her husbands investigation. Liew has also sought justice on behalf of pastor Joshua Hilmy and his Indonesian wife, Ruth Sitepu, who disappeared in 2016 after leaving their home in Kuala Lampur. Johnnie Moore, an evangelical religious freedom advocate and commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, was happy to see the State Department honor Liew. Pleased to see @StateDept shine its bright light today on the case of abducted Malaysian Pastor Raymond Koh, as they celebrated his wifes relentless advocacy for her husband & those like him, Moore tweeted. Deploying might & money the US is the global bulwark for human rights. The 12 recipients of the International Women of Courage award will participate in an International Visitor Leadership Program in which they will visit American cities. The program offers short-term visits enabling participants to build lasting relationships with their American counterparts. Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List ranks Malaysia as the 40th-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution. In Malaysia, Christians have suffered from many forms of Islamic repression. According to Open Doors USA, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, Catholics and Methodists are monitored by authorities in Malaysia but nontraditional Protestant groups are more often targeted because they are usually more active in evangelizing. Open Doors reports that it is illegal to share the Gospel with Malaysian Muslims. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-06 23:15:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A woman wearing a mask watches her cellphone in Santiago, Chile, March 5, 2020. Chilean Health Ministry announced the country's fourth case, a 40-year-old patient who returned from Italy on Sunday and developed symptoms of the virus on Wednesday. (Photo by Jorge Villegas/Xinhua) "A good way to tackle the poison of prejudice is to offer information that's more evenhanded," said Flavia Lima, a Brazilian daily newspaper's columnist. MEXICO CITY, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Prejudice can't win the battle against viruses, but even-handed information can, a Brazilian daily newspaper's columnist, Flavia Lima, have said in a recent article headlined "The Virus of Prejudice." The editorial was written as a response to readers' anger over a previous story about the country's first case of COVID-19 -- a Brazilian man who recently returned from Italy -- run by the same newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo in late February. After the story was published, one of the readers complained about the photo selected to illustrate it, in which Asians, presumably of Chinese origin, were depicted. Lima said such a choice only fanned the flames of discrimination by underscoring "the connection between the virus and Asians," which reinforced prejudice and was far from contributing to productive discourse, as a news outlet should do instead. "Prejudice always gains strength in the midst of fear and ignorance," which she said was something media need to be aware of, particularly in times of health scares. "Associating epidemics with an ethnic group, a nation or a particular community is a recurring theme in clinical history," said Lima, noting syphilis has at various times been believed to derive from the Italians, the French or the Americans. Although China saw the first outbreak of the novel coronavirus, scientists have yet to determine the origin of the pathogen. But speculations over the source of the virus are already rife, especially on social media, said Lima. "A good way to tackle the poison of prejudice is to offer information that's more evenhanded," she said, adding that the newspaper is moving in the right direction in this sense. On Feb. 27, the daily published images of people wearing face masks on various occasions, such as the Guarulhos airport in Sao Paulo, a Champions League match in Madrid, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City. Enterprise Ireland, the government agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish companies in global markets, invested 24 million in Irish start-ups in 2019 and supported a total of 127 start-up companies including Sligo's ISO Clean Air Pods and Frankli Communication Technologies. Enterprise Ireland Regional Director in the North West and North East, Aidan McKenna said: "A strong start-up economy is absolutely vital to the future of Ireland's regions. These founders are our future business leaders and their businesses play an integral part of balancing regional development. There was real progress in nurturing innovation and new talent at a local level in 2019 with 42% of the companies supported by Enterprise Ireland located outside of Dublin. "In Enterprise Ireland we are committed to helping founders to start, grow and fulfil their export potential. Our Global team in Enterprise Ireland are committed to building on the success achieved in 2019 across a range of sectors including ICT, MedTech, FinTech, Food and Manufacturing. "It's so important to recognise the growth of both start-ups and their ultimate contribution to the region. These founders demonstrate global ambition, inspiring others from across Sligo that they too can start and scale successfully. This week's Start-Up Showcase event is about commending those that have had the courage, determination and resilience to come through the challenges in entrepreneurship and remain ambitious." Enterprise Ireland has also launched a new campaign - '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 founder's vision and ambition with Enterprise Ireland's investment, expertise and network to help them succeed. The coronavirus has not affected defense cost-sharing negotiations between South Korea and the United States, a State Department official said Friday. At a press briefing, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper was asked if the coronavirus outbreak is affecting scheduling of negotiations with South Korea and Japan, two countries with which the U.S. seeks to reach an agreement on sharing the cost of stationing American troops there. Talks between Seoul and Washington have stalled as the Trump administration has demanded a significant increase in South Korea's financial contributions under a new Special Measures Agreement. "The conversations haven't stopped," Cooper said. "They have embassies here in Washington. We have embassies in Seoul and Tokyo. Our senior negotiator, my colleague Jim DeHart, is in direct contact with his counterparts in Seoul and in Tokyo. So no, nothing has slowed down." The last time South Korean and U.S. negotiators sat down for talks was in January in Washington. The U.S. has warned that some 9,000 Korean civilians working on American bases on the peninsula will be furloughed starting April 1 if the two sides fail to reach a deal. "With that, we certainly see the Koreans now have opportunity to come back to the table, and this is certainly an expectation of everyone involved here in the United States. It's an expectation of Secretary (of State Mike) Pompeo. It's an expectation of President (Donald) Trump for the Koreans to come back and respond to what we have been discussing," Cooper said. "But it's certainly within the timeframe and we have modern ways of communicating. Face-to-face is preferred, but we are certainly not immune from using video teleconference." As of Friday, there were 6,593 cases of COVID-19 in South Korea, with 44 deaths. U.S. Forces Korea has reported seven infections among its 28,500 troops and their family members. (Yonhap) INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha has said the HSE has confirmed that the recruitment embargo has been lifted for nurses and midwives. She said the HSE confirmed this with the INMO and said while it is welcome, she believes it "should have happened much earlier". "Any nurse will be recruited on the agreed rate. That is not the issue. The issue is we need people to be appointed permanently to the health service." She said hospitals and community care centres are under huge pressure amid the coronavirus outbreak and said frontline health workers need full protection. "That includes any opportunity that we can get to prevent spread in the community." "We already have a shortage of staff and frontline staff and we have to reduce the activities in order to match what we can provide safely." She said they know the number of coronavirus cases will increase and testing has increased. "At the moment the policy is anyone who tests positive is brought to a hospital setting." She also believes that any health-care staff that have to go into self-isolation should be paid. She said they have written to all private employers and hospitals and asked them to confirm that they will treat any self isolation request of their staff as special leave with pay. She added it is too serious a matter to argue about. New Delhi: External Affairs minister S Jaishankar hit out on those criticising CAA. He said, "no country in the world says everybody is welcome" Jaishankar criticised the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for its criticism on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, saying its director had been wrong previously too and one should look at the UN body's past record on handling the Kashmir issue. "Everybody, when they look at citizenship, have a context and has a criterion. show me a country in the world which says everybody in the world is welcome." S Jaishankar, External affairs minister The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 was passed by the parliament of India on 11 december 2019. The amendment has been widely criticised as discriminatory on the basis of religion. The passage of the legislation caused large-scale protests in India. Assam and other north-eastern states have seen violent demonstrations against the bill and recently Delhi faced the brunt of the Anti-CAA and Pro-CAA protests. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Highlights MG Vaidya honoured on his 98th birthday Bhagwat said Vaidya formed core ideas of the RSS Nitin Gadkari too attended the event RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Saturday that veteran Sangh ideologue MG Vaidya had played a crucial role in the RSS earning respect and guided the organisation with his ideas and intellectual thoughts. While felicitating the former RSS spokesperson on his 98th birthday in Nagpur, Bhagwat said Vaidyas contribution was more special because it came at a time when the RSS was facing a crisis. Vaidya was one of the prominent RSS functionaries who pushed the organisation with the ideas of nationalism and Hinduvta, Bhagwat added. We have inherited the very ideas of Vaidya, Bhagwat said and added that such Swayamsevaks also paid the price for it -- an obvious reference was Vaidyas imprisonment during Emergency. A Swayayamsewak can attain greater height in public life when he follows discipline and is dedicated and loyal to the principles of the RSS. And Vaidya, who is turning 98, is the finest example, the RSS chief said. Bhagwat recalled Vaidyas contribution in setting new branches within the RSS and his enthusiasm in attending the Shakhas regularly till his health deteriorated. While lauding his contributions, the RSS boss called on the new generation to follow the path shown by him. A former lecturer of Sanskrit in a Christian missionary run Hislop College in Nagpur, Vaidya was entrusted with the responsibility of editing the RSS mouthpiece, Tarun Bharat by the then RSS chief late Balasaheb Deoras and he did not spare right-wing MLAs of Maharashtra for their indiscipline and lashed out in his Editorial, Bhagwat noted. The Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari, who was present there as a guest of honour, also spoke on the occasion and recalled his association with Vaidya. Responding to the felicitation, Vaidya attributed his identity and credential to the RSS. The Sangh has groomed me and whatever I am today its because of the ideology and ethos of the Sangh Parivar, he said. In his speech, Vaidya also commented on the BJP leader Jai Bhagwan Goyals book which compares Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. If anyone compares a certain person with a great personality that doesnt mean you are insulting the great person. Its because of the height of the person who is being compared with another great person, he said. Goyals book was described as insulting to Chhatrapati Shivaji and Maha Vikas Aghadi allies created a massive furore last month leading to the author withdrawing the book. Whether it is for financial purposes, environmental efforts, or increasing property value, Americans have the clock ticking to enjoy the long list of benefits from solar power. Renewable energy has become more affordable during the last years, making people take advantage of cleaner energy sources to power their homes or businesses. As of 2019, the EIA reported that renewables power 17.5% of the United States electricity generation, and solar energy accounting for 1.8% of it. Among all the benefits of solar energy, the most important one is that it is truly renewable energy that can be harnessed every day as long as there is sun. Going solar can drastically reduce the electricity bill, depending on the size of the system. Moreover, when there is surplus energy, there is the possibility of getting money back from the utility company. One of the hidden benefits of solar is that a solar energy system does not require a lot of maintenance. Manufacturers are offering up to 25-year warranties, like LGs American-made solar panels, that have a triple warranty for labor, parts, and performance. Advancements in technology have contributed to a considerable amount of solar installations in recent years. A study at Stanford stated that there are over 1.4 million solar panels installed across the 48 contiguous states. And this number keeps on increasing as governments and utilities offer rebates and incentives for people to make the switch. There are federal, state and local tax incentives aside from specific utility programs that have been instated. However, one incentive that starting 2020 has shrunk is the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The Energy Policy Act of 2005 created 30 percent ITC for residential and commercial solar energy systems as an incentive to increase solar installations. It was a success that it was extended eight years by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act in 2008 and then in 2015 by the Omnibus Appropriations Act. As of 2020, the ITC has dramatically decreased to 26% and it will keep on decreasing in the upcoming years. By 2021, the incentive will drop to 22%, and finally dropping to zero for residential installations the following year. Homeowners looking into going solar should understand that the time to enjoy one of the most financially attractive incentives to go solar is almost gone. To qualify for the 26% ITC, the system needs to be installed by December 31. There are companies like Green Home Systems that suggest people get ahead of the rush towards the end of the year and start their process as soon as possible to be able to apply for the 26% federal tax credit. By doing this, they can potentially enjoy the sun in the summer months considering there are design, permitting, and installation processes to undergo. Green Home Systems is a nationwide company that believes in American-made solar panels. They are partnered with LG Solar, one of the most reliable manufacturers in the industry. Green Home Systems gives its customers the ability to produce their own energy and reap the benefits of solar. They handle everything from designing the system to obtaining the right permits and activating the system and beyond. This is the suggested type of company for anyone looking for a hassle-free experience. But Green Home Systems goes above and beyond the average solar company. On top of providing solar, they offer energy solutions beyond the solar panel installation to ensure that homeowners and business owners are living as efficiently as they can. Customers can take advantage of products like back up generators, roofing, and HVAC systems. Aside from LG Solar, the product brands that Green Home Systems provides to customers are all top-of-the-line. They use solar inverters from Enphase, which are known as the brains of the solar systems, converting the power of the sun to electricity they can use. They use backup generators from Generac to give customers the peace of mind of knowing they always have power they can rely on. They work with Owens Corning roofers to ensure that any work done to their roof is done by an experienced professional with extensive training qualifications. These are just a few of the names that you can trust when deciding to upgrade your homes energy efficiency. Solar energy installations are projected to continue to grow this year before the ITC drops once again. Whether it is for financial purposes, environmental efforts, or increasing property value, Americans have the clock ticking to enjoy the long list of benefits from solar power. Even with a flood of coronavirus testing kits that arrived in California this week, most parts of the state still dont have nearly enough resources to test everyone who needs it and determine how widespread the virus is, say public health officials and doctors. But relief may be on the way, with more public and private labs expected to come on line next week that could allow for testing of hundreds or even thousands of people a day in the Bay Area. More than 40 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Bay Area since Jan. 31, but the vast majority of cases about 30 have been diagnosed in just the past week, after testing kits arrived in the state and public health officials were able to much more quickly and efficiently identify new patients. The virus is now thought to be circulating in some parts of the Bay Area, which almost certainly means that many more people are infected than the official case counts would imply. Initially, only people with the most obvious risk factors such as recent overseas travel or known contact with an infected individual were being tested, along with people who are very ill and for whom doctors cant make another diagnosis. But potentially hundreds if not thousands of others are sick with milder symptoms, public health officials believe. And until testing capacity expands, theres no way of knowing whats truly happening in the Bay Area, or in any other part of the country. As of Friday night, 330 coronavirus cases had been reported in the United States, but that number, too, is far lower than the actual number of people affected, infectious disease experts said. In Solano County, the first place in the United States to identify a resident who appears to have been infected by community spread of the virus, six cases have been reported. But the county health officer believes that number does not reflect whats actually happening. That one case exposed 400 people over the course of two weeks, said Dr. Bela Matyas, the Solano County health officer. Even if only a fraction of those people are affected, imagine how rapidly this is spreading. Part of the reason for delays in testing is that until this week, only kits made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were federally approved for coronavirus diagnosis, so it was up to that agency to supply resources for the entire country. But biotech companies, public and private universities, and other institutions are developing their own tests, some of which became available this week. More are expected to be released next week. Now Playing: Here is what you need to know about the coronavirus. Video: Manjula Varghese Dr. Susan Philip, director of disease prevention and control at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, said county officials are thrilled that more labs other than just the public health facility will be able to take some of the testing load soon. That means county staff can focus on testing people who are most at risk of serious illness, and doctors in the community can test whoever else would be appropriate. Well prioritize testing on people who are sick and in the hospital. And the clinicians will have a lot more options, Philip said. And well get closer to that aspirational goal for people to get tested if they have concerns. UCSF and Stanford, two of the Bay Areas largest health care systems, are putting together tests that will yield faster results, because they can be processed at their own labs, instead of being sent to outside public health facilities. Plus, doctors at those universities would no longer have to get permission from public health departments or the CDC to get a patient tested. A test developed by Dr. Ben Pinsky, medical director of the clinical virology lab at Stanford School of Medicine, received federal approval this week and health care workers began using it Wednesday. Starting next week, Stanford expects to be able to test 100 to 150 people a day, Pinsky said. For now, the test is limited to Stanfords sickest patients those who have been admitted to the hospital or are coming to the emergency room with severe and unexplained respiratory infections but the plan is to eventually also make it available to patients who go to urgent care clinics or their primary care doctor with less severe illness. It takes 12 to 24 hours to get results after a specimen is collected. I believe that as we begin ramping up testing to outpatients that we will be testing a very large number of samples, Pinsky said. UCSF is developing two coronavirus tests that are expected to be ready for UCSF Medical Center patients next week. The tests are being developed by Dr. Charles Chiu, head of UCSFs infectious diseases division. With the new tests and those it expects from the CDC next week, UCSF anticipates being able to test 30 to 100 patients per day. One of the tests that Chiu is working on could report results within one hour. However, even with these additional tests, the demand for testing will continue to exceed the testing capacity in San Francisco, said UCSF spokeswoman Kristen Bole. Kaiser Permanente is looking into developing its own test and will monitor whether tests produced by commercial lab companies perform well, said Dr. David Witt, an infectious disease physician at Kaiser. As of Friday, the state had about 7,400 tests all from the CDC spread among 15 state and county public health labs, according to the California Department of Public Health. Before the first test kits arrived in California on Feb. 27, every test for coronavirus had to be sent to the CDC labs in Atlanta. A backup there meant it could sometimes take more than a week to get results from a test that should only take hours to run. Once the test kits went out to states, local public health officials were able to get results back in less than a day. In California, not every county has testing available, meaning that samples from suspected cases often must be sent out of the area to get results. Solano County still doesnt have any labs able to test for the virus, said Matyas. Even though we are an epicenter of community transmission and we operate the labs for four counties, we have not yet received any testing kits, Matyas said. In Solano County, we are forced to be much more restrictive about who gets tested than in neighboring counties that do have test kits. But I dont believe anybody has enough testing capacity. 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. For the first six weeks of coronavirus testing in the United States, the CDC allowed testing only of people who were known to have recently returned from China where the global outbreak started or people who were known to have been in contact with a patient. After a Solano County resident with no known risk factor tested positive at the end of February, the CDC expanded its testing protocols to include anyone hospitalized with serious respiratory illness and no identifiable cause. Vice President Mike Pence said Friday that the CDC distributed 900,000 tests across the country this week and plans to ship another 1 million by this weekend. By the end of next week, he said, 4 million tests will have been distributed. Additionally, two large commercial labs will make tests available Monday, he said. We trust that in a matter of weeks, the coronavirus tests will be broadly available to the public and any American who is symptomatic and has a concern about the possibility of having contracted the coronavirus, Pence said. Bay Area doctors and public health officials said theyre hearing daily from people who should be or want to be tested. Dr. Charlie Morris, a primary care physician in San Francisco, said hes treating a patient with a fever and cough that he suspects could be COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus. He called the San Francisco Public Health Department to request that she get tested and was told that wouldnt be possible because she didnt meet the criteria. So Morris told his patient to isolate herself, and he has visited her at her home to collect samples to test her for influenza and other viruses. He doesnt want her coming into his clinic or going anywhere else for treatment until he feels confident she doesnt have the new coronavirus. Its horrifying, Morris said. When he called the public health department, he said he was told his patient is low risk because she hasnt been to South Korea, Italy or China recently countries with known large outbreaks. But were so far beyond that now, he said. This patient has been great and quarantined herself with my advice. But she, like most people, has been out in the community, Morris said. I think what (public health) is saying is the cats out of the bag and were just now playing catch-up. Were never getting a handle on this. Eventually, so many people may have the virus that the priority will become treating them, not testing every individual to see if they have it. In flu surveillance, by the time 10% of tests are positive for influenza, health officials know that the annual flu epidemic has arrived, Witt said. And when that rises to 30% to 40%, its probably time to stop testing anyone, youd rather just start treatment, he said. At some point, its so widespread, it becomes a little questionable Why are you testing? Erin Allday and Catherine Ho are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday @Cat_Ho Mumbai, March 7 : The Mumbai Police have cracked an 'international gifting fraud and arrested two Nigerians allegedly perpetrating it from Navi Mumbai, officials said here on Saturday. The racket was detected when a Crime Branch team of Mahesh Desai, Sanjiv Gawde and Asha Korke intercepted a Corolla car at Bandra Reclamation with two Nigerian nationals sitting in it, late on Thursday. A search of the vehicle revealed 10 mobiles phone, 2 laptops, 2 mobile hotspots, 2 Nigerian passports, cash and other articles, said Assistant Commissioner of Police Akbar Pathan. Upon interrogation, the Nigerian duo admitted to masterminding an all-India racket of befriending gullible people by uploading fake women's profiles on social media networks, from Navi Mumbai. Thereafter, through online chats and phone calls from purported international numbers, they would lure them with offers of attractive gifts from abroad, prepare and send fake documents that appeared to be original for completing various formalities. Later, they would make excuses on various counts to extort lakhs of rupees from the victims by posing as customs of Reserve Bank of India officials, and providing different bank accounts for money transfers. "The accused are identified as Nwankwo Raphael Chinonso, 34 and Azudiefe Emeka Ennanuel, 38. Investigations revealed that they have so far defrauded several victims who have lost nearly Rs.700,000 so far," ACP Pathan told IANS. The Crime Branch is also probing the mobiles and laptops to unravel if other accomplices are involved and how far their tentacles are spread in the racket. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently traveled to the United Kingdom for some of their last royal duties before officially giving up their roles as senior royals at the end of March. The two flew separately, and surprisingly, it doesnt seem like Archie made the trip. While some people understand why Archie didnt fly with the couple, the move reportedly ended up costing taxpayers an extra $65,000 heres why. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Phil Noble/Pool/Getty Images Archie hasnt been back to the U.K. in more than three months When Harry and Meghan left the U.K. to head to Canada for six weeks, Archie went with them, of course. But since then, theyve returned twice while he has remained in Canada both times. The 10-month-old has spent plenty of time with his parents since they first took their extended holiday in November. However, he has not been back to see the rest of the family. Meghan and Harry might find that its easier to travel without him, though its not completely clear why theyve left him home for both trips. There are several reasons the two might have wanted to keep Archie home Neither Meghan nor Harry has spoken out about why they chose to leave Archie behind, but there are a few factors that might have played into the decision. Archie is still young, and its possible they dont want to bring him on commercial flights (which tend to be their choice of transportation these days) due to reasons such as the coronavirus or just the idea of him getting fussy. The two are likely very concerned for Archies safety; if they did travel commercial, they might not have wanted anyone to notice that he was on the plane and ultimately felt it was best to travel without him. Separating the familys security cost taxpayers an extra $65,000 Though the decision to leave Archie home might have been in everyones best interest, it came at the expense of the taxpayers. According to Express, the move of separating Meghan and Harrys security team to allow some to stay behind and protect Archie cost a reported $65,000 more than keeping the team together. Its possible the two had to bring in additional guards to protect their son while they are away, which might have increased the cost. Archies safety is of the utmost importance, and the additional cost to taxpayers is infinitesimal when divided among all taxpayers who contribute to the couples security. However, it was still enough to anger some. Queen Elizabeth reportedly misses her great-grandson The queen has said in writing that she accepts the couples wish for a more private life. And, according to reports, she wants Meghan and Harry to be happy and is willing to allow them to leave the family for that to happen. But royal insiders claim the queen is very sad about never seeing her great-grandson. It makes sense that the queen would miss Archie, since hes still so young and hasnt spent any time with the royals since at least November. Hopefully Archie will head back to the U.K. in the spring when Meghan and Harry presumably return for the queens birthday celebration. Legendary Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie turns 73 years on Saturday and he said he is here to outlive his late father who died at the age of 96. Edochie, who starred in several movies, will never forget his leading role in Things Fall Apart, an adaptation of the book written by late legendary writer, Prof, Chinua Achebe. An elated Edochie took to his Instagram page on Saturday to give God the glory for sparing his life till this moment. But the famous actor said he is not tired of living in this world, as he set a new goal for himself. Edochies new goal is to outlive his late father, who was 96 years before he died. He wrote: Pete Edochie, That birthday face. 73 today. God is great. Here to outlive my late fathers age of 96. longevity runs in our gene. Happy birthday to me. Edochie, born on March 7, 1947 is a Nigerian actor. Edochie is considered one of Africas most talented actors, being honored with an Industry Merit Award by Africa Magic and Lifetime Achievement by Africa Film Academy. Although, a seasoned administrator and broadcaster, he came into prominence in the 1980s when he played the lead role of Okonkwo in an NTA adaptation of Chinua Achebes all-time best selling novel, Things Fall Apart. Edochie descends from the Igbo people of Nigeria and is a Catholic. In 2003, he was honored as a Member of the Order of the Niger by President Olusegun Obasanjo. The legendary actor recently stirred controversy when he said Nigerian men kneeling down to propose to their women are not just fools, but compound buffoons. According to him, any man who does that is not just an idiot but a compound buffoon. He said: Any young man who gets down on his knees to propose to a girl is not just an idiot, he is a bloody fool, a compound buffoon. We try to copy white people. I believe in the sanctity of our culture, the essence and the core of our culture. The white man kneels down to propose to a girl. You know what it means, the girl takes over the family. This is why whenever you disagree with a wife overseas, you are kicked out and your wife takes the house. Young men who should be in charge of their destinies hand it over to women. That makes you all fools. When informed that it is love that makes men go down on their knees to propose, Edochie said; I have lived with my wife for 51 years, nobody has said stop beating this woman. Kneel down before your wife, I will sympathise with you when she takes over the home. The Ayodhya administration on Saturday, hours before the arrival of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray here to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla at the makeshift temple, put three Hindu seers under house arrest for threatening to greet the CM with black flag, said police. The seers had threatened to greet Thackeray with black flag saying that he has formed government in Maharashtra with the help of those who had dubbed Lord Ram as an imaginary figure. The three seers who were put under house arrest on early Saturday morning are Mahant Raju Das of Hanumangarhi Temple, Mahant Paramhans Das of Tapaswi Chhawni Temple and Rakesh Dutt Mishra, the president of Hindu Mahasabha, said Ayodhya Senior Superintendent of police Ashish Tiwari. Thackeray reached the temple town shortly after the noon. Sources said three teams of police personnel swooped on the houses of the three saints and served them with the adminstration order to stay in the house arrest and left after deploying a few policemen outside their residences to prevent them from venturing out. With the Maharashtra chief minister reaching the makeshift temple, several seers have now raised the demand to wash the entire temple premises with 'Ganga jal' to purify the premises. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amidst rebellion by some members against the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been scheduled to hold in Abuja on Tuesday, March 17 at 3pm. The organ of the party last met in November 2019 and skirted the demand by some members of the NEC to suspend Oshiomhole then as chairman, over his alleged dictatorial tendencies and paralysing the partys organs. The rebels had also blamed Oshiomhole for the partys losses in Zamfara, Rivers, Bauchi and others. Venue for the new meeting is the National Executive Committee Hall at the partys national secretariat in Abuja, now under cordon by the police and the DSS, following the crisis over Oshiomholes chairmanship. A sign of crisis in the party was that the meeting notice was signed by acting National Secretary, Chief Victor T. Giadom and not Architect Waziri Bulama who was named on Wednesday as substantive replacement for Mai Mala Buni, who had moved on to become governor of Yobe State. Giadom invited all NEC members to attend the emergency meeting in line with Article 25 (B) (II) of the Constitution of the Party. The call came hours after the APC Progressive Governors Forum also called for an emergency meeting of the NEC. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates New Delhi, March 7 : Senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday hit back at the Modi government over the Yes Bank crisis, saying India's fifth largest private sector bank fiasco is only part of the mismanagement of financial institutions under the watch of the BJP government. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, the former Finance Minister said "he knows that the government and the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would wish the story to vanish from the media but, I am afraid, despite their best efforts, the mismanagement of financial institutions by the BJP government will be an issue that will remain in the public domain and be debated extensively". He thanked the media for raising the Yes Bank issue as it has reached most people who are concerned about the economy. "The best judge of the management of economy is the market and not the Finance Minister nor any ex-Finance Minister nor any newspaper," he said, adding that even allowing for the effect of the coronavirus threat, it is noteworthy that on Friday the Sensex fell by 884 points, the price of an SBI share fell by Rs 18 and the rupee (to USD) declined by 54 paise (-0.74 per cent). "The price of a Yes Bank share fell from Rs 36.80 to Rs 16.15. Actually, it is worthless," Chidambaram remarked. His remarks came two days after the RBI superseded Yes Bank Board for 30 days and appointed an administrator, putting a cap of Rs 50,000 on withdrawals by account holders for a month. The RBI said the bank's board was superseded "owing to serious deterioration in the financial position of the bank". Former SBI CFO Prashant Kumar was appointed as administrator of Yes Bank, which has over 1,000 branches and 1,800-plus ATMs across the country. On Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the bank was on watch since 2017 and developments relating to it were monitored on a day-to-day basis. Chidambaram said on Friday he put out some numbers regarding the loan book of Yes Bank. "When overall bank credit during the above period grew by about 10 per cent, how did Yes Bank's loan book grow by about 35 per cent?" Chidambaram questioned in his tweet. "Will the government confirm that the loan book of YES Bank has grown under the BJP's watch as follows: FY2014: Rs 55,000 crore, FY2015: Rs 75,000 crore, FY2016: Rs 98,000 crore, FY2017: Rs 1,32,000 crore, FY2018: Rs 2,03,000 crore and FY2019: Rs 2,41,000 crore," Chidambaram said. He said, notice the jump from March 2014 to March 2019. "The loan book was allowed to grow, despite bank supervision by the RBI and government, at the rate of 35 per cent a year. "Also notice the spike in 2016-17 and 2017-18, the two years immediately following demonetisation. Is no one in the RBI or government accountable?" Chidambaram questioned. Slamming the government, the Congress leader asked: "Which committee or who authorized the grant of new loans after March 2014? Were not the RBI and government aware that Yes Bank was on a loan-giving spree? Did no one in the RBI and the government read the balance sheet of the bank at the end of every year? Why did nothing change after the CEO was replaced and a new CEO appointed in January 2019?" He also asked: Why did nothing change after a former Deputy Governor of the RBI was appointed to the Board of Yes Bank in May 2019? Why did the alarm bells not ring when Yes bank reported its first-ever quarterly loss in the quarter Jan-March 2019?" According to him, the Yes Bank fiasco is only a part of the mismanagement of financial institutions under the watch of the BJP government. He said as of December 2019, the total impaired assets of the banking sector stood at Rs 16.88 lakh crore or 15.7 per cent of the total advances. Total write-offs since financial year 2014 have amounted to Rs 7.78 lakh crore or 7.3 per cent of the total advances. In 2018-19 alone, the write-offs amounted to about Rs 1.83 lakh crore, he said. Chidambaram said as of December 2019, gross NPAs stood at Rs 9.10 lakh crore. "The size of gross NPAs may be understated. The number will rise once the moratorium on declaring stressed assets of SMEs is lifted on March 31, 2020," Chidambaram said. He also said that the MUDRA scheme has seen a write-off of about Rs 2 lakh crore besides generating an NPA of over Rs 17,000 crore in four-and-a-half years since its inception. Slamming Sitharaman, Chidambaram said according to the Finance Minister's answer to a question in Parliament, "the amount involved in frauds in banks and select financial institutions increased from Rs 10,171 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1.43 lakh crore in the first three quarters of 2019-20". Commenting on State Bank of India's plan to take over Yes Bank, Chidambaram said the plan appears to be that the national bank will invest Rs 2,450 crore to pick up a 49 per cent stake in the restructured capital of the Bank at a price not less than Rs 10 per share (face value Rs 2). "This is bizarre, when the net worth of the Bank is perhaps zero. We will await details of the plan before we comment further," he said. "I stated yesterday that a better option would be for SBI to take over, under orders of RBI, the loan book of Yes Bank at one rupee and an obligation to assure all depositors that their money is safe and will be returned," he said. He also said that simultaneously, SBI should make every effort to recover as much as possible of the outstanding loans. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday termed the resolution plan proposed to deal with Yes Bank crisis as "bizarre", saying that a better option would be for SBI to take over loan book of Yes Bank at one rupee. Addressing a press conference here, the former finance minister said loan book of Yes Bank jumped from Rs 55,633 crore in March 2014 to Rs 2,41, 499 crore in March 2019. "The plan appears to be that SBI will invest Rs 2,450 crore to pick up a 49 per cent stake in the restructured capital of the Bank at a price not less than Rs 10 per share (face value Rs 2). This is bizarre when the net worth of the bank is perhaps zero. We will await details of the plan before we comment further," he said. "A better option would be for SBI to take over, under orders of RBI, the loan book of Yes Bank at Re 1 and an obligation to assure all depositors that their money is safe and will be returned," he added. Chidambaram said that the State Bank of India should simultaneously make every effort to recover as much as possible of the outstanding loans. "There are other options that can be explored in consultation with former Governors Dr C Rangarajan and Dr YV Reddy," Chidambaram said. On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) placed in the public domain a draft scheme of reconstruction for Yes Bank, a day after it superseded the board of troubled private sector lender with immediate effect. It said that State Bank of India (SBI) has expressed its willingness to make investment in Yes Bank and participate in its reconstruction scheme. The draft plan proposes that the investor bank will invest in the reconstructed bank for up to 49 per cent stake. The RBI plans to alter the authorised capital for the reconstituted bank to Rs 5,000 crore and number of equity shares will also be altered to 24,000 crore of Rs 2 each aggregating to Rs 48,000 crore. "It has been proposed that the investor bank will not reduce its holding in the new bank below 26 per cent before completion of three years from the date of infusion of the capital," said the Draft Yes Bank Ltd Reconstruction Scheme 2020. As per the plan, all employees of the reconstructed Yes Bank will continue with the same pay for at least one year. The board of directors of the reconstructed bank will have the freedom to discontinue the services of key managerial personnel at any point of time after following the due procedure. The public can submit suggestions and comments on the draft plan until March 9. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said on Friday that the Indian banking system has had severe crises due to the way UPA governments functioned. "I have reasons to put the blame on that regime. The so-called self-appointed competent doctors are blaming us today but they handled the United Western Bank in their regime. It was on the verge of collapse in 2006. It was forcefully merged with IDBI then," she had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 100 swab samples of Indians in Iran who are suspected of having coronavirus infection were brought to the national capital on Saturday in a flight, which returned to Tehran with nearly 200 Iranians, according to officials. The flight, which was operated by Iranian carrier Mahan Air, is part of India and Iran's efforts to bring back their nationals in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The flight from Tehran landed at around 5.30 am and returned at around 10.30 am, an official at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here said. A senior official at aviation watchdog DGCA told PTI that about 108 swab samples were brought in the flight and nearly 200 Iranians went in the return flight. Official sources said the swabs would be taken to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune for tests. Based on the outcome of the tests, Indians in Iran who have tested negative for coronavirus infection are expected to be brought back to India. However, on Friday, officials said around 300 swab samples of Indians suspected of having coronavirus infection would be brought in a ferry flight from Tehran. There are about 2,000 Indians in Iran, one of the countries which has been severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak. A similar number of Indians are also there in the Persian Gulf country. On Friday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said evacuation of Indians from Iran was being planned in consultation with the health ministry and the Iranian government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italian doctors have warned medics across Europe to get ready for coronavirus in a letter revealing up to 10 per cent of all those infected with coronavirus need intensive care, with hospitals becoming overwhelmed. The letter, seen by The Independent, reveals the scale of the impact on hospitals in Italy where 5,883 patients have been infected with the virus and 233 people have died as of 6pm on Saturday. In the note, sent to the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, critical care experts Professor Maurizio Cecconi, Professor Antonio Pesenti and Professor Giacomo Grasselli, from the University of Milan, revealed how difficult it had been to treat coronavirus patients. They said: We are seeing a high percentage of positive cases being admitted to our intensive care units (ICUs), in the range of 10 per cent of all positive patients. We wish to convey a strong message: Get ready! 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 They said Italian hospitals had seen a very high number of intensive care patients who were admitted almost entirely for severe lung failure caused by the virus and needing ventilators to help them breathe. They said hospitals across the UK and Europe needed to prepare for a surge in admissions and cautioned against working in silos. They said it was vital hospitals had equipment to protect staff and that staff were trained in wearing the kit. They added: Increase your total ICU capacity. Identify early hospitals that can manage the initial surge in a safe way. Get ready to prepare ICU areas where to cohort Covid-19 patients in every hospital if necessary. There have been concerns the NHS will struggle to cope in the event of a sustained coronavirus outbreak where large numbers of patients require intensive care. The UKs chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty has said critical care units may struggle. Latest figures show NHS intensive care units were running at around 80 per cent capacity at the start of March. Overall the NHS has one of the lowest ratios of hospital beds per head of population in Europe. UK hospitals are already discussing how they will need to ration care to those most likely to survive in the event there are not enough beds, ventilators or staff to care for the numbers infected if the worst case scenario predictions prove accurate. A senior consultant at a major London hospital told The Independent the letter was a concern. He said: It will be tough. Its going to be hard. My worry is staffing. If a lot of doctors and nurses become sick that will be the crunch. If a third of staff are self-isolating that is the time when we stop being able to cope. He added that while the NHS was as prepared as it could be for the virus patients could suffer. What I am more worried about is if the intensive care unit is full and we dont have enough nurses, the anaesthetists will be called on to look after patients outside of the ICU in theatre and recovery areas. If that happens we wont have the capacity for patients who need urgent surgery for appendicitis, blood clots etc and thats when patients will start getting worse care as a result. These are the people who will die unnecessarily. The big challenge will be keeping the anaesthetic service going. Anaesthetic staff are most at risk because we deal with patients airways. In a separate note, Italian intensive care doctor Giuseppe Nattino, from the Lecco province in northern Italy, has shared a clinical summary of the patients his unit has been treating, which doctors described as frightening in terms of what it could mean for the UK. The technical note spells out how patients with coronavirus experience a severe infection in all of their lungs, requiring major ventilation support. It also reveals the effect of the virus, which affects blood pressure, the heart, kidneys and liver with patients needing sustained treatment. Dr Nattino said: A week ago we opened a six-bed ICU for Covid-19 critically ill patients. In two days our unit filled up and we extended it to 10 beds on 3 March which filled up during the same afternoon. Now were planning to merge the cardio and general ICUS to use the general ICU beds for 10 more Covid-19 patients. In an alarming development, Dr Nattino said younger patients were being affected, saying the ages of patients ranged from 46 to 83 with only a small number having important underlying conditions. He added: The last days are showing a younger population involved as if the elderly and weaker part of the population crashed early and now younger patients, having exhausted their physiological reserves, come to overcrowded, overwhelmed hospitals with little resources left. One UK doctor said this latter point needed careful consideration by NHS hospitals, adding: We need to be careful to have some ICU capacity for younger patients. This is where important difficult decisions need to be made. Another intensive care doctor from the north of England said Dr Nattinos note showed coronavirus patients suffered a lack of oxygen in their blood, meaning they need a ventilator, with large parts of the lung affected by the virus. The doctor added: The inflammation in their lungs carries on for a long time. Patients need strong drugs in high doses to maintain their blood pressure. Kidney failure requiring a kidney machine is common and the patients later in their stay are starting to have blood tests showing liver damage. A spokesperson for the NHS said: "Every country is responding to this new virus, and as the chief medical officer has said, routine non urgent services could well come under pressure, so its right that the lessons and recommendations from Italy are now being put into practice in England. As the whole world continues to understand more about this virus, its impact on people and the likely demand on health services, its important to remember that the NHS in England has world-leading, expertise and every hospital across the country and the healthcare professionals who run them are now actively planning to respond flexibly to manage new demand. First married lesbian bishop to lead church service to protest ban on gay partners at Anglican summit Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A married lesbian bishop will lead an inclusive worship service to protest a global Anglican leadership event that has banned same-sex partners from attending. Last year, it was announced that same-sex spouses were not invited to the Lambeth Conference, a global Anglican bishops summit attended by some 1,000 bishops from 165 countries that takes places once every 10 years, and will be held in Canterbury, U.K., this summer. The Right Rev. Mary Glasspool, assistant bishop in the Episcopal Diocese New York, and Mpho Tutu van Furth, daughter of famed anti-Apartheid activist Desmond Tutu, will oversee a service at a church in Canterbury in July. Glasspool, the first married lesbian to be made bishop in the Anglican Communion, told The Guardian in an interview that she believed Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the Anglican church, had gone out of his way to uninvite individual persons in a breach of hospitality. The LGBT+ community in the U.K. and other places might not understand that they are invited to celebrate at the Christian table, said Glasspool. We need to make it known that everyone is included all are invited to this particular celebration. Tutu van Furth, a former Anglican priest who stepped down from the church position after entering a same-sex marriage, told The Guardian that her sermon at the service will reflect Christian welcome and hospitality. Jesus was always determined to make those who society sees as outsiders be insiders, added Tutu van Furth. For the past several years, there has been a growing divide in the global Anglican Communion over the issue of sexual ethics, especially homosexuality and same-sex marriage. The split has been largely found along regional lines, between increasingly theologically liberal churches in developed nations and growing theologically conservative churches in the developing world, especially the continent of Africa. Last year, Josiah Idowu-Fearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion, announced that same-sex spouses were not going to be invited to the Lambeth Conference. Invitations have been sent to every active bishop. That is how it should be we are recognizing that all those consecrated into the office of bishop should be able to attend, wrote Idowu-Fearon in a blog entry at the time. But the invitation process has also needed to take account of the Anglican Communions position on marriage which is that it is the lifelong union of a man and a woman. That is the position as set out in Resolution I.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference. Idowu-Fearon went on to state that as a result it would be inappropriate for same-sex spouses to be invited to the conference. News of the service headed by Glasspool and Tutu van Furth comes amid a YouGov survey which indicated that members of the Anglican Communion, at least in England, were becoming increasingly supportive of same-sex marriage. In a survey conducted last month, YouGov found that 48 percent of self-identified Anglicans supported same-sex marriage, an increase from 38 percent in 2013, reported the Church Times. The YouGov poll was commissioned by the Ozanne Foundation, a religious LGBT advocacy group, with respondents not indicating their level of religious practice. Home Search ICH Erdogan Loses the Battle, But the War Is Far from Over By The Saker March 07, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Following 6 hours of grueling negotiations, including direct negotiations between Putin and Erdogan, the parties have finally agreed to the following : A ceasefire will begin at midnight. Russia and Turkey will jointly patrol the M4 highway (M5 now belongs to Damascus). A 6km buffer zone will have to be created and enforced on each side of M4 by the March 15th (see map above) Both parties have reaffirmed their commitment to Syrias sovereignty and territorial integrity. Both parties have reaffirmed their commitment to a create the conditions for a return of the refugees. Both parties have reaffirmed that this conflict as no military solution. Furthermore, there was a lot of things which were left unsaid, but understood by all: The recent military gains of the Syrian military will not be disputed and otherwise challenged. The new line of contact has now become official. Russia and Syria will continue to fight all the organizations which the UNSC has declared terrorist (al-Nusra, al-Qaeda, and all their franchises irrespective of any rebranding). Moscow remains as committed to the protection of the legitimate Syrian government as ever. From the above we can also deduce the following: Erdogans Blitzkrieg has failed. Initially, the Turkish drones inflicted major damage on the Syrian forces, but the latter adapted extremely quickly which resulted in what the Russians jokingly referred to as dronopad which can roughly be translated as dronerain. The Turks were clearly shocked by the Russian decision to bomb a Turkish battalion. What apparently happened is this: two Syrian Su-22 (old Soviet aircraft) bombed the convoy to force it to stop, then a pair of Russian Su-34 (the most modern Russian all-weather supersonic medium-range fighter-bomber/strike aircraft) dropped heavy ordinance on the convoy and surrounding buildings killing scores of Turkish special forces). Both sides decided to blame the Syrians, but they dont fly Su-34, and everybody knows that. Erdogan understood that he either had to double down or declare victory and leave. He wisely chose the latter, at least as a temporary measure. Neither NATO nor the EU showed any signs of wanting to join Turkeys war on Syria (because that is what we are really dealing with here), and neither did the US. Since I cannot call that decision wise (there is no wisdom of any kind left in western regimes), I will call it simply prudent as Russia was not about to allow Turkey to invade Syria. Iran, Hezbollah, and Libya all declared their willingness to fight the Turks for as long as needed and anywhere where needed. In spite of these developments, it is pretty clear that internal Turkish politics will continue to force Erdogan to engage in what is politely called neo-Ottoman policies aka phantom pains for a lost empire. The obvious solution for Russia is to further arm the Syrians, especially with modernized versions of the Pantsir SAMs which have proven very effective against drones, MLRS rockets and even mortars. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The main Syrian problem is a lack of numbers. Until more forces are equipped, trained, deployed and engaged, the Russians need to provide a much stronger air defense capabilities to Syria. The Syrians have done miracles with old, frankly outdated, Soviet equipment (which, considering its age and lack of proper maintenance, has performed superbly), but now they need much better Russian gear to defend not only against Turkey, but also against the Axis of Kindness (US+Israel+KSA). Furthermore, it is my opinion that the Russian task force in Khmeimim and Tartus is too big and not well balanced. Khmeimin needs many more Su-25SM3 and a few more Su-35S/Su-30SM to protect them. The naval base at Tartus lacks ASW capabilities, as does much of the Russian naval task force in the eastern Mediterranean. And while the Russian Navy has a number of ships with Kalibr cruise missiles onboard, their numbers are, again, inadequate, which means that the Russian Aerospace Forces need to deploy as many Kalibr-capable aircraft in southern Russia as possible. Both Tartus and Khmeimim are pretty close to the Idlib province (that is also were the good terrorist tried to strike Russian forces from which, thanks to the successful Syrian offensive, they now cannot do anymore!). This suggests to me that Russia ought to declare a larger exclusive air control zone over both of this locations, and beef up the numbers of missiles and launchers the Russian air defenses will have to enforce it. Finally, I think that Erdogan has outlived his utility for Russia (and for Turkey, for that matter!). He clearly is a loose cannon which, according to some rumors, even the Turkish public opinion is getting fed up with. Russia should not neglect that public opinion. Then there are the Libyans, Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, whose forces seems to have been extremely successful against the Turkish forces in Libya. The Russians are, quietly, supporting Haftar who, while not exactly an ideal ally for Russia, can prove useful. What the Russians need to do next is to explain two things to Erdogan and his ministers: If you attack again in Syria, you will be defeated, possibly worse than the first time around If you mess with our geostrategic interests, we will mess with yours The only party which the Russians should never arm are the Kurds, who are even more unreliable than Erdogan and who are basically an Israeli asset to destabilize Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran. Russia should, however, talk to the Kurds (all factions) and convince them to accept a large cultural autonomy inside Syria, Iraq and Iran. Turkey could be added to this list, but only once a trustworthy government comes to power in Ankara. Under no circumstances should Russia arm the Kurds. Right now, the best Russian ally in the region is Syria. This is the country which Russia needs to make safe by creating a truly modern air defense network. The Russians have already done a lot towards this goal, including integrating their combat management and EW systems, but that is not enough. While Russian aid and Syrian skills have forced the Israelis to conduct mostly symbolic and ineffective air strikes, often with missiles shot from outside the Syrian airspace, and while many (most) Israeli missiles were destroyed by the Syrian air defenses, it is pretty clear that both the Turks and the Israelis feel that if they launch missiles from long distance they are relatively safe. That perception needs to be changed, not only to force the Turks and the Israelis to shoot from even further and accept even more losses, but also to show the US, NATO and Europe that the Syrian air defenses are capable of making anything short of a massive attack pointless (and a massive attack costly). We should also note that the Turkish propaganda machine has been very effective. Yes, a lot of what they said was self-evidently feelgood nonsense (thousands of dead Syrians, hundred of tanks, etc.) , but their footage of a Turkish drone striking a Pantsir in Libya did, at least initially, impress those who dont understand air defense warfare (destroying a single isolated first-generation Pantsir is not that hard, especially from right above it, but destroying a Pantsir position in which launchers protect each other is quite different. And if that Pantsir position is protected below (AA+MANPADS) and above (medium to long range SAMs), then this becomes extremely difficult). This war is not over and it wont be until Erdogan is removed from power. Frankly, Russia needs a stable and trustworthy partner on her southern border, and that wont happen until the Turks ditch Erdogan. The problem here is that God only knows who might succeed him, should the Gulenists seize power, that will not be good for Russia either. And here we come back to the murder of General Suleimani. Frankly, the Iranians are spot on: the two things which made the Middle-East into the bloody mess it has been for decades are 1) Israel and 2) the US. The end goal for the former is a one-state solution, whether accepted or imposed. The intermediate goal ought to be to get the US out of Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and, possibly, Turkey. Erdogan is crazy and desperate enough (not to mention vengeful) to at least bring this intermediate goal one step closer by alienating the US and NATO. So the Russian game plan ought to be obvious: first, use military means to contain Erdogan inside Turkey and, next, engage in long term efforts to prepare for a post-Erdogan Turkey. Then let the SOB destroy himself. I dont believe that peace is possible between a secular Syria and a Takfiri-backing Turkey. And I sure dont believe that the Takfiris can be remolded into any kind of democratic opposition. Thus the real end-goal for Russia and Syria will always be military victory, not peace (assuming that concept of peace with the Takfiris makes any sense at all, which it doesnt). The Russians know that, even if they wont admit it. For the time being, what we see is the first phase of the Turkey-Syria war ending and for the next couple of weeks we shall see a transition into some other phase which will probably be one in which, surprise surprise, the Turks fail to remove all the Takfiri nutcases from Idlib which will then give Syria and Russia a legal reason to take direct action again. In theory, at least, Erdogan could decide to pour the Turkish armed forces across the border, but the closer they will get to Khmeimim and/or Tartus, the more dangerous the stakes for Turkey and for Erdogan personally. The key to success for the Axis of Resistance is to make Syria too tough to crack. I hope that Russia, Iran, Syria and Iraq will continue to work together, hopefully with Chinese aid, to create such a Syria. " Source " Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== WASHINGTON President Donald Trump's acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, a former congressman who served multiple roles at the White House, is leaving his job and the president is appointing Rep. Mark Meadows to fill the powerful position. Trump announced the moves in a series of tweets late Friday night. The shake up in the key White House role follows Trump's acquittal in his Senate impeachment trial and a recent push to appoint especially trusted allies to top jobs and to push out others whose allegiance to the president has been questioned. "I am pleased to announce that Congressman Mark Meadows will become White House Chief of Staff. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one," Trump said in a tweet on Friday. Trump thanked Mulvaney for "having served the Administration so well" and announced he would become the U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Meadows, 60, who has represented North Carolina in the House since 2013, announced last year that he would retire. A former chairman of the Freedom Caucus, Meadows has helped rally conservative House members on Trump's agenda, including on health care and tax cuts. Meadows applauded the "incredible victories" of Trump's first three years and said in a statement he looked forward to "helping build on that success." Mulvaney, a former South Carolina lawmaker who joined the Trump administration as the president's top budget aide in 2017, was Trump's third chief of staff though he never shed the "acting" qualifier in his title, and Trump never explained why. Widely seen as less hands-on with Trump than his predecessor, John Kelly, Mulvaney served in the role as the White House navigated through the president's impeachment and the controversy over the withholding of foreign aid to Ukraine. Mulvaney played a role in that controversy by seeking a legal justification to withhold the military aid. Story continues Mulvaney was heavily criticized for a news conference in October in which he appeared to acknowledge that Trump withheld aid from Ukraine until it agreed to conduct an investigation involving domestic politics in the U.S. The House impeachment managers repeatedly used Mulvaney's words against the White House during the trial. "We do that all the time with foreign policy," he said at the time. "And I have news for everybody: Get over it. Theres going to be political influence in foreign policy." Mulvaney later issued a written statement walking back his comments, saying Trump was strictly concerned about corruption in Ukraine. Mick Mulvaney Trump tapped Mulvaney in December 2018 to replace Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general who replaced Trump's first chief of staff Reince Priebus in 2017. David Cohen, a political science professor at The University of Akron who studies the office of chief of staff, said it was clear the move had been in the works for some time given Meadows' decision not to run for reelection. "Meadows clearly knows Congress and is a loyal protector of the president, so he brings that to the job," Cohen said. "But Trump has never empowered any of his chiefs with the tools to be effective. He is resistant to changing his leadership methods to allow for a strong chief of staff to run the White House. It is doubtful that he will start now." The appointment was applauded by several conservative allies of the president's. Heritage Foundation President Kay C. James described Meadows as a "strong leader" and "principled conservative." "Throughout his tenure in the House, Congressman Meadows represented his district honorably and became one of the most visible conservative lawmakers on Capitol Hill," James said. "His leadership of the House Freedom Caucus elevated conservative ideas and defenders of liberty." Lynda Bennett, who was endorsed by Meadows, received the highest number of votes in the GOP primary election to replace him in his North Carolina's congressional district this week. But Bennett won less than 30% of the vote, meaning she will face a runoff in May. In this file photo taken on October 31, 2019, Rep. Mark Meadows, Republican of North Carolina, speaks outside the secure facility where depositions relating to the House impeachment inquiry are taking place on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Contributing: The Citizen Times This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump to replace acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney with Mark Meadows The opposition BJP on Saturday hit out at the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh after a class 10 question paper of the state board referred to Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK) as "Azad Kashmir". The term appeared in the class 10 social science paper of the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE), the exam for which was conducted on Saturday morning. Azad Kashmir is the term used by Pakistan to refer to POK. After the controversy broke out, two officials were suspended on the directives of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, an MPBSE official said. The two questions were also canceled. One of the questions asked the candidates to identify "Azad Kashmir" on the map. The term also occurred in a match- a-pair question. Speaking to PTI, state BJP spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal, who shared image of the question paper on Twitter, said, "Kashmir is an integral part of India. The Indian government has passed a resolution to this effect. Has Madhya Pradesh's Congress regime recognized Azad Kashmir?" He also alleged that senior Congress leaders use the "same terminology" as do Pakistan and separatists. He also demanded that a sedition case be registered against the person responsible for this gaffe. Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja said chief minister Nath expressed anger over the incident. On Nath's orders, two officials were suspended, Saluja added. An MPBSE official said the paper setter and the moderator were suspended and disciplinary action would be taken against them. The questions in which the term Azad Kashmir figured were canceled and the social science paper would thus carry 90 instead of 100 marks, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Florida instantly conjures up images of Mickey Mouse and deliriously smiley Disney princesses, but if you want to discover the real sunshine state, head east to tranquil surf city, New Smyrna Beach. Away from the madness of Orlando's famous theme parks, this is a taste of quaint, small-town USA, where kids still get around on skateboards, surfer dudes ride the waves, and the Southern charm is infectious. If New Smyrna Beach was a song it would be Pharrell Williams' Happy. Thirty miles from Cape Canaveral and at the heart of the US space programme, the region is undergoing a major development. With 1,200 miles of stunning coastline, white sandy beaches and abundant sea life, you can wake up to the sight of bottle-nosed dolphins frolicking as the sun rises over the river, dine on local seafood and tap into a community spirit that makes you feel like you're one of the family. New Smyrna Beach has a vibrant arts scene. A silent movie theatre on Canal Street has been converted to create The Hub on Canal, a bustling, interactive arts centre. With an art gallery showcasing the work of 70 regional artists, the non-profit organisation holds educational workshops and hosts local concerts and film festivals, offering the locals and visitors a place to experience and participate in the arts. Expand Close The Hub on Canal Street PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Hub on Canal Street To experience the area's wildlife, it's possible to hire a kayak at the Marine Discovery Centre and travel along part of the Indian River, a 160 mile stretch of water from New Smyrna to Miami, rich with plant and birdlife. In a two-hour guided session (adults: $40/31; children aged 6-12: $22/16), paddle along a four-mile round stretch of intercoastal waterways, flanked by luscious black and red mangroves. The route is sedate enough for novices and guides are always within safe distance to offer instruction on paddling technique. Cormorants, white herons and pelicans can all be seen. You won't find a commercial restaurant chain anywhere on New Smyrna and eating out is much like dropping in for dinner with family. Small eateries pride themselves on their locally-sourced fresh produce. Of course, fish features heavily on the menus. At The Local Pearl Oyster Shoppe you can sample an endless array of fish dishes, from the catch of the day to oysters fried in cornmeal. For something less formal, head to JB's Fish Camp (jbsfishcamp.com), a shack-style eatery on the waterfront, which serves as the setting for some hearty Southern fare. Expand Close The Hub on Canal Street PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Hub on Canal Street Run by former school friends, The Florida Local is a trendy hangout where you can catch up with friends over an ice cold coffee. Brewmaster Chris began making beer for his friends in his garage six years ago. Or try the New Smyrna Beach Brewing Company a local watering hole where family and friends gather at the end of the working day and everybody knows your name. With over 80 home-brewed beers - from the intense flagship beer dubbed Shark Attack to the fruity apricot Pilsner - there's something for all palates. New Smyrna is all about the beach life. You can also hire a bike or a buggy from Salty Rentals, at The Salty Mermaid Hotel Seating four, a buggy ride is a great way to cover the vast stretch of sandy coastline, taking in the view and the warm sea breeze, while playing your favourite beach tracks. Traveller's guide Ian Grossart inherited his Brandon-area grain and cattle farm from his dad, just as his father and grandfather did before him. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Ian Grossart inherited his Brandon-area grain and cattle farm from his dad, just as his father and grandfather did before him. In those four generations of farming, the family has learned a thing or two about extreme weather. "My great-grandfather got here in 1879 and that was a really nasty winter that year," Grossart says of the story that has been passed down through the family. "Every year has its challenges. Last year we went from a drought in the spring, to a lot of excess moisture in the fall. So thats maybe a way that were seeing things change even quicker... from one extreme to another." Climate change is expected to have a significant impact on farmers. For example, for the area outside of Brandon where Grossarts Howpark Farms is located, the growing season is expected to move much later into the year. According to Prairie Climate Centre modelling, Sept. 21, on average, was the first day of frost between 1976 and 2005. By the end of the century if global carbon emissions continue at status quo levels it is predicted to be almost a month later, falling in mid- to late-October. "Every year has its challenges. Last year we went from a drought in the spring, to a lot of excess moisture in the fall. So thats maybe a way that were seeing things change even quicker... from one extreme to another." Brandon-area grain and cattle farmer Ian Grossart While Grossart finds it difficult if not impossible to differentiate between weather events triggered by climate change and regularly irregular weather thats been around since before his family began farming the land just on the edge of the Brandon Hills, he knows climate change will make things even more unpredictable. Not at all surprising, unpredictability isnt something farmers favour. That is part of the reason Grossart is proud to have changed the way he works. In 2000, he moved to organic farming and now hes working on implementing the principles of regenerative farming. He was selected by General Mills, an American multinational food producer, to be a part of their regenerative farming initiative, wherein theyre aiming to convert one million acres of conventional farmland to use regenerative practices by 2030. Its a part of an effort to lower the companys carbon emissions. (COLIN SLARK/THE BRANDON SUN) Farmer Ian Grossart and dogs Sasha and Maddie next to one of the banks of solar panels at Howpark Farms. "They cant reduce emissions to the extent that they want unless they have farms that are reducing their emissions, as well," Grossart said. The definition of what constitutes regenerative farming depends on who you ask. But in its essence, it is a holistic approach to growing the carbon-capture capabilities and the health of soil. For General Mills, this means farmers involved in their initiative need to minimize the amount of soil they till, maximize crop diversity and keep a cover crop on their fields all year round. But regenerative agriculture is just the new "sexy" name for practices that more farmers are already adopting, says University of Manitoba professor of applied soil ecology Mario Tenuta. CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Regenerative farming is a holistic approach to growing the carbon-capture capabilities and the health of soil. "You can come around and package it and give it a name," said Tenuta. "Regardless of the name, farmers were catching on to these practices." But this doesnt take away from the critical nature the practices hold for decreasing carbon emissions that are generated through agriculture in Canada, he said. Roughly a third of the provinces emissions come from the agricultural sector. Across Canada, farming accounted for about 60 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions in 2017 or about 8.4 per cent of the countrys total emissions, according to Canadas 2017 emissions inventory report. And while cows get all the attention for their methane-producing farts, dirt is nearly as important at least, from the emissions perspective. The Prairie Climate Centre broke down Canadian emissions and found methane from livestock accounted for 3.5 per cent of the countrys emissions, while soil management was just behind, at 3.2 per cent of emissions. Farming is particularly notorious for emitting nitrous oxide, one type of greenhouse gas; agriculture accounts for 77 per cent of the countrys total nitrous oxide emissions. Its 300 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. In Canada, and around the world, use of nitrogen fertilizer is a major source of nitrous oxide. And we are looking at ways to reduce those emissions though our research." University of Manitoba professor of applied soil ecology Mario Tenuta There are myriad ways nitrous oxide can be released on a farm, including through manure management. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates roughly three-quarters of agricultural nitrous oxide emissions come from soil management, and through synthetic or organic fertilizer application. This is why no- or low-till farming is important to the regenerative agriculture movement. Tenuta explains that when the land is tilled, bacteria in the soil then gains access to carbon matter that it couldnt have previously accessed and that bacteria, in turn, produces the nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide emissions also bring attention to how farmers fertilize crops. "In Canada, and around the world, use of nitrogen fertilizer is a major source of nitrous oxide. And we are looking at ways to reduce those emissions though our research," Tenuta said. "And were looking at practices we can recommend to farmers that will not cost them very much money, or any money at all." Tenuta says he believes the recommendations could result in a 30 to 50 per cent decrease in emissions. "Farmers are using fertilizer better, I see a trend to that effect," Tenuta said. "The question becomes, are we moving fast enough? Do we have incentives for the farmers to adopt new technologies, new practices?" JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Agriculture accounts for 77 per cent of the countrys total nitrous oxide emissions, which are 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. The guidelines for improved fertilizer application are known as the four Rs, and they form the cornerstone of the National Farmers Union recommendations for action on climate change: using the right fertilizer, at the right time, in the right quantities and putting it in the right place. "Farmers need to lead," National Farmers Union president Katie Ward said at a presentation of the climate change report in Calgary in late February. "Just like any other industry, we have to do our part, too." Ward said she hopes to see farmers electrifying as much fossil-fuel dependent activity as they can, since the electricity grid can be more easily decarbonized. But just as Tenuta hinted, Ward thinks governments need to provide guidance for a co-ordinated effort to decarbonize agriculture. "Strong government leadership is needed," she said. The Free Press requested an interview with someone working on this topic at Manitoba Agriculture, but received no response. Im always optimistic about agriculture because it was the very first renewable energy industry. Agriculture is built on taking sunlight energy and turning it into sugars, turning it into crops." Mario Tenuta Premier Brian Pallister did not make any mention of emissions reductions in his mandate letter to Agriculture Minister Blaine Pedersen earlier this week. He did, however, outline the maintenance of wetlands in order to help increase carbon storage and improve water quality. In fact, the newly announced provincial carbon tax would exempt much activity on farms. This is a political move, more than based on economic grounds, said Chris Ragan, an economics professor at McGill University and the chair of the now-shuttered Ecofiscal Commission, which worked extensively on the public policy case for carbon pricing. "A lot of carbon pricing, currently, starts off by excluding parts of agriculture largely for political reasons, not so much for economic reasons," Ragan said. "Some emissions come from how you till the soil. Thats something thats pretty hard to address with a carbon price, but some of the emissions come from the diesel tractor, and thats pretty easy to handle with a carbon price." Through all that hes learned in his research, Tenuta believes that Canadian agriculture can become carbon-neutral, but it requires a great deal of change. He imagines electric farm vehicles, solar-energy infrastructure, even farmers creating their own fertilizers in house using renewable energy. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Im always optimistic about agriculture because it was the very first renewable energy industry. Agriculture is built on taking sunlight energy and turning it into sugars, turning it into crops," Tenuta said. "To me, the thing is, we got caught up in using petroleum fuels. "Theres a whole bunch of steps going on here. Regenerative agriculture and its component practices are things that farmers are already adopting and moving towards and thats part of the picture but I think its just the beginning." Grossart said more farmers in his neck of the woods are interested in regenerative practices, but there seems to be a significant distance between that interest and deciding to make sizable changes to their livelihood. "Theres a lot of pieces that need to fall into place for that to happen," he said. "But its not just about climate and carbon. Soil health is integral to human health." sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca Celebrities, corporate sponsors, dignitaries, and leaders join at one of Charlottes premier social events of the year in efforts to benefit deserving students and historically black colleges and universities CHARLOTTE, NC, March 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Impacting thousands of students across North Carolina and the United States, the sixth annual Charlotte UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Mayors Masked Ball, a signature black-tie gala, is set for 6 p.m., Saturday, March 14 at The Westin Charlotte, featuring a masked award reception, red carpet photo-ops, elegant dining and an after-party. Celebrities, dignitaries, civic leaders, volunteers, public officials and historically black college and university (HBCU) alumni will be in attendance, including mistress of ceremonies Erica Bryant from WSOC-TV. UNCF continues to change the HBCU narrative across the nation, said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. Events such as the Charlotte UNCF Mayors Masked Ball raise awareness of our mission and equip more students of color with the resources necessary to transition into college, graduate and ultimately expand and diversify Americas highly educated workforce. Since its founding, UNCF has empowered more than half a million students to earn college degrees. As the largest and most effective minority education organization in the U.S., UNCF also actively supports 37 private HBCUs and advocates for minority higher education. For their steadfast commitment to education and unwavering support of UNCF, Derek L. Webber, president, Webber Marketing and Consulting; Thomas M. Finke, chairman and CEO, Barings; Dwight Gibson, president of sanitary and industrial segments, SPX FLOW; and Donta L. Wilson, chief digital officer, Truist Financial Corporation, will all receive the UNCF Masked Award. The Mayors Masked Ball continues to serve as a platform to raise unrestricted dollars so that we can continue to provide scholarships to deserving students and invest in their futures. Last year, we raised more than $200,000 at the event to help students across North Carolina get to and through college. Without support from UNCF, many of our most promising future leaders would not have the opportunity to get a quality education, said Tiffany Jones, area development director, UNCF. Story continues Event host committee members include the honorable Vi Lyles, mayor, city of Charlotte; Clarence D. Armbrister, J.D., president, Johnson C. Smith University; Dr. Jimmy R. Jenkins, Sr., president, Livingstone College; Maurice E. Jenkins, Jr., executive vice president and chief development officer, UNCF; and Jones. The presenting sponsor is Truist Financial Corporation (formerly BB&T). Other top sponsors include Atrium Health, EY, Barings and Accenture, along with a host of other new and returning sponsors. I am truly humbled by the growth of the Charlotte Mayors Masked Ball and the overwhelming support from the Charlotte community, said Jones. To purchase tickets or to donate to the event, please go to UNCF.org/Charlotte. Follow this event on social media @UNCF #UNCFCharlotte #UNCF. ### About UNCF UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF awards more than $100 million in scholarships annually and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Learn more at UNCF.org, or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF. Mashari Grissom United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF) 202-854-0007 mashari.grissom@uncf.org Some of Sanderss supporters started the 2020 campaign still angry that Warren had not enthusiastically backed Sanders, her ideological ally in the partys liberal wing. Warren moved further to the left after the 2016 campaign co-sponsoring Sanderss Medicare-for-all bill and backing his choice to lead the Democratic National Committee in part to make amends to him and his backers, according to a person familiar with her thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss internal deliberations. The ministry of information and broadcasting on Saturday lifted the ban on two Kerala-based news channels over their coverage of the violence in Delhi over the amended citizenship law, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying. The I&B ministry imposed a 48-hour ban on two Malayalam news channels Asianet News and Media One on Friday for their coverage of the violence in north-east Delhi, which it said could enhance communal disharmony. The ban on Asianet News was lifted at 1.30 am, while the ban on Media One was lifted at 9.30 am on Saturday, a source at the ministry of information and broadcasting told PTI. The two channels had reportedly written to the ministry seeking revocation of the bans, following which it was lifted. The government on Friday said it had found the two channels in violation of the programme code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 following which the ministry ordered the prohibition of transmission or re-transmission of the channels for 48 hours with effect from 7.30pm on March 6. The order on Asianet News TV said, while reporting such critical incident, the channel (Asianet News) should have taken utmost care and should have reported it in a balanced way. Such reporting could enhance the communal disharmony across the country when the situation is highly volatile. The news channel responded to the notice saying its reports were factual and never intended to attack a religion or a community. Earlier in the day former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram had criticised Centres decision to suspend the transmission of two news channels.The Ministry of I&B plays the roles of Prosecutor, Jury and Judge. This is a travesty of justice. All media entities should protest vehemently. The government must scrap the Shut down order forthwith, he tweeted. (With PTI inputs) 1:30 p.m. The ballots are being counted as Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks to interim Liberal leader John Fraser on the convention stage. Results are expected within the next hour. Fraser gave a shout-out to Amanda Simard, the former PC MPP who sat as an Independent before recently moving over to the Liberal party, representing Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. 12:31 p.m. Kate Graham told the crowd that the moment calls for us to do something extraordinary How does the Ontario Liberal Party win back the people of this province? How do we give them more? How do we restore peoples faith in us and in politics and what it can mean in our lives? Because thats what we have to do. We have to give them more. She said we have to give them more than just platitudes and policy planks. We have to do more than trade-in favours and crank up the machinery of party politics. We have to do more than fundraise using fear. We have to restore trust in us, in politics, in whats possible. Graham, a political science professor at Western University, said its important for the Liberals to do politics differently. She said the party needs to focus more on the well-being of people than polling numbers. We can be the party that makes Ontario carbon neutral. We can be the party that once and for all gives kids with autism the services they need that builds social support systems that lift people out of poverty, that doesnt nickel-and-dime our childrens education. She also spoke of the barriers for women in politics including how people would write her off after she announced her run for leadership, and then that she was pregnant. Not are only are women electable, they absolutely must be elected if we want to fix any of the big things that really matter, she said. 11:45 a.m. Michael Coteau, a former cabinet minister in the Wynne government and one of the handful of Liberals to be re-elected in 2018, told the crowd that Liberals have achieved great successes in our history when we worked together for the common good. He said these chapters in our story remind us of our ability to reimagine Ontario and bring people together a long history that many thought ended on June 7, of 2018. But look around: a new chapter is being written right here today. Coteau then turned his sights on the Ford government, saying, Conservatism in Ontario is no more than short-sighted, reactionary politics that usually causes more harm than good. I dont want the angry, messy, chaotic state of politics in Ontario today to continue. When I talk to organizations, businesses and members of our communities, they tell me we need to return to a state of stability. We dont need an agenda controlled by the extreme right ... or radical left. We need to return to balance and moderation. He called on Liberals to come together around a new vision of Liberalism. A new approach to politics that captures the challenges and opportunities of today and produces the best outcomes for citizens, by getting our core services delivered in the best way possible. Coteau said the Liberal vision of Ontario is constructive, not destructive. Progressive, not regressive. It is, he added, very different than that of our current premier, who finds more ways to divide us than unite us. You see, we are the opposite of the Ford Conservatives. I believe its a vision I share with all of you gathered here today, and with people in every part of Ontario. 11:24 a.m. A late entrant and a long-shot in the race, Ottawa lawyer Brenda Hollingsworth said she took a chance because the Liberal party needed a fresh voice with her business and legal experience. Taking the stage to the Motown classic Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Hollingsworth explained why. I felt an urge to step out of my very comfortable life, she told the crowd. People around me told me youre making a big mistake, youre not a politician ... but my heart was simply not going to take no for an answer. 11 a.m. Alvin Tedjo, a former senior policy adviser on post-secondary education, is a father of three who was vice-president of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care and part of a successful effort to push for improved paternity leave across Canada. He told the convention that while he spent a lot of time away from his family during the leadership campaign, he said funny enough, my kids are what I talk about most on the campaign trail, and what we as parents hope we can achieve for them, and prepare them for in the future. Tedjo also pledged to implement a basic-income program to help fight poverty. He also spoke of his controversial proposal to merge the Catholic and public education systems into one. I dont think we can ignore the fact that the way we deliver public education in Ontario, is not accessible to everyone, he said. If you are a student, or a teacher, and youre not allowed to study or work at a publicly funded school because of your religion, thats discrimination. He said Ontarians want that status quo to change. I know not everyone agrees with me on this. But I also know that a lot of you do, but youre worried about the politics. He said, however, that the Liberals need to take that bold step. We should never again be afraid to do the right thing, he said. 10:06 a.m. Former education minister and Scarborough-Guildwood MPP Mitzie Hunter one of two leadership candidates with a seat in the legislature took the stage after a childrens choir from her riding performed two songs. Saying Liberals have punched above their weight since their crushing defeat in the 2018 election, Hunter recalled in a rousing speech how her mother financed her fathers first dump truck by working in an auto assembly plant. Im here today because of hard work, education and dreams, Hunter, who has a masters of business administration degree, told hundreds of delegates. She added that she wants everyone in Ontario to have the type of opportunities she enjoyed. Hunter accused Premier Doug Ford of leading a polarizing government and mocked his double-blue licence plates in Progressive Conservative colours as symbolizing how he is governing for himself and his friends. Its hard to say you are for the people when you are not from the people, she said to cheers. Prior to the convention, Hunter placed fourth in the delegate count behind Del Duca, MPP Michael Coteau and political newcomer Kate Graham, who teaches at Western University in London. 9:30 a.m. As the Ontario Liberal leadership election got under way at the International Centre, front-runner Steven Del Duca reminded the 2,000 delegates of their proud legacy of delivering progress. David Peterson ended (more than) 40 years of Conservative rule, banned extra-billing by doctors, introduced pay equity, and stood up for a united Canada because he knew it was the right thing to do, Del Duca said of the former premier who governed between 1985 and 1990. Dalton McGuinty helped us rediscover how to win again, and again, and again so we could close coal, create the Greenbelt, introduce full-day kindergarten and create a world class public education system, he said of the man who led Ontario from 2003 until 2013. And he praised Ontarios first female premier, who was in power from 2013 until Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservatives toppled the Liberals in 2018. Kathleen Wynne blazed a trail and led us to victory in 2014 so we could push for national pension reform, we launched the basic income pilot, we fought systemic racism, homophobia and misogyny, and we bridged towards authentic reconciliation with our Indigenous peoples. BACKGROUND Delegates of Ontario Liberals will choose a new leader today. Delegate selection meetings suggest former cabinet minister Steve Del Duca is the overwhelming favourite to win the leadership at the Mississauga convention. Del Duca, who lost his Vaughan riding in the Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservative landslide in June 2018, has the support of 1,171 elected delegates as well as scores of ex officios. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: UTICA, N.Y. The Treadmill Challenge took place at the Healthy for Good Expo at Utica College Friday, where challengers faced off to see who can raise more money for the American Heart Association. NEWSChannel 2s Jill Reale participated in the event, as well as Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol and Body by Design owner, Jennifer Venezio. Maciol and Venezio faced off against each other, striking a friendly competition. We have a little friendly bet going here, that I really cant lose. I dont like to lose, and certainly Im asking for the communitys help to get me over the hump, said Maciol. If Maciol raises more money, Venezio will have to do chores on his farm for a day. If she wins, Maciol will have to take a yoga class at Body by Design. Im not a farmer -- I do have some great Chanel boots -- but other than that, no, I dont think Im a farmer, said Venezio. Both agree that either way, theyve raised money for a good cause. "This money goes to such an important cause. Its something, at some point, in anyones life, is going to affect you. Know that your money is going to someplace great and know that we appreciate it more than words could ever say, said Venezio. The challenge is part of the WIBX Radiothon. One person was killed and another injured on Saturday when rolling boulders from a hillock hit a private car along Jammu-Srinagar national highway, police said. The 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was cleared for Kashmir-bound stranded vehicles in the morning but the traffic witnessed frequent disruptions due to shooting of stones from the hillocks overlooking the arterial road. A car came under boulders sliding down from a hill near Maroog on the highway in Ramban district, killing Waseem Azad of Srinagar and injuring his cousin Manzoor Azad, a police official said. The highway was reopened for vehicular traffic on Saturday morning after a day-long closure due to multiple landslides between Ramban and Ramsu, he said. However, intermittent shooting of stones at several places in the landslide prone areas of Ramban district once again forced suspension of traffic on the highway around 2.30 pm, a traffic department official said. He said efforts are on to clear the debris and restore traffic on the highway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She recently returned from a lavish trip to Las Vegas with boyfriend Tommy Fury. And Molly-Mae Hague, 20, sizzled in yet another sultry snap from her latest sun-soaked getaway in Thailand which she uploaded to Instagram on Saturday. The former Love Island hopeful donned a black bandeau swimsuit that flaunted her incredibly toned figure as she posed in the crystal-clear water. Sizzling: Molly-Mae Hague, 20, flaunted her figure in yet another sultry snap from her latest sun-soaked getaway in Thailand which she uploaded to Instagram on Saturday The scanty swimsuit teased a glimpse of her pert derriere and showcased her bronzed legs as she posed up a storm. Molly-Mae finished the look with her wet bleach blonde locks draped over her right shoulder as she gazed directly toward the camera. She clung to a frayed rope as she clutched the edge of her swimsuit with her other hand. In a second image, which was uploaded to her Instagram story, Molly-Mae put on a confident display as she straddled a jet ski. The influencer wore another understated black swimsuit from PrettyLittleThing and finished the look with a pair of sunglasses before adjusting her hair with both hands. Poser: In a second image, which was uploaded to her Instagram story, Molly-Mae put on a confident display as she straddled a jet ski Young love: It was recently reported that Molly's boyfriend Tommy Fury, 20, was planning to pop the question to Molly-Mae - but there is yet to be a proposal Molly's trip comes days after she returned from Las Vegas, where she joined boyfriend Tommy Fury to watch his brother Tyson fight Deontay Wilder. It was reported ahead of Tyson's clash that Tommy, 20, was planning to pop the question to Molly-Mae - but despite his victory there is yet to be a proposal. A source previously told The Sun: 'Tommy's serious about Molly and thinks proposing in Vegas surrounded by family will be the perfect time. 'He's of the mind only to do it in Vegas if his brother Tyson wins his fight against Deontay Wilder tonight. He thinks it would be the perfect way to end the perfect day.' The loved-up couple met on last year's season of Love Island and have been smitten ever since. Sacks of heroin and methamphetamine are laid out in endless rows in a remote Myanmar border zone during a rare raid in the heart of Southeast Asia's infamous 'Golden Triangle'. The seizure in one of the world's biggest narcotics-producing regions put three major laboratories out of business this week and hauled in 43 million meth tablets. Record amounts of drugs continue to be churned out of the lawless forest areas by rebel groups and shadowy organised crime networks making billions of dollars each year from the trade. Army operations around the Kutkai area of Myanmar's Shan State found the factories producing millions of "yaba" pills -- cheap, caffeine-cut meth tablets -- as well as heroin and the more addictive crystal meth, known as "Ice". "Our soldiers are on the ground in areas of the forest the police cannot reach," Major General Tun Tun Nyi, a spokesman for the commander-in-chief's office, told reporters on Friday in a rare press tour to a murky zone of drug production and rebel wars. Myanmar is under pressure to stem the deluge of drugs from its freewheeling border regions. Shan State is part of the Golden Triangle -- a rugged wedge of land cutting into Myanmar, Laos, China and Thailand that is virtually untroubled by authorities despite its prolific production. "This is the biggest seizure of the year... the whole world is fighting drugs," Tun Tun Nyi added. The haul was worth nearly $100 million in Myanmar, the army said. But the price of yaba -- Southeast Asia's favourite high -- triples as it crosses borders into Thailand and Malaysia. Made-in-Myanmar Ice goes for around $150,000 a kilo by the time it hits Australia's streets. Drugs are trafficked south through Thailand, north into China and west towards Bangladesh -- a cascade of stimulants that has overwhelmed regional policing efforts and seeded a crisis of addiction, corruption and money laundering. A crackdown in the same area last year was met with heavy artillery fire by the rebel groups believed to be running the labs. "This area is very dangerous," an anti-drugs police officer in Kawangkha told AFP, requesting anonymity. "The local people are innocent, but there are some businessmen and ethnic armed groups using the area to produce drugs." The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime says that without tough action against dirty money coupled with better drug rehabilitation programmes, the power of organised crime will become unmanageable for some Southeast Asian states. The Naval Strike Missile is operational on land and at sea. Kongsberg As it shifts its focus toward a potential fight with another great power, the Marine Corps wants to be able to strike an adversary hard at sea. The Corps is looking for missiles that it can fire against enemy ships while they're on the move. "That is what matters in a contested environment in the South China Sea," Lt. Gen. Eric Smith, commander of Marine Corps Combat Development Command, told lawmakers Thursday. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The US Marine Corps says it needs ground-launched missiles that can seek out and eliminate enemy ships sailing in contested waterways. "Part of the homework that the Navy and Marine Corps have done over the past six months is how we think we're going to need to operate in the future as an integrated naval force," Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. "That means the Marine Corps assumes a role which we have not had in the past 20 years, which is how do we contribute to sea control and sea denial," he added. The Marines have practiced striking stationary ships from land and sea with missiles launched from High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, but now the service wants to take it a step further and hit ships on the move. Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday, Lt. Gen. Eric Smith, commander of Marine Corps Combat Development Command and deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration, said the Corps wants a system with an active seeker that can chase down a moving ship, something it doesn't currently have. "We have to have a system that can go after that," Smith told lawmakers. "That is what matters in a contested environment in the South China Sea or in the [Indo-Pacific Command] area." Changing the calculus of an adversary A Naval Strike Missile launches from USS Coronado in September 2014. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary D. Bell The Marines are currently looking at the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), which has a range of roughly 750 nautical miles, as a Ground-Based Anti-Ship Missile (GBASM) solution. Story continues Smith said the service will test fire the system in June. The NSM is "capable of sea-skimming, high-g maneuverability, and the ability to engage targets from the side, rather than top-down," according to written testimony submitted to the HASC. The missile is already deployed aboard Navy littoral combat ships, one of which deployed to the Pacific with the missile last year. The NSM would be fired from a mobile launch platform based on an unmanned Joint Light Tactical Vehicle called the Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires, or ROGUE-Fires, vehicle. The missile and the vehicle together are the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), the testimony says. The GBASM and ROGUE-Fires vehicle are "rapid prototyping and development initiatives" for the Corps, according to documents submitted as part of the service's 2021 budget proposal. Both have proven successful in war games and simulations, Berger said Thursday. "Game-changer is probably an over-the-top characterization, but it definitely changes the calculus of an adversary," Berger said. Range beyond restrictions US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey conducts a Tomahawk missile flight test in the western Pacific, August 17, 2018. US Navy/MCS 2nd Class Devin M. Langer The fiscal year 2021 budget proposal included a request for 48 Tomahawk missiles, likely the maritime variant, which appears to be first for the Corps. "What we need is long-range precision fires for a small unit, a series of units that can, from ship or from shore, hold an adversary's naval force at risk. That missile is going to help us do that," Berger told the SASC. The Navy is pursuing a number of long-range anti-ship missiles, among them the Maritime Strike Tomahawk, a maritime variant of the land-attack cruise missile with an active seeker to track moving ships. Berger said the Tomahawk "could be the answer or could be the first step toward a longer-term answer five, six, seven years from now." With the collapse last year of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty which banned ground-launched missiles with ranges between 500 km and 5,000 km (310 miles and 3,100 miles) after the US withdrew in response to alleged Russian violations, the Marine Corps has more freedom when it comes to ground-launched missiles. Asked if the request for Tomahawks was a result of the US withdrawal from the INF Treaty, Berger said he "would assume so" but "hadn't linked the two together." "We just knew we need a long-range precision fires beyond the range that we were restricted to before," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider El Secretario General de #UN, Antonio Guterres, y el El RP del Peru, Emb. Nestor Popolizio rindieron un sentido homenaje al Embajador Perez de Cuellar, mediante la firma del libro de condolencias abierto en la sede de la ONU. pic.twitter.com/elrpHlg2ZH Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 12:06:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's foreign trade of goods fell 11 percent year on year in the first two months of this year to 592 billion U.S. dollars amid disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak, official data showed Saturday. Exports dipped 17.2 percent year on year to 292.5 billion U.S. dollars during the period, while imports decreased 4 percent to 299.5 billion dollars, according to the General Administration of Customs. The trade deficit stood at 7.09 billion U.S. dollars, while the trade surplus was 41.5 billion U.S. dollars in the same period last year. Bucking the downward trend, China's trade with ASEAN countries increased 2 percent, while the combined trade volume with countries along the Belt and Road standing at 1.31 trillion yuan (about 188.93 billion U.S. dollars), up 1.8 percent year on year. During the Jan-Feb period, China's trade with the European Union, the United States and Japan decreased 14.2 percent, 19.6 percent and 15.3 percent respectively. A San Francisco ballot measure to tax commercial landlords who leave their storefronts vacant prevailed Friday, three days after the polls closed. Proposition D will hit landlords with a vacancy tax if their storefronts remain unoccupied for more than six months. The measure, which needed a two-thirds majority to pass, was winning 69.62% to 30.38% after Fridays count, the citys Elections Department reported. The numeric totals were 170,723 in favor to 74,495 against. The Elections Department said 29,000 ballots remain to be processed, the vast majority of which are provisional ballots given to people whose eligibility must be verified before their votes can be counted. Also winning was Proposition E, which will limit the amount of office space San Francisco can allow each year if the city fails to build enough affordable housing, based on targets set by the state. The measure, which needed a simple majority to pass, was leading 54.54% to 45.46% 130,736 to 108,983. Supervisor Aaron Peskin placed Prop. D on the ballot in an effort to reduce the glut of vacant storefronts dotting San Francisco streets. It would tax the owners of properties left empty for more than 182 days in more than 30 neighborhood commercial areas in the city, including Union Street, West Portal and Haight Street. It would take effect next year. Im thrilled that San Francisco voters saw the wisdom in this tax, which was designed to activate dormant, blighted storefronts in neighborhood commercial corridors across the city and to give small businesses a leg up in negotiating fair rents, Peskin said in a statement. To the small business owners and merchants associations who believed in Proposition D, this is the beginning of a set of reforms that the Board of Supervisors will be undertaking to help small businesses survive and thrive, Peskin said. Prop. E was sponsored chiefly by Todco, an organization that operates and advocates for affordable housing in San Francisco, and its executive director, John Elberling. 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. Jon Jacobo, Todcos policy director, said in a statement that voters have shifted the paradigm of San Francisco. They have declared that we prioritize affordable housing before office development, and that is now the new norm in San Francisco. One Superior Court judge race remained too close to call Friday. The contest for Seat 21 on the state courts bench was opened up by the retirement of Judge John Stewart. Karolulvindar Rani Singh, a prosecutor in the district attorneys office for more than 20 years, had a lead of less than a percentage point over Carolyn Gold, a longtime tenant lawyer and founder of the Eviction Defense Collaborative. The elections departments next update will be Saturday at 4 p.m. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Saturday there had been no violations of the ceasefire in Syria's Idlib, as part of an agreement with Russia, while Russia said there have been a few shootings in the region. "We will continue to be a deterrent force to prevent any violation to the ceasefire. None occurred since ceasefire entered into force," the Turkish Defence Ministry quoted Akar as saying. The ceasefire was reached in Moscow on Thursday after talks to contain an escalating conflict. Nearly a million people have been displaced in a three-month Russian-backed offensive by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in northwest Syria. Ankara supports rebel fighters, although it has less sway over jihadists who control large parts of Idlib. Russian news agencies, citing the defence ministry, said there have been three cases of shooting in Idlib in the past 24 hours. It also said there were seven cases of shootings in Latakia and nine in Aleppo. The defence ministry also reported that 860 refugees have returned to Syria from Jordan and Lebanon for the past day. Akar also said Turkey would use its right to self-defence if there is any attack targeting its forces or bases in the region. The deal called for joint patrols of Turkish and Russian forces around the M4 road in Idlib region starting on March 15. Turkey has started to work on the procedures and principles of the safety corridor around the road, Akar said, adding that a Russian military delegation will visit Ankara next week for discussions. Russia and Turkey back opposing sides in Syria's nine-year conflict, with Moscow supporting Assad and Turkey backing some rebel groups. Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed. Search Keywords: Short link: Authorities say they discovered the identity of a former Nazi concentration camp who was living for decades in the US after investigators saw an index card found in the wreckage of the SS Thielbek, a bombarded German ship that was lifted from the Baltic seabed. The federal government said Thursday that it is deporting Friedrich Karl Berger, a 94-year-old German ex-Nazi who has been in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for decades. An immigration judge ordered Berger's deportation on February 28 after a two-day trial in Memphis, authorities said. It's unclear when he will be removed. Berger has 30 days to appeal the ruling. The government says Berger was an armed guard at a concentration camp near Meppen, Germany, in 1945. Federal prosecutors say that they confirmed Bergers identity thanks to an index card that was found submerged in a sunken ship, The Washington Post reported. US authorities confirmed the identity of a Nazi concentration camp guard after a sunken German ship, SS Thielbek (above), was refloated from the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Amid the wreckage were index cards that contained information about personnel at the camps Friedrich Karl Berger was said to have been 'willing' to work at a Neuengamme sub camp. The main concentration camp in Hamburg is pictured The ship was destroyed at the port of Lubeck, where survivors are seen above in 1947 Prisoners were held in Neuengamme during the winter of 1945 in 'atrocious' conditions The immigration judge found that the prisoners Berger guarded were held in atrocious conditions and were exploited for forced labor. Neuengammes inmates included Russian, Dutch, Polish, and Jewish civilians as well as political opponents from Italy, France, and other countries. In March 1945, British and Canadian forces moved closer to the subcamp. The Justice Department says that Berger helped guard prisoners who were forced to evacuate to the main camp. During the two-week trek, 70 prisoners died as they traveled in inhumane conditions, according to two government news releases. The prisoners were forced to live in 'atrocious' conditions and work 'to the point of exhaustion and death,' according to removal orders issued in 1945. At the end of the forced march, hundreds more prisoners were believed to have been killed after they were loaded onto three ships that were anchored in the Bay of Lubeck. One of the ships, the SS Thielbek, was a cargo steamship that was sunk by the British Royal Air Force on May 3, 1945. Some 2,750 people on board, including prisoners from the Neuengamme, Stutthof, and Mittelbau-Dora concentration camps, died in the bombardment. The sunken vessel was then refloated in 1949. The index cards containing information about Bergers service in the German Navy were found inside the wreckage of the Thielbek. American prosecutors say that the index cards were transcribed. The RAF was apparently unaware that there were prisoners on board the ship. The Thielbek and another vessel sunk, according to investigators. The ship held some 2,000 index cards that contained information about personnel who worked at the camps, including Berger, according to the Justice Department. What are the odds, you know, of that card having survived... and making it to us decades later? said Eli Rosenbaum, the Justice Department prosecutor who helped oversee the case. DOJ prosecutors and historians delved deeper into the case, unearthing evidence in Germany, Denmark, England, Poland, and Russia. The investigation was also aided by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Berger acknowledged that he never requested a transfer from the concentration camp guard service and that he still gets a pension from Germany. Widower Berger, who came to the US in 1959 with his wife and daughter and has two grandchildren, told The Washington Post: 'After 75 years, this is ridiculous. I cannot believe it. I cannot understand how can happen in a country like this. Youre forcing me out of my home. 'I was 19 years old. I was ordered to go there.' It was not clear why Berger now faces court action or what German authorities will do on his return to the country. DailyMail.com has contacted the Department of Justice for comment. The Justice Department says Berger entered the country legally in 1959. SS guards at the Neuengamme concentration camp celebrate Christmas in 1943 With the advance of Allied forces Berger even helped guard the prisoners during their forcible evacuation to the Neuengamme main camp, pictured, after the Nazis abandoned the sub camp Just two years earlier, a federal law that barred entry to those who helped Nazi persecution expired. In 1978, Congress passed a law that barred anyone who helped the Nazis persecute their victims from entering or living in the US. The US Department of Justice's Human Rights and Special Prosecutions unit launched an investigation into Berger in 2017. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center also investigated. In August 2018, American authorities deported a 95-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard who had lived quietly in New York City for decades. The man died in Germany about five months later. Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski said in a statement: 'This ruling shows the Department's continued commitment to obtaining a measure of justice, however late, for the victims of wartime Nazi persecution.' Immigration and Customs Enforcement assistant director David C. Shaw said: 'This case is but one example of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's commitment to ensuring that the United States will not serve as a safe haven for human rights violators and war criminals. 'We will continue to pursue these types of cases so that justice may be served.' Kevin Lunney was abducted outside his home near Derrylin, Co Fermanagh last September (QIH/PA) A man arrested by detectives investigating the kidnap and torture of Co Fermanagh businessman Kevin Lunney has been released without charge. The man, aged in his 30s, was arrested and detained at Cavan Garda station on Thursday. Gardai say that a file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and investigations are continuing. It comes after three people arrested in Northern Ireland in relation to the abduction and assault were released unconditionally on Friday. The two men, aged 23 and 61, and one woman, aged 61, were detained in the Fermanagh area on Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap; conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent; and assisting offenders. The location in Co Cavan, Ireland, where Garda investigating the abduction of Kevin Lunney recovered a horse box last September (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Lunney, a director at Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH), was abducted outside his home near Derrylin, Co Fermanagh last September and taken to a horsebox across the border, where he was savagely beaten. His attackers broke his leg, sliced his fingernails and face with a Stanley knife, carved QIH on his chest, and doused the father of six in bleach. They demanded his resignation during the ordeal. The attack was the most serious in a six-year campaign of intimidation targeting the companies and directors that now control the business portfolio which was built up by fallen tycoon Sean Quinn, once Irelands richest man. The Quinn family has repeatedly condemned the intimidation. The Garda and PSNI established a joint investigation team to work on the case last November. A serial criminal considered a key suspect in the kidnapping and torture died from a heart attack when police arrested him in Buxton, Derbyshire, last November. Cyril McGuinness, known as Dublin Jimmy, was believed to have been hiding out in the area following the assault. In December, four men were remanded in custody at a court in Co Cavan charged with the kidnap and torture of Mr Lunney. Former Chancellor Sajid Javid has been accused of playing a key role in the crisis engulfing Home Secretary Priti Patel over allegations that she bullied staff. The pair previously clashed over immigration policy, and now allies of Ms Patel believe that aides loyal to Mr Javid helped to orchestrate Home Office Permanent Secretary Sir Philip Rutnams dramatic resignation last weekend. Sir Philip stormed out after claiming Ms Patel had sworn at staff and made unreasonable demands. Friends of Mr Javid say the idea that he has stoked the row is a total fabrication. Ms Patels allies also say Sir Philip confected the row to distract attention from highly critical conclusions contained in the forthcoming official report into the Windrush scandal The allies claim Sir Philips live statement to the BBC in which he said he was planning to take her and the department to court for constructive dismissal had Javids fingerprints all over it. Their suspicions increased when BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg told viewers: Sajid Javid apparently had a good relationship with Sir Philip Rutnam when he was Home Secretary, and a member of Sajid Javids team has already been in touch with me this morning to make that point. The allies claim Sir Philips live statement to the BBC in which he said he was planning to take her and the department to court for constructive dismissal had Javids fingerprints all over it Friends of Mr Javid say the idea that he has stoked the row is a total fabrication. Ms Patels allies also say Sir Philip confected the row to distract attention from highly critical conclusions contained in the forthcoming official report into the Windrush scandal. One Home Office official said that in the days running up to Sir Philips resignation, senior mandarins had been in a panic that the department and therefore Sir Philip would be far more heavily criticised than they had expected. Sir Philip claims hes the victim of a vicious and orchestrated briefing campaign. Boris Johnson has insisted he is sticking by Ms Patel over a series of bullying allegations, including claims that she belittled her private secretary when she was International Development Secretary. A friend of Ms Patel said: Priti and Sajid clashed all the time when Javid was at the Treasury, usually over immigration. He resisted her funding requests and annoyed her by calling for an extension of EU freedom of movement rules for two years after Brexit. This had Javids fingerprints all over it. The ally added that suspicions of Mr Javids involvement were increased by the fact that one of his closest advisers during his time at the Treasury shared a flat with a senior Rutnam aide and that journalists writing widely about the bullying allegations also have close links with the Javid camp. Boris Johnson has insisted he is sticking by Ms Patel over a series of bullying allegations, including claims that she belittled her private secretary when she was International Development Secretary Mr Javid resigned last month after Downing Street mounted a Treasury power grab. The Windrush review began in 2018 after the row over Caribbean migrants being detained or deported despite having the right to live in Britain forced then Home Secretary Amber Rudd to resign. The report was originally intended for publication in March last year, but is now expected to be released later this month. The review, led by Wendy Williams, an HM Inspector of Constabulary, is expected to conclude that the Home Office was reckless, had developed a defensive culture over immigration policy, and that all department staff should be educated about Britains colonial past. The panic among mandarins is said to have started after the beginning of the Maxwellisation process, in which those criticised in the report are allowed to respond. Their suspicions increased when BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg (above) told viewers: Sajid Javid apparently had a good relationship with Sir Philip Rutnam when he was Home Secretary, and a member of Sajid Javids team has already been in touch with me this morning to make that point' Friends of Ms Patel have spoken privately about how she feels worn down by the bullying claims. One said: You know how resilient Priti is she really is as tough as nails. But this is really getting to her. I spoke to her this week and she is very stressed out. Another friend contrasted her demeanour now to how she dealt with her 2017 resignation crisis she was forced to quit as International Development Secretary over holding unauthorised talks with Israeli politicians. The friend said: Then she just walked into No 10 and told Theresa May she was quitting without waiting to hear she was being sacked. But this time, it sounds as though she is really feeling the pressure. One senior Tory MP close to Ms Patel said she lost respect for Mr Javid when he refused to back the Leave campaign in 2016. The MP said: It is fair to say Priti does not get on with Sajid. She sees him as someone who was really in favour of Brexit but, for misguided career reasons, backed Remain. Now it feels like Sajids people are taking the opportunity to get back at her. A source close to Mr Javid insisted: He thinks Priti is an outstanding Home Secretary. They are in touch regularly and he has offered her his full support. It said there had been problems with accommodating requests efficiently and a lack of materials in Braille. U.S.C.I.S. has policies in place to ensure accommodations are provided for people with disabilities when requested and we make every effort to ensure that these policies are followed at all times, the agency said in a statement on Friday. If U.S.C.I.S. becomes aware of an error in adhering to these policies, we make every effort to ensure corrections are made. The agency said it would provide Braille English tests for any blind or visually impaired citizenship applicant who requested them. Many people who are blind do not use Braille, in part because new technologies have given them different ways to access text, said Mary Rosenberg, a lawyer with Access Living, a Chicago nonprofit that promotes disability rights. But yeah, its definitely a problem that people who need it, and who request Braille in various government forums, dont receive it, she said. Mr. Delgado, who has been blind since birth, came to the United States when he was 16. He said he left his home in the Mexican state of Guerrero because he wanted better educational opportunities, and because his family feared the growing influence of drug cartels in his home city, Iguala. Mr. Delgado and his relatives, who now have green cards, live in Pembroke Township, Ill., a rural area about 70 miles south of Chicago that is one of the poorest places in the state. (Newser) The Queen's latest speech includes what some consider "a subtle nod" to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving their royal rolesand HRH is putting it in a good light, the Express reports. "On Commonwealth occasions, it is always inspiring to be reminded of the diversity of the people and countries that make up our worldwide family," said Queen Elizabeth II. "We are made aware of the many associations and influences that combine through Commonwealth connection, helping us to imagine and deliver a common future. Such a blend of traditions serves to make us stronger, individually and collectively, by providing the ingredients needed for social, political and economic resilience." story continues below People notes that Meghan and Harry are officially dropping their royal rolesthat is, losing the "royal highness" titleson March 31, and will likely go through their last royal engagement Monday when they celebrate Commonwealth Day with Kate Middleton and Prince William. A source tells the magazine that their 10-month-old son, Archie, "is the priority," adding that "it's very much still about taking care of him and putting the family first. ... They are trying to live their life as regular parents." Archie is believed to be in Canada while the quasi-royal couple is visiting the UK this week for the first time since splitting for Vancouver Island. (Read more Royal Family stories.) He began his career as a real estate specialist working in sales, leasing and property management. He became a vice president of the company in 1984 and in that role identified, acquired and assembled property that led to such developments as Chevy Chase Pavilion, Gallery Bethesda luxury apartments, White Flint Place apartments and the Woodmont Triangle in Bethesda. The Coronavirus isnt the only thing thats spreading. Hysterical leftists cant let go of the delusion that Donald Trump is president because of sinister machinations by unspecified Russians -- the same Russians that Sleepy Joe Biden believes are messing with his electioneering. Biden -- who got badly clipped in the Iowa caucuses by Bernie Sanders, told Face the Nation that The Russians dont want me to be the nominee because they like Bernie, the Fidel-snuggler from Vermont. Channeling his best third person Tricky Dick, Biden added: "They spent a lot of money on bots on Facebook and they've been taken down saying Biden is a bad guy. They don't want Biden running No one's helping me to try to get the nomination." But the Russians apparently changed their minds. Bernie got clipped on Tuesday, losing badly to Sleepy Joe -- who sometimes seems to forget that its 2020, not 1920. People dont play phonographs for their kids anymore -- and Russia hasnt been the Soviet Union for going on 30 years. Blaming this -- blaming everything -- on the Russians is becoming a kind of lunatic default for the coming-apart-at-the-wheels left; a comforting explanation for political failure in 2016 and, far worse, pushback on the cultural front. The left doesnt want to believe that Americans are becoming tired of Wokeness, of being accused by hysterics of phobias (homo, Islamo, you-name-it-o) as a technique to shout down disagreement by literally shouting. This condition was first diagnosed in 1876 by French physician Jean-Martin Charcot who named it -- literally -- after womens reproductive equipment. His patient, a teenage girl named Louise Augustine Gleizes, had been committed to the Salpetriere hospital for women due to serial fits and hallucinations about swarms of black, demonic rats. In 2020 she would be working at MSNBC. Today, its old men like Biden -- and older men like Sanders -- who suffer from hysteria, triggered by swarms of real people wearing MAGA hats. They literally cannot accept that tens of millions of Americans reject their message of perpetual grievance, failure, and despair; that they are hurtling toward another electoral loss nine months from now. How can it be? It must be the Russians! Of course, theres not only no evidence it is the Russians -- its hard to see how it could be the Russians. The hysterical allegations leveled against Trump by not-just-Biden and not-just-Bernie but the entirety of the leftist Greek Chorus is that -- somehow -- Boris Badinov (i.e., Vladimir Putin) did what Democrats actually have done in the past -- jimmy the votes. As in West Virginia back in 1960. And against their own in 2016. The Kennedy campaign poured so much money into the '60 West Virginia Primary that Jack Kennedy publicly said, "I just received the following wire from my generous Daddy; Dear Jack, Dont buy a single vote more than is necessary. Ill be damned if Im going to pay for a landslide." There were also allegations of outright voter fraud, including corpses voting and the living voting twice. Bernie is bitter about 2016 because he was denied the nomination last time -- not by Trump. And not by the Russians. But by Hillary -- who used her leverage to deny Bernie what the Russians couldnt: The nomination he was supposed to have gotten then -- and may get now. Because of the voters, this time. Because the Russians cant jimmy the votes -- the way Hillary did, in favor of herself over Bernie, as became infamously public when former DNC Chair Donna Brazile came forward with allegations that the Clinton Machine rigged the Dem's nominating process back in 2016. Or at least, tilted the table in favor of Hillary's nomination, by giving control over internal decisions such as the hiring of key DNC staffers. "I found proof (of nomination monkey-business) and it broke my heart," she said. A stark contrast to the hysterical allegations about Russians. They dont have access, for one -- and no one (even the hysterics on the left) has alleged that they did. Posting memes on Facebook isn't the same thing as tampering with the ballot box -- a conflation that Democrats have been trying to sell since the lost the 2016 presidential race. We now live in an era of perpetual hysteria where the boogeymen of the media's psychosis leads the evening news. Don't expect the 2020 election cycle to alter this trend. A.J. Rice is CEO of Publius PR, a premier communications firm in Washington D.C. Rice is a brand manager, star-whisperer and auteur media influencer, who has produced or promoted Laura Ingraham, Judge Jeanine Pirro, Monica Crowley, Charles Krauthammer, Alan Dershowitz, Roger L. Simon, Steve Hilton, Victor Davis Hanson, and many others. Find out more at publiuspr.com. Highlights Beating retreat ceremony at Wagah Border closed for public viewing Similar restriction enforced by the BSF along Bangladesh border in West Bengal Two new positive cases were reported in Punjab after preliminary tests, final results awaited Coronavirus scare in India has led to the suspension of the famous beating retreat ceremony at Wagah border near Amritsar and the joint retreat ceremony near Bangladesh border in West Bengal after two new positive cases of infection surfaced in Amritsar on Saturday. Punjab Police installed barricades 2-km ahead of Attari-Wagah border to stop tourists heading to witness the beating the retreat ceremony on Saturday. Beating retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border has been suspended till further orders, in view of coronavirus in Punjab, Attari police post in-charge Narain Jeet was quoted as saying by ANI in Amritsar. The restrictions were enforced after two residents of Punjabs Hoshiarpur district tested positive for the virus in a preliminary test according to civil surgeon Dr. Prabhdeep Kaur Johal. The infected men had returned from Italy on March 3 and were admitted to the isolation ward of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar after they showed symptoms on their arrival at the Amritsar International airport. Final confirmation on their status will be available by the evening after test results of their samples arrive from NIV Pune, said officials. Their samples have been sent for the second confirmation test, the results of which will be out by Saturday evening. This is done to cross-check the preliminary findings, Dr Johal added. Another tourist hotspot in Amritsar, Jallianwala Bagh is already closed till April 12 due to ongoing renovation of the complex, however, the adjoining heritage area was teeming with holidaymakers and tourists on Saturday. In West Bengal, the Border Security Force (BSF), North Bengal Frontier put out notices on Saturday announcing restriction on civilians watching the joint retreat between the BSF and the Bangladesh Guards Bangladesh (BGB) at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Fulbari. Entry is prohibited for the visitor to watch the ICP parade due to Corona Virus, the notice writing in Bengali and English said. The Punjab Government had clarified on Friday night that the situation was under control and coronavirus had not been declared an epidemic in the state. As many as 52 testing labs have been commissioned across India, including two in Delhi to test for coronavirus. Coronavirus test kits in Krasnodar, Russia, on February 4. AP Photo At 5.7%, the US currently has the world's highest death rate for the new coronavirus, compared with a global average of 3.4%. That's most likely because US health officials have prioritized testing only the most severe cases. New testing standards and more widely available test kits are likely to pick up more mild cases in the US and lower the death rate. For the latest case total, death toll, and travel information, see Business Insider's live updates here. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The US has the highest death rate for the novel coronavirus of any country with more than a handful of cases: Based on the official totals of deaths and cases, 5.7% of known patients have died. That's far higher than the global rate of 3.4% that World Health Organization cited on Tuesday and even higher than mainland China's 3.8%. Only the Philippines has a higher coronavirus death rate than the US, and it has had only five cases. One of them, a man from Wuhan, China, in early February became the first known fatality outside China. It's highly unlikely that the coronavirus is more deadly in the US; rather, the number is a product of limited testing in the country. Widespread testing wasn't possible in the US immediately after the first cases were reported, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held stringent standards for who qualified for a test. Until Wednesday, the agency tested only people who had recent exposure to a confirmed patient, had traveled to a country with an outbreak, or required hospitalization. So the US still probably has not tested or provided diagnoses to many patients with mild cases. "There's another whole cohort that is either asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic," Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said at a February 6 briefing. "We're going to see a diminution in the overall death rate." Story continues That's because the death rate is a calculation of the number of known deaths out of the total number of confirmed cases. Because the disease progresses over a period of weeks, and because these numbers are constantly changing, the death rate is not static and is very likely to continue changing. It is not a reflection of the likelihood that any given person will die if infected. As of Friday, the US's national coronavirus case count was 263. That included results from state-level coronavirus testing, implemented more widely. The CDC had confirmed only 164 cases and 11 deaths across the country. If you calculate the death rate based on only those federally verified cases, it jumps to roughly 6.7%. Just one day earlier the CDC had confirmed only 99 cases, resulting in a death rate of 10%. As it confirmed more patients, the death rate dropped. 'Other countries are testing much more broadly than we are' A swab to be used for testing the novel coronavirus at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. David Ryder/Reuters Because flawed tests and limited funding initially meant testing capacity in the US was restricted, the CDC has tested about 1,583 people in the US. That does not include state and local testing. Alex Azar, the US secretary of health and human services, told ABC on Sunday that 3,600 Americans had been tested in total. South Korea, by contrast, has implemented free coronavirus-testing drive-thrus and tested more than 164,000 people. The country's death rate at the moment is just 0.6% 42 deaths out of a total of 6,593 reported infections. (The death rates in all countries are constantly evolving, in fact, as patients' illnesses progress and as more people receive diagnoses.) "Other countries are testing much more broadly than we are," William Schaffner, an infectious-disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, previously told Business Insider. "We are trotting along while they're racing along." Medical staff taking samples from a driver with symptoms of the novel coronavirus at a "drive-thru" virus test facility in Goyang, South Korea, on Sunday. Ahn Young-joon/AP To be sure, the US has a much lower case count overall than either South Korea or China, so any death significantly affects the country's fatality rate. But again, the low case count is probably due to how few people have been tested. "I'm in coronavirus briefings with groups of experts as well as members of Congress and the military," Matthew McCarthy, a hospitalist at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, tweeted on Sunday. "These meetings are contentious, but there's one thing we agree upon: Coronavirus has been circulating in the United States for weeks. We didn't detect it because we weren't testing properly." The CDC changed its testing standards this week The CDC's new testing standards are much more open-ended, saying "clinicians should use their judgment" to determine whether patients should be tested for the new coronavirus. US officials also said they were working to distribute more tests. Azar told ABC on Sunday that "we now have 75,000 tests available." He added that over the week testing would "expand radically." "The estimates we're getting from industry right now by the end of this week, close to a million tests will be able to be performed," Dr. Stephen Hahn, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said at a White House press briefing on Monday. On Thursday, however, senators briefed on the matter said that timeline was unlikely, according to Bloomberg. Some experts say the US government should have taken steps to ramp up testing weeks ago. A staff member blocking the view as a person was taken by a stretcher to a waiting ambulance from a Washington state nursing facility where more than 50 people were sick and being tested for the COVID-19 virus on February 29. Elaine Thompson/AP "It is well within the realm of possibility that there are 100,000 people infected with this right now in the United States," the Yale professor Howard Forman, a radiologist who is an expert in healthcare management, told Business Insider. "Healthcare providers may be being exposed, other patients may be being exposed, and until you can give confidence to people about those answers, we are in a crisis here." Aria Bendix, Aylin Woodward, and Jessica Snouwaert contributed reporting. Read the original article on Business Insider Chaman (Balochistan) [Pakistan], Mar 7 (ANI): At least eight people, including two Levies officials, sustained injuries in a blast near the Levies headquarters in the Baloch city of Chaman on Saturday, police said, as reported by the Pakistani media. The explosive material was planted in a motorcycle, Geo News reported, citing police. The area has been cordoned off and a bomb disposal squad had been called to ascertain the nature and impact of the blast. Balochistan government has condemned the incident and the Chief Minister has directed the relevant officials to submit a report on the same. Further details are awaited. (ANI) Barely a month after Kerala reported Indias first three cases of coronavirus and treated them back to life yet another disease, bird flu also known as avian flu, was detected in the northern part of the state on Saturday. At least 13,000 chickens will be culled on Sunday to check the spread of the virus, the state animal husbandry department said. People got suspicious two days ago when chickens started dying in two farms in Kodiyathur and Vengeri villages prompting authorities to send samples to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal which confirmed the presence of avian flu, officials said. State Forest and Animal Husbandry Minister K Raju chaired a meeting at the state capital on Saturday to review and co-ordinate steps to contain the virus. There is nothing to panic about. We are monitoring the situation. Inspections will be carried out in all poultry farms, said minister K Raju. State Health Minister K K Shailaja also said the situation was under control. This is the first case of bird flu in the state after the outbreak in 2016 in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta. At least 2 lakh chicken and ducks were culled to control the outbreak and farmers were compensated. Officials said this time also they will go all out to contain the virus locally. As many as 25 teams were formed under the guidance of vets to enforce preventive measures and local residents were advised to co-operate with them. The bird flu scare surfaced at a time when 34 positive cases of COVID-19 infections were reported from various parts of the country. As the news broke, chicken prices crashed in the state. Many retailers said the price of one kg chicken has gone down to 58 due to paucity of demand. But doctors said chicken can be used after cooking properly in high heat and advised not to take half-cooked meat. Avian flu is a variety of influenza caused by virus in birds. It can spread to humans and can trigger person to person transmission, experts say. There are many varieties of viruses and H7N9 is considered dangerous among them, they say. According to the World Health Organization there are many subtypes of avian influenza virus and only some of them will be dangerous to humans. The man ambled into St. Boniface Catholic Church in the Tenderloin one morning last month, sat in the front pew, hunched over deeply, rocked in his seat and began turning blue. Roy Butler remembers the morning of Feb. 4 with the vividness of witnessing any horrific scene. Hes the site coordinator for the Gubbio Project, the nonprofit that oversees homeless people sleeping in the churchs pews each weekday, and he knew immediately the man was overdosing on opioids. Butler administered a dose of Narcan into the mans nose, but it didnt revive him. The mans hands were ice cold. He was turning blue. His lips were turning dark black, Butler recalled earlier this week, sitting in that same front pew under soaring stained glass windows. Butler called 911, and the dispatcher told him to administer another dose of Narcan. Still nothing. He was past the point to bring him back, Butler said, shaking his head. It happened right here. The man died right here. His was one more life lost in San Franciscos deadly drug crisis. In 2019, 290 people met the same fate dying in San Francisco of fentanyl, heroin or a combination of the two more than twice as many as the previous year. Often, they die in back alleys or SRO hotel rooms, and we never hear any details about them. City Hall doesnt issue press releases for drug deaths as it does for homicides or traffic fatalities, instead giving overdose information annually in one big data dump long after the victims are dead and buried. No names. No details. Nothing about the families they left behind. Supervisor Matt Haney is backing legislation requiring the medical examiners office to release overdose data every four months, but its still in committee. The Department of Public Health has said it will begin releasing the information every six months instead of once a year. But still, the information will be slow in coming and short on details. That makes it easy to not give those who die of drug overdoses much thought. But each statistic represents a real person, and the next overdose tally will include Brian Martin. Hes the man who was pronounced dead at 9:50 a.m. on Feb. 4 right there in that front pew. He turned 50 in December. He has a daughter and two grandchildren, the second born a week before he died. He loved music, especially the Grateful Dead. Teresa Mitchell, his older sister by nine years, said Martin was an altar boy at a Franciscan Roman Catholic church growing up in Virginia Beach, Va., and she thinks he chose to die not on a hard sidewalk, but in another Roman Catholic church with Franciscan friars. That blew my mind and made me feel like I think he knew, she said. When I found that out, it made me feel so good. The two grew up with an older sister, a mother who worked as a nurse and a father who spent his career in the Navy. Mitchell wasnt particularly close with her little punky brother, but said he was a sweet guy and had a lot of friends. When he was 15, he fell down a flight of stairs and badly injured his back. The family thinks the painkillers prescribed to Martin were the beginning of his 35-year struggle with drugs, one that included pills, heroin and fentanyl, Mitchell said. There were many tries at rehab, but they never stuck. Martin got his high school diploma but didnt go to college, instead traveling the country following his favorite bands, including the Grateful Dead and Phish. He had lots of girlfriends, and one relationship produced a daughter, but they werent very close. Martin bounced back and forth between San Francisco, when he was feeling the strong pull of cheap, readily available drugs, and Virginia, when he was feeling committed to health and family, his sister said. But in the end, San Francisco won out. Hes had a love-hate relationship with that city for 20 or more years, Mitchell said. He would tell me stories about how easy it was, but then how scary it was, too, because of all the fake stuff and the fentanyl. She last saw him just before Christmas when he told her he was heading west yet again. She argued with him, but he insisted. He called her in January and admitted shed been right. He said, I cant stay here anymore. If I stay here, Im going to die, she recalled, adding she wired him money for a plane ticket but then heard nothing. Until Feb. 4. She got a text from her niece, Martins daughter. It read, Why would the San Francisco medical examiner be contacting me? Mitchell knew why. She soon learned the circumstances behind her brothers death that it occurred in a church and that he died surrounded by grace. The Gubbio Projects mission is to provide sacred sleep for homeless people who struggle to get a good nights rest in the loud, frightening city. This time, the staff provided a sacred death. Even in his death, he was provided the dignity and respect that he wouldnt have out there, Butler said, nodding toward the church door. Out there, theyre treated like animals. 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. Tara Evans, a chaplain who volunteers at the Gubbio Project, held Martin as he died and prayed for him. Paramedics and police arrived. After a couple of hours, Martins body was removed. The whole time, scores of homeless people resting in the pews around him calmly looked on. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle It was remarkable how quiet people stayed throughout the whole thing, said Shannon Eizenga, executive director of the Gubbio Project. There was this atmosphere of reverence. I just really got this sense from everyone that we would treat this gentleman in his last moments with dignity. The nonprofit set up an altar in the front pew and wouldnt let anybody sit or lie there for a week. It held a memorial service for him attended by staff and volunteers and a few of Martins friends. They FaceTimed with his daughter so she could say a few words. Somebody read lyrics from the Grateful Dead. A blind woman who volunteers at the Gubbio Project a couple of times a month attended the service and sang Amazing Grace. This is the best of San Francisco, a city that prides itself on its compassion but doesnt always show it. This column featured the struggling Gubbio Project in December, and readers donated an astounding $200,000 in response plus piles of hats and blankets. Lets help some more. Now, the nonprofit needs socks, toothpaste and toothbrushes. And money is always welcome. Learn how to donate at www.thegubbioproject.org. The medical examiner hasnt determined exactly which drug killed Martin, but Butler and Mitchell believe the speed of the overdose points to fentanyl. Martin will be cremated, and his daughter plans to fly to San Francisco to scatter her fathers ashes in the city he just couldnt shake. Mitchell knew in her gut this would be the way her brothers life ended, but its still hard especially since there was no good reason for it. He was a sweet kid, he really was, she said. He just made some really stupid mistakes. He wasnt from a battered, abusive home. It was just these drugs. They just grab you and never let go, she said. They never let go. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Tuesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Vin Diesel transforms from man to superhuman, biotech killing machine in Sony Pictures' latest fantasy drama Bloodshot. But actress Eiza Gonzalez showcased some superhuman fashion sense on Friday evening, when she graced the black carpet at the film's photocall in Los Angeles. Gonzalez, 30, flaunted her toned midsection in a pastel pink crop top that featured a ruched sweetheart neckline and a dramatic train. Pretty in pink: Eiza Gonzalez stepped out on the black carpet on Friday evening for the Bloodshot film photocall in Los Angeles Leading man: Gonzalez was joined by the supernatural drama's leading man Vin Diesel The brunette beauty paired her strapless corset top with high waisted medium wash denim jeans that tapered at the ankles. She was able to put her hefty foot tattoo on full display in some strappy rose gold heels that featured a dainty ankle strap. Her shiny shoulder-length tresses were neatly styled into a side part. The former Nickelodeon star's complexion oozed a healthy glow that was further accentuated through the use of electric coral tones on the lips and eyelids. Best foot forward: The 30-year-old actress flaunted her hefty foot tattoo in a pair of strappy rose gold heels Casually cool: Diesel stepped out on the Bloodshot carpet in a form fitting navy blue v-neck tee pared with off white trousers A few swipes of mascara and a tinge of blusher on the cheeks was all that Gonzalez needed to complete her photo-ready makeup look. Diesel joined his gorgeous co-star for the evening's photo-op in a tight fitting navy blue v-neck, which he paired with off white trousers. With muscles on full display, the 52-year-old action star looked more than capable to play the film's supernatural lead. All together now! Gonzalez and Diesel were joined by the rest of the Bloodshot cast, which included (L-R) Dave Wilson, Lamorne Morris, and Sam Heughan All smiles: Vin Diesel flashed his pearly whites at red carpet shutterbugs The film is meant to serve as the first installment in an well thought out series of superhero films stemming from the Valiant Comics universe. Bloodshot also stars Outlander's very own Sam Heughan and New Girl funny man Lamorne Morris, who made their presence known during the film's photocall in dueling camel colored coats. Dave Wilson directed the nearly two-hour feature set to hit theaters on March 13. The Volta Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has described as misleading, media reports suggesting that the celebration of the 63rd Independence Day in the regional capital Ho, was marked without a flag. According to the Council, a number of Ghana flag was hoisted at various vantage points within the town and on the parade ground at Jubilee Park, Ho on Friday March 6, 2020, and were only removed after the programme had ended. Some media reports have claimed that Ghana flag which forms a major part of Ghanas independence anniversary celebration were absent in Ho although flags of the various security services, some schools and institutions flew at full mast at the parade grounds. But in a statement, the RCC indicated that the inaccurate reportage smacked of malice aimed at dragging the name of the Council into disrepute after a well-organised event. We wish to unequivocally state for the records that the particular misleading news was twisted and aimed at tarnishing the hard-earned reputation of the Regional Coordinating Council under the auspices of the Hon. Regional Minister and the organizers. For the avoidance of doubt, we want to reiterate the fact that the publication is inaccurate, malicious and misleading since the commemoration of our national independence across the country over the years has always been held at a central converging point where everyone including our Security Agencies, School Children, Heads of Department, Market Women and Opinion Leaders amongst many others gather to commemorate our independence from British Colonial rule some 63 years ago, portions of the statement added. While condemning the media outlets for what they describe as a poor job, the council extended a hand of appreciation to all who made the independence day parade a success. What took place at the Jubilee Park in Ho [on Friday] was not an exception and for media outlets of such repute to carry out misleading information to the public is most unfortunate and must be condemned and disregarded by all well-meaning Ghanaians in no uncertain terms. The statement concluded saying: It is rather unfortunate that the publication has taken the shine from an otherwise successful event and judging by the very high standards they [media houses] have set for themselves over the years in news reportage ought to have been at the forefront in providing accurate news to the public instead of seeking to engage in misleading headlines for the sake of cheap propaganda so as to satisfy some selfish parochial interest. citinewsroom A few cities, like some people, are instantly dazzling. Vilnius has a gentler charm. Its a pretty medieval town with cobbled streets, gothic churches and a fascinating history. Having suffered terribly in World War II and under the Soviets, Lithuania is on the rise and ready for tourists. Vilnius is a pretty medieval town with cobbled streets, Gothic churches and a fascinating history Where to stay Shakespeare Boutique Hotel In this old-school, beautifully run hotel, a stones throw from the gothic glory of St Annes Church, every room is named after a famous writer and decorated accordingly. Mine, the Ernest Hemingway, had antlers and rifles on the wall, as well as stirring photos of the great man. Doubles from 85 (shakespeare.lt). Artagonist Art Hotel The mural in my room, depicting a large and sensuous pair of lips, was startling. But theres no faulting the location of this arty, well-run hotel, which is on the main drag in the old town nor the quality of its superb breakfast. Doubles from 85 (artagonist.lt). Amberton Cathedral Square Hotel This modern hotel is so close to Vilniuss cathedral, you could hit it with a brick. Staff will give advice on what to see and where to go in the nearby old town. While enjoying your breakfast, you can gaze out at the cathedral. Doubles from 60 (ambertonhotels.com). What to see and do A Pauline Conversion Lithuanians visiting London have reportedly been disappointed by St Pauls Cathedral. They have one of their own that they rate more highly. The 18th-century Church of St Peter and St Paul, which is free to enter, is a baroque extravaganza in stucco. Address: Antakalnio gatve (037 052 340 229). Tribute to Dr Lecter On Literatu gatve (Literature Street), artists have studded the walls with plaques in tribute to authors connected to Vilnius Vilniuss old town is a warren of cobbled streets, cosy cafes and nice surprises. On Literatu gatve (Literature Street), artists have studded the walls with plaques in tribute to authors connected to Vilnius. Among them youll spot Thomas Harris, whose cannibal character Hannibal Lecter was Lithuanian-born. First Hitler, then Stalin Not for the faint-hearted, but the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights (3.50) is a must-see. The first part of the title refers to the fact that Lithuania was occupied by the Nazis, then the Soviets, both at horrific cost. The second part refers to partisans who continued the struggle in the forests for years after the wars end. Address: Auku gatve (037 052 498 156). The floating castle Trakai Island Castle is built of red Gothic bricks and matching roof tiles. It costs 6 to enter Half an hours drive outside Vilnius (25 by taxi) awaits the reddest castle youll have ever seen. Floating on an island amid the grey waters of a lake, the 15th century Trakai Island Castle (pictured, right) is built of red gothic bricks and matching roof tiles. It costs 6 to enter. Take a boat trip around the lake. An echoing gallery Art lovers will enjoy the Lithuanian modern art at the NDG Gallery on the north bank of the Neris river. Its so weirdly empty of visitors that youll feel youre being given a private tour. And the restaurant is excellent. Address: Konstitucijos prospektas (037 052 195 965). Where to eat Pilies Katpedele When I asked for a large Kanapinis, the waitress smiled. Thats the name of the local craft beer, delicious at just over 2 per glass. Other highlights of this traditional Lithuanian restaurant are the herring with marinated onions (4.40) and the oily, meat-filled dough torpedos known as zeppelins, though they should only be attempted by the brave. Address: Pilies gatve (037 061 120 576). Kaukazo Gerybes Feast on chinkali, small meat-filled dumplings (stock image) The sign outside boasts the best coffee in Vilnius, but the real draw is the 6 chinkali. Small meat dumplings: they are hard to eat elegantly, but totally delicious. Address: Pilies gatve (037 065 030 800). Cafe Suske This offers simple fare, including rich fried bread with cheese (4), which, after exploring the surrounding streets, is perfect. The waitress doesnt speak English, so point carefully at the menu. Address: Paupio gatve (037 060 444 700). Gaspars For a treat, book a table at this European-Indian fusion restaurant. The garlic shrimps were superb (6.60), as was the chicken tikka with cucumber and yoghurt sauce (5.80). Its more expensive than some, but well worth it and you can be sure of a warm welcome from owner and chef, Gaspar, who is an inveterate anglophile. Address: Pylimo gatve (037 065 707 050). A man with symptom of 'fever and cough' has been kept in isolation at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here as a precautionary measure, Health officials said on Saturday. Manipur Health Director K Rajo Singh in a statement has said that the case, however, does not meet the line of Covid-19 and is being managed on the line of influenza, like isolation, sympotic treatment for fever and cough. The man had arrived at Imphal Airport on Friday. As he was having 'fever and cough' he was taken to the isolation ward of the RIMS, the official said The man had visited Dhaka recently, they said. Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh during a recent review meeting on coronavirus had told people to avoid mass congregations and celebrations like the Yaoshang (Holi) festival. The state government has suspended biometric attendance in government offices for a month as a precautionary measure. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) T ampon tax will be abolished in January 2021, the Chancellor is set to announce in this week's Budget. Rishi Sunak is planning to announce that sanitary products will not be classed as luxury goods when the Brexit transition period ends at the close of the year. Until now, EU law has prevented member states from reducing the rate below 5 per cent as the products were not classed as essential. However, the Government plans to remove the VAT from January 1 next year, the first day the laws no longer apply to the UK. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is set to announce the move on Wednesday / REUTERS The Treasury estimates the move will save the average woman nearly 40 over her lifetime, with a cut of 7p on a pack of 20 tampons and 5p on 12 pads. While the EU has been working to give member states the ability to scrap the tax, successive UK governments have committed to abolish it. Critics have long argued the tax led to period poverty, where sanitary products are pushed out of reach because of their cost. The UK currently uses the revenues raised to fund charities that aid vulnerable women, with 62 million having been allocated since the scheme was launched in 2015. Tesco has already reduced the price of products to help tackle period poverty / PA Campaigners praised the news, with Laura Coryton, who started a petition to end tampon tax in 2016, saying she is delighted that it set to be scrapped four years later. She said: "The Government have finally said that they will end tampon tax and they will announce this in their Budget, which is amazing and such a cause for celebration. "So many people have been campaigning about this for generations and finally we are being listened to. "But that doesnt mean that the fight is over, we are still having to talk about tampon tax until the deadline that the Government has just set is reached in December 2020. "And we wont stop talking until supermarkets respond by lowering their prices but thank you all so much for campaign with us and we are really excited about it." Other campaigners also welcomed the move but raised concerns the Treasury is not planning to replace the Tampon Tax Fund with other investment. The chief executive of the Womens Resource Centre charity, Vivienne Hayes, said: We are over the moon to learn of this news, tampons and sanitary towels were never luxury items and should never have been subject to VAT. Congratulations to all the women who campaigned so long for this ridiculous and unfair tax to be removed. We are concerned that the Tampon Tax Fund will now be abandoned by the Government and we hope to see a replacement fund for womens health and support charities announced in the near future. They also urged Boris Johnson to go further and spend the 700 million they estimate has been raised during the taxs lifetime to be paid back to womens charities, with Ms Hayes saying: Come on Prime Minister pay back the tampon tax. Mr Sunak was already facing some budgetary criticism over the delay to the long-awaited National Infrastructure Strategy. The 100 billion investment tackling the climate crisis and boosting transport connectivity had been set to be published alongside the Budget. But Whitehall sources were acknowledging it would now be delayed by a number of days or weeks. Labours shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the hold up represented absolute chaos in Government. We are facing the threat of climate change and an economy at risk of recession. Thats why we desperately need an immediate start to large-scale infrastructure investment, he said. Delaying implementation of investment is unacceptable. The first approach is like listening to a concert while standing across the street from the concert hall, Ajiboye said. You might be able to hear some music, but it would be hard to discern the tune. The Miami approach reading brain waves from under the skull is like standing in the lobby of the theater, where you can make out the music, but not individual instruments. And the third approach is like sitting on the stage, where you can pick out the notes an instrument plays. The San Francisco district attorneys office has dropped all charges against a former employee of the Edgewood Center for Children and Families who was accused of inappropriately touching a 14-year-old girl staying at the facility. The center serves vulnerable children and teenagers struggling with mental health issues. Prosecutors had alleged last year that Kenneth Ofigho of Bay Point entered the girls room and inappropriately touched her multiple times one night in April. He pleaded not guilty to five counts of committing lewd acts on a minor all of which were dropped on Thursday. Mr. Ofigho has been living a nightmare for almost a year and, unfortunately, he will suffer the professional ramifications of these false allegations for years to come despite his innocence, said Deputy Public Defender Sylvia Nguyen, who represented Ofigho. In a statement, the San Francisco public defenders office said the charges were dropped after a review of the evidence against Ofigho yielded no DNA to corroborate the allegations and a witness present on the night of the incident contradicted the allegations. Upon reviewing new evidence obtained in the case, we are unable to proceed. We are unable to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt, a spokesman for the district attorneys office said in a statement to The Chronicle. The allegations, documented by state licensing officials, prompted Edgewood to fire Ofigho. Edgewood officials helped the girls family file a police report, and Ofigho surrendered to authorities in September. Ofigho was one of two men accused of inappropriately touching minors in separate incidents at Edgewood. The other man, Graham Bessermin, was arrested by the Morgan Hill Police Department for possession of child pornography and communicating with a minor for sex last May. Bessermin has not been charged with a crime in San Francisco. The incidents have left the long-standing institution reeling in recent months: San Franciscos Public Health Department and Human Services Agency, which have long relied on Edgewood for help in caring for the citys most troubled children and families, stopped referring children to three of the organizations programs after the state released the results of its investigation into the alleged incidents in mid-August. The city ordinarily refers hundreds of children each year to Edgewood for a variety of behavioral health services and programs, but has made a number of demands for reform before resuming referrals. Edgewood faced a similar set of mandates from the state Department of Social Services, and the facility has completed nearly all of them, a spokesman for the state agency said. Edgewood CEO Lynn Dolce could not be reached for comment Friday. 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. Edgewood is in a financial tailspin brought on in part by the freeze placed on city referrals. Recently, the city agreed to give Edgewood a $350,000 grant meant to keep the institution afloat while it works on the citys remediation plan. Nguyen, Ofighos attorney, said in a statement that even though her client had been cleared of all charges, the damage to his life and livelihood will be long-lasting. The presumption of innocence failed Mr. Ofigho from the start. Since these accusations were made, he was taken to jail, later placed on house arrest, lost his job, and was publicly humiliated by having his name and picture circulated in the news media, she said. Thanks to our teams relentless investigation and persistence in seeking the truth, he has been vindicated and is finally free to move forward with his life. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa Trump Approves $8 Billion to Fight COVID-19 By VOA News March 06, 2020 U.S. President Donald Trump signed legislation Friday releasing $8.3 billion in emergency spending to combat the outbreak of the Coronavirus, a day after confirmation that it has spread to a suburb minutes away from the White House. The measure provides money for possible treatments and vaccine development to help state and local governments respond to the threat. One such local government is Montgomery County, Maryland, a suburb outside Washington that confirmed its first cases Thursday. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency after three county residents were diagnosed shortly after returning from undisclosed overseas destinations. The funding bill includes more than $3 billion for vaccine development, $800 million for researching treatments, $2.2 billion for prevention and response, $1.25 billion for global containment measures, and $1 billion to support state and local health agencies. It also authorizes doctors and nurses to administer tele-health services for Medicare, a government-funded health care program for seniors. The funding comes as U.S. officials said Friday there are 245 confirmed cases and 14 deaths reported so far. Worldwide, the number infections Friday topped 100,000 while the death toll exceeded 3,400. During his daily update, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reiterated that all countries make containment their highest priority, calling on them to find, test, isolate and care for every case. Tedros stressed that slowing the epidemic saves lives and buys time for preparedness, as well as for research and development. US preparations On Friday, Trump visited the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the southeastern city of Atlanta, Georgia, where the pathogen is being researched. Amid criticism over a shortage of test kits, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Thursday 1 million test kits for COVID-19 are to arrive this weekend at U.S. labs. Five U.S. states Maryland, California, Florida, Washington and Hawaii have declared states of emergency because of the virus. Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska reported their first cases Friday. U.S. Forces Korea said Friday that one of its workers in South Korea has tested positive for the virus, the seventh USFK employee to contract the virus. Borders remained closed for the fifth day Friday between Iran, which ranks third among affected countries more than 4,700 cases, and neighbors Pakistan and Afghanistan. The closings created logjams of hundreds of vehicles full of fresh produce along the Pakistan-Iran border near the Pakistani town of Taftan and in the Balochistan provincial capital of Quetta. "Our vehicles are loaded with fresh fruit, which is now deteriorating," a produce transporter from Taftan told VOA's Urdu service Friday. "Our transport is all jammed." During a visit to Quetta Friday, Pakistani Interior Minister Ijaz Shah said he is expediting the return of 2,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Iran to prevent the accumulation of visitors at the border. He said 3,000 pilgrims had previously returned home. Iran announced 1,000 new cases and said its death toll rose to 124. The Vatican reported its first coronavirus case Friday. Spokesman Matteo Bruni said its health clinic has been closed for a deep cleaning, but its emergency room remains open. Countries confirming their fist cases of the virus Friday include Cameroon, Togo, Slovakia and Serbia. The threat appears to be waning in China, where the outbreak erupted in December. Officials in Hubei, a central province of China, said new case numbers in the province, not including the city of Wuhan where the virus began, were zero over the past 24 hours for the first time during the outbreak. The WHO said Thursday there are about 17 times as many new cases reported outside China now than inside China itself. VOA Urdu language service contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Delhi Police will send the pistol of suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, arrested in connection with the violence in northeast Delhi, to the forensic science laboratory next week, officials said on Saturday. The laboratory will check whether the pistol was used for firing during the violence last month, they said. The pistol was recovered on Friday. On Thursday, Hussain was arrested by Delhi Police after a court here dismissed his plea seeking to surrender before it in connection with the alleged killing of Intelligence Bureau (IB) official Ankit Sharma during the riots. On the complaint of Sharma's father, the police registered an FIR against Hussain, who has rejected the charge. So far, Delhi Police has registered 690 cases and held nearly 2,200 people in connection with the riots which claimed 53 lives and injured over 200. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. An undercover cop was one of this drug dealers best clients. And that means Louis Otero will spend the next few years in a prison cell. Otero, 27, of Mariners Harbor, was sentenced Friday to 42 months behind bars under a plea agreement. The defendant peddled heroin, fentanyl and tramadol, a synthetic opioid, to the officer on multiple occasions during the first few months of 2019, said an indictment. The deals went down between January and April, the indictment said. Otero was arrested in April. He was indicted on multiple felony drug-sale counts. In December, Otero pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance to resolve the case. It was the top charge against him. Besides prison time, the defendant was sentenced to 18 months post-release supervision. Attorney Lance Lazzaro represented Otero. Mumbai, March 7 : National Award-winning actress Divya Dutta says that as an artiste she would rather portray different characters on-screen than comment on current affairs that have no connection with her immediate field of work. She adds that she rejects the idea of doing most "expected" from a celebrity. "I just do not want to be a popular face who comments on social media just for the sake of it. We are living in that situation now where any celebrity, making or not making comments on current affairs, gets judged by a section of people. If I comment on anything political, one section will troll me. If I do not express my opinion that is not related to my immediate field, people will say, 'phir celeb hone ka kya faida (then what's the use of being a celeb)?' Basically we are not allowed to practice our choice without criticism. We always behave in the way society wants. Now, one extended part of society is living on social media. Jahaan sirf baaton ki batangad baanti hai, aur kuch nahin (where things are blown out of proportion, and litle else happens)," Divya told IANS. Whether her role of a housewife in the short film "Sleeping Partner", a lover in the upcoming short film "Sheer Qorma", or an important role in the upcoming thriller web series "Special Ops", Divya is putting out a lot of acting assignments on screen. Asked what the responsibility of an actor is, she replied: "(The responsibility of an actor is) to play a character where one is very different from the other. As an actress, I want to portray characters that represent different sections of society. Recently one of my short films, 'Sleeping Partner', addressed the issue of marital rape. As an actress, I played a part in that story because I loved the story and felt it was an important one." "I also play a homosexual character in the short film 'Sheer Qorma', and after the release of the trailer people said that they loved me seeing in it. Again, (it is) an important story. The fact of the matter is I will use my medium to do things that is expected of me, to entertain people because I am an actress," she signed off. (Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhuti.b@ians.in) 965 Shares Share Currently, in America, there are only three legal groups of prescribers, the physicians (which include MDs, DOs, DPMs), the nurse practitioner (NPs), and the physician assistant (PAs). The first class of physician assistants, in 1965, was also the year of the first class of nurse practitioners. Today there are nearly 300,000 NPs In America and 123,000 PAs. PAs are outnumbered almost three to one, and the trend, with the rapid rise, and push, by NP organizations for more accessible, primarily online, schools, will soon reach four to one. The two have existed for the same number of years, yet, in most states, including my beautiful state of Utah, nurse practitioners have a status that allows them independent practice in all or to some degree. The benefit to them is the ability to practice unencumbered without a supervising physician that they are required by state statutes to report to. They can simply get a job without having a supervising physician to practice. They can also start their own practice. In all states, they answer to a nursing board and are not under the purview of the medical board. Contrast this with the career of the physician assistant. In all 50 states and territories, the PA is required to have a supervising physician. This means that the hiring process for a PA is always a 2:1 requirement, and the newer trend, due to the liability and responsibility of having to supervise a PA, a stipend is to be made to the physician. The nurse practitioner simply can be hired as a 1:1 acquisition. This has created a severe hindrance to physician assistants and has created many closed opportunities for PAs, and our job market has shrunk dramatically. Why hire and pay two when we can just hire one? And where, as in Utah, a physician can only supervise two FTE PAs at once, this also severely inhibits the number of PAs in any given place of employment. I highlight this with a common and real example. In many states, a clinic will utilize both PAs and NPs as part of their staff. Yet, for example, there may only be one single retired physician on staff who does not see patients and who serves as the medical director and supervisor of the PAs, which, by state mandate, only allows her to supervise 2 FTEs. This means only two PAs can work there. There are six full-time nurse practitioners on staff, and there could be 100. They can hire as many NPs as they desire because they have no supervising constraints. If there is no extra doctor to supervise them, no additional PAs could work there. We are finding far too many instances where hiring managers do not even consider a PA at all in order to avoid paying to have a physician on staff. They have become simple to hire. Now, this is not a personal attack on any honest, conscientious NP, but an outline of how the current rules have created a serious issue for PAs. Our concerns as PAs are the closing doors on our job market due to the issue of having a supervisor, when we are on average, trained better, and longer, in all cases than the NP. One only needs to do a quick internet search, and this will become clear. Where NP programs once required nursing experience to enroll in an NP program, many now just encourage their students to continue from RN to NP. No experience necessary. All PA programs require health care experience to enter. There is also a misconception that we need supervisors while they do not. This is certainly not based on our training paths, which are quite very different. To highlight this, all PA programs in the U.S. require the PA, after a minimum of a year of full-time didactic in a classroom (there are some experimental online programs). Per accreditation standards intern in emergency medicine, surgery, OB/GYN, pediatrics, and family or general medicine. Contrast this with the NP, the PAs sole competition in the job market. Many simply are required to put in 500 hours in some general practice, and thats it. Many NPs, as many now attend online, often find their own student site. According to MidlevelU, the NP averages 500 to 700 hours of clinical time, again often in a single setting, while the PA averages over 2,000 hours with many, like my program at the University of Utah, approaching 4,000 hours. We, as PAs, are not against NPs as they are a very vital part of the health care landscape, and much needed. We are against losing jobs because we are required to have a supervisor, without an adequate understanding of our training, or that we have proven ourselves to be competent, strong providers, and professionals. Of course, we all have anecdotal stories of good and bad PAs, good and bad NPs, but this consideration is on a grand scale and not directed at the individual level. We PAs duly, and rightfully, acknowledge that we are not physicians, we are not trained to the same overall standards and requirements physicians are. We are not claiming to be able to replace physicians who we need as much as the patients do. As a solitary group, the primary PA organization (AAPA) is deeply committed, with the overwhelming consensus of the constituents and members to the medical team concept in performing optimal team practice (OTP) with the physicians who have been our mentors and guides since day one of our inception. The desire and need for the loss of the supervisor rule is to allow the PA to remain competitive in the job market that is shrinking by the day due to the meteoric rise of the NP profession and the opening of new programs at a rate never seen before. It is primarily being driven urgently by the economics of the business not a desire to separate from the physician physician assistant relationship. Dale J. Bingham is a physician assistant. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Tide and time wait for no man, or so they say. But that isn't really true if you are a rich progressive, or one of those who finagle a fine living off the stupidity of naive guilt-riddled Westerners. Take the rising tide. For years the climate alarmists have been claiming that low-lying atolls like those in the Maldives would disappear, swallowed by the sea in a manner reminiscent of Atlantis. Global warming is causing sea level rise, they claim, and places like the Seychelles or Kiribati or the Maldives were doomed, doomed, doomed! Reasonable people pointed out that the sea levels have been rising for ten thousand years and there has been no major increase in the rate of sea level rise (which is 0.118 0.016 inches per year), but this entreaty fell on deaf ears. In fact, the Copenhagen Climate Summit made it quite plain: "The Copenhagen Climate Change conference opened this week with an urgent call to action on the rapidly warming temperatures and the associated human costs that come from it. And, no country in the world will be more affected than the small nation of Maldives. The country is a series of tiny atolls that rise no more than a few feet above sea level. The fear is that as sea levels rise, the entire country of Maldives will simply be swamped and disappear. All 309,000 residents of the country will have to move -- everyone from the President to the poorest resident. The newly elected President of the Maldives and his cabinet held a cabinet meeting underwater in full scuba gear to highlight their countrys fate. So, the prime minister needed lots of money to save a remnant of his people and provide breathing apparatus. Or was it for other reasons? The Maldives just built an airport. Actually, they just built four new airports. That is strange behavior for a country that needs to evacuate. Airplanes put out a lot of greenhouse gases. If the Maldives were really concerned about rising seas wouldn't that be a bad idea? Wouldn't they want to lead by example and not poison the air with plant food? And one has to ask why the country is building airports. The answer is tourism is way up, meaning those holier than thou European internationalists who fret over climate change and demand high gasoline prices and "decarbonization" are living off the fat of the land, flying to a tropical paradise while the hoi poloi struggle to pay their heating bills. In fact, "experts" are predicting half the world's beaches will disappear, swallowed by the hungry, hungry hippo, er, ocean. Meanwhile the rich and beautiful are enjoying the well-deserved luxuries that the Maldives and others provide. This study points to erosion in populated beachfront areas as proof of rising sea levels. Of course, where a lot of people gather and build you are going to have erosion, but that doesn't seem to occur to these wizards of smart. Apparently, the Maldives decided to just say no to climate change. And so did the low-lying island nation of Tuvalu. We have been told ad nauseam that along with rising seas, global warming would give us more severe and inclement weather and increased precipitation. But the reality is we are not witnessing any evidence of this. For example, deaths by drowning have decreased considerably worldwide. One would logically expect a rise in drowning deaths to coincide with this alleged increase. People would get caught swimming in unsafe areas, or having flash flooding sweep them away, or whatnot. 'taint happening. Also, we have just come out of a hurricane drought which lasted throughout the entire period of global warming. It should further be pointed out tornado activity has been quiet until last year. And tornado deaths were way down. So what gives? Either global warming is causing extreme weather events or it isn't. Is it perhaps just that people are building where they wouldn't have in the past, and that with the 24-hour news cycle everyone is informed of such things immediately? Certainly the recent tornadoes in Nashville were terrible, but was it all that unusual? As of this writing 22 people have lost their lives. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the survivors. But unusual? The worst tornado in history was the Tri-State Tornado of March 18, 1925 which killed 695 people overall. That dwarfs the Nashville tornado (though it offers small comfort to those who suffered from it.) The Natchez tornado of 1840 killed 317 people. The St. Louis tornado of 1896 killed 255. Here is a list of tornado deaths by year. Notice there is no real pattern to death tolls; if climate change were causing this, we should see a pattern, more (or fewer) deaths. We don't. In fact the trendline is downward during the 20th and first decade of the 21st centuries. In short, climate change is not behaving as predicted. When a scientific model fails to predict reality, it means the data are flawed or the model is wrong -- or both. Frankly these models just don't square with reality. For example, there has been little warming in the tropical troposphere. Planetary temperatures have risen little. There has been no major changes in the Earth's albedo (reflectivity) something that should change if either clouds were forming in greater numbers or large swaths of ice were melting. Contrary to hysterical claims, the oceans are not warming much. Sea surface temps have not risen appreciably. As for ice, East Antarctic ice has been growing. I suppose that's why both NOAA and NASA has been forced to fudge data. It's happening in Australia too. (BTW, recent work by Dr. Roy Spencer suggests carbon dioxide is removed four times faster than thought.) And now we have the Maldives building airports. Follow the money, the old saying admonishes. The money is betting on increasing beachfront value, it seems. And this boom is happening all over. I wouldn't sell off that vacation house just yet, folks. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7 Trend: Three Azerbaijani citizens, who returned from the Islamic Republic of Iran have been infected with the coronavirus COVID-19, operational headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers told Trend. One of them, born in 1938, some time after returning from Iran, went to the hospital due to a health problem. During the examination, he was diagnosed with pneumonia, and laboratory analysis confirmed the fact of infection with coronavirus. Currently, the patient's condition is normal. Two others, students born in 1993 and 1994, studying in the Iranian city of Gum, were quarantined while crossing the Iran-Azerbaijan border and they had a coronavirus infection. Their condition is normal and they have no temperature. Appropriate measures are being taken to treat each of the three patients, who are in special treatment hospitals. BAHRAIN The Ministry of Health announced the recovery of the four case of the Corona virus (Covid 19) for a Bahraini citizen. The recovered individuals have been discharged from the isolation centre after responding positively to the medical care provided by the Kingdoms specialised medical team, in line with measures outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The ministry highlighted that all individuals under isolation have undergone extensive medical testing to ensure their full recovery from the virus before being discharged and will remain under monitoring post-discharge. The ministry stated that it was decided to remove the case after conducting laboratory tests and making sure that it is free of the virus, stressing that it will continue to follow the medically recovered case according to the measures taken in this regard, in a manner that preserves the health and safety of everyone. The ministry reiterated its call for all individuals returning from Iran during the month of February to schedule their medical examinations by visiting www.moh.gov.bh/444 or calling 444. Medical officials armed with a handheld thermal scanner at the Indo-Bangla border in Tripura are looking to spot coronavirus suspects crossing the border. According to reports, medical officials are deployed by the state government to keep a vigil at the border, to prevent the entry of any coronavirus infected patient through India's International Checkpost (ICP) with Bangladesh's Akhaura region. As per reports, the team of doctors posted at the international border are stationed at the spot for 12 hours a day, from 6 am in the morning to 6 pm in the evening. Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Hotel Used For Quarantine Collapses In China, 70 Feared Trapped The border post at Akhaura is unique because it is the closest international border to any Indian state capital. Media reports suggest that every single passenger crossing the border are first going through an immigration process done by the personnel of Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) and then by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) before going through a thorough medical examination done by a team of experts. As per reports, the passengers have to answer questions on their recent foreign visits, show relevant papers, produce face masks before they are allowed to enter the country. Read: Pope Francis Set To Deliver Sunday Prayers Via Livestream Amid Coronavirus Scare India reported its first case of coronavirus in early February in the South-Indian state of Kerala, however, since then around 34 cases have been reported from the country with 31 confirmed cases in the month of March alone. As per reports, no deaths have been confirmed by the authorities yet. The Indian health ministry has issued an advisory for citizens asking them to visit a doctor if symptoms appear. Read: J&K Police Organises Coronavirus Awareness Programme After First Case Was Reported Coronavirus outbreak The new coronavirus also known as COVID-19 has claimed more than 3,500 lives across the globe and has infected over 1,00,000 people around the world since it first broke out in December 2019. China is the most affected country in the world as experts believe that the virus originated from a seafood market in Wuhan city, the epicentre of the disease, where animals were being traded illegally. According to reports, at least 500 people have died outside mainland China, which makes it the worst disease outbreak of the 21st century. Italy, Iran and South Korea are the most affected countries outside China, where 233, 145 and 4 people have died respectively as of March 6. Read: Coronavirus: Italy Recruiting Retired Doctors In A Effort To Bolster Medical Staff mage Credit: @MoHFW_INDIA/Twitter Why did Grab choose Vietnam as the first market to launch Grab Ventures Ignite (GVI)? Chris Yeo, head of Grab Ventures Grab is Southeast Asias largest and most successful homegrown technology startup. Our growth story marks a time where tech ventures in Southeast Asia can rise and become global giants. Vietnams startup ecosystem is very well poised for digital disruption, and we believe that we are in a strong position to propel it to the next level through GVI. We want to pave the way for startups to grow and scale faster, playing our part in solving the countrys challenges of tomorrow, promoting innovation, and digitisation in the region. Vietnam has one area where it needs assistance capability building. Therefore, Grab developed GVI as an accelerator programme customised for early-stage startups in Vietnam. All new firms are encouraged to apply for the programme from now until April 10. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Vietnamese startups? I am very bullish about Vietnamese startups. The first factor differentiating them from others is the deep engineering capability, which remains an early bottleneck for many companies to scale up. However, Vietnams strong engineering aptitude can be seen as a great advantage. A fledgling enterprise should not just have a great idea. Sometimes its a case of being in the right place at the right time. In the past two years, the number of deals has increased tremendously in Vietnam. For a startup ecosystem to work, it needs human capital, money, connections, and the right conditions. We think that Vietnam has all those characteristics. On the other hand, if you look at a successful ecosystem, one thing it has is experienced founders, who have launched two or three enterprises before. It does not mean that all of their ventures are successful, but the experience of a founder is more important. Vietnam still lacks these experienced figures, but it is simply a matter of time until they emerge. What is the potential for Vietnamese startups to be synergised into Grabs ecosystem? We have some criteria for selecting new initiatives, including their business model, the founder and team, as well as the synergy potential synergy with Grab. However, this synergy does not have to be immediate. In Grabs large ecosystem, firms can be synergised on the consumer side, driver network, and micro-merchants. Grab welcomes all startups from different fields such as logistics, fintech, and agri-tech. For example, we also provide solutions for small food merchants. While Grabs food delivery service helps them to improve online sales, an agri-tech startup could provide solutions for vendors to reduce costs in the supply chain. As Vietnam is yet to create any unicorn businesses, what is your key message to the local community? It is important for each country to have a success story. Vietnam aims to create 10 tech unicorns in the next 10 years, which we think is achievable. When looking others in Southeast Asia, it takes five to eight years to thrive. It is important to focus on the right things in the ecosystem at each stage. The type of accelerators and venture capital funds will be different in the next three to five years due to the market. As of now, it is crucial to improve hard and soft skills and the mindset to achieve greater feats. GVI aims to inspire the local ecosystem and nurture more experienced founders. Under the programme, we will bring Vietnamese founders to Singapore and Indonesia to learn and exchange their expertise. Hopefully, they will apply these experiences to write their own successful story in Vietnams startup landscape. Telangana CM K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday revealed in the state Assembly that he too has no birth certificate. "When I myself don't have a birth certificate, how can I produce the certificate of my father," asked Rao, apparently referring to the new format of the National Population Register (NPR), which is set to be rolled out from April 1. "It is causing concern to me also. I was born in my house in the village. There were no hospitals then. The village elder used to write a 'Janma Nama' which carried no official seal," said 66-year-old KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known. "When I was born, we had 580 acres of land and a building. When I can't produce my birth certificate, how will the Dalits, tribals and poor produce their certificates," he asked. Speaking on the issue in the House for the second time in the day, KCR said Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has some firm commitments and principles on which it would never compromise. The CM said that the most irritating thing about Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is that it goes against the very fabric of the Constitution of India which promises to treat all citizens equally irrespective of their religion, caste and creed. "No civilised society will accept a law which keeps out people of one particular religion," he said. KCR said the House will thoroughly debate the issue and pass a resolution to send a strong message to the entire country as the issue relates to the country's future, its Constitution and its stature in the world. He voiced his concern that the country is losing respectability because of such a law as the issue has been discussed in the United Nations and other world bodies. "We are part of this country. We will not keep quiet. We will do whatever we can in our limits. We will not be afraid of anybody," he said. [Update: The governor criticized the C.D.C. over delays in testing.] ALBANY, N.Y. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo declared a state of emergency on Saturday as the number of coronavirus cases in New York rose to 89, which include a Queens driver who worked for Uber and two unexplained positive tests of patients 200 miles to the north. Moving on multiple fronts to curb the spread of the virus, Mr. Cuomo said the state of emergency would allow New Yorks government to respond faster by lifting regulations. The governors announcement came as concerns about the outbreak grew in New York City, which has 12 confirmed cases, up from six that were disclosed as of Friday. The epicenter in New York State continues to be just north of the city, in Westchester County, where there are 70 cases in total. These cases were mostly, if not all, related to a cluster in Westchester that first came to the authorities attention after a New Rochelle resident, a 50-year-old lawyer, was confirmed as New Yorks second coronavirus patient. Its time for a woman to lead us To the Editor: Elizabeth Warren ended her presidential bid Thursday. This followed the departures of Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand from the original group of 2020 declared female candidates for president. In a country with more women than men, why do we still struggle so much with the idea of a woman leading this nation? I know my letter will generate scores of responses to that question, referring to the quality of their positions on issues and governing philosophies. But lets admit that theres more to it, folks. When I hear commentators focusing on things like Warrens likability, Im dumbfounded. How about Bernie Sanders likability? What about Donald Trumps likability? India Gandhi, Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Benazir Bhutto, Angela Merkel . . . just some of the women who, over the past 50-plus years, have led their significant nations through the challenges of the modern world. Why not here and why not now? Im a 64-year-old man, and my real choices for president at this point are three men, ages 73, 77 and 78. Are we in such great shape as a nation that we cant stand to shake up the status quo and elect a woman to lead us? Its time - its way past time. Terry Cunningham Liverpool We will persist ... because that is what women do To the Editor: On Thursday, Elizabeth Warren announced that she would be ending her bid for president of the United States. While it was not unexpected given her performance in the primaries, it hit many women as a slap in the face. Many of us felt sadness, despair and rage. Why? Its because Warren was one of the most capable and qualified candidates running for the White House. Her motto was I have a plan for that. She had a clear plan for many of the issues that we face, from healthcare to dealing with Covid-19. Her savvy and intelligence were not matched. Her ideas were communicated clearly and she made complex solutions digestible to the public. She had passion and inspired many. Warrens lack of success in the 2020 presidential primaries has only demonstrated to women and girls that gender matters. It highlights to us that many Americans dont believe a woman could be elected president, even when up against a president who is a blatant misogynist with his own accusations against him of sexual misconduct. Let that sink in. It opens up wounds for women who face sexism in their daily lives. We continue to see our male colleagues make more money than us for doing the same job. At home, working mothers feel the stress of full-time jobs, caring for children and the unequally distributed burden of household tasks. We continue to see criminal cases of men getting off with a slap on the wrist for violent crimes against women, such as rape or domestic violence. We know what sexism feels like. We live it. The tears many of us cried on Thursday night or the rage we felt in our hearts is because we know too well that things havent changed. Its difficult to feel optimistic when our daughters and granddaughters are poised to face the same sexism we have experienced. This election cycle is only showing us that the battle will go on. We will persist in the end because that is what women do. Jamie Bodenlos Baldwinsville A woman can win. She did three years ago. To the Editor: Now that Elizabeth Warren has dropped out of the race, theres a strange phenomenon occurring. She and others have implied that that her poor showing could be due to the fact that shes a woman. I find it incredible since the measure of the public sentiment in a presidential election is the popular vote, and Hillary Clinton won that by about 2.8 million more votes in 2016 than her nearest opponent . . . a man. Yes, I understand that she didnt win enough electoral votes to win the presidency, but that is irrelevant to the discussion about misogynys influence on actual votes. The right woman candidate can indeed win more votes than a male candidate in a presidential election and one did just a little over three years ago. Thomas Hanley Fulton Warren failed because she was a bad candidate To the Editor: Now that Elizabeth Warren has dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination, were bombarded with claims of sexism. That as a woman she has the cards stacked against her. That little girls hopes were dashed. Not true. Warrens campaign failed for the same reason as Hillary Clintons: She was a bad candidate. She was a person who spent most of her adult life lying about and benefiting from a false Native American heritage. Her story about being fired for being pregnant? Untrue. Her story about her fathers job? Untrue. People saw through it. Her policies were bad. Medicare for all sounds nice but is impossible to pay for. Forcing smart taxpayers to pay off student loans made by not-smart taxpayers was a bad idea. So if little girls want a role model, maybe its time the Democrats and the media point to one thats deserving of the role. There is still a woman in the race, though you wouldnt know it from listening to the media: Tulsi Gabbard. She is actually someone deserving of role model status. Her service record both from her military and public life is outstanding. Unfortunately for her, shes not part of the establishment. She is an actual person of color. She doesnt change her beliefs because of polls. She acts like a role model but the Democratic Party and the press ignore her. Its a shame that the real narrative on Warrens campaign isnt what we hear about. That the false claims of sexism persist is hurting women, not helping them. I believe that the true sexism here is the unwillingness to call her a bad candidate because shes a woman, not because she had to drop out. Alan Pack Manlius Whats your view? Write us a letter to the editor. Heres how. By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Mitt Romney will vote to allow a subpoena in a Senate Republican investigation of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's businessman son, Hunter Biden, his office said on Friday. A day after Romney told reporters that the probe appeared to be political, a spokeswoman said the Utah Republican decided to back the subpoena after being assured that the records and witness interview sought would not create a public spectacle By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Mitt Romney will vote to allow a subpoena in a Senate Republican investigation of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's businessman son, Hunter Biden, his office said on Friday. A day after Romney told reporters that the probe appeared to be political, a spokeswoman said the Utah Republican decided to back the subpoena after being assured that the records and witness interview sought would not create a public spectacle. President Donald Trump, without evidence, has attacked as corrupt Hunter Biden's role as a board director for a Ukrainian gas company while his father was the U.S. vice president. Trump said this week that he will use the issue against the elder Biden, a leading Democratic candidate to face Trump in the November election. Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson, a Trump ally, is investigating the matter and will ask panel members to vote next Wednesday to subpoena records and an interview from Andrii Telizhenko, a former Ukrainian diplomat and consultant for the lobbying firm Blue Star Strategies. Johnson claims Blue Star sought to leverage Hunter Biden's Burisma role to make inroads with the State Department. "Senator Romney has expressed his concerns to Chairman Johnson, who has confirmed that any interview of the witness would occur in a closed setting without a hearing or public spectacle," Romney spokeswoman Liz Johnson said in a statement. "He will therefore vote to let the Chairman proceed to obtain the documents that have been offered." A Johnson spokesman was not immediately available for comment. Trump was impeached by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives for asking Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. He was later acquitted by the Republican-led Senate, with Romney the only Republican voting to convict the president for abuse of power. House Democrats alleged that Trump sought Ukraine's help for his re-election campaign. Johnson, who insists the investigation has nothing to do with the election, escalated the probe as Biden's presidential bid surged in South Carolina and then the Super Tuesday primaries. Along with disclosing subpoena plans, the Wisconsin Republican said he would issue an investigation report in coming months. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News this week that Hunter Biden's Burisma role was worth examining. "Look, if you become the frontrunner you come under a lot of scrutiny, from the press, from both sides," McConnell said. Democrats have warned that the investigation could aid disinformation efforts by Russia. (Reporting by David Morgan; additional reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Dan Grebler) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. On a recent official visit to Eastern Sudan, I was overwhelmed by the hospitality and openness of the people I met in Al-Qadarif and Kassala. Unfortunately, I was appalled by the absence of the means for women and girls to lead a dignified life in two districts of the country. While the world celebrates International Womens Day with renewed calls for empowering women to exercise their human rights, I remember seeing how countless women in east Sudan and elsewhere in the Arab region and Africa are deprived of these rights. Women face tremendous challenges throughout their lives. Many women's lives are a never-ending series of suffering and unfulfilled needs. They have almost no access to reproductive health services, and when they do it is often dangerous and painful. Such is the plight of pregnant women living in remote rural areas, who must travel long distances on unpaved roads to give birth at hospitals without midwives. I talked to many young women in Sudan. I listened carefully to their amazing ideas, innovative thoughts and unlimited hopes. But their ambitions are still held captive by the fact that they feel so unequal to men in many aspects of life. Whether or not this will change along with recent political reforms in the country remains to be seen. The situation of women and girls underscores the need for gender equality to be at the heart of development efforts. No matter how much assistance the international community provides, it will not be enough to make a real impact if women and girls are left behind. If we do, we are then letting them down. Women are hurting in our regions and everywhere; they face increasing threats as a result of wars, immigration and internal displacement. These challenges require women to face multiple dangers and unbearable burdens. Not only that, but it extracts from them all the means and opportunities for power and influence. While observing the International Womens Day 2020, we should voice our support to end womens silent suffering. There are countries where women's sorrow and humiliation remain the least concern on agendas. Women continue to account for two-thirds of illiterate people across the world. More than one-third of adults across the world, most of whom are women, do not have access to printed knowledge or new skills and techniques that can enhance the quality of their lives and help them shape, and adapt to, economic and social changes. Seventy percent of the 130 million children not registered in elementary schools are girls. The importance of empowering women to realise their full potential cannot be understated. Gender equality is a human right. Women's empowerment is the only guarantee for strong, harmonious, and coherent societies to grow, develop and flourish. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) works closely with governments, local and international partners to end all practices that discriminate against women, including those related to reproductive and sexual health, and all kinds of gender-based violence, including child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). Achieving womens equality and empowerment requires real change in the mindset, policies and programming. Women should be a full party to decision-making across all levels. The writer is regional director for Arab States at the UNFPA. Search Keywords: Short link: "Guardian of the Galaxy" star Dave Bautista has called out a writer who compared his upcoming movie "My Spy" with "Kindergarten Cop". In the film, the action star plays a hardened CIA operative who finds himself at the mercy of a seemingly innocent nine-year-old girl, having been sent undercover to spy on her family. The writer, Jason Perlow, took to Twitter, wondering why films are being made in the same vein as Arnold Schwarzenegger's memorable 1990 comedy. "Why is every muscle bound action movie star compelled to repeat what Schwarzenegger did with 'Kindergarten Cop'? You cannot improve on this seminal classic, The Rock, John Cena, and Dave Bautista," the writer said. To this, Bautista shot back, saying, "What an ignorant thing to say. Anyway, enjoy being a judgmental prick." The writer then apologised to the 51-year-old former WWE wrestler. "I thought you would see the humour. I apologise and my mistake if that wasn't recognized. I was a huge fan of your 'Blade Runner' appearance, I thought it went highly unappreciated compared to your other roles. Peace," he wrote. "My Spy", directed by Peter Segal and also featuring Chloe Coleman, will release in the US on March 13. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kriti Sanon took to social media to update her fans about the tattoo on her back that she recently flaunted in an Instagram post. She said that it is not real but a temporary one and that contrary to speculation, she has not got inked. Kriti posted a video on her social media handle and explained her tattoo saying, "A lot of you have been wondering what the tattoo on my back is. If it is a V, then what does it mean or who is V? Firstly it is not a K, it is a V and the tattoo is temporary so I haven't really got myself inked." She shared the post on Saturday evening. Kriti has wrapped up shooting for Laxman Utekar's Mimi, her second collaboration with the director after Luka Chuppi. Produced by Dinesh Vijan, the film will be about a young surrogate mother. It has been inspired by the 2011 National Award-winning Marathi film Mala Aai Vhhaychy. Kriti will also be seen in Farhad Samji's Bachchan Pandey with Akshay Kumar as well as in a yet untitled comedy film with Rajkummar Rao, Dimple Kapadia and Paresh Rawal. Follow @News18Movies for Peak private school bodies will be able to invest hundreds of millions of dollars from a special federal government fund for years - rather than hand it over to schools upfront - as long as they spend it before the end of the decade. Guidelines released last month set out basic parameters for how managing bodies of the nation's private schools can spend the Morrison government's $1.2 billion "choice and affordability fund", announced in 2018 as part of a deal to quell Catholic schools' anger about a new funding model. The $1.2 billion choice and affordability fund is supposed to make up for funding losses caused by a new formula. Credit:Louie Douvis The fund lasts for 10 years, with the first payments due to be made by June 30. The money will be paid to the Catholic and independent sector peak bodies in each state and territory, known as non-government representative bodies (NGRBs), who can distribute the funds to schools as they wish. In 2020, $61.5 million will go to the Catholic sector nationally, including $20.1 million to NSW, while $41.5 million will go the independent sector nationally, including $14.6 million to NSW. The amounts will be indexed annually. A professional gamer has been suspended from Twitch and dropped from his eSports team after accidentally shooting a gun at his computer during a live stream. Carl Riemer, a popular Call of Duty streamer who plays under the handle SoarCarl, brandished the weapon in front of his viewers while apparently drunk. "B***h say I ain't got money," he said, before discharging the weapon. "What the f***? I swear to god I just emptied the mag." Shortly after the incident Twitch suspended his account and blocked all of his content. The platform's guidelines state it has a zero-tolerance policy towards streamers using "weapons to physically threaten, intimidate, harm, or kill others". 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 Mr Riemer explained the fall-out from his mistake in a video posted to YouTube the next day, which he titled 'I got suspended from Twitch, don't do what I did'. "Last night, I possibly ruined the rest of my life and years of hard work. Last night I was being stupid on my stream, as I normally am... I was clearly intoxicated but the fact of the matter is, whether I was sober or intoxicated, guns are not a toy," he said. Twitch streamer Carl Riemer was suspended after shooting a gun while live streaming (Twitch) The bullet passed through a metal cup and deflected onto his computer, destroying a $1,000 monitor. Recommended Fortnite player banned for life over aimbot cheat "I have no idea if I'm ever going to be able to come back to Twitch, I just made such a stupid, stupid, stupid mistake," he said. "All I can say is I'm sorry and I deserve everything, every bit of backlash." The SoaRGaming eSports team announced that it had dropped Mr Reimer shortly after the Twitch ban. "We do not condone the actions on livestream by Carl last night," the team wrote on Twitter. "He has been removed from the SoaR Gaming roster effective immediately." Saudi Arabia has detained two senior members of the royal family Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the younger brother of King Salman, Mohammed bin Nayef, the kings nephew, according to reports citing sources with knowledge of the matter. The Wall Street Journal reported the detentions of the two royals on Friday and said they are related to an alleged coup attempt. Bloomberg also reported the detentions late on Friday. There was no immediate comment by Saudi authorities. Nawaf bin Nayef, Prince Mohameds younger brother, was also detained, according to the New York Times. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salmans son and the de facto ruler of the kingdom, has moved to consolidate power since replacing his cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, as heir to the throne in 2017. He arrested several royals in an anti-corruption campaign later that year. Prince Mohammed, also known as MBS, has fuelled resentment among some prominent branches of the ruling family by tightening his grip on power and some question his ability to lead following the 2018 murder of prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents and a major attack on Saudi oil infrastructure last year, sources have told Reuters news agency. The sources said royals seeking to change the line of succession view Prince Ahmed, King Salmans only surviving full brother, as a possible choice who would have support of family members, the security apparatus and some Western powers. In late 2018, a video emerged of Prince Ahmed facing protesters outside his London residence and in which he seemed to criticise King Salman and his crown prince for the war in Yemen. Dont blame the entire family Those responsible are the king and his crown prince he said. In Yemen and elsewhere, our hope is that the war ends today before tomorrow. Saudi insiders and Western diplomats say the family is unlikely to oppose the crown prince while the 84-year-old king remains alive, recognising that he is unlikely to turn against his favourite son. The monarch has delegated most responsibilities of rule to his son but still presides over weekly cabinet meetings and receives foreign dignitaries. Al Jazeeras Jamal Elshayyal, commenting from Doha, said the detentions were of huge significance. We are talking about two of the most senior members of the Saudi royal family, he said. Whats prompted it is very difficult to ascertain, needless to say because Saudis have a closed culture in terms of transparency and no media freedom. But these are two figures who have been under house arrest. They havent been able to move freely for a very long time. The idea that they were trying to hatch some sort of coup is very far-fetched and difficult to see when considering the restraints they were under. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates There is an unwillingness on the level of the Trump administration to hold Anez to account, so she has a lot of room to do what she wants, including what seems to be the carrying out of vendettas, said Michael Shifter, the president of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue. I think this is only going to further entrench governments like Maduros. Because they see whats happening in Bolivia, and they know what awaits them if they leave power, despite any guarantees they might be offered. A man involved in the severe beating of another man over a debt has been sentenced to more than a year of jail time. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us A man involved in the severe beating of another man over a debt has been sentenced to more than a year of jail time. "Clearly this is a serious case and the injuries suffered by (the victim) were significant and he does continue to suffer as a result of those injuries to this day," Crown attorney Grant Hughes told the court. "The impact on the victim in this case has been extensive." Israel Blacksmith, 29, pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault but guilty to assault cause bodily harm in Brandon provincial court on Thursday. The incident unfolded on July 28, 2018, after both Blacksmith and co-accused Devyn Colton Dale Pratt were asked by another co-accused to go to the victims apartment, with Blacksmith acting as "the muscle" while the co-accused collected a debt the victim owed, Hughes said. "Mr. Blacksmith agreed to act as muscle, but Mr. Blacksmith was not going to the apartment with the intention of messing (the victim) up," Hughes said. The three men entered the apartment and the co-accused directed Blacksmith and Pratt to strike the victim in the head and body, Hughes said, and they complied. Blacksmith punched the victim once, Hughes said, and Pratt struck the victim in the head with a paint scraper, causing a bloody head wound. Pratt and their co-accused ran out of the apartment, Hughes said, but Blacksmith stayed back a few minutes to check on the victims well-being. He eventually caught up with the other two men and they drove away. The victim was taken to hospital where he was treated for a massive brain bleed as a result of the blow to the head with the paint scraper, Hughes said. He was placed in a medically induced coma to help reduce swelling for a couple of days, Hughes added, and remained in hospital for a few weeks. To this day, the victim continues to have difficulties speaking and still has mobility issues with his arms. Pratt agreed he was the one who caused the head injuries to the victim, Hughes said, and pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on Feb. 24. He received a sentence of 21 months in jail. Hughes suggested the jointly recommended sentence of 15 months of time served for Blacksmith was appropriate, noting it was a "true plea bargain." During two preliminary hearings, it became evident the Crown may have had some issues proving all the elements in the case, Hughes said. Due to his head injury, the victim was having difficulties with his memory, Hughes said, and some Crown witnesses were uncooperative and failed to attend the preliminary hearings despite being subpoenaed. Defence lawyer Evan Roitenberg agreed it was a plea bargain, adding that Blacksmith was otherwise looking at remaining in custody until a trial could be completed in March 2021. "A motivating factor here is that he has already served more time than is being sought for his involvement. He didnt wish to spend an additional 12 months in pre-sentence custody," Roitenberg said. Judge Donovan Dvorak agreed with the joint recommendation and sentenced Blacksmith to 15 months of time served. Blacksmith and Pratts co-accused, Mitchell Livingstone, has yet to deal with similar charges that remain before the court. edebooy@brandonsun.com Twitter: @erindebooy Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 7 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: Uzbekistan plans to increase supply of population with heat energy, Trend reports with reference to the Uzbekistan's Presidential Decree. Decree of the President of Uzbekistan from 20 April 2017 "On additional measures to improve the heating supply system and financial rehabilitation of heating enterprises" approved the "Road map" for the implementation of additional measures aimed at developing the heating system of Uzbekistan in 2019-2022. These include the development of strategies for the comprehensive development and full-scale modernization of heating supply systems in the country's regions; introduction of modern information and energy-saving technologies for heat supply metering and monitoring; and phased installation of electronic household heat meters in apartment buildings and intra-apartment hot water meters with a radio module ("smart meters"), that transmit data from meters to an automated system for monitoring and recording heat and hot water. In accordance with the decision of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, dated 20 April 2017 "On the Program of development of heat supply system for the period 2018-2022", 41 billion soum ($4.3 million) were allocated in 2019 for implementation of this program on development of heat supply system through centralized sources of funding. In 2020, it is planned to allocate 128 billion soum ($13.4 million, provided in the Investment Program for 2020). In 2019, the level of tariffs for the population was set lower by 35 percent compared to the tariffs for wholesale consumers, in this regard, at the expense of the budget funds subsidies were allocated to heating enterprises in the amount of 286.4 billion soum ($30.1 million). In 2020, state subsidizing of tariffs for population for heat supply services will also remain, and the approved parameters of the state budget envisage funds in the amount of 333.2 billion soum ($35 million) for payment of subsidies to heat supply enterprises to compensate for the price difference. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini Should Amtrak passengers give up their right to sue the railroad in the event of a crash or injury and be forced to use arbitration? A dozen U.S. Senators have proposed a bill to end that requirement. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut and U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, D-Washington, are the primary sponsors of a bill that would end the practice that was added to the terms and conditions on Amtrak tickets in January 2019. Amtrak added a forced arbitration provision to its tickets, Blumenthal said on a press call Thursday. The result is riders unknowingly sign away vital legal rights when they buy a ticket. U.S. Senator Cory Booker, D-NJ, is one of the co-sponsors and U.S. Senator Robert Menendez signed a letter last November opposing the practice. He is reviewing the bill, a spokesman said. Amtrak officials defended arbitration, saying it can provide a quicker resolution than the courts for customers usually within a year of filing a claim by avoiding unnecessary discovery and other time-consuming proceedings. Amtraks arbitration program provides a much quicker resolution of claims and much faster compensation to injured parties than court litigation, while retaining most important aspects and protections of the civil litigation system, said Jason Williams, a spokesman in a statement. Parties jointly select a qualified and independent arbitrator from a national roster through the American Arbitration Association. Claimants are entitled to legal representation, and the arbitrator can award damages and all other relief available under applicable law, he said. Arbitration can serve a good purpose if it is voluntarily, Blumenthal said. It should not be required or concealed, which is what happened on these tickets. Consumer advocates disagree with Amtrak, because forced arbitration lacks the same protections a plaintiff has in court. It is a secretive process. There is no public accountability, there is no right to appeal and to use discovery to get information from the company, said Julie Duncan, American Association of Justice senior governmental affairs director. It should be decided by a judge who is not beholden to to either side. If forced arbitration had been in place it would have denied the family of Robert Gildersleeve Jr. the right to sue after he was killed in the fatal crash of Amtrak train 188 outside Philadelphia in May 2015, said his brother Charles Gildersleeve of Staten Island N.Y. Robert Gildersleeve, of New Jersey, was one of eight people killed when that train entered a curve at double the speed limit and derailed. We were at least able to hold Amtrak responsible for this tragedy, said Gildersleeve, who went to Philadelphia and searched for his brother for two days. My hope is this bill will show Amtrak the public demands accountability. They should not hide behind forced arbitration. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE: HSBC) on Thursday emptied an entire floor in its Canary Wharf office in London after an employee tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Guardian reported. What Happened "We have been informed that one of our employees at 8 Canada Square has been diagnosed with [COVID-19,]" HSBC said in a statement to the Guardian. "This colleague is under medical supervision and has self-isolated." HSBC further added that all other employees who were in close contact with the infected person have been asked to work from home, and the affected areas are being deep-cleaned. The rest of the office building, including trading desks, remains functional as usual, HSBC said. The bank had earlier confirmed an infection among employees in China in January, and the spokesperson told the Guardian that the two cases are unrelated. The banker had earlier asked about 20 employees in its global banking division to stay home after one worker came in contact with an infected person, per the Guardian. Why It Matters The United Kingdom on Thursday also confirmed its first death from the coronavirus, a woman with underlying health conditions. At least 116 cases of the COVID-19 have been confirmed across the U.K., according to data from Johns Hopkins University, as global cases near 100,000. HSBC is one of the worst affected lenders during the outbreak, as its key markets in Asia region, including mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan, are at the center of the outbreak. Earlier in February, the financial behemoth said it expects financial losses from the coronavirus outbreak. It is set to release its first-quarter earnings report on April 26. Price Action HSBC shares closed 1.5% lower at $32.73 in New York on Thursday. The stock closed 2.22% lower at $6.52 per share in Hong Kong on Friday. Photo Credit: Public domain photo via Wikimedia. See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. A top Hindu-American body has accused a US commission on international religious freedom of conducting hearings that perpetuate misinformation about the intent and impact of India's amended citizenship laws. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Wednesday expressed concern over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying it could result in the "wide-scale disenfranchisement" of Muslims in the country. Members of the commission along with an invited panel of experts convened a hearing mainly focused on CAA and the Rohingya Muslims issue in Myanmar to help develop policy recommendations for the US government in response to the issues. The new citizenship law passed by the Indian Parliament in December 2019 offers citizenship to non-Muslim persecuted religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. After the enactment of the law, protests erupted across the country over fears that the CAA may marginalise the minority Muslim community. The Indian government has maintained that the CAA is an internal matter of the country and stressed that the goal is to protect the oppressed minorities of neighbouring countries. It's deeply troubling to see US governmental bodies, such as the USCIRF hold hearings that perpetuate misinformation about the intent and impact of India's Citizenship Amendment Act, Hindu American Foundation (HAF) Managing Director Samir Kalra said. This (USCIRF hearing) only serves to further compound the irresponsible statements that have come from the media and some US lawmakers, which has only fuelled more tension and violence in India, Kalra said. Tragically, lost in all the false and misleading propaganda are the real victims that the CAA intended to help the religiously persecuted refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who are stuck in legal limbo and living on the margins of Indian society, he said. HAF also recommended that the Indian government reconsider the definition of religious and ethnic refugees as "members of a religious or ethnic minority community who are unable to return to their home countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan, and unable to obtain protection in those countries due to past or well-founded fear of future persecution on account of religion or ethnicity. Indian-American Sunanda Vashisht, who last year testified before the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights on Kashmir, slammed Sol Goldman Professor of International Studies Ashutosh Varshney's comments at the USCIRF hearing that CAA, and the National Register for Citizens (NRC) "can render stateless a large number of Muslims, even if they were born in India and lived in the country for decades, as have their ancestors. I am not sure how Prof Varshney arrived on this conclusion," Vashisht said. CAA has no provision of rendering anybody stateless. It gives citizenship to persecuted minorities of three neighbouring countries. Nationwide NRC does not exist so to assume anything about that is merely fertile imagination, she said. Unless Varshney is talking about Assam NRC, which is a culmination of a long-protracted struggle by the Assamese and is being implemented under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India. Assam NRC has a totally different context and has nothing to do with the present government at all, Vashisht said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The scope of a new roundup of Saudi royals widened on Saturday with word that a fourth senior prince has been detained under orders from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to two Saudis close to the royal family, in a sign that he is determined to crack down on even whispers of dissent. The wave of arrests has ensnared a former head of army intelligence, Prince Nayef bin Ahmed, as well as at least three other senior princes, all detained on Friday. The full extent of the roundup is still not clear. Crown Prince Mohammed, 34, has already consolidated his power as the de facto ruler of the kingdom in the name of his aging father, King Salman, 84. But the arrests offered new evidence of how far the crown prince would go to lock down potential opponents within his family, stirring new fear within its ranks, according to several people close to the family. The most senior family member detained was Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the father of Prince Nayef and the last surviving full brother of King Salman. The arrests of both father and son stunned the royal family because Prince Ahmeds closeness to the king had so far appeared to provide him a measure of immunity against the wrath of the crown prince, even when he came down on others. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Neil Jerome Morales (Reuters) Manila, Philippines Sat, March 7, 2020 23:32 674 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206909f6b 2 SE Asia Philippines,Rodrigo-Duterte,president,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,outbreak,COVID-19,health Free Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte will declare a public health emergency to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, after the country recorded its first case of community transmission, officials said on Saturday. The nation's health ministry has reported three new cases of the infection since Friday, adding to the three Chinese tourists who were diagnosed with the virus in January and the first week of February. Duterte has agreed to declare a health emergency following the latest development, Bong Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and a close aide of the president, told reporters. All government agencies were asked to "undertake critical, urgent and appropriate response and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the COVID-19 threat," Go said. The Philippines' first case of community transmission involves a 62-year-old male Filipino who had not travelled abroad recently. His 59-year-old wife has also been infected, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to six, the health ministry said, adding that both are being treated at a government hospital. The health ministry declared a code red alert which calls on medical professionals to be prepared to report for duty and recommended the declaration of a public health emergency, which would help with the procurement of critical supplies as well as with quarantine measures. "This is a preemptive call to ensure that national and local governments and public and private healthcare providers can prepare for possible increase in suspected and confirmed cases," Health Secretary Francisco Duque told a news conference. The coronavirus has spread to more than 90 countries, infecting more than 100,000 people and killing over 3,400 people worldwide. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 20:17:46|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close Malta's Health Minister Chris Fearne (3rd R) speaks at a press conference in Valletta, Malta, March 7, 2020. The first case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Malta, Health Minister Chris Fearne said Saturday. The patient is a 12-year-old Italian girl who lives in Malta. She had visited northern Italy in late February and early March with her family, before returning to Malta. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua) VALLETTA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The first case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Malta, Health Minister Chris Fearne said Saturday. The patient is a 12-year-old Italian girl who lives in Malta. She had visited northern Italy in late February and early March with her family, before returning to Malta. The girl had been in self-quarantine at home as instructed, until her symptoms started showing on Thursday. Currently, the girl, her sister and parents are in an isolation unit at Malta's main public hospital. Health authorities are now tracing who the girl and her family could have been in recent contact with. Two Irish men have been charged with human trafficking after 10 migrants including two children were found inside a lorry carrying tyres in Belgium. Wayne Sherlock, 39, and Eoin Nowlan, 48, were arrested in Dover, Kent, following the discovery of suspected southeast Asians in the vehicle near Ghent. The 64-year-old lorry driver was arrested by Belgian authorities, and a 30-year-old man in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland was also detained. The driver has been remanded in custody while the man from Northern Ireland was released on bail following questioning by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers. Sherlock and Nowlan are both charged with alleged conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration, the NCA has confirmed. The pair were remanded in custody following a hearing at Canterbury Magistrates' Court today. Pictured: NCA officers during a training exercise. They have been investigating two Irish men charged with human trafficking after a lorry containing 10 migrants was held up in Belgium Two properties in England and Northern Ireland were also searched by NCA officers, with two suspected firearms seized in the Kent raid. The NCA's Gerry McLean said: 'Our close working with our Belgian partners in this instance has led to the safeguarding of a number of migrants who had been put in a very dangerous situation, and we are grateful for their support. 'We have seen only recently in Essex the tragic consequences which these types of attempts can have. Working with partners at home and abroad, we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks involved in illegal immigration, and our investigation into this matter continues.' West Flanders Prosecutor Frank Demeester added: 'This kind of human smuggling is very dangerous, and the operation proves once more that international cooperation works in the fight against this type of organised crime. 'The contacts between the British NCA and Belgian Federal Judicial Police, maritime police and prosecutors have become more intense in recent years. 'In the fight against human smuggling, the UK is obviously an important partner as being the country of destination.' A former government minister is suing RTE and the State for damages over a court case in which a jury found he was partially responsible for the defamation of a Sinn Fein political manager, the Irish Independent has learned. In proceedings initiated this week, Labour politician Joe Costello claimed he was denied a right to defend himself in the high-profile action taken by one-time Provisional IRA member Nicky Kehoe. Mr Kehoe sued RTE over an episode of the 'Saturday with Claire Byrne' radio show in October 2015 in which he claimed he was falsely described by Mr Costello as the IRA's former chief of staff in Dublin. In the ensuing trial in February 2018, Mr Justice Bernard Barton made a significant ruling in which he found the former Labour TD could be described as a "concurrent wrongdoer". A jury later awarded Mr Kehoe 10,000 in damages. This was reduced to 3,500 as the jury also found that RTE was only 35pc responsible for the defamation. Mr Costello, a former junior trade minister, was found to be 65pc responsible, but did not have to pay any compensation as he was not a defendant. The former Dublin Central TD has now issued proceeding against RTE, the State and the Attorney General, claiming he was denied fair procedures and natural and constitutional justice as he had no opportunity to defend himself. Expand Close Picture: Collins / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Picture: Collins Mr Costello claims his political credibility and reputation was damaged by the finding and he had not been invited back on any RTE current affairs programmes. During the defamation trial, Ms Byrne said she thought Mr Costello had "gone doolally" when he claimed a former chief of staff of the IRA in Dublin was directing councillors on how to vote at meetings. Mr Costello did not identify anyone by name, but Mr Kehoe's name was introduced to the discussion by Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin, who gave an impassioned defence of his party colleague. Within minutes, Mr Costello climbed down on the claim. Ms Byrne also read a clarification at the end of the show. However, the jury found Mr Kehoe had been defamed as the contents of the broadcast meant he was not a fit person to be involved in the democratic process. In proceedings initiated on Thursday by Mr Costello's solicitors Ferrys LLP, the politician is seeking a declaration that his constitutional rights were breached. Now a member of Dublin City Council, Mr Costello wants the High Court to find a section of the 1961 Civil Liability Act is unconstitutional as it permits a finding of liability for a civil wrong without giving the party involved the opportunity to refute the claim. He also wants the court to find that the relevant section of the act is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. In the proceedings, he has also taken issue with the manner in which the broadcaster defended the libel action. Mr Costello says the broadcaster invoked a plea that he was a "concurrent wrongdoer" without joining him as a party to the case or giving him proper notice. In his statement of claim, Mr Costello argues that by inviting him on the programme as a guest, the broadcaster agreed it would vindicate his rights, not expose him to opprobrium, and keep him fully informed of comments made and positions adopted in respect of him. But he claims that by invoking the concurrent wrongdoer plea, RTE had breached this agreement. As a result of Mr Justice Barton's ruling, jurors were presented with the novel question of determining, if Mr Kehoe was defamed, how much of the blame lay with RTE and how much with Mr Costello. Both Mr Costello and RTE declined to comment when contacted by the Irish Independent. But in a statement issued after the verdict, the politician said he was "disappointed a specific level of responsibility has been apportioned" to him and was "at a loss to understand" why he was referred to in the decision. "I was not a party to the case. I was not called as a witness in the case. I didn't name the plaintiff on the broadcast concerned. I was given no hearing in the case and no action was taken against me. In fact, I wasn't aware that the case was taking place until I read the media reports," Mr Costello said at the time. Mr Kehoe was in the IRA in the 1970s and 1980s and served time for possession of explosives and his involvement in a foiled attempt to kidnap businessman Galen Weston. At the defamation trial, Mr Kehoe said he was ashamed of his activities in the IRA and had left his paramilitary past behind. After his release, he became a councillor and an active figure in the GAA. U.S. Sen. Tom Udall is co-sponsoring a bill that would restore $3.8 billion in funding for military projects that is being diverted by the Trump administration to build the wall on the border with Mexico. The Democrat was also among seven senators sending a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper asking the Department of Defense to restore the funding, which was to be used for aircraft and ship construction, as well as funding for National Guard projects. The latest diversion, announced last month, is not site specific. This administration continues to prioritize empty campaign promises over the men and women who bravely serve in our National Guard, and is even willing to violate the separation of powers in the constitution in the process, Udall said in a release. The bill also bars DOD from reprogramming different funds for the wall and reinforces Congresss constitutional decision-making authority over taxpayer money, Udalls office said. He is among 31 senators introducing the legislation. More than a dozen U.S. states sued the Trump administration Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, in an effort to block the diversion. The American Civil Liberties Union and an environmental group have also sued to stop the move. The administration said the diversion of funds was in support of higher priority items that were necessary in the national interest, according to the notice transmitted to Congress. It said the Department of Homeland Security had identified areas along the southern border of the United States that are being used by individuals, groups and transnational criminal organizations as drug smuggling corridors, and determined that the construction of additional physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the United States border is necessary in order to impede and deny drug smuggling activities. It follows the diversion last year of $3.6 billion in funding for 127 defense projects to build 175 miles of border wall. Two of the projects totaling $125 million were scheduled for New Mexico. Esper promised funding from that diversion would be included in the next years budget. But President Donald Trumps proposed 2021 budget did not include the restoration in funding. The diversion put on hold an $85 million project for an unmanned aerial vehicle training facility at Holloman Air Force Base and a $40 million project for an information systems facility at White Sands Missile Range. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 36 miles of border wall currently under construction or in pre-construction in New Mexico are being funded by last years diversion. Last years diversion is also being challenged in federal court, but construction has been allowed to continue. Baaghi 3 Cast: Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, Vijay Varma and Jaideep Ahlawat Director: Ahmed Khan Even by the abysmally low standards of the first two films in the franchise, Baaghi 3 is a shit show. Its a film whose plot is so far removed from common sense and basic logic that you have to wonder what little regard the filmmakers must have for the audience. Tiger Shroff, who is the star attraction of the Baaghi films, is in reliably good form, playing for the nth time a one-man-weapon-of-mass-destruction. At different points in the film he outruns helicopters that are on his tail, he lobs grenades at his enemies while dangling from a wire, and narrowly escapes being mowed down by oncoming tanks. Although there is some fun to be had watching him single-handedly take on an entire country, you cant help thinking that a smarter director would have no trouble marrying Tigers sheer prowess in the action department with a script that knows how to better utilize it. In the hands of Ahmed Khan, however, Baaghi 3 is a bloated mess. As many as five writers are credited with banging out the script, which stays largely faithful to the Tamil film of which it is an official remake. Tiger plays Ronnie, who has spent the bulk of his years protecting his timid elder brother Vikram (Riteish Deshmukh) from bullies and all manner of harm. Vikram, who is a police officer, is dispatched to Syria on an assignment, where he is attacked and kidnapped by an Islamic terrorist organization. When Ronnie shows up to save his sibling he unleashes such havoc it prompts the terror leader to enquire who is responsible for the upheaval: America? Russia? Mossad? Its a harebrained premise; there is zero understanding or sensitivity for the politics of the region. Accents are clunky and all over the place. Presumably the film is set in Syria for its ravaged landscape, although it has been shot in Serbia. Baaghi 3 is executed with such lack of self-awareness it doesnt even cut it as one of those Chuck Norris-saves-the-world entertainers. Actors like Vijay Varma and Jaideep Ahlawat are wasted in roles that do no justice to their talent. Ritesh Deshmukh cheerily hams it up as the mild-mannered, darpok older brother prone to calling out for his younger sibling each time hes in trouble. Shraddha Kapoor strictly provides comic relief, then possibly as an afterthought on the part of the makers gets into action mode. To put it simply, none of the actors besides the films leading man leaves any mark. Baaghi 3 is the Tiger Shroff show all the way, and the actor frequently shirtless and bronzed looks happy to do the heavy lifting. Despite the clunky script, he is utterly and entirely convincing even in the most preposterous action scenarios; yes even when hes perched atop three crashed helicopters, preening satisfactorily. Tiger is all muscle neck down, and largely wooden up north. Theres not a lot of range or emotion on that face, and yet its hard not to appreciate the sheer artistry of what he does with the rest of that body. Like the tattered shirt that barely hangs off his ripped frame, Baaghi 3 hangs by a thread off its leading mans strong shoulders. Tiger is the only reason the film isnt completely unwatchable. Im going with a generous two out of five; both stars strictly for the cub who deserves the kind of material thatll let him grow into the lion hes clearly poised to be. Rating: 2 / 5 Follow @News18Movies for more The CBI on Saturday brought Sunny Kalra, an accused in a Rs-10 crore bank loan fraud case, to the country from Muscat in Oman, after his deportation on the basis of an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued on the request of the agency in 2016, officials said. It is alleged that Kalra, the director of White Tiger Steels Private Limited, took a loan of Rs 10 crore from the Bank (PNB), but did not repay it. He clandestinely removed the hypothecated goods, making it impossible for the state-run bank to recover the outstanding loan amount, the officials said. The case against Kalra, his wife and others was taken over by the (CBI) on December 16, 2015, they added. "Both (Kalra and his wife) were absconding since the registration of the FIR," a CBI spokesperson said. The agency had filed a chargesheet more than a year after taking over the case on December 22, 2016 against Kalra, his wife and three PNB officials -- then chief manager, manager and AGM of the bank. The Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice against Kalra on May 31, 2016 on the request of the CBI, which led to his location being traced to Muscat, where he was apprehended by local enforcement agencies, the officials said. "With Interpol's help, the CBI was in regular contact with the NCB, Muscat for the deportation of Kalra," an official said. He added that Kalra was deported as a result of an effective coordination between the NCB Muscat, the Indian Embassy at Oman and the NCB, India (CBI). "The accused will be produced before a competent court in New Delhi," the CBI spokesperson said. Our little bump into Spring took a hit this week with a cold snap, but it wasnt enough to dissuade me from thinking Spring is around the corner. Churches, Christians, guns, with Michael Grigoni: While church shootings remain statistically rare, their possibility now shapes ecclesial imaginaries in radically determinative ways. As recent headlines suggest, they will continue to do so. Still fresh at the time of writing, the West Freeway Church of Christ shootingthe six seconds, captured on video from beginning to end which left three people deadwill serve as a pedagogical tool for those tasked with providing church security in our contemporary context. This video will reinforce an already existing imagined community, one whose horizontal comradeship is sustained not by print-capitalism but the viscerality of a digital live-stream captured, shared, and viewed again and again, frame by frame. This imagined community sees guns not only as essential to the securing of churches, but as integral to enacting a form of Christian discipleship on behalf of the vulnerable. The entanglement of guns, conservative evangelical Protestantism, and Christian nationalism appears differently when considered from this ethnographic vantage point. It is an entanglement that occurs not primarily in the realm of the intellect, but the gut, shot through with a sense of the precariousness of life. Further, the self-defense engaged in by those who conceal carry at church cannot be easily disentangled from the self-preservation that drives a Christian nationalist framework. For many of my interlocutors, both ecclesial space and a Christian nation are under siege. Making this entanglement visible is part of the task of political theology. Only with a thick description of this entanglement in place might we then be able to ask: what should be done? Bobonbooks and American exceptionalism: When I look at things this way, it leads me to far greater modesty about my country. While not denying the goods, there is another kind of history about which Ive learned since I was in school. Much of it isnt pretty. Some examples, that could be vastly expanded: We didnt discover America. There were Native peoples who called this home before we knew America was even here. There were blacks forcibly brought as slaves to the United States even before the Mayflower landed in 1620. Well into the early nineteenth century slavery was legal in the north as well as the south, and even when northern states abolished slavery, the economics of north and south made slavery a continuing necessity upheld by fugitive slave laws. The subjection of Native peoples, Blacks, and women was written into our founding documents. Section 2, Article 3 of our Constitution reads: Representatives and direct Taxes shall be among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. In other words, Native peoples had no representation (or tax responsibilities, a mark of citizenship), slaves were considered three-fifths of a person (and considerably less in the eyes of many), and women are not even mentioned. Women did not obtain the right to vote until 1920. After the Civil War, blacks were free but subject to a reign of terror through lynching, denial of voting rights, and segregation, collectively known as Jim Crow. More recent policies of incarceration have been called the New Jim Crow because of their focus on black men. Native peoples suffered a string of broken agreements, displacement from good lands, and obliteration of their population through disease, the Trail of Tears, and massacres like Wounded Knee. Only in 2020, after over two hundred failed attempts, did Congress pass a law making lynching illegal on a national basis, fifty years after the horrible lynching of Emmitt Till. I dont want to get into arguments that call out the notable exceptions or arguments that discuss the injustices, tyranny, and genocide that have occurred in other countries. It is a sad fact of human societies that they (and we) are capable of unspeakable evil. John Hawthorne on which Christian colleges/universities will survive? The first set of winners will be those Christian institutions of higher education with a national reputation. These are the schools that journalists contact when looking for trends in Christian higher ed. They are the names that get selected in the US News and World Reports reputational survey. While Im sure Ill leave some out, its clear to me that Wheaton, Calvin, Taylor, Seattle Pacific, Bethel (MN), Azusa Pacific, Gordon, Messiah, Belmont, and Abilene Christian are in this group. The second set are those school who are located in destination locations. A recent story highlighted the success of three Christian universities in Nashville. It is a booming market in general and is not surprising that students would see it as a vibrant place to study for four years. On the other hand, many Christian universities were founded in areas far away from metropolitan areas. My non-exhaustive list of destination schools would include Wheaton, North Park, Seattle Pacific, George Fox, Point Loma Nazarene, Kings, Colorado Christian, and Bethel (MN). A third set may not represent destination locations but serve as the major Christian university in their region. Given that students are staying close to home, there is an advantage to those schools that are one of a handful of Christian institution in a two-hour radius. Those schools may not draw large numbers of students from far away but control their local market. Some examples of this group would include Northwest Nazarene, University of Sioux Falls, Colorado Christian, Gordon, Belhaven, and Cedarville. The fourth set of winning schools are those who, in the face of the gen-Z religious changes discussed earlier, have held most closely to their theologically (and politically) conservative bona fides. They take pride in their non-accommodationist stance and will guarantee to pastors, trustees, donors, and parents that this is not going to change. In fact, many of these schools have taken stances in the last several years to guarantee faculty adherence to traditional positions. Those faculty who dont align are either not renewed or made to feel unwelcome so that they go elsewhere. Examples of this pattern can be seen at Cedarville, Bryan, Oklahoma Wesleyan, College of the Ozarks, Asbury, and Bethel (IN). University anxiety: As colleges and universities across the country report an explosion of mental health problems, a new book argues that college life may be more stressful than ever. Dr. Anthony Rostain, co-author of The Stressed Years of Their Lives, notes that today's college students are experiencing an "inordinate amount of anxiety" much of it centered on "surviving college and doing well." "What we're seeing now are growing numbers of students coming [onto] campus who are already being treated for mental illness, or who are on various medications and who really have learned to manage their illnesses at home," he says, "but suddenly they're on their own and sometimes they're not following through [with] their own recommended treatments." Rostain is a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and the former chair of the school's Task Force on Student Psychological Health and Welfare. His co-author, B. Janet Hibbs, is a family and couples psychotherapist whose son took a medical leave of absence during his first college spring break to deal with anxiety and depression. Hibbs faced a difficult set of choices: she wanted to best parent her son as he struggled, but she also wanted his life to stay on track. "One of the reasons we wrote this book is not to scare parents, but to help them know what they can do to help," she says. "When a child, for whatever reason, is hopeless or verging on that, families are incredibly, vitally important in maintaining hope. ... Having the emotional expression of the family convey warmth, support, unconditional support, not judgment, that ... is one of the best medicines." Because the genders are different, ordain women: Last week I finally got around to listening to a podcast episode I had saved sometime in the past year. Obviously, Im not a huge podcast devotee. But it was totally worth the wait.This podcast interviewed married evangelical Anglican co-priests Jonathan and Tish Harrison Warren on how and why they had come to support womens ordination. They had earlier opposed it, having both grown up in the Southern Baptist Church and later joined the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), neither of which ordain women. What struck me most was that they made a gender difference argument for womens ordination, rather than a gender justice argument. In other words, they claimed women and men should both serve as pastors precisely because they are different, rather than because they are similar. This approach made their reflectionsparticularly on the pastoral needs of lay womenuseful to those on both sides of the debate. One of these needs was robust theological education, often reserved for men in denominations that ordain only male pastors. A Lenten abstinence: political hobbyism: Ive always been interested in politics. I am, after all, a political historian in addition to being a religion scholar and an immigration scholar. Its my professional responsibility to stay informed and bring my expertise to inform public debate. But my excessive consumption of news has become almost pathological in the past few years, especially in the past few months, with the ongoing political drama of both impeachment and the 2020 election. And so, for Lent, the solemn season of reflection and repentance, I have vowed to give up political hobbyism. Im striving instead to trade shallow political engagement for deep political engagement, which focuses on building relationships, serving my community, and effecting real change that has an impact on my neighbors. I know from my research on religious communities and their involvement in immigration and refugee issues that this type of work matters immenselynot simply for meeting the real, immediate needs of people, but for creating enduring and impactful political change. The problem, Im finding, is that political hobbyism is hard to give up. Like chocolate and red meat and single-use plastic, its pervasive, its convenient, and it often feels gooduntil we wake up the next morning. Thank you, Rick Steves: I just gave a $4 million apartment complex for homeless women and kids to the YWCA. Let me explain why. I know vacation travel is supposed to provide a break from the grinding reality of our workaday lives. But for me, travel and the peace of mind of having a roof over your head have always been associated. Before Europe Through the Back Door, my travels were Europe Through the Gutter. Slumming through Europe as a teenage backpacker, life for me was the daily challenge of finding an affordable (i.e., free) place to sleep. With my rail pass, Id sleep on a train four hours out, cross the tracks, and sleep four hours back in. Id sleep on a ferry (covered by the rail pass) between Stockholm and Helsinki on successive nights to afford spending entire days of sightseeing alternating between the two most expensive cities in Europe. Id sneak into my friends hotel rooms and sleep on the floor (restlessly and stressed-outbut free). Id sleep free on the pews of Greek churches, on the concrete floors of Dutch construction projects, and in barns at the edge of unaffordable Swiss alpine resorts. How else would a white, middle-class American kid gain a firsthand appreciation for the value of a safe and comfortable place to sleep? In my earliest days as a tour guide, Id put people in terrible rooms just so they would better appreciate having a nice home as their norm. Id intentionally not have a hotel reservation for my groups until late in the afternoonjust to put my tourists through the anxiety of not knowing if theyd have a roof over their head tonight. The intended souvenir: More empathy for the homeless. (This experiment was very short-lived. These days, of course, our tours pursue enlightenment more maturely, gracefully, and effectively.) I traveled in Central America, where I learned civil wars that I thought were between communists and capitalists were actually between obscenely rich oligarchs and landless peasants. I hung out with poor Christians who took the Biblical Jubilee Year (the notion that every fifty years the land is to be re-divided and debts are to be forgiven) seriouslyeven though rich Christians assumed God must have been kidding. Back home, one of my pet social causes has long been affordable housing. Twenty years ago, I devised a scheme where I could put my retirement savings not into a bank to get interest, but into cheap apartments to house struggling neighbors. I would retain my capital, my equity would grow as the apartment complex appreciated, and I would suffer none of the headaches that I would have if I had rented out the units as a landlord. Rather than collecting rent, my income would be the joy of housing otherwise desperate people. I found this a creative, compassionate and more enlightened way to invest while retaining my long-term security. Agreed: Tomorrow's International Women's Day - hasn't it just become another marketing tool for commercial outlets trying to monetise an invented celebration? Hasn't the whole shebang grown more like a corporate event, with business riding on a feminist bandwagon? Okay: let's look back a generation, to a time when women were almost invisible to the corporate world, and were seldom represented as being part of business at all. Back in 1986-87, Ireland's leading management guru Ivor Kenny (no kin, by the way) compiled a list of significant individuals who represented leadership in Irish society, to ask them about their formula for success. The 15 he selected were all men, and nearly all were involved in the world of business, finance and management. These men had indeed shown remarkable national leadership. Michael Smurfit, chairman of eight companies, including his own; Michael Dargan, CEO and chairman of Aer Lingus; Brendan O'Regan, who virtually invented Shannon airport and the duty-free business; Louden Ryan, governor of the Bank of Ireland, who held many other distinguished positions; T.K. Whitaker, Ireland's most influential economist and public servant, and Tony O'Reilly, CEO and chairman of Heinz (and, at the time, of this newspaper group), were among the line-up. Ivor Kenny (who died in 2016) admitted, in the book he published about these leaders, called In Good Company, that some women had made "a major contribution" to leadership in Irish life. But he didn't know any of them well enough to be included. Women do appear in the landscape that he portrays, but in the formative background, as saintly mothers and supportive wives. Michael Dargan said that while his father was quiet, "my mother was the strength of the family. She had very clear rules of behaviour for us". She had been a teacher - a job she left on marriage, as was the practice - and made sure her children studied: "My mother had strong ambitions for her family." Tony O'Reilly said that his mother was "an extraordinary woman" and he reproduced, too, her spirited wit. (A priest who asked if she renounced the devil and all his works, as codified in the Last Rites, got the riposte: "This is no time to make enemies!") Brendan O'Regan, still a legend in the Shannon area, said that his mother "was a great-hearted woman, very kind". His sisters might have gone far, too, as they ran the famous Old Ground Hotel in Ennis until they married. And the hotel cook, Maggie McArdle, was such a treasure, he took her to Shannon. Denis Brosnan, MD of the Kerry Group, recalled that the biggest influence in his life was his mother. Ken Whitaker's mother had been the district nurse in Rostrevor: she was a strict pioneer and had a horror of drink. She also had a "deep, unshakeable faith that we associate with the Irish mother". Frank O'Reilly, chairman of Ulster Bank and sometime chancellor of TCD, looked back with gratitude to his mother's "strong sense of duty The mainstay of the family was duty to God, to one's family and to one's country." Gay Byrne - a non-business leader also included - summed up a shared attitude when he said that his mother "was the dominant influence in the home She was a tough, strong-willed little woman who lived for her children and her home, who cajoled and coaxed and domineered us into doing better, into doing our best." Many of these mothers evidently sacrificed their own ambitions for their children - or they just didn't get the opportunities. Louden Ryan recalled that: "My mother had been very bright when she was at school but had probably left when she was 13 or 14." Some subsumed their identities into their family lives. Senator Paddy McGrath, chairman of the Irish Hospitals Trust and many other enterprises, said, "My mother was a wonderful woman - a lot of people never knew her name was Eileen because everybody called her Mammy." Some of the men also mentioned their wives as helpful, supportive partners, notably Michael Smurfit, who paid special tribute to Norma: "a rock of common sense". (Ironically, they subsequently divorced.) This was a picture of the top business milieu in Ireland, when the thirty-something generation of today were being born. It was a world in which women were largely invisible, except as adjuncts and supporters of the male achiever. I don't disparage, ever, the role of the woman (or man) in the home. With a little tweaking of the phrasing, I believe Article 41.2 should be retained: the person in the home usually makes a huge contribution to "the common good". Families need to be cared for and a supportive atmosphere at home base is an incalculable advantage (all the men featured were fathers, with the piquant exception of Bishop Eamonn Casey, whose fatherhood only emerged later). But if we ask whether International Women's Day is still relevant, or whether it's merely corporate window-dressing, we need to look back just about one generation to realise that it's only a short span since women, as business people or public achievers, were hardly noticed at all. Women should be visible in the public realm and that's the point to be made about tomorrow's celebrations: and if they're commercial, that's because women, too, are part of the world of commerce. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (TSX-V: NVO; OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated March 2, 2020 ( https://www.novoresources.com/news-media/news/display/index.php?content_id=381 ), it has closed the subscription for 15,000,000 common shares of New Found Gold Corp. (New Found). The subscription price was paid by the issuance of 6,944,444 common shares of Novo (the Novo Shares). The Novo Shares are subject to a statutory hold period expiring on July 7, 2020. About Novo Resources Corp. Novos focus is to explore and develop gold projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and Novo has built up a significant land package covering approximately 13,000 sq km with varying ownership interests. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail leo@novoresources.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors, Novo Resources Corp. Quinton Hennigh Quinton Hennigh President and Chairman 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 news release. The remarkable story of a Louth woman who lived as a man and served in the Union Army during the American Civil War is told by Quinessence Theatre in 'The Curious Case of Albert Cashier: Lincoln's 'Lady' Soldier' at Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, from tomorrow (Wednesday) for four nights. Having previously been the Theatre Company-in-Residence at An Tain Arts Centre in Dundalk, they are now based in Droichead Arts Centre and 'The Curious Case of Albert Cashier is the third and final piece of their 2019-2020 programme - 'Hear Me Roar: Women, Gender & Silence.' The play tells the story of Clogherhead born Jennie Hodgers, who presents as a young Irishman, Albert D.J. Cashier, when he enlists with the Union Army in the Civil War. He serves with bravery and becomes a decorated hero. But unknown to his comrades Private Cashier is waging an internal war all of his own. When he is fifty years a veteran, an indiscreet doctor reveals to America that Cashier was actually born a woman: Jennie Hodgers, of Clogherhead, Co. Louth. From that day on Albert's greatest battle truly begins: for identity, selfhood, and truth. This new play, devised by the company, sees Quintessence Theatre using their innovative physical ensemble story-telling techniques to create an original dramatization of this incredible true story. The play is directed by Anna Simpson and the cast features Ceara Carney, Anthony Kinahan, Leah Rossiter, Mark O' Reilly and Fiona Keenan O'Brien. Dromiskin native Anthony says: 'I'm so excited to part of telling this story - a remarkable story of a remarkable Louth person. When I first heard it, I could barely believe that not more Louth people knew about Albert and the great things he achieved against all the odds ... and when we in Quintessence heard about it, we were determined that we were going to tell his story - do it justice and honour his spirit - and tell the world about it.' After tomorrow night's performance there will be an opening night postsShow trans awareness discussion in association with Outcomers Drogheda & TENI - Transgender Equality Network Ireland chaired by Sinead Brassil of LMFM. Tickets available from www.droichead.com, phone 041 9833946 Eason has completed the acquisition of Dubray Books, with no changes to be made to the shops on the ground. Founded by Helen Clear in Bray in 1973, the business was subsequently acquired by her daughter Gemma and her late husband, Kevin Barry, in 1988. Dubray has been owned by the Barry family ever since and has stores in Bray, Dublin and Galway. 'After nearly 50 years in business, the transition in ownership to Eason is a logical step for Dubray and it will secure the future of the Dubray brand as a specialist book retailer,' said Gemma Barry. 'Eason's commitment to the Dubray brand and store estate is a great reflection on the quality and passion of our people, our loyal customer base and compelling retail proposition. 'I look forward to seeing the business continue to flourish under Eason's ownership.' Dubray employs approximately 90 people, has annual sales of over 9 million and generates operating profits of approximately 0.7 million. Under the ownership of the Barry family the business continued to expand its operations and comprises eight bookstores across the Greater Dublin Area and Galway. Eason has long admired Dubray's customer proposition as a specialist bookseller and intends to retain Dubray as a separate brand, along with its retail outlets in their current format. Eason will continue to develop its own retail proposition, which serves a different customer profile, based on a broader product offering and five core categories that see a popular book range complimented by stationery, cards, gifts and newspapers and magazines. Dubray will continue to operate in its current format as a stand-alone division within Eason under the Dubray brand. The current Dubray management team, led by Maria Dickenson, will continue to operate the Dubray stores. Maria will join the Eason executive team, working with the current members and the Eason Group CEO, Liam Hanly. Dubray and the Barry family were attracted to Eason because it is a long-established, Irish-owned, independent retail business, with a shared passion for books and a commitment to maintaining the Dubray brand into the future. Commenting on the acquisition: Liam Hanly, CEO, Eason Group, said: 'We are delighted to have completed this acquisition and believe the coming together of Eason and Dubray will help secure the future of two renowned Irish retail brands. 'As a specialist book retailer, Dubray reaches a different customer audience to Eason and the brand will therefore complement the wider Eason offering. 'We are very excited by the potential to grow the Dubray business in conjunction with the continued development of the existing Eason retail offering in the coming years.' Maria Dickenson, Managing Director of Dubray, said: 'This acquisition will be positive for the Irish book trade, ensuring that Irish publishing can continue to flourish with the support of local Irish-owned booksellers with wide customer appeal like Eason and the specialist credentials of Dubray. 'Our new common ownership will strengthen our ability to continue supporting and promoting local talent while continuing to meet the needs of our existing loyal customers.' Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. US Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard spotlighted an incident of "Hinduphobia" as she tweeted about an episode where a Uber driver asked a "Hindu" passenger in US to get down from his cab because of their religious identity. The Congresswoman shared a post on twitter calling attention to an episode where a passenger in US was discriminated because of their Hindu relgion. The 39-year old presidential candidate was replying to a post on Facebook about an alleged encounter between an Indian-American and a Uber driver that was shared on the social networking site by an user named Dr Sheenie Ambardar. The post alleges that the Uber driver began verbally attacking them after ascertaining their identity by levelling accusations like, you Hindus are killing Muslims in India and destroying mosques. 'Unfortunately, Hinduphobia is very real. I've experienced it directly in each of my campaigns for Congress & in this presidential race. Here's just one example of what Hindus face every day in our country. Sadly, our political leaders & media not only tolerate it, but foment it", Tulsi Gabbard wrote on twitter. Supermarkets have said Matt Hancocks claim they will deliver food to those who are self-isolating over coronavirus fears was totally made up. The health secretary said during a Question Time appearance on Thursday that the government was in talks with retailers about home deliveries. We are working with the supermarkets to make sure that, if people are self-isolating, then we will be able to get the food and supplies that they need, he said. However, supermarket sources have said they have not been involved in discussions. Matt Hancock has totally made up what he said about working with supermarkets, one executive told the BBC. We havent heard anything from government directly. They said sales of cupboard basics, such as pasta and tinned goods, had gone through the roof. Teams were working round the clock to keep shelves stocked, he said, adding: We are using processes and staffing levels we set up in case of a no-deal Brexit. The supermarket exec added: While I think people dont need to panic buy and should just shop normally, Im not sure the government can guarantee all food supply in all instances. One senior executive accused Mr Hancock of lying and told The Times: I am really angry about it. Another said the Department of Health had got in touch with his company for the first time on Friday. 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 A government spokesperson told the BBC that officials at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had regular meetings with the food industry to discuss risks to the supply chain. - A Taguig-based firm released a statement confirming that one of their employees tested positive for COVID-19 or the coronavirus disease 2019 - Deloitte, a financial advisory firm located in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), revealed that the employee is in the hospital for treatment and further tests - The firm also said that they remain compliant with guidance from the Department of Health (DOH) - DOH transferred the patient to the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Muntinlupa PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed! Deloitte, a Taguig-based financial advisory firm, confirmed that one of their employees tested positive for COVID-19 or the coronavirus disease 2019. In a statement released early Saturday, Deloitte said that the employee who worked at its office at the Bonifacio Global City is in the hospital to receive the needed treatment and tests. The firm also said that its highest priority is the health and safety of its people, clients, and the community. The St. Luke's Medical Center- Global City earlier said that it was able to identify, isolate and screen a patient at the isolation room located outside the emergency wing who turned out positive for COVID-19. In a statement, St. Luke's Medical Center- Global City said it was "able to identify, isolate and screen a patient at the isolation room located outside the emergency wing who turned out positive for COVID-19." The employee was transferred by the DOH and is currently in the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Muntinlupa. Earlier COVID 19 confirmed cases were admitted also admitted in Alabang. St. Luke's said that they were able to follow a protocol set by their infectious disease specialists to handle and contain such cases. The patient's exposure was limited because the infection was identified right away. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Maria Rosario Vergeire, the Health Assistant Secretary said the information still needs to be verified to determine if the patient was among the two new Philippine cases the DOH had confirmed Friday following the firm's statement. Meanwhile, Taguig City government urged the public to source their information only from reliable news organizations and stay calm. It urged residents to "avoid crowded places and unnecessary travel to countries where COVID-19 local transmission has been confirmed along with a reminder of precautionary measures to protect themselves from getting infected with the virus. COVID 19 is caused by the virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), previously referred to as the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). It can primarily spread between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) and through exposure to respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. In an earlier report, DOH addressed concerns over foreigners from the Philippines who tested positive for COVID 19. POPULAR: Read more health news here Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts! GMA's newest series "Descendants of the Sun," which is an adaptation of a hit Korean series premiered on February 10. Its cast including Dingdong Dantes, Jennylyn Mercado, Jasmine Curtis-Smith, and Rocco Nacino talked about their series in an interview with KAMI. Check out all of our videos on our KAMI YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh OTTAWA, TRADITIONAL ALGONQUIN TERRITORY, March 6, 2020 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to putting in the time, energy and resources to right past wrongs and build a stronger relationship for the future with Indigenous Peoples across Canada. The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, concluded a trip to British Columbia during which he joined First Nations partners and provincial counterparts to support First Nations health and education; learned about the challenges faced by communities affected by flooding; and addressed the BC Assembly of First Nations 16th Annual Special Chiefs Assembly. During his trip, Minister Miller met with the First Nations Health Council, the provincial Minister of Health, the Honourable Adrian Dix, and the provincial Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, the Honourable Judy Darcy, to discuss the need for ongoing partnership to address the social determinants of health for First Nations in BC. As part of a unique, collaborative tripartite partnership in support of First Nations education, Minister Miller also met with the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC), and the provincial Minister of Education, the Honourable Rob Fleming, to discuss their commitments for the BC Tripartite Education Agreement (BCTEA). This agreement will ensure that First Nations students who live on reserve and attend British Columbia public schools have improved transportation and more opportunities for extracurricular activities. Minister Miller also met with the provincial Minister of Children and Family Development, the Honourable Katrine Conroy, and FNLC to discuss implementation of An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families. The coming into force of the Act on January 1, 2020 marked an historic turning point for Indigenous children and families. It will finally put in place what Indigenous peoples across this country have been asking of governments for decades: that their jurisdiction over child and family services be affirmed so that they can decide what is best for their children, their families, and their communities. While in British Columbia, Minister Miller travelled to Cowichan to meet with Chief William Seymour of Cowichan Tribes and Council to discuss the widespread damage to homes and the community's recovery efforts from the severe weather and flooding they experienced in January. Moreover, the Minister met with Chief James Thomas and Council of the Halalt First Nation to discuss the impact of flooding in the Cowichan Valley and the number of people still displaced from their homes. The Minister commended both communities for their resilience and noted the Government is working with them to recover from this event. The Minister's trip culminated with an address to the BC Assembly of First Nations 16th Annual Special Chiefs Assembly in Nanaimo on Wednesday. In his speech, Minister Miller reiterated Canada's commitment to work with Indigenous Peoples through open and honest dialogue in order to renew this relationship to one that is based on respect, collaboration and the recognition of rights. Quotes "Our Government is committed to right past wrongs and build a stronger relationship for the future. I will rely on the leadership, resilience and vision I experienced during my visits with First Nations partners and community leaders. As demonstrated by our progress to support First Nations health, transportation for First Nations students attending provincial schools, and our coordinated emergency response to recent flooding, everyone benefits when we work together." The Honourable Marc Miller Minister of Indigenous Services Quick facts In 2011, the FNHC, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia signed the British Columbia Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance which led to led to the creation of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). In 2013, the FNHA took over responsibility for the design, delivery and management of programs and services which were formerly delivered by the Government of Canada . Since then, the FNHA has been working to address service gaps through new partnerships, closer collaboration, health systems innovation, reform and redesign of health programs to meet community needs. and the Province of signed the which led to led to the creation of the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). In 2013, the FNHA took over responsibility for the design, delivery and management of programs and services which were formerly delivered by the Government of . Since then, the FNHA has been working to address service gaps through new partnerships, closer collaboration, health systems innovation, reform and redesign of health programs to meet community needs. BCTEA is a five-year agreement that replaced the BC Tripartite Education Framework Agreement originally signed in 2012, and is the result of an extensive engagement process between FNESC, Canada and BC. It benefits on-reserve students, from approximately 200 BC First Nations, who attend school either on or off-reserve. originally signed in 2012, and is the result of an extensive engagement process between FNESC, and BC. It benefits on-reserve students, from approximately 200 BC First Nations, who attend school either on or off-reserve. On April 27, 2019 , ISC, the First Nations Leadership Council and the Province of British Columbia signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on emergency management services to ensure that First Nations are full partners in both the governance and operations of emergency management. , ISC, the First Nations Leadership Council and the Province of signed a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding on emergency management services to ensure that First Nations are full partners in both the governance and operations of emergency management. The governments of Canada and British Columbia have a 10-year, $29.6 million bilateral Emergency Management Service Agreement to enhance the delivery of emergency management support services to on-reserve First Nations communities in British Columbia . This agreement enables all First Nations communities on reserves to receive emergency management support comparable to what is currently provided to other local authorities. and have a 10-year, bilateral Emergency Management Service Agreement to enhance the delivery of emergency management support services to on-reserve First Nations communities in . This agreement enables all First Nations communities on reserves to receive emergency management support comparable to what is currently provided to other local authorities. The British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) is a Provincial Territorial Organization (PTO) representing the 203 First Nations in British Columbia . BCAFN representation is inclusive and extends to First Nations currently engaged in the treaty process, those who have signed modern treaties, and those who fall under historic treaty agreements which include the Douglas Treaties and Treaty 8. Associated links First Nations Health Authority First Nations Health Council British Columbia Tripartite Framework Agreement on First Nation Health Governance First Nations students to benefit from BC Tripartite Education Agreement with Canada, British Columbia and the First Nations Education Steering Committee First Nations students in British Columbia to benefit from investments in education Cowichan Tribes Halalt First Nation Canada, British Columbia and First Nations Leadership Council sign Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding to improve emergency management services for BC First Nations Building back better: Emergency Management Assistance Program Strategy Guide British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Stay connected Join the conversation about Indigenous peoples in Canada: Twitter: @GCIndigenous Facebook: @GCIndigenous Instagram: @gcindigenous Facebook: @GCIndigenousHealth Twitter: @Min_IndServ You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.isc.gc.ca/RSS. SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada For further information: media may contact: Vanessa Adams, Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, 343-543-7645; Media Relations, Indigenous Services Canada, 819-953-1160, [email protected] India and the United States of America are the two largest democracies in the world. For most of this 21st century, they have served as solid examples for others to follow. The same cannot be said for their delivery of healthcare. The World Health Organization (WHO) provided its first and only ranking of health systems in 2000. The US ranked 37 and India ranked 112 out of 191 countries. India and the United States of America are the two largest democracies in the world. For most of this 21st century, they have served as solid examples for others to follow. The same cannot be said for their delivery of healthcare. The World Health Organization (WHO) provided its first and only ranking of health systems in 2000. The US ranked 37 and India ranked 112 out of 191 countries. The current coronavirus crisis, which the WHO declares has the potential of becoming a pandemic illustrates the need for a world-class health care system. Both India and the US have coronavirus cases. India has responded quickly by putting a systemic nation-wide plan in place to combat the virus. The US has responded very slowly as President Donald Trump has politicized the issue, dismissed its importance and even labeled it a "new hoax". Although there have been distinctly different responses by the US and India to the coronavirus epidemic and there was a substantial distance between their rankings in both cited studies, there are differences and similarities in the healthcare delivery in these two democracies. More importantly, there are lessons that they can learn from each other to enhance the healthcare delivered to and health of their citizens. There are many differences between India and the US healthcare systems. The primary ones include: the level of expenditure; the nature of healthcare support, and the nature of coverage. According to various reports, the US spends close to 18 per cent of its GDP on healthcare compared to less than just 4 per cent of GDP by India. The average expenditure per capita in the US more than $10,000 in the US and less than $100 in India. This difference is huge. So, too is the nature of healthcare support. In the US there is broad and extensive quality support through both public and private facilities. In India, the private sector dominates quality healthcare delivery which restricts access for many middle class or poor citizens. This disparity is heightened by the fact that because a majority of Americans have some form of insurance coverage -- only 10 to 12 per cent have to pay for healthcare out of their own pockets. In contrast, around 70 per cent of Indians do not have any health insurance. So, they have to pay out of their own pocket for medical services. In spite of these differences which appear gargantuan, there are some similarities of considerable magnitude in the nature of the healthcare systems as well. In the US and India alike, there are far too few medical facilities and medical professionals in rural areas. There used to be an adequate supply in the US but they have disappeared over the past few decades. There have never been enough in India in the rural areas where over 66 per cent of the citizens reside. In both countries, businesses interests, hospitals, medical doctors and other influentials have a substantial impact on health policies. And, the individual states (50 in the US and 28 in India) determine to a great extent the nature of the public health system within their boundaries. Those who fare most poorly in both the US and India are the poor. In the US, poor adults are five times as likely as those with good incomes to report being in fair or poor health. In India, a recent study found that the poor in the poorer states made higher use of public health services but were still paying higher out of pocket expenses than those in states that were more well off. These similarities and differences highlight potential areas to address to improve the healthcare delivery in both countries. And, even though neither the US nor India are at the top of the list, they still have positive healthcare lessons they can teach each other. From America for India, there is Medicare and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Medicare was signed into law in 1965 primarily to provide health insurance to adults 65 years and older to ensure they had access to quality healthcare as they aged. In 2018, it covered more than 52 million Americans. The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. Its intent was to ensure access to quality healthcare for all Americans by providing affordable healthcare insurance coverage to over 55 million uninsured individuals. For a variety of reasons, the ACA has not rolled out as planned and it is threatened by the Trump administration. Nonetheless, it is estimated that it has added close to 20 million to the insurance rolls since its implementation. From India for America, there is innovation and cost control. In 2018, Dartmouth professor Vijay Govindarajan and Northeaster University professor Ravi Ramamurti published a book, 'Reverse Innovation in Health Care: How to Make Value Based Delivery Work'. Their book is based upon visiting over two dozen hospitals in India and interviewing more than 125 health care executives in India and the US. In an article on their book they state, "We learned that some of the most proactive hospitals in the West are adopting world-class innovations of Indian healthcare institutions in order to boost quality, lower costs, and expand access to the underserved..." India and the US can learn from each other. They can also learn by looking at best practices in healthcare around the world. The rankings show that both of these democracies have much room for improvement in healthcare. In 2018, the Modi administration launched its Ayushman Bharat scheme to provide a comprehensive form of insurance coverage to the approximately 300 million Indians living in poverty and those in rural areas. This was an important step forward. The budget for this fiscal year announced on February 1 advances that step by allocating funds to establish more hospitals in Tier II and Tier III cities. The budget also proposes to address the shortage of medical professionals throughout the country by converting existing hospitals to medical colleges and implementing a "special bridge course" for the development of general physicians and specialists. These are moves in the right direction. India should carry on with them and other efforts and new initiatives to make its healthcare system one of the finest in the world. The US should do the same. This must be the case because in the final analysis, a healthy democracy depends on the health of its people. If they are cared for, they will care for their country and the democracy will thrive. (Frank F. Islam is an entrepreneur, civic and thought leader based in Washington DC. The views expressed here are personal) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the leading group of the CPC Central Committee on the novel coronavirus prevention and control, talks with staff members and learns about body temperature monitoring at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, March 6, 2020. Li inspected the Beijing Capital International Airport and a distribution center of SF Express on Friday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Premier Li Keqiang on Friday stressed enhancing international cooperation in COVID-19 prevention and control to prevent cross-border spread of the epidemic. Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee who also leads a central leading group of China's COVID-19 response, made the remarks while inspecting the Capital International Airport in Beijing. He also inspected the aviation distribution center of SF Holding, China's courier giant, where he emphasized the importance of striving for smooth logistics to advance economic and social progress. At the airport, Li heard reports on topics such as flight operation, personnel of exit and entry and goods flow since the COVID-19 outbreak. Noting that the COVID-19 is showing a trend of rapidly spreading overseas, Li said it is a common challenge for the international community to cope with the epidemic. Cooperation with international organizations, relevant countries and regions, especially in the field of air transportation, should be strengthened to contain the disease, Li said. While inspecting SF Holding, Li stressed the logistics is an important basis for the orderly resumption of business and required efforts to ensure daily necessities for people's life. He also called for more international cargo flights to offer efficient, convenient and stable logistics to support economic development and satisfy people's living demands. At the aviation distribution center, Li greeted the deliverymen and asked them to improve self-protection. Contact: Ford Porter Ford Porter govpress@nc.gov Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced that the State is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Carolyn Rose Tiger, age 26.On Sunday, March 3, 2019, police officers responded to the intersection of Patton Avenue and S. Elm-Eugene Street due to shots being fired in the area. Upon arrival, police located a vehicle that had crashed into the fence in the area of S. Elm-Eugene Street and Concord Street. The victim was identified as Carolyn Rose Tiger of Greensboro, North Carolina. She was driving a black Nissan with two children as passengers at the time of the shooting. Ms. Tiger's vehicle was possibly involved in a minor traffic accident with what is described as a newer model light blue Hyundai type vehicle somewhere in the area of S. Elm-Eugene Street and Meadowview Drive. Both vehicles traveled north on S. Elm-Eugene Street to the area of Patton Avenue where the light blue Hyundai attempted to block the victim's vehicle. The driver of the light blue Hyundai got out of his car, retrieved a rifle from his trunk and opened fire on the victim's vehicle as it was attempting to leave the area northbound on S. Elm-Eugene Street. Carolyn Tiger was struck by the gun fire and pronounced dead from her wounds shortly after arrival at Moses Cone Hospital.Anyone having information concerning this case should contact the Greensboro Police Department at (336) 373-2085, Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at (336) 373-1000 or the State Bureau of Investigation at (919) 662-4500. Senator Bernie Sanders demanded that former Vice President Joe Biden 'accept responsibility' for comments a white Democratic strategist made to his black campaign co-chair regarding quotes of Martin Luther King Jr. Sanders called on Biden to apologize not only to Nina Turner but also to all 'people of color supporting our campaign' after comments Hilary Rosen made on a Thursday episode of Cuomo Prime Time. '@JoeBiden must accept responsibility for his surrogate telling our campaign co-chair Senator @NinaTurner that she doesn't have standing to invoke the words of Dr. King,' he said in the Friday tweet. 'That is unacceptable and Joe must apologize to Nina and all the people of color supporting our campaign.' Scroll down for video Senator Bernie Sanders (left) demanded that former Vice President Joe Biden (right) 'accept responsibility' for comments a white Democratic strategist made to his black campaign co-chair regarding quotes of Martin Luther King Jr. Sanders called on Biden to apologize not only to Nina Turner but also to all 'people of color supporting our campaign' after comments Hilary Rosen made on a Thursday episode of Cuomo Prime Time Sanders remarks comes after Rosen apologized numerous times on Twitter for telling the black co-chair that she didn't have the 'standing' to quote MLK Jr. when talking about Biden Sanders remarks comes after Rosen apologized numerous times on Twitter for telling the black co-chair that she didn't have the 'standing' to quote MLK Jr. when talking about Biden. In her latest apology, Rosen shared that she called Nina directly to apologize. 'Whether or not she takes my call, I am still humbly sorry,' she added. She also clarified a tweet that appeared to refer to Nina as an 'angry black woman,' stating she had been responding to peoples' messages that she had been receiving. Turner took to her on Twitter on Friday to share that she had been invested back on Cuomo Prime Time. Chris Cumo was also slammed for his behavior during the segment. In her latest apology, Rosen shared that she called Nina directly to apologize. 'Whether or not she takes my call, I am still humbly sorry,' she added She also clarified a tweet that appeared to refer to Nina as an 'angry black woman,' stating she had been responding to peoples' messages that she had been receiving Turner took to her on Twitter on Friday to share that she had been invested back on Cuomo Prime Time Sanders is seen above at a rally in Chicago's Grant Park on Saturday Biden waits to take the stage at a campaign rally at Kiener Plaza in St. Louis on Saturday @ChrisCuomo has invited me back on his show @CuomoPrimeTime to have a deeper discussion,' Turner said in a Friday evening tweet. 'I look forward to this opportunity. Getting understanding is so important. Thank you Cuomo!!!!' The tense exchange between the strategist and Nina Turner took place on a Thursday night episode of Cuomo Prime Time after the co-chair made comments referencing the 1963 letter MLK Jr wrote from jail. Turner had mentioned the letter when arguing that Sanders speaks of a Democratic Socialism that follows the 'tradition' of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The tense exchange between the strategist Hilary Rosen and Nina Turner took place on a Thursday night episode of Cuomo Prime Time 'It's in the spirit of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who, in his letter to the Birmingham jail, warned us us being the black community about white moderates,' Turner said in the clip obtained by Mediaite. Rosen would circle back to Turner's MLK quote, asserting that that was not what the civil right's icon said. 'What he said was we should be worried about silence of white moderates,' Rosen claimed. Turner was clearly shocked by the woman's remarks. She retorted: 'How are you going to tell me about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? Are you kidding me?' Martin Luther King Jr.'s remarks about the white moderate in his letter from a Birmingham jail cell in 1963 The full letter can be found here: 'I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to 'order' than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a 'more convenient season.' Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.' Advertisement Rosen continued with her remarks by arguing that Biden had not been silent on a variety of issues over the years, which she claimed supported her sentiment that he was not the moderate MLK Jr was referring to. 'He said it is the point that the white moderate wants things to be comfortable,' Turner declared. 'And instead of focusing in on that, the bigger threat is not necessarily the white KKK member but more the white moderate that is more comfortable with keeping things the same.' It was then that Rosen lambasted Turner for invoking Martin Luther King Jr. when talking about Biden. 'You know what? Don't use Martin Luther king against Joe Biden!' Rosen stated. 'You don't have that standing. I'm sorry. You don't!' A disgusted Turner shot back: 'Don't tell me what kind of standing I have as a black woman in America!' She later added: 'I didn't attack anybody. You're taking it that way,' Turner said. 'Listen, don't dip into what I have to say about the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.! How dare you, as a white woman, sit up here and try to tell me what I'm supposed to feel, and what I'm doing right now!' Chris Cuomo then condemned Turner's tone, insinuating that she was showing the division that was plaguing the Democratic party. The fallout from the segment was immense, with people demanding that Rosen not be allowed back on CNN while also condemning Cuomo's tone when addressing Turner. The critiques prompted a response from Rosen, who took to her Twitter to offer a half apology while suggesting that Turner was like 'angry black women' She said in a follow up tweet: 'Good morning. I have nothing but the upmost respect for Nina, her experience as a person of color, and the fight she's waging in this election. Wake up this morning to this: I apologized + I take full responsibility. I look forward to the rest of the primary seeking common ground' The critiques prompted a response from Rosen, who took to her Twitter to offer a half apology while suggesting that Turner was like 'angry black women'. 'On air thurs I said my colleague @ninaturner didn't have standing to use MLK Jr.That was wrong,' she said in a Friday morning tweet. 'I am sorry for saying those words. Pls no need to defend me and attack angry black women. They have standing. I always need to listen more than I talk. We rise together.' She said in a follow up tweet: 'Good morning. I have nothing but the upmost respect for Nina, her experience as a person of color, and the fight she's waging in this election. Wake up this morning to this: I apologized + I take full responsibility. I look forward to the rest of the primary seeking common ground.' Prior to those tweets, Rosen tweeted that MLK Jr's letter said 'to be afraid of white moderates who prefer peace over justice.' 'You know Hilary, you didn't just talk over me,' Turner said on Twitter. 'Go back & watch the segment. You said among other things that I did not have standing. Wrap your mind around that. The Rev. Dr. MLK I speak of challenged the status quo. He spoke out against militarism, materialism, poverty & racism.' Turner responded to and shared tweets from other activists pointing out the problems with Rosen's statements She also said: 'As she further made clear that I had no standing! It must be nice to have the power to decide who has standing and who does not.' 'That isn't what you said,' Rosen added. Turner, meanwhile, responded to and shared tweets from other activists pointing out the problems with Rosen's statements. 'You know Hilary, you didn't just talk over me,' she said. 'Go back & watch the segment. You said among other things that I did not have standing. Wrap your mind around that. The Rev. Dr. MLK I speak of challenged the status quo. He spoke out against militarism, materialism, poverty & racism.' Turner also said: 'As she further made clear that I had no standing! It must be nice to have the power to decide who has standing and who does not.' She would later post a book written by Cornell West that highlights how radical the civil rights icon actually was. New Delhi: Ahead of the release of her music video with 'Bigg Boss 13' runner-up Asim Riaz, actress Jacqueline Fernandez teased fans with a glimpse of the song. The picture features Jacqueline in a pool of water and has been photographed from the back. The music video is titled 'Mere Angne Mein' and it releases on March 8. It has been sung by Neha Kakkar and Raja Hasan and the music has been composed by Tanishk Bagchi. Here's what Jacqueline posted: Fans are super excited for the music video and comments such as "super excited for the music video" and "fire in water" have been posted. 'Mere Angne Mein' is a remixed version of Amitabh Bachchan's hit track of the same name from 1981 film 'Laawaris'. It is Asim's first project post-'Bigg Boss 13'. The duo has shared several BTS glimpses that prove the music video will be a hit. In one of the posts, Jacqueline channeled her inner princes in a traditional outfit and jewellery. She also posed with an arrow and captioned the post as, "Princess diaries." Meanwhile, Asim complemented her in a white suit. Jacqueline, star of films such as 'Kick' and 'Race 3', was last seen in Netflix's 'Drive'. Her next project - a crime thriller titled 'Mrs Serial Killer' - will also release in Netflix. It has been directed by Shirish Kunder and produced by Farah Khan. On the other hand, Asim Riaz, who is fresh out of 'Bigg Boss 13', is busy with his music video projects. Apart from the one with Jacqueline, he also shot for a music video with his ladylove Himanshi Khurana. The track has been sung by Neha Kakkar. Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) 2020 Conference in Washington on March 2, 2020. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo) 2 Attendees of AIPAC Conference Test Positive for Coronavirus Over 18,000 people attended conference, including more than two thirds of Congress At least two people who attended the AIPAC conference in Washington last weekend have tested positive for the new coronavirus, conference organizers said. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is one of the biggest lobbying groups in America focusing on Israel, and the group said more than 18,000 Americans attended the conference, including more than two thirds of Congress. Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) were among the attendees this year. The conference took place from March 1 to March 3. In an email to people who went to the conference, the group said that at least two conference attendees from New York tested positive for the new virus, which causes a disease called COVID-19 that has killed thousands across the world since late last year. Anyone who tests positive for the new virus should call their local health authorities, AIPAC organizers said. Organizers said they were in constant communication with the Westchester County Health Department in New York and the D.C. Health Department, which is coordinating with New York and national health authorities. Organizers said theyve consulted with Dr. Edward Septimus, a top infectious disease specialist who teaches at Texas A&M College of Medicine. The D.C. Health Department said in a statement that a joint investigation with the New York State Department of Health has so far identified no risk to conference attendees at this time. People who attended the conference should stay home if sick and call ahead to their doctor if experiencing symptoms of the new virus, the department said. Symptoms of the virus are similar to those for the flu and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Israel on Wednesday said that any Israelis returning from international conferences held outside the country would be required to stay at home for 14 days after arriving back in the country. The countrys Health Ministry also banned mass events and tourists who were recently in Iran, Iraq, Syria, or Lebanon. A woman in a face mask walks in the downtown area of Manhattan, New York City, after further cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed in New York on March 5, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) Westchester Cluster One of the largest clusters of cases in the United States is in Westchester County, which sits just outside New York City. A 50-year-old lawyer who lives in New Rochelle in the county and works in Manhattan, New York, tested positive for the virus in recent days. Authorities said he first showed symptoms on Feb. 22 and was taken to a hospital in Westchester on Feb. 27 before being transferred to New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in Manhattan. The man is in severe condition. The mans children and wife tested positive for the virus, prompting officials to close SAR Academy and High School and Yeshiva University. A neighbor who drove the man to the hospital also tested positive. Authorities have since reported 30 more cases in Westchester County, including a friend who spent time with the lawyer and the friends wife and children. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the case count in the state would continue to rise as more people are tested. We want to keep testing and finding more people who are testing positive because thats how you contain the outbreakfind the person who got infected, quarantine them, and reduce the infection rate, he said at a press conference on Friday. New York City has confirmed five cases. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday that authorities are seeing more examples of community transmission between people who have no direct connection to travel to one of the affected countries. New Yorkers were urged to stay home if feeling sick, wash hands frequently and thoroughly, and avoid handshake and other hand-to-hand contact. People should report symptoms to health authorities and if they dont get better in one to two days, they should see their doctor, de Blasio said. If people dont have a doctor or dont know where to get care, they should call 311. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dara Nasution (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 Recently, a group of conservative lawmakers pushed the so-called family resilience bill to be deliberated at the legislature, rousing controversy with its many problematic articles. One article states wives are responsible for managing household affairs as best as possible, in addition to maintaining the households unity and serving her family members. Meanwhile, the husbands duties are confined to supporting and protecting the family. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Uddhav Thackeray said on Saturday he severed his ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but not with Hindutva while visiting the temple town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh for the first time after he became the chief minister of Maharashtra. Highlights Uddhav Thackeray is visiting Ayodhya for the first time after becoming the chief minister in December last year He also announced Rs 1 crore towards the temple to Lord Ram in Ayodhya to be given from his trust The Sena chief will pray at the makeshift temple for Lord Ram later The Shiv Sena chief was speaking at a press conference just minutes before his visit to the makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya. I have parted ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), not Hindutva. BJP and Hindutva are not the same. BJP is not Hindutva, Uddhav Thackeray said. He was referring to the break-up with his partys longtime ally after a squabble over the issue of power-sharing in the state. After cutting off its ties with the BJP, the Shiv Sena formed a government in the state in alliance with the ideologically different Nationalist Congress Party and Congress. The announcement about Thackerays visit to Ayodhya had sparked off allegations that it was an attempt by the Sena to keep its Hindutva agenda alive and those of diluting its stand on the issue after joining hands with the NCP and Congress. Also read: Inside the Shiv Sena-BJP split: Cracks appeared before Lok Sabha polls Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had refuted claims, saying we do not need to do these gimmicks for Hindutva. Thackeray also announced a donation of Rs 1 crore from his trust as a contribution toward the construction of the temple. Not as the chief minister or from the government of Maharashtra, I am contributing this money because I am a devotee of Lord Ram, he said. Thackeray also expressed a wish to construct a Maharashtra Bhavan in Ayodhya, as a pilgrim centre for residents of Maharashtra to visit Ayodhyas Ram Temple. Yesterday I spoke to [Uttar Pradesh] chief minister Yogi Adityanath and requested him to identify and give land to Maharashtra government so that we can construct a Maharashtra Bhavan in Ayodhya, he said. The Sena chief has made trips to Ayodhya on two previous occasionsonce in November 2018 and then again in June last year. Also read: Uddhav Thackeray completes 100 days as CM, will visit Ayodhya On his third visit on Saturday, he was accompanied by his son and state tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray and members of Parliament Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, Rahul Shewale. Shiv Sena ministers Eknath Shinde and Anil Parab, and many other party leaders and municipal councillors from the state also accompanied him. Congress minister Sunil Kedar was also present. Saturdays visit was timed to coincide with the completion of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) governments 100 days in office. Uddhav Thackeray took charge of the state on November 28, 2019. When I came to Ayodhya to take blessing from Lord Ram for the first time in November 2018, I had said, I will visit again, and I will visit again, and I will keep visiting. Every time I have come here, I have returned with blessings of Lord Ram, and good things have come my way, he said. I came in November 2018 amid the uncertainty of whether the temple will be built and who will build it. Then the Supreme Court verdict came. Exactly one year after my visit, I became the chief minister of Maharashtra, something I had never dreamed would happen. I came before Lok Sabha elections with all MPs and we had a good victory in Maharashtra, he added. Thackeray is scheduled to return to Mumbai on Saturday evening after seeking blessings at the Ram Lalla temple. An aarti planned on the banks of the Sarayu River was cancelled owing to the threat from coronavirus. Thackeray instead said he will visit again for the aarti. On Saturday 29th February a group of Senior Musical Theatre students from Centre Stage School travelled to the RDS in Dublin to show what they can do. Perform Ireland (a Performing Arts Festival) hosts 170 workshops in singing, dancing and acting, and over 160 performances from young people in training, and professionals alike. Centre Stage School students performed 'Come from Away', a piece from the Tony award winning musical of the same name. It was directed and choreographed by David O'Connor, with Musical Direction by Louise Luddy, and was extremely well received. Two dancers from the Mallow school, Emily Murphy and Henry Egbo, received scholarships with Hip Hop sensation Menina Fortunato on the basis of the performance, while Hollie Corkery and Emma Murphy won scholarships to Italia Conti Summer School. These scholarships are hard won, as there were hundreds of dancers in the running, so it is a huge achievement for the group. (Natural News) A serious weather event that struck Japan recently generated a mysterious black rain that some believe could be toxic fallout from the cremation of the bodies of Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) victims in mainland China. In the days following what media reports are now describing as one of the fiercest lightning storms on record in Tokyo, social media users questioned why the corresponding rain was black, and in some cases oozing. Are they secretly burning bodies of coronavirus victims? one social media user asked, noting the strange color and consistency of the rain as it dripped off of buildings and cars. Many elderly Japanese people who witnessed the strange event say they recall a similarly bizarre phenomenon in the days following the horrific atomic blast that occurred over Hiroshima and Nagasaki back in 1945. Some of them stated on social media that seeing the same type of thing happen again in 2020 is a little too scary, and about as bad an omen as you can get these days. According to the Daily Star, the black rain could be from ash coming from a plastics factory in Hasuda, located in northern Saitama, which may have sent fine particles of ash high enough into the sky that they mixed with rain and came down black. But not everyone is convinced as to this explanation. Didnt North Korea fire missiles on that day? asked one observant social media user, adding to the conspiracy. It might not be fallout, but its probably hazardous, so be careful out there, added another. Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses the fact that almost nobody in the United States is even being tested for the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), which explains why so few cases are being reported compared to other countries: Mysterious blood-colored substance also rained down over India back in 2001 Residue of this black, ashy rain has already reportedly been tested for radioactivity, and it turned up negative. An investigation is said to thus be ongoing to identify what it is and from where it came. This isnt the first time that strange-colored rain has poured down in the East, its important to note. Apparently black, green, yellow, and even red rain has come down before, including in Kerala, India, back in 2001 when heavy downpours brought down staining, blood-colored rain for nearly a month. A follow-up investigation revealed that as much as 110,000 pounds of the mysterious red substance had mixed with rain in the Kerala region and poured down on locals and their properties. Though it was never fully determined what this red substance actually was, experts hypothesized that it could have been associated with a comet fragment that broke apart over the region, raining down organic material of an extraterrestrial origin. An even stranger incident occurred back in 1876 when raw meat started raining down onto farmland near the settlement of Olympia Springs, located in Bath County, Kentucky. Authorities were never able to fully explain what happened at that time, either. As we recently reported, the cremation hypothesis concerning the black rain in Japan isnt at all far-fetched, seeing as how China has been actively bringing in incinerator ovens that it claims are for burning animal corpses, but that just so happen to coincide with the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19) crisis. At a time when the dispersion of information is more important than ever, its very unsettling that they were either unaware of the gigantic fire in their own city, or didnt feel it was necessary to mention while people online were speculating about mass-cremations and North Korean missiles, wrote a reporter from SoraNews24 about the situation. To keep up with the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (CoVid-19), be sure to check out Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: DailyStar.co.uk NaturalNews.com TheSun.co.uk Harvest Health & Recreation (OTC:HRVSF) is set to open three dispensaries in Ohio, following a settlement with state regulators. In the settlement agreement, signed by its related company, Harvest of Ohio, and the state's Board of Pharmacy, the former will make a $500,000 donation to the Ohio prescription drug reporting database. In return, Harvest of Ohio will be allowed to open the three dispensaries. In a separate agreement reached with the Ohio Department of Commerce, another Harvest Health-affiliated company -- Harvest Grows -- will be allowed to open the growth and processing facility. Last January, Harvest Health's affiliates together won provisional licenses to operate the four facilities. Soon thereafter, however, the state raised a dispute about both Harvest of Ohio's and Harvest Growth's claims on their applications that they were majority-owned by a person belonging to an "economically disadvantaged group." The state then delayed the opening of the dispensaries and the growth and processing facility. According to the terms of the settlement agreement, Harvest of Ohio will begin making its donation payments six months after receiving certificates of operation for the three dispensaries. The full $500,000 amount must be paid within one year from the initial payment. Provided the dispensaries pass routine state inspections of their premises, they are to be granted certificates of operation within two business days. Medical marijuana has been legal in Ohio for some time; the state's legislature passed the law governing it in 2016. Recreational consumption and sale remains illegal in the state. Harvest Health has not yet publicly commented on the settlement. The marijuana company's stock dipped by almost 1% in trading on Friday. Help India! Very shameful acts have happened to Muslim women during Delhi violence There are allegations ranging from tearing clothes to rape, many girls missing PM Modi will dedicate his social media account to women on Womens Day The PM must listen to the suffering of these women before talking of women empowerment Yusuf Ansari, twocircles.net Support TwoCircles This Monday social media buzzed with reactions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaving social media to dedicate his private accounts this year on International Womens Day to inspirational women. While talking to women journalists, activists and social workers, one can understand that this move of Modi to give away his social media handles to powerful women on March 8 is actually an ill-timed, publicity stunt. Modi, who actively endorses Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao is now answerable to reports of sexual crimes against women during the Delhi riots. In the aftermath, as journalists are visiting the riot-hit areas, it has been observed that what happened with women is unspeakable by the victims, and even when a few of them muster the courage to speak, it is difficult to hear such painful experiences. TwoCircles.net spent several hours on Wednesday talking to victims at the Eidgah, Mustafabad, the relief camp for Delhi riot victims. In those hours, the team realized how horrifying the 3 day violence was for women. Many were refusing to talk about it, while a few gathered the courage to open up to our female trainee reporter, narrating terrible sexual abuse during the night of the riots. Rioters barged into houses attacked women by tearing clothes and some tried raping these women. Some reports of rape have been surfaced too, although no woman has reported rape till now. Mostly women victims complained that when their houses were being attacked and men were being brutally beaten, their Hindu neighbors outright refused to help them. On the other hand, there were instances where women thanked their Hindu neighbors saying if they were alive, it was only due to them saving them from the rioters. Muslim aurat ko hamare hawale karo (Hand over the Muslim woman to us!), demanded the rioters when this Muslim mother of a one-year-old was helped to hide inside a Hindu neighbors house. She narrated that her Hindu neighbors bravely shooed the rioters away saying there was no Muslim among them and all were family. Later, they helped her escape to Indira Vihar where she stayed till Monday in the shelter. The relief camp in Mustafabads Eidgah has around 2000 victims in the shelter right now, with separate tents for men, and for women and children. Men are not allowed inside camps for women and children, while journalists are given access on the condition that they would communicate sensitively with the victims. When the TwoCircle.net team met a few women inside the camp, most of them refused to speak in front of the camera. One even complained that she had been interviewed by a TV journalist and after the broadcast on TV, she is now being harassed by the Police. Hamare kapde phaad diye, wo hamein kapra pakad kar kheench rahe thhe (They tore our clothes, they were pulling us by our clothes), said one woman Nasreen Jahan inside the camp. She then narrated how the mob of armed rioters in Shiv Vihar entered their homes chanting slogans and pulling women inside the homes. She said her head had been severely injured and was bleeding while she somehow managed to escape the rioters who were trying to physically assault her. Another woman Shakeela beside her said, Achanak kayi log Jai Shri Ram ka naara lagate hue hamare ghar ghus gaye aur hamein pakad liya (Suddenly a mob chanting Jai Shri Ram entered our houses and caught us). She narrated that these men misbehaved with them, forcing them to chant the slogan with them. They were verbally abusing the women with filthy language. The mob then broke their furniture and other things and finally torched their house. The mob proceeded towards the mosque in the lane and burnt it down too. When her family sought help from the neighboring Hindu family, they shut their doors. Aao hum tumhi se Ram paida karenge (Come! Well produce Ram from you), said a Hindu shopkeeper to a woman who had gone to buy ration from the nearby shop on Sunday. She said the shopkeeper caught hold of her tightly and pulled her dupatta saying he would give her Azadi. She narrated that her hindu neighbors advised her to move to a safer place and the next day, she, with her family left the area. Similar incidents have been reported by women who were encountered by rioters shouting Hum denge tumhe azadi (We will give you freedom), who tried to sexually assault them during the riots. Kejriwal ko vote diya hai na? Ab bulao usay, dekhte hain kaise bachata hai wo tumhe (You have voted for Kejriwal? Call him now, we will see how he saves you from us now), shouted a violent mob who barged into a house in Mustafabad to molest the Muslim woman inside. The woman, on the condition of anonymity, told our female trainee reporter the whole incident how these men, chanting Jai Shri Ram with a saffron stole wrapped around their necks, barged into houses and went on a mad spree smashing windows, glasses, television and refrigerators. They looked heavily drunk and kept on using filthy language for women while breaking things that came their way. When done with damaging property, they proceeded to loot valuable materials and then hit women inside. She continued with details, Do aadmiyon ne mere upar hamla kiya. Ek ne mera dupatta kheencha aur doosre ne mera kurta phaar diya (Two men attacked me. One of them pulled my dupatta, the other tore my kurta). Just when they were about to do something unthinkable, she explains, she took a heavy object and hit one of them on the head with great force. Quickly, she ran into another room and locked herself inside. The two men chased her and started banging the doors loudly when a group of people entered and rescued her. On the basis of more such reports from riot victims, TwoCircles.net team talked to a female lawyer, Sarah Verghese, from Supreme Court Bar Association. Sarah confirmed that such reports are emerging from Muslim women in relief camps, although the total number of such reports is still in count. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief, Swati Maliwal, who visited the camp, has also reported hearing such incidents of sexual crimes among women during the riots. In response to this, Swati had sought an inquiry and police report into sexual crimes against women in the Delhi riots. She had demanded the police report by March 4, to which police has not released any information yet. The incidents of sexual crimes against women that we are receiving through 181 Helpline and those we heard from victims in camps are beyond scaring, said Swati. She said she had asked for information from the police regarding the total number of females who died in the riots but so far, nothing has been revealed from their side. She informed that the DCW team is closely investigating this matter. Women victims of sexual violence in the Delhi riots who we spoke to in the Mustafabad camp feel that Narendra Modis latest move to honor inspirational women through his social media handle on March 8 is just a publicity gimmick. One of them said, Triple talaaq par Muslim aurton se hamdardi dikhane waale PM ko aaj hum par hua zulm nahi dikh raha (The PM who sympathized with Muslim women regarding the Triple Talaaq is now unable to see the crimes committed against us). Tattered and beaten by such painful incidents, the woman remarked, Tab toh 56 inch ki chhati thok kar keh rahe thhe ki Musalman behnon par zulm nahi hone denge, ab kyon chup hain? The words of women are harsh and sharp. These women are asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether womens empowerment will be done by disrespecting Muslim women only. New York pleads for more test kits A math expert explains the numbers How the ultra-wealthy are preparing Get the latest updates here, plus maps and full coverage A painful testing shortfall New York City officials pleaded with the federal government to send more test kits for the new coronavirus, saying that the citys limited capacity to test for the virus had impeded our ability to beat back this epidemic. The city has 2,700 people under precautionary quarantine but has tested less than 100 patients in the past month. Another 1,000 people in suburban Westchester County, just north of the Bronx, are also under self-quarantine, connected to a large cluster of cases there. Mark Levine, a New York City councilman who heads the bodys Health Committee, said that without more extensive testing, its fair to say we have no idea how many New Yorkers have been infected. Vice President Mike Pence, who previously vowed that any American could be tested, conceded on Thursday that we dont have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate will be the demand going forward. The Atlantic called health departments in all 50 states and could only verify that 1,895 people have been tested for the coronavirus in the United States. About 10 percent of them tested positive. President Akufo-Addo, has admonished Ghanaians to stop shaking hands completely. He said they should cover their mouths when coughing and sneezing to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease. Describing the disease as a medical crisis that is bringing in its wake deaths and economic difficulties, and is spreading fear and panic throughout the world, President Akufo-Addo revealed that in the early days of the outbreak, he constituted, on 7th February, a high-powered emergency response team to handle the crisis. The Team, he said, has been monitoring developments and reporting to him on a daily basis. Speaking at the 63rd Independence Day celebration on Friday, 6th March, 2020, he stated that strict checks at Ghanas entry points are being conducted, with rigorous screening procedures. Isolation and treatment centres have been designated for potential cases, and a quarantine centre has been set up. Five thousand (5,000) personal protective equipments for health workers have been procured and distributed to all regions and major health facilities, points of entry, teaching hospitals, treatment centres and selected health facilities, he said. Furthermore, the President told the gathering that additional protective health equipment is being procured, together with the ongoing training of health workers in the treatment of the disease. In the interim, non-essential travel into Ghana is being strongly discouraged from high risk countries, namely, China, Iran, Italy, Japan and South Korea. We are counting on the experts to do their part to safeguard us, but we all have a responsibility to take measures to help ourselves and each other, he said. In advising Ghanaians, he stated that the recommendations are for each one of us to practice basic, personal hygiene, and be extra careful with sanitation. For the time being, as the Ministry of Health has advised, we have to revisit our custom of shaking hands, and stop doing so completely, and we must cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze. Whilst praying that the Almighty continues to shield us, the President told Ghanaians that the time has come for all Ghanaians to pay attention to the health experts, and reject all fraudulent claims for cures that will only threaten public health and safety. Please listen to, and take seriously, the public education messages being put out by the public health authorities, and I urge the churches, mosques, traditional authorities, civil society organisations and opinion leaders all to join in helping to keep Ghana safe, he said. In appreciating the active collaboration being offered by the global health authority, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and by friends of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo assured that Government, on its part, is determined to do whatever is necessary, including providing the requisite resources, to ensure the safety of the population. ---classfmonline Social media giant Facebook has closed its three London offices from Friday afternoon through Monday for deep cleaning, after a visiting Singapore-based employee tested positive for coronavirus. An employee based in our Singapore office who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 visited our London offices 24-26 February 2020. We are therefore closing our London offices until Monday for deep cleaning and employees are working from home until then, said the company in a statement. It is said the employee was last in one of Facebooks London offices on Feb. 26, though it is still unclear which office was impacted. Individuals who had direct contact with the employee have been asked to self-isolate and be vigilant in monitoring any symptoms. The firm is also believed to be reaching out to staff and contingent workers in other offices who visited London over the last few days. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Advertisement By Jim Waters Mar. 07, 2020 | LEXINGTON By Jim Waters Mar. 07, 2020 | 01:28 AM | LEXINGTON COMMENTARY: Our commonwealths founders wisely set a high bar for changing Kentuckys Constitution. The process requires support of two-thirds of the members of both the Kentucky House and Senate to place a proposed amendment on the ballot in the next election. And just in case a steamroll gets started in the legislature on bad policy, the Constitution gives voters the final say as a last line of defense against changes to the guiding document that would result in long-term vague or harmful policy changes affecting their lives and liberties. That line will need to hold this fall if House Bill 475 succeeds in passing during this legislative session. Supporters claim this bill only makes it possible for the legislature to move forward with re-framing local tax policy and promise a vigorous debate in the legislature before any final decisions on changing tax policy for local governments. They claim its ultimately is about helping communities move toward a model which relies on taxing sales rather than incomes. While weve often endorsed the idea of changing Kentuckys tax code toward a consumption-based approach, that argument is the red herring in this particular debate. In fact, its disingenuous for advocates to claim this bill will lighten the tax burden on productivity when it doesnt even do anything to encourage such an approach. Instead, this bill represents an end run around the founders protections against local governments piling on by allowing a legislative discussion on more ways to raise your tax burden. Period. If that debate occurs in the General Assembly, taxpayers had better hold on to their wallets with both hands. Like Bernie Sanders ignoring the declining situation in Venezuela because it doesnt fit his narrative of a socialistic America, so supporters of HB 475 ignore certain challenges to its underlying assumption: local governments dont already have the necessary revenue to provide appropriate services their constituents expect but need to better prioritize their spending. Taxpayers at the very least should force politicians and the enabling media as well as establishment bureaucrats who run the chambers of commerce and quasi-government groups lining up behind this plan like failed Democratic presidential candidates now jumping on Joe Bidens train with this challenge: prove it. Along with proving that city and county governments currently dont have enough revenue to fulfill their obligations under the current tax policy, there must also be proof that allowing this process to move forward will not increase taxpayers burdens. What if, for example, constitutional restrictions on how cities and counties could raise revenue were removed only for those local governments to simply tack on additional taxes to existing ones? How much does it matter whether the source of increasing taxpayers burdens is Frankfort or city hall? Either way, the load gets heavier. Finally, proof must be provided that theres been a full and serious attempt to confront and address problems which have cash-strapped local governments, like the increasing cost of public pensions. Its much easier for politicians to talk tax increases under the guise of reform than risking a tough political fight over pension policy. A valid concern is that HB 475 will allow local politicians to shrug and claim the states actions have resulted in rising pension costs they cant control and so raising taxes is the only way to meet their budgets. But voters shouldnt accept that narrative until theyve seen real heat applied by local politicians in the direction of Frankfort to fix the crisis facing the retirement systems. Otherwise, both state and local politicians can conveniently provide political cover for each other, leaving taxpayers out in the cold. Jim Waters is president and CEO of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, Kentuckys free-market think tank. Read previous columns at www.bipps.org. He can be reached at jwaters@freedomkentucky.com and @bipps on Twitter. I wont have to worry that not one, but both, major U.S. parties have become unrecognizable from what they were just five years ago; that theyve succumbed to their respective extremes; that nowhere in American politics do centrists have sway; and that on nothing is compromise possible. And if Biden wins the White House? In that case, I wont have to worry about the president trying to criminalize his political opponent. Not with demagogic chants of Lock her up, nor with quiet attempts to strong-arm an ally for the sake of digging up dirt on an American citizen. I wont have to worry about White House officials being forced to choose between their ethical obligations and their loyalty to the president. I wont have to worry about an attorney general who chooses loyalty over obligation and, a year later, is bluntly reprimanded by a Republican-appointed federal judge for doing so. If Biden wins, I wont have to fear that the president might order the abrogation of a free-trade agreement with a major trading partner only for a watchful adviser to snatch the order from his desk before he can sign it. I wont have to read about frantic aides wondering if the president is really serious about his threats to withdraw the U.S. from NATO. I wont have to cross my fingers hoping that a clever general will convince the president that the reason we shouldnt betray our desperate Kurdish allies in Syria is so we can keep the oil. If Biden wins, I wont have to watch another press conference like Trumps at Helsinki. I wont have to wonder why the president seized his own translators notes after a meeting with Vladimir Putin. I wont have to hear paeans of praise sung for North Koreas ogreish tyrant, or for Turkeys pernicious strongman, or for Chinas cult-of-personality despot. If Biden wins, I wont have to read that the president has told fellow American lawmakers to go back to their countries of birth or ancestry. I wont have to watch the U.S. close its doors to desperate refugees on the view that they hail from shithole countries. I wont have to cringe in shame and disgust as the attorney general cites the Apostle Paul to defend a vile policy of separating children from parents as a useful deterrent against illegal immigration. The prototype Extended Range Cannon Artillery is fired in Wharton, N.J., in a file photograph. (Edward Lopez/DoD) US Army Fires Artillery 40 Miles in Test of Upgraded Cannon An outsized and upgraded U.S. Army cannon lobbed artillery a distance of 40 miles over the Arizona desert on March 6, reaching almost three times as far as its previous incarnation. The Army is scrambling to boost the range of its missiles and artillery as the No. 1 modernization priority. That program includes an upgrade to a tank-like howitzer, the Extended Range Cannon Artillery, with three times the range and an autoloader thats able to launch a round every six to 10 seconds. The prototype, with its unwieldy-looking gun, successfully fired two different types of munitions during a demonstration at the Yuma testing range in Arizona, according to Military.com. The upgrade to the 57-year-old M109 armored self-propelled howitzer launched a rocket-assisted 155 mm round and an Excalibur precision-guided round. The Excalibur round also hit a precision target, Brig. Gen. John Rafferty told reporters, according to Breaking Defense, but he added no further details. Rafferty leads the Armys Long Range Precision Fires program (LRPF), which also includes the development of a monster gun that can fire rounds hundreds of miles. U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground conducts developmental testing of multiple facets of the Extended Range Cannon Artillery project in Yuma, Ariz., on 18 Nov. 2018. (Lance Cpl. Katherine Cottingham/DoD) Rafferty previously told The Epoch Times that the development of longer-reaching missiles and artillery is key to countering Russia and China. While weve been concentrating our efforts in one particular area in the world, our adversaries have been investing in ways to offset our strategic and tactical advantages, Rafferty said. Specifically, China and Russia have been investing in sophisticated integrated air defenses, in coastal defenses, in long-range ballistic missiles, long-range and high altitude radars, and if you combine all those things, they create this layered standoff, which is often referred to as anti-access area denial (A2AD). But U.S. generals arent planning on going toe-to-toe with Chinese or Russian artillery; they still want to fight on their own terms. Our adversaries are artillery-centric forces. We are notwe are a combined arms force, said Rafferty. What we need is enough of this capability to create these windows of opportunitywhether its for the joint force, for the Air Force, the maritime force, or for a combat brigade team to make its bid. LRPF comes under the auspices of the newly minted Army Futures Command, created in 2018 to drive what is described by many analysts as the biggest Army reorganization in 45 years, in line with the Trump administrations National Defense Strategy. That strategy spelled out for the first time that the United States needed to gear up for an era of renewed great-power competition with Russia and China. 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Matthew Lewis Small was set to be sentenced in Fairfield Local Court this week however it was delayed after NSW Police charged him with additional counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. Small, 27, was in January told he would be jailed after pleading guilty to 14 fraud charges and admitted to scamming $43,500 from farmers from across the state who had been affected by drought and bushfires. Scroll down for video Matthew Lewis Small was set to be sentenced in Fairfield Local Court this week however it was delayed after NSW Police charged him with additional counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception However he is now facing an additional seven charges and is accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $20,000 from an additional four victims. NSW Police Detective Inspector Cameron Whiteside said the Rural Crime Prevention Team had a zero tolerance towards anyone that sought to take advantage of vulnerable farmers. 'Strike Force Woden highlights our commitment to disrupt rural crime offenders that prey upon regional, rural and remote New South Wales,' he said. Using a series of aliases including Mattie Maatan and Matthew Cortez, Small posted fake ads to online buy-sell groups for heavily discounted lucerne hay bales, but failed to deliver after receiving payment. At the time, he admitted he may have committed more offences and police encouraged any other victims to come forward. He now faces a total of 24 charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception when he next appears in court on April 17. Police nabbed the 27-year-old from his Villawood home, in Sydney's west, on January 23 When he was arrested at a Villawood property earlier in the year, he had four outstanding warrants in his name after failing to show up to court in April 2019. He was convicted in his absence of three fraud charges related to the fake sale of firewood, all of which were similar to his hay bale scam. He was also on a good behaviour bond relating to domestic violence offences. Documents lodged with the court revealed he had told NSW Police that he acted out of desperation because he owed money to bikies and feared for his life if he was sent to jail. Mayor Domenic Sarno addressed the public Friday to clear up any rumors that might be spreading about the recent self-quarantine of four Springfield staff members from the public schools. Superintendent of Schools Dan Warwick said that Boland, Glenwood, Brightwood and Homer Street Schools had members of staff put themselves into self-quarantine on Thursday after heeding advice from the Massachusetts Department of Health guidelines. Standing in City Hall Sarno reiterated that at this time there are no known cases of COVID-19 among students or Springfield public school staff. This step is taken as a precautionary measure and based solely on the state guidelines put forward yesterday afternoon by the MA DPH, said Springfield Public Schools spokesperson Azell Cavaan in a statement to MassLive. The fire department has equipped itself with N-95 respirators as a precautionary measure. Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi urged people to not rush out and buy as it is creating a shortage nationwide. Both the fire department and police see no need to be overly concerned but have implemented precautions. Apart from advice received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, its going to be business as usual. The fire department will be implemented recommendations from the CDC, emergency response and emergency patient care, said Calvi. Weve implemented this policy that it emphasizes increased hand-washing and use of n95 mask respirators when dealing with patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. The mayor emphasized the importance of keeping the people of Springfield updated and that the correct information is out there to combat any misinformation. Go about your life and go about your day. Use common sense measures and precautions, Sarno said in closing. Related Content: BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Kazakhstans ventures operating on the territory of Almaty Industrial Zone will enter new foreign markets, Head of the Industrial Zone Azamat Baygubesov told Trend. Currently, 54 ventures the value of investments into creation of which amounted to 237 billion tenge ($624 million) are operating in the industrial zone. Baygubesov added that launch of 11 projects worth 39.7 billion tenge ($104.5 million) is planned in 2020. As many as 1,575 new jobs will be created as a result. In turn, launch of another 31 projects worth 129 billion tenge ($339.6 million) is planned in 2021 and the following years; it is expected to create 4,624 new jobs. Talking about the goods export, Baygubesov said that eight ventures of the industrial zone are currently exporting their goods including BIZHAN meat processing venture (export to Russia), BRB APK (Russia), Asia Steel Pipe Corporation (China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkemistan), Investment (Eurasian Economic Union, China, Persian Gulf countries), Hyindai Trans Kazakhstan (CIS countries), Almapack Co LTD (Kyrgyzstan), ASSET (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan), and DOC Co.LTD (Russia, Belarus). Another two ventures which are operating on the territory of the industrial zone are currently looking to launch export. Thus, the Almerek venture which is concerned with medical products manufacturing is planning to launch export to Russia, Uzbekistan and Qatar. In turn, the KazTigerTape company which is concerned with tape production is aiming to start exporting goods to Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh A dog is the most loyal companion any person can wish for. If it is brave enough, it will also jump off a cliff with you. Kazuza, a border collie, not only accompanied owner Bruno Valente in parachuting off a 2,300-foot cliff but also appeared calm and composed as they touched the ground. This is not the first time Kazuza went on a jump with his owner. According to a report published by Daily Mail, the collie is an experienced BASE jumper, having participated in over 40 such jumps. BASE refers to the four categories of fixed objects from which one can jump: building, antenna, span and earth. The clip of a 6-year-old canine jumping with his 38-year-old owner from a cliff in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland has been going viral with multiple people praising Kazuzas courage. The video, shared by the Daily Mail, was captured by Bruno's friend Jokke Sommer who is also a filmmaker. The footage shows the duo gearing up for the jump, acing the jump and celebrating it by high-fiving. A bunch of times I couldn't jump as I had nobody to take care of him, he added. This is how he came up with the idea of taking his collie along. When he tested Kazuzas reaction of wearing a harness and going to the ledge, the collie seemed pretty comfortable. Since then, the duo has been jumping off together. Sommer called Kazuza the luckiest dog in the world, adding that he was very well trained and had a lot of trust in Bruno. AMECEA organizes meeting of Child Protection Officers to examine policy implementation in member conferences By Benedict Mayaki One year ago, Pope Francis urged Bishops to renew child protection guidelines during his address at the conclusion of the meeting for the protection of minors. This week, the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) organized a three-day meeting with the goal of examining the effects of policies regarding the protection of children and vulnerable adults in its member countries. The meeting, from 3 5 March, took place in the diocese of Nakuru, Kenya. It is the second of its kind, after a similar one was held in Ethiopia last year. Speaking at the start of the meeting, the Secretary-General of AMECEA, Fr. Anthony Makunde said: After a year, we have taken some time to do a bit of self-monitoring, a self-evaluation as a region to see for ourselves how far we have managed to journey this road, which the mother Church has called us to journey on. Restating AMECEAs commitment, Fr. Makunde added: We are here to reaffirm our commitment to wipe up tears from the many faces of children within our communities. We are here to stop more children from shedding tears; indeed, they have been shedding tears for too long a time. He also reminded the child protection officers that their responsibility was towards Catholic and non-Catholic faithful alike as this is a social issue that affects all. AMECEAs efforts In May 2019, AMECEA put out two documents on the protection of children and vulnerable adults. The first, titled the AMECEA Child safeguarding Standards and Guidelines is a framework for policy development for AMECEA conferences. The second document, the AMECEA Child Safeguarding Standards: A facilitators Manual is designed to train child protection officers as well as policy makers who would help develop child protection policies in their countries. AMECEA is made up of seven Episcopal conferences: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, South Sudan and Ethiopia-Eritrea. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend As a result of US sanctions, Iran's oil exports will continue to decline, Iranian expert on energy issues Mehrdad Emadi told Trend. According to Emadi, Iran's oil exports will be one-fourth of one million barrels. Emadi added that oil production in Iran will also decline by more than 50 percent compared to the time when the US imposed new sanctions on Iran (November 2018). Iranian expert said the decline in oil exports would have an impact on production. Thus, the demand for oil in the country will be significantly reduced. Over the past 23-24 years, Iran's oil wells will face a huge blow because they are not well managed. After the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), Iran's oil sector will face serious losses, he said. According to Emadi, US sanctions against Iran have a greater impact on the oil and petrochemical sector. Iranian expert said that economic growth in the world will not be 1 percent of 75 percent this year and it will not be divided equally between different sectors. Sectors with high energy consumption, aluminum, steel, car-building, tourism services are affected by the events in the world. "In the meantime, the oil market is very worried about sales. The result can be seen in future contracts on the London markets, he said. Emadi said that when they put it all together, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and even Russia had to make some changes. Regarding the rejection of a proposal to reduce production, the Iranian expert said that Russia is trying to push the US market for shale oil to keep oil prices low. In general, Iran has 125 oil fields and 59 gas fields. Iran's total hydrocarbon reserves are 836 billion barrels. With its technology equipment, it can produce 239 billion barrels. Iran can use 29 percent and 71 percent remain underground. US imposed new sanctions on Iran in November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies and individuals. 07.03.2020 LISTEN Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, accompanied by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Earl and Countess of Wessex will attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day Monday, 9th March 2020. Organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Commonwealth Service is the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the United Kingdom and provides an opportunity to focus attention on this voluntary association of 54 countries and their commitment to promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law and equality for its 2.4 billion citizens. The theme for this years Service, Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming, seeks to highlight the many ways in which the 54 diverse countries of the Commonwealth connect. Working in partnership, through extensive and deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill, to tackle climate change and find sustainable ways of using the natural resources of our planet to protect our environment and build peace and harmony through social and democratic development. Highlights of the Service will include special performances by the Brit nominee and acclaimed star of the West-End stage, Alexandra Burke; and multi-platinum, multi-award winning artist, Craig David; with a reflection by professional boxer, two-time unified heavyweight champion and British and Commonwealth heavyweight title holder, Anthony Joshua OBE. The event will also feature performances by the Griffin Schools Commonwealth Choir, with children whose cultural backgrounds represent different regions of the Commonwealth, accompanied by a brass quintet of young musicians from the Purcell School; The One Drum Foundation, a charity that aims to inform the public about the arts, history and culture of African music; performance poet, Suli Breaks, who seeks to inspire achievement, in spite of personal circumstance; and the Melodians Steel Orchestra, which provides opportunities for young people from diverse social and racial backgrounds to develop musical skills. Guests of honour among the 2,000 strong congregation will include senior representatives of Her Majestys Government and Opposition, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, High Commissioners, Ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, dignitaries from across the UK and Commonwealth, faith leaders and over 800 school children and young people. The Commonwealth Service will be broadcast live on BBC One from 14:15-16.00 GMT. It will be relayed live on the BBC World Service and streamed live on the BBC YouTube channel. Commenting on the theme of this years event, the Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Dr Linda Yueh said, The Royal Commonwealth Society is honoured to deliver the annual Commonwealth Service. This wonderful event celebrates our unique network of countries, which come together to tackle the most pressing issues of our time by working in unity and partnership. It is a day for us to recognise the incredible impact of this shared strength and combined wealth of knowledge, passion and innovation. Russian-led occupation forces violated the ceasefire regime in Donbas five times, one Ukrainian soldier was killed, one was wounded, three more were injured, the press center of the headquarters of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has reported. "On March 6, the armed groups of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire five times. The enemy fired on our positions with 120 mm and 82 mm mortars banned by the Minsk agreements, as well as with various systems of grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms ... As a result, one Ukrainian defender was killed, three more servicemen were injured, one soldier was wounded," the JFO said on Facebook. The settlements of Avdiyivka, Pisky, Zaitseve were bombarded. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion at 9 PM. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. PM Modi holds review meet as coronavirus cases climb to 34 in India Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reviewed the coronavirus outbreak in the country at a meeting with health officials and asked them to identify locations for sufficient quarantine facilities. He also told the officials to make arrangements for critical care in case the disease spreads further. Read more. Chidambaram strikes at BJP over Yes Bank crisis, accuses govt of financial mismanagement Former Union finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday called for fixing accountability into the Yes Bank debacle and asked if no one in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or the government was accountable. Read more. Wagah beating retreat ceremony suspended after India logs 34th coronavirus case Coronavirus scare in India has led to the suspension of the famous beating retreat ceremony at Wagah border near Amritsar and the joint retreat ceremony near Bangladesh border in West Bengal after two new positive cases of infection surfaced in Amritsar on Saturday. Read more. Why Arvind Kejriwal is wrong on Kanhaiya, writes Karan Thapar Kanhaiya Kumar is to be prosecuted for sedition, because he allegedly shouted Bharat tere tukde honge, inshallah inshallah. Kanhaiya denies it, but, for arguments sake, lets assume he did. The question is is this sedition? Read more. Month after first coronavirus case, Kerala detects bird flu in 2 villages Barely a month after Kerala reported Indias first three cases of coronavirus and treated them back to life yet another disease, bird flu also known as avian flu, was detected in the northern part of the state on Saturday. Read more. PUBG Mobile Lite introduces Womens Day special event, Lucky Spin In celebration of International Womens Day this year, PUBG Mobile Lite has introduced a new special event. Players can take part in the Womens Day exclusive event and also a Lucky Spin event on PUBG Mobile Lite which are currently live. Read more. Tiktoks Flip the switch challenge is flipping identities, age, and characters. Watch TikTokers are back with a much safer and funnier challenge that people from any age group can enjoy. The challenge, called flip the switch, has gone viral with people coming up with all sorts of creative ideas and sharing their videos with the hashtag #fliptheswitch. Read more. Womens Day 2020: Sonakshi Sinha, Yami Gautam, Rakul Preet Singh and more reveal what women really want From prioritising health, being less self-critical, supporting each other and not underrating the strength women have, on the eve of Womens Day, celebrities share their opinion on what women often neglect or overlook about themselves. Read more. Doesnt get bigger than this - PM Modi sends best wishes to Team India ahead of Australia clash India Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent best wishes for the Indian womens team ahead of their blockbuster ICC Womens T20 World Cup final against Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday. Read more. Greek border police fired teargas toward migrants on Saturday as tension continued at a border crossing in the Evros region. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to be in Brussels next week for a one-day working visit, his office said amid a charged conflict between Turkey and the European Union over migrants and refugees. Thousands of migrants headed for Turkeys land border with Greece after Erdogans government said last week that it would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing over to EU territory. Greece deployed riot police and border guards to repel people trying to enter the country from the sea or by land. A statement from Erdogans office said he would travel to Brussels on Monday. The statement did not specify where he would be during his one-day visit or the nature of the work taking him to the Belgian capital, but the European Unions headquarters are in Brussels. The announcement came hours after European Union foreign ministers meeting in Croatia on Friday criticized Turkey, saying it was using the migrants desperation for political purposes. More clashes erupted Saturday between Greek police and Europe-bound migrants gathered on the Turkey side of a border crossing near the Greek village of Kastanies. Like previous confrontations this week, officers in Greece fired tear gas to impede the crowd and Turkish police fired tear gas back at their Greek counterparts. Journalists saw groups of mostly young men trying to pull down a fence with ropes and throwing rocks at the Greek border forces. At least two migrants were injured. A Greek government statement issued Saturday said that around 600 people, aided by Turkish army and military police, threw tear gas at the Greek side of the border overnight. There were several attempts to breach the border fence, and fires were lit in an attempt to damage the barrier, the statement said. Attempts at illegal entry into Greek territory were prevented by Greek forces, which repaired the fence and used sirens and loudspeakers, the statement read. Thousands of migrants have slept in makeshift camps near the border since the Turkish government said they were free to go, waiting for the opportunity to cut over to Greece. It is very difficult, but there is hope, God willing, said Mahmood Mohammed, 34, who identified himself as a refugee from Syrias embattled Idlib province. Another man who identified himself as from Idlib said he was camped out in western Turkey both to get away from the war at home and to make a new life for his family in Europe or Canada after crossing through the border gate. Erdogan announced said last week that Turkey, which already houses more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, would no longer be Europes gatekeeper and declared that its previously guarded borders with Europe are now open. The move alarmed EU countries, which are still enduring political fallout from a wave of mass migration five years ago. Erdogan has demanded that Europe shoulder more of the burden of caring for refugees. But the EU insists it is abiding by a 2016 deal in which it gave Turkey billions in refugee aid in return for keeping Europe-bound asylum-seekers on its soil. In a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, Erdogan said the Turkey-EU migration deal is no longer working and needs to be revised, according to the Turkish leaderss office. The European foreign ministers acknowledged Turkey for hosting millions of migrants and refugee, but said the 27-nation EU strongly rejects Turkeys use of migratory pressure for political purposes. The ministers called the situation at the Greece-Turkey border unacceptable and said the EU was determined to protect its external boundaries. Greek authorities said they thwarted more than 38,000 attempted border crossings in the past week and arrested 268 people only 4% of them Syrians. They reported reported 27 more arrests Saturday, mostly of migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Greece has described the situation as a threat to its national security. In response it has suspended asylum applications for a month and said it will deport new arrivals without registering them. Many migrants have reported crossing into Greece, being beaten by Greek authorities and summarily forced back into Turkey. Turkish authorities say one migrant was killed by bullets fired by Greek police or border guards near the border crossing. Greece denies the accusation. A child also drowned off the island of Lesbos when a boat carrying 48 migrants capsized. On Saturday, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu renewed accusations of Greek authorities mistreating migrants. Their masks have fallen. The ruthlessness of those who gave lectures on humanity has become evident, Soylu said. Soylu claimed that some 1,000 Turkish special operations police deployed on the border had started to thwart the actions of the law enforcement teams assembled by Greece to drive the migrants back. The minister also predicted that Greece would not be able to hold on to its borders during the summer, when the river that delineates most of the Turkey-Greece border gets shallower and easier to cross. Soylu has said Erdogan instructed Turkish authorities to prevent migrants from attempting to reach the Greek islands in dinghies to avoid human tragedies. Hundreds have drowned attempting the comparatively short but dangerous voyage from Turkeys coast. America, in both its ideal and in its actuality, stands on two feet. Under those feet is a foundation of biblical wisdom and a knowledge of history that taught the founders what worked and what didn't. With enormous care, those great men designed a nation with a stable underpinning of a constitutional rule of law and the right of each individual to have a say in how that rule would be implemented in other words, the right to vote. We've all been busy hooplaing over the impeaching of a president, hyperventilating over the coronavirus, and watching the Democratic frontrunners stumble all over each other that we forget what's really being attacked here. All this fuss-and-bother isn't just about winning the 2020 elections. That will be one step, for sure, but that isn't the endgame. The left isn't at all interested in continuing the grand experiment that is America. The left is about ending it entirely, and leftists are involved up to their skinny necks and wobbling dentures in pulling those two stable feet of the commonwealth right out from under us. They are trying to eviscerate the Constitution by attacking every one the of Bill of Rights, and they are undermining the individual vote local, state, and national. The Constitution endured leftist attacks during most of the 20th century, starting with Woodrow Wilson, and still, it held strong. Toward the end of last century, we started hearing silly statements like "The Constitution is a living document," which, if true, would have rendered it useless what good is a malleable contract? Recently, and especially in Virginia, both the 1st and 2nd Amendments are being pounded; I'm grateful the Virginians are standing up to the onslaught. The 3rd Amendment one that prohibits the stationing of soldiers in the homes of private citizens received a glancing blow when Portland, Oregon, proposed a law requiring new businesses to include in their buildings room to house the homeless far worse than soldiers. As the impeachment fiasco unfolded, we saw that the House Democrats had chopped up the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments. The rights allotted the common criminal were denied Donald Trump during the entire "investigation" in the House. Trump never had the opportunity to face down his accusers, yet he was never charged with an actual crime. His accusers won't even accept the acquittal. We now know that his campaign was spied on, that foreign governments were brought in to conspire against him, that the left has not only broken actual laws, but ignored constitutional prohibitions as well. Our Constitution must be reeling under the blows. Meanwhile, back in the voting booth, nothing is going well. The Democrat leadership obviously wants this pesky voting thing to go away, or at least become so fragile as to become pointless. Just look at the different fronts in this war: Voter fraud is rampant. Daily we see evidence of fraudulent voting states and municipalities carrying thousands of dead people on their voter registration rolls. Fictitious names of nonexistent folk are also registered. They "harvest" votes; ballots turn up in car trunks; absentee ballots fail to arrive on time. And voter ID is not required in most states, so anyone can show up to cast a ballot. Voter fraud is rampant. Daily we see evidence of fraudulent voting states and municipalities carrying thousands of dead people on their voter registration rolls. Fictitious names of nonexistent folk are also registered. They "harvest" votes; ballots turn up in car trunks; absentee ballots fail to arrive on time. And voter ID is not required in most states, so anyone can show up to cast a ballot. This brings up illegal immigration, which is totally an effort to erase the American vote. The more illegal votes, the less the American vote matters. The more illegals counted in the Census, the more seats a state gets in the House, thereby skewing the vote. Democrats are thoroughly aware of that and thoroughly aware how vulnerable these shadow-people are and how cheaply they can buy those votes. New methods of casting our votes are suspect as well. We know that computerized voting machines can be programmed to change votes. We all remember the "hanging chad" fiasco of the 2000 election. In my state, Oregon, we no longer go to the polls; we mail in our ballots. I have no confidence that my vote is ever counted. Seattle is considering a vote-bycell phone scheme. It's hard to imagine that no one sees the potential problems there. Ever since 2016, we've been hearing the whining of the left about the Electoral College. A purely popular vote would make the process of stealing an election especially with electronic voting as easy as riding a tricycle. It would also disenfranchise completely anyone living in flyover states Los Angeles and New York would run the country. This has gone so far that some states have declared that their electoral delegates will go entirely to whoever wins the majority vote. People are choosing with self-righteous pride not to vote, not realizing that choosing not to vote is still choosing. It's like a toddler holding his breath to get his way. Silly and dangerous. Another attack is happening as we vote people into office while counting on them to carry out their promises to voters, only to have them turn around and do whatever they want. We watch that in Oregon often. We saw it being tried in Virginia over gun control. We see it in Congress as well. The people were not interested in impeachment, but the House held up all other issues in order to carry it out. Just look at the mess the DNC made out of the Iowa caucuses. We still don't know what happened, but we do know that the votes of those participating were thoroughly disrespected, and if we've reached a stage of chaotic dissolution so bad that we can't even count a handful of votes in a fairly small state, how in the world are we going to hold a presidential election? And now we've watched the DNC maneuver candidate bailouts so that Biden is now on top Biden, who doesn't even know where he is. We're supposed to believe this is what the average Democrat wants? The two feet we stand on the Constitution and our vote are staggering under the consistent blows dealt them by a small number of people on one side of the aisle. Every bumbling move they make is designed to pull those legs out from under the wonder that is this country. Now they're mumbling about impeaching Trump all over again, so it's obvious they have a wider agenda. We know, if we've been paying attention, that part of it is their fear of being found out, of having their nefarious, illegal activities end in indictments and jail time. But under all that is a fundamental dislike of the American voter. Pelosi, Nadler, and Schiff have all recently expressed concerns about leaving serious election issues up to the voters as if we're all ignoramuses incapable of fulfilling our citizenship duties. This all sounds a little alarmist and glum, but it is here I need to point out that these legs we stand on have support. We are braced against the evil of tyranny by God Himself God, who chose to insert our founding fathers into history when and where He did; God, who provided the keys to good governance in the ways He guided Israel; God who has seen this nation through horrendous wars and terrible disasters, is still, in His infinite grace, stabilizing us. He has placed in positions of leadership astounding and unusual leaders, and He is holding them up as well. We just need to be aware, note the patterns, and vote and pray accordingly. May we learn from the mistakes we've made in the last century. May we right the wrongs we've committed, and may we all learn to love America again. Deana Chadwell blogs at www.ASingleWindow.com. She is also an adjunct professor and department head at Pacific Bible College in southern Oregon. She teaches writing and public speaking. The cruise ship on Egypt's Nile River with over 150 tourists include Americans, French and other nationalities and local crew was in quarantine Saturday in the southern city of Luxor A cruise ship on Egypt's Nile River with over 150 tourists and local crew was in quarantine Saturday in the southern city of Luxor, after 12 people tested positive for the new coronavirus, authorities said. A Taiwanese-American tourist who had previously been on the same ship tested positive when she returned to Taiwan. The World Health Organization informed Egyptian authorities, who tested everyone on the ship. Health authorities found a dozen of the ship's Egyptian crew members had contracted the fast-spreading virus, but did not show symptoms, according to a joint statement from Egypt's Health Ministry and the WHO on Friday. The statement said the 12 will be transferred to isolation in a hospital on Egypt's north coast. The passengers _ who include Americans, French and other nationalities _ and the crew will remain quarantined on the ship awaiting further test results. Amonios Salah, who works as a chef on the ship, however, told The Associated Press that the crew received an inquiry from the Health Ministry about crew members who are showing symptoms of flu. "Some of us were sick. Some with fever,'' he said. He said the 12 infected were isolated on the 3rd floor in the vessel away from the tourists, including two children, the 30-year-old chef said. The people inside the ship were waiting for test results. The trip started from Luxor, some 655 kilometers (405 miles) south of Cairo, on Sunday and the cruise ship, which include 60 rooms, made three stops before reaching Aswan. On the way back there were three more stops, he said, potentially expanding the number of people exposed to the virus. The new cases in Egypt came just days after three people were diagnosed with coronavirus in the U.S. state of Texas. Officials in the city of Houston said Thursday that they believe the three were exposed to the virus while on a trip to Egypt in late February. It wasn't immediately clear if the Texan tourists were on the same boat where the cluster occurred, how long the passengers on the ship had been quarantined, nor where exactly the initial Taiwanese tourist had contracted the virus. Other countries around the world have closed schools and universities, while also cancelling major art, sporting and business events. Egypt does not appear to have taken any of these types of measures, and Friday's discovery of the 12 cases coincided with the opening day of the Luxor African Film Festival. "It's still unclear how many people came in contact with the group in the infected ship,'' said a senior police officer in Luxor. Cruise ships on the Nile often dock side by side, with passengers getting on and off by walking through several other vessels. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to reporters. The country's national air carrier, Egypt Air, has suspended direct flights to China since late January. The virus, which originated in China, has infected more than 100,000 people globally. The previous three cases in Egypt were a Chinese and a Canadian national, then an Egyptian who was in Serbia and had stayed for 12 hours in France before arriving in Cairo. Egyptian authorities said Friday that tests on over 2,500 people came back negative for the virus. Search Keywords: Short link: For decades, dialing 911 and speaking with an operator has been the standard way to call for help. Winnipeg police are now preparing for the day when people can send for help by text message or video as well. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. For decades, dialing 911 and speaking with an operator has been the standard way to call for help. Winnipeg police are now preparing for the day when people can send for help by text message or video as well. With the proliferation of mobile devices capable of transmitting photo, video and text messages, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has directed telecommunications companies within Canada to upgrade their networks to allow people to access next-generation 911 services (NG9-1-1) and to leverage the capability of smartphones. Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth said Friday the current 911 system will be "unplugged and put to bed" by 2023. City police have begun preparing a phased approach to adopt the federally mandated NG9-1-1 service within three years, beginning with the ability to receive emergency requests over text message by the end of the 2020. "It becomes a very digital system, requiring a lot of upgrades and a lot of co-ordination with government, frankly the province, in terms of infrastructure," Smyth said. "By 2023, when people call 911 they should be able to text, send pictures, send video; it will be a multimedia type of platform and it will be a very different thing to manage." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Smyth said the WPS is an early adopter of the system and has budgeted for the required communications changes. The police service will also bring in more technology this year and begin operating a drone unit, Smyth said. Last year, the WPS purchased three remote-controlled observation devices through the proceeds of crime fund, and has developed its own program to run a drone operations unit. The three new drones will be used for collision reconstruction, crime scene analysis and tactical surveillance, Smyth said. The service first employed a drone in February 2017, while investigating the murder of Winnipeg Transit bus operator Irvine Jubal Fraser, Smyth said. Winnipeg police borrowed a drone from the Manitoba RCMP and performed a grid search of the frozen Red River. The drones can also be used in tactical situations when executing a search warrant or when it is unsafe or difficult for officers to get close to a crime scene, he said. "In a situation like that, we might be several hundred metres back, where we could send in a drone just to get a lay of the land and an aerial perspective of what theyre going to do tactically," Smyth said. Whistleblowers in China have claimed that business leaders are faking the success of the country's 'recovery' from the coronavirus outbreak to appease officials. Sources in affected provinces have reported bosses 'leaving lights and machinery on' to create an atmosphere of 'business as usual'. The country's leadership have come under heavy criticism for their handling of the situation and lack of transparency about the disease's progression. China, where the new virus first emerged in December, has confirmed more than 80,000 cases, by far the most in the world. Whistleblowers in China have claimed that business leaders are faking the success of the country's 'recovery' from the coronavirus outbreak to appease officials Reports of 99 new cases emerged on Saturday, its first daily increase of less than 100 since Jan. 20. The government reported 28 new fatalities, raising the mainland death toll to 3,070. But a message of an upswing in recovery efforts has been emphasised in recent days, with claims of businesses even appear to be headed back to work. Beijing has spent much of the outbreak pushing districts to carry on business as usual, with some local governments subsidizing electricity costs and even installing mandatory productivity quotas. The country's leadership have come under heavy criticism for their handling of the situation and lack of transparency about the disease's progression Zhejiang, a province east of the epicenter city of Wuhan, was claiming two weeks ago that it had restored 98.6 percent of its pre-coronavirus work capacity, according to Caixan. However it has since been claimed that businesses are faking these numbers, after officials imposed mandatory quotas. Beijing had started checking Zhejiang businesses' electricity consumption levels, so district officials ordered the companies to start leaving their lights and machinery on all day to drive the numbers up, one civil servant said. Since February 11, the coronavirus-hit city Wuhan has ordered lockdown on all residential complexes. A man is pictured wearing a mask and exercising near a makeshift barricade wall Sun Chunlan is pictured inspecting a Wuhan hospital. She has been put in charge of the central government's epidemic-control work in Wuhan since the epidemic broke out, it is reported But according to the Chinese media source, business owners 'would rather waste a small amount of money on power than irritate local officials'. In Wuhan, officials have tried to make it appear that recovery efforts were going smoothly. But when 'central leaders' personally survey disinfecting regimens and food delivery, local officials 'make a special effort' for them and them alone, one resident told Caixan. Communities in Wuhan are in charge of purchasing and delivering daily essentials to their residents. Workers are seen delivering vegetables to a residential compound in Wuhan Quarantined residents in the town were captured on camera yelling 'fake, fake' at a group of Beijing officials as they said authorities had neglected their daily needs. The footage captures a government team, led by Sun Chunlan, the Chinese Vice Premier, touring the isolated complex in Qingshan District of Wuhan yesterday. The officials were there to examine the anti-coronavirus operations carried out by local authorities, according to Chinese media. The compound residents can be heard in a video shouting 'people are paying for overpriced food' and 'it's all fake' from their flat windows. Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has closed all primary schools in two districts of Jammu till March 31 and suspended biometric attendance in government offices with immediate effect after receiving medical reports with a high probability of positive testing of two suspected Coronovirus patients including a lady admitted in Jammu hospital. J&K government Information department in a series of tweets informed that reports of two suspected patients admitted in Government Medical College Jammu have been received. Both are high viral load cases and there is high probability of them testing positive, reads the tweet. The government said both suspected cases are kept in isolation wards at GMC Jammu and all protocols are being followed. After receiving the medical reports of the two suspected patients, one of whom is a lady, and who have travel history to China, South Kashmir and Iran, the authorities suspended biometric attendance in government offices with immediate effect till March 31. The government has also ordered the closure of all primary schools in two districts Jammu and Samba till March 31. Both the suspected patients had fled from Jammu hospital hours after their admission in the isolation wards. They were again brought to hospital hours later after intervention from the administration. Both the cases had left the hospital against medical advice and had to be brought back, stated the official spokesman. The government appealed the public to cooperate fully wherever quarantine is advised. The federal government has released N620 million, the second tranche of funds, provided to address coronavirus. Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi, the special adviser to the minister for finance, Zainab Ahmed has confirmed the release of a fresh N620 million to health ministries to strengthen them in their fight against the deadly coronavirus. Making the revelation while fielding questions from newsmen on Friday, Abdullahi added that the release and approval of the funds by President Muhammadu Buhari was based on emergency. Read Also: Togo Confirms First Case Of Coronavirus This is coming after N364 million was initially released. The approval by President Muhammadu Buhari for the release of funds to tackle COVID-19 was an emergency and the process of releasing the fund was also an emergency as it was an unexpected expenditure. However, the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning had released the first tranche of N364 million sometime ago and the process of releasing the second tranche has been concluded with the release of N620 million this morning, bringing total release to N984 million. Surendra Singh Shera, one of the four missing MLAs supporting the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh who went 'missing', returned in Bhopal on Saturday and stated that he continues to be on the Congress' side. The independent MLA from Burhanpur, who returned by an afternoon flight from Delhi, also denied that he had been abducted. The Congress had alleged that the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to poach its MLAs to bring down the state government. Three Congress MLAs -- Hardeep Singh Dang, Bisahulal Singh and Raghuraj Kansana -- are reportedly still untraceable. Minister for public relations P C Sharma greeted Shera at Raja Bhoj airport on his arrival, from where he was taken to the residence of chief minister Nath. Talking to reporters, Shera denied that he had been abducted by anyone. "I was not abducted. Nobody can abduct a lion. But efforts were made to delay my flight from Bengaluru...I was misbehaved with and stopped on the way to airport in Bengaluru. Therefore I missed my flight," he claimed without elaborating further. The MLA -- a former Congressman who rebelled when he was denied ticket -- reiterated his support to the government, saying, "I have been with Kamal Nath for the past 25-years." When asked if he will be inducted in the state Cabinet, he said, "Surely." Shera also denied that he was in Bengaluru with the missing Congress legislators. Earlier, in a video released on Friday night, Shera had said he was visiting BJP-ruled Karnataka's capital in connection with his daughter's treatment. After Shera's meeting with the chief minister, Sharma said the MLA raised certain issues. "Shera was repeatedly stopped in Bengaluru and Delhi. He is like family to the Congress. He put forward his points before the CM and these issues would be followed up," the minister told reporters. Another Congress minister, Tarun Bhanot, who accompanied the MLA, said "Shera's feelings" will be taken care of at appropriate time. Shera and the other MLAs who went missing were reportedly disgruntled over not finding berth in the Cabinet. Asked about missing Congress MLAs Dang, Bisahulal Singh and Kansana, Sharma said they too will return soon. A resignation letter purportedly written by Dang had gone viral on social media but the MLA could not be contacted for verification. A senior BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh on Saturday wrote to Union home minister Amit Shah demanding security for MLAs in the state amid a poaching row with the ruling Congress. On Friday, BJP MLAs and former ministers Sanjay Pathak and Vishwas Sarang had claimed threat to their lives after the Kamal Nath government withdrew their personal security officers. Rameshwar Sharma, MP BJP vice president and MLA from Huzur in Bhopal, said he has written to Shah to provide security to legislators. "MLAs from BJP, BSP, SP as well as Independents, and even those from the Congress, having differences with CM Kamal Nath or (senior Congress leader and RS MP) Digvijaya Singh face a threat to their lives," Sharma said. He alleged that the state DGP (VK Singh) was removed from the post "overnight" as he refused to budge when the "Congress regime wanted to misuse the police force". "We have full faith in MP police but they are working under pressure from the Kamal Nath government. So in such a situation, we have to demand security from the Centre for MLAs who oppose the Congress government here," Sharma said. Meanwhile, PC Sharma called the change in personal security officers as a "routine process". "But why are they (BJP) afraid? It seems the illegal works started during the (previous) BJP regime are still going on," the minister claimed. BJP MLAs Pathak and Sarang had claimed a threat to their lives after their PSOs, who were on duty with them for 10-20 years, were removed. Pathak even alleged that a 'pran-ghatak ghatna' (life threatening incident) occurred with him on Wednesday night but refused to share details. Sarang claimed the Kamal Nath government wanted to reduce the number of BJP MLAs by "killing them". Earlier this week the Congress claimed that the BJP had "abducted" 14 MLAs to bring down the government in Madhya Pradesh, an allegation which the opposition party denied. The Congress holds a thin majority in the 230-member assembly with its own 114 MLAs and support of two Bahujan Samaj Party, one Samajwadi Party and four independents. The BJP has 107 legislators while two seats are vacant. The signs from the last march have been giving our men nightmares for a year. The ones from the year before still rankle. These placards and their slogans have poked neat little holes in Pakistanis collective idea of mardangi, or manhood. The first sign that shot mardangi through the heart was, Warm up your own food, from 2018. That was so outrageous it caused a small national meltdown, prompting men to draw up their own lists of things women should do themselves: Sew your own clothes, fix your own flat tire. You can talk about your property rights and harassment in the workplace, but how dare you ask me to press that button on the microwave? You really have it coming. Things got a lot worse for men during the second Aurat March, last year, when they had to read a poster that said, How do I know where your socks are? Another sign that posed a direct challenge to the social order was an illustration of a woman sitting, fully clothed, with her legs open, just like men do. It read, Look, I am sitting properly. Young girls are told over and over again to sit properly, with their legs closed. That a woman would claim a full seat has been called womanspreading and declared vulgar and repugnant to our culture. Then theres the sign that says, My Body, My Consent. After the human rights activist Marvi Sirmed repeated the slogan on TV earlier this week, one of the panelists, a TV and film writer, lashed out: What is in your body? Have you seen your body? A man would not spit on your body! Then he called her names that are usually never uttered on the air. Many journalists condemned the outburst, but the panelist became a hero of sorts to some men for, as they saw it, putting Ms. Sirmed back in her place. Other TV programs scrambled to invite him to give his side of the story. But really, what has had the patriarchy drop all pretense of civility is a placard that asked men to keep to themselves selfies of their penises. Lahol wala was the reaction of a senior journalist on live television as he started to recite a prayer thats meant to ward off Satan. Then he went on to proclaim that the slogan was a violation of his basic human rights and the judiciary should take action. The Assam government on Saturday asked people not to panic in the wake of a US tourist testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Bhutan after leaving the state, saying 'special measures' were taken at the places where he had visited Guwahati: The Assam government on Saturday asked people not to panic in the wake of a US tourist testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Bhutan after leaving the state, saying "special measures" were taken at the places where he had visited. No person has tested positive for the coronavirus in Assam and the state government has put in place stringent screening procedures, Minister of State for Health Pijush Hazarika said. "There is no need to panic as the US tourist had tested positive three days after leaving Assam. Wherever he had travelled in Assam, we have taken special measures in those places," he told a press conference. The second floor of the hotel in Guwahati where the 76-year-old man had stayed was sealed and a medical team sent to Neamatighat in Jorhat district which he had visited, the minister said. "The 127 people who came in contact with the American have been identified and kept under surveillance," he said. The river cruise ship MV Mahabahu on which the US tourist had travelled from Guwahati on the Brahmaputra has been quarantined at Neamatighat, he said. Medical teams are examining passengers and crew members of the ship, the Jorhat district administration said, while the ship's operator claimed that the entire vessel has been properly fumigated. The authorities of the hotel where the US tourist had stayed on 1 March said the second floor with 18 rooms was sealed as per the protocol received from the Assam government, and the room and floor sanitised. The staff of the hotel, who came in close contact with the American, have been identified and kept in isolation and under observation. The employees of a Jorjhat resort where he had stayed as part of the river cruise, and drivers of buses in which he had travelled were also examined by medical teams and kept under observation, district officials said. The Bhutan government on Friday announced that a US tourist tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the Himalayan country's first reported case since the outbreak of the disease in China. Eight Indian passengers who travelled with the American on a plane from Guwahati to Paro have been quarantined and it is closely working with the Indian Embassy on the matter, the Bhutan government said. An Italian has also been kept under observation at a hotel in Tezpur in Sonipur district on suspicion that he has been infected by the novel coronavirus and his condition was stated to be fine, Hazarika said. Clik here to follow latest updates on coronavirus outbreak Hojai district officials said two local persons, who had returned from their travel to Bangkok, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines, were kept in isolation for observation. Urging people not to panic but be careful, the minister said surveillance teams were deployed by the Assam government in all the airports in the state and set up isolation wards in various hospitals. Private hospitals across the state were also asked to set up similar facilities, he said adding that special ambulances and health care teams have been kept in readiness at the airports. "We are checking passengers for fever as soon as they alight from an aircraft. We have told all the airlines' authorities to inform us about any passenger with fever or showing signs of the virus attack so that we can isolate them and provide medical treatment," Hazarika said. So far 585 passengers have been screened at the state's seven airports. Of them, 112 are Indians coming from abroad and they are under observation, the minister said. PTI ESB NN ANB ANB 03072130 NNNN Rotary International District 3292, Nepal, has established Rotary SAARC Gopal-Kamala Rajbhandari Humanity Award which aims to honour contributions in literacy and education by individuals and and organisations working in the South Asia region. The award will be given every two years and carries a prize of USD 15,000, according to a statement from Rotary District 3292. The award aims to honour those who have made outstanding contributions with service above self motto in the fields of literacy and education. Individuals and organisations from South Asian countries -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka -- are eligible for the award. To compete, one can fill the form online. This year the SAARC Rotary Humanity Award will be given in June 2020. Earlier, Rotary District 3292 gave Nepali Rupee 1 million for the Gopal-Kamala Rotary Award (vocational excellence) which was constituted in 2010 and was given every two years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The banning of Thailands liberal-reformist party Future Forward has led to a new wave of protests among students. Thailand may be heading for another round of political volatility with a banned opposition party calling for more protests. But it is widespread rallies by students that may be more concerning for the government, which critics say, is not democratically elected. Al Jazeeras Wayne Hay reports from Bangkok. The Umaria district administration on Saturday demolished an encroachment in a resort owned by BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak, who is said to be a key figure in the poaching row in the Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh Bhopal/Umaria: The Umaria district administration on Saturday demolished an encroachment in a resort owned by BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak, who is said to be a key figure in the poaching row in the Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh. Notably, the government on Wednesday ordered closure of an iron ore mine owned by Pathak. While Pathak has termed the demolition as a "politically-motivated malicious action", the district administration called it a routine removal. "This is a routine encroachment removal. On 12 February, Manpur tehsildar had ordered the removal of encroachment at Syna Resort within seven days and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000," said Umaria district collector Swarochish Somvanshi. On the basis of that order and subsequent notice served to the resort, the encroachment was removed on Saturday morning, he added. Similar action has also been taken against 10 other resorts and removal of encroachments will continue throughout the day, he said. The resort, owned by Pathak's family members, is located at Tala in Umaria district's Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Meanwhile, BJP's Umaria district president Manish Singh told PTI that the demolition is an act of vengeance by the state government. "The Congress government has been conspiring to harass not only the BJP MLAs, but their families, party workers and other leaders as well. This is a murder of democracy," he said. Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi, on the other hand, said the action was taken as per law. "The encroachment on government's land in Bandhavgarh was removed in accordance with law. Similarly, the action taken against Pathak's mines was also as per a Supreme Court order. There is no political vendetta. They (BJP) may cry foul to gain sympathy," he said. A former Congressman, Pathak had joined the BJP and served as a minister in the erstwhile Shivraj Singh Chouhan government. In a Tuesday late-night political drama, the Congress claimed the BJP took eight MLAs of the ruling party to a hotel in Haryana as part of a conspiracy to topple the state government. The BJP has denied the Congress charge that it was attempting to poach MLAs to topple the Kamal Nath government. According to sources in the Congress, Pathak was one of the key figures allegedly involved in efforts to convince a section of MLAs to change sides. Pathak, son of former Congress leader Satyendra Pathak, is the MLA from Vijayraghogarh in Katni district. On Thursday, Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh alleged that Pathak and four other leaders of the BJP were responsible for the alleged poaching attempt. The Congress had said in Delhi that the BJP had "abducted 14 MLAs" to bring down its government in Madhya Pradesh. In the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the Congress has 114 MLAs, followed by the BJP with 107. The simple majority mark in the house is 116. Four Independent MLAs, two lawmakers of the BSP and one of the Samajwadi Party are providing crucial support to the Congress government. Two seats are currently vacant. Vice President Mike Pences high-profile visit to the state Capitol possibly the first time a sitting vice president has ever attended an event there came with a bill of more than $43,000. To be exact, the cost to state and local agencies for the Jan. 28 event promoting government-funded private school education was $43,518.49, a cost incurred by the Wisconsin Department of Administration and Capitol Police, as well as the Madison Police and Fire departments. School Choice Wisconsin, Hispanics for School Choice and National School Choice Week sponsored the event featuring Pence and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, which involved an intensive security protocol and a mix of fanfare and protest. Several current and former state officials attended the event, including former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, who created the countrys first school voucher program 30 years ago in Milwaukee. Pence and DeVos touted President Donald Trumps education program, which includes a proposed $5 billion tax credit aimed at getting more students, typically from low-income households, into private or religious schools using a public subsidy. The majority of the costs for the Capitol event will not be reimbursed except for the $10,423 incurred by DOA for labor related to data, facilities, electrical and custodial services, which the event organizers say they have paid, although DOA hasnt yet received payment, likely due to the time for delivery. Capitol Police said it wont be seeking reimbursement because it was providing dignitary security. The Capital Times first reported the cost. For the roughly hour-and-a-half event, documents obtained by the Wisconsin State Journal show the Department of Administration incurred $10,423 for the cost of labor, material and equipment preparing for the event; Capitol Police incurred a cost of $10,589, accounting for 352 personnel hours, and $300 for parking in a Dane County ramp; the Madison Fire Department incurred overtime costs of $4,082.06; and the Madison Police Department paid out $18,124 for overtime and other costs associated with protection they provided during the event. The Dane County Sheriffs Office said it assigned officers to the event, but staffing was minimal and the office not keep track of the separate cost because it wont be reimbursed. School Choice Wisconsin president Jim Bender, who helped organize the event, said the event organizers paid a third-party vendor for separate costs related to landscaping, snow removal and staging. Bender said all security for the event was organized by Capitol staff and local first responders, in coordination with the vice presidents office and the Secret Service. This was the first visit of a sitting vice president inside the Capitol, which presented unique challenges but great national exposure for the wonderful Capitol building of Wisconsin, Bender said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Warning: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, pictured with Dr Tony Holohan, said many more would get the virus but said for the vast majority it would be a mild illness. Picture: Gerry Mooney The Governments go-ahead for the St Patricks Day Festival in the face of the coronavirus crisis has been strongly criticised by leading doctors. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, backed by chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan, said the extravaganza which will attract thousands from overseas and bring crowds on the streets across the country would go ahead at this stage. He made his comments as another five people were diagnosed with the coronavirus in the Republic last night, bringing the total to 18. However, the decision to allow the festival to go ahead was questioned by leading oncologist Dr John Crown, who said: I think it should be cancelled. Coombe Hospital obstetrician Dr Carmen Regan warned: We need the Government to take hard decisions. It should be postponed. Kingston Mills, an immunologist at Trinity College, added: Any large gathering is a risk. Its about nipping this in the bud. Meanwhile, in Cork University Hospital 60 staff are self-isolating for 14 days. Staff were asked to self-isolate for the next 14 days as a precautionary measure. Read More Dr Holohan said last night the risk of getting the coronavirus in Ireland remains low and there has still only been one case of community transmission, which involved a male patient in Co Cork. The new cases involve a healthcare worker in Cork who came into close contact with another person already confirmed as having the virus. Three people tested positive after travelling abroad - two to northern Italy and another from a region which is not on an at-risk list. A woman in the west of Ireland also picked up the virus after contact with another person who was already positive. People who feel unwell or have a weakened immune system and those who have returned from at-risk areas are advised not to attend large gatherings. Mr Varadkar said yesterday it was "inevitable" that many people would contract the virus in the coming days, weeks and months but for the "vast majority" it would be a mild illness. He said Ireland was still in the containment phase, and any actions taken would be "proportionate and be in line with medical and scientific advice". Hospitals fearful that patients and staff may be exposed to the coronavirus are also restricting visitors. The Mater Hospital, where a number of people who tested positive for coronavirus were admitted to the national isolation unit, said the only visitors who would be allowed on campus were those seeing patients in critical care, vulnerable young adults, psychiatric patients or those whose loved ones were receiving end of life care. Hospitals in the mid-west are also restricting visitors and the University Hospital Limerick group announced the cancellation of elective surgeries and outpatient appointments across all six sites on Monday and Tuesday next week. University Hospital Limerick is currently treating a GP, his wife and two children from Co Clare who tested positive for the virus earlier this week after returning from Italy . Children are to be asked to stay away from visiting private nursing homes as part of a new restrictions. Nursing Homes Ireland said that no non-essential visiting, children or groups would be allowed. It said all visitors were asked to call ahead prior to attending. However, Dr Holohan said this was premature and unwarranted at this stage. He said it was planned that patients who test positive for the new coronavirus would no longer be admitted to hospital if they had mild symptoms and could recover at home. This would relieve the pressure on hospitals, he added. A patient with a mild dose of the virus will recover in about two weeks. The HSE used a former Garda station in Co Clare yesterday as a pop-up facility to test people for the virus. People who were believed to have had contact with any person diagnosed with the virus were invited to attend the centre where National Ambulance Service staff took swabs and carried out a preliminary assessment. Houstons Memorial Hermann Hospital has asked 11 workers to self-quarantine for the next two weeks after learning that a patient who was treated for gastrointestinal pain had been on a cruise ship in Egypt and later tested positive for the new coronavirus. Doctors at Memorial Hermann said Saturday that the patient hadnt initially been screened for COVID-19 and the patient was released from a Memorial Hermann medical facility about a week ago. They declined to identify the location of the clinic or hospital, citing privacy concerns. The virus threw us a curve, said Dr. David Callender, president and CEO of Memorial Hermann Health System. At the time, Egypt wasnt identified as a concern for travelers, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea hadnt yet been noted as a potential sign of the disease, hospital officials said Saturday at a press conference. Eleven healthcare workers were potentially exposed to the patient during the first visit at the medical facility, and three of those workers are showing mild symptoms, said Dr. Angela Shippy, chief medical and quality officer at Memorial Hermann. All 11 workers have been tested for COVID-19. Officials expect to receive test results within 24 to 48 hours. Officials said there are still eight confirmed cases in the Houston area. Callender said the hospital system is treating several of those patients. He declined to say how many. We treat them as we would any patient who has an infectious disease caused by a similar respiratory agent, he said. So flu, measles, pneumonia, COVID-19, we treat them all the same. Mayor Sylvester Turner called for all Houston residents who have traveled internationally to take precautions when they return home. "Out of an abundance of caution, I encourage people who recently traveled internationally to self-quarantine for 14 days. Also, if you have traveled or plan to travel internationally, I advise you wait two weeks before visiting nursing homes or senior living facilities, as an added precaution. And, people who are sick need to always stay home to prevent infecting others," he wrote on Facebook Saturday night. As senior Bollywood actor Anupam Kher turned 65 on Saturday, he celebrated the special day with veteran Hollywood actor Robert De Niro in New York. The two actors have shared the screen in 'Silver Linings Playbook' in 2012. Terming De Niro as 'god of acting,' Kher took to Twitter to share the insights from his birthday celebrations with De Niro as he shared a video. In the video, Kher and De Niro are seen dining-in when a miniature chocolate cake is brought to their tables and they start singing the birthday song for him. "Thank You it means a lot that you are in with me," said Kher after the birthday song is over. De Niro is then seen asking Kher to proceed towards the customary cake cutting and making a wish while blowing the candle. "Nothing can be more magical for an actor than to be able to spend quality time on your birthday with the #GodOfActing #RobertDeNiro third year in a row. I am humbled that Mr. De Niro accepted my lunch invitation. It was magnificent," he tweeted along with the video. "Isko kehte hain 'Kuchh bhi ho sakta hai' ka baap," he further wrote in Hindi. Kher is a senior actor who has featured in scores of blockbuster movies in Indian cinema as well as Hollywood. Some of his notable films include, 'A Wednesday', 'Karma' and 'Saaransh'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lewis Capaldi's concerts are to provide safe spaces and an email helpline for fans suffering from anxiety alongside a gig-buddy system for those arriving alone. The Scottish star has set up the initiative, known as Livelive, after revealing his own struggles with panic attacks that have previously forced him to leave the stage. Several American and British celebrities are thought to already be in touch with the trendsetter about having Livelive at their concerts, in a move that is thought to signal more mental health provisions being made in the industry. Scottish star has set up the initiative, known as Livelive, after revealing his own struggles with mental health (Pictured in Manchester on March 2 this year) Capaldi's organisation LiveLive, which he co-founded with Jack Williamson, has been set up to provide support to fans at his concerts. It will have a help desk in the foyer where music-lovers can seek assistance and the 23-year-old artist will also post meeting points on Instagram to let solo attendees to the concert know where they can meet others also on their own. Trained mental health professionals and medical staff will also be on site to provide extra care. 'This influx of support and shared experiences of anxiety convinced Capaldi that coming up with an initiative for his biggest shows to date was essential,' co-founder Jack told The Guardian. 'People were saying, "thank you - I feel less alone". Or, "I have social anxiety and that's stopped me from coming to your shows". One in ten people has anxiety and we saw there was an opportunity to provide support.' When Capaldi performed in Glasgow on Thursday night Livelive was already in action, providing classes on how to stay centred in a crowded space. The 23-year-old has also opened an email helpline and gig-buddy system for fans Capaldi has revealed his own struggle with mental health in candid interviews. He walked off the stage halfway through a gig in Manchester last year after suffering a panic attack. 'Very sorry to everyone tonight,' he wrote on Twitter at the time, 'Had a panic attack and had to cut my set short. Thankfully I've got it on good authority that it won't effect my fee and I'll still be paid in full x'. Fans have repeatedly praised his openness. One wrote on social media: 'It's refreshing that you're here just being honest about your panic attack when you didn't have to share that at all. Makes those of us with mental health issues and anxiety feel less alone.' Another wrote: 'This made me like you ten times more than I already did. I love that you are so open about it. I struggle with anxiety and panic attacks as well.' The Scottish artist's next concert is in Dublin tomorrow evening as part of a busy schedule of shows across the UK and Ireland until October 4. Russian news agencies say four new cases of coronavirus have been identified, bringing the country's tally of confirmed cases to 17. RIA-Novosti and Tass cited the department overseeing the government's coronavirus response on March 7 as saying that three of the new cases were in the city of Lipetsk, about 200 kilometers south of Moscow. The other was reported in St. Petersburg. Authorities said all four had returned to Russia from Italy in the last two weeks. Three of the four have already recovered, officials said, though there was no immediate explanation for the delay in announcing the cases. Russia has introduced mandatory screening of new arrivals from Italy at its airports. Moscow city authorities, meanwhile, have ordered people coming to Russia from some of the worst-affected countries to self-quarantine for 14 days. Authorities have also taken drastic measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus from China, where the virus first erupted. The border with China has been all but shut down, leading to major economic disruption in the Amur River city of Blagoveshchensk, which has extensive trading ties with its Chinese neighbor, Heihe Earlier, Russia's military evacuated more than 140 Russian citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, and then quarantined them outside a remote Siberian city. It's unclear if any of those people were ever diagnosed with symptoms. Based on reporting by Tass and RIA-Novosti Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 20:05:43|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian health authorities on Saturday dismissed social media reports indicating an outbreak of COVID-19 in the east African nation saying the reports were 'fake news'. "Tanzanians should ignore the reports as the country has not yet recorded any outbreak of the virus," Ummy Mwalimu, the Minister for Health, told Xinhua when reached by phone. However, Mwalimu urged Tanzanians to continue taking precautionary measures saying the country was on high alert on preparedness as the virus was spreading very fast in countries across the world. "We are still on preparedness stage to control an outbreak of the virus. We have not yet reached the response stage," she said. The report posted online claimed that officials in Tanzania had confirmed a case of the virus in the country's capital Dodoma. According to latest update by World Health Organization (WHO), globally the COVID-19 disease has now killed nearly 3,500 people and infected more than 100,000 across 92 nations and territories. On Feb. 27, Tanzania's Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu said the country has reinforced preparedness and response measures against the COVID-19 outbreak. No Tanzanian has been infected by the virus so far, Mwalimu told a news conference in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam, urging citizens to continue taking precautionary measures. The minister said measures taken by the government of Tanzania to control the outbreak of the virus included screening people in ports, airports and borders. The ministry has also prepared medicines, medical facilities and sanitizers in case they are needed for treatment and the government has strengthened examination capacities in labs and results can be produced within four to six hours, she said. The Tanzanian government will continue to work closely with various stakeholders in the health sector, including the WHO, she added. We've gathered a few ideas for you to fill your days with all the fun and rounded up a list of local camp options if you still need to make child care plans. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said that midfielder Bruno Fernandes was not a target for Manchester City before the Portuguese joined Premier League rivals Manchester United. "I think the club was not in talks with his agent about this player, but they link this guy and a thousand million more," Goal.com quoted Guardiola as saying. The 25-year-old has already scored three goals across all competitions - two of those in the Premier League while supplying as many assists. The City boss said he do not think much about players as he likes to buy players which he likes. "I don't believe too much that these players are perfect for this team and manager. But I think he is an exceptional player and that is why Man United bought him," Guardiola said. "I don't know what it means 'my type of player'. I like defenders too and good headers," he added. City will travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in Premier League clash on March 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nebraska is a pro-life state that respects the dignity of human life. You can see it in everything from how Nebraskans care for their neighbors to how legislators fight to protect preborn babies. While we have made great strides over the years, we have more work to do. You may be surprised to learn this: It is still legal in Nebraska to perform dismemberment abortions. Thankfully, State Senator Suzanne Geist is taking steps to end this horrific practice. This session, she has introduced a bill (LB 814) to end the brutal practice of dismemberment abortion in Nebraska. This type of abortion usually takes place between 13 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. The barbaric procedure literally rips apart a preborn child, piece by piece, to destroy the life of the baby. Developmentally, babies make incredible strides between 13 and 24 weeks. Early in this stage, a babys sex becomes clear. During this window of time, little boys or girls start to move their eyes, and they begin to hear. Around 16 weeks, an ultrasound can detect them moving their arms and legs. A few weeks later, a baby will begin to suck his or her thumb. Babies born prematurely at the end of this stage (24 weeks) have a survival rate of around 60-70%. Improvements in neonatal care are constantly increasing these odds as well as making survival a possibility even earlier in a pregnancy. Imagine watching a sleeping baby girl peacefully suck her thumb inside of her mothers womb. Then consider the horror of seeing that same baby girl flail her tiny arms and legs as an abortionist uses forceps to clutch at her body. If you could stomach the sight, you would see the babys life gruesomely destroyed as the abortionist dissevered her body, bit by bit, grasping and crushing her little skull as part of the process. Dr. Kathi Aultman is a retired, board-certified Ob/Gyn and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists with more than 35 years of experience. She has both received an abortion and performed many of them, including dismemberment abortions. Her experiences working as an abortionist, as well as giving birth to a baby of her own, convinced her of the cruelty of dismemberment abortion. Dr. Aultman testified at the Legislatures hearing on LB 814 in support of the bill. A major benefit of this legislation is that it will spare mothers the agony and guilt of knowing that they consented to a procedure which caused their child to be torn limb from limb while it was alive, she said. It also protects medical personnel from the emotional trauma of knowing they assisted in this gruesome procedure on a live baby. Dr. Aultmans concerns are echoed by other abortionists who testify of the psychological trauma that they and their staffs underwent after performing dismemberment abortions. During a dismemberment abortion, the babys severed limbs and other tissues are placed on a tray. Medical staff then have to account for each piece to make sure no parts of the body remain inside the mother to cause infection. Kristen New formerly worked as a counselor for three years at abortion clinics, and she also testified in support of Senator Geists bill. Kristen witnessed a dismemberment abortion up close. She held the hand of the mother about to have the procedure as she was sedated and put to sleep. Kristen then eyed the ultrasound screen as the abortion occurred. She could not endure watching its brutality and had to excuse herself from the room. After the abortion ended, she insisted on seeing the babys dead body. Looking at the boys once-perfectly formed body, now pulled apart and clinically arranged on a tray, disgusted and horrified her. The sickening experience motivated her to quit her job. These stories make a compelling case for ending this method of abortion. Senators have the opportunity this session to act quickly and decisively to end this horrendous form of abortion. The Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on this bill this week. I encourage Nebraskans to contact their State Senators to voice support for LB 814. Their information can be found at www.NebraskaLegislature.gov. If you have questions about LB 814, I invite you to contact me by email at pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or by phone at 402-471-2244. Pete Ricketts is the governor of Nebraska. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 23:36:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ROME, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The leader of one of the two main political parties supporting the current Italian government confirmed Saturday that he had contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Nicola Zingaretti, leader of the center-left Democratic Party, revealed the information in a short video to several social media sites. "Well, it's come to me," Zingaretti said in the video. "I have coronavirus." The 54-year-old said he does not have strong symptoms from the disease. He said that he is following all the protocols recommended by medical experts and that he will remain at home with his family for the foreseeable future. Zingaretti also said he would continue to follow the news and work from home to the greatest extent possible. Several Italian news outlets including the Milan daily "Corriere della Sera" and Rome's "La Repubblica" reported that Zingaretti could have contracted the virus at a rally he attended last week in Milan. Milan is the capital of Lombardy, the Italian region that has recorded the most coronavirus infections in the country. Along with Five-Star Movement, the Democratic Party is one of the two main backers of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. On Friday, during a Bernie Sanders rally in Phoenix, a white supremacist held up a Nazi flag and made anti-Semitic statements. Since then, Bernie-supporters have been showing appropriate outrage that a Jewish presidential candidate in America would be subject to this type of attack. None, however, has noted the irony that the only thing Jewish about Bernie Sanders is his genetic lineage. This lifelong socialist is hostile to Israel and surrounds himself with open anti-Semites. BuzzFeed has a comprehensive report about what happened: A man waving a Nazi flag and shouting "Heil Hitler" was kicked out of a rally for Bernie Sanders on Thursday, a shocking incident targeting the man running to be the first Jewish president. The flag, styled professionally in the actual designs of Nazi Germany, hung prominently over a banister at the 7,000-person Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the start of Sanders' speech. The person stationed himself in the upper deck of the arena, behind where Sanders was speaking. The man was shouting anti-Jewish slurs at Sanders and performing the Nazi salute, said Ron Mack, 40, an attendee at the rally who was sitting nearby. [snip] The Anti-Defamation League identified the man as Robert Sterkeson, a white supremacist who has "harassed a range of Jewish and Muslim organizations and events," often posting the stunts on YouTube. Bernie-supporters, especially Jewish ones, were appalled: I dont want to hear bUt BeRnIe BrOs ArE mEaNiEs OnLiNe EVER again when some repulsive anti-Semite displayed a Nazi flag at a Bernie Sanders rally (Bernie would be our first Jewish President of the United States). Call out the ACTUAL dangerous hatred. #BernieSanders Becky Meyer (@electricfire89) March 6, 2020 Dear media, I want to see you put the same amount of energy into calling out the Nazi flag at the @BernieSanders rally as you put into falsely framing Bernie supporters as mean twitter trolls. Sincerely, A Jew tired of living in a society that turns a blind eye to antisemitism Jamie Margolin (@Jamie_Margolin) March 6, 2020 Last night someone unfurled a Nazi flag behind Bernie Sanders a Jewish man whose family was murdered in the Holocaust. This is the hate Trump has emboldened in the US and a stark reminder of the time we live in. Shout down antisemitism & racism always #safetythroughsolidarity pic.twitter.com/NJSZhF5lbn Jewish Voice for Peace (@jvplive) March 6, 2020 It's that last tweet, the one from the Jewish Voice for Peace organization, that highlights the irony about the Nazi flag at a Bernie rally. Jewish Voice for Peace is a radical leftist organization that exists to destroy the world's only Jewish state. This is the tweet that this organization has pinned to the top of its Twitter page: .@MSNBC shows Palestinian land loss to Israel from 1946 to present day. #Shoutout2MSNBC for the courage to do this. pic.twitter.com/RAT0jcjGzF Jewish Voice for Peace (@jvplive) October 18, 2015 The ignorance in that map is appalling. Before the modern era, that land was last an autonomous nation in 63 B.C., when the Romans conquered the Jewish state. In 135 A.D., following the unsuccessful Bar Kokhba Revolt, the Romans sought to erase Jewish ties to the land by renaming it Palestine after the Philistines, who had occupied the land more than 1,000 years before. In subsequent years, the land was a colony of Byzantium, the Persians, various Muslims, the Crusaders, the Mamelukes, the Ottoman Empire, and the British. There was never an independent nation known as Palestine. The land was always a colony that Jews continuously inhabited. The people known today as Palestinians are descendants of a handful of Arabs who resentfully occupied the barren, swampy land known as Syria-Palestine; Algerians who left North Africa when France conquered Algeria in 1830; Circassian immigrants from the Russian Caucasus whom the Turks settled in Syria-Palestine in the second half of the 19th century; and a few Senussi Muslims from Tripoli who trickled into Syria-Palestine after WWI to escape persecution in their own land. Not only does the above map represent ignorance, but it represents anti-Semitism, for anti-Semitism is a dominant feature behind today's "anti-Zionism." Bernie, despite lip service to Israel, is an anti-Zionist. Although Israel is a pluralist, multiracial, multi-religious state, he calls its prime minister a "racist" and hostile to Palestinian civil rights, while overlooking the judenrein policies in the West Bank and Gaza. Moreover, he surrounds himself with open, aggressive anti-Semites: As the final irony, Bernie espouses socialism, while consistently ignoring a few inconvenient facts: Karl Marx, also genetically Jewish, was a virulent anti-Semite, anti-Semitism infused the Soviet Union that Bernie so adored, and Hitler's anti-Semitism was a grotesque fusion of Marx's anti-Semitism and traditional German Jew-hatred. None of this excuses the white supremacist at Bernie's rally. It's just to say that it's a bit rich for Bernie suddenly to present himself as the avatar of American Jewishness. He's not. They are transparent, with extremely long limb and feelers, special sense organs, partly reduced eyes and wings that do not work. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Palaeontologists of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) discovered a pattern of extinction of all cave fauna and also described the oldest cave animal. The study was published in geological magazine Gondwana Research, the TASR newswire reported. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Myanmar amber An international team of experts under the leadership of Peter Vrsansky from the Earth Science Institute of SAV, Institute of Physics of SAV and Institute of Zoology of SAV, summarised research of all known cave fauna. Related story: Related story: Scientists from Presov University breed new type of poppy seed Read more The first author of the study is an intern of the Earth Science Institute and post-grad student of the Institute of Zoology Hemen Sendi, who prepared a math matric, maps and descriptions of the new cave species of amber. Jan Hinkelman, a post-grad student of the Institute of Zoology, also participated. The new animals are two new species of described cockroaches from Myanmar amber, so from the era of dinosaurs, Vrsansky told TASR. Transparent animals Russian businessman Oleg Tinkov, founder of TCS Group, has been charged with filing false tax returns, the U.S. Department of Justice said, and could face a maximum of six years in prison if extradited to the United States, Market Screener writes in the article U.S. charges Russian businessman Tinkov with tax fraud, seeks extradition. TCS is the parent company of Tinkoff Bank, a pioneer of online banking technology with more than 10 million customers in Russia and the country's second-largest credit card issuer after the market leader Sberbank. Tinkov allegedly concealed $1 billion in assets and incomes when renouncing his U.S. citizenship in 2013, the justice department said in a statement on Thursday. It said he faces two counts of making false tax claims, both of which carry a maximum sentence of three years, and could also face a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. The Justice Department indictment alleges that, following TCS' initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange in October 2013, Tinkov "beneficially owned more than $1 billion worth of the bank's shares." Tinkov, who became a naturalised U.S. citizen on Sept 10, 1996, the indictment said, renounced his U.S. citizenship shortly after the IPO without reporting the constructive sale of his worldwide assets to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Justice Department said its international affairs department was assisting with his extradition. In his book published two years ago Tinkov, now 52, said he decided to found the TCS Group in November 2005 during a visit to the British Virgin Islands, where he stayed with his friend and chairman of Virgin Group Richard Branson, on the Briton's privately-owned Necker Island. Market players have always kept an eye on Tinkov, known for his eccentric behaviour and sometimes provocative public comments, often made via social networks, as he still owns a 40.4% stake in the group, with the remainder held mainly by large western funds. "The indictment increases the risk that Oleg Tinkov will be forced to sell his TCS shares," BCS Global Markets said in a note. At current market value, Tinkov's stake is worth $1.8 billion, according to Reuters calculations. By 0945 GMT, shares in TCS were down 9.9% in London. Tinkov was arrested in London last week in connection with the indictment, but TCS said he was released on bail and was expected to remain in London while taking part in court hearings initiated by the IRS. The court hearings do not affect the functioning of either TCS's board of directors or the management board of Tinkoff Bank, TCS said, because Tinkov is attending the proceedings in his capacity as a private individual. *** Today, Tinkovs representative issued a statement on the businessmans serious illness: I have been diagnosed with acute leukemia. I was diagnosed in October and have already undergone several chemotherapy courses. I have had to fight for myself and my business, but now I am fighting for the main thing - for life itself ... This is the most difficult stage in my rough life, but I rely on God, my body, friends and your support ... As for the US inquiry on my taxes in the past, lawyers work on them, giving me an opportunity to fight my main enemy. " Amid news of Tinkovs disease, TCS Groups global depositary receipts fell by 26%. The reports on the disease may become a ground for refusal to extradite Oleg Tinkov from the UK to the United States. Jerusalem, March 8 : Four Israelis, all from central Israel, tested positive on Saturday with COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 25, the Israeli Ministry of Health said. Earlier on Saturday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli youths will be recruited to help disinfect public facilities, such as bus and train stations, the Xinhua news agency reported. He added that a line of credit will be allocated to businesses that face difficulties due to the situation. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) 'It's better for my health.' That's one response I had when it comes to why more people are now working from home. With panic over coronavirus at fever pitch, many workers may also be ordered to stay away from the office and do day-to-day tasks from the comfort of their home. However, the reality is, a growing army of workers have already gone 'flexi'. That is, they work part of the week in an office and part at home already, potential pandemic or not. Home office space: A growing number of workers in Britain are heading to the office less and less which would please Office Space character Peter Gibbons (pictured) This could involve a day from home in the week, probably a Friday or even two days at home, extending into the Monday. Nearly a quarter of Britain's workforce now work flexibly across different locations, exclusive data for This is Money by Lloyds Bank shows, highlighting how quickly this trend is growing. Extrapolated, this would equate to some 8million people now working this way. The Office for National Statistics put the figure at 4.2million in 2015. The true figure is likely to be somewhere in the middle. From our exclusive survey, three quarters say they now regularly alternate between a main office and working from home. This is clearly a trend that has exploded in the last decade as more people hunt for that ideal work-life balance instead of work-life burnout. At some points in the day, you might feel like Peter Gibbons from the cult 1999 movie Office Space, dealing with annoying characters and scenarios and daydream about working from home. But, is it all it's cracked up to be? Why are employers allowing it to happen? Are people hunting homes with office space? And could we all soon be working this way? Consumer Trends take a look. What's driving the trend? As well as the health benefits, other reasons given to me for now having a job of these nature include for care reasons either for children, grandchildren, including doing the school run. More than three in five working flexibly save cash on childcare and caring. Getting household tasks done during the working day also ranks highly, as does being able to spend more time with family. Not having to live in a major city is also cited as a benefit by 54 per cent of those who work flexibly, while seven in 10 say they are less stressed as a result of their working arrangement. One even said they spending more time with their dog was a benefit. Beyond the why, is the how? It can be attributed to the explosion in computer-based office jobs, high-speed internet in homes and the rise of the reliable conference call, as well as being able to connect to systems remotely. Additionally, experts say more employers are going down this route, for a number of reasons, creating a chicken and egg type scenario. Firstly, it often results in happier employees. They then potentially work harder and are more productive. It also means employers could potentially net talented candidates, as the role is more attractive and people can be hired from further away, meaning a bigger talent pool. Additionally, it can result in increased loyalty and reduced office space cost. Let's talk about flex: You can act like a professional at home thanks to the rise of video conferencing apps Hunting for a home with an office Working from home has become so popular that's now a key consideration for those moving home, according to the Lloyds research which surveyed more than 3,000 adults, who are nationally representative of the UK workforce based on labour market figures from the ONS. Two in five workers say when hunting a new property, it's important there is suitable space to work from home. Consumer Trends This is Money assistant editor and consumer journalist, Lee Boyce, writes his Consumer Trends column every Saturday. It ranges from food and drink and retail, to financial services and travel. Have an idea or suggestion? Get in touch: lee.boyce@thisismoney.co.uk This rises to almost three quarters for those who already work from home regularly. A purpose-created home office is the most common location from which to work, with almost a third using such a space, followed by the living room, dining room, bedroom and kitchen. The reason for wanting a home office is presumably to stop themselves being distracted elsewhere in the home the living room by the television for example, and kitchen by the fridge and kettle. With 72 per cent of regular home workers saying they have also customised their space, it seems many are prepared to invest in their home working environment. A home office tends to be one of the easiest rooms to sort due to most looking for a clutter free space. A desk, comfortable chair, a couple of plants and some drawers, along with a lick of paint or some wallpapering means it can be done in a weekend. Isn't it all cats and Homes Under the Hammer re-runs? Very occasionally, I have worked from home. When I bought my house in 2016, one of the first things done was to wallpaper the small third bedroom and put in a desk and chair, which faced the window. It was a good space to write, with minimal distractions. However, since last year, it has been replaced with what it is intended to be - a nursery for a young child. Working from home a few times a year opens my eyes to in my opinion how it needs to be made into an art-form if you are to make a regularly part of your working week. There are all range of distractions you don't find in the office. The temptation to build your day around watching a cheeky episode of Homes Under the Hammer or having a few minutes to play with the cat, for me, I think would become too strong. On the other hand, I think about the work I could get done in three hours I don't have to do my round commute, the potential to spend extra time with family and conquer those exercise demons. However, I reckon it must get fairly lonely working from home without that office interaction. Almost one in five in our survey said they have experienced feeling left out at some point while one in 10 have suffered some sort of IT problem. It's hard to get Andy from IT support to come visit your house to see if it needs turning on and off again if you are hours away from the office hub. Cat colleague: Working from home has its pros and cons - pets can be a welcome distraction, but they can also be a laptop-intrigued menace I love the variety of home and office working Jordan Pillai, a web developer from Essex, does contract work which sees him flit between employers regularly. He is also a friend who regularly sends me Whatsapp images of delicious-looking lunches he whips up while working at home. When he searches for a job, working from home is now a must for him to consider a role. The goal, he tells me, is to eventually go fully remote. Currently, he does three days in the office and two at home. He says he is more productive at home. 'I can start earlier than the typical 9am so I can finish earlier and have more time for enjoyable things in the evening.' 'I prefer working from home. There are no commute costs or time, no delayed trains. I can wake up at a decent time and start work refreshed rather than the normal rush about. From experience, most tech company employees sit in a room with headphones on not really talking all day anyway, so I say why not do that from the comfort of your own home? Jordan Pillai - software engineer 'Going into an office seems like an antiquated practice it was invented before the internet existed. 'From experience, most tech company employees sit in a room with headphones on not really talking all day anyway, so I say why not do that from the comfort of your own home? 'Saying that, it is nice to see colleagues from time to time and easier to resolve any questions or queries face to face.' He adds that a sense of perceived trust from your employer is beneficial, but he accepts it can get lonely from time to time. 'It can be easily remedied by going to a coffee shop and work for a few hours.' Emma Cownley, a copywriter from London, was a flexi worker until January 2017. After getting a taste of what flexi life gave her, she went fully remote and set up solo as Jot Jot Boom. During that Christmas period, she put together her own office. 'I took real pleasure in getting all the equipment together and setting it all up I got an antique Victorian desk from a charity pop-up shop,' she says. Three years on, and she says still likes working from home, with 'no quibbling about air conditioning or what music is playing.' She is signed-up to a co-working space that she tries to visit two afternoons a week. When it comes to her clients, she rarely works in-office. 'I'll usually do it if I'm onboarding someone new or need a specific meeting or project brainstorm. 'Most of the time, I prefer to be at home in my own space.' She says she become more productive working at home. 'I use the time I'd spend commuting to get other things done, like laundry and housework. I also have more time to exercise.' The only drawback from working from home most of the time is loneliness, which she says she can suffer from quite badly. She adds: 'Freelancing has made me quite antisocial. I miss having colleagues, but I don't necessarily miss being in an office. 'I like interacting with people, but it's much better when I can do it on my own terms, rather than being forced to be around them all day.' More employers are offering the option Joe Wiggins, career trends expert at job and employer review website Glassdoor, says that the trend has risen significantly in Britain in recent years. He tells me: 'We are seeing more employers become flexible with regards to working from home arrangements as employees and job seekers specifically seek this out as a benefit. 'As technology develops and corporate culture evolves to facilitate flexibility with regards to location of work, employees are becoming more nomadic, working wherever and whenever they need to. 'Among our users in Britain, we're seeing a significant increase in people reporting that they have the ability to work from home as a benefit. Employers that trust their people to get the job done and are relaxed about where that work takes place are highly attractive to job seekers. Joe Wiggins - Glassdoor 'This is notably more than those in the US and Canada, for example, and has risen sharply over the past few years. 'At the end of the day, employers that trust their people to get the job done and are relaxed about where that work takes place are highly attractive to job seekers.' While it appears home working has taken off far more in Britain than US and Canada, in Europe, some countries are pioneers of this way of working. According to data from Eurostat, Holland has the highest share of those who say they regularly work from home at 14 per cent, followed by Finland with 13.3 per cent. In 2018, 5.2 per cent of employed persons aged 15 to 64 in the European Union usually worked from home which is relatively similar to 2008. But, over the same period, the share of those who sometimes work from home increased from 5.8 per cent in 2008 to 8.3 per cent in 2018. This could have grown quickly in the last two years. Meanwhile, it is hard to put a number on 'digital nomads.' These are people who travel the world, live in places for a short while and move on, all while working remotely. Spike: Google searches in the last three years for 'jobs from home' spiked at the start of 2020 and have remained higher than usual Will the trend continue to grow? Will the 2020s be the decade in which office employees working more from home simply becomes the norm? Technology infrastructure is likely to improve - 5G home broadband for example will mean faster internet connections, could drive more people into flexi working. This will enable big file downloads within seconds and better-quality video conferencing. And as more workers hunt for this option, more employers are likely to offer it, creating a snowball effect this decade. But there are a number of barriers. For example, some office roles simply cannot be done at home, while security can be a huge factor accessing systems at home, or on public wi-fi in a coffee shop could mean higher risks for a firm. Meanwhile, this style of work is likelier to suit city dwellers and towns surrounding them, rather than out in rural areas with spotty broadband and mobile phone connection. Two things are clear though: in Britain, more employers are advertising roles with flexi working, and more employees are hunting them down. If they ever made a Office Space 2 film - some 21 years on from the original - Peter Gibbons and the colleagues he actually likes won't be smashing up a photocopier, as they do in an iconic scene. They'll be on a conference call, sipping lattes in their slippers, avoiding the traffic, smugly enjoying their work-life balance. Apologies if you haven't seen the film - you should... Former City Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown is resigning from her new job at the Register of Wills Office. Read more Former City Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown, who took a job with the Register of Wills after leaving elective office this year, is stepping down from her new position after being criticized for applying to enter the controversial Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). Eight years ago, when public outrage over elected officials collecting the lucrative retirement benefit was threatening several of her Council colleagues political careers, Brown said she would never enroll in DROP. But after her 20-year legislative career ended in January, she was hired by Register of Wills Tracey Gordon for a newly created position, director of strategic partnerships, allowing her to enter the program as a regular city worker. Brown was eligible to enter DROP as a councilmember but waited to do so until she left the public spotlight. Asked in January if she would take DROP in her new role, she said, Its nobodys business but mine. Brown applied for DROP on Feb. 18, The Inquirer reported last week. After a week of criticism of her reversal, Brown on Wednesday informed Gordon that she would resign effective April 3 from her new job, which involved establishing public-private partnerships to preserve the many historical documents in the offices records. I am grateful for the councilwomans preservation focus and efforts at my office, and I am confident that the much-needed work the councilwoman started will continue, Gordon said in a statement. I wish her the best of luck in the next chapter of her career. Mike Dunn, a spokesperson for Mayor Jim Kenney, said Browns DROP application had not yet been processed and will be moot upon her resignation, which was first reported by Philadelphia Citizen. DROP allows city employees to pick a retirement date up to four years in the future and immediately start accumulating pension payments in an interest-bearing account. Upon retirement, they receive a lump sum payout, sometimes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. The program, presented as a way to make government more efficient by allowing managers to plan for employees exits, has been criticized for allowing workers to double-dip by simultaneously earning salaries and accruing pension payouts. Kenney has promised unequivocally never to enter DROP, Dunn said. He has long had misgivings about the cost of the program to the citys pension fund, and feels that its use by elected officials is wrong, Dunn said. From its inception in 1999 through 2015, DROP cost taxpayers between $237 million and $277 million, according to a study by the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, a state-appointed board that oversees Philadelphias finances. MSU Extension of Midland County and cooperating parent educators sponsor the Parent's Corner. Send submissions to Midland County MSU Extension Educator, Lisa Treiber, 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland, MI 48640. St. John's Lutheran School Open House St. John's Lutheran School is hosting an open house from 7 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, for prospective students in preschool through grade 8. St. John's preschool offers classes for 3 and 4 year olds, as well as Young 5 class. The fully licensed program is planned to help each child grow physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. An extended-care program is also available from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for students in all grades. Preschool children can be dropped off at parent's convenience and we will ensure they get to and from their class. The accredited day school has classes for Kindergarten - Grade 8. Visit www.sjlmidland.org for more information or call 989-835-7041 to arrange a tour of the facility, located at 505 E. Carpenter St., Midland. Afternoon at the Sugarhouse Discover the magic of maple syrup season Saturdays and Sundays in March as families experience the process of making syrup from start to finish. Visitors are invited to peek in buckets on tapped trees, watch the steam rise in the sugar house and learn how to change maple sap into sweet syrup. This event will take place each Saturday and Sunday in March (except Saturday, March 21 Maple Syrup Day) from 1 to 4 p.m. at Chippewa Nature Center 400 S. Badour Road, Midland. For more information visit www.chippewanaturecenter.org or call 989-631-0830. In Search of Snowy Owls The open farm fields of Michigan's Thumb area resemble the artic summer habitats of Snowy Owls. Travel by Chippewa Nature Center (CNC) van with Interpretive Naturalist Michelle Fournier in search of Snowy Owls. You may also see Rough-legged hawks, Horned Larks, Snow Buntings or American Tree Sparrows. Bring a lunch, binoculars and a field guide and dress for the weather. CNC will have spotting scopes and binoculars to share. Most of the time will be spent driving or standing outside the van, but we'll also include a few short walks. The event takes place on Saturday, March 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is required. Full Moon Stroll Walk by the light of the full Sap moon. When maple sap flows and the annual tapping of maple trees occurs at Chippewa Nature Center, 400 S. Badour Road, Midland, on Monday, March 9, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Participants will stroll the River Trail into the Beech Maple Woods looking for animal tracks and silhouettes and listening for nocturnal wildlife. Wear dark clothing and bring a flashlight. Coffee & Conversation Come explore the sweet story of maple sugar with the Coffee & Conversation group from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, at Chippewa Nature Center, 400 S. Badour Road, Midland. Listen to a maple sugar origin story, compare methods, examine tools used to extract syrup and take home a few seasonal recipes to add to your family recipe collection. Okee Dokee Brothers Join the Grammy Award-winning family music group the Okee Dokee Brothers for a morning of adventure from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14 (register by March 13 by calling 989-631-0830 or visiting www.chippewanaturecenter.org) Chippewa Nature Center staff will lead hands-on trail activities, and then Joe and Justin of the Okee Dokee Brothers will lead a songwriting circle where they will share stories of their travels and how it inspires their music. Chronic Pain Self-Management Workshop Class meets 2.5 hours once per week for six weeks and led by two trained leaders. Class covers such topics as: techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, isolation, and poor sleep, appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving health, and much more. Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build confidence in one's ability to manage health and maintain an active and fulfilling life. The Chronic Pain Self-Management Program is supported by funds from the Older Americans Act and will be offered from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, March 18 - April 22, for a suggested donation of $25. There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, March 11 from noon to 12:30 p.m. at Senior Services 4700 Dublin Ave. Midland. The class size is limited so registration is essential. Call 989-633-3700 or register online at www.SeniorServicesMidland.org. Creating Confident Caregivers Also know as "Savvy Caregiver", CCC is a six-week program that helps people caring for a person experiencing the myriad symptoms of dementia, to gain the knowledge, skills, and frame of mind necessary to navigate their challenging role. CCC is supported by funds from the Older Americans Act and will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Thursdays, March 26 - April 30, for a suggested donation of $25. Space is extremely limited, so call early to register 989-633-3700 or book online at www.SeniorServicesMidland.org. Head Start Preschool Programs NEMCSA Head Start offers Preschool Experiences at no cost to families of children ages 3-4. Head Start also serves children with Special Needs and/or disabilities. Head Start is a member of the Midland County Regional Preschool Partnership. The first step to enroll is to complete an interest form online at www.michiganpreschool.org. NEMCSA Head Start offers full day and half day preschool classrooms that run four days a week. There are locations in Midland, Sanford and Mills Area. Sites include Longview Early Childhood Center, M-20 Locations, Washington Street, Sanford Early Childhood Center, and North Midland Family Center. Contact Megan Greer 832-0968 or Kelly Scoles 832-7520, to schedule an application appointment to learn if your family is eligible for this high quality NEMCSA Head Start Preschool program. Lisa Hutchinson, 41, a teachers assistant at Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES is accused of paying a student $50 to punch another classmate Police have arrested a teaching assistant from New York state for allegedly paying one student to punch another of his classmates. Lisa Hutchinson, 41 of Whitesboro, is a teaching assistant at New Hartford BOCES. The mother-of-two was arrested on Friday after police alleged that she made a deal with another student to punch them on her behalf. She then allegedly paid the student $50 to carry out the assault. A student is said to have received the money but did not end up carrying out the act. Hutchinson has been charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child according to WSYR. Sheriffs deputies said she paid the money, but the student did not follow through with the attack. She is pictured here on Facebook, looking very different from her mugshot picture She was released on an appearance ticket. Hutchinson will be arraigned at New Hartford Town Court at a later date. Hutchinson acknowledged the incident occurring on her Facebook page together with a link to a news incident reporting the details: 'I'm just putting this out here for everyone...yes this is me, and anyone that truly knows me. Well you know, and if you don't please keep your comments to yourself. You only know one side and I'm okay with that...', she wrote. Recently, the teaching assistant was the victim of vandalism at her home after someone daubed graffiti and a slew of offensive words calling her a 's***', and 'w****' in black paint all over the exterior walls of her home. In a video posted online she tells viewers that she knows who committed the crime but has no way to go about proving it. The Indian Tea Association on Saturday said the Assam government's decision to provide orthodox tea subsidy of Rs 7 per kg will boost exports of the beverage. The apex body of the tea industry in the country said the subsidy on machinery purchase to manufacturing units for producing orthodox tea will motivate them to produce such variety. The Assam government made these announcements in the state budget for 2020-21 fiscal, presented on Friday. The northeastern state, the largest producer of tea in the country, has also allowed interest subvention of 3 per cent on all term loans and working capital advances which will lead to lower cost of fund and subsequently, encourage modernisation of factories. ITA secretary general Arijit Raha said Assam produces nearly 70 million kgs of ortodox tea, the highest in the country. "Now, exports of tea from India is virtually stagnant at around 250 million kgs. Orthodox tea has wide acceptance in the overseas markets. If the producers manufacture more orthodox tea, the probability of increasing exports will rise," Raha told PTI. He said these steps will go a long way in revival of the tea industry which has been reeling under financial stress due to increasing cost of production and stagnant price realisations for the last several years. Meanwhile, the Joint Forum of Assam Tea Planters' Association, North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) and Bharatiya Cha Parishad said that the state government's decision to withdraw agricultural income tax for three years will greatly help the industry. Adviser to NETA Bidyanand Barkakoty said the industry also appeals to the government to include other varities of tea such as green, purple, yellow and Oolong under the Rs 7 per kg subsidy scheme. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fears have been raised for 142 Britons on board the Grand Princess cruise ship after 21 people were diagnosed with coronavirus. Vice President Mike Pence, who is in charge of the US response to the crisis, revealed that 19 crew members and two passengers had the virus on Friday. President Trump subsequently raised the prospect that all 3,500 passengers and crew could now be quarantined on board - despite a failed quarantine on board the Diamond Princess last month which sickened 700 people and led to six deaths. The Grand Princess cruise ship passes the Golden Gate Bridge as it arrives from Hawaii in San Francisco. Twenty-one people on board have tested positive foe the coronavirus Vice President Mike Pence announced that 21 people tested positive for the coronavirus on borad the Grand Princess cruise ship docked off San Francisco - 19 crew and two passengers A California National Guard helicopter brought coronavirus tests to the ship Thursday Cases of the coronavirus across the United States are rising close to 300 patient Horrified passengers only learned that nineteen crew members and two tourists aboard Grand Princess cruise ship had tested positive for coronavirus when Mike Pence announced the cases at his press conference. Forty-six people on board were swabbed and 21 of them tested positive, Vice President Mike Pence revealed in a White House press conference Friday. The ship has been kept in a holding pattern in the Pacific Ocean off San Francisco for nearly two days and will now move on to a 'non commercial port' where the all the passengers and crew will be unloaded and tested. Friday's test results come amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of at least ten cases during its previous voyage. The news came as a shock for many passengers who only found out about the positive test results from Pence's press briefing, a passenger told CNN via video call. 'We apologize but we were not given advance notice of this announcement by the US federal government,' the ship's announcement broadcast was heard in the video. 'It would have been our preference to be the first to make this news available to you.' The Grand Princess cruise ship ,with some 3,500 people on board, will not dock in San Francisco and was ordered to stay at sea on Wednesday evening after several dozen people on board began to show symptoms. Pence said the federal government is working with California officials on a plan to bring the ship to a non-commercial port this weekend and the 2,300 passengers, mostly Americans, and another 1,000 crew members, will be tested for the virus. 'We have been in discussion with Gov. (Gavin) Newsom,' Pence said. Federal officials have been working with the state and 'we have developed a plan to bring the ship to a non-commercial port,' he added. 'All passengers and crew will be tested for the virus. Those that will need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those who will require medical help will receive it.' 'The general risk to the American public remains low,' Pence said but added that elderly Americans and those with pre-existing conditions should use caution, especially when traveling. Confined to their cabins, passengers aboard a mammoth cruise ship off the California coast awaited coronavirus test results Friday amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of at least 10 cases during its previous voyage. On Thursday, a military helicopter crew lowered test kits onto the 951-foot (290-meter) Grand Princess by rope and later retrieved them for analysis as the vessel waited off San Francisco, under orders to keep its distance from shore. Princess Cruises said 46 of the more than 3,500 people on board were tested and results revealed Friday that 21 of them tested positive. Twenty-four others tested negative while one test was inconclusive. On Friday, President Trump claimed that he would prefer the passengers and crew to remain on the ship so they don't add to the rising American cases. 'I have great experts, including our vice president, who's working 24 hours a day on this stuff,' Trump told reporters. 'They would like to have the people come off, I'd rather have the people stay. But I'd go with them. I told them to make the final decision.' 'I like the numbers being where they are. 'I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault. And it wasn't the fault of the people on the ship either. 'I can live either way with it,' he continued. 'I'd rather have them stay on, personally. But I fully understand if they want to take them off. I gave them the authority to make the decision' Passengers on board the Grand Princess cruise ship, which had previously carried two passengers who contracted the coronavirus, watch while a U.S. military helicopter hovers The Grand Princess is currently 400 miles off San Francisco and heading for port having returned from Hawaii after 11 passengers and 10 crew reported symptoms of coronavirus. Tests for 21 people on board, including 19 crew and two passengers, have tested positive The testing began after it was reported that a passenger on a previous voyage of the ship, in February, died of the disease. In the past few days, health authorities disclosed that at least nine other people who were on the same journey were also found to be infected. And some passengers on that trip stayed aboard for the current voyage. The only people tested were those who were showing symptoms or who had been on the previous trip. 'The ship will not come on shore until we appropriately assess the passengers,' California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday. The ship off California was returning to San Francisco after visiting Hawaii. A Sacramento-area man who sailed aboard the Grand Princess last month during a visit to a series of Mexican ports later succumbed to the coronavirus, according to California authorities. Others who were on that voyage have also tested positive, with seven cases in Northern California and two in Canada, authorities said. However, Mexico's top epidemiologist denied that the passenger who died in California was on a ship that visited Mexican ports. Dr. Jose Luis Alomia Zegarra said the man was on a different cruise that did not stop in Mexico. A cruise ship worker cleans a railing on the Grand Princess off the California coast A group of medical personnel with the 129th Rescue Wing, working alongside individuals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, don protective equipment after delivering virus testing kits to the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of California Three dozen passengers on the Grand Princess have had flu-like symptoms over the past two weeks or so, said Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of San Francisco's Department of Emergency Management. An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles said the recirculated air from a cruise ship's ventilation system, plus the close quarters and communal settings, make passengers vulnerable to infectious diseases. 'Theyre not designed as quarantine facilities, to put it mildly,' said Don Milton of the University of Maryland. 'Youre going to amplify the infection by keeping people on the boat. 'My advice is to get people off and into a safer quarantine environment than a cruise ship,' Milton said. Michele Smith, a Grand Princess passenger, posted video on Facebook of the helicopter that arrived at the ship. Another video showed a crew member wearing gloves and a mask and spraying and wiping a handrail. 'We have crews constantly cleaning our ship,' Smith was heard saying. In a post, Smith said she and her husband were not quarantined and were told that only the people who had been on the Mexico voyage or those showing flu-like symptoms had to isolate themselves. 'Spirits are as high as can be under these circumstances. We are blessed to be healthy, comfortable and well-fed,' she wrote. Meanwhile, the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus climbed to 15, with all but one victim in Washington state, while the number of infections swelled to over 200, scattered across about half the states. Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska reported their first cases Friday. President Donald Trump has signed an $8.3 billion measure to help public health agencies deal with crisis and spur development of vaccines and treatments. Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 100,000 people and killed over 3,400, the vast majority of them in China. Most cases have been mild, and more than half of those infected have recovered. Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has called upon the people to promote Mizo tradition and culture. Addressing a grand celebration of Chapchar Kutm, the biggest and most important festival of the state, here on Friday, Zoramthanga urged the people to discover the essence of Mizo culture and spirit of unity while celebrating the festival. The Chapchar Kut festival was attended by ASEAN ambassadors from Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines, Vietnam besides various Zo communities from the Northeast "The Mizo people should retain and show to the outside world their unique tradition and moral code as the theme of this year Chapchar Kut is to promote Mizo tradition and moral code of conduct," the chief minister said. Zoramthanga was the Kut Pa or father of the festival on the occasion. Art and Culture minister R Lalzirliana, who was the chief host of the festival also expressed the desire that the festival brings unity among different tribes of Mizos in India and abroad. The two-day Chapchar Kut celebrations, which began on Thursday successfully concluded on Friday amidst cultural fervour and gaiety. The celebrations were held across the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a drive against supply of synthetic mawa for making sweets on the occasion of Holi, a team of health department officials raided a plant in a village here where they seized 300 kg of the substance. The raid took place in Bhensakhedi village under Chapar police station limits in the district on Friday. Mawa or khoya is dried evaporated milk solids and forms the base of many sweets. Synthetic mawa is an adulterant. According to chief food inspector Vivek Kumar, the samples were taken from five people in the plant who were preparing synthetic mawa for supplying on Holi. Later, most of the recovered synthetic mawa was dumped in mud and some samples were sent for laboratory test, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Voters line up at the Irvine Valley College voting center in Irvine, Orange County, on March 3, 2020. (Jamie Joseph/The Epoch Times) After California Primaries, Analysts Discuss and Make Predictions Former Vice President Joe Bidens strong surge nationally in popularity among Democratic voters will likely be reflected in Californias late-arriving mail-in ballots, political analyst Tony Quinn says. Quinn still expects Sanders to win the states Democratic primarybut not by the strong margin many polls had predicted. Once again, this big Bernie turnout that [Sanders] kept claiming was out there, never showed up, said Quinn, a senior editor at California Target Book. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) (L) speaks as former Vice President Joe Biden reacts during the Democratic presidential primary debate at the Charleston Gaillard Center on Feb. 25, 2020 in Charleston, SC. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Election results as of March 6 show Sanders leading Biden, with 33.6 percent of the California vote to Bidens 25.2 percent. Sanders currently holds about 60 percent of Californias 415 delegates. Hes not going to win by that big a margin, Quinn said. Hes only getting about a third of the vote right now. Its not winner-take-all. Although theyve dropped out of the race, Michael Bloomberg earned 14.1 percent, Elizabeth Warren 12.3 percent, Pete Buttigieg 6.1 percent, Amy Klobuchar 3.1 percent, and Tom Steyer 2.6 percent of the vote. These percentages will likely shift delegates to the former vice president, Quinn said, with all but Warren endorsing Biden. Votes Not Counted Nearly 40 percent of ballots have not yet been countedand, according to Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a retired public policy professor at the University of Southern California, its just too early to say what will happen in many close contests. Quinn agreed: I dont think theres going to be major changes, but some races could shift. There are probably a lot of Democrats that held their ballots and voted late. They could change some of the races. Though Sanders showed a substantial lead in early voting, Quinn suspects the late vote will go to Biden. The polling a week ago showed Bernie Sanders running up a huge delegate lead on Super Tuesday. Well, hes not going to have a lead at all, he said. I think the remaining votes in California are going to be more pro-Biden, because I think these are Democrats who held their ballots, and then probably voted for Biden when they realized he was the alternative. I think a lot of people probably stuffed them in the mail on Monday. By that time, they knew the lay of the land. As of March 6, there were about 5.5 million votes tallied. But there could be as many as four million still out there, he said. Republican Primary President Donald Trump earned a strong show of support, with more than 1.5 million votes, or 92.5 percent of the ballots cast, in the Republican primary. Thats a relatively strong turnout for a Republican primary in which Trump is virtually uncontested. By comparison, Sanders vote tally in the more competitive Democratic race stood just under 1.1 million, with Biden contributing another 800,000 plus so far. The early turnout has been pretty favorable to the Republicans, which would be a surprise given that theres no Republican contest, Quinn said. Typical Primary Voters The primary brought out typical voters, many of whom are generally older homeowners, Quinn said. What you found was a more traditional vote. People who always vote, voted, he added. Congressional Races Controversial congressional figures, such as Democrats Adam Schiff and Maxine Waters, who led the charge to impeach President Donald Trump, appear safe in their deep blue districtsthough whether they will face Republican or Democratic challengers in the Nov. 3 general election remains too close to call until all the ballots have been counted. House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) holds a press conference in Washington on Dec. 3, 2019. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) speaks at a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 31, 2017. (Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images) Californias primary system allows the top-two vote getters to square off in the general election, regardless of political party, often resulting in two Democratic candidates in deep blue districts. 50th Congressional District In the traditionally GOP-held 50th congressional district, Quinn expects Republican Darrell Issa to win the seat in Novemberbut Jeffe is not so sure. House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., speaks on Capitol Hill on May 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) If any of the districts are going to stay Republican, it will be the 50th, but we just dont know at this point whether or not thats going to happen, Jeffe said. The polling showed he was going to run second, but hell be elected in the fall, Quinn added. Thats what it looks like now, but we dont know because there is 30 to 40 percent of the vote still out. Currently, the results show Democratic candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar in the lead with just over 35 percent of the vote, while Issa is second place with 24.5 percent. Republicans Carl DeMaio and Brian Jones also earned over 20 and 10 percent, respectively. I would say the Democratic frontrunner cant rest easy with those results, Jeffe said. 25th Congressional District There are two separate elections in the 25th district: a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Katie Hill, who resigned, and the primary. Theres a May runoff for the rest of Katie Hills current term, Jeffe said. And then in November will be the runoff for the next full two-year term. The top-two vote getters in the special election will compete again in May to complete the remainder of Hills term, while the top two receiving votes in the separate regular primary will square off again in November for the new two-year term. In both elections, Democratic candidate Christy Smith is leading over Republican Mike Garcia, meaning they could face each other in May and then again in November. Currently, Smith holds about 30 percent of the vote, while Garcias tally is just shy of 25 percent. That could be a hot race in the runoff, Quinn said. Same-Party Races Current vote tallies suggest Californias top-two primary system will produce several same-party races on the November ballot. It looks like there are quite a few Democrat-on-Democrat races, which is no surprise, Quinn said. But in most cases, the general elections will feature a Democrat versus a Republican, who has no chance of being elected, according to Quinn. Its not surprising given the imbalance in voter registration, Jeffe said. Its basically a one-party state. Proposition 13 Both analysts agree that Proposition 13, a state ballot measure for bonds to fund public education facilities, will likely fail. With rising fears over the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. and stock market volatility, asking voters to approve a $15 billion bond for public schools was bad timing and bad luck, Jeffe said. Theres uncertainty and people feel theyre overtaxed, Quinn agreed. Theyve turned down a lot of local tax increases, and theres so much uncertainty given the virus and everything. I think they just didnt see any reason to further burden themselves. A roll of voter stickers at Santa Ana Downtown Plaza voting center on March 3, 2020. (Chris Karr/The Epoch Times) As of March 6, election results showed that 55.4 percent of California voted No on the proposition. Votes Slow to Be Counted California election results take so long to confirm due to mail-in ballots, which people tend to send in late and then have to be verified. The counties have a whole month to do the count, so they take their time, Quinn said. Its frustrating, but thats how it is. By law, the results dont have to be submitted until April 3, Jeffe addedthough they hope to see most of the election results in about a week. Voter Turnout, Confusion Both analysts said new voting machines confused voters in Los Angeles County. L.A. county was a big mess, Quinn said. People didnt understand the new voting machines, and they didnt work as well as they should have. There were not enough of them. The complicated devices may have scared off voters. There might have been a lot of people in L.A. that just didnt vote because of the confusion, Quinn added. Ive heard that a lot of things went wrong. According to Jeffe, some people waited in line three-and-half-hours to vote. Unbelievable, she said. Despite concern over the coronavirus, the risk of infection wasnt enough to keep voters away from the polls, though some locations took extra precautions. At some polling stations, voters didnt have to get out of their vehicles, said Jeffe. You dropped your vote off or drove-in your vote. State Senate and State Assembly In the state legislative races, both political analysts said there were no big surprises, with California remaining a deep blue state. There are very, very few serious races in California at the legislative and congressional level, Quinn said. There are some in Orange County that are going to be hotly contested, and maybe in the Central Valley. The Orange County Democratic candidates that seem particularly weak to Quinn include Josh Harder, T.J. Cox, and Harley Rouda. They are all kind of running behind their Republicans, but again thats not really predictive of the fall, he said. The fall is going to be a completely different election. A University of Calgary student studying abroad in Japan says his life has become "panicked" in recent days due to what he feels is a rash decision by the university. The university decided to suspend a number of their study abroad programs in "countries and areas experiencing community transmission of COVID-19." Tyson Schmidt is a third-year international relations and Japanese language student studying at Kwansei Gakuin University near Osaka. He said the university's decision to suspend their programs for all students in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Singapore has had a "sudden and profound" impact on his life and on the lives of other students. "It all started extremely suddenly. On [Feb. 27] I woke up to an email from the University of Calgary's risk management team. [It] was recommending that I leave Japan immediately," he said. "At that time, and even now, I don't consider [COVID-19] to be a tremendous risk to my personal health or at least I'm not in any greater danger here than I would be in Canada." Schmidt said the impact of the decision was being felt by students in multiple ways emotionally, financially and educationally. The University of Calgary posted a notice to their website explaining their decision earlier this week. "Our decision was made after reviewing and assessing key medical information and updates from global health experts that advise against all nonessential travel to areas affected by the virus due to the potential health risks. We're concerned for the safety and well-being of our campus community," writes U of C provost Dru Marshall. "We are continually monitoring and will update the list of suspended countries and areas as required." The university administration has been in direct contact with several students, faculty and staff currently in these countries and have strongly suggested that they return to Calgary immediately, with the university's support and assistance. Story continues Schmidt said he replied to the university's email, saying that while he appreciates the concern, he's been educating himself on the virus and understands the concerns but despite all that, he plans to remain in Japan. "The reply I got back was pretty much, 'We can't force you to come back, but we are dropping you from our study abroad program,'" he said. "Consequently, that means I won't be able to take my spring semester classes here, which means my student visa is going to lapse, which would mean I would be deported so essentially, they can't make me leave, but they can make me leave." An emailed statement from the university to CBC News suggests students who are in the foreign countries at the time of the suspension were able to choose to stay. "In that case, we provided them with information on alternatives outside of the exchange program that would be available to them," it reads. But Schmidt said after sending e-mails back and forth with university officials, he wasn't given many alternatives and due to the nature of his program and timing, he'd be unable to enroll in classes back in Calgary. "They let me know they'd be withdrawing support and dropping me from the program which is essentially expelling me from the program," he said. "I let them know that I thought this was frankly an outrage because not only was I not consulted on this decision but it's one that has severe and profound impacts on my life and education going forward." Schmidt said he found it ridiculous the university took such "drastic" steps, especially considering there is only one confirmed case in the part of Japan he's in. And, when he heard about the cases cropping up in Alberta, he became even more frustrated. "I feel equally safe here in Japan as I would in Calgary," he said. Schmidt said he also risks losing approximately $10,000 in scholarship money awarded to him by the Japanese Student Services Organization (JASSO). "As a result, not only will I be forced to forfeit the remaining sum, but my inability to complete the spring semester will make me responsible for paying back the entire sum," he said. "In their initial email, the university said they're going to ensure that no students are financially disadvantaged from this decision, but frankly that was not true." Schmidt said he's currently working with JASSO to try and resolve the issue. The U of C said they remain in regular contact with students. "[We remain in contact] to ensure they receive the assistance they need in these extraordinary circumstances, including ensuring that students are able to retain any award funding they have received," reads the statement. But Schmidt said he feels there is nuance to that statement. "What they meant by 'not financially disadvantaged' was that they're going to pay the plane ticket and that's about it. So if you have a round-trip ticket, you're not out the money for that," he said. "And if you have outstanding scholarships at the U of C they'll pay all those or otherwise defer them to your next semester but they're not going to cover me for my JASSO scholarship, so I can say with certainty that I'm going to be financially disadvantaged." No matter what happens next with the university, Schmidt said he's determined to remain in Japan. "[I'll stay] whether it's by enrolling in a language school or whether I have to consider getting my part-time job to sponsor me and promote me to full-time work," he said. Schmidt said he told the university that due to that fact, their decision to withdraw him from the program can't be for his well-being. "I feel their argument that it's for the students' well-being holds very little weight as we've just found out there is a case in Calgary as well," he said. "So it really makes no difference whether you're living in Hyogo or Calgary coronavirus is getting around, and so for that reason I let them know that and let them know it can't possibly be for my well-being." While numerous students at the U of C are impacted by the changes, the university was unable to confirm the number of students in the affected countries prior to publication, but said the suspension of travel to those areas is in effect until September 2020. Mount Royal University has issued a similar notice and has suspended university-related travel for students to the same countries. They say there is only one student in an unaffected region of South Korea. "The university the student attends is closed until March 16. The student is in good health and is self-isolating and support is available to the student, if required," reads an emailed statement. "The university in South Korea is monitoring the situation very closely and communicating with both students and partner universities. Any testing or hospitalization would be covered by the university. The student is checking in regularly." Bay Area companies and cleaners are breaking out the disinfectant and gloves in hopes of protecting people from the spread of coronavirus. At SFO, airport workers are using battery-operated sprayers, along with gloved hands, to increase cleaning of handrails, buttons and door handles. An additional 60 hand sanitizer stations have been installed. The airport has stocked up on a three-month supply of a disinfectant cleaner made by Champion Chemical, according to airport spokesman Doug Yakel. UC Berkeley said it was increasing cleaning of high-touch areas and installing more hand sanitzer. Custodial coverage is increasing from weekly to daily at classrooms, labs and conference areas. A major commercial real estate trade group, Building Owners and Managers Association International, advised members to routinely clean frequently touched surfaces. Those include workstations, countertops, doorknobs, elevator buttons, security card readers, faucets and escalator handrails. The recommendations are based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The agency hasnt recommended additional disinfecting beyond routine cleaning. It has released a list of cleaning products to use against coronavirus. The cost of commercial cleaning is highly variable depending on the property type and frequency of use, according to Thumbtack, an online marketplace for local professionals thats headquartered in San Francisco. Small offices under 10,000 square feet typically cost a few hundred dollars to clean, while larger spaces are more expensive, the company said. Major tech companies have deployed deep cleaning after employees may have been exposed to coronavirus though exactly what extra steps that entails, and what firms handle the work, is unclear. Among them is San Franciscos Lyft, which said an employee at its headquarters at 185 Berry St. had been in contact with someone who was exposed to the coronavirus. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Now Playing: Here is what you need to know about the coronavirus. Video: Manjula Varghese The employee has not exhibited any symptoms, and is in touch with medical professionals, spokeswoman Alexandra LaManna said Thursday in a statement. Out of an abundance of caution (we) are encouraging our San Francisco headquarters employees to work from home through Saturday, while the office is cleaned. Lyft declined to disclose details on the cleaning. Amazon cleaned a Seattle office after an employee was diagnosed with coronavirus, local radio station KOMO reported. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the philanthropic organization founded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, also issued a mandatory work-from-home order after a worker was diagnosed with coronavirus. The company cleaned its Redwood City headquarters. Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf Italy plans to quarantine the entire Lombardy region an area that includes the nations financial hub Milan as well as Venice, in the most severe escalation of coronavirus-prevention measures to be taken outside of China. Under a draft decree published by the Italian government, citizens will be unable to leave or enter the Lombardy region, while similar restrictions are extended in established red zones including Venice, Parma and Modena. It came as: The respiratory illness spread to more than 90 countries, killing more than 3,400 people and infecting more than 100,000 worldwide. Cases in the UK rose to 209, with the family of the second person to die in the country after contracting the virus describing self-isolating as they attempted to grieve a nightmare Italian doctors warned medics across Europe to get ready while claiming a high percentage of cases are being admitted to intensive care A hotel in China used as a quarantine site collapsed with 70 people inside, triggering a complex search and rescue operation New York declared a state of emergency as the number of US cases reached 400 76 of which took place in the state A person who attended CPAC, which Donald Trump and Mike Pence also visited, tested positive. Officials said the person had no contact with the president In its latest update the Italian government announced its largest daily increase in new cases, with 5,883 confirmed to have been infected by Covid-19, up from 4,636 the previous day. So far 589 have fully recovered. The Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna regions represented 85 per cent of national cases and 92 per cent of the total 233 deaths confirmed in the country however, cases have been recorded in each of the nations 20 regions, while deaths have been confirmed in eight of them. The result has also had a knock-on effect on the Italian economy, with Rome pledging 7.5bn (6.4bn) to tackle the consequences of the virus. Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears Show all 16 1 /16 Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears Gondoliers wait for customers in Venice, Italy, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Authorities in Italy decided to re-open schools and museums in some of the areas less hard-hit by the coronavirus outbreak in the country which has the most cases outside of Asia, as Italians on Friday yearned for a return to normal life even amid fears that the outbreak could plunge the country's economy into recession. AP Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears Gondoliers wait for customers in Venice, Italy, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Authorities in Italy decided to re-open schools and museums in some of the areas less hard-hit by the coronavirus outbreak in the country which has the most cases outside of Asia, as Italians on Friday yearned for a return to normal life even amid fears that the outbreak could plunge the country's economy into recession. AP Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears A man wearing a protective mask walks past the Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) in Venice, Italy, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Authorities in Italy decided to re-open schools and museums in some of the areas less hard-hit by the coronavirus outbreak in the country which has the most cases outside of Asia, as Italians on Friday yearned for a return to normal life even amid fears that the outbreak could plunge the country's economy into recession. AP Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears A gondolier on the Grand Canal as the sun sets in Venice, Italy, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. Authorities in Italy decided to re-open schools and museums in some of the areas less hard-hit by the coronavirus outbreak in the country which has the most cases outside of Asia, as Italians on Friday yearned for a return to normal life even amid fears that the outbreak could plunge the country's economy into recession. AP Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears A local pulls a trolley as she leaves a street food market in Venice, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. A U.S. government advisory urging Americans to reconsider travel to Italy due to the spread of a new virus is the "final blow" to the nation's tourism industry, the head of Italy's hotel federation said Saturday. Venice, which was nearing recovery in the Carnival season following a tourist lull after record flooding in November, saw bookings drop immediately after regional officials canceled the final two days of celebrations this week, unprecedented in modern times. AP Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears Locals wait for a mass at the barely empty San Salvador church in Venice, Sunday, March 1, 2020. A coughing Pope Francis told Italy, pilgrims gathered for the traditional Sunday blessing that he is canceling his participation at a week-long spiritual retreat in the Roman countryside because of a cold. It is the first time in his seven-year papacy that he has missed the spiritual exercises that he initiated early in his pontificate to mark the start of each Lenten season. AP Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears Tourists wearing protective masks take photographs in Venice, Sunday, March 1, 2020. Italian tourism officials are worrying a new virus could do more damage to their industry than the Sept. 11 terror attacks as the country's confirmed cases surpassed 1,000. AP Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears Tourists wearing protective masks look at their smartphones as they have a break at the St. Mark's square in Venice, Sunday, March 1, 2020. Italian tourism officials are worrying a new virus could do more damage to their industry than the Sept. 11 terror attacks as the country's confirmed cases surpassed 1,000. AP Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears A couple stand at the Rialto bridge during a rainy day in Venice, Sunday, March 1, 2020. Italian tourism officials are worrying a new virus could do more damage to their industry than the Sept. 11 terror attacks as the country's confirmed cases surpassed 1,000. AP Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears An empty canal is seen after the spread of coronavirus has caused a decline in the number of tourists in Venice, Italy, March 1, 2020. REUTERS Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears An empty canal is seen after the spread of coronavirus has caused a decline in the number of tourists in Venice, Italy, March 1, 2020. Reuters Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears An empty canal is seen after the spread of coronavirus has caused a decline in the number of tourists in Venice, Italy, March 1, 2020. REUTERS Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears An empty canal is seen after the spread of coronavirus has caused a decline of tourists in Venice, Italy, March 1, 2020. REUTERS Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears An empty water bus after the spread of coronavirus has caused a decline in the number of tourists in Venice, Italy, March 1, 2020. REUTERS Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears Tourists shelter against the rain with umbrellas as they walk in the empty St. Mark's Square during a rainy day in Venice, Sunday, March 1, 2020. Italian tourism officials are worrying a new virus could do more damage to their industry than the Sept. 11 terror attacks. AP Streets of Venice empty due to Coronavirus fears Gondolas are parked on a rainy day in Venice, Sunday, March 1, 2020. Italian tourism officials are worrying a new virus could do more damage to their industry than the Sept. 11 terror attacks. AP Angelo Borrelli, head of the civil protection agency, said: We will win this battle if our citizens adopt a responsible attitude and change their way of living. In all the areas covered by the decree, including towns in the northern regions of Emilia-Romagna, Veneto and Piedmont, schools will be closed at least until 3 April; all museums, gyms and swimming pools will also be shut; and leave is cancelled for all healthcare workers. The 11 provinces affected are those around Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia and Rimini in the region of Emilia-Romagna; Venice, Padua and Treviso in the region of Veneto; Asti and Alessandria in Piedmont; and the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the central region of Marche. Meanwhile, Italian doctors, facing down the most severe epidemic in the west, have warned Europe to prepare for the virus to strike. In a letter to the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, seen by The Independent, critical care experts from the country warned: We are seeing a high percentage of positive cases being admitted to our intensive care units (ICUs), in the range of 10 per cent of all positive patients. We wish to convey a strong message: Get ready! While other hard-hit nations including Iran have also implemented travel restrictions and brought in school closures, the quarantining of an entire region in Italy is possibly the most draconian measure taken outside of China where the entire Hubei province that became the epicentre of the virus was cordoned off from the rest of the country to slow the viruss spread. However, while Beijings stringent measures appear to have led to a moment of turnaround for the virus with more people currently recovered than sick their quarantine measures turned to a moment of crisis on Saturday after a hotel used to isolate patients collapsed, trapping 70 people inside. The five-storey building in Fujian province was being used to house and observe people who had come into contact with Covid-19 patients when it collapsed at around 7.30pm local time. Four hours later local officials announced 38 people had been rescued from the wreckage of the Xinjia Express Hotel in Quanzhou. So far in the UK, 209 cases of the virus have been confirmed and two elderly patients have died after contracting the virus. The family of the second victim, an elderly man, described him as a truly loving and wonderful person, while expressing horror at the nightmare of having to self-isolate so soon after losing a loved one. As he has tested positive, we as a family have been tested and told to self-isolate as a precaution. they said in a statement. Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Show all 11 1 /11 Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Ben Gurion International airport, Israel Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Daxing International Airport, Beijing AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Haneda Airport, Tokyo Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Changsha Huanghua International Airport, China Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Shanghai Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Daxing International Airport, Beijing AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Haneda Airport, Tokyo Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Shanghai Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam AFP via Getty This whole nightmare is not something that we or our loved ones asked for. As we are in isolation currently, we cannot arrange for him to be put to rest and, with all the activity that is going around with regards to everyones concerns, we cannot grieve him as we would wish to. In the US, New York governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency as the total number of infected nationwide hit 400. It allows expedited purchasing and expedited hiring, which is what we need right now, Mr Cuomo told a news conference. More than half of all US states have reported cases, while an additional two people succumbed to the virus on Saturday bringing the nationwide death toll to 19. However, concern over access to tests has led to private firms and government agencies to race to ensure healthcare professionals in the country can adequately assess members of the public. On Friday, vice president Mike Pence who has been tasked with leading the nations response to the virus admitted there were not enough tests to meet demand after Donald Trump claimed in a press conference that anybody that needs a test could have one. The head of the US Food and Drug Agency (FDA) has since said materials for 2.1 million coronavirus tests will have been shipped to non-public labs by Monday. Stephen Hahn, the FDA commissioner, told reporters at the White House that manufacturers have told the agency they believe that by the end of next week they could scale up to a capacity of 4 million additional tests. Additional reporting by agencies The danger posed by a marmalade-making, vacuum-wielding housewife apparently cant be overstatedat least thats the impression you might get if you were to scan headlines in U.K. media in the past couple of months. When the BBC interviewed Alena Pettitt, a 34-year-old housewife from Gloucestershire, England, about what being a traditional wife means to her, the headline read #TradWife: Submitting to My Husband Like Its 1959. Despite the eye-catching headline, the coverage was fairly neutral: Pettitt spoke about her life and values as a housewife. Media reactions were swift; housewives who spoke up in favor of their lifestyles and traditional values were denigrated as extremists and as being as misogynistic as men, in one editorial published by the Independent; in The Guardian, links were drawn to the alt-right movement, with a final note that admitted that being a happy housewife did not equate to being a Nazi, but claimed nevertheless, its time to dial down a notch, tradwives, for your own sake. So, whats all this sound and snark about? Well, to elaborate on Pettitts case, the mom and housewife runs a website called The Darling Academy, which delves into British lifestylegood manners, homemaking tips (an entry on Pressing Matters is all about proper ironing), and old-fashioned recipes. Her Instagram feed gives a peek into her life: flowers beautifully arranged in a vase in anticipation of spring; relishing a cup of Earl Gray tea and procrastinating before doing her least favorite chore, mopping; scones, cream, and jam (all so English!). Its a snapshot of a warm home and the activities that go into its upkeep. Alena Pettitt. (Courtesy of thedarlingacademy/Instagram) On her website, Pettitt writes: Its OK to want to be a good wife. Its OK to want to make your husband happy, and its definitely OK to stand up and preserve the sanctity of marriage. 1809, 1909, 1959, 2020its all the same. Women havent changedsocietys narrative has, but they too often spin lies to make us feel bad about living differently from the norm. She got the message very young that being a housewife wasnt exactly encouraged. Different Messages Pettitt points out that around age 11 or so, girls playing with dolls or at homemaking activities are expected to drop all of this. Contrast this to the experience of boys, who might stick with their love of race cars, video games, carpentry, or other masculine hobbies well into adulthood. Thats because this is where expectations start coming in. For girls these days, their childhood toys are often replaced with the pursuit of fame, beauty, and popularity, Pettitt said. And, of course, career expectations. I was only ever celebrated when I spoke about ambitionworkplace ambition, she recalled. It really was a sense of feeling ashamed for who I was, and being shamed for who I was, as well. She said that for 10 years, because of societal expectations, she suppressed her femininity and her desire to be a housewife, as she took on a career in marketing. It was survival mode for me, she said. She worked in the beauty industry, in which the environment could be especially toxic and competitive. It became too much. She took off a year from work. During this time, she looked after the home, while her now-husband provided. They both loved the arrangement: she wasnt stressed anymore, having the time to look after the home and after him. As they took on complementary roles, the stress and fighting in their marriage turned to fun and flirting. Pettitt and her husband. (Courtesy of thedarlingacademy/Instagram)) Hes better at making money and slaying dragons, and Im a better cook, making small talk in the playground, and I actually enjoy the ironingits a win-win. Plus, I adore that man! Why wouldnt I want to spoil him? Pettitt wrote on her website. But others saw it differently. The outside world would shame us because, you know, I was [seen as] a freeloader and taking advantage of him, and he was foolish for supporting me. We still get that, funny enough, she said. Now that her son is 7 and in school, she is expected to go back to workthat is, work as they see it. If I was going, for example, to the family next door and doing their housework and their cooking and being paid for it, thats valid, she said. We celebrate all of these women that are making great achievements in the working world and give them awards. But if I want to encourage women to be better homemakers to be more efficientbecause when they do that, they feel in control and have more sense of pride in the jobIm apparently sending us back to the 1950s. Were living in a world now where people hate the idea of homemaking, or homemakers, or housewives. There is a real prejudice towards that. Once ashamed, Pettitt wont be bullied for her choice now. She believes its her calling to help women who were like her 10 years ago. In finding her voicedrawing attention, and sometimes ire, when speaking about all things housewifelyshe has given confidence to other women who are, or who wish to be, homemakers or housewives. Im raising my child myself and Im creating this loving, nested environment where people come in and I get praised on my hospitality skills and making people feel welcome. And I love it, she said. Pettitt about to go on the Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2. (Courtesy of thedarlingacademy/Instagram) Confidence for Women, Hope for Men Many women have told her, You have finally given me confidence in what Im doing, and you are the only person who has validated what Im doing. Husbands, too, are writing in. Ive had husbands email me on saying that their wives saw me on TV, and theyve been depressed because they feel so devalued. But it was a glimmer of hope for them, Pettitt said. But perhaps the most surprising group of people to write in with supportive emails is young, single menmen who want to be providers, who say they want nothing more than to have a family and to find a woman who feels similarly about homemaking and raising children. They have hope again to find a traditional wifeand have even asked her to set them up on dates, she said. Darling Academy For women who are seeking to rediscover or reclaim their femininity, Pettitt advised finding and surrounding themselves with like-minded ladies. In a past age, women might have found female mentors in their own communities, but thats not always possible. Enter: the online world. Thats the beauty of the age that were living in, because you might not find it on your doorstep and in your community. But you can find it online, which is exactly what Ive had to do, because theres no one who is like me in my social circle, Pettitt said. Pettitts Darling Academy offers tips on all aspects of homemaking, including relationships. (Courtesy of thedarlingacademy/Instagram) Then comes a period of self-discovery. You need to really make decisions for yourself and search your heart about how you want to approach things: Am I really happy wearing this type of clothing? Am I really happy with this style of dating? Am I really happy with the way I present myself? And then its self-improvement. So its books, and its courses. You have to put aside any fear because there will be criticism. But theres criticism for anything you do in life, but its liberating when you finally live as you are. Pettitt also runs a YouTube channel, a Facebook page, and now a private Facebook group of about 700 women from all around the world, at different stages in their relationships. Unlike some online groups of traditional housewives, it has no religious or political bent. Recently, a young mother asked to join, but told Pettitt she didnt think she would get accepted because of her goth style. Pettitt wasnt judgmental about it; she found it modest, just with darker colors than her own, a Morticia Addams to her Doris Day. How you look doesnt qualify you as a homemaker and a traditional housewife. Its about the position of your heart, she said. The Romance of It All Pettitt describes her home life as a fairy talein the sense of, Ive got my lovely little nest [where] I put flowers in jars and pump up cushions. And more than anything else, she gets to focus on the people she loves the most in the whole world. The other day, she made marmalade, which she normally buys. Her family found it lovely. When I put that on the breakfast table, and Ive made it myself, theres a real sense of achievement and a real sense of pride, she said. Everythings full of love and attention. Homemade marmalade. (Courtesy of thedarlingacademy/Instagram)) She said she wouldnt change her life for the world. To be empowered, earning my own salary in a job that Im really miserable in, in an office of 10 people that I couldnt care less about and a boss that shouts at me because Im five minutes late? No, thank you. Pettitt also said that as a result of managing her time well, shes been able to pursue her passion for writing. She has written Ladies Like Us, a gentle guide on what it means to be a lady today, and English Etiquette. They took a while to do, but Ive actually managed to achieve a lifelong dream in the process of living another dream, she said. Pettitt remembers that when she was growing up, her mom and most of her friends moms were busy working. There was no time to spend as a family because her mother would get home so late. Its not like she had one job. She actually had two, because we havent laid aside homemaking and housework, she said. I remember seeing my mom spend the entire weekend doing the housework. The message these days that you can be anything and do anything is sold as empowerment, power, and happiness, Pettitt said. But not everyone harbors corporate ambitions. My husband and I, our ambition is to have a small home that has no mortgage, and free time to spend with one another and indulge in our hobbies. We are kind of urban homesteaders at the moment, but we would love a smallholding [a small farm]. And thats it. You know, we dont want to rule the world. (Natural News) An underground media outlet based in the U.S., with sources in China, interviewed an anonymous Beijing doctor. The doctor, going by the alias Hou Yong, is a director of internal medicine at a Beijing hospital. He has witnessed firsthand how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has mishandled the coronavirus outbreak. He describes the city of Wuhan as hell on Earth where sick people have been rounded up and crowded together, instead of being properly quarantined, monitored and treated. Chinese Communist Party has doctors scared to speak out about whats really going on The World Health Organization has repeatedly praised the Chinese response, even though the outbreak originated in that country, they maintained a higher-than-average death rate, and it spread to countless other countries rather quickly. Hou Yong says the corruption and incompetence of the Chinese Communist Party has exacerbated the outbreak. He testifies that recently confirmed coronavirus cases at a local hospital are very serious. When these local hospitals were contacted, most of the doctors did not want to talk about the outbreak, fearing that there will be consequences for speaking out. The CCP has a stranglehold over the doctors. Medical professionals are forced to report official statistics and stick with the governments script. A radiologist at Peking University Peoples Hospital was responsible for identifying cases based on CT scans. He declined to provide more information. You must be aware of the situation in China regarding disclosing coronavirus cases to the public, said Hong Nan. I certainly cant tell you the exact number. Hou Yong revealed that Beijing is hiding the true number of cases. When Beijing announced more than 300 confirmed cases, they failed to relay that most were transmitted in the community, person-to-person. This means that several hundred more could potentially be infected and the official numbers are skewed. Chinese officials not using proper quarantine measures, exacerbating the outbreak In the interview, Hou Yong warned that one of the most recent cases at Peking Universitys Peoples Hospital is a big issue because more than 140 patients who recently visited the dialysis department were potentially affected. All of these patients are now quarantined because one of the frequent visitors to the department came down with coronavirus infection. Anyone who came into contact with these 140 plus patients or their families in the past two weeks could have been infected, so the impact could be very big, he relayed. Hou Yong says patients are being crowded into makeshift hospitals, whether they have a confirmed infection or not. It violates the most basic principle of fighting infectious disease. They need to be quarantined, he warns. He says the whole Wuhan bureaucracy is among the worst in China. Doctors who are called to Wuhan are not supplied with safety gear or food. Going to Wuhan is like an invitation to ones doom. The doctors who worked with Hou Yong were told theyd be sent to Wuhan for two weeks, but have not been back for almost a month. They are on the brink of total collapse, he warns. This shows just how nefariously effective the Chinese government has been at controlling, not the outbreak, but the minds of the Chinese citizenry. The CCP has blocked any dissent and punishes those who speak out about whats really going on. According to Yong, China is currently working on a big network project so they can stop using servers from the U.S. The CCP is establishing a new domestic root server that would give China its own local area network, allowing the government to have complete control over the flow of online information. Stay aware at Pandemic.News. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com Cooperstown, N.Y. - Kimberly Steeley was very composed on the witness stand Friday morning, vividly describing what she says happened on the two separate nights that each of her twin preemie babies died in her bed with her. The 29-year-old from Decatur, in eastern Otsego County about 20 miles east of Cooperstown, although composed, did shed many tears while testifying. Steeley is charged with two counts of manslaughter in the deaths of her twins, Bonde and Liam. Prosecutors say she smothered them by falling asleep on top of them. Her defense says the babies died of natural causes, specifically Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS. Steeley testified that when she awakened each time to find each baby unresponsive that there was nothing was blocking their airways, not any part of her body, not any bedding, any clothing or any pillows. The twins were born on May 15th of 2018, five weeks premature. They were due on June 21st. The baby boy named Liam came home at just 11 days old on May 26th, weighing only around 5 pounds. The little girl named Bonde came home on June 4th at about the same weight. Steeley says that night, Bonde, on her first night out of the hospital, wouldn't settle down and was sweaty, so after repeatedly trying to get her to fall asleep in her basinet, she had her lay in bed with her. Steeley says she intended to put Bonde back in her basinet, but admits she fell asleep, "I was laying down, I had her head on my pelvic bone and her little arms and legs over on my legs. I ended up falling asleep." Steeley says she awakened about an hour and a half later around 4:30 A.M. on June 5th, 2018, and found Bonde was in the same position she was in when she fell asleep but was unresponsive, "Picked up my phone, I called 911, first thing out of my mouth was my baby's not breathing and I elbowed Tommy, elbowed him to get him to wake up." Bonde was pronounced dead at the hospital. Steeley admits doing the exact same thing 11 days later with her other baby Liam despite being told by a nurse that it was best not to sleep with the baby in the bed with her, "I had him sleeping with me, he was very very fussy, first time ever because usually he would sleep for three or four hours at a clip and then wake up but this night I was up with him all night. Every time I put him in the basinet he got uncomfortable. I take him back out, I try to put him back in. When he'd fall asleep and wake up he wanted my body warmth." A short time later Steeley says she woke up to an unresponsive Liam, "He was in the same position and he was white, he was pale and just lifeless. It felt like a nightmare because it was happening all over again. I elbowed Tommy awake, I was on the phone with 911 and I was running down the steps with my son." Liam was also pronounced dead at the hospital. When asked by her defense attorney Andrew Van Buren, why she had Liam sleep with her in her bed after the recommendation by a nurse not to, Steeley replied, "Because I know Bonde was not smothered in anyway whatsoever." On Tuesday, Steeley's boyfriend, the father of the children, Tommy Hewitt, testified against Steeley, saying they both had been repeatedly using drugs, and that is why he believes Steeley caused the deaths of the babies by passing out on them because she was high. Steeley testified that she wasn't high on drugs, but did admit she may have taken a prescription Zanax the day before Bonde died but doesn't remember for sure. Steeley says Hewitt was the only one on drugs and she painted a very horrific picture of him when testifying. She says he had been taking heroin and methamphetamine. Hewitt did have to be released from a drug treatment center on Tuesday to testify in this case. Steeley says she had to be repeatedly drug tested after going through rehab herself in 2017, and was consistently drug tested while she was pregnant and never failed a drug test. She also said that Hewitt was no help at all in caring for the newborns, so she had to basically do everything, including staying up with them all night, until they fell asleep. She also says Hewitt physically assaulted her in 2017, about a month before she found out she found out she was pregnant, "He choked me to the point of almost passing out. When I screamed for help, he punched me in the face." When asked by her attorney if she was upset with Hewitt, Steeley replied, "Upset is not even the word, betrayal. To be able to conjure up a lie like that about your own children you have to be ill in the head." So why is Steeley charged with manslaughter and Hewitt is not, since he was also in bed, could he have possibly been the one that rolled over on the babies? Otsego County District Attorney John Meuhl says each time that the babies ended up unresponsive, they were next to Kimberly and it's believed she rolled over on them, smothering them to death. The jury is expected to get the case on Monday. Court resumes at 8:45 A.M.. A new virus first detected in China has infected more than 1,50,000 people globally and caused over 6,500 deaths. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. Medical staff pastes a notice on prevention against coronavirus, at the isolation ward of Naidu Hospital, in Pune. (Image: PTI) By Trend President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will arrive in Brussels next Monday for a single-day official visit, a statement from the Presidency said, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. According to the statement, the president will discuss the lifting of visa restrictions for Turkish citizens, the refugee crisis and amendments to the Customs Union. Erdogan will be in the Belgian and EU capital on March 9, where he will meet top European officials. Ankara has repeatedly complained that Europe has failed to keep its promises under a 2016 EU-Turkey refugee deal to help migrants and stem further migrant waves. Turkish officials announced last week that they would no longer try to stop migrants from reaching Europe. Since then, thousands of migrants and asylum seekers have flocked to the Turkish province of Edirne along the border with Greece and Bulgaria to make their way into Europe. The refugee crisis has been the main topic of discussion between Turkey and the EU recently after the formers decision not to hold back migrants anymore as it already hosts over four millions of them. The Greek reaction to refugees has been harsh, with several killed and many battered, attacked and teargassed by Greek forces. Turkey's decision on asylum seekers was made after 34 Turkish soldiers were killed by forces of Syrias Bashar Assad regime in Idlib, northwestern Syria last week. The Turkish soldiers were working to protect local civilians under a 2018 deal with Russia under which acts of aggression are prohibited in the region. Turkey, which already hosts some 3.7 million Syrian migrants, more than any country in the world, says it cannot absorb another refugee wave. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz [March 06, 2020] Barclays Updates Announcement of Reverse Split of the iPath US Treasury 10-year Bear ETN (Ticker: DTYS), iPath US Treasury Long Bond Bear ETN (Ticker: DLBS) and Barclays Inverse US Treasury Composite ETN (Ticker: TAPR) On February 28, 2020 and March 2, 2020, Barclays had previously announced via press releases (the "Prior Press Releases") a reverse split (the "Reverse Split") of its iPath US Treasury 10-year Bear ETNs (Ticker: DTYS) ("DTYS ETNs"), iPath US Treasury Long Bond Bear ETNs (Ticker: DLBS) ("DLBS ETNs") and Barclays Inverse US Treasury Composite ETNs (Ticker: TAPR) ("TAPR ETNs"): As previously announced, Barclays will implement a 1 for 25 reverse split of its DTYS ETNs, a 1 for 75 reverse split of its DLBS ETNs and a 1 for 15 reverse split of its TAPR ETNs effective at the open of trading on Monday, March 16, 2020. The ETNs currently trade on CBOE BZX Exchange ("CBOE"). The DTYS ETNs, DLBS ETNs and TAPR ETNs are collectively referred to herein as the "ETNs." Barclays Bank PLC has the right (but no obligation) to initiate a reverse split of TAPR ETNs on any business day or a reverse split of DTYS ETNs or DLBS ETNs if the closing indicative note value of such ETNs falls below $25.00 on any business day, as described in the pricing supplements relating to such ETNs. On March 5, 2020, the closing indicative note values of these ETNs were as follows: ETN Name Ticker CINV CUSIP Ratio iPath US Treasury 10-year Bear ETNs DTYS $ 2.7019 06740L451 25:1 iPath US Treasury Long Bond Bear ETNs DLBS $ 1.1581 06740L444 75:1 Barclays Inverse US Treasury Composite ETNs TAPR $ 6.8709 06742W570 15:1 The closing indicative note value of the ETNs on March 13, 2020 will be multiplied by 25 for the DTYS ETNs, 75 for the DLBS ETNs and 15 for the TAPR ETNs to determine the reverse-split adjusted closing indicative note values of the ETNs. The reverse split will be effective at the open of trading on March 16, 2020. Barclays received a notice today from CBOE of its plan to suspend trading and commence delisting proceedings in the DLBS ETNs. If the ETNs (including the DLBS ETNs) have not been delisted by CBOE by March 16, 2020, they will begin trading on CBOE on a reverse-split adjusted basis on such date. Please see the announcement by Barclays via press releases on March 5, 2020 and March 6, 2020 for more information with respect to delisting of the ETNs by CBOE. The reverse split will proceed as outlined herein regardless of whether the closing indicative note value of any of these ETNs falls to $0 on or before March 16, 2020. If the closing indicative note value of any ETN is $0 or a negative value on March 13, 2020, the closing indicative note value of that ETN immediately following the reverse split will be reported on Bloomberg (News - Alert) as $0. The reverse-split adjusted ETNs will each have a new CUSIP, but will retain the same ticker symbol. As disclosed in the pricing supplements for DTYS ETNs and DLBS ETNs, the index multiplier for these two ETNs is -$0.10, and it will remain at -$0.10 following the reverse split. As a result, following the reverse split, the payment on these two ETNs will continue to be based on a participation rate of $0.10 per ETN gain or loss for each 1.00 point decrease or increase, respectively, in the level of the index underlying the relevant ETNs, as increased by the daily interest and decreased by certain costs and fees. The effect of the reverse split for these two ETNs will be to decrease investors' exposure to the index underlying the relevant ETNs relative to the exposure immediately prior to the reverse split. Due to the deleveraging effect of the reverse split for these two ETNs, the return of the ETNs will be affected and, depending on market developments, may be lower, perhaps significantly lower, than if no such reverse split had been effected. The ETNs are not designed to be long-term investments and are not designed to be used by and may not be appropriate for investors who do not intend to regularly monitor their investment in the ETNs to ensure that it remains consistent with their market views and investment strategies. The ETNs may not be suitable for all investors and should be used only by investors with the sophistication and knowledge to understand the risks inherent in ETNs (including the nature of the exposure to the underlying index that the ETNs provide), the Index and the futures contracts that the relevant Index tracks, as well as the potential adverse consequences of seeking short investment results. In particular, investors who recently purchased DTYS ETNs or DLBS ETNs on or about March 1, 2019 and up until, but excluding the record date for the reverse split, March 13, 2020, will experience a significant decrease in their exposure to the index underlying DTYS ETNs or DLBS ETNs, as applicable, relative to the exposure applicable at the time of their purchase. Investors should consult with their broker or financial advisor and evaluate their investment in these two ETNs to ensure that their investment following the reverse split remains consistent with their desired level of exposure to the index underlying the relevant ETNs. Subject to the notification requirements set forth in the pricing supplements relating to the ETNs, investors may redeem their ETNs for a cash payment per ETN equal to the closing indicative note value on the applicable valuation date. Barclays has waived the minimum redemption amount so that investors may exercise their right to redeem their ETNs on any redemption date with no minimum amount, including any redemption date before the reverse split becomes effective on March 16, 2020. Barclays' waiver of the minimum redemption amount will be available to any and all holders of the ETNs on such redemption dates and will remain in effect until maturity or unless Barclays announces otherwise. Barclays may, at any time and in its sole discretion, make further modifications to the minimum redemption amount, including, among others, to reinstate the minimum redemption amount of 20,000 ETNs for all redemption dates after such further modification. Any such modification will be applied on a consistent basis for all holders of the ETNs at the time such modification becomes effective. Investors who hold a number of ETNs that is not divisible by 25 with respect to the DTYS ETNs, 75 with respect to the DLBS ETNs and 15 with respect to the TAPR ETNs, as of the close of business on March 13, 2020, will receive one reverse-split adjusted ETN for every 25 ETNs (with respect to the DTYS ETNs), 75 ETNs (with respect to the DLBS ETNs) and 15 ETNs (with respect to the TAPR ETNs) held on March 16, 2020 and a cash payment for any odd number of ETNs remaining (the "partials"). The cash amount due on any partials will be determined on March 20, 2020, based on the closing indicative note value of the reverse-split adjusted ETNs on such date. This amount will be paid by Barclays Bank PLC on March 25, 2020. An investment in iPath ETNs involves significant risks and may not be suitable for all investors. The ETNs are riskier than ordinary unsecured debt securities and have no principal protection. For more information on risks associated with the ETNs, please see "Selected Risk Considerations" below and the risk factors included in the relevant prospectus. The prospectuses for the ETNs to which this communication relates can be found at: http://ipathetn.com/dtysprospectus http://ipathetn.com/dlbsprospectus http://ipathetn.com/taprprospectus Barclays is the issuer of iPath ETNs and Barclays Capital Inc. is the issuer's agent in the distribution. Please contact Barclays for further questions: Financial advisors: Directly contact Barclays at [email protected] or 1-212-528-7990 to obtain further information Individual investors: Instruct your broker/advisor/custodian to email us at [email protected] or to call us at: 1-212-528-7990 You may call in together with your broker/advisor/custodian or have them speak to us on your behalf. About Barclays Barclays is a British universal bank. We are diversified by business, by different types of customer and client, and geography. Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by our service company which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group. Selected Risk Considerations An investment in the iPath ETNs described herein involves risks. Selected risks are summarized here, but we urge you to read the more detailed explanation of risks described under "Risk Factors" in the applicable prospectus supplement and pricing supplement. You May Lose Some or All of Your Principal: The ETNs are exposed to any decrease in the level of the underlying index between the applicable inception date and the applicable valuation date. Additionally, if the level of the underlying index is insufficient to offset the negative effect of the investor fee and other applicable costs, you will lose some or all of your investment at maturity or upon redemption, even if the value of such index level has increased or decreased, as the case may be. Because the ETNs are subject to an investor fee and other applicable costs, the return on the ETNs will always be lower than the total return on a direct investment in the index components. The ETNs are riskier than ordinary unsecured debt securities and have no principal protection. Credit of Barclays Bank PLC: The ETNs are unsecured debt obligations of the issuer, Barclays Bank PLC, and are not, either directly or indirectly, an obligation of or guaranteed by any third party. Any payment to be made on the ETNs, including any payment at maturity or upon redemption, depends on the ability of Barclays Bank PLC to satisfy its obligations as they come due. As a result, the actual and perceived creditworthiness of Barclays Bank PLC will affect the market value, if any, of the ETNs prior to maturity or redemption. In addition, in the event Barclays Bank PLC were to default on its obligations, you may not receive any amounts owed to you under the terms of the ETNs. Market and Volatility Risk: The market value of the ETNs may be influenced by many unpredictable factors and may fluctuate between the date you purchase them and the maturity date or redemption date. You may also sustain a significant loss if you sell your ETNs in the secondary market. Factors that may influence the market value of the ETNs include prevailing market prices of the U.S. stock markets or the U.S. Treasury market, the index components included in the underlying index, and prevailing market prices of options on such index or any other financial instruments related to such index; and supply and demand for the ETNs, including economic, financial, political, regulatory, geographical or judicial events that affect the level of such index or other financial instruments related to such index. A Trading Market for the ETNs May Not Develop: Although the ETNs are listed on a U.S. national securities exchange, a trading market for the ETNs may not develop and the liquidity of the ETNs may be limited, as we are not required to maintain any listing of the ETNs. No Interest Payments from the ETNs: You may not receive any interest payments on the ETNs. Restrictions on the Minimum Number of ETNs and Date Restrictions for Redemptions: Except with respect to the circumstances described above or as otherwise specified in the applicable product prospectus, you must redeem at least the minimum number of ETNs specified in the applicable product prospectus at one time in order to exercise your right to redeem your ETNs on any redemption date. You may only redeem your ETNs on a redemption date if we receive a notice of redemption from you by certain dates and times as set forth in the product prospectus. Uncertain Tax Treatment: Significant aspects of the tax treatment of the ETNs are uncertain. You should consult your own tax advisor about your own tax situation. The ETNs may be sold throughout the day on the exchange through any brokerage account. There are restrictions on the minimum number of ETNs you may redeem directly with the issuer as specified in the applicable prospectus. Commissions may apply and there are tax consequences in the event of sale, redemption or maturity of ETNs. Sales in the secondary market may result in significant losses. 2020 Barclays Bank PLC. All rights reserved. iPath, iPath ETNs and the iPath logo are registered trademarks of Barclays Bank PLC. All other trademarks, servicemarks or registered trademarks are the property, and used with the permission, of their respective owners. NOT FDIC INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200306005557/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A Metro-North commuter train travels along a rail corridor on Park Avenue on April 23, 2019 in New York City. Gary Hershorn/Getty Images Around 4,000 people in New York have been asked to self-isolate at home due to the coronavirus. Most of the state's cases are linked to a single patient: a 50-year-old attorney from Westchester. An 84-year-old woman who attends synagogue with that man said she had a conversation with him just days before he was diagnosed. She said she has preexisting health problems, but she's not worried about getting infected. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Vera Koppel prepared for this Wednesday like any other: She planned to chair a weekly social event at her synagogue in Westchester, New York. A lunch would be followed by a screening of the documentary "Cuba's Forgotten Jewels," about Jewish refugees who escaped to Havana from Europe. Koppel had expected about 40 people to attend but then her phone started ringing. "People kept calling all day long," she said. "There were some who said, 'Oh, I wouldn't put my foot into that building.'" Earlier that day, a 50-year-old attorney who belongs to the synagogue, Young Israel of New Rochelle, became the second person in New York to be diagnosed with the coronavirus. By around 4 p.m. that afternoon, Koppel received an email from the state health department informing her that she would have to quarantine herself for at least four days. Her movie screening was canceled. Koppel said she knows the infected attorney intimately she attended his wedding and watched his wife, who now has the coronavirus as well, grow up. "They are just the nicest people," Koppel said. "They have a law firm and they mainly deal with elder law so they're helping many of my community, the elderly people, with their wills and estate planning." Koppel said she had a lengthy conversation with the attorney at a service on February 22. The following day, Koppel and the man both attended a funeral at the synagogue. Everyone who attended the service, the funeral, or a bnei mitzvah at the synagogue on February 23, has been asked to self-isolate at home until Sunday. Story continues Since the coronavirus arrived in New York last weekend, around 4,000 people have been asked to self-isolate in their homes either because they recently traveled to a country with a severe outbreak (China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, or Japan) or had possible contact with an infected patient. As new cases are reported each day, sometimes multiple times a day, the state has thrown the full force of its efforts into containing the outbreak. "This has been almost all-consuming for me," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a press briefing on Thursday. He said controlling the virus is "a logistical monster." New York has reported 44 cases so far, most of which are linked to the 50-year-old attorney. Those cases include the man's wife, daughter, son, and neighbor, along with his friend, friend's wife, and three of their four children. A rabbi at the synagogue has also gotten sick. The state's goal is to conduct 1,000 test for the virus per day, but the current capacity is limited. A spokesperson for the state health department said on Friday that New York has around 3,000 test kits for the virus. The virus presents a high risk to the elderly Koppel, an 84-year-old Holocaust survivor, is among the 1,000 people who have been told to quarantine themselves in Westchester. She has lived in her home for the last 33 years; it's just three doors down from the synagogue. "There are some who think that this is silly," she said of the quarantine. "We just have to hope that everybody will follow the rules." When she spoke with the infected man last, she added, the coronavirus wasn't even a topic of conversation. "The virus never entered our minds," she said. "It was something far distant that other people in China had." The coronavirus outbreak originated in Wuhan, China, in December. The US reported its first case in Snohomish County, Washington, on January 20. Since then, the virus has infected at least 300 people across 22 states. People wear face masks as a precaution against coronavirus in New York on March 3, 2020. Getty Images Koppel said she is learning about the new cases in New York like everyone else, through the news. But she prefers to keep the TV off most of the time. "It doesn't make any difference our community is infected," Koppel said. "My gut feeling is that our quarantine is going to be lengthened." Koppel hasn't received any visits from health authorities Koppel said she's not at all concerned about getting the virus, which has the most severe effects on older patients with preexisting health problems. "I am one of the oldest people in the synagogue," she said. "I do have health issues, but I'm not worried about it." Westchester County. Jose F. Donneys/Shutterstock The coronavirus is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets such as saliva or mucus. But not everyone who has contact with an infected person will necessarily get sick. As of Thursday, Koppel said she hadn't received any calls or visits from health authorities. For now, she's filling her time by making phone calls and chipping away at books she'd always meant to finish. At the top of her reading list is Julie Orringer's "Invisible Bridge" and Rabbi Daniel Cohen's "What Will They Say About You When You Are Gone?." Her freezer, she added, is stocked with vegetables and bread, and community members have offered to drop more fresh food off outside her home. "It just so happens I have milk, and if I don't have fresh yogurt, I'll deal with that," she said. "There are people who are scared of anything I'm not." Read the original article on Business Insider Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ramadani Saputra (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 07:50 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068e6daa 1 Sports Novendra-Priasmoro,chess,chess-grandmaster,Super-Grandmaster,Magnus-Carlsen Free Chess prodigy Novendra Priasmoro seems to be entering a new chapter after claiming the grandmaster (GM) title last week. The 20-year-old is expected to display consistency to achieve super grandmaster status. It was GM Utut Adianto himself who encouraged him to achieve more. Novendra, who is sponsored by heavy equipment distributor PT United Tractors, is the eighth Indonesian chess player to secure the title. Its has been 16 years since Susanto Megaranto claimed the same title in 2004 when he was 17. Novendras journey to grandmaster has been filled with many ups and downs. Is this the end of the journey [for Novendra]? I say no. Ideally, Novendra needs to be able to earn an Elo rating of 2,700, said Utut, who is also the head of Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi). [Being] grandmaster is an achievement. Ideally, a grandmaster should stay in Europe, tour [the region] to compete in tournaments, he added. Utut, who is also a lawmaker, said Percasi was discussing a training program to increase Novendra's Elo rating. Utut advised his junior to focus on his career and to not think about other things, like getting married. Most of the problems faced by Indonesian athletes are non-technical. We should ask about his commitment. Success cannot be achieved without sacrifice, he said. He has a chance to improve as he is just entering the prime age of 20 to 30 years old. Next, he will compete against the creme de la creme, such as Magnus Carlsen, he added, referring to the current world chess champion from Norway. Novendra earned an Elo rating of 2,500 to earn his GM title after beating international master (IM) Klaudia Kulon of Poland at the Liberec Open in the Czech Republic.He collected 8.5 points after nine rounds. Novendra, who started playing chess at the age of 6 after watching his father play the sport, has an Elo rating of 2,502. Playing with a carefree attitude was his key to winning the Liberec Open, said Novendra who said he often struggled with stage fright while competing. Percasi development and achievements department head Kristianus Liem said Novendra would need to work hard to improve his research skills. In an era where technology has influenced sports, Kristianus said many chess players had been doing a lot of research on their opponents. In chess, it is really hard to advance to the next level. But some players can advance [drastically] once they surpass a certain level. I hope that is the case with Novendra, as he has reached GM level, he added. Novendra said he would go all-out to achieve super GM status. It will be an uphill battle from here on. I have to set a target to increase my Elo rating to 2,600 in two or three years, he said. A man returning from Daegu in South Korea has tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Vietnam, raising the country's total confirmed cases to 18. N.V.T., a 27-year-old from the northern province of Thai Binh, flew to Busan on February 17 before visiting Daegu. He was accompanied by a 24-year-old sister. Daegu, South Korea' fourth-largest city, is a COVID-19 epicenter that accounts for the majority of confirmed infections in the East Asian country. The man first developed symptoms of infection including a sore throat and coughing on February 29, while in Daegu. He and his sister returned to Vietnam on March 4 on Vietjet Air flight VJ981 from Busan to Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh. He was immediately placed under quarantine as required for all arrivals from the virus-hit area of South Korea. The man has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology announced on Saturday afternoon. The latest infection, Vietnam's second patient confirmed in under 24 hours, has raised the country's total to 18. Hanoi reported Vietnam's 17th COVID-19 patient, a 26-year-old woman who recently went on a Europe trip to the UK, Italy, and France, on Friday evening. COVID-19, which first surfaced in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 101,900 people and killed 3,488 globally as of Saturday morning, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. Vietnam has so far confirmed 18 infections, including 15 Vietnamese, two Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese American. Sixteen of the patients have recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Fridays confirmed case was the first reported infection in Vietnam since February 13. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Panicked Yes Bank customers were seen queuing up at the bank's ATMs at various locations, but to no avail as most of the money-dispensing machines have no cash, after the Reserve Bank placed the crisis-hit lender under a moratorium. However, many a customers said they were able to withdraw the stipulated amount of Rs 50,000 through cheques at Yes Bank branches. Customers are also facing trouble because net banking services are not working and some even complained that their credit cards are also not working. As the Reserve Bank has superseded the board of the private sector lender on a precarious financial condition and has appointed a former SBI executive as its administrator, customers cannot withdraw more than Rs 50,000 under the moratorium period till April 3, 2020. Several customers at a bank branch in central Delhi said they faced no problem while withdrawing the sum of Rs 50,000 through cheques. "Internet banking is not working, even the credit card has stopped working; however, I withdrew my amount through cheque," said Lalit Kumar, a Yes Bank customer of its Gole Market branch here. At an ATM in Ghaziabad, Yes Bank customers queued up to withdraw money, but to no avail as there was no cash. Most of the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) wore a deserted look due to non-availability of cash. A Delhi-based customer said he was able to withdraw limited cash of about Rs 3,000-4000 only from an ATM machines, adding the cheque withdrawal helped him take out the remaining amount under the moratorium restriction. However, a display at the Post Office situated at Parliament Street read: "No Yes Bank cheques will be cleared until further orders from the RBI." Besides, people also complained that Yes Bank facilitated meal cards are not working. Payment facilitator for small businesses Instamojo's CEO & Co-founder Sampad Swain said the company will be temporarily withholding payouts to merchants having Yes bank accounts until further clarity on the situation. "This is to ensure that no merchant's funds get blocked. As an alternate, we have provided our merchants the option to change their registered bank from Yes bank to another account," Mr Swain said. To soothe the hassled customers, Yes Bank's administer Prashant Kumar in a statement issued on Friday said that there was no need for panic and the bank was working to bring the situation under control before April 3. "The current moratorium has been brought into effect keeping the depositors' interest in mind and towards restoring their confidence. "A solution is being worked upon to revive the Bank well before the moratorium period of thirty days ends. The bank is also taking necessary steps to ensure seamless transactions for the customers. We assure the depositors that their money is safe and there is absolutely no reason to panic," Mr Kumar said. Fintech start-up in payment and transaction technology space PayNearby said: "At PayNearby, its business as usual. Our systems are up and running without any disruption. We are a strong technology backed fintech company and have multiple banking partners." "Yes Bank has been a very valuable partner in our journey and we are confident that they will soon bounce back and we will be able to continue working together again," said Anand Kumar Bajaj, MD & CEO, PayNearby. Yes Bank also said it remains available to address all queries and clarifications. Depositors are requested to get in touch with the nearest branch for any assistance. "We would like to inform you that our ATMs are now functional. You can locate the ATM nearest to you here: https://community.yesbank.in," read the Yes Bank tweet, tagging the twitter handles of the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank. "Our working hours are Monday-Saturday (9 am to 8 pm)," it added. Stock of Yes Bank came under heavy selling pressure on Friday and plunged by more than 84 per cent intra-day before closing the day down by 56 per cent at Rs 16.20 apiece on BSE. Also Read: SBI sets Rs 10,000 crore boundary for Yes Bank investment: Chairman Rajnish Kumar Also Read: YES Bank crisis: How SBI executed a perfect 'rescue plan' Tyler Cameron and his family have announced they will be establishing a charity to honor their late mother Andrea, who died Saturday at age 55 from a brain aneurysm. The Bachelorette vet and his family revealed plans for the charity through a GoFundMe page. Started by Tyler's brother Austin, the fundraising page says: 'In the wake of this tragic event, we feel compelled to honor our mother.' Honoring Andrea: Tyler Cameron and his brothers Austin and Ryan are working to establish a charity in honor of their late mother Andrea, who passed away on February 29 Andrea Cameron suffered a brain aneurysm on February 27 and was rushed to the hospital in Jupiter, Florida. She died two days later on February 29 surrounded by her sons Tyler, 27, Austin and Ryan. Just a day after being created, the GoFundMe had raised nearly $8,000 of the $20,000 goal. Reaching goal: Just a day after being created, the GoFundMe had raised nearly $8,000 of the $20,000 goal, the page was created by his brother Austin (pictured in February) In the posting, Austin explained the creation of the charity 'We are developing a charitable foundation so that she can continue to impact others as she has always done; we feel this is the best way to continue her legacy of giving.' Adding: 'In lieu of flowers, we ask that you donate to the GoFundMe account so we can begin our quest of serving others like she had her entire life.' 'Thank you for all of the support and love the community has poured down on us,' the page said. 'We are forever grateful.' To honor: In the posting, Austin explained the creation of the charity 'We are developing a charitable foundation so that she can continue to impact others as she has always done; we feel this is the best way to continue her legacy of giving' The Palm Beach Post first reported the death of Andrea and spoke with Tyler on the passing of his mother. 'She was super supportive,' Tyler told the newspaper of Andrea. 'But what was so amazing ... she was supportive for [The Bachelorette 15 Hannah Brown] and everyone else who was a part of that show but she was also supportive to the random fans.' Cameron took to Instagram Monday with a joint statement from himself and brothers Ryan and Austin. Loss: Andrea Cameron suffered a brain aneurysm on February 27 and was rushed to the hospital in Jupiter, Florida. She died two days later on February 29 surrounded by her sons Tyler, 27, Austin and Ryan The general contractor wrote on Instagram: 'We will love and miss our mother dearly. She will live on through us and through those that she has had an impact on' The general contractor posted a photo of their mother's red manicured hand hooked up to medical tubes, held by his and his brother's hands. He wrote: 'Today heaven gained an angel. We will love and miss our mother dearly. She will live on through us and through those that she has had an impact on. 'While we grieve, we ask for two things: First, tell those you love that you love them; and second, please let us take this time to celebrate her life in private. Thank you for all of your love and support.' The 45-year-old mastermind of a fake currency racket was arrested from his native Kerala by Mumbai police's Crime Branch, an official said on Saturday. Leo George was held from Murickassery near the tourist town of Munnar in the southern state's Idukki district by a team of Crime Branch's Unit IX, he added. George's role in the racket came up after the arrest of Vishnu Vijayan and Don Varkey, residents of Ulwe in Navi Mumbai, from Andheri in the metropolis with 590 fake notes of Rs 500 denomination on Thursday. "Vijayan and Varkey have been trained in printing fake notes by George. He is wanted in three other such cases, including one involving Malayalam television actor Surya Sasikumar and two of her relatives," he said. George was brought to Mumbai on Saturday morning and a court here remanded him in police custody till March 11, the official, adding that Malayalam interpreters were being brought in for George's interrogation as he is not conversant with Hindi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Since moving from China to Montreal five months ago, Zoe Qiu has been documenting her immigrant experience the best way she knows how by making comics. The comics, which Qiu has been posting on Instagram as "La vie au Quebec," touches on everything from "bonjour-hi" at the pharmacy to debating whether Canada is a French-speaking country. "Comics are my language, that's how I communicate with people," Qiu told CBC Montreal's Daybreak. "When I draw cartoons, I feel relaxed. I also try to find something positive and funny in my art, and it helps me go through the difficulties and challenges here." Annie Deir/CBC These challenges include trying to learn French. Several of her comics touch on some of the so-called land mines of the language. "It is already driving me crazy," she laughed. "French makes the words into male and female everything has its gender!" Qiu, who draws herself with rabbit ears, said she understands that French is important in Montreal and is making the effort something other immigrants can empathize with. zoe.qiu0630/Instagram Members of Montreal's Chinese community have told her the work is "exactly like their daily life" in Quebec, including the uncertainties that come with being so far from home. In one comic, Qiu described what it was like celebrating the Chinese New Year abroad, worrying about her parents in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak back home. zoe.qiu0630/Instagram But Qiu said she hopes her comics resonate, not only with other immigrants, but also with Montrealers who are curious about people moving to their city. This week, a Republican lawmaker wore a gas mask on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as he cast a vote to fund the nations coronavirus response. The mask covered the face of Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida with a clear shield and a protruding plastic snout as he mingled in the historic chamber, while an epidemic sneaked unseen across the U.S. Whether you think the move was inappropriate or a welcome drop of levity, it did underscore one thing: coronavirus is likely to be in the halls of the U.S. Capitol soon. Congress is taking much more serious steps for its arrival than a joke mask. Congressional leaders held an operational briefing on Wednesday to discuss coronavirus response at the Capitol. Theres a lot of talk behind closed doors, said Rep. Jim Himes, D-4. Were 435 people who come in and out of every corner of America and reconvene and so at some point we could be a vector. Some international trips for members of Congress have been canceled. Capitol offices are developing plans to work remotely, if needed, and some Capitol staff with compromised immune systems have already started to work from home, a Senate aide said. Handshakes are out and constant hand-washing is in. Cleaning staff have amped up efforts throughout the sprawling, seven building Capitol complex. Im doing a lot of hand sanitizer, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. Heres why it matters: the House and Senate need a quorum, or majority of members present, to conduct business. Widespread absences could grind legislating to a halt. Also, House and Senate members are overwhelmingly older. Seniors or people with pre-existing health conditions are most at risk for a serious illness or death from the coronavirus. The average age of House members was 57.6 years, as of January 2019, according to the Congressional Research Service even after the youth movement of 2018. For the Senate, the average age was 62.9. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is 78. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is 79. The average age of the Connecticut delegation is 62. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, is the eldest member of the delegation at 77. Get this news in your inbox. Sign up for the CTPolitics newsletter. More and more coronavirus cases have been confirmed throughout the country, including at least three individuals in the county adjacent to Washington, D.C. There are numerous avenues for exposure for members of Congress and their staff. They regularly fly to and from the districts in all parts of the country to Washington. In their districts, they regularly meet with people and hold events. Meanwhile in Washington, lawmakers attend conferences, fundraising dinners, meetings and congregate daily to vote. Its now fly-in season, a Senate aide said, meaning groups from all over come to the Capitol to lobby for their cause. And many, many visitors tour the Capitol building every single day. There was a group that was going to come to the Capitol, again, next week, said Blumenthal. We had certificates prepared that I was going to present and instead were going to send them because they canceled. RELATED: Private labs boost CT coronavirus testing On Friday night, leaders behind the recent American Israel Public Affairs Conference announced that two New Yorkers who attended the conference tested positive for coronavirus. About two-thirds of Congress attended, AIPAC said, including 23 Democrats and 13 Republicans who spoke at the conference. The speakers included Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Vice President and presidential candidate Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and other top members of the House and Senate, according to AIPACs website. Connecticut Democrats Sen. Chris Murphy and Rep. Jim Himes both attended a global security conference in Munich, Germany in February, with many other members of Congress, where they met with world leaders and staff from numerous countries, including Iran and China, where serious outbreaks of the virus have occurred and some political leaders have been sickened. We should take the same precautions were advising all Americans take, said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. Wash your hands. Be careful about human contact... We tend to be in contact with more people in our line of work and that means we have to be a little bit more careful. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar has said that the state government was well-prepared to prevent the spread of Covid-19 virus in Karnataka. "The government is extremely vigilant and taking a lot of initiatives to prevent the spread of virus. Till date, more than one lakh passengers from foreign countries have been screened. Anyone suspected to be infected will be isolated for 28 days," he said. Sudhakar said that special wards had been set up at all district hospitals and they had been equipped with necessary device for detecting the virus. He said that corporate entities had been directed to stop using biometric system for a few days. YPSILANTI TWP., MI -- President Donald Trumps campaign advisor and daughter-in-law Lara Trump is scheduled to appear on a Women for Trump discussion panel in Ypsilanti Township on Monday. Lara Trump will join two members of the Trump and GOP communications teams: former White House Director of Strategic Communications Mercedes Schlapp and Republican National Committee spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany, according to a news release from the Michigan Trump Republicans. The three will be at the Ann Arbor Marriott at Eagle Crest as part of the only stop in Michigan on the Trump 2020 Bus Tour, according to the release. The event starts at 6 p.m. Monday, March 9, at 1274 S. Huron St., Ypsilanti. Attendance is free, but registration is required. MORE FROM MLIVE: Biden coming to Grand Rapids, Detroit on Monday How to make hand sanitizer at home as stocks run low due to coronavirus Michigans local election offices open this weekend for early voting -- and what else you need to know President Shavkat Mirziyoev has ordered the abolition of a decades-old state quota system for cotton crops, a major change that rights activists said should help end the Uzbekistan's longtime problem with forced labor. The decree, signed by Mirziyoev on March 6, cancels quotas beginning in 2020 for the cultivation and sale of cotton. The order also removes obligations on farmers to participate in cotton production, which experts say should give them more flexibility to plant other cash crops. Cotton exports have long been a major source of revenue for Uzbekistan stretching back decades into the Soviet era, when central planners ordered wide-scale cotton cultivation, despite the country's hot, arid climate. But mandatory production quotas have led to labor abuses, with many Uzbeks being forced to help do the back-breaking labor of picking the crops. Children have also been forced to pick cotton. An international coalition of rights groups known as the Cotton Campaign has for years lobbied the Uzbek government to do more to stop forced labor. It has also pressured major clothing brands to prevent their products from utilizing cotton picked with forced labor. The U.S. government had previously imposed restrictions on the import of Uzbek cotton goods. Lynn Schweizfurz, an advocate with the Uzbek-German Forum on Human Rights, welcomed the abolition of the state quota system, saying it would give farmers more freedom to plant crops of their choosing. But she also warned that the Uzbek system of 'clusters' -- a system aimed at making the countrys agriculture more efficient and modern -- could end up hurting farmers. The International Labor Organization also hailed the change, calling it a "historic development." Eleven Norwood residents, including the towns general manager, are self-quarantining after they were exposed to a town resident who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The chairman of the towns Board of Selectmen, Paul Bishop announced the measures after the group attended an event at a private residence last weekend and one of the attendees has since tested positive for the virus. Town Manager Tony Mazzucco said he developed cold-like symptoms this week, and as a result, decided he would be tested for the Coronavirus, also known as COVID 19, and self-quarantine. He said he would continue to work but from home rather than in his office. Town offices will operate as usual and hold normal business hours. The other 10 town employees who attended the event have not been named at the advice of the town counsel. All will follow Mazzuccos example and remain at home for at least 14 days. The event drew some 30 people and the individuals health departments have contacted them to suggest the self-quarantine and to monitor for virus symptoms. The CDC advises that the symptoms of the coronavirus appear within 2 to 14 days of exposure and include fever, cough, shortness of breath and, in severe cases, pneumonia. Anyone experiencing the symptoms mentioned should contact their primary health provider. Meanwhile, Biden, whose campaign seemed on life support, has catapulted to the front of the delegate pack with a Super Tuesday surge few thought possible. Moderates have coalesced. They have found their candidate. Biden isnt California Democrats first choice, but the election in November isnt about this state. Its about Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida states that backed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 but Trump won in 2016, each by margins of less than 1.2 percentage points. If Democrats hope to recapture the presidency, they must remember those swing voters in those swing states. At the same time, they, and Biden in particular, ignore and dismiss Sanders and his coalition at their peril. Hillary Clinton learned that lesson the hard way in 2016. A bloc of Sanders voters has no party loyalty and jumped to Trump in the 2016 general election. And some younger voters turn out for Sanders rallies but didnt show up at the polls with the same intensity last Tuesday. To be successful, Democrats need both those groups as well as the centrists who are the core of Bidens support. Bridging the gap wont be easy. To contain bootlegging and drug peddling in Ghaziabad district ahead of Holi, 287 people have been arrested after 250 cases were registered over the last four weeks in connection with this matter, a senior police officer said. Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani told media on Friday that more than 30,700 litres of liquor worth Rs 1 crore was seized in the period. He said truck owners would also be booked for renting out their vehicles for ferrying the smuggled liquor. Aside from bootleggers, 191 drug peddlers were also nabbed with 200 kg ganja and 80 kg poppy husk recovered in that period, the SSP said. Besides this, strict action would be taken against petty drug peddlers found selling the narcotic products in pouches, Naithani added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even with emergency preparedness, the flooding experienced by Nebraska last spring caught many public entities off-guard, Dodge County Emergency Manager Tom Smith said during a panel Thursday. It was just so quick in how it all happened, he told the audience. Finding those partners that could be part of the emergency operation center, finding those partners within the community, that had to happen on the fly. And it was definitely a stressful event. Smith was one of four panelists who spoke at NET Nebraskas Flood Recovery Discussion Panel at Logan View Public Schools Thursday evening. Other panelists included Fremont City Administrator Brian Newton, Winslow Volunteer Fire Department Chief Zachary Klein and United Methodist Church Great Plains Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Hollie Tapley. Part of our goal has been to go out and talk to the people who were most affected by [the flood], and thats certainly the people in this room as well, NET News Director Dennis Kellogg said. So we really appreciate you coming out and sharing your thoughts with us. The panel, along with two previous talks, was filmed and will be part of an hour-long episode of Speaking of Nebraska, which will air March 19 on NET. It was moderated by NET Senior Producer Bill Kelly, who produced the documentary And the Floods Came: Nebraska 2019. The panelists spoke on their experiences before, during and after the flooding experienced by the state last March. They also took questions from local residents in attendance. Smith said he had taken the position of emergency manager for Dodge County for just seven months prior to the flood. It was nothing that I had ever been part of, he said. Weve just had ice jams before. Newton said he didnt think many people took the flood seriously at first, citing a woman who called him to say she had just bought a house in Fremont and was told that it had never flooded there. I said, Maam, you live in a floodplain. You should have known that it was going to flood at some point in time, he said. Until it happened, where we had to issue evacuation orders, I dont people thought it was real. Klein said although the town of Winslow was used to flooding in the past, they still had to knock on doors to get people evacuated. We were trying to get people away, get them in their vehicles, get them moving, and not all of them left. It was difficult, he said. I think apathy is the best word for it, apathy or complacency: Its never been that bad before, so why should it be any different this time? As part of the United Methodist Church Great Plains Conference, Tapley has dealt with disasters in the Midwest. She said she also wished volunteers would step up, as she had many who were interested reaching out as the flooding started. Well, its too late, Tapley said. So it is difficult, and I wish I knew the magic answer to get people to understand that youve got to be prepared. Youve got to take it seriously. Despite Fremont running tabletop exercises on disasters, Newton said the magnitude of the flood took the city by surprise, especially the breaking of its levee, which had never broken in the past. A third of Fremont flooded, and it wasnt just a low land, it was a lot of area with three to four feet of rushing water that came through, he said. We probably will plan differently for the next time. The city also never expected to become an island, Newton said. Never in our wildest dreams had we ever imaged that you had no roads in or out of Fremont, he said. Newton also highlighted the use of social media as a useful tool during the flood. After asking for volunteers to fill sandbags, the city received multiple people helping out. After the intersection of Military Avenue and Ridge Road became flooded late one night, Newton drove out to the location to find 50 people putting down more sandbags than they could provide. I said, Ill go back for another load, he said. Ill bet you there were a dozen pickups that followed be back down to Arps Red-E-Mix to help us load sandbags. Klein said Winslow, which was hit hard by the flooding, received mutual aid from other communities including Hooper, who gave the residents shelter. They were doing anything and everything they could to make sure that anybody who was displaced had somewhere to go, he said. So even the surrounding communities all did an excellent job in assisting at that point so that everyone who was displaced at least had something. By the time Klein and others were able to return to the community, they had to pump water out of the town. The number of occupied residences went from 38 to just nine, he said. Winslow is currently in talks to relocate its community. Klein said the village is waiting on legislation from State Sen. Lynne Walz that would allow for its relocation. The future of the community is still up in the air, he said. As a village board, were working hard to try to solidify what the future of the communitys going to be, but we dont know that answer yet. As far as Fremonts preparedness, Newton said the city was so ready for another flood that the ice jam on the Platte River last month caught it off guard. This ice jam couldve been very dangerous, he said. It couldve been almost as dangerous as the flood, because we are now so vulnerable with some of the breaches and some of the things that the high flood damaged that we have to fight now. Tapley said the United Methodist Church Great Plains Conference has gotten even more volunteers and is better prepared for a future flood in Nebraska. Weve got people who are resilient, and we have people who care about our communities, and so they step up and help, she said. And if we can keep preaching that, keep teaching that, keep pushing that, I think were going to see in the next go-around a lot of stronger communities coming together because we have experienced it. Tapley also said the organization was looking nationally at broadening planning and training. We are looking at what might, what could, surprises, she said. Were trying to build each scenario and figure out how we can help the communities, the emergency managers if this happens. Klein said residents need to have an open communication path and have an emergency plan in place. Dont wait for somebody to tell you what is going on, he said. Watch the news, talk with people if you have questions, try to figure it out. Then as a community leader, do your best to find a way to push that information out to try and affect as many people as you can. Kelly thanked the panelists for taking time to speak about the flood, as well as their efforts during the past year. I cant attest to whether youve kept your sanity or not, but youre all looking pretty good right now, he said. But its a real tribute to not only you, but every other county, every other village, every other township and district across the state. Its amazing. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A boy, who police believe is 13, has been stabbed in east London. Met Police officers were called to Munday Road, Canning Town, at around 7.39pm by the London Ambulance Service. The teen was rushed to hospital and his condition is not yet known. There have been no arrests. Enquiries continue. A statement from Newham MPS said: "Police were called by LAS at 19:39hrs to Munday Road #Newham #E16 after a teenager was found with a stab injury. New Delhi: Star couple Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas flew to India in time to celebrate Holi with their family and friends. On Friday night, Priyanka and Nick arrived at a star-studded Holi bash in Mumbai and oh, boy, they looked so wonderful together in their white outfits. Sharing pictures from the party, Nick wrote that he had a blast during his first Holi celebrations in his second home in India. "My first Holi! (Five days early) So much fun celebrating with such incredible people here in my second home in India," he captioned his post, which includes pictures of him with Priyanka and one with Katrina Kaif. Take a look: Nick's second post was dedicated to Priyanka and he wrote, "She makes me smile a lot." Among the other stars to attend the Holi bash was Jacqueline Fernandez, Vicky Kaushal, Sonali Bendre, Diana Penty, Armaan Jain-Anissa Malhotra, Rajkummar Rao-Patralekhaa and many others. Priyanka's mother Madhu Chopra was also photographed at the party as so was her brother Sidharth and his rumoured girlfriend Neelam. Priyanka and Nick married in December 2018 in Jodhpur. They later hosted three wedding receptions in Delhi and Mumbai. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Contagion has yet to hit the U.S.-Mexico border region, but as the new coronavirus spreads across the globe, companies and trade experts are closely monitoring the outbreak and preparing for disruptions. Some companies at the Santa Teresa border industrial parks in southern New Mexico are already facing dwindling supplies from China and South Korea, where international shipments of goods and components critical to operations here slowed down or ground to a near halt in the past month, said Jerry Pacheco, executive director of the International Business Accelerator and president of the Border Industrial Association. Anyone tied into Korea or China is feeling the strain, Pacheco said. One company with materials that come from China and go into their plant here told me that many Chinese suppliers have had to shut their plants down, or that only 50% of the workforce is showing up. Items like automobiles and electronics contain thousands of components, and a delay in receiving just one component delays production of that item. Companies are stockpiling inventory in preparation for supply-chain disruptions. But that, in turn, is driving up demand for temporary warehouse space. Thats difficult to provide in the short term, because the industrial real estate market in Santa Teresa and nearby El Paso is already near capacity, reflecting todays booming trade along the border. The real estate market here is already tight, with unprecedented occupancy rates, and (building managers) want five-year tenants, not people looking for temporary space for five months, Pacheco said. Ive dealt with three companies just in the past two weeks looking for temporary space to store as much supply as they can to mitigate disruptions going forward. One company is in the process of moving its production from Asia to this region to better manage the current risk from coronavirus and from other potential epidemics or natural disasters in the future, Pacheco said. Theres discussion all over, especially among colleagues in the auto industry who are worried and trying to figure out a plan B if there are major disruptions in trade, Pacheco said. In the long term, that bodes well for the region, which could see more companies with off-shore operations re-shoring their production and supply chains as they prioritize risk management over the economic gains they reap from cheaper business costs in Asia, Pacheco said. But its difficult to make such major transitions in the short term, and as the virus spreads worldwide, the hit to the global economy in general and potentially to trade along the border could be significant. It certainly has great potential to slow economic momentum, Pacheco said. Here at the border, were tied into the global economy and we export to the world. The local impact (from coronavirus) all depends on what happens with the global economy. The problem is no one knows how extensive the worldwide contagion will be before its contained or a vaccination is developed, making predictions on economic impact difficult, said Robert Queen, director of the U.S. Commerce Departments New Mexico Export Assistance Center. Its still developing, so its too early to forecast anything in relation to the virus, Queen said. Its not just a border story, its a global story, and we dont know what the impacts will be. Less movement of goods, people New Mexico Trade Alliance President Randy Trask said limits on movement of goods and people are impacting everyday business activities, such as attendance at trade shows or travel to manage business operations. The coronavirus may affect business a lot more than people are thinking, Trask said. The entire country of China more or less shut down for an entire month. A huge number of not just consumer goods, but electronics, components and so forth coming from China all came to a virtual halt. Many companies had stocked up on inventory in advance of the Chinese New Year, which is when the coronavirus hit. But in the weeks since, most of that inventory has been depleted, and without more flow of inputs to manufacture, distribute or sell, things will get put on hold, which leads to production declines and layoffs, Trask said. These are very real things we have to think about, Trask said. Nobody knows yet what the situation will look like in the coming weeks, in part because everyone is mostly focused on the health impacts now. But there could be real consequences on the business side. Those impacts could potentially spread well beyond trade to include nearly all business sectors, depending on how widely and severely the virus migrates in the U.S. and elsewhere. No cases of coronavirus have yet been identified in New Mexico, but Exxon Mobil said Thursday it will reduce investments and rigs operating in the Permian Basin in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico because worldwide energy demand is dropping, significantly cutting crude prices. The border region may be particularly vulnerable to contagion, given the massive flow of people and goods back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico, with tens of thousands of crossings everyday. Thats aggravated by immigration problems, with thousands of Central Americans and others seeking refuge in the U.S., many of whom are currently housed in hostels and makeshift tent cities in Juarez, Pacheco said. In a worst-case scenario, there would be a lot of disruption at the border as screenings are enforced for everyone coming and going, Pacheco said. That would significantly delay commercial transport between businesses on both sides of the border, said Guillermo Lopez, general manager for printing company Monarch Litho, which operates plants in Santa Teresa and Juarez. We send goods everyday back and forth, Lopez said. Waiting times to cross the border could become much longer. Supply chain disruption hurts Companies all along the border, from Texas to California, are facing supply-chain issues, said Ernesto Bravo, president of the Tecma Groups western division and board member of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerces California division. Tecma helps manufacturers worldwide to set up facilities in Mexico. Were absolutely seeing disruptions all along the supply chain with China, some more serious than others, Bravo said. A car generally has some 14,000 components, and if just one is missing, you cant build the car. Its the same situation with electronics or consumer goods if you dont have just one single piece of raw material needed for a more complex product, it impacts production. On the positive side, there are signs of supply-chain problems easing as contagion slows in China, Bravo said. And, like Pacheco, Bravo believes the coronavirus will likely accelerate the trend of businesses seeking to re-shore operations from Asia to the Americas, particularly in Mexican border regions like Juarez and Tijuana. Thats been a growing trend since the Great Recession in 2008, and since the Tsunami in Japan in 2011. Weve been seeing that trend all along the border for at least five years, Bravo said. Companies want to distribute the supply chain closer to operations here and not put everything all in one basket in Asia. That transition will take time, limiting its ability to buffer potential impacts now from the coronavirus. But even with major disruptions, New Mexicos trade with its southern neighbor and other countries will continue, Pacheco said. NM exports more goods than ever New Mexicos exports worldwide reached a record $4.8 billion last year, up 30% from $3.7 billion in 2018. That made New Mexico the No. 1 state in the nation in percentage growth in exports, according to the Commerce Department. Of the total, Asia accounted for $1.52 billion in exports, including $921 million to China, $279 million to Japan, and $129 million to South Korea. But while those exports may be most vulnerable now given the coronavirus spread in Asian countries, Mexico remains the states top trading partner, absorbing a record $2.39 billion in New Mexican products last year, or 50% of the states total exports. Even in a worst-case scenario, the coronavirus would not shut down the border, Pacheco said. Our economies are so tied together, we simply cant see the border close, because it would be shooting ourselves in the foot, Pacheco said. Both countries need to work together on preemptive measures and containment. We still need all the products that go back and forth, and while the coronavirus could cause disruptions, trade will go forward, he said. The proportion of females on the boards of the largest Irish publicly listed companies is below the average across the EU. However, Ireland rates above average when it comes to the share of women in managerial and senior executive jobs, according to a new study. The Eurostat research places the country among the top 10 with the greatest share of women in managerial jobs. A total of 41pc of managers are female, compared with an EU average of 37pc. Some 22pc of senior executives in publicly listed companies are women compared with an average of 18pc in the EU. However, when it comes to board membership in the biggest publicly listed firms, they lag behind the average of 28pc among the 27 EU states, at 26pc. The study, released ahead International Women's Day, reveals only one manager in three is a woman in the EU. More than 6.7 million people are managers across the EU, but the vast majority - 63pc - are men. Women account for little over a quarter of board member of publicly listed companies and for less than a fifth of senior executives overall. "In other words, although representing approximately half of all employed persons in the EU, women continue to be under-represented amongst managers," said the report. Latvia is the only member state in which women are in a majority among managers. The report comes as the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission called for gender quotas for company board memberships to be placed on a statutory basis in a submission to the Citizens' Assembly. A separate report revealed that Ireland ranks 34th of 36 OECD countries for gender balance among engineering graduates. Just 14pc of engineering graduates are women. This compares to top performer Iceland where it is 42pc. However, girls now make up most students who sit Junior Cert higher level papers in science and maths. The Engineers Ireland report found some 56pc of female engineers believe the sector in Ireland has better and greater opportunities for men than women. After almost two months since dropping the bombshell that they will be stepping down as senior members of the royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had their first-ever public appearance together. It was Meghan's first time to step foot again in the United Kingdom to complete some final royal engagements before officially cutting ties with the royal family on March 31st. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex graced the annual Endeavour Fund Awards at London's Mansion House, looking refreshed, happy, and in love more than ever. The event celebrated the accomplishments of wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, who joined the sporting event last year. Boo Meghan and Harry! The minute the royal couple stepped down of the car, the people waiting outside to get a glimpse of them were impressed with their looks. The 38-year-old Duchess looked elegantly beautiful with her turquoise blue short-sleeve figure-hugging dress from Victoria Beckham's brand, while the 35-year-old Duke complemented his wife's outfit by sporting a navy blue suit. Despite the loud cheers from the crowd who are happy to see the couple together, one heckler tried to spoil the mood by booing Meghan and Harry loudly. However, the onlooker's attempt to ruin the moment failed miserably as the couple did not mind the loud boo and continued smiling and waving to the crowd. Nice to Be Back Meghan, who was sporting an elegant low ponytail and full makeup, told the audience how happy she is to be back in the organization. "It's very nice to be back. It's the third year I've had the incredible fortune of joining my husband here," Meghan said. "It's just the most inspiring space. When we were watching the videos (of nominees) all the way in Canada we had the same moment of 'how are you going to choose?" Harry also said a few words at the event, telling the group of the brave crowd: "Some of you tonight have told me you have my back, well I'm also here to tell you I've always got yours." During his heartfelt speech, Harry also acknowledged the fact that he will always be honored to serve the Queen, a.k.a his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II. "Being able to serve the Queen and country is something we're all rightly proud of," Prince Harry said. "It never leaves us. Once served, always serving." Baby Archie Update During the reception, Meghan and Harry mingled with some of the nominees and their families. The Duchess was spotted talking to Claire Spencer, wife of Lee Spencer -- one of the awardees who served the Royal Marines for 24 years and lost a leg after helping in a traffic accident. Later on, the 52-year-old Claire spoke to the reporters and had nothing but good words to the royal couple. Claire also shared a rare update shared by Meghan about their baby boy Archie. "She said 'oh yes, well he is ten months now and is into everything,'" Claire shared. BUCKS COUNTY >> Police in Northampton, Lower Southampton and Upper Makefield townships report the following incidents and arrests: Lower Southampton THEFT >> In the early morning hours on Monday, Jan. 10 two individuals made off with the entire change machine from the Feasterville Laundromat along Bustleton Pike. The male appears to be "cracking himself up" while he hatches his scheme... Leaning forward in his desk chair, flanked by a disinfectant gun full of cleaning solution, Robert Zywicki prepared for a major announcement. But first, the Mount Olive school superintendent had to finish another phone call about the coronavirus. That call required him to tap out a lengthy text message Friday about the novel virus sweeping the globe and now New Jersey. Finally, the superintendent was free to spill it. Mount Olive will close schools Monday so teachers can start doing the very thing that has consumed Zywicki figuring out how to pull off weeks of home instruction if coronavirus spreads to the Morris County community. I understand that might cause alarm, Zywicki said as he filmed a video message. This is purely precautionary." Precautionary and coronavirus were the dominant words Friday as Zywicki and his team of administrators met to develop plans to do something unlike anything theyve done before: Teach more than 4,500 students remotely at the drop of a hat. Its unprecedented, Zywicki said during a break before two hours of coronavirus meetings. We are in uncharted territory here. We really are." With the states first four cases of coronavirus appearing this week, New Jersey announced Friday that schools should plan for home instruction if ordered to close by health officials. The state also broke precedent and said it would count those days toward the mandatory 180-day school year. The news sent New Jerseys nearly 600 districts scrambling, as reality set in that the states 115,000 teachers must prepare for the possibility of educating 1.3 million students from home if the coronavirus causes a statewide shutdown. Yet leaders remained calm in Mount Olive, where Zywicki gathered top district officials Friday to make a plan for, well, making a plan. Mount Olive will prepare for at least 14 days of home instruction based on feedback from the state and as long as 30 days, he said. Though remote learning sounds easy in the digital age, Zywicki said, it presents a logistical nightmare that schools never imagined they would experience. There were massive, long closures for Hurricane Sandy, Zywicki said. There have been multiple-day closings for snow days. But no one attempted to do instruction like that. Robert R. Zywicki, left, superintendent of Mount Olive Township School District, prepares to announce a school closing Monday so teachers can plan for home instruction days. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media He called an all hands on deck meeting with 19 key officials, including the township mayor, the local health officers and his top administrators. Sitting around a long conference table, they began formulating a vision that looks a lot more like school of the past than school of the future. The district has a 1-to-1 ratio between laptops/tablets and its students, but not every Mount Olive family has internet access at home, Zywicki said. And expecting a kindergartner to take home an iPad and watch a teacher on a screen is asking too much, he added. In fact, a synchronized, online experience just isnt feasible for any grade level, Zywicki said. So what will students see instead? Textbooks. Worksheets. Novels. Actual pencils and paper. This is why books still matter, Zywicki said. The district is directing teachers to meet Monday to build plans for each grade level in the core subject areas. Anything students can get from high school electives will be considered a bonus, officials said. Mount Olive also intends to develop additional online options for students who have internet access at home, including high school students who each have a district laptop. State guidelines dont appear to give a specific length of time students will need to be participating in instruction or school work. They require a length of time sufficient to continue the students academic progress, depending on their ability to participate. The state Department of Education declined to comment on any daily time requirements beyond providing that language from the state school code. Mount Olive expects it can offer students at least an hour of schoolwork a day and hopes to provide more. Its basic, but better than nothing, Zywicki said. If we were not providing home instruction, it would be like summer break, Zywicki said. At least we are making an effort to do the best we can." Weeks of home instruction are far from ideal," said Steve Baker, spokesman for the New Jersey Education Association, the states largest teachers union. But students health must come first, and schools should do what they can to continue educating students if they need to stay home, he said. Mount Olive expects the bulk of school work would be focused on maintaining skills rather than new instruction, officials said. The district also expects a difficult transition if classes resume after a multiple-week absence. Beyond basic academics, home instruction days present major logistical challenges. What about special education? Mental health services? Sports? Childcare? Paychecks for cafeteria workers and bus drivers? Zywicki is thinking about all of that, plus the growing need for custodial crews to keep the schools and buses sanitized with special cleaning sprayers filled with a pH-neutral chlorine solution. He is especially worried about students who receive free or reduced breakfast and lunch. He hopes to come up with a plan for providing meals, even if it means dropping them at the door of the school for families to pick up, he said. My biggest concern is meeting the needs of our at-risk students when school shuts down, he said. For many of those kids, school is a safe place. School is place that is warm, and school is a place where they get fed. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. 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. Yes Bank crisis: Hours after the SBI announced to invest Rs 2,400 crores in the Yes Bank, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said SBI role is not voluntarym it's being forced. He also called the Yes Bank crisis a fiasco and failure of the Mod government. Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, 2 days after the RBI suspended Yes Banks managing boad and put a Rs 50,000 withdrawal in a Month limit for bank customers, addressed a press conference and launched a sacathing attack against Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Narendra Modi government. Senior Congress leader, who is also a Economic expert, raised several questions after the State Bank of Indias (SBI) stepped in to help the Yes Bank. Chidambram said, in his view, the SBI is being commanded and forced to rescue the Yes Bank. Talking to the media, Chidambaram said like the LIC was not a volunteer in IDBI Banks rescue, SBI is not volunteering for the Yes Bank. All this seems to be planned and command performances, said the former Finance Minister. Mocking the Narendra Modi government over mismanagement of financial institutions, Chidambaram added that the Yes Bank crisis is a fiasco. Quoting sensexs poor performance on Friday, he further said that the best judge to economy or financial crisis is the stock market. Notably, the SBIs share price went down by Rs 18 and the Yes Banks stake fell from Rs 36.8 to Rs 16. 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 Earlier today, the SBI, in a statement, said its management board has given a green signal to buy Yes Banks up to 49 per cent stakes. SBI Chairperson Rajnish Kumar told the media that SBI would be investing a minimum of Rs 2,400 crore to buy the Yes Banks shares and rescue the investors. For all the latest National News, download NewsX App GASQUET, Calif., March 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Little Jones Creek Project, on the Six Rivers National Forest's Gasquet Ranger District/Smith River National Recreation Area and neighboring private lands, is among 16 new projects selected for funding under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership. The partnership invests in restoration and conservation at the landscape scale, focusing on areas where public forests and grasslands intersect with privately owned lands. Developed in collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Smith River Collaborative (SRC), the 8,700-acre Little Jones Creek Project area will receive $697,000 in fiscal year 2020 to complete a network of strategically placed fuelbreaks on public and private land to help protect isolated rural communities from catastrophic wildfire. The funding will specifically be used to treat 379 acres of fuels reduction on federal land (Little Jones Creek Project) and 908 acres of fuels reduction on private land (Washington Flat wildland-urban interface (WUI) area). Gerry Hemmingsen, Chair of the Del Norte County Board of Supervisors and Co-Chair of the SRC, said, "We are extremely pleased to see this funding for strategic fuelbreaks across public and adjacent private land in the Washington Flat area, a WUI community. We're especially grateful to our Forest Service partners for their leadership and support on the project and the Joint Chiefs' grant application." "The Little Jones Creek Joint Chiefs' initiative is a timely effort, that expands NRCS conservation investments on California's public and private forest lands," said NRCS State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. "The funding will enable private property owners to play a major role in this conservation effort to improve the health and resiliency of the forest and watershed landscapes." According to Gasquet District Ranger Jeff Marszal, "Being awarded Joint Chiefs' funding illustrates the power of shared stewardship and collaboration. The NRA is grateful to have such strong community and partnership support." He added, "Implementing the Little Jones Creek Project is a critically important step towards meeting our goal of enhancing community protection and ecological resilience." For more information visit https://go.usa.gov/xdAcb. U.S. Forest Service Six Rivers National Forest www.fs.usda.gov/srnf Natural Resource Conservation Service California State Office www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/ca/home/ Facebook / Twitter: SixRiversNF NRCSCalifornia SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service Related Links https://www.nrcs.usda.gov Vatican considers holding Sunday Angelus via video link. Vatican officials are studying the possibility of Pope Francis giving his Angelus address on Sunday via video link rather than from the window of the papal apartments overlooking St Peter's Square, according to Italian news agency ANSA. The prospect of the pontiff holding the Angelus from his Casa S. Marta residence, instead of Piazza S. Pietro, comes after a patient being treated at the Vatican's health facilities tested positive for the Coronavirus on 6 March. The patient - whose identity has not been revealed - is the first person in the Vatican to test postitive for the virus, also known as COVID-19. Pope Francis The announcement came several days after Rome daily newspaper Il Messaggero reported that Pope Francis, suffering from a bad cold, had tested negative for Coronavirus. The 83-year-old pontiff, who had part of one lung removed decades ago, has cancelled numerous recent engagements, however the Holy See has dismissed his illness as merely a cold running its course, without symptoms linked to other pathologies. Angelus with Pope Francis. Photo Paria Serdtseva / Shutterstock.com. Vatican City is, of course, surrounded by Italy which now has more than 4,600 Coronavirus infections and 197 fatalities, the second-highest number of deaths in the world after China. ANSA reports that the Vatican's video link measures for the Angelus could also be adopted for the general audience, held each Wednesday in St Peter's Square. The Vatican has introduced strict measures designed to prevent the spread of Coronavirus inside the tiny sovereign state whose 1,000 residents have been asked to "limit their travel and movements unless absolutely necessary." The Holy See has also cancelled all meetings and social events involving "healthcare personnel or staff in charge of carrying out essential public services or utilities." Other measures reportedly include the suspension of "all activities carried out in closed environments and / or of limited dimensions" which do not allow participants to maintain a distance between them of "at least one metre." Vatican Museums St Peter's and the Vatican Museums remain open although they have seen a dramatic drop in visitor numbers, reflecting the widespread cancellation by tour groups to Rome in general. Inside St Peter's Basilica the holy water fonts have been emptied, while a statue of St Peter, venerated by pilgrims by kissing or touching its foot, has been cordoned off. When the outbreak of Coronavirus first hit Italy last month, the Vatican closed the country's ancient catacombs, which fall under the remit of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology, due to the "high concentrations of humidity, limited ventilation and closed spaces" in the underground chambers. Diocese of Rome New measures taken by churches around Rome include emptying holy water fonts, avoiding the sign of peace and requesting that the faithful receive Communion in the hand. The Diocese of Rome has cancelled all non-sacramental activities, until at least 15 March, including catechism classes, marriage preparation courses, retreats, pilgrimages and most other group activities. Easter It is unclear now whether the open-air liturgies which take place during Holy Week will go ahead as normal. In the meantime the Vatican has announced a day of fasting and prayer in Rome, to seek divine intervention in halting the Coronavirus, on 11 March. Straws in the stormy wind Appropriately, the talks on the formation of a new government are taking place in the National Emergency Coordination Centre. The setting on the second floor of Agriculture House on Kildare Street is familiar to people at home from the briefings during big storms. Although there's no breakthrough yet, a few straws in the wind have blown about: * a radical cap on the price of land sold for housing and new planning powers are pivotal to deliver homes; * a referendum to water down property rights is on the table to sort the housing crisis; * the 47-year-old Kenny Report on the price of building land is certainly back as compulsory reading; * Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is looking beyond manifesto promises to show the lessons of the election have been learned; * a senior civil servant warned of the economic realities and blockages to house building; * a cull of the National Development Plan, Project Ireland 2040, will have to take place; * the Attorney General has warned against the legality of emergency planning laws to speed up house building; * the Green Party's emissions reductions targets are the biggest policy gap; * Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's nondescript stance on the talks is causing annoyance among Fine Gael ministers; * all sides feel the next government will need a full five years to make an impact. Ag House is one of the most security-tight buildings around. It's accessible, by pass, from both Leinster House and Government Buildings, so it makes for a secure neutral venue for the talks. The negotiations are unlikely to be over anytime soon. Eamon Ryan was non-plussed when he said this week policy talks could take anything up to five weeks. Expand Close Negotiations: Green Party leader Eamon Ryan with party TDs at Leinster House, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Negotiations: Green Party leader Eamon Ryan with party TDs at Leinster House, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney Inspired by the Green model employed by their European counterparts in places like Austria, Finland and Luxembourg, the process is very deliberative. Ryan brings all his TDs, senators, MEP Ciaran Cuffe and some councillors and researchers to meetings. They all sit around the square table occupied by government departments during the storms and emergencies. These plenary sessions have been likened to a mini Oireachtas committee. The teams also break up into smaller groups in separate rooms to discuss individual policies, with a rapporteur compiling a report on areas of agreement. Officials from the National Economic and Social Council, which advises the Government on sustainable economic, social and environment development, and the Department of the Taoiseach are also assisting the talks. To show good faith, Fianna Fail's negotiation team turned up with 10 researchers too. The Greens have held long and tiring sessions with all the main parties - Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, the Social Democrats and Sinn Fein - as well as talking to Independents. Stressing the importance of climate change to their agenda, the Greens are asking the other parties to explain how they intend to reduce emissions by 7pc per annum for the next decade. It's a big ask. The national target is currently about 2pc a year, so it's a huge stumbling block. Read More The Greens have also emphasised their opposition to big roads projects, like the Galway bypass and the Cork to Limerick motorway. A review of infrastructure projects will take place anyway once the new government takes up office, so some projects will fall. Farming policies have also obviously cropped up but without getting into great detail. At this point, the Greens and Fianna Fail appear to be making more headway, achieving broad agreement on health, Brexit, EU affairs and cost-of-living measures, albeit without discussing personal tax. The Greens' focus on childcare, with provision by the State and providing parents with choice, and mental health has been warmly greeted by Fianna Fail. Likewise, the Greens have been receptive to Fianna Fail's strong focus on third-level education and emphasis on reducing waiting times for operations by using the National Treatment Purchase Fund to buy private care. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael's meeting this week was more formulaic, going through policies. Fine Gael's team of six is headed by Simon Coveney and Paschal Donohoe. "In the policy exchange, we agreed on a few things and disagreed on others. Both sides agreed there was a serious lesson sent to centre-ground parties in the election and the next government will have a big job to do," a party source said. Fianna Fail's team interpreted Fine Gael's foot-dragging as payback for tensions during the last administration. But there is frustration among senior ministers as the mandate from Leo Varadkar is less than clear. As a senior Fine Gael source noted: "They're doing their best but the obstacle is coming from Leo. No one knows what he's at." Expand Close Leo Varadkar. Photo: Niall Carson/PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leo Varadkar. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Kenny revisited The first sign of radical thinking on housing came when the author of the last official report on property rights suddenly started receiving a batch of queries from Fianna Fail and the Greens. Fianna Fail Senator Denis O'Donovan chaired the Oireachtas committee on the Constitution's report on private property 16 years ago. The report was a refresh of the Kenny Report from 1973 on the price of building land. Chaired by Mr Justice John Kenny, the 1973 report recommended a cap on the price of building land. It said land should be compulsorily acquired by local authorities at no more than 25pc more than its agricultural value. The report said the rise in the value of building land is attributable to infrastructural works, like roads and drainage, carried out by local authorities. So Kenny said the local community had a legitimate claim to all profit arising from building on the land, which he referred to as "betterment". The 25pc top-up compensation was viewed as "a reasonable compromise between the rights of the community and those of the landowners". The report said it would stymie the disproportionate price rise in building land and therefore end speculative land hoarding. Read More The theory put forward by property developers and other vested interests was that it would need a referendum to introduce such measures. Putting controls on the price of land was seen as an infringement on private property rights, which are significantly protected under the Constitution, most notably Article 43.1.2. The report has been parked for five decades as a result, although its aspirations have often been admired. O'Donovan's committee said implementing the Kenny Report wouldn't need a referendum and could be done through legislation. "The committee is of the view that it is very likely that the major elements of the Kenny recommendations - that land required for development by local authorities should be compulsorily acquired for development by local authorities at existing values plus 25pc - would not be found to be unconstitutional." O'Donovan points out now that the committee's legal adviser was none other than constitutional law expert Gerard Hogan, who went on to the High Court and is now an advocate general of the European Court of Justice. "Our conclusions were unanimous but the report was produced in the madness of the property boom so there was no interest in taking it on. "A referendum could be divisive because people would say you were interfering with property rights. The Greens and Fianna Fail and even Fine Gael are now saying 'what was wrong with Kenny'," he says. History is repeating itself. The disproportionate price of building land was an issue in the 1960s house building bubble, the Celtic Tiger bubble of the 2000s and now the recovery catch-up crisis in 2020. The hoarding of land by developers also continues to be a factor restricting the release of land into the market, thereby keeping the price high. The vacant site levy hasn't come near addressing the problem due to poor implementation by councils. It's not just voices from the past saying to get on with it and implement Kenny. Derek Moran and Robert Watt, the secretaries general of the Department of Finance and Public Expenditure, delivered a paper setting out the economic realities for the new government. In a briefing to Fianna Fail and the Greens, Watt put it up to the parties to push on with laws around compulsory purchases and let them be tested in the courts. Expand Close Robert Watt. Photo: Tom Burke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Robert Watt. Photo: Tom Burke "He said we had to implement the Kenny Report because the problem was land adding to the cost in the dysfunctional housing market," a source in the meeting said. "The uplift in value should accrue to the State - not a speculative landowner or developer. Let's say you lose a case in the courts, then you hold a referendum." After a general election where housing was the singular issue, it's time to bite the bullet. The price of land is a significant factor in increasing the price of houses. The referendum option is firmly on the table as a priority for the new government, sources said. Martin is also a fan of the Kenny Report, although it didn't make it into his manifesto. He got a legal opinion on it in the past two years from his party's justice spokesman Jim O'Callaghan. O'Callaghan recommended a different route of rezoning lands under county development plans for a specific period, but his proposal was deemed complicated and unworkable. The necessity for the State to get stuck into house building and containing the price of new homes on the market is now the driving force behind the renewed focus on Kenny. The discussion on housing also threw up tensions around the policy approach. Expand Close Fianna Fails Barry Cowen. Photo: Tom Burke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fianna Fails Barry Cowen. Photo: Tom Burke Fianna Fail's Barry Cowen pressed Fine Gael on its delivery on housing. Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy pushed back, revealing he had twice been rebutted by the Attorney General in seeking emergency powers to build houses faster and bypass normal planning laws. "Nothing is easy in housing," a Fianna Fail source conceded. CultNews101.com: news, links, resources. Cults101.org: resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics. CultMediation.com: offers resources designed to help thoughtful families and friends understand and respond to the complexity of a loved ones cult involvement. Intervention101.com: to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement. CultRecovery101.com: assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice. Mumbai, March 7 : The Mumbai Police has refused to reveal any information pertaining to illegal immigrants detained in the city as it is forbidden under the law, said an RTI activist here on Saturday. The activist Anil Galgali had sought details under Right To Information Act on the number of illegal immigrants caught and deported by the police in the past five years. He also asked for details of the sections invoked against such detained illegal immigrants, the maximum punishments/fines imposed on them. "This information has been declined on grounds that it is exempted under RTI Act 2005, Sec. 24(1) in Part 6. It is claimed that details of registration, visa and other information of residents of India cannot be shared," Galgali said. The information was provided by Senior Police Inspector, Crime Branch, Ravindra Dalvi in the form of notings by Senior Police Inspector, Special Branch Ravindra Katkar, he added. "This is strange since I had sought information about the illegal stay of foreign nationals. However, the police seem to have used the protection granted to Indian nationals and have not given the otherwise basic information though it is bound to publicly reveal such details under RTI Act Sec. 4," Galgali pointed out. Along with the RTI reply, Galgali was provided with a circular of the Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs dated October 31, 2014, on the issue of FROs providing information under RTI on registration, visa and other immigration matters. The circular has stated that the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) is the repository of data pertaining to Immigration & Registration functions which is under the IB. "As per the provisions of the RTI Act 2005, Chapter VI, Section 24(1) and Second Schedule, the BOI/IB is exempted from providing any information/details under the RTI Act," states the circular. The circular adds that since the FROs work under the powers delegated by the MHA as an extension of BOI function only, it is exempted under RTI and any RTI queries received by FROs "should be disposed without giving information of Immigration & Registration data". By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Adding to the list of suspected coronavirus cases in Odisha, a foreign national was admitted in the isolation ward of Capital Hospital on Friday evening. This is 10th such case, but it is for the first time that a foreigner has been found with symptoms, although minor in nature. The 35-year-old Irish man, who took a flight from Bengaluru on Thursday, reported at the health unit in Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) for fever. His temperature was found to be slightly higher than normal during the thermal screening and he was asked to report at the Capital Hospital. After preliminary check up, the Capital Hospital authorities referred him to SCB Medical College and Hospital. Accompanied by his interpreter, a native of Nimapada, he went to the SCB medical, where the doctors advised him to get admitted in the isolation ward. But he did not agree and preferred self-isolation. Emergency Officer of SCB MCH Dr Bhubanananda Moharana said the person accompanying the Irish man took the referral slip and went to the doctor of the isolation ward for consultation. Since the foreign national was waiting at the ground floor, the doctor asked the attendant to bring the patient to the isolation ward. But the Irish national left the hospital without informing the authorities prompting the latter to inform the Mangalabag police station, Dr Moharana said. Following inquiry, the police found him under self quarantine at a hotel in Bhubaneswar.Director (Public Health) Dr Ajit Mohanty said a team of doctors led by Director of Capital Hospital had visited the Irish national at the hotel and conducted a thorough health check up. Though there are no major symptoms, we have brought him and his interpreter to the hospital. Their blood and swab samples have been sent for tests. Since he had visited several places before landing here, we do not want to take any chance. He will be in the isolation ward till the reports come, he said. Two eminent Indian-American doctors, known for their pioneering research and treatment of cancer patients, are seeking to arrest what they describe as "tsunami" of the deadly disease that has now engulfed India through a massive effort of early detection and health education. Dattatreyudu Nori, an internationally acclaimed oncologist, who has treated several top Indian leaders suffering from cancer going back to former president late Neelam Sanjeev Reddy, and Rekha Bhandari an eminent geriatrics and specialising in pain medicine, warn that if enough appropriate and urgent steps were not taken, their country of birth is facing an eminent "tsunami" of cancer. "There are 1,300 deaths per day in India due to cancer. We have approximately 1.2 million new cancer cases every year in India. This indicates lower rates of early detection and poor treatment outcomes," Nori told PTI. The New York-based Indian-American doctor who is known for successfully curing several top Indian leaders, maintains a low profile and avoids talking to the media. Cancer, he said, can have profound social and economic consequences for the people in India often leading to family impoverishment and societal inequity. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has predicted that by 2030, as many as 1.7 million new people would be detected of cancer every year. "Unless, we take some steps, cancer is (all set to) become like a tsunami," said Nori, adding that diagnosis in India often leads to catastrophic personal health expenditure that can push an entire family below the poverty line. Describing this as a major public health care challenge for India, the 2015 Padma Shri awardee is inspired by the 'Ayushman Bharat project' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his decision to establish National Cancer Registry programme. These are crucial steps in the right direction, Nori joined by Bhandari argue that early detection and a massive health education is key to addressing the public health challenge posed by cancer. Both the doctors are recipient of the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honour, the highest civilian award in the US for immigrants. It is given annually to individuals whose accomplishments in their field and service to the country are cause for celebration. Among its previous recipients includes several US presidents including Donald Trump and noble prize winners. "Make cancer a notifiable disease," Nori said referring to his series of recommendations to the Indian government, while Bhandari is working on using new tools of information technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence for early detection of cancer in India. Majority of cancers in India are mainly due to tobacco. Bhandari, Chief of Pediatric and Palliative at the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, argues that even though India has a young population it's time the country starts planning for 20 years from now, when it would have the world largest aged population. If enough preventive measures, including early detection and health education, are not done now and necessary health infrastructure are not created, India will face an unimaginable health crisis. "I am very pleased with the establishment of National Cancer Registry and Ayushman Bharat Programme, he said. Among other major recommendations by the two doctors include establishing a cancer hotline, adopting precision medicine, precision screening and early detection, setting up regional cancer palliative centers, and setting up task forces for specific diseases that have alarmingly very high rates of incidence like breast cancer and cervical cancer. If you want to control the tsunami of cancer, we need to initiate, accelerate early detection. This can cure cancers and can have less expensive treatments," said Nori. "The key to success in Indian scenario for cancer care is mostly prevention if it can be done early detection. These are the two key programmes that will change the outlook for cancer in India in next 10 years and maybe even reverse the expected incidence rates," he said. Nori also called for strengthening cancer care programmes in all medical colleges, giving six-months oncology training to doctors at the district level and make them liaison physician for the district so that they can implement treatment guidelines and refer them to regional cancer centers if necessary. There should be a massive campaign on health education on cancer in schools, colleges and universities on tobacco control," he said, adding that the government should consider pediatric cancer care be provided free of charge. Noting that chemotherapy drugs are expensive, he called for a task force to develop a partnership between pharmaceutical industry and National Cancer Institute to incentivise them to produce cancer drugs locally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nigella Lawson banned presents, singing and cake at her 50th birthday. The British celebrity cook, now aged 60, revealed how her heartbreaking history has marred the concept of birthdays for her. Ten years on from the momentous occasion, Nigella penned in the Weekend Australian her recollection of how she chose between 'dread' and 'self-pity' when deciding what to do on the day. 'It was a choice between dread or self-pity': On Sunday, Nigella Lawson (pictured) revealed why she banned cake, presents and singing on her 50th birthday Nigella explained three of her family members died from cancer: her mother Vanessa at 48, her sister Thomasina at 32 and her first husband John Diamond at 47. 'It is a curious thing to be so significantly outstripping them in years,' she wrote. Despite telling the UK Telegraph in 2012 her her mother had been physically abusive to her throughout her childhood, she struggled the most with her 49th birthday, because her 'mother never made it to hers'. Past: Now 60 years old, Nigella explained three of her family members died from cancer, including sister Thomasina and mother Vanessa (both pictured) which marred her later birthdays. Also pictured: Nigella, five, alongside her father Lord Lawson Of Blaby in 1965 In comparison, the celebrated baker felt her 50th birthday was a 'doddle' and elected to have a last minute dinner party. 'I didn't know that I wanted one, but I came to the conclusion that it was a choice between dread or self-pity. And really, anything is better than self-pity,' Nigella wrote. But while she hosted a dinner, Nigella banned presents, speeches, singing and even cake, as she felt it 'would have sent a rather mixed message'. Strange feeling: While she hosted a dinner, Nigella banned presents, speeches, singing and even cake. She felt it 'would have sent a rather mixed message' as she had outlived so many of her relatives 'I think I was rather relieved no longer to be 49, the age that made me a traitor to my mother,' she said. She went on to explain she always thinks of her mother whenever she sees or reads that a woman is 48 years old. Nigella has two children with with her first husband John Diamond, who died of throat cancer in 2001: Cosima, 26, and Bruno, 23. Having restored his frontrunner status, there's now already mounting speculation on who Joe Biden will pick as his running mate. With Elizabeth Warren pulling out of the race this week, a number of op-eds have called on Biden to pick a woman. To get this done, the Washington Post's Jennifer Rubin suggested that the three female ex-candidates who haven't endorsed in the race - Warren, Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand - band together and demand that they'll only endorse a mixed gender ticket. Having restored his frontrunner status, now the speculation begins on who Joe Biden (pictured) would pick as a running mate With Elizabeth Warren (pictured) dropping out this week there's a lot of pressure on Joe Biden -and on Bernie Sanders too - to pick a woman as a vice presidential pick One pundit suggested that Kamala Harris (pictured), Elizabeth Warren and Kirsten Gillibrand - who all ran for president and dropped out, and who haven't endorsed yet - band together and say they'll only endorse a candidate who puts a woman on their ticket Another columnist said that the right woman for Joe Biden's (right) ticket is already supporting him and he should choose Amy Klobuchar (left), a senator from Minnesota, as his running mate because they represent the same faction of the Democratic Party Another columnist for the paper, Henry Olsen, said Biden should pick Amy Klobuchar - who already endorsed him - because they represent the same faction of the party. Doubling down, like Bill Clinton, the then-governor of Arkansas, did when he picked Tennessee Sen. Al Gore as his running mate, seems to work with voters, Olsen argued. But if Biden takes out progressive Bernie Sanders, which he looks poised to do, he may gets calls to put someone to his left on the ticket. Biden has already suggested he wouldn't want to do that. While campaigning in New Hampshire he basically told a voter that his veep choice would not be Sanders. Biden said he would need to pick someone 'younger than I am,' he said last month. He would want somebody who 'reassures people that if tomorrow lightning strikes and I die' that they are ready 'on day one' to be president of the United States. Beyond that, Biden floated that he wouldn't want someone on the ticket who supports Medicare-for-all, a healthcare proposal backed by both Sanders and Warren. 'And there has to be some correlation between their views and mine,' Biden said in New Hampshire. 'For example, if I pick someone who had a view that they insisted that we do Medicare-for-all, which costs over $35 trillion and has no chance of becoming law, and would not support my plan for Medicare for those who want it, building on Obamacare and adding the public option, that would be a real problem.' At the same campaign stop he floated he could pick former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Buttigieg endorsed Biden after he dropped out. If Biden picked Buttigieg he'd also be a first, as the first openly gay vice presidential hopeful. But in the past Biden has seemed open to picking Warren. He said so in an interview with Axios for HBO. And Harris is often mentioned as a good running mate pick for Biden, despite the fact that she dragged him in the first debate over busing policy. As is Stacey Abrams, who came a hair shy of becoming Georgia's governor, and before that was the top Democrat in Georgia's state House. Both Harris and Abrams would make Biden a first in choosing a woman of color to be his veep. Biden, himself, has name-dropped other women too including Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen - senators from the early voting state New Hampshire - Sally Yates, the top Justice Department official who became a whistleblower in the Russia probe. Biden has also said he'd love to have Michelle Obama, who has no interest in re-entering politics. The ex-veep has also said he'd consider picking a Republican. The Union Home Ministry on Saturday confirmed the suspension of Andhra Pradesh's former intelligence chief A B Venkateswara Rao and directed the state government to issue a chargesheet against the Director General of Police-rank officer by April 7. On Feb 8, the state government placed Rao, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, under suspension based on a report by DGP (Head of Police Force) Gautam Sawang alleging "serious misconduct" in the procurement of security equipment. On Feb 13, Rao approached the Central Administrative Tribunal, challenging his suspension but did not get any relief. As the CAT reserved its verdict in the case, the Home Ministry communicated in a letter to Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney on Saturday that the "competent authority has decided to confirm the suspension of A B Venkateswara Rao as per the 3rd proviso to Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969." "On examination of the state government's report, it has been noted that the allegations in the preliminary enquiry report are that Rao, the then ADGP Intelligence, committed irregularities in the procurement of Aerostat and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at a cost Rs 25.50 crore under the Modernisation of Police Forces Scheme (2017-18). "It has also been noted that prima facie evidence has been established on the grave misconduct and irregularities exhibited by Rao," MHA Under Secretary Rajiv Kumar Nigam said in the letter. The state government is requested to issue a chargesheet against Rao by April 7, said Nigam. A leaked confidential report on Rao, considered the 'Man Friday' of former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, said, "Rao wilfully disclosed intelligence protocols and procedures of police to a foreign defence manufacturing firm. This is a direct threat to national security as intelligence protocols are standard throughout the Indian Police Force." "Based on facts uncovered via investigation, prima facie evidence is established on the grave misconduct and irregularities, which were wilfully committed by the accused officer resulting out of conscious and premeditated act of treason towards the state and the nation," the report submitted by the DGP (Head of Police Force) said. The report also said Rao "colluded" with RT Inflatables Pvt Ltd, an Israeli defence equipment manufacturer, to illegally award critical intelligence and surveillance contract to his son Chetan Sai Krishna, who was CEO of Akasam Advanced Systems Pvt. Ltd (primary bidder on behalf of RT Inflatables). "This proves a direct correlation between the accused officer and a foreign defence manufacturing firm, thus establishing a direct breach of ethical code of conduct and Rule (3) (a) of All India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968," the report added. Rao then filed a petition in CAT, Hyderabad, challenging his suspension from service, terming it "highly illegal, arbitrary, based on mala fide, bias and malice" and sought quashing of the suspension order forthwith. He contended it was a gross violation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution and principles of natural justice. Rao said there was no truth in the (DGP's) report and he was not mentally perturbed by it. His son Krishna, too, rubbished the allegations and said he never did any business with either the Andhra Pradesh government or any other government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On Saturday, March 1, Tunica-Biloxi and Alabama-Coushatta tribal members and elders stood behind Nikki Barbre-McDonald as she cut the ribbon to the new American Indian Center of Houston. Approximately 70,000 Native Americans call southeast Texas home, according to Jeremy Zhan, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana council member. So the American Indian Center of Houston opened to help them in their lives. As the first director of the American Indian Center, McDonald is also a tribal member and cut the ribbon alongside Marshall Ray Sampson and Zahn, two chairmen of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. I am honored to be a part of the opening of the American Indian Center of Houston, said McDonald in a news release. The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe saw a need in the greater Houston area for not only our members, but for all Native Americans. Together, the two tribes plan to offer a range of services such as Alabama-Coushattas Employment and Training Program that will provide skills and economic opportunities to Native Americans/ American Indians, Native Hawaiians and Native Alaskans that live in Texas. I am confident that the Center will be impactful for not only our tribal members but for all Native Americans in the Houston area, said Marshall Pierite, chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. Were grateful that Alabama-Coushatta is joining us in this endeavor. Together, we can achieve our shared mission of improving the lives of Native Americans throughout the country on enhanced capacity. As the population of Native Americans is growing in Harris County and nearby areas, the two tribes want to be more reachable to families in the region. Hundreds of different groups of Native peoples had lived on the land what we know now as Houston for at least 11,000 years before the arrival of Europeans, according to the Bullock Texas State History Museum. In 2009, Moore Archeological Consulting discovered about 2,000 artifacts from the Akokisa tribe in Cypress, with tools, arrowheads and pottery shards dating as far back as 8,100 B.C. Now, an estimated 70,000 Native Americans reside in Southeast Texas today, according Zahn. To meet the needs of the large Native American population in the Houston area and their respective tribal members the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, based out of Marksville, La., and the Alabama-Coushatta of Texas based out of Livingston opened the American Indian Center of Houston. We saw a need for not only our tribal members but for the estimated 70,000 Native American citizens that reside in the greater Houston area, said McDonald. We want to promote growth and well-being for Native Americans and also bring our culture and values to the community. By having this Center here in Houston, we can make programs and resources more accessible for the large Native American population in the area. Through the center, both tribes plan to provide a variety of services for Native Americans in the area including , which provides employment and training services to Native Americans/American Indians, Native Hawaiians and Native Alaskans that reside within the 121 counties of the State of Texas. We are exploring options for a variety of federal grants, partnerships with other tribes and working with local non-profits to assist in meeting the needs of our underserved communities, McDonald said. She said the center wants to get federal grants to foster better access to federal services, which Native American families living apart from the 326 Indian reservations across the U.S. often find inaccessible. Until that point, McDonald said the center will offer educational workshops and health fairs for the wellbeing of those in the Native American community. Tunica-Biloxi elder Anna Farris thinks the American Indian Center of Houston will be a great thing for the Houston community. We are helping our youth move forward for our future, while our past is still being taught and not forgotten, she said. To learn more about the American Indian Center of Houston, contact Nikki Barbre-McDonald at 346-374-8516 or NMcDonald@tunica.org. The center is located at 2000 S. Dairy Ashford, Suite 550, Houston, TX 77077. ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com tracy.maness@hcnonline.com What a system! Again, legislators divvied up funds for their pet projects. Not a big deal, we understand that elected officials do need to bring home some bacon. But, the whole system is anything but transparent, with secret projects by secret elected officials minimal information or justification. One such project is the $222,000 funding for a concert grand piano for the New Mexico Philharmonic. A bit of history: I was the first person outside of the founders to work with the Phil, providing PR and communications in their earliest days. Later I spent many, many hours, some paid, some volunteer, working with them as they grew into a strong musical force in our community. (The March 2) letter from (Board of Directors) Chair Maureen Baca gives a lot of reasons why that funding will benefit many in our community. They do give back in free concerts, and their amazing Young Musician Initiative that brings music educators into Title 1 schools is making a real difference in some students lives. But, one thing that was not really addressed besides the name of the legislator who got the funding is the incredible cost of moving, tuning and maintaining a very sensitive instrument. And literally every time it is played or moved, tuning again. Again, I salute NMPhil for its ability to transcend our everyday lives with great musical performances. And I understand the need for a magnificent instrument. What I dont feel is right or good is for our taxes to be used in this way. NMPhil has numerous wealthy patrons who could help. Contrast that funding as a real need against the measly dollars given to the city of Albuquerque to help fund a new place to let our homeless begin their journeys back to productive lives. Contrast it to the zero dollars given to a statewide nonprofit that gets homeless veterans and veteran families off the streets, offering housing and myriad services. In fact, there are probably dozens of worthy causes those dollars could support. We will never be able to solve all of our problems (or) support every worthy cause, but somehow buying a concert grand with tax monies that will mostly benefit those who are pretty comfortable just doesnt seem quite right. Tony Holohan emerged from the Public Accounts Committee hearing in May 2018 to a blitzkrieg of flashbulbs. Having endured a day-long grilling on the CervicalCheck scandal, the Department of Health's chief medical officer (CMO) looked drained and older than his years. Read More One colleague said: "He was under immense pressure. It was all about who knew what and when in the department and the public furore over the scandal was huge. "Tony came under significant scrutiny and at one point there was an issue of confidence... In the end, Leo Varadkar came out and said he had full confidence in him." In March, as the coronavirus crisis deepened, Dr Holohan was front and centre of efforts to co-ordinate a response. The former public health doctor has appeared cool, calm and collected. To the untrained eye, he may seem like another senior health official, but to those who know him, his performance in the wake of the outbreak is being dubbed as the ultimate comeback. "Tony is no stranger to controversy, but CervicalCheck took its toll. He came in for a lot of criticism from various quarters, including the patient advocates," said one. "[But now] you are seeing a man who is very poised and collected and that's because this isn't his first big gig. "He has been very calm throughout this and that is very important. "There is no hysteria or panic and that's the outward image he projects, but also the way he would be dealing with the crisis behind closed doors. "Tony will be bringing a calm approach to this and not engaging in any hyperactivity." It came as no shock in 2008 when Dr Holohan was appointed CMO. In his previous role as deputy CMO, he had become the public face of the department, sent out by then health minister Mary Harney to do battle on 'Prime Time' and TV news during various cancer scandals. Since then, he has been the person trotted out to face scrutiny in the wake of every major health crisis and scandal. He presided over the government response to the swine flu outbreak in 2011. "Tony is extremely polished," said one former colleague. "He is the go-to guy relating to health issues at a national level, so he has the ear of the people at the very top levels of government. "Every time there is a public accounts committee he is sitting beside the minister. "He is at all the launches, all the campaigns - anti-smoking, alcohol misuse, you name it, Tony is there front and centre." Dr Holohan was born in Dublin but grew up in Limerick city where he was a pupil of the Christian Brothers School. He is married with two young children. A 1991 medical graduate of University College Dublin, who subsequently trained as a specialist in both general practice and public health medicine, Dr Holohan became deputy chief medical officer in 2001 and beat off stiff international competition to become chief seven years later. He was part of the 2004 steering group that put together the HSE and one of the prime architects of the successful national cancer and primary care strategies. In March 2014, insiders say Dr Holohan caused "quite a stir" when he published a report into perinatal deaths at Portlaoise Hospital. In more recent years, say those who know him, he has undergone a dramatic personal transformation. After a significant lifestyle overhaul, that included a commitment to being more active and healthier, Dr Holohan emerged as a notably leaner version of his former self. He works long hours and could never be accused of being workshy. Although he has become the man we see only during a crisis, usually he spends his time advising on various policy issues. "People sit up and take notice of what he says,"said an insider. In March, Dr Holohan was criticised for a decision not to name a school in the east of the country where one of its pupils was confirmed as the first case of Covid-19 here. Despite the criticism, Dr Holohan has been explicit in stating that authorities will continue to take this approach in the future if there are other cases. Patient privacy, he said, had to be protected and without trust people would not come forward. "Tony is no novice and people around him know that," said a former colleague. "There was a lead-in to this crisis. There was no lead-in to CervicalCheck and that's the key distinction. When you have a lead-in you can plan and prepare." *This profile was originally published in March 2020 Chris MacManus signs his acceptance papers at City Hall to succeed Matt Carthy as Sinn Fein MEP for the Midlands/North West constituency Sligo County Councillor Chris MacManus has become an MEP after replacing Matt Carthy in the Midlands North West constituency after the latter was elected to the 33rd Dail in Cavan/Monaghan. MacManus, who stepped aside to allow Martin Kenny have a clear run for the party in Sligo/Leitrim in last month's General Election has been rewarded by Sinn Fein with a seat in the European Parliament. Based in Sligo Town, Cllr MacManus has been active in republican politics for thirty years and was first elected to Sligo Borough Council in 1999. In 2016, he narrowly missed out on taking a seat in that year's General Election. His selection as an MEP means his own county council seat is now up for co-option with the party set to look at a number of candidates before choosing though at this stage former Borough councillor, Arthur Gibbons would appear to be favourite. MacManus has been involved in many local and national organisations and campaigns and has a reputation as a committed community and constituency worker. He organised the Yes Equality campaign in County Sligo in 2015, was one of the spokespersons for the Right2Water campaign in the region and is also active with the Northwest Palestinian Solidarity Committee. Chris, who comes from a family directly impacted by the conflict, his brother, Joseph being shot dead in 1992, has been involved for the last fifteen years, in peace and reconciliation work with cross border and cross community agencies, as well as with Sligo groups impacted by social exclusion. Chris said he was 'honoured and delighted' to take over from Matt Carthy as MEP. "Matt has been an absolutely brilliant MEP for this constituency and I am looking forward to continuing his work for the people of the Midlands North West area. "The focus continues to be, rightly, on Brexit and the potential fall-out for Ireland. I will, like Matt, continue to ensure there is no hardening of the border and ensure that Irish interests are strongly and robustly defended in the trade talks. Sinn Fein has been strong in advocating for Ireland at an EU level since the Brexit vote in 2016. "In addition, I am fully aware of the issues faced by farming families and rural communities who have been impacted by the decisions of successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fail governments and who face an uncertain future in the current European budget talks. "I will stand up for Irish farmers, stand up for their families and communities and stand against any cuts to farm payments that may be proposed in the new EU budget or any threat to rural livelihoods from trade deals." Matt Carthy said: "I am thrilled that Chris is succeeding me as the MEP for this constituency. He has been a dedicated republican and an outstanding public representative for more than 20 years and he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, as well as a new perspective, to the role. "I know he will be an excellent representative for all the people of the Midlands North West area and will continue to battle in Europe for workers, farmers and families in this constituency." Chris is a son of retired councillor Sean MacManus. He was first elected to Sligo Corporation in 1994 and remained until its abolition in May 2014. He was also elected to Sligo County Council in 1999 and was re-elected in 2004, 2009 and 2014. He stepped down from elected politics in February 2017 and was replaced by his son Chris. The new MEP becomes the third Sligo based member of the European parliament following in the footsteps of Marian Harkin (Independent) - 2004-2019 and Ray MacSharry (Fianna Fail) - 1984-1987. New Delhi, March 7 : Puducherry Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao on Saturday visited two Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics here, praising the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government for the initiative. Rao, a Congressman, visited the clinics in Green Park extension and Panchsheel Park in South Delhi to understand the functioning of these primary healthcare units, the Delhi government said in a statement. During the visit, Rao met Mohalla Clinic staff and took note of the working of the mohalla clinic, it said. The Minister also explained about how similar healthcare centres are successfully functioning in Puducherry as well. Rao had met the Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain on Friday. "Delhi has a very large population and these clinics are doing a great job in catering to the needs of the people. Delhi model has received attention nationally and internationally," the statement quote Rao. A fireball-like object which fell from the sky near the railway station, causing panic among the locals, has been primarily found to contain sodium. According to fire brigade officials, they were informed about the meteorite-like substance on Wednesday by locals who had gathered near the spot in heavy rain upon hearing a loud bang that seemed like that of thunder. Fire fighters said that even after dousing the flames, the object kept smouldering. District Magistrate Ajay Shanker Pandey said following the unusual event, geologist S C Sharma and science co-coordinator Vivek were sent to the spot to examine the object. In their report, it was stated that the material which fell from the sky seems to be sodium, as it gave rise to fumes when it came in contact of water. Samples of the material would be sent to a laboratory in Lucknow for further testing, Pandey said. He also said that city magistrate have been designated to monitor the proceedings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A specialist garda team will seek a comprehensive interview with Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy in the coming weeks as part of a fresh investigation into the murder of Paul Quinn. Sources have revealed the Finance Minister will be quizzed about his repeated claims the IRA assured him they were not responsible for the shocking crime in 2007. Mr Quinn (21) from Cullyhanna, Co Armagh died from horrific injuries inflicted when up to a dozen IRA men beat him with iron bars and nail-studded cudgels after he was lured to a farm shed in County Monaghan. Mr Murphy was forced to apologise to Mr Quinns parents, Breege and Stephen, over his false claims their son was murdered because of his involvement in crime when it became a major issue in the recent election. However the senior Sinn Fein member, who had originally tried to deny he ever made the comments, did not clarify that Paul Quinn was not a criminal in his apology. Mr Murphy has also consistently claimed he had co-operated with the original garda investigation in 2007. But last month it was revealed he met investigating gardai by appointment on one occasion when they asked him to provide answers to specific questions which were deemed important to the enquiry. However security sources revealed Mr Murphy has not met gardai since that time and has not answered their questions. Expand Close Paul Quinn who was murdered at a remote border barn in County Monaghan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Paul Quinn who was murdered at a remote border barn in County Monaghan Sources revealed last night that gardai will be seeking a comprehensive interview with Murphy in the hope he will finally share whatever information he has had in his possession for the past 13 years. A fresh investigation was launched two weeks ago with a core team of 10 officers working exclusively on the case from an incident room at Carrickmacross garda station. The renewed enquiry is based on an in-depth re-examination of Paul Quinns murder by the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) based in Dublin. It is understood up to 150 potential new lines of enquiry have been identified which will now be pursued by the investigation team which will also be backed up by national units. Senior sources confirmed it is the belief of gardai and the PSNI that Paul Quinn was murdered by a Republican gang made up of well known Provos. Conor Murphy will be approached again and the new investigation will definitely be seeking a comprehensive interview which was not forthcoming in the past, a source revealed. The Garda Press Office has refused to comment on the level of co-operation received from Conor Murphy stating that as a matter of policy An Garda Siochana does not comment on named individuals. The sound of Canadian drums and pipes will once again echo across a European battlefield. Some 75 pipers and drummers from across BC will be heading to the Netherlands as part of a ceremony honouring the 75th anniversary of the liberation from Nazi Germany. Kelowna Pipe Band Pipe Major Chad Goodman was in Vernon Saturday for a practice session with more than two dozen Okanagan pipers and drummers from across the Okanagan and Shuswap. The remainder of the pipers and drummers are coming from the rest of the province. Goodman said the European ceremony will take place in May. It's an amazing honour. The Canadian military were instrumental in driving the German forces out of the Netherlands, said Goodman. We are very excited about this trip. We are playing at eight different venues in the Netherlands. The squad will be based out of the southern Netherlands and touring to their performances in buses. One of the big deals for me and I'm getting shivers thinking about it is we are going to take a bus trip to Vimy Ridge and we are going to stand at the Mother of Canada at Vimy Ridge and play the lament, said Goodman. The band is still raising funds for the trip and a pub crawl is planned for tonight in Vernon. Jessika Power has savaged Stacey Hampton amid their ongoing feud. On Friday, the former Married At First Sight star revealed exactly what she thought of Stacey while watching footage from Wednesday night's dinner party. 'A face like a smacked a**e,' she remarked in an Instagram video while zooming in on Stacey on screen. Not as sweet as she looks! Former Married At First Sight star Jessika Power (pictured) savaged Stacey Hampton in a shocking Instagram video on Friday The attack continued as Jessika watched intruder KC Osborne be introduced at the dinner party. During the scene, Stacey was shown giving KC a frosty reception, which caused Jessika to make more remarks about the law graduate's appearance. 'Why is she so grumpy for? Oh maybe that's her face all the time!' Jessika giggled. On Tuesday, Jessika responded to allegations made by Women's Day that Stacey was seeking 'legal advice' because of their feud. Worst insult yet! While watching footage of Stacey (pictured) at this weeks dinner party, Jessika said she had a face like a 'smacked a**e' 'Why is she so grumpy for? Oh maybe that's her face all the time': The attack continued as Jessika watched Stacey (left) give a frost greeting to intruder bride KC Osborne (right) Taking a screenshot of a follow-up article by Instyle magazine, the 28-year-old wrote a detailed response regarding how the initial reports were 'a load of actual s**t'. Stacey was allegedly seeking legal advice as she felt Jessika was purposefully targeting her, according to Women's Day. The publication suggested Jessika wanted to 'expose' Stacey's personal life. 'What a load of s**t,' Jessika wrote on Instagram. Feud: On Tuesday, Jessika responded to allegations (pictured) by Women's Day that Stacey was seeking 'legal advice' because of their dispute 'I've been inundated with messages about Stacey and all of the horrible and negative things she's done to others before the show. 'But never did I seek it out and ask people for information,' she explained. Jessika went on to add: 'I couldn't care less about the woman and I wish this whole crap "feud" would end because she isn't worth my breath'. Opinions: Stacey previously told Hit FM Mid North Coast's Krysti and Bodge that Jessika was acting 'borderline obsessed' by adding her 'baby daddy' on social media 'Also, she seeked [sic] legal advice? Isn't she a lawyer?' According to the original publication's anonymous source, Stacey felt 'extremely violated' and 'lost it' when she discovered Jessika had followed her ex-fiance, Rebels' president Shane Michael Smith, on Instagram. Stacey previously told Hit FM Mid North Coast's Krysti and Bodge that Jessika was acting 'borderline obsessed' by adding her 'baby daddy' on social media. 'Isn't she a lawyer?' According to the original publication's anonymous source, Stacey felt 'extremely violated' and 'lost it' when she discovered Jessika had followed her ex-fiance on Instagram Stacey shares sons Kruz, two, and Kosta, four, with the Rebels bikie boss, 37. The law graduate ended her engagement to Shane in 2017, before he was convicted of bashing two nightclub bouncers. Stacey told the radio hosts: 'Jessika added my children's father, so I think she's borderline obsessed with me!' Married At First Sight's controversial bride Stacey (right) was engaged to Rebels bikie boss Shane Michael Smith, 37, (left) with who she shares two sons (one pictured) Jessika has since told Daily Mail Australia she has had zero contact with Stacey's ex. 'I doubt her baby daddy will be contacting me after seeing the media storm around the topic. To me, he seems he may want to remain a private man.' 'In regards to this "feud" we supposedly have, I don't think we have one at all because you need to know or care about someone in order to have such emotions,' she added. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Stacey for comment. Married At First Sight continues Sunday at 7.00pm on Nine February, and 2020, contained an extra day as happens once every four years. Entrepreneur Nelson Tressler urged Southern Nevadans to use the time windfall to work toward something momentous. But, instead of taking an unfocused leap day leap of faith, he suggested people look first toward a goal. In a guest spot with anchor Nina Porciuncula on KTNV-TV, Channel 13s morning newscast, Tressler, founder and CEO of goal achievement business 6 Months 2 Success said setting targets helps people act purposefully. httpvh://youtu.be/_rNgwV3EljQ Tresslers program employs the 6 Months 2 Success smartphone app, website, and Goal Achievement Program, which first has clients, whom he calls members, complete self-assessment exercises to target achievements and set goals. Then, members work with Goal Success Partners in Goal Groups in 12-week achievement sprints. In monthly meetings, Goal Group members support one another, gauge progress and keep collectively focused on achievement. A Goal Guide leads and supports members as they advance. Importantly, 6 Months 2 Success website states, success doesnt end with tentpole achievements; people work toward it constantly, progressing incrementally. Tressler, a 25-year Las Vegas Valley resident, told Porciuncula goals have helped him build success. Ive been fortunate enough to start quite a few businesses, and Ive used goals to start those businesses and in every aspect of my life. And now, Ive started a business to help other people use goals in personal development in their life to achieve their lifes biggest goals. On 6 Months 2 Success leap day social media feeds, Tressler invited followers to put aside fears and seize 2020s extra time to pursue goals. What if you were at the end of your life and were gifted one additional day? How would you spend it? Who would you spend it with? What would you spend it doing? Visit 6months2success.com for details on 6 Months 2 Success programs. TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) -- Tippecanoe County Health officials are reminding community members to stay calm amid Coronavirus concerns. The first case of the virus was confirmed Friday in Marion County, Indiana. There are no cases of COVID-19 Coronavirus in Tippecanoe County. On Friday afternoon Dr. Jeremy Adler issued a Public Health Emergency for Tippecanoe County at a press conference. It is Influenza season and the Coronavirus mimics the same symptoms as the cold or flu. That includes a fever, difficulty breathing and a cough. There are criteria to test to see if you have the Coronavirus. Dr. Adler said you have to be exhibiting the symptoms and have had an elevated risk like traveling to level three countries like China, Japan, Italy or South Korea. Adler said one group is more at risk for a serious case of Coronavirus than others. "The risk of severe illness increases at age 50 for those who contract the virus and increases with age," said Adler. "The highest risk group patients are people ages 80 and over." Dr. Adler said above all stay calm and practice good hand washing habits. The Tippecanoe County Health Department is relying on the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control for up to date information. Dr. Adler released testing protocols Friday. He said the state of Indiana has been preparing for the virus since December. Get tested if you have a fever and have come into contact with anyone who has Coronavirus or are showing symptoms and have traveled to China, Italy, Japan or South Korea. Right now, only the Indiana State Department of Health can administer the test. Adler said use your best judgment and self-quarantine if you feel you may have Coronavirus. The CDC is working around the clock to update the country on any confirmed cases of the virus. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Jennifer Bone is new at the job. She was elected last year to lead her self-governing nation through its continuing transition as it develops its own laws in a variety of jurisdictions, such as child welfare. (Michele LeTourneau/The Brandon Sun) Viola Eastman and Jennifer Bone have several common threads running through their lives. Both are chiefs of their Dakota nations Eastman at Canupawakpa and Bone at Sioux Valley. Both had fathers who were chiefs. Both are mothers. Both say their motivation is the wellness and success of their people. There is a key difference, however. Eastman has served as chief for eight years in total, including four years in the mid-2000s, and she is currently serving her third two-year term. Bones people elected her as chief in October 2018, after serving on council for eight years. The Brandon Sun asked both women a few questions about why they do what they do and what its like to be a woman in a male-dominated Indigenous political field. The Brandon Sun: What led you to run for chief? Canupawakpa Chief Viola Eastman, seen here at a Winnipeg trade show in 2017, is on her third term as chief as of January this year. She was also chief for four years in the mid-2000s. (Submitted) Viola Eastman: My family is a political family. My dad was chief for many years. I remember sitting at our kitchen table when we eat and he talks about politics, about helping our people, what we can do. We talk about how we can make our community better. I grew up with it. I dont take it as a job. I take it more as a responsibility. Jennifer Bone: I never thought or planned that I was going to run for chief but I had a few community members approach me. Then there were rumours. "I heard youre running for chief." About a month and a half before, I was undecided. I know its such a big job. A big challenge. My eight years on council helped me to be more confident. And knowing I had a support system in place. SUN: What challenges did you encounter? What were your priorities? VE: In the first two years we really worked on our finances. Finances were not really good here. I believe any business, any organization needs to have strong financial foundation that you build on. We were in heavy co-management (with Indigenous Services Canada). Besides finance, we wanted all our programs to be up and running. We got out of heavy co-management. Weve been thriving, doing really well with our programs. JB: The whole self-government piece. To continue with that. The biggest challenge for us, not only for me but council, we wanted to improve our overall finance department. We didnt want to operate blindly. We wanted to see financial statements. We wanted to support the decisions we were making, or even planning. So we engaged (MNP). They completed a financial assessment, and came back with recommendations. Today, were continuing to implement those recommendations. Theyre still supporting us, to help our staff, to build capacity. SUN: What is it like for you being in a predominately male political field? Is it challenging? VE: In my own community, no, its not challenging at all. When you get out there, yes. I do find it to be challenging in the political field. But once they get to know you and what youre there for, I get respect. I like that. I go somewhere to do business, and thats what it is. Its changing since I was a chief in 2004. It has changed in these last 16 years. There have been more women leaders in Manitoba. We share. We give each other advice. Its good to have that support from the other women leaders. And the men have come on board. I hate to say it, but some of the men who arent there anymore were older boys club leaders. JB: I havent engaged with a whole lot of them. I have a great relationship with Chief Pasche from Dakota Tipi. We communicate with each other. Weve met a few times, and hes come out to our community, just in regard to Dakota nations overall and trying to unite the Dakota nations of Manitoba to support one another. Its harder for a female to be heard, to be able to speak strongly and passionately about the issues within our own community. But I have built some good working relationships, like with the mayor of Brandon. SUN: Who has been your inspiration? VE: Growing up I had a lot of good, strong women influences, starting with my mother. Then I had aunts, and then I had my grandmothers. They were really strong women. My aunts always worked. They always supported themselves. Some of them are not here now but theyve been a big, strong influence for me to be where I am today. Thats why I try and project that to all the women here. JB: I would have to say my mom and my grandmother, her mother. My mom was a residential school survivor and she was a strong woman. She was very strict with me. My parents always encouraged me to go to school. They wanted what was best for me, for their whole family. And my sisters. I have four sisters. My mother has compassion. Shes always taking care of everybody, helping her own family. She came from a large family. I think thats a big part of being a woman in leadership, having compassion. Being able to understand people and thinking, well, what if I was in that same situation? Thats always kind of at the back of my mind. 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. An effort in Illinois to prevent biannual clock changes such as the one Sunday moving time forward one hour appears stalled. The state Senate passed in November a bill by Bunker Hill Democrat Andy Manar that called for setting clocks ahead one hour to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday and leaving Illinois permanently on Central Daylight Time. But that bill remains in legislative limbo in the House, and even if Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs the initiative into law, it could not take effect unless approved by the federal government. Hawaii and Arizona are the only states granted such waivers to abolish biannual time changes. The tropical territories of Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands also opted out of time changes. This doesnt seek (a waiver). This just says one of two things should happen: There should be a national change or, if Congress were to begin to give states exemptions, that obviously would be a different conversation here on this floor, Manar said in November. This doesnt say that we should ignore federal law. Manar declined to comment for this story. A spokesman for Amtrak told Capitol News Illinois in November that the current system of twice-yearly time shifts causes some inconvenience for the railroad, particularly in November, when clocks are wound back one hour. It forces trains running around 2 a.m. that Sunday to stop for one hour and allow clocks to catch up to the train schedule. The idea for the initiative came to Manar from a Carlinville High School student, he said in a tweet. The senator also pointed to a Newsweek article that references research suggesting biannual time changes in the U.S. could have detrimental health impacts. Arizona State University history professor Calvin Schermerhorn said the Grand Canyon State does not observe Daylight Saving Time because of its brutally hot summer days. Remaining on standard time in the summer means cooler temperatures when people get off work and children leave school. Other than that, not having daylight saving is kind of a hassle, Schermerhorn said, because half the year were on the equivalent of Pacific Time and half the year were on Mountain Time. The measure is Senate Bill 533. Republican Rep. Allen Skillicorn of East Dundee is the House sponsor. He said time changes should be eliminated because they disrupt sleep patterns. There is no question that changing our clocks twice per year messes with our daily routines, he said. Fire from the sky Before the Taqba Dam impounded the Euphrates River in northern Syria in the 1970s, an archaeological site named Abu Hureyra bore witness to the moment ancient nomadic people first settled down and started cultivating crops. A large mound marks the settlement, which now lies under Lake Assad. But before the lake formed, archaeologists were able to carefully extract and describe much material, including parts of houses, food and tools -- an abundance of evidence that allowed them to identify the transition to agriculture nearly 12,800 years ago. It was one of the most significant events in our Earth's cultural and environmental history. Abu Hureyra, it turns out, has another story to tell. Found among the cereals and grains and splashed on early building material and animal bones was meltglass, some features of which suggest it was formed at extremely high temperatures -- far higher than what humans could achieve at the time -- or that could be attributed to fire, lighting or volcanism. "To help with perspective, such high temperatures would completely melt an automobile in less than a minute," said James Kennett, a UC Santa Barbara emeritus professor of geology. Such intensity, he added, could only have resulted from an extremely violent, high-energy, high-velocity phenomenon, something on the order of a cosmic impact. Based on materials collected before the site was flooded, Kennett and his colleagues contend Abu Hureyra is the first site to document the direct effects of a fragmented comet on a human settlement. These fragments are all part of the same comet that likely slammed into Earth and exploded in the atmosphere at the end of the Pleistocene epoch, according to Kennett. This impact contributed to the extinction of most large animals, including mammoths, and American horses and camels; the disappearance of the North American Clovis culture; and to the abrupt onset of the end-glacial Younger Dryas cooling episode. The team's findings are highlighted in a paper published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports. "Our new discoveries represent much more powerful evidence for very high temperatures that could only be associated with a cosmic impact," said Kennett, who with his colleagues first reported evidence of such an event in the region in 2012. Abu Hureyra lies at the easternmost sector of what is known as the Younger Dryas Boundary (YDB) strewnfield, which encompasses about 30 other sites in the Americas, Europe and parts of the Middle East. These sites hold evidence of massive burning, including a widespread carbon-rich "black mat" layer that contains millions of nanodiamonds, high concentrations of platinum and tiny metallic spherules formed at very high temperatures. The YDB impact hypothesis has gained more traction in recent years because of many new discoveries, including a very young impact crater beneath the Hiawatha Glacier of the Greenland ice sheet, and high-temperature meltglass and other similar evidence at an archaeological site in Pilauco, located in southern Chile. "The Abu Hureyra village would have been abruptly destroyed," Kennett said. Unlike the evidence from Pilauco, which was limited to human butchering of large animals up to but not younger than the YDB impact burn layer, Abu Hureyra shows direct evidence of the disaster on this early human settlement. An impact or an airburst must have occurred sufficiently close to send massive heat and molten glass over the entire early village, Kennett noted. The glass was analyzed for geochemical composition, shape, structure, formation temperature, magnetic characteristics and water content. Results from the analysis showed that it formed at very high temperatures and included minerals rich in chromium, iron, nickel, sulfides, titanium and even platinum- and iridium-rich melted iron -- all of which formed in temperatures higher than 2200 degrees Celsius. "The critical materials are extremely rare under normal temperatures, but are commonly found during impact events," Kennett said. According to the study, the meltglass was formed "from the nearly instantaneous melting and vaporization of regional biomass, soils and floodplain deposits, followed by instantaneous cooling." Additionally, because the materials found are consistent with those found in the YDB layers at the other sites across the world, it's likely that they resulted from a fragmented comet, as opposed to impacts caused by individual comets or asteroids. "A single major asteroid impact would not have caused such widely scattered materials like those discovered at Abu Hureyra," Kennett said. "The largest cometary debris clusters are proposed to be capable of causing thousands of airbursts within a span of minutes across one entire hemisphere of Earth. The YDB hypothesis proposed this mechanism to account for the widely dispersed coeval materials across more than 14,000 kilometers of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Our Abu Hureyra discoveries strongly support a major impact event from such a fragmented comet." ### Research on this study was conducted also by Andrew Moore, from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York; William M. Napier, from the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium in Norther Ireland; Ted E. Bunch and James H. Wittke, from Northern Arizona University; James C. Weaver, from Harvard University; Malcolm LeCompte and A. Victor Adedji, from Elizabeth State University in North Carolina; Paul Hackley, from the United States Geological Survey; Gunther Kletetschka, from the Czech Academy of the Sciences, Charles University in the Czech Republic and University of Alaska; Robert E. Hermes, from Los Alamos National Laboratory (retired); Joshua J. Razink from the University of Oregon; Michael Willam Gaultois, from the University of Liverpool in the UK; and Allen West, from the Comet Research Group in Arizona. This story has been published on: 2020-03-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Area school districts said they are reminding students to stay home if they feel ill and to frequently wash their hands. District 210, in a letter late last month to families, wrote that students who had visited mainland China should not immediately return to school, and that school nurses were being vigilant about monitoring students for any possible symptoms. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Limiting contact between residents possibly infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) and the healthy population is a key method the New York State Department of Health is employing as it attempts to contain the spread. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday that 4,000 people are currently in precautionary quarantine and 44 are in mandatory quarantine. State regulations outlined two levels of quarantines and one of isolation. *** CLICK HERE FOR FULL COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** Mandatory quarantine is required for all people who have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for coronavirus without displaying symptoms, or who have been to China, Iran, Japan, South Korea or Italy and are displaying symptoms. Mandatory isolation is required for those who have tested positive for the virus, regardless of whether they are displaying symptoms or not. Local health departments will be responsible to issue an order for both mandatory quarantine and mandatory isolation once the state department notifies them. The State Department of Health can also put people in precautionary quarantine. People who traveled to China, Iran, Japan, South Korea or Italy while COVID-19 was present and have no symptoms or who have been in proximate exposure but not in direct contact with a person who tested positive without displaying symptoms are required to be in precautionary quarantine. Currently there are 4,000 people all over the state who are in precautionary quarantine: New York City with 2,700 cases; Westchester with 1,000 cases; and Erie with 115 cases are the areas that have been affected the most. WHAT DO THEY MEAN? In all three scenarios -- mandatory isolation, mandatory quarantine and precautionary quarantine -- people are required to follow specific steps: be in separate quarters with separate bathrooms for each individual or family group. Each quarter is required to have face masks should someone become symptomatic; sleep in a separate bedroom with a door that separates them from the rest of the household; cleaning supplies must be present in any shared bathroom; should a person become symptomatic and has been sharing a bathroom with someone else, everyone will be considered exposed; have food delivered to the home; leave the garbage by the door of each quarters; Those who are in mandatory isolation and quarantine can walk outside of the house as long as they remain on private property and must stay more than six feet away from family members and neighbors. People who live in multiple dwellings must not use common stairways or elevators. WHATS THE DIFFERENCE? To ensure people in quarantine and isolation are actually following protocols, the state is asking local health departments to adhere to specific regulations. In the scenario of mandatory quarantine or isolation, local health departments must perform in-person visits at least once a day to make sure the person is home. Cuomo said during a press conference on Friday that the check will be random. In addition, local health departments are also required to be in contact with the people in mandatory quarantine and isolation once a day electronically -- and such communication must clearly indicate the person is at home. On the other hand, local health departments are not required to do in person visits for those in precautionary quarantine, but must keep electronic communication with them. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DONT FOLLOW THE RULES? Cuomo said that his office has received multiple reports of people not following the directives while on quarantine. When we say you are on precautionary quarantine that is a serious situation. We are assuming that you will act in good faith and that you will be following the rules of voluntary quarantine," Cuomo said. "Violating those rules is, first, I think disrespectful to the members of the community. It doesnt honor your responsibility as a citizen and you can be putting people in danger. If you dont comply there are other measures we could take. State law indicates that if a person does not follow the regulations, a health officer will start an investigation on the person and file a complaint to a magistrate. The magistrate will conduct a hearing and if satisfied that the complaint of the health officer is well founded and that the afflicted person is a source of danger to others the magistrate will send the violating person to any hospital or medical facility that has the capacity to have a patient with a communicable disease. In making such commitment the magistrate shall make such order for payment for the care and maintenance of the person committed as he may deem proper, the law reads. RELATED LINKS: Coronavirus: New cleaning protocols set for schools across New York MTA to fully disinfect subways, buses every 72 hours to combat coronavirus Cuomo orders insurance companies to waive cost sharing for coronavirus testing Coronavirus preparation on Staten Island: What you can do Student safety: Heres how NYC schools are working to combat coronavirus Who is most at risk for coronavirus? How to protect yourself from deadly coronavirus What are the symptoms of coronavirus? Student safety: Heres how NYC schools are working to combat coronavirus Port Authority ramps up cleaning efforts at airports amid coronavirus Regular deep cleaning of Staten Island Ferry planned to prevent coronavirus MTA to fully disinfect subways, buses every 72 hours to combat coronavirus Staten Island Chinese restaurant owners say coronavirus fears hurting business Coronavirus can linger on surfaces, so use these precautions, CDC says Police are investigating an early morning shooting in suburban Melbourne, which has left a man in his 20s fighting for his life. A man seated in a car parked on Shrives Road in the suburb of Narre Warren, about 38 kilometres out of the CBD, was shot in the upper body at around 5am this morning, police were told. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be determined at this stage, Victorian police told Yahoo News Australia in a statement. Ambulance Victoria confirmed to Yahoo News Australia that paramedics were called to the scene in Narre Warren at 5.05am Saturday morning. The shooting happened in a suburban street in Melbourne this morning. Source: Herald Sun/David Crosling Police said the man was then transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, while Ambulance Victoria confirmed the man was taken to Alfred Hospital. A man believed to be in his 20s was assessed for an upper body injury, the Ambulance Victoria statement reads. Police also confirmed Shrives Road is still closed Saturday afternoon and traffic is being diverted through Centre Road. The victim was driving a white Audi, according to the Herald Sun, and the window on the drivers side was completely busted. The car was towed at 12.30pm Saturday. The car was parked outside resident Rob Milkins home who told the Herald Sun he slept through the shooting. A man has been shot in Narre Warren South this morning. Hes being treated for life-threatening injuries. @9NewsMelb #9news pic.twitter.com/6PSeC8umQW Maggie Raworth (@MaggieRaworth) March 6, 2020 Im a heavy sleeper I didnt hear or see anything, he said. It happened at 5am and there isnt much that happens around here at that time. Anyone who witnessed the incident or can provide any information to investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Story continues Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Meghan Markle carried out a solo engagement on Thursday wearing a 29 Topshop blouse, prior to attending the annual Endeavour Fund Awards with Prince Harry. On Friday, the Duchess of Sussex shared photos to the Sussex Royal Instagram of her visit to one of her patronages, the National Theatre. Yesterday, the Duchess of Sussex, Royal patron of the National Theatre, visited the Immersive Storytelling Studio in London, where emerging technology like Virtual Reality is being used to develop new forms of emotive storytelling, the caption reads. For the visit, Meghan opted for an entirely white outfit, pairing a 29 sheer puff-sleeve Topshop top with a Roland Mouret Moka white pencil skirt. Currently, both the duchesss top and skirt are in stock online, however, the high-street blouse, which is also available in black, peach and blue, is only available in size six and is expected to sell out soon. The duchess completed the look with a black handbag, a simple gold necklace and bracelet, and stud earrings. Meghan also chose an outfit by a British brand later in the day when she wore a turquoise dress with cap sleeves by Victoria Beckham, paired with navy stiletto heels by British brand Jimmy Choo, for the Endeavour Fund Awards. Meghan and Harry, who are currently in the UK fulfilling their remaining duties as senior members of the royal family before they step down at the end of March, are next expected to make a public appearance on 7 March at the Mountbatten Music Festival. The duchess is also expected to mark International Womens Day with an event on 8 March, before the Sussexes conclude their royal engagements on 9 March when they join the Queen and other members of the royal family at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. Contrary to expectations, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan speech made no reference to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Population Register (NPR) in her address to the joint session of both houses of the state legislature on the first day of the budget session on Friday. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government led by K Chandrasekhar Rao has strongly opposed CAA and NPR in its present format and indicated that it would adopt resolutions in the assembly opposing them. Since the governors speech reflects the policy statement of the state government, it was expected that she would mention the TRS governments opposition to CAA and NPR. However, in her speech, Soundararajan only made an indirect reference to these contentious issues, saying that the state government would act tough against the attempts to create communal tensions and suppress such attempts with an iron hand. Telangana is known for its Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb. It is the symbol of communal harmony. People from all faiths are living here peacefully with harmony for centuries together. Let me declare here that my government is fully committed to uphold the unity among its people and to protect the secular fabric of the state, she said. Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, on the first day of the state assembly session recently, read out a paragraph containing criticism of CAA, but not before making a protest statement in the House that he was reading out the paragraph only because chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan wanted him to read it. Although I hold the view that this does not come under the definition of policy or programme, Khan had said. Soundararajan in her speech said there would be peace and harmony in the society only if the law and order situation was under control and progress could be achieved without any hindrances. She explained in detail various initiatives taken by the TRS government since the formation of Telangana state in June 2014 for various sections people like farmers, youth, students, women, old people and disabled people, apart from the progress achieved in various sectors like irrigation, power, drinking water supply, agriculture, industries, information technology, education and health. She said the installed capacity of power plants in Telangana had gone up from 7,778 megawatts to 16,246 MW in the last five years and the peak demand in the state had gone up to 13,168 MW, which is higher than the demand in the united Andhra Pradesh state. The construction of Kaleshwaram, worlds largest multi-state lift irrigation project, had transformed the landscape of Telangana, which was evident from a 123.50% increase in paddy cultivation during Rabi season from 17.08 lakh acres to 38.19 lakh acres in a span of one year, she said. She explained how several schemes like Rythu Bandhu, Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha had become role models for other states in the country and had won appreciation from international agencies. The governor also pointed out how Telangana had become a hub of Information technology with the worlds renowned companies are coming with investments to establish their companies in the state. The IT exports, which were 57,000 crore in 2013-14, had now gone up to 1.09 lakh crore, she said. The Congress and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) demanded that the TRS government pass a resolution against CAA and put on hold the NPR exercise since it has several controversial clauses. Congress spokesperson of its Telangana unit Gudur Narayan Reddy, who demanded that opposition to CAA and NPR should reflect in the governors speech, said it clearly showed both the TRS and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were hand in glove with each other. Since Tamilisai was BJP state president of Tamil Nadu before becoming Telangana governor, she would have definitely felt embarrassed to read out the references to CAA and NPR. That could be the reason why the KCR government avoided mentioning the same in her speech, Narayana Reddy said. The Business Advisory Committee of the Telangana assembly, which met later in the afternoon, decided that a resolution against the citizenship act, NPR and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would be adopted in the assembly during the ongoing budget session. Chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said during the meeting that his government will take up the issue for discussion and get the resolution passed. The chief ministers proposal was also endorsed by MIM and the Congress, state legislative affairs minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy said while speaking to reporters after the meeting. With this, Telangana will be joining the other non-BJP state governments which are opposed to CAA and disinclined to implement NPR in its present format. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Trump has fired his third Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, and plans to replace him with a key ally in Congressman Mark Meadows. Meadows was a huge supporter of Trump during the impeachment process, with the president referring to him as an 'extraordinary guy' during his acquittal 'victory lap'. I am pleased to announce that Congressman Mark Meadows will become White House Chief of Staff, the president tweeted on Friday. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one. The president continued: I want to thank Acting Chief Mick Mulvaney for having served the Administration so well. Congressman Mark Meadows (left) will replace Mick Mulvaney (right) as the new White House chief of staff, President Trump announced on Friday I am pleased to announce that Congressman Mark Meadows will become White House Chief of Staff, the president tweeted on Friday. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one...' The president continued: I want to thank Acting Chief Mick Mulvaney for having served the Administration so well. He will become the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. He will become the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Neither Meadows or Mulvaney were with the president on Air Force One during his trip to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Meadows will be the fourth to serve as Trump's chief of staff. Mulvaney held the role as acting chief of staff following the resignation in December 2018 of John Kelly. Kelly took over the job from Reince Preibus, who served under Trump between January 20 and July 31, 2017. He lasted a little over a year in the position and was never able to shake free from the 'acting' label. Mulvaney held the role as acting chief of staff following the resignation in December 2018 of John Kelly (left). Kelly took over the job from Reince Preibus (right) The long-rumored move makes Meadows, who announced he was not seeking reelection for his House seat from North Carolina, effectively Trump's fourth chief of staff since taking office in 2017. Meadows has had a big impact in the lower chamber of Congress during his tenure in co-founding the House Freedom Caucus in 2015 and in that same year he filed a motion that eventually led to then-House Speaker John Boehner resigning. Mulvaney, who served in Congress for South Carolina's 5th district until 2017, also co-founded the Freedom Caucus. Between 2017-2019 when the House, Senate and White House were all GOP-led Meadows and fellow Freedom Caucus founder and Trump ally Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio had a lot of power in the House. Between 2017-2019 when the House, Senate and White House were all GOP-led Meadows and fellow Freedom Caucus founder and Trump ally Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio had a lot of power in the House Rep. Mark Meadows brought Lynne Patton, an African-American administrator in the Department of Housing and Urban Development who used to work for the Trump Organization (the woman standing behind him) to Michael Cohen's hearing to prove Trump was not racist 'The hardest decision for me is that when you're in the fight, you enjoy staying in the fight,' Meadows told Politico of leaving his post in the contentious and divisive Democrat-controlled House. 'So this is not me shrinking away from a fight. In fact, it's just going to be continuing to fight a different capacity, whether that's officially as part of the Trump team or unofficially in my capacity as a sitting member of Congress,' he said. During the Michael Cohen trial, Meadows had to go on the defensive after a 2012 video surfaced of him talking about sending then-President Barack Obama 'back to Kenya.' The 2012 video shows Meadows, who was a congressional candidate at the time, saying Obama should be sent 'back home to Kenya or wherever.' And it surfaced after Meadows' brought an African American administration staffer to Cohen's hearing as proof the president is not racist - a move in itself that one Democrat labeled 'racist.' President Donald Trump stands with Meadows and then-House Speaker Paul Ryan in 2017 The then-Congressional candidate was speaking at a Tea Party Express Rally at Patton Park in Hendersonville, N.C. on June 9, 2012 - standing on a stage before a bus bearing the label 'Tea Party Express' - when he made his comments. '2012 is the time we're going to send Mr. Obama home to Kenya or where ever it is. We're going to do it,' Meadows said to great applause. He won his first term in Congress that year and is now one of President Donald Trump's staunchest allies on Capitol Hill. The latest administrative decision comes as the Trump administration has faced criticism for its handling of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Mulvaney had been leading the interagency response to the virus until Trump designated Vice President Mike Pence to lead the whole-of-government effort more than a week ago. Mulvaney has been marginalized inside the White House for months, taking on a more and more narrow role. And Trump has been eyeing the change for months, but wanted to wait until after impeachment, according to a person familiar with his thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss it publicly. Mulvaney's allies, however, had long brushed off rumblings off his imminent departure and had said as recently as last month that he planned to stay at least through the election in November. Pakistan on Saturday rejected as "factually incorrect" India's assertion that the industrial autoclave seized from a Karachi-bound Chinese ship at the Kandla port has military applications, saying similar furnaces are being used in several industries around the world over. India on Thursday said it has conveyed its concerns to China after seizure of an item having military applications from a Chinese ship which was detained by Indian authorities at Gujarat's Kandla port last month. The autoclave seized from 'Da Cui Yan', the Hong Kong flagged ship bound for Karachi. "We have noted the reports about inspection and seizure by the Indian authorities of an item from a Pakistan bound commercial vessel by the Indian authorities," Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said. It said that the private company in Pakistan which had imported the item under question had approached the government. "Claims about the possible military dimension of the held item are factually incorrect. Similar furnaces are being used in several industries in Pakistan and the world over, the FO said. It further said that the item under question is a heat treatment furnace casing system which has several industrial applications and it is not listed in any international export control list. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday the autoclave seized from the ship is a heat treatment furnace shell system and not a dual-use item under the non-proliferation and export control. The dual-use products or items have both civilian and military use. The items put under restricted list are used on missiles and nuclear weapons. The FO said that contrary to what is being claimed, the item was correctly declared in the relevant documentation and there was no attempt to hide or conceal any information. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Women make the world beautiful; they protect it and keep it alive. Pope Francis made the remarks on International Womens Day, last year. The Holy Father also urged women to build peace with love. Fortunate Nyambo Vatican City Once again, on 8 March, the world celebrates International Womens Day. All over the world, this day is celebrated as a focal point in the movement for women's rights. #EachforEqual The theme for this years celebration is #EachforEqual. A theme that seeks, among other things, to encourage women all over the world to recognise that they can make a difference and bring about gender equality in the world. But then it is also a day when women across the globe come together to celebrate each others achievements without regard to divisions of nations, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political barriers. Challenging stereotypes Tracey McClure is President of the association, Women in the Vatican -known by its Italian name, Donne in Vaticano. The association, Donne in Vaticano, was officially launched in 2016. What initially started-off as an idea for a support group of women, in the Vatican, has become an association that is outward looking and responsive to suffering in the world. Asked what this years theme means for her, Tracey a senior journalist, producer and broadcaster with Vatican media spoke about the importance of challenging stereotypes. I see it as an individual reflection. #EachforEqual is the moment for us to challenge stereotypes and bias that we see every day, not only in the place of work but also in our daily lives. It should help us work together as women to improve and celebrate womens achievements in many different areas, she said. Humanitarian gesture to Mozambique When Pope Francis travelled on his Apostolic Voyage to Mozambique, between 4 to 6 September 2019, Donne in Vaticano sent to the vulnerable children of Mozambique, school supplies, clothing, notebooks and backpacks, pencil cases, pens and pencils. The gesture of solidarity was channelled through an organisation known as, Reencontro: A Mozambican association that has been working to alleviate the plight of orphaned children by providing access to basic services and social assistance through community-based care. The association says it is currently assisting over 7, 000 children in Southern Mozambique. Challenges With regard to some of the challenges that women all over the world encounter, Tracey believes that the negatives stem from a general lack of respect for womens dignity across societies. Another challenge simply has to do with acknowledging the work women do. It would be good, for example, to see more women -religious women included- given due recognition for the work they do for the Church. Two men who stole alcohol worth almost 1,600 from two local supermarkets were both given jail sentences when they appeared at Dundalk Circuit Court last week. Sorin Ragalie and Robert Chereic, both of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to stealing groceries valued 854 from SuperValu, Dublin Road, Dundalk on July 3 2019 and 748 worth of alcohol from Tesco Extra, Dundalk a week later. The court heard that Mr Brian Traynor, manager SuperValu, was making his way to work on July 3 2019 when he saw towo men run out of the store and down a laneway. He thought this was suspicious and when he examined CCTV footage, he saw them place a large quantity of spirits and groceries in bags in a trolley. It emerged that they had taken bottles of vodka, brandy, as well as packs of nappies and popcorn, to a total value of 854.The two used a similar modus operandi when they stole bottles of spirits from Tesco Extra on July 10. The theft was reported to gardai on July 16. The men were caught after being arrested by gardai in Dun Laoghaire in relation to a similar incident and they were identified on CCTV. The investigating garda from Dundalk travelled to Dun Laoghaire to interview them. They both denied their involvement in the offences and none of the property was recovered. The court heard that it was believed Ragalie had entered the country not long before the first incident. He had 19 previous convictions, 17 of which were overseas, including a number of convictions for shoplifting in Wales and England. He also had convictions in Romania. Chereic had four previous convictions for theft in Ireland. The barrister for the two accused said that they had entered guilty pleas. Ragalie, who is 33 years, is married with a son. He is a model prisoner who was working in the kitchen. He was very capable of being a productive member of society and the birth of his son had focused his mind. He had been packing fruit after his arrival in Ireland and before that had worked in an internet cafe in Bucharest, and then as a fisherman for his father-in-law and as a labourer. Chereic is 20 years of age, and his fiancee had left Ireland and he was thinking of returning to Romania. This had been a source of embarrassment to him and his parents back in Romania and he asked the judge to give his client some light at the end of the tunnel. Judge James McCourt sentenced Ragalie to four years in jail with the final year suspended, noting he was much older and because of the recidivist nature of his behaviour. He sentenced Chereic to two years in jail, with the final year suspending, noting his relatively young age. Im trying to get away from this is another smoked-filled room its not that, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the unions involved in the push. By having people who are like-minded, you end up having on the convention floor people who actually can help get to a candidate who could be embraced by the country. Mumbai, March 7 : State-owned insurer Life Insurance Corporation may consider joining RBI efforts to rescue Yes Bank. This can help to increase capital infusion under the draft scheme to rescue Yes Bank designed by the Reserve Bank of India. Official sources said that RBI, SBI and finance ministry officials were in touch with the insurer to see its interest to participate in the scheme. LIC spokesperson, however, could not be reached for comments. The current rescue of Yes Bank involves State Bank of India (SBI) buying 49 per cent stake in Yes Bank for Rs 2,450 crore. But SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar on Saturday said whether it takes a 49% or 26% stake in Yes Bank will depend on the investment involved. Sources said that in wave of the issues involving burden falling on a single investor to rescue Yes Bank, other investors including LIC is being considered to join with additional equity participation. LIC already holds 8.06 per cent in Yes Bank. For LIC, recovery of Yes bank is important it itself has large exposure in bank's debt instruments that has now been downgraded by all rating agencies. At the end of the December quarter (Q3), LIC had an exposure of Rs 8,051 crore to the debt instruments of Yes Bank. Rajnish Kumar has also said that the bank was also examining the interest received from some other investors. However, whether other investors would subscribe to additional equity in beleaguered bank or take some burden off SBI from its proposed equity contribution to the extent of 49 per cent, is still to be worked out. An earlier plan for Yes Bank explored SBI and LIC jointly picking up 49 per cent stake. A SBI-led consortium involving private banks such as ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Indusind Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Axis Bank was also considered for Yes Bank's rescue. KumaraAs assertion on Saturday that the bank was also examining the interest received from some other investors may be hinting to some of these banks who may be interested to put in equity but at a lot lower levels. Yes Banks net worth of Rs 25,000 crore at present, is below investment grade. It has tried but failed to raise equity capital in the past many months as find houses have not been forthcoming. The proposed acquisition of stake by SBI and others will provide much needed lifeline to Yes Bank. In its draft 'Yes Bank Ltd. Reconstruction Scheme, 2020', RBI said the strategic investor bank will have to pick up 49 per cent stake and it cannot reduce holding to below 26 per cent before three years from the date of capital infusion. The draft came a day after the RBI imposed a moratorium on Yes Bank, restricting withdrawals to Rs 50,000 per depositor till April 3. The scheme proposes full repayment of all deposits, dilution of equity, and write-off of Rs 10,800 crore of additional tier one (AT-1) bonds. But Kumar did not comment on the 81 bonds being written off in the draft scheme. One of the biggest losers in case the RBI's restructuring scheme for Yes Bank goes through will be the additional c holders who have bets totalling to Rs 10,800 crore on the lender. The investors in such instruments (tier-I bond typically include mutual fund houses and bank treasuries. A Guatemalan national was sentenced to more than four years in prison for his involvement in an international fraudulent document scheme that arranged for phony identities for people entering the country illegally. Manuel Solis-Zetino, 34, was sentenced last week to 55 months in prison after pleading guilty to unlawful transfer of identification documents, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy. He participated in a conspiracy with Victor Arcos-Tornez, 44, and Alma Vazquez, 37, of Dodge City, Kansas, from March 14, 2012, continuing through Aug. 15, 2018. Vazquez and Arcos-Tornez have both pleaded guilty to federal charges and are in custody awaiting sentencing. The trio produced fraudulent documents, including birth certificates and Social Security cards, that allowed people who entered the country illegally to obtain drivers licenses from the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division. They then helped them obtain employment in the United States using genuine New Mexico drivers licenses and false and stolen documents. Solis-Zetino, according to court records, transported people from Kansas to New Mexico where he helped them obtain the drivers licenses. He charged them from $1,500 to $2,100 for the documents and transportation. 'Romantic Doctor 2' indeed gave way to So Ju Yeon and Kim Min Jae shippers. Given their chemistry in the drama, fans can't help but gush over the on-screen couple's little to big interactions on and off the camera. According to reports, both the actors talk about how close they are. In the series, the actress portrays the role of a student doctor while Kim Min Jae is a nurse. She shared that her leading man has a good impact on her and described him as the 'real deal'. She added that being comfortable around him comes out naturally, adding the fact that she refers to him as an honest and very friendly person. There are times, too, that the actor becomes quiet and focused, especially while filming. So Ju Yeon also said that they don't rehearse always, so many scenes of them were natural. Due to their chemistry on screen, she gets a lot of questions if there is a possibility for them to date for real. With a smile on her face, the actress said that they are good friends. While she hinted it's impossible for them to date, she expressed her gratitude to those who appreciate their love team. "We're like family. We're definitely not dating, and there's no chance of us dating ever. Min Jae seemed to be getting this question a lot too, so I figured that we did a good job on screen," the actress said. "It's true that when we were acting, in those moments everything was real for us. Especially for me, I don't have any acting 'hacks' so I won't be convincing unless I feel the real emotions in my heart. I can't cry on screen unless I'm really sad. For the sweet, romantic scenes, I listened to a lot of lovey-dovey songs," she added. In the interview, So Ju Yeon revealed that one of the scenes she won't forget is a moment she shared with her co-star. "There was a kiss scene where Eun Tak's (Kim Min Jae) line was, 'I'm gonna become a more respectable boyfriend for you.' I was so embarrassed my face was burning. But the director wouldn't call 'cut', and then I met eyes with the lighting director, which got me bursting into laughter," she confessed. In a separate interview, Kim Min Jae described his leading lady as a good acting partner. He added that they talked a lot and took pictures together while on the set. Kim Min Jae said, "We are close friends. We took photos to encourage people to tune in, so we just took them while discussing, 'What should we post this week?" Given the success of 'Romantic Doctor 2', the actors expressed his hopes to have and be part of the third season. He admitted that he felt quite sad when the series concluded. Moreover, he revealed that he received calls from his former teachers after the finale and even got free drinks at restaurants. He added that his parents really enjoyed the show. House members passed legislation authorizing $8.3 billion in emergency funding to deal with the spread of coronavirus and fund research efforts to find a vaccine and cure on Wednesday, March 4. Congressman Pete Olson was among the federal lawmakers who supported the bi-partisan measure. Given the global economy we live in, swift action to contain and address coronavirus was necessary, Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) said in a press release. I was pleased to vote YES on a clean funding bill that provides needed resources to coordinate federal, state and local action to combat coronavirus. As medical professionals around the world work to find a cure, Im pleased that we were able to work in a bi-partisan fashion to prepare our communities and empower healthcare providers to keep Americans healthy. U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36) also voted in support of the measure. As this global health crisis continues, and we see more COVID-19 cases confirmed in the U.S., its crucial to ensure adequate funding and the proper resources are in place at the federal, state, and local levels, Babin said in a released statement. These funds will be used to address the virus at home and abroad, including expediting vaccine development, combating the spread of COVID-19, purchasing essential equipment and supplies, and assisting state and local health departments. Im proud that Congress could put partisan politics aside and compromise on a bill that will meet this emergency head-on and protect the American people, Babin said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Fort Bend residents worry, stay calm after 1st reported coronavirus case in Houston region Coronavirus (COVID-19), a newly0identified virus with flu-like symptoms, continues to spread rapidly around the world. Officials say federal action was needed because currently there is no cure or vaccine and there have been widespread concerns about the potential for the number of cases in America to grow. The supplemental package includes more than four billion dollars to increase the availability of diagnostic tests, to support treatments to ease the symptoms of those infected with the virus; and to invest in vaccine development and to procure vaccines when they are available. Funds are also made available for the Food and Drug Administration to protect the integrity of medical products manufactured overseas and identify and prevent potential shortages. The measure also authorizes $2.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for response efforts including nearly $1 billion for state and local efforts and another $300 million for CDCs Infectious Diseases Rapid Response Reserve Fund to prevent, prepare for, and respond to diseases. An additional $20 million is set aside to deliver disaster assistance loans for small businesses impacted by the virus. The measure includes another $1.25 billion for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to protect Americans abroad and prevent the spread of the virus worldwide and includes $264 million to evacuate Americans and maintain consular operations oversea and $200 million for USAIDs Emergency Response Fund to prepare for and respond to emerging health threats working to prevent the spread of illness and infections before it reaches U.S. soil. knix@hcnonline.com Frankly, Im not just baffled but completely perplexed by Arvind Kejriwals decision to grant the police permission to prosecute Kanhaiya Kumar for sedition under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code. He has not only contradicted his earlier publicly expressed admiration for Kanhaiya, but he has also revealed he is ignorant of the actual law of sedition, and his explanation for his decision suggests his is a government that doesnt know how to exercise judgment and take a principled stand. Lets see if you agree. First, Kanhaiya Kumar is to be prosecuted for sedition, because he allegedly shouted Bharat tere tukde honge, inshallah inshallah in February 2016. Kanhaiya denies it, but, for arguments sake, lets assume he did. The question is is this sedition? As far back as 1995, in the Balwant Singh case, the Supreme Court ruled that shouting Khalistan Zindabad is not seditious. Significantly, this referred to slogans raised the very day Indira Gandhi was killed. Despite that, the Supreme Court (SC)s ruling was clear and forthright: Raising some slogan only a couple of times which neither evoked any response nor any reaction from anyone in the public cannot attract the provision of Section 124A. And the Court added: The police officials exhibited lack of maturity and, more, of sensitivity in arresting the appellants for raising the slogans (the slogans) did not constitute any threat to the government of India as by law established nor could the same give rise to feelings of enmity or hatred among different communities or religions or other groups. That remains the SCs position to this day. Rahul Mehra, the Delhi governments standing counsel, recognised this, and advised Kejriwal against granting permission. He is reported to have said the police case was flimsy, riddled with gaps, and does not amount to sedition against the state. Now, its quite possible Kejriwal is ignorant of the actual status of the law of sedition. After all, he is a politician and not a lawyer. Thats why he has legal advisers. But rather than accept, he chose to ignore the advice of his own governments legal counsel. Not because he had reasons to disagree, but on very different grounds. Raghav Chadha, the Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson, gave this explanation. The government, he said: As a matter of policy and as a matter of principle does not and has not intervened in any of such cases. This is particularly troubling and bizarre. Since the government has the power to either grant or refuse sanction for prosecution, it is its duty to do so in a well-considered manner. How, then, can it claim that as a matter of policy and as a matter of principle it will simply sidestep the issue, and not come to any carefully thought-out view? Surely thats abdication of duty? In this instance, its, arguably, worse. By refusing to exercise its judgment, the Kejriwal government has subjected Kanhaiya Kumar to unwarranted prosecution. In fact, it almost feels like persecution. Indeed, I would go further. I cant resist the feeling Kejriwal has chosen to burnish his own nationalist credentials at Kanhaiya Kumars cost. Finally, let me recall what Kejriwal said when Kanhaiya Kumar made his famous speech at Jawaharlal Nehru University on March 3, 2016, just three weeks after the alleged slogan shouting. Heard Kanhaiyas speech many times, he tweeted. Amazing clarity of thought, expressed wonderfully. He said wat most people have been feeling. God bless him. Raghav Chadhas comment was equally effusive: One hell of a speech by Kanhaiya. Sheer brilliance. Well, it seems today one of them has consigned Kanhaiya to hell while the other has left him to Gods and lets hope the judiciarys mercies. Thats why Im deeply disappointed. I did not vote to re-elect a Kejriwal, who doesnt have the strength to exercise his legitimate authority, the wisdom to accept advice from those who know the law, and opts, instead, for an easy decision, because it will protect his personal popularity. Karan Thapar is the author of Devils Advocate: The Untold Story The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 21 year old man has been jailed for three years for his role in collecting almost 50,000 in money in North Cork from a vulnerable pensioner who was targeted by a gang posing as tax men and claiming he owed the Revenue Commissioners thousands of euros. Patrick O'Donnell pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to ten counts of theft from the 81 year old man and his 55 year old nephew on various dates between December 6th 2017 and January 19th 2018. O'Donnell, from from Assumpta Park, Newcastlewest, Co Limerick admitted the theft of various sums, ranging from 2,000 to 7,000 on the various dates, all at the grounds of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Rathgoggan Middle in Charleville. Det Sgt Michael Reidy from Newcastlewest Garda Station told how in January 2017, the victims of the fraud were visited at their home by persons purporting to be from the Revenue Commissioners saying they had a tax liability. The injured parties were later contacted by phone and told to bring large sums of cash to hand over to an individual, purporting to be from the Revenue Commissioners, who would meet them in the grounds of Charleville church. "The injured parties would receive a telephone call and instructions to have monies available at a particular time or date. For instance, they were told in a call on a Friday to have 5,000 by Monday," he said. Det Sgt Reidy said that this happened several times to the point where the pensioner withdrew all his savings from a post office account and cashed in a life assurance policy and even put a 14 acre outside farm up for sale. "Both men were relieved of their life savings - the older man's entire life savings were dwindled or reduced to nothing over the course of these encounters between June and November 2017," said Det Sgt Reidy. They thought that they had cleared their tax liability when they received yet another phone call in November 2017, again from the same person purporting to be from the Revenue Commissioners and demanding more money. The individual threatened that if they didn't fully meet their liability, they would end up in "the big court in Dublin and their names would be splashed all over the newspapers as tax defaulters," he said. "The people they (the injured parties) met were very convincing men. They always had the right answers for them and they (the injured parties) were all the time of the belief that they were Revenue Commissioners," he said. Gardai became aware of the scam when a neighbour of the pensioner contacted them so they immediately began an investigation and mounted a surveillance operation at the church grounds in Charleville. Gardai were in place there on January 26th 2018 when the injured party turned up to hand over another 5,000 in cash as he had been instructed with a promise that he would get a 25,000 rebate would he discharged his debt fully. Gardai observed a white Transit van pull up by the church grounds and the accused, O'Donnell got out of the passenger side and approached the injured party whereupon gardai moved in to apprehend the gang. Officers arrested O'Donnell and two other individuals not before the courts and questioned them with O'Donnell informing gardai that his role in the operation was to collect the money and hand it over to the other people. Defence counsel, Tom Creed SC said that O'Donnell, who worked collecting scrap metal, had no previous convictions for anything like this and Det Sgt Reidy agreed, saying he only had a number of minor traffic convictions. Det Sgt Reidy said that O'Donnell's job was to approach the injured parties and collect the money from them, presenting himself as a David Lyons from Revenue and his involvement in the crime began in November 2017. "He wasn't the brains behind this operation but he was an important cog," said Det Sgt Reidy who said the two victims were so in fear that the younger man used to get physically sick whenever the gang rang looking for cash from them. He said that O'Donnell, who first pleaded guilty to the thefts last November, had to date paid back 30,000 to the injured parties and that there was around 19,000 still outstanding to be repaid. But Judge Sean O Donnabhain told Mr Creed that it was far too serious an offence for anyone to think that the end result, if they repaid all the money, would be a suspended sentence. "That's not going to happen," he said. He said it was a particularly serious offence where a gang threatened and terrified their targets by saying they were from the Revenue Commissioners and then continuing with the scam to extract their life savings from them. "This is an extremely serious offence. A pattern was set up whereby men were identified first and then preyed upon . to put people through this in their homes is really horrendous." "The money was extracted from them by what is still regarded in some areas as the greatest threat of all - the Revenue Commissioners - these two men were in living hell. One of them used to get sick when he got the phonecalls. "I cannot say Patrick O'Donnell was the main man but he was actively taking money in this scam from two innocent men outside a church in Charleville. He was an active participant in an extremely vicious, wicked scheme." Judge O Donnabhain acknowledged that O'Donnell had repaid 30,000 of the stolen money but he didn't see any realistic prospect of O'Donnell repaying the near 20,000 balance that he owed his victims. He said he believed the appropriate sentence was five years but, given that O'Donnell had no previous convictions for anything similar, he said he would suspend the last two years, leaving him with three years to serve in jail. The states highest court has rejected actor Jussie Smolletts attempt to throw out the new charges against him and remove the special prosecutor who brought them. In an emergency motion to the Illinois Supreme Court, Smolletts attorneys argued that Cook County Judge Michael Toomin overstepped his authority and misinterpreted the law when he ordered the appointment of a special prosecutor in Smolletts case last year. On Friday afternoon, the high court denied the request without explanation. In their filing, Smolletts attorneys argued that the particular statute Toomin cited to appoint a special prosecutor can only be invoked if the states attorney filed a formal petition for recusal -- which Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx never did. Foxx withdrew from the case last year in what she termed a colloquial recusal, then assigned her top deputy to handle the matter, which Toomin said rendered the entire prosecution invalid. Foxx had the right to step away but did not have the right to name her successor, the judge said. But, Smolletts attorneys argued, only Smollett himself had grounds to question whether the person who prosecuted him was properly qualified to do so. (If) there, in fact, had been a defect in the authority to prosecute Mr. Smollett, the only person who could properly challenge the validity of the proceedings would be Mr. Smollett -- and he has not done so, the motion states. As a result, they argued, the state Supreme Court should throw out the order appointing a special prosecutor as well as vacate the charges currently pending against the actor. The high court roundly rejected the motion, meaning Smolletts case will be back before a Cook County judge March 18 as scheduled. Smollett faces six new counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to police about being the victim of a phony racist and homophobic attack. Cook County prosecutors last year charged him with 16 counts of the same crime centered on the same allegations -- but abruptly dropped them, with little explanation, the next month. It was a highly controversial move that has cast a long shadow over the upcoming primary race for states attorney. After Toomin found that Smolletts first prosecution was invalid, veteran prosecutor Dan Webb was appointed to determine whether the actor should again face charges. On Feb. 11, his special grand jury indicted Smollett on the new counts. Smollett, who is black and openly gay, told police he was attacked by two men as he was walking home after getting a sandwich at a Subway restaurant in January of last year. The men shouted slurs, poured bleach or a similar substance on him and hung a noose around his neck, he told officers. But the actor eventually turned from victim to suspect, and in a twist, police said that the entire incident was a hoax and that Smollett actually staged the assault from start to finish to bolster his career. By the time charges were brought the first time, Foxx had recused herself from overseeing the prosecution after revealing she had contact with a member of Smolletts family early in the investigation at the request of Tina Tchen, Michelle Obamas former chief of staff. Foxx declined to provide details at the time, but communications later made public showed Foxx had asked then-Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to turn over the investigation to the FBI after she was approached by Tchen, a politically connected lawyer, about the case. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When Yasser Abed Rabbo led a four-man PLO delegation to meet with US Ambassador to Tunis Robert Peletru in 1988, the meeting was hailed as a huge breakthrough. After the 90-minute meeting, Abed Rabbo said, We hope this dialogue will continue and we think it will continue. That first PLO-US meeting might be in the distant past now, but the current situation appears to be reversed. The American ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, is now claiming to have secret back-channel talks with the Palestinians; the Palestinians are denying this vehemently. Speaking Feb. 28 on the Qatari-based Al Jazeera news satellite station, Friedman claimed that the back-channel talks are substantive and have dealt with some of the issues seen as positive in the US President Donald Trumps peace plan, such as the two-state solution, a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem, connecting the West Bank with the Gaza Strip and investment in infrastructure and increasing the size of land offered to the Palestinians, the Jerusalem Post cited Friedman as saying to Al Jazeera. The Palestinian response came quickly with government spokesman Ibrahim Melhem telling the official Palestinian WAFA news agency Feb. 29 that Friedmans claims are simply not true. Instead, Melhem noted that the peace initiative offered by President Mahmoud Abbas at the UN included a rejection of the US plan and calls for an international mechanism with the participation of the Quartet and the UN Security Council. Ghassan Khatib, former minister of labor in the Palestinian government, also reiterated his doubts about a back channel. Speaking to Al-Monitor, Khatib said that Friedman is not telling the truth. I believe that Friedman is lying, because if a secret back channel actually existed, he would not have revealed that. Khatib applauded the Palestinian boycott of the Americans calling it the right response. I believe that boycotting the United States is the correct response so as not to give any credence to the attempts at marking the US plan in the Arab region and internationally. Khatib believes that the Trump administration exaggerated a lot in its bias toward Israel and left no room for any relationship. What is needed now is to go back and move toward international law rather than these new positions that are totally unacceptable. While Palestinian officials and pundits have denied the existence of a secret back channel, many do admit the existence of security and intelligence cooperation. In fact, Abbas himself has never denied the existence of such talks with US intelligence services. A senior Palestinian Fatah official who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said that if the "deal of the century" was not the only topic of consideration, there would be a number of issues to talk about, especially human rights and the difficulties that Israel is causing for Palestinians living under occupation. The Palestinian leadership is well aware of the American power and no one in their right mind would boycott a superpower. But we are sure that if we tried to make an overture it would be used politically and would boomerang in our face politically, the source said. Abbas himself alluded to this problem telling the Arab League Feb. 1 that when he spoke to Trump against the move of the US Embassy to Jerusalem, the US president claimed in press reviews that he spoke about his moves with Abbas. This is why I refused to accept his deal of the century [to read] or phone calls or messages. Palestinians are in a tight spot as there seems to be no wiggle room available for the leadership to cooperate with the Americans without appearing to be legitimizing what they consider a very bad deal that has been offered without their input or their participation. Thirty-two years have passed since that first PLO-US meeting in Tunis. The key players that made that meeting happen have all disappeared with the exception of Abbas who is holding on to his moderate position and insisting that international law, and not a unilateral plan made by the presidents 39-year old son-in-law, Jared Kushner, should be the reference point. The question that still requires an answer is how long the Palestinians can boycott the worlds superpower that has direct effect on the lives and future of Palestine. While some might argue that such talks are necessary, the leadership is trying to buy time with the hope that the American people will remove the current resident of the White house during the upcoming November elections in the United States and bring back some sanity in Americas foreign policy, especially toward the Middle East conflict. In the meantime, the Palestinian leadership is taking a wait-and-see approach. However, many are hoping that this downtime can be used to reach the badly needed Palestinian unity that in part led to the difficult position the Palestinians find themselves in today. COVID-19 hits Lankas economy; outflows of Rs. 19.6bn in two weeks By S. Rubatheesan View(s): View(s): With the coronavirus (COVID-19) slowing down the global economy, foreigners have rushed to encash Treasury Bonds and Bills held by them in Sri Lanka, resulting in an outflow of Rs 19.6 billion in two weeks, the Central Bank said. According to Central Bank statistics, Rs 8.23 billion of foreign outflow was recorded this week by Friday while last week Rs 11.42 billion government securities were encashed. Monthly Monetary Policy Review issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) said this week that the escalation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to a global health emergency was likely to affect Sri Lankas economic performance. Sri Lankas economic links with China could be directly affected as significant volumes of consumer goods, intermediate goods and investment goods are imported from China. The likely slowdown of the global economy and disruptions to the supply chain could affect Sri Lankas merchandise and service exports as well as related logistics, the CBSL Policy Review said while stressing that the slowdown in global tourist movements would affect Sri Lankas tourism sector, in addition to the direct impact of lower arrivals from China. The CBSL Policy Review also warned that the spread of the virus to countries with a significant number of Sri Lankan migrant workers could affect remittance inflows also. Development Banking and Loan Schemes State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told the Sunday Times that even though the current slowing down of the global economy due to the coronavirus would have an impact on small nations such as Sri Lanka, the government had taken adequate measures to ensure a stabilized economy. With the government setting paddy buying price at Rs 50, it will have a positive impact on agrarian based rural economy in addition to money circulation among the people. We believe this would reflect in the other sectors of the countrys overall economy, he said. In a new study this week, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Sri Lanka could experience a negative growth of (-0.18%) on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year considering the significant economic impact of COVID19 on Asia through numerous channels, including sharp declines in domestic consumption, lower tourism and business travel, trade and production linkages, supply disruptions, and health. A Colombo-based firms market analyst said if the foreign outflow was to increase in future, it would cause further depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar. According to CBSL data, during the period up to March 6 this year, the Sri Lanka rupee depreciated against the US dollar by 0.2 percent. Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Chief Economist Shiran Fernando said, The outflows are not Sri Lanka specific as we are seeing similar outflows in other emerging and frontier market countries with foreign portfolio investors returning to safe haven assets like gold and US Treasury Bills. It is yet to apply a significant depreciating pressure on the currency but will need to be monitored. Hambantota port, construction and apparel industries hit by Covid-19 By Tharushi Weerasinghe View(s): View(s): Sri Lankan businesses, including the Hambantota Port, are now beginning to feel the pinch of the Covid-19 outbreak. The Hambantota International Port Group (Pvt) Ltd (HIPG) had planned to start bunkering in March but that has been delayed because specialists working on tank farm refurbishment went home for the Chinese New Year and are unable to return. However, the farm received Lloyds classification on Friday. The major business of Hambantota Port remains roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vehicle imports. Much of it is transhipment cargo. These volumes are still coming in but there was a drop starting February. A further decline of five to eight percent is anticipated commensurate with a global downturn, a company spokesman said. The construction industry is badly affected, said Nissanka Wijeratne, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Construction Industry. We import ceramics, tiles, bathroom fittings, electrical fittings, air conditioner plants, doors and windows for China and shipments are completely cut off right now, he said. Thirty percent of our Aluminum comes from China. So do spare parts for heavy machineries, even the European-built ones. There really is no way to replace material imports from China, he continued. If, for instance, spare parts were to come from Europe, they would take six months to reach and that is way too long. Businesses in imports, garments and pharmaceuticals are now feeling the pinch of global supply chain disruption, said Shiran Fernando, the Chamber of Commerces Chief Economist. He expected cost of production to rise owing to an increase in surcharges on freight and other components of the import process. There are costs associated with non-availability of shipping slots or schedules convenient to importers. Some vessels cannot even reach certain ports. These delays will cripple a gamut of sectors. Textile and clothing production has stalled in parts of China, affecting manufacturers and exporters in Sri Lanka who have no raw material to feel demand. Sri Lanka is heavily dependent on China for fabrics and textiles worth approximately US$ 850mn,said Tuli Cooray, the Assistant Secretary General of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF). There has been no supply since the Chinese New Year although markets had planned to resume by the end of February. When the do finally open up, the resulting congestion will lead to high transport costs. No materials, means no work, Mr Cooray said. But salaries still have to be paid. That is an added cost with no revenue to meet it. He estimated the total loss to be around US$ 500mn. But he expects supply to recover thanks to new strategies being introduced in China. But heavy traffic might result in exporters having to air freight, which is more expensive. As with most sectors, small and medium enterprises will be worst hit by a potential order crunch, Mr Cooray said, adding that JAAF will soon form a proposal on the industrys next plan of action. This has opened the eyes of the business world, he reflected. There were opportunities in the situation. Chinas own customers might divert their business elsewhere and Sri Lanka could stand to gain, provided it was ready. The Chinese could themselves outsource their production. The Sri Lankan industrycomprising just seven apparel manufacturersmust offer quality and price as well as meet delivery targets. And it needed to produce its own raw materials. New Delhi, March 7 : The Special Investigation Team of Delhi Police is tightening its grip over suspended Aam Aadmi Party Councillor Tahir Hussain. The SIT is trying to identify the people who were in regular contact with Hussain on the day of violence. Hussain is presently on seven-day police remand in connection with violent incidents in northeast Delhi on February 24-25. According to a Delhi Police crime branch source, a total of 15 people have been identified so far, to whom Hussain was contacting regularly. However, the motive of conversations has not been cleared so far. An SIT source said: "The identified people include many relatives of Hussain about them he said that he was only warning them against going into the violence affected areas. However, the crime branch is not ready to accept his claims". It is expected that the SIT would summon these people on Monday by sending them legal notices. The SIT is also expecting to get some vital information from Hussain in coming one or two days. Hussain is the main accused in Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma's killing during the violence. The SIT, however, has not received any big information in the case. President Moon Jae-in asked Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan Friday to ease Turkey's travel restrictions on South Koreans due to the coronavirus outbreak here. Moon spoke to President Erdogan on the phone for about 20 minutes to discuss the situation regarding COVID-19 and other matters of bilateral interest, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Turkey has suspended all passenger flights to and from South Korea. It is also requiring those who've visited South Korea to be quarantined for 14 days after arrival, regardless of symptoms. Moon explained South Korea's efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, and asked Turkey to consider resuming at least some flights so that essential business exchanges won't be affected. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Erdogan praised South Korea's quarantine efforts and expressed hopes South Korea's strong measures will pave the way for a quick normalization of the two countries' exchanges. Moon on Wednesday canceled his visit to Turkey, set for later this month, in order to focus on a nationwide fight against the novel coronavirus. Moon sought Erdogan's understanding of his decision. Cheong Wa Dae said Erdogan acknowledged Moon's situation and that he hoped Moon will reschedule his visit in the near future. Erdogan also offered condolences to South Koreans who've succumbed to the virus. Moon thanked Turkish first lady, Emine Erdo?an, for writing a letter to South Korean first lady Kim Jung-sook expressing her condolences for COVID-19 victims here. (Yonhap) by Nirmala Carvalho The Archbishop of Bangalore criticises recent acts of violence against the Christian minority. For Christians, the good days never come. Some public officials do their duty conscientiously. No one is forcibly converted in schools or hospitals. We love Mother India! Mumbai (AsiaNews) Recent episodes of intolerance towards Christians clearly show that police have let themselves to be influenced by outside Hindu extremists. For us Christians in Karnataka, the good days (achhe din, in Hindi) never come, said Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, paraphrasing a well-known political slogan.[*] His remarks follow three incidents that have recently hit the community: the desecration of the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Bengaluru (Bangalore), the removal of the statue of Jesus from a cemetery in Mahima Betta and the beating of a Christian official at Sanjo Hospital in Mandhya. Extremists make provocative speeches, said Archbishop Machado, but What is worse is that they are neither censored nor stopped. For him it is above all those who come from outside that create problems, confusion and disharmony. Such was the case when the statue in Mahima Betta was removed. Here, police bowed to the demands of groups from outside the village, who accuse Christians of forced conversions. Unfortunately, local officials, like revenue officers and police, tacitly support or are afraid to take action when extremists target the Christian minority and its institutions. I hope the government will send a strong signal that it will not tolerate such hostilities against the Christian community. There has been a sinister pattern in the latest incidents, especially as they (extremists) dare to disturb places of worship, pilgrimage centres and hospitals on flimsy grounds like complaints about conversion. It is a known fact that thousands of children study at our institutions or are treated in our hospitals, but none have been converted. For this reason, Unless the government takes strong measures to stop such harassment against us as a minority community, we may be forced to make it a major issue for redressal before public and constitutional authorities. Despite everything, the Archbishop of Bangalore is grateful for the good officials who carry out their duty conscientiously despite the pressures they receive. Indian Christians are sincere and peace-loving citizens of this country. We are aware of our rights. And we shall carry out our duties within the framework of the constitution. We love Mother India! [*] Achhe din aane waale hain (Hindi: "Good days are coming") was the slogan the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used in the 2014 Indian general election. As Jordy Scott from the USA crossed the finish line in the womens final of the CLIF Speed & Style, it was a win for her and a win for women in the sport. Jordys style points boosted her ahead of Vaea Verbeeck from Canada, as she became the first woman to win an international Speed & Style competition as part of the full Crankworx World Tour. I think its awesome, says 18-year-old Jordy of the new category. All the young girls that are coming up are so ridiculously skilled. Theyre really pushing to get to this level. So being able to see that this is possible and to be able to have something to aspire to, is so awesome. Jordy was throwing down tuck-no-handers and tire grabs, first beating Jill Kintner from the USA, who would finish the night in third, before taking on Vaea in the finals. Im super happy about it. This is my first time doing the World Tour for Crankworx, says Jordy, who also took the win in the inaugural womens category in Whistler last year. Air Downhill and Dual Slalom arent my strongest suits, so it wasnt the best start to the week, so Im really happy to get some nice mid-week momentum going, and its one of my favourite events. I just had a really fun time out there. Jordy finished outside the top ten in both Air DH and Slalom, but last nights points boost her up into fourth place in the Queen of Crankworx race. Jills third place points add to her lead, while Vaeas second place points push her closer to Jill, with 60 now separating the two. On the mens side, the 2018 Speed & Style World Tour Champion was back on top. Tomas Lemoine of France qualified first then charged all night, throwing down double-truck x-ups and flip double bar x-ups to beat Greg Watts from the US in the finals. The Frenchmans win serves as a prelude to todays Maxxis Slopestyle in Memory of McGazza. In 2019 he also won an event the night before Slope. His 2019 win on the Pump Track in Rotorua led him in to a second place finish at Slopestyle the following day. Despite how last year turned out, Tomas almost didnt compete yesterday to prioritize Slopestyle training. I was like I love racing, I love Speed & Style, I will regret if Im riding bad tomorrow and I didnt do anything today. So I thought Im just going to try and push to my limits to make it happen. Im stoked that it worked. I have a lot to do for tomorrow, so sleep early tonight and try to make it happen tomorrow, says Tomas. The win last night gives Tomas his first batch of points in the battle for the King of Crankworx title. He is currently tied for sixth with Sam Blenkinsop of New Zealand who won the Rotorua Air DH presented by Bosch on Wednesday. In the lead is Kyle Strait from the USA who won the 100% Dual Slalom Rotorua and came sixth in the Air DH. Full results: CLIF Speed & Style presented by Mons Royale - Pro Men and Pro Women Overall standings: King and Queen of Crankworx Just a week ago on February 29, there was one confirmed death from coronavirus in the United States. Now the rapidly-spreading virus has killed 19 people and affected more than 30 states and the District of Columbia, turning into a health crisis. Here's how the disease quickly evolved in the US: First case of the virus in the US Federal health officials announced the first case of coronavirus in the US on January 20. The patient was in Washington state, and had just returned five days prior from Wuhan, China, where the outbreak started. Biggest major outbreak outside China The largest coronavirus outbreak outside of mainland China at the time was a cruise ship floating in Japanese waters. The Diamond Princess cruise ship announced a total of more than 700 passengers had coronavirus. Over 3,600 people, including 428 Americans, were stuck on the cruise ship that had been docked in Yokohama since February 4. First major warning on likely spread A top federal health official warned Americans on February 25 that coronavirus would spread in the United States. "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," said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. First coronavirus death in the US A patient infected with coronavirus in Washington state died on February 29, marking the first fatality due to the virus in the United States. The man in his 50s had underlying health conditions, and there was no evidence he had close contact with an infected person or a relevant travel history that would have exposed him to the virus. First coronavirus confirmation in New York City New York confirmed its first case of coronavirus on March 1. The patient contracted the virus while in Iran, officials said. "There is no reason for undue anxiety -- the general risk remains low in New York. We are diligently managing this situation," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. First death outside Washington state A death reported in Northern California on March 4 became the first fatality outside Washington state. The victim was an elderly man with underlying health conditions, who was probably exposed to the virus on a trip aboard a Princess Cruises ship that traveled from San Francisco to Mexico in February. Ship is held at sea in the US due to coronavirus A ship carrying more than 3,500 people was held at sea off the coast of California as it traveled from Hawaii on March 4. The Grand Princess previously carried a passenger who became the first person to die from coronavirus in California, and was ordered to stay at sea for days as it awaited test results. Officials later confirmed 21 positive cases of coronavirus. First deaths outside the West Coast Florida authorities announced March 6 that two coronavirus patients in the state died. It was the first deaths believed to be linked to the virus on the East Coast. The state also confirmed more than a dozen cases, considered the second largest cluster on the East Coast after New York. First infection in the nation's capital The first case of coronavirus infection in the District of Columbia was reported on March 7. The patient was a resident in his 50s who appeared to have no history of international travel and no close contacts with a confirmed case, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced. Infections hit more than 400 Now the US cases are at more than 400 and include 70 people repatriated to the US. Of those, 21 people are aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship. The ship was held off the coast of San Francisco and has been in limbo since March 4, when officials learned the first California fatality had traveled to Mexico on the ship last month. It's expected to head to Oakland, California, this week. A nursing home is at the center of the outbreak The hard-hit Washington state is grappling with an outbreak at Life Care Center nursing home in suburban Seattle, where at least 14 people have died, the King County Health Department said. All 63 residents remaining at the facility are confined to their rooms and dozens more have been transferred to various hospitals, said spokesman Tim Killian of the Kirkland facility. SPRINGFIELD Illinois likely sixth resident to come down with the new coronavirus is a special education teacher at the Chicago Public School district. After disembarking from a Grand Princess cruise ship in San Francisco that had multiple passengers confirmed to have COVID-19, the unnamed woman in her 50s returned to Chicago and attended classes at Vaughn Occupational School, where she works as a special education classroom assistant. She worked from shortly after she disembarked from the ship from Feb. 21 to March 2. The announcement that 20 people had the virus came on March 4. I want to reassure all of our CPS students and families that our citys been working relentlessly to protect the safety and security of our students, faculty, and staff, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Friday night. Officials said the woman is in stable condition and quarantined in a local hospital. Lightfoot would not name her location at the request of the hospital. We will be reaching out to all students at this school as well as all employees at this school, said Allison Arwady, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. CPS Superintendent Sheila Jackson said classes at Vaughn were cancelled next week. More Information More COVID-19 deaths noted SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - On Saturday, the U.S. death toll from the coronavirus climbed to 19 with all but three victims in Washington state. Florida reported two coronavirus deaths, the first outside the West Coast. The number of infections swelled to nearly 400, scattered across about half of the U.S. states. Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska have reported their first cases. Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 100,000 people and killed over 3,400, the vast majority of them in China. Most cases have been mild; more than half of those infected have recovered. See More Collapse Gov. J.B. Pritzker reconfirmed that Illinoisans are not in immediate danger from COVID-19 and need not modify their behavior beyond proper hygiene. As a parent myself, I understand how unnerving this information might be for many of Chicagos residents, but I want to be clear in this case, as in every case, the federal, state, county, and hospital-level public health officials are working to actively identify any individuals who came in contact with this patient, he said. COVID-19 has a statistically low mortality rate in children, with reports from the CDC suggesting younger children who tested positive for the virus in China exhibited milder symptoms. A Toronto man is facing 18 charges following an investigation into human trafficking. Police allege that, in a short period of time, the man introduced the victim into the sex trade where he forcefully gave the victim drugs in an attempt to gain control and exploit them. Over an extended period of time, he assaulted, sexually assaulted, choked and forcibly confined the victim, police say. Police say with help from the public the victim was able to escape. Jamaal Koehler, 25, of Toronto, was arrested on Thursday, January 23. He faces 18 charges including, two counts of sexual assault, four counts of assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, trafficking in persons by recruiting, transporting and harbouring, forcible confinement. Police are concerned there may be more victims and urge anyone who has been a victim of Human Trafficking to come forward to police He is scheduled to appear in court at 1911 Eglinton Avenue East, on March 31, 2020, 10 a.m., room 412. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith Microsoft disclosed two employees have the illness caused by coronavirus. One is an employee who works in the company's Redmond office and the other is a remote LinkedIn worker. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Two Microsoft employees have the illness caused by coronavirus, Microsoft confirmed. Microsoft says that the two employees with COVID-19 have been quarantined. One employee works out of Microsoft's Redmond headquarters and another is a remote LinkedIn worker in the Seattle area. "We are working closely with local public health authorities to provide the necessary support for our colleagues and their co-workers," a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement. "We continue to provide real-time guidance for employees and take appropriate actions in accordance with public health guidance." King County, where Microsoft is based, has become the epicenter of coronavirus in the US. The county has 51 diagnosed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by coronavirus, and 10 related deaths. Microsoft on Thursday said it will continue to pay vendors who work hourly in the Seattle area and northern California during the coronavirus outbreak even if conditions mean that they can't come to work. The company previously asked employees in the Seattle area and San Francisco Bay Area to work from home until March 25. Got a tip? Contact this reporter via email at astewart@businessinsider.com, message her on Twitter @ashannstew, or send her a secure message through Signal at 425-344-8242. Read the original article on Business Insider Days after a legislator in Assam claimed cow-dung could cure coronavirus, another in Uttarakhand has said that ancient Hindu rituals and cow urine can kill the virus in the air and within the body. Sanjay Gupta, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Laksar area in Haridwar, made the comments on Friday while speaking to reporters in Gairsain of Chamoli district where the budget session is underway. He was talking about the steps that should be taken to curb the spread of the deadly virus, which has killed thousands of people and infected more across the world. Performing yagna with ancient Vedic rituals of Hindu religion would help in killing the deadly coronavirus in the air, he said Gupta added sweeping floors with cow dung will also help contain the virus. Earlier people in the country used to sweep the floors of their homes with cow dung as it is a proven disinfectant. But now people have forgotten it. I am sure if they again start that, the virus will not enter their homes, he said. Apart from this, people should also drink gaumutra (cow urine) to prevent the infection of deadly virus as products of Gau Mata have magical anti-virus properties. Guptas statement came on the day when the government informed the House on steps being taken to tackle a possible outbreak of the virus in the state. Parliamentary affairs minister Madan Kaushik said over 17,387 people have been screened for coronavirus infection at various checkpoints along India-Nepal border in the state. So far, 437 people of Uttarakhand have come back from the affected countries who were kept under monitoring. Out of these 319 have completed their precautionary monitoring. No confirmed case of coronavirus infection has been found in Uttarakhand till date, the minister said. He said as a preventive measure 241 beds have been kept in the isolation wards of state hospitals. Also read | India will be united in fight against coronavirus outbreak: PM Modi Amid the scare of coronavirus across the country, Uttarakhands police department has stopped the biometric system of attendance as a precaution to control the possible spread of the virus. As we all know precaution is better than cure, we are trying to spread awareness and reduce in-person contact, Pushpak Jyoti, inspector general police, said. Dehraduns district administration has said that police will take action against those found spreading rumours or panic regarding coronavirus. In India, 31 people have tested positive for coronavirus and thousands are under watch. China on Saturday reported 28 new deaths from the coronavirus outbreak, bringing the nationwide toll to 3070. There were 99 fresh cases of infection, health officials said, with a rise in the new cases outside the virus epicentre of Hubei province for a third consecutive day. The number of coronavirus cases worldwide surged past 100,000 on Friday, as a wave of countries reported their first cases. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chip and display makers in virus-hit Wuhan are being given special permission to continue operating and even skirt quarantine guidelines in order to avoid major production disruptions, the Nikkei Asian Review has learned, as the government continues pushes its national tech ambitions despite the epidemic. Flash memory maker Yangtze Memory Technologies, China's hope for creating a rival to Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Kioxia and Micron, received special approval from local and central governments to continue to ship products out of the city and has been receiving materials for production since the start of February, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told the Nikkei Asian Review. "It's the key project sponsored by Beijing so it definitely received better support," one of the sources said. "Furthermore, the project is very important to the country's effort to stay self-reliant for the future, so there is no tolerance for a huge disruption." More than 2,000 people in Wuhan had died of the virus as of Tuesday, while confirmed infections neared 50,000. The city has been on lockdown since Jan. 23 to contain the spread of the disease. But Wuhan is also a key part of China's ambitions to nurture a domestic high-tech industry and cut its reliance on foreign suppliers, and Beijing is apparently keen to keep operations running as close to normal as possible. Yangtze Memory began producing China's first 64-layer 3D NAND flash memory chips -- which is about one or two generations behind the industry leaders -- at the end of last year. The state-backed company, which counts Huawei and Lenovo Group among its major customers, is able to ship products directly to Shanghai and distribute them from there, sources said. National display champion BOE Technology Group and China Star Optoelectronics Technology, the country's No. 2 display maker, have also been given special permits to deliver products from and send components to their facilities in Wuhan, Nikkei has learned. BOE, the world's biggest TV display maker by output since 2018, just started mass production at its second 10.5-generation panel production plant in Wuhan, the most advanced display technology in the country. China Star Optoelectronics, owned by tech conglomerate TCL, has two facilities in the city. One is the company's biggest smartphone display production site, which accounts for 17% of global output. The other is a newly built production facility for organic light-emitting diode displays, a type of advanced panel used in high-end handsets. OLED production is currently dominated by Samsung. In addition to the delivery permits, China Star Optoelectronics has also received special treatment regarding infections among its workers, according to sources. Two employees at one of its Wuhan facilities contracted the coronavirus last month, two people familiar with the situation said, but instead of being ordered to shut down the entire production line for inspection, as is common practice in such cases, the company was only advised to enforce a 14-day quarantine for anyone who worked on the same shift as the two patients. The company counts Huawei, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi as its major clients. Smaller display maker Tianma Optoelectronics has also been given the special permits from the government, sources said. Chip and display projects like these are vital for achieving Beijing's aim of reducing the country's reliance on foreign tech and eventually challenging foreign rivals. This push for self-reliance has only accelerated after the U.S. clamped down on Huawei Technologies, China's biggest tech company. Citing security concerns, Washington added the company to the so-called Entity List in May last year to restrict its access to American technologies. Chips and displays are the two most expensive and crucial components needed for a wide range of electronics devices, including smartphones, and are seen as a measure of a country's technological advancement. But even though state and local governments in China have offered special assistance to strategic chip and display projects, they are still suffering delays in shipments and setbacks in development due to massive staff shortages caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Hubei Province is scheduled to end its extended Lunar New Year holidays on March 11 at the earliest. The holiday should have ended on Jan. 31 this year, according to the lunar calendar. One of Yangtze Memory's facilities in Wuhan, a city that plays a key role in China's ambitions to nurture its own tech powerhouses (Photo courtesy of Yangtze Memory) One of Yangtze Memory's facilities in Wuhan, a city that plays a key role in China's ambitions to nurture its own tech powerhouses (Photo courtesy of Yangtze Memory) At Yangtze Memory, only 40% to 50% of its employees remained at work during the New Year break, while most of the remainder are still struggling to return. It is common industry practice for chip and display facilities around the world to keep production running year round, with a certain number of staff always on site to cover shifts. "These employees who stayed at the company since the Lunar New Year are under big pressure as they have to take turns to look after production without much rest, again and again," said a source familiar with the matter. "Any employee who returns to work has to stay in the dormitory areas for a 14-days quarantine and avoid going outside before going back to the main production plaza and headquarters." BOE also faces challenges despite the special government permit, sources said. "BOE is among the government's priorities to keep operation normal ... But the 10.5-generation project in Wuhan is still in the early stage of mass production. It actually requires display equipment suppliers' on-site support to fine tune the production performance, which has become a big challenge after the epidemic situation worsened," said one of the people familiar with the matter. "The on-site personnel from equipment suppliers had to leave the city and without the support from them BOE could face up to two quarters of delay to improve its production performance," the person added. Cash is another pressing issue for companies operating in Wuhan. BOE became one of the latest companies to take advantage of the newly sanctioned "virus bonds" to shore up its finances. The company completed a three-year 2 billion yuan ($286 million) issue of its maiden "epidemic prevention and control bonds" on Saturday, with a coupon of 3.64% per annum. All the funds raised will be used to increase capital at its subsidiaries, according to the prospectus. Wuhan BOE Optoelectronics Technology will receive an injection of about 300 million yuan. "Since sealing off the city of Wuhan, the advance in the project was forced to slow down, limited by transportation shutdown and epidemic prevention demands," the company said. "The costs of transportation, logistics and labor have correspondingly risen, imposing relatively large influence on both upstream and downstream manufacturers in the sector which will add operational pressures to the project later on." The virus bond is a new funding instrument created by five central government institutions, including the People's Bank of China, the Finance Ministry, and securities and banking regulators, to assist companies' urgent funding needs to cope with the epidemic. "The labor constraints are still a headache for display makers, as module assembly requires more workers. On top of that, they also face shortages of trivial supplies such as tape, cartons and packaging materials, as those are not among the top priorities for returning operations to normal," Eric Chiou, a display analyst at research company WitsView, told Nikkei. "Any kinks in the supply chain will still affect the product shipment," he added. Yangtze Memory told Nikkei that the company's production and operations are running smoothly and orderly but declined to give further details. China Star Optoelectronics and BOE did not respond to request for comments as of publication time. Nikkei Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dara Nasution (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7 2020 Recently, a group of conservative lawmakers pushed the so-called family resilience bill to be deliberated at the legislature, rousing controversy with its many problematic articles. One article states wives are responsible for managing household affairs as best as possible, in addition to maintaining the households unity and serving her family members. Meanwhile, the husbands duties are confined to supporting and protecting the family. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login The All Progressives Congress (APC) will be holding an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. This was announced in a statement by the acting National Secretary, Chief (Hon.) Victor T. Giadom in Abuja on Friday night. Also Read: APC May Lose Forthcoming Election If Oshiomhole Remains National Chairman In the statement, the party invited all NEC members to attend the emergency meeting in line with Article 25 (B) (II) of the Constitution of the Party. The meeting is expected to take a decision on the fate of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who was suspended during the week by a court as the partys national chairman. Nearly 6,000 test positive for novel coronavirus as the southern European nation struggles to contain outbreak. Rome, Italy Thirty-six coronavirus patients have died in Italy over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 233, the countrys civil protection department has said. Italy has struggled to contain the novel virus since February 20, when the so-called Patient n.1 attended a local hospital in the northern town of Codogno. Sixteen days later, the country has the highest death toll outside China, while the number of people suffering from COVID-19 leapt to 5,883, officials said on Saturday. The whole system was not ready for the emergency, but responded very quickly, Lorenzo Casani, health director of a private clinic for elderly people near the quarantine area in southern Lombardy, told Al Jazeera on Friday. Senior citizens and people suffering from chronic and acute diseases are at a greater risk of infection. This worries Casani since all his patients are at risk. For the first 10 days, he had no time off at all. All the personnel should have been properly informed and prepared in case of an emergency, he said, stressing that the initial chaos was prompted by the lack of a unified contingency plan across the regions, comprising both private clinics as well as public hospitals. The bad luck dropped the bomb, and it exploded in our hands. Why Italy? Almost a month before the start of the outbreak, the health ministry created a taskforce and suspended all flights to and from China, declaring a state of emergency. But the virus could have arrived in Italy before the travel ban was issued. Sacco hospital in Milan studied three different genetic sequences found in the northern region of Lombardy, confirming COVID-19 weeks before doctors found Patient n.1. It is plausible that when COVID-19 landed in the country, it was still in incubation, and the infection developed into somebody with light or no symptoms at all, Massimo Galli, head of the infectious disease department, told the newspaper, Corriere della Sera. At the end of December, an uncommon number of pneumonia cases arrived at the hospital of Codogno in northern Italy, the head of the emergency ward, Stefano Paglia, told the newspaper La Repubblica. Some of these patients could carry the coronavirus, but doctors treated them as typical winter diseases. Unfortunately, a decisive contribution to the spread of the infection was given by the health facility itself, due to the amount of medical staff and attendees going through the compound daily. The hospital acted as a multiplier, Walter Ricciardi, executive board member of the World Health Organization (WHO) and consultant for the Italian health ministry, told Al Jazeera. Ricciardi refuses to consider the country as a global black sheep. From an epidemiologic point of view, it is not plausible that Italy has stopped the flights from China and accounts for more cases than Germany and France, he said. Italy has tested more than 42,000 people so far, while other European Union countries performed significantly fewer controls. This scrupulous search inflated the tally, he said. The high number of checks brought the problem to light earlier. Germany and France are now following the same route. Drastic measures To contain the outbreak, the government adopted drastic measures, establishing two quarantine zones in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto, where the epidemic surfaced. Schools all over the country will remain off-limits for students until mid-March. Sporting events are held indoors. Public events that cannot guarantee a distance of one metre (3.3 feet) between the attendants are prohibited. And a referendum on cutting the number of Members of Parliament has been postponed. To sustain the health system and reinforce the national economy, the government has announced an emergency plan of 7.5bn euros ($8.5bn). Both the WHO as well as the European Commission pledge the Italian reaction as a reference, said Ricciardi, who believes the containment measures were necessary and well planned. The weakness lay in the mixed structure of the National Health Service (SSN), with both the central government and the regional administrations sharing control of the system. This approach led to some confusion during the early days of the outbreak when local governors adopted different approaches, sometimes leading to a clash with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. A single line of command both in decision making as well as in communication is highly desirable in these circumstances, said Ricciardi. Lack of doctors, wards Italy built the SSN, its national health service, in 1978 following a Beveridge structure as a unified and centralised system with universal access to all the patients. In case of an epidemic, this is the best model, as it intercepts and treats all the cases, Francesco Longo, director of the healthcare sector at Observatory at Bocconi University (OASI), told Al Jazeera. However, concerns arise about the resilience of the SSN. The government ensured that the different regions were provided with new protective devices, such as masks, but we are still receiving reports about shortages, Filippo Anelli, president of the National Federation of the Orders of Doctors, told Al Jazeera. The association of medical directors (ANAAO) sounded the alarm about the lack of beds in intensive therapy in Lombardy, where 95 percent of them are full. All over the country, intensive care departments are hosting 567 infected patients, while the national capacity is 5,395 beds. If Lombardy struggles along, I am worried about what happens if the virus reaches the southern part of Italy, where we lack both personnel and equipment, said Anelli. According to OASIs latest report, investment in public healthcare accounted for only 6.8 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), which lags behind countries such as France and the United Kingdom. This means that the system works efficiently, but constantly saturates its productive capacity and has few resources when it comes to emergencies, said Longo. To face such shortages, the health minister arranged for a 50 percent increase of units in intensive care, doubled down the number of beds in infectious disease wards and laid the ground for the immediate enrollment of 20,000 new doctors and nurses. Doctors from the army and less-affected areas are being dispatched to the red zone. In Lombardy, Governor Attilio Fontana asked universities to advance the graduation of this years nurses and private hospitals are opening their doors to those in need of urgent care. This is a whole new experience for our system in terms of dimension, intensity and effort required to our SSN, head of Superior Health Institute (ISS) Silvio Brusaferro said. Longo does not doubt the outtakes of the crisis. An efficient epidemiologic registration system, reserve productive capacity and a unique, authoritative voice: these are the lessons for countries facing such an outbreak, he said. The next two months will tell whether the current policies will help Italy in overcoming the spike in coronavirus infections. OTTAWA - A Canadian patient newly diagnosed with COVID-19 recently travelled to Las Vegas and used public transit in Toronto for several days before he was tested for the virus, says the Toronto public health authority. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA - A Canadian patient newly diagnosed with COVID-19 recently travelled to Las Vegas and used public transit in Toronto for several days before he was tested for the virus, says the Toronto public health authority. The man, who is in his 40s, was one of the two most recently confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Toronto. This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, NIAID-RML "This information is being provided out of an abundance of caution. We're talking about low-risk situations," Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's top public health doctor, told a briefing Friday. Transit riders without COVID-19 symptoms do not need to seek medical help, de Villa said, unless they get a call from her unit. The other Toronto case, a man in his 50s, recently returned to Canada from Iran. Both men are isolating themselves in their homes. In Peel Region just west of Toronto, a couple who had been on the Grand Princess cruise ship in San Francisco was diagnosed after returning home to Mississauga, Ont. Peel Public Health is asking passengers in rows 18 to 22 on WestJet Flight 1199 on Feb. 28 to self-isolate, but says the risk of contracting COVID-19 remains low. Another 237 Canadians have been forbidden from leaving the ship after a subsequent cruise while some of the thousands of passengers aboard now are tested, says a spokesperson for Princess Cruises. The Public Health Agency of Canada was trying to find more than 260 Canadians who were on the last voyage of the Grand Princess cruise ship after fellow Canadian passengers were diagnosed with COVID-19 following their cruise. Three of Canada's 54 confirmed or presumptive cases of the virus are among passengers who were on the vessel from Feb. 11 to 21. The cruise began and ended in San Francisco. The ship is off the coast of California with 237 Canadians on board and forbidden from leaving, the cruise line says, and some of the thousands of passengers on board are being tested for the virus. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said most of the cases in Canada so far have been mild, and the patients are self isolating at home. About seven people are in hospital, but that does not necessarily mean those patients are severely ill, she said. "We've been having these plans, we've rehearsed them, we've been through a previous pandemic, we've been through co-ordination for Ebola response, for example. So each individual player in the federal and provincial system knows how those co-ordination mechanisms work," Tam told a news conference Friday. So far in Ontario, all of the 28 patients known to be sick had recently travelled outside the country or were in close contact with another patient who had. However, Canada's first apparent case of community transmission was reported in British Columbia on Thursday night, when officials announced eight new cases of the illness. They say a woman in the Vancouver area was diagnosed with COVID-19, even though she had not travelled recently and had no known contact with anyone else diagnosed with the virus. Quebec has two confirmed cases and one presumptive diagnosis that still has to be confirmed by the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg. Alberta has reported two presumptive cases of the illness. Health officials in Ontario, British Columbia and across Canada have said the risk posed by COVID-19 in this country remains low. But they've been preparing for weeks for a possible outbreak similar to the ones seen in Iran, South Korea, Italy and China where the virus originated. Canada is increasing its funding for COVID-19 research by $20 million, Health Minister Patty Hajdu announced Friday, after concluding that the $7 million it had planned to spend isn't enough. The applications for the initial amount were "overwhelming," Hajdu said. Forty-seven research teams will now get backing from the federal government for work to "inform clinical and public health responses, develop and evaluate diagnostic tools and vaccines, as well as create strategies to tackle misinformation, stigma, and fear." "It also allows Canada to be at the ground level of this research so that when a vaccine is developed we are partners with other countries, that we can access that vaccine or that treatment quickly," Hajdu said. Meanwhile, the 129 Canadians who were quarantined after returning to Canada from a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan have finally been allowed to return home. The Canadians were mostly confined to their rooms for two weeks aboard the Diamond Princess docked at Yokohama, Japan. The ship contained the largest outbreak outside of China at the time. The Canadian government repatriated those without signs of the virus and put them under a further 14-day quarantine at the Nav Centre in Cornwall, Ont. "These individuals remained asymptomatic for COVID-19 throughout the 14-day quarantine period and, as a result, they pose no risk to others and can safely return to their communities and to their usual activities," Tam said in a written statement. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. British Columbia Premier John Horgan announced the province is activating its provincial pandemic plan to deal with COVID-19, with a committee of deputy ministers overseeing the province's response to the virus. About about 2,000 people have already been tested and the province now has four labs to do the testing, Horgan said. Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province is ready to use emergency powers to protect the population, health workers, and the health system's capacity to help patients with other problems. The B.C. government is also preparing for how it will function if large numbers of public employees get sick, Dix said, adding the plan is to be ready to operate under an outbreak that lasts up to four months. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 6, 2020. With files from Nicole Thompson and Michelle McQuigge in Toronto, and Laura Kane in Vancouver. Salesforce is now encouraging all its employees across California to work remotely during the month of March as concerns grow over the spread of coronavirus. "We've made this decision out of an abundance of caution and in service to protecting our employees, their families and our communities," the company said in a statement on Saturday. "During this time, we will continue to pay our vendor hourly service providers, who are an important part of our family." Salesforce is San Francisco's largest private employer, with more than 7,000 employees in the city. The decision comes three days after California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency following a coronavirus-related death in the state. Salesforce asked employees in Washington state to also work remotely on Wednesday, citing safety concerns. "Out of an abundance of caution and aligned with King County recommendations, we are encouraging all Salesforce and Tableau employees based in our Seattle, Kirkland and Bellevue offices to work remotely for the month of March," the company said on Wednesday. Tech companies including Facebook, Amazon and Twitter have also asked employees to work from home in the Seattle area. Washington state governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency on Feb. 29. "As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread, we have a heightened awareness at Salesforce of our responsibility to our employees, customers, and partners. This includes doing our part to to help prevent further outbreaks," the company said on Wednesday. Salesforce has also implemented other precautionary measures, including prohibiting cross border travel, restricting most domestic travel and replacing in-person events with digital ones. A woman wears a surgical mask as she walks through Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain, March 6, 2020. Photo by Reuters/Hannah McKay. A visual artist of Vietnamese origin has had his role as an assistant in a U.K. art fair cancelled over Covid-19 fears. A screenshot of an email sent to An Nguyen, a digital curator living in the U.K., has been going around on social media since Thursday. The email makes it clear that it is prejudice against Asians in the wake of the novel coronavirus crisis that is the reason that his work at the Affordable Art Fair Battersea in London held March 12-15 was canceled. "I am very sorry to have to cancel your assistance at the fair next week. The coronavirus is causing much anxiety everywhere, and fairly or not, Asians are being seen as carriers of the virus. "Your presence on the stand would unfortunately create hesitation on the part of the audience to enter the exhibition space," the email read. The screenshot, which was reportedly also posted on Nguyens Instagram account, has triggered outrage. "Coronavirus is no excuse to be racist. Sorry to see youre suffering this bullsh*t mate," wrote one comment on Twitter. Organizers of the Affordable Art Fair (AAF) have distanced themselves from the email, releasing a statement Thursday saying that it was sent by an exhibiting gallery to one of their artists. "We were not aware of this email communication or its contents and we do not condone the views or implications within the message. "We wish to reassure that these views are not held by the Affordable Art Fair and we have not instructed any exhibiting gallery to take such action," the statement said. Multiple reports have said that the email sender was Raquelle Azran, a curator specializing in Vietnamese Contemporary Fine Art. In a statement released to the press, Azran has expressed her regret over the email, saying it was insensitive and that she apologized unreservedly for any offense caused by her actions. She also said that she would no longer be exhibiting at the Affordable Art Fair next week, which was also confirmed by the AAF statement. The U.K. Embassy in Vietnam has also released a public notice Friday, expressing regret over the incident. "The views reported are not those of the organizers of the event or of the U.K. Government. We want to state clearly that the U.K. is not advising against traveling to Vietnam, nor are we restricting travel into the U.K. by Vietnamese citizens," it read. As the Covid-19 outbreak spreads, reaching 97 countries and territories in the latest count, reports of xenophobia and racism are cropping up, with those of Asian descent seen as potential virus carriers. The novel coronavirus was first detected in Chinas Wuhan City last December. It has recording over 80,000 infections and over 3,000 deaths since. In France, some Asians created the Twitter hashtag #Jenesuispasunvirus ("I am not a virus") in January to signal racist incidents, slights and slurs faced by the community amidst the outbreak, Reuters reported. In another local report, a Singaporean student was attacked by a group of men in London, who told him they "did not want coronavirus in our country." The U.K. has reported over 160 Covid-19 infection cases and two deaths so far. In Vietnam, the 17th Covid-19 infection was detected Friday after 22 straight days of no new infections. The infected woman had traveled through London and other parts of Europe including Milan and Paris before returning to Vietnam and testing positive for the virus that causes the Covid-19 disease. The other 16 infected people have been quarantined, treated and discharged from hospitals. A judge has decided to delay for one week the criminal trial of Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely, who is hospitalized for respiratory issues. Circuit Judge N. Pride Tompkins reached the decision based on an agreement between prosecutors and Blakelys lawyers at an emergency court hearing on Saturday morning. Jurors will still report to the Limestone County Courthouse on Monday, but they will be divided into panels and told to return a week later. A hearing was called this morning after Blakelys attorneys, Robert Tuten and Marcus Helstowski, on Friday afternoon filed a motion asking to postpone the trial. In their motion, the attorneys claimed Blakely was hospitalized and being tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. But Dr. Maria Acelajado Onoya, an attending physician at Athens Limestone Hospital testified this morning that Blakely wasnt being tested for COVID-19 because he doesnt have a fever and hasnt been exposed to the virus. He would not be a person suspected to have COVID-19, Onoya told the judge. Blakely was admitted to the hospital Friday morning because of difficulty breathing and a low oxygen level. The doctor testified that Blakely was tested for common coronaviruses, the flu and pneumonia and the results were negative for those conditions. Judge Tompkins said it was irresponsible and reckless for Blakelys attorneys to incorrectly cite Covid-19 in a publicly filed court motion. Theres no medical basis for it, Tompkins told the defense attorneys. I dont know if youre trying to scare the jury from coming in. Tuten, Blakelys lead defense attorney, said they didnt intend to cause public panic; but rather communicated the information they got from their client. Were not trying to pull a fast one, Tuten told the judge. We didnt intend to disturb the community or cause an uproar. There havent been any confirmed novel coronavirus cases in Alabama. The virus has killed 17 people in the United States and infected more than 300, The New York Times reported today. Blakely, 69, is scheduled to face trial Monday on 11 charges of theft and abuse of power. (He was indicted in August of 2019 on 13 charges, but prosecutors on Friday dropped two of the charges.) The sheriff is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from his campaign account and illegally taking money from Limestone County funds. Blakely, who has been sheriff since 1983, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Blakelys attorneys last month argued for a postponement because Tuten, the lead counsel, is recovering from a surgery and complications. The judge denied that request, and the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals declined to overturn it. At a pretrial hearing in January, Judge Tompkins explicitly said he would not postpone the trial and specifically warned Blakely that a continuance wouldnt be granted on account of his lawyers health. The judge at that time told Blakely to hire a new attorney if Tuten wouldnt be available for trial. Tuten told the judge during a contentious part of this mornings hearing that he was in court against medical advice. Its unclear how long it will take for Blakely to recover. Hes been diagnosed with acute respiratory failure and was experiencing shortness of breath and wheezing when he was admitted to the hospital. Dr. Onoya testified today that she couldnt yet determine when Blakely would be well enough for his trial. But, he isnt likely to be released from the hospital before Monday, the doctor told the judge. Enforcement of a statewide Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program that uses vehicle-mounted systems to detect and record motorists exceeding posted work zone speed limits by 11 miles per hour or more using electronic speed timing devices will begin this week. Through the Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program, we are urging motorists to slow down and pay attention while driving, especially through work zones where roadway conditions can change on a daily basis, said acting Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Yassmin Gramian in a release. In 2018, 23 motorists were killed in a Pennsylvania work zone. Ultimately, this program is not about issuing violations, its about saving lives. A 60-day pre-enforcement period required by Act 86 of 2018 establishing the AWZSE program expired last week. AWZSE systems are only operational in active work zones where workers are present. Registered vehicle owners will receive a warning letter for a first offense, a violation notice and $75 fine for a second offense, and a violation notice and $150 fine for third and subsequent offenses. These violations are civil penalties only; no points will be assessed to drivers licenses. Work zones are selected to maximize the effectiveness of the systems and will be marked with signage in advance of the enforcement area. Additionally, locations are posted on the project website at workzonecameras.penndot.gov. While there can be fines assessed, the AWZSE programs goal is not to generate revenue, said Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission CEO Mark Compton. The goal is to build awareness and, most importantly, to change unsafe driving behaviors. The program serves as a roadway reminder that safety is literally in each drivers hands when they are behind the wheel. In 2018, there were 1,804 work zone crashes in Pennsylvania, resulting in 23 fatalities, and 43 percent of work zone crashes resulted in fatalities and/or injuries, according to the release. Since 1970, PennDOT has lost 89 workers in the line of duty. The PA Turnpike has lost 45 workers since 1945. * AAA Mid-Atlantic is warning motorists to remain awake and aware as Daylight Saving Time takes effect at 2 a.m. today. The one-hour earlier start could mean darker mornings mixed with glare from a rising sun for many drivers in the area, on top of the loss of an hours sleep. A change in time can mean that drivers are more tired than they realize, while transferring daylight from the morning to the evening means drivers and pedestrians will have to adjust to a darker morning commute to work or school, says Jana L. Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. Its important that both drivers and pedestrians are aware of the potential dangers and act with caution. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently released drowsy driving research data showing drowsy driving is a factor in about 10 percent of all crashes. In a related survey, AAA found 96 percent of drivers believe drowsy driving is a serious threat to their safety, though a quarter also admitted to driving when they were so tired they had a hard time keeping their eyes open. PennDOT attributed 2,533 crashes and 15 fatalities to a drowsy driver in 2018, and AAA warns that drivers who miss just one or two hours of the recommended seven hours of sleep in a 24-hour period nearly double their risk for a crash. The other issue increasing risk with the time change is darkness. Morning commutes for the next several weeks will be darker, increasing the potential for pedestrian fatalities. The Governors Highway Safety Association recently found 76 percent of pedestrian fatalities happen when it is dark. * Ongoing lane closures are also scheduled through March 13 on several state highways in the county, including Interstate 95, Interstate 476 and U.S. 1 for guide rail repair. The work schedule is: * 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., left or right lane closures on various sections of I-95 in both directions between the Delaware state line and Bartram Avenue/Cargo City; * 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., left or right lane closures on various sections of I-476 in both directions between I-95 and the Montgomery County line; and * 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., left or right lane closures on various sections of U.S. 1 in both directions between the Chester County and Montgomery County lines. * Motorists should also be aware of the following roadwork this week: Newtown * Newtown Street Road, single lane closures at the intersection with Winding Way, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. March 9 through March 12 for utility construction. Marple * West Chester Pike, right lane closure approaching the ramp to southbound Interstate 476, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through March 13 for utility pole replacement. Aston and Chester Heights * Bodley Road, closures between Valley Brook Road and Llewelyn Road/Birney Highway, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mar. 11 through Apr. 3 for water main installation. During the closure, Bodley Road motorists will be directed to use Valley Brook Road and Llewelyn Road/Birney Highway. Local access will be maintained up to the work zone. * For information on projects occurring or being bid this year, those made possible by or accelerated by Act 89, or those on the departments Four and Twelve Year Plans, visit www.projects.penndot.gov Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 860 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website. For PennDOT information, visit www.penndot.gov. Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly, and follow the department on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennsylvaniadepartmentoftransportation and Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennsylvaniadot Exchange software provider AlphaPoint has secured funding it says will finance the development of sophisticated trading features. The New York-based firm said Thursday it successfully raised $5.6 million in an additional funding round, taking its total capital raised to date to $23.9 million. Established in 2013, AlphaPoint provides trading software used by over 150 exchange clients around the world, according to the firms figures. The company added support for security token offerings (STOs) a year ago and margin trading features in November. Related: That AlphaPoint $5.6M Funding Round? Its a Band-Aid The latest investment will go towards developing new trading features including improved margin trading and liquidity solutions and advanced brokerage capabilities. AlphaPoint co-founder and Chief Executive Igor Telyatnikov commented that with the additional funding the firm could continue delivering on our mission to enable access to digital assets globally. AlphaPoint raised $15 million in its first major funding round in June 2018, with assistance from crypto merchant bank Galaxy Digital. An AlphaPoint spokesperson confirmed to CoinDesk that Galaxy had participated in this latest round, but that other investors had opted to not disclose their identities. In other news from the firm, the chief executive of financial advisory firm Janney Montgomery Scott, Tim Scheve, has joined AlphaPoints board of governors. Scheve is also a member of the board of governors at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the body responsible for regulating U.S. brokerage firms. UPDATE (Mar. 6, 15:05 UTC): This article has been updated with additional information about the investors who participated in the raise. Related Stories The remains of missing toddler Evelyn Mae Boswell are believed to have been found in Tennessee on a relative's property over two months after the child first went missing, authorities said. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Sullivan County Sheriff's Office told the public at a press conference on Friday they found the remains of what is thought to be the 15-month-old from Blountville, Tennessee, ending a nearly three week search for the child. Authorities weren't alerted to Evelyn's disappearance until 18 February when the child's grandfather told the Department of Children's Services that family members hadn't seen her for two months. An Amber Alert for the child was issued on 19 February, starting a 17-day search that spanned across three different states. "This is certainly not the update we had hoped to provide this evening," TBI spokeswoman Leslie Earhart said on Friday. The remains will be sent for an autopsy and official identification, the TBI confirmed. Investigators said they were still in the early stages of the investigation to discover what happened to the child. Her remains were found on a property belonging to a relative of the child's mother, 18-year-old Megan Boswell, in Blountville. Tommy Boswell Sr., Evelyns grandfather, lives at the home and first reported the child as missing in February, WJHL-TV reports. The mother was then arrested just over one week after the Amber Alert was issued for making a false report. Police have accused her of lying to investigators about her daughter's whereabouts by initially saying the child was with her father, Ethan Perry, according to court documents. But Mr Perry is stationed in Louisiana with the US Army and did not have the child. The woman then later said Evelyn's grandmother, Angela Boswell, took the child to a campground in Mendota, Virginia. Investigators searched multiple campgrounds in the area and could not find any signs of the young girl. An exact timeline for when Evelyn went missing remains uncertain after both the mother and grandmother gave conflicting reports to police. The child is believed to have been last seen around 26 December. Her mother remains in police custody on a $25,000 bail after a judge refused to lower the amount despite her lawyer saying she has no previous criminal record. Authorities said on Friday the investigation was ongoing. The New York Police Department questioned five teenage suspects and discovered a motive in the horrific mob beating of a 15-year-old girl in Brooklyn. A unidentified girl was brutally beaten and robbed by a group of almost 20 teenagers after they chased her near Utica Avenue on Thursday. Five boys accompanied by their parents turned themselves into police custody early Friday, The Post reports. The suspects told officers that the incident began when the victim reportedly fought another girl at school earlier that day. Surveillance footage shows the 15-year-old girl falling on a sidewalk near Utica Avenue while being chased by a group of teenagers The group of vicious teenagers seen in the video are allegedly friends with the girl who got into a fight with the victim. The names and ages of the teenagers involved have not been released by authorities. Charges have not yet been filed. The NYPD released footage of the shocking attack which was captured by security cameras. Authorities said the incident began around 4.10pm when the victim was approached by a group of unidentified individuals in front of 216 Utica Avenue. It's unclear what started the altercation, but surveillance footage shows the group of young teenagers chased after the girl until she fell on the sidewalk. The NYPD questioned five boys about the recorded beating on Friday amid claims that the assault was in retaliation Then, nearly 20 individuals jumped onto, kicked and punched her several times as the group swarmed around her. As the suspects fled the scene, one of them stole the girl's sneakers off her feet while she's on the ground. Her phone and debit card were also stolen. The girl was transported to NYC Health & Hospitals/Kings County to be treated for head trauma and bruises. Authorities believe Thursday's assault could be in retaliation for a previous slight, but the details of that are unclear. Assistant Chief Jeffrey Maddrey of NYPD Brooklyn North said the ordeal was outrageous. Nearly 20 individuals were captured jumping, punching and kicking the 15-year-old girl Thursday afternoon The suspects steal the girl's sneakers, debit card and phone during the violent altercation '...This is sickening video of a 15 year old girl viciously attacked by a group of school children,' he wrote on Twitter. 'One young man takes the sneakers right off the unconscious victims feet. The teenager is in the hospital recovering. We CAN NOT allow this behavior in our community,' he added. According to the NYPD CompStat 2.0, there are 2,499 robbery reports this year so far, making a 34 percent increase from 2019. Anyone with information in regard to the identity of these individuals is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). With over 35 lakh cheque bounce cases pending in district courts, the Supreme Court has decided to evolve a "concerted" and "coordinated" mechanism for expeditious disposal of such cases. The apex court has registered a suo motu case (on its own) in this regard and sought responses from the Centre and other stakeholders, including the Reserve Bank of India. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justice L N Rao, which passed the order while dealing with a plea related to dishonour of two cheques in January 2005, noted that a dispute of this nature has remained pending for 15 years in various courts and taken judicial time. "Despite many changes brought through legislative amendments and various decisions of this court mandating speedy trial and disposal of these cases, the trial courts are filled with a large number of pendency of these cases," the bench said in its March 5 order. "A recent study of the pending cases, reflects pendency of more than 35 lakh, which constitutes more than 15 percent of the total criminal cases pending in district courts. Further, there is a steady increase in the docket burden," the bench said. The top court has issued notices to the Centre, registrar general of all high courts, director general of police of all states and union territories, member secretary of the National Legal Services Authority, RBI and Indian Bank Association, Mumbai, and asked them to file their response on the issue. "These are some indicative aspects in addition to what may come on board after hearing the relevant duty-holders. To work out mechanism for expeditious and just adjudication of cases relating to dishonour of cheques, fulfilling the mandate of law and reduce high pendency, various duty-holders like banks, police and legal services authorities may be required to take measures and prepare schemes," the bench said. "Thus, we find it necessary to hear them for evolving a concerted, coordinated mechanism for expeditious adjudication of these cases as per the legal mandate," it said. The bench, which appointed senior lawyer Siddharth Luthra and advocate K Parameshwar as amicus curiae to assist it in the matter, has listed the case for hearing on April 16. The bench noted that dishonour of cheque was criminalised in 1988 and the legislative intent was to "ensure faith in the efficacy of banking operations and credibility in transacting business on cheques." "It was to provide a strong criminal remedy in order to deter the high incidence of dishonour of cheques and ensure compensation to the complainant," the bench said, adding, "Subsequent amendments in the Act (Negotiable Instrument Act) and the pronouncements of this court reflect that it was always perceived that these cases would be disposed speedily so as to preserve the object of criminalisation of the act." The bench noted that as per the legal mandate, endeavour must be made to conclude the trial in cheque bounce case within six months from the date of filing of complaint. "One of the major factors for high pendency is delay in ensuring the presence of the accused before the court for trial. As per recent study, more than half of the pending cases, i.e. more than 18 lakh cases, are pending due to absence of accused," the bench said. It said a mechanism may be developed to ensure the presence of the accused even by way of coercive measure, if required, including attachment of property. It observed that banks, being an important stakeholders in cheque bounce cases, have the responsibility of providing requisite details and facilitate an expeditious trial. "The Reserve Bank of India, being the regulatory body, may also evolve guidelines for banks to facilitate requisite information for the trial of these cases and such other matters as may be required. A separate software-based mechanism may be developed to track and ensure the service of process on the accused in cases relating to an offence under Section 138 of NI Act," it said. "With ensuring the credibility of cheques, it is equally important that cheques are not allowed to be misused giving cause to frivolous litigation. The Reserve Bank of India may consider developing a new proforma of cheques so as to include the purpose of payment, along with other information mentioned above to facilitate adjudication of real issues," it said. The top court also said there is a need of developing a mechanism for pre-litigation settlement in cheque bounce cases and National Legal Services Authority may evolve a scheme for settlement of dispute at pre-litigation stage. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pictured are pupils Karl Murray and Sarah Keon from Donabate Community College with teachers Breda Orohoe and Orla King receiving a Special Recognition Award from Laura Hickey, Irish Heart Foundation for training all pupils in the lifesaving skills of CPR. (pic by Conor Healy / Picture It Photography) Donabate Community College has received a national award for providing pupils with lifesaving CPR training The Irish Heart Foundation presented the award to the school as part of its CPR 4 Schools programme Donabate Community College is the third school in Dublin to receive the award, which recognises schools for their remarkable efforts in CPR promotion and training. The award was presented as part of the Irish Heart Foundation's CPR 4 Schools programme, which 73% of post-primary schools in Ireland are currently trained in. The charity is creating a generation of life savers by training post-primary school students around the country to perform CPR, use an AED in cardiac emergencies and respond when someone is choking. So far, 1701 teachers in 512 post primary schools around the country have taken part in the CPR 4 Schools programme and learned how to deliver CPR, giving the programme a reach of over 250,000 post primary school students. Of the 183 post primary schools in Dublin, so far 107 schools (58%) have taken part in the CPR 4 Schools programme, protecting lives at school and in the local community. Laura Hickey, Children and Young People Programme Manager at the Irish Heart Foundation, said: 'Today we awarded Donabate Community College its Special Recognition Award in recognition of its dedication in providing lifesaving CPR training to its students and staff. Everyday 13 people in Ireland die from a cardiac arrest and schools are an ideal setting to educate young people in CPR and reduce the incidences of death from cardiac arrest. Donabate Community College has done tremendous work in creating awareness and taking the fear out of lifesaving. 'CPR is a lifesaving skill that everyone can learn, and this programme is available to every post primary school in Ireland, equipping young people with the skills and confidence to perform CPR. We would like to train more post-primary schools in Dublin and are encouraging teachers to attend our upcoming free training courses in their locality.' John Doyle, Deputy Principal at Donabate Community College said: 'Staff and students at Donabate Community College are thrilled to be recognised for our contribution in creating the next generation of life savers, with a Special Recognition Award from the Irish Heart Foundation today. We have really enjoyed delivering the CPR 4 Schools programme.' With cryptocurrencies being legalised in India, the sector finally received a much needed fresh gust of wind. The move will potentially bring back investors something that startups in the Indian crypto space have already claimed to be seeing. However, for many, cryptocurrencies are an entirely new concept, and will likely remain so until Indias own public blockchains are established, and the idea of decentralised digital currencies go mainstream. That being said, if you are looking to get an early piece of the pie, it is important to look at the new technical investment space with caution and understand its benefits. Speaking with News18, Michael van de Poppe, chief executive of Dutch crypto trading news portal BonSanca and a regular trader at the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, took us through a number of key points that should always be kept in mind about cryptocurrencies. Getting started on crypto Talking about how investors can get started with their cryptocurrency investments, van de Poppe states that the key is to read whitepapers exhaustively, get a full understanding of the technology of crypto-coins, and avoid weaning information off social media. He says, Usually, people enter the market and come to social media (for information), which is the hardest place to be on for your information. The whole marketing plan of exchanges comprises getting new members through leveraged trading, and getting pulled into that is the worst way to start. Despite crypto opportunities seeming very spontaneous and being a bit of a hit or miss concept, there is no need to rush into any investment. Continuing on what should be the first steps for a first-time crypto investor, van de Poppe further adds, Start slow, read whitepapers, understand what blockchain is. Then, register on exchanges, through which paper trading (or writing down trades without using actual money) is the first way to go, hence using a dummy account. After that, slowly start building your portfolio. He insists that despite crypto opportunities seeming very spontaneous and being a bit of a hit or miss concept, there is no need to rush into any investment. Theres always an opportunity lying in the markets, he adds. Keeping investments secure Once the basic learning procedures are clear, van de Poppe states that the next frontier lies in understanding the cyber risks, and ensuring complete online security of transactions and the investment portfolio. Elucidating on the matter, van de Poppe says, Use 2FA (two-factor authentication) for your exchange accounts. Do not use your primary mobile phone ideally, an offline phone or device would do. The reason for this is simple if you get SIM-swapped or someone steals your phone, they have the ability to access the exchange through your device, and in turn, your funds. Then, use a complicated password, and a different one for every exchange. Finally, dont have all your coins on one exchange. This creates significant risk, as no exchange typically provides you keys for the coins you own. As a result, if an exchange gets hacked, you lose your investment. To prevent this, keep a large amount of the coins outside the exchanges, on secure offline wallets. Investing 5 percent of your portfolio in a lower cap coin is a decent approach, while using 80 percent of your portfolio for one small coin would give you a very high risk. Identifying the right bets van de Poppe interestingly addresses a key question that many investors often have in the crypto space should you put your money in established blockchains such as bitcoin and ethereum? Or, would you rather put your faith in newer, smaller coins that can potentially bring you a windfall? On this, he says, The more significant the potential reward (return on investment), the higher the risk. In the crypto space, this means that established currencies in the top 10 such as bitcoin and ethereum have lower risk than coins outside of the top 100 public blockchains. While one can safely invest in smaller cap coins (with lesser valuation and public trade), it should be done with proper research on the blockchain whitepaper. To factor these risks, disciplined risk taking and portfolio management should also be accounted for. Investing 5 percent of your portfolio in a lower cap coin is a decent approach, while using 80 percent of your portfolio for one small coin would give you a very high risk, and probably higher losses. In bad economy So, with the nature of these digital currencies, would it mean that cryptocurrencies may remain immune to market forces, and hence not react the way public equities do in various markets? According to van de Poppe, while such a scenario is yet to arise, the initial signs have been positive. When people lose their faith in the currency, it will lose its value. He says, The moment an economy gets into a recession, the potential of cryptocurrencies start to show. If cryptocurrencies become easily accessible and usable, they could potentially take over established national currencies. However, such a scenario is yet to materialise thankfully, we have not experienced recession on such a scale, yet. However, the numbers from the economies of Argentina and Turkey largely suggest that the demand for crypto increases in economic downturns. At the end of the day, van de Poppe believes that despite cryptocurrencies being at the bleeding edge of technology, it is, at the end of the day, a private asset, and the core nature of that still remains the same. People should understand that national currencies are based on trust. When people lose their faith in the currency, it will lose its value, he concludes. Britain's biggest domestic airline is the latest casualty of the coronavirus outbreak. Flybe was rescued from near collapse in January but finally went bankrupt Thursday, hit by low demand and customer cancellations in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Britain had reported close to 100 infections as of Thursday. Flybe served mainly British and European regional airports rather than major hubs. Its collapse is being seen as a setback for government efforts to improve connectivity and re-balance the British economy away from London. "We feel really sad, just really sad," Flybe crew member Katherine Denscham said as she prepared to leave her workplace at Exeter airport in Britain's southwest. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned Thursday that the entire global airline industry is suffering amid a huge downturn in bookings. "We could see the effect on revenues exceed $100 billion, around about 19 percent of global passenger revenue. So this would be a revenue shock equivalent to what was seen in the global financial crisis," IATA Chief Economist Brian Pearce told a press conference in Singapore. Cases of COVID-19 in Britain have risen sharply in recent days. The government said Thursday the focus is moving from containment to delaying its peak impact. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters that planning is underway for the worst-case scenario: a breakdown in law and order. "There are long established plans by which the police will... obviously keep the public safe, but they will prioritize those things that they have to do. And the army is, of course, always ready to backfill as and when. But that is under the reasonable worst-case scenario," Johnson said this week. She announced the shock split from fellow Islander and professional dancer Curtis Pritchard, 24, earlier this week. But Maura Higgins, 29, appears to have already bounced back after sharing a series of very jovial clips alongside her Dancing on Ice co-stars to Instagram on Friday. The former Love Island hopeful wasted no time dwelling on the past as she messed around behind-the-scenes of the hit ITV skating show. Jovial display: Maura Higgins, 29, appears to have already bounced back from her split from Curtis Prtichard after sharing clips alongside her Dancing on Ice co-stars on Friday Shock split: The Instagram uploads come just days after Maura announced that she and Curtis Pritchard were no long dating following only 20 weeks of being in a committed relationship Maura posted a whole host of videos starting with a clip of Ian H Watkins playfully dragging himself across the floor as she giggles in the background and shouts 'give it to us, give it to us'. Ian then performs cartwheels through the corridors of the studio as Lady Gaga tunes are belted out in the background. Other snippets, which Maura retweeted from Ian's story, show her cutting a casual figure in black leggings and a DOI fleece jacket while performing high kicks and star jumps alongside fellow contestants Trisha Goddard and Lisa George. All smiles: Maura cut a casual figure in black leggings and a DOI fleece jacket while performing high kicks and star jumps alongside fellow contestants Trisha Goddard and Lisa George Forgetting her woes? Maura playfully stuck out her tongue and made contact with his Belting it out: The Irish beauty later rests on the floor alongside Ian as they lip sync to the Oscar winning song Shallow - from the 2018 film A Star Is Born The Irish beauty later rests on the floor alongside Ian as they lip sync to the Oscar winning song Shallow - from the 2018 film A Star Is Born - before she playfully sticks out her tongue and makes contact with his. The Instagram uploads come just days after Maura announced her split with Curtis Pritchard. The couple had been dating for eight months with only 20 weeks of being in a committed relationship. She took to Instagram on Monday with a post that read: 'Curtis and I have made the decision to separate. We enjoyed a great experience from our time in the villa and want to thank everyone for supporting our relationship. Heartbreak: Maura took to Instagram on Monday with a post that read: 'Curtis and I have made the decision to separate' 'There is no easy way to get through a break up and no bad feeling on either side. We tried to make it work but it wasn't to be, and I wish Curtis nothing but the best for the future,' followed by a broken heart emoji. There have since been allegations of cheating made against Curtis with dancer Amber Pierson being forced to dismiss claims on social media that they had a fling on Friday afternoon. Amber wrote: 'I didn't want to speak out about this, but I feel I have to as I have been receiving a few abusive messages recently regarding what's been in the papers. Calm before the storm: There have since been allegations of cheating made against Curtis with dancer Amber Pierson being forced to dismiss claims that they had a fling 'To be very clear, Curtis and I have never been together. We are simply friends and dancer partners! There are 13 dancers going on tour, and I am one of them. 'The "cheating" allegations this week are out of the blue and complete lies. 'I wanted no part in this but what I will say is Curtis is genuinely a lovely and talented guy, who doesn't deserve any of this. Hope that's set the record straight and we can move on. Amber x.' Curtis, who thanked his family for their support following the break up, has just kicked off his dance tour - AJ Live - alongside his pro dancer brother AJ and a group of backing dancers in Aberdeen. The cleaning sector in Luxembourg is experiencing a boom. In 2009, there were 84 cleaning firms, a figure which has risen exponentially to 250 in 2020. However, cleaning personnel have deplored their working conditions, which they say are worsening continuously. A recent conference at the Chamber of Employees made the situation abundantly clear. The sector primarily employs foreign women, namely 12,000. These employees have complained about a number of issues, including a lack of recognition, low wages, and above all increasing amount of work that is no longer manageable. They also deplore the lack of respect of their rights and being treated like dogs. The number of people working in the sector is dropping all the while those remaining must carry out the same amount of work. One example cited is that cleaning staff get reduced by 50%, leaving, as an example, one woman to clean 90 offices and toilets in four hours. Both staff delegates and other employees throughout the sector have likened their working conditions to modern slavery. On Wednesday, collective agreement negotiations began. The OGBL and LCGB trade unions have put together communal demands, including linear wage increases and the right to free paper copies of payslips. This last demand refers to the fact that some businesses make cleaners pay 5 for their payslips. Naomi Long will not attend today's Alliance Party Conference after being diagnosed with a severe chest infection, the party has announced. Mrs Long, who had been due to deliver the keynote address at the party's conference at the Stormont Hotel today, has been instructed to remain housebound under doctor's orders. Stephen Farry MP will deliver the address in her absence. Mrs Long tweeted: "Totally gutted to be missing our biggest ever Party Conference today. "Unfortunately, I've been diagnosed with a severe respiratory infection and am on bed rest and fluids under doctor's orders. "Sending best wishes to everyone: have a brilliant day!" She added: "Also want to say an enormous thank you tol all the staff at Ulster Hospital for taking such good care of me yesterday. "The pressure under which they were working in ED was unbelievable for a Friday afternoon but they were amazing. "We are so lucky to have the NHS." Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Four people in New Jersey have tested positive for the coronavirus in initial testing. One lives in Fort Lee, one in Cherry Hill, and two in Englewood, state officials on Saturday said. State officials also released information about some points of contact of the four people with the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. So far, there are three cases in Bergen County and one from Camden County. These reports of positive test results can be worrisome to residents, said acting Gov. Sheila Oliver in a telephone press conference. But we do ask everyone to remain calm. The Department of Health, along with our local and federal partners, continues to work hard in responding to and investigating each of these cases. Four additional tests are underway for people that are in hospitals, said New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli. Two are in Bergen County, while the others are in Union and Mercer counties. They are admitted to Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, Hackensack Medical Center, Capital Health Medical Center in Hopewell and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway. The state received notification of 15 additional people under investigation, or those who exhibit symptoms that have either been in contact with a person who has coronavirus or presents pneumonia of unknown cause. Testing will also be conducted on those individuals, Persichilli said. A New York rabbi also tested positive for coronavirus and held services on Feb. 23 somewhere in Passaic County, state officials said. The name and location of the synagogue were not immediately released, but members of the house of worship were notified of the possible contact. The names of patients who have tested positive for coronavirus during initial testing have not been released. Here is what we know so far about the four cases and their points of contact: 1. A 32-year-old man who lives in an apartment in Fort Lee and works in New York City was admitted to Hackensack University Medical Center on March 3 and is in stable condition, Persichilli said. He attended a medical conference in New York, although officials did not immediately release specifics about the gathering. He also had household contacts at a residence he has in New York, Persichilli added. His exposure to COVID-19 is still unknown. Contact tracing has begun and includes one close household contact, who Persichilli said is now under self-quarantine. It was not immediately clear if that household contact was from New York or Fort Lee. Healthcare workers who have had contact with the 32-year-old are being identified and assessed, Persichilli said. His New York City contacts are being followed by the New York City Department of Health. He had onset of symptoms March 1, visited an emergency department on March 2 and was admitted to Hackensack University Medical Center the following day, Persichilli said. It was not immediately clear if he visited the emergency room at Hackensack University Medical Center or somewhere else. 2. Fifteen people attended a gathering at the home of an Englewood resident in her 30s on Feb. 29, said Persichilli. All of those people have been notified by their local health departments to self-quarantine and monitor. It was not immediately clear if those contacts were all from New Jersey or if some were from New York. The Bergen County resident presented on-set symptoms either on Feb. 29 or March 1, Persichilli said. She is stable and at home under self-quarantine and has never been hospitalized. She had close contact with a work colleague in New York City, who tested positive for coronavirus. That work colleague resides in New York, Persichilli said. The woman resides in Englewood. 3. The 61-year-old man from Cherry Hill in Camden County reported onset of symptoms on Feb. 26. He was admitted to Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital on March 3 and is in stable condition, Persichilli said. His exposure to coronavirus is unknown at this time. Health care workers who had contact with him are being identified and assessed, including his EMS transport. His contacts include seven close household contacts, five friends and coworkers. No out-of-state contacts have been identified at this time, Persichilli said. 4. A 55-year-old Bergen County man from Englewood reported symptom onset on Feb. 27 and was admitted to Englewood Hospital and Medical Center on March 4 and remains there. He is in stable condition. The mans exposure to COVID-19 is linked to a case associated with Temple Young Israel in New Rochelle, New York and attended services on Feb. 23. His New Jersey contacts include three family members, New Jersey officials said. He was also at an out-of-state conference but the name, location and date of the gathering were not immediately provided. Earlier on Saturday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Empire State rose to 76. New York officials say the state of emergency will clear the way for more testing by allowing qualified professionals other than doctors and nurses to conduct the tests. More testing that could detect additional cases is good news because we know who these people are and can put them in isolation, Cuomo said. But New Jersey officials are not yet ready to take that step. Oliver said that while the Murphy administration has not yet deemed an emergency declaration necessary, that could change if the coronavirus situation worsens in the future. We have an emergency management system. In addition, Gov. (Phil) Murphy weeks ago created a coronavirus task force a whole government approach to this crisis," Oliver said. "Our health commissioner, Judy Persichilli, will be in constant contact and communication with the EMS leadership and they will make a recommendation to the Office of the Governor when they believe it is incumbent upon us to declare a public emergency. But at this stage, that is not appropriate for us. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK Gas prices dropping in N.J. as coronavirus concern cuts into oil production N.Y. rabbi who tested positive for coronavirus held services in N.J., state officials say Uncharted territory': How 1 N.J. school district plans to teach kids remotely during potential coronavirus closure Coronavirus phone safety tips: Heres how to clean and sanitize your smartphone. Most N.J. Catholic churches ban communion wine Coronavirus outbreak: The week the virus spread to N.J. Yankees get coronavirus warnings from doctor in pregame lecture Nonstop Acela trains between Washington and New York suspended due to coronavirus SXSW canceled because of coronavirus concerns Coronavirus outbreak begins to impact March Madness Trump signs $8.3B bill to combat coronavirus outbreak in U.S. Coronavirus deaths have N.J. nursing homes on high alert Are kids immune to the coronavirus? What parents need to know. Coronavirus symptoms: What should I do if I think I have been infected with COVID-19? To prevent coronavirus, airports, bus depots, and PATH trains intensify cleaning $45 for 2 bottles of hand sanitizer? Watch for coronavirus price gouging Will warm weather stop the deadly coronavirus from spreading? Coronavirus panic is growing. Heres what you need to know. Will you be paid if your boss tells you to stay home because of coronavirus? If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, enter your email address below. The Associated Press contributed to the report. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico. Deena Theresa By Express News Service KOCHI: With the two most powerful warriors (in Russian writer Leo Tolstoys words) on her side, sexagenarian Liza Joy could win the fiercest battles in lifetime and patience. These forces have helped her feed mouths and perhaps, even create history. When she couldnt crack Class X, Liza decided not to waste any more time and enrolled herself for radio and watch repair workshops. Today, with 45 years of experience and a small shop in Aluva, Kochi, Liza could possibly be the sole woman watchmaker/mechanic in the state. Being the eldest of six siblings in a financially-backwards family, I didnt quite like the thought of rewriting my board exams. Earning a living was my primary motive. At that time, in the 1970s, the Naval Base in Kochi used to conduct a few workshops. A relative referred me to the same and I couldnt control my excitement. Back then, only a handful of children attended this two-hour per day course. It lasted for six months, says Liza. Liza was a fast learner. With her nimble hands, she quickly mastered the craft. There was a lot of information to memorisethe callipers, the names of various spare parts, assembling clocks and timepieces. But the drive to do something for my family did the trick. I completed my course and worked at the Naval Base repairing watches for the next five years. It became my calling, Liza smiles. Liza was uncertain where life would take her but certain that as long as she had her tools, she could travel and live at her own pace. Neighbours, relatives and friends brought their watches to her house and adeptly, she repaired them. Post marriage, the Ayyappankavu-native shifted to Aluva and set shop. One may wonder if watch business is lucrative in this digital age. Ironically I receive more watches now than before. But timepieces have died a slow death over the years. Im adept at repairing mechanical watches, so digital ones are way too simple, she laughs. Over the years, Lizas eyes have trained her to spot the faults in a watch before dissecting it. But Liza isnt just impressed by her ability or her profession. To her, it saved her life. I tried teaching the trade to my siblings and children, but they couldnt do the same. They have their own lives now. My husband works with the transport and goods sector, she says. I despise watching serials. Id rather repair watches until my eyesight fails, she concudes. Baked Fishcakes Though fishcakes are common in many cultures, this two-step method for cooking them is distinctively Russian. First theyre sauteed on the stovetop, then theyre steamed in the oven. The steaming approximates the moist heat of the Russian masonry stove, yielding handsome, lemony, herb-strewn fishcakes. Serves 3 to 4 1 medium onion, chopped 1 pound halibut, halibut cheeks, or cod, cut into small pieces 1 small egg, lightly beaten 1 1/4 teaspoons salt 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 4 garlic cloves 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, at room temperature 3/4 cup rye flour 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh dill 8 lemon slices 1/4 cup finely chopped scallions Grate the onion in the bowl of a food processor. Add the fish, egg, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Pulse until ground medium-fine. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Peel and smash 2 of the garlic cloves and set aside. Mince the remaining 2 garlic cloves and set them aside, too. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut out a piece of parchment paper large enough to cover a 12-inch skillet and grease it with the 1 teaspoon butter. Mix the rye flour with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper and spread on a large plate. Remove the fish mixture from the refrigerator and pour off any liquid that may have accumulated in the bottom of the bowl. The fish will be very moist, so it helps to moisten your hands with cold water before working with it. Gently shape the fish mixture into 8 round patties, setting each one on the rye flour as soon as its shaped. Carefully turn the patties to coat both sides well. Heat the oil, the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, and the 2 smashed garlic cloves over medium heat in a 12-inch cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet. When the butter begins to foam, add the fishcakes. Cook for 4 minutes, periodically sliding a spatula under the cakes to make sure they dont stick. After 4 minutes, turn the fishcakes and turn the heat to medium-low. Cook the second side for an additional 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle the fishcakes with the parsley, dill, and minced garlic. Top with the lemon slices. Lay the parchment paper, buttered-side down, over the fishcakes, pressing down lightly. Cover the pan with an ovenproof lid. (If the pan doesnt have a lid, cover it with tightly sealed aluminum foil.) Bake for 8 minutes. Remove the lid and parchment paper and sprinkle the chopped scallions over the fishcakes. Serve directly from the skillet. Recipe reprinted with permission from Beyond the North Wind: Russia in Recipes and Lore by Darra Goldstein, copyright 2020. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Prince William is gradually preparing to take over the throne of England, after his grandmother and his father, Prince Charles. His days are full of royal appointments, meetings, speeches, and paperwork, with very little downtime. Prince William is also a father, to three young children whom he shares with his wife, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke of Cambridge is a unique royal parent in several ways, clearly taking a cue from his late mother, Princess Diana. Although she is no longer around, Prince William makes an active effort to keep her memory alive in his loved ones who did not have the privilege to meet her. When did Princess Diana die? Princess Diana | David Levenson/Getty Images Princess Diana, born in 1961, was one of the most beloved and iconic members of the royal family. Her marriage to Prince Charles was controversial and by all accounts, unhappy. But during their union, they welcomed two boys. Prince William and Prince Harry would be the greatest joys of Princess Dianas life and her powerful influence on them were undeniable. After Princess Diana and Prince Charles divorced in 1996, the two boys divided their time between their father and mother. While much of their time with Prince Charles was spent learning royal duties and etiquette, Princess Diana wanted her children to experience real life. Tragically, Princess Diana died in 1997, at the age of 36, as the result of a terrible car crash. She would not live to see her boys grow up to get married and have families of their own. To many, this is one of the greatest tragedies of her life. Especially considering how much she loved Prince William and Prince Harry. Princess Diana has four grandchildren: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Baby Archie. Prince William is the patron of a symbolic charity Growing up, Prince William and Prince Harry were exposed to the struggles of those experiencing homelessness, courtesy of their mother. Princess Diana would take her sons to South London to see modern-day poverty. In 2005, Prince William became the patron of Centrepoint. The charity is one he inherits from the late Princess Diana. At a Gala Dinner for the charity last year, the Duke of Cambridge said: Centrepoint was one of the first charities of which I became Patron, back in 2005. I chose to do that because visiting Centrepoints services with my mother made such a lasting impression on me as a child. And it still makes a lasting impression on me today. Prince William became the patron of homelessness charity The Passage last year. He said, in 2016, about the charity: The visits I made as a child to this place left a deep and lasting impression upon me about how important it is to ensure that everyone in our society, especially the poorest, are treated with respect, dignity and kindness, and are given the opportunities to fulfill their potential in life. Prince William plans to expose his children in a similar fashion Princess Diana chose to educate her children about the lives of the homeless. My mother knew what she was doing with it; she realized that its very important when you grow up, especially in the life we grew up in, that you realize life happens beyond the palace walls and that you see real people struggling with real issues, said Prince William about his visits to the homeless resource center The Passage. The Duke of Cambridge said he would absolutely bring his children to The Passage when theyre older. He also revealed discussing homelessness and those struggling with his children. On the school run already, bear in mind theyre six and four, whenever we see anyone who is sleeping rough on the streets, I talk about it, and I point it out and I explain why and theyre all very interested. Theyre like: Why cant they go home? the prince shared while filming for a BBC Christmas special with Mary Berry. How else does Prince William keep Princess Dianas memory alive with his kids? In July 2013, Prince William and Kate welcomed their first child, a son whom they named Prince George. They went on to have two more children: Princess Charlotte in May 2015 and Prince Louis in April 2018. Princess Charlotte is the duke and duchess first daughter. As such, she received a tribute in her full name: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. Princess Dianas friend, Simone Simmons, told Vanity Fair: Its Williams way of honoring his mothers memory. A way of making sure Dianas legacy lives on. This way she will never be forgotten. While many royal parents are rather stiff and rigid, preferring to avoid affection in public, Prince William and Kate are always very loving with their children, never hesitating to get down to their level and relate to them directly. In this way, Prince William seems to be echoing many of the same traits that his mother, Princess Diana, displayed. Princess Dianas effort to keep Prince William and Prince Harry grounded entailed exposing them to real life: She took them on trips to the park, McDonalds, and to volunteer at local charities. Diana was such a wonderful mother, a royal insider told Us. William and Kate are doing their best to take after her when it comes to raising George, Charlotte and Louis. Theyre determined to give their kids a normal life, just like Diana did. Whats more, Prince William and Kate reportedly asked the late Princess Dianas relatives and friends to be godparents to their children. Earl Grosvenor, the son of Princess Dianas friend, is one of Prince Georges godparents. Julia Samuel, a close friend of the late Princess Diana, is also a godparent to Prince George. As for Princess Charlotte, Cynthia Jane Fellowes, one of Princess Dianas nieces, is a godparent to her. Keeping that in mind, theres no doubt the Cambridge kids are exposed to anecdotes and stories of their paternal grandmother. Even though Princess Diana isnt around to snuggle her grandchildren, Prince William has always made sure that his children know of her and how important she was. In a revealing interview, he stated that he keeps pictures of his mother around everywhere and makes sure to talk about her with the children constantly. Prince William acknowledged that when putting George or Charlotte to bed, (I) talk about her and just try and remind them that there are two grandmothers, there were two grandmothers in their lives, and so its important that they know who she was and that she existed. A source told Us Weekly: George and Charlotte know all about their late grandmother and what an amazing woman she was. William tells them shes watching over them from heaven. It is clear that even though Princess Diana isnt around, her spirit is very much present in Prince William, and that she would be proud of the father that he has become. Advertisement Greek police have launched tear gas at migrants as Turkish officers fired back at the border crossing where thousands are trying to get into Europe and vigilante groups are plotting to send them home. More clashes erupted Saturday between Greek police and Europe-bound migrants gathered on the Turkey side of a border crossing near the Greek village of Kastanies. Like previous confrontations this week, officers in Greece fired tear gas to impede the crowd and Turkish police fired tear gas back at their Greek counterparts. Journalists saw groups of mostly young men trying to pull down a fence with ropes and throwing rocks at the Greek border forces. At least two migrants were injured. Vigilantes were also seen at the border where they shouted 'We'll get you next time!' at a small group of men who had made it over and fled. Greek police fire tear gas as migrants gather at a border fence on the Turkish side, during clashes at the Greek-Turkish border in Kastanies More clashes erupted Saturday between Greek police and Europe-bound migrants gathered on the Turkey side of a border crossing near the Greek village of Kastanies Asylum seekers waiting in the buffer zone near the Pazarkule border crossing in Turkey's Edirne, are being affected by tear gas thrown by Greek security forces to disperse them A Greek government statement issued Saturday said that around 600 people, aided by Turkish army and military police, threw tear gas at the Greek side of the border overnight A Greek government statement issued Saturday said that around 600 people, aided by Turkish army and military police, threw tear gas at the Greek side of the border overnight. There were several attempts to breach the border fence, and fires were lit in an attempt to damage the barrier, the statement said. Villagers from border towns are forming civilian patrols to round up migrants and islanders have set up road blocks to stop migrants from reaching refugee camps. Others have physically attacked aid workers and journalists, accusing them of helping migrants come to the island. Many are frustrated by the lingering problems from the 2015 crisis with some turning hostile and violent. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to be in Brussels next week for a one-day working visit, his office said amid the charged conflict. Thousands of migrants headed for Turkey's land border with Greece after Erdogan's government said last week that it would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing over to EU territory. Greece deployed riot police and border guards to repel people trying to enter the country from the sea or by land. An asylum seeker makes a mask with a water bottle to protect himself from tear gas thrown by Greek security forces Thousands of migrants headed for Turkey's land border with Greece after Erdogan's government said last week that it would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing over to EU territory. Pictured: men at the border react to the tear gas Greece deployed riot police and border guards to repel people trying to enter the country from the sea or by land. Pictured: a man throws rocks as the violence escalates at the border crossing Journalists saw groups of mostly young men trying to pull down a fence with ropes and throwing rocks at the Greek border forces. At least two migrants were injured A statement from Erdogan's office said he would travel to Brussels on Monday. The statement did not specify where he would be during his one-day visit or the nature of the work taking him to the Belgian capital, but the European Union's headquarters are in Brussels. The announcement came hours after European Union foreign ministers meeting in Croatia on Friday criticized Turkey, saying it was using the migrants' desperation 'for political purposes.' 'Attempts at illegal entry into Greek territory were prevented by Greek forces, which repaired the fence and used sirens and loudspeakers,' the statement read. Thousands of migrants have slept in makeshift camps near the border since the Turkish government said they were free to go, waiting for the opportunity to cut over to Greece. This man sat on the ground as people around him came to assist after he was affected by the tear gas thrown at the border today Thousands of migrants have slept in makeshift camps near the border since the Turkish government said they were free to go, waiting for the opportunity to cut over to Greece. Pictured: men use a piece of wood to protect themselves Asylum seekers waiting in the buffer zone near Pazarkule border crossing in Turkey's Edirne, are being affected by tear gas thrown by Greek security forces to disperse them Greece has described the situation as a threat to its national security. In response it has suspended asylum applications for a month and said it will deport new arrivals without registering them 'It is very difficult, but there is hope, God willing,' said Mahmood Mohammed, 34, who identified himself as a refugee from Syria's embattled Idlib province. Another man who identified himself as from Idlib said he was camped out in western Turkey both to get away from the war at home and to make a new life for his family in Europe or Canada after crossing through the border gate. Erdogan announced said last week that Turkey, which already houses more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, would no longer be Europe's gatekeeper and declared that its previously guarded borders with Europe are now open. The move alarmed EU countries, which are still enduring political fallout from a wave of mass migration five years ago. A man presses his jumper to his face in order to cover his eyes from the tear gas being fired on the border today Asylum seekers arrived in Edirne majorly from Istanbul and also from many other Turkish cities, as Greek police and border units used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them at the buffer zone at the Pazarkule border crossing Greek riot police officers stand guard as tear gas is being fired near Turkey's Pazarkule border crossing, in Kastanies, Greece Greek police and the army stand by as migrants gather at a border fence on the Turkish side, during clashes at the Greek-Turkish border in Kastanies Erdogan has demanded that Europe shoulder more of the burden of caring for refugees. But the EU insists it is abiding by a 2016 deal in which it gave Turkey billions in refugee aid in return for keeping Europe-bound asylum-seekers on its soil. In a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, Erdogan said the Turkey-EU migration deal is no longer working and needs to be revised, according to the Turkish leaders's office. The European foreign ministers acknowledged Turkey for hosting millions of migrants and refugee, but said the 27-nation EU 'strongly rejects Turkey's use of migratory pressure for political purposes.' The ministers called the situation at the Greece-Turkey border unacceptable and said the EU was determined to protect its external boundaries. Greek authorities said they thwarted more than 38,000 attempted border crossings in the past week and arrested 268 people - only 4% of them Syrians. They reported reported 27 more arrests Saturday, mostly of migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Greece has described the situation as a threat to its national security. In response it has suspended asylum applications for a month and said it will deport new arrivals without registering them. Many migrants have reported crossing into Greece, being beaten by Greek authorities and summarily forced back into Turkey. A man holds his child as she sleeps as refugees and migrants spend the night at Edirne's central bus station Greek authorities said they thwarted more than 38,000 attempted border crossings in the past week and arrested 268 people Many migrants have reported crossing into Greece, being beaten by Greek authorities and summarily forced back into Turkey In a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, Erdogan said the Turkey-EU migration deal is no longer working and needs to be revised, according to the Turkish leaders's office. Pictured: a man coughs as a result of the tear gas being fired The European foreign ministers acknowledged Turkey for hosting millions of migrants and refugee, but said the 27-nation EU 'strongly rejects Turkey's use of migratory pressure for political purposes' Turkish authorities say one migrant was killed by bullets fired by Greek police or border guards near the border crossing. Greece denies the accusation. A child also drowned off the island of Lesbos when a boat carrying 48 migrants capsized. On Saturday, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu renewed accusations of Greek authorities mistreating migrants. 'Their masks have fallen. The ruthlessness of those who gave lectures on humanity has become evident,' Soylu said. Soylu claimed that some 1,000 Turkish special operations police deployed on the border had started to thwart the actions of the law enforcement teams assembled by Greece to drive the migrants back. The minister also predicted that Greece would not be able to 'hold on to its borders' during the summer, when the river that delineates most of the Turkey-Greece border gets shallower and easier to cross. Soylu has said Erdogan instructed Turkish authorities to prevent migrants from attempting to reach the Greek islands in dinghies to avoid 'human tragedies.' Hundreds have drowned attempting the comparatively short but dangerous voyage from Turkey's coast. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 04:30:43|Editor: yhy Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China's UN envoy on Friday said China welcomes the Russia-Turkey agreement on a ceasefire for Syria's northwestern province of Idlib. In a press encounter after a close-door Security Council meeting on Syria, China's Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun said "for China, we welcome the agreement signed by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey, and we welcome the diplomatic efforts along this direction." He said the signing of the agreement is conducive to finding "what we have always longed ... a comprehensive solution to the issue in Syria." It's a step forward in promoting a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process, facilitated by the UN, he said, expressing the hope that the agreement will be fully implemented. Zhang stressed that in the process of implementation, Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence should be fully respected. He said China hopes the international community will continue to commit to the fight against terrorism in the process. "We do hope that we will see more encouraging progress." The Chinese envoy voiced support for the humanitarian effort made by the UN, pledging that China will do whatever it can to provide humanitarian aid. "We also hope that the comprehensive humanitarian situation in Syria will be taken care of by the international community." He also urged parties concerned to avoid any attack on the civilians in Idlib and in Syria as a whole. Russia and Turkey agreed Thursday on a ceasefire in the de-escalation zone in Idlib, a development that could ease escalating conflicts and facilitate a peace process in the war-torn country. The ceasefire became effective from 00:01 a.m. on Friday local time. Russia and Turkey also agreed to create a safety corridor 6 km to the north and 6 km to the south from the strategic M4 highway, which connects Aleppo in northern Syria with Latakia in the northwest. Also in the press encounter, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said the ceasefire does not "exempt" operations targeting terrorists in the area, and that he hopes the sporadic fighting after the ceasefire took effect will be put out. Britain and Germany's UN ambassadors also expressed hope that the fresh ceasefire will last. In 2018, the two countries agreed on a deal in the southern Russian city of Sochi, which created a "de-escalation" zone in Idlib and allowed for the deployment of 12 Turkish observation posts. However, the "de-escalation" zone has been repeatedly violated. More than 30 Turkish soldiers were killed last month around the area during an operation of the Syrian government, which Russia backs. The operation was attempting to regain control of the final rebel stronghold in the country after nearly nine years of war. In response, Turkey targeted Syrian positions with aircraft, drones and artillery, raising fears of a direct military confrontation between Russia and Turkey. Since March 2011, Syria has been in the throes of a conflict that has forced more than half of all Syrians to leave their homes. According to The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, an estimated 5 million Syrians have fled the country, 6 million others are internally displaced, over 13 million people need assistance and an untold number of men, women and children are suffering greatly. The US delegation was led by Admiral John C.Aquilino, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, and US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink. After the welcome ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Ho Ky Minh co-chaired a press conference with Admiral John C. Aquilino. Minh said local authorities and people warmly welcome the visit by the US naval ships, which is a practical activity to celebrate the 25-year diplomatic relations and promote the bilateral comprehensive partnership between the two countries. Admiral John C.Aquilino expressed thanks to the city for the warm welcome, especially in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic spreading all over the world. During the visit, which will last until March 9, the US delegation will participate in community activities such as cultural and sport exchanges, and share their expertise and experience in response to incidents, disasters and diseases. They will also visit popular tourism destinations in the city. The same day, the commanders of the US naval ships paid a courtesy visit to Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Huynh Duc Tho. USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) is the second US Navy aircraft carrier to visit Da Nang over the past three years, after the USS Carl Vinson in March 2018. Some of Australia's top fashion labels are reeling after Myer slashed the prices of their new stock as part of a move to radically reduce its struggling designer arm. At its results presentation on Thursday, chief executive John King said the womenswear business had been "disappointing", as he revealed a 36.5 per cent plunge in the department store's half-yearly profits. Myer is deleting several brands from its roster as it tries to fix its fashion business. Credit:Getty Images But Myer and Mr King's goal to turn around its flailing fashion business by spring by investing more in accessories and affordable brands includes an aggressive deletion strategy for designer labels, with discounts of 70 per cent being offered at its flagship stores this weekend. It also reverses a strategy implemented just six months ago to pump 40 new contemporary brands into the flagship stores in Sydney and Melbourne, including internationals such as Rotate and Australian resort brand Hansen & Gretel. 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. ANN ARBOR, MI - City officials have discussed a wide range of options for the blighted property at 415 W. Washington St. over the the past decade. Discussions have included making part of it a park, or possibly an arts or community space of some kind. The future Treeline urban trail is expected to run through part of the site, while the other part could see vertical development, possibly new housing. Is the site conducive to providing future affordable housing? City officials are still unsure. Related: Two high-rises with affordable housing preferred for Ann Arbor's Y Lot site, city says Both the city and SmithGroup Inc., which was hired to conduct an assessment of future uses for 415 W. Washington St., have noted there are many competing public benefits on the site and each one has an associated cost. Some of those considerations include brownfield remediation, Chimney Swift preservation, parking, greenway and affordable housing. "The City needs to conduct further study and conversations with potential developers and other parties to determine how to fund these public benefits and what additional subsidies are available to mitigate financing gaps between market rate and affordable units," Ann Arbor Housing Commission Executive Director Jennifer Hall said. Here's a look what residents want to see at 415 W. Washington St. Don't Edit Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News Background on 415 W. Washington St. Portions of the city-owned property at 415 W. Washington St. sit within the floodway on the eastern edge of the property, while the remaining property is in the floodplain. The property is currently occupied by a parking lot and U-shaped buildings. Portions of the buildings are used to store City of Ann Arbor and Republic Parking Services materials and equipment and may have environmental concerns. The City is considering the following objectives for redeveloping 415 W. Washington Preserve Chimney Swift Habitat Maximize park space Engage the Treeline Trail Fit in with existing adjacent building heights and scales Fit in with existing setbacks along Washington Embrace W Washington Street Maximize market rate residential Provide adequate buffer to adjacent single family housing Maximize affordable housing units for 60% AMI households on site Sell the property and use proceeds for affordable housing on another city-owned property Remediate any potential environmental contamination Don't Edit Image provided | SmithGroup Inc. What the people want Residents have indicated remediating potential environmental concerns on the site at 415 W. Washington St. is a top concern, while maximizing affordable housing units on the site is also a key priority, according to feedback gathered by SmithGroup. While environmental contamination doesn't disqualify a project from as affordable housing or market rate housing, methods and costs associated with environmental remediation could result in limitations, Hall said. City officials and SmithGroup noted that remediation costs can be offset through brownfield tax-increment financing if the development is paying property taxes. Remediation costs might be too expensive for affordable housing to absorb, however, and if the affordable housing pays a Payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT), it is not eligible for TIF financing. Proposed plans for the site do not include a specific number of affordable housing units at this time. Don't Edit Image provided | SmithGroup Inc. Preferred option Out of the three options provided by SmithGroup Inc., residents preferred option 2B, which includes a full build-out of 210 one-bedroom housing units. The building would be five stories high and include parking, with 210 one-bedroom units, although it has not yet been determined how many of those units would be considered affordable housing. The proposed site is estimated to cost $58. Don't Edit Image provided | SmithGroup Inc. Standing 60 feet tall, the proposed building would be taller than the existing building on site, and similar to the neighboring YMCA. It also would be the largest building option, given oodplain limits and height restrictions. "2B got as close to 200% FAR as possible while still meeting D2 height limits, thus yielded the most units," SmithGroup Principal Michael Johnson said. "It is possible that this could yield more affordable units, but would depend on subsidies from other potential sources." Don't Edit Don't Edit Image provided | SmithGroup Inc. Zoning considerations The site currently is zoned as D2, which allows approximately 5 stories of height. Because the site sits within the floodplain and is adjacent to a railroad track, state and federal subsidies for affordable housing are unlikely on this site. "Floodway and floodplain development is appropriately challenging, and any development on the site must not adversely impact flood storage and/or movement in the circumstance of significant events," City Planning Manager Brett Lenart said. "This will be realized likely through avoiding development in the floodway and being careful to ensure any development is appropriately designed to interact with the flood fringe areas." The D2 zoning classification allows a mixture of uses, including residential, and will allow flexibility in parking provided on site, Lenart said. Hall said because 415 W. Washington St. is in a floodway and floodplain, any housing built on site needs to be elevated above the floodplain. Don't Edit Image provided | SmithGroup Inc. Treeline trail The approximately $55-million Treeline urban trail project includes an anticipated 2.75-mile paved path for pedestrians and cyclists beginning at the Huron River by Argo Pond and continuing south past the University of Michigan Stadium. From the outset, all of the scenarios for the 415 W. Washington St. property incorporate the Treeline trail traversing the site, near the railroad right of way, Lenart said. "This is consistent with the adopted plan for the Treeline, which like affordable housing, has clearly been established as a goal of the city," Lenart said. "The successful integration of the Treeline along this property will be beneficial to both the long term realization of the complete trail, as well as desired public amenity to complement any development on the site. Don't Edit Chimney swifts return to roost in a chimney at 415 W. Washington St. in Ann Arbor. Photo provided | Keith Dickey, Washtenaw Audubon Society Other concerns The buildings at 415 W. Washington have been approved for demolition except for the existing chimney, which currently serves as habitat for a threatened bird species known as the chimney swift. Ann Arbor City Council directed the city administrator to explore the possibility of saving the chimney in 2018 as the city considers demolishing other blighted structures on the city-owned property on the west edge of downtown. Don't Edit A look at residents' preferred option for development on the blighted city-owned property at 415 W. Washington St., looking west. Image provided | SmithGroup Inc. Other views Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Image provided | SmithGroup Inc. Other options Another option provided by SmithGroup includes a similar configuration, but with four stories instead of five, resulting in 132 units of one-bedroom housing. Option 2A would build a new multi-story mixed-use building on top of ground oor parking. Plans also would include an access drive along the west side of the property with Washington and Liberty street connection. The building steps down toward Washington Street, with the opportunity for commercial uses opening onto the Treeline level. Don't Edit Jacob Hamilton l The Ann Arbor News More on affordable housing ... For more coverage of affordable housing in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County, check out these stories: Supporting the vulnerable or welcoming the dangerous? Dexter grapples with housing development question Ann Arbor OKs contract for community-driven Y Lot concepts Ann Arbor updates plans for potential affordable housing sites Ann Arbor City Council members say affordable housing pledge needs to be backed up Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) speaks during the fourth Democratic 2020 debate in Westerville, Ohio, on Oct. 15, 2019. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters) DNC Rule Change Excludes Gabbard From Next Presidential Debate The Democratic National Committee (DNC) changed the qualifying criteria for presidential debates again, shutting out Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii). The DNC said March 6 that participants in the next debate must have at least 20 percent of the pledged delegates by March 15. Gabbard, 38, has earned two delegates so far. As a result, the debate in Phoenix that night will feature Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 78, and former Vice President Joe Biden, 77. Only Biden, Sanders, and Gabbard remain in the Democratic race. Gabbard would have qualified under the previous threshold, which only required each candidate to have won a single delegate. She hasnt qualified for the past five debates. She took to Twitter on March 6 after the new rules were announced, writing: To keep me off the stage, the DNC again arbitrarily changed the debate qualifications. Previously, they changed the qualifications in the OPPOSITE direction so Bloomberg could debate. The DNC previously enabled former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, 78, to participate in debates by removing a donor requirement; he had self-funded his campaign. Bloomberg and four other candidates who participated in the most recent debate, in Charleston, South Carolina, on Feb. 25 have exited the race since then. (LR) Democratic presidential candidates, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and businessman Tom Steyer greet one another onstage at the end of the Democratic presidential primary debate at the Gaillard Center in Charleston, S.C., on Feb. 25, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo) Im sure you would agree that our Democratic nominee should be a person who will stand up for what is right, Gabbard said, in a direct appeal to Biden and Sanders. So I ask that you have the courage to do that now in the face of the DNCs effort to keep me from participating in the debates. DNC spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa had said March 3 that the thresholds to qualify for future debates would go up. By the time we have the March debate, almost 2,000 delegates will be allocated. The threshold will reflect where we are in the race, as it always has, she said in a statement. The previous criteria have centered around poll results and unique donors. Hinojosa also retweeted a post about Bloomberg appearing on the debate stage that asserted the move was misinterpreted as somehow helping Bloomberg, as opposed to leveling the playing field for his rivals in terms of the [money]. Bloomberg, one of the richest men in America, spent more than $500 million on his campaign before announcing his withdrawal and endorsing Biden. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, 38, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), 59, also withdrew in recent days before endorsing Biden. Online abuse aimed at candidates during the General Election campaign has been reported to the gardai. Wexford County Council chairman, Cllr Michael Sheehan said he, for one, has reported personal abuse directed at him on social media to gardai in New Ross. 'If I was a young person, a teenager, someone, anyone in a vulnerable state of mind, I can see how online abuse can drive someone to self harm or more. If you are in anyway fragile or going through some sort of episode, or had something happen in their lives and all of this storm comes on top of them, I would question if they would be able to endure it.' He said trolls are engaging in campaigns against politicians and other public figures because they are able to get away with it. 'People can see it as having banter but over the course of the General Election campaign I thought there was a sinister and menacing element after creeping into all of it. I certainly felt I was being targeted because I was a Fianna Fail candidate. I understand other candidates for the party from across the country were also getting the same treatment. There was an element that was systematic and organised.' He said some comments crossed the line, adding that his personal space was invaded. 'The gardai are looking into this. Some of the stuff that was put up on Facebook and about the campaign went beyond the rational and normal.' Images of a planning permission notice outside his home were posted on Facebook, along with details of where he shops. 'The contents of my wheelie bin were went through and where I shop was highlighted. A photo of me with someone else was photo-shopped. Some people might find that funny and most of the time I would laugh it off, but when it goes into a menacing territory in a close knit community, in a place like New Ross where I have family this can spill over.' Cllr Sheehan said he can understand how many people who would love to be a politician decide against the career because of the abuse politicians get online. 'Paul Kehoe took an inordinate amount of personal abuse.' He called for the maximum offence under the Non Fatal Offences Against the Persons Act to be doubled from five to ten years, adding that he will be calling on the next minister within the county to highlight the issue once a Government is formed. 'It's very disturbing when this sort of nonsense is going on and people are believing it. Local and national political representatives need to stand up and say this is crossing the line. People can't be banned from smartphones as they will come up with a false account, but quicker measures are needed where accounts can be shut down. Social media companies need to act swifter and face punishment from the authorities who are doing a very good job. Some of the abuse I had to endure is now sitting with the gardai to decide on whether or not to bring charges and to see if I want to prosecute the person. People think they can say what they want but they damn well can't! They may not realise it but they are publishing by making comments on social media. I got a thick neck having been in this game for 20 years, but people are not able to understand the velocity of it. People are nasty. A lot of political abuse we get comes from a particularly brand of politics, people of a certain political persuasion.' Cllr Sheehan, who works as teacher, is urging students to stay off social media. 'It's not longer a safe place. It's too open and too unregulated. It's not a positive environment. You put stuff up and people just go nuts for no reason.' Describing the General Election campaign as very dirty, he said at least one investigation is under way within a political party over alleged behaviour on the hustings. Malcolm Byrne said: 'I'm used to it at this stage. It has become pointless trying to engage in political discussions with some people on social media - they prefer to be abusive than look for solutions. The irony is that you'd often see someone who engaged in a stream of invective attacks would follow it up with a post on positive mental health and being kind!! There is a challenge around digital literacy. Stuff is posted and shared on Facebook and other platforms that is false or out of context, and many don't interrogate it. The quality of our political debate is also debased as poorly informed argument is given greater credence than it should be.' Cllr Jim Moore said keyboard cowards are behind the attacks. 'It doesn't matter what walk of life you are in, I would call them keyboard cowards, not warriors. It seems to have become a pastime for anyone with an axe to grind. We are normalising this behaviour in society but it's not normal; it's abuse.' Cllr Moore said people are posting defamatory remarks about individuals they have never even met. 'High level insults are being levied at people and nobody seems to have any problem not challenging them. I don't respond to anyone on Facebook, Pick up the phone and call me if you have an issue.' Cllr Moore said people need to take more responsibility for what they say and more regulation of social media platforms like Facebook are required. Referencing the recent death of Love Island presenter Caroline Flack, he said: 'I would extend that to the red top tabloids. There is a danger here that people are relying on regulations for everything. Why should we rely on regulations for being respectful?' He said gardai have a bigger responsibility than ever before to address the problem. 'They are equipped with far more legislation and equipment. People who fall victim to this should keep in mind that they have the opportunity to go to the guards. This is the world we're living in and this is a new phenomenon we are trying to deal with here. The difference now is who the people who get attacked turn to. A lot of the time it is people who are friends with them on Facebook aren't their friends at all. People need to defriend some of these people to protect themselves and their families.' Gardai have urged victims of online bullying to save the posts so that they can be used in a prosecution before a judge. Cllr Moore said individuals posting to comment sections can be easily identified as in most cases their face is visible beside the post and their name is also visible on the screen. Cllr Moore said it comes back to a person's personal code of conduct. 'People are entitled to make a fair comment and social media has its uses, including if there is an accident on a road or a weather event. I met councillors from around the country recently and one council decided to have a month where no member would engage with any social media that was negative and it proved very effective. I think everyone in public life and in voluntary life needs to be aware of the dangers of this.' Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City Fire Department representatives will address the full board meeting of Community Board 1 on Tuesday, March 10, to address fire prevention and smoke alarm installation and registration. The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Building P on the grounds of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Livingston. Community Board 3 The Parks and Environmental Committee of Community Board 3 will meet on Tuesday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the board office, 1243 Woodrow Rd. There will be a Community Board 3 Land Use Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m., also in the board office. Community Board 2 Community Board 2 has no meetings scheduled this week. The Aging Committee meeting originally scheduled for Thursday, March 12, has been canceled. Community Board meetings are open to the public. They provide an excellent opportunity for residents to learn about happenings in their community. Below is more information about the Islands three Community Boards: Community Board 1 Arlington Castleton Corners Clifton Concord Elm Park Fort Wadsworth Graniteville Grymes Hill Livingston Mariners Harbor New Brighton Port Richmond Randall Manor Rosebank St. George Shore Acres Silver Lake Stapleton Sunnyside Tompkinsville West Brighton Westerleigh Community Board 1 meets in Building P on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Livingston. The district manager is Joseph Carroll. The board chairman is Nicholas Siclari. The telephone number is 718-981-6900. Community Board 2 Arrochar Bloomfield Bulls Head Chelsea Dongan Hills Egbertville Emerson Hill Grant City Grasmere High Rock Lighthouse Hill Midland Beach New Dorp New Springville Oakwood Ocean Breeze Old Town Richmond South Beach Todt Hill Travis. Community Board 2 is located at 900 South Avenue, Third Floor, Suite 28, Bloomfield. The phone number is 718-568-3581. The fax number 718-568-3595. The chairman is Robert J. Collegio, P.E. The district manager is Debra A. Derrico. Community Board 3 Annadale Arden Heights Bay Terrace Charleston Eltingville Great Kills Greenridge Huguenot New Dorp Oakwood Pleasant Plains Princes Bay Richmond Valley -- Richmond -- Rossville -- Tottenville -- Woodrow. All committee meetings take place at the Community Board 3 office, located on the second floor of 1243 Woodrow Rd. All general board meetings take place at the Woodrow Methodist Church Hall located at 1075 Woodrow Rd. The office phone number is 718-356-7900. The board chairman is Frank Morano; the district manager is Charlene Wagner. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 7) The local government of Cainta, Rizal province, has stepped up measures to contain the novel coronavirus after a resident tested positive for the virus. Cainta Mayor Johnielle Keith Nieto in a Facebook post on Saturday said local authorities have distributed face masks and disinfectants to areas near the residence of the coronavirus patient. The patient's family members have all been placed under quarantine. "May isang linggo [nang] wala sa bahay ang pasyente pero minabuti pa rin na i-restrict ang paglabas ng mga kasama nito sa bahay base sa direktiba ng [Department of Health]," Nieto said. He has also ordered the municipal health office to give away masks, vitamins, and disinfectants to other Cainta residents as extra precautionary measure. In the same Facebook post, he shared screenshots of a post from his wife, Elen Nieto, president of the Filinvest East Homeowners Association, confirming that the patient they were referring to is the 62-year-old Filipino male who was confirmed to be the country's first case involving a coronavirus infection by one without any history of travel abroad. Still, the Department of Health and the World Health Organization both stressed it was early to say if there is local transmission since there is a single case now. The man was first confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on March 1 and diagnosed with severe pneumonia. He was confirmed to have the coronavirus disease (or COVID-19) on March 5, and was transferred to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City. Meanwhile, the San Juan City government has temporarily closed the Muslim prayer hall at Greenhills Shopping Center which was known to be frequented by the patient. The Philippines now has five confirmed coronavirus cases following DOH's announcement Friday that two Filipinos contracted the virus. The other confirmed case is a 48-year-old man who recently traveled to Tokyo, Japan. Earlier, three Chinese visitors have been infected with the virus one of them died, while the remaining two have since recovered and left the country. The new coronavirus has killed more than 3,400 people, mostly in China, since the outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei province in December last year. It has infected over 101,300 people worldwide. READ: How to protect yourself from coronavirus Speaker of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives, Aquila Saleh, has addressed a message to King Mohammed VI. The message was handed to Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Libyan east-based government, Abdelhadi Lahouij, at a meeting Friday in Rabat. In a statement to the media after the meeting, the envoy of the speaker of the Libyan parliament commended the support, farsightedness and leadership of King Mohammed VI at the regional, African and international levels. We are convinced that Morocco, thanks to the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, is capable of playing a leading role in the resolution of the Libyan crisis, Abdelhadi Lahouij said. We intend to persevere on the path of dialogue, he said, adding brotherly Morocco is capable of playing a vanguard role in resolving the Libyan crisis. He said his meeting with the Moroccan Foreign Minister is part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the Libyan crisis. And this is, in itself, a message to the international community that we are advocates of peace and dialogue and we extend our hand to all like-minded people in order to put an end to chaos, within a framework of national harmony, backed by an equitable distribution of wealth. Abdelhadi Lahouij also pointed out that Libya wants to benefit from Moroccos experience in the field of reconciliation, recalling that the Equity and Reconciliation Commission has made it possible for the Kingdom to address the past human rights violations. Morocco, which also boasts an equally vast experience in crisis resolution, has no other interest than the security and stability of Libya, Abdelhadi Lahouij underscored, saying he deeply believes in the pre-eminence of the Maghreb space for the resolution of the Libyan crisis. It is in this sense that I always talk about the Moroccan and African approach to the resolution of the Libyan crisis, Abdelhadi Lahouij said. The envoy said that his meeting with Nasser Bourita also focused on the creation of a Morocco-Libyan economic forum. Abdelhadi Lahouij and Nasser Bourita met on January 29 in Brazzaville during the 8th high-level session of the African Union Committee on Libya. The Congolese capital will host a new meeting of this mechanism on March 12, another opportunity for the two men to meet again. The Speaker of the Khalifa Haftar-backed Parliament, Aquila Saleh, had visited Morocco in April 2019. WHO chief says world on verge of reaching 100,000 COVID-19 cases WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (R) speaks at a daily briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia) A total of 98,023 COVID-19 cases have been reported globally so far, including 3,380 deaths, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said here on Friday, noting "we are now on the verge of reaching 100,000 confirmed cases." As COVID-19 cases increase, the WHO continues to recommend that all countries make containment their highest priority, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a daily briefing. "We continue to call on countries to find, test, isolate and care for every case, and to trace every contact," Tedros said. He called for slowing down the epidemic which saves lives and buys time for preparedness and for research and development, saying "every day we can slow down the epidemic is another day hospitals can prepare themselves for cases." Twenty-one people on board a cruise ship stranded off the coast of San Francisco have tested positive for the new coronavirus, Vice President Mike Pence said. "Among those positive for coronavirus were 19 crew members and two passengers," said Pence on Friday, who has been tasked by President Donald Trump to coordinate the US government's response to the outbreak. Pence said the ship will be brought to a non-commercial dock this weekend and all 3,533 passengers and crew will be tested. The Grand Princess has been stranded off the coast of San Francisco since Wednesday -- when it was supposed to dock -- after it emerged that two people who had been on the ship during its previous voyage had contracted the virus. One of them later died. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Coronavirus crisis: Three quarantine centres set up in Sri Lanka By Kumudini Hettiarachchi & Ruqyyaha Deane View(s): View(s): Three quarantine centres have been established in Sri Lanka by the health authorities to keep under observation people arriving here from high-risk COVID-19 affected countries. They are the Batticaloa private campus, the Kandakadu Treatment & Rehabilitation Centre and the Leprosy Hospital at Hekitta in Hendala. Health Services Director-General Dr. Anil Jasinghe told the Sunday Times last afternoon that transportation of people arriving from the high-risk countries of Italy, South Korea and Iran to the Batticaloa quarantine centre would begin tomorrow. The declaration of the Batticaloa private campus and Kandakadu centre came on Friday, following a week of protests by people at Hekitta over the decision earlier in the week to take-over three buildings of the Leprosy Hospital as a quarantine facility. On Friday, the Sunday Times walked into a volatile protest by about 200 people including clergy from the Buddhist temple, churches and the Hindu kovil. There was a heavy police presence as well. The slogan-shouting, placard-carrying protestors had also blocked the bottom part of Hekitta Road, and obstructed traffic. Their grouse was that the hospital in a heavily-populated area and flanked by two schools should not be turned into a quarantine centre. Consultant Community Physician Dr. Kapila Piyasena of the Anti-Leprosy Campaign told the Sunday Times that since the 18th century, the hospital located on a large acreage of land had been a quarantine centre for patients living with leprosy. Even now there were 34 patients. We tried to explain to the protesters that there is no danger, as the people who would be kept there are not ill, but under observation as COVID-19 has about a two-week incubation period. We told them repeatedly that anyone detected with fever and cough during the screening at the airport would be taken to a designated hospital and not brought here. But they would not listen, he added. The Sunday Times understands that those quarantined on arrival in Sri Lanka will be provided all facilities and kept for around 14 days until the incubation period for the new coronavirus passes. During their stay at the centres, they would be checked day and night for illness and at the first signs sent to a designated hospital. The centres have been acquired by the health authorities in terms of the wide powers granted under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance introduced way back in 1897 to make provision for preventing the introduction into Sri Lanka of the plague and all contagious or infectious diseases and for preventing the spread of such diseases in and outside Sri Lanka. A letter sent by the DG to the Batticaloa Campus Private Limited Chairman, M.H.A Hiras, dated March 6, states: Notice of Acquisition By virtue of the powers vested to me as the Proper Authority under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance No. 3 of 1897 and Regulations made thereunder, the Batticaloa campus is hereby temporarily acquired until further notice for quarantining purposes to prevent the introduction and transmission of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Sri Lanka. The Batticaloa campus was founded by former Eastern Province Governor, M.L.A.M. Hisbullah. The Kandakadu Centre, meanwhile, in the Polonnaruwa district, was a rehabilitation centre for ex-LTTErs which was in 2013, turned into a drug rehabilitation centre. Sri Lankan woman in Italy recovering The Sri Lankan woman affected by COVID-19 and hospitalised in Italy is stable and recovering, said Sri Lankas Acting Ambassador Sisira Senevirathne from Rome, when contacted by the Sunday Times yesterday. We are in touch with the patient, the doctors and the hospital, he said, adding that she will be discharged once the doctors are satisfied that she has recovered fully and will not transmit the virus to anyone else. The Sunday Times understands that the woman from Horana, had been looking after an elderly person in the Lombardy region. She first contracted COVID-19 last week, most probably after a visit to a clinic. The Sri Lankan who went down with the virus had been admitted to hospital on Sunday night. She has a family member in Italy. Foreign Relations Ministry spokesperson Ruwanthi Delpitiya said the 46-year-old woman is at the Spedali Civili Hospital in Brescia. She has been living in Italy for the past 10 years. Lombardy has been the most heavily affected region by COVID-19 in Italy. While there are around 120,000 Sri Lankans in Italy, around 60,000 are in northern Italy and about 20,000 in the Lombardy region. Meanwhile, the two Sri Lankan crew members from the Diamond Princess cruise ship currently quarantined in India are in good health, it is learnt. They have tested negative for the virus on February 27 and will be tested once again on March 11. If this test too is negative, they will be brought back to Sri Lanka either on March 14 or 15. The Sunday Times learns that Kuwait has suspended flights from and to seven countries including Sri Lanka from today for a week. The other countries are India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria. By Alex Wigglesworth, Soumya Karlamangla, Tony Barboza and Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES In a growing sign of how coronavirus is disrupting California, Stanford University said Friday night that it will move classes online for the final two weeks of the winter quarter. Stanford also said large events would be canceled or adjusted. The university is actively monitoring the local and global health situation and is taking precautionary measures in an effort to help limit the spread of infection, officials said in a statement. Palo Alto Online reported that a School of Medicine faculty member has tested positive for COVID-19 and two undergraduate students who possibly were exposed to the virus are in self-isolation, citing a report it said Stanford made Friday. USC said Friday that it would conduct lectures and seminars online rather than in classrooms for three days next week to test the ability to operate remotely should the coronavirus spread and force the campus to suspend in-person contact. The University of Washington announced Friday it was moving all instruction online for the next two weeks, keeping more than 50,000 students out of classrooms as the death toll from COVID-19 in that region continued to rise. Meanwhile, coronavirus continued its spread across California and the nation on Friday, with new cases reported from Los Angeles to Placer County, while cruise passengers stuck off the coast of San Francisco were tested amid what appears to be an outbreak on board. At least eight of Californias cases have been tied to the cruise, including one confirmed death in Placer County and one death in Sunnyvale that is suspected to be linked to coronavirus. Speaking at the White House Friday afternoon, Vice President Mike Pence said a total of 21 people on the Grand Princess have tested positive for coronavirus, including 19 crew members. He said the federal government is working with the state of California to bring the cruise ship in to a non-commercial port over the weekend and to quarantine passengers as necessary. All passengers will be tested, the vice president said. Those that need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Meanwhile, L.A. County confirmed two additional cases of the new coronavirus Friday, bringing the total to 13. That comes as more cases of the virus continue to be reported elsewhere in California and in other states, including Texas, prompting the city of Austin to cancel the massively popular SXSW festival. CORONAVIRUS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST: THE LATEST NEWS Of the most recent cases announced in L.A. County, one person is part of a group of travelers who went to northern Italy. Seven other members of that same group had already have tested positive for COVID-19. The second is a second screener at Los Angeles International Airport. A screener at LAX also was diagnosed with the virus earlier in the week, sources familiar with the matter said. The L.A. County Department of Public Health has asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for help investigating those two cases. The individuals close contacts are being self-quarantined in case they also develop symptoms. The new cases still dont point to community spread in Los Angeles County, L.A. County Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. She estimated that 50 people in the county have been tested for COVID-19 and emphasized that more tests are coming back negative than positive. The low numbers of tests run in L.A. County so far have been because of limited testing capacity at the lab, not a shortage of test kits, she said. Lab workers had been putting in at least 18 hour days, she said. On Thursday night, commercial lab LabCorp came online, and on Monday, Quest Diagnostics is expected to begin offering testing as well, she said. This is all good news, Ferrer said. The limitation of our lab was not the lab kits, but were only one lab and we could only process a certain number of tests in one day. She said these changes do not mean that everyone will be tested for the virus. Providers will determine which patients with symptoms require testing. As of Friday, L.A. County expanded its criteria to follow guidelines to test for anyone a doctor recommends, not just people with a travel history to countries with major outbreaks, Ferrer said. Now its up the individual provider to make that determination, she said, adding that providers are encouraged to consult CDC criteria. Yolo County reported its first case of the new virus Friday a woman who officials think contracted the virus in the community. The woman has underlying health conditions and has been hospitalized, officials said. She appears to have acquired the virus through community transmission, the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency said in a news release. The agency will monitor the womans close personal contacts for symptoms of the illness and said staff is working with healthcare providers to identify potential additional cases. Given the rapid spread of COVID-19 around the world, I am not surprised that the virus is in our county, Dr. Ron Chapman, the countys public health officer, said in a statement. The county plans to declare local and health emergencies, the agency said. Solano and Santa Clara counties also have reported coronavirus cases that are believed to have been contracted through community contact that is, by people who have not traveled to areas where COVID-19 is widespread or by those who have come in direct contact with another confirmed case of the virus. New coronavirus cases were also reported Friday in Placer, Ventura, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties. In Placer County, three cases were announced, all of them among people who had traveled on the Grand Princess cruise ship from San Francisco to Mexico on Feb. 11-21. The ship docked in San Francisco on Feb. 21, with some passengers disembarking before the ship moved on to Hawaii. The ship is now being held off the coast of San Francisco amid an outbreak of COVID-19. Two of the people had mild symptoms that have already resolved, while the third continues to experience mild symptoms, the Placer County Public Health Department said in a news release. None of them required hospitalization, and all three are isolated at home, officials said. The public health department is working on tracing the peoples contacts to identify more possible cases, officials said. We are moving as quickly as possible to limit the spread of disease, Dr. Aimee Sisson, the countys health officer, said in a statement. To be frank, we would not be surprised to see a second wave of cases connected to these cruise passengers given the amount of time thats passed since they disembarked. Placer County had previously reported two cases of the coronavirus, including one death. Ventura Countys public health lab also confirmed a positive result for a passenger on the Grand Princess cruise ship. The person had only mild symptoms and was being quarantined at home, officials said. It was the countys first case of the new virus. There is no evidence of community transmission in Ventura County, Dr. Robert Levin, the county health officer, said in a statement. This is a travel related case. The state Department of Health on Wednesday night notified the Ventura County Public Health Department that six county residents had traveled on the cruise, and public health officials contacted all of them, the Ventura County Public Health Department said in a news release. One of the travelers had been in contact with their primary care doctor, who had requested that the person be tested for COVID-19, officials said. The doctor had the patient stay in their vehicle while dropping off the sample curbside to limit possible exposure, officials said. The persons spouse, who was also on the cruise but did not have symptoms of the virus, was also being quarantined at home, officials said. Of the four remaining Ventura County residents who were on the cruise, one was symptomatic and being tested, officials said. The other three had reported no symptoms. In Contra Costa County, two of the three cases announced Friday were also passengers on the Grand Princess cruise ship. The third person had close contact with a person who was diagnosed with the coronavirus in another jurisdiction, county health officials said. All three people were being isolated at their homes. The county is now recommending that adults over 50 and people with underlying medical conditions that could put them at risk of contracting COVID-19 avoid mass gatherings like parades, sporting events or concerts. Public health officials in Santa Clara County reported four new cases Friday, bringing the total there to 24. One was a man whom officials described as a household contact of a previously confirmed COVID-19 case in Santa Clara County, and another was a male who had recently returned from a trip to India, officials said. Both people were isolated at home. Officials werent sure how the other two people contracted the virus. One was a male who was isolated at home; the other was a woman who was hospitalized, officials said. Both cases were under investigation. The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has surpassed 100,000 with California recording at least 69 as officials work to contain the virus despite its rapid spread. World Health Organization officials pressed countries Friday to aggressively pursue containment and expand testing for COVID-19 as the outbreak swells. WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that trying to contain the epidemic and slow it buys time for more research and preparedness to handle cases when they do arrive. Every day we can slow the epidemic is another day, governments can prepare their workers to detect, test, treat and care for patients, he said. In California, officials announced what may be the states second virus-related death in Santa Clara County, where residents are being urged to postpone or cancel large gatherings and events, and minimize work in big groups. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block announced Friday that three students were being tested for the virus. There have not been any confirmed cases in the university community or changes to campus operations, but school officials told students they will continue to monitor what remains a fluid situation. In Sacramento County, officials declared a public health emergency Thursday. The action follows Gov. Gavin Newsoms state of emergency declaration related to the virus. Several other counties and cities across California have made similar proactive decrees, which will allow them to ask for help if their own resources become exhausted. At least 15 counties in the state have reported cases, with the highest counts in Santa Clara and Los Angeles counties. San Francicso, where Mayor London Breed declared a public health emergency last week, reported its first two cases Thursday. Officials think the cases indicate the virus is spreading in the community because the two new patients a man in his 90s and a woman in her 40s who are not related have no travel history to places with COVID-19 and had no contact with anyone whos tested positive for the illness. We do not know at this point how they were exposed to the virus, Dr. Grant Colfax, San Franciscos director of health, said in a statement. On Friday, San Franciscos public health department issued new guidance to reduce the spread of the disease, including recommendations that people over 60, or with underlying health conditions, stay home as much as possible, avoid gatherings of 50 or more people unless necessary and telecommute if possible. Also on Thursday, Nevada announced its first confirmed case of COVID-19, in Las Vegas, a man in his 50s who had recently traveled to Washington state, where dozens of cases have been reported. He is hospitalized in isolation, officials said. President Donald Trump on Friday signed an $8.3-billion emergency spending package intended to help with prevention and response efforts to the virus, including the extension of telemedicine services to seniors, one of the groups most vulnerable to the virus. The day before, authorities in Santa Clara County reported the death of a 72-year-old man who had been on a cruise with two passengers suspected of having the coronavirus but cautioned they have not yet confirmed whether he had contracted the virus. Officers performed CPR on the unresponsive man, who later died, then learned from his family about his cruise travels, said Phan Ngo, chief of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety. Santa Clara County announced Thursday that the number of cases there had grown from 14 to 20. Four are related to travel, nine had contacts with other confirmed COVID-19 patients and seven were believed to have caught it in the community, officials said. Our cases to date indicate to us that the risk of exposure to the virus in our community is increasing, Dr. Sara Cody, the countys health officer, said Thursday. In response, county health officials issued more stringent recommendations meant to slow the spread of the virus, calling on residents to postpone large gatherings and cancel large events. Employers should take steps to minimize large group meetings, consider allowing employees to telecommute and stagger work start and end times, they said. Lowell High School in San Francisco announced Thursday it would close and cancel all events and gatherings for the rest of the week after learning that a relative of one of its students is being treated for COVID-19. San Mateo Countys health officer, Dr. Scott Morrow, said in a statement Thursday that COVID-19 has likely been spreading for weeks, perhaps months. We now all need to take assertive actions to inhibit the spread of this new virus, Morrow said. Among other steps, Morrow recommends that people stop shaking hands, use a barrier such as a paper towel or tissue to touch door handles, elevator buttons and other commonly touched surfaces and under all circumstances, stop touching your face, eyes, nose, or mouth with your unwashed hands. Echoing Santa Clara officials, he said residents should cancel or postpone nonessential gatherings. Los Angeles County health officials on Thursday confirmed four more cases of the coronavirus among patients who had recently returned from a group trip to northern Italy. Three travelers in that group had previously tested positive for the virus. The San Diego area reported its third case, an employee of an AT&T store in Chula Vista. Six stores were closed and deep-cleaned, the company said in a statement. In the Bay Area, the Grand Princess cruise ship was being kept offshore amid concerns that more people on board might be sick after a 71-year-old passenger on an earlier voyage died this week of the virus. Sonoma County health officials confirmed that a second passenger on the cruise tested positive and was in isolation. Health officials said they were contacting Sonoma County residents who were on the cruise or on the shuttle that carried passengers to and from the ship. Meanwhile, Newsom and state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced they were ordering all public and commercial insurance plans to fully cover the cost of testing for the coronavirus as an essential benefit. The order will ensure that Californians will not incur any out-of-pocket expenses, including co-pays and deductibles, even if they are tested at hospital emergency rooms or urgent care facilities, they said. This action means that Californians who fit the testing requirements can receive the test at no cost. Were all in this together, and Im grateful to those health providers who have already stepped up and heeded our call, Newsom said in a statement released Thursday afternoon. Californians without insurance should contact their county public health departments for information about their options for testing and screening, state officials said. (Staff writers Ruben Vives, Anita Chabria, Noam Levey, Rong-Gong Lin II and Phil Willon contributed to this report.) The way Jennifer Nettles sees it, the climate for women in country music has to get better soon. There is a systemic bias that has happened, where adages like Oh, women dont want to hear other women have actually turned into business policies of We dont play two women back to back on country radio, so the ecosystem has now been made so toxic... Nettles said on Fridays episode of Today With Hoda and Jenna. These artists, women artists dont get the support on radio, then they dont get the support on tour its a cycle, a really vicious cycle. Jennifer Nettles is speaking out about gender bias in country music. (Photo: Jim Spellman/Getty Images) A study that Dr. Jada Watson, of the University of Ottawa, released in February revealed that tunes by women accounted for just 10 percent of the songs on the Billboards Yearend Airplay Chart in 2019. The data was an update of similarly dismal numbers Watson uncovered last April. Nettles told hosts Jenna Bush Hager and her guest co-host, Maria Shriver, that shes optimistic change is coming when it comes to gender parity in the genre. I dont think this will be able to last much longer, because the imbalance is so extreme and because people are now becoming educated and informed, Nettles said. For a long time, people didnt know. Nettles brought attention to the issue in November when she walked the red carpet at the Country Music Association Awards wearing a train that read, Play our f****n records, please and thank you on one side and Equal play on the other. Jennifer Nettles makes a statement about gender imbalance in country music at the CMA Awards on Nov. 13, 2019. (Photo: Leah Puttkammer/Getty Images) I thought, you know, this is the CMAS, theyre gonna be celebrating women this year, Nettles said, noting that this years show paid tribute to the genres female icons. I want to let it be known... were not just gonna check the boxes and be like, Yay! Look how good we celebrate, look how well we celebrate women, because in the country [music] industry, theres a huge gender bias, and we actually do not. An audience member asked Nettles how people could support the women of country music other than by requesting their music at radio stations and buying their work. Story continues The Sugarland star suggested that fans can help by purchasing tickets to see women play music. And they can add female artists to their playlists on streaming services, so the services understand listeners like those songs and play these artists even more. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyle's newsletter. Myanmar Court Jails 15 Rohingya For Two Years For Trying to Flee Country 2020-03-06 -- A court in central Myanmar's Magway region on Friday sentenced 15 Rohingya Muslims to a maximum of two years in prison each for attempting to leave the country illegally, an immigration official said. Authorities in Minhla township arrested the 15 adults and one child for traveling without official proof of identity or travel documents on Feb. 14. Eight men and seven women were sentenced at the township courthouse under Section 6(3) of Myanmar's Immigration Act and immediately transferred to Thayet Prison, while the six-year-old was sent to the Magway Child Care Center run by the region's social welfare department. "Their sentence came fast because they traveled without any proof of identity or travel documents," said Minhla township immigration officer Aung Pyi Soe who testified at the hearings. "We didn't need much evidence to convict them." But because of restrictions on their freedom of movement, the Rohingya cannot freely travel inside or outside Myanmar without first obtaining official permission. Those who decide to travel illegally usually do not take identification cards with them, which all Myanmar residents must carry. More than 200 Rohingya have been charged under the same act during the past three years, he added. About 70 other Rohingya adults who also tried to illegally flee Myanmar but were arrested on Feb. 20-21 appeared Friday at the courthouse in Yangon region's Hlegu township amid their ongoing trial. The group consists of 67 adults and three children under 10 years of age. They are on trial for violating Myanmar's nationality statutes for traveling illegally and without documentation. Four witnesses, including the head of Hlegu's Myoma Police Station, testified Friday. "The Immigration Department filed a case against them under the Immigration Act," said Maung Maung Oo, head of the police Station. "We were with immigration officers when we arrested these Rohingya. That's why I am here as a witness." Authorities apprehended the Rohingya, who hail from Rakhine's Kyautphyu, Sittwe, Minbya, and Buthidaung townships, as they were heading to Malaysia with the help of human traffickers. One of those charged said the group left to escape travel restrictions imposed on them and to find work. "We cannot travel and don't have jobs in Rakhine," said the Rohingya who did not provide a name. "We find it difficult to survive. That's why we fled from our homes." 'Seduced by traffickers' Attorney Thazin Myat Myat Win, who is defending the Rohingya, said that traffickers told the members of the group that they would help them get jobs in Malaysia. "They were seduced by traffickers because they lack job opportunities," he said, adding that some had to pay the traffickers 1 million kyats (U.S. $674), while others paid 3 million kyats (U.S. $2,000) each to the traffickers. "Some kids said that the traffickers told the Rohingya who couldn't pay them before leaving that they could pay them after they got jobs in Malaysia," Thazin Myat Myat Win said. Rohingya activist Thar Aye said the Rohingya did not deserve to be sentenced. "Although they don't have proof of identity to travel in the country, the sure thing is they are not foreigners," he said. "Instead of giving them jail sentences, authorities should send them back to their places of origin." Thousands of Rohingya have tried to leave Myanmar in the last several years to escape institutionalized persecution, grinding poverty, and insecurity in Rakhine state. They have paid human traffickers hundreds of dollars or more each to transport them to other Muslim-friendly nations in Southeast Asia where they hoped to have a better life. Myanmar authorities have apprehended more than 2,200 Rohingya Muslims as they attempted to illegally leave the country by sea since 2015, according to a list of the detainees obtained from a naval officer by RFA's Myanmar Service in February. Nearly 1,500 Rohingya were detained in 2015, more than 500 were picked up in 2018, and roughly 250 have been apprehended so far in 2019, according to the list provided by the officer, who declined to be named because he is not authorized to give information to the media. The figures do not include Rohingya who fled by land from two brutal military-led crackdowns in northern Rakhine state in 2016 and 2017. During the first round of violence, about 90,000 Muslims left and headed across the border and into Bangladesh, while the second more brutal clampdown forced more than 740,000 out of their villages and into Myanmar's neighboring country. Of the estimated 600,000 Rohingya still living in Rakhine state, about 120,000 reside in internally displaced persons camps where they were sent to live following communal violence with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in 2012. Those living in refugee camps in Bangladesh have refused to return to Myanmar despite a repatriation agreement signed in November 2017 that lets approved Muslims voluntarily return to Rakhine state. They fear reprisals of targeted violence and continued repression and discrimination if they return. Funds for Rohingya crisis Myanmar, which has denied that its soldiers committed widespread atrocities against the Rohingya, now faces legal action against it on genocide-related charges at three courts the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court, and an Argentine court. The ICJ in January ordered the country to protect the Rohingya from further harm and genocidal acts and to refrain from destroying evidence of alleged crimes that could be used in later hearings. On Tuesday, the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR), International Organization for Migration, and other NGOs issued an appeal for U.S. $877 million in humanitarian assistance for the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The funds will be used "to respond to the needs of approximately 855,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and over 444,000 vulnerable Bangladeshis in the communities generously hosting them," the UNHCR said in a statement. The Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis will help provide food, shelter, clean water and sanitation, health care, protection, education, and site management, it said. In response to the call, the U.S. State Department on the same day announced more than $59 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh and for internally displaced Rohingya and members of other affected communities in Myanmar. The U.S. has now contributed a total of nearly U.S. $820 million in humanitarian assistance for the Rohingya crisis since the August 2017 crackdown. Of this funding, almost U.S. $693 million has been earmarked for programs inside Bangladesh. "We continue to call on Burma to create the conditions that would allow for voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable returns, based on the informed consent of those who have been forcibly displaced," the statement said. "We also call on the government of Burma to ensure unhindered and sustained humanitarian access to all people requiring assistance," it said. Reported by Myint Zaw Oo and Kyaw Lwin Oo for RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content March not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. Multiple cruise lines are continuously struggling to overcome the challenges provided by the global novel coronavirus epidemic, says an article from USA Today. Various cruise lines had implemented many travel advice and screening procedures due to the new coronavirus scare. The screening procedures include temperature checks. These procedures are under the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization, Cruise Lines International Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are a few protocols some cruise lines are currently implementing due to the coronavirus epidemic: Royal Caribbean The Royal Caribbean will conduct mandatory and a specialized form of health screening for its passengers. The persons who will receive such type of screening are those who reveal they are showing flu-like symptoms. Also, passengers who traveled to Thailand and/or Japan in the past 15 days will be subject to specialized and mandatory health screening. Additionally, passengers who are not sure if they had been in contact with people who traveled to Italy, Japan, Thailand, Iran, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China will undergo health screening. Furthermore, all of the guests of the cruise line will get their temperatures checked. Guests with a low pulse and a fever will not be allowed to board the ship. All of the guests who will not be allowed to board the ship will receive a full refund. Celebrity Cruises The celebrity cruises will be screening every passenger and crew member. It will check all of their temperatures with a non-touch digital scanner device on embarkation day before they board the ships of the cruise line. Those people with temperatures of more than 38 degrees Celsius or 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit will be subjected to a second-stage health screening. These people will be joined by their companions in the travel. The guests who will not be allowed to board will be given a full refund. The refund will be in the form of a cruise credit. Carnival Cruise Line The Carnival Cruise Line will not allow guests to board their ships if they have travel histories from South Korea, Iran, Macau, Hong Kong, mainland China, and other locations under isolation by government health officials in the last 14 days. Guests who had contact with a suspected coronavirus victim will not be allowed to board any of their ships. Furthermore, guests who traveled to Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan and Italy's Veneto and Lombardy regions in the past two weeks before embarkation will be required to undergo medical screening. The medical screening will also include temperature checks. These guests will also be required to present travel documentation. Oceania Cruises Recently, Oceania Cruises released an announcement about its new 'Travel Assurance' booking rules. This policy takes effect immediately for new and existing bookings made by April 30. These bookings include trips that depart from March 10 to September 30. Guests can cancel their bookings with the cruise line within 48 hours before the ship departs. The guests who cancel their bookings will receive a full refund. The refund will be in the form of a future cruise credit. WASHINGTON Democrats in Virginias State Legislature took a blue-moon political step on Friday and voted to largely strip themselves of the power to draw new political maps next year maps that could well have locked them into power for a decade. But to say they acted grudgingly is an understatement. The State House of Delegates voted 54 to 46 to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would establish an independent commission to draw maps in 2021, when population totals from this years census will form the basis for redistricting. Separate legislation laying out rules for the panel and its actions was sent to a conference committee and seems certain to be approved later. Nine Democrats, who hold 55 seats in the 100-seat House, voted in favor of the amendment and 46 opposed it. Only support from the Republican minority ensured that the measure would go to the voters, who are expected to approve it. That was a marked change from last years bipartisanship, when the Legislature approved an identical version of the proposed amendment, the first move in a two-vote process needed to place such measures on the ballot. At the time, Democrats were in the minority in the House, and the amendment passed with overwhelming support from both parties, 85 to 13. Republicans controlled both houses of the Legislature but were widely expected to lose power, which they did, in November. Special wards at 4 hospitals, schools asked to suspend morning assembly. Security personnel wear masks as they patrol on a road in New Delhi on Friday. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: A Delhi man with a travel history to Thailand and Malaysia has tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of confirmed cases in India to 31. After the closure of primary classes, the Delhi government has directed schools in the national capital to suspend morning assembly as a precautionary measure for coronavirus. All government and private hospitals in Southwest Delhi have been directed to reserve 10 per cent beds for coronavirus patients. According to health ministry official, one suspected COVID-19 case has been confirmed as positive. The patient is from Uttam Nagar in Delhi. He has a travel history to Thailand and Malaysia. He is stable and being monitored. The total number of confirmed cases in India now stands at 31, said a health ministry official. Altogether, 11 people, including 7 family members, who came in contact with the man have been quarantined. The 25-year-old man, who also travelled to Malaysia, has tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the national capital to three. The family of the patient, comprising his wife, parents, brother, sister-in-law, and his two kids, has been home-quarantined. Their samples have been taken for testing. The patient, his wife, brother, and sister-in-law worked from home, said a Delhi government health official, adding that they are trying to trace the other people the patient came in contact with. A Paytm employee, who tested positive for coronavirus, is also a resident of West Delhi. The Directorate of Education (DoE) has advised schools to withhold biometric attendance for staff till further orders. Do not hold school assembly. Also, withhold biometric attendance for staff till further orders, the DoE has said in a letter to principals of all government and private schools. The primary classes of all schools in the national capital have been closed till March 31, but students of secondary classes and the staff are required to attend school. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that anganwadis have been closed in view of the coronavirus scare. The government child care centres have been closed from Friday. Southwest Delhi district magistrate Rahul Singh on Friday issued the order, asking all government and private hospitals to create facility for COVID-19 patients. You are aware that there is an emergency situation of COVID-19 in Delhi. Therefore, all government and private hospitals need to create the facility of isolation beds for COVID-19 patients, that is 10 per cent of the total bed capacity of all government and private hospitals under SWD, the order stated. In view of the coronavirus outbreak, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation is preparing to set up separate wards for the deadly disease at four hospitals run by it. The civic body has already set up a separate ward with 14 beds for coronavirus patients at the Bara Hindurao hospital run by it. The chairman of Medical Assistance and Public Health Committee of North Corporation, Vineet Vohra, reviewed preparations for prevention of the virus in a meeting with health officers of the civic body. The health officers apprised in the meeting that preparations are going on for setting up separate wards at the Kasturba, Rajan Babu, Maharishi Valmiki, and Smt. Giridhar Lal hospitals of the North Delhi civic body. "Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as... South Africa defeated Australia by six wickets in the third ODI here on Saturday. With this victory, South Africa whitewashed Australia in the three-match ODI series. Chasing a decent target of 255 runs, South Africa did not get off to good start as Josh Hazlewood bowled Quinton de Kock (26) in the ninth over. In his next over, Hazlewood sent Janneman Malan (23) back to the pavilion. Kyle Verreynne and JJ Smuts then took the charge of the chase and played brilliantly. Both formed a 96-run partnership before Adam Zampa dismissed Verreynne (50). Kane Richardson then took the wicket of Smuts (84). However, their partnership had already put the hosts in a dominating position in the match. Heinrich Klaasen then played an unbeaten knock of 68 runs to take his side over the line. Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Australia got off to a poor start as David Warner was dismissed in the fourth over, bowled by Anrich Nortje. Steve Smith also failed to leave a mark as he was given LBW off Andile Phehlukwayo's delivery after scoring 20 runs. South Africa bowlers kept the Australian batsmen under immense pressure. However, Marnus Labuschagne and D'Arcy Short provided their side some momentum as they struck regular boundaries. The duo formed an 81-run partnership before JJ Smuts got hold of Short (36). Marnus Labuschagne kept fighting against the South Africa bowlers and scored his maiden ODI century. Soon after scoring his century, Labuschagne (108) was bowled by Nortje in the final over of the innings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All people who enter Vietnam from Cambodia are required to fill in medical declaration forms amid complicated developments of the acute respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Measuring body temperature for people before making entry-exit procedures in Tay Ninh Speaking at a ceremony to inaugurate the Vietnam Telemedicine Centre for COVID-19 Outbreak Control on March 5, Long stated that besides the Cambodian language, the medical declaration form uses Vietnamese, English, Italian and Korean languages. Those entering Vietnam are requested to fill in both printing and electronic medical declaration forms, he said, adding that all information then will be updated to disease prevention centres and relevant offices for management. The deputy minister stressed that in the context that the COVID-19 spreads to more than 80 nations and territories with rapidly increasing infection and fatality cases, Vietnam has raised the disease prevention and combat status to a higher and more drastic level. The country stays ready for the appearance of new infection cases after 23 days reporting no cases, he added. So far, there have been 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Vietnam and all patients have been successfully cured and discharged from hospitals. The country has reported no new cases since February 13./.VNA World community applauds Vietnams COVID-19 prevention The COVID-19 epidemic is spreading rapidly worldwide. Starting in Wuhan, China, last December, 77 countries and territories have reported cases. Costco will be suspending free samples in their stores over fears it would aid the spread of the coronavirus, USA Today reports. Stores in multiple states commented they did not know when they would resume offering free samples. GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DLP Brite Homes is thrilled to introduce LiveBrite Gainesville, Florida's first-ever 'Zero Energy Ready' single-family rental community, offering smart home features and today's sought after energy-efficient living. Luxuriously designed, these 3- and 4-bedroom rental homes are situated just minutes from historic downtown, major highways, the University of Florida, and close to popular attractions such as Butler Plaza, with 150 storefronts. DLP Real Estate Capital Homes at LiveBrite Gainesville are mostly one-story single-family residences, with a few offering two-floor living. All homes include: Solar power on every roof ENERGY STAR appliances Command Panel Cellular (Alexa-compatible and accessible through smartphone app): 2 door sensors, Ring video doorbell, Smart garage door opener, Smart door lock, Smart thermostat, 3 years of self-monitoring from alarm.com smart home automation (compatible with Alexa) LED Lighting Hybrid water heaters 16 Seer HVAC Boracare built-in pest control defense Concrete driveways Amy Barricelli, Senior VP of Revenue Acceleration for DLP Real Estate Management comments, "With the national uptick of individuals and families looking to rent homes vs. buy, we are thrilled to introduce the area's first brand new high-performing, solar-powered single-family homes available as rental residences in this community. Energy-efficiency combined with luxury is not often found in the rental market. We're proud to introduce this concept to Gainesville, and, being environmentally conscious, we're also reducing the carbon footprint." Oren Segev, Brite Homes' founder commented, "LiveBrite Gainesville is yet another example of how we offer innovative home solutions directly in line with our purpose. These high performing homes fit in perfectly with the city of Gainesville, an up-and-coming progressive community concerned with sustainability. Our goal is to become the largest zero energy ready home builder in the entire country." A pet-friendly community, LiveBrite Gainesville is now pre-leasing this limited supply of 72 planned homes. Rental prices start at $2800 per month. Open houses will take place every Saturday in April. A private 'Sip & See' open house for brokers/realtors will take place on April 14 and will include guided tours and special offers for their clients. Visit livebritegainesville.com for more information. You can also take a quick home tour here. Media Contact- Jenn LoConte, PR Communications Mgr, [email protected], 484.312.0443. DLP Real Estate Capital is a leader in the single and multi-family real estate sectors of brokerage, investment management, asset management, property management, construction, and private lending. DLP RE Capital leads and inspires the building of wealth and prosperity through the execution of innovative real estate solutions. It generates consistent returns and results for its investors and partners and gives back through its foundation. Companies include DLP Capital Partners, DLP Direct Lending Partners, DLP Real Estate Management, DLP Realty, Brite Homes, Alliance Loan Servicing, and Alliance Property Transfer. DLP RE Capital has over $800 million in AUM, closed over 12,000 RE transactions totaling more than $2 billion, and ranked in the Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies in the U.S. for seven consecutive years. Related Images image1.jpg SOURCE DLP Real Estate Capital Two cities of Russia will appear on the route network of Buta Airways in March. The carrier announced opening of special flights from the Heydar Aliyev International Airport to Kazan and Ufa. Minnesota senator and former presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar made the case for Joe Biden to Southeast Michigan voters Friday, arguing the former vice president has fired up Michigan Democrats and has proven his ability to resonate with a broad coalition of voters. Klobuchar, who endorsed Biden earlier this week after dropping her bid for the presidency, met with labor leaders at Detroits MGM Grand and spoke to a crowd at a Fems for Dems event in Southfield. Shes also scheduled to stump for Biden in Grand Rapids Saturday morning. Shes one of several surrogates visiting Michigan ahead of the states March 10 primary, a key contest between frontrunners Biden and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also remains in the race. Biden is currently leading the delegate count, with 664 to Sanders 573. Gabbard, D-Hawaii, has 2. With 125 delegates to add to candidates coffers, Michigan is the biggest delegate count state of those voting on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters Friday evening, Klobuchar said the endorsements of high-profile Michigan dignitaries like Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are helping unite Democrats around Bidens candidacy, adding his focus on kitchen-table issues like roads, health care and the automotive industry will deliver a win that echoes Democratic midterm victories in 2018. All these things for Michigan are, OK, that guys got my back, she said. To prevail in the Midwest, Klobuchar said Democrats have to have a candidate who can reach beyond large cities into the suburbs and small towns and maintain strong support among minority voters. What happens a lot in the middle of the country, what happened in the general election of 2016, a lot of people felt left behind...they felt like, Oh, whos going to be there for me, she said. I think everyone knows where Joe Biden is, and that also motivates them to come out. She acknowledged Sanders strong grassroots support and said its good for the party, and hoped Democrats will ultimately come together and back the candidate who gets nominated. Klobuchar said it was hard to end her campaign for president, but said she believed Biden would bring decency and empathy back to the White House. She told her Southfield audience that the country cannot tolerate another four more years of President Donald Trump. I want us to remember what true leadership is about...time and time again, (Biden) is resilient, she said. Several current and former public officials joined Klobuchar at the Southeastern Michigan events, including former Michigan Gov. Jim Blanchard and U.S. Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield. Lawrence said Super Tuesday results showed the everyday person is backing Biden. It is critical that we go out and elect a president that will represent all of us, and in Michigan, thats extremely important. Sanders was also courting voters Friday at a Michigan rally, and has events planned throughout the state this weekend. Biden is expected to be in Michigan Monday. In 2016, Trump narrowly won Michigan in the general election after the state had gone to Democrats for decades, making the state a 2020 focal point for both Democratic and Republican campaigns. Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton in Michigans March 2016 primary. Related coverage: As Bernie Sanders makes big weekend push in Michigan, Joe Biden sends surrogates A complete guide: How to see Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders campaign events in Michigan this weekend and Monday The big question for Michigan Democrats: Is Biden or Sanders more likely to beat Trump? Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorses Biden, joining campaign as a national co-chair What happens if I voted for someone who dropped out of Michigans presidential primary? What Michigan voters need to know about absentee ballots for March 10 primary As a precautionary measure to contain the further spread of deadly Coronavirus in India, the Delhi Airport is planning to have a separate belt to manage the luggage of international passengers coming from 12 countries, that are severely impacted by COVID-19, a Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) spokesperson said on Saturday. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan suggested this measure after visiting the Delhi airport on Thursday and taking stock of the preparedness against the disease. As of March 7, India has reported 32 positive cases, while thousands are under observation in the country. READ | J&K Reports 1st Case Of Coronavirus, Total Number Of Cases In India Rise To 32 A trial of the separate belt to take place soon "DIAL is already following GOI guidelines for medical screening of all passengers arriving on international flights, in line with the Airport Health Organization (APHO) requirements. The new guidelines are being discussed with all the stakeholders and a trial run of the same will be taken up very soon," said the DIAl Spokesperson. READ | Coronavirus Cases Golabbly Hit 100,000 As Cruise Ship Fears Grow As Coronavirus cases began to increase in India, screening of passengers has begun at seven airports since January 17 and has now been extended to 21 airports. Thermal screening of all passengers travelling through international flights is underway. Over 6 Lakh people have been screened so far. Coronavirus which originated in China's Wuhan has spread over to 78 countries. China, Italy, Iran, South Korea Singapore have reported a maximum number of positive cases, causing major dread across the world. READ | Coronavirus Scare: Foreign Tourists Cancel Aurangabad Tours Government raises awareness through pre-call messages Not leaving any stones unturned in creating awareness over the deadly Coronavirus, the government of India is reaching to people in a unique way with caller tunes on BSNL and Jio Networks. Awareness is being spread among the masses by way of caller tunes to wash their hands at regular intervals and maintain at-least a meter's distance from a person. As the number of Coronavirus cases in India rises sharply, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged all to keep calm and not believe in rumours regarding the virus. He also advised people about the preventive measures to be taken and urged people to maintain personal hygiene in the wake of Coronavirus concerns. He also urged citizens to greet with 'Namaste' instead of a handshake. READ | Coronavirus: Government's Unique Bid To Raise Awareness Through Pre-call Messages The Best Hard Seltzer (Thats Not White Claw!) Get in on the Hard Seltzer Trend With These Top Picks The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. Theres no denying hard seltzer has been having a moment for a few years now and for good reason. Its low in calories and sugar, its refreshing, and insanely crushable given that most spiked seltzers have a very low ABV (usually less than 5 percent). Whats more, spiked seltzer is decidedly non-gendered, which is a vast difference from previously available low-calorie coolers on the market. RELATED: Top 10 Vodkas But what is a hard seltzer? Think of it as a can of La Croix with booze. The alcoholic beverage is made using either wine or a fermented cane sugar-based spirit, which is then combined with carbonated water and subtle fruit flavoring. Its simple, but it offers a relatively healthy alternative to the traditional cooler or wine spritzer. Here, weve pulled together a list of the top boozy bubbles on the market right now, from mainstream cans you can find at every supermarket to more local, small-batch seltzers. Heres what you should be sipping come spring and into the summer. Crook & Marker Spiked & Sparkling Tangerine Not your average, run-of-the-mill cooler, Crook & Market actually uses organic alcohol, made from amaranth, millet and quinoa. Made in New Jersey, the low-calorie, zero sugar-seltzer is a great option for anyone looking to cut back on party pounds without sacrificing flavor. We particularly like the tangerine flavor, which tastes almost like a watered-down, boozy orange soda (but in a good way). From $2.89/ can at Drizly.com Wild Basin Black Raspberry Crafted by Oskar Blues Brewery, a well-respected bohemian brewery in Lyons, Colorado, Wild Basin is a low-cal, gluten-free spin-off of the funky beers coming out of Oskar Blues. While all of the boozy sparkling waters taste great, we particularly like the Black Raspberry flavor, which boasts flavors of jammy, sun-kissed berries that are equal parts sweet and sour. From $17.99 / 12 pack at Drizly.com Smirnoff Seltzer Rose If your summertime guilty pleasures involve Smirnoff Ice and/or rose wine, listen up. Smirnoff recently released a line of hard seltzers that combine everything you love about the Smirnoff Ice cooler with summers favorite wine just without the calories and added sugar. Smirnoff Seltzer Rose has 0 sugar, no artificial sweeteners and is only 90 calories. Its also crafted with natural flavors and is completely gluten-free. From $9.99 / 6 pack at Drizly.com Truly Hard Seltzer Truly Hard Seltzer is a light, crisp and refreshing alternative to coolers or mixed drinks. Boasting just 100 calories per tall can, this American-made beverage comes in a wide variety of flavors, including citrus and tropical fruit, but we happen to like the Berry Mix Pack, which includes Black Cherry, Wild Berry, Blueberry & Acai and Raspberry Lime flavors. From $17.49 / 12 pack at Drizly.com BON & VIV Spiked Seltzer Grapefruit Started back in 2013, BON & VIV combines brewing, winemaking and natural flavors. The result? A boozy and refreshing seltzer with 0 grams of sugar and 90 calories per 12 oz can. The spiked seltzer uses carefully selected ingredients (with no barley or wheat) and purified water for a really crisp and clean taste. Whats more, the grapefruit flavor tastes almost exactly like everyones favorite La Croix pamplemousse flavor but with a buzz. From $16.59 / 6 pack at Drizly.com Henrys Passion Fruit Hard Sparkling Water Hosting a summer barbecue? Skip the tedious fruit punch recipe and opt for a few cases of Henrys instead. This zesty hard seltzer is a lighter and more refreshing take on your favorite backyard punch bowl, with unique flavors like passion fruit, strawberry kiwi, and classic lemon-lime. From $17. 24 / 12 pack at Drizly.com High Noon Watermelon Hard Seltzer High Noons Watermelon Hard Seltzer tastes exactly like a hot summer day in a can. The refreshing spiked sparkling water boasts a vodka base, made from Midwestern corn, and a very subtle watermelon taste. Unlike a lot of artificially flavored watermelon coolers on the market, this refreshing seltzer uses real fruit juice for a more pure-tasting summertime beverage. From $10.19 / 4 pack at Drizly.com Night Shift Hoot Hard Seltzer Crafted in Massachusetts, this raspberry and lime flavored hard seltzer is as funky as the can suggests. While its gluten-free, sugar-free and wildly low cal, its flavor profile is a bit more powerful than the rest of the seltzers on the list sort of like a raspberry ginger ale rather than just spiked sparkling water. From $9.84 at Drizly.com Highball Hard Seltzer If youre particularly concerned about consuming artificial flavors or GMO products, opt for Highball Hard Seltzer from Peak Brewing. Largely regarded as a craft seltzer, this New York-based brand uses authentic flavors, natural coloring and only organic fruit ingredients. It also boasts a lot of out-of-the-box flavors, like lemon-elderflower, which is equally tart and tasty. From $2.54/can at Drizly.com Arctic Summer Gluten-free, low carb, and made with natural fruit flavors, Arctic Summer is a longtime favorite of seltzer drinkers and for good reason. The spiked sparkling water boasts a handful of fun (and tasty) flavors like pineapple pomelo and ruby red grapefruit, and the tall cans are sized perfectly for picnics in the park or packing in the cooler for a day at the beach. From $18.09 / 12 pack at Drizly.com You Might Also Dig: AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use. The Uttar Pradesh government has exempted its employees from using the biometric system to mark their attendance till March 31 in view of coronavirus, an official said on Saturday. Employees will mark their attendance in registers till that date, Additional Chief Secretary (Secretariat Administration) Mahesh Kumar Gupta told PTI. "Taking cognisance of an office memorandum of the department of personnel and training (government of India), pertaining to the nature of the spread of the coronavirus, all employees have been exempted from using the biometric attendance system till March 31," he said "The biometric attendance system is fingerprint device, and functions on touch," Gupta said "Till the said date (March 31), all employees have been directed to use attendance registers to mark their attendance," he saidThe Central government has asked all its ministries and departments to exempt their employees from marking biometric attendance till March 31. In an official release, the department of personnel and training (DoPT) has stated that as coronavirus is most commonly transmitted through infected surfaces, all central government employees may be refrained from using this mode of marking attendance. This step is seen as an attempt to mitigate the chances of infection arising out of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease), it said. Officials have been asked to mark their attendance in registers during this period, the DoPT said in its release. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prince Harry once offered a rare look into Queen Elizabeths relationship with Prince Philip. Until recently, Harry has always enjoyed a close relationship with Her Majesty and was often considered one of her favorite grandchildren. That has slightly changed in light of his decision to leave the royal family, but a 2012 interview sheds some light on the inner workings of Queen Elizabeths marriage. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip | Jonathan Brady/AFP via Getty Images A look at The Queen and Prince Harrys relationship Growing up, Harry maintained a close relationship with his grandmother. The bond they shared continued as Harry got older, though recent developments have changed the dynamics of their relationship. At the start of 2020, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, announced their decision to step down as active members of the royal family. Starting on March 31, the pair will no longer use their royal titles and will spend most of their time in North America. Prince Philip & Queen Elizabeth II bowing to Emperor Haile Selassie and his wife, Empress Menen during their visit to Ethiopia. The Queen bowed to him because he became a reigning Emperor before she was crowned Queen. This gave the Emperor royal seniority over her. pic.twitter.com/Grp8xSxgfm MYTH AND FACT (@MythAndFact) December 31, 2019 The announcement reportedly caught the rest of the royal family off guard, including Queen Elizabeth. Inside sources claim that Her Majesty was not happy about Megxit and she later prohibited Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, from using their royal titles. Despite the drama, Prince Harrys connection to Queen Elizabeth offered him a behind-the-scenes look at her long-lasting marriage to Philip. Inside Queen Elizabeths marriage Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip first met she was a young girl. Their relationship began slowly in the late 1930s and in 1947, the pair officially tied the knot. The couple did not waste any time having children. They had two kids under their belts Prince Charles and Princess Anne when King George VI passed away in 1952. King Georges death immediately made Elizabeth the Queen of the United Kingdom. Today marks Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philips 72nd wedding anniversaryhere are the best photos of their royal marriage: https://t.co/x5uYEhpNQL pic.twitter.com/xsmYxt1bqv Forbes (@Forbes) November 20, 2019 Queen Elizabeth and Philip went on to have two more children over the years, including Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. They now have a slew of grandchildren and have always presented a united front in public. This coming July, the couple will celebrate their 73rd wedding anniversary as Queen Elizabeth continues her streak as the longest-reigning monarch in British history. While the two have always been very supportive of each other on the public side of things, it sounds like their relationship is just as strong behind closed doors. What did Prince Harry say about Prince Philip? According to Express, Harry opened up about Queen Elizabeths marriage when she was celebrating her 60th anniversary with Philip in 2012. Although Philip is well-known for his various blunders over the years, he can be serious when he needs to be. He is also very supportive of Queen Elizabeth and has been faithfully by her side for the past seven decades. And as far as Prince Harry is concerned, there is no way Queen Elizabeth would have survived all these years without Philips help and support. Meghan, Harry, Kate and William Celebrate Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's 72nd Anniversary https://t.co/8ozXb7jyr3 People (@people) November 20, 2019 Regardless of whether my grandfather seems to be doing his own thing, sort of wandering off like a fish down the river, the fact that hes there personally, I dont think she could do without him. Prince Harrys comments came during a time when he was still very close to Queen Elizabeth. It was also long before he met Meghan and started a family of his own. Philip, of course, retired from his royal duties a few years ago and does not appear in public very often. Queen Elizabeth opens up about her husband Despite being married for over 72 years, Queen Elizabeth is still very fond of Philip. In an interview back in 2016, royal expert Katie Nicholl revealed that Her Majesty thinks of Philip as her rock and is grateful for his constant presence in her life. He is her rock. The words she uses are her constant strength and stay. And he absolutely has been, Nicholl reported to The Sun. Philip may be very supportive of Queen Elizabeth, but he also is not afraid to tell her no from time-to-time. In fact, he may be one of the few people in the world who has that kind of freedom with Her Majesty. Prince William is reportedly very worried about Queen Elizabeth's "stress levels" amid Megxit, Prince Philip's health, and Prince Andrew's drama with Jeffrey Epstein. https://t.co/R27wYXsXm8 Perez Hilton (@PerezHilton) January 14, 2020 Nicholl added that the two are devoted to the monarchy but they also put their family above everything else. While Queen Elizabeth has a reputation as being a somewhat distant parent, Nicholl assured fans that she shares a very close connection to Charles. Queen Elizabeth, of course, has not commented on the reports surrounding her relationship with Philip, who turns 99 years old this summer. But she has recently reunited with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they embark on their final engagements as senior royals. U.S., Britain Again Accuse Russia Of Cyberattacks On Georgia By RFE/RL March 06, 2020 The United States, Britain, and Estonia have accused Russian military intelligence of conducting massive cyberattacks against the Georgian government and media websites in a bid "to sow discord and disrupt the lives of ordinary Georgians." The three countries told the UN Security Council on March 5 that the cyberattacks "are part of Russia's long-running campaign of hostile and destabilizing activity against Georgia and are part of a wider pattern of malign activity." The remarks came after Georgia's ambassador wrote to the Security Council in February about the large-scale attack in October. On February 20, the United States and Britain publicly joined Georgia in blaming Russia for the coordinated cyberattack, which took thousands of Georgian websites offline and even disrupted TV broadcasts. More than 2,000 state, private, and media websites as well as two private television stations -- Imedi and Maestro -- were knocked out on October 28. The targeted websites included those of the president's office and local municipality offices. Washington and London said in separate statements at the time that the attacks were carried out by a unit of Russia's GRU military intelligence agency known as Unit 74455 and Sandworm. Sandworm is known as a single group of hackers within the GRU and security experts have linked it to such cyber-breaches as the theft of 9 gigabytes of e-mails from the French presidential campaign of Emmanuel Macron, a similar campaign against the Democratic National Committee in the United States in 2016, as well as the malware that hit Ukraine's power grid in 2015 and spread globally. At the UN on March 5, Estonian Ambassador Sven Jurgenson read a statement while standing with British envoy Karen Pierce and acting U.S. Deputy Ambassador Cherith Norman Chalet, saying the attacks demonstrate "a continuing pattern of reckless...cyberoperations against a number of countries" by the GRU. "These actions clearly contradict Russia's attempts to claim it is a responsible actor in cyberspace," their statement said. "Irresponsibility in cyberspace is detrimental to all of us." Russia's Foreign Ministry rejected the accusations as "unfounded and politically driven." It said the accusations reflect Georgia's efforts at "demonization" of Russia and that they would further hamper relations between the countries. Russia has fraught relations with its southern neighbor, which is seeking to join Western organizations such as the European Union and NATO, moves that Moscow opposes. Russia fought a five-day war with Georgia in 2008 after which Russia recognized the independence claim of two breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, that comprise 20 percent of its territory. Russia is one of only a few countries that recognizes the two regions' independence. With reporting by AP and RFE/RL's Georgian Service Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-britain- estonia-accuse-russia-cyberattacks -georgia/30471492.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bunscoil Loreto pupils and finalists in the Waltons Music for Schools competition in the National Concert Hall with their school principal Aileeen Kennedy and teacher Therese Kehoe Gorey's Bunscoil Loreto primary school have been announced as one of six finalist school music groups selected in the national Waltons Music for Schools Competition which takes place on March 23 at the National Concert Hall. Founded in 2012, the Waltons Music for Schools competition celebrates music in Irish schools and is supported by RTE Lyric FM. There are twelve finalist school music groups to perform at the final, six primary and six secondary schools, and each group will take to the stage in front of their peers and two distinguished adjudicators, Kathleen Turner and John Spillane. Schools from nineteen counties entered the competition this year, and Wexford's Danescastle National School were highly commended by the competition but unfortunately just missed out on a place in the final. Schools were selected based on musicality, originality, inclusiveness and how effectively and creatively they addressed this year's theme, which was 'Where words fail, music speaks'. Aileen Kennedy, Principal of Bunscoil Loreto said 'We are thrilled to have been selected to perform in the Finalist's Concert. Fitting with the theme of the competition this year, we took the journey of an asylum seeker and told their story through the medium of music. This links in with our quest to be recognised as a School of Sanctuary this year'. Judges described the standard this year as very high, enormously impressed by the imagination, musicality and effort that went into each entry. During the finals, there will be prizes for first, second and third place by category as well as awards of 2,000, 1,000 and 500 in vouchers to be used for musical instruments and equipment from Waltons Music. The team wish to thank all performers, teachers, principals and schools who worked so hard to prepare themselves for the competition. The entries of all finalists including Bunscoil Loreto primary school can be viewed on YouTube by searching 'Waltons Music Schools'. HANOI, March 6 - Several banks in Vietnam have seen their bad debt ratios rise as their clients face liquidity issues due to the coronavirus epidemic, the Vietnamese government said on Friday. In a statement, the government said 23 local credit institutes had reported combined loans worth VND926 trillion (US$39.75 billion) - or 14.27 percent of their total lending - had been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. There is a situation where the disease has left many of the bank clients unable to repay their due loans, resulting in higher ratios of non-performing loans, the government said. It said the companies suffering most from the coronavirus are those operating in agriculture tourism, transport, garment, electronics and oil and gas industries. The State Bank of Vietnam, the countrys central bank, has told local banks to restructure the loans for the virus-hit firms by eliminating, cutting or delaying interest payments on loans to companies. Many local banks have agreed to cut their lending rates by 0.5-1.0 percentage points, the government said. Banks have abundant funds, so the main issue is how the companies can absorb the cheaper loans, said Nguyen Quoc Hung, head of the central banks Credit Department, in the governments statement. Vietnam confirmed its first COVID-19 patient in three weeks on Friday evening, raising the total number of infections to 17. Previously, all 16 people in the country infected with the coronavirus had recovered and released from hospital, and there had been no new cases in the country since February 13. From managing police stations to carrying out entire train operations, on International Women's Day, women in Kerala are getting ready to script a new chapter in women empowerment. Kerala DGP Loknath Behra has issued a directive asking all district police chiefs to handover duty of station house officers (SHO) to women police personnel on March 8, Women's Day. BCCL "Maximum number of police stations will be managed by women SHOs. In police stations without women SHOs, senior civil police officers will carry out the duty. They will interact with the public and will investigate the complaints received," said a directive of Kerala police chief. Women Commandos will be on duty at the Chief Minister's vehicle escort on Women's Day. At the Cliff House, the official residence of the Chief Minister, women commandos will be assigned on that day and women's police guards in the North Block, where the CM's office is located. In 2018, Kerala Police had inducted its first all-woman battalion with 578 members. The battalion includes a 44-member commando team. BCCL The women were inducted into the force after carrying out special recruitment. Besides basic training, the commandos also received special training from experts like the NSG and the Kerala Thunderbolts. Tomorrow, the 1st Womens Battalion of Kerala Police will come into being. CM Pinarayi Vijayan will take salute at the passing-out parade of the first battalion at the parade ground of Kerala Police Academy. pic.twitter.com/6CDlygf2mn CMO Kerala (@CMOKerala) July 30, 2018 Kerala Women and Child Development Minister KK Shailaja said that for the first time, a train will be run entirely by women on International Women's Day. 'The Venad Express, which leaves Ernakulam at 10.15 am on March 8, will be run by women. Loco Pilot, Assistant Loco Pilot, Pointsmen, Gatekeeper and Trackwoman are all women. Women will also manage the ticket booking office, information centre, signal, carriage and wagon. Women officers will be in charge of security Railway Protection Force," she said. The minister said that this is a matter of great pride for the state. The women will also take charge of Venad Express 16302 from Thiruvananthapuram to Shornur from Ernakulam. A reception by Railways will also be arranged for the women employees of the train leaving Ernakulam South station at 10.15 am. Last year in a similar move national carrier Air India had flown 12 international flights and over 40 domestic flights with an all-women crew on Women's Day. These included flights from Delhi-Sydney, Mumbai-London, Delhi-Rome, Delhi-London, Mumbai-Delhi-Shanghai, Delhi-Paris, Mumbai-Newark, Mumbai-New York, Delhi-New York, Delhi-Washington, Delhi-Chicago and Delhi-San Francisco and several domestic routes. This year the Archaeological Survey of India has announced free entry to women visitors at all ASI-protected monuments on the International Women's Day These include the world's most visited site Taj Mahal in Agra in Uttar Pradesh. MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / March 6, 2020 / Loop Industries, Inc. (LOOP) announced today that they have entered into a multi-year offtake agreement with leading beauty industry brand L'Oreal to supply them with PET resin made of 100% recycled materials for their packaging needs. This resin is to be supplied from Loop Industries' joint venture facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina with Indorama Ventures, a global integrated leader in PET plastic and polyester fiber manufacturing. The growing demand for Loop Industries' resin has driven the joint venture's decision to increase the facility's production capacity to 40 KT per year, thus enabling Loop Industries to broaden its array of partnerships and supply more brands with resin made from waste PET plastic and polyester fiber. Thanks to Loop Industries' breakthrough low-energy technology, waste PET plastic and polyester fiber can be diverted away from landfills and natural areas, depolymerized into its base building blocks, purified and polymerized into virgin-quality Loop PET resin. Started in 2018, the collaboration between L'Oreal and Loop Industries is now entering a new step forward with this agreement for the supply of sustainable PET resin. "Supporting businesses in achieving their sustainability objectives while helping consumers understand the potential of plastic in a circular economy model is at the core of Loop's mission," said Giovanni Catino, Senior Director of Sales and Business Development for Loop Industries. "We thank L'Oreal for their partnership and look forward to working to assist them in reaching their sustainability goals." This collaboration with L'Oreal marks an important step in Loop Industries' objective to help brands and consumers move away from plastic waste and towards a circular plastics economy. About Loop Industries Loop Industries is a technology company whose mission is to accelerate the world's shift toward sustainable PET plastic and polyester fiber and away from our dependence on fossil fuels. Loop owns patented and proprietary technology that depolymerizes no and low-value waste PET plastic and polyester fiber, including plastic bottles and packaging, carpets and textiles of any color, transparency or condition and even ocean plastics that have been degraded by the sun and salt, to its base building blocks (monomers). The monomers are filtered, purified and polymerized to create virgin-quality Loop branded PET resin and polyester fiber suitable for use in food-grade packaging, thus enabling our customers to meet their sustainability objectives. Loop Industries is contributing to the global movement towards a circular economy by preventing plastic waste and recovering waste plastic for a more sustainable future for all. Story continues Common shares of the Company are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "LOOP." For more information, please visit www.loopindustries.com. Follow us on Twitter: @loopindustries, Instagram: loopindustries, Facebook: Loop Industries and LinkedIn: Loop Industries Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Loop's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) commercialization of our technology and products, (ii) our status of relationship with partners, (iii) development and protection of our intellectual property and products, (iv) industry competition, (v) our need for and ability to obtain additional funding, (vi) building our manufacturing facility, (vii) our ability to sell our products in order to generate revenues, (viii) our proposed business model and our ability to execute thereon, (ix) adverse effects on the Company's business and operations as a result of increased regulatory, media or financial reporting issues and practices, rumors or otherwise, and (x) other factors discussed in our subsequent filings with the SEC. More detailed information about Loop and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov. Loop assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For More Information: Investors: Nelson Gentiletti Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer Loop Industries, Inc. +1 (450) 951 8555 ext. 223 ngentiletti@loopindustries.com Media Inquiries: Stephanie Corrente Director Marketing & Investor Relations Loop Industries, Inc. +1 (450) 951-8555 ext. 226 scorrente@loopindustries.com SOURCE: Loop Industries, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/579386/Loop-Industries-Announces-Signature-of-Multi-Year-Supply-Agreement-with-Beauty-Leader-LOral A doctor wears protective gears before going into the quarantine room at a hospital in Hanoi, February 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Tat Dinh. A 27-year-old man who has been quarantined upon returning to Vietnam from Daegu since Wednesday has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Health Ministry stated Saturday. The man hails from the northern province of Thai Binh, around 100 kilometers from Hanoi. On February 17, he flew to Gimhae International Airport in Busan and traveled to Daegu, South Korea's Covid-19 epicenter. Accompanying him was his 24-year-old sister. The duo and their two Vietnamese friends went to a supermarket in Daegu two times on February 18-19. Their friends returned to Vietnam on February 26 and were quarantined at Son Tay Military School in Hanoi. The latest patient landed at Van Don Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh on March 4 on a flight from Busan. Currently, all flights from South Korea have been diverted away from Hanoi, Saigon and Da Nang airports. After entering Vietnam, he was quarantined and had his samples tested. The results showed him positive for Covid-19. South Korea has so far reported over 7,000 Covid-19 infections, second only to mainland China, where the disease was first detected last December. Vietnam confirmed its 17th infection case on Friday, after spending 22 straight days without any new infection. The patient was a 26-year old woman in Hanoi returning from Europe. She has been quarantined and is undergoing treatment at Campus No.2 of the Hanoi Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases. All 16 persons confirmed with Covid-19 infections in Vietnam earlier have been discharged from the hospital. The Covid-19 epidemic has spread to 100 countries and territories around the world with global death toll climbing to 3,500. Starting Saturday, everyone coming to Vietnam have to fill health declarations. Millstreets Denis Kelleher with one of the horses for sale at Millstreet Horse Fair Storm Jorge had passed on, yet there were few spring-like indicators at the long standing Millstreet Horse Fair last Sunday. The hosting maintained a tradition in the North Cork town, yet only loyal patrons convened to continue a custom dating back many generations. Horse numbers and the public were down in the Fair Field with demand, bids and offers few and far between, indicating a shortage of cash flow that is being felt nationally. Meanwhile, buyers were conspicuous by their absence owing to the ongoing inclement weather. The overwhelming consensus from an equine business was that the stock on parade had fallen below the standards of previous years. Away from the chilly hail-showers, hardy people ventured outdoors - those in their tender years came in support out of a sense of curiosity and their elders out of a sense of nostalgia in a staging that still maintains a magical appeal. The fair once upon a time provided horses for the armies of Europe and, closer to home, Guinness Brewery availed of equine stock to draw their popular stout all over the country. And for the Millstreet March Fair in days of old, many farmers of the region found the ideal opportunity to seek farm labourers for the year ahead, thus adding to the significance of the hosting. In the Town Square, some of the trappings of the horse fair from yore were present with stalls of every conceivable nature on display. A Sausalito houseboat formerly owned by the late poet Shel Silverstein and recently revamped is listing for $783,000. The 1,200-square-foot floating home at 8 Liberty Dock was originally built in 1965 atop a World War II balloon barge and still possesses the rustic charm of an old relic with stained-glassed windows, unfinished wood paneling and worn hardwood floors. The top floor sits under an atrium of glass, and in the remodel, the owner also added several new windows, flooding rooms with light. "The windows sparkle with the morning light and afternoon sun," said listing agent Dianne Andrews of Engel & Volkers. After purchasing the property in 2017, the new owner added a modern kitchen with white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. An updated bathroom blends original stained-glass windows with white subway tile and a Japanese soaking tub. "Its a huge transformation," said Andrews. "This was just a metal barge, and it has been modernized. Its quite eclectic and hip right now." A staircase was built from the upstairs to the downstairs where two bedrooms have been refreshed with paint. "Theres an extremely fun kid's room with a hanging bed and great views of the harbor," she said. ALSO: 128-year-old San Francisco home listed for $4.5 million The famed author of "The Giving Tree" and countless poems owned the boat, according to property records, and the Marin Independent Journal reported that he lived on the vessel that he called the Evil Eye from 1967 to 1981. Silverstein passed away in 1999, and his good friend Larry Moyer moved into the boat with his wife Dianne Kadsen and lived there for many years. "Larrys wife had the entire downstairs as her art studio," Andrews said. Curbed SF was the first to cover the property going on the market. Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. WASHINGTON - A day after threatening to withhold his vote, Sen. Mitt Romney signaled Friday that he will support a Republican effort to obtain documents and testimony relating to work done in Ukraine by the son of former vice president Joe Biden. Romney, R-Utah, will vote for issuing a subpoena in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee next week after receiving assurances from the panel's chairman, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., "that any interview of the witness would occur in a closed setting without a hearing or public spectacle," Romney spokeswoman Liz Johnson said in a statement. "He will therefore vote to let the chairman proceed to obtain the documents that have been offered," the statement said. Romney joined Democrats last month in voting to convict President Donald Trump of abuse of power based on his dealings with Ukraine; the president was acquitted on the impeachment counts. On Thursday, Romney said Sen. Johnson's probe had the appearance of being politically motivated to target Trump's potential general-election rival. "I would prefer that investigations are done by an independent, nonpolitical body," he said. The subpoena vote, set for Wednesday, comes as Trump and his Republican allies refocus their attention on Biden's connections to Ukraine after his sudden surge in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. Trump said in a Fox News Channel interview Wednesday that he planned to make those connections a "major issue" in the presidential race should Biden win the nomination. "I will bring that up all the time," he told host Sean Hannity. The key circumstance surrounds the service of Biden's son Hunter Biden on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company - a sinecure that paid him hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time when Joe Biden was engaged in diplomacy in Ukraine as vice president on behalf of the Obama administration. Trump and his allies have alleged, with no direct evidence, that Biden corruptly pushed to remove Ukraine's chief prosecutor to protect his son's financial interests. In fact, Biden moved to remove the prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, in concert with Obama administration policy and the anti-corruption efforts of multiple U.S. allies. In a 2016 letter to then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Johnson joined Republican and Democratic senators in seeking changes to the prosecutor's office similar to what Biden had sought. In the Senate investigation, Johnson has pushed for more information on Hunter Biden's activities - requesting, for instance, Secret Service records last month pertaining to Hunter's travel during his father's vice presidency. The subpoena Johnson is pursuing seeks documents and testimony from Andrii Telizhenko, a former Ukrainian diplomat who worked for Blue Star Holdings, a firm that represented Burisma in the United States. The top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, objected to the subpoena last month, forcing the vote. "Quite frankly, the Homeland Security Committee should be focusing on issues related to homeland security," Peters said Thursday. Democrats and some Republicans have warned that Russia has sought to plant disinformation to amplify the Biden-Ukraine allegations and sow discord ahead of the November election. Peters on Friday called on Johnson to arrange a classified briefing for the panel's members to address those concerns. "This is a matter of national security, and our Committee members must have the opportunity to get classified updates from our law enforcement and intelligence community experts to prevent the Committee from being used to advance information that could benefit foreign adversaries and undermine the integrity of our elections," Peters wrote. With every Democrat expected to oppose the measure, Romney's opposition could have blocked the issuance of the subpoena. Another Republican on the committee, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, said Thursday that he was undecided on authorizing the subpoena. On Friday, he told reporters in Cleveland that he wanted to learn more about the subpoena but was "inclined to support the chairman on getting more information." "I just want to understand it better, just what the information is likely to be and why it's important," Portman said, according to a transcript provided by his office. Johnson said Thursday that he hopes to put out a report in the coming months - amid the thick of the presidential campaign - that details what is known and what is unknown about Ukrainian entanglements in U.S. politics, including with the Bidens. He denied any political motivations. "It's about getting information," he said. "Congressional oversight is all about informing, for example, public policy, but also informing the public." In an interview Thursday night on Fox News, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., signaled his support for Johnson's effort. "I think it's worth taking a look at," McConnell said. Manama The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr Walid bin Khalifa Al Manea, yesterday confirmed that work is underway with all relevant authorities to implement the evacuation plan for Bahraini citizens in Iran. All measures are being taken to ensure that they arrive in the Kingdom safely and in accordance with Bahrains precautionary measures in light of the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iranian cities, and the escalation of its spread around the world, the official said. Dr Al Manea added, Work is continuing to transfer the citizens in Iran in stages, the first group of citizens will be transferred next Tuesday, and efforts are continuing to complete the various precautionary and preventive measures to preserve their safety and the safety of citizens and residents in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Dr Al Manea noted that since the announcement of the evacuation plan, relevant authorities have been in ongoing contact with citizens present in Iran that registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and their families. Dr Al Manea stressed that all those involved in the evacuation process are working hard to complete it successfully and safely. All returnees from Iran within the evacuation plan will undergo the necessary medical examinations under the supervision of a specialised medical team according to the recommendations of the World Health Organisation upon their arrival in Bahrain, and they will be transferred to quarantine or isolation and treatment centres if necessary, he added. Based on His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas directives, the Jaffari Endowments Directorate will cover all the expenses of the Bahraini citizens who are still abroad because of Coronavirus (COVID-19) until their return home, in coordination with all the competent official authorities, Jaffari Endowments Directorate Chairman, Yussif bin Saleh Al Saleh, said, noting that the expenses will be added to the Directorates budget, in line with the royal instructions. 12 discharged The Ministry of Health yesterday announced that 12 individuals have been discharged after completing the mandatory 14-day quarantine period, bringing the total number of individuals discharged from quarantine to 38. The ministry outlined that the individuals, all Chinese nationals, one female and eleven males, tested negative for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) before being discharged. The ministry noted that all quarantined individuals are being monitored and cared for by a specialised medical team, in line with guidelines established by the World Health Organisation (WHO), to guarantee the health and safety of the community. One patient critical A Coronavirus (COVID-19) patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), showed the latest data about the virus published yesterday by the Ministry of Health. The ministry added that with the release of the 12 cases, the number of released cases from the precautionary quarantine after completing the required 14 day quarantine period reached 38. As the ministry noted, 26 cases were released earlier. The ministry affirmed that all the cases in the precautionary quarantine centres are continuously monitored under the supervision of specialised medical staff. It assured that all cases are provided with the necessary care to ensure their safety, in order to preserve their health and public health. CBB directives hailed The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) hailed the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB)s call on all banks and financial institutions to probe rescheduling loans and postponing loan instalments. The CBBs directives came to mitigate the negative economic impact of the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the vigour of the national economy, and to safeguard the interest of the people of Bahrain and the national economy. In this regard, BCCI voiced pride in the responsiveness of the Bahraini government and its keenness on advocating the interests of the people of Bahrain, as well as those of the business community. The BCCI stressed the importance of consolidating efforts to overcome this hardship, and highlighted that it had assigned a team, which works in cooperation with various government bodies, to probe the impact of COVID-19 on the national economy and propose recommendations. The protesting students of Pondicherry University have now been outside the administrative building for 30 days straight. While they have been only carrying our marches, raising slogans and holding demonstrations, singling songs outside the office all these days, over the last week, students have also embarked on a hunger strike. Five students who went on a hunger strike for five days are currently in hospital. Another five have replaced them. The students have refused to accept the administration's offer of a 20 per cent fee reduction for students from economically weak backgrounds. The Student Council President, Parichay Yadav said that while they are demanding a complete rollback of the fees, they are also up for negotiations. So we asked him if there was a certain number that they were willing to agree to? "We have been protesting now for 30 days, and nobody from the administration has come to address the gathering and our dialogue with the grievance council was of no use because they kept offering the 20 per cent reduction over and over again. We want them to come up with new negotiations, we want to discuss how it can be reduced," the student leader said. The University administration has issued an appeal to the students to call off the strike stating that the fee was not unilaterally decided and that they had taken the previous student council into consultation as well. They are accusing the Yadav-led council of coming up with 'new demands'. "While the Students Council of 20182019 had in principle agreed to the new fee structure by signing the Minutes of the Meeting held on March 19, 2019, and all the changes requested by the Students Council being executed to a large extent. This protest is uncalled for," the administration claims. "The Students Council of 2019-20 has now once again taken the issue in February 2020 and is unreasonably demanding 100% roll back to the fee that existed during 2012. Only a small section of the students are bent upon disturbing the peaceful academic culture of the University," the administration said in a press release. However, the Council claims that they only knew about the hike when it was mentioned in the prospect and that they had not accepted the proposed hike. It was only when they protested that the administration constituted a committee to look into the matter. Meetings with the committee didn't yield any solution for the students then and the latest one, also didn't appease them. "The appeal also seems like veiled threats to us. But we are not paying it any heed. They have not called us for a meeting and are not offering to hold any negotiations," Yadav accuses. But how long will the students carry on the protest if both the grievance committees didn't work out, "We will go on for as long as we need to," the student leader says. And what is the semester comes to an end? "We also don't want to be here, we also want to attend classes and more than anything our friends are on a hunger strike and putting their health at risk for this protest. So we don't want to carry on this protest for two or three months. But we can only stop when the administration comes forth with better negotiations," he says. He also accused the administration of not organising health check-ups for the students who are on a hunger strike. Responding to the administration's claim that only a few students are protesting and disturbing the peace on the campus, Yadav said that there were many people supporting them including those outside the campus. "Till our demands are met, we will carry on," he adds. However, the administration has said in a release that they put in 'sincere effort' to settle this impasse. Analysis Flashpoints: Myanmars Eight Most Hotly Contested Constitutional Amendment Proposals Virus-wary military lawmakers attend the Union Parliament session on March 4 wearing face masks amid fears of the spread of coronavirus. / Thiha Lwin / The Irrawaddy YANGONThe National League for Democracy (NLD) has proposed amendments to the Constitution that would limit or revoke the special powers and privileges granted by the Constitution to the military and its chief in the legislative, administrative and judicial arenasin short, those areas of national concern that do not deal specifically with territorial defense. During the parliamentary debate over constitutional reform, held on seven days between Feb. 25 and March 5, military and Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) lawmakers strongly rejected the NLDs proposals, warning that weakening the militarys power would have undesirable consequences that would negatively affect the countrys fragile democratic transition. Given this strong opposition, the amendment proposals made by the NLD have little hope of success when the Parliament votes on them next week. A total of 149 lawmakers50 each from the military and the NLD, 26 from USDP and the remainder from ethnic partiestook part in the seven days of debate, which was tense and often heated. The following were the most hotly contested amendment proposals during the two-week-long debate. Getting rid of the militarys veto over constitutional change The main hurdle for constitutional reform is the effective veto wielded by the military, for which the Constitution reserves 25 percent of Parliament seats. Under the Constitutions Article 436, proposed changes to the charter require the approval of more than 75 percent of lawmakers, meaning no change is possible without military approval. Currently, the NLD holds 59 percent of the seats in Parliament, the ethnic minority parties 11 percent, the USDP 5 percent and the military its constitutionally mandated 25 percent. The NLD has proposed changing the requirement for approving a charter amendment from more than 75 percent of Parliament to two-thirds of elected representatives, excluding the military appointees. While that proposal was widely supported by the ethnic parties lawmakers, the military and USDP lawmakers strongly rejected it, claiming it would harm national unity and military-civil relations. Brigadier General Maung Maung, who leads the military-appointed lawmakers in Parliament, described the proposed amendment as discrimination against military members appointed by the commander-in-chief. Such discrimination harms civil-military relations and could, therefore, hamper the national reconciliation and democratic transition the country is undergoing, the brigadier general said. Reduction of the militarys share of seats in Parliament It is too early to reduce the percentage of military parliamentarians during a time of instability, said USDP lawmaker U Tin Aye. The NLD has proposed gradually reducing the militarys share of seats from 25 percent to 15 percent after the 2020 election, 10 percent after 2025 and 5 percent after 2030. A quarter of all seats in the national and regional legislatures are occupied by unelected military officers under the Constitutions Article 14 and related provisions. During the debate, the NLD and ethnic party lawmakers stressed the importance of reducing the percentage of the military-appointed lawmakers for the countrys democratic transition. Military and USDP lawmakers said the move could have undesirable side-effects. The Tatmadaw (military) had to make sure the country did not face crises, as in 1958 and 1962 when the nation was on the brink of collapse, they said. Military lawmaker Major Htet Linn said it was important to preserve the militarys parliamentary presence during the period of transition, as the country was facing threats to national sovereignty, the rule of law and stability. Reducing the number of military lawmakers before the armed conflicts have been ended and peace is established would have undesirable consequences, he told Parliament. Ending the Defense Services political leadership role Article 6(f) is the main article enshrining the extraordinary privileges the military enjoys in the political sphere, enabling the Defense Services to be able to participate in the National political leadership role of the State. The NLD has suggested this phrase be removed, citing another charter provision, Article 4, which reads, The sovereign power of the Union is derived from the citizens According to the NLD MPs, One single organization ought not to permanently play a leadership role. Article 6(f) is one of the most unpopular articles in the Constitution among the public. However, the military and USDP MPs maintain that, traditionally and historically, the militarys participation in the national political leadership has been important in protecting the country from disintegration and instability, and is still needed in order to establish a disciplined, multiparty democracy. Disciplined vs. genuine democracy The heated debate over constitutional reform is often characterized as a battle between a group advocating disciplined democracy on one side, and a group that seeks genuine democracy on the other. Heres why: Article 6(d) of the Constitution identifies the flourishing of a genuine, disciplined multi-party democratic system as one of the Unions primary objectives. According to the NLD, democracy doesnt need to be modified, hence its suggesting to get rid of the word disciplined. NLD lawmaker Daw Zin Mar Aung said that because democracy, in practice, is accompanied by its own set of norms, there is no need to add the qualifier disciplined before democracy. Another NLD MP, U Naing Htoo Aung, said that such qualified notions of democracy are a hallmark of dictatorship, adding that as the country is now undergoing a democratic transition, the phrase isnt needed. It still seems an impossibility to get the military and USDP lawmakers to agree to remove even a single word from the charter. They claim the word disciplined is needed because allowing an undisciplined democracy would result in chaos and instability. Scrapping the army chiefs right to take power during a state of emergency Article 40(c) of the Constitution grants sovereign power to the commander-in-chief during a state of emergency that could lead to the disintegration of the country or cause a loss of sovereign power, or in the face of attempts to take power through force, including an insurgency or other forms of violence. Critics say the article hands the military chief the power to stage a coup. An NLD proposal that would ask the Parliament to determine how the President should take command during an emergency faced strong opposition from the military and USDP lawmakers, who said it is impossible for the legislature to work out a plan during an emergency and it is only the military that is able to preserve the Union, national solidarity and sovereignty. Its funny that the Parliament should have to approve a plan for the president to take over in a situation where the president cant control the situation, USDP lawmaker U Maung Myint told the chamber. In such circumstances, it is impossible for the president to [maintain order]. Think about it, he said. Removal of Article 59(f), which faces the strongest objection from the USDP and military The NLDs proposal to remove Article 59(f), which prevents anyone with a foreign spouse or children from becoming president, has become the target of the greatest objection by the military and USDP. The article was widely criticized as being designed to exclude State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi whose children are British from the presidency. We need to consider carefully the risks the country faces if we make a person with foreign allegiance the head of state, said Brigadier General Tint Lwin. During the debates, the USDP and military have even raised the fact that the countrys late independence hero General Aung San, the father of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, first proposed such a restriction while drafting the 1947 Constitution. NLD lawmaker Daw Yin Min Hlaing said the prohibition on foreign nationals in the 1947 Constitution only extended to the president and their parents, not their spouse and children. She added that it is more important that the head of state be a person who is respected and doesnt abuse citizens rights and freedoms, and doesnt exploit natural resources. The military appointees have also sought to extend that limitation to ministers and regional chief ministers in their proposed constitutional amendments. Amendment to the composition of the military-dominated National Defense and Security Counci The NLD has suggested amending many clauses in the charter to adjust the composition of the 11-member National Defense and Security Council (NDSC), six of whose members are from the military, as well as to reduce its power. The NDSCthe countrys most authoritative body when it comes to making decisions on security issues or during emergenciesincludes the president, two vice presidents (one of whom is military-appointed), both parliamentary speakers, the commander-in-chief and deputy commander-in-chief, the minister of foreign affairs and the military-appointed defense, home affairs and border affairs ministers. The NLD suggested the two deputy parliamentary speakers be added, as the current 11 members include deputies like vice presidents and the deputy commander-in-chief. It also seeks to exclude the border affairs minister from the council. But the military lawmakers rejected that proposal. Instead, jointly with the USDP, they propose to give broader powers to the NDSC. Direct election of chief ministers The military and USDP have debated amending the charters Article 261 to have regional chief ministers elected by local legislatures rather than appointed by the President. Their proposalwhich they claim was made to promote ethnic rightswas supported by some ethnic lawmakers during the debate, but the NLD lawmakers said they wouldnt agree to it before the militarys share of seats in Parliament is reduced If chief ministers are elected by the respective parliaments, 25 percent of military-appointed lawmakers who currently do not have any say in appointing chief ministers will have that right, they said. In some military stronghold regions, it would even give the military and USDP a chance to install their own chief minister, the NLD MPs said. You may also like these stories: NLD Constitutional Amendments Would Disrupt Democratic Transition: Military MPs Myanmar Parliament to Vote on Proposed Constitutional Amendments Next Week President Donald Trump exits Air Force One after returning from Pennsylvania to Joint Base Andrews in Md., on March 5, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters) Trump Campaign Sues CNN for Libel Over Russia Opinion Piece NEW YORKPresident Donald Trumps re-election campaign sued CNN for libel on Friday, over an opinion piece that said the campaign had left open the possibility of seeking Russias help in the 2020 election. The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Atlanta was the campaigns third in 10 days accusing major media outlets of libel, following cases against The New York Times and the Washington Post. All three lawsuits focused on opinion pieces published in 2019 that, according to the campaign, suggested it has had improper ties with Russia. CNN had no immediate comment. A person familiar with the matter said CNN had yet to review the lawsuit. Trump has throughout his presidency battled news media he believes demonstrate bias against him. The Republican president often brands CNN, a unit of AT&T Inc as fake news. Legal experts have said the libel lawsuits might be tough to win because the law affords broad protection to opinion writers who express their views about public officials like Trump. Fridays lawsuit objected to a statement in a June 13, 2019 opinion piece by Larry Noble, a CNN contributor and former general counsel of the Federal Election Commission. After referring to Special Counsel Robert Muellers report on Russian interference in the 2016 election. Noble wrote: The Trump campaign assessed the potential risks and benefits of again seeking Russias help in 2020 and has decided to leave that option on the table. The campaign said it has repeatedly and openly disclaimed any intention to seek Russian involvement in the 2020 election, and has never made statements suggesting otherwise. It also said CNN was well aware that Nobles statement was untrue when published, and the piece reflected its systematic pattern of bias against the campaign. The campaign used identical language in the Times and Post lawsuits. Nobles piece was titled Soliciting dirt on your opponents from a foreign government is a crime. Mueller should have charged Trump campaign officials with it. Trumps battles with CNN have included the White Houses brief revocation in November 2018 of correspondent Jim Acostas credentials, after Acosta questioned him about Russia and about a migrant caravan traveling through Mexico. The campaign is represented by Charles Harder, who is also known for suing Gawker on behalf of Hulk Hogan, after the news website published a video of the former professional wrestler in a sexual encounter. Hogan won a $140 million judgment that bankrupted Gawker. He later settled for $31 million. By Jonathan Stempel Cyprus police sprayed tear gas on Saturday as several hundred people protested against the closure of crossings on the divided island's ceasefire line over coronavirus fears. Four officers were injured in the capital Nicosia during scuffles with demonstrators in which police made "limited use" of personal tear gas spray to control the crowd, a police spokesperson said. Police said they made no arrests as an estimated 200 Greek Cypriots and 150 Turkish Cypriots gathered either side of the Ledra Street crossing in central Nicosia to demand the checkpoints be re-opened. Protesters from the northern Turkish Cypriot side tried to break through a cordon blocking the crossing point, police said. The Mediterranean island is divided between the Republic of Cyprus -- a European Union member state -- and the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Ankara. Cypriot authorities closed four of the eight checkpoints on the line dividing the island last Saturday for an initial seven-day period "for more effective control over the entry points". Activist group Unite Cyprus Now organised the protest, with demonstrators chanting "Peace in Cyprus cannot be stopped" and "Contain the virus of partition". Turkish Cypriot European Parliament member Niyazi Kizilyurek told reporters that closing the crossings was an "unnecessary disruption and politically unacceptable". The government said it will re-evaluate the closures on Monday. - 'Unilateral' and 'unnecessary' - Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou said earlier this week the decision to close the crossings was not political but due to a shortage of medical personnel to monitor the crossings. The United Nations said on Thursday it was concerned by the ongoing disruption caused to people on both sides. "While the UN supports all effective measures to address any potential public health emergency, it is imperative for the two sides to coordinate closely in order to provide a comprehensive response," it said. Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci criticised the closures, calling the move "unilateral" and "unnecessary". "This one-sided decision was not a correct decision, it should be revised," he told Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades in a telephone call. Cyprus has not reported any cases of coronavirus, which has killed more than 3,000 people worldwide, mostly in China, where the epidemic started in late December. Akinci urged Anastasiades to "correct" what he called a political and unscientific decision. Anastasiades denied that the closures were politically motivated, saying: "We have taken a decision which is based on scientific data." It is the first time the crossings have closed since they were first opened in 2003. UN-brokered reunification talks between Anastasiades and Akinci have been suspended since 2017. Cypriot protesters clash with police in the UN buffer dividing the capital Nicosia A cameraman speaks with a Cyprus police officer during the protest in the divided capital Nicosia As the coronavirus continues to spread across the country, students are coming into class with misconceptions about the outbreakand teachers are trying to figure out how best to explain the facts and debunk rumors. Some teachers have made COVID-19 a focus of their lessons. Discussing the origin and effects of a new virus easily lends itself to science class. But teachers in other subjectslike algebra, statistics, and media literacyhave found ways to address the topic, too. Designing a lesson around the outbreak could be a helpful way to answer students questions and calm fears, said Stephen Brock, a professor and coordinator of the school psychology program at California State University, Sacramento. And if students have misconceptions about the virus or how it spreads, providing more information could help kids more accurately gauge threat, he said. See Also Responding to Coronavirus: A Downloadable Guide for Schools At Fishers Junior High School in Indiana, math teacher Alison Strole had her students compare coronavirus to other viruses that have caused past epidemics, as part of a lesson on COVID-19. Seeing that coronavirus was less contagious and caused fewer fatalities than some of those diseases was helpful for her students, said Strole, who teaches 7th and 8th graders. I felt like they realized, Yes, this is something that we should be taking seriously. But also, it shouldnt be feared as much as some of them do, she said. Education Week rounded up three teachers lessons on the virus. See what theyre doing below. Alison Strole, middle school math teacher Fishers Junior High School, Fishers, Ind. Every day, Stroles students watch CNN 10, an educational news show. After the coronavirus story kept coming up on the program for a few weeks, Strole had the idea to bring the topic into a lesson. She started with an activity from the online lesson provider Mathalicious , which asked students to write an equation that predicts the spread of a fictional pandemic. It ties perfectly into what were doing with exponential growth, Strole said. Then, she added her own extension to the lesson: Analyzing real coronavirus data from the World Health Organization . She pulled daily data on confirmed global cases, and then her class loaded the information into a graphing calculator. Her students compared the pattern of the exponential equation to the coronavirus graph, and discussed why a fictional pandemic might look different from a real outbreak. They also talked about why a virus might grow more quickly at first, when people dont know it exists and havent started containment efforts. Students drew connections to the news, Strole said. One brought up Li Wenliang , the doctor who tried to raise a warning about the spread of coronavirus in China early on in the outbreak, and then died of the virus last month. After seeing the rapid growth in the graphs, Stroles students said they could understand much better why early response to the virus would be so important. William Reed, high school science and math teacher Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, Chicago Reeds lesson, posted on the National Science Teaching Associations blog , links coronavirus to the Next Generation Science Standards. Students pose questions about the virus and evaluate sources of scientific information, activities that fall under NGSS Science and Engineering Practices. But the lesson doesnt just stick to the science behind the virus. Reed also discusses the racism and xenophobia thats been directed toward people of Asian descent since the beginning of the outbreak. Students watch a news video about this targeting, and then are asked to respond to the prompt: Based on what you know about the novel coronavirus from this lesson, explain why prejudice against people with Chinese or Asian ancestry who live in countries outside of China has no scientific basis. When students have questions about the world, its an opportunity for teachers to engage them in scientific exploration, Reed wrote, in a separate blog for NSTA . What better way to drive student interest than by drawing from current news headlines? Kathleen Currie Smith, library media specialist and Sean Law, math teacher Ledyard High School, Ledyard, Conn. Last month, Currie Smith and Law were starting to plan a lesson on how statistics are presented in the news. The library media specialist and the math teacher (who are also cousins) often work together on activities that blend media literacy and data analysis. Currie Smith saw the opportunity for an engaging lesson when she heard how students were talking about COVID-19. They were just regurgitating headlines that they saw in the news, she said. Digging into the data behind the stories was a way to really evaluate what they were seeing on their social media feeds. In the lesson, Currie Smith and Law asked students to share the headlines that they see on their phones, and then asked them what kind of emotions those headlines elicited. They pointed out that while some news sources cited data to back up the information they shared, others didnt. And they introduced students to resources where they could fact check claims themselves, like the dashboard created by The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University , that tracks global cases, death rates, and recovery rates. Using Johns Hopkins data, Law asked the students to calculate the probability of infection in different countries. Seeing the math put students fearsand the headlines they had just sharedin perspective, Law said. Students acknowledged that coronavirus posed a real threat, but they also thought some of the news sources they saw had blown the threat out of proportion, Law said. Doing simple things, like washing your hands, could resolve a lot of issues, one student noted (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds ). You could see some kids really thinking about the information and the knowledge they consumed, Law said. Image: Forest Hills Elementary School Principal Patrick Shuckerow (left) ''air high fives a returning student to Forest Hills Elementary School after the Lake Oswego school district closed the building for several days due to a positive COVID-19 test on a school employee.Ken Hawkins/ZUMA Wire Stephen King has criticised Hachettes decision to drop Woody Allens memoir, saying it makes him very uneasy. Hachette came under fire recently for its decision to publish Allens book, Apropos of Nothing, despite being the same company that released his estranged son Ronan Farrows book detailing investigations into abuse, Catch and Kill. Farrow broke his ties with the publisher over its decision to release the memoir and not fact-check with him or his sister, Dylan, who has accused Allen of molesting her in her youth. Allen has always denied allegations of abuse. Following the backlash, Hachette announced on Friday (6 March) that it would not release Allens memoir after several employees walked out in protest. Responding to the news on Twitter, author King wrote: The Hachette decision to drop the Woody Allen book makes me very uneasy. It's not him; I don't give a damn about Mr. Allen. It's who gets muzzled next that worries me. After other Twitter users criticised Kings tweet, he shared a series of posts clarifying his position. Once you start, the next one is always easier, he wrote, expressing his fears over the precedent set by Hachette. Responding to someone who pointed out that Allen has been accused of sexually abusing a child, King wrote: If you think he's a pedophile, don't buy the book. Don't go to his movies. Don't go listen to him play jazz at the Carlyle. Vote with your wallet...by withholding it. In America, that's how we do. He concluded: Let me add that it was f***ing tone-deaf of Hachette to want to publish Woody Allens book after publishing Ronan Farrows. Tanaiste Simon Coveney is no longer a landlord but almost one in five of his fellow TDs from the last Dail has declared property investments. Mr Coveney has listed an apartment he was letting out in returns to the Dail Register of Members' Interests since at least 2011. But the Fine Gael minister has now sold the property in Rochestown, Co Cork, and his latest declaration to the Oireachtas no longer lists him as a landlord. The Property Price Register shows the apartment was sold for 325,000 last year. While Mr Coveney - a former housing minister - may have left the rental business, 30 other TDs from the 32nd Dail - almost 20pc - declared property investment interests for 2019. Kerry Independent Michael Healy-Rae has 21 properties listed in his filing - the most of any TD. Thirteen are described as being let out. Dail members that listed 'landlord' among their occupations are Agriculture Minister Michael Creed, Defence Minister Paul Kehoe, Fianna Fail's John Curran, Timmy Dooley and James Lawless and Labour leadership candidate Alan Kelly. Mr Creed's declaration shows he let out a commercial unit, four apartments and another property in Macroom, Co Cork. His fellow Fine Gael TD Mr Kehoe lists two apartments in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, and another in Dublin, all co-owned. Mr Curran and Mr Dooley - both of whom lost their seats in the election - listed two investment properties each. Mr Lawless declared he was letting out a residential property in Sallins, Co Kildare. Tipperary TD Mr Kelly - who has argued that it is legally possible for rent freezes to be introduced - listed a letting property in Dublin. Independent Galway East TD Sean Canney declared six houses or apartments that are being let out. Former Dublin Bay South Fine Gael TD Kate O'Connell listed five investment properties across Dublin and Westmeath. Galway West Independent TD Noel Grealish declared two letting properties - one in Galway and another in Dublin. Cork South-West Independent TD Michael Collins listed an "old farmhouse used for Airbnb" in his return. The large concrete security bollards being installed in public places around our cities are unfortunately accoutrements of today's terrorist-prone times, but is the ugly advertising on them really necessary ('' Bollards take over the beaches '', March 1)? Stewart Smith, Tea Gardens Jack showed great courage in sharing the devastating impact on him of the breakdown of his relationship. It is to be hoped that other men in similar situations and experiencing the myriad emotions he describes make a similar choice and see their GP to begin the process of guidance as to how they can recover from something akin to a bereavement. Men allowing their tears to flow should not be seen as a sign of weakness. Louise Dolan, Birchgrove Well said, Brandon Jack ( Men need more talk, less action , March 1). What a mature and measured attitude you have to the complex subject of mens emotional needs and their sometimes tragic expression in violence. Talk to your families, talk to your doctor, talk to your mates and friends - the more we can do to prevent violence against women and everyone, the better society will be. Thank you, Brandon. Megan Yong, Kingsford Honoured to serve The controversy surrounding the award to Bettina Arndt is unfortunate, and while the final decision is in the hands of others, the whole affair should not detract from those who quietly go about their work not thinking of the recognition they deserve and receive (Arndts Australia Day Honour invites scurrility of whole process, March 1). Well over 10 years ago, I received a request from the Office of the Governor-General to provide a reference on an individual who was being considered for a Order of Australia. It was my first real understanding of how the Australian honours system was intended to operate. Despite my reference, and presumably the service of that individual and other referees, no award was forthcoming. Fast-forward to late 2014 when an envelope arrived, honours in confidence, reversed embossed with the emblem of the Governor-General. My immediate reaction was that I was being asked again to provide a reference. But no, it was to advise I had been nominated and was being considered - such an honour was a complete surprise. To be nominated by another or others for your contribution to the social fabric of the nation is in itself very humbling, however, to actually receive the award is an honour. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook A public quarrel over official policy never fails to entertain. Irrespective of complaints against this controversial social commentator, the nub of it relates to the unwelcome criticism the Order of Australia Council now faces. Their deliberations invite unease among the citizenry about their independent capacity for probity and rectitude in making recommendations for awards. By Lisa Swain and Chris Tully Pedestrian safety is not something many motorists, bicyclists and walkers tend to think much about until they suddenly find its too late. When it comes to crossing the street, far too many of our states residents have learned the hard way just how dangerous this seemingly simple act can be. Bergenfield and Fair Lawn are among the many towns in our state that have experienced terrible accidents that seriously injured or killed pedestrians in recent years. Tragically, one of the lives lost was a 10-year-old child who was struck by a bus while crossing an intersection last May. Each accident takes a toll on our communities from the grief the victims loved ones endure to the residents who now fear for their safety as they walk and bike to their destinations. Tragically, there are over 150 pedestrian deaths each year throughout New Jersey a number we could reduce by making an effort to implement important safety measures at key locations. This is why we have made pedestrian safety one of our top priorities. During budget discussions last year, we advocated for the allocation of funding to improve pedestrian safety in towns most impacted by this issue. With the funds recently unfrozen by the governor, planned statewide safety improvements have been announced, including flashing beacons alerting drivers to a crossing pedestrian, radar units encouraging slower speeds near schools and additional striped crosswalks at more intersections. Each of these measures will help make roads safer and prevent more of these accidents from ever happening. We hope other improvements we have suggested, such as the installation of brighter LED bulbs in street lamps and the placement of flashing beacons around busy malls and plazas, can take place at some point in the near future as well. Also, it would help to understand which safety improvements work best in order to improve dangerous intersections throughout the entire state. In order to learn more about the efficacy of different safety measures, we can create an Enhanced Crossing and Crosswalk Pilot Program that would demonstrate which improvements are the most useful. This program would help open up the possibility for safety programs in other communities. Similarly, a Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Advisory Council could help find problem areas, identify factors contributing to accidents and review current policies to offer suggestions and coordinate pedestrian safety efforts throughout New Jersey. Improving safety is about more than just making physical changes to intersections we also must educate drivers and pedestrians. If someone chooses not to initiate the flashing beacon or a driver is looking away from the road, accidents will happen. Residents need to be more informed about procedures drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians should follow in order to stay safe. A public awareness campaign would help shed light on this important subject. That is why we have sponsored several bills that would help address these issues. Its important to remember that everyone can and should be playing a part in keeping their community members safe from vehicular accidents. Drivers can put the phone down and go slower in areas with lots of foot traffic. Always remember that pedestrians have the right of way, even in unmarked intersections. Pedestrians should always look before crossing and make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you. Bicyclists must always wear reflective material at night and always bike on the right side of the road. Dont let one mistake jeopardize your life. We can all practice safety for everyones sake. Government officials, private organizations and everyday citizens working together with pedestrian safety in mind will help make our state safer for all who live here. Lisa Swain and Chris Tully are the Assembly representatives for the 38th Legislative District, which is comprised of parts of Bergen County. 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 Indian Coast Guard has rescued 220 passengers of an aircraft that pitched into the sea, as part of a mock drill to test search and rescue capabilities. The annual exercise, which this year focussed on the harmonization of the aeronautical and maritime rescue led the coast guard to devise a simulated situation in which an aircraft was forced to pitch into the sea and the passengers needed to be rescued. For the exercise, a message was received regarding an aircraft having dived into the water with 220 passengers onboard. The exercise commenced on receipt of a distress message. A Coast Guard Dornier on patrol was diverted to assess the incident and report the exact datum. The Coast Guard ships in the area were diverted for rendering assistance and other stakeholders were also requested for deploying their assets. The coordinated efforts by the agencies rescued all the personnel of the aircraft. The survivors were brought to triage camps at Caranzalem beach by Hovercraft and at MPT jetty by ships. Subsequently, the injured personnel were shifted to various hospitals for medical management. 11 ICG Ships including two Hovercraft, one Naval Ship, two Dornier aircraft, two Chetak helicopters, one Naval ALH, one IAF Helicopter, merchant vessels, tugs from Mormugao Port; the Captain of Police and Marine Police and Customs boats participated in the exercise. SAR exercises (SAREX) are conducted from time to time to test and improve operational plans and contingencies out at sea for better coordination amongst stakeholders. It provides learning experience, improves liaison and coordination skills with resource agencies, stakeholders. Exercises are on realistic basis so as to help us to demonstrate and assess the true efficiency, competence and effectiveness of the SAR services, Commandant Akshay Jain of the Coast Guard said. The exercise was witnessed by observers from around 20 countries from around the Indian Ocean Region. The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade has assured residents in Hanoi that there are sufficient supplies of goods as renewed fears for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) fueled by news of Vietnams 17th confirmed infection on Friday evening have led to hoarding and panic buying in the capital city. Authorities in Hanoi confirmed the countrys 17th COVID-19 patient on Friday night, who is a 26-year-old Vietnamese woman recently returning from a trip across three European countries, namely the UK, Italy, and France. Between the patients arrival in Vietnam and her admission to the hospital, she interacted with many people. News about the new infected case immediately prompted shoppers in Hanoi to flood local supermarkets, grocery stores, traditional markets, and convenience stores to stock up on goods. The Ministry of Industry and Trade on Saturday issued a directive to distributors in Hanoi, asking them to increase their supplies of goods, especially essential consumer goods, to meet people's demand. Retailers are asked to source their goods from suppliers and sales points outside of Hanoi to restock inventories of stores in the capital city. The ministry has also directed the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade to closely monitor and maintain a stable situation on the market. People crowd an AEON supermarket in Hanoi to stock up on goods the morning after Vietnam confirmed its 17th COVID-19 infection, March 7, 2020. Photo: Nhu Thuan / Tuoi Tre In response to the order, the Department of Industry and Trade of Hanoi reported that it has deployed forces to sales points and supermarkets in different areas in the city for checking on the statuses of goods supplies there. The department has also coordinated with distributors and authorities in the citys districts to limit panic shopping. According to a quick report from a number of distribution enterprises, there were still sufficient supplies of goods at their points of sale to meet shoppers' demand although the number of customers coming to their retail facilities to buy goods has spiked from Saturday morning. This is thanks to the fact that they had previously tripled their inventories to prepare for a possible outbreak. Likewise, supermarket chains have pledged to mobilize goods from outside Hanoi to the points of sale in the capital. COVID-19, which first surfaced in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 101,900 people and killed 3,488 globally as of Saturday morning, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. Vietnam has so far confirmed 17 infections, including the latest case in Hanoi. Fourteen of them are Vietnamese, while the other three patients include two Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese American. Sixteen of the patients have recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Fridays confirmed case was the first reported infection in Vietnam since February 13. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A man is in custody after police say he assaulted staffers at the Marriott Marquis hotel and broke into a room, sparking a hotel-wide evacuation Friday night. Before police arrived, hotel staff heard what they believed was a gunshot coming from the room that the man had broken into, which prompted the evacuation order. Officials did not find a firearm or "any evidence that a shot was fired," Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite said. READ ALSO: 21 people on Grand Princess ship test positive for coronavirus The issue arose after the man, who officials did not identify, made his way to the 29th floor and began feuding with two hotel employees who "knew something was up," Satterwhite told reporters. As the employees tried to persuade the man to return to the lobby, the man punched them. He then grabbed a fire extinguisher and, after threatening the employees with the device, used it to break into a hotel room. Police units arrived at the hotel at 10:48 p.m. after hotel staff called with reports of an active shooter. He started making alarming statements to the hotel security and management, something to the nature of, I have something for you right here, and then they heard a pop, what they interpreted to be a gunshot," Satterwhite said. STAY INFORMED: Get all the news you need to start your day in Houston The man refused to surrender to police, but they eventually subdued him with a Taser and took him into custody. Officials transported the man to Ben Taub Hospital, where he was placed under emergency detention. He was still acting very erratically, he was clearly in crisis, as far as they could tell," Satterwhite said. A guest had checked into the room but was not there when the man broke in. The hotel was almost fully occupied, officials said, prompting hundreds of people to evacuate. A teacher at the New Hartford BOCES was arrested Friday after paying a student $50 to punch another student, according to the Oneida County Sheriffs Office. Lisa A. Hutchinson, 41, of Whitesboro, was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, deputies said. Deputies responded to the New Hartford BOCES at 1:42 p.m. on Friday. An investigation found that Hutchinson paid a student $50 to punch another student, deputies said. Though Hutchinson paid the student, the student did not punch their classmate, deputies said. Hutchinson was booked and released on an appearance ticket to New Hartford Town Court. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter. 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. No country in the world says everybody is welcome, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, hitting out at those criticising India over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act New Delhi: No country in the world says everybody is welcome, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, hitting out at those criticising India over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Jaishankar criticised the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for its criticism on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, saying its director had been wrong previously too and one should look at the UN body's past record on handling the Kashmir issue. "We have tried to reduce the number of stateless people through this legislation. That should be appreciated," he said when asked about the CAA at the ET Global Business Summit. "We have done it in a way that we do not create a bigger problem for ourselves." "Everybody, when they look at citizenship, have a context and has a criterion. Show me a country in the world which says everybody in the world is welcome. Nobody says that," the minister said. The external affairs minister said moving out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was in the interest of India's business. Asked about the UNHRC director not agreeing with India on the Kashmir issue, Jaishankar said: "UNHRC director has been wrong before. "UNHRC skirts around cross-border terrorism as if it has nothing to do with country next door. Please understand where they are coming from; look at UNHRC's record how they handled Kashmir issue in past," he added. Union minister Smriti Irani said on Saturday she was "enraged" that the death-row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case were making a "mockery of justice" by their delaying tactics and asserted that urgent steps were required to stop it. "We need to go a step forward, especially with regard to the conviction rates... what we saw in the Nirbhaya case and it is happening. "The fact that rapists can throw caution to the winds, the fact that they can laugh in the face of justice is a fact that enrages me no end," she said inaugurating a national conference on women in police and Central Armed Police Forces, organised by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD). The Union women and child development minister said urgent steps are needed to ensure that such "mockery of justice" does not take place anymore. "Since the issue (Nirbhaya case) has not come to end, I will request the MHA that after the hanging of these convicts, all arms of the government need to sit down along with the judiciary to see to it that once evidence has been collected and once a decision has been made by courts, this mockery of justice does not happen," Irani said. A trial court in Delhi issued fresh warrants on Thursday with March 20, 5.30 am, as the date for the execution of the Nirbhaya case convicts -- Mukesh Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31) after a series of mercy petitions and pleas being filed by them were rejected. The execution of their death warrants has been deferred thrice so far due to delays by them in exhausting legal remedies. All the convicts in the case are to be hanged together. At the conference, she urged the BPRD, a police think-tank under the home ministry, to help her ministry in framing procedures to ensure that children of under-trial women are helped so that they do not suffer. "These children have no role in the crime committed and I would like to offer the services of my ministry to BPRD so that a joint effort in this context is undertaken as it is the need of the hour," Irani said. Similar steps need to be taken to improve the condition of under-trial women in jails, she said. The minister added that a "historic" step is being taken with regard to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, in conjunction with the BPRD, NIMHANS and NALSAR, as these organisations will soon go to each district of the country to engage with every stakeholder in this domain. Irani said her ministry has also sanctioned procurement of forensic kits, as requested by the BPRD, under the Nirbhaya fund. She asked the police think-tank to help in framing of standard operating procedures for about 700 one-stop centres that act as the first point of contact for female victims across the country. BPRD Director General V S K Kaumudi said, "Individuals with criminal mindset misuse the cyber platform for targeting women through Internet." "Crime against women are often un-reported and even if they are reported they do not end up in conviction," the BPRD chief said, adding that the conviction rate of women-centric cyber crimes in 2018 was only 15.6 per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) will release the admit card for assistant lineman exam (advt.11/2019) on Saturday, March 7. The examination will be conducted on March 14 and 15. Candidates will be able to download their admit card online at hssc.gov.in. According to the notice, the exams for ALM for DHBVNL and UHBVNL will be conducted on March 14 and 15, respectively. The upper divisional clerk (UDC) exam which was scheduled for March 1 will now be held on March 18. The HSSC UDC admit card will be uploaded on March 11. The exams will be conducted in three shifts.The first shift will begin at 9:30 am while the second and third shifts will commence at 1 pm and 4:30 pm, respectively. The exam will comprise of 90 multiple choice questions from general awareness, reasoning, maths, science, computer, English, Hindi and concerned subjects as applicable that will carry 75% weightage while the other 25% weightage will be of History, Current Affairs, Literature, Geography, Civics,Environment, Culture etc. of Haryana. All the 90 questions will carry one mark each. The CBT will be of 90 marks. The other 10 marks will be given on socio- economic criteria and experience. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON For most Australians, Saturday mornings means a family trip to the beach or coffee with friends. But not in the times of coronavirus, as panicked residents spend their Saturday queuing outside the nation's supermarkets to stock pile toilet paper, lining up from 6am. Frenzied customers were seen queuing round the block outside Coles in Woolongong before it opened at 7am. Similar bizarre scenes happened across the country, including at a Costco in Melbourne. Supermarket shelves across the country have been stripped bare of essential goods, including toilet paper, pasta, rice, hand sanitiser and painkillers. People began lining up outside a Coles in Wollongong, NSW (pictured) at 6am in a bid to get toilet paper As of Saturday morning, there are 66 cases of coronavirus in Australia - forcing thousands of people to self-isolate The respiratory illness, which is fast becoming a global pandemic, has infected 66 people in Australia to date - prompting fears it will soon sweep the country. Tens of thousands of Australians have already been forced into isolation to try and control the spread of the disease, prompting many to stockpile food and essentials. On Friday night, Coles Group CEO Steven Cain sent Flybuys shoppers a message about the stock levels at supermarkets. He said an 'international media and social media frenzy' had played a role in the crisis. 'In the short term, we have reluctantly chosen to introduce a temporary 4-pack limit on toilet paper to ensure the elderly and those groups at highest risk can still access the everyday products they need, and to reduce likelihood of bulk purchasing which then appear on the internet at a price premium,' the email read. A Costco in Melbourne (pictured) had people queuing up outside the door and down the street for sought after products like toilet paper and pasta 'I understand the average 4-person family needs around 20 rolls of toilet paper per fortnight, and larger packs contain around 30 rolls meaning 4 packs would total 120 rolls enough for around 12 weeks.' It comes as a medical professor claims the coronavirus outbreak will get worse before it gets better. John Dwyer, emeritus professor of medicine at the University of NSW, said the coronavirus situation is 'going to get a lot worse before it gets better'. He also warned that hundreds of Australians are already infected, but aren't aware yet, and that every infected person goes on to infect at least two others. 'We are definitely going to have a pandemic in Australia,' Professor Dwyer told the Australian. 'The experience with other epidemics is that once this happens, there must be hundreds of people who are infected in Australia at this stage. Shelves are bare across multiple Australian supermarkets (pictured, left) as worried families stockpile toilet roll (right) 'And for every one infected person, the average is they will infect two and a half others.' To date, the virus has infected more than 100,000 people and killed more than 3,300 worldwide. Hospitals, schools and offices across the country have been forced into lockdown, with entire families self-isolating. Health workers at Canterbury, Liverpool and Ryde Hospitals in New South Wales have been struck by the deadly respiratory disease, forcing dozens into isolation. At the embattled Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care centre in north-west Sydney, vulnerable, elderly residents face a terrifying wait - as two more workers tested positive. One resident, 95, has already died after contracting the disease, with staff now refusing to work at the centre - forcing NSW Health to send in its own team. The worrying developments have caused an outbreak of panic buying across the country, with shelves left bare - and a black market emerging for toilet paper. One man was caught trying to flog packets of toilet paper for $2,000 after listing them on Gumtree and demanding desperate customers pay cash only. However, when confronted by Nine in Perth's CBD, he claimed he was selling the loo roll to pay for an operation and not to make a quick buck. After he was confronted, the ad was swiftly removed from the internet. He's not the only one to attempt to make money from the toilet paper shortage. Others have listed single sheets, rolls and entire packets online for outrageous prices. The toilet rolls aisles at the Macquarie Centre in Macquarie Park were completely empty on Tuesday The man's toilet paper scheme comes after supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths were forced to bring in a four-pack limit to stop people hoarding rolls. A spokeswoman for Coles said it was bringing in the limit to help it maintain stock levels during the crisis. 'To ensure all of our customers have access to toilet paper, a temporary purchase limit of four packs per customer transaction will now apply in-store and online,' she said. 'This will help us maintain stock levels in stores while our suppliers increase local production and our distribution centres increase deliveries. 'While there may be some temporary stock shortages, the vast majority of products in our stores and via Coles online remain available for customers. 'We apologise to customers if the product they want is currently out of stock, and our team is working hard to improve availability across the store.' Sicily is a wonderful part of the world that's full to the brim of magnificent sights, wonderful architecture and sumptuous food. If you're planning to visit Sicily for the first time, you might be wondering where to start. Do not worry, this article will help you to enjoy your very first time on this beautiful island. Avoid the Summer Months While you might be looking forward to basking in the Mediterranean summer sun, you might want to avoid it. Sicily can become incredibly busy at this time of the year. You might want to opt for visiting in late spring or in October instead. Even during these months, Sicily can be busy enough. If you can, visit later on in the year, temperatures will be cooler but the streets will be emptier. Work out Where You're Going to Stay One of the very first things you'll need to do is work out where you are going to stay. We always recommend checking out Scent of Sicily Villas. Scent of Sicily is one of the biggest sites that is entirely dedicated to this destination. It is the right place to book a villa, especially as it has plenty to choose from. When you're working out where you need to stay make sure you consider the following factors: How many rooms you need, how long you're staying there for and what you need from your accommodation. When you consider these factors you're more likely to find the ideal place to stay. Rent a Car When it comes to getting around Sicily you might want to rent a car. A hire car will give you the freedom you need to get around. However, you might want to make sure that you only rent an Italian car. This is because they are small enough to navigate Sicily's very narrow streets. As you navigate the busy streets, not only will you have to be on the lookout for other vehicles, but you'll also have to look out for scooters. Scooters will come up alongside you even when you're in the narrowest of streets. Opt for a small car and you'll be glad you did. Get Ready to Climb When you're making your way around Sicily you might be surprised at its layout. It seems that everything is built on the top of a hill. This means you're likely to spend your time walking up and down hills. Be prepared for this and make sure your footwear is suitable. Opt for walking boots no matter how hot it is. Your feet will thank you after a long day of climbing up multiple steps. Sicily is a beautiful place to visit, it's steeped in history and is quite distinctive. Visiting Sicily can be wonderful but it can also be a little challenging. Use the above tips to help prepare you for your time on the island. The more prepared you are, the more likely you are to enjoy your time here. Im so incredibly blessed, said Bryanboy, perched eagerly on a jade blue sofa in the lounge of New Yorks Soho Grand Hotel. But he doesnt mean blessed in the way that requires hashtag as a prefix. I mean, I feel free. If I were an editor, Id probably get fired. A writer? My editor would probably fire me. The magazine would probably fire me. I love it. Im able to say whatever I want to say. So he says things like: Hedi [Slimane] is so late in the program, I cant even, referring to the designers latest collection, which is unisex. Or, of a group of activists walking in the Stella McCartney show to demonstrate their support for the designers use of vegan fabrics: I highly doubt these costumes by animal rights group people were made from biodegradable fabrics.. And his review, if you will, of Burberrys most recent collection: Glammed up sausage casing. These are not the typical musings of an editor, as Bryanboy, aka Bryan Grey Yambao, astutely pointed out. But neither are they the expected missives of an influencer, that powerful but mysterious fashion world figure who is dependent upon the goodwill (free bags!) and budgets (pay me to pose with the bags!) of the brands who rely on them to promote their products. Bryanboy is something a little more sui generis: a bona fide industry fixture who has, for over a decade and a half (!), developed the analytical eye of an old-school fashion critic while also reaping the benefits of an influencer lifestyle, like getting dressed by Prada to attend the Prada show. He also finds himself in something of a strange position: he started as a blogger, the ultimate outsider, but people within the world of fashion have come to rely on him not simply for brand-building but for those unvarnished takes on the industry, fired off to his half a million followers. Recently, he said, the CEO of a Paris fashion brand came up to me and said, Bryan, I dont follow you on Instagram. I follow you on Twitter. Story continues So he still influences his digital audiencehe was ostensibly in New York to promote the launch of Diors new mens fragrance, along with 30 or so other male influencers, hunk types who all look nothing like mebut hes also become a kind of soothsayer to industry brass. I see myself as an influencer, he said, but on a different scale [than] people who have a million followers. He has about 564,000 followers on Instagram, which is small-time compared to a mega-fashion influencer like, say, Chiara Ferragni, aka The Blonde Salad, and her 18.6 million followers. But I see a lot of industry insiders following me, he said. He removed his gray Prada double-breasted coatunderneath was a black Uniqlo sweater, and Neil Barrett pants hes worn for like eight years nonstopand placed it gingerly next to a steel gray Hermes Birkin bag, a prized recent acquisition. He has a finsta, or a secret Instagram, where designers and editors banter with him more freely. And the subversive group he came up withremember when everyone thought bloggers were going to ruin fashion?is now firmly ensconced in the establishment. If Donald Trump can be a hot mess and rule the world, he saidhis skin glowing with that enigmatically moist, rich-girl incandescence; his hair beautifully combed into a champagne blonde wedgethen Im not scared to do the same. Yes, like the lawless man who tweets what he pleases from a big mansion on a hill, Bryanboy might be the most liberated person in his industry. But it would be a mistake to paint him as a dilettante, or to underestimate him. Because the history of Bryanboy, from his humble blogger beginnings to a lucrative life of fit pic posting from Sweden, is also the history of the last decade in fashion. Which means that wherever Bryanboy goes nextwell, thats probably where fashion is going, too. Yes, sure, theres all the influencing. But what does Bryanboy...do? When I ask, he sits up with best-student-in-the-class posture, answering with a clarity sought in vain over the past five years by countless stories about our wild ambivalence towards influencers. I amplify a brands message to my audience. Ta-da! This requires Bryanboy to keep a bustling schedule of fashion show attendance that rivals those of top magazine editors. He attends womens fashion weeks in Milan and Paris and often New York; couture week in Paris; and the menswear shows in Florence, Milan, and Paris. The run lasts as long as a month, with occasional trips home to Sweden, where he moved from New York in 2018, and his banker husband. I had caught him just before the Marc Jacobs show. (I need some FASHION! he said on the Uber ride there, delicately dabbing his bud of a mouth with goo from a tin. I need this show to be good.) Perhaps no other influencer covers the industry so thoroughly. I feel like Im a unicorn, he said. Im surprised that Im able to go to womens and mens at the same time, when I know so many other influencers [who], if youre a guy, youre going to the mens show zone, and a girl is going to the womens shows. They dont really cross-promote. He added, Im just happy that I went to all of these shows first. And BryanBoys really is a story of firsts. He started Bryanboy.com in 2004, blogging from his parents home in Manila. His site was one of the very first fashion blogs, and he was also a part of the great front row mutiny of the late 2000s, in which rapscallion bloggers like Bryanboy, Tavi Gevinson and Tommy Ton were wedged between Vogue editors and other establishment figures. He created many of the unspoken rules that have come to define Instagram influencer culture, navigating the tricky path between taking free stuff and maintaining the critical distance that allows you to be something beyond a paid brand shill. His serious interest in fashionhe knows bylines, editor names, photographer names, and even fashion credits like he might be tested at any momentand his wicked opinions gave him industry credibility early on, such that Marc Jacobs named a bag after him in 2008. He also built a huge fan base: in the early 2010s, his site boasted some 2 million visitors per month. But while his other blogger colleagues have moved on to different roles and even industriesTavi Gevinson is an actress, for example, and Garance Dore recently denounced the fashion industry because of its mania for influencersBryanboy has stuck around. Hes managed to pivot at just the right moments throughout his career, somehow becoming one of the purposely fickle industrys few stalwarts. Hes done so by making choices that seemed stark at the time, and obvious in retrospect. I stopped having a website probably about two years ago, he said, because nobody really goes to a computer anymore. Nobody really goes to websites anymore. Instead, he began focusing on his outfit posts on Instagram just as it was becoming fashions primary platform, increasingly the place where men and women find out about products, designers, and industry news. (I am 100% sure she is controlling Mark Zuckerberg, he jokesmaybe?of Instagrams director of fashion partnerships Eva Chen. She is more powerful than the president of the United States.) In the meantime, he kept shooting off his naughty takes on Twitter. (And foreshadowing a new generation or hfor high fashiontwitter users, who prefer 280 character fashion critiques to staged brand partnerships.) But as Bryanboys lady-on-the-gram, freak-on-the-timeline-strategy underscores, the shift from fashion blogging on websites to influencer culture on Instagram took the teeth out of a revolutionary movement. The earliest bloggers were fresh and even significant voices in fashionGevinson wrote an incredibly poignant entry on her site after the death of Alexander McQueen, for example. But, as Bryanboy said, Nobody reads the captions on Instagrams. And it isnt merely that they dont read the captionsits that influencer culture has privileged the image over the words. With Instagram, I have to filter myself in a way, he acknowledged. And its all about creating the same image: everyone posts the same photographs, from the same shows, as a token of credibility, so that brands and consumers continue to take them seriously. Influencing is not so much a way to show followers whats coolif it ever was thatbut rather a distribution platform for an agreed-upon, codified aesthetic that proves the influencer has earned the name. But for Bryanboy, the shift toward social media isnt a matter of brand sensitivity or compromise. Hes just a lot busier than he used to be. Back in the day, I would write like 800 words in a blog post and post 20 pictures, you know? Now its like, I dont have time. I have not opened my laptop other than when I did my taxes. He paused. I dont have time to sit down here and really, you know, think about something substantial, or write something substantial, you know? Its not just him. A lot of influencers are freaking out because engagement is so low. The algorithm changes, and then people are moving onto TikTok. I asked him how hes been able to adapt continuallyhis career now seems longer than the tenure of the average designer at a luxury house. I think you just need to adapt with the times to what you know, to where and how you connect with your audience. Now, I dont even have time to paint my nails, and one imagines that his Instagram audience might feel the same way. Hes exploring video, which he thinks could be something fun to do, though not TikTok, because its for young people. (Ok, boomers???) We went outside to get a car to the Marc Jacobs show. Veronika Heilbrunner, editor-influencer-publisher and wife to Justin OShea, joined us. Bryanboy lit a cigarette. I dont know, he said, sounding terribly worried all of a sudden. Where do you think this is going? Before I could answer, Heilbrunner chimed in. Everyone is always asking this, she said. Whats next, whats next, whats next? Who cares? Everyone, she said, is our age anyways. So what are the monetary realities for an influencer like Bryanboy today? In our post-Fyre Fest world, things seem more...modest. Bryanboy pays for all his travelhe doesnt like the obligation of having to post about a place thats giving him a discount or freebieand he doesnt get paid to go to fashion shows. Thats both on principle and the new way of the world. And you know, there is no such thingOh, were gonna pay you to sit front-row. That is like, 2008, 2009. Times have changed. Instead, what he gets paid to do are what he calls activations, in which he takes over a brands social channel for a show, or puts together a series of Instagram stories surrounding the bag, for example. He added, If I have to produce like four pictures, then thats a sponsored post. So [there are] different kinds of activations, from posting store events, or attending store events, or store openings, or promoting that store. When I asked him how much he makes per post, he said, It ranges. Enough to pay your rent? Its not. It really depends. Hes willing to work for less for a brand he really loves that doesnt have much of a budget. His number is closer, he said, to the price of a coat. Like a Chanel coat, or a Tibi coat? Definitely not a Chanel coat. More like a Gucci coatwhich are mostly in the $3,000-$4,000 range. Nice work if you can get it, of course, but it also seems like more of a grind than the industry-shaking blogging that earned him his own Marc Jacobs bag. Its the same exhausting hustle that many an influencer has complained about of late, that is leading marketing gurus to talk about consumers developing influencer fatigue. And even fashions first boy is feeling old. Activations add up. 37 is calling! he jokes. When hes not traveling for fashion week, hes primarily posting fit pics from enchanted Swedish forests, which seems like a pretty nice life. How much longer does he envision being an influencer? Five years. Ten years? He paused. Five years. The idea of being 45 and getting photographedI need to be realistic. You can just Photoshop your face, but its not even about that. I mean, I definitely want a private, quiet life. It comes to a point where, you know, even with the events that we go to, its very exhausting. Hes even switched his allegiances in style, from the days when he practically lived in so-called streetstyle baitwho could forget the Margiela fur hat?to the timeless classics of MaxMara and Michael Kors and Prada. A rich Caucasian woman situation, he explained. Bryanboys new uniform is not necessarily in season, nor is it the product of a brand-friendly activation. But clothes, the archetypal influencer is learning, dont really matter when it comes to who you are. Its not necessarily a definition of who I am, because I am who I am with or without clothes. At my house, Im literally naked. Originally Appeared on GQ Latest: At tonight's Covid-19 briefing, the chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan said they have been able to explain the source of the infection of each of the previous cases but not in the case which has arisen in Cork. He said that gives rise to the possibility of community transmission but he said that is the pattern the virus has followed as it's spread in other countries. Dr Colin Henry, HSE clinical officer, confirmed that the patient had spent a period in hospital before diagnosis and was in contact with health care workers. A crisis management team has now been established to manage the situation. Medical staff identified during contact tracing as at risk will be asked to self-isolate, he said. He said CUH management and public health experts have also taken a series of robust and immediate actions to prioritise patient safety, including imposing visitor restrictions, ceasing elective surgery, cancelling out-patient appointments and clearing space for isolation. He said those actions will be reviewed after the weekend. First case of Covid-19 confirmed in Cork The first case of Covid-19 has been confirmed in Cork - feared to be the first community-acquired case of the virus in this country. Strict visitor restrictions have now been introduced at Cork University Hospital (CUH) where a middle-aged male patient is being treated in isolation. It is understood that the patient presented at CUH a number of days ago with complications arising from an existing underlying health condition. When his condition did not improve, a raft of new tests were ordered, including the test for Covid-19. It returned positive. An extensive contact tracing exercise is now underway to identify close contacts, including the mans family members, medical staff, patients and medical students. The latest confirmed case is the 13th in the Republic but it is the first time that a case has been confirmed in a patient with no history of travel to affected areas in Northern Italy, and with no known contact with previous confirmed Covid-19 cases. Of the new seven cases confirmed today, four involve males from the east of the country and are travel related from northern Italy. Two others are associated with close contact with a confirmed case, two females in the west of the country. In a statement the CUH said it had introduced strict visitor restrictions as a precautionary measure. We are advised by our experts that in the interest of patient safety we are currently restricting access to the hospitals facilities to patients only. This is in the interest of patient care and in order to prevent the spread of infections within the hospital. Anyone with any queries about visiting times or visiting a particular ward should ring the hospital on tel: 021-4922000. We regret any inconvenience caused to patients and relatives by these necessary measures, which are being taken in the interests of patient care. All infection control measures are in place and every effort is being made to manage and contain the spread of infection. The statement added: "All Outpatient appointments have been cancelled in Cork University Hospital tomorrow (Friday, March 6) due to Infection Control issues." Management at the South/South West Hospital Group insisted however that CUHs emergency department, one of the busiest in the country, remains open for emergency cases. However, all out-patient appointments for tomorrow have been cancelled. They said where appropriate, people should contact their GP or Southdoc in the first instance and explore all other options available to them before presenting to emergency departments in the city if their needs are not urgent. The Mater Private Hospital in the city has also restricted access to its facilities to patients only. As a precautionary measure, we are advised by our experts that in the interest of patient safety we are currently restricting access to the hospitals facilities to patients only. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation. pic.twitter.com/yfCZLs2uzl Mater Private Network Cork (@MaterCork) March 5, 2020 The National Public health Emergency Team is due to provide the latest update on the outbreak this evening, All the patients are associated with travel from the same affected area in Northern Italy. Meanwhile, Health Minister Simon Harris said his one focus was to contain this virus. We will continue to provide all the information we can, he said. It is also important to know that the vast majority of people who contract this virus will not need hospital care, they can be treated at home. "It is also important to know that currently in Ireland, the likelihood of person to person transmission is low." He added: I want to assure you our approach to this challenge is and will remain both vigilant and proportionate. Useful information The HSE have developed an information pack on how to protect yourself and others from coronavirus. Read it here Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus who has been in close contact with a confirmed case in the last 14 days should isolate themselves from other people - this means going into a different, well-ventilated room alone, with a phone; phone their GP, or emergency department - if this is not possible, phone 112 or 999 and in a medical emergency (if you have severe symptoms) phone 112 or 999 Anyone with any queries about visiting times or visiting a particular ward at Cork University Hospital should ring the hospital on Tel: 021 4922000 Additional reporting by Greg Murphy, Joel Slattery and Sean ORiordan When Maya Ghassali started to tell people she hoped to work in counter-terrorism, she became used to hearing that this was not a career aspiration for a girl. I really want to study politics, and mainly counter-terrorism, but when I say that to people they tell you its way too hard for me to study as a girl, says the Syrian-born Melburnian. They say its a male-dominated profession and I shouldnt even try to get into it. Maya Ghassali hopes to work in counter-terrorism after graduating university, concentrating on prevention of radicalisation. Credit:Joe Armao The 18-year-old says the idea there are limits on what she can hope to do became ingrained, but did not deter her. Over months, maybe years, she decided to own her ambition. Now I tell them straight up, I say it proudly. On International Women's Day, Ghassali, who has been a member of Victorias Youth Parliament and is an ambassador for the girls equality NGO Plan International Australia, is extremely optimistic about the prospects of her generation reaching full equality with their male peers. Congress will flag off a 27-day-long 'Gandhi Sandesh Yatra'on March 12 to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The march is also being undertaken to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's historic Dandi March, which started on March 12, 1930, and ended on April 6, 1930. The Yatra will begin from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad and will be culminating at Dandi in Gujarat on April 6, covering the 386 km route in 27 days. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi and party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi and Congress Chief Ministers will attend the 27-day long padayatra. On the culminating day at Dandi, public meetings will be organized which will be addressed by Sonia, Rahul, all Congress-ruled state Chief Ministers, PCC chiefs and CWC members. The objective of the yatra is to recall and recapture the spirit of Gandhi's Dandi March. "We will be re-establishing our resolve to protect and promote the values enshrined in our Constitution and to emulate Gandhiji's thoughts especially those relating to truth, peace, non-violence and social harmony," said the Congress in a statement. "The Gandhi Sandesh Yatra will give an opportunity of making our younger generation appreciative of the great legacy that we have inherited from the Father of the Nation," it added. The party has directed each PCC to participate for a day with their contingent of leaders making it an 'All India Participative Programme'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The coronavirus has officially postponed a major Pacific Northwest event. Organizers of the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle announced Friday that the annual gathering will be postponed, due to the ongoing spread of the coronavirus in Washington and around the world. Originally scheduled March 12 to 15 at the Washington State Convention Center in downtown Seattle, the comic convention is now scheduled to take place over the summer, though no dates have been announced. We did everything that we could to run the event as planned, but ultimately, we are following the guidance of the local public health officials indicating that conventions should now be postponed, event organizers wrote in an announcement to attendees. Our hearts go out to the entire Seattle community, everyone impacted by the COVID-19 virus, and all of you, the nearly 100,000 amazing human beings who look forward to this event each year. All attendees will receive automatic refunds, organizers said, and will not need to take any action in order to get their money back. The announcement comes at the end of a week that has seen dozens of new coronavirus cases in Washington. As of Thursday, 10 people in Washington had died from the virus, with 70 confirmed cases statewide. The Emerald City Comic Con is one of the largest comic conventions on the West Coast. In 2019, it drew a record 98,000 attendees, according to organizers. New dates will be announced on the comic conventions social media channels. The event is traditionally attended by members of the Portland comics community, several of whom had already been commenting on social media that they had decided to skip it this year, or were seriously considering not attending. For example, publishers such as the Milwaukee-based Dark Horse Comics said they werent going to this years Emerald City Comic Con, even before the postponement was announced. Due to the severity of the COVID-19 virus, Dark Horse Comics has made the difficult decision to pull out of Emerald City Comic Con 2020, the company posted on the Dark Horse Comics Twitter page. It is with the safety and well-being of our staff and creators in mind that we have come to this decision. The Portland-based publisher, Oni Press, had also announced it wouldnt be attending Emerald City Comic Con. Due to the concerns surrounding COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our presence at #ECCC2020. 1/3 Oni Press (@OniPress) March 4, 2020 The Portland publishers joined a list of key players who announced they wouldnt attend Emerald City Comic Con, including DC Comics. The announcement of the postponement drew more comments today, including from David F. Walker, the Portland-based writer known for his work on Marvel Comics Luke Cage, Bitter Root, and more. Good call on the part of the folks at ECCC, Walker wrote on his Twitter page. I know many of us are disappointed, and will feel the economic hit, but it is better safe than sorry. Good call on the part of the folks at ECCC. I know many of us are disappointed, and will feel the economic hit, but it is better safe than sorry. I hope to see folks in Seattle some time this summer. Be safe and take care. https://t.co/bMRQqyRyHF David F Walker ECCC Table #GG-2 (@DavidWalker1201) March 6, 2020 --Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. As the coronavirus continues to spread across Asia and Europe, the small kingdom of Bhutan amid the steep Himalayas, reported the first case of the novel virus on Friday. A US citizen tested positive after spending at least a week on the Brahmaputra river cruise in Assam as part of his India tour last month just before he flew to the Himalayan country. District Collector Jorhat Roshni Korati of Assam, in a statement, said that the foreigner had travelled to Jorhat on February 22 and proceeded to Guwahati via the river cruise MV Mahabaahu Brahmaputra on February 23. The river cruise that has returned to Neematighat in Jorhat consisted of 22 guests and 29 crew members. "We are monitoring the issue closely, and are equipped to deal with the situation. Hence, there is no need for panic," Korati in a statement. Meanwhile, the crew as well as the passengers who travelled on the MV Mahabahu Brahmaputra cruise, from February 22-28, have been placed in isolation. In relief, the health team who have been monitoring the daily status of those quarantined informed that they are all asymptomatic. As of March 6, India reported 31 cases of the deadly virus that originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan last December. Six days after Chinese state media reported the first known death from an illness caused by the virus which has already killed more than 3,000 people and spread to 60 countries, India began screening people at airports located at various parts across the country from January 17 onwards. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AMORIO, Greece - Over the years, villagers who live near Greeces border with Turkey got used to seeing small groups of people enter their country illegally. The Greek residents often offered the just-arrived newcomers a bite to eat and directed them to the nearest police or railway station. But the warm welcomes wore off. When Turkey started channeling thousands of people to Greece, insisting that its ancient regional rival and NATO ally receive them as refugees, the Greek government sealed the border and rushed police and military reinforcements to help hold back the flood. Greeks in the border region rallied behind the expanding border force, collecting provisions and offering any possible contribution to what is seen as a national effort to stop a Turkish-spurred incursion. In several cases, authorities asked villagers familiar with the local terrain to help locate migrants who managed to slip through holes cut in a border fence or to cross the River Evros Meric in Turkish that demarcates most of the 212-kilometre (132-mile) border. We were born here, we live here, we work here, we know the crossings better than anyone, Panayiotis Ageladarakis, a community leader in Amorio, a village that lies some 300 metres (yards) from the river banks. Other villages also responded to the call for volunteer trackers. Small groups of unarmed men monitor known crossing points after dark. We sit at the crossings, and they come, Ageladarakis told The Associated Press as he drove a pickup truck with a fellow Greek border village resident along a rough track at night. We keep them there most of the time, call police and they come and arrest them. Then, its a matter for the police. We arent interested in where they take them. We just try to help this effort taking place by the army and the police. Help for the border units also came from Evros businesses and store owners. Nikos Georgiadis, head of the local restaurant owners association, said his colleagues delivered food and water to units stationed at four points on the border. They also asked us for masks and gloves, and well try to find some, he said. Ageladarakis said all the migrants he encountered over the past few days were co-operative. These people are frightened. Nobody has caused any trouble, he said. But the village community leader said that in his view, the people he encountered did not look like they were fleeing wars in their own countries. Theres nobody coming from a war, he said. None of them are refugees. Theyre all illegal migrants and thats why theyre trying to get into Europe (this way). Greek authorities said that out of a the 252 people arrested for illegal entry over the past week as of Friday, 64% were Afghans, 19% Pakistanis, 5% Turks and 4% Syrians, while the others were from Iraq, Iran, Morocco, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Egypt. ___ Nicholas Paphitis contributed from Athens. A Delhi court on Saturday took cognisance of the CBI charge sheet in a bribery case in which the agency recently gave clean chit to its former special director Rakesh Asthana. Special CBI judge Sanjeev Aggarwal observed that there was no sufficient ground to proceed against Asthana and CBI's DSP Devender Kumar, who was arrested in 2018 and later got bail. The court summoned "middleman" Manoj Prasad, who was arrayed as an accused in the charge sheet. Besides, the court also summoned Prasad's brother Someshwar Srivastava and father-in-law Sunil Mittal, saying there was sufficient material to proceed against them. Srivastava and Mittal's names had cropped up during the probe. The court directed Prasad, Srivastava and Mittal to appear before the court on April 13. The court also said that the CBI may file a charge sheet if it finds anything against Asthana in its ongoing probe. The judge took cognisance of the charge sheet filed under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating) and 385 (extortion) of IPC and sections of Prevention of Corruption Act. The court was earlier told by the former investigator agency of the case, A K Bassi, that there were "clinching evidence" against Asthana in the case. The charge sheet, filed on February 11, had only arrayed Prasad as an accused. Asthana and CBI's DSP Devender Kumar, who was arrested in 2018 and later got bail, were named in column 12 of the charge sheet in the case since there was not enough evidence to make them accused. Suspended DSP Devender Kumar was the investigating officer in a 2017 case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Satish Sana, who was arrested for alleged links to Moin Qureshi money laundering case, had also claimed links to senior CBI and RAW officials. The current case of alleged bribery was lodged on a complaint of Sana. The court had on February 12 expressed displeasure over the Central Bureau of Investigation's investigation into the case and it had asked why the accused with bigger roles were roaming free while the probe agency had arrested its own deputy superintendent of police. The CBI had registered the case against Asthana on the basis of a complaint from Hyderabad-based businessman Satish Sana, facing probe in a 2017 case involving meat exporter Moin Qureshi. Kumar was the probe officer in the case involving Qureshi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Country-wide municipal elections in France are to be held in two weeks time against the backdrop of widespread opposition to President Emmanuel Macrons austerity policies and pension reform, which he is determined to push through. Three years after an election in which large numbers of people stayed home, Macron and his The Republic on the March party (LREM) remain highly unpopular. The LREM crisis is expressed in the internal opposition displayed in dozens of cities, friction with its coalition partner, the MoDem [Democratic Movement] party, and Macrons arbitration between two ministers who are fighting each other in Biarritz. The presidential party hopes to go from 2,000 to 10,000 local elected officials without winning a number of new municipalities. A deputy of the party, Pierre Person, explains worriedly that if we dont win any big city, it will be embarrassing. You dont become a local actor if you are not established. Although only local politicians are elected, the municipal election has national implications for all established parties, who are looking for the best conditions to prepare for the presidential election. The absence of a strong local base for the LREM increases fears that voters will sanction the party with a vote against them. Furthermore, this could then undermine Macrons campaign for a second term. The elections are taking place during a continuing rout, in France and throughout Europe, of the social-democratic or Christian-democratic parties that have dominated bourgeois politics since the May 1968 era. Those parties hope to reduce the damage after their collapse in the presidential and European elections of 2017 and 2019, despite their crumbling local forces. The Republicans (LR, a right-wing party), which holds 15 of the 40 cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, hopes to take advantage of the defeat of the presidential party to keep the cities it currently controls, despite successive electoral defeats. The Socialist Party (PS), which under the hated former president Francois Hollande imposed a state of emergency, anticipates keeping its 12 cities of more than 100,000 people thanks to our mayors who are very well established locally, according to Pierre Jouvet, spokesman for the party. For this, the PS is counting on its satellite partiesthe French Communist Party (PCF), the Greens (EELV) and the pseudo-left Unsubmissive France party (LFI) of Jean-Luc Melenchonwith whom the PS has allied itself to try to maintain its local elected representatives. The neo-fascists are attempting to gain from the unpopularity of Macron, who legitimizes Le Pens National Rally (RN) by saluting the Nazi collaborator Marshal Philippe Petain and denouncing Muslims. Melenchon also legitimizes Le Pens party, by hailing its leaders alleged progress towards humanism during the strikes against Macrons pension reform. Le Pen wants to use the municipal elections to increase her stature as a presidential candidate, hoping to win small and medium-sized towns so as to run as Macrons main opponent. Thus, in mid-January, Le Pen took the opportunity of the municipal campaign to announce her candidacy for the 2022 presidential election. We have entered a presidential phase, she said. Emmanuel Macron and I are symbols of the globalist-nationalist divide set up by the French in the presidential election, which is intended to replace the right and the left. For the time being, it is likely the RN will keep its small towns such as Frejus in the south, Beaucaire and Henin-Beaumont in the north. Beziers should be kept by Robert Menard, who is supported by the RN and Perpignan in the south could see Louis Alliot, number 2 in the RN win the municipality. The campaign in the big cities is marked by very diverse developments. What dominates above all is the trend towards the disintegration of the former electoral bases of the mayors, while no established party has stable support and Macrons party is very divided. In Paris, in an unprecedented development, three candidates are within five percentage points of each other. According to an Ifop-Fiducial poll on Sunday 23 February, outgoing PS mayor Anne Hidalgo would come first in the first round with 24 percent, followed by Rachida Dati with 22 percent for the LR and Agnes Buzyn of the presidential party with 19 percent. Buzyn replaced the former government spokesperson, Benjamin Griveaux, who withdrew from the campaign after sexual videos of him were posted on social networks. David Belliard of the Greens is at 13 per cent and a dissident member of Macrons party, Cedric Villani, is at 9 per cent. A PS-Green alliance is possible for the second round, which could see a three-way fight. In Lyon, the current mayor and Macrons interior minister for a time, Gerard Collomb, who went from the PS to LREM, comes in first with 23 percent, followed by Bruno Bernard for the Greens with 20 percent. The current president of the region around and including Lyon, David Kimelfed, who is another LREM dissident, is at 18 percent, in front of the LR candidate, Francois Noel Buffet. In Marseilles, the election is wide open after the non-participation of LR mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin, in power since 1995, but criticized after the collapse of buildings in Rue Aubagne. According to an unofficial poll carried out by the FranceInfo Radio, Stephane Ravier, the RN Senator, would come first with 25 percent of voting intentions, followed by Martine Vassal (LR) and ecologist Sebastien Barle, both with 15 percent. The PS mayor of the 15th arrondissement, Samia Ghali, who asked for the army to be sent to the district, received 9 percent of the votes. The deputy from Marseille, Jean-Luc Melenchon, who had for a while considered running for mayor in view of the 2022 presidential elections, gave up after LFIs poor scores in the European elections and the decline in support for him and his party among the young people and workers who voted for him in 2017. LFI supports Michele Rubirola in a bloc with the Socialist Party, the Communist Party and independent candidates. The tactic of LFI is not to present its own lists but rather citizens lists in order to keep its local elected officials on whom it depends financially after the widespread discrediting of the party: The municipal elections are a stage in the citizen revolution. The local question is not an end in itself. We continue to think that the decisive moment is the presidential election, because thats where the conquest of power is played out, says Paul Vannier. In Bordeaux, according to an Orange-Europe1 poll, outgoing mayor Nicolas Florian is at 40 percent followed by ecologist Pierre Hurmic, supported by the PS, PCF, Radical Party and Generation.s at 30 percent. New Anticapitalist (NPA) presidential candidate Philippe Poutou is at 12 per cent, overtaking LREM candidate, Tomas Cazenave, at 12 per cent. In Lille, Martine Aubry of the PS leads with 35 percent of voting intentions according to an Ifop-Fiducial poll published in mid-February. Stephane Blay of the Greens came in second with 21 per cent of the votes, followed by LREM candidate Violette Spillebout at 14 per cent. Kim Brent / The Enterprise Getting property damage from either Harvey or Imelda was bad enough, but of course some Southeast Texans had the bad luck to be struck by both. The Hamshire-Fannett ISD is one of the more prominent victims of both storms and, for good measure, it suffered a fire in the elementary school in 2014. No one in the district expected anything like this, but their tenacity in coming back from these disasters is inspiring. The district recently returned to its normal schedule for the first time in five months. Tropical Depression Imelda flooded two campuses, closing the schools and forcing the district into a staggered schedule. It was tough for teachers and students to adjust, but somehow they managed. The return was handled in phases, with middle and high school students returning two weeks ago, and now the elementary students. Through it all, teachers kept teaching and students kept learning. At long last, everyones patience has been rewarded. Mumbai, March 7 : For the second time in recent weeks, the Maharashtra government has sought details of the funds lying with various private sector banks following the Yes Bank imbroglio that erupted on Thursday night, official sources said here on Saturday. The state has asked various civic bodies, state public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies and other government departments on their exposure to the Yes Bank, and full details of their funds/deposits/salary accounts/etc., lying with other private sector banks. The development came in the wake of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's directives on Friday to avoid parking state government funds in private sector banks henceforth and only use the services of public sector banks. The state's move came even as at least three major civic bodies have admitted that their deposits of around Rs 1,125 crore are stuck in the beleaguered Yes Bank. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) and Nashik Municipal Smart City Development Corporation Ltd. (NMSCDCL) admitted to total deposits worth Rs 800 crore and Rs 310 and Rs 15 crore, respectively in the Yes Bank. PCMC Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar informed the media that it had reduced its deposits in Yes Bank from Rs 1,100 crore to Rs 800 and also has deposits worth Rs 4,000 crore in other banks. To a query, Hardikar said that the PCMC preferred to keep its money in banks which offered the highest rates of interest, and the decision was taken after inviting bids in which Yes Bank offered maximum rates for swipe-in/swipe-out and other facilities. "After the Reserve Bank of India restrictions were announced from Friday we have routed online transfers and cash collections through the principal banker, Bank of Baroda, and there is no cause for worry," Hardikar said. However, the adjoining Pune Municipal Corporation had already withdrawn its deposits from Yes Bank a month ago when initial restrictions were put on withdrawals, according to the Shiv Sena. The NMC and NMSCDCL are also alarmed as their funds totalling to Rs 325 crore are stuck in the Yes Bank, but officials are confident that it won't impact the civic bodies' operations in the short-run. Last December, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar had said the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai would consider shifting some of its accounts from a private sector bank to the safer option of the PSBs as a precautionary measure. Similarly, the state government is likely to initiate steps to move its police department accounts with the Axis Bank to a PSB after the Yes Bank imbroglio, an official said. Lauding the state move to shift all funds to PSBs, Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavlamban Mission President Kishore Tiwari said there have been many instances of "unethical practices" by officials when big ticket accounts were moved from PSBs to private sector banks on grounds of higher interest or better service. "This is the outcome. I am writing to the CM to shift all government accounts not only from private sector banks, but also from the cooperative banks, many of which are in a critical financial health owing to the grip of local politicians and officials on their functioning," Tiwari said. Secrets. Silence. An economical approach to the truth. Mental reservation. So much damage has been caused because of this approach - no wonder people are losing trust in institutions. You'd imagine we might have learned by now that transparency is the best policy. But no, the same mistakes keep being repeated by various arms of the State. This week, the issue of how much information to share with the public about the coronavirus became a matter for concern. The Department of Health decided to release extremely limited facts about Covid-19 cases, naming the regions affected instead of specific locations. On the one hand, the State has a duty to protect patients' rights to confidentiality; on the other hand, the public in affected areas has a right to know about risks. It's a balancing act and the State see-saw landed on the side of withholding information. But history shows us - recent history at that - how covering things up generally proves to be the wrong decision. How much would we know about the cervical cancer scandal if Vicky Phelan hadn't been public-spirited enough to refuse to sign a confidentiality clause in 2018? She was left in ignorance for three years by the Health Service Executive after a review found her earlier smear test under the CervicalCheck programme was a false negative. By resisting efforts to gag her, she enabled the truth to emerge - one that affected the lives of more than 200 other women. No thanks to State bodies there. Inevitably, mistakes happen but how they're dealt with matters enormously. It seems as if we are like the Bourbons and have learned nothing and forgotten nothing, as the French politician Talleyrand is reputed to have said. Or as Einstein put it, insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Repeatedly, scandals are exposed, public outrage is stoked, hands are wrung, and 'never again' is the mantra. Until the next time. And when it happens, officialdom's instinct is to say as little as possible. The government which lost office last month wanted historic child abuse records locked away for 75 years, despite potentially negative consequences for victims. In its final months, it was considering a bill to seal these records - effectively until everyone concerned would be the wrong side of the sod. Will the new government proceed with this regressive course of action? The Retention of Records Bill 2019 envisages putting a stopper on records from the Ryan report, otherwise known as the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, and the Residential Institutions Redress Board. Incidentally, the cost of the child abuse inquiry and redress scheme was estimated at 1.5bn in 2017 by the public spending watchdog. The key question here is cui bono? Who benefits from putting records out of reach? Not victims, that's for sure. In November, an Oireachtas committee on education heard evidence, including from a woman born in a mother and baby home who said survivors experienced difficulties in discovering information about themselves which others take for granted. "If this bill passes, it would make survivors of the industrial schools invisible once more," Mary Harney (not the politician by the same name) said. "I was told my mother was dead, it was a lie. When we try to access our records there are so many barriers in our way." Education Minister Joe McHugh said the move was necessary to respect the confidentiality provisions of the commission and redress board. But survivors of abuse in residential institutions, run by 18 religious congregations, believe the proposed legislation undermines the 1999 State apology. It was made by then-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern on behalf of the Irish people, acknowledging how their lives were ruined in the State's care. Why do we continue to do this? Mouth platitudes, tell victims we feel their pain and hear their voices - then proceed to hush things up? We can't change the past and undo mistakes. But we can shape the present. And neither secrecy nor obfuscation make a worthwhile contribution to it. A choice faces us as citizens. Either we can insist on a culture being put in place where everything is in plain sight - the antiseptic of fresh air - or we can have a culture where the official approach to anything controversial or problematic is to clam up and wait for interest to fade. These attempts to control the narrative, with gagging orders and closed-off records, are the work of a culture whose adherents believe they are acting in the best interests of the State. Shutting down is a defence mechanism, both to safeguard an institution's reputation and prevent the Exchequer from receiving a bill for financial amends. But protecting institutions at the expense of an individual does incalculable harm - both to the person concerned and the community at large. Consider how appallingly the Catholic Church has handled abuse cases: moving abusers, benefiting from undue deference which allowed it to evade accountability, raising obstacles against those who tried to share their truths. Their lifelong legacy has been fear, shame, guilt and a lingering sense of unworthiness. Today, the Catholic Church's power in the West is waning, with vocations collapsed and churches emptying out, while in Ireland the bishops can no longer influence public debate, as once they took for granted. But would disenchantment with the institution be so widespread if not for that corrosive culture of secrecy and the organisation's determination to protect itself? Just when we think everything is out in the open, yet more disturbing revelations emerge. The latest involves the founder of L'Arche International, set up in 1964 to provide services to people with intellectual disabilities. It operates worldwide and has four communities in Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Kilkenny, where vulnerable people are cared for in residential and day-care settings. Several weeks ago, L'Arche announced that an inquiry it commissioned into allegations of sex abuse by its founder, Jean Vanier, had "received credible and consistent testimonies from sixwomen without disabilities, covering the period from 1970 to 2005". Apparently, the women had approached him for spiritual guidance. Canadian theologian Vanier, who died last May, was honoured within a Church which seems to have known about his predatory behaviour. Many are dismayed, among them our former head of State Mary McAleese, now chancellor of Trinity College Dublin. She has written to Pope Francis warning she will leave the Catholic Church unless she can be satisfied that the Holy See did not put its own interests first in its handling these claims. Time will tell. Realistically, people may be unable to hope for behavioural change from the Catholic Church and many will continue to vote with their feet. But we are entitled to expect - to demand - a people-first approach from the Irish State. Silence and concealment? Not in our name. Not for any reason. By Tu Lei, Global Times | Mar. 07, 2020 Chinese airlines may record staggering losses of 300 to 500 million yuan (US$72 million) per day for February, as thousands of flights were cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic, though the dark days for the country's civil aviation industry might be getting brighter with more flights resuming and government support underway. The three giants, Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines may each lose between 7.5 billion yuan and 9.5 billion yuan in February, the hardest hit month according to analysis. The trend now in China is headed in a positive direction judging by resumed flights and efforts taken by the airlines. However, their revenues will take time to return to normal levels seen before the outbreak. The income of airlines in China in February was 37 billion yuan less than the previous year and the net loss for the industry each day in February was roughly 300 to 500 million yuan, AirSavvi, one of China's top air-data services firms, said in a file sent to the Global Times on Friday. The estimate is based on passenger kilometer revenue levels in 2018, deducting fixed and variable costs, AirSavvi said. A chart sent to the Global Times shows the turning point of the airlines' revenue came on January 17, one week before the Chinese Lunar New Year, which was followed by a sharp decline until February, the period when China pressed the pause key to beat the virus. Since then there has been slight growth. "The pressure is mainly from the low load factor, as the money they earned could not cover their costs," AirSavvi analyst, Cong Wei, told the Global Times on Friday. The report said that before the outbreak the load factor in the domestic market was about 80 percent, but then it slid to below 60 percent, and even as low as 40 percent during the epidemic, causing a sharp drop in income. Data from the Ministry of Transport showed that during the 40-day travel period of Chinese Lunar New Year, airlines transported 38.39 million passengers, down 47.5 percent on the same period last year. The pain for the airiness has also been felt by their staff. A captain surnamed You at China Eastern Airlines said his salary in February was one-sixth compared with past months before the epidemic, as their income mainly depends on flying hours, but the virus cut many flights, making his income decline sharply. A picture on the web shows that China Southern Group held a meeting with the theme "dealing with the ex-tremely difficult business," which is rare to see in meetings. "If the virus does not end before the end of April, it will be hard to see the airline industry maintaining its 11-year record of profitability since the 2008 global financial crisis," Lin Zhijie, an independent market watcher told the Global Times on Friday. The epidemic is not only a worry for Chinese carriers, but also overseas players as the virus has expanded to more than 80 countries and regions. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Thursday updated its prediction on the impact of COVID-19, claiming it now sees 2020 global revenue losses for the passenger business of between US$63 billion and US$113 billion. Two weeks ago, it said that lost revenues will be at US$29.3 billion based on a scenario that would see the impact of the virus largely confined to markets associated with China. The Lufthansa Group estimates that around 150 aircraft are now effectively grounded due to the ongoing coronavirus situation. The news follows a similar announcement last week which only mentioned 23 aircraft, according to simpleflying.com. IAG's CEO Willie Walsh also noted a "very significant fall-off in demand" in Italian markets in the past week. But he predicted demand would stabilize in coming weeks if bookings followed the pattern seen in Asia, Reuters reported. The good news is the Chinese government is now taking measures to resume global travel that has been halted due to the coronavirus outbreak, and airlines are slowly getting back to normal as more carriers are increasing their flight numbers and routes. The Chinese government on Wednesday took the rare step of offering direct cash incentives for global and domestic airlines that operate international flights into and out of China, and it is believed that the government is paying to keep international routes open. As of Tuesday, China Eastern Airlines had received a total of nearly 200 charter flights. It has resumed more than 2,700 flights, approximately 100 flights per day, and it predicted that half of its flights could resume in March. In the coming week, countries including Mongolia, Portugal and Greece will resume services to destinations such as Ulaanbaatar, Lisbon and Athens, according to Civil Aviation Administration of China. "The loss is temporary, and domestic aviation and tourism also see hope for recovery. We have confidence in the long-term improvement of China's economy, and we have confidence in the Party, the government and the market," Zhang Wu'an, spokesperson of budget carrier Spring Airlines told the Global Times on Friday. The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, said that the US authorities are showing interest in his "business and bank accounts." He specified that members of Congress are concerned about relations between Chechnya and the UAE. Kadyrov explained that the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation is funding several projects in Chechnya. Congressmen who made a request to the US Department of State became interested in this issue. The response reads that the agency "will continue to collect information on the nature of Kadyrovs business outside the Russian Federation." The Chechen leader explained that with the support of the emirates fund, an international university is being built in Grozny and working places are being created. According to him, human rights in Chechnya "are respected a hundred times better than in the USA," RIA Novosti reports. SPRINGFIELD An effort in Illinois to prevent biannual clock changes such as the one Sunday moving time forward one hour appears stalled. The state Senate passed a bill in November by Bunker Hill Democrat Andy Manar that calls for setting clocks ahead one hour to daylight saving time on Sunday and leaving Illinois permanently on Central Daylight Time. But that bill remains in legislative limbo in the House, and even if Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker signs the initiative into law, it could not take effect unless approved by the federal government. Hawaii and Arizona are the only states granted with such waivers to abolish biannual time changes. The tropical territories of Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands opted out of time changes as well. This doesnt seek [a waiver]. This just says one of two things should happen: There should be a national change or, if Congress were to begin to give states exemptions, that obviously would be a different conversation here on this floor, Manar said in November. This doesnt say that we should ignore federal law. Manar declined to comment on this story. A spokesperson for Amtrak told Capitol News Illinois in November the current system of twice-yearly time shifts causes some inconvenience for the railroad, particularly in November when clocks are wound back one hour. It forces trains running around 2 a.m. that Sunday to stop for one hour and allow clocks to catch up to the train schedule. The idea for the initiative came to Manar from a Carlinville High School student, he said in a tweet. The senator also pointed to a Newsweek article that references research suggesting biannual time changes in the U.S. could have detrimental health impacts. Arizona State University history professor Calvin Schermerhorn said in an interview in October that the Grand Canyon State does not observe daylight savings time due to its brutally hot summer days. Remaining on standard time in the summer means cooler temperatures when people get off work and children leave school. Other than that, not having daylight saving is kind of a hassle, Schermerhorn said, because half the year were on the equivalent of Pacific Time and half the year were on Mountain Time. The measure is Senate Bill 533. Republican Rep. Allen Skillicorn, from East Dundee, is the House sponsor. He said time changes should be eliminated because they disrupt sleep patterns. There is no question that changing our clocks twice per year messes with our daily routines, he said in a statement. Ben Orner contributed reporting As a virtual assistant, my work is done largely from my at-home office and on my laptop. However, if you add in the few personal concierge clients I have, it means I occasionally have to get dressed in something other than sweats and a T-shirt, leave the comfort of my office chair and my fireplace, and physically go do the task at hand. For instance, Sacred Clay Inn Bed and Breakfast is a cross-over client. Websites, social media, guest relations, reservations, and recommendations for what can be found in our magical corner of Minnesota can all be performed and completed via email and phone. But, when it comes time to be the substitute breakfast chef or pick up our amazing Amish housekeepers, clearly that cannot be done over the Internet. Bellis, a client in the Twin Cities, is also close enough to travel to if necessary. Most of the tasks for this non-profit organization are done online as well, however, traveling to events and training is easily accomplished. Another client is Jenner Vacation Rentals. This business manages 10 vacation home rentals, all of which are owned by different owners. Jenner is based in California, on the Sonoma Coast, to be exact. Although most of the guest relations are handled through travel channels or direct email, I have been faced with so many questions, such as, "Where is the closest grocery store or coffee house?" "What beaches are dog-friendly?" "How far is it to Lake Tahoe, or this vineyard, or this state park?" You get the drift; the questions are endless. Jumping on a website that allows me to pop in a starting destination and ending destination has been the route to take, so I can easily answer the mileage and estimate the time it will take. However, when it comes to questions such as, "Where is the fire extinguisher?" How many stairs into the entrance?" "Is there a pan there large enough to roast a turkey?" I dont have instant answers, and have to find a housekeeper who does know and then relay the answer to the incoming guests. ADVERTISEMENT For months these types of questions have been frustrating me for two reasons. One, I do not know the answer, so I have to find out and that takes time. Two, if I were the incoming guest, I would love answers sooner or later for planning purposes, so when I have to delay my answer to them, I get a little fidgety, too. So, to solve this problem, I am embarking on my first "business trip" as a virtual assistant. Over these past few months, all these common questions have been added to the growing list in my notebook. It is time to be able to answer these questions based on first-hand knowledge! Who really provides the best customer service? People who know the answers! So, for five days, I plan on driving the coast to the local vineyards, finding the beaches with the best sea lion and whale sightings that also allow dogs, checking out where surfboards and kayaks can be rented, and everything in between. Did I mention coffee? Oh, yes, finding every single coffee house in the area is definitely on the list! Providing the best customer service should be top-of-mind for any person who talks to or interacts with potential or current customers. Whether they are booking a vacation or buying groceries, they will have questions. My personal goal? Being able to answer these questions quickly and with knowledge based on first-hand knowledge. A Mardi Gras party where residents were packed into a common room, danced and shared food may have sparked the deadly coronavirus outbreak at the Washington care home now at the center of the US crisis. Just three days before the first cases were confirmed, in a resident and an employee at Life Care Center, in Kirkland, the facility held a party last week. 'We were all eating, drinking, singing and clapping to the music,' said Pat McCauley, who was there visiting a friend. 'In hindsight, it was a real germ-fest.' Dozens of residents and visitors were packed together in a room, where they passed plates of sausage, rice and king cake around, and sang as a Dixieland band played 'When the Saints Go Marching In' at the purple-and-gold-festooned Mardi Gras party last week. Worried visitors told how the festivities took place despite the backdrop of a global health crisis and CDC officials warning that it was not a matter of 'if' but 'when' the virus would be active in US communities. Emergency personnel are pictured taking another person at the care home load a person into an ambulance on Thursday. Just three days before the first cases were confirmed in a resident and an employee at Life Care Center in Kirkland the facility held a party for its residents, which one visitor described as a 'germ-fest' Fears are also mounting that the outbreak could be far worse than official figures currently suggest, as one heartbroken daughter of a resident told how her mother also died in the home in the last week but has not yet been tested for coronavirus It has now emerged that in the days before it became ground zero for coronavirus, it had been business as usual at the site. Visitors continued to come and go, sometimes without signing in meaning it is now impossible to trace every individual who came into contact with residents. Some staff wore face masks, but the frail residents and their visitors who could have carried the virus into the home were not asked to do so. This comes as fears are also mounting that the outbreak could be far worse than official figures currently suggest, as one heartbroken daughter of a resident told how her mother also died in the home in the last week but has not yet been tested for coronavirus. The nursing facility has found itself at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak, with at least nine of the 17 US deaths from the virus being connected to the home. Investigators are trying to determine how coronavirus first got inside the nursing home and whether the 190-bed home was complacent in the lead-up to the outbreak, leaving its population of elderly and infirm people vulnerable to the deadly disease. Life Care has come under fire in the past for failing to control the spread of viruses, and was fined $67,000 last year over infection-control deficiencies following two flu outbreaks that affected 17 patients and staff. Several family members and friends who visited their loved ones at Life Care over the past few weeks told the AP they didn't notice any unusual precautions, and none said they were asked about their health or if they had visited China or any other countries struck by the virus. Pat and Bob McCauley, who visited a friend eight times in two weeks before the outbreak, said they noticed some staff members wearing face masks during a visit on Wednesday February 26, the day of the Mardi Gras party but didn't think much of it. They went to a common room with a half-dozen tables and began singing along with their friend as residents in wheelchairs bunched together to get clear view of the banjo, bass and washboard players. 'As it became more crowded, we helped move patients into seats, move wheelchairs into places between tables, holding doors, adjusting tables and chairs to accommodate wheelchairs,' said Pat. 'We had very close contact with numerous patients.' The majority of Washington state cases have been linked to the Life Care Center, which is now the subject of a federal investigation after it emerged that it has come under fire in the past for failing to control the spread of viruses Two days later, when the couple arrived for another visit, they realized the reason for the masks. A staff member told them at the door that they would have to wear ones themselves because a 'respiratory virus' had spread. The concerned couple said they turned around and went home. Lori Spencer, whose 81-year-old mother is at Life Care, said she also noticed the masks on a visit the day of the party. She said the place was a hive of activity that day: 'The hallways were crowded with people. The place was buzzing. All the doors to the rooms were open, and I could see there were multiple people in there. I kept thinking how people were on top of each other.' Spencer said that firefighters had just visited the place too, and there were student nurses on site as well. At least 27 firefighters and paramedics who responded to calls at the infected nursing home in the lead-up to the outbreak were tested for the virus on Tuesday. Dorothy Campbell, 88, is seen peering through the glass at her husband Gene, 89, who is trapped like a prisoner inside the Life Care Center nursing home in Kirkland, Washington State, as public officials try to contain the spread of the disease Dorothy is seen desperately trying to reunite with her husband of 60 years by speaking to him through the window of the care home which is now at the center of the US coronavirus outbreak where he is stuck inside A union representative for the firefighters said Thursday that all firefighters tested so far have come back negative for the coronavirus, but they want more testing. 'We're cooking together and eating together,' said Evan Hurley. 'Trying to actually trace this all back to who's been exposed is difficult.' Public health experts have slammed the facility for not taking any preventative measures in the lead-up to the outbreak. Dr. Mark Dworkin, an epidemiologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, said that in an outbreak like this, 'its not business as usual, so business as usual is not going to be OK.' 'There needs to be some sort of mobilization within the facility for enhanced adherence to procedures. Infection control and visitors logging in. These things need to be translated out across the country,' he said. Betsy McCaughey, chair of the nonprofit Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths, said that by the day the Mardi Gras party was held, the nursing home should have been doing more to protect its residents. 'All these nursing facilities hold parties,' she said. 'The issue is: Were attendees asked ahead of time, `How are you feeling? ... Have you traveled to one of the coronavirus hot spots? Has someone in your family traveled to a hot spot? Is there any illness in your family?'' McCaughey estimates 380,000 nursing homes residents die each year of infections, about half of them preventable. She said federal regulators are largely to blame for not holding nursing homes to the same standards as hospitals. While residents of nursing homes may need more social interaction than hospital patients, 'they shouldn't have to sacrifice their lives for it,' she said. As news came that the party may have been the hotbed for triggering such a rapid spread of the outbreak, more deaths and cases are likely to emerge connected to the home are likely to emerge. At least one other resident death has been confirmed in the last week and as yet is not being included in official figures for US coronavirus deaths. Patricia Herrick's 89-year-old mother died on Thursday at the home. The distressed daughter said she wants her mother tested to see if she died of the virus. Herrick said she noticed some staffers were wearing masks three days before the Mardi Gras party visit, but she didn't think much of it. She also said she walked right in that day without signing the visitors log. She said health officials should have banned nursing facilities from holding parties which could endanger so many lives: 'This is a wake-up call. There are holes in our system.' The loving couple's son Charlie Campbell, a retired registered nurse from Silver City, New Mexico, was pictured taking his mom up to the glass outside the elderly man's room to get a glimpse of him inside As the outbreak spread and her mother was taken ill, she told of her heartache at knowing her mother was caught in the epicenter of the outbreak, in a room so nearby but completely inaccessible. 'Knowing that she was in an environment that is dangerous and not being able to help... it was awful,' she said. Herrick had previously voiced concerns over her mother's health following the outbreak in an interview with the New York Times at the weekend. Her mother was at that time not taken ill but she was concerned she could die if the virus spread further throughout the home. 'The level of danger for her could be significant,' said Herrick at the time. 'She is 89 years old. It could take her.' The elderly woman's death raises questions over how many more coronavirus deaths have occurred at the home than the current figures show. Officials are also no closer to determining the initial cause of the virus entering the home. Charlie supported his mother as he held up a cellphone to the window to help the elderly lovebirds hear each other's voices The elderly man was pictured inside on a landline while his wife of 60 years spoke on their son's cellphone on the other side of the pane One theory is that someone who became infected overseas brought it to Washington state and passed it on to others. Ordinarily in nursing homes, bedridden patients have the virus brought to them by visitors or staff members who are sick. As of Friday, 69 residents remained at Life Care after 15 were taken to the hospital within the past 24 hours. King County Executive Dow Constantine said the state has offered to help families set up home care if they want to move their loved ones out. Dr. Stephen C. Morris, a University of Washington School of Medicine public health specialist who was sent into the nursing home to evaluate patients Thursday, said that in the midst of this crisis, the staff there needed help. 'They need nurses who are better trained. They need doctors who are better trained,' he said. The care home is now the subject of a federal investigation to see if it was culpable for the epidemic. Last April investigators said the facility had failed to ensure staff were trained in and followed 'transmission-based precautions' required under federal regulation. The nursing home pledged to provide training for staff on transmission precautions, controlling infections and hand hygiene and two months later said it was compliant with regulations. However, a Medicare health inspection rating ranked the facility just three out of five stars. Many residents trapped inside the facility have long-term and chronic health conditions, which makes them more vulnerable to the risks of the disease. Panicked relatives have been agonizing over trying to find out how their loved ones are faring at the home, which has gone into lockdown in efforts to stem the outbreak. An 88-year-old wife was pictured on Thursday attempting to communicate with her husband of 60 years through the window of the care home. In the heartwrenching photos, obtained by DailyMail.com, Dorothy Campbell is seen peering through the glass at her husband Gene, 89, who is trapped like a prisoner inside Life Care Center, as public officials try to contain the spread of the disease. Dorothy was seen desperately trying to communicate with her husband on Thursday, after the center banned visitors and sent its residents into quarantine inside. The loving couple's son Charlie Campbell, a retired registered nurse from Silver City, New Mexico, was pictured taking his mom up to the glass outside the elderly man's room to get a glimpse of him inside. The forlorn expression on Dorothy's face can be seen reflected in the glass as the couple clearly long to see each other. Charlie supported his mother as he held up a cellphone to the window to help the elderly lovebirds hear each other's voices. The elderly man was pictured inside on a landline while his wife of 60 years spoke on the cellphone on the other side of the pane. While their expressions reveal the pain of the separation - and the fears over the spread of the disease inside the home - the visit seemed to lift the spirits of the 89-year-old who smiled lovingly at his wife. Their son then helped his elderly mother - who was wearing slippers and walked with a cane - away as she bid her husband farewell, not knowing when they will be reunited again face to face. The US death toll from coronavirus rose to 17 Friday, after three new deaths were recorded in Washington state and Florida recorded its first two. Of the 17 deaths, 14 have been reported in Washington state. Thirteen of the Washington deaths have occurred in King County, which is where the nursing home is. One person died in nearby Snohomish County. It has not been confirmed if the latest victims were residents of Life Care. King County bought a $4 million motel and set up a coronavirus quarantine site made up of 'mini hotel room' trailers for infected patients on Thursday in desperate efforts to stem the spread. The majority of Washington state cases have been linked to the Life Care Center, after the county first confirmed two cases on Saturday in a resident and an employee at the home. Around 27 of the 108 residents and 25 of the 180 staff then began showing some symptoms of the virus. On Sunday, four new cases were confirmed, including a man who died, becoming the second confirmed death on US soil. The man in his 70s with underlying health conditions died at the Evergreen Health hospital in Kirkland on Saturday. This is the same hospital where a man in his 50s died on Friday night - the US's first coronavirus-related death. He has so far not been connected with the facility, although the hospital is based just two miles away. Cases and deaths in connection have Life Care Center continued to rise, with at least six of the US' fatalities from the disease being patients at the center, including two who died last week and were only confirmed posthumously. One of those residents, a male in his 50s, died last Wednesday after being taken to a Seattle hospital. A woman in her 80s, who was a resident of Life Care but was never hospitalized, died at her family home that same day. Washington state confirmed Thursday that another King County resident - a woman in her 90s - died from coronavirus on Tuesday. Three more people were reported dead in Washington state on Friday. The nursing home outbreak is also the source of the first confirmed case in North Carolina. A man in Wake County tested positive for the virus after visiting the care facility in Washington and then flying back home. In a statement on March 4, Ellie Basham, executive director of Life Care Center, said staff and residents were facing a 'challenging situation'. She said, despite the manifestation of the disease at the site, the center had 'not been provided testing kits, so we are relying on our local hospitals, the local and state health departments and the CDC to confirm cases'. At the weekend, the facility was slammed by worried families who claimed they were not being kept informed about the conditions of their loved ones. One distraught woman told how she had been kept in the dark over her husband's condition and treatment at the home and had only found out about the lockdown at the facility when she had gone to visit him at the weekend. At the weekend, the facility was slammed by worried families who claimed they were not being kept informed about the conditions of their loved ones. One distraught woman, Bonnie Holstad (above) has come forward blasting Life Care Center's handling of the outbreak, telling how she has been kept in the dark over her husband's condition and treatment at the home Bonnie Holstad said her husband Ken was staying at the facility after a fall caused by a broken hip but staff were refusing to speak to her about his condition. She said her calls to the center had gone repeatedly unanswered as she was desperate for news that he is okay after he had a cough. He also suffers from Parkinson's disease and dementia. Holstad stood outside the facility on Sunday with a sign saying: 'No one at Life Care is answering the phones. He needs to be attended to ... what is his temperature?' Holstad told CNN that after she protested, a nurse did then check on him and told her he didn't have a fever. 'I was so angry. How can this be that I have to do this, make a sign and go down there?' Holstad said. 'I'm very worried for my husband,' Holstad said. 'He's one of the vulnerable people,' because of his age and his Parkinson's disease. 'I have real problems with how they're handling the interface with family,' she said, remarking it was 'sort of like a movie about an epidemic in a little town, and they don't know how to handle the situation.' Holstad also said she only found out about the potential outbreak in the home when she arrived for a visit on Saturday and was turned away by a sign on the door saying no visitors allowed. She then got a message from the center telling her about the confirmed cases. Before then she had been told staff were wearing masks because some residents had colds. Holstad also said Sunday her husband had not been tested for coronavirus because he doesn't have all of the symptoms required for testing. Other concerned relatives of residents at the Life Care Center told The New York Times at the weekend that the center had been refusing to test sick patients for the deadly disease. Bridget Parkhill told how her elderly mother, a 77-year-old resident, had been sick for several days, but had not been taken to hospital or been tested for the virus. She said her mother was ruled out of being tested because she didn't have a fever or respiratory distress. 'I'm extremely worried,' she said. Michael Bloomberg, whose presidential campaign staff reportedly earned six-figure salaries, presumably as the best money could buy, also attracted greedy, thieving grifters, like flies to a pile. According to the Daily Caller: Staffers for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's failed presidential campaign say they went rogue and canvassed for Sen. Bernie Sanders after the Nevada debate debacle, The Nation reported Friday, citing anonymous sources. People who worked with the team knew the campaign was over after Sen. Elizabeth Warren blasted Bloomberg during the Feb. 19 debate in Nevada, the report noted. They also said they were met with hostility from voters on the campaign trail, according to The Nation's Ken Klippenstein. A dinner triangle was rung, word got out that the livin' was easy, and the worst of the worst came running to Bloomberg, who had no idea what hit him. Sound like a guy who can take on dictators as president? These were the most dishonest people out there. Instead of quitting the campaign when they decided it was over, they decided to steal from it instead, viewing Bloomie's money as free stuff and knowing an easy mark when they see one. They decided to politically cuckold Bloomberg by campaigning for Bernie on the side, effectively having Bloomberg subsidize Bernie's campaign. He ought to sue the bastards, but he's made zero noises in this direction. Bloomberg, after all, was paying massive salaries to his campaign machinery so much, in fact, that word got out, and other Democrats complained that he was hiring away all the best of the staff talent. Yet the most rapacious and greedy of them all were the leftists who hated Bloomberg most the notorious Bernie bros. They went out and took those high-salary jobs, snickered about fooling hapless Bloomie, and then campaigned for Sanders on the side. Were they the creeps who vandalized Michael Bloomberg's campaign offices? Did they use their perches inside the Bloomberg campaign to compile blacklists of Bloomberg staffers to harass, as they had said they would do? The Bloomberg campaign said they were pretty sure it was Bernie bros who did the vandalism, but no word about consequences for the perpetrators. This reflects badly on Bloomberg. Loyal staff are critical for the success of a campaign, but Bloomberg had calculated that if he just paid the staff enough, they'd stay loyal to him. What's obvious now is that not only can money not buy elections, but it can't even buy basic loyalty. It also suggests that Bloomberg is a bad steward of his own money. Normal people don't allow themselves to be robbed like this, but Bloomie just stands there and takes it, emboldening them to steal more This is the kind of stealing, in fact, that Hugo Chavez's minions used to do, looting the state oil company and shaking down Venezuela's businesses, going where the money was until there was nothing left to steal. Bloomberg should be furious about this kind of disloyalty and ask himself if leftists are the best sort of people to be associating with, given this news. He ought to be suing these Bernie bros for breach of contract and failure to deliver services. He's got the cash to come at them like a legal juggernaut, suing them for everything they've got as you know President Trump would, if the Bernie bros had pulled the same stunt around him. But nope, no word from Bloomberg, who's just a giant moneybag for the left's taking. Imagine Bloomberg, then, in power with the power of the purse. John Merline at Issues & Insights has ably pointed out how inefficient Bloomberg was with money in his campaign. Now there's this. If Bloomberg can't look out for his own billions without letting leftists roll him, why should the public trust him to handle theirs? More than anything, this might just explain why Bloomberg was never fit to become president. Image credit: Public domain. Anupam Kher is a big fan of Robert De Niro and his Instagram and Twitter account is full of love and praises for The Godfather actor. As such the veteran Bollywood actor, once again celebrated his birthday with Robert De Niro. Several reports suggest that Anupam Khers birthday with Robert De Niro is for the third time since 2018. Also Read | Anupam Kher Gets A Visit From His 'bachha' Abhishek Bachchan, Gives A Peak Into His House Anupam Kher's birthday celebration Anupam Khers birthday was marked with cutting the cake alongside Robert Di Niro in a plush restaurant named The Pierre, in New York City. In the video, Anupam Khers birthday cake is brought to him by close friends. Anupam Kher then sits next to Robert De Niro. He is seen thanking Robert as he accepted the birthday invitation. Anupam Khers birthday was made more special as he was humbled by Roberts attendance as per the video. Robert De Niro also asks Anupam to blow out the candles on the beautiful cake. Someone also prompts Anupam to make a wish in the background. Everyone present sings the birthday song as Anupam avidly reminds them to do so. Also Read | Anupam Kher Suggests People Use 'Namaste' Instead Of 'Handshake' Amid Coronavirus Outbreak Anupam Kher has turned 65 on March 7 and had sent an invitation to Robert De Niro. After the celebration, Anupam shared an elaborate post on both Instagram and Twitter thanking the Hollywood actor. Check out his tweet Nothing can be more magical for an actor than to be able to spend quality time on your birthday with the #GodOfActing #RobertDeNiro third year in a row. I am humbled that Mr. De Niro accepted my lunch invitation. It was magnificent. pic.twitter.com/wUHEUjffAu Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) March 7, 2020 Check out his Insta post Also Read | Anupam Kher Proud As Madhuri Kanitkar Becomes Third Woman To Hold Lieutenant General Rank Anupam Kher and Robert Di Niro were first acquainted on the sets of the film Silver Linings Playbook, which also starred Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper in pivotal leads roles. In 2018, as per reports, Robert Di Niro threw a bash for Anupam Kher's 63rd birthday. In 2019 as well, Anupam Kher spent some time with Robert on his birthday. Seems like the tradition continued in 2020 as well. Also Read | Anupam Kher's Song 'Dedicated To All The Baldies' Will Leave You In Splits; Watch Video (Photo : Screenshot from Youtube clip of Cosmos) When you think humanity has met its match in the form of a virus, you are forgiven for thinking that we are at a crossroads in our fate. Let the universe decide or push on and fight the good fight until the cure is found. What about a third option, the option to leave the planet and let itself heal and go live in other possible worlds. Exciting? Indeed. Read More: PlayStation's PSN Network is Offline And Players Are Anxious What The Show is All About National Geographic's Cosmos is like a breath of fresh air. It brings hope and a good dose of good news that would make anyone smile given these troubled times. Developed by Ann Druyan and Carl Sagan, and of course, hosted by none other than Neil deGrasse Tyson. Cosmos: Possible Worlds focuses on the exploration of humanity from our past, present, and future. The 1980 series has sparked the debate for complex topics that were shown on TV, and they are hoping to spark that interest once again to keep the masses focused on thinking of a brighter future than our bleak reality thus far. The difference now is it will be delivered with a sense of urgency, not like the original show because of the uncertain times. A Welcoming Heartfelt Encouragement For All Our friends over at Engadget talked to Druyan, and she said: "This season is based on my belief that we have what it takes to get to a really exciting future," which she added: "I base my belief on stories of the courage of our ancestors, the generations of searchers for the truth who have been willing to die, to stand up for what they believed was true. As well as the great migrations of generations that came before us. As Carl and I wrote earlier, we humans are capable of greatness. We all live in the long shadow of climate change and other environmental depredation." Read More: James Bond Using Nokia For No Time to Die? What Can We Expect From The Show This show is both as good as it gets when it comes to speculation, but at the same time serves as a reminder that we shape our destiny, us humans. The reason why Cosmos is a truly fascinating watch is that it cuts deep when speaking about topics such as man-made climate change, religious objections to evolution, and heliocentricism, all that and more without sounding like a broken record. To top it off, it creates computer-generated imagery on television, which they don't really compromise the quality of it all and just enhances the story to the next level. It also talks about political sway to science, may it be good or bad. For example, One of the episodes is dedicated to the famous Soviet scientist, Nikolai Vavilov, who developed and explored a theory of plant cultivation to solve the hunger crisis of Soviet Russia's hunger crisis-but falling out with Josef Stalin, who preferred the theories of another scientist, Trofim Lysenko. Vavilov, unfortunately, died of the very thing he wanted to prevent, starvation. This sacrifice, as well as his team of 28 protecting the Leningrad seed bank during the two year Nazi siege in World War ll, paved the way for Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, which happens to be a tightly knotted facility against global agricultural catastrophe. What Brings Us Hope Sustains Us Cosmos is one of the reasons that humans should strive to look to the future despite the bleakness of it all. Even a little ray of sunshine can sustain a flower and can still be able to survive. So do humans, grasping for straws and looking for a brighter future has always driven us forward, no matter the trials and trepidations. The show offers us the past deeds of our ancestors and people who believed in a brighter future, all we need to do is see it like how they did and keep on fighting for what we believe in. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. It is very appreciated and I intend to use it on junior staff, Mr. Hayden said in an interview from the bar at about 5:30 p.m., where his table of colleagues had instructed the waitstaff not to let the beer pitchers run dry. I did not know about this! Some operatives have already gone through the exercise twice, having jumped from one losing 2020 campaign to another. Such is life in a race where an unwieldy 28 Democrats ran for president, and only three remain. The first one I got was when Beto dropped out, said Aleigha Cavalier, who was former Representative Beto ORourkes national press secretary. Her friend, Hannah Bristol, a Warren aide, sent her an unsolicited $10 that day (For a drink or Nutella). Shes one of the younger, hipper people in my life, Ms. Cavalier, 32, said of Ms. Bristol, 27. Ms. Cavalier went on to work for Deval Patrick, the former Massachusetts governor, in his last-minute bid. When he quit in February, she got more cash via Venmo. So when Ms. Warren exited the race, she returned the favor. Were family, Ms. Cavalier said of a cross-campaign culture of respect. You take care of each other. Anecdotally, Democratic campaign professionals reported fewer funds flowing to aides of Mr. Bloomberg when he dropped out. After all, the self-funding multibillionaire had been treating aides to campaign-issued Apple laptops, catered meals, furnished Manhattan apartments and salaries that dwarfed the rest of the field. He spent more than $550 million on advertising alone. On Wednesday, Mr. Bloombergs team decamped to the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square after he quit the race. The former mayor himself showed up and stayed for hours, taking pictures with those who wanted them. There was no need for Venmo; the billionaires campaign covered the tab. The amount of money being deposited is not insignificant. Addisu Demissie, who was Senator Cory Bookers campaign manager, said he had sent out about $600 on Thursday. When Mr. Booker dropped out, he similarly received hundreds of dollars, all unsolicited. A separate bill is named Antons Law for Black, whose family pleaded for months for information from the Greensboro, Md., Police Department. It mirrors Carters bill in its changes to public disclosures; adds provisions to clarify when officers can use force; and strikes language in the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights that says only sworn officers can interview each other after use-of-force incidents. Trinh Thanh Hung, deputy director of the Science and Technology Department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, talks about the co-operation between his department and Vingroup to found the Vingroup Innovative Foundation (VINIF). The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Vingroup's Innovation Fund jointly co-sponsored the research project to fight COVID-19 in Vietnam. Source baochinhphu.vn Will you please explain the mission of the Vingroup Innovation Foundation in the fight against COVID-19 in Vietnam? After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus 2019-nCov in China, particularly when the first Vietnamese citizen was detected as the first case of COVID-19 in Vietnam, the Ministry of Science and Technology has provided regular updates about the pandemic in Vietnam as well as around the world. On January 1, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) organised a meeting with Vietnamese medical experts and leading scientists to discuss how to fight COVID-19 in Vietnam. Participants discussed and laid down four tasks for the Department of Science and Technology in the fight against COVID 19. Two of those were to develop a tool kit to detect the virus and conduct research on COVID 19 treatment. These two tasks were the most important in the course of diagnosis, treatment and developing a epidemiology of the COVID 19, the contagious source and the critical factor. Last but not least, virus cultivation and isolation for the manufacturing of drugs, vaccines and other related biological products. How have MOST and Vingroup been researching COVID-19 in Vietnam? The financial resources provided by Vingroup are very important. They will help raise Vietnams science and technology to a higher level and will also help create more added value for Vingroup itself. However, the recent project co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Innovation Fund is the first time the two parties have jointly co-sponsored an urgent need for society. The VINIF has arrived at a time of need. This is an example showing the Vietnamese ecosystem for science and technology and creativity has been developed with the participation of both private research units and financial support from enterprises. This demonstrates a spirit of high responsibility among Vietnamese enterprises and the Government. Can you tell us more about financial co-operation between private and public entities, particular at times like these? MOST leaders have developed a flexible policy to facilitate co-operation between scientists in case of emergency, including its financial mechanism. Based on that principle, the VINIF Fund did not have any demands from the agency and just let them use the money for the right purposes. Do you think such a mechanism will become common in Vietnam? We hope with lessons learned from the VINIF Fund, the MOST will encourage more similar activities in a near future. Right now, we have submitted to the Prime Minister a proposal to mobilise resources from society to invest in science and technology. This is a workable and effective way to pull more investment resources for science and technology when the country needs more capital for its development. VNS Vingroup pledges US$861,000 for coronavirus research in Vietnam Nearly VN20 billion (US$861,000) has been pledged by Vingroup to fund research projects on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Enterprise support around the corner With the coronavirus epidemic badly damaging business performance and undermining local production, Vietnam will officially launch a major support package to spur on businesses performance and ensure economic growth. Thom Browne is the master of combining athleisure cuts with luxury craftsmanship and a touch of fun. These navy track pants are an in-house classic made from pure cotton in Japan, they feature Brownes signature four bar configuration at the thigh. The difference here is the addition of a school of dolphins, jumping across in jacquard. 100% Cotton Elasticated Drawstring Waist 2 Pockets Engineered Branding Ribbed Trims Made in Japan South Africa has confirmed the second case of the novel coronavirus in the country. Recall that on Thursday, the country announced its first index case. In a new development, the Health Minister of the country, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, announced on Saturday that a 39-year-old woman from Gauteng, who was part of the same travel group to Italy as the first case, has been diagnosed with the virus. Also Read: Porn Sites Take Advantage Of Coronavirus With Sex Videos Of People Wearing Face Masks According to the minister, those who have returned to South Africa amongst those from the travel group to Italy are being tested. CHESTER Police have two suspects in custody and are searching for another in the Feb. 22 shooting death of 23-year-old Randy Maultsby, Chester DeputyPolice Commissioner Steven Gretsky announced Friday. Darin Shelton, 31, and Kyree Washington, 17, both city residents, are in custody and charged with criminal homicide, first-degree murder, aggravated assault, conspiracy and related offenses. Washington is being charged as an adult. Police are also searching for 26-year-old Linwood resident Jabree Robertson, who is also facing murder and related charges for his alleged role in the shooting. Gretsky said Robertson should be considered armed and dangerous. Officers responded to the area of West 7th and Lamokin streets at about 5:47 p.m. Feb. 22 for a report of a person shot. Officer Zachary Litvinenko was directed to a victim by bystanders, later identified as Maultsby. The victim was transported to Crozer-Chester Medical Center by ambulance for treatment, where he was later pronounced dead. Another male gunshot victim was also found and treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Crozer. Detectives from Chester and the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division launched a homicide investigation and developed Shelton, Washington and Robertson as suspects. Anyone who knows Robertsons whereabouts is urged to call 911 or contact Chester Detective Jamison Rogers at 610-723-7991 or jrogers290@chesterpolice.org, or Delaware County Detective Daniel McFarland at 610-891-4716 or mcfarlandd@co.delaware.pa.us. As a precautionary measure to control the spread of coronavirus in Karnataka, the state government has planned to suspend biometric attendance for the time-being at its offices, also in corporate and IT companies, Medical Education Minister DrK Sudhakarsaid on Saturday. He said the government has taken all precautionary measures to control the spread of the virus in the state. "Our Additional Chief Secretary has already spoken to IT companies yesterday on behalf of the government regarding guidelines that need to be followed, it is part of it...we will do it in the government also in the days to come," Sudhakar told reporters here. He was responding to a question about suspending biometric attendance at offices in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Asked about suspending biometric attendanceat government offices, he said, "we have planned to do it yesterday." Sudhakar said so far in Karnataka not even one case has been identified, to that extent we have been taking precautionary measures effectively. He said from villages to state capital Bengaluru at all levels the health department officials have been activated as part of the precautionary measures. Also, committees headed by Deputy Commissioners have been formed in all district, he added. "We have given certain guidelines to people. We have also included private hospitals. We have taken all precautionary measures to stop the virus from entering the state," he added. In response to a question regarding masks, the Minister clarified that those who have the symptoms of the disease only should use them. He said, "N95 masks are required only for those who have tested positive, there is not even a single positive case in the state so far...surgical masks that will have three layers can be used by those who have symptoms like cough, cold, fever." In the state as a precautionary measure 2,500 beds have been kept ready if the situation arises, despite not having a single case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) R-and-D experts test ideas in frigid Arctic Eagle 2020 exercise By Alaska National Guard March 6, 2020 FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska -- About 70 research and development experts participated in the Alaska National Guard's Arctic Eagle 2020 exercise in Fairbanks to explore innovative ways the military and emergency responders can do their jobs in arctic conditions. With over 600,000 square miles of diverse terrain and weather, Alaska presents numerous challenges for military members and first responders. "I think the dynamic weather is a factor that makes Alaska special and challenging," said Robyn Barbato, soil microbiologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory. "Add the logistics to bring things places; it's wide open here, the terrain is very different." Experts from the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force in Maryland; Federal Emergency Management Agency in California and Nevada; Defense Threat Reduction Agency; Department of Health and Social Services; Research Institute of Environmental Medicine; U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Alaska; International Personnel Protection; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers CRREL; Construction Engineering Research Laboratory; Canada TF-1; 39 Canadian Brigade Group; and 8th Homeland Response Force observed the CBRN Response Enterprise, Search and Extraction venue at the Combined Arms Collective Training Facility on Fort Wainwright Feb. 23-26. Some observers assessed how well equipment and processes worked in cold weather, while others tested new equipment and processes. U.S. Army Maj. Adrien Humphreys, chief of CBRN operations for the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, explained the importance of inviting researchers and scientists to the exercise. "The benefit of having the observers is that they get to see the capabilities of what they've worked on and how Soldiers are using them," Humphreys said. One of the challenges for researchers is getting hands-on experience with the equipment and the people they are creating it for. Barbato said her goal was to understand what military members are going through when working in the field. "We wanted to know what Soldiers do and how [we can] tailor our research to real needs," Barbato said. "Because we can dream up all these ideas, and we're really good at generating ideas. But the opportunity to see a mission exercise, to engage with the military, is invaluable." Jared Sapp, a science adviser with the CCDC, explained how field exercises like Arctic Eagle 2020 provide unique opportunities to evaluate new technology and refine innovative ideas. "These are some of the best venues to get equipment in the hands of our Soldiers, Marines, and Airmen," Sapp said. "With exercise participants dedicated to supporting that exercise, you can find time to use the equipment, to see how it functions, to get a first look at how technology might perform in the hands of a Soldier." New dry decontamination procedures were tested to confirm their effectiveness in cold weather. "Typically, we use a whole lot of water," said Marine Cpl. Stephanie O'Brien from the CBIRF. "But here in the Arctic, that's not possible without causing unnecessary harm to our casualties and ourselves." Another challenge faced by CBRN teams is the decontamination of K-9 search-and-rescue dogs. "For this exercise, we [conducted] dry DECON, which is a combination of vacuuming and wiping," O'Brien said. Although researchers and participants faced multiple challenges working in Alaska's cold weather, that didn't dampen their spirits. "The interactions with the different entities and having those one-on-one conversations, in addition to the other research observers, was fantastic," Barbato said. "I really use the word invaluable because I can't put it into words the knowledge I've gained by observing the exercise." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WASHINGTON - In the midst of one of the most daunting crises of his administration, President Donald Trump announced he had made a major staff overhaul, replacing his acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney with Republican Rep. Mark Meadows. While much of the country was focused on the spreading coronavirus, Trump announced the surprise reshuffle by Friday night tweet, saying Mulvaney would become the U.S. special envoy for Northern Ireland. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one, he wrote, thanking Mulvaney who never shook his acting title for having served the Administration so well. The long-rumoured move comes as Trump has been pulling together a team of loyalists and allies ahead of what is expected to be a bitter reelection fight. But the timing as his administration was already facing criticism over its handling of the outbreak threatened to exacerbate concerns about the governments ability to protect the nation from a virus that has now infected more than 100,000 people worldwide. Meadows will be Trumps fourth chief of staff in as many years. Mulvaney had been leading the administrations interagency response to the virus until Trump designated Vice-President Mike Pence to lead the whole-of-government effort more than a week ago. It was just one of a long series of downgrades for Mulvaney, whose relationship with Trump began to sour not long after he was named to the position in December 2018. Indeed, Trump had been eyeing the change for many months, according to people familiar with his thinking, but wanted to wait until after the impeachment saga was over to make his move. Meadows, the onetime leader of the House Freedom Caucus, is a longtime Trump confidant and sounding board, whose political instincts Trump respects. He announced last year that he would not be seeking reelection for his North Carolina House seat, and said he expected to join Trumps team in some capacity, though it was not clear in what role. He was officially offered the job Thursday, according to one of the people familiar with the matter, who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the changes publicly. Mulvaney was informed Friday. Some outside advisers had cautioned Trump that making such a high-profile switch during the coronavirus crisis would rattle markets craving stability, and his decision to make the announcement after Wall Street had closed Friday was partly informed by those concerns, the people said. First elected in the post-Tea Party wave of 2012, Meadows quickly established himself as a leader of a new generation of conservative Republicans on Capitol Hill. He served as chairman of the unyielding Freedom Caucus, and his antics in the House helped spur Speaker John Boehners sudden retirement. As Trump ascended in 2016, Meadows switched from his earlier backing of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and urged on by his wife joined the Trump train. Since then he has proven himself an unwavering Trump ally. A skilled negotiator, Meadows is seen as both a leader and an outlier among Republicans on Capitol Hill. Meadows was central to talks on the failed effort to repeal Obamacare and pass the GOP tax cuts. But in many ways, he remains his own counsel, with a skill set and status that may serve him well in Trumps White House. Meadows has also made clear to the White House and those close to the president that he has no plans to try to rein in Trump, as others like Mulvaneys predecessor, retired four-star Gen. John Kelly have tried and failed to do. Having seen how Kellys efforts to impose military order had grated on Trump and antagonized outside allies, Mulvaney, a former congressman from South Carolina, took a laissez-faire approach, making clear he believed his job was to manage the staff and not the president. He adopted the Let Trump be Trump mantra that had served others in Trumps orbit well and focused instead on trying to boost staff morale and wooing lawmakers at the Camp David presidential retreat. But while he never irritated Trump and outside allies, Mulvaney had been relegated to the sidelines even before a disastrous mid-October press conference in which he insisted quid pro quo was normal when it came to foreign policy, undercutting the presidents position that there was no such thing in his dealings with Ukraine. Still, his allies had repeatedly brushed off rumblings of his imminent departure and had said as recently as last month that he planned to stay at least through the election in November. Trump had other plans. Ever since he was acquitted by the Senate on the impeachment charges, Trump has been on a tear to rid his administration of those he deems insufficiently loyal. And he has been assembling a team of trusted confidants as he prepares for a tough reelection fight. Still, one person close to Mulvaney insisted he was pleased with the decision to bring in Meadows, noting the two were friends and had served together on the Freedom Caucus. Indeed, they said Mulvaney had raised the idea of Meadows as chief of staff before Trump had tapped Mulaney for the job, and said he discussed the plan with Trump following his trip to India last week. ___ Lemire reported from New York. Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report. Inside Hook As the last few weeks have show, the effects of the coronavirus are being felt in places far removed from hospitals and research facilities including the cancelation of this years SXSW and a host of safety measures enacted for sporting events in Italy. Another area that the coronavirus might impact is automotive and on Friday at Jalopnik, Tom McParland explored the question of whether or not it would affect car prices. McParland notes that the effects of the coronavirus on car-buying seems to differ from country to country; as of now, its had a more serious effect in China than in the United States. Pas de seance normale pour les deputes mais la suite des discours sur la motion de Tania Diolle qui sera precede par la Private Notice Question du Leader de lOpposition. 1. Announcements 2. Papers 3. Question 4. Motion The Honourable Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister for Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity That all the business on todays Order Paper be exempted from the provisions of paragraph (2) of Standing Order 10. 5. Statements by Ministers 6. Motion The Honourable Fourth Member for Belle Rose and Quatre Bornes (Mrs M. A. T. Diolle) That an Address be presented to the President of the Republic of Mauritius in the following terms We, the Members of the Mauritius National Assembly, here assembled, beg leave to offer our thanks to the President of the Republic of Mauritius for the Presentation of the Government Programme 2020-2024 on the occasion of the Opening of the First Session of the Seventh National Assembly. (Resumption of Debate) Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires For more than a year after the United States entry into World War I on April 2, 1917, there was a disconnect between the way the War Department wanted to staff essential communications positions and what was best for their mission. At the time, telephone communication was the most efficient, secure way for officers in the field to talk to each other faster than telegraphy, more secure than radio. As the telephone had become common in American homes and workplaces, telephone operating the task of connecting caller with receiver had become a gendered occupation with women accounting for approximately 99 percent of the more than 140,000 operators in the United States, writes Jill Frahm, author of The Hello Girls: Women Telephone Operators with the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I. Although skill in this area was in the hands of women, the all-male military in the early 1900s resisted hiring women, doggedly attempting to recruit men for a job which few were prepared or suited to do. In an article in the San Antonio Light on July 28, 1918, the U.S. Army Signal Corps at Fort Sam Houston called for telephone switchboard men for service at home, suggesting the men who had received some injury that rendered them ineligible for fighting could take their place at the switchboard. When they did, it didnt necessarily go well. Soldiers tried to serve as operators, but they were not motivated or skilled enough to work at the speed required by the Army, Frahm wrote in her book. By contrast, female operators trained by private phone companies were used to handling 250-350 calls per shift, responding to emergency calls and picking up the pace by helping other operators during times of heavy call volume. The need for smooth, fast communication was particularly acute at the scene of the fighting in France, where the Army had tried enlisted men who often were unhappy as well as poorly suited to the work and French female operators who werent used to American expectations of businesslike efficiency. To speed up and improve contact between officers on the front lines, Gen. John J. Pershing, a former commander of Fort Sam who became commander of the American Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front, requested the help of experienced, professional operators. The U.S. Army Signal Corps placed ads in newspapers all over the country, including this one, almost weekly from late 1917 through October 1918, announcing that Telephone operating was a necessary public service. AT&T, the largest company training telephone operators, helped evaluate the thousands of applications that poured in and chose the first members of the U.S. Army Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit, who went to work in January 1918. The most elite of these new war workers were the experienced operators who were bilingual in French and English, enabling French and American officers to talk to each other through simultaneous translation. Despite some initial concerns about women being too emotional to serve in a war zone, the uniformed operators asked for no special treatment and stayed at their posts even when shells came in through the windows. They worked long shifts and stayed patient with men who called just to hear a female voice. While the operators who served in France are the best known, they were on duty stateside as well. The Kelly Eagle, newspaper of Kelly Field (later AFB, now Port San Antonio), reported that 22 Hello Girls (a media nickname) were soon to greet Kelly Field men as they operated the largest Army camp switchboard in the United States in a former headquarters building remodeled as a telephone center. The installation handled 5,000 calls a day. With new equipment and female operators instead of unwilling soldiers, It is anticipated that the percentage of irascible telephone users will decrease considerably, as the facilities will allow of all calls handled expeditiously. Ten operators worked each shift at a state-of-the-art switchboard, thus relieving enlisted men who used to do the job. Every provision will be made for the comfort of the women workers on the field, reported the Light, June 17, 1918. In the renovated building off Frio City Road, the female workers were given their own rest rooms, dressing room and a screened porch. The telephone operators would be joined by female nurses, the first to staff Kellys infirmary. Before the appointment of both groups of women, Kelly Field has had men for all manner of work, the newspaper reported. The operators service ended with the war, but their bravery some received military decorations helped pave the way for women to become full members of the Army, Frahm said. When the Womens Army Auxiliary Corps was formed in 1942, telephone operating was one of the first jobs authorized for women. The women of U.S. Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators Unit are among the female trailblazers and innovations whose stories have been collected and studied by the historians of the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri, which provided the Kelly Eagle coverage. These pioneers also have been memorialized in recent years with a musical play, nonfiction books and a novel. The Hello Girls, a documentary film, is available on Amazon Prime Video. historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn Two suspected coronavirus patients undergoing treatment at a hospital here were "high viral-load cases", the Jammu and Kashmir administration said on Saturday, while announcing an immediate suspension of all biometric attendance in the Union territory. The administration also announced the closure of all primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts till March 31, an official spokesperson said. "The test reports of the two suspected coronavirus patients were received, which spoke of them being high viral-load cases. There is a high probability of their testing positive for the infection," the spokesperson said. He added that both the patients were kept in isolation at the Government Medical College, Jammu. "They are stable and all protocols are being followed," the spokesperson said. The two patients with a travel history to coronavirus-hit Italy and South Korea had fled the hospital's isolation ward on Wednesday shortly after their admission, but were brought back within hours. Their samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. The government appealed to the public to fully cooperate wherever quarantine was advised. "All primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts will be closed till March 31 with immediate effect," the spokesperson said. The final examinations are underway in most of the schools in the region. Officials said the exams were likely to be rescheduled after the opening of the schools. The government also announced an immediate suspension of all biometric attendance in the Union territory till March 31, the spokesperson said, while advising people not to panic as adequate measures were put in place to meet the challenge. Jammu and Kashmir has been put on alert to deal with any threat emerging from COVID-19 as around 200 people with a travel history to coronavirus-affected countries or who had contacts with people from such countries have been identified. Nearly two dozen suspected cases have been tested in the Union territory till date but no positive case has been reported so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australian flags were waved, streamers were thrown and a Waltzing Matilda sign was held high in support of Queensland's fire heroes who battled the devastating bushfires this summer. Firefighters, military personnel and volunteers proudly marched in Brisbane's CBD for the ticker-tape parade on Saturday morning. Queenslanders supported the ticker-tape parade in Brisbane's CBD in support of Queensland's fire heroes. Credit:Jocelyn Garcia But despite their bravery, they outnumbered the small turnout of cheering supporters. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was also absent. Proud mother Nadine drove from the Sunshine Coast to see her son, who was in the army reserve, march among emergency services. A dacoit was arrested from Assam's Nagaon district and a cache of arms and ammunition seized from his possession on Saturday, police said. Acting on a tip-off, the police personnel conducted a search operation in Choto Rupahi area and arrested Saidul Islam, an active member of a dacoit gang, they said. A 7.65 mm pistol with one magazine and five rounds of ammunition were recovered, a senior police officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fourth International Diabetes Summit 2020 was inaugurated on March 6, 2020 at JW Marriot Hotel Pune. Lt Gen Dr Madhuri Kanitkar (Deputy Chief of Integrated Defense Staff under the Chief of Defense Staff) was the Chief Guest and Dr Bhushan Patwardhan (Vice-Chairman, University Grants Commission, New Delhi) was the Guest of Honour. At the time of the inauguration, Vikram Chellaram- CEO of Mordril Properties, Prakash Bhoopatkar - Trustee and Vice-Chairman of Chellaram Foundation and Group, Dr Unnikrishnan AG - Endocrinologist and CEO of Chellaram Diabetes Institute and Dr Anil Pandit - Chief Medical Director of Chellaram Diabetes Institute shared the dais. The three-day conference was started with Shree Ganesh Aarti and Lamp Lighting Ceremony. Dr AG Unnikrishnan (Endocrinologist and CEO of Chellaram Diabetes Institute) , Prakash Bhoopatkar (Trustee and Vice-Chairman of Chellaram Foundation and Group), Lt General Dr. Madhuri Kanetkar (Deputy Chief of Integrated Defense Staff under the Chief of Defense Staff), Dr Bhushan Patwardhan (Vice-Chairman, University Grants Commission, New Delhi), Vikram Chellaram (CEO of Mordril Properties), Dr Brig A P Pandit (Chief Medical Director of Chellaram Diabetes Institute) The three-day International Diabetes Summit will be held from March 6 to 8 2020 in Pune. In these three days, Over 2000 delegates are expected to attend this conference. Eminent international speakers and over 50 renowned faculty members from India are speaking at the summit. International Diabetes Summit will help to throw new light on diabetes management. At the time of inauguration 'The Handbook of In-patient Glucose Management' book released by Lt Gen Dr Madhuri Kanitkar and Dr Bhushan Patwardhan. During the fourth International Diabetes Summit 2020, renowned international doctors and researchers spoke on advances and advancements in the field of diabetes. "Education is not reaching out to improve public health & research is not being benefitted so unless three-part of triangle - education on one end, research is on other and public health in the third corner. Dr. Kanitkar highlighted Chellaram Diabetes Institute is doing the same automation, innovation & scientific approach to make this continuous circle," said Lt Gen Dr Madhuri Kanitkar. "Diabetes is slow killing epidemic, should be treated seriously, find time for yourself & take care of yourself because the lifestyle of today is very stressful," she added. She ended with Chinese proverb "Average doctors treat, better doctor diagnose and best doctors prevent so let's reach out & prevent diabetes." "Diabetes is not life-threatening but it can also lead to a better life with the right advice. This conference is helping to the conference is nothing short of doing a marriage, you are marrying academics with clinical practice and this conference is that marriage. Healthy habits & exercise along with the newest technology and knowledge will minimize the risk of diabetes," said CEO and Chief Endocrinologist of Chellaram Diabetes Institute, Dr A G Unnikrishnan, while speaking at the inauguration. "Diabetes is increasing in epidemic proportions worldwide. Giving treatment to diabetes patients is helpful but educating them about diabetes gives a multiplication effect. It is very important to do these kinds of conferences because it reaches many people. The need of the hour is to empower health care providers with basic and advanced diabetes care expertise for better management of diabetes and its associated complications," said Dr. Bhushan Patwardhan, (Vice-Chairman, University Grants Commission, New Delhi), while sharing his views on health in India. "Insulin gives only 20 per cent effect for diabetes patient the rest is given by patient education and not only by treatment," he added. The Chellaram Diabetes Institute (CDI), well known for its commitment towards the fight against Diabetes, had organized International Diabetes Summits for three consecutive years with huge success. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese activists say domestic violence cases have risen dramatically as people across much of the country have been quarantined during the coronavirus outbreak. Why it matters: As International Women's Day approaches this year, China is reneging on its constitutional commitment to gender equality. The trend highlights poor enforcement of China's new domestic violence law, and the rise of state-sanctioned patriarchy under a Communist Party that once stood for radical gender equality. What's happening: The epidemic has had a huge impact on domestic violence, Wan Fei, the founder of an anti-domestic violence nonprofit in Jingzhou, a city in Hubei Province, told Sixth Tone, a news outlet in China. The number of domestic violence cases reported to a nearby police station had tripled in February, compared to the same period the previous year, Wan said. Yet activists said Chinese police were not taking the cases seriously, leaving women to fend for themselves amid quarantines. Domestic violence is a widespread problem in China, as it is in many countries. According to a November 2016 survey by the All-China Women's Federation, 30% of married Chinese women had experienced some form of domestic violence. China passed its first domestic violence law in 2016, after years of advocacy by activists. The law created new protections for women, including restraining orders and mandatory early intervention. But the law has been poorly enforced. That's in part because of the Chinese Communist Party's growing belief that political stability, its top obsession, begins in the home. "Government pressure for institutions to help maintain 'social stability' a paramount political priority is also an important factor in the drive by courts to 'preserve family harmony' at any cost to women," wrote Yaqiu Wang, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, in Nov. 2018. In a 2018 case that drew international attention, a judge in Chengdu denied a woman's petition for divorce from her abusive husband, saying that marriage was a "traditional value." "Theres this notion that a harmonious society is based on a harmonious marriage and family," Leta Hong Fincher, author of "Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China," told Axios. The party believes that "it would be destabilizing if all these victims of sexual or domestic violence were to find recourse in the courts," Hong Fincher said. "The government thinks it would lead to chaos." That's ironic in a country where gender equality is enshrined in the constitution. "All the way to the end of 1970s, they had extraordinarily high rates of women's participation in the labor market," said Hong Fincher. That equality began to decline after China's economy took off after "reform and opening," beginning in the late 1970s. In recent years, the Chinese government has waged an explicit campaign to get women back in the home, in part out the hope that they would bear more children and boost China's slowing birth rate. Where things stand: Vestiges of the Chinese Communist Party's former commitment to gender equality do remain. High level of poverty exists in the Northern Province By Jayampathy Jayasinghe View(s): View(s): Although the conflict in the Northern Province ended almost 10 years ago there is still a high level of poverty and low level of productivity especially in the farming and fisheries sectors with soaring unemployment. This was stated by Dr. Thomas Kring, Chief Technical Advisor of the ILO at a workshop held at the Movenpick Hotel in Colombo this week under the topic, Bottlenecks for the Private Sector Investment in the Northern Province. We are working with the cooperatives network in the North and also with micro enterprises to strengthen and improve productivity of the women work force. We will be able to sustain this kind of work only if we can attract investments to the North, he said. Dr. Kring said investments are a milestone for economic growth especially for small investments to grow. We are also happy to have private sector participation to find solutions for bottlenecks in the Northern Province. The Bottlenecks for Private Sector Investment in the Northern Province project started in 2011, he said Nihal Devagiri, ILO National Project Coordinator for the Local Empowerment through Economic Development (LEED) said the Northern Province project is funded by the Governments of Australia and Norway and will run until 2022. The main objective of the project is to create sustainable and decent employment for people who live in vulnerable situations in the Northern Province. We are planning to expand this project to other parts of the country viz the district of Anuradhapura and other provinces based on request. We also want to form a partnership with the cooperative network in the Northern Province and work with the micro enterprises in the North with the women folk. He said the economy in the Northern Province is based on agriculture with a small market that limits income generation. The growth of the SMEs in the North is also hampered as a result of the mindset of people who do not wish to collaborate with new projects being launched in these areas. There is also stiff competition between the private and the cooperative sector which can result in the death of the later. However big companies in Sri Lanka have also brought in new technology and investment to the Northern Province. The poverty level of women in the North is extremely high, along with disabled persons, he added. Arjuna Herath of Ernst and Young Consultants thanked the ILO for commissioning Ernst and Young to do a feasibility study on issues affecting the Norths SME businesses. He said that many private sector investors had expressed that the size of the Northern Province is not an attractive market with a population of 1.2 million people for export purposes. The lack of cold storage facilities for perishable goods can be a challenge although the road network has improved. Air frequency to the north is not good enough for businessmen who want to fly, up and down, on the same day, he added. Rodney Fernando of Ernst and Young also made a presentation. Ranchi, March 7 : Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad's supporters have opposed the setting up of an isolation ward at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Jharkhand's capital to quarantine suspected cases and treat those who test positive. Lalu's supporters contended that many persons daily visited the RJD leader on the first floor of the Paying Wing and location of the isolation wing on its third floor would endanger his life. The decision to set up the isolation wing comprising 18 rooms came on the Jharkhand government's orders in the wake of increased vigil against coronavirus across the country. Meanwhile, RIMS Director Dinesh Kumar Singh said that the hospital had ordered for 20,000 masks to handle the situation. He said that apart from precautions like washing hands and avoidance of crowded places, people also have to guard against rumours about the disease. He maintained that Jharkhand's residents need not worry since no coronavirus case had been reported in the state or neighbouring states. Health Department's senior officers on Friday inspected the ward, during which a drill was also held to show the protocol to be observed by doctors and paramedical staff whenever a suspected case was admitted there. The remains of six bodies found in Guerrero may shed some light on the disappearance of 43 male students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers College in September 2014, according to an article by Mexico News Daily. Speaking to reporters outside the National Palace in Mexico City after meeting with relatives of the victims on Thursday, Deputy Interior Minister for Human Rights Alejandro Encinas said that the remains were delivered to forensic investigators at the University of Innsbruck, Austria on Monday. According to Encinas, the remains of three of the bodies were found in a ravine located on community-owned land in the municipality of Cocula, while the other remains were found near the city of Iguala in an area known as Jesus de Nazaret. The students went missing in Iguala on September 26, 2014, after buses they had commandeered to travel to a protest in Mexico City were ambushed by municipal police. According to the former federal government's version of events, the students were killed by members of the Guerreros Unidos gang after they were handed over to them by corrupt municipal police. The statement also claimed that Guerreros Unidos who allegedly mistook the students as members of a rival gang, burned their bodies after killing them in the Cocula municipal dump, then scattered the ashes in a nearby river. As a result of new investigations conducted by the Federal Attorney General's Office (FGR) collapses the so-called "historical truth," Encinas said on Thursday. He added that the previous government's version of events was built on "torture and simulation." While the government has rejected the former administration's version of events, President Lopez Obrador has not offered his own alternative conclusion even after 15 months in office. Apart from the remains sent to the University of Innsbruck - whom researchers previously identified two of the missing students after conducting DNA testing on bone fragments - Encinas said that authorities also discovered remains in a cave contaminated by bat feces. The findings will also be subject to analysis, he said. Although the deputy minister said there is no definite date as to when results will be available, he assured the public that the government will announce the findings as soon as results arrive. Vidulfo Rosales, a lawyer for the students' families, said that since criminal cases related to the students' disappearance are currently being heard by several courts, each of the case is subject to the courts' respective criteria. "All it does is delay access to justice for the mothers and fathers," he said. For their part, the parents asked Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero to investigate the Federal Police and municipal police from Huitzuco, Guerrero, which borders Iguala, for the crimes of forced disappearance and torture. Two days after he was sworn in as president in December 2018, Lopez Obrador signed a decree to create a super commission who will hold a new investigation into the Ayotzinapa case and has pledged that his government will not rest until they find the bodies of the missing students. Since 2014, the number of homicides in the country has been increasing, according to a report by Latin Post. Based on the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) data, the number of people killed in 2018 was more than four times that in 2007. Moreover, the figures for the first nine months of 2019 suggest that this year's homicide rate could surpass that of last year. As of January 2019 data, there have been 40,000 people reported missing in Mexico since 2006, including the students from Ayotzinapa. (Fixes typo in byline) By Yereth Rosen ANCHORAGE, March 6 (Reuters) - The world's most famous dog racing contest gets underway on Saturday when 57 mushers and their canine teams line up in downtown Anchorage to start the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, with expectations for heavy snow on the trail this year. The untimed and ceremonial 11-mile (18-km) jaunt in Alaska's biggest city will kick off the 1,000-mile race into the wilderness. Timed competition starts Sunday in the small community of Willow north of Anchorage. The winner is expected in the Bering Sea town of Nome about nine days after that. The winner will take home about $55,000, with the exact amount yet to be determined, and a new truck, said Chas St. George, the Iditarods chief operations officer. All mushers can expect an epic amount of snow on the trail this year, said Mark Nordman, the races director and marshal. In recent years, Iditarod racers have contended with unusually warm winter conditions that left parts of the trail bare. Not so in 2020, thanks to a reversion to cold winter weather. The snow in many places is well over my head, Nordman said at a news conference on Wednesday. Bountiful snow brings its own challenges, including increased risks of encounters with moose that prefer packed-down snow to walking through deep drifts, Nordman said. Other challenges for the Iditarod have been the loss of corporate sponsors and continued attacks from animal-rights activities. On Monday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals took credit for convincing Alaska Airlines, a 40-year Iditarod sponsor, to end its support of the race after this year. "PETA and every kind person opposed to cruelty to dogs is flying high over Alaska Airlines' decision to stop sponsoring the Iditarod," Tracy Reiman, PETAs executive vice president, said in a statement. Rob Urbach, who took over as chairman of the Iditarod race committee after six years at the helm of USA Triathlon, said PETA is portraying the sled dog race inaccurately. Its totally fake news. Its a huge disinformation campaign, he said. Story continues The Iditarod has created new ways to bring in revenue and fans, such as an Iditarod Trifecta that allows people to bet on the race outcome, and an expansion of its online video subscription service, he said. That service is gaining users far from Alaska. Were seeing good numbers out of China, he said. (Reporting by Yereth Rosen; Editing by Bill Tarrant and Paul Simao) There are emerging symptoms that President Muhammadu Buhari may not save the embattled national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, from being removed from office in the storm of the prevailing conflicts in the party despite his visit to the President at the State House, Abuja, on Thursday. Sources from the APC National Secretariat told National Daily that there is higher probably that the president may dump Oshiomhole and align with the decision of majority APC stakeholders. The party sources revealed that 15 of the 21 APC governors have resolved that Oshiomhole must go, adding that the governors have greater supporters in the APC in the struggle to dethrone the national chairman; and possibly return the APC national chairman to the southwest. Another party source told National Daily that President Buhari is also conscious of the petition against Justice A. Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Kano by a legal practitioner, Andrew Adaze Emwant, to the National Judicial Council (NJC), for investigation and sanctioning of the judge for misconduct. Emwant had in the petition identified that the misconduct occurred on March 5, 2020, a day wherein the Judge, as Presiding Judge in Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/53/2020 between Aliyu Muhammad Rabiu v. All Progressives Congress & 4 others, a suit that was filed on March 4, 2020, but hearing was clandestinely fixed for March 5, 2020; then an interim injunction granted by the Judge on March 5, 2020, all within 24 hours. The petitioner pointed out that the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Jabi, Abuja, presided by Justice Danlami Senchi, had granted a similar interlocutory order on March 4, 2020 restraining the 2nd ,4th and 5th Defendants in the suit No. FHC/KN/CS/53/2020, upon which the Judge granted his own order. The petitioner protested that the interlocutory order granted by the Abuja High Court sitting in Jabi was well publicized. Emwant further pointed out that Oshiomhole had filed an application for stay of execution before the Abuja High Court that made the order; noting that Oshiomhole also filed an appeal against the decision on that same day. The petitioner reiterated that these were also well publicized. Emwant, therefore, declared: That the interim order hurriedly granted by the Judge is the source and cause of the current transition crisis within the APC; adding that, there appears to be two conflicting Court orders from two courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction on the same subject. The transition crisis culminated into leadership devastation in the ruling party. The party sources were of the view that President Buhari would not want to associate himself with judicial fraud or illegalities. They maintained that the judgement of the Federal High Court, Kano, which precipitated the dragging of the judge to the NJC raises suspicion of judicial fraud, which they said the president will not want to support. They stated that President Buhari had at the last APC NEC meeting assured to support only processes that comply with the rule of law and the prescriptions of the party constitution. The Director-General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman, had earlier advised the APC leadership to invoke the provisions of Article 17 (vi) of the partys Constitution to appoint an acting Chairman in place of Oshiomhole until the conflicts are resolved. He argued out the basic procedures of decision making on the subject matter including the convening off NEC meeting. APC leaders appear to have accepted the Progressives Governors Forum DG arguments and recommendations, thus, decided to convene an emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC), on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. APC Deputy National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom, had announced the convocation of an emergency meeting. On Friday. Giadom had indicated in the statement that he singed as the partys Acting National Secretary; thus, displacing Arch. Waziri Bulama who was appointed National Secretary on Wednesday. Clearly, President Buhari has since the recent conflicts erupted in the APC, remained calm, and declined to intervene. However, the President has overtime received numerous written complaints against Oshiomhole, including pressures to sack the embattled APC national chairman. Meanwhile, March 17 is a date everyone is waiting for to know where the President stands. PV: 0 Following in the footsteps of New York, New Jersey and California, Virginia has become the fourth state and first Southern state to ban hair-based discrimination. The monumental move has been in the works for a while, after passing Virginia Senate and House of Delegates last month. The bill will officially prohibit organizations to discriminate against anyone over their natural hair or hairstyles. For years, companies have unjustly targeted and fired Black employees, deeming natural hairstyles, including cornrows, braids, Afros twists and dreadlocks, "unprofessional." While no clear federal law exists yet, a Southern state making such a move could mean a positive step towards banning such practices nationwide. Related | New York Becomes Second State to Ban Hair Based Discrimination Virginia's governor, Ralph Northam, who signed House Bill 1514, said that the law will also help children who are might previously be sent home from school because of their hair. "This is not only unacceptable and wrong, it is not what we stand for in Virginia," he said. "This bill will make our commonwealth more equitable and welcoming for all." "A person's hair is a core part of their identity," Delores McQuinn, a Virginia state delegate and the bill's lead sponsor, told local TV station WHSV. "Nobody deserves to be discriminated against simply due to the hair type they were born with, or the way in which they choose to wear it." The Crown Act is currently being reviewed by 13 other states that are also considering similar legislation. Photograph: Broadimage/REX/Shutterstock Joe Biden is back. Following Super Tuesday, he is now the clear frontrunner to win the Democratic primary and face off against Donald Trump in November. But the race isnt over yet, and the risk now is that a drawn-out and contentious primary could harm the partys eventual nominee, be it Biden or progressive favorite Bernie Sanders. It is imperative that the process come to an end as soon as one candidate has a prohibitive lead, and that Democrats begin to unite around their nominee. Tuesday nights results make it look increasingly likely that Biden will be that nominee. Sanders victories were confined to the west and his home state of Vermont, with Biden notching up wins everywhere else. Sanders is in the lead in slow-counting California, but it appears that Biden won at least 15% of the vote, meaning he is above the viability threshold necessary to receive delegates and will eat into Sanders delegate haul there. Biden also prevailed in Texas, the other big prize of the night. Related: Joe Biden saw a stunning Super Tuesday surge, while Bernie Sanders hit a brick wall | Rachel Bitecofer Sanders inability to land a killer blow on Super Tuesday matters because it was supposed to be his night. His strength among Latino voters a set of communities in which he has invested enormous outreach and attention since 2016 was meant to combine with his ability to turn out young progressives to deliver a resounding victory. And Sanders needed that victory because the states still to vote are demographically and ideologically less favorable to him, suggesting he will struggle to make up lost ground. Perhaps the most disappointing ongoing story for Sanders is his inability to turn out the new voters on whom he has premised his whole theory of victory. There have been large increases in turnout in several primary states so far, but with the exception of Nevada the gains have largely accrued to Sanders opponents. In Virginia a swing state turnout nearly doubled compared to 2016, but Biden beat Sanders by a more than 2-1 margin. If Sanders cannot turn out new voters to make up for the moderates he alienates, it is clear he would lose badly against Trump in November. Story continues What should Sanders do now? Luckily, his interests going forward align with those of the party if only he can be persuaded to see it that way. So far, Sanders has failed to expand his appeal beyond the partys left wing. His attempt to turn the primary into a referendum on the Democratic establishment has backfired, with many voters showing that they are more comfortable lining up behind the establishment than Sanders insurgency. If he has any chance of bouncing back, Sanders needs to quit the divisive rhetoric and begin appealing to different wings of the party. This would not only be strategically wise in the primary it would also show the sort of flexibility required to win in November. If he has any chance of bouncing back, Sanders needs to quit the divisive rhetoric and begin appealing to different wings of the party Even if Sanders ultimately loses the primary, the beginning of a process of reconciliation will go a long way to helping Democrats beat Trump. Biden is a flawed candidate, and one of his main problems in November will be his difficulty convincing the left wing of the party to turn out to vote for him. For prominent leftwing figures to intensify rhetoric implying that the nomination is somehow being unfairly stolen from Sanders by the establishment is to recklessly endanger the partys chances in November. If such rhetoric was a viable path to a Sanders candidacy and perhaps to victory against Trump, it was perhaps defensible. But it is clear that it no longer is. What is instead required from the left right now is introspection. While the 2016 primary was plagued by concerns over bias at the Democratic National Committee and the role of superdelegates, in 2020 there are fewer scapegoats available. Blaming billionaires and the establishment for your losses doesnt get you very far when the only billionaire left in the race is helping you by taking votes from your moderate opponent and you are drastically outspending everyone but the billionaire. Something else is going on here. Rather than lashing out, the left needs to look inward and think seriously about what that might be. What might be happening is that there is a flaw in the theory of politics which has powered Sanders to date. As a result, both the candidate and his movement may have to readjust their understanding of political reality. It might mean accepting that they can only advance their goals through compromise and that a democratic system means that nobody gets everything that they want, and that they often get much less. The alternative wilfully splitting the party and handing the keys to the White House back to Donald Trump in a fit of pique at losing the argument to Joe Biden will appear petty, vindictive and obtuse. Introspection is also needed from the other side. If Biden goes on to become the nominee, he desperately needs to signal that he recognizes the very legitimate critiques levelled at him by the left. He should acknowledge Sanders tremendous achievement in shifting the party to the left on a range of issues. Most of all, Biden will need a vice-presidential nominee who carries serious credibility with the younger and progressive voters he struggles most to connect with. Avoiding a catastrophic fracturing of the party as the primary enters its most contentious phase is now more important than the success of any individual candidate. Measured, thoughtful actions from Sanders and his supporters in their time of disappointment will speak volumes about their character, enhance their chances of ultimately winning the primary, and keep the party competitive against Trump regardless of what happens. Scorching the earth will do the opposite. The party and the country is watching nervously to see what they do next. KAMPALA An article titled, Best animal adventures for families published by Lonely Planet, a large travel guide book publisher ranks Ugandas Queen Elizabeth National Park among best places to visit for real-life geography lessons. Tree-climbing lions? Tick! Healthy numbers of hippos and elephants? Tick! Over 600 different bird species? Youve got it reads in part the article The same article outlines key features such as tree-climbing lions that can only be found in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is the place to come for guaranteed sightings of a huge range of African wildlife, a real-life geography lesson in the difference between savannah, wetlands and forest and the chance to do all this without having to share it with too many of your fellow humans. You can also take a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, giving your family a unique perspective on the many mammals, birds, and reptiles coming to drink here. Queen Elizabeth spans the equator line; monuments on either side of the road mark the exact spot where it crosses latitude 00. The park was founded in 1952 as Kazinga National Park and renamed two years later to commemorate a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. The park is home to over 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species. The Katwe explosion craters mark the parks highest point at 1,350m above sea level, while the lowest point is at 910m, at Lake Edward. Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Ugandas most popular tourist destination. The parks diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes, and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for the classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds. Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the parks magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffalo and elephants, and the endless Ishasha plains, whose fig trees hide lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kob. As well as its outstanding wildlife attractions, Queen Elizabeth National Park has a fascinating cultural history. There are many opportunities for visitors to meet the local communities and enjoy storytelling, dance, music and more. The gazetting of the park has ensured the conservation of its ecosystems, which in turn benefits the surrounding communities. Ugandas Queen Elizabeth National Park is truly a Medley of Wonders! Other destinations on the list include Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Chengdu, China; Yellowstone National Park, USA; Goats in trees, Essaouira, Morocco; Refugio Nacional de Fauna Silvestre Ostional, Costa Rica; Bat flights, Carlsbad Caverns, USA; Walkabout Wildlife Park, New South Wales, Australia, and Monkey rescue, Pretoria, South Africa. Other places include Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and Watching birds of prey, UK Related Continue Reading Garda sniffer dog Rex, who discovered the haul of heroin at the Grenagh house A sniffer deployed by Gardai during the search of a house in Grenagh last week unearthed a haul of suspected heroin worth in excess of 50,000. Shortly before 3pm last Thursday (February 27), members of the Cork City divisional drugs unit, assisted by southern region dog unit and officers from Blarney, executed a search warrant at a house in the Grenagh area. During the course of the search, Garda dog Rex sniffed out 53,000 worth of heroin, which was sent off for technical analysis. A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene and taken to Gurranabraher Garda station, where he was detained for a period under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. A Garda spokesman said the man was subsequently released without charge, and a file was in the process of being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Five more fresh cases of people with symptoms of coronavirus were admitted to isolation wards in the State, taking the total number of people who are being treated in the State to 12. The fresh cases people getting admitted to hospitals with coronavirus symptoms were registered from Visakhapatnam and Chittoor (two each) and East Godavari (one). Samples were collected from 32 persons so far in the State and of them 23 samples tested negative for COVID-19. The results of nine samples are awaited, the medical bulletin on coronavirus released by the government on Saturday night said. Meanwhile, with reports of traders jacking up the prices of protective masks emerging, the Drug Control Administration on Saturday alone raided 343 medical shops and registered cases against seven shops (three in Visakhapatnam and one each in Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Narasaraopet and Kurnool) for selling face masks at higher prices. "Similar raids will continue in coming days. Strict action, including cancellation of license of any medical shop, will be taken if caught selling medicines or masks at higher price. Sufficient stocks of face masks are available in the State," the officials said. Two test negative for COVID-19 TIRUPATI: Two persons, who were admitted to the isolation ward at Sri Venkateswara Ramnarain Ruia Government General Hospital in Tirupati on Friday evening, after they complained of suspected symptoms of coronavirus, tested negative Strict vigil amid virus threat Special screening facilities have been provided at all ports and airports 439 passengers from COVID-19 affected countries identified and placed under surveillance 204 under home isolation 223 people completed 28 days observation period. 12 passengers are in hospital admission and are stable 24x7 Control Room (0866-2410978) has been set up in the State 104 Helpline (Toll free number) has been operationalised for providing health advises on COVID-19 Advisory Cover nose and mouth using hanky or a tower while sneezing or coughing Do frequent hand washing with soap and water Advisory to foreign returnees The National Association for Manufacturers in Electronic Components (Namec) has said it is not surprised that MultiChoice was involved in state capture. Namec was referencing former communications minister Yunus Carrims testimony at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. During his testimony, Carrim made allegations against MultiChoice and Naspers and their opposition to signal encryption. According to the former minister, MultiChoice used underhanded tactics to stop signal encryption as part of its strategy to keep pay-TV competition at bay. He said a R553-million deal between MultiChoice and the SABC was all about ensuring that there was no signal encryption in South Africas digital TV specification. Carrim also accused MultiChoice of telling companies that they would be dropped from the DStv platform if they supported encryption. He blamed MultiChoice and Naspers for holding back digital migration and freeing up valuable spectrum in South Africa. He added that lobbying by MultiChoice was very primitive and caused a huge setback to the digital migration process. Namec statement Namec said in a press statement that it was neither shocked nor surprised by the revelations that MultiChoice was involved in the capture of our state. The organisation said the revelations confirmed its long-held suspicion that sinister forces were at play to stall the digital migration process to benefit themselves by further entrenching their monopoly in the digital television market. Anyone, including Namec, that stood in their way will be corrupted, at best or decimated, at worst, acting secretary general of Namec, Aubrey Tsaoane said. We find MultiChoices (illegal) actions unpardonable and call on the law enforcement agencies and Zondo Commission to thoroughly investigate and bring to book all those implicated. He said people who conspired to subvert the state and bring harm to emerging companies should be brought to book. Digital migration deadlines missed Tsaoane highlighted that South Africa has missed the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) deadline for digital migration of 2015 and its self-imposed deadline of June 2019. We are also running a risk of missing the July 2020 deadline if urgent steps are not taken to accelerate digital migration, he said. The stalling of the migration process has led to South Africa not benefiting from the developments in the ICT space. This is all thanks to the shenanigans of MultiChoice and those who assisted them, Tsaoane said. There has to be accountability for the destruction to our economy and subversion of our state by Naspers, MultiChoice, and their co-conspirators. Tsaoane said Namec is intensifying its efforts to nudge law enforcement agencies to act whilst preparing for an appearance at the Zondo Commission. Namec is also initiating class action for the financial and other losses its members incurred. MultiChoice denies the allegations MultiChoice and its officials have denied Carrims allegations concerning the company, calling them baseless. They added that Carrim said under oath that he cannot attest to having personal knowledge of any fraud or corruption in respect of the SABC and MultiChoice agreement. We have informed the Zondo Commission that we will respond to the allegations made against us in due course and reserve all of our rights, MultiChoice said. Elizabeth Warren's departure hit her supporters hard. Even though it was expected, since she hadn't won a single nominating contest, many of them demanded a reckoning within the Democratic Party and politics writ large about how an accomplished, prepared woman who drew thousands to campaign rallies and worked relentlessly to advocate her causes could get so little traction when it came time to vote. "I am personally chagrined that the bulk of Democratic voters so quickly dismissed Elizabeth Warren's policy plans and inexhaustible competence," said Alfred, a reader from Washington State in an email. "I'm sick about it," said another, Lucy, from California. You didn't hear comments like that, nor such a high volume of them, from supporters of Pete Buttigieg, who won Iowa, or Amy Klobuchar, another prominent woman in the race who beat Warren in New Hampshire. Warren isn't holding back from publicly sharing in the crisis of faith some of her supporters are having. She has been candid about her own sadness on her way out. "I know one of the hardest parts of this is all those pinkie promises and all those little girls who are going to have to wait four more years," she said as she announced her decision. "That's going to be hard." Warren also didn't cede her endorsement yet, even though both the Sanders and Joe Biden campaigns want it. That's leverage she holds over the candidates still in and could be a wild card since it's not immediately clear which candidate her supporters will choose. Already on So why is Warren's departure resonating among Democrats, especially her followers, in a way that other terminated campaigns haven't? There's not one answer, but rather a confluence of thorny issues that Warren, and her departure, bring up about the Democratic Party and its future. The most obvious avenue to explore is her gender and whether voters are ready to elect a woman for president (and specifically Democratic voters after seeing Hillary Clinton lose). So let's start there. Was Warren, as Hillary Clinton said Thursday, the victim of "unconscious and gendered language?" "I think it affected all the women who ran," Clinton told Vanity Fair. Warren was not the only woman in the race, but she was the last one in (except Tulsi Gabbard, whose campaign has never been competitive) - and the most prominent. Research does show that women win elections overall at the same rate as men, but they have to clear more hurdles to win elected office than men. They have to be likable, whereas men don't necessarily. They need to strike a balance between being confident and combative but not too aggressive. Women have a harder time winning executive office, where they would be the primary decision-maker, than legislative office, according to research from the nonpartisan Barbara Lee Family Foundation. That might help explain why Warren's loss comes after historic gains by women in Congress. Words or phrases like "shrill" or "too ambitious" or "needy" followed Warren on the campaign trail, among voters and pundits. That's the kind of "gendered language" Clinton is talking about: language, often with negative connotations, that is used almost exclusively to describe women. Perhaps it's not necessarily what Warren herself did but what she left behind in the race that's got Democrats thinking: Now the race is down to two old white men, who will compete to try to defeat another old white man. "It feels a little bit like a death knell in terms of having the prospect of women in our elections," MSNBC's Rachael Maddow said Thursday, in an interview with Warren. Warren was also someone a lot of Democratic primary voters liked, didn't like enough. A February Washington Post-ABC News poll found 20 percent of voters named her as their second choice; the most of any other candidate, consistently. That means that even though the votes weren't there for her, there are more Democratic voters who might be genuinely bummed she's out. They would have liked for her to succeed, but for whatever reason put their support with someone else. Warren also on Wednesday didn't shy way from talking about yet-to-be-resolved issues still swirling in this primary. Like: On whether the Democratic Party is too siloed: "You know, I was told at the beginning of this whole undertaking that there are two lanes, a progressive lane that Bernie Sanders is the incumbent for, and a moderate lane that Joe Biden is the incumbent for," she said as she announced her departure. "And there's no room for anyone else in this. I thought that wasn't right. But evidently, I was wrong." On Sanders's supporters, known for being more aggressive and hostile, especially online: "I think that's a real problem with this online bullying and sort of organized nastiness," she told Maddow on Thursday. " . . . I'm talking about some really ugly stuff that went on." She even compared Sanders to President Trump indirectly, saying Democrats can't "follow that same kind of politics of division that Donald Trump follows." On money in politics, exemplified by former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, whom she basically single-handedly took down in a Nevada debate: "In my view he was absolutely the riskiest candidate for Democrats on the stage," she told Maddow. And still more on gender and the dilemma of talking about it openly: "Gender in this race, you know, that is the trap question for every woman," she told reporters Thursday. "If you say, 'Yeah, there was sexism in this race,' everyone says, 'Whiner!' And if you say, 'No, there was no sexism,'about a bazillion women think, 'What planet do you live on?' I promise you this: I'll have a lot more to say on that subject later on." Warren has built her career on being the unapologetic, persistent, squeaky wheel when she sees a problem that needs fixing. (See: financial reform, which made her a national figure after leading efforts to regulate big banks in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.) Based on the hours after her withdrawal, Democrats should probably expect that to be the case over what she and her sympathizers see as the issues with their party. They came on motorcycles, in the quiet breeze of the early morning when many had left the comfort of their beds to congregate for the Subhi (early morning) prayer. It was 5:30am and the sounds of the assailants gunshots created panic; there was confusion and many ran in opposite directions, not certain where the bandits were coming from. They had targeted and descended first, on Marina village in Kerawa district of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Without mercy, they shot at men, women, children and the elderly. Those of us who used local charm and were impervious to their bullets paid a different price, said a member of the vigilante group who escaped the attack. They ran over some of our men with their motorcycles. Because their bullets failed, their machetes were used to cut, slice and hack our people down and others were set ablaze, he narrated. After almost four hours of massacre that extended to four additional villages, our correspondents learnt that the bandits had only retreated when air and ground reinforcements from security agencies began their onslaught on them. By noon, the dozens of bandits that ambushed the five neighbouring communities of Igabi and Giwa local government areas of the state had left a trail of bloodbath, ashes of the people they burnt and empty shells of vehicles and homes they ransacked and set ablaze. Marina village recorded 13 casualties, Kerewa village recorded 23 while 15 others were from Zariyawa, Rago and Unguwan Musa. Ibrahim Aliyu, a member of the vigilante at Marina village said the bandits had hit Marina first and on noticing the smoke emanating from the village, youths from neighbouring Kerawa had rushed to render assistance but were equally ambushed by the bandits. They burnt six vehicles in Marina village, cars and motorcycles were burnt in Kerawa as well as hundreds of bags of grains were set ablaze. They looted our communities and took away some of the motorcycles, he said. In remote communities where vehicular accessibility is difficult and GSM network, almost impossible, it took hours for help to reach the people of the affected villages. However, Governor Nasiru El-Rufai had said the casualty figures would have been far more devastating if not for the intervention of security agents. As at the last count, the ward Councillor of Kerawa, Dayyabu Kerawa, said 51 people had been killed, about 5000 bags of grains destroyed. He appealed to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to assist the people who are now taking refuge at Karaukarau and Iyatawa villages of Giwa LGA. Daily Trust Saturday gathered that about three victims are currently receiving treatment at Kauran Wali clinic and one other at ABU Teaching hospital, Shika in Zaria Local Government Area while eight others are at the Iyatawa Hospital in Giwa LGA. Hajiya Rabi Bakali had survived an attack on her home town of Bakali in Giwa Local Government Area of the state on February 11, 2020. The attack however claimed seven of her grandchildren, her son and his two wives who were burnt in a house barricaded by the bandits. The 50-year-old had after the attack relocated to live with her eldest son, Sani Bakali, at Iyatawa village in the same LGA and only last week, visited Kerawa for a wedding when she found herself caught up in another loop of banditry attack that almost claimed her life. After the early morning prayer, we heard some people saying Innalillahi wa Innailaihi rajiun (From Allah we come and to Him we shall return). They had noticed smoke coming from Marina village which is less than two kilometres from Kerawa village. She said soon after, the vigilante groups in Kerawa began mobilising young men to assemble and head to Marina with the hope of assisting the people. However, Hajiya Rabi told daily trust correspondent that not long after youths from Kerawa stormed out; a few of them ran back screaming for everyone to get out as the assailants were on their heels. Rabi said: I couldnt believe it was happening to me again for the second time. We ran out of our home because from experience, we knew our chances of survival were better running out. If you stay in to hide, they will ransack the house and set it ablaze. They chased us on their motorcycles and I fell several times but I got up and kept running. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Vladimir Putins armed forces and police have been slammed as sexist for 'ridiculous and absurd' beauty contests held to commemorate International Womens Day. One such parade organised by the Russian Black Sea fleet labels women sailors 'military persons of the weaker sex'. Another pageant called Beauty of the Airborne Forces has been staged by the countrys paratroopers in Tula. Vladimir Putin's army and police forces have been slammed after holding beauty contests on International Women's Day. Pictured is Anna Khramtsova, who won Russian Guard's contest The Russian missile forces - which is in charge of the country's nuclear arsenal - held a Makeup Under Camouflage competition for its soldiers Female paratroopers, pictured, were also put through a sewing contest on the day Kursk police also held a beauty contest and selected Irina Khodyreva as the winner. Kristina Novikova was selected as second place And Kursk police also got female contestants to take part in a catwalk in their uniforms 'In the course of the contest girls will take part in several trials in which they will demonstrate their beauty, aesthetic excellence, intelligence, (along with) moral and spiritual properties,' explains the official description. 'In the course of trials, girls will show their skills in cooking and serving in a Magic Chef contest.' Female paratroopers are also put through a couturier contest in which they demonstrate their sewing skills. Critic Anastasia Krasilnikova of Megabitch Telegram channel, said: 'The winner will be presented with, can you imagine? A diadem.' The Russian missile forces - in charge of the countrys nuclear arsenal - also have a beauty contest. Its name is Makeup Under Camouflage, complained Krasilnikova. Women participants must 'show their skills and experience in tactical, special, technical, and firing' as well as 'physical training'. The women who competed in the Kursk police's competition are pictured above Women had to have camouflage makeup painted onto their face in order to compete Women participants must 'show their skills and experience in tactical, special, technical, and firing' as well as 'physical training' In addition, 'special attention is paid to cooking', according to the rules. Here the female troops 'should show their talents and make at least three low-calorie meals with a basic set of products'. Police forces around Russia are also holding beauty contests ahead of or on 8 March, one of the most important public holidays in the calendar in this country. In Kursk, the winner was of the 'Police Beauty Contest' was declared as junior sergeant Irina Khodyrevskaya, with the runner-up Lieutenant Kristina Novikova, a detective. Only policewoman aged under 30 could enter. The result unleashed a barrage of sexist abuse and vitriol against the victor who was criticised online for her 'non-standard appearance' compared with second placed policewoman. Two women in the Russian army pose for photos on International Women's Day A female paratrooper pictured having to use a sewing machine during the contest in Russia Two female members of the Russian Army pictured above on International Women's Day Two female members of the Russian Army pictured above on International Women's Day Abusive social media comments claimed the 'jury was drunk' in selecting her - and that 'her father must be a police general'. A police spokesperson defended the selection saying: 'The girls were awarded points for well-aimed hits from a Makarov pistol, performing strength exercises, methods of detention, knowledge of the law, and first aid. 'All these are part of the police officers profession. 'In order to make it interesting for the participants to compete, the organisers came up with various other creative tasks.' Khodyrevskaya - a patrol officer who rides a police horse - was the clear winner, said the judges, in a contest which also involved parading in evening gowns. Elsewhere the annual 'Omsk Police Lady' contest is underway in Siberia. Policewoman participants were required to pose in uniform ahead of voting to find the most glamorous cop. Ms Khodyreva receives first place after taking part in the police force's competition Ms Khodyreva competes in the catwalk section in Kursk, which is on the Ukrainian border Ms Khodyreva holding her award with the second and third place contestants this afternoon In another such pageant, a 31-year-old mother of one Anna Khramtsova last year beat 1,000-plus entrants to win a Russian National Guard contest, a force which reports directly to Kremlin strongman Putin. 'I find it all incredibly ridiculous and absurd,' said Krasilnikova. 'Even women who are paid to defend our country and who professionally use weapons must be beautiful and prove to someone that they can sew and make low carb meals. 'Male service personnel do not have this kind of contest. 'We live in a fascinating society where women can be in the army, yet they have to continue to delight someones eye and stomach - and be knowledgeable in mastering sewing tools. 'This is nothing but sexism.' Russian Ms Khodyreva wearing a pink dress during the competition Two women take part in a dance competition during International Women's Day in Russia While accepting her award Khramtsova, a gun-toting ensign, openly acknowledged sexism in the 340,000-strong force. She said: 'I do get to hear those old jokes about blondes in service. 'But I ignore them - and just serve stylishly.' She is from a military and law enforcement family, with her father in the army and police for 30 years and her mother also in uniform. 'I am proud to continue the dynasty,' said Anna, from Yekaterinburg, revealing she had previously served in the police and has a law degree. Showing her shooting skills, she said: 'Most important is to pull the gun out calmly, to aim and breathe out.' She chose her black manicure colour to match her gun, she said. An unnamed male colleague said of the junior officer: 'First of all she is a member of the National Guard team, and only then a woman. 'Of course she looks after herself, uses makeup and checks how she looks in the mirror.' Three women have been filmed in a remarkable fist fight over toilet paper at a Woolworths supermarket. The bizarre brawl is understood to have taken place in Chullora, 15km west of Sydney's CBD, as Australia's coronavirus panic sets in. Hysterical screaming broke out as the trio battled in the aisles, with the incident seemingly stemming from a mother and daughter stockpiling toilet paper. It comes as tens of thousands of Australians are forced into isolation over coronavirus fears, prompting worried families to panic buy food and essentials. After spending hours queuing for the store to open at 7am on Saturday, the women poured in - with the mum and daughter piling their trolley high with toilet paper. The fight began when a third woman tried to take one of the precious packets from the trolley, sparking mayhem. The woman were filmed brawling in a Woolworths supermarket in Sydney as they tried to buy toilet paper (pictured) Bankstown Police said they are trying to identify two of the women, having already spoken to a 49-year-old woman about the incident. Acting Inspector Andrew New of Bankstown Police appealed for the women to come forward, and urged the community to stay calm. 'There's no need for it. Its not the Thunderdome, it's not Mad Max', he told reporters on Saturday afternoon. 'Violence will not be tolerated, and anyone involved in this behaviour may be committing an offence and find themselves in court.' After the fist fight was broken up by a member of staff, the camera panned to show the women's trolley full to the brim with toilet paper. The women exchanged stern words and fought over the toilet paper (pictured) in a Woolworths in Australia, as the woman on the right begged for just one packet One of the women was seen guarding her trolley full of toilet paper (pictured) during the fight in western Sydney 'Are you f*****g joking?', the other woman asked. 'I didn't smack her, she hit me,' she continued, pointing at the woman's daughter. 'I didn't touch you, I took the packet, and you came and hit me. 'I just want one pack,' she said, pointing at the trolley - which was full of toilet paper. The mother then said 'get away from my daughter', as other shoppers implored them to stop fighting. I just want one pack', the women then said, as she pointed towards the mother and daughter's trolley full to the brim with toilet paper. The mother then refused to give the distressed woman even one packet, saying 'no, not one pack'. Shelves are bare across multiple Australian supermarkets (pictured, left) as worried families stockpile toilet roll (right) On Wednesday, Woolworths became the first store in Australia to ration toilet paper thanks to the ongoing crisis. Toilet roll in particular is racing off shelves, with the country's biggest manufacturers, Kimberly-Clark, speeding up its 24-hour production line. It hopes the round-the-clock production will help to slow the panic, as Australian families stock up fearing a total supermarket shutdown. This is despite toilet paper being produced on mass in Australia, and no supermarkets reporting a shortage. Staff called the police and rushed to separate the women, before trying to confiscate the trolley load of toilet paper - but the older woman refused to let go. Pleading for calm, one exhausted staff member tries to reason with the daughter, saying: 'Look what you're doing. You're fighting over tissues.' The toilet rolls aisles at the Macquarie Centre in Macquarie Park were completely empty on Tuesday (pictured) Footage from another Coles store in Roselands (pictured) showed shoppers rushing to the toilet paper section and buying it it all up within minutes Woolworths said the four-pack limit would protect stock levels in the face of 'higher than usual demand'. 'Woolworths has today moved to apply a quantity limit on toilet paper packs to ensure more customers have access to these products,' the company said in a statement. 'The purchase limit of four packs per customer transaction applies in-store and online.' Coles and Aldi have now also imposed limits. Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison admitted there was 'every indication' the world would imminently enter 'the pandemic phase of the virus'. On Tuesday, he made a rare plea to the bosses of Woolworths and Coles as communities worry about running out of pantry staples. Empty shelves in an Australian supermarket after panic buying due to the coronavirus (pictured) on Thursday Shoppers around the country have left supermarket shelves bare following coronavirus panic buying (pictured, in Sydney) The supermarket giants admitted they had begun stockpiling toilet paper, tissues and Panadol, as well as long-life food produce. Production has been disrupted in China, the epicentre of the virus, and one of the world's primary suppliers of the household essential. Tim Woods, the managing director of market analyst Industry Edge, told Perth Now Australia imported 40 per cent of its toilet paper from China but the rest was manufactured locally. There might be a one-off hit to whats on the shelves, but is that going to continue today, tomorrow and so on? I doubt it,' he said. 'People will go and buy extra packs and then theyll go and look in their cupboards and go why have I got 90 rolls?' A man has been caught selling packets of toilet paper for $2,000 as supermarket shelves are left bare amid coronavirus fears (pictured) Some people are so desperate to get their hands on toilet paper they have begun queuing up outside of supermarkets hours before they open. Images showed people lining up outside of a Coles in Wollongong, on the NSW south coast, at 6am. A Costco in Melbourne had people queued in a line down the street hoping to get their hands on the much-sought after product. Stores have had to introduce a four-pack ban so more customers have access to toilet paper. Customers queue up outside Costco in Melbourne (pictured, left) to ensure they get toilet paper. It was a similar situation outside Coles in Woolongong (right) A spokesperson for Woolworths said: 'We can confirm an incident involving customers at our Chullora store in Sydney earlier today. 'We will not tolerate violence of any kind from our customers in our stores and we are working with Police who are investigating the matter.' Bankstown Police confirmed they attended the incident, and an investigation is underway. A spokesman said: 'Just after 7am (Saturday 7 March 2020), police were called to a Chullora supermarket following reports of an altercation in an aisle over toilet paper. 'Staff intervened, separating the women and police were notified. 'Officers from Bankstown Police Station attended and spoke to a 49-year-old woman, who had reportedly been assaulted. She was uninjured. 'No arrests have been made and as inquiries continue, police are appealing for public assistance to identify the other women involved.' The toilet paper aisle was completely empty at Coles in Gladesville on Tuesday afternoon amid coronavirus panic buying (pictured) Ancelotti targets top-four next season Saturday, 7 March, 2020 Carlo Ancelotti is confident that it won't take long to realise his ambition of leading Everton into the Champions League. Speaking to Jamie Carragher in The Telegraph, the Italian expressed the fervent desire of Evertonians everywhere but with the authority of someone who has been there and done it with multiple clubs over the course of his illustrious career. Ancelotti has the rare distinction of having won the Champions League three times but upon arriving at Everton last December, he joined a club further away from Europe's elite competition than any he has managed since he took the helm at AC Milan in 2001. It's an unusual situation for him and a task that many pundits expressed doubts he can achieve but, as the man himself explains, there is plenty of ambition at Goodison Park to finally make challenging for the top honours a reality. Next season we have to qualify for the Champions League, Ancelotti told Carragher. I am here for this. I am sure this club has that ambition. The owner wants to be at the top. That is for sure. The idea is clear. I do not know how long it will take, but it will not take long. The spine of the squad is competitive. I do not know what the target will be this season, but next season we have to fight for the top four. Critics suggested in December that Ancelotti, who has managed giants like of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain in recent years, had only agreed to come to Everton as it represented one last big pay-day. The 60-year-old's salary with the Blues has variously been reported as being between 6m and 9m a year but he laughed off suggestions it was a financial decision. No, no, no. Fortunately, I do not need the money, he said. I see Everton like I saw Napoli. It was fantastic to be in Milan, Madrid and Munich, but sometimes you get the possibility to grow a good project. We have young players with quality players like Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Holgate and Digne. The base of the team is good. Holgate signed a new contract and Dominic is going to. We have a spine and want to improve the squad in the summer. Quotes sourced from The Telegraph Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer About these ads Former President Bill Clinton, recalling the sex scandal that led to his impeachment in 1998, says in a new documentary series that his extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky was a way of managing my anxieties. The four-part documentary series, Hillary, which was released on Friday on Hulu, focuses on Hillary Clintons life, her marriage to Bill Clinton and her unsuccessful campaign for president in 2016. In the series, Bill Clinton, 73, is asked by the director, Nanette Burstein, why he engaged in an affair with Lewinsky, then a White House intern, and whether he weighed the risks. Nobody sits down and thinks, I think Ill take a really irresponsible risk, Clinton says. Its bad for my family, bad for my country, bad for the people who work with me. Clinton says that he was under enormous pressure, but that his actions were inexcusable. You feel like youre staggering around youve been in a 15-round prizefight that was extended to 30 rounds, and heres something thatll take your mind off it for a while, Clinton says. Everybodys life has pressures and disappointments and terrors, fears of whatever, things I did to manage my anxieties for years. Clintons explanation drew derisive reactions on Twitter, with some commenters suggesting that the president should have turned to Xanax, Valium or meditation. The House impeached Clinton on charges that he lied to a grand jury about his affair with Lewinsky and obstructed justice, making him only the second president to hold that distinction until Donald Trump. Like the current president, Clinton was acquitted by the Senate. Clinton at first denied having sexual relations with Lewinsky during a videotaped deposition in a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against him by Paula Corbin Jones, a former Arkansas state employee who claimed that Clinton had exposed himself to her and propositioned her in a hotel room in 1991, when he was governor. In the documentary, which features behind-the-scenes footage from Hillary Clintons campaign against Trump and was screened at the Sundance Film Festival in January, Hillary Clinton says Bill Clinton sat on the side of the bed one morning and said a newspaper was set to publish allegations that he had sexual relations with an intern. I was, like, having a hard time processing it, Hillary Clinton says. He said, Well, theres nothing to it. Its not true. He was adamant and he was convincing to me. Lewinsky was an intern for Jennifer Palmieri, a special assistant to the White House chief of staff and later the communications director for Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign. Palmieri says in the documentary that Evelyn Lieberman, the deputy chief of staff at the time, expressed concerns about Lewinskys presence in Bill Clintons orbit. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. I didnt think anything of it because, of course, who would think that Bill Clinton could be that stupid? Palmieri says. Hillary Clinton publicly stood by her husband when the allegations first emerged, including during an interview with Matt Lauer on the Today show. Bill Clinton eventually confessed to the affair. I was just devastated, Hillary Clinton says in the documentary. I could not believe it. Bill Clinton says the most difficult part of the ordeal was facing the couples daughter, Chelsea. She said, Well, youve got to go tell your daughter, Bill Clinton says of his wifes reaction. She said, Thats worse than me. Bill Clinton says he is a different person now. You know, we all bring our baggage to life and sometimes we do things we shouldnt do, he says. It was awful what I did. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. DETROIT, MI -- Michigans Democratic primary election is about Bernie Sanders revolution versus Joe Bidens establishment politics, the Vermont senator told supporters at a packed rally in Detroit. Introduced as the next president of the United States by firebrand first-term U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, Sanders told an animated crowd of roughly 6,000 that his fight against the wealthy and corrupt is in its most important stage. Sanders said Biden cant inspire the support needed to take on President Donald Trump, criticizing the former vice presidents past support of the Iraq War, the North American Free Trade Agreement and various other policies Sanders framed as regressive. To defeat Trump, we are going to need the largest voter turnout in the history of our country," Sanders said. "We are going to need a campaign of energy and excitement. As I look at the thousands of people here tonight, we are the campaign of energy and excitement. Biden has a slight edge in the number of delegates as the election turns to Michigan, and the states 125 delegates are a precious prize for the former vice president and democratic socialist. Both campaigns are jetting across Michigan to sway undecided voters in the final days of the election, planning a flurry of rallies and smaller events throughout the weekend. It is hard to create energy and enthusiasm when Joe Bidens campaign has received funding from over 60 billionaires in this country," Sanders said. People understand youre not going to work for the working class and middle class when you are dependent on contributions from the wealthiest people in this country. Sanders and Biden are essentially the last candidates standing from a large and historically diverse field of Democrats vying to take on President Donald Trump. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, is still running and visited Detroit this week, but is far behind the other two candidates in the delegate count. The race has become more competitive after the departure of several candidates this week. Elizabeth Warren has not put her support behind either of the remaining candidates, while Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg and Mike Bloomberg endorsed around Biden. Sanders campaign made the theme of the primary clear in a Thursday email to supporters after Warren ended her campaign. Now that it is Bernie vs. Biden, the question of this campaign is increasingly clear: Which side are you on? the email read. Bernie Sanders & Detroit vs Everybody pic.twitter.com/dqIAwof38r Bill Neidhardt (@BNeidhardt) March 7, 2020 Biden isnt scheduled to step foot in Michigan until Monday, but hes gained an influential set of surrogates after Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and several other high-profile Democrats endorsed Biden this week. Sanders told reporters hes not concerned that Whitmer backed Biden, saying hed rather have the support of grassroots organizations and working people than establishment politicians. Sanders endorsed one of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers 2018 primary opponents before supporting her gubernatorial bid in the general election. That wasnt her thoughts when I came here to help her get elected as a matter of fact," Sanders said, referencing the 2018 race when asked about Whitmers endorsement. Sanders was viewed as the Democratic front-runner while Biden lost the first three primary states, but the former vice president bounced back by winning nine of 14 states up for grabs on Super Tuesday. Sanders supporters remain confident that he can win Michigan a second time. Brandon Masters, a 30-year-old Pontiac resident, said Sanders didnt have the support of Democratic party leaders in 2016 either. That happened with Hillary in 2016 and he still managed to find a way to win, Masters said. It will be a tough battle for sure, but I think he can definitely find a way if people come out and vote. Masters is more concerned that Sanders younger supporters wont come out to vote on March 10. Younger voters could be seen leaving the event after 30 minutes into Sanders remarks. Im sure hoping they (vote), but Im slightly worried about that, Masters said. I thought that he would do better on Super Tuesday. I think a lack of turnout might have caused him to not do as well. Sanders said he knows a lot of you have friends that think politics is bullshit, they dont vote, but encouraged supporters to convince others to stop complaining and stand up, fight back and get involved. Michigan holds particular significance for Democrats because it is among a group of Midwest states that comprised the blue wall in past presidential elections. Trump was the first Republican in decades to win Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania but took each state by a narrow margin. Sanders took aim at Biden for supporting trade deals he called a disaster for union workers in those three states. Biden voted in favor of the North American Free Trade Agreement as a U.S. senator. If we are going to beat Trump in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, it will be very hard for a candidate who voted for these disastrous trade deals, Sanders said. Trump called Sanders a communist at a Thursday town hall in Pennsylvania. The president said he was surprised by Bidens apparent comeback, but stands ready to face either Democrat. I think, in a certain way, Bernie would be tougher because hes got a base," Trump said. "Its a much smaller base than my base. I think we have a lot of support everywhere. Look at the rallies. Look at the rallies. The crowd at Sanders Detroit rally didnt lack enthusiasm. Attendees cheered as Sanders outlined his top policy proposals, including free college, universal government-run health insurance and criminal justice reform. The self-proclaimed democratic-socialist pledged to pass comprehensive immigration reform, increase funding for Social Security and Planned Parenthood, codify abortion rights in law and improve access to clean water in cities like Flint. He also condemned the influence of the 1%," wealthiest Americans, saying they have unlimited amounts of money, own the media, buy politicians and determine whether jobs stay in Michigan or go to Mexico or China. Rhonda Cushman, a 60-year-old Redford resident, said shes been following the Vermont senator for most of her life. Cushman, who described herself as progressive, said shes not worried that Trump and Republicans will likely paint Sanders as a radical. Sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zones and its going to take that this time, Cushman said. Bernie knows how to speak to all people. Hes shown that all his career. I think he can bring us back to where we need to be. Hes a uniter of races and religions. Sanders is scheduled to hold a rally in Dearborn on Saturday, March 7 at Salina Intermediate School. Sanders will also convene a town hall on racial and economic justice in Flint later that night at Mott Community College. Sanders will also attend Sunday, March 8 rallies in downtown Grand Rapids and the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Read more on MLive: A complete guide: How to see Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders campaign events in Michigan this weekend and Monday Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorses Biden, joining campaign as a national co-chair Bernie Sanders slams Joe Biden on trade before Michigan rally in Detroit The big question for Michigan Democrats: Is Biden or Sanders more likely to beat Trump? Gretchen Whitmer to give Michigan a voice in Joe Biden campaign strategy By IANS SAN FRANCISCO/LONDON: Panic gripped big tech firms like Facebook and Twitter which decided to close their offices from Seattle to London as more employees tested positive for the new coronavirus. Facebook shut its three London offices till Monday after an employee was diagnosed with COVID-19. The social networking giant told nearly 3,000 employees here to work from home after an employee, who is based in Singapore but visited the London offices between February 24-26, was diagnosed with the new coronavirus, Sky News reported on Friday. "An employee based in our Singapore office who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 visited our London offices on February 24-26. We are therefore closing our London offices until Monday for deep cleaning and employees are working from home until then," the company said in a statement. There have been 163 cases of coronavirus so far in the UK. Earlier, Facebook recommended all its Bay Area employees in the US to work from home. The latest precautions come after San Francisco announced its first two coronavirus cases on Thursday. Facebook has also shut its Seattle office until Monday after one of its contractors was confirmed to be infected with the virus. The infected contractor last visited the Facebook office on February 21. King County health officials said all Facebook sites should work from home until March 31. Twitter shut its Seattle office for a 'deep clean' after an employee developed COVID-19 like symptoms though final result was still awaited. "A Seattle-based employee has been advised by doctor about likely COVID-19, though still awaiting the final testing," Twitter said in a tweet on Friday. "While the employee has not been at a Twitter office for several weeks and hasn't been in contact w/others, we're closing our Seattle office to deep clean," the company added. According to The Seattle Times, at least 14 people have died due to COVID-19 in Washington State till date. Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Facebook have advised their employees in Washington State to work from home. Apple has reportedly suggested its employees at California campuses to work from home as an "extra precaution" while new coronavirus cases spread on the west coast in the US, especially Seattle area. Apple's flagship developers' conference WWDC 2020 in June is also at the risk of getting cancelled as the Santa Clara public health department has warned against large public gatherings. The event draws nearly 5,000 developers from across the world. The US death toll from the new coronavirus has climbed to 14, according to Johns Hopkins' tracker, with 329 cases reported across the country. Accountants for the commission have discovered payments totalling $193,000 made to Mr Walker, in return for his work for interests aligned to developer Leighton Properties and planning consultant John Woodman. Both were trying to get industrial land in Cranbourne West rezoned to residential. For Leighton, the pay-off from rezoning the land was upwards of $100 million. For Mr Woodman, a $2 million success fee was at stake. Loading Mr Walkers group told Planning Panels Victoria they represented 1042 supposedly furious residents. And yet at the planning hearing, in which this enraged community had an opportunity to express its anger, people didnt turn up, Mr Walker admitted under cross-examination. Mr Walker also conceded this supposed membership was largely apathetic. Despite this, though they were represented at a planning hearing by a $4000-a-day barrister - paid for by the developers, but never disclosed. The Save Cranbourne West groups campaign funding was never disclosed either. IBAC has also heard the Casey saga was not the first time Mr Woodman had given money to a community group as part of his strategy for winning planning approvals. He told IBAC in November of paying off a local Aboriginal group at Martha Cove on the Mornington Peninsula. In light of what has been uncovered, it is understood one of the issues IBAC will consider is recommendations to the state government on whether this sort of fake community activism may need to be addressed. Opposition planning spokesman Tim Smith said the Casey scandal highlighted the need for, at the very least, a review of what had happened at the Cranbourne West planning panel. Because of the rorting of this community group, the panel process became completely compromised, says Mr Smith. There is going to have to be through the panels process far greater checks on the integrity of all individuals involved. Asked this week about that hearing, a planning department spokeswoman said the panel process was "independent and that each case was assessed on its merits. RMIT planning lecturer Stephen Rowley, who wrote the textbook The Victorian Planning System, says the states planning laws start from a general assumption that everyone has standing to make a submission on planning applications or a rezoning. The assumption under the act is that people should be able to make submissions and that they be assessed on their merit. He says it would be problematic if, as a result of Casey, community groups had to prove they were not fake or representing undisclosed interests. It strikes me as dicey if you get into a process of assessment of the genuineness of community groups, and the spirit of the act is that you take the arguments on their merit. Dr Rowley says the IBAC hearings have opened up a can of worms because they have highlighted the vulnerability of the planning process in Victoria, especially when it comes to rezoning land. For genuine community activists like Mike Taafe, the idea that a consequence of the Casey corruption allegations might make things even tougher for groups like his is alarming. Already, the 76-year-old says, developers are getting more aggressive in the face of genuine community opposition. In December, one of the Taafes members showed him plans for a development in Blackburn. Such were the concerns over the proposal that a flyer was put in letterboxes around the suburb from the Blackburn Village Residents Group. Joaquin Guzman Loera also known as "El Chapo," is considered the world's most powerful drug trafficker. Although the drug kingpin has been incarcerated, being found guilty of more than 10 counts of criminal activity, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapons violations in the pursuit of violence, people are still wondering how he rose to power. Throughout the trial, evidences painted a damning picture of El Chapo's violent acts as the leader of the Sinaloa cartel. But in addition to gruesome anecdotes, the evidences also revealed one of the cartel boss' most important tools behind his thriving drug trade: tunnels. According to an article by Vox, El Chapo's subterranean inclinations ultimately shaped his career throughout the past four decades. In the late 1980s, the United States led a crackdown on Colombian drug trafficking routes, but El Chapo was in the right place at the right time, with the right idea. As Columbian drug cartels were suffering a major blow, El Chapo built tunnels along the southern border of the United States, which gained him an edge on his drug trafficking competitors, allowing him to claim new responsibilities as a supplier and distributor of drugs. The tunnels' success could be attributed to larger shifts taking place in the drug trade that increased narcotics trafficking through Mexico and lowered cocaine supply from Colombia. A video by Vox shows how El Chapo learned to take advantage of the opportunity these shifts created, and how tunnels became crucial to his success as the Sinaloa cartel's leader. Over time, the tunnel evolved to include other facilities like elevators, ventilation systems, rail systems, and other high-tech innovations that facilitated the smooth transport of massive amounts of narcotics. But he wasnt just using tunnels for drugs. He also used it, of course, as an escape route. In 2014, investigators discovered seven houses in Culiacan, Mexico, connected by secret tunnels that also tied in with the sewage system. Using a hidden hatch under a bathtub, El Chapo was able to move from one house to another 3 kilometers (almost 2 miles) away. Thanks to the network of tunnels, Guzman was able to slip out of sight once again. The almost wild goose chase ended when authorities nabbed him later in a beachside hideaway in Mazatlan, a resort city about 200 kilometers (125 miles) away. However, El Chapo didn't remain behind bars for long. Just like a scene from Shawshank Redemption, he broke out of Mexico's maximum-security Altiplano prison through a tunnel in July 2015, just 14 months after he was arrested. After Guzman's escape, authorities said they made a shocking discovery in his prison cell: a lighted and ventilated tunnel, replete with tracks and a modified motorcycle inside. El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel, founded in the late 1980s, is one of the largest drug trafficking groups in the world according to the US government. The group controls much of Mexico's north-west part. Due to the domination of his drug cartel, El Chapo was once listed as one of the world's richest man. Sinaloa Cartel is known for being very violent and has kidnapped, tortured and slaughtered members of other cartels. When El Chapo's son Ovidio Guzman Lopez was captured in 2019, the cartel openly fought with the army in daylight, forcing the Mexican government to free the younger Guzman. By now, we all know that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not really logging out of social media for good. It was all stunt to draw attention to his campaign dedicated to women on International Women's Day scheduled on March 8. Twitter In it, MyGovIndia, the Government of India Twitter account dedicated to citizen engagement, has now shared some of these stories about women making a mark. Among them was, eight-year-old climate change Licypriya Kangujam who was not too amused with the inclusion although she was thankful for the honour. Kangujam turned down the offer, asking the PM not to celebrate her if he wasn't going to listen to her voice. Speaking to News18 Kangujam said, "This made me ask myself hundreds of questions, whether I should accept such recognition or honour or should I keep pressing for my demands." Government dont listen to my voice and today they selected me as one of the inspiring woman of the country. Is it fair? I found that they selected me amongst the few inspiring women from 3.2 billion people under the initiative of Prime Minister @narendramodi ji #SheInspiresUs. https://t.co/N6Vmahm2PM Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 5, 2020 From her official Twitter handle, which is managed by a guardian, Licypriya tweeted, "Government dont listen to my voice and today they selected me as one of the inspiring women of the country. Is it fair?..." She addressed PM Modi saying, "... Please dont celebrate me if you are not going to listen to my voice. Thank you for selecting me amongst the inspiring women of the country under your initiative #SheInspiresUs. After thinking many times, I decided to turns [sic] down this honour." Dear @narendramodi Ji, Please dont celebrate me if you are not going to listen my voice. Thank you for selecting me amongst the inspiring women of the country under your initiative #SheInspiresUs. After thinking many times, I decided to turns down this honour. Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/pjgi0TUdWa Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 6, 2020 "I believe my rejection will draw the attention of the government to meet my demands because our leaders and politicians hardly consider climate change as a serious issue," she told News18. Licypriya has campaigned for limiting carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases. She also wants climate change to be made part of the school curriculum. Twitter Licypriya had protested outside Parliament in June 2019 to demand action on climate change from the Modi government. Licypriya told The Indian Express on Saturday that 'She Inspires Us' "may be a good initiative" to the government, "but considering the crimes against women and children, I dont think it can solve anything. This will be like applying a fairness cream on our face which no longer stays once you clean yourself... Instead, I want him (Modi) to listen to my voice and our leaders to take climate change seriously. Who Made Coronavirus? Was It the U.S., Israel or China Itself? By Philip Giraldi March 07, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - The most commonly reported mainstream media account of the creation of the Coronavirus suggests that it was derived from an animal borne microorganism found in a wild bat that was consumed by an ethnic Chinese resident of Wuhan. But there appears to be some evidence to dispute that in that adjacent provinces in China, where wild bats are more numerous, have not experienced major outbreaks of the disease. Because of that and other factors, there has also been considerable speculation that the Coronavirus did not occur naturally through mutation but rather was produced in a laboratory, possibly as a biological warfare agent. Several reports suggest that there are components of the virus that are related to HIV that could not have occurred naturally. If it is correct that the virus had either been developed or even produced to be weaponized it would further suggest that its escape from the Wuhan Institute of Virology Lab and into the animal and human population could have been accidental. Technicians who work in such environments are aware that leaks from laboratories occur frequently. There is, of course and inevitably, another theory. There has been some speculation that as the Trump Administration has been constantly raising the issue of growing Chinese global competitiveness as a direct threat to American national security and economic dominance, it must might be possible that Washington has created and unleashed the virus in a bid to bring Beijings growing economy and military might down a few notches. It is, to be sure, hard to believe that even the Trump White House would do something so reckless, but there are precedents for that type of behavior. In 2005-9 the American and Israeli governments secretly developed a computer virus called Stuxnet, which was intended to damage the control and operating systems of Iranian computers being used in that countrys nuclear research program. Admittedly Stuxnet was intended to damage computers, not to infect or kill human beings, but concerns that it would propagate and move to infect computers outside Iran proved to be accurate as it spread to thousands of PCs outside Iran, in countries as far flung as China, Germany, Kazakhstan and Indonesia. Inevitably there is an Israeli story that just might shed some light on what has been going on in China. Scientists at Israels Galilee Research Institute are now claiming that they will have a vaccine against coronavirus in a few weeks which will be ready for distribution and use within 90 days. The institute is claiming that it has been engaged in four years of research on avian coronavirus funded by Israels Ministries of Science & Technology and Agriculture. They are claiming that the virus is similar to the version that has infected humans, which has led to breakthroughs in development through genetic manipulation, but some scientists are skeptical that a new vaccine could be produced so quickly to prevent a virus that existed only recently. They also have warned that even if a vaccine is developed it would normally have to be tested for side effects, a process that normally takes over a year and includes using it on infected humans. If one even considers it possible that the United States had a hand in creating the coronavirus at what remains of its once extensive biological weapons research center in Ft Detrick Maryland, it is very likely that Israel was a partner in the project. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Helping to develop the virus would also explain how Israeli scientists have been able to claim success at creating a vaccine so quickly, possibly because the virus and a treatment for it were developed simultaneously. In any event, there are definite political ramifications to the appearance of the coronavirus, and not only in China. In the United States President Donald Trump is already being blamed for lying about the virus and there are various scenarios in mainstream publications speculating over the possible impact on the election in 2020. If the economy sinks together with the stock market, it will reflect badly on Trump whether or not he is actually at fault. If containment and treatment of the disease itself in the United States does not go well, there could also be a considerable backlash, particularly as the Democrats have been promoting improving health care. One pundit argues, however, that disease and a sinking economy will not matter as long as there is a turnaround before the election, but a lot can happen in the next eight months. And then there is the national security/foreign policy issue as seen from both Jerusalem and Washington. It is difficult to explain why coronavirus has hit one country in particular other than China very severely. That country is Iran, the often-cited enemy of both the U.S. and Israel. The number of Irans coronavirus cases continues to increase, with more positive tests confirmed among government officials last Saturday. There were 205 new coronavirus cases, bringing the government claimed total to 593 with 43 fatalities, though unofficial hospital reports suggest that the deaths are actually well over 100. Thats the highest number of deaths from the virus outside of China. No less than five Iranian Members of Parliament have also tested positive amid a growing number of officials that have contracted the disease. Irans vice president Masoumeh Ebtekar and deputy health minister Iraj Harirchi had also previously been confirmed with the virus. The usual suspects in the United States are delighted to learn of the Iranian deaths. Mark Dubowitz, Executive Director of the Washington-based but Israeli government connected Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) boasted on twitter Tuesday that Coronavirus has done what American economic sanctions could not: shut down non-oil exports. An Iranian government spokesman responded that Its shameful and downright inhuman to cheer for a deadly Virus to spread and enjoy seeing people suffer for it Dubowitz followed up with an additional taunt, that Tehran has spread terrorism in the Middle East and now its spreading the coronavirus. So, you have your choice. Coronavirus occurred naturally, or it came out of a lab in China itself or even from Israel or the United States. If one suspects Israel and/or the United States, the intent clearly would have been to create a biological weapon that would damage two nations that have been designated as enemies. But the coronavirus cannot be contained easily and it is clear that many thousands of people will die from it. Unfortunately, as with Stuxnet, once the genie is out of the bottled it is devilishly hard to induce it to go back in. Philip Giraldi Ph.D., Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest. A former CIA Case Officer and Army Intelligence Officer who spent twenty years overseas in Europe and the Middle East working terrorism cases. He holds a BA with honors from the University of Chicago and an MA and PhD in Modern History from the University of London. " Source " Supermarket have rubbished Government claims about mass food deliveries to the sick as fanciful, bogus and misleading. Health Secretary Matt Hancock claimed talks have been held with retailers to supply groceries through online orders and home delivery to Britons who are self-isolating. But chains insist they do not have the vehicles and drivers to cope with a sudden spike in demand and the only way to increase the number might be to call in the Army. One senior retail source said: Currently the share of groceries bought online is about 6 or 7 per cent across all supermarkets. Shelves at Sainsbury's in Harlow, Essex showing where toilet rolls and kitchen rolls have sold out. Harlow was the first town in the county to have a Coronavirus case this week Dried pasta has flown off the shelves and was in short supply at this Asda store in Southampton today, Friday Pictured: Sign describing 'supply difficulties' for toilet roll at a Waitrose in Esher Shelves which normally stock hand gels and soaps are seen stripped bare at Asda in Chandler's Ford, Southampton companies producing the sanitisers say they are ramping up production because of 'exceptional demand' There are enough vans and infrastructure to supply that 7 per cent. More could be switched on over time but its not like flicking a switch. The Health Secretary made his claims on BBCs Question Time on Thursday evening. He said the Government was absolutely confident there wont be a problem with food supply. However, talks with retailers about home deliveries were only initiated yesterday. The major online grocers Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons, Waitrose and Ocado have a fixed number of vehicles and drivers with little scope to boost numbers. Senior industry analyst Bruno Monteyne, of stockbrokers Bernstein who is a former Tesco executive said online delivery slots will be swallowed up very quickly. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last night that the government was working closely with retailers to ensure that people who self-isolate at home can get essential supplies Ministers say supermarkets have solid 'contingency plans' for food supply Ministers today held talks with supermarkets - and said they have 'well-established contingency plans' to keep people fed. Environment Secretary George Eustice spoke with chief executives from the UK's leading chains to discuss their coronavirus response. Amid efforts to calm panic buying, Mr Eustice said: 'The retailers reassured me they have well-established contingency plans and are taking all the necessary steps to ensure consumers have the food and supplies they need. Retailers are continuing to monitor their supply chains and have robust plans in place to minimise disruption,' he said afterwards. 'I was particularly keen to hear how government could support their preparations and we've agreed to work closely together over the coming days and weeks. 'I will be convening a further meeting with industry, retailers and public sector organisations early next week to discuss support for vulnerable groups who may be in isolation. Government and industry will remain in regular contact on this issue. Advertisement He said: There is a limited capacity for home delivery. So very soon it will probably be near-impossible to get a delivery slot. If we really get to a bad outbreak with major staff shortages, I think there will be a case to be made that the drivers will be better utilised in keeping the shelves full and supporting the core operation of feeding the nation. He questioned the safety of delivering to people who may be infected with coronavirus, asking: How responsible is it for a self-isolating person to get a driver to deliver to him? Why put the person that feeds you at risk of getting the virus? Stores plan to deliver shopping to the doorstep without any need for personal contact, but that may not be possible in all cases. Fewer than one in ten people 8 per cent do all their grocery shopping online, according to retail analysts Mintel. A further 11 per cent do most of their food shopping in this way. Mr Hancock had said on Question Time: The Government has supplies of the key things that are needed and, within the food supply, we are absolutely confident that there wont be a problem there. Crucially, we are working with the supermarkets to make sure that, if people are self-isolating, then we will be able to get the food and supplies that they need. He warned against panic buying, saying there was absolutely no need for people to go round buying more than they need. However, many have already cleared shelves of hand sanitiser, painkillers and toilet paper. Shops have seen increased purchases of disinfectant, pasta, rice and canned goods. Soup shelves had been cleared in a Sainsbury's branch in Crayford, London, today This Sainsbury's store in Crayford, south-east London, had been all but stripped of toilet roll supplies as Britons admit to panic-buying essentials for fear of a demand and supply crisis if there's an outbreak A commuter on the London Underground wears a gas mask on Friday morning as the capital was gripped by coronavirus fears after the UK's first death The British Retail Consortium has asked ministers to suspend regulations that limit driver hours and store deliveries. Chief executive Helen Dickinson said it would ease pressure in the supply chain. Meanwhile, Environment Secretary George Eustice held a hastily arranged conference call with retailers yesterday. He said: They reassured me they have well-established contingency plans and are taking all necessary steps to ensure consumers have the food and supplies they need. Retailers are continuing to monitor their supply chains and have robust plans in place to minimise disruption. I will be convening a further meeting with industry, retailers and public sector organisations early next week to discuss support for vulnerable groups who may be in isolation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't visit GP - NHS will call you back to check you're ill TESCO DELIVERY DRIVERS ADVISE EACH OTHER TO TAKE THEIR EMPLOYER TO COURT IF HAVE TO DELIVER FOOD TO SELF-ISOLATED CUSTOMERS Tesco delivery drivers have advised each other to take their employer to court if they have to deliver food to people who 'they are aware of being in self-isolation' at home due to the coronavirus. In a forum for Tesco employees, the drivers questioned whether or not it was a fair request to be asked to take food shopping into the homes of those who may have Covid 19. One driver said there had been a letter distributed around various stores that stated drivers would still have to deliver to customers who had been told to self-isolate. In response another employee urged them to take the company to court as they claimed it was a breech of its duty of care. Advertisement Patients who make a GP appointment online may be phoned back to check that they do not have coronavirus before they come in. NHS officials have told doctors to take the utmost precautions to ensure patients do not unwittingly arrive at surgeries with the illness. They have instructed GPs to carry out a telephone or Skype assessment of anyone who has booked an appointment online. This is in case they wish to see their doctor because of a sore throat, temperature or cough, the typical symptoms of coronavirus. Often patients who book an online appointment do not need to disclose their reasons, unlike those who ring up and speak to a receptionist. The advice was issued by NHS England to practices on Thursday night to mitigate any risk that potentially infected patients book appointments online and attend the practice. At least 20 GP surgeries have been forced to close for deep cleans in the past month after patients with suspected coronavirus walked into waiting rooms. This is contrary to official advice that says anyone who is worried they might have the illness should ring NHS 111 and await a test. The latest closures involve practices in Essex, Derbyshire, Wiltshire, Liverpool and Hampshire, according to Pulse magazine. Doctors are also being urged not to encourage patients to stockpile their medication by switching to long prescription durations. Many people have taken to wearing face masks on public transport. One many was pictured wearing his headphones over the mask (left) while another was pictured on the tube this morning wearing the full face covering (right) Customers queue outside Boots in Salisbury, Wiltshire, this morning, amid reports that supermarkets and shops across the UK are running out of hand sanitiser A back log of customers outside Costco in Croydon as shoppers were given hand sanitiser on entrance The new advice says: These actions may put a strain on the supply chain and exacerbate any potential shortages. It comes as the NHS prepares to double the number of coronavirus tests that can be carried out in a day. The health service currently has the capacity to do 2,000 tests a day and they are analysed in one of 12 labs across the country. But this will rise to 4,000 in the coming days as laboratories in NHS hospitals are authorised to do the checks. They will include home tests, drive-through tests where patients are swabbed by a nurse without leaving a car and tests in pods outside A&E units. But if an epidemic takes hold, the NHS will have to give up on testing all possible cases as there could be several thousand a day. Patients and doctors would instead be told to use a clinical definition to diagnose coronavirus based on the symptoms of a cough, sore throat, temperature and shortness of breath. NIA court convicts three from Bengal in fake currency case India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 07: A Special court of the National Investigation Agency has convicted three persons in connection with a fake currency case. The three to be convicted are Amerul, Asim Kumar Saha and Alam Sheikh. All three are residents of West Bengal. In 2015, the West Bengal police along with the Border Security Force had seized fake currency to the tune of Rs 9 lakh. 800 grams of opium too were seized from the accused persons. The NIA after taking over the case, filed a chargesheet against 8 persons, including one Bangladeshi national who is absconding. In 2019, three persons were sentenced to six years in jail. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 Two from Bengal get six years in jail for peddling fake currency During investigation, it was revealed that the above accused and their associates had hatched a criminal conspiracy for procuring and circulating fake Indian currency notes in India and they were active since 2014. Investigation also revealed that FICN was procured from Bangladesh and circulated via Indo-Bangladesh International border in different parts of India. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 8:48 [IST] The Grand Princess cruise ship that has been stranded off the California coast for four days after it was halted due to a coronavirus outbreak will dock at the Port of Oakland, the ships captain announced Saturday night to the 3,500 passengers and crew members on board. The captain told passengers they would dock Sunday afternoon, but Princess Cruises later said that plan was pushed to Monday because the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention needs more time to modify procedures for getting people off the ship. The captains news was delivered not long after Gov. Gavin Newsom held a conference call with city officials in Oakland to inform them of the plans. Passengers will disembark over several days, with seriously ill patients evacuated first and moved to hospitals for treatment, the captain said in his announcement. Twenty-one people on board the ship have tested positive for coronavirus, but not all of them have symptoms, cruise officials have said. California residents on the ship will be taken to federally operated quarantine facilities in the state and will be tested for the virus there, the captain said. U.S. residents from other states will be moved out of California. It was not yet known where the international passengers and crew members would go. Crew members will remain quarantined on the ship after it docks, Princess Cruises said. The ship will dock at the Ports America site, which has been empty for several years, said Oakland City Councilman Larry Reid, who was not on the call with the governor but was informed of the docking plans Saturday night. Earlier Saturday, as the cruise ship passengers awaited word of their final destinations, the coronavirus outbreak in California climbed past 100 cases, with six new patients diagnosed in San Francisco and eight in Santa Clara County. More than 60 people in the Bay Area have tested positive for the coronavirus, including a faculty member at Stanford and an employee of the FBI. Now Playing: Here is what you need to know about the coronavirus. Video: Manjula Varghese On the Grand Princess, which is being held 50 miles off the California coast, 19 crew members and two passengers have tested positive for the virus. The ship was due in the Port of San Francisco on Saturday but was held at sea after a passenger from a previous trip a 71-year-old Placer County man tested positive for coronavirus and died. The ship has been circling offshore since Wednesday night, when state and federal public health officials ordered it to halt its voyage home. Now Playing: Audio from Robert Archer, a San Francisco resident who is a passenger on the Grand Princess cruise ship, of the captain announcing that the ship will dock at the Port of Oakland. Video: San Francisco Chronicle We need to get the ship into a port as soon as possible, said Jan Swartz, group president of Princess Cruises and Carnival Australia, in a news conference Saturday afternoon. Dr. Grant Tarling, chief medical officer for Carnival Corporation, said he believes that the source of the cruise ship outbreak was the Placer County resident, who appears to have been infected before boarding the Grand Princess Feb. 11. That passenger was on a cruise to Mexico that returned to San Francisco on Feb. 21. The man sought medical care on the ship for respiratory problems Feb. 20 and reported that he had been unwell for six or seven days, Tarling said. That means he first was symptomatic just two or three days after boarding the ship. People usually show symptoms of coronavirus infection four to five days after they are infected. So we believe his illness was probably community acquired somewhere in California, before he joined the ship, Tarling said. If thats the case, then the coronavirus has been circulating in California longer than earlier reports suggested. The first reported case of community infection was Feb. 26, in a Solano County resident, but the Placer County man would have been infected at least two weeks earlier. A waiter who served at the mans dining table during the Mexico trip, and then stayed on board the Grand Princess for the Hawaii cruise which is the trip that is currently stalled at sea was one of the 21 people to have tested positive on Friday. Most of the 19 crew members who tested positive were on both the Mexico and the Hawaii trips, Tarling said. But the two passengers who have tested positive were not on the Mexico cruise. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. About nine California residents including people in Sonoma, Contra Costa and Alameda counties who were passengers on the February trip to Mexico have now tested positive. All of the 2,400 passengers currently on the Grand Princess have been quarantined to their rooms, cruise officials said. Meals are delivered to them three or four times a day by masked crew members. The people who tested positive are being held in isolation, Tarling said. Vice President Mike Pence has said that everyone on board will be tested for the virus, but cruise line officials said they had not heard when that would happen. A critically ill passenger and her husband were evacuated by a Coast Guard vessel early Saturday. The sick individual, a woman in her 70s, was taken to a hospital for treatment unrelated to coronavirus, the cruise line said. The six cases reported by San Francisco on Saturday are not related to the cruise ship, a public health spokeswoman said. All of the people who were newly diagnosed are isolating at home and in good condition. The San Francisco residents who earlier tested positive were both hospitalized. On Saturday, San Francisco banned all non-essential group activities in city-owned facilities for two weeks in an effort to contain the rapid spread of the virus. The ban applies to gatherings of more than 50 people for social, cultural or entertainment purposes. The order by the Department of Public Health will be effective until March 20. Staff writers Lauren Hernandez, Lizzie Johnson and Steve Rubenstein contributed to this report. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 10:37:49|Editor: yhy Video Player Close NICOSIA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on Friday commended the Chinese government for its prompt action in implementing comprehensive prevention and control measures to fight against COVID-19. In a video interview with Xinhua, Anastasiades said that "China has indeed shown tremendous resilience" in the fight against COVID-19, and China is not alone in this fight. Anastasiades also extended on behalf of the Cypriot government and people their deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to all those affected. "I wish once again to express our full support for the government and the friendly people of China. We stand in solidarity with them," Anastasiades said. The president also said that the international community, including the Republic of Cyprus, highly appreciated China's openness and transparency in sharing information with other countries and relevant international special agencies such as the World Health organization. He added that the government of Cyprus is in close contact with Chinese authorities and the Chinese embassy since the start of the outbreak, receiving regular updates on the effectiveness of the measures taken by China. "Despite our joint efforts, much remain to be done in preventing the spread of the coronavirus," he said. "We stand ready to enhance our cooperation with China in responding responsibly to the potential threat of the virus." Anastasiades said the situation has caused great concern in Cyprus, but he called on people not to panic and to show calm and caution. "We encourage all citizens to follow the instructions of the medical and public health services and take all the necessary measures to prevent infections," he said. Cyprus hasn't reported any confirmed case of COVID-19, though over 40 people have been tested and proved negative. The health authorities have been braced for any potential cases. The 72 hours between the South Carolina primary and Super Tuesday pulled Biden back from the brink of elimination and propelled him to the front of the race for the Democratic nomination Washington: At Mike Bloombergs midtown Manhattan campaign headquarters, a team of pollsters and analysts churned out multiple tranches of data each day on the state of the Democratic race. The sophisticated data operation was supposed to be the candidate's not-so-secret weapon, giving Bloomberg an almost real-time look at voters' preferences in key states and allowing the campaign to rapidly move around its vast resources. But after Joe Biden's commanding victory in the South Carolina primary, the numbers moved too fast for Bloomberg's money to catch up. Voters were rapidly flocking to the former vice president so quickly that poll results were outdated almost as fast as they landed in the Bloomberg team's inboxes. "Even polls that were 24 hours old, 12 hours old were out of date," said Kevin Sheekey, Bloomberg's campaign manager. Just three days after Biden's South Carolina victory, 10 more states confirmed what Bloomberg and other candidates were seeing: a stunning consolidation of support around Biden by a diverse swath of the Democratic electorate. Though Biden lost California, the night's biggest prize, to Bernie Sanders, he closed the gap there significantly, allowing him to emerge from Super Tuesday with a lead in the all-important delegate count. The 72 hours between the South Carolina primary and Super Tuesday pulled Biden back from the brink of elimination and propelled him to the front of the race for the Democratic nomination. His resurgence is one of the most remarkable turnabouts in modern American politics, and sets up a head-to-head competition with Sanders over who is best to take on President Donald Trump in November. Bidens comeback was aided by rivals who stepped aside and urged their supporters to back him; by deep connections, particularly with black voters, built up over four decades in politics that helped him overcome significant gaps in his campaign operations in key states; and a growing fear among more moderate Democrats that Biden was the partys last best hope to stop Sanders, a Vermont senator and self-described democratic socialist, from clinching the nomination. This account of those three crucial days is based on interviews with a dozen campaign operatives and political allies of the candidates, some of whom insisted on anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations. The morning after Bidens thunderous, 30-point victory in South Carolina, the Democratic presidential field descended on Selma, Alabama, to commemorate the bridge crossing where civil rights marchers were attacked in 1965. One had already made a private decision to drop out of the race, and another was weighing whether to do the same. Pete Buttigieg had spent Saturday night huddled in his hotel room at a Hampton Inn in Americus, Georgia, on a conference call with top aides. One by one, Buttigiegs aides gave their assessment: The road ahead was bleak. Its not where Buttigieg expected to find himself after effectively tying Sanders in Iowa and finishing a close second in New Hampshire. But he didnt get the burst of momentum out of those states that his campaign had hoped. And while his advisers had expected Biden to win in South Carolina, the margin of victory was surprising. On the late-night conference call, Buttigiegs advisers struggled to outline how he would emerge from Super Tuesday in solid position in the delegate count. Buttigieg agreed with his teams assessment: It was time to get out. Senior campaign advisers hurriedly made plans for a concession speech back in Indiana, while Buttigieg dutifully pressed on through his schedule of events on Sunday, including the march in Selma. Between events, he called supporters to let them know his campaign was ending. Chris Cabaldon, the mayor of West Sacramento, California, was among those who received a call. The candidate seemed a little shaken, Cabaldon said, but maintained he was comfortable with his decision. I think it was pretty clear he felt not just at peace, but he had a new mission, Cabaldon said. Buttigieg also tried to reach Biden, but his team initially had the wrong telephone number. When the two men finally spoke, Buttigieg told the former vice president he was weighing an endorsement, but didnt make a firm commitment. Guiding Buttigiegs decision was a conversation he had earlier Sunday night with Barack Obama. The former president, who has stayed stridently neutral throughout the primary, had long been a fan of Buttigieg, identifying him as one of the Democratic Partys next generation of leaders. Obama congratulated Buttigieg on his campaign and counseled him on a possible endorsement, according to a person with knowledge of the call. Obama didnt push Buttigieg to endorse a specific candidate, but they talked through factors to consider. By Monday morning, Buttigieg was ready to back Biden. His campaign quietly coordinated with Bidens campaign, which sent a private plane to South Bend to ferry Buttigieg to Dallas for an endorsement event. Sen. Amy Klobuchar was also among the candidates who gathered in Selma. After a surprise third-place finish in New Hampshire and a sudden infusion of cash, her campaign was struggling to keep pace with the campaigns intense primary calendar. Klobuchar had spent Sunday morning talking with her own advisers about the path forward. The senators home state of Minnesota was among those voting on Super Tuesday, and the campaigns internal polling showed Klobuchar ahead. The way Klobuchar saw it, she had two choices: stay in to win Minnesota and relish in the glow of a home state victory, or drop out and help Biden win the state. Klobuchar reached her decision in Selma, as she sat inside Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church. I was in that church in Selma that morning and I was thinking what is better here? What is better for our country? she said on NBCs Today Show." Klobuchar privately concluded she needed to step aside. Still, she hoped for one last rally in her home state before she announced her decision. It wasnt to be. Protesters interrupted Klobuchars campaign event at a suburban Minneapolis high school, calling on her to drop out over her handling of a 2002 murder case that sent a black 17-year-old to prison for life while she was a county prosecutor. The rally was abruptly canceled. Klobuchar got back on the campaigns charter plane and headed to Utah, where she had a morning event scheduled in Salt Lake City. But she left her aides with instructions: Because time was running out before Super Tuesday, she wanted to hold one event to both announce the end of her campaign and appear with Biden to declare her support for the former vice president. Campaign manager Justin Buoen and two other campaign aides started Googling where Biden would be on Monday. He had events in Texas, and a nighttime rally in Dallas seemed the most feasible. Beyond logistics, there was an added bonus to picking the Dallas event. A joint Biden-Klobuchar rally was all but certain to be carried live on cable television. And it was scheduled for the same time Sanders would be holding a rally in Minnesota. - For Biden, the three days between South Carolina and Super Tuesday were dizzying. The campaign had been running on fumes through the opening months of the year. Disappointing finishes in the opening contests scared off donors, and the campaigns coffers were running perilously low. But Biden appeared more at home in South Carolina, where his family had vacationed for years and where he had deep ties to state officials and voters. Ahead of the primary, hed secured the endorsement of Rep. James Clyburn, the highest-ranking African American in Congress, whose backing for Biden had come with a dose of tough love about the ways the campaign needed to improve if Biden had any hope of securing the nomination. Heading into the Saturday primary, Bidens campaign was hoping to pull out a win with a margin of victory in the double digits. Biden went on to carry the state by 30 points. "This is the night Bernie Sanders began to unravel," Dick Harpootlian, a South Carolina state senator and longtime Biden backer, said at the victory party that night. At campaign headquarters in Philadelphia, phones began to ring. Establishment Democrats who had held off endorsing and donors who had been sitting on the sidelines were suddenly expressing interest. One of the centrist Democrats who had backed Biden in the lead-up to South Carolina was Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, whose state was among those voting on Super Tuesday. When Kaine first announced his endorsement and appeared with Biden, he sensed that many voters in Virginia were still undecided. But the morning after Bidens South Carolina win, Kaine said the shift in his state was palpable. I had people just coming up to me saying, Hey, I saw that, Im really glad you did that, Kaine said. People were deciding late, and they were looking for how to figure this out. On Super Tuesday, Bidens margin of victory in Virginia was about as large as it was in South Carolina. His campaign had just one office in the state and had spent less than $200,000 on television advertising compared with $12 million for Bloomberg. By the next morning, Bloomberg, too, would be out of the race. Hed plunged more than a half-billion dollars into his primary campaign, but failed to win a single state. Bloombergs path to the nomination was always contingent on a Biden collapse, and for weeks, the polling the data-driven billionaire consumed backed up that bet. But Bloombergs own favorable ratings took a serious tumble in the campaigns internal polling after a poor debate performance in February in which Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others berated him for the stop-and-frisk policy he oversaw as mayor of New York and his companys non-disclosure agreements with dozens of women. After South Carolina, the campaigns polling showed the race was rapidly shifting away from Bloomberg. With no financial restrictions, and significant resources already spent, the campaign decided to press forward to Super Tuesday with a long-shot hope of overperforming. By nights end, Bloomberg wasnt close to contention for any of the 14 states. Biden won in Minnesota, in Texas, in Massachusetts all states where he had a scant campaign operation and little advertising on the air. The former mayor arrived at his midtown campaign headquarters by about 8 a.m. Wednesday for one last look at the data. He concluded that he, too, was getting out and endorsing Biden. As an Arizonan, Gregory Cohen has never had to stock up ahead of a hurricane or other natural disaster. But fear of the new coronavirus led the 51-year-old attorney to run up a hefty bill at the local grocery store last week on emergency supplies. That included 12 cans of diced tomatoes, 12 cans of chili beans, soap and six boxes of pasta that he says should last him and his family four weeks. My biggest concern is that we will all be asked to stay at home, said Cohen, who stored the supplies in tubs in his garage for his wife and teenage son. This is my way of exerting control of the uncertainty of the current situation. COVID-19, the disease that has sickened more than 100,000 people worldwide and killed more than 3,400 people, has created legions of nervous hoarders who are loading up on canned goods, frozen dinners, toilet paper and cleaning products. Many like Cohen want to be prepared as they hear warnings about quarantines and watch a growing number of companies like Twitter, Microsoft and Amazon ask their employees to work from home. Such stockpiling is expected to last for weeks, resulting in a boon for discounters and grocery stores as well as food delivery services that is also introducing logistical headaches at the same time. Costco Wholesale Corp.s Chief Financial Officer Richard Galanti described the buying frenzy as off the charts throughout the U.S. in a call with investors this week. Some like Kroger Co. are placing limits on certain items such as cold and flu-related products to five each per order. Target and Walmart say they are talking to suppliers to replenish bare shelves, but didnt say how long that could take. And New Jersey-based Campbell Soup Co. said its stepping up production because of increased orders from grocery stores and other retailers as demand started growing this week. Instacart reports a surge in demand for pantry items such as powdered milk and canned goods, as well as personal care products like hand sanitizer and vitamins. Sales are up tenfold across the country but business is particularly heavy in California, Washington, Oregon and New York, where sales are up twenty-fold over the past week, the company said. Meanwhile, sales of hand sanitizers in the U.S. soared 73% in the four weeks ending Feb. 22 compared to the same period a year ago, according to market research firm Nielsen, while sales of thermometers spiked 47% during that same period. Online purchases of toilet paper have nearly doubled and nonperishable items like canned goods rose nearly 70% during the January and February period, according to Adobe Analytics. Australian Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy, who is leading Australias response to the COVID-19 outbreak, on Thursday urged against stockpiling toilet paper. There is no reason to denude the shelves of lavatory paper in the supermarkets, Murphy said in a national televised press conference. We should continue our normal activity. Italians engaged in panic buying in the first two days after officials in Lombardy and Veneto started to expand protective measures on Feb. 23 closing schools, theaters and museums but it subsided quickly after an initial spurt. Supermarkets from the heart of Milan to provincial towns in Veneto were cleared of the Italian staple, pasta, but also such items as flour and meat, with butcher cases emptying on consecutive days. In one suburban mall supermarket, a customer with a shopping cart piled high with bottled water was told it exceeded limits being put in place. Bocconi economist Francesco Daveri said the hoarding pushed up sales at major supermarket chains in the double-digits. Such hoarding resembles typical behavior in the days leading up to a hurricane or other natural disasters. Superstorm Sandy, the deadly hurricane that struck the Northeast in 2012, caused people to crowd stores to buy flashlights, batteries and food. But whats different about the hoarding around the coronavirus is that its happening all across the country. Consumers are dealing with an unknown threat and they have no idea when it will be over, consumer experts say. This is a big time of anxiety, and we know the biggest source of anxiety is uncertainty, says Stewart Shankman, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University. People are trying to get a sense of control by buying things you really dont need. Its a false sense of control. Wendy Liebmann, founder and CEO of WSL Strategic Marketing, described the behavior as animalistic. Theres is not much guidance other than washing your hands, Liebmann said. With many store shelves cleaned out of necessities, shoppers like Christopher Chan are frustrated. The 32-year-old lives in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle, a popular neighborhood with hip bars and restaurants east of downtown. He said Wednesday that it took him a couple days this week to find toilet paper, and that Whole Foods and QFC grocers had been cleaned out. After sleuthing around, I violated my own privacy standards and went to Amazon Go, which had one pack left, he said. To Chan, the panic buying squares with warnings everyone has been hearing about possible quarantines and he noticed dry goods like beans and rice were scarce, as were hand sanitizer and bleach. He saw one woman at a Whole Foods grabbing as many travel-size bottles of hand sanitizer as she could. There could be some buyers remorse if the coronavirus outbreak passes without forcing huge swaths of people to stay at home. That happened in 2011 after Hurricane Irene, which passed through the Northeast without inflicting much harm. The crowds who braved the long lines to buy batteries and canned goods then started to complain and demand refunds for all the stuff they bought. Cohen said hes not worried about the extra supplies of food, including frozen burritos. I got an 18-year old, he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NEW guidance is to be issued to health care workers at University Hospital Limerick following a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team, this Saturday This guidance was developed, in conjunction with the Expert Advisory Group, in light of the recent diagnosis of Covid-19 in a patient at Cork University Hospital, which has led to a significant number of close contacts with healthcare workers. Read also: Visiting ban announced on all six of UL Hospitals Group sites following confirmed coronavirus cases Under the guidance, health care workers who have had close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 and have not developed symptoms, and are deemed to be essential workers, may work, provided they observe strict adherence to infection prevention and control precautions, and undergo twice daily active monitoring by occupational health, for 14 days after contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19. Covid-19, as with other infectious diseases, creates risk to patient care in two ways - the risk of transmission from an infected health care worker and the risk of serious impact on patient care by loss of significant numbers of essential staff, said Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer following the meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team. The National Public Health Emergency Team has decided to adopt the guidance of the Expert Advisory Group, to be implemented in Cork University Hospital and Limerick Hospital immediately. HSE senior management are currently meeting with staff in the affected hospitals, offering guidance and support. Dr Colm Henry, chief clinical officer in the HSE, said: Healthcare workers are at the frontline of this virus outbreak. The Department of Health and the HSE are equally dedicated to protecting and supporting this vital group of people, along with ensuring patient care. Meanwhile, one additional case of Covid-19 has been confirmed in Ireland bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 19 as of midday this Saturday. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre says the newly confirmed case relates to a male, in the east of Ireland, and is associated with travel from northern Italy. The HSE is working rapidly to identify any contacts the patient may have had, to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. _____________________________________________________________________________________ For updates and advice on Covid-19, visit the HSE website or the dedicated coronavirus section of our website Say Yes to the Dress: America has found its perfect New York state representative in LoAles Cruz. Cruz, who hails from the Bronx, is an immigrant who went through the foster care system at an early age until she eventually went to live with her grandmother. After putting in years of hard work, paying her own way through nursing school, she is now a nurse at a hospital right around the corner from where she was raised. In an exclusive sneak peek clip of an upcoming episode of Say Yes to the Dress: America, Cruzs fiance, Jordan Mercado, joins host Randy Fenoli to surprise Cruz with the exciting news just outside her work at the hospital. Mercado anxiously texts Cruz, ostensibly so the two of them can grab a quick lunch together, but when Cruz bounds down the steps to meet him, she instead comes face to face with Fenoli and freaks out. Oh my god! she exclaims, instantly tearing up at the sight of the familiar face. The pair embrace, and then Cruz hugs Mercado, before she can even find the right words to express her emotions. Do you need anything? Should I call a paramedic? Fenoli jokes as Cruz finally takes a seat on the stone steps to catch her breath. The ecstatic bride-to-be just shakes her head and smiles. I had no clue! she later tells cameras. I just thought [Mercado] was, like, really hungry or something. Mercado jokes, Even with the 5,000 texts I gave you this morning? LoAles Cruz and fiance are hugging. (Credit: TLC) Once Cruz finally collects herself, Fenoli excitedly tells her, Youve been selected to represent the state of New York for Say Yes to the Dress: Americathis means were bringing you to Kleinfeld to pick the dress of your dreams from a special curated selection of wedding gowns. Cruzs response? More squeals. Later in the episode, Fenoli sweetly refers to Cruz as not just the representative for New York state, but the bride to represent America. Randy, LoAles Cruz, and fiance in New York. (Credit: TLC) Story continues She describes herself as a flower that has grown up through the gray cracks of the sidewalks of New York and has blossomed, Fenoli told Parade magazine earlier this year. Its such a beautiful story. You realize that shes the perfect person to represent New York. Every state I went to, they just had such state pride and it was just amazing. Everybodys just so different and unique, he added. When you get to see their real lives, its so much more informative and personal than just them coming in and talking about [their lives]. Ive bonded so closely with these brides that we still keep in touch and were still on a group chat together. Other states that Fenoli has been to recently include Kansas, Utah, North Dakota, Nevada, and Indiana, among others. In total, the show will tap 52 brides (one from every state, including Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico) to take part in a mass wedding ceremony held in Central Park in New York City. Each bride is gifted a wedding gown and an exclusive shopping experience at Kleinfeld Bridal. Related Articles By Trend Some 197 passengers arrived in Kazakhstan from South Korea, 100 people of which were quarantined, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Ministry of Healthcare. The flights carrying 197 passengers arrived in Kazakhstan on March 5, 2020. Some 97 transit passenger were aboard the plane (23 Kyrgyzstan citizens, 37 Uzbekistan citizens, 16 Russia citizens, 18 Ukraine citizens, 2 South Korea citizens, 1 Tajikistan citizen). Kyrgyzstan provided bus for its 21 citizens and they boarded the bus under the supervision of police officers to go to Kyrgyzstan. Overall 100 people have been quarantined including four children. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. The symptoms include cough, headache, fatigue, fever, aching and difficulty breathing. It is primarily spread through airborne contact or contact with contaminated objects. In mild cases, according to the Chinese authorities, treatment takes about a week, in severe cases - two or more. 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 other countries. Several countries are developing a vaccine against the new virus. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Dozens of firefighters are tackling a blaze at a gift shop in central London which has left Oxford Street partially closed. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to the address on the corner of Gilbert Street, in Mayfair, on Friday evening after a fire broke out at the souvenir shop, Colour London. Footage posted online showed plumes of smoke coming from the building as crews from the London Fire Brigade (LBF) fought to keep the blaze under control. Firefighters tackle a large fire at a property on the corner of Oxford Street and Gilbert Street in central London Smoke rises from a building on Oxford Street after a blaze broke out in a souvenir shop Commuters were advised to seek alternative routes as Oxford Street was closed in both directions between Marble Arch and Oxford Circus. 'The ground floor of the five-storey building is alight. The Brigade's 999 Control Officers have taken 12 calls to the blaze,' the LFB said. Fire crews from Soho, Lambeth, Kensington, Chelsea, Kentish Town, Euston and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage. Firefighters tackle a large fire at a property on the corner of Oxford Street and Gilbert Street in central London Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 22:34:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's transport system is expected to see millions of migrant workers finish their return to their workplaces in early April after a prolonged Spring Festival break due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, an official said Saturday. The country's transport authorities have introduced tailored services to facilitate their safe return, said Cai Tuanjie, an official with the Ministry of Transport. The latest official data showed that 78 million migrant workers have already returned to their jobs. In the provinces of Guangdong and Zhejiang, 70 percent of migrant workers from other provinces had made it back to their workplaces. A total of 27 provincial-level regions have arranged about 80,000 "point-to-point" customized buses, sending 1.7 million migrant workers back to their employers directly. Measures such as online ticket selling and coordinated transportation will be taken to reduce the health risks in migrant workers' return journeys, he said. And boy, did they, with even NSW Fair Trading confirming it was investigating as talk of a class action reverberated. Trying to squeeze 10,000 ticket-holders, each paying about $200 a pop for the official after-party, into a venue which could accommodate around half that meant things were bound to get ugly. The mirror balls in the Hordern Pavilion were still spinning in the wee hours of last Sunday morning when the griping began about this year's Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. There was no irony lost on me when I saw the Sydney Swans float at the parade. Our beloved Swans are one of the reasons why so many people were locked out of the Hordern last Saturday night. Thanks to the Berejiklian government, the Swans are in the midst of fitting out the neighbouring Royal Hall Of Industries as its new headquarters. For decades the Hall of Industries was the other major venue for Mardi Gras, but it is unlikely to be available next year either. Mardi Gras' new CEO Albert Kruger told me it was unclear what form the re-purposed Hall will eventually take. "The after-party as we once knew it will not be the same again with the changes at the RHI, and we still don't know what sort of space we will end up having access to," he said. Two hour queues, filthy toilets and lack of access to the headline acts is not good enough. And let's be clear - Dua Lipa is a great pop star but she is no gay icon like Mardi Gras patron saints Cher and Kylie. And I'm sorry, but does anyone actually dance to Sam Smith ballads? As for charging another $100 to stand in a public laneway at a "recovery party" the next day, our community event feels more like a cash cow than ever (especially when we once did that for free). A 93-year-old grandmother attacked by masked raiders as she slept was told 'make sure you don't f***ing die on us' before her home was ransacked. The pensioner was mortified to discover three robbers in her bedroom last week, as one of them clamped a hand over her mouth to stop her from crying out. As she tried to reason with the intruders by telling them she was 93, one of the thugs chilling replied: 'Well, make sure you don't f***ing die on us then.' The gang are suspected of carrying with them tools and empty bin bags, in what is believed by police to have been a targeted and highly-planned raid. Stealing 2,000 from the Liverpool pensioner, who was left shaken and with heavy facial bruising, the thugs were at the semi-detached home for an hour. Pictured: A 93-year-old grandmother was robbed by masked raiders at her Liverpool home, as one put their hand over their mouth and said 'don't f***ing die on us' They are said to have raided every room, pulling out each drawer, and emptying cupboards as they scoured the home for potential loot. Chief Constable Andy Cooke of Merseyside Police was so shocked by the crime that he slammed the 'scum' robbers and 'no grass culture nonsense'. The 93-year-old, a grandmother to seven and has 10 great-grandchildren, has vowed never to set foot inside her Herm Road home of 23 years again. She has been left shaking, and sometimes retching, while she tries to recover at her niece's home, her daughter told the Liverpool Echo. The daughter, 70, revealed how the gang broke in through the back kitchen door, bolted the front, and cut the power after 2am on Wednesday. She claimed: 'It's like we're living a nightmare, we can't believe this has happened. What an awful way to leave your home with that as a last memory. Pictured: Merseyside Police of Chief Constable Andy Cooke labelled the overnight break-in at a pensioner's home in Liverpool as 'horrendous' 'We're trying to tell her that these people are not worth it, and to not let them ruin her life, but it's difficult. These criminals, what do they do when they get home? 'We just hope people come forward to tell the police who did it.' Chief Constable Cooke said: 'This is horrendous. Please help us catch the scum who did this. And don't give me any of that no grass culture nonsense. This is a 93 year old woman in her own house who should be afforded respect and dignity. A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: 'The woman was taken to hospital suffering from shock and bruising to her face. An investigation is underway and house-to-house, forensic and CCTV enquiries are being carried out in the local area.' Detective Sergeant Richie Shillito said: 'Everyone has the right to feel safe and secure in their own homes and this was a particularly cowardly and despicable incident involving an elderly lady who was left badly shaken'. South Korea's passage of a bill against the ride-hailing service Tada is a major setback for the country's drive for innovation, experts said Thursday. The bill allows Tada service operator Value Creators & Company (VCNC) to rent out its vans with drivers for at least six hours at airports and ports, and only for tour purposes. Currently, a chauffeur-driven Tada van can serve customers without limitations on the hours of service and rental area. The move illustrates the escalating tug of war over the country's growing mobility market between technology-driven mobility companies and taxi drivers. Tada, launched in October 2018, has won 1.7 million registered users in an indication of public endorsement for the new mobility option in a country where it is not easy to grab a taxi in busy commercial areas, especially at night. Although Tada set its prices higher than those of conventional taxis when it started last year, its basic fares of 4,000 won (US$3.40) are not very different from those of normal taxis in Seoul, which rose 19 percent to a starting rate of 3,800 won in February. Tada links customers to vans driven by one of the service's 12,000 contracted drivers. The revised law is set to fully take effect 18 months after it is proclaimed. The passage drew strong backlash from the business community and venture startups for undermining the impetus for deregulation at a time when South Korea is pushing to foster innovative sectors as its new growth engines. Car-sharing app SoCar, which wholly owns VCNC, has expressed regret over the bill's passage and said it will soon stop providing the Tada service, which means "ride" in Korean. SoCar Chief Executive Lee Jae-woong condemned the passage, saying, "It didn't reflect the interest of the public and the growth potential of a new industry in the era of new mobility platforms. Instead, it only focused on protecting the interests of the taxi industry." The Federation of Korean Taxi Workers' Union welcomed the passage of the revision bill. "The passage has laid the foundation for new ride platforms to continue their services without unnecessary social conflicts between taxis and new platform providers," the federation said in a statement. The parliamentary passage came just two weeks after Lee and VCNC CEO Park Jae-uk were found not guilty in the Seoul Central District Court. The court acquitted the two of charges of violating the passenger transport service act with the new service. BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Austrian sensor maker ams said that its Chief Financial Officer Michael Wachsler will step down from his position in the Management Board of the company effective 31 May 2020. In addition, Ams' Supervisory Board plans to propose that Michael Wachsler be elected as member of the Supervisory Board in the Annual General Meeting 2022 following a two-year cooling-off period. Meanwhile, ams has appointed Ingo Bank as its Chief Financial Officer, effective 1 May 2020. Ingo Bank's term will run for three years. Ingo Bank will step down from the Management Board of Osram Licht AG, where he holds the CFO position, effective 30 April 2020. Separately, ams said it assessed the Covid-19 situation in relation to the company' business which has not resulted in a change to expectations for the first quarter. ams confirmed financial expectations for the first quarter 2020 with revenues of $480 million- $520 million and an expected adjusted operating (EBIT) margin of 19-21%. 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. Keith Reddy was also found in a stolen car bought for 300 A man caught with pepper spray on a keyring had bought it in a gift shop while on holiday in Turkey, where it was "freely available", a court was told. In a separate incident, Keith Reddy (21) was found in a stolen car that he had "recklessly" bought for 300. Judge Paula Murphy spared him jail and put him on 12 months' probationary supervision. Reddy, of Moatview Court, Priorswood, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of the pepper spray at Carton Terrace, Poppintree. Dublin District Court heard gardai found him with the canister at 5.35pm on September 11, 2018. Reddy also separately admitted possession of a stolen car at the Summit car park, Howth, on June 13, 2017. Gardai stopped the 06-registered car and became aware of a strong smell of cannabis. Searched Reddy, who was in the passenger seat, was searched and found in possession of the keys, a garda said. It was discovered that the car was stolen. A garda estimated the value of the vehicle at 7,000 to 8,000. Reddy had bought it for 300 through "recklessness" rather than "the full knowledge that the car was stolen", his solicitor Lorraine Stephens said. He was fully co-operative in the search in which the pepper spray was found. "It's freely available in gift shops in Spain or Turkey," Ms Stephens said, adding that the accused had "put all matters behind him in relation to substance abuse". Reddy had good family support when he was clean, but that was previously withdrawn. He was living back in the family home, "hopeful for the future" and aiming for a qualif- ication in the fitness industry. Cherie Kidd (R) and Charlotte Ambrose enjoyed Shen Yun Performing Arts at Lincoln Center in New York, on March 6, 2020. (Weiyong/The Epoch Times) NEW YORKCherie Kidd, Ms. Senior USA and former mayor of Port Angeles, Washington, came to New York City for a visit to United Nations, but rounded out her visit with a trip to Lincoln Center to see Shen Yun Performing Arts. It was magical, just magical, superb, Kidd said after the performance on the evening of March 6, 2020. She attended the performance with artist Charlotte Ambrose, who represented Poland, the USA in the same pageant, and Ms. Senior USA organizer James Kimsey. Kidd had heard about Shen Yun from many friends, and when she saw for herself the New York-based dance company, it took her breath away. The feeling Shen Yun left her with was easily summed up: Perfection. Everyone was perfect, she said. I loved it, there was a significant, profound meaning behind the show and it gave depth to the show and was very touching, and I loved it, Kidd said. I got a very good message, I loved what the creators were doing, and I loved the way the message came across: very sincere, very inspiring, and truthful. Shen Yun Performing Arts Global Companys curtain call at Lincoln Center in New York, on March 6, 2020. (Edward Dye/The Epoch Times) Shen Yuns mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture, which is said to be divinely inspired. Since 2006, the company has toured around the globe and now brings the production to 150 cities each season. We loved every moment and I highly recommend it to families, and everyone will love this show, its very special, Kidd said. For Ambrose, the performance was a dream, and satisfying in both an aesthetic and spiritual sense. My eyes are so saturated with colors, said Ambrose, who was soaking up inspiration for her own work. It was just a colossal dream of coloran explosion! The technical illusions were so wonderful to experience. Theyre just fantastic, in a dream-like but also very moving, about heaven and earth, and the chaos in the world sometimes, and divine faith in the Lord, Ambrose said. So it was a very moving message. With reporting by Weiyong. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 20:36:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Turkish military vehicles entered Syria's northwestern province of Idlib on Saturday, as the cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey is entering its second day, a war monitor reported. The Turkish vehicles entered northern Idlib and headed toward Turkish observation points in the province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. With the latest military reinforcements on March 7, around 3,480 Turkish military vehicles have entered Syria since Feb. 2, with 8,350 Turkish soldiers being deployed in Idlib, according to the Britain-based watchdog. "Cautious calm" prevailed the de-escalation zone in Idlib on Saturday, the Observatory noted. Russia and Turkey agreed on a cease-fire in the de-escalation zone in Syria's Idlib on Thursday, after talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan which lasted about six hours. The cease-fire went into effect at 12:01 a.m. local time on Friday (2201 GMT Thursday), according to the protocol read after the talks by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The agreement comes after several times of direct confrontation between Turkey and Syrian in Idlib over the past two months when the Syrian forces have been campaigning against the Turkey-backed rebel groups in the province. A brand new car, breakfast with Tadhg Furlong, Kevin Doyle and Shane Foley and a Caribbean cruise are among the impressive prizes being offered in a monster Good Counsel College draw. The raffle aims to raise 200,000 towards the cost of a major extension at the school. It will be held on May 15 in the Brandon Hotel at the Parents Counsel Summer Supper. Organised by the Good Counsel College Past Pupils Union and the Parents Council, 100 per cent of the prizes have been donated by the community, local business and past pupils. The college has expanded its number of students to almost 800, from the 450 students it was designed for. The Past Pupils Union has begun the process of extending the social and dining facilities for the students which will be done in two phases. The project needs 200,000 for phase 1 which will make a big difference to students on a daily basis. Chairperson of the Past Pupils Union, PJ O'Farrell, who is the driving force behind the project, said: 'We have been overwhelmed with the help and support so far with donations from the community for the benefit of the students.' Tickets will be sold from the school, by a select group of past pupils and families with sons in the college from this week. Principal Mark O'Brien said: 'The college has been blown away by the huge levels of support and goodwill from those working on the project and the generosity of our alumni and local businesses in supporting the fundraiser. We encourage people to come and buy from the school office. The new extension will give the students a better social area for dining and downtime. Follow our twitter page @GCC_NewRoss and Past Pupils Facebook Page to keep up to date with progress. ' Separate to this initiative, the school currently has an application with the Building Unit of the Department of Education and Skills for eight classrooms, a Science Laboratory, a Computer Room, additional social space, hard play areas and staffroom facilities with Wexford County Council. In May 2019 the school management team of Principal Mark O'Brien and the Deputy Principals Aidan O'Brien and PJ Walsh initiated a meeting of some former pupils. The result was the formation of a Past Pupils Union (PPU). One of the five aims identified by the union was to have a clear plan for a major capital project. The Capital Project Committee has developed a plan which will increase and enhance the social/dining facilities for all the college's students. The estimated cost of phase (a) for this capital project is 200,000. The first phase will start, subject to planning, in June and the Assembly Hall should be completed in time for the return of students in September, Mr O'Brien said. The Capital Project Committee's ambition is broken into three phases: build an extension to the Assembly Hall - increasing student social space and dining facilities, provide furniture and fittings along with the necessary equipment for this new space and build a new staff room. There are 15 prizes in the monster draw to the value of almost 40,000. The full list of prizes and donors are: a Kia Picanto worth 16,000 donated by the Boland brothers, a Caribbean cruise, flights and two nights in Miami in January 2021 donated by a group of alumni base in the USA - coordinated by John Murphy and worth over $10,000, a Macbook Air worth 1,300 donated by Triangle Computers who have connections in the College, one weeks rental of a three bed holiday home in Enniscorthy worth 1,000 from Oliver Doyle, based in Canada who attended the college in the mid 1950s, 700 cash from Hugh Doyle, now based in Canada from Gorey originally, breakfast with Tadhg Furlong, Kevin Doyle and Shane Foley - all past pupils, a 500 Husqvarna voucher donated by James O'Rourke, a 128gb Apple iPad worth 500 from Triangle, a 128gb Apple iPad worth 500 from Triangle again, a 128gb Apple iPad worth 500 from Triangle again, a back to school package worth 375 from Treasury, Ray Lawlors and Hanrahans, a Seiko Quartz mens watch worth 300 from Brooks Jewellers, an Apple TV worth 200 donated by Exertis, a 150 Glanbia voucher and a 75 Lu Lu Boutique voucher donated by Louise Buckley. Tickets cost 20 or 50 for three. British visitor is latest COVID-19 case BANGKOK: A British man, 43, is the latest and 48th local case of COVID-19 coronavirus disease infection, and a Thai worker returning from South Korea is also suspected of having caught the virus, the Public Health Ministry reported on Friday (Mar 6). COVID-19Coronavirustourismtransport By Bangkok Post Saturday 7 March 2020, 09:03AM People queue to buy face masks from a Commerce Ministry vehicle at Klong Toey market in Klong Toey district of Bangkok on Friday, as the Public Health Ministry announced a new case of Covid-19 infection. Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool / Bangkok Post Dr Sukhum Karnchanapimai, permanent secretary for health, said the British business consultant left London on Feb 28 and changed planes in Hong Kong on Feb 29 before arriving in Thailand. He was in Hong Kong for about eight hours. On Tuesday he sought treatment for a fever and chest phlegm at a private hospital. He was referred to the Central Chest Institute of Thailand in Nonthaburi province. This raised the number of local COVID-19 cases to 48, of which 31 had fully recovered while 16 others remained at hospitals, one seriously ill, and one had died. Dr Sukhum also said a Thai woman who was an informal worker in South Korea and returned to Thailand had tested positive for COVID-19 at one laboratory, and doctors were waiting for her test result from another laboratory for confirmation. The woman was detected with a fever at Suvarnabhumi airport on Thursday and was sent to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi, he said. Patients under investigation numbered 4,023, 59% of whom had fully recovered and mostly suffered from seasonal influenza. The other 1,631 remained at hospitals. Read original story here. There are probably very few crimes that shock, anger and pain most Africans more than the looting of human remains of their relatives, friends or persons from their societies and countries. Most of us wonder what the looters intend to do with the bodies. Are the looters and holders perhaps cannibals who see in the looted bodies feasts of unimagined qualities? Or are they perhaps juju worshipers who intend to use parts of the bodies they hold for alleged beneficial results for themselves and worse still, use these remains to effect deleterious changes in the lives and fates of the relatives of the deceased? What is certain is that in most African societies there are age-old, well-defined ceremonies for the burial of the deceased and specific filial and parental duties for the surviving relatives. The non-performance of these duties can haunt living relatives and friends for decades. Many unsuccessful undertakings by living persons may be attributed to non-performance of such duties. These relatives are in a permanent state of intense mourning and often cannot concentrate on their daily lives and as a result cannot make any advancement in life. Many Africans cannot believe that in our times, in the 21st century, Europeans have still been arguing that they have a right to hold on to the human remains of Africans they either conquered in their nefarious colonialist wars or stole by their perverse desecration of buried persons in cemeteries in their colonies. The Germans at first denied having any such human remains but reluctantly admitted having them whilst refusing to state the numbers they are holding. In the last few years some human remains have been returned to Namibia, but we still do not how many are in the depots of the various German universities and institutions. The Prussian Foundation for Cultural Heritage(SPK) has finally given details of the number of human remains it still holds and declared its readiness to negotiate their return. We reproduce below, a statement by the Tanzanian activist, Mnyaka Sururu Mboro, Berlin Postkolonial, who has pursued the matter over the last 15 years urging the Germans to return the Tanzanian ancestors. We learn that the SPK has 264 heads and skeletons from Tanzania. An exhibition in 2011 in the Reiss-Engelheim Museum, Mannheim, entitled Schadelkult - Kopf und Schadel in der Kulturgeschichte des Menschen, Skull Cult--Head and Skull in Human Cultural History,2 Oct.2011-29April 2012) gives an idea of how widespread the availability of skulls in Germany is. Some 32 institutions lent their skulls for the exhibition. These institutions are located in Bad Buchau, Bad Sackingen, Berlin, Bonn, Frankfurt am Main, Freiburg i.Brisgau, Giessen, Hamburg, Hannover, Heidelberg, Kassel, Konstanz, Koblenz, Koln, Kranenburg, Landshut, Mettmann, Mullenbach (bei Bayern), Munchen, Regensburg, Speyer, Stuttgart, Tubingen, Neu-Ulm, and Weimar. Dresden, Gottingen, and Leipzig have their own collections and so do individuals with interest in human remains. For example, the widow of Felix Luschan sold his collection of human remains or part of the collection to the American Natural History Museum (AMNH) in Washington. Felix Luschan is on record for asking one of his correspondents to bring him the masculine organ of one of those killed in the genocide of the Herero. Most European States would have their own collections of African human remains which they obtained directly from their colonial adventures or from other States that had an excess. All colonial powers and other European States would have African human remains but they do not like to talk about this nor would they want us to know that some Europeans were directly involved in head- hunting, as reported to have been the case of the Portuguese in East Timor from where they sent 25 scalps to Coimbra University. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and other European States could provide information on their collections. Given the countless genocides/massacres committed by Europeans in Africa, there must be some thousands of African remains in European museums and institutions. Most colonial powers committed massacres/genocides in their attempts to impose their will on Africans: - Atrocities in the Belgian Congo Free State of King Leopold II are too painful and too many to enumerate. Belgians still have the skull of Chief Lusinga who refused to accept Belgian domination and was decapitated on 4 December 1884 by Emile Storm, Belgian commander. His skull is still in Belgium in a collection of 289 skulls,12 foetus and 8 skeletons and other remains transferred in 1964 to the Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelle de Belgique. - The British have Chuka Massacre, Hola Massacre in attempting to suppress Kenya nationalism during the so-called Mau Mau wars 1952-1960 where 11,000 were killed. - The French have the Thiaroye massacre in Senegal in which French troops shot West African troops (Tirailleurs)from 30 November to 1 December 1944 who had revolted on revocation of pay and conditions. The French killed 300 African soldiers. The French committed massacres around Setif and Guelma, Algeria, 1945 killing 6000 t0 20,000 civilians. Who can forget the case of Sarah Baartman the South African lady whose ample anatomical attributes seem to have excited European males (Britain and France)that they used her for their freak shows and when she died in 1815 her body was dissected and her remains displayed in Paris finally at the Musee de lHomme. Baartmans remains were released and returned to South African in 2002 only after the intervention of the great Nelson Mandela but not without resistance by the European holders. - Germans have Maji Maji genocide and the genocide of the Herero and Nama. Germans killed in the Maji Maji war,1905-1907, 250,000-300,000 Africans. The genocide of the Herero and Nama resulted in 65,000 of 80,000 Herero and at least 10,000 of 20,000 Nama being killed between 1904 and 1908 by the German colonialist in South West Africa, now Namibia. - Italians have their Addis-Ababa massacre when from 19 February to 21 February 1937 they killed 30.000 Ethiopians. - The Portuguese have their Wiriyamu massacre of 300 innocent civilians killed in Mozambique on 16 December 1972.( See Mustafah Dhada, The Portuguese Massacre of Wiriyamu in Colonial Mozambique,1964-2013. Bloomsbury Academic,2016). French President Macron is surely right in characterizing colonialism as crime against humanity. Hopefully, he will expedite the return of African human remains in order to contribute to the new relational ethics between Europe and Africa as envisaged in Sarr-Savoy report on restitution. Europeans should reveal once and for all the African human remains they have in their natural sciences museums and ethnology museums. But will they do so if African governments do not put any pressure on them? The following citation from experts will clarify the extent of Western practice of stealing/holding of African human remains: Portugal presents an interesting case study where both nationalism and imperialism played important roles in the nineteenth-century origins of studies of a distinctive school of study of archaeological and other skeletal remains. Through an examination of the collections extant in Portuguese institutions, the chapter looks at the motivations behind the collecting process. Portuguese scholars were part of a wider European and international confraternity who traded in crania. In the forging of national identity, these crania were used to explore ancient migrations and to demonstrate that the historical presence of Moors and African slaves had not diluted the essentially European nature of the Portuguese population. In common physical anthropology was used as a tool in Portuguese colonialism and the development of narratives of race, difference and subordination that legitimised and sustained these enterprises. The latter process was facilitated partly by ensuring that colonial subjects internalised the world view of the coloniser including the subordinate status of the colonised and their bodies(Fanon1967). In a poignant illustration, Santos presents the story of the Manjak people from Guinea-Bissau, whose canines had been sharpened earlier in their lives, having these teeth pulled to avoid the embarrassment of being considered uncivilised For local cultural reasons, Portugal remains unique in its holding large collections of modern remains of known biography. These collections are being made available for study, and their potential contribution, particularly, in terms of methodological research, is very significant. Similarly, collections of colonial origins are now being used to further methodological approaches to the study of ancestry in forensic anthropology Archaeological Human Remains: Legacies of Imperialism, Communism and Colonialism, edited by Barra O'Donnabhain, Maria Cecilia Lozada, Chapter 8. Springer International Publishing AG,2018. 27 February,1906, Wangoni captured by the Germans who hanged their leaders. Contribution to the conference Beyond Collecting Museums Ethics in the 21rst Century at the National Museum of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam, March 5/6, 2020. Mnyaka Sururu Mboro, Berlin Postkolonial e.V. Walezeni mababu zetu mahali pema peponi - let our ancestors rest in peace! Many German tourists who visit Tanzania are surprised by the numerous well-preserved graves of German colonialists in the country. Although many of them acted as brutal colonial masters and some even committed serious war crimes, most of their graves are tended to and cherished. In stark contrast to this is the way our Tanzanian ancestors are treated in Germany. Many people here in Tanzania do not even know that 100 years ago their heads and skeletons were taken in large numbers to the German Empire for racist research. Since then, they have been lying there packed in cardboard boxes on cellar shelves and are still partly misused for research purposes today. Only a few days ago, the large state-run Foundation of Prussian Cultural Heritage (SPK) was the first German institution to officially announce how many bones of our ancestors were shipped from the former colony "German East Africa" to the Ethnological Museum in Berlin. The foundation has declared itself willing to return them. You will understand how happy we are about this when you learn that we have demanded this again and again for almost ten years. You will also understand how frustrated we are that it has taken so long. After all, our first major initiative to repatriate human bones from "German East Africa" even goes back to the centenary of the Maji-Maji War in 2005. Together with other NGOs in Germany, we publicly called on the German government to return our Tanzanian ancestors. In spite of all promises, almost nothing has happened since then: by now not a single head has returned to Tanzania! So now the world learns officially that the SPK has hundreds of East African ancestors in its depots. 264 heads and skeletons come from Tanzania. From Rwanda even more then 900 were sent to Germany. Hundreds more, we have had to find out for ourselves, lie in the numerous other German collections in Leipzig, Dresden, Gottingen, Freiburg and Cologne. Even museums in France and in the USA possess bones, heads and other body parts of our dear and venerated ancestors. Unfortunately, we still do not know exactly where the bones of the SPK come from, because the Foundation of Prussian Cultural Heritage consistently refuses to hand over the results of its research to us. It is still not prepared to show us the list of our ancestors whose bones were abducted. Thus, we only know from the government's response to an opposition inquiry in the German parliament that the human remains of no less than 17 Tanzanian communities can be found in the Berlin depots alone. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany for inviting us to this conference, which enables us to officially and personally inform the communities concerned. I would like to mention all communities clearly and explicitly by name. They are the Wabondei, Wachagga, Wadigo, Wahehe, Wamassai, Wamwera, Wandonde, Wangindo, Wapare, Wasandawi, Wasambaa, Waswahili, Wanyaturu, Watutsi, Watwa, Wagogo and the Wakinga. We would like to ask all Tanzanians present here today to inform the representatives of these communities about the whereabouts of their ancestors. Their abducted bones are neither Prussian nor German cultural heritage! We would like to ask all participants of this conference to tell the descendants that their ancestors are waiting in Berlin to be brought back and buried with as much dignity as the German colonizers were buried in this country. In order to make progress along the way, we ask the German government and its Foundation of Prussian Cultural Heritage: - to share with us the results of its completed project on provenance research - to publish the list for the collection of the remains of our ancestors in the internet - to take over all costs for the return of our dear ancestors to Tanzania to deliver an official apology to the descendants of the abducted ancestors From the governments of Germanys federal states and communities and its museums and universities we expect: - information to Berlin Postkolonial as well as to the Tanzanian government, should there be human bones from Tanzania in their collections - an immediate stop to the abuse of Tanzanian human remains from the colonial period for research and teaching - the prompt final clarification of the provenance of the human remains in cooperation with experts from Tanzania or from Germany's Black Community - the return of all human remains from Tanzania to our communities - the taking over of all costs for the return of our ancestors to Tanzania - an official apology to the descendants of our deported ancestors Recently, we have often heard from Germans that they would not bear any guilt for the crimes of their ancestors more than 100 years ago. We can fully agree with that. But this is not about personal guilt or innocence. It is about the willingness and ability of the Federal Republic of Germany, the legal successor of the German Reich and its citizens to take over historical responsibility. It is above all about ending persistent colonial injustice and returning our ancestors, who were stolen by their ancestors, so that they can finally rest in peace. Mnyaka Sururu Mboro, Berlin Postkolonial e.V. Senior couple at the lake having a picnic Most Canadians have made their peace with taxes; after all, taxes go into taking care of us all. But still, no one wants to pay more than they have to. As we move toward the income tax filing date, its a good time to figure out how much you can save on your taxes. There are plenty of different tax credits available (depending on where you live), and they may help you receive a lighter tax bill. 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Any savings you put away in your RRSP are tax-deductible. So if you earn $100,000 in Alberta, your normal bill will be somewhere around $26,900. And if you max out your RRSP, contributing 18% of your earned income, you will receive a whopping tax deduction of $5,750. Even if you put away half of that much, $9,000, you will save yourself $3,000 in tax dollars. And while many opt to build a tax-free nest-egg in a TFSA, with the right investment and allocation, an RRSP might turn out just as profitable, even after CRA takes a bite out of the income from your RRSP nest egg. Story continues You can enjoy decent, dividend-invested growth for decades in a stock like Rogers Sugar (TSX:RSI). The company is currently offering a juicy yield of 6.63%. This would translate the $18,000 in your RRSP to a monthly income of $99. The company hasnt changed its payouts in the past five years, and even though the stock hasnt shown much growth in the past, this year has been relatively good for it. The company operates nationwide, leveraging its two regional names, Rogers and Lantic. The company has been providing cane-based sugar for over a century. Now, it also offers a range of authentic maple syrup products. Foolish takeaway Smart use of the different investment accounts, TFSAs and RRSPs, is not only beneficial from a wealth-building perspective but from a tax saving angle as well. And with the right investments, you can build enough money, that even when the CRA takes its cut, you will be holding on to a substantial sum to sustain your retirement. The post Canada Revenue Agency: 2 Ways to Save Big Money on Your 2020 Taxes appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. 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 The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois council called an "emergency town hall meeting" Thursday night to deal with an uproar over a board decision to sell its remaining four camps. About 150 leaders, parents and girls sat in the sanctuary of St. Matthew United Methodist Church in Belleville and listened to CEO Loretta Graham and other officials describe bleak financial conditions that require bold action to keep the organization solvent. "Our (annual) deficit has grown so large that we could do real damage to our council if we don't do something now to get our financial house in order," said Graham, who took the helm two years ago. The audience was mostly quiet during the presentation, but things got testy when officials announced that there would only be time for 10 questions at the end. "This is a joke," one woman complained, prompting applause from the pews. "We want more than 10 questions," shouted another. One of the 10 people who went up to the microphone was Theresa Wuebbels, 35, leader of Troop 1110 in Belleville. Her daughter, Morgan, 9, is a Belle Valley Elementary School student in Brownies. Wuebbels said she broke down in tears when she received an email from the council Feb. 27 announcing plans to sell the camps, which have become part of her family tradition, beginning with her mother and continuing with her daughter. Wuebbels started a petition on Change.org called "Save Southern IL Girl Scout Camps!" More than 6,000 people have signed in the past week. "We have a lack of transparency," she told Graham. "We have a lack of trust." After the town hall, several Girl Scouts opposed to the camp closings gathered in the church lobby to commiserate. "We are very angry because they did not answer our questions," said Lily Dothager, 13, a member of Troop 145 in Staunton. "They were just saying the same thing over and over again." Camps to close Dec. 31 Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois, headquartered in Glen Carbon, serves more than 9,000 girls in 41 counties. It was formed by the 2009 merger of the former River Bluffs and Shagbark councils. It's governed by a volunteer board with 19 members. At the town hall, Chief Financial Officer Kelley Young called the organization's financial situation "precarious," noting reserves have been used to cover 10 years of deficit spending. Young spoke of declining membership and program revenues; reduced United Way funding and corporate contributions; poor cookie sales and rising prices charged by cookie suppliers; and higher maintenance and operating costs related to buildings, camps and vehicles. "Usage numbers continue to decline (at camps)," Young said. "Camp Torqua is the only one with growth from fiscal year 2017-18 to 2018-19." Board members voted Feb. 26 to list for sale Camp Torqua near Edwardsville, Camp Chan Ya Ta near Worden, Camp Wassatoga near Effingham and Camp Butterfly near Farmington, Missouri. They cover more than 1,200 acres of woods, meadows, hills and lakes. The email to Girl Scout leaders, labeled as a Long Range Property Planning Update, estimated the combined property value at $3.7 million and potential profit at $3.4 million after sales commissions and closing costs. "Operating and maintaining the four GS of SI camps costs $375,000 annually (which does not include deferred maintenance costs), and the experiences provided are of the same types of experiences available at other locations throughout southern Illinois," it stated. In other words, the organization could rent facilities for activities such as camping, hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, archery, rock climbing and zip lining. Officials plan to create a Girl Scout Experience Fund and invest the $3.4 million, expecting it to earn about $200,000 a year to underwrite costs of outdoor activities, as well as STEM projects, robotics competitions and leadership and life-skills training. "One of the questions I'm sure you're asking is, 'Can we keep just one camp?'" board chair Deanna Litzenburg, of Trenton, said at the town hall. "The board talked about this at length and decided it's not fair to keep one camp to help one area of the council while disadvantaging another. We don't want to cause any further division." "We understand that you're all passionate about these camps," Litzenburg added. "Please understand that the board did not come to this decision lightly. (We) agonized and wrestled over this decision and talked about it for many months." Long list of complaints Opponents of the camp-selling plan came to the town hall with a long list of complaints. Several asked why they are just now learning of the organization's money problems and why they weren't given a chance to help before the shortfall became a crisis. Officials said budgets are published on the council website and presented at annual meetings. That answer didn't satisfy Christina Wright, 39, of Livingston, leader of Troop 145 in Staunton. "We have been asking for years to get a list of maintenance projects and information on how we can help out at camp," she said. "We have made proposals for fundraising, and it seems like none of them have been taken seriously." Others expressed concern that renting camps and using private outdoor-recreation facilities could increase individual costs and pose risks related to injury, abuse or exposure to people under the influence of alcohol or other drugs in less-controlled environments. Wuebbels said Girl Scout camps have a "culture" that can't be reproduced elsewhere. It can run as little as $15 per girl for a weekend at a Girl Scout camp, which includes lodging, food, hiking, canoeing, archery, fishing and crafts, Wright said. "At a private camp, it's $15 per night just for sleeping, no activities, no food, and that's cheap." The council already partners with facilities such as Camp Ondessonk in Ozark and Touch of Nature Environmental Center in Makanda, Graham said. She promised to ask buyers of Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois properties to consider allowing girls to continue using them for a small fee. Some people attended the town hall not to express opposition or support for camp sales, but to educate themselves. "We're here to find out what's going on," said Sandra Nelson, 52, of Dupo, manager of Service Unit 209, who came with her daughter, Jessica. "There's a $750,000 deficit, and I assume they're closing the camps because of that. But I'm here to find out how we got to this point. I've been a leader for almost 20 years, and this is the first I've heard of it." STEM vs. the outdoors Perhaps the deepest divide revealed at the town hall related to views by staff, board members, leaders, parents and girls on what the "vision" of Girl Scouts should be. The national Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. has been moving from an organization focused on outdoor activities to one that provides more programs in STEM education, life skills (such as cooking classes) and entrepreneurship to help girls thrive in the 21st century. Graham referred to founder Juliette Gordon Low, an "ardent believer in the potential of all girls and the importance of fostering their individual growth, character and self-sufficiency," according to the national website. "Our organization must be able to adapt and evolve and keep pace with our girls' changing world," Graham said. The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois council recently formed a Long Range Property Task Force that conducted an online survey to use as a guide in decision-making. Graham said it confirmed that many girls are interested in non-outdoor activities. One woman in the audience pointed out that only 500 families responded to the survey. Another argued that STEM is taught in schools, while opportunities to spend time in nature are limited, particularly for girls from urban areas. Others predicted membership would drop without camps. Parker Smith, 35, leader of Troop 175 in Godfrey, said the council was mischaracterizing survey results, which actually showed that 70 percent of local Girl Scouts are more interested in camp programs than other types of activities. Christina Wright's daughter, Tyler, 12, a member of Troop 145 in Staunton, agreed. "You can take analysis from any survey, and the No. 1 favorite thing among the girls would be camping," she said. Pope Rosales, 16, a member of Troop 577 in Bethalto, said as student with a learning disability, she's not good at science or math, but she makes friends and has fun at camp. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois can overcome its current challenges, Graham told the town hall audience, but only if staff, leaders, board members, parents and girls work together. "I understand your fears," she said. "But I guarantee that if we don't make some changes, we won't be able to provide great program opportunities for the girls of this council, and we will be putting our council in jeopardy of not getting a qualified charter." Here is how the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois website describes its four camps: -- Camp Butterfly -- This camp is 960 acres of gently rolling hills, rocky bluffs and water, near Farmington, Missouri. Known as the "Big Sky" place, its seemingly endless, sprawling lands embrace two large spring-fed lakes where campers can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including: hiking, canoeing, sailing, swimming, and more. -- Camp Chan Ya Ta -- Enjoy 165 acres of remote environments and many moods located just outside Worden, Illinois. The campers at Camp Chan Ya Ta can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities including paddle boating, fishing, volleyball, archery, hiking, wildlife viewing, stargazing and campfires. -- Camp Torqua -- Explore 72 acres of meadows, rolling hills, and woods located near Edwardsville, Illinois. Program activities include a fitness course, hiking trails, pond exploration and a Team Challenge Course consisting of a unique series of outdoor obstacles. -- Camp Wassatoga -- Usage of this year-round camp is restricted to registered Girl Scouts only. Accommodations include a heated lodge, several platform tents, and a picnic shelter with picnic tables. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Haeckermann, CEO of Sherpany poses at his office in Zurich By John Revill ZURICH (Reuters) - Online voting at annual shareholder meetings (AGMs) has jumped since the coronavirus outbreak as investors shun large gatherings because of travel restrictions or fear of infection, Swiss tech firm Sherpany said. The company, which counts Swiss giants Novartis, Nestle and Zurich Insurance among its 300 clients worldwide, provides a secure internet platform which lets shareholders vote on motions until the day before AGMs. "We have had a big increase in usage so far, and the AGM season is only just beginning," Sherpany Chief Executive Tobias Haeckermann told Reuters. "At this year's Novartis AGM, we saw the amount of votes being sent through our system increase by 42% compared to last year," said Haeckermann, one of three founders of the company set up in 2011. "We don't know if coronavirus is the only factor behind this, but it is helping." Voting via secure online platforms is becoming increasingly popular, with companies such as Lumi, POLYAS and Simply Voting offering similar services. In a move to contain coronavirus, Switzerland last week temporarily banned events with more than 1,000 people, which has made planning difficult for companies as the AGM season kicks off in earnest this month. Bell Food Group which makes and distributes meat products to supermarkets, has postponed its March 17 AGM, while food and beverage company Orior and Hypothekarbank Lenzburg have delayed their events also due in March. Zurich Insurance advised shareholders to vote by proxy and stay away from its AGM. Other Swiss companies such as engineering group ABB and insurer Swiss Life have said they are closely monitoring the situation. "There is a big question mark about what you do with an AGM if you expect more than 1,000 people to take part," said Haeckermann, referring to the Swiss ban on large gatherings. "This is not just true for Swiss blue-chip companies but also many of the smaller ones who have a large retail shareholder base," he said. Story continues Sherpany, which employs 110 people, works via a licensing model in which companies are charged according to how many shareholders use its platform for online voting. Haeckerman said company boards and executives had also been using Sherpany's remote meeting platform more this year. (Reporting by John Revill; Editing by David Clarke) A local Diabetes expert has set up a charity in Togo to combat a huge problem with the disease in the West African country. Some 70% of deaths of people under 70 years in West Africa are caused by diabetes and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer and heart complications; more than malaria, HIV, TB, or meningitis. A spokesperson for the charity, said: 'In the West we have treatments for NCDs but in West Africa they have none of these things. 'They cannot pay for doctors, tests, treatment or hospitalisation - they just die young. 'Currently, Togo has no trained specialists in Diabetes and Endocrinology. Children with Type 1 Diabetes have a notably precarious existence.' Professor Richard Firth has been invited by the Ministry of Health in Togo to set up a Centre of Non-Communicable Diseases in a town called Kpalime near the capital, Lome. A building has been allocated but it requires complete refurbishment. The challenge is to convert this building into a centre of excellence. The charity spokesperson said: 'It is a solid and tangible project that could have a major impact on diabetes care and education, both locally and throughout Togo. It is a sustainable project as the local hospital will eventually take over its management.' To raise funds for the charity, a Gala Casino Night was held at the Grand Hotel in Malahide at the weekend which proved to be a huge success and a very enjoyable night for all those who attended as well as a great boon for the charity and the people it is seeking to help. Well done to all involved. A person was struck and killed by a freight train in Middlesex on Friday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the train company said. The person, whose name has not been released, was fatally hit by a Norfolk Southern freight train near South Main Street just before 3:30 p.m., said Rachel McDonnell Bradshaw, a spokeswoman for the company. Previously, Middlesex Police Capt. Frank DeNick told NJ Advance Media the victim was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Calls to the Middlesex County Medical Examiners Office for comment were not immediately returned. The train was en route from Port Reading to Hawthorne, Illinois, when the person was hit, said Bradshaw. Norfolk Southern is a major transporter of industrial products including chemicals and construction materials and operates on nearly 20,000 miles of track in 22 states. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletter Campaigners say Brexit presents the government with the perfect opportunity to ban industrial supertrawler fishing boats from UK seas. Supertrawlers are huge factory ships many times larger than fishing boats, with the capability to net and process as much as 250 tons of fish a day. Environmentalists fear the presence of these monster ships is linked to increasing numbers of dolphins washing up dead on British shores, but admit more evidence is needed. Negotiations on Brexit include fishing rights to UK waters, and campaigners are calling for a ban on supertrawlers. At the very least, the ships should have CCTV cameras or independent observers on board, said the groups. Greenpeace has called on ministers to take a long hard look at whether allowing supertrawlers to operate in UK waters is compatible with sustainable management. Environment news in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Environment news in pictures Environment news in pictures Davos 2019: David Attenborough issues stark warning about future of civilisation as he demands practical solutions to combat climate change Sir David Attenborough has issued a stark warning about climate change to business figures gathered in Davos, telling them that "what we do now...will profoundly affect the next few thousand years". On the eve of this year's World Economic Forum, the renowned naturalist told the audience that the worlds of business and politics should "get on with the practical solutions" needed to prevent environmental damage. "As a species we are expert problem solvers. But we've not yet applied ourselves to this problem with the focus it requires. "We can create a world with clean air and water, unlimited energy, and fish stocks that will sustain us well into the future. But to do that, we need a plan," he said. The broadcaster made his speech after receiving a Crystal Award, which is awarded by the forum to "exceptional cultural leaders". AFP/Getty Environment news in pictures At least 60% of wild coffee species face extinction triggered by climate change and disease Two decades of research have revealed that 60 per cent of the worlds coffee species face extinction due to the combined threats of deforestation, disease and climate change. The wild strain of arabica, the most widely consumed coffee on the planet, is among those now recognised as endangered, raising concerns about its long-term survival. These results are worrying for the millions of farmers around the world who depend on the continued survival of coffee for their livelihoods. As conditions for coffee farming become tougher, scientists predict the industry will need to rely on wild varieties to develop more resilient strains Alan Schaller Environment news in pictures Warming Antarctic waters are speeding the rate at which glaciers are melting The Antarctic ice sheet is losing six times as much ice each year as it was in the 1980s and the pace is accelerating, one of the most comprehensive studies of climate change effects on the continent has shown. More than half an inch has been added to global sea levels since 1979, but if current trends continue it will be responsible for metres more in future, the Nasa-funded study found. The international effort used aerial photos, satellite data and climate models dating back to the 1970s across18 Antarctic regions to get the most complete picture to date on the impacts of the changing climate. It found that between 1979 and 1990 Antarctica lost an average of 40 gigatonnes (40 billion tonnes) of its mass each year. Between 2009 and 2017 it lost an average 252 gigatonnes a year. This has added 3.6mm per decade to sea levels, or around 14mm since 1979, the study shows Nasa/Getty Environment news in pictures Greater Manchester to ban fracking, paving way for confrontation with government over controversial industry Greater Manchester is to effectively ban fracking, raising the prospect of fresh confrontation with the government over the controversial industry. All of the regions 10 councils are to implement planning policies which create a presumption against drilling for shale gas in their areas, Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has announced. Campaigners said the move was the latest sign that the tide was turning against fracking, which has been the subject of multiple legal battles across the country. Critics of fracking say it poses environmental and health risks. Drilling at the UKs only operational fracking site, run by Cuadrilla in Lancashire, has repeatedly been halted due to earth tremors. But ministers support the industry and last year unveiled plans to accelerate the development of new drilling sites Ross Wills Environment news in pictures Japan confirms plan to resume commercial whaling in its waters from next year Japan will resume commercial whaling next year for the first time in more than three decades, in a move that has provoked strong criticism from campaigners and the international community. Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said his nation would leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to resume hunting the marine mammals in Japanese waters. However, he stated the activity would be limited to Japans territory and the 200 mile exclusive economic zone along its coasts. This means controversial scientific trips to Antarctica in which Japanese vessels killed hundreds of whales, as well as activity in the northwest Pacific, will stop in 2019 AP Environment news in pictures COP24: Environmental groups criticise morally unacceptable climate deal reached after major Poland summit Diplomats from around the world have agreed a major climate deal after two weeks of United Nations talks in Poland. But climate campaigners warned the deal effectively a set of rules for how to govern the 2015 Paris climate accord agreed between almost 200 countries lacked ambition or a clear promise of enhanced climate action. Activists cautiously welcomed elements of the plan, saying important progress had been made on ensuring that efforts to tackle climate change by individual nations can be measured and compared. But environmental groups were also highly critical of the agreement, warning it lacked ambition and clarity on key issues, including financing for climate projects for developing countries. The COP24 deal, which is aimed at providing firm guidelines for countries on how to transparently report their greenhouse gas emissions and their efforts to reduce them, was confirmed on 15 December, after talks overran Reuters Environment news in pictures Unprecedented changes needed to stop global warming as UN report reveals islands starting to vanish and coral reefs dying Greenhouse gas emissions must be cut almost in half by 2030 to avert global environmental catastrophe, including the total loss of every coral reef, the disappearance of Arctic ice and the destruction of island communities, a landmark UN report has concluded. Drawing on more than 6,000 scientific studies and compiled over two years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings, released this morning, warn enormous and rapid changes to the way everyone on Earth eats, travels and produces energy need to be brought in immediately. Though the scientists behind the report said there is cause for optimism, they recognised the grim reality that nations are currently nowhere near on track to avert disaster AFP/Getty Environment news in pictures Africas three biggest elephant poaching cartels exposed using DNA from illegal ivory shipments DNA taken from massive shipments of ivory has been used to identify the three largest wildlife trafficking gangs operating at the height of Africas elephant poaching epidemic. Ivory tends to be shipped around the world from African ports in bulk, and scientists have used genetic evidence gleaned from intercepted batches to reveal their origins. Led by Dr Samuel Wasser from the University of Washington, they traced a number of these shipments to three cartels operating out of Kenya, Uganda and Togo. Evidence collected by Dr Wasser has already helped convict ivory kingpin Feisal Mohamed Ali, and as his team joins the dots between shipments they plan to shore up the cases against more of the continents most prolific smugglers Art Wolfe John Hourston, from the Blue Planet Society, said: Its just been a long stream of dolphin deaths, I have never seen anything quite like it. We have had several storms but dolphins do not die because of weather, they are great swimmers. Mr Hourston said a scientific study is needed to prove the link between supertrawlers and the dolphin deaths, adding that we need more evidence. A petition to stop dolphins being killed by fishing vessels, which was started by Mr Hourston, who is a volunteer, garnered more than 255,720 signatures. It was acknowledged by Virginijus Sinkevicius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, who said in a statement: The levels of bycatch we are facing are not acceptable. It can result in the extinction of local populations of protected species. According to reports, 1,200 dead dolphins washed up on the beaches of the Bay of Biscay from December 2018 to March 2019, with possibly higher numbers expected this year. Most of these dolphins bore the markings of fishing gear and probably died in fishing nets. These are just the most glaring examples but this problem is, to some extent, present in all EU seas and we must work together to address it. More than 25,600 people signed a separate petition to ban supertrawlers, to which the government responded: After leaving the EU, the UK will become an independent coastal state under international law and we will have the right to decide who fishes in our waters and on what terms. After we leave the EU, we expect to hold annual negotiations with the EU and third countries on access and fishing opportunities. Weve been clear that all vessels will have to comply with UK rules. Mr Hourston said post-Brexit Britain has a perfect opportunity to set the gold standard for environmental stewardship of the sea. I am not talking about the inshore fishermen, I am talking about the industrial supertrawler fleets, he added. We should not be allowing supertrawlers in British waters. Chris Thorne, an oceans campaigner for Greenpeace, said: Our government likes to boast about its credentials as a global oceans champion but what about protecting our seas here at home? Ministers should take a long hard look at whether allowing supertrawlers to operate in UK waters is compatible with sustainable management of our waters, as well as investigating the impact of the UKs industrial distant water fleet in other countries waters. Additional reporting by Press Association After being impressed by the Vietnamese people living in northern Virginia in the US in the early 1990s, Charles Daniel Hambleton, a native of the state, visited Vietnam for the first time. I was attracted to their sense of humour and liveliness, and a lot of things about the Vietnamese culture, including art and music, Hambleton told Viet Nam News about who he chose to explore Vietnamese culture. His first trip to Da Lat and Nha Trang in 1999 was only for about 10 days, but it was life-changing, and how he has had an exhibition of his paintings held at Exhibition House 16 Ngo Quyen Street, Hanoi, that wraps up tomorrow. Hambleton poses for a photo with a local in the southern province of Can Tho. Courtesy Photo of the artist I knew from that point on that I wanted to move here, he recalled. It took many years because of his responsibilities in the US, but the artist finally moved to Hanoi in 2011 and has lived in the capital ever since. He has tried various jobs to earn a living here including teaching English, writing and painting. In a Post-Impressionist style with warm vivid colours, Hambleton's art shows the everyday people of Vietnam like street vendors and popular scenes like small tea shops on street corners or noisy bia hoi (fresh beer) pubs. Tea drinkers in Bo De Street 1, oil on canvas. Looking at his paintings, I am impressed with his Post-Impressionist style and beautiful colours, commented painter Vu Quang Huy, who works for the Military Cinema Studio. I think there are rarely any foreigners that draw Vietnam with such poetic colours, he added. He must have a great love for the country and people. An audience visits Hambleton's exhibition last week in Hanoi. VNS Photo Le Huong Hambleton said people can easily recognise specific streets or activities in his paintings. Because Im a Westerner looking at the daily life of people in Vietnam, a lot of very normal things are fascinating to me, and I try to show my feelings about them, he said. I think that many painters and sculptors, or artists in any field - composers or writers and so on - usually feel something about the experience of life that they want to communicate, he said. Often what they end up with doesnt achieve what they originally wanted, but at least they try. Hambleton said he thought the history of Vietnam had influenced it in a unique way, but the people are like people all over the world. There might be behaviour that comes from cultural traditions and even some peer pressure, but I find that underneath what wed call societal mores, people are always the same - they have the same desire to be happy, to enjoy friends and family, to have a safe place to live and satisfying work, he said. People love to laugh and also have a need to feel loved, he said. Hambleton said he found people in the countryside were often more relaxed. Having visited various places throughout the country, he said Vietnam is beautiful with a lot of breath-taking landscapes. Riding my motorbike to places like Mu Cang Chai, Sa Pa and through Ha Giang Province has been a thrill, he said. I can do some sketching, but actually Ive found that capturing the feeling of a beautiful mountain or beach scene is very difficult. I agree with the line spoken in the movie called Dreams, by the famous Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, where the young Japanese painter meets Van Gogh sketching out in a field, he said. Van Gogh tells him: A scene that looks like a painting does not make a painting. I think its true. Hambleton said that artists can't just copy beautiful landscapes as it might end up looking pretty and would be more commercially viable, without artistic integrity. Four women in ao dai, oil on canvas, 60x80cm I think most serious Vietnamese artists and other artists would agree that more has to go into the creative process - the final product for many artists might even be an abstract painting, and somebody looking at it might say: Oh yes, I see theres a mountain in there." One of the paintings that bring back strong memories is The Red Jacket: Village Girl in Northern Mountains. The Red Jacket: Village Girl in Northern Mountains, oil on canvas. A couple of years ago, he rode my motorbike on what is called the northern loop, starting in Ha Giang City and going as far north as the province's Dong Van District before looping back down. Several villages lie on the route around Dong Van and peoples daily lives have stayed largely the same for centuries. A group of children walking on a dirt road caught my eye, especially a little girl with uncombed hair and an unwashed face wearing a bright red handwoven jacket, he recalled. I took out my sketchbook and asked her to pose for me, but she was too shy. So I asked the friendliest girl in the group to pose. After I finished the sketch, I gave it to her, and this persuaded the girl in the red jacket to pose also. She stood very seriously, very straight and stiff, but when I gave her the sketch a big smile lit up her face. I made sure I took photographs of the sketches I was giving them, to use later for a painting, along with some reference shots, especially for the colour. He then worked on the painting at home, which brought back memories of the villagers up in those mountains. Not an easy life even for the children, but one closer to family and nature, he said. Hambleton said he admired the strength inside Vietnamese people that he feels a lot in their everyday activities. The American enjoys his life in Hanoi and spends many of his mornings on the canvas. He might make a sketch of a street, or of a person to work from, along with some reference photos to remind him of colour possibilities or details that werent included in the sketch. At other times of the day, he looks for opportunities to sketch or take photographs that might be useful, whether in a cafe, on the street or elsewhere. Ive tried setting up my easel and painting on the streets of Hanoi, in the Old Quarter for example, but Ive found that it attracts crowds and becomes too distracting for me to concentrate, he said. Hambleton sketches in a street in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. Photo courtesy of the artist Thats why on the first few days of Tet (Lunar New Year) he uses the time to sketch in the Old Quarter. For just those few days I can travel back in time to the Hanoi of 40 or 50 years ago, he said. VNS Korean center exhibits Vietnamese painters works In celebration of the 2019 ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit, the Korean Cultural Center in Hanoi is holding an exhibition of Vietnamese painter Dao Hai Phongs artworks. Calling for inclusive and sustainable approach to development, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said there is no dearth of policy formulation in India, but what is more important is the effective implementation of these policies on ground. Interacting with the faculty members of Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Naidu said a policy is as good as its implementation. "The real crux is how well we can translate policy into effective programme and an impactful delivery mechanism. This is what is required." The vice president said there is no dearth of policy formulations, announcements and policy documents what is more important is training people who are in service, improve the delivery that is very vital in the system. "In last 70 plus years we have made lot of progress and government has done well we cannot totally deny that," he said. The country is developed in certain areas and is developing and is much ahead of other economies, he said. "But is it inclusive, is it reaching everybody..different sections, that is the main point," the vice president pointed out. Policy formulations and implementation should focus on that. "And for that there is need for best practices and we have to learn from others experiences... no person, community or region should be left behind," he added. The benefits of government programmes should reach the last man in true spirit of Antyodya as espoused by great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, the vice-president said. Highlighting the need to involve people in government programmes, Naidu said a country of the size of India cannot progress without the people's participation in governance. He also called for making optimum use of digital technologies in improving service delivery and bringing down corruption. Appreciating ASCI for emerging as one of the premier institutions in capacity development of civil servants, managers and administrators in the country, the vice president asked the faculty to work towards bringing attitudinal and mindset change among the administrators. Naidu further said many of the countries are looking to India for training, for capacity building, for sharing of knowledge and this is a positive thing. He expressed confidence that ASCI on the strength of its training and capacity building programmes, expertise in public policy and consultancy services can provide right kind of inputs to the governments, corporates and foreign countries as well. Naidu further said in present times administration is not purely confined to implementation and it encompasses the broader concept of management and governance. He also highlighted the importance of Public-Private-Partnership. Earlier, ASCI Chairman and former union home secretary K Padmanabhaiah requested that the Centre should consider declaring the ASCI as a Centre of Excellence to which Naidu said he would put in a word with the HRD ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The German multinational automobile company BMW has updated its brand logo recently, making the biggest change in companys branding. A logo is a graphic symbol used by a company a recognition tool for public. Becoming a part of companys branding, it is a way to differentiate between companies. Most well-known companies have changed their logo over the years. Here are the first and current logos of a few famous companies in the world. (Image: bmwblog.com) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 17:09:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Hamid Dehgh (2nd R), explains epidemic prevention knowledge to foreign residents at Jimingshan Community of Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang Province, March 6, 2020. Jimingshan Community of Yiwu City, with nearly 1,400 foreign businessmen from 74 countries, is called "a community of the United Nations". Hamid Dehgh, a 55-year-old Iranian businessman, has been doing trade business in Yiwu since 2003. After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), he became one of the 39 foreign volunteers of the community's foreign epidemic prevention service team, serving the residents here to secure their daily needs. He also conducts epidemic prevention publicity works and night patrols with community workers. He hopes to help the foreign residents here with his understanding of different cultures. (Xinhua/Zheng Mengyu) Guilty Cast: Kiara Advani, Gurfateh Singh Pirzada, Akansha Ranjan Direction: Ruchi Narain Rating: * * and 1/2 (two and a half stars) By Vinayak Chakravorty Decades before MeToo became an official platform, Jodie Foster's Oscar-winning act in the 1988 film "The Accused" had already tried initiating a conversation along the line that a woman cannot be slut-shamed or victim-blamed for a sexual assault or rape on her, no matter what. In India, a few years back, we had the brilliant "Pink", which underlined the maxim that, when a woman says so, no means no. "Guilty", touted as the brainchild of an all-women creative, tries discussing the conversation through a story of rape allegation set against the backdrop of MeToo, which makes it relevant. Any film that attempts to talk to the audience on this subject should be deemed important, and that is despite its cinematic merit or the lack of it. Image Source: IANS Actors Kiara Advani and Akansha Ranjan at the screening of Guilty. Yet, as "Guilty" highlights its message, you somehow are left with the impression that, instead of charting a new course, the makers are happy trying to churn out just another "Pink", without quite the same creative edge or earnestness. Ruchi Narain's film, based on a script she has penned with Kanika Dhillon and Atika Chohan, hits the ground running. Your anticipation is amped as a sequence of police investigation reveals there has been a rape in a top Delhi college during Valentine's Day festivities. The accused VJ (Gurfateh Singh Pirzada), it turns out, is darling of the campus. No one is quite willing to believe the victim, a regular girl from Dhanbad named Tanu (Akansha Ranjan) who is clearly not the popular one around. That bit is crisply conveyed within the first 10 minutes or so. Narain reserves the gradual dissection of the situation over the next scenes. Outside the uniformity of the college classroom, the societal differences are quietly laid bare. VJ hails from an affluent family. His father (Manurishi Chaddha) has a promising political future while his mother, a onetime model, is a prominent face in Delhi's cocktail circuit. For some reason, VJ's father is not quite convinced of his innocence, although everyone else including his girlfriend Nanki (Kiara Advani) absolutely is. Watch Kiara Advani among the cast at the screening of Guilty The story really gets going with Kiara's Nanki Dutta. A bright student with a rebel streak and deceptive exterior calm, she flaunts her 'cool girl' tag in the outlandish make-up and peroxide hair colour she wears. Nanki's aversion for Tanu is obvious from the start. Things only worsen because Tanu is quite open in her obsession to garner VJ's attention in college, a subtext that culminates in the fateful alleged incident. In the wake of the MeToo movement, Tanu posts on social media that VJ raped her on the night of Valentine's Day when no one was around to evidence the crime. "Guilty" would appear impressive in the way the characters turn. Tanu, for instance, is introduced as a girl who can lie with a straight face for petty advantages, so that becomes the biggest hurdle for people to fathom if she is indeed saying the truth. Kiara's Nanki, too much the urban glam girl as the early minutes pass, wouldn't quite seem like a girl who would take up the cudgels on her cornered boyfriend's behalf. VJ himself is the sunshine boy to start with. Unfortunately, the narrative fails to capitalise on the dynamics these characters augur, as the layers are peeled around the story. The concept of "Guilty" incidentally reminds one of the 2008 Hollywood film "Doubt" which, though entirely different in storyline, also spoke of an impeccable protagonist ending up in the docks over a sexual exploitation allegation. "Doubt" was about a priest who has no blemish whatsoever and is immensely popular among all, but is accused of sexually molesting a troubled young boy who, many feel, could be lying. Unlike "doubt", however, "Guilty" is let down by half-baked writing. A big reason why the film fails to sustain the initial element of intrigue is because, if you pay attention, you won't have problems figuring out which way the story is headed, and who is actually lying. It is a reason why we somehow cannot empathise with the particular character that obviously demands such a sentiment from us. An utterly plastic assertion of a relevant comment is what you are left with, in the end. "Guilty" boasts of some fine performances by the cast -- Kiara Advani, particularly, deserves mention. But the actors are weighed down by mediocre storytelling and the film is a wasted attempt. For all the trippy campus vibes, you are left with an elaborately soppy climax that reminds you this is a Karan Johar production. (Vinayak Chakravorty can be reached at vinayak.c@ians.in) -- Syndicated from IANS Amiya Meethal By Express News Service KOZHIKODE: COVID-19 has claimed thousands of lives in China. But even in this extremely adverse situation, the Chinese work culture has shown no sign of meekness. Ask the umpteen Malayali students pursuing MBBS in China stuck here, and they will say they havent missed a single day of class. Online classes started on February 24, the same day we were asked to rejoin after the winter vacation. They go on from 5.30 am to 2.30 pm. Video classrooms, special chats, e-mails, PDF files etc, are continuing in full swing, says Swetha V, a Perambra native pursuing her third year in MBBS at Sichuan University. Ever since the outbreak, the university has developed an app called Super Star, in which files, videos and PDFs are uploaded. There are 100 students in my class attending the sessions from their countries now. If students cannot use the app, they can avail the material through WeChat, elaborated Swetha. Ones attendance will be marked on logging in. To Log in to the online class meant the attendance and one cannot bunk after logging in. To make sure students dont bunk, they send question papers in QR code form randomly. We have to extract the question paper and answer it within five minutes, she says. Revathi Anoop Menon, Swethas classmate says the university has a separate app called Pencent for conducting conference calls. Amal Nazeer, a third year student of China Medical University, Shenyang, from Kalpetta, says he has to attend six-hour classes daily. Attendance is mandatory, or else we wont be allowed to appear for the examination. Hence, I am hooked to my laptop, he says. Meanwhile, a couple of students pursuing their second year at Sichuan University said online classes have not commenced for them yet. 2-3 videos daily Husna Pallikkunnan of Malappuram says she gets her classes in the form of videos. I get two to three videos daily each 15 to 20 minutes long. There will be an exam at the end of every video, says Husna, a third year student at Yangzhou University. STEPANAKERT, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. On March 6, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Artsakh Armine Alexanyan, who is on a working visit in the Republic of Cyprus, participated in an event dedicated to Artsakh, which was organized at the initiative of the Armenian National Committee of Cyprus, the Artsakh foreign ministry told Armenpress. The establishment of a Circle of Friendship with Artsakh in Cyprus, which comprises of members of the Cypriot parliament, City Council, distinguished political figures and scientists was announced at the event. In her speech, the Deputy Foreign Minister presented the priorities of the foreign policy of Artsakh and the realities in the Republic. She also briefed on the steps towards the establishment of foreign relations at different levels, stressing the importance of the format of parliamentary diplomacy in expanding the involvement of Artsakh in international processes. Armine Aleksanyan underlined the role of the Groups and Circles of Friendship with Artsakh operating in a number of countries in raising awareness of Artsakh, as well as in creating favorable conditions for the establishment of bilateral relations in various fields. In this context, the Deputy Foreign Minister stressed the importance of establishment of the Circle of Friendship with Artsakh in Cyprus, which will allow to focus the efforts on strengthening and developing the cooperation between the two countries at the institutional level, as well as contributing to raising awareness of Artsakh and promoting the interests of the Republic in Cyprus. Armine Alexanyan highlighted the importance of the active involvement of the Diaspora in the implementation of various development programs in Artsakh, as well as its efficient contribution to the establishment and expansion of foreign relations of the Republic. Earlier in the day, the Deputy Foreign Minister, accompanied by head of European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy Kaspar Karampetian and the representatives of Armenian National Committee of Cyprus, met with Archbishop Khoren Doghramadjian, the General Catholicosal Vicar of the Armenian Prelature of Cyprus of the Armenian Apostolic Church as well as the leaders and representatives of Cypriot-Armenian organizations. They mutually stressed the importance of holding meetings in such format as a good opportunity to have discussion on issues of Pan-Armenian significance. Deputy Foreign Minister also visited the Nareg Armenian School and met the leadership and the students of the school. On the afternoon of September 22, 1932, listeners across America and the UK tuned their radio sets to an extraordinary live broadcast that was being transmitted from inside a small steel sphere hundreds of feet below the oceans surface. Locked inside the sphere was naturalist William Beebe and inventor Otis Barton, who designed the device. Through a telephone system supplied by Bell Laboratories, Beebe described the wonderful marine life that swam past his tiny quartz windowa school of brilliantly illuminated jellyfish with pale green lights came within three feet of [our] window. I have never seen such brilliant light, Beebe announced. Transmitting from 1,500 feet beneath the surface, Beebe and Barton was on their way to the deepest ocean dive in history. William Beebe inside the Bathysphere. At that time, five hundred feet was the deepest anybody had ever dived using an armored diving suit. A typical submarine barely descended to 400 feet. Beebe wanted to dive deeper, not because for the thrill, but to observe the mysterious ocean life that dwelled there. Until then, the only understanding of deep sea life came from animals dredged from the ocean floor. Nobody had ever watched them in their native environment. Beebe and Bartons vessel, called the Bathysphere, was a sphere less than five feet across. The inside was crammed with all sorts of scientific equipment, a telephone for communication to the top, electric lamps, bottles of oxygen and trays of soda lime and calcium chloride to absorb carbon dioxide exhaled by the occupants. To observe the outside world the vessel was equipped with two small windows fitted with three-inch-thick fused quartz, and a spotlight mounted above one of the portholes. Beebe and Barton would squeeze inside the sphere through a small hole, and the 400-pound (180 kg) entrance hatch would be bolted from the outside to prevent leakage. Beebe and Barton conducted their first test dive on May 27, 1930, off the coast of Bermuda. The Bathysphere was attached to a 3,000-feet-long steel cable by which the vessel was lowered into the waters from the deck of a former British Naval ship. Over the next four years, the two intrepid explorers made nearly three dozen dives to the deep, pushing further and further below the surface. With each deep dive, the stakes began to climb and the dangers increased. Even a small leak at that depth would have caused a jet of water to shoot into the Bathysphere tearing through flesh and bone like bullets. But the rewards were worth the risks. Cross-sectional view of the Bathysphere. Beebe and Barton observed an astounding variety of life, many of which were never seen before. Beebe also became the first person to observe how sunlight gradually loses its colors as one descends into the depths of the ocean. The green faded imperceptibly as we went down, and at 200 feet it was impossible to say whether the water was greenish-blue or bluish-green, Beebe wrote in his book Half Mile Down, an account of his experiments with the Bathysphere. At 1,000 feet, we took stock of our surroundings. I tried to name the water; blackish-blue, dark gray-blue. It is strange that as the blue goes, it is not replaced by violetthe end of the visible spectrum. That has apparently already been absorbed. The last hint of blue tapers into a nameless gray, and this finally into black, Beebe added. An article describing his dives appeared on the June 1931 issue of the National Geographic, accompanied by beautiful illustrations of the animals Beebe observed, visually transformed from Beebes notes into paintings by nature artist Else Bostelmann. Many of these previously-unseen animals would be confirmed years later using underwater photography. Observed sea life drawn by Else Bostelmann. Observed sea life drawn by Else Bostelmann. In order to raise funds for explorations, Beebe and Barton struck a deal with NBC promising the national broadcaster that the duo would dive to half a mile beneath the surface, while describing what they saw to the audience. On the day of the dive, the sea was unusually rough, but the program had already began airing so Beebe and Barton decided to continue with the descent. Beebes voice, as he spoke into the telephone, was carried up through nearly 3,000 feet of wire from the submerged capsule to the deck of the ship Freedom. From there, a portable 50-watt radio transmitter beamed his voice to the receiving station at Flatts, in Bermuda, to be broadcasted across the country. As soon as the program ended, Beebe gave the order for them to be pulled back up. The motion of the Freedom on the surface, where the sea was extremely choppy, was transmitted down the steel cable, causing the Bathysphere to swing wildly from side to side like a pendulum. Beebe and Barton were violently thrown about inside the sphere, and both were bruised and bleeding. Barton had succumbed to seasickness and vomited. William Beebe and Otis Barton. Beebe and Barton were just 440 feet short of the promised 2,600 feet, or half a mile, when the dive was terminated. They would have to wait another two years before they could reach the goal. On August 11, 1934, Beebe and Barton descended to 2,510 feet (770 m) when Beebe stopped the descend so that he could observe the spectacular life forms at the depth. The remaining distance was called off. The two returned again, four days later, and this time reached 3,028 feet (923 m), setting a new world record. Barton would eventually break that record, fifteen years later, on his new, improved diving vessel which he called the Benthoscope. Barton reached an unprecedented depth of 4,500 feet (1.4 km). Although the Bathysphere was rendered obsolete by technological advances within a few decades, the work that was achieved from the vessel continues to inspire generations of scientists and oceanographers. Beebe named several new species of deep-sea animals on the basis of observations he made during his Bathysphere dives, some of which remain controversial to this day because they have never been observed again by anyone else. Some of Beebe's critics claimed that the scientist erred in observation, possibly because of his breath fogging up the Bathysphere's window, or that he willfully made things up. Today, the Bathysphere stands on display at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. A replica of the Bathysphere on display at the National Geographic museum in Washington DC. Photo: Mike Cole/Wikimedia Commons References: # National Geographic, https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2014/08/15/commemorating-a-milestone-in-ocean-exploration/ # The Official William Beebe Web Site, https://sites.google.com/site/cwilliambeebe/Home/bathysphere # William Beebe, Half Mile Down The Ukrainian leader believes that he can reach an agreement with Vladimir Putin, but believes that peace talks in Donbas should not last for more than a year Open source President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky promises to leave the negotiation process with the Russian Federation if he fails to agree with Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending the war in the Donbas within a year. Zelensky said this in an interview with The Guardian on Friday, March 6. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky believes that he can reach an agreement with Vladimir Putin to put an end to the war in Ukraine. "Time is running out. The government can spend one year on the entire contract. Then it must be implemented. You cant spend more time on it," Zelensky said. He threatened to withdraw from the negotiations in a year if there was no progress in achieving peace in Donbas in the dialogue with Putin. Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said he was concerned about the efforts of French President Emmanuel Macron to restore relations with Russia. It is important for Zelensky that the other two leaders of the so-called "Normandy Four", Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron put pressure on Putin. He noted that the leaders of France and Germany support Ukraine, but is concerned that Macron is striving for closer ties with Moscow. Sunitha Natti By Express News Service HYDERABAD: SBI on Saturday confirmed that it will pick up a 49 per cent stake in Yes Bank with an initial commitment of Rs 2,450 crore. The bank's legal and investment teams are working overnight doing due diligence and will respond by Monday, the time given by RBI to the lender. SBI will also try to get the resolution plan approved and implemented much before the set deadline of April 3. While SBI will pick up stake at the RBI-determined Rs 2 per share, for incoming investors the usual norm of SEBI-guided pricing formula will kick in. Speaking to the media, chairman Rajnish Kumar said that there were as many as 23 potential investors interested in picking up a stake in Yes Bank and the SBI board will decide if it should invest alone or co-invest with others. ALSO READ| SBI set to tick Yes Bank checkbox, take on its debt burden "We have to hold 26 per cent as per the three-year lock-in. But depending on the scenario, if I find co-investors, who are acceptable to RBI, we might consider that," Kumar said. These include some foreign and domestic institutional investors who have to qualify with the banking regulations' proper criteria. "That call will be taken by the RBI," Kumar clarified. He added that Yes Bank's revised market capitalization of Rs 2,500 crore doesn't look over-priced by any definition and so SBI's proposed investment of Rs 2,450 crore, prima facie, was a reasonable bet even for SBI's shareholders including minority investors. "We are mindful of the interest of minority investors in SBI and all actions are governed and their interest will be protected," he said. According to Kumar, SBI has not lost money in any investment made so far. Be it in SBI Cards, SBI Mutual Funds, or others, the bank ensured that its joint venture partners and subsidiaries don't get disappointed. As for Yes Bank's 'forced investment call'. Kumar said, "There were not many options before RBI and government, which is why they had to go with this proposal." Getting SBI on board was essentially to prop up investor confidence and perhaps the banking regulator hopes potential investors will value Yes Bank fairly. As per the plan, SBI board will nominate an MD & CEO and two nominee directors on Yes Bank board and when the RBI-appointed administrator vacates, the newly-appointed board will steer the decisions. ALSO READ| RBI to look into what went wrong at Yes Bank: Nirmala Sitharaman "We have stepped in to give assurance to potential investors and depositors. There's a certain process that needs to be followed when a bank is being reconstructed," Kumar said stressing that SBI isn't merging Yes Bank with itself. Given SBI's size and rate of internal accruals, he believes the proposed investment will neither dent the bank's capital ratios nor will it knock on the government's doors asking for capital. "Our board mandate is that we maintain 0.5 per cent above regulatory minimum capital adequacy. We will continue to do that," Kumar said. He assured depositors that though there might be some inconvenience, their money was safe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed officials to identify locations for sufficient quarantine facilities and make provisions for critical care as he reviewed the coronavirus situation on Saturday New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed officials to identify locations for sufficient quarantine facilities and make provisions for critical care as he reviewed the coronavirus situation on Saturday. Three positive cases of novel coronavirus two persons from Ladakh with travel history to Iran and another from Tamil Nadu who had visited Oman were reported in India, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 34 on Saturday. All the patients are stable. At the meeting with all ministries and departments concerned, the prime minister said that in view of expert opinion, people should be advised to avoid mass gatherings as much as possible and made aware of the do's and don'ts. While complimenting all departments for the work done so far, Modi stressed that as the coronavirus scenario evolves, India has to be prepared in its response. "All departments should work in convergence and action should be initiated for creating awareness in community about the disease and the precautions to be taken," the prime minister was quoted as saying in an official statement. "He exhorted the officers to identify the best practices for COVID-19 management from across the world and within the states, and ensure their adoption," it said. The prime minister also highlighted the need for advanced and adequate planning, and timely response which is critical for managing this infectious disease. Clik here to follow latest updates on coronavirus outbreak According to the statement, the officials were instructed to plan for early testing and evacuation of Indians from Iran where, according to reports, 145 people have died so far due to COVID-19. On Saturday, a flight from Tehran brought to Delhi swab samples of Indians in Iran who are suspected of having the coronavirus infection. The flight, operated by Mahan Air, then returned with many Iranian nationals. At the prime minister's review meeting, Health Secretary Preeti Sudan made a presentation about the current scenario and action taken by the Health Ministry and other supporting ministries regarding preparedness and response to COVID-19. She laid emphasis on the core areas of surveillance at the points of entry and community, laboratory support, hospital preparedness, logistics and risk communication. The meeting was attended by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, his deputy Ashwini Kumar Choubey, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Niti Aayog member Vinod Paul, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, and secretaries of health, pharma, civil aviation, MEA, health research, home, shipping, NDMA and others. The secretary in the Department of Pharma informed the meeting about availability of sufficient stocks of medicines, active pharmaceutical ingredients and other consumable items for use in India. Issues related to the need for continued vigil at all airports, seaports and land border crossings, community-level surveillance, and ensuring availability of sufficient beds for isolation were discussed. While Vardhan emphasised the need for effective coordination with states for timely response, Niti Aayog member Paul stressed on increasing capacity for hospitalisation. The request obtained for evacuation of Indians from Iran was also highlighted at the meeting. PTI PLB SMN SMN 03072008 NNNN Widespread mobile phone use in Kenya is turning out to be an asset in the East African nation's efforts to keep coronavirus at bay. While Kenya has not recorded any case of the virus, the Health Organization (WHO) classifies Kenya as the sixth high-risk nation in Africa. The country in the past weeks has tested 23 suspected cases of the virus, but all of them have turned out to be negative. However, Kenya is not taking chances as several African countries record COVID-19 cases. On Friday, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe announced a raft of measures to keep the virus out of its borders. It includes the screening of passengers at all entry points, cancellation of all international conferences, setting up special units to deal with suspected cases and the spread of awareness. "We have launched a free SMS service to send information for free to mobile phones. Every Kenyan will be getting information about the disease, and what to do to avoid infections," Kagwe said. The SMS service is standing out as the east African nation taps into its huge mobile phone subscription base to reach millions of citizens. Kenya has over 53 million mobile phone subscribers, according to the Communication Authority. On Saturday, Kenyans started to receive tailored messages on coronavirus from the government to boost awareness. "Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease affecting the There are no cases in Kenya. It spreads via a cough or sneeze," said one of the messages from the Ministry of Health. Another message asks citizens, who are traveling outside the country, to dial a specific code to get the updates. Kenyans have lauded the messages, congratulating the government for taking great steps to keep the virus at bay. The government is disseminating similar messages on its social media platforms, to reach millions of Kenyans mostly young people who use the apps. "Maintain basic hand and respiratory hygiene and avoid close contact with people suffering from respiratory infections," the Health Ministry said in a message on Twitter and Facebook. To complement government efforts, private companies have similarly stepped up efforts to educate their workers on measures to keep the virus at bay through seminars and online messages. "Wash hands with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces," a message from insurance firm AON to its employees read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FLINT, MI Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders will pay a visit to Flint this weekend for a town hall meeting. The Town Hall on Racial and Economic Justice is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7 at the Mott Community College Event Center, 1401 E. Court St. Sanders visit comes days before Tuesdays primary when 125 delegates are up for grabs amid a tight race for the partys nomination between the Vermont senator and former Vice President Joe Biden. Rallies for Sanders are planned in Detroit Friday night and Sunday, March 8 in Grand Rapids. Biden is due to hold rallies Monday, March 9 in Grand Rapids and Detroit. Biden coming to Detroit, Grand Rapids on Monday Saturdays Flint visit by Sanders will not mark the first time the candidate or his surrogates have come to the Vehicle City. He took part in a town hall meeting at the former location for Woodside Church on the citys east side in February 2016, one month ahead of the Democratic presidential debate held at The Whiting. Sanders also held a private meeting in February 2018 with a group of approximately 30 residents in Flint, the same day he attended a rally in Lansing, protesting tax changes signed into law by President Donald Trump, according to MLive-The Flint Journal records. Bernie Sanders discusses Flint water crisis during community forum Sanders won the 2016 Democratic primary in Michigan -- 49.7 to 48.3 percent over Hillary Clinton. Actor Danny Glover, a Sanders campaign surrogate, dropped into Flint in late July 2019 for a visit with families to get an update on the citys water crisis. He was joined by Bernie 2020 National Campaign Co-Chair Nina Turner. Actor Danny Glover campaigns for Bernie Sanders in Flint In 2016, Genesee County was one of just 10 counties in Michigan where Clinton won more votes than Sanders in the presidential primary. Saturdays town hall is free and open to the public. Bags are prohibited. Tickets are not required but an RSVP is required. Entrance to the town hall is being provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, carpool or take public transportation. Chanel Miller has spent the last five years coming to terms with her alter ego. For most of that time, shes been known to the world only as Emily Doe. She was even named Glamours Woman of the Year under the pseudonym, an identity the literature major and California native started to use after being sexually assaulted on Stanford University campus, outside San Francisco. Sexual assault survivor and bestselling author Chanel Miller will speak at the Sydney Opera House as part of the All About Women festival. Credit:Dean Sewell Soon after the assault, Miller took the decision not to reveal who she was. Miller wore her alter ego through countless police tests and lengthy court hearings. It was easier to endure them as Emily Doe. Hong Kong: CE visits country park Chief Executive Carrie Lam today visited Tai Mo Shan Country Park to inspect its management services amid the COVID-19 epidemic. She was accompanied by Secretary for the Environment KS Wong and Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Dr Leung Siu-fai. Mrs Lam visited personnel working at the parks visitor centre and Twisk Country Park Management Centre of Tai Lam Country Park. She observed how they enhanced campsites and associated facilities, improved hiking trails with natural materials, provided more lookout points for people to enjoy the scenery and strengthened services at visitor centres. Mrs Lam learnt about the departments anti-epidemic measures and management work, including running temperature checks on all park visitors. Noting that the number of visitors in various country parks increased by 25% in February, Mrs Lam praised staff for their commitment to strengthening anti-epidemic work to safeguard public health. The department enhanced its promotions and public education on anti-epidemic measures and protecting the environment through various means including social media and the networks of partner organisations. Mrs Lam also visited a refreshment kiosk to learn about its business. The department has provided rent concessions to all kiosks in country parks and will extend such relief measures until September this year to help shop operators during these difficult times. Mrs Lam said she appreciated the kiosks efforts to protect the environment and reduce waste and disposable plastics, which encourages people to adopt a greener lifestyle. She also appealed to the public to exercise social distancing while enjoying the countryside amid the epidemic. This story has been published on: 2020-03-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. GrainChain, a commodities tracing platform that uses smart contracts to open up liquidity for low-income farmers, has raised $8.2 million in its latest funding round, the company announced Friday. Chief Executive and founder Luis Macias said the money will bolster GrainChains burgeoning operations in Mexico, Honduras and the southwest United States. This funding is really going to allow us to add to our operations and scale up the levels that we are anticipating, giving us the ability to implement across the entire supply chain, he said. Related: Vermont Turns to Home-Grown Blockchain Company to Track Hemp With Ethereum Overstock VC wing Medici Ventures contributed the bulk at $5 million. An early backer of GrainChain with a $2.5 million equity stake in late 2018, Medici had previously agreed to consider purchasing future equity. It now controls 17.65 percent of GrainChain, according to a Medici spokesperson. Other new backers include Eden Block, according to a press release. GrainChain envisions itself as a sort of glue between disparate actors in the agriculture supply chain. It brings farmers, bankers, insurers, exporters and trade associations on a unified blockchain platform where they can validate the movement of crops and commodities, and even make payments through event-triggered smart contracts. In September, part of that vision took form as GrainChain inked deals with stakeholders from across the Honduran coffee industry. This included low-income farmers picking the beans, many of whom struggle to secure loans from bankers weary of supply chain inefficiencies. Related: Appealing to Normies: Advancing Bitcoin Starts With Better UX Both farmers and bankers expressed hope at the time that GrainChains traceability trust factor could change that. Medici CEO Jonathan Johnson said the VC got on board to help support GrainChains efforts to eliminate middlemen and re-humanize commerce. Macias said the platform has attracted interest from more supply chain stakeholders in the time since. People are excited about the implementation, he said. Story continues The new funding will also build out GrainChains global presence. Macias said he is currently brokering deals in two more countries that he expects to announce later this year. Were pleased to support their continued global expansion. Medicis Johnson said of GrainChain. Related Stories Up to 123million worth of taxpayers cash has been spent training ghost teachers who never take up state school posts. Research shows how more than 11,000 recruits, almost one in ten, who qualified over a five-year period changed their minds about teaching. They were not working in state schools a year later, despite collectively receiving between 67million and 123million in tax-free bursaries. The department had previously trailed a scheme giving maths teachers retention payments of 15,000 in high-needs areas, with lower bursaries of 20,000, but this was later scrapped [File photo] Trainees in sought-after subjects such as physics and chemistry are eligible for bursaries up to 26,000, while primary education graduates can get up to 6,000 if they specialise in maths. Mary Bousted, of the NEU teaching union, said the figures amounted to a stupendous waste of money and showed how teaching was now seen as an unattractive profession. Geoff Barton, of the Association of School and College Leaders described the missing teachers as ghost trainees and said: Teacher training bursaries are well-intentioned but it is infuriating that there are no conditions attached to them and that trainees can waltz out of the classroom after a short period of time, or not enter it at all, without incurring any financial penalty. Up to 123million worth of taxpayers cash has been spent training ghost teachers who never take up state school posts. Research shows how more than 11,000 recruits, almost one in ten, who qualified over a five-year period changed their minds about teaching [File photo] He added: Its pretty galling the amount of money that has been spent on trying to recruit people into the classroom who have never set foot there. The reason for the uncertainty over the total spent is that the Department for Education will not release the relevant figures. However, the Times Educational Supplement has revealed that of 101,060 postgraduate trainees who won Qualified Teacher Status from 2009-10 to 2015-16, 11,460 (11 per cent) had not taught in a state-funded school by November 2017. They would have accrued 67.4million in bursaries if they all received the lowest amount and 123.6million 25 per cent of the 484million bursaries bill if they all received the maximum. A DfE spokesman said: Bursaries are designed to incentivise more applicants to train in the subjects that are hardest to recruit to. Trainees only receive the bursary in full if they complete the training course. Of final year trainees in 2017-18 ... 79 per cent eligible for a bursary were employed in a state-funded school in England. Others may enter the classroom later in life. Last year the department announced that new teachers specialising in chemistry, languages, maths and physics would receive early career payments of up to 9,000, as well as bursaries of 26,000, to boost retention. However, that covers just four of the 16 subjects for which trainees can claim bursaries. The department had previously trailed a scheme giving maths teachers retention payments of 15,000 in high-needs areas, with lower bursaries of 20,000, but this was later scrapped. From dusk till dawn, roaming districts of Giong Trom and Ba Tri in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, are dozens of tractors delivering freshwater to local households. A man gets freshwater from a refill station in Ba Tri District. VNA/VNS Photo Tran Thi Thu Hien Burdened with massive debts due to crops impacted by saline intrusion, people in the Mekong Delta are now also forced to spend money on freshwater to survive this years devastating drought. Have you shipped water to my house? Bay, a farmer in Giong Trom District, called to ask a provider just to know that how long she would have to wait. Water ran out yesterday so I have not taken a shower yet, Bay told the online newspaper Vietnamnet. If they do not deliver freshwater this afternoon, I may have to carry a bucket to my neighbour, asking for water. People of Giong Trom District said their lives were turned upside down after the Tet (Lunar New Year) Holiday, as either tap water or spring water had high salinity, while no households stored freshwater in tanks for daily use. Van, owner of a cafe in the districts Binh Thanh Commune, said tap water had tasted salty for months. It costs me VND10,000 (43 US cents) a day to buy bottled water for brewing coffee and tea for sale, she said. My son-in-law had workers from Tien Giang Province drill a well in search of freshwater, but failed. My husband attempted it, but could not find a good source of water, she added. Van is among independent residents as her family owns a tractor which her son drives daily to take freshwater from a well 3km away from her home for cleaning and showering. It costs VND150,000 (US$6.48) for a cubic metre of water delivered to your doorstep, while the expense for bringing water home on our own is only VND50,000 ($2.16), said Van. Sitting in the scorching sun while observing a canal in front of his house, Tu Hieu refrained from taking a dip as he would have to re-shower with freshwater. I may take a shower at the end of the day, he said. Thousands of people in Ben Tre Province have witnessed their lives slipping into the hands of water providers. The water shortage happens annually, yet it is more severe this year as saline intrusion happens a month earlier than normal, said Hieu. Each family spends from VND500,000 to 1.5 million ($21.6 to 64.8) monthly on fresh water. However, it is not always available, said Lan in Binh Thanh Commune. Sometimes it takes two to three days for a tank of water to be delivered, as providers prioritise early orders, she added. Emerging job While his neighbours lose sleep over water, Nguyen Van Tam is lucky enough to hit a source. Unable to afford the high cost of freshwater, I had workers drill a well, hoping to find drinkable water underground. Fortunately, the dream came true, said Tam. Well water is for cleaning and showering, collected rainwater is for cooking. Last week, when my grandchildren from HCM City came to visit us, I let them use rainwater to shower so it ran out, he said. In front of Nguyen Thi Thuy Tiens house in Tan Hoa Village, Binh Thanh Commune, there is always a crowd waiting to pump water. A month ago, Tien had a well drilled. Her neighbours followed yet were unable to find any groundwater. It is Gods will, said Tien. Since then, people have come here to buy water for their families or for resale. Tien sells a cubic metre of water for VND20,000 ($86 US cents). Pham Minh Trong, Tiens customer, said tap water at home was too salty to use. Four family members use a cubic metre of water a day. We try to save as much as possible, he said. Driving a pickup truck along burnt paddy fields because of saline intrusion, Thanh Phong, a water trader, tries to finish all orders before twilight. I buy freshwater from a local well then provide it to people. It depends on the distance that I set prices for a tank of water. As most of people here are poor, prices cannot be too high, said Phong. As this years rainfall is predicted to drop, many local residents expressed the wish to have enough of water to survive the dry season. VNS Mekong Delta provinces adapt to drought, saltwater intrusion Provinces in the Mekong Delta are taking prompt actions to help local residents adapt to drought and saltwater intrusion during the dry season. Mekong Delta provinces take steps to control saltwater intrusion Authorities in provinces in the Mekong Delta and Can Tho city are dredging irrigation works and storing fresh water to cope with saltwater intrusion during the dry season. The few words that Hannah Hailemichael knows are the gateway into what she cares about. Thank you and youre welcome sound like one phrase. She likes pizza. Mommy and daddy are important ones, too, for the 15-year-old girl from Trenton, who is autistic. Two years ago, her parents - Eric McRoy and Konjit Hailemichael - said Hannah kept repeating the word, ice cream. The sweet treat was part of her diorama, a three-dimensional model in which she used a shoe box to design an ice cream parlor for a school project. Good job," her father recalls saying. Its not cardboard anymore. That shoebox, her parents said, became the impetus for a real business, one they believe their daughter had been thinking about when she made the diorama. Any ideas? You got it: an ice cream parlor. This one is the The Trenton Ice Cream Parlor and the grand opening is March 12. Its on the ground floor of a commercial/residential building the family owns at 969 S. Broad Street. The couple, who once had a retail business in Pennsylvania, wanted to do something for their daughter as she grew older. Thats when we remembered that she had built the ice cream parlor," her mother said. In this setting, Hannah could work, socialize and learn various skills that will help her later in life. We figured we do this for her." Eight months ago, it was just an idea. Now its a reality and the attention theyve received is something the family didnt anticipate. Folks have responded on Instagram and Facebook, where Hannah has some 2,000 followers. Dignitaries will be at the grand opening; the street will be closed for a festival. There are people excited about what we did," Eric McRoy said. It has been phenomenal." The parlor had a soft opening in October, and the parents said they believe its helping their daughter. Hannah does chores around the store on the weekends. Shell wash dishes and scoop ice cream. There have been times, her parents said, that Hannah has shocked them. I thought I heard her say, hi customer, and 'what do you want,'" her mother said. The shock reminds her of the day when Hannah was 8-years-old. Mom thought she heard her daughter say, mommy. By age 12, she really did hear it. She also recognized that Hannah said daddy and the names of her three brothers, too. Shes been opening up more because shes been in the ice cream shop," her father said. Hannahs ability to express herself is limited verbally, but what she had to say came through loud and clear creatively. Next Thursday, shell get to put the cherry on top of her idea when she cuts the ribbon to mark the official opening of the store. Hannah Hailemichael, a 15 year-old autistic teen, washed dishes at Trenton Ice Cream Parlor, which her family started after she came up with the idea.Trenton Ice Cream Parlor Read More Barry Carter may be reached at bcarter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Three more conoravirus cases have been diagnosed in Northern Ireland, taking the total number of cases in the province to seven. The Department of Health announced on Saturday evening that three new presumptive positive results for coronavirus have been confirmed. A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Further positive tests have been expected and the advice to the public remains unchanged. Northern Ireland is still in the containment phase. "The latest three cases are all adults who had recently travelled from Italy and are linked to a previously confirmed positive case. "Public Health Agency staff are working quickly to identify contacts the individuals may have had, with the objective of preventing further spread of the virus. "In line with established protocols, presumptive positive Northern Ireland test results are sent to Public Health England laboratories for verification." It comes as a new case of coronavirus has been identified in Ireland, bringing the total number of people diagnosed to 19. The Department of Health confirmed on Saturday that a male, in the east of the country, had travelled from northern Italy. The HSE said it is working rapidly to identify any contacts the patient may have had. The first person to have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Pakistan has been discharged from a private hospital here after making a full recovery, a health official said on Saturday. The patient, whose identity has been kept under wraps, was discharged after a third test for the virus came negative on Saturday, a spokesperson for the Sindh Health Department said. She said the patient, who was in isolation and under treatment for the last 10 days, had fully recovered. "He was discharged after three tests carried out on him, the latest being on Saturday, came out negative," the official said. Pakistan has reported six cases of the deadly coronavirus, including three in its biggest city of Karachi. The patient discharged also belongs to Karachi and was diagnosed with the virus soon after he returned home from Iran. Meanwhile, the Pakistan government allowed trade activities to resume at the Taftan border with Iran in Baluchistan province after keeping it closed for 14 days due to the outbreak of the virus in the neighbouring country where around 145 people have died from the disease. A day earlier, the Geo reported that the people quarantined at Pakistan House in Taftan had been shifted to another place due to limited space there. Quoting Customs officials, the report said that more than 3,000 people were currently kept at two quarantine centres at Taftan border after they underwent screening on entering Pakistan from Iran. So far, no coronavirus related death has been reported in Pakistan. Sindh and Balochistan provinces have already closed their schools and colleges after the deadly virus surfaced in the country. The novel virus that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 3,500 lives and infected more than 100,000 across 94 nations and territories. The World Health Organisation last week raised the global virus risk to maximum level after the outbreak spread to sub-Saharan Africa and stock markets around the world plummeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Southern Law Poverty CenterThe Hebrew Israelite movement is rooted in Black Judaism, a belief system birthed in the late 1800s by black Christians from the South's Pentecostal "Holiness" movement. They claimed to have received a revelation: America's recently emancipated slaves were God's chosen people, the true Hebrews.The Hebrew Israelite movement is rooted in Black Judaism, a belief system birthed in the late 1800s by black Christians from the South's Pentecostal "Holiness" movement. They claimed to have received a revelation: America's recently emancipated slaves were God's chosen people, the true Hebrews.According to Black Judaism doctrine, when the Kingdom of Israel was destroyed, the Israelites were first scattered across the African continent and then selectively targeted by enemy African tribes who captured and sold them to European slave traders for bondage in the New World."It's a common myth that slaves were randomly shackled up and carried off to slavery," "General Yahanna," leader of the present-day Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge, told the Intelligence Report. Actually, "Slave traders sailed for months and days to get to specific pickup points. They knew what people they were taking specifically, the lost tribes of Israel."Black Judaism leaders preached self-empowerment and economic independence, an early form of black nationalism that was foundational for later groups like the Nation of Islam. Their rhetoric, emphasizing the biblical theme of an oppressed nation being led to a promised land, informed black activist thought right up through the speeches of Martin Luther King Jr.Although followers of Black Judaism thought of themselves as the descendants of the biblical 12 tribes of Israel, most did not take that to mean that other people deserved condemnation or attack.One notable exception was F.S. Cherry, a self-declared prophet who in 1886 started a "black Jew" church in Chattanooga, Tenn., where he preached that white people were inherently evil and hated by God. Cherry also instructed his followers that the earth is square and that Jesus would return in the year 2000 to install blacks over whites through a race war.Just as today's racist Hebrew Israelite sects are hateful but smaller detachments of a larger, non-racist faith, Cherry, who relocated his congregation to Philadelphia in 1915, was far less popular in his time than non-racist Black Judaism founders like the Rev. William Christian and William Saunders Crowdy.After Cherry, the next major purveyor of racist dogma among black Jews was Eber ben Yomin, also known as Abba Bivens, who in the 1960s broke away from the "Commandment Keepers," then the dominant mainstream black Jewish organization, to launch his own extremist sect, which became known as the Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge.Initially based in a Harlem apartment, this new black Israelite group soon moved to a building on New York City's 125th Street, Harlem's main drag. Three of Bivens' disciples Ahrayah, Masha and Yaiqab joined with four "high priests" named Chaazaq, Lahab, Yahiya and Shar to take over leadership of the Israelite School. Collectively they were referred to as the "Seven Heads," the inner-circle governors of the black supremacist Hebrew Israelite movement.Although they employed the same kind of radical rhetoric and confrontational street theater that other militant black groups of the 1970s did, racist Hebrew Israelites held themselves apart. They rejected the "Muslim" beliefs of groups like the Nation of Islam and refused to join with the pork-eating secularists of groups like the Black Panthers.In the 1980s, the Seven Heads changed the name of their group to the Israelite Church of Universal Practical Knowledge.The Israelite Church attempted to expand its visibility in the 1990s by declaring, as F.S. Cherry had before them, that Jesus Christ would return to earth in 2000 to enslave and destroy the white race. Meanwhile, some members began to break away and form their own racist Hebrew Israelite sects. One such member, Yahanna, started a chapter and reclaimed the original name Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge for his group.When the year 2000 came without the Israelite Church's prophecy coming to pass, its leaders rebranded the organization as the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ, the name they still use today. The organization was taken over in late 2000 by "Chief High Priest Tazadaqyah," born Jermaine Grant, who declared himself the "Holy Spirit" and "The Comforter." Grant recently prophesied that a vengeful black Jesus would soon return to earth to kill or enslave all whites. Unlike Cherry, however, he didn't set a date. CAIRO Twelve crew members aboard a cruise ship on the Nile were placed in isolation on Friday after testing positive for the coronavirus, Egypts health ministry said. The crew members were asymptomatic, meaning they had no signs of illness, and the ship was moved to a remote stretch of river, 15 miles from the tourist hub of Luxor, to be disinfected. Yet this sudden surge of cases, the largest cluster yet in Egypt, stoked growing fears among a nervous Egyptian public of a much larger number of infections in their country than the government has either detected or declared. Until Friday, Egypt, which relies heavily on tourism and has a weak health care system, said it had discovered just three coronavirus cases in the country, and only one was an Egyptian. But in the past week, at least 26 tourists have tested positive for the virus after returning from vacation in Egypt, including 11 Greeks, seven Americans and six French. The Daily Beast Fox News White House correspondent and perpetual nemesis of Jen Psaki thought he had Joe Bidens press secretary cornered on Monday when he asked her why the president is still referring to COVID-19 as a pandemic of the unvaccinated when so many people are getting breakthrough infections. He was wrong.I understand that the science says that vaccines prevent death, Doocy began, before undercutting that basic truth. But Im triple-vaxxed, still got COVID. Youre triple-vaxxed, still got COVI Russia should also allow UN and OSCE monitors access to the peninsula to observe and document conditions there. Acting Deputy Permanent Representative at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador Cherith Norman Chalet says that her country urges the international community to impose sanctions against the Russian Federation over repressive actions in occupied Crimea. "The United States is determined to hold Russia accountable for its occupation of Crimea, including its repressive actions. Since 2014, successive rounds of sanctions have targeted those who play leadership roles in the occupation authority, including local heads of the agencies spearheading the crackdown on dissent," she said at a UN Arria-format meeting on Crimea and Human Rights on March 6. "We have imposed sanctions on specific law enforcement actors, for example, known to be responsible for the torture of Crimean Tatar activists. We urge other countries to impose similar restrictions." Read alsoUkraine's FM says Crimea Return Strategy his priority in office She also reiterated her country's call for Russia to allow UN and OSCE monitors access to the peninsula to observe and document conditions there, especially given that the press freedom environment is now rated by Freedom House as one of the most restrictive in the world. "Clearly Russia and its proxies are attempting to hide realities from the eyes of the world," she said. At the same meeting of the UN Security Council, head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov called for an embargo on all types of Russian energy carriers in order to "force Russia to return Crimea and Donbas." As UNIAN reported earlier, the United States introduced new sanctions against the Russian Federation for destabilizing actions against Ukraine. mbongeni@times.co.sz MBABANE Has dagga been legalised in the country? Residents under Ngwempisi constituency are currently grouping themselves into schemes in preparation to embark on commercial dagga farming because they have allegedly been informed that legalisation of dagga is near. In reaction to this, potential dagga farmers have started clearing land for farming and have further approached financial institutions looking for loans in readiness to pay for the dagga licence, which they have been told by their parliamentarian that it would cost around E50 000. This figure is far less than the E1 million that was announced in parliament during the drafting and formulation of the Opium and Habit Forming Drugs Bill of 2019. The Bill was tabled last year by the Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi.since then there have been calls for the legalisation of dagga, which is also known as marijuana. Police, on the other hand have said there is no law in their possession that legalises the growing of dagga hence they will continue to arrest anyone, including Ngwempisi residents, found in possession of dagga. imminent dagga farming Eswatini and Mozambique are the only countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region that have not legalised dagga for commercial purposes. Last week, Malawi became the latest state to pass a cannabis bill into a law, joining the likes of South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Ngwempisi residents who spoke to the Times SUNDAY said they were also looking for best sources of dagga seeds in preparation for the imminent dagga farming exercise. They are doing this because their incumbent Member of Parliament has allegedly told them to get ready for dagga farming on claims that parliament has approved all processes for the legalisation of cannabis. The Ngwempisi MP is Mthandeni Dube. This is the same MP whom Lobamba Lomdzala legislator, Marwick Khumalo jokingly made reference to in parliament when addressing Prime Minister (PM) Ambrose Dlamini on Monday. MP Khumalo punned that the PM should consider Dube for appointment as Cabinet minister in the event there is a reshuffle. Ngwempisi falls under the Manzini Region and the constituency has five chiefdoms; namely, Ngcoseni, Macudvulwini, Velezizweni, Dladleni and Bhadzeni. The residents have claimed that Dube announced during several constituency development meetings that they should start preparing themselves for dagga farming. Yes, MP Mthandeni Dube told us during a meeting at the Ngcoseni chiefdom to start preparing ourselves for dagga farming. He told us to form groups or schemes so that we can easily acquire loans for dagga farming. However, we were shocked by his statement because we are aware that dagga farming has not been legalised yet in the country. We even asked him as to when Parliament approved the dagga forming Bill but he did not give us a clear answer. We then recorded his statement to be part of chiefdoms minutes, said Sanele Ginindza, a member of the inner council of Ngcoseni royal chiefdom. Tony Msibi, a member of the inner council said: The MP is said to have stated that we should start preparing ourselves for dagga farming and that parliament has reduced the amount for the dagga licence from the stipulated E1 million to E50 000. We are currently busy doing what the MP told us to do. good news Bucopho of Ngcoseni Simo Mabuza said even though he has not attended any meetings where the dagga statements were discussed, he was hoping that the MP would discuss such information in their weekly meetings. I was not there hence I cannot say much. We are now old and we need to protect each other and not say contradictory things, he said. Meanwhile, Ngwempisi Indvuna Yenkhundla Hebert Ngwenya confirmed that there were reports that the legislator had announced to residents that they should start preparing for dagga farming. He said he learnt about this after some residents started flocking the inkhundla to, among other things; thank them for the dagga good news. He said some residents came to seek assistance on how to form the schemes and groups for dagga farming. Even though the MP has not formally informed the inkhundla council about progress of the marijuana Bill, we have heard that he has already made announcements in various meetings around the inkhundla, telling residents to prepare for dagga farming. Some residents have approached the inkhundla on that regard, Ngwenya said. He said following the dagga announcement, some residents had started to prepare land for dagga farming as they had been instructed to do so. responsibilities MP Dube confirmed that he told the residents to be ready for dagga farming. He said he did this as one of his responsibilities as a legislator; that of reporting back to the residents about processes and programmes that Parliament is advocating. He said even though the report was done in good faith, there were individuals who wanted to hijack the exercise and make it a political matter. Even tomorrow (today) I am having two meetings within the constituency and part of the agenda includes telling those in attendance to prepare themselves for dagga farming, he said on Friday. nothing wrong On Thursday, the MP told the Times that there was nothing wrong with him telling the residents to start preparing for dagga farming. He said in fact, it was his duty to do so. Asked what would happen if the Bill is not acceded to by His Majesty the King, the legislator said: I would go back to the residents and tell them to abort the processes of dagga farming, He said dagga should not be regarded as inunu because it has the potential to revive the countrys economy if commercialised. He said those who wanted to criminalise or dent his exercise of informing the residents about dagga processes should back off. Meanwhile, Eswatini Cannabis Association (ECA) Chairman Saladin Magagula said Eswatini was trailing behind on the cannabis market, which has a great potential to change the countrys economic situation for the better. As reported by our sister publication, the Times of Eswatini daily this week, Magagula said the latest update they got on the Bill was that it had lapsed and it was going back to parliament for legislators to make submissions on it. He said the Ministry of Health would have to go back to Cabinet to get a fresh mandate so that the bill would again be tabled in parliament and parliamentarians would have to do the same process all over again. prioritised We hope that it would be prioritised to be among the first bills to be tabled in parliament. There is no way the process could be short-circuited, it has to go through the process if it has lapsed. Then the regulations will follow. We are grateful for these countries that have legislated the growing of cannabis and we are also grateful to the Members of Parliament who are also addressing the issue, he said. How to get a dagga farming licence in Eswatini l There are about 13 requirements which were presented by the ministry of Health, most of which focus on the security of the field where the dagga could be grown for both medicinal and manufacturing of products from the plant. l The ministry said when a person applied for the cannabis licence, there must be provision of stringent security measures which include the installation of devices to ensure restricted access and the installation of visual monitoring devices at the site. l Another requirement included in the draft provisional licence is provision of full-time monitoring of perimeter site by personnel, and also the provision of a storage facility which is to be approved of by the agency (regulator) and the police. l Those who wish to grow the dagga would also be expected to install an air filtration system to prevent the escape of odours and pollen and further installation of transport security measures including tracing and tracking systems. l The draft also calls for the licence holder to provide evidence of expertise in cannabis cultivation and production, and the submission of a police clearance from criminal activities involving narcotic drugs for all the directors and employees of the company. l The licence to cultivate and process dagga for medicinal or scientific use only, is that the persons are expected to submit proof of land ownership or title to cultivation or production premises. l The submission of a certificate of approval of area of cultivation from the Ministry of Agriculture and submission of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) clearance from Eswatini Environmental Authority are also some of the other requirements proposed by government. A 23-year-old British backpacker who disappeared in Fiji has been found safe and well, her family has confirmed. Lydia O'Sullivan, from Cumbria, was located eight days after she last contacted her family, her sister said on social media. British and Thai police found the backpacker at an eco-retreat in the Fiji mountains and she was "oblivious to the world search party looking for her". The backpacker's sister, Franciene Nicholson, took to Facebook to share the good news and thanked all those who went the "extra mile" to help her. "We are absolutely elated that Lydia O'Sullivan has been found safe and well on an Eco retreat in the Fijian mountains," she said. "My mother has just spoken to her and she is safe and well oblivious to the world search party looking for her. "We would like to thank the police forces in Fiji and England for there hard work and dedication to find Lydia .But mostly we would like as a family to thank our amaxing friends and everyone that has sent well wishes and offers for help. "The Fijian people have bee so kind. They all went the extra mile to help find Lydia." Ms O'Sullivan, who had been travelling around the world for the past two years, last communicated with her family on February 28. She had been living and working in Auckland, New Zealand before recently travelling from New Zealand to Fiji. The backpacker normally messaged her family every day and concern grew when she went a week without contacting them. Ms Nicholson went on to thank the social community for their help and praised the power of Facebook. New Delhi, March 7 : Actress Keira Knightley's comedy drama "Misbehaviour" will release in India on April 9. PVR Pictures will bring the film, which celebrates the significance of womanhood, to India. Set in the 1970s, "Misbehaviour" is a satirical interpretation of the beauty pageant -- Miss World. It also stars Jessie Buckley and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Philippa Lowthorpe has helmed the film from the script by Rebecca Frayn and Gaby Chiappe. The movie is based on true events and the characters are seen strongly voicing their opinions about the stereotypical pageant world. The plot reflects unjust norms of the beauty industry along with objectification of women. Knightley, Buckley and Mbatha will be seen playing feminist activists who disrupt the patriarchy and show women the true face of womanhood. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Recently in the city of Mexico, an older aged man who had just arrived from Italy tested positive for coronavirus. There are already a total of six Mexican nationals who have tested positive. The first case was in February. The first person to acquire the virus was a 35-year old man who has also recently traveled from Italy. He was confined in the hospital in Mexico, the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER). Two cases followed after the patient and was also discovered that they had a similar travel history to the first patient. As reported by the health experts, the other two were discovered to have traveled together with the 35-year-old man. In the same month, the fourth case was also tested positive. It was a young woman from the Coahuila state. The next day, the fifth person to acquire the virus was a student from Chiapas, the state of Chiapas. Both affected persons have also traveled to Italy recently. The sixth case was discovered after five days and has also come back from Italy. It was reported that the old man experienced hypertension and was in a critical situation before confinement. During the hospitalization, his condition returned to normal. Hugo Lopez-Gatell, the Minister for the Deputy Health, reported that the relatives of the patient were tested. Eleven Mexicans are also being tested for the coronavirus and all patients who are confirmed to have the virus are currently being quarantined. Sixty persons have also undergone the test and the results were negative. Lopez-Gatell has announced to the public that everyone does not immediately assume that a person has acquired the virus just simply because that person is having similar symptoms to the virus since the symptoms could be from other illnesses like the flu. He recommended everyone to follow the proper hygiene and should frequently wash their hands. A piece of news about the Grand Princess ship was about a patient who has acquired the coronavirus and died was on board and visited the ports of Mexico. There a total of three cases discovered by the health officials related to the cruise ship. Dr. Jose Luis Alomia Zegarra, an epidemiologist, denies the allegation and said the patient did not pass through or visited Mexico. He stated that even after the cruise has ended, there were no cases of the virus discovered. However, the health officials of the Sinaloa state have reported otherwise. They said that the cruise ship with the patient on board passed through Mazatlan on February 17. The health officials of the state wanted to get in touch with health officials of the United States so the actual travel history of the patient could be thoroughly investigated. They want to confirm whether the dead passenger has stopped in Mazatlan and went to places and restaurants in the vicinity to eat and tour the state. The total cases of the epidemic of the coronavirus has reached more than 100,000 around the world. 3,400 patients have already died because of the virus Recently in the city of Mexico, an aged man who has newly arrived from Italy tested positive for the coronavirus. There are already a total of six Mexicans who have tested positive. The first case was in February. The first person to acquire the virus was a 35-year old man who has also recently traveled from Italy. He was confined in the hospital in Mexico, the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (INER). Two cases were followed after the patient and was also discovered that they also had a similar travel history to the first patient. As reported by the health experts, the other two were discovered to have traveled together with the 35-year-old man. In the same month, the fourth case was also tested positive. It was a young woman from the Coahuila state. The next day, the fifth person to acquire the virus was a student from Chiapas the state of Chiapas. Both affected persons have also traveled to Italy recently. The sixth case was discovered after five days and has also come back from Italy. It was reported that the old man experienced hypertension and was in a critical situation before confinement. During the hospitalization, his condition returned to normal. Hugo Lopez-Gatell, the Minister for the Deputy Health, reported that the relatives of the patient were tested. Eleven Mexicans are also being tested for the coronavirus and all patients who are confirmed to have the virus are currently being quarantined. Sixty people have also undergone the test and the results were negative. Lopez-Gatell has announced to the public that everyone does not immediately assume that a person has acquired the virus just simply because that person is having similar symptoms to the virus since the symptoms could be from other illnesses like the flu. He recommended everyone to follow the proper hygiene and should frequently wash their hands. A piece of news about the Grand Princess ship was about a patient who has acquired the coronavirus and died was on board and visited the ports of Mexico. There a total of three cases discovered by the health officials related to the cruise ship. Dr. Jose Luis Alomia Zegarra, an epidemiologist, denies the allegation and said the patient did not pass through or visited Mexico. He stated that even after the cruise had ended, there were no cases of the virus discovered. However, the health officials of the Sinaloa state have reported otherwise. They said that the cruise ship with the patient on board passed through Mazatlan on February 17. The health officials of the state wanted to get in touch with health officials of the United States so the actual travel history of the patient could be thoroughly investigated. They want to confirm whether the dead passenger has stopped in Mazatlan and went to places and restaurants in the vicinity to eat and tour the state. The total cases of the epidemic of the coronavirus has reached more than 100,000 around the world. 3,400 patients have already died because of the virus. In case the mountain of political ads in your mailbox, online, or during television commercial breaks didn't give it away, we're smack-dab in the middle of election season in the United States. As with all major election cycles, issues such as the economy, taxation, national security, and immigration have worked their way to the forefront. But an issue that's bound to draw a lot of attention during the 2020 presidential campaign is marijuana. Marijuana will take center stage during the 2020 election As a reminder, cannabis is a Schedule I drug at the federal level. This classification means it's entirely illegal, prone to abuse, and isn't recognized as having any medical benefits. This classification hasn't stopped 33 states from legalizing medical marijuana in some capacity or kept 11 of those same states from also allowing adult consumption and/or the retail sale of pot. However, it has placed some pretty serious constraints on the businesses growing, processing, distributing, or selling weed in these states. For example, marijuana's Schedule I classification subjects profitable pot companies to Section 280E of the U.S. tax code. This is a section of the tax code that was added in the early 1980s to ensure that illicit drug smugglers couldn't write off their "business expenses" on their federal income tax returns. Today, 280E disallows marijuana businesses in legalized states from taking normal corporate income-tax deductions, save for costs of goods sold. For profitable marijuana companies, this can lead to an exceptionally high effective tax rate. Financing can also be a serious concern tied to the Schedule I classification. Because financial institutions like banks and credit unions report to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (which you probably know better as the FDIC), a federally created agency, they fear the possibility of criminal and/or financial penalties for violating federal law. Thus, gaining access to nondilutive forms of financing, such as a loan or line of credit, can be extremely difficult for cannabis companies. The hope during this election season is that a candidate will be chosen who supports cannabis reform, as well as follows the will of the American public, which is overwhelmingly in favor of legalizing marijuana. The U.S. is the largest marijuana market in the world by annual sales potential, making it a lucrative market worth eyeing by cannabis companies. However, if the results on Super Tuesday are any indication, the prospect of real reform at the federal level is fading quickly. Super Tuesday dashes hopes for near-term cannabis reform at the federal level One week ago, on the day of the South Carolina primary and just days before Super Tuesday would send millions of voters in 14 states to the polls, there were nine presidential candidates still vying for the Oval Office. These included incumbent Republican Donald Trump, who is all but a shoo-in to lock up the Republican Party nomination for president, and eight Democrats. A majority of these remaining candidates had either laid out a plan to legalize marijuana in the United States or expressed their views that cannabis should be legalized. This included Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who had put out a very detailed two-pronged approach to legalize marijuana in the United States. It also included former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), both of whom had pledged to legalize marijuana if they were to become president. Unfortunately for cannabis-reform supporters, none of these candidates survived the week. Of the four remaining candidates, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) has just one pledged delegate, making it likely only a matter of time before she steps aside. That leaves three candidates -- Donald Trump, former Vice President Joe Biden (D), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) -- to vie for the White House. Incumbent Donald Trump, while amicable to the idea of allowing states the right to set their own cannabis policies, is likely the most negative toward recreational weed than any candidate in the field. In fact, according to the Trump reelection campaign's director of strategic communications Marc Lotter, the president would prefer to keep currently illegal drugs as illicit. That includes cannabis. Meanwhile, former Vice President Joe Biden spearheaded some of the harshest bills against drug users and dealers during the war on drugs and only recently announced that his views on cannabis have changed. While Biden has tinkered with the idea of decriminalizing marijuana, he remains steadfast against legalization. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is the only remaining candidate who fully supports legalization, but he's facing a potential uphill battle following the Super Tuesday delegate shakeout. Clearly, there's still a lot to be decided with regard to who will be in the Oval Office come 2021 and beyond, but the once-promising possibility of cannabis reform is looking far less likely now. It's a good-news, bad-news story for pot stock investors If cannabis reform doesn't happen at the federal level under the next president, it will be a disappointment, but it's not a lost cause for cannabis companies or pot stock investors. On the bright side, the status quo of allowing individual states the right to legalize and establish their own regulations seems to be working well. Although it does mean that vertically integrated multistate operators are required to set up somewhat redundant growing and processing facilities in every state in which they sell cannabis, it hasn't demonstrably slowed their growth potential. For example, Green Thumb Industries (OTC:GTBIF) should be capable of opening 96 retail stores across 12 states. Green Thumb came into some of these licenses the old-fashioned way (i.e., organically), while it's used acquisitions in other states to expand its reach. Acquisitions have been particularly helpful in Illinois and Nevada. Illinois opened its doors to adult-use sales at the beginning of the year, while Nevada is expected to generate the highest per-capita cannabis spending by 2024, per the State of the Legal Cannabis Markets report from 2019. As long as the federal government gives legalized states a healthy leash to regulate their own pot industries, the Green Thumb's of the industry can thrive. However, a federally illicit environment is going to keep Canadian growers from entering the market. It'd be a particularly bad blow to Canopy Growth (NASDAQ:CGC), which agreed to acquire multistate operator Acreage Holdings in a cash-and-stock deal last year. Canopy's deal, though, is on a contingent-rights basis. The only way it comes to fruition is if the U.S. federal government legalizes marijuana, which seems like a long shot if Trump or Biden is elected. This would force Canopy Growth to focus solely on cannabidiol (CBD) products within the U.S., thereby removing a large potential growth driver from the equation. While marijuana can still be a big-time moneymaker for investors, the prospect of a near-term rebound in pot stock valuations is fading. Coronavirus in India: 3 new cases of infection have been confirmed. Reports said 2 people in Ladakh and 1 in Tamil Nadu have been found coronavirus positives. The total number of coronavirus cases in India has climbed to 34 now. The Ministry of Health confirmed 3 more cases of coronavirus in India on Saturday, March 7, taking the total to 34. The number of coronavirus cases has crossed 1 lakh mark globally and claimed 3515 lives so far. Off 3 suspects new suspects in India, 2 have been found in Ladakh and 1 case has been detected in Tamil Nadu. All 3 fresh coronavirus suspects have travel history from Iran and Oman, where they probably caught the infection and now they have been kept under isolation. There are 2 more suspects of COVID-19 in Punjabs Hoshiarpur, who have returned from Italy recently but their test reports are still awaited. As precaution, the authorities have kept them at the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar and doctors are monitoring them continuously. A doctor told the media that their final report is yet to come from Punes National Institute of Virology, till then they have been kept in isolation. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a situation, preparations review meeting with top Health Ministry officials. PM advised people to avoid handshakes and greet in Indian style by joining hands, namaste. He added that coronavirus can be cured by taking precautionary measures and theres absolutely no needs to panic. 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 For all the latest National News, download NewsX App A cruise ship on Egypt's Nile River with over 150 tourists, including Indians, and local crew was in quarantine Saturday in the southern city of Luxor, after 12 people tested positive for the new coronavirus. A Taiwanese-American tourist who had previously been on the same ship tested positive when she returned to Taiwan. The World Health Organisation informed Egyptian authorities, who tested everyone currently on the ship. Health authorities in Egypt released a statement Friday saying they'd found a dozen Egyptian crew members on the ship had contracted the fast-spreading virus, but did not show symptoms. The statement said the 12 will be transferred to isolation in a hospital on Egypt's north coast. The passengers who include Americans, French and other nationalities and crew will remain quarantined on the ship awaiting further test results. This brought the total number of cases in Egypt to 15. It came just days after three people were diagnosed with coronavirus in the U.S. state of Texas. Officials in the city of Houston said Thursday that they believe the three were exposed to the virus while on a trip to Egypt in late February. It was not immediately clear if the Texan tourists were on the same boat where the cluster occurred, how long the passengers on the ship had been quarantined, nor where exactly the initial Taiwanese tourist had contracted the virus. Egyptian authorities have been tight-lipped about the virus outbreak, previously reporting only three confirmed cases. That's even as the wider Mideast now has over 5,000 confirmed cases, the vast majority in Iran. The previous two cases in Egypt were a Chinese and a Canadian national, then an Egyptian who was in Serbia and had stayed for 12 hours in France before arriving in Cairo. Egyptian authorities said Friday that they have tested over 2,500 people who were found not to have the virus, including foreign nationals. The new and fast-spreading coronavirus could deliver a major below to Egypt's tourism industry. The government has been struggling for years to revive the vital sector following the country's 2011 Arab Spring uprising. Other countries around the world have closed schools and universities, while also cancelling major art, sporting and business events. Egypt does not appear to have taken any of these types of measures, and Friday's discovery of the 12 cases coincided with the opening day of the Luxor African Film Festival. The country's national air carrier, Egypt Air, has suspended direct flights to China since late January. The virus, which originated in China, has infected more than 100,000 people globally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aizawl, March 7 : The NGOs in Mizoram demanding setting up of fencing along India-Myanmar borders, claimed on Saturday that in the past 15 days drugs worth over Rs 100 crore were smuggled from Myanmar and have been seized by the authorities in Mizoram. Mizoram Chakma Alliance Against Discrimination (MCAAD) President Paritosh Chakma in a statement said that during the last 15 days drugs valued over Rs 100 crore smuggled from neighbouring Myanmar have been seized by the authorities in Mizoram and 134 drug peddlers and smugglers have been arrested. Giving details of the seizure of drugs, Paritosh Chakma said that the drugs include Methamphetamine tablets (also called Yaba tablet or party tablet) and heroin. Yaba tablets contain a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine and are misused as high-dosage drugs in India, Bangladesh and neighbouring countries. According to the Border Security Force and intelligence officials, Yaba tablets and other drugs are smuggled into the northeastern states from neighbouring Myanmar and then smuggled to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and various Indian states. The MCAAD statement issued after the statement of influential student body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (Mizo Students Association). The MZP statement earlier this week said that the Chakma NGOs of Mizoram had asked for sealing of Mizoram's border with Myanmar out of "envy of the good relations between the people of Mizoram and Myanmar". Paritosh Chakma said: "The seized drugs are only a small fraction of all the drugs smuggled from Myanmar through the porous borders." He said in addition, Mizoram Home Minister Lalchamliana on February 25 informed the state Assembly that a total of 632 arms and 47,510 rounds of live ammunition have been seized by the state police since 2004. "These arms smuggled into the state are mostly from Myanmar and 32 armed smugglers were arrested of whom 12 were Myanmarese nationals. The seized arms included 134 AK-47 rifles, 8 AK-56 rifles and 26 Light Machine Guns," Chakma said. MCAAD said that if India's border with Bangladesh can be fenced, the border with Myanmar should also be fenced to prevent unabated smuggling of drugs, arms and influx of foreigners. "This is only in the shared interest of the people of India and Myanmar. It is the shared responsibility of the governments of India and Myanmar as well as all the communities whether Mizo or Chakma to protect the present as well as future generations," the statement added. Mizoram has an unfenced international border of 404 kms with Myanmar and 318 kms with Bangladesh. While the BSF guards the Bangladesh border, the border with Myanmar is secured by the Assam Rifles. New laws are set to come into force this May and as part of the United Kingdom government's plan, menthol cigarettes will be reportedly banned from UK stores. According to international media reports, the change in cigarette laws stems from the new European Union Tobacco Product Directive laws which aim to outlaw cigarettes and rolling tobacco with a 'characterising flavour' other than tobacco. The law will reportedly come into force on May 20. UK has already banned fruit flavoured and sweet cigarettes and the reason for the new change in the legislation is the claim that artificial flavouring in cigarettes and tobacco will encourage more young people to take up smoking. According to the charity Action on Smoking and Health (AHS), the changes will mean that the production and sale of any filters, paper, packaging capsules or any other component in cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco-containing flavouring will stop. While speaking to an international media outlet, AHS spokesperson said that the banning of menthol cigarettes is aimed to make it more difficult for young people to want to take up the smoking habit. READ: Police Find Secret Cigarette Factory 4 Meters Underground According to an international news outlet, a spokesperson said that no person may produce or supply a cigarette or hand-rolling tobacco with: (a) a filter, paper, package, capsule or other component containing flavourings; (b) a filter, paper or capsule containing tobacco or nicotine; or (c) a technical feature allowing the consumer to modify the smell, taste, or smoke intensity of the product. READ: BCAS Bans E-cigarettes In Airports And Aircraft Policies to make smoking less appealing Amanda Sandford of ASH told a news outlet that such policies will make smoking less appealing. She further elaborated that cigarettes are 'already expensive' and further increase in price will encourage people to quit smoking. If menthol cigarettes are only sold in packs of 20, it will 'hit' poorer and younger smokers harder who are more likely to buy smaller packs according to Sandford. She also said 'there is evidence' that menthol cigarettes relax the airways and flavours masks the 'harshness of smoke' which makes it easier for younger people. However, she further added that it is an 'absolute myth' that 'menthol cigarettes are better for you' as all cigarettes are harmful. READ: Pennsylvania Sues Juul Over Marketing E-cigarettes To Teens READ: Punjab Police To Enforce Ban On E-cigarettes, Hookah Bars Helping Your Child Succeed Do you have children who can read, but do not enjoy reading, and almost never pick up a book or anything else to read for pleasure? Would your Read more Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 04:12:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Dr. Michael Ryan(L), executive director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Program, addresses a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 18, 2020. (Photo by Chen Junxia/Xinhua) "We do not know yet what the activity or behavior of the virus will be in different climatic conditions," said Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, warning against the assumption that the virus would just disappear on its own in the summertime like influenza. GENEVA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- There is no evidence right now suggesting COVID-19 will disappear in summer, a senior expert of World Health Organization (WHO) said here Friday, urging countries to fight the new virus decisively at current stage. "We do not know yet what the activity or behavior of the virus will be in different climatic conditions," Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program, told a daily briefing, warning against the assumption that the virus would just disappear on its own in the summertime like influenza. "We have to assume the virus will continue to have the capacity to spread," he said. Besides, Ryan stressed disease can emerge anywhere on the planet, for instance, Ebola very often emerged in Africa, while the last pandemic influenza H1N1 emerged in North America. He called on countries and societies to avoid "blame culture" and to do all the things needed to save lives. Bishop Robert Coerver with the Catholic Diocese of Lubbock released a letter to area Catholics this week regarding the churchs precautions against the Covid-10 virus (coronavirus). The letter, which was shared on social media, says the diocese is monitoring the spread of the virus, which as of Thursday had spread to 95,333 people across the globe, according to the latest data from the World Health Organization. The Islamic Republic's former deputy Foreign Minister and one of the leaders of young revolutionaries who invaded the U.S. Embassy in 1979 in Tehran and took 52 American diplomats hostage, Hossein Sheikholeslam died of Covid-19. Sheikholeslam was also a member of the Iranian quintet that founded the Lebanese Hezbollah in the 1980s. The quintet helped the Lebanese Hezbollah to entrench itself and grow to the extent that it is currently the key Iranian proxy force in the Middle East. While the United States and several other countries have listed Hezbollah as a highly dangerous terrorist group, the Islamic Republic counts it as one of the pivots of the so-called "Islamic Resistance Front." The godfathers of the Lebanese Hezbollah were three young commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Hossein Dehqan, Ahmad Vahidi, and Fereydoun Vardinejad, as well as cleric, Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour who was very close to the founder of the Islamic Republic, and the Foreign minister's deputy, Hossein Sheikholeslam. Later, Mohtashamipour served as the Minister of Interior (1985-89) but is now an isolated figure who is not among those close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Dehqan and Vahidi were also promoted to lead the Ministry of Defense, 2009-13, and 2013-17, respectively. Vardinejad was also appointed as the managing director of the Islamic Republic News Agency and director of the Iran Daily newspaper, and later as Tehran's Ambassador to Beijing. He is now a media adviser to President Hassan Rouhani. Sheikholeslam in charge of Iran's Middle East policies The Lebanese Hezbollah was founded in the early 1980s, when Hossein Sheikholeslam was the Islamic Republic's number two diplomat, as the Deputy Foreign Minister for Middle East Affairs. Hezbollah's swift creation and its entrenchment as a major actor on the Middle East stage, in the 1990s, coincided with Sheikholeslam's long-term tenure as the Deputy Foreign Minister (1980-1996.) No other Islamic Republic official has ever served at such a crucial position for such a long time. He had become the best Middle East expert among Islamic Republic officials and was indispensable for the ruling class bent on expanding influence in the region. Even when the reformist mid-ranking cleric, Mohammad Khatami, won the presidential election in 1997, and formed a new government, Sheikholeslam was appointed as Tehran's Ambassador to Damascus for six long years to stay at the heart of the Middle East developments and continue helping the Lebanese Hezbollah. Regardless of who was at the helm of the Islamic Republic's executive branch, all top leaders and the powerful military elite, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) believed that helping the Lebanese Hezbollah was crucial for the regional policies of the clergy-dominated regime. Furthermore, Sheikholeslam stayed at the center stage after his six-year term in Damascus as an advisor to the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and the commander of the IRGC's Qods Force, Qassem Soleimani. Hossein Sheikholeslam, 68, died of Covid-19 last Thursday. Born in Isfahan, Sheikholeslam was an advisor to Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and Assistant to the Majles (Islamic parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani on the International Affairs. "Israel should leave the Middle East" Sheikholeslam disclosed in an interview with the Islamic Republics Ofogh (Horizon) TV on August 27, 2018 that Tehran had invested in the "huge defensive and strategic endeavor" of deploying roughly 150,000 missiles in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip. The missiles are prepared to be launched at Israel at any time directed by Iran, he said. He also maintained that since the U.S. has defined Israel's national security as part of its national security, this strategy is the Islamic Republic's most significant deterrent against both countries. Furthermore, he claimed without elaboration that "Israel would have certainly attacked Iran's nuclear facilities at Bushehr, Fordo, and Natanz dozens of times were it not for Iran's missiles in these countries." In the meantime, Sheikholeslam admitted that a ballistic missile fired from Iran would take eight minutes to hit Israel and would be detected by American and NATO radars in the region. However, he argued, missiles launched from Lebanon would reach Israel too quickly to be stopped. Playing down the possibility of an all-out war between Iran and Israel, he insisted that Tehran neither intended to push Israel into the sea nor to use nuclear weapons against it. Sheikholeslam asserted that Iran's military capabilities are exclusively deterrent, and that Iran merely wants the "Zionists" to "understand" that they had violated the rights of the Palestinians and should leave the region, especially since they "have citizenship in several European countries anyway." The U.S. educated man taking U.S. diplomats hostage Hossein Sheikholeslam used to study at the University of California, Berkeley, before returning to Iran in 1979 to join the Islamic Revolution that led to the downfall of the pro-West king, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Less than a year after the establishment of the Islamic Republic, the 27-year old Sheikholeslam joined a group of revolutionary students who stormed the U.S. Embassy on November 4, 1979, in Tehran. The group called the "Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line" took most of the Embassy's staff as hostage, demanding Washington to extradite the fallen king who was seeking medical treatment in the U.S. Alongside Masoumeh Ebtekar who is now one of president Rouhanis vice-presidents (called Sister Mary by the hostages), Sheikholeslam was present at all press conferences held by the Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line. Moreover, he played a pivotal role in reconstructing the Embassy's shredded documents, translating them into Persian, and selectively publishing some politicians seen as disloyal to the revolutionary government. The U.S. Embassy hostages, 52 in total, were ultimately released after 444 days of captivity. Tony Amokeodo, special assistant on media and publicity to Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissi... Tony Amokeodo, special assistant on media and publicity to Ibrahim Magu, acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says there is a desperate attempt to splash mud on the anti-graft czar. Amokeodo said this in response to a critical piece on Magu published in a national newspaper. He said under Magus watch, the EFCC has recorded unprecedented achievements, highlighting number of convictions and recoveries made. Scotland Yard, International Police have all rated the EFCC under Magu highly, several corruption- bursting agencies across Africa have had their officers trained by the EFCC. The record of convictions and recoveries made so far under Magus watch is simply unprecedented. Magus aide said while international agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Metropolitan Police,Scotland Yard,International Police have all rated the EFCC under Magu highly, several corruption- bursting agencies across Africa have had their officers trained by the EFCC.The record of convictions and recoveries made so far under Magus watch is simply unprecedented. Only on Tuesday, the FBI gave an Award of Excellence to Magu, following the collaboration between the EFCC and the FBI in Operation Rewired, aimed at tackling the menace of Cybercrimes, especially the Business Email Compromise (BEC). It is instructive to state that under Magus watch, the EFCC secured unprecedented convictions as follows : 2015-103; 2016- 195; 2017- 190; 2018-314; 2019- 1,281 and 2020- 122 and we are still counting, Amokeodo wrote. A large number of choice properties have been recovered from looters while billions of naira, millions of dollars, pounds sterling and other foreign currencies were recovered and forfeited to the federal government. Do these records suggest that the EFCCs helmsman lacks elemental knowledge? Below is Amokeodo full response Abimbola Adelakuns The Real Trouble With Magu in her Thursday, March 5, 2020 Back Page Column in The PUNCH, came as a rude shock. For a national newspaper with the history and mileage of The PUNCH, such a libelous, defamatory and uncouth characterisation of the Acting Executive Chairman of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, as a dingbat, dim-witted and he did not get his job by merit by a columnist that knows next to nothing about the operational technicalities of the EFCC and the resourcefulness of its Chief Executive, is not only brazen but tragic display of ignorance. Admittedly, Mr. Magu made a metaphorical allusion to the dreaded coronavirus in his speech at the Passing Out Parade (POP) of Detective Inspector Course Five at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, as being a trickle-down effect of poorly- managed health care system. His inferential linkage of the disease with the menace of corruption was not banalisation of corruption by relating it to unfortunate circumstances, as claimed by Adelakun, but figurative emphasis of the dastardly dimension and monstrous proportion the scourge of corruption has assumed in our nation. Incidentally, Mr Magus experiences as a world-renowned anti-graft fighter puts him in better stead to know the dimension which corruption has placed Nigeria as a country and his unequivocal comparison of the pestilential affliction which coronavirus represents with corruption. Like every well- meaning Nigerian, Abimbola Adelakun has every right to disagree with the EFCC Chairman on his views on anti-corruption fight, but such disagreement should never assume the degree of libel, defamation of character, derogation and indecency that she demonstrated in her jaundiced opinion. It is preposterous and patently libellous for Adelakun to recklessly impugn the hard-earned integrity of Mr Magu and maliciously assert that Magu did not get his job on merit. It may be appropriate to ask: What does Adelakun know about economic and financial crimes in the first instance? What does she know about investigation of such crimes? How equipped is she to know whether Mr. Magu got his job on merit or not? What empirical facts are available to her to evaluate the performance of the EFCC boss on his job? Is Adelakun more adequately informed about law enforcement and anti- corruption fight than the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations, FBI, Metropolitan Police, Scotland Yard, International Police and other global agencies that have always scored the EFCC under Magus watch highly? Is the ability to string sentences together in the name of column writing enough competence for her to primitively adjudge a crack detective like Mr. Magu unfit for his job? It is incredible to read such a libelous and defamatory posers like: How did it happen that someone so lacking in elemental knowledge superintends the anti-corruption initiative in Nigeria? He did not get his job on merit, he knows his assessment for his continued fit for that office is not based on superior achievements and, therefore, he has no motivation whatsoever to improve his intellect. But the facts available in the public domain about Mr. Magus breath-taking achievements so far in EFCC make such a surmise by Adelakun baseless and empty. Today, the EFCC is the leading anti- corruption agency in Africa. Several corruption- bursting agencies across Africa have had their officers trained by the EFCC. The record of convictions and recoveries made so far under Magus watch is simply unprecedented. Only on Tuesday, the FBI gave an Award of Excellence to Magu, following the collaboration between the EFCC and the FBI in Operation Rewired, aimed at tackling the menace of Cybercrimes, especially the Business Email Compromise (BEC). It is instructive to state that under Magus watch, the EFCC secured unprecedented convictions as follows : 2015-103; 2016- 195; 2017- 190; 2018-314; 2019- 1,281 and 2020- 122 and we are still counting. A large number of choice properties have been recovered from looters while billions of naira, millions of dollars, pounds sterling and other foreign currencies were recovered and forfeited to the federal government. Do these records suggest that the EFCCs helmsman lacks elemental knowledge? It is absurd for Adelakun and her sponsors, no matter their grievances, to cast aspersions on the leadership of the country. Adelakun further took her reckless commentaries to a far more objectionable degree by taking up issues with President Muhammadu Buhari in her desperate bid to splash mud on the EFCCs Chairman. Hear her: No idea is so stupid that it cannot be passed off with Buhari as long as you blame it on corruption. Does Adelakun think that President Buhari does not know what it takes to combat corrupt practices? Adelakuns insulting incursions into the capabilities of key figures in the Presidents cabinet are regrettably insulting. According to her, It should be a thing of wonder that a single administration like this present regime managed to headhunt, appoint, and retain people who have such a moronic grasp of their jobs. But no, all of that idiocy is pretty consistent with the character of the government that hired them. This is simply unconscionable and unacceptable. There is no intellectuality of any form in any kind of generalisation. For the information of Adelakun and her sponsors, Mr. Magu comes top as one figure in Nigeria that not only knows his onions, but has become a nightmare to every corrupt Nigerian. The commission is quite aware that the attack from a character like Adelakun is part of sponsored smear campaigns to tarnish the hard-earned integrity of Mr Magu and the commission. But the EFCC would not be deterred in its work by the effusion of ignorance expressed in what should be an otherwise professional medium like The PUNCH. To rein in every submission on this issue, Magu has no trouble of any kind. He is a seasoned investigator and accomplished anti-corruption czar doing his best to salvage terrible situations caused by corrupt practices in Nigeria. His team comprises the best and brightest we can get anywhere in the country. To even think that Adelakun does not know the profile of the media handlers of Mr. Magu is another ridiculous portrayal of her shallowness. Can you imagine a former correspondent with The PUNCH before becoming a columnist saying this to her senior colleagues: Magus rather tepid speech about corruption suggests that he is not only defective, he is also surrounded by mediocre speech writers who operate on the same wavelength of intellection as he does and will not risk self-improvement lest they outshine their boss. Throwing a jab at those who could teach her the mechanics of column writing is an unintelligent cut and shameful. I also wish to state with high sense of responsibility that Adelakun lacks the authority to rubbish the achievements of the EFCC under Magus watch. For the avoidance of doubt, delivery of speech cannot be used to measure the effectiveness of the war against corruption and cast aspersion on the remarkable records the Commission has painstakingly made in the last four years. Nigerians should know that Adelakuns postulation is another inventing form of corruption fighting back, using the platform of ignorance and sheer mischief. Be that as it may, Adelakun has crossed the red line and the EFCC will definitely meet her and The PUNCH in court on the facts that have emboldened her to claim that Magu is not fit for his job. An immediate retraction of her libellous and defamatory words may save the day for her and the newspaper. For now, Mr Magu remains unfazed and focused on winning the war against corrupt practices. Morocco Moroccan Prime Minister, Saad Eddin Al Othmani, affirmed that the current epidemiological situation regarding the spread of Corona virus in Morocco is in a normal position, at the same level as most other countries in the world. In his opening speech during the cabinet meeting, Al-Othmani said that there are specific scenarios for dealing with any newcomer in accordance with the international standards of the World Health Organization, which there is continuous interaction and cooperation with its experts to carry out the appropriate reaction when recording any emergency. He considered that decisions are taken according to the developments of the epidemiological situation, noting that if the situation improves regionally and internationally, things will return to what they were in the normal situation, warning against promoting fake news related to the virus. He said that only two cases from abroad were recorded in Morocco, and they are currently in hospital and under health care. China study suggests 14-day COVID-19 quarantine too short for women ROC Central News Agency 03/06/2020 10:35 PM Taipei, March 6 (CNA) A Chinese study on the globally-spread epidemic caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) that first appeared in late 2019 in China's Wuhan, suggests there should be different control approaches between men and women, including a longer quarantine isolation period for women. In the paper, titled "Women May Play a More Important Role in the Transmission of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) than Men," the research team from the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University reports that women exhibit different characteristics from men in the transmission after analyzing the sex ratio of those infected with the highly contagious virus in the reported literature. With retrospective analysis of 6,013 confirmed cases in the hospital up to Feb. 20, the research team received findings, including that women account for a lower proportion of early admissions of the outbreak but the ratio increased in the later stages. Their data "may indicate that women not only suffer less damage, but may also have a longer incubation period than men," according to the not yet peer-reviewed paper, which was posted on the "Preprints with The Lancet" on March 3. It says that women naturally have stronger antiviral immunity than men. "When your immunity is strong enough to hold off the virus for longer, but not to kill it completely, you will gain a longer incubation period," according to the paper. While there is clear evidence that COVID-19 patients remain highly contagious during the incubation period, the long latency in women "will undoubtedly have an important impact on the spread of the epidemic," the research paper says. "In active or passive isolation, women may escape from diagnosis thanks to their long incubation period," it notes. It is the first study to suggest that women may play a unique role in promoting the development of an epidemic because of their invisibility and long latency, the research team said in the paper, urging China and the rest of the world to adopt different control measures for women as soon as possible. "During screening, nucleic acid testing should be carried out for women with a clear contact history, whether or not they have symptoms. "Women under medical observation should also be isolated for longer than 14 days," the research team suggested. The World Health Organization's information shows that the incubation period of those infected is up to 14 days. Since COVID-19 outbreak started in December in Wuhan, the coronavirus has caused infections in nearly 100,000 people around the world, mostly in China, where more than 3,000 deaths have been recorded. (By Elizabeth Hsu) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address When former Paralympian Annabelle Williams was younger, she didnt dream of becoming a champion swimmer not because she only has one hand, but because she loves a chat, and its tricky to talk when your heads underwater. My swimming coach used to get frustrated because Id try and swim and talk at the same time, says Williams. Annabelle Williams is a former Paralympian who now works as an international speaker educating companies on the importance of gender diversity. Credit:James Brickwood But she did wind up back in the pool, going on to break five world records and win gold for Australia at the 2012 London Paralympics. The 31-year-old, also an Order of Australia recipient, lawyer and TV commentator, still loves to talk. And she is now using her voice to spread the message on gender equality and diversity to audiences globally. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 7 Trend: The Azerbaijani government has decided to allocate humanitarian assistance to Iran in the amount of $5 million to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19), Azerbaijans Cabinet of Ministers told Trend. According to the Cabinet of Ministers the Azerbaijani government ordered the allocation of these funds from the reserve fund of the state budget for 2020. There are friendly and good neighborly relations between Azerbaijan and Iran. The relevant ministries and government agencies of both countries work closely to prevent the spread of the COVID-19," said the statement. Azerbaijan remains one of the countries, least affected by the rapidly spreading coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The country's official structures are applying necessary measures to prevent any possible exposure of coronavirus. Azerbaijan has also imported necessary medical equipment to carry out coronavirus tests. Member of the Operational Headquarters created under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers in connection with coronavirus Yagut Garayeva said on March 5 that at least 500 people have been quarantined in the country. Until now, no deaths from the disease have been recorded in the country. Azerbaijan's official structures have also set up quarantine centers in the country's districts, which would allow to react faster to the possible outbreak due to joint borders. Azerbaijan shares border with Iran, where coronavirus is currently spreading rapidly. As a contribution to international efforts to prevent the risk of the spread of coronavirus infection, Azerbaijan's government provided voluntary financial assistance worth $5 million to the COVID-19 Fund as part of the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP). On March 7 World Health Organization officially thanked Azerbaijan for its financial contribution to the global COVID-19 response. Kolkata, March 7 : Rabindra Bharati University Vice-Chancellor Sabyasachi Basu Roychowdhury, who put in his papers taking moral responsibility for obscenities in the campus during Basantotsav (spring festival celebrations), withdrew the resignation on Saturday following a request from West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee. "I have withdrawn my resignation. I will continue to work as before," Roychowdhury said. Earlier, Chatterjee had categorically stated that he won't accept the vice-chancellor's resignation. Meanwhile, the city police has formed a special investigation team to probe the shameful incident of some young women writing obscene words using distorted lyrics of Rabindra Sangeet on their upper back with 'gulaal' during the Basantotsav festivities organised by the institution. There was a furore after photos of Thursday's incident went viral, as eminent persons demanded 'strong punishment' for the perpetrators, who were students of a college in Hooghly district. Sources said Basu Roychowdhury quit after he came under pressure from the government and the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad who resented the university authorities' decision to file a police complaint against "unidentified people" for the shameful incident. After the university lodged the general diary at the Sinthee police station, the accused reached the campus and apologised for their 'mistake' to the authorities and the student council. However, Chatterjee said the ruling party would not side with the perpetrators of the 'vulgarity'. "I hang my head in shame at the students' abominable behaviour. How can somebody even give a thought to using such cuss words in Tagore songs? The government won't give indulgence to such uncultured conduct," he said. An 18-year-old claims she was fired from her job at KFC for leaving work to attend her grandfather's funeral. Miriama Kawana was working at a KFC in Whanganui, New Zealand when her grandfather died in October 2019. She asked her supervisor if she could take time off to go to the funeral, but was told she needed to find someone to cover her shift, Stuff reported. Miriama Kawana was working at Whanganui KFC (pictured), in New Zealand, when her grandfather died in October 2019 When she couldn't she told her supervisor she was unable to cover her shift and travelled to the funeral. Ms Kawana got an email from the manager while she was away accusing her of not attending two shifts and if she did not reply she would be fired. Two days later, Ms Kawana's employment was terminated after she didn't reply due to lack of internet access. 'I was quite upset,' she said. 'When I got back from the funeral I just wanted to go back to work and stay busy so I didn't dwell on the loss too much but I couldn't.' She replied to the manager when she returned questions why she was fired when she explained why she was going away. Ms Kawana has not heard back from the fast food restaurant so she filed a personal grievance with Restaurant Brands Ltd, which owns KFC, accusing them of unfair dismissal. She is seeking compensation. A KFC spokeswoman told Stuff that the business would not comment as it is an ongoing matter. Daily Mail Australia has contacted KFC for comment. Man held at Saigon airport with six kg of rhino horns 12 rhino horns seized at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC on March 6, 2020. Photo courtesy of Tan Son Nhat Airport Customs. Customs officers at Saigons Tan Son Nhat Airport Friday seized 12 rhino horns weighing six kg brought by a passenger on a flight from Qatars Doha. The 49-year-old man, whose name has not been revealed is a native of Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam. He has been detained for illegally transporting rare and endangered animals. Customs officials found his actions suspicious and checked his luggage. The rhino horns were wrapped in aluminum foil and hidden in his luggage. These horns came from double-horned rhinos in Africa, which are on the list of endangered, precious and rare wildlife species that are not allowed to be hunted, traded, stored or transported under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Authorities said they are expanding the investigation. The man has not revealed why he had illegally transported the horns into Vietnam. International conservation groups have identified Vietnam and China as the world's two major consumers of rhino horns, a charge the two countries have refuted. Vietnam is a major consumer of rhino horns, with locals believing it has magical medical powers. The country is also transit point for elephant ivory as it heads to mostly Chinese and American consumers for making jewellery and home decorations Vietnam has banned trade in rhino horns, elephant ivory and pangolins, but weak law enforcement has allowed a black market to flourish, supplying a global multi-billion-dollar industry with animal parts and exotic pets. Stephen Farry stood in for party leader Naomi Long at the conference after she was diagnosed with a respiratory infection (Alliance/PA) Alliance Party deputy leader Stephen Farry has said that while now is not the time for a border poll on a united Ireland, the party can engage in a civilised discussion on the debate. The MP for North Down told the partys annual conference that they recognise Brexit has energised the debate around the constitutional question and calls for a border poll. Delivering the keynote speech, Mr Farry said Alliance is not a party defined by the constitutional question. Mr Farry stood in for party leader Naomi Long after she was diagnosed with a respiratory infection and was not able to attend. Also want to say an enormous thank you to all the staff at the #UlsterHospital for taking such good care of me yesterday. The pressure under which they were working in ED was unbelievable for a Friday afternoon but they were amazing. We are so lucky to have the #NHS. Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) March 7, 2020 In a tweet, Ms Long said: Totally gutted to be missing our biggest ever party conference today. Unfortunately, Ive been diagnosed with a severe respiratory infection and am on bed rest and fluids under doctors orders. Speaking at Stormont Hotel, Mr Farry said: While there may be some members who prefer the union, and some who prefer a united Ireland and indeed many who are open to persuasion, we are not only united, but defined, by our shared commitment to make this society work, to overcome division and to build a better future. Given the nature of Alliance, some may suggest that this would be a particular challenge. But on the contrary, these are debates in which we can engage with confidence. We dont believe that there is currently the case for a border poll, and nor are we pursuing one, but we do recognise that there is a very fluid situation and multiple active debates are under way. We can with confidence, and without prejudice to any outcome, engage in civilised, rational and evidence-based discussions. We have proven that we can win anywhere in Northern Ireland and we have drawn votes from right across the communityStephen Farry Marking their 50th anniversary conference, Mr Farry told the annual gathering that people in Northern Ireland are moving away from traditional labels. The party conference comes on the back of their rise in success at both local and national levels. They gained 21 council seats last May followed by Mr Farrys success in the Westminster elections. Mr Farry attributed the partys surge in support to people expressing open, mixed and multiple identities. Northern Ireland is a changing society, and changing more quickly than many appreciate, he said. Mr Farry said that the old canard of a vote for Alliance was a wasted vote has been shattered. We have proven that we can win anywhere in Northern Ireland and we have drawn votes from right across the community, he added. We have proven that in a political context usually framed around the constitutional question and a clash of identities that a liberal and cross-community party cannot only survive but flourish. .@StephenFarryMP We have played a crucial and constructive role in transforming Northern Ireland. But there is so much more to do #APNI2020 Alliance Party (@allianceparty) March 7, 2020 While we have broken the glass ceiling, there can be no room for complacency or sitting back on our laurels. We must press on to new heights and we must also recognise that we gather at a time of unprecedented challenges for Northern Ireland, combined with uncertainty within these islands, across Europe and around the globe. Mr Farry said that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to pursue a reckless hard Brexit. He added: The Brexit extremists exhibit the characteristics of revolutionaries, in this case fuelled by a libertarian ideology and wishful, delusional thinking. Like most revolutions, it will at some point run out of steam or destroy itself, but for now a collision course has been set with the EU with an irresponsible and workable prospectus for a future relationship. Mr Farry warned that the Johnson Deal is a harder Brexit and claimed the protocol is a front stop. He added: But the Protocol is part of the Withdrawal Agreement, and failure to implement it not only undermines the UKs ability to negotiate free trade agreements but also risks leaving Northern Ireland as a no mans land, with the Good Friday Agreement undermined and a renewed risk of the return of a hard border on this island. Flashy. Charismatic. These are not words typically used to describe the public persona of new Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca, something the married father of two girls aged 12 and 8 readily acknowledges. I have been told almost since the beginning, when I got elected in 2012, that you need to do a better job of softening the edges a bit, you need to smile more those kinds of things. Saturdays first-ballot victory will no doubt help on that front for the 46-year-old former cabinet minister. Away from the glare of TV cameras, hes known for a ready smile, an approachable manner and a keen wit that includes self-deprecating jokes about his non-existent hairline (he started going bald at 19 and shaves his head). He laughs comfortably over coffee at a cafe near Queens Park when told a veteran public relations executive advising his campaign has recently quipped theres not going to be Steven-mania. Del Duca, who drives an electric Chevy Bolt and takes his daughters to Starbucks for breakfast on Saturdays before grocery shopping together, then changes gears to explain his matter-of-fact approach as the Liberal party looks to rebound in the June 2022 provincial election from a devastating defeat two years ago. It can be a bit of a struggle to let ones whole personality show, especially in the hothouse of politics, added Del Duca, who has been an active Liberal since the age of 14 and met his wife, Utilia Amaral, at a party fundraiser. I do take the responsibility of public life very seriously and so whether thats as a cabinet minister, an MPP, a leadership candidate or leader, there are big things we grapple with and people want to know there is somebody competent in charge. In contrast to Donald Trump and Doug Ford, one veteran Liberal politician said privately that Del Ducas straightforward style could well be an asset when voters next head to the polls. The cult of personality has not necessarily served us well, the insider said. After a leadership campaign that remained low-profile, given the partys low standing in the legislature Del Duca now heads a caucus of eight MPPs and does not himself have a seat the hothouse of politics returned for Del Duca two weeks ago. That was when CBC reported that his new backyard pool in Vaughan was too close to a lot line and the environmentally protected land beyond to satisfy a local bylaw. He and his wife are now asking the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority for a piece of the protected land in a swap for another piece of their lot on a cul-de-sac. Its embarrassing, he told CBC, blaming the error on an honest mistake but conceding the pool construction continued even after a complaint was made. I accept full responsibility. The snag came at an awkward time for Del Duca, who went back to school in 2003 at the age of 29 after several years working in then-Liberal leader Dalton McGuintys office doing community outreach to get a law degree at Osgoode Hall even though he did not want a legal career. Ive always believed Im a reasonably strong critical thinker but I wanted the ability to hone that, he said, adding that legal training is good background for a legislator. Del Duca was offered a job as director of public affairs for the Carpenters District Council of Ontario upon graduation and stayed there until running for MPP in Vaughan after his mentor Greg Sorbara a cabinet veteran and party strategist who was the architect of McGuintys election victories decided to retire in 2012. He won, eventually serving as transportation minister where he faced controversy for a push to locate a new GO Train station in his riding and minister of economic development and trade, building his resume as a potential future premier. But the experience of losing his seat to Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Michael Tibollo in Fords 2018 landslide was searing for a man now in the position of having to resuscitate the Liberal party. I knew with a week-and-a-half to go, he said, describing the experience as one that takes your breath away. That feeling of being publicly humbled, however, is a good emotion for Ontario Liberals to lead with as we rebuild. Insiders say Del Duca is keenly aware of the challenges he now faces in travelling the province to revive Liberal riding associations and recruit candidates of the calibre needed to present the party as a government-in-waiting. He said in jest, The only thing Im worried about is I might win theres so much work to do, said Sorbara. The product of a fresh off-the-boat Scottish mother with a thick brogue and an Italian father who worked in construction management, Del Duca is one of four siblings and recently got a kilt in a nod to his maternal heritage. Thanks to his fathers loyalties, he is a Montreal Canadiens fan. Thanks to his competitiveness, he has tried to dethrone his dad as the maker of the familys Christmas lasagna, says older brother Mark. Growing up near Centennial Park on Wellsworth Drive in Etobicoke, Del Duca was stepping up to do public speaking as early as Grade 3, recalls his longtime friend Anthony Martin. The skills he has today were on display then, Martin said. Del Ducas wife recalls getting a similar impression when they met while nibbling on meatballs at the fundraiser for former Scarborough MPP Alvin Curling. Even though they travelled in similar Liberal circles, I had no idea who he was, said Amaral, who was doing government relations for the Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario at the time and while her future husband was working on Barbara Halls mayoralty campaign. Although there was attraction because of his evident humour and charm, I wanted to lobby him, she admitted, breaking into a laugh. He was very certain about how his life would unfold. He had focus, he had direction, he had it all mapped out for politics, said Amaral, who was born in Angola to Portuguese parents and conquered stage 3 melanoma several years ago. This guy knows what he wants and how hes going to get there. I liked that. Del Duca sombrely credits his late brother Michael, who was killed in a car accident two years ago, with adding to his passion for public life. I think that has driven me a little bit harder, he said. Michael was always a real warrior for me. One of his critics in transportation was New Democrat MPP Cheri DiNovo, who took Del Duca to task frequently over concerns about the construction of the Union-Pearson Express, which cut through her riding of Parkdale-High Park. The good thing about Steve is he would actually take a meeting, which wasnt always the case with other cabinet ministers, said DiNovo, a reverend who retired from politics before the 2018 election. His style will be welcome in the legislature whenever he wins a seat, she added. Hes going to be the opposite of a Doug Ford. Steven Del Duca is a rational, slow-to-take-umbrage kind of guy. You need someone whos conciliatory and can work with others. Read more about: With Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warrens exit from the Democratic presidential hunt on Thursday, former Vice President Joe Biden has jumped to a 16-point advantage over Sen. Bernie Sanders, a new poll found. Biden, who steamrolled through Super Tuesday with 10 victories following a decisive win in South Carolina, secured support from 54% of 1,390 Democratic primary voters in a Morning Consult survey conducted Thursday after Warren suspended her campaign. Sanders, the liberal firebrand of Vermont, earned 38% support, while Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii picked up 2%. Biden has picked up key endorsements from Democratic rivals who recently left the race, including former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. But Warren has so far declined to endorse either the moderate Biden or Sanders, whose policy proposals were closer to the Massachusetts progressive. Perceptions of Bidens electability have skyrocketed by almost 20 points since his South Carolina victory, with 51% saying hes the best bet to beat President Donald Trump. Sanders peaked at 34% following his Nevada caucuses win, but now 28% say he has a better chance against Trump. The poll showed 70% of voters 45 and older backed Biden, while 57% of voters younger than 45 supported Sanders. While Biden entered the race as the frontrunner in polls in 2019, Warren rose to compete with him over the summer and fall. Sanders rose in national polls after wins in New Hampshire and Nevada and nearly winning in Iowa. Biden currently leads Sanders in pledged delegates so far, 642 to 566. Sooryavanshi: Akshay Kumar Calls Rohit Shettys Cop Universe Indias Avengers; Says Doing Stunts Is Like Going To Disneyland Mike Blakely, the indicted 10-term sheriff of Limestone County, is hospitalized and unable to appear for trial on Monday, his lawyers wrote this afternoon in a request to postpone the trial. Blakely has a serious respiratory condition and is being tested for the new coronavirus, according to a motion filed by his attorneys. In the interest of Justice and due to medical necessity, Counsel requests a continuance of this case, the motion states. [Read the motion here or at the bottom of this story.] Judge N. Pride Tompkins has scheduled a hearing for Saturday morning at the Limestone County Courthouse. Update: Sheriff Mike Blakely not believed to have coronavirus, doctor testifies; trial delayed Included in the court filing is a letter signed by Maria Acelajado Onoya, an attending physician at Athens Limestone Hospital. The letter says Blakely is expected to be in the hospital for two-three days for acute respiratory failure secondary to an asthma exacerbation. I do not foresee that he will be able to appear for his trial on Monday, March 9, 2020, the letter states. The doctors letter doesnt mention coronavirus. There havent been any confirmed coronavirus cases in Alabama. The virus has killed more than a dozen people in the United States and infected more than 300, The New York Times reported today. Blakely, 69, is scheduled to face trial Monday on 11 charges of theft and abuse of power. (He was indicted in August of 2019 on 13 charges, but prosecutors today dropped two of the charges.) The sheriff is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from his campaign account and illegally taking money from Limestone County funds. Blakely, who has been sheriff since 1983, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The judge last month denied a request from Blakelys lawyers to postpone the trial because Tuten, the sheriffs lead defense attorney, is recovering from surgery. The defense appealed the judges ruling to the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, which rejected their request. At a pretrial hearing in January, Judge Tompkins explicitly said he wouldnt postpone the trial and specifically warned Blakely that a continuance wouldnt be granted on account of his lawyers health. The judge at that time told Blakely to hire a new attorney if Tuten wouldnt be available for trial. ROCKVILLE, Md., March 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cerecor Inc. (CERC), a biopharmaceutical company focused on becoming a leader in development and commercialization of treatments for rare pediatric and orphan diseases, today announced that Jeff Wilkins, MD has joined the Company as its Chief Development Officer, with a specific focus on CERC-002, CERC-006 and CERC-007 clinical development programs. "We are delighted to welcome Dr. Wilkins to the organization," said Mike Cola, Chief Executive Officer. "With his experience in discovery, leading new product development programs and bringing products to market, Dr. Wilkins is a key addition for the Company. We believe he will provide valuable patient insights and clinical guidance as we continue to progress our programs in auto-immune/ inflammatory diseases and complex lymphatic malformations." Dr. Wilkins brings over 19 years of clinical research experience to the Company, most recently serving as Chief Medical Officer of Zyla Life Sciences. Previously, he held position of Chief Medical Officer at Onspira Therapeutics, Lycera, and Ceptaris Therapeutics, Inc., where he led clinical programs from IND Phase I trials to regulatory approval (including Valchlor). Prior to this, Dr. Wilkins was Vice President, Worldwide Clinical Research, Inflammation/Oncology at Cephalon Inc., where he led clinical development, medical affairs and business development efforts in both therapy areas. Previously, he was Senior Vice President of Clinical Development with Ception Therapeutics, where he headed a successful program in eosinophilic asthma prior to the companys acquisition by Cephalon. Dr. Wilkins entered the pharmaceutical industry with GlaxoSmithKline, where he rose to become Vice President of Discovery Medicine for GSKs Center of Excellence in External Drug Discovery. He also served as Group Director of GSKs urology franchise, responsible for Levitra and the launch of VESIcare. Earlier in his career as a practicing primary care physician, Dr. Wilkins was Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of TriValley Primary Care, a large multi-center primary care group in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Story continues Dr. Wilkins received his M.D. from Temple University School of Medicine and his B.S. from Bucknell University. "I am excited for the opportunity to be part of the Cerecor management team and to lead the development programs across three of our clinical assets," said Dr. Wilkins. I look forward to applying my program management and clinical development skills to guide the development of CERC-002 in Pediatric-onset Crohns Disease, CERC-006 for complex Lymphatic Malformations and CERC-007 for Adult Onset Stills Disease (AOSD) and Multiple Myeloma (MM)." About CERC-002 CERC-002 (formerly AEVI-002) is an anti-LIGHT (Lymphotoxin-like, exhibits Inducible expression, and competes with HSV Glycoprotein D for HVEM, a receptor expressed by Tlymphocytes (part of the Tumor Necrosis Super Family 14)), fully human, monoclonal antibody being developed as a treatment for Pediatric Crohns Disease. About CERC-006 CERC-006 (formerly AEVI-006) is a dual mTOR inhibitor (a class of drugs that inhibit the mammalian target of rapamycin) being developed as a treatment for complex Lymphatic Malformations (LM). LM patients often have activating mutations along the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway; sirolimus, an mTORC1 inhibitor, has demonstrated clinical utility in LM. CERC-006 has the potential to improve upon both the safety and efficacy of mTOR inhibition in LM. About CERC-007 CERC-007 (formerly AEVI-007) is a fully human, anti-IL-18 monoclonal antibody with the potential to address multiple auto-inflammatory diseases, including Adult Onset Stills Disease (AOSD) and Multiple Myeloma (MM). IL-18 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that stimulates the production of interferon gamma; patients with ASOD and MM show elevated serum levels of IL-18. About Cerecor Cerecor is a biopharmaceutical company focused on becoming a leader in development and commercialization of treatments for rare pediatric and orphan diseases. The Company is advancing an emerging clinical-stage pipeline of innovative therapies. The Companys pediatric rare disease pipeline is led by CERC-801, CERC-802 and CERC-803 (CERC-800 programs), which are therapies for inborn errors of metabolism, specifically disorders known as Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDGs). The FDA granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) to all three CERC-800 programs, thus potentially qualifying the Company to receive a Priority Review Voucher (PRV) upon approval of a new drug application (NDA). The Company is also developing CERC-002, CERC-006 and CERC-007. CERC-007 is an anti-IL-18 monoclonal antibody being developed for autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as Adult Onset Stills Disease (AOSD) and Multiple Myeloma. CERC-006 is a dual mTOR inhibitor targeted towards complex Lymphatic Malformations, also with initial proof-of-concept in patients expected in 2021. CERC-002 is an anti-LIGHT monoclonal antibody currently in a Phase 1 clinical trial. For more information about Cerecor, please visit www.cerecor.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release may include forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond Cerecors control), which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to Cerecors plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as projects, may, will, could, would, should, continue, seeks, aims, predicts, believes, expects, anticipates, estimates, intends, plans, potential, or similar expressions (including their use in the negative), or by discussions of future matters such as: the integration of new personnel; the development of product candidates or products; timing and success of trial results and regulatory review; potential attributes and benefits of product candidates; and other statements that are not historical. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Cerecors management but are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including: risks related to reliance on and integration and retention of key personnel, including Dr. Wilkins and staff generally subsequent to the recent merger with Aevi Genomics; drug development costs, timing and other risks, including reliance on investigators and enrollment of patients in clinical trials; regulatory risks; Cerecor's cash position and the need for it to raise additional capital; and those other risks detailed in Cerecors filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, Cerecor expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Cerecors expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. For media and investor inquiries James Harrell, Investor Relations Chief Commercial Officer Cerecor Inc. jharrell@cerecor.com 623.439.2220 office FILE PHOTO: The logo of Nokia is seen before the company's news conference in Espoo HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finnish telecoms equipment maker Nokia drew a 500 million euro ($561 million) loan last month to help it to accelerate development of 5G technology, its annual report shows. Nokia said that its R&D loan facility with the European Investment Bank (EIB), which has an average maturity of about five years after disbursement, was agreed in August 2018 and available until last month. It drew the loan on Feb. 24. The company's finances have been in focus since it halted dividend payments in late 2019 and said it would need to invest more than previously expected in development of its 5G equipment. This week Nokia rehired former executive Pekka Lundmark from energy group Fortum as its new CEO to lead efforts to revive its faltering 5G business. A Nokia representative was not immediately available to comment on details of the loan. "Nokia will use the loan to further accelerate its research and development of 5G technology, the next-generation mobile telecommunication standard," the company said when the deal was signed in August 2018. (Reporting by Tarmo Virki; Editing by David Goodman) 51 Shares Share Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians. A 36-year-old man is evaluated for a 10-day history of abdominal cramping, diarrhea, malaise, and nausea. Diarrhea is watery without mucus or blood. He returned 2 weeks ago from a 7-day trip to Lima, Peru. On physical examination, temperature is 37.7 C (99.9 F); the remaining vital signs are normal. On abdominal examination, bowel sounds are present with diffuse tenderness to palpation. The abdomen is not distended; no guarding or rebound is noted. Stool polymerase chain reaction assay is positive for Cyclospora. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment? A. Atovaquone B. Metronidazole C. Pyrimethamine D. Quinacrine E. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole MKSAP Answer and Critique The correct answer is E. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. This patient has travel-associated Cyclospora infection and should be treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Cyclospora protozoan infections are typically acquired after consumption of fecal-contaminated food or water, particularly in countries where the parasite is endemic, such as Peru, Guatemala, Haiti, and Nepal. Cyclospora infections may also be acquired through consumption of fresh produce imported from tropical areas. The incubation period is approximately 1 week (range, 2 days to 2 weeks). The clinical presentation usually consists of crampy abdominal pain, anorexia, bloating, decreased appetite, fatigue, flatulence, low-grade fever, malaise, nausea, watery diarrhea, and weight loss. Persons with HIV infection may have more severe symptoms associated with wasting. Diagnosis can be established microscopically by visualization of oocysts with modified acid-fast staining; fluorescence microscopy can be used as well. Several stool specimens may be required because Cyclospora oocysts may be shed intermittently and at low levels, even in persons with profuse diarrhea. Polymerase chain reaction assays appear to have the greatest sensitivity for the diagnosis of a Cyclospora infection. The recommended treatment is one double-strength tablet of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole taken orally twice daily for 7 to 10 days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states no effective alternative treatments have been identified for persons who are allergic to or cannot tolerate trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; observation and symptomatic care is recommended for those patients. Atovaquone has activity against protozoans such as Pneumocystis jirovecii, Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, and Babesia, but not Cyclospora. Metronidazole has activity against some protozoans, including Giardia, Entamoeba, and Trichomonas, but not Cyclospora. Pyrimethamine has activity against protozoans such as Toxoplasma, Pneumocystis jirovecii, and Isospora belli, but not Cyclospora. Quinacrine can be used to treat Giardia but is not effective against Cyclospora. Key Point Cyclospora infection is treated with oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. This content is excerpted from MKSAP 18 with permission from the American College of Physicians (ACP). Use is restricted in the same manner as that defined in the MKSAP 18 Digital license agreement. This material should never be used as a substitute for clinical judgment and does not represent an official position of ACP. All content is licensed to KevinMD.com on an AS IS basis without any warranty of any nature. The publisher, ACP, shall not be liable for any damage or loss of any kind arising out of or resulting from use of content, regardless of whether such liability is based in tort, contract or otherwise. Pence Says 21 People Tested Positive for Coronavirus on Grand Princess Cruise Ship Sputnik News 23:21 GMT 06.03.2020 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Twenty-one people on board the Grand Princess cruise ship stranded off the coast of California were tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), US Vice President Mike Pence told reporters. "Twenty one individuals on the Grand Princess tested positive", Pence said at a White House briefing on Friday. "Among those positive for coronavirus were 19 crew members and two passengers". The US health authorities have altogether tested 46 people out of more than 3,500 people on board. The shipping company said earlier that there are four Russian nationals among the crew. After confirming the coronavirus presence, the authorities decided that the ship will be brought to a non-commercial port and with all the people on board tested for the disease, Pence added. COVID-19 was first registered in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Hubei province, last December and has since spread to more than 80 countries worldwide. In mainland China, it has claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In wake of the coronavirus outbreak across the world and the recent cases detected in India, foreign tourists have cancelled their trips to Aurangabad, home to the famed Ajanta and Ellora Caves. At least 31 people, including 16 Italian tourists, have tested positive for coronavirus in the country and over a 100,000 people have lost their lives to the deadly outbreak worldwide. March is the fag end of the tourist season, with several travellers, predominantly from Buddhist nations, thronging to see the Ajanta and Ellora caves. "This year, several tour groups from China, South Korea, Japan and Thailand have cancelled their trips to Aurangabad, which they had scheduled months before," said Jaswant Singh, head of Aurangabad Tourism Development Foundation. Travellers from Europe have also steered clear of the two World Heritage sites as a precautionary measure, Singh added. Tourism in Aurangabad is likely to be impacted by coronavirus outbreak well into next year, as not a single booking has so far been made for the next season (November to March 2021), he said. Sandeep Gaikwad, a veteran guide affiliated tothe Ministry of Tourism, said, "In March, every tour guide would have at least seven to eight assignments to take foreign tour groups around Ajanta and Ellora caves. However, this time, many of us are sitting at home." The peak tourist season is coming to an end and the industry is facing huge losses because of the sudden slump, Gaikwad said, adding that the trend is likely to continue in the next peak period as well. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gulf country said it is suspending all flights to and from Egypt, Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Syria and Lebanon to "stem the spread of COVID-19 and protect the safety of public health". Kuwait said it is suspending on Saturday all flights to and from seven countries, including Egypt, for a week in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, Kuwaits civil aviation directorate said in a tweet. The Gulf country said it is suspending all flights to and from Egypt, Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Syria and Lebanon to "stem the spread of COVID-19 and protect the safety of public health". It added that it will bar entry to any nationality who have been in the mentioned countries in the last two weeks even if they hold valid residencies or visas. Only Kuwaiti nationals living in the specified countries will be allowed entry after undergoing necessary quarantine measures, the circular by the Kuwaiti civil aviation directorate read. Saturday's decision is a reversal of a previous decision seeing an ease on restrictions on travelers, including Egyptians, over coronavirus. Last Thursday, Kuwait suspended an earlier decision requiring some travellers to undergo a test for the new coronavirus to be allowed entry into the country. Several Gulf countries had introduced restrictions on travellers from Egypt over the outbreak, which has infected over 100,000 and killed over 3,000 globally. In the past weeks, Egypt had upped preventive measures at all entry points nationwide. It reported 12 new cases on Friday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 15 since the outbreak of the China originated virus last December. Search Keywords: Short link: I dont think you will be surprised to hear that of all the things I love in this world, bacon and whisky rank near the top. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion I dont think you will be surprised to hear that of all the things I love in this world, bacon and whisky rank near the top. My unbridled passion for writing heart-felt columns about all things bacon has become so well known that it is not unusual when I visit a school or take part in some charity event, that I am presented with a thank-you gift in the form of the worlds most delicious breakfast meat. SUPPLIED Free Press reader Brian Davidson, from Dryden, Ont., presents his gift Saddleback Whisky flavoured with maple and bacon. On two occasions, after hosting gala fundraising dinners, the organizers handed me suitcases stuffed with 11 pounds of bacon. Its gotten to the point where strangers will randomly shout at me in public: "Hey, arent you THAT BACON GUY?" That said, thanks to my Scottish heritage, I am equally passionate about the unfettered joy of sampling every conceivable form of whisky. As you read these words, I will be lying on my couch attempting to recover from doing field research at the first night of the eighth annual Winnipeg Whisky Festival. (After reading this column, I strongly recommend you read todays Speiriscope feature, wherein I examine five of the worlds weirdest whisky stories, including "Fishky," a Scotch infused with the delicious flavour of raw herring.) So, yes, I love bacon and I love whisky, but (brace yourselves for a shock) it had never occurred to me to put these two things together at least it didnt until Wednesday morning. Thats when regular reader Brian Davidson from Dryden, Ont., "Im 81 going on 69" arrived on my doorstep bearing a huge smile and one of the most unique gifts I have ever received in my life. SUPPLIED Saddleback Whisky. Brian and his wife of 52 years, Fatima, were in town to visit friends and catch a performance of Shen Yun, the New York-based troupe famed for its shows celebrating Chinese classical dance, and he popped over to visit me. While his wife was shopping at Winnipegs outlet mall, Brian showed up bright and early bearing a gift-wrapped bottle of Saddleback Maple Bacon Whisky, which, as its name suggests, is a Canadian whisky imbued with the sweetness of maple syrup and the heavenly taste of bacon sizzling in a skillet. "The first batch of Saddleback Whisky was released in 2017, marking the 50th anniversary of the Saddleback, the worlds best hog for bacon," the label declared proudly. "By blending premium Canadian whisky with natural maple syrup and bacon flavours, we have created the ultimate bacon-lovers experience." To say I was excited to taste bacon-flavoured whisky would be like saying that Winnipeggers were "somewhat pleased" when the Jets finally came back to town, if you catch my subtle drift. For the record, what with being a crusading newspaper columnist, I do not normally consume whisky at 10 a.m., before I have even eaten breakfast, but I was willing to make an exception in this case because Brian had come such a long way with his incredibly thoughtful gift. It turns out this married father of two grown daughters was familiar with my sense of humour because he is a longtime fan of the Free Press and even delivered the paper back when he was a kid in Dryden. "I rode my bicycle in the summer and in the winter I pulled the papers on a sleigh," the retired schoolteacher explained as my two dogs danced around his ankles, demanding attention, if not a chance to sniff the bacon-y fragrance emanating from the bottle. He stumbled on the bacon-infused whisky by sheer chance and, naturally, thought of me. "When I saw the stuff advertised in The Walrus magazine, I thought Doug Speirs would like this," Brian chirped as we parked ourselves in comfy chairs in the living room. "As soon as I saw it, I thought youd appreciate the bacon aspect. Ive read enough of your bacon work over the years." With that in mind, he went online and ordered some Saddleback. "I got a bottle and then I got two more because the first one evaporated," he pointed out, smiling. It would be fair to say Brian is a fan of bacon, although not quite as obsessed as this columnist. "Not like you," he told me, "but I like bacon. Our Sunday ritual is bacon and eggs after church." Which is when we bravely sat down for a taste test let me stress this was a SMALL taste test which involved me pouring shots into souvenir Glencairn whisky glasses and on top of giant ice cubes nestled in a pair of cocktail glasses sporting manly quotes from Ernest Hemingway. Try our Dish The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. Dish arrives in your inbox every other Friday. See sample. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Brian warned me his ability to taste and smell have been somewhat impaired since he underwent chemotherapy for colon cancer back in 2007. Here are his tasting notes: "It starts well on the tongue and strokes the palate. I would have to imagine it, I guess, because you arent getting hit by the grease from the frying pan. It has its own unique taste. Its smooth with a hint of maple and, I guess, a hint of bacon. I put it on the back of my tongue and its happy to be there." What with being something of a whisky snob, I first swirled my glass and stuck my nose inside to inhale deeply. "OHMYGAWD!" I shrieked at Brian, "It really does smell like bacon in a pan." Here are my tasting notes: "Some things are meant to go together peanut butter and jelly, fish and chips, rain and the Winnipeg Folk Festival but no two things are more meant to be united forever than the taste of bacon and whisky. Also, the hint of maple syrup is kind of nice, too." After thanking Brian profusely and sending him on his way, I made myself a healthy breakfast bacon and eggs and then bravely resumed pounding out a column for today, because no one said journalism is easy. doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca One species to four: New analysis documents new bird diversity in the Pacific In the 1930s, famed biologist Ernst Mayr became the first to study Pacific Robins. Based on his observations of the robins and other birds on Australia and its outlying islands, he developed foundational concepts that continue to inform the study of evolution. He took copious notes on the birds' physical characteristics, behaviors, and habitats. Always, he described the robin populations as a single species, albeit with significant variation from island to island. Ernst Mayr made lasting contributions to evolutionary biology--but like most scientists, he wasn't right about everything. Bold new claims Anna Kearns is a former UMBC postdoctoral fellow now at the Smithsonian Institution's Conservation Biology Institute. With her UMBC postdoc advisor Kevin Omland and other colleagues, she has conducted new investigations into the relationships among Pacific Robins on various islands using many of the same bird specimens Mayr himself used. The difference is, "He would have mainly been just using his eyes" to compare specimens, Kearns says. She and her colleagues have had the advantage of major advances in technology since Mayr's time. Kearns has built on Mayr's work by using techniques like DNA sequencing and spectrophotometry, which quantitatively compares the hue, brightness, and saturation of feathers. She has come to a more nuanced understanding of the relationships between, say, a robin on Fiji and one on the Solomon Islands. As a result of this research, Kearns and colleagues from UMBC, the Australian National Wildlife Collection, Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History are making bold new claims about the relationships between these birds. In a 2015 paper in Conservation Genetics, Kearns demonstrated that robins living on Norfolk Island, directly east of mainland Australia, are a distinct species from the rest. A new paper in the Journal of Avian Biology published this month indicates two more unique species--one that inhabits the Solomon and Bougainville Islands, and another that lives on Fiji, Vanuatu, and Samoa. Preserving biodiversity The new work demonstrates just how much is still unknown about avian biodiversity. "Even in this well-studied group of birds, that's been a textbook example since 1942, we did not really know what the units of biodiversity were," says Omland, professor of biological sciences at UMBC, and senior author on the new paper. Understanding those "units of biodiversity" is critical for conservation. When all the Pacific Robins and mainland Australia's Scarlet Robin were considered a single species (a single unit of biodiversity), the loss of the birds on one or two islands would be unfortunate, but not necessarily very impactful. If those birds were actually the only remaining members of a unique species, however, the same loss becomes catastrophic. "What Anna's work is showing is that the bird populations on these islands have very distinctive traits," Omland adds, "so just knowing what the biodiversity is that we want to conserve is super important." Unpredictable patterns The team's work indicates that all the Pacific Robins are descended from an ancestral Australian population where males were brightly-colored and females were dull-colored. But as small groups of robins colonized the outlying islands, the population on each island took its own evolutionary path. Today, some island groups still maintain the bright male and dull female pattern, but on other islands both sexes have evolved bright coloration. On other islands, both sexes have evolved dull coloration. "When you look at the genetics, you find two distinct lineages" leading from the common ancestor to all the island populations that exist today, Kearns says. "So that means these patterns have evolved independently multiple times." Kearns and Omland think the changes have more to do with random forces than evolutionary adaptation. "If we flipped two coins, this is about what we'd expect," Omland says. For example, the pattern an island's population ended up with could depend on the color of the individuals that happened to get blown onto that island initially. Also, in a very small population, the random way genes are redistributed from generation to generation can have a significant impact--as much of an effect or more than natural selection. Detective work Kearns and Omland are both excited to have the opportunity to suggest names for the new species they've identified. Kearns suggests "Mayr's Robin" for the Fiji/Vanuatu/Samoa population, in honor of Ernst Mayr's pioneering study of these birds. But their contribution to ornithology is more than a name. "Because these birds are all on very small isolated islands, and Pacific birds are often on many, many, many isolated islands, collecting is very difficult. So there haven't actually been that many comprehensive studies," Kearns says. Revealing the complexity of the relationships among these robins adds much-needed information to the field. It also raises the prospect that other birds--especially those on islands--might have undergone similar, as-yet-unstudied, evolutionary processes. The work is a unique blend of past and present. "You really wouldn't be able to do this study without using these old collections," Kearns says. At the same time, discovering the new species also wouldn't have been possible without modern techniques. "It's kind of like detective work in a way," Kearns says. "I feel like there's just so much more we need to know about it. But we feel like we have made a big step forward." This story has been published on: 2020-03-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This is the 17th case in Vietnam and the very first patient to test positive in Hanoi, putting an end to a straight 22 days of success for the nationwide containment scheme. The COVID-19 contagion appeared to be contained in Vietnam as the number of confirmed infections stopped at 16, with all patients successfully cured. Sensing a turning tide, a slew of Vietnamese schools and businesses were planning to return to normal operations, however, things have changed drastically after March 6. The person, dubbed Patient 17, seemed to have avoided taking self-quarantine measures prescribed by the Vietnamese government, despite having travelled to a virus-affected country and experiencing the symptoms of the sickness. Information about the patient was officially announced in late February 6 at an emergency meeting of Hanoi People's Committee after the test results were confirmed by the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. The emergency meeting of Hanoi People's Committee after the virus test results were confirmed by the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology According to the latest announcement of the Ministry of Health, Patient 17, Nguyen Hong Nhung, resides in Truc Bach ward, Ba Dinh district one of the central areas of the city. She flew to London, UK on February 15, then moved to Milan, Italy to leave on February 18. At the time, Lombardy had not reported any cases of infection. On February 25, Patient 17 went to Paris, France to meet his sister, who was also infected with COVID-19, then returned to London. Four days later, she started coughing but did not go to a clinic, despite her condition being quite severe. On March 1, Nhungs health began deteriorating further while flying back to Vietnam on Vietnam Airlines flight VN54, seat 5K. The flight landed at Noi Bai International Airport at 4:30am on March 2. Airports in Vietnam, though no infections have been detected recently, are checking passengers' temperature and asking them about symptoms. However, Nhung did not have a fever at the time, so she decided not to report her health issues nor her schedule and travel details to authorities. On March 5, after running a constant fever accompanied by cough and tiredness, Nhung went to Hong Ngoc Hospital on Yen Ninh Street, Ba Dinh district for medical checkup, after which she was transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Dong Anh district. Currently, Nhung and some of her family members are strictly isolated and monitored for symptoms of COVID-19 at the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology. Two residential blocks at Truc Bach and Chau Long Street in Ba Dinh district werer also put under quarantine yesterday (March 6) as per the contagion-prevention policy. Two residential blocks at Truc Bach and Chau Long Street in Ba Dinh district were also quarantined In addition to humanitarian concerns, a potential surge in cases presents a challenge for the Vietnamese economy as well. What makes the case of Patient 17 more dangerous is that she has spent considerable time in public where few people wore face masks, without acknowledging her situation, which makes containment even more challenging. There is growing fear and resentment among residents in Hanoi right now, said Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of Hanois People Committee. However, we will adopt drastic measures to contain the virus immediately." By Loretta Rodgers Times Correspondent UPPER CHICHESTER >> The townships Heart and Soul Committee, during a summit held the Austin Room at the IBEW hall, gathered to shape and refine value statements in various categories which include Community Resources, Education, Sense of Community, Safety, Location and Accessibility, Economic Opportunities, and Recreation and Open Space. This is an extremely important event because it gives local residents the opportunity to share what is important to them and act as the voice of our community in helping direct future planning activities, Heart and Soul Facilitator Dr. Judy Stang said. At the summit we assembled these values, decided how to protect and enhance Upper Chichesters Heart and Soul attributes, and build toward a future that honors and upholds them. In 2018, the township received a combined $65,000 from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, DCED and the Orton Family Foundation to provide training and technical support to the Upper Chichester Heart and Soul Committee. The committees purpose is to help the municipality become a stronger, healthier and more vibrant community through a humanities-based approach to community development. Residents attending the summit represented all sections of the township and all age groups. The volunteers and Upper Chichester Township are very supportive of the Heart and Soul process by encouraging local businesses and residents to become involved in township planning and economic development efforts, said Upper Chichester Township Assistant Business Manager Barbara Kelley. Our volunteers on the Upper Chichester Township Leadership Team are phenomenal with great passion and dedication to make Upper Chichester the best township in which to live, work and play. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The Telangana State Assembly would pass a resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the ongoing Budget session. A decision to this effect was taken at the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting chaired by Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy here on Friday. The Assembly will have a detailed discussion on CAA, NPR and NRC. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has agreed to take up the issue and said his government will pass a resolution against it. State Legislative Affairs Minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy speaking to media later said that the Chief Minister himself said that the government was keen on initiating discussion against CAA, NPR, NRC in the Assembly and get the resolution passed. Meanwhile, the Assembly will be in session till March 20 and the State annual Budget for financial year 2020-21 will be presented on March 8. There will be three holidays including March 9 being Holi, and there will be no sitting on March 10 and March 15 (Sunday). A decision to this effect was taken at the BAC meeting. As per the calendar of dates released by the Legislative Assembly, there will be a discussion on motion of thanks on Governors address on March 7 by leaders of all political parties and thereafter there will be reply by Chief Minister. A general discussion on the Budget will begin on March 11 and the CM reply to the discussion on March 12. Voting of demands for grants for different departments will begin on March 13. They will include housing, social welfare, tribal welfare, backward classes welfare, minority welfare, women, child and disabled welfare will be taken on the first day. Revenue, registration, excise administration, commercial taxes, transport, agriculture, cooperation, and civil supplies on March 14. State Legislature, fiscal administration, information and public relation, will be taken up on March 19. The session is expected to end on March 20 with passing of Telangana Appropriation Bill 2020. If required, it may be extended. Bosky Khanna By Express News Service BENGALURU: For Major Sneha Choudhary, the defence uniform denotes discipline, equality and respect. No gender discrimination, she says pointedly. All are equal and you just have to prove yourself to get respect, Major Choudhary (28), a mechanical engineer with MEG Centre, Bengaluru, told The New Indian Express. Coming from a defence family, she had always dreamt of fatigues, and had never had a back-up career plan. I wanted to become a pilot, but since I had crossed the age limit by the time I could apply, I chose the Army and I have no regrets. When I was a child, I would wear my fathers uniform and walk around at home, now I have my own and never want to part with it, she said with pride. She had worked with a civil organisation for around eight months, and was not happy, so she joined the Army in 2014. Her husband is a captain at ACS Centre, Bengaluru. The Army teaches us discipline, and that there is no difference between men and women. Equal opportunity is given to both, we just have to prove ourselves. I lead a company of 600-700 men and they respect me as an officer, and follow my orders because I also put in the same physical training as they do, she said. Her first posting was Jammu, where she saw the Line of Control. So far, I had only seen it on television. It was the first time I saw the India-Pakistan border, and that moment made me very proud of my uniform and post. She was posted to Yole, Dharamshala, and later to Bengaluru. The recent Supreme Court order on permanent commission is a welcome boost and Major Choudhury hopes to follow in the footsteps of Lieutenant General Dr Madhuri Kanitkar, who holds the second-highest rank in the Army. She urged the youth, especially women, to join any of the forces. Give yourself a chance to serve the nation. You get it only once, as there is an age limit. All youngsters should try. I can survive anywhere It was a moment of pride for Lieutenant Shalu Sehgal and her family at the passing out parade. She is the first in the family to join the armed forces. Lt Sehgal, OIC, Legal Corps of Military Police Centre and School, an LLB graduate, handles defence-related legal cases, but loves the action. My college friends came from defence families and thats what drew me to this career, she says. She underwent a rigorous 11-month training. It made me so fit that I can now survive anywhere and under any circumstances, she says, recollecting that her best posting was at Ladakh at an altitude of 18,000 feet in chilling -14 degree Celsius temperature. Training not just makes one strong and fit, it also teaches you how to stay calm under stress, like sleeping for only 3-4 hours a day. In training and postings, there are no men and women. We are all the same, and thats the best thing, she said proudly. The 27-year old admits that she loves to travel, and the Army has given her many opportunities to see places which as a civilian she couldnt Jammu, her first posting in 2018, then Ladakh, followed by Lucknow, and Bengaluru. Lt Sehgal wants to be a commanding officer too. If she hadnt joined the forces, Lt Sehgal would have gone to Australia to pursue LLM in criminology. I am very interested in criminal psychology. But I am very happy with my decision. In Ladakh, I was the only woman among 300 people, which is a major boost for me. In the past two years, no one has ever passed a comment on me. I have also inspired my nieces and nephews to join the armed forces, she said. If you are keen on adventure and mentally prepared, the Army is the right place for you, is her advice. Leading publisher, Hachette, has scrapped plans to release the autobiography of filmmaker Woody Allen following an outcry and a staff walkout. But the book's French publisher hopes to press ahead. Hachette's announcement came after Allen's son Ronan Farrow denounced the book group over its plans to publish "Apropos of Nothing" on 7 April. "The decision to cancel Mr. Allen's book was a difficult one," a spokeswoman for Hachette said in a statement emailed to AFP, adding it would return all rights to the author. Allegations that Allen molested his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow when she was seven years old in the early 1990s has dogged the Oscar-winning filmmaker for decades. The 84-year-old director of "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan" was cleared of the charges, first levelled by his then-partner Mia Farrow, after two separate investigations. He has consistently denied the abuse but Dylan, now 34, maintains she was molested. Hachette said on Monday its Grand Central Publishing subsidiary would release Allen's memoir in the U.S. on 7 April. Hachette chief executive Michael Pietsch on Tuesday defended the decision, telling The New York Times there was "a large audience" who wanted to hear his story. The publisher had described it as "a comprehensive account of his life, both personal and professional". Hachette staff stage walkout The decision to publish sparked an immediate backlash with investigative journalist and best-selling author Ronan Farrow, Dylan's sister, announcing he was ending his collaboration with Hachette. Ronan has long defended Dylan, who renewed her accusations against filmmaker Allen in the wake of the #MeToo movement in early 2018. On Thursday, dozens of company employees in New York then staged a walkout in protest. "We stand in solidarity with Ronan Farrow, Dylan Farrow, and survivors of sexual assault," the employees said in an email, Publishers Weekly reported. The spokeswoman for Hachette said company executives had engaged in "extensive conversations" with staff and others in the past few days. "After listening, we came to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible for HBG," she said. She added that the imprint does "not cancel books lightly." Following the announcement, Dylan Farrow thanked all the employees "who took a stand." "I'm in awe and so very grateful," she wrote on Twitter. French editor stands firm The French edition of Allen's memoirs (Soit dit en passant) are to be published by Stock, a Hachette subsidiary, on 29 April. In an interview with France Inter public radio Stock's chairman Manuel Carcassonne said he hadn't hesitated to publish. It's a 650-page book, these are most definitely memoirs, an autobiography. It's wonderfully-written, amusing, full of humility, he said. "For me, Woody Allen is one of the century's great artists, a great filmmaker. But beyond cinema, the book reflects a certain way of looking at life, it's a drole vision, a constant questioning of oneself, a vision about the absurdity of life and death. He declined to comment on whether Allen's book evoked the accusations of sexual violence levelled by Dylan Farrow, saying people would have to be patient and see for themselves. What I can say, and which is already known, is that this artist was entirely cleared on two occasions by the American courts, by judicial experts, by psychiatrists. My conviction is that he is entirely innocent of the accusations against him. 'Woody Allen is not Roman Polanski' Allen's memoirs are to be published at a very sensitive time with the French cinema world in turmoil following the decision by the Cesar academy to give filmmaker Roman Polanski - wanted on rape charges in the U.S. and accused of sexual assault here in France - the award for best director. Carcassonne admitted the context was "explosive" but that "we have to show common sense and not mix everything up". "Woody Allen is not Roman Polanski," he continued. "Roman Polanski has acknowledged some of the accusations made against him. This is not at all the case for Woody Allen who has always protested his innocence and proved it in U.S. courts." Asked whether he feared some women authors signed to Stock would follow Ronan Farrow's lead and quit the publishing house, he said only time would tell. I haven't had the chance to warn all of our authors [] but I think critics of the book will be satisfied and reassured when they read it." He said he was encouraged by how his own, all-woman, team of editors had reacted on reading the book. "Any reticence my own team had, simply disappeared after they had read the book. We're not of the same generation, they're young and are naturally into defending women's rights [but] they were reassured once they'd read it." Carcassonne said he didn't know whether Allen would come to France to promote the book on its release, "but perhaps later". The coronavirus he said was unlikely to help given that Allen was particularly phobic about germs. He evokes as much in a very humorous way in the book when relating a simple weekend in the country. (with AFP) When I look at our beloved country Ghana, many questions come to mind. Many times I ask myself, would the country have attained independence in the presence of these 21st-century political leaders? Would we have birth forth great Pan-Africanists in the likes of Kwame Nkrumah, J. B Danquah, Joseph Casely Hayford, and the like? What would have happened if those great Pan-African leaders we salute and celebrate today are currently in the helm of government affairs? Or it is true that the good leaders have left our country? I do pause to ponder if the euphoria we express on this faithful day is the same as our gallant great leaders. Will they be happy and proud as you maybe? Or they will be sad and disappointed as l am? As the profound saying at long last the battle has ended, Ghana your beloved country is free forever still saddens the hearts of many. Has the battle really ended? What is freedom when the majority of our people are marginalized? Or freedom is and was meant for the privileged few? Of course! Did you just agree? Why not? If the bigwigs and their stooges are given scholarships at the expense of the marginalized. When they have flown their wards and relatives to enjoy the services in the countries of best practices and yet claim to make a safe haven for us. I side with Philip O. Umeh to define the actions of our leaders even in this country as the "Ambassador's of poverty". Yes! Freedom is when they appear in white to approve policies and bills and loans that will render the local folks to wear black because we are children of lesser gods. How do we live in this great depression and say we are practicing democracy when Ghana's 1992 Constitution states in article 36(e) the recognition that the most secure democracy is the one that assures the basic necessities of life for its people as a fundamental duty. If the most secured democracy is about promoting the welfare of the citizenry then how far have we come as a country with our supposed democracy? What is independence when our leaders have simply and squarely failed us? The battle has never ended when the local folks average income is really averaged. The battle has never ended when the local folks are wailing and kicking to be expatriates because they have no hope in their own lands. The battle has never ended on this day as we are marching in the presence of unequal enjoyment of social amenities, unequal enjoyment of security services, corruption and embezzlements of government funds that we hear of on a daily basis. Our independence is a reality as justice is the preserve of the big man. Our Independent is as real as our security forces are rapid in response to alarms on things that affect the foreigners in this country more than its own indigenous people. Our independence is a reality as we have neglected to implement a National Development Policy that will define the clear path for the nation's development but rather choose to determine the course of the nation's development with the manifestoes of Political parties. "Oh cry my beloved country". The interpretation of the rules of the national game always lies in the bosom of the referee who was appointed by the big man who is never hungry but continues to muddy our waters in the name of mining to fund and win power, while the rural folks continue to implore for clean safe drinking water. To the local folks, our beloved country is free forever because we are always at the service of the big black man, and not the slim White man. We are free because we are given peanuts or kola nut with "Akpeteshi" to sustain the big man in power. We are independent because we are given favor and other opportunities when we appear in the political partys colours or with party cards, but not in the colours of red, gold and green. We are ever ready to be the vigilantes of the big man because it will bestow some economic and social "freedoms" on us. For we express freedom boldly as proud Party men but not as Ghanaians. For we the un-independent and wish to see our beloved country free forever, profess, the country is yet not independent and free forever, because the good ones have refused to rise and fight for true independence for this country. Thus, we the good ones in the words of Winston Churchill shall fight on beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight on the streets, we shall fight on the hills, we shall never surrender until Ghanas independence is never an idealistic concept but a reality in our time Happy In-"Dependence" Day By Michael Ofori And Kumordzi Enoch Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-08 06:34:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 8 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping extended sincere solicitude to women fighting COVID-19 at frontline and in other fields on Sunday, the International Women's Day. Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, also expressed holiday greetings to women of all ethnic groups and from all walks of life in the country. Women medical staff have fought day and night at the frontline against epidemic to rescue the COVID-19 patients, showing the noble spirit of benevolence, Xi said. Women Party members and cadres, police, disease control personnel, community workers, journalists, and volunteers have fulfilled their duties with loyalty, worked tenaciously, shouldered a lot of hard work, and made important contribution to containing the epidemic with actions, Xi noted. Xi called on the female staff to have firm convictions in winning the battle against COVID-19, keep high morale, protect themselves in a scientific way, and make continuous efforts in fighting the epidemic healthily. Party committees and governments at all levels should care for women fighting COVID-19 at frontline and in other fields, and vigorously publicize front-line female role models to encourage and support hundreds of millions of women to contribute wisdom and strength to win the battle against the epidemic, Xi stressed. A police team raided an illegal sand mining site in Bhandara district in Maharashtra after decorating their vehicles to pass off as a wedding procession, an official said on Saturday. The raid, carried out in Khatkheda Ghat in Paoni tehsil, some 65 kilometres from here, in the early hours of Friday led to the arrest of nine persons and seizure of 12 tipper trucks, eight excavators and sand, all valued at Rs 3.6 crore, an official said. "A team under Bhandara SP Arvind Sale travelled a distance of 150 kilometres via Chandrapur district in three private vehicles which were decorated like the ones seen in marriage processions in these parts to raid the illegal mining site," he said. Nagpur Range Inspector General of Police KMM Prasanna said the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) may be invoked in the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The brother of a policeman was shot at and injured by three persons in Dighori area of Nagpur on Saturday evening, with officials stating the incident was the fallout of an old enmity. Imran Siddiqui took three bullets in the leg and one in the stomach and is currently undergoing treatment, an official said. "Accused Rafique Khan (35), Shahbaj Khan (30) and Abid Dawan (28) fired at Siddiqui, an automobile dealer, when he was standing in Dighori at around 5:30pm. All three were later arrested by the Crime Branch. A case was filed at Sakkardara police station," he said. Siddiqui, a policeman's brother, had attacked Rafique and Shahbaj with a sword last year and the firing was an act of revenge, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Photo credit: Universal History Archive - Getty Images From Popular Mechanics Forty days, or quaranta giorni: Thats how long the city of Venice, Italy kept foreigners and boats in a lagoon to stem the spread of Black Death in the 14th century. Its the genesis of the word quarantine, which has since come to mean any isolation for an amount of time of a group of people who may have been exposed to a communicable disease. Unfortunately, the word is back in vogue in 2020. Photo credit: Takashi Aoyama - Getty Images Last month, authorities quarantined passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan for two weeks in an attempt to arrest the spread of coronavirus , which can lead to respiratory illness. This strain, known as COVID-19, has been linked to more than 95,000 cases and 3,200 deaths worldwide, including 11 deaths in the U.S. as of press time. Following the quarantine, officials confirmed 542 cases among the passengers, more than anywhere else outside of China. Obviously the quarantine hasnt worked, and this ship has now become a source of infection,Dr. Nathalie MacDermott, an outbreak expert at Kings College London, told the Associated Press . The sickness might have spread among Diamond Princess passengers because a cruise ship isnt the best quarantine setting. Many ships use recirculated air, and thus have the high potential to be a breeding ground for illness. But the quarantine might have also failed for a simpler reason: The concept has outlived its efficacy. At one point in human history, quarantines served a valuable role in stopping the spread of communicable diseases. But with the advent of modern medicine, theyre no longer a solution for any health benefitjust a way to allay panic in the general population. Keep the Sickness Contained Photo credit: Heritage Images - Getty Images The concept of separating healthy and sick people dates back to ancient times. The Old Testament book of Leviticus decreed that lepers needed to live away from people in separate camps, yelling Unclean! Unclean! to announce their presence. This led to the idea of leper colonies; as late as the 1960s, a peninsula on the Hawaiian island of Molokai still housed one such colony. Story continues (According to Leviticus, after their periods, women were also expected to undergo certain cleansing rituals as well. Even today, some eastern cultures have separate shacks for women to live in while menstruating.) In the 14th century, the Black Death raged across the world, and its estimated that bubonic plague killed anywhere from a quarter to a half of the population in Europe, the Middle East, China, and North Africa. Photo credit: Public Domain The Adriatic port city of Dubrovnik, in what is now Croatia, was an important way station between east and west. On July 27, 1377, the Great Council of Dubrovnik decreed that any traveler to the walled city (which remains a tourist destination today as a filming location in Star Wars and Game of Thrones) would have to spend 30 days in a spot outside the city to see if plague symptoms developed. The city of Venice built a building called a Lazaretto in 1423 to serve as a quarantine facility, and that term was used again in 1799 for a similar building in Philadelphia, not far from where the citys airport is today. That Lazaretto, constructed following a yellow fever epidemic that killed 10 percent of the citys population, was a main entryway into the U.S. for an estimated 225,000 slaves and immigrants. In fact, its estimated that one of every three Americans can trace their ancestry back to someone who passed through the stately building. At that point, and well into the 19th century, the root causes of disease were ascribed to a variety of reasons, more supernatural than natural. (Think: bad spirits, karmic retribution for sins, and imbalance of the natural humors.) But in the late 1800s, a German scientist named Robert Koch developed a theory that illness was caused by some type of microorganism that could be isolated and studied. Koch studied tuberculosis, a highly communicable bacterial infection that led to respiratory problems and coughing up blood, and ultimately won the 1905 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work. (A quick aside: Because superstitions are difficult to shake, some people believed that tuberculosis victims were actually vampires, and returned from beyond the grave to drain their loved ones life forces. In actuality, those who cared for tuberculosis patients were themselves succumbing to the disease. But in New England in the 1800s, believers exhumed and beheaded the victims bodies and set their hearts ablaze; after all, thats how you killed vampires. News of the vampire panic spread far and wide, including to England, where novelist Bram Stoker is said to have incorporated elements of the hysteria into Dracula.) Photo credit: Library of Congress Even before Kochs work with germ theory, doctors used isolation to treat tuberculosis. Dr. John Croghan bought a network of caves in his native Kentucky in the hopes that the damp air would ameliorate symptoms. It didnt workCroghan himself died of the diseasebut the Mammoth Cave remains a popular tourist destination as the longest cave network in the world and part of the National Parks System. Croghans idea of separating tuberculosis patients from the general population had merit, and the late 1800s and early 1900s saw the construction of a network of sanatoriums, many of which became vibrant, self-sufficient farming communities. Doctors administered the first tuberculosis vaccinebased in part on Kochs researchin 1921, and slowly, the need for sanatoriums disappeared. Other miracle drugs like penicillin and sulfa soon followed, sped along by use for treating wounded and ill World War II soldiers. Photo credit: Bettmann - Getty Images Scientists introduced the first polio vaccine in 1952, and the following decade brought successful vaccinations for measles and mumps. It appeared that the era of quarantine as a medical treatment had come to an end. But one small, albeit world-famous group of people still required isolation: the astronauts going to the moon. Germs from Beyond Photo credit: Bettmann - Getty Images Nobody was sure what the crew of Apollo 11 would encounter on the moon. (For all we knew, it really could have been green cheese.) To ensure they didnt incubate any earthbound diseases, then, the astronauts quarantine began even before their July 1969 launchand that posed a political problem. Richard Nixon, sworn in as president that January, wanted to have dinner with the astronauts, and it fell to Dr. Charles Berry to explain why he couldnt. Berry later said in an interview for NASAs oral history project that it was as close as I ever came to getting fired in my life. Even at the time, NASA realized it was likely an unnecessary procedureand astronaut Michael Collins said it might not have done any good. The command module lands in the Pacific Ocean and what do they do? They open the hatch, he recalled in an interview . You gotta open the hatch. All the damn germs come out! A swimmer opened the hatch and gave Collins, Neil Armstrong, and Buzz Aldrin isolation suits for them to wear as they were taken to a mobile quarantine facility (MQF) on board the U.S.S. Hornet. They would spend 21 days in isolation. In fact, Armstrong celebrated his 39th birthday while quarantined. The MQF was a 35-foot Airstream trailer modified to include living and sleeping space and provide a sterile environment for the astronauts to be watched. The aircraft carrier then sailed to Pearl Harbor, and later flew to Johnson Space Center in Texas. That MQF is on display at the National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia. NASA repeated the process for the Apollo 12 and 14 missions, but ultimately deemed it unnecessary for the three subsequent missions to the moon. Modern Panics and Pandemics Photo credit: Smith Collection/Gado In the early 1980s, reports started emerging of a mysterious gay cancer being seen in New York and San Francisco. Doctors suddenly started seeing Kaposis sarcoma, a rare and slow-acting cancer, in young gay men, who either died quickly of the disease or pneumonia and other illnesses characterized by immune system failure. The disease was initially called GRID, for Gay-Related ImmunoDeficiency, but once scientists realized it wasnt limited to the gay community, they gave it the name its known by today: AIDS. Ignorance and fear ran rampant. The New York Times said people viewed the disease as a sort of immunological time bomb. Treatment was expensiveon average, $64,000 per patient in the 1980sand the disease still seemed irreversible. William F. Buckley said AIDS patients should be tattooed. Children diagnosed with the disease werent allowed to attend school. Some states raised the specter of quarantine in the name of public safety, proposing it for drug addicts and sex workers. But as people learned more about the spread of AIDSeither through blood or sexual contactthe idea of quarantine was proven ineffective. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 brought with them sweeping changes in the state security apparatus, from the creation of the cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Safety Administration to the passage of the PATRIOT Act, expanding surveillance and investigation capabilities. But you might not know 9/11 also spurred the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act , model legislation drafted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as fears mounted of the use of biological weapons. (Shortly after 9/11, government officials and journalists received envelopes with anthrax powder. In all, four people died in what the FBI called Amerithrax.) The act allowed for sweeping quarantine powers by governing bodies, and organizations across the political spectrum reviled it; both the Heritage Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union offered full-throated opposition. Elements of the model legislation found their way into state laws, but nothing that would have granted that type of power. Photo credit: Joe Raedle - Getty Images Concerned parties also mounted calls for quarantines for SARSa virus related to coronavirusduring its outbreak in 2003, and during the Ebola viruss spread in Africa in 2014. While quarantines were effective in some instances against SARS, they mostly struck others as political grandstanding related to Ebola. History is repeating itself, as the irrational, punitive measures deployed in the AIDS epidemic 30 years ago are revived for another disease, this time a rare hemorrhagic fever responsible for only a few local cases, AIDS activists Gregg Gonsalves and Peter Staley wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine at the time. Now, as the world reckons with another pandemic in Coronavirus, are we on the verge of making the same quarantine mistake again? You Might Also Like Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 19:30:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close As more countries in Europe have reported cases of the novel coronavirus, China, whose efforts are yielding progress, offered advice and shared its experience with European officials and experts. A staff member conducts nucleic acid tests at a laboratory in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) by Xinhua writers Fu Yiming, Liu Qu, Shen Zhonghao BRUSSELS, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in China, European officials have communicated with their Chinese counterparts, who have expressed solidarity and support. As more countries in Europe have reported cases of the novel coronavirus, China, whose efforts are yielding progress, offered advice and shared its experience with European officials and experts. During a video conference between China and the European Union (EU) on Feb. 26, the Chinese side said it would follow the development of the outbreak in European countries and stood ready to share its experience with the EU to jointly tackle the challenge. Experts from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control attend a video meeting with Chinese experts on response to the COVID-19 in Brussels, Belgium on Feb. 12, 2020. (China Mission to the EU/Handout via Xinhua) CHINA'S EXPERIENCE After a recent nine-day field study trip on COVID-19 in China, Bruce Aylward, team leader of the China-World Health Organization (WHO) joint mission on COVID-19, said he was impressed by China's pragmatic, systemic and innovative approach to control the outbreak. China has taken a "differentiated approach" towards the different situations of sporadic cases, clusters of cases, or community transmission, which makes for a massive scale of epidemic control work without exhausting its response, said Aylward. Bruce Aylward, an epidemiologist who led an advance team from the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks during a press conference of the China-WHO joint expert team in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 24, 2020. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Moreover, the WHO expert praised the Chinese people for their phenomenal collective action, saying that "it's never easy to get the kind of passion, commitment, interest and individual sense of duty that help stop the virus." At a daily briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that COVID-19 can be contained based upon the findings of the WHO-China team. "The key message that should give all countries hope, courage and confidence is that this virus can be contained," he said. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (C) speaks at a daily briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, March 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia) The WHO concluded in a report issued on Feb. 28 that China's experience strongly supports the efficacy and effectiveness of anchoring COVID-19 readiness and rapid response plans in a thorough assessment of local risks and of utilizing a differentiated risk-based containment strategy. "Such a strategy is essential for ensuring a sustainable approach while minimizing the socio-economic impact," the report said. For COVID-19 outbreaks outside China, the WHO recommended affected countries to immediately activate the highest level of national response management protocols, as well as prioritize case finding, testing and isolation, contact tracing, and the quarantine of close contacts. EUROPE'S RESPONSE The health ministers of the 27 EU member states met in Brussels on Friday, calling for strengthened solidarity, cooperation and exchange of information in fighting the COVID-19 disease. Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza (L) arrives for the EU Health Affairs Council in Brussels, Belgium, on March 6, 2020. (Photo by Riccardo Pareggiani/Xinhua) The ministers agreed to develop a coordinated approach to prevention and protection of people at risk, and establish coherent containment measures, including evidence-based advice concerning travel to and from risk areas. In Italy, Europe's hardest-hit country, 3,916 people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus since the epidemic first broke out here 15 days ago, the Civil Protection Department revealed on Friday evening. The figure did not include recoveries or fatalities, which stood at 523 and 197, respectively. The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in Italy totaled 4,636, compared with 3,858 on Thursday evening. Starting on Thursday, all schools and universities in Italy will remain closed through March 15. All major sporting events are to be held behind closed doors until April 3. A woman walks past the closed Maria Montessori High School in Rome, Italy, March 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting) In France, the first European country to confirm COVID-19 cases, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Friday that the death toll from the coronavirus rose to nine with 613 confirmed cases. Philippe announced that all nurseries and schools in the two most affected regions, l'Oise in northern France and Haut-Rhin near the German border, will shut down for two weeks, starting from Monday. All gatherings will be limited "except those essential to social and democratic life," he added. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday announced a new funding package of 46 million pounds (about 60 million U.S. dollars) for urgent work to find a coronavirus vaccine and develop a rapid test for the disease. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION According to China's EU mission, two video conferences on COVID-19 have been held between officials and experts from the two sides, with the first on Feb. 12 and the second on Feb. 26. During the first conference, Chinese experts spoke about the vigorous and effective measures taken in response to COVID-19. They answered questions from EU experts, who thanked their Chinese counterparts for the timely and comprehensive briefing and commended them for their openness and transparency. The EU side expressed readiness to give a timely update on the relevant situation, maintain close communication and step up exchanges with China on prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment during the epidemic. Experts from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control attend a video meeting with Chinese experts on response to the COVID-19 in Brussels, Belgium on Feb. 12, 2020. (China Mission to the EU/Handout via Xinhua) Since the first conference, the effective response taken by the Chinese government has produced good results, said the Chinese side during the second conference. While briefing on the recent developments related to the outbreak in Europe and the measures taken by the EU to coordinate and support the response efforts of its member states, the EU side noted the WHO's recognition of China's response measures, and expressed readiness to maintain close communication with China and draw upon China's good practices and experience. Talking about bilateral cooperation in combating the virus, Li Junhua, Chinese ambassador to Italy, said China will encourage more Chinese experts to share their experience with Italy, especially in the field of treating severe cases. "We are encouraged by the continued decline in cases in China. We remain concerned about the increasing signs of transmission outside China," the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen told Xinhua. "International cooperation between nations, sharing experience and best practice, has been, and will continue to be, crucial to managing this outbreak," it added. (Xinhua reporters Li Jizhi in Brussels, Lin Jing in Copenhagen and Chen Zhanjie in Rome also contributed to the story.) (Video editor Peng Ying; Video reporters Zhao Yuchao, Han Chong, Ji Li, Du Yang, Wang Pingping, Shen Zhonghao, Mageda, Airuike, Li Changzheng and Yuguoqing.) By Express News Service HYDERABAD/WARANGAL/JAGTIAL: Five patients with suspected Coronavirus symptoms from Warangal, Jangaon, Khammam and Jagtial were shifted to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad on Friday. Among the five include a couple from Khammam with a recent travel history of Germany. Earlier in the day, Health Minister Eatala Rajender said, A total of 232 samples have been collected, and the State is awaiting 16 results. Speaking to Express, MGM Hospital Warangal, Superintendent Dr B Srinivas Rao said that a 24-year-old student from Girmajipet who returned from Italy recently, had a cough and cold and a fever. He self-reported at MGM Hospital on Thursday night. Duty doctors conducted preliminary tests in an isolation ward and later shifted him to the Gandhi Hospital. According to Jangaon DMHO A Mahender, a 25-year-old native of Lingala Ghanpur mandal in Jangaon district had recently returned from Dubai and was suffering from fever, cough and cold. He came to the Area Government Hospital in Jangaon on Friday for consultation. ALSO READ: Coronavirus and tackling misinformation When the patient was being shifted to the isolation ward, he was accosted by electronic mediapersons. He panicked and left the hospital. Hospital authorities sent two teams to his residence at RTC Colony. After some tests, the patient was shifted to Gandhi Hospital, said the DMHO. In Jagtial, a 21-year-old youth who had gone to Dubai in search of employment, came back with cough and fever. He hails from Gopalraopet from Jagtial Urban mandal. On Friday, he went to Jagtial area hospital saying he had been having the symptoms since February 29. The youth was immediately rushed to Gandhi Hospital. Lockdown-like restrictions to return in Maharashtra? Here's what CM Uddhav Thackeray has to say Will give Rs 1 crore for Ram Temple: Uddhav Thackeray in Ayodhya India oi-Deepika S Mumbai, Mar 07: Maharashtra Chief Uddhav Thackeray visited Ayodhya today along with his family to mark the completion of 100 days of his government in power. This is Thackeray's first visit since he took oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister last year. However, Thackeray is unlikely to perform 'aarti' on the bank of Saryu River due to Coronavirus scare. "I have parted ways with the BJP, not with Hindutva. The BJP is not Hindutva. Hindutva is a different thing and I have not parted ways with it," he told a gathering in Ayodhya, where he was scheduled to perform an aarti, but cancelled it due to concerns over the coronavirus. The Shiv Sena chief also announced he will give Rs 1 crore towards the temple to Lord Ram in Ayodhya from his trust. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the visit has been curtailed in the wake of the health advisories issued by the government. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 "I met with chief minister Adityanath on Thursday. Even the Prime Minister has advised against large gatherings. I spoke to Uddhav ji and he said we should follow whatever advisories the government is giving out. So we have cancelled our attendance at the aarti," Thackeray said in Ayodhya. Coordination panel to study NPR issues in Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray Thackeray's trip to Ayodhya is being seen as a significant gesture as the Shiv Sena chief has remained stuck to his strong Hindutva identity despite a new alliance with the ideological rivals. This is also the first visit of Thackeray to Ayodhya after the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit on November 9 last year. He had last visited Ayodhya on June 16, 2019 along with 18 party MPs after the victory of Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha polls. Ever since 4th March, medical authorities in the capital have scrambled to locate and isolate incoming Coronavirus victims - a hunt that began with a 45-year old man from Mayur Vihar, who gave the virus a ride all the way from Italy to Vienna and finally, India. With the number of cases sharply rising from six to 31 within a week, Indian authorities have little time to waste. As for securing the capital, two unique governmental outfits - the infectious disease control cell and the district task force - have united to take on the mammoth task of screening through thousands of potential victims. According to a Hindustan Times report, a staggering 9,000 calls are made every day - two to each person on the coronavirus hitlist, checking whether or not the telltale signs and symptoms of the disease have surfaced. Delhi Secretariat Meetings Reuters Since patient zero hit Delhi, a series of meetings have been taking place on the ninth floor of the Delhi secretariat and a four-room section of a Delhi-government office in Laxmi Nagar. The goal of these meetings is straightforward yet difficult - developing a plan to control and safeguard Delhis population against the virus. Fortunately, the meetings have proceeded smoothly and immediate action has been taken since. In fact, the minutes of all the meetings were prepared on the very same day and circulated. It has all the information on what the state and the district level task force needs to do, said an official from the health department to HT. Aam Aadmi Partys Response Reuters As leader of the state-level task force designated with controlling the virus spread, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal turned his attention away from the citys ongoing crisis with violent hate crimes, and focused on the medical matter at hand. The minister seemed positive at the resulting press conference, although it was clear that the screening tests and scale of population would prove to be a serious challenge. Even those who did not show any symptoms during the screening at the airport are being tracked since in many cases it has been seen that the signs of the virus start showing in 14 days or more. So, those on the lists are under surveillance, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday after presiding over the first state task force meeting. Wiping The Virus Tracks Clean Reuters Since the screenings began in mid-January, over 1.3 lakh people have been screened at the Delhi airport. The officials have been working overtime to look for the people who came in contact with those diagnosed with Covid-19 before they were sent to the isolation facility at Safdarjung hospital - in the case of patient zero, this list of potential infected ramped up to 92 individuals. With only 14 in Delhi and the rest scattered across the country, the authorities certainly have their work cut out for them. Meanwhile, apart from contact-tracing and checking with the asymptomatic passengers, the district level task force has also been involved in sanitising places visited by suspected coronavirus victims. This is done by wiping all surfaces with a 1% hypochlorite solution - more commonly known as bleach solution. There are proper guidelines for mopping and cleaning of various surfaces. Since the people tested positive, we have sanitised all the hotels that they were in and also informed them about infection-control measures. We have sensitised our own staff members, said a government official on condition of anonymity. Anti-abortion advocate Elisa Martinez and former television meteorologist Mark Ronchetti emerged as the top Republican challengers to Democratic Congressman Ben Ray Lujan in the race to replace Tom Udall in the U.S. Senate. Martinez received the most votes, and Ronchetti finished second at the New Mexico Republican Party Pre-Primary Convention on Saturday at Hotel Albuquerque. Former Trump administration official and ex-New Mexico State University professor Gavin Clarkson, Albuquerque contractor Mick Rich and businessman Louie Sanchez failed to receive 20% of the vote required to secure places on the ballot, and must submit more petitions to remain in the primary race. The bottom line is that New Mexicans have been left behind by our politicians in D.C., said Martinez, who credited her first-place finish to her grassroots campaign. Its time we start putting New Mexico first. Were behind. Were last in everything good, and first in everything bad. And we need to flip that by focusing on the economy and jobs. Ronchetti whose name recognition status as a former KRQE meteorologist seemed to be a target in speeches by other candidates didnt seem disappointed in his second-place finish. We didnt know what the response would be when we started this whole thing, he said. But we got 11,000 signatures online, more than 3,000 volunteers, and were rolling. This is a process weve never been through before. We had no idea what to expect, but were excited with how things turned out, no doubt. Martinez received 241 of the 690 votes cast, about 35%. Ronchetti received 198, or about 29%. Sanchez finished third in balloting with 113 votes, but fell short at 16% In other congressional races, former state Rep. Yvette Herrell and Roswell oil and gas executive Claire Chase were the top vote-getters in the 2nd Congressional District race. Herrell received 168 votes, or almost 65%, while Chase received 83, or about 32%. Former New Mexico Attorney General chief of staff Michelle Garcia Holmes received 135 votes, or almost 64%, and University of New Mexico Law School graduate Jared Vander Dussen 64, about 30%, as the top vote-getters in the 1st Congressional District race. For the 3rd Congressional District, former Santa Fe County commissioner Harry Montoya a former registered Democrat received 86 votes, about 39%, and Mexican Springs Navajo Nation member Karen Bedonie received 69, about 31%, to finish 1-2. Anise Golden-Morper was third with 39 votes, but fell short at almost 18%. The 2nd Congressional District race is considered one of the most watched races in the country and has been a heated one between the Chase and Herrell campaigns though neither candidate took shots at the other on Saturday. I knew weve worked very hard over the last year, Herrell said of her campaign. Im very excited about our momentum Well continue to do what weve been doing, and Im all about making relationships in my district. People will see more from my opponents on TV. Im more about meeting people in the flesh and talking about my experience. Chase said, Were thrilled to have gotten on the ballot. Were the new kids in the race. Anything above 20% is a win. Were excited about the primary and looking forward to letting the voters decide who is going to be our nominee in November in the CD2 race. Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce said the party has a tremendous slate of candidates. We have good candidates that did not get on the ballot, he said. I think were working our way to turning the state red. I think the main issues are going to be the core issues for the party pro-gun, pro-life and pro-freedom. I think conservative Democrats are alarmed where their party is going. A mother who has turned her children into Instagram stars revealed she has to stop strangers stealing the snaps to advertise clothes on eBay. Aleksandra Hoyles, 32, from South Yorkshire, has built up a 150,000-strong following by sharing photos of her photogenic son Liam, 10, and daughter Lily, four. The mother-of-two, who is married to Piya, often shares wholesome pictures of family life which have helped her bag 25,000 worth of freebies in six years - including a TV and designer clothes. However she told FEMAIL that she has repeatedly spotted pictures of her and Lily on listings websites eBay and Aliexpress, which prompted her to put a 'don't steal my pictures' warning at the top of the Instagram account. Aleksandra Hoyles, 32, from South Yorkshire, gathered 151,000 followers on Instagram after sharing pictures of her family (pictured with Lily and Liam and husband Piya) The mother-of-two has bagged 25,000 worth of freebies so far, thanks to the adorable snaps of her son Liam, ten and her daughter Lily, four, dressed in 'nice clothes' (pictured) Lily combing her hair in her room. Aleksandra said she only took pictures of her children when they felt like it 'Shops or people who sell similar clothes to what we promote are using my pictures without my permission,' she explained. 'Our pictures with matching dresses are all over eBay and Chinese websites who sell clothing. Thats the only minus.' Aleksandra, a stay-at-home mother originally from Poland, said she was into social media before starting her Instagram account. However in 2013, when Liam was four, Aleksandra was encouraged by a friend to get on Instagram and learnt how to use hashtags to grow her following. The mother-of-two built up a steady following as she shared snaps of her young son decked out in carefully chosen outfits The mother-of-two said she has started to charge brands 50 to 100 per post, but did not make small businesses pay (Lily taking her doll for a spin) All the money Aleksandra earns from her Instagram account, she puts away in a saving account for her children (pictured: Lily and Liam) Aleksandra is often flooded with brands sending her children items in hope to be featured in one of her posts Aleksandra said sellers on eBay marketed their clothes by using pictures stolen from her Instagram such as the one pictured above After Lily's birth in 2015, Aleksandra started adding photos of her daughter and found she gained even more followers and started to get attention from UK brands. She started sharing pictures of both of the children on Instagram to an ever-growing audience of online fans, most women. Aleksandra continued: 'They love when I share toys because they are unsure what to buy so they can see on my stories - what the product looks like and if its worth buying. 'They also like the clothes, or when I go to high street retailers and they can see whats in store. The mother-of-two said she knows her children will rapidly outgrow the nice clothes she dresses them in 'Sometimes if they live outside UK they send screenshots of my stories to friends who live in the UK to purchase items for them.' And she revealed fans are also invested in the family's welfare, saying: 'They love when I share something about us as a family like when we found something funny with the kids.' The mother explained that the more her following grew, the more brands were asking her to tag them in her posts in exchange for products, which allowed her to start charging big brands 50 to 100 per post. She added that she did not ask small businesses of independent brands to pay a fee, and added she had received 25,000 of free products so far in six years. Aleksandra's following grew exponentially after the birth of Lily in 2015, after she occasionally started sharing snaps of her daughter The happy mother says she has received any type of free items, from clothes and toys to furniture and even a TV Her treasure trove includes items from retailers like River island, Matalan, F&F clothing, LOL dolls or Smiggle, as well as accessories, toys, bedroom furniture, and even a TV, which was most surprising to Aleksandra, who 'didnt ever expected someone will want to collaborate with us for something different than clothes.' The mother, who said she was very grateful for her online following, said she tries to shop smartly in order to help her children look their best. She said that she did not only dress them in designer labels but was also a huge fan of the high street. She added: 'And Im not shy to buy something from charity shops. I dont spend much on clothing. I try to dress Lily in everything from previous collaborations. 'Maybe only last week I spent 20 in Primark for few bits and bobs but usually I just do stories for my followers from stores and end up not buying anything for me or Lily. 'She has a lot of clothes from collaborations and it would be a shame not to wear them again.' She added that while Liam and Lily are unaware of their Insta-fame, she only snaps pictures of them when they wanted to. She said: 'Liam just sees it as mum's hobby and Lily doesnt understand it very well yet.' Aleksandra says Liam and Lily (pictured) were unaware of their Insta-fame, but said she only snapped pictures of them when they wanted to As OPEC production cut Vienna meeting developments flood Twitter with oil markets hanging on every word, OPEC may be ready to end its alliance OPEC+ heavyweight Russia after todays meeting between OPEC and non-OPEC members ended with no deal. OPEC and the Coronavirus have been pressuring Russia for weeks as oil prices have tumbled to sub-$50 per barrel, but Russia has so far decided it doesnt want to participate in further production cuts to offset the loss in demand. After OPEC so brazenly decided on collective OPEC+ cuts of 1.5 million bpd without Russias input or blessing, the oil cartelthat used to be able to go it alone when it comes to manipulating marketsdecided the non-OPEC members would need to cut 500,000 bpd of that. With Russia being the largest producer in that group, it is assumed that it would have to shoulder most of those cuts. But Russia didnt appreciate the audacious decide-now-ask-permission later routine, and today, at the meeting in Vienna, Russia failed to agree to any additional cutslet alone a 500,000 bpd one. Instead, Russia agreed only to rolling over the current cuts through the next quarter. Today will be a regretful day Saudis oil minister said after the meeting ended, according to Amena Bakr, Energy Intel Deputy Bureau Chief, quoting meeting delegates. However, talks between OPEC and OPEC+ delegates will continue according to a post-meeting statement. Twitter rumors suggested that delegates had said they may walk out over its alliance with Russia. Other rumors from recent weeks circulated that OPEC may decide to go it alone with additional production cuts that the Joint Technical Monitoring Committee suggested before the meeting. OPEC denied those rumors. OPEC and Russia do have a history of drama leading up to production cuts, and Russia has ended talks with no deal before, only to return to the negotiating table to get a deal done. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com Story continues More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Read this article on OilPrice.com System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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A previously announced COVID-19 patient in Santa Rosa County has died, following an international trip, the state said. A new individual in their 70s that tested presumptive positive for COVID-19 in Lee County has died, following an international trip. The state also said there are two new presumptive positive cases in Florida, both in Broward County. A 75-year old male in Broward County has been identified as a presumptive positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials, the state said. The vast majority of fatalities in the U.S. have occurred in the Seattle area. A 65-year old male in Broward County has been identified as a presumptive positive. This person is isolated and will continue to remain isolated until cleared by public health officials. The vast majority of the COVID-19 deaths have occurred in Washington, with most of the cases tied to a single nursing facility that is home to many elderly people. 2020 The Orlando Sentinel \ Although many questions still remain about what has happened in Saudi Arabia in the last 24 hours, what is clear is that MBS is now facing ruling Saudi Arabia without the backing of the rest of the royal family, said Miles, who is based in Cairo. This is a major problem for him because any would-be Saudi King is expected not only to have the royal familys full allegiance, but also to be able to prove it. The artistry of traditional Japanese craftsmanship has been a central feature of the Presage collection since its introduction to the world in 2016. The collections wide variety of creations have showcased handcrafts such as Shippo enamel and, most recently, Arita porcelain, which, in combination with Seikos watchmaking skills, create a unique balance of beauty and technology. Today, Presage introduces two new watches that reveal a completely different and more contemporary form of Japanese artistry. These timepieces are inspired by the widely acclaimed feature-length film Porco Rosso, created by the famous Japanese animation studio, Studio Ghibli. Its creations have won the favor of animation fans worldwide for their creative, other-worldly settings, distinctive visuals and masterful storytelling. One of these films is Porco Rosso, released in 1992. The film features an early 20th century pilot who transforms himself into a seaplane-flying pig, Porco, and makes his living chasing sky bandits over Italy and the Adriatic Sea. With its vivid animation, the film brings to life the romance of the early days of aviation. The two watches capture the passion for mechanical engineering and technology that underpin the film and explore the interface between function and design that the films director, Hayao Miyazaki, describes through the affectionate way that he depicts Porcos airplane, Savoia S-21. The watch with the white dial carries Seikos innovative Spring Drive movement while the black dial version pays respect to Seikos contribution to the history of traditional horology with an automatic chronograph. Porco in his plane, Savoia S-21 1992 Studio Ghibli - NN Porcos plane inspires every aspect of the design The beauty and individuality of Porcos fictitious 1920s plane, Savoia S-21, are reflected in every detail of the watch. The dial takes its inspiration from the instrument panel of the plane with clear, bold hands and numerals as well as detailed and intricate markers. The white and black dials are made of enamel by master craftsman Mitsuru Yokosawa and his colleagues to create the warm beauty that echoes the feel and texture of the materials used in a 1920s aircraft. The R emblem on the tail of Savoia S-21 is displayed at the six oclock position of the Spring Drive watch and at three oclock with the same coloring as the planes tail in the automatic chronograph. This coloring is also subtly integrated into the Spring Drive creation with its white dial, red seconds hand and green power reserve indicator. Seiko Presage Studio Ghibli Porco Rosso Collaboration Limited Editions Seiko Spring Drive and the automatic chronograph the cornerstones of Seikos watchmaking The white dialed watch incorporates Spring Drive Caliber 5R65 which has an accuracy of +/1 second per day and a power reserve of 72 hours. There is a power reserve indicator at the eight oclock position and a date window at three oclock. The automatic chronograph is powered by Seikos most advanced chronograph caliber, 8R48, which measures elapsed time up to 12 hours and has a power reserve of 45 hours. In addition to a vertical clutch and a column wheel, it incorporates Seikos unique three-pointed hammer and a heart-shaped cam which ensure the perfect and instant synchronization of the hands when the chronograph is reset. The beauty of the Spring Drive movement is clearly visible through the sapphire crystal case back, as is the Porco Rosso symbol. On the case back itself is engraved, in Italian, a famous quote from the film, A pig that does not fly is just a pig. The watches are offered in a special presentation box, each with an alternative strap and a leather cloth that is marked with the symbol of Porco. One strap is in the vibrant red color of the fuselage of Savoia S-21 with stitching in red, white and green, and the other is in black with the same colored stitching. Sapphire back with the italian sentence Seiko Both watches are available in the Presage collection at Seiko boutiques and selected retailers worldwide from June 2020 as limited editions, 500 for the Spring Drive version and 600 for the automatic chronograph. Presage Spring Drive, SNR047J1 Seiko For a more animated preview of these adventures, you can go the youtube page. Linda Humphries, senior vice president and marketing director for Allegiance Bank, opened the March to 100 event with a statistic from the American Heart Association. Did you know one woman, every 80 seconds, dies from some cardiovascular related disease? she said. It is the number one killer of women. If you combine all of the deaths (for women) from cancer, more of them died from cardiovascular disease. As Womens History Month begins, womens heart health advocacy group Circle of Red kicked off their March to 100, where they begin their year of programs and discuss heart health for women. The event at Towne Lake was supported by the American Heart Association and Go Red for Women program. Go Red For Women uses red dresses as a symbol for heart disease awareness. Humphries is the 2020 chairwoman for Circle of Red for their year of programming. Over the course of their existence the Circle of Red has trained 160,000 people in CPR, implemented mandatory newborn screenings for congenital heart defects and behavioral changes for women in the greater Houston area. Mohammad Khan, cardiovascular intervention specialist with Houston Methodist, was a guest speaker. Khan discussed how poor heart health can be dangerous to women. Khan explained that strokes are caused by blockage of arteries in the head or neck, while heart attacks can occur with blockages in other parts of the body. If you summed it all up and separated it into men and women, one in three women will die from cardiovascular disease, Khan said. Over 650,000 deaths per year for Americans from cardiovascular disease. Bevin Gordon, director of marketing for Cy-Fair ISD and ESD No. 9 commissioner candidate, discussed Cy-Fair ISDs effort to combat vaping with teens and students in their schools. Gordon said the acceptance of vaping among teen culture is responsible for the health problems caused by consistently vaping. Gordon said students are using vibrantly colored, disposable vaporizers rather than Juuls discreetly due to regulations around vaping shifting within the past year. Our kids can even go online and buy jewelry, necklaces and earrings that are made from empty Juul cartridges, Gordon said. These powerful messages that are on the television and social media are what our kids are up against. On top of that, product marketers ... have packaged these tobacco vapes in flavors that look as benign and as innocent as a USB drive. Gordon said CFISD is working to combat vaping. The school district already has a zero tolerance policy for tobacco. What we are teaching at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is that vaping is not harmless, Gordon said. The reality is that these kids are going through adolescence and it could harm the developing brain and have a negative impact on learning and memory. For more information on Circle of Red visit https://www.goredforwomen.org/en/get-involved/give/circle-of-red. chevall.pryce@chron.com Rolls-Royce is celebrating International Womens Day in style by signing up for IATAs 25by2025 campaign, an initiative to advance gender diversity in the aviation industry in the next five years. A pre-eminent engineering company focused on world-class power and propulsion systems, Rolls-Royce said it was proud to be the first aerospace business, outside of the airline community, to support this campaign, which recognises the valuable contribution that women make to the industry. By joining many of its airline customers in supporting this campaign, the British group has confirmed its commitment to diversifying the work force and promoting more women into leadership roles. Chief Customer Officer (Civil Aerospace) Jacqueline Sutton said: "With only three per cent of CEO positions in our industry held by women, we have a clear and recognised gender imbalance challenge that must be addressed." "We are proud to be the first non-airline to participate in this exciting IATA initiative, which leads the way in taking the necessary steps to solving this issue. As a company we are committed to the diversification of our workforce and to developing the many talented and gifted women among us into leaders of the future," stated Sutton. IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said: "The 25by2025 aims to improve gender diversity in aviation. With Rolls-Royce joining, we are adding a new dimension to the campaign, which initially focused on airlines." "Gender diversity needs to be a priority across the value chain. I hope that the leadership of Rolls Royce in signing up to 25by2025 will inspire more of our industry partners to join," remarked de Juniac. As a member of 25by2025, Rolls-Royce said it will be delivering on the below commitments: Increasing the number of women in leadership positions to a minimum representation of 25 per cent by 2025 and reporting annually on key diversity metrics.-TradeArabia News Service 07.03.2020 LISTEN Theres a reason why developed countries have the masses opting for trains day in day out. It is so essential that civilisations have spent the last two centuries perfecting its design and function, from the primitive steam locomotives to bullet trains that look like they might even be able to fly. Before I even elaborate on the railways situation in Ghana as it stands, let me offer the requisite context with which you can truly appreciate the paragraphs that consequently follow. Lets stick to the facts. This is an opinion piece. Think of how easily accessible Kumasi, Tamale and the Northern half of Ghana is now; one flight away. My BDM proposed at the Mole National Park one weekend and was at the Tema office first thing Monday morning. The reach of our brand #RonnieIsEverywhere exploded when we started saying if youll pay for the plane ticket Ronnie will come. On my WhatsApp status, one friend of mine flaunted her passport standing by a plane. I asked if shes travelling and she said, its Kumasi, Ill be back in town by nightfall, its not like Im travelling biaaa. Ayooo. #WeirdFlexButOk. You see, I still remember a time when going from Accra to Kumasi was travelling. And no, I am not that old. Now think goods, lots of goods, goods that can neither enter nor fit into one STC bus. Think heavy machinery. Think even the automobile spare parts market, Abossey Okai. Think thousands of Ghanaian youth that cannot regularly afford flights or even STC bus tickets on their income. And think of how an easy but far cheaper connection between Northern Ghana and the South (and left and right and centre and behind) can affect many parts of Ghanas economy. Be business-minded. Think outside Greater-Accra. Think trade. Think new customers, new clientele. Think human resource. Think additional thinktank. Think of YOU as an entrepreneur and what you can do with this. This is why when I read some time ago that Ghana is set to revive its railways industry budgeting $21 billion (with a B), I screamed YES!!!!. It will take some time to complete BUT IT WILL HAPPEN. When it does, it will be open season for those that can see how it connects whole new markets within about half of the nation with the other half, and how it betters many existing ones. Context is now complete. Lets dive in. Ill stick to the facts. This is an opinion piece. History of Ghanas railways. Its been nearly 120 years since our British colonialists constructed the first railway lines. The colonial infrastructure made over a century ago helped shape the economic geography of Ghana. As a British colony, Ghana (then known as the Gold Coast) was developed by Europeans for Europeans. At the time, railways were considered the best mode of transportation. How else could that many produce and minerals be transported way back then. STC was not in service. The railway system of Ghana began in 1898 under the Gold Coast Civil Service, with its headquarters at Sekondi. But after the construction of the Takoradi Harbour, it was transferred to Takoradi. The purpose of the railroad was to transport minerals and crops from the mainland to the harbour, which were then shipped to Europe. Two railway lines, built by the British in 1898-1918, were primarily established for military domination against natives or other colonial powers. But the railway also supported the extensive extraction of precious minerals and cash crop agriculture. The first railroad, the Western line, linked the coastal town of Sekondi with the gold-rich enclaves of Obuasi and Tarkwa. It was then extended to the hinterland city of Kumasi for military domination. Mining required the transportation of heavy machinery, large quantities of firewood (or coal), and labourers from other regions. European mining companies reaped benefits through this railway system of precious minerals such as gold, bauxite, manganese, and diamonds. The second, the Eastern line, linked the capital city of Accra to the network through Kumasi, affecting the economic and spatial development of Ghanaians through integration. This railway connectivity strongly affected the production of cash crops such as coffee and cocoa. As soon as the second line opened, farmers decided to use it to transport crops, massively decreasing their transportation costs (aha!). Fun Fact: The Governorship of William E. Maxwell (1895-97) was instrumental to shaping the railway system back then, because he had previous experience in Malay State where railways were used in tin mines. In 1919, Sir Gordon Guggisberg was appointed governor of the Gold Coast. He believed that the country was capable of attaining the development levels of Europe. He undertook the advancement and extension of the railway system, built a seaport, and constructed an extensive network of roads. Guggisberg focused on promoting the growth of the economy to give Ghana a competitive advantage in the world market. His policy aimed at rapid development of the country. By the mid-1920s, rail lines covered large portions of the southern part. The expenses accounted for 31.4% of total public expenditure between 1898-1931. Around 80% of cocoa, the countrys main export commodity, was transported through rail, making Ghana the worlds largest exporter of the crop by 1911. By 1927, cocoa amounted to 80% of Ghanas exports. By the 1960s, railways transported nearly 2 million tonnes of freight and 8 million passengers a year. This cheaper, convenient mode of transportation was a quicker way to carry more cargo. Why Railways The country inherited a functional railway system at the time of independence. But by the mid-1970s, the system began to see a decline due to poor management, lack of maintenance, and the competition from roads. Decades of neglect by post-independence governments have brought the sector down to its knees. As the country developed, people opted in favor of road travel and others. Currently, only about 13% of Ghanas original networks are operational, and I use the word operational very conservatively. Countries all over the world recognize the importance of an effective railway system. Ghana is not unaware of its inherent value. Railroads have the potential to positively impact transportation, income, infrastructure, development, productivity and trade. An efficient network can contribute to intercontinental and international trade creating massive macroeconomic implications. With 96% of transportation via road, Ghana is consuming a lot of fuel per person. Trains can diminish the costs of transportation for both people and goods, making commodities cheaper. Trains can reduce poverty by connecting villages, integrating the labour force and goods markets, as well as providing more opportunities to the citizens. An expansive route can help farmers obtain higher profits with the help of acquiring cheaper agricultural necessities. And it can help prevent food wastage when harvest cannot be transported to markets in time. These significant gains can be obtained from market integration by connecting areas through the railroad. Railway lines will reduce transportation costs of many production businesses, making export markets profitable. More farmers and other investors will be willing to invest in crop cultivation, a labour-intensive field. As a result, crop-producing villages will experience rural growth and urbanization, soon transforming into trading towns with railway stations. Plan of action The government plans to invite developers and diversify funding sources for construction. In July 2017 the Ghana Railway Development Authority signed an MoU with a Russian railway company Geoservice to build a 947-km line from Accra to Paga and other routes on a build-operate-transfer basis. Also, a plan backed with a China Exim Bank loan to connect Kumasi to the north was reported in July 2018. This central spine will open up the economic corridor with the rest of Africa. However, the most significant agreement was signed in mid-2017, a $19bn deal with China. Ghana will give China 5% or less of its bauxite reserves in exchange for a variety of infrastructure projects that includes railways network expansion, bridges, new roads, etc. Ghana has 960m tonnes of bauxite resources, valued at $460bn. Ghana has also signed a $3bn deal with South Africa in November 2018, the famous Accra Sky Train Project. I found such a project as an excellent example of intra-Africa co-operation towards development of Africa by Africans. Connecting Kumasi to Paga, amongst other endeavours by the Ministry of Railways Development, will be a major feat, greatly reducing traveling time and keeping urban migration in check. However, $70.7 million will be spent on compensating people whose properties will be affected, and rightly so. The price of getting Ghanas railway network back to normal functionality is big. What IS normal in this case? What standards have we set for ourselves? If were to take from Minister , Hon. Joe Ghartey, standards are quite high, and optimism is at its peak. Still, many are skeptical of the future. As with all things Africa, proper management is paramount. Nonetheless, I for one am pretty excited about the notion of having a local railways system matching the functionality and reliability of those in the developed countries. You should be excited as well. This has been an opinion piece. Hit me up on social media and lets keep the conversation going! I read all the feedback you send me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Also, feel free to send me your articles on relevant topics for publication on the Macroeconomic Bulletin. Id give you full credit, an intro, and an outro. Kindly make it about 1000 words. Have a lovely week! Maxwell Ampong is the CEO of Maxwell Investments Group, a Trading and Business Solutions provider. He is also the Business Advisor for the General Agricultural Workers Union of TUC (Gh). He writes about trending and relevant economic topics, and general perspective pieces. LinkedIn:/in/thisisthemax Instagram:@thisisthemax Twitter:@thisisthemax Facebook:@thisisthemax Website: www.maxwellinvestmentsgroup.com Email: [email protected] Mobile: 0249993319 The men ran a series of websites that promised would-be subscribers a chance to earn five rupees ($0.07) each time they clicked or liked web links sent to their mobile phones, police said. (Photo: Representational Image) Indian police have busted an internet scam in which around 650,000 people lost a combined 37 billion rupees ($549 million) after sending money to a company that promised they would earn cash by clicking on web links, police said on Friday. Police, who described the pyramid-style scheme as one of India's biggest ever, said they had arrested three ringleaders on the outskirts of New Delhi, the capital, and seized more than 5 billion rupees ($74 million) from bank accounts. "They learned that if you give some money back to members, the investments would go up exponentially," Amit Pathak, head of a police cyber crime unit in India's populous northern state of Uttar Pradesh, told Reuters. The men ran a series of websites that promised would-be subscribers a chance to earn five rupees ($0.07) each time they clicked or liked web links sent to their mobile phones, police said. The unsuspecting investors each paid thousands of rupees into the company's bank accounts to join the scheme, but the web links they received were fake. The company running the alleged scam had operated for years, but earned almost all the money over a few months from last August, after it began to distribute some of the proceeds, using the beneficiaries to draw in more investors. Police said the ringleaders had not yet appointed lawyers as the chargesheet was still being prepared. When police raided the company's head office in the city of Noida they found 250 passports of employees and members who had been rewarded with a holiday to Australia. The scammers planned to film the holiday and then post it online as promotional material to lure more subscribers. The alleged mastermind spent some of the proceeds on houses, cars and celebrity parties. Pathak said it would take time to trace most of the money, and several bank employees were believed to be involved. "It's a very big task for us. We have brought in the income-tax department, and other government agencies, to trace the money," Pathak said. Cyber crime in India, home to the world's second largest number of internet users, jumped 350 per cent in the three years to 2014 as criminals exploited booming smartphone use, a study by auditing services firm PwC and industry lobby group Assocham showed last year. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. A 14-year-old Montana teenager has pleaded not guilty to beating his 12-year-old nephew to death after videos emerged allegedly showing him and his grandparents physically abusing and starving the child. The young suspect, identified as James Sasser III by the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, appeared via video Thursday in Gallatin County District Court. The 14-year-old has denied committing felony deliberate homicide in the February 3 death of James 'Alex' Hurley. Hurley died from head trauma after Sasser III, who is six-feet-tall and weighs 300 pounds, allegedly got into a 'bad fight' with the boy. The suspect reportedly claims he found Hurley standing over his grandmother with a knife. Sasser III reportedly admitted to kicking Hurley's head several times in the 24 to 36 hours before his death. James 'Alex' Hurley (pictured) died of head trauma on February 3 after reportedly getting into a 'bad fight' with his 14-year-old uncle, James Sasser III Grandparents Patricia Batts (left) and James Sasser Jr. (right) were also arrested in Hurley's death in West Yellowstone, Montana The boys' grandparents, 47-year-old James Sasser Jr. and 48-year-old Patricia Batts, are also charged with deliberate homicide in Hurley's death. Batts was specifically charged with criminal child endangerment, aggravated kidnapping and strangulation of a partner or family member. She could get the death penalty if convicted. They both appeared in court last month where bail was set at $500,000 for Sasser Jr. and $750,000 for Batts. Family acquaintance Gage Roush, 18, was also arrested last month and charged with felony assault on a minor in relation to Hurley's death. Gage Roush, 18, (pictured) was also charged with felony assault on a minor in relation to Hurley's death Court records said Hurley was living with the grandparents, two uncles and an aunt in West Yellowstone for around two years before he was killed, The Post reports. The abuse allegedly began when his father died about two years ago following an ATV accident that left him paralyzed. But video evidence unearthed by investigators allegedly shows the grandparents and Sasser III regularly abusing Hurley. Footage reportedly showed the grandparents and Sasser III 'hitting him with a wooden paddle, strangling him and locking up food.' In some of the footage, Batts is seen strangling and hitting the boy, prosecutors said. Video obtained by investigators reportedly shows family members 'hitting [Hurley] with a wooden paddle, strangling him and locking up food' The family have reportedly admitted to physically abusing the boy, but claim the boy was problematic and violent. The videos were reportedly evidence for when they took him to 'get help' from mental health officials. The accused told detectives that Hurley had tried to hurt himself and others on several occasions and he had complained of hearing voices telling him to kill people. They said that the uncle had made a paddle out of wood and he and Batts would use it to punish the young boy, according to court documents. Batts told investigators that she would force Hurley to do jumping jacks or sit against the wall if he didn't complete his homework. She also made him stand partially undressed in front of fans while squirting water on him, court records said. 'Thats what they do with cats, right?' Batts allegedly said. Batts (left), who appeared in Gallatin County District Court, said she doesn't know how Hurley died and doesn't feel responsible Batts also allegedly admitted to allowing Sasser III to punish Hurley when she wasn't home. She told authorities she doesn't know how her grandson died and doesn't feel responsible for his death. Additionally, a neighbor said Batts, Sasser III and an unnamed 18-year-old aunt beat Hurley after he tried to run away in December, documents said. The victim and his uncle allegedly fought often but a fight on January 27 was 'worse'. Detectives said Batts described the fight after Sasser III allegedly saw Hurley with a knife as a 'blood bath'. Batts reportedly said Hurley slept on the floor in the living room on February 2 and was mumbling and moaning throughout the night before she found him dead the next morning. Nobody sought medical help for the victim. The autopsy found the Hurley had bruising all over his body and died from trauma to the head. Sasser Jr. told investigators that he considered Batts' punishments for Hurley egregious and he planned on divorcing his wife to raise the family's children alone. Batts, Sasser Jr. and Roush have not entered pleas yet. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascent Industries Corp. (CSE: ASNT) (Ascent or the Company) announces today that the Company has implemented its first amended and restated consolidated plan of compromise, arrangement and organization (the Plan) under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). Distributions under the Plan, as well as the issuance of common shares of Ascent that were to be issued pursuant to the terms of the Plan, are now complete. The Company was unable, however, to obtain a further extension of the stay of proceedings provided by the order obtained by the Company on January 28, 2020. Accordingly, the stay of proceedings expires on March 6, 2020 and the Companys CCAA proceedings will conclude upon expiry of the stay. APPLICATION FOR MANAGEMENT CEASE TRADE ORDER As previously reported by the Company, Ascent was advised by the British Columbia Securities Commission that, pursuant to CSA Practice Guidelines, cease trade orders are not issued against reporting issuers who are subject to a stay within CCAA proceedings. However, with the expiry of the CCAA stay of proceedings, the Company expects that it will no longer fall within the scope of the aforementioned CSA Practice Guidelines. Upon exiting from CCAA, the Company will not have filed the following continuous disclosure documents prior to the filing deadlines prescribed under National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (NI 51-102): (i) its audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, including the related management discussion & analysis, and accompanying CEO and CFO certifications (collectively, the "Annual Filings"); and (ii) its interim financial statements for the three month period ended March 31, 2019 and related management discussion & analysis and accompanying CEO and CFO certifications; (iii) its interim financial statements for the three month period ended June 30, 2019 and related management discussion & analysis and accompanying CEO and CFO certifications; and (iv) its interim financial statements for the three month period ended September 30, 2019 and related management discussion & analysis and accompanying CEO and CFO certifications (items (ii), (iii) and (iv) are collectively referred to as the Interim Filings). Accordingly, the Company will be making an application to the British Columbia Securities Commission and other applicable securities regulators under National Policy 12-203 (NP 12-203) requesting that a management cease trade order (MCTO) be granted in respect of the late filing of the Annual Filings and Interim Filings. If the Company receives the MCTO, it is anticipated that for the duration of the MCTO is in effect, the Companys directors and senior officers and such other persons as determined by the securities regulators will not be able to trade the Companys securities. There is no guarantee, however, that a MCTO will be granted. If the MCTO is granted, the Company intends to comply with the provisions of the alternative information guidelines as set out in NP 12-203 for so long as it remains in default due to the late filing of the Annual Filings and Interim Filings, including the issuance of bi-weekly default status reports by way of press releases. With respect to the preparation and filing of the Annual Filings and Interim Filings, the Company has engaged Kingston Ross Pasnak LLP (KRP) as the successor auditors of the Company following the resignation of MNP LLP as the Companys auditors which took effect as of February 28, 2020. The Company and its management are committed to working closely with KRP to complete the filing of the Annual Filings and Interim Filings as soon as possible, and ahead of the filing deadline of April 29, 2020 for its audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019. CORPORATE UPDATE On January 28, 2020, the Company entered into a loan agreement (the Loan Agreement) with Enhanced Pet Sciences Corp. (the Borrower) pursuant to which the Company agreed to loan the Borrower the principal amount of US$500,000 (the Principal Amount). Pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement, the Company agreed to permit the Borrower to subsequently advance the Principal Amount by way of an intercorporate loan to its 60% indirectly-owned subsidiary, AgTech Scientific Group, LLC (AgTech). The Principal Amount under the Loan Agreement shall be repaid by the Borrower on December 31, 2020. Interest on the Principal Amount accrues at a rate of 8% per annum (non-compounding). In support of the Borrowers obligation to repay the Principal Amount, three major shareholders of the Borrower (the Guarantors) each have provided the Company with guarantees along with one Guarantor providing collateral security for the Borrowers obligations under the Loan Agreement. The Company holds a minority equity position in the Borrower, pursuant to a CAD$360,000 investment completed in 2017 and 2018 and the Company views this loan as further support of the AgTech business operations. This strategic alliance with AgTech follows the Companies previously disclosed intention to focus its efforts and resources in the US hemp CBD industry. AgTech operates a hemp derived CBD production facility in Paris, Kentucky, including a two million square foot greenhouse and a purpose-built extraction facility to house industry standard ethanol extra and recovery machines. Management of the Company is in discussion with AgTech with a view to future business collaboration. The Company will make further announcements with respect to these discussion as and when appropriate. The Company confirms that there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed as of the date of this press release. BI-WEEKLY DEFAULT STATUS REPORT The Company provides this default status report pursuant to National Policy 12-203 - Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults ("NP 12-203") and applicable policy of the British Columbia Securities Commission. As noted above, the Company has not filed the Annual Filings and the Interim Filings prior to the filing deadlines prescribed under NI 51-102 as of the date hereof. As previously reported, Ascent is required to file bi-weekly default status reports in accordance with NP 12-203 until such time that the CCAA proceeding is concluded or until the defaults in filing the Annual Filings and Interim Filings are remedied. Other than as disclosed in this press release, the Company reports that there have been no material changes to the information contained in its last bi-weekly default status report dated February 20, 2020. Furthermore, there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed. The Company confirms that, since its last bi-weekly default status report dated February 20, 2020, there have been no failures by it in fulfilling its stated intentions with respect to satisfying the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203. About Ascent Industries Corp. The Company's operations currently include facilities in the United States. In the United States, the Company holds licenses in Oregon (for processing and for distribution of cannabis to any licensed entity in the state) and in Nevada (for cultivation and for production, processing and wholesale distribution of cannabis). THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (THE "CSE") HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. NEITHER THE CSE OR ITS MARKET REGULATOR (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE CSE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company entering into a strategic partnership in connection with its U.S. operations, the anticipated timing of the completion and filing of the Annual Filings and Interim Filings and the application by the Company for a MCTO. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, Ascent assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. For further information: Mark Lotz CPA, CA. Director, CFO and Interim CEO ir@ascentindustries.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 14:02:35|Editor: zyl Video Player Close NEW DELHI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A couple and their three-year-old daughter were killed early Saturday in a house fire in Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. The fire broke out inside their house in Khanyar locality of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Early today a fire broke out at a locality here in which three people were killed," a police official in Srinagar said. "The victims were identified as husband, wife and their three-year-old daughter." Preliminary investigations said the trio was asleep when the house was completely gutted by the fire. The cause of the fire was not immediately known, police said. Vice President Mike Pence, who has been put in charge of the United States efforts against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), announced on Friday that 21 people aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of California have tested positive for the virus. Of those infected, 19 are crew members of the ship, Pence said, while two are passengers. One test was inconclusive, and the rest were negative, according to the vice president. The patients on board, however, were not notified before the rest of the country at Fridays press briefing leaving them wondering who out of the 46 tested had contracted the virus. An announcement was made over the Grand Princess loudspeaker after Pences comments, CNNs Jon Passantino reported on Twitter on Friday, apologizing to the passengers. We apologize, but we were not given advance notice of this announcement by the US federal government, the announcement stated, according to Passantino. The CDC is currently discussing the individual patient results with the ships doctor, who will communicate the result to the patients. Photosport/Shutterstock RELATED: Cruise Ship Heads to San Francisco as 21 People Show Coronavirus Symptoms & Former Passenger Dies Passengers will be notified of their test results as quickly as possible, the announcement added. A rep for Princess Cruise Lines confirmed the results that Pence shared in a statement to PEOPLE and said that they were notified of the test results by Vice President Pence while he was conducting a press conference and simultaneously by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC) speaking to our shipboard doctor that among the samples tested, 21 people have tested positive for COVID-19 which includes two (2) guests and 19 crew. The ships doctor is in the process of informing the guests and crew of their individual results. All guests and affected crew will remain isolated in their rooms, the statement continued. We are awaiting official specific plans for future positioning of the ship from relevant authorities, the statement added. Princess Cruises will continue to closely follow the guidance of the CDC and other federal and state government authorities. Story continues Guests will continue to be provided complimentary internet and telephone to stay in contact with their families and loved ones, and the ships company is working to keep all guests comfortable. The ship has quickly transitioned food & beverage service to provide Room Service for all staterooms, the statement continued. We are working with CDC to determine what additional precautionary measures, if any, will be required. Princess Cruises medical team is collecting information from guests regarding any medication prescription refills needs. Pence said at the press briefing on Friday that everyone aboard the ship will be tested, and that some will be quarantined. The Grand Princess has been waiting off the coast of Northern California since Wednesday night so that those on board could be tested for COVID-19 after an elderly man who had sailed on a previous voyage died of the virus in Placer County and numerous people on board were exhibiting symptoms. The Coast Guard flew tests to the ship this week. Pence said that multiple agencies developed a plan to bring the ship into a non-commercial port this weekend so that all the remaining passengers and all crew members can be tested for COVID-19. Those that need to be quarantined will be quarantined, he said. Those that require additional medical attention will receive it. We are taking all measures necessary to see to the health of Americans and those involved on the Grand Princess, Pence said. Princess Cruise Lines previously issued a health advisory letter to those aboard the Grand Princess, which had been returning to San Francisco from Hawaii. The letter alerted those on board to the fact that the CDC was investigating a small cluster of COVID-19 cases in Northern California and asked guests who also sailed on the ships previous voyage to remain in their stateroom until they had been contacted and cleared by medical staff. Mikhail TereshchenkoTASS via Getty RELATED: U.S. Doesnt Have Enough Tests for Coronavirus to Meet Demand, Says Mike Pence The man who died on Wednesday in California marked the first COVID-19 death for the state and the eleventh for the U.S. The man, who had underlying health conditions, is believed to have contracted COVID-19 while traveling aboard the Grand Princess from February 11 to 21 between San Francisco and Mexico, a Placer County news release said. He had been isolated at Kaiser Permanente Roseville and had minimal community exposure between returning from the cruise and arriving at the hospital by ambulance on Feb. 27. The Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers and the five emergency responders who came in contact with the patient are currently being quarantined and have not exhibited symptoms of COVID-19. While from the same cruise line, the Grand Princess should not be confused with the Diamond Princess, which was quarantined in Japan for several weeks after COVID-19 spread among the passengers. Six people reportedly died from the outbreak aboard that ship. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 6) - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief PGen Archie Gamboa was discharged from the hospital a day after surviving a helicopter crash, a police official said Friday. "PNP Chief, Police General Archie F. Francisco Gamboa was discharged at 5:30 pm today (Friday) together with his aide-de-camp Captain Kevin Gayramara from St. Lukes Medical Center-Global City. General Gamboa will continue to recuperate at home, but will report to work on Monday," said acting PNP spokesperson PMGen. Benigno Durana in a statement. Meanwhile, two other police officers are in critical condition. Dr. Elvis Bedia of Unihealth-Southwoods Hospital and Medical Center in Binan City, Laguna said PMGen Joevic Ramos, PNP comptrollership chief, is in serious critical condition after losing more than 20% of his blood and suffering traumatic brain injuries, as well as fracture in the spine, skull, and leg. He has been in coma at the intensive care unit since Thursday. PMGen Mariel Magaway, PNP intelligence director, is also in a bad condition but responsive, said Durana. Further, PNP spokesperson PLtCol Bernard Banac is due for release from the hospital tomorrow. But no word yet as to the discharge of pilots PLtCol Ruel Zalatar and PLtCol Rico Macawili. READ: Cascolan is PNP officer-in-charge as Gamboa recovers from chopper crash Investigation The PNP asked for technical assistance from the Philippine Air Force and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in investigating the chopper crash. PLGen Guillermo Eleazar, Special Investigation Task Group chief, said this is the first PNP aircraft crash investigation. Eleazar said Zalatar is a seasoned airman with 23 years of flight experience. But they will still check if he committed lapses. Authorities said the chopper has no black box that stores information during the flight, but it has a flight data recording that shows aircraft performance and may be used in the investigation. Yung aircraft, is not required to have a black box because of the gross weight, said Teddy Hermano, CAAP Aircraft Accident Investigation Unit officer-in-charge PMGen Elmer Sarona, Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management chief, said they will interview witnesses and the survivors. What happened here, it was an accident but look we have survivors. It's better to answer on the basis of speculation but allow us to answer that once we have interviewed our witnesses like our pilots who are alive and kicking, he said. Eleazar also asked residents near the crash site to help in the probe. CNN Philippines correspondents Paolo Barcelon and Gerg Cahiles, and Multi-Platform News Writer Vince Ferreras contributed to this report. She's never too far from the shore. And Alessandra Ambrosio proved to be the ultimate beach babe as she paraded her figure by the ocean on Zaya Nurai Island in Abu Dhabi. The 38-year-old stunner showcased her enviable frame in a tiny bikini before turning the camera onto her supermodel pal, Izabel Goulart. Gorgeous: Alessandra Ambrosio proved to be the ultimate beach babe as she paraded her figure by the ocean on Zaya Nurai Island in Abu Dhabi The Brazilian beauty left little to the imagination in a small triangle top with straps wrapped around her neck. Her abdominal muscles were on display in a low-cut pair of cheeky bottoms which rested across her hips. Alessandra let her caramel-colored hair catch the wind and wore a pair of circular frames over her eyes. Swimsuit season: The 38-year-old stunner showcased her enviable frame in a tiny bikini before turning the camera onto her supermodel pal, Izabel Goulart Model behavior: Izabel rocked a shimmering black number with dainty top tied together with a bow between her cleavage Izabel rocked a shimmering black number with dainty top tied together with a bow between her cleavage. Her tanned and toned frame glistened in the sunlight as she sprawled across a blue towel on the sandy beach. Later in the day, Alessandra changed into a white strapless number to watch the sunset with her friend. Bronze: Her tanned and toned frame glistened in the sunlight as she sprawled across a blue towel on the sandy beach Sun seekers: Later in the day, Alessandra changed into a white strapless number to watch the sunset with her friend Both women were wearing pieces from Ambrosio's collection of swimsuits, Gal Floripa, which she launched as a lifestyle brand in March 2019. The Brazilian beauty collaborated with her sister, Aline Ambrosio, and best friend, Gisele Coria, to create the designs. We always had this dream. We grew up in Florianopolis, which is an island south of Brazil, and swim was always like our second skin,' Ambrosio told People magazine. 'We were always in a swimsuit going from one beach to another and always wanted to have a bikini shop there one day. That was our dream when we were 18.' The brand's name is a combination of the ladies first initials and also a tribute to their favorite beach. With the dust hardly settled on the general election, nominees have begun to emerge for the upcoming Seanad elections. With former TDs Michael D'Arcy and Malcolm Byrne having confirmed their intention to run, another candidate emerged for the area in the form of businessman Richard Mulcahy. The grandson of two significant historical figures in General Richard Mulcahy and Tomcoole native Min Ryan, Mulcahy is a North Wexford resident and has secured a nomination from the Royal Dublin Society to the Seanad Agricultural Panel. In recent times, on behalf of his family Richard donated 200,000 to the construction of the state of the art public park which will bear the name of his grandmother in Wexford town and is set to open in April. Having enjoyed success in business over a period of some 40 years with extensive management experience in a diverse range of companies including electronics, health and beauty, software, catering, construction and forestry. In 2012, he took part in the RTE show 'The Secret Millionaire' where he provided business advice and financial support to the struggling community of Ballinacurra Weston area of Limerick City. An independent nominee, Mulcahy is focusing his campaign on the creation of sustainable local agri-business and creating inclusive communities for an ageing population. 'I have spent the most part of my professional life as an entrepreneur and CEO of start-up companies in areas including electronics, software, catering, construction and forestry,' he said. 'After selling my business a number of years ago, I became more involved in business at a local community level, working in an advisory capacity with Wexford County Council to help attract new businesses to the county. Now, like my grandfather, I'd like to influence and shape policy and debate at a national level, with a particular focus on sustainable and profitable small farming initiatives and giving rural Ireland a voice.' Mr Mulcahy will now tour the country in an effort to secure support from local county councillors and deputies ahead of Seanad voting at the end of March. The child was grazed on a hand, and none of the others wounds were thought to be life-threatening, the police said. They included four men and a woman who is related to the boy, according to police. 07.03.2020 LISTEN The popular kente cloth dominated fashion scenes at the 63rd Independence Day celebration held at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Friday March 6. Indeed, Kumasi gave global meaning to the cloth as a fabric for important events as hundreds of people turned up in rich colourful kente clothes to witness the event. Led by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, his wife, Lady Julia; the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo; the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Samira Bawumia, and some female Ministers of State, they showed up in their beautifully sewn kente clothes. Guest of honour The Special Guest of Honour of the celebration, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Christopher Keith Rowley, and his wife, Sharon Rowley, were not left out. Dr Rowley sported a white jumper with a rich colourful blend of kente cloth that depicted Adwenasa and baako fuo nmu man, also known as Fathia Fata Nkrumah design while Mrs Rowley was in kaba and slit. For President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, he chose to keep it simple with his immaculate white tunic made with a touch of kente strips. The other dignitaries were more elaborate with their choice, opting for the more colourful yarns and designs that reflected the mood. Many dignitaries, including chiefs, were also spotted in different colours of kente designs. Some schoolchildren and students were also clad in the traditional costume dansenkran and complemented it with beads. Kente Ashanti is one of the homes of kente which has assumed a national identify, it was thus not surprising that it dominated the ceremony. The Volta and Northern regions are the other homes of kente. The only elected Assemblywoman of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Nana Serwaa Asibuo, said it was to signify the importance of the event. We wear kente for festive and celebrative occasions and I think the Independence Day is an important celebration and I had to look my best. With Kumasi having the privelege of hosting the event for the first time in the history of the celebrations, I wanted to have a memorable celebration as I dont know if Id be fortunate to be part of a similar event in the future, the Assembly Member of the Amakwatia Electoral Area told the Daily Graphic. ---graphic.com.gh A Winnipeg man convicted of leaving his elderly mother to die on the floor after she fell out of bed has been released on bail, pending his appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Winnipeg man convicted of leaving his elderly mother to die on the floor after she fell out of bed has been released on bail, pending his appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada. Ronald Siwicki, 67, was released from custody Thursday, nearly five months after the Manitoba Court of Appeal overturned his 90-day jail sentence for criminal negligence causing death and replaced it with one of 21 months. "He was unbelievably happy, he was crying, he became very emotional," said his lawyer Mike Cook. Siwicki won his release following a hearing before Manitoba Court of Appeal Justice Jennifer Pfuetzner. Siwicki admitted he had left his 89-year-old mother Elizabeth Siwicki on the floor for about three weeks after she fell out of bed in November 2014. Court heard at Siwickis 2018 sentencing his mother did not want him to call for medical help and he left her on the floor until she developed bedsores, which became infected and caused fatal sepsis. Siwicki, who lived with his mother all his life, gave her daily nutritional supplement drinks and water, but didnt call 911 or try to clean her up until she had died. Prosecutors had recommended Siwicki be sentenced to nearly three years in prison, but Court of Queens Bench Justice Colleen Suche ruled that too harsh, saying Siwicki acted not out of cruelty or self-interest, "but out of ignorance and a misplaced sense of loyalty or obedience." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Prosecutors appealed the 90-day sentence, with the Manitoba Court of Appeal ruling last October that Suche erred in focusing on Siwickis personal circumstances, instead of denunciation and deterrence. "These errors affected the sentence in more than an accidental way and, in my view, resulted in a sentence that is demonstrably unfit," Justice Janice leMaistre said in a written decision on behalf of the three-judge panel. Justice Michel Monnin came to a dissenting conclusion, finding that the original sentence was "fit and proper," opening the door to a defence appeal before the Supreme Court. "Essentially we are arguing the moral blameworthiness of Ronald Siwicki," Cook said. "Im saying his moral blameworthiness is a little bit less because of the very unique relationship he had with his mom. "This case stands on its own, but it probably has a broader application with Canadian society about adult people refusing medical help," Cook said. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca A fourth patient has tested "presumptive positive for coronavirus, or COVID-19, Gov. Phil Murphys office announced Friday night. The patient is a man in his 50s whos been hospitalized at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center in Bergen County since Thursday. Three of the states four positive results are in Bergen County. CORONAVIRUS TIMELINE: The week the virus spread across the world and to N.J. The latest result came from a sample tested by the New Jersey Department of Health at the New Jersey Public Health Environmental Laboratories. It will be submitted to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmatory testing, the governors office said. Currently, one additional person is under investigation pending testing in the state lab, the governors office said. Earlier Friday, Bergen County Executive James Tedesco announced another person was being tested for coronavirus in Bergen County. That person is not the person who was identified by the governors office Friday evening, Tedesco told NJ Advance Media. Three other cases of presumptive positive coronavirus were identified in New Jersey this week. On Wednesday officials announced the states first case, a 32-year-old Fort Lee man who remains hospitalized. The second case, a woman in her 30s who was also treated at Englewood Health, has been released from the hospital and is self-quarantined at home. The state Department of Health is monitoring her. And earlier Friday, Camden County health officials reported the third case as a male resident of Camden County in his 60s, who is hospitalized in stable condition at Jefferson Health in Cherry Hill. - Reporter Rodrigo Torrejon contributed to this story. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters Click here to read the full article. In todays film news roundup, a pair of long-running film festivals in San Francisco and Cleveland are moving ahead and Warner Bros. Fred Hampton biopic gets additional backing and Dule Hill gets cast. FILM FESTIVALS More from Variety The San Francisco International Film Festival has set the documentary Boys State as its opening night film for April 8 at the Castro Theatre. Boys State, directed by Jesse Moss and Amanda McBain, follows a group of Texas teens selected to participate in the program. The film won the U.S. documentary competition at the Sundance Film Festival in January. Moss and McBaine will be in attendance at the San Francisco event. The festival, which is the longest running film festival in North America, had announced this week that it plans to go ahead with its 63rd edition in the face of the coronavirus epidemic. SFFILM staff continue to monitor on a daily basis the developments and latest guidelines provided by local, national, and international authorities and at this time we are confident and comfortable in moving forward with the Festival, which will run April 821, the announcement said. **** The Cleveland International Film Festival plans to go ahead with its 44th edition later this month amid concerns about the coronavirus epidemic. The CIFF staff and Board of Directors are continually monitoring the developments, as well as the most up-to-date procedures and practices put forth by local, national, and international authorities, the festival said. With that information top of mind and with an abundance of caution we are confidently moving forward with CIFF44, which will take place March 25 April 5, 2020. Story continues Per the advice of health experts, we encourage everyone to take part in the day-in and day-out practicalities of staying healthy, including regular hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home if you are ill, the festival said. Military Wives opens the festival on March 25. The film centers on a group of women from different backgrounds whose partners are away serving in Afghanistan. Peter Cattaneo directs Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan. The festival will close April 5 with Dream Horse, starring Toni Collette as a small town Welsh bartender who convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help raise the horse in the hopes he can compete with the racing elites. FINANCE PARTNERS Participant and Bron Creative will co-finance with Warner Bros. Pictures and Macro an untitled story about Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton. Shaka King directed the film, which is slated for release Aug. 21. Daniel Kaluuya plays Hampton, who was killed in 1969 while sleeping in his apartment during a raid conducted by a state tactical unit in conjunction with the Chicago Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His death was ruled as a justifiable homicide by the inquest. LaKeith Stanfield plays William ONeal, who had provided the FBI with detailed plans of Hamptons apartment. ONeal died by suicide in 1990. ONeal. The film also stars Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback, Ashton Sanders, Algee Smith and Martin Sheen as J. Edgar Hoover. Bron Creative was a co-financier on half a dozen Warner Bros. titles including Joker. Participant has a focus on socially impactful films and television shows such as Just Mercy and When They See Us. The news was first reported by Deadline. CASTING Pscyh star Dule Hill has been cast opposite Andrea Riseborough in the supernatural thriller Geechee from Stuart Fords AGC Studios. Riseborough stars as a New York scientist who decides to leave the city with her son to start life over in the remote Sea Islands, inhabited by descendants of a group of African slaves. Her world starts to unravel as the souls of the subjugated begin to haunt her. Geechee will be directed by Dubois Ashong. AGCs Glendon Palmer will produce, along with Ford. Production is due to start this year. Hill is repped by ICM Partners and Washington Square Films. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. An officer wears a face mask on a cargo train connecting Vietnam's northern Lao Cai Province with China's Yunnan Province on February 15, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. Fitch Solutions has raised its fiscal deficit forecast for Vietnam to 3.8 percent of GDP, exceeding the 2020 target of 3.4 percent. The forecast followed the Vietnamese governments announcement of a stimulus package to help businesses tide over the novel coronavirus crisis. The figure, up from an earlier forecast of 3.4 percent, will be the highest deficit recorded since 2015, according to a recent release from the company, a subsidiary of credit rating firm Fitch Group. Fitch Solutions revised its forecast after the government announced March 3 that it planned a VND27 trillion ($1.1 billion) package to help businesses cope with the coronavirus epidemic. On March 6, the government said this figure could go up to VND30 trillion ($1.3 billion), including reduced tax rates and fees for affected businesses. Fitch Solutions also revised its forecast on government expenditure growth from 7.4 percent to 8.1 percent, as it expects more spending on industries hard hit by the virus such as tourism, transport, electronics and agriculture. It has lowered Vietnams revenue collection growth forecast from 4.1 percent to 3.2 percent, as corporate profits could face pressure amidst the epidemic. Tax breaks will also contribute to slower growth in governments income, it said. The Ministry of Planning and Investment last month estimated that the epidemic could cost Vietnam VND42.3 trillion ($1.82 billion) in lost budget revenues. If the epidemic is contained by the end of the second quarter of the year, budget revenue for the year is likely to be VND1.47 quadrillion ($63.1 billion), down 1.6 percent from pre-epidemic estimates. Vietnams 2020 GDP growth could fall to a seven-year low at 5.96 percent because of the disease, it has been reported earlier. Last year, growth reached 7.02 percent, second highest in a decade. A convoy of some 200 tractors rumbled along roads in central Palma on Saturday morning as farmers carried out their protest to highlight the importance of the agricultural industry and to demand fair prices for their produce. The tractors set off from Calle Manuel Azana at 11.00 and headed for Passeig Born. The slogan for the protest was 'farmers and livestock breeders at their wits' end'. This situation has been brought about, they say, by years of rising production costs and frozen prices for their produce. Farms have closed as a result, with an additional negative factor being the costs associated with insularity. Imports from outside the EU were a further target for the protest. These "destabilise" local producers. It is "time to take action" was the demand from the Asaja agricultural businesses association, the Farmers Union and the UPA association of small farmers and livestock breeders, who want government initiatives to promote consumption and to reduce the costs of production. Morning Shooting Aftermath Man injured in shooting asks for help at 7-Eleven KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, Police said a man with a gunshot wound showed up to the 7-Eleven at 2636 Van Brunt Blvd. around 2:15 a.m. Friday asking for help. The man was taken to the hospital and the status of his injuries is unknown at this time. Kansas City Door Cams Often Capture Shots Fired Resident's Ring doorbell camera captures strangers shooting gun into air in Northland neighborhood KANSAS CITY, Mo. - They say it has to stop. The harrowing sound of gunfire has come to one Northland neighborhood, and neighbors said video proves their streets aren't safe. One man living near N. Brighton Avenue and N.E. More KCMO Shooting KCPD investigating shooting at 63rd, S. Benton KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The Kansas City Police Department is investigating a shooting that happened on Thursday evening. The shooting happened in the area of 63rd and S. Benton around 5 p.m. According to police dispatch, at least one person sustained serious injuries. No other information is available at this time. Kansas City Central Patrol Shooting Postscript Family of man shot and killed outside KCPD Central Patrol stunned by his death KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A metro family is mourning after a 34-year-old was killed outside KCPD's Central Patrol by a woman they say is the mother of two of his children. Last Friday, police said a woman shot Devon Nolan outside the police station in a car. Kansas Fire Fight Kansas troopers involved in shooting on Turnpike KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas Highway Patrol officer shot a man who fled from police during an attempted traffic stop on Thursday evening, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Around 7:45 p.m., a trooper spotted a stolen tag on a black Chevrolet pickup in Douglas County along the Kansas Turnpike. KC Cold Case Outcry 'We want the murderer': Family, detectives hoping DNA testing will solve 30-year-old cold case KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Investigators and family members of a 16-year-old killed 30 years ago in her Kansas City home continue to hold out hope that the case will be solved. The murder of Fawn Cox drove her sister, Amber Gonzalez, mad for years. "I ended up in the hospital because I got so overwhelmed," [...] Gas Station Shares Footage Of Suspected Gunman Looking Directly Into Camera KCPD looking to ID armed robbery suspect KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The Kansas City Police Department is trying to identify a suspect who robbed a gas station in early February. According to police, the armed robbery happened on Feb 2. around 2 p.m. at the Minit Mart at 11100 Holmes Road. We're almost at the weekend and hoping, pray for peace during this tumultuous election year. Accordingly, in order to better inform and educate our reader community. We're sharing these links on all manner oflocal misdeeds along with security cam footage of an alleged bad hombre who is just slightly more handsome than TKC.Developing . . . No country in the world welcomes everyone as citizens, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday, hitting out at those criticising India on the new citizenship law. He also slammed the United Nations Human Rights Council for expressing concern over the situation in Kashmir, saying its position on the issue was wrong in the past as well. "We have tried to reduce the number of stateless people through this legislation. That should be appreciated," he said at the ET Global Business Summit when asked about the growing criticism of India over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). In an unprecedented move, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights approached the Supreme Court against the new citizenship law earlier this week. Asked if India was losing its friends over the CAA, Jaishankar said, "Maybe we are getting to know who our friends really are." He stoutly defended the law, saying every country follows certain social criterion to grant citizenship, adding: "We have done it in a way that we do not create a bigger problem for ourselves." "Everybody when they look at citizenship has a context and has a criterion. Show me a country in the world which says everybody in the world is welcome. Nobody does that. Look at America. Look at the Europeans. I can give you example of every European country. There is some social criterion," he noted. A number of countries have questioned India over the CAA but the government has rejected the criticism, calling it an internal matter of the country. Massive protests took place across India in the last two months over the new law with the opposition parties and rights groups terming it as violative of the founding principles of the Constitution. Fifty-three people have been killed and over 200 injured last month as supporters of the CAA and its opponents resorted in violence clashed in North East Delhi. The new law provides for granting citizenship to non-Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who are victims of religious persecution. Asked about criticism of India by the director of the UN rights on the Kashmir issue, Jaishankar said, "UNHRC director has been wrong before. How carefully they (UNHRC) skirt around the cross-border terrorism problem, as if it has nothing to do with country next door. Please understand where they are coming from; look at UNHRC's record how they handled the issue earlier." He said it is a kind of geo-political assessment as there was a time when India was very defensive, its capabilities were less, threats were more and risks were higher. "We adopted a policy of managing the world but kind of staying away. We can't do that any more. We are the 5th largest economy of the world and will be the third largest. We have to engage everybody and find solutions," he said. "In a sense you would have geopolitical constituency out there in the world. There will be people who understand the changes of India, who agree with it, there are people who may not agree with it. I would not mix the two. I would not mix apples and oranges. I think these are two different processes at work. But, I will come out ahead at the end of it," the external affairs minister said. On opposition to the CAA and whether India has not been able to convince the world enough, he said, "There are sections of the world outside of the media." He noted that he has engaged with governments and cited the example when in Brussels, he had 27 foreign ministers in a room to whom he was talking. "The point we make on CAA is that it cannot be anybody's case that a government or Parliament doesn't have the right to set the terms of naturalisation or citizenship. Every government does that, every Parliament does that. "What we have tried to do is, we have a large number of stateless people. We have tried to reduce the large number of stateless people we have in this country through this legislation. That should be appreciated. We have done it in a way that we do not create a bigger problem for ourselves. Everybody when they look at citizenship have a context and has a criterion," he said. "We can't let governance challengers go unaddressed. It's not the mindset of this government to just let important issues pass without decisively addressing them, which should have been addressed earlier. When you address that you disturb the status quo. "People have proclaimed themselves of political correctness and arbiters of public policy, obviously be get ruffled. Obviously there will be public debates and those debates are legitimate and are happening in India as well as outside," the minister noted. He said technology has always been the driver of global and never more so than now. "Its promise, especially for a society for India with a natural interest in leapfrogging, is enormous. We are seeing that unfold most of all in the digital domain. "As we all know, this has created its own issues of data protection and data security. But from the vantage point of foreign policy, there are some aspects that need greater deliberation as a national approach," he said. "In a world that is more narrowly economic, trade negotiations have acquired a higher profile in international affairs. Much of that arises from the behaviour of America, the strategy of China, the approach of Japan and the focus of Europe. As a nation that is still to integrate itself into global supply chains, develop its infrastructure and scale up its capabilities, these are not easy times." Jaishankar said obviously in a globalised world, no economy can be an island unto itself. "But the exercise of engagement and its terms must be very objectively assessed. Trade outcomes must be primarily justified by trade calculations, not by political correctness. Their gains must be visible, probable and practical; not just hypothetical scenarios," he said. "The rise of India is underway. And it is based, amongst others, on the rise of Indian businesses. Many of them operate abroad and as per global norms, expect the support of their Government. They are entitled to it and our obligation is to provide it. Their quest to expand market share and penetrate new markets is entirely understandable. Here too, they deserve full backing and I can assure you, will get it," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi: The Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Saturday (March 7) arrested an accused in connection with the murder case of a man in Gokulpuri, whose body was found in mutilated condition in Anil Sweet House, Brijpuri on February 26, two days after the violence in the northeast district of the national capital, police said. The accused and deceased have been identified as Mohammad Shahnawaz (27), a resident of Shiv Vihar and Dilbar Negi (22), respectively. According to the police, the rioters had first chopped off Negi's limbs with a sword and set him ablaze. Negi, who was a native of Uttarakhand, had come to Delhi some six months ago and was employed at a sweet shop. "Crime Branch has arrested an accused Shahnawaz, in the murder/riot case of Gokulpuri which was registered after the body of one Dilbar Negi was found in mutilated condition in Anil Sweet House, Brijpuri on February 26," said Delhi Police. According to police, a riot had taken place near Shiv Vihar Tiraha on February 24 in which accused Mohammad Shahnawaz and several other persons pelted stones, ransacked and torched several shops there. "Accused Shahnawaz entered into a book store and a sweet shop godown at A-29, Chaman Park, Shiv Vihar and torched both the places along with other rioters," they said. Two days later, a dead body of a person namely Dilbar was found from the said shop. The eyewitness present at the spot had identified accused Shahnawaz as the main aggressor who was leading the mob. BJP leader Kapil Mishra had reacted on the incident and tweeted, "Dilbar Negi used to work in a confectionery shop. His arms, legs were severed and he was thrown alive into a burning fire. Just now the Delhi Police have arrested Mohammed Shah Nawaz, killer of Dilbar Negi. Shah Nawaz has killed Dilbar Negi along with a mob (sic)." An FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the accused at Gokulpuri Police Station. At least 53 people including Ankit Sharma and a Police Head Constable Rattan Lal have died while around 300 people sustained serious injuries in the violence that raged for three days in northeast Delhi. BJP leader Kapil Mishra on Saturday said that he will meet the family members of Dilbar Negi, whose body was found in a mutilated condition in Anil Sweet House, Brijpuri, on February 26, following violence in the capital. He also said that Rs 3 lakh will be given to Negi's family. Sharing a photograph of Negi on Twitter, Mishra tweeted, "Dilbar Negi's hands and legs were chopped off and then he was burnt alive. He used to work at a sweet shop. His family lives in Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand and his father is a farmer. We are giving Rs 3 lakh to his family. I will myself go to his village to meet the family." The Crime Branch has arrested Mohammad Shahnawaz, a resident of Shiv Vihar, in connection with Dilbar Negi's murder. Negi's body was burnt by a mob of rioters after cutting off his hands and feet. Six months back, he had come to Delhi from his native Uttarakhand to get employed. "Crime Branch has arrested an accused Shahnawaz, in the murder/riot case of Gokulpuri which was registered after the body of one Dilbar Negi was found in mutilated condition in Anil Sweet House, Brijpuri on February 26," said Delhi Police. According to police, a riot had taken place near Shiv Vihar Tiraha on February 24 in which accused Mohammad Shahnawaz and several other persons pelted stones, ransacked and torched several shops there. "Accused Shahnawaz entered into a book store and a sweet shop godown at A-29, Chaman Park, Shiv Vihar and torched both the places along with other rioters," they said. Two days later, a dead body of a person namely Dilbar was found from the said shop. The eyewitness present at the spot had identified accused Shahnawaz as the main aggressor who was leading the mob. An FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered against the accused at Gokulpuri Police Station. At least 53 people including Intelligence Bureau (IB) official Ankit Sharma and a Police Head Constable Rattan Lal have died while around 200 people sustained serious injuries in the violence that raged for three days in north-east Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has placed the country under a State of Public Health Emergency following the confirmation of local Covid-19 transmission, his former aide said Saturday, March 7, 2020. Sen. Christopher Bong Go, in a text message, said the President based his declaration on the recommendation of the Department of Health (DOH) and his suggestion as chair of the Senate committee on health. His message was sent out just a couple of hours after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced in a press conference that they will recommend such a declaration. In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo confirmed that the President has agreed to heed the DOH recommendation. The said proposal has been raised to the attention of the President who has agreed to issue such declaration after considering all critical factors with the aim of safeguarding the health of the Filipino public, Panelo said. Duque said the declaration is a signal to all concerned agencies, local government units and health care providers to be ready to implement planned response measures. We are continuously reminding everyone to practice personal protective measures, such as hand hygiene, social distancing, and proper cough etiquette. Avoid unnecessary travel and postpone mass gatherings, as well. It is our individual responsibility to protect ourselves and the people around us. Only through collective action in our communities will we be able to limit the spread of the virus, Duque read his statement in a press conference Saturday. Code Red The DOH confirmed three new cases of Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in the country on Saturday as it raised Code Red sub-level 1. Code Red, according to Duque, is a preemptive call to ensure that national and local governments and public and private health care providers can prepare for possible increase in suspected and confirmed cases. The fifth and sixth cases, a couple, are considered cases of local transmission because they have no history of travel. Story continues The fifth case, a 62-year-old Filipino male, is in critical condition at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). He had infected his wife, 59. The couple lives in Cainta, Rizal. Duque said contact tracing is ongoing while household members, who are asymptomatic as of Saturday, are under home quarantine. The fourth case is a 48-year-old Filipino employee of Deloitte at its Philippine office in the Bonifacio Global City (BGC). He has a history of travel to Japan. Both the fourth and sixth cases are considered mild forms of Covid-19. The fifth case is in critical condition. He has severe pneumonia and preexisting hypertension, diabetes and kidney injury. The first three cases involved Chinese tourists, including one who died. The two others have returned to China. As of March 6, 2020, there were 46 patients under investigation (PUI) for Covid-19 in various hospitals across the country. The global death toll rose past 3,400, with more than 100,000 cases reported. In Central Visayas one out of 61 PUIs remain admitted in a hospital as of Saturday. Nationwide, the DOH continues to monitor 691 PUIs. Of the number, 640 are already discharged but are still under monitoring while 46 remain isolated. The first five confirmed cases were also included in the tally. PUIs are those who have a travel history to countries with Covid-19 cases and/or contacts with people infected with the disease and are manifesting symptoms, such as flu, cough and shortness of breath. The declaration of the State of Public Health Emergency, Duque said, will facilitate mobilization of resources, ease processes, including procurement of critical logistics and supplies and intensifying reporting and quarantine measures. At this stage of localized transmission, intensified contact tracing and home quarantine of close contacts of cases, improved hospital preparedness, enhanced severe acute respiratory illness surveillance and activation of other laboratories outside of RITM to increase capacity to diagnose are now being implemented, the health secretary said. He also said once there is a sustained community transmission or increasing number of cases whose links cannot be established, the strategy will be shifted from an intensive contact tracing to the implementation of community level quarantine or lockdown and possibly suspension of work or school. This will be implemented in municipal, city, or provincial scale as may be warranted. Augmentation of health staff in warranted areas and uniformed personnel will also be done. He said the RITM with the assistance of the World Health Organization (WHO) is currently capacitating five subnational laboratories for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing: San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center in northern Luzon, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in the Visayas and Southern Philippines Medical Center in Mindanao. In addition, efforts are under way for the University of the Philippines National Institute of Health to be similarly capacitated, he said. At present, the way to diagnose Covid-19 is through a laboratory based PCR testing. Waiting for validation Duque said the DOH received several proposals of rapid testing kits including one that is being developed locally. However, these kits have yet to be listed or validated under the WHO emergency used kits. Such validation is necessary to insure accuracy in results. On the new three confirmed Covid-19 cases, the Epidemiology Bureau in coordination with Centers for Health Development offices is currently establishing travel history and identifying persons who might have contacts with positive cases, he said. Contacts will be interviewed and assessed for signs of the disease. Symptomatic individuals found to have contacts with cases will be prioritized. Following the Presidents declaration, the Cebu City Government announced that it will make an emergency purchase of personal protective equipment, such as gloves, protective masks, protective suits and medicines for health responders. Last month, the City Council approved a P15-million budget for this purpose. City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the disaster risk reduction and management committee, requested barangays to prepare their health centers and ambulances. John Eddu Ibanez, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes executive secretary, said in a text message that the Citys incident command team for Covid-19 has been on standby for 24 hours, seven days a week for any untoward incident. Ibanez said they will meet with the local health board on Monday, March 9. Mandaue City Government also made an emergency purchase of protective gears for health workers as well as sanitizers. Ibanez said they have distributed the items to the barangays. He encouraged everyone to be vigilant and to practice proper hygiene and sanitation to prevent the spread of infection. Mandaue City Health Officer Rose Marie Ouano Tirado, in a text message, said the public will need to do the same preventive measures, such as washing hands, avoiding big crowds, cooking food thoroughly, avoiding wild farm animals and avoiding constant touching of face and nose, among others. (MVI / WBS / JJL / KFD) After a ban imposed on it was revoked, Malayalam news channel Asianet News on Saturday said that bans without due process violate the principle of natural justice and reinforce a perception of coercion by the regulator. The channel issued a statement after two Kerala-based channels, Asianet News and Media One, were banned for 48 hours from the evening of March 6 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The ban was subsequently lifted after Union I & B Minister Prakash Javadekar intervened in the matter. "Our democracy ensures every entity in India including media a due process of law before guilt or innocence is pronounced. Regrettably, we were not afforded this opportunity in the decision by the I & B Ministry to ban us for 48 hours. Bans without due process violate the principle of natural justice and reinforce a perception of coercion by the regulator," MG Radhakrishnan, Editor, Asianet News said in a release. "It is reassuring to note that Union I & B Minister Prakash Javadekar has admitted that the ban was a mistake and he would take appropriate steps if there was any wrongdoing on the part of his ministry. Proclaiming the government's commitment to media freedom, he has also pointed out that the Prime Minister too was concerned about the incident," he added. Asserting the importance of press freedom, Javadekar today said that two Kerala-based channels that were banned for 48 hours have been restored. "Two Kerala channels were banned for 48 hours, we immediately found out what actually happened and immediately restored the channels. Our basic thought process is that press freedom is absolutely essential for a democratic setup," Javadekar told reporters in Pune. Javedakar stated that Asianet News was on air on Friday night whereas Media One was restored on Saturday morning. The ministry on Friday had suspended the broadcast of the two channels in an order which stated: "While reporting such a critical incident, the channels should have taken utmost care and should have reported it in a balanced way. Such reporting could enhance the communal disharmony across the country when the situation is highly volatile. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 16:44:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Aerial photo taken on March 6, 2020 shows trucks transferring straw to make sand barriers in Gulang County, northwest China's Gansu Province. Sand control members of Babusha Forest Farm and local people began to carry out spring afforestation work recently. Three generations of workers at the Babusha Forest Farm in Gulang County of Gansu Province have managed to turn their hometown on the southern edge of the Tengger Desert into arable land from an inhospitable place where farmland and villages were long plagued by sand erosion. The desert-fighting workers were honored with the title "Model of the Times" in March 2019 for their devotion over the past four decades. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen) South Korea has recently reported 174 new cases of the deadly coronavirus, taking the total number of cases reported in the country to 6,767. One new death was also reported in the country raising the death toll to 46. South Korea has the most number of cases of the deadly coronavirus in the world outside of mainland China. Crisis in South Korea worsens On March 6, South Korea expressed 'extreme regret' over Japan's decision to quarantine all visitors from South Korea for 14 days. The decision by Japan was reportedly taken after a surge in coronavirus infected in South Korea. The quarantine also applies to all visitors from China. Seoul claimed that there would be retaliation against Japan it did not withdraw the restrictions. South Koreas Foreign Ministry announced on March 7 that it was raising the travel alert across all regions of Japan. The announcement was made in light of growing concerns regarding the number of coronavirus cases in Japan. The threat level increase will go into effect from March 9 onwards. Last week, Seoul had advised 'caution', which is a threat level lower than 'restraint' which is what has been announced now. According to reports, during its announcement, the ministry claimed that it had taken the drastic step because of the continued spread of the coronavirus in Japan and its effect on Koreans. Indonesia bans entry Indonesia will reportedly ban the entry and transit of foreign nationals who have visited Iran, Italy or South Korea in the last 14 days, starting March 8, country's foreign minister announced. The travellers will have to provide a certificate issued by health authorities to prove good health, Minister Retno Marsudi reportedly said. She said that the passengers entering Indonesia will now have to undergo additional health screening procedures and safety protocols at the airport moving forward, confirmed media reports. Read: Coronavirus: Indonesia Bans Entry Of Foreign Visitors From Iran, Italy And South Korea Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: South Korea Designates Third City As 'specialised Care Zone' Indonesia has detected two confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. Countrys President Joko Widodo told the reporters at the presidential Palace in the Capital that both the patients contracted the disease exposed to a Japanese national. The two had been hospitalized in Jakarta. The President said a 64-year-old woman and her 31-year-old daughter had tested positive after being in contact with a man who lived in Malaysia and had tested positive after returning to Indonesia. Read: 2 Passengers With Travel History To Italy, South Korea Quarantined At Jammu Hospital Read: South Korea Reports 374 New Cases Of Coronavirus, Total Cases Climbs To 5,186 Trinamool Congress (TMC) public outreach initiative Mamata, the pride of Bengal has drawn severe criticism from opposition parties who alleged that it was an insult to the real luminaries of the state. Slamming TMC for the initiative both the CPI(M) and Congress demanded that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should focus on the real issues of the state as such the law and order situation. Senior CPI(M) MLA and leader of the Left Legislative party in the state Assembly Sujan Chakraborty said that earlier TMC used to put up posters and banners describing Banerjee as the symbol of honesty but has stopped doing following the Saradha chit fund scam and the Narada sting operation case. Now TMC is spending crores to flood the city with posters and banners to campaign for their scheme. People of Bengal know Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji, and Swami Vivekananda as the pride of Bengal and not Mamata Banerjee. She is the danger for Bengal, said Chakraborty. Lashing out at the Chief Minister senior Congress MLA and leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Abdul Mannan said that she should not resort to hiring agencies for her own publicity. The Chief Minister should stop insulting the real prides of Bengal, said Mannan. However, the TMC leadership has brushed aside allegations and have dubbed them as the expression of frustration of the Opposition parties. The entire country knows about Mamata Banerjee contribution in fighting for the Constitution and democratic values. The Opposition parties have nothing else to do and hence they are indulging in such futile mudslinging which will further isolate them from the people, said TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee. TMC has launched the Mamata, the pride of Bengal initiative with an eye on the upcoming municipal and 2021 Assembly elections. With initiatives like this, the ruling party in the state is seeking to take BJPs formidable publicity machinery head-on. So far Bengal BJP has lagged behind TMC in terms of public outreach initiative. In view of coronavirus outbreak and confirmation of positive cases in India, many tourists from various Asian countries as well as the Europe have cancelled their scheduled tours to Aurangabad, home to the famed Ajanta and Ellora Caves, in Maharashtra. Apart from the world famous caves, the largest city in Marathwada region of the state has many historical monuments that attract domestic as well as international tourists. During March, which is the fag-end of tourist season, several travellers, mainly from Buddhist nations, visit the Ajanta and Ellora caves located in Aurangabad district. "However, this year, several tour groups from China, South Korea, Japan and Thailand have cancelled their trips to Aurangabad, which they had scheduled months before," said Jaswant Singh, president of Aurangabad Tourism Development Foundation, an umbrella body of tour operators. He said many travellers from Europe have also cancelled their scheduled visit to the two World Heritage sites as a precautionary measure in view of the coronavirus outbreak. In terms of numbers, 700 out of the total 1500 bookings done by foreign tourists have been cancelled so far due to coronavirus scare, he said, adding that the number is counting. "Some of the tourists cancelled their bookings as their visas are not valid anymore," Singh said. However, worst is yet to come it seems. According to Singh, tourism in Aurangabad is likely to be impacted in the next season as well, as not a single booking has been made so far for the next season (November 2020 to March 2021). Sandeep Gaikwad, a veteran guide affiliated tothe Ministry of Tourism, said, "In March, every tour guide would have at least seven to eight assignments to take groups of foreign tourists around Ajanta and Ellora caves. However, this time, many of us are sitting at home". The peak tourist season is coming to an end and the industry is facing huge losses due to the sudden slump, he said, adding that the trend is likely to continue in the next peak period as well. So far, 31 people have tested positive for coronavirus in India, according to the Union Health Ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Republic of Korea (ROK) is battling a rising number of COVID-19 cases with the caseload rising to 6,088 on Thursday (March 5), up 322 from the previous announcement as of midnight. Five more deaths were reported, lifting the total death toll to 41. The fatality rate from the virus in the country stood at 0.6 percent as of midnight Wednesday (March 4). The rate was 4.5 percent for those in their 70s and 5.6 percent in their 80s or higher. Forty-seven more patients were discharged from quarantine after making full recovery, raising the combined number to 88. The virus infection soared for the past 15 days, with 5,735 new cases reported from Feb. 19 to March 4. The country has raised its four-tier virus alert to the highest "red" level. Daegu became the epicenter of the viral spread in the country and has been designated by the government as a "special care zone." The total number of infections in Daegu and its surrounding North Gyeongsang province increased to 4,327 and 861 respectively as of midnight. It accounted for about 90 percent of the country's total. ROK health authorities forecast that the growth rate of newly confirmed cases would slow down as the test on most of the Sincheonji followers with symptoms was completed. President Moon Jae-in has vowed to overcome the outbreak through national unity at home and in cooperation with neighboring countries. Worried about the rapid virus spread, the ROK education ministry has ordered all preschools, primary and secondary schools nationwide to postpone their March openings by two more weeks to March 23. The number of confirmed cases in Japan as of Wednesday rose to 1,001, including more than 700 people who were infected while aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Yokohama near Tokyo. The Japanese government is planning to implement a special law to enable it to make better provisions to combat the COVID-19 outbreak and declare a state of emergency if necessary, the ruling party sources said on Wednesday. The special law, which will be effective for a period of up to two years, could see the government revise the existing law on novel influenza and make it applicable to the COVID-19 and valid until February 2022 as COVID-19 was officially classified as a designated infectious disease in Japan in February. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Tuesday he would like to make "full use" of a fiscal 2019 reserve fund of JPY270 billion (US$2.5 billion) as a second emergency package to combat the epidemic. The Japanese government has also asked all elementary, junior-high and high schools to temporarily close for around a month. Hokkaido, one of Japan's worst-hit areas, declared a state of emergency last Friday. The total number of confirmed cases was 112 as of Wednesday in Singapore, of which 79 have fully recovered, according to the Ministry of Health. Singapore decided on March 3 to bar travellers who have been to the ROK, northern Italy and Iran within the last 14 days from entering or transiting through Singapore, as part of its effort to guard against the COVID-19. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said last week that the country is currently in a "relatively stable" situation amid the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. A total of six new cases were confirmed in Australia's New South Wales State on Thursday, taking the total confirmed cases to 52 in the country, with two deaths. Australia's first person-to-person transmission of COVID-19 was confirmed Monday (March 2), with two people now reported contracting the disease on Australian soil. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Thursday to expand travel ban to include ROK. Thailand has reported 47 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday with one death, according to the Department of Disease Control. Thailand is manufacturing as many as 50 million cloth masks which will be provided for people nationwide from next week to wear against the COVID-19 outbreak, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said on Wednesday. As of Wednesday, a total of 28 COVID-19 infection cases have been confirmed in India, with 25 new cases reported over the past two days. The first three cases found in southern state of Kerala had been successfully cured last month. Among the 25 new cases, 17 are Italian nationals who came to India as tourists and now kept in an isolation ward in Delhi. The rest eight are Indians. The Indian government has sprung into action with the situation being directly supervised by the Prime Minister's Office. Key decisions taken at an inter-ministerial meeting on Wednesday included expansion of testing facilities and developing a Geographic Information System (GIS) data-base for mapping disease hot-spots and available medical facilities. Two important changes had also been brought in since Tuesday, which included further enhancing the country's level of preparedness by introducing universal screening at all international airports and sea-ports through use of thermal imagery equipment, and mandatory filling of declaration forms of places visited by tourists and travelers returning from abroad. New Zealand confirmed the third case of COVID-19 on Thursday. The New Zealand government confirmed on Monday that travel restrictions currently in place for China and Iran will continue for a further week, while people entering the country from ROK and northern Italy will be told to go into self-isolation. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 19:28:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHONGQING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality and Singapore will co-host the 2020 Smart China Expo, according to a letter of intent signed by the two sides. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity, and will see Singapore, the guest of honor for the past two expos, become one of the hosts of the expo. It shows Singapore's strong belief in China's economic and social development and opportunities in Chongqing, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore. By the end of February, 55 cooperation agreements and 204 cooperation projects worth more than 30 billion U.S. dollars had been signed under the intergovernmental initiative since it was launched in 2015. The Smart China Expo, an international event focusing on smart technology, has been held twice in Chongqing since 2018. A total of 530 projects involving 816.9 billion yuan (about 117.88 billion U.S. dollars) of investment were signed during last year's expo. Chongqing and Singapore inked 13 memorandums of understanding, covering sectors including an augmented reality education system for preschools, intelligent manufacturing market development and artificial intelligence research, at last year's expo to boost bilateral cooperation in the digital economy. Russia Ramps Up Response to Coronavirus By Charles Maynes March 06, 2020 Russia has ramped up efforts to battle the spread of the coronavirus, imposing a "high-alert regime" in the capital and canceling a flagship international economic forum in St. Petersburg as precautionary measures. Russia acted as six new cases of infection were reported five in Moscow, and one in Nizhny Novgorod bringing the national total to 10. Authorities said the new cases involved Russians who had recently returned from Italy, which has seen a recent spike in infections. A later statement from city health officials said Russia's first coronavirus-infected patient had fully recovered. Regardless, the wider Russian response came as the number of those infected by the virus closed in on 100,000 worldwide, with the World Health Organization pleading with governments to increase efforts to combat the contagion. Home sweet home Under new rules posted to the Moscow city government website Thursday night, Russians returning from China, South Korea, Iran, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and other nations facing "unfavorable" battles with the coronavirus will be required to "self-isolate" in a home quarantine for 14 days. An updated list later clarified that the quarantine would also apply to travelers from the United States, Britain, Norway and Switzerland. "It's obvious that closing the border completely is impossible. Each day thousands of people fly to Moscow from all over the world," wrote Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin in a blog post that warned additional cases were all but inevitable. "Therefore it's doubtful Moscow can avoid new illnesses," added Sobyanin. Yet there was more immediate confusion over how Sobyanin's home quarantine plan should be implemented or enforced. Mediazona, an independent website that often reports on the security services, reported that police were using cameras around the city to track quarantined patients' movements. Russia's independent Novaya Gazeta, for example, reported cases in which two Muscovites, under quarantine following a trip to Italy, were visited by police after taking out the trash and warned of possible fines. Meanwhile, there were simpler questions, such as how the measure would apply to tourists, family members and pets. The head of Moscow's health department, Alexey Khripun, suggested the simplest solution was for Russians and others to simply stay put. "The world, and Muscovites with it, are coming to understand more and more that right now is not the time to go abroad," Khripun said in an interview with Russian media. White nights can wait Russia canceled its annual St. Petersburg Economic Forum as a precautionary measure against the spread of infection. The forum is a high-profile event, hosted by President Vladimir Putin, that brings together leading figures from the world of politics and business each June. In a separate move, students at a university dormitory in St. Petersburg were placed under quarantine after an Italian exchange student who had been living there was reported with some coronavirus-like symptoms. Back in Moscow, precautions also extended to Russia's Foreign Ministry, which encouraged journalists displaying signs of any illness not to attend a weekly press briefing. Those who did choose to attend had their temperatures taken upon entering the building. Meanwhile, Russia's national air carrier announced it would suspend flights to Hong Kong, adding to the suspension of flights to mainland China last month. Smaller Russian carriers S7 and Pobeda, faced with growing passenger anger, introduced new plans to refund money to customers who were forced to cancel travel plans because of the spread of the virus. Mishustin's moment Russia's government has sought to project an air of competence surrounding its response to the virus, which is the first serious test of new Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin's government since he was appointed by Putin in a surprise Kremlin shakeup last January. Among measures taken so far: Mishustin ordered most entry points along Russia's 4,200-kilometer border with China closed and temporarily banned issuing visas to Chinese nationals. The government also ordered the evacuation of Russian nationals from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the global outbreak, by military escort. Evacuees were subsequently placed in a government quarantine center in Siberia. While government health officials say those efforts have successfully prevented a wider outbreak of coronavirus thus far, they have not quelled suspicion of under-reporting. "There are whole regions where there are more Chinese than Russians. And yet there are no sick. No one infected. Either the Chinese virus doesn't work on us, or Chinese nationals, upon entering Russia, are suddenly cured," wrote Anton Orekh, an ombudsman with the Echo of Moscow radio, in a commentary that suggested Russian officials were downplaying the official number of coronavirus cases since the outbreak. True or not, it was a view seemingly shared by older Russians who long ago grew skeptical of government spin during health and environmental crises from Russia's Soviet past. "Of course there are more cases," said Tatiana, 61, a shop clerk in central Moscow, in an interview with VOA. "They're just hiding them from us." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 30 Reasons You Should Never Let Your Dog Play In The Mud Bored Panda Fruit fly study suggests neither nature nor nurture is responsible for individuality PhysOrg (Robert M) Why Our Seas Are Suddenly Swimming With Drug-Running Narcosubs Popular Mechanics (resilc) Mass grave reveals how Black Death impacted rural England ars technica Nihilism aeon #COVID-19 The best, and the worst, of the Coronavirus dashboards MIT Technology Review (David L) Chinas coronavirus recovery is all fake, whistleblowers and residents claim The Week (David L) As tonnes of used masks pile up, China struggles to cope with medical waste South China Morning Post (Ian P) Seoul furious as Tokyo quarantines Korean visitors Asia Times. Kevin W: Sending this as at the bottom of this article it gives dates and numbers of infected people in South Korea which is interesting. They have been doing great work identifying infected people so those numbers are a lot more trustworthy than something coming from China for example. How Taiwan managed to avoid a coronavirus outbreak ZME Science (Dr. Kevin) Coronavirus in Germany: Health care system under pressure DW Woolworths is one of the two big Australian grocers. Im told toilet paper has sold out in many (most?) places in California, consistent with Coronavirus fears spark toilet paper panic buying around the world YouTube. When your usual grocery shopping @woolworths turns into a toilet paper fight in the supermarket aisle. Yikes. #toiletpaperpanic for the #coronavirus has taken a whole new level. pic.twitter.com/aKJ283I20C Adella Beaini (@adellabeaini) March 7, 2020 This tweetstorm (hat tip guurst) is todays must read. Unless infection rates slow down due to the weather getting warm and/or a LOT of social distancing, the US will be out of hospital beds and masks in May. The big qualifier is this wont be evenly distributed. Cities where the disease hits first will have much faster spread, while small cities in states that havent had any cases yet will reach the crunch point a bit later. Oh, and since non-seniors who have health insurance are almost entirely in HMOs and PPOs, its not as if they have much in the way of choices as to where they go: I think most people arent aware of the risk of systemic healthcare failure due to #COVID19 because they simply havent run the numbers yet. Lets talk math. 1/n Liz Specht (@LizSpecht) March 7, 2020 Two colleges close, another cancels classes and others brace for coronavirus impact on campus Washington Post. Now Stanford too. Why is customs STILL NOT screening passengers from coronavirus hot-spots Italy, Iran and South Korea who arrive at major airports, including JFK, LAX, Atlanta and Chicagos OHare? Daily Mail (J-LS) 21 coronavirus cases confirmed aboard cruise ship docked off California as Trump mulls whether to let passengers disembark RT. Kevin W: If Trump does not land these people and isolate them in some facility, he is going to have his own personal SS Plague Princess -right of Americas coastline. Y Combinator, Silicon Valleys Premiere Startup Factory, Moves Its Pitch Event Online Citing Coronavirus Concern TechCrunch and SXSW Canceled Due To Coronavirus After Austin Declares Local Disaster CNBC From a reader in area code 408 (San Jose): Late today at work email sent to all employees: every day take laptops and work phones home so you can work from home in case there is a quarantine. Coronavirus in NY: WeWork member self-quarantined for possible exposure New York Post. Going to a WeWork space does not seem like a shrewd move these days, but it turns out his employer, TIAA, dispatched him there during an office reno. Uber and Lyft Drivers Weigh Risk of Safety Against Paycheck Bloomberg. See above. The fall in travel will cut into Uber and Lyft bookings. Add to that school closures (parents not commuting or commuting less) and businesses separately telling employees who can to stay away. eBay Bans Sales of Face Masks, Hand Sanitizer Amid Coronavirus Price Gouging CNET One slide in a leaked presentation for US hospitals reveals that theyre preparing for millions of hospitalizations as the outbreak unfolds Business Insider. Important. Grim numbers. Mind you, Mass Gen is one of the premier hospitals in the US. They should lose their not-for-profit status over crap like this. They have an obligation to see anyone who shows up in the ER: When Mass General behaves like this, you know Americas healthcare system has been stretched to its limit. using police to deny testing? https://t.co/KEDlpWk3Rm Barton (@Barton_options) March 6, 2020 Exclusive: The Strongest Evidence Yet That America Is Botching Coronavirus Testing Atlantic (Dan K) The emperor has no clue: Trumps conviction that the coronavirus threat will vanish has warped the government response Press Watchers (Chuck L) Coronavirus outbreak threatens record stretch of job growth The Hill. Ya think? Clinical trials for a new coronavirus vaccine approved at a Seattle research institute Seattle Times (furzy). Dont get your hopes up. Three phases to a clinical trial process. No way would anything be ready this year. Even next year would be super accelerated. From Dan K. Note this is from an early 2018 paper. I am skeptical because one would have expected a lot of discussion of this to encourage commercialization if it were a viable large scale approach. Readers who use UV in lab settings for sterilization report it takes high intensities and reasonable durations of exposure to do the job. Even though the argument is that the high absorption of the far wavelength UV means you need way less in the way of an energy punch to do the job, this has the feel of too good to be true. Apparently the topic is complex; Dan K explained long-form that this tech seemed best suited for limited use like counters and food cabinets, and for air filtering/disinfection. Readers? Did you ever wonder what it would be like to work for the railroad? Thats what Paul Holland did for 39 years, first with Amtrak, later with Conrail and finally as a conductor on Metro-North. His self-published My Life As A Rear End pays tribute to his time in cabooses, but its his commuter rail stories that kept me laughing. Like the colorful crowd from the psychiatric hospital on the Harlem line who would escape often in their pajamas and ride his trains, obviously unable to pay. Or the many times he was assaulted by knife-wielding thugs only to be rescued by his 6-foot-7-inch cross-dressing frequent rider Rocky. Over the years, Holland collected his stories, often scribbling them on seat checks. Upon his retirement it took him less than a year to pen his memoirs, many of which are far too racy to mention in this column. Lets just say that the diminutive conductor was very popular with the ladies. It must have been the uniform. Because he truly loved his job and had three kids bound for college, Holland worked six or seven days a week. Railroad conductors can work split shifts of up to 16 hours a day, and with his overtime, Holland averaged about 80 hours a week. Some passengers would ask him the stupidest questions, like the riders who would congregate in the front car for a fast exit at Grand Central Terminal. A common query: Why cant you add more cars to the front of the train? Occasionally, Holland would work the last train to depart Grand Central at 1 a.m., making all local stops to New Haven, affectionately known as The Vomit Comet. It was a quiet run, though getting inebriated passengers off at their correct stop was always a challenge. He also tells the story of the German tourist who had parked his friends borrowed car at a remote station, returning late at night to find it had been stripped of all four wheels. He thought it was the local cops penalizing him for parking without a permit. Enforcing the rules in the quiet car was a thankless job, like the time a passenger complained about another rider eating a smelly egg salad sandwich. Not a violation, ruled Holland. Or the passenger angry about the woman in the quiet car talking, albeit quietly, on her cellphone. Tell her to shut the F up, said the vigilante. As Holland approached the woman, he heard her say Have a blessed Easter before hanging up. Holland returned to the complainant and said, Shes a nun, but Ill relay your message. As he turned to approach the woman again, the now-penitent passenger raced after him to say never mind. Holland said, He must have gone to Catholic school. Holland insists all his stories are true. I have witnesses, he told me. Retired and living New Milford, Holland obviously misses his job and his passengers, some of whom he still keeps in touch with. He says that over the years passengers have changed. These days they dont seem to show any respect (for authority), especially the kids. As the face of the railroad, Holland says he never minded facing angry passengers upset about delays. I just always told them the truth and treated them the way Id want to be treated, he said. If you've been considering overseas retirement spots, the rapid spread of the new coronavirus around the globe might be giving you pause. That may not be a bad thing, say some experts. While it's tricky to predict where and when any contagion whether this coronavirus or another pathogen will emerge, a key consideration of retiring abroad should be how you'd handle medical care in a foreign place. "This is the point in your life when health care is going to be really important," said Howard Pressman, a certified financial planner and partner at Egan, Berger & Weiner in Vienna, Virginia. "I'd recommend fully understanding the care you can expect to receive ... not just the cost, but also the access and quality." People wear face masks in Times Square New York on March 03, 2020. New York confirms second coronavirus case, as flights cancelations and Jewish schools close over virus fears. Eduardo Munoz | VIEWpress | Getty Images The new coronavirus, or COVID-19, has infected at least 95,000 people globally, and caused some 3,280 deaths. The outbreak has spread to more than 79 countries and is expected by the World Health Organization to reach most, if not all, nations around the globe. In the U.S., the case count had reached 233, with 14 deaths, as of Friday. The virus appears to take a bigger toll on those with underlying health conditions (i.e., a weakened immune system) and older folks. That's similar to the influenza virus better known as the flu, which has already sickened an estimated 32 million to 45 million people in the U.S. since Oct. 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those cases, an estimated 18,000 to 46,000 patients in the U.S. have succumbed to complications from the flu in the last five months, according to the CDC. The majority of those deaths 70% to 85% are in people age 65 or older. And, an estimated 50% to 70% of flu-related hospitalizations have involved that cohort. In other words, with age come increased health risks, and germs are ever-present, whether in the form of the new coronavirus or some other sneaky pathogen regardless of where in the world you live. There's also a chance that you'll develop age-related conditions, whether hearing or vision loss, or things like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease or cognitive impairment. About 80% of Americans age 65 or older have at least one chronic condition, and 77% have at least two, according to the National Council on Aging. In the U.S., most people age 65 or older rely on Medicare as their primary medical insurance, and most doctors, hospitals and other providers accept it. Original, or basic, Medicare consists of Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (outpatient services). People generally pay no premium for Medicare Part A because they have at least a 10-year work history of paying into the system. Part B comes with a standard monthly premium of $144.60 for 2020, although beneficiaries with higher incomes pay more. More from Personal Finance: This may be the only retirement book you'll ever need Debt among oldest Americans up 543% in two decades How to reduce taxes your on Social Security benefits However, basic Medicare provides no coverage beyond U.S. borders, except in specific circumstances. That includes when you're on a ship within the territorial waters adjoining the country within six hours of a U.S. port or you're in, say, Alaska, and the closest hospital to treat your emergency is in Canada. (Limited coverage for overseas travel versus residency may be available through an Advantage Plan or a so-called Medigap policy). Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage and is sold through private plans either as a standalone policy or as part of an Advantage Plan. The average cost is about $33 monthly for 2020 (again, higher-income enrollees pay more). Like basic Medicare, it provides no overseas coverage. Although it may make sense to be enrolled in basic Medicare even if you retire overseas, its limitations mean you'd need a plan to cover your health-care costs in your new country. I'd recommend fully understanding the care you can expect to receive ... not just the cost, but also the access and quality. Howard Pressman Partner at Egan, Berger & Weiner Exactly how many U.S. expats are retirees is hard to come by. In 2016, the State Department estimated that roughly 9 million non-military Americans were living overseas, according to various reports. Separately, Social Security Administration data show that about 672,000 monthly checks go to overseas addresses. By and large, health care is cheaper in other countries. Due to higher costs of procedures, medications and services, the U.S. spent about $9,900 per person on health care in 2016, according to research from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. That amount doubled from 2000, and was 25% higher than the next-biggest spender, Switzerland, at $7,900. Lower health-care costs elsewhere can be a big lure for people in search of a place to retire beyond U.S. borders. For Edd and Cynthia Staton, expats who retired in Ecuador ten years ago, health care was a factor they weighed before making a decision on where to settle. Cynthia and Edd Staton say an unusual strategy saved their retirement. Courtesy: Edd and Cynthia Staton "Availability of quality and affordable health care was one of our wish-list items," said Edd Staton, 71, who along with wife Cynthia, 66, operates a website for people considering a retirement abroad. He said that because of the low cost of health care in Ecuador including for office visits, procedures and prescriptions they paid their medical expenses out of pocket for several years before joining the country's national health-care system. Under that plan, their combined monthly premium is $84, with no deductible or restrictions on age or pre-existing conditions. However, cost wasn't their only consideration access was, as well. Edd Staton said he has seen people pick a retirement spot overseas due to the low cost of living and the view without considering what their day-to-day life will be like, including "how far they are from quality medical care, especially in the case of an emergency," he said. "Big mistake," he added. In addition to their coverage in Ecuador, the Statons also are enrolled in Medicare which means they have coverage during their visits to the States. And, if they unexpectedly relocate back to U.S. soil, they won't pay extra for enrolling late. Basically, unless you meet an exception, failing to enroll in Medicare when you're first eligible at age 65 can result in life-lasting penalties. If the country you're thinking about for retirement has a national health plan, you may be able to join it. The rules differ among nations, such as requiring at least one year of residency first, or whether you pay an amount based on your income for certain types of care. However, these national plans often restrict you to certain providers, which means timely access can become an issue. Pressman, of Egan, Berger & Weiner, had a client whose overseas retirement included relying on a national health plan. While an emergency was handled expediently with a good outcome for the client, getting an appointment for a chronic condition would have meant waiting about a year, Pressman said. Like some expats, the couple chose to purchase additional insurance, which allows them a broader choice of providers than those available through the national plan. Expats we know either pay out of pocket or participate in local private or public plans. Cynthia Staton U.S. expat living in Ecuador 2020 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #10 Posted on 7 March 2020 by John Hartz A chronological listing of news articles linked to on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Mar 1, 2020 through Sat, Mar7, 2020 Editor's Pick Women Fighting Climate Change Are Targets For Misogynists Rude jokes, hate mail and violent threatsfor climate experts, its all part of the job. Thats especially true for the women. (Illustration: Alex Nabaum c/o THEISPOT) Just months after the Alberta NDPs surprise 2015 election win, Shannon Phillips, the provinces new environment minister, travelled to Paris for what would turn out to be a historic round of global climate change negotiations. Alberta had long been a climate laggard, but Phillips was an ambitious and relatively young force in the provinces politics39 years old at the timeand she was part of a wave of fresh faces in leadership. Phillips landed in Paris alongside Albertas new premier, Rachel Notley, and Canadas new prime minister, Justin Trudeau, who were both committed to taking big steps after a decade of foot-dragging under Stephen Harpers Conservatives. It was an exciting time to be a cabinet minister working on climate changethe meeting produced whats known as the Paris Agreement, the first major international pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions since the Kyoto Protocol nearly 20 years earlier. And right away, Phillips noticed a remarkable detail about the negotiations: the number of women present. At every meeting, the tables were crowded with female ministers, female negotiators, female scientists and activists. A massive amount of the heavy lifting around the world on this matter is being done by women, says Phillips, who still represents her Lethbridge-West riding in the Alberta legislature. You see more women on panels. You see more women in the negotiating spaces. You see more women in leadership positions on climate. Women Fighting Climate Change Are Targets For Misogynists by Chris Turner, Chatelaine, Mar 5, 2020 Articles Linked to on Facebook Sun, Mar 1, 2020 Mon, Mar 2, 2020 Tue, Mar 3, 2020 Wed, Mar 4, 2020 Thur, Mar 5, 2020 Fri, Mar 6, 2020 Sat, Mar 7, 2020 He has battled blaggers, toerags and ponces but it may now be time for DCI Gene Hunt to tackle the PC brigade, according to the actor who plays the tough-talking TV cop. Asked about speculation that the Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes character could be revived, Philip Glenister told The Mail on Sunday: I would be interested in returning to the show. I think the question is, would the powers that be be too nervous to bring that character back on to mainstream television? The actor, who stars in new ITV drama Belgravia which begins next Sunday, said he felt that political correctness had become suffocating. Anything anybody says now if someone disagrees or has a difference of opinion then people are up in arms and its like you have committed some sort of crime. And you think, Wow this is a very dangerous route to go down. I think if we lose freedom of speech, we are in real trouble. Glenister, 57, turned DCI Hunt into a cult figure with un-PC comments such as Hes got fingers in more pies than a leper on a cookery course, and Shes as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot. Life On Mars co-creator Matthew Graham said last month he was considering a new series and Glenister also advocates a return to the screen for Tory politicians boycotting BBC news programmes. He said: You think, No, we put you there [in office] and youve a duty to explain what you are going to do and how you are going to do it. A major cross-border conference jointly hosted by Newry and Dundalk Chambers, focusing on building the Border economy post Brexit takes place in the Carrickdale Hotel on Wednesday March 11. It will look at the impact of the future trading relationship for the border region post Brexit and will provide a range of practical advice and support for border businesses. More than 250 people have already registered to attend this high-profile conference. The programme includes a keynote address from Oliver Mangan, Chief Economist AIB, who will examine The Economic Outlook and what a Future EU - UK Trade Deal will mean for businesses. Paul Healy, Skillnet Ireland CEO will also discuss the 21st Century Workplace, examining the importance of placing employee development centre stage to enable businesses to prosper in an era of Brexit, digital transformation, skills shortages and an environmentally sustainable economy. Highlighting the importance of the conference to border businesses, President of Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, Pat McCormick said: "Our objective is to demonstrate the strength of cooperation that exists within the border economy. Cooperation has been central to the economic success of the Dundalk and Newry region. Our businesses need to plan for the future trading relationship post Brexit. The conference programme includes a number of key specialists who will provide practical advice and support for border businesses." President of Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade, Emma Marmion said: 'The UK's Exit from the EU will present new challenges for businesses operating within the cross-border economy. Dundalk and Newry are central to the economic corridor between Dublin and Belfast and our businesses make a significant contribution to the All Island Economy. This cross-border conference will provide a timely update for businesses on the challenges and support available for Businesses post Brexit. " The conference is supported by IntertradeIreland, Louth County Council, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Local Enterprise Office Louth and Skillnet Ireland. The MC for the conference will be the broadcaster, Mark Simpson. The conference is FREE, and spaces can be booked through Newry Chamber, Dundalk Chambers or Eventbrite. SAN FRANCSICO (BCN) Twenty-one people about a Grand Princess Cruise that was headed to San Francisco have tested positive for coronavirus, or COVID-19, Princess Cruises announced Friday. The confirmed cases include 19 crewmembers and 2 guests aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship, which was on its way from Hawaii to San Francisco but due to the circumstances, remains off the coast of California, "We are awaiting official specific plans for future positioning of the ship from relevant authorities. We will continue to closely follow the guidance of the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control) and other federal and state government authorities, and provide updates as they are made available," Princess Cruises officials said on Twitter. Earlier this week, a Placer County resident died from COVID-19 after returning from a cruise to Mexico on the same Grand Princess ship. The ship, carrying more than 3,500 passengers, is expected to dock at a "non-commercial port" in California this weekend, Vice President Mike Pence announced. With two already confirmed cases of coronavirus in San Francisco, city officials on Friday issued new recommendations for residents to minimize the risk of contracting the virus. Officials with the city's Department of Public Health are recommending people stay away from large gatherings for now to stop person-from-person transmission, although essential outings like getting food, going to work, or providing for a sick family member can be continued. The city is recommending large gatherings such as concerts, sporting events, conventions or large community events be cancelled. Vulnerable populations such as people age 60 or older should especially limit their outings, health officials said. The public is also being urged to stay away from medical settings like hospitals, nursing homes and long term care facilities, unless necessary, to reduce risk. Employees who have the option to telecommute to work should. However, if traveling to work is a must, health officials said employers should try to minimize the number of employees who work within arm's length of one another, and cancel large in-person meetings and conferences. Employees who are sick should stay home, health officials said. For students, health officials are recommending sick students stay home as well. If there is a confirmed COVID-19 case at a school, DPH will work with the school and the district to determine the next steps, including the possibility of a school closure. On Thursday, following the announcement of two confirmed cases in the city, the San Francisco Unified School District announced it had closed Lowell High School after district officials learned that a student's relative was being treated for novel coronavirus. The student suspected of having the virus voluntarily went under self-quarantine. "SFUSD is carefully monitoring the COVID-19 situation in San Francisco. We are doing enhanced cleaning at Lowell High School and will update the community with further information on Sunday afternoon," district officials said Friday. Officials with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency are also taking action to keep riders safe, by increasing cleaning for transit vehicles and high touch surface areas. They're also providing hand washing sites and hand sanitizers in stations and on vehicles. In addition to increasing hand washing and avoiding touching their face, people are being encouraged to refrain from shaking hands. Masks are not recommended at this time, health officials said. For more information about the virus, or for tips, residents can visit www.sfdph.org or call 311. Residents can also sign up for text message alerts from the city's Department of Emergency Management for updates by texting COVID19SF to 888-777. 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. YPSILANTI, MI -- The perfect combination of working out and eating happens every month in Ypsilanti. Ypsilanti Running Company hosts a 5K run to Dom Bakeries, an Ypsilanti doughnut and pastry shop. Participants must buy five doughnuts upon arrival at the bakery and, when the run is over, theres a doughnut-eating competition to wrap things up. This months YRC Donut Dash starts at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 8, at Ypsilanti Running Company,126 W Michigan Ave. The runs are typically the first Sunday of each month. The family-fun event consists of running, walking and jogging, with the option of having your stroll to Dom Bakeries un-timed. The route from Ypsilanti Running Company goes straight down Congress Street, making a right on Owendale Avenue and ending at Dom Bakeries, 1305 Washtenaw Road. Once runners grab their doughnuts, they go back the same way they came. Its a big social thing when we get back, Ypsilanti Running Company Owner Mike Nix said. Were just trying to get people out and get active on a Sunday morning, even if it does include eating a couple of doughnuts. Ypsilanti Running Company representatives will take money to buy participants doughnuts ahead of time, allowing them to skip the line at the bakery. More than 30 people participate in the run at times, Nix said. We get some looks when we come running up, Nix said. When theres a bunch of people running to come get doughnuts there, people say, What are they doing? The running store has a Wall of Fame, which has the top 10 mens and womens times, along with a top-10 doughnut eating time. During its five years in business, Ypsilanti Running Company has had a goal to host many community events, Nix said. At 8 a.m. every Saturday, it hosts the YRC Group Run. It also has a Womens Training Group, a Long Group Run, a Kids Track Club and it participates in cleaning up Frog Island Park. When you do something you love, its not work. My clients trust me to provide the plans that achieve their goals, allowing them to live their best life." For the second consecutive year, David A. Frisch, CPA, CFP, PFS has been named to Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor New York. The Plainview native is the President & Founder of Frisch Financial Group, a wealth advisory firm headquartered in Melville, NY. To be considered for the Forbes annual Best-in-State Wealth Advisor Ranking, advisors must meet high standards and rigorous qualifications. Each advisor selected by SHOOK Research is chosen based on qualitative and quantitative criteria, including: in-person interviews, advisory credentials, industry experience, retention, compliance records, community involvement, revenue produced and assets under management. David has directed the growth of Frisch Financial Group since its inception in 1999, propelling the award-winning firm into a wealth advisory group that manages over $480 million in assets. Being recognized for two consecutive years by Forbes Best-in-State demonstrates that my client-focused approach is effective, said David A. Frisch, CPA, CFP, PFS. When you do something you love, its not work. My clients trust me to provide the plans that achieve their goals, allowing them to live their best life. For 25 years Ive been a sounding board and professional financial advisor for hundreds of individuals and families. To have that many people rely on me fuels me each and every day to be committed, reliable and earnest. As a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (Personal Financial Planning Committee) and a member of the Financial Planning Association New York Chapter, David has been frequently quoted in many leading business, accounting and finance publications and has made several television appearances. For over 15 years, David was an adjunct professor at New York Universitys School of Continuing Education and Professional Studies for investment management and individual income tax planning courses. In addition, he provides pro bono services, donates his time to Homes for Heroes, gives guest lectures at a local high school, has founded a student finance club and has created a scholarship fund. He is a graduate of State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton University). About Frisch Financial Group Frisch Financial Group is a fee-only advisory firm founded in 1999 and headquartered in Melville, Long Island with offices in Manhattan, Westchester and Tampa, Florida. The firm places an emphasis on working alongside clients to establish their unique goals. Advisors and staff work diligently and intelligently to enhance client wealth and specialize in managing complex tax strategies. Clients include small business owners, particularly family-owned businesses, senior executives of large corporations with complex compensation programs and families who are committed to leaving a legacy and creating multi-generational wealth. Frisch Financial has received the Womens Choice Award eight years in a row (2013-2020), has been included on AdvisoryHQs Top 10 Best Financial Planners in New York, NY list for four consecutive years (2016-2019) and has been named to AdvisoryHQs 2019 ranking of Top 10 Best Financial Planners in Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida. For more information, visit http://www.FrischFinancial.com. Award selection methodology links: On a warm February afternoon, fresh roses and orchids adorn the entrance of Mushkiya, a newly opened Mumbai store which retails hijabs and abayas. Inside, there is a sparkling chandelier and a changing room with remote-controlled pink curtainsa stark contrast to the musty tailor shops and chai stalls on the noisy and narrow road in Santacruz. Groups of women in burkhas, mostly black, come in to look at the neat display of more than 500 garments. There is excited chatter about whats pretty and pocket-friendly. This is Mushkiyas fourth store in the city. Later this month, they are set to open the fifth, in south Mumbai. Then we will move to tier 2 cities in Maharashtra, like Nashik, Jalgaon and Aurangabad," says Arif Panjwani. He owns the franchisee venture, West Trading Company, which brought the Delhi-based brand to Mumbai. Mushkiyas founder, Zeeshan Arfeen, says he started as an online retailer selling hijabs and abayas in 2016, and quickly went on to establish nine stores in Delhi and four in Mumbai. Hijabs, abayas and burkhas have never been as ubiquitous in the national consciousness as they have been in the last three months, with images of Muslim women in Delhis Shaheen Bagh splashed across various media. Mushkiya, in fact, has a Shaheen Bagh connection. Its first store in the heart of Shaheen Bagh has remained shut for 14 weeks now, ever since the area transformed into the epicentre of the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests in the Capital, inspiring similar protests in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. From Shaheen Bagh to the viral videos of young hijab-clad students of Jamia Millia Islamia standing up to the police, it wouldnt be a stretch to say that the hijab has emerged as a symbol of dissent. Its a far cry from the muscle-flexing, bandana-wearing Rosie the Riveter, an American pop culture icon created during World War II to implore women to take up jobs and help make arms and ammunition for the war. The hijab-clad woman is a tour de force who creates spaces to fight for equal rights. And most importantly, she is real. View Full Image Muneeba Nadeems modest fashion collection at the Lakme Fashion Weeks Summer/Resort 2019 (Photo: Aniruddha Chowdhury) THE BURKHA BUSINESS As a symbol of religious personal identity, the hijab and burkha have gone through highs and lows. However, in the past few years, young Muslim women have embraced and adapted the garments in innovative ways, ensuring the hijabs entry into the world of runway and Instagram fashion. In February 2019, fashion designer Muneeba Nadeem, 23, then a third-year student at the International Institute of Fashion Design, Kanpur, debuted at the Lakme Fashion Weeks INIFD Launchpad, with a collection that focused on hijabs for working women. It was the first time the hijab appeared on the runway of a mainstream" fashion event in India. Kanpur-based Nadeem says over the phone that she wanted to drive home a pointmodest clothing can translate into power dressing too and is deserving of greater recognition. Modest fashion is an umbrella term that comprises full-length garments, from long-sleeved blouses and floor-sweeping dresses to outerwear, and refers to modes of dressing that conceal the wearers body shape and limit skin exposure. Nadeem wants to establish her business in Kanpur before venturing into a bigger city, though she does sell on Instagram. The budding designer owes her success to her father, who encouraged her to establish her business before thinking of marriage. Now, she plans to work on her spring/summer 2021 collection to participate in the Lotus India Fashion Week and the Dubai Fashion Week. In India, despite a slowing economy, the modest fashion industry is witnessing a revolution of sorts. Instagram is teeming with independent apparel brands and hijab-centric labels, such as Little Black Hijab (@shoplbh; 81,700 followers), Hazel Hijabs (@hazelhijabs; 18,000 followers) and That Adorbs Hijab (@that.adorbs.hijab; 17,400 followers). View Full Image Fatima Mohammed (left) and Farheen Naqi of Little Black Hijab (Photo: Aniruddha Chowdhury) When Little Black Hijab (LBH) launched, co-owners Farheen Naqi and Fatima Mohammed maintained higher price points, around 750 for everyday options, because there was no competition, but they had to reduce rates to around 499, as new brands proliferated. Now, at least 10 new Instagram shops crop up every day," says Naqi. LBH opened shop on Instagram in 2016 because Naqi couldnt find quality hijabs in India. Brands like Delhis Mushkiya, Mumbais LBH, Chennais Islamic Shop and London-based Islamic Design House (IDH)all opened for business in India around the same time, in 2015-16. Their target audience includes women across a wide spectrum of preferences and age groupsfrom die-hard Kartik Aaryan fans to those who spend weekends watching reruns of Fleabag on Amazon Prime. View Full Image Brand stories According to Salaam Gateway, a Dubai-based media platform that tracks the global Islamic economy, Indias 170 million Muslims spent an estimated $11 billion (around 80,860 crore) on clothing in 2015 and this is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13% to reach $20 billion by 2020." It has identified factors such as population increase, urbanization, and a younger, more brand-conscious demographic, for the growth of modest fashion in India. Style inspiration powered by social media platforms has also contributed to this. Junayd Miah, co-founder of IDH, is most optimistic about retail opportunities in tier 2 cities. Globally, the modest fashion industry is set to expand," claims Miah over the phone from London. In India, it is ready to explode now." THE GLOBAL RISE OF MODEST FASHION When a community is put in the spotlight and its people feel marginalized, they turn inwards to explore their identity," Miah says. In the 9/11 aftermath, which saw ordinary Muslims the world over targeted for their identity, the younger generation, across Europe and the US, began to grapple with questions of religious identity and ask themselves what it meant to be Muslim. But this was also an experimental, fashion-forward generation that wanted to explore new trends and styles while remaining within the tenets of modest dressing laid down by their faith. Modest fashion is conservative, but it doesnt have to be boring. The diversity available in the market is astoundingfrom asymmetrical hemlines and animal prints to sequinned tops and Billie Eilish-approved electric green. There are denim abayas in different washes and ones with sportswear-inspired accents like stripes and pockets. Burkhas are no longer shapeless and baggy: A-line cuts are common, rhinestone detailing has become popular, and colourful headscarves accessorize the garment. Our favourite in the course of researching this feature, is a Mondrian-inspired pattern by Mushkiya. View Full Image Style inspiration? Deepika Padukone in a hooded bodysuit by Balmain that she wore to the Mirchi Awards last month. (Photo: Instagram@deepikapadukone) Modest fashion also encompasses other faiths, such as orthodox Jews and Christians. A 2019 article in The New York Times, headlined The Co-opting Of Modest Fashion", expanded its definition, pointing to the cultural shifts that followed the #MeToo movement, as many women rejected the male gaze". It put the spotlight on personal choice independent of religious beliefs and highlighted the fact that modest fashion has transformed into an alternative mode of dressing. Case in point, the hooded, full-sleeved, A-line silk lame Ralph Lauren gown studded with 168,000 Swarovski crystals worn by American singer and rapper Janelle Monae on the Oscars red carpet this year. Last month, Deepika Padukone attended the Mirchi Awards in Mumbai in a black bodysuit by Balmain with black sky-high stilettos and black blazer. The hood had soft drapes like a hijab scarf. What was it if not a nod to an alternate mode of dressing"? MY HIJAB, MY CHOICE The question of choice was brought into the limelight most recently during a social media altercation between Khatija Rahman, singer and daughter of music director A.R. Rahman, and Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen. On 11 February, the latter tweeted that she feels suffocated" by Khatijas burkha. Khatija took to Instagram to assert her choice, saying, Im proud and empowered for what I stand for." Rahmans argument was that a woman is free to wear what she wants. Hijabs and burkhas tend to evoke extreme reactions: While the Taliban regime in Afghanistan would whip women without burkha, on the other end of the spectrum, Denmark last year banned this garment in certain public spaces. View Full Image Novelist Andaleeb Wajid (Photo courtesy: Andaleeb Wajid) The stereotype of the burkha being oppressive doesnt exist for the one wearing it. It is perceived as oppressive by the other," says Bengaluru-based novelist Andaleeb Wajid. When I was younger and attended book launches in five-star hotels, I didnt want to wear a burkha, because of this notion of what will people think," says Wajid, 42, who started wearing it in her teens because most women in her family did. Even now, when Wajid attends literary events, people start a conversation with her in Hindi rather than Englishthough she is the author of over 24 English language books. Just because I am wearing a burkha, it doesnt mean I only speak Urdu," says Wajid. She likes to pair them in muted colours with printed or coloured hijabs for a pop of colour". I feel I look really nice." Clearly, more and more women are experimenting with modest fashion in India. It is no longer a binary: a girl in a black burkha or one without. A spectrum has come into play, and style influencers are adding to it in creative ways. In Mumbai, Nabeeha Fakih, a 25-year-old dentist, documents her hijab-centric outfits on Instagram for her 53,500 followers. For her wedding, she styled the hijab in a manner that partly showed her hair. She got trolled but she takes it in her stride. I just feel that what is right for me may not be right for you," she says. She says a girl should understand the purpose of wearing a hijabwhich is to behave in a modest mannerbased on what works for her. I feel when you wear the hijab, focus on your intentions and understand why you are wearing it," she explains. On YouTube, she posts hijab tutorials for her 21,000-plus followers. I cant style my hair, so I style my hijabs," she says. She receives messages from girls who took to the hijab after watching the videos. Twenty-one-year-old Anah Shaikh (featured on the cover), a hijabi influencer (@_hadha.ana_) with a following of 65,800 on Instagram and 63,000 on TikTok, started wearing the hijab in her early teens. When she turned 19, she started her Instagram page to document hijab-centric personal style outfits. Now, she is one of the leading names in the hijab influencer universe in India and has collaborated with global brands such as Daniel Wellington, Beep Global and Sugar Bear Hair. View Full Image Sana Sayyad is a student and part-time modest fashion content creator on Instagram. (Photo courtesy: Sana Sayyad) I wanted to attract Muslims and especially non-Muslims via Instagram," says 20-year-old style influencer Sana Sayyad (@sanasayyadx). She has been posting personal style updates on the platform since 2018 and within a year, there were paid collaborations with Indian modest fashion and beauty brands like Modest Essentials, Thread For Your Head and Iba Cosmetics, a Peta-certified halal make-up label. IDH has tapped into the burgeoning community of fashion enthusiasts in Kozhikode with events like Modesty Meet-ups and Hijab Styling workshops at its store. Its Instagram page @idh_india has highlights from these events. For Modesty Meet-ups, the brand involves hijab-wearing women from creative professions like photography who share their journey with modest fashion as they explore why they dress the way they do. LBH offers quick tutorial videos on Instagram for styling the hijab, with hijabi influencers that generate anywhere from 10,000-100,000 views. Its almost like a small digital magazine to offer inspiration on how to wear it. It is not like we are pushing girls to buy. Its more about fun styling," says Naqi. It involves exploring drapes and experimenting with accessories such as baseball caps, winter beanies, sunglasses and earrings. All the videos are in sync with global hijab trends. They even offer content categories like back-to-college and 9-5. They have yet to receive sourcing requests from a prominent brand but in the Muslim world we are quite mainstream", says Naqi. BREAKING THE SILOS In recent years, more and more style-conscious Indian Muslim women can be seen sporting the Khaleeji hijab, a style of wearing a headscarf over a large bun that gives the head and neck an elegant silhouette. Originating in Kuwait, the Khaleeji is among the most popular hijab styles across the world today, with hundreds of YouTube tutorials guiding women on how to drape it. Wearing the hijab in a no-fuss manner with fewer pins and drapes is another favoured style. In LBHs office, I come across an assortment of hijab accessories: Stretchable caps, cotton blend and lace, which are worn underneath the hijab to tuck in hair and keep the scarf in place, hair volumizers and hijab pins, including no-snag and magnet versions (the latter will even secure a heavy Kanjeevaram sari). Essentially, they are a pair of strong magnets decorated with studs or pearls which are placed on either side of a fabric to keep it in place and double up as a brooch with zero damage. Magnetic pins are so effective that you can wear the hijab, ride a bike and it will not move an inch," says Naqi. View Full Image A shopper at Mushkiya, a modest fashion store (Photo: Aniruddha Chowdhury) At a pop-up exhibition last year, non-Muslim women were quick to buy these too. Thirty per cent of our buyers are non-Muslims," says Panjwani of Mushkiya. Two aspects of these products appeal to women who are not their target customers: attractive pricing and variety. LBH, for instance, retails office-appropriate three-piece and two-piece coordinated sets and long jackets. It also offers bridal options with Lucknawi hand embroidery. Georgette-blend long jackets with floral prints can be found at Mushkiyas online and offline stores too, while IDH sells jumpsuits, long button-down dresses and modest swimsuits with a head cover. Mushkiyas store in Santacruz is labelled as premium", but the clothes are surprisingly affordable. The hijabs are priced between 120-700, while abayas cost 990-12,000. The hub for abayas, burkhas and hijabs in Mumbai, however, is Mohammed Ali Road, where they are sold on the street as well as in retail stores. Hijabs here can be bought for 120-250. LBHs quasi-formal coordinated-sets with matching trousers and tops range from 1,000-2,000, lower than Amazons prices for similar garments. IDH offers spiffy mid-length buttoned dresses with asymmetrical hemlines priced at 1,500-2,600. These are marked down during salesthe attractive pricing brings in non-Muslim customers too. BOLLYWOOD AND THE BURKHA In recent Bollywood movies such as Secret Superstar and Lipstick Under My Burkha, women are shown to have a complex relationship with the hijab and burkha. While the burkha is often shown as a convenient way to maintain freedoma sort of urban camouflageit can also become a symbol of all that is oppressive. In Secret Superstar, the protagonist is forbidden by her father to sing publicly; towards the end of the movie, she removes her face cover. In Lipstick Under My Burkha, one of the two Muslim protagonists uses the burkha to shoplift. Most girls in hijab that Lounge spoke to believe that the only real" representation in Bollywood of a young Muslim girl who dresses modestly and wears the hijab is portrayed by Alia Bhatts character, Safeena, in Gully Boy. The movie was styled by Poornamrita Singh, who researched for several months to style the feisty Safeena. Her team visited multiple colleges in Mumbai and took photographs of girls in hijabs, with their consent. Singh learnt about the various drapes and accessories to develop a mood board. Then she sourced basic jeans and T-shirts from brands like Uniqlo, kurtis and hijabs from street shops and created Safeenas look. I wanted to ensure that the hijab didnt stand out," says the stylist. That it was as regular as wearing a pair of jeans." Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics The Desert Bluegrass Association is hosting its ninth annual Marana Bluegrass Festival this weekend at Gladden Farms Community Park. Some of the areas finest bluegrass pickers and purveyors will set up on the sprawling park for three days of live music, workshops and other events. It kicks off at 3 p.m. Friday, March 13, with instrumental contests for players of all levels, from beginners to intermediate, and a band scramble. The months-old High Lonesome band, whose bluegrass beckons from the Southern mountain hollers and follows some of the traditions laid out by the Stanley Brothers, Flatt & Scruggs and the Louvin Brothers, performs at 5 p.m. This is the festivals fourth year at Gladden Farms. Before that, the festival had been held at Ora Mae Harn Park and at Crossrods in Continental Ranch. Desert Bluegrass Association President Dave Polston said he expects a couple hundred will show up for Fridays opening day, but Saturday and Sunday attendance will likely top 500. This will be the biggest concert to date for High Lonesome, a quartet that has only been together since the fall. Rita and Mark Morrissey at the Shot & Caught Food and Traditional Music Weekend in aid of Hospice Homecare, in Conrans Pub, Rathnure Clonegal-Kildavin: Drama Group - Kildavin-Clonegal Drama Group will stage again their production of 'Mother Knows Best' in Spellman Hall, Kildavin on Sunday, March 8, at 8 p.m. So don't miss this last opportunity to see this hilarious play, where laughter is guaranteed. Seachtain na Gaeilge Seachtain na Gaeilge is an international Irish language festival and a great celebration of our Irish language and culture. It takes place in many other countries as well as here, at home. Each year in March, several events are organised to enjoy celebrating the Irish language and the Irish culture. This year, Seachtain na Gaeilge rungs from March 1 to March 17. Pupils from Clonegal and Kildavin NS will make a great effort to speak in Irish as much as they can during this week at school and at home with the help of their family. Charity Auction Auction Paralympic athlete, Kate Kerr-Horan will hold a charity auction in O'Connor's of Tinahely, on Saturday, March 14, at 9.30 p.m. Your support is greatly appreciated. Confirmation Dates Confirmation for fifth and sixth class takes place in Clonegal Saturday, March 28, at 11 a.m. and Kildavin Tuesday, March 31, at 2.30 p.m. Bunclody Library events Regular Events in Bunclody Library: Bunclody Knitting Club; Wednesday mornings at 10.30 a.m., places limited, booking essential. Online eResources drop in clinic. Why not drop by with your smart phone, tablet or laptop and avail of our free clinic in how to use our online services which include eBooks, digital magazines, eAudiobooks and much more. Every second Tuesday at 11 a.m. Regular Children's Events: Toddler/Preschool Story Time - Stories, songs, rhymes and art and craft for under-5s. Join us for a lively morning of fun and chat. Friday mornings at 11 a.m. If you would you like to receive a text message or email message about our upcoming events please contact us in Bunclody Library at 053 9375466 or bunclodylib@wexfordcoco.ie. Free Event. All Welcome. Clonroche-Poulpeasty St Patrick's Day parade There seems to be great interest and enthusiasm for the revived St Patrick's Day parade 2020. We hope that everyone in the community will participate and get involved, and make this year St Patrick's Day parade in Clonroche, a day to be remembered. We would particularly appeal for the involvement of all commercial firms and businesses in the area, to showcase their enterprise and promote our village. We would also appeal to clubs and groups in the area to participate and get involved. We are thankful to councilor John Fleming for securing funding from the New Ross area or Wexford County Council, which will help to defray expenses. Tell your family, friends and all your acquaintances, Clonroche is the place to be for this St Patrick's Day. Split-the-pot This week's winner drawn in the Cloch Ban was Jay Stoneham, Davidstown. The pot was 274. all proceeds spend locally. Cloughbawn GAA Club five Year Plan: Cathal Byrne, Development Officer Wexford Co Board is coming to Complex Tuesday, March 10, to steer the public 'brainstorming' meeting for our five-year plan. We will all need to work on getting as many people as possible to this important meeting. Club Membership now due. Celtic Roots - 21 Years A celebration of 21 years of Celtic Roots will take place in the National Opera House Wexford on Sunday, March 29, at 7.30 p.m. Tickets available online from the National Opera House at 22 for adults and 15 for children. Booking fee applies. Community Games News Best wishes to the four local teams competing in the Co Draughts on Saturday, March 14. Closing dates for art under-eight-16 and Handwriting under-10 and under-12are due before March 8. Please text your entry to 087 4151350. County final for these two events is March 21. Local Quiz Trials take place in. Bree Hall on Saturday, March 21, at 8 p.m. County final for quiz takes place on April 1. Details of all local events are in local schools and inlocal shops. Full details of all events are on the Aldi Community Games website. The Perfect Match The Perfect Match takes to ther stage - a Musical Drama/Comedy interspersed with well-loved songs, drama and comedy. The performance will run for five nights commencing on Wednesday, March 18, to Sunday, March 22, starting at 8 p.m. in Clonroche Community Centre. Book your seats now to avoid disappointment by contacting 085 2158229. Tickets 10. Booking office now open. Kiltealy-Ballindaggin CHARITY WALK There will be a charity walk in Kiltealy on Saturday, March 14, in aid of the Hope Cancer Support Centre. Unfortunately we cannot provide a buggy friendly route on the day as we previously mentioned due to insurance reasons, also please note the Cullentragh walking trail will be the only route available to walk on the day. Registration will be in the Thatch from 2.30 p.m. and the walk will begin at 3.30 p.m. Following the walk there will be a barbecue and face painting for kids. Later there will be a night of music in the Thatch with waxing and raffle, no admission charge to the night time event. All proceeds and donations will will go to the Hope Cancer Support Centre, Enniscorthy. Your support would be appreciated for this very worthy cause. SPLIT THE POT Winner of Kiltealy NS split-the-pot last week was Statia Sweeney, who won 278. Play split-the-pot every week, envelopes available locally. Many thanks for your continued support. KILTEALY HALL DEVELOPMENT Kiltealy Community Hall development group 350 members draw 2020. 5,000 in prize money. 5 per week for 10 weeks or 50. Draw will take place in Kiltealy Hall after Mass on Saturday, April 4, Proceeds go to hall and Park (provide toilet and upgrade sewerage system) Please contact any committee member. KILTEALY NS Kiltealy NS are now accepting enrolments for September 2020. Enrolment forms are available from the school office at 053 9255446. Forms can also be downloaded from the school website kiltealyns.ie. DUFFRY ROVERS LOTTO The numbers drawn last week were 7, 8, 12 and 24. Three players matched three and won 50 each: Mary Bates, Ballycrystal; James Foley, Aughnaclappa and Cait Doyle, Monbeg. Seller's prizes went to Larry Breen; Phil Bowe; Mohurry Mills and Gordon Watchorn. The draw tonight (Tuesday. March 3) is in Jordan's, Ballindaggin and the jackpot is now 7,200. Marshalstown-Castledockrell Clothes Collection Michael Hopkins will collect clothes for his charity in India on Tuesday, March 3 (today). Items may be left in Castledockrell Church car park before 1 p.m. Michael would like to thank all who have supported these collections in the past. Castledockrell NS The National parents' council delivered a talk for parents on March 2 in the school entitled 'Supporting your child to brild healthy friendships and relationships'. World Book Day is on March 5 and the occasion will be marked in the school with children and teachers dressing up as their favourite character from a book. Lots of fun activities will take place on the day. Seachtain na Gaeilge will take place from March 9 to March 13 and will include a quiz, a traditional music session, a ceili and a La Glas on the 13th, where everybody wears green clothes, eats green food and has lots of fun as Gaeilge. Please note the school's email address has changed recently to castledockrellnschool@gmail.com. For further information on any of the above please visit our website castledockrellns.weebly.com or follow us on Facebook: Castledockrell NS. Storytelling Next session of storytelling is in Castledockrell hall on Thursday, March 19, at 8 p.m. Refreshments served and a raffle held on the night. Mass Times Weekend Masses in the parish are as follows Saturday in Marshalstown at 7.30 p.m. and Sunday in Castledockrell at 10 a.m. Please note also that baptisms in both Marshalstown and Castledockrell are on Saturdays. Confirmation Please remember the children from the parish, who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday, March 13. Social Dance The next Social Dance in Marshalstown Community Centre takes place on Friday, March 20. Doors open at 9.30 p.m. and dancing starts at 10 p.m. Admission including tea is 8. First Holy Communion First Holy Communion in the parish is as follows Marshalstown on Saturday, May 9, and Castledockrell on Sunday, May 17. Patrons The annual Patrons and blessing of graves in the parish are as follows: Marshalstown on Sunday, May 31. Castledockrell on Friday, July 3. Crioshue on Saturday, July 4. More details nearer to the time of each patron. Notes Deadline Please note due to an earlier deadline items for the notes should reach me by 6 p.m. on the Thursday before each issue including on bank holiday weekends. Also only not for profit items should be included in the notes. Thank you for your co-operation. Syria's war-ravaged northwest woke up to relative calm Friday, its skies free of warplanes for the first day in months, following a Russian-Turkish ceasefire deal. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group and AFP correspondents in Idlib province said the truce that came into force at midnight appeared to be holding. Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman reported "a complete absence of regime and Russian warplanes in the Idlib airspace". He said an exchange of fire that did not cause any casualties took place before dawn but added that belligerents on Friday seemed to be observing the ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two main foreign brokers in the nine-year-old conflict, reached a deal after hours of talks in Moscow on Thursday. The agreement will create a security corridor along the key M4 highway in northern Syria, where Turkish and Russian forces will launch joint patrols later this month. Putin told a joint news conference after the talks that the agreement would "serve as a good basis for ending fighting" in Idlib and for "stopping the suffering of the civilian population". A Russian-backed government offensive on the last rebel bastion in the country has killed hundreds of civilians since December and displaced close to a million people. The crisis it has sparked on Turkey's doorstep has been described by the United Nations as the worst humanitarian emergency yet since the start of the war in 2011. Tensions had risen in recent weeks between Damascus and Turkey, which has had troops in northern Syria since 2016 and backs rebel groups. A regime strike last month in Idlib resulted in the deaths of 34 Turkish soldiers, the heaviest loss of personnel for Ankara since its military intervention in Syria. Turkey's reply has been bruising, with devastating drone and rocket strikes destroying regime positions and military equipment and killing dozens of government troops. The joint Russian-Turkish patrols will operate between the town of Tronba in Idlib and a village in Latakia province, a regime stronghold. These patrols, which will mark the first time Russian and Turkish forces operate jointly in Idlib, are due to start on March 15. On that day, the conflict which has killed close to 400,000 people and displaced half of the population of Syria, will enter its tenth year. Two Florida residents have died of coronavirus, the first deaths in the state attributed to the outbreak, bringing the U.S. death toll to 17. The Florida Department of Health confirmed the deaths on Friday night. The state also said three new cases had tested positive in the state, bringing the total cases to seven, plus five who were repatriated from abroad. One of the fatalities was a man in his 70s who had been sick in Santa Rosa County in the Panhandle, and the other was a man in his 70s in Lee County on the Gulf Coast. Both men had reportedly traveled internationally. The new presumptive positive cases included two men in Broward County, ages 65 and 75, who are currently in isolation under medical supervision. The third new positive test was the man who died in Lee County. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks about the COVID-19 virus during a news conference at the Florida Department of Health on Monday, March 2, 2020, in Miami Florida also has 278 residents under public health monitoring, meaning they are at risk of having been exposed to to the virus and are monitoring their health under the supervision of public health officials. The latest deaths bring the outbreak's U.S. death toll to 17, and they are the first fatalities on the East Coast. The other deaths occurred in California and Washington state, which has become the biggest viral hot zone in the nation. President Donald Trump is spending at least part of the weekend in his resort in Palm Beach, Florida, after landing on Friday night in Air Force One. On Friday night Trump is scheduled to host Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro at Mar-a-Lago. President Trump arrives in Florida aboard Air Force One on Friday night. He is spending the Friday night at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach President Donald Trump steps off Air Force One as he arrives Friday in Florida The deaths in Florida came on a day of fast-moving developments, including: Confirmed cases were reported for the first time in Kentucky and Indiana Twenty-one people aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship tested positive Trump signed an $8.3 billion measure to combat the coronavirus outbreak Friday The president said 'anyone who wants a test can get a test' - despite shortages New York state confirmed 11 new cases Friday, taking its total to 44 Silicon Valley continues to close its doors as major tech hubs of California and Seattle increasingly become virus hotspots Apple told all 12,000 employees at its headquarters Apple Park to remain home Friday, following similar guidance from Facebook and Microsoft Amazon and Facebook both have employees with the disease in Seattle Officials in Austin announced that South by Southwest festival will be canceled Most US cases have been linked to the Life Care Center nursing facility in Kirkland, near Seattle, where nine residents have died It emerged that three days before the first cases were confirmed, the facility held a 'germ-fest' party meaning the spread could be far wider than thought In San Francisco, 21 people aboard a mammoth cruise ship off the California coast tested positive for the new coronavirus and 19 of them are crew members. Vice President Mike Pence announced the test results on Friday, amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of more than 10 cases during its previous voyage. He said federal officials were working with California authorities around-the-clock to bring the Grand Princess, with more than 3,500 on board, to a non-commercial port over the weekend and test everyone for the virus. There was no immediate word on where the vessel will dock. 'Those that will need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those who will require medical help will receive it,' Pence said. In the meantime, everyone on the ship remained holed up in their rooms as they await word about the fate of the ship. President Donald Trump, speaking at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said he would have preferred not to let the passengers disembark onto American soil but will defer to the recommendations of medical experts. 'I dont need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault,' he said. 'And it wasn't the fault of the people on the ship either. Okay? It wasn't their fault either. And they are mostly Americans.' The Grand Princess cruise ship passes the Golden Gate Bridge as it arrives from Hawaii in San Francisco. Twenty-one people on board have tested positive for the coronavirus The Grand Princess is currently 400 miles off San Francisco and heading for port having returned from Hawaii after 11 passengers and 10 crew reported symptoms of coronavirus. Tests for 21 people on board, including 19 crew and two passengers, have tested positive Meanwhile, two federal health screeners at Los Angeles International Airport have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to an email sent to their colleagues today and seen by Reuters. The CDC employees were conducting secondary screenings of passengers arriving from overseas, including from China, and have been directed to self-quarantine until March 17, the email said. 'At this time, we cannot confirm where these two screeners were exposed,' said the email, which was sent by a senior CDC official. 'Let us keep our colleagues in our thoughts during this period.' TRUMP CLAIMS 'ANYBODY WHO WANTS A TEST CAN GET A TEST' AS HE COMMITS $8.3 BILLION TO TACKLING CRISIS President Donald Trump plunged coronavirus testing into chaos Friday when he announced that 'anybody who wants a test can get a test during a rambling press conference Friday. The president brushed off concerns about the limited number of coronavirus test kits during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta Friday. He left officials scrambling to explain how such a commitment could happen after free-wheeling press availability where he publicly disagreed with his own government's approach to the cruise ship, referenced impeachment, asked about TV ratings, and called a Democratic government 'a snake.' 'The tests are beautiful,' Trump added after meeting with top U.S. scientists amid the coronavirus outbreak. 'Anybody who right now and yesterday, anybody that needs a test gets a test,' Trump said. Meanwhile Maryland announced its first cases; Trump was there on Tuesday to visit the National Institutes of Health's Vaccine Research Center and get an update from Dr. Anthony Fauci Trump praised his own administration's response amid concerns that the million test kits promised had yet to materialize. 'We've done a tremendous job at keeping it down,' he said. And Trump shared his misgivings about providing on-shore medical treatment to passengers of a Princess cruise liner off the coast of San Francisco. He raised concerns it would spike the numbers of infected Americans. 'I like the numbers where they are. I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship. That wasn't our fault,' Trump said. The president during his trip to the CDC called Washington State Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee a 'snake.' He also appeared to criticize Pence's approach. 'Oh I told Mike not to be complimentary that governor is a snake. I said if you're nice to him he will take advantage,' Trump said. 'We have a lot of problems with the governor, the governor of Washington,' he said, adding: 'Mike may be happy with him but I'm not.' Inslee, who ran for president this year and is overseeing an outbreak in his state, had tweeted last week that he told Pence their work would be more successful if the administration 'stuck to the science and told the truth." Trump submitted to a series of questions from reporters at the CDC, where his comments veered to his appearance Thursday night at a Fox News town hall. He brought up his appearance on 'a very fine network known as Fox News. How was the show last night? Did it get good ratings, by the way?' he asked. Trump, who wore his signature red 'Make America Great' hat during the briefing about the response to the potential pandemic, swerved between the coronavirus issue and his political grievances. He also invoked his own uncle, Dr. John Trump, in explaining his aptitude for dealing with the issue. 'I like this stuff. I really get it,' Trump said. 'The general risk to the American public remains low,' Pence told reporters in the White House briefing room. 'It is a good time for any American who is elderly and has a serious underlying health condition to think carefully about travel,' he said. BLOW FOR WORLDS BIGGEST TECH FIRMS AS SILICON VALLEY SHUTS ITS DOORS AND SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FESTIVAL IS AXED The worlds tech giants have been dealt a major blow from the coronavirus crisis as Silicon Valley continues to shut its doors and South by Southwest Festival is cancelled. On Friday, Apple became the latest Silicon Valley firm to advise its workers to stay away in coronavirus-hit California. Apple advised all 12,000 employees at its Cupertino headquarters to work from home amid heightened coronavirus concerns as the death toll in the US continued to rise. In a memo seen by DailyMail.com and issued to all staff at the Santa Clara Valley offices named Apple Park, employees were told that the precaution was being taken following recent guidance from public health officials. Apple has advised all 12,000 employees at its Cupertino headquarters to work from home Staff were advised that offices would remain open but that they were 'encouraging team members' to stay away despite only sending the email when many would already be traveling to work. Apple joined Facebook and Microsoft in introducing new policies to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus this week. Tech company office closures: How many are affected? Microsoft: The company has asked its employees in its San Francisco Bay and Seattle HQ offices to work from home if they can do so. The Seattle campus has 54,000 employees but it is not known how many are in the San Francisco Bay. Microsoft has more than 80,000 employees across the country. Facebook: They told employees in its San Francisco Bay offices to stay at home on Friday and cancel all business trips due to the virus. Facebook already announced on Wednesday it has closed its Seattle office until at least March 9 after a contractor there was discovered to have contracted the virus. The two offices have an estimated 17,000 employees. Apple: Advised all 12,000 employees at its Cupertino headquarters to work from home. Amazon: Company gave its more than 50,000 employees in the Washington state region a green light to work remotely after one of its headquarter employees tested positive for coronavirus. Google: The company is also encouraging workers in Washington state to stay away from offices and work from home. Advertisement An estimated 83,000 workers are affected by the closures and work-from-home policies within these three companies alone. Facebook also told employees in its San Francisco Bay offices to stay at home on Friday and cancel all business trips due to the virus. The company is believed to have around 14,000 employees in the Bay Area. The social network is also cancelling any events in the Bay Area. Facebook already announced Wednesday night that it has closed its Seattle office after a contractor there was discovered to have contracted the virus. Between the San Francisco and Seattle closures, around 17,000 employee of the company are estimated to be working from home. The office will be closed until at least Monday, March 9, and the company is encouraging its employees to work from home for the remainder of the month. Amazon confirmed late Tuesday that one of its employees in Seattle had tested positive for coronavirus after going home sick from work on February 25. An Amazon spokeperson told DailyMail.com: 'We're supporting the affected employee who is in quarantine.' Amazon has more than 50,000 employees in Seattle and more than 275,000 full-time workers across the U.S. Last week, Amazon became one of the first U.S. companies to crack down on employee travel due to the outbreak, banning all 'non-essential' work trips. Meanwhile, Google is asking employees in Washington state who can work from home to do so. It has more than 4,500 employees in Seattle. Microsoft has already asked its employees in its San Francisco Bay and Seattle HQ offices to work from home if they can do so to restrict the spread of the virus. The company has over 80,000 employees in the US, 54,000 of whom are based in the Washington state Redmond campus. The company has committed to continue to pay its workers who are paid by the hour during the outbreak even if they can't come to work. NY GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO BLASTS CDC AND 'BAD GOVERNMENT' AS NY CASES RISE TO 44 The number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus in New York state has risen to 44 as at least 4,000 people have been urged to self-quarantine to prevent the spread of the disease. In a press conference on Friday, Governer Andrew Cuomo said that 'most' of the cases are linked to a Manhattan lawyer who tested positive earlier in the week. There are now 33 cases in Westchester County, five in New York City, four in Nassau County and two in Rockland County. Details of all the new cases were not immediately clear, but Cuomo said there were 'a number of young people' and he suspects 'they are related to existing cases. At least five people have been hospitalized across the state. Cuomo blasted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Trump administration over their mixed messages regarding coronvirus testing. Cuomo cited the contradictory statements issued by the federal health agency and Vice President Mike Pence. 'I don't understand CDC's instructions, they say anyone can get tested if they want...but Pence says we don't have enough tests,' Cuomo told reporters. 'How can you bring in more people into the pipeline than you can address at the end of the pipeline?' he said. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed 'most' of the cases in the state are linked to a Manhattan lawyer who tested positive earlier in the week. Eleven of those were new cases reported this morning. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city's latest case is a man in his 50s with 'mild' symptoms' 'That is not only bad government and poor planning, it will increase the fear.' It comes just hours after Dr Anthony Fauci, a top official at the NIH, said he can't make any promises about when enough test kits will be made available. Cuomo argued that people will be fearful because they won't understand why doctors don't have the capacity to test them. 'Their position is absurd and nonsensical,' the governor said. 'I think the anxiety and the fear is a bigger problem than the virus.' Cuomo also lamented that CDC and FDA were slow in approving New York's use of private labs as well as giving New York State's Wadsworth Lab And NYC's Public-Health Lab permission to test for the virus. His comments came hours after Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the goal in the next few weeks to have more than a million tests ready but that he couldn't guarantee it. It echoed comments made by Vice President Mike Pence at a press conference on Thursday admitted that there is a shortage of test kits, which currently cannot meet demand. 'I can't guarantee that, that's an issue that would have to go through the FDA and the companies to see if that's available,' Dr Fauci told TODAY. 'So I cannot promise it but that's what the goal is - within the next couple of weeks - to get the million plus [out].' It is believed one of the chemicals used in the test did not work properly, resulting in the test needing to be remanufactured. There are 44 confirmed cases in New York state. This includes two cases in Rockland County, five in New York City, 33 in Westchester and four in Nassau County Another issue was that the CDC initially set narrow criteria on who could be tested. At first, only those with a travel history to China - where the outbreak emerged - or those who had been exposed to a confirmed coronavirus patient were tested. That changed after the first patient of 'unknown diagnosis' was confirmed in California, believed to be of so-called community spread. 'There were certainly some missteps in the beginning regarding getting tests out, some technical issues that slowed down the process,' Dr Fauci told TODAY. 'The Vice President was absolutely correct. There has been a delay and we didn't have enough right now but, hopefully, in the near future hopefully we will.' The CDC and other health officials have come under fire for how slowly Americans are being tested. 'I'm not happy about the lack of the appropriate number of test kits - that's for sure - but other areas of the response, I think, are going well,' Dr Fauci said. NEW YORK STATE CORONAVIRUS CASES WESTCHESTER COUNTY: 33 NEW YORK CITY: 5 NASSAU COUNTY: 4 ROCKLAND COUNTY: 2 Advertisement Heath and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar explained on Thursday the three steps that stand in the way to broader, faster testing. He said that even when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) itself developed a test, it had to get approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before distributing it. That request was submitted February 3 and approved February 4. The CDC didn't start shipping its first batch of tests until February 6. Dr Fauci said he's also frustrated at the lack of screenings at US airports. In a press conference on Monday evening, Pence said there will be 100 percent screening at all airports with direct flights from Italy and South Korea over the next 12 hours. However, Vice News producer Julia Lindau said she did not undergo any health screenings or additional questioning after landing at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York from Italy on Thursday night. 'I just landed at JFK after reporting on #coronavirus in Milan and Lombardy - the epicenter of Italy's outbreak - for @vicenews,' she tweeted. 'I walked right through US customs. They didn't ask me where in Italy I went or if I came into contact with sick people. They didn't ask me anything.' Biden has done well with some of the kinds of Michigan voters Sanders relied on for success in 2016, whether those in small towns and rural areas or those without college degrees. Sanders still has strength in areas with colleges and universities, but by his own acknowledgment, he is not getting the turnout he needs from young voters. Meanwhile, in Michigan districts with large concentrations of African Americans, Sanders lost big in 2016, and Biden has been winning black voters by huge margins this year. The Enforcement Directorate questioned Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor for the second day on Saturday in connection with a money laundering probe against him and others and raided some more locations in Delhi and Mumbai, officials said. They said Kapoor was brought to the agency's office in Ballard Estate area after noon. He has been questioned for over seven hours and his statement recorded by the agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the officials said. The premises of Kapoor's three daughters in Delhi and Mumbai were also searched on Saturday to gather more information and evidence, they added. The ED had searched Rana's residence in the upscale 'Samudra Mahal' building in the Worli area on Friday night and grilled him there too. The questioning of Kapoor is continuing, the officials said. The case against Kapoor is linked to the scam-hit Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL) as the loans given by the bank to the company allegedly turned non-performing assets (NPAs), they said. A Rs 600-crore worth loan extended by the DHFL to an entity is also at the centre of the ED probe, they added. Action against Kapoor is being conducted under the PMLA. According to the officials, the central agency is also probing the Yes Bank founder's role in connection with the disbursal of loans to some corporate entities and the subsequent alleged kickbacks reportedly received in his wife's accounts. Other alleged irregularities are also under the agency's scanner, including the one related to the alleged Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) fraud in Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), they said. The CBI recently took over the investigation into the Rs 2,267-crore EPF fraud in Uttar Pradesh, where hard-earned savings of power sector employees were invested in DHFL. The ED action came after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday imposed a moratorium on the capital-starved Yes Bank, capping withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account, and superseded the board of the private sector lender with immediate effect. Yes Bank will not be able to grant or renew any loan or advance, make any investment, incur any liability or agree to disburse any payment. As per the RBI's draft reconstruction scheme, State Bank of India will pick up 49 per cent stake in the crisis-ridden Yes Bank under a government-approved bailout plan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 4.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The United States is in the midst of a health crisis, and the only item on Donald Trumps Saturday schedule is dinner at Mar-a-Lago. As Sam Stein pointed out on Twitter Saturday, After last nights fundraiser, Trump has a pretty light schedule today while staying at his private club. The presidents public schedule only includes an evening working dinner with the president of Brazil. Trumps schedule: After last nights fundraiser, Trump has a pretty light schedule today while staying at his private club pic.twitter.com/P6udMuaAai Sam Stein (@samstein) March 7, 2020 Political theatre will not save Trump from his coronavirus disaster Donald Trump has mismanaged the coronavirus crisis since day one. Instead of acknowledging the governments flawed response and working to step it up, hes simply doubled down on political theater. This week, he phoned into Sean Hannity to make up more dangerous nonsense about the outbreak, participated in a Fox News town hall where he promised to slash Social Security and Medicare, and fired his third chief of staff. In other words, a global health emergency hasnt changed this presidents behavior at all. He still puts his personal political fortunes ahead of the interests of the American people. And, of course, as his near-empty Saturday schedule shows, Trump still has no interest in doing any actual work as president no matter what external crises hit his desk on a given day. Ultimately, Donald Trump is hoping that political theater will save him from the fallout of his disastrous management of a global health emergency, but its moments like this that demonstrate just how unfit he is to be president of the United States. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter Saudi Arabia has detained three senior Saudi princes including Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the younger brother of King Salman, and Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the king's nephew, for allegedly planning a coup, sources with knowledge of the matter said. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman's son and de facto ruler of the country, which is the world's top oil exporter and a key U.S. ally, has moved to consolidate power since ousting Mohammed bin Nayef as heir to the throne in a 2017 palace coup. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 14, 2019. Alexei Nikolsky | Sputnik | Kremlin via Reuters Later that year, he arrested several royals and other prominent Saudis, holding them for months at Riyadh's Ritz Carlton hotel, in an anti-corruption campaign that caused shockwaves at home and abroad. Four sources told Reuters that Prince Ahmed and Mohammed bin Nayef were detained in the latest operation. Two sources, including a regional source, said Mohammed bin Nayef and his half-brother, Nawaf, were detained while at a private desert camp on Friday. Crown Prince Mohammed, who is also referred to as MbS, "accused them (the princes) of conducting contacts with foreign powers, including the Americans and others, to carry out a coup d'etat," the regional source said. "With these arrests, MbS consolidated his full grip on power. It's over with this purge," the source added, indicating that no rivals remain to challenge his succession to the throne. Another source said the princes were accused of "treason". The Saudi government media office did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on the detentions, which were first reported by The Wall Street Journal. The regional source said King Salman had approved the latest detentions. "The king signed off on the arrests," the source said, adding that the king is in a mental and physically sound state. The king met British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Thursday in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Both King Salman and the crown prince attended a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Crown Prince Mohammed, 34, has fuelled resentment among some prominent branches of the ruling family by tightening his grip on power. Some critics have questioned his ability to lead after the 2018 murder of a prominent journalist by Saudi agents and the largest-ever attack on Saudi oil infrastructure last year, sources have said. They said royals seeking to change the line of succession view Prince Ahmed, King Salman's only surviving full brother, as a possible choice who would have support of family members, the security apparatus, and some Western powers. Saudi authorities have not commented on issues of succession or criticism of the crown prince's leadership. Prince Mohammed is popular among Saudi youth and also has staunch supporters within the royal Al Saud family, which numbers around 10,000 members. King supports son Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 23:52:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close FUZHOU, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-eight people have been rescued after a hotel building collapsed in east China's Fujian Province Saturday evening, local authorities said. The Xinjia Hotel in Licheng District of the city of Quanzhou collapsed at around 7:15 p.m. According to a preliminary report, about 70 people were trapped. More than 700 rescue workers have been sent to the scene, and 38 people had been rescued as of 11:16 p.m. Sources with the municipal authorities said the hotel has been used to quarantine and observe people who had come from other provinces during the novel coronavirus prevention and control. The Ministry of Emergency Management has sent a work team to Quanzhou to help with rescue and investigate the cause of accident. The ministry urged all-out efforts to rescue the victims and emphasized the prevention of secondary disasters, while ensuring the safety of rescue teams. Rescuers wearing masks were using ropes to pull trapped people out of the rubble, according to Xinhua reporters at the site. High-voltage power lines were lying over the rubble, although firefighters said it was not clear if the lines would hamper rescue work. "The hotel has six floors and a cellar. When it collapsed, I heard big sounds and felt some tremor," said a resident living nearby. Further rescue is under way. New Fox Nation host Nancy Grace said her fiance's murder was the incident that changed the course of her life and is the reason behind why she's spent her whole career working so hard to get justice for crime victims. Grace, a television legal analyst and former prosecutor, was 19 years old and majoring in English at Georgia's Mercer University when her fiance, geologist Keith Griffin, 23, was killed by his former coworker. Griffin's murder occurred just months before his and Grace's 1979 wedding day. He was shot by a man, Tommy McCoy, who had been fired from the construction site where they had both worked. New Fox Nation host Nancy Grace said that it was her fiance's murder in 1979 that prompted her to pursue a legal career, as a prosecutor and legal analyst Grace told Fox News that 'If it wasn't for Keith's life and passing on, I wouldn't have been prosecuting cases. I wouldn't be looking at cases at all.' She said that prior to Griffin's death, her 'dream' was to become a Shakespearean literature professor. 'And when he was murdered, that changed everything for me,' she said, adding that she 'wanted to do something' but didn't know what to do or how to do anything. She told the Hollywood Reporter that the dropped out of school and went to live with her sister, a student at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and spent months crying endlessly. One day, Grace told the magazine in 2012, 'I remember it hit me: I would go to law school and maybe stop this from happening again.' Nancy Grace is pictured here, in an undated photo, with fiance Keith Griffin. He was murdered in 1979 be a former co-worker She told Fox News that she decided to pursue a juris doctorate degree 'with one aim, and that was to become a felony prosecutor and somehow put a Band-Aid on these families that were suffering.' After law school, Grace landed a position at Georgia's Fulton County District Attorney's Office, where she spent 10 years working as a special prosecutor. In 2005, Grace told Larry King Live that she prosecuted violent felony crimes in more than 100 jury trials and never once heard the words 'not guilty.' Despite her success in and out of the courtroom, and the knowledge that she was helping families get justice, Grace told Fox News that prosecuting criminals 'was actually putting a Band-Aid on me.' She said that 'in every case, for that moment, I felt better, and then I got the next case.' In 1996, she was tapped as a co-host on CourTV, alongside Johnnie Cochran, starting a more than 20 year career as a legal commentator and controversial cable TV personality, with her coverage of headline-making crimes, including the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping, Casey Anthony's murder trial and the Duke lacrosse rape case. In addition to working on CourTV, Grace spent nearly 12 years hosting her own show on HLN and, in 2019, hosted the true crime 'Injustice with Nancy Grace' on Oxygen. Now, Grace is preparing to debut 'Crime Stories with Nancy Grace' on Fox Nation on March 9. After Griffin's death, Grace said she abandoned plans to be a literature professor and went to law school, which led to a prosecutor job and lengthy legal analyst career. She is pictured here (left) with Johnnie Cochran (right) while hosting CourTV in 1996 After nearly 12 years on HLN and a 2019 series on Oxygen, Grace is now hosting a new show, Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, which debuts on Fox Nation on March 9 The first episode involves the unsolved 1986 murder of 13-year-old Chuckie Mauk, in Warner Robins, Georgia. He was fatally shot while riding his bike. Grace heard about the largely unknown cold case through her brother, Mac Grace Jr, who happened to meet Mauk's mother, Cathy Miller at a doctor's office one day. Grace told Fox News 'It was a miracle that I found out about it.' She said that Miller had recognized Mac Jr as Grace's brother while he was on a Johnson & Johnson sales call at a doctor's office and asked him if Grace would help her investigate Mauk's murder. 'The moment I spoke to her, I was just floored at the sadness in her voice and how she has really suffered since Chuckie was murdered,' Grace said. In January 2017, Grace posted a video on her Instagram page of Miller asking the public for help in solving Mauk's murder. Now, Grace said, she's 'hopeful' that the Fox Nation series will be able to further publicize Mauk's story so that 'there may be justice in the case.' Mauk's story has extra meaning to Grace, as she grew up in nearby rural Bibb County, Georgia. So, 'to think that I could help someone that is a stones throw away from home means a lot to me. I mean, I have been to a lot of places, a lot of courtrooms, a lot of courthouses. I have investigated cases all over the country. But there is no place like home,' she told The Telegraph. Grace will also return to cable to host a special on Fox News called American Kidnapping: Elizabeth Smart' on March 15. SEATTLE As the coronavirus epidemic threatens Seattle, warnings to remain inside are starting to echo the city's 1918 crisis, when the Spanish flu forced many into lockdown. My great-aunt Violet Harris was 15 when it hit. Partly out of boredom, she began keeping a diary. Her family and friends eventually emerged unscathed, if a little stir-crazy, from the tedium of having schools closed, mandates that masks be worn outside at all times and restrictions on group events. At least 16 people have died in Washington state because of coronavirus, with most of the fatalities occurring in the greater Seattle area. The city's major employers, including Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook, have told employees to stay home for at least three weeks. Local universities have called shifted to online classes for the rest of the quarter, including the University of Washington's 47,000 students. More Seattle: Coronavirus fears are making shoppers 'erratic' in Washington - and businesses are already seeing sharp declines The city faced a much different health crisis a century ago. Many people mistakenly believe that Seattle was an epicenter of the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918, which killed as many as 50 million people as it raged around the globe. That's partly because one of the iconic photos of the global pandemic shows a line of Seattle policemen all wearing masks. Policemen in Seattle wearing masks made by the Red Cross, during the influenza epidemic. December 1918. That's actually the opposite of what happened, said Leonard Garfield, executive director of Seattle's Museum of History and Industry. The epidemic had been spreading through the world in the spring of 1918 but was little reported, in part because national leaders didn't want the fear of it to affect public support for World War I. The flu reemerged in the fall of 1918, hitting major cities like Boston, Cincinnati and Philadelphia hard. Seattle, home to about 400,000 people at the time and at the far northwest of the country, didn't begin to see cases until slightly later. Story continues "That gave Seattle some time to prepare," said Garfield. "As they saw it coming, they acted fairly quickly. One of the first things they did was to close down large public gatherings and the schools." Coronavirus is spreading in the US: Here's everything to know, from symptoms to how to protect yourself At the time, my Great Aunt Vi, as our family called her, was a junior at Lincoln High School. For her, the biggest and happiest news of the day was that the schools were closing. On Oct. 5. 1918, she wrote in her diary: It was announced in the papers tonight that all churches, shows and schools would be closed until further notice, to prevent Spanish influenza from spreading. Good idea? Ill say it is! So will every other school kid, I calculate. The only cloud in my sky is that the (School) Board will add the missed days on to the end of the term. Violet Harris, a Seattle resident who lived through the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic, in front of her house near the city's University District. In the early 1900s, public health infrastructure was only just beginning to be developed and Seattle was a little ahead of the curve, Garfield said. "There was a fairly progressive civic mindset in Washington state at that time. Seattle had a brand new city public health officer and there was a state public department, as well," he said. Nonetheless, the disease began to spread. It was, as usual, a rainy October. Vi had borrowed her best friend Rena's umbrella but heard hard news from a neighbor when she went to give it back. On Oct. 18, 1918, she wrote: She said Rena was sick and could hardly walk. I walked on a bit further when I met Mr. B. (Renas father) dressed in his best. He said Mrs. B and Rena were sick. That it was the flu and Id better not go in. I didnt. Im awfully sorry about the Bs. They seem to get everything that comes along. I hope they will be up soon. .... It is too bad, but then no one can take the chance of getting the flu. Its too dangerous. I think they ought to go to the hospital. Mr. B. can certainly not give them the proper care. I hope he doesnt get it. Then they would be in a fix. Rena's family later recovered. Violet Harris' drawing of what the masks everyone in Seattle was ordered to wear when outside looked like. On October 27, 1918, Vi wrote: Rena called me up. She is well now . I asked her what it felt like to have the influenza, and she said, Dont get it. Seattle was important economically and to the war effort because of the large concentration of shipyards and army and navy stations in the area, one reason why such drastic measures were undertaken, Garfield said. Oct. 28, 1918: It says in to-nights paper that to-morrow all Seattle will be wearing masks. No one will be allowed on a streetcar without one. Gee! People will look funny like ghosts." There were immediate shortages of the masks. Vi's father Cornelius was sent out to buy the family of seven masks but could only find three. Violet pasted articles from the local paper about the fashions in masks in her diary. An article from the local Seattle paper about the fashions in masks due to the Spanish influenza epidemic in 1918. Oct. 31, 1918: I stayed in all day and didnt even go to Renas. The flu seems to be spreading, and Mama doesnt want us to go around more than we need to. Violet spent the next two weeks reading and sewing on a new dress for school and trying out new recipes from the paper, including one for fudge that turned out so badly she had to throw half the batch out. An amusing story in the local Seattle paper about the requirement that everyone wear masks during the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic there. Finally, after almost six weeks, restrictions on public gatherings were lifted. Vi was happy to get to go out but not thrilled at going back to school. Nov. 12, 1918: The ban was lifted to-day. No more .... masks. Everything open too. 'The Romance of Tarzan' is on at the Coliseum (movie theater) as it was about 6 weeks ago. Id like to see it awfully. .... School opens this week Thursday! Did you ever? As if they couldnt have waited till Monday! 1918: Seattle Mayor Ole Hanson bans public assembly for more than five weeks, closing all schools, churches, synagogues and theaters to stop the spread of the Spanish flu. Nov. 14, 1918: Our teachers were pretty lenient to-day. Except Miss Streator (her Latin teacher.) She gave out the words just the same as if we hadnt had 6 weeks to forget them in. I got 75. Violet lived until 1954, having experienced an event that quickly faded from the public's memory. "It was called the forgotten illness," said Garfield. Diaries of Violet Harris, who was 15 when the Spanish flu epidemic shut Seattle down in 1918. But Seattle's quick and draconian action was important in stopping a disease that is estimated to have killed more than 1,500 people in the city and somewhere between 700,000 and 1 million people across the United States, said Garfield. "Some people say the action we took pretty seriously slowed the spread of the infection and helped hasten the end," he said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Seattle quarantines echoes fears during 1918 Spanish flu Bernie Sanders supporters in Bexar County couldnt wait to get to the polls. Just look at the early balloting results: The Vermont senator took 33 percent of the vote to Joe Bidens 18 percent. The former vice presidents supporters, on the other hand, largely had to be convinced. Biden had to decisively win the South Carolina primary the Saturday before Super Tuesday and scoop up the endorsements of Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar before voters got to yes. They didnt have passion. But there were a lot of them, enough to ultimately beat Sanders here and across Texas. We talk about the Biden-Sanders showdown as a sharp split between moderates and progressives in the Democratic Party. Weve seen that in varying degrees in every presidential nomination contest, Democratic and Republican. But the intraparty civil war talk does more to hide than reveal what the turmoils about. Automation and artificial intelligence are taking over all kinds of jobs, including ones once thought safe for humans. Meanwhile, Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Apple sit at the top of the economy, feeding wealth to top executives, star talent and investors and exacerbating income equality. These giants have also brought to life what Harvards Shoshana Zuboff calls surveillance capitalism, in which almost every digital move you make is monitored and your data poured into algorithms to sell you more stuff. Thats not to mention the federal governments potential to invade whats left of your privacy, also thanks to leaps in computer-processing power. Many parts of the U.S., including San Antonio, are experiencing super-low unemployment, and until the coronavirus broke loose, the stock markets rocked. Yet 58 percent of Americans think current economic conditions are harming the middle class, according to a December poll by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center. The worst off in their view: the poor and people without college degrees. Sanders argument is that the federal government is the only power big enough to set things right. Medicare for all and free college education, for as monumental as these policies would be, are just appendages to that idea. If you dont buy his reasoning, its easy to write off Sanders as a cranky old socialist whose dreams of a centrally planned economy have been junked by history. (See: Soviet Union. China? Yeah, well harder to explain.) But hes not some throwback to the 1950s and 60s. And hes not alone in the belief that government will have to play a much bigger role in our futures. In a chilling new book called A World Without Work, Oxford University economist Daniel Susskind says theres no stopping the encroachment of robots and AI in the workplace every workplace. There simply wont be enough work for humans in the decades ahead to hold societies together. Our only recourse, he concludes, will be Big Government. Among the policy solutions he explores, coolly and evenhandedly: taxing employers for every robot they put to work; heavily taxing the rich (granted, not exactly a cutting-edge idea); and establishing some form of universal basic income, which is essentially a regular check from the government not tied to your employment status. If you accept that a bigger, more assertive government is the only workable response to economic injustice, how could you not get excited about Sanders? And yet try to imagine Sanders patiently bargaining with Congress over a huge expansion of Medicare. Or worrying about the national debt, which hit $23 trillion in February. Or earnestly considering advisers views that conflict with his own. Neither can I. In those ways, a Sanders presidency would look a lot like Donald Trumps, though without the mean, intentionally unpresidential tweets. Trump intuitively understands voters status anxieties and their sense that elites are dumping on them, whenever the elites arent ignoring them. For years now, Ive believed that my dearly departed Grandma Mabel a hard-core New Deal Democrat and the bookkeeper for the United Auto Workers local in Muncie, Ind. wouldve happily voted for Trump in 2016. The president amplifies his bases fears and resentments. But he comes up far short in rescuing his voters from their predicament. Could Biden fix things? Well, hes a tweaker. Take health care, which usually polls at or near the top of voters major concerns. Sanders wants universal health care, without insurance companies as the intermediaries; Biden wants to beef up his former bosss signature Affordable Care Act, increasing its tax credits, and to do away with doctors and hospitals out-of-network rates in some cases. He doesnt do revolution. And, for now, a growing number of Democratic primary voters are OK with that. Friday morning, 2 days after Biden carried 10 states on Super Tuesday, a Yahoo! News headline said hes surging in polls because Democrats want a return to normalcy. And Real Clear Politics national poll average had him with a 7.5 point lead over Sanders, 34.3 percent to 26.8 percent. Maybe Biden will start talking about structural problems in the U.S. economy in a bid to win over more liberals. If so, hell probably sound like an American tourist with a few French lessons under his belt trying to order dinner in Paris. Any way you look at the upcoming presidential election, were likely in for a long, rough transition into our fully automated, tech-dominated future a mell of a hess, as Grandma Mabel would say. greg.jefferson@express-news.net Precarious Lack of Engineers May Keep Norwegian F-35s Grounded Report Sputnik News 06:54 GMT 06.03.2020 So far, Norway has received 15 new F-35s, and three more are to arrive in May. Right now, Norwegian F-35s are on their maiden air policing mission in Iceland. While the F-35s have been repeatedly described as the backbone of Norway's future defence and crucial to protect the country, there is trouble lurking behind the facade. A report by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), which the Defence Ministry insisted should be classified, has revealed a critical lack of flight technicians, the newspaper Klassekampen reported. The Norwegian Defence Ministry is struggling to recruit new personnel and retain the ones they have. Local unions in the Air Force contacted parliamentary representatives as late as this week with a warning about the situation, but according to Klassekampen, the military's technician problem has long been known. The air defence technicians are trained at the Kjevik school centre outside Kristiansand. The school's stated goal is to train over 40 new technicians a year, but only manages to deliver a half. "We have a deficit of 20 to 25 people each year", Torbjrn Strand, head of the Norwegian Officers Association at Kjevik, told Klassekampen. "It will have consequences eventually. It will cause collapse. We'll be unable to get the planes up in the air", he said. The association believes the problems are partly due to the Armed Forces' educational reform of 2016, which meant, among other things, that the Air Force dropped its own basic training for aircraft technicians. Instead, the military opted for recruiting personnel from the four upper secondary schools in the country that train flight technicians. At Kjevik, civilian-trained technicians were to undergo military specialisation in aircraft and helicopters. However, the plan has largely failed. "As of today, we are in crisis", Strand said. The OAG's report went through several parliamentary committees before it was finally dealt with by the parliament behind closed doors in February. In the report, the OAG listed its second-highest level of criticism: "serious". This level implies "conditions that can have significant consequences for society or the citizens concerned, or where the sum of errors and omissions is so large that this must be considered serious in itself", Klassekampen pointed out. Defence spokesman Major Stian Roen confirmed that the Armed Forces are struggling to get enough technicians. "The Air Force needs a significant number of flight technicians every year for the next decade", Roen told Klassekampen. However, he rejected the seriousness of the situation. "We have a good plan and a number of measures to increase the number of aircraft technicians in the Air Force in the future. Work is being done on increased recruitment", he assured. So far, Norway has received 15 new F-35s, and three more are to arrive in May. Right now, Norwegian F-35s are on their maiden four-week air policing mission in Iceland. Norway is to purchase 52 F-35 fighter jets in order to replace its ageing F-16 fleet, which are being phased out. By 2025, the new fighter fleet is expected to be ready. Despite the official price tag of NOK 85.1 billion (over $9.2 billion), the newspaper Bergens Tidende estimated last year that it could in fact reach as high as NOK 97 billion ($10.4 billion) due to unforeseen maintenance issues. The acquisition, though hailed as Norway's single most important military investment, has also been slammed as the nation's largest investment blunder, because problems involving the costly jets have been heaping up, including noise levels, lack of pilots and hangars, and a runaway maintenance bill. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The podium at the State Department in Washington on Aug. 16, 2018. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Russia, China Spreading False Narratives About Coronavirus: US State Department Official U.S. adversaries such as Russia and China are propagating false information about the novel coronavirus outbreak amid a global public health crisis, according to a top State Department official tasked with countering foreign propaganda threats. The coronavirus is an example of where weve seen adversaries take advantage of a health crisis where people are terrified worldwideto try to advance their priorities, Lea Gabrielle, who leads the Global Engagement Center at the State Department, said during a Senate hearing on March 5. While both countries propaganda maligns and undermines free societies, the intent and the style of their state-directed campaigns differ greatly, according to Gabrielle. One of the best practices in countering propaganda and disinformation is exposing it, she said. Moscow The Kremlin has put the entire ecosystem of Russia disinformation at play, including state proxy websites, state media, and swarms of online false personas pushing out false narratives, she explained. While the aim of restoring its image as a global superpower, Moscow seeks to weaken its adversaries by manipulating the information environment in nefarious ways, polarizing domestic political conversations, and attempting to destroy the publics faith in good governance, independent media, and democratic principles, Gabrielle said. In February, senior State Department official Philip Reeker accused Russia of engaging thousands of social media accounts to promote unfounded conspiracy theories, such as the claim that the United States developed the virus as a biological weapon to wage economic war on China. By spreading disinformation about coronavirus, Russian malign actors are once again choosing to threaten public safety by distracting from the global health response, Reeker told Agence France Presse at the time. The lies, Gabrielle said, are a convenient tool for the Kremlin to distract the public. By creating and discrediting a fictitious enemythe Westthe Russian government could justify its existing political system and shift its internal troubles away from the international spotlight. In doing so, the Kremlin also seeks to nurture the most extreme or divisive elements of society, she said. Beijing Unlike Russia, which seeks to chaotically disrupt the current world order to accomplish its goals, the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] seeks to deliberately shape it to Beijings advantage, according to Gabrielle. Beijings attempts to censor the sheer extent of this global public health crisis have brought such CCP goals into full display: from downplaying death toll numbers, stifling critics, to silencing whistleblowers who raised red flags about the virus during the outbreaks early stages, she said. A resident wearing a face mask sweeps the floor in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei province on March 4, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese doctor Li Wenliang, among the first to raise attention about a SARS-like outbreak on social media, was accused of rumor-mongering. He later died of the virus, after contracting it from a patient he was treating. Three citizen journalists, Fang Bin, Chen Qiushi, and Li Zehua, were recently arrested while documenting the outbreak in Wuhan. Chinese messaging app WeChat and video streaming app YY have been using keywords to censor social media posts with virus-related termslikely due to official guidance, according to a new report by Canadian cyber research group Citizen Lab. Such state-sanctioned efforts underscore Beijings sensitivity to being portrayed as anything other than a responsible actor at home and abroad, Gabrielle said. On March 5, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution to honor Li. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said the doctor was victimized by his own government, the Chinese Communist Party. Whole-of-Government Campaign Beijings propaganda operatives are comprehensive, deploying a whole-of-government approach: political, economic, military, and information tools are used to push the regimes narrative domestically and globally, Gabrielle said. More recently, the Chinese regime has walked back its initial claims that the virus came from a live animal and seafood market in Wuhan. Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the countrys foreign ministry, said on March 5 that it is yet undetermined where the virus originated, stressing that Beijing has been widely acclaimed for its signature strength, efficiency, and speed. Copies of the Africa edition of the China Daily newspaper sits on a newsstand in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Dec. 14, 2012. (Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty Images) In recent days, Chinese state media have spread the false claim that the virus originated in the United States. State outlets also published a series of articles bolstering Chinas response to the outbreak. One March 5 article in China Daily, for example, said the governments fight against the virus was a story of pride. Pushing back on Beijings claims about the viruss country of origin, U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo noted that the CCP itself had said it came from Wuhan. We have pretty high confidence that we know where this began [i.e. China], and we have high confidence too that there was information that could have been made available more quickly and data that could have been provided and shared among health professionals across the world, he told CNBC on March 6. Its most unfortunate, he added. Brought to you by Honda of Staten Island 10 Staten Island Disabilities Council Community Breakfast We know better was the refrain of the keynote address at the Staten Island Developmental Disability Council Community Breakfast. To highlight the need for vigilance, Diane Buglioli shared a personal account of her time working in Willowbrook State School where she found prison-like conditions for young children I have witnessed 50 years of disabilities rights and wrongs, said Buglioli, co-founder and CEO of A Very Special Place. What I do know is we know better. The annual event brings together family, friends, agency staff, self-advocates and elected officials to advocate for a state budget that preserves quality of life services, rather than the cuts and delays of recent years. While a hearty breakfast was being served, Buglioli, reminded the nearly 400 filling the dining room what it was like at the notorious institution and encouraged them to make sure that cutting funds does not lead to a repeat of those dehumanizing conditions. Having seen such injustice, one must ensure its never repeated, said Buglioli. No one should be isolated in such understaffed conditions and denied the tools that are required to live a productive life simply because they require special assistance to do so. She referenced a recent story documenting abuse in group homes to emphasize the need for vigilance and a focus on budget issues that are impacting care today. BUDGET ISSUES 3 for 5 initiative: According to SIDDC, over 90 percent of funding for provider organizations comes from Medicaid. In the last 10 years, despite rising costs, [providers] have received only one 0.02 percent cost of living increase while sustaining $2.6 billion in cuts. The initiative is a call for an annual three percent funding increase for each of the next five years. Residential Services: The Governors budget proposals do not reflect an understanding of the need for a continuum of care, particularly for people with an intellectual disability (I/DD) whose parents need the assurance that their will have a place to live when they are no longer able to provide the assistance they need. Assemblyman Michael Cusick acknowledged that every year, it seems to be a struggle, that the budget process is forgetting those who should not be forgotten. Your breakfast starts that budget process from this day till April 1, said Cusick. Though he acknowledged that it was going to be a fight in the Medicaid Re-design and education funding, he encouraged the Council to provide guidance and education for legislators. They are starting to see the urgency because of your advocacy said Cusick on a hopeful note. Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis added a novel strategy. My suggestion is you write a letter to Matilda Cuomo. Appeal to [the governors] mother. Because his father had a promise. And the son, quite frankly, broke it. And I would say if we could get one mother from every county in New York -- 62 mothers -- to sign an open letter to Matilda Cuomo, and get it published in the New York Times, bet you get a response then. Acknowledging her minority position, she said she has the freedom to be loud and annoying while Mike Cusick negotiates quietly in the background -- a good cop, bad cop approach. SIDDC monthly meetings are also a place to network and get informed on actions being taken. Come to the meetings. Come to be informed and to understand what is going on, said Advocacy Committee co-chair Donna Long. The calendar of meetings and many other resources can be found on the SIDDC website. WHY SHOULD PEOPLE CARE? Life-Wire News correspondent asked some of the SIDDC Council members a delicate question: Why should the wider community care about these issues. - Life-Wire News correspondent Steven Filoramo interviews Cris Marchionne, chair of the Staten Island Developmental Disability Council, at the organizations Community Breakfast in The Vanderbilt, South Beach. (Life-Wire News/Anthony DiFato) Life-Wire NewsLife-Wire News Cris Marchionne, Chair of the SIDDC: "All human beings have to realize human beings exist in all different ways. One of those ways is being disabled. And if you werent born with a disability, if you live long enough, you will be disabled, and you will need those supports and services, personal care attendants and whatever else access, such as ramps. But more importantly is the way non-disabled people view disability. They think its bad. They think its a curse. They think its something that shouldnt exist. Theyre afraid of it. And, unfortunately, thats the wrong way of looking at it. Thats ableism. Human beings exist in different ways, whether they have physical disabilities or neurological disabilities, thats when we come together and say that everyone counts. Everyone is valued. We just experience life in a different way. -- Written collaboratively by Anthony DiFato and Steven Filoramo for Life-Wire News Service with Kathryn Carse Learn more about the Advance/SILive.coms partnership with Lifestyles for the Disabled, sponsored by Honda of Staten Island. In 2016, during the leaders' debate leading up to the provincial election, soon-to-be premier Brian Pallister said: I want to work with anyone who wants to address the issues of poverty effectively. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In 2016, during the leaders' debate leading up to the provincial election, soon-to-be premier Brian Pallister said: "I want to work with anyone who wants to address the issues of poverty effectively." Telling Manitobans he "grew up poor," he then promised to change this, saying: "I believe (poverty) is the number one issue for us in this province." Its now four years later. Poverty in Manitoba has increased since Pallister took office and dealing with it certainly hasnt become his "number one issue." In fact, last April a coalition of organizations and agencies who deal with poverty called Make Poverty History gave Pallisters record on poverty "a failing grade." Then, last January, a national non-partisan network of organizations focused on ending childhood and family poverty called Campaign 2000 issued a report in January stating that Manitoba has the "highest child poverty rate in Canada," at 27.9 per cent. Since 2016, Pallister has slashed over $150 million from the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation, closed emergency rooms and services in Winnipegs inner city, rejected safe injection programs, raised the deductible for non-Employment Income Assistance to 30 per cent, frozen rent assist benefits for poor Manitobans, and restructured the Neighbourhoods Alive program resulting in money combatting poverty in Winnipegs inner core going elsewhere. So, with little surprise, on the first day of this spring legislative session this week, Pallister rejected calls from the NDP and the Manitoba Teachers Society for a universal breakfast program for Manitoba students. "If children are going to school hungry, then parents aren't fulfilling their responsibilities," the premier said. "Families first, Madam Speaker not state-funded cafeteria meals." At least the 2016 Pallister said he wanted to work with "anyone who wants to address the issue of poverty." This 2020 Pallister seems to blame parents for being poor (maybe even, his own?). To be fair, a provincewide universal breakfast program would be costly estimates are around $30 million so no one would have blamed the premier if he touted some financial reason for saying no. Announcing that the forthcoming health care demands due to the coronavirus would have probably been enough. But, instead, Pallister couldnt help but be cold, judgmental, and political. "Simply running around saying meal programs, free meals for everybody at a school is somehow a solution," the Manitoba premier told reporters, "is actually going to encourage an unintended consequence which is to separate the potential for a child to learn and be strengthened by their relationship with their own parent." The logic here is lacking, at best. If feeding a hungry child takes away from a relationship with a parent, I wonder what Pallister thinks his decisions to cut low-income housing, make employment assistance unfeasible, and reduce poverty-fighting organizations does. Manitobas premier is playing politics with hungry kids. But dont just take my word for it. As University of Manitoba professor Royce Koop wrote in an op-ed published Friday in The Winnipeg Free Press: "It simply isnt clear how providing school meals will compel parents to stop spending time with their kids; indeed, the opposite is more likely the case. Transfers to low-income families, such as breakfast programs, can lighten the load on these families, boosting the time available for children and parents to be together." Feeding hungry students at school builds relationships with parents, teachers, and improves the overall performance of all students. Period. In fact, the province reports that it partners with community agencies and organizations to provide almost five million snacks and meals a year to Manitoba children already. Manitoba is already in the business of feeding hungry children at school. I wonder how many relationships have been destroyed in the process. This is funny until you realize that there are more and more hungry kids out there. Many are in poverty due to no fault of their own. Some live in wealthy homes. Some have invested parents, some do not. Some live in the city, some do not. Thats the thing about hunger: it knows no specificity. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Many hungry children have parents who work early in the morning or late into the night. Some have one parent who is working harder than anything to get by. Some work so hard bills are impossible to pay and time is hard to come by. These parents are hard-working, tireless, and committed to their children, not irresponsible, whatever Mr. Pallister has to say about it. These parents dont need blame, they need support, resources, and time none of which the premier seemed to have this week. It all makes one wonder if Pallister remembers at all what poverty was like (like he claims to have experienced) or why he feels such a need to blame parents instead of addressing the root causes of children showing up hungry in school. The Brian Pallister of 2016 told Manitobans poverty was his "number one issue." The 2020 one blames the poor instead. After a ban of 23 years, female worshippers can now pray at Peshawar's famous Sunehri Masjid, a move welcomed by women's groups, according to a media report. Around 20 women offered prayers on Friday after the mosque administration announced the move, the Dawn reported. Provisions have been made for women to offer Friday prayers in the hall on the upper floor of the mosque, read a banner put up by the mosque adminstration. Women will also be allowed for Eid prayers. The mosque's naib imam Muhammad Ismail said till 1996 women were allowed to attend Friday prayer congregations but later they were stopped due to growing militancy. "Now we have opened the upper portion again so that women can offer Friday prayers alongside males in a separate section and listen to Friday khutba (sermon)," the Dawn quoted Ismail as saying. He said the mosque's Friday sermons throw light on women's issues and their rights in Islam. "I am really happy, and this is a really good decision. We are hopeful that the mosque administration will allow women regularly also," Kousar Shah, 45, one of the women who offered prayers on Friday, told the Dawn The construction of the Sunehri Masjid was completed in 1976. It is much-appreciated for its is Mughal-style architecture. The decision to allow female worshippers entry comes days before International Women's Day on March 8 and the much-publicised 'Aurat March' (Women's March) planned on the same day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ms Sheffield failed to mention that start-up capital for her business included a 60,000 Government grant from a fund set up following a review intended to help struggling local news publishers When David Camerons sister-in-law Emily Sheffield wrote last month about the strains of becoming a media tech entrepreneur, she described how she was broke, on sleeping pills and in the midst of a severe midlife crisis. But Ms Sheffield failed to mention that start-up capital for her business included a 60,000 Government grant from a fund set up following a review intended to help struggling local news publishers. Ms Sheffield, a former deputy editor of fashion bible Vogue, was awarded the money for her app ThisMuchIKnow after successfully navigating a bizarre interview process, part of which included placing marshmallows on a tower of spaghetti during a group challenge. The grant came from a 2 million Future News Pilot Fund issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The fund was set up by the Government last year as part of an effort to sustain quality public interest journalism, particularly in local papers, in the face of falling revenues and the rise of digital competitors. The grant to Ms Sheffields outfit has caused anger among local newspaper groups none of which has received any money from the pilot fund. A total of 54 news organisations bid for a slice of the money during a two-day interview process run by Nesta, an innovation foundation, with 19 then receiving the handouts. The winning applicants were decided through a mixture of presentations and ice-breaking team activities such as the marshmallows game. Ms Sheffields start-up, which relies on content from Instagram to provide need-to-know stories, special reports, culture and news quizzes, has also received money from the Guardian newspapers 42 million venture capital fund. Ms Sheffield, whose sister is the former Prime Ministers wife Samantha, said last month that the switch from her glamorous job at Vogue to her start-up had been the most intense period of my whole life. Ms Sheffield, a former deputy editor of fashion bible Vogue, was awarded the money for her app ThisMuchIKnow after successfully navigating a bizarre interview process, part of which included placing marshmallows on a tower of spaghetti during a group challenge In an article about the project, she wrote: My sister Samantha Cameron entered No 10 during my years at Conde Nast [publisher of Vogue]. She was ambassador for the British Fashion Council, and we often sat on the front row gossiping during London Fashion Week. In Paris, we would sneak off with our British designer friends to chic gay nightclubs. After she lost her Vogue job, Ms Sheffield went for dinner at the Camerons home with former Chancellor George Osborne. They sweetly got me drunk, she recalls. I cant remember much of what the four of us furiously debated and laughed about that night, but Georges advice to step back and seriously consider what I want next would prove the most salient. And this is what it'll pay for The fund was set up as part of an effort to sustain quality, public interest journalism but recent stories on ThisMuchIKnow have included a discussion on how diverse are our catwalks, Ms Sheffield writing about menstruating on the Camerons white sofa, an ultimate green jeans shopping guide and an interactive environmental quiz asking: How Greta are you? Meanwhile, last week it was revealed that another online news site, Tortoise, received a 50,000 grant from the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts. The project is headed by former BBC Director of News James Harding and typically focuses on national rather than local issues. Advertisement His advice ultimately led to Ms Sheffield setting up This MuchIKnow, of which she says: The message is in our name we are humble, sharing the news, not just telling it. The Future News Pilot Fund was set up as part of Ministers response to the Cairncross Review, which recommended a package of measures for public interest journalism. In 2018, Dame Frances Cairncross, a former senior editor at The Economist, was tasked with making recommendations into how to future-proof journalism in the face staff cuts and falling circulation. Her review found that the number of local newspapers fell from 1,303 to 982 in the decade to 2017 as publishers lost vital classified advertising to Facebook and Google, and concluded that this amounted to a threat to local democracy. The fund was set up by the Government last year as part of an effort to sustain quality public interest journalism, particularly in local papers, in the face of falling revenues and the rise of digital competitors [File photo] The News Media Association, which represents national, regional and local news media organisations in the UK, said in a statement about the award of the grants: It is very disappointing that the Future News Fund, overseen by Nesta, has bypassed the local news media industry by failing to directly award it any grants. We hope that if the Future News Fund develops from a pilot into an ongoing fund, it will build on the existing infrastructure, talent and expertise which is delivering local journalism today by partnering with established local news media providers. A spokeswoman for the fund said that the marshmallow exercise was an ice-breaker which was just one of a number of assessments for the grant-awarding process. The spokeswoman added: The Future News Pilot Fund is a demonstrator fund to prototype new ideas, not to subside existing models of news in the UK. Ms Sheffield declined to comment last night. SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The mission of the California Lawyers Association (CLA) includes promotion of fairness in the administration of justice and defense of the rule of law. Current events are an important reminder of core tenets of our Constitutional Democracy and the role of lawyers and judges in it. As an organization comprised of officers of the court and as a representative of the legal profession, we are called to defend the rule of law, to discourage attacks on the independence of the judiciary, and to support the separation of powers. The independence and fairness of the justice system are critical to the functioning of society. It requires a system in which the law is clearly communicated, fairly enforced, and where everybody is accountable to the same laws. The rule of law restricts the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well-defined and established laws. While protected by the First Amendment, personal attacks on judges by elected officials, warning that potential decisions in cases pending before the court will result in adverse consequences to those judges, are inappropriate. Attacks on those who are required to make decisions based on the facts presented, the law, and precedent whether they be judges, lawyers, jurors, or others involved with the administration of justice are unwarranted, undercut the ideals of fair enforcement, impartiality, and the equal application of laws to everyone, and denigrate a critical component of our government. The three co-equal branches of our Constitutional Democracy Executive, Judicial and Legislative each play a vital role. And each must respect the authority of the others. ABOUT CALIFORNIA LAWYERS ASSOCIATION Established in 2018, California Lawyers Association is the bar association for all California attorneys. CLA's mission is to promote excellence, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and fairness in the administration of justice and the rule of law. SOURCE California Lawyers Association Related Links http://calawyers.org DETROIT, MI -- Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders isnt deterred by a recent surge of support for primary rival Joe Biden from Michigans governor and several other Democratic lawmakers. Sanders endorsed one of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers 2018 primary opponents before supporting her gubernatorial bid in the general election. The Vermont senator referenced that experience when asked to share his opinion on the wave of Michigan endorsements for Biden in the final days of the primary. That wasnt her thoughts when I came here to help her get elected as a matter of fact," Sanders said about Whitmer. Sanders told reporters hed rather have the support of grassroots organizations and working people than establishment politicians. Whitmer beat the Sanders-backed Democrat Abdul El-Sayed handily in the 2018 primary, winning a three-way race with 52% of the vote. She went on to win big across Michigan in the general election, taking down her Republican opponent by 9 percentage points and winning back parts of the state that voted for President Donald Trump. Sanders campaigned for Whitmer in Ann Arbor in 2018. Whitmer, who gained national recognition after being tapped to give the Democratic Partys response to President Donald Trumps State of the Union address, endorsed Biden Thursday. Whitmer also joined his campaign as one of four national co-chairs and will be helping Biden vet his running mate if he secures the nomination. We need a president who will show up and fight for Michiganders, Whitmer said on Twitter. Biden has proven time and again that he has our back. I am proud to both endorse him and announce that I will be joining his campaign as a co-chair. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist also endorsed Biden in a live CNN interview taped the same day Sanders was set to visit Detroit. Biden also earned the endorsement of former Michigan Senator Carl Levin, former Gov. Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Reps. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly; Haley Stevens, D-Rochester Hills; and Brenda Lawrence, D-Southfield. Leadership is about showing up, listening, and responding to make things happen, and Vice President Joe Biden has shown up for Michigan time after time," Gilchrist said. He has been there for Detroit, and the entire state of Michigan, as a friend and a leader. Michigan has 125 delegates up for grabs on March 10, the largest prize of the six states holding nominating contests Tuesday. We are in the midst of a very very difficult primary process, Sanders said. Joe has a few more delegates than we have. Every state is terribly important and I think come Tuesday, maybe Michigan is the most important state. Both candidates have launched a last-ditch campaign blitz, scheduling multiple rallies and surrogate events over the next four days. However, Biden is scheduled to step foot in Michigan until Monday, on the eve of the election. Were going to be here, Sanders said. Michigan is obviously a very important state in terms of the nominating process. Were going to work as hard as we can. Bidens prospects of securing the nomination were in doubt after losing the first three primary states, but he decisively won South Carolina last weekend, kicking off a comeback tour that produced victories in nine of 14 states voting on Super Tuesday. Bidens resurgence reshapes the dynamics of Michigans primary, where Sanders had been expected to secure a repeat of his 2016 primary victory. A recent statewide WDIV/Detroit News poll conducted Feb. 28 through March 2 found Biden ahead by 7 percentage points. Sanders said hes not concerned -- polls had him behind Hillary Clinton by 20 points in 2016, but he still won Michigan. Related coverage: A complete guide: How to see Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders campaign events in Michigan this weekend and Monday Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorses Biden, joining campaign as a national co-chair Bernie Sanders slams Joe Biden on trade before Michigan rally in Detroit The big question for Michigan Democrats: Is Biden or Sanders more likely to beat Trump? Gretchen Whitmer to give Michigan a voice in Joe Biden campaign strategy Joe Biden campaign sends Amy Klobuchar to Michigan before Democratic primary The Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday arrested an alleged drug trafficker who is suspected to have helped Shahrukh Pathan, accused of pointing a gun at a policeman during the northeast Delhi violence, in escaping to Haryana after the riots, officials said. Kaleem, 28, was wanted by the Narcotics Cell of the Delhi police in an old 235-kg cannabis smuggling case, they said. "A non-bailable warrant for the arrest of Kaleem was issued by a court in Meerut. The accused was held from Kairana," Shamli Police said in a statement. During interrogation, Kaleem told police that Pathan, who was on the run after the riots in Delhi, had come to him for help, official sources said. "Kaleem said Pathan had come to his home in Kairana on the intervening night of February 27 and 28 for help, saying his car had broken down and his mobile phone had also stopped working," the sources said. Kaleem has claimed that he did not know what Pathan had done and why he was on the run but had helped him get a bus to Panipat the next morning, they said. The two men have known each other for one and a half years and had been to each other's residences earlier also, the sources said. "The fathers of both Kaleem as well as Shahrukh have been jailed in Delhi's Tihar prison. One of them was convicted in a drugs case and the other in a fake currency case. It was during their visits to Tihar jail to meet their fathers that Kaleem and Shahrukh had come in contact," they added. Meanwhile, Pathan, whose picture pointing a gun at an unarmed policeman during the communal riots in northeast Delhi went viral on social media, was sent to three more days' police custody on Saturday, officials said. Pathan, 23, was arrested on Tuesday from Shamli district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Prime Minister expressed concern over the move to ban the news channels and directed revocation of the order immediately. Our basic thought process is that press freedom is essential in a democratic set-up, Javadekar told reporters when asked about the move. However, he also said that everybody should also accept that freedom of the press also came with certain responsibilities. Within hours of banning two Malayalam news channels, the Modi government did a U-turn and rolled back its orders which drew flak from the opposition. Late Friday evening the I&B Ministry had imposed a 48-hour blackout on Asianet News and MediaOne for the biased coverage of the Delhi riots, accusing them of siding with a particular community and highlighting attacks on places of worship. However, the channels were back on air within hours after an intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The minister said he has spoken to the owner of Asianet News, which was back on air late Friday night, while MediaOne was on-air Saturday morning. Opposition parties hit out at the Modi government for its interference in the freedom of the press. Subjugate, stifle, suppress is the mantra of BJP! Is this New India, asked Congress' chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala. We strongly condemn the 48-hour ban imposed on two Malayalam news channels... This drastic action by the Modi government is a direct assault on the media, Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) General Secretary said. The I&B ministry had ordered prohibition of transmission or re-transmission of Media One and Asianet News for 48 hours on any platform throughout India with effect from 7.30 pm on Friday to 7.30 pm on Sunday. I will definitely go into the details and take essential steps if there is any wrongdoing. But let me also tell you that everybody should accept that there has to be responsible freedom, Javadekar said. President Trump on Friday named Representative Mark Meadows (R., N.C.) as White House chief of staff, replacing acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one, Trump wrote on Twitter. I want to thank Acting Chief Mick Mulvaney for having served the Administration so well. He will become the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Thank you! Meadows announced in December that he would not seek reelection after an eight-year run in the House, during which he clashed with former House speaker John Boehner, called for balanced budgets, and was chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. More recently, the congressman has been a staunch ally of Trump, and has called the impeachment proceedings against the president a baseless, fact-free sham that ignores rules, obliterates precedent, and ultimately runs directly contrary to the will of the people. Congressman Meadows has been a warrior for the president and a champion of his agenda, senior Trump adviser Jared Kushner said after Meadows announced he would not seek reelection. We have greatly valued his guidance for the last three years in the administration, and I have no doubt that Mark will play an important role going into 2020. More from National Review STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The combination of drugs and ammunition will cost a New Brighton felon two years behind bars. Francisco Gonzalezs latest troubles with the law started last March 29. Thats when the 22-year-old defendant sold cocaine to an undercover cop in Tompkinsville, said a criminal complaint. Gonzalez was later arrested and indicted on drug charges. Last September, he pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to attempted third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance to satisfy charges in the case. While awaiting sentencing, Gonzalez was busted on Feb. 4 for illegally possessing ammunition. The arrest stemmed from a raid of his Stanley Avenue apartment, said court papers. On Thursday, the defendant pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor ammunition charge to resolve that case. In exchange, he was sentenced to a year in jail on the drug conviction and to 364 days behind bars on the ammo conviction. The sentences will run consecutively. Francisco is a young man that made a mistake and took accountability for it, said defense lawyer Louis Gelormino. He has certainly learned from this and looks forward to coming home to his family. Court records show Gonzalez has previously spent time in jail. In March 2018, he was sentenced to six months behind bars after previously pleading guilty to attempted third-degree robbery, said those documents. In U.S. Hacker Trial, The Tangled Web Of Russia's Cyberunderground Is Further Exposed By Mike Eckel March 06, 2020 In March 2012, a 25-year-old Russian computer whiz named Yevgeny Nikulin sat with several others in a conference room in a hotel in eastern Moscow. A video taken by a Ukrainian named Oleksandr Ieremenko showed them discussing plans for an Internet cafe business and other matters. In an earlier part of the video, Ieremenko, 19, drives to the hotel to meet the group, which he calls a "summit of bad motherf*****s." That same month, according to U.S. prosecutors, Nikulin broke into a social-media company engineer's computer a half a world away, in California -- and allegedly stole the usernames and passwords used by tens of millions of people to access their LinkedIn accounts. Some of that data was put up for sale on a notorious Russian hacker forum that June. These details and other evidence were contained in pretrial motions filed by prosecutors this week ahead of the opening of Nikulin's trial in U.S. federal court in San Francisco. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on March 9. The case against Nikulin, who was arrested in 2016 in Prague and extradited to the United States in 2018, is the latest example of a Russian citizen facing prosecution in the United States for cybercrimes, a trend that has infuriated the Russian Foreign Ministry, which complains that the United States is "hunting" Russians around the globe. But the pretrial motions add yet more evidence of the web of relationships among Russia's cyberunderworld, allegedly tying Nikulin, now 32, to people who have been charged with even bigger, more serious hacks. That includes a hacker who allegedly worked for Russian intelligence to steal hundreds of millions of Yahoo user credentials -- possibly used in the 2016 hack of the U.S. Democratic National Committee, according to cyberexperts. Nikulin, who was examined by court-ordered psychologists last year amid concerns about his mental health, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Arkady Bukh, one of Nikulin's defense lawyers, said prosecution lawyers appeared to be trying to pressure Nikulin to plead guilty ahead of the trial; particularly, he said, since the conviction rate for such cybercases is high. Nikulin, however, has refused his lawyer's counsel to change his plea to guilty. 'Zhenya' From Moscow According to prosecutors evidence, the video showing Nikulin, Ieremenko, and others was from a hard drive seized by Ukrainian authorities who raided Ieremenko's home in Kyiv, and the homes of several other alleged Ukrainian hackers, in November 2012. An FBI affidavit said photographs found on the hard drive included photos that said "Zhenya from Moscow" -- a diminutive form of the name Yevgeny. The U.S. Secret Service obtained the hard drive as part of an investigation into hacks of several business newswires, a scheme that involved selling unreleased corporate information to stock traders who then made trades based on the nonpublic information. Ieremenko, now 27, was implicated in that scheme, but he gained wider notoriety in 2019 when U.S. authorities indicted him and another Ukrainian with a similar scam that traded on corporate earnings reports stolen from a database of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Ieremenko is believed to be in Russia. According to the trial motions, Nikulin worked closely with Ieremenko in 2012, sharing hacked passwords and coding tips, using Skype accounts. A Skype address they tied to Nikulin -- dex.007 -- was used to send Ieremenko a link containing the password to one of Nikulin's accounts on a domain hosting site, along with stolen LinkedIn credentials. 'Reporting On The Spot' The video, one of eight copied from Ieremenko's hard drive, was shot on March 18 or 19, 2012. In it, the person making the video narrates it, saying: "In short, we are reporting on the spot. Now, here at this Vega Izmailovo Hotel, there will be a fucking summit of bad motherf*****s," according to the U.S. transcript submitted in the court record. Nikulin also worked closely with another Russian, Nikita Kislitsin, who was indicted in the United States in 2014 on conspiracy charges related to the hack another, lesser-known social media company called Formspring. Kislitsin's indictment, which was under seal since being filed, was unsealed earlier this week. U.S. prosecutors say that, three months after the Moscow meeting, Nikulin himself stole 30 million user credentials from the social-networking service Formspring, and utilized some of those credentials when he hacked into the LinkedIn engineer's computer. According to the court documents, the FBI used "court-ordered electronic interceptions" -- phone and e-mail taps -- to track Nikulin in 2012 and 2013. U.S. investigators discovered overlap with another Russian, Aleksei Belan, under investigation in connection with a separate hack: the theft of user credentials from the Internet giant Yahoo, beginning in 2013. Yahoo eventually revealed all 3 billion of its users had had their credentials compromised in what is today considered one of the largest data breaches in the history of the Internet. Prosecutors said the FBI, which had obtained a court-authorized warrant to search Belan's e-mail and tap his phones, found that Belan, along with Kislitsin, purchased the Formspring passwords in July 2012. That same year, Belan was put on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted list for cyberthieves. The following year, he was arrested in Greece at the request of U.S. authorities. But he avoided being extradited and escaped back into Russia, according to the U.S. and European authorities. In 2014, according to previous U.S. documents, Belan was recruited by Russia's main intelligence and security agency, the Federal Security Service (FSB) and its cyberunit, known as the Center for Information Security. Belan, according to the 2016 Yahoo hack indictment, was ordered by the FSB cyberunit to conduct the breach of Yahoo accounts. In all, U.S. officials charged four people with the Yahoo breach, including two FSB officers. Those officers themselves were later arrested by the FSB itself, and charged with state treason, allegedly for passing classified intelligence to U.S. agencies. One, Sergei Mikhailov, pleaded not guilty to the Russian charges, and was sentenced last year to 22 years in prison. The other, Dmitry Dokuchaev, pleaded guilty, and agreed to cooperate with investigators. He was handed a six-year sentence. In December 2016, in response to the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that Russia had tried to meddle in the presidential election won by Donald Trump that year, the administration of outgoing President Barack Obama announced sweeping sanctions against Belan and another Russian, who also allegedly had ties to Russian intelligence, Yevgeny Bogachev. The interference, according to U.S. intelligence, included the hack of the U.S. Democratic National Committee, and the theft of e-mails that were later leaked publicly during the election campaign. U.S. officials, and cyberanalysts, have said the FSB was among those responsible for the hack, and that the stolen Yahoo credentials may been used to trick victims into letting hackers steal their e-mails. Kislitsin Connections A further illustration of the web of ties among Russia's cyberunderground comes in the case of Kislitsin, who attended the March 2012 meeting in Moscow with Nikulin and Ieremenko. Kislitsin, according the U.S. prosecutors, allegedly partnered with Belan to get the Formspring data from Nikulin in July 2012. The following year, in 2013, Kislitsin met with an official from the U.S. Justice Department to discuss "research into the [cyber]underground," according to Group IB, a prominent Russian cybersecurity and research firm. Kislitsin was joined in the meeting with the Justice Department official by representatives from Group IB, according to a Group IB statement provided to RFE/RL. Group IB later hired Kislitsin, and he is currently listed as the "head of network security" for the company. Asked for comment about the newly unsealed charges, which include conspiracy and trafficking in stolen user names and passwords, against Kislitsin, Group IB said that they predate his employment. "The information that has become public contains only allegations, and no findings have been made that Nikita Kislitsin has engaged in any wrongdoing," the company said in the statement to RFE/RL. The company also said that after the 2013 meeting with the Justice Department official, "neither Group-IB nor Nikita Kislitsin have been officially approached with any additional questions." And there's one other connection involving Kislitsin. He previously worked as editor in chief for a well-known Russian cybermagazine called Hacker, where the ex-FSB officer Dokuchaev worked for him, writing under his nickname, Forb. 'I Want To Hack The Prison' Nikulin was arrested in Prague in October 2016 after his entrance into the country a few days earlier triggered a notification among Czech law enforcement. He and his lawyers strenuously fought the U.S. request for his extradition. Ultimately, he was sent to the United States in March 2018, prompting an angry statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, which called it "a conscious, politically motivated step by the Czech side aimed at undermining the constructive basis of bilateral cooperation." While in U.S. custody, Nikulin was reported by prison authorities as behaving strangely, prompting a judge to order a psychological examination. He was later deemed competent to stand trial. "He is refusing to accept a guilty plea, and this is another example of his mental condition," Bukh told RFE/RL. The evidence that will be introduced in the trial also included other less significant, but revealing comments, including a transcript of a phone conversation Nikulin had with a woman named Anya in November 2018. In the conversation, Nikulin complained that he had not received food, or books and magazines, as he requested. He also jokes with Anya. "I want to hack the prison," he is quoted as saying. "The rules here are stupid." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/in-u-s-hacker-trial -the-tangled-web-of-russia-s-cyberunderground- is-further-exposed/30472603.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Donald Trump has named Rep. Mark Meadows (R., N.C.) as his chief of staff, replacing Mick Mulvaney, who had been acting in the role. Read more WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. President Donald Trump announced Friday that he has selected outgoing Rep. Mark Meadows (R., N.C.) as his next White House chief of staff, tapping one of his most stalwart congressional allies to run the White House as he navigates a critical reelection year. "I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one," Trump tweeted shortly after arriving at his southern Florida resort, where he is spending the weekend. Meadows replaces acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who is being appointed the U.S. special envoy to Northern Ireland, Trump said in a follow-up tweet. The president thanked Mulvaney for "having served the administration so well." Mulvaney was tapped in an acting capacity as the top White House aide in December 2018 and officially stepped into the role in early January 2019 following the departure of John Kelly. Meadows will be Trump's fourth White House chief of staff, following Mulvaney, Kelly and Reince Priebus. A four-term lawmaker, Meadows announced in December that he would not run for reelection and hinted in his farewell statement that he would join either the administration or Trumps 2020 campaign. New Delhi: India's total number of Coronavirus cases rose to 34 on Saturday (March 7) after three fresh positive cases turned up. According to latest updates, two persons from Ladakh and one from Tamil Nadu have tested positive of the COVID-19. And while both Ladakh citizens were found to have travel history to Iran, the one from Tamil Nadu had recently returned from Oman. All the three individuals are said to be stable and treatment is underway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today warned against rumour-mongering in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, saying people must take the advice of their doctors. "In such times, rumors also spread quickly. Some people say this is not to be eaten, that is not to be done, some people will bring four new things that corona virus can be avoided by eating this. We have to avoid these rumors too. Whatever you do, do it with the advice of your doctor," he said. The Prime Minister also reviewed coronavirus situation in the country at a meeting with officials and directs them to identify locations for sufficient quarantine facilities, and make provisions for critical care in case the disease spreads further. In Kashmir, the authorities today ordered closure of all primary schools from March 9 in four districts, including Jammu, Srinagar and Samba, until further orders. The classwork in all government and private primary schools of districts Srinagar, Bandipora, Budgam and Baramulla shall remain suspended with effect from March 9 till further orders, says the order issued by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan. In Bhutan, two American citizens who were tested positive of the virus, were found to have travel history to India. Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering announced that the Coronavirus patients had arrived in Bhutan via Guwahati, Assam. According to Bhutan`s health ministry, the patient was on a tour of India from February 21 to March 1. He started his travel from Washington on February 18. He was travelling with his partner, who is aged 59, and there were 10 passengers on board at the time he arrived in Bhutan, of which eight were Indian nationals. The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) today announced to distribute protective masks free of cost as a precautionary measure. The masks will be distributed through gurudwaras in the city managed by the DSGMC, said DSGMC chairman Manjinder Singh Sirsa. The committee will initially distribute 10,000 masks in the national capital, Sirsa said, adding that the move has come in view of the rising demand and price of masks. Before Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex announced their bombshell decision to step down as senior royals, the pair revealed in a candid documentary that they were struggling with the pressures of royal life. Harry was born into that life but his wife was not so she, especially, had a hard time dealing with it all. The former actress told journalist Tom Bradby that things had been tough given all the negative media attention that came her way. But Meghan isnt the first woman involved with Prince Harry who spoke about this. In fact, his ex, Chelsy Davy had a few choice adjectives to describe how awful things were for her when they were dating. Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy | Anwar Hussein/WireImage How Davy described their relationship and dealing with the spotlight The prince and Davy, the daughter of a Zimbabwean millionaire, got together in 2003. They dated on and off until 2011. Four years after their breakup, reports swirled that the two were back on again but they never confirmed if those were just rumors or had any truth to them. What is true is that during their relationship Davy, like Meghan, struggled with being in the princes world because that meant that she was always under a microscope too. Davy confessed to having a turbulent relationship with Harry that led to a lot of heated arguments, but she admitted that a contributing factor to their split had to do with her not being able to handle the paparazzi. Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy | MJ Kim/Getty Images It was so full-on crazy and scary and uncomfortable. I found it very difficult when it was bad. I couldnt cope, the Daily Mail quoted her saying. I was young, I was trying to be a normal kid and it was horrible, It was nuts. Thats also why I wanted to go back to Africa. Their last phone call before Harry married Meghan was emotional Years after their breakup, Davy attended her ex and Meghans nuptials on May 19, 2018. Several media outlets reported that she and the prince had closure during an emotional phone call the night before the ceremony. It was their final call, a parting call in which they both acknowledged Harry was moving on. Chelsy was quite emotional about it all, she was in tears and almost didnt go to the wedding, a source told Vanity Fair. What Davy is up to today and has she found love again Prince Harrys ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy | Pool/Max Mumby/Getty Images These days, Davy divides her time between London and Cape Town, South Africa. In a recent interview with Tatler, the Zimbabwean businesswoman revealed that she is happy now. And shes in a new relationship. Yes, there is someone, and I am quite taken by this one, but its very new and I dont want to say too much, she said, adding, Im very happy with where I am right now. Im happy with everything. Everything is falling into place. Read more: How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Have Been Enjoying Life Away From the Royal Family As Silicon Valley companies cancel their massive annual conferences amid the coronavirus spreading, they're kicking some cash over to the cities that were supposed to host them. Nearly all the major tech companies have announced decisions to cancel, alter and pull out of various upcoming conferences which have been their biggest annual events. More than 100,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed around the world. California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and San Francisco officials reported its first two confirmed cases Thursday, triggering large employers like Facebook and Google to tell employees to work from home. Pulling events and keeping employees home means some areas will get a lot less foot traffic than they expected, which can be a sore spot for San Francisco Bay Area cities like San Jose, whose residents have complained that the tech companies' rapid expansions have contributed to the region's issues surrounding displacement and housing. But companies are trying to mitigate the damage with contributions. Google announced that its Google Cloud Next 2020 event that was scheduled for April 6 through 8th in San Francisco will only be held virtually. Shortly after, the company canceled Google I/O, the company's big annual in-person develop conference that draws in more than 7,000 attendees to its headquarters' backyard in Mountain View, California. The company now says it will donate $1 million to local Mountain View organizations to support small businesses, increase computer science opportunities for Mountain View schools, and increase awareness and education efforts around coronavirus, the company told CNBC. Facebook also canceled two events, including its annual developer conference F8, which was scheduled for April in San Jose and was expected to draw more than 5,000 attendees. To make up for the disruption, Facebook is doubling its usual donation to the San Jose community to $500,000 this year. Because it typically hosts local students at the conference, the company added that it will it will still provide "F8-inspired experiences for those students in lieu of hosting them at the event itself." "Working with the next generation of developers is one of the highlights of what we do," wrote Facebook's vice president of platform partnerships Konstantinos Papamiltiadis in a blog post. "We remain committed to the city of San Jose, where we've hosted F8, and its community," After dropping an event in San Francisco, Facebook said it will donate $20,000 in cash to the Chinese Newcomers Service Center (CNSC), a local San Francisco-based nonprofit, which supports businesses in its Chinatown. The company said it would be donating another $5,000 total in non-expiring Facebook ad credits to those in the community who want it, a Facebook spokesperson said. San Francisco's Chinatown has seen a decline in business as a result of the fear around the coronavirus, which originated in China before spreading globally. City officials said San Francisco's Chinese American, Chinese immigrant and other Asian American communities have been targeted by racist behavior since the coronavirus began, despite being zero cases there. Facebook also said it will provide free advertisements to the World Health Organization (WHO) in attempts to keep misinformation on its platform at bay. Google said it is donating $25 million in ad credits to the WHO and government agencies and will make more available if needed. WATCH NOW: Coronavirus cases top 97,000 Do looks matter? When you are an actor, they, for sure, do. Malayalam actor Shane Nigam is apparently facing the heat of the same. After a four-months-long battle, he has finally been told to pay Rs 32 lakhs as compensation for getting a haircut amid the shoot of two films he was a part of. TOI By getting a haircut and shaving his beard, he disrupted production of films Veyil and Qurbani. The actor violated the contract by changing his hairstyle. As per the agreement reached between Shane Nigam and Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA), the full-blown industry-wide ban has now been lifted on him. deccanherald.com Furthermore, he has been told to complete the shooting of both the films before April 18. He has also agreed to pay Rs 16 lakhs each to the producers of both the movies. Twitter The controversy began last year when Shane Nigam took to his social media alleging that he has been receiving death threats from Joby George, the producer of Veyil. The producer on the other hand said that he didn't cooperate with the team, went against their agreement and changed the hairstyle for his other movie Qurbani. thehindu.com Following this, Shane had shaved off his hair in protest against the producers. Finally, the four-month-long tiff has been resolved. U.S. and Ukrainian efforts to stop Russia's Nord Stream 2 project from being completed have not ended with the December passage of U.S. sanctions that have effectively prevented vessels from laying the final stretch of the natural-gas pipeline. Andriy Kobolyev, the chief executive officer of Ukraine's state-owned gas giant Naftogaz, traveled to the United States in early March to lobby for measures to further stall the $11 billion pipeline that aims to reroute European Union-bound Russian gas supplies, circumventing established routes through Ukraine. Kremlin-controlled Gazprom is seeking to use its own vessel to complete the last 160 kilometers of the pipeline along the bottom of the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in January during a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that he hoped the project would be completed in early 2021 at the latest. Several U.S. analysts have said that timeframe was reasonable. But members of the U.S. Congress and Ukraine appear to be working on their next move. "There is a very elegant and efficient way available to the U.S. government to make sure this pipeline will never happen and we believe that this should be done," Kobolyev told RFE/RL in Washington on March 3 following his meetings with congressmembers, including Senator Ted Cruz (Republican, Texas), who is seen as a leading voice in the effort. The United States in December passed a provision as part of the National Defense Authorization Act that imposes sanctions on any vessels helping Gazprom lay the Nord Stream 2 pipeline along the Baltic Sea. The provision forced Switzerland's Allseas Group to immediately abandon its work on the project, leaving a gap in the Denmark portion of the waters. The two parallel legs of the pipeline total just over 2,400 kilometers. Sanctions 'Deterrent' The U.S. opposes Nord Stream 2 because it says the pipeline increases Europe's dependence on Russian energy and gives the Kremlin more leverage over Eastern Europe by cutting it out of lucrative transit revenue. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, once operating at its full capacity of 55 billion cubic meters (bcm) a year, could deprive Ukraine of billions of dollars in annual transit fees. Russia and Ukraine signed a new, five-year gas-transit agreement just days after the sanctions went into force. Russia claims Washington is seeking to block the pipeline in order to open the European market to more U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). U.S. President Donald Trump in June recommended that Germany buy more U.S. LNG rather than Russian piped gas. A member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Cruz was the co-author of the sanctions bill against Nord Stream 2 passed in December. Texas is the largest producer of natural gas in the United States. A spokesperson for Cruz told RFE/RL that the senator is focused on making sure the existing sanctions "continue to serve as a deterrent, and ensure Nord Stream 2 never comes on line." What exactly the United States will do if Russia comes close to completing the project is unclear, and Kobolyev declined to give any details, saying it's a "sensitive issue." "If the U.S. really wants this pipeline not to happen, there is a way to achieve that outcome. That is why we are here" in Washington, he said. Russia has two ships it could potentially use to complete the project: the Akademik Chersky and the Fortuna. However, Russia would first need to receive a permit from Denmark to deploy the ships in its waters and that could be complicated, analysts said. Bombs On The Seabed Denmark requires ships constructing the offshore pipeline to possess dynamic positioning systems, which allow a ship to maintain its position and heading without the use of an anchor. Denmark restricts the use of anchors because its Baltic seabed is scattered with bombs from World War II that could cause environmental damage if they exploded, said Margarita Assenova, a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation specializing on European energy issues. The Akademik Chersky, which recently set sail from Russia's Far East toward the Suez Port in Egypt, does possess dynamic positioning. The Fortuna, located in the Baltic Sea, does not. Chersky, though, requires a technology upgrade to be able to lay pipes. That could take two to three months, Assenova told RFE/RL. It will then take additional time for the Akademik Chersky to reach the Baltic, she said. Gazprom is also considering a solution that involves attaching a tugboat with dynamic positioning to Fortuna, Russian media reported. Assenova said Russia may seek to convince Denmark to ease its requirements so it can complete the project. The Danish Energy Agency told RFE/RL on March 5 that Russia had not yet requested permission for its own ships. 'Hazardous Alternatives' Senator Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, New Hampshire), a co-author of the original Nord Stream 2 bill, said Russia was considering "hazardous alternatives" to finish the project that could harm Europe's environment and security. "I hope Europeans remain clear-eyed about these risks and choose not to put their publics in danger. Rest assured, the United States will not stand idly by if misguided efforts to complete the project are pursued -- all options are on the table," she told RFE/RL in a statement. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, who has been a strong supporter of Nord Stream 2 sanctions, said he expects the United States to craft another narrowly focused sanctions bill to further delay the project. "As the Russians proceed to try to build this capacity, [Congress] will be paying close attention. I suspect that some smart person is going to come up with another smart sanction that will deal with the next iteration of this [pipeline construction] if that is necessary," he said March 3 at an Atlantic Council conference which Kobolyev also attended. Separately, Kobolyev said he raised the idea of storing U.S. liquefied natural gas in Ukraine, which has underutilized storage capacity amid its standoff with Russia. Kobolyev said gas prices in Europe this summer could fall below $100 for 1,000 cubic meters amid an oversupply. U.S. energy producers could store their E.U.-bound LNG in Ukraine during the summer as they wait for higher prices to kick in with the arrival of colder weather. The total number of coronavirus cases worldwide rose past 100,000 yesterday, after a week that has seen a surge in detected cases in Iran and Europe. While the epicenter of the pandemic remains China, with 80,576 cases including 3,042 deaths, the number of new cases there is plunging, as contact tracing of infected patients, quarantines and the building of a massive fever hospital network have slashed the spread of the virus. Over two-thirds of Chinas surviving cases (53,929) have now recovered. However, particularly in Europe and in Iran, whose medical system has been devastated by vindictive US-European sanctions, the epidemic is escalating out of control. Yesterday Iran discovered 1,234 new cases, bringing its total number of cases to 4,747, and announced the closure of schools and universities until March 20 and the setting up of checkpoints on highways to stop traffic between major cities. In Europe, Italy announced 778 new cases and 49 deaths yesterday for 4,636 cases and 197 deaths. Germany added 125 new cases to reach 670; France added 230 to reach 653 with nine deaths; Spain added 119 cases to reach 401 with six deaths; and Britain added 48 cases to reach 164 with two deaths. There are major clusters of the disease in the Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilio Romagna regions of Italy; North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany; the Oise, Savoie and Bas-Rhin in France; and Madrid, the Basque country, and Valencia in Spain. It is urgent to halt the spread of this deadly disease. If illness totals in European countries continue to grow exponentially at current rates of 30 percent or more daily, it would take around one month for the disease totals in each of the larger European countries to reach into the millionsflooding hospital systems with hundreds of thousands of critically ill patients. The principal obstacle to the detection and isolation of the disease is the right-wing, nationalist and criminally negligent policy of the European governments. Committed to austerity that has devastated health and social services over decades and funneled massive resources to the superrich, they refuse to dedicate the necessary social resources to trace, treat, and halt the spread of the illness. The critical question is mobilizing the working class to ensure the rational, internationally-coordinated use of social wealth created by the workers to treat the sick. While the European Central Bank and the Bank of England have together pumped the equivalent of trillions of euros into the banks since the 2008 Wall Street crash, the financial aristocracy has gutted health spending and hospital capacity across Europe. The number of hospital beds has fallen from nearly 700,000 in 1991 to less than 500,000 in 2017 in Germany, and France has lost 17,500 hospital beds, or 5.3 percent of the total, since 2013. Spain had fewer than 95,000 public hospital beds available in 2016. In Britain, 17,230 hospital beds have been cut from the only 144,455 that existed in 2010. Even before the coronavirus epidemic, this drew a warning from Simon Stevens, the head of the National Health Service (NHS) in England, that Britain urgently needed to increase hospital capacity. On Thursday, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus felt he had to criticize the advanced countries for not acting decisively enough against the epidemic. We are concerned that some countries have either not taken this seriously enough, or have decided there is nothing they can do," he explained, adding, We are preoccupied with the fact that in certain countries the level of political engagement and action does not correspond with the level of the threat. Even high-income countries should expect surprises, the solution is to prepare in an aggressive manner. We dont think that containment should be abandoned. Dont give up, dont surrender, use a comprehensive approach. Yesterdays European health ministers summit in Paris only illustrated the WHOs concerns. The ministers clashed over the refusal of France and Germany to export key medical supplies like gloves and masks, making it impossible to pool resources in a common fight against the disease. The European Union (EU) also increased its research funding on coronavirus by a paltry $42 million, though hundreds of billions of euros of investment are needed to build up the necessary research, productive capacity and treatment capacity to come to grips with the disease. In effect, each individual country is going its own way, implementing ineffective and totally inadequate national policies, as the coronavirus spreads and kills across national borders. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Contes government closed schools and universities for 10 days starting Thursday. However, the WHOs Italian government advisor, Walter Ricciardi, called the measure useless and harmful, as the schools would be closed less than the coronaviruss 14-day incubation period. This means that youth who have caught the disease recently could stay at home for 10 days without showing symptoms, and then return to school, infecting more of their classmates before it is obvious that they are ill. There are already reports that in Lombardy, Italys worst-hit region, coronavirus patients cannot find doctors to visit themeither because doctors are themselves ill, or because they cannot find protective equipment to wear to safely examine their patients. On Thursday night, French President Emmanuel Macron fatalistically declared at an emergency meeting that an epidemic is inexorable. French health authorities said they were considering a shutdown of schools, universities, and public transportation to better track the disease. While visiting a retirement home yesterday, however, Macron countermanded them, criticizing emergency measures and insisting with criminal light-mindedness that everyone should get used to a coronavirus epidemic, which he downplayed, comparing it to the common flu. In any case, the epidemic will be there, Macron said, calling for people not to abandon common sense. Each year we deal with influenza epidemics that unfortunately kill 9,000 to 10,000 patients. This is profoundly false, as the coronavirus is far more contagious and at least 20 times deadlier than the flu. However, Macron said there should no extra spending or moves to slow the spread of the disease. We must be able to hold. If we take measures that are too drastic, it will not be sustainable in the long run. Despite mounting public concern, he claimed that shutting schools or workplaces would only create panic. In Britain, a second coronavirus death was recorded of an elderly man who was not quarantined when he arrived in hospital in Milton Keyes with severe symptoms, but who asphyxiated after his oxygen mask was removed. Moreover, authorities announced that patients with a mild coronavirus illness will be asked to stay home, in order to relieve pressure on hospitalsthough they will then be more likely to spread the disease to their family or flatmates. Several reports have emerged from Germany of the impossibility of obtaining coronavirus testing, even for manifestly ill and disoriented feverish patients, orin the case of journalist Juan Moreno, who was ordered to report on the Italian outbreakfor those who had traveled to epidemic zones. Such events only underscore that a massive investment in coronavirus testing, production of protective clothing and respirator equipment, and expanding hospital capacity can overcome the destructive and dangerous legacy of decades of European Union austerity. The resources exist for universal testing, paid sick leave for the infected, free high-quality treatment for all, and the creation of safe living and working conditions. However, they require international coordination and collaboration, and the independent mobilization of the working class to oversee conditions at home and on the job. The accelerating pandemic in Europe undeniably demonstrates the failure of the banks and the capitalist class to deal with life-and-death threats facing humanity and the necessity for the socialist reorganization of society. As the worlds population of bees rapidly declines, many honey manufacturers have turned to producing counterfeit blends of honey to profit. According to food laboratories that have analyzed a wide selection of honey brand, more than half have shown signs of adulteration. Adulteration involves adding cheaper types of sugar to honey, diluting it with water, or heating it to particular temperatures to eliminate chemical markers that would indicate the country of origin. A food lab analyzed 110 commercial honey products and found over 70 percent of them had been blended with other kinds of sugars or were fraudulently labeled We tested about 60 to 70 different companies, and we found that about 50 to 60 percent of those honeys tested are bad honey, Kent Heitzinger a lawyer involved in a class action lawsuit over fraudulent honey, told Vice. Out of 110 products, around 70 percent were adulterated. Theres been something done to them. It is just pure fraud in our opinion. They're selling products to the American public that isn't what it says it is. Demand for honey has been steadily rising--in 2018, 575 million pounds of honey were consumed, a 40 percent increase from 1998. At the same time bee populations are collapsing, with 40 percent of hives tended by beekeepers were lost between 2018 and 2019 alone. To exploit the rising demand, many honey manufacturers have begun adulterating their products with other kinds of sugars, most commonly taken from rice, beets or corn. The most common way of 'adulterating' honey involves blending it with cheaper sources of sugar, such as beet sugar, corn sugar, or rice sugar, while still labeling the end product as pure all natural honey Aother common practice for producing fraudulent honey involves a straining process that removes chemical markers of the honeys country of origin. The process involves dissolving the honey in water and filtering the mixture through aliphatic resin, a compound that strips it of chemical markers, including antibiotics, pesticides, or unwanted flavors. In the past this process was used to help make less palatable kinds of honey, like Indian gum honeywhich tastes and smells like like old gym socks, according to biochemist Jim Gawenis. Aliphatic resin removes the odor from Indian gum honey and turns it a pleasant amber color, though it also strains out all the pollens and enzymes that give honey its added nutritive benefits. Beekeepers are already struggling after mass bee death, with 40 percent of US bee hives lost between 2018 and 2019 alone. The rise of fraudulent and counterfeit honey has only made it harder on beekeepers to compete What they do is they would take, say, a Chinese honey, put it through that filtration, and then dust it with Argentine pollen, mix it up, Gawenis told Vice. All of a sudden, you have Argentinian honey. At present, theres no reason to believe the practice of selling fraudulent honey is a public health threat. However, its helped keep the honey market flooded with surplus product thats kept prices down and made it harder for honest beekeepers to earn a living. In my opinion, they've all been doing this for years, Heitzinger, one of the lawyers said. That's my gut feeling. And it's all about profits. Duggar family followers have noticed that Jill Duggar is experiencing something of a metamorphosis in recent months. Shortly before Christmas, Derick Dillard, Jills husband, took to Instagram to spill some family tea, and theyve been making interesting moves ever since. While Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar may not be here for it, family followers very much are. It, however, looks like Jills been sidestepping the rules for years, and followers just didnt notice. Jills been wearing shorts for years It looks like Jills split from her familys belief system has been years in the making. Recently an old photo of Jill wearing shorts has surfaced on Reddit. While the shorts are far from immodest, they do show off a fair bit of Jills legs, a decision that is most assuredly against the Duggar familys modest dress code. While Jill is happy to let her knees see the sun, Jana Duggar, the familys eldest daughter, was so shaken by the notion of legs in August 2019, that she photoshopped skirts onto two women who were seen in the background of one of her photos. The photoshopping led to significant backlash. Jinger Duggar, who currently lives in Los Angeles, also discussed her decision to wear pants in a tearful interview on Counting On, suggesting that the decision to bear ones legs is kind of a big deal for the Duggar family. Several recent decisions by Jill and Derick indicate the split is complete While Jills decision to don pants and shorts may be old news, her more recent choices have been making headlines. Not only has Derick decided to out JimBob as money-hungry, but hes also shared how deeply Jill has been affected by the familys shows and scandals. In fact, he is the first person who has openly identified Jill as a victim of abuse. The couple has also made the decision to enroll their eldest child, Israel Dillard, in public school, an option that seemed off the table for Duggar offspring. Jill was homeschooled for the entirety of her education and appeared to be following suit with her own children, until the surprise announcement. Israel is set to begin Kindergarten in August 2020. Jill and Dericks youngest son, Samuel, is still too young for public education, although if all goes well for Israel, Sam will likely join the public school system when he is old enough. Jill and Derick dont seem welcome in the Duggar family While the duo has been making shocking choices, at least by Duggar standards, fans have been excitedly following along. Most followers believe the decisions the pair have made are definitely in their best interest and in the best interest of their children, but Jim Bob and Michelle likely arent pleased. Jill has only recently surfaced in a photo with the family, after spending more than two years unmentioned by her siblings and parents. Joy-Anna Duggar and her husband, Austin Forsyth, recently posted a video to YouTube that suggests they spend every Monday evening with the Duggar clan for family time, suggesting they are closely connected with the family. That seems to be in stark contrast to what Derick has described in his social media postings. The law school student has claimed that he and his wife are not welcome in the familys Springdale, Arkansas home unless Jim Bob is present, and they even needed permission to be in the house when Jessa Duggar went into labor, even though the entire family, save for Jessa and her husband, Ben Seewald, were out of town at the time. SPRINGFIELD Five Republicans want the chance to challenge U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin in November. But along with battling each other, they have to battle name recognition among voters in the March 17 Republican Primary. Vying for the chance to face Durbin on Nov. 3 are Peggy Hubbard, Tom Tarter, Casey Chlebek, Robert Marshall and Mark C. Curran Jr. Hubbard, 56, of Belleville, was raised in a St. Louis ghetto by a single mother and her grandmother, according to her website. She became pregnant while single and serving in the Navy. Her first marriage ended in divorce and she raised two small children on her own. She was a court reporter for the St. Louis County Police Department before working 15 years for the Internal Revenue Service. In 1991, she married St. Louis Police Officer Charles Hubbard and they formed a blended family with six children. Her husband was forced to retire in 2016 after twice being shot in the line of duty. Tarter, 67, of Springfield, is a retired urologist oncologist with Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois. A native of Portland, Oregon, he has degrees from Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon; Oregon Health Sciences University based in Portland; and Albany Medical College in Albany, New York. He was an associate professor for the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for 10 years and served on the Board of Governors at the Carle Clinic Association. He has published numerous articles in medical journals and is a precinct committeeman in Springfield. He and his wife, Julie, have been married for 40 years and have three adopted sons. Marshall, 76, of Burr Ridge, is a radiologist. Born in Dayton, Ohio, he earned a scholarship to a private school in Exeter, New Hampshire, and served in the Army. He graduated from Oberlin College and was granted special admission to the Harvard Medical School. He opened his own practice in 1984. A 2018 candidate for governer, he also has served as a member of the Burr Ridge Board of Trustees and run for Congress. He describes himself as the only pro-choice candidate among the five seeking to unseat Durbin. He and his wife, Susan, have one son and three daughters. Curran, 56, of Libertyville, is an attorney and small business owner who was Lake County sheriff from 2006 to 2018. He earned a bachelors degree from College Spring Hil in Mobile, Alabama, and his law degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law. He was the Illinois Attorney Generals Gang Crime Bureau Chief and also has served as a special prosecutor for the United States Attorney. A member of St. Josephs Knights of Columbus, he describes himself as pro-liberty and pro-life. As of Thursday he had more than 60 endorsements. He and his wife, Irene, have three sons. Chlebek, 71, of Chicago, was born in Poland and emigrated to the U.S. in 1967 with his mother and brother to join his father in Chicago. He graduated from University of Illinois and worked for Aldens, Zenith and Northern Trust bank. He is president and fopunder of C&J Realty Management, Inc., a national director of the Polish American Congress and commodore of the Joseph Conrad Yacht Club. He was a member of the Republican National Committee, the Illinois Republican Party, the Heartland Institute and the Trump Make America Great Again Committee He has two daughters. Health officials in Hanoi spray disinfectants on Chau Long Street near Truc Bach where the 17th Covid-19 patient lives on March 7, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. 25 of 33 people whod come into close contact with Hanoi's first Covid-19 patient and Vietnam's 17th have tested negative for the novel coronavirus. The personal chauffeur and an aunt of 26-year-old Nguyen Hong Nhung were confirmed positive for novel coronavirus on Saturday afternoon, while six others have been asked to submit blood samples for Covid-19 testing. Nguyen Nhat Cam, director of Hanoi Center for Disease Control, said 25 quick response teams in the city investigated the case and made a list of those at risk of being infected by the patient. At least 200 people had been quarantined as of Saturday morning. New Covid-19 outbreaks Truc Bach Street, where Nhung resides, and Hong Ngoc Hospital are being treated as potential hubs for the novel coronavirus and authorities have deployed various measures to prevent its spread, including blocking the street and closing shops in the area. At Truc Bach Street, health officials are checking on all people in the area twice a day. If someone develops signs of fever and cough, he/she will be placed in quarantine. Hong Ngoc Hospital in Ba Dinh District, where the woman was first admitted after she developed a fever, have been asked to suspend operations and patients being treated at this hospital should not be discharged, officials have directed. More than 500 people at this hospital have been isolated at a separate area in Long Bien District. Among those quarantined, Ba Dinh District has three persons two employees of Hong Ngoc Hospital and a crew member of the VN54 flight of Vietnam Airlines that Nhung boarded from London to return home on March 2. A hotel employee who came into contact with Nhung has been isolated, and some passengers onboard the flight also live in the area. In Hoang Mai District, a doctor who directly treated Nhung and two medical staff are now quarantined at Campus No.2 of the Hanoi Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases while another employee of Hong Ngoc Hospital has been placed under isolation at Thanh Nhan Hospital. In Dong Da and Ung Hoa districts, 15 and 26 people have been isolated, respectively, after having come into contact with Nhung. Five family members of Nhungs personal chauffeur and a security guard have been quarantined at home. Chuong My District has a resident who came into contact twice with the patient. The resident has shown signs of fever and is being tested. Soc Son District has five people isolated, and their samples have been taken for testing. Tay Ho District has 29 people under isolation, with none of those cases showing signs of fever. A co-passenger traveling on the same flight as the patient has been isolated. Cau Giay District has isolated nine people including a flight attendant. This district is crowded with foreigners; therefore, authorities have strengthened isolation and control. Long Bien District has 10 people who came into contact with the patient at Hong Ngoc Hospital. They have been isolated. Three others are under quarantine in the locality. Houses, hospitals, and surrounding areas of the quarantined people have been disinfected and their family members are being closely monitored. The citys Health Department said "the situation of the epidemic is very complicated". They expect new infection cases will continue to come up. In addition, people who had close contact with the patient have traveled many places. City authorities are cooperating with Hanois Noi Bai Airport to collect information obout 217 passengers and crew members onboard the flight with the patient. Mobilizing all forces Hanoi Party Secretary Vuong Dinh Hue has requested that unnecessary meetings are dispensed with so that people can focus on fighting the epidemic. He ordered that the city People's Committee allow students to stay home until March 15. Hanoi had earlier said high school students can resume classes on Monday while younger students continue stay away until March 15. Hue noted that Hanoi has learned from the experience of neighboring Vinh Phuc Province in fighting the Covid 19 epidemic. Vinh Phuc is home to 11 out of 16 patients recorded before the woman in Hanoi. "The motto is to go to the doors and knock, and take them to the hospital early," he said. Nguyen Hong Nhung had left Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport on February 15 to visit family members living in London, England. Three days later, she traveled from London to Milan City, in the province of Lombardy, Italy, and returned to London on February 20. During her time in Milan, Lombardy had not recorded any Covid-19 positive case. On February 25, the woman traveled from London to Paris to visit her sister. She contracted a cough on February 29, but did not get checked up. On March 1, she reportedly felt body pain and fatigue, but it was unclear if she had a fever. The same day, she boarded flight VN54 of Vietnam Airlines from London and landed in Hanoi at 4:30 a.m. on March 2. She did not have a fever then. After completing entry procedures, the patient was allowed to drive a family car home to Truc Bach Street in Ba Dinh Districts Truc Bach Ward. Later, she developed a mild fever and severe cough, and was admitted to Hong Ngoc Hospital in Ba Dinh District Thursday. The very same day, she was transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases where she tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Eleven people, including nine foreigners, have been quarantined and sampled in Ho Chi Minh City for traveling on the same flight with Nhung. Vietnam has recorded four new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. Sixteen infection cases had been discharged from hospitals earlier. A 27-year-old man who has been quarantined in northern Ninh Binh Province upon returning to Vietnam from Daegu since Wednesday has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, becoming the 18th infection case, the Health Ministry stated on Saturday afternoon. Some hours later, Hanoi's authorities announced the chauffeur and aunt of Nhung are the 19th and 20th cases in the country. The Covid-19 epidemic has spread to 100 countries and territories around the world with global death toll climbing to 3,500. Starting Saturday, everyone coming to Vietnam have to fill health declarations. Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a series of instructions on migration and obtaining Russian citizenship. The instructions of the head of state are based on the Russias State Migration Policy Concept 20192025. The first progress report on the implementation of instructions will be submitted to the Russian leader by spring 2021; head of the Kremlin administration Anton Vaino has been appointed responsible for the preparation of the report. Further, the working group will prepare reports to the head of state every six months, the Kremlin website informs. In addition, work will begin on updating the action plan for the implementation of the Concept of State Migration Policy prepared until 2025. A report on this topic will be completed by the summer of this year. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the FSB, the Ministry of Justice and the presidential administration will take part in the work on it. It is clarified that the aim of the reform is a unification of the migration regime for a long-term stay (more than 90 days) in Russia. If a citizen of another country arrives in the Russian Federation for work, study, treatment and for other legitimate purposes, he does not need to receive a residence permit. The regime applies to citizens of member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, with the exception of citizens of Belarus. The entrant will receive the right to a long stay without a residence permit after registration of the account with the State Information System (SIS) based on the provision of biometric personal data. Also, a prerequisite is the absence of dangerous diseases and the presence of a single document with an electronic storage medium. By PTI MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate questioned Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor for the second day on Saturday in connection with a money-laundering probe against him and others and raided some more locations in Delhi and Mumbai, officials said. They said Kapoor was brought to the agency's office in Ballard Estate area after noon. He has been questioned for over seven hours and his statement recorded by the agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the officials said. ALSO READ: Here is all you need to know about the Yes Bank moratorium The premises of Kapoor's three daughters in Delhi and Mumbai were also searched on Saturday to gather more information and evidence, they added. The ED had searched Rana's residence in the upscale 'Samudra Mahal' building in the Worli area on Friday night and grilled him there too. The questioning of Kapoor is continuing, the officials said. The case against Kapoor is linked to the scam-hit Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL) as the loans given by the bank to the company allegedly turned non-performing assets (NPAs), they said. A Rs 600-crore worth loan extended by the DHFL to an entity is also at the centre of the ED probe, they added. Action against Kapoor is being conducted under the PMLA. According to the officials, the central agency is also probing the Yes Bank founder's role in connection with the disbursal of loans to some corporate entities and the subsequent alleged kickbacks reportedly received in his wife's accounts. Other alleged irregularities are also under the agency's scanner, including the one related to the alleged Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) fraud in Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), they said. The CBI recently took over the investigation into the Rs 2,267-crore EPF fraud in Uttar Pradesh, where hard-earned savings of power sector employees were invested in DHFL. The ED action came after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday imposed a moratorium on the capital-starved Yes Bank, capping withdrawals at Rs 50,000 per account, and superseded the board of the private sector lender with immediate effect. Yes Bank will not be able to grant or renew any loan or advance, make any investment, incur any liability or agree to disburse any payment. As per the RBI's draft reconstruction scheme, State Bank of India will pick up 49 per cent stake in the crisis-ridden Yes Bank under a government-approved bailout plan. HOBOKEN Good booze, good music and a good time are what some patrons said drew them to Saturdays LepreCon. Take Madison Napoli and Zach Wund, both 24, who were waiting on line for their second stop of the pub crawl earlier this afternoon. The first-year participants said that its been congested, but everyones been respectful and has been having a good time. Its just good vibes, a good time, Napoli said. In the past, catchy tunes mixed with bargoers liquid confidence caused chaos in the city. As of 3 p.m. Saturday, three people were arrested two for disorderly conduct and one for drug distribution charges seven city ordinance summonses were issued and one person was transported to the hospital, Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante said on Twitter. At 3pm,there have been 3 arrests (2 for disorderly conduct, 1 for Drug Distribution charges), 7 City Ordinance summonses issued, & 1 person transported to the hospital. Same as last yr, 1 of the peak periods was 1pm-3pm. Nxt contingent comes out at 4pm(@HobokenPD & @UnionCityPD ) Chief Ken Ferrante (@KenFerrante) March 7, 2020 Jorge Aguirre, 43, has been selling honey roasted nuts on the corner of Newark and Hudson streets for six years. He said hes seen LepreCon and Santacon Saturdays events evil twin at its worst and believes the event is now beautiful and that police have been doing a good job. Just down the block at The Ugly Irishman, Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson can be heard blasting on Hudson Street as bargoers shouted the lyrics. Theres been a few that drank too much but thats normal, Aguirre told The Jersey Journal. (LepreCon) is good for business and tourists come from any city. ... The event is good as long as people are safe. LepreCon is not a city-sponsored event, and many bars whove previously participated has now backed out; signs of non-participation are posted on their doors. Twelve bars are celebrating the Hoboken tradition. Francisco Fernandez, 82, sat in front of City Hall Saturday afternoon as patrons crossed the roads on Washington Street. Fernandez has lived in Hoboken for 60 years, and he unlike many other residents doesnt find the pub crawl bothersome. Theres more control now and they make money, Fernandez said. To me, this is a great day. A nurses aide has been charged with sexually touching three helpless patients at two nursing homes in Bergen County. Police arrested Han Sun Cho, 55, of Leonia, on a charge accusing him of touching a patient while working at a nursing home in Emerson, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said in a statement. During that investigation, investigators found Cho had also sexually touched two other patients at a Tenafly nursing and rehabilitation center, the statement said. The statement said the victims were also physically helpless. Cho is charged with three counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact, the statement said. The nursing centers were not named in Musellas statement. Cho was being held in Bergen County jail Friday, according to jail records. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletter D onald Trump has mocked former Democratic candidate Elizabeth Warren by claiming she left the presidential race because of a "lack of talent". Ms Warren stepped down from the Democratic primary yesterday - leaving the party without a female candidate - amid speculation sexism she faced during her campaign caused her to drop out. Mr Trump dismissed claims sexism had anything to do with her departure from the race, as he signed an emergency 8.3 billion US dollar funding package to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak. He also insisted her campaign was doomed because "people don't like her" and that "she's a mean person". Elizabeth Warren quit the Democratic presidential nomination / AFP via Getty Images He told reporters: No, I think lack of talent was her problem. She has a tremendous lack of talent." The president commended her performances on the campaign trail, saying she was a good debater who had destroyed the candidacy of former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg like it was nothing. But he went on to say but people dont like her. He said: Shes a very mean person People dont want that. They like a person like me, thats not mean. Mr Trump has previously made scathing comments about female politicians. After moderator Megyn Kelly confronted him during the first Republican debate of the 2016 cycle over his comments about women, Mr Trump said: You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever. MADRID, March 6 (Reuters) - Spain's Ebro Foods has ramped up production of pasta and rice in Western Europe and the United States in the past couple of weeks to meet growing demand by consumers worried by the coronavirus crisis, a company spokeswoman said on Friday. Consumers around the world have been stockpiling non-perishable food and household items as the coronavirus spreads on fears they may end up in quarantine at home. "To follow the peak in demand, we have increased our overall production in Italy, France, United States, Germany, Britain and Spain by 15% to 25%," the spokeswoman said. Ebro Foods owns brands such as Garofalo in Italy, Panzani in France and Minute Rice in the United States. It has not had trouble sourcing raw materials on the market or noticed price volatility, the spokeswoman said, adding: "We have our own stocks of raw materials and future contracts." The company expects the market will adjust at some point as fears ease. With sales worth 2.81 billion euros ($3.19 billion) in 2019, Ebro Foods says it is the world's second-largest rice seller and the world's second-largest dry and fresh pasta maker. The company invested 149 million euros in 2019 to increase capacity on both sides of the Atlantic. ($1 = 0.8814 euros) (Reporting by Inti Landauro Editing by Ingrid Melander and Nick Macfie) As the coronavirus continues to spread, Chinatowns around the world have seen business decline. In New York's Flushing neighborhood, home of the largest Chinatown, some restaurants have lost 50% of their business and are relying on delivery to stay afloat. Restaurant owners say that while locals in Flushing are still coming to eat, customers from other parts of the city have stopped visiting. Flushing residents worry that discrimination against the community could have a long-term impact. View more episodes of Business Insider Today on Facebook. Chinatowns around the world have always attracted visitors. But since the new coronavirus outbreak, businesses are suffering. In New York City's Chinatown neighborhood in Flushing, Queens the biggest Chinatown in the world some shops are reporting losses of 50% as fears of the coronavirus grow. The downturn began even before the coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, reached New York City. Three people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in New York City, although no cases have been reported in Flushing. The difference is obvious in shopping centers like the New World Mall, whose food court is typically packed with customers. "When I came here two or three months ago, there were pretty much no empty seats here. Every restaurant had a long line of people," customer Tina Yang told Business Insider Today. "Right now, there are visibly fewer customers than before." Food courts in Flushing's Chinatown neighborhood that were once packed have seen a drastic downturn in business since the coronavirus outbreak. Dylan Barth/Business Insider Today "At first we thought it was weather-related, but then we realized everybody was afraid to go where a lot of people were," Da Xiong, owner of Heat Noodle restaurant, told Business Insider Today. And it's not the locals who are staying away. "At least half of our business depends on outside customers," Dong Wang, owner of the restaurant Fish Dumpling, told Business Insider Today. "But people from other places, like Long Island, like Manhattan, those people are afraid to come." Story continues As the number of reported coronavirus cases surpasses 100,000 worldwide, anti-Chinese sentiment is on the rise. In New York, multiple incidents of discrimination have been reported, including one on Wednesday in which a man on the subway cursed at an Asian passenger and sprayed him with air freshener. John Choe, the executive director of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, said he's heard of violent attacks against Asian New York residents in recent weeks. "New York itself is suffering as a city, but I think communities like Flushing, because they are heavily immigrants and majority Asian, are suffering even more," he told Business Insider Today. The downturn has forced some restaurants to reduce business hours or make staff work part time. Dylan Barth/Business Insider Today The downturn has forced some restaurants to reduce business hours and have staff work part time. Others have ramped up deliveries to cover the loss of foot traffic. But some, like Chinese-Korean Dumplings and Noodles, have maintained the same hours and swallowed the losses. "To make sure employees are able to put food on their own tables, the manager has still been supporting us," employee Baoxia Ren said. "We might be making less, but as long as we're able to eat for now, it's OK." The pattern mirrors what's happening in Chinatowns in other cities like Los Angeles, London, and Paris, where once bustling enclaves have turned into virtual ghost towns since the outbreak. And residents are worried about the long-term impact of discrimination against the community. "My hope is that people will not think of Flushing as a dangerous place," Wang said. "We shouldn't stigmatize Flushing. If anything, its label should be New York's eating capital. Best Chinese food in New York." Read the original article on Business Insider Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 14:09:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A total of 2,340 private equity (PE) products were newly registered in China in the first two months of this year, data from the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC) showed. The number marked a surge of 82.67 percent from the same period last year. China's asset management business expanded slower in recent years as authorities tightened regulations to contain risks arising from wealth management products. Data from the association showed China had more than 24,000 PE fund management companies. Established in 2012, the AMAC is a self-regulatory organization that represents the mutual fund industry of China. Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray stressed on Saturday that his party, the Shiv Sena, is committed to Hindutva even though it has broken ties with the BJP Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday visited Ayodhya and announced an aid of Rs 1 crore for the construction of Ram Temple while stressing that his party, the Shiv Sena, is committed to Hindutva even though it has broken ties with the BJP. Thackeray, on his first visit to Ayodhya after becoming CM last November and completing 100 days in office on Friday, also said the aid will be given on behalf of a trust and not the Maharashtra government. He was accompanied by his wife Rashmi, son and Maharashtra tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray and another minister and Congress leader Sunil Kedar. "In Marathi, there is a phrase 'phool na phoolachi paakli' (one should offer a petal if not the whole flower). So I am humbly announcing Rs 1 crore assistance for temple construction, not on behalf of the (Maharashtra) government, but our trust," Thackeray said. "We are humbly requesting the members of the (Ram temple) trust (formed to construct the temple on the Supreme Court's orders) to accept the small contribution from Ram bhakts (devotees of Lord Ram)," Thackeray told reporters before offering prayers at the makeshift Ram Lalla temple. Asked about the BJP's criticism that the Sena turned its back on the Hindutva ideology after joining hands with the NCP and Congress to form government in Maharashtra, Thackeray said the Sena still espouses Hindutva. "I have perhaps parted ways with the BJP (but) not with Hindutva. The BJP and Hindutva are different. BJP does not mean Hindutva," he said. He also referred to the Sena's vocal support for the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation when his father Bal Thackeray was at the helm of the party. "Bricks bearing the word 'Shriram' were sent here from Maharashtra in those days. Those bricks could still be here," he added. The Ram temple which will come up in Ayodhya will be for all, and it should be built on such a scale that people from world-over would come to see it, Thackeray added. Asked if he will attend Bhumi-pujan (ground-breaking ceremony) of the temple, Thackeray replied in affirmative. "Whenever Lord Ram wishes, we will come," he said. Thackeray did not perform 'aarti' during the visit, contending precautions should be taken in view of the coronavirus (to avoid crowds). "I wanted to perform the aarti... But will definitely do it the next time," he said. Kedar, who visited the temple with the Thackeray family, told Marathi newschannel TV9 that he had come here for "darshan" of Lord Ram and his visit had nothing to do with his party. "When the chief minister of the state can take blessings, we too will take blessings. This is not about any party but faith. The party and faith are different things," he said. This is the second article on weeds, both being prompted by the first sign of weeds poking through the dirt. Noxious weeds are a bad problem and are spreading throughout Elko County. They create dense stands preventing more desirable plants from growing. They compete aggressively with other plants for light, nutrients and water. They grow abundant seeds, meaning even if the weeds are controlled one year, control work must be repeated for several years. They are unsightly and lower property values. Worse yet, a Nevada law stipulates that property owners whose land is infested with noxious weeds are required to implement control measures. Once again, I talked to Sam Cisney, the BLM Elko District Weed Management Specialist. I asked Sam to name two more noxious weeds people need to be planning for their control. She named spotted knapweed and Scotch thistle. Controlling weeds leaves bare ground that must be seeded to something desirable. Bare ground invites more weeds. It is hard to miss Scotch thistle, a weed mass often growing 5-6-feet high and 5-feet wide. The numerous stems have wings carrying spines 1/4-1/2 long. The leaves carry a thick mat of cotton-like or woolly hairs, giving them a gray-green appearance. The thistle flowers are purple. Stands of Scotch thistle can grow so thick no person can pass through them, and the ground beneath them is bare dirt since nothing else can grow there. It is also known as cotton thistle or woolly thistle, a native of Europe and eastern Asia and was probably brought to North America as an ornamental. Scotch thistle is a biennial plant, meaning it typically lives two years. It spends the first year as a flat rosette of two-foot long, whitish, spiked leaves. During the second year, this rosette grows into the tall thistle plant. A thick stand of tall thistles is usually surrounded by numerous rosettes ready to expand the stand next year. Wind carries the abundant thistle seeds onto neighbors property, spreading the problem. To control this thistle requires a multi-year attack. The best way to stop Scotch thistle targets those first-year rosettes. Breaking the tap root with a shovel kills the first-year plant. Killing all rosettes means no tall thistles the next year. The second-year thistles must be attacked early in summer, before they flower and produce seeds. Removing tall thistle plants after flowering may make the land look better but it does nothing to stop the cycle of rosettes and thistles. Spraying thistles already carrying flowers may limit additional flower development and seed production, but it does not kill that plant and may be only wasting chemical. Before the flowers open, the thistles can be snipped and removed by someone wearing leather gloves, or cut with a shovel, or sprayed. People sometimes use tongs to grasp the flower heads with one gloved hand as they snip it off with the other. The young plants or the flower heads must be removed, since just dropping them on the ground does not work. The seeds still develop and drop from the fallen head. Drop the flower heads or young plants into a garbage bag and carry them away from the site. Spotted knapweed is a highly branched shrub growing up to three feet tall. It lives at least two years and has a deep taproot. In spring, the plant appears as a leafy prostrate rosette. Its rosette leaves are grayish green and deeply divided into oblong lobes. It was introduced from Eurasia as a contaminant of alfalfa and clover seed and/or soil used in ship ballast in the late 1800s. Flowers appear singly at the ends of branches from late June through August. The purple, pink or white flowers are smaller but resemble those of thistles. The bases of flower heads have vertical veins with dark tips, giving them a spotted appearance, thus the name. The oval, dark seeds are about inch long with a tuft of bristles at the tip. On average, there are about 1,000 seeds per plant, but large plants can have up to 25,000 seeds. It spreads by seed, and seeds remain viable in soil for more than eight years. It can also spread by rosettes growing from lateral roots. Spotted knapweed seeds get moved to new areas by wildlife, livestock, humans, and vehicles, also in crop seed and hay, and by flowing streams. Persistent hand pulling or digging can control spotted knapweed but three inches of plant below the dirt must be removed. Dry soil can make this removal very difficult. It is best done before the plant produces seeds. If plants are pulled after flowering begins, the pulled plants should be carefully disposed of to destroy viable seed. Hand-pulling needs to be done at least three times a year, spring, summer and late summer. It can be controlled by cultivation if the ground is disturbed to a depth of 7 inches. Mowing will not control spotted knapweed; however, it can be used to reduce seed production. The optimum time to mow spotted knapweed is before flowering. Mowing in combination with herbicide spraying may be better than just using herbicide. Larger stands of spotted knapweed and Scotch thistle may require spraying with chemicals. It is not as easy as simply going to the store and buying a weed killer. The best way to do this is to first talk to the professionals and tell them what you are treating and the size of the problem. Before purchasing chemical, talk to the people at IFA or Boss Tanks. The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, at 775-738-7291, and the Humboldt Watershed Cooperative Weed Management Area, at www.humboldtweedfree.org/ are both good source of help with weed control. The Spring Creek Association, at www.springcreeknv.org, (then choose forms and policies, then noxious weeds), and the Department of Agriculture at agri.nv.gov/NoxiousWeeds/ offer information on weeds. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Police are investigating an apparent fight over toilet paper at a Sydney Woolworths store as Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos calls for calm. Shoppers around the country have been stockpiling food and toilet paper, leading to shortages and disputes. Footage captured by a shopper in Chullora and circulated on social media on Saturday shows Woolworths staff intervening in the dispute between three women and urging those involved to "back off right now" from a trolley stacked with jumbo packs of toilet rolls. Footage of the women allegedly fighting over toilet paper at the Woolworths in Chullora on Saturday. Credit:Nine News "I just want one pack," a shopper involved in the fracas says to another woman at the helm of the overflowing trolley. Two women in South Carolina have presumably contracted a dangerous strain of coronavirus, the state health department announced late Friday. The agency conducted both tests, which yielded positive results, and expects the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to officially confirm the diagnoses over the weekend. The presumptive positive cases are not linked. One case is located in Kershaw County and one case is located in Charleston County. The patient from Kershaw is an elderly woman who has been hospitalized and is in isolation. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control does not know how the woman contracted COVID-19. She remains hospitalized and has no known travel history. She has no other known exposures, said Linda Bell, DHECs top epidemiologist. This is still new and as we learn more we will continue to update you. Bell would not comment on the woman's condition or predict if she would make a recovery. "Thats unknown," Bell said. "I cant make predictions like that." The patient in Charleston County is a staff member at the Medical University of South Carolina, though she did not return to work after a trip to France and Italy, spokeswoman Heather Woolwine said in a statement. The MUSC team member self-quarantined and did not require hospitalization. She had a mild illness and has not had any symptoms for three days. "Our team member practiced excellent public health and social responsibility by pursuing testing, taking appropriate hygienic precautions and self-quarantining at home," Woolwine said. Bell did not know if the Charleston patient traveled through Charleston International Airport. "We don't have that information," she said. Federal health care law prohibits the agency and MUSC from disclosing any identifying information about patients. DHEC confirmed both patients are being isolated and their close contacts have been identified to prevent further spread of the disease. Bell said the virus poses a low risk to South Carolina residents and underscored that the public should not panic. We encourage the public to remain calm, she said. The patient in Kershaw presents a unique challenge for the state health department because most cases identified in the United States have been linked to specific geographic areas where the virus has already spread. On Feb. 28L, a California patient garnered significant national attention because she had no known exposure to the disease. S.C. Rep. Laurie Funderburk, D-Camden, who represents Kershaw County, took to Twitter Friday night to acknowledge the two presumptive cases. "This is not a time to panic, but to be smart and take precautions that one normally would to prevent the spread of illnesses," Funderburk wrote. DHEC has identified two possible cases of COVID-19 #Coronavirus in SC. One is in Kershaw County. This is not a time to panic, but to be smart and take precautions that one normally would to prevent the spread of illnesses. #washyourhands https://t.co/zV40bhvqTm Laurie Funderburk (@LS_Funderburk) March 7, 2020 The news of the presumed South Carolina cases comes as the number of domestic cases in the U.S. appears to have spiked late Friday. As of Friday night, infections in the country numbered over 200, according to The Associated Press. Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said Friday night that city officials' concerns were with the two patients and their families, and that officials were "confident in DHEC's testing procedures, which have worked well in these cases." "We appreciate the fine work being done by our state's public health professionals and will continue to follow their guidance as this situation evolves," Tecklenburg said. Gov. Henry McMaster said Friday evening that health care authorities in South Carolina have been preparing for this eventuality and there is no reason for public alarm." DHEC "is working with the CDC on confirmation for these cases. South Carolinians should continue to follow recommendations and information provided by official sources." A media briefing with McMaster and state public health officials is scheduled for Saturday morning at the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center in West Columbia. DHEC reported Friday that 54 people in the state had been asked to self-monitor for coronavirus symptoms since January. Most of those people have already completed the two-week program. As of Friday, 18 were still regularly checking and reporting their symptoms. Eight people have tested negative for the virus. On Friday, prior to DHEC's announcement, the Charleston County Emergency Management Department held a conference call with tri-county authorities, first responders and health officials to discussed preparedness and precautionary measures. "Out of an abundance of caution to protect public safety crews and limit exposure to the spread of any type of virus, we have added some additional questions to our Consolidated 9-1-1 Dispatch Center protocols," Charleston County Consolidated 911 Center Director Jim Lake said in a statement. "In order to better direct public safety personnel, dispatchers will ask additional screening questions on patient calls related to respiratory problems and illness." The novel coronavirus, formally called COVID-19, is marked by flu-like symptoms, including coughing, fever and shortness of breath. While most patients who have contracted the disease recover within a short time frame, the virus has accounted for more than 3,300 deaths worldwide, including 14 in the United States. Most of domestic fatalities associated with the virus have been linked to an outbreak inside a Washington state nursing home. Globally, the vast majority of coronavirus cases and deaths have been reported in China, where public health officials believe the virus originated late last year. Reporters Mary Katherine Wildeman, Andy Shain and Gregory Yee contributed to this article. BOISE, Idaho - A judge on Friday reduced bail to $1 million for the mother of two missing children after her lawyer contended at her first hearing in Idaho that the amount had been set too high because of media attention. Wearing faded orange-and-white striped jail garb and bright pink lipstick, Lori Vallow Daybell spoke little but nodded emphatically whenever her attorneys mentioned her desire to vigorously defend herself against the child abandonment charges. She told the judge she preferred to use her new last name Daybell rather than Vallow, as she has been listed in some court documents. Her new husband, Chad Daybell, sat behind her in the small, packed courtroom. On the other side of the room were Kay and Larry Woodcock, the grandparents of 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow. He and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, were last seen in September. Police in eastern Idaho say both Lori Daybell and her husband have lied about the childrens whereabouts. The couple left Idaho the day after police came to question them about the children in late November, and Lori Daybell was arrested in Hawaii last month on an Idaho warrant. She waived extradition and made her first appearance in Idaho before Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins. Madison County Prosecutor Rob Wood told the judge that Lori Daybell had already defied one court order when she refused to take her children to Idaho authorities in February. He also noted that she has continued to collect Social Security payments meant for both children, even though they havent been seen for months. This case didnt start as a criminal case. It started as a report of two missing children, who are still missing, Wood said, detailing three mysterious deaths, Daybells sudden move to Hawaii and her alleged efforts to convince a friend to lie to police about the whereabouts of the children. Since this last summer, there has been an alarming pattern in the defendants life, Wood said. Daybells attorney Edwina Elcox told the judge the $5 million bond initially set by a Hawaii judge before her extradition was excessively high. A recent murder case in the same area of Idaho only had bond set at $1 million, Elcox said. A bond set this high denies Lori due process, Elcox told the judge, suggesting the high amount was a reaction to the large amount of news coverage the case has generated. Child desertion charges are so rare in Idaho that she has never seen a case in a decade of practicing law, Elcox said. It is abundantly clear the prosecutor just needed to find a charge to fit this case because of all the media attention in this matter, she said. The judge agreed that the bond should be reduced but also said he wanted Daybell closely monitored. If she posts bail, she will have to wear a GPS-tracking ankle bracelet, stay within the region and maintain regular contact with her attorneys, he said. He set a preliminary hearing for March 18. Investigations have said the tangled case stretches across the Western U.S. and includes probes into three mysterious deaths. Lori Daybells estranged late husband, Charles Vallow, was shot and killed by Loris brother Alex Cox in Phoenix last July. Cox, who said the shooting was in self-defence, died of unknown causes several months later. Lori Daybells new husband, meanwhile, became a widower just two weeks before he married Lori Daybell. Chad Daybells late wife Tammy died in October. Though her obituary said the death was from natural causes, law enforcement became suspicious when Daybell quickly remarried. Tammy Daybells remains have been exhumed, but the autopsy report has not yet been released. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Associated Press Despite her initially having a remote chance at qualifying for the next televised debate, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will be a day late and more than a few delegates short. The Democratic National Committee announced the new threshold for the March 15 debate would be 20% of all delegates awarded so far, a steep task for Gabbard, given her campaign's resources and track record of poor performances so far. It's unclear why Gabbard is still in the race, but the bar being raised all but ensures a one-on-one debate between former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Even if Gabbard somehow won all 352 delegates up for grabs on March 10 and the dozen split between Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands on March 14, she would still fall short. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. For a few days, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii technically had a chance of making it back onto the debate stage. But after the Democratic National Committee announced on Friday that candidates would need at least 20% of all of the delegates allocated so far to qualify, Gabbard will be on the outside looking in at the race's first one-on-one debate on March 15 between former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Even if Gabbard were to somehow secure all 352 of the delegates on the table on election night March 10 and nab the dozen on March 14 between Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, she would still fail to break the 20% threshold. The Friday news led to the retirement of the hyperobservant Twitter account dedicated to the televised-debate qualifications, which now goes by the name "The Artist Formerly Known as Debate Tracker." The Artist Formerly Known as Debate Tracker (@TrackerDebate) March 6, 2020 The only word from Gabbard's campaign Friday was an announcement postponing an event in Las Vegas, where the Nevada caucus took place almost two weeks ago. Read the original article on Business Insider The cost of housing is certainly an issue, especially for young parents and people starting out on their own in this community. The cost of everything is going up, fuel, groceries, really its harder to make an income spread as far as it used to. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Premier Brian Pallister speaks to the media after question period on Wednesday as the legislative session resumes in Manitoba. (Winnipeg Free Press "The cost of housing is certainly an issue, especially for young parents and people starting out on their own in this community. The cost of everything is going up, fuel, groceries, really its harder to make an income spread as far as it used to." Cynamon Mychasiw, CEO of Brandon & District United Way, 2018 "The failure to eat (a well-balanced) breakfast has been documented to have a deleterious impact on cognitive performance, with the academic performance of school-aged children being the focus of much of the research in this area." International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 2017 "I understood poverty enough that its a place you dont want to be. I understood when I was nine years old: No work, no eat." Brian Pallister, 2013 There are times I just dont understand the ideas and words that sometimes blurt out of the mouth of Premier Brian Pallister. Dont get me wrong having met and conversed with the man on several occasions over the years, I can say in no uncertain terms that Pallister is a well-spoken and genuine individual. Hes also headstrong and brash at times, and has shown a penchant for unnecessary bravado on occasion. And I often think he feels a need to prove himself to Manitobans, if not to himself. Yet in the grand scheme of things, I cant really bring myself to fault his sincerity, his focus and protection of his family, and in his belief that what he is trying to achieve in Manitoba will ultimately be good for the province. However debatable those aspirations are, its clear to me at least that he believes his governments plans for balancing the budget, overhauling Manitoba Health operations and improving our education system are much-needed corrections for a province that had lost its way under the NDP. But on Wednesday, my respect for those aspects of his personality took a hit. During question period in the Manitoba legislature, after NDP Leader Wab Kinew urged the government to adopt a universal breakfast program for students from kindergarten to Grade 12, Pallister accused parents of children who go to school hungry of not "fulfilling their responsibilities." "The member should not ignore the unfilled responsibilities of Manitoba parents," he said. "Families first, Madam Speaker not state-funded cafeteria meals." In a media scrum afterward, the premier pointed to numerous published studies that prove the benefits of parents and children eating together as a family. "You dont take the meal and give it to an institution and take it away from a single mom, so she doesnt get time with her child," Pallister said, as quoted by the CBC. "You just dont do that. Youre ignoring the needs of that family and that relationship to be strengthened and built." Coming from a man who knows what its like to grow up in a household where funds are short and parents are struggling as well as a politician who in 2016 made fighting poverty in Manitoba his No. 1 issue I find this point of view rather jarring. While media attention often focuses on Pallisters luxury home in Winnipeg and his Costa Rica getaway property, pundits and columnists often gloss over the premiers humble beginnings. In point of fact, Pallister built much of his political career on the back of his personal story, telling rooms full of people on the campaign trail what it meant to be poor growing up. I have a vivid memory of the future premier and then-Opposition leader speaking to a partisan Tory crowd at the former Remingtons restaurant here in Brandon. It was the first time I had heard him speak in person. Towering over the crowd, he spoke at length about his home life in Portage la Prairie on the farm, and how he made his way to Brandon University and pulled himself up by his bootstraps by working hard first as a teacher and then as an insurance salesman. Pallister has told numerous reporters in several interviews myself included about how he grew up with two siblings in a house where money was tight. His father Bill was a farmer and local politician and his mother Anne a school teacher. The night of his election win to become premier of Manitoba on April 19, 2016, the CBC included in its reporting that often times Pallisters family "relied on his mothers meagre income as a teacher to put food on the table." Shouldnt such a man understand the difficulties faced by ordinary people who are struggling to put food on the table? Pallister is the epitome of the so-called "self-made man," someone who has worked hard to achieve success in his career and his family life. But as many successful people will attest, no one actually does it on their own. There is always help along the way a teacher, a friend, a relative, or even a stranger who gives them a leg up. The idea of a universal breakfast program has been championed by the Manitoba Teachers Society, and lately by the Manitoba New Democrats. Clearly, political machinations have factored into the premiers view of a universal breakfast program. Any suggestion of such a thing would no doubt be filtered through a desire to not give unions and New Democrats anything that they want. But that doesnt change the fact that other studies those not mentioned by the premier have proven that undernourished kids will do poorly in school compared to those who have a full belly. "Increased frequency of habitual breakfast was consistently positively associated with academic performance," reads one study published on the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience website. The province may have gone some lengths to address poverty in Manitoba, but it is by no means gone. The lines at Samaritan House for food hampers and for hot meals at the Helping Hands Soup Kitchen have not lessened indeed, theyre still growing. Does Pallister expect to wave a magic wand and suddenly find these people jobs in a stronger Manitoba economy overnight? Samaritan House director John Jackson says its not fair to expect parents who live below the poverty line to be able to give kids a solid breakfast when theyre having trouble making ends meet. "We cant hold the assumption that all families and all parents are in a situation where they can be responsible for that," Jackson told me yesterday. "With good parenting, well try to prioritize things like that, but I think communities and society and to some extent government all play a role to ensure that the vulnerable are provided for. And children are vulnerable." Even those in the corporate world dont seem to agree with Pallisters statement. One year ago this month, Maple Leaf Foods announced that it would be contributing $105,000 to the Food For Thought program in Brandon, a not-for-profit organization that provides breakfast or snacks to children in the school system. "It will sustain us for the next three years," Food For Thought program co-ordinator Angie Williamson said. "Its a lot of money that will buy a lot of food." The organization also stated that it feeds 375 students a day spread out across the 18 schools in the Brandon School Division. Thats a lot of mouths to feed and a lot of need. In an ideal world, Pallisters statements would be perfectly valid. Who wouldnt want to see parents spend time with their kids at breakfast time, making sure theyre well-fed and able to take on the challenges of the school day? Wouldnt it be great if poverty was non-existent, and everyone could afford to provide food and clothing to their children? But we dont live in that world, and no amount of hoping and wishing and tax-cutting will address the needs of those in poverty. Even if the Pallister government managed the seemingly impossible eliminating child poverty what happens to those who fall through the cracks in the meantime? Your self-reliance and determination are admirable qualities, Mr. Premier, but dont expect everyone to have the same ability to "pull themselves up." Admonishing struggling parents is not helping the situation it just seems petty. Giving them one less worry in their lives while they try to better their situation would go a long way for both the parents, and the kids who rely on them. Matt Goerzen, editor With nearly 700 million people getting a mosquito-borne illness each year resulting in over one million deaths, mosquito-borne illnesses have been identified as one of the worlds major health challenges. Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes include Malaria, Dengue, West Nile virus, Chikungunya, Yellow fever, filariasis, tularemia, dirofilariasis, Japanese encephalitis, Saint Louis encephalitis, Western equine encephalitis, Eastern equine encephalitis, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Ross River fever, Barmah Forest fever, La Crosse encephalitis, and Zika fever, as well as newly detected Keystone virus and Rift Valley fever. Most of the diseases and deaths are concentrated or common in Africa, and mosquito control is one of the most effective ways of helping to reduce or eliminate the scourge of these diseases. To help achieve this objective, the Pan-African Mosquito Control Association (PAMCA) was formed in 2010 and headquartered in Kenya as a professional body to brings together players in the field of mosquito and mosquito-borne disease control. The association provides a platform for capacity building, knowledge sharing and collaboration for concerted vector control initiatives in Africa. The association aims to facilitate collaboration between African scientists and other partner institutions, to work together and adopt common programmes and objectives. The overarching goal of the association is to bring together and adopt common approaches to tackling the burden of mosquito-borne diseases across tne continent. In Ghana, malaria remains a maior public health problem and responsible for several deaths in local communities. Outbreaks of Denque, Chikungunya and Zika on the rise in countries surrounding Ghana. To help raise awareness about the connection between mosquitoes and and the diseases, and to work with the communities to prevent mosquito breeding, PAMCA Ghana Chapter was formed to work with major stakeholders towards the realisation of a Ghana free from mosquito-borne diseases. PAMCA-GHANA has thus lined up several activities to be carried throughout the year across the country which will center on the provision of information, social mobilization, and the participation and empowerment of communities in mosquito control activities. PAMCA-GHANA will also host the 7th PAMCA Annual Conference and Exhibition with under the theme: "Empowering Local Institutions to set the agenda for the elimination of vector-borne diseases." The conference which will be held in Accra from the 21st to 23rd September 2020 will bring together about 500 participants mainly from Africa to share information on mosquito control activities and provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and new technology. The conference will be guided by 5 sub-themes centered on surveillance, capacity building, and prevention of mosquito-borne diseases as well as a discussion on some innovative tools currently available for controlling mosquitoes. The conference will provide a platform for scientists to interact with their peers, upcoming researchers and students, sponsors, universities and research institutions, collaborators, development partners and policymakers from different countries as well as an exhibition of mosquito control products and services from health and allied industries. The opening panel for the Houston Tech Rodeo, a weeklong schedule of 30 events by and for the citys growing technology community, had a pugnacious title: Houston vs. the World. And it fits. As Houstons nascent tech ecosystem evolves and begins to coalesce, it is challenging the ideas, money and talent found elsewhere to pay attention to whats happening in the Bayou City. It can be an uphill battle, so the theme of the week seemed to be, Hey, look at us. Harvin Moore, president of Houston Exponential, a nonprofit that works to grow the citys tech community, is fond of throwing out two numbers: Houston now has 1,100 startups, and there are now 34 startup development organizations that help new tech companies get on their feet and grow. Five years ago, there was just one such organization, Moore said during the kickoff event Monday at the Karbach Brewing Co. That was the Houston Technology Center, which is the organization that ultimately gave birth to Moores Houston Exponential. BUILDING SOMETHING: Can Houstons startup community avoid past mistakes? The Tech Rodeo events, held at venues across the city, were also meant to be a celebration of the progress of Houstons tech scene, and that five years ago mantra kept coming up. When I first came to Houston, there was no growth in venture capital funding at all, said Gabriella Rowe, CEO of the Ion, the tech hub that will eventually move into the old Midtown Sears building, which is being renovated into the center of Houstons Innovation District. From 2010 to 2015, there was zero increase in venture capital investment. Of the 25 biggest cities in the U.S., we were No. 20 in technology ecosystem, she said. That has changed. There are now four times as many tech startups in Houston as there were five years ago, and more venture capital funding has started flowing into the area, up 40 percent in 2019. Rowes comments came at the Rice University Oil & Gas High Performance Computing Conference on Tuesday. Her mission was to persuade the audience of technologists working for energy companies, ultimately, to participate in the Ion, which wants to be a place for the citys disparate tech silos to come together and share ideas. Rowe was straightforward about how difficult that can be. Because of the types of industries that dominate here, she said, Houston has two big pools of data, but they are guarded because they are proprietary and private. They are energy data, which oil and gas giants are loath to share because of intense competition, and medical data, which is cloaked by federal HIPAA privacy regulations, she said. THE HEADLINER: Jason Calacanis gets top billing at Houston Tech Rodeo That makes the tech developers, managers and executives who work in those realms reluctant to collaborate outside their walls. Rowe said they need to learn that a solution to my problem may be an answer to your problem. The biggest issue Houstons tech community faces is money. While investors are starting to pay more attention to Houston, their eyes remain bedazzled by activity on the West and East coasts, where startup valuations are higher and the payoffs bigger if a company hits. So far, Houston has only one unicorn a private company whose valuation based on investments is $1 billion or more. The No. 1 thing we lack is a sophisticated angel network, said Blair Garrou, managing director of the Mercury Fund, a Houston-based venture capital fund, during the kickoff panel. An angel investor is an individual who provides early money for tech startups in exchange for a stake in the company. There are thousands of companies here that need angel capital. Not that there isnt a little money in Houston. It just needs some direction. Release Notes: Get Dwight Silvermans weekly tech newsletter in your inbox There are a lot of rich people in Houston! exclaimed Jason Calacanis, the headliner for the week at a Thursday morning session on the Rice campus. Calacanis, who made his money in the first internet wave by selling a blogging platform called Weblogs Inc. to AOL, spent more than two hours listening to pitches from Houston entrepreneurs and offering critiques. He had just been driven through one of the tony neighborhoods around Rice, and said he asked his host what university building that was. He said, Thats someones house, Calacanis said, reminding the audience that he came from the San Franciso Bay Area, where 1,500-square-foot houses are in the seven-figure range. Calacanis urged those with money in Houston to begin investing in startups by putting a little money in a lot of them. See which ones do well, then put a little more in them, he said. Get the flywheel going in Houston. Theres no reason Houston cant be as big a tech center as Austin. dwight.silverman@chron.com twitter.com/dsilverman houstonchronicle.com/techburger Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 23:53:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAKAR, March 7 (Xinhua) -- A Senegalese medical expert told Xinhua that Senegal needs to strengthen technical cooperation with countries like China to support the west African country after the confirmation of its first COVID-19 case earlier this week. "Countries like China should be open to strengthening technical cooperation to support our country scientifically and technologically," said Daouda Ndiaye, head of the parasitology department of the Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD). "They are there to help our country," he told Xinhua after the confirmation of Senegal's first case of COVID-19, a French national returning to Dakar from France. "It's true that Senegal has experience in the response system set up during the Ebola epidemic. However, the door should be opened to all technical partners who have expertise in this area," he added. He called for a frank, win-win global collaboration in which each country brings their expertise. The Senegalese Ministry of Health and Social Action is communicating all reports on COVID-19 to the World Health Organization (WHO), he revealed, stressing that it is always useful to share scientific information through this channel. He insisted on "high-level engagement" as the Senegalese president recently demonstrated after confirming a case COVID-19 in Senegal. For him, all the vital forces of the nation should be involved in the response mechanism to the novel coronavirus, in particular the scientific researchers, the doctors as well as the religious leaders. It is by taking into account the experience of Senegal during the Ebola epidemic and also that of other partner countries that the epidemic could be defeated at the national level, said Ndiaye, also director of the international center for training and research on genomics and infectious diseases. "Today, the world faces one enemy, the coronavirus. We have to work hand in hand and people must follow the recommendations made by the health authorities," he said. He also urged media professionals to cultivate "responsibility" and "lucidity" in such a situation, by providing "real information". He especially called to banish the "stigma" of the infected patiens so as not to create "psychosis" among the population by insisting on awareness-raising with the support of researchers. WASHINGTON - Two people who attended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington earlier this week have tested positive for the coronavirus, the group tweeted Friday. The cases, in two people from New York, are the first linked to the nations capital. Thousands of people attended the policy conference, including some members of Congress and administration officials. Vice-President Mike Pence, who is heading the Trump administrations response to the coronavirus, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were among the speakers. Pence and Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health appeared to have been caught unaware of the positive tests in the two AIPAC attendees. Asked at a White House briefing if he was concerned that the coronavirus was now in Washington, Pence said it was the first he had heard about the cases in the midst of a busy day. We will be engaged. Im confident in the same contact tracing that we are for any case, he said. Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health called contact tracing the process of trying to find out whom the person had been in contact with the public health weapon. We need to get those people isolated to do the contact tracing, he said. We dont have enough information now because this is the first Ive actually heard about it also. AIPAC, a major pro-Israel lobbying group, used Twitter to announce the positive test results: We have confirmed that at least two Policy Conference attendees from New York have tested positive for the coronavirus, it said. The group said it is in contact with health officials in Westchester County, New York, and Washington. It urged attendees to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and to consult with their doctors if they feel ill or have medical questions. If you test positive for coronavirus, we urge you to inform your local health authorities so they can properly co-ordinate their response to this situation with the appropriate health authorities, AIPAC said. ___ Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report. New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday (March 7) granted bail to Shaheen Bagh gunman Kapil Gujjar, a 25-year-old Delhi youth, who opened fire during an anti-Citizen Amendment Act protest in the national capital in February. Kapil, who belongs to east Delhi's Dallu Pura area, had on February 1 fired three bullets in the air after warning anti-CAA protesters to disperse. He also shouted communal slogans. After his arrest, he was sent to police custody thrice and was produced before Delhi's Saket court on Saturday at the end of his remand period. During the last proceedings, the court had directed the police to escort Kapil to Bihar to find the person who allegedly supplied him the firearm used in the crime. Earlier on February 5, Special Commissioner (Intelligence) Praveer Ranjan had told ANI that during the interrogation the accused admitted that he and his father were affiliated to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and had acquired the membership in May 2019. Reacting to the statement, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal had asked the police to take strict action against anyone who disturbs law and order in the city, while adding that "if Gujjar was from the party, he should be punished double." On the other hand, AAP's senior leader and party's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh termed the claims as BJP`s 'dirty politics'. "With just days left before the elections, BJP will try all its dirty politics. Just wait and watch how many more such photos or videos will come out. This is just to divert people`s attention," Singh said. Gujjar had fired three bullets in the air after warning protesters at Shaheen Bagh to vacate the spot. According to the police, the accused was annoyed over the protest at Shaheen Bagh and the ensuing road blockade for nearly 50 days then. The firing incident came just two days after a youth from Uttar Pradesh's Jewar opened fire at anti-CAA protesters near Jamia Millia Islamia. Interestingly, the two incidents happened after Union Minister Anurag Thakur raised 'shoot the traitor' slogans during a public rally in Delhi, said an IANS report. Authorities in Srinagar on Saturday sanctioned an ex-gratia relief of Rs 15 lakh for the girl who lost her family members in a fire incident here. Javaid Ahmad Hakak, his wife Sobia and their five-year-old daughter Hafsa were charred to death on Friday night when their wooden house was gutted in fire, while their another daughter suffered injuries. Expressing deep shock and sorrow, Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said the entire district administration is saddened by the tragic and painful incident. Sanctioning an ex-gratia relief of Rs 12 lakh under SDRF and an additional Rs 3 lakh in favour of the surviving girl, he said no amount would ever be of help. Earlier in the morning, Choudhary visited the site of the incident and also met the injured girl. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The authorities of ISKCON Mayapur temple on Saturday clarified that they will not shut the doors for devotees visiting the temple amid the coronavirus threat. The authorities added that they will soon start the screening of visitors to prevent the spread of the disease. ISKCON, Mayapur had earlier published an advisory on their website asking devotes from China to not visit the temple until the situation becomes normal. "The procurement of machines is already under process. Masks and sanitizers have been kept in key areas. We welcome all devotees but we are taking the necessary precautions," said Madhava Gauranga Das, Director ISKCON Mayapur. The authorities also held a meeting with the state authorities and were assured that they will get all the cooperation from the state. So far, 34 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in India. The virus which originated in China's Wuhan has killed more than 3000 people globally. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held a review meeting with health officials on Saturday and asked them to identify locations for quarantine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The second wife of Robert Durst should be charged with bigamy because she had another husband on the side during her marriage to the scandal-plagued New York real estate heir, the lawyer for the sister of Durst's first wife said. In a letter to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the attorney, Robert Abrams, argued that Debrah Lee Charatan's marriage to Durst, for which she was said to have been paid $20million, was intended to shield her from testifying against him in the numerous murder cases in which he was tried. Federal and state laws enforce spousal testimonial privilege, which bars the government from compelling a spouse to offer testimony against another spouse in a criminal proceeding. Abrams said that Charatan should face charges for reportedly helping to cover up Durst's three suspected murders. Durst, 76, first married Charatan on December 11, 2000, and soon gave her power of attorney over his multi-million dollar bank account just days before he allegedly shot dead his best friend, Susan Berman. Prosecutors allege Durst killed Berman to prevent her from speaking to investigators looking into the alleged disappearance and murder of Durst's first wife, Kathleen McCormack Durst, who has been missing since 1982. Robert Durst (left) married Debrah Lee Charatan (right) in December 2000, just days before he was accused of murdering his best friend An attorney for the sister of Durst's first wife, who went missing in 1982, says that Charatan married Durst even though she was already married to real estate attorney Steven Holm (pictured left with Charatan in this undated file photo) Durst (pictured) is currently on trial in Los Angeles, California, for the 2000 death of Susan Berman Abrams wrote that Charatan lived with another man, her 'soul mate' attorney Steven Holm, until his death in 2019, The Post reports. Holm, a real estate attorney, once represented Robert Durst. Prosecutors in Los Angeles, where Durst is currently on trial for Berman's murder, allege that Charatan helped Durst escape justice for the killing. 'There is no question that while married to Mr. Durst, Mrs. Charatan purported to contract a marriage with Steven Holm,' wrote Abrams, who represents the sister of Durst's first wife. 'Plain and simple, she violated the law; she is a bigamist,' he added. In her time away from Durst, Charatan reportedly created a life and home with her other lover, Holm. Holm and Charatan owned a New York property together, as well as founded a charity. Charatan (pictured) reportedly referred to herself as Holm's (right) wife during his eulogy following his death She would sometimes ask to be called 'Mrs. Charatan-Holm,' Abrams wrote in the letter. At Holm's funeral, Charatan reportedly gave a eulogy where she referred to herself as his wife. Others also referred to Charatan as such, the letter says. Various obituaries written in The New York Times for Holm mentioned Charatan as his wife, but she later reached out to publications, saying 'we were never married.' In the letter, Abrams claims that Charatan and Durst never acted like a married couple except when asserting spousal privilege against law enforcement efforts. As a byproduct, authorities cannot order Charatan to testify or provide evidence for her husband's cases because she's his wife. Abrams wrote: 'Their marriage was part of a scheme. Mrs. Charatan-Holm has been paid tens of millions of dollars through Durst Family Trusts as compensation for her participation in that conspiracy.' In 2006, Durst left his role with the Durst Organization for $65million. He gifted Charatan with $20million of that sum. Abrams also called on Manhattan DA Cy Vance Jr. to prosecute Charatan for allegedly entering a calculated marriage to help Durst walk free of his alleged murder spree. 'I request that you show Mrs. Charatan-Holm that she must answer for her crime,' he wrote. The bigamy allegations come as Durst's Los Angeles murder trial began for the execution-style death of Berman. Berman, 55, was shot in the head inside her Beverly Hills, California, home on December 23, 2000. Prosecutors said that Durst killed Berman to stop her from cooperating in a new investigation into Kathleen's disappearance and that Charatan helped her husband elude justice. Prosecutors claim that Durst (right) shot his friend Susan Berman (left) in the head over fears she would speak to authorities about his first wife's disappearance Prosecutor John Lewin called the couple's relationship a 'marriage of convenience' and that they tied the knot in an office building with a rabbi found in a phone book. 'Defendant needed Charatan to handle his financial responsibilities, to provide assistance while he eluded authorities, and to carry on his affairs if he were ever captured, convicted and incarcerated,' Lewin said in court papers. Lewin said that Berman's murder is directly tied to the deaths of Kathleen and Durst's neighbor, Morris Black, in 2001. According to prosecutors, Durst murdered Kathleen in New York in order to avoid a divorce. Her body has never been found. Authorities said that Kathleen asked Durst for a $250,000 divorce after he allegedly beat her and sent her to the hospital. Investigators in Westchester County, New York, scheduled an interview with Susan Berman, Durst's good friend from California. Meanwhile, Berman allegedly helped Durst create an alibi for Kathleen's disappearance. CNN reports that Berman even called Kathleen's medical school pretending to be the missing woman on the day of her vanishing. She told school administrators that she was sick and wouldn't be in classes. On Christmas Eve, days before an alleged interview with police, Berman was found dead in her home with a gunshot wound to her head. Prosecutors said in court that Berman revealed to Durst that she was going to talk to investigators about his alleged murder, but lied about speaking to authorities. They allege that Berman, who was struggling financially, told Durst she was going to the police because she hoped he would give her money. Durst has pleaded not guilty in Berman's death. While on the run, Durst met Black in Galveston, Texas, where he disguised himself as a mute woman named Dorothy Cines to avoid law enforcement. Investigators have long suspected that he also murdered his first wife Kathleen Durst, who disappeared in New York in 1982. Her body has never been found and Durst has never been charged or convicted of his first wife's murder (couple above in their wedding photo) Black - whom Durst called 'cantankerous in the extreme' - moved in March 2001 into the same apartment complex where Durst was living and the two became friends. Black soon discovered his neighbor's true identity. 'Evidence will show that Morris Black was the only person in Galveston who knew that Dorothy Cines was actually Robert Durst,' Lewin said. By the summer of 2001, Black was facing eviction and he was urging rich Durst to buy a house in Galveston where Black could have a room. But Durst has other plans. The wealthy real estate heir admitted killing and dismembering neighbor Morris Black (pictured) in Texas in 2001 but was acquitted after claiming he acted in self-defense On September 25, he moved into the swanky San Luis resort in Galveston before moving to the Big Apple, the court heard. Three days later, Durst returned to his old apartment - allegedly to pick up some marijuana he had hidden in the freezer there - and found an 'angry' Black sitting at a table on which there was a yellow sweater. Then, according to a video clip shown in court, Durst said Black reached under the sweater and pulled out a handgun - which actually belonged to Durst - and pointed it at him. 'I grabbed the gun and the gun went off and shot him in the side of the face, ' Durst added. Durst said he saw that Black was dead and after sitting for hours trying to figure out what to do, he decided to get rid of the body rather than call police. 'I'm Robert Durst whose wife disappeared, ' he explained. 'I'm this rich guy from New York. Morris Black is in my apartment, shot with my gun. 'The police aren't going to believe me. They're going to arrest me.' Durst admitted to dismembering Black's body because it was too heavy to carry and went to a hardware store to get supplies. 'Then I got stoned and drunk and dismembered the corpse,' he said in the video clip. TDT | Manama Coast Guard Commander, Major-General Alaa Siyadi announced yesterday that eight fishermen were arrested and four boats were seized for violating the shrimping ban. Shrimps and illegal shrimping trawling were confiscated. Legal proceedings were taken to refer the case to the Public Prosecution. He called upon fishermen to follow the rules and co-operate for their safety. The Coast Guard Command recently announced that it has tightened all measures to implement the law to decrease marine crime. The command said that it has drawn up a clear strategic plan to implement maritime laws and reduce crimes, including illegal fishing and unregulated fishing to enhance maritime security in co-operation with relevant entities. Maj Gen Siyadi highlighted the legal action for minor violations that include wasting Coast Guards efforts to arrest fleeing boats. He explained that the smuggling of weapons and drugs started since 2013 and continues until now. Bahrains marine security is changing and arms and drug smugglers are taking all opportunities to distract the Coast Guards who are combating illegal fishing, he said. The new laws include deportation for every foreigner who violates Bahrains fishing laws. Mr Siyadi indicated that the Coast Guard has tightened maritime surveillance through coastal radars, near and far cameras, and international automatic identification devices. The Coast Guard is making sure that such devices are installed on the more than 7,000 registered boats. As many as 179 marine safety violations were reported last year, according to the Kingdoms Coast Guard. Mr Siyadi, earlier said that violations that are committed at night and with the current situations could jeopardise the safety of violators who would be held legally accountable. The official revealed that during 2019, a total of 179 violations were reported and legal steps were taken against them. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Pazarkule, Turkey Sat, March 7, 2020 11:02 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068f29d0 2 World migrants,Turkey,greece,EU,Europe Free Greek police fired tear gas in clashes with migrants at the Turkish border on Friday, as Athens said a 2016 EU-Ankara deal limiting migration to Europe was "dead". Thousands of people have gathered at the border since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last week that his country would no longer stop refugees from trying to leave. Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accused Ankara of "assisting" an ongoing surge of desperate people gathering at the border. "Right now, let's be honest, the agreement is dead," Mitsotakis told CNN, referring to the EU-Turkey accord. "And it's dead because Turkey has decided to completely violate the agreement, because of what happened in Syria," he added. Turkey agreed in 2016 to stop letting migrants leave in exchange for six billion euros -- but Ankara says other parts of the EU deal including improved visa and trade rules were never fulfilled. Mitsotakis said Turkey was doing "the exact opposite" of its obligation to hold back asylum-seekers. 'Open the gates' Friday's brief clashes occurred as migrants tried to break through the fence, according to AFP journalists at the scene, but they quickly ended the volley of rocks and instead sat peacefully chanting "freedom" and "open the gates". Greek forces say they have prevented nearly 39,000 people from crossing the border. Turkey claims the real number is more than three times higher. Many migrants say they are being pushed to attempt illegal entry to Greece. "They [the Turkish military] told us that if you don't go to the border... you will be forced to come back to Turkey and people don't want to come back because they don't have any good opportunities, there isn't anything," Ali, an Iranian, told AFP. The EU's diplomatic chief made a direct appeal to the migrants not to go to the Greek border. "The border is not open," EU High Representative Josep Borrell said after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Zagreb. Turkey and Russia agreed a ceasefire in Syria on Thursday, but Ankara is still threatened by a potential new influx of refugees from the last rebel stronghold of Idlib and has sought to pressure Europe into providing greater assistance. Turkey already hosts some four million refugees, and recent advances by the Syrian army, backed by Russian army, have pushed close to a million more towards its border. Later Friday, the Greek government released footage which it said showed Turkish riot police firing a tear gas barrage at Greek border guards. It came after the release of separate footage from Turkish state TV TRT which it said showed asylum-seekers stripped and beaten by Greek forces. A Greek police source disputed the claim, telling AFP: "We are not letting them through the border, so how can we be doing that to them?" Ankara has officially accused Athens of using undue violence against asylum-seekers, killing several and injuring many. Greek officials have repeatedly dismissed this as untrue. 'Coordinated attacks' Earlier Friday, Greek officials accused Turkey of providing cutters to migrants to break through fencing. "There are coordinated attacks this morning," a Greek official told AFP. "Apart from intimidation, these attacks are taking place from the Turkish police to help migrants cross the fence border line." Meanwhile, two Greek men were convicted of threatening aid workers on the island of Lesbos, where there has been a violent backlash against those helping the swelling number of arrivals. "I will continue to defend my country. Most of the (aid groups) operate like spies. These gangsters should leave the island," said 73-year-old Konstantinos Alvanopoulos after being given a three-month suspended sentence. Erdogan's office said the Syrian ceasefire would not alter its policy on refugees leaving for Europe. "The Russia-Turkey agreement does not... change the fact of the European Union's non-compliance with its promises as part of the 2016 refugee deal," presidential sources told state news agency Anadolu. Russia, which backs Syrian government forces with air power, agreed to impose a ceasefire in Idlib from midnight and the skies were free of warplanes for the first day in months on Friday, although previous peace agreements have proved temporary. The EU welcomed the ceasefire. "For sure I am pleased for the ceasefire, the ceasefire is good news. At least it's goodwill -- let's see how it works," Borrell said in Zagreb. "But there's still an extraordinary humanitarian challenge that I think we all face in terms of the sheer numbers of refugees," added Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney. Topics : migrants Turkey greece EU Europe (Photo : Juan Marin on Unsplash ) Coronavirus Spreads Whenever You Do This Everyday Routine-- It Gets Worse if You're Inside Men's Bathroom (Photo : HelpStay.com on Unsplash ) Coronavirus Spreads Whenever You Do This Everyday Routine-- It Gets Worse if You're Inside Men's Bathroom Since Coronavirus COVID-19 has now spread like wildfire all over the world, most health experts advise that everyone should practice proper hygiene, healthy lifestyle, and regular washing of hands-- especially if you entered a public place. Studies found out recently that even the everyday normal routine of taking a dump or pooping can transmit the virus, and it's more dangerous when you do it inside a men's bathroom. But why? COVID-19 can get you more likely if you're inside men's public bathroom First reported on Business Insider, viruses like Coronavirus can also be spread through poop particles. When doctors examined three COVID-19-positive patients in Singapore, they found out that samples from their used toilet bowls and sinks in their isolation rooms were identified with the same virus. Not only that, researchers at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, also found Coronavirus particles in the patients' stools. South China Morning Post confirmed this claim and said that even poop of the infected Coronavirus victims might contain the said virus once airborne particles of the poop get on the nose or get inhaled by an unaffected person. "Stool samples may contaminate hands, food, water, etc., then cause infection if the particles enter a person's mouth, nose, or eyes. For example, an infected patient could use the bathroom, forget to wash their hands, or give only a cursory rinse, then touch a friend's hand. That friend could then rub their face and get a virus. In medicine, this is known as fecal-oral transmission," written by the Chinese CDC. Why men more likely get Coronavirus with this dirty everyday routine Now that we know that even dumping can get you infected with Coronavirus, another study links a factor that can get the pooping claim into worse scenario-- and it starts on men's improper hygiene pattern. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found out on their research that "only 31% of men and 65% of women washed their hands" after using a public restroom. Health experts advised that whenever using a public bathroom, there are a lot of factors that may get you the virus-- poop, for example. Due to this, everyone-- especially men-- needs to observe proper hygiene behavior like washing hands regularly and properly. Unfortunately, the study found only 14.6% of men did not wash their hands at all after using the bathroom, and 35.1% of them wet their hands but did not use soap. Meanwhile, compared to opposite gender, 7.1 % of women wash their hands at all using the bathroom while 15.1 of women wet their hands but did not soap. Not to generalize, but these studies meant that using public bathrooms, especially men's, raises the possibility of having the virus. Quite a reminder that we all need to wash our hands regularly and adequately. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Abiomed (ABMD). Shares have lost about 19.9% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500. Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Abiomed due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers. ABIOMED Earnings Beat Estimates in Q3, Guidance Trimmed ABIOMED reported third-quarter fiscal 2020 earnings per share of $1.51, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.09. The figure surged 55.7% year over year. The companys revenues came in at $221.6 million, which lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $227 million. However, the metric improved 10.5% from the prior-year quarter. Q3 in Detail U.S. Impella product revenues totaled $185.6 million, showing an increase of 8% year over year. Per management, U.S. patient usage of the Impella heart pumps rose 5% in the quarter. Outside the United States, Impella product revenues totaled $36 million, highlighting an increase of 29% year over year. Japan revenues were $8.7 million in the quarter, up a substantial 61% year over year. Margin Trend In the quarter under review, gross profit totaled $181.6 million, up 9% year over year. Gross margin in the quarter was 81.9% of net revenues, down 110 basis points (bps) year over year. Research & Development (R&D) costs grossed $25.7 million, up 7.1% year over year. Operating income totaled $70.3 million, up 12.7% on a year-over-year basis. Operating margin was 31.7%, up 60 bps. Financial Condition ABIOMEDs balance sheet is debt free. The company ended the fiscal third quarter with $595.5 million of cash and marketable securities. Guidance For fiscal 2020, ABIOMED expects revenues within $846-$877 million, mirroring an increase of 10-14%. This compares to the earlier-projected range of $885-$925 million, calling for an increase of 15-20% year over year. Story continues The company continues to expect operating margin within 28-30%. How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then? It turns out, estimates revision have trended downward during the past month. The consensus estimate has shifted -17.48% due to these changes. VGM Scores Currently, Abiomed has a nice Growth Score of B, a grade with the same score on the momentum front. However, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. Outlook Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of this revision indicates a downward shift. It's no surprise Abiomed has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). We expect a below average return from the stock in the next few months. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ABIOMED, Inc. (ABMD) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Saudi authorities have detained three royal family members including two senior princes, the US media reported Friday, signalling the powerful crown prince is further tightening his grip on power. Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, a brother of King Salman, and the monarchs nephew Prince Mohammed bin Nayef were taken from their homes early Friday by royal guards after being accused of treason, the Wall Street Journal reported citing unnamed sources. The New York Times also reported the detentions, adding that Prince Nayefs younger brother Prince Nawaf bin Nayef had also been detained. Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The detentions mark the latest crackdown by de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has consolidated his grip on power with the imprisonment of prominent clerics and activists as well as princes and business elites. Prince Mohammed, the kings son, has also faced a torrent of international condemnation over the murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdoms Istanbul consulate in October 2018. Prince Ahmed, said to be in his 70s, had returned to the kingdom from his base in London in the aftermath of the Khashoggi scandal, in what some saw as an effort to shore up support for the monarchy. In June 2017, Prince Mohammed had edged out Prince Nayef, the former crown prince and interior minister, to become heir to the Arab worlds most powerful throne. At the time, Saudi television channels showed Prince Mohammed kissing the hand of the older prince and kneeling before him in a show of reverence. Western media reports later said that the deposed prince had been placed under house arrest, a claim strongly denied by Saudi authorities. Prince Mohammed is emboldened -- he has already ousted any threats to his rise and jailed or murdered critics of his regime without any repercussion, Becca Wasser, a policy analyst at the US-based RAND Corporation, said of the latest crackdown. This is a further step to shore up his power and a message to anyone -- including royals -- not to cross him. The detentions come at a sensitive time as Saudi Arabia bars Muslim pilgrims from Islams holiest sites to contain the novel coronavirus. The kingdom has suspended the umrah year-round pilgrimage over fears of the disease spreading to Mecca and Medina, raising uncertainty over the upcoming hajj -- a key pillar of Islam. The oil-rich kingdom is also grappling with plunging price of crude, its major source of revenue. Clonroche-Poulpeasty: St Patrick's Day parade - There seems to be great interest and enthusiasm for the revived St Patrick's Day parade 2020. We hope that everyone in the community will participate and get involved, and make this year St Patrick's Day parade in Clonroche, a day to be remembered. We would particularly appeal for the involvement of all commercial firms and businesses in the area, to showcase their enterprise and promote our village. We would also appeal to clubs and groups in the area to participate and get involved. We are thankful to councilor John Fleming for securing funding from the New Ross area or Wexford County Council, which will help to defray expenses. Tell your family, friends and all your acquaintances, Clonroche is the place to be for this St Patrick's Day. Split-the-pot This week's winner drawn in the Cloch Ban was Jay Stoneham, Davidstown. The pot was 274. all proceeds spend locally. Cloughbawn GAA Club five Year Plan: Cathal Byrne, Development Officer Wexford Co Board is coming to Complex Tuesday, March 10, to steer the public 'brainstorming' meeting for our five-year plan. We will all need to work on getting as many people as possible to this important meeting. Club Membership now due. Celtic Roots - 21 Years A celebration of 21 years of Celtic Roots will take place in the National Opera House Wexford on Sunday, March 29, at 7.30 p.m. Tickets available online from the National Opera House at 22 for adults and 15 for children. Booking fee applies. Community Games News Best wishes to the four local teams competing in the Co Draughts on Saturday, March 14. Closing dates for art under-eight-16 and Handwriting under-10 and under-12are due before March 8. Please text your entry to 087 4151350. County final for these two events is March 21. Local Quiz Trials take place in. Bree Hall on Saturday, March 21, at 8 p.m. County final for quiz takes place on April 1. Details of all local events are in local schools and inlocal shops. Full details of all events are on the Aldi Community Games website. The Perfect Match The Perfect Match takes to ther stage - a Musical Drama/Comedy interspersed with well-loved songs, drama and comedy. The performance will run for five nights commencing on Wednesday, March 18, to Sunday, March 22, starting at 8 p.m. in Clonroche Community Centre. Book your seats now to avoid disappointment by contacting 085 2158229. Tickets 10. Booking office now open. Graiguenamanagh GRAIG NOTES To submit news items, club events, announcements etc for the notes email graignotes@outlook.com. Deadline is Thursday 6 p.m. LOTTO The numbers drawn were 7, 13, 14 and 18 and there was no winner. Next week's jackpot stands at 11,350, Reserve jackpot 10,000. Consolation winners winners of 30 each were Mary Butler, Leonard Blanchfield, Stas Bolger, James Kennedy - Keenans, Martin Furlong - Keenans .. Tickets available from all local outlets or from any committee member. CITIZEN'S INFORMATION The citizen's information office in main street Graiguenamanagh is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., Providing a free private and confidently information service available to all. TIDY TOWNS JACKPOT This week's results are first prize - Savanannah Coleman - 349, second prize - Anna Cushen - 50, third prize - Ann and Ellie May - 25. Money raised through the jackpot will be used to keep the town looking well all year round. Draw takes place every Thursday in the CE Office at between 4 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. INVESTMENT IN ROADS Local Cllr Peter Chap Cleere has welcomed some significant roadworks resurfacing to be completed this year in Graiguenamangh. The R705 Graigue to the Rower Road (500 metres), the LS4203 from Coppenagh to Dungarvan (top of Stook Hill) (1,200 metres), the LS6733 at Annaleck (Bramblestown 1,000 metres) and the LS8241 Coppenagh to Raheendonore (1,000 metres) are all to see these roads significantly upgraded this year. Cllr Cleere welcomed this 400k investment in roads in the Graiguenmanagh area, which was adopted in 2019 as part of the three-year roads programme.for the area. DUISKE COLLEGE The students, teachers and parents present the Duiske College Variety Show in the Abbey Hall Graignamanagh on Thursday, March 5, and Friday, March 6, at 8 p.m., Admission 5. Tullogher-Rosbercon Church Parking There are designated parking areas in the grounds of the Church of the Assumption Rosbercon for people with disabilities. Of late, able bodied persons have been availing of these facilities thereby denying those for whom they have been reserved no admittance to the space. Like the rules for towns and cities these spaces are meant for the people who most need them, so, all physically able people please observe the notices and do not park there. Confirmation 2020 The Sacrament of Confirmation will be held in the Church of the Assumption on Sunday next, March 8. During the 11 O'Clock Mass, Bishop of Ossory, Dermot Farrell, will confirm children from the schools of the parish. As large crowds are expected the advice is to come early if you want a seat in the church. Lenten Stations The Lenten Stations, Easter Offerings and Trocaire Boxes will be distributed to all homes in the parish during the coming week. Our usual distributors are again asked to oblige with the delivery. Trocaire Boxes with the donation enclosed should be returned to the Mass on Holy Thursday. Robberies We had the most vile and cowardly robbery in the parish in recent weeks when the house of an aged lady was entered and cash taken. People are asked to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity in the area to Garda. It seems bizarre to say the least that the barracks serving the parish is in Mooncoin, whereas New Ross Gardai would be far nearer and able to respond to any such crime in a matter of minutes. Pilgrimage to Rome In the company of Bishop Dermot Farrell, the Ossory Adult Faith Development Group are leading a pilgrimage to Rome this year. It will take place from August 24 to August 29, and anyone interested can contact afd@ossory.ie or phone 056 7753624. The all-in cost is 859 p.p. sharing, with a 25 per night single supplement if one so requires such an arrangement. These days in the Eternal City are an opportunity to visit all the art and sacred sites that Rome has to offer. Listerlin NS Scoil Mholinge Listerlin are now accepting enrolments for junior infants, classes starting in September. Enrolment forms can be obtained by contacting the school at 051 427305 or email, office@listerlin.com. However, Karbhari is already one of seven candidates for president of the University of Central Florida. But in his Thursday meeting with the Florida schools presidential search committee, he dismissed a lawsuit against UT-Arlington from a former employee alleging retaliation, The Shorthorn reported. Deborah Robinson, former vice president for institutional advancement at UT-Arlington, is seeking $200,000 in damages claiming Karbhari bullied her and threatened termination, according to The Shorthorn. What you dont hear about later is when most of these lawsuits are actually dismissed because they have no basis, Karbhari said. I can absolutely, unequivocally tell you that this one has no basis. Did you know that the most Google searches in the United States for coroavirus comes from Washington? Or that Denver International Airport is the most searched airport in regards to terminals that are screening for coronavirus? With the recent outbreak of COVD-19, many people are turning to Google to find answers to questions that will help them better understand the fundamentals of the Coronavirus. Legal documents spilled from the arms of attorney Charlene D'Cruz as she led a Honduran mother cradling a limp toddler across the Rio Grande bridge. The asylum-seeking mother needed to get her child, who had life-threatening sepsis, to a Brownsville hospital. D'Cruz successfully argued with border officials, cajoling them into allowing a humanitarian entry for the girl. It was another must-do task for D'Cruz, a linchpin in an unusual movement in the U.S. justice system: Attorneys who have been operating along the border for years, often in small practices, are getting help from high-dollar corporate firms that are relatively new to the scene. The largely pro bono efforts come as the most restrictive changes in asylum and refugee policies in decades are leaving immigration attorneys across the U.S. buried in cases. D'Cruz works from a no-frills office with a paper sign that reads: Proyecto Corazon, or Project Heart. The Mumbai-born Indian native speaks Spanish, Portuguese, French and English as she weeds through the cases of adults who come to her for help from the nearby squalid camp of up to 2,500 asylum seekers. D'Cruz assists in farming out work to everyone from paralegals and translators to law school students and seasoned corporate attorneys. "I am the front line," D'Cruz said. "People pour into my offices." D'Cruz gave up her own comfortable Wisconsin digs, where she had steady phone and Internet service, predictable hours and no frayed nerves from nearby cartel violence, to do this work. Many attorneys have been answering the call to take up cases at the border. Some were drawn by surging numbers of migrant children coming across the border without parents during a 2014 crisis. Others were parents who couldn't stand the spectacle of parents being separated from their children under a more recent Trump administration policy. Now, still more say they are sickened by the sight of desperate asylum seekers. What happens to the immigrants is up in the air. Last month, a federal court in San Francisco issued a halt to the program that sent thousands back to Mexico. That ruling will affect cases all along the border, and three-fourths of the asylum-seekers waiting in Mexico have cases pending in Texas. The federal government has not yet said whether it will ask the full panel of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to re-examine the issue or whether it might appeal directly to the Supreme Court. Some attorneys helping with the cases come from some of the biggest names in corporate law: Jones Day, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Akin Gump and Haynes and Boone. Accustomed to working in glitzy downtown offices or in dignified courthouses of pink granite, corporate attorneys fly to Brownsville and other border cities, where they argue cases in sprawling tent courts that were set up by the federal government across the river from Mexico. There, they have been taking positions alongside clients in front of modest plastic and metal folding tables, according to The Dallas Morning The tent courts and the need for attorneys are directly connected to the Trump administration's Remain in Mexico policy, also known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, which requires that asylum seekers wait across the border for their immigration cases to be heard. The fate of the 61,000 people with cases who have been stuck across the border remains unknown. The asylum seekers have been living in camps near the international bridge in this city of 500,000 in a Mexican state the U.S. government deemed so dangerous that it is a no-travel zone for U.S. residents. When their cases were heard, they were escorted across the border. The judges are hundreds of miles away in Fort Worth courtrooms, and the hearings have been taking place by video conferencing. Government attorneys are usually beamed in from immigration courtrooms in other cities to argue their cases. But for the migrants to get the representation they need, the attorneys need to go to them. "The country has gone through cycles of tolerance and intolerance in who we would take," said Rick Halperin, director of the human rights program at Southern Methodist University. "Now, we are in an intolerance cycle. The need for lawyers to help is greater. Rule of law and due process, it is like religion to them." Adding to the difficulties for immigration attorneys are constantly shifting policies on how asylum rules are applied. "Due process has been eviscerated here," D'Cruz said. To fight back, D'Cruz has some attorneys working remotely from their home cities to assist immigrants with asylum petitions. Of the more than 61,100 asylum seekers who have been forced to wait across the border for their cases to be heard, about 5% had legal representation as of January. About one-third of asylum seekers awaiting the outcome of their cases in the U.S. have attorneys, according to the nonprofit Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University. A spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a written statement that the agency is "unaware of any issues preventing aliens under MPP from receiving legal assistance." Attorneys, as long as they have legal travel documents, have nothing preventing them from meeting clients in Mexico, the spokesman said. D'Cruz moved to Brownsville in September, leaving behind her small Wisconsin immigration practice for work through the legal foundation Lawyers for Good Government, where Proyecto Corazon is housed. In Matamoros, her first task was to help with crowded legal workshops. There, asylum seekers could learn how to file asylum applications and represent themselves in court. A lucky number would eventually receive full legal representation help that accelerates the odds of victory. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The front gates of the Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos (Owen Humphreys/PA) Female refugees in Greece are facing even harsher conditions this International Womens Day after violence forced many humanitarian workers to withdraw, Britons helping there have warned. Access to food, sanitary products and medical help for desperate refugee women has been drastically reduced as a result of the evacuations from Lesbos, the aid workers told the PA news agency. Clashes erupted between migrants and Greek authorities earlier this week after Turkey opened its borders for huge numbers of people trying to cross illegally into Europe. A migrant speaks to a Greek policeman during clashes at the port of Mytilene (Panagiotis Balaskas/AP) Some aid workers were caught in confrontations after tensions spilled over with some Greek locals amid apparent frustration with the influx of migrants to the country. Jemima Wilson, from Chichester in south-east England, said the organisation she was volunteering with had been threatened and some NGO (non-governmental organisation) workers had been ambushed. It was just escalating tension and violence towards NGO workers and so almost all of them have left, said the Cardiff University medical student. Even before this violence broke out, the situation for women living particularly in camps is so direFreya Mergler, Help Refugees Freya Mergler, who works with Help Refugees, said the situation is in flux. Its a really uncertain time and I think everybody, our whole network of grassroots groups across the country, is just feeling extremely worried for each other. The knock-on effect for refugees has left those living in already difficult conditions in camps feeling extremely distressed, she added. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all who have generously given to help us respond to the escalation of the refugee crisis in Greece If you've been moved by scenes of refugees being attacked, sleeping rough & children held in pens, please give https://t.co/CrjOHBw2N4 pic.twitter.com/N4W02aZKiE Choose Love (@chooselove) March 5, 2020 Ms Mergler, from Cornwall, is based in Athens with the charity and has cancelled her next planned trip to Lesbos due to the violence. She said some services have been temporarily cut completely, with community centres where refugees accessed medical help no longer operating because volunteers felt forced to flee. The 28-year-old said it has made a challenging situation even worse. Even before this violence broke out, the situation for women living particularly in camps is so dire, she said. Theres thousands of women, young women and children who are being left in these horrendous situations and its really heart-breaking to see. She described toilet and washing facilities as awful due to the sheer number of people in the camps, despite the efforts of charities to improve them. Both aid workers said the risk of sexual violence remains high in the camps. Migrants scuffle with Grek police at the port of Mytilene after locals block access to the Moria refugee camp (Panagiotis Balaskas/AP) Most of the women Ive met wont leave the tent after dark, and theyre wearing nappies because theyre too scared to go out to the toilets because theyll get raped, said Ms Wilson, who left Lesbos as planned on Sunday after nearly three weeks with Medical Volunteers International. Ms Mergler said women she had spoken to in Moria camp feel very, very under threat, constantly from general as well as sexual violence. Many refugees, who have fled with their families from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Syria, have told aid workers of their horror at the conditions on Lesbos and some have even expressed regret at travelling there. People have said if theyd known it would be like this they would have stayed in their country, even if its war-torn, because the way that people are living is so Ive never seen anything like it, said Ms Mergler. Both she and Ms Wilson said they hope the number of aid workers can return to full capacity soon to provide help in a desperate situation. The one thing that resonates when you speak to these women and talk about what theyve been through, is the enormous resilience of them, said Ms Mergler. The human spirit is strong, said Ms Wilson. Despite the horrors, there is fun and theres moments of joy and theres moments of hope. Essentially, toxic masculinity is an archaic perception of what it means to be a man. (Getty) Many workplaces are still dominated by toxic ideas of masculinity. In some offices, ruthlessly competitive and often aggressive cut-throat attitudes prevail and are even seen as a standard for success in the business world. According to research by the Equality Group, a consultancy that helps companies attract, retain and develop diverse workers, 21% of Brits state that their workplace environment is dominated by a masculine culture that makes it harder for women to professionally and socially progress. Toxic masculinity is a term used to describe exaggerated behaviours that one would normally associate with male actions, such as being overly competitive or overly aggressive in how one deals with other people, and being denying of most emotions, explains Kate Cooper, head of research, policy and standards at The Institute of Leadership & Management. At its most extreme, it also will involve denigrating anything that isn't masculine and therefore anything that one would associate with femininity. Essentially, toxic masculinity is an archaic perception of what it means to be a man. Certain gendered norms include appearing tough and ignoring weakness or vulnerability. Read more: How to be mindful in the workplace Women are affected by this in two main ways firstly, they tend to be excluded from selection and promotion opportunities because they aren't manifesting the behaviours associated with good leadership. Secondly, they are encouraged to emulate these male behaviours in order to progress, Cooper says. It manifests itself in a leadership context when we look at words that tend to be associated with leaders, which one also associates with male behaviours, she explains. So they will be things such as being decisive, confident and courageous words with strong male associations. A work environment where leadership is seen in these very male, very gendered ways, often excludes women in that workplace, Cooper adds. It is also often given as an explanation for why women don't progress into so many management and leadership positions, as what constitutes a good leader is something that one associates so much with male behaviour. Story continues For the first time since the London Stock Exchange was established in 1571, the FTSE 350 has 30% of board positions filled by women. The latest data from the 30% Club, which encourages greater representation of women on boards, shows that 903 directorships are held by women out of 3,008 positions in total. Although this is progress, there is still a long way to go to reach equality. This, in part, is due to the fact that male dominated workplace cultures are both a cause and a consequence of the lack of gender equality at management and board levels yet is often overlooked. Read more: How to disagree with your boss without falling out Recently published research in the Harvard Business Review, reveals that men are much more likely to promote other men because they will see in them the traits that they admire, even if this bias is unconscious, Cooper adds. And even if a woman demonstrates traditionally masculine behaviour in the workplace such as aggression or dominating a conversation she is more likely to be viewed unfavourably, research shows. But women are not the sole victims of toxic masculinity, men can be affected just as deeply. It can encourage men to suppress their feelings in order to fit in with these narrow expectations of masculinity. If they are not seen as domineering or aggressive when it comes to business, they may miss out on opportunities too. Any culture that's described as toxic cannot be beneficial, Cooper says. Toxic masculinity is particularly damaging to organisations because of the incredibly narrow definition of masculinity that not only excludes women, but also excludes the majority of men. It may also exclude people on the basis of their sexuality, gender and race, as well as people with disabilities too. This often manifests itself in banter that, as our research shows, can be very damaging in organisations, even when it's not intentional, much of this toxic male banter is excluding by its very nature it could be very aggressive, it'll be hostile, it'll be competitive, it'll be quite ruthless as those are all the sorts of traits that one associates with toxic masculinity, Cooper says. Read more: The difference between a tough boss and a bully Commenting on the Equality Group research, founder Hephzi Pemberton said the data is a reminder of the need for more inclusive and positive workplace cultures. As a society, we should be striving to stamp out harassment, bullying and inappropriate behaviour in the workplace by creating and implementing positive policies, she says. While the situation has almost certainly improved, there are still a number of steps that workplaces need to take to improve their working culture. Hiring in diverse talent at senior levels, in terms of women and BAME professionals, to bring new ideas to boards and leadership teams across the country can undoubtedly change working cultures for the better. Dozens of environmental activists and union laborers turned out in force Thursday for an Illinois Commerce Commission hearing on the proposed expansion of the Dakota Access pipeline, which transports crude oil from North Dakota to a terminal in central Illinois. The pipeline cuts through a large section of Morgan County and west-central Illinois. Opponents of the expansion, which would increase the flow of oil through the pipeline from a daily average of 560,000 barrels to 1.1 million barrels, argue the increased amount is dangerous to the environment and an unnecessary reliance on fossil fuel. Proponents, including members of the Laborers International Union who wore bright orange sweatshirts, jackets and shirts to the meeting, say the pipeline expansion is safe, a boost to the American economy and will create construction jobs in Illinois. The evidentiary hearing that began Thursday is much like a court proceeding. The pipeline company, which is petitioning the commerce commission for approval to expand capacity and build new pump stations, and environmental groups, which are protesting the plans, can call on witnesses and ask questions in front of an administrative law judge. A final decision on the fate of the proposed pipeline upgrades is still months away. While the public is able to attend, there is no time allotted for public comment. That restriction did not prevent activists and pro-pipeline union members from packing the hearing room. People stood along the side of the room, which holds about 100 people, and the crowd overflowed into the hallway. Deni Mathews, chairwoman of the group Save Our Illinois Land, among the groups which has filed a series of objections to the plans, said she is not sure what effect activists presence will have on the future of the project, but that transparency in the process and bringing the plans to the publics attention is part of activists goal. This hearing is bone-dry in terms of content, but I think its important to open up these different commissions and make sure the public knows whats going on, Mathews said. SOIL board member Paul Berland said he wished the hearing focused more on the overarching issue of climate change, instead of the intricacies of the specific pipeline proposals. Still, he said the fight against the pipeline is part of an overall effort to stand up to the oil and gas industry. The fact is that there is more and more global warming occurring across the world and this pipeline is going to have devastating consequences and its just going to get worse, Berland said. But were also concerned about the environmental damage, as well. So its multiple facets. Several labor unions have formally filed support for the plans with the commerce commission. The presence of dozens of members reinforced that support. Craig Stevens, spokesman for a coalition of businesses, trade associations, and labor groups called Grow Americas Infrastructure Now, said the pipeline is incredibly important to Illinois and our nations economy. Increasing Dakota Access capacity will allow more American crude oil to be transported to market while also freeing up Midwestern rail cars to transport more commodities such as corn and soybeans, he said. Really the question, I think, that the American electorate needs to think about is, What are we going to do to power our nation? Stevens said. He argued the pipeline is safe and one of the most technologically advanced pipelines ever constructed. The company that operates Dakota Access, Energy Transfer, says the pipeline is safe and expansion will not increase the risk of ruptures or spills. The pipeline, the company says, initially was built to handle the flow of more oil than the current amount. Our plan to optimize the pipelines capacity is well within the design parameters of the current system, a company spokeswoman wrote in response to previous questions from the Tribune. The additional pumps and the enhanced safety controls along the route, i.e., surge tanks, will not change the risk profile of the pipeline or the maximum operating pressure. The Dakota Access pipeline will continue to operate safely at the optimized capacity. Dakota Access, in a June filing with the commerce commission, detailed its desire to increase pipeline volume and upgrade pumping infrastructure along the route. The simple reason for the changes, they say, is increased production and demand for crude oil. To handle the increased flow, the company wants to build a $35 million to $40 million pump station near Carthage in western Illinois and add two pumps and replace two others at the pump and tank hub near the towns of Patoka and Vernon along U.S. 51. Those upgrades, the company says, will allow it to increase the daily flow through the pipeline to as much as 1.1 million barrels a day. The Williston Basin in North Dakota, which includes the Bakken region, is producing about 1.4 million barrels a day, up 29% from when the Dakota Access pipeline began operating in June 2017, according to a recent company filing for the commerce commission. The company forecasts that production will continue to increase over the next five years because of advances in recovery and drilling technology. The new coronavirus knows no national borders or social boundaries. That doesnOt mean that social boundaries donOt exist. (Tracy Ma/The New York Times) Alex Williams and Jonah Engel Bromwich En route to Paris, Gwyneth Paltrow wrote on Instagram last week, beneath a shot of herself on an airplane heading to Paris Fashion Week and wearing a black face mask. Ive already been in this movie, she added, referring to her role in the 2011 disease thriller Contagion. Stay safe. Paltrow did not pose with just any mask, unlike, say, Kate Hudson and Bella Hadid, who also recently posted selfies wearing cheaper, disposable masks. The Goop founder and influencer of influencers instead opted for a sleek urban air mask by a Swedish company, Airinum, which features five layers of filtration and an ultrasmooth and skin-friendly finish. Never mind that the surgeon general, Jerome Adams, begged people to refrain from indulging in mask mania on Twitter last weekend. Priced from $69 to $99, the Airinum mask, which has been popping up on Instagram stylistas, is sold out on its website until April. (The New York Museum of Modern Arts Design Store, which carried the mask, is also sold out.) At C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries, a venerable pharmacy in Greenwich Village, New York, N95 face masks that can filter for viruses have been sold out for weeks, said Justin OConnor, who works in the stores surgical department. There is a waiting list of 300 people. 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 A lot of big names come into C.O. Bigelow; theyre usually pretty humble, OConnor said. Now some people are trying to name-drop their way into snagging masks. Theyll be like, Do you know who I work for? but were never impressed, he said. Cambridge Mask Co., a British company that uses what it calls particulate filtering layers and military-grade carbon, has seen demand for its $30 masks spike 20 to 30 times normal levels, said Christopher Dobbing, its founder. The rich are sparing no expense when it comes to minimizing their experience with the coronavirus. Business executives are ditching first class for private planes. Jet-setters are redirecting their travel plans to more insular destinations. And wealthy clients are consulting with concierge doctors and other VIP health care services. Why spend $3.79 on a bottle of hand sanitizer from Target when Byredo, a European luxury brand, makes what it calls a rinse-free hand wash with floral notes of pear and bergamot for $35 (although that, too, is sold out)? You may have more luck with Olika, a company that makes a hand sanitizer shaped like a modernist baby chick and costs $14.62 for a three-pack. Alastair Dorward, the chief executive of Olika, said that the company is getting multiple orders per minute, adding, Its not clear how many more days the rest of our product will be in stock. Dorward said that customers were seeking to buy large batches of the companys Birdie and Minnie dispensers. The pattern of ordering has changed significantly, and people are looking to grab product while they can, he said. Demand has also shot up for the preparedness kits sold by Judy, a startup led by Simon Huck, a publicist and noted friend of Kim Kardashian West. As of Monday, the company had sold out of its fanny pack survival kits ($50) and larger Mover bags ($150), which contain a first-aid kit, biohazard bag, Wet Wipes, hand sanitizer, batteries, a flashlight and other gear. We launched 40 days ago, and three weeks into our launch we have a global pandemic, Huck said. Even in the best of times, there are germs on airplanes. We scrub our hands in the cramped aircraft lavatories, avoid eating the Biscoff cookie that falls on the tray table, and if were really fussy, wipe the armrests with Wet Wipes. You know, just to be sure. These are not the best of times. At a time when every stray cough from three rows back sounds like a ghostly greeting from Typhoid Mary, those who can afford it are paying extra to sidestep crowded security lines and jampacked planes and flying private which might be an attractive option for those who wish to flee the teeming cities for, say, a safe house in Telluride, Colorado. Some wealthy people have told Bloomberg News that they have been staying in their Hamptons homes and are prepared to jet off to cabins in Idaho if things get worse. And The Guardian reported that executives have chartered jets for evacuation flights out of China and other affected areas. For some private jet companies, fear equals opportunity. Southern Jet, a charter jet company in Boca Raton, Florida, recently sent out a limited test marketing email with the tagline: Avoid coronavirus by flying private Request a quote today! The company got a bounce in requests for flights (which can run about $20,000 for a trip on a midsize jet from Florida to New York) but also a couple of responses calling the campaign repugnant and in poor taste, said Eric Sanchez, the companys sales director. We were not attempting to incite fear with this email, Sanchez said. We simply wanted to show the coronavirus may be a serious threat to the public, and we are glad we can offer a service that can possibly provide extra safety. Other well-heeled travelers who were planning vacations in affected countries, like Italy, are instead opting for the seaborne isolation of yachts, to lounge in the Mediterranean sunshine far from the infected shores. Jennifer Saia, the president of B&B Yacht Charter in Newport, Rhode Island, said that one longtime client, a retired telecommunications executive, had booked a villa for his family in Florence, Italy, for April but is now chartering a yacht in the Bahamas instead. It totally makes sense, Saia said. Youre keeping your family contained in a very small, should-be-clean environment. And going from your car to your FBO meaning fixed base operator, or private jet terminal to your private jet right onto the tarmac. And from there, right onto your yacht, and not having to deal with the public. But where to go? The social calendars of the well-to-do have been thrown into disarray, as art festivals, luxury fairs and invitation-only retreats are postponed or canceled. Last week, the luxury watch industry canceled two of its biggest events of the year: the Watches & Wonders Geneva (formerly SIHH) and Baselworld. Baselworld was founded in 1917, during World War I, and between 1917 and this year, it had never been canceled, said Joe Thompson, the executive editor of Hodinkee, a watch site and retailer. And that includes crises like World War II, the SARS virus of 2003 and various other downturns. So this is unprecedented. Art Basel Hong Kong was canceled, and Art Dubai has been postponed. The Armory Show opens in New York City on March 5, even as the first coronavirus cases emerged in New York state in recent days. Jerry Saltz, the art critic for New York magazine, said he expects fairgoers to continue to enjoy the art, though they may touch elbows as a germ-free hello. Dispensing with handshakes and elaborate greetings is fine for the bashful among us, Saltz said. I always think I am doing the double-cheek kiss wrong anyway. Other postponed or canceled events include the Geneva Auto show, the Milan Furniture Fair, the Singapore Yacht Show and the Dubai International Boat Show. For now, the Cannes Film Festival is still scheduled for May, but organizers are monitoring developments. We try to, but we cannot anticipate all the things that might happen, said Aida Belloulid, a spokeswoman for the festival. On March 3, Tim Ferriss, the best-selling author and longtime Silicon Valley angel investor who lives in Austin, Texas, implored the mayor of Austin, Steve Adler, to carefully consider the downsides of pushing forward with the South by Southwest festival, tweeting: After much thought, Ive canceled my attendance at SXSW. I love SXSW, but I dont believe the novel coronavirus can be contained. Amazon Studios, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter have all pulled out of the festival, which is scheduled for now to begin March 13. Another thing people try to avoid, even in the best of times? Emergency rooms. The well-heeled who wish for round-the-clock access to doctors, expedited appointments with specialists and members-only hospital amenities are turning to concierge medical services. One New York provider, Sollis Health, offers family memberships for about $8,000 a year, with facilities basically, VIP emergency rooms on the Upper East Side of Manhattan (where a Chuck Close original hangs in the lobby), Tribeca and, in summer, a house call service in the Hamptons. Since coronavirus fears arrived in the United States, membership inquiries have spiked, said Dr. Ben Stein, the medical director of Sollis. Anxiety among current members has some of them stocking up on antiviral medications including Tamiflu and Xofluza for the flu, respiratory medications like Albuterol inhalers and Sudafed, and antibiotics like Levaquin and Azithromycin. They are also calling with concerns about hospitals being overrun and face masks running out, Stein said. He said that one member, an actress, called about her anxieties involving a trip to Japan, where she was scheduled to shoot a kissing scene. She wanted to make sure she could avoid crowded emergency rooms should she return with flulike symptoms. Are such measures overkill? Waris Ahluwalia, a designer and actor who is a member of Sollis, is not taking any chances in the face of so many uncertainties. In preparation for a wellness retreat at Le Sirenuse hotel in Positano, Italy, Ahluwalia called Sollis to request a home delivery of masks, along with a precautionary prescription of Xofluza, even though his doctors told him that it may not be effective against coronavirus. (There is no antiviral treatment currently recommended for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.) Clearly, no one really knows whats going on, Ahluwalia said. But then you also have to have a certain sense that where theres smoke, there may be fire. The house call came with a custom mask fitting, which is of no small issue for Ahluwalia, who is Sikh and wears a thick, flowing beard that would certainly violate the comically detailed list of acceptable facial hairstyles for wearing a respirator mask circulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To test the fit, Ahluwalia said, the Sollis doctor placed a hood, similar to those worn by beekeepers, over his head and sprayed the inside with peppermint. No smell, apparently, no leakage. But then, there was a coronavirus outbreak in Italy and the Positano retreat was canceled. His next business trip is to Istanbul in a couple of weeks. He may or may not go, he said. I dont know if this too shall pass, or its the beginning of the end, Ahluwalia said. Id be really bummed if its the beginning of the end, because Ive got a lot of things Im working on. A Gulfstream IV jet or 150-foot superyacht may make for a fine temporary sanctuary for plutocrats who wish to travel in style in a world of swirling microbes. But for those who really want to bunker down as global infections mount, a well-stocked home bunker represents the ultimate luxury. A luxe bunker, it seems, can take many forms. Stein said that another Sollis member, an heiress in Southampton, New York, built a medical isolation room complete with a ventilation system. The word room, however, hardly captures it. Stein said it is equipped with a negative pressure system to restrict the circulation of pathogens, and is basically an isolated guest wing consisting of a bedroom and kitchen stocked with IV hydration, medicines, lab supplies, gloves, gowns, masks, oxygen and food, as well as a set of dishes and linens. In certain pockets of Silicon Valley, where tech-elite survivalists drool over abandoned missile silos that were converted into luxury bunkers, coronavirus is precisely the doomsday scenario theyve been preparing for. Marvin Liao, a former partner at the venture capital firm 500 Startups, has been stocking up on canned food, water, hand sanitizer and toilet paper in anticipation of an outbreak, and has lately been scoping out a high-end air purifier called Molekule Air, which costs $799. I dont know if youre ever ready for this, Liao said of coronavirus. But I think that youre probably better prepared than a lot of people, because at least youve thought about it and at least youve stocked up. Worse comes to worse youll have a lot more cushion than a lot more people out there. Jon Stokes, a former Silicon Valley prepper who left Silicon Valley for prepping reasons (he lives in Colorado now), echoed that sentiment. He said that he had stockpiled about four months worth of food, and recently purchased a stethoscope and a pulse oximeter that measures the oxygen saturation in red blood cells to monitor his family for signs of the virus. This exact situation is precisely what preppers prep for, Stokes said. Aside from the NatGeo or History Channel doomsday prepper, for ordinary preppers, this is kind of it for us: a pandemic, a shelter-in-place sort of thing, where you have to be self-sufficient for a few weeks or for a month or two. Thats what we do. c.2020 The New York Times Company (Newser) For the Rapa Nui, the iconic moai statues of Easter Island are "sacred structures," Camilo Rapu, the head of the indigenous community there, tells CNN. That's why what went down in the Chilean territory Sunday has the locals distressed and wondering how to better protect the famous basalt structures, a longtime tourist attraction. "We regret what happened today," reads a Facebook post by the Ma'u Henua indigenous group, showing photos of a pickup truck atop what looks like piles of stone. What happened, per People, is that the "rogue" truck was parked atop a hill in the Pu a Pau section of the island when there was an apparent brake failure, sending the truck rolling down the hill. It slammed into an "ahu" (platform) holding moai, including a 7-foot-tall structure that was destroyed by the truck. story continues below "It could not be worse," Jo Anne Van Tilburg, head of the Easter Island Statue Project, tells the New York Times. A relative of the driver of the truck says the driver had shoved rocks under the vehicle's tires to keep it from moving while he fished nearby; when he took the rocks out, the truck started sliding down a slope slippery from weeks of downpours. "He is very stressed and very apologetic," the relative says. The driver was reportedly arrested, though it's not clear what charges may be brought against him. "The damage is incalculable," Rapu tells CNN, adding that the damage to the moai "is an offense to a culture that has lived many years struggling to recover its heritage and archaeology." Tilburg notes to the Times there are about 350 ahu platforms scattered around the island, each holding between one and 15 statues that are either standing or toppled over. (Read more Easter Island stories.) Perhaps your refund was going to be fun money. I would nix that, too. With the spread of the coronavirus, you might also hold off on using the money for a vacation or that big-screen television you might have been eyeing especially if youre in an industry that could see a downturn as a result of the outbreak. Fewer people may be out shopping or eating at restaurants. Russias flagship air carrier Aeroflot said on Friday it is reducing the number of flights to Italy and South Korea from March 10 and to Vietnam from March 11 due to the slumping demand amidst the novel coronavirus outbreak, Trend reports citing TASS. Thus, the company will perform four weekly flights to Rome instead of five in a period from March 10 to 28. The number of flights to Milan will also be reduced. In a period from March 10 to 26, it will make four flights a week to Seoul instead of seven, and three weekly flight to Hanoi instead of seven. A number of other Russia air carriers have already reduced the number of flights to Italian destinations because of the acute coronavirus situation and decreasing demand. Thus, Pobeda, an Aeroflot groups low cost carriers, has reduced the number of flights to Italy in March-April by 40% Utair reduced the number of weekly flights to Milan from seven to two. Aeroflots Director General Vitaly Savelyev told journalists earlier the air company was sustaining serious financial losses because of the coronavirus situation. A pneumonia outbreak caused by the COVID-19 virus (previously known as 2019-nCoV) was reported in Chinas city of Wuhan, a large trade and industrial center with a population of 12 million, in late December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency, characterizing it as an epidemic with multiple foci. Cases of the new coronavirus have also been reported from more than 80 other countries. The most serious coronavirus situation is reported in South Korea, Iran and Italy. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 15:40:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MEXICO CITY, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Latin American authorities urged citizens to remain calm on Friday as more COVID-19 cases were reported in the region. Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez asked citizens to remain united and calm in confronting the new coronavirus after the Ministry of Health and Social Protection confirmed the nation's first case -- a young woman who returned from Italy recently. As the country has entered the containment phase, all information about the coronavirus would be diffused through the health ministry to avoid the spread of fake news, Duque said. Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado asked the population to remain calm after the country confirmed its first case in an American tourist who, along with her spouse, has been quarantined in a hotel. "We have a health system whose achievements are highly respected in the world, and although we are a country with limited resources, we have very advanced achievements in health," he said. Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra also urged citizens to keep their heads and practice everyday preventive measures after the country's first case was detected in a young person who had recently visited Spain, France and the Czech Republic. The Peruvian Health Ministry is implementing a national action plan to strengthen systems of the COVID-19 detection and containment. Brazilian Minister of Health Luiz Henrique Mandetta said that it is necessary to wait and observe how the virus behaves in a tropical climate before the government takes further action. Argentine health authorities announced Friday that the country has entered a containment phase and will focus on investigating suspicious cases after the number of confirmed cases in the country rose to eight. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel held a meeting to evaluate strategies to prevent the new coronavirus from entering the country. So far Cuba has reported no confirmed cases. Ecuadoran President Lenin Moreno asked government officials to pay high attention to epidemic prevention among the vulnerable groups and prevent the spread of the epidemic. The Public Health Ministry said Thursday that the total of COVID-19 cases in Ecuador has reached 13, making it one of the worst-affected countries in Latin America. Deputy Minister of Integrated Care at Ecuador's Ministry of Public Health Julio Lopez said that as a new virus, the origin of COVID-19 remains undetermined. Lopez said that China has set an example for the world on how to manage the COVID-19 through vigorous actions and control measures based on epidemiological theories. OK, ladies, control yourselves. Sunday is International Womens Day. Now, I know weve waited 364 days since the last one, but you have to be cool, OK? (Hang on a whole day? Stop! Its too much!) My point, if I havent laid it on thickly already, is that maybe this is a little silly? That us womenfolk are granted a one-day window on the international calendar to mark our accomplishments? Im sure our male brothers are in a flop sweat of panic and insecurity (but dont fret, fellas, you get IMW on November 19 as the cherry on top of your patriarchy cake). Don't "empower" me, call me Badass ... Australian Laura Brown, editor-in-chief of InStyle Magazine. Credit:James Brickwood Of course, we celebrate and honour our suffragette sisters who started International Women's Day. But, and I say this respectfully, that was in 1910. Im pretty sure that famed activist Sylvia Pankhurst, who was arrested on IWD in London in 1914, would be the first to say, Were still here?! Now, a Badass Woman in 2020 wouldnt settle for any of this, this tokenism. A Badass Woman just gets on with it. 24/7, 365. As I say at InStyle magazine, where we hatched the BAW platform almost three years ago to spotlight amazing women changing the world, Badass Women show up, speak up and get things done. Consistently. I mean, Badass Ladies are everywhere, so as editors, were spoiled for choice. (I really should make a calendar: Badass for all Seasons.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 15:02:11|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close An injured girl receives medical treatment at a local hospital in Herat province, western Afghanistan, March 7, 2020. Militants affiliated with the Taliban outfit killed seven civilians and wounded 17 others in an attack in Kushk Rubat Sangi district of Afghanistan's western Herat province on Friday, district governor Lal Mohammad Omarzai said Saturday. (Photo by Elaha Sahel/Xinhua) HERAT, Afghanistan, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Militants affiliated with the Taliban outfit killed seven civilians and wounded 17 others in an attack in Kushk Rubat Sangi district of Afghanistan's western Herat province on Friday, district governor Lal Mohammad Omarzai said Saturday. The incident took place in Khawja Noor area of the restive district late Friday night, the official said, adding that the attackers escaped after the attack. Confirming the deadly incident, Herat provincial government's spokesman Jilani Farhad told Xinhua that a teacher was also among those killed in the attack. The Taliban outfit has yet to make comment. A host from an American news channel demands an apology from the Chinese over the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in spite of the fact that the latter are risking their lives on the frontline to defeat the virus and safeguard the health of the human race. This exposed nothing but the detestable and ridiculous mindset of certain Americans who call the color black the color white and kick people when they are down. The measures China has taken to respond to the epidemic have been widely recognized and supported by international society. It seems like the U.S. government is the only one in the world that has been accusing China since the beginning in a totally groundless manner. Moreover, now an American TV host is demanding an apology from China. What a shame! However, there must be a reason for such remarks, and its very possible that the U.S. is hiding something and trying to put the blame on others. The Chinese people and most people in the world are speaking the facts. For instance, the international community has been searching for the origin of the novel coronavirus, trying to figure out what caused the epidemic. Though there are suspects, the final conclusion has not been drawn. Some believe that China is indeed a victim, and a scapegoat, which to some extent, holds water. Just as Chinese respiratory scientist Zhong Nanshan stressed the fact that the virus had an outbreak in China first does not necessarily mean that it originated in the country. As a responsible large country, China has not only achieved remarkable results in epidemic control within its own territory but also made contributions to the world, molding a template for other countries to use in the joint battle against the virus. Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that Chinas forceful measures have won valuable time for the world to prepare for the epidemic, and UN chief Antonio Guterres also said the country has made significant contributions to humanity. Requesting an apology, the U.S. is indeed the country that should extend something nice to people around the world. In the past decades, the country has created various disasters around the globe wars, economic loss and disease. The H1N1 flu, which broke out in the U.S. in 2009, spread to 214 countries and regions, killing at least 18,449 people that year. Who asked the United States to apologize? The American host, who works in the media industry, shall start from facts, objectivity as well as justice. Then they should ask the White House to review its practices in this epidemic, as its responses at many critical times have been proven to be extremely wrong, and this has also been pointed out by the WHO on multiple occasions. Therefore, the U.S. needs to do some reflecting and make clearly audible public apologies. However, its very possible that the host doesnt have the guts to do so, even though he is living in the free world with the so-called freedom of speech, The clown-like American host will never discourage the progress of the Chinese people. Such allegations will also never be enough to overshadow the courageous efforts made by the Chinese people serving on the frontline of the epidemic battle. Federal Industry, Science and Technology Minister Karen Andrews has warned significant numbers of young Australian women could be unemployable if they do not acquire science and maths skills, adding parents need to be encouraging their daughters to stick with their STEM studies. Ahead of a report on women's participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) on Sunday, Ms Andrews pointed to the low take-up of STEM study at university coupled with high demand for these skills in the workforce. She stressed 75 per cent of the jobs in the fastest-growing industries need STEM skills. Industry, Science and Technology Minister Karen Andrews warns large numbers of young women and girls will find it hard to get a job if they don't have STEM skills. Credit:AAP "This International Women's Day we are faced with an alarming prospect that a large number of our young girls and women could be unemployable," Ms Andrews, a qualified mechanical engineer, told The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age. The new STEM "equity monitor" shows in 2019, 27 per cent of high school-aged girls aspired to a STEM-related career, compared to 42 per cent of boys. It also shows only 9 per cent of women in higher education (both university and vocational) were studying STEM in 2018, compared to 35 per cent of men. Reporter Sara Coello has covered the Charleston area's justice system for The Post and Courier since September 2019. She previously covered crime and courts at The Dallas Morning News. The precincts of the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, venue for the 63rd Independence Anniversary, was on Friday morning turned into a hub for trading activities as the Ashanti Regional capital hosts this years national independence parade. Hundreds of traders have displayed their wares just outside the stadium as early as 0700 hours in anticipation of high patronage as people thronged the stadium for the celebration. On display were various national paraphernalia including miniature flags, caps, horns, mufflers and other historic materials on Ghanas independence from colonial rule. Other traders cashing in on the historic event are food vendors providing a variety of foods, drinks and water to thousands of people inside the stadium. Some of the traders who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) were excited about the business opportunity that the celebration has brought to the city. They said sales have been good and commended government for rotating the annual celebration to boost the local economies of the regions. Madam Monica Osei, a trader, told the GNA that the miniature flag was the most patronized among her wares. Kumasi is the second city to host the event outside the capital since independence and the euphoria that has characterized the celebration has been magnificent. 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 Despite large gatherings, likes the traditional Morgenstreich, being cancelled by the Swiss government to prevent the spread of coronavirus, a group of carnival revellers wearing protection masks march through the old town of Basel ZURICH (Reuters) - The Swiss government is working on directing support to companies hit by falling demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak and will not adopt a broad stimulus programme, a top official said on Saturday. "For us it is important that we don't have some kind of 'helicopter' money, subsidies or an economic programme that works (only) in the long term, not the short term," Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch, director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), told broadcaster SRF. The SECO agency coordinates economic and labour market policy for the government. Government subsidies paid to staff put on short working hours by their employers have been shown to be an effective economic stabiliser, she said. The government was also looking to target support at companies such as event managers which are likely to be hit by government restrictions including a temporary ban on events which draw more than 1,000 people. Ineichen-Fleisch said supply chains were still functioning and company inventories were well stocked, but she added that could change in a month depending on the spread of the virus which has infected hundreds and killed one person in Switzerland so far. "The situation will leave marks on our economy, how deep we don't know yet," she said. Asked about calls for the Swiss National Bank to help address the widening economic impact, she said the central bank was independent and would make its own decisions. (Reporting by Michael Shields; editing by James Drummond) Vietnamese Planning and Investment Minister Nguyen Chi Dung has tested negative for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) despite sitting in the same business class with a confirmed patient on a London - Hanoi flight this month, the ministry said on Saturday. Minister Dung was on Vietnam Airlines flight VN0054 from London that landed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi at 4:30 am on March 2. On the same flight was N.H.N., who was confirmed as Vietnams 17th COVID-19 patient on Friday evening. Both Dung and N. were seated in the same business class. The minister occupied seat 1A while N. was in seat 5K, which were four rows apart. There were 201 passengers on the flight, including 21 in the business class, Vietnam Airlines General Director Duong Tri Thanh said on Saturday. Eighteen of the business-class passengers were foreigners while the remaining three were Vietnamese nationals, namely N., Dung, and another Ministry of Planning and Investment official who was accompanying Dung on a business trip, Thanh said. Only passengers in seats 4G, 4K, 5G, 6G, and 6K, as well as meal-serving flight attendants, are considered people having close contact with the COVID-19 patient in seat 5K, the Vietnam Airlines leader elaborated. Both Dung and his companion were seated 4-5 meters away from the patient, and did not share the walkway with her, Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung said. As N. wore a face mask on the plane and did not board or deboard at the same time as economy-class passengers, not all 217 passengers and crew members on the flight were at high risk of infection, he added. Although coronavirus test results of Minister Dung came out negative on Saturday, he will be quarantined for 14 days as is required for all other passengers on the same flight. The headquarters of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Hanoi was also disinfected on Saturday. The plane used to operate the London - Hanoi flight has also been used for six other flights to Ho Chi Minh City, the UK, and other foreign destinations since then. Five passengers, including one Vietnamese and four foreigners, have occupied the same seat as N. on these flights. One passenger who was in seat 5K of the plane on a Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City flight on the morning of March 2 is at the highest risk of infection. The plane has been grounded for disinfection since Saturday morning. COVID-19, which first surfaced in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 102,300 people and killed 3,491 globally as of Saturday afternoon, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. Vietnam has so far confirmed 20 infections, including 17 Vietnamese, two Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese American. Sixteen of the patients have recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Fridays confirmed case was the first reported infection in Vietnam since February 13. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Jared Leto had a brush with death - and he lived to tell the story. The Oscar-winning actor and Thirty Seconds To Mars frontman took to social media on Friday and revealed he almost fell some 600 feet while rock climbing at Nevada's Red Rock. The harrowing, but still exhilarating, experience happened when he fell off a wall while scaling a cliff with professional rock climber Alex Honnold, and the safety rope holding him up began to fray along the sharp ridges. Scary: Jared Leto revealed that he nearly died while rock climbing in Nevada's Red Rock 'Not to sound dramatic, but this is the day I nearly died. Took a pretty good fall climbing with @alexhonnold at Red Rock,' he began in the caption of two photos and a quick video from the scene. 'Looked up and within seconds the rope was being cut by the rock while I dangled some 600 ft in the air.' The Dallas Buyers Club star, 48, then described the flurry of emotions and feelings that flooded through his mind and body. Harrowing: The actor and musician said he fell off a wall and the safety rope that held him up almost immediate began to fray from the sharp ridges Bird eye view: Leto shared a quick video to show where the safety rope began to fray 'I remember looking down at the ground below. It was a strange moment - less fear, more matter of fact, and slightly melancholy,' he said. 'The adrenaline came after, when I got back on the wall. But we made it through and lived to see another day.' With some time to let the experience sink in, Leto added, 'Overall it was actually quite fun. we continued climbing into the night.' Life-altering: 'Holy f**k! It was fraying right at the point!' he explained as the excitement of the moment kicked into overdrive Enthusiast: The Oscar-winning actor is a serious rock climber Leto was able to climb to safety and point out just how close he had come to falling to his death 'Holy f**king s**t,' he said while breathing heavy in the video. He quickly pointed to the sharp ridge that had almost cut his safety rope in two. 'Holy f**k! It was fraying right at the point!' he explained as the excitement of the moment kicked into overdrive. Honnold, who was Leto's companion during the near-death fall, is best known for being the only person to ever to free solo climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. 'Poor enough' is how one north Cork frontline health worker described the local state of preparedness should the Novel Corona virus strike in the area. The worker pointed to the allocation of just one kit of protective gear to each ambulance who would be the first responders for possible cases of the the virus. "It's two face masks, two sets of gloves, disposable goggles and overshoes - after one visit, we have to throw them away," the worker said. "That means we only have enough for one trip." The worker pointed out that a much more substantial pack had been distributed to ambulance crews when there were fears around Ebola. The worker also said colleagues did have experience of dealing with flu outbreaks, including swine flu, and the precautions for dealing with Corona Virus sufferers were more or less the same. And the HSE practice of not giving out the name of the schoo attended by the state's first case of the virus was defended by the worker. "We want people to feel that they can come forward without having their basic right of confidentiality compromised. "Just because some keyboard warrior names the school or the person at the centre of a corona virus situation, the HSE is right not to do so as it is abiding by a basic principle of patient care." At the time of going to press, there has been no case of the virus reported in the North/Mid Cork areas but a number of tests have been carried out on samples for people with flu like symptoms in Cork city. All these samples have tested negative so far. The worker disclosed that expressions of interest were sought by the HSE from qualified personnel who could carry out testing for the virus in the community. The training for this service was due to commence in Cork city today (Thursday). "When someone feels that they have symptoms and they may have had contact with someone who was in an affected area, they call 999. "The ambulance is despatched and when it gets to the home of the person who believes they may be infected, just one person goes in and establishes what the situation is, whether it's likely or probable that the person might be a n-Covid 19 patient. "In that case the second person goes in, suited up, to remove the person to the hospital for futher examination and treatment. "Then the hospital has to be informed before the ambulance reaches it to ensure the appropriate response is put in place to get the person in and assessed correctly." The main issue with the new virus is how contagious it is. "The RO number for the flu is 2 - which means one patient is likely to give it to two others - but in the case of the Corona Virus, the RO number is four, which means every corona virus sufferer could infect four people." While indications are that the Corona Virus is no more lethal than, say, the flu, the concern is that it will 'knock for six' people who are elderly and/or those who have other underlying health conditions such as COPD, asthma, diabetes. This is described as the co-morbidity factor. Another complicating factor in the current climate is the (up to) 14 day incubation period for the virus. During that time an infected person might not display any symptoms but still be capable of passing the disease on to someone else. "In previous years when there was a flu virus like this the hope was that it would disappear at the end of the flu season, normally the end of March/April - this is the hope again in the case of this virus." A man in a protective suit walks outside Angel Hotel where, according to a Palestinian government official, a group of American visitors have been quarantined as part of precautions against the coronavirus, in Beit Jala town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 7, 2020. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma Americans Quarantined in Bethlehem Hotel in Coronavirus Scare: Palestinian Official BETHLEHEM, West BankFifteen Americans have been quarantined in a hotel in Bethlehem as part of precautions against the coronavirus, a Palestinian government spokesman said on Saturday. The city in the occupied West Bank has been in lock down since cases of the virus were recorded there on Thursday. Some of the first cases there were reported among staff at the Angel Hotel. On Saturday, spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said a group of American visitors were in isolation in the building, without going into further details on their condition. Members of Palestinian security forces stand guard near Angel Hotel where, according to a Palestinian government official, a group of American visitors have been quarantined as part of precautions against the coronavirus, in Beit Jala town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on March 7, 2020. (Mussa Qawasma/Reuters) An official from the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem said it was aware of the reports. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further details to share, she added. Palestinian security forces wearing masks and gloves were stationed around the hotel on Saturday, as they have been since the first cases were announced. There is a 15-member American delegation in the hotel. They are still there and they are being dealt with according to quarantine regulations like all the others who are there, Melhem told Reuters. Authorities have put restrictions on travel in and out of the city and turned away tourist busses. They have also closed the Church of the Nativity, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, and shut schools. People wearing masks visit the Church of the Nativity, revered as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on March 5, 2020. (Photo by Ahmad GharabliH/AFP via Getty Images) By Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh Vince Gilligan, the creator of the televisual worlds of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has an unusual talent: he is brilliant at showing us work. What does it feel like to test fast-food sauce recipes, to push a mail cart around an office, to make a cement walkway, or to highlight relevant items in a laborious legal discovery process? What does it look like to cook up meth? In his hands, the work of men and women becomes weirdly gripping. But the work hes really interested in is what men and women do when they fashion themselves, and when events change them. And here, all the precision and craft the straight lines and fine calculations that he showcases (and demonstrates himself) in those montages of labor are thrown out. Saul Goodman was supposed to be a joke. The character was originally conceived as comic relief for the AMC drama Breaking Bad, which lasted five exciting seasons before concluding in 2013. Sauls fake name was a play on the phrase [it]s all good, man, a kind of branding that even bumbling criminals could come up with. Saul was a shyster criminal attorney whose function in the plot was to give teacherturnedmeth dealer Walter White and his criminally minded student Jesse Pinkman an entrance into Albuquerques criminal world. He was supposed to have a three-episode arc and be done. The character lasted for the rest of the shows run, and now is heading into his fifth season in the spinoff prequel, Better Call Saul, which is the most heartbreaking drama series ever produced for television. At some point, film director Peter Jackson got stuck in J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle Earth, his career doomed to ever-more expansive explorations of the same fantasy realm. He was worse the wear for it. Gilligan, a showrunner who had done some work on The X-Files, has gotten stuck in Albuquerque, doing two series for AMC and the Breaking Bad postscript El Camino for Netflix. But Gilligan in his fictional world, unlike Jackson in his, is improving over time. Story continues The journeyman comic writer and performer Bob Odenkirk, hired by Gilligan to play Jimmy McGill, a.k.a. Saul Goodman, proved far more valuable than a three-episode arc. Odenkirks own career transformation is as remarkable as Walter Whites into Heisenberg or Jimmys into Saul. Odenkirk had written for Saturday Night Live and Conan OBriens talk show, and he had a recurring role on The Larry Sanders Show. In the late 1990s, he was the less-well-known and less successful half of HBOs Mr. Show, a sketch-comedy series co-hosted by David Cross. Now, on this series, Odenkirk is every bit the accomplished dramatic actor that Bryan Cranston became when working with Gilligan. Gilligan has said, over and over again, that the challenge he set himself in Breaking Bad was telling a story about a man who transforms himself from Mr. Chips into Scarface. The audience had no idea how far Walter White would go. And I think viewers will pick different moments in the shows arc as the point when they went from guiltily admiring Walter as an anti-hero alpha male to realizing he was a monster, turning on him and rooting for his downfall. The heartbreaking, staggering genius of Better Call Saul is that we know what Jimmy McGill becomes later in Breaking Bad. We know he abets the horrors of Walter White; we know he has to enter the criminal worlds version of a witness-protection program, getting booted down from cash-rich criminal lawyer to manager of an Omaha Cinnabon. In Better Call Saul, we watch him try to claw his way up from small-time con artist to a decent lawyer, and we see him fall back into being a con artist with a license to practice law. Early on we meet his love interest, occasional partner in confidence tricks, and conscience, the lawyer Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn). Like Jimmy/Saul, she clawed her way to her position in life from nothing. She likes Jimmy McGill and champions him. She genuinely wants what is good for him. But she is wary of him, too, as she is wary of her own dark side. As viewers become invested in Kim, her presence in the show becomes an ongoing torture. Showrunners report getting agonized letters and messages from fans pleading with them not to hurt her or bring her to an awful end. Why? Because the existence of Breaking Bad informs us that Wexler must exit this life without ever meeting Walter White. As the prequel proceeds, the number of characters who are unique to Sauls world declines, and the reintroduction of the criminals and cops familiar to us from Breaking Bad picks up pace. As they return, so does our dread in knowing that Kim must go. We know that Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman is going to meet the Devil and enter hell. What is devastating about Better Call Saul is knowing that this is coming while watching all the times the possibility of redemption is rejected by our protagonist. Because Gilligan has made us omniscient, hes put us in the judgment seat. The drama comes from how much we understand and even sympathize with Sauls choices, and how unaware he is of where they will lead him. We might be the sympathetic friend who is about to get crushed by Sauls choices. We might be the unfortunate man who has a talent for something bad, and was kicked one too many times while trying to do good. More from National Review The Department of the Interior will fund two federal grizzly bear management specialists in Montana in response to concerns about human-bear conflicts in the state. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt sent a letter to Montana Republicans Rep. Greg Gianforte and Sen. Steve Daines Friday saying that the complex state and federal management of grizzlies warrants modification. The letter comes after Bernhardt and Gianforte met with communities along the Rocky Mountain Front last year that expressed concern about bear populations and proximity to people. Flawed decision-making processes have resulted in a growing discontent among the people that live with these bears, the letter states. The Department has contributed to this sentiment by not clearly defining its obligations under the (Endangered Species Act) to manage threatened and endangered species. The letter states that Interior will provide additional resources to USDA Wildlife Services to address problem bears. Grizzlies are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act and managed through a complex network of federal agencies, states and tribal governments. They may be killed or moved only under certain circumstances such as livestock depredations or conflicts with people. Gianforte spokesman Travis Hall said those resources will include $250,000 for two bear management specialists. I appreciate Secretary Bernhardt coming to Choteau and listening to folks who too often encounter grizzly bears, Gianforte said in a statement. Its time for more effective management of problem bears, and Im glad the Trump administration is putting more tools in our toolbox. Wildlife Services Montana state director John Steuber says his department does not currently have specialists who focus solely on grizzly bears. About 20 field staffers work in the state on various predator issues, he said. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks employs 11 bear managers in the state. Fridays letter also comes after a recent Senate Appropriations meeting in which Daines and Bernhardt discussed grizzly bear management in Montana. Until we can retain full state management of the grizzly bear, we need common sense, collaborative methods of managing to reduce human conflict, Daines said in a statement. I am thankful to Secretary Bernhardt for listening to the concerns of Montanans and redirecting management. In addition to the bear management specialists, Interior will implement new hazing practices for bears that may pose a threat to human safety. Those include the use of paintballs, noise-making projectiles and visual deterrents. The new guidance should delineate allowable actions that haze from unallowable actions that harass, the letter states. The letter also recommends that states tap federal funding for their bear management programs, specifically an excise tax on firearms and ammunition called the Pittman-Robertson Act. The act comes with parameters for how states may spend it, and Bernhardt encourages states to look at where their management programs may qualify. Recovery of the grizzly bear in the lower 48 is an amazing success story, Bernhardt wrote. I look forward to the day when these populations are fully under state management. Grizzlies were listed as an endangered species list in 1975 as their population dwindled. Over the last few decades, they have rebounded, but whether they have fully recovered to the point of delisting remains a contentious issue. Numbers have risen since listing and bears have increasingly traveled from their traditional backcountry strongholds, but core populations in the lower 48 remain largely isolated from each other. Those opposed to delisting often cite the need for more connectivity between Yellowstone and the Northern Continental Divide, and the absence of bears in places such as the Bitterroot, as evidence that federal protections are still needed. Attempts to delist grizzlies around Yellowstone National Park has been tied up in court battles. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has also indicated interest in moving to delist the population in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem that comprises Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and nearby areas. Reporter Tom Kuglin can be reached at 447-4076 @IR_TomKuglin Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 5 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Tim Weddle, manager of the Urbana distribution hub for Community Blood Services of Illinois, looks at units of donated blood in storage at the blood bank in Urbana on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017. At long last, the battle has ended! And thus, Ghana, your beloved country is free forever! These were the words of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to Ghanaians on the evening of 6th March 1957 when he delivered the first independence speech in the history of Ghana. Our forefathers fought tirelessly to grant us the independence that we enjoy today. They gave up themselves for this cause, in which I believe many lost their lives, in freeing our country from foreign rule and imperialism. Dr Nkrumah noted the difficulties, imprisonments, hardships and suffering they went through but thanked the Almighty God that he has brought us to the end of our troubles today. Indeed the people of Ghana agree with our founding fathers and give thanks to the Almighty God for seeing us through 63 years as an independent nation. Today 6th March 2020 marked our 63rd birthday as a Nation. The theme for the 63rd Independence Day is Consolidating Our Gains. As a nation, we have made great strides to make our nation great and strong. Since independence, successive governments have contributed tremendously in the area of health, education, agriculture, political stability, and infrastructure, just to mention a few. During birthdays, we take stock of our lives, plan for the years ahead, and make resolutions. As a young Ghanaian, I decided to for the first time, read Dr Nkrumahs independence day speech. As I read, I came to understand the zeal, passion, love, commitment and philosophy of our founding fathers. 63 years down the line, I believe that Dr Nkrumahs speech still speaks to Ghanaians. He stated, And as I pointed out I made it quite clear that from now on today we must change our attitudes, our minds, we must realise that from now on, we are no more a colonial but a free and independent people. If Ghana were to be a person, He would have been in retirement by now. The big question is, have our minds and attitudes changed? What legacy are we leaving for future generations? With the way we are living as Ghanaians, will future generations be proud of us? One such attitude we have to change from is bribery and corruption. This is killing our nation. It has become the norm. Some public officials ask for bribes to do things they are supposed to do. Some even call it motivation. Corruption is everywhere. It is as if it is in our DNA. Politics in is now a means to amass wealth. People get into politics and within a few years live affluently. The political few live lavishly while the majority of Ghanaians suffer. Every year, the country loses millions of Ghana Cedis to corruption. The fifth and sixth lines of the first stanza of our National anthem reads, Fill our hearts with true humility. Make us cherish fearless honesty. This is enshrined boldly in our National Anthem. If Ghanaians live by these principles, things will change for the better. If we are honest as a people, there is no way, bribery and corruption will be a norm. We have made progress but there is still more to be done. To reshape our destiny as a nation, it behoves on us as a people to listen to the admonishment of our founding fathers, lives by the principles in our National Anthem, changes our attitudes and make Ghana a nation that will be respected by every nation in the world. Frimpong Manso Cobbina National Service Person GBC Radio Central Cape Coast I have been relatively lucky when it comes to my health, so far. Broken bones and general clumsiness have brought me to the doors of the Minor Injuries Unit here in Dundalk just a few times. However, that quickly changed last week. A severe pain and a visit to my GP later, and off I went to the Accident and Emergency Department of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. I had two separate experiences of the department, both worlds apart, but in reality, were only within 28 hours of each other. The first experience was on Thursday night. The waiting room was relatively busy. Two extremely caring triage nurses were trying their hardest to work through the lengthy list of patients. The uncomfortable wait on the black plastic chairs began as I sat in excruciating pain. The first time I presented to the hospital, I only had to wait around four hours. My condition was evaluated by doctors and the decision to admit me was made by the team. Although being on a trolley for fourteen hours was to follow, the care and affection that was projected throughout this time by every medical professional was exceptional. After tests and examinations, I was shipped home on pain medication the next day. The hopes for eventual recovery were high. Unfortunately, I was hurried back up, again, suffering a new wave of pain just a number of hours later. Back I was again, on the cold, uninviting, chairs facing a long-ish waiting time, or so I believed - ten hours followed, in severe discomfort in a crowded waiting area. It took a further six hours to even be evaluated by a triage nurse, who was solely responsible for monitoring an entire waiting room full of cranky, unwell people; completely sleep-deprived herself, on a packed Saturday night. Patients who end up in this emergency department may think theyre on the home straight once a doctor calls them, however, this is an invitation into a whole new level of chaos better known as the Medical Assessment Unit. Doctors and nurses frantically dashed around the tight space which was packed to capacity. A glance around the room presented a grim sight - trolleys lined up along the hallway, full to breaking point. Reports published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Association (INMO) prove that it was not just this particular emergency department that is in crisis, of course. 760 patients are without a bed in hospitals nationwide. The longer this level of overcrowding continues, the greater the threats to patient safety, said Phil Ni Sheaghdha, General Secretary of the INMO. I struck up a conversation with my neighbour on another set of hard seats. She had been rushed in by ambulance, numb on her entire left side, yet, left on the set of chairs for five hours without seeing a doctor. As we all know, early intervention for conditions such as a suspected stroke (F.A.S.T.) is vital. According to the National Stroke Register Report in 2018, 239 patients presented to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda suffering a stroke. Being a first-hand observer to this situation, it allowed me to put my condition into perspective. Right in front of my very eyes was a woman who was in a critical window that could prove not just life-altering but possibly fatal to. The clock ticked away as she sat slumped alongside worried family members. Allowing patients to sit in a questionable waiting area, sitting shoulder to shoulder on a row of chairs with the majority hooked up to a drip of some sort is truly unacceptable. Staff are working tirelessly to attempt to care for the overwhelming crowds of people that present themselves to the hospital. The blame cannot be put on the staff of this hospital. But how did we allow the conditions to come to this? The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) have reported that nearly 120,000 patients requiring admission nationwide were forced to wait in emergency department. In 2019, which was the worst on record for overcrowding, 18,367 patients went without hospital beds, a 9 per cent increase on 2018. Staff struggle as they are overworked and underpaid for the level of care and responsibility expected. A newly-qualified staff nurse or midwife, which is a nurse who has recently finished college, but has yet to be registered under the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), would start on an annual salary of around 24,850 before tax and around 21,700 after tax. This rate of salary is completely inadequate considering the vast amount of hours that they are expected to work every week. The fact that we have a previously fully-functioning hospital on our doorstep which has been minimised to a Minor Injuries Unit and Respite Care is wasteful, to put it lightly. The overcrowding issue would be dramatically decreased in Drogheda if the hospital here in Dundalk was brought back into frontline use. Patients have to suffer at the hands of our broken health system which is run by overworked and underappreciated people who try their best to meet unrealistic expectations as medical professionals in this environment. Elizabeth Warren was shamed into finally fulfilling her pledge to represent the voters of Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate rather than engage in a hopeless wanderlust for the presidency. Nearly four out of five Massachusetts Democrat party presidential primary voters rejected her. Over 1.3 million votes were cast among Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Michael Bloomberg, also-rans, and Warren. Warren gleaned just 291,000. Warren even lost 4:5 to Bernie Sanders, the socialist/communist. Thus, the Massachusetts progressives didn't disavow socialism per se, just Elizabeth Warren's brand of phoniness and barefaced lying for her self-serving opportunism. Joe Biden was given a pass for his own tall tales and incoherence due to his dementia. Yet Joe's mythmaking, plagiarism, and taking credit for others' achievements were equally disqualifying in Biden's previous short-lived presidential bids, as Warren's dishonesty now. This is not to say Biden's sins of premeditated misrepresentations and impulsive boasting are venial while Warren's lies are of the mortal variety only that Biden's forty-year history of surviving gaffes, conceits, and intellectual property thievery makes it less sensational. Yes, Bernie is an unrepentant socialist and Soviet sympathizer. But Bernie possesses the cardinal attributes Warren eschewed: authenticity and honesty. Bernie has never stolen somebody else's identity for his own gain. Bernie didn't make up chunks of his own life story to align his personal saga with those special interest grievance-mongers. Bernie is a socialist, and he's neither denied nor apologized for it. Elizabeth Warren's policy planks were just as crazy as Bernie's, with little daylight betwixt them: Medicare for all, Green New Deal, killing fossil fuels, open borders, free everything for illegal aliens, abortion wherever and whenever, debt forgiveness, free college, crushing new taxes mostly unconstitutional to pay for it all. Destruction of free markets; confiscation of private property; close-down of free speech, assembly, and religious liberty; economic apocalypse. So where will Elizabeth Warren direct her post-campaign affections? She is not doing Bernie, her ideological seatmate, because she knows that Bernie would be crushed by Donald Trump, perhaps a beat-down so decisive as to extinguish totalitarian central planning fervor for a generation. With Biden she would have some hope, though still thin, that much of her aspirational policy direction might be enacted. After all, Biden would extinguish the Second Amendment, kill off fossil fuels (and the economy), pursue Medicare for all via more Obamacare, support free college and debt forgiveness, and raise and impose more taxes on everyone. But why would she cozy up to Biden when her surrogates are already complaining that sexism foreclosed any chance for her to get a fair hearing? Warren and her acolytes share with Hillary Clinton the morbidly unlikeable trait of hypegiaphobia inability to take personal responsibility where one's shortcomings and failures are always caused by someone else. At least Massachusetts's Democrats have now forced Elizabeth Warren to live out her 2018 promise when asked by local beat reporters and national media if she would commit to serving out her full U.S. Senate term if elected. "I am not running for president of the United States." With four years remaining in the confines of the U.S. Senate minority cloakroom, Elizabeth Warren can contemplate a meaningful act of contrition and discover the virtues of truthfulness for once in her life while finding something anything she can bring to the citizens of the Commonwealth, except perfidy and dishonor. Caricature by Donkey Hotey. Will Boris Johnson do the late night bottle feed and play his part in the nappy-changing rota? After all, he tells us he intends to fully avail of parental leave when his girlfriend gives birth to their child later this year. The British Prime Minister is already father to an "unconfirmed" number of children. He and his second wife have a grown-up family of four. He is also the father of an 11-year-old daughter with London art consultant Helen McIntyre. And he has steadfastly refused to comment on persistent speculation that he has another "love child". There was a time "blue rinse Tory women in the shires" would not have tolerated such an unorthodox private life. Cecil Parkinson, one of Margaret Thatcher's most high-profile ministers, had his career torpedoed because of a love child controversy. There is inevitable speculation Johnson's tempestuous personal affairs will spill over into Downing Street politics. Given his own lifestyle, it is ironic the 55-year-old prime minister previously lambasted unmarried mothers. He blamed them for "producing a generation of ill-raised, ignorant, aggressive and illegitimate children". He also claimed some women become pregnant to avail of social housing. Meanwhile, in recent days, his inner circle was accused of announcing his girlfriend's pregnancy to deflect attention from a simmering political storm. The row centres on Home Secretary Priti Patel. Only a few months ago she provoked outrage, arguing the UK should use possible food shortages in Ireland as a Brexit bargaining chip. A noted right-wing hardliner, she is now charged with clamping down on immigration, given the UK is no longer bound by EU guidelines. Dominic Cummings, Downing Street's shadowy Svengali figure, is especially supportive of her drive to halt the arrival of the "unwanted" in post-Brexit Britain. However, Ms Patel's credibility was seriously dented when the most senior, and much respected, civil servant in her department resigned. She is accused of a bullying, confrontational, approach in her dealings with public officials; a legal case is now pending. This could prove hugely embarrassing for Downing Street if certain dirty linen is washed in public. The government, caught on the back foot, has been forced to set up its own inquiry into the alleged behaviour of the newly-appointed minister. But as regards his personal affairs, Johnson should benefit from a more tolerant and enlightened age. The British - in sharp contrast to, for example, the French - have traditionally been notoriously prudish about the private lives of their politicians. But now there is an unsaid agreement certain matters are off-limits unless they spill into the public arena. However, as RTE's two-part documentary reminded us, no such indulgence was shown to unmarried mothers and their children in Ireland's all too recent past. Of course, it was a different era - and the Protestant ethic on such matters was equally judgmental in Britain. Yet the tenets of our unyielding Catholicism back then indulged unspeakable cruelty, especially on young and vulnerable children. We now know the story so well. Once again we are reminded many brothers, nuns and priests never had the psychological wherewithal to look after those entrusted to their care. It was a malfunctioning system all round. Hence the depravity of so much physical and sexual violence - indulged for so long by Church and State. A powerful sense of loss permeates any reminder of those times. Survivors who got financial recompense soon realise no amount of money can compensate for a stolen childhood. However, some of the arguments put forward in the RTE programmes were unfair to the religious involved. No matter how heart-rending the allegation, anybody accused of wrongdoing is entitled to due process. In that sense, the religious organisations were within their rights to have legal representation to defend the reputation of their members. Overall, the response of the Church authorities continues to be mealy-mouthed. They have been unnecessarily grudging in the amount of money they made available by way of recompense. The Irish bishops in particular - coming from a tradition where their predecessors sounded off when it would have been better to keep their mouths shut - seem incapable of adding any context to some terrible times. And so Boris Johnson, bolstered by a more indulgent era - not to mention power and influence - will surely survive brickbats as to how he manages his private life. But it's all in stark contrast to the days when vengeance was wreaked on mothers and their children should the shroud of "illegitimacy" be cast their way. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 14) -- Some classes in both public and private schools nationwide have been called off this week as a precautionary measure against the fast-spreading coronavirus disease, officially known as COVID-19. Here is the list of affected areas: ALL LEVELS Metro Manila Calabarzon Cainta, Rizal (No classes until March 14) San Mateo, Rizal (No classes until March 13) Lucban, Quezon (No classes from March 11 to 15) Central Luzon Capas, Tarlac ( No classes from March 11 to 14) Bulacan (No classes from March 11 to 14) Pampanga (suspension will remain until further notice) MIMAROPA Oriental Mindoro (No classes until March 25) Davao Region Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte (suspension will remain until lifted) Work suspensions Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano suspended work in the House of Representatives from March 16 to April 12 as a preventive measure against COVID-19. Contingency plans of Metro Manila universities Ateneo de Manila University President Jose Ramon Villarin said they have canceled classes and work until March 18 to pave the way for a dry run of the school's contingency plans. "The dry run shall commence on Thursday, 12 March and end on Wednesday, 18 March. Offices will simulate operations with a skeleton workforce, and on-campus classes will be suspended to give way to simulation of alternative modes of teaching, learning, and testing," Villarin said in a statement. Meanwhile, University of the Philippines Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo said official travel of members of the school community is prohibited indefinitely. The official also urged personnel to refrain from visiting other places in and outside the country. Should they proceed, they have to report to their unit heads. The university president also said they will make use of online platforms to hold classes for the meantime. The number of confirmed cases in the country is now at 64. President Rodrigo Duterte has suspended classes in Metro Manila since Tuesday, a day after declaring a state of public health emergency upon the recommendation of the Department of Health. The declaration will allow for easier access to financial resources to control the spread of the disease in the country. DOH also raised Code Red sublevel 2 the highest alert level for COVID-19. A string of lawyers representing the FBI, the state and Harney County officials all urged a judge Friday to dismiss a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the estate of Robert LaVoy Finicum, the spokesman of the 2016 armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon. They argued that the suit contains broad and vague allegations and that the widows lawyer neglected to properly serve notice to several of the defendants. The civil suit makes an illogical leap in claiming Greg Bretzing, the FBIs former agent in charge in Oregon, and Dan Love, a former U.S. Bureau of Land Management agent, conspired to target Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, his family and supporters, said attorney Leah Brownlee Taylor, representing the federal government and Bretzing. Taylor asked why, if the federal government was after the Bundy patriarch, was his son, Ammon Bundy, and a family supporter, Brian Cavalier, arrested without incident as they were leaving the wildlife refuge. The only reason Mr. Finicum was killed is because of his own actions, she said. The lawsuit claims Finicum was shot "assassination style'' by "one or more militarized officers of the Oregon State Police and/or FBI'' as he was trying to leave Harney County on Jan. 26, 2016, during the refuge takeover. It contends the defendants engaged in "widespread and systemic corruption'' and the "premeditated targeting'' of Finicum because of his association with Cliven Bundy and his family, Finicums membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Finicums political views and activism critical of federal land management and the BLM. Attorney J. Morgan Philpot, who represents Jeanette Finicum, said the plaintiffs have evidence of an animus that was carried over between two friends who worked together since 2009, referring to Love and Bretzing. Bretzing had served as an assistant agent-in-charge of the FBIs Salt Lake City office from 2007 through 2012, when Love worked in Utah for the BLM. Love was the agent in charge of the federal roundup of Cliven Bundys cows in Bunkerville, Nevada, in 2014, over unpaid grazing fees. Philpot briefly mentioned a statement made by a BLM whistleblower Larry Wooten, who told federal investigators that his supervisors at the land bureau in Nevada appeared to be personally offended by the Bundys. The office narrative that evolved was that there needs to be an officer involved shooting to make these types of people get the message, the statement read, according to papers filed in the Cliven Bundy case in Nevada. The government is appealing the dismissal of charges against Cliven Bundy in Nevada, a case pending before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Attorney J. Philpot Morgan quoted from this memo during his argument defending the suit filed on behalf of the estate of Robert 'LaVoy' Finicum. The Finicum suit contends police and the FBI set up a "deadman's roadblock'' on rural U.S. 395 in Harney County where Finicum, 54, was shot and killed as he and other refuge occupiers were driving to a meeting in John Day in neighboring Grant County. Finicum, a rancher from Cane Beds, Arizona, who served as spokesman for the Malheur occupation, raced away from a police stop on the highway. A state police SWAT officer fired three shots at his truck before Finicum crashed into the side of a snowbank to avoid a police roadblock. After he stepped from his truck, investigators said an FBI agent fired two shots at the pickup as Finicum stepped out with his hands up. After he walked away from the truck into the snow, two state troopers fatally shot Finicum when they said he reached into his jacket where he had a loaded gun. Finicum was shot in the left upper back, left shoulder and right lower back. A bullet pierced his heart, an autopsy found. The suit accuses the FBI and Oregon State Police of excessive force, negligence and failing to properly train and supervise its officers. Bretzing, who retired in Jan 23, 2017, wasnt at the scene of the stop or roadblock and provided no on-scene supervision, his lawyer said. He remained at a command post in a middle school in Burns, according to his sworn court declaration. Bretzing did initiate a domestic terrorism investigation of the refuge takeover, but any FBI tactical planning or decisions made before the fatal shooting of Finicum are protected from a tort claim or liability under whats called a discretionary function exemption, Taylor said. Philpot argued that the FBI in Oregon falsely labeled the occupiers as domestic terrorists based on false federal threat assessments of Cliven Bundy and his supporters in the Nevada cattle roundup that ended in a tense standoff. That led to an escalation of force against Finicum and other refuge occupiers, Philpot said. U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan said the allegations involving the federal cattle roundup in Nevada are totally irrelevant in the Finicum wrongful death claim. Further, allegations that Oregons Gov. Kate Brown was somehow liable for Finicums death seem a stretch, the judge said. Philpot argued that the governor contributed to Finicums death because she pushed for a halt to the refuge takeover. Attorney Jim Smith, representing the governor and state police, said Brown wasnt in eastern Oregon the day Finicum was killed. Though she may have had contact with state police in the days leading up to the killing, she was not part of the decision to shoot, he said. Smith, in court papers, accused the plaintiff of spinning a fantastic yarn about federal agents conspiring and targeting LaVoy Finicum for death. He wrote that the complaint is colorful, but called the legal theories unclear and difficult to decipher. Harney Countys attorney Molly Silver agreed. She argued that neither then-Sheriff Dave Ward or County Judge Steven Grasty were at the scene of the shooting and that neither participated in the stop or fatal shots. The pleadings are so devoid of fact and devoid of substance that its hard to respond, she said. The judge said she was shocked that the plaintiffs still havent filed any proof that several of the defendants had been served with the suit. She called the allegations difficult to read, lengthy and somewhat disjointed. While the judge said Philpot had made an impassioned plea, she said she must follow the law. She signaled that she may dismiss the complaint but allow Philpot to amend the suit in the future. She expects to issue a ruling in about three months after accepting further written briefs. Her recommendation must be reviewed by U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman. While this to me was a terrible tragedy and should never have occurred, Sullivan said, thats different than saying someone is liable for this. Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Subscribe to Facebook page The fast-evolving coronavirus outbreak rattled stock markets globally. Almost all sectors are reeling under its effects. However, it is the travel industry that is the worst hit. The dreaded coronavirus, having first emerged in Wuhan, China, now spread its tentacles to 86 more countries claiming the lives of more than 3,300 people and infecting over 95,000. As of Mar 6, United States reported in excess of 225 confirmed cases of the virus and a death toll of 12. Given the rapid spread of the virus and the consequent plunge in air travel demand, airlines across the globe are trimming capacity on international routes. For instance, American Airlines AAL suspended flights connecting Dallas with China, Hong Kong and Seoul due to lackluster demand following the coronavirus outbreak. The carrier also decided to call off all U.S. flights to Milan, Italy. Fellow U.S. carriers, namely United Airlines UAL and Delta Air Lines DAL also suspended multiple flights citing the same issue. Latin American carrier LATAM Airlines LTM also cancelled Milan flights from Sao Paulo. Due to significant drop in bookings, Ryanair Holdings RYAAY fourth-quarter fiscal 2020 (ending Mar 31, 2020) results are likely to be heavily impacted. Notably, Ryanair will cut 25% of its Italian capacity for the Mar 17-Apr 8 time frame. Also, Germanys Deutsche Lufthansa DLAKY, which has exposure to Italy and China, reportedly decided to ground 150 of its planes due to weak demand. Among U.S. airlines, United Airlines, carrying a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), is seemingly experiencing the maximum downfall. Flight cancellation apart, the carrier took some dramatic measures, such as putting a halt to hiring (except for crucial roles), delaying 2019 merit salary increases as well as giving employees the option to apply for unpaid leave of absence voluntarily. Per CFRA analyst Colin Scarola, the carrier reportedly generates approximately 40% of total revenues from international route and has greater international exposure among U.S. airlines. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. The drab picture surrounding the airlines is well reflected in the industrys price performance so far this year. The Zacks Airline industry has declined 27.5% in a month compared with the S&P 500 Indexs 9.3% decrease. Story continues IATA Projects Higher Revenue Loss for 2020 Given the vast majority of countries that the virus outbreak has spread to and the resultant slump in forward bookings, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) now anticipates global passenger revenue loss of $63-$113 billion for 2020. This is significantly higher than the previous projection of a $29.3-billion passenger revenue loss when its estimate was based on the assumption that the coronavirus-led low demand would impact mostly the Chinese market. The research firm anticipates a $63-billion passenger revenue impact, equivalent to an 11% decline, assuming that the outbreak will mostly impact demand in Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea), Europe (France, Italy, Germany) and the Middle East (Iran). The markets included here have more than 100 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease as of Mar 2. Within the $63 billion loss, Chinas share equals $22.2 billion, translating to a 23% decline in passenger numbers. Moreover, Asia is expected to suffer a loss of $47 billion. In case the health hazard spreads to a larger extent affecting demand in Asia-Pacific (Australia, PR of China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam), Europe (Austria, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom), Middle East (Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates) and North America (Canada, United States), the IATA anticipates a $113-billion toll (or 19% decline) on global passenger revenues in the current year. The markets included here currently have 10 or more confirmed cases of the disease as of Mar 2. The Asia-Pacific countries alone are estimated to witness a 32% decrease in passenger numbers, equivalent to a $57.3-billion revenue loss. The European market is likely to report the second largest revenue loss of $43.9 billion, implying a 33% drop in passenger numbers. Canada and the United States are estimated to bear a loss worth $21.1 billion with 10% fall in passengers transported. Is the Worst Coming for Airlines? The impact of the coronavirus on the airline industry is already seen to be more damaging than the SARS outbreak in 2003. Additionally, it is worth nothing that China, which accounts for roughly 20% of the global GDP, is more important to the global economic scenario now than it was in 2003. Consequently, any slowdown in the Chinese economy will have ramifications across the globe. As uncertainty looms large on the extent and duration of the virus, it is perhaps not far off for the industry to endure a situation similar to the Global Financial Crisis of 2008. In fact, the IATAs forecast of a $113-billion passenger revenue loss for 2020 is nearly commensurate with what the airlines had faced during the financial crisis of 2008. With substantial decline in oil prices since the beginning of 2020, the IATA expects fuel cost saving of up to $28 billion for the ongoing year over and above the savings from reduced capacity. This should provide some cushion to the airlines in dealing with this deep crisis. Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, its expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity. A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time. See 8 breakthrough stocks now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Ryanair Holdings PLC (RYAAY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Deutsche Lufthansa AG (DLAKY) : Free Stock Analysis Report LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (LTM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Universities were yesterday given a final warning to guard free speech or face legislation amid a row over the snubbing of Amber Rudd by Oxford students. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson threatened intervention against institutions that fail to defend democracy. He also ordered Oxford University to take robust action over no-platforming the policy of refusing to host particular speakers because they might cause offence. His threat came as politicians from all parties condemned the treatment of the former home secretary as appalling and disgraceful. Amber Rudd (pictured with student organiser Felicity Graham) was due to speak to young women about engaging in politics at Oxford University Pictured: Ranald Macdonald, Amber Rudd and her daughter Flora Gill Miss Rudd had been invited to speak at Oxford University by a student society on Thursday but the event was cancelled minutes beforehand because of protests over her links to the Windrush scandal. Her barring came after Oxford historian Professor Selina Todd was blocked from appearing at a feminist festival last weekend following threats from trans-rights activists. Fury of Amber's Girl @FloraEGill Cannot believe mum was no-platformed at my old Uni yesterday. I dont care if you disagree with her. Its ****ing rude. This is NOT how women should treat each other Advertisement Mr Williamson said: For two speakers to have been no-platformed at Oxford within a week is unacceptable. It is not enough to adopt free speech codes if they are not enforced. I expect the University of Oxford to take robust action over these incidents and if universities are not prepared to defend free speech, the Government will. Last month Mr Williamson said he was considering greater regulation, possibly through law, if universities do not promote unambiguous guidance on academic freedom and free speech. But Lord Patten, Oxfords chancellor, insisted that institutions do not need Government interference. Last month Education Secretary Gaving Williamson (pictured on Monday) said he was considering greater regulation, possibly through law, if universities do not promote unambiguous guidance on academic freedom and free speech Im a passionate believer in free speech and Im a passionate believer in the autonomy of universities to run their own affairs, he said. Lord Patten condemned the behaviour of students as an appalling way to treat a very distinguished public servant, and insisted that the university is committed to freedom of speech under every circumstance, provided the speech is within the law. Thursdays event had been organised by the UNWomen Oxford UK society. But Miss Rudd arrived to an empty hall after Felicity Graham, president of society, was forced to cancel the event following a majority vote by its committee. Miss Rudd resigned as home secretary over the Windrush scandal, which saw those of Caribbean heritage who arrived between 1948 and 1971 wrongly detained, threatened with deportation or wrongly refused re-entry to the UK. Her daughter, journalist Flora Gill, tweeted: Cannot believe mum was no-platformed at my old Uni yesterday. I dont care if you disagree with her. Its ****ing rude. Alan Rusbridger, former Guardian editor and now principal of Oxfords Lady Margaret Hall, said: Amber Rudd has many legitimate questions to answer about her role in the Windrush disgrace. My plea to Oxford students is, Ask them. Disinviting her to speak at the last minute is a terrible missed opportunity as well as looking rude and blinkered. Question: Could you recommend a robust smartphone? I work in engineering and breaking screens on phones is a common problem and expensive. - Jimmy Fogarty Answer: There aren't as many of these on the market compared to a few years ago when mainstream brands like Nokia and Siemens competed to see who could have the toughest phone. The only recently-released one I've really tested is Doogee's S68 Pro, an affordable 'tough' smartphone compared to flagship devices. It's fortified in a number of ways. Unlike most phones that rely on tough cases from the likes of OtterBox, the (heavy) S68 Pro feels very robust as soon as you pick it up. This is partly because its casing is made of a titanium alloy, with rubber shock absorbers in the corners (to see what I mean, go to Independent.ie for pictures I posted along with my review). Crucially, the glass is substantially tougher. This is mainly because it has two layers of Gorilla Glass instead of one. All of this means that it can consistently take falls from 1.5m (almost five feet). You might see scuffs, but the glass won't break or crack. As you might expect, it's also water resistant (for up to 30 minutes underwater at a depth of 1.5m) and dust-resistant, too. So this may be your best bet right now, especially as it doesn't cost the earth - around 300. Other than its rugged, robust nature, one of its big advantages is its stupendously long battery life. Even Samsung's new flagship S20 Ultra, which has the biggest battery on the mainstream phone market, is less long-lasting than this beast's whopping 6,300mAh battery. You can almost use this as a portable power supply, too - the S68 Pro supports reverse wireless charging for other gadgets. There are some sacrifices. While the S68 Pro is perfectly usable, its 5.9-inch display doesn't quite have the smooth fluency of an iPhone, Samsung or Huawei. Its rear triple camera array, while fine, is also a cut below the quality you'll get from most of the upper-end phones on the market. (Although I do appreciate that it has included an ultra-wide lens on the rear to go with the normal and telephoto lenses.) And while it has a decent 6GB of Ram (and a very decent 128GB of on-board storage), its chip is less powerful than you'll get elsewhere. The S68 Pro isn't the only 'tough' phone I've tried recently. Nokia has a hybrid feature-smartphone (the Nokia 800 Tough) that's a third of the price of the Doogee model and will also survive being dropped and thrown about. But this has much more limited functionality, even though it does support stripped-down versions of WhatsApp, Facebook, Google and a few other common apps. Recommendation: Doogee S68 Pro (280 from Amazon.co.uk) Question: Hi, do you have any suggestions for a decent-enough camera that costs around 300? - Ivan Answer: If your budget is strict, the best deal around at that price is probably from Argos right now, which is selling Fujifilm's ageing (but still good) X-A20 with 15-45mm lens for 275. That's a real bargain. But it's a sale price, so don't expect it to hang around. If you can stretch another 100, Currys has an excellent deal for a Canon EOS 4000D with two lenses - the all-purpose 18-55mm and telephoto zoom 70-300mm. I've taken some great shots with that latter lens before, even though it's at Canon's basic kit level. Otherwise you're looking at either a basic mirrorless interchangeable lens model from the likes of Panasonic or Olympus, although you'll again be pushed closer to 400 to get a lens included. Recommendation: Fujifilm X-A20 (275 with 15-45mm lens from Argos) Question: Hi, a person I know and who I thought I got on well with has blocked me on Twitter. I'm really surprised and disappointed. Is there any way of finding out who else has blocked me on Twitter, maybe some app? - Susan Answer: I'm afraid there isn't. You probably already know that if you visit someone's Twitter profile, it will immediately tell you whether you're blocked or not. But (for probably good reasons), Twitter doesn't allow third-party apps to compile those sort of lists: it may make things even saltier, if they did. Email your questions to aweckler@independent.ie NCHS Kandy farewell party View(s): To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Student Council of Kandy organised their 1st event which was a farewell party. Marking a milestone in the campus as well as in the students lives, the event was attended by the Kandy and Colombo academic and non-academic staff. The dynamic student council had organised the event with a meticulous agenda comprising games, DJ music, tear jerking presentations and scrumptious food! Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, has issued a key resolution on the regulation of public car parks in the emirate. Pursuant to the new resolution, the Traffic and Roads Agency at Dubais Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), will issue monthly and annual season public car parking permits. The conditions and procedures for issuing these permits will be outlined in a resolution issued by the Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said a statement from Dubai Executive Council. The fees for monthly and annual season public car park permits will be based on the type of public car park, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Going by the data, institutional investors might have been the first to pick the trend in Yes Bank. Since the September 2018 quarter (Q3FY18), foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and mutual funds (MFs) reduced stake in the bank by more than 50 percent, data from AceEquity showed. MF managers offloaded their shares from 10.55 percent in September 2018 quarter to 5.09 percent in December 2019 quarter (Q4FY19). A similar trend was also seen in FIIs, who reduced their stake from 39.5 percent in September 2018 to 15.17 percent recorded in December 2019, data showed. The fall in data also corresponds with the price action seen in Yes Bank. The bank which was listed on bourses back in 2005 touched a high of Rs 404 on August 20, 2018, but since then it has been heading south. Investors lost more than Rs 5000 crore of market wealth in terms of market capitalisation on the BSE in a single trading session as the stock plunged 56 percent on the BSE to Rs 16.20. Also read - Yes Bank rescue plan: RBI announces draft scheme of reconstruction What triggered the sharp move in Yes Bank and markets? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on March 5 placed a temporary moratorium on Yes Bank for a period of one month till April 3, 2020 and restricted deposit withdrawal to Rs 50,000 per customer which created a panic like situation. Most brokerage firms have placed the stock in the sell category and advise investors to stay away. The stock recovered from the lows after reports of a rescue plan surfaced. The RBI on March 6 placed a draft scheme of reconstruction of Yes Bank in the public domain. State Bank of India (SBI) has expressed its willingness to invest in Yes Bank and and participate in its reconstruction scheme, it said. Some of the measures introduced include altering the authorised capital to Rs 5,000 crore and also reducing the number of equity shares to 2,400 crores with a face value of Rs 2. In a press release, Yes Bank assured its depositors that the bank is also taking necessary steps to ensure seamless transactions for the customers. We assure the depositors that their money is safe and there is absolutely no reason to panic, it said. Also read: Yes Bank share price recovers nearly 200% from intraday low; brokerages suggest 'sell' By Trend OPEC+ no deal is a psychological blow for the market, as the steep plunge in oil prices, said Ann-Louise Hittle, vice president, Macro Oils, at Wood Mackenzie, Trend reports. And the market is now facing the spectre of unrestrained production once the current OPEC+ agreement expires in March. However, we do not think Saudi Arabia will push hard to lift their output in the northern hemisphere spring. "Given weak demand and the likelihood this weakness will persist into the second quarter, it will be hard for any producer to increase their output sharply once the original production deal expires at the end of this month. She added: One factor to bear in mind is that the plunge in demand we saw in Q1 was created by circumstances in China. The countrys coronavirus (Covid-19) containment measures have been far more stringent than those imposed anywhere else, and are not likely to be copied elsewhere. The lack of a production deal carries risk. This would become apparent if global economic growth weakens and oil demand continues to contract more sharply than expected thanks to the double whammy of coronavirus containment measures and falling GDP. Hittle said: Our current projection sees global liquids demand fall by 2.7 million b/d year-on-year in the first quarter of 2020, the first year-on-year decline on a quarterly basis since Q2 2009. It is the most severe decline since Q4 2008, the height of the 2008-2009 global economic crisis, which saw demand tumble by 2.8 million b/d year-on-year. Hittle said: If the impact the coronavirus has had on global oil demand is sustained, then by the second half of the year wed expect to see weaker GDP. This will have a far greater impact on oil demand than just temporary reductions in jet fuel and gasoline demand. A longer, sustained outbreak of coronavirus threatens to hit oil demand with a double whammy: already weak demand will soften further because of containment measures, and this will weaken GDP. What does this mean for OPEC and OPEC+? It would mean that the group would likely need to monitor economic indicators closely. It may even mean that they could be forced to call an emergency meeting during the second quarter. She added: A sustained bout of low oil prices will further reduce cash flow and investment into the US oil patch, causing further hits to Lower 48 production growth later this year. It takes at least six to nine months for reductions in spend to lead to lower oil production in the US Lower 48. In that time, their access to capital may be limited and their free cash flow badly hit. The only silver lining in a very dark cloud is for refining the sector will be hit hard by weak demand, but it is at least saved from tightening crude differentials associated with a major cut in OPEC supplies. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A Southbridge man was taken into custody late Friday afternoon after authorities tracked him to a Converse Street residence in Palmer. Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio said the State Police Special Tactical Operations Team, a specialized high-risk entry and arrest unit, and Palmer police took the suspect into custody at about 5:45 p.n. at a Converse Street home. Procopio said Southbridge police request the assistance of the State Police and Palmer police in searching for the man. The suspect was booked at the Palmer police station and will be held at the Hampden County Jail pending arraignment Palmer District Court Monday. He faces charges of assault and battery on a family member and violating a protective order. The 100 Alabama Miles Challenge will kickoff with an event at Birminghams Railroad Park at 9 a.m. March 14. The challenge is a statewide program formed to motivate Alabama residents to be more active. Participants can walk, run, jog, hike, ride, skate, swim or do anything else to reach their 100-mile goal. Participants can also do their activities at home, in their neighborhood, or at a gym. At 36%, Alabama has the fifth-highest obesity rate in the nation, and this is due, in part, to a lack of physical activity. This program is designed to inspire people who arent as active as they should be to get outside and take advantage of the great resources our state has to offer, said Brian Rushing, the programs coordinator and director of Economic Development Initiatives at University of Alabama Center for Economic Development (UACED). Participants can take on the challenge with friends and family. They can also create teams and compete with others. Challenge ambassadors will be at the March 14 event. They will discuss the importance of an active life and share their favorite places in Alabama to go and check out. People who attend the event will receive free T-shirts and decals. They will also participate in a one mile walk as a symbolic first mile for the 2020 challenge. Program organizers encourage participants to share their photos and experiences on social media as they journey to 100 miles using the hashtag #100miles. Alabama is blessed with so many unique and beautiful outdoor recreational destinations that offer fantastic opportunities for Alabamians to be active, Rushing said. UACED partners with multiple organizations to host the challenge including the Alabama Trails foundation, Blue Cross and Blue shield, Lakeshore foundation, Jefferson County Department of Public Health and more. If you would like to learn more and signup for the challenge, visit https://100alabamamiles.org/ China's exports plummeted in the first two months of this year on the back of a coronavirus epidemic that forced businesses to suspend operations, disrupting the world's supply chains. Exports fell 17.4 percent, the biggest drop since February 2019 during the trade war with the United States, and imports dropped 4 percent, according to official data released Saturday. Search Keywords: Short link: Open Orphan, a Europe- focused pharma services company specialising in rare disease and so-called orphan drugs, has agreed a contract with a European biotech company that could generate up to 10.2m (11.8m) in revenue. The agreement is for the provision of a human challenge study on a respiratory sync- ytial virus (RSV) vaccine. which is projected to deliver 3.2m in revenue this year. If the study is successful, it is anticipated that a larger follow-on pivotal challenge examination will commence at the end of 2020. This could add a minimum of 7m in further revenue. In a statement, the company said the contract win demonstrates that hVIVO, which is part of Open Orphan, "is successfully converting its pipeline and reinforces its position in the provision of viral challenge studies, vaccine and viral laboratory services, supporting product development for customers developing antivirals, vaccines and respiratory therapeutics." It added that these services are "particularly relevant and topical" given the spread of the coronavirus. London-based hVIVO, which was bought by Open Orphan in a reverse takeover last year, has Europe's only commercial 24-bed quarantine clinic and on-site virology laboratory. hVIVO is the only company in the world with the capability to run an RSV human challenge study. "This agreement demonstrates one of the benefits of the merger with hVIVO and the opportunity the broadened service offering provides in delivering a catalyst for significant revenue growth and margin expansion within the business," said Cathal Friel, chairman of Open Orphan. In the short term, the combination of Open Orphan and hVIVO is expected to result in substantial cost savings through the elimination of subcontractor costs where they can be replaced by new capabilities within the company. Shares in Open Orphan rose by 3pc to close just under 6 pence (0.68). Although Tulsi Gabbard, a woman, remains in the race, the Democrats are assiduously ignoring her. As far as Democrats in both politics and the media are concerned, Elizabeth Warren was the last woman standing in the Democrat primary race, and now she's gone. With her departure, they are falling back on the old standby, which is that it was sexism that brought Warren down (never mind that the sexism, if it exists, is confined to Democrats). During a press conference at the White House before President Trump left to visit Tennessee following the horrific tornadoes, a reporter asked the president if he thought sexism accounted for Warren's downfall. Trump's answer was blunt and, typically, quite funny too: REPORTER: "Do you think sexism was a factor in Elizabeth Warren pulling out?" TRUMP: "I think lack of talent was her problem... People don't like her. She's a very mean person... They like a person like me that's not mean." pic.twitter.com/CZ1hdboJRx Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) March 6, 2020 REPORTER: Do you think sexism was a factor in Elizabeth Warren pulling out and do you think you will see a female president in your lifetime? TRUMP: No, I think lack of talent was her problem. She had a tremendous lack of talent. She was a good debater. She destroyed Mike Bloomberg very quickly like it was nothing. That was easy for her. But people don't like her. She's a very mean person, and people don't like her. People don't want that. They like a person like me, that's not mean. Trump is correct. Warren always had the air of a scolding schoolmarm about her. Despite the light, fluffy voice, she was right, you were wrong, and she was going to put you in your place and tell you how to do things. Warren didn't sound like a leader; she sounded like a know-it-all, the type of person you dread having as your teacher or team leader. And that was when she wasn't mean. Elizabeth Warren's attacks on Mike Bloomberg were cold and cruel. All the old words that have come down in the English language to describe mean women described her: she was a nasty, vicious, shrill, scolding harridan. Ultimately, the debate proved that Warren was Hillary Clinton's sister in shrewishness. She was the bossy mom, the angry ex-wife, the vindictive female co-worker. She was every person's nightmarish, mean woman. Even as Warren successfully destroyed Bloomberg's candidacy (and her attacks against him at the debates were the last nails in his candidacy's coffin), she also effectively destroyed herself. She wasn't a warrior; she was a witch. A lot of people thought Trump undercut himself with his last remark "They like a person like me, that's not mean" but he didn't. Instead, he underlined the difference between himself and Warren. First, as many have said of Trump and he has said of himself, he's a counterpuncher. Warren, however, threw the first punch. Bloomberg was a political opponent, and she could have challenged him on ideological grounds or challenged his managerial style or effectiveness. But that's not what Warren did. Out of the blue, she went straight for the jugular and gnawed away at it until he was bleeding on the debate stage. It was ugly, mean, and angry. Second, Trump has a defter touch, which we saw in Thursday's town hall. Trump, after referring to Biden's most recent gaffes regarding Super Thursdays and millions of gun deaths, gave voice to what everyone is already thinking: "There's something going on there." He didn't need to be vicious. That was enough. Third, Trump is as willing to poke fun at himself as he is at anyone else. Most politicians take themselves very seriously. Trump doesn't, and his supporters understand that. Sure, he boasts about his accomplishments and extraordinary abilities, but Trump fans know that this is a persona. Salena Zito nailed it back in 2016 when she said, "[T]he press takes him literally, but not seriously; his supporters take him seriously, but not literally." We who like how Trump is conducting his presidency are in on the joke. He's not always nice, but when he's mean, it's in service to the country, not in service to himself. That's why it's funny when he says he's a nice guy we fully understand that he isn't always a nice guy, but we know that his barbs are always directed away from us and, instead, are targeted at those, both foreign and domestic, who wish us ill. Once again, Trump nailed something fundamental about a political opponent, poked fun at himself, and entertained his supporters. He's a rare bird, not always easy to understand, but always putting America first. A licensed pistol owned by suspended Aam Aadmi Party Councillor Tahir Hussain was seized by Delhi Police on Saturday. The pistol has been sent for forensic test to ascertain whether it was used in the firing in the recent Delhi violence. 24 live cartridges were also seized and send for forensics testing. Hussain was arrested by Delhi Police on Thursday for the alleged murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma, during the violence in north-east Delhi last week. A Delhi court had yesterday sent Hussain to 7-day police custody, in connection with the case. The Karkardooma Court court had earlier rejected the anticipatory bail plea of expelled AAP leader, observing that nobody had appeared from the accused side. The expelled councillor is an accused in the FIR lodged over the alleged killing of IB officer Sharma whose body was recovered from a drain in Chand Bagh on February 26 during the violence in northeast Delhi. The deceased's father, Ravinder Kumar, on whose complaint the FIR was lodged, named the AAP leader as an accused. He has alleged that Hussain, whose office is located near Chand Bagh Pulia, had gathered men who were pelting stones and petrol bombs during the violence which led to tension and fear among the residents. At least 53 people including Ankit Sharma and a Police Head Constable Rattan Lal have died while around 200 people sustained serious injuries in the violence that raged for three days in north-east Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The raids started on Friday night at YES Bank founder Rana Kapoor's residence continued on Saturday and may reportedly continue throughout the weekend. The Enforcement Directorate raids are a part of the ongoing investigation into the money laundering case concerning Dewan Housing Finance Corp Ltd (DHFL), under which the company siphoned off Rs 13,000 crore via 79 shell companies. Rana Kapoor has reached the ED office in Mumbai, and will be questioned by ED officials. The ED probe against Kapoor has been widened. Three more locations in Delhi and Mumbai are being probed. Transactions worth over Rs 5000 crores being probed by ED. The transactions were between some companies currently owned or were previously owned by Kapoor and his family members. Some of these companies were also owned or operated by directors, promotors of DHFL. DHFL owners Dheeraj Wadhawan and Kapil Wadhawan allegedly purchased certain properties from underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim. YES Bank had extended massive loans to DHFL, which later turned bad loans. Rana's family has been accused of receiving crores of rupees from DHFL. The money was allegedly transferred in the accounts linked to Kapoor's family members, including his wife. Kapoor's family members are also being probed including his daughter who were the director of Doit Urban Ventures, the company which had received Rs 600 crore from DHFL. Transactions worth over Rs 5000 crores being probed by ED. According to the latest developments in the investigation, between April and July 2018, DHFL gave a loan worth Rs 600 crore to Doit Urban Ventures, which was reportedly controlled by the Rana Kapoor family. This loan was issued at a time when DHFL itself failed to pay back the debts it owned to YES Bank. YES Bank's debt exposure in DHFL in terms of short-term debentures during this time period in 2018 was Rs 3,700 crore. At the same time, YES Bank had also given a loan worth Rs 750 crore to RKW Developers. DHFL and RKW Developers are both under the ED scanner for financing a deal between Dheeraj Wadhawan and Kapil Wadhawan of DHFL and Dawood Ibrahim's aide Iqbal Mirchi, an alleged Indian drug trafficker who died in 2013. Action against Kapoor came shortly after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) presented a reconstruction scheme for YES Bank. The private sector lender has been placed under moratorium by the government on recommendations from the RBI till April 3. The government has limited cash withdrawals to Rs 50,000 for a month, superseded YES Bank board and appointed Prashant Kumar, former deputy managing director and CFO of SBI, as administrator. Also Read: YES Bank crisis: How SBI executed a perfect 'rescue plan' Also Read: SBI studying YES Bank restricting plan; will invest Rs 2,450 crore: Rajnish Kumar Who could have known that a lonely and deserted town due to population decline would be brought to life again by an outsider? An immigrant who moved to a city in Missouri never expected that a person like him would transform the city for the better. Several years ago, Rahimi, an immigrant, started a new life in St. Louis. When he arrived, the lonely state became livelier than ever. People from the neighborhood frequently go to his bodega to hang out. According to him, the people in his neighborhood are so fond of him and his store. During the start of the presidency of Donald Trump in 2016, St. Louis along with other cities aren't supported by him since during his campaign, he usually targets the immigrants. Rahimi says that St. Louis is a great place to a fresh start since there were a lot of good stories shared by people who decided to move and live in the state. If it weren't for the foreigners who migrated to St. Louis from 2010 to 2018, the population would continue to decrease until it becomes a ghost town. There are thousands of foreigners who migrated to the state. Similar cities like St. Louis are experiencing a shrinking population. While high-end cities are having an increase in jobs and population, small cities and states are having difficulties in controlling their population and economic growth. However, due to immigrants, small states with poor economies and populations can catch up. During 2018, the level of immigration in the United States decreased as Trump is against illegal immigration and said that there is no more space for illegals. Besty Cohen, St. Louis Mosaic's executive director, believes that the only solution they know that would help stop the population decline of the small states is to find people like Jawad Rahimis. She also added that it would be impossible to achieve the expected growth in a city or state if the population fall. She said that every single person is essential to the growth of a state or a country. Texas was the only state who practiced the refusing immigrants when President Trump permitted governors to do it while other states continued to welcome them. Cities like Buffalo and Pittsburgh believe that the immigrants could help boost their population and economy. Some people would prefer to leave their state to work or study since the place where they are living has a poor population and economy and that kind of place won't receive the salary that they deserve. Adam Ozimek, along with the others, stated that when a city or state has a small population, it would mean that the tax base would also decrease. That makes the city the worst place to live in since there would be less access to different kinds of services. Immigration is one of the few factors that could help a city or country facing decline in population to have a regulated and controlled population and economy. By Trend The Azerbaijani government has decided to allocate humanitarian assistance to Iran in the amount of $5 million to combat the coronavirus (COV?D-19), Azerbaijans Cabinet of Ministers told Trend. According to the Cabinet of Ministers the Azerbaijani government ordered the allocation of these funds from the reserve fund of the state budget for 2020. There are friendly and good neighborly relations between Azerbaijan and Iran. The relevant ministries and government agencies of both countries work closely to prevent the spread of the COV?D-19," said the statement. Azerbaijan remains one of the countries, least affected by the rapidly spreading coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The country's official structures are applying necessary measures to prevent any possible exposure of coronavirus. Azerbaijan has also imported necessary medical equipment to carry out coronavirus tests. Member of the Operational Headquarters created under the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers in connection with coronavirus Yagut Garayeva said on March 5 that at least 500 people have been quarantined in the country. Until now, no deaths from the disease have been recorded in the country. Azerbaijan's official structures have also set up quarantine centers in the country's districts, which would allow to react faster to the possible outbreak due to joint borders. Azerbaijan shares border with Iran, where coronavirus is currently spreading rapidly. As a contribution to international efforts to prevent the risk of the spread of coronavirus infection, Azerbaijan's government provided voluntary financial assistance worth $5 million to the COVID-19 Fund as part of the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP). On March 7 World Health Organization officially thanked Azerbaijan for its financial contrivution to the global COVID-19 response. Photo: CTV News Dr. Bonnie Henry UPDATE: 11:15 a.m. After the first community transmission of the COVID-19 coronavirus in B.C. was identified Thursday, two new cases have been found at the care home where that patient worked. A community case of the virus is one that's been contracted within the community. All previous cases in B.C. were from people who had returned from travelling. On Saturday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced two seniors at the Lynn Valley Care Centre have recently been found with the COVID-19 virus, after a health care worker at the long-term care home was diagnosed earlier this week. The two seniors were diagnosed as part of the province's investigation into B.C.'s first community case of the virus. We are in what we call an outbreak at that care centre, Dr. Bonnie Henry said. This is one of the scenarios that we have been most concerned about. We know that the risk for elderly people having this disease is very concerning and that they're more likely to have more severe disease. As part of the outbreak protocol, visitors to the care home have been restricted, and other residents and staff are currently being tested. Health Minister Adrian Dix said there have been few people under 50 who have died from COVID-19 around the world, but "elderly people are very vulnerable." Two people in their 60s who returned from a Grand Princess cruise in California on Feb. 21 have also been diagnosed with the virus. One person who returned from the same cruise has been diagnosed in Alberta, while others were diagnosed in Ontario. The B.C. pair are currently in hospital in stable condition. The other two new cases are two people in their 50s who recently returned from a trip to Iran, where 145 people have died from the virus. Dr. Henry said the province is currently in an extraordinary situation, and she urged anyone experiencing symptoms to stay home, even if they haven't recently travelled. She also recommended not going on cruises at this time. We need to reconsider some of the events that we have around gatherings, particularly religious gatherings and other gatherings of groups where we come together, Dr. Henry said. I am asking people to consider having virtual gatherings. At one point during Saturday morning's press conference, Dr. Henry became emotional. This is something I'm very concerned about. I went through SARS, I've been though ebola, I've been through the pandemics of 2009 and I just know how stressful it is for our healthcare system, for my colleagues and for families that are dealing with this. And I'm probably a little tired myself. It's a very difficult time. Four people in B.C. who were diagnosed with COVID-19 have fully recovered, while three are now in hospital. The woman in her 80s who was in critical condition earlier this week remains in stable condition in the ICU. All others are in isolation in their homes. "All of us are a little fatigued, we are by no means near the end of this," Dr. Henry said. "We have seen the progression around the world, we have seen what has happened in other communities and we are preparing as best as we can for that." ORIGINAL: 10:30 a.m. Six new cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been identified in B.C., and an outbreak has been declared at a North Vancouver care home. In an update by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry Saturday morning, she said two of the new cases have been identified at the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver, where a previously identified COVID-19 patient works. Dr. Henry called these cases the most concerning," and an outbreak has been declared at the care home. Two of the newly identified patients are people in their 50s that recently returned from a trip to Iran. They are in the Fraser Health region. The two others identified are from the Fraser Health region and recently returned from a Grand Princess cruise in California. The two people in their 60s returned from the cruise on Feb. 21, and were at the end of the expected diagnosis range when they were diagnosed. Dr. Henry strongly urged people not to go on cruises at this time. At this time, 27 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in B.C. A man has been booked for allegedly raping a minor girl repeatedly and then assaulting her for refusing his marriage proposal, Palghar police in Maharashtra said on Saturday. The man, identified as Mahendra, was in a relationship with the 17-year-old girl and had raped her several times over the past six months, said a Vasai police official. "He confronted the girl and her mother recently and got enraged when they rejected his marriage proposal. He beat them up. Mahendra was booked for rape and other offences under IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He has not been arrested as yet," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State Bank of India (SBI) chairman Rajnish Kumar on Saturday said, the bank had received the draft scheme for the reconstruction of troubled private lender YES Bank and a legal team was evaluating the plan and due diligence is underway. He also said that the SBI has set an upper limit of Rs 10,000 crore for investment in YES Bank. "Plan has been received by SBI and the legal team is working on the plan. We had informed through the stock exchange that SBI board has given in-principle approval of exploring possibility of picking up a stake of upto 49 per cent in YES Bank," ... EDIRNE, Turkey A group of migrants on Saturday tried to tear down a fence in a desperate attempt to break through the border into Greece while others hurled rocks at Greek police. Greek authorities responded, firing volleys of tear gas at the youths. At least two migrants were injured in the latest clash between Greek police and migrants gathered on the Turkish side of a border crossing near the Greek village of Kastanies. As in previous confrontations over the past week, officers in Greece fired tear gas to impede the crowd and Turkish police fired tear gas back at their Greek counterparts. Groups of mostly young men tied ropes onto the fence in an attempt to tear it down. Some shouted Allah is great while others shouted open the border. It was not immediately clear what caused the two migrants injuries. A Greek government official said the tear gas and water cannons were used for deterrence purposes. Thousands of migrants headed for Turkeys land border with Greece after President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government recently said it would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing over to European Union territory. Greece deployed riot police and border guards to repel people trying to enter the country from the sea or by land. Erdogan plans to be in Brussels on Monday for a one-day working visit. A statement from his office did not specify where he would be during his visit or the reason why hes heading to the EUs headquarters. The announcement came hours after EU foreign ministers meeting in Croatia on Friday criticized Turkey, saying it was using the migrants desperation for political purposes. In a statement Saturday, the Greek government said that around 600 people, aided by Turkish army and military police, threw tear gas at the Greek side of the border overnight. It also said there were several attempts to breach the border fence, and fires were lit in an attempt to damage the barrier. Thousands of migrants have slept in makeshift camps near the border since the Turkish government said they were free to go, waiting for the opportunity to enter Greece. Erdogan has announced that Turkey, which already houses more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, will no longer be Europes gatekeeper and declared that its previously guarded borders with Europe are now open. Mstyslav Chernov and Suzan Fraser are Associated Press writers. The man has money, almost beyond imagination. The man understands that wealth of that level is equivalent to power, because it can buy raw intimidation. That kind of money can afford to be shameless. It can pay for whole armies of lawyers to sow lawsuits. It can find its way into bank accounts linked to key politicians. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The man has money, almost beyond imagination. The man understands that wealth of that level is equivalent to power, because it can buy raw intimidation. That kind of money can afford to be shameless. It can pay for whole armies of lawyers to sow lawsuits. It can find its way into bank accounts linked to key politicians. So there is nothing the man cant buy, including at least, for a time his privacy from the eyes of justice, because justice of any kind depends on a counterbalance of power, and his wealth weighs heavy on the scales. He gets all that he wants: the airplanes, the yacht, the lavish estate on a lush private island. Peter Nygard is facing a class-action lawsuit by 10 women who have accused him of sexual assault and sex trafficking (Annie I. Bang / The Associated Press files) Then his appetites turn towards women, or sometimes even girls. They are much younger than he is, and they have much less than he has. They cant afford lawyers. They cant afford insulation from the storm. So when they are hurt, when he or others in his orbit hurt them, they are left clutching that truth with few places to turn. Stop me if youve heard this one before. This is not a new story. This one is very old, both in the broad strokes and the particulars. Rattle off the names so accused in the last handful of years alone: Epstein, Weinstein and, now, Peter Nygard. This is not close to the end. You can bet there will be many more, before the reckoning with powerful men who allegedly abuse is done. Correction: it will never be done, because the conditions that allow it to flourish will continue unabated. The shape of the latest allegations to coalesce around Nygard is proof of concept. For decades, reports of his private activities have been widespread and consistent, subject to various media reports, but nothing ever quite stuck. This has gone on so long. In 1980, the Free Press reported that Nygard had been charged with the sexual assault of an 18-year-old woman; the charge was dropped when the complainant declined to testify. (Not uncommon in sexual assault cases, especially in previous decades, as the balance of power can be slanted against the accuser.) In 1996, a former employee in Los Angeles launched a sexual harassment lawsuit against him, which was dismissed. In the late 1990s, former employees filed three sexual harassment complaints against him to the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, alleging incidents ranging from fondling himself in his office to urging skinny dipping. Those cases were later settled out of court, as were others relating to personal and workplace conduct. There have been attempts to more fully pull back the veil from what happened at his Bahamas estate. Back in April 2010, the CBCs Fifth Estate ran a deep investigation into his treatment of employees, which included shocking descriptions of abuse and sexual harassment of workers from a variety of sources. Nygard first sought legal help to stop the story from being broadcast. When it aired, he sued for defamation; that case is still before the courts and subject to a publication ban. Somehow, through it all, he remained in control of his fate. In Winnipeg, he even became a punchline of sorts, a caricature of the flamboyant apparel tycoon so out of tune with the blue-collar mores of the city where he headquarters his company. The man on the billboards, the eccentric, the joke. Which makes it all the more notable now that something finally seems to be shifting. Last month, 10 women filed a lawsuit against Nygard in U.S. federal court, alleging extensive acts of sexual assault and sexual trafficking. A week later, Nygard stepped down from the helm of his company after its New York office was raided by the FBI. The story keeps growing. In the Bahamas, Free Press journalist Ryan Thorpe met with seven women who gave chilling accounts of being sexually assaulted by Nygard; six were minors at the time of the alleged attacks. One of them also said she regularly dropped off cash payments to Bahamian police and politicians from Nygard. Through his lawyer, Nygard has vociferously denied the allegations, which have not been proven in court. He alleges it is being driven as part of a long-running dispute between his billionaire neighbour in the Bahamas, that the women are being paid to fabricate the allegations. In 2010, the Fifth Estate ran an investigation into Nygard's treatment of his employees, which included descriptions of abuse and sexual harassment of workers from a variety of sources. (Cindy Karp / The New York Times files) The public can judge whether that holds water. It would have to hold a lot. Because the stories arent just trickling out now, as they did for decades; now, they are pouring. As of this week, at least 50 women have alleged sexual abuse linked to Nygard, and there are criminal investigations underway in the Bahamas and New York. As the wheels of justice turn, there is little the public can do but watch and wrestle again with the same ages-old question: if the allegations are true, what must change so that victims and the public are not so defenceless against influential people who abuse? What must change, to allow justice to take root in the estates of power? Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Right now, it seems, the most effective solution has been unification. If victims can connect with each other, and find in their common experience the strength and support to face their abusers together, they stand a better chance than when they feel they are living with the scars alone. Sometimes, it takes one person to start it. The public, too, plays a role. The Me Too movement has been an imperfect corrective to the lack of justice that for so long has plagued victims of sexual assault and abuse; but it has also been remarkably effective at supporting those who step forward, driving investigations and directing the fire of public outrage onto the abusers. There will need to be other solutions, ones that empower victims and protect them from the threat of their abusers power. Ones that dont require decades to connect enough victims with each other that they can find more safety in their numbers. Ones that dont leave young and poor women as easy prey for those who pull the strings. This much is certain: there are many men out there now who have learned their wealth can buy everything. One day again we will review a trail of abuse that lasted years or decades, and wonder what harm could have been prevented if justice had moved faster, if public sanction had hit harder or sooner, if victims had truly been heard. The frustration is that we know that day will come. The flicker of hope is that, when it does, there will be a little bit more justice in it than each time before. melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca The death of veteran actor, Kasumu Odumosu, fondly called Pa Kasumu came as a shock to many, even though the actor had been battling with ... The death of veteran actor, Kasumu Odumosu, fondly called Pa Kasumu came as a shock to many, even though the actor had been battling with stroke for nine years.The 66-year-old actor who had acted in over 100 films would fondly be remembered not only for his humorous roles but for his signature voice which always singled him out.Speaking with Saturday Beats, Pa Kasumus eldest son, Olatunde Odumosu, said his father never thought that his sickness would lead to death, while adding that his late fathers wish was to have a personal encounter with the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Adeboye. He said, My father died around 1pm last Sunday. I was 30 minutes away from the hospital when he died. For his burial, we want to work around April 2 and 3. I dont want to sound like Im giving a precise date because its dependent on the venue we want to use. We have to be sure that the venue is free to accept my fathers burial.On that Sunday, he was first taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta but was later rushed to a private hospital because he needed urgent medical attention. My father never thought that his sickness would eventually lead to his death. He battled stroke for nine years. Though the doctors said it was partial stroke but I believe that stroke is stroke.He always felt that he would get back on his feet one day, though he was forgetting things and it seemed like he was beginning to lose his memory. He would get it back sometimes like he wanted to say something but then, he would forget again. Sir K (Pa Kasunmu) never submitted to death. He was still optimistic that he would get back to acting.Sometimes, he used to lament that people didnt call him for movie roles again because of his ailment. But I always encouraged him that he would soon be hale and hearty. He constantly told us that he was targeting Pastor Enoch Adeboye because he believed that once the man of God prayed for him, his brain would come back and his health would be restored. He was not seeing well and sometimes, his eyelids would shut down that he had to use his hands to open them himself; it was that bad.We had a lot of offers from different people under the guise of prophets and spiritualists. He was the joy of the family. His ambition in life was to die as an actor. He wanted to live all his life on the screen and on the stage. His house was littered with scripts, both finished and unfinished.Pa Kasumus son also revealed that his fathers teachings and attitude to work were enviable. He said, He loved his acting career like a baby loves breast milk. Acting was like his oxygen.I like to remember him for his strength and his passion for life and his job. His own kind of passion wasnt driven by the availability of money. He just wanted to act. He was full of joy doing all the things he did for a living. He believed that money was automatic that would come by doing what he loved to do. He was a disciplinarian when it concerned his job. My father always said that when one loves what one does, one would find joy within ones heart and one wont see it as a taxing career.Even though Im not in the movie industry, his attitude to work moulded my life and career. Im also happy that my father saw his grandchild. He was a very strong man and he died as a very good man.I can boldly say that my father lived a fulfilled life to a very good extent. I am not happy with the way things ended with him. My father loved his acting career like a baby loves breast milk. He had too much passion for acting; like his life depended on it. Acting was like his oxygen. James W. Sweeney Obituary James W. Sweeney was born in Fresno, California on July 28, 1948, to the union of Lonnie Lee Sweeney and Evelyn Randle. He is the younger of two sons born to this union. Sweeneys parents, and his brother Sherman Sr., preceded him in death. While a portion of his childhood was spent in Fresno, where he enjoyed close family ties with family there, he also called San Bernardino home, as this is where he was mainly reared. He maintained a special bond with his stepfather, Provie Howard and a group of men he grew up with in this close, tight-knit community. At an early age James accepted Christ into his life and communed regularly at the New Hope Baptist Church in San Bernardino. James was greatly influenced by the success of his uncle Wilmont, a Judge, and the first African American to serve on the Berkeley City Council. After graduating with honors from UC Riverside, James earned his Juris Doctorate degree from UC Davis, Humphreys School of Law, and served on the Berkeley City Council for four years. During that tenure, he strongly advocated and voted for the renaming of Grove Street in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Grove Street had once represented the dividing line between neighborhoods where African Americans could not live or buy property, and at the time of the city council vote, there was strong, organized opposition against the renaming. The street renaming was confirmed by city council in 1984. James was a member of the Camp Wilmont Sweeney advisory board, the Multi-agency Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, served on the Berkeleys Redevelopment Agency and Housing Authority, was Executive Director of the South Berkeley Community Development Corporation, and a Consultant at UC Berkeley, Communications and Transportation Division. ADVERTISEMENT In his mid 40s, James met the love of his life, Renee, through a mutual acquaintance. They subsequently blended their two families: Renee gifting him with a daughter, Samantha; and James gifting her with two sons, Wayne, Jr. and Brett. James had over forty years of experience working with governmental, educational, and political agencies. He was Director of Legislation with BAPAC (Black American Political Association of California); served as a Legislative Liaison with the California Office on Aging; Chaired, and was a 12-year board member of the New College Board of Trustees of San Francisco -allowing many full time workers a gateway to obtaining a college degree; served as Chief Lobbyist for California NAACP -played a major role in Californias divestment of funds from Darfur; received two California Commissioner assignments: was appointed by three Governors for the COMIO (Council on Mentally Ill Offenders); and by Governor Gavin Newsom as a Community Equity Representative for the Cannabis Advisory Committee. James was a highly sought-after lecturer, writer, and emcee. He was an Adjunct Professor for the Howard Universitys National Fair Housing Training Academy. He appeared in the documentaries, Darfur Now and Fair Legislation, The Byron Rumford Story. He was a founding board member of the 33-year-old cultural organization, Berkeley Juneteenth Association, Inc.-singlehandedly ensuring its non-profit status in 1987. He also served as Master of Ceremony at the Festival for many years and contributed his poems and political commentary to the Festival publication, Vision Magazine. James W. Sweeney was the Founder and Managing General Partner of James W. Sweeney and Associates, an advocacy and small business consulting firm located adjacent to the State Capitol. James worked with major companies and clients and was involved in deals exceeding 3.5 billion dollars. James was founding stockholder of Revere Bank. Starting with twenty million in assets, the bank now exceeds one billion in assets. James was co-owner of First Federal Financial Services, a credit card processing firm that has successfully processed over 500 million in transactions. Over the years, James became a fine art collector. His current art collection is revered by most art aficionados. He served on the board of directors for several Sacramento art agencies: SAAAC (Sacramento African American Art Collective), Center for Contemporary Art, and Evolve, The Gallery. In his leisure, James was an avid reader who was always impacted and inspired by happenings around him, so he wrote poetry about what he saw and how he felt, which he generously shared with friends, acquaintances and during his public speaking engagements. He personality was infectious and contagious. He loved people and social events and he worked a room with ease, exchanging niceties, humor, and often profound ideas. He impacted people on all levels, and no one was too high or too low for him to engage with. Given his generous spirit, Jamess friendships were abundant. In spite of his busy schedule, he always had time to patiently listen and offer his special kind of advice, without judgment. He was positive and upbeat and was quick to let you know that he was indeed blessed. He adored his family and showered them with attention, love and affection, especially his grandchildren. ADVERTISEMENT James W. Sweeney was called home on February 27, 2020. His memories will always be cherished by his loving wife, Renee; his devoted adopted siblings, Jerry King and Toni Turner; his children, Wayne Sweeney, Jr. (Angela); Samantha Stonework- Hand (Eric); and Brett Sweeney; his grandchildren, Shayne Sweeney, Ronan Sweeney, Xavier Hand, and Roosevelt Hand; and a host of other family and friends. New York: Hachette Book Group has dropped its plans to publish Woody Allen's autobiography and said it would return all rights to the author, a day after its employees protested its deal with the filmmaker. "The decision to cancel Mr Allen's book was a difficult one," a spokeswoman for the publisher said in a statement. This combination photo shows a book cover image for "Apropos of Nothing," an autobiography by Woody Allen, that was to be released on April 7. Credit:Grand Central Publishing/AP "We take our relationships with authors very seriously, and do not cancel books lightly. We have published and will continue to publish many challenging books. As publishers, we make sure every day in our work that different voices and conflicting points of views can be heard." But she added that Hachette executives had discussed the matter with its employees and, "after listening, we came to the conclusion that moving forward with publication would not be feasible for HBG." President Ashraf Ghani tweeted the attack was a crime against humanity and against the national unity of Afghanistan (stock photo) Isil gunmen opened fire at a ceremony in Kabul yesterday, killing at least 32 people in the first major attack in the city since the United States reached an agreement with the Taliban on a phased withdrawal of US troops. A top Afghan political leader, Abdullah Abdullah, was present along with other key political figures and escaped unharmed. Some 81 people were wounded, a spokesman said, adding the death toll could rise. Isil claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban, who were ousted from power by US-led troops in 2001, denied involvement almost immediately. The gathering marked the 25th anniversary of the death of Abdul Ali Mazari, an ethnic Hazara leader who was killed in 1995 after being taken prisoner by the Taliban. Several people were killed in a similar attack on the same commemoration last year, which Isil had also said was carried out by its militants. "The attack started with a boom, apparently a rocket landed in the area, Abdullah and some other politicians escaped the attack unhurt," said Mr Abdullah's spokesman. Afghan defence forces continued to fight gunmen throughout the day, finally securing the area by killing about three gunmen in the late afternoon. President Ashraf Ghani tweeted the attack was "a crime against humanity and against the national unity of Afghanistan". Mr Abdullah was runner-up in the last three presidential elections, each of which he disputed. He has served as chief executive of a coalition government since 2014. Mr Ghani said he had telephoned Mr Abdullah, who is contesting an Electoral Commission announcement last month declaring Mr Ghani the winner of September's presidential election. New York governor Andrew Cuomo on Saturday declared a state of emergency in over the coronavirus epidemic, and confirms 76 cases of coronavirus in the state NY Gov. Cuomo on nursing homes amid coronavirus threat: "That's what I'm worried about. That's what keeps me up at night." It is also in nearby Connecticut, with news just breaking today. UPDATE: We have learned of new confirmed cases of #Coronavirus in NYS bringing the total number of cases to 76. 57 cases in Westchester County 11 cases in NYC 4 cases in Nassau County 2 cases in Rockland County 2 cases in Saratoga County Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 7, 2020 NEW: Cuomo just declared a state of emergency in NY as the number of coronavirus cases in the state rose to 76.https://t.co/yjDbY66A5Z Cliff Levy (@cliffordlevy) March 7, 2020 Note: in NY, you can report complaints about price gouging here: https://t.co/0iZKoaClNL #coronavirus Kate Hinds (@katehinds) March 7, 2020 Cuomo: "if you get the coronavirus, 80% of the people will walk around the self-resolve; 20% will be hospitalized." Says of the 76 ppl in NY who have COVID-19, 10 people are hospitalized right now. Kate Hinds (@katehinds) March 7, 2020 COLONIE The Capital Region Chamber, representing 2,900 companies with 160,000 employees, has reached out to its members about how they should deal with the spread of the coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 respiratory illness. Some 100,000 people worldwide have been affected. As of Friday afternoon, there were already 40 people in precautionary quarantine in the Capital Region, although there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 yet locally. There are 33 confirmed cases statewide, although mostly downstate. Mardi Gras may drive some strange activity in downtown Mobile, but theres only one day of the year that you can walk around pulling a wagon stacked with propane tanks and not be stopped for questioning by authorities. Saturday was that day, as teams fired up their grills, griddles and burners for the 31st annual American Cancer Society Chili Cook-Off being held in Mardi Gras Park. Chili needs simmering, and Cook-Off veterans know that means an early start is a must if you want to be competitive. So it was a propane morning, with a methane afternoon to follow. We come here last night to set up, said Mark Skipper, a member of the Fausak Tire team. Weve been here since 5 a.m. today. The deer skulls decorating the teams booth werent empty symbolism, he said: The team was gunning for its third consecutive win in the wild game category. A short distance away, Darren Harbison, chef at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, was roasting peppers on an industrial scale. Im the gumbo king, not the chili king, he said, but hed come up with a recipe he thought would stand out: chipotle grilled duck and chicken chili. Once the peppers were done, he said, he had 65 pounds of poultry to get on the grill. The 31-year-old event started at the long-defunct Lumberyard Cafe in Midtown, moved to Cathedral Square, outgrew that and moved to Bienville Square, outgrew that and jumped out to the Grounds in west Mobile for a few years. 2020 is its third year since moving back downtown, meaning its back in walking distance of the Mobile Boat Show, a boon for both events. (Chili Cook-Off patrons get a $2 discount on admission to the show.) Another nearby attraction is the Exploreum Science Center, which was to operate a childrens area for the Cook-Off on Saturday, said Chandler Ogburn, chairman of the volunteer organizing committee. Ogburn said 75 teams had entered this year. A lot of these teams have been doing this for 10, 15 years, or 20 years, he said. Marlene Rathle, senior community development manager for the American Cancer Society, said last years event raised about $150,000, money which she said is distributed to a mix of research and local program services. She said the event benefits from sponsors who donate many of the necessary supplies and some of the ingredients. Thats good, because otherwise the cost would add up quickly. 80,000 spoons is what we start with, she said. Event details: The 2020 American Cancer Society Chili Cook-Off opens to the public at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Mobiles Mardi Gras Park and runs through 3 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the gate; patrons are entitled to sample all the chili they desire as long as supplies last. The four categories of competition are All Meat (beef and/or pork), Meat & Beans, Wild Game and Vegetarian/Poultry/Other. The live music schedule includes Phil & Foster at 11 a.m., Nanafalia at 12:45 p.m. and Symone French & The Trouille Troupe at 2 p.m. The Cook-Off childrens area will be hosted by the Exploreum Science Center in its courtyard on Royal Street. Attractions include appearances by Disney Princesses and an animal exhibit. Hot dogs, shaved ice and other snacks will be available. Global financial markets that are panicked over the coronavirus outbreak have been signalling a possible collapse in the world economy. No such thing is in store. Yes, GDP growth rates will slip this year due to widespread economic disruption caused by the coronavirus, in some cases into negative territory. Global stock markets have lost about $5 trillion (U.S.) in value, and prices for oil and other commodities have fallen. But bear in mind that the most powerful reaction to a crisis is in its earliest phase. The initial phase of this crisis is a stunning 92,000-plus coronavirus cases in about 77 countries in the short time since the initial outbreak of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. It was first detected, in China, only last December. At this writing, 20 of those cases are in Ontario, and Canada has a current total of 34 reported cases. The world death toll from COVID-19 is more than 3,000. No Canadian cases have been fatal. But were almost past the point of maximum fear that drives markets into sudden tailspins. In densely populated Wuhan, China, the point of origin of the crisis, the number of new reported cases per day has begun to decline. If, as appears, the COVID-19 outbreak is on a path to being contained in the affected jurisdiction with by far the largest number of infected individuals, there is cause for optimism about other regions hard-hit by the outbreak, such as South Korea, Northern Italy and Iran. Roughly 10 weeks into this crisis, it is possible to make some forecasts about how the disruption will play out. Economic growth will slow, but not collapse. A warned-of Canadian recession is possible but unlikely, though 2020 GDP growth will be tepid at best. And the U.S. economy on which Canadian exporters are so reliant is sufficiently robust to ride out the crisis with minimal damage. Several major economies, including Japan and France, are said to be at risk of tipping into recession because of the coronavirus. But downturns in those countries will be mild and relatively short lived, and nothing like the Great Recession of 2009-2011. That was a rare financial recession, when the global financial system goes haywire, credit freezes up, banks fail, and the resulting double-digit unemployment lasts several years. By contrast, the current worry is over possible economic recessions, which are frequent, shallow rather than deep, and last about 18 months. It is widely assumed that China is in dire economic straits. Actually, Chinas economy is expected to grow about 5.3 per cent this year, a GDP growth rate that mature economies, including Canada, do not achieve even in their best years. Its just that a rapidly industrializing China is accustomed to economic growth rates closer to 10 per cent. So are global investors with money and factories in China, including Toronto-based pension fund managers. And that largely explains the sudden selloff in world financial and commodity markets of the past two weeks. The Bank of Canadas extraordinary half-point cut in its key lending rate Wednesday will likely override borrowers coronavirus concerns, experts say. The worlds other major central banks have either cut rates, too, or are poised to do so. Central bankers cant cure the coronavirus with lower borrowing costs. But their economic stimulus helps counter investor and consumer fear. And central banks have been building up their reserves to near-record levels, starting last year, in their growing concern, prior to the coronavirus outbreak, about slowing economic growth. Stock markets will recover and post new record highs. The seemingly dramatic plunge in world stock markets amounts to a decline, so far, of just 11.3 per cent in shareholder value. Truth is, even with that drop, certain markets remain over-valued, notably U.S. equities, which for some time have been looking for a reason to correct to lower levels based on fundamental value rather than irrational exuberance. Its a sound bet that not all of the froth is gone from the markets even after the recent startling correction. That said, every market decline ends, and markets recover to set new record highs. In the dot-com bust of 2000, the S&P 500 lost 49 per cent of its value. In the bull market that followed, ending in 2007, stock values doubled from their nadir. In the more recent Wall Street meltdown of 2008-2009, the S&P 500 lost 54 per cent of its value. That was followed by the second-longest bull market in history, in which the S&P 500 quadrupled in value, reaching an all-time high of 3,386.15 points on Feb. 19 of this year. Markets in equities and commodities can be expected to experience more, though less severe, setbacks this year. Investors will spend 2020 assessing the impact of COVID-19 on global supply chains and consumer spending. We havent seen the worst of supply-chain disruptions. As early as January, Toronto businesses began reporting shortages of imported goods essential to their operations. Canadian potash shipments to China are stuck in Chinese ports, with portions of Chinas internal supply chain shut down due to absent workers and officials. And the $450-million Chinese market for Canadian live lobster exports has practically disappeared for now, as Chinese diners have become scarce at the countrys upscale restaurants. Unfortunately, those early examples might only be signs of greater supply-chain disruptions to come. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is not alone in warning that the full effect of disruptions wont be felt until this summer and fall, when Canadian inventories of imported Chinese goods are depleted. For now, Canadian businesses need to bulk up as best they can on essential supplies from those Chinese businesses still able to provide them. Longer term, we are learning that reliance on one country for so much of our goods is perilous. And a coronavirus outbreak that keeps Chinese workers at home is not the only issue. There are other compelling reasons to diversify our sources of supply away from China. With its rising labour costs and increased use of trade to bully countries as varied as Canada, Norway and Japan in political disputes, China has to be regarded with a new wariness. The coronavirus crisis will pass. But, as The Economist notes, Foreign governments and business bosses will not quickly forget a frightening lesson: for some vital products, they depend on one country. And that one country is a police state that in fundamental ways has yet to join the community of nations. China now has the world lead in antibiotics, solar panels, electric cars and 5G wireless gear. The current disruption is a reminder that Canada needs a new industrial policy that nurtures the same R&D prowess and competitive zeal that has fuelled Chinas economic miracle. TUSCOLA COUNTY -- Those absentee voters who have already cast their ballot for a presidential candidate who is no longer running gets a do-over, but time is running out. Voters have the option to "spoil" their initial ballot and vote for someone else, but time is limited to do that. The presidential primary is Tuesday. The field of presidential candidates has dwindled over the last few weeks. "For those who have already voted and their candidate has since dropped out of the Democratic or Republican race, they can change that ballot," said Tuscola County Clerk Jodi Fetting. "It's not too late to do that. They'll simply have to contact their local clerk in writing and the clerk can them give a new ballot, issue that to them by mail and or in person and the person can simply revote that ballot for the candidate of their next choice." Huron County Clerk Lori Neal-Wonsowicz said her county has not seen much of an increase in the request for absentee ballots like some counties have, so she doesn't expect the "spoil ballot" to be too much of an issue. She explained that some clerks have a standing list for those who regularly vote by absentee ballot. "I've had some clerks come in and say they have not had any requests for absentee ballots at all," said Neal-Wonsowicz Because this is the pre-election weekend, some local clerks will be working on Saturday and a few on Sunday. The deadline to spoil a ballot already turned in and request a new one by mail is 2 p.m. Saturday. The deadline for obtaining a new absentee ballot in person at a local clerk's office is 4 p.m., Monday. Fetting noted this is not the first election where some voters had to cast another ballot because their candidate was no longer running. "In the 2016 Presidential Primary, there were candidates that dropped out prior to our Election Day," she said. "When the list of candidates was certified in December 2019 by Secretary Benson, I expected that some of the Democratic candidates would drop out prior to the election, and they have." However, since the 2016 election, Michigan made changes to its election laws. The change enabled voters to request and cast absentee ballots for any reason, which has nearly doubled the tally from the last election. At the last count earlier this week, county clerks estimated about 800,000 absentee ballot applications were made and more than 400,000 ballots have been turned in. Absentee ballots are counted on Election Day. "Most jurisdictions will start counting by 8 a.m. and try to finished by 8 p.m," Fetting said. "Locals have all been working hard to plan for a possible larger turnout," she said. "Two that I can think of off-hand that I believe have added additional election inspectors would be Indianfields and Tuscola townships." The county clerk is the chief election coordinator for all county elections. The office maintains the State of Michigan Qualified Voter file for all registered voters in the county. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said four of the 36 Rafale fighter jets, which India is procuring from France will arrive here in India by the end of May, while the remaining will arrive at a gap of 1.5 months each. "Four Rafale will be here by the last week of May. After that, one Rafale will be here every 1.5 months," Defence Minister said here during an event. A total of 36 Rafale fighters for Indian Air Force are being purchased from France. The Defence Minister further stated that the situation in Kashmir is normal. Talking about the threats, Singh said as per recent situations, he doesn't as such see any threat from India's northern neighbour. He, however, said perceptional differences regarding Indo-China border are there between two countries and stressed that relations have improved. "You saw it in Doklam that we are no lesser (Doklam me bhi apne dekha ki hum kahin se 19 nahi hain),"said the Defence Minister. The Defence Minister further said the Citizenship Amendment Act will not affect Indians. Earlier, during his speech, the Defence Minister said the government aims to achieve exports of defence goods and services to the tune of $5 billion in next five years, Singh said on Saturday. "The government aims to achieve exports of defence goods and services to the tune of $5 billion in next five years. All possible support would be extended to the private sector so that they can contribute significantly to enable us to achieve the said target," the Minister said while addressing an event here. According to a defence ministry release, Singh said the manufacturing sector has the potential to reach $1 trillion by 2025 and the government is striving to achieve the goal by implementing key flagship programmes like 'Make in India', besides building policies relevant to the digital-economy and fostering human-capital. "In our envisaged Defence Production Policy, we have clearly spelt out our goal to achieve a turnover of $26 billion in aerospace and defence goods and services by 2025. This will have huge implications for India's endeavours to promote R & D, innovation and its efforts to secure a place in global supply chains," Rajnath Singh said. He said, a number of major platforms are envisaged in defence aerospace sector including India's 90-seater civil aircraft, developing civil helicopter industry of $5 billion in PPP model, and New Aero Engine Complex in Defence Corridor with industry participation. The Defence Minister told the gathering that the Government has prepared a road map for Artificial Intelligence in security to make India a significant power in defence. He said, there is a plan to develop at least 25 Defence specific Artificial Intelligence products by 2024. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 07:46:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PARIS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Second-placed Marseille wasted a two-goal lead as they were hit twice in the last 15 minutes to be held by second-bottom side Amiens 2-2 in the opening game of matchday 28 in French Ligue 1 on Friday. Andre Villas-Boas' side are still at the second in the table with 56 points, nine ahead of the third-placed Rennes and 12 behind the runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain. But PSG's Saturday game at Strasbourg has been postponed due to the fears of rapid spread of the coronavirus, which has reportedly infected 613 people in the country until Friday night. Iranian substitute Saman Ghoddos slotted home from close range in the 96th minute to secure a precious point for Amiens who are battling to avoid relegation. The northern French side sit at the 19th place with 23 points, four behind 17-ranked Dijon and 18-placed Nimes. Morgan Sanson and Dimitri Payet's goals put the hosts in two-goal lead after 57 minutes. But the visitors struck back during the last period as forward Serhou Guirassy converted a penalty in the 84th minute before Ghoddos finished the second in the stoppage time. Marseille was even hit by a blow after the whistle as Villas-Boas was given a red card for angrily protesting to referee Francois Letexier. Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we intend to prove it. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends throughout. Here, they discuss the weeks events with Tom Moran, editorial page editor of The Star-Ledger. Q. Lets start with Bernie Sanders. After his crushing losses on Tuesday, hes sharpened his attacks on Biden, over the Iraq War, trade agreements, and Wall Street. If Biden wins the nomination, are progressives going to show up on Election Day? Julie: I want to quibble with whether Sanders has the market on progressives. There are plenty of progressives who have supported and do support other candidates. But your larger point is well taken: after four years of Donald Trump, any progressive who stays home because his or her preferred candidate did not get the nomination is insane. The Supreme Court is on the line. Civil and reproductive rights are on the line. The climate crisis is on the line. I could go on. And if you are a millennial or a Generation Z-er and you choose to stay home, please understand that it is your generation, more than mine, that will be living with the consequences long after the rest of us are gone. Mike: My guess is liberals aren't going to make the same mistake twice. They hate Trump and will try to vote him out. Foolishly, many liberals voted for Green Party candidate Jill Stein in 2016 to send a message to Hillary Clinton. Jill Stein got 1.5 million votes. She received more than 1 percent of the vote in each Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, well more than Trump's margin of victory in each. Liberals made the same mistake in 2000 when Ralph Nader received almost 3 percent of the vote. In 2004, Nader got 10 times less, about 0.3 percent. The same mistake was not repeated. That's a mathematical way to say that I believe liberals and progressives will coalesce around the nominee, even if it is Joe Biden. Q. Michael Bloomberg gave up but promises to use his money and political machine to help defeat President Trump. How much impact do you expect him to have in the general election? Julie: If he stays true to his word to spend whatever it takes to defeat Trump, he will have a massive impact. A 501(c)4 that he can fund with unlimited personal money can have a massive impact in defeating Trump. And the fact that it has all been made possible by Citizens United, which Republicans supported, makes this irony all the more delicious. Mike: Democrats were always good at using dark money, too, Julie. This would not be some ironic first. But the main point Julie makes is right. Mike Bloomberg has enough money to make a serious difference if he chooses. Money is not by itself determinative of the outcome, just look at his race, but it matters in a close race. Q. Sen. Elizabeth Warren withdrew Thursday. Who is helped more by that, Sanders or Biden? And would she make a good VP pick? Julie: Senator Warren would make an excellent vice-president. I am too frustrated about the notion that an eminently qualified woman ran for president (again) and was given short shrift because she was deemed too "shrill" (again), too "inauthentic" (again), too "school-marmish" (again) to worry about whom she helps. Women have to sit back and wait their turn (again). I think her supporters believed in her because she was a smart, strong, accomplished women who could take it to her opponent like no one else, while having a thought-out plan for virtually everything, so I don't know that they will naturally gravitate towards either Biden or Sanders in any united fashion. Mike: Warren's departure should help Bernie more. Her support came more from the left-wing of the party dominated by Bernie, so much of it will go there, but certainly not all of it. Bernie has done a fantastic job offending an incredible number of Democrats, so many of Warren's supporters will end up with Biden, even if not ideologically aligned. As for VP, she would make a good pick because it would energize the left of the Democratic base and mitigate some of the disappointment and anger that Julie referenced. I understand the frustration. Mike: The Democrats debate criteria and then their primary voters have systematically removed representatives of all the partys major voting constituencies from having a chance at the nomination. And they did so basically after only four states voted. All the candidates of color were gone before the first vote; a very credible openly gay candidate was gone after three states. All the women are out. Al Gore is younger than the two candidates left in the field. The nominating process in our country leaves much to be desired, on both sides. Julie: I totally agree with Mike. Why do our voices matter less than the voices of voters in Iowa and New Hampshire -- two incredibly non-diverse states with an aging population? No wonder we have sent white men to the White House every time, with one notable exception in 2008. When white voters have an outsized say in who the president is, guess who the president is going to be? I agree with just about none of Sen Warrens platform, but she deserves great credit for getting into the arena. By definition and simple math, most candidates who run for president lose, and they know the odds at the start. Tough way for her and her staff to end the grind. Mike DuHaime (@MikeDuHaime) March 5, 2020 Q. If Biden is the nominee, what does that do to Sen. Cory Bookers shot at the vice-presidential spot? How does race play into that? Julie: We cannot have another all-male, white ticket. That is just not where the energy is in the Democratic base. So in that sense, Senator Booker is well positioned. Mike: I agree it won't be a white male. Biden may feel the need to bring on someone who helped him win big on Tuesday, like Sen. Klobuchar who jumped in and basically delivered momentum and Minnesota. That said, he will be looking for someone who expands his coalition ideologically, which could be Elizabeth Warren. Im gonna say it. If u wanna yell identity politics, I dont give a damn: Id love to see a black woman run w/@JoeBiden. A woman, b/c its about time. A black one, b/c African-Americans saved his hide. Fortunately, theres at least 2 very qualified ones out there to pick from. pic.twitter.com/IMl2423CSw Ana Navarro-Cardenas (@ananavarro) March 6, 2020 Q. Here in New Jersey, Brigid Harrison, a professor at Montclair State University, is hoping to lock down the Democratic nomination for Congress and challenge Rep. Jeff Van Drew. She has endorsements in six of the eight counties, with Atlantic County holding its convention on Sunday. How do you read that race? Julie: Atlantic County will have an outsized role in that contest because of the percentage of primary votes that it has. If Harrison gets the line there, it will be hard to overcome. If someone else does, she is still well positioned but it becomes a real contest. Mike: Jeff Van Drew is well positioned no matter who the nominee is. That's a district the president won last time and is positioned to again. Q. A state law forcing disclosure of dark money donations was effectively killed this week when New Jersey gave up its legal defense of the measure. The sponsors vow to fix the law and try again. Is this effort hopeless? Julie: I don't think it's hopeless, if those who claim to want real transparency in politics actually stick to their word and don't pick and choose where they want to be transparent. Mike: All this dark money has been foisted on us by ill-conceived and naive campaign finance reforms that have attempted to get money out of politics but have instead chased it into dark money groups where there's no transparency. An overhaul of campaign finance reform that empowers political candidates and political party structures again will actually bring more accountability into the system. ...We will continue to fight to ensure that those organizations that accept anonymous large donations are forced to disclose their sources. We must shine a light on who is working secretly to change the course of our elections." Andrew Zwicker (@AndrewZwicker) March 4, 2020 Q. The bill that removes the religious exemption for vaccines will soon get another vote in the Senate, where it fell one vote shy last time. Is there a better way to sell this measure? Will the spread of coronavirus affect that debate? Julie: I think that public officials sometimes mistake a few loud voices on social media with what their constituents really want. Here is my view: If you don't want to wash your hands and you get the coronavirus, that is your decision. Just don't go to work and infect the rest of us with it. And if you don't want to vaccinate your child, you are relying on the herd immunity that the rest of us have provided for your child not to get diseases that had been effectively wiped out in this country a few generations ago. Your rights don't trump the rights of anyone else to stay healthy. Mike: Your right to an exemption ceases at the point where your use of public facilities can give other children measles or worse. If you want to use public schools or other public resources, there is an obligation to others to keep them safe. Those parents protesting for vaccine exemptions were doing one thing: Freeloading | Opinion https://t.co/n0jNqwmrbW The Star-Ledger (@starledger) January 19, 2020 A note to readers: DuHaime and Roginsky are both deeply engaged in politics and commercial advocacy in New Jersey, so both have connections to many players we discuss in this column. Given that, we will not normally disclose each specific connection, trusting that readers understand they are not impartial observers. DuHaime, a principal at Mercury Public Affairs, was chief political advisor to former Gov. Chris Christie, and has worked for Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and President George W. Bush. Roginsky, a principal of Optimus Communications, has served as senior advisor to campaigns of Cory Booker, Frank Lautenberg and Phil Murphy. Henceforth, we will disclose specific connections in the text only when readers might otherwise be misled, at the discretion of the editors. The thundershowers that lashed parts of Delhi over the last 24 hours added to the worries of the violence-displaced people who have taken shelter at a relief camp at an Eidgah in north-east Delhis Mustafabad neighbourhood, a week after communal riots claimed at least 53 lives and left over 400 injured. The wet mattresses, moist clothes and the damp surroundings are conducive to flu, infections and other health hazards especially in a 800-odd square metre prayer ground, fenced with brick walls on all four sides, which is currently being inhabited by 1,000-odd people. The residents in the camp are people whose homes were torched by violent mobs last week. Any infection at this point could be a life threat. And it will spread easily, said Shabnam Akhtar, one of the residents of the camp, as she took a paracetamol for her sister-in-law from one of the three makeshift medical camps set up inside the Eidgah premises. As a volunteer handed over the medicines, Akhtar whose residence was set on fire by a mob last week inquired with a sheepish smile about why he was wearing a face mask. The volunteer mentioned about the novel coronavirus, to which Akhtar seemed clueless. So far, 31 cases of coronavirus have been reported in India of which four were diagnosed in Delhi and satellite towns such as Gurugram and Ghaziabad. The inhabitants of the relief camp, however, evidently seemed detached from news developments at a time when they are forced to face the scourge of violence largely in the form of lack of shelter, regular meals, clean clothes and toilets among other essentials. The health threat is more for the children and the elderly, said Hasan Mohammad, another camp resident. The youngest resident of the camp is a 22-day-old boy, named Farhaan, whose mother Rukhsana is the most worried about infections. Medical camp volunteers present in the Eidgah said four doctors routinely check the child. The relief camp has at least 120 children aged below 12 years, said volunteers maintaining data of residents. The oldest resident -- among three octogenarians -- is difficult to be identified, several residents and volunteers keeping record in the camp said. Since Monday, when the camp was set up, six of its residents have given birth to children. The deliveries were done in a nearby hospital where the pregnant women were taken to by volunteers and government officials. The relief camp has an anganwadi centre, a makeshift playschool and mental health counselling centre for children. On Friday, Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was among one of the visitors to the relief camp, along with environment minister Gopal Rai, who is also MLA of Babarpur one of the assembly constituencies in north-east Delhi, which witnessed violence last week. On Thursday evening, after the first spell of heavy rains hit Delhi, large parts of the relied camp were flooded, affecting mattresses and other belongings of the residents, which spread immense panic. By Friday morning, the Delhi government along with the help of non-governmental organisations, civil right groups and other individual volunteers contributing to relief and rehabilitation, put wooden planks on the floor to create elevation for the mattresses and the belongings of the camp residents, as a temporary measure. They also set up four more toilets. We are doing our best to ensure safety and security of people in the relief camp. We have set up medical centres, legal centres, child care centres and other facilities to help them and deployed security guards too. We are open to feedback from all corners and joining hands with institutes and individuals for collective efforts in bringing relief to the victims, said Abhinandita Mathur, advisor to Sisodia and person in charge of the control room monitoring the relief exercise. Some of the reforms implemented by the previous governments, including the fight against corruption, will be continued, while some of them will undergo changes. Reforms are not an end in themselves. Reforms are a tool to improve the life of Ukrainians and make it less corrupt. Of course, we will implement the reforms that have been launched or that have given people some benefits, they will be continued. Meanwhile, some of the reforms may undergo changes. Again, it should not be just a reform, it should produce a result for the people, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said on the air of the Ukrayina TV channel, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. He believes that corruption remains one of the biggest problems in Ukraine. And while it was eradicated at the highest levels of authority, the problem is still burning at the middle level. "Today we are talking about the reforms that should put a number of safeguards against corruption," the Head of Government added. On March 4, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine dismissed Oleksiy Honcharuk from the position of the Prime Minister of Ukraine and appointed Denys Shmyhal as the Prime Minister. ol CNN Philippines (March 7) Taguig-based consulting firm Deloitte Philippines has said that one of their employees has tested positive for coronavirus disease. We can confirm that a colleague in our Deloitte Philippines office has tested positive for COVID-19, the company said in a statement posted on their official website. Their colleague is currently in a hospital receiving treatment and further tests, Deloitte added. The company also said it has taken necessary actions to keep their workers and clients safe, informing those who have come into contact with the confirmed COVID-19 to monitor themselves as well as seek medical attention once they develop the common symptoms of the highly contagious disease. Deloitte Philippines is located in NEO Six, Bonifacio Global City. The Deloitte Philippines employee is one of the two new confirmed cases the Department of Health reported on Friday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said in a briefing. He is a 48-year-old Filipino man with travel history to Japan currently admitted at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. DOH to private institutions: Please talk to us before sharing health information Shortly after the DOH confirmed the Deloitte's statement, Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire called on companies to coordinate with them before disclosing health information to the public. Vergeire said that while they acknowledge the private institution's right to make announcements for the sake of their workers' safety, they also have to think of implications such as sowing panic and stigmatizing the patient with infectious disease. "Alam po naman namin ang intensiyon ay maayos dahil gusto lang nila pangalagaan ang kanilang empleyado pero pag tiningnan natin sa isang banda, yung implikasyon sa buong population na nagkakaroon ng takot ... ng stigma maiiwasan po sana kung may paguugnayan." [Translation: I know their intentions are good because they want to protect their employees' safety but on the other hand. fear and stigma could be avoided if there is communication.] For its part, the Bonifacio Global City assured the public that all protocols are being followed after an employee of Deloitte Philippines caught the deadly virus. BGC said they are sanitizing and disinfecting its malls, public transportation utilities, parks and other crowd-drawing areas. They are also doing temperature check in entrances. It added people with COVID-19 concerns may contact the BGCs emergency hotline through 0917-844-4357. The number of COVID-19 cases in the country have gone up to six, with one fatality as of Saturday. A man has collapsed at a bus stop after reportedly 'coughing non-stop' in Australia's coronavirus epicentre. A photo showed the man bent over on the ground as worried onlookers called emergency services. The photo was taken in Ryde, north-west Sydney, where several people - including a 16-year-old schoolboy - have been diagnosed with the illness. 'I feel for northwest Sydney right now,' one person who shared the image online said. A man who collapsed at a bus stop and was reportedly 'coughing non stop' has prompted coronavirus fears in Sydney's outbreak epicentre 'Feels scary with it being so close to home. 'Most of my friends from Epping boys High school are going to the hospital to be tested or have been tested and none infected thankfully.' Suburbs in the area such as Macquarie Park, Ryde and Epping have been labelled the epicentre of the New South Wales outbreak. A 16-year-old student from Epping Boys High School tested positive for the deadly coronavirus. Officials confirmed on Friday morning that the teenage boy's mother works alongside the infected doctor at Ryde Hospital. The dramatic development sparked fears the killer disease could sweep through whole communities, as it is now spreading through people not previously known to be infected. 'We can confirm that a parent of the Year 11 student here at Epping Boys High School had been in contact with a patient of the Ryde doctor who tested positive to COVID-19 last week,' NSW health said in a statement. A 16-year-old student from Epping Boys High School tested positive for the deadly coronavirus It has suffered the seventh case in the disease's Australian epicentre, and one of 67 case nationwide. The boy is the latest in a string of people to be diagnosed in what is emerging as Australia's virus epicentre - a tiny pocket of Sydney consisting of neighbouring suburbs Ryde, Macquarie Park and Epping. Two hospital doctors, a university professor, two nursing home residents and a carer in the area were struck down with the virus in just three days, with dozens more feared to have been exposed. OTTAWA Hospitals in Canada are warning the federal government that a health system already stretched thin may not be able to cope if the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to worsen here. The hospitals say they need help now to dramatically scale up respiratory virus testing, to collaborate on laboratory analysis to quickly share data with other hospitals, and to protect staff amid a COVID-19 outbreak that has arrived in flu season, according to the national advocacy group for health care organizations and hospitals. Add to that a run on masks and other personal protective equipment, a documented shortage of critical care beds, and a new federal warning to all persons entering Canada from anywhere in the world to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19, and you see a system that could quickly come to a breaking point. Thats despite federal insistence the health system is well-prepared to deal with the growing numbers of confirmed cases in Canada 51 as of Friday and to trace all their contacts to contain the spread, according to Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam. Paul-Emile Cloutier, president of HealthCareCAN, the national advocate for more than 50 of the countrys top hospitals and health-care networks, said in an exclusive interview with the Star that he understands that federal officials are trying to assure Canadians that its all under control but we know as experts and as people who work in the system, its not all under control. I think there is a need for Ottawa to really show some leadership, said Cloutier, adding health-care administration is a provincial responsibility but, viruses dont understand constitutional responsibilities. Cloutier said hospitals are managing now because the numbers of infections are small. But he said if it worsens that will not hold. He said the chronic strains on hospitals are clear: the demands of an aging population, growing mental health and addictions treatment needs, a high rate of burnout among medical health professionals, beds taken up with patients who should be moved into long-term care or rehabilitation centres, lack of space in the community for them, and decaying infrastructure. Coronavirus is an addition to what the system is now faced with, he said. And I think its time for us to really wake up and smell the coffee and say this is really happening and our system may not be prepared if there was a pandemic tomorrow morning. Asked what are the hospitals immediate needs, HealthCareCANs Steve Wharry responded with a list from one hospitals head of laboratory medicine, provided on condition the physician not be named. We certainly want to dramatically scale up testing, he wrote. We currently do a maximum of 200 respiratory virus tests per day for 12 hospitals. We believe we can scale this up to at least 500/day if we invest in liquid-handling robots and extractors, stockpile lab reagents and train people. He said there are limitations on laboratory information systems which record, manage, and store data for clinical laboratories, some of which have major flaws. A lot of manual steps. Our lab could probably process 500 specimens over a 16-hour shift, but it might take the rest of the week to transcribe the forms (which may be a requirement for COVID-19 testing were negotiating that). Then there is the need to protect staff and offer them rapid testing in a pandemic. We have developed and tested self-collected nasal swabs and used these in numerous studies. Self-collection with a centralized drop-off could enable a safer workplace and would be a unique service for hospital staff and their immediate household family members, and keep our hospital free of infected staff. However, he said, the lab-testing system would need to accommodate hundreds of extra specimens per day, and figure out how to manage all the data produced. Finally, the hospitals advocacy group says hospitals are already informally trying to collaborate on rapid development and validation of lab methods but a major push for collaboration would be welcome and we could do this with a minimum of funding. The grim warnings come as the global COVID-19 epidemic escalated rapidly. On Friday, Tam, Canadas top doctor, warned all travellers entering Canada to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. International travel is down but that is still a huge number. Statistics show 2.7 million travellers entered Canada in December alone. The World Health Organization tallied 99,624 cases in 90 countries with 3,400 deaths. Canadian authorities said its worse. Tam said she was confident the number is already more than 100,000 cases, among them: 53 people in Canada have now been diagnosed with the coronavirus that first reared its head in December in Wuhan, China. Tam admitted federal reports may lag behind provincial health authorities. As of early evening Friday, there were 28 cases in Ontario, 21 in B.C., three in Quebec, and one in Alberta. Those hit were both men and women, aged 23 to 82. Only a handful have been hospitalized for treatment. Experts say 80 per cent will experience mild to medium symptoms of the respiratory virus. Tam tried to reassure that most were identified as travellers from countries where the virus has hit hard: China, Iran and Egypt. But that is now expanding to places like Hong Kong, the United States and in B.C. the outbreak took a worrying turn for Canadian authorities: the first known case of community transmission, where the patient was not returning from somewhere else. Tam insisted that intensive efforts to trace all the patients movements and contacts in the past two weeks are underway and may yet find a connection to travel, but she said Canada must now tell all travellers, including those from the United States, who arrive whether at land or airport entry points to monitor themselves for symptoms like fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Canadian nurses are worried and have called for stricter protective guidelines for front line workers in acute-care settings. Tam has so far turned aside those calls. But she says her agency is co-operating with provinces and scientists to determine needs, adding Ottawa can help in bulk purchasing personal protective equipment. However, that too is now a challenge. Goran Abramovic, a spokesman for Wurth Canada, one of the largest distributors of protective face masks, respirators, clothing, gloves and other gear sold to many industrial users including hospitals, says demand has skyrocketed for those products. The company sold as many face masks in January and February as it did in all of 2019, he said. A lot of its products, many made to the companys specifications, come from China. Now, says Abramovic, backlogs in orders from suppliers in China and Taiwan are piling up. Factories in key supply regions had closed amid the outbreak, and the company says Chinese and Taiwanese governments imposed embargoes of personal protective equipment sales for domestic use only. But production there is returning, and factories are filling orders again, he said. We are now starting to see lead times of around eight to 10 weeks due to the impact that coronavirus has had on manufacturing. So the company is fulfilling orders only from its current business customers, he said. We are evaluating our inventory versus demand daily. We will be supporting all of our current customers as long as we have inventory in supply. And while its hard to get a straight answer from Health Canada about our critical-care inventory, its clear concerns have been expressed in recent years. A 2015 academic study by critical-care doctors and services, conducted well after the H1N1 pandemic in 2009-2010, identified 286 hospitals in Canada with 3,170 intensive care unit (ICU) beds and 4,982 mechanical ventilators for critically ill patients. It said there were 22 hospitals that had an ICU that routinely cared for children; 15 of which had dedicated pediatric ICUs. It found a wide variation in provincial capacity. Some smaller provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador have more critical-care capacity per capita than bigger provinces like Ontario. Canada, the studys authors said, has far fewer ICU beds per capita than the United States, but similar numbers of ICU beds to those in many Western European nations. And they pointed out that while there had been provincial assessments in the past of critical-care resources, our overall national critical-care capacity is unknown. The front line of the outbreak is the hospitals, some of which are now trying to move screening and testing facilities off-site, outside the hospital setting to prevent disease spread and protect workers and other patients. Its not the first time that Ottawa has heard the hospitals plead their case. Cloutier says he has made the argument about the funding plight facing front line health-care institutions directly to the federal government in prebudget consultations. He has asked Ottawa to allow hospitals to compete for federal infrastructure dollars to do essential repairs and green renovations; to provide money for digital and data improvements to hospital operations; and to fund the indirect costs of research. On Friday, Ottawa announced it would pour an extra $27 million into research to find a vaccine for COVID-19. However, neither the office of federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu nor her department responded to the Stars requests for comment about the hospitals concerns. Finance Minister Bill Morneau told the Stars Bruce Campion-Smith that discussions between federal and provincial health ministers have been very focused on dealing with the urgent and immediate, that is going to continue on a daily basis. Look, I dont want us to get waylaid into the transfer agreements which are big long-term discussions when were dealing with a short and potentially intense thing we need to be discuss, theyre both important. Theyre different. Not all in the health system are worried it will not be able to cope with the challenge ahead. Dr. Sohail Gandhi, president of the Ontario Medical Association, said virtual care options were approved with the past couple of months that will allow doctors and patients to talk directly as opposed to having to go into clinical settings with secure camera links which will help. He suggested its important to keep the current outbreak in perspective, saying influenza is still the biggest concern in hospitals, with 40,000 cases of flu a year in Canada and an average of about 3,500 deaths yearly. I get it, its new, its novel, butI think its important to keep an eye on the situation, Gandhi said, adding people shouldnt panic, or become alarmist, and the general public should not be trying to buy up masks to wear in public when handwashing is the key preventive measure. Coronavirus fears have prompted officials to cancel the iconic SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, just seven days before the 2020 event was scheduled to start. Read more Philadelphias technology community is hurting over the decision by officials in Austin, Texas, to cancel this years spring SXSW tech and cultural event, yet another casualty of the coronavirus. With a heavy heart leaders of Amplify Philly spread the disappointing word Friday. The cancellation of the wildly popular event robs city boosters, tech start-up hopefuls, and independent film producers of one of the years great display and networking opportunities. Amplify had expected more than 400 people from the area to join its fifth visit to SXSW, and fill Amplify Philly House and other venues for planned events like a DJ Jazzy Jeff house party, a pop-up Rival Bros. coffee bar and coworking space from Cambridge Innovation Center, instant-print T-shirts from Fine Line Print Station, and start-up presentations backed by PHL Innovation Picnic and Comcast LIFT Labs. We were especially excited by this years beefed-up college presence, said Michelle Freeman, CEO of Witty Gritty LLC, an event management company in Philadelphia. She noted that promotional outfit Amplify Philly has reorganized as a nonprofit and plans to boost the citys profile elsewhere. We are still understanding our next steps, said David Silver, cofounder of the RecPhilly artists space and a leader of Amplify Philly, an effort backed by dozens of area groups, including Jefferson Health and South Philly robot maker Exyn Technologies. Philadelphia has been ramping up its presence at SXSW each year, using the exposure to market the city as a thriving hub for tech start-ups and creatives. The cancellation of SXSW, while disappointing, is understandable in light of current circumstances, said Kevin Lessard, spokesperson for the citys Commerce Department, in an email. With 75,000-plus expected attendees, SXSW represented a unique opportunity to promote Philadelphia as a global place for business and innovation to a massive audience, and to highlight why companies should invest and open up in our city. Were looking into ways to help #Los Angeles and #Philadelphia filmmakers who were affected, wrote the organizers of First Glance Film Festivals, which gave awards last year to a string of Philly filmmakers who were hoping to exhibit in Austin. The show must go on is in our DNA, and this is the first time in our 34-year history that the March events will not take place, lamented SXSW organizers in their statement Friday, after city officials bowed to public pressure, reversed their claims that the public faced no extra danger from COVID-19 by gathering in the tens of thousands, and canceled the yearly extravaganza in Texas capital city. Philadelphia figured in the calculus in a negative way. Austin, dont be Philadelphia 1918, pleaded a Texas securities trader who goes by the online name Barton, one of many who flooded social media with similar warnings in the days before Fridays cancellation announcement. He was referring to the lethal 1918 Spanish flu epidemic, which spread rapidly in Philadelphia after city officials declined to cancel a mass public parade. Stephanie McDonald, owner of Bombshell Girls Fitness in Austin, was among the residents there to cite Philadelphias unfortunate example. She urged Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to overrule Austin Mayor Steve Asher, who had resisted calls to cancel SXSW. McDonald was one of many who retweeted Kenneth C. Davis 2018 Smithsonian article chronicling city politicians determination to hold the biggest parade Philadelphia had ever seen to sell bonds financing Americas World War I campaigns, despite doctors advice to avoid public gatherings that would spread the deadly virus. Within 72 hours of the parade, every bed in Philadelphias 31 hospitals was filled. In the week ending Oct. 5, some 2,600 people in Philadelphia had died from the flu or its complications," wrote Davis. "A week later, that number rose to more than 4,500. With many of the citys health professionals pressed into military service, Philadelphia was unprepared for this deluge of death, that in time killed over 12,000 city residents, 675,000 Americans, and millions worldwide. Balaji S. Srinivasan, a San Francisco tech company founder turned venture capitalist, wrote that he realized a lot of money was at stake for SXSW hosts and exhibitors alike. But, he added, holding an event with huge numbers of people in the middle of a pandemic fills hospitals first, and then cemeteries. Nicholas Pirelli, 36, has been charged with rape, indecent assault and battery on a person older than 14 A professor who teaches at a Massachusetts university has been charged with raping a student. Nicholas Pirelli, 36, has been charged with rape, indecent assault and battery on a person older than 14. The incident is alleged to have occurred on October 20, 2019. The woman making the accusations is a student at Bridgewater State University but is not enrolled in any classes of the Plymouth resident. According to court documents, Pirelli and the woman connected via the website seeking.com, Enterprise News reports. The site aims to match 'sugar babies' with sugar daddies,' with Pirelli allegedly telling the student he planned to 'spoil' her. The student told police she sent photos and videos to Pirelli, with some showing her in the nude and undressing. Pirelly allegedly told the student that they would need to be 'discreet' after learning that she attended the university. Pirelli is said to have sought someone who would dominate him with whips and chains. He sent the student photos of himself after she sent hers. The woman making the accusations is a student at Bridgewater State University but is not enrolled in any classes of the Plymouth resident The educator and the woman began talking through text applications and he would send her money on various occasions using Venmo. They then met in person, agreeing to meet at a Dunkin'Donuts in West Bridgewater to 'see if they had a good connection in person.' Pirelli sent the woman $20 on Venmo to get to the location. Court documents reveal that Pirelli offered to help her with an essay she was working on to secure an on-campus job, telling the student to come to his office. Prior to her arrival, Pirelli reportedly sent her $50 to go shopping. It was then that the woman claims Pirelli raped her, according to court documents. She claimed that the pair only worked on the essay for about 30 minutes before he locked the door to his office and began forcibly kissing her. The student told police she sent photos and videos to Pirelli, with some showing her in the nude and undressing. Pirelly told the student that they would need to be 'discreet' after learning that she attended the university She told police that Pirelli then performed forcible anal oral sex on her. The woman said that she continued communicating with Pirelli after the alleged attack in an effort 'to let him down easy' as she grew worried about her standing as a student and ability to get the on campus job. She reported the incident to Bridgewater State University police on March 3, with Pirelli getting detained and charged two days later. BSU shared that the educator was placed on paid leave as soon as they learned of the accusations While being interviewed by police, Pirelli is said to have made misleading statements and made it so that he could not be credible. Pirelli has been released on a $2,500 bail. BSU shared that the educator was placed on paid leave as soon as they learned of the accusations. 'He has been placed on administrative leave with pay,' a university spokesman said. 'He has been asked not to come to campus without permission from the university.' A statement from the school also said: 'Bridgewater State has zero tolerance for misconduct, abuse or violence against any members of our campus community and is committed to preventing and holding accountable anyone responsible for acts of physical and sexual assault. We are working closely with the district attorney's office in their prosecution of this alleged crime.' Pirelli is expected back in court on April 30. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 22:58:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BUCHAREST, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Two teenage girls in Romania were diagnosed with COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the caseload in the country to 11, authorities announced. One of the girls, from the western city of Timisoara, was the third student infected at her school. Previously, a 16-year-old boy was infected at home by his uncle, who returned from Italy, before transmitting the virus to two girls at school. The school has been closed, and the local authorities are expected to announce a suspension of classes for up to 14 days early next week. The second new case is a 16-year-old girl from the western county of Hunedoara, who traveled on the same plane from Italy with a 40-year-old man who was confirmed infected the day before. Romania reported the first case of novel coronavirus on Feb. 27 after a 20-year-old Romanian was infected by a visiting Italian. So far, all infected people in Romania can be traced back to Italy. As of noon Saturday, 16 people are currently in institutional quarantine in Romania nationwide, and 12,927 are monitored at home. Meanwhile, 3 of the previously infected people have been tested negative and discharged from hospital. Romania has frequent people exchange with Italy. As of 2019, over 1.2 million Romanian citizens are living in Italy -- the largest Romanian immigrant population in any country, also the largest immigrant group within Italy. The meeting also reportedly discussed the possible violence in the upcoming civic polls, due to be held in April. New Delhi: After assuming office, West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for the first time on Friday met Union home minister Amit Shah to apprise him of various issues of governance and the worsening law and order situation in the state. The meeting also reportedly discussed the possible violence in the upcoming civic polls, due to be held in April. The meeting, held at the governors initiative, comes within a week of Mr Shahs visit to Kolkata, where at a rally he had expressed concern over the law and order situation in West Bengal. The governors rushing to New Delhi to meet the home minister has apparently upset a section of BJP state unit leaders. They felt that the governors daily interference in state politics and his running acrimony with chief minister and Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee was harming the BJP in West Bengal. Some state unit leaders have reportedly conveyed their displeasure over the governors role to the BJP high command. It was pointed out that Ms Banerjee was indicating that since the BJP was failing to make any dent in Bengal, it was using the governor. Speaking from Kolkata, a senior party leader said: The governor should remain silent. The fight is between the BJP and the Trinamul Congress, not between the governor and Mamata Banerjee. It may be recalled the governor had recently crossed swords with the TMC leadership over the forthcoming municipal elections. A few days back, state municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim was quoted as saying: The governor should not be worried about any possible violence in the upcoming civic polls since law and order is a state issue. If as a person he feels deeply about crimes against human beings, then he should feel pained at the recent Delhi riots which took several human lives, while more dead bodies might be recovered. Hitting back, the governor issued a statement that said: The approach of minister Firhad Hakim with respect to the role of the governor of the state, to say the least, betrays elementary ignorance both of the Constitution and the role of the governor. Making such public statements, contrary to the constitutional essence and spirit, does not promote synergy between the constitutional head and the state government. The governor said the violence trail witnessed during those elections (panchayat and Lok Sabha) cannot be allowed to be repeated. As polarisation appears to be the main election plank for the coming Assembly elections in the state, talk has started in the state BJP over the projection of a chief ministerial candidate. A section of the party is of the view that going into the polls without a face could give chief minister Mamata Banerjee, a big advantage. Leading the race to be the party face is BJP state unit chief Dilip Ghosh. However, another section in the state unit indicated that to win in West Bengal, the BJP must come up with a Bengali bhadralok face. This particular section felt that Dilip Ghoshs foul rhetoric went against the sensitivity of Bengals bhadralok culture. Three other names, who apparently fit into the genteel bhadralok genre, have surfaced and if sources are to be believed, all three are actively lobbying for the coveted post. The BJP leaders in the race for the top post include Union minister Babul Supriyo, Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta and Anirban Ganguly, director of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation (SPMRF). No respecter of persons View(s): The coronavirus is no respecter of persons. It strikes anyone, anywhere and particularly in cold climates. Thats why it seems to have affected countries with lower temperatures, while those in the tropics have largely been spared. More than 70 countries have been affected by varying degrees, the biggest being China where the virus originated followed by South Korea, Italy, Iran, Japan, France, Germany and the US. It hits the rich and poor without hesitation while resulting in death mostly to elderly persons. Over 3,000 people have died so far. Its worse than the SARS (SARS-CoV) virus identified in 2003. SARS-CoV also originated from China, first infecting people in the Guangdong province of southern China in 2002. That epidemic affected 26 countries. As I reflected on these thoughts on Thursday morning, the shrill sound of Aldoris, the choon paan karaya, in his old, three-wheeler drew my attention to the gate where Kussi Amma Sera had gathered with her margosa tree conversation friends to have a chat with the neighbourhood baker. Kussi Amma Sera had a folded newspaper under her arm. She had been reading an article on the impact of the coronavirus on West Asian countries where more than 200,000 Sri Lankans travel to work every year. She said: Ape Sri Lankika sahodara sahodariyanta kisidu gataluvak nethai kiyala mama hithanava (I hope our Sri Lankan brothers and sisters dont have any problems). Responding while taking two maalu paan from the bakers bread basket, Serapina said she believed that Sri Lankan embassies are on alert to help any Sri Lankan if affected. Eheth meda peradigata yana Sri Lankave aya gatha yuthu piyawara pilibandava puvath-pathvala thorathuru madi (But there is very little information in the newspapers about what precautions Sri Lankans going to the Middle East should take), added Mabel Rasthiyadu. After purchasing their morning breakfast from Aldoris while needling him to reduce his prices, the trio went to the margosa tree to continue their conversation on the coronavirus. What Mabel Rasthiyadu said was very revealing. That there is little information in the media about the precautions that Sri Lankans migrating for work to West Asia should take, is an understatement. There is actually no proper information as the focus of attention is on tourist arrivals, Sri Lankans working in South Korea and dozens of Chinese workers on construction sites in Colombo. Community Development Services (CDS), an NGO working to ensure the rights of migrant workers, said: We must alert every migrant worker leaving our shores for foreign employment as they would be exposed to travel and new environments and multinational worker communities in their countries of destination. It is our collective responsibility and the responsibility of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau and all recruiting agents as well. Noting that it is very likely that destination countries will immediately repatriate suspected cases to their home countries, CDS expressed a hope that Sri Lankan authorities will not only look at effective quarantine programmes but will also have urgent treatment plans and even consider workman compensation under the registered insurance scheme or re-migration and re-employment at no cost to the migrant worker. On the other hand, it is also possible that Sri Lankan missions in these countries are doing their best to serve the people which, however, is not being recorded in the public space here. Just as I walked into my office room with a cup of tea, considering the impact of this deadly virus on employment in West Asia, the phone rang. It was know-all neighbour Haramanis of broken English fame on the line wanting to discuss (and readers you guessed it right) the coronavirus. In this instance, he was inquiring about the cancellation of a key global tourism fair in Berlin, ITB Berlin last week owing to fears of the coronavirus. I shay, they have cancelled that tourism fair in Berlin. Germany is not badly affected so why take this decision, he asked. As a precaution to prevent large numbers of people coming from all over the world to one location. Many countries are cancelling trade shows that bring people from different countries, as one way of spreading the virus is from human-to-human contact by affected persons, I said. But this will be a severe blow to our tourism. Will we be able to recover? he asked, again. Only time will tell only time will tell, I replied, adding that there is a view that the virus will be less virulent once the European summer months arrive. Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka in February fell by 17.7 per cent largely due to the impact of the coronavirus on travel. In the case of China, until now Sri Lankas third largest tourist source market, the fall in February 2020 was worse: A drop of 92.5 per cent to 2,096 arrivals, from 28,039 in February 2019. In the top 10 countries whose travellers visit Sri Lanka, except for India and Russia which recorded increases in February, visitors from the UK, Germany and France recorded a drop in arrivals. The Central Bank in a statement on Thursday said that the widespread impact of the coronavirus on China, the worlds second largest economy, will have spillover effects on the global economy through weakening trade, tourism and investment flows. Sri Lankas economic links with China could be directly affected as significant volumes of consumer goods, intermediate goods and investment goods are imported from China. The likely slowdown of the global economy and disruptions to the supply chain could affect Sri Lankas merchandise and service exports as well as related logistics. The slowdown in global tourist movements will affect Sri Lankas tourism sector, in addition to the direct impact of lower arrivals from China. The spread of the virus to countries with a significant number of Sri Lankan migrant workers could affect remittance inflows as well, it said. In the corporate world, travel to and from countries in which Sri Lankan corporates have dealings have also been affected. Business executives are not travelling to the worst-hit cities while conferences and small-group meetings have either been postponed or cancelled. Sourcing raw material from China has badly affected Sri Lankan industries. China is one of the biggest sources of either raw material or assembled products (our Down to Earth columnist colleague in his column on this page alludes to the fact that US-based Apple, which has a huge phone assembly base in China, has been badly affected), and this has triggered concern across Sri Lankas industrial production. Several airlines originating from Asia have either reduced flights to Colombo or cancelling all flights as the crisis begins to bite travel between these countries. On the plus side, West Asian origin carriers like Emirates for example, are reporting good load factors from Europe to Colombo. As the search for a medication continues, when the crisis will ease is anybodys guess. Whew! While I sit down at the computer absorbing all this information, I wish for another cup of tea. As if answering my prayers, Kussi Amma Sera waltzes into the room with just what the doctor ordered, placing not only a cup of tea on the table but also a hot, hot maalu paan. Sir meka kanda, harima rassai (Sir, eat this, its very tasty). Thanking her, I go back to my thoughts wondering whether the tourism industry, in particular, will recover this year after the twin blows of the April 2019 bombing on three luxury hotels and now the coronavirus. People walk in an office in the financial centre of Canary Wharf By Lawrence White and Iain Withers LONDON (Reuters) - More than 50 staff at Societe Generale's London office were working from home on Friday, while Bank of America Corp is splitting its trading force and sending 100 New York-based staff to nearby Stamford, Connecticut, from Monday as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus, sources familiar with the matter said. Morgan Stanley is shifting part of its London-based sales and trading staff to its site in Heathrow starting on Monday, according to sources familiar with the plans. The three banks join other financial companies sending staff home, splitting up trading teams and activating backup offices in a bid to contain the spread of the virus in the world's largest financial and business hubs. The moves come as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread globally, with the number of people infected across the world surpassing 100,000 on Friday. The outbreak has killed more than 3,400 people and spread across more than 90 nations, with six countries reporting their first cases on Friday. Societe Generale declined to comment on how many staff were working away from its office in Canary Wharf but said it has instituted travel restrictions, rotation of staff and working from home arrangements. Commodity broker Marex Spectron said late on Thursday that one of its London employees had tested positive for coronavirus. It said the individual had attended a Marex Spectron-sponsored event during IP week, a major petroleum industry gathering, on Feb. 25 in London. Citigroup has sent 10% of traders who usually work in its Canary Wharf office to a backup site in Lewisham, a source familiar with the move said. Allied Irish Banks has cancelled a planned post-results roadshow to London as a result of a ban on non-essential travel and has conducted a deep clean of all branches, Chief Executive Colin Hunt said in a radio interview. Story continues "Earlier this week we introduced a ban on all non-essential travel across the group, that's one of the reasons why I'm talking to you this morning from Dublin and not London," he said. Jefferies Financial Group Inc executives told clients on Friday it had put in place business continuity and technology plans to enable it to conduct business remotely. "Those plans include both the technology to continue to trade and the technology that will permit us to continue to communicate seamlessly with each other, with you, with our regulators, and with our partners and affiliates," the email said. HSBC and Standard Chartered have also convened committees of senior executives to give daily briefings on the crisis. DON'T PANIC The mood among financial firms was more practical than panicked, despite the growing number of confirmed cases. "Had a few hedge funds that went into full shutdown on Monday because of coronavirus but then realised they were over-reacting and went back into the office later in the week," said one hedge fund recruiter. Staff in coffee shops in the Canary Wharf financial district said business is down, but that they hoped for only a short-lived disruption to normal customer traffic. "We expect it to be quieter for the next few days," said a worker named Tahar in a Starbucks in Canary Wharf. An employee in a branch of the Notes coffee chain in the financial area said business was down compared with the usually busy Friday rush. "People just want to be safe I guess. We are hoping things pick up soon," she said. (Reporting By Lawrence White and Iain Withers, additional reporting by Pamela Barbaglia, Clara Denina and Maiya Keidan in London, Padraic Halpin in Dublin, Imani Moise and Elizabeth Dilts in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler) India on Saturday reported three more positive cases of the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19), taking the total number of infected people in the country to 34, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting to discuss measures to contain the outbreak that has killed more than 3,500 people and affected at least 100,000 others globally. In India, five other people two each from Punjab and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, and one in Agra appeared to show signs of the disease, according to preliminary tests that were yet to be confirmed by the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. Of the cases confirmed by the Union health ministry on Saturday, two Indians were diagnosed with Covid-19 in the Union Territory of Ladakh. They have a travel history from Iran, one of the worst-affected countries outside China, where at least 3,000 people have died and 80,000 others have been infected. The third new case was confirmed in Tamil Nadu, the first for the state. The patient is a 45-year-old man who recently returned from Oman, the Union health ministry and state minister C Vijayabaskar said. All three patients are in a stable condition. The country has reported 34 cases of the disease scattered across Delhi-NCR, Jaipur and Hyderabad apart from Ladakh and Tamil Nadu. Three patients in Kerala, all of whom returned from the epicentre of the contagion in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, recovered last month and were released from hospitals. Saturdays developments came as Prime Minister Modi discussed with Union health minister Harsh Vardhan the countrys preparedness to deal with the outbreak. At the meeting, the PM asked officials to identify locations for sufficient quarantine facilities and make provisions for critical care in case the disease spreads further in the country. ... action should be initiated for creating awareness in community about the disease and the precautions to be taken, Modi was quoted as saying in an official statement. The meeting was also attended by external affairs minister S Jaishankar, cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba, health secretary Preeti Sudan and chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat. Addressing beneficiaries of a government scheme through video-conferencing on Saturday, PM Modi also appealed people not to believe rumours over the viruss spread and asked them to follow only doctors advice. Among the suspected cases, the two Indians in J&K who have a travel history to virus-hit Italy and South Korea have been quarantined, a spokesperson of the J&K administration said on Saturday. After being diagnosed with a high viral load at the Government Medical College, Jammu, earlier this week, they fled the hospital but were brought back within hours. In Uttar Pradeshs Agra, a seventh person, who was in contact with an infected Delhi resident, is suspected to have contracted the infection. The man, 41, has been put under isolation at a hospital in Agra, according to Agra chief medical officer Mukesh Kumar Vats. Six relatives of the Delhi man have previously tested positive for the disease. Two men from Punjabs Hoshiarpur, who returned from Italy on Wednesday, showed symptoms of the disease and have been isolated, doctors at Amritsars Guru Nanak Dev Hospital (GNDH) said. The health ministry also said on Saturday that more that 150 people who came in contact with an American tourist and his wife who tested positive for Covid-19 in Bhutan after travelling in India for 11 days have been put under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). The contact-tracing effort was launched after the patients, a 76-year-old man and his wife, travelled to Mumbai, Kolkata and Guwahati before leaving for Bhutan on March 2. The contact-tracing operation is crucial to avert a wider community transmission. While most cases in India have likely contracted the virus from global hotbeds of the infection such as Iran and Italy, the Union health minister on Thursday said the government kept nearly 30,000 under close watch to check for symptoms of the disease. The number is likely to be higher by Saturday. Early on Saturday morning, a special flight from Tehran landed in Delhi with swab samples of 110 Indians stranded in Iran. Those Indian citizens will be evacuated if their samples test negative for the novel coronavirus infection, officially named SARS-Cov-2. Those passengers who test positive for Covid-19 will not be allowed to board the flight to India. They will be isolated at a health facility in Iran itself, a senior health ministry official told HT on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, the flight operated by Mahan Air later in the day returned with Iranian nationals who were in India. According to central government data, 30 airports in India have so far screened 726,122 people from 7,108 flights for Covid-19 symptoms that include coughing, fever and respiratory issues. About 52 laboratories in the country are operational across the country for testing the virus. In other measures, Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Saturday began isolating passengers arriving from 12 coronavirus-affected countries from other international passengers by segregating baggage claim, customs clearance and terminal exit. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called the spread of the virus deeply concerning as the coronavirus disease spread across 94 nations and territories. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Donald Trump likes to say that he fell into politics almost by accident, and on Friday, as he sought to calm a nation gripped with fears over coronavirus, he suggested he would have thrived in another profession medical expert. I like this stuff. I really get it, Mr Trump boasted to reporters during a tour of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention in Atlanta, where he met with actual doctors and scientists who are feverishly scrambling to contain and combat the deadly illness. Citing a great, super-genius uncle who taught at MIT, Mr Trump professed it must run in the family genes. People are really surprised I understand this stuff, he said. Every one of these doctors said: How do you know so much about this? Maybe I have a natural ability. But for members of the general public alarmed by more than 300 diagnosed cases in the United States including at least 21 that his administration announced Friday were discovered on a cruise ship off the San Francisco coast Mr Trumps performance during an impromptu 45-minute news conference at CDC was not necessarily reassuring. Sporting his trademark red 2020 campaign hat with the slogan Keep America Great, the president repeatedly second-guessed and waved off the actual medical professionals standing next to him. He attacked his Democratic rivals including calling Washington Governor Jay Inslee a snake for criticising his response and chided a CNN reporter for smiling and called her network fake news. And he described coronavirus testing kits which his administration has been criticised for being slow to distribute as beautiful and saying they were as perfect as his Ukraine phone call last summer that led him to be impeached. The upshot was that the self-proclaimed medical savant came off looking less interested in his administrations unsteady efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus than he was in bolstering his own status in a campaign year. Mr Trump repeatedly sought to judge his administrations performance by the numbers of how many have been shown to have contracted the virus and comparing it with other nations and, in doing so, appeared to be making judgments based solely on that scorecard. He declared he would prefer to keep the thousands of passengers and crew on the cruise ship off the California coast aboard the vessel rather than bring them ashore for quarantine, though he acknowledged the vice president, Mike Pence, and other top aides were arguing for the ship to be brought to port. I like the numbers being where they are, Mr Trump said. I dont need the numbers to double because of one ship that wasnt our fault. He had been furious last month upon learning that Americans in China with coronavirus were flown back to the US in a decision made by the State Department without consulting him. Asked if a decision had been made about the latest ships fate, Mr Trump appeared uncertain. Uh, thats a good question, he responded. He later said he authorised his aides to decide and Mr Pence announced at a news briefing in Washington shortly after the president concluded his remarks that the ship would, in fact, be directed to a non-commercial port where everyone on board would be tested. Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Show all 11 1 /11 Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Ben Gurion International airport, Israel Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Daxing International Airport, Beijing AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Haneda Airport, Tokyo Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Changsha Huanghua International Airport, China Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Shanghai Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Daxing International Airport, Beijing AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Haneda Airport, Tokyo Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Shanghai Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam AFP via Getty For the president, the reporters follow-up questions about the rate of coronavirus testing were a nuisance. The CDC director, Robert Redfield, and health and human services secretary, Alex Azar, stressed that the administration had authorised tens of thousands of testing kits to be distributed. But as Mr Azar sought to parry with a reporter by calling on Mr Redfield to back him up, Mr Trump, without looking at Mr Azar, raised his right hand and waved him off. Mr Redfield said the agency had sent out 75,000 kits. Then Mr Trump jumped in: Anybody who wants a test will get a test, thats the bottom line. A few moments later, he jokingly compared the situation to his phone call last summer in which he had pressured Ukraines president to launch an investigation into Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son. The tests are all perfect like the letter was perfect, the transcription was perfect, right? Mr Trump said. This was not as perfect as that, but pretty good. Mr Trump argued the death rate in the US 15 Americans have died of the virus, though Mr Trump said 11 remains artificially high because many people who have the illness are not reporting to hospitals because their symptoms are minor. While experts have said that is probably true, the argument seemed to undercut Mr Trumps efforts to minimise the scope of the crisis. The president recently signed an $8bn funding bill to combat the coronavirus outbreak (Getty) (Getty Images) While explaining this, Mr Trump appeared irritated by the reaction of a reporter. Youre smiling when I say that. Where are you from? he asked. When she replied CNN, the president snapped: I dont watch CNN. Thats why I dont recognise you. I dont watch CNN because CNN is fake news. The medical professionals around him smiled uncomfortably. The president had a more positive reaction to Fox News. While explaining he had watched the networks coronavirus coverage aboard Air Force One en route from Nashville where he had toured tornado damage earlier in the day to Atlanta, Mr Trump cut himself off. How was the show last night? Mr Trump asked a Fox reporter in the room, referring to a Fox News-produced, town-hall-style event in Scranton, Pennsylvania, that he had participated in the night before. Did it get good ratings? Mr Trump said. The reporter said he didnt know. Oh, really? Mr Trump continued. I heard it broke all ratings records. But maybe thats wrong. Thats what they told me. As his aides did their best to curry Mr Trumps favour they praised his leadership and sought to reinforce some of his pronouncements the president opined on the falling stock markets, insisting he is happy Americans are cancelling travel plans abroad to stay in the United States and spend money in the United States. Though his CDC trip had been cancelled over a coronavirus scare at the agency before being reinstated after the employee tested negative Mr Trump boasted he was taking no special precautions while touring the labs. Not at all, he said. Im not a person who has been big on handshaking. They used to make fun of me. But as a politician, you walk in and the doctors have their hands out, Hello, sir. Thats my business. I never thought Id be a politician. But I feel very secure. The Washington Post Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment I wonder, sometimes, if I was too hard on Rob Bell. In 2011, author and pastor Rob Bell published a book about hell that nearly every Christian I knew had an opinion on, Love Wins. Before the book was even available, people were indignant. The trailer for the book depicts Bell walking through the snowy streets of Granville, Michigan, staring down the camera and floating rhetorical questions: Gandhis in hell? He is? And someone knows this for sure? For many, these questions were a step too far. Farewell, Rob Bell, pastor John Piper famously tweeted in response to the video. When the book was eventually released, the controversy only got more fervent. It was banned at Christian bookstores. By that summer, pastor Francis Chan had published a rebuttal book, Erasing Hell. I vividly remember an MSNBC interview that infuriated me, where to my fifteen-year-old eyes, at least Bell seemed unwilling to give straight answers to basic questions. Denny Burke of Boyce College proclaimed in a blog post that Bell had outed himself as a wolf in sheeps clothing. At the time, I couldnt have agreed more. Fast forward a decade, and the questions that Bell was posing have found their way back into the cultural conversation again, in a highly public forum: a recent op-ed for The New York Times. David Bentley Hart is a philosopher and theologian one of the most well-regarded in the world today and in his article, he addresses a question similar to Bells Gandhi query: Why do some Christians so badly want there to be a hell? When it comes to the existence of eternal damnation, Hart writes, for many believers, something unutterably precious is at stake Why? According to Hart, the Christian idea of hell has never been entirely consistent. For one thing, Hart argues, the New Testament does not paint a full picture of hell, at least as we visualize it. Paul is virtually silent on the matter. Revelation renders vivid allegorical images of judgement day, but no clear doctrine of eternal torment. Hart also notes that it wasnt until the fifth century that eternal punishment became a widely held belief. Prior to that, especially in the Greek-speaking Hellenistic and Semitic East, most Christians believed in universal salvation that is, that God will redeem everyone eventually. For hundreds of years, universalism was actually not blasphemy, and many early Christian fathers Clement of Alexandria, Origen and Gregory of Nyssa, to name a few ascribed to that understanding. Only when the Christian Church became part of the Roman Empires political apparatus, Hart says, did hell become a central part of the Christian tradition. From that point on, hell was frequently weaponized by the Church, as spiritual terror became an ever more indispensable instrument of social stability. Hart notes that it retains a similar power today. So why do so many Christians still care about hell? Ultimately, Hart asserts, the reason the doctrine of hell has persisted has a lot to do with winning. For those believers, Hart writes, the idea of hell is the treasury of their most secret, most cherished hopes the hope of being proven right when so many were wrong For many, hell represents vindication. A few weeks later, the New York Times published some responses to Harts piece, penned by individuals from across the country. The letters are pretty remarkable. Some resonate with Harts claims. Robert Judkins from Tennessee says that the image of fiery damnation burned into the psyche of evangelical and other Christians from their very youthfails to reconcile with the infinitely merciful deity manifested in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Anne-Marie Hislop, a Presbyterian minister from Chicago, said that she has observed that some Christians seem far more concerned with who is not saved than the fact that they themselves are. Others take issue with Hart. Andy Saylor from Pennsylvania remarks that, while there is scant Biblical evidence for conscious eternal torment, there are plenty of verses that suggest there will be some form of separation for nonbelievers. As Saylor puts it, Those souls may not rot in hell, but neither do they enjoy eternal life. Perhaps the most vehement rebuttal comes from Jeffrey von Arx, a Jesuit priest and professor. He recalls a lecture he heard in 2003, wherein Cardinal Avery Dulles presented the three things Christians should believe about hell: one, There is a hell because human freedom can definitively choose evil; two, We dont know as a matter of fact if anyone is in hell because of Gods mercy; and three, I could very well end up in hell because of my own wickedness. He ends his letter by stating, This made sense to me then and still does. My favorite response, though, comes from Alison Cornish, a professor at NYU. She offers another definition to hell, in contrast to Harts eternal torture chamber: Hell is what there is without God. And then she points out that, while we may be moving away from hell as a society, we have also forgotten forgiveness. In our present cultural moment, Cornish muses, redemption is no longer an offer, even for the living, as a single misstep or divergent thought will be punished by total and permanent exclusion. This trend, she seems to be implying, is itself a special form of hell. So, why does any of this matter? Well, for one thing, its noteworthy that a publication as widely read and reputable as the New York Times is hosting this dialogue. But also, I think the fact that Christians continue to return to the topic of hell, again and again, often in public ways, indicates how vital the issue is. What we think about hell impacts how we engage with the people in our lives, how we conduct ourselves and how we think about God. It matters. In 2011, there was a lot that I didnt know about the Christian tradition of hell. I didnt know that our binary understanding of heaven and hell is nowhere to be found in the Old Testament, that the earliest Jewish understanding of the afterlife is Sheol, the shadow place beneath the earth where all souls exist for eternity. I didnt know about the Apocalypse of Peter, a second-century Christian text that presents a vision of hell most similar to our current understanding a place where sinners are tortured by punishments that fit their crimes but you wont find it in the Bible, even though it was read in many churches as late as the fifth century. I didnt know that much of our imagery of hell doesnt come from the Bible at all, but from an epic poem by an Italian poet from 1300s: Dantes Inferno. I didnt realize how messy and frequently contradictory Christian thought has been and continues to be. I only knew what my youth pastor had told me. And that might be the problem. Over the years, Ive come to see that the questions Bell asked in Love Wins as worth asking. I come to think that perhaps he wasnt being so shifty after all, but was simply trying to acknowledge the complexity and nuance that has surrounded the topic of hell from the very beginning. I dont know if he was a false prophet. I think he might have just been a guy asking questions. And necessary ones, at that. (This March 6 story corrects to delete Metalor from fourth paragraph of second section, and edit sixth paragraph of fifth section to clarify suppliers' status) By Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi, Mitra Taj and Peter Hobson LA RINCONADA, Peru (Reuters) - From the Andes mountains, thousands of artisanal gold-diggers for years sent fragments of metal to a Swiss valley. There, a refinery purified the gold to sell to banks, watchmakers, fine jewellers and electronics companies. It circulated as ingots, phones and trinkets - some branded with names including Apple and Tiffany & Co. A trade worth billions of dollars, it was championed by the Swiss refinery, Metalor Technologies, as part of a program with Peru's government to integrate gold prospectors into the economy. In early 2018, Metalor stopped taking the gold. The reason: It couldn't be sure where the metal came from. Peruvian prosecutors had come to suspect Metalor's main supplier was a front used by criminals to filter illegally produced gold into the world market. Metalor is not under investigation in Peru, and there is no suggestion of illegality by the refiner. But the story of the project - and of how it was monitored by the companies and regulators involved - illustrates the risks of illicit commerce that lie beneath gold's glamour. Peruvian authorities are exploring criminal charges against Metalor's supplier, a trading firm named Minerales del Sur, after seizing a cargo worth nearly $4 million destined for Metalor in 2018, prosecutorial and customs documents seen by Reuters show. Customs inspectors found some participants in the program were selling more gold than they could produce, according to customs reports. The prosecutors allege these inflated volumes suggest Minerales del Sur was a cover to launder metal from illegal sources, such as mines financed by narcotics dealers or in banned sites in the Amazon rainforest. Minerales del Sur, which declined to comment for this article, has told Peruvian authorities it obtained gold legally. Story continues BULLETS THROUGH THE HEAD As global hunger for gold accelerates, so too do problems in its production. Industrial mines have long been accused of depriving indigenous people of land, polluting their homes and breeding crime. Now, high gold prices are making it attractive for individuals to try what the industry calls artisanal and small-scale mining. Every year around 500 tonnes, worth $25 billion at current prices, of gold is dug in this way, according to industry estimates - 15% of all the gold that is mined. Metalor is one of at least five major refineries, including two in the United States, which have come under legal scrutiny in the last two decades after taking artisanal gold from countries including Colombia and Peru, where most of the world's cocaine is produced and narcotics gangs have invested in gold production. One U.S. refinery closed after its employees were jailed for trading illegal and smuggled gold. This program was supposed to be part of the solution - a state-backed scheme to bring informal diggers into the formal market and improve their conditions. Minerales del Sur was hired to collect and check gold from small miners across the highland region of Puno, which extends from the fringes of the Amazon to Lake Titicaca. The region's apex, and the source of some of the gold, is a shantytown of about 50,000 people located 16,700 feet above sea-level. Called La Rinconada, it sits below a glacier-capped mountain known as La Bella Durmiente, or Sleeping Beauty. Said to be the highest permanent human settlement in the world, La Rinconada is no fairytale. Last year, authorities reported rescuing at least 68 trafficking victims from the shantytown's nightclubs. Last April, seven gold miners were found in a tunnel beneath the mountain with bullets through the head. Media organizations and NGOs repeatedly published reports that Metalor's Peruvian gold suppliers may have been infiltrated by criminals. The Swiss company - which prosecutors estimated processed about 106 tonnes of gold worth $3.5 billion from Minerales del Sur since 2001 - said it was confident of the checks it imposed on its suppliers. "To our knowledge, we believe that this was done in a proper way," said Metalor CEO Antoine de Montmollin. "But due to the complexity of the supply chain, we cannot have 100% certainty. We await the conclusion of the current investigation." In 2018, Metalor supplied gold to firms including Tiffany & Co., Samsung Electronics Co. and Apple Inc. Gold is used to conduct electricity in phones and other electronic devices. Apple said it is committed to setting the highest standards for responsible sourcing, and has stopped working with 60 gold refiners since 2015 because they were unable or unwilling to meet its standards. It declined comment on whether it continued to accept gold from Metalor. Tiffany said it upheld industry-leading standards aligned with its commitment to responsible sourcing. It said Metalor was among several refiners which provided gold used in non-jewellery items. Its website shows these include $375 golden drinking straws and $1,500 paper-clips. Samsung declined to comment. Metalor said its executives and local staff made dozens of visits, including to Minerales del Sur's offices, to ensure suppliers were operating legally. Each time gold was shipped, it also verified documentation to ensure the metal came only from members of the state formalization program. But Metalor told Reuters it did not inspect mines. And its executives were not aware of two independent audit reports, produced for a Peruvian state firm involved in the program and seen by Reuters, that found flaws which made it easy for gold from unknown sources to be slipped into shipments. Peruvian prosecutors have said their investigation will remain open in a preliminary phase through 2020. No charges have been issued, and the case may be closed if not enough evidence is assembled. Peru's Energy and Mining Ministry said it was working on improvements to the program, which it said has helped hundreds of thousands of people. In 2014, the incomes of as many as 600,000 people in Peru depended on artisanal and small-scale mining, according to estimates accessed on Delve, a global platform for information on such mines. "You're not going to find any country where traceability of small-scale mining is 100% trustworthy," Lenin Valencia, director of mining formalization in the ministry, told Reuters. Small-scale mining is so important to society and the economy that compromises have to be made, he said. "If we stuck to the law, there probably wouldn't be enough jails in the country to imprison so many people." Minerales del Sur declined to comment. A company representative told a judge in Lima its gold was all sourced legally. Daniel Jo Villalobos, attorney for Minerales owner Francisco Quintano Mendez, did not respond to emails. Metalor has been owned since 2016 by Japan's biggest gold retailer, Tanaka Kikinzoku, which said it had nothing to add. A COMPLICATED PLACE Peru is the biggest gold producer in Latin America. Its illegal gold trade, worth an estimated $4.38 billion in 2015, is at least twice as big an industry as drug trafficking, according to a 2017 report by the Peruvian banking regulator's Financial Investigation Unit. Energy and Mines Ministry data shows Peru's small-scale miners produced almost 19 tonnes of gold in 2018 - more than any single industrial mine in the country. Just over a third of its informal gold production that year was recorded in Puno, the region that was supplying Metalor. More than one in three people live in poverty in Puno, a land of rocks shot through with gold. Since 2000, rising gold prices have lured more to try their luck - in riverbeds, the rainforest, and in tunnels dug so haphazardly they risk collapse. To extract the metal, some use toxins including mercury which they sluice into waters such as Lake Titicaca, where studies have documented high levels of heavy metals in fish. On satellite maps, pools near mining areas show up sulphurous yellow and neon green. Miners in La Rinconada melt ice from the glacier to process ore. Yellow plastic bags of garbage slide uncollected down the snowy slopes; raw sewage collects in the hollows. The main drag bristles with black-market pop-up stalls marked "Compro Oro" ("I Buy Gold") where men and women sell specks of metal. Metalor's supplier Minerales del Sur had two gold-buying outlets in La Rinconada. Its headquarters in the town of Juliaca were shuttered when a reporter visited in June. A man who answered the door said the company was no longer operating. Metalor showed Reuters data from its suppliers in the last four weeks it took gold from the Peruvian program. Almost one-third of the nearly $30 million worth of gold sent to the refinery in Switzerland over those four weeks came from suppliers who were identified in the Peruvian prosecutorial documents as "suspicious," based on customs inspectors' findings. La Rinconada produced only a small share, according to the records. It's hard to be sure of the provenance: Customs inspectors found some of the names on the list were not producing gold where they said. For example, in March 2018, Metalor accepted more than 40 kilos of gold (worth about $1.7 million) from a company outside La Rinconada which customs officials said in a report later that year they couldn't find at the address listed. When the inspectors phoned, the person they reached told them the firm was currently "at the investment stage," the report said. Last June, a Reuters reporter in La Rinconada watched as hundreds of police officers in riot gear swept through the shantytown. A court had ordered miners out of ground owned by a local family. But the miners refused to move. They massed into a blockade and set off explosions of the dynamite they use to split the rocks. After a two-hour standoff, the police left. "La Rinconada is a very complicated place," said Federico Chavarry, who has spent the past decade as an environmental crimes prosecutor in Puno. He said the state lacks the resources to rein in illegal trade in the shantytown, because it makes so much money for many people. "I think it spun out of the government's hands a long time ago." Valencia at the mining ministry said prosecutors should be more active in controlling organised crime that fuels abuses. "Right now, we don't just have informal economies, we have criminal economies," he said. In one of two health clinics in the shantytown, physician Nelson Gadea, who has lived there for seven years, said that when he arrived he was shocked by the violence. The mercury the miners use causes mood swings, he said, flipping through pictures on his cellphone of patients disfigured by knife wounds: "I don't go out after 6pm." Men offer lighted cigarettes and coca leaves to the mountain spirits to win their favour. Women, barred by the men from the mines, scavenge on mountains of scree. The men "bring the rocks, dump them and we recycle the gold they didn't see," said one scavenger, Carmen Inofuente. "There've been a lot of accidents, rocks fall on us, there have been deaths, too." There is no question that conditions in La Rinconada are very difficult, Metalor said; its aim had been to help. WATCH VALLEY From the Andes to Metalor's headquarters is more than 6,000 miles and a world of contrast. With views of the Jura Mountains, Metalor's neat lab and offices in Marin-Epagnier, a village at the tip of Lake Neuchatel, sit in "Watch Valley," at the heart of Switzerland's watchmaking industry. The country exported timepieces worth more than $21 billion in 2018: One in every three watches shipped out of Switzerland is made of precious metal. In a conference room in Metalor's headquarters, CEO de Montmollin - who joined in 2005 and has been running the company since January 2019 - said artisanal gold had made up less than 5% of its annual throughput. Projects to make artisanal gold easier to trace face challenges, he said. Metalor refines roughly 500 tonnes of gold a year, around one-tenth of the total handled by the main global refineries. To be certain metal has been fairly produced often demands working with small quantities from single, closely monitored mines. That adds costs that many end-users are not yet willing to pay, de Montmollin said. Metalor first started buying gold from small miners in Peru in the late 1990s and has experienced problems before: In 2004, U.S. authorities fined one of its subsidiaries for being slow to respond after employees found couriers were picking up gold from the refinery and repackaging it in shampoo bottles to smuggle to South America. The company improved its compliance systems. In 2007, according to Swiss prosecutorial documents seen by Reuters, Switzerland's Attorney General opened an investigation into two Peruvian mining companies it suspected had laundered drug profits through cash and gold sent for refining to Metalor. Metalor said it stopped buying and refining gold from them in 2007. The Swiss closed their inquiry in 2008. Jose Camino, Metalor's legal counsel since 2014, said these cases emerged under previous managements and were no reflection of Metalor today. Instead, Metalor worked with government officials on a new approach: Informal miners in Peru could sell their gold without fear of prosecution if they submitted a sworn statement saying they were committed to establishing legal tax-paying businesses, or becoming "formalised." A Peruvian state company, Activos Mineros, was tasked with commercialising the gold. In 2014, it hired four companies nationwide to buy it at prices above the black market. Minerales del Sur, which already did business with Metalor, won the tender for Puno: It would check that gold genuinely came from miners on the program, and smelt the fragments it collected into bars. These, it would fly to Switzerland to be refined. The following year, Minerales del Sur's shipments to Metalor more than doubled to some 16 tonnes, worth over half a billion dollars, according to prosecutorial documents seen by Reuters. In a press release in 2015, Metalor said the project had implemented "clear reporting and verification of supply chain of minerals." CACHORREO But the program is flawed, say prosecutors, auditors and the government. One problem, said Valencia at the Energy and Mines ministry, is "basically, anyone could sign up." This means some of those in the program may not be miners. Another gap: Rather than signing up for taxes and regulation, participants need only swear they intend to work toward that goal. If they do, their names are listed in a "Commitment Register" at the mining ministry. Miners with such sworn declarations have in effect been shielded from prosecution for illegal mining. That, said environmental crimes prosecutor Chavarry, has created an atmosphere of impunity. He said he, too, had tried in vain to enforce the law in La Rinconada. He once seized a truck with 200 kilos in contraband explosives. "They didn't let me take it," he said of the suspects. "They threatened to burn the truck, to burn me alive and to burn the police officers supporting me alive." Peru's deadlines for miners to formalise have been repeatedly extended. So far, about 9,000 people have formalised out of around 200,000 on the Commitment Register nationwide, said Valencia. Metalor's gold came from suppliers on the Commitment Register or who had been formalised, which was the basis of its assurances that its suppliers were legal. "We were checking all the documentation one by one," said Camino. To this day, Metalor said, all but one of the suppliers are still listed on the Commitment Register. But Metalor's checks missed flaws flagged years ago. An auditor's report, reviewed by Reuters, found problems already in 2015, a year after the program started. The auditor, Rejas, Alva y Asociados, sent inspectors to Minerales del Sur's operations in the region. In sites including La Rinconada, they found many miners worked mainly as unpaid labourers for contractors, which sold gold to suppliers on the register. It's a system called "cachorreo" - a term with no direct translation from Spanish - and miners in La Rinconada told Reuters it is still widespread. Companies with legal concessions rent tunnels to contractors who hire hundreds of miners - as well as the women scavenging for rocks on the mountainsides - to extract metal. Most of the time, the concession-holders take all the miners' rocks but do not pay them for an initial period. This is illegal, said Cesar Ipenza, a lawyer and an expert on illegal and informal mining. But after labouring for a while for the concession-holder, diggers are free for a short time to take whatever they can carry. Instead of wages, benefits, or social security, they live by crushing and processing the rocks and selling their gold to "Compro Oro" stores. La Rinconada miner and labour activist Filiberto Arapa said that of the estimated 18,000 miners in the shantytown, only about 3,000 are legal. "The legal workers have their documents and benefits," he said. "The rest don't even know who they're working for." Metalor said it had not been aware of the practice. Several miners in La Rinconada said they were not interested in formalising. "If you work for a formal company, you receive labour benefits but make less," said Martin, a 36-year-old former farmer. He said he digs for one day in six entirely for himself and pockets between 1,000 and 2,000 soles a month. Peru's minimum wage is 930 soles, or $275. "For me, it's better to make a little more" by mining illegally, he said. UNKNOWN ORIGINS A second audit of the program, also reviewed by Reuters, found more gaps. During 2015 and 2016 the auditor, Inveritas Global Holdings, visited the 10 biggest gold suppliers in the scheme - five in Puno, and five in the Amazon region - and found four of Minerales del Sur's top five suppliers in Puno were booking big sales without mining at all. It also found Minerales del Sur had not provided evidence it checked its suppliers. "They're using their sworn declarations as legal guise to commercialize gold of unknown origins," concluded the report, which states that it was sent to Activos Mineros in May 2017. Activos Mineros said it could not comment in detail while the investigation is underway. But it said none of the companies it hired had criminal convictions when they tendered. Minerales del Sur, it added, did not come under investigation until July 2018 and has not registered any transactions in the program since then. Valencia said the mines ministry did not see the audit reports, and Metalor executives told Reuters they had not seen them either. Metalor said it had been reassured the program was working by Activos Mineros' decision in 2018 to renew its contract with Minerales del Sur. "If you renew the contract, that means that everything is okay. If not, you don't," Camino said. The refinery said it will focus in future on gold from industrial mining companies, whose origin is clearer. It was a difficult decision, it said - in part because Metalor pulling out of the Peruvian program means that buyers with less concern for good practice will step in. "It's better to be part of something which is not perfect, but that at least things are improving, than doing nothing," said de Montmollin. "We regret the decision, because gold will find its way, either way." (Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi reported from Marin-Epagnier, Mitra Taj from La Rinconada, Peter Hobson from London; Additional reporting by Antoine Harari in Lausanne; Edited by Sara Ledwith) Two local politicians who were unsuccessful in last month's General Election have been nominated by their respective parties for the Seanad elections. Former Fianna TD Declan Breathnach, who was eliminated at the final count, is one of ten unsuccessful Fianna Fail TDs who have received nominations by the party for one of the five vocational panels. Fine Gael councillor John McGahon has secured a nomination for his party to contest the Seanad election on the cultural and education panel. He commented on social media that he was 'over the moon' have received the nomination. He now faces the task of seeking support from the parties elected representatives across the country. 'This involves driving around the entire country and meeting all of Fine Gael's 255 Councillors, 35 TDs and 20 Senators! I sincerely hope I can be elected and be another voice for Louth in Leinster House.' As Paul notes below, the objective media is falling all over itself to explain Elizabeth Warrens collapse as the result of sexism, despite the mountain of evidence that voters (including women voters in her home state) just dont like her. Reminds me of the old story about the dog food company that spent millions hiring marketing consultants to determine why their dog food wasnt selling, and after a lot of elaborate theories, someone came up with a clear explanation: dogs didnt like the food. Yet somehow the media isnt just as curious about the collapse of Bernie Sanders on Super Tuesday, especially in the South, especially after doing so well with hispanic voters in Nevada. True, there arent as many hispanic voters in the southern states (except Texas, where Bernie was close), but his poor showing with black voters ought to raise some questions. Such as: is it possible that anti-Semitism explains Bernies poor showing among black voters? Maybe not, but step back a minute. A central tenet of the left today is that America is awash in residual racism against blacks. Could not the same be true of anti-Semitism? While the massive residual racism today is often said to be implicit or unconscious, you hardly need look very far to find explicit anti-Semitic statements from, for example, The Squad, not to mention golden oldies like Jesse Jacksons famous Hymietown remark from 1984, and the entire encyclopedia of Al Sharptons comments over the years. As we noted here a few times, the media said as little as possible about black homophobia toward Pete Buttigieg (who was on course to be wiped out in the South among black voters before he dropped out), always changing the subject as quickly as possible when it came up. Dont expect the media or pollsters to look very closely into this possibility. File this next to the other question no one in the media will ask Democrats: How many genders are there? Photo: Courtesy of A24 This review originally published in March, before coronavirus upended the theatrical release calendar and thwarted First Cows debut. We are republishing the piece ahead of A24s rerelease of Kelly Reichardts film across digital platforms. The director Kelly Reichardt edits her own films, and her rhythms at the start of her 19th-century frontier drama, First Cow, are idiosyncratic if not inscrutable. You cant predict when shell cut away or where shell linger or dawdle, depending on your patience for longueurs. You might find your mind wandering until she jolts you awake with a revelation, a flash of connection between two souls, or the first stirrings of dread. Thats when you feel most alive when you find her wavelength, and the inscrutable is suddenly crystalline. Again, that can take a while. The opening of First Cow is loose bordering on limp, the aura of drift a depressant. In a prologue, a woman (Alia Shawkat) with a dog uncovers a pair of human skeletons, after which the film appears to jump back in time. (There are no explanatory titles.) The mild-mannered protagonist, Cookie Figowitz (John Magaro), works as a cook for a band of surly trappers in the Pacific Northwest; his most tender moments are spent gathering wild mushrooms (chanterelles, I think, but dont take my word for it or ever let me be your wild-mushroom guide). Cookie has no roots, no ties to the material world. Hes barely there until he does a good turn for a naked Chinese man on the run from vengeful Russians and a bond begins to form, tentatively but with increasing firmness. When the enterprising King Lu (Orion Lee) concocts a plan to extract (i.e., steal) milk every night from the regions lone bovine, you may finally glimpse a narrative path forward. For Reichardt, it takes two to get a rhythm going. And two might be all you need. Co-written by Jonathan Raymond (the script based loosely on his novel The Half-Life), First Cow opens with a line from William Blakes Proverbs of Hell: The bird, a nest, the spider, a web, man friendship. A startling assertion, that home isnt a place or thing but a connection to someone not you. (Sartres Hell is other people can be regarded as a related not opposing contention.) Blakes conception of home applies to the major characters in all of Reichardts films, nomads for whom alienation is a baseline state and alliance (with a person or, in Wendy and Lucy, a dog) the only means of attaining a sense of permanence. The prospect of losing a friendship triggers existential dread in Reichardts first feature, Old Joy (also based on a story by Raymond), while the anti-hero of the eco-thriller Night Moves defends the Earth at the expense of human ties and ends up (along with everyone else) in hell. You can infer from Reichardts films that capitalism divides (and conquers) more reliably than it unites, although the theme isnt spelled out. (Nothing is spelled out.) What you register in the frontier town of First Cow is whats absent: a sense of community, of a shared enterprise. (Reichardt evokes Robert Altmans Pacific Northwestset masterpiece, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, with shots of the late Rene Auberjonois scrutinizing the action from the window of a ramshackle hut, the quotation from one of Auberjonoiss first films in one of his last both eerie and poignant.) We register filth, poverty, and competition for dwindling natural resources, overseen from the manse of an Englishman (Toby Jones) going by the name Chief Factor. (He seems to have created a Native American Raj a pun?) At the town market, Cookie and King Lu gaze along with other merchants on the arrival by boat of Chief Factors latest acquisition, the title character. Now, one man has dairy and the rest dont. Its King Lu the immigrant whose eyes are always on the main chance, whose brain teems with get-rich-quick schemes who recognizes that men subsisting miserably on biscuits made from flour and water (hardtack) will go nuts for something moist and tender. By night, he and Cookie sneak onto Chief Factors property and milk his cow; by day, townspeople line up and throw money at them for more of their doughnutlike oily cakes. King Lu exploits their racism for his own ends: The source of the cakes deliciousness is an ancient Chinese secret. Its exhilarating to watch the pair of outcasts make gobs of money, plan an opulent future in San Francisco, and share intimate details of their lives so exhilarating that you dont want to think about what could happen to them if theyre caught. In a cold, harsh, unjust society, a bond like theirs is surely worth the risk. The two actors are criminally endearing. Magaros Cookie is socially stunted but large-souled and very sweet, looking addled even before hes actually concussed. Lee is almost too movie-star handsome to be credible, but its fun to watch him maintain his supernatural poise while being condescended to by drooling white gits. Only the writing lets him down: Once the scheme is at full throttle, King Lu doesnt have much to do except repeat capitalist mantras, going for the mother lode when he ought to be gearing up to skedaddle. The abrupt finish leaves you saying, What ? And then, Oh. Right. Right. Oh. First Cow is deceptively spare: Its shot by Christopher Blauvelt in his and Reichardts customary boxy ratio, which concentrates the image and keeps your eyes from straying to far-off corners (there arent any), while the composer, William Tyler, seems not to be scoring the action so much as gently, sadly musing on it with banjo and harp. (Tylers country albums are much more busily orchestrated.) The effect is just so. Youre left sad but happy. But very sad. But happy, after all, when you think about Blake and what a life without friendship could be. This haunting movie transports you to another world and redefines home. *A version of this article appears in the March 16, 2020, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now! If one looks closely, there is not much that separates one Indian from another. We all come from the same morass and will return to it. I say this not as an elitist: I dont own a passport and havent travelled out of the country since 2000. I say this, instead, as someone who has been rooted here forever. Not an ordinary riot I speak of difference because the recent riots in Delhi are all about the dividing lines. As bodies are fished out of dirty drains, the dirty drain itself has become a metaphor for how superficial these dividing lines are. In the neighbourhoods of north-east Delhi, mobs on either side of the ganda nala, gave it back to the other. They were united by country pistols and the desire to burn down schools owned by the rival community. The firepower and the mindset was the same. Similarly, theres not much that divides the Indian bhakt and the Indian liberal elites. Both live in, say, Defence Colony. Both send their children to American and British universities. Both are part of the same private members clubs. Indeed, the bhakt was a liberal earlier. The ganda nala that separates A-block from C-clock is more in the head. Theres not much that divides the Indian bhakt and the Indian liberal elites. (Photo of a stone pelter during Delhi riots: Reuters) I make these points to argue that in such polarised times, its worthwhile remembering the nonsense that binds us than the nonsense that separates us. We are all survivors, regardless of class, religion and ideology, in a half-baked society that leeches the human spirit. What happened in Delhi was no ordinary riot. Its immediate provocation was toothless Muslim grandmothers and harried housewives sitting in peaceful protest. This riot has to be seen in the larger context of BJPs selfprofessed goal of establishing a Hindu majoritarian nation. TikTok exploded with Hindu teenage angst. This was also no ordinary riot because it was Independent Indias first digital riot, broadcast live on our phones. There was nothing that was hidden. It was left to the people to make up their minds as to who did what and when. If Muslims hitting the streets in December marked a turning point, Muslims picking up the gun marks yet another, in the post-BJP era. Both events have been turned to its advantage by the BJP. The gulf widens The Hindu voter is now convinced more than ever that the Muslim is kattar and has to be taught a lesson. Kaato, nahin to kat jaoge, said a BJP spokesperson. In this time of Hindu resurgence and hate, the question for the Indian Muslim is: Where do I go from here? The judiciary, the police, the government and the Hindus of India are against them. Kejriwal, it turns out, was, for all this while, more intent in grabbing a slice of the Hindutva political pie. Secularism is dead and buried. Calls to radicalise have already come from ISIS. Not surprisingly, Hindutva and ISIS share the same enemies. This is so because both make religion the centrepiece of ideology. ISIS has asked Indian Muslims to steer clear of Kanhaiya Kumar, communists and secularists. But terrorism doesnt come easily to everyone. How will this end? The more practical future that the Indian Muslim is looking at is one which is marked by an enduring day-to-day humiliation (at the hands of Hindus). There is enough reported evidence of this already happening. Kejriwal, it turns out, was, for all this while, more intent in grabbing a slice of the Hindutva political pie. Secularism is dead and buried. (Photo: Reuters) The Indian Muslim doesnt know what to do because her oppressor has no clear idea either. Will it be enough if they stop wearing the burqa and skull caps? When a Muslim learns Sanskrit and wants to teach it he is thrown out of Banaras Hindu University. How does the hapless Muslim mainstream? The Hindutva project will be bloody; its something weve already witnessed in the attacks on Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University, the brutality in U.P. and the Gujarat model being repeated in Delhi. Let me end with a thought experiment. Hindutva is such an oppositional identity that if you take away the oppositional elements, there is little left. Suppose all the liberal websites shut down and the journalists moved to Japan, stopped writing. Suppose all the Muslims moved to Pakistan, every single one. Suppose the Left intellectuals also quit India and scholarly pursuits. What would you be left with? A pure Hindutva nation with no enemies and nothing left to rage against. At this stage, surrounded by a preternatural quiet, my fellow Hindu will look in the mirror and ask the existential question: Who am I? What am I doing on this planet? What do I do with my time? (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: Who failed Delhi? Washington: If Joe Biden becomes the Democratic Party's presidential nominee - a prospect that looks increasingly likely - he has one voting group to thank above all others: African Americans. It was Biden's thumping victory in South Carolina - where a majority of Democratic primary voters are black - that jolted his sputtering campaign back to life and cemented him as the leading moderate in the field. Overwhelming support from black voters was also crucial to Biden's victories in a string of southern Super Tuesday states, allowing him to amass a delegate lead that Bernie Sanders will struggle to overcome. Democratic presidential candidate and former vice-president Joe Biden takes a picture with the choir at the Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Selma, Alabama. Credit:Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP In the delegate-rich state of Texas, for example, Sanders won the most votes among white, Hispanic and Asian-American voters. But Biden's dominance with African Americans - he won 60 per cent of the black vote, compared to 17 per cent for Sanders - pushed him into the lead. The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group today starts a stakeholder engagement process on key elements of its Climate Bank Roadmap 2021-2025. The roadmap takes effect from 1st January 2021 and will provide the strategic and operational framework for the EIB Group to meet its commitments towards climate action and environmental sustainability over the next five years. Climate change and environmental degradation are the most critical issues of our time. Urgent action is required and the EU and its Bank are ready to respond, said EIB Vice President Emma Navarro, responsible for Climate Action and Environment. As the EU Climate Bank, we are working with the European Commission on the European Green Deal so that Europe becomes the worlds first climate-neutral continent by 2050. To deliver on our commitments, we are developing the EIB Group Climate Bank Roadmap and we want to invite you to join this debate and help us prepare our roadmap. We look forward to your contributions! Over the coming weeks, stakeholders can submit their contributions via a dedicated website. On 23rd March, the EIB Group will host a stakeholder engagement event in Brussels, followed by a second event before the summer break. Both events will be live-streamed and minutes will be available. The focus will be on the following four topics: Aligning the EIB Groups activities with the goals and principles of the Paris Agreement; Increasing environmental sustainability investments and leaving no one behind; Leveraging private-sector finance and promoting financial innovation; and Measuring the long-term effect of the EIB Groups operations. The EIB has committed to dedicating at least 50% of its lending to climate action and environmental sustainability by 2025 an increase from around 30% today. By 2030, the EIB Group plans to help unlock at least 1 trillion of climate action and environmental sustainability investments from public and private partners. In addition, the EIB Group will align all its financing activities with the principles and goals of the Paris agreement by the end of 2020. This will be complemented by a proposal regarding a Just Transition. On 4th March, the European Commission presented a proposal to enshrine in legislation the EUs political commitment to be climate neutral by 2050. The European Climate Law sets the 2050 target and the direction of travel for all EU policy, and gives predictability for public authorities, businesses and citizens. At the same time, the Commission launched a public consultation on the future European Climate Pact. Through this consultation the public will be involved in co-designing this instrument. The brother and nephew of Saudi Arabia's King Salman have been arrested over a plot to oust the king and his son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, a brother of King Salman, and the monarch's nephew Prince Mohammed bin Nayef were accused of treason. They were taken from their homes early on Friday by black-clad royal guards, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Saudi royal court has accused the two men, once potential contenders for the throne, of 'plotting a coup to unseat the king and crown prince' and could face lifetime imprisonment or execution, the newspaper said. The brother and nephew of Saudi Arabia's King Salman have been arrested over a plot to oust the king and his son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman (pictured) One of the king's brothers, Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al Saud, and one of his nephews, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef (pictured) have been arrested in their homes and charged with treason, The Wall Street Journal reports Prince Nayef, a once powerful figure as head of Saudi counter terrorism efforts, had been crown prince until 2017. King Salman took away the title and put his son - Prince Mohammed bin Salman - first in line for the throne. The New York Times also reported his and Prince Ahmed's detention, adding that Prince Nayef's younger brother, Prince Nawaf bin Nayef, had also been detained. The detentions mark the latest crackdown by Prince Mohammed, who has consolidated his grip on power with the imprisonment of prominent clerics and activists as well as princes and business elites. Prince Mohammed has also faced a torrent of international condemnation over the murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate in October 2018. King Salman (pictured third from left) took away Mohammed bin Nayef's title and put his son - Prince Mohammed bin Salman (pictured second from left) - first in line for the throne Who is Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Saud? Prince Ahmed, born in 1942, is a brother of King Salman of Saudi Arabia. He served as deputy minister of the interior from 1975 until 2012 and was briefly the full minister. At the beginning of the 2000s, Prince Ahmed was seen as one of the potential candidates to succeed King Salman. However, in 2014, he was effectively excluded from the line of succession when, instead of him, prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz was appointed deputy crown prince. Prince Ahmed then left Saudi Arabia to live in London. In 2018, just before he returned to Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the Khashoggi scandal, the prince courted controversy over remarks h made to protesters in London. They had been chanting against Saudi royals over the kingdom's involvement in the ongoing conflict in Yemen. He told them: 'What does the family have to do with it? 'Certain individuals are responsible... the king and the crown prince," he said, according to a widely-circulated online video of the incident. The comment was seen by many as rare criticism of the kingdom's leadership and its role in Yemen, but Prince Ahmed dismissed that interpretation as "inaccurate". Advertisement He was accused of ordering the journalist's murder, and the killing sparked calls for him to be replaced as Crown Prince. He was also accused of hacking the phone of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos after the pair swapped numbers. Already viewed as the de facto ruler controlling all the major levers of government, from defence to the economy, the prince is widely seen to be stamping out traces of internal dissent before a formal transfer of power from his 84-year-old father King Salman. 'Prince Mohammed is emboldened - he has already ousted any threats to his rise and jailed or murdered critics of his regime without any repercussion,' Becca Wasser, a policy analyst at the US-based RAND Corporation, said of the latest crackdown. 'This is a further step to shore up his power and a message to anyone - including royals - not to cross him.' Prince Ahmed, said to be in his 70s, had returned to the kingdom from his base in London in the aftermath of the Khashoggi scandal, in what some saw as an effort to shore up support for the monarchy. Just before his return in October 2018, the prince had courted controversy over remarks he made to protesters in London chanting against Saudi royals over the kingdom's involvement in the ongoing conflict in Yemen. 'What does the family have to do with it? Certain individuals are responsible... the king and the crown prince,' he said, according to a widely-circulated online video of the incident. The comment was seen by many as rare criticism of the kingdom's leadership and its role in Yemen, but Prince Ahmed dismissed that interpretation as 'inaccurate'. Prince Mohammed had edged out Prince Nayef, the former crown prince and interior minister, in 2017 to become heir to the Arab world's most powerful throne. At the time, Saudi television channels showed Prince Mohammed kissing the hand of the older prince and kneeling before him in a show of reverence. Prince Mohammed has also faced a torrent of international condemnation over the murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate in October 2018 Journalist Khashoggi was lured to the Saudi consulate before being murdered inside by a hit squad sent from the oil-rich country Western media reports later said that the deposed prince had been placed under house arrest, a claim strongly denied by Saudi authorities. The same year that Prince Nayef was stripped of his crown prince status, Prince Mohammed ordered a sweeping crackdown, arresting senior members of the royal family and billionaire businessmen. He claimed it was a bid to tackle corruption. The group of the country's most powerful figures were held in a function room at the Ritz Carlton hotel in their home country. Pictures showed them sleeping on mattresses on the floor. The group of the country's most powerful figures were held in a function room at the Ritz Carlton hotel in their home country Pictures showed them sleeping on mattresses on the floor. A source told MailOnline at the time that the men were being strung up by their feet and beaten by American private security contractors A source told MailOnline at the time that the men were being strung up by their feet and beaten by American private security contractors. Among those arrested on allegations of corruption was Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, the Saudi King's nephew who is worth more than $17bn according to Forbes, and owns stakes in Twitter, Lyft and Citigroup. Who is Prince Mohammed bin Nayef? Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, 60, was previously a very powerful figure in Saudi Arabia. A nephew of King Salman, he was previously the crown prince of the country between 2015 and 2017, when he was stripped of the title by the king. His role as crown prince had made him first in line to the throne, but he was replaced by Mohammed bin Salman, who ordered his arrest. The prince had also served as minister of the interior and had headed up the country's counter terrorism efforts. But his dramatic downfall in 2017 saw him stripped of all his roles. It was claimed at the time that he was stripped of his status as crown prince because he was addicted to pain killing drugs. The prince went to school in the US and went on to develop a close relationship with American officials, becoming known as the 'prince of counter terrorism'. He led Saudi Arabia's war on Al Qaeda and in 2017 was awarded a medal by the CIA, honoring him for his alleged contributions to counter-terrorism. Advertisement He was stripped of his position as National Guards chief. The Saudi crown prince, according to the source, also confiscated more than $194 billion from the bank accounts and seized assets of those arrested. The source said that Salman, often referred to by his initials MBS, was conducting some of the interrogations on the princes and billionaries himself. 'When it's something big he asks them questions,' the source said. 'He speaks to them very nicely in the interrogation, and then he leaves the room, and the mercenaries go in. The prisoners are slapped, insulted, hung up, tortured.' Prince Mohammed did win plaudits from Western leaders after he introduced some moderate reforms - allowing women in Saudi Arabia to drive for the first time ever and introducing cinemas to the country. The Crown Prince - also known simply as MBS - also reined in the country's fierce and ultra conservative religious police. Leaders including Theresa May and Donald Trump have rolled out the red carpet for him during his lavish visits. The latest detentions come at a sensitive time as Saudi Arabia bars Muslim pilgrims from Islam's holiest sites to contain the novel coronavirus. The kingdom has suspended the 'umrah' year-round pilgrimage over fears of the disease spreading to Mecca and Medina, raising uncertainty over the upcoming hajj - a key pillar of Islam. The oil-rich kingdom is also grappling with the plunging price of crude, its major source of revenue. Prince Mohammed was also accused of hacking the phone of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos after the pair swapped numbers. Pictured: Bezos during a meeting with Bin Salman in Riyadh in 2016 Thomian Sing- along with X Periments View(s): Thomian Sing- along, an evening packed with all time favourites for singing along and dancing with music provided by popular band Sohan and the XPeriments will come alive at the Grand Orient Hotel, York Street, Colombo 1 on Saturday, 21st March starting at 7.00pm. Sohan and the XPeriments along with their dynamic songstress Trishelle Wijetunga will roll the barrel of fun at the Lotus Room of GOH with fun competitions, dancing, baila sessions and prizes, is presented by the Old Boys Association of S. Thomas College, Bandarawela as a fund raiser for the College OBA projects. Sing- along session will be hosted by Kumar de Silva. Entrance is by programme at Rs. 3500/- per head inclusive of a sumptuous Buffet Dinner. For more details, call Subramanian Kamalanathan on 077 759 8200. 1) Damini Rizvi Roy D (Sayani Gupta) Four More Shots Please! On Amazon Prime Giving young viewers all the confidence and motivation to go out there and break barriers, D represents a fearless spirit that we simply can't get enough of. She teaches us to fight for what is right, no matter how hard it is. Apart from being a brave journalist, what makes D so very relatable is how she supports her friends at all times and encourages them to live their own choices. At the end of the day, she makes all women understand that women do not need anyone's acknowledgement or approval for the work they do for they alone are the ones who must have that power. 2) Inspector Vartika Chaturvedi (Shefali Shah) - Delhi Crime On Netflix Arguably one of the most-stellar women-centric roles on the Indian OTT space, Shefali Shah gave us a performance that has set the benchmark for acting. Playing the role of a cop in a completely male-dominated profession, Inspector Vartika tactfully traces through a case that has the nation's undivided attention. Her role was relatable to many women who juggle between their work and personal life. Playing the role with utmost finesse and sincerity, Shefali soon became a source of inspiration to many women in the country. Along with the plot of the show that won acclaim, Delhi Crime showed a women's emotional side, yet a powerful one, when it comes to seeking justice. 3) Dr Meera Kapoor (Rasika Dugal) - Out Of Love On Hotstar Many series focus on the perfect love, between two people, that results with the perfect ending. Far from the tried and tested mainstream shows we see, Out of Love focused on how to get out of a toxic relationship, no matter how difficult it is. A doctor, who is the sole earner of the house, is left heart broken when she finds out that her husband is having an affair. The manner in which her coping strategies were depicted is what women found extremely relatable. While it may not have been the perfect love story for Dr. Meera, she did get her happy ending by moving on from this relationship and starting a new chapter of her life with her son. She sent a message that was loud and clear, that it's never too late to start afresh and one can do so whenever they want. 4) Zarina Mailk (Richa Chadha) - Inside Edge On Amazon Prime Women today aspire to earn money and respect so that they become a dominant force in society. Richa Chadha beautifully portrayed that playing the role of as Zarina Malik. Here was a character that inspired and motivated a lot of girls and women to work harder and not settle until and unless satisfied. In a male-dominated industry of a sporting league, she stood as strong powerful women playing the co-owner of a team. 5) Dr Mira Anand (Tisca Chopra) - Hostages On Hotstar Adding to the thrills and chills in the nail-biting series Hostages was the character of Dr Mira Anand. Her role taught each and every one of us how to tackle life-changing situations with precision in their thought and action. Add to that, one got to see how caring and nurturing a doctor can be as Tisca Chopra showed how her profession is considered a noble one. Thanks to its strange-yet-adorable smile, a rescue puppy that took the internet by storm has finally found a home. Burreaux, a Labrador-retriever mix, went viral after starring in a video by the Humane Society of Northwest Louisiana on Feb. 22. The clip showed the 8-week-old puppy smiling a huge, toothy grin as people walked by his bed. It has since been viewed more than 500,000 times on Facebook. The clip captured the hearts of thousands of commenters, who suggested that Burreaux was smiling at potential adopters. The video got so much attention that the puppy found a forever home within a few days. Hollie King, who adopted the dog and renamed him Pappy, told Insider shes yet to see his iconic look. She says, "His smile is what drew us into adopting him. So far he hasnt smiled, not one time... I figured its either hes still trying to get used to us or keeps getting distracted by everything. He really is the sweetest thing ever" Trans-identified males in women's hospital wards policy under review in UK, health board says Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Official guidance in the United Kingdom urging medical professionals to chastise women who express discomfort with sharing hospital wards with trans-identifying males is being reviewed. The U.K. Times reported that the National Health Service in Greater Glasgow and Clyde had urged staff to treat women who objected to sleeping next to patients who appear to be male as through they were racists. But that policy is now under review by the health board following a consultation with the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Members of the Scottish parliament were informed Wednesday that Scottish officials backed single sex exemptions in some circumstances, after Joan McAlpine, an MSP and critic of transgender ideology, voiced her concerns about the hospital policy. "NHS Greater Glasgow and Clydes gender reassignment policy review says that a female patient who is distressed at the presence of a male-bodied trans-identified person in the next bed should be told that that person is female and that her complaint is similar to a white woman complaining about a black patient being in the next bed," McAlpine said. Such statements in official documents cast doubt on assurances that the government is committed to maintaining womens privacy and dignity and the single-sex exemptions in the Equality Act 2010. The review comes as ongoing debate occurs, particularly among the Labour party, about how and why laws and policies should recognize and cater to individuals who self-identify as something other than their biological sex. Women's rights campaigners across the U.K. have in recent years contested allowing males into female-only spaces amid an increasing presence of transgender-identifying persons. The Equality Act of 2010 presently permits authorities to restrict some services for women such as rape crisis facilities where women may feel uncomfortable speaking to counselors who appear as male. "The health board would not specify what advice it had received from the EHRC but said the policy was under consideration," the U.K. Times reported. The review is also the latest of moves that have been set in motion related to transgender issues. Last month, a team of doctors was formed to review the safety of drugs used to halt puberty in youth who present with gender dysphoria. The NHS also recently announced that it was revisiting its rules surrounding allowing young people to go on the experimental drugs without the approval of their parents. Last week, a senior judge on the U.K.'s highest court approved a full trial in the divisional court in a case against the Tavistock gender clinic in which a female claimant who underwent a hormonal gender transition during her teen years says she was harmed at the facility before the end of July. THE Defence Forces have confirmed that they are "on standby and ready to respond" in the event of a large outbreak of Covid-19 / coronavirus cases across the country. The Department of Defence said Army chiefs are in contact with the HSE and the Department of Health and are ready to intervene if necessary. Army medics have received training and have been issued with protective clothing and equipment. The Department of Defence said: "The Defence Forces is attending the Major Emergency Management meetings, led by the Department of Health. "Our medical corps personnel have been equipped with Individual Protective Equipment and have conducted the required training. "The Defence Forces is on standby and ready to respond to requests from the civil authorities within our means and capabilities. "To date, no requests have been received." For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever and dry cough, according to a report from the World Health Organization. WHO looked at 55,924 cases of the virus confirmed by laboratories and found 87.9% had a fever or a dry cough (67.7%), or both. Less common symptoms were fatigue (38.1%), coughing up phlegm (33.4%), shortness of breath (18.6%), sore throat (13.9%), headache (13.6%), joint pain (14.8%), chills (11.4%), nausea or vomiting (5%), nasal congestion (4.8%), diarrhea (3.7%), coughing up of blood (.9%) and eye discharge (0.8%). "Fever and cough was observed in almost all COVID-19 patients described in the literature," Jan Carette, associate professor of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, explained in an email. "Only very few cases had prominent upper-respiratory tract signs and symptoms (eg, runny nose or sneezing). This means that the virus likely hangs out more in the lower airway rather than the upper airway." Dr. Maria Raven, chief of emergency medicine at UC San Francisco, explained that an upper-respiratory infection is what's often referred to as a head cold, and COVID-19 is "what we call lower respiratory, so more from the lung than from the head." Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General with the WHO, echoed this information in an interview with Vox Media, saying many mistakenly think a runny nose is a common symptom. All of that said, Raven added COVID-19 can't be diagnosed only by observing symptoms, and anyone who is sick and has any of the potential symptoms should contact their healthcare provider for an assessment. "Were being very conservative here, because there have been cases that have been missed," Raven said. "I dont know if we're missing the cases because theyre presented with symptoms that arent obvious. We want to make sure we dont miss anybody." The WHO analysis also revealed that most people develop symptoms on average of five to six days after infection, though the range is anywhere from one to 14 days. Coronaviruses are among a group of viruses that cause the common cold, and there are seven known viruses of the type that can infect humans. Four of these (229E, HKU1, OC43 and NL63) are seasonal and typically cause mild respiratory infection fever, cough, nasal congestion, and headache according to Dr. Charles Chiu, a professor of laboratory medicine and infectious disease at UC San Francisco. "The remaining three coronaviruses (MERS, SARS, COVID-19) are the result of recent zoonotic (animal-to-human) transmission events and although they are also associated with mild respiratory symptoms, infection can progress to cause severe, life-threatening pneumonia," Chiu shared in an email. COVID-19 is the most recently discovered coronavirus and was unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China in December. To date, a vaccination or antiviral medication isn't available to treat it, according to the WHO. People with serious illness should be hospitalized. The virus has infected more than 100,000 people around the globe. Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: According to sources, the reason for the arrest was a case of high treason Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Open source Three senior members of Saudi Arabia's royal family, including the king's brother, have been arrested for unexplained reasons, BBC reports. Two of the men were among the kingdom's most influential figures. The detentions are seen as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tightening his grip on power. In 2017 dozens of Saudi royal figures, ministers and businessmen were confined to Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton hotel after the crown prince ordered their arrests. Mohammed bin Salman, a controversial figure, has been considered the de facto ruler of the kingdom after he was named crown prince by his father in 2016. The detentions were first revealed by the Wall Street Journal newspaper, which said they took place early on Friday. The three men arrested are the king's younger brother Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, former crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef, and a royal cousin, Prince Nawaf bin Nayef. Mohammed bin Nayef was interior minister until he was removed from his role and placed under house arrest by Mohammed Bin Salman in 2017. In his previous role, he was seen as a close and trusted partner by US intelligence officials. Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, 78, is the king's only surviving full brother. In 2018 he made comments seen as critical of the crown prince to protesters in London but later said he had been misinterpreted. Both men were seen as potential rivals to the 34-year-old crown prince, who is first in line for the throne. Guards arrived at the homes of the royals wearing masks and dressed in black, and searched the properties, the Wall Street Journal says. This is a significant move by Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to consolidate his position. Prince Ahmed bin Abdelaziz is one of the last surviving sons of the country's founder, King Abdelaziz, and widely respected amongst older members of the ruling family. The other senior prince, Mohammed bin Nayef, was next in line to the throne before he was suddenly replaced three years ago. Before that, as interior minister, he was credited with defeating the al-Qaeda insurgency that gripped Saudi Arabia in the 2000s. There has been no immediate official confirmation or denial of the story published in the US media but palace affairs in Saudi Arabia are often shrouded in secrecy. (@FahadShabbir) The Syrian authorities are ready to restore relations with Turkey if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stops supporting terrorists, Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview with Rossiya-24 television aired on Thursday CAIRO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th March, 2020) The Syrian authorities are ready to restore relations with Turkey if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stops supporting terrorists, Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview with Rossiya-24 television aired on Thursday. "Our common goal with Russia is to move Turkey away from the support of terrorists and return it to its natural position," Assad said. "We can't reach such a goal while Erdogan supports the terrorists. It is necessary to get rid of the support of the terrorists, and then the situation will return [to the previous one]," the Syrian leader said. According to Assad, there is no enmity between the peoples of the two countries, and the tensions are linked with political interests. Syria and Turkey severed diplomatic relations in 2012. Everybody loves an Italian leather bag! By Meleeza Rathnayake View(s): View(s): HMGO, a luxury Italian leather bag and accessories brand is now in Sri Lanka. We design and build style. Go your own way with courage, independence, passion and style. HMGO is an embodiment of all these qualities and has been so from the very beginning of its existence in 2012, said HMGO founder, Hema Gunawardana, an IT professional launching the brand here. Manufactured in Poland out of the best Italian leather, HMGO in Hemas words is not just a brand. We design and build style so you can express yourself without words.Our leather goods made from the finest Italian leather are beautiful and simple and they are made with artistry and craftsmanship that define style and create desire, he said. HMGO products are available online and now at Le Atelier Touche, PR Gallery at Horton Place, and other selected outlets. They will soon be launching a line of luxury sunglasses and jewellery. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has defended a major shake-up of his cabinet, which has rattled investors worried that his government is backing away from major economic and structural reforms. In an interview with Bloomberg published on March 7, Zelenskiy tried to reassure outside observers, who have voiced concern that he was returning to the murky governing practices of his predecessors. "We needed to react to the cabinet's effectiveness," Zelenskiy was quoted as saying. He said this week's shake-up, which resulted in Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk losing his job and being replaced by his deputy, Denys Shmyhal, was needed, since, he said, the existing cabinet wasn't working well. "When youre making such deep changes in the country, you can't fail. It's not about your personal ratings, it's not that you can be kicked from power, it's that Ukraine may not ever have a chance again to do this," he said. Some experts have worried that Zelenskiy is giving in to pressure from oligarchs: the powerful, wealthy businessmen who control a large part of the economy and have exerted outside influence. One of the countrys most powerful oligarchs is Ihor Kolomoyskiy, who backed Zelenskiy in his previous career as a comic TV actor, but is now embroiled in a fight with the government for control of a bank called PrivatBank. Zelenskiy insisted that oligarchs had no influence over his government. "They own 70-80 percent of assets in this country," he said. "Every manager in Ukraine worked for one of them or is somehow linked to one of them. And they hire the best -- we should understand that." In another interview also published March 7, Zelenskiy said he was giving Russia a one-year ultimatum to find peace in the war in eastern Ukraine. "The government can spend one year on the entire agreement. Then it should be implemented. Any longer is prohibited," he was quoted as telling The Guardian newspaper. Zelenskiy was elected last April in a landslide election, largely on a mandate to enact major reforms but also to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 13,000 people since it erupted in March 2014. His popularity has waned in recent months, as Ukrainians grow impatient with the pace of reforms. The fighting in the east pits Ukrainian government troops against separatists supported by Russia. A 33 year old man who made threats to kill the garda who arrested him after he crashed into a car and nearly mowed down a pedestrian was jailed for three years when he appeared at the Circuit Criminal Court in Dundalk last Tuesday. Hugh Maguire, who had an address at Woodland Park, Dundalk at the time and is now living in Cork, pleaded guilty to a number of offences which occurred on December 26 2017. The court heard that he failed to stop for gardai who had received reports of a grey Cork registered Peugeot which had done a u-turn and drove through two red lights before turning into Greenacres. Another motorist who was exiting a carpark had paused to let a pedestrian cross the road. This man was standing on a traffic light and feared for his life, after the deft struck the side of the other car while on the wrong side of the road. The pedestrian, who had to jump out of the way, was 'absolutely terrified' and was shaking after the incident as he thought he was going to be knocked down. The both tyres on the passenger side of the defendant's car were punctured and the Garda who spoke to him, got a strong smell of alcohol from his breath and he was arrested. At the Garda Station, Maguire threatened to kill the Garda, saying he would track him down and that it would be 'more than slaps you'll be getting.' He also commented that 'plenty of guards are being shot', alluding to the murder of two Gardai in north Louth. The Garda told the court that he was of the view that the deft meant the threats and that he would carry them out. He was uncoperative during the course of the interview. When asked if he remembered being stopped by gardai in Greenacres he said 'do you think I have Alzheimers'. The court heard that 700 of damage was caused to the other motorist's car and he suffered pain in his back and neck after the collision but has recovered. The pedestrian was pretty shaken as a result of the incident. Neither men wished to make victim impact statements or attend court. The defendant, who currently resides in Cork, has family in Dundalk and was living at Woodland Park when the incidents occurred. He had 88 previous convictions. The deft's barrister said his client had made positive changes in his life and was going through a lot of stress at the time of the offences. He was in trouble from a young age and he pointed out that most of the convictions occurred between 2005 and 2010 and less of them in the following decade. Maguire had a long problem with alcohol and drugs and was going through a binge when he drove his sister's car while disqualified and put people's lives at risk because he was under the influence of an intoxicant. He was getting treatment in Cork and is in a relationship and has three children. Imposing a four year sentence, with the final year suspended, for making threats to kill, Judge McCourt said that the threats 'were very real' although the Garda was not affected by them on a day to day basis. Regarding the charge of reckless endangerment, he said it was 'indeed miraculous' that the pedestrian had the presence to jump out of the way or it could have been a lot worse. He also imposed a four year sentence in respect of that charge, with the last 12 months suspended.Maguire was also sentenced to six months in jail for dangerous driving, three months for failure to stop and sentenced to one year for drunk driving, a disqualified from driving for 15 years. The prayer and the general audience will be livestreamed by Vatican News on screens in St Peter's Square. The presence of the faithful during the morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta is also suspended. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis will not appear tomorrow at the window overlooking St Peter's Square to prevent people from assembling below. In a statement, the Holy See Press Office noted that the Marian prayer will be livestreamed. The same will happen for Wednesdays general audience. "Regarding the events of the next few days, the Angelus prayer by the Holy Father on Sunday, 8 March, will take place in the Library of the Apostolic Palace and not from the window overlooking the square. The prayer will be livestreamed by Vatican News on screens in St Peter's Square and distributed by Vatican Media to the media who request it, so as to allow the participation of the faithful. "The General Audience on Wednesday, 11 March, will follow the same procedures. This decision was deemed necessary to avoid the risk of spreading the COVID-19 virus in public gatherings during the security checks required to access the square, as requested by Italian authorities, the statement read. "In compliance with the decisions by the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, the participation of the faithful at the Masses in Santa Marta will be suspended until Sunday, 15 March. The Holy Father will celebrate the Eucharist privately. Black flags were seen outside the headquarters building of the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) on Thursday as a sign of protest by trade unions over recent management changes at the premier state banks. Unions at the BOC and Peoples Bank are protesting over the removal by the government of their two General Managers. Pic by [...] CHEYENNE After several days of tense negotiations, the House and Senate reached tentative terms on a budget agreement late Friday night, bringing to a close a process that began back in December. While long-debated and, up until this week, mostly agreed on, the final process was not without its hiccups. By the close of business Wednesday in the Capitol, members of the Joint Appropriations Committee were still in disagreement over a dozen items in the budget, including $2.5 million in matching funds to the University of Wyoming for its law school, a 1.5 percent reduction in targeted spending, the deletion of health insurance coverage for a number of currently unfilled positions in the states education system and the two chambers differing positions on $19.2 million to fund a cost adjustment for the states K-12 education system, which is set to undergo recalibration next year. On Wednesday, the first break in the logjam came as the Senate yielded ground to the House on the introduction of a $5 increase to the states vehicle registration and licensing fees. However, negotiations stalled out on Thursday, with committee members declining to meet with one another that evening and pressing negotiations well into the evening hours on Friday. While both sides had compromised on numerous issues throughout more than six hours of negotiations Friday night, one issue the continued funding of health insurance for numerous, unfilled positions in the states K-12 education system continued to be a sticking point. Senate Appropriations Chairman Eli Bebout, R-Riverton, came precipitously close to pulling the plug on discussions after the House attempted to negotiate the Senates position down just before 4 p.m. Friday, only coming back to the table after being talked down by Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs. Lets not throw in the towel at the 99th hour when were that close, Hicks said. It would have been a disappointing end to what, at that point, had been a fairly productive negotiation between the two sides. Both groups had shown a willingness to meet halfway on funding for an external cost adjustment for the states K-12 education system. The Senate which has been wary of spending on capital construction in the states tight fiscal environment had re-inserted $2 million in matching funds for proposed upgrades to the universitys law school, while agreeing to split the difference on funding for the states community colleges and tens of millions of dollars in severance tax revenues the House wanted to make available for upcoming budgets. That concession was difficult for Senate members who historically prefer to take a longer-range view on spending. Health insurance, however, proved tricky. For the House, ceding too much ground on the issue could have potentially jeopardized coverage for an unanticipated number of employees, particularly as questions about recalibration and whether it leads to cuts or increased spending for K-12 education continue to linger. Though the Senate was willing to compromise on this point, funding some of that insurance through the next two-year budget cycle, the suggested cuts were still a little too steep for the Houses position. A resolution came, however, after Rep. Tom Walters, R-Casper, suggested reducing a number of the Houses positions by half, shaving millions of dollars off the Houses position through significant concessions on areas like funding for the UW law school in an effort to reduce steeper cuts to the K-12 insurance model. However, Fridays collision between the two sides could have been anticipated and avoided. Meeting since December, the Legislature voted last year to give itself four extra days to work on the budget and has been at odds since negotiations began in earnest at the beginning of the week. Im disappointed that we havent resolved it, Rep. Andy Schwartz, D-Jackson, said Friday morning. Now its Friday on the next-to-last week and we have issues moving forward. All I did was work to not get into this position. I dont want to blame the Senate or the House its just the nature of the negotiation. If its resolvable, I dont understand why it wasnt resolvable earlier, rather than later. With a deal now in hand, the budget will head Monday to Gov. Mark Gordons desk, where he will have until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday the last day of session to issue any vetoes to the Legislatures amendments. Ultimately, both sides were disappointed that the budget lacked cuts ahead of a steep fiscal cliff anticipated during the next two-year budget cycle. We made some progress tonight but we still have a long way to go, Bebout said. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Light segment of the economic picture The resolution aims at a synchronous, consistent and transparent approach to internationally advanced standards as well as harmony with international commitments in order to attract strategic investors and multinational corporations to invest, open their head offices and establish research and development centres and creative innovation centres in Vietnam. The resolution will also contribute to enhancing the link between foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic enterprises as well as encourage increased technology and management transfer for Vietnamese businesses. Resolution No.50/NQ-TW sets the goal of registered capital reaching around US$150 billion US$200 billion during the 2021-2025 period and around US$200 billion US$300 billion during the 2026-2030 period; implemented capital reaching about US$100 billion US$150 billion and US$150 billion US$200 billion respectively. The two goals are feasible because Vietnam attracted US$35.97 billion of foreign investment capital and realised capital reached US$20.38 billion in 2019. Therefore, an average growth rate of 7%-8% per year is realisable. Foreign direct investment is a bright segment of Vietnam's economic picture in 2019. As of December 20, 2019, realised FDI capital reached US$20.38%, a year-on-year increase of 6.7%. Total newly registered, adjusted and contributed capital of foreign investors was nearly US$36 billion, up 1.4$ over the previous year. FDI enterprises have a total export turnover (including crude oil) of US$181.35 billion, up 4.2% over 2018 and accounting for 68.8% of the whole countrys export turnover. Meanwhile, import turnover reached US$145.5 billion, up 2.5% and accounting for 57.4% of the countrys total. This economic sector also saw a trade surplus of nearly US$35.68 billion, not only offsetting the trade deficit of the domestic economic sector but also adding an export surplus of US$11.2 billion to the economy. Three determinants The distribution of FDI capital into economic sectors continued to hold the same level as previous years. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity was more active, accounting for an increasing proportion of the total registered capital, from 17.02% in 2017 to 27.78% in 2018 and 37.3% in 2019. This is a good sign because the larger scale of domestic business created an abundant supply for M&A and the opening policy of the stock market as well as expanding room for foreign investors. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the FDI into developing countries in Asia reached US$512 billion, an increase of 3.9% on 2018 ,accounting for 39% of total global FDI; meanwhile the FDI into Southeast Asia was a record US$149 billion, up 3%. In particular, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand witnessed relatively high growth. Manufacturing, services, wholesale, retail and digital sectors in ASEAN countries attracted the most FDI capital. Many reports showed that due to the impact of US-China trade tensions, many American, European and Asian investors are moving their factories from China to their countries or third countries, Vietnam being a leading choice. Overall, the quality and efficiency of FDI in 2019 did not meet the country's requirements in relation to the transition towards creative innovation, science technology and high-quality human resources, the industrial revolution 4.0 and the building of the digital eocnomy. The average size of each FDI project is too small, with around US$4 billion per project, showing a lack of large-scale entities.. In 2018, the largest projects were the construction of a smart city in Dong Anh District (Hanoi) worth US$4.14 billion and the building of a Polypropylene factory and a liquefied petroleum storage depot funded by the Republic of Korea (RoK) in Ba Ria Vung Tau province, totaling US$1.2 billion. The largest project in 2019 was worth only US$420 million. In the processing and manufacturing industries, there have not been many projects in terms of future technology like artificial intelligence (AI), block chain, fintech and research and development (R&D), especially in the two major economic centres of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In order to achieve the goal of FDI quality set by Resolution No.50, Vietnam should change its mindset and actions toward selecting partners and FDI projects because these are issues related to technology transfer, corporate governance, high-quality human resources training and joining in the global supply chain. It is essential to attract more FDI from Japan, the RoK, Singapore and Asia as well as rapidly increase large-scale investment projects from the US, Germany, France, the UK and several other European countries into modern and future technology, education and training and R&D. In addition to encouraging medium and small enterprises to invest in Vietnam, the relevant agenices should attract more transnational companies from the worlds top 500 on projects worth billions of US dollars. The FDI projects into the localities should be consistent with the development level of each province and city. In order to achieve these goals, Vietnam should perfect its political and economic institutions, create an attractive investment and business environment and choose the right projects and foreign investors. These are the three determinants to implement the correct FDI direction. It is essential to promote specific measures, including accelerating the transition to a digital, circulating and green economy. The ministries, agencies, localities, and the management boards of economic and industrial zones should simultaneously carry out these strategies to attract FDI through e-government and digital government, creating breakthroughs while building a list of FDI projects towards large scale and high quality. The relevant agencies should synchronously innovate in relation to investment promotional activities and the standards needed for investment certification as well as monitor, support and inspect the operation of enterprises. It is crucial to take advantage of these new opportunities as the countrys position has been raised both regionally and internationally and several FDI factories have been moved to Vietnam in order to select potential investors for high-quality and large-scale projects. The decisive factor is to reform the state apparatus towards e-government and digital government to serve people and businesses effectively and efficiently. PW posed three questions to the pros behind four forthcoming cookbooks: Leah Cohen, owner of Pig & Khao and Piggyback Bar in New York City (Lemongrass and Lime, Avery, Oct.) Los Angeles caterer Jocelyn Ramirez (La Vida Verde, Page Street, Apr.) Akhtar Nawab, chef-owner of Alta Calidad in Brooklyn and Otra Vez in New Orleans (Good for You, Chronicle, Aug.) Ottolenghi executive head chef Sami Tamimi and Ottolenghi recipe developer Tara Wigley (Falastin, Ten Speed, Apr.) What deceptively fancy or complex dish is simple enough for the home cook? Akhtar Nawab: Anything pureed. My blender is the most-used tool in my house. Jocelyn Ramirez: Jackfruit is really easy to prepare at home. People may feel its too complicated because the fruit can be huge and intimidating. We use the young green version of jackfruit for savory dishes, and it can typically be purchased jarred or canned. Leah Cohen: People are intimidated by curry because there are a lot of ingredients involved. My recipe for pineapple curry with mussels is actually really easy to make. Making your own curry paste is a game changer and far superior to buying it, but this is where people get hung up and think curry is too hard to make. Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley: Making your own labneh. Its just yogurt, which is spooned into the middle of a clean J-cloth or tea towel, pulled up into a little sack, tied together, and then hung from a tap over a sink to drain for about 24 hours. The result is thick, firm, tangy labnehthe more sheep or goats cheese, the tangier it will be. It takes more time to hang out your washing than it does to hang your yogurt, but the perception is that its really hard or involved. Whats your favorite show-off dish for guests? Jocelyn Ramirez: My mole colorado enmoladas, because the mole takes lots of time, ingredients, and patience to prepare. This is the perfect dish to make guests feel special. Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley: Maqlubet et ful: its an upside-down Palestinian savory rice cake layered with hearty vegetables and chunks of meat. Anything that gets inverted onto a big plate just before serving is the perfect show-off dish for guests. Its impossible not to make the ta-da noise when its brought to the table. Akhtar Nawab: Anything baked in large format. It could be a perfectly whole-roasted chicken or fish, or even a head of cauliflower. It encourages sharing and conviviality. Leah Cohen: White pepper lobster. Everyone thinks lobster is so fancy, but its actually a really easy dish to make. There arent a lot of ingredients that you have to source, and who isnt impressed with lobster? What do you make look easy but really requires mastery? Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley: The perfection of a perfectly cooked eggfirm whites, runny yolks, nothing in betweenis not to be underestimated in, for example, a green or red shakshuka. The key is to take your time: low heat and an eagle eye, and also removing the pan just before theyre ready. The eggs will continue to cook and firm up from the residual heat in the pan once off the heat. Leah Cohen: I think all my recipes are something the home chef can master, but perhaps a more labor-intensive recipe is my curry puffs. Making the shape of the curry puff, making sure the dough is not too dry, not too weteven my sous chefs are having to learn how to make it work. Pastry is always intimidating. Jocelyn Ramirez: My chile relleno con papas y huitlacoche dish does require some mastery in preparing the pasilla chile itself. Once cooked, it can become a very delicate ingredient, and it takes time to carefully remove the skin and seeds. Then it gets stuffed with the filling, being careful not to tear the chile. This is why I say to make one extra chile in the recipeone will always tear on you. Akhtar Nawab: Getting the most out of flavors is the hardest thing for some people. It requires patience and practice and an understanding of where you want the dish to end up. Also timingknowing the right time to re-season something or when the oil is hot enough to caramelize something. It all takes practice. Return to the main feature. Stop roads through NPs to mitigate climate change By Kumudini Hettiarachchi Two activists focus on the ill-effects of such intrusions and the importance of EIAs. View(s): View(s): Sri Lanka is caught in the stranglehold of a dry spell, with major water scarcities, power shortages and crop failures. As men, women and children are warned against heat-strokes and told to drink lots of water, the blame falls squarely on climate change. Climate change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment. From shifting weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in scale. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult and costly, the United Nations has warned. This is while climate scientists believe that human activities are very likely the main cause of global warming since the mid-20th century, including the use of fossil fuels (burning coal, oil and gas which produce carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere) and deforestation. It is deforestation that many environmentalists focus on to stress the point that simple measures within Sri Lanka such as not intruding into precious Protected Areas (PAs) of the country would help mitigate climate change to some extent. The exploitation of forests plays a major role in climate change, as trees help regulate the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When trees are axed or bulldozed, this positive effect which is crucial for our very existence is lost, says environmental lawyer, Jagath Gunawardena, citing simple but critical examples of the destruction of PAs such as National Parks by constructing roads through them. Even though climate change is such a serious issue, the destruction of forests goes unabated, said Mr. Gunawardena, turning the spotlight on roads within National Parks which are built with impunity and in clear contravention of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO). The impacts, of course, are traffic, noise, fumes and human activity, while the more insidious adverse impact is the edge effect, according to him. Explaining what the edge effect is, Mr. Gunawardena says that the disturbance caused by the building of a road gradually degrades the surroundings, not just the area where the road is, followed by the destruction of that habitat. On journeys to the Wilpattu National Park, he has noted with concern invasive plants establishing themselves along the roadside and gradually spreading into the surroundings and interfering with the habitat and biodiversity. What happens ultimately is that invasive plants get a hold of the environment, causing a reduction of other species, says this activist, citing the classic example of guinea grass, a major invasive he has seen at the Wilpattu National Park. He also points out that it is not only within a National Park that such things happen but also just outside National Parks where the FFPO is obviously ignored for monetary gain. The argument of many is that some development projects such as plantations of this or that type are not within the boundaries of a National Park but the question that arises is whether the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been carried out, if such plantations are within one mile from the boundary. The FFPO is clear as crystal. Under Section 9A of the FFPO, any development activity within 1 mile from the boundary of a National Park may be carried out only after an EIA which should be open for comment by the public for 30 days and the Fauna and Flora Advisory Committee for 60 days. Thereafter, the project can be approved with strict conditions or rejected by the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC). Many are the issues that are caused by roads running through PAs, underscores the Director of the Environmental Foundation Ltd. (EFL), Dr. Sevvandi Jayakody, echoing the concerns expressed by Mr. Gunawardena. Specific instances are highlighted in Ampara where the Moragahakanda project caused inroads into several National Parks and the road running through the Wilpattu National Park. Sometimes, some of the roads have been approved if there is a national need, but it must be ensured that such roads are constructed following the conditions laid down by the DWC, she says, adding that the problem is that once these roads are built within PAs, there follows pressure to use them like any other road outside the PAs. She is adamant that this cannot or should not be allowed and the conditions which have been laid down such as closure of road during the night to allow animals the freedom to cross the road without fragmenting the PA or prevent road kills have to be adhered to strictly. The hospitality extended by the DWC, giving some leeway taking into account national development needs, should not be abused or misused. To ensure this, development agencies should work with the relevant regulatory body whether it is the DWC, the Forest Department, the Coast Conservation Department (CCD), the Irrigation Department or any other, says Dr. Jayakody. Looking closely at mega development projects of the private sector, she concedes that now the mandatory Initial Environment Examination (IEE) or EIA is performed. But when many government institutions undertake development projects, there is a tendency to ignore this mandatory requirement. The trade-off for having an intrusion into the National Park is carrying out a proper EIA and introducing mitigatory measures and implementing those measures, she says. Another critical issue that Dr. Jayakody focuses on is that there is no post-monitoring mechanism for evaluation. Once development starts and something goes wrong, there is no mechanism for monitoring to ensure all the conditions specified are met. In many instances, such conditions are limited to the written document. Therefore, there should be a plan setting out such a monitoring mechanism and also how the development agency should allocate resources and finances to meet this need, she added. Sinduja Jane By Express News Service CHENNAI: The first case of Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu was confirmed on Saturday with a 45-year-old man, who had recently returned from Oman, testing positive. According to officials in the Tamil Nadu Directorate of Public Health, the man, a resident of Kancheepuram, was working in Oman as a construction supervisor. He landed at Chennai airport on February 28. On reaching home, he developed a fever and cold. "He saw a local doctor and was taking treatment. However, as he did not get better even after three days and started developing breathing difficulties, he was referred to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai on March 4. Doctors at Stanley sent him to the Coronavirus isolation ward at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in the city. He was admitted there on March 4 and samples were taken," said Dr P Sampath, Joint Director of Public Health. The official said the samples from the patient were sent to the King Institute at Guindy for testing on March 5. But the test result was inconclusive. So, again on the same day, samples were collected and sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. They reached Pune on March 6. "We got the result on March 7 confirming for COVID-19. The patient is under treatment and stable. He is a diabetic and on insulin. Samples will be taken from all eight members of his family, who are at high risk. As of now they do not have any symptoms. We also have traced 19 other contacts and have kept them under house observation," Sampath, who is also State Surveillance Officer, said. These 19 contacts include two passengers who were on his flight from Oman, the taxi driver who drove him from Kancheepuram to Chennai, the doctor who treated him at Kancheepuram and doctors and technicians at Stanley. According to a media bulletin issued by the DPH on Saturday evening, the man will be discharged after two consecutive samples test negative. "Three other samples are under process. Till now 60 samples have been taken and 57 tested negative for COVID-19," the bulletin said. "In Tamil Nadu, till date, 1,13,106 passengers were screened at Chennai, Tiruchy, Madurai and Coimbatore airports. Among them 1,077 passengers are under home quarantine for 28 days and three are under hospital quarantine," the bulletin said. ALSO READ | Coronavirus outbreak: Two foreign nationals quarantined in Goa Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar in a tweet asked people not to panic. "COVID19 positive for 45-year-old male who traveled from Oman. Due to the stringent screening process, we identified and isolated the patient for further treatment the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai. The patient is stable and under hospital observation. Tamil Nadu Health services are fully functional to combat the situation. Please avoid panicking," he told people. Two positive cases were also reported from Ladakh on Saturday. Both the patients had a travel history to Iran. (With inputs from the online desk) Judge Michael Walsh said the maximum six-month penalty for uninsured driving was "totally inadequate". (stock photo) A widower who drove without insurance or a licence to visit his wife's grave has been jailed for four months. John Keely (55) had already received five driving bans when gardai stopped him. Sentencing him and banning him from driving for eight years, Judge Michael Walsh said the maximum six-month penalty for uninsured driving was "totally inadequate". He also ordered the defendant to pay a 300 fine. Keely, of Glenmore Park, Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty to driving without insurance or a licence on January 21, 2018. Dublin District Court heard gardai stopped Keely driving a silver Ford Focus at St Colmcille's Way, Knocklyon, at 2pm on the day in question. The vehicle was seized and Keely was arrested and charged. He had 94 previous convictions, the vast majority for motoring offences, and had been given suspended sentences and disqualifications of up to 10 years, the prosecuting garda told the court. He was under five separate driving bans at the time of the latest incident. cuckoo Keely had a number of children and had worked as a labourer, but his wife died three years ago and "everything stopped" at that point, his lawyer said. On the day he was caught driving, he had just been visiting his wife's grave, she said, asking the court not to impose a custodial sentence. Judge Walsh said: "He had five disqualification orders - that is as bad as it gets." Keely did not drive any more and was getting public transport, his lawyer added. "I'm sure he's not living in some cloud cuckoo land about the consequences of driving without insurance," Judge Walsh said. He said that when uninsured drivers were in collisions, the cost had to be met by other motorists through increased insurance premiums. The judge said recent but not up-to-date figures showed an average of eight drivers a day were being apprehended for driving without insurance. The Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland was paying out 60m a year on claims, he said. The maximum sentence for uninsured driving was six months, and the judge said he believed this was "totally inadequate for an offence of this nature". Kabul (CNN) Gunmen in the Afghan capital of Kabul attacked a ceremony attended by opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah on Friday, killing 32 people and injuring another 58. Women and children were among the dead, Health Ministry spokesperson Waheedullah Mayar said. Abdullah told CNN he heard gunfire and what he thought sounded like rocket fire, and that he managed to escape unharmed from the ceremony in Kabul's west. Afghan special forced have killed all three attackers involved in the assault, Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said, while a source told CNN that the gunmen used a high-rise building nearby to shoot at the crowd. The event was in commemoration of the anniversary of the death of political leader Abdul Ali Mazari, who was killed by Taliban fighters in 1995. The same event was attacked last year as well, but this year's incident was less intense, sources told CNN. The Taliban denied any involvement in the attack, spokesman Zabiullah Mojahid said in a media message. Abdullah did not want to speculate who was behind the attack. "The point is that a thorough investigation with a clear answer to the people of Afghanistan is needed," he said. "I will not blame anybody for this because I don't have a full picture from our security forces, but we need to know who is, or who were, behind it." The attack is the first in the capital since the signing of a historic agreement in Qatar last week between the United States and the Taliban. This story was first published on CNN.com "32 dead in Kabul attack on ceremony attended by Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah" By Trend President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an will arrive in Brussels next Monday for a single-day official visit, a statement from the Presidency said, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. According to the statement, the president will discuss the lifting of visa restrictions for Turkish citizens, the refugee crisis and amendments to the Customs Union. Erdo?an will be in the Belgian and EU capital on March 9, where he will meet top European officials. Ankara has repeatedly complained that Europe has failed to keep its promises under a 2016 EU-Turkey refugee deal to help migrants and stem further migrant waves. Turkish officials announced last week that they would no longer try to stop migrants from reaching Europe. Since then, thousands of migrants and asylum seekers have flocked to the Turkish province of Edirne along the border with Greece and Bulgaria to make their way into Europe. The refugee crisis has been the main topic of discussion between Turkey and the EU recently after the formers decision not to hold back migrants anymore as it already hosts over four millions of them. The Greek reaction to refugees has been harsh, with several killed and many battered, attacked and teargassed by Greek forces. Turkey's decision on asylum seekers was made after 34 Turkish soldiers were killed by forces of Syrias Bashar Assad regime in Idlib, northwestern Syria last week. The Turkish soldiers were working to protect local civilians under a 2018 deal with Russia under which acts of aggression are prohibited in the region. Turkey, which already hosts some 3.7 million Syrian migrants, more than any country in the world, says it cannot absorb another refugee wave. Russia's flag carrier Aeroflot announced on Saturday it would reduce the number of flights between Moscow and Tehran to one a week starting from 8 March due to the coronavirus disease outbreak in Iran, Trend reports citing Sputnik. "Since 8 March, Aeroflot will reduce the frequency of flights on the route Sheremetyevo - Tehran - Sheremetyevo to one flight per week, which will be operated on Sundays", the company said in a statement. The Russian government has also decided from 7 March to temporarily ban the entry of foreign citizens and stateless persons arriving from Iran for training, work or tourism. On Friday, the airline announced that it was reducing the number of flights to destinations in China, South Korea, Vietnam, and Italy due to falling demand amid the coronavirus disease outbreak there. On 7 March, the Russian coronavirus response centre said that four new cases of the coronavirus disease have been registered in the country, which brings the total number of infected Russian citizens to 14. On a global scale, as of Saturday, the number of coronavirus cases has exceeded 105,000, with more than 90 countries reporting infections. In addition, over 3,500 people have already died from the disease, while more than 58,000 have fully recovered. OKeefe and his group have taken aim at targets over the years including Planned Parenthood, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Democracy Partners, a group that consults with liberal and progressive electoral causes. In 2016, a Project Veritas operative infiltrated Democracy Partners using a fake name and fabricated resume and made secret recordings of the staff. The year after the sting, Democracy Partners sued Project Veritas, and its lawyers have since deposed OKeefe. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 16:32 674 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20690137c 1 News Air-Asia,COVID-19,coronavirus,promotion,ticket-sales,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,outbreak Free Low-cost carrier AirAsia is offering 6 million promo seats to domestic and international destinations as countries around the globe grapple with the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Passengers can get free flights under certain conditions to Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia, Singapore and Perth in Australia, as well as slashed prices for flights to other destinations, under the carrier's BIG Sale program. The tickets can be purchased online starting from Sunday to March 14 for flights that depart before July 1. AirAsia Indonesia president director Veranita Yosephine said in a statement on Friday that the airline was looking for ways it could help the Indonesian government to stimulate tourism and maintain the country's economy growth, "especially in this challenging period". The carrier also advised passengers to maintain their health before booking trips. Passengers were also advised to maintain their hygiene while flying with the airline. Read also: COVID-19: Indonesia expands travel restrictions The government announced last week that it would issue a stimulus package of Rp 10.3 trillion (US$722 million) in the form of incentives to, among other recipients, airlines and travel agents to help reduce the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the countrys economy. Of the total stimulus, around Rp 443 billion will be allocated to improve domestic air travel, while Rp 298.5 billion will be disbursed to attract foreign tourists through incentives for airlines and travel agents, joint promotions and hiring influencers for promotions. The government, however, decided on Monday to hold off on giving out the incentives following the announcement of the countrys first two confirmed COVID-19 cases. To date, Indonesia has confirmed four COVID-19 cases. Tourist destinations in the country, including Bali, have started to feel the pinch of the virus outbreak as people remain reluctant to travel despite lower airfares and other incentives offered. (ars) Stacey Dooley leaves the Village Hotel Club Watford the morning after winning the Strictly Come Dancing 2018 final. (Photo by Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images) Stacey Dooley has hit back at claims she was behind Kevin Clifton's decision to leave Strictly Come Dancing. The professional dancer announced he would be parting ways from the show after seven years to focus on other things, but tabloid reports on Friday suggested his girlfriend Dooley had "pushed" him to quit. The journalist retweeted an article's headline, captioning the post: "Honestly, we knew this would happen. And so it starts, again......Utter nonsense." Read more: Kevin Clifton regrets 'I love Glasgow' tattoo Honestly, we knew this would happen. And so it starts, again...... Utter nonsense https://t.co/L8NlQg1l1y Stacey Dooley (@StaceyDooley) March 7, 2020 Dooley and Clifton were partnered together on the 2018 series of the dance show and went on to win before entering into a relationship after the programme had come to an end. Clifton announced he would be leaving the programme in a statement shared on Friday. In a post to his social accounts, he wrote: "To the entire Strictly family, The past 7 years have been some of the most wonderful years of my life. I am grateful to the BBC and Strictly Come Dancing for giving me the opportunity to have been a part of something truly special. "Since first being called 'Kevin From Grimsby' by Sir Bruce Forsyth in 2013 I have experienced the highs of five finals, winning a Guinness World record on It Takes Two, the Strictly Arena tour glitterball and then the ultimate of winning the 2018 series with Stacey Dooley." Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton leave BBC Broadcasting House in London after appearing on the Chris Evans radio show. (Photo by Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images) He went on to thank his colleagues as well as those behind the scenes before dubbing Strictly the "best show on tv". Strictly's official Twitter account delivered a message shortly afterwards, remarking that Clifton would be "hugely missed" by the "Strictly family" as well as fans. On February 27, as I was reading the New York Times obituary of Clive Cussler, a few words drew me up short: His books reached the New York Timess bestseller lists more than 20 times. I cast my eyes heavenward and asked Clive to please forgive them. It was actually more than 70 times. I know, because I was his editor for about 50 of them. Nobody could write adventure novels the way Clive couldthose heady mixtures of history, technology, exotic locales, and astonishing set pieces in which heroes raced against the clock to defeat the plans of men hungry for money, power, and domination. The writing wasnt fancy (his inscription to me in the first book we did together, 1999s Atlantis Found, was, With deep appreciation for making me literate. Nice try.), but it was enormously effectiveswift, lean, propulsive, and a blast to read, just the way his readers liked it. Clive knew it, too. By the time he came to us at Putnam, hed already had a few publishers and nearly a dozen bestsellers, beginning with Raise the Titanic!, and we organized a lunch in New York City for him to meet a few more members of our team. (Id already met him earlier, when my boss and I flew out to Scottsdale, Ariz., to introduce ourselves.) I was seated next to him, and he leaned over to tell me a story. The last time hed switched publishers, he said, it was to a major house with a justly famed editor. When Clive turned in his first manuscript, however, it came back heavily revisedpencil marks all over the pages. This did not please Clive. He took the manuscript and, on the top of the first page, he wrote one word: stet. Nothing more. And then he wrote the same word on the top of every page in the entire manuscript. And then he sent it all back. A couple of days lateras he told it to mehe got a panicked call from the editor asking him to come to the houses New York office to talk. Clive declined, stating that it would be... inconvenient. That book was published the way he wrote it. Now, I know that Clive could not possibly have had any ulterior agenda in telling me that story, but even so, in the 18 years we worked together, I was always very careful to make sure that Clives books were published just the way he wanted them. He made sure that was the case with his co-writers, too. Just before he came to Putnam, Clive had experimented with writing a spin-off series with a cowriter, and he liked it so much that he went on to create three more new series, all with cowriters. He kept a firm hand on them all, though. He and the collaborators came up with the plots together, then they sent him the manuscripts in thirds. With each third, he gave them thoughts, corrections, and suggestions, and whenever the writers want astray, he hauled them back in or just rewrote the pages himself. If it happened too often, hed thank the writer for their time and find someone else. He knew what his fans likedand he was always right. In 2009, four of those cowriters held a roast of Clive at Thrillerfest, and they all got off some gently amusing digs at him. I had the honor of being master of ceremonies and told some stories of my own, not only about Clive but about the writers themselves. (Lets be honest, I said. How roasty is it going to be? The man sends them paychecks. You can see them now, thinking, Do I want to say that lineor do I want to eat today?) It all went over well, and when we were done, and Clive had had a chance to get in some digs of his own, I had the opportunity to say a few closing words. I decided to quote something Clive himself said, from an interview he gave for the book Clive Cussler and Dirk Pitt Revealed. Ive always considered myself an entertainer rather than a writer, he said. Many writers try to cram their stories down readers throats. Others try to get their stories across on philosophy, or the environment or anarchy in the streets of Copenhagen. I feel my job is to entertain the readers in such a manner that when they reach the end, they feel they got their moneys worth. No message, no inspirational passages, no political ideology, just old-fashioned enjoyment. If it aint fun, it aint worth doing. So thank you, Clive, for so many books and so many storiesand so many years of great fun. I treasure them all. Neil Nyren joined Putnam in 1984, was made editor-in-chief in 1986, and retired as executive v-p, associate publisher, and editor-in-chief at the end of 2017. Contributed Photo HAMDEN The town has renewed the Street Outreach Worker Program in an effort to decrease gun violence among teens and young adults, officials announced Saturday. Mayor Curt Balzano Leng and Police Chief John Cappiello announced the renewal in a joint statement that indicated the programs funding was allocated in the police department's budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 06, 2020 | WASHINGTON By West Kentucky Star Staff Mar. 06, 2020 | 10:27 AM | WASHINGTON President Donald Trump signed an $8.3 billion measure to help tackle the coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than a dozen people in the U.S. and infected more than 200. The legislation provides federal public health agencies with money for vaccines, tests and potential treatments and helps state and local governments prepare and respond to the threat. The rapid spread of the virus has rocked financial markets, interrupted travel and threatens to affect everyday life in the United States. Trump had planned to sign the bill during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. But he told reporters Friday that concerns were raised about one person who was potentially infected who worked at the CDC. Trump said the person has since tested negative for the new virus, and the CDC was added to his schedule on Friday. The Senate passed the $8.3 billion measure Thursday to help tackle the outbreak in hopes of reassuring a fearful public and accelerating the government's response to the virus. Its rapid spread is threatening to upend everyday life in the U.S. and across the globe. The money would pay for a multifaceted attack on a virus that is spreading more widely every day, sending financial markets spiraling again Thursday, disrupting travel and potentially threatening the U.S. economy's decade-long expansion. Thursday's sweeping 96-1 vote sends the bill to the White House for President Donald Trump's signature. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., cast the sole no vote. The House passed the bill Wednesday by a 415-2 vote. The plan would more than triple the $2.5 billion amount outlined by the White House 10 days ago. The Trump proposal was immediately discarded by members of Congress from both parties. Instead, the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations committees negotiated the increased figure and other provisions of the legislation in a burst of bipartisan cooperation that's common on the panel but increasingly rare elsewhere in Washington. In situations like this, I believe no expense should be spared to protect the American people, and in crafting this package none was, said Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, R-Ala. It's an aggressive plan, a vigorous plan that has received an overwhelming positive reaction. Trump was sure to sign the measure, which has almost universal support. It is intended to project confidence and calm as anxiety builds over the impact of the virus, which has claimed more than a dozen lives in the U.S. The American people are looking for leadership and want assurance that their government is up to the task of protecting their health and safety," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. The impact of the outbreak continues to mount. The British government is considering suspending Parliament for five months in hope of limiting the spread of the virus in the United Kingdom. The legislation would provide federal public health agencies money for vaccines, tests and potential treatments, including $300 million to deliver such drugs to those who need it. More than $2 billion would go to help federal, state and local governments prepare for and respond to the coronavirus threat. An additional $1.3 billion would be used to help fight the virus overseas. There's also funding to subsidize $7 billion in small business loans. Other dollars would be directed to help local officials prepare for the potential worsening of the outbreak and subsidize treatment by community health centers. Medicare rules would be loosened to enable remote "telehealth" consultations whereby sick people could to get treatment without visiting a doctor. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., whose state is at the center of the crisis, praised the bill because it will increase access for public lab testing, help pay for isolation and quarantine, help pay for sanitizing in public areas, better track the virus and those who might come into contact with it, help labs who are trying to identify hot spots, and limit exposure." The legislation contains a hard-won compromise that aims to protect against potential price gouging by drug manufacturers for vaccines and other medicines developed with taxpayer funds. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar would have the power to make sure commercial prices are reasonable. Azar is a former drug industry lobbyist. Democrats said other steps may be needed if the outbreak continues to worsen. "This may be a first step because we have issues that relate to unemployment insurance for people who are put out of work." Pelosi said as she signed the bill to send it to Trump. We have only about 27% of people in this country who have paid sick days. So if they have to go home what is going to happen to them and their families? said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn. DeLauro said Pence responded that he would raise the issue with the president. The bill seeks to restore $136 million that the Department of Health and Human Services cut from other accounts such as heating subsidies for the poor to battle the virus. The legislation comes as carping over the administration's response to the outbreak is quieting down. Lawmakers in both parties had faulted a shortage of tests for the virus and contrasting messages from Trump and his subordinates. In an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News on Wednesday, Trump downplayed the lethality of the virus, saying the World Health Organization's updated estimate of a 3.4% death rate in coronavirus cases is a false number." Now you're starting to see rapid deployment of tests, which makes me feel better, quite honestly," said Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Calif., a doctor. I think their communications are a little better. As long as the president doesn't contradict the experts and the scientists who know what they're doing, things will get better." Boris Johnsons pleas for the UK to unite following Brexit have fallen on deaf ears, with the country still deeply split over the decision to leave the European Union, a new poll has suggested. Some 46 per cent of those polled by BMG for The Independent said they would like to rejoin the EU, against 54 per cent who believe the UK should stay out. And there was a deep generational divide, with 63 per cent of 18-24 year-olds, 60 per cent of 25-34 year-olds and 51 per cent of 35-44 year-olds wanting a return to Europe, while 69 per cent of over-65s want to stay out. While the poll suggests some Remainers have become reconciled to Brexit, there was little sign that the UKs departure from the EU on 31 January had persuaded the majority to accept leaving. The 46-54 split in favour of staying out indicated a small swing in favour of Brexit since January, when a poll taken a fortnight before departure day found 52 per cent wanting to Remain and 48 to Leave. 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 EU A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners take part in a 'Missing EU Already' rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters display a banner ' Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out' from Westminster bridge EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a 'Brexit Day' t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU activists protest Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man carries an EU themed wreath Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU French newspapers PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Britain's departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc's parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. 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 But just 18 per cent of those who voted Remain in the 2016 referendum now said they wanted to stay outside the EU, compared to 82 per cent who want to return. Large majorities of Labour voters (73 per cent), Liberal Democrats (85 per cent) and SNP supporters (86 per cent) wanted to be inside the EU, while 87 per cent of Conservatives wanted to stay out. EU membership was backed by a majority (61 per cent) of those with degrees but opposed by 74 per cent of those with no qualifications. Large majorities in London (65 per cent) and Scotland (62 per cent), but all other regions recorded a majority to stay out, except the North-East, which was split 50/50. The UKs relationship with the EU remained high on voters list of priorities, with 49 per cent naming it as one of the most important issues facing the country - second only to healthcare. Some 13 per cent named it as the most important issue, behind health on 29 per cent. Responding to the survey, Liberal Democrat acting leader Ed Davey said: "Time and again young people tell me they fear the loss of our EU membership means the loss of opportunities and the ability to work with partners to tackle issues like the climate emergency. "That is evident in Boris Johnson's scorched earth policy when it comes to continued UK participation in EU programmes, such as Erasmus. "Instead of ensuring that our universities remain open, international and outward-looking, the Conservatives are determined to show that Brexit means going it alone. "Young people's voices must be heard. That is why Liberal Democrats will never stop fighting for Britain to have the closest possible relationship with our European friends." Ed Davey (Reuters) And Naomi Smith, the chief executive of Best for Britain, which campaigned for a second Brexit referendum, said: There are many and varied reasons Brits are worried about the terms on which we leave the worlds largest single market. Concerns around job security are there and for some people, particularly young people who have only ever been European Brits, theres a real sense of loss about whats just happened. The Government doesnt need to pit old against young. If it relaxes its wish for a quick divorce it can begin working out how we can retain as many of the benefits of EU membership as possible, giving young people greater security while still getting Brexit done. The chief executive of the European Movement, Hugo Mann, said: This poll clearly demonstrates that Boris Johnson does not have a mandate for his destructive Brexit plans. The prime minister is trying to use the election to force through a damaging hard Brexit that will harm our economy and our NHS and limit opportunities for the next generation. Chennai, March 7 : The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday expressed his profound grief over the passing away of veteran DMK leader and former state minister K. Anbazhagan. In a condolence message, Naidu said Anbazhagan was known for his erudition and had served with distinction as Social Welfare, Education and Finance Minister. He always strove for the uplift of the downtrodden sections. The Vice President conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members. With an increase in load of screening samples from suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) cases with symptoms and travel history to affected countries, as many as 52 testing labs have been commissioned across India, including two in Delhi. The Indian Council of Medical Research -- the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research -- along with the Department of Health Research has commissioned these 52 laboratories. Two of the labs in Delhi are at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the National Centre for Disease Control. Also, 57 other laboratories are helping in sample collection for the nCoV. "A total of 56 DHR/ICMR Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) and one facility at Leh have been designated to facilitate sample collection through government health authorities. Their role is to provide collection material (swabs and viral transport media) and facilitate the transport of samples to the nearest testing laboratory," the ICMR said. There is only one sample collection laboratory in Delhi -- the Lady Hardinge Medical College. As of March 6, a total of 4,058 samples from 3,404 individuals have been tested by the network. "This includes testing of 1,308 samples from 654 individuals evacuated from Wuhan, China and quarantined at the ITBP and Manesar camps and tested twice on days 0 and 14. Subsequently, another 236 individuals evacuated from Wuhan and Diamond Princess Ship off the Japan coast on February 27 were tested on day 0. Repeat testing will be done on day 14," the ICMR added. The WHO has declared an outbreak of febrile respiratory illness of unknown etiology in December 2019 from Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The outbreak has been epidemiologically linked to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market involving the sale of seafood and live animals, the ICMR said. "Infection is spread through droplets of an infected patient generated by coughing and sneezing or through prolonged contact with infected patients. Virus has been named as SARS-CoV-2 due to its relatedness to the earlier SARS-CoV (2002-03). The WHO has named the disease COVID-19 and ICTV has named the virus as SARSCoV-2," the ICMR added. The ICMR suggested that people with symptomatic (fever, sore throat, running nose, dyspnea etc) and individuals returning from affected countries (China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Iran, Italy etc.) should go for screening. A total of 31 cases of the coronavirus has been recorded in India, including three in Delhi. Judge Orders Barr to Show Him Unredacted Mueller Report A federal judge has ordered Attorney General William Barr to show him the unredacted version of the Mueller report, which summarized the results of an investigation into allegations of collusion between Russia and the 2016 campaign of President Donald Trump. Washington, D.C., District Judge Reggie Walton said in a March 5 opinion that Barrs handling of the reports release prompted doubts about whether the redactions in the public version of the report are justified (pdf). The Department of Justice (DOJ) has until March 30 to provide the unredacted version to Walton for an in camera review, which means the judge will have a chance to privately look through the document. The order stems from a freedom of information lawsuit brought by Buzzfeed, its investigative journalist Jason Leopold, and Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a privacy non-profit. EPIC said in a June 24 court filing (pdf) that the DOJs handling of the reports release provides tangible evidence of agency bad faith. DOJ lawyers argued that the plaintiffs only speculated the redactions were made in bad faith. However, Walton retorted that not even tentative finding of bad faith is necessary. Mere uneasiness or a doubt on the judges part is enough to demand in camera review before making judgement. The speed by which Attorney General Barr released to the public the summary of Special Counsel Muellers principal conclusions, coupled with the fact that Attorney General Barr failed to provide a thorough representation of the findings set forth in the Mueller Report, causes the Court to question whether Attorney General Barrs intent was to create a one-sided narrative about the Mueller Reporta narrative that is clearly in some respects substantively at odds with the redacted version of the Mueller Report, Walton said. Report vs Summary Regarding the inconsistencies Walton saw between the report and the summary, he gave two examples. Barrs summary failed to indicate that Special Counsel Mueller identified multiple Contacts between Trump [c]ampaign officials and individuals with ties to the Russian government, he said, noting that Mueller was appointed, among other things, to examine such Trump-Russia links. Having contacts with people tied to Moscow is not by itself illegal. Its been widely reported since 2016 that Trump campaign associates had such contacts. Walton further said that Mueller only concluded that the investigation did not establish that these contacts involved or resulted in coordination or a conspiracy with the Trump [c]ampaign and Russia because coordination does not have a settled definition in federal criminal law.' This doesnt seem to be quite what the report says. Mueller, in fact, worked out his own definition of coordination. Based on that definition his probe didnt establish that any Trump-Russia coordination occurred (pdf). On the question of whether Trump obstructed justice, Barrs summary said that the report doesnt make a conclusion one way or the other and leaves unresolved what the Special Counsel views as difficult issues of law and fact concerning whether the Presidents actions and intent could be viewed as obstruction. Walton complained that Barr didnt mention that one of the difficult issues Mueller encountered was a longstanding Justice Department policy that a sitting president cant be indicted. However, Mueller clarified in his congressional testimony that it was not the correct way to say that he didnt charge Trump for obstruction because of the policy. As we say in the report and as I said in the opening, we did not reach a determination as to whether the president committed a crime, he said. Barr previously said that the policy would only stop Mueller from indicting Trump, but that he couldve reached a decision on whether Trump obstructed justice. Barr added that Mueller had his reasons for not making a conclusion, but declined to explain further. In absence of a conclusion from Mueller, Barr and his then-deputy, Rod Rosenstein, made their own conclusion, that the evidence is not sufficient to establish that the President committed an obstruction-of-justice offense. Our determination was made without regard to, and is not based on, the constitutional considerations that surround the indictment and criminal prosecution of a sitting president, Barr said in the March 24, 2019, summary (pdf). BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 7 Trend: Chairman of the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Javid Gurbanov met with a delegation led by the Minister of Economic Development of the Rostov Region of the Russian Federation Maxim Papushenko, Trend reports. Gurbanov emphasized that Azerbaijan's cooperation with Russia in the railway sector is at a high level. The development of international transport corridors passing through the territory of Azerbaijan was also discussed at the meeting. Gurbanov said that there are vast opportunities for cooperation in the transport and transit sectors, informing the minister that the volume of cargo transportation in Azerbaijan and Russia increased by more than 30 percent in 2019. The volume of rail freight transportation between the countries amounted to 6,240 tons in 2019, while in 2018 and 2017 this indicator was 4,744 tons and 4,774 tons, respectively. Thus, transportation icreased by 31.5 percent in 2019 compared to 2018, and compared to 2017 - by 30.7 percent. Gurbanov informed Papushenko about comprehensive measures in the direction of turning the country into a transport center of the region, as well as in the direction of reconstruction of railway infrastructure due to its geographical location. Papushenko noted the important role of the North-South and East-West transport corridors in strengthening the transport potential of both countries. Talking about the economic opportunities of the region, the minister expressed interest in the transportation of import, export and transit goods through international transport routes. During the meeting, the Rector of the Southern University (Institute of Management, Business and Law) of Rostov, Professor Imran Akbarov spoke about bilateral cooperation in the humanitarian field. Then the parties discussed issues of further expanding mutual cooperation. 07.03.2020 LISTEN Financial Analyst and social commentator, Sydney Casely Hayford has commended the governments decision to ban the importation of used vehicles older than 10 years. The proposal is part of the Customs Amendment Bill, 2020, which was passed on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at the second reading stage in Parliament. The Bill will be fully passed after the amendments are debated as the government has predicted an estimated revenue loss of GHS802 million over the next three years after the review of the policy. Mr. Casely Hayford believes the new policy, which will also lead to a ban on salvaged vehicles will play a key role in stabilizing the cedi. 30 percent of our foreign exchange that we spend in this country is from importing second-hand vehicles So the indirect benefit of a bill like this, of course, is clear it goes towards stabilizing the cedi, the Financial Analyst argued. Opposition to the Bill The Automobile Dealers Union Ghana is opposed to the government's new policy which will take effect with the passage of the Customs Amendment Bill. Concerns have also been raised about the potential job losses among second-hand car dealers as Ghana moves to the next stage of its Automotive Development Policy. Potential losses According to the joint report of the joint committee on Finance and Trade, Industry and Tourism, the government has predicted an estimated revenue loss of GHS802 million over the next three years if the various bans are instituted. This was a point of concern for the MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, who called for the withdrawal of the Bill. This obviously will be too much for this country. For three years you are losing [almost GHS1 billion]. There is no guarantee that we will be able to reclaim this GHS1 billion through the employment that will be created, he argued in Parliament. citinewsroom It was apparently Ty Burrell and Oregon Week on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, as the show featured the Modern Family star, who grew up in Southern Oregon, first on Monday, and then brought Burrell back for another Oregon-themed bit on Fridays episode. Earlier in the week, Burrell, who was presumably on the show to promote the new Fox animated series, Duncanville," shared some thoughts about his native state. I think part of being Oregonian is a little bit of being sort of unidentifiable, Burrell said. The most remarkable thing about Oregon is how unremarkable the accent is. Theres no lilt, theres no twang. Were basically a state of newscasters." On Fridays The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Burrell showed up again, for a segment that had obviously taped earlier in the week. Colbert said to Burrell, I understand you were born in a pretty small town called Grants Pass, Oregon, and spent your childhood in some small towns nearby. What was it like growing up there? Burrell said, Its a beautiful area. It was logging country, it is now wine country. Burrell then sportingly joined Colbert for Community Calendar, a bit where, as Colbert said, they highlight upcoming events in small communities around America. Hoisting coffee cups, Burrell and Colbert sat in chairs, and shared joking items from the Grants Pass community calendar. You know what we say in Grants Pass, Burrell said. If youre granted a chance to visit, dont pass it up. Related: Modern Family star Ty Burrell on Oregonians bland non-accent: Were basically a state of newscasters The two then alternated mentioning events, including The Oregon Cheese Festival, the Enlightened Living Faire at the Josephine County Fairgrounds, the Baby Mama Drag Show, and the Spayghetti Dinner, a fundraiser for community pet spay and neuter efforts. So come for the spayghetti, Burrell said. "Do not eat the meatballs." -- Kristi Turnquist kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Eleven days and an eternity in political time ago, I offered some advice for Democrats seeking to stop Bernie Sanders, drawn from the failed experience of #NeverTrump. Losing candidates need to drop out, I suggested, unconventional alliances need to be considered and hanging around hoping for a brokered convention is a fools game if youre ceding a plurality of delegates to the insurgent candidate you want to stop. The tone of my column, like the evidence of the polls, suggested that the stop-Sanders effort would meet the same fate as the stop-Trump movement and that the Vermont socialist would complete his takeover against a divided opposition. But instead, in a whirlwind few days, it worked. Instead of a divided field of moderates headed into Super Tuesday, there was a rapid consolidation. Instead of defeated candidates limping off to lick their wounds, Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg were on a stage with Joe Biden within a day of their decisions to drop out. And now, instead of sticking around John Kasich-style and playing for the convention, Michael Bloomberg has thrown in with the Biden team as well. This combination of events has not guaranteed a Biden nomination, but it has made it very likely, and it suggests that the Democratic Party still has some institutional potency, some ballast as a political organization, some capacity to make decisions as a party that the Republicans in 2016 lacked. And while obvious credit for the anti-Sanders consolidation goes to individual political actors, to Buttigieg and Klobuchar especially, its worth considering three other reasons it was possible for Biden to consolidate support more easily and quickly than any of the non-Trump Republicans in 2016. The first reason is that the Republican bases relationship to the GOP leadership in 2016 was more toxic, hostile and disillusioned, relative to the relationship between Democrats and their establishment in 2020. This difference has many sources, but a crucial one is the divergent legacies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The Bush presidency ended in failure, unpopularity and crisis, which meant that even among Republicans who still liked Bush personally, there was a palpable sense or a latent sense, waiting to be activated by Donald Trump that the official establishment of the party didnt really have any idea what it was doing and needed to be ignored or rejected or thrown out. Obamas presidency, on the other hand, is regarded as a failure by only a small faction of left-wing activists and writers. A somewhat larger constituency, the core of Sanders youth support, think of the Obama era as a mild disappointment, a missed opportunity for bold progressive change but in the broader Democratic electorate even this is a distinctly minority position. So there was always an opportunity for a campaign like Bidens to consolidate a lot of Democratic voters with a message of restoration and continuity, in a way that simply wasnt true for a literal Bush relative like Jeb Bush or even a figure like Marco Rubio, who was positioned, in certain ways, as W.s ideological heir. Its not that Democrats love their partys elite or that there isnt strong anti-establishment discontent on the left as much as on the right. But there is clearly more Democratic support for Obamaism than there was support for a Bush restoration in the 2016 Republican Party, and in South Carolina and on Super Tuesday that made a big difference. But so did simple political contingency. Bloombergs campaign, for instance, looked like it was helping Sanders by dividing moderates and siphoning away Bidens African-American support. But in hindsight what it actually did was draw attention and fire away from Biden across two critical debates, so that the former vice president could lurk as the fallback choice and then get a rush of returning voters when Bloombergs onstage performances disappointed (and made Biden look charismatic by comparison). As much as Biden was hurt by having extremely white states like Iowa and New Hampshire go first, the combination of favorable demographics and pre-Super Tuesday timing made South Carolina perfect for his anti-Sanders consolidation. Ted Cruz won a similarly thumping victory over Trump in Wisconsin in 2016, but it came much later, after Trump had built a big lead and there was no chance of denying him a plurality of delegate support. Give Cruz that kind of victory earlier, and maybe there would have been a rush to his side, maybe Rubio would have accepted a role in a unity ticket, maybe Trump could have been defeated. Or maybe not, because alongside the shape of party opinion and the role of luck theres a third factor that helped Biden do what NeverTrump could not: His fellow Democrats and especially his fellow politicians clearly just like him more than Republicans liked any of the NeverTrump candidates. Jebworld and Chris Christie loathed Rubio as an upstart, Kasich offered a cuddly persona but had alienated colleagues for years and almost every powerful Republican in Washington simply hated Cruz. So the idea of rallying around any one of them for the greater good was a tough ask, in a way that it simply isnt that tough for most Democratic politicians to sign on with Uncle Joe. Its in this sense that Biden himself deserves particular credit. He wasnt just in the right place at the right time; he was the right-enough person, because across years and decades he succeeded in building up good will among both his allies and rivals a political resource worth husbanding and one that on Super Tuesday definitely proved its worth. @DouthatNYT BEER PARK at Paris Las Vegas will celebrate St. Patricks Day with a beer and whiskey special, an Irish-inspired cheesesteak and college hoops on Tuesday, March 17. BEER PARKs Executive Chef Eddie Manukyan will prepare a corned beef and cabbage cheesesteak sandwich, topped with Thousand Island dressing, priced at $16.95. Drink specials will include a pint of Guinness paired with a shot of Proper No. Twelve whiskey, priced at $16. Coinciding with the holiday, the popular rooftop bar and restaurant will also show college hoop games on more than 75 high-definition TVs throughout the indoor-outdoor venue. BEER PARKs outdoor deck offers social picnic table style seating as well as indoor viewing on comfy living-room style furniture. Premium seating options are available at https://www.beerpark.com/ with additional seating available through OpenTable. Along with incredible views of the Fountains of Bellagio, BEER PARK offers billiards and foosball, as well as oversized yard games, including Jenga and Connect Four. Inside arcade and other classic games include bubble hockey, Skee-Ball, darts, shuffleboard and more. Reservations are available by calling 702.444.4500 or by visiting www.beerpark.com. BEER PARK by Budweiser is owned and operated by BEER PARK, LLC (not by Anheuser-Busch). New Delhi: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Saturday will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold discussion over Coronavirus scare as 31 cases have been found positive for the deadly disease in the country. Vardhan is likely to brief Prime Minister about the efforts are taken to tackle the Coronavirus outbreak as well as `standards of care` maintain in hospitals. The meeting comes a day after, Prime Minister Modi said that coronavirus has come up as a big challenge in front of the world and all have to tackle the situation together. "Every era brings new challenges to test and strengthen our `Collaborate to Create` spirit. Just as today, coronavirus has come up as a big challenge in front of the world. Financial institutions have considered it as a big challenge for the economy. Today, we all have to tackle this situation together," Prime Minister Modi had said at a Global Business Summit by a media house. Emphasising on need of maintaining hygiene standards, Union Health Minister had said that even a hand wash and soaps can be used to clean hands following good standard of hand hygiene as a preventive measure to keep away the respiratory viral illness. He also issued a strict warning to those chemists/pharmacists who are stocking up hand-sanitizers, face masks and selling them at a huge price and exploiting customers. Coronavirus has so far killed more than 3,200 people globally. OTTAWA As Indigenous communities brace for the COVID-19 epidemic, Manitoba researchers will be doing real-time research on how leaders respond, and what they can learn from past outbreaks. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA As Indigenous communities brace for the COVID-19 epidemic, Manitoba researchers will be doing real-time research on how leaders respond, and what they can learn from past outbreaks. Thats thanks to $1 million in federal funds unveiled Friday for two University of Manitoba projects. "Things are pretty bleak, and they look like they're going to get worse before they get better. (But) this provides an opportunity to do something proactive and positive," said environment professor Stephane McLachlan. The H1N1 swine flu outbreak hit Indigenous communities particularly hard in 2009. Health Canada was panned internationally for sending body bags to northern Manitoba reserves instead of flu equipment. But some remote communities resisted the virus, and McLachlan argues no one asked them how they did so and what people can learn from that. "We can see some communities that did adapt, that did respond well, and that were able to do things differently, that met their own needs." His co-lead, science professor Myrle Ballard, said its important to look at traditional medicines and practices, and how they can help with conventional western medicine. The $500,000 project will span two years, communities across Canada, and centuries of history. But the pair are optimistic theyll uncover helpful information with help from graduate students. Researchers will hold town halls in communities, to ask what plans they have for COVID-19 and about their experience during the H1N1 outbreak. But theyll also examine how crumbling infrastructure and poverty affect outbreaks, and look for teachings and stories of how communities coped with disease in the past. In her own community of Lake St. Martin First Nation, Ballard said elders recalled that during the Spanish Flu outbreak a century ago, one person would be tasked with gathering bodies on horseback, and putting them in a mass grave. Shes unsure how the community would respond to a deadly outbreak now, given both new technology and western beliefs around deaths and burials. Ballard said colonization in general leaves reserves dependent on health systems run by outsiders who dont always understand local medicines or ways of acting. Integrating the two will get more on board. "That dependency took away peoples ability to look after themselves," she said. "When we prepare for a pandemic, we have to consider the cultural factors as well, because of our teachings." The pair received funding through the COVID-19 Rapid Response Program, which aims to find ways to shore up Canadas support to the ongoing epidemic. That breaks with normal academic funding, which has scholars asking people to recall what they did in the past, said Michelle Driedger, a health science professor who received a half-million dollars Monday. Her team will examine public-health communication, comparing what officials say and post online to the messages people actually receive. Driedger says officials have an uneasy balance of trying to empower people with advice they can use, without slipping into scientific jargon or overreacting. Both can break trust, she said. Previously, Driedger looked at how remote Metis communities in Manitoba coped with messaging about how to prevent outbreaks, which often didnt align with communities that dont have a drug store or nearby physician. She has also analyzed difficulties in rolling out the H1N1 vaccine in Winnipeg. Officials had expedited safety tests, and selected Indigenous people as a target population, likely because they have a higher rate of other health conditions. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The term "adjuvanted vaccine" confused people, while some communities feared Indigenous people were being used as guinea pigs. "It was seen in this conspiracy element, rather than something being prioritized to their benefit," Driedger said. Leaders said they recognized in hindsight that historical legacies and media hype could have made people hesitant about the disease. She hopes those lessons might be more helpful for any possible issues with the coronavirus response in real-time. Driedgers research will be conducted with the Manitoba Metis Federation, who can use the ongoing results to shape their response and advocacy to COVID-19 efforts. Mondays funding was originally pegged at $7 million, but Ottawa instead dispersed $27 million, citing the hundreds of research applications. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Saudi authorities have detained three princes including King Salman's brother and nephew on charges of plotting a coup, the US media reported Friday, signalling a further consolidation of power by the kingdom's de facto ruler. The detentions cast aside the last vestiges of potential opposition to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and come as the kingdom limits access to Islam's holiest sites in a highly sensitive move to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus. Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, a brother of King Salman, and the monarch's nephew Prince Mohammed bin Nayef were accused of treason and taken from their homes early Friday by black-clad royal guards, the Wall Street Journal reported citing unnamed sources. The Saudi royal court has accused the two men, once potential contenders for the throne, of "plotting a coup to unseat the king and crown prince" and could face lifetime imprisonment or execution, the newspaper said. The New York Times also reported the detentions, adding that Prince Nayef's younger brother, Prince Nawaf bin Nayef, had also been detained. Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The detentions mark the latest crackdown by Prince Mohammed, who has consolidated his grip on power with the imprisonment of prominent clerics and activists as well as princes and business elites. Prince Mohammed has also faced a torrent of international condemnation over the murder of critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate in October 2018. Already viewed as the de facto ruler controlling all the major levers of government, from defence to the economy, the prince is widely seen to be stamping out traces of internal dissent before a formal transfer of power from his 84-year-old father King Salman. "Prince Mohammed is emboldened -- he has already ousted any threats to his rise and jailed or murdered critics of his regime without any repercussion," Becca Wasser, a policy analyst at the US-based RAND Corporation, said of the latest crackdown. "This is a further step to shore up his power and a message to anyone -- including royals -- not to cross him." Prince Ahmed, said to be in his 70s, had returned to the kingdom from his base in London in the aftermath of the Khashoggi scandal, in what some saw as an effort to shore up support for the monarchy. Just before his return in October 2018, the prince had courted controversy over remarks he made to protesters in London chanting against Saudi royals over the kingdom's involvement in the ongoing conflict in Yemen. "What does the family have to do with it? Certain individuals are responsible... the king and the crown prince," he said, according to a widely-circulated online video of the incident. The comment was seen by many as rare criticism of the kingdom's leadership and its role in Yemen, but Prince Ahmed dismissed that interpretation as "inaccurate". Prince Mohammed had edged out Prince Nayef, the former crown prince and interior minister, in 2017 to become heir to the Arab world's most powerful throne. At the time, Saudi television channels showed Prince Mohammed kissing the hand of the older prince and kneeling before him in a show of reverence. Western media reports later said that the deposed prince had been placed under house arrest, a claim strongly denied by Saudi authorities. The detentions come at a sensitive time as Saudi Arabia bars Muslim pilgrims from Islam's holiest sites to contain the novel coronavirus. The kingdom has suspended the "umrah" year-round pilgrimage over fears of the disease spreading to Mecca and Medina, raising uncertainty over the upcoming hajj -- a key pillar of Islam. The oil-rich kingdom is also grappling with the plunging price of crude, its major source of revenue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain's deadly coronavirus outbreak could peak at Easter and last for six months - with millions set to be infected. A big increase in British diagnoses is expected as the virus is now being transmitted in the community and testing is being ramped up. Expert Peter Piot - known as the 'Mick Jagger of microbiology' - says that the threat has not been overhyped and that there are probably already a few thousand people in the UK infected, as cases appear to roughly double each week. Britain's deadly coronavirus outbreak could peak at Easter and last for six months - with millions set to be infected. Pictured: a woman wears a protective mask on the underground in London A big increase in British diagnoses is expected as the virus is now being transmitted in the community and testing is being ramped up. Pictured: woman wearing a protective face mask on Oxford Street in central London An expert has said that we will reach a peak of the epidemic somewhere around Easter as shown by this graph Speaking to The Times he said that we will reach a peak of the epidemic somewhere around Easter. It comes as two people have died from the virus - which has a mortality rate of 15 per cent in those over 80 - on British soil so far, both of whom were elderly. In total in the UK, 164 people have tested positive for Covid-19, up from 115 cases reported on Thursday. Even once it reaches its peak, coronavirus chaos could last for another six months - infecting millions of people as the UK is ravaged by the disease. Dr Piot added: 'If it goes down in April or May it could come back again in November,' adding that there is currently no vaccine and that 'medieval ways of containment' are being used so far. The expert said that due to the likeliness the illness will return next winter it is vital to plough resources into making a vaccine. His comments come as Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, warned Britain was at the start of an outbreak. Even once it reaches its peak, coronavirus chaos could last for another six months - infecting millions of people as the UK is ravaged by the disease. A woman wears a mask on the underground in London In total, 164 people have tested positive for Covid-19, up from 115 cases reported at the same time on Thursday The number of infected patients across the UK more than doubled between Tuesday and Thursday, with the figure rising from 51 to 116. He said: 'We have cases across Europe, across the world, this is a global epidemic and we would expect to see more cases in the UK. 'We've got a reasonable worst-case scenario... that involves 80 per cent of the population and we think the mortality rate is one per cent or lower. I expect it to be less than that. 'It takes about 12 weeks to reach the peak then maybe about 12 weeks to go away again. People queue outside a Boots pharmacy store in west London where stocks of hand sanitiser are limited to two per person 'You expect about 90 per cent of cases in the nine weeks in the middle of that and 50 per cent of cases in the three weeks of the middle of that.' The NHS is ramping up the number of testing centres across the country, in response to significant and increasing demand in response to the new virus, so that 4,000 tests can be analysed every single day. Who is expert Peter Piot - 'the Mick Jagger of microbiology' Peter Piot, 71, - currently the director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - has devoted his life to hunting down infectious diseases. At 27 he helped to discover Ebola in Zaire. He has also led the fight against Aids and pioneered research on sexually transmitted diseases and women's health. Among scientists he is known as the 'Mick Jagger of microbiologists'. Advertisement Additional investment means that more call handlers will be recruited to NHS 111 to give expert advice to callers with concerns about the virus. Dr Richard Hatchett, who heads up the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, said yesterday that governments need to adopt an 'aggressive' response to tackle the virus as he revealed it could take between 12-18 months to develop a vaccine and cost 1.5bn ($2bn). He has said it is the most frightening thing he has ever encountered and far more deadly than flu - as he revealed fighting it will be like a war. Two British Airways baggage handlers working at Heathrow Airport are among the new positive tests, sparking fears over how many items of luggage they handled while carrying the virus. By Ann Saphir and Jonnelle Marte CHICAGO/NEW YORK, March 5 (Reuters) - U.S. central bankers see "evolving" risks to the world's biggest economy from the fast-spreading coronavirus and are scrambling to assess what's next, both for the business outlook and the Federal Reserve's own response. This week the Fed delivered a surprise half-percentage point rate cut - bringing the target rate to a range of 1.00% to 1.25% - after cases of the disease that emerged in China exploded in South Korea, Italy and elsewhere, and global stock prices swooned on fears of a pandemic. Since then, cases of COVID-19, the sometimes fatal respiratory illness caused by the virus, have continued to rise, with people testing positive in more U.S. states. Companies are increasingly responding by having employees work from home, reduce travel, and take other steps to curb the virus' spread, though such measures also could slow economic activity. "Should the number of U.S. cases increase significantly, containment measures (and fear) could dampen domestic activity as travelers, shoppers, and employees avoid contagion risks," the San Francisco Fed said in its quarterly report on banking conditions in the Western U.S. "The depth and breadth of impact remains uncertain given the evolving nature of containment." With less than two weeks before the Fed's next policy-setting meeting, financial markets are pricing in more rate cuts ahead. "Our policy action this week positions us well to support the economic expansion," New York Fed President John Williams said on Thursday, noting that before the virus made itself felt the U.S. economy had "very good momentum" powered by solid jobs growth. "We are carefully monitoring the effects of the coronavirus on the U.S. economic outlook and will respond as appropriate," he said, adding that Fed officials are coordinating with central banks around the world to reduce the risks to the global economy and ensure that financial markets are running smoothly. Story continues Speaking in Chicago, Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan said that a key factor in shaping his view of whether more policy easing will be needed is the number of new cases of the disease in coming days, rather than backward-looking data such as the monthly jobs report due from the Labor Department Friday. As for whether the Fed will ease policy further on March 17-18, Kaplan said he "wouldnt presume what the Fed is going to do from here...I want to take it one day at a time..." But in the end, Kaplan said he hopes the disruption to the U.S. economy will last only a quarter or a bit more, and that the rate cut this week will help the economy recover faster. "Well have some slowing, and I hope in hindsight it will turn out to be transitory," Kaplan said. INSURANCE Also speaking on Thursday was Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari, who said the Fed could cut rates further if needed. "This was insurance that we took out because nobody knows how bad the virus is going to be," he said, noting companies react to uncertainty by pulling back on activity. If in a few months the impact of the virus has passed, he said, the Fed could raise rates again. For now, central bankers are doing what they can to keep financial markets running smoothly. Kaplan said that one option the Fed has is encouraging banks to go easy on borrowers affected by the virus who are otherwise creditworthy. New York Fed President Williams said the U.S. central bank will make sure that there is an ample supply of reserves in the banking system. The New York Fed has been intervening in money markets since mid-September, when a shortage of cash led to a spike in short-term borrowing rates. The Fed is also purchasing $60 billion a month in short-term Treasury bills in an effort to increase the level of reserves in the banking system. Policymakers have discussed scaling back the repo operations and the bill purchases in the second quarter, but some analysts wonder if the Fed will need to delay those plans because of the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus. (Reporting by Jonnelle Marte Editing by Leslie Adler) On Saturday, March 7, 12-year old Zac Weinberg will officially launch, together with Coast Mental Health and more than 30 partner organizations, the distribution of over 2,200 ZACPACs, a dry bag filled with essential items for those living on the street. Each 20-litre ZACPAC includes a toque, scarf, socks, gloves, emergency blanket, rain poncho, collapsible umbrella, 500 ml reusable water bottle, granola bar, 6x8 tarp, bus ticket and some toiletries. In addition to remarks from Zac Weinberg, other speakers include Coast Mental Health's CEO, Darrell Burnham and Vancouver-Hastings MLA, the Honourable Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. Vancouver City Counsellor, Lisa Dominato, will also be in attendance. Zac, a grade six student at Collingwood School, spoke at WE Day Vancouver on November 19, 2019 about his project to supply essential items to Vancouver's homeless. Since then, he's been fundraising and contacting various companies and organizations for donations of both goods and services. After exceeding a fundraising target of $100,000, Zac and his team of volunteers are ready to get the ZACPACs into the hands of those that need them the most. Join us as we make the first deliveries of the ZACPAC to Vancouver's homeless. ZACPAC Distribution Launch Event Timing ( Saturday, March 7 ) 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm 12.30 pm : Pre-event interview/filming opportunities with key spokespersons : Pre-event interview/filming opportunities with key spokespersons 1:00 pm : Welcome and Brief Remarks : Welcome and Brief Remarks Zac Weinberg , 12-year-old homeless advocate , 12-year-old homeless advocate Darrell Burnham , Chief Executive Officer, Coast Mental Health , Chief Executive Officer, Coast Mental Health The Honourable Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction 1:30 pm : Distribution of ZACPACs begins outside the Resource Centre. A Food Truck will also be located outside offering free meals for the homeless. Visuals will include: Remarks from speakers A mountain of ZACPACs ready for distribution Distribution of the dry bags Alternative filming/interview opportunity Friday, March 6, 2020 from 1:00 pm 3:00 pm Volunteers working with Zac Weinberg , packing and preparing the ZACPACs for distribution. JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, Kitsilano Ballroom D 39 Smithe Street , Vancouver ABOUT THE ZACPAC PROJECT An active member of the WE Organization's Youth Advisory Committee, Zac Weinberg participated in the WE Walk for Water and visited WE Villages and schools in India. From these experiences of helping those in need internationally, the 12-year-old realized that there's great need at the local level as well. Zac worked with Coast Mental Health outreach staff to identify a list of items that those living on the street might need while waiting for low-cost housing. They include personal items such as thermal socks and toothbrushes along with practical items such as reusable metal water bottles and emergency blankets. These items and more will be included in the ZACPAC. Learn more about the ZACPAC project at www.zacgivesback.com or on Facebook or on Instagram. About Coast Mental Health Since 1972, Coast Mental Health, a not-for-profit organization, has been helping British Columbians with mental illness find courage to recover. Coast creates a framework for community-based mental health care by providing the three essential pillars of sustained recovery: Housing, Support Services, and Employment & Education. At least 44% of those who are homeless said they have a mental health issue, and Coast works to provide housing as well as additional services and supports such as those offered at the Resource Centre. SOURCE Weinberg Foundation Inc. For further information: Martin Weinberg, for Zac Weinberg, c/o Weinberg Foundation, Tel: 204-955-0333, Email: [email protected] Liam O'Leary managing director of O'Leary Travel said the coronavirus is a major topic of conversation among County Wexford customers who have booked holidays or are planning trips abroad. 'Absolutely. It's in the back of everyone's mind. Everytime they turn on the television, listen to the radio, read reports in the newspaper or on social media, coronavirus is headline news.' 'It's being talked about more than who is going to form the next government', he said. 'People are still booking holidays, probably not as much as they would have been doing this time last year because they're waiting to see where it's going to hit next', said Liam. 'Until such time as the Department of Foreign Affairs issues a 'no travel' advisory everything is operating as normal. 'There is advice against travelling to China and to some cities in northern Italy. People are not travelling to China, understandably. 'We would have people who would go there regularly on buying and trade trips or to attend conferences and they would have cancelled their plans, due to a factory being closed or a conference being cancelled. People are still going to Italy but not to the affected areas.' 'We are constantly monitoring the situation as it evolves and keeping up to date with the latest Department of Foreign Affairs advice and we will contact our customers if an advisory is issued in relation to a destination they have booked.' Public reaction to the coronavirus has taken on a life of its own, in Liam's view. 'It's getting a little out of hand in some ways. If people could just relax a little bit and and wait and see if it passes over. We need calm rather than panic because this will pass. 'Until then, it is the Department of Foreign Affairs that will make decisions on whether to advise against travel to a particular location. 'We would be saying to all of our customers to make sure they have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in the event of the Department of Foreign Affairs advising that they shouldn't travel to a particular area. Liam said O' Leary's travel agency had some customers who travelled to Tenerife on the day the coronavirus outbreak was announced there last week, and others who were due to travel this week unless they were informed otherwise by the Department. 'We would advise people to be calm and not to panic. We will be watching it day by day and if there is a change, we will contact our clients and advise them if there is an issue with a destination they have booked.' People intending to travel abroad in the near future and have concerns about the virus, can ring the Department of Foreign Affairs on a dedicated helpline on 01 6131733. The HSE has advised that people returning to Ireland with suspected symptoms from affected regions abroad will need to go into self-imposed quarantine while they wait for a test result. People with suspected symtpoms should self-isolate at home, communicate with family members by phone and consider putting a sign on their front door to ward off visitors. UAE Domain Registrar and Web Host tasjeel Announced as the Official Digital Partner of Hubpreneur a The Hub for Entrepreneurship DUBAI, UAE, March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today sees the announcement of a new partnership between tasjeel and Hubpreneur. tasjeel will serve as Hubpreneur's official digital partner throughout 2020, offering discounts on a range of digital tools and services for the start-up community. tasjeel CEO Wahid Aziz will feature as a guest speaker at a series of Hubpreneur events, sharing his expertise in areas such as online branding, web development and social media marketing. Of the new partnership, Aziz said: "My team and I have spent much of 2019 positioning tasjeel asA the go-to company for start-ups in the UAE. We already cover the basics a including domain registrations and web hosting a but 2020 will see us introduce a far wider range of services. With web design, SEO, PCC management and listing services all coming soon, this felt like the moment to build partnerships with the start-up communities that can benefit most from what we offer." Fariba Zoulfaghari, founder of Hubpreneur, is equally enthusiastic about the new partnership: "We are super excited to announce our strategic alliance with tasjeel, it will open the door for Hubpreneur members to launch or upgrade their online presence by gaining access to a huge range of online services, provided by a local start-up that understands their needs; high-value at low-cost. After launching Hubpreneur in August 2019 with the intention to demystify the myths of entrepreneurship and focus on cultivating collaboration, all our activities focus on creating through collaboration. This partnership continues to reinforce our key message; starting or scaling is easier with collaborations that are aligned to your core values." About tasjeel: tasjeel is a leading .aeDA-accredited domain registrar and web hosting company, with a special focus on serving UAE start-ups, small businesses and entrepreneurs. Since its launch in 2009, tasjeel has become one of the fastest growing domain registrars in the UAE. A relentless focus on customer service has seen the company achieve an 'Excellent' rating on Trustpilot.com, and tasjeel is now recognised as a primary disruptor in the marketplace. Learn more: tasjeel.ae About Hubpreneur: Hubpreneur connects like-minded entrepreneurs, freelancers and business owners across the Middle East through a mobile application available on Google PlayStore and iOS Store. Hubpreneur organises a variety of events, seminars and workshops to bridge the gap between the digital world and physical need for entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate. The focus continues to remain on cultivating entrepreneurship at the early stage of starting out or scaling up through sharing know-how from diverse range of speakers and trainers. Regular updates and event details are available through the Hubpreneur website and app. Learn more: hubpreneur.com A passenger aboard the Grand Princess said he is running low on essential medications, eating meals sporadically dropped outside his cabin door, and receiving crucial updates about the new coronavirus from television news. While Princess Cruises officials await instructions from federal authorities, he said he feels like hes been left in the dark. Daniel Healy, 56, said he and his wife boarded the Grand Princess at its home port in San Francisco on Feb. 21 to celebrate their 30-year wedding anniversary. Their cruise was scheduled to return to San Francisco at 7 a.m. Saturday but has been held at sea as officials figure out how to deal with an outbreak of coronavirus on board. The couple is among 3,500 people aboard the ship, where passengers have been holed up in their rooms awaiting instructions. On Thursday, California Air National Guard troopers with testing kits rappelled onto the ship to test 45 people onboard for the virus. On Friday, Princess Cruises officials said they were notified by Vice President Pence while he was conducting a press conference and simultaneously by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC) speaking to our shipboard doctor that among the samples tested, 21 people have tested positive for COVID-19 which includes two (2) guests and 19 crew. Infected crew members will stay aboard and infected passengers are expected to be quarantined at military bases after the ship docks at an undisclosed noncommercial dock, Pence said. While some passengers have expressed frustration at the perceived lack of information coming from ship officials, Princess Cruises officials said they are waiting for specific instructions for future positioning of the ship from relevant authorities. Ship officials said they are also coordinating with the CDC to determine if additional precautionary measures are required onboard. The past two days aboard the ship have been a confusing, frustrating ordeal for passengers, Healy said. He said he feels passengers have been treated like mushrooms kept in the dark with passengers learning of the latest updates with the rest of the general public, through television and social media. The new coronavirus which has killed 15 people in the United States, including one in California and 14 in Washington state is a concern for passengers, Healy said, many of whom are older and considered to be at higher risk of serious illness. Around lunchtime on Thursday, Healy said, crew members advised passengers that they could get lunch at any number of the ships restaurants, but told them they would be required to stay in their rooms after lunch and not come back out until instructed to do so, he said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Now Playing: Here is what you need to know about the coronavirus. Video: Manjula Varghese Healy, who takes four different medications for a number of health conditions including a nerve disease, diabetes and other autoimmune ailments, said he has a weak immune system and called the ships front desk after watching Pences Friday news conference to request to speak to a medical professional. He said the staff member on the other line point blank refused to accommodate his request, stating that officials were too busy at the moment. Princess Cruises said on Friday that its medical team is collecting information from passengers who require medication prescription refills. Until he receives further instructions, Healy said he and his wife remain isolated in their roughly 10 ft. by 12 ft. room, where they have a queen-sized bed, a television, two chairs, and a mini-fridge. He used to keep his diabetes medication in the fridge, but he said he ran out on Friday. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Lucknow, March 7 : With the Yogi Adityanath government set to complete three years in power in Uttar Pradesh on March 18, the BJP has asked its MPs and MLAs to reach out to the state's people and list out its achievements. During the campaign, each BJP MP and MLA will visit five villages and inform the people about the achievements of the Yogi government. "BJP workers and its public representatives like MPs and MLAs will hold a special campaign from March 19 to 24 to tell the people about its major achievements and policies through interactive meetings across the state," Govind Narayan Shukla, state BJP General Secretary, told IANS. "... all BJP legislators and MPs along with key office-bearers have been given certain responsibilities. The MPs and MLAs will visit village chaupals and detail about major public welfare schemes of the state and central governments." "Besides, the BJP leaders will speak on the failures of the previous governments and their conspiracy to tear the social fabric of the state. Leaflets will be handed out in over 57,000 villages during the campaign," Shukla said. By Trend Three Azerbaijani citizens, who returned from the Islamic Republic of Iran have been infected with the coronavirus COVID-19, operational headquarters under the Cabinet of Ministers told Trend. One of them, born in 1938, some time after returning from Iran, went to the hospital due to a health problem. During the examination, he was diagnosed with pneumonia, and laboratory analysis confirmed the fact of infection with coronavirus. Currently, the patient's condition is normal. Two others, students born in 1993 and 1994, studying in the Iranian city of Gum, were quarantined while crossing the Iran-Azerbaijan border and they had a coronavirus infection. Their condition is normal and they have no temperature. Appropriate measures are being taken to treat each of the three patients, who are in special treatment hospitals. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Highlights Three more positive coronavirus cases detected Two cases in Ladakh one in Tamil Nadu All three have history of recent international travel Three more positive cases of coronavirus were reported on Sunday taking the total number of people infected with the deadly disease in India to 34, even as a final confirmation is awaited on two other cases in Punjab who tested positive in the preliminary test, said officials. Out of the three confirmed fresh cases, two were reported from the Union Territory of Ladakh and one was reported from the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The residents detected with the coronavirus in Ladakh had recently returned from Iranthe second most infected country after China, the place of infections origin, while the Tamil Nadu resident had visited Oman. All three patients who tested positive are said to be stable. Final test results are awaited for two residents of Punjabs Hoshiarpur district who also tested positive for the virus in the preliminary test, as per state health officials. The men found to be infected in the preliminary test had recently returned from Italy and were hospitalized in Amritsar after symptoms of the virus were seen upon their arrival at the airport. Their samples have been sent to NIV Pune for confirmation. A Delhi resident was confirmed for the infection on Friday who had recently been to Thailand and Malaysia. Two other Delhi residents have already been diagnosed with the virus and are undergoing treatment. The disease has now spread to new regions in the world and crossed 100,000 global infections mark in less than three months. Authorities are busy tracking down thousands of potential cases every day by calling people arriving in the country from international destinations affected by the virus and also tracing all those who came in contact with positive cases diagnosed so far. More than 3,400 people have died globally and 90 countries are affected with the virus, six of them reported their first cases on Friday. Union health minister Harsh Vardhan had told parliament on Thursday that close to 30,000 people were being monitored as per the tracking operation launched by the government. Residents across the country have been asked to avoid large gatherings and the Central and state governments have cancelled several such events, including for celebrating Holi and the Womens Day as a preventive step. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the health ministry and other government departments on Saturday to take stock of the situation. Around 52 sample testing centres have been established across the country including two in Delhi while more than 50 centres across the country have been authorized to collect samples from patients suspected to be carrying the disease. Several schools and offices have been closed, and more employers are asking their staff to work from home. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 21:17:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- As the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide has reached over 100,000, the world's major economies including the United States, Europe and South Korea have felt the resulting impact on their markets. Meanwhile, positive developments such as a nationwide return to work and resumption of production in China bring hope of recovery, which, as some experts said, is a "good sign for the global economy." On Friday, U.S. stocks ended lower as the market sell-off continued amid concerns of slower economic growth. The German DAX index continued to fall and has so far decreased by more than 13 percent within the last two weeks. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts global growth in 2020 would drop below last year's level of 2.9 percent on Wednesday. In February, the IMF already revised down 2020 global growth to 3.2 percent. Europe's leading economy Germany saw a rising number of infected people this week as the Federation of German Industries warned that "the coronavirus and its worldwide distribution currently has the greatest negative impact on the economic development in Germany." Supply chains were already at risk and "major problems would be inevitable," said Germany's Institute for Economic Research. However, major economies, especially those hit hard by the disease, have rolled out economic stimulus in response. South Korea with the most COVID-19 cases outside China has unveiled 9.8 billion U.S. dollars' worth as part of an extra budget on Wednesday to boost private consumption, which was the country's biggest extra budget in seven years. The supplementary budget bill came hours after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut its target rate by 50 basis points in its first emergency move since the 2008 global financial crisis. Italy, the European country with the most COVID-19 infections, passed an emergency package worth about 1 billion dollars to support companies and households in the 11 towns put under quarantine in northern Italy. The measures included the suspension of some payments and delays in taxes and house mortgages. On Thursday, the Italian cabinet announced a second and broader package of financial stimulus. Furthermore, what is happening in China, including the restarting of roughly 60 percent of production in the country and supportive measures to help foreign trade enterprises, is appreciated by foreign industry leaders and economic experts. Commending the Chinese government's measures in response to the epidemic, especially those taken by the Ministry of Commerce to assist foreign companies, Richard Burn, Britain's HM Trade Commissioner for China, said, "these assistance policies apply to domestic and foreign enterprises alike, providing a strong guarantee for British companies to overcome difficulties." The economic effect of the epidemic both for China and other countries which do business with China would be transitory, CEO of Turkey's industrial conglomerate Ciner Group Gursel Usta has said. Usta said that China has developed a strong industry, particularly in chemistry and engineering, and he is confident about future cooperation with his Chinese partners. China's technological prowess has aided the country's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, said Po Chun Lee, a professor of public economic policy at Ecuador's National Institute of Higher Studies. Calling the resuming activity of China's offices and factories since February "a good sign for the global economy," Lee said as the world's second largest economy, China's COVID-19 battle is bound to have a wider impact, particularly on global production chains, tourism and stock markets. Singapore Business Federation chairman Teo Siong Seng also expressed his confidence in Singapore-China trade relations despite the COVID-19 outbreak, saying their trade relations will remain strong and robust. Citing positive developments in fighting the novel coronavirus in China, U.S. macroeconomic research body MRB Partners said that in their view, investors "will conclude that while the immediate impact on Q1 and possibly Q2 is negative, there is no risk of global recession in 2020." (Xinhua correspondents Liu Yanan in New York, Wang Feng in Istanbul, Elena Chuquimarca in Quito, Li Jie in Rome, and Zhu Sheng in Berlin also contributed to the story) In the Democratic Republic of Congos capital of Kinshasa, the first all-female, high-end taxi service is putting women exclusively in the driver's seat, challenging what traditionally has been a male-dominated area of the transport sector. Launched by a businesswoman two years ago, the service has been so successful it is now setting up an academy to train up to 100 drivers. FRANCE 24 has this report. On any given day in Kinshasa, women can be seen behind the wheel of a number of bright pink cars whizzing around the city streets. These cars belong to a ride-hailing service, Ubizcabs, which is the brainchild of Patricia Nzolantima. The Harvard-educated entrepreneur has big ambitions for the company and the women she employs. Ever since I became an entrepreneur, I've always invested in women, because I believe in women," Nzolantima says. "I believe that African women will succeed where men have failed. Believe me: Put women in positions of power, and they'll change the world." One client, Christelle Dibata says Ubizcabs are a more comfortable and safer way of getting around. "I've always been a bit scared to drive in Kinshasa because it's complicated," she told FRANCE 24. "But seeing a woman behind the wheel, it really gives you confidence. It makes you realise, that yes, we can!" Most trainees, like Maricia, are recent graduates and like many of the other women drivers were previously unemployed. "First of all, there was no such thing as female taxi drivers here in the DRC. So when I saw they were hiring women, I thought to myself: Well, this could be an opportunity for me." For Nzolantima, the sky's the limit. She now wants to expand internationally and compete with the likes of other ride-hailing services like Lyft and Uber. Click on the player to watch FRANCE 24's report. New Delhi, March 7 : A Delhi court on Saturday sent a person to two-days police custody for rioting and murder of a sweet shop employee during the recent northeast Delhi. Mohammed Shahnawaj, alias Shanu, was arrested for rioting, allegedly murdering Dilbar Singh Negi and tampering the evidences. He was sent to police custody earlier by the Karkardooma court and was produced before the court at the end of his remand period on Saturday. During the course of proceedings, the police sought further extension of his remand period to arrest his co-accused, recovery of property and further investigation. While allowing it, the court directed the police to conduct medical examination of the accused before and after the remand period. He will now be produced before the Duty Magistrate on March 9. Several people lost their lives after violence erupted in the north-east area of the national capital, last month. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: The BJP government on Friday informed the Assembly that Arunachal Pradesh is planning to boost infrastructure in ten towns along international borders, particularly with China, to prevent the migration of villagers. There has been a rapid migration of villagers to Itanagar and other towns over the past few years. The scarcity of food and basic amenities due to lack of terrestrial access are believed to be the reasons behind governments move. Chief Minister Pema Khandu agreed the matter was of grave concern given the fact that Arunachal shares its border not only with China (1,200 km) but also Bhutan (550 km) and Myanmar (150 km).He informed the Assembly that the government had sought a special package of `460 crore from the Centre for infrastructure development in border areas. Once the project is cleared by the Centre, we believe we can thwart the migration of the people by developing the border areas with all amenities, he said. Former Arunachal MP, Takam Sanjay, had once said that incursions by the Chinese soldiers were less of a worry than the locals migrations from border areas. People settled in border areas are considered the first line of defence.An Army officer, who has served in Arunachal said that it was of utmost importance to develop the border areas migration or no migration. Development is in progress in Arunachals border areas but the pace of it has been hampered due to issues relating to weather, roads etc, he said, adding, We must have our populations on our land but the problem is our border areas are underdeveloped. Bird flu outbreak reported in two farms in Kerala India oi-PTI Kozhikode, Mar 07: An outbreak of bird flu has been reported from two poultry farms in Kerala's Kozhikode district prompting authorities to order culling of ducks and hens within one km radius of the affected areas. District Collector Sreeram Sambasiva Rao, chaired an urgent meeting of officials of the Animal Husbandry, Health and police on Saturday to take stock of the situation in the wake of the outbreak of the Avian flu. The state government has drawn up an action plan, including deployment of action teams each comprising five members including one from the Animal Husbandry and Health departments, the collector told reporters here. He advised the public not to panic and said necessary measures were being taken to contain the spread. "Swift action has been initiated to cull all chickens, ducks and other domestic birds in and around one kilometre radius of the two farms. This is only to prevent spreading of the virus to nearby areas. Though the exact numbers are not available, it could run to few a hundred including all chicken in these two poultry farms," Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry Office, Thiruvananthapuram, M K Prasad said. Animal Husbandry Department sources said bird flu or Avian Influenza in poultry with LPAI virus may cause no disease or mild illness or may show mild signs, which may not be detected. Infection of poultry with HPAI virus can cause severe disease with high mortality. Bird flu occurs naturally in wild waterfowl and can spread to domestic poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. The disease is transmitted via contact with an infected bird's feces, or secretions from its nose, mouth or eye. The last case of bird flu was reported in the state in 2016, sources said. All the poultry birds, including the chickens in the two poultry farms in Vengeri and Kodiyathoor, would be culled and buried in a closed environment. The total number of birds to be culled would be between 10,000 to 12,000, they added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 18:07 [IST] While the family of Nathaniel Woods fumes over his execution and prepares for his funeral, the man who confessed to acting alone in the killing of three Alabama police officers that landed them both on death row is alive and may never be executed, according to his former appellate attorney. As a wave of outrage swept the state and nation over Woods' execution late Thursday, Alabama's death penalty laws are being scrutinized by civil rights leaders and labeled as unjust by Woods' supporters, saying its criminal courts are unfair to minority defendants. MORE: Federal government resuming executions after 2 decades, names first 5 people to be killed But the former attorney for Kerry Spencer, the man convicted of gunning down three police officers in a Birmingham crack house in 2004, said he hopes the execution will put a final nail in the death penalty in Alabama and the 28 other states where it still exists. "If that can't be a poster case for eliminating the death penalty, I don't know what will," retired defense attorney Charles Flowers III told ABC News on Friday. "The only thing good that can come out of this whole mess is if this particular case is the stimulus to showing people how terrible the death penalty is, because you can't administer it fairly." PHOTO: Nathaniel Woods in an undated photo from the Alabama Dept. of Corrections. (Alabama Dept. of Corrections via AP) Woods was killed by lethal injection on Thursday night at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama, despite his family and supporters, including Martin Luther King III, son of the civil rights icon, and Kim Kardashian West, contending there was overwhelming evidence that he was likely innocent. King called the decisions of Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey not to intervene and the U.S. Supreme Court not to halt Woods' death "reprehensible" and a "mockery of justice and constitutional guarantees to a fair trial." PHOTO: Chart of executions in the U.S. by state. (Newscom ) Flowers said that despite Spencer claiming he acted alone in the 2004 Birmingham triple murder, he might end up never being put to death. Story continues That's because when Spencer was convicted in 2005, the jury that found him guilty reached a non-unanimous verdict in the death penalty phase of his trail and recommended he be sentenced to life in prison without parole. The judge in the case, however, overrode the jury's decision and sentenced Spencer to death. Then, in 2017, the Alabama state legislature passed a law that stripped judges of their discretion to override non-unanimous jury verdicts in death penalty cases, effectively declaring such decisions in violation of the Sixth Amendment guaranteeing the rights of criminal defendants to a jury finding. PHOTO: Martin Luther King III speaks onstage during an event at the Town Hall, Feb. 28, 2020 in New York City. (Jason Mendez/Getty Images, FILE) As one of her first acts as Alabama's governor, Ivey, whose decision condemned Woods to death, signed the bill. While the law stopped short of making it apply retroactively to inmates like Spencer, Flowers and other death penalty experts say it is only a matter a time until it becomes retroactive as more convicts on death row prior to the passage of the law challenge it and eventually force the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on the issue. Meanwhile, the jury that heard Woods' trial, which preceded Spencer's conviction, also reached a non-unanimous verdict of 10-2 and recommended a sentence of death, which was accepted by the trial judge. "If what I think is going to happen happens, if the Supreme Court bars Kerry's execution, which I certainly hope they do, and Woods was executed, you're going to have a situation where a man who probably didn't have a thing in the world to do with something was executed, and the man who pulled the trigger is not," Flowers said. Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., that focuses on disseminating studies and reports related to capital punishment, said Flower could very well be right. "It's inherently arbitrary to say that some practice is so unreliable that it's unconstitutional and then to allow death sentences that were imposed based on that unreliable practice to stand," Dunham told ABC News. "So that is the issue, but so far there hasn't been a declaration that it's unconstitutional because almost everybody else has repealed it and the Supreme Court hasn't yet addressed it." MORE: Nathaniel Woods executed in Alabama after Supreme Court denies stay According to the Equal Justice Initiative, a Montgomery, Alabama, nonprofit that provides legal representation to prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted of crimes, Alabama judges have overridden jury recommendations 112 times since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, including 101 times in which they issued death sentences. Dunham said another issue Woods' execution has cast into the national spotlight is that of non-unanimous juries. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to soon make a decision on the constitutionality of non-unanimous verdicts. In a decision that only applied to federal cases, the Supreme Court in 1972 struck down the practice as a vestige of the Jim Crow era meant to discriminate against African Americans. The court said the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of a fair trial means jury verdicts in felony trials must be unanimous. Alabama and Oregon are the last states in the nation that allow non-unanimous jury verdicts in felony cases. The case before the Supreme Court pertains to Louisiana. While Louisianans voted in November 2018 to repeal non-unanimous jury verdicts, Louisiana convict Evangelisto Ramos, who maintains his innocence in a gruesome murder case, wants the high court to force the state to apply their new rules retroactively and give him a new trial. Ramos was convicted by 10 of 12 jurors in his second-degree murder trial and sentenced to life without parole. While hearing oral arguments in the case in October 2019, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the newest member of the Supreme Court, noted that "the rule in question here is rooted in racism ... rooted in a desire, apparently, to diminish the voices of black voters." Florida and Delaware were among the most recent states to repeal the practice, in addition to Louisiana. Dunham, who has studied both Woods' and Spencer's cases, said that while it was the same crime, the legal representation that each man received and the evidence presented at their separate trials was vastly different. "Woods got terrible representation and there are all sorts of issues that were never raised and all sorts of evidence that was never presented that was presented in Spencer's case," Dunham said. During his trial, Spencer testified that he acted alone when he fatally shot Birmingham police officers Carlos Owen, Harley Chisholm III and Charles Bennett, and wounded a fourth officer. He claimed he fired in self-defense when the officers pulled guns on him and swore the shooting was not premeditated or planned as prosecutors alleged. Woods' jury never heard Spencer's self-defense claim, Dunham said. MORE: MLK III pleads with Alabama governor to stop execution of Nathanial Woods, convicted in slayings of 3 cops "If Woods' jury had heard that, there's a very strong possibility that they would have acquitted because it destroys the prosecution's theory that essentially he led them into an ambush," Dunham said. "I mean, Spencer says, 'Woods couldn't possibly have known I was going to shoot the officers [because] I didn't know I was going to shoot the officers.'" He said that during Woods' trial, his girlfriend testified that he hated police officers, a contention that dovetailed into the prosecution's theory that Woods lured them into a death trap. The girlfriend, however, later recanted her testimony and claimed she was coerced by police, Dunham said. The officer who survived the shooting testified at Woods' trial that Woods cursed at officers when they initially arrived at his home and challenged one to take off his badge and fight him, according to trial transcripts included in Woods' appeal. "He [the officer] testified in Spencer's case, too, and never mentioned anything of the sort," Dunham said. Woods also claimed his lawyer convinced him to reject a plea deal prosecutors offered him of 20 to 25 years in prison, according to court records. PHOTO: Gov. Kay Ivey gives the State of the State Address to a joint session of the Alabama Legislature, Feb. 4, 2020, in the old house chamber of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery, Ala. (Vasha Hunt/AP, FILE) "The reason that this case attracted so much attention is because it's an outrageous case. And Alabama's response to that wasn't to concede that there were problems, it was to push ahead and pretty much double down on all of the assertions that seemed questionable to start with," Dunham said. "When we think of important moments in civil rights that changed public opinion, like Bull Connors siccing the dogs and putting the hoses on the peaceful marchers, it was such an inappropriate response and everybody saw it right out in the open," he said. "Here, Alabama had an inappropriate response and everybody saw it right out in the open. The subject matter is not the same, but what you have is something that looks like injustice and it looks like Alabama doesn't care." But Ivey said in a lengthy statement released following Woods' execution that she declined to intervene and grant a reprieve "after a thorough and careful consideration of the facts surrounding the case." "A jury of Mr. Woods peers convicted him of four counts of capital murder. In the past 15 years, his conviction has been reviewed at least nine times, and no court has found any reason to overturn the jurys decision," Ivey said in her statement. Under Alabama law, someone who helps kill a police officer is just as guilty as the person who directly commits the crime." Nathaniel Woods' execution cast scrutiny on Alabama's death penalty. So why is the cop killer who pulled the trigger still alive? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Johann Christoph Michalski, the chief executive of Vinda International Holdings, was incredulous when word started spreading on social media in early February that toilet paper was about to run out in Hong Kong. Within days, supermarket shelves across the city would stand empty as long queues of shoppers made off with multiple bags of toilet paper rolls in the misguided belief that a coronavirus outbreak in mainland China would disrupt supplies. The self-fulfilling prophecy soon found its way around the world, with similar reports of panic shopping for toilet rolls, tissue paper from Singapore to Sydney. There are no supply shortages in Hong Kong or in China, Michalski said in an interview with South China Morning Post, adding that people should not believe everything they read on social media. Whatever shortage reported at the shops were actually created by panic buying, rather than the ability of the industry to provide products, he said. Panic buying is very disruptive to our logistics, customers and manufacturing. Johann Christoph Michalski, chief executive officer of Vinda International Holdings. Photo: Sohu The panic hoarding of toilet paper added to the rush for surgical masks, rubber gloves, disinfectants, and other daily necessities, going some ways to explain why Vindas shares soared 48 per cent this year on the Hong Kong stock exchange, outperforming the 7.2 per cent decline on the benchmark Hang Seng Index. Vindas shares closed Friday at HK$21, for a weekly gain of 4.7 per cent. As Vinda resumes output next week in Hubei on the last of its 12 production queues in mainland China, the company is back on track to churn out 1.3 million tonnes of paper this year, Michalski said. Vinda is 52-per cent owned by Essity Group Holding, the worlds second-largest producer of tissue paper. Essity in 2017 was spun off as a hygiene and health care business from Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, a pulp and paper producer that traces its root to Sweden in 1929. The group its name is a compound word made up of essentials and necessities makes products for personal care and professional hygiene, offering a dozen brands including Vinda, Tempo and Lotus. Story continues Vinda also makes wet wipes, adult diapers and sanitary towels. It's the largest producer of tissue and toilet paper in the region, with 18 per cent of Chinas market and supply 37 per cent of Hong Kongs consumption. Last month, it invested in two production lines to make masks in Guangdong and eastern Chinas Zhejiang province. Infographic: All you need to know about the global coronavirus outbreak Mainland China contributes to three-quarters of Vindas annual sales, with Malaysia and Hong Kong making up the biggest markets outside the mainland, according to 2018 data. Helped by Chinas demand, Vindas 2019 net profit jumped 75 per cent to HK$1.4 billion, beating a Bloomberg survey by 14 per cent, as cheaper pulp prices increased its margin. The coronavirus outbreak in China had forced an estimated 50 million workers to stay at home as the government ordered an extended Lunar New Year holiday to contain the pathogens spread. As a result, some of Vindas shipments were delayed in February by road blocks between its factories and the ports, although Michalski does not expect a significant impact to the companys overall production and sales. China is the worlds largest exporter of toilet paper. The country ships US$2.8 billion worth of rolls each year, making up 12 per cent of the global toilet paper export market, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, a US-based trade monitor. Chinas logistics network is gradually getting back on track, and the company has also stockpiled wood pulp for three to four months use ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which has shielded it from any shortage of key raw material. We still expect our profitability to increase for 2020 compared to 2019, and expect to grow in a significant way, Michalski said. Ironically, shipment to Hong Kong may slow in the coming months, because households are probably overstocked with toilet paper, he said, adding that Vinda spent a week transferring products from the neighbouring Guangdong province to the city. Our supply chain is made for regular replenishment and we can cope quite easily with surges like 10 per cent or 15 per cent but when you have surges like in Hong Kong across the board and across [product types], its very difficult for our supply chain to follow. This article Amid mysterious runs on toilet paper from Singapore to Sydney, worlds number 2 producer says shortage rumour holds no water first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. The number of Vietnams extremely rich will experience the worlds third fastest increase in the next five years, at 64 percent, Knight Frank reports. Vietnam had 458 people with a net worth of above $30 million in 2019, up 7 percent from a year ago, according to global property consultant Knight Franks Wealth Report 2020 released this week. The report also forecasts the number of ultra-high net worth (UHNWI) individuals in Vietnam is projected to hit 753 by 2024, with a five-year growth rate of 64 percent, the third highest growth among UHNWI populations after India (73 percent) and Egypt (66 percent). "Its exciting to see how wealth is developing across Asia and, with the number of ultra-wealthy in India, Vietnam, China and Malaysia outpacing many other markets over the next five years," said Liam Bailey, Knight Franks global head of research. Other countries expected to see fastest growth in UHNWI populations during the next five years include China, Indonesia, Tanzania, Sweden, Romania, New Zealand and Malaysia. The report revealed Vietnam had five billionaires by the end of 2019, with the figure expected to rise to six in 2024. Meanwhile, Vietnam had 25,727 millionaires last year, up 12 percent from a year ago. The report is based on responses provided during October and November 2019 by 620 private bankers and wealth advisors who manage over $3.3 trillion of wealth for UHNWI clients spread across 200 countries and territories. In 2019, the worlds UHNWI population was 513,244, rising 6.4 percent against the previous year, with the figure expected to increase by 27 percent in the next five years, taking the total to 649,331. The U.S. tops the ranking, with 240,575 UHNWIs last year, more than Europe and Asia combined, constituting almost half the global total. China ranks second with 61,587, followed by Germany (23,078), France (18,776), and Japan (17,013). Overall numbers of the ultra-wealthy elite included in the report increased significantly compared to 2018, after Knight Frank changed its methodology to include the value of individuals homes. Property makes up almost a third (27 percent) of the total wealth owned by the ultra-rich. DECATUR Central Illinois hospitals, nursing homes and government bodies are mobilizing to brace for the spread of coronavirus, a sixth case of which was confirmed in Illinois on Friday. The outbreak of COVID-19, which began in China, has killed more than a dozen people in the U.S. and infected more than 200. U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis brought together on Friday representatives of HSHS St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur Memorial Hospital, Macon County Health Department, Millikin University, the city of Decatur government and others for a roundtable discussion at Crossing Healthcare to share information and concerns. Officials stressed the importance of strong communication between the medical community and all levels of government as the situation progresses. "This is a rapidly evolving situation," said Drew Early, president and CEO of Decatur Memorial Hospital. "We've been working very closely with partner agencies in all of our communities." The discussion came as state officials said the sixth confirmed case of coronavirus in Illinois was a Chicago Public Schools special education classroom assistant. The patient, a Chicago woman in her 50s, is hospitalized. She had been on the Grand Princess cruise ship, which has been associated with 20 cases. Meanwhile, the fifth Chicago-area patient to test positive for coronavirus was released from the hospital Friday to recover under quarantine at home, according to Rush University Medical Center officials. Gov. J.B. Pritzker continued to stress that "the risk is low to the public." "At least so far were in a good place and doing everything we can," he said during a news conference in Chicago. Davis said he had received the same message from Pritzker and officials from President Donald Trump's administration in telephone briefings about the spread of the virus and the government's response. Federal and state governments want to ensure that communities have what they need, he said. "I care most about whether or not that information is getting to you and most importantly, the supplies they are talking about getting to you are actually getting down to the ground," Davis said. Trump on Friday signed an $8.3 billion measure to launch a multifaceted attack on the spread of the virus. The package included more than $4 billion to make diagnosis tests more broadly available, $2.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, $20 million to administer disaster assistance loans and $1.25 billion for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to protect Americans abroad and prevent the spread of the virus worldwide. The measure had broad support, passing the Senate 96-1 and the House 415-2. Davis stressed that bipartisan support of the funding was important. Containing an outbreak of any possible virus like the coronavirus doesnt and shouldnt have a political litmus test, Davis said. There is no Democrat or Republican solution to making sure that Americans arent infected by this disease. A representative of multiple senior care facilities said he was concerned about a possible shortage of supplies. The elderly and people with severe chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for complications from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We haven't had a shortage yet but we are concerned," said Alan Gaffner, of the Alden Network of Long-Term Care. "I can see based on the number of gloves, masks and gowns that we are using that we could find ourselves in a shortage situation." Coronavirus precaution: Decatur schools plan 'focused cleaning' in buildings during spring break "We are closely following information on COVID-19 and will continue to update you as information is shared with us," school officials wrote in a letter to Decatur parents Friday. He also said finances could be an issue. "If this is extended and there will be a lot of overtime, the financial impact will be significant," Gaffner said. "Seventy-five percent of our residents being under the Medicaid program is already a challenge." Davis said that he was advised by the Illinois Department of Public Health that 200 tests have already been administered in the state, with the anticipation of 75,000 test kits being added to the public health network. Testing for the virus is available at a lab in Cook County. As of Feb. 28, two new labs in Springfield and Carbondale would also conduct the testing. Dr. Ted Clark, chief medical officer at DMH, said testing would be conducted under a "person of interest model." Coronavirus causes global shortage of parts The parts shortage shows how vulnerable something as common as a smartphone has become to global supply shocks . "They have to meet certain criteria in order to be tested," Clark said. Officials at the meeting mentioned a need for more isolation rooms, which are used for those who are diagnosed with the disease. "Professionals at the federal level, state level and local level all agree because of the availability now of more testing, you are going to see an increase in (the) number of diagnosed cases," Davis said. "The key is, are we going to get to a point where that rate of increase of diagnosis goes down like it is being reported in China?" Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe attended the discussion and also was brief on a conference call Friday afternoon with Pritzker. She said she felt confident in what was being done at the state level and locally to handle the situation. "Both Decatur hospitals and hospitals across the state are going to have protocols in place to do the best to treat the patient and not only that, but to protect those working in the hospitals as well," said Moore Wolfe, the executive director of philanthropy, advocacy and community relations for HSHS St. Mary's Hospital. The Chicago Tribune contributed to this story. Related stories Contact Analisa Trofimuk at (217) 421-7985. Follow her on Twitter: @AnalisaTro You may have heard that the US renewed its sanctions on us. There is nothing new there. We have been with these sanctions for the past 20 years. These are the same sanctions they have renewed. As Zimbabwe, we have a policy of engagement and re-engagement. The whole of Sadc is standing with us. You may recall that on October 25, 2019, Sadc countries in their respective countries had various programmes calling the Americans to remove their sanctions on Zimbabwe. Just over a year ago, we visited the Glen, a neighborhood on the Northeast Side with persistent trash issues. Not stray litter, mind you. But stunning mounds of garbage piling high in alleys. On a chilly February morning, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar led a cleanup for the area. Probationers and deputies worked their way down alleys, shoveling garbage and clearing debris, providing a sense of relief in a corner of our community so often ignored. The work was hard and commendable. But while a cleanup is a fine response to a festering public health crisis, it should not be confused with policy. It is not a solution, only temporary relief. We have been reminded of this in recent weeks. First, by CPS Energys stunning refusal to work with Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert on a trash service plan that would benefit residents of the Glen and other nearby neighborhoods in unincorporated Bexar County. All CPS Energy has to do is serve as a pass-through for billing, but it has refused. Our second reminder came courtesy of the trash we witnessed in the Glen on a sunny Thursday morning. We saw the familiar piles of garbage lining alleys, piling up outside homes and even, in one instance, partially blocking the way. Study the accompanying picture. Take in the junked toy car, loose bottles, abandoned shopping cart and torn garbage bags. This is no way for anyone to live, and it affects innocent neighbors who might have their own trash service but still must live surrounded by the garbage of others. When we witness scenes like this, it is hard to reconcile why CPS Energy would not want to be part of a community solution. While most of the homes in the Glen have trash service, just enough dont to invite public health problems. As we drove around the neighborhood, we saw many well-maintained homes and plenty of trash cans. But we also witnessed bags of garbage piled outside several residences, and numerous instances of furniture dumped on the street. In one particularly forlorn alley, a pile of debris about 6 feet tall had accumulated, mostly comprised of sticks and branches with several bags of garbage teetering atop it. The shame is we know exactly how to fix this issue. Thats because the city of San Antonio and Bexar County partnered successfully in 2015 to address persistent trash issues in the townhomes of Camelot II, a neighborhood next to the Glen. The politics around trash service in these neighborhoods are a bit complicated. Camelot II and the Glen are in unincorporated Bexar County, but they are very close to the city of San Antonio. To fix the trash issues in Camelot II, private waste haulers left the neighborhood, and the city then stepped in to provide service. The key to success, though, was billing through CPS Energy. When trash service appears on the electric bill, it gets paid. But the Camelot II pilot program has served only about 600 homes when the need is clearly much greater. Even worse, the Camelot II pilot program ends with the calendar year. Because these neighborhoods are not in the city, Calvert has developed a plan to provide service through private waste haulers, but he wants to bill through CPS Energy, which has refused. Why? In a statement, CPS Energy has said it will only bill in areas where the city of San Antonio provides trash service. This strikes us as arbitrary. After all, CPS Energy has no problem billing county residents for electricity. The consequence is CPS Energy has scuttled Calverts proposed expanded pilot program with private haulers, and it would bury Camelot II under mounds of garbage when the pilot program ends later this year. CPS Energy, which will likely soon seek a rate increase, has offered a uniquely bureaucratic and myopic response to a community issue that demands leadership, creativity and compassion. The Bowery Mission has closed its Code Blue program, which made extra space available to homeless men on very cold evenings in the chapel and cafeteria. And its a time of significant change for the organization: The mission has faced recent budget shortfalls and is looking for a new president to replace David P. Jones, who stepped down just before Thanksgiving (In the past 5 years) the mission doubled the number of people enrolled in its residential recovery programs, absorbing the Goodwill Rescue Mission in Newark, N.J., and the New York City Rescue Mission in Tribeca. But as it expanded its footprint, the Bowery Mission also cut back on some efforts. [New York Times] The City Council approved a large new development project to be built on the ashes of Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, the historic Norfolk Street synagogue. [Cityland] City Council Member Carlina Rivera comes out against an air rights transfer to allow developers to build an office tower on St. Marks Place. [Gothamist] City Council members questioned the mayors affordable housing schemes at a budget hearing, arguing that neighborhood rezoning are turbo-charging gentrification. [Gotham Gazette] Former Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen assails shortsighted politicians for blocking the citys aggressive development agenda. [Daily News] ICYMI: The Lower East Side boasts some impressive wine bars. Skin Contact on Orchard Street is a new entry from a pioneer in the natural wine movement. [Eater] Theres a fundraiser tonight to help the groups displaced by the devastating fire at 70 Mulberry St. [Facebook] Healthcare workers carry Clorox wipes and other supplies into the Life Care Center of Kirkland, the long-term care facility linked to several confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, in Kirkland, Washington on March 5, 2020. (David Ryder/Reuters) University of Washington Moving All Classes Online Over Coronavirus Concerns The University of Washington is moving all classes online next week due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus in the state, the hardest-hit in the nation, after the school announced that a staff member tested positive for the virus. Seventy-nine cases have been confirmed in the state. Eleven patients have died, including 10 in King County, according to county officials. Starting March 9, classes on all three campuses at the University of Washington will no longer be meeting in person, said university President Ana Mari Cauce in a message to staff, faculty, and other academic personnel. The decision was made after the school consulted with public health officials about social distancing measures to try to limit the spread of the new virus, which has symptoms similar to the flu and causes a disease called COVID-19. Teachers are being asked to conduct classes and exams remotely if possible until the current quarter ends on March 20. If classes cant be conducted remotely then other options, including grading based on work already done, may be used, they said. The university plans to resume normal classes when the spring quarter begins on March 30, according to the schools website. Carl Bergstrom, a professor of biology at the school, called the move an excellent decision that was well-informed by the science and certain to help flatten the epidemic curve for COVID-19. He said on Twitter that other institutions should implement similar policies. The University of Washington, which has nearly 57,000 students, appeared to be the first college in the country to shift to online classes. A number of primary schools have closed after students or staff members were either suspected of or confirmed to have the new virus, including schools in Washington, New York, and Oregon. A man walks past SAR High School, which has been shut down due to the new coronavirus, in the Bronx borough of New York City, New York on March 3, 2020. (Carlo Allegri/Reuters) The university has campuses in Bothell, Tacoma, and Seattle. Most of Washington states cases were discovered in Kirkland, located in King County. Geoffrey Gottlieb, interim chair of the universitys advisory committee on communicable diseases, said in a letter to the school community on March 6 that a staff member received a positive test for COVID-19. The employee, who works in Roosevelt Commons East, is in self-isolation at home. The building, which is situated west of the universitys Seattle campus, was closed for cleaning until further notice. The worker was last in the building on Feb. 24, 27, and 28. Everyone who came into contact with the person will now be contacted, those individuals are being asked to stay at home for two weeks and will be monitored for symptoms, said officials. A significant number of Washingtons cases have been traced back to the Life Care Center of Kirkland, a nursing home. Earlier this week, officials said that around 50 patients and staff at home are being tested for the new virus. The new virus emerged in China late last year and has spread to about 60 countries across the world. The origins of the viruswhich spreads primarily through the respiratory droplets produced when an infected person sneezes or coughsstill arent confirmed. Experts say ways to avoid getting the illness include frequently washing hands, regularly cleaning objects and surfaces at home, work, and school, and avoiding touching ones nose, eyes, and mouth with unwashed hands, say health officials. Sick people should stay home and call their doctor or health authorities. A specialist Garda team will seek "a comprehensive interview" with Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy in the coming weeks as part of a fresh investigation into the murder of Paul Quinn. Sources have revealed the Stormont finance minister will be quizzed about his repeated claims that the IRA assured him it was not responsible for the shocking crime in 2007. Mr Quinn (21), from Cullyhanna, Co Armagh, died from horrific injuries inflicted when up to a dozen IRA men beat him with iron bars and nail-studded cudgels after he was lured to a farm shed across the border in Co Monaghan. Mr Murphy was forced to apologise to Mr Quinn's parents, Breege and Stephen, over his false claims their son was murdered because of his involvement in crime when it became a major issue in the recent election. However, the senior Sinn Fein member, who had originally tried to deny he ever made the upsetting comments, did not clarify that Paul Quinn was not a criminal in his apology. Mr Murphy has also consistently claimed he had co-operated with the original Garda investigation in 2007. But last month the Irish Independent revealed that he met investigating gardai by appointment on one occasion when they asked him to provide answers to "specific questions" which were deemed important to the enquiry. However, security sources revealed that Mr Murphy has not met gardai since that time and has not answered their questions. Sources revealed last night that gardai will be "seeking a comprehensive interview" with Mr Murphy in the hope he will finally share whatever information he has had in his possession for the past 13 years. A fresh investigation was launched two weeks ago with a core team of 10 officers working exclusively on the case from an incident room at Carrickmacross garda station. The renewed enquiry is based on an in-depth year-long re-examination of Paul Quinn's murder by the Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) based in Dublin. It is understood up to 150 potential new lines of enquiry have been identified which will now be pursued by the hand-picked investigation team which will also be backed up by national units. Senior sources confirmed it is the belief of gardai and the PSNI that Mr Quinn was murdered by a republican gang made up of well-known Provos and members of Sinn Fein. Answers "Conor Murphy will be approached again and the new investigation will definitely be seeking a comprehensive interview which was not forthcoming in the past," a source revealed. "The answer as to who was responsible for this crime lies in south Armagh within the ranks of the republican movement but they are protecting themselves behind a wall of silence that they built through fear and violence. "The deliberate effort to smear Paul Quinn's name is typical of how the IRA has always operated - tell lies to steer people away from the truth." To date, the Garda investigation has resulted in more than 20 arrests. No one has yet been charged. Gardai believe Mr Quinn was targeted by the IRA after he had a fist fight with the son of a senior republican godfather who is heavily involved in organised crime in the area. The Garda press office has refused to comment on the level of co-operation received from Mr Murphy stating that "as a matter of policy An Garda Siochana does not comment on named individuals". Barring those of an Italian couple, all the samples collected from suspected coronavirus cases in Rajasthan have tested negative, an official said. "The total number of samples tested so far is 282. Of those, 280 have tested negative and two positive (of the Italian couple)," Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Rohit Kumar Singh said on Friday. He said no sample was pending as of now. The couple is admitted to the SMS hospital here. Singh said the department was put on alert and all measures were taken to handle the situation. After the confirmation of coronavirus in the elderly Italian couple, who was part of a group of tourists that visited Jhunjhunu, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Jaipur fromFebruary 21 to 28, samples of those who came in contact with them were taken. These samples tested negative at the laboratory of SMS Medical College. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid the increasing Coronavirus cases in India, and 3 confirmed Coronavirus cases in Kerala, the State's Health Minister KK Shailaja on Saturday stated that a person who died in Thiruvananthapuram hospital after arriving from Oman is not a confirmed positive case of coronavirus. "One person had come to Kerala from Oman yesterday and was admitted to a hospital as he had some respiratory symptoms and he died. We had collected the sample to test if there was any presence of the virus. We are waiting for the sample to come. We are not sure if it was a coronavirus case," Shailaja said while interacting with a news agency. The Health Minister also informed that precautionary measures in the state are still up. As a precautionary measure, she also advised people to avoid mass gatherings like weddings. "Person with not only symptoms of coronavirus but also normal cold and cough, respiratory difficulties should avoid coming to the mass gathering. Even the occasions like wedding, cinema hall," she said. READ | Kerala students tested positive for COVID-19 are stable, says Health Minister Shailaja 1 Swine Flu case reported in Kerala While interacting with the media, Health Minister Shailaja informed that the state has reported one case of Swine Flu. "One case of swine flu has been reported from Kallikkad. There is no need to panic as it occurs during this season. A medical team was sent there to take all the required preventive measures." Post the case of swine flu being reported, the authorities have examined all the nearby places and will continue to monitor the area. READ | Amid Corona outbreak, Baba Ramdev asks people to take precautions, suggests Yoga practice Coronavirus outbreak, 31 positive cases in India Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on March 6 visited the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi to inspect the preparedness to tackle coronavirus outbreak. Harsh Vardhan visited Terminal-3 of the international airport to take stock of the arrangements made for the screening of passengers coming from the 78 countries that have reported active coronavirus cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that it had registered 2,241 new confirmed cases of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) worldwide within the past 24 hours, with 84 people having died, which brought the total death toll to 3,282. The whole number of people, who were diagnosed with COVID-19, has reached 100,000, including 80,565 people in China. India has so far confirmed 31 positive Coronavirus cases. COVID-19 was first detected in China's Wuhan in late December and has since spread across the world. In late January, the WHO declared a global health emergency in light of the epidemic. READ | Final rites of Kerala man who tested negative for coronavirus held with safety precautions READ | 12-member Telangana team meets Kerala health minister, discusses ways to combat COVID-19 (With inputs from ANI) WASHINGTON Vice President Mike Pence has long been a one-man political cleanup crew for President Trump. From his day trip last fall to Turkey to negotiate a cease-fire in northern Syria to his takeover of the chaotic presidential transition, Mr. Pence is used to being diverted from his reliably anodyne schedule. Now he has moved into one of the biggest political janitor jobs of all time. Mr. Trump, who in recent weeks was infuriated by early decisions to allow coronavirus patients into the United States and irritated by public health officials offering their assessments to the public, has turned to Mr. Pence, an unfailing loyalist, to tamp down on messaging efforts and wrangle competing offices within the White House. Having the vice president gives me the biggest stick one could have in the government on this whole-of-government approach, Mr. Trump proclaimed last week when he appointed Mr. Pence to lead the administrations coronavirus task force. He did not mention that one of Mr. Pences jobs is to clean up after a font of misinformation, the president himself, who has said he has a hunch that the virus is not as lethal as experts say and that everything will be better by April. There have been nearly 80 attacks in Afghanistan since the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal a week ago. There have been nearly 80 attacks in Afghanistan since the United States and the Taliban signed a peace deal a week ago. Despite the continued violence, the Taliban is due to hold talks with the government in the coming days. Al Jazeeras Hoda Abdel Hamid reports on the hurdles those negotiations are likely to face. Amber Carey, 30, faces a misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine after a handwritten note on the stolen car she was in revealed her location to cops Attempted car thieves in Colorado were hampered in their speedy getaway after a flat tire forced them to park up their stolen ride and search for a replacement. When Arvada police came across the stolen vehicle, they noticed a handwritten note left on the windscreen asking for the car not to be towed as the driver went to get a tire and would be back 'shortly'. Dustin Daniel Cordova, 37, and Amber Carey, 30, were arrested Wednesday morning after they were found a few blocks away from the car searching for the spare. 'Arvada Police find a stolen car, the driver of the stolen car left a note saying they went get a new tire and not to tow the car!' the officers revealed in a tweet. 'The driver and passenger were arrested a couple blocks away!' Dustin Cordova, 37, and Amber Carey, 30, left this stolen jeep parked up with a handwritten 'do not tow' note attached as they went to search for a spare tire after getting a flat The handwritten note informed police of the couple's location and they were arrested a few blocks later. On Cordova is being held on suspicion of aggravated motor vehicle theft The white Jeep Grand Cherokee, which had been reported stolen out of nearby Denver, was first spotted by the police around 8.30am after it sped off when officers attempted to stop it near the area of 58th Avenue and Field Street. The car was spotted again near Oberon Road and Yarrow Street parked behind an apartment block with its front driver-side tire off its rim. A photo shared by the police shows the tire completely shredded with the rim exposed. A handwritten note attached read 'Please don't tow! I went to get a tire and will be back shortly! Thank you' and officers began to search the nearby area picking up Cordova and Carey shortly afterward. According to ABC Denver, Cordova is being held on suspicion of aggravated motor vehicle theft, eluding and reckless driving. His picture has not yet been released. Carey is held on misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine. When posting photos of the note on Twitter, the Arvada police joked about the arrest adding #maybecriminallifeisnot4U and #nicetry. Vodafone Idea Ltd has assessed its telecom dues arising from an October Supreme Court order at 21,533 crore, less than half the over 50,000 crore that the government had estimated. The company has today filed its self-assessment of the AGR (adjusted gross revenue) liabilities with the department of telecommunications (DoT), Vodafone Idea told exchanges on Friday. The companys liabilities included a principal amount of 6,854 crore for the 13-year period ended March 31, 2019 and interest up to February 2020, it said. Meanwhile, Vodafone Group Plcs chief executive officer (CEO) Nick Read met finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and later telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday to discuss ways to save the cash-strapped firm. The company has so far paid 3,500 crore in licence fee and spectrum usage dues to the telecom department. To a question on what relief the government may offer telecom firms grappling with the liability to pay the AGR dues, Sitharaman said, The government will announce the decision. The concerned department will do it. During Reads meeting at the DoT, Prasad made it clear that the government wants Vodafone Idea to survive and remain invested in India, a person familiar with the development said on condition of anonymity. Vodafone Group wants to make a new and good beginning in India, and continue to stay invested in the country, the person said, citing Read. The Vodafone Group CEO declined to comment on the meeting. The meeting at DoT was also attended by Vodafone Idea managing director and chief executive officer Ravinder Takkar and telecom secretary Anshu Prakash. Despite a call for urgent relief for the sector, the Digital Communications Commission, the highest decision-making authority at DoT, is yet to take a decision on whether telecom operators should be provided relief measures for payment of dues related to AGR as more details are required to reconcile these dues. Vodafone Ideaformed by merging Vodafone India Ltd with Idea Cellular Ltd of the Aditya Birla grouphas been on the brink of collapse after the unfavourable court verdict. In October, the Supreme Court upheld the governments broader definition of AGR, on which it calculates levies on telecom operators. The order dealt a blow to the telecom industry The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a standing ovation as they made one of their final appearances as working royals, as they attend the Mountbatten Festival of Music. Prince Harry and Meghan are the only senior royals at the event at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday evening. It comes ahead of their Commonwealth Day Service appearance, when they will be publicly reunited with Prince William and Kate, as well as the Queen, and Prince Charles and Camilla. Prince Harry is attending in his capacity as Captain General of the Royal Marines. The duchess wore a striking red floor length gown by Safiyaa to match her husbands uniform, with red Aquazurra shoes, a Manolo Blahnik clutch and earrings by Simone Rocha. Read more: Meghan Markle says it's 'nice' to be back as she joins Prince Harry at Endeavour Fund awards The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stood out in red at the festival. (Press Association) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were greeted by marines on arrival. (Press Association) The duke and duchess received a long round of applause and a standing ovation from the crowd in the Royal Albert Hall as they took their seats in the royal box. The Sussexes have made a number of public and private engagements this month, two months after they announced they wanted to step back as senior members of the Royal Family. They were in public together for the first time on 5 March, when they attended the Endeavour Fund awards, both giving out an award, and with Harry making a speech. But all eyes will be on Mondays event, when they will join the rest of The Firm for what could be the last engagement of its kind. Harry and Meghan got a standing ovation from the audience. (Getty Images) Although they do not officially step back until 31 March, there are no engagements planned beyond the 9 March. Read more: Meghan Markle wears 29 Topshop blouse for private National Theatre visit As well as public engagements, the duchess has been making private visits while in the UK. On Thursday, before the Endeavour Fund awards, she went to the National Theatre, where she is a royal patron, to visit the immersive storytelling studio. Story continues Keeping the visit secret, she announced she had been on Friday, sharing pictures on Instagram, and writing: The goal of this method of virtual reality is to enable us to better connect and empathise with each other as people, regardless of race, age or nationality. Read more: Harry and Meghan will join royals at Commonwealth Day service - but Andrew won't The post also confirmed the couple had recently been at Stanford University in California, looking at similar types of technology. On Friday, she was seen at a school in Dagenham, east London. They were greeted by five members of the marines when they arrived. (Reuters) Harry and Meghan only have a couple of weeks left of being working royals. (Reuters) Read more: Duchess of Sussex makes surprise visit to London school The couples latest engagements have not been featuring on the court circular, which keeps track of the events royals attend. The Mountbatten Festival brings together world-class musicians, composers and conductors of the Massed Bands of Her Majestys Royal Marines. This year, the performance will mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the 80th anniversary of the formation of Britains Commandos. Proceeds from the event go to the Royal Marines Association The Royal Marines Charity and CLIC Sargent, who support cancer victims aged under 25 and their families. You have reached a premium content area of TOL. To read this entire article please login if you are already a TOL subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). The US Department of Justice (DOJ) issued its final rule on Friday for moving forward with collecting DNA from all immigrants in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The genetic sampling programscheduled to begin in Aprilwill obtain a cheek swab of potentially hundreds of thousands of migrants who are detained by federal immigration authorities each year. The DOJ press release makes it clear that the biometric profiling operation, in which immigrant DNA samples will be entered into the FBIs Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), is part of the Trump administrations campaign to criminalize immigrants. It states, this rule will facilitate federal, state, and local investigative and crime reduction efforts. ICE agents arresting an immigrant from Mexico in Houston [Credit: ICE.gov] The DOJ deceitfully presents the mass violation of basic democratic rights as a matter of government agency compliance with the terms of the bipartisan 2005 DNA Fingerprint Act. It states, the Department of Justice will ensure that all federal agencies are in full compliance with the bipartisan DNA Fingerprint Act, which was a component of a larger legislative package that passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote of 415 to four, and the Senate by unanimous consent. Although the administration of Democratic President Barack Obama exercised an exemption in the law and did not collect DNA from immigrantsnot on constitutional grounds but because of resource limitationsthe DNA Fingerprint Act authorized the Attorney General to draft regulations that direct any federal agency to collect DNA samples from individuals who are arrested, facing charges, or convicted or from non-United States persons who are detained under the authority of the United States. The decision to move forward with DNA testing follows two months of a pilot program in the DHS Detroit Sector and Eagle Pass Port of Entry in Texas. As previously reported by the World Socialist Web Site, the program that was initially proposed last October is a blatant violation of the Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures and is the sharp edge of the governments plan to gather the DNA profiles of the entire population. In response to the DOJ announcement, Naureen Shah, senior advocacy and policy counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union, told NPR, Its about miscasting these individuals, many of whom are seeking asylum in this country ... as people who pose a threat that somehow would justify holding onto the most intimate information about them indefinitely. Shah then added, This isnt DNA from information thats going to be looked at once and then disappear from a database. ... Thats why we have a lot of concerns about how this particular program, which targets immigrants in detention, actually is a precursor to deploying this kind of surveillance technology to lots of vulnerable ... communities in the United States and ultimately be used as a tool for full scale surveillance. The DOJ press announcement says that the infrastructure for obtaining the cheek swabs and entering the DNA profiles into CODIS has already been set up, stating, The FBIs laboratory has the capacity to handle the increased input from DHS, and its capabilities can be scaled up to meet additional capacity. The FBI will provide DHS with the DNA collection kits, analyze the samples, and ensure that law enforcement agencies use the results in accordance with the FBIs stringent CODIS privacy requirements. It is highly revealing that the Trump administration and federal law enforcement agencies have been working intensely over the past two months on the development of a mass DNA collection operation while doing absolutely nothing to prepare for the coronavirus outbreak that has been spreading internationally since its first appearance in Wuhan, China in December. It is consistent with the fascistic politics of the White House that a renewed xenophobic attack on immigrants is being deployed just at the moment when a real threat to the health and safety of everyone, both native and foreign born, is expanding in the US and internationally. In fact, it is likely that the Trump administrations immigration policies will increase the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly among immigrant workers. For example, Trumps public charge rule, which went into effect on February 24 and declares many classes of immigrants to be ineligible for government services, is forcing millions of non-citizens to disenroll from Medicaid. As explained by the life science website STAT, just as more people are likely to start needing testing and treatment for a worrisome infectious disease, untold numbers of them may drop their health insurance and avoid health care for fear of being found a public charge. With more people uninsured, hospitals will likely experience drops in revenue, even as they need to purchase new infection control equipment, and cope with a surge of patients in emergency departments and needing intensive care. These totally predictable consequences do not bode well for our ability to mitigate the pandemic. Additionally, in the more than 200 immigrant detention camps across the US, tens of thousands of migrants are being held without adequate health care and the conditions for a rapid spread of the infection is present. According to DHS, the average daily population of detained immigrants in 2019 was more than 50,000 and is expected to reach 54,000 in 2020. Immigrant rights advocates also point out that Trumps policies are scaring immigrants away from getting medical attention. Wake Forests Christine Coughlin, who has written about undocumented immigrants compliance with quarantines, told Axios, Its potentially a really large public health problem. I believe there is a perception that if you were to go and seek treatment or seek testing, you could be potentially reported and then potentially deported. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 01:33:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Travelers check in at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, the United States, Nov. 20, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhao Hanrong) Research found that most countries' screening procedures at borders miss two-thirds of travelers exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, according to a Harvard epidemiologist. WASHINGTON, March 6 (Xinhua) -- A Harvard epidemiologist has warned that traveler screening in the United States may not detect most symptomatic cases of COVID-19. The modeling result using a robust screening program in Singapore showed that most countries' screening procedures at borders miss two-thirds of travelers exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, said Marc Lipsitch, a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, on Wednesday. The model compared the number of people likely exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms with the number caught by traveler-screening programs. It may explain the recent appearance of a cluster of cases in Washington State, said Lipsitch, adding that travelers sick with COVID-19 likely arrived in the United States four to six weeks earlier and simply were missed in screening, thus leading to the Seattle area outbreak. "I think you could have certainly hundreds, if not more, cases around the United States by this point," said Lipsitch. The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reported 148 cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, including 49 which are still not clear how they get affected. Uncertainty over how many U.S. cases there are raises the urgency of conducting more virus tests, but Lipsitch said the pace of testing is still low, and it will "take weeks until we have anything like adequate testing capacity." "Right now, it is a challenge if you are a doctor wanting to get somebody tested," said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar on Thursday. "That experience will get better over the next week, week and a half, two weeks." Lipsitch compared the epidemic to an iceberg, with the most severe cases -- those who have died or sought medical care or who have been tested -- at the iceberg's tip, urging scientists to better understand the unseen, underwater portion. South Koreas Foreign Ministry announced on March 7 that it was raising the travel alert across all regions of Japan. The announcement was made in light of growing concerns regarding the number of coronavirus cases in Japan. The threat level increase will go into effect from March 9 onwards. South Korea advises restraint Last week, Seoul had advised 'caution', which is a threat level lower than 'restraint' which is what has been announced now. According to reports, during its announcement, the ministry claimed that it had taken the drastic step because of the continued spread of the coronavirus in Japan and its effect on Koreans. According to reports, the latest increase in the threat level has been seen as a 'tit-for-tat' response by South Korea to Japan's decision to quarantine for 14-days all people that are entering Japan from Korea. On March 6 it was announced that Korea was also halting its visa waiver program and invalidating any travel permits that had already been issued to all visitors. Read: Coronavirus Claims Two More Lives In South Korea, Death Toll Reaches 46 Read: Coronavirus: Indonesia Bans Entry Of Foreign Visitors From Iran, Italy And South Korea South Korea has recently reported 174 new cases of the deadly coronavirus, taking the total number of cases reported in the country to 6,767. One new death was also reported in the country raising the death toll to 46. South Korea has the most number of cases of the deadly coronavirus in the world outside of mainland China. The deadly coronavirus that originated in China's Hubei province has rapidly spread to multiple countries across the globe. Officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation, the virus has infected more than 100,000 and killed almost 3,500 people worldwide. Indonesia bans entry Indonesia will reportedly ban the entry and transit of foreign nationals who have visited Iran, Italy or South Korea in the last 14 days, starting March 8, country's foreign minister announced. The travellers will have to provide a certificate issued by health authorities to prove good health, Minister Retno Marsudi reportedly said. She said that the passengers entering Indonesia will now have to undergo additional health screening procedures and safety protocols at the airport moving forward, confirmed media reports. Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Japan To Quarantine Passengers From China, South Korea Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: South Korea Designates Third City As 'specialised Care Zone' SAN FRANCISCOA cruise ship hit by the new coronavirus is headed to the port of Oakland, California, the captain told passengers, though they were destined to stay aboard the ship for at least another day. Grand Princess Capt. John Smith, in a recording provided by passenger Laurie Miller of San Jose, told guests the ship will dock in Oakland. Princess Cruises says its expected to arrive on Monday. The ship is carrying more than 3,500 people from 54 countries. An agreement has been reached to bring our ship into the port of Oakland, he told passengers Saturday night. After docking, we will then begin a disembarkation process specified by federal authorities that will take several days. Smith said passengers who need medical treatment or hospitalization will go to health care facilities in California, while state residents who dont require acute medical care will go to a federally operated isolation facility within California for testing and isolation. U.S. guests from other states will be transported by the federal government to facilities in other states. Crew members will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship. Smith said the information he was given did not include any details about what would happen to passengers from other countries. We are working to obtain more details overnight. ... Im sorry I cant provide you more details right now, he said. The Grand Princess had been forbidden to dock in San Francisco amid evidence that the vessel was the breeding ground for a cluster of nearly 20 cases that resulted in at least one death after a previous voyage. Meanwhile, the U.S. death toll from the virus climbed to 19, with all but three victims in Washington state. The number of infections swelled to more than 400, scattered across the U.S., as passengers aboard the ship holed up in their rooms. Steven Smith and his wife, Michele, of Paradise, California, went on the cruise to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The Smiths said they were a bit worried but felt safe in their room, which they had left just once since Thursday to video chat with their children. Crew members wearing masks and gloves delivered trays with their food in covered plates, delivered outside their door. Theyve occupied themselves by watching TV, reading and looking out the window. Thank God, we have a window! Steven Smith said. The ship was heading from Hawaii to San Francisco when it was held off the California coast Wednesday so people with symptoms could be tested for the virus. Cruise officials on Saturday disclosed more information about how they think the outbreak occurred. Grant Tarling, chief medical officer for Carnival Corporation, said its believed a 71-year-old Northern California man who later died of the virus was probably sick when he boarded the ship for a Feb. 11 cruise to Mexico. The passenger visited the medical centre the day before disembarking with symptoms of respiratory illness, he said. Others in several states and Canada who were on that voyage also have tested positive. The passenger likely infected his dining room server, who also tested positive for the virus, Tarling said, as did two people travelling with the man. Two passengers now on the ship who have the virus were not on the previous cruise, he said. Some passengers who had been on the Mexico trip stayed aboard for the current voyage increasing crew members exposure to the virus. Another Princess ship, the Diamond Princess, was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, last month because of the virus. Ultimately, about 700 of the 3,700 people aboard became infected in what experts pronounced a public-health failure, with the vessel essentially becoming a floating germ factory. Hundreds of Americans aboard that ship were flown to military bases in California and other states for two-week quarantines. Some later were hospitalized with symptoms. An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles said the recirculated air from a cruise ships ventilation system, plus the close quarters and communal settings, make passengers and crew vulnerable to infectious diseases. Theyre not designed as quarantine facilities, to put it mildly, said Don Milton of the University of Maryland. Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 100,000 people and killed more than 3,400, the vast majority of them in China. Most cases have been mild, and more than half of those infected have recovered. Associated Press writers Olga R. Rodriguez and Juliet Williams in San Francisco; Gene Johnson, Martha Bellisle and Carla K. Johnson in Seattle; Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami; Rachel La Corte in Olympia, Washington; and AP researcher Monika Mathur in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Million COVID-19 Test Kits Expected at US Labs Soon, HHS Chief Says By VOA News March 06, 2020 The U.S. Health and Human Services secretary said Thursday a million test kits for the COVID-19 are expected to arrive this weekend at U.S. labs. Alex Azar said the coronavirus tests are shipping from a private manufacturer. The Trump administration has received criticism about the short supply of test kits. Vice President Mike Pence said in Washington state Thursday, "We don't have enough tests today to meet what we anticipate will be the demand going forward," but added that "real progress" had been made "in the last several days." Pence met Thursday with Washington Governor Jay Inslee. Washington is the site of 11 of the 12 U.S. deaths from the virus. Most of the deaths in Washington took place in a nursing home near Seattle. 'Not a successful strategy' National Nurses United said its members have not been given the resources, supplies, protection and training they need to do their jobs properly. "It is not a successful strategy to leave nurses and other health care workers unprotected," Executive Director Bonnie Castillo said. Castillo, who is a registered nurse, said when nurses are quarantined, "We are not only prevented from caring for COVID-19 patients, but we are taken away from caring for cancer patients, cardiac patients and premature babies." Four U.S. states Maryland, California, Florida and Hawaii have declared states of emergency because of the virus. Maryland joined the roster Thursday after three Montgomery County residents, a husband and wife in their 70s and a woman in her 50s, were diagnosed with the coronavirus. All three were reported to have contracted the virus while on an overseas cruise. Montgomery County is a Maryland suburb next to Washington, D.C. State of emergency in Palestine In the Middle East, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency Thursday, shutting down schools for 30 days and closing the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem after seven coronavirus cases were confirmed in the city. These are the first cases in the Palestinian territories. Closing the church in the town that worshipers say was Jesus' birthplace will devastate Bethlehem's vital tourism industry and comes just weeks before Easter. The threat appears to be waning in China, where the outbreak erupted in December. The WHO said Thursday there are about 17 times as many new cases outside China now than inside China. On Friday, however, China reported that the number of new cases had risen from 139 Thursday to 143. South Korea travel Hundreds of patients are being released from Chinese hospitals and shuttered factories are starting to reopen. But Chinese President Xi Jinping has called off a scheduled state visit to Japan, where Tokyo has declared that all visitors from China and South Korea will be placed under quarantine. South Korea has the largest number of coronavirus cases outside China. Australia joined China and Iran in banning travel from South Korea. Indonesia is also restricting travel from parts of South Korea as well as two other hard-hit nations: Iran and Italy. Both of those nations have shut down schools. The United Nations said the virus has disrupted classes for nearly 300 million students worldwide from preschool through 12th grade. That number does not include colleges that have also been shuttered. Funds to fight outbreak In the United States, with more than 150 confirmed cases of the virus and 12 deaths, the Senate Thursday followed the House in approving $8.3 billion in emergency spending to combat the outbreak, including money for developing a vaccine. The measure now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature. Trump took some heat Thursday from health experts after he told Fox News that the World Health Organization is sending out false information, and he suggested infected patients are safe going to their jobs in offices and stores. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the coronavirus is highly transmissible and that people who are sick must stay home. Global markets took another beating Thursday with investors nervous about the coronavirus outbreak and uncertain about exactly which way the situation is going. Experts say the roller coaster ride in the markets is likely to continue as long COVID-19 spreads to more countries, with investors acting out of fear over where the next state of emergency, quarantine or business shutdown will be declared. 'Time to act' At his daily virus briefing Thursday, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus again stressed the seriousness of the virus about which scientists still know little. "This is not a drill. This is not the time for giving up, this is not a time for excuses," Tedros said. "Countries have been planning for scenarios like this for decades, Now is the time to act on those plans." As of late Thursday, there were more than 98,000 COVID-19 cases worldwide and at least 3,300 deaths. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Upon her arrival on Wednesday to observe a bail hearing for her brother, the daughter of Mexico's suspected Jalisco New Generation drug cartel leader, another prominent person in Washington, was apprehended abruptly at a federal court. Jessica Johana Oseguera Cervantes' apprehension occurred because she was probably unaware of an existing arrest warrant and an indictment of 13 February before being taken by security personnel into captivity. The prosecution filed in court on Thursday, accused her of breaching an American ban on dealing with known drug traffickers and individuals on five counts. Following a trial on Wednesday afternoon, she pleaded not guilty before the US judge Michael Harvey. Last February, her brother Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez also known as the "El Menchito", 30, was detained on alleged United States drug trafficking and possession and use of firearms during his operations. Mennito searched dozens of faces in the courtroom during his brief hearing as if he were looking for somebody. His sister had been to court but before her sudden arrest, it is unknown whether she was able make it. The siblings were declared to have been involved in the operations of their father, Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes also known as "El Mencho ''. He was one of the most important persons on the US list of confirmed traffickers according to the court documents. Jessica Johanna and her brother were raised in the United States, which gave her double citizenship-but also made her susceptible to this assault campaign by federal law enforcement officials. The US-based attorneys of the El Mencho's siblings did not respond or comment anything about the said issue. The Representative for the Drug Enforcement Administration and US Marshals Service also declined to comment anything about the issue. El Mencho and El Menchito's transactions were revealed when the Drug Enforcement Administration knew where there cartels would be and the locations where they will do their businesses in like the countries Europe, Asia, North America and as well Australia. The US Treasury Department has been targeting those cartel leaders, family members, businesses that are seeking to disrupt their finances; they were declaring that their funds are increasing due to the drug sales in the United States. Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez insisted that he is not guilty of the accusations given to him and he also insisted that he is not even the son of the affirmed trafficker, El Mencho. He said that for the past five years he already demonstrated his innocence many times. As for Jesica Johana, whilst the importance of her detention to US law enforcement authorities is uncertain, her seizure illustrates a growing pressure camp in narco-trafficking cases by the US Department of Justice. Her father is thought to be secretly in Mexico. CBS News' Adriana Diaz estimated in September that his cartel was responsible for nearly one third of the narcotics that reach the United States by land and by sea. The cartel has trafficked tons of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced heroin, according to Prosecutors. The government offered a $10 miilion bounty to anyone who can lead them to El Mencho. March 2020 is off to a good start with our favourite celebrities grabbing all the headlines this week. From Katy Perrys pregnancy announcement to Sophie Turners fashion regrets, this week was nothing but a blockbuster when it comes to fashion. Our celebrities in Hollywood did not fail to give us fashion goals with their gorgeous styles. Check out the fashion recap from the last week. The list includes news updates about Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Sophie Turner and Katy Perry: ALSO READ | Jennifer Lopez & Other Hollywood Celebs Who Made Headlines For Their Attires This Week Hollywood fashion recap from last week 1. Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner give us sister goals in these matching bikinis Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner jetted off to the Bahamas earlier this week. The sisters took to social media to give us a sneak-peek into their matching printed bikinis. The internet was taken by a storm and many fans dropped in their messages complimenting the Jenner sisters. ALSO READ | Kylie Jenner And Kendall Jenner Twin In Bikinis At The Bahamas; See Pics 2. Sophie Turners fashion regrets In a recent interview, Sophie Turner revealed that she regrets her red Louis Vuitton blazer dress that she wore to her Game Of Thrones co-star Kit Harington and Rose Leslies wedding in 2018. She even went on to say that it was also one of her worst looks to date. The actor further said that it was a fashion emergency in which she had to wear a red blazer dress. ALSO READ | Sophie Turner Regrets Wearing The Red Blazer Dress To Kit Harington's Wedding; Here's Why 3. Katy Perry's pregnancy announcement in floral outfit, which was similar to Beyonce's Katy Perrys pregnancy announcement was one of the major things that caused a storm on the internet this week. She shared the news with her fans through her latest music video, Never Worn White. She chose an outfit similar to the one that Beyonce had donned for her photoshoot when she revealed she was pregnant. ALSO READ | Pregnant Katy Perry's Flowery Ensemble Reminds Fans Of Beyonce's Outfit Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. The Egyptian foreign ministry said the Ethiopian statement is "inappropriate, undiplomatic, and constitutes an unacceptable affront to the Arab League and its member states" Egypt's foreign ministry said it "categorically rejects" a statement issued Friday by its Ethiopian counterpart on the resolution adopted by the Council of the Arab League regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The Arab League resolution, which was proposed by Egypt to support both Egypt and Sudan in the dispute over GERD, was adopted without amendments during an Arab League ministerial meeting Wednesday, with Sudan officially registering its reservations, according to Egypts MENA news agency. Ethiopia said Friday that it noted with dismay the resolution by the Arab League, and rejected it in its entirety. In response, the Egyptian foreign ministry said the Ethiopian statement is "inappropriate, undiplomatic, and constitutes an unacceptable affront to the Arab League and its member states." "The fact that the Arab League adopted a resolution calling on Ethiopia to respect the applicable rules of international law and not to undertake unilateral measures that could harm Egyptian riparian rights and interests is a testament to the extent to which Ethiopia unilaterally considers its interests not only as superseding but also superior to the collective interests of the sovereign states of the Arab League which it seeks to suppress," the Egyptian foreign ministry statement said. The statement added that, This resolution adopted by the Arab League reflects dismay and discontent at Ethiopias track record throughout the endless rounds of negotiations on the GERD, particularly since the conclusion of the 2015 Agreement on the Declaration of Principles (DoP)." "Ethiopias posture and position during these negotiations, which has been criticised by the Arab League, evinces its intent to exercise hydro-hegemony and to anoint itself as the unchallenged and sole beneficiary over the Nile. This is especially apparent in its insistence on filling the GERD unilaterally in July 2020 without reaching an agreement with downstream states, and while holding negotiations on the GERD hostage to domestic political considerations. This constitutes a material breach of the DoP and demonstrates, beyond any doubt, Ethiopias bad faith and its lack of political will to reach a fair and balanced agreement on the GERD," the statement said. Ethiopia hopes 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 freshwater. "Nowhere is this true nature of Ethiopias position more apparent than in the fact that it failed to accept an agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD that was prepared by neutral and impartial mediators, namely the United States in coordination with the World Bank. In a show of political support, the Arab League welcomed and endorsed this agreement and invited Ethiopia to revisit its position and reconsider signing this agreement," the ministry said. Tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam mounted over the past week after the latter skipped US-sponsored talks in Washington that aimed to reach a final deal between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt over the giant hydropower project. Washington, which has been brokering talks since last year, failed to secure signatures from the three countries last week, stressing that the filling of the 6,000-megawatt dam "should not take place without an agreement." Only Egypt initialed the agreement during the latest meetings, saying the agreement is "fair and balanced" and "achieves the interest of the three countries." Egypt's foreign ministry stated that "given its policies during the GERD negotiations, Ethiopia is in no position to lecture the Arab League or its member states on the common values, cultural ties, and bonds of kinship between the Arab and African peoples, which are not the purview of Ethiopia to define." Ethiopias policy on GERD is a further assertion of the unilateral nature of its regional conduct that has resulted in continuing harm and suffering for "multitudes of our African brethren," the ministry noted. "We, therefore, urge the international community to join the Arab League in taking cognizance of Ethiopias continuing defiance and unilateralism, which threatens to undermine regional stability and security. We also call on Ethiopia to affirm its commitment not to commence the filling of the GERD without an agreement, and to accept the agreement prepared by the neutral mediators," the ministry added. A balanced, win-win solution, the ministry said, is at hand and the opportunity to chart a new course and redraw the history of the Blue Nile is within grasp, and should be seized for the benefit of over 240 million Egyptians, Ethiopians and Sudanese. Search Keywords: Short link: Worcester Fire Lt. Jason Menard, who was hailed as a hero after saving a fellow firefighter in a November blaze that ultimately claimed his life, will posthumously receive a prestigious firefighting award. Fire Engineering Magazine announced that Menard is the 2020 recipient of the Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award, created in memory of the most highly decorated member of the New York City Fire Department, who died on 9/11. Ray Downey was commanding rescue operations at the World Trade Center when he lost his life. He was a 39-year veteran of the department. The award was created to make sure Americans would always remember the fallen firefighters of 9/11 and recognize other firefighters who demonstrate the same courage and valor, according to the FDIC International. On Nov. 13, Menard and other members of Ladder 5 rushed into a burning three-decker at 7 Stockholm St. As flames grew on the top floors of the building, Menard pushed fellow firefighter Chris Pace out a window to safety. Menard did not make it out of the four-alarm fire. Menard, who joined the Worcester Fire Department in 2010, was promoted to lieutenant in 2018. He was a member of Ladder 5, Group 2 and assigned to the McKeon Road Fire Station. He left his high school sweetheart, Tina, and their three children. Fire Engineering reported that the award is presented annually at the FDIC Opening Ceremony, which is being held next month in Indianapolis. The award includes a courage and valor medal and $35,000, according to the magazine. Officials have not said what caused the blaze, but a search warrant filed in Worcester District Court indicated that tenants said they saw flames in a second-floor heater. A memorial fund for Menards family has been established by the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts Foundation. Donations can be made online and 100 percent of the funds will go to the future needs of Menards children. Related Content: Nigeria has been re-elected to Chair the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, known to be UN most strategic committee for the record 48th time. According to a statement Friday by Samson Itegboje, the Charge dAffaires and Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, Nigeria re-emerged the committees Chair by election. Mr Itegboje said the Nigerian representative was elected chair of the committee said to be C-34 by acclamation at the UN Headquarters in New York at the opening of the 2020 Session. Nigeria has chaired the special committee on peacekeeping operations from 1972 till date and was always re-elected to continue to lead the most critical committee of the UN. The committee is the only UN committee mandated to review comprehensively the whole question of United Nations Peacekeeping operations in all its aspects. It also makes recommendations on enhancing UN peacekeeping operations across the world about pressing issues facing more than 100,000 military, police and civilian personnel from 125 countries presently serving in 14 operations. Nigeria is among the worlds 15th largest troops contributor to UN Peacekeeping operations and the eighth in Africa, according to a data from the UN Peacekeeping Department. The data showed Nigeria contributed 2,170 peacekeeping personnel in 2016, made up of 403 policemen, 46 military experts and 1, 721 troops, out of which 232 were females, he said. He explained that the figure included the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Central African Republic and Lebanon, among others countries. 2020 peacekeeping Session at the UN Headquarters in New York. He said Canada was also re-elected as Vice-Chair, while Argentina, Poland, Japan and Egypt were elected as Bureau members. Mr Itegboje thanked the members for the confidence being reposed on him and Nigeria, while promising to ensure that the committee would deliver its mandate. He described the re-emergence of Nigeria to reflect the confidence by the UN on the country in terms of the nations personnel ability and charisma in the diplomatic community. He also said that the re-election of a Nigerian in the poll reaffirmed the countrys position among the comity of nations in peacekeeping and contribution to international peace and security. He said that the election had repositioned Nigerias leadership at the UN and also helped to keep the intergovernmental organization focused on peacekeeping operations across the world. The UN Peacekeeping committee helps countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace. It has unique strengths, including legitimacy, burden sharing and ability to deploy troops and police from around the world. It also integrates them with civilian peacekeepers to address range of mandates set by the UN Security Council and General Assembly, the envoy added. He defined peacekeeping to mean range of activities undertaken by the UN and other international actors to maintain international peace and security throughout the world. He, however, said that the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations was established in 1965 by the General Assembly to review and provide recommendations on UN Peacekeeping Operations. Furthermore, the committee consist 147 Member States involved in peacekeeping missions and observing members such as the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol). (NAN) Notre Dame ranked as top university in the world for theology, divinity and religious studies Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Quacquarelli Symonds, a leading global higher education company, has ranked the Catholic University of Notre Dame in Indiana as the top university in the world for theology, divinity and religious studies in their 2020 World University Rankings, released in London on Wednesday. The QS rankings by subject matter are based on the academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact of each of the worlds top 1,000 universities included in the rankings. American schools made up more than half of the top 10 schools for theology, divinity and religious studies and they are: University of Notre Dame, University of Oxford, Harvard University, Durham University, University of Cambridge, Yale University, Eberhard Karls Universitat Tubingen, Duke University, University of Chicago, and Boston College. The University of Notre Dames Department of Theology explains that even though they are committed in a particular way to the interpretation and articulation of the Catholic tradition they also study theology beyond denominational lines. Although Catholicity is neither quantifiable nor fully achieved anywhere, the departments Catholic identity is reflected in the composition of its faculty, in the nature and content of its curriculum, and in its responsiveness to the intellectual and pastoral needs of the Catholic Church and to the intellectual and future ministerial needs of its students, the school said. Notwithstanding our identification with the Catholic tradition, we comprise a wide range of religious perspectives. While the departments central core is the Catholic tradition, the department is deliberately ecumenical; we are committed to dialogue with one anothers traditions because theology cannot be done adequately in a narrowly denominational manner, it explained. Thomas Stegman, dean of Boston Colleges School of Theology and Ministry, said in a release that the schools strong showing in the QS rankings is a testament to the faculty and their push to become the worlds leading Catholic university and theological center. Our faculty, along with colleagues in the Theology Department in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences, are recognized leaders in their respective fields, Stegman said. At the STM, we are committed to excellence, theological scholarship in service of the Church, and to forming agents of transformation for ministry. It is gratifying to be recognized accordingly in the latest QS Rankings. Richard Gaillardetz, Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology and chair of the Theology Department, agreed. "The QS Rankings, which rate Boston College as one of the world's top graduate programs in theology, divinity, and ministry, simply confirms what those who are part of the Boston College community already know that we have a world-class faculty and are successfully preparing future scholars to make a decisive contribution to the field of theology, Gaillardetz said. When you combine the stature of Boston College with the resources provided by the other schools in the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium, it becomes clear that there are few cities in the world that can match the opportunities the city of Boston affords for graduate study in theology, he added. Three mutual fund houses UTI MF, Nippon India MF and PGIM India MF on Friday decided to side-pocket their exposures to Yes Bank bonds following the rating downgrade of troubled private lender's debt instruments. This is subject to approval from the board of trustees of respective fund houses. The move will prevent the distressed assets from damaging the returns generated from more liquid and better-performing assets. The development comes following the downgrade of debt instruments of Yes Bank to 'D', which is below investment grade, by rating agency ICRA. In a statement, UTI MF said it has proposed to create a segregated portfolio in respect of debt securities of Yes Bank in its two schemes UTI Credit Risk Fund and UTI Medium Term Fund effective from Friday, subject to approval from the Board of Trustees. Nippon India MF has also proposed to create segregated portfolio of securities of Yes Bank held in the schemes with effect from Friday. Further, processing of subscriptions and redemptions in the schemes would be suspended on the day of the credit event (March 6, 2020) till trustees approval for segregation is received, it added. In view of the downgrade of the securities to default grade, the PGIM India has proposed to segregate its holdings from Friday. In December 2018, regulator Sebi had permitted mutual funds to create segregated portfolios, or side-pocketing, with respect to debt and money market instruments. In case of a credit event that is a credit downgrade, like below investment grade and similar, segregated portfolio may be created. Creation of segregated portfolios is a mechanism to separate distressed, illiquid and hard-to-value assets from other more liquid assets in a portfolio. Former Nollywood actress Victoria Inyama has taken to social media to advise women who may be in toxic relationships. According to Inyama, women need to know when it is time to leave a partner and according to her, these are things to look out for. Read Also: Victoria Inyama Attacks Women Who Sleep With Married Men (Photo) Ife he makes you lose your family, lose your friends, lose your confidence, lose your self-esteem, or lose your happiness, then you need to lose him. This is coming days after the actress dragged women who enjoy sleeping with married men. Amid the increasing Coronavirus scare across Asian and Europian countries, the Kingdom of Bhutan also reported its first case of Coronavirus on Friday. The first case in the Kingdom came to light after a US citizen tested positive. Incidentally, the US citizen had reportedly spent at least a week on the Brahmaputra river cruise in Assam as part of his India tour in February before he flew to Bhutan. According to the District Collector of Jorhat (city of Assam) Roshni Korati's statement, the US tourist had travelled to Jorhat city on February 22 and then travelled to Guwahati via the river cruise MV Mahabaahu Brahmaputra on February 23. READ | Coronavirus Outbreak: Bhutan confirms the first case; over 90 contacts traced Since then, the river cruise has made its way back to Neematighat in Jorhat. The cruise had over 22 guests and 29 crew members."We are monitoring the issue closely, and are equipped to deal with the situation. Hence, there is no need for panic," Korati in a statement. As a precautionary measure, the crew and the passengers of MV Mahabahu Brahmaputra cruise, who travelled from February 22-28, have been quarantined. The health team deployed to monitor the situation of the crew and passengers stated that the isolated members are asymptomatic. READ | Coronavirus: Central govt implements pre-call awareness messages on BSNL & Reliance Jio Coronavirus outbreak, 31 positive cases in India Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on March 6 visited the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi to inspect the preparedness to tackle coronavirus outbreak. Harsh Vardhan visited Terminal-3 of the international airport to take stock of the arrangements made for the screening of passengers coming from the 78 countries that have reported active coronavirus cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that it had registered 2,241 new confirmed cases of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) worldwide within the past 24 hours, with 84 people having died, which brought the total death toll to 3,282. The whole number of people, who were diagnosed with COVID-19, has reached 100,000, including 80,565 people in China. India has so far confirmed 31 positive Coronavirus cases. COVID-19 was first detected in China's Wuhan in late December and has since spread across the world. In late January, the WHO declared a global health emergency in light of the epidemic. READ | Jammu: 2 suspected of Coronavirus infection, primary schools to remain shut till March 31 READ | Coronavirus: UN asks 9 countries to delay rotation of peacekeeping forces (With inputs from ANI) Marking a departure from the past, two city hospitals- Bharati Hospital and King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital- have initiated changes to make their service inclusive for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community. The hospitals which collaborated with the Samapathik Trust and Bindu Queer Rights Foundation in the production of a manual titled Basics of LGBTIQ inclusion in hospitals will now be guided by it. Bharati Hospital has started an LGBTIQ clinic and has developed a protocol for assessment and intervention for such individuals seeking medical and psychological help. Transgenders are defined by Oxford dictionary as people whose sense of gender identity does not match their biological sex or does not easily fit in with the usual division between male and female. Bindumadhav Khire, founder of Sampathik Trust and a health rights activist for the LGBTIQ community for the last 17 years, said the manual was the need of the hour as transgenders continue to be discriminated despite the 2014 ruling when the Supreme Court gave legal recognition to transgenders as the third gender. After a lot of research I realised that there was a need for such a manual to consciously help hospitals become inclusive, said Khire. He cited the example of toilets in hospitals, especially in general wards and OPDs (out patients department) for men and women. There was none that could be used by transgenders, he said. There is also a need for training and sensitisation for the security guards, ward assistants and nurses when it comes to dealing with transgenders, Khire said. The manual also provides guidelines on obtaining medical insurance for transgenders, he said. The coming out of an individual, she explained, is a process of understanding, accepting, valuing ones sexual orientation and identity and disclosing it to others. This process is fraught with anxiety, fears and depression. The process also involves family/caregiver counselling, said Dr Jyoti Shetty, professor and head of the department (HOD) Psychiatry department, Bharti Hospital, We have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Samapathik Trust for referrals to the Psychiatry department and SRS (sex reassignment surgery) services, she said. Support was extended for this by the consulate general of Canada in Mumbai and technical assistance was sought from the gay rights Humsafar Trust. The manual discusses two models of implementation: core unit model and systemic model. While Bharati Hospital, Dhankawadi, will implement the core unit model, KEM will implement the systematic model. Taysir Moonim, psychologist, mental health and psychosocial services (MHPSS) and programme lead, diversity and inclusion (D&I), KEM Hospital said, Many members of the LGBTIQ community do not have access to basic healthcare facility. During the research, we understood that LGBTIQ people from various socioeconomic classes are worried about going to see a doctor as they feel uncomfortable revealing their identity for fear of a socio-culturally-based negative reaction or even receiving poor healthcare as a result of the disclosure. This is something that vulnerable, marginalised groups undergo, and they may have specialised healthcare needs to consider as well. As a hospital, we can play an important role in bridging the gap with the community as the healthcare service provider and we are doing something about it. We didnt want to reinvent the wheel, so in 2018 we began to look for existing models and guidelines on the subject to educate ourselves. But we couldnt find any published material of models and case studies for use in healthcare in India per se, said Moonim. She said that various international models and standards were studied and then adapted for use at KEM Hospital as a lean, low resource model in an Indian, local, social and cultural context. Similarly, Bindumadhav Khire has provided a lot of inputs on the LGBTIQ communitys needs and experiences, said Moonim. The goal is that ideally, any LGBTIQ person as a human should be safe and comfortable accessing health services anywhere. We hope to be able to equip healthcare service providers to do provide that inclusive, safe environment, said Moonim. Colombia Confirms First Case of Coronavirus Sputnik News 20:31 GMT 06.03.2020 Originating in China last December, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has since spread to more than 80 countries and infected over 95,300 people, according to the latest data provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Colombia, the health ministry said on Friday. The patient is a 19-year-old woman who previously visited Italy where she contracted the disease, the ministry added. COVID-19 was first registered in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Hubei province, last December, and has killed over 3,000 people in mainland China. Outside China, the virus has affected South Korea, Italy, and Iran the most. In late January, the WHO declared a global health emergency over the coronavirus outbreak. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemenis eye Ma'rib as infighting rocks Saudi-led coalition Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2020 8:52 AM A senior Yemeni official has said the country's armed forces are seeking to liberate the central province of Ma'rib after taking control of the neighboring strategic province of al-Jawf, which borders Saudi Arabia. Speaking to the Lebanese al-Mayadeen television channel, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of Yemen's Supreme Political Council, said "our victory in the al-Jawf province is almost certain". "We have now set our eyes on the battle for Ma'rib," he added. Yemeni forces, along with Houthi fighters from the popular Ansarullah movement, seized al-Hazm, the capital city of the neighboring al-Jawf province earlier this week. The capture of the strategic city of al-Hazm has been described as a potentially "game-changing" development, enabling the Yemeni forces to surround the strategic oil-rich Ma'rib province. Al-Bukhaiti added that the security of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Riyadh's main ally in its war on Yemen, can only be guaranteed when Yemen's sovereignty is respected. The Yemeni forces have launched increasingly sophisticated attacks against both Persian Gulf countries in response to the five-year war aimed at reinstating Saudi-allied former Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and crushing the popular Ansarullah movement. Al-Bukhaiti also urged the Islah party, which is the backbone of Hadi's so-called government in the port city of Aden, to accept a political settlement offered by Ansarullah. If the Islah party does not enter "the political process", Ansarullah will proceed to negotiate directly with individual Yemeni tribes to hasten a political settlement, the senior Yemeni official said. Infighting erupts in Aden The Yemeni ground advancements come as local sources reported heavy clashes in the Sheikh Othman and Dar Sa'd districts in Aden. The clashes took place between Emirati-backed southern separatists and Saudi-led mercenaries as a number of explosions were reported in the city's old market. Four civilians were reportedly killed in the clashes. Months of bloody infighting broke out between the two groups last summer, resulting in heavy casualties for both sides before a power-sharing settlement was signed in November. The new round of clashes comes after UAE-backed separatists announced that they had pulled out of committees implementing the agreement in January. Also on Thursday, Yemen's al-Masirah satellite network reported that Saudi jets had launched at least 14 air raids on the Harz and al-Marzaq districts of the northwestern Hajjah province. Numerous breaches of an ongoing ceasefire were also reported in the Yemeni port city of Hudaydah, with Saudi-led forces targeting residential areas in the city. The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, estimates that the Saudi war has claimed more than 100,000 lives in Yemen since 2015. The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are now in dire need of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme levels of hunger. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Phuket Governor announces forced quarantine for arrivals from South Korea, blanks all other risk areas PHUKET: Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana yesterday (Mar 6) presided over a meeting of the Phuket Communicable Disease Committee at which four quarantine zones were announced where South Koreans are to remain for 14 days before being allowed to integrate with the islands general population. CoronavirusCOVID-19healthimmigrationtourismtransport By Khunanya Wanchanwet Saturday 7 March 2020, 11:36AM Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana explaining yesterday (Mar 6) that arrivals from South Korea but oddly only those arriving from South Korea, not from any of the five other identified risk areas were subject to 14 days of forced quarantine on landing in Phuket. Photo: PR Dept However, according to a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket, see report here), the forced quarantine applies to any persons entering arriving in Phuket from South Korea not to any visitors arriving from any of the five other risk areas identified by the Ministry of Public Health two days ago as requiring a mandatory self-quarantine of 14 days. The failure to address any quarantine requirements of visitors arriving from any of the five other risk areas China, Hong Kong, Macao, Italy, and Iran follows none of the 2,500-plus people on board the Costa Fortuna cruise liner arriving in Patong yesterday being allowed to come ashore because there were 64 Italians on board. (See story here.) The Costa Fortuna departed Phuket yesterday and is now offshore Penang in Malaysia en route back to Singapore. At the meeting yesterday, held at the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office in Phuket Town, Governor Phakaphong said, After the announcement in the Government Gazette came into effect on Mar 6, the Phuket Communicable Disease Committee therefore is holding this urgent meeting to support the situation to observe the symptoms of those traveling from the republic of Korea. To support the situation, measures have been issued for surveillance, prevention, observation of groups traveling from Korea in line with Section 34 of the Communicable Disease Control Act 2015 to protect the safety of Phuket people, he said. Governor Phakaphong explained that four quarantine zones have been set up where arrivals from South Korea must stay for 14 days, as follows: 1) Phuket Disaster Prevention and Mitigation College in Srisoonthorn 2) Government housing at Bang Wad Dam in Kathu 3) Sirinath National Park in Sakoo, south of the airport 4) National Scout Organisation of Thailand facilities in Rassada Travelers from the Republic of Korea must undergo inspection, surveillance, prevention, control and observation by separating, quarantining or controlling at the places specified by the Phuket Communicable Disease Committee until they are treated or no longer under suspicion of being infected, he said. Whoever violates or fails to comply with this order shall be liable to a fine not exceeding B20,000 under Section 51 of the Communicable Disease Act 2015, Governor Phakaphong warned. By law, government officers were legally empowered to summon any person to give statements or give facts or make explanations in writing or to send documents or any evidence for examination for consideration, Governor Phakaphong explained. This includes entering houses, schools, places or vehicles that have or suspected dangerous communicable diseases or epidemics to be watched for the prevention and control of the spread of the disease, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked people to stay away from rumours regarding coronavirus and emphasised on the need to follow the advice of doctors in this regard. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets a gathering during ET Global Business Summit 2020 in New Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo He also asked people to avoid handshakes and start greeting others with 'namaste' once again. "In such times rumours circulate very rapidly. Some say don't eat this, don't do that. Some people will bring in new things such as eat this to keep coronavirus away. It is my request to all my fellow countrymen, kindly keep away from these kinds of rumours," he said. "Whatever you do, kindly do it on the advice of your doctor. Let's not become doctors ourselves," the prime minister added. The entire world is taking up the habit of 'namaste', Modi said. If due to some reason we have discontinued this habit, it is the right time to once again take this up instead of handshakes, Modi said. He was interacting with owners of some Jan Aushadhi Kendras and beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna through video conference on the occasion of Jan Aushadhi Diwas. "Jan Aushadhi Diwas is not only a day about celebrating a scheme, but it is a day to join with crores of Indians, lakhs of families who have got major relief through this scheme," Modi said. It is also a day to reach out to other people to popularise this scheme so that poorest of the poor of the country can also avail the benefits, he added. Talking about the impact of the PMBJP initiative, he said every month, over one crore families are getting benefits of cheap medicines from these Jan Aushadhi Kendras. WATCH: Don't believe in rumours, consult a doctor PM Modi on coronavirus outbreak Over 6,000 Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country have helped people save between Rs 2,000-2,500 crore, he added. The cost of medicines at Jan Aushadhi stores is 50 to 90 per cent cheaper than their average market price. Giving an example, he said a medicine used for the treatment of cancer is priced at around Rs 6,500 in the market, but the same is available at Jan Aushadhi Kendras for Rs 850. The government has decided to give awards in this field to recognise the efforts of the people who are running these stores. These awards will start a new, healthy competition in the field of Jan Aushadhi, he added. "I believe the biggest beneficiary of this competition will be poor and middle class," Modi said. He also appealed to state governments to ask doctors to prescribe only generic medicines. As part of celebrating the Jan Aushadhi Diwas, Modi spoke with various people running the Jan Aushadhi Kendras at Guwahati, Dehradun, Pune, Varanasi, Pulwama and Coimbatore, among others. The store owners as well as other beneficiaries shared their experiences with the Prime Minister. Speaking about Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said in the past one-and-a-half years development is taking place at a rapid pace in J&K. During this period, over 3.5 lakh people have come on board the Ayushman scheme and three lakh elderly people, women and differently-abled have been provided with the government pension scheme in J&K. Modi also became emotional when one Deepa Shah from Dehradun, who suffered from a paralytic attack in 2011, broke down while narrating her ordeal and the high cost of treatment earlier, as she thanked him for the scheme. Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers D V Sadananda Gowda participated in the programme at Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Varanasi, while Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya participated from a Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Pulwama. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Pariyojna was launched by the Prime Minister with the objective of making high-quality medicines available to all at affordable prices, especially to the poor and underprivileged, through the Jan Aushadhi outlets. Currently, there are 6,200 Jan Aushadhi Kendras in 700 districts in the country. Total sales of these stores in the financial year 2019-20 has crossed Rs 390 crore. Manama The Kingdom will join the other nations in the world to mark the International Womens Day, annually celebrated on March 8. International Womens Day, which was first endorsed by the United Nations in 1977 is being celebrated this year under the theme: I am Generation Equality: Realising Womens Rights. The occasion epitomises Bahrains keenness on sharing the world the celebration and shedding light on Bahraini womens political, legislative, economic and social strides and highlighting achievements in all other fields. Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan extended congratulations on this occasion to Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and Supreme Council for Women (SCW) President. He commended her crucial role in enable women to reach further achievements, promoting their empowerment and bolstering their political, economic and social participation. He lauded womens strides in promoting Bahrain womens status, enforcing the principle of equal opportunities as part of the wide-ranging reform process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He hailed the policies of the Government, chaired by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, supported by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier. A tribute was recently paid to Bahraini women in recognition to their achievements and dedication in serving the nation and building its bright future. I would like to express my sincere thanks and deep appreciation to every Bahraini woman who spares not efforts to serve her country, community and family, said Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW). She made the statement on the eve of the annual Bahraini Womens Day, which falls on the 1st of December. The 2019 edition is being held under the theme Bahraini women in the fields of higher education and future sciences. She stressed the importance of this national occasion, which was launched by His Majesty the King 11 years ago, thus becoming an official celebration among other national days. The annual anniversary is being celebrated in tribute to Bahraini women in all walks of life as mothers, educators, partners in national development and achievers in all productive sectors, dedicated more than ever to serving the nation and contributing to its progress and prosperity. She commended all state institutions for activating programmes in the field of higher education and future sciences, praising womens academic achievements which entitled them to hold leading positions, obtain high degrees and gain membership in international centres. She lauded Bahraini womens growing interest in the fields of future sciences and contribution to supporting Bahrains digital transformation and knowledge-based economy. HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa delegated SCW Deputy President Dr Shaikha Mariam bint Hassan Al Khalifa to attend the celebration marking the annual Bahraini Womens Day. Themed Bahrain women in the fields of higher education and future sciences, the celebratory ceremony was held at the University of Bahrain (UoB) Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Khalifas Hall, Sakhir Campus. The Peter Keenan O N E Branch, Longford has expressed shock and sadness following the death of their friend and former colleague Paddy Neilan. Paddy, of Lough Ree Park, Ballyleague, Co Roscommon and formerly of Castlecoote, Roscommon, died on Friday, March 6, peacefully, in the wonderful care of the staff of Corrib Ward, University College Hospital Galway. Predeceased by his parents Tom and Mary and brothers Thomas and Michael; Paddy was the loving husband of Bernadette, proud father to Darren, Patrick, Michael, Michelle and Sarah. He will be very sadly missed by his family, sisters Margaret, Kathleen, Evelyn and Chris and his brother Jim, daughters-in-law Leah and Carol, his cherished grandchildren Jordan, Rachael, Grace, Samuel, Kayla, Adam and Alex, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and a wide circle of friends. In a tribute posted on Facebook, the Peter Keenan O N E Branch Longford, wrote: We were shocked and saddened to hear of the death of our friend and former colleague Paddy Neilan. Although we knew he was unwell for a short time we did not expect to hear this news. Paddy joined the army in 1971, and he transferred to the 4th Motor Squadron, soon after the unit arrived in Longford in 1972. The tribute to Paddy continued: His catchphrase A pint of loose porter from the middle of the barrel, his hearty and infectious laugh, endeared him to his comrades in the army and his many civilian friends. His first few years were spent on the border, then he became a cook in one of the busiest kitchens in the army, sometimes during operations like the Tidey kidnapping and Operation Thistle, it was non-stop work, twenty-four seven. Army pay was meagre and he worked part-time to supplement his wages. Many of us serving during those times were inclined to burn the candle at both ends, Paddy was no different. After 22 years in the army, he left to work in a hotel in his native Roscommon. From then up to his retirement he was never a day idle, he was a proud family man, an unforgettable character and a great friend. To his wife Bernie, sons, daughters, relatives and many friends we offer our sincere sympathy. Rest in peace. Funeral Arrangements The late Paddy Neilan will repose at the family home, 18 Lough Ree Park, Ballyleague (N39 NW80) on Sunday, March 8 from 3pm until 7pm. House private at all other times please. Removal on Monday morning, March 9 to the Church of the Holy Rosary, Ballyleague arriving for Mass of the Resurrection at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in Cloontuskert cemetery. Family flowers only please. An unlikely hero has emerged in the form of a generous neighbour - offering toilet roll to residents unable to secure their own during a national crisis. The Balmain resident offered to hand deliver toilet paper to residents in the affluent suburb in Sydney's inner-west, through a local community Facebook page. He made the offer to a Facebook group with more than 5,000 residents- 'Balmain Living.' The generous offer attracted hundreds of likes and suggestions he should be nominated for Australian of the year. The Balmain resident has offered to hand deliver toilet paper to locals through a local community Facebook page The resident said he didn't have an oversupply himself but rather wanted to help those who were unable to source any of their own because of panic buying. 'To anyone in Balmain who needs a toilet roll I will happily give you one for free - we don't have many - just our normal household supply but unlike so many of the selfish tossers who are raiding the shelves I actually give a damn!' he wrote. 'Surely we have to put our community first. If we can't do that then it's a really sad reflection on our community and I don't want to be part of that.' 'By the way I'm serious about the toilet roll - I'll even deliver,' he added. Supermarket giant Woolworths announced a limit of four packets of toilet paper per person on Wednesday after stockpiling saw shelves continuously emptied within the last week There is no real shortage of the product but supermarkets are struggling to keep shelves stocked because of the unnecessary panic Data from 'Who gives a Crap' revealed Balmain and Mosman were the two Australian suburbs who had ramped up their buying of the company's product last week. The company has since sold out of stock across Australia since panic-buying set in over a crisis dubbed 'toiletpapergate'. Supermarket giant Woolworths announced a limit of four packets of toilet paper per person on Wednesday after stockpiling saw shelves continuously emptied within the last week. Data from 'Who gives a Crap' revealed Balmain and Mosman were the two Australian suburbs who had ramped up their buying of the company's product last week There is no real shortage of the product but supermarkets are struggling to keep shelves stocked because of the unnecessary panic. A scuffle was caught on film at a branch in Sydney's west earlier today prompting staff to step in and demand calm. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is urging residents not to panic, and conduct grocery shopping as normal rather than stockpiling goods. 'People should just go about their daily business in terms of the products they purchase and I don't see a need to do that (bulk buy) at this stage,' she said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 7 By Eldar Janashvili Trend: The Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE) and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Belarus will join efforts to attract Azerbaijani business to exchange trading, Trend reports referring to the Belarusian media. Latif Gandilov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Azerbaijan to Belarus, noted that one of the main tasks of the embassy is to promote development of trade and economic relations between the countries, and this applies not only to supply of Belarusian goods to Azerbaijan, but also to the products of Azerbaijani enterprises in Belarus. Exchange trading has significant potential: it removes the need to search for business partners abroad and, more importantly, provides direct contact between the manufacturer and the end user. Therefore, together with BUCE, we recommend using this mechanism and are ready to inform representatives of the Azerbaijani business about the opportunities of the exchange platform, especially since there are no barriers to access the exchange market, Gandilov added. The diplomat also supported the decision of the BUCE leadership to simplify the accreditation procedure for non-resident companies, noting that such a step towards foreign bidders will lead to an increase of exchange commodity circulation, including with Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, BUCE Chairman of the Board Alexander Osmolovsky stressed the importance of expanding the range of goods purchased by Azerbaijani companies at the exchange trading, and noted that 33 Azerbaijani companies were accredited to the exchange, which made deals of 14.2 million manat ($8.3 million) in 2019, which is twice more compared to 2018. At the same time, Osmolovsky said if along with timber, dry milk, whey or metal products were purchased, this volume could be three or even four times more. These products that are in demand in Azerbaijan, therefore, in my opinion, the potential of exchange trading is not yet fully captured. We count on the assistance of the embassy in developing a list of promising commodity items, as well as in finding a worthy company that would become a broker of BUCE in Azerbaijan. We can achieve the desired results only if we join forces, Osmolovsky added. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili By Reuters March 07, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - New modeling from The Australian National University looks at seven scenarios of how the COVID-19 outbreak might affect the world's wealth, ranging from low severity to high severity. Four of the seven scenarios in the paper examine the impact of COVID-19 spreading outside China, ranging from low to high severity. A seventh scenario examines a global impact in which a mild pandemic occurs each year indefinitely. But even in the low-severity model or best-case scenario of the seven, which the paper acknowledged were not definitive ANU researchers estimate a global GDP loss of $2.4 trillion, with an estimated death toll of 15 million. They modeled their estimates on the Hong Kong flu pandemic, an outbreak in 1968-1969 that is estimated to have killed about 1 million people. In the high-severity model modeled after the Spanish flu pandemic, which killed an estimated 17 million to 50 million globally from 1918 to 1920 the global GDP loss could be as high as $9 trillion. In that model, the death toll is estimated to surpass 68 million. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter "Our scenarios show that even a contained outbreak could significantly impact the global economy in the short run," said Warwick McKibbin, a professor of economics at ANU who was one of the paper's authors. "Even in the best-case scenario of a low-severity impact, the economic fallout is going to be enormous and countries need to work together to limit the potential damage as much as possible," he added. The research aims to help policymakers respond to the economic impact of COVID-19 as the disease continues to spread. "There needs to be vastly more investment in public health and development, especially in the poorest countries," McKibbin said. "It is too late to attempt to close borders once the disease has taken hold in many other countries and a global pandemic has started." " Source " PGI Chandigarh on Saturday reported that a suspected coronavirus patient has been admitted to the hospital. The patient is a 33-year old male from Zirakpur who has been suffering from sore throat, fever and mild cough since the last three days. The man had recently visited Singapore. The PGI Chandigarh further informed it has started its COVID-19 testing from today. This comes after two persons from Hoshiarpur tested positive for COVID-19 at the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here in Amritsar on Saturday. So far over 30 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in India. Earlier today two suspected cases of coronavirus were reported in Jammu and they are undergoing treatment at the government medical college. The administration has announced the closure of all primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts till March 31. The virus has so far killed more than 3,200 people globally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) - Two militants on a motorbike blew themselves up outside the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia on Friday, killing a policeman and wounding several in the North African country's most serious attack in months. By Tarek Amara TUNIS (Reuters) - Two militants on a motorbike blew themselves up outside the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia on Friday, killing a policeman and wounding several in the North African country's most serious attack in months. The explosion took place near the embassy's main gate, where a Reuters journalist saw a scorched, damaged motorbike and a damaged police vehicle lying amid debris as police gathered around and a helicopter whirled overhead. No group immediately claimed responsibility. The Interior Ministry said two militants were killed carrying out the attack and five police were wounded, while a civilian suffered minor injuries. State news agency TAP reported that one policeman was killed. "We heard a very powerful explosion ... we saw the remains of the terrorist lying on the ground after he went on the motorbike towards the police," said Amira, a shopkeeper. The United States was outraged by the attack, a spokesman for the State Department said, and was saddened to hear reports of a fatality from Tunisia's security services. "We are working with local authorities to investigate," he said. Among the injured was a locally hired employee of the U.S. Embassy, the spokesman added. Sirens could be heard on the major highway linking the Lac district, where the embassy is located, with Tunis and suburbs in the north. The U.S. Embassy in a tweet urged people to avoid the area. Roads around security installations were closed in some parts of the capital and some international institutions were put on lockdown or evacuated. Photographs of the blast site posted on social media showed debris strewn around the area of a security checkpoint that controls access to the embassy and damaged vehicles. Last summer, Islamic State said it was behind militant blasts that struck the capital over the course of a week, including one near the French Embassy that killed a policeman. Tunisia's critical tourism sector is highly vulnerable to militant violence and was devastated after two attacks in 2015 which killed scores of visitors at a beach resort and a museum. Diplomats who have worked with Tunisia on its security capacity say it has grown more effective in preventing and responding to militant attacks in recent years. An al Qaeda group has been sheltering for years in the desolate, hilly terrain along a stretch of the border with Algeria and sometimes clashes with security forces there, but is regarded as having been closely contained. Hundreds of Tunisians have also travelled to Iraq, Syria or Libya in recent years to join Islamic State, and in 2016 members of the group rampaged across the border with Libya and fought the army in a border town, but were repulsed. "The attack indicates that the security challenge remains a major challenge in Tunisia," local security analyst Ali Zarmedini said. (Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Washington Reporting By Tarek Amara; Writing by Angus McDowall; Editing by Janet Lawrence, William Maclean and Nick Macfie) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. 07.03.2020 LISTEN 6th March, a day for reflection and future vision positioning was abandoned by Mahama. Yes, you heard me Mahama. The youngest but the laziest president in the history of Ghanaian politics who has rendered himself to a doormat status and thrown his statesmanship and Excellency accolade into the stinking lagoon of greed and selfishness. For no reason, this man has abandoned almost all state gatherings under His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo who has washed clean his (Mahama) once dirty and corrupt regime as President. Many are of the view that John Mahama has still not come to terms with his humiliating defeat of over one million votes difference given to him by the discerning Ghanaians in the last elections. Hence, he allegedly always wished to deliver the state of the Nation address, take the state salute or inspect the National guard of honor. Simply, he hates to see Nana Addo Dankwa perform his ceremonial roles in his presence or deliver on his campaign promises. This unpatriotic and shameful posture of Mahama has really affirmed the assumption of most Ghanaians of been self centred than putting the country first. He preferred campaigning to lead a Nation he once disgraced with his clueless, useless and incompetent regime than honoring state gatherings for the beauty and sustenance of our Democracy. Ghanaians are demanding attitudinal change from the NDC flag bearer, His Highness the Incompetent Dramani Mahama to place National interest first, show some sense of patriotism and respect to National issues and occasions. He should learn from Former President Kufuor who ignored his party's fresh 2012 pain of defeat to attend to his (Mahama's) inauguration as President. He can consult the gentle giant on tips on how to lead the life of a statesman if he Mahama feels ashamed to contact Former President Rawlings for such advice due to how far he Mahama, has rendered the President Rawlings NDC the most useless political party in Ghana. NANA ABREFA KUMI FORMER TESCON COMMUNICATION OFFICER UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA, A-C POLLING STATION SECRETARY MDCC"B", AKYEREMANYAA ELECTORAL AREA CHIRAA, ADASUOKOR. (Natural News) In the site known as Ala-Tei in the Tuva Republic, in Russia, scientists are racing against time to retrieve dozens of treasures from over 110 burial sites all of which are thousands of years old. The Tuva Republic, one of the federal subjects of the Russian Federation, sits in the so-called Sayan Sea, an artificial reservoir created when the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam, which sits downstream of the site, was made in the Republic of Khakassia in Russia. The dam is Russias largest power plant, with the reservoir covering some 240 square miles. During the summer, water in the reservoir retreats for several weeks. This short time period allows archaeologists to examine over 100 graves belonging to people from ancient and medieval civilizations. By early July however, the water levels in the reservoir rise and the graves, once again, are covered by up to 50 feet of water, which is why researchers have taken to calling this site the Russian Atlantis. Grave sites are filled with treasures from thousands of years ago Among the treasures found at the site include the mummy of a sleeping beauty, a woman dressed in silk and originally believed to be either a priestess or some kind of noblewoman due to the quality of wares she was buried with. Researchers however now say that shes more likely to be an affluent leatherworker. Archaeologists were also able to dig up the grave of another woman, also draped in fine silks, who they believe is a weaver from the time of the Huns. The Huns are a nomadic people who probably originated in Central Asia and then migrated to Eastern Asia, the Caucasus and Eastern Europe before eventually making their way to Rome, where the famous Hun leader Attila wreaked havoc upon the Roman Empire. Other artifacts found in the graves include more silks, mirrors and coins. A large number of the artifacts retrieved from the area were made during the Han dynasty in China, which reigned between 206 and 220 AD. In addition to the finery she was buried with, the sleeping beauty mummy also had a belt decorated with turquoise beads and a belt buckle set with precious gemstones. The Hun weaver, meanwhile, was buried with glass beads, belt buckles made out of bone and several stone pendants. Both of their belt buckles had engravings depicting scenes of tigers fighting dragons. This site is a scientific sensation, Marina Kilunovskaya of the Institute for the History of Material Culture in Saint Petersburg, said. We are incredibly lucky to have found these graves of rich Hun nomads that were not disturbed by robbers. We discovered 110 burials at the Ala-Tei burial site, which is usually 15 meters underwater. Another site which was made at what is now the Sayan Sea shore is getting quickly destroyed by crumbling soil. It is called Terezin, and there we found 32 graves, Kilunovskaya added, emphasizing that their dig is a race against time. Kilunovskaya is the head of the Tuva Archaeological Expedition which is in charge of digging up the graves and preserving the artifacts found there. (Related: Researchers discover ruins of lost colonial tavern in North Carolina: Cache of artifacts is a time capsule of history.) The Ala-Tei site used to be on land, before 1963, when work on the Sayano-Shushenskaya Dam began plunging the area underwater. Ala-Tei turns into an island when water levels rise, with only a bare piece of elevated rock remaining above water level. Other graves previously uncovered by Kilunovskaya and her team include belt buckles made of iron and coal, buckles for shoes, knives, iron rings, hooks and even the skulls and hooves of beloved horses. Many of these artifacts are also encrusted with other semiprecious stones like jade, coral and carnelian. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk DailyStar.co.uk SiberianTimes.com EAST HAVEN A town man was sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement with a drug trafficking ring that distributed heroin and cocaine in the region, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for Connecticut. Pedro Orta-Rivas, 51, pleaded guilty in November to one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, heroin and cocaine . An investigation headed by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the New Haven Police Department revealed 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, attributing it to court documents and statements made in court. Orta-Rivas helped to broker narcotics transactions, distributed drugs for the organization, and collected monies owed. Prosecutors sought a prison term of 46 to 57 months in the case, in accordance with federal guidelines, according to a sentencing memorandum from Assistant States Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis.and U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham. Prospectors noted that Orta-Rivas had been involved with the drug trafficking ring, which distributed kilogram quantities of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, for at least four months and communicated regularly with Rubiera-Herrera, arguing he should receive a guidelines sentence in the case. Orta-Rivas was perhaps not the most culpable of the defendants, but he was entrenched in the (operation), fully aware of the amount of narcotics that Rubiera-Herrera was distributing and significantly involved in a number of different planned and executed drug transactions, Kaoutzanis and Durham said in their memorandum. In his role as a runner and facilitator, he ensured the success of the drug trafficking organization and it is that conduct that mandates a within-Guidelines sentence. Defense attorney Michael L. Moscowitz argued in his sentencing memorandum for Orta-Rivas to be released or serve a shorter term in prison. He said Orta-Rivas, released on bond in the case, had continued to seek employment and conducted himself as a responsible individual during that period. He argued he was unlikely to re-offend in the future, noting he had never previously been incarcerated, and was working for Rubiera-Herrera to pay off an car-related debt. As a civilized society we must despise the crime but the question is must we despise the (sinner)? Mr. Orta Rivas... was a runner who reported to Mr. Rubiera-Herrera and did not arrange any drug transactions, Moscowitz said in his memorandum. Mr. Orta Rivas like many other individuals, is a fallible person struggling, with the implication of knowing good and evil. But I ask the court not to give up on Mr. Orta Rivas but give him the chance to be that productive individual he is capable of being. Look at him not what he has done but what he can be. Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer imposed the two year sentence, to be followed by three years of supervised release, Friday in U.S. District Court in New Haven, according to the release from the U.S. Attorneys Office. Orta-Rivas is scheduled to report to prison April 7. 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 LONDON and SYDNEY, Australia and JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FXCM Group, LLC (FXCM Group or FXCM), a leading international provider of online foreign exchange and CFD trading, announced today that FXCM Pro is beginning the process of onboarding clients with FlexTrade Systems MaxxTrader solution across the LD4 hosting centre. This announcement follows from the recent news in late 2019 detailing the initial launch of the partnership between FlexTrade and FXCM Pro. FlexTrades MaxxTrader is an end-to-end, dedicated and customisable solution covering all products including FX Spot, Swaps, NDFs, CFDs, and Commodities which will be rolled out across all major hosting centres with NY4, TY3 and SG1 following closely behind LD4. MaxxTrader supplements FXCMs existing liquidity and execution solutions, providing a significant edge in areas such as bank and non-bank liquidity customisation, connectivity between market makers and takers, reporting, and measuring best execution. These technology partnerships contribute to FXCM Pro's ability to offer one of the most competitive pricing models in the market. FXCM Pro is continuing to further develop its use of technology to remain a market standard, both in its offering and pricing. Mario Sanchez, Managing Director & Global Head of FXCM Pro Sales: When we began working with FlexTrade late last year, our aim was to leverage its innovative technology to provide an efficient trading experience for our FXCM Pro customers. By beginning the process of onboarding clients to LD4, we are taking the next steps in the journey of our partnership and realising our initial aim. Through this partnership, we will be able to provide our customers with enhanced trading execution alongside significant cost-savings through low-latency solutions. We look forward to further distributing these benefits to customers as we look to continue the roll-out among the other main data centres around the world. Story continues Below is an example of last weeks average spreads* on some of FXCM Pro FX pairs and Gold: EUR/USD USD/JPY GBP/USD AUD/USD EUR/GBP USD/CHF XAU/USD Overall average 0.09 0.13 0.39 0.14 0.40 0.29 0.05 Past Performance is not an indicator of future results. * Average Spreads: Time-weighted average spreads are derived from tradable prices at FXCM for the period February 16, 2020 to February 22, 2020. Spreads are variable and are subject to delay. Please note that spreads around trade rollover (I.e. 17 h EST) were not taken into consideration. The spread figures are for informational purposes only. FXCM is not liable for errors, omissions or delays or for actions relying on this information. About FXCM: FXCM is a leading provider of online foreign exchange (FX) trading, CFD trading, and related services. Founded in 1999, the company's mission is to provide global traders with access to the world's largest and most liquid market by offering innovative trading tools, hiring excellent trading educators, meeting strict financial standards and striving for the best online trading experience in the market. Clients have the advantage of mobile trading, one-click order execution and trading from real-time charts. In addition, FXCM offers educational courses on FX trading and provides trading tools, proprietary data and premium resources. FXCM Pro provides retail brokers, small hedge funds and emerging market banks access to wholesale execution and liquidity, while providing high and medium frequency funds access to prime brokerage services via FXCM Prime. FXCM is a Leucadia Company. Trading Forex/CFDs on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Leverage can work against you. The products are intended for retail, professional and eligible counterparty clients. Retail clients who maintain account(s) with Forex Capital Markets Limited ("FXCM LTD") could sustain a total loss of deposited funds but are not subject to subsequent payment obligations beyond the deposited funds but professional clients and eligible counterparty clients could sustain losses in excess of deposits. Clients who maintain account(s) with FXCM Australia Pty. Limited (FXCM AU), FXCM South Africa (PTY) Ltd (FXCM ZA) or FXCM Markets Limited (FXCM Markets) could sustain losses in excess of deposits. Prior to trading any products offered by FXCM LTD , inclusive of all EU branches, FXCM AU , FXCM ZA , any affiliates of aforementioned firms, or other firms within the FXCM group of companies [collectively the FXCM Group], carefully consider your financial situation and experience level. If you decide to trade products offered by FXCM AU (AFSL 309763), you must read and understand the Financial Services Guide , Product Disclosure Statement , and Terms of Business . Our FX and CFD prices are set by us, are not made on an Exchange and are not governed under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act. The FXCM Group may provide general commentary, which is not intended as investment advice and must not be construed as such. Seek advice from a separate financial advisor. The FXCM Group assumes no liability for errors, inaccuracies or omissions; does not warrant the accuracy, completeness of information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these materials. Read and understand the Terms and Conditions on the FXCM Groups websites prior to taking further action. Read full disclaimer . About FlexTrade Systems: Founded in 1996, FlexTrade Systems is the global leader in high performance execution management and order management systems for equities, foreign exchange, options, futures and fixed income. A pioneer in the field, FlexTrade is internationally recognized for introducing FlexTRADER, the worlds first broker-neutral, and execution management trading system, which allows clients to completely control and customize their proprietary algorithms while maintaining the confidentiality of their trading strategies. For more information visit flextrade.com or email media@flextrade.com . Dems Decide "The turnout is going to be astronomical," predicts county clerk Larry Kestenbaum. by Eve Silberman From the March, 2020 issue Interest in the March 10 Democratic presidential primary is "at the level you normally see in October [before a general election]," says Kestenbaum. His office has printed more than 25 percent more ballots than it did in the last presidential primary. A month before the vote, more than 21,000 people had requested absentee ballots, more than double the number at the same point in 2016. (Kestenbaum credits some of that to the 2018 state ballot proposal that changed the law to make it much easier to vote absentee.) Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton in Washtenaw County in 2016, and Kestenbaum expects Sanders and fellow senator Elizabeth Warren will get most of the Ann Arbor vote this time. State senator Jeff Irwin agrees, texting that "Buttigieg, and Bloomberg or Biden round out the top five from what I'm hearing at meetings and on social media." (Neither Irwin nor Kestenbaum has endorsed anyone.) Although Warren was said to be faltering after a single-digit showing in the New Hampshire primary, her local cheering section includes many veteran Democrats. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if, on the hundredth anniversary of women's suffrage, a woman was elected president?" asks Janine Easter, who twenty-five years ago founded the Ann Arbor chapter of the Hillary Rodham Clinton Fan Club. Former state senator Lana Pollack and Ann Arbor mayor Christopher Taylor were among those signed up for a $100 to $500 February fundraiser for Warren. "I don't have any friends supporting Bernie," says former drain commissioner Janis Bobrin. "My nephew is. The young people like him." That includes Ardis Shapiro, a leader of U-M Students for Bernie 2020, who told the Michigan Daily that Sanders "is the only candidate who understands the urgency of revolutionizing our economy to combat climate change." She and others in the group went through "Students for Bernie Summer School," an online training program that encourages "friend to friend organizing." A volunteer for Pete Buttigieg says that his candidate's narrow victory in ...continued below... Iowa noticeably increased signups on the state campaign's website. At a Gallup Park meeting room in early February, about twenty Buttigieg volunteers, laptops in hand, broke into groups to train for different assignments--making phone calls, texting, using relational organizing tools, sending postcards, and personal conversations.The same afternoon, former U-M football stars Braylon Edwards and Dhani Jones helped draw an overflow crowd to the opening of Mike Bloomberg's downtown office. Retiree Chuck Edwards said he'd gone to Bloomberg's website "after I saw a white supremacist get the Medal of Freedom" (President Trump so honored Rush Limbaugh during the State of the Union address). Edwards thought the billionaire had the toughness to take on Trump. "Much as I love Michelle Obama, 'When they go low, we go high,' uh-uh," Edwards said, "you don't take a knife to a gunfight.""I'm neutral," congresswoman Debbie Dingell declared but stressed, "we haveto get rid of Donald Trump." She said she appreciated that "no matter what happens, this office will be here till November"--Bloomberg has promised to continue to fund his operation to support whomever wins the nomination.Although the ballot lists eighteen Democratic candidates, after the New Hampshire primary only seven were still campaigning. The field may shrink further following Super Tuesday--fourteen states, including California, will weigh in a week before Michigan does.[Originally published in March, 2020.] Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (238) Stock markets in the Middle East retreated yesterday, as an emergency rate cut from the US Federal Reserve failed to quell investor nerves over the coronaviruss widening global economic fallout. The World Health Organisation warned on Tuesday of a global shortage and price gouging for protective equipment to fight the fast-spreading virus. It asked companies and governments to increase production by 40 per cent as the death toll from the respiratory illness mounted. Dubais main share index ended 2.2pc lower, dragged down by a 3.8pc fall in bluechip developer Emaar Properties and a 2.5pc drop in Emirates NBD Bank. The Abu Dhabi index slid 2.8pc, with First Abu Dhabi Bank tumbling 5pc, reaching its lowest level since July 2018. The UAEs largest lender traded ex-dividend. Among others, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank was down 2.8pc. Saudi Arabias benchmark index fell 0.4pc. Samba Financial Group dropped 4.1pc, while the countrys largest lender National Commercial Bank shed 1.9pc. The kingdom, which reported its first case of coronavirus on Monday, has temporarily suspended Umrah pilgrimages for Saudi citizens and residents of the country due to coronavirus concerns, state news agency SPA said on Wednesday. In Qatar, the index slipped 0.1pc, hit by a 5.2pc slide in Qatar Fuel Company and a 6.9pc plunge in United Development, as the stock traded ex-dividend. However, the indexs fall was cushioned by gains at Qatar National Bank, which rose 2.8pc. Qatars central bank said on Wednesday it was cutting deposit rates by 50 basis pts (bps) to 1.5pc. Outside the Gulf, Egypts blue-chip index retreated 1.9pc, pressured by a 3pc fall in Commercial International Bank and a 5.5pc plunge in Credit Agricole Egypt. To the Virginia Tech community: On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education issued a letter to all colleges and universities across the nation regarding concerns of discrimination and bias related to the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus. The letter cites an increase in the number of reports regarding stereotyping, harassment, and bullying directed towards students and faculty perceived to be of Chinese-American or, more generally, Asian descent. Amid growing concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19 infections across the world and the United States, it is important for us to pause for a moment and consider how our thoughts, our words, and our actions influence others in our community who are equally affected by this global health crisis. Virginia Tech thrives on being a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive campus for all. We affirm the inherent dignity and value of every person and strive to maintain a climate for work and learning based on mutual respect and understanding. We value human diversity because it enriches our lives and the university. We acknowledge and respect our differences while affirming our common humanity. Our commitment to these values is embodied in our Principles of Community. In this time of crisis, it is essential that we lift up our commitment to these values. When we return from spring break, Virginia Tech will celebrate Principles of Community Week from March 16-20. In addition, on March 30, Virginia Techs Asian Cultural Engagement Center will host an event, Mask On/Mask Off Series: APIDAs, The Yellow Peril, and the Coronavirus to raise awareness around the virus, address perceptions toward students, faculty, and staff of Asian and Asian-American descent, and affirm the universitys commitment to the Principles of Community. When details on this event are available, they will be shared via Virginia Tech News. All are encouraged to attend. As a reminder, should members of Virginia Tech community experience discrimination or bias, one should immediately contact The Dean of Students Office where you can report an incident to the Title IX Office. As COVID-19 spreads, Virginia Tech continues to carefully monitor the health of its community of students, faculty, and staff at home and abroad. All members of our community should follow precautions aimed at protecting an individuals health and preventing the spread of this illness set forth from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Virginia Department of Health, and Virginia Techs Schiffert Health Center. Additional information is on Virginia Techs COVID-19 website, where relevant information will be updated periodically in accordance with any new developments or risk assessments. We are grateful for our Virginia Tech community and our collective commitment to building a world where all of humanity is treated with dignity and respect. Menah Pratt-Clarke, Vice President for Strategic Affairs and Diversity Frank Shushok, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Emma Langford admitted charges of being drunk on an aircraft, behaving in a threatening manner towards aircraft crew and criminal damage. (SWNS) A mother who attacked three flight attendants after being denied alcohol on her way to a drying out clinic in South Africa has been given a suspended sentence. Emma Langford had to be handcuffed and strapped to her seat after the confrontation, which a court heard started when she was denied the Bloody Mary cocktail. Langford, of Old Basing, Hampshire, had been in a difficult time after the breakdown of her marriage, the court heard. She has admitted three charges of assault, one count of criminal damage, one of being drunk on an aircraft and threatening, abusive, insulting and disorderly manner towards cabin crew. Judge Nicholas Wood sentenced Langford to a total of 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday. He said: There is no escape route at 30,000 feet. Ive no doubt whatsoever there were passengers on that plane that were fearful of their lives over what you might do. He also told her to pay 1,000 compensation to three victims and 1,000 in costs. The 47-year-old mother-of-two was flying from Heathrow to Cape Town with her son on British Airways to check herself into an alcohol rehabilitation centre, Isleworth Crown Court was told during a hearing in January. Half an hour after take-off, Langford told cabin crew she was thirsty and demanded a large amount of alcohol, but after being given water she returned to abuse staff. The court heard she asked if they could afford her 8,000 seats and called two female stewards fat before punching two members of the crew. Emma Langford leaves Isleworth Crown Court in West London in January. (Paul Davey/SWNS) She later shoved a third staff member and threw a tray of plates and glasses to the floor, with one of the shards cutting a crew members leg. Prosecuting, Douglas Adams said: They restrained her and gave her a violation notice to which she said blah, blah, blah. She was later carried out using the approved techniques but she struggled and the staff were helped by an off duty police officer. A crew member told the court in a statement: She called me chubby and fat arse. It was massively offensive and hurt my confidence. I felt humiliated in front of the whole cabin. Story continues Guy Wyatt, defending, said: Its striking that she was travelling to (South Africa) to book herself into residential rehabilitation. She knew she needed it, she made enquiries and had been told that this particular clinic was best and was on her way. She was going through a difficult time because of a few things. The consequences of the breakdown of her marriage, anxieties of whether the children would be living with her or not. Those anxieties got the better of her and she crashed catastrophically into heavy drinking something that she had done before. He told the court Langford had been in rehab and stayed sober since her release. The last hearing was adjourned until today so the judge could see the results of a bracelet that monitors her blood alcohol levels through sweat. BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. Butte County proclaimed a local emergency and declared a local public health emergency in response to coronavirus. Butte County Assistant Chief Administration Officer, Brian Ring and Butte County Health Officer, Dr. Andy Miller made the announcement on Friday, March 6. Butte County remains without any confirmed cases of coronavirus. But they did confirm that one person in Butte County is being tested for coronavirus. On Friday, Lisa Almageur from Butte County Health & Human Services announced that the coronavirus information on their website has been improved. Almageur said they will post their latest information by noon, Monday through Friday, Click Here Action News Now asked if any people who were previously on the Grand Princess cruise ship were being evaluated in Butte County. She said county personnel has followed up with all of them, and none of them have been symptomatic. She said the final (14th) day of the evaluation was today. All of those who traveled on the Grand Princess that are now in Butte County are considered to be in the clear. Officials said these actions have been executed in an effort to be proactive, allowing the county to expedite their planning and response to any potential cases and make additional resources available to the county to limit and slow community spread of the disease. Although the individual risk of contracting coronavirus in Butte County remains low, health officials are advising community members to take the opportunity to plan for the possibility of local cases and the potential for community spread. Below is a list from health officials of what they recommend: Gradually stock up extra supplies of important items, such as: soap, hand sanitizer, tissues, over-the-counter medications and prescription medications. Gradually stock up on non-perishable foods. Create a back-up plan for work, school and childcare in the event of closures. Talk to your workplace about getting ready. Plan for telework, if possible. Create a space in your home to care for sick family members. Replace handshakes with elbow-bumps make a game of this with your kids. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. How people can protect themselves: Washing hands with soap and water. Avoiding touching eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Avoiding close contact with people who are sick. Staying home if you are sick, especially from work, school and public places. Following guidance from public health officials. Health officials advise if you think youre sick to notify your health care provider by phone. Its important to call ahead so that you can be safely evaluated to prevent exposing others. Butte County residents call also call 2-1-1 or text your zip code to 898211 for COVID-19 information and updates. RELATED: While coronavirus cases grow, another number increasing: recoveries The brain has two systems for thinking about others' thoughts In order to understand what another person thinks and how he or she will behave we must take someone else's perspective. This ability is referred to as Theory of Mind. Until recently, researchers were at odds concerning the age at which children are able to do such perspective taking. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS), University College London, and the Social Neuroscience Lab Berlin shed new light on this question in a study now published in the renowned journal PNAS. Only 4-year-olds seem to be able to understand what others think. The study reports that this unique ability emerges around 4 years of age because of the maturation of a specific brain network which enables this. Younger children are already capable of predicting others' behaviour based on what they think, but the study shows that this prediction of behaviour relies on a different brain network. The brain seems to have two different systems to take another person's perspective, and these mature at different rates. The researchers investigated these relations in a sample of 3- to 4-year-old children with the help of a video clips that show a cat chasing a mouse. The cat watches the mouse hiding in one of two boxes. While the cat is away the mouse sneaks over to the other box, unnoticed by the cat. Thus, when the cat returns it should still believe that the mouse is in the first location. Using eye-tracking technology, the scientists analysed the looking behaviour of their study participants and noticed: Both, the 3- and 4-year-olds expected the cat to go to the box where the mouse had originally been. That is, they predicted correctly where the cat was going to search for the mouse based on the cat's belief. Interestingly, when the scientists asked the children directly where the cat will search for the mouse, instead of looking at their gaze, 3-year-olds answered incorrectly. Only 4-years-olds succeeded. Control conditions ensured that this was not because the younger children misunderstood the question. The reason for this discrepancy was a different one. The study shows that different brain structures were involved in verbal reasoning about what the cat thinks as opposed to non-verbal predictions of how the cat is going to act. The researchers refer to these brain structures as regions for implicit and explicit Theory of Mind. These cortical brain regions mature at different ages to fulfill their function. The supramarginal gyrus that supports non-verbal action prediction matures earlier, and is also involved in visual and emotional perspective taking. "This enables younger children to predict how people will act. The temporoparietal junction and precuneus through which we understand what others think - and not just what they feel and see or how they will act - only develops to fulfil this function at the age of 4 years", first author Charlotte Grosse Wiesmann from the MPI CBS explains. "In the first three years of life, children don't seem to fully understand yet what others think", says co-author Nikolaus Steinbeis from the University College London. "But there already seems to be a mechanism a basic form of perspective taking, by which very young children simply adopt the other's view." ### This story has been published on: 2020-03-07. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. C Shivakumar By Express News Service CHENNAI/NAGAPATTINAM: Indian fishermen stranded in Iran following the outbreak of coronavirus have alleged that they are being forced by Iranian boat owners to venture into the sea. There has been a rift between fishers and boat owners who have taken away supplies from certain boats, said Captain Johnson Charles, secretary for Meenavar Orunganaipu Sangam. When Express tried to reach out to Embassy officials, it was learnt that officials were unavailable as it was a public holiday in Iran. According to Charles, there are 783 Indian fishermen, including 450 from Tamil Nadu, stuck in Iran. According to sources, the Centre is working on their evacuation along with the Government of Iran. The move comes after CM Edappadi K Palaniswami writing a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urging him to direct Indian Embassy in Iran to ensure their safe return. It is learnt that a medical screening is going on. Once the fishermen test negative, they can be evacuated. We have received information from a Fisheries Department official, said Charles. However, when Express contacted Sahaya Askar, a fisherman stranded in Chiruyeh, he said no such screening happened in Chiruyeh. We are afraid the Embassy is ignoring us. We tried to reach out to the Embassy, but nobody is picking up the call, he said. Helpless, confined: fishers raise sos Sources in the Fisheries Department said the fishermen are scattered all over Iran, and that the Embassy staff may not be able to reach certain remote areas. We will highlight the issue before the officials concerned and rescue them, sources said. Interestingly, the fishermen have restrictions on travelling through mainland and their only hope to connect to their people is mobile phone. However, the connectivity is poor. If the Embassy has to reach out to the fishermen, officials will have to travel to Kish and Chiruyeh Islands. This comes in the backdrop of Union Civil Aviation Minister (in-charge) Hardeep Singh Puri saying that evacuation of Indians from Iran is being planned in consultation with the Ministry of Health and the Government of Iran. Not enough masksSpeaking to TNIE through WhatsApp call, G Adhitya Karikalan (29) from Vizhunthamavadi said, We are scared to stay here. The virus is spreading to the islands where we used to fish. We do not get too many masks either. We seek help from the Indian and Tamil Nadu governments to bring us back home. Karikalan and six others from Vizhunthamavadi have been stuck in Kish Island for a week since fishing stopped. There are fishermen from districts such as Kanniyakumari, Ramanathapuram and Cuddalore working in Iran. Fishermen from Nagapattinam district are working in places such as Kish Dilan, Lavan Island, Sarak, Mugaam and Zero. M Arun, a 20-year-old fisherman from Chinnangudi who is working in Lavan Island with his uncle T Selvam, said, We came here nine months ago. Our employers are keeping us in the dark. We are afraid that we will not get good treatment if we are infected. Speaking to TNIE, joint director Amal Xavier said the Indian Embassy is in touch with the fishermen working in Iran. Liberia's President George Weah has suspended all petroleum importers licenses pending a tougher revision process and as a way to eliminate previous unorthodox strategies, according to a statement from his office. The review process will be carried out individually, considering a performance-based review covering the period January 2017 to January 2020, according to a statement from the President's office. Re-activation of licenses will be done on a case-by-case basis, and those that do not meet performance and capacity requirements satisfactory to the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company will be subject to revocation, said the statement. The decision followed the unprecedented shortage of petroleum products that resulted in long queues at petrol stations across the country recently and is also intended to prevent a recurrence of petroleum shortages in the market. Meanwhile, the President has dismissed Bobby Brown, Deputy Managing Director for Operations at Liberia's Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), a state-owned entity, which has the mandate to procure and supply quality petroleum and petroleum related products to the Liberian market. Bobby Brown is hereby dismissed for gross negligence and fraudulent activities. He will be investigated by the appropriate authorities and, if found guilty, will be prosecuted under the full weight of the law, the release said. Although there was no indication as to when the probe would begin, the statement outlined that during the investigation period, any other personnel found to be directly linked to illegality with regards to petroleum movements will face prompt administrative actions, as well as face prosecution under the law. Importers have been given a 90-day grace period to pay for the petroleum that they have borrowed beyond their quotas, either in cash or in kind, a strategy called provisional lifting in industry parlance. In the same vein, Petroleum importers who willfully transferred products stored at their facilities are also given 90 days to return the products, either in cash or in kind or risk prosecution. The Ministry of Justice is hereby ordered to place such importers in receivership until the products are recovered. Failure to replenish the products within the specified time will result in revocation of importers license and forfeiture of allocated storage facilities, the office of the presidency said in the release. Provisional lifting is a practice whereby the Petroleum regulator (LPRC) would allow one petroleum importer to take the product of another importer with the understanding that the borrower will replace the product by the time his own product arrives in port, according to Petro Trade Group, a major player in the petroleum industry. The strategy was intended assist players within the petroleum sector, but sadly some importers exploited the system, says Petro Trade Group Head Abraham Kaydea. Some importers wouldn't have vessel coming but will go and take another importer's product using provisional lifting. There are importers who collected products for the last three years and are yet to pay. It's affecting us and I think the President's decision to that effect is laudable, he told RFI via telephone. Liberia Petroleum Refining Company and the Ministry of Commerce were also contacted by RFI, but were unavailable for comment. According to the statement, the presidency was informed by findings and recommendations from the report submitted by the special presidential task force that made a formal inquiry into the recent shortage of petroleum products in the country. National Guard seize pill shipment from Cancun airport Cancun, Q.R. Elements of the National Guard have sized a drug shipment at the Cancun International Airport after finding boxes of pills and controlled medication. According to a statement, the assurance occurred in the parcel cargo area of the terminal where elements of the National Guard found four cardboard boxes containing the medication. The parcel was sent from Sinaloa, Puebla and Mexico City and was destined for an address in Quintana Roo. The boxes were sized by authorities for lack of legal documentation. They were transferred to facilities of the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (Cofepris) where subsequent inquiries will be carried out. DECATUR They call it the Polar Plunge for a good reason. At Lake Decatur on Saturday, the water temperature was 44 degrees, said Joanie Keyes, Special Olympics Illinois Region I director. That announcement brought cheer and applause from the plungers waiting for the event to start. One would not think the prospect of taking a dip in 44-degree water on a chilly March morning would elicit that particular reaction, until she added that last year, the water temperature was only 36 degrees. Your legs go numb right away, said Megan Cox, a member of Gamers for Good, who were all dressed as video-game characters. Cox was Skull Kid from the "Legend of Zelda." You have to be prepared for that because you are going to fall down. It's so worth it, said Kit Ross, dressed as Link, also from the Legend of Zelda. The annual Polar Plunge, presented by Law Enforcement Torch Run and GEICO, is in its 19th year on the shores of the lake outside The Beach House. The event had already raised $65,000 as of pre-registration, with 331 plungers signed up for freezin' for a reason, as the backs of the souvenir shirts say. More plungers were expected to sign up on Saturday, and Keyes said the fundraising goal this year is $86,000. That helps pay for equipment, uniforms and sometimes transportation for the hundreds of Special Olympics athletes who compete in the 17 events a year from this region, and they never have to pay to compete thanks to the Polar Plunge. Two previous Polar Plunges had already raised close to $80,000, Keyes said. Eagle Scout's project benefits Decatur's Turtle Trail Garden The process to becoming an Eagle Scout is daunting, to say the least. Akorn Inc. employees formed a team of 22 and raised more than $10,500 among them, said Katie Berger, team captain. This is their fifth year to participate. This is our largest team ever, and the most money we've ever raised, Berger said. We had a fantastic year. Inside the warming tent, where Plungers gathered before and after the event, the music started off with current pop and dance music, but when it got close to time to plunge, the Beach Boys took over the loudspeakers in the spirit of the occasion as a nod to the beach where plungers went into the water. Tim Spinner has participated since 2008 and also participates in the Super Plunge in Chicago, where plungers enter the water once an hour for 24 hours. He went all the way under water all 24 times there, and again on Saturday at Decatur's event, complete with fright wig and tutu, his usual Polar Plunge outfit. "Today was a piece of cake compared to the Super Plunge," Spinner said with a laugh. He signed up for his first plunge with co-workers and they all dropped out except him, he said, but it was so much fun that he was hooked and has done it every years since. "Most people I talk to love giving money to the organization," he added. Region I contains 17 counties, and four Polar Plunges are held annually, with the final one set for March 21 at Lake of the Woods in Mahomet. To sign up, email Vanessa Duncan, vduncan@soill.org or call (217) 345-2424. You're jumping into the cold water for persons with disabilities who want to play sports, and they want to play it for free, Duncan said. They don't want to have to be charged admission fees and for uniforms. Everything we're doing today goes toward Special Olympic competitions and leadership opportunities and any of these Polar Plungers who's met one of our Special Olympics athletes immediately falls in love, so why wouldn't you jump in cold water for them? ____________________________________________________________ Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Police now have a clearer idea of the origins of guns seized during criminal investigations in Winnipeg and, to their surprise, some weapons confiscated last year can be traced back to the United States and as far away as Europe and South America. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Police now have a clearer idea of the origins of guns seized during criminal investigations in Winnipeg and, to their surprise, some weapons confiscated last year can be traced back to the United States and as far away as Europe and South America. Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth said the service has recently tapped into the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ballistics identification and firearms tracing system, and the new partnership with the ATF has allowed officers to understand the sources of guns entering the city. "Were seeing guns coming all over from the west and the east, interestingly enough, right around the Connecticut area on the eastern seaboard, quite a number of guns have found their way up into our country from that area, and we dont know why that is," Smyth told the City of Winnipeg police board Friday. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Guns from a firearms seizure at Winnipeg Police Headquarters in Winnipeg in 2019. Last year, 788 guns were seized by Winnipeg police in the course of criminal investigations. "That was surprising to me: that were seeing guns sourcing from pretty much everywhere," said Smyth. "Its been an interesting picture thats emerged." Last year, 788 guns were seized by Winnipeg police in the course of criminal investigations. In 2018, 778 guns were confiscated, up from 724 the year prior. A police spokesman said he could not provide statistics on the geographic origins of guns seized last year, or even how many entered the country from abroad, citing potential impacts to ongoing prosecutions. However, Smyth said guns also continue to be stolen locally and modified, and moved into the province from other parts of Canada. Of the weapons seized last year, 28 per cent were restricted firearms and 28 per cent were "other firearms," he said. Other firearms can include modified shotguns and rifles, or modified airsoft guns capable of shooting projectiles. One per cent, or eight, of the firearms seized were prohibited firearms, he noted. Were seeing guns coming all over from the west and the east, interestingly enough, right around the Connecticut area on the eastern seaboard, quite a number of guns have found their way up into our country from that area, and we dont know why that is. Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth Smyth said police have also noted the local manufacture of guns 12 per cent of weapons seized last year were improvised firing devices, also known as zip guns and have investigated cases of straw purchases, when a firearm is purchased legally and sold to another person. "If you asked me this question a year ago, I would have said most of our guns were probably stolen locally or stolen in rural areas... and then modified," Smyth said. "Now were seeing more than that. Were seeing some smuggled guns, were seeing some straw purchases, and were seeing some manufactured guns. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Smyth said the service has made use of federal funding and recently purchased ballistics analysis equipment to assist the firearms investigative enforcement unit in testing and tracing firearms. However, its still too early to know if the number of illegal guns coming into Winnipeg from abroad has increased. "Were just being able now to set a baseline to know what to expect," Smyth said. danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca International Womens Day is celebrated all over the world on March 8. The day is an ode to women and celebrates womanhood globally. The 2020 theme for the day by the United Nations is Im Generation Equality: Realising Womens Rights. Today and every day, every man can contribute to gender justice. On this occasion, HT speaks to women in Pune who work in competitive industries where they have had to prove their worth with creativity and sheer guts. These women tell us what men can do to make life better for the women around them- be it in the family or at the workplace. Read on and be inspired! Empower women to make independent decisions Renu Sharma, divisional railway manager (DRM), Pune, Central Railways In order to raise the status and respect for women in society, it is important to educate the men in society, says Renu Sharma, the first woman divisional railway manager (DRM) in the Central Railways. Hailing from Lucknow, Sharma took charge of Pune railway division in November 2019. Both her parents work in the labour ministry. She is a pass out of the Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) batch of 1990. She completed her Masters in Organic Chemistry. Her husband is the chief environment engineer at the Uttar Pradesh pollution control board. Renu Sharma, divisional railway manager (DRM), Pune, Central Railways (HT/PHOTO) Sharma noted that Pune railway division is the only division in the country where the DRM and ADRM (additional divisional regional manager) are women and both are doing a lot of field work. The number of women staff is increasing day by day in her division. There are tough job categories like gang women, loco pilots, security personnel and women are doing these tough duties. In the electric department also we are getting more and more women to work in such tough positions, said Sharma. What happens is, even if we are literate and highly placed, even then we look up to our husband or father for their consent. It is only after their consent that we spend a high amount of money or take a major decision regarding our children. We look up to our husbands for their decision, said Sharma. Women are doing better nowadays and we are equal to men in all fields. So, we need to empower the women in becoming mentally strong; their emotional strength and most important, independence of decision making. Parents should worry as to why their boys dont come home early Vidya Yeravdekar, pro chancellor, Symbiosis International (deemed) University Donning the hat of being the driving force behind the most sought after education institute--Symbiosis International (deemed) University, is no mean job. There is no doubt about the all-pervading role of Vidya Yeravdekar, the daughter of president of Symbiosis Society, SB Mujumdar, in helping build the vast educational conglomerate that Symbiosis now is. It is very important for men to change their mindset and include women in decision making; not just at their workplaces but also at home, said Vidya Yeravdekar, pro chancellor, Symbiosis International (deemed) University (SIU). According to her, its also important that men should realise that women are equal and they should be given equal opportunities. Daughter of SB Mujumdar, founder of Symbiosis, Vidya is currently heading several institutions of the SIU as the pro chancellor. She is also the principal director of Symbiosis Society, which includes schools, the College of Arts and Commerce and other institutions under the SIU. Vidya Yeravdekar, pro chancellor, Symbiosis International (deemed) University. (Ravindra Joshi/HT PHOTO) Being a woman I am heading a university and I very well know the challenges that specifically an Indian woman faces. There is a great divide between the urban and rural Indian woman by way of statistics and representation in various forums. However, we are now seeing a lot of women coming in the forefront whether it is in educational institutes, representation in various boards in corporate sector or even in the defence sector. We at Symbiosis have excellent leadership from women- its not just me but also at various other top positions. Apart from this, our student statistics shows that 55 per cent of girl students are carrying out leadership responsibilities. Therefore, we enjoy this kind of environment and we celebrate it on March 8, said Dr Vidya. More importantly, we have started a medical college for women from this year to empower women doctors to become healthcare professionals, she said. The Symbiosis pro chancellor noted that as repeatedly and aptly pointed out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, instead of worrying about why their girls are not coming home early, parents should worry why their boys dont come home early. She said as a part of womens empowerment, its important to educate the boys and men to empower their wives, sisters and other women in the family. A womens opinion matters, give her the freedom Yamini Joshi, Pune divisional controller, MSRTC, Pune division Men should give equal chance to women around them to represent their voice and their existence in the society, says Yamini Joshi, the first woman divisional controller at the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). Joshi hails from Pandharpur. She took charge of Pune division in April 2018 and played a major role in the transport planning during the Nashik Kumbh Mela in 2014. She has worked in all the three top positions of the MSRTC such as depot manager, divisional transport manager and now as divisional controller. Pune is the largest MSRTC division in the state and all types of buses run through this division. Passengers rely on MSTRC buses running from Pune division, said Joshi. Yamini Joshi, Pune divisional controller, MSRTC, Pune division. (Sanket Wankhade/HT PHOTO) The highly accomplished mass transportation expert noted that generally what happens in Indian society is that it is the elderly men in the family who tell the girl or woman in the family to abide by their views. It is the men who mostly take the decision with regards to education, career choices or even choosing her life partner; they dont take the opinion of the woman. A woman should be given the freedom to choose what she likes to do and what she wants to do in life. Only then can women enter different fields and achieve success, said Joshi. Muslim women are changing with time Shahla Bootwala, principal, Abeda Inamdar Senior College Shahla Bootwala is the principal of Abeda Inamdar Senior College and is a vocal crusader of educational empowerment for Muslim women in the country. She is a doctorate from Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) and has been mentoring several Muslim girls in achieving excellence in academics and research at Azam campus. She says that Muslim women are changing with time due to support of their fathers and husbands. Muslim men need to contribute to household chores. This is changing, but at a snails pace, when compared to other communities. Today, women are going outside to work, but they need a helping hand at home too. Shahla Bootwala, principal, Abeda Inamdar Senior College. (HT/PHOTO) Today, girls in the Muslim community are getting married at an early age, but what is surprising is that the husbands are coming forward and enrolling their wives for higher education, which is a welcome change. This is the kind of support we need and this is because Islam actually propagates early marriage. I am happy to see that the husbands are supporting their wives, she said. Earlier, Muslim women did not find a place in the employment sector, and now they are contributing to the society. This is due to liberal and secular education which has brought about a complete transformation in their lives. Azam campus has proved to be a boon to the Muslim society as the women in the community have excelled in all fields, contributing to national development, she added. A group of dolphins have been photographed being transported by the U.S. Air Force aboard a C-17 Globemaster transport plane, as they head on a top secret mission organized by the Navy. The dolphins were being taken to an unknown location where the Navy will train them how to seek undersea mines. Just as the Army uses patrol dogs to sniff out explosives, the Navy uses the mammals to hunt out the dangerous mines, which could destroy ships and sailors if left to explode. In an image posted to Facebook the U.S. Air Force transported a group of U.S. Navy Dolphins, or as the Navy designates them, Mark 7 Marine Mammal Systems, aboard a C-17 Globemaster The six dolphins were being transported to an undisclosed location for a training exercise The mammals are far more adept and quicker at finding the mines than human divers. The dolphins are trained to search for sea mines in a particular stretch of water using their sonar which is far more sophisticated than any man-made detection device. Upon finding one, the animal is trained to release a tag which floats up to the surface, allowing humans to investigate the find and neutralize the mine. The photos of the dolphins placed in tanks in the cargo plane were posted online to an Air Force Facebook group. Multi-talented: Bottlenose dolphins are just one of the sea dwellers who assist the U.S. Navy as part of its Marine Mammal Program A bottlenose dolphin in the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, part of the MK 7 Marine Mammal System, searches for an exercise sea mine alongside marine mammal trainers The dolphins seek out undersea mines and are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security of the world's oceans On board the cargo plane, the dolphins were seen suspended and held in place in fleece-lined stretchers in fibreglass containers filled with water to support their weight on the trip to the training exercise location. The Navy's $28 million marine-mammal program dates back to the late 1950s and once included killer whales and sharks. At first, the Navy studied the hydrodynamics of dolphins in order to improve torpedo, ship and submarine designs. But officials soon realized the mammals could be valuable mine clearers, because they were highly reliable, adaptable and could be trained to search for, detect and mark the location of objects in the water and thus, the program was born. In the early days the Navy tried working with all sorts of whales including killer whales, Steller sea lions, grey and fur seals. Navy marine mammal handler Electronic Technician 2nd Class Eric Kenas shows how a trained dolphin reacts to different hand gestures Dolphins are trained by the navy to locate undersea mine and they are able to perform the task far quicker than human divers (pictured an adult and baby Atlantic bottlenose dolphin in one of the pens at the Navy facility on Point Loma, California) Based in San Diego, it currently uses 80 bottle-nosed dolphins and 40 California sea lions, however, they are not referred to as dolphins but as 'the Mark 7 Marine Mammal System'. Using their sonar, the mammals find and mark mines in shallow water, in deep water when tethers are used, and on the sea floor where sediment cover and plant growth can hide the devices. Dolphins are carried aboard Navy ships in large movable pools, about 20 feet in diameter. Most of the Navy's dolphins and sea lions are housed at Point Loma Naval Base, in pools sectioned off from the bay. Others guard Navy submarine bases in Georgia and Washington state. A bottlenose Navy dolphin leaps out of the water while training in the Arabian Gulf. A pinger device strapped to its fin allows the handler to keep track of the dolphin when out of sight The military is responsible for the mammals' care throughout their lives, even after they're retired from active duty. Sometimes Navy dolphins are loaned to animal parks, such as Sea World, later in life. Before the animal missions became declassified in the early 1990s there was much speculation the Navy abused the animals they worked with. Animal activists claimed the dolphins were being used as offensive weapons and to harm humans. The Marine Mammal Commission found the allegations to be false after an investigation in 1988 and again in 1990. In recent years, dolphins have been deployed to Iraq and Bahrain to patrol for enemy divers and mark the locations of mines. Today, bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions are the mammals of choice. They protect ports and Navy assets from swimmer attacks, locate and attach recovery equipment to exercise and training targets as well as locate sea mines. The Navy has also developed its Dolphin Breeding Program, in which calves are born and trained to follow small boats and how to slide out of the water onto beaching trays before being ready for service They can be readied for a mission within 72 hours and on short trips will swim alongside a small boat. For longer journeys they ride shot-gun on ships or as the pictures show, by air in cargo planes. The creatures were last seen in public during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises in 2018. Although it is not known where the dolphins were taken to, the aircraft was serviced by a Maintenance Repair Team from the 60th Maintenance Squadron, based at Californias Travis Air Force Base. The dolphins seem to enjoy their work. The Navy claims to release the mammals 'almost daily' untethered into the open ocean. Almost all report back for duty, with only a few having not returned since the program began. The Navy has also developed its Dolphin Breeding Program, in which calves are born and trained to follow small boats and learn how to slide out of the water onto beaching trays before being ready for service. The program means no wild mammals have been captured since 1988. Your browser does not support the audio element. At least 26 people in Hanoi are said to have had close interaction with Vietnams 17th new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient, who was only confirmed on Friday night, in addition to 197 passengers and flight crew that boarded a flight with her, according to the Department of Health in the Vietnamese capital city. The female patient, 26-year-old N.H.N., recently returned to Hanoi from a trip across three European countries, including Italy, from February 15 to March 1. N. had reportedly developed symptoms of COVID-19 infection since February 29, but was only taken to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi at 6:00 pm on Thursday, where she later tested positive for the virus. She previously put herself under voluntary home quarantine and only sought treatment from a private hospital. Between N.'s arrival in Vietnam and her isolation, she interacted with many people, including her father, an uncle, five housekeepers, and a private driver for her family. At Hong Ngoc Hospital the private infirmary where went for a health checkup, 18 people came into close contact with her. All these 26 people are currently in normal health conditions with no fever or coughing, according to the Hanoi health department. They have been placed under quarantine for monitoring and sampled at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi. Authorities fence off Truc Bach Street in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, after a Vietnamese woman living on the street was confirmed with the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection on March 6, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre Those who have closely interacted with these 26 people have also been isolated at home as requested by Hanoi authorities. Hanoi chairman Nguyen Duc Chung has pledged to soon publicize the identity of all of them. Apart from such cases, 197 people including passengers and crew members traveled with N. on the Vietnam Airlines flight VN0054 from London to Hanoi on March 1-2. Authorities are in the process of verifying their names and whereabouts. On the flight, N. occupied seat 5K in the business class. Those who were seated near N. on the same plane or had close interaction with her on the flight will be quarantined. The Peoples Committee of Hanoi has locked down a part of Truc Bach Street, from No.125 to No.139, in Ba Dinh District where N,'s residence is located. City authorities have also disinfected the patients residence and the area surrounding it, Hong Ngoc Hospital, and the houses of people who have been in close contact with her. A woman drives her children out of Truc Bach Street in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, after the area was fenced off as a Vietnamese woman living on the street was confirmed with the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection on March 6, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre The authorities said they will also quickly inform their counterparts in the UK and France on the case and coordinate with them to determine the patient's travel history while she was visiting Europe. COVID-19, which first surfaced in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 101,900 people and killed 3,488 globally as of Saturday morning, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. Vietnam has so far confirmed 17 infections, including the latest case in Hanoi. Fourteen of them are Vietnamese, while the other three patients include two Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese American. Sixteen of the patients have recovered and been discharged from the hospital. N. was the first confirmed infection in Vietnam since February 13. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Family Carers Ireland have called on the next government to give full-time family carers a right to 20 days holidays each year. The charity is holding it's annual National Respite Weekend in Cork this year and are highlighting that one in ten people in Ireland provide 24 hour care with very little state support. Family carers from from right across the country (including this group from Clare) are travelling to the Clayton Hotel Cork City for the National Respite Weekend. We hope everyone has a great time! pic.twitter.com/bLKnHW3mw1 Family Carers Ireland (@CarersIreland) March 6, 2020 Sinead Tighe is one mother providing full time care for her 12 year old son Daniel who has a rare genetic condition. Tighe said that government do not understand the realities carers face and do not seem to "get it". She said: "You know everyone else in a job gets a holiday and they get 20 days holidays a year. "We look and say 'why aren't we the same?' "We are recognized as carers, we are working, we are doing a job, "The way I feel now, because I feel very much like a robot, I'm now a carer, I'm not a mother. Lord Mayor of Cork, John Sheehan opened National Respite Weekend in Cork and thanked family carers for their contribution to society. Politik reports: Parliament yesterday ended its Select Committee hearings on Winston Peters racing reform legislation with more protests about the legislations proposal to close the Dargaville Racing Club. Peters grew up near Dargaville and went to school there and recently boasted of his connections to the area during a Provincial Growth Fund announcement in the town. He advised his audience that they should ensure the voice of Northland, and, dare I say it, the provinces is heard every time critical decisions are made. Unfortunately, the Mayor of Kaipara District Council, Jason Smith, told the Select Committee that was precisely what had not happened over the proposal to close the race-course. No one locally had been consulted about the proposal to close the course, sell the land and give the profits to the racing industry. The matter is particularly awkward for NZ First because Dargaville is a stronghold for their vote in the Northland electorate; a must-win for Shane Jones to give the party a good chance of getting back to Parliament. But as RadioNZ has recently revealed, the NZ First Foundation is also the recipient of substantial donations from a number of prominent figures in the horse racing industry. The industry generally supports the reform proposals. Nevertheless, the outcry from Dargaville is strong. In an open letter to Peters, the chair of the Dargaville Racing Club, Tim Antonio said no club, and no person, in any industry, in any town or city should live in fear of the seizure of their assets by the state. Its not the Kiwi way. Maybe in Mugabes Zimbabwe; maybe in Pol Pots Cambodia but not in New Zealand, under a democratically elected government. Nirbhaya convicts left no stone unturned to escape gallows, failed to get relief Squirmed for a bit before going still: The final moments of Nirbhayas killers SC rejects Nirbhaya convict Mukesh Singh's plea seeking urgent hearing on Monday India oi-Mousumi Dash New Delhi, Mar 07: The Supreme Court on Saturday has dismissed the plea of one of the four convicts of 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case Mukesh Singh. Mukesh had sought an urgent hearing of his plea on Monday. However, the apex court said today that it will hear the plea on March 16. Mukesh moved a plea in the Supreme Court on Friday seeking restoration of all his legal remedies, alleging that his lawyers had misled him. The plea, filed through advocate ML Sharma, sought a CBI probe into alleged "criminal conspiracy" and "fraud" hatched by the Centre, Delhi government and advocate Vrinda Grover, who is the amicus curiae in the case. Earlier, SC had rejected the plea of convict Mukesh against the rejection of mercy petition by President Ran Nath Kovind, saying all relevant records, the verdict of courts were placed by MHA before the President. SC had earlier had said that there is no merit in the contention. A trial court on Thursday issued fresh warrants with March 20 , 5.30 am, as the date for the execution of the convicts - Mukesh Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31). For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 18:35 [IST] In 2014, while flying a plane full of passengers for a subsidiary of United Express, pilot Richard Papp said he became so overwhelmed with nausea and dizziness that he couldnt think straight and could barely fly safely, after inhaling what he said were noxious fumes permeating the cockpit. "At the end of the day, we couldnt even put a sentence together, the U.S. pilot said in an interview with POLITICO. Papps case isnt an isolated one. On February 17, an easyJet flight to Venice had to return to Belfast after passengers detected a strong smell of gas, according to the Belfast Telegram. In 2015, six people complaining of fumes on board a U.S. Spirit Airlines flight had to receive medical attention upon landing. Last year, seven people on another Spirit flight had to go to a hospital after they were overcome by fumes smelling like oil. A third Spirit flight last year was forced to land prematurely in Los Angeles because of fumes in the cabin. At least four lawsuits have also been brought by flight attendants. But despite cabin crews calls for investigations and tougher rules to ensure that engine oils don't bleed into cabin air, so far regulators in the U.S. and the EU arent convinced that any danger posed to crews warrants significant action. The Federal Aviation Administration said there have been 204 fume events recorded in its "Service Difficulty Reports" (SDR) database since October. In a 2013 report to Congress, the FAA said it found 69 such events between 2002 and 2011. But others paint a very different picture of how often fume events happen on board for instance, a Kansas State University study that surveyed the SDR as well as a NASA database of aviation safety reports and other sources, found that the annual number was likely much higher, estimating on average almost 2,000 fume incidents per year from 2007 to 2012. The FAA said it thoroughly investigates these events and makes sure the cause is addressed before the aircraft is returned to service. A spokesperson also noted that modern aircraft have highly effective environmental control systems that filter air as it is circulated throughout the aircraft cabin, and multiple studies over the years have consistently concluded that cabin air meets or exceeds health and safety standards. Story continues But pilots and at least one independent researcher say there's just not enough consistent data to make those conclusions. Two years ago, the FAA warned in a safety alert that airlines and pilots should ensure their procedures and check-lists address what to do about odors and fumes on board and asked operators, manufacturers and regulators to boost efforts at prevention. But the FAA hasnt ordered manufacturers to actually change the way air on most planes gets funneled into the cabin, which pilots say can be fouled by engine oil intermixing with breathable air, due to the planes' design, combined with poor maintenance and faulty seals. FILE - In this June 19, 2015 file photo, Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration building is seen in Washington. The FAA would be required to set new minimum requirements for seats on airplanes under legislation to be considered in the House this week. The regulation of seat width and legroom is part of a five-year extension of federal aviation programs agreed to early Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, by Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate committees that oversee the nation's air travel. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) The Federal Aviation Administration said there have been 204 fume events recorded in its "Service Difficulty Reports" (SDR) database since October. In a 2013 report to Congress, the FAA said it found 69 such events between 2002 and 2011. But others paint a very different picture of how often fume events happen on board for instance, a Kansas State University study that surveyed the SDR as well as a NASA database of aviation safety reports and other sources, found that the annual number was likely much higher, estimating on average almost 2,000 fume incidents per year from 2007 to 2012. The FAA said it thoroughly investigates these events and makes sure the cause is addressed before the aircraft is returned to service. A spokesperson also noted that modern aircraft have highly effective environmental control systems that filter air as it is circulated throughout the aircraft cabin, and multiple studies over the years have consistently concluded that cabin air meets or exceeds health and safety standards. But pilots and at least one independent researcher say there's just not enough consistent data to make those conclusions. Two years ago, the FAA warned in a safety alert that airlines and pilots should ensure their procedures and check-lists address what to do about odors and fumes on board and asked operators, manufacturers and regulators to boost efforts at prevention. But the FAA hasnt ordered manufacturers to actually change the way air on most planes gets funneled into the cabin, which pilots say can be fouled by engine oil intermixing with breathable air, due to the planes' design, combined with poor maintenance and faulty seals. The situation in Europe is much the same. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) published two studies in 2017 finding that cabin air quality is similar or better than what is observed in normal indoor environments and that the concentration of substances that could cause health problems to be too low to be major concern for neuronal function. The agency will publish another study on oil contamination incidents on flights in April. EASA has not identified concerns that would justify to mandate general design changes or to amend products certification specifications, said EASA spokesperson Janet Northcote, despite reports of more than 100 fume incidents in 2017 and 2018. In January, EASA invited pilots, manufacturers and airlines to Cologne to discuss cabin fumes, where pilots were keen to emphasize the threat. The European Commission is considering launching a study on fumes health effects on pilots. The battle over research Susan Michaelis, an aviation consultant and researcher with a specialty in cabin air quality at Scotland's University of Stirling, said in a 2011 paper that its impossible to know the true extent of instances of contaminated air because airplanes typically dont have, and aren't required to have, detection systems. In addition, she said the current system of self-reporting fume issues is ineffective. Beyond that, Michaelis argued that theres an almost industry-wide concerted effort to marginalize and control how the contaminated air issue is addressed. The industry has formed a powerful coalition that ignores or manipulates external data and works towards a solution agreeable to its partners, she wrote, comparing it to Big Tobacco and the asbestos industry. Effectively all data that implies there is a problem has been brushed aside in favour of commissioning yet more research that has reached the stage of going around in circles, and ignoring the fact that the toxicity of heated jet engine oil was already recognized in 1954, Michaelis wrote. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who has introduced a bill that would require planes to have carbon monoxide sensors and order the FAA to better record and monitor fume events, said in an interview that the FAA has put this issue on automatic pilot and its going nowhere so far. Its failed to really address the problem, and its putting air travelers in peril. The air inside containers flying hours on end for hundreds or thousands of miles is among the most dangerous breathed by travelers or anyone else these days, he said. Pilots and flight attendants are rightly concerned, but so should be all of the traveling public. He also said he trusts independent researchers' findings more than the FAA when it comes to incident data. "They may be defining fume events to favor the airlines. All too often on health and safety issues over the years the FAA has been partial to the industrys interests over the public interest," he said. Most commercial aircraft flying today, except for Boeings 787 Dreamliner, produce compressed air in the engine, which is then siphoned off and used in the planes cabin, a feature known as a bleed system. Pilots complain that because of imperfect seals and the way the system is designed, chemicals from engine oil or hydraulic fluid sometimes seep into the air conditioning system, contaminating the air and affecting crew health. Passengers can be affected too, but because most dont fly as frequently as pilots and flight attendants, they are usually less affected by strong fumes, pilots contend. Pilots say they have come to know the smell, frequently described as reminiscent of dirty socks or magic markers. I have smelled that my whole career since I started flying for the airlines in 2002, said one pilot for a major U.S. airline, who flies an Airbus A320 and asked for anonymity to protect his career. When asked what Airbus is doing to mitigate the risk of cabin fumes, a spokesperson for the company said: Airbus cabins are designed to prevent air contamination under normal operating conditions. A Boeing spokesman said in a statement that in the rare instances where low levels of contaminants may be present in bleed air, all reliable scientific data currently available has concluded that the cabin air in Boeing aircraft remains safe. Clean air calls Brussels Airlines pilot Rudy Pont said he went to EASAs meeting on cabin fumes with three recommendations to build better filtration systems, to install sensors that could measure and warn of air quality problems, and to develop standardized medical protocols when cabin air is contaminated. But Pont said its an uphill struggle. Just recognition that there is a problem is something weve been fighting for years and years. Flight attendants have filed at least four lawsuits against Boeing, alleging harm caused by cabin fumes. One of the suits was brought by former flight attendant Cynthia Milton, who is suing Boeing, alleging fume exposure on board a 767 damaged her health and made her unable to work. Milton said she blacked out while working on board an international flight; the plane had to divert to Canada to take her to a hospital. Since the incident, Milton claims she has to use oxygen daily. Ive lost everything, said Milton, who filed suit in late January for damages. I no longer can work. Ive lost my home. I was a perfectly healthy person but Ive lost every bit of health Ive had and so my ultimate goal is that this never happen to anybody else. One Alaska Airlines flight attendant, Vashti Escobedo, sued Boeing in 2016 after what she said was a single bad fume event. She alleged in the lawsuit that she experienced daily migraines, blurry vision and memory and concentration problems. The suit was recently settled. Boeing declined to comment on the lawsuits. British union Unite filed a case last year against major U.K. airlines including easyJet and British Airways for exposing their employees to toxic air; a ruling is expected next year. British Airways says there is nothing wrong with its cabin air quality. While far from admitting fault, some airlines are reacting. Pilots said that some U.S. airlines, such as American Airlines, JetBlue, Spirit and Frontier, have already changed their check-lists to underline the importance of pilots putting on oxygen masks when they smell fumes. German carrier Lufthansa said it has invested 2 million to improve cabin air quality. The airline said it is testing a filter called HEPA/CARBON, and is participating in a study on cabin air quality by the German Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine, the results of which are expected this year. Britains easyJet has almost finished a retrofit of its fleet with high performance carbon recirculation filters. We feel were at the forefront of the industry in dealing with this issue, an easyJet spokesperson said. But some check-lists for other airlines are still too cumbersome and take too long to complete to prevent fume incidents, pilots say. Maintenance crews on the ground also have trouble replicating the issue. While pilots havent gotten the traction they would like at EASA, they have had more luck at the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), a body that develops and defines voluntary standards at a European level. There, the pilots managed to get a draft set of guidelines approved by the committee, which will be up for a final vote later this year. But EASA is reacting to the attempted end-run around its regulations. The agency sent a letter, seen by POLITICO, to CEN disagreeing with the standards. The draft agreement contains some elements that appear controversial and that are not supported by results of research studies conducted to date, read the letter from EASAs Head of Strategy and Programs Massimo Mazzoletti, dated January 14. Airline lobbies IATA and A4E also sent a joint letter, also seen by POLITICO, to CEN in November. The highly prescriptive requirements set out in this draft are out of proportion to any demonstrated risk, the letter read. The ultimate solution some pilots want is to have pure, clean outside air compressed from electronic compressors instead of being shunted through hot engines that may contain chemicals. There is enough research on the subject, said Pont, the Brussels Airlines pilot. The time to act is now. Saim Saeed contributed to this report from Brussels. Daniel Lippman and Brianna Gurciullo contributed from Washington. Zach Goudie/CBC A seemingly endless treadmill of stormy weather will make another special delivery for eastern Newfoundland this weekend, with the second storm in a week. Environment Canada has snowfall warnings in place for Newfoundland's Avalon, Burin and Bonavista peninsulas, as well as Terra Nova and Clarenville areas, with cautions of what it called "significant snowfall" coming Saturday and into Sunday. Between 15 cm and 25 cm of snow is expected to fall in various areas, with first flakes arriving in southern areas early in the afternoon. "The snow will become heavy at times tonight. The snowfall rates will ease by Sunday morning and will end from the south to the north throughout the day," Environment Canada said in a statement. Meteorologist Mike Vandenberg told Weekend AM host Heather Barrett that snow is anticipated to begin early Saturday afternoon on the Burin Peninsula and southern Avalon. "The heaviest snowfall is expected this evening before things start tapering off. Fortunately it looks like the strongest winds will not be accompanying the heaviest snowfall," Vandenberg said. "The strongest winds are going to be overnight tonight into Sunday morning ... so that should keep the blowing snow down, to an extent. We are expecting blowing snow over exposed areas for most of the night into Sunday. The wind and the snow will be tapering off as the day progresses." Environment Canada Vandenberg said snow should begin in the St. John's area at about 5 p.m. Saturday. The northeastern section of the island has a blowing snow advisory in effect. Poor visibility in snow and blowing snow is forecast, with near 15 cm of snow expected for Bonavista North, Bay of Exploits and Gander. Travellers are being advised to be cautious, as northeasterly gusts of wind could impair visibility and driving conditions. There are already several delays and cancellations at St. John's International Airport, as of 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Story continues Marine Atlantic, meanwhile, has adjusted its weekend crossings because of conditions in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Midday and night crossings at both Port aux Basques, N.L., and North Sydney, N.S., have been pushed to Sunday morning, weather permitting. Much of the island has been repeatedly hammered by storms this winter, including a notorious blizzard that shut down numerous communities, including metro St. John's, for more than a week. Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador The ISKCON will not regulate entry of visitors at Mayapur in Nadia district during 'Doljatra', the festival of colours in West Bengal, on Monday, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, an official said. The Mayapur temple, the global headquarters of ISKCON, witnesses a large turnout of foreign and domestic pilgrims during the festival of colours every year. The entry of visitors to the temple will not be regulated o Sunday also, the official said on Saturday. Announcements on ways to prevent getting infected by the virus are being made regularly at the temple premises. We are welcoming all visitors but taking necessary precautions, the Director of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Mayapur, Sri Madhava Gauranga Das, told PTI from the global headquarters of ISKCON. The temple management is making regular community hall announcements to guide pilgrims on how to be safe and take precautions, he said. The ISKCON authorities have put up notice boards and procured screening equipment, besides stocking a large number of sanitisers. The chief minister spoke with ISKCON Kolkata leadership and assured all help from the state government, he said. Meanwhile, the authorities of ISKCON Mayapur on Saturday met the Nadia district authorities to discuss the issue. On the other hand, the management of Dakshineswar Kali Temple, which also witnesses a large turnout of devotees during various festivals, said that they will be announcing the recommendations made by Union Health Ministry and state health department. We will spread awareness among people by relaying tips such as washing hands frequently, using sanitisers and covering one's face during coughing and sneezing through the public address system from time to time, the Secretary of Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kushal Choudhury, said. A spokesman of Nakhoda Mosque said they are asking people to be careful before and after Friday prayers and follow the guidelines of the Health Ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The resumption of water supplies to Crimea was one of the conditions for further settlement of the situation in Donbas, which was put by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the talks in Paris in December 2019. This is reported by the chief editor of Censor.net Yuri Butusov referring to sources.According to him, during a telephone conversation between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia on February 14, Putin again demanded the resumption of water supply to Crimea as one of the conditions of the next Normandy meeting.That is why at first the head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arahamia, and then the Prime Minister Denys Shmygal announced their intention to supply water to Crimea (Shmygal then denied his words). And thats why the authorities sent requests to engineering organizations about the preparation of a project to resume water supply to Crimea," writes Butusov.According to him, this is a test of public opinion."The presidents office is studying whether Ukrainian society is ready to make such concessions to Putin and whether the supply of water to Crimea can become a topic for agreements with Russia," the journalist said. She made the move to The Project in 2018, after a reported gender pay gap dispute involving her former co-host Karl Stefanovic on Channel Nine's Today. And as she graces The Sunday Telegraph's Stellar magazine for their International Women's Day issue, Lisa Wilkinson said women are appreciated in the industry, now more than ever. 'I'm thrilled that at the age I now am, I've never felt more valued as an employee, more engaged with what I do and never felt more excited about what's ahead because, clearly, I'm in my second half now,' the 60-year-old explained. 'I've never felt more valued as an employee': Former Today show host Lisa Wilkinson, 60, reflected on her career after jumping ship to Channel Ten in 2018, for The Sunday Telegraph's Stellar magazine. Pictured in Stellar In the wide-ranging interview, Lisa said she also relishes not having to wake up anymore at dawn to present on television. 'I've got these new reserves of energy and I feel challenged and invigorated. I love it when the alarm goes off and I see the number seven at the front. I wouldn't change any of it.' And while she didn't reveal the reason why she defected from Nine, Lisa did say who she remains 'extremely close' to from her time on Today. Lisa said she's very much in touch with Ben Fordham and Sylvia Jeffreys, but that timing 'hasn't worked' for catching up with Karl Stefanovic or Georgie Gardner. Stage of life: 'I'm thrilled that at the age I now am, I've never felt more valued as an employee, more engaged with what I do and never felt more excited about what's ahead because, clearly, I'm in my second half now,' Lisa told the lift-out for their International Women's Day issue The former magazine editor sat alongside Karl, 45, on the Today show panel for 10 years, before leaving Nine in October 2017 over a reported gender pay gap dispute. Lisa was believed to have quit Today because Karl, as her male co-host, was reportedly earning $2million a year with a potential bonus that could take his salary to $3million if ratings were a hit, The Australian wrote in 2017. Lisa was said to be on a $1.1million a year contract, with Nine only willing to increase the amount to $1.8million, according The Daily Telegraph. Former colleagues: While she didn't reveal the reason why she defected from Nine, Lisa did say who she remains 'extremely close' to from her time on Today. Pictured with Sylvia Jeffreys who she is very much still in touch with Not so close: Lisa admitted that timing 'hasn't worked' for catching up with Karl Stefanovic (pictured) or Georgie Gardner The amount was not enough for her to stay with the network, prompting her departure. Since joining The Sunday Project in 2018, Lisa has landed sit-down interviews with the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kylie Minogue and Bradley Cooper. In an interview with The Herald Sun in December 2018, Lisa applauded the 'integrity' and high 'calibre' of her colleagues at Ten, referencing Carrie Bickmore, Fifi Box, Amanda Keller, Julia Morris and Gorgi Coghlan. 'One of the absolute bonuses that I really hadn't anticipated in moving to Ten, is the calibre of my colleagues,' she said. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have officially announced their departure from the royal family, though they are technically still working royals until the end of March. The two have settled in nicely to their new home in Canada, though there have been rumors that theyll be moving to North America soon. Though Harry seems to be enjoying his more peaceful life, one royal expert claims Harrys friends are certain he would have never left the country if not for Meghan Markle. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Andrew Milligan/WPA Pool/Getty Images Harry and Meghan have endured a lot of backlash since they wed When Harry and Meghan started dating in 2016, there was instant negativity. Meghan was, for some reason, constantly compared to Kate Middleton, and the public started to choose sides between the women. Many of them chose Kate. The press then had a field day with Meghans life, creating plenty of drama between her and the rest of the family. Eventually, Meghan and Harry had had enough of the British media. The two ultimately decided that in order for them and their son, Archie, to live a better life, they needed to separate themselves from the family altogether. The two seem to be living more peacefully in Canada Harry and Meghan have been living in Canada since mid-January, and they seem to be enjoying their lives together so far. The two havent been photographed much by the press, but Meghan was spotted taking a walk with Archie and her dogs. Around Valentines Day, the two were seen arriving back in Canada after reportedly spending some time in California, and they appeared relaxed and refreshed. The two have previously said that they werent adapting well to royal life as a married couple, and they seem better off without being attached to the family. One royal expert says Harrys friends dont think he would have left on his own Though Harry seems fine with the decision to move, one royal expert claims his own friends think he would have never left on his own. According to Express, Lizzie Cundy, a royal expert, said Harrys friends dont think he would have ever left if it hadnt been for Meghan. I do believe if Harry hadnt met Meghan he would still be here, he would still be in the UK and I think he would want to be here, Cundy said. I know from his friends the change in Harry since meeting Meghan. Cundy did say, too, that Harrys friends know he cares deeply for Meghan and loves her and Archie. Meghan might have been exactly who he was looking for Though Harry might not have left on his own, it doesnt mean he would not have wanted to leave. Harry has always struggled in the spotlight; he acted out as a teenager because of the pressure that came with royal life. Meghan might have been exactly who Harry needed to give him the confidence to step away from his family. Just because Meghan was the reason for Harrys departure doesnt mean she ruined his life; she may have actually improved it. The two seem genuinely happier starting a new chapter in North America. Sri Lanka's opposition United National Party (UNP) on Saturday said it will contest the impending parliamentary elections in the country, days after its faction led by Sajith Premadasa forged an alliance with smaller parties. Premadasa, the deputy leader of the UNP, on March 2 launched the new Samagi Janabala Wegaya or the United People's Force with the traditional minority Muslim and Tamil allies of UNP joining the coalition. The new alliance was launched despite an impasse over its symbol. The alliance was formed amid speculation that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would dissolve the Parliament this week, paving the way for snap elections in April, months ahead of the schedule. President Rajapaksa, who named his elder brother and former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime minister of the caretaker cabinet in December, can now legally dissolve the Parliament and call an election. He had earlier said he wanted two-thirds seats in the 225-member assembly. The main faction of the UNP led by former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has officially conveyed to the Elections Commission that they would be contesting the election. The UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam on Monday wrote to the Elections Commission chief about the party's intention to contest the polls. The move is contrary to the UNP's apex body's approval to form a broader opposition alliance under the leadership of Premadasa. Meanwhile, analysts say it is becoming increasingly likely that the UNP would split as the leaders file nominations between March 15-22 to fight the polls. Serious differences have emerged within the UNP as the Wickremesinghe camp and the Premadasa camp had not arrived at an agreement on the symbol. The UNP has decided to contest the election under the 'elephant' symbol while Premadasa-led alliance wanted a different symbol. The UNP working committee has approved Premadasa, who lost the presidential candidate in November, as the party's prime ministerial aspirant in the upcoming election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thiruvananthapuram, March 7 : The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ban on two Malayalam TV channels -- Asianet News and Media One -- was revoked on Saturday. According to Asianet News, the ban was lifted at 1.30 a.m. and the channel has been on air since, likewise Media One is also back on air. The order banning Asianet News and Media One for 48 hours starting last night 7.30 p.m. saw a series protests from various quarters condemning the government action. Practically every known politician in the state had reacted sharply against the ban and attacked the Narendra Modi government for gagging the media. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Gandhinagar, March 7 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit his home state Gujarat for two days from March 21 for public dedication and inauguration of some projects, sources said on Saturday. The visit was confirmed by MK Das, Principal Secretary in the Chief Minister's Office. During the first day of his visit, Modi will inaugurate new attractions at the Statue of Unity site where Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue has been set up, including a new Safari Park opened on an experimental basis for visitors. The site is near the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Kevadia. He is likely to visit nearby Vadodara the same day to inaugurate a Centre-sponsored developmental work. On the second day, Modi will dedicate to the public newly built UN Mehta Heart Hospital in Ahmedabad. The PM is also expected to visit Junagadh to dedicate Dinkar scheme, a state project to provide electricity to farmers during daytime. STAMFORD A South American immigrant, who was caught helping others steal $40,000 from a Stamford woman duped into thinking she was sending the money to the FBI, has pleaded guilty to first-degree larceny and will be sentenced to time served in May. Maria Lares-Molina, 32, of Medley, Fla., will have to spend the next five years serving probation by paying back the $40,000, which her attorney insists she never received a penny of. Unable to post a $500,000 court-appearance bond, Molina has been in prison since June when she was extradited from Florida on the larceny charge. She was recruited by these masterminds to be the sucker, to go take the money out of her own account and give it to them. She did not get one penny, not every a dime. She got hustled, said Allan Friedman, her Stamford criminal defense attorney. According to police, in November 2018 a woman reported she had been swindled out of $79,600 by a woman posing as an FBI agent and another man posing as Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen. The Washington Boulevard woman said the FBI woman said her identification had been used to rent cars and open back accounts in different states; the cars under her name had been searched and found to contain drugs. She was told to wire $40,000 to Miami, or she would be arrested and sent to Texas where she would have to spend the next 30 years in jail, according to Lares-Molinas six-page arrest affidavit prepared by financial crimes investigator Paul DeRiu. After sending the $40,000, the Stamford woman was then told to make out four additional checks each for $9,900 and FexEx them to Kissimmee, Florida. Police were able to help the woman recover the four checks, but the $40,000 was lost. DeRiu was able to determine the account the $40,000 had been wired into was controlled by Lares-Molina, the affidavit stated. In viewing bank and surveillance photos and videos of the bank activity, DeRiu saw Lares-Molina make bank transactions and withdrawals of the money sent to Florida by the Stamford woman, the affidavit said. But, Friedman said, the real people who stole the money, those who were posing as the FBI agent and Jepson are the real crooks and they took advantage of Lares-Molinas financial desperation. He said Lares-Molina is a refugee from Venezuela and she never could have convinced anyone that she was an FBI agent. I feel my client was innocent. This is one of those situations where she felt she was pressured to take this deal in order to get out of jail because she could not make a $500,000 court-appearance bond. If she had taken this matter to trial and was found guilty, she would have been sitting in jail for a significantly greater period of time, Friedman said. But I feel bad in my heart because I feel like she is a victim too and the bad actors are taking advantage of people like her. Friedman said the lesson is to never accept money into ones bank account, no matter who it is from because you can be charged with larceny just like Lares-Molina. The masterminds behind this scheme are covering their tracks by using unsuspecting people, he said. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com ELKO Drugs continue to drive the crime rate in Elko, and the situation could get worse this year as Nevadas new criminal justice reform law kicks in. That was one message Police Chief Ty Trouten had for the Elko City Council when he recently presented the annual report for his department. Trouten pointed out that the amount of meth confiscated last year went up significantly from 2018. Fourteen thousand grams roughly double, he said. The drugs are not going away in our community. Trouten said drug abuse and crimes related to it continues to be a problem, and likely I predict will become a bigger problem when the new laws take effect in July that will change the trafficking amounts for drugs and the penalties affixed for drug crimes. For example, the current amount of a Schedule 1 controlled substance resulting in a drug trafficking charge is 4 grams. Its a hundred grams for small trafficking when the law changes on July 1, Trouten told the Elko Daily Free Press. Many other crimes will also be less serious offenses under the reforms. Shoplifting by known repeat offenders can no longer be charged as burglary, and auto burglaries will no longer be a felony unless the value of items taken exceeds $1,200, he said. These crimes are commonly committed by illegal drug users to obtain money for their habit. Trouten said one result of the criminal justice reform bill (AB 236) will be that fewer people are sent to prison, which was the Legislatures intent. In the future, more criminals will be incarcerated in county jails on less serious charges and released sooner. Trouten believes the law will have an impact not only on law enforcement but also on courts and parole departments. Given our remote area I think we will probably be inundated with our ability to address some of these issues, he told city council members. The crime rate in Elko was up 1% in 2019 after trending mostly downward in recent years. Councilwoman Mandy Simons asked about the increase in vehicle thefts, which more than doubled from 43 in 2018 to 101 last year. We had a huge rash of these in the late fall, early winter, Trouten said. In most cases, the cars were only driven a few blocks and then abandoned after being rifled through for any valuables. The majority of vehicles are found and returned. Oftentimes they are not in the best of shape, though, he said. Trouten said the department has tried to raise public awareness of the problem. Please do not leave your vehicles idling and unlocked, or unsecured. Many of Elkos more serious crimes are also drug-related, Trouten told the council. The annual report summarizes the most notable cases: In 2019, Elko Police Detectives were involved in several high profile cases, almost all of which were successfully closed and adjudicated. Detectives investigated several suspicious death cases, one of which was a confirmed homicide. The detectives also investigated several armed robberies, two of which resulted in successful arrest and prosecution. Numerous sexual assault cases were investigated, many of which involved children; the most notable case involved a father sexually assaulting his daughter. Additional high profile cases included battery with substantial harm at Elko High School, stabbing of a juvenile, hit and run with substantial bodily harm, and a drive-by shooting. Three out of the four most recent homicides were related to drugs, Trouten told the council. The drug issue plays a major role in a lot of our crimes, especially in our severe crimes, he said. Trouten explained the kidnapping offenses listed in the report, which increased from 3 to 5 last year. He said kidnapping relates to any charge in which someone is deprived of their freedom of movement, not necessarily being taken against their will to another location. One of these is actually more of a child sex crime in which we had a 24-year-old texting and corresponding with a 14-year-old, and when he met her he basically grabbed her by the wrist and drug her to the car. She was able to get away, however it does qualify as a kidnapping. Out of those five cases, three of them were related to drugs, he said. The problem isnt limited to adult offenders. School Resource Officers have been working toward prevention among youths in the community. Voluntary drug and alcohol testing continues to grow, with 48 students entered, and only two of those did not successfully complete the program, Trouten said. There is now a combined total of seven SROs between the city police and county sheriffs office. Theyre doing their best, but the drugs continue to be a problem, and alcohol abuse, Trouten said. The city has supported crime-fighting efforts by adding a full-time officer position in the past year. Two new K-9s and their handlers also have joined the department. Still, hiring in a community with extremely low unemployment has been difficult. We did end the year still three sworn positions down and one part-time records tech position down, Trouten said. Were always looking for good, qualified applicants. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 6 Your browser does not support the audio element. Two people who were in close contact with the 17th novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patient in Vietnam have been confirmed as Vietnam's 19th and 20th patients, the Ministry of Health said on Saturday afternoon. N.H.N., a 26-year-old woman in Hanoi who recently returned from a trip to across three European countries including the UK, Italy, and France, was confirmed as the 17th patient in Vietnam on Friday evening. Her aunt and private driver have now also tested positive for the new coronavirus, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health said on Saturday afternoon. N.'s aunt L.T.H., 64, is Vietnam's 19th patient while her driver D.D.P., 27, is the 20th. Both of them have been quarantined for monitoring and treatment at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, where N. is also receiving treatment. Earlier on Saturday, a man returning from Daegu, South Korea was confirmed as the country's 18th COVID-19 patient. The new cases in Hanoi mark the second cluster of infections with signs of community spread in Vietnam, after seven people were infected in Son Loi Commune in the northern province of Vinh Phuc in February. COVID-19, which first surfaced in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, has infected over 101,900 people and killed 3,488 globally as of Saturday morning, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. Vietnam has so far confirmed 20 infections, including 17 Vietnamese, two Chinese nationals and one Vietnamese American. Sixteen of the patients have recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Fridays confirmed case was the first reported infection in Vietnam since February 13. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! ANN ARBOR, MI -- Four decades of volunteering, from working in refugee camps in Beirut to fighting for social justice in Detroit, have earned Anan Ameri high honors from a leading Michigan social services organization. Shell be named Arab American of the Year on Friday by the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS). The 75-year-old Ann Arbor-based activist of Palestinian descent moved from Lebanon to Detroit in 1974 and began volunteering with ACCESS a year later. The Dearborn-based organization plans to present Ameri with the award Friday, March 6 during its annual fundraising banquet, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Dearborn Mayor John B. OReilly, Jr. and Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans scheduled to attend. When I came here, I didnt have friends," Ameri said. "I didnt know anyone. I was looking for someplace to resume my activism (with) people who share your values. Abdeen Jabara, who was on ACCESS board and one of the founders of the board, introduced me to ACCESS. Ameri later moved to Washington, D.C., then Boston before returning to Michigan to work for ACCESS in 1997. Between moves, she started the Palestine Aid Society of America, an advocacy and fundraising organization to support Palestinians, mainly women in the occupied territories and Lebanon, she said, with seminars, conferences, rallies and demonstrations. When I came to this country... I was shocked. Literally shocked by the image of Arab Americans, especially Palestinians in this country," she said. ... Thats what really pushed me in this country to do the kind of work I do. I came here already politicized, so where I felt comfortable is working with my own community, which had its own issue of being treated equally or not being demonized in newspapers and television, and cartoons and films. You can live in this country as an immigrant, and youre talking about communities that have been here for generations, and youre still treated badly. She later was involved in establishing Dearborns Arab American National Museum, which opened in 2005, and is a project of ACCESS to highlight Arab American history and culture. Ameri serves as the founding director and worked with ACCESS arts and culture program to develop ways to make the museum a popular destination. Ameri said shes received many awards, including an induction into the Michigan Womens Hall of Fame in 2016, but theres something special about receiving the "Arab American of the Year recognition from her own colleagues at ACCESS, years after leaving the organization. I never quit being active. I never quit going to most events. I have a good relationship with ACCESS. These are your friends. These are people you worked with and six years later after you retired, they remembered you, Ameri said. In retirement, Ameri hopes to continue to find ways to support young people. Id like to talk more to younger people," she said. "... They should know they are smart. They are capable. When people treat them badly or demonize them for this religion, or color, or curly hair or ethnicity they should know they are good people and not let that affect them, Ameri said. They will accomplish whatever they set their mind to. Highlights Asianet News thanked government for revocation of suspension on broadcast Kerala channel said its broadcast will continue to follow law of the land Javadekar announced revocation and promised to act against officials if wrongdoing was found Malayalam News channel Asianet News has thanked the Central government on Saturday for revocation of the suspension placed on its broadcast and admitting that it was a mistake. The channel, which was suspended along with Media One over its alleged irresponsible coverage of the Delhi communal riots, has also pledged to continue broadcasting in full accordance with the law of the land. We reiterate our pledge & promise to our viewers & government that we would continue to carry out our responsibilities most fairly, accurately, truthfully & also in full accordance with the laws of the land, an excerpt from a statement made by Asianet News was reported by ANI. The response came after Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar revoked a 48-hour ban on the leading Malayalam news channels hours after the punitive measure was imposed for alleged biased reporting on one community. Javadekar said that the Prime Minister himself had expressed concern over the suspension and said that the NDA government supported freedom for the press. Our basic thought process is that the freedom of press is absolutely essential in the democratic setup and that is the commitment of Modi government, Javadekar had said. The minister also promised to look into the matter to see if there was any wrongdoing on the part of the regulator. It is reassuring that Union Min Prakash Javadekar has admitted that ban was a mistake & would take appropriate steps if there was wrongdoing on part of Ministry, Asianet statement quoted by ANI added. Javadekar had also reminded that freedom comes with responsibilities Everybody should accept that there has to be responsible freedom, he said. The channels were faulted for their coverage of Delhi riots on February 25 and suspended from 7:30 PM on Friday till 7:30 pm on Sunday, but the suspension was revoked by Saturday afternoon. The suspension order alleged that the channels highlighted the attack on places of worship and were guilty of siding towards a particular community. Political parties including the Congress and the CPM had slammed the suspension and called it an attack on media freedom. The management of the two channels had also expressed surprise at the move. Asianet News is owned by BJP Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Overlooked in the frenzy of the Democratic primary was an unusual story line in supposedly liberal California: Voters were rejecting tax measures at an unusually high rate, and the trend wasnt limited to the more conservative inland and foothill counties. Perhaps most notable was the rejection of Proposition 13, a $15 billion bond for preschools, K-12 schools, community colleges and state universities that had been put on the ballot by the Legislature. It was the first rejection of a statewide education bond in a quarter century. It did not have a significant campaign against it. So what happened? One theory is that the measures number generated confusion among voters who love or loathe the Proposition 13 of 1978, which slashed taxes to 1% of a homes sale price and limited annual increases after that to 2%. Assemblyman Patrick ODonnell, D-Long Beach, who helped draft the plan, now wants to retire the number 13 on all future state ballots. But an unlucky ballot number does not explain why local tax measures also went down at at a rate not seen in years. There were 237 tax measures on the Super Tuesday ballot. As of Friday, just 58 had been approved, 122 had been rejected and 57 were considered too close to call, according to the conservative group CalTax, which has been tracking the results. Its not typical, was the understatement from CalTax spokesman David Kline. The result was less than shocking to those who have been following recent months of polling from the Public Policy Institute of California. Support for Prop. 13 had hovered around 50% in PPIC surveys, which detected no kind of a sense of urgency about the proposed school funding, said Mark Baldassare, president and CEO of PPIC. Each time, we did not find strong support, he said. Overconfidence may have been a factor. There was a sense that this was going to be an opportune time to pass school bond measures, Baldassare said. The competitive Democratic primary was expected to boost turnout, which it did. The economy was going strong as the campaign began, another good omen for tax increases. The economic tumult created by the coronavirus might have injected a lot of uncertainty, a lot of insecurity that worked against tax measures, said Baldassare, adding that he would have a better sense of what went wrong when PPIC goes back into the field in April. Yet one clear omen of doom for tax measures was apparent in a February PPIC survey of Californias political geography. For all the differences between the urban and rural communities on myriad issues guns, housing crisis, President Trump agreement on two points transcended geography. One was that immigrants were a benefit to the state (72%). The other was that taxes were too high (58% overall). More Information Where Bay Area voters just said no These were among the bonds and sales and parcel taxes that appeared headed to defeat; many others remained too close to call K-12 schools Alameda, $323 million bond Campbell (elementary), $98 parcel tax Campbell (high school), $298 parcel tax Castro Valley, $96 parcel tax Cupertino, $125 parcel tax Morgan Hill Unified, $900 million bond Novato, $346 parcel tax Pleasanton, $323 million bond San Jose (Oak Grove Elementary), $132 parcel tax San Jose (Union Elementary), $149 parcel tax Tamalpais, $645 parcel tax Community college Foothill-De Anza, $48 parcel tax Transportation sales taxes Contra Costa County, half-cent increase Sonoma-Marin counties (SMART train), quarter-cent extension Parks Pleasant Hill, $63.5 million bond Public Safety Sonoma, half-cent sales tax Union City, $168 parcel tax See More Collapse More politically liberal places like San Francisco are the least aggrieved, but the difference is small, the PPIC survey reported. Here is another factor that may have worked against tax measures: A September PPIC survey showed that housing and homelessness were the No. 1 concern of Californians for the first time in its long history of polling. That may help explain why tax increases for other worthy causes, even one as critical as education, struggled for voter support. Looking ahead, the less-than-super results for Tuesdays tax measures should get the attention of advocates of a November initiative to peel back the 1978 Proposition 13s protections for commercial property. At first glance, it would seem that its populist appeal would be robust, because it would raise taxes on large businesses without touching that landmark laws limitations on residential properties. But Tuesdays returns show the perils of taking anything for granted. After all, a statewide school bond has traditionally been the easiest sale on a ballot, with a simple majority required for passage and the 55% threshold on local school bonds (lowered from two-thirds under Prop. 39, 2000) significantly helped their odds. Voters in an area with agonizing commutes (Contra Costa County) rejected a transportation tax, and an area of serious wildfire risk (Sonoma County) said no to a tax to reduce it. Whether the March 3 tax revolt was an aberration or a fundamental shift in voter attitudes, one upshot is clear: It wasnt just about the number of one statewide proposition. John Diaz is The Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnDiazChron The air cargo market took an expected dip in January, then plunged in February as demand from China dried up due to the coronavirus and is now beginning to rebound on certain lanes, according to the latest data from multiple sources. How the dynamic market is viewed will depend on where one sits. Shippers and their logistics providers are expected to pay much more to move their goods, while all-cargo carriers will be able to command top dollar. After six weeks of manufacturing and logistics gridlock in China due to massive quarantine efforts and other coronavirus precautions, factories are beginning to operate near full capacity. But with more than 130 passenger airlines having shut down operations in China and Hong Kong through March and April, cargo space in those aircraft has evaporated. Freighter operators that have resumed full schedules include Lufthansa Cargo, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Cargolux. Preliminary data and anecdotal reports from logistics companies indicates airfreight rates are surging for exports from China, especially to Singapore, Korea and North America, according to price benchmarking service The TAC Index. "We are seeing unprecedented demand for airfreight intra-Asia," which is an indicator of what may happen on intercontinental air cargo markets, John Peyton Burton, TAC's managing director, said in an email. Freight Investor Services, a London-based market intelligence and financial risk management provider, has also detected rapid upward movement in freight rates from China. Prices are up $0.33, or 12%, to $3.06 per kilogram on the transpacific lane, lead by a 20% spike ($0.48 to $2.92/kg)) from Shanghai. Hong Kong-to-U.S. rates are up 5.6%, or $0.17, to $3.20/kg. During February, inbound air rates to China skyrocketed in the face of steep demand for freighters to carry medical supplies, sanitizers and protective gear needed to quell the coronavirus outbreak a marked contrast from normal patterns in which air exports exceed imports. Story continues Freight Investor Services noted that despite the upward trend, prices are still well below the $3.40/kg level seen at this time last year. CLIVE Data Services, first out of the box with February traffic figures, said global cargo weight (measured in gross weight or by a dimensional formula) fell nearly 9% versus 2019 as the coronavirus. The Netherlands-based company normalized actual volumes to take account of the early Chinese New Year and extra day in February due to the Leap Year. Green shoots in December volume and the calming of trade tensions between China and the U.S. generated optimism among transportation providers that 2020 would be better than 2019, when demand fell 3.3% the industry's weakest performance since 2009. In January, air cargo throughput decreased 3.3% compared to the same month in 2019, according to figures released this week by the International Air Transport Association. Data compiled by market intelligence firm World ACD measured a decline of almost 6% in air cargo weight for the month, with a drop in yield of 5.6%. The 10th consecutive month of year-over-year declines in cargo volumes was predictable given that the Chinese Lunar New Year fell in January, 11 days earlier than last year. During the nearly two-week holiday, factories close and city residents travel to their hometowns to spend time with family, creating a lull in shipping activity. Under normal circumstances, freight would have picked up in early February. The Asia-Pacific region lost the most cargo traffic in both measurements, with IATA reporting a 5.6% decline based on freight-ton-kilometers and World ACD figures showing a 13.5% drop in chargeable cargo weight based can be based on volumetric features depending on the shipment's characteristics. The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines similarly reported international air cargo demand fell 4% in January, with increased capacity lowering load factors to 53%. Image Sourced from Pixabay See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. The document provides the first indication of how Judge Patricia Campbell-Smith of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims might rule in a high-stakes bid protest over the Pentagons JEDI cloud computing contract, which was awarded to Microsoft in October following intervention from the White House and members of Congress. MADRID (AP) - Spanish police have arrested 89 people suspected of belonging to a crime ring that smuggled both migrants and hashish from North Africa to mainland Spain. The Civil Guard said Saturday that the smuggling network allegedly used speed boats to bring people and drugs across the Strait of Gibraltar from Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in northern Africa. The national law enforcement agency said investigators found evidence that 11 speed boats carried a total of 269 people and over 10,000 kilograms of hashish. The ring used radar systems and lookouts on the coast to avoid detection, the police alleged. The migrants allegedly were held by the traffickers in Spain until their families paid 5,000 euros ($5,600), the police said. The Civil Guard did not say when the 89 arrests took place. It said another 39 people are under investigation in the case. The police agency said its officers so far confiscated over 10 tons of hashish, 26 boats, 29 vehicles, 250,000 euros ($282,000) in cash and 12 fire arms, during the investigation. Ceuta is one of Spains two northern African enclave cities on the Mediterranean coast. Spains southern coast is a major entry point for illegal drugs in Europe. A day after its UPI services were impacted due to an exclusive reliance on the beleaguered Yes Bank, financial app PhonePe on Saturday announced a resumption in services. It has connected to second largest private sector lender ICICI Bank to act as a payment service provider in place of Yes Bank to make it possible. Its chief executive Sameer Nigam thanked ICICI Bank and the National Payments Corporation of India formaking the transition possible in quick time. After being put under moratorium, Yes Bank was put under severe restrictions including caps on payments, which impacted its ability to settle transactions on behalf of partners like PhonePe. At last count, there were 15 firms which were dependent on Yes Bank for the services and may be impacted in different measures. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 01:51:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A Palestinian man walks past a closed university in Gaza city on March 7, 2020. Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Keileh announced Friday that the number of cases of COVID-19 in Palestine has risen to 16. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Keileh announced Friday that the number of cases of COVID-19 in Palestine has risen to 16. She said in a press statement that nine new cases were confirmed in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. The statement also said that there are 120 cases under home quarantine. On Thursday, al-Keileh announced that Palestine's first seven cases were detected in Bethlehem. Following al-Keileh's announcement, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday declared a state of emergency in Palestine for 30 days. In Gaza, schools and universities announced on Friday afternoon that they decided to close until further notice. The United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East also announced that it decided to temporarily close all its schools in the Gaza Strip as a precautionary step. Meanwhile, the local health ministry in Gaza announced on Friday afternoon that the Gaza Strip is so far free of the novel coronavirus. It called on the populations of the Gaza Strip to abide by the instructions of the health ministry and the World Health Organization. New Delhi: Japan has asked India to reconsider the suspension of visas that was imposed over outbreak fears. On March 3, India had issued a travel advisory announcing the suspension of all visas, including visas on arrival for nationals of four countries -- Italy, Iran, South Korea, Japan. Japan explained that in view of the high number of cases and the global outbreak of the virus appropriate measures need to be taken, a source familiar with the information told WION news. The source said: "Explained how the numbers of patients are changing and sought appropriate measures in light of the reality on the ground." Though diplomats, UN officials, OCI cardholders and aircrew members from the mentioned countries are exempted from the restrictions. Japan has reported six coronavirus deaths and as many as 313 confirmed cases of people infected with the virus. In India, the number of coronavirus cases detected stands at 31. Globally China, South Korea, Iran and Italy are among the worst affected countries with thousands of people infected. China which is the epicentre of coronavirus has recorded 28 new deaths on Friday (March 6, 2020) bringing the nationwide toll to 3,070. Meanwhile, 56,106 recovered cases of coronavirus were also reported globally. Terri Irwin has laughed off false rumours she is dating Richard Wilkins. After New Idea ran a story suggesting the couple 'were in love' last month, Terri, 55, has admitted she finds the constant speculation about her love life amusing. 'So far it's 25 men I have had a relationship with. I have kept track because it's kind of funny,' she told The Courier Mail on Sunday of the never ending rumours. 'It's kind of funny': Terri Irwin has laughed off recent false rumours that she is dating Richard Wilkins. Pictured: Terri and Richard filming for The Today Show in 2016 The Wildlife Warrior continued: 'Let's see, apparently it's all the Hogans - that's Paul and Hulk, Russell Crowe, and most recently, it's Richard Wilkins.' Bizarrely, the magazine linked Terri and Richard despite the fact that the Weekend Today host has been in a happy relationship with girlfriend Virginia Burmeister for three years. Terri, who has chosen to remain single since her late husband Steve died in 2006, went on to joke about 'the most flattering' celebrity she is regularly linked to. Happily single! After New Idea ran a story saying Terri and Richard 'were in love' on their cover last month, she admits she finds the constant speculation about her love life amusing Bizarre: The magazine linked Terri and Richard despite the fact that the Weekend Today host has been in a happy relationship with girlfriend Virginia Burmeister (left) for three years She laughed: 'I think it would be Russell because he is such a good person, a very good friend to our family, and I actually really do love him because he loved Steve and they were such good friends. He stepped up so much when Steve died.' Terri went on to reveal that Russel was 'the very first person' to call after Steve, the late Crocodile Hunter, died on September 4, 2006. She concluded: 'It meant a lot and now I kind of feel sorry for him because he is forever being linked to me, so I could be cramping his style.' 'So far it's 25 men I have had a relationship with. I have kept track because it's kind of funny,' laughed Terri on Sunday. Pictured: Terri and Richard on New Idea's cover in February Terri has repeatedly denied that she is dating Russell over the years, admitting she still 'feels a connection to Steve' and has no interest in finding love again. She told Access Hollywood in 2017: 'In all honesty, he and Steve became friends many years ago, and after Steve passed, you find out who your true friends are. 'And Russell has been very loyal as a great friend.' 'I could be cramping his style': Terri revealed that close friend Russell Crowe is 'the most flattering' celebrity she is regularly linked to in the media. Pictured: Terri and Russell in 2007 PDP National Secretariat in Abuja According to a report by PM News, the Peoples Democratic Party has confirmed plans to sack some of its national secretariat workers. A memo to this effect has been circulated to all members of staff of the party. A copy of the document obtained by our correspondent, in Abuja, on Thursday, said the exercise was approved during the partys 89th National Executive Committee meeting. The memo, which was titled Implementation of the resolution of NEC on staff rationalisation, did not specify the number of workers to be affected. The memo, which was signed by the PDP Deputy National Secretary, Mr Agbo Emmanuel, also said the affected workers had an option of resigning honourably. It said, The NEC, at its 89th meeting on Thursday, February 27, 2020, adopted the following resolutions: NEC approved the rationalisation of staff of the PDP national secretariat. NEC committee on staff rationalisation was converted to implementation committee. The finance department was directed to pay immediately January and February salaries to all members of staff. Also, September to December 2019 staff housing allowance is to be paid immediately. That will be the last payments on the present salary structure. The list of staff affected by the rationalisation would be published shortly but affected staff members are given an option to resign honourably. Recall that the staff had, a few weeks ago, claimed that the party paid N12m as total monthly salaries for the establishment staff and those of the Peoples Democratic Institute and N5m for personal staff of members of the PDP National Working Committee. The employees also alleged that they were being owed four months of consolidated housing allowance for 2019 even as the party realised about N6bn from the sale of forms for the 2019 general elections. The workers had sent a separate memo titled, NWC report on staff downsizing the need for human face addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, and members of the PDP NEC, Signatories to the document included Innocent Nwankwo (Chairman, Staff Welfare Committee); Imanfidon Samson, (Deputy Chairman; Alhaji Abubakar Mansur (Secretary); among others. The memo read in part, In the last quarter of 2018, the party netted about N6bn from the sale of forms for the 2019 general elections. NEC, in its wisdom, approved about N1bn to be set aside for payment of all salaries and allowances of staff for the whole of 2019. Later, about N700m was further collected from the sale of forms for Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections. All these notwithstanding, four months of consolidated housing allowance for staff for the said 2019 have not been paid as of today. Taiwan, Philippines disagree on where man contracted coronavirus ROC Central News Agency 03/06/2020 10:18 PM Taipei, March 6 (CNA) Taiwan on Friday revealed more details about a coronavirus case that it believes was imported from the Philippines, an independent traveler who was diagnosed with the disease a day earlier after a recent trip to the neighboring country. Philippine health officials, however say he likely contracted the virus in Taiwan, before entering their country. The 38-year-old man, now placed in a negative-pressure isolation room at a hospital, was confirmed as Taiwan's 44th COVID-19 case on Thursday by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC). According to the CECC, the man from northern Taiwan visited the Philippines from Feb. 28 to March 3, and suffered from abdominal bloating and diarrhea on March 2 there. He returned to Taiwan on Tuesday with a sore throat and fatigue, and went to see doctors at a clinic later that day. As his condition had not improved, he sought medical treatment on Wednesday at a hospital where he tested positive for the virus on Thursday, the CECC said. Speaking at a news conference Friday, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang () said it was found that the man took part in local tours in Manila and had contact with 26 people. According to Chuang, two of them have tested negative for the virus, while the others are awaiting the test results. At the same time, 13 passengers who flew back to Taiwan with the man on the same flight have been required to undergo home isolation, Chuang said. According to Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (), the government has informed the Philippines of the man's travel history and his current situation in Taiwan. Meanwhile, Philippine Secretary of Health Francisco Duque suggested at a news conference that the Taiwanese man might have contracted the disease before entering the country. As the man had exhibited symptoms as early as March 2, he might have been infected with the virus before he arrived in the Philippines, Duque argued. Echoing Duque's view, Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the World Health Organization representative in the Philippines, said in most cases, people with COVID-19 display symptoms on the sixth or seventh day after infection, while the Taiwanese man began to show symptoms on the fourth day of his stay in the Philippines. As of Friday, the Philippines had confirmed five novel coronavirus cases -- a much smaller number compared with those confirmed in Northeast Asian countries. Taiwan announced its 45th COVID-19 case on Friday. (By Flor Wang and Chen Chih-chung and Chen Yen-jun) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By PTI BHOPAL: Surendra Singh Shera, one of the four missing MLAs supporting the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh who went `missing', returned here on Saturday and stated that he continues to be on the Congress' side. The independent MLA from Burhanpur, who returned by an afternoon flight from Delhi, also denied that he had been abducted. The Congress had alleged that the opposition BJP was trying to poach its MLAs to bring down the state government. WATCH | MP Congress MLAs offered Rs 100 crore to topple government, claims whistleblower Three Congress MLAs -- Hardeep Singh Dang, Bisahulal Singh and Raghuraj Kansana -- are reportedly still untraceable. Minister for Public Relations P C Sharma greeted Shera at Raja Bhoj Airport on his arrival, from where he was taken to the residence of Chief Minister Nath. Talking to reporters, Shera denied that he had been abducted by anyone. "I was not abducted. Nobody can abduct a lion. But efforts were made to delay my flight from Bengaluru. I was misbehaved with and stopped on the way to airport in Bengaluru. Therefore I missed my flight," he claimed without elaborating further. The MLA -- a former Congressman who rebelled when he was denied ticket -- reiterated his support to the government, saying, "I have been with Kamal Nath for the past 25-years." ALSO READ | Scoreline after midnight poaching drama in Madhya Pradesh: Kamal Nath: 1. BJP: 0 When asked if he will be inducted in the state cabinet, he said, "Surely." Shera also denied that he was in Bengaluru with the missing Congress legislators. Earlier, in a video released on Friday night, Shera had said he was visiting BJP-ruled Karnataka's capital in connection with his daughter's treatment. After Shera's meeting with the chief minister, Sharma said the MLA raised certain issues. "Shera was repeatedly stopped in Bengaluru and Delhi. He is like family to Congress. He put forward his points before the CM and these issues would be followed up," the minister told reporters. Another Congress minister, Tarun Bhanot, who accompanied the MLA, said "Shera's feelings" will be taken care of at appropriate time. ALSO READ | Knives out in Madhya Pradesh over cross-poaching Shera and the other MLAs who went missing were reportedly disgruntled over not finding berth in the cabinet. Asked about missing Congress MLAs Dang, Bisahulal Singh and Kansana, Sharma said they too will return soon. A resignation letter purportedly written by Dang had gone viral on social media but the MLA could not be contacted for verification. Earlier this week the Congress claimed that the BJP had "abducted" 14 MLAs to bring down the government in Madhya Pradesh, an allegation which the opposition party denied. Congress holds a thin majority in the 230-member Assembly with its own 114 MLAs and support of two BSP, one SP and four independents. The BJP has 107 legislators while two seats are vacant. Qantas will further cut its number of flights in response to the coronavirus outbreak, which has stunted demand for air travel globally. The airline on Friday said it would reduce its frequency of flights to Japan in the coming weeks - the first time it has adjusted capacity on those routes since the health crisis began. Qantas also cancelled dozens of other flights through to the end of March, including eight return Sydney-Hong Kong services and five return Melbourne-Auckland services. Crossing more borders, the new coronavirus hit a milestone, infecting more than 100,000 people worldwide as it wove itself deeper into the daily lives of millions, infecting the powerful, the unprotected poor and vast masses in between. The virus, which has killed more than 3,400 people and emerged in more than 90 countries, edged into more US states on Friday and even breached the halls of the Vatican it was announced the pope would deliver Sunday mass by livestream because of the COVID-19 outbreak. It forced mosques in Iran and beyond to halt weekly Muslim prayers, blocked pilgrims from Jesus's birthplace in Bethlehem and upended Japan's plans for the Olympic torch parade. As financial markets dived again, repercussions from the virus also rattled livelihoods in the real economy. Who is going to feed their families? asked Elias al-Arja, head of a hotel owners' union in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where tourists have been banned and the storied Church of the Nativity was shuttered. At the White House, US President Donald Trump signed an $8.3 billion bill to fight the coronavirus a day after Italy said it would double its own spending to 7.5 billion ($8.5 billion). In Geneva, the UN health agency said it had received applications for 40 possible virus tests, had 20 vaccine candidates in development and reported that numerous clinical trials of experimental drugs for the new coronavirus were under way. We're all in this together. We all have a role to play, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, chief of the World Health Organization, urging more global cooperation from the business world and solidarity with the poorest. New cases fall in China The news wasn't all bad: More than half of those who contracted the virus have now recovered. It's retreating in China, where it first emerged, and in nearby South Korea. China on Saturday morning reported just 99 new cases, the first time it has had only a double-digit increase since January 20. It also reported another 28 deaths. Overall, China now counts 22,177 patients currently in treatment, while it has released 55,404. South Korea on Saturday morning reported 174 new cases. Story continues The virus continued popping up in new places, however, with countries like Colombia and Togo reporting their first confirmed cases. Questions swirled around whether Iran could control its outbreak, as the number of reported infections jumped beyond 5,500, with 145 deaths. State news agency IRNA reported Saturday the death of a second lawmaker, Fatemeh Rahbar, from the virus. The conservative MP is one of seven politicians and government officials to die of the novel coronavirus since Iran reported its first cases in mid-February. The country has set up checkpoints to limit travel and had firefighters spray disinfectant on an 18-kilometre (11-mile) stretch of Tehran's most famous avenue. It would be great if they did it every day, grocery store owner Reza Razaienejad said. It should not be just a one-time thing. The 100,000 figure of global infections is largely symbolic, but dwarfs other major outbreaks in recent decades, such as SARS, MERS and Ebola. The virus is still much less widespread than annual flu epidemics, which result in up to 5 million annual severe cases around the world and from 290,000 to 650,000 deaths annually, according to the WHO. Economic impact snowballs But the epidemic's economic impact snowballed, with world stocks and the price of oil dropping sharply again Friday. The travel decline and a broader economic downturn linked to the outbreak threatened to hit already-struggling communities for months. In response to plummeting demand, German airline Lufthansa announced a reduction of its capacity in coming weeks to as much as 50 percent of pre-coronavirus outbreak levels. Slovakia banned all flights to and from Italy. The head of the UNs food agency, the World Food Program, warned of potential for absolute devastation as the outbreaks effects ripple through Africa and the Middle East. India scrambled to stave off an epidemic that could overwhelm its underfunded, understaffed health care system, which lacks enough labs or hospitals for its 1.3 billion people. Were seeing more countries affected with lower incomes, with weaker health systems and that's more concerning, WHO chief Ghebreyesus said. Inconsistent health insurance and sick leave policies put the earnings of millions of workers' who can't work from home waiters, drivers, delivery workers and more at risk. In the US, the AFL-CIO labor federation urged the government to issue emergency regulations outlining employers' responsibilities to protect workers from infectious diseases. 'Following some of China's playbook' The fear and the crackdowns that swept through China are now shifting westward, as workers in Europe and the US stay home, authorities vigorously sanitize public places and consumers flock to stores for household staples. Nation after nation put some travel restrictions into place, blocking visitors from hard-hit areas like China, South Korea, Italy and Iran. The UNs top climate change official said her agency wont hold any physical meetings at its headquarters in Germany or elsewhere until the end of April. French Health Minister Olivier Veran said children would be banned from visiting patients in hospitals and other health facilities across the country and that patients would be limited to one adult visit at a time. Spanish officials announced a month-long closure of 200 centers in and around Madrid where the elderly go for daytime care and activities. In Barcelona, city officials announced that the Barcelona Marathon, normally held in March, would be postponed until October 25. The Western world is now following some of Chinas playbook, Chris Beauchamp, a market analyst at the financial firm IG, said of the reaction to the flu-like illness that for most people causes mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough but can hit elderly or sick people much harder. Off California's coast, the Grand Princess cruise ship remained at sea with passengers confined to their cabins as US Vice President Mike Pence said 21 people on the ship almost all crew members had tested positive for the new coronavirus. Pence said the government was planning to bring the cruise ship into a non-commercial port where all the passengers and crew will be tested. Thailand on Friday blocked a separate cruise ship from docking, worried because it carried dozens of passengers from Italy, which with 197 virus deaths is the center of Europe's epidemic. In the US the number of cases surpassed 230, scattered across 18 states. The University of Washington announced Friday it would stop holding classes and teach students online, a decision affecting some 57,000 students. Washington state has at least 70 confirmed COVID-19 cases, most in the Seattle area, and has the highest US state death toll at 13. As the numbers kept growing in Europe, Serbia threatened to deploy the army to keep the virus at bay, and Hungary used virus fears to tighten its doors against migrants. In Switzerland, officials reported 210 new virus cases on Friday, up from 90 a day earlier, and the military was being readied to provide support services at hospitals. This wave will come, it will rise, but it will be over at some point, said Daniel Koch, head of the department for communicable diseases at the country's federal office of health. The Netherlands reported its first virus death Friday while Serbia, Slovakia, Peru and Cameroon announced their first infections. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is to declare a public health emergency after the nations first case of community transmission on Saturday, while Vietnam confirmed three new cases, raising the number of infections nationwide to 20. Even Vatican City was hit, with the tiny city-state confirming its first case Friday. The Vatican has insisted that 83-year-old Pope Francis, who has been sick, only has a cold. WHO officials warned against having false hopes that the virus could fade away when warmer summer temperatures come to northern countries. "Every day we slow down the epidemic is another day governments can prepare their health workers to detect, test, treat and care for patients, Ghebreyesus told reporters. (FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP and REUTERS) By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has decided to put on hold its employees pension for the month of February. In a notice addressed to the State Bank of India branch of JNU Campus, from the Finance and Accounts Department, it was mentioned that the university has not received the funds from the Universal Grants Commission allocated to be paid to pensioners. This is to state that due to non-receipt of allocation of funds for payment of pension of JNU pensioners from UGC it will not be possible for the university to pay the pension of Universitys pensioners for the month of February 2020, it stated In view of the above, you are requested not to pay the pension of JNU pensioners for the month of February 2020 till further orders in this regard. All concerned CPPCs of SBI may please also be informed about the above instructions, the notice further added. Meanwhile, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) on Friday shot off a letter to the Secretary of Ministry of Human Resource Development demanding an inquiry into the drastic reduction in positions reserved for SCs and STs in JNU. By the numbers alone, Oregon lawmakers just-concluded 32-day session appears to be a spectacular failure. It cost an estimated $485,000 according to the Legislative Fiscal Office, and legislators passed only three bills on Cultural Trust license plates, a Clackamas County park district dispute and schools handling of athletes concussions before most Republicans walked out to stop a climate bill and brought business to a halt. Its a meltdown that felt increasingly inevitable in the lead-up to the session. What wasnt clear then was what Oregons majority Democratic lawmakers and Democratic governor would choose as their next steps. Those are now a bit clearer: Gov. Kate Brown plans to sign an executive order on greenhouse gas reduction in the coming days, cap-and-trade opponents will likely counter by filing a lawsuit and legislative leaders will attempt to tackle some of their unfinished business in a special session. Voters will decide who bears the blame for the collapse, and how the state should move forward, in the November general election. Republicans in swing districts in and around Salem and Bend will have to defend their seats, even the two Bend lawmakers who remained at the Capitol, and Democrats face tough fights to hold onto seats in the Coos Bay area. Democrat leadership threw a public tantrum and used their power to punish Republicans, House Republican Leader Christine Drazan of Canby said in a statement Friday, foreshadowing those debates. Instead, they punished all Oregoniansand Oregonians should hold them accountable. In the end, they are the ones who walked away by adjourning three days ahead of the Constitutional deadline after House and Senate Republicans said they would return this weekend to pass select budget bills, she said. As the session fell apart, lawmakers expressed a mix of emotions including sadness and anger. Colleagues, we must take climate action this year, House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, said before adjourning Thursday. Im so incredibly sad that, once again, adults have failed our children and their children and their children. That was followed, in a tone not of sadness but fury, by Shame on us. Still, Democratic leaders do not appear interested in exacting revenge on Republicans by ignoring the needs of their constituents. Kotek announced she and Senate President Peter Courtney of Salem would convene the Legislative Emergency Board on Monday to approve critical funding, including nearly $12 million in long-term assistance to eastern Oregon communities hit by flooding. We will continue to do our jobs and do our best for the people of this state, Kotek said. We are not willing to walk away from Oregonians. Other emergency spending the board is set to take up Monday includes $5 million for the states response to the coronavirus outbreak, $2.7 million to the state Military Department to boost emergency preparedness and $5 million for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to enact regulations Brown will order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That last item could be salt in the wound for Republicans. With the governor moving to address climate change by executive order, there is the potential that legislative Democrats could line up a special session that steers clear of that issue. But faced with reporters questions Thursday, it appeared Kotek and Courtney were still figuring out their strategy. Kotek declined to say what she might do so, telling reporters Thursday that addressing climate change during a special session is still under consideration. Courtney also wouldnt say, although he sounded less enthusiastic. Where we are on that issue, Im not gonna say because the speaker and I, weve had a very this has been a very difficult time, Courtney said. Youre asking me a question I need to think about more and work with public people more before I give you the kind of answer that I want you to put in an article in The Oregonian. As for other priorities in a potential special session, Courtney said, I am going to reach out to Republicans to find consensus. Democrats have no other choice since they need at least two Republicans in each chamber to reach the two-thirds quorum necessary to vote on bills. Even with agreement on special session priorities, the amount of unfinished business including roughly $500 million in potential spending blocked by the Republican walkout would make it difficult to pull off. The one thing we know about special sessions is you have to really have it ironed out before you go in, Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland said on Friday. Thats going to be the challenge with this one. Weve never had a situation before where we had such a large potential agenda for a special session. Hillary Borrud | hborrud@oregonian.com | 503-294-4034 | @hborrud Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney (R) and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) talk as they wait for U.S. President Donald Trump to speak to the media, one day after the U.S. Senate acquitted on two articles of impeachment, in the East Room of the White House February 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. President Trump on Friday named Representative Mark Meadows his White House chief of staff, replacing Mick Mulvaney. Trump said that Mulvaney will become the United States special envoy for Northern Ireland. Meadows, a Republican from Nouth Carolina, announced in December that he would not seek re-election at the end of his term. tweet Mulvaney, a former budget-hawk congressman from South Carolina, was under increased scrutiny and criticism for his role in the Trump administration's efforts to have Ukraine announce investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. Mulvaney has served as acting chief of staff since December 2018, when retired Marine Gen. John Kelly left the post after a tumultuous tenure reportedly marked by infighting and distrust. The chief of staff's fortunes seemed to take a turn for the worse after he acknowledged during an October press conference that Trump had sought a quid pro quo when it came to releasing military aid to Ukraine. Trump and other officials had denied seeking a quid pro quo of any kind regarding Ukraine. Hours after the event, and following intense criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, Mulvaney walked back his claim that Trump wanted Ukraine to help with an investigation regarding a Democratic server and the 2016 presidential election. In an interview days after the press conference, Mulvaney told Fox News host Chris Wallace that he had not considered resigning after he triggered a fresh Ukraine firestorm for Trump and the White House. Mulvaney continued in his role for months afterward, all the way through the end of Trump's impeachment trial. The GOP-controlled Senate voted to acquit Trump on two impeachment articles: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Multiple witnesses in the impeachment probe appeared to implicate Mulvaney in an alleged quid pro quo, wherein the White House would only grant a visit to new Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky if Ukraine announced investigations into the Bidens and the 2016 presidential election. Twenty years ago the word "cancer" was taboo in Middle East culture. But in 1998, King Hussein of Jordan challenged that stigma by appearing on a live CNN interview without the traditional headscarf, revealing his hair loss from his battle with lymphoma and speaking proudly to the nation of Jordan. Before 1997, a cancer diagnosis often meant a death sentence for middle- and lower-class Jordanians. If, for example, a patient found a tumor, the family wouldn't know which hospitals to go to or what steps to take. Before the early 2000s, oncologists living in Jordan could be counted on one hand. Fear and hopelessness dominated any discussion of treatment or recovery. Families of cancer patients wouldn't even mention the word cancer. MORE: 3-year-old girl's selfless donation goes viral "People would come in vertical and leave horizontal. People who got cancer, they didn't survive," said Jordanian Princess Dina Mired, president of the Union International for Cancer Control, a nongovernmental organization helping the global health community accelerate the fight against cancer. But that's changed, and it's still changing. And people such as Mired are largely responsible. The story begins a few years before King Hussein appeared on the live interview. Raising $360 million for cancer Speeding through traffic in Jordan's capital city of Amman in 1995, Princess Mired shook a tube of blood platelets donated by a family member. Her father was in the ICU, diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and he needed a platelet transfusion immediately. Recovering from cancer in Jordan required fluency in English (most doctors were trained in English), an understanding of biology to find the right kind of care, plus time and money--all of which were available only to the elite top 4.8%. Mired's father later recovered in a treatment center in England. Two years later, Princess Mired was in a U.K. hospital with her 1 1/2-year-old son, Rakan. After days of waiting for a blood test, she received the devastating news that Rakan had leukemia. As Rakan received treatment and recovered in the U.S. and the U.K., Mired realized her ability to travel outside of Jordan for comprehensive cancer care was a rare privilege. Story continues PHOTO: A student at the German Jordanian University donates her hair to Hareer. (Abigail Roberts/ABC News) "Many children in developing nations don't have the chance to fire a single bullet at cancer," Mired said. "Imagine your loved one has cancer, and someone says we have the magic potion that can save your life, but it's not for you." In 1997, Jordan's only available cancer care was the Hope Center, established in 1997 by King Hussein. According to Mired, the Hope Center housed cancer-care equipment and a few trained nurses, but it lacked what it claimed to give: hope. Like many cancer centers in developing nations, it lacked organized management. Knowing she needed to act, Mired stepped up as director-general of the center in 2002, renaming it to the King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) in honor of the late king, who died from cancer complications in 1999. Mired purposefully put cancer in the center's title to help remove the fear and stigma surrounding the word. From 2002 to 2016, she raised $360 million, transforming Jordan's cancer care. KHCC is now the only cancer center in the developing world to earn the Joint Commission International's Clinical Care Program Certificate for its oncology program, and it stands as a model for the developing world. "It wasn't an easy journey," Mired said. "Raising $360 million was unheard of in Jordan at that time." "We ignited a grassroots movement in Jordan. From zero money to zero programs, the phone never stopped ringing," she added. "Children were bringing us piggy banks." Today KHCC houses 200 full-time oncologists and consultants and treats more than 3,500 new cancer cases each year. The Center has also earned three international accreditations. Inspired by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, KHCC provides early detection procedures and holistic treatment with teams of radiologists, oncologists, surgeons, neurologists and nurses. Most important, they've built trust among the Jordanian population that recovery is possible. MORE: 7 dietary factors may increase your risk of cancer: Study Emotional support Nehad Dabbs is another of Jordan's heroes in the fight against cancer. Dabbas worked as a middle-class barber in Amman, Jordan's capital city. His uncle was diagnosed with cancer and passed away in 2008. During his treatment, Dabbas would visit him in the hospital and cut and style his hair. Although treatment had become accessible to Jordanian citizens, Dabbas noticed room for emotional support and care for patients and their families. In 2016 Dabbas met a boy named Ahmad who changed Dabbas' life. Ahmad was sitting forlornly reading a magazine on the salon couch as his friend was getting his haircut. Ahmad was wearing a hat to cover his loss of hair from leukemia treatment. As Dabbas saw all the strands of hair being thrown away as he cut his client's hair, he knew that he had to do something. PHOTO: Nehad Dabbas places a handmade natural wig on a child who lost their hair to cancer in Jordan. (Abigail Roberts/ABC News) "Would you like me to create a wig for you to look like your old hair?" Dabbas asked Ahmad. "Yes," Ahmad said. At that moment, Dabbas realized he could cut, gather and use his client's hair to create wigs and give hope. Hareer was born, Jordan's very own version of Locks of Love. Hareer means silk in Arabic, and the NGO collects hair to create natural wigs. Since its inception in 2017, Hareer has created wigs for 60 children. Each wig takes two weeks to complete and costs $1,000 to make. Debbas styles them by hand, then sends them to a manufacturing company in China to complete, replicating the patient's hairstyle before their chemotherapy treatment. "I don't sleep, I can't stop thinking of all I could do," Dabbas said. "I give all the wigs for free even if it costs me." Other similar grassroots organizations have begun to spring up, since Hareer's founding, such as Khasal, which means hair locks in Arabic. PHOTO: Nehad Dabbas sits with Abd el Karim, a child cancer patient, in 2019. (Nehad Dabbas) Dabbas collects hair by holding events at local malls, schools and universities, with volunteers offering donors free haircuts. Interestingly, the most common donors are children. Leen, a cancer survivor, is only eight years old. In 2018 she cut her hair to create a wig for her mother, Maha, who was also diagnosed with cancer. At university events, some students donate because their immediate family members suffer from cancer; others are hearing cancer patient's stories for the first time. Dabbas' enthusiasm is infectious. "I have been telling everyone to come and donate," said Jordanian university freshman Rahaf Faiz. "This is a topic that needs to be talked about more. ... I want to start a creative business which raises money for cancer patients." In addition to collecting hair donations, Hareer's events play a significant role in tearing down the remaining stigma surrounding cancer in Jordan. PHOTO: Dina Mired stands outside the King Hussein Cancer Center with students visiting the facilities. (Dina Mired) Building connections "When you let someone who is not sick help with the problem, you are building a connection, said Wedad Saba, a lymphoma cancer survivor who volunteers with Hareer. "It is hard for someone to have this much passion and compassion without having experienced it." Dabbas dreams of creating community spaces within cancer hospitals with hair salons, libraries, art spaces, English lessons and food donated from local companies. He also hopes to buy a bus equipped with blood donation equipment to take to Hareer's events. Both Mired and Dabbas believe Jordan's model is replicable in all developing nations. PHOTO: The King Hussein Cancer Center treats over 3,500 new patients a year in its state-of-the-art facilities. (Dina Mired) Noticing how top cancer international organizations lacked representatives from the developing world, in 2017 Mired became the first Arab, non-medical individual to be elected president of the Union for International Cancer Control. "I felt like they were speaking on our behalf, and you know that we have a lot to say," Mired said. "It is important that we shape the narrative about the developing world. ... Now when I go to the developing world they actually listen to me because they like the fact that little Jordan is like the engine that could." Reflecting on Jordan's growth in cancer treatment in the last two decades, Mired believes the late King Hussein, who died in 1999, would be proud. "This is what King Hussein dreamed about," Mired said. "I wish he could see it." Jordan challenges stigma attached to cancer in the Middle East originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The National Assembly on Friday passed a controversial bill aimed at slapping new regulations on Tada, a popular ride-hailing service, amid heated debate over whether to permit the service. The revision to the passenger transport service act, commonly seen as a means of outlawing Tada, calls for restricting the outsourcing of drivers for the use of rental vans with 11-15 seats to tour purposes only. Tada -- which means "to ride" in Korean -- was launched in October 2018 and has become South Korea's leading ride-offering service. But taxi drivers have fiercely protested against Tada, condemning it as an illegal call taxi service. The legislative move drew attention as a Seoul court ruled in favor of Tada as a legitimate rental car service on Feb. 19 in a landmark decision that will likely uphold the mobility platform industry. The centerpiece of the revised bill is to recognize mobility platform businesses such as Tada as part of passenger transport services. A transport platform operator will be able to rent 11-15 seat vans for the purpose of tours. But vehicles should be rented for at least six hours, and the outsourcing of drivers is permitted only when vehicles will be returned at airports or seaports. Under the bill, rental cars are recognized as a type of transport platform business, which proponents argue will effectively allow Tada to continue operating. Lawmakers in the U.S. state of Minnesota are seeking to breathe new life into an effort if successful, would outlaw campaign contributions in the form of cryptocurrency. Last May, a group of members of Minnesota's House of Representatives filed a bill that, if passed, would ban "from any source a contribution or donation of any digital unit of exchange, including but not limited to bitcoin, that is not backed by a government-issued legal tender." But as public records show, that bill hasn't advanced in any meaningful way. Yet, according to LegiScan, on February 27, a group of five members of the Minnesota Senate filed a nearly identical piece of legislation. The bill has since been referred to the Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee. If either bill were to pass, those who knowingly solicit digital currencies would face a civil penalty of up to $3,000. In addition, those who knowingly accept such donations would be guilty of a felony. VANCOUVER - British Columbia declared a COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care home in North Vancouver after two residents were diagnosed with the virus on Saturday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. VANCOUVER - British Columbia declared a COVID-19 outbreak at a long-term care home in North Vancouver after two residents were diagnosed with the virus on Saturday. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the two residents were diagnosed with COVID-19 following an earlier diagnosis of a care worker at the Lynn Valley Care Centre. She said the Lynn Valley Care Centre is now in an outbreak protocol. The two care home residents are among six new cases of COVID-19 diagnosed today. "The last two cases really are the most concerning to us," Henry told reporters, becoming choked up at one point and wiping tears from her eyes. "The message that I think is so important for British Columbians today is that you need to stay home if you're sick," Henry said. "We are in an extraordinary situation. We need everybody to be aware, to look after your children." Henry said two of the other new cases are related to travel to Iran. Another two people were infected while they were on an earlier cruise on the Grand Princess, a ship that is now waiting to be allowed to dock in the U.S after more people were diagnosed with the virus on a new trip. B.C. said Friday it activated a pandemics co-ordination plan to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak and is prepared to escalate the plan if needed. Henry says of the 27 people who have now tested positive for the new coronavirus, four have recovered and three are now in hospital, with one woman in her 80s in an intensive care unit. She said the patient in intensive care is currently recovering. This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 7, 2020. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Gemma Holliani Cahya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7, 2020 12:50 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068f88a1 1 National Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,#coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,coronavirus Free The Health Ministry announced on Friday that two new COVID-19 cases linked to the first two confirmed cases had been recorded, prompting calls for the government to work faster to trace those who have had contact with the infected patients to prevent a mass contagion. The new cases were detected after the ministry traced some 20 people who had been in contact with a woman and her mother identified as Case 1 and Case 2 who contracted the virus after the daughter visited a Jakarta restaurant and took part in a dance event that was also attended by an infected Japanese tourist. We found seven suspected carriers. We took them to the Sulianti Saroso Infectious Disease Hospital for observation and isolation because they showed physical symptoms associated with influenza, such as coughing and a mild fever, the ministrys Disease Control and Prevention Directorate General secretary, Achmad Yurianto, said on Friday. Of the seven, two tested positive for COVID-19, who we will call Case 3 and Case 4, he added. Yurianto, who also serves as the government's spokesperson for its handling of the virus outbreak, declined to reveal the genders of the two new confirmed cases. However, he explained that the two new patients were 32 and 34 years old. Their body temperatures are around 37 to 37.6 degrees Celsius. They suffer from coughing and sniffles, but show no signs of shortness of breath. We hope their condition will improve after our intervention, Yurianto said. He also declined to identify the location where the patients were possibly infected, stating only that: One thing is for sure, they dont live in the same house. The government has called for calm, saying that most cases of the disease are mild, including Case 1 and Case 2. The two patients a 64-year-old and her 31-year-old daughter are currently undergoing treatment in isolation at Sulianti Suroso Infectious Diseases Hospital (RSPI Sulianti Suroso) and are reportedly in a stable condition. They are generally in a good condition. [] As of today, alhamdulillah [praise God], they no longer have a fever, RSPI president director Mohammad Syahril said, adding that the patients shortness of breath and coughing had also improved. Both can do other activities, they can eat by themselves without being fed, they can change their clothes and go to the bathroom without any assistance from their family or nurses." The government plans to continue tracing people suspected of having had contact with Cases 1 and 2, now classified as a single cluster, in order to prevent the emergence of new subclusters. Yurianto said the ministry would observe the people identified in the first cluster. He explained that even though not all had complained of having any symptoms related to COVID-19, the ministry would continue to observe them to ensure transmission had not occurred. Indonesia had tested 227 samples as of Thursday evening, two of which were found to be positive. Health officials are awaiting the results of 13 samples, with their providers being kept in isolation at various hospitals, while the rest came out negative. At least five suspected coronavirus patients have died, although four had been confirmed to be negative for the disease. Bayu Krisnamurthi, who led the National Committee for Avian Flu Control and Pandemic Preparedness between 2006 and 2010, said the situation was still under control, as the new cases were linked to the first two cases. It would be more serious if a community transmission occurred, meaning that a person was infected who had not had any contact with the confirmed coronavirus patients and did not have any travel history to countries experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks, he said. However, Syahrizal Syarief, an epidemiology expert at the University of Indonesia, said the government was not doing enough to contain the contagion. Syarief, who is also a member of a special expert team established by the government to handle its Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) containment efforts in 2003, argued there were 71 medical workers at Mitra Keluarga Hospital who might have also had close contact with the first two cases. Cases 1 and 2 visited Mitra Keluarga Hospital on Feb. 27, where they were diagnosed with bronchitis. From the start, I have said that the 71 people who had a contact history with the Cases 1 and 2 must be quarantined and be tested even if they havent shown any symptoms because they were obviously at risk [of infection], he said. Also on Friday, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo released a video about the virus in which he gave tips on how to avoid infection. The video was part of the government's efforts to calm the public, as panic buying begins to take hold. The President said the biggest enemy was not the virus, but fear triggered by false information. The government has stepped up its efforts to contain the virus by assigning labs under the Health Ministry to conduct throat swab tests and expand the criteria for people who should be tested for the disease. On Thursday, the government announced new travel restrictions for people with a history of travel to coronavirus-hit regions in Iran, South Korea and Italy in the wake of a significant surge in COVID-19 cases globally. Mainland China was the first country to face a travel ban. According to the John Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, 100,330 people had been infected in at least 83 countries as of Friday, with 80,556 confirmed cases and 3,042 deaths recorded in China. Outside mainland China, there were 19,774 confirmed cases with 366 deaths, with the majority of casualties recorded in Italy with 148 deaths, followed by Iran with 124. The field of optometry is changing rapidly and it is truly an exciting time to be an OD. And yet, with change comes the need to remain open minded as we discover, adapt, and validate future concepts and resources, emphasizes Howard Purcell, OD, NECO President and CEO. The New England College of Optometry (NECO) and industry leaders made official today an Industry Collaborative Proclamation committing to collaborate on achieving key objectives for the profession of optometry. The signing took place during the SECO 20/20 meeting in Atlanta. The Proclamation was the result of frank and enlightening discussions during the NECO Industry Collaborative gathering in November 2019. At that meeting, 63 attendees representing 44 industry partners, media colleagues and optometry employers gathered in Boston alongside representatives from impact the profession and the ophthalmic industry. The field of optometry is changing rapidly and it is truly an exciting time to be an OD. And yet, with change comes the need to remain open minded as we discover, adapt, and validate future concepts and resources, emphasizes Howard Purcell, OD, NECO President and CEO. We believe that together we can all be part of the solution. Although our perspectives may be different at times, it is critical that we come together and focus our energy on the same issues in order to prepare todays optometrist for tomorrows optometry. Jobson joined the signatories of the Proclamation as we believe the future opportunity for optometry within the fast-changing realm of healthcare - from successful patient care and the improvement in outcomes to new updates and models in delivery of that care - impacts providers, payors and patients. This makes it imperative that the industry works together to ask the right questions and explore all new ideas impacting optometry's future, stated Marc Ferrara, CEO of Jobsons Information Services Division. In the Proclamation, the three key opportunities to focus on are: Practice Empowerment and Acceleration Why Optometry? Public Perception and Expectation The Impact of Technology on Optometry / The Impact of Optometry on Technology The signatories of the Proclamation include Essilor of America, Jobson, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Luxottica, and NECO. Many other industry leaders and participants also signed the Proclamation exhibiting their support of these key initiatives. Following the Proclamation signing, signatories committed to working on committees to develop concrete next steps to advance the opportunities defined at the first NECO Industry Collaborative. NECO is also planning the next Industry Collaborative meeting for the fall of 2020. Each of the three La Porte Independent School District trustees seeking re-election on May 2 has a challenger. School board president Kathy Green, who is in Position 2, will face Mason Peres. Position 1 trustee Lois Rogerson is running against Russell Schoppe, and Position 3 trustee Dennis Slate is being challenged by Chris Murdock. The last day to register to vote is April 2. Early voting will be April 20-28. Voters can cast ballots from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. April 20-24. From April 27-28, early voting will be from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Election Day voting is Saturday, May 2 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Election Day polling locations are as follows: Precincts 1, 2, 3 and 6: La Porte ISD Instructional Technology Center, 9832 Spencer Highway, La Porte; Precincts 4 and 5: La Porte City Hall, 604. W. Fairmont Pkwy. in La Porte; Precinct 7: College Park Elementary School, 4315 Luella in Deer Park; Precinct 8: Shoreacres City Hall, 601 Shoreacres Blvd. in Shoreacres; and Precinct 9: Morgans Point City Hall, 501 Bayridge in Morgans Point. In the city of Deer Park, Position 4 Councilman Bill Patterson will run against Tiffany Patenaude. Ron Martin in Position 5 and Rae Sinor in Position 6 are unopposed. Both Martin, a marketing director at Kaneka Nutrients, and Sinor, a local developer, have served several years on City Council. Sinor was first elected in 2012; Martin in 2014. Additionally, voters in Deer Park will consider reauthorization of a -cent economic development sales tax. The tax, if approved, will provide funds for the city to construct a proposed $37.7-million community recreation center. Early voting in Deer Park will take place at City Hall, 710 E. San Augustine with the same hours for voting as are listed for La Porte ISD. On election day on May 2, voting will be held at the Deer Park Community Center, Room 12, 610 E. San Augustine from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In Deer Park ISD, Position 6 trustee Jason Morris and Position 7 trustee Brenda Cothran are unopposed. Boston: Like in the 2019 Malayalam movie Android Kunjappan or the Hindi short film Anukul based on Satyajit Rays short story, we could see robots doing all the chores, in a not-so-distant future. Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have designed a system that teaches robots complicated tasks such as setting a table. Robots would otherwise find such tasks confusing as there are too many rules for it to follow. The new system, called Planning with Uncertain Specifications (PUnS) system, gives robots human-like planning ability to simultaneously weigh many ambiguous, and potentially contradictory requirements to reach end goals, according to their study, published in the journal IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters. With the new system, robots choose the most likely action to take, based on a "belief" about some probable specifications for the task it is supposed to perform, the researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, said. In the study, the scientists compiled a dataset with information about how eight objects -- a mug, glass, spoon, fork, knife, dinner plate, small plate, and bowl -- could be placed on a table in various configurations. A robotic arm first observed randomly selected human demonstrations of setting the table with the objects, the study noted. The researchers then tasked the arm with automatically setting a table in a specific configuration, in real-world experiments and in simulation, based on what it had seen. To succeed, the robot had to weigh many possible placement orderings, even when the items were purposely removed, stacked, or hidden, they said. While following these rules would normally confuse robots too much, the new system helped the bot make no mistakes over several real-world experiments, and only a handful of errors over tens of thousands of simulated test runs, the researchers said. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click here to read the full article. Restaurants have special significance in the lives of New Yorkers. Because apartments are so small, restaurants often provide the intimate environments for birthday celebrations, Little League parties, power lunches and even weddings. And for 125 years, Gage & Tollner chophouse in downtown Brooklyn was one of those venues, offering a grand physical space to match the emotional scale of those personal events. The restaurant was so noteworthy during its time, in fact, with its cherry-framed mirrors and long mahogany tables, that it was designated a New York City Landmark. Yet, it shut down in 2004, leaving behind a four-story vacancy on Fulton Avenue and in the memories of many New Yorkers who considered it a second home. More from Robb Report But now, after a successful crowdfunding campaign led by a dedicated team of local restaurateurs, Gage & Tollner is coming back, restored to its original glory and serving a menu straight out of the Gilded Age. It will reopen on March 15. The goal was to create a place that when people who walk in here who havent been in this space in a long time, they kind of have a hard time remembering whats new and whats old, co-owner St. John Frizell said. We want it to feel very familiar to those people. Were not trying to do something brand new. Built in 1875 as a private residence, the Victorian-style building was converted into a restaurant in 1879. For more than a century Gage & Tollner served luxurious dishes like steak and oysters Rockefeller in a glamorous dining room. In 1974 its interior was designated a NYC Landmark; the building was only the third in the city to be given the distinction, right after the New York Public Library and Grants Tomb. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Story continues Famed African American chef Edna Lewis even worked here briefly. Ownership changed eight timesa member of the Gambino crime family had it at one pointbut under financial strain it ultimately closed in 2004. Later occupants included, strangely, T.G.I. Fridays, Arbys and a jewelry store. Then, about three years ago, Frizell, an owner of the Red Hook bar Fort Defiance, approached some friends about a new project: a tropical cocktail bar he would call Sunken Harbor Club. Those friends were Sohui Kim and Ben Schneider, a married couple, who own the Good Fork in Red Hook and Insa in Gowanus. Frizell would oversee the beverage program, Schneider the design and Kim would create the menu. Kim had just finished her second cookbook and wasnt looking to take on anything too intense, but a quaint cocktail bar sounded simple enough, so they agreed. Schneider and Frizell began looking for a structure to open it in. They toured building after building, but could never find the right spot. Then their real estate agent took them to a four-story brownstone in downtown Brooklyn. They were shocked when they walked inside. In New York restaurant circles, Gage & Tollner kind of had this mythical quality, especially after it closed, because then it existed in this quasi stateit was physically here, but it wasnt a restaurant anymore, Frizell said. They wanted it. But not just for the cocktail bar. They wanted to rebuild it to its former glory. Immediately my response was, no, we cant do that or I dont want to do that, Kim said. It just seemed like a daunting project. But then, once I saw this space and we started talking about it, I got really caught up in the potential. And I was listening to the Hamilton soundtrack a lot, and I was like, why not us? Were young, scrappy and hungry. They started off trying to finance the project the old-fashioned way: asking rich people for money. But they didnt have much success. People were interested in it and they were positive about it and they were encouraging, but at the end of the day, they didnt want to write the check, Frizell said. We felt like the project might be slipping away from us, that if we didnt move fast, somebody else was going to. So, they took an unconventional route and launched a crowdfunding campaign in 2018, banking on the nostalgia of the place. It pulled at the heartstrings of a lot of people, Kim said. And because of that, our community grew from three people with this idea that were going to reopen this, to hundreds of people who believed in this project and really put their money where their mouth is. Community members were enthusiastic donors, contributing $1,000 here and $5,000 there. The partners ultimately hit their fundraising target$477,000 from nearly 400 small donorsand were able to leverage that to get $1.5 million of traditional funding elsewhere, equity from large investors and even celebrities like actor Michael Shannon. They signed the lease in 2019 and Schneider, the designer, began figuring out how to restore the 70-seat dining room, 40-seat bar and 60-seat private dining area. The interior is landmarked, so he couldnt change all that much. Frizell threw himself into researching the space. He discovered a treasure trove of archive material that dated back to 1919 at the Brooklyn Historical Society. A descendant of one of the former owners had the foresight to donate boxes of ephemera to the organization. I dont want to call them hoarders, but I think they were very conscious of the historical significance of the restaurant, lets put it that way, Frizell said. There were 11 boxes full of menus, plates, press clippings, photos of the owners, photos of the employees, awards, bookkeeping ledgers and minutes of the corporate meetings, among many other items. They found even more boxes of historical material inside the restaurant when they began construction. It was always our intention from the beginning to be inspired by the past of this restaurant, not to try to create something wholly new, out of new cloth, Frizell said. So now, armed with all this research, we could use this as reference and go back and recreate as much of it as we wanted it to. The idea was to keep as much original that we could, while still building a restaurant that could function in the 21st century. whole lobster Schneider gutted the kitchen, recouped gas-powered chandeliers, polished antique mirrors, refurbished a revolving door, reupholstered wall panels, coated the ceiling with Venetian plaster, brought in new furniture, redid the floors and restored hat hooks and pay phones for retro touches. Kim also consulted the trove of artifacts when designing her new menu. Reading through them was a history lesson in abundance and scarcity, law changes (like Prohibition) and evolving tastes. Some menus included oysters 20 different ways, sometimes dunked in butter, sometimes in cream, sometimes both. It was great to see all the menus of the past, but there was a bit of soul searching I felt like I had to do, she said. We dont eat the way we ate 25 years ago, 50 years ago or 100 years ago. How is this world changing and what should we be eating? What should we not be eating? As a chef I grapple with these questions. She sought out more sustainable, local ingredients and sourced them from vendors she was familiar with, like greens from Zone 7 in New Jersey and lamb from Thistle Creek Farms in Pennsylvania. And she used a little less butter and cream. Her menu, a collaboration with chef de cuisine Adam Shepard and pastry chef Caroline Schiff, ultimately nods back to the places history, but doesnt replicate it. She pads the rest of the menu out with familiar and accessible dishes. I didnt want to challenge anybody, Kim said. It was always the public house. The pub is very much where people gather to celebrate everyday things. And because we want Gage & Tollner to be that, we dont want people to be here like once in a blue moon to celebrate something very special. We really want them to feel like they could come here just when the mood strikes. The menu begins with traditional raw bar offerings: a daily selection of East Coast oysters, clams on the half-shell, classic shrimp cocktail and caviar service. There are also various kinds of breads such as Parker House rolls and cheese twists sprinkled with paprika. Appetizers include roasted bone marrow, Caesar salad and chicken liver mousse. There are a few Korean influences on the menu, too. The clams kimsino is made with kimchi; broiled clam bellies are topped with miso butter; hen-of-the-woods mushrooms are paired with black garlic aioli and pickled chilies; and cauliflower soup is dotted with fermented shrimp. Kim, though, didnt want to add too many Korean flavors; she feared pushback from diners questioning her skills in a chophouse kitchen. I gave some thought to what place an immigrant, Korean American female chef has in the larger history of Gage & Tollner. And I sort of put my foot down: a big one! she said. The professional kitchen or a really incredible cooks pantry is very global now. Kimchi is not something that people hide in the corners of their refrigerators anymore. They sell it in vats at Whole Foods. It is an American condiment at this point. roast pork shoulder Steak cuts like T-bone sirloins and bone-in ribeyes are grass-fed, dry-aged and sold by the ounce. Other mains include shrimp scampi, whole broiled fish, veal chops, mutton chops, saddle steak and pork shoulder rib roast. Sides run the gamut from creamed spinach and scalloped hash browns to fermented kale slaw and cornmeal fritters. Desserts include tarts, baked Alaska and chevre cheesecake. Edna Lewiss favorite dishes also make an appearance. (LewisKims professional and personal inspirationcame to Gage & Tollner in the 1980s and completely revamped the menu, streamlining the offerings, adding Southern food to it and sourcing ingredients from local farmers markets.) Theres she-crab soup made with blue crab, crab roe and sherry; fried chicken; and pot pie stuffed with pork shoulder and belly. The drinks menu, designed by Frizell, highlights mid-century classics like martinis, sherry cobblers and Manhattans. He plans on opening his Sunken Harbor Club cocktail bar upstairs in the near future, along with a rotating display of the historical documents they unearthed. Visitors have been streaming in before opening night, eager to tell the team about the times they spent in Gage & Tollner in years past. They dont necessarily remember specific things they ate when they were inside, but they remember the way the place made them feel. In fact, many of them invested in the crowdfunding campaign. Kim says people are so invested in them because New York is losing its past, especially its restaurant past. Decades-old restaurants are bought, stripped and reopened as trendy, modern hotspots. Its palpable to old-timers and new transplantsthe disappearance of the genuine, the precious. The more global we get, the way that we eat, the way that we travel and the way that we live, that uniqueness is somehow being lost, she said. Im hoping that for a lot of people who are interested in the history of not just Gage & Tollner, but Brooklyn and, in a larger sense, New York City, you get to feel that here. And hopefully, well have the service and the food and the drinks to match their expectation of how wonderful it really was. But thats a lot of pressure, a daunting undertaking when people are investingliterally, with their own moneyon memories. Weve been trading on nostalgia in order to get the restaurant open, and now that we have everyones attention, we have to deliver, and thats a lot trickier, Frizell said. Its not going to meet the expectations of every single person that walks in here. But we think about it all the time and were going to try our best. Gage & Tollner, 372 Fulton Street. Open 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily, starting March 15. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: A UK family court on Thursday said Dubais princess Sheikha Latifa was captured off the Indian coast in an operation by special forces and taken back to Dubai in 2017. According to the judgment, Latifa was abducted, as was her sister Sheikha Shamsha, almost two decades ago in England. Latifa and her close friend-cum-fitness trainer Tiina Jauhiainen polotted the formers escape from Dubai alleging captivity from the Emirati ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al-Maktoum. ALSO READ | Saudi king Salman's brother, nephews detained for plotting coup: Reports Jauhiainen, a Finnish national, also testified in the ongoing case in England. The last time (I saw her), she was kicking and screaming and she was dragged off the boat. Her pleas for asylum were also ignored, she said. In an interview, the Finnish national also elaborated how she and Latifa had conspired their escape. According to the Finnish national, the duo had driven to the border of Oman from where they were supposed to take a dinghy to the ship to come to India. However, the fitness trainer said, the weather was not permitting them to take the dhingy and hence they used a water ski to reach the ship, from where they set off for their journey to Goa. We were captured off the coast of India after an operation by special forces and taken back to Dubai, she had said in late January and added that after being in Indian forces custody for a while, they were handed over to the UAE forces. Speculations are rife that the capture of the princess was used as leverage by India with Dubai to secure the release of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistani forces after the Balakote airstrikes by the Indian Air Force. It is also believed that Indian inputs to the UAE were instrumental in securing Shamsha in Cambridge. In making an overall assessment of the evidence relating to Latifa, I regard the evidence of Tiina Jauhiainen as being of singular importance, judge Andrew McFarlane said. The Finnish national said the duo were inspired by former French Naval officer and spy Herve Jauberts book Escape from Dubai. She claimed that both Latifa and she had met Jaubert at a Dubai mall. We would find a corner, we would switch off our mobile phones. So we were taking all the precautions, she said. Mera Jism, Meri Marzi, Urdu for My Body My Choice, has become a rallying cry for feminists, women, and rights activists in Pakistan ahead of planned protests marking International Womens Day on March 8. But the activism has rattled the Muslim nations conservatives, with two leading Islamist parties threatening counter protests. Journalist Marvi Sirmed, a leading Pakistani rights campaigner, says extremists, fanatics, and mobsters cannot stop their peaceful protests. Now a fellow at Washingtons National Endowment for Democracy think tank, Sirmeds recent altercation with a leading screenwriter on nighttime TV attracted a lot of attention to the March 8 protest. For Sirmed, the controversy presents another opportunity to highlight the plight of women in her country. Radio Mashaal: Could you explain what the slogan My Body, My Choice means? And why such a slogan? Marvi Sirmed: My body, my choice, means that no society can wage their wars at the expense of a womans body. We ask the men not to use our bodies for their ghairat or honor. We ask them to stop killing us in the name of honor and give us the right to say no because we have the right to say no to anything that we dont feel comfortable with. We must have the right to say that we cant tolerate sexual harassment and to say no to decisions regarding our marriages by other [family members]. Our religion gives us the right to choose our life partner, so why not society? Further, we have the right not to be judged on the basis of our physical appearance. My body, my choice means not to tell our girls that being fair will get them married and if they are dark-skinned, they will never get married. Radio Mashaal: Some groups and people have threatened to stop the march by force. Sirmed: We continued holding this annual event even during the times of military dictators. We are not afraid of guns or the use of force. We are not afraid of extremists or fanatics. We continued the march when the region was wracked by terrorism. How can a few mobsters scare us now? Yes, we will always stay peaceful. Radio Mashaal: Why does so much controversy surround this years march? Sirmed: One main reason for the controversy is our bold slogans. And this is because we are living in a patriarchal society that does not accept such slogans. In fact, by chanting such slogans, we want to challenge the patriarchal thinking of society. We have turned those slogans as the foundation of our campaign to challenge the traditional [subservient] status of women. And it is natural that whenever you challenge a set tradition, there is a reaction. Radio Mashaal: Why are you calling your protests Aurat Azadi March, or Womens Freedom March? Sirmed: Like rest of the world, we are holding this march on March 8 to raise a voice for womens rights. With this march, we use the opportunity to highlight the problems faced by women [in Pakistan]. Unfortunately, over the past two years, some people have raised controversies about this march. We are not scared of controversies because we believe they generate a debate in society about social issues. And we believe this kind of debate will lead us toward a solution. Radio Mashaal: If the slogans are the main reason, as you mention, then why dont you change them? Sirmed: We believe it is because of our bold slogans that the Womens Freedom March has become the center of attention. This has enabled us to prove our presence. Otherwise, we had been passively observing March 8 over the past 25 years and there was no debate and no media coverage. Now that we pinched the patriarchal thinking with these slogans, we feel we are being listened to and discussed. And this provides us a chance to bring change. Radio Mashaal: The Womens Freedom March is led by urban and affluent women. What about many women living in rural areas and those from uneducated and impoverished backgrounds? Sirmed: This is not the campaign of urban and upper class women. Social behavior is the same everywhere. For example, honor killing, acid attacks on women, and domestic violence. Women from every walk of life are joining the march. Many women are educated, and many others are less educated or uneducated. Radio Mashaal: In objection to your protest, some religious groups have announced parallel marches on the same day to speak up for womens rights. Why dont you join them to put an end to the controversy? Sirmed: I dont think those groups are interested in upholding the values that we stand for. We want gender equality. Do you think they will agree? And they are the ones who raised objections against our slogans. We have held this march for the past 25 years. Why havent they joined us before? Radio Mashaal: Are you happy with the behavior of the mainstream political parties toward your campaign? Sirmed: The religious parties in the Senate, the Jamiat Ulam-e Islam in particular, have raised objections. I was disappointed with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawazs (PML-N) Senator Mushahid Ullah Khans recent speech in the Senate. There are many others who are against this march and it is very disappointing for us. Still, many in the mainstream political parties are our allies. For example, Shireen Mazari of the ruling Tehrik-e-Insaf party has always been very supportive. Likewise, Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Auragzeb of the opposition PML-N have voiced support for us. We hope that we can slowly win our support in all the political parties. Radio Mashaal: What future do you see for gender equality in Pakistan? Sirmed: I can say we will have a society where justice is valued, and everybody will be equal. This is the teaching of all religions, especially the religion of Islam. Elon Musk has dismissed rising fears over the coronavirus outbreak as 'dumb', despite the US death toll rising by five in a single day. Tesla's controversial CEO posted his latest Twitter outburst Friday afternoon, writing: 'The coronavirus panic is dumb.' By early Saturday morning, the post had been retweeted more than 200,000 times and had 950,000 likes. Twitter users were divided over the statement, with some agreeing with the billionaire that the hype is overstated. Elon Musk has dismissed rising fears over the coronavirus outbreak as 'dumb', despite the US death toll rising by five in a single day on Friday By early Saturday morning, the post had been retweeted more than 200,000 times and had 950,000 likes One person tweeted: 'Agreed elon they did the same over global warmin and its still snowing in lots of places.' However some saw it as a sign of the Tesla boss's notoriously high expectations of his staff. 'I'm totally amazed that somebody who owns a company where employees can't work from home would call taking steps to protect workplaces from a highly-infectious disease 'dumb'...,' one person tweeted. Musk has come under fire on several occasions over allegations that his workers are not allowed to take sick days and are expected to spend all their time focused on 'the mission'. In 2015, he was slammed when he reportedly disciplined an employee for missing a company meeting because he was attending the birth of his child. Another employee blew the whistle saying that when he asked Musk if he could leave to see his family, he was told he was 'definitely not on board with Tesla's mission and values.' Then there's the Tesla 'Anti-handbook handbook', leaked last month, which mentions under sick leave that people must use their 'Paid time off' if they have accrued it - otherwise they will go unpaid. Tesla stock has fallen more than 20% since the news of the coronavirus outbreak triggered a broader sell-off in the stock market around mid February. The company's Shanghai factory was forced to close briefly towards the end of January and into February as a result of the virus, which has created a knock-on effect on the company's supply chain. Some saw the Tweet as a sign of the Tesla boss's notoriously high expectations of his staff His flippant comment came as the US death toll from coronavirus rose to 17 Friday, after three new deaths were recorded in Washington state and Florida recorded its first two. The Florida Department of Health confirmed the latest deaths Friday night. One of the fatalities was a man in his 70s who had been sick in Santa Rosa County in the Panhandle, and the other was a man in his 70s in Lee County on the Gulf Coast. Both men had reportedly traveled internationally. The state also said three new cases had tested positive, bringing its total cases to seven, plus five who were repatriated from abroad. Tourists are pictured wearing protective clothing and masks in an airport in Japan on Friday. Musk's flippant comment came as the number of people infected with the disease surpassed 100,000 worldwide and more than 3,400 people have died Medics transport a patient into an ambulance at the Life Care Center of Kirkland, Washington state, a hotbed for the virus. The US death toll from coronavirus rose to 17 Friday, after three new deaths were recorded in Washington state and Florida recorded its first two Cases were also reported for the first time in Kentucky and Indiana as the outbreak continues to spread across the US. New York state confirmed 11 new cases Friday, taking its total to 44. Most of its cases are linked to a Manhattan attorney who lives in Westchester. Meanwhile, 21 people aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship tested positive Friday, with horrified passengers only learning the news when Mike Pence announced the cases at his press conference. News of the outbreak on the ship came as President Trump signed an $8.3 billion measure to combat the crisis in the US and made the baffling claims that 'anyone who wants a test can get a test', despite there being mass shortages of tests. Worldwide, the number of people infected with the disease surpassed 100,000 and more than 3,400 people have died. MONTREALExperts say the novel coronavirus could force millions of people across the globe to work from home, posing potential challenges and benefits. Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay, a business professor at the University of Quebecs distance-learning school, says studies show telecommuting may result in higher productivity and quality of work, despite the disruption to routine. She says that outcome demands structure, discipline and a resolve to overcome the connotations of phoning it in. Tremblay notes that working from home remains a hypothetical for most businesses in Canada, but that employers and employees would do well to confront the possibility and head off any problems down the road. She says effective telecommuting requires remote access to relevant work tools such as software and databases. It also includes setting up a distinct, office-like space at home rather than just a laptop on the couch or the kitchen table. Johanne Brunet, a marketing professor at the Universite de Montreal, suggests offsetting the isolation of telecommuting by socializing more with friends and family. The number of infected people worldwide exceeded 100,000 on Friday. The World Health Organization says most of the new cases had shifted from China to other countries, including more than 50 confirmed or presumptive cases in Canada. Health officials in Ontario, British Columbia and across Canada have said the risk posed by COVID-19 in this country remains low. People who attended services at a Passaic County synagogue may have come in contact with a New York rabbi who has tested positive for coronavirus, state officials said Saturday. The rabbi led services on Feb. 23 at a New Jersey temple, state health officials said in a media briefing. The name and location of the synagogue were not immediately released. State officials said members of the synagogue were notified Saturday morning that they may have been in contact with the rabbi last month. They were told to contact local health officials if they have any symptoms. New Jersey health officials did not release the name of the rabbi. A rabbi in Westchester County, New York, has been at the center of a coronavirus outbreak in his synagogue. Rabbi Reuven Fink of Young Israel of New Rochelle said earlier this week he tested positive for coronavirus. We still have a way to go in handling our communal situation. Together we can persevere and triumph over these challenges, Fink wrote in an op-ed Friday for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a Jewish news site. New Jersey has had four people test positive for COVID-19 disease -- three in Bergen County and one in Camden County. Two live in Englewood and the others live in Fort Lee and Cherry Hill, state officials said. Another 19 people were being tested Saturday, including some who came into contact with people who have already tested positive for coronavirus, health officials said. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has welcomed the start of the criminal trial for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. I welcome the start of the criminal trial for the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. This trial is an important milestone in the efforts to ensure justice for the 298 victims and their families, reads the statement of Stoltenberg posted on the NATO website. He also welcomed the commitment of the Joint Investigation Team to establish the facts of the case and I have full confidence in the independence and professionalism of the Dutch legal system. It remains essential to establish truth, accountability and justice for the downing of flight MH17, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2166. All countries have a responsibility to fully cooperate with these efforts, NATO Secretary General underscored. As reported, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Belgium, Malaysia and Australia formally notified the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council of the start of the MH17criminal trial in the Netherlands on March 9. On June 19, 2019, the international Joint Investigation Team named four suspects believed to be involved in the transportation and combat use of the Buk missile system, from which MH17 flight had been downed. Three of them are Russians: Igor Girkin, retired officer of the Russian Armed Forces, and former colonel of Russias Federal Security Service; Sergey Dubinskiy, colonel of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces; Oleg Pulatov, lieutenant colonel of the Russian Airborne Forces Reserve. The fourth suspect is Leonid Kharchenko, a Ukrainian civilian, who fought on the side of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic. Oleg Pulatov expressed a desire to join the legal proceedings and will be represented in court by a Dutch law firm. Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over conflict-hit Donbas in July 2014. There were 283 passengers and 15 crew members on board. All of them died. The JIT reported that the plane had been shot down from a Buk missile system that belongs to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Kursk. ol What happened Shares of Boot Barn Holdings (NYSE:BOOT) tumbled last month after the western-themed retailer delivered a disappointing third-quarter earnings report. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the stock finished the month down 27%. As you can see from the chart below, the stock sank early in the month after the report came out. So what Boot Barn stock fell 10% on Feb. 5 and continued to slide after the retailer posted a disappointing earnings result and offered weak guidance in the third-quarter earnings report. Same-store sales in the quarter rose 6.7%, the 11th straight quarter of positive growth in the category, showing that the model continues to generate traffic. Overall, revenue rose 11.8% to $284 million, which matched estimates. Margins continued to expand within the business, and adjusted earnings per share increased from $0.66 to $0.81, though that missed estimates of $0.85. CEO Jim Conroy was pleased with the quarter, saying, "We continue to experience nice gains in the business due to effective marketing, compelling merchandise assortments, and great selling and service in the stores." Boot Barn's fourth-quarter earnings guidance also missed the mark slightly. For the current quarter, the company expects comparable sales of 5% and earnings per share of $0.36-$0.38, which was below the consensus at $0.40. Even so, it raised its full-year earnings-per-share guidance from $1.67-$1.75 to $1.81-$1.83. Now what Boot Barn stock has also slipped on coronavirus concerns as the stock is down about 16.7% since the sell-off began two weeks ago as retail stocks have been hit hard by the news. Like other retailers, Boot Barn imports a significant percentage of its merchandise from China, so the company could be sensitive to any supply-chain disruptions. However, as a growing, niche brand, Boot Barn is in a much stronger position than a lot of brick-and-mortar retailers. The stock is now down more than a third from where it was before the earnings report came out. With a price-to-earnings ratio of just 15 and appealing growth prospects, Boot Barn is starting to look like a value play. By PTI GUWAHATI: Assam Assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami on Saturday said he will discuss with the state government and opposition parties the issue of the budget being uploaded on an official website hours before its tabling in the House. Though "leaking" of the budget is not a breach of privilege, but data security is prime in the age of digitisation, Goswami said. "I will discuss the issue with the parliamentary affairs minister, law and justice minister and the leader of the opposition to see what can be done to prevent such incidents in future," he said. ALSO READ: Congress slams Assam government for uploading budget on website before being tabled in Assembly Hours before Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma read out the state budget for 2020-21 on Friday afternoon, the copy of the speech was uploaded on the official website of his department, but pulled down later. The incident led to chaos in the assembly with the opposition interrupting Sarma while he was presenting the budget. They alleged breach of privilege, which was turned down by the Speaker. The Opposition Congress had staged a walkout in protest. Washington: A US congressional committee investigating Boeing said a "culture of concealment" at the company and poor oversight by federal regulators contributed to two deadly crashes involving the grounded 737 Max. The committee's Democrats said multiple factors led to the crashes, but it homed in on a new flight-control system that pushed the nose of each plane down based on faulty sensor readings. Boeing failed to classify the system as critical to safety, part of a strategy designed to avoid closer scrutiny by regulators as the company developed the plane, the House Transportation Committee said. Demonstrators in Washington hold pictures of victims of the Boeing 737 Max 8 which crashed in Ethiopia in March last year, killing 157 people. Credit:AP The report said Boeing had undue influence over the Federal Aviation Administration, and FAA managers rejected safety concerns raised by their own technical experts. The FAA certified the Max in 2017, and airlines began using it later that year. A Max jet operated by Indonesia's Lion Air crashed in October 2018, and another flown by Ethiopian Airlines crashed five months later, in March 2019. Regulators around the world grounded the plane days after the second crash. Boeing hopes to win approval of changes it is making to the plane around midyear. New Delhi, March 7 : With an increase in load of screening samples from suspected coronavirus (COVID-19) cases with symptoms and travel history to affected countries, as many as 52 testing labs have been commissioned across India, including two in Delhi. The Indian Council of Medical Research -- the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research -- along with the Department of Health Research has commissioned these 52 laboratories. Two of the labs in Delhi are at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the National Centre for Disease Control. Also, 57 other laboratories are helping in sample collection for the nCoV. "A total of 56 DHR/ICMR Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) and one facility at Leh have been designated to facilitate sample collection through government health authorities. Their role is to provide collection material (swabs and viral transport media) and facilitate the transport of samples to the nearest testing laboratory," the ICMR said. There is only one sample collection laboratory in Delhi -- the Lady Hardinge Medical College. As of March 6, a total of 4,058 samples from 3,404 individuals have been tested by the network. "This includes testing of 1,308 samples from 654 individuals evacuated from Wuhan, China and quarantined at the ITBP and Manesar camps and tested twice on days 0 and 14. Subsequently, another 236 individuals evacuated from Wuhan and Diamond Princess Ship off the Japan coast on February 27 were tested on day 0. Repeat testing will be done on day 14," the ICMR added. The WHO has declared an outbreak of febrile respiratory illness of unknown etiology in December 2019 from Wuhan, Hubei province, China. The outbreak has been epidemiologically linked to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market involving the sale of seafood and live animals, the ICMR said. "Infection is spread through droplets of an infected patient generated by coughing and sneezing or through prolonged contact with infected patients. Virus has been named as SARS-CoV-2 due to its relatedness to the earlier SARS-CoV (2002-03). The WHO has named the disease COVID-19 and ICTV has named the virus as SARSCoV-2," the ICMR added. The ICMR suggested that people with symptomatic (fever, sore throat, running nose, dyspnea etc) and individuals returning from affected countries (China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Iran, Italy etc.) should go for screening. A total of 31 cases of the coronavirus has been recorded in India, including three in Delhi. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) (@ChaudhryMAli88) VIENNA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th March, 2020) Austria's Foreign Ministry issued the highest-level travel warning for South Korea and Iran on Friday, urging nationals to not travel to the countries amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. "Be warned about all travel to Iran and the Republic of Korea due to the quick spread of the coronavirus," it said in a statement. Austrians who are already in these countries were asked to urgently contact the nearest Austrian or EU diplomatic mission and leave as soon as possible. The fifth-highest level of warning has been issued for northern Italy and China's outbreak epicenter of Hubei, and travelers going to other Chinese provinces should prepare for isolation if they have a fever. The number of confirmed coronavirus infections globally has surpassed 101,000, with more than 3,400 deaths and 55,800 recoveries. Austria has had 55 confirmed cases and no deaths so far. ALBANY It's paper bag tax, take two. Albany County lawmakers will introduce legislation on Monday amending a law passed last year that authorized a 5-cent paper bag tax, nine days after the original legislation was supposed to go in to effect. The new legislation was modified to comply with state Department of Taxation and Finance standards after state officials informed the county that its original legislation was faulty. Under the amended version, the county wont begin collecting the per-bag fee until Sept. 1, 2020. The state wanted the county to clear up some language around the collection of the fee, said Legislator Joanne Cunningham, who wrote the bill. I think that was the main issue they wanted clarified, she said. When I wrote the bill, I cited the state statute as often as possible. Cunningham and other legislators were caught off-guard when the state informed them last month that the county would not be able to start collecting the tax on March 1, the date New York's single-use plastic bag ban started. Its unfortunate we didnt hear that the state had an issue until well in to the first quarter of this year, she said. The county's legislators last year approved the tax, which was supposed to coincide with the statewide ban on most plastic grocery bags. Albany is one of a handful of counties that opted to charge a tax or fee on the paper bags that stores will offer in lieu of plastic. Part of the idea is to encourage consumers to switch to reusable bags. As part of that ban, counties were allowed to opt in to a new nickel tax for each paper bag provided to consumers. Additionally, many retailers are also adding a 5 cent charge for each paper bag customers use in order to cover their costs, since paper bags are more costly for them than plastic. The county will have to hold a new public hearing before the law is passed, Cunningham said. She said shes curious to hear the reaction from consumers and business owners after several weeks of the law being in effect. I think the purpose of the fee it to prompt a behavior change, she said. Im interested to see the discussion around that. Some smaller retailers are still working to understand the rules around the new fee. Elvira Kobryn, the manager of 20 Mall Wine and Liquor in Guilderland, said on Friday she was frustrated because she wasnt sure when the store was supposed to start charging customers the fee. The store has older cash registers, making them difficult to re-program to ensure employees add the fee to customers totals, she said. Employees are going to have to remember to hit the key, she said. And sometimes customers dont ask for a bag until after theyve paid. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Kobryn said she also still had questions on how to ensure the store properly reports the fee to the state. In addition to Albany and Suffolk, Tompkins County and New York Citys five boroughs are also charging the nickel paper bag tax. State Department of Taxation and Finance officials did review the draft amendments in the new version of the legislation and have been in communication with county officials on the issue. In a letter to the county last month the state did offer to send legislators sample language to help them re-write the law. The previous bill, introduced last winter, was called the Albany County Reusable Shopping Bag Incentive Act. Most of it appeared to be straightforward in how it implements the tax, which directs 3 cents to the state Environmental Protection Fund and 2 cents to the county. The countys share of the money is meant to go toward purchasing re-usable bags for lower-income residents. At the same time, those in the paper bag industry have warned that there will likely be a paper bag shortage as the state reduces the use of plastic bags. The law directs stores in Albany County to post signs explaining that there is now a nickel paper bag charge a fact that will also be printed on receipts. The Himachal Pradesh government on Friday presented a Rs 49,131-crore Budget for the fiscal 2020-21 and said the state has a debt burden of Rs 55,737 crore. The debt on Himachal Pradesh is higher than the amount earmarked in the budget for the next fiscal presented in the state Assembly on Friday. Himachal chief minister Jai Ram Thakur presented the Budget for the next fiscal which saw more focus on road and air connectivity, housing for poor and scheduled castes and quality education. Soon after presenting the budget, Thakur responding to a media query revealed that the debt burden on the state rose to Rs 55,737 crore. Earlier while presenting the budget, the chief minister said that Rs 10.4 would be spent on interest payment out of every hundred rupees to be spent by the state government in 2020-21. In this way, over ten per cent of total budget amount will be spent on loan interest payment. In other words, the state government will use approximately Rs 5,109 crore on loan interest payment out of the total Rs 49,131 crore budget in 2020-21. No new tax has been proposed in the budget which saw an increase of Rs 4,743 crore from Rs 44,388 crore in 2019-20. It was 41,440 crore in 2018-19. The revenue receipts of 2020-21 are estimated at Rs 38,429 crore, whereas expenditure is likely to be Rs 39,123 crore -- leading to a revenue deficit of Rs 694 crore. The fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 7,272 crore for 2020-21, which is 4 per cent of GSDP. The net borrowing will be 3 per cent of GSDP. Presenting his third budget, Thakur, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced 25 new schemes for various sections. Most of new schemes named as Swaran Jayanti as Himachal Pradesh is celebrating golden jubilee of its statehood this year. In his nearly three-hour address in the Assembly while tabling the 150-page proposed budget, Thakur said Rs 26.66 would be spent on salaries out of every hundred rupees to be spent by the state government in 2020-21. Similarly Rs 14.79 will be spent on pension, Rs 10.4 on interest payment, Rs 7.29 on loan repayment and Rs 41.22 will be on development works and other activities, he added. The leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri alleged while talking to media that the chief minister paid more heed on his home district Mandi by earmarking a huge amount for acquisition of land for starting work for proposed airport there. Himachal Congress president Kuldeep Rathore and its incharge Rajni Patil termed budget as directionless. On the other hand, the state BJP chief Rajeev Bindal claimed the budget as developmental stating that several new schemes were included in the budget to achieve the target of doubling the income of the farmers. Earlier presenting the budget, Thakur said a target was set to provide 10,000 quality houses to the poor and scheduled caste families in the next fiscal, more than double the number last year. He announced that Rs 8,016 crore would be spent in the education sector for strengthening infrastructure and providing quality education at school level and setting up gyms in government medical colleges in a phased manner. Gyms will also be set up in nine other colleges, he added. Mathematics laboratories will be set up in the next fiscal in 50 schools to make study more interesting, he added. Part-time multi-task workers will also be appointed in the next fiscal in those primary schools where no water career is there, he added. Thakur said Rs 1,013 crore earmarked for expanding air connectivity, the amount is the highest ever in any budget of the state. Process for land acquisition for expanding Shimla and Gaggal airports and starting work of Mandi airport will be expedited. Besides, five heliports will be constructed. Land acquisition work for 25 national highways (NHs) will start. Remaining 80 of total 3,226 panchayats of the state will be connected through road, he added. The chief minister said 50,000 farmers had adopted natural farming in the state so far. Efforts will be made to encourage more farmers to adopt natural farming for which an amount of Rs 25 crore will be spent in 2020-21, he added. Thakur said Himachal would contribute to India's goal of reaching USD 5 trillion economy. Talking about the health sector, Thakur said that mammography machines would be installed in each district hospital of the state for detecting breast cancer. The pension of 1.25 lakh widows and disabled has been increased to Rs 1,000 from Rs 850 per month. Besides, social security pension will be provided to 50,000 more eligible persons. The chief minister said that uninterrupted 24-hour water supply will be launched in Shimla soon. A total of Rs 2,213 crore has been earmarked for water management in the next fiscal, he added. The Himachal Pradesh Investment Agency (HPIA) will be set up for which a bill will soon be tabled in the Assembly. It will help investors in getting clearance from various departments for setting up their units in the state. Thakur said that three more antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres would be opened apart from already functional 6 ART centres for providing medicines to HIV patients. He said that the state government planned to plant saplings on 12,000 hectares land more for which an amount of Rs 15 crore was earmarked in 2020-21. Forests are currently located on 27.2 per cent geographical land of the state and the state wants to increase it to at least 30 per cent by 2030, he added. Talking about the drug menace, he said that five integrated rehabilitation centres of addicts (IRCA) would be set with the assistance of the centre. Besides 515 MW additional generation capacity will be added which include Bajoli-Holi, Wangar Homte, Sorang, Sawra Kuddu and Uhl projects. Speaking about solid waste management, he said that 500 gram panchayats will be made garbage free in the next fiscal. The per capita income in Himachal Pradesh is Rs 60,205 higher than that of the country, he added. The estimated per capita income of Himachal Pradesh is Rs 1,95,255 during 2019-20 whereas per-capita net national income during the same fiscal is estimated to be Rs 1,35,050. The chief minister said, "I propose to celebrate 2020-21 as Golden Jubilee of 'Himachal Pradesh attaining full statehood'." Various programmes and shows will be held across the state and achievements will be shared with the public, he added. Also read: Govt dealing strictly with corruption, cronyism: PM Modi Also read: 'NO Yes Bank' tweets Rahul Gandhi; alleges Modi's 'ideas' have destroyed Indian economy Pundits of all political stripes are taking note of the fact that the 2020 election is bringing to the fore just how deep and bitter are the cultural divisions within our nation. The glaring decline in political comity rivals that of the days leading up the Civil War. While the political divide is obvious and bitter, the growing religious divide is also increasingly obvious, and, perhaps, this development has been a stronger factor in the social and cultural divisions of the American public than has been previously acknowledged. It has been little noted in the mainstream media, but the percentage of American adults who identify as non-Christian those individuals who are labeled "none" in terms of religious identification "continues to change at a rapid pace," according to the Pew Research Center after its telephone interviews in 2018 and 2019. Most recently, "65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians down 12 percentage points over the past decade." Fully "17 percent of Americans describe their religion as 'nothing in particular' up from 12% in 2009." In sum, non-Christian religious affiliations are growing as a share of the adult population. Not surprisingly, Americans also say "religion is losing influence in American life." Although most adults think private religious observance is a good thing, nearly two thirds think the church should stay out of political matters. Though not made an issue by the legacy media, the decline in Christian and patriotic influence has been evident in the recent primary campaign events for the Democrat party. The televised Democrat debates showed no American flags. Social media, on the other hand, pointed out that, appallingly, the flags were intentionally removed to avoid offending anyone. Democrats and the various fact-checking sites responded to this criticism by pointing out that red, white, and blue flag colors and the stars and stripes imagery were everywhere and that some candidates wore flag lapel pins. But the basic fact of this departure from longstanding political tradition remains: no actual American flags were on the stage with the candidates. Another telling sign of the shifts that are happening manifests itself in the fact that some "43 percent of Americans say socialism would be a good thing for the country." As Kay James, president of the Heritage Foundation put it, "[t]he rising tide of socialism in America is reaching a critical point as more Americans warm up to the idea of bigger, more intrusive government." Who would have dreamed that a whole-hearted socialist actually a closet communist Bernie Sanders, would be a viable option for the Democratic presidential nomination? Who would have dreamed that Sanders would praise a murderous communist dictator like Fidel Castro or that he would dodge the question when he was asked if Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is a dictator? Byron York argued that the cultural divide goes deeper than the signs and symbols of patriotism; he notes several small indicators from the Bernie Sanders rallies that indicate a departure from typical campaign rallies: the absence of the Pledge of Allegiance; lack of an invocation; and an obviously "woke progressive crowd," where disdain for the stories of American history is common, where military service is ignored, and where 36% say they "never" go to church. Byron's assessment? Democrat rallies are not a place where you get a "recite-the-pledge, hand-over-the-heart kind of feeling." Moreover, hand-in-hand with the desertion of patriotic themes, we are seeing virulent anti-religious bias from all the candidates. Perhaps it might be clearer to say there is greater and greater open hostility toward anyone who holds to a traditional understanding of Judeo-Christian moral teaching. More and more, in America, "emergencies are declared on a moral basis: people are suffering their newly discovered rights are being denied," and suddenly, all the Democrat candidates support abortion as "reproductive rights" or "women's rights." Joe Biden says he will "force Christians to pay for abortions." Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg quotes the Bible to "justify late-term abortion" and declares that his Christian beliefs are the foundation of the "morality" of LBGT concerns; he decries the "homophobic bigotry" of those whose religious-right beliefs make them "harm other people." During the Obama years, 20082016, we heard the president declare, "We are not a Christian Nation" and that America is not a "Judeo-Christian nation." But even cursory knowledge of our nation's history makes it clear that we were founded on Judeo-Christian principles and values and that our citizens have been and for the most part remain respectful of those historic Christian beliefs and moral teachings. The erosion of Christian influence in the public square is having a profound influence on all aspects of American life. Joe Biden recently said: "Let's be clear: transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time." Our kindergarteners are "being taught about gender fluidity," and pre-school children at public libraries are "entertained" by drag queens. If we fail to assent to this hijacking, we are considered "bigots!" Over the past few decades as they have abandoned traditional biblical teaching and values, virtually all of the mainline Protestant denominations have declined dramatically. Sadly, it has barely registered with the media or the public that the last of the mainline denominations that adheres to traditional biblical teaching and theological principles is likely to divide over the conflict of enforcing the standards of the Book of Discipline at the next United Methodist General Conference in May. While their decline has "simply driven members to more orthodox congregations that remain faithful to the core tenets of Christianity," the absence of strong Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Episcopal churches from the center of community life has weakened the power of "cultural Christianity" to shape community values and influence individual behavior. We have seen ever greater disintegration of the family and weakening of community as these powerful mainline church influences have disappeared from the public square. Worse, those who adhere to the traditional Judeo-Christian values that were at the center of strong families, communities, and nations for thousands of years are now considered bigots who are out of step with today's standards of "morality" as promoted by the 2020 Democrat political candidates and the Progressives, who believe that their pronouncements are intellectually superior to all the established doctrine of the past. Ironically, the Progressives who are calling Christians "bigots" are turning out to be the closed-minded ones. There can be no reasoning or logical discourse with those whose religion is a special agenda, whose proof is their own opinion, and whose argument consists of name-calling. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. New Delhi, March 7 : The Delhi government on Saturday said it has ensured speedy drainage of rain water and provision of 800 beds to people living in the relief camps, where all the other facilities are also being provided. In the aftermath of violence in north-east Delhi, the Delhi government said it was working 24x7 on rehabilitation of the victims. "Relief camps have been set up for the victims who have lost homes. The government has ensured food, water, medicines, help desk and other basic facilities to the people staying at these camps," an official statement said. The government said since the last two days, the rain caused a bit of flooding at the relief camp in Mustafabad. "But the Delhi government ensured speedy removal of the water from the camp and also provided 800 beds to the people. All the basic facilities have been arranged in the camp, and people are quite satisfied. People have appreciated the relief measures taken by the Delhi government and said that these steps of the government are returning confidence in them and they will soon return to their homes," the statement said. A team was sent by the Delhi government on Saturday to meet the people in the relief camp and to understand their requirements. "Victims staying in the camp stated that all the basic facilities are being provided including food, clothes, shoes, soap, toothpaste and the children are getting books and pens. People said that there was some trouble during the rain but the government immediately worked on the issues and when water entered the camps, wooden cardboard and planks were immediately laid." The national capital witnessed violence around the CAA last month killing over 50 people and injuring hundreds. Buildings, including houses and schools, were burnt and damaged. By Alasdair Pal NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Bhutan said on Friday it would bar arriving tourists for two weeks after confirming its first case of the coronavirus, a tourist who spent several weeks in neighbouring India. The tiny Himalayan kingdom, which is heavily reliant on high-end tourism for foreign exchange, said a 79-year-old American who entered by air from India on March 2 had tested positive for the virus. "The government will impose two weeks' restriction on all incoming tourists with immediate effect," Bhutan's health ministry said in a statement. "This is to enable rigorous monitoring, source assessment of infection, and mitigate the situation." The government also announced the closure of several schools and the postponement of international conferences and seminars for two weeks. The ministry said the patient, who had entered India on Feb. 21, had been put in quarantine in hospital in the capital, Thimpu. India's total number of confirmed cases rose to 31, after a person from New Delhi with a history of travel from Thailand and Malaysia tested positive, India's health ministry said. Organisers of the International Indian Film Academy Awards, one the main ceremonies for the Bollywood film industry, said they were postponing the event, due to be held later this month. Delhi's fashion week, scheduled to begin on March 11, was also postponed. In Sri Lanka, there were protests by residents outside a coronavirus quarantine centre in Wattala, a town near the capital Colombo. The site, currently a leprosy hospital, is being prepared to house anyone arriving from South Korea, Italy or Iran, three of the worst-affected countries. Sri Lanka has so far had one confirmed case, a Chinese national who recovered and left the country. The coronavirus, which can cause respiratory illness that can lead to pneumonia, emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. Globally, there have been more than 98,000 cases and more than 3,300 deaths, according to a Reuters tally. Most of the cases and deaths have been in China but the virus is now spreading in numerous countries. (Reporting by Alasdair Pal, additional reporting by Aditya Kalra in New Delhi, Shilpa Jamkhamdikar in Mumbai and Waruna Karunatilake in Colombo; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Arrival: A migrant baby in Skala Sikaminias, on the Greek island of Lesbos, after crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey on a dinghy. Photo: AP Greek police were accused of stripping migrants, beating them and pushing them back toward Turkey in the latest case of violence against asylum seekers at Europe's eastern frontier. Video shot at the Greek-Turkish border showed about 20 migrants walking away from the frontier, while a graphic photograph yesterday depicted a man with deep red welts across his back. Expand Close Orchestrated: Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Orchestrated: Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: AP Migrants stuck on the Turkish side of the border with Greece tried to dodge tear gas canisters as the tense stand-off between Greek and Turkish security forces entered a second week. Tens of thousands of migrants are attempting to cross from Turkey into the European Union after Ankara said on February 28 it would no longer try to keep them on its territory under the terms of a 2016 accord with Brussels in return for EU aid. Thick smoke from the tear gas canisters wreathed the border posts at the Kastanies/Pazarkule crossing. A Reuters reporter saw Greek forces use a water cannon to try to disperse migrants, only to be met by a volley of tear gas from the Turkish side. "The attacks are co-ordinated by drones. Apart from intimidation, these attacks are taking place from the Turkish police to help migrants cross the fence border line," a Greek government official said. Turkey has said any tear gas fired is in response to tear gas fired from the Greek side. Athens has called the confrontations a threat to national security and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis brought EU leaders to the border area to press his case for more support to avoid a repeat of 2015, when more than one million refugees poured into the EU. Greece says it has repulsed around 35,000 migrants trying to cross its border in the past week. Turkey has deployed 1,000 special police to the area to halt the pushback of migrants onto its territory. Ankara accused Greek forces this week of shooting dead four migrants, a charge rejected by Athens, which says Turkish forces are actively helping the migrants to cross the border illegally. On the Turkish side of the border yesterday, enterprising villagers were selling fruit, vegetables and bottled water to migrants, though they also expressed sympathy for them. "I hope they will open this border soon and end this tragedy. We just want to get on with our lives," said Remiz Celik (43), who was selling apples and potatoes. The fields were strewn with plastic bags and other detritus left by the migrants, many of whom have been living in Istanbul and other Turkish towns and cities. Some migrants said they might head back to Istanbul in the coming days because they do not expect the Greeks to yield. "They are not going to let us in, we know this, because the Greeks know that if they open the gates they will get many more people on this side of the border," said Fawzi Uzbek (37), an Afghan national who has lived in Istanbul for about 18 months. Sitting in a makeshift tent he constructed near the border for himself, his wife and four children, Uzbek said he wanted to find work in Germany and had begun learning German, but said he would probably return to Istanbul. About a quarter of the migrants at the border are Syrian and most of the rest are Afghans, Pakistanis, Iranians and Africans, according to Turkish estimates. EU foreign ministers were due to discuss the crisis at Greece's border at a gathering in Croatia yesterday. "We have clear evidence that this population movement has been created and orchestrated by Turkey. I want to be clear the European Union will not let this human pain be exploited," Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Dendias said as he headed to the meeting. Turkey, which already hosts 3.6 million refugees from the Syrian civil war, says it cannot take in any more people. ( Daily Telegraph London) Vietnam should use part of its sizeable VND67 trillion (US$2.9 billion) unemployment insurance fund to train workers in professional skills. Automobile technology training at the Vietnam - Singapore Vocational College. VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuan This was particularly important for those at risk of losing their jobs because companies had changed their employment criteria, said Bui Sy Loi, vice chairman of the National Assemblys Committee for Social Affairs during a meeting on Thursday on the Vietnam Government Portal. The meeting focused on how to improve the quality of labourers and cut the proportion of labourers working in the agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors to less than 33 per cent of the total labour force by 2025. To do that, agencies should issue a mechanism to encourage companies to train labourers with the skills they needed, he said. Both companies and labourers would gain from this as companies would not need to recruit new staff and workers would retain their jobs, he added. In Singapore, each citizen receives money from the government each month to learn something new in order to improve their professional skills, he added. Its a good model that we should consider, he said. Also at the meeting, Truong Anh Dung, deputy director of the ministrys General Directorate of Vocational Education and Training, said the ministry was working on a project to improve the quality of human resources and attract more labourers to the IT sector. The most important thing was inspiring them to work in the sector, he added. The directorate should make a short video to show workers what they should study, where they could work after graduation and how much they could earn, he said. Changing teaching methods to meet global criteria in schools training people for the IT sector was also important, he said. Dung said the IT sector was lacking about 700,000 workers. Labour structure shifting Resolution No 39-NQ/TW, issued January 15 last year by the Politburo, sets a target that the proportion of labourers working in the agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors will fall to less than 33 per cent of the total labour force by 2025 to serve modernisation. Dung said to reach the goal, we should train rural labourers with the skills needed to operate in hi-tech agriculture and organic agriculture. Providing rural labourers with the necessary skills to work in the industrial and service sectors was one of the core solutions, he added. Recently, the Government had directed localities to focus on creating more jobs in the service sector so rural labourers have more opportunities to find employment, he said. Loi added that the agricultural sector should be restructured from rice to livestock. VNS Vocational training facilities to be merged to ensure quality Nguyen The Hung, head of the Full-Time Training Department, Directorate of Vocational Education and Training, talks about ways to attract students to vocational training facilities. New Delhi, March 7 : Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday attacked the Centre for bringing YES Bank to the brink of bankruptcy, saying the self-proclaimed pro-hindu BJP government duped savings of 18 lakh Hindus. Aam Aadmi Party MLA Raghav Chadha said YES Bank's loans grew manifold during the BJP government and is now on the cusp of bankruptcy. "The BJP is bringing up divisive issues like the CAA, the NRC and the NPR, instigating Hindu-Muslim riots to divert the attention of the people of the country from real issues," said Chadha. He said the BJP claims to be a pro-Hindu party but it is during the BJP government that the deposits of 18 lakh Hindu account holders in the YES Bank are being looted. "The fact is that BJP is neither pro-Hindu nor pro-Muslim. BJP is only pro it's crony capitalist friends," he added. He said millions of people today are in danger of losing their life-long savings. "Hard earned money and savings of people has disappeared as YES Bank gave loans of millions of crore of rupees to big crony capitalists in the last five years and today they are not ready to return the money," said Chadha. Presenting the data on the YES Bank's state of affairs, Chadha said when the BJP government came to power in 2014, the total credit given out by YES Bank was only Rs 55,000 crore, this increased to Rs 240,000 crore in 2019. "All this credit was given out to crony capitalists during BJP's rule and now we find that this money which belonged to the poor and middle class has been stolen. BJP which describes itself as the party that looks out for the interest of Hindus, is responsible for nearly 18 lakh Hindu account holders losing their lives savings." He went on to said the Bharatiya Janata Party did not even spare God. "Rs 545 crore of Lord Jagannath Trust was deposited in YES Bank, along with all other account holders. This money was also stolen by the big capitalists during the tenure of BJP," said Chadha. He accused that Hindu-Muslim riots are being instigated to divert people's attention. "Using the CAA, NRC and NPR issue the BJP is instigating riots in the country, andA diverting the attention of the people of the country from important issues. BJP does not want people to ask the government about unemployment, banks failing, and the slowdown in our economy." He added not only YES Bank, but PMC Bank also faced a similar fate. "Of the total 51,000 account holders, about 48,000 account holders were Hindus, whose money was misappropriated by the BJP government. The double standard of the BJP has been exposed to the public," the AAP leader said. Chadha said the RBI owes only one lakh rupees to account holders when the bank goes bankrupt, pointing at the RBI's provisions for securing interests of account holders in failed banks. He said, "Even if an account holder has Rs 10 lakh deposited in a bank and the bank goes bust, according to the RBI, the Government of India will pay a compensation of only Rs 1 lakh to that account holder. The customer will lose the rest of the savings. People are becoming bankrupt in the country, and the people of the country are losing trust in the banking system. Today people feel more secure keeping money at home than in banks." RBI has put a cap on withdrawal of money from the YES Bank accounts. By Express News Service KOCHI: Having landed in Kochi over three months back, Somporn Damkaew, the new Chef de Cuisine at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgattys speciality Thai Soul restaurant, has not ventured out much. He has been busy in his kitchen curating a new menu, planning food fests and mentoring the team. With over 25 years of experience and having worked in Dubai, Chile, Doha, Mumbai and Phuket, Somporn has amassed laudable expertise in Asian cuisine despite never going to culinary school. He sits down for a quick chat with Kochi Express. As a kid, I never enjoyed cooking. I became a chef completely by chance. I wanted to travel the world and I realised that Thai cuisine was very popular. Hence, I got into hospitality as it would allow me to visit and stay at different places, says chef Somporn. It was only during his stint in Dubai, under the mentorship of renowned Thai chef Supattra Boonsrang that Somporn truly got a taste of the unique flavours of his country and his own flair for cooking. Taking over from his mentor at Thai Soul, Somporn has envisioned a revamped pan-Asain menu for the restaurant. Most Asian cuisines are inter-related. Thailand has taken many elements from its neighbouring countries including India. With the new menu, which has more than half new dishes, I want diners to be able to choose from a comprehensive selection, says Somporn who grew up in southern Thailand While some chefs take pride in their slow cooking methods, spending hours in the kitchen to perfect their culinary inventions; Somporn describes his labour of love as quick. When I cook, I have to be active. Moving and running around in the kitchen is part of my process. Also, when we order food we want it to come as soon as possible so I am thinking of the diner who is waiting at the table, adds Somporn. Giving his two cents on food trends taking over the globe, chef Somporn thinks people are moving towards adopting a healthy lifestyle. He has also noticed a shift from fusion preparations to authentic flavours. Chefs mixed different cuisines to introduce new taste profiles to their diners but with the proliferation of social media, people are now familiar with distinct cuisines. Fusion food is outdated. A flight from Tehran on Saturday brought to the national capital swab samples of Indians in Iran who are suspected of having coronavirus infection, an airport official said. The flight, operated by Mahan Air, returned with many Iranian nationals at around 1030 am on Saturday, an official at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here said. The flight landed at around 5.30 am. On Friday, officials said around 300 swab samples of Indians suspected of having coronavirus infection would be brought in a ferry flight from Tehran. The number of swabs that were brought to the country as well as the number of passengers who took the return flight could not be immediately ascertained. Official sources said the swabs would be taken to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune for tests. Aviation regulator DGCA's chief Arun Kumar, on Friday, said around 300 swabs are expected to be come in the Mahan Air flight. Based on the outcome of the tests, those passengers who test negative would be allowed to come to the country later, he added. There are around 2,000 Indians in Iran, one of the countries which has been severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak. A similar number of Indians are also there in the Persian Gulf country. On Friday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said evacuation of Indians from Iran was being planned in consultation with the health ministry and the Iran government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Elizabeth Warren has accused some Bernie Sanders supporters of doxxing and threatening women who backed her failed presidential campaign. The senator from Massachusetts accused the Bernie Bros - a nickname given to hardcore supporters of the Democratic candidate who are active on social media - of some really ugly stuff, including an onslaught of online threats. Warren, who dropped out of the 2020 presidential race on Thursday after her disappointing results in the Super Tuesday primary contests across the country, told MSNBC that her allies were terrorized by Sanders backers. She started the interview by noting that she and Sanders have been friends for years. Senator Elizabeth Warren (left) says that online supporters of Bernie Sanders (right) have been threatening women who endorsed her during the presidential campaign Since dropping out of the race on Thursday, Sanders is believed to be courting Warrens endorsement, which she has so far declined to give. In her interview with MSNBC, however, Warren took umbrage with what she claims is vitriol from Sanders online supporters. I think theres a real problem with online bullying and online nastiness, the senator told Rachel Maddow. Im not just talking about who said mean things; Im talking about some really ugly stuff that went on. Working Families Party, two women there, women of color were attacked right after they endorsed me, Warren told Rachel Maddow. Sanders has been criticized for alleged online harassment by his supporters against the candidate's rivals. Sanders supporters are seen above during a rally in Detroit on Friday [Bernie supporters] actually published the phone numbers and home addresses of the two women, the executive director and the communications director [of the UNITE HERE labor union in Nevada]and really put them in fear for their families, she said. Warren said those who were targeted are tough women, tough women whove run labor organizing campaigns, and really earned their jobs...the hard way, and yet, said for the first time because of this onslaught of online threats, that they felt really under attack. Maddow asked Warren if she was convinced by Sanders disavowal of the Bernie Bros. So-called 'Bernie Bros' online have been known to use the snake emoji - apparently due to anger at the Massachusetts senator over her criticism of Sanders We are responsible for the people who claim to be our supporters and do really dangerous, threatening things to other candidates, Warren said. When asked if this was a problem unique to Sanders, the democratic socialist from Vermont, Warren said: It is. And it just is. Its just a factual question. The term Bernie Bros became popular during the hotly contested 2016 Democratic primary, when supporters of Hillary Clinton, the eventual nominee, accused Sanders supporters of sexist attacks. Sanders on Wednesday told MSNBCs Maddow that he distanced himself from the Bernie Bros. We don't need ugly, personal attacks against Senator Warren, or anyone else for that measure, Sanders said. The senator from Vermont said he was in favor of vigorous debates about the issues and that he was absolutely aghast and disgusted with reported threats online. When asked about his relationship with Warren, Sanders said that they were cordial. He would not offer specifics as to whether he asked her to endorse him. "The health status of the people diagnosed is stable, and they are in isolation under home quarantine . In this case, what we know about the disease and the measures approved by the Ministry of Health have been applied," Deputy Minister of Health Nancy Zerpa expressed at a press conference. The official affirmed that the patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are three adults and one child residing in Lima, while the other is a resident of the southern city of Arequipa. He may have contracted the infection in the United Kingdom from where he returned on February 29. For his part, the General Director at the National Center for Epidemiology, Disease Prevention and Control (CDC-Minsa) Manuel Loayza said that health authorities are monitoring these cases in order to determine the entire chain. Tras la investigacion y procesamiento de muestras de los contactos del primer caso importado por #COVID19, y con el resultado de las muestras, el resultado por coronavirus #COVID19 es positivo para cuatro personas que se configuran como contactos del denominado caso cero. pic.twitter.com/uwhEaUlCnb Ministerio de Salud (@Minsa_Peru) March 7, 2020 De acuerdo con el protocolo previsto, se procedio al aislamiento domiciliario de estas personas, incluyendo el caso cero. Todos ellos se encuentran en condicion clinica estable. Se viene desarrollando a su vez el cerco epidemiologico. pic.twitter.com/VbixlLduBK Ministerio de Salud (@Minsa_Peru) March 7, 2020 A 48-year-old artist going by the name JDubb was arrested by Saint Louis Police in Missouri for allegedly live-streaming himself going on a rampage while dressed up as The Joker. Yes Im doing this for attention, but the attention I seek is to take over the world, Jeremy Joseph Garnier, also known as JDubb, Uncle Dubb, or Clouty the Clown, says early in the video which was live-streamed using the Facebook Live app on Monday evening, ArcaMax reported. Im going to start killing people until this reaches a thousand [viewers], and once it reaches a thousand, Im going to go out in public, and Im going to kill more, Clouty added. In his nearly one-hour-long live-stream, Garnier, in full Joker make-up can be seen getting dressed as the Joker, driving a car, visiting a mall in Richmond Heights, and ranting about the rampage he is going to undertake along the Delmar Loop in Saint Louis. Were not going to go to any movie theaters. Were going to go totally unarmed because we dont want to alert the authorities into thinking we might be on an actual rampage, he says. Garnier heads for the busy shopping area in University City, west Saint Louis. First, he gets stopped by security guards when he wants to enter the Galleria shopping mall. Some time later, Garnier is admitted to Blueberry Hill bar and restaurant and orders a soda. Yeah, I cant be inebriated when Im planning on, you know, killing a bunch of people, he says. Its not something you can do. Im live on Facebook right now. Ive got like nearly 2,000 people watching me. As he stares out of the window overlooking the parking lot, a police car can be seen stopping. Officers who were possibly alerted by concerned viewers can be seen getting out. I think theyre looking for me, Garnier says, but its OK. Im not armed, and I weigh 150 pounds, he added while the police officers are approaching. I dont have no weapons on me. Im not going to do nothing. Youve got me messed up. Except all these bombs. Police officers enter and put Garnier under arrest, at which point the live-stream comes to an end. Garnier was held without bond at St. Louis County Jail and charged with a first-degree felony of making terrorist threats, noting that he was a danger to the community. In 2012 another man, James Holmes, donned a Joker outfit and shot and killed 12 people and wounded 70 others in a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, during the screening of the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises. However, Garnier still has some friends who do not believe he was seriously going to The Galleria shopping mall to kill people. Glenda Volk started a GoFundMe initiative to get Garnier out of jail, saying, Someone reported mistakenly that he was making threats when he was only playing a role. While this was undoubtedly not Jeremys best decision considering the consequences he was not threatening anyone, Volk says. As he says he was chasing clout trying to increase his Facebook viewers and bring attention to the opiate crisis plaguing this country, she added. The stated goal of the funding initiative is to get a psych evaluation to show he truly is not a threat to society and to hopefully get a bond and get these charges dropped or at least reduced. So far, $516 has been raised. Garnier has a criminal record for multiple burglaries and robbery. The charging document does not mention any weapons or bombs that were found in his possession, or whether he as an attorney. The Industrial city of Tema is probably one of the most elaborate, ambitious development projects to have been undertaken by Ghanas first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, in the post-independence era. Born out of a vision, the community, which is host to numerous industries as well as the countrys most profitable sea port, continues to contribute significantly to boosting Ghanas economic dynamism and has over the years seen key investments in human capital and infrastructure. From the establishment of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) in 1963, then referred to as the Ghanaian Italian Petroleum (GHAIP), to VALCO, a company founded as a major long-term investment in the aluminium smelting business, Tema has helped put Ghana on the African and global industrial map. These companies, among several others, have over the years become enterprises that have transformed the quality of life and infrastructure not only within Tema but the general productive economy of Ghana. Tough decision The siting of the port in Tema instead of Ada or Keta which are said to have naturally deep-sea basins, according to some schools of thought, was one of the toughest decisions Dr Nkrumah had to make due to Temas proximity to Accra, which is the capital of Ghana. That they said was possibly informed by the quest to make Tema the industrial hub of Ghana which took a pioneering role in the establishment of free zones as well as a modern city for habitation, which became a model for some Asian countries such as Singapore. The development of the Tema Port, which guided Ghanas path onto the international transport trade facilitation arena, necessitated the need for an appropriate channel of transporting goods from Tema to the other parts of the country and the sub-region, thereby giving way for the construction of the Tema-Accra Motorway, a road infrastructure that is said to have stood the test of time for nearly six decades. Balancing productivity In a bid to achieve a balance in productivity as a way of expanding beyond the limits of the domestic market, Dr Nkrumah attempted to develop storage tower (silos) infrastructure for commodities such as cocoa and grains for national food self-sufficiency and export. The silos with a storage capacity of about 200,000 tonnes were built at a cost of 8.5 million shortly after independence at a time when Ghana was the worlds leading producer of cocoa, producing more than 40 per cent of the worlds annual output. A move it is believed was initially geared towards an import substitution policy that would offer his government and successive ones a trade policy aimed to promote economic growth by restricting imports that competed with domestic products. The silos, the schools of thought maintained, would have ensured regulated pricing of Ghanas major commodity export, cocoa in the international market, which the government is seeking to do with Cote dIvoire presently. Widespread criticism of the project, however, led to an eventual abandonment of the facility which still towers over Tema today. The effect of the abandoning of the project, many believe, has had negative effect on Ghanas agricultural sector which became largely subsistence-based with commodities such as wheat and rice being imported heavily into the country, thereby defeating the agenda of promoting an export-led economy, while prices of its export commodities are determined by the buyers. Within the manufacturing chain, the State Textiles Manufacturing Company (STMC) was also established soon after independence, providing an avalanche of opportunities for residents and further presenting a vibrant business platform for women, especially. According to the General Secretary of the Textiles and Leather Workers Union (TEGLEU), Mr Abraham Koomson, STMC, which later became Tema Textiles Limited (TTL) as of 1971 when he was employed by the company, had 3,000 permanent employees and numerous casual workers. He said that whereas the Ghana Textiles Manufacturing Company (GTMC), a private company, preceded STMC, the latters establishment under the government paved the way for an entrepreneurial drive within the sector until the sectors eventual collapse. Tema Port The port, a major development which was largely anchored on the back of the countrys Black Star Line (BSL) shipping company, at its peak was said to have had about 40 vessels, making the port become the provider of essential transport and logistic services. Elder Dempster, Zim Line, Gold Star Line, Nigeria National Shipping Lines, CMZ (Cameroon), Nigerian Green Lines, SITRAM (Ivory Coast), OT Africa Lines, Hapag Lloyd, Scanship, SDV Liner Agencies, to mention a few, were shipping lines that operated in Ghanas transport and shipping sector. Over time, some of these lines folded up while others were consolidated through outright purchase. For example, Liner Agencies was consolidated to become Hullblyth, Scanship became a member of the Delmas SDV which also metamorphosed into the Bollore Group, among others. According to Mr Jacob Kobla Adorkor, a former Director of the Tema Port, the Black Star Line back in the day provided a balance of trade where freight charges on the transportation of major commodities, cocoa as well as manganese by way of foreign exchange were retained in the country, thereby making the line a very lucrative venture which also employed many. Gradually, however, he said the era of containerisation saw the Black Star Lines inability to introduce technology into its operations to compete with the private shipping lines, leading to its eventual collapse and its sale to a Cameroonian Shipping, which also eventually collapsed. Jobs were lost, with Ashaiman and Tema Newtown which were communities that held Temas vibrant labour force, witnessing haphazard developments leading to insanitary conditions and increased crime, among other related vices. Industrialisation and diversification Within the 1980s, the governments economic recovery programme brought about rapid de-industrialisation, leading to factories being closed with large market forces being entrenched. This led to challenges with healthcare provision and affordability, environmental issues and gradual collapse of the Tema city. The port, according to Mr Godwin Amoo, Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Insurance Brokers, struggled to cope and shipping lines stopped making it a port of call. However, women in the community and its adjourning surroundings such as Ashaiman, Tema Newtown and other areas, he said, became the anchor of income in the city, using the Tema Fishing Harbour as a trade-net in balancing family incomes. Young people who saw their parents losing incomes as a result of retrenchment in industries rose to become entrepreneurs operating in similar fields of logistics, freight forwarding and haulage among others, Mr Amoo said. He said there was new found wealth in these areas as the port, for instance, rebounded, with privatisation being brought in to win back investor confidence. That spearheaded an expansion of the city with communities stretching from the existing 12 which were the traditional Tema communities to areas such as the Spintex Road, communities 13-20 as well as 21, 22 to 25, Gbetsile, all along the Tema-Akosombo stretch and the Tema-Dawhenya-Aflao roads. The Tema Port has also recently seen a huge investment of $1.5 billion by way of expansion and modernisation, making it a major modern port within the West African sub-region. ---graphic.com.gh Jefferson Health has a new three-year contract with Independence Blue Cross, the largest health insurer in the Philadelphia region. The deal covers all 14 of Jefferson's hospitals, including those in New Jersey. Read more Jefferson Health and Independence Blue Cross on Friday announced a new three-year contract, which they described as prioritizing illness prevention as part of an effort to reduce costs and improve quality. The contract, which took effect Jan. 1, is significant because Jefferson is the regions largest health system measured by hospital beds, while Independence has the largest market share among health insurers in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It ensures no disruption in service for thousands of Independence customers who use Jefferson doctors. Few details were available Friday on how the contract moves Jefferson farther along the road toward a long-anticipated payment system that pays health-care providers based on quality rather than on the volume of services provided. A Jefferson spokesperson said the nonprofits previous arrangement with IBC allowed it to keep a share of any savings it generated compared to targets. The new contract aligns reimbursement with preventive care rather than sick care, said John Brand, Jeffersons chief communications officer. Based on available information, Jeffersons new contract, which includes all 14 Jefferson hospitals, does not go as far as the one between IBC and the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Under that arrangement, which took effect in 2017, neither Independence nor an Independence member has to pay for a hospital readmission within 30 days of an inpatient stay or surgery. Over the next year we will be working on several initiatives that will be groundbreaking and similar in significance to Penns but different and unique to us, Brand said. The new Jefferson-IBC contract is also noteworthy because Jefferson has agreed to buy Temples share of Health Partners Plans Inc., a Medicaid and Medicare insurer in Philadelphia. If Jefferson is able to complete its acquisition of Einstein Healthcare Network, it would own 100% of Health Partners and be in a position to compete with IBC. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General last week sued to block the Jefferson-Einstein deal, alleging it would reduce competition and allow Jefferson to raise prices for employers and consumers. Jefferson and Einstein have argued that the deal would help preserve health-care services for a vulnerable population in North Philadelphia. 07.03.2020 LISTEN The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana builds the capacity of laboratory scientists in detecting, managing and preventing infectious diseases including COVID-19. The training programme ended on Thursday. Participants were equipped with knowledge and skills in Virology, Bacteriology, and Parasitology and also trained on how to help to detect the Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in their respective countries. The eight-week training programme organised by the Institute in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with funding from the Japan Government, also sought to enhance the laboratory skills of participants for infectious diseases especially after the outbreak of Ebola. Participating countries were Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Niger, Senegal, Guinea, La Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo. Professor Abraham Kwabena Anang, the Director of the Institute, said Africa, especially West Africa had to be alert to live up to expectations in fighting infectious diseases. To accomplish that, he said, the region had to strengthen its health systems, which he believed was not resilient or strongly positioned, to be able to withstand emerging and re-emerging infections. This training programme is, therefore, to ensure that participating countries are not caught unaware by infectious diseases, he said. Prof. Anang expressed optimism that the partnership with JICA was going to help build the critical and innovative capacity of represented countries. The training had been well structured to deliver targeted effectiveness to help diagnose, mentor, and deliver on surveillance in African countries, he stated. Ms Ozawa Maki, a Senior Representative of JICA, Ghana Office, said although the COVID-19 had not widely spread across West Africa, it was inevitable to strengthen the sub-regional response and preparedness for public health emergencies. As Noguchi played a pivotal role in strengthening technical capacity for infectious disease control in Ghana and beyond, she said the joint programme was the best way for JICA to contribute to the progress of the West African sub-region. She advised the trainees to bear in mind the important role collaboration and coordination played in addressing health emergencies, and resort to sharing information and working in a team to achieve their goals. It is my hope also, that the capacities you have built through this training will help the achievement of the Universal Health Coverage in Ghana, and also SDGs by your countries and the sub-region at large. With the knowledge you have acquired, we expect that there will be an improvement in early detection through proper diagnosis, and also support treatment and response through accurate laboratory assessment of situations, Ms Ozawa said. Mr Hiromoto Oyama, the Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Japan in Ghana, said one of the priorities of the Japan Government, was to ensure the existence of human security in Africa through capacity building programmes. His office, he said, was elated about the training, which had an aim of developing the skills of health professionals to fight health-related canker in Africa. He encouraged the trainees to let their individual countries benefit from the knowledge they had acquired by contributing to public health. The trainees expressed gratitude to Noguchi and its partners with citations and gave an assurance to employ the knowledge they had acquired to the benefit of their homelands and neighbouring countries. ---citinewsroom Treasurer Tobias Read is pushing an investment policy change for Oregons public pension fund that would promote unionization of the workforce at buildings and other facilities in which the fund has a majority ownership interest. The question is whether hes doing so for the good of the fund, or his own political gain. The updated responsible contractor policy Read is backing would apply to contractors who provide everything from janitorial and landscaping services to construction and maintenance in the commercial, residential and industrial properties controlled by the pension fund. The Oregon Investment Council, the citizens panel that oversees pension fund investment policies, is slated to review the policy and vote on it next week. Such policies arent unusual for public pension funds around the country, whose beneficiaries are often union members. And they are part of a growing institutional push toward so-called ESG investing, where investment managers are putting more emphasis on environmental, social and governance risks in an effort to bolster long-term returns. But the policy update wasnt requested or vetted by any other member of the council. It was initially crafted by Reads staff in consultation with local and national trade unions -- not by Treasurys investment division staff, which would typically be the case. In fact, the former chair of the council, Rukaiyah Adams, raised strong concerns this fall, first reported by Willamette Week, that Read was bypassing the council to craft it. Moreover, there is no explicit evidence that such policies will increase pension fund returns, which is the primary fiduciary responsibility of the council. In fact, real estate experts suggest the immediate effect of the policy will be higher labor costs in the real estate portfolio, potentially lowering overall returns and increasing pension costs for Oregon taxpayers. That raises the question of whether Read is simply pandering to organized labor to win their support in his reelection bid this fall, and conceivably in a future bid for governor and politicizing the investment council in the process. In an interview Thursday, Read said his decision to pursue the policy has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with maximizing the risk-adjusted returns to the pension fund over the long term. The risk hes referring to might include lawsuits, workers compensation claims and other financial and personnel problems that could cut into a propertys profitability. Our fiduciary responsibility is to the beneficiaries he said, adding that a responsible contractor policy would create better product outcomes. When people are paid well, when theres less turnover, when laws are followed, theres a good indication you get a better outcome in terms of how properties are managed and how they perform financially, he said. If approved, the policy wouldnt dictate unionization. It also includes language about maximizing returns. But it directs Treasury staff to use responsible contractors whenever possible those offering fair wage and benefit standards measured by applicable collective bargaining agreements in markets where a majority of the trade or building sector is unionized. It defines responsible contractors as those providing employer-paid safety training and apprenticeships programs almost always offered by union shops. The policy includes a neutrality clause, meaning managers of properties controlled by the pension fund cant discriminate against unions or union organizing. It requires annual reporting by managers. And it annually invites union input on the development of responsible contractor lists. Unions make no bones about their goal: more unionization, particularly in assets that are owned by their members. Theyve successfully pushed such policies elsewhere, and Oregons pension fund is a big player. The pension fund has a controlling interest in some $5.5 billion worth of real estate, comprising 31.7 million square feet of commercial, multi-family, retail and industrial properties. Weve been working on responsible contractor policies in private and public sector for decades, said Felisa Hagins, political director for the SEIU Local 49, which represents Oregon service workers in the private sector. It raises wages, benefits and workplace standards. Its a win-win situation. What you see is investors protecting their investment while raising standards for very low wage workers who people rarely see. Hagins said her union has been frustrated by a lack of access to other council members to discuss the policy, so they turned to Read, the one elected official on the council. I dont know how else you would see us going about the process, she said. A series of emails obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive show that the new policy language was drafted in conversations last fall between Dmitri Palmateer, Reads chief of staff; Jennifer Peet, a lawyer who serves as Treasurys corporate governance director; and representatives from the SEIU, the Oregon Building Trades and North Americas Building Trade Unions. In the emails, Palmateer and Peet batted language back and forth with the union reps to make sure the policy would apply to the widest possible number of buildings that the pension fund was invested in. The union reps said they were eager to hook Palmateer or Treasurys investment staff up with NYC folks so they could walk them through how theyve made this work. At one point, Palmateer asked Peet: Do you think that this is essentially what labor wants? Any edit that I made that you think is a problem for them? The cost of real estate management and construction services vary by market and sector, but experts say unionizing more of the workforce is likely to increase costs. The labor is going to go up, said Kirsten Larson, a professor at Portland State University who teaches courses in property and asset management. In some cases, the owner will absorb that directly; in others the property expenses will be passed along to tenants, so that can make a property less attractive. The whole point of managing a financially responsible portfolio is to keep those expenses low. Bradley Malsin, the founder of Beam Development in Portland, had a similar take on the construction side. He said public projects above a certain dollar threshold typically include prevailing wage requirements that drive costs up. Often it makes sense to do, he said, but its definitely a factor in producing something thats affordable. Rex Kim, a financial services consultant who serves on the council, said he suspects Oregons policies were out of step with best practices. He wants to know how the proposed policy stacks up against other public pension funds, whether it would reduce risk, or potentially shut the pension fund out of future investment opportunities. Im still reviewing it, he said. I need to rely on feedback from (investment staff). Read said Thursday that the policy had already been vetted by staff in the investment division. Im encouraged by what weve come up with and hopefully well be able to adopt it. -- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. The walled city-state of Vatican confirmed its first case of the novel coronavirus and has ordered closure of offices as a precaution while the city-state's sovereign Pope Francis is still recovering from a cold. According to Vatican's spokesman Matteo Bruni, the Vatican's health clinic which serves the employees of the Vatican and their families was locked down for sanitizing after a patient tested positive for the COVID-19 last Thursday. A Vatican official was also put into quarantine after a priest from the Catholic Church of France in Rome tested positive for the virus. The official was put into isolation after coming into contact with the infected priest but is not showing any symptoms of the diseases. In addition, as an added precaution, the Apostolic Library of the Vatican has announced last Friday that it would shut down its doors for the whole week next week. The library has a copy of the Vatican's manuscripts and archives and welcomes scholars from all over the world. The library is expecting a full house next week as they opened the archives of Pope Pius XII, the pope during World War II. Read also: Pope Francis Tests for Coronavirus: Pontiff Still Suffering Coughs and Colds, Vatican Says Pope Francis, who has fell ill in the past week and has missed celebrations thanked everyone who responded to medical emergencies. However, the pope has fallen ill with cough and colds, raising concerns from Catholic devout. In the Pope's official Twitter account, the 83-year-old pontiff expressed his closeness to those who have been infected with the virus and to the healthcare front-liners who are caring for the ill. He also thanked civil authorities and everyone involved in the efforts to assist the patient and controlling the widespread of the outbreak. Over a week ago, the pope came down with a cold but the Vatican has announced that he has not been diagnosed with other pathologies. Pope Francis has already canceled several appearances including his supposed participation in a week-long spiritual retreat in the countryside of Rome. Furthermore, Bruni stated that the pope has been responding well to treatment and is recovering from his cold and that he has continued to celebrate daily masses and other spiritual exercises. The pope got ill amid the widespread COVID-19 from the northern parts of Italy to other parts of the nation including Rome. The Vatican is yet to announce changes in the pope's schedule and how the Vatican's Holy Week activities up to Easter would be altered after the announcement of office closures. The government of Italy has already ordered that all sporting events be held without sectators and has encouraged the cancellation of mass gatherings. Moreover, they have encouraged Italians to stay at least one meter away from each other. As a result of this, it is expected that the general audiences of the pope will be canceled. Also, given the health and age of the pope, the pope was advised to stay home and limit his visitors. In the data reported by CNN, the novel coronavirus has infected more than 101,900 and has killed more than 3,400 people worldwide. Related article: Mecca's Kaaba, Bethlehem's Church of Nativity Close Due to Rising Fears of Coronavirus @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ayodhya : , March 7 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said he parted ways with the BJP, and not Hindutva even as he announced a donation of Rs 1 crore for the construction of Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh. "BJP does not mean Hindutva... Hindutva is one thing, BJP is another," Thackeray told reporters here. "I came here to seek blessings of Lord Ram. This is my third visit to Ayodhya in the last one-and-a-half years," the Maharashtra Chief Minister said. Thackeray said he also wanted to take part in the 'Saryu Aarti' but changed his plan due to the coronavirus outbreak. He also appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to set up a Maharashtra Bhawan in Ayodhya so that Marathis don't face any problems in finding a place to stay during their visit to the city. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 00:33:50|Editor: zyl Video Player Close PARIS, March 6 (Xinhua) -- France has registered two more deaths caused by the coronavirus and 154 new cases of infection, bringing the total numbers to 9 and 577 respectively, announced the Health Ministry on Friday afternoon. All of the dead are elderly or suffered from other diseases. "Seniors are the most at risk and should be protected," the ministry said in a statement, reiterating the government's mobilization to curb the virus spread and lessen its impact on the population during the transition from pre-epidemic stage 2 to stage 3 when "epidemic" is officially declared. "We are still at stage 2, trying to slow down the COVID-19 epidemic. We will undoubtedly pass to a new stage in next coming days when the virus will be more widely spread in all the regions," President Emmanuel Macron said early Friday during a visit to a retirement house in Paris. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will chair an interministerial meeting on coronavirus in early evening at the ministry of health, with the attendance of ministers of ecological transition, education, interior and transport, according to the PM office. Since entering stage 2 on Feb. 28, all gatherings expected to draw 5,000 people in confined spaces as well as certain events in an open environment have been banned across the country. Some 150 schools were shut down. Local authorities especially of heavily affected regions have ordered bans of other gatherings and closure of more institutions based on their assessment of local situation. Under the country's epidemic plan adopted in 2011, stage 3 marks the end of the individual monitoring of cases by health watch institute. More closure and stricter restriction of collective activities might be implemented. Advertisement Kim Kardashian turned a little bit country for a shopping trip with Scott Disick in Los Angeles on Friday. The reality TV star, 39, wore an unusual pair of beige trousers which featured metal detailing and fringe down the sides. It seems the mother of four was inspired by her trendsetting younger sisters, who attended a party in LA on Thursday night in Western-themed attire. Yeehaw! Kim Kardashian wore fringe trousers on a shopping trip in LA on Friday Kim allowed her eye catching pants to maintain focus by completing her look with a beige bodycon top. Peaking out from under the hem of her pants were a pair of snakeskin stiletto boots. Kardashian's lengthy brunette tresses were neatly straightened and dangled just above her signature derriere. With a myriad of neutral and warm toned eye shadows, Kim was able to achieve a sultry smokey eye complete with a nude lip and contoured cheekbones. A little bit country: The star strayed from her usual style, experimenting with a look that featured heavy detailing down the side Fun with Scott: Kim was joined by Kourtney Kardashian's ex Disick, who still regularly appears on the family's reality show With a pep in her step, the reality star strutted towards the front doors of fashion retailer Nordstrom's with a hoard of Keeping Up With The Kardashian's camera men in tow. Disick failed to get Kim's 'Wild West' memo and stepped out in a cozy, navy blue toned ensemble that included a casual hooded sweatshirt and a fitted bomber jacket. The pair appeared to be filming a one-on-one scene for season 18 of the popular E! reality series that returns to television screens on March 26. Keeping up with Kendall and Kylie: Kim appeared to be inspired by her little sisters, who got all dressed up on Thursday night to attend a pal's Western-themed party in Santa Monica Kim's Friday afternoon fashion risk came in the wake of sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner sporting rodeo-ready attire the evening prior. The Jenner siblings suited up in riding boots, cowboy hats, and bandanna print for the star-studded birthday party for Kylie's former assistant Victoria Villarroel. Kendall showed off her svelte frame in a coordinating purple zebra print two piece accessorized with a cow hide hat and brown heeled boots. Kylie brought the heat in a skimpy red bandanna print outfit paired with black cowboy boots and an array of blinding gold accessories. Work it, girl! Kim was clearly feeling herself as she strutted her way through the front doors of fashion retailer Nordstrom's on Friday afternoon Sleek: With such eye catching trousers, the 39-year-old opted for a sleek and straight hairstyle to maintain balance in her look When Kim is not filming a new episode of her family's television series or providing fashion inspiration on the streets of Los Angeles, the KKW Cosmetics founder is busy binge watching Netflix's next-level relationship show Love is Blind. Kim, who revealed on Twitter that she was recommended to watch the show by best friend La La Anthony and sister Kendall Jenner, has become undoubtedly 'obsessed' with the program's extreme take on love. The series documents several couples as they go from 'meeting and getting engaged without ever seeing each other' to 'walking down the aisle on their wedding day,' according to People. Look at me: Upon arrival. Kardashian put on a dramatic display, as she pulled out a pair of black shades and placed them over her dark brown peepers 'Alright @KendallJenner and @lala got me to watch Love Is Blind and Im obsessed!!!!!!!!!,' tweeted the 39-year-old on Wednesday evening. Anthony, clearly knowing her bestie was going to fall head over heels for the reality series, replied with a sarcastic, 'Haaaaa!!!! I told u!!!,' shortly after. Love Is Blind premiered on Neflix last month and upon hitting the platform, audiences were immediately drawn in to the series' one of a kid premise. A 25-year-old man was arrested for attacking his wifes uncle with a sword, following a longstanding enmity between them as the couple had married against their familys wishes. The police have also booked the woman and her sister. Abhimanyu Porjis, 37, sister Minakshi had married against her familys wishes. Her 25-year-old daughter Aarti later married Salman Shaikh, 25, and changed her name to Shabnam. Aartis younger sister Divya, 19, changed her name to Amrin and married Armaan Shaikh, who is in his early twenties, from the same village. Porji, a farmer from Dhansar village in Taloja, did not approve of these marriages. On Wednesday night, Porjis wife Pratibha saw Amrin and Shabnam near her house and objected. The two sisters verbally abused the woman. One of them then pelted a stone at Pratibha after which she informed Porji. Porji reached home within a few minutes as he was nearby and tried to intervene and calm the women. Suddenly, Salman arrived there with a sword and attacked him on the head, said an officer from Taloja police station. Salmans brother Zulfikar also arrived carrying a weapon. They attacked Porji. The police have booked Salman, his brother Zulfikar and Porjis nieces Shabnam and Amrin under sections of Indian Penal Code and Indian Arms Act. Salman was arrested while the rest are absconding, said the police. . SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A cybercrime victim needs to know she can seek justice By Sashini Rodrigo Women in Need (WIN) together with the CID launches a more effective procedure for police to adopt when addressing cyber harassment complaints View(s): View(s): Nilakshi*, a 16-year-old girl, was in a relationship with a boy. As part of the growing trend for young couples, she had sent him semi-nude photos of herself. Two years into the relationship, Nilakshi realised he was not suitable for her, and she would rather focus on her studies. A while later, Nilakshis brother received a message from an anonymous number informing him that his sisters nude photos were circulating on social media and other websites. He was then sent these pictures. Nilakshis brother beat her for the shame and embarrassment she had caused her family, and the situation sent Nilakshi into severe depression. She felt that her only options were to either start communicating with her ex to stop the circulation of the pictures, or to commit suicide. Several counselling sessions later, and with the assistance of Women in Need (WIN) and the police, the matter was settled with a strict warning to the perpetrator. However, the possibility of these images resurfacing remains high. It will remain an endless concern and psychological burden she will carry all her life. Cases like Nilakshis the fallout of a relationship make up 70% of the cases that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) deals with on a daily basis. Violence against women has reached a dangerous new precedent with the rise of cyber stalking and cyber harrassment. A staggering majority of women and girls, from as young as eleven years old, are being targeted, defamed, and abused online. The horrifying trend of pressuring people into taking explicit photographs and then blackmailing them with threats of exposure has stalked the lives of countless victims, some to the point of no return. The prevalence of this issue in Sri Lanka has hit a breaking point, where gender based violence (GBV) has become deeply rooted in todays society based on unequal power relations, stigma and shame. After receiving an increasing number of complaints about the harassment of women and girls on online platforms, Women In Need began looking into ways to address this issue with tangible results. On February 28, WIN together with CID launched the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Police in Addressing Complaints on Cyber Harassment. WIN also shared key findings on their research on the Technology Facilitated Violence against Women and Girls in Sri Lanka, together with consultants and experts in the field. Since their inception in 1987, WIN has worked towards addressing the issues of violence against women and girls in Sri Lanka, while providing free crisis intervention services to vulnerable victims of violence and advocating for the much needed reform systems and frameworks. As their research showed, some of the biggest challenges in addressing cyber harassment included low awareness that a crime may have been committed, the lack of policy or procedure, gaps in law training, political will and the lack of resources. Speakers at the launch Ermiza Tegal and Deanna Uyangoda, Attorneys-at-Law explained that there is a knowledge gap with regards to the crimes involved. Aside from this, the approach and procedure adopted by the Police are varied, with a strong tendency to either not entertain or pass on the complaint to CID Cyber Crimes. There are also serious challenges to handling sensitive material and securing privacy of the victims. Online or digital abuse is an umbrella term referring to a range of harmful behaviour experienced on various online platforms as well as mobile phones and other electronic devices. According to WIN, this has also become one of the most easiest and most offensive form of harrasment against a person, and is the newest manifestation of sexual violence against women and girls. As the Chairman of WIN Savithri Wijesekera points out, the unauthorised distribution of a persons sexual images, violates, humiliates and intimidates the victim and the damage done is irreversible and irreparable. The psychological impact of this is also considered longer lasting as opposed to other forms of violence, since these images keep circulating online. The problem is not actual impunity, rather its the perception of impunity. He thinks he can get away with it. He knows he can get away with it and that is why he keeps doing it, Deanne shares, adding that the aim is to curtail this issue. There is also a need for more resources for the police to tackle these issues, because taking a complaint is simply the beginning. Eliminating the fear faced by most victims placing the complaint is of utmost importance, and in order to do this the victim needs to be put first. The much-needed implementation of the SOP will mean that anyone, in any part of the country, will be able to seek assistance from the police with the hope of finally getting justice for this insidious crime. Box: Punishment alone wont do; prevention and education vital Addressing these issues in the long term cannot be limited by a strict approach, explains Hans Billimoria from the Grassrooted Trust. Simply making sure the perpetrators are punished is only one part of the solution. Most importantly, preventive education in schools and educating the parents on these issues need to be carried out as well. As Hans points out, today children as young as 11 to 13 years old are getting online, as the vast majority of people now use the Internet to maintain relationships above anything else. In the same vein, this level of connectivity comes a dark side. Love and trust are some of the main motivations for sending nude pictures between young people. The nude is now a symbol of fidelity, he explains. Though such content may have been consensual at the time, breakdowns in relationships result in the unlawful distribution of these images to third parties a direct violation. Hans recalls handling four cases where the girls have preferred the sexual violence, to their parents finding out that theyve sent these pictures. What is the status of relationship between the parent and the child that allows for this blackmail and control? Prevention starts with education, and Hans notes that people need to be educated on data retrieval software. Personal data on phones and laptops are easily retrievable through software, at any given phone repair shop. So youd think the pictures are gone once they are deleted. But they arent. Another growing problem is the platforms on which these images could be shared. According to the experimental research work on the local cybersphere, it was revealed that the girl most often would share an image with the boy (after much convincing or emotional blackmail) and the boy then shares this on his Whatsapp groups and larger Dropbox folders. Hans explains that online violations are not just about nude pictures, it also has much to do with our general attitude. There is a lot to learn, starting from a young age. Respect, consent, empathy, focusing on self esteem and helping our children understand what trust means, and that they need to be sensible and think through the consequences of their actions. What is SOP? Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Police in Addressing Complaints on Cyber Harassment: Recording of complaint to be improved in order to improve investigation and prosecution All complaints will be recorded Identification of offence to be improved Separate counts of offences to be recorded Sensitive material will be stored in a manner ensuring privacy and integrity of evidence Technical assistance will be obtained (Police IT division, CID) Court orders will be obtained to get further evidence in a timely manner Complaints will be notified to DIG Crimes, Director of Women and Childrens Bureau for monitoring Improved victim focus and security to improve confidence in policing institution Complaint will be recorded in the first instance The nature of the victimhood will be taken into consideration (requires safe space, may need accompaniment) Complainants ensured of level of privacy of sensitive material Victim blaming/shaming will be eliminated Re-victimization caused by repetition of complaint to be reduced Complaints to be processed without delay Focus on engaging remedies: taking down harmful content, protection orders, victim and witness protections Existing legal framework to be effectively used Sexual harassment (Section 345 Penal code) Criminal Intimidation (Section 483 Penal code) Cheating by personation (Section 399 Penal Code) Make, produce or have possession of obscene material (Obscene publications) Importing, exporting, conveying or circulation (Obscene publications) Accesses victims computer/information within computer (Computer Crimes Act) Information obtained (Downloads, uploads, copies) without lawful authority from anothers computer (Computer Crimes Act) Domestic violence (Prevention of Domestic Violence Act) Punishment alone wont do; prevention and education vital Addressing these issues in the long term cannot be limited by a strict approach, explains Hans Billimoria from the Grassrooted Trust. Simply making sure the perpetrators are punished is only one part of the solution. Most importantly, preventive education in schools and educating the parents on these issues need to be carried out as well. As Hans points out, today children as young as 11 to 13 years old are getting online, as the vast majority of people now use the Internet to maintain relationships above anything else. In the same vein, with this level of connectivity comes a dark side. Love and trust are some of the main motivations for sending nude pictures between young people. The nude is now a symbol of fidelity, he explains. Though such content may have been consensual at the time, breakdowns in relationships result in the unlawful distribution of these images to third parties a direct violation. Hans recalls handling four cases where the girls have preferred the sexual violence, to their parents finding out that theyve sent these pictures. What is the status of relationship between the parent and the child that allows for this blackmail and control? Prevention starts with education, and Hans notes that people need to be educated on data retrieval software. Personal data on phones and laptops are easily retrievable through software, at any given phone repair shop. So youd think the pictures are gone once they are deleted. But they arent. Another growing problem is the platforms on which these images could be shared. According to the experimental research work on the local cybersphere, it was revealed that the girl most often would share an image with the boy (after much convincing or emotional blackmail) and the boy then shares this on his Whatsapp groups and larger Dropbox folders. Hans explains that online violations are not just about nude pictures, it also has much to do with our general attitude. There is a lot to learn, starting from a young age. Respect, consent, empathy, focusing on self esteem and helping our children understand what trust means, and that they need to be sensible and think through the consequences of their actions. After he died in 2004, I was determined that her life would not be ruined. I arranged something for us to look forward to every afternoon: watching Gilmore Girls; getting a hot chocolate. She and my husband, Frank, were very close. I worked full-time [then as principal at Sydneys Woollahra Public School] and he worked from home, so he was her primary carer when she was young. After he was diagnosed in 2003 with leiomyosarcoma, a rare cancer, I had to tell her that it was terminal because he couldnt do it. It is the hardest thing Ive ever done. MAUREEN: Johanna was born early, at 29 weeks, and suffered a lung haemorrhage at day three. We didnt know if she would survive. As a result, I suffer from dreadful separation anxiety. She came home at two months and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 12 months. Johanna on her mother Maureen: "Knowing how much Mum believes in me spurs me on. I had low self-esteem as a kid, and Mum would always build my confidence." Credit:Peter Braig It was always a battle to get her included in things at school. In 2007, the mean girls wouldnt sell her a ticket to the year 10 formal as they didnt believe anyone would want to take her. I was furious, so I arranged for a family friend to take her. When she was in year 10, the school told me she had to leave because it would be too hard for her to do the Higher School Certificate. I said, Thats not an option. She is going to do the HSC. She ended up doing her HSC over two years, partly at school, and partly at TAFE. In 2011 she started uni, doing a course in communications and media. I was thrilled that shed chosen her own direction. In 2014, she went on a six-month exchange program to Minnesota University. I had met Keith [Maureens current husband] by then and we flew over to get her settled in. She was worried about being away from me for so long. When we left, she was sobbing. I wasnt; I dont do that in front of her. She ended up loving it so much that she wanted to do another six months. She came home with a more positive view of my relationship with Keith. Shed always loved him, but she was concerned that I might abandon her for him. She returned more comfortable about her place in our relationship, and confident in her own ability to go anywhere. I realised that while she will always be there, Im capable of doing things on my own. Johanna Garvin We share the same values. We are both committed to social justice. We both love the theatre. Shes the most unmaterialistic person Ive ever met, whereas I love fashion, and nice things. Im a blabber; shes more of a listener. If theres one thing Id change about her, Id like to see her be more of an advocate for herself. According to Shmyhal, the government will not spontaneously close the mines but will work toward the development of coal regions. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said the government transferred UAH 654 million (US$26.2 million) to pay off debts on wages to miners. "We agreed and the president promised at the All-Ukrainian Miners' Meeting to pay off half of the debts in March. Indeed, yesterday and the day before yesterday debts in the amount of UAH 654 million were transferred to the accounts, including of the Pershotravneva mine administration. This is the first step," the prime minister said during a "Freedom of Speech by Savik Shuster" panel show on Ukraine TV channel on March 6, according to the government portal. Read alsoZelensky names condition for shutting unprofitable coal mines According to Shmyhal, the government will not spontaneously close the mines but will work toward the development of coal regions. The prime minister said the government had been working with the World Bank for several weeks to develop a program of equitable transformation of coal regions. According to him, it is a long-term program, which stipulates that even the natural mine closure will involve planning the future of this territory. Shmyhal added the government would not close the mines until the state found alternative employment for the people. European 24 hour Contest European 24 hour contest SSB on HamSphere 4.0 Date 2020-03-07 at 07:00 UTC end 2020-03-08 at 07:00 UTC. Total 24 hours Stations will need to work as many operators who are located in countries and territories which belong to the constant and negotiating members of the European Union, along with all other operators for distance points. Mode: SSB 160, 80, 60, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 11 and 10 meters. All contest contacts MUST be above 35kHz from the bottom of each band (example: 7.035 and up, 14.235 and up, 21.335 and up). Any contest contact made below the 35kHz contest band edge will not count. You can work all stations (EU and non-EU) and you will receive points for distance between you and operator (as follows): 1 point per QSO (0-500km) 2 points per QSO (500km-2500km) 3 points per QSO (2500km-5000km) 4 points per QSO (5000km-10000km) 5 points per QSO (10000km +) 1 point for each multiplier of a new worked country and/or territory belonging to the constant and negotiating members of the European Union. You can work all stations (EU and non-EU) and you will receive points for distance between you and operator (as follows): Repeated QSOs with the same operator are valid on every new band. 15 minutes must have passed before you can contact the same op on a different band. Total points for distance x (Total multipliers for each new worked European country and/or territory according to DXHS list+1) +1 is for cases where operator did not work with any EU country. Aaland islands (EU territory of Finland) AX Albania (negotiating member) AL Austria AT Azores islands (EU territory of Portugal) 1D Balearic islands (EU territory of Spain) 2B Belgium BE Bulgaria BG Crete (EU territory of Greece) 7C Croatia HR Cyprus CY Czech republic CZ Denmark DK Dodecanese (EU territory of Greece) 6D Estonia EE Faroe islands (EU territory of Denmark) FO Finland FI France FR Germany DE Greece GR Guernsey (EU territory of United Kingdom) GG Hungary HU Iceland (negotiating member) IS Ireland IE Isle of Man (EU territory of United Kingdom) IM Italy IT Jersey (EU territory of United Kingdom) JE Latvia LV Lithuania LT Luxembourg LU Macedonia (negotiating member) MK Malta MT Market Reef (EU territory of Finland) 1M Montenegro (negotiating member) ME Netherlands NL Poland PL Portugal PT Romania RO Sardinia (EU territory of Italy) 1S Serbia (negotiating member) RS Slovakia SK Slovenia SI Spain ES Sweden SE Turkey (negotiating member) TR United Kingdom GB HamSphere 4.0 is a virtual ham radio via internet VoIP. You can have a free trial: https://hamspheref0duw.blogspot.com/2020/02/hamsphere-40-free-trial-for-one-month.html I will be active from my REMOTE on Amsterdam island FT5Z/F0DUW ! 73 and hope to copy you soon on HS 4.0 Frank FDUW, FJ/FDUW and FT5Z/F0DUW China's fight against the coronavirus epidemic has triggered anger over the neglect of frontline female workers who have struggled to access menstrual products, battled with ill-fitting equipment and had their heads shaved. Reports that some medical staff were given birth control pills in order to delay their periods have also prompted outrage. As the world marks International Women's Day, women in China have rallied against measures they deem discriminatory as the government races to contain the crisis, which has disrupted the lives of tens of millions of people under lockdown in central Hubei province, the virus epicentre. Shanghai resident Jiang Jinjing became concerned about how female medical workers were dealing with their periods, after workers spoke out about avoiding using the toilet to conserve their protective suits. The 24-year-old asked about the issue on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform, and received thousands of comments, including urgent anonymous appeals from women in Hubei. "Many female medical workers sent messages, saying their periods were really causing a lot of trouble," said Jiang, who launched a donation drive of sanitary products. "Can't even eat or drink all day while wearing the isolation suit, let alone change sanitary napkins," one told her. Her efforts galvanized individuals and companies to send more than 600,000 sanitary pads and period-proof underwear, which can be worn for longer, to frontline workers. China ordered fast-track routes for emergency supplies entering Hubei province -- but sanitary products weren't initially considered necessities. Some hospital officials have turned the donations away, Jiang said, because they didn't have "sufficient awareness of this issue". "The leaders are all male comrades," one nurse in Hubei's Shiyan city told AFP, who asked to remain anonymous. While the provincial leaders are overwhelmingly male, women account for the majority of nurses and doctors on the frontline, according to the official All-China Women's Federation. Jiang also had to face trolling from online critics. "Even human lives can't be protected, why care about that issue in the crotch of your pants?" one wrote in response to her campaign. But Jiang and her volunteers remain unfazed. "We're very happy that we can do a little work for women's rights," she told AFP. The portrayal of women fighting the virus has prompted a rare wave of criticism in a country where online discussion is usually tightly restricted. A Shanghai university hospital, which praised the "woman warriors" that made up 79 percent of its reinforcement team to Hubei, said it was donating 200 bottles of pills to "postpone female team members' 'unspeakable' special periods." The hospital later defended itself, saying the women took the medication voluntarily, but the hospital was slammed by Weibo users who accused officials of depriving women of control over their bodies. "In order to avoid providing sanitary pads, you have created this kind of volunteering!" said one. "Of course they would rather take progesterone than stain their protective suits with blood." Propaganda videos of female medical workers having their heads shaved -- supposedly to improve hygiene -- have also backfired, with many doubting that the women, some of whom were weeping, had participated willingly. "Stop using women's bodies as tools for propaganda," read one widely-shared essay responding to the videos on a WeChat-based blog. The essay was later removed from the platform for "illegal" content. A social media post from state broadcaster CCTV which described unnamed workers posing in oversized hazmat suits as "cute" drew similar ire. Weibo users pointed out that they were likely to be female workers given the ill-fitting suits. "Fat lot of good being cute does when it comes to safety!!" wrote one user, whose comments were reposted more than 27,000 times. The strength of online debate shows that public awareness of gender equality has grown, said activist Feng Yuan, who co-founded a Beijing-based non-profit focusing on women. But stereotypes and propaganda "erase" women by portraying them as "recipients of help, or as long-suffering caregivers, or eulogized victims or self-sacrificers," she said. "Instead of living people, this kind of propaganda conversely strengthens gender stereotypes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Why, when Joe Biden's mental decline is so obvious, are so many former Obamaphiles pledging their spurious support for the man? Something's up. It is beyond clear that Biden is not up to the job. This fact cannot escape the notice of Susan Rice, James Comey, John Brennan, et al., all those conspirators who tried so treasonously hard to destroy Donald Trump. They surely know better than most that Biden is a dead man walking. So why the all-out campaign to support his candidacy? Hmmm. They must have a plan. Is their plan to submarine Joe before the convention, admit he is incapacitated, and put up a heretofore untested candidate at a brokered convention? Or do they have a plan to appoint a V.P. candidate they assume will become president in short order? Perhaps, as Joel Gilbert speculated here yesterday, the plan is to install Hillary as the candidate to run against President Trump in a last-ditch effort to derail his fabulously successful presidency. They certainly have some devious scheme to replace Biden by hook or crook, for his dementia cannot possibly have escaped their notice. The now available Hillary documentary for all to see is probably meant to prime the public for her potential last-minute candidacy. It is not very likely to be successful. She is the kind of harridan who makes Elizabeth Warren seem kind and gentle! Hillary is also a narcissist of the worst order, the kind who never takes responsibility for the havoc she has wrought on the lives of others, let alone her country. She is in fact one of the most corrupt politicians ever to prevail for so many years, to become fabulously wealthy for her many deceits and crimes. She has been a blight upon the U.S. since she gained power as the wife of the governor of Arkansas. She spent forty years covering up for her husband's crimes against women and has somehow lived to tell no tales. Her fans are certifiable morons, susceptible to any and all of the propaganda the left propels into the mainstream media. She has yet to endorse Biden. To support his candidacy is to deny his indisputable advancing dementia. Credit to the voters of South Carolina is due for sure: they understand the horror an American-hating communist would perpetrate upon this great nation. A Bernie Sanders presidency would be the end of America as founded. Those who support him either are tragically ignorant of the genocidal reality of socialism wherever tried or hate their own nation so much they are willing to suffer the monstrous consequences of electing a communist president. Make no mistake: Bernie Sanders intends to be a communist president if elected. Like Castro, Maduro, Chavez, Lenin, and all the dictators he so admires, he would be a tyrant. For nearly fifty years, he has wanted to punish those who fend for themselves and succeed. A man who admires Fidel Castro must never come to power in America. Never. Bless those voters in South Carolina who know this. Sadly, Joe Biden was their only other choice. Chances are, those same voters will vote for President Trump in November. They were savvy enough to know that Sanders would be a disaster; they are shrewd enough to know that Joe Biden is senile. Most of us of a certain age recognize advancing senility when we see it because we have seen it ourselves; we know the heartbreak. Joe is done. So what is their plan? Whatever it is, it cannot be good for the American people. The left never considers the American people, never gives a thought to its constituents. Leftists are always and only about power and their continued access to the wealth that power provides for them. They are certain of their own superiority, their due privilege to lead and control the rest of us. The fact that Mike Bloomberg actually thought he could step in and purchase the presidency with his billions is proof of the left's mindset. His failure to succeed was delicious; the American people cannot be bought. Some of them can be fooled for a while, but in the end, their good sense prevails. That is how we elected the best president in decades, Donald Trump. They will re-elect him in November despite the left and left media's never-ending attempts to destroy his presidency. When the history of the left's wholesale assault on America, its founding principles and values from the 1960s on, is written, it will prove that the nation was under constant assault by the anti-American left. The left has successfully indoctrinated two generations of university students to loathe their country. Leftists have successfully made race, class, and sex the defining characteristics of every person, who must be a designated member of a victim group or an oppressor. They give no credence to the value of the individual or to any individual's character. MLK is rolling over in his grave. All of those leftists coming out of the woodwork to support Joe Biden know only too well that he is an intellectual lightweight, "wrong on every foreign policy issue for forty years," (Robert Gates), a mean-spirited bastard who delighted in destroying Robert Bork and humiliating the great Clarence Thomas. He is as corrupt a politician as there ever was, who absolutely is guilty and compromised by his efforts to enrich his ne'er-do-well son, his brother, sister and daughter. The thought of this man even becoming close to the presidency is abhorrent. Whatever his pseudo-supporters have in mind, it is not good for the American people; not one bit. We will soon learn what their plan is. Chances are it won't be pretty and chances are the American people will not fall for it. Image credit: White House archives, public domain. The Bradley County Sheriffs Office arrested Matthew Bryan Garman on a charge of fighting or baiting of animals after he posted a video of two dogs fighting at his residence with He did good as the caption. One of the dogs involved in the fighting has since died. A team of veterinarians in Bradley County sought to save the life of "Manny," who was gravely injured in the illegal dog fight. However, he has since died. The owner of Manny said he had no idea where his dog had disappeared to. At approximately 4:24 p.m. on Friday, a video was posted on Garmans Facebook account showing two dogs fighting. In the video, one dog was on top of the other, pinning it down and biting it on the neck. The caption referred to the dog on top, which was later determined to belong to the family at the residence where the dog fight occurred. There were no attempts made by spectators to stop the dog fight during the recording of this video, the Sheriff's Office said. The video was messaged to the Bradley County Sheriffs Office Facebook page by a concerned citizen and from there was sent to the BCSO Criminal Investigations Division, at which time Sheriff Steve Lawson ordered an investigation. Detectives at the BCSO reviewed the case with the District Attorneys office and then arrested Garman, who is 21. He was taken to the Bradley County Jail. By Tim Reid and Simon Lewis (Reuters) - Bernie Sanders launched a full-throated attack against Joe Biden on Friday, assailing his Democratic presidential rival over his record on trade, abortion, gay rights and Social Security, as the pair faced a slew of crucial nominating contests next week. By Tim Reid and Simon Lewis (Reuters) - Bernie Sanders launched a full-throated attack against Joe Biden on Friday, assailing his Democratic presidential rival over his record on trade, abortion, gay rights and Social Security, as the pair faced a slew of crucial nominating contests next week. Sanders, until recently the front-runner in the party's race to face Republican President Donald Trump in November, now trails in delegates and is desperate to regain momentum after Biden's strong Super Tuesday showing this week. At a hastily arranged news conference in Phoenix, Sanders, a U.S. Senator from Vermont, dug deep into Bidens 40-year record. He criticized Biden for having opposed the rights of gay people to serve in the U.S. military and for voting against federal funding for abortions, stances the former vice president has since rejected. I was there on the right side of history, and my friend Joe Biden was not," Sanders said. Sanders lambasted Biden for supporting trade deals he said had been "a disaster for Michigan" and accused Biden of trying in the past to cut Social Security, the government-run pension and disability program. Biden, who denies ever advocating cuts to Social Security, snapped back in a tweet on Friday: "Get real, Bernie. The only person who's going to cut Social Security if he's elected is Donald Trump. Maybe you should spend your time attacking him." The exchange reflects mounting tension between the two White House hopefuls in what has become a tight two-way race since U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and billionaire former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg ended their White House bids after disappointing showings in the Super Tuesday primaries. Sanders, 78, said he would support Biden, 77, if he becomes the Democratic nominee but insisted that only he, not Biden, could energize the American people enough to beat Trump. Warren's exit meant that what had been hailed as the most diverse field of candidates in U.S. history narrowed to a race for the nomination between two white, septuagenarian men. Tulsi Gabbard, a congresswoman from Hawaii with virtually no chance of winning, is the only other remaining Democratic candidate. On Friday, the Democratic National Committee, which oversees the party's presidential debates, released new qualifying thresholds for the next debate in Arizona on Mar. 15. Candidates will need at least 20% of delegates awarded so far, essentially excluding Gabbard, who has won less than 1 percent. Biden's Super Tuesday turnaround benefited as the Democratic Party establishment mobilized to try and stop Sanders, a democratic socialist, with former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota dropping out of the race and endorsing Biden. continued to rack up more endorsements on Friday, as many Democrats continued to coalesce behind him to stop a Sanders nomination. Onetime Democratic presidential rivals Deval Patrick, the former Massachusetts governor, and John Delaney, a former congressman from Maryland, announced their support for Biden. Ahead of Michigan's primary, the state's lieutenant governor, Garlin Gilchrist II, backed Biden, as did part of the state's United Food and Commercial Workers Union, and former U.S. Senator Carl Levin of Michigan. Biden also received endorsements in other states with upcoming primary contests, including from Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, in Washington state, and Ruben Gallego, an Arizona congressman. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois are expected to soon announce endorsements of Biden, according to a source familiar with the matter. Illinois and Arizona vote on March 17, along with Florida and Ohio. A big win for Biden in delegate-rich Michigan on Tuesday would deal another major blow to Sanders' hopes of becoming the Democratic nominee. Four other states will hold primary elections on Tuesday: Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri and Washington state. North Dakota will hold caucuses. (Reporting by Tim Reid, Simon Lewis and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by David Gregorio and Jonathan Oatis) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. London and Washington: The Morrison government has struck a landmark deal to tap into the US government's tightly-guarded emergency fuel reserves, a move that will help lower the risk of Australia plunging into an economic and national security crisis. The agreement, to be signed by Energy Minister Angus Taylor in Washington on Monday (Tuesday AEDT), will help shore up the dangerously low supplies in Australia that have left consumers vulnerable to price spikes and rationing in the event of a sudden supply disruption. Petrol and diesel pumps at a service station in Sydney. Credit:AAP The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed last year that the government was in talks with the Trump administration to buy millions of barrels of oil from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Australia imports 90 per cent of its liquid fuels but only has enough in storage to last 54 days well below the 90 days it is obliged to stockpile under an agreement with the International Energy Agency (IEA). CHICO, CALIF. - The Inaugural Pleasant Valley High School Music Gala will take place in Chico on Saturday, March 7th. The event gets underway at 5:30 p.m. and continues through 10:30 p.m. at the Chico Masonic Family Center on West East Avenue. There will be dinner and live music, along with a silent auction. The goal is to raise money to support the music program at the high school. Last year student band members travelled to Disneyland. This year they hope to perform in Reno, and New York City. Tickets are still available through Eventbrite and there will be limited tickets at the door. You can find out more information by visiting pvhsmusicbooster.blogspot.com or on the Event Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=615706555896931. By Roslan Khasawneh and Anshuman Daga SINGAPORE, March 6 (Reuters) - At least 20 banks facing losses running into hundreds of millions of dollars from the collapse of Singapore-based Agritrade International Pte Ltd (AIPL) have accused the commodity trader of fraud, court documents show. Singapore's High Court appointed an interim judicial manager for the firm last month after rejecting its request for a debt moratorium on $1.55 billion in outstanding liabilities to dozens of creditors, including $983 million owed to secured lenders. The banks have filed cases in Singapore's high court to recover their money and allege fraud at AIPL, with Singapore's United Overseas Bank (UOB) and Malaysia's Maybank owed nearly $108 million each, documents show. "There is strong evidence that a massive, premeditated and systematic fraud has been perpetrated by the defendants," Dutch bank ING said in a Feb. 12 affidavit, referring to AIPL's founder, Say Pek Ng, and his son Xinwei Ng, its chief executive. ING has nearly $100 million in outstanding credit, followed by Japan's MUFG Bank with about $78 million and France's Natixis with $67 million, according to the documents. All the banks declined to comment to Reuters regarding the cases. Oon & Bazul LLP, representing AIPL and Xinwei Ng, Marican & Associates, which represents Say Peck Ng, and Agritrade Resources did not immediately respond to requests for comment. AIPL is the parent company of Hong Kong-listed Agritrade Resources Ltd. In court affidavits, Xinwei said AIPL encountered financial problems in 2018, amid a declining commodities market, and its woes were compounded after many banks halted funding. Xinwei said AIPL hired FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte Ltd as an independent financial adviser in January to review its financial position, among other matters. Subsequently it widened the scope of FTI's activities to include investigations into creditors' accusations of fraud. Story continues FTI issued an interim report saying it had "uncovered significant fraudulent activities which includes the provision of duplicate bills of lading to multiple financiers," Xinwei told the court. FTI declined to comment to Reuters on the report. Responding to fraud allegations against AIPL, Xinwei he managed the day-to-day business of Agritrade Resources and its subsidiaries, while his father was in charge of AIPL's trading business. "I will fully support the IFA, police and the lawyers to fully uncover the degree of the fraud and do whatever is needed to trace and recover the monies which has been obtained from the lenders," Xinwei said in the documents. Xinwei said AIPL terminated the elder Ng's employment on Feb. 1, after which the latter resigned. Xinwei told creditors of this development at their meetings, he added. "My father suddenly left us and flew out of Singapore on or around December 21, 2019. I understand that he went to China. I do not know if he intends to return to Singapore." (Reporting by Roslan Khasawneh and Anshuman Daga; Additional reporting by Jessica Jaganathan; Editing by Florence Tan and Clarence Fernandez) More than 70 HR professionals and business owners from local SMEs to large multinationals attended the much-anticipated Employment Law breakfast briefing hosted by Collins McNicholas Recruitment & HR Services Group. The annual event, which was held last Wednesday at the Sligo Park Hotel, is hosted each year for HR professionals, managers and business owners to assist them in addressing employment law issues from employment equality and terms and conditions through to termination of employment and employees' rights, as well as information on new and amended regulations. Collins McNicholas was the main sponsor of the event which was co-hosted by CIPD North West and guest speaker was Alastair Purdy from Purdy & Co. Solicitors in Galway. Alastair, a native of Sligo, is widely published in the area of employment law and is recognised as one of Ireland's leading practitioners in this field. The event was attended by over 70 professionals from a variety of industry sectors across the North West region. Speaking at the event, Antoinette O'Flaherty, Director at Collins McNicholas said: "The North West region is home to many of our key international clients as well as indigenous companies who have exciting and ambitious plans for 2020. "However, with progress comes a need for business owners and HR professionals to be kept up to date and in tune with changes in employment legislation. Alastair provided us with an insightful overview of legislative changes and interesting case law, and I'm delighted to see that this annual Employment Law Event has now become a key date in our clients' calendars." West Palm Beach President Donald Trump pushed out Mick Mulvaney, his acting White House chief of staff, and replaced him with Rep. Mark Meadows, a stalwart conservative ally, shaking up his team in the middle of one of the biggest crises of his presidency. Trump announced the change on Friday on Twitter after arriving in Florida for a weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate, choosing to make one of the most significant switches he can make in his White House on a Friday night when most of the country had tuned out news for the weekend. As a consolation prize, the president named Mulvaney a special envoy for Northern Ireland. Trump's decision to push out Mulvaney came as the president confronted a coronavirus outbreak that has unsettled much of the country, threatened the economy and posed a new challenge to his reelection campaign. But the decision was seen as a long-delayed move cleaning up in the aftermath of the Senate impeachment trial as he shuffles his inner circle for the eight-month sprint to Election Day. Trump called Meadows on Thursday to offer him the job, according to a person familiar with the discussion. Mulvaney, who took an annual trip to Nevada this week, learned of the decision on Friday, another person familiar with the events said. The replacement was widely seen in the West Wing as a chance for the president to reinvigorate his staff, over which Mulvaney was seen as losing control. In Meadows, Trump will have an ally whom he has treated as a confidant and a bellwether of congressional conservatives for much of his term. Meadows takes over as Hope Hicks, the former White House communications director, returns on Monday in a new role working for Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner. Meadows, a founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has been one of the president's most vocal supporters, fiercely advocating his agenda on Capitol Hill and serving as one of Trump's most ardent defenders during the House impeachment inquiry and Senate trial. Trump soured on Mulvaney long ago but was warned by advisers not to get rid of him until after his trial in the Senate. Agra, March 7 : In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Naveen Jain, mayor of Agra city that annually gets over seven million tourists, has asked the Centre to close the iconic Taj Mahal for the time being. The tourism industry is not happy with Jain's suggestion. In a letter to the Union Tourism Minister, Jain said: "If the monuments remained closed, the inflow of tourists to Agra could be checked to prevent people here from falling victim to the virus. From October to March end is the tourist season when lakhs of tourists visit the city. The mayor has also cancelled all 'Holi milan' programmes in the city and appealed to the people to avoid visiting crowded places. Navin Jain said the monuments should remain closed till the situation came under control. Agra is visited daily by a large number of tourists from all over, he added. "The people here were scared of all the foreigners and looked at them with suspicion. This situation could turn nasty and tarnish India's image internationally," he said. The visit of the 14 Italian tourists, who later tested positive to the virus, to the city has raised concerns of the administration, and the hotel management was passing the buck to the administration. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Mukesh Vats, however, said the central protocol and guidelines will be strictly followed. So far, 127 samples have been sent to Lucknow for testing, five were found positive. Testing of remaining samples is continuing, officials said. The Tourism industry leaders here, however, are not happy with the Mayor's demand to close the Taj and other monuments till March end. Several hoteliers said this would send a wrong message and adversely affect tourism industry in the long run. The hospitality industry has already taken a dent this season with an all time decline in the number of visitors to Agra in February. The annual 10-day cultural extravaganza, the Taj Mahotsava proved to be a flop, with hardly any visitors to the fair at the Shilpgram, 500 metres from the Taj Mahal. The city is already in high alert mode. Health Department officials have screened more than 55,000 people in 18 areas. Fogging and cleaning campaigns are being run in congested localities. The hotel floors were being washed twice a day and close watch was being kept on all the tourists. Groups of doctors have held meetings in colonies to sensitise the people against the coronavirus. There were some prayers and havan held on the banks of Yamuna. B ritain is braced for a fifth weekend of heavy rain as more flood warnings were issued for parts of the UK. After the wettest February on record, the UK will be hit with more wind and rain over the weekend before settling into a milder week. Two yellow weather warnings were issued for parts of Scotland by the Met Office for Saturday as heavy downpours were forecast in northern parts of the UK. The wet weather will then move across the country and all parts of the UK will be hit with rain by Sunday, forecaster Luke Miall told the Standard. In Scotland, this spell of rain will be followed by blustery winds of up to 50mph. A car crashes through standing water as heavy rain causes flooding on roads near Canterbury in Kent / PA Temperatures overnight on Saturday and into Sunday will plunge to -2C in the top half of the country, Mr Miall said. On whether the UK can expect any more named storms in the near future, he said: We have not got any new storms this weekend - the first weekend for a while. We have a rain warning in force this afternoon and that weather system will make it was across the country giving all parts rain eventually." As we get to mid-week it is probably going to be milder in the south. Cars remain stranded in the flooded village of Snaith East Yorkshire / Getty Images The Environment Agency said flooding is likely in several locations in the UK over the next five days. A spokesman said: Flooding is expected to continue around the Aire washlands in Yorkshire, along the lower parts of the River Severn, and in parts of the south-east of England this weekend. Local river flooding is also possible across Wales and parts of the west of England after downpours on Saturday. This may cause some land, roads and properties to flood and some travel disruption, the EA said. 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 Mr Miall added: Spring tides on Wednesday mean coastal flooding is possible more widely on east and west coasts of England and the Welsh coasts, most likely around the Severn Estuary and in the north-west of England. It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Philip Morris (PM). Shares have added about 1.3% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500. Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Philip Morris due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers. Philip Morris Q4 Earnings Match Estimates, Revenues Beat Philip Morris reported fourth-quarter 2019 results. Adjusted earnings per share of $1.22 came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The bottom line edged down 2.4% year over year. On a like-for-like (LFL) basis, after excluding currency, the bottom line rose 4.3%. Net revenues of $7,713 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7,680 million. The top line grew 2.9% in the reported quarter. On an LFL basis, the metric was up 6.3%, excluding currency. This was backed by favorable pricing variance, partly negated by adverse volume/mix. During the quarter under review, revenues from combustible products fell 3% to $6,179 million due to declines in all regions, except South & Southeast Asia. Further, revenues in the RRPs improved 36.2% to $1,534 million. Most regions saw growth in RRPs, apart from South & Southeast Asia wherein revenues remained flat. Total cigarette and heated tobacco unit shipment volumes dropped 5% to 192.2 billion units. Cigarette shipment volumes fell 8% to 175.1 billion units in the quarter, while heated tobacco unit shipment volumes of nearly 17.1 billion units surged 40.7% year over year. Adjusted operating income grew nearly 6% to reach $2,863 million. On an LFL basis, after excluding currency, adjusted operating income improved 11.9% year over year. Adjusted operating margin expanded 1.1 points to 37.1% and 1.8 points to 36.7% (excluding currency and on an LFL basis). Region-Wise Performance Net revenues in the European Union increased 4.1% to $2,436 million. Revenues grew 8.6% at cc, courtesy of favorable pricing and volume/mix. Total shipment volumes in the region slipped 1.9% to 44,985 million units. In Eastern Europe, net revenues grew 20.3% to $982 million and rose 16.8% at cc. The upside can be attributed to favorable pricing and volume/mix. Total shipment volumes inched up 1.2% to 31,105 million units. In the Middle East & Africa region, net revenues declined 0.4% (down 1.6% at cc) to $984 million. Further, total shipment volumes fell 8.6% to 33,204 million units. Revenues in South & Southeast Asia rose 21.7% (up 16.1% at cc) to $1,487 million. The upside was driven by favorable pricing variance, partly offset by adverse volume/mix. Shipment volumes declined 6.1% to 44,704 million units. Revenues from East Asia & Australia fell 5.6% (at cc) to $1,270 million due to unfavorable volume/mix, partly compensated by pricing gains. Total shipment volumes dropped 5.8% to 18,725 million units. Finally, revenues from Latin America & Canada decreased 29.7% (down 28.6% at cc) to $554 million. Moreover, total shipment volumes declined 11.3% to 19,484 million units. Other Financials The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $6,861 million. Also, the company had long-term debt of $26,656 million and shareholders deficit of $9,599 million. Guidance While management foresees some hurdles in Indonesia in 2020, it expects to deliver currency-neutral net revenue and bottom-line growth in 2020 (on an LFL basis). In 2020, currency-neutral revenues are expected to rise about 5% on an LFL basis. Total cigarette and heated tobacco unit shipment volumes are likely to drop 2.5-3.5% on an LFL basis. In fact, international industry volumes are also expected to decline, owing to higher excise taxes in Indonesia and the cigarillo category gaining traction in Japan. Currency-neutral adjusted operating margin is expected to expand 150 bps on an LFL basis, thanks to cost-control measures, which are expected to completely offset additional investments in RRPs. Further, management expects effective tax rate for 2020 to be roughly 23%. Finally, the company envisions adjusted earnings per share of $5.50 for 2020. Excluding the expected currency impact of 4 cents, earnings are anticipated to be at least $5.54, which indicates growth of at least 8% from the year-ago quarters reported figure. Story continues How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then? In the past month, investors have witnessed a downward trend in estimates review. VGM Scores Currently, Philip Morris has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with an F. Charting a somewhat similar path, the stock was allocated a grade of D on the value side, putting it in the bottom 40% for this investment strategy. Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of C. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in. Outlook Estimates have been broadly trending downward for the stock, and the magnitude of these revisions indicates a downward shift. Notably, Philip Morris has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Grab is in favour of traditional taxis to assist drivers and attract customers The raise of digital economy has brought about considerable opportunities and huge challenges. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are now in a tough competition to survive, which forces them to push the envelope in developing and cultivating their personal brands. In addition, large institutions are looking for mergers and acquisitions opportunities to expand their scope of business. In that context, high-tech and innovative companies with extensive data can easily spot chances to scale up and stay full strength. According to statistics of Tech in Asia, the total value of capital into startups in Southeast Asia rose by more than $2.6 billion. Particularly, Vietnam with its young, open-minded, and free-hearted population is a promising market for fintech companies. In the digital market, SMEs not only have a chance to grow, they can also connect with other fintech platforms. One tech giant in this sector worth noting is Grab, which has been present in the Vietnamese ride-hailing technology market since the very first times when this new mode of transport was put into pilot operation. The new model allows drivers to draw up contracts via the internet. In this budding new line of business, Grab takes an important role in helping SMEs and traditional co-operatives generate greater profit. The plan does not only benefit enterprises or co-operatives, it also lends a sense of freedom for drivers. To date, Grab has supported hundreds of thousands of driver-partners better their livelihoods, with accumulated earnings of nearly $1 billion. More than four years since setting up pilot operations, Grab has joined forces with an estimated 300 transport co-operatives in five provinces and cities. Those who have participated in the programme claim that the contract is a win-win situation for both sides. When M&A are warming up, SMEs taking advantage of its strong technology foundation will relieve anxiety about being eliminated. In this case, Nguyen Hong Minh, director of Taxi Nguyen Minh in Hanoi revealed: We admit that it is not easy for us to accept Grab in ride-hailing market. Originally, we were against them because from our viewpoint, it is unfair that traditional taxi firms were bound by policies, while ride-hailing services using mobile apps were not. Afterwards, we gradually recognised and understood customer demand and decided to work side by side with the company. We have been co-operating with each other for more than five years. Now we say that Grab supports and strengthens SMEs. Minh added that since joining hands with Grab, the revenue of the co-operative has gone up and the number of passengers has increased by 30 per cent each year. What is worth mentioning is that Grab helps traditional taxi drivers access more passengers. GrabFood connects and supports SMEs in food delivery Grab has been the first and foremost ride-hailing app in the Vietnamese market so far. Besides the role of transport mediator, fintech companies like Grab or Go-Viet have also broken into food delivery, which has partly improved the cashless economy in Vietnam. A report from Grab states that the company has stayed stable since 2015, with the total number of trips ascending by around 29 per cent in 2019. Remarkably, Grabfood was the most notable business line, with the number of contracts up to 1,800 per cent. In the food sector, Grab Kitchen has encouraged people from all walks of life to join and use the Grab platform to approach customers, on an even footing with big companies. The platform allows SMEs to drum up business and make the most of their income. In its long-term strategy, the super app will invest $500 million in the Vietnamese startup ecosystem in the next five years. With its cutting-edge technology, the digitisation trend, as well as aid from investment funds, Grab will nurture and support promising Vietnamese startups in their journey to become national champions in Vietnams tech startup ecosystem, in line with the governments national strategy to create 10 technology unicorns by 2030. In the technology race, amid the growth of large institutions, tech-based SMEs can forge their own path in digital market, provided that they go along with the government in developing the country to reach the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Almost every day for the past week and a half the White House has held a briefing on the coronavirus, and the message that emerges from them is clear: Whatever happens in the outside world, as far as his administration is concerned, President Trump is doing a tremendous job. The transcripts of the briefings show administration officials appearing to engage in a competition to pay the most fulsome tribute to the leadership, vision and strong actions of the president. Surprisingly, Vice President Mike Pence, whose experience in praising Trump should have made him an odds-on favorite, appears to be in a dead heat with Health and Human Services Secretary Alexander Azar. The tone was set at the briefing on Feb. 26 at which Pence was introduced as the head of the coronavirus task force, and took pains to praise Trump for recognizing that the situation was, in fact, an emergency: This team has been, at your direction, Mr. President, meeting every day since it was established. At every public appearance since then, Pence has been scrupulous to attribute every action taken by the task force to Trumps direction or leadership, including such minutiae as revising federal inspection protocols for nursing homes. Then Azar got on board during the Feb. 26 briefing with this encomium: Thank you, Mr. President, for gathering your public health experts here today and for your strong leadership in keeping America safe. Because of this hard work and the presidents leadership, the immediate risk to the American public has been and continues to be low. The presidents early and decisive actions, including travel restrictions, have succeeded in buying us incredibly valuable time. The presidents actions taken with the strong support of his scientific advisors have proven to be appropriate, wise, and well-calibrated to the situation. Vice President Mike Pence at a recent briefing on the Trump administration's coronavirus response. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) At another briefing on March 3, Azar seized the honor of announcing that Trumps quarterly paycheck, which he regularly turns over to worthy causes within the government, had been donated to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health at HHS to fund the coronavirus preparedness and response activities. Story continues The vice president volleyed back the next day at a briefing with airline executives, as a transcript of the meeting shows: PENCE: You know, Mr. President, you said from early on that we were going to have a whole-of-government approach. But the truth is, as evidenced by all these great industry leaders, its really a whole-of-America approach. TRUMP: Right. PENCE: And the American people deserve to know that, according to all of our experts, the risk to the average American of contracting the coronavirus remains low. And thats largely owing to your decision, Mr. President, to suspend all travel from China into the United States and to quarantine all Americans that are returning. Were grateful for that, Mr. President. Trump of course is well-known for his fondness of praise from any source, no matter how patently self-interested or insincere: from his own Cabinet and members of his own party in Congress; from friendly media sources and even those he thinks are hostile, when they say something he likes; from North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, who sent him a beautiful letter and from Vladimir Putin, who bestowed on him one of Trumps favorite accolades: He called me a genius, OK? (That translation of Putins comment is disputed.) And, of course, no one can praise Donald Trump with as much enthusiasm as Donald Trump. I like this stuff, I really get it, he said, while touring the Centers for Disease Control. Every one of these doctors said, How do you know so much about this? Maybe I have a natural ability. Maybe I should have done that instead of running for president. One consistent theme in his remarks on the coronavirus has been his foresight and courage in stopping travel to the United States from China in the early stages of the outbreak. My great responsibility I think the biggest decision we made was going very early, Trump said on Feb. 29. And that was a decision made against a lot of people that thought we shouldnt do that. Thats why were at 22 instead of a much higher number. It would have been a much higher number. That was a big decision. It was a hard decision because it had never been done before anyway. I mean, not even early or late. It had never been made, a decision like that. So that was big. Trump has contrasted this big decision with the Obama administrations response to the Ebola outbreak in 2014, which he denounced at the time as putting the whole country at risk. The U.S. must immediately stop all flights from EBOLA infected countries or the plague will start and spread inside our "borders." Act fast! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2014 Only two people died of Ebola in the United States, both patients who contracted it in Africa and were brought to the U.S. for treatment. There were no instances of transmission within the country apart from two nurses who came into contact with patients, and both recovered. With coronavirus cases still emerging in the U.S., the benefits of Trumps travel ban are still unclear. Public health experts said travel and trade restrictions are counterproductive, and the World Health Organization opposed it. But Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, said on Friday, as Trump toured the agencys offices in Atlanta, that the overall risk to the American public does remain low, and I think we owe a lot to the decisive decisions initially to have travel restrictions. As early as the Feb. 26 briefing, Trump expressed confidence in the response, insisting that with his guidance and thanks to the people he appointed, Were very ready for it. Were ready for it. Were really prepared. We have as I said, weve had we have the greatest people in the world. Were very ready for it. And again, weve had tremendous success tremendous success beyond what people would have thought. And just in case, Pence said, in remarks that perhaps said more about his priorities than he intended, Well be adding additional personnel here at the White House to support our efforts on the Presidents behalf. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Vietnam-based tech startup WeFit drops the bomb on customers after disappointing partners Social network users in the early days of March have taken to field against WeFit after the company published changes in its user policy only in a private Facebook group that has only about 127,000 users, instead of posting the change on its website or official fanpage. Whereas previous time-based subscriptions allowed users to attend as many training sessions at partner gyms as they like, the new rules introduce a tiered membership that awards points in exchange for money, with each session costing a certain number of points. Customers can now buy packages that each contain a certain amount of points. Hundreds of feedbacks are demanding a refund from WeFit and calling it a swindler. Many VIP customers have calculated that with the new WeFit tiered membership policy, exchanging their two-year regular fitness package into points would give them only four months of training.If one frequents a specific gym like Fit24, what they previously spent for 60 physical training sessions is now only worth six. Additionally, many WeFit members also complain that they have been unable to reach the company's customer service team, finding no way to get support if there are errors when checking-in at a gym. During almost two years of using WeFit, I even introduced it to my friends. But what WeFit pulled on us is just too much, I am completely disappointed with the way they operate and will never go for it again, Linh Le commented. A comment from WeFit member On the other hand, another WeFit member expressed sympathy for the startup, saying that it is not a big deal that it changes membership policies to balance out benefits and survive, but "Piloting a new business model or heading toward sustainable development is all based on customer trust." "WeFit must show its responsibility by reconnecting more gyms and spas to its network which have terminated partnership with WeFit before. Now I can no longer find any gyms in Thanh Xuan district in the app and the nearest one is more than five kilometres away," he added. Prior to this, in December 2019, WeFit came under fire from merchant partners calling it to account over its mounting debts. According to Facebooker Bao Van, WeFit has many times ignored phone calls and refused to meet partners for months. To date, many gyms and spas have yet to receive payments since November 2019, which forced them to cut off collaboration with the startup, leading to the network of partner gyms shrinking to serve WeFit members. Khanh Ngan, who works at Satum Spa, said that WeFit has not transferred them money for two months straight, and this debt has been rescheduled three times but to this day remains irrecoverable. Previously, a well-known gym named Salsa Spring also broke up with the platform due to late payment, resulting in liabilities of up to VND100 million ($4,350). Since the storm, the number of WeFit merchant partners experienced a dramatic drop: in Hanoi there are currently nine swimming pools partnering with the firm instead of the previous 30, while the number of Latino dance centres also went from three to one. WeFit has later on posted a short letter on its blog, admitting to have made mistakes in operating and structuring products, as well as in financial/monetary flow managment, which mostly came from its executive team. WeFit's case very much brings to mind other startups in the sharing economy like Indian hotel chain OYO or co-working space provider WeWork who are also showing dreadful inadequacies and are careening on the edge. Founded by Forbes' 30 under 30 listed Khoi Nguyen, WeFit used to be a great inspiration for the startup community in Vietnam. The startup's parent company Onaclover Technology JSC in 2019 successfully bagged $1 million from the Japanese investment fund CyberAgent Capital, after receiving backing from other investors such as ESP Capital and VIISA in 2017. Also, last year, WeFit made a bold step to aggressively enhance its presence by launching the new product WeJoy and the super app WeWow. Soon after the launch, Khoi Nguyen, in this February, stepped down from the CEO position, passing his position on to former COO cum co-founder Nguyen Hai Dang. Bhubaneswar: Devotees of Lord Jagannath and priests at the centuries-old temple in Puri are worried following RBI restrictions on Yes Bank where 545 crore is deposited in the deity's name. The RBI has capped withdrawals from Yes Bank at 50,000 for the next one month and imposed strict limits on operations after the cash-starved lender faced regular outflow of liquidity following an effort to raise new capital failed. The RBI restrictions on Yes Bank have caused panic among the devotees, said senior 'Daitapati' (servitor) Binayak Dasmohaopatra. Jagannath Sena convenor Priyadarshi Patnaik said that it is illegal as well as unethical to deposit the lord's funds in a private bank, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and the Temple's Managing Committee should be held responsible for the uncertainty. He said a complaint was filed at a police station in Puri demanding probe over depositing the money in a private bank, but no action was taken. Former law minister and ex-Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty said it was not proper to keep the money with a private bank for more interest. The law minister last month told the assembly that of the lord's total 626.44 crore, 592 crore was kept in Yes Bank, while 545 crore was in the bank as fixed deposits, the remaining 47crore was in a flexi account. Congress MLA Suresh Routray sought a clarification from the state government as to why it allowed the SJTA to deposit the lord's money in a private bank. Nobody including the government and the SJTA has rights to meddle with the lord's funds, said BJP leader Bhrugu Buxipatra. The BJP said the state government must take immediate steps to recover the money. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 01:30:30|Editor: zyl Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Yu Jiaxin, Gu Zhenqiu London, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, people from business and economics circles in Britain are showing their strong confidence in the resilience of China's economy. "Companies have been driven to look at optimizing costs in their supply chain under the novel coronavirus, but I cannot say that companies will exit China due to this," said Nick Jordan, chief executive officer from Trade Horizons. The Chinese market is enormous with accelerating opening-up, all of which makes it difficult to be replaced, Jordan told Xinhua during an event hosted by the City of London and the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK recently. According to Lord James Sassoon, chairman of the China-Britain Business Council, a member of the council has just signed a major contract in Shanghai, China recently, a move that shows the confidence in the Chinese economy. Twenty-one foreign investment projects were signed last week in Shanghai's Pudong New Area, with a total contract value of over 1.7 billion U.S. dollars. 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 Britain, the United States, Singapore, Japan and Switzerland, among others. "I hope Britain and China will continue to strengthen business cooperation, and the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries will rise to a new level after the epidemic," said Lord Sassoon. Alastair King, chairman of Naisbitt King, an asset management limited company, told Xinhua that he was confident in the Chinese market because he believed that "the fundamentals of the Chinese economy are solid." Echoing King, Joel Ruben, investment director from Hampton Group, said "in the short-term, there will definitely be a negative impact on the global supply chain, some of our customers whose supply chain is in China are slightly panicking, but the good news is that the number of confirmed cases in China is declining." In Ruben's eyes, China has real competitive advantage in manufacturing. Even if companies try to diversify their supply sources, in the long run, China will maintain its position as a manufacturing powerhouse in the world. "Any company who wants to be truly global, has to seek to do business in China," said Reuben. Many business people and scholars hold the view that the Chinese economy is going to recover and probably bounce back quite strongly once it got through the worst of the virus. Richard Burn, Britain's HM Trade Commissioner for China, expressed appreciation for the Chinese government's measures in response to the epidemic, especially those taken by the Ministry of Commerce to assist foreign companies. "These assistance policies apply to domestic and foreign enterprises alike, providing a strong guarantee for British companies to overcome difficulties," he said. Meanwhile, John Mclean OBE, non-executive chairman of Starcrest Education The Belt & Road Limited was impressed by China's speed to build hospitals in a few days, as well as its remarkable achievements in building railways, airports, power stations in the past years. To combat the virus, China built the makeshift Huoshenshan (Fire God Mountain) Hospital in 10 days in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak in central China's Hubei Province. Days later, another makeshift hospital, the Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) Hospital, was delivered and put into use in Wuhan in less than two weeks. With a total capacity of 2,600 beds, the two hospitals have been playing a vital role in China's fight against the virus. "Actions speak louder than words...if you take a perspective on what China has done in the past, you could actually believe that China will do what it says it's going to do," said Mclean. Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh government is closely monitoring reports carried by the mainstream media and web portals to identify fake news and if possible initiate legal action, a move denounced by the opposition as an attempt to curtail press freedom and create an environment of fear among scribes. A special monitoring cell of the state-level committee constituted by the Chhattisgarh government has taken cognisance of recent extensively propagated fake news and dubbed such reporting as detrimental to the public interest. The Chhattisgarh government on Friday lodged a complaint with the News Broadcasters Association against a national news channel for 'airing an alleged baseless report relating to the recent Income Tax (IT) raids in the state'. The cell has prepared a list of news reports it called "fake" and warned the media to desist from publishing, propagating and sharing (disseminating) them. It cited a press report claiming that in Chhattisgarh there was a State Register of Journalists on the lines of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Besides, the release also cited unsubstantiated claims on coronavirus affected people in the state, baseless coverage on recent IT raids, false news about the deputy secretary of CM Bhupesh Baghel having gone underground during the raids and the recovery of Rs 100 crore from her residence, former chief secretary's involvement in coal scam which were extensively reported both in print and social media. The cell decided to gather detailed information about the roles of editors and heads of media houses, Whatsapp admin and also those who release and promulgate such news item. An email has also been officially generated for lodging of grievance or objection by complainants against fake news. The cell is headed by an inspector general rank police officer. The other members include a senior superintendent of police, a district government lawyer, two journalists and member secretary from the department of public relations. The cell can also initiate, if necessary, the registration of criminal cases against these publications. The BJP opposed the creation of the special monitoring cell calling it as dangerous to the independent working of the media. It will curtail press freedom. Such cells should be abolished. If there is any wrong or false reporting, Indian laws are enough to take action against the wrongdoers. The media would feel frightened to communicate the truth and the administration might misuse it in the name of maintaining control over journalism, said a senior BJP legislator Brijmohan Agrawal. Nicky (left) and Simone Zimmermann are said to have sold a 70 per cent share of their cult fashion brand. The rag trade rumour mill went into overdrive last week with talk that Sydney fashion label Zimmermann had been sold to a Milan-based private equity firm for 250 million. Sources said Italian equity firm Style Capital was in line to secure a 70 per cent shareholding in the company. Crucial to the deal is the guarantee that brand founders Nicky and Simone Zimmermann remain on board for the next five years. Meanwhile US private equity firm General Atlantic sold its minority shareholding in the business. "Zim sold, deal is done, 70% 250mil and sisters need to stay for 5 years," one long-time employee said. "Old investors sold their shares and new ones have bought in," another employee revealed. File image The AAP government will launch a two-day mega drive on Saturday to verify the claims of riot victims for compensation, as the police said it has so far registered over 600 cases in connection with the deadly communal violence in northeast Delhi. Although the Delhi government has maintained that 53 people were killed in the violence last week, it has not provided a break-up of the death toll yet. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Environment Minister Gopal Rai visited the EIdgah in Mustafabad and interacted with locals besides taking stock of facilities being provided by the government at relief camps. According to CBSE, more than 98 per cent students appeared for Class XII exam in riot-hit northeast Delhi on Friday. There were 2,698 centres for 1,99,763 registered candidates for the Central Board Secondary Exam Class XII Political Science exam in India, including in the entire Delhi, and foreign countries. "It is encouraging to note that more than 98 per cent students appeared in the exam from northeast Delhi," an officials said. Delhi Waqf Board on Friday released Rs 50 lakh for repair and renovation of houses and shops of violence-affected people. The Board will help the affected people in repair of their houses and shops, irrespective of their faith, said Delhi Waqf Board chairman Amanatullah Khan. "The Construction Committee of Delhi Waqf Board will undertake repair work from Saturday. The houses and shops of affected people, no matter which religion they belong to will be repaired by the Waqf Board and an amount of Rs 50 lakh was released for the purpose," Khan said. Addressing a press conference, Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia said the government will launch a two-day mega drive to verify the claims of riot victims for compensation from Saturday. He said the verification process, to be headed by six senior IAS officers, will be an important exercise to determine the claimants as the government is facing the issue of duplication of claim forms. The government wants the verification process to complete at the earliest so that the victims can get compensation as soon as possible, Sisodia said. Rs 88 lakh has been released as compensation to the riot victims, he said, adding that the government has received around 1,700 compensation forms from the victims of violence. The Delhi Police said out of 683 cases registered, 48 were related to the Arms Act. In total, 1,983 people have been either detained or arrested so far in connection with the communal violence, the police said. A total of 251 meetings with Aman Committee have been conducted across the national capital, an official said. A day after heavy rains caused waterlogging and difficulty for riot-hit victims at the Eidgah relief camp in Mustafabad, it got a new lease of life with new folding beds and wooden planks on Friday. According to Ranjana Prasad, member of Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, who is there at the camp, the wooden planks and plastic sheets were procured in less than 24 hours and placed underneath the mattresses. "We have also ordered 500 folding beds which will reach the camp soon," she said. Prasad also said the Anganwadi has also set up a camp there where infants aged between zero to six are provided care. The Indian Youth Congress held a peace march in Delhi on Friday to restore communal harmony in the city. The march, 'Sadhbhavana Tiranga Yatra', started from Rajendra Prasad Road and concluded at Tees January Marg. IYC president Srinivas B V led the march which saw the participants carry a long tricolour. "The country will gain nothing from the Hindu-Muslim divide. Unity is the need of the hour for the growth and prosperity of the nation. "The nation doesn't need a leadership of division, it needs a leadership which promotes harmony and spirit of common brotherhood in the country," Srinivas said. Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi led a protest of senior Congress leaders on the Parliament premises on Friday against the suspension of seven party MPs from the Lok Sabha. The Lok Sabha suspended seven Congress members on Thursday for the remaining period of the Budget Session for "gross misconduct" and "utter disregard" for House rules after they snatched papers from the speaker's table. After his visit at a camp in Mustafabad, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that around 90 percent of the riot victims have filled up forms for compensation. Rai said it has been reported that many riot-affected people are finding it difficult to lodge complaints with police. He said he has spoken to station house officers and deputy commissioners of police to address the same. The Queen is set to distance herself from the ruler of Dubai after a court ruled that he abducted and detained his daughters against their will. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ordered and orchestrated the abduction and forced return to Dubai of Sheikha Shamsa, then 19, in August 2000 and her sister Sheikha Latifa twice, in 2002 and again in 2018, according to a damning judgment published on Thursday. The confirmation of long-standing rumours surrounding Sheikh Mohammeds two daughters came out of his legal battle with ex-wife Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, 45, the half-sister of King Abdullah II of Jordan, over their two children. The Queen and Sheikh Mohammed have previously been pictured together at horse racing events and he has been invited to the Royal Box at Ascot. But The Times reported she will refuse to be photographed with him or the princess in public following the court case. Princess Haya asked the High Court to make a series of findings of fact about Sheikh Mohammed, in particular in relation to the kidnap and forcible detention of his two adult daughters, who are from another marriage almost two decades apart. Shamsa, now 38, was abducted from the streets of Cambridge on August 19, 2000, and has never been seen in public since. Now Cambridgeshire Police have confirmed aspects of their 2001 probe which found insufficient evidence to take any action will be revisited, although the force insisted the investigation was no longer active. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates For a family drama, A Million Little Things has quite a few stashes of unaccounted-for drugs, doesnt it? Another bit of illicit material shows up in Thursdays episode, when Eddie finds a vial of cocaine in his home recording studio and immediately assumes that his visiting sister Lindsay isnt as sober as she claims to be. On a related topic: What about the ownership of those loose joints Gary found in the bottom of Sophies sleeping bag a few weeks back? It seems like we get an answer, albeit a fleeting and context-free one, in this episode. More from TVLine Unrelated but awesome: Katherine does probably the best thing shes done since we met her. Read on for the highlights of Change of Plans. HI, LINDSAY! OR HIGH LINDSAY? | When Katherine is called into work last-minute to help woo a potential client, Gary volunteers to take Theo to play laser tag with a friend. Eddie welcomes the help: Hes going to stay at home to greet his sister, Lindsay, when she arrives for a visit. Eddie and Katherine agreed that they dont want Theo around when his aunt shows up: Though she says shes now sober, Lindsay was as big of an alcoholic mess as her brother was back in the day, and I cant let her mess up our life again, Katherine asserts. And seeing as how Lindsay apparently vomited into the flower girls basket on Eddie and Katherines wedding day, were assuming she means that figuratively and literally. When Eddie eventually greets his sis solo, shes warm and loving, and she totally gets why he wouldnt want his kid anywhere near her. Well, the old her. (Shes also played by The Followings Sprague Grayden.) She says shes on the wagon now, and she seems to have her stuff together. She calls him Mr. Ed. They hug. They talk about how she was always his biggest supporter. Its cute until hes making up the recording studio for her to stay in, and he finds some coke on the ground. Even though Lindsay maintains that shes clean and the drugs arent hers, Eddie kicks her out. Story continues a-million-little-things-recap-season-2-episode-16 The minute Lindsay denies ownership of the blow, you just know its Dakotas. And sure enough, when she comes looking for the capo she allegedly lost there, Eddie realizes whats up. He reassures her that she doesnt need the drugs to be great, but she says shes been using the entire time theyve been working together, and shes not going to stop. Then she leaves. KATHERINE, LGBTQ ALLY | Well put a pin in that for a moment and hop over to Katherines firm, where she makes a great impression on the potential client. But afterwards, Katherine confronts her bosses and wonders if she was only called in because she was a woman, and they wanted the optics to be favorable to the future client, who is female. They strongly disagree, calling Katherine one of the best litigators they have. But she counters by asking, if shes so amazing, why they took a big case away from her and her assistant, Carter, a little while back? The bosses look uncomfortable, but then admit that the problem there wasnt Katherine, it was Carter. The client on that case didnt like that Carter is gay. Carter then chooses that moment to come in and be his usual, if somewhat slightly extra, self. The next thing we know, Katherine and Carter are bringing cardboard boxes of her stuff into the foyer of her home. Off Eddies questioning look, she triumphantly announces that she told her bosses to shove it, then she quit, when they admitted how theyd coddled their homophobic client. A tearful Carter hugs her and thanks her for standing up for him in a way no one ever has. But after he leaves, reality sets in a bit: Whats she going to do now? Thats when Eddie pipes up with everything thats happened to him that day, though he doesnt agree with Katherines assertion that he has to stop working with Dakota. No, Dakota has a problem, but I can handle it, he promises, outlining a plan where theyll get through the album, hell get the young artist help and then theyll get Katherine the job you deserve. Katherine does not look convinced. TAG, YOURE IT! | Gary is hitting on the young front-desk attendant at the laser-tag place when a woman behind him in line gets impatient and asks him to move it along. Turns out, the woman is the mother of Theos friend, Liam, so she and Gary are thrown into close proximity for the rest of the afternoon. The boys wind up getting into a little fight; Gary is way outta his depth in terms of helping them make amends, but the mom whose name we later learn is Darcy (and who is played by Supergirls Floriana Lima) gently leads the kids to resolution, then the four of them play on the same team. Afterward, Gary learns that Darcy is one of Katherines good mom friends, she served in Iraq and she is now divorced from Liams father. On the whole, theyre getting along a lot better than they did at first. And when she slips him a phone number, he assumes its hers but instead she surprises him by revealing that she played wingman and got him the contact info for the way-too-young-for-him desk clerk, instead. a-million-little-things-recap-season-2-episode-16- DELILAHS DALLIANCE | Maggie and Delilah decide to go out for the evening. And when a cute guy (played by Suburgatorys Parker Young) keeps looking over from the bar, D assumes hes into Maggie. Because shes lit on a few tequila shots and some wine (side note: HORRIBLE COMBINATION, LADY), she waltzes over and invites him to sit with them. But Maggie soon realizes that the dude is into her friend, so she urges her to go for it. And go for it Delilah does: Miles winds up going home with her. Meanwhile, tipsy Maggie gets a call from Oxford: Someone has had to drop out of the program she wanted to go to, and does she want to fill the spot? Im in, she says, right there and then. Also? Earlier in the evening, Maggie mentions that the marijuana Gary found belonged to Sophie, so I guess thats our answer to that one? A CLOSE CALL | Rome and Regina havent really heard from Eve since she and Derek left the restaurant, and theyre worried. So they track her via the phone they got her and wind up at a hotel. Thanks to an understanding clerk at the front desk, they make their way to Dereks room. But it sounds like things are going OK, and the Howards are debating what to do next Rome wants to go in, Regina thinks they should go when Eve and Derek exit the room. Derek is immediately suspicious, but Eve quickly defuses the situation, inviting the Howards inside so they can all get to know each other. However, when she refers to Regina as Wendy aka Reginas contact at the womens shelter its clear that its a distress signal. a-million-little-things-recap-season-2-episode-16- Pretty soon, theyre down in the hotels business center, where the in-house notary is officiating the paperwork that will sign away Dereks parental rights. Hes a little unsure for a moment, but Eve affirms the choice, saying that shell go back to Philadelphia with him and theyll have a great life together. It almost goes sideways when the notary refers to Regina by her actual name (because she and Rome served as witnesses), but Gina plays it off that Wendy is her middle name, the one she goes by. Derek seems to accept this, and they say their goodbyes. But Regina makes sure to say (in a very pointed fashion) that they have to stop by Cabots ice cream shop before they go, and Eve seems to understand what she means. Later, Regina is on the phone with Wendy: Eve is safely at the womens safehouse, and the order of protection is all set up. Just then, Derek busts into the restaurant, yelling for his girlfriend. He makes his way into the kitchen, where Rome informs him that they know who his boss is, and theyll tell him everything if Derek doesnt leave Eve alone. Its a very tense confrontation, and Rome and Derek almost get into it physically, but eventually Derek backs down. It doesnt matter, he scoffs on his way out. Shes just going to end up coming back to me, anyway. UNWANTED BLAST FROM THE PAST? | Back at Eddies, before Lindsay leaves (wait, I thought she was staying a while?), she asks him about the lake house their family used to visit. Did you ever think about why we stopped going? she wonders. He mentions that someone died in an accident 20-ish years ago, and he just assumed their parents didnt want to return after that. She seems to have more to say but doesnt say it, leaving Eddie to ponder her meaning after shes left. Best of TVLine Sign up for TVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Ramkrishna Badseshi By Express News Service BIDAR: The Principal District and Sessions Court in Bidar has observed that the play staged by some children of Shaheen Urdu Medium School does not amount to sedition under Section 124A of IPC. In a recent order granting anticipatory bail to Shaheen Group of Institutions founder Abdul Qadeer, judge Managoli Premavati observed on plain reading of the contents extracted from the play, the student has protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. The extracted portion in the only offensive part as per the case made out by the prosecution. But the dialogue, if read as a whole, does not amount to sedition against the government and as such, ingredients of Section 124A of IPC are not prima facie made out, the judge observed. What the children have expressed is that they will have to leave the country if they dont produce certain documents and except that, there is nothing to show that the student committed the offence of sedition. The dialogue, in my considered opinion, does not go to bring hatred, contempt or excite dissatisfaction towards the government, the judge said. In the country, there are rallies and protests for and against CAA, NRC and, as a citizen, everybody has the right to express disapprobation of the measures of the government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means. The dialogues were expressed during the course of enacting a play in the school. If it were not uploaded on Facebook, the public could not have come to know of the dialogue. The play has not caused any disharmony in society, the judge observed. So far as the offence under Section 153A of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language) is concerned, there is no reference of any other community in the play. All that the artists have said is that Muslims will have to leave the country if they do not produce the documents as required under the proposed CAA, NRC Acts. When there is no other religion mentioned in the entire play, there is no question of causing disharmony between two religions, the judge said. It may be recalled that the school headmistress and the mother of the student who played main role in the play, were released on bail recently. The members of the Shaheen Educational Institution management have secured anticipatory bail in the sedition case. When contacted, Bidar Superintendent of Police Nagesh D L said the judges observations were in respect of the order granting anticipatory bail. It will not be part of the ongoing trial against the staff, the parent and the management members of Shaheen Urdu Medium School, he said. SC rejects plea against misuse of sedition law New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking framing of a proper mechanism and guidelines to deal with alleged misuse of the sedition law by the government machinery. The court also questio-ned the petitioner for seeking quashing of an FIR in a sedition case lodged against the management of a Bidar-based school over staging of a play. How can you ask for quashing of the FIR? You are not the affected party, the bench said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 16:15:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Head nurse Sun Chun works at an ICU ward of the First Hospital of Wuhan City in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Feb. 22, 2020. Sun is among the first batch of medical workers dispatched from the First Hospital to the makeshift hospital of Leishenshan (Thunder God Mountain) in Wuhan. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) Abusrd argument by some U.S. individuals and media outlets, like a "political virus," is even more dangerous than COVID-19. It reveals nothing but prejudice, arrogance and ignorance. BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- As China spares no efforts and makes huge sacrifices to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, some U.S. individuals and media outlets have alleged the virus "originated in China" and demanded an apology from the country. This kind of absurd argument smears the Chinese people and runs counter to the urgent need of international collaboration in the face of the epidemic. Such an argument, like a "political virus," is even more dangerous than COVID-19. It reveals nothing but prejudice, arrogance and ignorance. The epidemic was first reported in China but that does not mean it necessarily originated in China, specialists have explained. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said many times that COVID-19 is a global phenomenon with its source still undetermined. The name COVID-19 was chosen by the WHO for the purpose of making no connections between the virus and certain places or countries. Moreover, no matter where the origin is, China and other countries hit by the epidemic are all victims of the virus and are faced with a serious battle against the outbreak. What is the point of blaming the victim and arguing that someone should apologize for it? However, there are people who ignore the facts, put political interests above public interests and science, spread rumors and incite ideological prejudices, even racial discrimination and xenophobia. What are they up to? Viruses know no borders. To protect the health and safety of the people across the world, the Chinese people have made huge sacrifices and major contributions. Since the outbreak, China has been fighting at the forefront against the epidemic. The country has taken the utmost effort to contain the epidemic and shared information and experience with the rest of the world. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (R) speaks at a daily briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia) As WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, China's containment of the outbreak has bought time for the rest of the world. Bruce Aylward, an epidemiologist who recently headed the WHO-China Joint Mission on COVID-19, spelled out the impact of aggressive containment measures adopted by the Chinese government. He told reporters following his visit to Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak and an 11-million-metropolis that has been under lockdown for more than a month, that it is important to recognize the people of Wuhan. "The world is in your debt." COVID-19 is a virus of humanity, not of any certain country. WHO has published data that over 17,000 cases have been confirmed in 88 countries and regions outside China by Friday, calling for early and aggressive measures to break the chain of transmission worldwide. As the saying goes, a small leak will sink a great ship. What we need in the face of the epidemic is not stigmatizing a country or attacking a country, but science, rationality and solidarity. These are the most powerful weapons against our common enemy. If there is anyone who owes the world an apology, it must be those who spread "political virus" that smears Chinese people's efforts against the epidemic and jeopardizes global solidarity. Deadly Clashes Erupt in Syrias Idlib Hours Into Ceasefire Deal Deadly clashes erupted in southern Idlib on March 6, just hours into a ceasefire deal between Russia and Turkey aimed at ending the fighting in the last rebel-held enclave in Syria. A war monitor and a rebel source said the fighting broke out in the Jabal al-Zawiya region between Syrian government forces and jihadist insurgents of the Turkistan Islamic Party. Fifteen people were killed, the Syrian Observatory said. Residents and opposition forces said the violence had abated elsewhere. But the clashes underlined the fragility of Thursdays deal between Russia, which backs President Bashar al-Assads forces, and Turkey. Ankara supports rebel fighters but has less sway over hardline jihadists who control large parts of Idlib. The ceasefire aims to contain a conflict that has displaced nearly a million people in three months in northwest Syria. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had vowed to reverse recent advances by Assads forces in Idlib. However, Thursdays deal froze the conflict along existing front lines, cementing significant gains by Syrian government forces. There may be criticism, but our priority was for a ceasefire, and we achieved it. Some goals were not reached, but that goes for both sides, a senior Turkish official said. Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed. Analysts and residents said they feared the latest ceasefire would also fizzle out as it did not address the humanitarian crisis or air protection in any detail. Russian President Vladimir Putin, second from right, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) talk during their meeting in the Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia, on March 5, 2020. (Pavel Golovkin/AP Photo) Any ceasefire arrangement in Idlib, unless it has a no-fly zone dimension, is bound to fail. Deals in the past never de-escalated. They merely froze the crisis until the next escalation, said Galip Dalay, IPC-Mercator fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Arriving for a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Zagreb, Dutch minister Stef Blok said the ceasefire deal should be cemented with a no-fly zone to stop any further bombing of hospitals. Humanitarian Crisis The recent fighting sparked what the United Nations says may be the worst humanitarian crisis yet in a war that has driven millions from their homes and killed hundreds of thousands. Russia had repeatedly played down any talk of a refugee crisis and accused Turkey of violating international law by pouring troops and equipment into Idlib since early last month. About 60 Turkish troops have been killed in that time. Turkey, which has the second-largest army in the transatlantic NATO alliance, has tried to resist the Syrian government advance and prevent a wave of refugees over its southern border. It already hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees. The ceasefire deal establishes a security corridor stretching 6 km (3.7 miles) to the north and south of Idlibs east-west M4 highway, where joint Russian-Turkish patrols will begin to on March 15 advance Russias presence further north into Idlib. Migrants, who are part of a group who arrived in the previous days after crossing part of the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece, wait for an identification process before being transported to the mainland on a Greek Navy vessel from the port of Mytilene, on the island of Lesbos, Greece on March 5, 2020. (Elias Marcou/Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he hoped the deal will serve as a good basis for a cessation of military activity in the Idlib de-escalation zone. Erdogan said the sides would work together to supply aid to Syrians in need, but that Turkey retained the right to respond to all (Syrian) regime attacks in the field. Very Tense Calm Residents and fighters in the region said the front lines, which have seen heavy airstrikes by Russian and Syrian jets and intense Turkish artillery and drone strikes on Assads forces, were quiet in much of the region after the midnight ceasefire came into effect. There is a ceasefire, but there are violations, said Abdul Ghani al Sheikh, a rebel fighter from the Turkey-backed Failaq Sham rebel group. He said government forces were shelling Jabal al Zawya and Atareb, to the south and east of Idlib. But the situation overall is better. Everyone thinks this is all temporary, and Turkish reinforcements are still coming. Turkish and Russian soldiers patrol near the town of Darbasiyah, Syria, on Nov. 1, 2019. (Baderkhan Ahmad/AP Photo) The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported that the first eight hours of the ceasefire had passed with relative calm, and the skies had been free of Syrian government and Russian warplanes. A Syrian state reporter, broadcasting from the town of Saraqeb recaptured by Syrian forces last week, said they were reinforcing positions at the frontlines. The ceasefire deal did not detail a safe zone or describe how displaced people could return to the homes they have fled to escape the Russian-backed offensive. No one has mentioned a safe zone or areas of withdrawal. There is no pullout, and where will the displaced go (who) would never accept going to (Assad) regime areas? What we have heard is not comforting, said Ahmad Rahhal, a former general in the Syrian government forces who defected to the opposition. By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Jonathan Spicer MONTREAL, March 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elixxer Ltd. (the Corporation or Elixxer) (TSX-V: ELXR and OTC-QB: ELIXF) is pleased to announce that it will enter into an investment agreement (the Investment Agreement) with international investors YA II PN, Ltd. and RiverFort Global Opportunities PLC (the Lenders) pursuant to which they will loan Elixxer an aggregate amount of US$1,183,000 (the Loan). The Loan will have a maturity date of January 1, 2021 (the Maturity Date) and will bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum. The proceeds of the Loan will be used to refinance maturing debt. The principal amount of the Loan may be convertible into common shares of Elixxer (the Shares) at the option of the Lenders at a price per Share of CAD$0.05. The closing price of the Shares on March 4, 2020 was CAD$0.04. The Corporation will also issue an aggregate of 14,200,000 common share purchase warrants (the Warrants) to the Lenders. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Share at an exercise price of CAD$0.05 until the Maturity Date. The Investment Agreement will contain standard representations, warranties and covenants of the parties. Closing of the transaction and the issuance of all securities pursuant thereto is subject to the conditional approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The parties intend to close the transaction as soon as reasonably possible following the receipt of such approval. Any securities issued by the Corporation upon closing of the transaction, upon conversion of the Loan or upon the exercise of the Warrants will be subject to restrictions on resale for a period of four months and one day from the date of closing. The Corporation is at arms length to the Lenders. Elixxer also announces that it has agreed to extend the maturity date of three existing loans to insiders. In February 2018 (see press release dated February 16, 2018), the Corporation made loans to three of its officers and/or directors in order to fund the exercise by them of stock options and to fund the payment by them of related taxes. The loans had an initial term of two years, and the Corporation has agreed to extend the maturity date of each of the loans for a period of two years. The extensions remain subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Story continues About Elixxer Ltd. (www.elixxer.com) Elixxer Ltd. is a leading cannabis investment firm with a focus on the legal global cannabis market. Through its growing portfolio of investment companies, ELXR is building a transversal integrated organization of interconnected legal cannabis companies with cultivation, processing and distribution in Australia, Jamaica, Switzerland, Italy, and Canada serving domestic and export markets. Elixxer Ltd. is a Canadian incorporated public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (ELXR.V) and the US OTC-QB exchange (ELIXF). For further information please contact: President, John McMullen, +1-416-803-0698, john@elixxer.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. Bahrain The worlds most recognized quick-service chain, McDonalds, will operate out of Bahrain International Airports (BIA) new Passenger Terminal Building, BIAs operator and managing body, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) announced. BAC Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah signed a five-year concession agreement alongside Fakhro Restaurants Company Director, Abdulla Adel Fakhro. Fakhro Restaurants Company is the owner and operator of McDonalds outlets in the Kingdom of Bahrain. In attendance were McDonalds Bahrain General Manager, Ahmad Jaser and members of the BAC commercial team. Mr. Al Binfalah said: All of the food and beverage (F&B) outlets at the new terminal have been carefully selected to ensure passengers have a wide variety of options available at different price points to choose from. Having a broad selection of recognizable international brands is vital for a venue that attracts visitors from all over the world as it provides a feeling of familiarity, which supports our goal to provide a comfortable, convenient, and enjoyable airport experience. We look forward to working with Fakhro Restaurants Company and showcasing the welcoming nature that Bahrain is renowned for. Mr. Fakhro said: Travelers form their first impression of a country the moment they land at its airport. With its boutique design and distinctly Bahraini character, I am confident that the new Passenger Terminal Building will create a favorable and lasting impression. McDonalds Bahrain is committed to serving quality products that people around the world know and love, alongside some regional variants that international visitors may not have previously tried. We look forward to providing friendly and efficient service, and welcoming visitors from around the world at the new terminal. Alongside leading international F&B brands, the new terminal will house several local favorites, ensuring all customers, even transit passengers, can experience a taste of Bahraini hospitality. A woman who swindled almost 19,000 from the bank account of her lesbian lover's elderly mother wept in court as she was jailed for six months. Fraudster Jenny McKernon (33) looked shocked as she was sent to prison at Craigavon Crown Court yesterday. She cried as a prison officer put her in handcuffs to lead her from the dock, shouting out to her weeping family: "I love you all, thank you so much for all you have done." Jailing McKernon, Judge Patrick Lynch QC said the "strong factors" in mitigation including her guilty plea, remorse and clear record, meant that he would reduce her sentence "in my view rather generously" to six months. In addition to the jail sentence, the judge imposed an 18,000 compensation order in favour of the First Trust Bank, which had fully compensated the 83-year-old victim. At an earlier hearing McKernon, from Shore Road in Newtownabbey, pleaded guilty to a single count of fraud by false representation in that between December 1, 2017 and July 24, 2018, she claimed she had permission to use the bank account of her victim. Prosecuting lawyer Joseph Murphy told the court how McKernon was in a relationship with the victim's daughter and would have stayed in the woman's home up to four nights a week. In June 2018 the pensioner "noted discrepancies in her account", with payments going to Amazon and PayPal despite the fact that she did not hold accounts with either company. With McKernon's help, the pensioner reported the frauds to her bank, which told her they would post out forms. The lawyer added those forms never arrived, although the bank did give her a refund. The court heard that McKernon had "destroyed" the forms herself. The following month, however, further fraudulent transactions were made and again "with the assistance of the defendant", those were reported to the bank. "The defendant told her that the bank advised her to shred the statements," said Mr Murphy, adding that McKernon was arrested when the pensioner and her son spoke to the bank. In total, McKernon had swindled 18,614 from the pensioner's account, money that she described in her victim impact statement as being her "life savings". Mr Murphy told the court there had been around 200 transactions with Amazon and PayPal, many to buy various items, but others which transferred funds directly into McKernon's bank account. When police searched McKernon's home they uncovered numerous "high value items" she had bought using the victim's money including a TV, a Hoover, tumble-drier, a hair remover device worth 200, steamer, iPhone and iPad. Questioned by police, McKernon made full and frank admissions to the frauds. Mr Murphy submitted these were aggravated by the fact the victim was elderly and vulnerable, her trust had been breached and the protracted length of the fraudulent behaviour, and the fact that she tried to hide the fraud, telling the victim to shred bank statements as well as the impact on McKernon's victim. Defence counsel Michael Chambers told the court that he had been "explicitly instructed to offer her apologies for her conduct". "Clearly I acknowledge that this was a mean offence and I acknowledge that it was committed against a vulnerable victim in circumstances where it amounts to a breach of trust," conceded the lawyer, who submitted that given the paper trail, "it was absolutely inevitable that the defendant was going to be caught". He further submitted that given McKernon's mental health difficulties, her guilty plea, "full co-operation" with police and clear record, the judge could impose a non-custodial sentence such as a probation or community service order. Judge Lynch told the lawyer, however, that "punishment and deterrence is always a factor in any sentencing exercise". Jailing McKernon, the judge revealed that her victim felt betrayed by a person she had welcomed into her home "as one of the family" and who she felt "was laughing at me". Quoting from the pensioner's statement, Judge Lynch said "it took years for me to save that money and it took her eight months to spend it". The estimated number of selfies taken on the campaign trail by Elizabeth Warren before she suspended her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. ( Newsweek - January 5, 2020) SPRINGFIELD State revenue officials said Thursday that tax collections have been coming in about as expected so far this fiscal year, and they predict modest revenue growth in the fiscal year that begins July 1. All three large categories individual income tax; corporate income taxes and sales taxes are trending upward, Revenue Department Director David Harris said in an interview after briefing the House Revenue and Finance Committee. The new estimate is essentially the same as earlier estimates upon which Gov. J.B. Pritzker based his budget proposal last month. Overall, according to the report, the state should see about $40.7 billion in revenue from both state and federal sources. Thats an increase of about $656 million, or 1.6 percent, in base year-over-year revenues. If voters on Nov. 3 approve a constitutional amendment to allow for a graduated income tax, where people are charged higher rates on higher levels of income, Illinois could see an additional $1.4 billion during the last six months of the fiscal year, bringing the total to $42.1 billion. Without the constitutional amendment, individual income taxes are expected to grow about 3.5 percent, to $20.1 billion. Marty Johnson, chief economist for the Department of Revenues Research Office, said wage growth in Illinois has been sluggish in recent years, compared to the national average, but the current tight labor market combined with the states higher minimum wage should push wages up in the coming year. Sales tax receipts are projected to grow 3.4 percent, to just over $9 billion, while corporate income taxes are expected to hold steady at just under $2.5 billion. Johnson said Illinois saw a bump in corporate income taxes during the current fiscal year due to an amnesty program lawmakers approved in 2019. Discounting that, she said, corporate income taxes are expected to grow 0.5 percent. Those estimates are based on the departments economic outlook for both the state and the nation. Johnson described the outlook for the national economy as stable as fears about an economic downturn are receding with the signing of a Phase I trade deal with China that is expected to boost U.S. exports, including agricultural products. She also warned of clouds on the horizon, such as the possibility of increased trade tensions and the spread of the novel coronavirus. Johnson said the Illinois economy has been lagging that of the U.S. during the economic expansion, which has now lasted 111 months. Johnson said the tight labor market has driven down the states unemployment, last reported at 3.5 percent in December, a 50-year low. But she expects that number will climb to about 3.9 percent by the end of the current fiscal year in June, and could hover around 4.1 percent for the next fiscal year. Germany-based Schuco International KG has announced the signing of a rental contract with Sharjah Airport International Free Zone (Saif Zone). Headquartered in Bielefeld, Schuco International KG develops and sells system solutions for windows, doors and facades. With more than 5,400 employees worldwide, the company operates in more than 80 countries and achieved a turnover of 1.67 billion euros in 2018. As per the deal, Schuco will lease 14 warehouses covering a total area of 8,400 sq m, making it the biggest number of warehouses rented for a single company inside the free zone, said Saud Salim Al Mazrouei, Director of SAIF Zone, after signing the deal with Dr Jorg Westphal, the Executive Senior VP at Schuco International KG. The signing ceremony was attended by Ammar Alul, Managing Director at Schuco Middle East and Stephan Weiss, Operations Manager at Schuco Middle East and a number of senior officials. Schucos decision to open a new branch in Sharjah is yet another global testament to the competitive advantages that we offer to investors looking forward to availing our growing investment opportunities in the real estate sector, stated Al Mazrouei. We are happy to have a reputable global company such as Schuco joining SAIF Zone. It was a step in the right direction since the construction sector is playing a growing pivotal role in Emirate and the wider region. It is indeed one of the mainstays of the economic diversification strategy developed by the emirate to prepare for the future," he added. Manon Cox was the chief operating officer at Protein Sciences Corp. back in the early 2000s when the SARS crisis broke out. Quickly, the drug-development company received $3 million from the feds to take a swing at making a vaccine. More than 15 years later, Protein Sciences is still in Meriden but now its part of Sanofi, the giant drugmaker based in Paris, France. And suddenly, the Connecticut biotech business, founded in 1983, is vying to make a vaccine for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The race is on. Protein Sciences is one of just three companies with contracts from a federal drug development agency to craft a shield from the illness thats sweeping the world. Sweeping with panic, that is, if not widespread infection. For Protein Sciences, its a natural extension of what the 100 or so employees in Meriden already do. With Cox running the show, they invented and developed the worlds first flu vaccine made from recombinant gene technology derived from ovary cells of a single caterpillar two decades ago rather than using millions of chicken eggs. They also worked on emergency vaccines for a microscopic murderers row of notorious viruses: the avian flu in 1997, then SARS, then Ebola and Zika, mostly without success because of the nature of these things. Likewise, with COVID-19, we cant expect a vaccine anytime soon. It will take at least a year to a year and a half to have a vaccine we can use, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations chief infectious disease official at the National Institutes of Health, told a U.S. Senate committee this week. No one at the Protein Sciences Meriden location, or at Sanofi in Paris, which has 100,000 employees worldwide, answered my calls and emails. In a press release, the company said its recombinant platform and prior work on emergency viruses gives it a head start toward coronavirus. Theyre in the running, as one person familiar with operations there told me, but that doesnt mean its going to happen. I cant imagine it would be necessary Cox, who lives in East Haven, became the CEO a few years after the SARS effort and left in early 2018, five months after Sanofi bought Protein Sciences for $750 million. From her standpoint, a Protein Sciences COVID-19 vaccine wont happen and maybe shouldnt happen. I do believe that we will have a therapy for this coronavirus because there are already many approved drugs for viral infections, she said. But a vaccine? She paused, and said in the accent of her Netherlands homeland, I dont think so. Ive known Cox for 20 years and shes easily the bluntest-speaking CEO of the hundreds Ive met and interviewed. She argues theres no great need for a vaccine for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The illness, she believes, will not prove serious enough to go through the effort and expense. I could imagine that its good practice, but I cant imagine it would be necessary for this particular virus, said Cox, a microbiologist and virologist. I just absolutely dont understand whats causing all this madness at this time. ... Theyre acting as if hell is breaking loose. Obviously, a lot of people hold a different opinion. South by Southwest, the giant music and technology festival in Austin, Texas, was canceled Friday amid coronavirus fears. Is Cox right, that everyone is freaking out needlessly? Probably a bit so, yes. But whether its needed or not, there are other reasons why emergency vaccines fall short, starting with the timeline. Political will fades out Protein Sciences, founded in West Hartford as MicroGeneSys, embodies the years-long triumphs and failures that define drug development. The founder started with hopes for a hookworm medication. Later, MicroGeneSys created the first AIDS vaccine ever to win federal approval for clinical trials, though that drug eventually failed and the company collapsed. Even scientific success doesnt guarantee victory in the market. Flublok, the Protein Sciences vaccine that Sanofi now sells worldwide, took 16 years from invention to marketing and never really took off when the company was independent. The problem with development isnt making the molecules, though thats hard. Its making sure they work safely and effectively. For Ebola, for example, Cox said the FDA wouldnt allow any shortcuts in testing. Its also about politics, culture and the fleeting nature of intense bugs. Take the Protein Sciences SARS vaccine effort, for example. It failed, Cox recalls, because of a combination of those issues. We made a protein-based vaccine. The protein was called spike, she said, because of the pattern it showed same reason the coronavirus is so named because of the appearance of a crown on its surface. They did animal testing and developed test systems. But then they saw a possible signal that the drug could worsen the disease. We never investigated that because the political will, and the virus, faded out. Thats the nature of what we hope will be a passing virus, occupying intense focus and fear of bio-Armageddon but only for a short time. Heres the point with money from the government, Cox said. Is the political will there to continue to send money? Thats just not the case. The right folks? Last month, the federal drug-development agency Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, part of Health and Human Services modified existing contracts at Protein Sciences and at a division of Johnson & Johnson, to work on COVID-19. A third company is looking at a range of options, perhaps including a vaccine. BARDA has not said the amount of the contracts, but in a blog post, the agency acknowledged the difficulties. This is the third coronavirus in less than 20 years, and it is time for us to get new medical countermeasures over the finish line. Sanofi, in a release, said the companys work on SARS will help in COVID-19. Additionally, since there is a licensed vaccine based on this platform this will allow for research and materials to be produced relatively quickly for clinical testing. The coronavirus effort builds on years of cooperation between Protein Sciences and BARDA. The company has received hundreds of millions of federal dollars over the years to develop methods of making stockpiles of flu vaccines in the event of a pandemic; and for its core product, Flublok, marketed as the most effective flu vaccine in the world with no allergic risks. Cox has little faith in Sanofi, she said, having seen some great people leave after the takeover in which many employees made a hefty payday from stock holdings. I basically ran that program and I just honestly think that they dont have the right people in that company anymore, she said. They certainly have the right folks in the room, my source familiar with the operations said in response. Thats a Red Sox-Yankees debate. The bigger picture is that fast-turnaround drug development has a spotty history. And thankfully, virus threats have a history of passing fast. If you would give me money I would not help develop a coronavirus vaccine right now because this is going to blow over, Cox said, and a year from now nobody is going to want it. Thats what makes the world so great. Someone will break through and become the Wright Brothers of coronavirus vaccines. It might as well happen in Connecticut, a state down on its luck but with a pedigree of invention unmatched anyplace. dhaar@hearstmediact.com Intel told employees Friday they can work from home during the coronavirus outbreak if their jobs dont require them to be in the office or factory. And the company banned international travel unless it is essential to the business. As a precaution, we have limited nonessential international travel and made working from home optional, for the time being, for those who are able to effectively do their work remotely and wish to do so, Intel said Friday. Were monitoring the situation closely and working to ensure that our employees have the information and resources they need to stay safe. Intel is Oregons largest corporate employer, with 20,000 workers in its factories and offices in Washington County. While many workers could do their jobs remotely for at least a short period of time, the company couldnt keep its manufacturing workers home without having a dramatic effect on production. Intel has substantial operations in China, where the coronavirus has been widespread for several weeks, but the outbreak has apparently had no more than a modest effect on Intels operations there. On Monday, Intel Chief Financial Officer George Davis told an investment conference that the business continues to operate on a relatively normal basis. The coronavirus has had a profound impact on Intels stock, though. Shares that were near $70 last month closed Friday at $55.77, falling along with the broader markets. Relatively few Oregon employers have closed their offices during the outbreak. Tests have confirmed three people in the state have COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and none of them have died. Nationally, more than 300 people have tested positive for COVID-19, most of them in Washington or California. There have been 15 deaths, nearly all of them in the Seattle area. Amazon, Google, Facebook and Microsoft have all told employees in the Puget Sound region to work from home for the time being. Twitter closed its Seattle office Friday afternoon after an employee working there was diagnosed as likely having COVID-19. The University of Washington and a number of other colleges and universities in the Seattle area told students Friday to stop coming to class and some are shifting to online courses and tests. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | 503-294-7699 Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Congress leader and former Union finance minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said the Yes Bank fiasco was caused by 'mismanagement' of financial institutions under the BJP government and demanded that the RBI conduct a thorough probe and fix accountability in the matter New Delhi: Congress leader and former Union finance minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said the Yes Bank fiasco was caused by "mismanagement" of financial institutions under the BJP government and demanded that the RBI conduct a thorough probe and fix accountability in the matter. He said it was "bizarre" for State Bank of India to invest Rs 2,450 crore to pick up a 49-per cent stake in the crisis-ridden bank under the government-approved bailout plan. "This is a matter that must be thoroughly inquired into and accountability fixed," he told reporters. He asked how no officer of the RBI noticed a 35-per cent jump in the loan book of the bank in a year, when loan books of other banks were growing at nine per cent. Yes Bank indulging in loan giving spree "isn't banking but buccaneering", he said, adding that the loan book of Yes Bank from March 2014 to March 2019 was allowed to grow and jump manifold. "How did the loan book of Yes Bank jump from Rs 55,633 crore in March 2014 to Rs 2,41,499 crore in March 2019, when I was not the finance minister," he asked. "...notice the spike in 2016-17 and 2017-18, the two years immediately following demonetisation. Is no one in the RBI or government accountable," he asked. The Congress leader said whoever takes over the bank, it must ensure that depositors' money is safe and every depositor is assured of his/her money, as the depositors are the most innocent ones. The former finance minister asked a series of questions to the government over the Yes Bank crisis. "Which committee or who authorized the grant of new loans after March 2014? Were not the RBI and government aware that YES Bank was on a loan-giving spree? It was not banking but buccaneering. Did no one in the RBI and the government read the balance sheet of the bank at the end of every year?" he asked. Chidambaram also asked why did nothing change after the Yes Bank CEO was replaced and a new one appointed in January 2019 and why did nothing change after a former deputy Governor of RBI was appointed to the Board of Yes Bank in May 2019. "Why did the alarm bells not ring when Yes Bank reported its first-ever quarterly loss in the quarter Jan-March 2019," he asked. Chidambaram said the government and the finance minister would wish the story to vanish from the media, but despite their best efforts, mismanagement of financial institutions by the BJP government will be an issue that will remain in the public domain and be debated extensively. "The best judge of the management of the economy is the market - not the FM nor any ex-FM nor any newspaper. Even allowing for the effect of the coronavirus threat, it is noteworthy that yesterday Sensex fell by 884 points," Chidambaram said. He noted that the price of an SBI share fell by Rs 18 and the Rupee to USD declined by 54 paisa (-0.74 per cent). "The price of an Yes Bank share fell from Rs 36.80 to Rs 16.15," he said, adding that "actually it is worthless". "I stated yesterday that a better option would be for SBI to take over, under orders of RBI, the loan book of Yes Bank at one rupee and an obligation to assure all depositors that their money is safe and will be returned. Simultaneously, SBI should make every effort to recover as much as possible of the outstanding loans. There are other options that can be explored in consultation with former Governors C Rangarajan and Y V Reddy," the former finance minister said. A day after imposing a 30-day moratorium on Yes Bank and capping withdrawal limit at Rs 50,000, the RBI on Friday evening issued a draft reconstruction scheme for the private sector lender. A senior BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh on Saturday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding security for MLAs in the state amid a poaching row with the ruling Congress. On Friday, BJP MLAs and former ministers Sanjay Pathak and Vishwas Sarang had claimed threat to their lives after the Kamal Nath government withdrew their personal security officers. Speaking to PTI on Saturday, Rameshwar Sharma, MP BJP vice president and MLA from Huzur in Bhopal, said he has written to Shah to provide security to legislators. "MLAs from BJP, BSP, SP as well as Independents, and even those from the Congress, having differences with CM Kamal Nath or (senior Congress leader and RS MP) Digvijaya Singh face a threat to their lives," Sharma said. He alleged that the state DGP (VK Singh) was removed from the post "overnight" as he refused to budge when the "Congress regime wanted to misuse the police force". "We have full faith in MP police but they are working under pressure from the Kamal Nath government. So in such a situation, we have to demand security from the Centre for MLAs who oppose the Congress government here," Sharma said. Meanwhile, MP Public Relations Minister PC Sharma called the change in personal security officers as a "routine process". "But why are they (BJP) afraid? It seems the illegal works started during the (previous) BJP regime are still going on," the minister claimed. BJP MLAs Pathak and Sarang had claimed a threat to their lives after their PSOs, who were on duty with them for 10-20 years, were removed. Pathak even alleged that a 'pran-ghatak ghatna' (life threatening incident) occurred with him on Wednesday night but refused to share details. Sarang claimed the Kamal Nath government wanted to reduce the number of BJP MLAs by "killing them". Earlier this week the Congress had said the BJP had "abducted" 14 MLAs to bring down the government in Madhya Pradesh, an allegation which the opposition party denied. The Congress holds a thin majority in the 230-member Assembly, with its 114 MLAs being supported by two BSP, one SP and four Independent legislators. The BJP has 107 legislators while two seats are vacant. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The deadly coronavirus is continuously spreading in the United States of America, says an article from USA Today. Leaders of educational institutions in the entire country are making plans for a worst-case scenario. Many areas in the country are already postponing educational institutions. Schools are already considering online learning as an alternative to the traditional method of learning if the threats of the spread of the COVID-19 continues. Letting the Parents Know about the Schools' Emergency Plan The leaders of every district are correct to emphasize the importance of washing one's hand. Also, they remind everyone who is sick to stay at home. Additionally, they advise everyone to cover their mouths when they are sneezing and coughing. However, they should also share with parents regarding their emergency plans if the coronavirus epidemic gets worse. This is still true even if it causes an alarm to parents. The Response of Educational Institutions and Health Authorities on the Epidemic The way how educational institutions and health authorities respond to confirmed cases of the coronavirus is rapidly changing. However, the unpredictability of how the deadly virus will spread had placed the leaders of educational institutions in a difficult spot. These leaders are at a dilemma of how to create a sense of calm while still relaying caution to students and their parents. According to the American Association of School Administration's executive director Dan Domenech, everyone is in a "state of alert." His organization had advised its superintendents to provide information to the parents of the students regarding their emergency operations plans. These plans will be used in case the spread of the COVID-19 gets out of hand. Domenech says he observed some districts sending messages to families. The messages were sent to them even if there were still no intense threats about the spread of the virus. However, he claims that that is not the case now. He said the spread of the coronavirus is already a matter of concern. Coronavirus Epidemic not yet a Pandemic in the United States According to the National Association of School Nurses' executive director Donna Mazyck, the COVID-19 is still not yet a pandemic in the United States of America. However, health authorities are already evaluating their emergency plans due to the speed of how it spreads. Additionally, the health authorities are also devising a plan in case the epidemic comes close to the different regions. According to Mazyck, the key to the plan is to prepare without causing any panic. Postponing the Operations of Educational Institutions The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously provided various guidance to educational institutions ranging from schools to daycare centers. The guidance depends on the status of their local COVID-19 cases. Schools with no confirmed cases of the coronavirus, the CDC advised them to evaluate and update their current emergency plans. The CDC suggests to put emphasis on hand-washing, collaborate with local health authorities, and evaluate attendance policies. These policies include ceasing the reward system for perfect attendance. For schools within COVID-19 infected areas, the CDC suggests educational institutions to communicate with the local health authorities in their area before canceling classes. They will collaborate to determine how long the cancellation of classes will take effect. He also appointed Jason Hewitt, the director of the Texas Education Agency's Special Investigations Unit, as superintendent over the district, replacing Rick Hartley, who had headed Shepherd ISD for just over three years. Shepherd ISD will hold a special board meeting Monday evening to seat its new board of managers. Last year, Shepherd ISD sued the state and asked for a temporary injunction to stop the takeover until the end of the trial. But in January, a state judge in Travis County denied the request, prompting the school board to give up on the lawsuit. The new appointed board which includes a former Shepherd ISD school board president as well as members of the community will have power to make hiring and budgetary decisions for the school district; the elected board will still be in place but will no longer have control over Shepherd's schools. Eventually, the state will transition power back to the elected school board, once the schools improve. Charles Minton, Shepherd's mayor, heard the news late Friday afternoon. He has one child in the high school and another in the middle school, which is a target of the state's intervention. Bernie Sanders returns to Michigan, the symbolic heart of America's Midwest and its black and white working class, four years after he defeated his primary challenger Hillary Clinton, who later lost the state to Donald Trump. Though the next round of primaries to determine the Democratic nominee to face the president in November offers a smaller overall outlook than the dramatic Super Tuesday contests, the Vermont Senator is counting on a decisive victory in the state to deliver a message to campaign rival Joe Biden, and to inspire voters who have doubted his path to the nomination. Analysts predicted Ms Clinton would win the state in 2016, surprising pundits who had otherwise declared the end of Mr Sanders' presidential run. The 2020 picture appears to be similarly unclear, though forecasters say the former vice president - following his wins on Super Tuesday and endorsements from his former Democratic rivals - has the upper hand. But Michigan is among Rust Belt states where Mr Trump defeated Ms Clinton and that Mr Sanders carried throughout the primaries. Mr Biden's rise in the polls has made the state's electoral outcome difficult to predict despite the president's narrow victory and Mr Sanders' edge over the former secretary of state, who, like Mr Biden, represents Mr Sanders' ideological rival. The candidates are competing for a share of Michigan's 125 delegates, the most among primary states on 10 March. Though it contains only a fraction of the delegates in other crucial primary states likes California (494) and Texas (262), Michigan captures the state of Democratic voters in the so-called heartland, with liberal-leaning metropolitan enclaves, suburban moderates, unions, and working-class and blue-collar black and white voters. The former chair of the state's Democratic Party said Mr Sanders' primary losses suggest "it's going to be much tougher for him in Michigan" this time around. "I never saw the same coalescing around Hillary Clinton with folks that you're seeing around Joe Biden," Brandon Dillon told McClatchy. Results leading up to and immediately after Super Tuesday dramatically changed the Democratic field. Tom Steyer dropped out, followed by Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, both of whom endorsed Mr Biden. After winning precisely one primary after spending half a billion dollars on a airwaves-flooding campaign, Michael Bloomberg ended his race and also put his support behind Mr Biden. Elizabeth Warren's departure has effectively whittled the field down to two candidates that look familiar to 2016's primary frontrunners: a moderate promising a return to civility, and a social democrat mounting a challenge to the status quo. The next round of primaries will determine how Ms Warren's progressive base votes without their candidate in the race. A Detroit News/WDIV-TV survey showed Mr Biden at 29 per cent, with a nearly seven-point lead to Mr Sanders 22.5 percent, though those results were released before Mr Bloomberg and Ms Warren dropped out. Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Show all 29 1 /29 Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states An anti-dairy protester is led away after storming the stage at Joe Biden's Super Tuesday event in Los Angeles, California EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Bernie Sanders cheer as results are announced at a Super Tuesday party in Texas AFP/Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Joe Biden hold up an election pooster from Barack Obama's 2008 run at a Super Tuesday event for the Democratic contender Reuters Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Bernie Sander takes to the stage before supporters during his Super Tuesday event in Vermont EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Bernie Sanders cheer as results are announced at a Super Tuesday party in Texas AFP/Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Bernie Sanders cheer as results are announced at a watch party in Texas AFP/Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Joe Biden gestures to suppporters at a Super Tuesday event for the Democratic contender AP Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Elizabeth Warren waves to supporters at a rally in Michigan as results come in following Super Tuesday Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A spray painted mural of presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders on the side of a building in Kirby, Vernont EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Bernie Sandes cheer at a Super Tuesday rally in Vermont Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Supporters of Elizabeth Warren hold sings and cheer in Cambridge Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren leaves the voting booth at the Graham & Parks School in Cambridge, Massachusetts Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A poster for sale at a rally for Bernie Sanders on Super Tuesday in Vermont Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democratic voter Elliot Zaagman wears a protective mask as he poses for a photo after casting his ballot in Bangkok, Thailand EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Daisy, a Golden Retriever, outside a polling in San Diego. 1,357 Democratic delegates are at stake as voters cast their ballots in 14 states and American Samoa on what is known as Super Tuesday Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (greets fellow voters after casting his ballot in his state's primary election at the Robert Miller Community Center in Burlington, Vermont Getty Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A first time voter stands behind a voting booth in a polling location for the North Carolina primary Reuters Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg takes part in his Super Tuesday night rally in West Palm Beach, Florida Reuters Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Fourteen states are holding their primaries with more than one third of the total pledged delegates in the Democratic primaries to be awarded on Super Tuesday Getty Images Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren and her husband Bruce Mann greet supporters as they walk to a polling site to vote on Super Tuesday in Cambridge, Massachusett EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Voters cast their ballots at a polling location inside an elementary school on Super Tuesday in Minneapolis, Minnesota EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states AP Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democratic voter Le'ana Freeman poses for a photo after casting her ballot at a polling station in Bangkok EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Voters arrive to cast their ballots at a polling location inside Hunter House at Nottoway Park in Vienna EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Democrat Jamie Wilson gets a sticker after voting in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas AP Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A Polling Place sign in the border town of Hidalgo, Texas EPA Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A girl carries her mothers ballot to the table where she will fill in her choice at the Taylor Elementary School polling location in Arlington Getty Images Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states A man wearing an 'I Voted' sticker and a 'Bernie Abroad' badge after voting in the American presidential primary in Oxford, England Getty Images Super Tuesday: Lively scenes as results flood in across 14 states Stickers for people who vote AFP via Getty Images Mr Sanders is preparing for Michigan's primary by revisiting areas he won decisively in 2016 primaries, recommitting his message to the state's broad working-class coalition. The senator has "never stopped being engaged at the grassroots level across this country since 2016," according to Johnathan Kinloch, chair of the 13th Congressional District Democratic Party and third vice chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. "I'm not surprised that he has the momentum and wind behind him. Bernie Sanders didn't just depend upon the wind, Bernie Sanders created the wind." He cancelled a scheduled speech in Mississippi with Jackson's progressive Democrat mayor Chokwe Lumumba, who won an overwhelming victory in 2017 with 92 per cent of the vote, in a gamble to spend more time in the Midwest. In Detroit, he'll rally with progressive congresswoman Cornel West as well as Rashida Tlaib and Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield, both of whom endorsed Mr Sanders. He also received the first-ever presidential primary endorsement from Detroit Action, "a grassroots organisation that fights for the equity and equality of black and brown Michiganders." Throughout his 2020 campaign, he stood with striking auto-workers in the state and rallied in Detroit and in Warren. He'll hold more rallies in Dearborn, Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor, as well as Chicago and Rockford, Illinois and in Missouri, all before voting ends on Tuesday. As the primary approaches, both candidates have broadcast competing messages on the state of the auto industry, the once-lifeblood of the industrial midwest that has faltered under several administrations before Trump's trade deals have thrown its workers into an uncertain future and sent manufacturing jobs overseas. The president famously promised to save jobs at the once-thriving GM plant in Lordstown, Ohio, where the plant's closure led to the region's economic depression. Mr Sanders has criticised the former vice president's support for Nafta and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and is running campaign adverts featuring union auto-workers slamming those trade deals. On NBC's Today, Mr Biden said: "Now let's go to Michigan, Bernie ... I'm the guy that helped bail out the automobile industry. What did you do, old buddy?" Even with a victory in Michigan, Mr Sanders is likely to face defeats in other primary states on 10 March, when Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota and Washington state also hold elections. The following week, he'll face another challenging gauntlet in Florida, Illinois, Arizona and Ohio primaries. By then, nearly a majority of delegates will have been awarded before the party heads to convention to select the nominee, setting up either a fractured, inter-party contest or a clear victor. With Dhaka cancelling yet another high-profile visit to New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on Monday sought to allay the concerns of Bangladesh the process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, stating that it was entirely internal to India. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) of Bangladesh, was scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Monday, leading an 18-member-delegation on a visit to India. The visit was called off just as other high-profile official visits from Dhaka to New Delhi had been cancelled, after Modi Government enacted the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in December 2019. Bangladesh had earlier cancelled the visits of its Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to India soon after the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill had been passed by both Houses of Indian Parliament in December 2019 and had eventually turned into a law, triggering widespread protests across the country. The new ensures citizenship to people of six non-Muslim communities Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian if they had to migrate to India from Muslim-majority Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh on or before December 31, 2014, in order to escape persecution on the ground of religion. Dhaka is understood to have been irked by the remarks made by Home Minister Amit Shah about religious persecution of minority Hindus in Bangladesh while piloting the proposed legislation through Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Momen, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, had not only dismissed the allegation of persecution of minority Hindus in Bangladesh but had also gone on to say that the new law would weaken India's historic position as a tolerant and secular nation. Dhaka, however, never officially linked cancellation of visits by ministers and officials from Bangladesh to India in the past few weeks with its disappointment over the CAA or its concerns over implications of the process of updating the NRC in Assam. Momen had cited preoccupation in Dhaka for postponing the visit to New Delhi. Similarly, the cancellation of the proposed visit by Bangladesh parliamentary delegation to India was also attributed to the preoccupation of the Speaker and others ahead of a special session of the Jatiya Sangsad on the occasion of the birth centenary of the neighbouring country's founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Sources, however, told the DH that Dhaka had conveyed to New Delhi its concerns over the implications of the NRC in Assam as well as its disappointment over the CAA. With Modi likely to visit Dhaka from March 16 to 18, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla flew to the capital of Bangladesh on Monday to help iron out the wrinkles in India's relations with its eastern neighbour. Modi will hold talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, apart from attending an event being held by her government to mark the beginning of celebration of birth centenary of the Bangabandhu. As the closest of neighbours, with so many shared cultural traits, it is also inevitable that events in each others countries create ripples across the border irrespective of whether there is real justification for this, Shringla said at a seminar organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in Dhaka on Monday. One recent example is the process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, which has taken place entirely at the direction and under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India. Let me clearly state here what our leadership has repeatedly confirmed at the highest level to the Government of Bangladesh: this is a process that is entirely internal to India, he said. Therefore, added the Foreign Secretary, there will be no implications for the Government and people of Bangladesh. You have our assurance on that count. Hasina had visited New Delhi on October 5. She had conveyed to Modi Bangladesh Government's concerns over 1.9 million people being left out of the updated NRC in Assam. She had also expressed concern over growing clamour by the leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for preparing similar registers of citizens across India. Bangladesh has particularly been keen to know if India has any plan to send the people, who were left out of the NRC, to Bangladesh. The exercise to draft the NRC was started with the objective to identify the illegal immigrants, who had allegedly sneaked into India from Bangladesh and settled in Assam. Hasina's government in Dhaka already ruled out the possibility of Bangladesh taking back from India the people, who could not make it to the NRC. Dhaka in fact has never accepted that a large number of people from Bangladesh illegally migrated to India. The Bdnews24.com, an online news-portal of Bangladesh, also quoted Shringla stating that the people left out of the NRC in Assam could move to Foreigners' Tribunal challenging exclusion and even go to the High Courts and the Supreme Court. As you can imagine this is a long and lengthy judicial process and therefore there is no reason at this point of time for any concern that there will be any impact on Bangladesh. As far as we are concerned, this is an internal issue and there should absolutely be no impact particularly when it comes to a country that is a close friend of ours, a country that is an important partner of ours, Shringla was quoted by Bdnews24.com. During a Question and Answer session after his speech, the Foreign Secretary said that the CAA was actually a proactive legislation, which had been brought into force by Modi Government in New Delhi on humanitarian grounds. In other words, we have hundreds of thousands of people who are currently in India, who are basically homeless and stateless. They will be allowed to seek citizenship on a faster track. That means instead of 10 years, they will get it in five years, the news portal quoted him saying. Firstly, the citizenship bill is not against any religion. Secondly, it will provide express citizenship to those who have fled persecution in neighbouring countries and have taken refuge in India. And thirdly, this does not apply to the current government in Bangladesh. This applies to the post 1975 period when military governments and other governments did not observe the spirit and letter of the constitution of Bangladesh which is secular and as a result of which a number of people had to flee persecution and come to India, Shringla said, obviously making an attempt to iron out the wrinkles in New Delhi's ties with Hasina's government in Dhaka. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Madrid, Spain Sat, March 7, 2020 09:05 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068ea809 2 World Spain,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,COVID-19,outbreak,infection,infectious-diseases Free Spain reported five new deaths due to the novel coronavirus on Friday, bringing the toll to eight as officials shuttered elderly care centers across Madrid after a spike in cases. The disease claimed the lives of three elderly men in the Madrid region, as well as that of an 87-year-old woman in Badalona near Barcelona and a man of the same age in the northeastern city of Zaragoza, regional health authorities said. Among the newly reported deaths was that of a 76-year-old man who frequented a seniors center in Valdemoro just south of Madrid where 15 other users and staff members have been diagnosed with COVID-19. His death follows that of a 99-year-old woman earlier this week who used another day-care facility for the elderly in Madrid and it prompted health officials to order all 213 such facilities in the region, both daycare and residential, to be shut for a month. "This decision has been taken because users of seniors centers are especially vulnerable to COVID-19," the regional government of Madrid said in a statement, before adding there was an "extraordinary and imminent threat to public health". Spain reported its first coronavirus death on Tuesday evening, saying the victim had died on Feb. 13 but was only diagnosed with COVID-19 during a post-mortem analysis in a development which has worried officials. Since then the number has jumped to eight. These deaths "show that the virus arrived earlier than thought" in Spain, Antoni Trilla, head of preventative medicine and epidemiology at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, told El Pais newspaper. So far, all of the victims have been people in high-risk categories, elderly or suffering from a pre-existing condition. 46A: Thinking crustacean, for this debut? Different kind of shell the kind that contains delicious FISH TACOS. 49A: Thinking elegant tables with bottles of Screaming Eagle wines, for this debut? Thatd be wild, but JELLO SHOTS are quicker (not that Id know). 24D: Flotsam vs. jetsam doesnt really affect the outcome of this clue, but you should know that if you ever stumble on something SWEPT ASHORE that might have been thrown off a ship, its kind of finders keepers, unless its owner comes looking for it. Which helps explain the lucrative beachcombing industry. 33D: I remember using a PAY PHONE in the city how did New York know when to let them slip into disrepair, pretty closely tracking the rise of the cellphone? Supposedly this year is their swan song. Honestly, this is a piece of history that only a telephone repairman or nostalgic 1970s drug dealer might miss, although booths were pretty cool. Aaaand it turns out that you can now buy a private phone booth for your open plan office. Im honestly sorry I looked that up. Ms. Weintraubs take on this entry is so much better! Constructor Notes I typically fall back on a few basic grid designs, but this triple-stack layout is a new one for me though in keeping with my usual style of packing in many long multi-word entries. Dont be surprised if you see it again (and again) from me. No quibbles on the clues; many are mine, and those that arent are an improvement over what I submitted. The only one Im disappointed that didnt make the cut was my clue for PAY PHONE: Anathema of free speech advocates? Free speech/pay phone get it? OK, I admit it, some of these jokes are just for me. This is my 25th puzzle in The New York Times. Reflecting on this quadranscentennial (yes, I googled it) milestone, I realize that what began for me 10 years ago as nothing more than a whim and an intellectual challenge is today a central part of my identity. Im so glad to be part of the wonderful community of crossword constructors, solvers and editors, and I look forward to many more years of arranging black and white squares and moving letters around for the amusement of others. Finally, its an honor to be included in this week highlighting women constructors. Thanks to Will and the team for making it happen, and three cheers to my fellow constructors whose puzzles ran this week. And to all the women who might now be inspired to begin constructing: I look forward to solving all your puzzles in the years to come! Mixing up your Aslans with your Bilbos? Subscribers can take a peek at the answer key. Trying to get back to the puzzle page? Right here. What did you think? Biernacki and the Music Center of Deerfield also were named in a wrongful death lawsuit that was filed in September by the family of Lucinda Rondon-Stanley, the 53-year-old Evanston woman who died from blunt force injuries that were caused by the crash Sept. 13 in the 800 block of Waukegan Road. Ready to work with new US administration says Pak foreign minister With a likely meeting of Jaishankar, Qureshi Indo-Pak tensions set to thaw further No Indo-Pak bi-lateral so far on sidelines of Afghan meet Pak wants no security role for India in Afghanistan International oi-Vicky Nanjappa Islamabad, Mar 07: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said Pakistan does not want any security role for India in Afghanistan as he accused New Delhi of playing the role of a "spoiler" in the war-torn country, according to a media report. After months of negotiations, the US and Taliban signed a landmark peace deal in Qatari capital Doha on Saturday, effectively drawing curtains on the United States' 18-year war in Afghanistan since 2001. Addressing the Senate on Wednesday, Qureshi said that Pakistan neither desires any security role of India in Afghanistan nor wants presence of militant organisations Al-Qaeda and the ISIS in the landlocked country, The Nation reported. The foreign minister told the Upper House that India had always played role of a spoiler, the report said. Autoclave seized on Chinese ship by India could have been for nukes in Pakistan NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 There were spoilers in the past and they are even today, within and outside Afghanistan, who want to get their own objectives," Qureshi said. India has been a key stakeholder in Afghanistan as it had already spent around USD 2 billion in reconstruction of the war-ravaged country. India has been maintaining that care should be taken to ensure that any peace process does not lead to any "ungoverned spaces" where terrorists and their proxies can relocate. Ahead of the peace deal, India conveyed to the US that pressure on Pakistan to crack down on terror networks operating from its soil must be kept up though Islamabad's cooperation for peace in Afghanistan is crucial. Qureshi on Sunday also warned that "spoilers" could try to sabotage the peace process in Afghanistan. He also said that Pakistan wanted to resolve all issues with Afghanistan bilaterally. Reiterating that Pakistan was never part of the peace talks and their role has always been and will always be that of a facilitator, the minister said Pakistan cannot give guarantee or take responsibility to peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan 'pernicious cradle of terrorism': India at UNHRC "This is a shared responsibility, and all (stakeholders) will have to play their role. There are many powers, interests and motives (involved), he said. He said that the true test of the Afghan leadership begins now as Afghan people want peace. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 10:16 [IST] By Trend Three people have tested positive for coronavirus in Georgia increasing the total number of those infected in the country to twelve, Trend reports via Georgian media. Head of the Georgian National Center for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze said at a news briefing today that there is still no reason to panic. Gamkrelidze called on the Georgian citizens who arrive from risk countries to be more responsible and do not hide their symptoms. According to him, the most dangerous country for Georgia for now is Italy as the most people who have tested positive for COVID-19 have arrived from there. Georgia has suspended direct flights with Italy in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country. The first case of coronavirus was reported in Georgia on February 26. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. The symptoms include cough, headache, fatigue, fever, aching and difficulty breathing. It is primarily spread through airborne contact or contact with contaminated objects. Chinese health authorities say that the majority of the people who have died were either elderly or had underlying health problems. New Delhi/UNI: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Saturday seized about US dollars bills equivalent to Rs 1.40 crore from two Kyrgyzstan nationals at Indira Gandhi International Airport here. After CISF staff observed suspicious activities of two Kyrgyzstan nationals, Maatkerimov Mirlan and Orazbaev Ruslan, they took for random checking to a separated area. On checking their bags through scanning machine, the CISF duty official noticed suspicious images of currency notes inside their bags but the duo were allowed to go for check-in and immigration formalities but were kept under close watch through electronic and physical surveillance. After completing immigration formalities, they were intercepted and Customs officials were informed. Both the passengers were supposed to travel to Almaty by Air Astana flight and onward bound for Bishkek by Air Astana flight. On opening of their bag for thorough check physically,1,76,450 US Dollars which is worth of Rs 1.4 crore, were found concealed in the layers of clothes and pouches kept inside their bags. During enquiry, they could not produce any valid document for the possession of such huge numbers US dollars. Later, the CISF handed over the two foreigners to Customs officials along with the recovered foreign currency for further action in the matter. Michael Oluronbi, left, and wife Juliana, right. (PA Images/West Midlands Police) A feared pastor who raped children in a bogus religious ceremony over a 20-year period has been jailed. Self-styled prophet Michael Oluronbi was found guilty in January of offences against six women and a man. Five of those attended his church. He carried out his attacks by convincing his victims to take part in a spiritual bathing ritual, which he told them would cleanse them of evil spirits. Judge Sarah Buckingham, sentencing him to 34 years behind bars, said his case was one of the worst cases of sexual abuse of multiple children to come before the courts and described him as an arrogant, selfish and vain man. She said the spiritual baths were actually designed to fulfil (his) insatiable sexual appetite. The children feared you and this enabled you to continue your grip, she said, sentencing Oluronbi on Friday. Your offending has had an extreme and severe impact on all of your complainants. Michael Oluronbi has been jailed. (PA Images/West Midlands Police) Any attempt to suggest otherwise would be without foundation. You abused your position of trust they trusted you like God. In statements read to the court by the prosecution, one of the victims said Oluronbis actions made her question if my life was worth living. Oluronbi, who had blamed the devil for his actions, was convicted of 15 counts of rape, seven counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault, at Birmingham Crown Court. Oluronbis wife Juliana was also convicted of three counts of aiding and abetting rape and helping arrange some of the abortions of his victims, with some becoming pregnant multiple times. She was jailed for 11 years. As a pharmacist, he would take them to clinics to end the pregnancies. During the trial, the jury was told how Oluronbi was linked to a Christian church in Birmingham, where he formed a splinter group for about 40 adults and children, separate to the church and in another location. In that group, he had the victims take part in spiritual bathing. During the trial, Phil Bradley QC, prosecuting, told the jury: The main tactic he employed was to claim that God had instructed him to administer holy baths to some of his congregation in order to cleanse them and protect them from evil influences. Story continues That activity began when his victims were children. There can be no doubt that its real purpose was to serve his sexual gratification. Some of the victims were raped repeatedly, leading to unwanted pregnancies and terminations, he told the court, and he was revered and feared by his victims, kept a vice-like grip on many of them and continued to abuse them well into adulthood. Juliana Oluronbi has been convicted of three counts of aiding and abetting rape. (PA Images/West Midlands Police) West Midlands Police said he convinced children he could benefit them religiously, health-wise or educationally. The forces detective superintendent Nick Walton said: Theyd be taken upstairs to the bathroom, stripped naked, sometimes wearing a red girdle like a sash and he would wash them down. On occasion he would sexually assault them, but also take them to an adjacent bedroom and subject them to sexual assaults and rape. Offences took place in Birmingham and London over 20 years, dating back to the 1980s. Some of his victims described it as a cult, added DS Walton. He has been confronted on occasions by relatives and parents. He never made admissions, and even blamed the devil for it on some occasions. Oluronbi would sometimes laugh in court while giving evidence, DS Walton said. He worked as a pastor until his arrest. He was arrested at Birmingham Airport while trying to leave for Nigeria where he comes from with ceremonial belongings and a sum of cash. He had recently been confronted by one of his victims. Police became aware of his crimes after a victim came forward to them. Police believe there may be more victims and urged them to get in touch. Almost 50 per cent Members of did not attend Parliamentary Standing Committee meetings on the Demands for Grants with over two dozen of them not attending a single meeting. According to sources, 57 per cent of TMC MPs, 36 pc of BJP MPs, 15 pc from Congress and 50 pc from other parties did not attend any meeting of the eight committees of on Demands for Grants. These meetings were held between February 12 and March 1, the recess of the two-phase of The prominent absentees include Satish Chandra Mishra (BSP), Derek O'Brien (TMC), RCP Singh (JD-U), Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Sukhbir Singh Badal (SAD), Asaddudin Owaissi (AIMIM), Nakul Nath (Congress) and Mimi Chakraborty (TMC). Some other members from with zero attendance include Majeed Memon of NCP (Personnel, Public Grievances and Law & Justice committee), SR Balasubramoniyan (Home), Sasikala Pushpa Ramaswamy of AIADMK (HRD), Vandana Chavan of NCP (Science & Technology), Sonal Mansingh (Nominated on Tourism & Transport), Anil Baluni of BJP (Science & Technology), M P Veerendra Kumar (Commerce), Roopa Ganguly of BJP (Commerce), Kahkashan Perween of JD-U (Health & Family Welfare), D Srinivas, Jose K.Mani (Industry) and Parimal Nathwani (S&T). Among the members of who skipped all meetings on Demands for Grants include Rajiv Pratap Rudy (T&T), Sukhbir Singh Badal (Commerce), Asaduddin Owaissi (S&T), Nakul K Nath (Commerce), Rajiv Singh (Raju Bhaiya-Home), Sumalata Ambareesh (T&T), Mimi Chakraborty (Industry), S Jagadrakshakan (HRD), YS Avinash Reddy (Industry) and Anant Kumar Hegde (S&T). Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, on the first day of the after a recess on March 2, presented the results of the review of the functioning of eight department-related standing committees that examined the Demands for Grants. He said he did not mind sharing with media the details of the who did not attend even a single meeting of the respective committees. Naidu informed the Upper House that a total of 95 MPs, accounting for 39 pc of the total 243 from both the Houses on the eight committees that are with Rajya Sabha, had zero attendance. He appealed to all concerned to improve their attendance. BJP has 109 on these eight committees while Congress has 33, TMC has 14, SP four, AIADMK three besides 80 from other parties and independents, Rajya Sabha sources said. None of the four members of Samajwadi Party nominated on these committees had zero attendance while all the three members of AIADMK had zero attendance. ALSO READ: Lok Sabha passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Bill amid noisy protests The maximum of 18 among the 31 members of the Committee on Science and Technology did not attend any meeting followed by 17 of the 31 members of the Committee on Commerce. Turning out the best attendance, only eight of the 29 members of the Committee on Health & Family Welfare did not attend any of the three meetings of the committee, the sources said. Nine of the 28 members of the Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances and Law & Justice and 10 each of the 31 members of the Committees on Home, Transport & Tourism and Industry besides 13 of the 31 members of the Committee on Industry did not attend any meeting. House-wise, 23 members of Rajya Sabha accounting for 30 pc of the total 77 members and 72 members of accounting for 43 pc of the total 166 members on these eight committees of Rajya Sabha had zero attendance. Regarding attendance of Rajya Sabha members committee-wise, only one of the eight members of Committee on PPG did not attend any meeting while a maximum of six of the 10 members of the Committee on S & T had zero attendance. In respect of members, the maximum of 13 of the 21 members of the Committee on Commerce did not attend any meeting while six of the Committee on Health & Family Welfare had zero attendance. March 07 : Esha Gupta says appreciation for her maiden Iranian project Devils Daughter has been overwhelming. After working in movies like Jannat 2, Rustom, Commando 2 and Baadshaho, actress Esha Gupta made her Iranian debut with Devil Daughter, helmed by Ghorban Mohammadpour. Known for films like Salaam Mumbai, Anche Mardan Darbareye Zanan Nemidanand and Dele Bigharar, filmmaker Ghorban Mahammadpours Devils Daughter is about a daughter trying to find a medium to compensate for her dad's wrongdoings. Esha Gupta just took to her social media and shared a still from the film and wrote, Devils daughter...Thank you Iran, the love you are showing us is overwhelming. So happy to read all your love as to how this film has made a difference to you. Thank you @ghorban_mohamadpour for this opportunity, lovely working with @hamid.farrokhnezhad...I would rather be a devil in alliance with truth, than an angel in alliance with falsehood- Ludwig Feuerbach Meanwhile on the work front, Esha Gupta will soon be seen in her first ever web-series, Reject X season 2, as Officer Rene. The actress Esha dropped her first look from the series on social media. She captioned it, Happy to introduce Officer Rene, from @zee5premium @rejctx.zee5, see you guys soon in my first webseries @goldiebehl @mutinous_me @milxind @rosemovies_ #rejctx Goldie Behls musical web series RejctX is something thats being watched with great curiosity by critics and viewers alike. While the first season was a hit, the makers are coming out the second season of the series. RejctX has an ensemble star cast comprising the likes of Sumit Vyas, Kubra Sait, Ahmed Masi. Mumbai/New Delhi, March 7 : While the Enforcement Directorate kept grilling Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor in Mumbai, the central probe agency widened its probe and carried out searches at the residence of his three daughters. An ED source said the central probe agency has expanded its probe in the Yes Bank scam and is carrying out searches at three locations in Mumbai and New Delhi. The source said the searches are being carried out at the residential premises of all three daughters -- Rakhee Kapoor Tandon, Roshni Kapoor and Radha Kapoor. The source said the residential premises of Kapoor's daughters are being searched as they were alleged beneficiaries of the scam. The action comes in the wake of the Yes Bank crisis that grew on Thursday night. On Thursday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) superseded the Yes Bank board for 30 days and appointed an administrator while putting a cap of Rs 50,000 on withdrawal by account holders for a month. Following the crisis, the ED registered a case of money laundering against Kapoor and others. The agency's action comes at a time, when Kapoor is being grilled by the agency sleuths at his office in Mumbai since afternoon. The ED on Friday night raided Yes Bank's founder residence and also grilled him at his Samudra Mahal residence in Mumbai. ED officials said Kapoor was questioned throughout the night, with some rest time allowed in between. A senior ED official connected with the probe told IANS: "Kapoor will be questioned about Yes Bank loans to Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL)." The official said during searches a lot of incriminating documents were found and the agency wanted to grill him on his links with DHFL promoters and other companies. Kapoor's alleged role in the disbursal of loan to a corporate entity and kickbacks reportedly received in her wife's bank account are also under probe. The ED had filed a money laundering case against Kapoor and raided his residence, apart from issuing a look-out circular so that he does not flee the country. The ED registered a money laundering case against Kapoor as a continuation of its probe against the DHFL wherein it was allegedly that Rs 12,500 crore was diverted to 80 shell companies using one lakh fake borrowers. The transactions with these shell companies are said to date back to 2015. An ED official in New Delhi told IANS that the DHFL probe revealed that funds diverted by the DHFL originated from Yes Bank. He said that the searches at Kapoor's residence on Friday night were meant to find out any irregularity in grant of loans to the DHFL by the Yes Bank. The ED has accused Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan of DHFL of purchasing shares in five firms -- Faith Realtors, Marvel Township, Abe Realty, Poseidon Realty, and Random Realtors -- after which they were amalgamated with Sunblink. The outstanding loans of these five firms, totalling around Rs 2,186 crore till July 2019, were allegedly appropriated on to the books of Sunblink to cover up the diversion of loans acquired from DHFL. The ED's action comes after the RBI superseded Yes Bank Board for 30 days and appointed an administrator, putting a cap of Rs 50,000 on withdrawal by account holders for a month. The RBI said that the bank's board was superseded "owing to serious deterioration in the financial position of the bank". Former SBI CFO Prashant Kumar was appointed as administrator of Yes Bank, which has over 1,000 branches and 1,800-plus ATMs across the country. On Thursday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the bank was under watch since 2017 and developments relating to it were monitored on a day-to-day basis. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New York, March 07, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Metal Stamping Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Process, By Application, By Region And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05763742/?utm_source=GNW The global metal stamping market size is anticipated to reach USD 273.7 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 2.8%. The increasing production of automobiles is anticipated to drive the demand for metal stamping as it is used in manufacturing of car body panels, transmission components, and interior and exterior structural components. Automobile consumers are shifting their focus towards lightweight vehicles on account of rising concerns on environmental pollution.According to the Center for Automotive Research (CAR), the global light vehicles sales reached around 94 million in 2018 and is expected to reach nearly 110 million by 2026. The growing demand for lightweight vehicles is encouraging auto component manufacturers to increase their production capacities and engage in new product developments, which, in turn, is anticipated to augment market growth over the coming years. Major automobile manufacturers that have in-house component manufacturing facilities are expanding their production capacities to meet the growing demand for automobiles.For instance, in February 2019, Ford Motor Company announced to invest USD 1 billion in Chicago assembly and stamping plants. With the investment, the company plans to add all-new stamping lines and all-new body shops and paint shops that are used to manufacture 2020 Ford Explorer, Police Interceptor Utility, and Lincoln Aviator. Thus, increasing production of these vehicles is anticipated to drive product demand over the coming years. In Asia Pacific, increasing demand for consumer electronics such as mobile phones, computers, laptops, and headphones are likely to boost the demand for metal stamping as it is used in manufacturing metal frames such as metal headbands that are used in headphones. Change in consumer preferences towards enhanced audio experience along with a rapidly growing music industry, and advancement in VR technology are the major factors that are expected to drive the demand for headphones. This, in turn, is likely to propel market growth over the coming years. The market is highly competitive with the presence of local as well as global market players including Alcoa Corporation; Kenmode Precision Metal Stamping; Lindy Manufacturing Co.; Acro Metal Stamping; Manor Tool and Manufacturing Company; D&H Industries; and Klesk Metal Stamping, Inc. These companies are focusing on long term agreements, capacity expansions, and mergers and acquisitions to meet the growing product demand from potential customers. For instance, in March 2017, Arconic signed a multi-year agreement with Toyota Motor Corp. to supply aluminum for it new Lexus RX. With this agreement Arconic is a sole aluminum sheet supplier for Lexus RX. Further key findings from the report suggest: The blanking segment is anticipated to progress at a CAGR of 3.2%, in terms of revenue over the forecast period owing to the increasing demand from the automotive industry on account of its precise and superior stamping ability The bending segment accounted for a revenue share of 16.7% in 2019. Products manufactured using this process ensures stability and durability, thus it is mostly used in auto components. Consumer electronics is the fastest growing segment in terms of revenue with a CAGR of 4.3% over the forecast period. The growth is attributable to the increasing utilization of lightweight metal components to improve the durability of electronics. Industrial machinery accounted for a revenue share of 19.2% in 2019 owing to the growing demand for machinery and automation to improve the efficiency of the output North America is expected to witness a CAGR of 2.5% in terms of revenue and is anticipated to continue dominating the overall metal stamping market over the forecast period owing to the increasing production of automobiles and consumer electronics. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05763742/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 18:40:17|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Health authorities in Tanzania's Zanzibar have barred Italian tourists from visiting the islands following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Italy. Hamad Rashid, Zanzibar's Minister for Health, said in a statement on Friday evening that the move to bar Italian tourists from visiting Zanzibar was aimed at controlling the outbreak of the deadly virus. Rashid urged residents in Zanzibar to take precautionary measures, including stopping travelling to countries that have been affected by the virus. The official warned people who were spreading rumors about the outbreak of the virus in Zanzibar, saying there is no outbreak of the virus in Zanzibar but people should continue taking precautionary measures. Rashid said the government has reinforced screening at Zanzibar's ports of entry, including ports and airports. According to latest update by the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 100,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease have been reported globally. Zanzibar is a paradise for tourists with sandy beaches and clear Indian Ocean water, as well as coral and limestone scarps which allow for significant amounts of diving and snorkeling. Tourist arrivals in Zanzibar increased by 3.4 percent from the 520,809 visitors recorded in 2018 to 538,264 in 2019. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Bernie Sanders Rally Hollis Johnson/Insider Sen. Bernie Sanders conceded on Wednesday that he hasn't inspired the level of youth voter turnout that he'd hoped he would. "Have we been as successful as I would hope in bringing in young people in? And the answer is 'no'," Sanders said at a Wednesday press conference. Young voters overwhelmingly supported Sanders over his competitors on Super Tuesday, but it wasn't enough to overcome older voters' support for former Vice President Joe Biden. The share of the electorate under 30 declined this year in a host of Super Tuesday states. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Sen. Bernie Sanders conceded on Wednesday that he hasn't inspired the level of youth voter turnout in the Democratic primary that he'd hoped he would. "Have we been as successful as I would hope in bringing in young people in? And the answer is 'no'," he told reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday. Young voters overwhelmingly supported Sanders over his competitors on Super Tuesday, but it wasn't enough to overcome the massive support former Vice President Joe Biden found among larger slices of the electorate, including older voters. "We're making some progress but historically everybody knows that young people do not vote in the kind of numbers that older people vote," Sanders went on. "I think that will change in the general election. But to be honest with you, we have not done as well in bringing young people into the process. It is not easy." The youth surge Sanders needed to pull off more wins over Biden just didn't materialize on Tuesday. Biden beat Bernie in 10 of Super Tuesday's 14 primaries. In Virginia, where Biden clobbered Sanders by almost 30 points, turnout surged from 800,000 in 2016 to 1.3 million on Tuesday, but the portion of the electorate made up of 17-29 year-old voters actually declined. And Sanders won 55% of Virginia's young voters this year down from 69% in 2016. Story continues A similar phenomenon played out in North Carolina, another crucial swing state, where 17-29 year-old voters declined as a share of the electorate and their support for Sanders dropped from 69% to 57%. And in Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Massachusetts, and Sanders' home state of Vermont, the youth vote also declined as a percentage of Democratic primary-goers. But in California, Sanders managed to expand the young vote. Sanders will need a significant boost in youth turnout to beat Biden. The delegate count is currently at 461 for Biden and 404 for Sanders with 1,991 needed to win the nomination. John Haltiwanger contributed to this report. Read the original article on Business Insider [March 06, 2020] INVESTOR ALERT: Kirby McInerney LLP Reminds Investors That a Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against Aaron's Inc. and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm Before April 28 The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of those who acquired Aaron's Inc. ("Aaron's" or the "Company") (NYSE: AAN) securities during the period from March 2, 2018 through February 19, 2020. Investors have until April 28, 2020 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges that the Company failed to disclose that: (i) Aaron's had inadequate disclosure controls, procedures, and compliance measures; (ii) consequently, the operations of Aaron's Progressive and AB segments were in violation of the FTC (News - Alert) Act and/or relevant FTC regulations; (iii) consequently, Aaron's earnings from those segments were partially derived from unlawful business practices and were thus unsustainable; and (iv) the full extent of Aaron's liability regarding the FTC's investigation into its Progressive and AB segments, Aaron's noncompliance with the FTC Act, and the likely negative consequences of all the foregoing on the Company's financial results. On July 26, 2018, Aaron's announced thatin July 2018 it had received civil investigative demands ("CIDs") from the FTC requesting the production of documents and answers to written questions to determine whether disclosures related to financial products offered by the Company through its AB and Progressive segments were in violation of the FTC Act. On this news, Aaron's stock price fell $5.38 per share, or 11.0%, to close at $43.47 on July 27, 2018. On February 20, 2020, Aaron's announced that the Company's Progressive segment had reached an agreement in principle with FTC staff regarding the CID from the FTC that Progressive received in July 2018. The proposed agreement would require Progressive to "make a payment of $175 million and enhance certain compliance-related activities, including monitoring, disclosure and reporting requirements." On this news, Aaron's stock price fell $10.70 per share, or 19.1%, to close at $45.45 on February 20, 2020. If you acquired Aaron's securities, have information, or would like to learn more about these claims, please contact Thomas W. Elrod of Kirby McInerney LLP at 212-371-6600, by email at [email protected], or by filling out this contact form, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters without any cost to you. Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based plaintiffs' law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, and whistleblower litigation. The firm's efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLP's website: www.kmllp.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/20200306005540/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Vatican said Pope Francis will deliver Sundays Angelus Prayer by livestream instead of in person from his window overlooking Saint Peters Square out of concern over the new coronavirus. The prayer will be broadcast via livestream by Vatican News and on screens in Saint Peters Square, the Vatican said in a statement. The Vatican had promised to review the 83-year-old pontiffs schedule to avoid the dissemination of the new COVID-19 disease. The Argentine-born pope has been out of action for more than a week with a cold. He suffered two coughing fits during last Sundays prayer service and announced that he was pulling out of an annual spiritual retreat south of Rome to stay at home and get well. The Vatican said the livestream will be recorded at the library of the Apostolic Palace overlooking the square. The pope is currently spending most of his time at his Saint Marthas guest house in a separate part of the Vatican. Child climate activist Licypriya Kangujam turned down the offer to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi's #SheInspiresUs campaign on International Women's Day, hoping that her refusal will help attract the attention of the government towards her concerns Child environmental activist from Manipur Licypriya Kangujam turned down the offer to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi's #SheInspiresUs campaign on International Women's Day, saying she doesn't want to be "celebrated" as the prime minister doesn't "listen" to the young activist's voice. Dear @narendramodi Ji, Please dont celebrate me if you are not going to listen my voice. Thank you for selecting me amongst the inspiring women of the country under your initiative #SheInspiresUs. After thinking many times, I decided to turns down this honour. Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/pjgi0TUdWa Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 6, 2020 The government had chosen the eight-year-old environmental activist as one of the women to run Modi's social media accounts as part of his #SheInspiresUs campaign dedicated to women "whose life and work will help ignite motivation in millions" on Sunday. Taking to Twitter, the government on Friday shared the story of Licypriya as one of the inspirations. "LicypriyaK is an child environmental activist from Manipur. In 2019, she was awarded a Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award, a World Children Peace Prize, and an India Peace Prize. Isn't she inspiring? Do you know someone like her? Tell us, using #SheInspiresUs," MyGovIndia tweeted. However, Licypriya gave a cold shoulder to the prime minister after her demands to curb climate change fell on deaf ears. She wrote on Twitter, "Government dont listen to my voice and today they selected me as one of the inspiring woman of the country. Is it fair?" Not just the government, Licypriya trained guns at other political parties and politicians alike for not raising their voices against climate crisis at the ongoing Parliament session. She also warned them against using her for their "political gains and propagandas". Dear brothers/ sisters/ Sir/ Madam, Stop all propaganda to bully me. Im not against anyone. I just wants system change, not climate change. I dont expect anything from anyone except I want our leaders to listen my voice. I believe my rejection will helps to listen my voice. Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 7, 2020 The activist hoped that her refusal will help attract the attention of the government towards her concerns. Modi raked an online storm after his cryptic announcement on Monday that he was "thinking" of exiting from all the social media platforms. In the tweet, he said: "This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Will keep you all posted." This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube. Will keep you all posted. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2020 The next day he revealed that he planned to hand over his social media accounts to women, "whose work and life inspire us", commemorating the International Women's Day on 8 March. To highlight the lives of these women, the government started a social media campaign called #SheInspiresUs. Licypriya has been pushing for a law to regulate carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases. She has also sought the inclusion of climate change as a compulsory subject in the school curriculum. In the past, the child activist has been often referred to as the 'Greta of India' which spurred a lot of discontentment in her. Bengaluru: A South Indian film distributor living in Australia has been arrested on charges of blackmailing a married woman of Indian origin who lives in Melbourne. Police named the man as N Rupesh (39), who was a distributor of hit Kannada films Rangitaranga, Avane Srimannarayana and movies in other languages in Australia. Lodging a complaint with the Nandini Layout police, the woman explained that she came to know the suspect when she lived in Melbourne with her husband and children. The woman said she first met Rupesh in Melbourne when she went to a restaurant to get a ticket to an event, and Rupesh chatted her up and invited her to have a drink. He also allegedly persuaded her to smoke a hukka, and took photographs of her in his company. Later, Rupesh allegedly started blackmailing the woman by threatening to post on social media photos of them together. He also alleged forced her into giving sexual favors. Rupesh tortured me and extorted about Rs 5-6 lakh from me. He came home when my husband and children were not there and forced me to have sex and demanded money on many occasions. When this became unbearable, I returned to India and resided with my in-laws in Nandini Layout, she told police. The accused Rupesh allegedly followed her to India and continued to blackmail her. With the woman deciding to lodge a complaint with the police, Rupesh was arrested and charged with IPC sections 384 (extortion), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 506 (criminal intimidation). He is in judicial custody. The district administration on Saturday proposed to bring the Jauhar University under the control of Uttar Pradesh government. The university which was established in 2006 by the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust in Rampur and whose chancellor is Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was granted university status in 2012. According to additional district magistrate JP Gupta, a report compiled by 9-member team of the administration stated that of the total 78 hectares, 36 hectares belongs to the government. Of the university's total funds of Rs 163 crore, Rs 88 crore is funded from government sources. He said, "The University is charging high fees from the students. A proposal has been sent that it be taken under the control of the government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) According to News that was announced by a Governor, the first confirmed case of the coronavirus has reached one of the cities of Tennessee. The schools in the vicinity of Williamson County District are going to be temporarily closed a general cleaning. Susannah, the director of the FSSD Communications stated that now that the outbreak has reached their state, they should also clean the entire district to prevent more cases to arrive. The patient that resides in the district is being isolated at his home for treatment. The journey history of the victim is still unknown and is yet to be discovered. Doctor Lisa Piercey, the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health stated that there is no need to raise a city or state emergency since there one case is not yet considered a huge threat to the public. She encouraged everyone instead to follow the necessary hygiene procedures for protection. The affected patient is recognized by some people as a family member of one of the students. The director of the WCS communications assured every parent and citizen of the district that everything will be handled by them and that they will be informing everyone if anything comes up. Experts advise everyone to stay alert and be educated with the current issues and happenings. No school in the district with events and activities will be exempted from the suspension. Classes and events will resume when they are given the go signal. The days of class suspensions will be regarded as harsh climate days. The district is currently working together with the experts from the district and the state to keep an eye on the cases of the virus in all the parts of the world. Health experts are working to treat the affected patient and provide protection to the family members of the patient and people outside the family. The authorities of the state assured the citizens that they already have a plan. The health experts are also conducting studies on other people for safety measures. They are also determining whether the patient has had contact with the students and staff of the school. The patient was discovered that he has traveled outside the state a few days before he was confirmed positive. Dr. Mary Margaret-Fill, that even though the patient has traveled and tested positive, the virus might not have affected a lot of people since the patient may have practiced self-quarantine after returning to Tennessee. For further information about the issue, the coronaviruses are categorized into different levels starting from the lightest cold to the most grave complications. It is reported that some of the affected patients experienced a moderate to the most complicated illnesses. According to the experts, an affected person experiences symptoms of fever and respiratory diseases like cough. Based on the current studies, these symptoms usually occur a few days up to 14 days. Experts recommend proper hygiene and handwashing. Sensitive parts of the body should be away from contact with dirty hands. Unwell people should also be avoided. If a person feels unwell, they are recommended to rest at home. Peru unveiled a priceless manuscript containing the memoirs of former Inca leaders that had disappeared during Chile's occupation of Lima during the 1879-84 Pacific War. The manuscript -- called "Memories of the Peruvian monarchy or outline of the Inca's history" -- was written in the 1830s by Justo Apu Sahuaraura Inca (1775-1853), a descendent of the Inca emperor Huayna Capac (1493-1525). "The value of this document from 1838 is incalculable. It was always considered an extremely rare jewel of a document, we don't have another of its type," Gerardo Trillo, director of the Protection of Collections at Lima's National Library, told AFP about the manuscript that was found in Brazil. Sahuaraura was a member of the indigenous nobility in Cusco, the old Inca capital, and dedicated his time to preserving the memory of the Inca empire, which lasted 100 years between the 15th and 16th centuries and covered a vast area from the south of Colombia to the center of Chile. The author styled himself as "the last descendent of the Inca's imperial line." In the manuscript he traced Inca history until the arrival in South America of the Spanish colonizers, using now extinct documents. The text includes information about Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, the son of a Spanish conquistador and Inca noblewoman, thought to be the first mixed-race person in the history of the Americas. The manuscript also includes accounts of the Spanish conquest of Cusco, as well as an Inca chronology. "It's a pretty rare and strange manuscript because it has colored sheets that represent the different Incas," said Trillo. He said the manuscript was stolen from the National Library during the Chilean occupation of Lima from 1881-83, a war that pitted Peru and Bolivia against Chile. Chile has returned more than 4,500 books taken from Peru's National Library during the occupation. However, this manuscript was acquired in 1970 by Brazilian private collectors, who agreed in November to return it to its rightful owners. "It took a decade of negotiation for this manuscript to be returned," said Trillo. It has since been digitalized and can be consulted online. Editors note: Madeleine Kearns writes a weekly column noting peculiar aspects of cultural, artistic, and natural marvels. The sole force under Gods good Providence that can meet this turn of our fate, is not temperament, not opportunism, nor any effort to do better than good, but character and again character such mere in-grained, common-sense, hand-hammered, loyal strength of character as one humbly dares to hope that fifteen hundred years of equality of experience has given us. Rudyard Kipling While addressing the Royal Society of St. George in 1935, the English journalist, poet, novelist, and author Rudyard Kipling (18651936) mourned the loss of a generation as a result of the First World War especially, as he saw it, the loss of virtue begun in boyhood and carried into manhood. He hoped that looking back through the luminous years to where we here stumble and falter, future generations would appreciate the height of strength, wisdom, and enduring honour [that] had lifted their land. But oh, how we disappoint the dead. Two years ago, students at the University of Manchester in England declared Kipling to be racist, defacing a mural of If, his most famous poem on the subject of moral character (an irony the vandals are unlikely to appreciate). Had the students bothered to read Kipling, they might have discovered, as T. S. Eliot did, that his contribution to the English canon was one of unfading genius. Born in India and schooled in England, Kipling spent two years of his life in America. His perspective on the British Empire, of which he was a citizen, was sweeping and flawed, but also romantic and kaleidoscopic. According to Eliot, Kipling was not a philosopher, and his political philosophy is all in his firm and simple code of behavior. His Jungle Books and Just So Stories were inspired by the wild animals and landscapes of the East. His Captains Courageous (set in America) and Puck of Pooks Hill (set in Britain) evidence his love and reverence for the West. Story continues The first story in Puck of Pooks Hill is Welands Sword, which introduces the character of Puck from Shakespeares A Midsummer Nights Dream. The fairy appears to a group of children playing in rural England on midsummers eve. He then informs them about the rich history of the land, magically transporting them to different moments of British history, from Roman occupation A Centurion of the Thirtieth, On the Great Wall right through to the signing of Magna Carta. Kiplings method is one of thought snapshots precise and unforgettable images in which landscapes, history, and grand narrative are intertwined through verse. See you the ferny-ride that steals / Into the oak-woods far, begins the first poem in the collection, Pucks Song, before alluding to Admiral Lord Nelsons naval victory at Trafalgar in 1805. And mark you where the ivy clings / To Bayhams mouldering walls, he continues, taking us in two short verses from the dissolution of Bayham Abbey by Henry VIII to the rebuilding of St. Pauls Cathedral after the fire of London. In a change of pace and temperature, the fairy skips into the Weald, the 40 miles of ancient forest tract in southeastern England that comprises a horseshoe-shaped rim between London and the English Channel coast: Out of the Weald, the secret Weald, Men sent in ancient years The horse-shoes red at Flodden Field, The arrows at Poitiers. Throughout British history, the Weald has been home to wild animals and bandits; a place of sanctuary and a strategic hiding spot during historic battles. At the battle of Flodden in 1513, the English were victorious over the Scots, killing King James IV and demolishing the highly prized Scottish cavalry. At Poitiers in 1356, during the Hundred Years War, the English defeated the French, chiefly by use of covert archers. The capricious elf, Puck, then reminds us of the stilly woods of oak and the dread ditch beside, where, of course, the Saxons broke / on the day that Harold died, referring to the defeat of King Harold of Wessex on October 14, 1066, at the hands of William the Conqueror, who was subsequently crowned king of England, implemented a national survey (Domesday Book), and built lots of lovely castles. Going back in time further still, Puck recalls: And see you, after rain, the trace Of mound and ditch and wall? O that was a Legions camping-place, When Caesar sailed from Gaul! Here, he follows the footsteps of Julius Caesar, who invaded Britain in 55 b.c., back when the Celts lived scattered among the hilltops, perhaps a little grateful for Roman protection from the savage Scots and Picts lurking north of Hadrians wall. The Romans, indeed, were comparatively tolerant. Elsewhere, Kipling liked to tell the legendary story about how the Romans would allow their subjects one day a year when they could assemble and criticize their government. England is not any common Earth, Puck concludes, infusing history with the medieval legend of King Arthurs wizard, and inviting us to partake in the tradition, but Merlins Isle of Gramarye / Where you and I will fare. More from National Review A defendant was found guilty of arson and sentenced to four years behind bars. He is also required to pay 28,000 in damages to three plaintiffs. The defendant was charged in two arson cases relating to two incidents. Both incidents occurred in Esch-sur-Alzette between March and April 2018. The man reportedly set fire to a motorbike that was parked next to an apartment building. The flames spread to the building after the insulation material of a wall caught fire. Ten residents had to be evacuated. The defendant also set a car on fire the following night. Amaravati, March 7 : The Centre on Saturday confirmed the suspension of a senior police officer of Andhra Pradesh on the request of the state government, which had placed him under suspension last month for his alleged misconduct and irregularities in purchase of security equipments. The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed the suspension of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer A.B. Venkateswara Rao. It requested the state government to issue the charge sheet against the officer by April 7, 2020. The letter by a senior official in the ministry and addressed to chief secretary noted that the allegation in the preliminary enquiry report are that Venkateswara Rao, the then Additional Director General of Police, Intelligence, committed irregularities in the procurement of Aerostat and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at the cost of Rs 25.50 crore under the modernization of police force scheme. "It has been noted that prima facie evidence is established on the grave misconduct and irregularities exhibited by Venkateswara Rao and the DGP, Andhra Pradesh have also requested the state government to take appropriate disciplinary action and further investigation," said the letter. The state government on February 8 requested the Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Andhra Pradesh to conduct a detailed enquiry and submit report to them for taking further action in the matter. Based on a report submitted by Director General of Police Gautam Sawang, Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney had issued an order on February 8 placing Rao under suspension. The officer allegedly endangered 'national security' by disclosing intelligence protocols to an Israeli defence manufacturing firm. The IPS officer of 1989 batch was directed not to leave Vijayawada without obtaining the permission of the government. According to a confidential report of the police department, Rao while working as Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) during the previous government, colluded with Israeli defence equipment manufacturer RT Inflatables Pvt. Ltd to illegally award critical Intelligence and surveillance contract to his son Chetan Sai Krishna, CEO, Akasam Advanced Systems Pvt. Ltd, primary bidder on behalf of RT Inflatables. "This proves a direct co-relation between the accused officer and a foreign defence manufacturing Firm thus establishing a direct breach of ethical code of conduct and Rule (3) (a) of All India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968," says the report. It was found that Rao's action led to credible security threat towards the state and the nation. He is accused of willfully disclosing intelligence protocols and procedures of Police to foreign defence manufacturing firm. "This is a direct threat to national security as intelligence protocols are standard throughout the Indian Police Force." Considered close to then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Rao was removed as the intelligence chief after Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy assumed office in May last year. He was since waiting for a posting. Earlier, on the eve of the elections in April, the Election Commission had ordered the transfer of intelligence chief following a complaint filed by Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). The then opposition party alleged that Chandrababu Naidu was using police officials to subvert election procedures in the state. Rao has challenged his suspension in the Central Administrative Tribunal. OAK RIDGE, TENN. It is perhaps fitting that the decades-long search for Nazi collaborators living on U.S. soil may have reached its conclusion or something close to it in a small city, in an unremarkable ranch house on an equally unremarkable cul-de-sac. By many accounts, the man living inside that house was also seemingly unremarkable not unlike the dozens of other under-the-radar Nazi collaborators who have been found and prosecuted over the last half-century. The man, 94-year-old Friedrich Karl Berger, was ordered by a federal judge this week to return to Germany, where he remains a citizen and where he had served as a guard in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. Like in so many cases before his, the revelation that the friendly old man a thoughtful father and husband who had raised his children in that house and had cared for his ailing wife until her death came as a stunning surprise to his neighbours. Ed McCleary, a retired school principal, recalled years of pleasant chit-chat with Berger. The revelations about his past, he said, has not been circulated here. But, he added, It would be concerning to me to find out he had been involved in such things. Few cases like Bergers remain. Since 1979, the Justice Department has made a special point of hunting down collaborators in Nazi war crimes, with the intention of deporting them back to their home countries. But from the beginning, it has been a race against their natural life spans. We were told at that time to work as fast as you responsibly can because these people are old, and theyre dying, said Eli Rosenbaum, recalling his mandate toward the beginning of his career as a Nazi hunter in 1980, soon after federal officials started their targeted hunt for such men. Rosenbaum, a top official at the departments Human Rights and Special Prosecution unit, was among those who tried the case against Berger. After a two-day trial in Memphis, Tennessee, an immigration judge issued the removal order against Berger, which officials announced Thursday. Mr. Berger made his choice to enlist in 1943 in the German military, Rosenbaum said in an interview Friday. Berger then made another choice, Rosenbaum said, to not request a transfer when he was assigned to a subcamp overseeing prisoners in the Neuengamme concentration camp system near Meppen, Germany. In a statement, another federal prosecutor, Brian Benczkowski, said that Berger was part of the SS machinery of oppression that kept concentration camp prisoners in atrocious conditions of confinement. While Bergers story is not quite over he has 30 days to appeal the deportation order federal prosecutors are just about finished with such Nazi-era cases, given the advanced ages of the suspects, Rosenbaum said. And that means the likely end of a specific kind of high-stakes detective drama, heavy with the weight of history and horror cases that played out over the years in the long shadow of World War II and the Holocaust as collaborators were discovered and rooted out from often-cozy American existences that had normalized them and scrubbed them of their complicity. The federal government has brought forward 133 such cases over the last four decades and won 109 of them. In most of the others, Rosenbaum said, the suspects died or became medically incapacitated and were unable to stand trial before their cases were resolved. The federal target list included well-known men like Valerian Trifa, the Romanian Orthodox archbishop accused of being a Nazi sympathizer, who left the United States in 1982 to avoid deportation. Arthur Rudolph, a developer of the Saturn 5 rocket for the federal space program, left the country in 1984 after the Justice Department accused him of working thousands of slave labourers to death in a German rocket factory during the war. And then there were those who led much quieter lives, but for the accusations levelled against them, such as John Demjanjuk, a Cleveland autoworker who was accused of killing Jewish prisoners in three death camps. He was deported to Israel after being stripped of his citizenship in 1981. And Jakiw Palij, a former Nazi guard turned New York resident, was deported in 2018 at age 95. Authorities used a stretcher to wheel Palij out of his home in Queens and onto an air ambulance bound for Dusseldorf, Germany. When he left Germany, Berger first moved to Canada before later settling in the United States, Rosenbaum said. Neither Berger nor his lawyer could be reached for comment this week. But in a phone interview with The Washington Post, Berger, who had been a member of the German navy, said he was ordered to work in the camp. He described himself as a widower with two grandchildren who spent a career building wire-stripping machines. After 75 years, this is ridiculous. I cannot believe it, he said. I cannot understand how this can happen in a country like this. Youre forcing me out of my home. A photograph of Berger in a local newspaper, published in 2012, shows him in a Tyrolean hat and khaki pants, smiling and dancing with a woman during a concert at a public market. In interviews Friday, some neighbours said they were surprised and saddened to learn that Berger was being deported. He had been a friendly presence who was proud to live in the United States, said one neighbour, who lived across the street from Berger for nearly 30 years and came to know him and his wife fairly well. The woman declined to be identified, afraid of drawing attention to herself and concerned about saying anything that might hurt any effort to keep Berger in the country, but she said she understood that what he did was not good. I know bits and pieces, she added, noting she had some limited conversations with Berger. He didnt realize the extent of what was happening when he was there, she said of his time stationed at the camp, adding that he had told her that he quickly sought to be reassigned elsewhere. Prosecutors have no evidence of Berger lying about his work in the concentration camp. And when he arrived in 1959, Rosenbaum said, the United States had allowed postwar rules banning the entrance of participants in Nazi-sponsored persecution to sunset as the nation grew more concerned about the infiltration of communists. But with the 1970s came stories in the news media about Nazi war criminals living in the U.S. and the 1978 Holtzman Amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act, which deemed deportable anyone who participated in Nazi-sponsored persecution. The judge, in her opinion, found Berger removable under the act for his willing service as an armed guard of prisoners at a concentration camp where persecution took place. Her decision was the culmination of a multi-year investigation that was aided by a kind of miracle: a set of SS cards that identified guards in the Neuengamme camps, discovered in 1950 in a German ship that had been sunk by the Allies five years earlier. One of the cards identified Berger. What are the odds of this one card surviving intact after being in the Baltic Sea after five years? Rosenbaum said. Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where Berger has lived for decades, was almost entirely constructed around the U.S. bomb-building efforts during World War II, becoming the administrative and military headquarters for the Manhattan Project, the effort to build the first nuclear weapons. It remains home to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a federally funded research centre. But even here, the living links to the World War II era are fading. Mira Ryczke Kimmelman, a Holocaust survivor who lived in Oak Ridge and became well known in the area, died almost a year ago. She spoke at schools, churches and local gatherings, letting students see and touch the blue number that had been tattooed on her arm. Theres never a question I wont answer, Kimmelman said, according to The Knoxville News Sentinel. Devora Fish, director of education for the Tennessee Holocaust Commission, said prosecutions like those of Berger help ensure that the sins of the past will not be forgotten. Every time that somebody is brought to justice, even from 50 years ago or longer, that is a message to the world, Fish said. Because we are not going to stop until everybody is brought to justice. Even if its something you did years ago, it will catch up to you. A British Airways Airbus 321 NEO lands at London Heathrow airport. (Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/Sipa USA) Top airlines on Friday warned the global outbreak of coronavirus is denting their business. International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG.L), which owns British Airways and Iberia, and easyJet (EZJ.L) both said the epidemic was forcing them to cancel flights and leading to lower demand. British Airways has already suspended flights to mainland China and IAG said Friday BA was reducing routes to Hong Kong and Seoul, South Korea. Read more: British Airways suspends China flights over coronavirus outbreak More broadly, IAG said the coronavirus epidemic has hit business travel across our network, resulting from the cancellation of industry events and corporate travel restrictions. Demand for short-haul flights to Italy has also suffered since the beginning of an outbreak in the north of the country. British Airways is laying on more flights to in-demand locations such as South Africa, the US, and India to try and offset the damage, but IAG warned the outbreak would ultimately reduce the amount of passengers BA will carry this year by roughly 1% to 2%. IAG said it was not possible to give accurate profit guidance [for 2020] at this stage given the ongoing epidemic. Passengers arrive at Heathrow Airport in London after the last British Airways flight from China touched down following the suspension of all flights to and from mainland China. (PA) EasyJet, meanwhile, said it was cancelling flights to and from Italy as a result of weak demand. The budget carrier is also seeing weaker demand across wider Europe and will cut back on flights more broadly. Like IAG, easyJet said it was too early to say how the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, will ultimately impact its top and bottom lines. However, it is cutting administrative budgets, freezing recruitment and pay rises, offering unpaid leave, and talking to suppliers to reduce costs in a bid to mitigate the negative effects. Read more: Cathay Pacific asks staff to take unpaid leave over coronavirus We continue to monitor the situation carefully and will update the market in due course, easyJet said. The airline added it is working closely with authorities and are following the guidelines provided by the World Health Organisation and EASA to ensure the health and wellbeing of our people and customers. Story continues Airlines and travel companies have been among the worst hit by the global sell-off that has gripped stock markets, amid fears about slumping demand and travel restrictions crippling their business. easyJet shares have fallen 25% since the start of the week and IAGs stock price has fallen by 17%. easyJet's shares have been crushed since Monday amid a broader market sell-off. Photo: Yahoo Finance UK Selling resumed on Friday. EasyJet slipped a further 4.8%, while IAG declined by 9.4%. IAGs warning on the COVID-19 impact came as it reported its annual results. Revenue rose 5.1% to 22.4bn (18.7bn, $24.3bn) in 2019 but profit dropped by 40.8% to 1.7bn. These are good results in a year affected by disruption and higher fuel prices, chief executive Willie Walsh said in a statement. Read more: Stocks fall again amid warnings of coronavirus pandemic potential William Ryder, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said investors would be more focused on the coronavirus impact than the 2019 results. The balance sheet is key here, because the groups bills still need to be paid even if the fleet isnt running at full capacity, Ryder said. IAG has 4.1bn in cash and equivalents, plus another 2.6bn in interest bearing deposits maturing in between three and twelve months. This should give IAG the liquidity it needs to ride out the coronavirus induced disruption. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK March 07, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - A purge of royal princes is under way in Saudi Arabia, after the arrest of the royal familys highest ranking dissident Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the brother of King Salman, for allegedly plotting a coup against his son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Up to 20 princes have been arrested for allegedly being part of a coup to overthrow the crown prince, also known as MBS, Middle East Eye has been told. Four names so far are known to MEE. They are Prince Ahmed, his son Prince Nayef bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, Head of Land Forces Intelligence and Security Authority, the former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and his half brother Nawaf. Ahmeds son is the highest ranking member of the Saudi armed forces known to be arrested so far, MEE sources confirmed. Moments after the arrests, MBS ordered the kingdom's princes to tweet their loyalty to him. Three of them have already done so. ..#___ pic.twitter.com/vINHyQxqio (@ASNA_20) March 7, 2020 According to a regional source cited by Reuters, MBS "accused them (the princes) of conducting contacts with foreign powers, including the Americans and others, to carry out a coup detat". Reuters quoted sources as saying King Salman himself signed the arrest warrants. They claimed his mental state was good. The king is known to suffer from dementia. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter There were concerns on Friday about the fate of Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, once seen as a leading contender for the throne, who was released from detention and torture in the Ritz Carlton after paying more than $1bn in a settlement with authorities. Miteb, 65, is the son of the late King Abdullah and former head of the elite National Guard. Desperate act The purge underway is the boldest and most desperate act yet of his nephew MBS in the crown prince's quest for absolute power. It has bigger implications for the stability of the kingdom than both the purge of up to 500 members of Sauds business elite in the Ritz Carlton on alleged corruption charges on 4 November 2017, and the state ordered murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul a year later. Both US and British intelligence had sought and acquired guarantees from MBS that Prince Ahmed would not be arrested on his return to the kingdom from London in October 2018. Bin Nayef was himself a trusted member of the counter-terrorism alliance spearheaded by the CIA and the Pentagon. Since his unseating as crown prince, Prince Nayef has had his entourage, mobile phones and allowances stripped and was not allowed to travel. He and his half brother were arrested while at a private desert camp on Friday. According to MEE sources, Nayef had complained bitterly to friends and in letters to the king himself about the withdrawal of his royal allowances. His and Prince Ahmeds names had been consistently mentioned by other senior sources in the royal family about potential replacements for the crown prince, as discontent with his absolutist rule mounted in the kingdom. Opposition to MBS no secret Prince Ahmed is the highest ranking royal dissident in the kingdom and was open in his criticism of MBS. When he left his home in London to return to Saudi Arabia in October 2018, he calculated that his rank as the kings younger brother, and not least the last of the seven Sudairi brothers, gave him immunity from his nephews actions. As I revealed at the time, Prince Ahmed had considerable doubts about the wisdom of his return, and was contemplating remaining permanently in exile. Ahmed was persuaded to return by pleas from other princes, showing the high regard in which he was still held in the kingdom, and by the fact that he still wielded official influence as a member of the Beya or Allegiance Council, the body which still nominally has to approve MBS accession to the throne. Ahmed made no secret of his opposition to MBS' appointment as crown prince, or to the Yemen campaign which the crown prince, as defence minister, launched in 2015, before himself going on holiday in the Maldives. Challenged by a token demonstration of Yemeni and Bahraini protesters chanting: "Down, down Al Saud. Criminal family," outside his London home, one month before he left, Ahmed walked over to them and asked: Why are you saying this about Al Saud? What does the whole of the Al Saud family have to do with this? There are certain individuals who are responsible. Dont involve anyone else. Asked by the protesters who was responsible, the prince replied: The king and the crown prince, and others in the state. Question mark On his return, Ahmed was treated with official respect, retained his allowance and entourage as a senior prince, and was allowed to travel until now. A large question mark now hangs over the current interior minister Abdelaziz bin Saud bin Nayef, now that both his uncles are under arrest for treason. Abdelazizs father Saud is the elder brother of bin Nayef and is currently the governor of Eastern Province. The current purge comes at a critical junction for MBS. Unlike in November 2017, when he launched his first purge against the business elite when the crown prince was at the height of his popularity, and known both inside the kingdom and without as a reformer, MBS is hated more than ever in his family. More than 18 months later, the crown prince's reforms are quagmired, the price of crude oil has dropped after Russia refused last week to cut production, and discontent is mounting in the kingdom over the crown princes decision to seal the holy sites in Mecca and Medina from all pilgrims for Umrah - just months before the Hajj is due to start - over the coronavirus outbreak. " Source " Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said that the state government will do everything possible to mitigate the sufferings of farmers whose crops had been damaged by rain and hailstorm in the state in the past few days. "It is very worrying that rain and hailstorm caused a lot of damage to crops in many districts. We fully understand the pain of our farmers and want to assure, State govt is with them in this hour of crisis. We will do everything possible to mitigate their suffering," Gehlot tweeted. In another tweet in Hindi, Gehlot said, "The concerned ministers in the district will meet the farmers, district collectors and other officials to quickly analyse the damage caused to the crops due to hailstorm on March 4, 5 and 6. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By PTI NEW DELHI: The CBI on Saturday brought Sunny Kalra, an accused in a Rs 10 crore bank loan fraud case, to the country from Muscat in Oman, after his deportation on the basis of an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued on the request of the agency in 2016, officials said. It is alleged that Kalra, the director of White Tiger Steels Private Limited, took a loan of Rs 10 crore from the Punjab National Bank (PNB), but did not repay it. He clandestinely removed the hypothecated goods, making it impossible for the state-run bank to recover the outstanding loan amount, the officials said. The case against Kalra, his wife and others was taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on December 16, 2015, they added. "Both (Kalra and his wife) were absconding since the registration of the FIR," a CBI spokesperson said. The agency had filed a chargesheet more than a year after taking over the case on December 22, 2016 against Kalra, his wife and three PNB officials - then chief manager, manager and AGM of the bank. The Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice against Kalra on May 31, 2016 on the request of the CBI, which led to his location being traced to Muscat, where he was apprehended by local enforcement agencies, the officials said. "With Interpol's help, the CBI was in regular contact with the NCB, Muscat for the deportation of Kalra," an official said. He added that Kalra was deported as a result of an effective coordination between the NCB Muscat, the Indian Embassy at Oman and the NCB, India (CBI). "The accused will be produced before a competent court in New Delhi," the CBI spokesperson said. British police said Saturday they were reviewing an investigation into the disappearance of the Dubai ruler's daughter after a court found that she had been abducted by her father. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, who is vice-president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, orchestrated the forcible return home of Sheikha Shamsa from Britain in 2000, the High Court ruled earlier this week. The finding was part of a damning judgement that also revealed the sheikh had seized Shamsa's sister Latifa, now 35, twice and returned her to Dubai. Police in the English city of Cambridge investigated Shamsa's disappearance there two decades ago, when she was 19, but there was insufficient evidence to take any further action. A review in 2017 came to a similar conclusion, but the force is now conducting a further review in the wake of the court ruling. A spokeswoman for Cambridgeshire police noted that the standard of proof in criminal cases is significantly different to that of family court hearings. "However, in light of the recent release of the judgement, aspects of the case will now be subject to review," she said. The ruling was issued as part of a legal dispute between the sheikh and his most recent ex-wife, Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, who applied for protection for their two school age children. It found the sheikh had subjected Princess Haya, a half-sister of Jordan's King Abdullah II, to a "campaign of fear and intimidation", forcing her to flee to London. There have been questions over whether the Foreign Office intervened to stop the police investigation into Shamsa's disappearance because of Britain's close ties to Dubai. The detective in charge, David Beck -- now retired -- was quoted in British media Saturday as saying he was told the case was being shelved because of "significant sensitivities". At a hearing in the case in November, details of which were made public this week, Princess Haya's lawyer, Charles Geekie, said then British foreign minister Robin Cook expressed a "direct interest" in the probe. The court ruling confirmed that Beck had been refused permission from the state prosecution service to visit Dubai to interview potential witnesses. It also said the Foreign Office has information relating to that request, which it has declined to publish, citing concerns about the harm posed to UK-UAE relations. "But it is not possible to find on the balance of probability that permission for Mr Beck to visit Dubai was refused because of the direct intervention of the FCO," the judgement said. Human rights groups have now called for the release of Shamsa and Latifa, who the court found had been effectively imprisoned in Dubai since their attempts to flee. "Abducting family members abroad and continuing to confine them shows the extent to which UAE rulers behave as if they are unaccountable for their actions and above the law," said Rothna Begum, senior women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The UAE authorities should immediately free Sheikha Shamsa and Sheikha Latifa, allow them to leave the UAE if they wish, investigate their abduction and allegations of torture, and bring those responsible to account." Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International's Middle East research director, added: "Throughout the hearing, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has insisted these are 'private family matters'. "But state-sanctioned abduction and inhuman treatment is not a family affair. It is a serious human rights violation and a matter of international concern. "Federal law in the UAE leaves women unprotected and undermined, which too often leaves them vulnerable to abuse by male family members. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly two weeks have passed since a deadly shooting at the Milwaukee Molson Coors brewery left six workers including the gunman, Anthony Ferrill, 51, dead. Three of the victims were power operators at the brewery, Jesus Valle Jr., 33, of Milwaukee, employed since 2014, Gennady Gene Levshetz, 61, of Mequon, who started in 2008 and Trevor Wetselaar, 33, of Milwaukee, with the brewery since 2018. The two other victims were Dana Walk, 57, of Delafield, a machinist with the brewery since 2004 and finally, Dale Hudson, 60, of Waukesha, an electrician with the brewery since 2008. Operations at the brewery were suspended for five days and resumed Monday evening. As many of the 1,400 workers returned to the brewery to begin their shift they were greeted by armed security agents and police. Workers have been subjected to bag checks and increased security screenings before entering the facility. The Molson Coors brewery in Milwaukee [Credit: AP Photo/Morry Gash, File] In response to the shooting the multinational brewing conglomerate Molson Coors, with revenue exceeding $10 billion last year, set up a victims fund on the website GoFundMe.com for the families whose husbands, father and brothers were killed while on the job. Millions of workers in the US are forced to rely on crowdfunding websites such as GoFundMe to pay for everything from car repairs to medical costs, school supplies, and in this case, funeral expenses. The initial goal for the fund was $1 million, with the company providing $500,000 and the rest expected to be raised by the general population. As of right now the fund stands at just over $1.1 million, which is just over half of what the city of Milwaukee gave to the company last year to refurbish empty office buildings, and less than one-quarter of the $4.3 milllion compensation package given to Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersly last year, according to salary.com. News of the company starting a GoFundMe was met with justified scorn and derision on social media. Several commenters pointed out the hypocrisy of a giant conglomerate shaking down the population for money to help pay for the consequences of deaths suffered while on the job. Its publicity. Theyre 100% aware that their insurance will be paying out with lawsuits. This will get families through until then. Theyre sure as hell not going to give away any more shareholder cash than that. Its a corporation. Employees dont mattershareholders do, remarked Facebook user Valerie Ray. This is a multi-billion dollar company. Why did they not pull off a few million from executives pay, commented Thomas Reilly. In the past couple of days the company, through the media, has sought to blame racism and bullying by co-workers as the reason for Ferrills apparent mental breakdown. Several media reports, using Molson Coors spokesman Adam Collins as a source, have boosted a report that a noose was found on Ferrills locker five years ago, 2015, while Ferrill was not at work. While Ferrill, who was African-American, was alerted to the incident, he had not filed any discrimination complaints with the company, government or the union during his tenure with company. Furthermore, there are no active race-based harassment or discrimination complaints from any employee at the brewery currently active with the Equality Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal agency empowered to enforce civil rights in the workplace. The Milwaukee police, while emphasizing that they are still in the process of investigating, have pushed back against this racial motive of the shooting, stating that neither race nor racism has been identified as a factor, and that the department is not aware of any of the victims targeted in the mass shooting being involved in any inappropriate or racist behavior toward the suspect. Despite these statements, State Sen. Lena C. Taylor, a Democrat running for mayor of Milwaukee, insisted that race was a factor, stating in the Washington Post that she had spoken to colleagues who have told me, [Ferrill] had to deal with a lot. Taylor stated, theres no question I believe the racial harassment was a contributing factor. I dont see how it would not be. It is in the interest of the company and politicians to blame the workers and their supposed ingrained backward racial attitudes as the cause of antisocial acts and conflict as opposed to the capitalist system, which is the source of all violence, poverty and war in modern society. While reported in several articles, less emphasis has been placed on the fact that Ferrill, in conversations with his neighbor over the years, showed signs of severe anxiety and expressed fear that the company was spying on him. Ferrill was working more than 50 hours a week before the shooting. Like most electricians, Ferrill was forced to work in a combination of cramped, crowded spaces or high up in rafters on ladders performing his various tasks. The enormous brewery, with its several flights of stairs and multiple buildings, meant that a typical day required walking miles between jobs, while carrying tools and supplies. In June 2015, Ferrill injured his shoulder after falling off a ladder and was forced to take time off to recover. In addition, he applied to be put on a restricted work status. After his injury, Ferrill reported to his neighbor, Erna Roenspies that the company had sent spies to his home and were watching him to catch him in an act that would allow them to deny him any workers compensation. Ferrill advised his neighbor that company spies were always watching him. Roenspies recalled a recent incident to CBS 58 in which Ferrill pointed out to her a car that was parked outside, advising her that the spying irritated him. It is not uncommon for corporations to hire outside agencies to spy on and report back to the company if they suspect an employee of abusing their limited work status. Amazon, the logistics and technology giant, routinely hires private detectives to surveil workers in their own homes. Workers are also tracked closely for performance while on the job. With Molson Coors going through several acquisitions and mergers during Ferrills tenure, it would not be surprising to find out that management in close coordination with the unions had set about clearing the books of injured workers like him, seen as non productive assets, in order to aid the companys drive for greater profits. The unions, working as partners with corporate management, have facilitated the shutdown of most of Milwaukees breweries throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including the shuttering of the 152-year-old Pabst brewery in December 1996. No longer workers organizations, they do not fight as advocates on behalf of workers, but instead work with the company in quashing workers demands regarding safety and grievances while offering to implement Employee Assistance Programs, which replace decent wages and health care coverage with pamphlets and occasional counseling sessions. Following the shooting, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which legally represents approximately 50 mechanics and machine repair workers through IAM Locals 66 and 510 at the Molson Coors brewery, released a statement pledging to work closely with the company and fellow unions in the process of deploying resources and counselors from the IAM Employee Assistance Program. President of the United Auto Workers, Rory Gamble, who is currently under federal investigation for a kickback scheme, also released a statement in which he pledged that the UAW would continue to advocate for safety, mental health services and common sense gun provisions in the workplace. Gamble and the UAW do not advocate for mental health services. The UAW has overseen the destruction of workers health insurance plans while doing everything they can to push out well-paid legacy workers. Ferrill, with his seniority and expertise in a skilled trade, is the exact type of worker the UAW and the company would be keen to replace with a cheaper, younger worker. Taking all of this into account, it is not hard to see where a worker would become suspicious or paranoid that they were being watched and harassed, and, compounded by the long hours of work needed to provide financially for his family, that this stress would be the catalyst for a worker lashing out in apparently inexplicable violence with tragic consequences for everyone involved. That such scenes play out with frightening regularity in America is a symptom of a deeply sick society, where workers are driven over the brink by the unyielding demands of the capitalist system. Greek Prime Minister Kyriako Mitsotakis says the migration deal between the EU and Turkey is "dead." He accused Turkey of using migrants to create a crisis at its border with his country. This morning Greek border police once again used teargas to repel an attempt by migrants to push through the border from Turkey. The European Union has warned migrants they will not be allowed to enter. Meanwhile Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered his coast guard to prevent migrant boats from crossing to Greek islands in the Aegean.The Greeks have been aggressively pushing back migrants attempting the voyage, but some have made it through anyway. One group of migrants that landed on the island of Lesbos two days ago have been sleeping in the rough outside a church. The island's main migrant camp is hopelessly overcrowded. 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. Missing Toddlers Remains Believed Found in Tennessee BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn.Remains believed to be that of a 15-month-old girl were found in Tennessee, ending the 17-day search across three states for a missing toddler, authorities said. At a press conference Friday night, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Sullivan County Sheriffs Office said they believe they found the remains of Evelyn Mae Boswell earlier that evening. An Amber Alert was issued more than two weeks ago, but authorities have said she hadnt been seen since at least December. This is certainly not the update we had hoped to provide this evening, TBI spokeswoman Leslie Earhart said. The remains are being sent for autopsy and positive identification, Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said. He said authorities acting on a tip found the remains on a property in Blountville that is owned by a relative of Evelyns mother. Evelyns mother, Megan Boswell, 18, was arrested Feb. 25 on a charge of filing a false report. Authorities said her inaccurate and conflicting statements had impeded the investigation. She initially told state investigators that Evelyn was with the childs father, Ethan Perry, according to court documents from her arraignment. But Perry is stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and did not have Evelyn, WJHL-TV reported. Megan Boswell later said her mother, Angela Boswell, took her daughter to a campground in Mendota, Virginia, not far from Tennessees Sullivan County. Authorities searched multiple campgrounds in that area and found no sign of the girl, the TV station said. Angela Boswell and William McCloud were arrested and charged in connection with an AMBER alert for 15-month-old Evelyn Boswell, who was last seen two months ago. (Wilkes County Sheriffs Department) Angela Boswell herself was arrested the week before her daughter was taken into custody. She and her boyfriend, William McCloud, were arrested in North Carolina on fugitive warrants unrelated to Evelyns case, authorities had said. Authorities looking for Evelyn searched a pond in the county where they were arrested. Angela Boswell told a judge in North Carolina that she wanted to go home and resolve the situation with her granddaughter, news outlets reported at the time. She was subsequently returned to the Sullivan County jail a day before her daughter joined her there, and arraigned on a theft charge. Bail for Megan Boswell remains at $25,000 after a judge rejected a request to lower it from her lawyer, who cited her lack of a previous criminal record. The lawyer waived a preliminary hearing and the case was sent to a grand jury, with her next appearance scheduled for early May. Investigators with the TBI believed Evelyns mother and grandmother had information about her whereabouts. The Amber Alert issued for Evelyn said she was last seen Dec. 26, but authorities said they werent sure of the date because of the mother and grandmothers conflicting accounts. Authorities stressed that the investigation was ongoing and there was limited information to provide Friday. The identity of the property owner wasnt revealed, and authorities didnt indicate whether there have been any additional arrests or charges. The districts attorney general, Barry Staubus, said authorities would evaluate the case once the investigation was complete. Based on whats happened tonight, theres a lot of work to be done: forensically and just old-fashioned investigative work, Staubus said. She Was Reported Missing Months After She Was Last Seen The TBI said it received at least 890 tips in connectiFon to the case. But authorities eventually determined there had been no credible sightings, a spokesman with the sheriffs office said. Were conducting the investigation and obviously weve been talking to as many people as weve come in contact with that knew about the child, Sullivan County Sheriffs Office spokesman Capt. Andy Seabolt had told CNN affiliate WCYB at the beginning of the search. We want to know why the child was not reported missing earlier. As days went by, the reward for finding the child topped $71,000. We pray every day she is found, in good health and can be brought back and taken care of, her great-grandfather, David Jones, told WCYB. Its just been a stress on all of us, he said. The CNN Wire contributed to this report. YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations informs that on march 7, as of 12:36, roads are passable in Armenia. The ministry told Armenpress that the roads leading to the Amberd Fortress and Lake Kari will remain closed for uncertain time. Vardenyats Pass and Sotk-Karvachar highway are open for all types of vehicles. The Georgian side reports that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles. Nevertheless, the ministry urges drivers to use snow tires. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan WFH for Private offices in Delhi, restaurants & bars to be shut as Omicron-led to sudden rise in Covid cases Lata Mangeshkar admitted to ICU in Mumbai Hospital after testing positive for Covid Coronavirus update: Death toll in China touches 3,042 International oi-Vicky Nanjappa Beijing, Mar 07: The death toll in China's novel coronavirus outbreak has touched 3,042 with 30 new fatalities while the confirmed cases have risen to 80,552 amid signs that the dreaded COVID-19 was stabilising, including in the epicentre Hubei province. China's National Health Commission (NHC) said that it received reports of 143 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 30 deaths on Thursday on the Chinese mainland. Among the deaths, 29 were in Hubei Province and one in Hainan Province, NHC said in its daily update of the COVID-19 on Friday. Meanwhile, 102 new suspected cases were reported taking the 482, it said. Army to establish quarantine centres for 1,500 people as coronavirus spreads The overall confirmed cases on the mainland so far totalled to 80,552 by the end of Thursday. This included 3,042 people who had died of the disease 23,784 patients still being treated and 53,726 patients discharged after recovery, the NHC said. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 Also on Thursday, 16 imported cases (those coming from abroad) of novel coronavirus infection were reported on the mainland, including 11 in Gansu Province, four in Beijing and one in Shanghai. By the end of Thursday, 36 imported cases had been reported, said the commission. So far 104 confirmed cases including two deaths had been reported in Hong Kong, 10 confirmed cases in Macao, and 44 in Taiwan, including one death. Forty-six patients in Hong Kong, nine in Macao and 12 in Taiwan had been discharged from hospital after recovery, NHC said. Coronavirus: Whereabouts of 450 Iranian tourists in India being tracked China's Hubei Province and its capital Wuhan, the epicentres of the novel coronavirus outbreak, reported 126 new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 29 deaths on Thursday. The latest report brought the total confirmed cases in the hard-hit province to 67,592. While the province and Wuhan continue to report new cases and deaths, local health commission said the situation on the containment of the virus has been further improving. The daily count of new cured and discharged cases in the province has exceeded the number of new confirmed cases for 15 consecutive days since February 19 Li Yang, deputy director of the Hubei Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention told media in Wuhan. Wuhan and the entire Hubei province that has over 50 million population has been kept under lockdown by the Chinese government since January 23. However, with the situation improving by the end of Tuesday, 22 cities and counties in Hubei had been classified as low-risk, 17 as mid-risk while 37 others remained at high-risk, Li said. There have been 14,770 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 outside China, with over 267 deaths, state-run People's Daily reported on Friday, citing statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Irishman with coronavirus symptoms flees Cuttack hospital, found & kept in isolation In the past 24 hours, 2,098 newly confirmed cases outside China have been reported and five new countries/territories/areas (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Gibraltar, Hungary, Slovenia, and occupied Palestinian territory) have reported cases of COVID-19, according to the WHO statistics. South Korea confirmed 518 more cases of COVID-19 on Friday, raising the total number of infections to 6,284, according to the Yonhap News Agency. Italy reported a total of 107 deaths of COVID-19 and the total number of infections reached 3,858 on Friday. The novel coronavirus has now claimed 107 lives out of more than 3,513 cases in Iran on Friday. France reported a total of 7 deaths of COVID-19 and the total number of infections reached 423 on Friday. 4 with suspected symptoms of coronavirus hospitalised in AP The US' death toll from the COVID-19 rose to 12 on Friday. Nationwide, there are 163 confirmed cases. The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 80,552 by the end of Thursday, including 23,784 patients who were still being treated, 53,726 patients who had been discharged after recovery, and 3,042 people who had died of the disease. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 10:09 [IST] Florida church says member diagnosed with coronavirus, asks for prayers Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Florida church confirmed this week that a member is one of two people in the Tampa Bay area confirmed by the CDC to have tested positive for the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus. The church assured members of the public that the person's contact with other members of the congregation was minimal. Based on all information we have been able to obtain, the person in question has not been on the church campus in the last two weeks. It has been over three weeks since this individual was on church property. Second, that most recent visit to our campus was not during a worship service, and very few people would have had any direct contact with this individual on the day in question, Parrish United Methodist Church in Florida announced in a statement on Facebook Wednesday. Floridas surgeon general, Dr. Scott Rivkees, said at a news conference cited by Fox 13 that a woman in her 20s who tested positive in Hillsborough County recently traveled to northern Italy, where there is an outbreak of COVID-19. She is currently in stable condition and is in isolation at home. A second patient, a man in his 60s from Manatee County, also contracted the disease but he did not recently travel to one of the areas identified by the CDC as at risk for infection, so they are still investigating how he got the virus. Rivkees said the man was hospitalized for pneumonia when he tested presumptive positive for coronavirus on Saturday evening. "At the present time, it is not known how this individual was exposed to COVID-19," Rivkees said. "This is a rapidly evolving situation. While it was not revealed which of the infected individuals attended Parrish UMC, pastor Chris Schmidt said he sent an email to both staff and members in the spirit of transparency. He also urged them to keep the identity of the individual confidential. We do, however, ask you to join us in prayer for all those affected by this illness," Schmidt said in the email. "We will continue to take the steps necessary to provide a safe environment for our church family." In all, Florida has monitored 795 people for coronavirus, with 184 people still being monitored now, Fox 13 said. Some 23 people have been tested for the virus. So far, 11 deaths have been linked to the virus one in California and the rest in the Seattle area with 162 confirmed cases across the country, The New York Times reported. With new infections reported in New Jersey and Tennessee, the number of states with infected patients rose to 18. Globally, more than 90,000 people have been infected with the new coronavirus with more than 3,100 of them dying from the virus which currently has no vaccine and is described as deadlier than the flu. With infections in Europe now passing 4,000 and rising fast, major conferences, trade shows, cultural events and sporting competitions have been canceled, The Times said, and officials only see things getting worse. Little Mix have touched down in Brazil without bandmate Perrie Edwards, after illness forced her to pull out of the show. Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson were in high spirits as they arrived at the Guarulhos' airport in Sao Paulo on Saturday surrounded by security, ahead of their performance at the GRLS Festival that evening. On Friday Perrie took to Instagram Stories to apologise to fans after she was forced to pull out of Little's Mix's shows in Brazil this weekend due to illness, but insisted the girls would still 'absolutely smash it' in her absence. Here they are! Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson have touched down in Brazil without bandmate Perrie Edwards, after illness forced her to pull out of the show Jade was channelling urban chic in a brown and blue printed tracksuit with chunky white trainers as she headed through the terminal with her bandmates. Leigh-Anne opted for a cosy red and blue ensemble as she greeted the fans who had come out to see the band, with Jesy following close behind. Little Mix are scheduled to perform at the GRLS Festival in the Memorial da America Latina this weekend, alongside Australian superstar Kylie Minogue. Tragic: On Friday Perrie broke the devastating news to fans that she had been forced to pull out Little Mix's scheduled performance in Sao Paulo due to illness VIP Arrival: Jade was channelling urban chic in a brown and blue printed tracksuit with chunky white trainers as she headed through the terminal with her bandmates Leigh On Friday Perrie broke the devastating news to fans that she had been forced to pull out of Little Mix's latest show due to being unwell. Perrie apologised to fans for her absence, before insisting that bandmates Jesy, Jade and Leigh-Anne would 'absolutely smash it' in her absence. In her post Perrie told fans: 'Hey everyone, Im so sorry to announce that I am unable to travel and perform in Brazil with the rest of the girls on Sunday due to being unwell. 'To all the fans that are attending the show, Im heartbroken I cant be there with you, but I know the girls will absolutely smash their performance and give you everything in my absence. Lots of love Perrie x.' Perrie's post - which was also shared on the band's official Twitter account - was soon flooded with responses from fans wishing her well. MailOnline has contacted a representative for Little Mix for further comment. Bad news! On Friday Perrie broke the devastating news to fans that she had been forced to pull out of Little Mix's latest show due to being unwell Little Mix are due to kick off their Summer 2020 tour on 26 June with a performance at Scotland's Falkirk Stadium, with the band then set to travel to cities including Colchester, London, Leicester and Canterbury. Perrie's pose comes after she confirmed that she had passed her driving test in January with a celebratory post on Instagram. The South Shields songstress wrote: 'First post of 2020 Beep beep huns [car emoji] About time I ticked this one off the list! [happy face emoji] Coming soon to a road near you! Skkkrrrt.' Perrie's Little Mix bandmates and boyfriend Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were quick to congratulate her. Performing: Little Mix (L-R Leigh-Anne, Jesy, Perrie and Jade) were scheduled to perform at the Memorial da America Latina in Sao Paulo this weekend Meanwhile, in her love life, Perrie recently admitted that beau Alex is the ideal boyfriend because he understands her 'weird' behaviour. 'I'm a little creep sometimes, I'm a little weirdo,' Perrie told Notion magazine. 'And he loves me for that, and that's why I'm like, "Woohoo!" You know? I don't have to put on a front and be this perfect girlfriend. 'He's like, perfection. He's not too much, he's not too clingy, but he's not too cool for school. He's got a perfect balance, he's super supportive of everything I do, which is so nice.' WASHINGTON Erik Prince, the security contractor with close ties to the Trump administration, has in recent years helped recruit former American and British spies for secretive intelligence-gathering operations that included infiltrating Democratic congressional campaigns, labor organizations and other groups considered hostile to the Trump agenda, according to interviews and documents. One of the former spies, an ex-MI6 officer named Richard Seddon, helped run a 2017 operation to copy files and record conversations in a Michigan office of the American Federation of Teachers, one of the largest teachers unions in the nation. Mr. Seddon directed an undercover operative to secretly tape the unions local leaders and try to gather information that could be made public to damage the organization, documents show. Using a different alias the next year, the same undercover operative infiltrated the congressional campaign of Abigail Spanberger, then a former C.I.A. officer who went on to win an important House seat in Virginia as a Democrat. The campaign discovered the operative and fired her. Both operations were run by Project Veritas, a conservative group that has gained attention using hidden cameras and microphones for sting operations on news organizations, Democratic politicians and liberal advocacy groups. Mr. Seddons role in the teachers union operation detailed in internal Project Veritas emails that have emerged from the discovery process of a court battle between the group and the union has not previously been reported, nor has Mr. Princes role in recruiting Mr. Seddon for the groups activities. The government on Saturday revoked a 48-hour ban on two leading Malayalam channels hours after imposing the punitive measure on separate charges of being critical of the RSS, Delhi Police and siding with one community while covering last month's violence in the national capital. It was not immediately clear whether widespread criticism of the ban on Asianet and Media One channels prompted the government to withdraw the restrictions. Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters in Pune that Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the entire issue, adding the government supports press freedom. Without going into specifics, Javadekar said he would look into the matter and take "essential steps" if any wrongdoing is found. "I will definitely go into the details and take essential steps if there is any wrongdoing. But let me also tell you that everybody should accept that there has to be responsible freedom," he said. The channels were suspended for 48 hours beginning 7:30 PM on Friday over their coverage of the communal violence in Delhi. The official orders said that the channels covered events of February 25 in a manner that "highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community". The ban on Asianet was lifted at 1.30 am, while the ban on Media One was lifted at 9.30 am on Saturday, a source in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting told PTI. In its order against Media On, the ministry said the channel questioned the RSS and accused Delhi Police of inaction. The Congress and Left parties came down hard on the government for the punitive action, calling the clampdown "stifling of media freedom". In Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan termed the ban a "dangerous trend" and added it was an indication of the coming dangers. "The Centre has made an infringement into the freedom of the press, crossing all limits. There is a threat that if anybody criticises RSS and Sangh Parivar, they will be taught a lesson," he said in a statement. Asianet News Editor M G Radhakrishnan said management of the channel contacted the Information and Broadcasting Ministry after the ban was imposed and spoken with relevant people explaining its position on the matter. Media One Editor-in-chief C L Thomas said his channel had not reached out to the government and the ministry "suo motu" revoked the ban. "We were proceeding for legal action. Today we got the information that the ban has been revoked, so we did not go ahead with the legal proceedings. We did not contact anyone in the ministry, the government suo motu lifted the ban," Thomas said. The ministry's suspension order for Media One had said, "Channel's reporting on Delhi violence seems to be biased as it is deliberately focusing on the vandalism of CAA supporters. It also questions RSS and alleges Delhi Police inaction. Channel seems to be critical towards Delhi Police and RSS." "We are happy that the ministry has suo motu lifted the ban. We will continue on the same path we have been following and upholding the classical values of journalism," Thomas said. Radhakrishnan said the channel's management spoke with the I&B ministry in an effort to "convince them". "They (management) seemed to have succeeded in their attempt. Since it was night there was no time for making any formal application. They spoke with all the people concerned in the ministry and convinced them. That is what the minister has also come out saying today," he said. "There was no apology made from our side. The reporting was all factual," Radhakrishnan said. Asianet News is indirectly owned by BJP Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar. There was no official word or comment from the ministry on what transpired between the time the ban was imposed till it was lifted and officials said they had nothing to add to what the minister said. Javadekar said, "Two Kerala channels were banned for 48 hours. We immediately found out what exactly happened and therefore we immediately restored the channels." He asserted that the government was committed to the freedom of press. "Our basic thought process is that the freedom of press is absolutely essential in the democratic set up and that is the commitment of Modi government," he said. Referring to the Emergency, Javadekar said the freedom of press was suppressed in those days. "We went to jails against that and we secured the freedom of press," he added. The minister said that views of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) have been sought after he spoke with its president Rajat Sharma. "We have sought their inputs so we will take correct actions. I am very much sure that the media will also exercise responsible freedom," he added. Reacting to the revocation of the ban, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, "Glad wisdom has dawned on the government in the face of the widespread outcry against this outrageous decision. "Trust the bureaucrats responsible for this undemocratic behaviour will be pulled up and taught the limits of their arbitrary authority. Our freedoms must be fought for every day," he tweeted. The two channels were issued show cause notice on February 28 and after they filed their replies, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting found them to be unsatisfactory and the reportage violative of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. In response to its show cause notice, the Media One channel management maintained that the allegations made were "arbitrary and unreasonable". On Asianet News' reportage, the order said that while reporting such a critical incident, the channel should have taken utmost care and should have reported it in a balanced way. The channel, in its response to the show cause notice, had said that the reports published by them were factual and never intended to attack religions or communities by words or gesture. Meanwhile, Press Club, Kerala Union of Working Jouranlists (KUWJ) and Kerala Newspaper Employees Federation (KNEF) took out a march to the General Post Office in Thiruvananthapuram against the Centre's action on the two channels. Media personnel holding placards and raising slogans participated in the march against the centre's decision. Similar protests were held in various parts of Kerala. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) reaffirmed its plan to spend between $30 billion and $35 billion per year through 2025 on capital projects, including up to $33 billion in 2020. That confirmation comes even though the energy markets have weakened considerably this year due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The price of oil has plunged 20% in 2020, while natural gas is down to levels not seen since the 1990s. Speaking at the company's annual investor day meeting, CEO Darren Wood stated that Exxon is "mindful of the current market environment." However, Woods said that Exxon plans to maintain its current strategy of "leaning into this market when others have pulled back." Exxon intends to use "the strength of our balance sheet to invest through the cycle," according to Woods. As such, it will outspend its cash flow when necessary to maintain its investment pace while also continuing to increase its dividend as it has for the last 37 consecutive years. It also aims to sell $15 billion in assets to help finance its investment plan. While Exxon isn't making any changes to its planned investment level, it is adjusting its development plan. Most notably, it will operate at a reduced pace in the Permian Basin over the next two years compared to its previous outlook. However, it still expects to produce more than 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day from the region by 2024. Exxon fully believes that energy demand will grow in the coming years. That's why it's taking advantage of the current environment to invest while costs are lower so that it can cash in on more favorable future market conditions. Deadly clashes erupted in southern Idlib on March 6, hours into a ceasefire deal between Russia and Turkey aimed at ending the fighting in the last rebel-held enclave in Syria. A war monitor and a rebel source said the fighting broke out in the Jabal al-Zawiya region between Syrian government forces and jihadist insurgents of the Turkistan Islamic Party. Fifteen people were killed, the Syrian Observatory said. Residents and opposition forces said the violence had abated elsewhere. But the clashes underlined the fragility of Thursdays deal between Russia, which backs President Bashar al-Assads forces, and Turkey. Ankara supports rebel fighters but has less sway over hardline jihadists who control large parts of Idlib. The ceasefire aims to contain a conflict that has displaced nearly a million people in three months in northwest Syria. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had vowed to reverse recent advances by Assads forces in Idlib. However, Thursdays deal froze the conflict along existing front lines, cementing significant gains by Syrian government forces. There may be criticism but our priority was for a ceasefire and we achieved it. Some goals were not reached but that goes for both sides, a senior Turkish official said. Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed. Analysts and residents said they feared the latest ceasefire would also fizzle out as it did not address the humanitarian crisis or air protection in any detail. Any ceasefire arrangement in Idlib, unless it has a no-fly zone dimension, is bound to fail. Deals in the past never de-escalated. They merely froze the crisis until the next escalation, said Galip Dalay, IPC-Mercator fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Arriving for a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Zagreb, Dutch minister Stef Blok said the ceasefire deal should be cemented with a no-fly zone to stop any further bombing of hospitals. Humanitarian Crisis The recent fighting sparked what the United Nations says may be the worst humanitarian crisis yet in a war that has driven millions from their homes and killed hundreds of thousands. Russia had repeatedly played down any talk of a refugee crisis and accused Turkey of violating international law by pouring troops and equipment into Idlib since early last month. About 60 Turkish troops have been killed in that time. Turkey, which has the second-largest army in the transatlantic NATO alliance, has tried to resist the Syrian government advance and prevent a wave of refugees over its southern border. It already hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees. The ceasefire deal establishes a security corridor stretching 6 km (3.7 miles) to the north and south of Idlibs east-west M4 highway, where joint Russian-Turkish patrols will begin to on March 15 effectively advance Russias presence further north into Idlib. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he hoped the deal will serve as a good basis for a cessation of military activity in the Idlib de-escalation zone. Erdogan said the sides would work together to supply aid to Syrians in need, but that Turkey retained the right to respond to all (Syrian) regime attacks in the field. Very Tense Calm Residents and fighters in the region said the front lines, which have seen heavy airstrikes by Russian and Syrian jets and intense Turkish artillery and drone strikes on Assads forces, were quiet in much of the region after the midnight ceasefire came into effect. There is a ceasefire but there are violations, said Abdul Ghani al-Sheikh, a rebel fighter from the Turkey-backed Failaq Sham rebel group. He said government forces were shelling Jabal al Zawya and Atareb, to the south and east of Idlib. But the situation overall is better. Everyone thinks this is all temporary and Turkish reinforcements are still coming. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported that the first eight hours of the ceasefire had passed with relative calm, and the skies had been free of Syrian government and Russian warplanes. A Syrian state reporter, broadcasting from the town of Saraqeb recaptured by Syrian forces last week, said they were reinforcing positions at the frontlines. The ceasefire deal did not detail a safe zone or describe how displaced people could return to the homes they have fled to escape the Russian-backed offensive. No one has mentioned a safe zone or areas of withdrawal. There is no pullout, and where will the displaced go (who) would never accept going to (Assad) regime areas? What we have heard is not comforting, said Ahmad Rahhal, a former general in the Syrian government forces who defected to the opposition. By Suleiman Al-Khalidi and Jonathan Spicer YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan visited today the renovated road leading to Dendropak. After getting acquainted with the road the PM urged tourists and citizens of Armenia to visit Stepanavan. Nikol Pashinyan was accompanied by minister of territorial administration and infrastructures Suren Papikyan and governor of Lori province Andrei Ghukasyan. Minister Papikyan said that the road has been completely renovated during 2019. This is the road leading to the Stepanavan Dendropark which is one of the most beautiful and unique sites in Armenia. Due to the poor condition of this road the visit of tourists to this beautiful place was difficult. This place hosted 25,000 people annually, but now according to calculations this number will increase by 10% annually. By building this road there will be an economic chain effect, Pashinyan said live on Facebook. He added that last year Armenias domestic tourism grew by 43%. This means that we have raised the level of our national security because the more thoroughly every citizen knows his homeland, the more he changes his perception towards that homeland, the PM added. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Mexico is home to various archeological sites, including the ancient city of Izapa in Chiapas. Now, the Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) are working on a project to study and restore Izapa, a pre-Hispanic city built with clay, according to an article by Mexico News Daily. The Mayan city is located on the Izapa River near Tapachula and the Tacana Volcano, which straddles the Mexico-Guatemala border. It features more than 30 stone monuments engraved with mythical scenes showing the extensive history of powerful ancient rulers. These carvings haven't been studied for more than 50 years. The Izapa Research and Conservation Project (PICI) headed by the archaeologist Alejandro Uriarte Torres, aims to restore the splendor of the monuments and the site in general, INAH said in a statement. Uriarte said that the team is particularly working to repair damage to the site's structures caused by the eruption of the active volcano Tacana in 1986. He explained that the PICI team initially examined Izapa in 2015 and found that parts of the clay structures were displaced, crumbling or cracked due to seismic activity linked to rumblings and eruptions at the volcano. As they were carrying out the restoration work, archaeologists were able to identify the construction systems and materials used at Izapa, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Soconusco region of Chiapas. Uriarte added that they will conduct a study to determine the source of the materials came. The research head said all of the structures are made out of clay, explaining that after they were built, their exterior walls were covered with river stones measuring 50-60 centimeters in diameter. The team also made sure that all of the restoration work has been carried out with respect for the original construction techniques, Uriarte said. "We learned to value the earthen architecture in Mesoamerica, which is much more common that we think. ... There are a great quantity of sites like Izapa, where only the walls are made with stone ... The whole interior is clay," he said. "This is something that we have to study more deeply because we generally have the idea that all the Mesoamerican buildings are stone." Part of the repair work is the cleaning of the stone monuments, or steles, from lichen and other types of fungi that thrive in the humid climate at Izapa that lasts all year-round. After cleaning, archaeologists take photographs of the monuments to establish a visual registry of their iconography before further deterioration occurs. Some of the steles were removed from the site before the restoration project began and are on display at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City and the Soconusco Museum in Tapachula. Museum authorities said a team of biologists from INAH headed by Alejandro Medina, are also studying the microorganisms growing on the steles to determine how they can be removed in the future without harming them. Historians say that the ancient city of Izapa reached its peak between 850 B.C. and 100 B.C. but was abandoned completely around 1200, when post-classic period of pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica began. Dirk Pitt is an almost cartoonish example of American masculinity, one that pre-teen me at some level desperately wanted to embody. He is both a decorated military pilot and the greatest known deep-sea adventurer combined, a marriage of Chuck Yeager and Jacques Cousteau. He is tall, strong, a deadly shot and entirely incorruptible. His only weakness is for classic cars, a trait Pitt shared with his creator. Pitts opaline green eyes could be either transfixing or menacing, depending on the need. While he rarely had time for love and relationships, when he did, it was intense beyond belief. fuck off. this is not the hill to die on. Reply Thread Link Your icon and comment are killing me but youre 100% right. Edited at 2020-03-07 05:00 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link That Stephen King boy ain't right! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lmaoo. stephen king of the hill to die on Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i say this on discord all the time but this man is a hack! also this argument is nonsense. censorship from the government is bad, "censorship" from a french, publishing company ain't... Reply Parent Thread Link People choose to die on the dumbest hills sometimes. Reply Thread Link mte there are so many injustices in the world and this is what he decides to speak out about Reply Parent Thread Link As people say all the time (when it's something they agree with) ... 'people can care about more than one thing' ... Reply Parent Thread Link so it was tone deaf to agree to publish Allen's book after Ronan's... but it's also bad to not publish Allen's? make it make sense Reply Thread Link If you think hes a pedophile. He is a pedophile Stephen. Reply Thread Link if you think the sewer scene from IT was in bad taste Reply Parent Thread Link The sewer scene? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link nnnnn I was thinking about that too....... Reply Parent Thread Link I also want to know about the scene where Patrick sexually assaults Henry (amongst others). S King feels grimey to me. Im not surprised hes worried about this. He probably thinks its ~complicated since old mens sexual fascinations trump everyone elses everything Reply Parent Thread Link it was about ~*love*~ He needs to stop already, esp. when he says 'this isn't about allen', as if he wasn't describing dylan farrow's allegations as 'bitchy' when they came out. Reply Parent Thread Link Dude literally married his own daughter! Ahhhhh!!!!!!! Reply Parent Thread Link i have never liked him or his writing, these days he's always spitting out the wrong takes. Reply Thread Link Fuck off you piece of shit Reply Thread Link This. He hasn't reached JK Rowling levels of death of the author to me, but I'm not going to cape for him as hard when he has bad takes like this. Reply Parent Thread Link its really upsetting tbh Reply Parent Thread Link he was my mom's and i've enjoyed some flicks. that's kinda the beginning and the end of it for me, but i'd be aware because so many people i know are into him and he was my mom's favorite author. but i'm so glad i have no personal attachment. because yeah. there is disappointing and there is disappointing. Reply Parent Thread Link same. the hammer really fell for me when he referred to Dylan Farrow's open letter as "palpable bitchery" a few years ago (making THIS SHIT even more unsavoury to me). Reply Parent Thread Link wooooah, for real? Stephen King's dead to me. Reply Parent Thread Link yeah. then made a half-hearted apology and put it down to "still learning how Twitter works" or some shit. fuck off, Stephen, you showed yourself loud and clear. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link holy shit i forgot about that for someone who claims he doesn't give a damn about woody allen he sure spends a lot of time defending him Reply Parent Thread Link Yep. It's disappointing but we should have seen it coming. Reply Parent Thread Link I can kinda see what he means by censorship, but this ain't the case. No one is banning anything. A book full of lies has been cancelled. That's it. Woodys book would have been full of lies, delusions, and bullshit excuses to why he married his stepdaughter. And it would definitely slander Dylan. Woody is using this book for nothing other than trying to save his ugly old face in the public. Reply Parent Thread Link die Reply Thread Link peak neoliberalism, peak pedophile apologist Reply Thread Link Ugh, my problematic fave teetering closer toward problematic than fave =___= People saying this is censorship don't understand what censorship is. No one said Woody Allen couldn't share his story, he just doesn't have to sell a book to do so. Heck, Hachette could have proceeded with it if they gave no fucks about the bad PR and truly believed they did not nothing wrong. They're not censoring Woody Allen, they made the business decision to save face. Edited at 2020-03-07 04:08 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link If it was published won't it lose out on money of no one wants to buy it? I mean who wants to read a woody Allen memoir? Reply Thread Link Film Twitter still wants this book because they want his ~unique perspective as an auteur~ - a truly worthy cause Reply Parent Thread Link eww wtf. Reply Parent Thread Link maybe they should stick to movies Reply Parent Thread Link Thing is, he can write and self-publish if he really wants to get his unique perspective out there. But then his standing wouldnt be legitimized by a publishers imprimatur, which is what they really care about. Reply Parent Thread Link i read that his last book sold about 4,000 less copies than catch and kill in it's first week. presumably, this was the rationale in publishing Edited at 2020-03-07 08:39 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Isn't this the one who wrote a graphic sex scene featuring a bunch of 12 year olds running a train on a girl Reply Thread Link and continues to defend it to this day which is why his constant defense of allen makes me v nervous Reply Parent Thread Link Is there anything he's written that doesn't have some creepy sexist shit in it? Reply Parent Thread Link Thinking of IT specifically the amount of violence and abuse he inflicts on Beverly is disgusting. Its also full of racist and anti Semitic slurs. It always feels gratuitous. Reply Parent Thread Link Lol nope. In Bag of Bones, the thinly veiled self-insert main character is an author in his 40s whose love interest is a 19-year-old girl with a 3-year-old daughter. There's a paragraph where he's thinking about the daughter and how ~sexy~ she's going to be when she grows up. UGH. Reply Parent Thread Link Yup, then defended it with 'Times have changed' and 'B-b-b-but you should object to the violence in the book, not the sex!' Reply Parent Thread Link Shut the fuck up, Stephen! Go back to write spin offs to your most famous books and be quiet. Reply Thread Link Oregon public health officials announced Feb. 28 that they had identified the states first known case of the novel coronavirus spreading across the globe. An employee of a Lake Oswego elementary school contracted the virus, called COVID-19, from an unknown source. In the week that followed, state officials rushed to prepare for a possible outbreak and tested a growing number of Oregonians for the disease. Two more tested positive. Others struggled to be tested at all. Amid the uncertainty, many people did what they could to limit their risk of contracting or spread the illness. Retailers reported runs on hand sanitizer and toilet paper as shoppers prepared for possible quarantines. With new developments every day, here are five key issues to know now: TESTING: The Oregon Health Authority declined for days to release detailed information about the three people who tested positive for the disease. But on Friday, finally provided some basic facts: two men and one women were sickened, and all three were 40 or older. Hundreds more people are being monitored for symptoms of the respiratory illness. Far fewer have been tested, in part because of federal guidelines and in part because the states limited testing capacity. Still, state officials believe hundreds of Oregonians may have or had the disease. RESPONDING: Days before Oregons first known patient was tested for coronavirus, he sought care at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in Hillsboro. The potential exposure put 70 employees into quarantine. Some of those workers say Kaiser lacks some basic equipment to keep employees safe, a claim that executives reject. Yet, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley did step in to help Kaiser secure 700 highly prized N-95 respirator masks and another 1,000 surgical masks. PREPARING: A nursing facility in neighboring Washington state is the epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak. So far, at least 10 people connected to the facility have died. In response to that outbreak, Oregon officials created a strike force of workers to help nursing homes immediately limit the risk of similarly tragic outcomes. Federal officials said cities and counties should contemplate how they would roll out social distancing measures to limit transmission. Gov. Kate Brown said addressing the disease could cost as much as $10 million every month. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave $500,000 as a start. ADAPTING: Because so little is known about the virus, the collective uncertainty has left many Oregonians to make difficult decisions about what the best steps they can take. The stories of four Portlanders show the disparate ways that the virus is impacting peoples lives. For Oregonians with compromised immune systems, those decisions are especially difficult, because they may be particularly vulnerable to the disease. ADVISING: Public health officials have said the best way to limit the risk of contracting the virus or spreading it to others is by practicing basic hygiene and staying home if you exhibit symptoms of the illness. Kim Toevs, director of Multnomah Countys communicable disease and sexually transmitted disease programs, spoke with The Oregonian/OregonLive to answer common questions about COVID-19, its transmission and how to best protect yourself from infection. CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: THE LATEST NEWS -- The Oregonian/OregonLive staff Subscribe to our Oregon coronavirus newsletter: I still remember the pit I felt in my stomach seven years ago, as I watched Texas legislators vote against the interest and wishes of our communities and pass one of the strictest abortion laws in the country. And what happened immediately after was truly devastating. 85 miles. Thats the average distance traveled by Texans seeking abortion care after House Bill 2 shuttered their closest clinics. 23 days. Thats how long some Texans had to wait for appointments at the remaining clinics. $100. Thats the additional out of pocket costs for things like childcare, travel, and lost wages that some Texans had to pay because they were forced to leave their communities for care. Texas lost half of its abortion clinics in the fallout of HB 2, and we fought the law all the way to the Supreme Court in 2016 and won, securing new precedent affirming the constitutional right to abortion care. But now already that precedent is at risk. On March 4, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in June Medical Services v. Russo, a case out of Louisiana requiring the same admitting privileges requirement for abortion providers that was struck down three years ago in Whole Womans Health v. Hellerstedt. That decision states that such admitting privileges provides few, if any, health benefits for women, poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions, and constitutes an undue burden on their constitutional right to do so. And yet, almost as if the past seven years didnt happen, here we are again. Our universities have done the research and the experts at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists agree: clinic closures adversely affect public health. Low-income people, youth, people of color, and rural communities are disproportionately required to bear that increased burden. Abortion is also one of the safest medical procedures, so the true motivation of any legislation purportedly designed to reduce the risks of an already extraordinarily safe procedure is clearly not derived from science or concern for patients. As we in Texas continue to slowly rebuild in the aftermath of HB 2 closing half of our reproductive health care clinics, a sense of deja vu has crept in watching the legislatures of neighboring states. Half of our clinics were forced to close while the wheels of justice slowly moved and even with a decision in our favor, one ruling cannot magically provide the resources required to reopen a facility years later. We know what happens when clinic doors are locked and patients are turned away even temporarily, thanks to brave storytellers who risk stigma and consequences like arrest or deportation to put human faces on these laws. The consequences can be dire, even fatal. Should the Fifth Circuits decision be allowed to stand, Louisiana will likely only have one clinic remaining. And we will hear the same stories all over again because what happens in one state doesnt stay just in that state. Theres no such thing as not in my backyard with ideologically-driven legislators and judges as weve seen in statehouses around the country. In just the first half of this year, 58 abortion restrictions were enacted at the state level 25 of which would ban all, most or some abortions. Abortion has continued to come up during the democratic presidential primary because more and more of those living in this country recognize whats happening. In recent polls, support for abortion in most or all cases is at an almost two-thirds majority among voters. Just as the effects of the unconstitutional HB 2 provisions have echoed beyond Texas, the June Medical Services v. Russo outcome could potentially have far-reaching consequences. No one in any corner of the country can afford to take their rights for granted. Abortion is a right and a right without access is meaningless. Well find out in June when the Supreme Court announces its decision whether or not a majority of justices agree. Arrambide is the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas A group of migrants on Saturday tried to bring down a fence in a desperate attempt to bust through the border into Greece while others hurled rocks at Greek police. Greek authorities responded, firing volleys of tear gas at the youths. At least two migrants were injured in the latest clash between Greek police and migrants gathered on the Turkish side of a border crossing near the Greek village of Kastanies. As in previous confrontations this week. officers in Greece fired tear gas to impede the crowd and Turkish police fired tear gas back at their Greek counterparts. Groups of mostly young men tied ropes onto the fence in an attempt to tear it down. Some shouted ``Allah is Great`` while others shouted ``open the border.`` It was not immediately clear what caused the two migrants' injuries. A Greek government official said the tear gas and water cannons were used for ``deterrence`` purposes. Thousands of migrants headed for Turkey's land border with Greece after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government said last week that it would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing over to European Union territory. Greece deployed riot police and border guards to repel people trying to enter the country from the sea or by land. Erdogan plans to be in Brussels on Monday for a one-day working visit. A statement from his office did not specify where he would be during his visit or the reason why he's heading to the EU's headquarters. The announcement came hours after EU foreign ministers meeting in Croatia on Friday criticized Turkey, saying it was using the migrants' desperation ``for political purposes.`` In a statement Saturday, the Greek government said that around 600 people, aided by Turkish army and military police, threw tear gas at the Greek side of the border overnight. It also said there were several attempts to breach the border fence, and fires were lit in an attempt to damage the barrier. ``Attempts at illegal entry into Greek territory were prevented by Greek forces, which repaired the fence and used sirens and loudspeakers,`` the statement read. Thousands of migrants have slept in makeshift camps near the border since the Turkish government said they were free to go, waiting for the opportunity to cut over to Greece. ``It is very difficult, but there is hope, God willing,`` said Mahmood Mohammed, 34, who identified himself as a refugee from Syria's embattled Idlib province. Another man who identified himself as being from Idlib said he was camped out in western Turkey both to get away from the war at home and to make a new life for his family in Europe or Canada after crossing through the border gate. Erdogan announced last week that Turkey, which already houses more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, would no longer be Europe's gatekeeper and declared that its previously guarded borders with Europe are now open. The move alarmed EU countries, which are still dealing with the political fallout from a wave of mass migration five years ago. Erdogan has demanded that Europe shoulder more of the burden of caring for refugees. But the EU insists it is abiding by a 2016 deal in which it gave Turkey billions in refugee aid in return for keeping Europe-bound asylum-seekers in Turkey. In a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, Erdogan said the Turkey-EU migration deal is no longer working and needs to be revised, according to the Turkish leaders's office. While crediting Turkey for hosting millions of migrants and refugees, European foreign ministers said the bloc ``strongly rejects Turkey's use of migratory pressure for political purposes.`` They called the situation at the border unacceptable and said the EU was determined to protect its external boundaries. Greek authorities said they thwarted more than 38,000 attempted border crossings in the past week and arrested 268 people _ only 4% of them Syrians. They reported reported 27 more arrests Saturday, mostly migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Greece has described the situation as a threat to its national security and has suspended asylum applications for a month, saying it will deport new arrivals without registering them. Many migrants have reported crossing into Greece, being beaten by Greek authorities and summarily forced back into Turkey. ``I didn't go to the river,`` said Mohammed, the refugee from Idlib. ``When the Greece police capture you, they tell you to take off all your clothes and have only the underwear, and then they order you to go to the other side.'' Turkish authorities say one migrant was killed earlier this week by bullets fired by Greek police or border guards near the border crossing. Greece denies the accusation. A child also drowned off the island of Lesbos when a boat carrying 48 migrants capsized. On Saturday, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu renewed accusations of Greek authorities mistreating migrants. ``Their masks have fallen,`` he said. ``The ruthlessness of those who gave lectures on humanity has become evident.`` Soylu claimed that some 1,000 Turkish special operations police deployed on the border had started to thwart the actions of the law enforcement teams assembled by Greece to drive the migrants back. The minister also predicted that Greece would not be able to ``hold on to its borders`` during the summer, when the river that delineates most of the Turkey-Greece border gets shallower and easier to cross. Soylu has said Erdogan instructed Turkish authorities to prevent migrants from attempting to reach the Greek islands in dinghies to avoid ``human tragedies.`` Hundreds have drowned attempting the comparatively short but dangerous voyage from Turkey's coast. Search Keywords: Short link: Amid concerns about spread of coronavirus, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to suspend primary classes in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions. An order issued by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, on Saturday said that primary classes in all government and private schools in Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam and Bandipora districts will remain suspended from Monday till further orders. In Jammu, the administration has already issued orders for closure of government and private schools up to primary level with immediate effect till March 31. Two suspected cases of coronavirus were reported in Jammu on Saturday. They are undergoing treatment at the local Government Medical College . Thirty one positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the country till Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DETROIT, MI -- Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders blamed disastrous unfettered free trade policies for causing the United States to transition from a General Motors economy to a Wal-Mart economy, citing the global retail chains status as the countrys top employer. The Vermont senator hosted a conversation with Michigan union auto workers on the negative impact past trade deals have had on the economy before a Friday rally in Detroit. Sanders condemned Democratic primary rival and former Vice President Joe Biden for his role in supporting trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement and allowing good-paying jobs to leave Michigan communities. What these trade deals have done is decimate the working class of this country," Sanders said. Its not just the loss of jobs, its wages going down, its a race to the bottom ... I have done my best to oppose these disastrous trade deals. Joe Biden, on the other hand, has totally supported them." Biden was among Democrats who voted for NAFTA as a U.S. senator and was also an advocate for the Obama-era Trans-Pacific Partnership. Sanders and President Donald Trump campaigned in 2016 on renegotiating trade deals to benefit blue-collar workers. The Michigan-centered event comes as Sanders prepares for a primary election bout against Biden next Tuesday, March 10. Sanders has worked to draw a distinction between himself and Biden as states with large numbers of workers in industrial and manufacturing industries begin to vote. Sanders visited United Auto Workers on the picket line outside last year during a month-long strike against General Motors. Sanders convened a group of Michiganders who worked at General Motors factories in Flint and Saginaw. Both cities have seen a loss of manufacturing jobs in the last several decades. Manufacturing jobs used to be the gold standard for Americans, Sanders said, but free trade agreements have allowed corporations to move factories across the border to take advantage of cheaper labor. Sanders also criticized right to work legislation passed in states like Michigan, which prohibits employers from requiring union membership or payment of dues as a condition of employment. All of the new income and wealth are going to the people on top, Sanders said. Clearly what we need to do is create an economy that works for all of us, not just the CEOs of large corporations. Both candidates have touted their support among labor unions and blue-collar workers as evidence that they can take on President Donald Trump in the general election. Trump narrowly flipped Michigan and other formerly Democratic-leaning Midwest states in part by campaigning on promises to rewrite NAFTA. Trumps United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement gathered bipartisan support in Michigan and passed earlier this year to the applause of Republicans and Democrats seeking a modernized replacement to NAFTA. Sanders stood alone during the January Democratic debate by declaring he would not support the USMCA, and later voted against it in the Senate. Sanders said he deal lacks important environmental protections, though he said it is an improvement over NAFTA. The Sanders campaign released a statement criticizing Bidens work to pass NAFTA after Trump launched a similar line of attack at a Fox News town hall this week. Trump said Biden showed poor judgment in pushing the trade deal as a U.S. senator. Joe Biden made a deal: NAFTA, Trump said Thursday. He approved it. He was pushing it. Its the worst trade deal ever made. Were terminating NAFTA. We have the USMCA. Bernie 2020 campaign manager Faiz Shakir said Trump will exploit Bidens vulnerability on trade to win battleground states that could swing the general election. Shakir argued Sanders stance on NAFTA makes him a stronger candidate to face Trump in November. Sanders and Biden are essentially the last candidates standing after the Democratic Party assembled a large and historically diverse field of competitors. Both campaigns are making a large push to sway voters in Michigan in the final days of the election, with a flurry of rallies and smaller events planned throughout the weekend. The race has become more competitive after the departure of several other candidates this week. Elizabeth Warren has not put her support behind either of the remaining candidates, but Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg and Mike Bloomberg coalesced around Biden. Biden appears to be riding a surge of momentum after gathering more delegates than Sanders on Super Tuesday earlier this week. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and several other high-profile Democrats put their support behind Biden in the final days of the primary. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, is still running and visited Detroit this week, but is far behind the other two candidates in terms of delegates. David Dulio, head of the political science department of Oakland University, said its not clear that Sanders has an advantage against Trump on trade. Both politicians have railed against the negative impact of NAFTA, but the replacement agreement is Trumps signature policy achievement. I dont know where Sanders goes with that, Dulio said. I mean if he comes in to rail against trade agreements, Trump can follow up with a tweet that says, Sorry Bernie I already did that. Read more on MLive: A complete guide: How to see Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders campaign events in Michigan this weekend and Monday The big question for Michigan Democrats: Is Biden or Sanders more likely to beat Trump? Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer endorses Biden, joining campaign as a national co-chair What happens if I voted for someone who dropped out of Michigans presidential primary? What Michigan voters need to know about absentee ballots for March 10 primary January Democratic debate shows Sanders alone in opposing USMCA But the official numbers do not capture the full scope of the contagion. The actual number of deaths from the virus might be somewhat higher, in part because of undercounting or misdiagnosis. There is little doubt that the number of infections in many cases among people who either did not get sick or thought they had only a mild illness is larger than the official case count. The infection rate will not be known until researchers do broad surveys to see who has developed antibodies to the virus. Rep. Mark Meadows, a Transylvania County Republican and chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, heads into a House Republican strategy meeting at the Capitol in Washington Dec. 20. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) ASHEVILLE, N.C. Rep. Mark Meadows, who announced in December that he would retire at the end of his term, will resign well ahead of that time to become White House chief of staff. President Donald Trump said in a tweet Friday night that acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, a former congressman who served multiple roles at the White House, is leaving his job and the president is appointing Meadows, a North Carolina Republican, in his place. Meadows announced on Dec. 19 that he would retire after four terms. His seat may remain vacant until the end of his term in January, party officials said. State law allows Gov. Roy Cooper to set a special election. But 11th District Republicans are still in the process of picking their nominee after no candidate in the March 3 primary got more than 30% of the vote. With no GOP nominee until the May 12 runoff, tapping someone to fill the immediate vacancy may prove too complicated, said Aubrey Woodard, chair of the GOP 11th District Executive Committee. Were thinking due to the timeline that (Cooper) may elect to have it stay vacant, Woodard said. White House shake-up: Trump's acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney is out. Mark Meadows will take on role A call and email to Coopers press office late Friday following Trump's announcement got no immediate response. The Republican runoff will feature first-place finisher Lynda Bennett of Haywood County against second-place finisher Madison Cawthorn of Henderson County. The winner of that runoff in May would face Democrat Moe Davis in November. Meadows' White House appointment muddies those waters. Chairs of the Democratic and Republican committees for the 11th District said after the congressman's announcement that they were consulting with experts to understand the next steps. The shake-up in one of the most powerful positions at the White House follows Trump's acquittal in his Senate impeachment trial and a recent push to appoint highly loyal Trump associates to top jobs and push out others. Story continues "I am pleased to announce that Congressman Mark Meadows will become White House Chief of Staff. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one," Trump said in a tweet. I am pleased to announce that Congressman Mark Meadows will become White House Chief of Staff. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 7, 2020 Trump thanked Mulvaney for "having served the Administration so well" and said he would become the U.S. special envoy for Northern Ireland. David Cohen, a political science professor at the University of Akron who studies the office of chief of staff, said it was clear the move had been in the works for some time given Meadows' decision not to run for re-election. "Meadows clearly knows Congress and is a loyal protector of the president, so he brings that to the job," Cohen said. "But Trump has never empowered any of his chiefs with the tools to be effective. He is resistant to changing his leadership methods to allow for a strong chief of staff to run the White House. It is doubtful that he will start now." Meadows has been an ardent supporter of Trump, most recently fighting the drive in the House to impeach the president. Just two years after his election to the House, he helped found the Freedom Caucus, which has championed conservative causes. During his tenure, Meadows has pushed for tax cuts, fewer government regulations and cuts in federal spending. And in 2015, he helped push House Speaker John Boehner out of his job. He has had a hand in two federal government shutdowns. In 2013, he engineered a shutdown in an attempt to strip funding from the Affordable Care Act. In 2018, Meadows encouraged Trump not to accept a bill to fund much of the government without $5 billion in money for a border wall and rallied others on the right to do the same. "For everything there is a season. After prayerful consideration and discussion with family, today Im announcing that my time serving Western North Carolina in Congress will come to a close at the end of this term," Meadows said in a statement issued Dec. 19. Contributing: USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: President Donald Trump will name Mark Meadows to White House post New laws to curb fake online biz By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s): New laws will be enacted to regulate the flourishing online shopping market that has been lately littered with fraudsters selling counterfeit products. Samantha Karunarathne, Director Competition Promotion, Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said that current rules lack the regulatory teeth necessary to stop online manipulative practices. She said from last July, some 150 complains pertaining to online purchases such as fake products, quality issues, late delivery and poor customer service were received by the CAA. One famous vendor has 46 complaints against them, she said. The fact that these online vendors are not registered (as a business), poses a very large threat, she added. This discussion transpired at the ICT Industry Open Forum Discussion with the key regulators on Thursday, organised by the Federation of Information Technology Industry (FITIS), apex ICT body of Sri Lanka. Now the regulator is carrying out an extensive study to formulate laws to promote transparency and fight against unethical sales practices in the hope that companies will curb egregious practices, she told the Business times. Mrs. Karunarathne said that with the upcoming law, all e-commerce operators will need to protect consumer rights, interests, and personal information, as well as protect intellectual property rights and cyberspace security. Basically the law would bring online shopping regulations in line with offline rules that require vendors to register their businesses and pay tax. Hazem* seemed healthy enough when he went to sleep. The seven-month-old baby boy had just had an early morning feed with his mother and the pair had dozed off again in the bitter Syrian winter. But when his brothers and sisters went to wake him up later that morning to play, Hazem could not be roused. They found him frozen to death in the hut his family was subsisting in as they hid from the air bombardment of their village in Idlib. 'Abu Hazem' cradles a photograph of his seven-month-old son who froze to death in his sleep in February. Hazem was one of the about a million people who have fled the Russian and Syrian army campaign in north-eastern Syria, and one of a mounting number of casualties. The cold last month and its associated dangers claimed the lives of seven children, according to World Vision's advocacy director for the Syria response, Caroline Anning. The geopolitics of this area remain diabolical: the Turkish and Russian leaders signed a ceasefire on Thursday, but fighting appeared to quickly resume. A million have fled the bombing of Idlib by Russian and Syrian jets, but Turkey is not letting them in. Instead it has allowed some refugees already in Turkey to cross the border with Greece - part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's tactic of pressuring Europe to come to his aid in the Syrian conflict. D etectives have launched a murder investigation after a 24-year-old man died in hospital following a stabbing in east London. Scotland Yard said that while officers are awaiting formal identification, they could confirm the name of the victim as Ricardo Fuller. Police were called shortly after 5am on Saturday to reports of a man suffering stab injuries inside a nightclub in Ilford High Road. Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene, with Mr Fuller taken to an east London hospital for treatment. He died at the hospital at 11.41am, police said. A 29-year-old man, arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder, is being held at an east London police station. In an update on the incident, the Metropolitan Police said: "At this early stage it is believed Ricardo had attended the club where an event was taking place. "Ricardo had gone outside when he was attacked and chased before he made his way back inside the venue." Mr Fuller's next of kin have been informed and a post-mortem examination will be scheduled. The Little Market was established in 2012 and serves as a 'nonprofit fair trade shop.' And co-founder Lauren Conrad played party host on Friday afternoon during the nonprofit's third annual International Women's Day event. Actresses Cara Santana, Tiffani Thiessen, and Jamie-Lynn Sigler were in attendance at the afternoon soiree held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. Hostess with Mostess: Lauren Conrad hosted her nonprofit The Little Market's third annual International Women's Day event in Santa Monica on Friday afternoon Bohemian babe: Conrad stunned in a floral chiffon maxi dress for the event held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel Conrad graced the star-studded event in a flouncy floral chiffon dress that featured a flattering sweetheart neckline and bell sleeves. The 34-year-old fashion designer styled her dirty blonde tresses into an array of beach waves that softly framed her heart-shaped face. Conrad opted for a minimalist makeup look complete with nude lip gloss, plenty of peach blush, and a few swipes of mascara. Lauren co-founded The Little Market - which also featured Amazon Handmade - with friend and business partner Hannah Skvarla following a trip the pair took to Tanzania and Uganda. Beaming: Conrad cozied up to (L-R) actress Cara Santana, Steph Shepherd, and her The Little Market co-founder Hannah Skvarla at the event's step-and-repeat Chic: Cara Santana cut a chic figure in a gray blazer paired with high waisted denim jeans Motivating: Lauren and Hannah took to the mic at the afternoon soiree with women's rights activist Penney Manning (center) During their travels, the altruistic friends had the opportunity 'to visit organizations working with artisans and entrepreneurs.' They met a myriad of inspirational female creators who were designing 'beautiful products, but lacking access to a larger platform and essential resources to exercise economic autonomy,' according to The Little Market web page. Conrad's vast knowledge of the fashion industry combined with Hannah's in 'nonprofits and human rights advocacy,' allowed the women to create a nonprofit that advocated for 'dignified, safe jobs and fair, living wages.' Ethereal: Conrad looked undeniably ethereal as she posed for a slew of solo shots Ready for Spring: Lauren Conrad, Tiffani Thiessen, and Hannah Skvarla looked ready for Spring in their neutral toned ensembles Cara Santana stepped out to celebrate the worthy cause on Friday afternoon in a business-chic ensemble complete with a fitted gray blazer and black tee. She rounded out her attire by slipping into some high waisted denim and a pair of black heeled boots. Thiesen radiated youth in a pale pink jumpsuit styled with burgundy satin pumps and a blush toned leather clutch. Using her voice: Conrad took the stage with Skvarla on Friday to speak about the nonprofit's mission Pretty in pink: Thiessen flaunted her enviable curves in a pale pink jumpsuit complete with burgundy pumps Menswear: Actress Jamie Lynn Sigler put a feminine spin on a menswear inspired silhouette; Amazon Handmade was also featured The Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler sported a sharp black blazer paired with khaki high waisted trousers. The actress accessorized with a matte black Gucci bag and coordinating dress shoes. The event took place outside at the lavish hotel's spacious Bungalow that featured a vast wood patio. Casual Friday: The Sopranos Star kept her look comfortable, but accessorized with a matte black Gucci bag Former interior minister is reportedly detained, more than two years after being relieved of ministerial duties. Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, a committed ally of the United States and one-time successor to the Saudi throne, has reportedly been arrested, in what analysts suspect is an attempt by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to consolidate his reign and bar his rivals before a potential handover. The former interior minister was detained on Friday alongside Prince Ahmed bin Abdelaziz, King Salmans brother and one of the last two remaining sons of the kingdoms founding father, several US publications reported. According to the Wall Street Journal, they were arrested over accusations of plotting a coup against the king and the crown prince. There was no immediate comment by Saudi authorities. Named crown prince in April 2015 shortly after King Salman acceded to power, Mohammed bin Nayef served in the position until his dismissal in a major reshuffle two years later that also saw him lose the interior ministry portfolio, which he had held since 2012. I am content, he said at the time about his cousin Mohammed bin Salmans promotion to the role, adding: I am going to rest now. May God help you. Reports later said he had been placed under house arrest following his removal from office. Pro-US, survived al-Qaeda attack With years of experience in intelligence work, and having played a major role in Saudis internal security policies, the 60-year-old Mohammed bin Nayef has been called the prince of counterterrorism. Analysts have argued that Mohammed bin Nayef was also the most pro-US figure of the Saudi leadership. He attended school in the United States, taking classes at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. In the late 1980s, Mohammed bin Nayef studied at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) before also taking anti-terrorism courses at the United Kingdoms Scotland Yard unit in the early 1990s. Before the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US, Mohammed bin Nayef had already developed a relationship with US officials as a respected figure in the war on terrorism. He led a crackdown on al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia between 2003 and 2007, where attacks against security headquarters, foreign residential compounds and government buildings killed dozens of security officers and foreigners. While leading Saudi Arabias war on al-Qaeda, Mohammed bin Nayef was outspoken in the media, appearing frequently on TV to speak about the kingdoms manhunt of hardline operatives. The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) regarded Mohammed bin Nayef as the key to defeating al-Qaeda. George Tenet, former director of the CIA, described Mohammed bin Nayef as the agencys most important interlocutor. In 2009, Mohammed bin Nayef survived an assassination attempt by al-Qaeda after agreeing to meet Abdullah al-Asiri, a member of the armed group who framed himself as a repentant former fighter. During the meeting in Jeddah, al-Asiri detonated a suicide vest, but ended up only slightly wounding Mohammed bin Nayef. His survival of the assassination attempt led many in Saudi Arabia to regard him as a hero. In 2012, he succeeded his father as interior minister and three years later was also appointed deputy prime minister. But he then transitioned into a more low-profile role, as Mohammed bin Salman built a more prominent reputation for himself as the architect of the Yemen war. In 2017, Mohammed bin Nayef was awarded a medal by the new director of the CIA, who honoured his contributions to counterterrorism work. COHOES - A 12-year-old boy was arrested by city police Wednesday after he making a terrorist threat targeting Cohoes Middle School, city police said. While the threat, made on Snapchat, was deemed not credible, police said the content of the message was alarming. They said it contained references to a duffel bag and hurting people. The boy was charged with a making a terroristic threat, a felony. Due to his age, police will not release his identity. He was to be arraigned in Albany Family Court. Though the threat was not deemed credible, city police increased their presence at the school on Thursday. In a message on its website, the school district said it works "closely with Cohoes police to respond quickly to any threat of violence in order to keep our students and staff safe." STAMFORD An attorney representing Michelle Troconis in the death and disappearance of Jennifer Dulos claims in new court filings that his client is the victim of an unlawful scheme and requested that the case be transferred to the Hartford Judicial District. In one of his three motions filed Thursday in state Superior Court in Stamford, defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn said his client is being tried in the wrong judicial district. It appears that law enforcement officers, possibly working in conjunction with the states attorney for the Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District, illegally and deliberately disregarded the statutory jurisdictional requirements in order to permit prosecution in the wrong court, Schoenhorn wrote. Schoenhorn claims the crimes his client is accused of committing occurred in the greater Hartford area, therefore the only proper venue for this is and was Hartford Judicial District. In fact, no reasonable reading of the warrant or criminal information permits a conclusion that the defendant engaged in any act outside the Hartford Judicial District or Geographical Area No. 14, Schoenhorn wrote in the motion, the second such requesting the relocation of the proceedings to Hartford. Troconis, 44, is accused of helping Fotis Dulos, her boyfriend at the time, dispose of bloody bags containing the DNA linked to Jennifer Dulos along a 4-mile stretch of Albany Avenue in Hartford on the night of her disappearance on May 24, 2019. Fotis Dulos and Troconis had also conspired to lie about their whereabouts on the day Jennifer Dulos vanished, even going so far as to construct Alibi Scripts, which police later recovered, according to arrest warrants. In addition to requesting to move the case to Hartford, Schoenhorn also filed two motions to compel the state to share its evidence with the defense team. Schoenhorn asked that all written, record or oral statements made by Troconis, Fotis Dulos and an employee whose truck police say was used in the crime be shared, as well as all call records and video surveillance footage that allegedly shows her on Albany Avenue on the night of the disappearance. He also requested all photos and scientific data related to evidence retrieved in the case, any expert or eyewitness testimony that will be used in the proceedings, and any else that could potentially be used as evidence against his client. Schoenhorn also asked that all evidence be turned over within 48 hours of the motions filing. Troconis is next scheduled to appear at Stamford Superior Court on March 20. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ramadani Saputra (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, March 7 2020 Novendra Priasmoro (PB Percasi/Kristianus Liem) Chess prodigy Novendra Priasmoro seems to be entering a new chapter after claiming the grandmaster (GM) title last week. The 20-year-old is expected to display consistency to achieve super grandmaster status. It was GM Utut Adianto himself who encouraged him to achieve more. Novendra, who is sponsored by heavy equipment distributor PT United Tractors, is the eighth Indonesian chess player to secure the title. It has been 16 years since Susanto Megaranto claimed the same title in 2004 when he was 17. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 09:55:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A settlement for poverty relief relocation in Sansui County, southwest China's Guizhou Province on April 11, 2019. Since January 2019, households have, one after another, moved into a settlement for poverty relief relocation in Sansui County. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) For seven consecutive years, China had lifted more than 10 million people out of poverty annually. By the end of 2019, 5.51 million people were still living in poverty, but none of them will be left behind on the nation's way to become a moderately prosperous society in all respects. BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Only 300 days are left for China to eradicate absolute poverty as promised, and the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is posing more challenges to reach the goal. With such daunting difficulties ahead, a symposium on securing a decisive victory in poverty alleviation held on Friday demonstrated that China is resolved and confident in completing the world's biggest poverty-relief project. The Chinese government has decided to lift all rural residents living below the current poverty line out of poverty by 2020. For seven consecutive years, China had lifted more than 10 million people out of poverty annually. By the end of 2019, 5.51 million people were still living in poverty, but none of them will be left behind on the nation's way to become a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Friday's symposium showed that the top leadership is fully aware of the difficulties in the final push, including the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, industrial weakness and undesirable working styles of bureaucratism and practices of formalities for formalities' sake as exposed in some places. It is based on the precise identification of these real problems that the government takes effective countermeasures to ensure substantive and sustainable outcomes. As mapped out at the symposium, China will focus more on the poorest regions, prevent the risk of some people returning to poverty, promote industrial development, create more job opportunities and strengthen evaluation and oversight over poverty alleviation efforts. Medical workers transport a COVID-19 patient to the CT room at a hospital affiliated to the Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 6, 2020.(Xinhua/Fei Maohua) More efforts will be made to minimize the impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic on poor regions, featuring favorable policies, more financial support, enlarged sales of local products and enhanced coordination between the more prosperous eastern areas and less developed western areas. A tough battle is being undertaken, and there will be no retreat until the promise is fulfilled. Now a positive trend has emerged as the epidemic prevention and control has seen steady improvement. The resumption of production and work as well as people's normal life has been accelerating. China has enough resources and capabilities, including sufficient support policies, funds and task force, to achieve the goal of poverty elimination as scheduled. By the end of this year, China will have lifted about 100 million people out of poverty, 10 years ahead of the goals set in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to end global poverty by 2030. The unprecedented achievements demonstrate not only the political advantage of the CPC leadership but also the advantage of the socialist system. As many as 39 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs, eight Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs and five Congress MPs are among 95 lawmakers who didnt attend a single meeting of Rajya Sabha standing committees in February or during the recess of Parliaments budget session when the panels reviewed the budget allocations for various ministries. In other words, 57% of TMC, 36% of BJP and 15% of Congress MPs in the upper house didnt attend even one meeting of the standing committees in this period. The first phase of the budget session began on January 31 and lasted until February 11. The second phase started on March 2 after a recess and will run until April 3. Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anant Kumar Hegde and Dilip Ghosh, all of them BJP members; Trinamool floor leader Derek OBrien; Lok Janshakti Partys Chirag Paswan, Bahujan Samaj Party leader Satish Chandra Mishra; All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi ; Akali Dals Sukhbir Singh Badal; and classical dancer Sonal Mansingh were among the prominent MPs who skipped panel meetings to review the ministry-wise demand for grants, according to data available with the Rajya Sabha secretariat. Among other parties, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MPs were absent from all meetings of panels that come under the jurisdiction of the Rajya Sabha. Samajwadi Party MPs maintained 100% attendance, according to the data. Parliament of India has 24 department-related standing committees to review the functioning of central ministries. Eight of them fall under the jurisdiction of the Rajya Sabha and the remaining 16 come under the Lok Sabha. In all committees, MPs from both House are chosen as members. The attendance of the lawmakers in eight department-related standing committees was monitored in line with Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidus larger goal of improving the participation of MPs in meetings of House panels. Both Naidu and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla expressed concern over low attendance after a meeting on pollution had to be deferred for lack of quorum last November, when the national capital was shrouded in smog. Trinamools OBrien said: We are glad that we are not attending these committee meetings in the last six weeks. The papers never reach the MPs on time. Papers for a meeting scheduled for the afternoon are sent in the morning! We will not allow standing committees to become rubber stamps. If we attend, we will do so after going through all relevant documents. We challenge the BJP to live-telecast the proceedings of these committees. It will be clear how these meetings are run. I will bring more facts to light next week. Hundred and nine BJP MPs are members of Rajya Sabha panels. The Congress has 33 MPs, Trinamool 14, SP four, AIADMK three and other parties 80 on the eight panels that have a combined strength of 243. Naidu had earlier informed the upper house that 95, or 39% of MPs in these committees, had zero attendance. The data didnt include meetings called only to adopt reports. Among the other MPs who didnt attend these meetings were Trinamools Mimi Chakraborty, D Srinivas of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, Nationalist Congress Partys Majeed Memon, Communist Party of India (Marxist)s S Venkatesan and independent MP Parimal Nathwani. BJPs Anil Baluni was unwell and couldnt attend any meeting. The review of demands for grants is a key function of the standing committee. The reviews offer a detailed insight into the work being done and money spent by ministries and shows what the government is focusing on. Because all demand for grants are not individually discussed on the floor of the House, the review meetings assume additional significance. The panels under the Rajya Sabha are on health, transport and tourism, science and technology, commerce, personnel and law, home affairs and human resource development. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size At 10.31am on July 17, 2014, a plane hurtled down runway 36C at Schiphol Airport, rose over Amsterdam, banked right and settled in for its journey to Kuala Lumpur. Three hours later, all 298 passengers and crew were dead; shot out of the sky by a missile that exploded above the cockpit and sent wreckage raining down on the fields of Ukraine. Had some of the passengers glanced out the windows during takeoff they might have seen an imposing white courthouse wedged next to the runway. Six years later, this same building will host their murder trial. An extraordinary combination of forensic research, diplomatic pressure and unwavering determination for justice has brought the harrowing story of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 to this crucial new juncture. Australia, which was home to 38 of the people on board, has been a central player. So too have grieving families who yearn for answers. "It's like a shadow ... it is always there," says Thomas Schansman, whose 18-year-old son Quinn was killed. "Every July when we have our remembrance it is a painful day. His birthday is a painful day. Father's Day is a painful day. Christmas is a painful day. "The pain does not go away. You just try to learn to live with it." The trial, which begins Monday, is no ordinary court case. The four people accused of obtaining and deploying the missile launcher - Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Leonid Kharchenko - won't be in the dock. They won't even be in the country: three are from Russia and one from eastern Ukraine, where treaties make extradition impossible. And even if they are convicted it's likely the men will never serve a day in prison. Advertisement The four suspects are also widely seen as bit players in a much larger puzzle. The Australian government believes Russian President Vladimir Putin bears ultimate culpability, given a major international investigation concluded the missile launcher came from Russia and the people who allegedly fired it were backed by Russia. "With MH17, Russia has demonstrated that there's a touch of evil at the heart of their government," says Tony Abbott, who was prime minister when the plane went down. "When it comes to ethics and morality, not all that much has changed since the worst days of the Soviet Union. "To the extent that President Putin has a conscience, he should be haunted by this. I don't believe he gave the order to bring down this aircraft. But he certainly permitted a Russian missile battery to be in Ukraine, where it was under the control of people of such malice or incompetence that they did shoot down this plane, so whichever way you look at it he bears a heavy share of responsibility." Those sentiments are shared by Schansman, who is a member of a group of bereaved families determined to see Moscow held to account. "I have always said it is not really about those soldiers who might have pushed the button," he says. "How is it possible that today a global military power like Russia can have access to powerful weapons and is able to fire them wherever they want and not take any responsibility? That is the part that I will never, ever accept and I will never stay silent about it." Advertisement After taking off from Amsterdam that July morning, the Boeing 777-200 flew for nearly three hours before arriving over the eastern part of Ukraine just short of the Russian border. On the ground below, government troops and Russian-backed separatists had been waging battle for many months over contested territory and the risk to commercial aircraft had not been properly considered by Malaysia Airlines or aviation authorities. At 1.19pm, MH17 received a message from air traffic control in Dnipropetrovsk and the pilots verbally acknowledged the contact over the radio. A few seconds later, operators spoke to the plane again but the crew didn't respond. By that time, a Buk-TELAR missile had exploded above the left-hand side of the cockpit, causing up to 800 pieces of shrapnel to tear through the front of the plane. The pilots were killed instantly. A section of glass window closest to the captain's head was later found with 102 puncture holes and ricochet marks. Autopsies on the captain and a first officer detected hundreds of metal objects lodged in their bodies. The impact on the rest of the aircraft was catastrophic. The plane quickly broke up into large pieces midair and Dutch investigators say the occupants were subjected to terrible forces in the minute-and-a-half it took for the destroyed plane to hit the ground. "It is likely that the occupants were barely able to comprehend the situation in which they found themselves," the investigators found. The reconstructed wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. Credit:AP Of the 298 dead killed, 193 were Dutch, 43 were from Malaysia, 12 from Indonesia and 10 from Britain. Advertisement Soon after that horror unfolded in Ukraine, Abbott was in the gym of the Australian Federal Police College just down the road from Parliament House in Canberra. It was 5am and the then prime minister glanced at the television and saw the news. "Over the course of the next 40 or 50 minutes while I was in the gym it went from being a plane that had crashed, to a plane that had been shot down, to a plane that had been shot down by Russian-backed rebels to a plane that had been shot down by Russian-backed rebels that had Australians on board," he recalls. "You didn't need an official briefing or intelligence officer to come in and tell you what had happened here. It was absolutely obvious from that morning that this was no accident, it was a crime. And that this was no tragedy, that it was an atrocity." Abbott's response to the incident is regarded as one of his finest moments as prime minister. While other world leaders were more cautious in the days after the crash, he publicly blamed Russia within hours. Tony Abbott walks back to his office at Parliament House after providing an update to the media in the wake of the MH17 crash. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen In a speech to a shocked Parliament, Abbott pledged to repatriate the bodies from the warzone as quickly as possible and said Australia had a duty to the dead and their families to find out exactly what had happened and who was responsible. In a barb directed at Moscow, he concluded: "The bullying of small countries by big ones, the trampling of justice and decency in the pursuit of national aggrandisement, and reckless indifference to human life should have no place in our world." Advertisement Abbott now says that when he reflects on his time as prime minister, that short speech "would give the most satisfaction". Australia, together with the Netherlands, announced in May 2018 that it formally held Russia responsible in the plane's downing based on the work of a major joint investigation by officials from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service and the Dutch police, along with police and criminal justice authorities from Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine. They found the missile that shattered MH17 belonged to the Russian army's 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade from Kursk and was manufactured in Moscow in 1986. The launcher was sent back over the Russian border after the missile was fired. Loading The investigators late last year claimed the pro-Russian rebels in the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) who allegedly had control of the missile had been in closer contact with authorities in Moscow than previously assumed, citing telephone call intercepts. Russia has repeatedly refused to accept any blame and at times has actively worked to discredit the investigation. A Kremlin spokesman this week did not deny Russia opposed the investigation: "We have always questioned the objectivity of the work of the investigative team, as we were deprived the chance to participate in it," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Advertisement TDT | Manama Health Minister Faeqa Al Saleh yesterday said that the governments top priority is to ensure the health and safety of citizens and residents. This came as the minister received a World Health Organisation (WHO) delegation, which reviewed the precautions taken by the Kingdom against Coronavirus. At the beginning of the meeting, the minister welcomed the delegation, praising the level of continuous co-operation between the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation on the implementation of preventive measures. The minister stressed that specialised medical and health teams are working hand-in-hand under the directives of HRH the Crown Prince. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended Bahrains precautionary measures to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect public health. Supreme Council for Health (SCH) President, Head of the National Task Force for Combating COVID-19 Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa hailed the WHO appreciation, paying tribute to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for his royal directives to heed citizens and residents health. He lauded the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, hailing the dedicated efforts exerted by the National Task Force, which contributed to containing the virus. He reiterated task forces keenness on pursuing strenuous efforts to promote the national interest and the safety of citizens and residents by implementing all world-standard precautionary measures to combat COVID-19. He welcomed the report which was issued by WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, commending Bahrains strenuous efforts and precautionary measures combat the coronavirus citing particularly the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to contain and prevent the spread of the virus, led by HRH the Crown Prince. Ms Al Saleh also commended WHO keenness on following up COVID-19 developments in all countries of the region and the world, adding that the report issued by the regional officer for East Mediterranean acknowledges the continuous efforts made by all members of the national task force to ensure the health and safety of all citizens and residents. She paid tribute to HM the Kings royal directives and HRH the Crown Princes keen follow-up. The report cited the measures which were undertaken by the Kingdom of Bahrain, setting up a national task force to develop a strategy aimed at containing any COVID-19 outbreak. Earlier, the WHO said that the mortality rate among Coronavirus patients stand at 3.4 per cent. In a related development, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said that the mortality rate, known as Case Fatality Rate (CFR), is calculated by dividing the number of reported deaths over the number of reported confirmed cases. As this is an evolving outbreak this will change over time, and vary from place to place. On the one hand, early in the outbreak it may be higher where surveillance focuses on identifying severe cases, however, it may also be lower because people with severe cases may not die for several weeks. Jasarevic said that the death rate also varies between locations and that we have seen higher CFR in Wuhan compared to other parts of China, and in the China mission report have published detailed CFR by location and at different time points. CFR in China has reduced massively since the beginning of the outbreak but there are varied CFRs in different countries and outbreaks. The 3.4 percent is the current global snapshot CFR. SOUDERTON Plans for new playgrounds in Souderton Community Park have been completed, Borough Manager Mike Coll told Souderton Borough Council at its Jan. 3 meeting. "Where the former softball field was is where we are looking to install two playgrounds a playground for smaller toddlers in an age group up to five and a larger playground structure for... South Korea's virus cases topped 7,000 on Saturday with most new virus infections in the southeastern city of Daegu, the epicenter of the virus outbreak here, and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province. A virus-hit apartment in Daegu was placed under lockdown as one third of its residents were infected with the novel coronavirus and traced to a religious sect which is largely responsible for most infections here. The country reported 274 new cases of the novel coronavirus over the past 16 hours, bringing the nation's total number of infections to 7,041, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). So far, 44 people, mostly elderly patients with underlying illnesses, have died in South Korea from the respiratory virus that emerged in China late last year, A total of 36 are in critical condition, while 118 have been released, up 10 from a day earlier, after fully recovering from the novel coronavirus, the KCDC added. Of the 483 new cases, which were detected on Friday, a majority were reported in the country's southeastern region. Daegu and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province reported 390 and 65 more cases, respectively, according to the KCDC. The total cases in the two hardest-hit regions reached 6,133, accounting for 90.6 percent of the total infections here, with some 5,000 virus patients coming from Daegu. Other major provinces and cities have also reported some infections, with Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi Province reporting three and 10 more cases, respectively. Cases in North Chungcheong Province also increased by five. Also among the cases was a pregnant woman in the southeastern port city of Busan. The 38-year-old, who is in her second trimester, is assumed to have contracted the virus from her husband who was confirmed as a patient while working in Daegu. In Sejong, a public servant who works at the government complex where around 15,000 people commute, tested positive. By infection route, those from group infections, such as religious services, hospitals and welfare facilities, accounted for 72.8 percent of the total, according to the KCDC. A British couple, diagnosed with coronavirus on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, remain unable to return to the UK after their latest test came back positive. David and Sally Abel were taken from the cruise liner after spending almost two weeks in quarantine in their cabin on board. They have been recovering in a Japanese hospital after they were diagnosed with both the virus and pneumonia. The couple were onboard the Diamond Princess when it was placed into a two-week quarantine (David Abel/PA) In order to leave the hospital, both need three negative test results. Both had been tested twice previously and the result had been negative but during the most recent and final test Mr Abels response came back positive. Mr Abel, who has been filming a YouTube video diary of his experiences, said: Sally is now negative but is staying in Japan. Sally is now totally all clear, good to return to the UK. But she wont because I have had a positive. This is what happens. I have now got to go back to square one. I have another test on Monday. That is more than likely going to be negative. He said Sally is no longer in the care of the Japanese health authority. He added: They have agreed to allow her to remain here so we can be company for one another. She wont get reinfected because we have got the same strain. Her immune system is now really well established. So its the waiting game. The doctor, I think he was surprised. I think everyone else was expecting a negative. However, Mrs Abel is unable to leave the hospital: The moment she leaves the hospital thats it, she cant come back in. The experience has not put the couple off cruising and they are set to take to seas again in August. The Diamond Princess cruise ship is anchored at a port in Yokohama (Kyodo News via AP) Mr Abel said: End of April we hope to be in Vancouver and going on the Rocky Mountaineer (train). We hope to be taking a cruise, the Diamond Dave and Princess Sally cruise, in August. If it is safe we will be doing it. He said he does not believe the quarantine was to blame for them contracting the virus, but believe instead they picked it up in Taiwan. A second cruise ship, the Grand Princess, is currently being held off the coast of California after 19 crew members were diagnosed with the virus. Mr Abel said: I cannot give advice to those passengers other than to listen to the health authority. SMITHTON Jerry Costello II has some decorating to do in his office. The new director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture still has framed pictures stacked against a wall in his mostly-empty corner office in Springfield. You could forgive him, though; hes been on the job since only Monday. Among the few things on his desk are a family portrait and an old dairy cowbell passed down to him through generations. Agriculture is a passion of mine, he said. Its something thats been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Costello, 51, is just getting settled in but says he has a clear vision for the ag department, including uniting stakeholders, expanding the departments initiatives and working with Gov. J.B. Pritzker to support farmers and rural communities. Technically, Costello is the acting ag director until the Senate Executive Appointments Committee votes to confirm him. The committee, chaired by state Sen. Antonio Munoz, D-Chicago, consists of eight Democrats and four Republicans. A spokesperson for Munoz said the committee looks forward to reviewing his credentials within the window of 60 session days it has to vote. Costello hopes his record of bipartisanship as House ag committee chair secures his confirmation. Its about working together, he said. We were able to work together to get a lot of things done for farmers in the state. The son of 12-term U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello, he was born and raised in Belleville in a family with a rich agricultural history. His great-grandfather operated a dairy farm in Sesser; his grandfather ran an orchard and raised beef cattle. Every other weekend I spent on my grandfathers farm, Costello said. The Southern Illinois University graduate enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the famed 82nd Airborne Division in Operation Desert Storm. After returning home, he began a career in law enforcement, rising from a patrolman to assistant police chief. He was the top cop at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources when Pritzker tapped him as ag director. He spent nearly eight years in the Illinois House of Representatives, including more than five years as chairman of the Agriculture and Conservation Committee. I think those relationships that Ive built over the years have helped me to get to a point where Im very effective at moving agriculture forward in the state of Illinois, he said. His appointment came after Pritzker requested the resignation of previous ag Director John Sullivan ousted for failing to disclose the contents of a 2012 email that pointed to a possible cover-up of a rape in Champaign and ghost workers in Gov. Pat Quinns administration. Sullivan chaired the Senates agriculture committee when Costello chaired in the House. I have a good relationship with John Sullivan, Costello said. Its an unfortunate situation, but we are where we are and were moving forward. Costello said he doesnt read every email he receives he has at times gotten thousands in a day but has a reputation of being very ethical. I can assure you that there was a very in-depth background review before the governor and his team offered the appointment, he said. Costello was not a stranger to Pritzker when his administration asked if he was interested in the job. Costello served on the governor-elects agriculture transition committee in 2018. Costello said he expects to be a main courier of Pritzkers $420 million plan, Connect Illinois, to expand broadband internet throughout the state. The initiative would especially impact rural and agricultural communities, connecting people to educational, health and business resources with high-speed internet. If we want to keep up with the future, and we want to educate rural kids properly, weve got to have the technology to do it, Costello said. Climate change is another issue Pritzker has made a priority. Illinois farmers suffered through record rain during last years spring planting season, which scientists have connected to climate change. Flooded fields delayed plantings and decreased corn and soybean production by about 20 percent. Costellos former House district a chunk of southwest Illinois along the Mississippi River was heavily impacted. Youre living in a shell if you dont realize something different is going on right now, Costello said of climate change. One of the things that weve got to make sure that were doing is were working with the federal government to maximize what we can as far as making sure our farmers are protected. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts this spring will be wetter than normal, which does not bode well for farmers. Water tables already are high, and soil is saturated from winter precipitation. Costello said one of his priorities will be expanding a program begun last year encouraging farmers to grow cover crops to protect soil and manage erosion. That includes working with soil and water conservation districts to ensure that, from an environmental standpoint, were doing everything we can to make sure that were getting the best yields for farmers, but at the same point in time, leaving the earth in the best possible state, he said. At the end of the day, he said, the most important part of this industry is leaving it in a position to where we can pass it on to future generations. Other initiatives on the top of Costellos mind are expanding the states new hemp program and helping urban communities grow fresh fruits and vegetables in so-called food deserts. We can help in a number of ways and work with people that maybe arent considered traditional farmers, he said. Costello said he wants to bring ag stakeholders together and educate people about agricultures importance to Illinois economy, showing how everything is connected from planter to dinner plate. Youve got producers and users, Costello said. One really cannot survive or be without the other. The U.S.-China trade war enters its third year this spring. The Trump administration signed the first phase of a trade agreement in January, but the president has said he will not lift Americas tariffs until phase two is completed. Costello said he was concerned with how the Trump administrations trade negotiations might be straining Americas relationship with China. You can put Band-Aids on this stuff by taking peoples eye off the ball and giving temporary aid, Costello said. But weve got to have long-term relationships in place in order for the product to maintain what its worth. He did not express confidence in the Trump administrations negotiation strategies. I dont know what the interests are at this point in time, he said. Rep. Greg Pence: On the US China Trade Deal & How the Trump Admin Boosted the US Economy [CPAC 2020] In this episode of American Thought Leaders , we sat down with Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.) at CPAC 2020 to discuss how the Trump presidency has impacted Indianas economy and its manufacturing and agricultural communities. We also look at the effects of the US China trade war. Pence also shares about Our Obligation to Recognize American Heroes (OORAH) Act, H.R. 2790, which passed the House with bipartisan support and was signed by President Trump in December. The OORAH Act makes frozen Iranian funds available to victims of the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut as well as their families. American Thought Leaders is an Epoch Times show available on Facebook and YouTube Chinese health authorities on Saturday said 3070 people had died from the coronavirus outbreak while, for the first time in several weeks, less than 100 new infections were reported from across the country. The epidemic is showing signs of stabilising in China, especially outside the worst-hit Hubei provinces as it rages globally. Chinese authorities continued to strictly screen international airports for infected people coming in or returning to China from abroad. Chinas national health commission (NHC) said Saturday 99 cases were reported from the mainland with 74 of those from Wuhan, Hubei provinces capital, from where the epidemic started in December. The commission says it is the first time since January 20 that less than 100 people have been found to be infected in one day. This is the second day that no new case of covid-19 was reported from other parts of the central Chinese province. All the 28 new deaths on Friday were reported from Hubei, with 21 in Wuhan, bringing the death toll to 3070. There are now 80,651 infections in mainland China. According to Wuhans local officials, about one-third of residential communities in the city have had no newly confirmed cases in the past two weeks as of Thursday. Outside Hubei, nearly all new infections, or at least 24 of those, were found among people coming in to China. As of Friday, the mainland had reported 60 such cases. Four people who had travelled to Italy tested positive in Beijing, while in Shanghai a person who had been studying in Iran was found to be infected. Authorities said 11 out of 311 people who arrived in Gansu Province from Iran on chartered flights between Monday and Thursday also tested positive. Local governments in Beijing, Shanghai and in the southern province of Guangdong are asking that people arriving from Japan, South Korea, Italy or Iran quarantine themselves at home or elsewhere for 14 days. Meanwhile, a senior WHO official has said that there is no evidence right now suggesting covid-19 will disappear in summer. We do not know yet what the activity or behavior of the virus will be in different climatic conditions. We have to assume the virus will continue to have the capacity to spread, Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO Health Emergencies Program said. Ryan urged countries to fight the new virus decisively at the current stage and called on countries and societies to avoid blame culture and to do all the things needed to save lives. Meanwhile, a new study has found that mesenchymal (cells that grow into tissues blood and cartilage) stem cell (MSC) therapy could be effective in treating COVID-19, according to research published in the peer-reviewed journal Aging and Disease, state media reported. The study, conducted by a research team led by Robert Chunhua Zhao, a professor from Shanghai University and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, assessed clinical outcomes of seven patients treated with MSC therapy at Beijing Youan Hospital for 14 days. They found that MSCs could greatly optimise the functional outcomes of the patients without observed adverse effects, the china.org reported. The pulmonary function and symptoms of all patients with covid-19 pneumonia were significantly improved two days after MSCs transplantation. Among them, two moderate and one severe patient were recovered and discharged in 10 days after treatment, the authors wrote in the research paper. Residents of Owode Quarters in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, were stunned on Wednesday when an apprentice, Peter David, was caught having s.e.x with a pregnant goat at an uncompleted building in the neighbourhood. David, who claimed to be an indigene of Benue State, was caught in the act following the bleating of the goat which drew the attention of some residents and officials of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company on duty at the quarters that morning. The residents said the goat was helpless for about two hours after the incident as it foamed in the mouth and bleed in the private parts. Police later arrived at the scene and took away the man and the goat. A resident, Mrs Oluwasola Ayodele, said the BEDC officials drew her attention to the incident while she in turn called others to witness the act she described as an abomination. Ayodele said she called for assistance when the man wanted to escape through River Ofin to Ifeoluwa Community, but one Pastor Gbenga Ajulo caught him. Ajulo, who is the minister in charge of Christ Apostolic Church, Throne of Mercy, Owode, said he was praying in the church when he heard the goats continuous bleating. About seven minutes later, I heard somebody calling my name and shouting for help. I came out and saw the man trying to escape and I caught him. When we sat him down, we asked him what happened and he confessed that he was having s.e.x with the goat. For about two hours, the goat was foaming in the mouth and bleeding in the private parts. This is a bad omen. It is evil. I suspect the act is for ritual. There is the need for cleansing. Beyond, all these strange diseases in society are from acts like this. He would have contacted diseases from having carnal knowledge of the goat, the cleric said. The chairman of the neighbouring Ifeoluwa Community, Mr Abel Bankole, who described the occurrence as strange, said there should be medical examination of the young man. He would have contracted diseases from such act. Something has to be done so that he does not infect others through sexual intercourse, he added. The police spokesman for Ekiti State Command, Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the incident, said, Men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad Department arrested a man that was sleeping with goat in the neighbourhood. He was interrogated and he confessed that he engaged in the act. He further said he had been doing such before he came from Ondo State. We are still interrogating him for more information as to why he is doing such. He will possibly be charged. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Manchester City aim to make a signal of intent by opening contract negotiations with star players on a list headed by Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling. Sportsmail understands City chiefs want to begin talks following the Champions League second leg with Real Madrid. They earmarked the stability of their two top earners as crucial to the club's immediate future amid an ongoing legal battle surrounding future participation in Europe. Manchester City are set to begin contract talks with star midfield player Kevin De Bruyne De Bruyne and Sterling still have three years left to run on their current deals. Discussions that far in advance indicates City's resolve in retaining their best players. Sterling's contract, revealed by Sportsmail in 2018, is worth up to 300,000-a-week with bonuses, while De Bruyne earns a guaranteed 280,000. It is expected that both will be offered an increase in salary to underline their commitment to the Premier League champions. City have been proactive with renewals in recent years. The only players under 30 with fewer than three years left remaining are John Stones and Leroy Sane, with question marks over the pair's futures. City are also set to sit down with Raheem Sterling's representatives later this month Ilkay Gundogan, Benjamin Mendy, Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus have contracts until 2023, with a host of others bound to longer agreements. De Bruyne's national manager, Roberto Martinez, insisted that the Belgium international remains 'committed to the project at City' following the two-year Champions League ban. Sterling's representative, Aidy Ward, quickly publicised that the forward 'will not become distracted by any talk of transfers,' amid interest from the Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. City are likely to be without De Bruyne when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday with a shoulder injury. Pep Guardiola is encouraged that the 29-year-old is 'feeling better' but is not thought to be ready to risk him, given the importance of the tie with Real in a fortnight. Sane is also missing as he continues rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury and looks set for more game time with City's Under-23 team in a bid to regain match sharpness. De Bruyne however will miss the Manchester derby on Sunday with a shoulder injury Guardiola played down Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's complaints at City enjoying an extra day's rest ahead of the derby on Friday. United won at Derby County on Thursday night, 24 hours after City progressed in the FA Cup at Sheffield Wednesday. 'I think I said before the Carabao Cup (semi-final) that they had an extra day,' Guardiola said. 'Sometimes it happens. Sometimes you have longer and sometimes you have less. It is what it is.' A Belfast councillor has resigned from the DUP, saying he has "lost all confidence" in the integrity of the party. Former Deputy Lord Mayor Guy Spence issued a statement saying he is resigning from the DUP and retiring from his position on Belfast City Council. In a statement posted on his Twitter account, Mr Spence said his resignation had been accelerated by "recent events." "For the last year or more I have been wrestling with my conscience watching party values and integrity be tossed aside often by personal agendas for individual gain," he said. "I have lost all confidence in the party, in particular its integrity, making my position within it untenable." Mr Spence said that he had written to the chief executive of Belfast City Council to inform her that he will be retiring from the local authority at the end of this month. He added that he plans to step back from politics and pursue a new career. "Until then I will be an independent member of council," he said. "My resignation and retirement has been accelerated by recent events involving a blatant attempt to cause me harm. Something I'm not prepared to tolerate. "It has been a privilege to serve the people of Castle District, the place I call home, for the last nine years. "I want to thank every single person who supported me throughout my time in Council and everyone I've had the pleasure to work with." In a statement, the DUP said: "The party thanks Mr Spence for his service as a councillor. "We will be co-opting his replacement in due course." When we talk about being in the room where it happens, we dont usually mean a small, plexiglass-split cage. But during my years as a public defender, that little box, with dirty white walls and bad sound quality, was always the most important room I could be in. Its the room where my client would tell me things that perhaps no one else knew. He might tell me that being held in jail would cost him not only his job, but also his marriage, where things were already rocky. She might say she was on her first three days of sobriety after a bad bender, and that getting sent to Rikers, where drugs are everywhere, could knock her off the path to recovery. Or he might worry that hed be deported because of this arrest, and sent back into the grips of a violent gang hed refused to join as a child. As defenders, its our job to put our heart on the line and stand beside our clients as they share their most frightening struggles. The debate around criminal justice reform often operates in abstractions based on data, studies, and broader crime trends. This sort of analysis is an important part of the conversation, but without the personal stories defenders witness on a daily basis, the system is blind to the humanity before it. This is why public defenders, often overlooked by policymakers, are so essential to conversations about reform. Recently, Pennsylvanias Montgomery County Public Defender Dean Beer and his chief deputy Keisha Hudson were fired after filing a brief detailing some of these deeply moving human stories. They recounted a teenage mother with a clean record who was unable to nurse her newborn because she was denied access to a breast pump while in jail, all because she couldnt afford to pay bail; and an impoverished elderly woman who was held on bail for stealing a bottle of wine; and a mentally ill indigent man who was arrested for shoplifting and locked because didnt have $250 to buy his freedom. After sharing those firsthand experiences of their clients, Beer and Hudson were intimidated and ultimately fired in retaliation. And they arent alone being punished for speaking these uncomfortable truths, as weve seen similar terminat ions of public defenders across the country. I spent the better part of a decade defending the public in both California and the Bronx. I believed so deeply in the power of public defense not only as a criminal court resource, but as a locus for community-rooted services, that I left the courtroom to start an organization devoted to empowering public defenders and helping them achieve better results for their communities. It has since become clear to me that detailed accounts of how the criminal justice system impacts our clients can transform outcomes, and can have the same vital impact on larger national questions about what criminal justice reform must look like, and why. Public defenders are entrusted with these stories because there are only ever two people in the room where it happens: us, and our clients. Our clients are often silenced on the topic of pretrial confinement because they have open cases, meaning they are not at liberty to discuss how they might be damaged by incarceration, or how they might benefit from having their liberty restored. It falls to us, then, to figure out how to make sure the public and policy-makers are informed about whats actually happening behind closed doors, while still keeping our clients safe. Policy advocacy, for a defender, can be tricky--critics are quick to dismiss a push for systemic reform as a mere continuation of our defense of our clients. But this is a short-sighted interpretation of our role (we are as bound by the ethical duties to behave with honesty, candor and integrity as any other member of the bar). The truth is that it is because of this ethical duty to protect our clients that we are often the only ones privy to the real, hard-hitting truths our clients live with every day. Prosecutors, reporters, judges, probation officers, and lawmakers may never know whats really going on with the people at the center of these reform conversations unless they listen to public defenders first. They will never see first-hand how someones life can be derailed by pretrial confinement. What happened in Montgomery County was an abandonment of justice. Expecting our courts and lawmakers to consider the stories of impacted people is the bare minimum of what we should demand in a fair system and society. Seeing those same officials use the power of their office to punish public defenders for offering the truth -- in a formal, measured, and appropriate way, no less -- is a shame that will mark the county for years to come. On Thursday, more than 100 people rallied in support of Beer and Hudson outside the commissioners court in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Inside, nearly 50 members of the community gave passionate testimony in favor of reinstating them. Still, the commissioners declined to take immediate action, and havent clarified what the next steps will be. The only way for the county and state to regain a semblance of fair leadership is to give these brave defenders their jobs back, and listen to the people in the room where it happens. Emily Galvin is co-founder and Executive Director of Partners for Justice. Islamabad: In Pakistan, atrocities on minorities are not being stopped. In this sequence, another sensational case has emerged from Karachi in Pakistan. A 36-year-old pregnant Christian woman waiting outside a school was shot dead by two unknown assailants. The woman is in critical condition. This information has been received from the Pakistani media report. According to the media report, seven-month-old Kiran had gone with husband Amjad to Karachi Public School in Korangi area to get her son admitted. At the time of the attack, the woman was waiting for her husband and son in the car, when the attackers riding on the bike shot him and escaped. The woman was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital, where the condition of the woman remains critical. A case has been registered against two unidentified suspects on the complaint of the husband. However, the reasons for the incident were not known. The family also told the police that they had no enmity with anyone. Police have ruled out the possibility of robbery behind the incident. However, the police is investigating the case. Also Read: Teacher raped 11 girls of fourth grade Widow woman employee gang-raped by 4 man, case registered Man arrested for making video of a woman changing cloths in mall trial room Chirag Paswan's attack on Nitish Kumar government regarding crime The Riverside Caravan Park Houses surrounded by flood water in in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, in the aftermath of Storm Dennis. (Photo by Jacob King/PA Images via Getty Images) Cleaning up after storms Dennis and Ciara is set to top 360m ($469m), insurers have said. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said that initial estimates show the industry expects to make payments of 363 million to those customers who have been affected. Some 214 million is going on flood claims and 149m is being used to repair windstorm damage. The average household flood claim has been estimated at 32,000. More than 7.7 million in total was spent on emergency payments to get home owners and businesses back on track in the immediate aftermath of the flooding and wind damage, including paying for temporary accommodation when homes were uninhabitable. Read more: Chancellor pledges to protect the future of cash in the UK Mark Shepherd, the ABI's assistant director, head of general insurance policy, said: "Insurers' first priority when bad weather strikes is always to help customers recover from the traumatic experience as quickly as possible. "With some properties still under water, making emergency payments and arranging emergency alternative temporary accommodation or trading premises is very much a live issue. A woman inspects damage to her property as residents begin clearing up following severe flooding beside the River Calder on February 10, 2020 in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire, England. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images) "When the flood waters recede, the hard work begins. Insurers and loss adjusters will continue working around the clock to ensure homes and businesses are fully dried out, so that repairs can start as soon as possible, and people can get their lives back together." The last time several storms of significance struck in quick succession was in December 2015, when storms Eva, Frank and Desmond caused insured damage valued at 1.3 billion, the ABI said. It also put the cost of flooding in parts of south Yorkshire and the Midlands in November last year at over 110 million. Read more: Storm Dennis What to consider when making an insurance claim Breaking the 214 million in flood claims down following storms Dennis and Ciara, there have been: 3,350 domestic property flood claims, totalling an estimated 107m. 1,500 commercial property flood claims put at 85m. 3,600 motor claims amounting to 21.7m. Story continues Within the 149 million bill for windstorm damage, there have been: 61,000 domestic property claims, totalling 77m. 9,000 commercial property claims, put at 61m. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The total number of people who tested positive with the coronavirus (COVID-19) in New York State has jumped to 33, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday at a press conference. Overall, there are 11 new positive cases since Thursday. All new cases are connected to the original New Rochelle case, Cuomo wrote on Twitter, referencing the case of a lawyer. As we do more tests, the number of positive cases will rise, as we are seeing. *** CLICK HERE FOR FULL COVERAGE OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** UPDATE: There are now 33 confirmed cases of #Coronavirus in NYS 11 new positive tests since yesterday. All new cases are connected to the original New Rochelle case. As we do more tests, the number of positive cases will rise, as we are seeing. Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 6, 2020 Among the 11 new cases is one person who tested positive in New York City and three members of the Young Israel Congregation in New Rochelle. In addition to the city case, there are eight new cases in Westchester and two in Rockland County. We are testing people who have a higher probability because they are in the chain of contact with a person who has already tested positive, Cuomo said. Currently there are 4,000 people all over the state who are in precautionary quarantine: New York City with 2,700 cases; Westchester with 1,000 cases; and Erie with 115 cases are the areas that have been affected more. The Advance reported on Thursday there are a handful of individuals quarantined on Staten Island with suspicious symptoms. There are no confirmed Island cases yet. A total of 44 people are listed in mandatory quarantine state-wide, nine of which are in New York City. There will be a daily random in person check that you are in your residence from a health offical, Cuomo said of the regulations for mandatory quarantine. The House of Representatives voted to pass a bipartisan funding package to address the coronavirus with the help of Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/Brooklyn). Now on its way to the Senate, the $8.3 billion package will be used for a robust response to what officials are calling a public health emergency. The World Health Organization said there are over 95,200 confirmed cases globally. The Washington State Department of Health announced on Tuesday that 10 deaths have been confirmed in the state. One death has been reported in California, the states health department said Wednesday. RELATED LINKS: Coronavirus: New cleaning protocols set for schools across New York MTA to fully disinfect subways, buses every 72 hours to combat coronavirus Cuomo orders insurance companies to waive cost sharing for coronavirus testing Coronavirus preparation on Staten Island: What you can do Student safety: Heres how NYC schools are working to combat coronavirus Who is most at risk for coronavirus? How to protect yourself from deadly coronavirus What are the symptoms of coronavirus? Student safety: Heres how NYC schools are working to combat coronavirus Port Authority ramps up cleaning efforts at airports amid coronavirus Regular deep cleaning of Staten Island Ferry planned to prevent coronavirus MTA to fully disinfect subways, buses every 72 hours to combat coronavirus Staten Island Chinese restaurant owners say coronavirus fears hurting business Coronavirus can linger on surfaces, so use these precautions, CDC says A group of migrants on Saturday tried to bring down a fence in a desperate attempt to bust through the border into Greece while others hurled rocks at Greek police. Greek authorities responded, firing volleys of tear gas at the youths. At least two migrants were injured in the latest clash between Greek police and migrants gathered on the Turkish side of a border crossing near the Greek village of Kastanies. As in previous confrontations this week, officers in Greece fired tear gas to impede the crowd and Turkish police fired tear gas back at their Greek counterparts. Groups of mostly young men tied ropes onto the fence in an attempt to tear it down. Some shouted "Allah is Great" while others shouted open the border." It was not immediately clear what caused the two migrants' injuries. A Greek government official said the tear gas and water cannons were used for deterrence" purposes. Thousands of migrants headed for Turkey's land border with Greece after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government said last week that it would no longer prevent migrants and refugees from crossing over to European Union territory. Greece deployed riot police and border guards to repel people trying to enter the country from the sea or by land. Erdogan plans to be in Brussels on Monday for a one-day working visit. A statement from his office did not specify where he would be during his visit or the reason why he's heading to the EU's headquarters. The announcement came hours after EU foreign ministers meeting in Croatia on Friday criticized Turkey, saying it was using the migrants' desperation "for political purposes." In a statement Saturday, the Greek government said that around 600 people, aided by Turkish army and military police, threw tear gas at the Greek side of the border overnight. It also said there were several attempts to breach the border fence, and fires were lit in an attempt to damage the barrier. Attempts at illegal entry into Greek territory were prevented by Greek forces, which repaired the fence and used sirens and loudspeakers," the statement read. Thousands of migrants have slept in makeshift camps near the border since the Turkish government said they were free to go, waiting for the opportunity to cut over to Greece. It is very difficult, but there is hope, God willing," said Mahmood Mohammed, 34, who identified himself as a refugee from Syria's embattled Idlib province. Another man who identified himself as being from Idlib said he was camped out in western Turkey both to get away from the war at home and to make a new life for his family in Europe or Canada after crossing through the border gate. Erdogan announced last week that Turkey, which already houses more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, would no longer be Europe's gatekeeper and declared that its previously guarded borders with Europe are now open. The move alarmed EU countries, which are still dealing with the political fallout from a wave of mass migration five years ago. Erdogan has demanded that Europe shoulder more of the burden of caring for refugees. But the EU insists it is abiding by a 2016 deal in which it gave Turkey billions in refugee aid in return for keeping Europe-bound asylum-seekers in Turkey. In a phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday, Erdogan said the Turkey-EU migration deal is no longer working and needs to be revised, according to the Turkish leaders's office. While crediting Turkey for hosting millions of migrants and refugees, European foreign ministers said the bloc strongly rejects Turkey's use of migratory pressure for political purposes." They called the situation at the border unacceptable and said the EU was determined to protect its external boundaries. Greek authorities said they thwarted more than 38,000 attempted border crossings in the past week and arrested 268 people only 4 per cent of them Syrians. They reported reported 27 more arrests Saturday, mostly migrants from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Greece has described the situation as a threat to its national security and has suspended asylum applications for a month, saying it will deport new arrivals without registering them. Many migrants have reported crossing into Greece, being beaten by Greek authorities and summarily forced back into Turkey. I didn't go to the river," said Mohammed, the refugee from Idlib. When the Greece police capture you, they tell you to take off all your clothes and have only the underwear, and then they order you to go to the other side. Turkish authorities say one migrant was killed earlier this week by bullets fired by Greek police or border guards near the border crossing. Greece denies the accusation. A child also drowned off the island of Lesbos when a boat carrying 48 migrants capsized. On Saturday, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu renewed accusations of Greek authorities mistreating migrants. Their masks have fallen," he said. The ruthlessness of those who gave lectures on humanity has become evident." Soylu claimed that some 1,000 Turkish special operations police deployed on the border had started to thwart the actions of the law enforcement teams assembled by Greece to drive the migrants back. The minister also predicted that Greece would not be able to hold on to its borders" during the summer, when the river that delineates most of the Turkey-Greece border gets shallower and easier to cross. Soylu has said Erdogan instructed Turkish authorities to prevent migrants from attempting to reach the Greek islands in dinghies to avoid human tragedies." Hundreds have drowned attempting the comparatively short but dangerous voyage from Turkey's coast. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump parted ways on Friday with acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and replaced him with conservative lawmaker and close ally Mark Meadows, who was a strong Trump defender during the Democratic impeachment drive. Trump named Mulvaney to be his special U.S. envoy to Northern Ireland, just as he prepares to welcome Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to Washington for St. Patrick's Day ceremonies later this month. A former senior administration official said the change had been a long time in the works and was a "done deal" some time ago. Trump announced the Friday night move just after arriving at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, where he is spending the weekend. The decision to move Mr Mulvaney to Northern Ireland was also welcomed by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. "US Special Envoys have been instrumental in facilitating and protecting the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements over the past twenty-two years," Ms McDonald said. "I look forward to working with Mr. Mulvaney to ensure that all our agreements are protected and implemented as we navigate our way through Brexit and plan for referendums on Irish unity in line with the Good Friday Agreement," she added. Representative Meadows takes over as the White House struggles to advance a consistent message about the coronavirus crisis and as Trump goes into a bruising re-election contest. Read More He becomes the fourth chief of staff in Trump's three years in office, tasked with attempting to bring order to a chaotic presidency. Meadows is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina and was a combative defender of the president during the impeachment saga, so much so that Trump singled him out for praise at a Feb. 6 event after the Republican-led Senate acquitted the president. "He's a tremendously talented man, not just as a politician. As a human being, he's incredible," Trump said at the time. "I am pleased to announce that Congressman Mark Meadows will become White House Chief of Staff. I have long known and worked with Mark, and the relationship is a very good one," Trump said on Twitter. "I want to thank Acting Chief Mick Mulvaney for having served the Administration so well. He will become the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Thank you!" said Trump. Trump had long groused about Mulvaney, who angered the president last autumn by saying at a White House news conference that Trump had sought to persuade Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden by withholding U.S. aid to Ukraine. What Mulvaney said ran counter to the argument Trump was advancing - that there was no "quid pro quo" with Ukraine. Mulvaney quickly walked back the statement, but the damage was done. Mulvaney, a conservative former South Carolina lawmaker, did last more than a year as acting chief of staff after replacing retired General John Kelly, who had succeeded Reince Priebus in the job. A source familiar with Mulvaney's thinking said he had been discussing the issue with Trump for months and told the president he wanted to do more in Belfast after making a trip there last month. The position provides Mulvaney an official connection to the administration after his exit, something previous holders of the job under Trump have not gotten. Still, another source familiar with the situation said both Mulvaney and Meadows flew aboard Air Force One with Trump to North Carolina on Monday and there was little warmth between the two men. Trump did not speak to Mulvaney, the source said. Meadows announced in December he would not run for re-election this year in his North Carolina district. "This was the most orchestrated personnel change so far. Since the Northern Ireland deal was announced at the same time, this was clearly a mutual decision," said Sean Spicer, Trump's former White House press secretary. Spicer said Meadows had a clear understanding of Trump's style and agenda. Meadows chaired the conservative House Freedom Caucus from 2017-2019. Mulvaney was named acting chief of staff in December 2018 and Trump never made the appointment permanent. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (March 7, 2020) broke down while interacting with a woman beneficiary of his government's generic medicine programme ''Jan Aushadhi Diwas.'' The PM turned emotional when a woman from Dehradun, Deepa Shah, who suffered paralysis in 2011, told him that she had seen God in him. "I have not seen god, but I have seen god in you," she said as tears rolled down her eyes. The woman said this while interacting with the PM through video-conference on the occasion of Jan Aushadhi Diwas. On hearing this, PM Modi was visibly emotional as the woman repeated her remark. She also thanked the Uttarakhand Chief Minister and others who had helped her all along and said doctors had once told her that she cannot be cured. "But on hearing your voice I have become better," she told PM Modi while profusely thanking the Prime Minister for his efforts to reduce the cost of medicines. News agency ANI also shared a video showing PM Modi turning emotional while interacting with the woman. #WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets emotional after Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadi Pariyojana beneficiary Deepa Shah breaks down during interaction with PM. pic.twitter.com/Ihs2kRvkaI ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2020 An emotional PM Modi paused for a moment before telling her that it was her courage that had won over her disease and that she must carry on with the spirit. Shah was expressing her plight and how she had suffered due to high cost of medicines after she suffered from paralysis in 2011 and has now started saving Rs 3,500 every month after benefitting from the government's low-cost generic medicines programme. Soon after Shah rose to express her views, PM Modi asked her to sit and speak as he said she was uncomfortable while standing. "You have defeated disease with your own will power. Your courage is your god and that same courage has given you the strength to emerge from such a big crisis. You should carry on this confidence in you," PM Modi told her. Later, former MP chief minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan also lauded PM for taking several initiatives aimed at improving the lives of Indian women without any bias or prejudice. During his interaction with other beneficiaries, the PM said that some people were spreading rumours about generic medicines, going by their past experience, wondering how can medicines be available so cheap and that there must be something wrong with the medicine. He said there is a demand for generic medicines from India across the world and the government has made it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic medicines to patients, unless necessary. TURKEY has opened the floodgates, and soon Europe will be drowning in immigrants. Hundreds of thousands have crossed, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed on television, and soon it will reach millions. And it must be true, because you can see it live on your medium of choice. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 7/3/2020 (674 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion TURKEY has opened the floodgates, and soon Europe will be drowning in immigrants. "Hundreds of thousands have crossed," Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed on television, "and soon it will reach millions." And it must be true, because you can see it live on your medium of choice. Look at this clip of Greek frontier guards firing tear gas canisters into angry, stone-throwing crowds of refugees who are right up against the border fence. Look at this shot of other Greek paramilitary troops shooting into the water right beside a rubber raft filled with refugees. Millions and millions of refugees. The migrant Armageddon is at hand. Its ugly, but its not really what it seems. Erdogan says he has opened Turkeys border with the west because the country has already taken in 3.6 million refugees, mostly from Syria. Theres just no room for the several million more now trying to get out of Idlib, the last Syrian province held by jihadi rebels. So hes sending them west. That is, at best, an over-simplification. There are no more Syrian refugees coming into Turkey from Idlib, because Turkey has closed the border against them. Indeed, most of the people now trying to storm the borders of Greece and Bulgaria 13,000 at last count, not "hundreds of thousands" are not Syrians at all. They are Afghans, Eritreans, Iraqis, West Africans, some genuine refugees and others "economic migrants," who are already living safely in Turkey, but would rather be in some country in the European Union. They didnt walk 600 kilometres from Idlib, either. The Turkish government is busing them to Greeces land and sea frontiers from wherever they have been living in Turkey, telling them (falsely) that the Europeans will let them in. Erdogan just wants to put pressure on the EU. Pressure to do what? Good question. He may not know himself, but hes desperate because his bluff in Syria has been called and hes facing a potential military confrontation with Russia. Its not clear how putting the Europeans into play will change that, but hes definitely at the "Do something! Anything!" stage of desperation. Erdogans problem is that for the past three months the Syrian army, with strong Russian air support, has been taking Idlib province back from Turkeys Syrian jihadi allies, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly an al-Qaida franchise), in a slow, grinding offensive. Turkey has troops in Idlib, and has gradually been committing them to combat to help the jihadis, but still the Syrian-Russian advance continues. Erdogan has threatened to go to full-scale war, and the Syrian regime and the Russians havent even blinked. More than 50 Turkish soldiers have already been killed, so what does he do now? I dont know, and I suspect he doesnt know, either. The whole refugee thing may just be a displacement activity, not part of a cunning plan. Well probably know more in a weeks time but in the meantime, look at those clips again, because thats what the future, or at least a big part of it, will look like. This is the first time that we have documented evidence of European border guards shooting at, or at least very near, illegal migrants. Yes, there are special circumstances, the migrants are being sent as part of a political ploy but it will not be the last time. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The Syrian civil war is stumbling to an end, but migrants from all the other countries south and east from Europe will keep coming, and their numbers will swell. All of the Middle East and West Africa is going to be hit early and very hard by global heating, which will cause a steady fall in food production. The rule of thumb is that you lose 10 per cent of food production for every rise in average temperature of one degree C. To make matters worse, these regions also have the highest population growth rates in the world: doubling times for most countries are 25 years or less. Now its poverty and war that drives the migrants; in the future it will be actual hunger (and war, of course). They will head for Europe in ever-increasing numbers, because theres no other safe haven in reach, but it will not remain a safe haven. There will never be another year like 2016, when the European Union, led by Germany, let more than a million refugees in out of sheer pity for their plight. In fact, the political backlash to that act of generosity has already driven politics sharply to the right all over the continent. Europes external borders are already closing down, but in years to come the dirty little secret that everybody refuses to acknowledge will finally become public knowledge. Its quite easy to shut borders, really. You just have to be willing to kill people who try to cross them without permission. Gwynne Dyers latest book is Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work). Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Joe Freeman (Agence France-Presse) Chon Buri, Thailand Sat, March 7, 2020 18:03 674 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206902f76 2 Entertainment Def-Jam,Southeast-Asia,rap-music,culture,Lil-Pump,Yung-Raja,A-Nayaka,Daboyway,Joe-Flizzow Free When Singapore's Yung Raja remixed "Gucci Gang" by US rapper Lil Pump, he swapped the original's flashy cars and a prowling tiger for a beer can and Tamil food in a viral YouTube video that reeled in hip-hop label Def Jam. His 2018 version -- "Poori Gang" -- was a trial run for the "concoction of Tamil and English" the 24-year-old says defines his flow. The overnight success, even among non-Tamil speakers in ethnically diverse Singapore, proved to Yung Raja that he could embrace his own identity without copying other Western artists he admired. He is among a growing number of artists from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines snapped up by the label behind superstars from LL Cool J to Jay-Z and Rihanna. Def Jam is hoping to capitalize on a new wave of regional rap stars from the untapped Southeast Asian market where streaming platforms are flourishing. "It's just exploding," says Yung Raja, who has drawn comparisons to US superstar Kendrick Lamar. Moving from DIY passion projects to big stage shows, regional rappers are now touring beyond their borders, delivering verses in slick videos streamed online. 'Put your hands up' In a secluded patch of forest on Bangkok's outskirts, Thai-American DaBoyWay is shooting "Baby You". Bonfires and dancers illustrate verses about being cast under a spell for a track from his new album -- due March 6 -- that will be Def Jam's first major Southeast Asian test. A pioneer of Thailand's rap scene, DaBoyWay raps in both Thai and English, in a nod to his US background. Singles on the album vary from the gritty "Gangsh!t" to the more club-friendly "Kaow Ma", which means "Welcome" in Thai. The 39-year-old -- who now has a million Instagram followers -- remembers the early struggles of a genre that rubbed against Thailand's conservative norms, where fans had to be prodded into letting go at concerts. "They would not move until you tell them it's okay to move," he tells AFP at a studio in Chonburi province, near the resort town of Pattaya. Fast forward to 2018 and popular Thai talent show The Rapper racked up tens of millions of views on YouTube in its first season. That same year a collective of underground artists known as R.A.D. -- or Rap Against Dictatorship -- released searing verses criticising the country's military that drew well over 60 million views on YouTube. Fan Pornchai Puthinarabul, who attended a recent DaBoyWay show, credits his "idol" for the genre's growth in Thailand. "He's opened a market for us Thais," Pornchai told AFP before re-joining concert-goers jammed into a popular Bangkok bar. Asia's dominant music-streaming platforms like Tencent-owned JOOX have been swift to take notice. In 2020 its user base reached 290 million in Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong, according to company data. Hip-hop became the second most popular genre, after pop, on JOOX in Thailand late last year. Gamelans and traffic jams The new roster of rap artists weave heritage, local culture, and their roots into their music. Asked for his influences Singapore's Yung Raja ticks off a melange spanning continents, from Canadian artist Drake to famed Indian actor Rajinikanth. Jakarta-born artist A. Nayaka, the first Indonesian rapper signed to Def Jam, has rhymed about the Indonesian capital's gruelling traffic and other local landmarks in a longstanding hip-hop tradition of name-checking neighborhoods, streets, and communities. "Basically if Jakarta kids heard my lyrics they're gonna say, 'oh my god, that's that,'" he tells AFP. The diversity of Southeast Asia -- with dozens of languages, religions, cultures and ethnicities -- is its strength, according to Joe Flizzow, a Malaysian considered the godfather of the region's rap scene and a Def Jam executive. Whether snatching samples from the traditional gamelan -- a brass glockenspiel-like instrument -- or with lyrics touching on corruption and oppression, artists are representing their origins in different ways. "You are not going to see some Bentleys and Rolls Royces," he says. "You are gonna see some Honda NSXs and GTRs... we want to be unique." International observers on Friday called on Guyana President David Granger not to claim victory until election results can be verified, due to "credible" allegations of fraud. Granger's ruling Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change had a clear lead in partial results published Thursday from the oil-rich South American country's largest region. But international observers say giving out partial results is illegal and have implored the government to respect the law. "We call on President Granger to avoid a transition of government which we believe would be unconstitutional as it would be based on a vote tabulation process that lacked credibility and transparency," representatives from the United States, Britain, Canada and European Union said in a statement. They expressed deep concern over "credible" allegations of election fraud that could influence the results. "We call on all to ensure proper procedures are in place to yield a credible election result. A fair and free process is vital for the maintenance and reinforcement of democracy in Guyana," they said. The United States also voiced concern about the possibility of electoral fraud. Michael Kozak, a senior official with the State Department's bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, said "no candidate should declare victory or be sworn in while serious questions remain about credibility" of the election. "The people of Guyana deserve a credible election and a legitimate transfer of power, the democracies of the region expect that Guyana will uphold our shared values," Kozak wrote on Twitter. Demerara-Mahaica, a government stronghold known as Region 4, contains the capital Georgetown and is the largest in Guyana, with 285,618 registered voters. The figure is considered to be bloated however by a failure to remove migrants and the dead from voting rolls. Election commission results from Region 4 published Thursday showed the ruling coalition with almost twice as many votes as the opposition People's Progressive Party, with some 70,000 ballots not yet counted. Late Thursday, the PPP secured a court ruling compelling the commission to verify results before publishing. But the order was not served as the chairwoman and chief elections officer could not be tracked down. The Guyanese election is being watched more closely than might ordinarily be the case because the eventual winner will be in control of a coming oil boom that is set to transform Guyana. The International Monetary Fund expects the country's economy to record the biggest growth worldwide this year, a staggering 85 percent. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-08 03:37:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TEHRAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Saturday said "sanctions are more dangerous to international security than COVID-19," Tasnim news agency reported. Ali Shamkhani questioned the sincerity of the United States in its offer to help the Islamic republic to contain the novel coronavirus, urging the United States to firstly lift its sanctions against Iran. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said his country had offered Iran assistance in the fight against the coronavirus. In a reaction, Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed Pompeo's remarks as "hypocritical and deceitful propaganda." Iran's Health Ministry announced on Saturday that the number of people who died from the coronavirus in the country has risen to 145 as the total number of confirmed cases stands at 5,823. Sumi Sukanya dutta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: On a day the Union health ministry scrambled to contact trace an American tourist who made a multi-city trip to India before reaching Bhutan where he was diagnosed with coronavirus, Indias top health research agency, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), released its first set of research papers on the infection that has caused near-pandemic globally. Sources said the 76-year-old US national and his 56-year-old partner had visited Guwahati and Mumbai after first arriving in Kolkata on February 21. He left India eight days later on March 1. He also reportedly took a cruise ride on the Brahmaputra. We have asked the three state governments to contact trace all persons he could have been in touch with and put them on surveillance immediately, a senior healthy ministry official said. ALSO READ | COVID-19: Flight from Iran to bring swab samples On Friday, the total number of confirmed cases in India reached 31 up by one. The latest addition to the list is a Delhi-based man who had recently been to Thailand and Malaysia. All 28 active cases are said to be stable. Meanwhile, ICMR officials said the research papers that are being put out will have details such as Indias preparedness to tackle the crisis, detailed patient information and genome sequencing of the virus isolated in India. The first paper titled Ethics preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks research in India a case for novel coronavirus 2019, talked about the capability of the public health system to protect and provide quick response. ALSO READ | Between devil and Iranian deep sea Its a very good step that the ICMR has started publishing papers on the outbreak in India, said Dr Gagandeep Kang, a clinician-scientist and professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences at the Christian Medical College, Vellore. It will give out useful information that will help us understand the disease pattern specific to India, she said. From pregnancies to courtships to personal projects, its tough to keep up with everything the Duggars are up to these days. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar were the first to thrust their 19 kids into the spotlight. And now, all eyes are on quite a few of the adult Duggar children, as they have their own social media presence to help keep their followers informed on whats going down. Joy-Anna Duggar and her husband, Austin Forsyth, took to YouTube to answer some frequently asked questions. And Joy-Annas husband mentioned that they visit the Duggar family home for family night every week. We cant forget that at the end of 2019, Jill Duggars husband, Derick Dillard, claimed he and Jill rarely see Jills side of the family. And were doubtful Jill ever attends the weekly Monday night gatherings that Forsyth mentioned. Derick Dillard claimed Jill Duggar needs permission to go to the Duggar family home If theres anyone whos willing to speak out against the Duggars, its Dillard. While Jim Bob was the one who first introduced Jill to her now-husband, Dillard has shared many scathing opinions that could ruin the Duggar family name via Instagram. And at the end of 2019, he told Instagram followers where he and Jill seem to stand with Jills side of the family now. Dillard told one of his Instagram followers that he and Jill occasionally see the Duggars, but its just harder now because were not allowed at the house when JB isnt there. And he elaborated further when prompted. Jill even had to ask JB permission to go over to the house to help her sister when she was in labor because her sister wanted her help, but Jill couldnt provide the assistance until we got it cleared with JB, Dillard continued. And he then blamed TLC for pressuring him and Jill to remain on TV. Joy-Anna Duggars husband, Austin Forsyth, said the Duggars have weekly family nights Thanks to Dillards Instagram comments, fans have an idea of how little Jill sees her family. But just because Jills not included in family events doesnt mean the other Duggars dont spend quality time together. Joy-Anna and her husband took to YouTube to answer some frequently asked questions, and Forsyth discussed the weekly family nights he attends at the Duggar family home. We see her family at least a couple of times a week, Forsyth told the camera. Every Monday night we have family night at her parents house. So, we all get together, the ones that are in town, and just hang out, catch up, and try to stay close as a family. Forsyth also mentioned that both sets of grandparents babysit his and Joy-Annas son. And so were always dropping him off and letting them help us while we go do stuff. We doubt Jill attends any family nights We know the Duggars are close, but many fans may not have known that Joy-Anna was seeing her parents multiple times a week. As for Jill, she frequently posts what shes up to on her social media. And considering she didnt even attend her familys Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations, we doubt shes over there for Monday family nights. While Jill may not be close with Jim Bob according to what Dillard said, she still maintains a good relationship with her sisters. Jinger was just in Arkansas visiting from California, and the Duggar women all shared photos and videos of their gigantic get-together that included Jill. Jills busy with her own life, so we doubt she feels shes missing out on the Monday night fun. And were betting her decision to enroll her son into public school might put even more distance between herself and her parents. But well have to see how it plays out in the future! Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! The Columbus police's drug cartel unit through its thorough and deep investigation seized a huge volume of prohibited drug items, and arrested the big-time Mexico-Columbus drug trafficking ring that resulted in 33 felony indictments against nine defendants and the seizure of about 725 grams of cocaine and methamphetamine and more than 900 pounds of marijuana. The arrest was the outcome of a month-long painstaking investigation conducted by police authorities. The police drug unit has to use strategic patience with combined force to apprehend and pin down this elusive drug syndicate operating across the land and streets of Mexico and Columbus. The authorities and its drug operatives found the suspects carrying along with them big volumes of illegal drugs from Mexico which they intend to distribute in all parts of Columbus, mostly on the East Side and other parts of Linden areas. The group was apparently operating a large-scale drug syndicate and distribution channel so that they have grown fast in this prohibited and dangerous drug business. Police said that these nine indicted drug criminals have already appropriate charges filed in court with their addresses coming from the West side to the streets of Mexico which most of them are from. These nine drug criminals apparently work in a drug cartel and large-scale trafficking operation considering the volume and various prohibited drugs and weapons seized from them during the course of police investigation and operation. Authorities and the police operatives told in the news that they had seized 905 pounds of marijuana, 698 grams of cocaine and 26 grams of crystal methamphetamine during the course of the investigation and operation of this drug syndicate until these drug felons were finally apprehended and held in captivity. They have also declared a total of 83 guns seized and recovered of which 12 had been reported stolen. Police drug enforcers also got and recovered more than $14,000 in cash during the course of operation and were kept in custody as pieces of evidence in court. It was also reported in a press release last Wednesday, that this big time drug syndicate operation was being investigated and monitored since last summer of 2019 according to police authorities report in the news, but the charges were filed against the 9 drug criminals for their allegations of actions dated back as of May 2019. It appears that this drug syndicate and big time trafficking group were already closely monitored for quite a time with necessary surveillance and intelligence gathering made by police drug authorities until they fell down in the hands of police operatives and were arrested. Appropriate and necessary charges were imposed by a Franklin County grand jury over these 9 drug defendants of this dangerous and highly organized drug syndicate and trafficking operation that endanger the lives of many. These charges range from high-level felony drug possession , drug trafficking, and weapons charges. The charges imposed for each crime committed merit the corresponding penalties of imprisonment and other fines based on the weight of their criminal offense. A new deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to bring an end to fighting in Idlib puts the saga over this issue on standby. In recent weeks, Russian-Turkish relations witnessed a stress test and personal diplomacy efforts by the two presidents was needed to ease the heat. However, as Al-Monitor reports, the fundamental disagreements that Moscow and Ankara have over Syria have yet to be overcome. The situation in the Idlib zone in Syria has deteriorated so much that we need to have a direct and personal discussion, Putin told Erdogan in his opening remarks when the two leaders sat down in the Kremlin on March 5. First of all, I would like to express our sincere condolences over the death of your military personnel in Syria. Loss of life is always a big tragedy. Regrettably, as I have told you by telephone, nobody, including the Syrian military, was aware of your troops location. At the same time, there were casualties among Syrian servicemen as well. The Syrian army reported major losses, Putin noted, as if dismissing recent speculation among the Syrian public that Moscow cares not about its ally and is acting in an egoistic manner. Last week, at least 34 Turkish troops were killed in an airstrike, and Turkey retaliated by killing a large number of Syrian forces. We need to discuss everything and analyze the current developments so that, first, this does not happen again and, second, that this does not damage Russian-Turkish relations, which I know that you value as well, Putin told Erdogan as if stressing the significance that the bilateral relationship has for both countries beyond Idlib. Putins tone and message suggested Moscow was interested in a big picture situation with Turkey but that he also was not willing to sacrifice Syria to placate Turkeys own ambitions. Prior to the talks, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov suggested that Putin and Erdogan themselves would have to settle a number of critical issues that their teams havent agreed on. "Plans are in store to discuss the Idlib crisis with Erdogan. We expect that an understanding on the forerunner of that crisis, the reasons for that crisis, the fallout from that crisis and the package of necessary joint measures aimed at ending it will be reached," Peskov told reporters March 4. To translate from diplomatic Russian jargon into clear English: This means Russia believed the crisis erupted over Turkeys inability to deliver on its commitments to drive out the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from the de-escalation zone. Moscow didn't like that instead Ankara even went to virtually help Hayat Tahrir al-Sham preserve its positions. Yet Moscow understands that what happened in the last few days was painful for Erdogan politically and was disastrous for Turkey in the humanitarian domain in terms of refugee flow, so Russia is ready to help stop the escalation and think of ways forward. In a sense, its also reflective of the three principles Russia follows in dealing with a difficult counterpart such as Turkey. First, demonstrate empathy on issues that are sensitive and important to Turkish security. Second, clearly outline your own red lines and a corridor of opportunities for future cooperation on these issues. Third, take advantage of mistakes made by the other parties whose position is important to Ankara the United States and use the contrast to your advantage. The five hours and 45 minutes of talks between Russia and Turkey produced a seemingly modest set of deliverables. However, its clear that none of the three points the presidents signed onto in what is officially called the Additional Protocol to the Memorandum on Stabilization of the Situation in the Idlib De-Escalation Area came easy especially, perhaps, for the Turkish side. Eventually, Putin and Erdogan agreed to cease all military actions along the line of contact starting at 12:01 a.m. March 6; establish a security corridor 6 kilometers (nearly 4 miles) deep to the north and 6 kilometers deep to the south from highway M4; and, starting March 15, to launch joint Turkish-Russian patrols along highway M4 from the settlement of Trumba (2 kilometers, or roughly a mile, to the west of Saraqeb) to the settlement of Ain al-Havr. Specific modalities of the security corridor along the M4 highway will be discussed by the Russian and Turkish militaries within seven days. Perhaps one of the most remarkable things that the protocol didnt mention was the M5 highway. This may suggest that Turkey had to recognize its current status. If so, this itself may be a key step toward Syrian President Bashar al-Assad taking control over the rest of the country and securing passage to the north. The no-fly zone is also off the table, which is a win for Damascus. The issue of Turkish observation posts south of the M4 is also an interesting matter to watch and is likely to be one of the hardest for the two militaries to settle. The issue of refugees is a big uncertainty at this stage but Putin has now seems to have the cards to package it in his conversations with the Europeans as his personal contribution to halt the flow of new migrants to Europe. The very new deal, however, looks a lot like a temporary measure. The cease-fire is likely to be violated by at least one party and most likely everyone, including those who havent agreed to it. The security zone straddling the M4 is likely to be broken into or infiltrated by militants, terrorists and Syrian forces. Russian-Turkish patrols may have all kinds of issues, and they wont even take place for 12 days, during which time anything could happen. Yet the new deal was meant to introduce a cease-fire in Russian-Turkish relations, as opposed to Idlib per se, and in this sense its a relative success for the two parties. Moreover, under the current circumstances any permanent deal was impossible, for the ambitions of the parties run too high, the public discourse is too emotional and the abilities to do something on the ground without further fueling the escalations are too limited. In this sense, this minimal achievement is perhaps the maximum possible now. Still, the fact of the matter is that Moscow and Ankara now have a new benchmark to refer to when the next crisis over Syria occurs. Linn County judge Thomas McHill has rejected the state of Oregons post-trial appeals of the $1.1 billion jury verdict against the state for failing to maximize timber harvests on state forests since 2001. The state had argued that there was insufficient evidence presented to justify the November verdict in Linn County Circuit Court that the state had breached its contract with 13 rural counties by failing to maximize logging revenues. The state also argued that there were errors of law committed during the trial, and asked the judge to substitute his own judgement, notwithstanding the verdict, or order a new trial. McHill said most -- if not all -- of those issues were ruled on during the trial or pretrial. This court finds nothing raised by the State which rises to the standards upon which the court would grant Defendants' motion. The whopping $1.065 billion judgement against the state will now begin accruing interest at 9% per annum. Thats about $96 million in the first year alone, or $262,000 a day. The state now has 30 days to appeal the verdict to the state appeals court, and is expected to do so. The Oregon Department of Justice did not respond Friday for a request for comment. John DiLorenzo, the lead lawyer for the 13 logging-dependent counties and 150 special taxing district who filed the lawsuit, says the state faces an even greater appellate risk. If the state appeals, he says the plaintiffs will file a cross appeal for pre-judgement interest, which he said would amount to an additional $500 million. That was an issue the state already prevailed upon during pretrial motions, when the judge agreed there was no statute dealing with such pre-judgement interest against the state. But DiLorenzo says hes prepared to move forward with an appeal of that ruling. These are big stakes if theyre appealing, he said. -- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Australia announced on Saturday that more than a quarter of a million surgical masks were to be released from the country's stockpile and distributed to the country's health networks. "GPs (General Practitioners) and others just need to ask and they will be provided," said Professor Paul Kelly, the Australian government's deputy chief medical officer. Australia reported a total of 63 COVID-19 cases on Saturday morning, including two deaths. One of the new cases is a Melbourne doctor who recently returned from the US to Australia and treated around 70 patients prior to being diagnosed. He also treated two patients at a nursing home during that time. The GP was diagnosed with the virus on Friday, six days after returning to Australia. The nursing home residents have been isolated in their rooms and the clinic where the doctor works have been closed until further notice. All patients seen by the doctor and clinic staff are being contacted by the local health officials and are required to isolate themselves at home for 14 days. With thousands of people pressing on the Greek border, the EU has joined Greece to say that Europes doors are closed. Athens accuses Ankara of using human traffickers. Istanbul (AsiaNews/Agencies) The European Union seems to be getting more and more involved in the ongoing confrontation between Turkey and Greece over thousands of migrants trying to cross the Turkish border into Greece. The two countries are now releasing images to embarrass each other. Turkey released footage showing refugees repelled by Greek coastguards, whilst Greece posted images showing Turkish vessels escorting migrant boats towards Greek territorial waters. Amid the situation, the European Union yesterday joined Greece in reiterating that Europe's doors are closed to migrants. To this end, the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell did not mince his words. Dont go to the border, he said in a message directed at would-be migrants. The border, he explained, is not open. If someone tells you that you can go because the border is open [. . .] that is not true. Avoid the situation in which you could be in danger [. . .] Avoid moving to a closed door. And please dont tell people that they can go because its not true. Borrells statement follows a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Zagreb, where the Union reiterated its criticisms of Turkey's use of migrants to put political pressure. It comes after Greece decided to keep its border closed even though Turkey chose to open it on its side. In Turkey, the government ordered its coast guard and border police not to stop people from travelling to Europe after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that his country was no longer able to handle the new wave of people fleeing Idlib. However, refugees who arrived on the island of Lesvos are saying that the Turkish government is using human traffickers. "I had been in Turkey for two months, said Ali Gulali, a 15-year-old Afghan, speaking to Al Jazeera on Lesbos. A smuggler called me in the night and said the boat is ready, get ready to cross over. He said the border was open," This and other examples suggest that the Turkish government is coopting Turkish traffickers as part of its policy to push people westward. It remains unclear who is paying them. Greece is not taking this lightly. In a statement, Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas said that "Instead of curtailing networks of people smugglers, Turkey has itself become a smuggler. Meanwhile, the EU has come under fire from human-rights groups for accepting Greeces decision to suspend asylum applications for one month. In an open letter to EU leaders and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, 85 charities, including Action Aid and Amnesty International, said they were deeply concerned about how the authorities were handling new arrivals to Greece. Two individuals suspected to be infected with Coronavirus who were kept in isolation at Government Medical College, Jammu were "high viral-load cases", the Jammu and Kashmir administration said on Saturday, while announcing immediate closure of all primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts. It also suspended all biometric attendance in the Union territory. "The test reports of the two suspected coronavirus patients were received, which spoke of them being high viral-load cases. There is a high probability of their testing positive for the infection," the spokesperson told PTI. The passengers with travel history to Italy and South Korea were shifted to the quarantine ward at a government medical college hospital on Wednesday. Earlier on March 5, the two individuals had fled from the hospital last night putting the lives of thousands of others at risk. Their samples were sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. J&K Govt: Test reports of the 2 suspected patients from Jammu received.High probability of testing positive. Both kept in isolation and are stable. The two had left the hospital against medical advice and had to be brought back. #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/xTWzku29Qx ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2020 All primary schools in Jammu and Samba districts of J&K to be closed till March 31 with immediate effect @ diprjk Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) March 7, 2020 READ: Experts say cold temperatures in Delhi conducive for Coronavirus, south India at low risk READ: Telangana: One colleague of Coronavirus positive case found symptomatic, admitted PM Modi to meet Harsh Vardhan after 31 people test positive Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to discuss the issue of Coronavirus which has become a global threat with 31 cases of the virus tested positive in India. The Health Minister will likely to brief PM Modi about the measures that have been taken by the government in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak as well as 'standards of care' maintained in hospitals. READ: Twenty-one on cruise ship off US test positive for coronavirus Coronavirus outbreak According to the latest reports, 53 new deaths in China due to Coronavirus have been confirmed, taking the total death toll to over 3,000. While most of the cases are from Hubei province of China and the city of Wuhan (the epicentre of the outbreak), other countries including Iran, Italy, Japan and the Philippines have also reported deaths related to novel coronavirus. First detected in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province of China, the virus outbreak has now spread across 20 countries since December 2019. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has dubbed the virus as COVID-19. READ: Florida governor asks lawmakers for $25M for coronavirus After a 74-year career in law enforcement, Bill Hardin, 97, will be honored with his own exhibit at the Chisholm Trail Museum in Cleburne, Texas. Hardin currently serves as a reserve deputy with the Johnson County Sheriff's Department. He's already been through two retirements from law enforcement agencies in a career that began in 1947 with the Fort Worth Police Department. In a Facebook video, Hardin recalled the instant respect he was shown when he wore his police uniform. 'I remember walking ... to catch a bus. I was in full uniform. I got on the bus and dropped my coin. The driver said to me "policeman don't have to pay" and gave me back my token.' Hardin remembered one interaction that has stuck with him all these years. One day, he pulled over a driver who ran a red light. Then Hardin peeked into the man's backseat and saw two children. 'They said, "Daddy, are you going to get a ticket? That means we won't get to get a hamburger",' Hardin said. Hardin closed his ticket book and both he and his partner gave the man a dollar to buy the kids burgers. 'It's things like that that make the job worth doing,' said Hardin, who also is a veteran of World War II. After retiring from Fort Worth, he started his second act at the sheriff's office in nearby Tarrant County. Johnson County Sheriff's Reserve Deputy Bill Hardin will be honored by the Chisholm Trail Museum in Cleburne, Texas for his 74 years in law enforcement Bill Hardin (left) is a Johnson County Sheriff's Deputy in Texas who has worked in three law enforcement agencies Hardin began his career in the 1940s with the Fort Worth Police Department After retiring from the Fort Worth Police Department, Hardin began working for the Tarrant County Police Department Hardin currently works at the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, where he helps out with administrative duties The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is 30 away from where Hardin last worked in Tarrant County In a video posted on the Johnson County Sheriff's Office Facebook account, Hardin recounts his 74 years in law enforcement Another retirement pushed Hardin about 30 miles down the road for a third tour of duty in law enforcement at the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, where he still works as a reserve deputy. Now, Hardin is responsible for assisting the two chiefs at the office with administrative duties. According to Johnson County Sheriff Adam King, 'We want him to know that he is important to us and he is important to the community, and we want to thank him for 74-plus years of service to the community.' King also called Hardin a "living legend" for his work in the community. Johnson County Sheriff Adam King called Hardin a 'living legend' for his career in law enforcement Hardin said he's seen a lot change since he first began working in law enforcement. 'When I went to work, there was more respect than now for police officers," he said. 'You didn't have that much to worry about.' These days, police officers have to be '100 percent alert' and 'be sure they can see out of the back of their head.' When asked whether he'll put down his badge any time soon, Hardin told CBS 11: 'I'm afraid to stop, because I don't have a starter.' He added: 'I may not get started again so I'm going to keep doing this until the sheriff runs me out.' He added: 'If I can make it one more year, I may go ahead and retire.' Tonya Osborne, with two of her flight attendant uniforms in the background, in her RV in Rockledge, Fla., on Feb. 5, 2020. (Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.) Read more One morning in a Florida RV park, Tonya Osborne woke up before dawn to drive to the Orlando airport. She was catching a flight to Dallas. It was Nov. 20, 2018, and she had a meeting with Southwest Airlines, where she had worked as a flight attendant for two decades. But this was no routine trip. Osborne was trying to discover what kind of chemicals were in her uniform which she says caused her to break out in a rash, irritated her eyes and nose, and left her with scarring. Months after the symptoms first appeared, she underwent two skin biopsies, got a skin patch test, and requested approval for an alternative uniform to the one that was bothering her. Her dermatologist put it this way, according to a medical form Osborne submitted to Southwest that September: If she "continues to wear the uniform, she will continue to have a severe rash that may reduce her ability to perform her duties. Over the last decade, flight attendants at several major airlines have said their uniforms are making them sick. They have reported the issues to labor unions, discussed symptoms among one another in a private Facebook group, and laid out their claims in lawsuits. In New York and Wisconsin, suits are pending against Lands End, maker of Deltas Passport Plum uniform. In Illinois, American Airlines faces a proposed class-action suit, brought by flight attendants and pilots, which the company has asked a federal judge to dismiss. So far, three air carriers have agreed to replace their uniforms, after complaints. American Airlines, which dominates travel at Philadelphia International Airport, started using new uniforms this month for more than 50,000 employees, and Alaska Airlines is rolling out a new uniform collection this year as well. Delta said in January that it, too, will seek a replacement uniform. Flight attendants at Southwest are also experiencing symptoms they say are linked to uniforms, according to interviews and documents reviewed by The Inquirer. One person was so alarmed about the uniforms effects on her body that she had a garment tested for heavy metals and toxins by a private lab. Southwest has held at least two meetings for a handful of flight attendants to speak with a toxicologist at corporate headquarters. The union that represents Southwests 17,000 flight attendants says that hundreds of its members have reported uniform-related health concerns, including skin reactions, localized swelling, headaches, and difficulty breathing. Chad Kleibscheidel, a spokesperson for Transport Workers Union Local 556, declined to provide specific figures, but said more people have reported symptoms to the union than to the company directly. He said its possible that flight attendants are underreporting the health issues to Southwest, because they fear being targeted, worry about missing work, or are daunted by the process of getting an alternative uniform approved. There have been hundreds of people who have had an issue or a problem," Kleibscheidel said. "Some flight attendants have moved through the process swiftly and successfully, and others have not, and that poses a problem. The union is in the final stages of developing an online reporting system to collect more data from workers on any issues or problems they may be experiencing, he said. Our role as safety professionals begins the moment we put our uniform on, Kleibscheidel said. It must be safe for everyone who wears it. In interviews with nine flight attendants, workers said they had experienced hair loss, rashes, fatigue, and shortness of breath. They also voiced frustrations with Southwests response. We dont know whats in the uniform," one employee said, "and they want you to tell them what youre allergic to in order to get permission to wear an alternative. Eight of the people spoke on condition of anonymity, citing concerns that they could lose their jobs by talking to the media. Southwest informed employees in a September 2018 email that the company had all uniform pieces tested, and the results confirmed that employees are not subject to health hazards when wearing the uniform garments and accessories. Osborne continued to press for details about the testing, and was invited to meet with company officials and a doctor in Dallas in November 2018. Several aspects of the meeting disturbed her. Osborne and two other flight attendants were shown a pass-fail chart that listed chemicals, dyes, and allergens, she says. Some items listed on the chart were marked as fail, but a company official said not to worry about that, Osborne recalled. She was not allowed to keep a copy of the chart. To me, theyre hiding something, if we couldnt even bring home that sheet, Osborne says. Company officials have not shared the contents of any broader toxicology report, she says. According to Osborne, a company executive said that neither Southwest nor the uniforms maker wanted to lose $11 million on the uniform contract and Cintas, the supplier, would not offer new pieces until the current stock had been depleted. In response to detailed questions from The Inquirer, a Southwest spokesperson provided a statement saying that the company regrets that Osborne experienced issues with her uniform items as the safety and wellbeing of our employees is at the center of everything we do at Southwest Airlines. More than 20,000 flight attendants, customer-service agents, and operations agents wear pieces from the collection. The company has established programs to provide uniform accommodations including paying for alternate uniform pieces made of different materials, which can be sourced by the company or selected by the employee from a retailer of their choice, according to the statement. Southwest also commissioned a lab to analyze the uniforms to support employees with any concerns, and multiple meetings were held to share the independent lab results with employees," the company said. Unfortunately, the statements cited from this meeting by other sources contain both mischaracterized comments and comments that are not in context with what was shared during that good-faith effort to provide transparent information. Cintas said the test results were assessed by independent professionals, who concluded that the uniform pieces do not pose a health risk to Southwest employees, according to a company statement. "Additionally, the test results are entirely consistent with what would be expected if similar off-the-rack retail garments were tested. The uniforms maker said that in a population of thousands, some employees may be sensitive to certain textiles or materials, and Cintas is committed to working with the airline to provide alternate uniform pieces to employees who may have a sensitivity." Osborne, whos 62, spent five months going back and forth with the company to find an alternative. Afterward, other medical issues kept her out of work, as well. They know theres a problem, she says, and theyve known for a long time. Why uniforms cause reactions Judith Anderson works as an industrial hygienist for the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), a union that represents 50,000 workers at 20 airlines. Before 2011, shed never come across anything like physical reactions to uniforms. But that year, AFA started fielding reports that flight attendants at Alaska Airlines were reacting to their new uniforms. The union has since worked on the issue with flight attendants at American Airlines regional carriers and at Delta systematically collecting reports from workers, having uniforms tested for allergens and irritants, and negotiating for replacement uniforms. A host of factors could explain why these reactions have surfaced in the last 10 years. One is a demand for performance fabrics that are resistant to stains and wrinkles. And with globalization, there has been a shift to source clothes from multiple mills overseas that dont have enough quality control to prevent this problem, Anderson said. When the garments are shipped, they may be treated with chemicals to prevent mold growth. Then the uniforms are distributed to workers who are required to wear them, all while logging hours in a confined space that can get hot. On top of that, the United States does not regulate chemicals in clothing, beyond some exceptions about lead in childrens apparel. Generally speaking, theres no rules, Anderson said. Its whatevers cheap. When it comes to testing uniforms for chemicals, Anderson said, there are low hanging fruit to look for. The AFAs testing, for instance, has found formaldehyde, a carcinogen, along with sensitizers, which cause allergic reactions, and endocrine disruptors, which can mimic hormones and signal to the body to stop making hormones like estrogen. But its also possible, experts say, that multiple chemicals interact to produce symptoms. Yet there are no U.S. standards to measure the harm of chemicals in combination, let alone how much of any individual chemical in a piece of clothing is safe. The creation of standards has largely been left to private companies. Its a very unregulated and un-researched exposure," said Irina Mordukhovich, an epidemiologist who works on Harvards Flight Attendant Health Study. "Theres not really a framework for interpreting the laboratory results to begin with. The Harvard research group documented a relationship between skin and respiratory reactions and the new uniforms at Alaska Airlines in 2011. Mordukhovich said shed like to "be able to answer the question of how the chemicals might interact synergistically that is with one another, with the aircraft environment, and other conditions, such as whether the person is sweating. After one Southwest flight attendant started losing her hair, and wondered what else could be happening inside her body, she sent a uniform dress off for lab testing. A toxicologists analysis of the results found that the cloth contained benzyl alcohol, a skin and respiratory irritant, as well as elevated levels of 14 heavy metals, such as aluminum, chromium, arsenic, mercury, and lead. The levels found of these compounds will cause severe allergic reactions to the individual wearing the clothing, the toxicologist wrote, including asthma, bronchitis or even chemically-induced pneumonia. Graham Peaslee, a physics professor at Notre Dame, has studied toxins such as a fluorinated compounds or PFAS in everyday products like fast-food packaging. Recently he has run tests on flight attendant uniforms, and found PFAS, which can be used for stain resistance, as well as metals used as antimicrobials that supposedly keep clothes from smelling. He has concerns about how such chemicals are affecting flight attendants and potentially consumers more broadly. Apparel is "a wide open field. You can put anything you like in it, and everyone is trying to distinguish themselves with something new, Peaslee said. "And we should probably be double checking that. I have to work In 2016, Southwest announced that Cintas would produce the airlines first uniform redesign in 20 years. The pieces were rolled out to the workforce in 2017, costing Southwest $25 million, according to the local NBC affiliate in Dallas. (Southwest said it could not confirm a current total cost.) In terms of safety, Sonya Lacore, vice president of inflight operations, told the news station that Southwest assembled its own team "to go over and verify the fabrics in Asia. There are just some people who are allergic to some fabrics, and weve ensured that if that is the case with an employee, then we have an option for them to wear 100% cotton, Lacore said at the time. By early 2018, Osborne says she started experiencing health problems. That February her cornea tore she doesnt know why and she had migraines and sinus infections. In May, she broke out in a rash and her primary care doctor diagnosed her with hives and prescribed her steroid treatment. Later that summer, her dermatologist performed the two skin biopsies, and the patch test showed that Osborne had an allergy to a mix of two types of blue dyes. I get horrible rashes, blisters and areas that appear and feel burned, she wrote to the company in her first request for an alternative uniform in September 2018. I have to work, she went on. This is becoming costly due to many doctor visits, days unable to work. She pointed out that other people were having symptoms, too. I would like to see all our [uniform] pieces changed, as I know Im not the only one with these reactions, she said on the form. Two weeks later, Sonya Lacore assured employees that the uniform pieces had been tested, and that flight attendants are not subject to health hazards, according to a Sept. 25, 2018, email to employees. As a reminder, Lacore said, if accommodations are required, we have a process in place for providing alternative uniform pieces. While Osborne tried to work through that process, she found the company was only offering three pieces two tops and cargo pants that stuck out sorely from the regular uniform, and would require alterations to fit her properly. Osborne also kept asking questions. I am curious where the testing was done, and what chemicals and dyes were found in them, she wrote to Lacore and others on Oct. 8. I do believe further steps need to be taken, because I dont think anyone realizes how bad the reactions are, and how many of us are having them. To avoid using up her sick leave, Osborne paid other flight attendants to pick up her scheduled flights. She spent hundreds of dollars giving away her trips, and was living off her 401(k). Shed gone to live in the RV temporarily, and was still hoping to move out once she got back to work. When the company offered to fly her to Dallas to discuss the uniform testing in person, Osborne didnt understand why she wouldnt be paid for a workday, since the issue was tied to her job. I was told in order to find out what the report shows, I had to have a meeting, she emailed a manager that October. The night before the November meeting, Osborne was reading up on chemicals so shed have a better idea what to ask about. She was also babysitting her 8-year-old grandson. He stayed the night with her and shed bought a plane ticket for him to fly Dallas, too. At Southwest headquarters, her grandson played a video game outside the glassed-in conference room as the hours-long meeting unfolded. Osborne, two other flight attendants, and a union representative met with Mike Sims, senior director of inflight operations, along with John Andrus, director of occupational safety, another Southwest official, and a toxicologist who said he was not being paid by the airline. Osborne had the impression that a thick stack of papers on the table represented the results of the toxicology testing, but the flight attendants were shown only the pass-fail chart, listing components of the uniform. She emailed the union rep afterward that she felt as though a lot of questions were unanswered or danced around. She thought there was more they should have been told "than what was presented to us on that one little card, Osborne wrote in late November 2018. The toxicologist never answered what was in the dyes and other stuff... or allergens, and other allergy stuff. During another exchange in the Dallas meeting, Mike Sims said that $11 million remained on the uniform contract, and neither Southwest nor Cintas wanted to lose that money, according to Osborne. Sims also said that the alternative uniforms pieces were treated with the same chemicals as the regular uniform, Osborne recalled, and he said Southwest was trying to get new alternative pieces made of cotton. In the meantime, Osborne says, one Southwest official in the meeting suggested that the flight attendants use up their uniform allotment, and give those pieces away to coworkers to deplete the current stock faster. Osborne worried that if she took that advice, she could make her colleagues sick. When another flight attendant at the meeting suggested the company send a memo, making the workforce more aware of the reactions some were experiencing, the idea was rejected, Osborne says. Sims said that it would create more problems and that not enough flight attendants had complained of symptoms to warrant such a memo. In the weeks and months after the Dallas meeting, Osborne broke out in a rash after trying on an alternative blouse sent to her by Southwest. Her dermatologist also wrote a letter to Mike Sims in early January 2019, requesting to know what kind of chemicals were in the uniform. Osborne sent a copy of the doctors letter to Southwests accommodations team, requesting approval for two shirts shed found on her own. This has been going on for months and I really need to work, she wrote. A coordinator for the accommodations team thanked Osborne for her patience. We had a meeting with our uniform committee today, and they are currently working on a letter and more in-depth information to send to your health care provider, the coordinator said in an email. That letter never came, Osborne says. Once she received an approval for two other pieces, she still felt apprehensive about being near the uniform at work. Shed run into a colleague in the uniform one day, and Osborne broke into a rash after they hugged. Unrelated to the uniform, she started seeing doctors last spring for problems with her knee and her hand, leading to several surgeries in summer 2019 and last month. She is stressed about her finances and health issues, still living in the RV and disappointed that a career she loved has come to this. I just wish something could happen to make them open their eyes, and realize, youre not taking care of your employees, youre taking care of your pocketbook. In yet another twist in the ongoing political drama in Madhya Pradesh, 'missing' independent MLA Surendra Singh Shera returned to Bhopal on Saturday, making a cryptic announcement that he would be a minister in the Kamal Nath cabinet before Holi on March 10. Shera returned to the state after having spent four days in Bengaluru, which he claimed was a personal visit. Three other MLAs -- Hardeep Singh Dang, Raghuraj Kansana and Bisahulal Singh -- have been missing from the state, with the ruling Congress alleging that the BJP "abducted" them and took them to Karnataka. The latter has refuted the claim. Speaking to reporters at the airport, Shera denied that he had been abducted and refuted reports of an alleged turmoil in the Kamal Nath government. He arrived at the Raja Bhoj Airport from New Delhi and was received by the state's Public Relations minister PC Sharma. Though he refuted claims of being abducted, Shera had, in a video message on Friday, alleged that he was stopped by unidentified men twice on his way to the airport which eventually led him to miss his flight scheduled for the day. Earlier, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had alleged that BJP leaders forcibly took Shera and the other three MLAs to Bengaluru as a part of their horse-trading attempts. The remaining three MLAs have been untraceable ever since they went missing and no reports of them having specified their stance in any way have come front. A pair of suicide bombers blew themselves up near the heavily fortified US Embassy in Tunis today, killing one police lieutenant. Four others and a civilian woman were wounded in the attack. The men approached the embassy in Tunis posh Berges du Lac II district at around 11 a.m. local time and detonated explosives, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Witnesses said the men were on a motorcycle. No group has claimed responsibility. Tunisia has been targeted by al-Qaeda and Islamic State-linked terrorists since the countrys 2011 Jasmine Revolution that ushered in what most agree is the most successful albeit imperfect democracy in the string of Arab Spring uprisings. The US Embassy was attacked in 2012 together with a nearby American school by a mob. Four people were killed by security forces in that attack. Successful counterterrorism operations and surveillance with help from the United States has significantly reduced the scale of such attacks, which have killed dozens, including foreign tourists, at their peak. US Assistant Secretary of State for Political Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper was in Tunis on Thursday leading a delegation of defense industry executives. He briefed the media about his visit today in Washington, briefly discussing today's bombing. Why it matters: Initial reports indicated that the attackers had recently left prison, where they had served time for joining a terrorist group, according to Tunisias Mosaiqe FM news outlet. Both were banned from traveling abroad. Tunisia is frequently cited as the country to have the greatest number of Islamic State fighters per capita. The attack raises questions about issues related to rehabilitation [and] integration of individuals after they are released from prison, tweeted Aaron Y. Zelin, one of the foremost experts on jihadism and the author of the freshly published Tunisias Missionaries of Jihad. An unknown number of Islamic State and other jihadis have made their way back to Tunisia and the country has no formal program to disengage them from violence. Zelin speculated that the attack may have been linked to the fourth anniversary of the attempted Islamic State takeover of Ben Guerdane on the Libyan border. The attack came as the newly approved Cabinet of Tunisias prime minister, Elyes Fakhfakh, convened for the first time. Tourism, one of Tunisias biggest sources of income, is already feeling the effects of the global coronavirus scare. The Health Ministry said Wednesday that 996 people were in medical home quarantine under suspicion of infection after confirming Tunisias first case of COVID-19, a Tunisian man who had visited Italy. Whats next: Tunisias new president, Kais Said, has vowed to take a tough stand against terrorism. But policing wont be enough. The new government needs to prove that it can tackle high youth unemployment, endemic corruption and social injustice that drove millions of Tunisians to cast their ballots against the ruling elite, and thousands of others into the arms of jihadis. The challenge is balancing their demands with the kinds of unpopular reforms on which the International Monetary Fund has made its continued support contingent. The government is expected to invite the IMF this month for a sixth review of its loan program struck in 2016 to the tune of $2.8 billion. Know more: Read Elizia Volkmanns account of Tunisias political architecture. She also charts the risks emanating from neighboring Libya, where a protracted civil conflict backed by rival regional powers is leaving Tunisia squeezed. According to the Ukrainian president, some European leaders get it, in particular, German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said people should be confident that the European Union is waiting for Ukraine. Read alsoZelensky: Ukraine's government must be effective, bring results "We need to give people confidence that the European Union is waiting for Ukraine," he told the Guardian in an interview. "People don't really believe in words. Or rather, people believe in words only for a stretch of time. Then they start to look for action," Zelensky said. According to the Ukrainian president, some European leaders get it, in particular, German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Business success with growing, rising charts and businessman in background I started off with $1,000 not too long ago. I saved up after a few months on my first job and finally had enough money to do something Id been waiting to try: invest in stocks. However, I made the fatal mistake of dumping the entire amount into a single tech stock that was dominating the headlines at the time. Every year, millions of people start off just like me and dont know how to take their first steps. To make things a little easier, here are three ways I would recommend first-time investors dip their toes in the stock market. Active Lets start with the most exciting investment strategy of them all: picking individual stocks. Buying a small piece of an enterprise that is either growing rapidly or generating tremendous profits is an excellent way to spend your first $1,000. The right investment at the right time could be life-altering for a beginner. However, if youre going to pick stocks, you need to avoid the most common pitfalls. Dont invest everything into a single stock that excites you. Instead, do your homework and dig into the financials to see if you truly understand the company. Its preferable to start by investing in an industry you work in or have intimate knowledge of. You also need to avoid the risk of concentration. Split your $1,000 in more than one stock, preferably four or more, to mitigate your risk of losing money. Diversification is an underrated tool that will help you create wealth over the long-run. Passive Of course, you dont need to be an expert stock picker or investment professional to make money in the stock market. Rather, you can take the approach millions of investors adopt every year and simply put your investments on autopilot by pouring your money into low cost index funds. An index fund simply buys all the stocks on any given stock market. Academic research suggests that this level of diversification limits downside and gives investors enough exposure to the upside in a countrys economy. In other words, you can generate respectable returns without doing much work at all. Story continues The iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index, for example, tracks the performance of the 60 largest stocks on the Canadian stock market. It has delivered a 6.7% compounded annual return since 2010, which is much better than most individual stocks. If you prefer an index that tracks the S&P 500 or Indias Nifty 50 or Chinas Shanghai Composite, you can find those funds listed in Canada too. You can bet on the economy youre most optimistic about. Over the long term, they should all deliver decent returns. Real estate Stocks arent the only option for your first $1,000, however. There are plenty of funds that offer exposure to property instead of corporations. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) trade on the stock exchange like regular stocks, but offer dividends that are derived from the rental income on properties that the trust owns. The SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust, for example, owns mega-malls across Canada while Allied Properties REIT owns offices. $1,000 invested in any REIT should deliver between $20 to $80 in recurring annual income. As rents increase and the REIT grows, the dividends should increase as well. REITs are a great option if you prefer the cash flow and stability of tangible properties. The post TFSA: Start Investing in Stocks With Just $1,000 appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Fool contributor Vishesh Raisinghani 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 Chinese government-funded language and culture institutes operating at Australian universities, community groups linked to Beijings overseas propaganda arm and organisations looking to harm Australias critical infrastructure will be targeted by a new unit set up to enforce the Morrison governments flagship foreign influence scheme. Attorney-General Christian Porter has warned potential agents of foreign powers will be ordered to hand over documents in coming months, and has not ruled out going after agents acting on behalf of foreign embassies in Australia if they have not declared their activities on the foreign influence register. Attorney-General Christian Porter in Canberra last week. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Sunday Age and The Sun Herald understands the new unit will focus on Confucius Institutes operating at some Australian universities and groups linked to Beijings United Front Work Department. The Attorney-General's Department is working with domestic spy agency ASIO and the AFP in its revamped bid to enforce the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme. A doctor displays homeopathy medicine for the prevention of COVID-19, at a government hospital in Hyderabad, on, March 5, 2020. On Jan. 28, a group of experts under India's AYUSH ministry recommended the homeopathy medicine Arsenic Album 30, as a "prophylactic" or preventive medicine. This has since spread like wildfire on social media and people have queued up to buy the medicine. However, scientists globally and within India have rejected that homeopathy can act against the new virus. (AP) Warangal/ Hyderabad: Four cases of suspected coronavirus infection have come to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad from the districts. One person from Warnagal, one from Jangaon, two from Khammam self-reported as they developed a cough and cold. They had a travel history to Covid-19 affected countries Dubai, Italy and Germany. They reported to the local hospital for treatment and the doctors found that their travel history required further investigation and asked them to give their samples in Gandhi Hospital for testing. In Jangoan, the patient panicked as people started clicking his pictures and ran away. He was traced by the local government hospital and the family was counselled that he must get himself tested. The family members persuaded the patient to self-report. He was assured by the doctors that his identity would not be revealed. The tests are throat and nasal swabs. The tests check the viral load in the body. According to guidelines, if the viral load is more than 55 per cent in the samples, they will be sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune for a second test. Health minister Etala Rajendra said, Each tests takes 10 hours. There is a second test conducted by the NIV if the state test finds it positive. The declaration of a positive case is done by the central health ministry only. Even if it is negative and there is a viral load we have asked people to self-isolate. The self-isolation of 14 days must be observed so that there are no further symptoms. So far there is only one confirmed case in Telangana. We are prepared and alert to tackle the situation. Nine more people self-reported to Gandhi Hospital on Friday as they had travelled to Covid 19 affected countries. Most of them are coming on their own to the hospital as they have developed some symptoms. As of March 6, 2020, a total of 4058 samples from 3404 individuals have been tested in Telangana. About 1308 samples from 654 individuals evacuated from Wuhan in China were tested twice on day 0 and day 14. The load of samples is rising as there are more people reporting at all centres and for this reason NIV is only now testing positive cases from all the states. The Director General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, wrote on Twitter praising Italy's efforts to stop the coronavirus epidemic in the Country. His quote was later retweeted by the Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte. "Gratitude and solidarity from The World Health organization shines a light on Italys strength and courage in facing the coronavirus outbreak. The Italian Government has adopted extraordinary measures to contain the COVID19 epidemic and to mitigate its social and economic impact. I thank President Mattarella for his appeal to the nation yesterday. Italy is reacting vigorously. The WHO is with you". The government leader spoke highly of the textile groups business and production in Vietnam, and added that in his meetings with Chinese leaders, the two sides mentioned Texhong as an example of Chinese firms operating in Vietnam which make important contributions to bilateral relations. For his part, the Chinese official said the attention paid by the PM, ministries and localities of Vietnam to the company as well as the countrys fight against the COVID-19 epidemic is encouraging the group to move positively toward expanding its investment in Vietnam, with an addition of US$500 million this year. He expressed his hope that the Government, ministries and localities of Vietnam, especially Quang Ninh province will quickly finish procedures related to the transport of goods and materials, and help a limited number of high-level managers and experts of Texho to work in Vietnam. The official also pledged to implement the provisions by Vietnamese authorities on the fight against the epidemic. PM Phuc said the government will direct Quang Ninh province to consider the proposal and extended his regards to workers of the Chinese projects in Vietnam. He also extended sympathies from leaders of the Party, State and people of Vietnam to their Chinese counterparts over the losses caused by the epidemic. A man serving a life sentence for murder and awaiting trial in a second slaying has been indicted in another death. Curtis Don Brown, 49, has been indicted in the strangulation of Sharyn Kills Back, 18, who disappeared March 15, 1985, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in Saturday's editions. A plumber discovered Kills Back's body with a rope around her neck on March 23, 1985, in a storm drain in southern Arlington. She was a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe who had moved off the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota at age 16. Her death went unsolved for more than two decades. Then, police learned in September 2005 that Brown had been linked through a DNA database to Kills Back's rape and strangulation. Alan Levy, chief of the criminal division of the Tarrant County district attorney's office, has said that he plans to seek the death penalty against Brown in the slaying. Brown's attorney, Tim Moore of Fort Worth, did not return a Saturday telephone call to his office from The Associated Press. Brown is serving a life sentence in prison for the Fort Worth murder of Jewel Woods. Woods, a 51-year-old nurse, was killed in 1986 outside her east Fort Worth apartment. Last May, Brown was charged in the Fort Worth death of Terece Gregory. Kills Back and Gregory both died in 1985. Brown was linked by a DNA database to the slaying of Gregory, 29, whose body was found floating in the Trinity River on May 30, 1985. The day before, Gregory had disappeared after driving away from the Caravan of Dreams, a downtown Fort Worth nightclub. She had been raped and shot. In July 2005, Brown was indicted on a capital murder charge in Gregory's death. He was brought back to Fort Worth from prison and remains in the Tarrant County Jail, awaiting trial in that case. This year, investigators have re-examined 25 unsolved slayings of women in Tarrant County. About a dozen of those women were killed over a period of 21 months in the mid-1980s. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Saturday reviewed preparedness in all the districts of the state for combating the deadly coronavirus. The minister held a meeting and directed all the top officials to take all measures to prevent the disease. Speaking to ANI Rawat said, "Teams of all concerned departments are working together. There has been no suspected case of coronavirus in the state till now." In India, over 31 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported so far. The virus has so far killed more than 3,200 people globally. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kanpur, March 7 : All the members of a six-member committee probing the role of five professors of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur for allegedly trying to provoke the students during the peace march protesting against the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have submitted their report to the IIT administration. Now, the report will be sent to IIT Director. Vashi Sharma, an IIT professor, had sent a viral video of the protest and demanded a probe of it as a poem of Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz was also recited during the protest. More than 300 students of B.Tech, M.Tech and Phd participated in the protest without the permission of the administration. The IIT administration has prohibited any such protest in its campus. CCTV footage and recordings of the mobiles were used in the probe. Deputy Director Manindra Agrawal denied to comment on it as he said it is a secret matter. Sources in IIT Kanpur said the professors in the video can be seen provoking the students. IIT Kanpur Abhay Karandikar said that he hasn't received any report as of now while some people are been interrogated regarding the same. The report will be released after investigating all the aspects, he said. Many new Conservative MPs are different from the traditional Tory stereotype, while many of the (fewer) new Labour MPs are carbon-copy Corbynites. After every election, I try to listen to or read as many MPs first speeches as I can, to see if I can spot the high risers and to assess the character and policy interests of the new intake. The first thing that surprises me is that they are still called maiden speeches. I thought that would have gone by now, but on the contrary, the term has become more embedded. Instead of simply calling a new member to speak, expecting other MPs to know it is their first time and to observe the courtesies (not interrupting, basically), the speaker or his deputies now say: It is a great pleasure to call X to make her maiden speech. Funny how some conventions are respected and others not. The houses guide for new MPs says that first speeches should not be politically contentious, but most of them are and have been since at least the 1980s. Labour MPs in particular tend to condemn the party to which their party just lost. One of them, Zarah Sultana, the new MP for Coventry South, hit the headlines by denouncing not just the current and previous Tory governments, but the Labour one in between, as 40 years of Thatcherism. The more interesting convention, which is almost always followed, is that the new MP should pay tribute to their predecessor. Mark Fletcher, the Conservative MP who won Bolsover from Labour, did not just call Dennis Skinner a giant of British politics he proposed that a statue should be built in his honour. In other cases, the tribute was more awkward. Kate Griffiths, the new Tory MP for Burton, did not mention her immediate predecessor, her estranged former husband Andrew Griffiths. I pay tribute to one of my most admirable predecessors, Sir Ivan Lawrence, she said. Sir Ivan lost the seat in 1997. One new MP managed to breach both conventions at once, by insulting her predecessor in a partisan attack. Amy Callaghan, the Scottish National Party MP who unseated Jo Swinson, the former Lib Dem leader, said: It is my promise that I shall fight tooth and nail at every turn to ensure that the people of East Dunbartonshire, and indeed the people of Scotland, never feel left behind or ignored by their representative again. Another thing new MPs are expected to do is to describe their constituency, which is generally pretty dull, although occasional facts shine out like glints of gold in the mud. We manufacture a fifth of the worlds gin in Warrington North, said Charlotte Nichols, the constituencys new Labour MP. But it is when new MPs describe themselves that their speeches can be revelatory. Stuart Anderson, the new Conservative MP for Wolverhampton SW, told how he was brought up by his mother after his father, an SAS soldier, was killed when he was eight. I went to what was probably the worst school in the area, he said, before describing how he left at the age of 16 with no qualifications and signed up to be a soldier. I was still only 17 when I was shot in a training accident, tragically by a friend with a faulty weapon. Although his foot was saved and he returned to active service in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo, he struggled with alcohol, depression and suicidal thoughts. Croydon MP quotes Stormzy in maiden speech In my mind, my life was over, he said. I had been dealt a bad hand, and that was my life. I thought I would try to do something good for my kids. I never wanted anyone to have to experience my life, let alone my children, so I decided to take them to church. There are many reasons why people come out of despair. When I was trying to do something right by my family, I found faith. His life changed and he decided to go into politics, never having voted before 2015. I have been on operations and stood alongside my colleagues, some of whom are no longer here because of decisions I attributed to this house. This was never my first option, but I was faced with a choice: I could moan about these decisions, I could ignore them, or I could try to make a difference. I chose the latter, and history will decide if I achieve this. Few first speeches achieve that level of emotional power, although Kieran Mullan, the new Tory MP for Crewe and Nantwich, also delivered a remarkable one. He told how, as a junior hospital doctor, he looked after a Polish man of quiet dignity towards the end of his life. We would sometimes talk in the evenings, and he told me of his worry that without children of his own, his life would not be as vividly remembered as it deserved to be. I know, as a gay man, that the question of whether I would have children and how I would be remembered sometimes crossed my mind at the time, so I felt an affinity with him. Mullan decided to write the story of Jan Krasnodebskis life, and quoted him in his speech: You can have a happy fulfilled life as long as you do something that you think is important. Mullans conclusion was philosophical without being party political: People want meaning and a sense of where they belong. Too often, we forget that that comes in the form of expectations and obligations on us. Delivering on what we must give to others and what is expected of us helps to create our own sense of worth. Other new Conservative MPs linked their life stories to their ambitions for social justice. Fletcher, slayer of the Beast of Bolsover, said: This is an intake that I am incredibly proud to be a part of, because so many of us overcame difficulties and know how lucky we are, and how things might have been so different for us. Our mission, in the privileged positions that we now hold, is to make our world a little less reliant on lucky interventions and ensure that this Conservative government gives working class kids the best possible start in life. Many mentioned Boris Johnsons ambition to level up their part of the country. But not all new Tories are northern and working class. There were a few declarations of interest (my husbands smallholding), and some of the expressions of political outlook were authentically Conservative. Luke Evans, the new member for Bosworth, said he was often asked what he wanted to change, which I find really strange I do not want to change the world; I want to solve the world. There are many problems up and down the country indeed, across the globe and I think we solve them by empowering people. Jerome Mayhew, son of Patrick, the Conservative former cabinet minister, and the new MP for Broadland in Norfolk, warned that policies to mitigate climate change might be sowing the seeds of the next Brexit-style revolt. He said: As our new and necessary policies begin to bite, with the huge changes to everyday life that they will entail, not everyone will be happy. The absence of democratic pressure valves in the implementation of policy will leave us all vulnerable to a demagogic backlash. On the whole, though, the new Tories seem more interested in equality, and more representative of the country they serve, than previous cohorts. The smaller number of new Labour MPs (crucially, not to be confused with New Labour MPs) include a number of Jeremy Corbyn supporters. One of the striking contributions was from Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who replaced Chuka Umunna in Streatham, south London, and who thanked him for inspiring her to join the Labour Party, a young black man who, just like me, was born and bred in Streatham. She also paid tribute to Diane Abbott, for whom she used to work, and to Corbyn and John McDonnell, socialist heroes. She said she had been energised as a student activist to help stop the deportation of a fellow student. So I am very proud to have been appointed shadow immigration minister and continue that fight today. It is unusual for an MP to be appointed to the front bench before delivering their first speech. So it is possible, if people are no longer Leavers and Remainers, and with more One Nation Tory levellers-up and a few more Corbynites, that the House of Commons has shifted noticeably to the left. I was told that if everything else is going well in Afghanistan, we are not going to keep letting our soldiers get killed for Afghan women, she said, recounting a briefing she had with a senior U.S. official in the past year. She refused to name the official because of the sensitivity of the matter. The heads of five leading Medicare Supplement insurance companies will take part in a special luncheon session at the 2020 National Medigap industry Summit organized by the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance (AAMSI). "Change is constant but the speed at which change occurs seems to continually accelerate so we are bringing together industry leaders to share their insights, their forecast and to address questions," shares Jesse Slome, AAMSI's director. The five heads of Medigap insurers will participate as part of the Association's 2020 conference taking place in Chicago. "We'll have the largest Medigap companies, UnitedHealthcare and Aetna alongside three other significant industry leaders, Bankers Fidelity, Liberty Bankers and Manhattan Life," Slome announced. "This will be the first time we have had heads of insurers all come on stage at the time when virtually all conference attendees are in one place so it will make for a most interesting opportunity to hear what they have to say." The 12th National Medicare Supplement Insurance Summit takes place May 13-15 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Over 800 industry leaders annually attend the event. The Association offers a completely free day for insurance professionals who want to attend sessions and walk the exhibit hall which will feature 130 booth spaces this year. Over 1,000 Medicare insurance professionals are expected to attend the conference that is held annually and moves around the country. "We are excited about holding the event for the first time in Chicago," Slome added. To learn more about becoming listed on the 2020 National Medicare Insurance Summit visit the Association's website at www.medicaresupp.org/Chicago or call the organization for details. State Bank of India (SBI) on Saturday set a cap of Rs 10,000 crore on investment in beleaguered Yes Bank Limited, including an immediate infusion of Rs 2,450 crore, and reassured depositors in the latter that their money was absolutely safe, as investigators questioned co-founder Rana Kapoor and probed questionable loans extended by the private lender. If SBI, the countrys largest commercial bank, becomes the sole investor in Yes Bank and picks up a 49%t stake, the immediate outgo would be Rs 2,450 crore, chairman Rajnish Kumar said. SBI will not seek capital from the government to fund the rescue and may instead work with other investors, Kumar told reporters. Many potential co-investors have approached SBI to be part of the deal, he said. Our investment is an assurance to depositors and our co-investors, Kumar said. We are in a comfortable position to inject funds into the bank. He added that he had set an investment boundary of Rs 10,000 crore for the bailout,based on an assumption of higher capital requirements in the future and to keep Yes Bank operational. He stressed that it wasnt a merger and SBI wouldnt be involved in Yes Banks day-to-day operations. On Friday evening, a day after it clamped a moratorium on Yes Bank, limiting withdrawals to Rs 50,000, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unveiled a rescue plan under which a strategic investor would acquire a 48% stake in the lender and will not reduce it to below 26% before three years from the date of infusing the funds. Yes Bank plunged into trouble after failing to raise money, around $2-2.5 billion, that it needs.Kumar said that SBI, being the countrys largest bank, had to try and prevent an important lender from going down. You need a credible name with the investors to save a bank, he said. SBI is a credible institution with size. Kumar said SBI had received the RBIs draft scheme of reconstruction for Yes Bank and its investment and legal teams were carrying out a due diligence on the draft. Once we complete our due diligence, we will go back to the RBI with our comments, he said. Monday, March 9, is the deadline for a potential investor to submit its feedback to the central bank. Kumar said the investment in Yes Bank wouldnt be against SBIs shareholders interests, ruled out any conflict of interest and assured depositors in the troubled bank that their money was absolutely not at risk. In a separate statement, the state-owned bank said: All the employees of the reconstructed bank shall continue in its service with the same remuneration and on the same terms and conditions... at least for a period of one year. Asked about the impact of raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday at the Mumbai residence of Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor, who was questioned by the ED on Saturday, Kumar said it will not affect the lenders restructuring exercise. Yes Bank is an entity and Rana Kapoor is an individual. So if an individual has done something wrong, they will pay the price for that but why should the enterprise suffer, he said. The ED, which investigates suspected money laundering offences, questioned Kapoor for hours as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stepped in to probe dubious loans given by the bank, and the financial dealings and investments of Kapoor and his family members, officials said on condition of anonymity. A CBI official said the agency was likely to register a preliminary enquiry very soon and that it was already in touch with the RBI, the finance ministry, ED and regulatory bodies to access documents relating to Yes Bank. ED investigators questioned Kapoor on alleged transfers worth crores of rupees into the accounts of his family members by Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFL) after the bank sanctioned several loans to the non-banking financial company, which has gone bankrupt. His residence in Mumbai and a couple of locations in Delhi were also searched on Saturday by ED. An ED official said a loan of Rs 600 crore was sanctioned between April and July 2018 by DHFL to a company called Doit Urban Ventures, which is controlled by family members of Kapoor. This transaction took place when DHFL failed to repay the loans of Yes Bank, said the official. Yes banks exposure on DHFL is worth around Rs 3,700 crore. Another ED official said Yes Bank also gave a loan of Rs 750 crore to RKW Developers, a company run by the Wadhawans of DHFL, which is now under the scanner in a money laundering probe related to its financial dealings with underworld don Dawood Ibrahims aide Iqbal Mirchi, who died in 2013. Kapoor was also asked about a Memorandum of Understanding signed between DHFL and Yes Bank in 2011 pertaining to home loans to customers of the latter, said the second ED officer. Kapoor could not be contacted for comment. (With inputs from HTC, Mumbai, and Agencies) Among Mr. Rutnams offenses, people with knowledge of the situation said, was warning Ms. Patel how unrealistic it was to set up such a system in less than 10 months. While Ms. Patel has few defenders outside Mr. Johnsons party and faces a government investigation of her conduct even her critics said they understood the pressures she faced, as the leader of a front-line ministry in a government that is carrying out radical changes in the name of getting Brexit done. Image Philip Rutman speaking before the Home Affairs Committee in Parliament last month. Credit... Parliamentary Recording Unit Moreover, Mr. Johnsons aides are probably not wrong to suspect that on balance, most civil servants would have preferred that Britain never left the European Union. Many are weary after serving Mr. Johnsons predecessor, Theresa May, who promised to deliver Brexit but went about it in a chaotic and contradictory way that sowed confusion in the bureaucracy. Cummings is right to think its a problem, said Jonathan Powell, who served as chief of staff to Prime Minister Tony Blair. But if he was going to get rid of them, he would have to sack the entire civil service, because in their hearts, they believe that leaving the European Union was a bad idea. New prime ministers, Mr. Powell said, typically come into office determined to overhaul the civil service and they typically fail. In 1997, Mr. Blair and his aides were convinced that after 18 years of Conservative Party rule, the civil service would be implacably hostile to his Labour Party agenda. In 1999, he complained about the scars on my back from two years of battling with Britains public sector, a broader category that includes teachers, doctors and other public employees. But Mr. Powell said that to his surprise, the civil service showed an almost preternatural capacity to fall in behind its new masters. We thought they would be Tories, he said. In fact, they bent over backward to carry out our manifesto. By IANS THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Kuwait health authorities suddenly imposing travel ban from seven countries, including India, on account of COVID-19, around 170 passengers were stranded at the Karipur airport in Kozhikode on Saturday. The ban will be in force for a week starting Saturday and applies to all airlines flying to Kuwait from Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon, besides India. The restrictions came a day after Union Minister of State for External Affairs V.Muraleedharan informed that the Kuwait government, which had insisted all passengers travelling to the Middle East to carry a coronavirus free certificate, was cancelled. Ahead of the International Womens Day, men have emerged as the biggest supporters for the cause to make every single day into a special day for all women in their lives. Most of them acknowledge the important role played by women in their lives and hope to contribute to their empowerment in the world. It wouldnt be wrong to say that the desired recognition, that many strong women build-up through ages have started to be recognised by the male-dominated world. Many women have stood together through thick and thin to spread the shine of female identity amid the dominance of patriarchy. While many celebrate the special day of women on March 8 with all its glory, some raise an eyebrow. With the pass of time and mentality, men have blurred the line of stereotypes and have been the frontrunner in acknowledging the need for this special day. According to 25-year-old Anantha, acknowledging the special day is the best return gift for all the sacrifices and dedication that women have given to the world. Given the countless sacrifices and dedication that our mothers and sisters put forth on a daily basis, a day specifically dedicated for those women could be the least of the return gift that we could provide, he said. An engineer by profession, Hari is one among those who strongly believe that men are incomplete without women. From the very first breath we draw to the very last, every man in this world is indebted to women in one way or the other, he said. Stressing about the diverse role that women play in her life, he further said: A man can only try but never can fill the shoes of a mother, a sister, a daughter or a wife. On reference to the coming International Womens Day, Hari said: Womens day provides us with the opportunity to show gratitude and love to all the beautiful women in this world. Wed be totally in sixes and sevens without you!. While many young adults have expanded their thoughts about the importance of having a special day dedicated to women, there are few who are not completely disagreeing but doesnt find the hype necessary. A middle-aged auto-driver, who didnt wish to reveal his name, finds that the concept around making a womens day itself was unnecessary. We respect women, they help us run the household but the hype around womens day is unnecessary. Make every day a day of women instead. Do good to them that is the best we can do, he said. While, for Sooraj, an architect, celebrating womens day shouldnt be a forced action. But he is someone who is completely in favour that men are incomplete without women. A lot of theories around feminism and male chauvinism are discussed today, but keeping those aside, personally I feel men are indeed incomplete without women, he said. He suggested that celebrating the day for the wonderful woman she is, should be left completely as a personal choice. If demand is made to celebrate the womens day in particular, the whole essence behind the power of what women will be lost somewhere. Respect them for the woman she is and make every day hers, he added. While recounting the positive aspects of women, most of them also expressed a hope that women should get to live in a crime-free and peaceful environment that they wish for. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter A former government minister is suing RTE and the State over a court case in which a jury found he was partly responsible for the defamation of a Sinn Fein political manager. In proceedings initiated this week, Labour politician Joe Costello claimed he was denied the right to defend himself in the high-profile action taken by one-time Provisional IRA member Nicky Kehoe. Ruling Mr Kehoe sued RTE over an episode of the Saturday With Claire Byrne radio show in October 2015 in which he claimed he was falsely described by Mr Costello as the IRA's former chief of staff in Dublin. In the ensuing trial in February 2018, Mr Justice Bernard Barton made a significant ruling in which he found the former Labour Party TD could be described as a "concurrent wrongdoer". A jury later awarded Mr Kehoe 10,000 damages. This was reduced to 3,500 as the jury also found RTE was only 35pc responsible for the defamation. Mr Costello, a former junior trade minister, was found to be 65pc responsible. However, he did not have to pay any compensation as he was not a defendant. The former Dublin Central TD has now issued proceedings against RTE, the State and the Attorney General, claiming he was denied fair procedures and natural and constitutional justice as he had no opportunity to defend himself. Mr Costello claims his polit- ical credibility and reputation were damaged by the finding, and he had not been invited back on any RTE current affairs programmes. During the defamation trial, Ms Byrne said she thought Mr Costello had "gone doo-lally" when he claimed a former chief of staff of the IRA in Dublin was directing councillors on how to vote at meetings. Defence Mr Costello did not identify anyone by name, but Mr Kehoe's name was introduced to the discussion by Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin, who gave an impassioned defence of his party colleague. Within minutes, Mr Costello climbed down on the claim. Ms Byrne also read a clarification at the end of the show. However, the jury found Mr Kehoe had been defamed because the contents of the broadcast meant he was not a fit person to be involved in the democratic process. In proceedings initiated on Thursday by Mr Costello's solicitors, the politician is seeking a declaration that his constitutional rights were breached. His testimony on the trials fourth day likely will prove crucial for prosecutors as well. Kulic said he instantly recognized the man giving chase Bauer was a police officer. And he said he did not see or hear any second gun fired on the plaza outside the Thompson Center. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 7 Trend: Azerbaijan will continue to follow the path of stability. And this is the key thing for investors, said Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev during a meeting with the staff of the Aghstafa Agro-Industrial Complex. Greetings! I am reviewing the operation of the Aghstafa agricultural estate for the third time. Every time I come here, I see innovation and development. I am glad that the agricultural estate has developed rapidly over these years, including my recommendations that were taken into account. So a modern production, commercial and trading complex has been created in Aghstafa district. I first came here in 2012. At that time, we celebrated the first stage in the establishment of the agricultural estate. After that, in 2016, the foundation was laid of the enterprise I have just reviewed. And I am here again in 2020. I am glad and want to say again that the agricultural estate is a large enterprise that plays a very important role in the agricultural and processing sector of Azerbaijan. And this is natural because there are excellent conditions for entrepreneurs and investors in Azerbaijan. They know that the state is behind them. They know that Azerbaijan will continue to follow the path of stability. And this is the key thing for investors, said the head of state. He noted that every investor, foreign or local, will certainly take these factors into account when planning to invest. During meetings with many foreign investors, the main thing they tell me is that there is stability in Azerbaijan. This stability is already 27 years old, and no-one doubts the further successful development of the country. In addition, the infrastructure is available. If the state had not implemented infrastructure projects in the regions, investors would probably be looking for other places to invest. Huge work has been done in this area in Aghstafa district. During the opening of the new substation today, I was informed that the energy supply of Aghstafa district is at the level of 20 megawatts at present, but the potential is twice as high. So the creation of twice as many industrial enterprises and other facilities will be provided with existing energy capacities. Of course, a good level of energy supply is one of the key conditions for business, said President Aliyev. He noted that according to a report of the Davos World Economic Forum, Azerbaijan ranks second in the world in terms of the availability of electricity. Gas supply level in Aghstafa district is 90 percent. The level of repair of roads is about 90 percent. In 2013, a drinking water project was completed and commissioned. In other words, all conditions have been created for investors. I am glad that investors of the Aghstafa agricultural estate have taken advantage of all these opportunities and invested heavily. I am told that funds worth nearly 80 million manats have been invested. And the invested funds are in full view. So I want to say again: this is my third visit here and the history of this agricultural park has evolved before my eyes. The agricultural estate will also provide tremendous support for the development of agriculture. I have asked the yield is above average. The average yield in grain production in the country is 32 quintals and you have 40-50 quintals. This is also very important because our sown area is somewhat limited. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to increasing yields, added the president. SAFRA Jurong (PHOTO: Google Maps/Screenshot) SINGAPORE Of the new COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak cluster at SAFRA Jurong, some of the confirmed cases presented themselves quite a number of days after they developed symptoms of the virus. This was revealed by Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, the Ministry of Healths (MOH) director of medical services, during a media conference on Friday evening (6 March). He was responding to media queries on why the first few cases of the SAFRA Jurong cluster surfaced only in the last couple of days, when the dinner which the patients had attended occured back on 15 February. A total of 17 confirmed cases are linked to the dinner the second biggest COVID-19 cluster in Singapore after the 31 cases linked to two churches, The Life Church and Missions Singapore and the Grace Assembly of God. It depends on when they presented themselves (to be tested). In fact, a number of individuals presented themselves quite a number of days after they were symptomatic, and it's something that we have always had a concern about, Mak said. In some of these instances, we've noticed that people might have some respiratory symptoms but they continued with their social activities, continued to go to work. That makes it even more challenging for us, because (their actions) exposed other people, who would otherwise have been well, to COVID-19 infection. It makes our task even more difficult when it comes to trying to identify whom the close contacts might be to isolate them and keep them under surveillance. Mak further urged the public not to mix around and continue with social and work activities if they are not feeling well. You have to see a doctor early, isolate and rest yourself at home as much as possible, he said. On Friday, Singapore saw 13 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, the biggest jump on a single day so far, bringing the total number of infections to 130 cases. Of the new cases on Friday, nine are part of the cluster at SAFRA Jurong, adding to the four cases announced on Thursday. Another four earlier cases were also traced to the cluster. Story continues Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: COVID-19: Singapore confirms single-day high of 13 new cases; total 130 COVID-19: MOH probing possible transmission between 2 SGH patients COVID-19: Premature to make conclusions about virus variants - MOH official COVID-19: SG Clean Taskforce set up to ensure long-term hygiene standards 2.9k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Trump was reeling from his coronavirus bungled response and made things worse by replacing Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney with Mark Meadows. Trump tweeted the announcement: .I want to thank Acting Chief Mick Mulvaney for having served the Administration so well. He will become the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Thank you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 7, 2020 According to The Washington Post, Trumps own advisers are questioning the move: One longtime Trump adviser said it was a questionable choice to install Meadows, given that he has no experience leading such a large operation. The president, and Ive heard him say this, sees Mark as very good politically, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. But the president is a political animal. He needs someone who will actually take care of the store for him while hes out running for reelection. And theres a question in my mind whether Mark can do that. . Some in the presidents orbit, though, worry that Meadows is duplicitous. Several current and former Trump aides say they feel he often tells the president one thing but sometimes tells lawmakers or Capitol Hill staffers something entirely different. Trumps motivation for this change is obvious. He needed someone to blame for his failed coronavirus response, and Mulvaney is taking the fall. Meadows is a terrible choice to serve as Trumps chief of staff. In a reelection year, the incumbent president is bringing in someone with zero experience in running such a large organization. If the past is any indication, Trump will quickly sour on Meadows, and he will be gone in a matter of months. Trump and the country need the White House to have a real chief of staff, but Trumps attraction to stooges and clowns will only deepen the incompetence of his failed administration. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook In a hearing of the Senate Estimates Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade last Thursday, senior Labor parliamentarian Penny Wong broke her long standing silence over the plight of imprisoned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Wong, who is Labors Senate leader and shadow foreign minister, posed several questions to representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), feigning concern over the fate that awaits Assange if he is extradited from Britain to the US. Penny Wong [Credit: ABC News/Matt Roberts] She began by asking them to outline the charges against the WikiLeaks founder. The exchange had an absurd, pantomime-like character given that the US indictment containing 17 Espionage Act charges and another charge against Assange was publicly released in May last year. Wong, along with Labor leader Anthony Albanese and every other senior party representative, has refused to condemn the charges, which are a frontal assault on press freedom and freedom of speech. Instead they have joined the Liberal-National Coalition government in pledging worthless and unspecified consular assistance to Assange, while doing nothing to defend him. The Labor representative then asked about potential sentences that Assange would face. The DFAT officials stated that the Espionage Act charges and the other count of computer intrusion provided for a maximum term of 175 years imprisonment. They said that they did not know whether the US would seek a cumulative sentence. Wong blandly noted that if they did, it would effectively amount to life imprisonment. Wong however, immediately moved on. She asked whether the charges would carry the death penalty, given what she described as our bipartisan commitment to oppose extraditions to face capital punishment. The officials said that they did not. Would it be possible, Wong asked, that Assange might face additional charges once he arrived in the US that attract capital punishment? The DFAT officials said that this could not be excluded. Wong queried whether the Australian government had made representations on this issue with Britain. When they said they had not, she feigned frustration. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as he is transported in a police vehicle to a hearing [Credit: AP Photo/Matt Dunham] The exchange demonstrated that Labor has no opposition to Assanges threatened extradition. It would be happy for him to be dispatched to a CIA prison for his role in exposing US-led war crimes and global diplomatic conspiracies, provided that he merely rotted behind bars and was not executed. A slow-motion assassination of Assange, they calculate, would be less likely to provoke popular opposition, including in Australia. Wongs intervention was even more damning when examined in its context. She spoke immediately after Foreign Minister Marise Payne, along with DFATs chief legal officer James Larsson and first assistant secretary Andrew Todd, had explicitly endorsed the abuses of Assanges legal and democratic rights during the first week of British extradition court hearings on February 25. Greens Senator Whish-Wilson had noted that Assange was held throughout the proceedings in a bullet-proof glass box at the back of the court that prevented him from participating in the hearing or instructing his lawyers. Todd declared that the court had found that such procedures were standard. In reality, the defence and even the prosecution lawyers had stated that this was not the case and had proposed that Assange be allowed to sit with his counsel. The fact the request was rejected only underscored the bias of the presiding judge, Vanessa Baraitser. The DFAT bureaucrats similarly described as standard the fact that Assange was handcuffed 11 times and stripped naked twice on the opening day of the hearing. They had been informed that only the theft of his legal documents by prison staff on the evening of February 25 was not standard and had been a mistake. Payne and the DFAT officials restated their lying claims that the government is powerless to intervene in defence of Assange. In reality, the government has clear responsibilities under legal and international law to intervene in defence of a citizen who is being persecuted for his political opinions and activities. To justify their position, they were compelled to present the show-trial underway in London as an exercise in due process and the rule of law. Larsson declared that the government had a very high level of confidence in the British legal process. They had seen no evidence to suggest that Assange was receiving treatment that is different from any other person in his circumstance. Larsson did not and could not name any such person. No other journalist is being held by Britain in a maximum-security prison, without having been convicted of an offense, is appearing in a counter-terror court and faces extradition and life-imprisonment for publishing documents exposing war crimes. The Australian government, Larsson declared, took the position that it would only intervene in legal proceedings if there was a gross violation of rights. This is clearly the situation facing Assange, who has endured a decade of arbitrary detention and has no prospect of a fair trial if dispatched to the US. But Larsson baldly declared that it was not. The DFAT officials and Payne would say nothing on the revelations that Assange and his lawyers had been illegally spied on by the CIA, when he was a political refugee in Ecuadors London embassy. They evaded a question from Whish-Wilson, who cited United Nations Special Rapporteur Nils Melzers warning that the Assange case was a modern show-trial, featuring politically-motivated prosecutors, denial of justice, manipulated evidence, biased judges, unlawful surveillance, denial of defence rights and abusive prison conditions. Payne and the DFAT officials pathetically complained that Melzer had not written directly to the Australian government. Wongs line of questioning demonstrates that Labor is at one with the government in its defence of what Melzer has described as the psychological torture of Assange. Labor, in fact, has played one of the central roles in the campaign of public mobbing and psychological torture that Melzer has condemned. In 2010, when senior US politicians were calling for Assanges assassination, Greens-backed Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard branded WikiLeaks as a criminal organisation and pledged to assist the US attempts to destroy it. In other words, Labor set the line that has been pursued by every government since. It established the pattern for 10 years of Australian governments collaborating in the US-led vendetta against Assange. Wong, as shadow foreign minister, has said nothing in defence of Assange since his arrest in April last year. She has only mentioned the WikiLeaks founder on a handful of occasions, echoing government talking points about meaningless consular assistance. Labor, like the government, refused to respond to letters from over 100 eminent medical doctors, demanding that it intervene to secure Assange access to proper medical care. Wong and her colleagues were indifferent to the doctors warnings that Assange could die in prison if he was not urgently moved out of solitary confinement in Belmarsh Prison and to a university teaching hospital. Wong has also lent credence to the slanders directed against the WikiLeaks founder. Shortly after his brutal arrest, she pointed to a very interesting and useful article by Peter Greste, which falsely claimed that Assange was not a journalist, in keeping with the US indictment against him. Tanya Plibersek, another senior Labor leader, reshared a Tweet describing Assanges supporters as cultists and branding him as a fascist who had undermined democracy. The record demonstrates that anyone counselling supporters of Assange to place their hopes in Labor is perpetrating a political fraud. They are false friends, seeking to divert mounting opposition to Assanges persecution behind the very parties responsible for his dire plight. Labors central role in the torture of the WikiLeaks founder is of a piece with its character as the preeminent party of the US-Australia military alliance, the intelligence agencies and the corporate elite. In the wake of coronavirus outbreak, Agra Mayor Naveen Jain on Friday urged the Centre to close all the historical monuments in the country including the Taj Mahal till the situation doesn't come under control. "Foreign tourists in large numbers visit Agra, this increases the chances of spread of coronavirus in the city. I urge the Government of India to close all historical monuments in the country including the Taj Mahal till the time situation doesn't come under control," Jain told ANI. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government has strengthened the surveillance and control measures against the disease. "Till date, 2915 travellers from corona affected countries have been identified and tracked by District Surveillance Units and all have been placed under surveillance. Total 713 travellers being tracked are in fine health, 708 travellers are under home isolation, 3 of them are symptomatic at present and admitted at various hospitals, condition of all of them is stable," read an official statement of the government. The state has cross-notified 532 travellers to other states within India and details of 26 travellers have been shared with NCDC, GOI for International Cross-notification. This comes after the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has reached 31 in India. The deadly virus has caused more than 3200 deaths across the world. The novel coronavirus disease, dubbed COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO), was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, in late December 2019 and has since spread to more than 20 other countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jesus statue, crosses forcibly removed from Christian cemetery in India Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As Christian persecution continues to rise under the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India, authorities in a southern state removed a statue of Jesus and 14 crosses from a Christian property after radical Hindu groups alleged the Christian center was being used for religious conversions. The 12-foot statue and crosses were taken down this week from Mahima Betta, a Catholic cemetery and center, in Doddasagarahalli, about 30 miles north of Bangalore in Karnataka state, according to Catholic News Agency. Officials had recently called all communities and said there had been complaints about conversion, J.A. Kanthraj, a spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, told the Indian news channel NDTV. People, however, said there was no problem and no conversion was happening. But two days ago, the tahsildar (official) brought police and a JCB loader, and without any notice, oral or written, they removed the statue and the stations of the cross. The land has been used by local Christians for nearly 40 years without any prior issues, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern said. During the Lent season, Indian Christians also use the area for the Way of the Cross and prayer gatherings. The areas Catholic Archbishop Peter Machado said the Christians of Bangalore consider the forceful removal of the statue of Lord Jesus at our legally allotted burial ground as unacceptable and are greatly shocked and we condemn this high-handed action of the local authorities. The archbishop added that there had been absolutely no problem from local people to our burials, nor our prayers and devotions on the hill. While the Christians attend these prayers and devotions, the others are not forbidden to visit this place. Since about a week, some people from outside have been creating tensions by spreading wrong rumors that the place is used for conversion, which is completely far from the truth, the archbishop clarified. It is very sad, unfortunate and regrettable that the police, bowing to the pressure of a few outsiders, have forcefully removed the statue of Lord Jesus. It is a blow to the communal harmony of the people in our villages and also violation of the religious freedom guaranteed to us by the Indian Constitution, he added. Modi, of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, took office as Prime Minister in 2014. Since the current ruling party took power in 2014, incidents against Christians have increased, and Hindu radicals often attack Christians with little to no consequences, noted Open Doors World Watch List, which ranked India as the 10th worst country for Christians. The view of the Hindu nationalists is that to be Indian is to be Hindu, so any other faith including Christianity is viewed as non-Indian. Also, converts to Christianity from Hindu backgrounds or tribal religions are often extremely persecuted by their family members and communities, Open Doors added. At least one Christian was attacked every day last year, according to Open Doors. During his first official visit to India, U.S. President Donald Trump praised Modi's record in governance and his willingness to discuss religious freedom. While Trump was in the country, the city of Delhi, the nation's capital, was witnessing religion-based violence. Less than 10 miles from Hyderabad House, where Trump and Modi met in Delhi, a targeted spate of violence killed at least 53 people, mostly from the Muslim minority. Trump told reporters during a news conference that he and Modi did talk about religious freedom for a long time, and stressed that he really believes religious freedom is what Modi wants. The prime minister was incredible on what he told me. He wants people to have religious freedom, he added. He said that, in India, they have worked very hard to have great and open religious freedom. And if you look back and you look at whats going on, relative to other places especially, they have really worked hard on religious freedom. More than a dozen incidents of Christian persecution were recorded by Christian groups in India last month alone. In India, Muslims and Christians have had good relations as both communities are politically targeted by Hindu nationalists. An anonymous nurse in California says she has been left in limbo because she is being denied a test for coronavirus despite showing symptoms after treating an infected patient. The nurse previously volunteered to treat a confirmed patient, and has slammed the Center of Disease Control decision not to test her as 'ridiculous and uneducated'. National Nurses United Union president Bonnie Castillo shared a statement from the anonymous nurse, who is based at a northern California Kaiser facility, in which she outlined how testing was being treated like a 'deli counter' by federal officials. The nurse claims she have been recommended for testing by her doctor and by county officials, but has been told her case is not yet considered serious enough to warrant a test, despite being in direct contact with a known patient. She is now being left in limbo, reluctant to return to work without testing for fear of infecting further patients. The statement was widely shared on social media as the CDC's decision was branded 'bonkers'. Scroll down for video National Nurses United Union president Bonnie Castillo read the statement Thursday Deborah Berger, president of National Nurses United, speaks during a news conference at the National Nurses United offices on March 05, reading a statement from an anonymous nurse A new laboratory test kit for use in testing patient specimens for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. A nurse in California has been refused testing A video published to Twitter Thursday showed Burger reading out the statement from the anonymous nurse who said she was concerned about the government's response to the outbreak as nurses call for further protections while treating the outbreak. Despite wearing all the recommended gear and using caution and training from her employer, the nurse began to show coronavirus symptoms after bravely stepped forward to treat a person tested positive. 'I did this assuming that if something happened to me, of course I too would be cared for. Then, what was a small concern after a few days of caring for this patient, became my reality,' the statement said. 'I started getting sick.' The nurse was put on 14-day quarantine when she started showing symptoms and a test was ordered by her doctor and the public county officer but the 'CDC would not initiate the testing', she claims. According to the nurse, the CDC said she could not have the coronavirus if she had been wearing protective clothing. 'What kind of science-based answer is that? What a ridiculous and uneducated response from the department that is in charge of our health in this country,' she said in the statement. The CDC then allegedly went on to claim that the test would only be run 'by illness severity'. 'This is not the ticket dispenser at the deli counter; its a public health emergency! I am a registered nurse, and I need to know if I am positive before going back to caring for patients,' the statement continued. 'I am appalled at the level of bureaucracy thats preventing nurses from getting tested. That is a health care decision my doctor and my county health department agree with. Delaying this test puts the whole community at risk.' The nurse's comments were widely shared on social media where people questioned the CDC and government's response and claimed the U.S. outbreak was quickly going to deteriorate into a crisis. Actor Ken Marino claimed 'this is absolutely bonkers that the CDC responded this way' while author and social activist Naomi Klein said it was 'absolutely chilling'. 'They seem to be actively suppressing the number of cases, which can only be happening for political reasons. This is also a reminder of the courage of nurses, who are our first responders in every single crisis,' she added. Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal said that not only was the current response going to result in a health crisis but that it would also soon become an 'economic crisis'. 'We need better leadership in Washington and better action planning immediately,' claimed TV chef Andrew Zimmern, who added that 'the insanity of the govt hurdles is plain to see'. The danger to nurses was also quickly highlighted with Joanne Freeman, history professor at Yale saying, 'this is bad' if nurses are told they must wait in line. 'The US is rationing care for *nurses* during a public health emergency,' writer Robery Mackey emphasized. 'Does the CDC only have something 40 tests and theyre just lying?' questioned National Review writer Michael Brendan Dougherty. 'This is nuts. You cant get more obviously high risk than a nurse attending to a confirmed case.' Others continued to blame the government from refusing testing so they can under count infections in the country. 'The US government is blatantly undercounting infections, even by denying confirmation testing to sickened healthcare professionals,' wrote actor Evan Handler. 'This country is not ready for this. This anti-science administration is lying about or doesn't truly understand what is happening. People are going to die because of Trump's stupidity,' added writer Joshua Topolsky. It is not known what Kaiser facility the nurse works in but the first Californian death was taken by ambulance on February 27 to Kaiser Permanente Roseville and placed in isolation before passing away. Kaiser Permanente Roseville where a coronavirus patient in California passed away Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center. It is not known if the nurse worked here As of Friday only 1,895 people in the US have definitively been tested for coronavirus, according to a new investigation. The Atlantic could only verify that as many tests had been run, despite federal officials claims that they now have capacity to test 15,000 Americans for the virus that's infected nearly 300 across the country and killed 15. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been widely criticized for first distributing a flawed test, then only providing states with a couple hundred test each. And officials from President Trump's coronavirus task force have had to walk back many of their promises for expediting and more widely distributing tests. Meanwhile, US officials have so far declined to use the 15 minute blood test for coronavirus that a South Carolina company, BioMedomics, claims to is already helping Japan, China and Italy catch and isolate cases faster. It's not clear why the test is unable to move forward, but comes amid widespread frustrations over the limited availability of slow tests for the virus sweeping the nation. In lieu of a treatment of vaccine for the new virus, COVID-19, testing is essential if the US is to have any hope of containing the deadly disease that has now infected people in more than 20 states. 'The CDC got this right with H1NI and Zika, and produced huge quantities of test kits that went around the country,' Thomas Frieden, former director of the agency told The Atlantic. 'I dont know what went wrong this time.' President Donald Trump on Friday brushed off concerns about the limited number of coronavirus test kits during a visit to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and announced during a chaotic press conference that 'anybody who wants a test can get a test.' He left officials scrambling to explain how such a commitment could happen after free-wheeling press availability where he publicly disagreed with his own government's approach to the cruise ship, referenced impeachment, asked about TV ratings, and called a Democratic government 'a snake.' 'The tests are beautiful,' Trump added after meeting with top U.S. scientists amid the coronavirus outbreak. 'Anybody who right now and yesterday, anybody that needs a test gets a test,' Trump said. Trump praised his own administration's response amid concerns that the million test kits promised had yet to materialize. The recent communal riots in Delhi are another grim reminder of how hatred can cause grievous harm and loss of innocent lives. But this is not the first instance of the Capital facing violent communal clashes involving Hindus and Muslims. Back in 1947, in the aftermath of Partition, Delhi faced similar rioting with all communities -- Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs -- involved in wholescale violence. Mahatma Gandhi went on a fast in 1948 against the Hindu-Sikh majority of India and the Muslim majority of Pakistan, who were both attacking the minorities in their respective countries. How did the political leadership of the day, namely the prime minister, respond to the situation? Turns out the conduct of Jawaharlal Nehru in the midst of an unfolding communal storm has many lessons for todays political chieftains, whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his closest lieutenant, Home Minister Amit Shah, or Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The leaders of today, by comparison, appear as if they have cut and run from an ongoing disaster. Neither the PM or the HM or even the Delhi CM were to be seen anywhere near the scenes of violence even days after the rioting had stopped. The first government representative to tour the riot-hit areas of north-east Delhi was National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. After the death of Mahatma Gandhi in January 1948, India underwent a series of communal clashes, especially in New Delhi. Congress leader and writer Shashi Tharoor in his Nehru: The Invention of India quotes the American journalist Norman Cousins as noting in an essay that there were two eyewitnesses to an incident which took place at night in August the same year, when Nehru himself jumped in the middle of an ongoing attack to stop it. He spied a Moslem who had just been seized by Hindus. He interposed himself between the man and his attackers. Suddenly a cry went up, Jawaharlal is here! Dont hurt Jawaharlal! The news that Jawaharlal himself had entered the scene soon spread through the crowd. It had a magical effect. People stood still and dropped their arms to their sides. Looted merchandise was dropped. The mob psychologically disintegrated. By the time the police arrived people were dispersing. The riot was over. In The Many Faces of Jawaharlal, by Aakar Patel, there is a reference to another incident during the same period, where Nehru rushed to save a Muslim tailor by grabbing the lathi the police used to beat up the man. Patel notes: Nehru was already prime minister when he was passing by a mob that was attacking a Muslim tailor at Chandni Chowk. He ordered the car to stop and jumped in to save the man, swinging a lathi that he took from the police. He had no care for his personal safety and of course, this was in the time when prime ministers did not have the sort of security that they do today. But he thought of nothing other than the victim and the mob, terrified at the enraged leader in their midst, fled. Nehru also made sure that he reached out to the chief ministers of the states time and again, most notably through letters. He wrote about the need to save the country from communal politics at the time of the East Pakistan riots and its retaliation in Kolkata (then Calcutta) and Dhaka, in late 1947, reiterating .. the paramount importance of preserving the public services from the virus of communal politics. Underlining the urgent need to control the situation before matters got out of hand, he wrote: We would be faced with a situation of the utmost gravity, viz. of having a government in the office which could not get its decrees executed by its own servants; the sort of thing that is happening quite frequently in South American Republics. At that point in South America, in Colombia particularly, the Conservative government had begun increasing their reprisals against Liberal protesters and small rebel groups. This retaliation was considered to be the genesis of La Violencia, a civil war that went on from 1948 to 1958. Nehrus actions come back to us today when we are faced with the almost total abdication of personal involvement by top political leaders to defuse situations of violence. It is time to ask, even if there seems little chance of it actually happening, whether our current leaders will learn from history, or will the country be condemned to repeat the mistakes. MEDFORD, Ore. Police surrounded a Medford neighborhood on Friday evening, arresting a 19-year-old man accused of firing a handgun from the window of a car seemingly at random. Medford Police officers responded to the 600-block of S Holly Street after getting reports of gunshots hard in the area. "Witnesses reported the suspect vehicle was a silver Volkswagen Jetta with a black hood which left the scene south on Kenyon Street at a high rate of speed," the agency said. Officers spread out and began looking through the area, finding the decribed Jetta parked in the 900-block of Kenyon Street with three people inside. When the officers approached, Medford Police said, one of the occupants got out and ran away on foot ducking into a nearby house. The other two people in the car were taken into custody. As more officers arrived on the scene, they set up a cordon around the house where the suspect had fled. An hour later, the suspect emerged and was taken into custody. Medford Police said he was identified as 19-year-old Jaime Arturo Fletes. Investigators eventually found the area on Holly Street where the gunshots had been fired, finding a spent handgun bullet casing in a nearby alley but no victims or damage to homes. After getting a search warrant for the involved house, investigators found a handgun of the same caliber as the spent casing. They also found the factory box for the gun and "additional evidence," Medford Police said. "Through the investigation and interviews it was learned Fletes had been a passenger in the car when he fired the rounds from the handgun as they were driving through the alley," the agency said. "At this time there is no indication that anyone or anything was intentionally targeted by Fletes when he fired the gun." Police said that the gun belonged to a family member that Fletes lived with. He did not have permission to use the gun, and took it without them knowing. "It was also learned that during this incident Fletes had pointed the gun at one of the occupants of the car prior to the shooting occurring," Medford Police said. Fletes faces charges for theft, menacing, unlawful possession of a firearm, and reckless endangering. Beijing registers 4 imported COVID-19 cases from Italy Global Times Source:Xinhua Published: 2020/3/6 15:34:44 Beijing reported four new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection on Thursday, all of which are imported cases from Italy, local health authorities said Friday. The four confirmed cases have been transferred to designated medical institutions for treatment in Beijing, said the municipal health commission. As of Thursday, a total of 422 infections have been reported in Beijing, including eight imported cases from overseas. No new confirmed cases have been reported in 13 of the 16 districts in Beijing for more than 14 consecutive days. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address First Case of Coronavirus Confirmed in Costa Rica Sputnik News 21:19 GMT 06.03.2020(updated 21:37 GMT 06.03.2020) The new virus (COVID-19) originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, Hubei province, and has since spread to more than 80 countries, according to the latest data provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The first case of novel coronavirus has been confirmed in Costa Rica, the health ministry said on Friday. A 49-year-old woman who arrived with her husband in Costa Rica from the United States contracted the disease, Health Minister Daniel Salas said. The couple has been placed in isolation. "We reiterate to the population that they remain calm and in that line, it is vital to emphasise that it is not necessary to buy masks, these are only recommended for sick people and caregivers and in that case they are provided by health services", the authorities said. Globally, more than 98,100 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been registered so far, according to the WHO, while South Korea, Italy, and Iran remain the countries hit hardest by the new disease outside China. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The six lambs and their mother are healthy A farming family in the Enniscorthy area is celebrating this week after one of its ewes gave birth to six lambs representing a 'one-in-a-million' event. The Rafter family, from Shroughmore, near Ballindaggin, were shocked to see the ewe give birth to the six lambs last Saturday week at around 10 a.m. Speaking to this newspaper Thomas Rafter said the ewe had been scanned for four lambs and as a result the addition two extra lambs came as a great surprise. 'It was a great surprise because it was unexpected,' Thomas told this newspaper. 'We thought she was done when had the four but then another one came and then another one,' said Thomas. 'They're all healthy and well too which is an even bigger bonus,' he added. The 5-year-old ewe is also doing well after her ordeal which was also very much welcomed by the family. Thomas said there would ordinarily be a slight difference in the birth rate of lambs in mountainous areas compared to low-laying regions and that the birthrate normally would be in the region of 1.8 or 1.9 per yew which means that a flock of 100 ewes would have 190 lambs. He also said that some breeds would be more prolific than others. The ewe who gave birth to the six lambs is a Charolais Belclare that was crossed with a Suffolk ram. Thomas has spent all his life farming and said that he and his wife, Bernie, were delighted that everything worked out as good as it did. While many sheep farmers would regard a ewe giving birth to three of four healthy lambs as being a very positive event, a ewe having six lambs is widely regarded as a 'one-in-a-million' event, as was highlighted by Thomas. 'They reckon it's a one-in-a-million chance so we are very fortunate and it's just great they're all healthy and doing well and that's the important thing,' he said. The coverage on this live blog has ended but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's U.S. team. Global cases: At least 102,469, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Global deaths: At least 3,491, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. 9:35 pm: Pope cancels main public appearances and will stream them online Pope Francis will not address crowds from his usual position in the window overlooking St Peter's Square, the Vatican said Saturday, with his regular appearances being streamed online instead. The move is an effort to prevent crowds from gathering as the coronavirus continues to grip Italy, with at least one confirmed case in Vatican City. "These choices are necessary to avoid risks of spreading COVID-19 due to gathering," the statement said. The pontiff will also not hold his general audience from St Peter's Square on Wednesday. Both addresses usually see thousands of people gather to hear the voice of the Pope. Bishop Pope Francis speaks to believers from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St Peter's Square during his Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican on January 22, 2017. Alberto Pizzoli | AFP | Getty Images 9:13 pm: Another Diamond Princess cruise ship passenger has died, Japanese media reports A former Diamond Princess cruise ship passenger has died, according to NHK , Japan's public broadcaster, Reuters reported. This brings the death toll from the ship to seven. The Diamond Princess ship is believed to be the site of what might have been the first major COVID-19 epidemic outside of China. It was quarantined at a Japanese port on Feb. 4 after a previous guest, who didn't have any symptoms while aboard the ship, tested positive for the virus. Bishop 8:33 pm: LeBron James says it's 'impossible' to play without fans Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James told reporters Friday he would not play basketball if there was no crowd. "We play games without the fans? Nah, it's impossible," James said after Lakers' win over the Milwaukee Buck, USA Today reported. His comments came after the National Basketball Association (NBA) sent a memo to teams on Friday night, urging officials to prepare game contingency plans should the coronavirus continue to spread. The NBA said teams should identify "actions required if it were to become necessary to play a game with only essential staff present" without fans or media, according to a copy of the memo obtained by CNBC. In Italy the country with the fourth-highest number of confirmed COVDI-19 cases multiple sporting events are being held without fans. Bishop and Young 8:12 pm: Italian politician tests positive for coronavirus The leader of Italy's co-ruling Democratic Party, Nicola Zingaretti, has tested positive for the coronavirus, he said in a video on Facebook Saturday. "I'm fine but I'll have to stay home for the next few days," he said. Italy is Europe's epicenter of the coronavirus, with at least 4,636 confirmed cases and 197 deaths as of Saturday. Bishop 7:22: China says all migrant workers will return to work by early April Almost 80 million Chinese migrant workers who left for the Chinese New Year holiday have returned to work, Reuters reported Saturday, as business in the country slowly starts to returns to normal. A government official said 78 million migrant workers had gone back to work that number accounts for around 60% of those who left for home for the holiday in late January, Reuters said. All workers are expected to be back at work by early April, the official added. Bishop 7:11 pm: Number of coronavirus patients in Germany continues to rise Germany's Robet Koch Institute said Saturday that the number of people with coronavirus had increased to 684. That's a rise of 45 on the day before. The majority of cases are in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where there are 346 confirmed infections. Germany has the fifth-highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world, although its total is significantly lower than the top four; Italy, which has over 4,600 cases, has the fourth-highest number. Bishop 6:18 pm: UAE, Kuwait and Qatar report rise in coronavirus cases The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has increased by 15 to 45, Reuters reported Saturday, citing the health ministry. In Kuwait, cases of the virus increased by three to 61, and Qatar now has 12 infections, Reuters said. The majority of the cases are believed to be related to Iran the country with the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world. On Saturday, Iran's total stood at 4,747. Bishop 5:36 pm: South Korea reports spike in COVID-19 cases as total tops 7,000 Coronavirus cases in South Korea jumped by 448 on Saturday, Reuters reported, taking the total number of confirmed cases above 7,000. Over half of the cases have been linked to a secretive church based in the country, Reuters said. The religious group called Shincheonji has long been suspected of being the center of the outbreak in the country. The number of deaths in the country increased by two to 46, and the total number of confirmed cases now stands at 7,041, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), Reuters reported. However, although an jump of 448 cases in one day may seem high, it is actually lower than the previous three days' increases in the country. Bishop Lee Man-hee, leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, bows during a press conference at a facility of the church in Gapyeong on March 2, 2020. Pool | AFP | Getty Images 5:16 pm: Intesa Sanpaolo 'ready to donate' over $100 million to help fight virus Major Italian retail bank Intesa Sanpaolo has said it is ready to donate 100 million euros ($113 million) to help the country in its treatment of coronavirus. Speaking to newspaper Corriere della Sera, CEO Carlo Messina said the funds would be made available for "specific projects that address the health emergency. With 100 million you can do many things." He also said the bank planned to offer 5 billion euros in loans to support affected businesses. Italy is Europe's epicenter of the coronavirus, with at least 4,636 confirmed cases and 197 deaths as of Saturday. The government announced 7.5 billion euros ($8.40 billion) in aid last week twice as much as originally planned to tackle the outbreak. Bishop 4:39 pm: Fifteen American tourists quarantined in Bethlehem hotel Fifteen Americans have been quarantined in a Bethlehem hotel over coronavirus fears, a Palestinian government spokesman told Reuters. Spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said there was an American delegation at the hotel, "and they are being dealt with according to quarantine regulations like all the others who are there." Palestine currently has at least 22 confirmed cases of the virus and has declared a state of emergency. Bishop 4:13 pm: Stanford University faculty member tests positive; in-person classes canceled Officials at Stanford University have announced that a member of faculty has tested positive for COVID-19. The school has contacted those who might have come into contact with the person and asked them to self-isolate. The staff member worked in a clinic, which has been closed for cleaning. The faculty member had not been to work since showing symptoms, Stanford University said. Meanwhile, in an online letter published late Thursday, Provost Persis Drell announced that for the last two weeks of the winter quarter, beginning March 9, classes at Stanford would not meet in person. "To the extent feasible, we will be moving classes to online formats in place of in-person instruction," Drell said. Bishop 3:20 pm: Afghanistan reports news cases of coronavirus The Afghanistan health ministry said Saturday that it had three new cases of coronavirus in the country, taking its total to four, Reuters reported. The cases were confirmed in the western Herat province, which borders Iran. There are worries about Afghanistan's border with Iran, which is one of the worst-hit countries outside of China, with more than 4,700 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 124 deaths. Bishop 2:54 pm: Australian clinic closes after doctor tests positive for coronavirus A doctor who had recently returned to Melbourne, Australia from the U.S. has been diagnosed with coronavirus, Victoria State Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said Saturday. Around 70 of the doctor's recent patients would be contacted and required to self-isolate, she said on Twitter, and The Toorak Clinic, where he worked, would be closed. Mikakos said in a press conference she was "flabbergasted" the doctor had continued to go into work, despite having flu-like symptoms. "I know many doctors want to be there for their patients & colleagues but now, more than ever, is the time to stay home if you're sick & not soldier on," she tweeted. Australia has over 60 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and two people have died from the outbreak in the country. Bishop 2:00 pm: Uber says it will compensate drivers and delivery people under quarantine In a statement to NBC News, Uber said "drivers and delivery people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in quarantine by a public health authority" will be compensated for up to 14 days. "This has already begun in some markets and we are working to implement mechanisms to do this worldwide. We believe this is the right thing to do," Andrew Macdonald, senior vice president of rides and platform at Uber, said in a statement. Wang 1:43 pm: NBA tells teams to prep contingency plans for games without fans The National Basketball Association advised officials to prepare contingency plans should the coronavirus outbreak continue to spread. The NBA said teams should identify "actions required if it were to become necessary to play a game with only essential staff present" without fans or media, according to a copy of the memo obtained by CNBC. The memo said teams should also "prepare for the possibility of implementing temperature checks on players, team staff, referees, and anyone else who is essential to conducting such a game in the team's arena." One league executive told CNBC the league hasn't considered canceling or playing games without fans, but the memo was sent to organizations as a precaution. Young 12:49 pm: Gloomy China trade report reflects outbreak's economic impact Reuters reported that China's January-February exports contracted 17.2% from last year, marking the steepest fall since February 2019. Analysts polled by Reuters had projected a 14% drop as the coronavirus outbreak disrupted supply chains and dampened demand. Reuters also reported that China reported a trade deficit of $7.09 billion for the period, versus an expected surplus of $24.6 billion. Wang 11:51 am: Florida says 2 residents have died 11:00 am: Facebook bans ads, commerce listings selling face masks Facebook is temporarily banning ads and commerce listings selling medical face masks. The social media giant said it will begin to enforce the temporary ban on these type of ads "over the next few days." The policy change comes one day after a company spokesman told CNBC that Facebook will remove political ads posted on its service if they contain misinformation related to the new coronavirus. Rodriguez South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear, spray antiseptic solution against the coronavirus in Gangnam district on in Seoul, South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun | Getty Images 9:40 am: South Korea reports 483 new cases, bringing total to 6,767 cases South Korea reported 483 new cases, bringing its total to 6,767 cases. There were two more deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 44. Bhattacharjee 8:40 am: China reports 99 new cases, 28 more deaths China's National Health Commission reported 99 new confirmed cases as of March 6, and 28 more deaths. Of the new cases, 74 were from the epicenter of Hubei, and all 28 of the deaths were from that province. That brings the country's total to 80,651 confirmed cases, and 3,070 deaths. Bhattacharjee 7:43 am: Grand Princess cruise ship has 21 cases Vice President Mike Pence on Friday said 21 people on the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of California have tested positive for coronavirus. The ship will be brought to a non-commercial port, Pence said, and everyone aboard the ship will be tested. He did not say which port the ship will go toward or when it is expected to arrive. Of the 21 people who tested positive, he added, 19 are crew members and two are passengers. Pence said health officials tested only 46 people aboard the ship. The ship, which was on a two-week voyage to Hawaii, was ordered to return early to San Francisco, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday, adding that passengers and crew have developed symptoms. A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that three passengers who were previously on the ship have tested positive, including one who has died. Feuer 6:52 am: Tilman Fertitta's restaurant empire losing about $1 million per day in sales Billionaire Tilman Fertitta his restaurant empire Landry's is losing an average of about $1 million per day in sales due to the coronavirus. Fertitta, whose restaurant brands include Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Morton's The Steakhouse, said urban areas and popular tourist locations were particularly affected, and the decline in sales is likely linked to business conferences being canceled across the country. Fertitta said the coronavirus presents business managers with a challenge but said revenue declines of about 8% to 12% are manageable. "You don't want to go 20% off. When you get to 20% off in a same-store sales, no matter what business you're in, that's when you start getting into trouble," Fertitta said. Stankiewicz 6:10 am: New York state coronavirus cases quadruple to 44, thousands under 'precautionary quarantine' The number of coronavirus cases in New York state has quadrupled over the last 48 hours to 44, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday. "The number will continue to go up because it's mathematics," Cuomo said at a news briefing. "The more you test, the more you will find." Cuomo used Twitter to revise the state's case count from 33 released earlier Friday to 44. The state reported 11 cases Wednesday evening, 22 on Thursday, 33 Friday afternoon and 44 Friday evening a fourfold increase over the previous 48 hours. There are roughly 2,700 people in New York City under 'precautionary quarantine' with more than 1,000 others also in voluntary isolation across the state, Cuomo said. Feuer 6 am: SXSW canceled due to coronavirus after Austin declares 'local disaster' The Uttar Pradesh forest department has given in-principle approval to a plan to relocate 10 tigers that have made the sugarcane fields outside the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve their home. The effort is to minimise the danger of human-animal conflict in an area where human casualties are among the highest in the vicinity of a wildlife sanctuary in India. If the proposal gets the go-ahead from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), it would be first tiger relocation in recent decades carried out with the specific intent of reducing the odds of the big cats coming into conflict with humans. Last year, 49 people were killed by tigers, 18 more than the number reported in the previous year, according to information tabled in the budget session of Parliament. Since 2014, a total of 275 people have been killed by tigers, which have lost 60 of their own in conflict with humans during the same period Pilibhit Tiger Reserve is among the wildlife habitats in India that has reported the highest number of human casualties. Twenty seven people have been killed by tigers since November 2016 in and around the 730 square kilometre reserve, home to up to 70 tigers. The tiger population inside the horseshoe-shaped reserve is at the saturation level, prompting 10 of the big cats to make their home in the sugarcane fields in the vicinity. Tigers are territorial animals and the stronger felines tend to push the weaker and older ones out of their core area, forcing them to look for a new home. At least 10 tigers have made the sugarcane fields owned by some rich farmers near Deuni dam in Pilibhits Amaria block, 18 kilometres from Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, their home, said Naveen Khandelwal, deputy director of the reserve. The presence of the big cats outside the reserve area poses a bigger danger to people in the region which already has high man-animal conflict incidents. Because the tigers were outside the reserves boundary, they needed to be shifted back into the reserve. Since we already have a dense tiger population, we sent a request to the authorities for relocating them to other safe sanctuaries, he said. The proposal to relocate the tigers has been approved in principle by the state government, said H Rajamohan, director of the reserve. We will work out a plan to shift them very soon with the technical help of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, Rajamohan said, adding that the UP forest department was looking at the Sohagi Barwa Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharajganj district as a possible new home for the 10 tigers. Animal rangers plan to capture two tigers at a time before the proposed relocation. The captured tigers will be kept in special enclosures one each in a 15-hectare area in Mala and Mahof forest ranges for a period of at least two years to get them to acclimatise to their new surroundings. Due to a space crunch, we will be able to trap only two Amaria tigers at a time, said Rajamohan. After two years, the tigers will be fitted with radio collars, translocated and released in new locations that are environmentally similar to the Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh. The aim is to ensure that they do not come in contact with any human being and the imprint of human contact is wiped from their memory, Rajamohan said. Wildlife experts, however, arent sure about the soundness of the idea. Rahul Shukla, former honorary wildlife warden of Dudhwa reserve, for one, thinks it is a bad idea for two reasons. First, as the tigers living in the sugarcane fields have changed their prey consumption, they may not be able to survive in the wild. Second, these tigers (which are not man-eaters) may kill humans as they would find killing people easier; they will not have the ability to kill wild prey, he said. Shukla pointed to a previous attempt to shift a tiger from a sugarcane field in Pilibhit in 1997. One week after we shifted the tigress to a forest in Bahraich, she was back near the sugarcane fields, preying upon chickens and sleeping near the fields, but she did not kill humans, he said. Only problem tigers should be captured as most tigers may live in harmony with people. If good tigers are removed then new tigers will take their place and those may not live in harmony with people, creating more conflict, said YV Jhala, senior scientist at WII. Also, Sohagi Barwa does not have a prey base to support tigers currently. First this needs to be built up and tigers reintroduced subsequently. Veterans, particularly those without college degrees, are often pushed toward low-skill jobs even though their training and the culture of the military might well translate into other types of positions. A clear pipeline to those jobs, however, does not exist for veterans. The employers are saying Its not our job to train them, said Joan Lynch, the chief content and programming officer at WorkingNation, a nonprofit campaign that focuses on labor in the United States. So whose job is it to train veterans for the work force? The military? No; they teach them to defend our nation. Employers arent doing it, either. Many jobs require licenses and training for skills that veterans learned in combat, particularly in health care. Many veterans who acquired deep knowledge and specialized emergency response techniques, for example, would have no immediate access to the long credentialing process to become a physician assistant. Ms. Lynch said she had encountered many returning medics who were unable to immediately translate their skills into jobs even when they had privately tutored medical residents on skills like suturing because they lacked a license. At the same time, those extensive experiences may not apply in other, often lower-wage jobs for which they are vastly overqualified. These people have about $1 million of training that the government has put into them, Ms. Lynch said. But they dont have one credit toward a professional degree, and they end up being turned down for jobs delivering dry cleaning. It breaks your heart. Under the most recent Defense Department budget bill, Congress authorized the military to conduct a pilot program to assess a possible partnership among Special Operations forces, colleges and health care systems in which veterans can earn credit toward a masters degree in physician assistant studies for their military operational work and medic training. Dr. David W. Callaway, an emergency physician at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C., started a program in 2015 to teach veterans to translate their military medical training for civilian hospital settings. The Judiciary on the other hand, connects to the origins of the Judiciary. In Sri Lanka, where English Law and Roman Dutch Law are the bases of Secular Law the minds of the Judiciary would connect to our Colonial ancestors. by Gajalakshmi Paramasivam Taken that we recognize Time and Space as agents of change in form, if we freeze one and move through the other, we would reach the origin which is also the targeted destination. Indigenous folks, travel through time. Hence the dreamtime realities. In any indigenous group including many villages in Sri Lanka untouched by secular law, the laws applicable are strongly based on faith in their ancestors. This feeling of ownership in land is essential for true governance through democracy. Voters who connect to the leader through such faith of common living in land space known as the Electorate connect to the whole electorate. When that leader connects to the Parliament through its institutional values s/he connects to the whole nation that the Parliament is led by. The Judiciary on the other hand, connects to the origins of the Judiciary. In Sri Lanka, where English Law and Roman Dutch Law are the bases of Secular Law the minds of the Judiciary would connect to our Colonial ancestors. A current outcome / matter / judgment needs to be then escalated on the basis of that true belief along the time pathway to deliver outcomes/judgements that confirm connection to the original discoverers. These are often embedded in Due Processes. As per my observation, Indias Tamil Nadus system of education includes high level of rote learning. But Tamil students are also connected through Common Hindu faith to Tamil Mathematicians like Srinivasa Ramanujan and Scientists such as Professor Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. Like voters, they connect to the higher institution that such leaders were/are part of. It is for this reason that religious freedom is preserved to prevent conversion. Rina Chandran of Thomson Reuters Foundation, has reported as follows, about the folks of Keppapilavu in Sri Lanka, under the heading Sri Lankan Tamil women fight for land a decade after war ends: [In Sri Lanka's embattled north and the east, Tamils - an ethnic minority - were uprooted several times during and after the decades-long conflict by both the separatist forces of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan army.] Here, the causal forces include Tamil Tigers and therefore the Tamil Community. A Sinhalese would not be able to connect to the Tamil origin through faith and v.v. Tamils of North are strongly influenced by the law of Thesawalamai while the Sinhalese soldier occupying that land would be strongly influenced by Kandyan law. Neither is likely to believe in the Secular Law. Yet if it were to go to Courts the Judicial mind is likely to be strongly influenced by the Secular law in the consciousness of global observers. White Australians also occupied land that Indigenous Australians believed was theirs by Prescription. Ultimately belief based ownership must prevail. If this is blocked by the Government then Sri Lanka is likely to become more and more disorderly especially if Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa of Hambantota is elected by Kurunegala voters. These ladies hold the balance of power through their belief. How it works is up to the system of Nature which did deliver victory to Tamil Politicians in 1977. The deeper this ownership pain the higher the outcome that the faith would produce. The National Weather Service in Lubbock will host the 14th annual Severe Weather Awareness day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Science Spectrum. The event will feature a Skywarn Spotter Training session at 1:30 p.m. and lots of severe weather activities. There will be hands-on activities for people of all ages, live weather demonstrations with tornado and lightning simulators, information about severe weather preparedness and door prizes, according to a news release from the NWS Lubbock office. Two Nigerian nationals were arrested for allegedly cheating people on social media of several lakh rupees after befriending them by posing as women, Mumbai police said on Saturday. Nwankwo Raphael Chinonso (34) and Azudiefe Emeka Emanuel (38), staying in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, were arrested by Crime Branch's Unit IX near Bandra Reclamation in the metropolis, an official said. "They created fake social media profiles and befriended people by posing as women. They would tell the victims that they were sending a precious gift as a token of friendship but the consignee will have to pay Customs duty and processing fees," he said. "They would give an account number in which the duty and fees were to be deposited. We have found numbers of several of their victims, including one who told us he was cheated of Rs 7 lakh. We have seized 10 mobile phones, two laptops, two Nigerian passports and several documents," the official added. The two are suspected to have pulled off this scam across the country and have been charged under relevant sections of the IPC and Information Technology Act, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian scientist Sandeep Pattnaik and colleagues from the United Kingdom literally took science to the skies in the summer of 2016. Pattnaik, a scientist at IIT-Bhubaneswar, flew over the Arabian Sea aboard an airborne research laboratory, a Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) aircrafta highly modified BAe-146 four-engined jet that can pack in four tonnes of scientific equipment. His sortie over the Arabian Sea through the Western Ghats was conducted under the Indo-UK collaborative INCOMPASS project that aims to advance monsoon forecasting capability between the two sovereign states. INCOMPASS stands for Interaction of Convective Organisation and Monsoon Precipitation, Atmosphere, Surface and Sea and it was the first field campaign to use a foreign-registered aircraft to take measurements over land surfaces in India and the adjacent oceans, scientists said. From flying in the lower atmosphere to skimming the top of the clouds, the project stacked up 100 hours of sorties over the Indian region, throwing up interesting insights on the land surface, boundary layer, cloud microphysics, and its convective environment, that are now being used to check the accuracy of the weather forecasting models. Among those sorties, Pattnaik had a chance to fly over the Arabian Sea through the Western Ghats and sample data sets over the coastal and mountainous regions. Pattnaik who works on cloud microphysics and extreme weather events, described his experience onboard the aircraft as a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience. It is a state-of-art onboard airborne research facility and you be sitting in a spot with a monitor in front of you that consolidates all sorts of data from multiple observing instruments in real-time, Pattnaik recalled. Story continues He said: While flying one can come across evolution and growth of different cloud types. Rainfall and key parameters were sampled on its path. Onboard, continuous discussions happen among pilots, air traffic control, instrument engineers, and scientists seamlessly on the evolving real-time scenarios to maintain perfect co-ordination. Leveraging the data gathered under the project, Pattnaik and colleagues, in a recent study, have spotlighted how accurately cloud microphysics (branch of the atmospheric sciences concerned with particles that make up a cloud) and cloud environment are represented in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and worked to better understand the mismatches between what the model forecasts and what actually happens (bias) in predicting key mechanisms shaping rainfall forecast. The findings, the study said, have direct implications on improving the forecast skills of the model, with special thrust on enhancing the prediction of moderate to heavy rainfall events that have substantially increased in terms of frequency, duration and intensity over the Indian region in a climate change scenario. As part of the recce visit of the research aircraft to India in September 2015, in preparation for the main 2016 field campaign, the aircraft and crew spent a couple of days in Bengaluru. Climate scientist Roxy Mathew Koll at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, who was not associated with the study, said the accurate simulation of clouds is one of the biggest challenges in forecasting weather and rainfall. Models fail to represent the microphysical properties of clouds due to two reasonsour lack of understanding of how clouds behave at finer scalesand also because the model resolution is too coarse to simulate the finer details of the clouds. Most of the weather models hence use a simplified form of the complex cloud process. This is known as cloud parameterisation (since the cloud process is defined by simplified equations consisting of the key physical parameters), said Koll. This can sometimes result in inaccurate simulations of clouds and atmospheric processes, resulting in a wrong forecast, Koll pointed out. An improved forecast is essential because the Indian summer monsoon supplies the majority of water for agriculture and industry in South Asia and is therefore critical to the well-being of a billion people. Active and break periods in the monsoon have a major influence on the success of farming, while year-to-year variations in the rainfall have economic consequences on an international scale. Filling the gaps in knowledge of Indian monsoon With the growing population and developing economy of India, understanding and predicting the monsoon is vital. The Indian monsoon also impacts European weather through atmospheric waves, according to INCOMPASS researchers. But there are still aspects of the Indian monsoon that are not understood even after years of research, said the projects principal investigator Andrew Turner. Aspects such as the transition from active to break periods in the monsoon and its influence over European weather still need clarity, added Indian Institute of Science, Bengalurus GS Bhat, the joint principal investigator of the project. This imperfect understanding is carried through to the models that we use for making weather forecasts and climate projections for the monsoon, and many other aspects of world weather and climate, Turner at the University of Reading explained. While there is some skill in making forecasts for the monsoon, the models are dogged by biases that have persisted through many years of model development at institutes around the world, including in the U.K. and India, Turner told Mongabay-India in email. This is where the Indo-UK collaboration comes in by gathering new observations over India and combining them with computer modelling in unprecedented detail to improve rainfall forecasts. By making new observations of the land surface and of the atmosphere above it and how that atmosphere responds to changes in the land surface, we hope to better understand the physics involved in those processes, and therefore work towards the creation of better algorithms in the computer models, Turner said. The University of Reading, England, and Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, were the lead partners with joint principal investigators Turner and professor Bhat. They led a team of more than 10 universities, research institutes and operational forecasting centres to observe the monsoon in India from the air and on the ground. IIT-Bhubaneswar was one of several other partners. The project was funded by the UKs Natural Environment Research Council and Indias ministry of earth science under their Monsoon Mission programme. The aircraft campaign was carried out in May-July 2016, along with the installation of eight ground observation stations such as flux towers, including one at IIT-Bhubaneswar that was facilitated by Pattnaik. As a flying laboratory, the FAAM aircraft can be equipped with scientific equipment such as Aircraft Integrated Meteorological Measurement System (AIMMS-20), radar altimeter, backscatter lidar among others, to help investigate the atmosphere. Rainfall is an outcome of many complex processes. Both cloud physics and dynamics are important in this. INCOMPASS comprised of ground-based observations to understand land surface processes, along with aircraft, radar, satellite and disdrometer measurements to understand cloud physics and dynamics, noted Bhat. Since then (2016) to the present, we have been working on analysing the data and publishing our findings, and running model experiments to explore the monsoon in more detail, said Turner. Since clouds cover 70% of the Earths surface at any given moment, it is quite crucial that we simulate them precisely. This is where field observations like the INCOMPASS can helpthey provide important data that provide insights into the behaviour of monsoon clouds at finer scales, added Koll. For example, the study discussed points out that particular microphysical processes are dominant in the atmospheric column over India during the monsoon. Koll hopes this information can be utilised for correcting the models for better monsoon forecasts. Change in atmosphere The aircraft-based observations are important since they give a unique insight into the behaviour of the atmosphere and how it responds to changes on the surface as the monsoon develops. The beauty of the flight instrumentation is that it can measure at extremely high resolution in time, measuring temperature, humidity, fluxes of heat and moisture as they pass up from the surface, surface temperature, cloud structure, and constituents etc, said Turner. Two airportsLucknow in north India and Bengaluru in southern India-became bases for the project. While based in Lucknow, we were able to fly both to the east/southeast, going into an increasingly wet environment from the Ganges basin to forests near Bhubaneswar before passing over the coast and over the Bay of Bengal, recollected Turner. Similarly, they could cover the west and see how the atmosphere behaves differently over the much drier surfaces in the vicinity of Jaipur and Jodhpur. While based in the south (Bengaluru), we could fly west over the Western Ghats and into the Arabian Sea, or instead fly south/east over Tamil Nadu and across the coast of the south Bay of Bengal, he added. Interesting things can be discovered when aircraft and flight measurements are combined. For example, in northern India, we were able to discover how the behaviour in the lowest levels of the atmosphere changes as the land surface changes from dry to wet soils (either from rainfall a couple of days before, or from irrigation used by farmers), Turned explained. This change in wetness on the surface causes friction which then causes the winds to slow down (convergence). The researchers have found this to lead to the creation of shallow clouds which eventually become larger during the day as the land is heated up, eventually producing rainstorms. This is initial work that we hope to analyse systematically over the rest of India using satellite and other data, eventually allowing us to design ways to improve our forecasting models, added Turner. The ground-based measurements from the towers are enabling the team to unravel what transpires in the boundary layer of the atmosphere which is where the roots of the clouds lie. Roots of the clouds are in the boundary layer so we need to understand what happens in the boundary layers, what happens inside the cloud and how the two are linked. Looking at the above data we are able to see how, when and where rain clouds are triggered. Now we have a fair idea of what happens in nature. The observational findings are being compared with model outputs, noted Bhat. But theres still a long way to go before we start seeing improved forecasts. What the past observation programs have shown us is that it takes 10 years from carrying out the field experiment and using the data to the incorporation of data into models. That is the time it takes for the observations to be useful for improved forecasts, Bhat pointed out. This is because the forecast models are very complex. If you adjust one (parameter) then something else goes bad somewhere. So we have to look at the total balance because these are interactive systems. So this tuning is a long process, Bhat said. Success in science diplomacy Apart from sowing the seeds that can lead to improved models used for weather forecasting and climate projection, the project helped build capacity in terms of better-trained scientists for studying Indian monsoon weather and climate. This was the first foreign aircraft campaign in India and the lessons learned and relationships built during that process can be used again in future. At the level of the scientists involved, there are new friends made and research collaborations in operation, which can lead to better science, said Turner. A research flight campaign in India such as INCOMPASS is definitely something that we want to do again, emphasised Turner, adding that there is nothing to suggest that Brexit would have any impact on similar work in the future. This post first appeared on Mongabay-India. We welcome your comments at ideas.india@qz.com. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: Two men are to be jailed for separate "predatory" sexual assaults on vulnerable women during nights out, the Court of Appeal has ruled. Judges ruled that the combined community service and probation sentences originally imposed on Simon Cash and Richard George Byrne were unduly lenient. Both men were ordered to present themselves at Maghaberry Prison next week to begin substituted 18-month terms. Cash, a 23-year-old former student nurse from Donaghadee, Co Down, was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in December 2018. He targeted his victim in a taxi after joining her group of friends on a night out in Bangor. Although CCTV footage of the incident was studied privately by the appeal judges, they declined to play it in court in front of the woman and her family. In January this year Cash was given 100 hours community service, three years probation and placed on the sex offenders' register. The same month 32-year-old Byrne, of Glen Mhacha in Armagh, received 80 hours community service, two years probation and put on the register for sexually assaulting another woman while she slept. She had been attacked after going to bed in a house following a night out drinking in August 2015. The Public Prosecution Service referred both cases back to the Court of Appeal, claiming unduly lenient sentence had been handed down. Liam McCollum QC, for the PPS, argued that the stating point in the process should have been two years imprisonment, before taking account of any aggravating or mitigating factors. He also stressed the need for judicial guidance on sentencing in similar future cases. During the hearing Lord Justice Treacy said: "There's something very predatory about approaching someone asleep or under the influence of drink. "There's a degree of premeditation, the reason the victim is selected is that the (perpetrator) thinks they can get away with it because of the state that person is in." Mr McCollum was asked if the public element to the assault carried out by Cash was a further aggravating feature. Counsel replied: "It has a degrading element for the victim, because they will remember this happened in a public place with other people who might have seen it." Following submissions the court granted the prosecution appeal. Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan confirmed that substitute 18-month sentences, split between half in custody and half on licence, are to be imposed on both men. Directing them to appear at prison by 10am on Monday, he warned that any failure will mean they are unlawfully at large. A dogged fight for justice lasting more than 20 years exposes shady business practices and corporate greed in Dark Waters. Inspired by the New York Times magazine article the Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare, director Todd Haynes' slow-burning thriller details the ripple effect of a cover-up in 1970s West Virginia, which affects almost every living creature on the planet. Screenwriters Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan infuse a conventional David versus Goliath legal wrangle with jangling paranoia reminiscent of the Parallax View. They tether the inevitable courtroom showdown to an unlikely hero, who sacrifices his health and personal relationships to defiantly speak for thousands of God-fearing men, women and children, who are victims of indifference on a grotesque scale. Mark Ruffalo transforms from muscular Avengers superhero to a hunched, harangued, jowly workaholic, who refuses to dodge his moral responsibility and risks flushing his career 'down the toilet for a cowhand'. Oscar winner Anne Hathaway is poorly served in comparison as his on-screen spouse, who witnesses the heavy emotional burden borne by her husband as he goes to war against a corporate behemoth with limitless resources. Mild-mannered defence lawyer Robert Bilott (Ruffalo) works at Taft Stettinius and Hollister, which represents some of America's most powerful chemicals companies. Ahead of an important meeting with his boss, Tom Terp (Tim Robbins), Rob receives a visit from farmer Wilbur Tennant (Bill Camp), who lives in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Wilbur is a neighbour of Rob's grandmother and has been persuaded to deliver a cardboard box of videotapes to the Taft office detailing the decimation of his cow herd on land adjoining a DuPont chemical plant. Despite his heavy workload, Rob drives to Parkersburg - 'Welcome To West Virginia: Wild and Wonderful' - to visit Wilbur, his wife Sarah (Denise Sal Vera) and their children. The lawyer is horrified to learn the family has lost almost 200 animals. With the blessing of his boss, Rob unearths evidence that the man-made PFOA chemical used in the production of Teflon might have leaked into the Parkersburg water supply. High-ranking DuPont executive Phil Donnelly (Victor Garber) frustrates Rob's exhausting pursuit of the truth, which puts an intolerable strain on the lawyer's marriage to wife Sarah (Hathaway). Dark Waters issues a primal scream of rage on behalf of thousands of victims, some of whom lost their lives before the first cash settlement. Ruffalo powerfully embodies a stress-ravaged, crusading everyman, who shudders at the repercussions for his own family as he careens at sickening speed towards a physical breakdown. By the time the end credits roll and a title card reveals the shocking extent of the chemical spill, our hackles are raised and any traces of PFOA in our bloodstream boil with indignation. Back to work: The election is long over, the votes are counted, the results were in weeks ago yet we somehow still do not have a government. Photo: Reuters Children losing their childhood, day by day, week by week, month by month... Stuck in cheap hotel rooms and bed and breakfasts by night, their families wandering the streets by day While the political parties posture about their political futures - not about the people, not about issues, though they say so. We know the issues with homeless figures readjusted upwards to what they really are. We know there are about 800,000 people living in poverty. We know the state of the healthcare system and that it is mostly due to poor organisation and management. Any one of the newly elected TDs could and should speak out. All of the political parties, if they had a shred of interest in the people, should have been working day and night to form a government. Shame on all of you 160 at this stage! Not good enough. Any of you wouldn't have the decency to get back to me to discuss my plan for a united government, above the wretched party politics. Every homeless child and family, every person on a trolley, every hungry person today and many suicides this week are on your heads, irrespective of your party affiliation or none. Shame, shame, shame on you all. You should all be thrown out. It sickens me to see you having your premature celebratory parties. We went to the bother of voting for you, now you might just go to the bother of forming a government, to urgently solve the problems you were so worried about pre-election. Bang your heads together day and night or leave the people to decide again very soon in another election. We are absolutely sick and fed-up at this stage with every single one of you. Walter Ryan-Purcell Killarney, Co Kerry Women still have a long walk to freedom ahead IT IS International Women's Day tomorrow. A very important day indeed. A few words from Nelson Mandela's childhood in his book 'Long Walk to Freedom', with regard to how important meetings were conducted in one small South African village where he lived for a while, came to my mind and I quote: "Everyone who wanted to speak did so. It was democracy in its purest form. "There may have been a hierarchy of importance among the speakers, but everyone was heard: chief and subject, warrior and medicine man, shopkeeper and farmer, landowner and labourer. People spoke without interruption and the meetings lasted for many hours. "The foundation of self-government was that all men were free to voice their opinions and were equal in their value as citizens. (Women, I am afraid, were deemed second-class citizens.)" Women's long walk to freedom goes on. Brian McDevitt Glenties, Co Donegal Vulnerable and victimised still suffer agonies of war MARCH 8 is, or was, the United Nations-designated International Women's Day. We should ask whether this is just pointless tokenism given how relatively little progress has been made towards genuine equality for women internationally and even in Ireland. Internationally, we have seen the US and Nato wage wars of aggression across the Middle East and north Africa using bogus humanitarian excuses, including liberation and equality for women. The US has just signed a peace deal with the Taliban who are now likely to regain power in Afghanistan after almost 20 years of war, in which women and children have suffered catastrophically, and abuses and inequality of Afghan women will likely get even worse into the future. Have the women of Libya been liberated by the Nato overthrow of the Libyan government? Have the women of Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Palestine been liberated by the United Nations, or by the United Nations' most powerful members? Or has the United Nations stood idly and powerlessly by as its most powerful member states wage wars in contravention of its Charter? In Ireland, some equality has been achieved but not nearly enough, especially in areas such as equality of earnings, the numbers of women in politics, and especially the almost total exclusion of women from the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. It's time to stop this tokenism and create real equality for all. It's especially long past time to end unjustified wars where women and children are by far the most vulnerable and victimised. Edward Horgan Newtown, Castletroy, Co Limerick History repeats itself after general election PERUSING the letters page and the political correspondents of the Irish Independent for the past four weeks on the delay in formation of a new government, I have come to the conclusion the problem appears to lie with the fairytale called 'Programme for Government'. This is the spin sold to voters during canvassing, then discarded the moment a government has been formed. I have been reading Colum Kenny's recently published biography 'The Enigma of Arthur Griffith: Father of Us All'. In showing the visionary dual mindedness of Griffith, Kenny illustrates clearly the narrow single-mindedness of today's Fianna Fail and Fine Gael leaders and followers. Little wonder they have been shooting themselves in the foot since February 8. The words of the renowned philosopher George Santayana (1863-1952) need to be writ large in the party rooms at Leinster House: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Declan Foley Berwick, Australia Only Sanders can change US society for good of all AFTER the Super Tuesday primaries in the United States, the losers bowed out of the race for the nomination of the Democratic Party's candidate for the presidency. Having done this, they, to a person, endorsed Joe Biden, the establishment nominee. It's clear that the result of the previous presidential election and the need of Americans now demand changes. Unfortunately, as we have seen with Donald Trump, no changes have or will take place to alleviate the suffering of millions of Americans, irrespective of Trump's support by so many who trust him. The same will happen during the next four years if either Trump or Biden becomes president. They are two sides of the same coin. What the suffering people of America need is the new brush that only Bernie Sanders will bring. Otherwise all will be the same and the suffering will continue. Ciaran Clarke Co Fermanagh FG must not sleepwalk into alliance with FF IN THE wake of the 2002 General Election which saw the election of just 31 Fine Gael TDs, Frank Flannery wrote a report that drove a series of reforms in the organisation and structure of the party. Many would argue this same document acted as a road map for the party's electoral success during the past decade. It is clear from the recent general election that the party urgently needs to devise a strategy that squares up to the dramatic fragmentation of our political system. Such a process does not require, necessarily, that Fine Gael should slip quietly into the political wilderness of opposition given that after nine difficult years in government it is only separated from Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein by a hair's breadth. Whatever path is chosen, however, it is difficult to envisage that any strategist worth his or her salt could advise Fine Gael to sleepwalk into an arrangement with the unreformed, catch-all policies of Fianna Fail. How can a political party that has predictably lost ground after a very challenging decade in office ignore the enduring electoral toxicity of the Soldiers of Destiny for the vast majority of those of working age in this Republic? PJ O'Meara Cahir, Co Tipperary Portland Dining Month usually lands like a life vest, a high-volume, low-profit way for more than 140 local restaurants to survive the slog between Valentines and Memorial days, typically the slowest time of the year for dining out. This year, when Oregons first coronavirus case was announced two days before the start of the promotion, the response has been more muted, at least according to some of the participating restaurants. Restaurants are definitely being affected by the coronavirus scare, downtown Portlands venerable Mothers Bistro wrote on Twitter. Dining Month usually has restaurants hopping; not this year. With a few exceptions, most restaurants contacted by The Oregonian/OregonLive earlier this week, including several Portland Chinese restaurants as well as upscale French spots, casual pizzerias and more, reported normal business levels through the weekend, though all were concerned about the future as the coronavirus continues its spread. And Multnomah County announced this week that some Asian-American-owned businesses in the Jade District around Southeast 82nd Avenue had reported a drop in business because of the myths surrounding COVID-19. So how concerned should Oregonians be about eating out? The Oregonian/OregonLive spoke to Dr. Jennifer Vines, lead health officer for the tri-county region, to ask whether we should think twice before checking out a dining month deal or revisiting our favorite neighborhood restaurant. Q: What concerns should Oregonians have, if any, about dining out? A: So what I would say is in general when people come together theres always some risk of disease transmission. Nothing is without risk. As far as coronavirus, were seeing that as long as youre feeling well, you can go to school, you can go to work, you can go about your day. And that would apply to restaurants, too. Q: So are there any extra precautions we can take when going out to restaurants? A: As always, we say wash your hands before you eat, thats always a good recommendation. Generally, when it comes to the human mixing question, we remind people that its not too late to get an influenza vaccine, because if people are going to socialize a lot, getting a flu vaccine is a really good idea. Q: You recommend getting a vaccine now, near the end of the flu season, even though it doesnt apply to coronavirus? A: Let me be clear, the flu vaccine is not going to protect you from coronavirus. But though influenza B already had a peak, we are seeing an increase in influenza A, which can last well into the spring. We have reports of flu-related hospitalizations. Theres a lot we dont know about COVID-19, but there are things you can do to stop getting a respiratory virus. Q: And what about the restaurants themselves? What should they be doing to make sure the food they serve is safe? A: Restaurants are licensed and inspected regularly around their food handling and food policies. Restaurants should follow their usual expectations set out by the health department around sick employees not coming into work and all the components of safe food handling. Q: What about delivery? Anecdotally weve heard delivery business has been up in the past week. A: We have no specific recommendations around ordering delivery, or interacting with delivery drivers. I can say that having passing contact with someone who is ill is not considered a big transmission risk. Again, theres the hand contamination piece, so practice good handwashing before you eat, dont touch your face, and if youre feeling sick, you could ask the food delivery person to leave the food just outside your door. Q: Multnomah County recently sent out a press release announcing that business was down among some Asian-American restaurants in Portlands Jade District. What advice do you have for Oregonians concerned about going out to eat there? A: Anecdotally, Ive heard about people discriminating against Chinese and Middle Eastern restaurants. My advice would be to not discriminate against restaurants because of those perceived travel risks. First, its not just Chinese people that have traveled to China recently who have coronavirus. Its other people too. And for now, were still in a system where those travelers are getting funneled through a specific airport, where local health departments get their names and numbers, call those people, determine the risk and watch for symptoms that might require them to stay away from other people, or not. Lots of people come and go from China. To discriminate against a specific restaurant is unfair to that community. And if you look at the headlines, (coronavirus) is in Iran. Its in Italy. Its spreading in Europe. Q: What about large food and drink festivals or other events such as the upcoming St. Patricks Day festival and Shamrock Run? Is there any reason to avoid those? A: Theres no recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control or Oregon Public Health to cancel or avoid mass gatherings. People have to make their own decisions about what level of risk theyre willing to take, but I can share that outdoor exposures would be considered low risk in general. We really think this virus is shared through close and prolonged contact. We just ask participants that, if youre sick, dont be there. -- Michael Russell Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. 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"This is the first time they were seen since they were first shot down 76 years ago," said Dr. Mark Moline, who led the Project Recover expedition that discovered the two long-missing Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers and one General Motors TBM/F-1 Avenger torpedo bomber. The project's interest lies not primarily in the aircraft, Moline said, but in the possibility that the remains of seven Americans might eventually be removed from the lists of the missing-in-action from World War II. He said the next step is to the share the findings with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to coordinate a possible search for remains -- at depths ranging from 100 to 215 feet in the Chuuk (formerly Truk) lagoon in the federated states of Micronesia. "That's what really drives us, is identifying aircraft that still have missing aircrew," Moline, director of the University of Delaware's School of Marine Science and Policy, said of the efforts by the nonprofit Project Recover in partnership with the University of Delaware and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Related: WWII Ship Wreck Discovered in Philippine Sea Deepest Ever Found The expedition team is putting together reports "to potentially set into motion a process for recovering and identifying the remains of up to seven crew members associated with these aircraft," said Andrew Pietruszka, an underwater archaeologist at Scripps and Project Recover's lead archaeologist. More work needs to be done to find other U.S. aircraft known to have gone down in the lagoon, Derek Abbey, a retired Marine aviator and president of Project Recover, said in a statement. "We remain committed to locating more Americans missing in action in Chuuk and around the world," he said. Approximately 30 U.S. aircraft, carrying a total of about 103 crew members, went down in the lagoon during Operation Hailstone on Feb. 17 and 18, 1944. The operation was a massive air and surface attack on the main anchorage of Japan's Combined Fleet in the Caroline Islands, about 1,100 miles northeast of New Guinea. The Navy's powerful Task Force 58, led by Rear Adm. Marc Mitscher, had been given the mission by Adm. Raymond Spruance, commander of the 5th Fleet. The objective: to attack the Truk atoll, known to the Americans as the "Gibraltar of the Pacific." Most of the warships of the Combined Fleet had already been withdrawn, but the two days of attacks in Operation Hailstone destroyed about 250 Japanese aircraft and sank about 40 ships, including two light cruisers and four destroyers. U.S. Avengers, Hellcats, and SBD Dauntless aircraft aboard the USS Intrepid, 1944. (United States Navy Museum of Naval Aviation) The array of ships and aircraft at the bottom of the lagoon has made what is now known as the Chuuk one of the world's most popular sites for wreck diving, but Moline said the three U.S. aircraft found by Project Recover were in sites well away from the spots favored by recreational divers. Between April 2018 and December 2019, Project Recover, using divers, side-scan sonar and remote underwater vehicles, mounted four expeditions in the expansive lagoon, covering 70 square kilometers to find the three aircraft that flew off the carriers Intrepid and Enterprise. The first two expeditions produced no results, but the third made discoveries. The fourth was conducted mainly to document the findings, Moline said. Based on the condition of the wreckage, Moline said that the U.S. aircraft were "definitely going at high speed" when they were shot down. "All three of these went in fairly hard," he said. He speculated that what's left of two dive bombers and the torpedo bomber no longer "look like aircraft at all. And maybe that's partially why they haven't been discovered before, because they aren't fully intact planes and basically look like any other debris field." The expeditions to the lagoon were made possible by the financial support of Dan Friedkin, chairman of Project Recover and chairman & CEO of The Friedkin Group, according to a Project Recover release. "Our search efforts for the more than 81,000 American service members still missing from past conflicts, including more than 72,000 from World War II, will continue as we seek to bring closure to the families impacted by their loss," Friedkin said in a statement. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Read More: Here's Who Will Get the First Chance to Transfer into Space Force Jeremy J Garnier, 51, was dressed as the Joker when police arrested him for making terrorist threats via livestream: University City Police A man who dressed as comic supervillain the Joker has been arrested after he threatened to kill people via Facebooks livestreaming app, police say. Jeremy J Garnier, 51, was charged with making terrorist threats and is being held without bail in University City, Missouri. University City Police said they found Mr Garnier dressed as the Joker, complete with face paint, inside a restaurant around 8.15pm on Tuesday. They were responding to a report that Mr Garnier was making threats through the Facebook Live app. According to Fox News, the University City resident said he would begin killing people and once his hour-long livestream reached a thousand viewers, he would kill more. He said: Yes, Im doing this for attention, but the attention I seek is to take over the world. Im going to start killing people until this reaches a thousand [viewers], and once it reaches a thousand, Im going to go out in public and Im going to kill more. Were not going to go to any movie theatres. Were going to go totally unarmed because we dont want to alert the authorities into thinking we might be on an actual rampage. The livestream showed Mr Garnier putting on his costume, going to a shopping mall and being turned away by security guards, and entering the Blueberry Hill restaurant, where he was arrested. He reportedly told a bartender at the bar inside the restaurant he did not drink alcohol because I cant be inebriated when Im planning on, you know, killing a bunch of people. Mr Garnier identified himself to viewers as Jeremy Joseph Garnier and added: Im not armed and I weigh 150 pounds. I dont have no weapons on me. Im not going to do nothing. Youve got me messed up. Except all these bombs. Read more How the Joker shaped Harley Quinns story in Birds of Prey Jaipur, March 7 : All foreign tourists entering Rajasthan will be screened and, quarantined, if found positive for coronavirus, said state health officials here on Saturday. The state employees have also been directed to stop marking biometric attendance in the wake of the threat of the spread of the dreadful virus in state. Traffic policemen have been told to stop taking breathanalyser test. A review meeting was called at Swasthay Bhavan here on Saturday which was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh. Reviewing the steps being taken by the department, Singh asked transport, railways and roadways officials to screen all foreign tourists. Private medical colleges have been instructed to form rapid response teams in their premises and all big private hospitals have been directed to set up isolation wards. The information on corona and measures to check its spread is also being given on hello tunes of all mobile phones operating in the state, said Singh. The health officials have delegated responsibility to various teams being led by their nodal officers. Singh said employees in government hospitals have been asked to stop using biometric attendance system till further orders. Furniture, doors and government offices are being cleaned using disinfectants. Singh has also written to the home department and police officers to direct traffic cops to stop taking breath analyser tests. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) With rise in Omicron cases, SC to conduct hearings virtually for next two weeks Can't allow every person who thinks of some solution to COVID-19 to file petition: SC Cannot bar organisations supporting public cause from receiving foreign funds: SC India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 07: The Supreme Court on Friday said an organisation which supports citizens' cause without a political goal, via legitimate means of dissent like agitations, cannot be prevented from receiving foreign funds by declaring it as an outfit of political nature. The Supreme Court made it clear, however, that organisations used for channelling foreign funds by political parties cannot escape the rigour of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) when there is concrete material in this regard. The Centre shall strictly follow the procedure in the Act and Rules before depriving an organisation of the right to receive foreign contributions, the top court said in its verdict. SC refuses to interfere with sedition law A bench of justices L Nageswara Rao and Deepak Gupta said an organisation supporting public causes by resorting to legitimate means of dissent like 'bandh' and 'hartal' cannot be deprived of its legitimate right of receiving foreign funds. "It is clear from the provision itself that bandh, hartal, rasta rook, etc., are treated as common methods of political action. Any organisation which supports the cause of a group of citizens agitating for their rights without a political goal or objective cannot be penalised by being declared as an organisation of a political nature," it said. It said the organisations which are not involved in active politics or party politics do not fall within the purview of Rule 3 (vi) of FCRA. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 It noted that as per the guideline in Rule 3 (vi) of FCRA, any organisation which habitually engages itself in or employs common methods of political action like 'bandh' or 'hartal', 'rasta roko', 'rail roko' or 'jail bharo' in support of public causes can also be declared as an organisation of political nature. Bhima Koregaon: SC extends interim protection from arrest granted to Navlakha, Anand Teltumbde The court delivered the judgment on an appeal by NGO India Social Action Forum (INSAF) which has challenged the constitutional validity of Section 5 (1) and 5 (4) of the FCRA (relating to procedure to notify an organisation of a political nature) and other rules. The NGO claimed that the provision conferred unguided and uncanalised power on the Centre to specify an organisation as that of a political nature not being a political party and deny foreign contribution. It had challenged the order of Delhi High Court dismissing its plea. The Supreme Court said according to Rule 3 (i), an organisation having avowed political objectives in its memorandum of association or bye laws is an organisation of a political nature. "As the intention of the legislature is to prohibit foreign funds in active politics, an association with avowed political objectives (that is, to play a role in active politics or party politics) cannot be permitted access to foreign funds. "There is no ambiguity in the provision and hence, cannot be termed as vague. Therefore, we find no substance in the contention of the appellant (NGO) that Rule 3 (i) is ultra vires the Act," it said. Restore my legal remedies says Nirbhayas killer in SC It added that the object of the Act is to ensure that parliamentary institutions, political associations and other voluntary organisations and individuals working in the important areas of national life should function in a manner consistent with the values of a sovereign democratic republic without being influenced by foreign contributions. The court said the title of the Act makes it clear that the regulation of acceptance and utilisation of foreign contribution is for the purpose of protecting national interest. Election candidates, political parties or their office bearers are barred from accepting any foreign contribution and the legislative intent is to prohibit organisations of a political nature from receiving foreign contributions, it said. The court said the Centre is required to take into account the activities and ideology of the organisation including its association with activities of any political party before declaring it as an organisation of "political nature not being a political party". Regarding Rule 3 (v), the Bench said it deals with organisations of farmers, workers and students, which are not directly aligned to any political party but their objectives include steps towards advancement of 'political interests' of such groups. The NGO submitted that such organisations agitating for their legitimate claims cannot be prevented access to foreign funds by resorting to the vague term 'political interests'. The Bench agreed that the words 'political interests' are vague and susceptible to misuse but held that "possible abuse of power is not a ground to declare a provision unconstitutional". SC asks activist Harsh Mander to respond to allegations of hate speeches It said that a balance has to be drawn between the object sought to be achieved by the legislation and the rights of voluntary organisations to have access to foreign funds. "The purpose for which the statute prevents organisations of a political nature from receiving foreign funds is to ensure that the administration is not influenced by foreign funds. "Prohibition from receiving foreign aid, either directly or indirectly, by those who are involved in active politics is to ensure that the values of a sovereign democratic republic are protected," the bench said. It said the organisations which have no connection with either party politics or active politics cannot be denied access to foreign funds. The organisations working for social and economic welfare of the society cannot be brought within the purview of the Act or Rules by enlarging scope of term 'political interests', it said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 8:08 [IST] (TNS) Californias chief elections officer lashed out Thursday at the series of Election Day mishaps in Los Angeles County, demanding that local officials mail ballots to each of the countys 5.5 million voters for the November election.Im beyond frustrated and disappointed in what I saw on Tuesday, and Im committed to making sure it doesnt happen again, Secretary of State Alex Padilla said. Clearly, voters deserve better.L.A. Countys rollout of its long-awaited voting system including new ballot-marking machines and regional vote centers used in lieu of neighborhood polling places was marred by reports of broken devices and wait times of three hours or longer. Many of the voters standing in long lines were angry that they had no other way to cast a ballot in the statewide presidential primary. Los Angeles County was given special treatment under a 2016 state election law, allowing officials to close polling places without mailing a ballot to every voter.That provision will expire in 2024. But for Tuesdays election, it meant that as many as 2 million Angelenos were forced to find one of the vote centers, of which there were far fewer than polling places used in the 2018 election.L.A. County appealed to the Legislature for special treatment and they got it, said Padilla, a former state senator and president of the L.A. City Council.Perhaps no California county had more at stake in the statewide primary this year than Los Angeles, home to more voters than anywhere else in the state, and whose officials attempted to implement the new law while also rolling out a new $300 million system for marking and counting ballots. Images of voters standing in long lines deep into the night on Tuesday were seen across the nation, and voters complained of problems on social media and by calling the states election hotline.Democratic state Sen. Ben Allen of Santa Monica, author of the 2016 law to move counties away from traditional elections and toward a model that combines absentee ballots with full-service centers for those who want to vote in person, said he will introduce legislation next week that would require L.A. County to open more vote centers in November or mail all registered voters a ballot.I regret not having pushed harder on L.A. County last time around, Allen said of the negotiations over his law, the Voters Choice Act. And Im trying to fix things with this bill.For those voters who received ballots, the process didnt always go smoothly, either. About 17,000 ballots arrived late to voters in areas including Lancaster, Sunland-Tujunga and other pockets of the county, said L.A. County Registrar/Recorder spokesman Mike Sanchez. He said the vendor hired by the county told the elections division last week that it had failed to send some vote-by-mail ballots that should have been mailed by early February. After realizing the error, the vendor sent the ballots by first-class mail on Feb. 26.Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris said he never received his vote-by-mail ballot, so he voted in person.I think it was legitimate incompetence, he said. I dont think it was something nefarious.However, Parris said that the widespread voting problems reported Tuesday wont inspire confidence in those who are already discouraged about Californias political system.People have lost confidence, people feel disenfranchised, Parris said. The best way to increase malaise is to make people feel like youre manipulating the election.The exact number of ballots cast in L.A. County remains unknown, either through the mail or at one of the 978 vote centers. Fewer than 500,000 of the ballots cast in person on Election Day had been tallied as of Thursday afternoon. While many of the vote centers were open 10 days prior to Election Day, relatively few L.A. voters cast ballots during that time a lackluster response that foreshadowed the rush of people on Election Day.The states Voters Choice Act, so far adopted by 15 of Californias 58 counties, counts on voters changing their behavior in one of two ways: voting early or by mail. Its a choice that was available to every voter in every county but Los Angeles.At the time of the laws passage, county officials argued that they didnt have the capacity to mail everyone a ballot. The special provision was not included in the first drafts of the legislation, Senate Bill 450, but was added without fanfare during the legislative process.They said it wasnt logistically feasible, Allen said of the discussions. They said it was too expensive.Padilla, who was the new laws most vocal champion and raised no concerns in 2016 about exempting L.A. from mailing everyone a ballot, insisted Thursday it was not his decision.It was a mistake for the Legislature to give L.A. County special treatment, he said.Dean Logan, L.A. Countys registrar of voters, said in a written statement he released Thursday that Padillas call to mail everyone a ballot would not be easy.The logistics and capacity for election administration in Los Angeles County are complex and demanding, Logan wrote. Significant efforts were made and must be made going forward to ensure greater access, functionality and reliability in the voting model. Expansion of vote by mail should be explored to determine its viability in the short timeframe ahead of the November election, but more is required.On Wednesday, L.A. County supervisors signaled that they would ask for an investigation into the root causes of the problems, though some supervisors believed a key factor was that so many voters waited to cast ballots until Election Day. Others have pointed out the variety of changes made to the voting experience at the same time some failed to perform as expected, including tablet devices used to check a voters registration upon arrival at a vote center that were often slow or unable to make an online connection.Richard L. Hasen, an election law professor at the University of California, Irvine, said that the novelty of the new voting machines and check-in tablets made enhanced training important. And he said an influx of younger, more technologically savvy election workers would help.The technology has gone from fourth-grade technology to graduate school-level technology, he said. You need younger people who are more comfortable with the technology. There should be a big push for that. Two men, 61 and 57, were shot near Venetian Isles in the 8600 block of Chef Menteur Highway around 1:07 a.m., NOPD said. The victims were involved in a physical altercation with the suspect who left and returned with a gun, shot both men and fled. The two victims were both transported to a local hospital for treatment. In total, six shootings since 4 p.m. Friday have injured six and killed two people. Earlier Friday, a man was found shot to death in the 2100 block of Washington Avenue in Central City around 4:09 p.m, NOPD said. NOPD detectives found the man down in the internal breezeway of an apartment complex suffering from several gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Shootings in Central City leave 1 dead, 2 injured; New Orleans police investigating New Orleans police were investigating an apparent double shooting in the 2200 block of Louisiana Avenue Friday afternoon. The double shooting Less than an hour later, police reported a double shooting nearby in the 2200 block of Louisiana Avenue. Two men were caught in the crossfire when two suspects opened fire at each other and then fled. One victim was shot in the chest and the other was shot in the ankle. They were transported to a local hospital, NOPD said. A 35-year-old man was shot in the left thigh in the 2600 block of Cleveland Ave around 7 p.m. The victim arrived at a hospital in a neighboring parish for treatment by private vehicle. A few minutes later, a 13-year-old girl was reportedly shot in the finger in the 2100 block of North Tonti Street in the Seventh Ward around 7:09 p.m. The victim witnessed a fight between two other people when the suspect fired a gun and fled, NOPD said. Man fatally shot at South Saratoga, Foucher intersection in Milan, NOPD says; 5th shooting of day A man was fatally shot in New Orleans' Milan neighborhood Friday evening in the fifth reported shooting of the day, according to New Orleans Police. A 37-year-old man was fatally shot in New Orleans' Milan neighborhood in the 2000 block of Foucher street around 8:45 p.m. The victim engaged in a verbal altercation with the suspect when the suspect shot the victim. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he died. Jammu: The Pakistan army on Saturday (March 7) shelled and fired on forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, a defence spokesman said. The firing from small arms and mortar shelling from across the LoC began at 1:30 pm. In retaliation, the Indian army gave a befitting reply, he said. There are no immediate reports of any casualty on the Indian side. Cross-border shelling was going on when last reports were received, the spokesman said. Worried parents whose children are scheduled to fly to northern Italy for a school ski trip later this month say they have been left in limbo after a travel firm refused to refund their travel costs if they cancel over coronavirus fears. The trip, which cost 800 per pupil, leaves on March 21 and will take children from Ashgrove PS and Glengormley Integrated PS to Folgaria in northern Italy for a week of skiing. At least 50 children are set to travel to the Italian Alps as part of the trip, which has been organised over the past year, and is now fully paid for. According to one parent of a pupil at Ashgrove, both the school and the parents now want to cancel the trip because of the serious outbreak of coronavirus cases in the north Italy area. However, the parent said, Dublin-based tour operators Top Flight said they will not offer a refund if anyone pulls their child out of the trip. Read More "Although the school and families want it (the trip) cancelled, the tour operator is refusing to reimburse us as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office guidance says that upon return from a category 2 risk area people only need to self-isolate if they show symptoms of the virus," he said. "The tour company says we can cancel individually but we will lose the cost of the trip entirely. What family can afford to lose 800 over a position of ambiguity?" There's no way I'm going to let my wife and myself take an extra two weeks off work - or subject my child to the possibility of catching the coronavirus Concerned parent The school has already said that irrespective of whether the children show symptoms of coronavirus, they cannot return to school for a further two weeks of self-isolation. "The teachers will also not be permitted to return to the school for a fortnight after their return," the concerned parent said. The families of 50 pupils will also be affected, and parents will have to take two weeks off work to look after their children when they are not permitted to return to school. "Ultimately, we're going to have to pull her out of the trip," the parent said. "We're going to have to wait right up to the 20th - she's supposed to fly on the 21st - and if the trip is not cancelled through common sense, we're pulling her off the flight. "There's no way I'm going to let my wife and myself take an extra two weeks off work - or subject my child to the possibility of catching the coronavirus." A spokeswoman for Top Flight Travel Agents said the company is working towards providing alternative options. She said: "We are currently reviewing alternative options for them and this will be communicated to the principal early next week and thus communicated to parents. We will remain in constant contact with all schools due to travel in the upcoming weeks and keep them updated in relation to any revised travel plans." A fire engulfed a refugee shelter on the island of Lesbos Saturday as Greece announced further restrictions towards asylum seekers in response to a migration surge enabled by Turkey. The fire at One Happy Family, a Swiss-operated family care centre for refugees just outside the island capital, came after violence at the weekend directed at aid groups and journalists on Lesbos. "The school building has a lot of damage, we can't say more at the moment," a source among the operators told AFP. "The fire brigade is there, our team on the ground as well," they added. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Over 1,700 migrants have landed on Lesbos and four other Aegean islands from Turkey over the past week, adding to the 38,000 already crammed into abysmal and overstretched refugee centres. The new surge has ramped up already high tensions on Lesbos, an island that has been on the migration frontline for years. Frustration exploded into violence last weekend with mobs setting up roadblocks, attacking cars carrying NGO workers and beating journalists. Earlier Saturday, the Greek migration minister announced plans for two new camps to house asylum-seekers who arrived after March 1, when Turkey announced it would no longer prevent people from trying to cross into the European Union. On the land border with Turkey, tens of thousands of asylum-seekers have been trying to break through for a week. There have been numerous exchanges of tear gas and stones with Greek riot police. Turkey has accused Greece of injuring many migrants and killing at least five, a claim Athens denies. "We want to build two closed centres in (the northern region of) Serres and the greater Athens area with 1,000 places," migration minister Notis Mitarachi told Skai TV. "We need the backing of local communities. We cannot leave all (these) people on the islands," he said. Mitarachi also said state support for refugees would be drastically reduced, and that they would be asked to leave camps after securing protected status. "Accomodation and benefits for those granted asylum will be interrupted within a month. From then on, they will have to work for a living. This makes our country a less attractive destination for migration flows," the minister said. Far-right militants from other parts of Europe have travelled to Lesbos and the Greek border with Turkey, among them Swedish far-right leader Jimmie Akesson, who reportedly handed out flyers at Edirne with the message "Sweden is full". On Friday, two Germans and two Austrians -- identified as hardline nationalists by local media -- told police they had been attacked and beaten on the central Lesbos market. One of the four, who claimed they were journalists, was identified as Mario Mueller, a German member of the far-right Identitarian Movement. On Saturday, anti-fascist activists organised a gathering in support of refugees on Lesbos. "We need to react in some way because we've reached a point where fear is taking hold," said Maria Psomadaki, a retired teacher. Turkey's decision to give the green light to migrants to leave has sparked a surge and heightened concern in Greece with plans to build new temporary camps leading to protests The Hispanic community is expected to have a robust expansion and growth in its business in the years to come. In fact, many of the Hispanic owners believe that 2020 is a good year to start a business. In a previous report of Latin Post, many Hispanic small business owners are seeing this decade as an opportunity of growth for their businesses. They see a brighter future in the years to come. It is the reason it is not surprising to see Hispanics are opening more small businesses compared to other groups throughout America. If you are planning to start a small business, it is important to consider the target customers. You also have to make sure that this business will let you have a good return on investment. Here are some of the profitable small business ideas for the Hispanic community according to a published article in Profitable Venture: 1. English Language School One of the best small business that you can establish in a Hispanic community is an English Language School. Only few of the Hispanic migrants who arrived in the United States can speak English fluently and many have difficulties in speaking the language. This means that Hispanics will be looking for an English language school where they can learn how to speak the language. But, if it seems that you do not have enough budget to establish a small business like this, you can instead offer home service. 2. Daycare Center Hispanic families are very hard working. The first thing that Hispanics do is to look for a job that will support their daily needs once they arrived in the United States. They don't care if they have to work night and day. What is important for them is to support the basic needs of the family and prepare a brighter future for their children. With the busy schedule of Hispanic parents, they will be sending their children to a Daycare Centre where they will enjoy and learn to speak English. Hispanics who will be opening this business will also be an advantage because they can speak both English and Spanish. Even though Hispanic parents want to retain their original language but they also want their children to learn how to speak English. 3. Hispanic Restaurant and Bar Another small business that you can open for the Hispanic community is a Hispanic restaurant and bar. Hispanics are known as family-oriented and they have established close ties to their culture and people. This is the place where they will be spending most of their time meeting some Hispanics who are living and working in the United States. The most interesting part of why this business is very profitable because of the Hispanic cuisines that every Hispanic would love to have. The tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more will remind them of their culture and their place of origin. 4. Hispanic Community Radio Station If you have enough budget, venturing in a media business like a community radio station for Hispanics is very profitable. Once they knew that you use Spanish as a means of communication in your radio station they will surely tune in. They will also love to listen to Latino music being played in your radio station and would love to know about what is happening in their place of origin. 5. Grocery Store This is considered a highly-profitable business just make sure to consider the location where there's a large numer of Hispanics. Take note also to make sure that you stock original products and items that are in high demand in the Hispanic community. 6. Food Truck Let's not forget how immensely successful food trucks can be. Whether it be specialty dishes like tacos or burritos or more broad menus like burgers and fries, food trucks, when in the right location, with an original Mexican flavor can really be profitable. For feral hog trapping expert Steve Neece of Fulshear, killing feral hogs on Texas ranches is just like killing a cockroach in your kitchen. "That's the way Texans should think about feral hogs," Neece, 40, said. "It's a non-native, very invasive species. The numbers are staggering about what kind of damage they are causing landowners...and they are spreading toward the urban and metro areas." On Express-News.com: Officially, an Anahuac woman was killed in a rare feral hog attack. But some aren't convinced. Neece's primary job is in insurance, but he works a side-hustle running a hunting business called Dirt Nap Outfitters with a few friends. On weekends and some weeknights, the trio heads out to Central Texas counties to hunt feral hogs that they say are wreaking havoc on Texas farmers' lands. Neece said some farmers have told him the hogs are costing them anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 a month in property damage and stolen cattle feed. According to the Texas A&M Natural Resources, feral hogs cause an estimated $52 million in agricultural damages every year in Texas. On Express-News.com: Scared residents in Woodlands plead for help with feral hog invasion With permission from the landowner, people can hunt hogs on private property without a license thanks to a new state law, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). In a TPWD guide, feral hogs are considered unprotected, exotic, non-game animals and "may be taken by any means or methods at any time of year." TPWD estimates there are currently 1.5 million feral hogs in Texas. On a recent trip to a ranch in Columbus, Neece said he just happened to bring his 13-year-old son, Scout, along for the ride. The pair encountered one of the biggest feral hogs Neece had seen in his 15 years of hunting: a nearly 400-pound pig. With a quick, clean shot, Neece said Scout took down the massive beast, answering the ranch owner's prayers. PLAGUE OF PIGS: Pasadena on mission to remove feral hogs "I told him 'You will probably not see another feral hog that size, it's one in several thousand,'" Neece said. "The ones that are that size are really smart and hard to find. It was a kind of a proud dad moment for me." Over the last decade of hunting hogs, (Neece prefers the word "eradicating" to hunting) he said he has seen reports of hogs in surrounding Fort Bend area counties increase significantly, especially when it comes to their size and aggressive nature. He credits the specialized agricultural feed ranchers are giving their cattle for the noticeable increase in their size. "These hogs get in this cattle feed and just overrun the cattle," Neece said of a recent ranch he visited. "I think that's why they are growing at this larger rate that no one has ever seen before." Neece said a massive hog like the one Scout shot is not suitable for human consumption, but he does donate the other ones to food donation stations. He usually has large haul, considering his team aims to shoot more than half of a pack every time they come across one. "You have to eradicate 70 percent [of a sounder of feral hogs] just to keep up with the level that they reproduce," Neece said. He and his business partners usually hunt at night with thermal scopes since the hogs are nocturnal. The ranchers he works with install cameras on their property that deliver a live-feed to Neece's phone so he knows when to head out and start hunting. While Neece said 90 percent of his side-hustle is a pest control service, they also offer guided hunting tours. His company's Youtube channel posts videos of their outings, with some earning nearly half a million views. Neece said as the pigs start to make their way into more urban areas, he advises residents that may come across the animals to seek professional help. "Find a wildlife nuisance control company," he said. "There used to maybe be a dozen of us, now there are hundreds of people that do this." Rebecca Hennes covers community news. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | rebecca.hennes@chron.com A 12-year-old girl has allegedly been sexually assaulted by an intruder who broke into her home while she slept. Police are searching for a man after reports of the alleged child sex offence at a home in Quorn, in South Australia's mid-north on Friday morning. Police say the little girl woke up to find a 'tall, skinny man' at her bedside between 4.30am and 4.45am. The man allegedly assaulted her before leaving the house with a torch in hand. A 12-year-old girl has allegedly been sexually assaulted by an intruder who broke into her home while she slept (stock image) Neighbours described reports as 'unsettling' and 'dreadful' as they rush to ensure their children aren't on the streets alone while an offender is on the loose. Police are urging homeowners to remain vigilant and keep their homes secured after the alleged incident. The reports have been described as 'out of character' for the South Australian town. Neighbours are hopeful police will track down the alleged offender for the safety of the town's children. An anonymous resident told Adelaide Now it's a concerning state of affairs. 'It's pretty unsettling,' she said. 'It's bad enough that we have to lock our cars and houses but that is pretty horrifying.' Police are urging homeowners to remain vigilant and keep their homes secured after the alleged incident (stock image) Mickael Silvestre claims he has no problems with being rested after Gary Neville admitted he hates being left out. Silvestre missed Saturday's 2-0 home win over Aston Villa because manager Sir Alex Ferguson felt he needed a breather. Ferguson intends to rest Neville for the match against Everton in 11 days' time, but Silvestre agrees with the Old Trafford rotation policy. He feels it makes sense because of the busy months ahead. Silvestre said on MUTV: "It keeps your fitness good for next month when we will be playing every three days with league or Champions League games so it's good to rest before all that. "The manager is going to change the team and rest players when we play at home, not away, and I think it's good to rest two players, but not more like four or five. "You can't do that and you have to respect the other team. Everton are a good side and we should only rest two and no more." Thailand's richest man looks to build a factory in five weeks to begin production of 3 million hygienic masks monthly, as the country combats the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Dhanin Chearavanont, senior chairman of top Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group, said Thursday that CP will invest roughly 100 million baht ($3.19 million). The group's main companies focus on livestock farming, food processing, retail and telecommunications, but mask production is not an area of expertise. "We will utilize our global network to source machines and materials of hygienic standard, with the objective to help with the prevention especially for COVID-19," the group said, referring to the disease caused by the new virus. CP Group intends to supply the masks for free to medical staff at hospitals in need, and also to people who may lack access to masks to protect themselves. CP joins several Asian companies that are moving into mask production to cope with the outbreak. Top global electronics manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry, also known as Foxconn, decided to build its own production line for surgical masks in Shenzhen early last month to ensure enough supply for its workers returning from the Lunar New Year holiday. Japanese electronics maker Sharp, a Foxconn group company, decided to convert clean rooms designed for producing liquid crystal display panels into lines for making surgical masks. Dhanin ranked as the 75th-richest person worldwide in Forbes' Billionaires 2019 list, with wealth estimated at $16.4 billion as of Thursday. He is the youngest of four Chearavanont brothers, who contributed to the exponential expansion of the nearly 100-year-old conglomerate. The Chearavanont brothers led the Thailand's Richest list compiled by Forbes. Thailand currently reports 47 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with one fatality. The mask shortage is apparent on the streets of Bangkok. Stocks evaporate as soon as they arrive in stores. Yet online flippers are selling masks at far higher than the normal price. An online shopper was charged 20 baht per surgical mask, which used to cost 0.7 baht. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Wednesday that an investigation will be conducted into the shortage. Charoen Pokphand Foods, the conglomerate's food processing arm, said Wednesday it will supply food to individuals suspected of having COVID-19 as well as to medical staff at public hospitals nationwide. A quick recovery from the outbreak also offers returns for CP. Travel restrictions imposed by various countries have harmed Thailand's tourism industry, which accounts for roughly 20% of the country's gross domestic product. CP Group and real estate subsidiary Magnolia Quality Development share a 49% stake in Iconsiam, a luxury mall on west bank of the Chao Phraya River that draws many tourists, especially from China. Congratulations, tamilmp3songs.org got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Tamilmp3songs.org 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 15 Jul 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. tamilmp3songs.org is very popular in Facebook. Furthermore its facebook page has 1124 likes. The total number of people who shared the tamilmp3songs homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the tamilmp3songs homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if tamilmp3songs has a Facebook fan page). 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Best for breakfast MOKONUTS, 5, Rue Saint-Bernard, 75011, mokonuts.com Moko Hirayama and Omar Koreitem's charming Mokonuts calls itself a cafe and bakery but has morphed into a trendy restaurant and is one of the hottest spots in town. If you don't manage to get a booking for lunch, you can drop in for breakfast and try one of their famous cookies (soft and warm, they come in flavours such as tahini, miso sesame, peanut butter and milk chocolate), or the granola with homemade yoghurt and fresh fruit. The savoury menu changes daily but the influences are mainly Middle Eastern, with a focus on fish and vegetables. The couple also have a sandwich and salad shop, Mokoloco, at 74, Rue de Charonne, 75011. 2. Best for lunch PIROUETTE, 5, Rue Mondetour, 75001, restaurantpirouette.com Expand Close Chef Francois-Xavier Ferrol / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chef Francois-Xavier Ferrol Chef Francois-Xavier Ferrol brings a flash of New York style to this restaurant in Les Halles, where the modern food is always innovative, exciting and surprisingly good value, particularly at lunchtime when the two-course set menu costs 22. The room has big windows and wooden floors and feels airy and bright; the wine list has plenty of interest for natural and biodynamic drinkers. 3. Best for hearty food on the go MIZNON, 22, Rue des Ecouffes, 75004; 37, Quai de Valmy, 75010; 3, Rue de la Grange-Bateliere, 75009. Instagram: @miznonparis The Israeli restaurant chain now has three branches across Paris - the original in the Marais, and others in the 9th and 10th arrondissements. Its spectacularly tasty and substantial pita sandwiches are exactly the thing to sustain you through the day when you've slept through petit dejeuner; there's no need to book and the simple interiors belie the deliciousness of the food. I'm not sure if Miznon lays claim to be the first place ever to roast a whole head of cauliflower, but it's one of its signature dishes. Good options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. The lamb kebab is particularly recommended. 4. Best for the classic bistro experience BISTROT PAUL BERT, 18 Rue Paul Bert, 75011 (no website - how French!) +33 1 43 722 401 Yes, it features in every guide book and yes, it's something of a Paris cliche, but it would be a shame to visit Paris and not have at least one classic bistro meal, and Bistrot Paul Bert ticks every one of the boxes that you want. Don't be put off by the fact that it's popular with tourists - we are all tourists after all, and there are plenty of French customers too - and do order the bone marrow, the steak frites and the Paris-Brest. Stick to the set menu and the bill will be surprisingly reasonable. Down the street is 6 Paul Bert, its cooler, younger sibling with a more edgy vibe, a warehouse feel, and a wine list focused on the natural. 5. Best for a splurge LA POULE AU POT, 9, rue Vauvilliers, 75001, lapouleaupot.com Now under the umbrella of legendary chef Jean-Francois Piege, the food at La Poule au Pot in Les Halles is rooted in classic bistro tradition and uses high-quality luxurious ingredients - think frogs' legs, turbot and fabulous French fries, with plenty of butter and cream and more than a smattering of truffles. If that sounds like your kind of thing, book in for a treat - but if you are after a light, contemporary meal, this may not be for you. The room is steeped in bistro history and beautifully preserved. 6. Best for steak and chips LE RELAIS DE L'ENTRECOTE, three branches in Montparnasse, 6th; Marbeuf, 8th, and Saint-Benoit, 6th, relaisentrecote.fr Le Relais de L'Entrecote only serves steak and chips, but does it so well that it doesn't need to do anything else. Sure, there's a green salad with walnuts to start and a selection of desserts to finish, for anyone who has room, but the whole point of the restaurants is the perfectly cooked steak, the famous green sauce and the mountains of crisp fries. Wonderful, just not for vegetarians. 7. Best for glamour HOTEL COSTES, 239-241 Rue Saint-Honore, 75001, hotelcostes.com You don't go to Costes for the food, but if you want to get dressed up in heels and sequins, and eat outdoors under a fabulous canopied courtyard, and be able to dance and smoke between courses (there are DJ sets every night) until three in the morning, then Costes will appeal. A word to the wise: stick to simple dishes and the lower echelons of the wine list to avoid nasty shocks. 8. Best no-bookings restaurant CLAMATO, 80 Rue de Charonne, 75011, clamato-charonne.fr Serving excellent creative food based wholly on fish, seafood and vegetables, Clamato - which is in the same group as the impossible-to-get-into Septime - is one of the coolest restaurants in Paris; be prepared to put your name on the waiting list and decamp to a nearby wine bar while you wait. Take the bar seats if they are offered to you and enjoy the chilled vibe and natural wines. 9. Best wine bar SEPTIME LA CAVE, 3 Rue Basfroi, 75011, septime-lacave.fr Reservations at Septime proper are like hens' teeth, but if you find yourself on the waiting list for Clamato, you could do worse than squeeze in here for a bottle of natural wine and some cheese and charcuterie. It's also very close to Bistrot Paul Bert. 10. Best for sharing plates FRENCHIE WINE BAR, 6 Rue du Nil, 75002, frenchie-bav.com Greg Marchand's Frenchie restaurant (frenchie-restaurant.com) and wine bar are both on Rue du Nil, and if you can't get a booking in the restaurant (which has a Michelin star and serves a tasting menu), the wine bar is better than a poor relation, with tasty sharing plates and a nice, relaxed atmosphere. No bookings, but plenty of delicious things to eat and drink. The 3 percent cap I realize was politically necessary in order to get the funding deal done a couple of years ago, said Katherine Kortum, president of Metros Riders Advisory Council and a transportation engineer for the National Academies of Sciences Transportation Research Board. I do find it a little maddening as a rider and as a resident in the region because we dont put a cap on any other transportation source in the region, especially roads. RICHARDSON, Texas, March 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) members will have access to coronavirus (COVID-19) testing as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and prescribed by health providers. Effective immediately, BCBSTX will not require preauthorization and will not apply members' co-pays or deductibles for testing to diagnose COVID-19 when medically necessary and consistent with CDC guidelines. "Supporting our members in sickness and in health is paramount, which is why we have joined stakeholders in the healthcare system to do our part in contributing to this necessary and collective global effort to help contain and abate COVID-19," said Dr. Dan McCoy, president of BCBSTX. "We are closely monitoring developments of COVID-19, and stand ready to assist doctors, hospitals and federal, state and local public health organizations in serving our members, our community and employees." BCBSTX members who have questions about their coverage should call the number on the back of their ID card. The state of Texas now has six public health labs within its Laboratory Response Network that are equipped to perform COVID-19 testing, according Gov. Greg Abbott. The Laboratory Response Network exists to provide laboratory diagnostics and maintain the capacity to respond to biological and chemical threats and other public health emergencies. The CDC is also offering testing at no cost. The CDC recommends these actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases: Avoid close contact with people who are sick; Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; Stay home when you are sick; Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash; Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe; and Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and healthcare practitioners, and 500 hospitals to serve 6 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico), the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSTX.com | Twitter.com/BCBSTX | Facebook.com/BlueCrossBlueShieldOfTexas | YouTube.com/BCBSTX SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Related Links www.bcbstx.com By Svea Herbst-Bayliss BOSTON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs ranked as the top adviser to companies targeted by activist investors in 2019, dethroning Morgan Stanley , which had held the top spot for three straight years, according to Refinitiv data published on Friday. In 2019 Goldman advised on 48 campaigns to capture the top spot while Morgan Stanley advised on 37 campaigns, the data shows By Svea Herbst-Bayliss BOSTON (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs ranked as the top adviser to companies targeted by activist investors in 2019, dethroning Morgan Stanley , which had held the top spot for three straight years, according to Refinitiv data published on Friday. In 2019 Goldman advised on 48 campaigns to capture the top spot while Morgan Stanley advised on 37 campaigns, the data shows. Goldman worked on some of the year's biggest campaigns, helping defend Sony <6758.T> against hedge fund Third Point, AT&T against Elliott Management, and eBay against Elliott and Starboard Value. In 2018, the two New York-based investment banks advised on roughly the same number of campaigns each with Morgan Stanley having been involved in 33, compared with Goldman Sachs' 32, Refinitiv data shows. Spotlight Advisors, founded by Greg Taxin, a lawyer who worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs and Bank of America Securities, captured the No. 3 spot last year with 31 campaigns. Spotlight works for both companies and activists, while most banks work only for corporations. Lazard and Evercore followed on the list with 10 and 9 campaigns, respectively. Both banks worked on more deals in 2018, with Lazard having handled 16 engagements and Evercore having handled 18, Refinitiv data shows. League tables are compiled by various providers and are often used as data points in trying to woo new clients. But they seldom tell the entire story, bankers have said, noting that discrepancies can arise because many companies fend off activists privately and ask their advisers to stay silent about their involvement. Activists mounted 400 campaigns last year pushing companies to spin off divisions, put themselves up for sale or give them board seats. The number represents a 21% decline from campaigns mounted in 2018, but activists also went after big companies like AT&T, which were long thought to be out of activists' reach. Consumer cyclical companies were the most heavily targeted last year, Refinitiv said, with 68 campaigns in the sector. Elliott Management ranked as the busiest activist, having launched 13 campaigns in 2019. Okapi Partners and Innisfree were the top proxy solicitors, firms hired to gather shareholders' votes, while Olshan Frome Wolosky beat out two competitors to rank as the busiest law firm with 86 mandates working for activists. (Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Express News Service KOZHIKODE: Bird Flu confirmed in one chicken farm and one private nursery in West Kodiyathur and Vengeri in Kozhikode. Kerala State Animal Husbandry Department conducted an emergency meeting yesterday under the supervision of minister K Raju in Thiruvananthapuram. The Department has informed that the disease is under control and that there was no need to worry about it. However, the officials have demanded high alert in the state. It's the first case of Bird Flu in the state after 2016 outbreak. The suspicion of the diseases emerged when two hundred chickens started dying each day. "We were informed about the deaths only on Thursday. Immediately we sent the test samples to Kannur laboratory and later to Bhopal laboratory. We are yet to receive guidelines from the Chief Secretary," said Dr K Sindhu, Animal Husbandry Officer. According to the reports, the Bird Flu has been confirmed by the Bhopal laboratory. Local governance bodies are in high alert and a special expert team will carry out a detailed study in the affected chicken farms and surroundings. Bala Chauhan By Express News Service BENGALURU: The killer contraband 7.65mm pistol, which was recently recovered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from the seabed in a creek near Thane, in Maharashtra, may have also been used in the assassinations of editor-cum-activist Gauri Lankesh and Kannada litterateur MM Kalburgi, sources told TNIE. The CBI has sent the country-made pistol for ballistic examination to verify if it was used for killing Pune-based rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in August 2013. One contraband 7.65mm pistol was used in the three murder cases -- of Dabholkar, Kalburgi and Gauri. We have to wait for the forensic report of the pistol. Subject to verification, the SIT will add the ballistic report to their chargesheets in their two cases, said the source. The Karnataka Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing the Kalburgi and Gauri murder cases, CBI is investigating the Dabholkar assassination case and Maharashtra SIT is probing the Kolhapur-based Communist leader Govind Pansares murder case. Sharad Kalaskar, who allegedly shot Dabholkar and is accused in the murders of Gauri, Kalburgi and Pansare, had reportedly told the CBI that on the alleged advice of Sanatan Sansthas counsel Sanjeev Punalekar, he had dismantled and thrown four pistols in a creek near Thane. One of these was the pistol used in the murders of Dabholkar, Gauri and Kalburgi, said the officer. Kalaskar was arrested in August 2018 by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in the Palghar arms haul case. In October 2018, he had shown the SIT the spot from where he had thrown the killer pistol along with three other countrymade pistols, after dismantling them. Kalaskar threw the four pistols from a bridge into Thane creek on August 23, when he was returning to Nalasopara from Pune, the CBI lawyer had told the Pune court earlier. Kalaskar had reportedly handled the firearms used in the Gauri case and had allegedly ferried Kalburgis killer Ganesh Miskin on the motorcycle to the scholars house in Dharwad, where Miskin had shot Kalburgi dead inside his house on August 30, 2015. The CBI had sent a request to the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF) for permission to search the spot near Thane creek, where Kalaskar had reportedly thrown the four dismantled countrymade pistols. The CBI had used the expertise of a Dubai-based company, which had in turn used hi-tech Norwegian equipment to detect the alleged killer pistol in a 40-feet thick layer of sand on the seabed at an estimated cost around Rs 7.5 crore, which is to be shared by the governments of Karnataka and Maharashtra, said sources. Kelaniya students continue to oppose installation of cameras View(s): Higher education officials and student unions are still at loggerheads over the installation of CCTV cameras at universities. While Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunewardena said all universities are directed to install CCTV cameras to curb and prevent any threats to national security, student unions charged that this is a move to suppress student unions and leaders who speak out against privatising the higher education sector. Last week 16 students, including a student monk, from Kelaniya University were arrested under the Public Property Act for removal of state-owned camera equipment and produced before courts. They were identified from video footage recorded on the CCTV cameras. Videos, photos and memes circulated via social media of students removing the cameras, dumping them in waste bins and threatening authorities. Later four students were ordered to be remanded by the Mahara Magistrate while the others were released on bail. They will appear before courts on March 17. Twenty-seven students who were involved in the act of vandalism will face a two-year suspension after they were found guilty of removing CCTV cameras. Letters have been sent to the residences of the suspected students that the students will face suspension over the illegal act. Four, who are in prison for direct involvement, may possibly lose their right to complete their degrees, said Wijeyananda Rupesinghe, Director Media and Communication Division, Kelaniya University. He said the court was informed that the CCTV camera equipment damaged were worth Rs2.6 million. Udara Sandaruwan, Acting Convener of the Inter University Student Federation, said that the installation of cameras within university premises is a move to curb student freedom. The government that is not interested in increasing the annual budget allocation for education, is encouraging universities to purchase costly camera equipment to ensure students are oppressed, he said. He said some universities were installing CCTV cameras facing the entrance of student union rooms to monitor the behaviour of student leaders. We have met Higher Education Ministry officials, secretaries and we are willing to meet the President and express our regret over the present governments move to privatise the education system, while suppressing student leaders. The Easter Sunday attacks and concerns over national security are used as an excuse to suppress student movements. University students are like prisoners now, he said. Mr Rupesinghe claimed the students intention in removing the CCTV cameras was to prevent the recording of ragging of new students arriving for the new academic year on March 9. The university has had CCTV cameras since 2012 facing computer laboratories, as required by the World Bank when projects are funded. The management decided to install cameras facing the main entrances; the Dalugama entrance is open to public as well. Therefore, there was a concern about security, he added. Mr Rupesinghe said the University had not even paid in full for the CCTV camera installation. Some damages are irreparable. But the cameras will be re-installed before the new academic year, he said. Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said the University Grants Commission (UGC) has been advised to refrain from getting involved, as this case comes under the violation of a law of the country. They might be university students, but this has been an act of vandalising public property, a punishable offence under the Offences Against Public Property Act. The installation of CCTV cameras was not to curb student activities, but a general measure to ensure national security after Easter Sunday attacks, he said. All weekend post-graduate courses, diploma and certificate courses and examinations conducted by the university that were halted resumed yesterday. Alwar's Juvenile Justice Board on Saturday deferred to March 12, the date of pronouncement of sentences of two minors who were convicted in the Pehlu Khan lynching case. The Juvenile Justice Board, headed by Principal Magistrate Sarita Dhaka deferred the date of pronouncement of the sentence to March 12. This comes a day after Alwar's Juvenile Justice Board convicted the two minors in the case.Khan, a 55-year-old dairy farmer from Haryana's Nuh, was beaten up by self-styled cow vigilantes near Behror in Rajasthan on Delhi-Alwar highway on April 1 in 2017. He had succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital two days later. Thereafter, an amateur video of the incident had gone viral showing Khan getting thrashed by a mob, thrown to the ground and kicked. Three, of the nine people accused of his murder, were underage. On October 14 last year, the Rajasthan government had filed an appeal in the High Court challenging the acquittal of six accused by a lower court in connection with the lynching of Pehlu Khan in 2017. An SIT, which was set up to probe and identify lapses and irregularities in the police investigation in the lynching case, had in September last year submitted its report to the state government. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Further breakthroughs in Pulwama attack case as NIA nabs two more India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Mar 07: The National Investigation Agency has arrested two more persons in connection with the Pulwama attack. Two persons, including the one who procured chemicals online for making the IED used in the Pulwama attack, were arrested by the NIA. Forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were martyred in the deadly terror attack in south Kashmir's Pulwama district last year after a suicide bomber rammed an explosive laden car in the paramilitary force's convoy. Waiz-ul-Islam (19) of Srinagar's Bagh-e-Mehtab locality and Mohammad Abbass Rather (32) of Hakripora village in Pulwama district were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the official said. Could not say no to Pulwama terrorists, they were armed and dangerous The number of people arrested in the case now stands at five. Earlier, a father-daughter duo and a close aide of the suicide bomber were arrested in two separate operations. NEWS AT 3 PM, MARCH 7th, 2020 "During initial interrogation, Islam disclosed that he used his Amazon online shopping account to procure chemicals for making IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), batteries and other accessories on the directions of Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists," the official said. He said Islam personally delivered the items to JeM terrorists after procuring the incriminating material online from the delivery portal as a part of the conspiracy to carry out the Pulwama attack. "Rather is an old over-ground worker (OGW) of the JeM. He has disclosed that he gave shelter at his home to Jaish terrorist and IED expert Mohd Umar after he came to Kashmir in April-May 2018," the official said. Rather also harboured JeM terrorists - suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar, Sameer Ahmed Dar and Kamran, a Pakistani - at his house a number of times in the run up to the Pulwama attack, he said. "He also facilitated safe shelter for the JeM terrorists, including Adil, at the house of accused Tariq Ahmed Shah and his daughter Insha Jan of Hakripora, who were arrested on March 3," the official said. He said Islam and Rather will be produced before the NIA special court in Jammu on Saturday, while further investigation in the case continues. The NIA took over the case to probe the conspiracy behind the February 14, 2019, attack in Pulwama. Father-daughter duo arrested by NIA in connection with Pulwama attack The last video of Adil, which was released by the JeM from Pakistan after the terror attack, was filmed at the residence of Tariq Ahmed Shah. On February 28, the NIA achieved a major breakthrough in the case when it arrested 22-year-old Shakir Bashir Magrey, a furniture shop owner and resident of Hajibal in Pulwama's Kakapora. Magrey had provided shelter and other logistical assistance to suicide bomber Adil. He was introduced to Adil in mid- 2018 by Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Umar Farooq and he became a full-time OGW of the JeM. The explosives used in the attack were determined through forensic probe to be ammonium nitrate, nitro-glycerin and RDX. During investigation into the attack, the identity of the suicide bomber to be Adil Ahmad Dar was confirmed through DNA matching with that of his father. The other key terrorists involved in the attack have been found to be JeM's south Kashmir divisional commander Muddasir Ahmad Khan, killed in an operation by security forces on March 11 last year; Pakistani terrorists Muhammad Umar Farooq and IED expert Kamran, both killed on March 29 last year; the owner of the car Sajjad Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Anantnag who was killed on June 16 last year; and Qari Yassir, JeM's commander for Kashmir who was killed on January 25 this year. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 7:47 [IST] 07.03.2020 LISTEN A needy but brilliant Senior High School graduate at Okurase, a farming community in Upper West Akyem municipality of the Eastern Region is appealing for financial support to further his education. He dreams of becoming a lawyer. Twenty-One-year old Osae Isaac scored aggregate eight(8) in 2019 West Africa Secondary Schools Examination(WASSCE). He scored A1 in Government, Geography, Economics, Social Studies, and Christian Religion Studies, and scored B3 in English Language, B2 in Mathematics and Integrated Science. Master Osae Isaac, now a mobile money vendor in Kokomlemle-Accra, lost his father before completing Senior High School leaving him to the hands of his poor mother who is a peasant farmer. The student was among the first batch of Students admitted into Nyanoa Kwaobaa Community Day SHS commissioned by Former President John Mahama in 2016. He was also a beneficiary of the Progressively Free Education Policy piloted by the Mahama government. Starr News has gathered that teachers in the school contributed money to enable him to register during the WASSCE due to the mother inability to raise Ghc350 for the registration exercise. The sad story of the student came to light during the celebration of 63rd Independence Anniversary in Adeiso where the District Assembly and Education Directorate acknowledged him for his academic exploit and presented a Laptop and Citation of honour to him promising to support him though having failed to do so in 2019 . In an interview with the media, visibly worried Osae Isaac maintained that he wants to pursue Law to fight for the poor in society. During my education at Nyanoa Senior high school, my father (now late) added me to some friends who rented a room at Nyanoa and paid his part of the accommodation. My teachers tried to seek help from the DCE but it has not been effective for now. For now, I am doing mobile money for someone at Kokomlemle. My parents were farmers who grows food crops, but after my fathers died, my Mother is doing small farms just for family consumption. He appealed that I will be very happy if I get the support to further my education The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) is a public trust set up by an Act of Parliament in the year 2000 with the core mandate to provide funding to supplement government effort for the provision of educational infrastructure and facilities within the public sector from the pre-tertiary to the tertiary level. It is also mandated to give scholarships to brilliant but needy students. However, the poor in society without political connections are unable to access the fund as persons in privileged positions have hijacked the fund for themselves and families. A recent audit into the books of the scholarship scheme by the Auditor General Department sparked anger among mang Ghanaians after a tall list of well to do individuals mostly government officials were mentioned as beneficiaries of the Fund. ---starrfmonline New Delhi: Suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain revealed a few details about his whereabouts during the time he was running away from the police. The former AAP leader has been accused in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer Ankit Sharma, was sent to 7-day police custody on Friday. During interrogation, he said that fled to Nehru Vihar in Mustafabad and then stayed in Okhla for two days before he came out to surrender in court. Tahir had switched off his phone and was using another phone number to make calls. Police have not found either of the two phones he was using. According to sources at the crime branch, three people in Mustafabad helped Tahir Hussain while he was on the run. When the raids were conducted in Mustafabad to catch Tahir, he went to Zakir Nagar and stayed at a known acquaintance's house. Now, the four people who helped Tahir are on the crime branch's radar. They will soon be called in for inquiries, sources said. Tahir will be taken to his residence where the police had recovered stones and petrol bombs. The police are on the lookout for his brother, Shah Alam and others who were alleged to be with him on the day of riots. He is not fully cooperating with the police in the investigation, sources said. Three FIRs have been filed against Tahir and he had been absconding for almost a week. He has been also accused of attempt to murder and of inciting the mob to indulge in violence and riots. On March 5, Delhi's Karkardooma court had rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Tahir, observing that nobody had appeared from the accused side. Tahir, who is an accused in the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during last week`s violence in north-east Delhi, was arrested following the rejection of his surrender application. The communal violence, that sparked from protests over the amended Citizenship Act in northeast Delhi on February 24, has so far claimed lives of at least 53 people and left almost 300 injured, according to a PTI report. Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday left for Uttar Pradeshs Ayodhya to pay a visit to the makeshift temple of Lord Ram in the afternoon followed by a prayer at the Sarayu River in the evening. Highlights Will reach the Lucknow airport at around 11am and go to Ayodhya by road around 4.30pm A grand aarti planned at the Saryu cancelled over coronavirus scare Sanjay Raut has refuted claims that Thackerays visit was an attempt by the Sena to keep its Hindutva agenda alive Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had said on Friday the chief ministers visit was not a political one but was only to seek Lord Rams blessing after their government completed 100 days in power. Raut had said Uddhav Thackeray will reach Lucknow airport around 11am and go to Ayodhya by road around 4.30pm. The Maharashtra chief minister is also expected to address the media before going to the temple. We had planned to have a grand aarti at the Saryu but due to coronavirus scare and the advisory from the Centre to reduce mass gatherings, we have decided to not have the aarti, Raut had said. Sena had planned a show of strength in the temple town with around 5000 people accompanying Thackeray for the aarti. Also read: Why Thackerays stand on Hindutva wont be a problem Raut refuted claims that Thackerays visit was an attempt by the Sena to keep its Hindutva agenda alive amid allegations of diluting its stand on the issue after joining hands with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress. We do not need to do these gimmicks for Hindutva, Raut said. The leader also hinted that the Sena could play an active part in the construction of the Ram temple. The CM will speak about how we want to support the construction of Ram temple, he said. Uddhav Thackerays Ayodhya visit was announced in January to mark 100 days in office of the new Maharashtra government led by the Shiv Sena. The Sena chief was sworn-in as chief minister on November 28, 2019. The announcement about Thackerays visit had led to political bickering with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the chief minister of abandoning the Hindutva ideology. His party had then hit back at the BJP and asked for the visit to be kept out of politics. Thackeray had to put off his visit to Ayodhya in November last year after the historic Supreme Court judgement in favour of building a Ram temple in the town. The 2020 harvesting of Green, Gold and Red Kiwifruit has begun with kiwifruit picking underway in Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty. The 2020 season is forecast to be another very large crop with around 155 million trays of Green and Gold kiwifruit expected to be picked in orchards and packed in packhouses across New Zealand from Northland to Motueka. This years crop is forecast to be well up from the 147 million trays exported in 2019. It is predominantly the Gold variety which is first picked, followed by Green kiwifruit in late March. The last fruit is picked in June. Alongside the picking of Green and Gold kiwifruit, Zespri Red Kiwifruit will also be picked as a commercial variety. The sweet, berry-tinged tasting kiwifruit will be destined for markets in Japan and Singapore as well as supermarket shelves in New Zealand. Nikki Johnson, CEO of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. - NZKGI, says that consumers should expect the fruit to be tasting great. However, there are some potential hurdles around dry weather, Coronavirus and seasonal labour availability. As the kiwifruit is packed, we will start to have a clearer picture of the impact of this years hot and dry weather which may be influential, says Nikki. In addition to the dry weather, this season also has an emphasis on being well prepared for potential disruption from Coronavirus. As we are working with a food crop, the industry already has strong processes in place around food safety and personal hygiene and these will continue to be important. The industry is working together to plan and mitigate disruption and will be following public health recommendations, says Nikki. Based on the forecast volume and spread of the harvest season, it is currently forecast that around 20,000 workers will be required throughout the harvest period. However, Nikki says it will become clearer if there are sufficient workers as the industry gets closer to the peak of harvest and the requirement for significantly more seasonal workers increases. NZKGI has taken proactive steps to mitigate the likely labour risk and will be communicating on the steps which will be taken over the coming weeks. In addition, NZKGI has been in conversations with forestry organisations to ascertain if there is the ability to provide opportunities to forestry employees while there is a lull in wood exports. Zespri Chief Grower & Alliances Officer Dave Courtney says Zespri was expecting another great tasting crop with more SunGold than Green kiwifruit. This year were again expecting to have more SunGold than Green kiwifruit, and of course well be bringing an increasing amount of Zespri Red Kiwifruit to market following last years limited release. Were also excited to introduce our new brand to consumers and progressively roll this out to markets across the year, says Dave. Kiwifruit is by far New Zealands largest fresh horticultural export, with over NZ$2.63 billion in sales of New Zealand fruit in 2018. This represents the value of over half of all New Zealands horticulture exports. In 2018 over 2,700 growers grew 149 million trays of kiwifruit which was sold to over 50 markets. The industry is experiencing strong growth which is expected to continue over the coming years. New Zealand kiwifruit production is expected to jump from 123 million trays in 2017 to 190 million trays in 2027. The kiwifruit industrys global revenue is expected to jump from over $2.63 billion in 2018 to $6 billion by 2030. The 2018 regional contribution is broken down as follows: Northland $76m, Auckland $70m, Waikato $65m, Bay of Plenty $1.45b, Poverty Bay $57m, Hawkes Bay $32m, Lower North Island $7m, and South Island $58m The importance of New Zealands kiwifruit industry is represented through its contribution to New Zealands local economies, contributing $1.82 billion to kiwifruit growing regions in 2018. This YouTube video is provided by Google*. If you load the video, your data - including your IP address - is transmitted to Google and may be stored and processed by Google inter alia in the USA. We have no influence over further data processing by Google. By clicking on "Accept", you consent to the transmission of data to Google for this video in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR and at the same time expressly consent to the transfer of data to the USA in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. If you no longer wish to consent to each YouTube video individually in the future and wish to be able to load the videos without this blocker, you can also select "Always accept YouTube" and thereby consent to the associated data transmissions and transfers to Google and to the USA for all other YouTube videos which you open on our website in the future. Please note that, in the opinion of the European Court of Justice, there does not currently exist an adequate level of data protection in line with EU standards in the USA, and at present we cannot provide suitable safeguards to protect your data and offset this shortcoming. Possible risks to you of data transfer to the USA are that access by state authorities cannot be excluded and that your data could be processed for reasons of national security, criminal prosecution or for other purposes in the public interest of the USA, possibly without you being informed separately and without enforceable rights and effective means of redress being available to you. NASSAU, Bahamas, March 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to advise that recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that the COVID-19 virus has now spread to more than seventy-five (75) countries. At least, forty-seven (47) of these countries have ten (10) cases or less. Some are reporting their first cases. Significantly, however, there is a prevalence of cases emerging in a few selected countries. According to the Director-General's 4th March 2020 Briefing, almost 90% of those cases are from three countries: Iran, South Korea and Italy. The data is compelling and out of an abundance of caution, the Government of The Bahamas has decided to implement border control and quarantine measures for persons coming from those countries. Effective immediately any non-resident who has visited South Korea, Iran or Italy in the last twenty (20) days will be denied entry into The Bahamas. These countries will be added to China, for which, we implemented such measures on January 30th, 2020. As such, Bahamian citizens and Residents returning from all four (4) jurisdictions will now be subjected to quarantine measures for a maximum of fourteen (14) days. Non-residents currently en route to The Bahamas from these jurisdictions will be subjected to the same protocol for returning citizens and residents. While there remains no reported or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in The Bahamas, at this time, the Government of The Bahamas is taking extra precaution to protect the safety and health of our residents and visitors. This new advisory is part of the government's enhanced effort to address this public health threat. Media Contact: The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1-242-356-5960 Anita Johnson-Patty General Manager, Global Communications Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation [email protected] Weber Shandwick Public Relations [email protected] SOURCE The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs Gunmen attack Afghan gathering attended by senior figures Iran Press TV Friday, 06 March 2020 10:19 AM Afghan political leader Abdullah Abdullah has escaped unhurt after gunmen attacked a ceremony in the capital Kabul, that left at least 27 people dead and dozens injured. The gathering attended by senior Afghan figures, including Chief Executive Abdullah, came under gun and rocket attack on Friday, according to his spokesman. "The attack started with a boom, apparently a rocket landed in the area, Abdullah and some other politicians ... escaped the attack unhurt," Fraidoon Kwazoon was quoted as saying by Reuters. Interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said women and children were among the dead with an additional 29 wounded. Soon after the attack, police forces and police special forces units rushed to the scene. Rahimi said special forces units are carrying out clearance operations against the attackers. President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack, calling it "a crime against humanity." The Taliban denied responsibility for the attack. Several people were killed in a similar attack, claimed by the Daesh terrorist group, on the same gathering held last year to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Shia Hazara leader Abdul Ali Mazari. The Friday attack came less than a week after the Taliban and the US signed a deal to end the two-decade war in Afghanistan. The agreement, signed on Saturday in Qatar, sets out a timetable for the foreign forces to quit Afghanistan within 14 months. On Wednesday, however, the United States carried out its first airstrike on Taliban fighters since the two sides signed the troop withdrawal agreement. The incident in southern Helmand province came hours after President Donald Trump spoke by phone with chief Taliban negotiator Mullah Baradar Akhund on Tuesday, the first known conversation between a US leader and a top Taliban official. The US invaded Afghanistan to overthrow a ruling Taliban regime in 2001. The Taliban now control or hold influence over more Afghan territory than at any point since then. American forces have remained bogged down in the country ever since. Trump has long expressed eagerness to bring American soldiers back home and to end the war as he seeks re-election in 2020. About 2,400 US soldiers have been killed in the war. Over 100,000 Afghans have also been killed or injured since 2009, when the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan began documenting casualties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A gap of almost 40 hours between the abduction of a 14-year-old North York boy in broad daylight and his safe return home has left people in his neighbourhood with concerns about the way the incident was handled. We feel like, if it was another community, they would have been on top of that, said Marlon Morgridge, a community worker who has spent his entire life in various at-risk neighbourhoods along Jane St. The father called police after 5 p.m. Why was it hours later that the Amber Alert went off? Thats a big problem. The 14-year-old boy, whom the Star is no longer naming because he is a minor, was forced into a Jeep Wrangler steps away from his home near Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue about 8:25 a.m. Wednesday. A witness called police, who told the Star they canvassed the area for most of the day. An Amber Alert was issued at midnight Thursday, six hours after the boys father reported him missing. The Toronto District School Board put four staff members on home assignment after the boys absence from Newtonbrook Secondary School near Yonge and Steeles was not recorded properly and his parents were not notified until 6:09 p.m. The teen was found safe late Thursday in Brampton. Police say he was abducted as retribution for his stepbrother Olalekan Osikoyas $4-million drug debt, involving hundreds of kilos worth of cocaine. Court records show Osikoya was sentenced Feb. 3 to 36 months probation and community service after pleading guilty to multiple counts of fraud for attempting to open a credit card and bank account under a false identity last year. The suspects in the abduction remain at large. Paul Nguyen, a local filmmaker and decorated community activist, said, when crises such as this crop up, the typical knee-jerk reaction is for residents to be angry, and skeptical about how police, and, in this case, the school district, reacted. Much of this mistrust stems from historic and persisting bad blood between the Jane-and-Finch neighbourhood and police, Nguyen said. It happens to be a Black kid in Jane and Finch, so all these red flags pop up, he said about the abduction. He encourages residents to wait for facts to emerge and have informed opinions, then we can pressure the system to make changes. Nguyen won a national Volunteer Award in the community leader category for his website Jane-Finch.com. He created it in 2004 to fight the negative reputation of his neighbourhood, which has been historically plagued by crime, low employment and poverty. He said a common sentiment among some residents in the neighbourhood is that their well-being and concerns arent given the same level of priority as those of more affluent parts of the city. I think a lot of people feel that way, he said. Police Chief Mark Saunders pledged Friday morning to aggressively investigate the abduction and find those responsible. As the investigation continues, few details about the timing of events have been released. Police spokeswoman Meaghan Gray told the Star on Friday that the Amber Alert was issued after police were able to link the Wednesday morning call about the person forced into a vehicle with the report of the boy missing later in the day. Once they were able to link the boy to a burned out car in Caledon late Wednesday, the need for an Amber Alert became clear. In general, there are specific criteria that need to be met in order for (an Amber Alert) request to be considered and approved. So when a call comes in, an initial investigation is done to determine the circumstances, Gray said. After the boys parents reported him missing on Wednesday evening, an investigation led us to believe there was a legitimate concern for his safety. It was at that time that an Amber Alert was requested of the OPP. Signs of what is believed to be the abductors route were seen Friday afternoon at Forks of the Credit Provincial Park in Caledon. A vehicle found burning in the park late Wednesday matched the description of the one used in the abduction, police said. The remains of the burned car a door handle, some melted wiring and a spark plug could still be seen on the edge of the laneway leading into a parking lot near the parks entrance Friday. Dozens of Northampton residents were not able to vote for a $2.5 million property tax override Tuesday due to a lack of ballots, officials said. Election workers ran out of Proposition 2 ballots around 5 p.m. at Leeds Elementary School, where Ward 7B residents voted. No more than 50 registered voters were impacted during the 45 minutes when the polling location lacked enough ballots, said City Clerk Pamela Powers. We have nothing to hide here. Its a very unfortunate event. Its never happened in the history of Northampton voting," Powers said. The city clerk attributed the mistake to a communication breakdown. Each polling location in the city started the day with 800 municipal ballots for the tax override. When Ward 7B ran out of ballots, the person tasked with delivering a second batch was in transit. Officials were running two elections during the day, Powers pointed out: the Proposition 2 vote and the presidential primaries. Election staff not only had municpal ballots but hundreds of national primary ballots for the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian and Green-Rainbow parties. It was a planned decision to have a second delivery happen," the city clerk said, adding that she takes full responsibility for the mistake. It was a communication glitch." The election error likely would not have impacted the outcome of the Proposition 2 election, though, as the overhaul passed by more than 3,000 votes. The only way to overturn the results of an election is to go to a judge," said Debra OMalley, spokesperson for Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvins office. A person has to show the outcome of an election was impacted to have a judge rule in their favor, according to OMalley. Another Proposition 21/2 override was passed in 2013. No voting issues were reported then, as the municipal tax overhaul was the only election going on at the time, according to Powers. David Narkewicz, the citys mayor, said it was regrettable that residents were unable to cast their votes on the override. He commended Powers, though, for acknowledging and correcting the problem. I have full faith that she will implement safeguards to prevent this from ever occurring in the future," the mayor said in a statement. "Thankfully, given the large margin by which the question passed, this error did not have an impact on the outcome of the override election. The city clerk said the size of the ballots may have been another factor in the debacle. The reality is we had to print the over-sized ballot that matched the size of the presidential primary ballot," she said. It was a whole host of issues that contributed to it. Related Content: Iran President, Martin Vizcarra said Friday Peru has detected its first case of the new coronavirus in a 25-year-old man who had traveled to Europe, according to AFP. The president called for calm and said Peru had taken all the medical measures to treat the patient, who had been in Spain, France and the Czech Republic and was in a stable condition. Authorities have prepared isolation areas in five hospitals in the capital Lima in anticipation of the first cases, while setting up health care positions in the citys international airport and several ports. Latin America was the last region to confirm coronavirus infections but over the last week seven countries have been affected, the worst being Ecuador, with 13 cases. While fears over coronavirus have gripped Peruvians, an outbreak of dengue fever in Amazon areas has left 15 people dead this year, according to official figures. T-Mobile has now announced a new data breach involving customer information, marking the third such breach in the past three years. This breach stemmed from a slightly different underlying issue, however. Specifically, the company says that it was able to identify and bring an end to a malicious attack against its email vendor. The attack ultimately gained access to some T-Mobile employee email accounts. The bad actors accessing the emails were able to gain access to certain details concerning both end-users and employees. That may have included customer names and addresses as well as phone numbers. But it also may have included account numbers and details such as rate plans and features, in addition to billing information. The details do not include financial information. So customers credit card details and social security numbers have not been impacted. The company also doesnt indicate that log-in details such as passwords have been leaked. Advertisement T-Mobile got lucky for the third time in three years Now, T-Mobile also suffered a customer data breach as recently as November of last year. In the prior year, the company suffered yet another that impacted as many as two million customers. In the first case, no sensitive details were leaked and the breach mostly impacted prepaid users. Similar circumstances hold over for the breach two years back. Customers names, billing zip codes, phone numbers, email addresses, and account numbers were breached. In both instances, as with the most recent breach, no sensitive information was compromised. So no social security numbers, passwords, or credit card details were leaked. While T-Mobile isnt the only carrier to suffer breaches or even frequent breaches, it does seem to be extremely lucky here. In each case, the malicious actors involved managed to fail to gain access to passwords social security numbers, or credit card information. The details that have been leaked are still relatively sensitive but the undergirding impact of the breaches is less than it might otherwise be. Advertisement How do you protect your account? As noted above and by T-Mobile, information accessed illegally may have included names and addresses, phone numbers, account numbers, rate plans and features, and billing information. The company says that no log-in credentials or financial details were leaked, those details that did leak can still be misused. The carrier hasnt provided any details about the exact figures for how many users may have been compromised. Regardless, T-Mobile indicates that now would be a good time to update a given accounts PIN. It may be a good idea to change any passwords too. Thats especially true where passwords are kept the same across multiple sites and services. Users should also be aware that those breached details can lead to and enable further breaches and phishing attacks. Advertisement T-Mobile hasnt said that those secondary malicious uses of the data have occurred. But long periods between breaches and attacks are not uncommon so it isnt guaranteed that wont happen in the future. In the interim, the company says it has informed law enforcement and is actively cooperating in investigations. In North Township, Mrvan is responsible for 170,000 residents, he said. He provided public transportation when the city of Hammond decided not to make that a priority, he said in a reference to Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott Jr., who is among Mrvans opponents in the Democratic primary. Moments after Viscloskys announcement, McDermott tweeted, While I respect Congressman Pete & his service to #CD1, his endorsement today of one of my opponents underscores the need for a new vision in #NWI. State Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster, who also is running for Visclosky's seat, also responded to the endorsement. "I'll stop at nothing to fight for working people," she said. "I've proved this over 12 years in the Indiana Statehouse where I have bled for the unions and people's right to join one. The people pick their leaders and they will do so in this race." In politics, timing is everything. As provincial Liberals elect a new leader, the partys last premier holds an awkward place in their history: Kathleen Wynne merited an official tribute and informal shout-outs over the weekend, a reminder of her stunning rise and stupefying fall from power. Her trajectory is a tale of both redemption and rejection that speaks to the partys past and future. In 2013, Wynne became Ontarios 25th premier with exquisitely unexpected timing a woman, a lesbian, a Liberal. Back then, many wondered if a female could win in Canadas most populous province; some doubted a gay politician could prevail; and most seemed certain that after a decade in power the desperately unpopular Liberals were doomed. Until Wynne won a surprise majority government in the 2014 election. But its hard to beat the laws of political probability in every election. After five years as premier and 15 years of Liberal rule, weighed down by personal baggage and party barnacles, her time was up. Wynnes Liberals were pummelled reduced to a rump of seven seats and stripped of official party status. Adding to her humiliation, Wynne was defeated if only by default by an unlikely foe in Doug Ford. Its fair to say voters didnt so much drink the Ford Kool-Aid as hold their noses. Never mind his right-wing populism, Ford was in the right place at the right time when the Liberals were no longer palatable. Timing, and the passage of time, are everything: Wynne was unelectable at the end of her days as premier, while Ford is almost as unpopular today, midway through his mandate. It is easy to forget that when she first won power, before voters vilified her, Wynne benefited from a reservoir of genuine goodwill from many Ontarians. They thought, as pollsters later explained, that she would do politics differently. She did and she didnt. Wynne had an unconventional style she could come across as earnest, empathetic, authentic, articulate. She listened (and made lists) to the point of listlessness. She consulted and sought consensus until the government seemed leaderless. The public seemed pleased at first. After all, Wynne had inherited a minority legislature that required compromise and consent. She soon promised to govern from the activist centre, outflanking the NDP and outmanoeuvring the PCs. Wynne put forward a bold new Ontario public pension plan, forcing Ottawa and the other provinces to improve the outdated CPP. She emphasized the environment by building mass transit while embracing cap and trade carbon pricing. She liberated beer from the grip of the big brewers who owned the Beer Store, delivering it into supermarkets. She achieved her promise of a balanced budget (until the auditor general, with peculiar pre-election timing, moved the goalposts). And she appointed a new minister of Indigenous affairs to foster reconciliation. It grew into an ambitious agenda, and then a complicated program, and then a contradictory strategy at cross-purposes with itself. How to balance the budget while investing big money in mass transit without raising taxes? How to reform campaign finance while raising big money for her own party? How to promote renewable energy while preventing electricity rates from rising? To square the circle, Wynne tried to triangulate. If she couldnt boost taxes or blow the deficit, she would sell off other nonstrategic assets. Thus was born the big idea of selling off the copper wires of Hydro One, the publicly-owned electricity distributor, to pay for the steel rails of mass transit. Wynne called it asset rotation and broadened ownership, but she got all tangled up. People confused Hydro One with the defunct Ontario Hydro. Outdated hydro poles were conflated with electricity strategy, even though Ontario Power Generation (OPG) was never on the auction block. It was Wynnes undoing. Instead of demonstrating her open-minded approach to practical problem solving, the public took it as proof of the premiers betrayal of provincial values of public ownership. The die was cast. Only by resigning could Wynne have escaped her preordained fate, allowing someone else to lead the Liberals to certain election defeat (though perhaps not such a drubbing if a lesser known leader presented less of a target). Perhaps Wynne still believed she could reintroduce herself to voters in the last campaign and recapture her aura of authenticity. For a fleeting moment, she won over at least one hardbitten journalist in the person of the late Christie Blatchford, who described Wynne up close in her National Post column of May 16, 2018. Its so obvious it hardly bears saying, Blatchford wrote after hopping on her campaign bus. Kathleen Wynne is so clearly heads and tails smarter, better informed and more capable than Doug Ford that it borders on the ridiculousHe simply shouldnt even dare to hope to line up to carry Wynnes briefcase because shes frankly so good. Weeks after Blatchfords column ran, Wynne lost to Ford, badly. Her time was up no matter what any columnist concluded. As Liberals reflect on her legacy and rally around her successor, their new leader will have the chance to go up against Fords Tories. He or she will do so free of all that accumulated baggage and barnacles while Ford, in turn, is weighed down by the passage of time and bad timing. Read more about: After seven months of an unprecedented security and internet lockdown in the wake of the revocation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir is ushering in a spring marked by a calibrated easing of restrictions and release of political leaders. The latest straw in the wind is an effort to break the political ice. Altaf Bukhari, Kashmirs leading business tycoon and an expelled senior leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has emerged as the prime mover in efforts to revive the political process. On March 8, he is expected to announce the formation of a new political party, christened J&K Apni Party. The former ministers gambit, widely seen to have the tacit backing of the Narendra Modi Government, is significant, coming when the Centre has slapped a stringent Public Safety Act, extending the detention of three key mainstream figures -- former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah (National Conference) and Mehbooba Mufti (PDP). Rallying behind Bukhari are 20-odd former legislators, mostly those expelled from the PDP. In public perception, Bukhari, 60, is a practical man, an astute and resourceful political manager and a confidant of the establishment. But he calls himself a diehard optimist and insists that he is sowing the seeds of service and hopes they will bear fruit. Will he be dismissed as New Delhis stooge by the people of Jammu and Kashmir or will he be able to play a role in the new political order? Bukhari spoke about his motivation and the challenges he faces, in a wide-ranging interview with Executive Editor Ramesh Vinayak at his swanky bungalow in Jammu. Excerpts: What is your reading of the current situation in J&K? Post-August 5, perceptions may vary but the hard reality is that Article 370 has been scrapped. Some people have moved the Supreme Court. Khuda kare wohi ho jo log chahte hain (May the will of the people prevail). But, life has to go on. In the past seven months, problems have piled up. Jammu and Kashmirs economy has been shattered, tourism is zero, and the hotel industry has gone down. Everyone is affected. So, somebody has to speak up for them. There are day-to-day problems that cant wait for normalcy to return. One good thing is that our people behaved maturely. They have not come out on the streets. Lives were saved. I compliment the people. Of course, the administration also gets credit. What can be done to restart the political process? The starting point is to articulate peoples woes and get them redressed. That is what I am trying to do with a clear-cut purpose. There is no power politics in this. I strongly believe that Delhi cannot get somebody elected in Kashmir. It is your own people who will elect you. That stage will come when the assembly elections are held. I dont see elections for a year-and-a-half because the delimitation process is to be undertaken. But, if we wait and do nothing till there is normalcy and all political leaders are released, our economy will further suffer. That is why I have got active to feel the pulse of the people. Im launching a political formation called the J&K Apni Party. We have joined hands with a group of people with the common intent to raise public issues. We met the Lt Governor with a charter of 15 demands, such as the restoration of statehood, domicile rights for land and jobs, release of all political prisoners, including the three former chief ministers. Peoples response to our initiative has been good. We know it is not within the LGs powers to restore statehood and it will have to be done by Parliament. But he is the first point for contact. I have been out of the PDP for a year. But I havent stopped political outreach. Im the only politician running a 5,000-sq ft office in Srinagar. Why float a party when three former CMs are in detention under the stringent Public Safety Act? We dont know what is in the minds of those at the helm. I have a lot of respect for Dr Farooq Abdullah. He is the tallest among us. Omar (Abdullah) sahib has a humane heart. Mehbooba (Mufti) is a leader in her own right, though I may differ with her approach. But I cant say they dont matter. Unfortunately, after August 5 these parties behaved as if they were private limited companies. When their owners got jailed, the parties became dormant and stopped talking about peoples problems that have only become graver. Parties are meant to raise peoples issues with the government. Thats the task my colleagues and I have taken upon ourselves. We met the LG with a charter of demands. Mehbooba ji reacted and threw 10 former ministers and MLAs, including me, out of the party. She threw all of us out on the ground that we support the abrogation of Article 370. We didnt have any locus standi to do that because the matter is in the Supreme Court. What will the agenda of your party be? We will seek what is achievable. The restoration of statehood and domicile rights for land, jobs and education will be our prime agenda. Besides, the autonomy of J&K Bank will be as dear to us as Article 370 because it gives 85% credit in Jammu and Kashmir. There is a perception that your political venture has the blessing of Delhi. So dont you run the risk of being dubbed the Centres stooge? Its a common perception in Kashmir that Delhi has not stood by anybody. But, at the end of the day, somebody has to start talking. Im not talking to Pakistan. Our issues are with Hindustan. That means the Prime Minister or home minister of India. Who else will one talk to? I would not say that I dont know them. I have been a minister who delivered. I have a clean image. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants clean politics in Kashmir, but I dont go by his perception of blaming all of Kashmirs problems on politicians and Article 370. It has been seven months since the special status was revoked, but we have not seen any rivers of milk and mounds of honey here since. The PDP accuses you of back-stabbing. That does not hold because I was expelled from the party without even a show-cause notice. Who are the leaders rallying behind you? Lets not talk about the leaders. Im an aam aadmi (common man). Im not blue-blooded. My forefathers were not in politics. We are forming a party for the common man who aspires for peace and development of J&K. To me, power is not the end, it is a means to an end. At the moment, we will work to get some succour for the people and get the economy back on rails besides seeing if we can work with Delhi for our political agenda. It is not that we will jump into the fire. There is a danger. People will accuse me of being a traitor. Only time will tell whether we are pro-people or black sheep. Right now, only some breakaway PDP leaders are siding with you. Ive not come forward to break parties. If someone wants to join me voluntarily, he or she is welcome. There is enormous young blood available to carry forward my mission to bring relief to the people. Some experienced people will also join hands with us. You seem to be modelling your party on the Aam Aadmi Party? Im inspired by how they built it around the slogan of development. Maybe Kashmir also needs such a model. You have been in touch with senior PDP leader Muzaffar Baig. Has he come on board? At present, he is the patron of the PDP. I can reach out to him only if he resigns from that position. You dont have any cadre or organizational set-up. That is a fact. But we are working for the people and will find volunteers. Fifteen to 20 people who have joined me have the legislative experience. You will have to build your party from a scratch. We will do that. In fact, we will have to build the state from a scratch because we have lost everything. What happened on August 5 was like disrobing us publicly. The only thing is that we have not committed suicide. We are living in shame. Will the Kashmiris accept you? Ill make an endeavour to find a place in their hearts. If I get that in even 10% of the people, my objective will be achieved. The NC, PDP, Congress and the BJP are all responsible for the mess in J&K. They have a baggage that I dont. The NC and PDP based their politics on slogans of autonomy and self-rule, but it has not borne any fruit. Rather, we have even lost what we had. They will have to come up with an explanation on whether their stand is still relevant. Ill go to the people with what is achievable. Ill promise according to my capacity. Agar mein ek mann ka wajan utha sakta hoon, ek hee uthayoonga (If I can lift 40-kg weight, I will lift only that much). Why should Kashmiris trust you? They should never trust me blind-folded. The biggest mistake they made is that they have been taking politicians on their word. Let them first watch my work and assess how much I have delivered on a scale of one to 10. Even if I am given four, they should start noticing me. Kashmiris will not be fooled any longer. That is why they have not hit the streets in favour of the Abdullahs and Mehbooba. What role do you see for traditional mainstream leaders such as the Abdullahs and Mehbooba? Of course, they still matter. You cannot wish them away. But who knows what will be their stand tomorrow? You cant keep them behind bars forever. They should be released immediately. There may be difference of opinion between the Centre and them but they have always stood for India. That is a lesson for the likes of me too. What is the lesson? The lesson is to be mindful about how Delhi treats the people who stood by it. If someone tells me that Delhi is hand-holding me, I am not a fool. But I have no confrontation with Delhi. I have to deal with the central government. If I dont, nobody will allow me to enter North Block or South Block. I work like a businessman and know how things work and what is possible. We also need support of Indias political parties for J&K who believe in the secular fabric of the country. What is your equation with the PM or home minister? I am too small a man to claim personal rapport with them. Definitely, they must have noticed me as I have come forward and am articulating peoples issues for the last month and a half. The Centre claims normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir. There is normalcy only in terms of peace. That is because people have chosen to stay peaceful. The rest I dont buy. Unless economic activities are restored, tourists are back, horticulture and industry are back on the rails, how can it be normal? It is all optics. Nothing is happening on the ground. The PM is being given wrong feedback. How have the Delhi communal riots impacted Kashmiris? It is not impacting us because we have suffered worse than that here. It is a bad phase in the nations politics. What is your next big test in Kashmir? My test will be whether I can persuade Delhi to give something to Jammu and Kashmir. I have taken a huge risk. I am not asking for the moon. I want to use my credibility, whatever little I have, as a businessman or as a politician with the decision-makers in Delhi. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Super Tuesday was anything but super for the Democratic Party, which once again finds itself on the divided road that led to defeat in 2016. Just like four years ago, were down to a traditional Democrat against a democratic socialist the same one as last time, even. Hell have nothing better to do but slug it out over the next four months until the convention, whether he has the delegates or not. Probably not. Sen. Bernie Sanders is already telling supporters that his campaign is a fight against the billionaire-dominated Democratic establishment. Black, white, gay, straight or whatever, if you dont support the revolution, then you are either a greedy millionaire or an unwitting pawn of Wall Street interests. That is not the approach that will persuade the folks at my church to get out and vote. Sure, if Sanders rallies from his Super Tuesday setback and pulls it out, yellow dog Democrats will vote for him in November after all, hell have a D by his name on the ballot. But what about independents who would like to see President Trump gone but dont want a revolution? Former Vice President Joe Biden would be acceptable to the majority of Democrats and independents, and maybe even some moderate Republicans. But like Hillary Clinton in 2016, he could lose Sanders voters who lump Trump and establishment Democrats as one and the corrupt same. Meanwhile, Trump has nothing to worry about with his base. He has no meaningful primary opposition, and he has the backing of roughly 90% of Republicans. This is where dreaded billionaires like Tom Steyer and Mike Bloomberg come into play. Steyers campaign to impeach Trump amassed a mailing list of some 10 million people. The Democratic Party needs to work with him to get those people to vote in November for Democrats up and down the ballot. Bloomberg reportedly has plans to turn his campaign spending fire hose toward swing states, with an eye to electing Democrats to the White House, Senate and House. Rich people make easy targets. But the right ones can come in handy, unless you really see no difference between a mainstream Democrat and Donald Trump. Payout: Joe Cotchett has done it again. The Peninsula super lawyer was co-lead counsel on a class-action lawsuit against Apple for deliberately slowing performance of its older iPhones to compensate for battery degradation. According to the Wall Street Journal, a settlement for half a billion is on the table. As an owner of an underpowered iPhone, I'll get about $25. As for Joe, the lawyers in these class-action suits usually are entitled to 40% of the total. Once again, the lawyers win. Primary party: The primary election luncheon and street party at Johns Grill drew about a thousand people, with many joining together to sing Happy Birthday to Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis. Mayor London Breed, District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Supervisors Matt Haney and Ahsha Safai, Assemblymen Phil Ting and David Chiu, and the entire staff of the city Office of Cannabis were on hand. State Treasurer Fiona Ma, who is eyeing a run for governor should Gavin Newsom move on, made an appearance after canvassing Chinatown for votes. We even had a few Berniecrats show up. Hope youre enjoying the party, because when Bernie gets elected president, you wont be having any more of them, one Bernie Bro said. Why is that? Because you wont have any more fat cats to pay for it, the Bro said as he turned and headed inside for the food and drink, all provided free by Johns Grill owner John Konstin. Movie time: The Invisible Man. This puzzle of a movie stars Elisabeth Moss as the ex-girlfriend of a crazed inventor who makes himself invisible to stalk her. 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. You spend a lot of time trying to figure the movie out. I never quite got there. It ends in such a way that you want to see it again because you feel you must have missed something. Morning jolt: I stopped by a Joe & the Juice the other morning and got a lesson in the new economy. After going through the choices of a grey latte, a pink latte, a purple latte and a yellow latte, I decided to play it safe with a regular cappuccino. Thats $4.40, Mr. Brown, the server said. Here you go, I said, handing over a $5 bill. Ahh, we dont take cash, the server said. We only take credit cards. Are you kidding? Who puts $4.40 on a credit card? Credit cards are for big purchases. Here, take it back. If you dont want to use a credit card, you can pay by phone if you like, the server said. There was a moment of silence as I looked around. Everyone in the place looked under 30. Tell you what, Mr. Brown. The cappuccinos on me, the server said. And with that, I handed him the $5 as a tip. Cash, which he gladly accepted. Want to sound off? Email wbrown@sfchronicle.com The South by Southwest festival has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns, according to Austin Mayor Steve Adler. The city of Austin declared a local disaster and canceled the annual gathering in the Texas capital. Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt said the decision was "medical and data-driven." The festival will follow the city's direction, organizers said. "We are devastated to share this news with you," SXSW organizers wrote in a statement. "'The show must go on' is in our DNA, and this is the first time in 34 years that the March event will not take place." A number of high-profile attendees, including Twitter, had pulled out of the event prior to the announcement. On ExpressNews.com: Austin mayor cancels SXSW festival over coronavirus concerns SXSW, which draws more than 200,000 people from across the globe, was scheduled to begin on March 13 and end March 22. More than 55,000 people signed a petition calling for the music, film, and tech extravaganza to be canceled amid the global outbreak. SXSW estimated that in 2019 its impact on the Austin economy totaled nearly $356 million. More than 55,000 people reserved hotel rooms that year, and attendees to the event came from 106 countries. Coronavirus concerns have prompted the cancellation of dozens of events worldwide, including the Ultra Music Festival in Miami. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Dr. Mark Escott, the Austin interim health authority, said that Travis County has no confirmed cases of COVID-19. Escott compared the growing threat of coronavirus to a hurricane looming in the Gulf. He noted that authorities examined options to decrease the threat at SXSW, but they ultimately decided there was no path forward except for cancellation that would mitigate the risk enough to protect the community. The festival risk assessment was based on its size, events with close contact like concerts, and registered guests from international and domestic locations with evidence of person-to-person spread. Mark Dunphy is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read him on our breaking news site, MySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | mark.dunphy@express-news.net | @m_b_dunphy Hyderabad: Domestic passengers who are coming from Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh must also be screened for coronavirus, stated Telangana health minister Etala Rajendra in a video-conference. With these states also reporting Covid-19 positive cases, the risk of transmission has led to the demand that there must be screening at airports for domestic passengers too. But the central government stated that since it is not a local transmission yet, creating panic is not going to help. They have asked the Telangana government to be alert, and if required they will facilitate local screening too. Meanwhile, South Central Railway has alerted its medical teams to check people who report very sick. They are also going to display education information about the symptoms and the need to self-report to the station officials. A separate isolation ward is also going to be created in zonal railway hospitals and six divisional hospitals. Private bus service providers are giving masks and hand sanitizers to passengers. They are keen that people use the road transport mode and have decided to provide protective gear. People are scared and not using any mode of transport until and unless it is urgent. This has hit businesses in a big way. Greg E. Lindberg, an insurance executive and a major GOP donor, was found guilty of attempted bribery and corruption on Thursday in Charlotte, North Carolina. Lindberg was accused of attempting to reduce scrutiny on his company, and in exchange, he would make contributions to Commissioner Mike Causeys reelection campaign funds, according to the Bradenton Herald. Lindberg was the founder and chairman of Eli Global LLC and the owner of Global Bankers Insurance Group (GBIG). Lindberg and his consultant, John D. Gray, were convicted of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and bribery following a three-week trial. Causey is a Republican whom prosecutors said alerted law enforcement voluntarily about Lindberg and Gray and agreed to cooperate with authorities. Several other individuals were acquitted by the jury including John V. Palermo, an executive at Eli Global. Robert Cannon Hayes, who had made false statements to the FBI, plead guilty to those charges in 2019. The defendants devised an elaborate plan to make a hefty campaign contribution to an elected official to secure favorable action. This was not a lapse in judgment. It was a deliberate bribery attempt and a clear violation of federal law. Public corruption is a threat to our way of life and if left unchecked it can tear apart the very fabric of our country, Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, said in a statement. My office will continue to diligently ferret out public corruption schemes to protect the public and hold bad actors like these unscrupulous defendants accountable, stated Murray. Causey cooperated with the FBI in their investigation into Lindberg. In meetings with Lindberg, Causey wore wiretaps in order to record the conversations they had, which were ultimately used in the trial, according to ABC 11. Trial evidence further established that Lindberg and Gray gave, offered, and promised the commissioner millions of dollars in campaign contributions and other things of value, in exchange for the removal of NCDOIs Senior Deputy Commissioner, who was responsible for overseeing regulation and the periodic examination of GBIG, the statement read. Following the end of the trial on Thursday, Causey said: When I took office, I swore an oath to support and maintain the laws of this state and to faithfully discharge the duties of my office as Commissioner of Insurance. I also committed to rooting out insurance fraud and corruption wherever it may be, and to prosecute such fraud to the fullest extent of the law. It is with these guiding principles that I agreed to cooperate with the federal authorities in their investigation. The Associated Press contributed to this report COVID-19: Army stands ready By Devon L. Suits, Army News Service March 6, 2020 WASHINGTON -- The Army is taking the necessary steps to combat the spread of COVID-19, all while simultaneously implementing measures to treat personnel impacted by the disease, the Army's top medical officer said Thursday. With the emerging concern over the spread of COVID-19, the safety and health of all service members have become one of DOD's top priorities, said Thomas McCaffery, the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. According to data collected on March 4, four people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus throughout the Department of Defense, McCaffery said, as he testified with other defense health officials before the House Committee on Appropriations' defense subcommittee. One Soldier and two dependents stationed in South Korea were among the four that recently tested positive for the virus, said Lt. Gen. Scott Dingle, the Army surgeon general. Twelve others throughout the DOD are "suspected" to have the virus and are awaiting results, added McCaffery. In support, the department has distributed "force health protection guidance," based mostly on information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 can be spread from person-to-person, either through close contact, or through contact with "respiratory droplets" that can be produced after a person coughs or sneezes, according to information on the CDC's website. People tend to be the most contagious when they are symptomatic. However, there are reports of COVID-19 spreading before a person shows symptoms. The released DOD guidance outlines proper health-care worker protection, along with ways to screen and report a patient when the virus is detected, McCaffery said. The documents also identify ways to self-protect against the virus, which includes proper hygiene practices. The military health system is part of a broader interagency approach to combat COVID-19, McCaffery said. This ongoing joint initiative, which includes the CDC and National Institute of Health, is working to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, along with a separate anti-viral therapy. It will take months before a vaccine starts the clinical trial process, he added. Once a vaccine moves past its trial phase, the Food and Drug Administration will start its research and analysis process, which could take several years to complete. "Similarly, (with the) anti-viral therapy, we might be closer in terms of having something usable. It is actually in clinical trials right now and testing for efficacy," he said. Coinciding with the DOD's methodology, the Army is taking a "three-pronged approach to prevent, detect, and treat," COVID-19, Dingle said. "Prevention is the education awareness of all the Soldiers and family members within an installation commander's or senior commander's footprint," Dingle said. "The detection piece (includes) screenings, that we are doing to verify the presence," of the disease. If the virus were to spread, the Army stands ready, having "pandemic response plans" at all installations, Dingle added. The best way to prevent the illness is to avoid exposure, according to the CDC. In South Korea, leaders have already released guidance to limit the mass congregation of personnel, Dingle said. And while operations continue in the area, Soldiers and families are also reminded to avoid contact with people that are sick, and to avoid touching their eyes, ears and nose. Further, common use areas and items should be frequently sanitized. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced levels of beta amyloid, the protein that forms the brain plaques of Alzheimers disease, a new study suggests. Korean researchers studied 414 men and women, average age 71, who were free of dementia or alcohol-related disorders. All underwent physical exams, tests of mental acuity, and positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. They were carefully interviewed about their drinking habits. The study, in PLOS Medicine, measured drinking in standard drinks 12 ounces of beer, ... With some private sector lenders including Yes Bank facing liquidity crisis, the Congress on Saturday said Hindus are in danger in a "true sense" under the Narendra Modi government and claimed that majority of the hassled account-holders belonged to the majority community. Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant has claimed that funds worth Rs 545 crore of Lord Jagannath Temple of Odisha are deposited in the crisis-hit Yes Bank. "Even Gods are in danger on the Centre's watch," he added. The RBI on Thursday imposed a moratorium on Yes Bank for a period of one month and capped the withdrawal limit at Rs 50,000, after the cash-starved lender faced "regular outflow of liquidity" following an effort to raise new capital failed. "While the BJP and its affiliated organisations talk about 'Hindus being in danger' for the lowly polarising politics, the Hindus are in danger on Modi government's watch in a true sense. "The money in banks is of majority Hindus which is not safe now. Several families have been ruined. Only the Modi government is responsible for it," Sawant said in a statement. Sawant also referred to the alleged Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank scam, saying some people even died while worrying over the stuck money. The Congress leader alleged that fugitives like Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya had "looted" money which belonged to majority Hindus. Sawant said Yes Bank has a total of 18238 staffers and claimed that almost all of them are Hindus whose jobs are now under threat. He further said as many as 109 banks from Maharashtra are in trouble as their deposits are stuck in Yes Bank. Referring to the Vadodara Smart City Development Company withdrawing Rs 265 crore from Yes Bank a day before the RBI imposed the moratorium, Sawant said this shows Prime Minister Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah being worried only about Gujarat and not the country. He said the BJP-led Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra has Rs 905 crore deposited in Yes Bank, but it was allegedly not informed by the Modi-Shah duo. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dunnavant, who will be on hand at Mondays suburban summit, said every Republican in these regions needs to work on practical things that relate to these neighborhoods and communities in ways that cut through the permanent echo chamber of national news. In her first term, she worked on laws to make it easier for community college credits to transfer to four-year colleges, workforce training and battling the opioid epidemic. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who calls New York City home, will perform at the Beacon Theatre in Manhattan on March 13-14. The stand-up performance figures to be another funny one for the actor, writer, producer and director, who played a semi-fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom Seinfeld. As a stand-up comedian, Seinfeld specializes in observational comedy. In 2005, Comedy Central named Seinfeld the 12th Greatest Stand-up Comedian of All Time. This show will be different from his Seinfeld Live Tour in late 2019. That tour announcement came a few weeks after the 11th season of Seinfelds show, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, was released on Netflix. For tickets to Seinfelds upcoming shows, visit: Ticketmaster, StubHub and SeatGeek. Ticket prices start around $79 each and can sell in upwards of $200. Show time on March 13 is 7 p.m. Show time on March 14 is 9:30 p.m. Seinfeld will also appear at the Borgata Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., on April 11 at 8 p.m. You can purchase tickets here. Ticket prices start at $198. Vice President Mike Pence, center, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci, second from right, and other members of the Coronavirus Task Force hold a press briefing at the White House in Washington on March 6, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) People With Health Issues, Elderly Should Consider Scrapping Trips Amid Coronavirus Spread: Officials People who have underlying health conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetesparticularly those who are elderlyshould be cautious amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus, top U.S. officials said. It is a good time for any American who is elderly, by however they define it, and has a serious underlying health condition to think carefully about travel, Vice President Mike Pence said at a press conference in Washington on Friday, citing data from the United States and other countries about the new virus, which causes a disease called COVID-19 and has killed thousands worldwide and has a suspected mortality rate of between 0.1 and 1 percent. The group of people most likely to get serious cases of COVID-19 are people with health issues, especially those who are older, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Those people should use common sense in choosing what to do and where to go as the virus spreads in the United States, considering measures known as social distancing, Fauci said. What we mean by that, is if youre a person who is in that category: think twice, even before you get on a plane for a long trip, or you want to travel, or you want to go to a place thats crowded where there may be people who are in fact, have an infection of any sortthat doesnt necessarily have to be even coronavirus, it could be influenza or anything like that, Fauci advised. He urged people to think about not putting yourself in a situation, whatever that might be, that might increase the risk, given your situation. Relatives of people with health conditions should take time to try to take care of them, Fauci said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone, including people with health conditions, frequently wash hands, avoid sick people, and not touch ones face with unwashed hands. People should also regularly clean surfaces and objects at home, work, and school, and stay home if sick. Customers wait in line to buy water and other supplies, on fears that the coronavirus, COVID-19, will spread and force people to stay indoors, at a Costco in Burbank, California on March 6, 2020. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) Most of the deaths in the United States from the new virus have been among those who have health issues, especially people in their 70s or 80s. Thirteen deaths have taken place in Washington state, including 10 linked to the Life Care Center of Kirkland, a nursing home just outside Seattle. At least five residents at the home have died, all aged 70 or older except for a man in his 50s, as well as a man in his 60s who visited the center. Two deaths in Florida from the new virus were reported by officials on Friday. They were described as elderly. Both contracted the disease outside the country. The first American death outside Washington was reported on Wednesday. The female patient, described as elderly, was likely exposed to the virus while traveling on a cruise ship that departed San Francisco on Feb. 11 and returned 10 days later. Pence, who was set to meet with cruise company executives on Saturday, told reporters Friday that cruise ships represent a unique challenge and urged elderly Americans to use common sense caution in planning any cruise ship vacations in the future. A California National Guard helicopter from the Moffett Federal Airfield based, 129th Rescue Wing deliver coronavirus test kits to the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of San Francisco, California, in this still image from a handout video taken March 5, 2020. (California National Guard/Handout via Reuters) Officials explicitly advised Americans to avoid cruises in Asia last month, but havent said to not go on cruises in other areas. The Grand Princess, the ship the California woman sailed on, was being held off the coast of the state following her death. Twenty-one people on board, including 19 crew members, tested positive for the virus, Pence said. Federal and state officials planned to direct the ship to a non-commercial port in the coming days, where tests would be performed on everyone on board. Those who tested positive would be quarantined, similar to those who were evacuated from Wuhan, China, where the virus first emerged, and the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was docked in Yokohama, Japan. We are taking all measures necessary to see to the health of the Americans and those involved on the grand princess and, just as importantly, to protect the health of the American public and prevent the spread of the disease through communities in this country, Pence said. Trial to begin in shooting down of Malaysia Airlines jet: Four fugitive suspects are to go on trial in the Netherlands on Monday in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in July 2014. They are charged with the murder of all 298 passengers and crew members on board. The Boeing 777 was flying from Amsterdam to Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur, when it was hit by a Russian-made surface-to-air missile, and the wreckage fell into fields near the Ukrainian village of Hrabove in territory held by pro-Russian separatists fighting Ukrainian government forces. Arrest warrants were issued last year by a Dutch-led investigation team, which spent several years collecting evidence. The four defendants Russians Sergey Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov and Igor Girkin and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko had senior positions in the pro-Russian militias in 2014. They are not expected to appear for the trial in Amsterdam, but the judges could rule that they be tried in absentia. Lockdown at two Maldivian resorts View(s): The Maldives, best known for its luxury resorts, has locked down two resort islands after two tourists were found to have symptoms likely to be associated with the coronavirus. The two tourists remain on the two islands while tests are underway and the lockdown is a precaution, said state-owned Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation Managing Director Thoyyib Mohamed. The tourists of Italian and French nationality were staying at the Kuredu island resort and the Summer island resort. Under the lockdown, no one is allowed to leave or enter the resorts. One victim was discovered with possible coronavirus symptoms on Friday night while the other was discovered yesterday morning. This came as the government at a meeting presided over by Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Friday night decided to ban from today all passengers from Italy and also passengers who have a 14-day travel history to Italy. Italy is one of the worst-hit countries in Europe as a result of the virus that has killed more than 3,000 people, mostly in China, and affected nearly 100,000 worldwide. The Maldives has already banned arrivals from China, its largest tourism source market, while also banning cruise liners. Tourism is the Maldives main foreign exchange and employment generator. New study data show that monitoring blood levels of sphingotec's endothelial function biomarker bio-ADM(R) on top of guideline parameter lactate improves risk stratification of sepsis patients admitted to intensive care units Monitoring of both, lactate and bio-ADM(R), in sepsis patients allows early identification of patients that require immediate intervention at admission to the ICU . Sphingotec is set to launch a point-of-care bio-ADM(R) assay running on its proprietary automated Nexus IB10 instrument in mid-2020. HENNIGSDORF and BERLIN, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / March 5, 2020 / Diagnostics company SphingoTec GmbH ("sphingotec", Hennigsdorf Germany) today reported on new data on the utility of endothelial function biomarker bioactive Adrenomedullin (bio-ADM(R)). The data show that bio-ADM(R) allows identification of sepsis patients who are at high risk of fatal outcomes despite low or decreasing levels of the routinely monitored parameter lactate. Lactate, a parameter that identifies reduced blood oxygenation of tissue, is routinely used as a reference in the diagnosis of septic shock. However, lactate is rather unspecific to sepsis and insensitive. This limitation can be overcome by monitoring, in addition to lactate, the blood levels of bio-ADM(R), a biomarker that can reliably detect blood vessel leakage, one of the main causes of septic shock. According to recent findings published in Critical Care1, data from over 500 sepsis patients enrolled in the AdrenOSS-1 study demonstrate the added value of bio-ADM(R) to lactate monitoring. The AdrenOSS-1 study investigators could show that even though normalizing lactate levels indicate a significantly decreased risk of mortality, an additional measurement of bio-ADM(R) blood levels can help identify those patients that are still at risk of fatal outcomes despite their lower lactate levels. Among septic patients with decreasing lactate, high bio-ADM(R) levels identified patients who had a 4-time higher mortality risk than patients with low bio-ADM levels. According to the authors of the study, measurement of bio-ADM(R) on top of lactate may help refine risk stratification and thus guide resuscitation during sepsis. Lactate has been used for more than 30 years to monitor organ hypoperfusion in sepsis patients. However, lactate blood levels are influenced by many other physiological and pathological processes. Clinical data from more than 22,000 patients demonstrate that high bio-ADM(R) levels independently from inflammation and co-morbidities indicate distortions in the barrier function of the inner cell sheet of blood vessels, the endothelium. Loss of this barrier function is considered a key driver in the development of hypotension and eventually septic shock with loss of organ perfusion in sepsis patients2. According to sphingotec's research, bio-ADM(R) can explain about 60% of the fatal outcomes in sepsis. "Our biomarker bio-ADM(R) can reliably support acute care physicians in identifying high-risk sepsis patients" said Dr. Andreas Bergmann, founder and CEO of sphingotec. "We are set to launch the fully automated CE-IVD-marked point-of-care bio-ADM(R) assay on our widely established Nexus IB10 immunoassay instrument by mid-2020. We are convinced that this rapid test for bio-ADM(R) will support earlier treatment decisions and thereby will assist clinical decisions that may improve the outcomes of patients at ICUs and emergency departments." References Story continues Benjamin G. Chousterman et al (2020): Added value of serial bio-adrenomedullin measurement in addition to lactate for the prognosis of septic patients admitted to ICU,. doi:10.1186/s13054-020-2794-x Mebazaa et al (2018): Circulating adrenomedullin estimates survival and reversibility of organ failure in sepsis: the prospective observational multinational Adrenomedullin and Outcome in Sepsis and Septic Shock-1 (AdrenOSS-1) study, Crit Care, doi: 10.1186/s13054-018-2243-2 ### About sphingotec SphingoTec GmbH ("sphingotec"; Hennigsdorf near Berlin, Germany) develops and markets innovative in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests for novel and proprietary biomarkers for the diagnosis, prediction and monitoring of acute medical conditions, such as sepsis, acute heart failure, circulatory shock, and acute kidney injury in order to support patient management and provide guidance for treatment strategies. sphingotec's proprietary biomarker portfolio includes Bioactive Adrenomedullin (bio-ADM(R)), a unique biomarker for real-time assessment of endothelial function in conditions like sepsis or congestive heart failure, Proenkephalin (penKid(R)), a unique biomarker for real-time assessment of kidney function, and Dipeptidyl Peptidase 3 (DPP3), a unique biomarker for cardio-renal pathway disruptions leading to acute organ dysfunction. In addition, sphingotec develops a portfolio of novel biomarkers, which predict the risks of developing obesity, breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases. IVD tests for sphingotec's proprietary biomarkers are made available as sphingotest(R) microtiterplate tests as well as point-of-care tests on the Nexus IB10 immunoassay platform by sphingotec's subsidiary Nexus Dx Inc. (San Diego, CA, USA) alongside a broad menu of IB10 tests for established biomarkers for acute and critical care. About bio-ADM(R) sphingotest(R) bio-ADM(R) measures blood levels of bioactive adrenomedullin (bio-ADM(R)), a hormone maintaining endothelial function. The endothelium contributes to blood pressure and separates blood from the surrounding tissue. Elevated blood levels of bio-ADM(R) predict blood pressure break down and leaky vessels resulting in oedema. Imbalanced endothelial function is the major cause of shock ultimately resulting in organ dysfunction and death. Early identification of an imbalance in endothelial function allows guidance of vasopressor and diuretic therapy in critically ill patients to improve outcomes. Septic shock Septic Shock is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction due to dysregulated host response to a proven or suspected infection which leads to a decline of Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) < 65 mmHg, which is refractory to fluid resuscitation and requires vasopressors. Refractoriness to fluid resuscitation is defined as a lack of response to the administration of 30 mL of fluid per kilogram of body weight or is determined according to a clinician's assessment of inadequate hemodynamic results. About Nexus Dx Inc. and the IB10 Platform Nexus Dx Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of sphingotec, headquartered in San Diego, CA, USA, is a global provider of a near patient testing system and advanced diagnostic solution. The company is improving patient care by providing the medical community with rapid and reliable information at the point of care (POC), delivering patient information when and where it is needed most. The company has invested over $160m to develop and market the IB10 analyzer system which, without the need for sample preparation, automatically separates plasma from whole blood with subsequent reliable and quantitative detection of biomarkers in the plasma by means of antibodies. With a hands-on-time of less than 3 minutes the easy-to-use system provides in only 20 minutes test results for biomarkers that are crucial in the management of critical care patients. The portfolio of IB10 assays includes tests for established critical care parameters such as Procalcitonin, Troponin I, CK-MB, Myoglobin, NT-proBNP, and D-Dimer as well as tests for sphingotec's proprietary biomarkers such as DPP3, an assay for Dipeptidyl Peptidase 3, a unique and proprietary biomarker for cardio-renal pathway disruptions leading to acute organ dysfunction, and Proenkephalin (penKid(R)), a unique and proprietary biomarker for real-time assessment of kidney function. An IB10 assay for bioactive Adrenomedullin (bio-ADM(R)), a unique and proprietary biomarker for endothelial function is expected to be launched later in 2020. Contact SphingoTec GmbH Ruxandra Lenz PR & Market Communications Manager Neuendorfstr. 15A 16761 Hennigsdorf Germany Tel. +49-3302-20565-34 press@sphingotec.de www.sphingotec.com SOURCE: SphingoTec GmbH via EQS Newswire View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/579229/Sphingotecs-Endothelial-Function-Biomarker-Bio-ADMR-Improves-Risk-Stratification-Of-Sepsis-Patients-at-ICUs Annette Bening in Hope Gap. Photo: Courtesy of TIFF This interview originally published during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. We are republishing it on the occasion of the movies release in theaters. In William Nicholsons woebegone, autobiographical English drama Hope Gap, a meek-ish man named Edward (Bill Nighy) leaves his voluble wife, Grace (Annette Bening), and Grace responds the way many educated British characters do as they plummet emotionally: She talks. And she talks. She cries out to her husband in sheer disbelief. She wheedles, needles, and muses histrionically on the meaning of matrimony and family and human and cosmic mercy. Its not iambic pentameter, but Bening enunciating in an English accent that had me pushing away images of Emma Thompson, as one would a stray thought while meditating runs through periods (full stops, in the U.K.) and inserts pauses mid-sentence, to suggest the squeezing of inchoate panic through the proper channels. The accent gives Bening an odd sibilance as well as an overbite Ive never noticed: Have her very features been altered by her voice? Its a fascinating performance, but Grace is too distanced and too borderline insufferable to relate to fully, even if you recognize her desperation in the face of abandonment, even if youve lived a version of that desperation yourself. The movie having its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival is a brief, sad little piece that doesnt quite hurdle the blood-brain barrier and rattle you to the core, but it does achieve a half-sublimity, thanks to coastal settings with white cliffs that inspire both awe and thoughts of flinging oneself off, and also thanks to poetry. Graces pet project is creating an anthology of poems arranged by emotional states (like, say, the feeling of abandonment), and at various points the characters intone the words of those whove been here and done that. The big set piece, in fact, is Dante Gabriel Rossettis Sudden Light, which begins, I have been here before, / But when or how I cannot tell, and ends with a question whether love will be restored In deaths despite, / And day and night yield delight once more? Rossetti, the cliffs, and the swelling music (by Alex Heffes) supply what the characters cannot. You dont blame Nighys Edward for leaving. You blame him for how he leaves, slinking off into the arms of a younger woman who has pushed him to sever his miserable marital bond. Nighy plays Edward in his familiar key of awkward formality, stammering and keeping his gaze guiltily low. Edward points out that Grace has found him so consistently annoying over the years that he wonders why she feels so angry and bereft but if he wonders that, he doesnt know much about how some marriages work. His sudden realization that he and Grace were never meant to be is moving, but despite several melancholy monologues, the character doesnt have much stature. Much of our sympathy ends up with the couples 29-year-old son, Jamie (Josh OConnor), whom Grace tries to use as an emissary but who isnt very good at it. He cant plead Graces case when he doesnt fully buy it. The actor is affecting: He seems ultimately as puzzled by his parents union as the writer-director does. Nicholson is 70 and is primarily known as a writer, and in Hope Gap he doesnt conceal his artistic flourishes artfully. The camera pans from dishes piling up in the sink to the mantle with its photos and lifetimes worth of memories or hovers about the waves creeping over the rocks. Sometimes he will frame a character on the side of the wide screen, not so much to express alienation as to keep the person out of the boring center. But he does one thing very well: comedy. Bening gets a real performance rhythm going when Grace buys a dog she names Edward, like her ex-husband, and teaches him the command, Stay. Bening seems more in her element snapping at the dog than she does delivering theatrical plaints. Shes marvelous when Grace volunteers for a grief hotline and ends up commiserating too deeply with her callers I wanted even more of those scenes. But if Nicholson hasnt decided whether the end of his parents marriage was a comedy or a tragedy, well who ever does? Hes reaching for something he never gets: Thats not a bad way to lose. Unlike Grace, he loses gracefully. Brooklyn Beckham appeared to be having a tense chat with his girlfriend Nicola Peltz as they headed for coffee in London on Friday morning. The aspiring photographer, 21, and his other half, 25, seemed to be engaged in a deep discussion as they sat in the front of his 50,000 Land Rover Defender. The strained display comes just days after the couple were pictured putting on a very loved-up display while celebrating Brooklyn's 21st birthday. Awks: Brooklyn Beckham appeared to be having a tense chat with his girlfriend Nicola Peltz as they headed for coffee in London on Friday morning During the event Nicola posted a series of gushing tributes to her beau, where she shared pictures of the couple and revealed he makes her the 'happiest girl'. On Friday, Brooklyn appeared to be feeling the effects of a week of partying as he looked weary while stepping out of the car to grab them a cup of coffee. Brooklyn cut a casual figure in a black jacket and white T-shirt as he strolled along the pavement while making a phone call. Tired? Brooklyn Beckham appeared to be feeling the effects of a week of partying as he looked weary while heading out on a coffee run in London on Saturday morning Love: The strained display comes just days after the couple were pictured putting on a very loved-up display while celebrating Brooklyn's 21st birthday Sombre: Brooklyn and Nicola failed to raise a smile as they chatted in the car He later emerged from Starbucks with two coffee cups in hand, before heading back to his vehicle where girlfriend Nicola was waiting. Upon returning to the car, a sombre Brooklyn and Nicola sat sipping their coffees while having a serious chat and tapping away on their mobile phones. Nicola mirrored Brooklyn's casual attire by sporting a black leather jacket for their outing, as she sat in the passenger seat of Brooklyn's flashy ride. Strained: The aspiring photographer, 21, and his other half, 25, seemed to be engaged in a deep discussion as they sat in the front of his 50,000 Land Rover Defender Heading home: He later emerged from Starbucks with two coffee cups in hand, before heading back to his 50,000 Land Rover Defender where girlfriend Nicola Peltz, 25, was waiting Energiser: Upon returning to the car, Brooklyn and Nicola sat sipping their coffees while having a chat and tapping away on their mobile phones The couple were pictured hours after they were believed to have attended his pal Rita Ora's impromptu house party at her London home. Brooklyn and Nicola started the night at Vas J Morgan's TINGS magazine bash which was held at London's Laylow private members club. The group then headed back to Rita's to party the night away, however Brooklyn and Nicola appeared to have made an early dart as the rest of the revellers weren't pictured leaving until the next day. Low-key: Nicola mirrored Brooklyn's casual attire by sporting a black leather jacket for their outing, as she sat in the passenger seat of Brooklyn's flashy ride Long night? The couple were pictured hours after they were believed to have attended his pal Rita Ora's impromptu house party at her London home Earlier in the week Nicola joined the Beckham's in celebrating his milestone birthday, where they dined at Wagyumafia on chef Hisato Hamada's 140 steak sandwiches. Also in attendance at the lavish meal on Wednesday was Brooklyn's mum Victoria, 45, father David, 44, and siblings - Romeo, 17, Cruise, 15, and Harper, eight. The dinner came hours after Brooklyn enjoyed a family lunch at Oswald's private members club in London. During his birthday dinner Brooklyn was treated to a huge plate of glazed doughnuts covered in candles, which was seemingly a replacement for a cake. Party pals: Brooklyn and Nicola started the night at Vas J Morgan's TINGS magazine bash which was held at London 's Laylow private members club Wild: The group then headed back to Rita's to party the night away, however Brooklyn and Nicola appeared to have made an early dart as the rest of the revellers weren't pictured leaving until the next day Nicola took Brooklyn's birthday as an opportunity to publicise her love for the eldest Beckham child, sharing many gushing tributes to her beau on social media. While dining with the family, she shared a snap of herself and Brooklyn alongside a caption which read: 'u make me the happiest girl'. The couple began dating in October last year following the breakdown of his relationship with model Hana Cross. Brooklyn and Hana were pictured engaging in a spate of emotionally-charged public rows before they called it quits on their romance. Intimate dinner: Earlier in the week Nicola joined the Beckham's in celebrating his milestone birthday, where they dined at Wagyumafia on chef Hisato Hamada's 140 steak sandwiches Open source A landmark agreement signed between Turkey and the European Union in 2016 to curb irregular migration into the bloc via Greece has collapsed because of Ankara's tactics, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis informed, according to Ekathimerini. "Right now, let's be honest, the agreement is dead," Mitsotakis said. "And it's dead because Turkey has decided to completely violate the agreement because of what happened in Syria." Mitsotakis referred to "a conscious attempt by Turkey to use migrants and refugees as geopolitical pawns tio promote its own interests," saying that people crossing into Greece are not from Syria but have been living in Turkey for a long time and are being assisted by Turkish authorities. "They have systematically assisted, both at land and at sea, people in their effort to cross into Greece," said Mitsotakis. "Europe is not going to be blackmailed over this problem by Turkey." Mitsotakis called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan "to stop being the instigator of fake news," referring to "completely false allegations about what is happening at the borders." "We're not the ones escalating this conflict but we have every right... to protect our sovereign borders. We've succeeded in doing so and we'll continue to succeed doing so in the future." Questioned about the spread of coronavirus, Mitsotakis said it was important to consider how "fiscal policy can help us alleviate the pressures on growth that will inevitably occur as a result of this outbreak." (Newser) Cyprus riot police used pepper spray on Saturday to thwart Turkish Cypriot protesters trying to shove their way through a barricaded crossing point in the heart of the ethnically divided island nation's capital, the AP reports. Several dozen protesters tried to push their way through a cordon of riot police on the Greek Cypriot side of the east Mediterranean island nation, but were held back. Police said protesters hurled rocks and four Greek Cypriot officers were injured. Last week, the Cypriot government closed four of nine crossing points along a 120 mile, UN-controlled buffer zone, justifying the move on public health grounds. It said it would better enable medical staff to screen for potential coronavirus carriers crossing from the Turkish Cypriot north to the Greek Cypriot south. story continues below Additional health workers have been posted to the other openings for more thorough checks. Cyprus has so far no confirmed coronavirus cases. Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades pointed to the fact that 3,000 Iranians live and study in the north. Iran has been hard hit by the new virus. "This division is not acceptable, this is not a coronavirus issue," said Turkish Cypriot activist Murat Kanatli. Meanwhile, the Guardian quotes Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, as sending a tough message to migrants in Turkey: "Don't go to the border. The border is not open," he said. "...Avoid moving to a closed door. And please don't tell people that they can go because it's not true." (Read more migrants stories.) A male model is accused of attempting to smuggle crim- inal proceeds out of Northern Ireland after he was allegedly found with 180,000 in two brown envelopes while waiting to board a flight from Belfast to Spain. Mark Andrew Adams (40) was arrested on foot of a Euro- pean Arrest Warrant at his Dublin home and brought before the High Court, where the Irish authorities are seeking to have him surrendered for extradition to Northern Ireland. Mr Justice Donald Binchy adjourned the case for a bail application and extradition hearings later this month. The father-of-one remains in custody pending these hearings. Luggage Mr Adams is wanted in Northern Ireland for three alleged offences. Two are that he concealed 180,550 in his hand luggage, knowing or suspecting it to be criminal property, and tried to remove this from Northern Ireland at Belfast International Airport on May 9, 2018. He is also accused of entering into or becoming concerned regarding an arrangement to remove criminal property from Northern Ireland between May 13, 2013 and May 10, 2018. Detective Garda Eoin Kane told the court he arrested Mr Adams at his home address at Castleheath, Malahide, at 10.11am yesterday. He cautioned him, read over the summary of the offences alleged and asked Mr Adams if he knew what they were about. "He replied 'yes'," Det Gda Kane told the court. Mr Adams was taken to Coolock Garda Station and was then brought to court. A barrister for the State said there was an objection to bail and Diarmuid Collins, for Mr Adams, said he was not making a bail application yet. Mr Collins said his client was due to attend a residential treatment programme, but Det Gda Kane said the centre was not taking residencies this weekend due to the coronavirus. Judge Binchy advised Mr Adams he could decide at any time to surrender himself to the authorities in Northern Ireland and was entitled to do so. The bail application will be heard on March 12, with the extradition hearing on March 25. The warrant states that on May 9, 2018, border force offic- ers stopped Mr Adams at Belfast International Airport, where he was due to take a flight to Alicante. He was travelling with only hand luggage and confirmed to officers that he had packed the bag himself. When asked if he was given anything to take out of the country, he said: "Yes, 180,000." Two brown envelopes in his hand luggage were found to contain a total of 180,550 in cash, the warrant states. Mr Adams was interviewed under caution on May 10, 2018 and was asked where he was travelling to and the purpose of his trip, his personal background, employment status and financial position. He made no comment. He also made no comment in relation to the cash found. According to the warrant, investigators confirmed that Mr Adams booked 497 international flights into or out of the UK between May 14, 2014, and May 9, 2018, and that on 64 occasions the outward and return flights were within a matter of hours. Expert A money-laundering expert, Det Sgt Adrian Ward, of South Yorkshire Police, is quoted as saying this was consistent with the act of someone transporting or delivering something between one place and another. He also said there were "elements of a money laundering system identified within the evidence consistent with Mr Adams acting as part of that system, attempting to smuggle cash as a courier". During interview, Mr Adams was asked about his travel history and gave no comment, the warrant states. Following interview under caution, Mr Adams was released on police bail to return on August 1, 2018 and to date has failed to return, it concludes. Mr Adams was not required to speak during the hearing. A truce between Russia and Turkey in Syrias Idlib Province appears to be holding, according to the Turkish defense minister. Hulusi Akar said on March 7 that there had been no violations of the cease-fire. "We will continue to be a deterrent force to prevent any violation to the cease-fire. None occurred since [the] cease-fire entered into force," Akar said. The cease-fire was reached in Moscow after talks to contain a conflict which has displaced nearly a million people in three months. Turkey will use self-defense rights if there is any attack targeting its forces or bases in the region, Akar also said. The deal also calls for joint patrols by Turkish and Russian forces in Idlib, including along a major road, starting on March 15. Turkey has started to work on the procedures and principles of a safety corridor around the road, Akar said, adding that a Russian military delegation will visit Ankara next week to discuss steps to take. Russia and Turkey back opposing sides in Syria's nine-year conflict, with Moscow supporting President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey backing some rebel groups. Several previous deals to end the fighting in Idlib have collapsed. Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (right) looks on as Indonesian men La Utu bin Raali (left) and La Hadi bi La Adi receive hugs from their relatives days after they were released by suspected Abu Sayyaf bandits in the southern Philippines, Jan. 23, 2018. Malaysia has beefed up security near its maritime border with the southern Philippines, where recent kidnappings have taken place, in a move that will include the deployment of six light attack helicopters purchased from the United States, security officials said Friday. Hazani Ghazali, chief of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), said authorities arrested 41 undocumented Indonesia and Filipinos during raids on March 4 as part of a security operation codenamed Ops Gasak, which was aimed at disrupting cross-border criminal activities. Ops Gasak will neutralize the hotspot areas in ESSzone from any cross-border crimes, Hazani said in a statement, using the acronym for the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone. Our operations also work as deterrence. ESSZone should be free from cross-border criminal activities which could disrupt the country's peace and harmony, he said. Security forces launched the operation in January, when they began checking immigration documents of people suspected to be working as lookouts for kidnap-for-ransom gangs in the region. Among those captured in the security raids were men and women up to 65 years old, Hazani said in a statement, without elaborating. During another operation early this month, authorities arrested a 47-year-old undocumented migrant from Indonesia, who was charged with illegal possession of a homemade shotgun and six 12-gauge cartridges, officials said. The man was found hiding out in a palm oil plantation in Kalabakan, a district in Sabah state in Malaysian Borneo. Authorities believe the hotspots in the region include water villages, which are floating communities or squatter settlements with houses on stilts. Five operations conducted thus far at water villages in Sandakan, Kunak and Semporna districts led to the arrests of 723 undocumented migrants who were among 9,332 people interviewed by security officials. Malaysia has yet to deport those arrested pending instruction from the National Security Council, officials told BenarNews. Army confirms delivery schedule for helicopters Six new light-attack helicopters, purchased by the Malaysian government under a U.S. $76 million contract inked in 2016, will be stationed in Sabah as part of the governments move to bolster states security and reinforce anti-crime efforts in coastal areas, according to Army chief Gen. Hasbullah Mohd Nawawi. The Muslim-majority nation will receive the first of six MD 530G helicopters this year and the military personnel who would be handling the choppers, euphemistically called little birds, would be sent for training in the United States, Hasbullah told reporters last week. The remainder of the attack helicopters will be delivered in stages through 2021, he said. Once that is done, we will send the pilots for conversion training, followed by the maintenance crew to equip themselves with the know-how for the helicopters upkeep, the New Straits Times quoted Hasbullah as saying. Akhbar Satar, a director at the HELP University in Kuala Lumpur, told BenarNews that ESSCOM would need budgetary support to solve its security issues. It is high time Malaysia brings about an effective solution to the current dilemma, he said. If not, this terrible trend will continue again. Malaysian security authorities should set up a hostage-negotiation unit and follow the model used by the FBI in dealing with kidnapping scenarios, he said. The Behavioral Change Stairway Model developed by the FBIs hostage-negotiation unit is an example of what we could follow. Besides techniques, crisis negotiations require a cool head and experience in hostage negotiation, he told BenarNews. In recent years, clashes between Filipino soldiers and suspected insurgents had caused criminals to cross over from the nearby southern Philippines into Sabah, from where they had planned criminal activities, including piracy and kidnappings, authorities said. One such crime involved the kidnapping of five Indonesians who were believed seized within Sabahs territorial waters on Jan. 16 by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf, a group of bandits based in the southern Philippines. About a week after the abductions, Philippine authorities said the captives and the gunmen were believed to be hiding in the jungles of an island off the coastal town of Parang in Sulu, in the southern Philippines. Their fate remains unknown although news reports said their suspected abductors had attempted to demand ransom through a phone call. In September last year, three Indonesian fishermen were also abducted from their boat off Sabahs east coast. Philippine officials announced in January that security forces rescued the third Indonesian fisherman weeks after authorities had rescued his two compatriots in southern Sulu province. Earlier in the same month, Malaysian police said security forces gunned down two suspected Abu Sayyaf members during a shootout at sea off Sabah. Abu Sayyaf is a militant group founded in the 1990s and notorious for kidnappings, bombings and beheadings of foreigners carried out in the southern Philippines during the past two decades. The groups stronghold is in Jolo and Basilan islands in the southwestern part of the Philippines. 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 last week 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 client's acquittal on the murder charge, and allowed the manslaughter charge alone to go to the jury. Mr O'Loughlin 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 accused's 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. A hospital in Northampton has pleaded with visitors to stop taking bottles of hand sanitiser from the end of our patients beds and from our welcome desks after a spate of disappearing gel. Northampton General Hospital raised concerns about a potential shortage of the foaming hand sanitiser gel amid rising panic over coronavirus spreading in the UK. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK rose to 206 on Saturday, up from 164, and two people have died. Two of those cases were identified in Northampton. In a statement on Facebook, the hospital said: Please help us to keep our patients safe by not removing the dispensers or using them to top up your own dispensers. Ward managers were asked to monitor closely stock of the product in an email from the hospitals infection prevention team, seen by the Northampton Chronicle. The email mentioned discussions with the procurement team about a potential future shortage of the hand sanitising gel. It said: Unfortunately, relatives seem to be taking them from the ends of beds. Whilst we acknowledge that there is potential for a national shortage of foam due to the coronavirus, we do not want our patients to be put at risk of other infections whilst they are in hospital. A spokeswoman for the hospital also told the Northampton Chronicle three dispensers were ripped from walls and visitors have been seen filling up their own dispensers with the hospitals supplies. She added: We dont have an unlimited supply and would ask that visitors to the site respect the fact that we are doing all we can to keep our patients, visitors and staff safe, and we need their support. The NHS advised the most effective way to avoid catching or spreading the virus is to wash hands often with soap and water. Hand sanitising gel should be used if soap and water are not available. Globally, people are panic-buying items such as hand sanitiser, face masks, and toilet paper in anticipation of the outbreak spreading even further. Photos of emptied shelves in pharmacies and supermarkets have been posted on social media while health authorities attempted to caution against panic-buying and hoarding, which have resulted in fights in some places. Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Show all 11 1 /11 Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Ben Gurion International airport, Israel Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Daxing International Airport, Beijing AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Haneda Airport, Tokyo Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Changsha Huanghua International Airport, China Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Shanghai Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Daxing International Airport, Beijing AFP via Getty Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Haneda Airport, Tokyo Reuters Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Shanghai Pudong Airport in Shanghai, China EPA Airports empty as Coronavirus affects aviation industry Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam AFP via Getty On Thursday, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, told a Question Time audience the government was working with supermarkets to ensure people would be able to get food and supplies while in self-isolation. But supermarket sources said Mr Hancocks claim was totally made up and they have not heard anything from the government regarding the matter. Source: Xinhua| 2020-03-07 12:26:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday that there is no reason for panic over the novel coronavirus situation in the country. In a TV speech, Bolsonaro said the moment "calls for union." "Even though things can get worse, there is no reason for panic. The best protection is to follow the recommendations of specialists rigorously," he said. As the virus presents a new challenge to the world, the Brazilian Health Ministry is giving assistance to local health authorities in dealing with the disease, the president said. Earlier in the day, the health ministry updated the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country to 13. Among them, 10 cases were registered in Sao Paulo Municipality, and the other three were in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espirito Santo and Bahia, respectively. A case in Brazil's capital city Brasilia is awaiting confirmation of a presumptive positive test result. So far, 11 cases are linked to travel to Europe and the United States. The other two are relatives of the first patient in Brazil. The patient participated in a family reunion before showing symptoms of COVID-19 infection, and his relatives have been quarantined. In addition to the 13 confirmed cases, there are still 768 suspected cases in Brazil. By Trend Kazakhstans ventures operating on the territory of Almaty Industrial Zone will enter new foreign markets, Head of the Industrial Zone Azamat Baygubesov told Trend. Currently, 54 ventures the value of investments into creation of which amounted to 237 billion tenge ($624 million) are operating in the industrial zone. Baygubesov added that launch of 11 projects worth 39.7 billion tenge ($104.5 million) is planned in 2020. As many as 1,575 new jobs will be created as a result. In turn, launch of another 31 projects worth 129 billion tenge ($339.6 million) is planned in 2021 and the following years; it is expected to create 4,624 new jobs. Talking about the goods export, Baygubesov said that eight ventures of the industrial zone are currently exporting their goods including BIZHAN meat processing venture (export to Russia), BRB APK (Russia), Asia Steel Pipe Corporation (China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkemistan), Investment (Eurasian Economic Union, China, Persian Gulf countries), Hyindai Trans Kazakhstan (CIS countries), Almapack Co LTD (Kyrgyzstan), ASSET (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan), and DOC Co.LTD (Russia, Belarus). Another two ventures which are operating on the territory of the industrial zone are currently looking to launch export. Thus, the Almerek venture which is concerned with medical products manufacturing is planning to launch export to Russia, Uzbekistan and Qatar. In turn, the KazTigerTape company which is concerned with tape production is aiming to start exporting goods to Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Armenia, Azerbaijan Trade Accusations Over Fresh Border Fighting By RFE/RL's Armenian Service, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service March 06, 2020 YEREVAN/BAKU -- Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of violating the fragile cease-fire along their border for a second time in less than two weeks. The State Border Service of Azerbaijan said on March 6 that one of its guards was killed by sniper fire in the Gazakh district late the previous day. Meanwhile, Armenia's Defense Ministry said its soldiers repelled an Azerbaijani commando raid against Armenian military positions early on March 6. Armenian forces managed to repulse the attack, inflicting "casualties" on the attackers, according to a statement. It also said that one Armenian soldier was slightly wounded in the fighting. The Defense Ministry published on its website photographs of ammunition and a mine detector, which it claimed the attackers left behind while retreating. Border fighting in the same area on February 24 left one Azerbaijani soldier killed and one Armenian serviceman wounded, according to Yerevan and Baku. The two neighbors have been locked in a conflict over Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh for years. Armenian-backed separatists seized the mainly Armenian-populated region from Azerbaijan during a war in the early 1990s that killed some 30,000 people. Diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict have brought little progress. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-azerbaijan- trade-accusations-over-fresh-border -fighting/30472681.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The trial of an amusement arcade director accused of a multi-million pound fraud plot could last up to a month, a court has been told. Ruari Owens (43) entered not guilty pleas to dozens of charges against him while standing in the dock of Craigavon Crown Court last Tuesday. The offences are alleged to have happened in snooker clubs and amusement arcades in Drumgor, Craigavon, New Classic and Premier Snooker Clubs in Glengormley, New Central Amusement Arcade and New Central Bookmakers, Church Place, Lurgan, between April 2010 and March 2016. Owens, from Fortwilliam Demesne in north Belfast, faces 79 allegations of charging a player of a gaming machine an excessive amount and five charges of organising or managing prohibited gaming. He also faces five charges of possessing criminal property. Three firms of which he is director are co-accused NTK Central Properties, NTK Leisure Ltd and Shooter Amusement Centre. The amount of money involved in the possession of criminal property is alleged to be just over 3,555,000. NTK Central Properties is accused of possessing 301,000 criminal property while NTK Leisure Ltd, both with addresses at Church Place in Lurgan, is accused of 65 charges of charging a player of a gaming machine an excessive amount, three allegations of managing prohibited gaming and five charges of possession of criminal property. Shooters Amusement Centre, also of Church Place, faces 14 charges of charging a player of a gaming machine an excessive amount, two of managing prohibited gaming and on allegation of possession of criminal property. Following the arraignment, when the clerk put a short form of the charges to Owens, a prosecuting lawyer told Judge Patrick Lynch QC the trial may last three to four weeks. Judge Lynch said it was difficult to see it being held before the summer but that June could be the earliest possible date, listing the case for review on April 2. Luca Zaia, another League leader and the president of the Veneto region, which includes Venice and other cities marked for lockdown, said that the government had notified him about the potential ban only at the last minute. Since the region was kept out of discussions to draft the order, he said, its literally impossible for the region to enact it so quickly. The government order also locks down provinces in the Emilia Romagna region south of Lombardy. Stefano Bonaccini, the regions liberal president, implored Mr. Conte and the countrys health minister, both nominal allies, for more time to come up with a more coherent and shared solution. Mayors in some of the cities marked for quarantine expressed deep ire over first hearing about the proposed order on television. Its incredible, said Rasero Maurizio, the mayor of Asti in the northern region of Piedmont, who posted a video of himself livid in a white T-shirt from his home saying that he had just heard about the potential closing of his town on television. No one told me. In addition to Asti, other towns and provinces including Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Rimini, Pesaro and Urbino, Venice, Padua, Treviso and Alessandria all in the north were set to be locked down. But there were clear signs that the virus was spreading southward. Earlier on Saturday, it touched the top of Italian politics as the leader of the governing coalitions Democratic Party said he was infected with the virus. Well, its arrived, Nicola Zingaretti, the leader of the Democratic Party and the president of the region of Lazio, said in a Facebook video posted Saturday. I also have the coronavirus. The rating agencies particularly applauded Luxembourg's cautious state budget strategies. The rating agencies stressed that Luxembourg's public finances were healthy and sustainable, and the pillars of Luxembourg's economy stable. The finance sector represents the engine of national growth, and keeps performing well. The agencies cited green finances and digitisation as two positive trends in the sector. The repercussions of Brexit and coronavirus may pose challenges in the future but Luxembourg should have the capacities to deal with potential problems, the agencies concluded. Minister for Finance Pierre Gramegna welcome the excellent rating and said that they were "synonymous with the solidity of our country's economy." He added that the analyses proved that Luxembourg was well-prepared to face the complexities of a potentially feverish economic situation, and to further pave the way for sustainable investment as well as smart and inclusive growth. The number of locally-transmitted coronavirus cases in Sydney has surged as eight new cases were confirmed on Saturday, with health authorities saying they are still working to contain the disease. As of 9pm on Saturday, there were 36 confirmed cases in NSW. Epping Boys High School was being thoroughly cleaned in preparation for its reopening on Monday after a year 11 student was diagnosed with COVID-19, and an aged care facility at the centre of a community outbreak of the virus remains in lockdown. Six of the new cases were close contacts of previously confirmed cases of COVID-19, however NSW Health would not confirm to which previous cases the new ones were linked to. Austin Mayor Steve Adler on Friday canceled South by Southwest, the music, film and technology festival that has become a national expo of American music and ideas, due to mounting concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus. Its the largest public event in the U.S. to be canceled so far as the country responds to the public health crisis. The 10-day event, attended by more than 200,000 people last year and estimated to have brought in $356 million to the Austin economy, was set to begin March 13. This is the first time SXSW has been canceled in its 34-year run. Its really unfortunate, Adler said. Its a really important event to our city, in a lot of ways tied to who we are in this city, and I really look forward to the next generation of South By when it comes back again. For subscribers: Economy disrupted by coronavirus as oil prices sink Despite not having a confirmed coronavirus case in Austin, Adler said he made the decision on the recommendation of the citys health department and in consultation with the city manager. Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt also issued a local disaster proclamation. Panic will weaken us. This is not a panic-based decision, Eckhardt said. This is a decision based on expert medical opinion. Dr. Mark Escott, interim medical director and health authority for Austin Public Health, said there is no conclusive scientific evidence that canceling mass gatherings will reduce the spread of disease over time. But he said the lack of a coronavirus vaccine or treatment, the huge scale of SXSW, the close proximity of attendees and the participation of people from other countries and other U.S. states all raised the risk. According to organizers, attendees to the event last year represented 106 countries and 612 international acts performed. Together with an advisory panel, Escott said he looked into alternatives to cancellation. After careful deliberation, there was no acceptable path forward that would mitigate the risk enough to protect our community, Escott said. For subscribers: Houston confirms another coronavirus case, total now at eight In a statement, the company that puts on SXSW said it was devastated and looking into alternatives, such as rescheduling the event or creating an online, virtual experience. We are now working through the ramifications of this unprecedented situation, the statement read. This situation evolved rapidly, and we honor and respect the City of Austins decision. We are committed to do our part to help protect our staff, attendees, and fellow Austinites. Its unclear whether attendees, who pay up to $1,725, will receive refunds; according to the organizations terms and conditions on its website, SXSW does not issue refunds under any circumstances nor credit for upcoming festivals. As recently as Wednesday, Austin Public Health said there was no evidence that closing SXSW or any other gatherings will make the community safer. But over the past two weeks, more than a dozen companies and speakers had pulled out of the event because of the coronavirus, including tech giants Apple, Facebook, Twitter and Netflix. An online petition that had garnered more than 55,000 signatures had also called for the event to be canceled. Escott said the cancellation does not mean all mass gatherings in Austin will be shut down, but he said each will be considered on a case-by-case basis. About an hour after the local disaster decision came down, the University of Texas called off its Explore UT open house event scheduled for Saturday out of an abundance of caution, though it said sporting events and performing arts shows and classes will still go on. Explore UT brings in more than 50,000 prospective students and other visitors to campus. Actor Kumail Nanjiani, who had been scheduled to attend the festival to promote the film The Lovebirds, said on Twitter that he was disappointed but that he understood. SXSW is one of my favorite festivals, he tweeted. Canceling it was the responsible thing to (do). I know this sucks for many people for whom this was a massive opportunity. But were kind of in an unprecedented situation here and caution is key. From Hanson to Twitter to Timberlake Since its 1987 launch, South by Southwest has grown from a small, regional musical festival to a multimedia juggernaut. More than 400,000 participants in 2019 took part in overlapping music, film, interactive, comedy and gaming conferences and festivals. The first music conference and festival, founded by staff members of the Austin Chronicle, was attended by fewer than 1,000 people. It featured about 175 artists, mostly from Texas, including Claude Morgan & The Blast and Los #2 Dinners from San Antonio. It would quickly become a national festival with national impact. In 1997, almost 800 acts played the festival at 40 venues across Austin; a decade later, more than 1,500 acts played at 70 venues. Singers and bands came to Austin to be discovered or boost their careers; among those who succeeded were John Mayer, Hanson, Katy Perry and Haim. At the music festivals peak about a decade ago, corporate-sponsored venues such as Doritos Jacked Stage and unofficial side events clogged the streets in and around downtown, and major acts such as R.E.M., Prince, Kanye West and Justin Timberlake played showcases. After a driver fleeing police crashed into a festival crowd in 2014, killing four people, the Austin City Council scaled back the number of event permits it issued for the festival. In recent years, the hype has diminished while the music plays on. More than 2,000 bands, few of them household names, were scheduled to play this year. Film and interactive programming were added in 1994 with the first SXSW Film and Media Conference. They split into two conferences the following year, and both have emerged from the shadow of the music conference and festival. The film festival has served both as a showcase for Austins bustling film scene and moviemakers such as Richard Linklater, Robert Rodriguez and Mike Judge, and as a launching pad for independent and studio movies. Movies that premiered at the festival include Baby Driver, Chef and Jordan Peeles Us. Judd Apatows The King of Staten Island, starring Saturday Night Live cast member Pete Davidson, was scheduled to open this years festival. SXSW Interactive is where the money and celebrities have been most apparent in recent years as the world has become more wired and social media has reshaped everyday life. Twitter blew up after making a splash with tweets appearing on video screens in the Austin Convention Center at the 2007 interactive conference. Foursquare launched there in 2009, and SXSW even popularized breakfast tacos nationwide as attendees returned home from a week of noshing and networking. More than 20 San Antonio acts were scheduled to play showcases at this years SXSW Music Festival starting March 16, including the Chris Perez Project, Nina Diaz and Henry Brun & the Latin Playerz. Demitasse, made up of Grammy Award-winning guitarist Joe Reyes and singer Erik Sanden of San Antonio rock band Buttercup, had three shows scheduled. Its going to be sad because SXSW has given us all kinds of diseases in the past, Sanden said. Demitasse released a new album, Perfect Life, last month. Potentially, people were going to see us this time, Sanden said. I guarantee people will go out of business Now the SXSW festival is one of the citys most treasured and for some locals, dreaded events, marked by street closures through much of downtown, a near-constant hum of music through the air and pedicabs and electric cabs zig-zagging their way through bumper-to-bumper traffic. It also helps sustain hundreds of businesses, from hotels to restaurants to retailers. The $356 million that the 2019 festival pulled in included 12,000 individual hotel reservations totaling more than 51,500 room nights for SXSW registrants. After nearly a decade of uninterrupted price increases, the average nightly hotel rate for SXSW-booked rooms in 2019 fell to approximately $365. The average length of stay for all SXSW registrants exceeded five nights. During the two-week period, visits to businesses and restaurants also tend spike, leading to more tips for bartenders and waiters, and a whole layer of other businesses tend to thrive, such as pedicabs and food trucks. Matthew Mascheck, owner of Austin Pedicab Company, which runs 46 pedicabs, said the shutdown will have an enormous impact on his business. Income generated by SXSW represents a third to a half of his annual revenue. Were pretty screwed in this situation, Mascheck said. Its a huge chunk that allows us to pay insurance and all our expenses for the year. This is where we get a profit margin. Other business owners expressed similar concerns about the loss of festival-related revenue. Shane Orr, owner of Austin Brewery Tours, said many Austin businesses depend on the influx of visitors. Orr said he worries especially about small, independent business owners he knows who had borrowed money to ready themselves for a festival that now wont come to fruition: Its the little guys who are going to get hit. Orr said he had already noticed a slowdown in business that he attributed to fears over the coronavirus. Every business in town has been hurting, he said. But this is like a death blow. I guarantee people will go out of business because of this. Emily Spicer contributed reporting from San Antonio. This story contains material from the Associated Press. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com eric.dexheimer@chron.com jim.kiest@express-news.net The water is at its coldest now. It's only 8C but it feels like it's freezing. At high tide the women gather. Springing from cars, stripping off jackets and scarves, donning colourful hats and goggles. It's time to get in. At Mountcharles Pier in west Donegal, the rain has finally abated. Not flat-calm but not choppy - the swimmers eye the water carefully, knowing that it's still going to hurt. It's here that the Wild Atlantic Dippers, a 12-strong group of female swimmers (and one honorary male), meet at least once a week. At this time of year, the swimming will be brief. It's a case of get in and get out and grab the hot coffee in the Salthill Cabin coffee dock that's just a stone's throw from the pier. I'm here to talk to them about what motivates them to brave the biting cold and swim together all winter long. As someone who swims all year round, I know my own reasons. But for every woman who swims, there's a different motivation for getting in, especially during these chilly months. In recent years more and more women have taken up open-water swimming, coming together to immerse themselves in cold water, forging saltwater communities all over the country. At Mountcharles, the Wild Atlantic Dippers - who range in age from early forties to late fifties - might never have met one another were it not for the ocean. Its strange magnetic force drew them together to this place, where they meet and dip and talk and share their lives with one another. Expand Close On the dock of the bay: Writer Kathy Donaghy at Mountcharles pier in Donegal. Photo: Lorcan Doherty / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp On the dock of the bay: Writer Kathy Donaghy at Mountcharles pier in Donegal. Photo: Lorcan Doherty As individual as each woman herself, they all have their own unique way of getting into the water. Some stride confidently down the slipway while chatting happily; others tentatively approach the water's edge, noses wrinkling slightly at the first stab of cold water. Soon everyone is immersed, keeping their heads up to breathe, the cold doing its work to quicken the heart rate. Arms reach out, colourful hats bob in the sea. Some race away to a buoy but most stay near the slipway today. It won't be a long swim. Unused to swimming here, I stick with the others, staying where the pier casts its shadow over the water. One of the swimmers calls to me to come out of the shadow to feel the sun on my face, and I swim towards her, out into the brightness. I'm conscious that the moment sums up what happens when women swim together - something I know innately from swimming with my own swim friends. We each want the sun to shine on the others faces. This is not a place for competition, although in the summer we may put in a long swim and pace ourselves. It's a place for sharing, for looking out for one another and for simply being ourselves. For the brief time we're in the water, our bonds of responsibilities to those back on dry land vanish. It's only about you and the sea and the sisterhood you're sharing it with. Dee McGettigan was the initiator of the Wild Atlantic Dippers. The daughter of a fisherman from Killybegs, she's an accomplished swimmer who has worked as a swimming instructor and a volunteer with Irish Water Safety. She started the group because she wanted other people to feel what she feels when she swims. For her the connection with water is deep and profound. Dee, who has just turned 51, lost a baby son, Shane, after 42 weeks in the womb. "It's the only place I feel connected with him," she says of the water. "I remember being in the ocean when I felt his last kick. This is my connection with him. That's why I feel completely at home here. I continue to connect with him in the ocean," says Dee, who is also mum to a 26-year-old son and a 21-year-old daughter. Expand Close Dee McGettigan taking a dip. Photo: Lorcan Doherty / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dee McGettigan taking a dip. Photo: Lorcan Doherty Because she comes from a swimming background, Dee ensures that everyone is feeling confident but says they all look out for one another. "I would trust any one of those women to save my life if something happened," she says. While 52-year-old Zeita Gallagher, who runs a sweet shop in Donegal town, has always loved the sea, she had ruled out swimming in it because of a chronic back condition which left her in a lot of pain. Then she heard on the Donegal grapevine about Dee's sea-swimming group. Something, she says, triggered her imagination and she decided to send Dee a message. She remembers the first day she joined the group, liking herself to an excited child packing her bag for the dip. It was early April last year when she took the plunge. "It was a beautiful spring day and you could see the adrenaline pumping in me. I was so exuberant - it was like I had got my sparkle back. I found what I was looking for. I'm not a stylish swimmer or a brilliant swimmer. I swim for the enjoyment of it and it clears my head. It's like a valve being released. You get in and take deep breaths and you come out and you're like a new woman," Zeita says. She credits the sea swimming with giving her a new zest for life and improving her health. It has strengthened her core muscles, and the pain that had seen her lying in hospital for months on end is gone. "It's turned me around. I have great joy and it has brought me mental clarity, and I can see things in perspective. I know it's something I will be doing for years to come," she says. Angela Mulreany-Griffin credits the group for easing the pain of the loss of her husband, Michael, who passed away last summer at the age of 54. Originally from Birmingham, Angela met Michael when she was 17 and had decided to move to her mother's homeplace of Mountcharles. The 55-year-old remembers the first time she saw him, when she started working for the famous clothing company Magee in Donegal town, and thinking he had the most beautiful hazel eyes. She can't help smiling any time she's on the pier in Mountcharles. Even though she's lost the love of her life, she remembers coming to this place when she and Michael were just teenagers to watch the sun come up after a night out and smoke cigarettes. While Angela always swam - even through Michael's illness - she never swam through the winter, and when she heard about the group of women meeting at Mountcharles Pier, she was intrigued. "It's lovely to have the company. After Michael passed away, it was great to go out to the water and have someone to talk to. There were days I wouldn't have gone out if there wasn't someone there. I would've stayed home feeling sorry for myself after Michael died. I didn't know any of the other women in the group but now I know them all. There's no expectations of each other. If you can make the swim, you can make it," says Angela, who is mum to 26-year-old Anthony and 23-year-old Ryan. The Sunday of our swim is the first time 40-year-old Stephanie Kennedy has been in the water since she lost a baby through miscarriage six weeks ago. She was halfway through her pregnancy and it was her fourth baby. Stephanie says she has good days and bad days. Originally from Sandycove in south Dublin, the Montessori teacher, who has three children aged between five and 11, is conscious that this swim will be the first without her bump. While Stephanie says the group is made up of a diverse range of women, they all have one thing in common, and that's the love of getting out into the water. And while she's nervous about jumping back in, she hopes the strength of the group will become her strength and keep her swimming faithfully. In other swim spots around the country, women are forming their own tight-knit swimming sisterhoods. In Galway, Frances Daly, who will turn 70 in October, never misses an opportunity to swim with her ladies group. She goes most days if she can with her fellow Blackrock Ladies. Moving to Galway in the early 1980s with her Irish husband, Frances, who was born in Bristol, found herself like a fish out of water. After her children came along, she started teaching swimming and going to swim at Blackrock in Salthill, a swim spot that can only be described as a Galway institution. One day she was there and two women asked if she'd like to swim with them. She never looked back. During the summers they would come to Blackrock with their children. Over the years, those young mothers became grandmothers and a core group of 12 has kept swimming together. When her own mother, Iris Lily, died, some of her swimming friends came over to Bristol to say goodbye to a woman they'd never met. "It made it a very sad but joyous occasion," Frances says. Over the years there has been grief. There have been losses of loved ones, illnesses and illness of partners. Frances says they know the time will come when they have to confront their own mortality. "It's not something we dwell on very much but it is extremely important for all of us that we see each other several times a week. I don't think we're unique," she says. Like so many of the women I talk to, Frances believes that there is great power in salt water. "I'm not being flippant when I say I think it's kept me from the psychiatrist, because of the chats we have. You get this amazing sense of the sea taking your problems away. The water has that ability to remove stress, and cold water especially is exhilarating." The community she has found through swimming has become like family. Frances says while she never had sisters, these women fit the saying that friends are the family you pick for yourself. "We don't always get on. We have our disagreements but you still can't get a word in edgeways. If I didn't see them for a week, maybe I could survive, but I'd have lost something. We don't take it for granted - we're not blase about it," she says. In Dublin, Alice Kelliher, originally from Tralee, Co Kerry, started swimming at Dublin's famous Forty Foot around the same time she was setting up her own beauty business in Ballsbridge. When she met her husband, Ger Kennedy, she discovered they shared a love of open-water swimming. While he started a swimming club called the Walruses, Alice and her female friends branched into their own group, the Walrettes. She jokes that she's done a lot of recruiting for the Walrettes in her salon, talking about the benefits to other women, who in turn have joined up, hitting the popular Dublin swim spot. "You're in the sea, you're in the fresh air. We're bobbing up and down, swapping everything from recipes to recommendations for goggles. Before Christmas, I remember we were swapping our grandmothers' pudding recipes," the 53-year-old recalls. On the sea-swimming circuit, women are travelling in their groups to meet up with other groups and share a special swim spot. Alice tells me there are women in her life she'd never have met if it hadn't been for swimming. "Women are the ones who start a conversation. You look at the woman next to you and ask, 'How was the swim for you?' The men are dressed and ready to go but we're still putting our socks on and chatting away," she says. As well as the sense of community, it's the relaxation she gets from being in nature that keeps Alice coming back. And it was that sense of being in nature and love of the feeling of cold water on her skin that saw Alice join the International Ice Swimming Association in 2015. She soon began travelling to international competitions with her husband, who is well known in the Irish open-water swimming community. Last month, Alice travelled with a 12-strong group to take on an ice-swimming challenge in Antarctica, where her goal was to swim 500 metres. "If you can swim through the winter and into the next year, it's amazing what you can do. Every time, before I put my foot in the water, there is this trepidation. Will I do it? It's like the fight or flight kicks in. It gives me an adrenaline spike that I've never got from anything else. It's your body overcoming the cold. You never feel more alive than you do at that moment," says Alice. Talking to women in these swim communities about what motivates them to keep going through the winter, you get a sense of the power of being part of a group that wills you on when your own will might be flagging. From my own experience, friendships are forged from the vulnerability we feel when we strip away the layers - literal and metaphorical. The body hang-ups and discomfort you might feel standing in your swimsuit on a cold beach in Donegal on a winter's morning soon disappear. You're united in a common purpose - getting in and grappling with the cold. For me, the sea is life's great alchemist. Whatever hard stuff is going on in life, it feels like it's eased after a swim. Life throws its curve balls at all of us but for me there is a beautiful certainty in knowing that after this wave, another will come. When I get to share a swim with friends, it feels like a gift. When I see the feet of one friend - always faster than me - fly past, her feet in the water become my guide. The yellow swim hat of another beside me becomes a reassurance that we're in this together. And when we stop for a break, that friend telling you to look at the sun, and reminding you that this is what life's about, makes you realise how lucky you are to be in the ocean, swimming. Photography by Lorcan Doherty PRESIDENT TRUMP NAMES CONGRESSMAN MEADOWS CHIEF OF STAFF In a surprise move, President Donald Trump on Friday named U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows his new chief of staff, replacing acting chief Mick Mulvaney. Trump also announced on Twitter that Mulvaney would become U.S. special envoy for Northern Ireland. Trump did not give a reason for why he replaced Mulvaney, who technically remains the director of Office of Management and Budget. ....I want to thank Acting Chief Mick Mulvaney for having served the Administration so well. He will become the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Thank you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 7, 2020 A request for comment from Meadows, who represents North Carolina, was not immediately returned Friday night. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics Meadows is considered one of Trumps staunchest congressional allies. Meadows announced in December that he would not seek re-election in 2020. At the time, Meadows suggested that he could have a role in helping the president. The lawmaker said then that his work with President Trump and his administration is only beginning." "This President has accomplished incredible results for the country in just 3 years, and I'm fully committed to staying in the fight with him and his team to build on those successes and deliver on his promises for the years to come," Meadows said in the December statement. Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney listens during a cabinet meeting held by President Donald Trump at the White House on Oct. 21, 2019.Leah Millis / Reuters file Mulvaney became Trump's chief of staff in December 2018, after the president announced that John Kelly, his second chief of staff, was to leave at the end of that year. Trumps first chief of staff, Reince Priebus, was removed by the president in July 2017 after six months on the job. Trump was asked in early February whether Mulvaney would stay on as chief of staff, and the president responded That was a false report. I have a great relationship with Mick, according to a White House transcript. In December, Mulvaney seemed to admit that the withholding of military aid to Ukraine was tied to demands that the country investigate a conspiracy theory about the 2016 election. "We do that all the time with foreign policy," Mulvaney said at that news conference. "Get over it," he said. "Theres going to be political influence in foreign policy." Mulvaney later tried to walk back the remarks. "There was absolutely no quid pro quo between Ukrainian military aid and any investigation into the 2016 election," he said. But Mulvaney's admission angered and confused Trump allies inside and outside the administration, according to two people familiar with the matter. One of them called Mulvaneys comments in the White House briefing room "an unmitigated disaster." The withholding of military aid to Ukraine and alleged pressure to investigate the 2016 theory and announce investigations into Joe Biden and his son were central to the impeachment of Trump by the House. Critics accused Trump abusing the power of his presidency for personal political gain. The articles of impeachment charged Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Republican-held Senate acquitted the president in February. Trump Friday night thanked Mulvaney for having served the Administration so well." Meadows was a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus. Fellow leading caucus member Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who is also a vocal defender of the president, tweeted Friday night that Trump couldnt have picked anyone better for the job. We shall measure our progress by the improvement in the health of our people; by the number of children in school, and by the quality of their education; by the availability of water and electricity in our towns and villages, and by the happiness which our people take in being able to manage their own affairs. The welfare of our people is our chief pride, and it is by this that my Government will ask to be judged. Dr Kwame Nkrumah Broadcast to the Nation. 24 December 1957. Today marks the 63rd milestone of Ghana's existence as a sovereign independent country. On March 6, 1957, Ghana gained political independence from colonial Britain to become the first independent country in sub-Saharan Africa. Every year on March 6th, Ghanaians all over the world celebrate the uniqueness of who they are as a people, reflect on the legacies that their forebears bequeathed to them and rededicate themselves to leaving a solid legacy for the generations yet unborn. On this historic day, we, members and supporters of the People's Democratic League (PDL) join other Africans on the continent and the diaspora to extend warm wishes and message of goodwill to Africans in Ghana on the occasion of 63rd anniversary of independence and democratic self-rule. We join Ghanaians in celebrating this important day as part of their long proud history in Africa. We wish to acknowledge the immense sacrifice that Ghana made to end the brutal fratricidal war in our country in the 1990s. Sierra Leone has now relative peace, which we believe should have been used as an opportunity to renew political commitment to promoting sound economic management, good governance, fostering economic and social development and contributing positively to the realization and maintenance of peace, security, stability and development in Africa as a whole and West Africa in particular. The pursuit of democratic principles anchored on human rights of all citizens of Sierra Leone, free and fair elections, accountable and good governance should be the focus of the government in Freetown and its people. Unfortunately, these cherished principles are not allowed to give expression in Sierra Leone. Today is a day that means a lot to all of Africans everywhere. A day of reflection to measure the gains of independence; and a day that came about as a result of awakening consciousness, teamwork and unity; and a day that came when Ghanaian men and women decided to work together irrespective of tribe, religion, group, profession or interest. I wish you Happy Independence Day! Sender: Samuel Musa Kalokoh National Secretary for Administration People's Democratic League PDL Auburn Methodist Church, located at 207 S. Auburn Road, will host a game night from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 20, in its fellowship hall. This event is an open house, so people came come and go as they like. Friends, family and neighbors are invited to attend. This will be a family-friendly event, so all ages are welcome. Snacks including cookies, chips, popcorn and soft drinks will be provided. A hospital official in Irans capital Tehran says in recent days more patients with poisoning come for help, as they drink alcohol hoping to prevent coronavirus infection. The official, Shahin Shadnia told Irans semi-official Mehr news agency on March 6 that in some cases methanol-rich alcohol poisoning has led to the death of patients. Alcoholic spirits, wine and beer are banned in the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1979, but many people regularly drink vodka and other spirits either smuggled into the country or distilled at home by small-time moonshiners. Home distilled spirits carry the danger of high methanol content that can make people very sick or even bring about poisoning deaths. Commercially produced spirits are controlled, and excess methanol taken out before bottling. Since there are no commercial distillers in Iran, home-made spirits sometimes kill people. Even before the coronavirus epidemic, people got poisoned by bootleg alcohol and hundreds of people have died over the years. Since coronavirus infections were first reported on February 19, rumors have spread among the population that drinking alcohol can help prevent contracting the disease. Doctors are now warning the population that alcohol has no impact on contracting COVID-19 and they should just follow common medical advice. The Russian government announced a decision to close its border for foreign citizens and people without citizenship, arriving to Russia from Iran, Anadolu agency reports. The decision published on the government's website, was made to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. "To ensure the security of the state, protect public health and prevent spreading of new coronavirus infection [2019-nCoV] on the territory of the Russian Federation, the Federal Security Service of Russia from 00:00 local time on March 7, 2020 temporarily bans for foreign citizens and persons without citizenship, coming from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, from entering the territory of the Russian Federation for training and employment, as well as for private, tourist and transit purposes," it said. The opposition BJP on Saturday hit out at the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh after a class 10 question paper of the state board referred to Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (POK) as Azad Kashmir. The term appeared in the class 10 social science paper of the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE), the exam for which was conducted on Saturday morning. Azad Kashmir is the term used by Pakistan to refer to POK. Pakistan Occupied Kashmir(PoK) called Azad Kashmir in a question in Madhya Pradesh state board class 10th examinations of Social Science subject pic.twitter.com/H1hUt9ffDu ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2020 After the controversy broke out, two officials were suspended on the directives of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, an MPBSE official said. The two questions were also canceled. One of the questions asked the candidates to identify Azad Kashmir on the map. The term also occurred in a match- a-pair question. Speaking to PTI, state BJP spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal, who shared image of the question paper on Twitter, said, Kashmir is an integral part of India. The Indian government has passed a resolution to this effect. Has Madhya Pradeshs Congress regime recognized Azad Kashmir? He also alleged that senior Congress leaders use the same terminology as do Pakistan and separatists. He also demanded that a sedition case be registered against the person responsible for this gaffe. Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja said chief minister Nath expressed anger over the incident. On Naths orders, two officials were suspended, Saluja added. An MPBSE official said the paper setter and the moderator were suspended and disciplinary action would be taken against them. The questions in which the term Azad Kashmir figured were canceled and the social science paper would thus carry 90 instead of 100 marks, he added. As medical professional are apparently taking too long to find a cure to the highly contagious Covid-19 virus, a Nigerian pastor has decided to take matter into his own hands during a recent sermon he has vowed to travel to China to prophetically destroy the virus at the root of the epidemic. Pastor David Elijah of the Glorious Mount of Possibility Church in Lagos recently got a lot of attention on African social media, after a short clip of him preaching to his congregation and promising to travel to China and destroy the new type of coronavirus went viral. In the video, Elijah can be heard saying that he is going to Wuhan to deal with the coronavirus that has killed so many people and affected the business and travel plans of millions around the world. I am going to China to go and deal with coronavirus. I am going prophetically to destroy coronavirus, Prophet David Elijah told his followers. Where there is a prophet people cannot die. I cannot be a prophet in this world and China is dying. It is not possible! As the man of God makes his daring promise, people around him can be heard shouting Amen and raising their hands excitedly, but those commenting on social media were less impressed with the antics of the prophet. Some actually encouraged him to go, and not bother wearing a mask. A prophet of God from Nigeria has promised his followers that he will go to China and destroy coronavirus,that he can not sit and watch people die.David Elijah I like your bravery .in fact you need no mask,youve got this! Twitter user FELIX wrote. Bombastic statements are not uncommon among African pastors. In fact weve covered some pretty unbelievable stories involving such characters, such as the holy man who claimed to know Gods phone number, or the pastor who sold anointed pens that could allegedly help students pass exams. Some pastors go beyond statements, staging ridiculous stunts to convince followers that they are chosen by God. A stage 4 cancer patient could miss chemotherapy after becoming stranded on a cruise ship carrying at least 21 people infected with coronavirus. Kari Kolstoe, 60, is among the 3,500 people stuck on board the Grand Princess liner, floating 20 miles off the coast of California. The vessel was due to dock in San Francisco Saturday, before 19 crew members and 2 passengers tested positive for coronavirus and Governor Gavin Newsom blocked the boat from coming into port. 'It's very unsettling,' 60-year-old Kolstoe told Reuters in a cellphone interview from the inside of her cruise cabin. In addition to being unsure when she will make land, Kolstoe will face at least 14 days in quarantine. Her next round of chemotherapy is due to begin next week. The North Dakota native and her er husband, Paul, 61, had taken the Grand Princess cruise to Hawaii as a brief, badly needed respite from the grind of medical intervention she has endured for the past 18 months. Stage 4 cancer patient Kari Kolstoe, 60, is among the 3,500 people stuck on board the Grand Princess liner, floating 20 miles off the coast of California Relatives of the 3,500 people on board the vessel say that the decision not to let their loved ones off the ship 'is a death sentence'. The vessel has been floating off the coast of San Francisco since Wednesday Besides the implications for cancer treatment is the fear of falling ill from exposure to a respiratory virus especially dangerous to older people with chronic health conditions and suppressed immunity. 'I'm very at risk for this,' said Kolstoe, whose rare form of neuroendocrine cancer has spread throughout her body. 'Me staying on here for a lot of reasons isn't good.' The Grand Princess has been floating off the coast of San Francisco since Wednesday, and Kolstoe says the uncertainty of the situation is clearly taking its toll. 'We can all deal with bad news or whatever kind of news, but we need knowledge to make good decisions, and that's the hard part of this,' Kolstoe stated. 'I probably go ... from mad to sad to angry with the cruise ship' and 'worried about my health, worried about what it means to not get treatment soon.' Kolstoe, who copes with constant pain, even on her best days, also said she was finding it increasingly difficult to make herself comfortable in the confines of the couple's stateroom The Grand Princess has been floating off the coast of San Francisco since Wednesday, and Kolstoe says the uncertainty of the situation is clearly taking its toll She credited the ship's crew with 'doing their best,' but expressed dismay that passengers were not informed of the test results before Pence announced them on national television. The notice from the ship's captain came 20 minutes later, she said. Kolstoe, who copes with constant pain, even on her best days, also said she was finding it increasingly difficult to make herself comfortable in the confines of the couple's stateroom. 'We just got a sheet under the doorway if we need prescription medications in the next seven days,' she said. 'There's tons of issues. I mean, we all have dirty clothes Meanwhile, there are other vulnerable people on board the cruise liner - and relatives back on dry land are growing increasingly worried. On Saturday, the daughter of one 90-year-old passenger said her father's health is rapidly deteriorating as he remains stuck on the cruise liner. 'Keeping people on the ship is going to be a death sentence for many of the elderly passengers,' panic-stricken Lisa Egan told The Telegraph. Pictures shared from inside the ship Saturday show trays containing dirty dishes left outside the cabin doors of passengers. 19 of the 21 people on board the ship to test positive to coronavirus were crew members, and there are fears adequate cleaning services will cease to function 'He has to take several medications daily, and he's going to run out today [Saturday]. I'm sure that's true for many passengers'. John Miller, who is on board the Grand Princess, told ABC7 Saturday that news the Grand Princess was prohibited from docking in San Francisco was 'the worst possible' thing he could have heard. Overnight, the captin of the ship announced the Coast Guard was arriving to airlift a passenger who required 'medical assistance' to the mainland. A helicopter arrived shortly after, with the unidentified person flown to San Francisco for treatment, according to CNN. It's unclear whether the person was one of the 21 who tested positive for coronavirus. Overnight, caption of the ship announced the Coast Guard was arriving to airlift a passenger who required 'medical assistance' The Grand Princess moved closer to land overnight, and is now floating around 20 miles off the coast of San Francisco - but there are still no details as to where or when the ship will port. An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles says keeping passengers contained on the vessel will amplify the rate of infection. Pictures shared from inside the ship Saturday to KCRANews reporter Emily Maher show trays containing dirty dishes left outside cabin doors. 19 of the 21 people on board the ship to test positive to coronavirus are crew members, sparking fears that proper cooking and cleaning services are now at risk. The latest developments come from the cruise ship as: The total of US cases passes 300, with the first reports of deaths on the East coast in Florida Stanford University cancelled all in-person classes for the remainder of winter semester after a faculty member tested positive to coronavirus The NBA prepares its stars to play matches without fans in attendance Silicon Valley continues to close its doors as major tech hubs of California and Seattle increasingly become virus hotspots Apple told all 12,000 employees at its headquarters Apple Park to remain home Friday, following similar guidance from Facebook and Microsoft Amazon and Facebook both have employees with the disease in Seattle City officials in Austin announced that South by South West festival is cancelled after dozens of stars and companies dropped out Meanwhile, two other passengers on board the ship have revealed their fears after noticing they shared an elevator with another ill traveler. Neil and Victoria Hanlon told ITV: 'We passed a few people on the ship about a week ago who did look seriously ill, they had masks and stuff on. 'We were in the lift [elevator] with them which probably wasn't a good thing.' Passengers Neil and Victoria Hanlon are fearful after sharing an elevator with sickly passengers. They spoke to ITV from inside the ship Earlier on Friday, military helicopters delivered 46 coronavirus testing kits. 21 of the 46 people who took the tests tested positive to Covid-19 'They were going down to where the medical center was. We asked them if they were okay - their breathing was horrendous.' Mt Hanlon said one man had told them he had bronchitis, but added 'whether that was the truth, I don't know'. He added: 'We were told last night they are going to start testing some more people today but who they are, I don't know.' The couple, who hail from the UK, say they are 'fed up just sitting and lying around and getting no exercise'. They also claim they are 'in the dark' as to what was happening with the coronavirus testing and the itinerary of the ship. The Grand Princess cruise ship passes the Golden Gate Bridge as it arrives from Hawaii in San Francisco. The ship is now floating off the coast of the city with no details as to where or when it will be allowed to port The Hanlon's claims echo those of other horrified passengers who say they only learned that 19 crew members and two tourists had tested positive for coronavirus when Mike Pence announced the cases at his press conference on Friday. Friday's test results come amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of at least ten cases during its previous voyage. 'We apologize but we were not given advance notice of this announcement by the US federal government,' the ship's announcement broadcast stated. 'It would have been our preference to be the first to make this news available to you.' A distressed passenger, 17-year-old Kailee Higgins Ott, who is on the cruise with her mother, Leeann Higgins, told how they just happened to find out about the outbreak while watching CNN in their room. One angry passenger told how passengers only learned of the confirmed cases when Mike Pence announced the cases at his press conference She had told USA Today just hours earlier that they had been told to stay in their rooms while people were waiting for coronavirus test results 'We were just informed that after lunch time we need to stay in our rooms until we get the test results. The tests should be finished in about 4-6 hours and we will know results in the morning,' she said Thursday. One angry passenger blasted President Trump's comments that he would rather keep everyone on board the ship to make US numbers around the outbreak look better. 'He's more than welcome to come onto the ship with us and serve us our dinners and bring me my towels,' Debbie Loftus, an American quarantined on the cruise ship with her elderly parents. Vice President Mike Pence announced that 21 people tested positive for the coronavirus on borad the Grand Princess cruise ship docked off San Francisco - 19 crew and two passengers On Friday, President Trump claimed that he would prefer the passengers and crew to remain on the ship so they don't add to the rising American cases. 'I have great experts, including our vice president, who's working 24 hours a day on this stuff,' Trump told reporters. 'They would like to have the people come off, I'd rather have the people stay. But I'd go with them. I told them to make the final decision.' 'I like the numbers being where they are. 'I don't need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasn't our fault. And it wasn't the fault of the people on the ship either. 'I can live either way with it,' he continued. 'I'd rather have them stay on, personally. But I fully understand if they want to take them off. I gave them the authority to make the decision' The Grand Princess is currently 400 miles off San Francisco and heading for port having returned from Hawaii after 11 passengers and 10 crew reported symptoms of coronavirus. Tests for 21 people on board, including 19 crew and two passengers, have tested positive Loftus said she is worried about her parents, given the higher risk of the infection among older people. 'If they were to get sick then I'd be extremely concerned,' she said. The testing began after it was reported that a passenger on a previous voyage of the ship, in February, died of the disease. In the past few days, health authorities disclosed that at least nine other people who were on the same journey were also found to be infected. And some passengers on that trip stayed aboard for the current voyage. The only people tested were those who were showing symptoms or who had been on the previous trip. Three dozen passengers on the Grand Princess have had flu-like symptoms over the past two weeks or so, said Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of San Francisco's Department of Emergency Management. An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles said the recirculated air from a cruise ship's ventilation system, plus the close quarters and communal settings, make passengers vulnerable to infectious diseases. 'Theyre not designed as quarantine facilities, to put it mildly,' said Don Milton of the University of Maryland. 'Youre going to amplify the infection by keeping people on the boat. 'My advice is to get people off and into a safer quarantine environment than a cruise ship,' Milton said. One angry passenger blasted President Trump's comments that he would rather keep everyone on board the ship to make US numbers around the outbreak look better. 'He's more than welcome to come onto the ship with us and serve us our dinners and bring me my towels,' Debbie Loftus, an American quarantined on the cruise ship with her elderly parents A group of medical personnel with the 129th Rescue Wing, working alongside individuals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, don protective equipment after delivering virus testing kits to the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of Californi Paris: The coronavirus outbreak has hit a milestone, infecting more than 100,000 people worldwide as it gets woven deeper into the daily lives of millions. The virus, which has killed more than 3400 people and has now emerged in more than 90 countries, edged into more US states on Friday, picked up its spreading pace in the southern hemisphere and even breached the halls of the Vatican. It forced mosques in Iran and beyond to halt weekly Muslim prayers, blocked pilgrims from Jesus' birthplace in Bethlehem and upended Japan's plans for the Olympic torch parade. Chinese shopkeeper waits for customers at a local market in Beijing. Credit:Getty Images At the White House, President Donald Trump signed a $US8.3 billion ($10 billion) bill to fight it a day after Italy said it would double its own spending to $US8.5 billion. In Geneva, the UN health agency said it had received applications for 40 possible virus test methodologies, had 20 vaccine candidates in development and reported that numerous clinical trials of experimental drugs for the new coronavirus were under way. Riyadh: A big news of political turmoil has come out from Saudi Arabia. Saudi authorities have taken three members of the Qing royal palace into custody. According to the US media report, all three are accused of the attempted coup. News agency PTI quoted the Wall Street Journal as saying that Saudi authorities have taken King Salman's brother Rajkumar Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, his nephew Mohammed bin Nayef to custody in a charge of treason. Madhya Pradesh: Will the BJP be able to break the Congress MLAs? On Friday morning, royal guards posted in black veneers entered the royal family's palace and took them into their custody. The royal court of Saudi Arabia has accused both of these people of conspiring and overthrowing King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Wall Street Journal has said that one of the people who are accused of this charge is a claimant to the throne. According to the report, if these allegations are proved true, they could face life imprisonment or even death. US MP Tulsi Gabbard says, "leaders spreading 'Hinduphobia' in the country" In this regard, the New York Times has said that Prince Nayef, younger brother of Prince Nayef, has also been taken into custody. When media agencies from all over the world wanted to know the reaction of the Saudi authorities, they did not reply. Maharashtra: Mumbai Police did a shocking thing about illegal foreign nationals Madhya Pradesh Minister of Commercial Tax Brijendra Singh Rathore on Friday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is "scared" of the way Congress is working for the development of the State and hence is trying to topple the ruling dispensation. "They are afraid of the way we are working for the development of the state. They are trying to bring down our government but I say it with full confidence that we will complete our five-year term and will come to power again," said Rathore. "The whole country knows the way BJP is kidnapping and keeping MLAs in Bangaluru and other places. They are trying to bring down our government", he added. Recently, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had alleged that BJP leaders Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Narottam Mishra were offering bribes of Rs 25-35 crore to Congress MLAs in order to bring down the Congress government in the state. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala accused BJP of abducting 14 Madhya Pradesh MLAs to bring down the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh. He also demanded that an investigation should be done on who arranged the charter plane to fly four Congress MLAs to Bengaluru. In 2018 Assembly results, Congress, which won 114 seats in the 230-member Assembly formed the government with the support of four Independent MLAs and two BSP MLAs and a legislator from the Samajwadi Party (SP). The BJP had secured 109 seats in the state Assembly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Trump was rightly critical of the deal struck with Cuba during the Obama administration when he said the communist Cuban government got everything they wanted and the U.S. got nothing in exchange. He has thankfully been reversing some of those unilateral concessions. Let's apply his standard to the recently announced "peace deal" with the Taliban. Under terms of the agreement, as reported in The Washington Times, "The U.S. will free 5,000 Taliban prisoners and begin to remove sanctions on top Taliban leaders." What does the U.S. get in return? The agreement, reportedly, asserts that we start calling them the Islamic Emirate, even though the U.S. doesn't recognize it as a state. They have agreed to release "1,000 people from 'the other side' held by the militant group, all before March 10." Also in exchange for removing U.S. troops from Afghanistan, a goal long sought by the president, the Taliban has agreed to permanently cut all ties with terrorist groups, including al-Qaida and to never allow Afghanistan to again become the center for extremist organizations. How do they do that when they have been involved in terrorism some of it supported by the Iranian regime that has caused the deaths of many American troops? Dogs and horses will now work together with police after the two animal units merged in the New South Wales Police Force. The two groups officially joined together to become the NSW Police Force Dog and Mounted Command on Monday February 24. A series of adorable photos showed the animals meeting their new comrades in what police hope will be the best way to reduce crime in the community. The NSW Dog Unit and the Mounted Command have officially joined together Dog and Mounted Unit Commander, Superintendent Peter McErlain, said the combining of the two units was a monumental moment for the police force. 'Members of the community feel reassured and safe when our officers and their canine or equine partners are called upon and that will continue under this newly merged unit,' Supt McErlain said. 'Each of our officers, both handlers and riders, are equipped with a highly-specialised and impressive skill-set, making them an asset to any investigation or policing response.' The Mounted Unit was first formed in 1825 and is the longest running unit in the world. It includes 36 officers, nine grooms and 32 horses. The Mounted Unit was first formed in 1825 and is the longest running unit in the world Dogs and horses will now work together to reduce crime and reassure the community The Dog Unit was formed in 1932 and is the largest dog unit in Australia combining 100 police officers and more than 100 dogs The Dog Unit was formed in 1932 and is the largest dog unit in Australia combining 100 police officers and more than 100 dogs. Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, said the dogs and horses working together would be valuable in helping police respond to crime. 'The Dog and Mounted Unit will continue to showcase the effectiveness and professionalism we expect from these police resources,' Mr Elliott said. 'The unique partnership between officers and their working companions will remain a valuable policing tool to disrupt and respond to crime, as well as engaging with the community.' Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, said the dogs and horses working together would be valuable in helping police respond to crime In the event of a major incident, the Dog Unit and the Mounted Command were the first ones called The NSW Police force are seen posing with members from the Dog Unit and the Mounted Command Karen Webb, Police Transport and Public Safety Commander, Assistant Commissioner said in any major event the dog and horse unit were the first called. 'Whenever there is a major event, visitor or protest in New South Wales the dogs and horses are the first resource to be requested,' Assistant Commissioner Webb said. 'The demand for our four-legged enforcers continues to grow and in merging these two critical commands, our officers remain committed to developing the right animals for a policing role.' Members from the NSW Police Force will be able to use the dogs and horses together since the two units have merged NSW Police said the community responds well to seeing officers with animals Patron of the Dog and Mounted Command, Andrea Fuller, said the joint force of dogs and horses was the best way to protect the public. 'I am extremely proud both as a member of the community and as the Patron of the Dog and Mounted Command to see these officers patrolling the streets of New South Wales,' Mrs Fuller said. 'I have always felt a strong sense of admiration for these officers, whose partnership with their animals goes above and beyond the call of duty.' Trump: Taliban Could 'Possibly' Seize Power After U.S. Pullout By RFE/RL March 06, 2020 U.S. President Donald Trump says the Taliban could "possibly" overrun the Western-backed government in Kabul after the United States withdraws from Afghanistan. Trump was speaking to journalists at the White House on March 6, days after the United States signed a deal with the Taliban aimed at putting an end to the 18-year war in Afghanistan. Asked whether an eventual U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan might lead to the Taliban overrunning the sitting government, the president said it's "not supposed to happen that way but it possibly will." "Eventually, countries have to take care of themselves. We can't be there for another 20 years," Trump also said. The U.S.-Taliban agreement signed in Doha on February 29 would allow allied forces to leave the country within 14 months in return for various security commitments from the Taliban and a pledge to hold talks with the Afghan government -- which the militant group so far has refused to do. But Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has warned he was not committed to a key clause in the deal involving the release of up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners. The Taliban said it would not take part in intra-Afghan talks until that provision was met, and Pompeo urged both sides to move forward with prisoner releases. U.S. officials have voiced frustration with renewed violence in Afghanistan, saying the Afghan parties to the conflict need to take advantage of the peace deal. "Violence must be reduced immediately for the peace process to move forward," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters on March 5. "Do not squander this opportunity." Pompeo urged Afghans not to care only on "the narrow interest that you happen to represent." "What we have urged all the parties to do is stop posturing. It's time to move forward," he added. The United States plans to seek UN Security Council backing for the peace deal, according to the Associated Press. A U.S. draft resolution, seen by the news agency, would welcome the February 28 announcement of the agreement and would encourage "the sustained support" of the UN and international partners for the efforts toward peace in Afghanistan. With reporting by dpa, AP, Reuters, AFP, and RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-calls- taliban-warriors-chief-difficult-task- controlling-fighters/30471496.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A Ludlow man is being held in a Connecticut lockup on after he was arrested on a warrant secured by Ludlow police after an alleged shooting, a police official said. Ludlow Police Lt. Daniel Valadas said Robert Stallone, 62, was taken into custody by police in Ledyard, Connecticut, at about 5 p.m. Friday. He faces a long list of charges in Massachusetts, including assault with the intent to murder. Ludlow detectives secured an arrest warrant early Friday morning and that warrant showed up on the National Crime Information Center listing. A police officer in Ledyard recognized the license plate and the description of Stallone, and made a felony stop. This all worked as it is supposed to, Valadas said. This was the most positive outcome we could hope for. He didnt hurt anyone, none of those guys, the police officer or himself. Stallone was wanted after he allegedly shot at a man Thursday evening near a Center Street landscaping company. Valadas said it appears Stallone went to the business to hang out with a group of men he knows. However, when he arrived, he saw one person with whom he apparently had a dispute. Valadas said Stallone punched the man, and when the others pulled the two apart, Stallone went to his car and returned with a semi-automatic handgun. As he lined up a shot at the man, someone shoved Stallone and the shot went wild. The gunman allegedly tried to actuate the slide on the weapon to chamber a new round, but somehow ejected a live round, and at that he fled without firing any more shots. Stallone will be arraigned in a Connecticut court Monday on a charge of being a fugitive from justice. He will be returned to Ludlow perhaps as soon as Tuesday, Valadas said. Stallone could be arraigned in Palmer District Court at some time early next week. The gun barrel jabbed into Herve Jauberts face came with a strict instruction: Shut your eyes and keep them closed! It was the moment that the yacht skipper knew his secret 1,300-mile journey to outrun a tyrants grasp had ended. A few miles short of his destination, Jaubert heard the explosions of stun grenades as commandos swarmed over his boat. Minutes later, his precious human cargo, cowering in a bathroom below decks, was seized. Yet this was no drugs bust or anti-piracy operation, but a brutal demonstration of the incredible lengths that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and one of the worlds richest men, would go to, to crush his daughters dream of escaping her gilded cage. Princess Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum, is one of 30 children born to the Sheikh, a friend of the Queen. Now 34, Latifa staged her daring escape almost two years ago with the help of Mr Jaubert, a former French naval captain and one-time spy, using a hidden compartment in a car, a dinghy and jet-skis. Today, for the first time, he reveals the elaborate details of the operation, conceived over seven years and planned with military precision yet ending in failure in the Arabian Sea. The haunting last scream that Jaubert heard from Latifa as she was dragged away was: Shoot me here, dont send me home! The extraordinary revelations come after it emerged that a High Court judge had ruled that Al Maktoum ordered the kidnapping of Latifa in 2018, and of her elder sister, Shamsa from a Cambridge street in 2000. Pictured: For the first time, Herve Jauberts daring escape plan from the seas around the United Arab Emirates Pictured: Former French Naval Captain, and One-time spy, Herve Jaubert, after escaping from Dubai via dingy, following accusations from UAE authorities of fraud and embezzlement To the outside world, Latifa had everything money could buy, but in truth she was a prisoner after trying to escape in 2002. Mr Jaubert, 62, was at home in Florida in 2011 when he was first emailed by Latifa, who had read the colourful account of his own escape from Dubai a few years earlier after clashing with the Royal Family over a submarine project. Accused of embezzlement, he fled by disguising himself in a burka over scuba gear and then swimming out to a boat in the dead of night, before sailing to India. Initially suspicious that Latifas email was a ruse to lure him back to Dubai, Mr Jaubert was eventually persuaded that the desperate pleas were genuine. The pair began to communicate via Skype and SIM cards that the UAE government couldnt monitor. He decided to help after hearing of her first failed escape and the treatment meted out to Shamsa after her seizure in Britain. I couldnt comprehend how any father could abuse or torture his own children, says Mr Jaubert. He remains haunted by his failure to save Latifa, but is encouraged by the court judgment that he hopes will have ramifications not just in Dubai but throughout the Middle East. Once convinced that Latifa was genuine, the pair began to discuss options, and around a year before the break-out, he began training Latifa for the operation through a friend, the princesss Finnish skydiving pal and martial arts instructor, Tiina Jauhiainen. Pictured: The Nostromo US yacht which was illegally seized off the coast of India. In the uproar that followed, Mrs Robinson was accused by human rights groups of being a willing pawn in the PR battle between the United Arab Emirates ruling family and the world Mr Jaubert says: The first idea was to get Latifa out the same way as I had escaped, using scuba-diving equipment, but once she and Tiina began training in a pool, we realised that Latifa was having breathing difficulties under the water and we had to scrap it. Tiina told the High Court that Mr Jaubert was paid about 300,000 by Latifa. He says that was to cover his expenses, such as supplying an Audi Q7 SUV, specially modified in Oman to include a secret compartment in the boot. Mr Jaubert moored his US-flagged ketch, The Nostromo, off the coast of Oman and, after monitoring weather reports, he decided the escape would begin on February 24, 2018. Latifa and Tiina were dropped by the princesss driver at a cafe. After dumping their phones, they crossed into Oman, knowing alarm bells would ring when she missed her 10pm curfew. Selfies taken by Latifa after reaching Oman show her joy, but Tiina knew the audacious bid for freedom had only just begun. Once convinced that Latifa (left) was genuine, the pair began to discuss options, and around a year before the break-out, he began training Latifa for the operation through a friend, the princesss Finnish skydiving pal and martial arts instructor, Tiina Jauhiainen (right) From Oman, they faced a five-hour journey by dinghy to The Nostromo, but the weather worsened and halfway into the 27-mile trip Mr Jaubert and a colleague set off on jet-skis from the boat to meet the dinghy. With the women riding pillion, they were thrown about by 6ft waves as they travelled for two hours back to the yacht. For a week, they sailed towards India. As she relaxed, Latifa texted goodbye messages to her mother and close siblings using the yachts secure satellite system. But after five days, as The Nostromo headed towards Goa, Mr Jaubert became aware of the presence nearby of at least three Indian coastguard ships, a UAE navy frigate and two helicopters, but remained calm. Even if they boarded us, I thought Id be able to explain the situation and let them talk to Latifa and there would be no problem, he said. Nonetheless, he and Latifa contacted Radha Stirling, a lawyer and founder of the human rights group Detained In Dubai, and asked her to release a video that Latifa had secretly recorded about her and Shamsas plight should anything go wrong which it did at 11pm on March 4, when the commando units struck. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Queen Elizabeth II attend the Royal Windsor Endurance event on day 3 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor Great Park on May 16, 2014 in Windsor, England Deafened by the stun grenades and as the cabin filled with tear gas, Latifa and Tiina huddled together in a bathroom while the princess frantically texted Ms Stirling in Spain. In one message she wrote: Please help. Please please there are men outside. In court, Tiina said: Latifas last words I heard as she was dragged away kicking and screaming were, You cant get me back alive. Dont take me back. Shoot me here, dont take me back. Mr Jaubert and his crew were beaten while Latifa was taken by helicopter, then by private jet, to Dubai. Mr Jaubert was convinced he was going to die. I said to one of my captors Why dont you just shoot me now? but he told me I would die slowly under torture once we got back to Dubai. Instead, he was released after a week. Latifa was not so lucky, disappearing from public sight. She has been seen just once since the rescue attempt, for a 2018 photo opportunity with the former Irish president Mary Robinson labelled by campaigners as a PR stunt. A Nigerian lady who goes by the name Uju has taken to social media to recount how she became depressed after relocating to the U.S. in 2019. According to Uju, upon moving to the US, she battled with loneliness, depression, and racism after her settling in Los Angeles. Read Also: My Ex-Boyfriend Told Me No Man Can Marry Me Nigerian Lady Weds 1 Year After Separation She went on to state that the standard of living abroad is great but it is not the best of life for anyone. According to Uju, unlike Nigeria, everyone is just about how they would pay their bills in the U.S. Read her post below and share your thoughts with us; Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) New York, United States Sat, March 7, 2020 13:58 675 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2068fa48a 2 World #Donald-Trump,#Media,lawsuit,CNN,libel Free US President Donald Trump's re-election campaign sued CNN for libel on Friday, over an opinion piece that said the campaign had left open the possibility of seeking Russia's help in the 2020 election. The lawsuit filed in the US District Court in Atlanta was the campaign's third in 10 days accusing major media outlets of libel, following cases against The New York Times and the Washington Post. All three lawsuits focused on opinion pieces published in 2019 that, according to the campaign, suggested it has had improper ties with Russia. CNN had no immediate comment. A person familiar with the matter said CNN had yet to review the lawsuit. Trump has throughout his presidency battled news media he believes demonstrate bias against him. The Republican president often brands CNN, a unit of AT&T Inc as "fake news." Legal experts have said the libel lawsuits might be tough to win because the law affords broad protection to opinion writers who express their views about public officials like Trump. Friday's lawsuit objected to a statement in a June 13, 2019 opinion piece by Larry Noble, a CNN contributor and former general counsel of the Federal Election Commission. After referring to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 US election. Noble wrote: "The Trump campaign assessed the potential risks and benefits of again seeking Russia's help in 2020 and has decided to leave that option on the table." The campaign said it has "repeatedly and openly disclaimed any intention to seek Russian involvement in the 2020 election," and has never made statements suggesting otherwise. It also said CNN was "well aware" that Noble's statement was untrue when published, and the piece reflected its "systematic pattern of bias" against the campaign. The campaign used identical language in the Times and Post lawsuits. Noble's piece was titled "Soliciting dirt on your opponents from a foreign government is a crime. Mueller should have charged Trump campaign officials with it." Trump's battles with CNN have included the White House's brief revocation in November 2018 of correspondent Jim Acosta's credentials, after Acosta questioned him about Russia and about a migrant caravan traveling through Mexico. The campaign is represented by Charles Harder, who is also known for suing Gawker on behalf of Hulk Hogan, after the news website published a video of the former professional wrestler in a sexual encounter. Hogan won a $140 million judgment that bankrupted Gawker. He later settled for $31 million. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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The Community Blood Center is seeing a growing number of cancelled blood drives for the month of March and these cancellations pose a significant threat to the blood supply. The CDC says receiving blood donations is a critical component of emergency preparedness. "If we don't have it then, patients can suffer and we have to get that from else where," Cynthia Kerns, manager of Community Blood Center emphasized. "Businesses aren't wanting to bring people in." 75 percent of blood donations come from blood drives that are hosted by schools, organizations and businesses, but the coronavirus outbreak is stalling the supply. "It has started to affect the blood center and especially mobile drives," Kerns explained. "We had some cancellations of the mobile drives, which creates a shortage for us. We need about 580 units a day to meet the needs of our hospitals. we supply about 65 area hospitals in Kansas and Missouri, we need a constant supply of that." The CDC says it's important to know that donating blood is safe. "We take, use universal precaution here, we question all of our donors to ensure that they are healthy in well, no cold, no flu like symptoms, no viruses or that not eligible to donate," Kerns said."We regularly clean surfaces that the public touches. we screen all of our donors to ensure that their healthy and well. Most of, especially repeat donors know that you can not get the virus, the flu, coronavirus, whatever it is from donating." They say donors are able to donate with confidence knowing that it will not cause any infections. "What I'm doing is not the important part, it's the person who's going to get my donation, that's the most important in this and the existence of a virus doesn't make that need go away at all," a blood donor, Rebecca Henry said. Another blood donor, Joy Haney agreed, "a lot of people need platelets, makes a lot of difference. So, no I'm not worried about the outbreak." Congressman says its not the time to panic, but the time to be prepared. "The best thing we can do is wash our hands more often, avoid large, large, large groups of people, traveling," Rep. Roger Marshall, 1st District Congressman explained. "I think people need to think a little bit about their traveling, especially traveling overseas, but, going to get a flu shot, if you haven't had a flu shot this year, it would be more impactful than all the preventable majors that we can do right now." The Community Blood Center says you can't donate if you have been experiencing a cold, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms, but if you are healthy and well, they encourage you to roll up your sleeves and give. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today Clear skies. Low around 30F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes.. Tonight Clear skies. Low around 30F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Stronger winds in and below canyons and passes. Health officials confirmed new cases of coronavirus in new parts of the United States on Friday. Health officials continue to urge people to observe proper preventive measures amid the rising number of COVID-19 deaths in the US. Authorities confirmed the 14th coronavirus death in the US on Friday, as well as 310 cases of the disease across the country. More than 100,000 people have been infected with the new coronavirus worldwide. Seven residents have died from a long-term care facility in Washington. Families of the deceased are now calling for more transparency from the government after the center was declared a possible main source of the virus in the US. A family member of a patient in the facility said health officials were keeping details about what was happening inside the health care center. "If they called and said, 'We found 15 tests, we're going to use them,' we'd be like OK, great, but there's nothing. There is zero information," Conolly, a resident of Washington, said. New Cases Tonight we learned that an employee from @DanburyHospital and @NorwalkHospital who is a resident of #NewYorkState has tested positive for #coronavirus . I'm in #Danbury now meeting with health officials. We plan on holding a news briefing at 7:30PM to provide more details. Governor Ned Lamont (@GovNedLamont) March 6, 2020 Pennsylvania and Connecticut have both recently reported their state's first coronavirus case. Governor Ned Lamont also confirmed via his Twitter 2 new cases of the virus in New York. The patients were reportedly employees of Danbury Hospital and Norwalk Hospital. Both patients are now observing self-quarantine. The local government of Connecticut also advised more than 200 citizens to monitor themselves for signs of the virus. Two medical screeners employed at the Los Angeles International Airport were also reported positive for coronavirus. A traveler who recently came from Italy was also amongst the newest cases in Los Angeles. Vatican City also reported its first coronavirus case on Friday. Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Oklahoma also confirmed their first coronavirus cases Friday. Grand Princess Cruise Ship Vice President Mike Pence confirmed 21 new coronavirus cases on Friday. The patients involved people aboard the Grand Princess Cruise Ship. There are reportedly over 3,500 aboard. Authorities administered tests to the 46 people on the ship which has been anchored since Wednesday. Nineteen employees and two passengers tested positive. The new cases are part of the ship's second tour. A man from the Sacramento area, two Canadians, and two other passengers who boarded the ship's first tour were also confirmed to be infected after returning home. Pence said they are looking into having the ship dock this weekend where everyone will be tested and those infected will be quarantined. Non-Contact Delivery Postmates, a food delivery company, announced a "leave it at my door" option to customers amid the coronavirus outbreak. Instacart also offered the same option to its users. The company also reported a rise in demand for essential emergency food items such as powdered milk and canned goods. President Donald Trump signed a supplemental spending package worth $8.3 billion in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19. Approximately $3 billion of the funding will be allocated for further research on the virus and potential vaccine development, while prevention and response efforts will be given $2.2 billion. All states will receive $4 million. BIG RAPIDS In light of Tuesday's presidential primary election, area residents are looking forward to letting their voices be heard. Big Rapids resident Brooke Iltis said she's already voted for her party by utilizing an absentee ballot ahead of time. "It was convenient," she said. Voting when she can, Iltis encourages others to vote and state their opinions during Election Day. "If you want to make a difference in the world, you have to let your voice be known," Iltis said. Chair of Mecosta County Democrats John Ruggles is looking forward to another election, especially in his political party. "This is an exciting election for the Democrats," Ruggles said. "We've got an active campaign going on." While Iltis enjoyed the convenience of an absentee ballot, Ruggles looks forward to Election Day, driving to the polls and seeing neighbors at the polling precinct. "It's just wonderful," he said. "(Voting) is absolutely the bedrock of our government. Without voting, we don't have a First Amendment or a Second Amendment we don't have a Constitution. We're a country of people that believe in the Constitution and that requires us to vote for our leaders." Though Ruggles would like to have people get out and vote, he'd particularly like to see more young people at the polls. "I don't care what party you are or who your candidate is please vote," he said. Marquette resident Mia Vanlandschoot just turned 18 and will be voting for the first time Tuesday. "I think it's important to vote because with the age gap, there's a lot more older voters than younger voters, so a lot of the times the priorities can get mixed up when the older people are the majority of the voting," she said. "If things are going to change, we're obviously going to have to do stuff. Not doing anything is just going to make things worse." Vanlandschoot said she will be spending her Tuesday voting for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic Party primary. "A lot of it is because I work full-time in the summer and I've lived on my own since I was 16, and a lot of the time, everything is so expensive," she said. "There's just not a lot of options right now, especially with healthcare. "If we don't have a solution soon, I don't think any of us are going to be able to function as we continue to get older and things aren't changing the economy." As well as voting herself, Vanlandschoot is trying to get many of her friends to head to the polls and encourages those who are on the fence to do the same. "A lot of people say they don't see the reason because of the last election," she said. "Try to work within the system, even if it sucks try to vote." As Vanlandschoot prepares for her first election, Rogers Heights resident Isaiah Davison recalls his first presidential election in 2000. "I was a little nervous," he said. Nerves aside, Davison said he tries to vote whenever he can, voicing his own reasons for taking part in Election Day. "I am a firm believer and supporter of our rights as written by our Founding Fathers and will vote in support of them and against anything or anyone who seeks to take any of them away," Davison said. "It's our voice to speak on any and all issues; everything from minor things like traffic changes to who we want speaking for us from the Oval Office. Our country was founded on it and has been defended by every soldier who took the oath." As well as encourages others to vote, Davison advises voters to research the candidates and vote on the topics they personally agree with, and to not go by what others say. Chair of Mecosta County Republicans Sue Fournier urges residents to vote not just for themselves, but so politicians have an idea of what people may want in the future. "The politicians need to have an idea as to what people are thinking, and some of that is going to come from who they vote for," she said. "If someone doesn't vote, then they can't complain later that the result is not what they wanted. If you feel strongly about a ballot proposal or a certain candidate, then you really need to vote." Fournier said she plans to vote for President Donald Trump, so he can remain in office. "I just feel he's doing a really good job. He's not perfect, but nobody is," she said, noting that she likes what he's done with national security, as well as initiatives he's started in Michigan. While there are many people who know who they will be voting for Tuesday, Deford resident and Ferris student Adam Michalski plans to do a little more research before declaring his ideal candidate. "It's important to voice and do your research on the candidates and see what you align yourself with," he said. Planning to do just that, Michalski said he's unsure of who he'll be voting for yet, due to last-minute candidate drop outs. "It's hard to say from here to Tuesday what could happen," he said. However, when he picks his candidate, Michalski said he will be using an absentee ballot, as his permanent address is in Deford. When asked why he believes it's important to vote, Michalski said something he hopes all readers keep in mind Tuesday. "Everybody has a voice," he said. "A lot of times people say one voice doesn't matter, but if you get a million people saying that, it adds up." New Jersey officials may know as early as Sunday whether there are additional cases of COVID-19 in the state, as testing is in progress on four specimens, they said Saturday. So far, four cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in New Jersey three in Bergen County and one in Cherry Hill in Camden County. The four specimens undergoing testing are from patients from Bergen, Mercer and Union counties, state officials said in a conference call with media. This is a rapidly evolving situation, Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said, adding health officials are working to contact those who might have been around the confirmed patients since they became symptomatic to prevent further spread. How your lawmakers voted this week HOUSE Twenty-five other tests of New Jersey residents have come back as negative, officials said. Fifteen additional people are under investigation, which is to say they have exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 or a pneumonia of unknown cause, Persichilli said. Of those people, seven are from Bergen County, three are from Essex County, two are from Morris County, two are from Passaic County and one is from Camden County. Still hundreds of others have undergone or are undergoing various levels of monitoring, officials said. The RBIs draft plan for the rescue of beleaguered Yes Bank has not gone down well with the mutual fund industry, who are perpetual bondholders of the bank. Fund houses are unhappy with the write-down of bond value mentioned in the draft plan for rescuing Yes Bank and may approach the court for the recovery of their investments in bonds. We are not happy with RBIs decision, why should bondholders suffer? It is unfair. We will go to the court, said a chief of a fund house. According to the RBIs draft plan, The instruments qualifying as Additional Tier 1 capital, issued by Yes Bank Ltd under Basel III framework, shall stand written down permanently, in full, with effect from the appointed date. This is in conformity with the extant regulations issued by Reserve Bank of India based on the Basel framework. MFs are going to court as RBI has taken the decision without meeting MFs and fund houses are as much lenders to Yes Bank as account depositors. So, MFs want court to intervene in RBIs decision, said a fund official. Legal experts said MFs are obligated to take legal route to try and get some money back, because it's not MFs money, it's investors money handed over to MFs for investment. So, MFs going to court against RBI is safeguard when investors take MFs to court for capital loss. As per RBIs rescue plan, State Bank of India (SBI) will pick a 49 percent stake as part of as restructuring proposal. It had increased Yes Bank's authorised share capital, paving the way for infusion of cash by SBI, Indias largest lender. On March 5, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed a month-long moratorium on YES Bank. It has restricted the withdrawals that customers can make from their YES Bank accounts to Rs 50,000 until April 3, 2020. The moratorium comes after the Rana Kapoor-promoted bank failed to raise capital to address potential loan losses and in the wake of deteriorating financials of the bank. MFs BOND EXPOSURE As per data sourced from Morningstar India, in all, 11 fund houses had exposure worth Rs 2,819 crore via 30 schemes as on Jan 31, 2020. Almost all fund houses have side-pocketed their exposures to Yes Bank bonds in a bid to prevent the distressed assets from damaging the returns generated from more liquid and better-performing assets. The move comes following the downgrade of rating of debt instruments of Yes Bank Limited to D( Default Category) by ICRA on March 6, 2020. Creation of segregated portfolios is a mechanism to separate distressed, illiquid and hard-to-value assets from other more liquid assets in a portfolio. Side pocketing for segregating defaulted assets as a provision was allowed by SEBI, which has helped earlier in handling default or late payments in debt papers of ADAG, Essel Group, among others. By this method, the remaining value of MF scheme is safeguarded. Nippon Mutual Fund has the highest exposure worth Rs 1,806 crore in Yes Bank bonds. Franklin Templeton MF, UTI MF,PGIM MF are some of the other fund houses that have exposure to perpetual bonds of fifth largest private sector lender. With RBI appearing more concerned with administering money withdrawal facility for account holders in Yes Bank, the debt providers to Yes Bank, like mutual funds, are in a soup without any saviour, an MF expert told Moneycontrol. "Seems the investment alert that 'All MF investments are subject to market risk' needs to be read and understood literally by all classes of investors," the expert added. By PTI NEW DELHI: For the first time, entry will be free for all women visiting monuments under the ASI across the country on International Women's Day on Sunday, the culture ministry said. According to an order issued by the ministry, on March 8, no fee will be charged from women visitors at all the monuments under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The move comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he will hand over his social media accounts to women on Sunday. "In our country, women are worshipped from much before the International Women's Day was conceived. In our culture, women have the status of goddesses since ancient times. "This is a great initiative," Culture Minister Prahlad Patel said on Saturday. Earlier, the minister had announced the creation of baby-feeding rooms at all centrally-protected monuments. The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the bail granted by Karnataka High Court to 21 Popular Front of India (PFI) members accused in connection with violence that erupted during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Karnataka's Mangaluru in December 2019. On February 17, the High Court had granted bail to the accused on the bail petition filed by Mohammed Ashik. A bench consisting Chief Justice S A Bobde issued notice to the accused on Friday after taking cognisance of the plea filed by Karnataka government against the bail granted by the High Court. Appearing for the state government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta criticised the High Court's order stating that at least 56 policemen sustained injuries during the violent protests. Two persons identified as Jaleel (43) of Kudroli and Nousheen (49) of Bengre had died at a private hospital following the bullet injuries they sustained in an alleged police firing during a protest against CAA 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - Graman Quassi was a Ghanaian who discovered the Quassia Tonic that was used to heal Whites and slaves - He became a Surinamese healer, botanist, slave and a freedman of the 18th century - Graman Quassi was born in the Gold Coast, present-day Ghana Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Born Kwasimukamba in the Gold Coast, present-day Ghana, Graman Quassi was a Surinamese healer, botanist, slave and a freedman of the 18th century. He made history as the first person to discover the Quassia tonic and his name Quassia was given to a plant species quassie which means bitter wood. Graman Quasi was sold into slavery in Suriname as a child to a Dutch protectorate in South America. READ ALSO: Best friends who found out they are sisters after 17 years have kids with 2 brothers He was given the name Obeah after he was sold into slavery because he was skilled in medical and spiritual knowledge. Quassi used his medical and spiritual knowledge to heal the Europeans and the slaves as well and was paid for his services. Through that, he gradually became an influential person at the time. Quassi participated in the wars against the Samaraka maroons as a scout and negotiator for the Dutch as a slave in Suriname. For helping to defeat the maroon rebellion, Graman Quassi, was given a golden breastplate engraved with Quassi, faithful to the whites. He was later made the personal slave to the governor and subsequently given his own freedom via an act called manumission. However, the Surinamese considered Graman Quassi a traitor while the Dutch viewed him as a secret weapon to be used in defeating the maroon rebels. During their missions in the maroon communities, anthropologists in Saramanka heard oral tales about him as many considered him a traitor who gained knowledge from them and eventually helped the Europeans with it to defeat them. The maroon communities cut all ties with Quasi after their embarrassing defeat in the war with the Dutch. Quassi was the first botanist to scientifically describe the Quassia amara, a small tree with elongated, bright red flowers also known as amargo, bitter-ash or bitter-wood. Quassia amara is used as an insecticide, in traditional medicine and as an additive in the food industry. In other stories, YEN.om.gh previously reported that controversial Ghanaian lawyer Maurice Ampaw recently marked his sixteenth wedding anniversary and disclosed the challenging circumstances under which he got married. The popular lawyer got married to his childhood friend Evelyn after they dated for 15 years. His wife was the financial backbone of their family for two years after their marriage. Lawyer Ampaw and his wife had to wait for ten years before they were gifted with children. READ ALSO: Best friends who found out they are sisters after 17 years have kids with 2 brothers Faces of Ghana: Ghanas 1st Female Police Bemoans High Rate of Police Indiscipline | #Yencomgh Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh SAN FRANCISCO - Twenty-one people aboard a mammoth cruise ship off the California coast tested positive for the new coronavirus and 19 of them are crew members, Vice-President Mike Pence announced Friday, amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of more than 10 cases during its previous voyage. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/3/2020 (675 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. CORRECTS COAST GUARD TO NATIONAL GUARD-In this photo provided by Michele Smith, a cruise ship worker cleans a railing on the Grand Princess Thursday, March 5, 2020, off the California coast. Scrambling to keep the coronavirus at bay, officials ordered a cruise ship with about 3,500 people aboard to stay back from the California coast Thursday until passengers and crew can be tested, after a traveler from its previous voyage died of the disease and at least two others became infected. A National Guard helicopter lowered test kits onto the 951-foot (290-meter) Grand Princess by rope as the vessel lay at anchor off Northern California, and authorities said the results would be available on Friday. Princess Cruise Lines said fewer than 100 people aboard had been identified for testing. (Michele Smith via AP) SAN FRANCISCO - Twenty-one people aboard a mammoth cruise ship off the California coast tested positive for the new coronavirus and 19 of them are crew members, Vice-President Mike Pence announced Friday, amid evidence the vessel was the breeding ground for a deadly cluster of more than 10 cases during its previous voyage. He said federal officials were working with California authorities around-the-clock to bring the Grand Princess, with more than 3,500 on board, to a non-commercial port over the weekend and test everyone for the virus. There was no immediate word on where the vessel will dock. Those that will need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those who will require medical help will receive it, Pence said. The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus climbed to 16 after Florida health officials said late Friday night that two people who tested positive for the new coronavirus died in the state. The announcement was the first report of deaths on the East Coast. The number of infections swelled to over 200, scattered across about half the states. Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska reported their first cases. President Donald Trump, speaking earlier Friday at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said he would have preferred not to let the Grand Princess passengers disembark onto American soil but will defer to the recommendations of medical experts. A map showing the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in the United States is displayed as Vice President Mike Pence, at lower left, tours the Washington State Emergency Operations Center, Thursday, March 5, 2020 at Camp Murray in Washington state. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) I dont need to have the numbers double because of one ship that wasnt our fault, he said. And it wasnt the fault of the people on the ship either. Okay? It wasnt their fault either. And they are mostly Americans. California state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins said those aboard the Grand Princess should be brought ashore, We have to be better than just leaving all these people out at sea. There are Americans on board, families, seniors, and others all wanting nothing more than to be safe and to get treatment if they need it. With the proper precautions in place and following the protocols called for by science, we can protect the public health while preserving our basic humanity," Atkins said. Any attempt to use these passengers as pawns or scapegoats for political cover has to be rejected by anyone with a working moral compass. The ship was heading from Hawaii to San Francisco when it was ordered Wednesday to keep its distance from shore so 46 people with possible coronavirus symptoms could be tested. On Thursday, a military helicopter crew lowered test kits onto the 951-foot (290-meter) ship by rope and later flew them for analysis at a state lab. Health officials undertook the testing after reporting that a passenger on a previous voyage of the ship, in February, died of the disease. In the past few days, health authorities disclosed that at least 10 other people who were on the same journey also were found to be infected. And some passengers on that trip stayed aboard for the current voyage increasing crew members' exposure to the virus. We know the coronavirus manifested among the previous passengers ... we will be testing everyone on the ship, we will be quarantining as necessary," Pence said. We anticipate that they will be quarantined on the ship. They will not need to disembark." Dorothy Campbell walks with her son Charlie Campbell as her husband, Gene Campbell watches from the window of his room at the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Wash., Friday, March 6, 2020. Dorothy and her son came to visit Gene Friday as he is isolated in the facility that has been the epicenter of the outbreak of the the COVID-19 coronavirus. Charlie later told reporters that his father, who had not yet been tested, was showing symptoms of the virus and would be taken to a hospital. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Princess Cruises said the ship's doctor began informing passengers and crew of their results after confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another Princess ship, the Diamond Princess, was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, last month because of the virus, and ultimately about 700 of the 3,700 people aboard became infected in what experts pronounced a public-health failure, with the vessel essentially becoming a floating germ factory. On Wall Street, stocks swung wildly as fears mounted over the potential damage to the global economy from factory shutdowns, travel bans, quarantines and cancellations of events big and small a list that grew to include the world-famous South by Southwest arts festival in Austin, Texas, which was set to begin next week. Trump signed an $8.3 billion measure to help public health agencies deal with crisis and spur development of vaccines and treatments. Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 100,000 people and killed over 3,400, the vast majority of them in China. Most cases have been mild, and more than half of those infected have recovered. Most of the dead in the U.S. were from suburban Seattle's Life Care Center nursing home, now the subject of federal and state investigations that could lead to sanctions, including a possible takeover of its management. Washington state has the nation's biggest concentration of cases, with at least 70. Thirty medical professionals from the U.S. Public Health Service will arrive Saturday at the nursing home to help care for patients and provide relief to the exhausted staff, said Dow Constantine, executive in charge of Seattle's King County. Pat McCauley gathers groceries and other items left on her porch by her daughter, Cheri Chandler, right, at her home, Friday, March 6, 2020, in Kirkland, Wash. Pat and her husband Bob have been self-quarantined in their home during the past week due to having visited friends at the Life Care Center nursing home which has become the epicenter of the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Washington state several times in February. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) "We are grateful the cavalry is arriving. It will make rapid change in the conditions there," he said. The nursing home was down to 69 residents after 15 were taken to the hospital in the preceding 24 hours, Constantine said. Some major businesses in the Seattle area including Microsoft and Amazon, which together employ more than 100,000 people in the region have shut down operations or urged employees to work from home. The University of Washington called off classes at its three Seattle-area campuses for the next two weeks and will instead teach its 57,000 students online. And a comics convention next week in Seattle that was expected to draw about 100,000 people was cancelled. California emerged as the centre of the virus when a Sacramento-area man who sailed aboard the Grand Princess last month during a visit to a series of Mexican ports later succumbed to the virus. Others who were on that voyage also have tested positive in Northern California, Nevada, and Canada. Three dozen passengers on the Grand Princess have had flu-like symptoms over the past two weeks or so, said Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of San Francisco's Department of Emergency Management. An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles said the recirculated air from a cruise ships ventilation system, plus the close quarters and communal settings, make passengers and crew vulnerable to infectious diseases. Theyre not designed as quarantine facilities, to put it mildly, said Don Milton of the University of Maryland. Youre going to amplify the infection by keeping people on the boat. He said the fallout from the ship quarantined in Japan demonstrates the urgent need to move people off the ship and into a safer quarantine environment." Steven Smith and his wife, Michele, of Paradise, California, said they are a bit worried but feel safe in their room aboard the ship. Whats given us hope is that the system that is in place, our government, the CDC, we feel is doing a remarkable job, Steven Smith said. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. ___ Associated Press writers Janie Har and Daisy Nguyen in San Francisco; Gene Johnson, Martha Bellisle and Carla K. Johnson in Seattle; Rachel La Corte in Olympia, Washington; and AP researcher Monika Mathur in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak The festival of Purim is celebrated every year in the Jewish faith on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. It begins this year after sundown on Monday, March 9, and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, March 10. The March 10 Purim celebration in Midland, featuring the Megillah Reading, will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Temple Beth El, 2505 Bay City Road. Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that he would hand over his social media accounts to women with inspirational stories, the government took to Twitter to honour many women from various fields of work with the trend '#SheInspiresUs'. One of these women is 8-year-old Indian climate activist Licypriya Kangujam from Manipur who has become the face of climate change activism here. However, Licypriya seemed to be unhappy with the honour and decided to turn it down after "a lot of thoughts". Although she felt pretty proud of herself on receiving the honour, the news also "saddened her." "This made me ask myself hundreds of questions, whether I should accept such recognition or honour or should I keep pressing for my demands," said Licy to News18 adding that she turned down the honour because over the years none of her demands have been considered despite consistent protests in front of the Parliament and many other places across the country. Despite all her attempts to move the government on climate change policies, there hasn't been "a single instance" when she was invited for a discussion by any official. "I believe my rejection will draw the attention of the government to meet my demands, because our leaders and politicians hardly consider climate change as a serious issue." Earlier, Licy had taken to Twitter to say, "Dear Modi ji, please dont celebrate me if you are not going to listen my voice. Thank you for selecting me amongst the inspiring women of the country under your initiative #SheInspiresUs. After thinking many times, I decided to turns down this honour (sic)." Dear @narendramodi Ji,Please dont celebrate me if you are not going to listen my voice. Thank you for selecting me amongst the inspiring women of the country under your initiative #SheInspiresUs. After thinking many times, I decided to turns down this honour. Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/pjgi0TUdWa Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 6, 2020 In another tweet she said, "Government doesnt listen to my voice and today they selected me as one of the inspiring woman of the country. Is it fair?" Government dont listen to my voice and today they selected me as one of the inspiring woman of the country. Is it fair? I found that they selected me amongst the few inspiring women from 3.2 billion people under the initiative of Prime Minister @narendramodi ji #SheInspiresUs. https://t.co/N6Vmahm2PM Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) March 5, 2020 The 8-year-old said she will not accept "this honour" until the government takes a note of her demands and protests. As the voices against the issue are growing louder day by day, young Licy urges the government to implement stringent climate laws that will help in regulating the carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases and may "bring transparency and accountability". She also believes that the inclusion of climate change as a compulsory subject in the education curriculum will help to look at the matter from a very grassroot level. On March 5, the government had taken to the social media to say, "@Licypriya is a child environmental activist from Manipur. In 2019, she was awarded a Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award, a World Children Peace Prize, and an India Peace Prize. Isn't she inspiring? Do you know someone like her? Tell us, using #SheInspiresUs." @LicypriyaK is an child environmental activist from Manipur. In 2019, she was awarded a Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award, a World Children Peace Prize, and an India Peace Prize. Isn't she inspiring? Do you know someone like her? Tell us, using #SheInspiresUs . pic.twitter.com/bJLEDIwfpH MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) March 5, 2020 Speaking to News18, she said that the '#SheIsnpiresUs' might be a good initiative by the government to encourage and empower women commemorating the International Women's day on March 8, but considering the present rate of crimes against women and children, "this initiative does little good" to anyone. Israeli researchers have developed an innovative method to bolster memory in the brain during sleep, which could help treat brain injuries, the Tel Aviv University (TAU) reported on Thursday. The new method could help restore memory capabilities following brain injuries or help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) victims. The method was developed in a study conducted by TAU and the Weizmann Institute of Science, both located in central Israel, and published in the journal Current Biology. It relies on a memory-evoking scent administered to one nostril, addressed to only one half of the brain. The team focused on the memory consolidation process that takes place in the brain during sleep. With "one-sided" odor delivery to experimental subjects' single nostril, the researchers reactivated and boosted specific memories stored in a specific brain side. It was found that the subjects' memory was significantly better for the words presented to them on the side affected by the smell than another side. This finding emphasizes that the memory consolidation process can be amplified by external cues such as scents, so memories can be manipulated on one side of the brain. The new method may help post-traumatic patients who show higher activity in the right side of the brain when recalling a trauma, possibly related to its emotional content. This technique could potentially influence this aspect of memory during sleep and reduce the emotional stress that accompanies the traumatic memory. Additionally, this method could be further developed to assist in rehabilitation therapy for a patient with one-sided brain damage due to a stroke. By Trend The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will finance construction and reconstruction of roads in Khorezm region of Uzbekistan, Trend reports with the reference to press service of the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan. The corresponding agreement was signed during the visit of Uzbek Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov to London for participation in the meeting of the bank's Board of Directors. The minister held a number of meetings with the EBRD top management including President Suma Chakrabarti, First Vice President Jurgen Rigterink, Vice President Alan Pillow, Secretary General Enzo Quattrociocche, Member of the Board of Directors Remigi Winzap, and Director for Central Asia Andre Kuusvek. At the meetings, issues of the cooperation and prospects for the near future were discussed in detail. "The ceremony of signing an agreement on providing long-term financing to the Republic of Uzbekistan for construction and reconstruction of public highways of state importance in Khorezm region took place following the meetings," the ministry's press service said without specifying the details of the agreement. Speaking at the meeting of EBRD's Board of Directors, Umurzakov told about Uzbekistan's position on the key issues of the bank's strategic development in the medium term. "In this context, the need to radically improve the effectiveness of cooperation between Uzbekistan and EBRD and increase the volume of new economically and socially significant projects in priority sectors was emphasized," the report said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Kerala will shortly begin culling chicken and domestic animals in two villages in Kozhikkode district following the detection of bird flu, a senior official of the state animal husbandry department said Saturday. The bird flu scare comes barely a month after Kerala reported Indias first three cases of coronavirus and successfully overcame that challenge with all three recovering even as the rest of the country has reported over 30 positive cases of infections. State Forest and Animal Husbandry Minister K Raju chaired a meeting at the state capital on Saturday to review and co-ordinate steps against bird flu. Doubts began to rise two days ago when chickens started dying in two farms in Kodiyathur and Vengaeri villages prompting authorities to send samples to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal which confirmed the presence of Avian Flu, the official said. A high-level team from state capital has left for the affected areas. There is nothing to panic. We are monitoring the situation. Inspections will be carried out in all animal farms, said minister K Raju. This is the first case of bird flu in the state after the outbreak in 2016 in Alappuzha. Thousands of ducks were then culled to control the outbreak and farmers were compensated properly. Avian flu is a variety of influenza caused by virus in birds. It can spread to humans and can trigger person to person transmission, experts say. There are many varieties of viruses and H7N9 is considered dangerous among them, they say. I know todays younger generation millennials dont often read the newspaper. So, Ill ask you, if you know any millennials, to sit them down and read this piece to them. If they just wont sit still long enough to listen, at least give them a copy. Person 1: Im bored with my job. I got too much free time. Person 2: Whatcha complaining about? Play games on your phone, text a friend or just take a nap. Wish I had your job. A job is a contract an agreement between employee and employer. The employee agrees to perform certain tasks stuff envelopes, flip hamburgers, bag groceries or whatever and the employer agrees to pay him or her a certain amount of money for doing it. The agreement can end any time if either party becomes unhappy with the arrangement. If youre bored with your job because you have a lot of free time, the employer may decide they dont need you any more. If youre spending time texting your friends, playing computer games or napping, thats not what youre being paid to do, so expect to be given the boot. Well, what then does it take to be a good employee and hold on to a job? There are a lot of possible answers to this question. But, as a former human resources manager, I would suggest three important elements: initiative, indispensability and integrity. If you have down time on the job, look for extra things to do. Let your boss know. Offer to help a co-worker. Dont use the excuse Its not my job. Initiative gives you the chance to learn other skills and build positive relationships. Become indispensable. Let the boss know you can be counted upon to fill in for someone who may be out sick, calm down a customer who is upset or fix a problem no one else can fix. If you make yourself indispensable, your boss will pick someone else to let go first if he or she has to downsize. The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles is how the dictionary defines integrity. Are you cheating your employer by goofing off and wasting time, doing sloppy work or using company materials for personal use? I can assure you, the higher you aspire to climb in an organization, the more important and valuable will become the quality of integrity. It is a fragile commodity. Once it is lost, it is very hard to restore. Let me wrap up this little lecture to the millennials by sharing a story called Whose Job Is It Anyway? Its a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybodys job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldnt do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done. The story may be a bit confusing but the message is clear: No one took responsibility, so nothing was accomplished. This is true whether we are talking about big problems like climate change or small ones like taking out the trash. We all have jobs we can do, should do and need to do. And thats how I see it. Larry Johnson is an author and inspirational/motivational speaker. He is available for luncheons, small group programs or conferences. Contact him by email at larjo1@prodigy.net. Commuters aboard the Private Joseph Merrell wait to dock in 1972. (Staten Island Advance) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Perhaps the most iconic symbol of Staten Island is the big orange boat -- the Staten Island Ferry -- which provides 22 million passengers a year, or 70,000 folks a day, not counting weekends, quick and free transportation between Staten Island and Manhattan. Long before bridges were built, the ferry transported people between the two islands and remains the only non-vehicular route between the St. George ferry terminal and Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan. The nine-boat fleet is operated by the city Department of Transportation to ensure the smooth operation that affords commuters and tourists with spectacular views of Lady Liberty, Ellis Island and the Manhattan skyline. Scroll below for vintage scenes of the Staten Island Ferry. Send yours to gsantos@siadvance.com. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos Staten Island Ferry Capt. Robert Gulbrandsen in 1971. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos A 1949 aerial view of the ferry terminal construction. Don't Edit A 1972 photo depicts John Walsh posting a new sign at the St. George ferry terminal about the new fare policy. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos In 1965, Staten Island Ferry passengers wait to board at the South Ferry terminal. Don't Edit Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos Ferry customer gets a professional shoe shine aboard the Staten Island Ferry in 1970. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos Rush-hour crowds check into the South Ferry terminal in 1965. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos In 1980, cars were allowed on the Staten Island Ferry. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos Robert Weru tries to fly a kite on the ferry in 1969, and is told by two marine detectives to stop, as it interferes with navigation. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos Commuters walk through the sliding doors at the St. George ferry terminal in 1969. Don't Edit Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos A 1982 scene of the New York City skyline, as seen from the Staten Island Ferry. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos A bootblack waits for customers at the ferry terminal in 1970. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos At the St. George ferry terminal in 1968, commuters head down the steps to Staten Island Rapid Transit trains. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos Staten Island Ferry commuters grab a bite to eat at the terminal food counters. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos Scene of the St. George ferry terminal in 1971. Don't Edit Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos At the St. George ferry terminal in 1969, commuters en route to the Staten Island Rapid Transit. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos The Archbishop John J. O'Connor smiles and waves at schoolchildren as he is escorted from the ferry terminal by members of the Knights of Columbus in 1984. Don't Edit Staten Island Advance Photos This 1990 Staten Island Ferry Terminal sign at Whitehall has since been updated. At-large Councilman Moisse Delgado said all too often, landlords and operators of subsidized and low-income housing act as though residents are less than, because of the assistance they receive. Dunston and Delgado said they will continue to hold meetings and put pressure on those responsible until conditions improve. We are hoping for remedies, Delgado said at one of the public meetings. We dont want anyone to be displaced. But fear of retribution stops many residents from being vocal or filing complaints. CRDA approves Atlantic City rooming house plan, first project ATLANTIC CITY The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority adopted its vacant rooming hou A lot of people are scared, so they dont come forward, said one woman, whom The Press of Atlantic City chose not to identify, at a housing meeting Thursday night at the All Wars Memorial Building. WHO chief says COVID-19 not pandemic despite very concerning signs People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:28, March 06, 2020 GENEVA, March 5 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 is not a pandemic for now although there are very concerning signs, the chief of World Health Organization (WHO) said here on Thursday, expressing his deep concern about the spread of the coronavirus into an increasing number of countries with weaker health systems over the past few days. "Although the situation could be worse than what we are now and it could be a pandemic level, there are countries within this situation which have shown that it (COVID-19) can be contained," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a daily briefing, underlying "we should not give up until the last attempt". As of Thursday morning, 95,265 cases of COVID-19 have been reported globally, including 3,281 deaths, according to WHO. Tedros insisted that pandemic can only be declared based on evidence, which is not there yet. He praised those countries which have been fighting hard against the epidemic, noting positive signals and experience regarding the virus have already emerged. Moreover, Tedros called for a comprehensive approach, stressing the political commitment and intervention should be triggered in all countries for COVID-19 containment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Each Democrat running for president in 2020 wants to expand health insurance coverage to all Americans, but candidates present two clashing visions for how to make that happen. Michigan Democratic voters reported in a recent poll by Glengariff Group that beating President Donald Trump is the most important issue of the election, with improving health care a close second. The top of the Democratic primary field is split between former vice president Joe Biden, who advocates building on the existing health care system, and U.S. Reps. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who seeks reforms to put the federal government solely in charge of providing health insurance. Pledges to protect the Affordable Care Act and make health care more affordable were a major focus of Michigan Democrats who won congressional elections in 2018, two years after Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Michigan in a generation. This time, presidential candidates are more focused on whether the health care system should be overhauled and who should take responsibility for providing insurance to Americans. Michigans primary will be held on March 10. Candidates and surrogates are scheduling visits to meet with voters and make their final appeals. Ryan Bartholomew, a healthcare policy analyst at the Center for Health and Research Transformation in Michigan, said both sides of the debate working to ensure all Americans are insured and have some level of health coverage. Even with the ACA being passed, there are millions of people who remain uninsured, he said. According to the U.S. Census, 535,000 Michigan residents did not have health care insurance in 2018, roughly 5.4% of Michigan residents. The number of uninsured people in the state dropped by more than half since the ACA was conceived in 2010. The cost of prescription drug costs is a major concern for Democrats. All candidates support allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies, which is expected to drive down the price of prescription drugs. What does Joe Biden propose? Bidens plan aims to preserve the legacy of President Barack Obama by building on the ACA. He proposes giving people the option to purchase a government-run health insurance plan, which the campaign expects to provide insurance to 97% of Americans. Bidens public option would help people who do not have private coverage but is also available for others who dont like the insurance plan offered by their employer. Biden would also expand federal subsidies to provide low-income Americans free coverage. The largest benefit is if you are a fan of the private health insurance marketplace if you like the plan that you have, the public option doesnt impact you in any way, Bartholomew said. It would be just an option that other people would be able to purchase and you would still be able to keep your current plan if thats something that you like. The ACA gave states the opportunity to expand eligibility for Medicaid, which provides health coverage to people with limited resources. There are nearly 654,200 Michigan residents enrolled in the Healthy Michigan Plan, Michigans Medicaid expansion. Low-income people who live in states that didnt opt-into expanding eligibility for Medicaid would be automatically enrolled in Bidens public option. Bidens campaign says his plan will cost $750 billion during the next 10 years. Hes proposed footing the bill through a combination of rolling back several Trump administration tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans. What does Sanders propose? Sanders is championing Medicare for All, a sweeping plan to replace the current health insurance system with universal coverage for all U.S. citizens. His plan would end the private health insurance market and replace it with insurance provided by the government. It would put the federal government in charge of financing, while the delivery of health care would remain with private hospitals. Most Michiganders, 67% according to U.S. Census data, received private health insurance through their employer from 2014-18. All of those people would be transitioned to a government-run insurance plan under Medicare for All. Sanders, who has sponsored Medicare for All legislation several times in Congress, argues for a swift path to government-run health insurance. The bill Sanders introduced in 2019 was co-sponsored by Warren and several other Democrats who ran for president. Though Medicare for All shares a name with the national health insurance program available to people age 65 or older, Bartholomew said the new system would be fundamentally different from the Medicare that exists today. Under Medicare for All, coverage would be expanded to include dental, hearing, vision, mental health and substance abuse treatment, reproductive and maternity care, prescription drugs, long-term care and more. The benefits are very, very generous under Senator Sanders plan and they go further than the base Medicare does, Bartholomew said. Sanders said Americans will receive all of that without having to pay premiums, deductibles or copays. People on Medicare for All would not pay for health care at all, except prescription drugs, which would be capped at $200 per year. Sanders acknowledged that his version of Medicare for all will cost an estimated $30 trillion over the next decade during a recent debate. Other estimates by economists put the price tag even higher. Bartholomew said Sanders plan would be largely financed by new taxes, but its not clear exactly how it all adds up. Sanders released a fact sheet with some options, including a tax on families earning more than $29,000 per year, a 7.5 percent payroll tax on employers and raising taxes on corporations and people making more than $10 million. Sanders has argued the new taxes would be offset by the savings people would experience under Medicare for All. In terms of how much it would save, versus how much it would cost, I think its kind of unclear at this moment, Bartholomew said. Devotees of Lord Jagannath and priests at the centuries-old temple in Puri are worried following Reserve Bank of India restrictions on Yes Bank where Rs 545 crore is deposited in the deity's name. The RBI has capped withdrawals from Yes Bank at Rs 50,000 for the next one month and imposed strict limits on operations after the cash-starved lender faced 'regular outflow of liquidity' following an effort to raise new capital failed. The RBI restrictions on Yes Bank have caused panic among the devotees, said senior 'Daitapati' (servitor) Binayak Dasmohaopatra. "We demand a thorough probe and action against the persons responsible for depositing such a huge amount in a private bank for a little more interest," he said. "It is illegal as well as unethical to deposit the lord's funds in a private bank. Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) and the Temple's Managing Committee should be held responsible for the uncertainty," said Jagannath Sena convenor Priyadarshi Patnaik. He said a complaint was filed at a police station in Puri demanding probe over depositing the money in a private bank, but no action was taken. Allaying concerns, Law Minister Pratap Jena said the money is with the bank as fixed deposits and not in a savings account. "The government has already decided to transfer the funds from Yes Bank to a nationalised bank after tenures of the fixed deposits end this month," he said. Asked whether the government has taken up the matter with the RBI, the minister said, "I have not talked to the bank authorities so far. I am sure, we will be able to transfer the money from Yes Bank without any problem." Former law minister and ex-Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty said it was not proper to keep the money with a private bank for more interest. "The SJTA should immediately take up the matter with the RBI and ensure that the money is safe," Mohanty said. The law minister last month told the assembly that of the lord's total Rs 626.44 crore, Rs 592 crore was kept in Yes Bank. While Rs 545 crore was in the bank as fixed deposits, the remaining Rs 47 crore was in a flexi account. The money kept in the flexi account has been withdrawn and the remaining Rs 545 crore will be transferred to a nationalised bank in two phases after their maturities on March 16 and March 29, the minister had said. Congress MLA Suresh Routray sought a clarification from the state government as to why it allowed the SJTA to deposit the lord's money in a private bank. "We will not tolerate improper utilisation of Lord Jagannath's money. The Congress will launch a statewide agitation demanding early recovery of the funds," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party said the state government must take immediate steps to recover the money. "Nobody including the government and the SJTA has rights to meddle with the lord's funds," said BJP leader Bhrugu Buxipatra. SAN FRANCISCO A cruise ship hit by the new coronavirus is headed to the port of Oakland, California, the captain told passengers, though they were destined to stay aboard the ship for at least another day. Grand Princess Capt. John Smith, in a recording provided by passenger Laurie Miller of San Jose, told guests the ship will dock in Oakland. Princess Cruises says its expected to arrive on Monday. The ship is carrying more than 3,500 people from 54 countries. An agreement has been reached to bring our ship into the port of Oakland, he told passengers Saturday night. After docking, we will then begin a disembarkation process specified by federal authorities that will take several days. Smith said passengers who need medical treatment or hospitalization will go to health care facilities in California, while state residents who dont require acute medical care will go to a federally operated isolation facility within California for testing and isolation. U.S. guests from other states will be transported by the federal government to facilities in other states. Crew members will be quarantined and treated aboard the ship. Smith said the information he was given did not include any details about what would happen to passengers from other countries. We are working to obtain more details overnight. Im sorry I cant provide you more details right now, he said. The Grand Princess had been forbidden to dock in San Francisco amid evidence that the vessel was the breeding ground for a cluster of nearly 20 cases that resulted in at least one death after a previous voyage. Meanwhile, the U.S. death toll from the virus climbed to 19, with all but three victims in Washington state. The number of infections swelled to more than 400, scattered across the U.S., as passengers aboard the ship holed up in their rooms. Steven Smith and his wife, Michele, of Paradise, California, went on the cruise to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The Smiths said they were a bit worried but felt safe in their room, which they had left just once since Thursday to video chat with their children. Crew members wearing masks and gloves delivered trays with their food in covered plates, delivered outside their door. Theyve occupied themselves by watching TV, reading and looking out the window. Thank God, we have a window! Steven Smith said. The ship was heading from Hawaii to San Francisco when it was held off the California coast Wednesday so people with symptoms could be tested for the virus. Cruise officials on Saturday disclosed more information about how they think the outbreak occurred. Grant Tarling, chief medical officer for Carnival Corporation, said its believed a 71-year-old Northern California man who later died of the virus was probably sick when he boarded the ship for a Feb. 11 cruise to Mexico. The passenger visited the medical center the day before disembarking with symptoms of respiratory illness, he said. Others in several states and Canada who were on that voyage also have tested positive. The passenger likely infected his dining room server, who also tested positive for the virus, Tarling said, as did two people traveling with the man. Two passengers now on the ship who have the virus were not on the previous cruise, he said. Some passengers who had been on the Mexico trip stayed aboard for the current voyage increasing crew members exposure to the virus. Another Princess ship, the Diamond Princess, was quarantined for two weeks in Yokohama, Japan, last month because of the virus. Ultimately, about 700 of the 3,700 people aboard became infected in what experts pronounced a public-health failure, with the vessel essentially becoming a floating germ factory. Hundreds of Americans aboard that ship were flown to military bases in California and other states for two-week quarantines. Some later were hospitalized with symptoms. An epidemiologist who studies the spread of virus particles said the recirculated air from a cruise ships ventilation system, plus the close quarters and communal settings, make passengers and crew vulnerable to infectious diseases. Theyre not designed as quarantine facilities, to put it mildly, said Don Milton of the University of Maryland. Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 100,000 people and killed more than 3,400, the vast majority of them in China. Most cases have been mild, and more than half of those infected have recovered. ___ Associated Press writers Olga R. Rodriguez and Juliet Williams in San Francisco; Gene Johnson, Martha Bellisle and Carla K. Johnson in Seattle; Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami; Rachel La Corte in Olympia, Washington; and AP researcher Monika Mathur in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Airbus bribe: Judge asks CID why they delayed action against Kapila and wife By Ranjith Padmasiri View(s): View(s): Criminal Investigation Department officials remained silent when Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake asked them to explain why they delayed action against those who obtained huge bribes in a transaction that involved public finance. The magistrates query came while he ordered the release of SriLankan Airlines former Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena and his wife Priyanka Niyomali Wijenayake on a cash bail of Rs. 2 million and two sureties of Rs. 20 million each. The charges against them relate to SriLankan Airlines purchase of 10 Airbus aircraft in 2013. Appearing for Mr. Chandrasena and his wife, lawyers Nalin Ladduwahetty, PC, and Anuja Premaratne pleaded that their clients be granted bail as they would have no influence over the investigations. The magistrate imposed a travel ban on the suspects and ordered that they should appear at the CID office between 9 a.m. and noon on the last Sunday of every month. The suspects were told that they should be available to give statements to court when asked to do so. The CID had earlier arrested the couple after the Fort Magistrate issued arrest warrants on them. They were in remand prison for 28 days. Investigations have revealed that Airbus had transferred US$ 2mn part of the US$ 16.84 mn bribe to a Singapore bank account maintained by a company belonging to Ms. Wijenayake. Chunks of this money were later remitted to a different Singapore bank account held by businessman Nimal Perera. Deputy Solicitor General Thusith Mudalige told court that both Ms. Wijenayake and Mr. Perera had said they were unaware of the money that had been deposited in their bank accounts. When DSG Mudalige told court that Mr. Perera had sought permission to travel to Singapore to check on the amount received to the account, the magistrate asked him would there be anyone who would not know that US$ 800,000 had been remitted to his or her bank account. DSG Mudalige informed the magistrate that money had also been remitted to a few other accounts here. Referring to a transfer of 160,000 euros to an account belonging to a Sri Lankan agro company, he told court that 27-year-old Yohan Abeyratne who had withdrawn the money from the Agro Company using two cheques had died of a heart attack. The magistrate ordered the CID to report the progress of the investigation when the case is taken up on April 27. A Chinese porcelain gourd which once belonged to the 18th century Chinese Emperor Qianlong sold for 4.1 million euros ($4.6 million) at auction on Saturday. The cobalt blue and white gourd, which represents an imperial dragon with five claws in search of the sacred pearl, went to a Chinese buyer by telephone. Auctioneer Olivier Clair, who found the object while executing a will in a Parisian apartment, told AFP that with fees, the sale amounted to more than 4.9 million euros. "There have been a number, but it remains very rare," he said. "The gourd was intended for Chinese pilgrims. Little by little, it has become a decorative symbol like a coronation sword. It is an object that interests the Chinese because it is their heritage." The gourd was possibly looted, along with many other objects, during the sack of the Summer Palace by a Franco-English expeditionary force in 1860 but Clair said its path to Europe was unclear. "We do not know how the object arrived in France, we only know its history for three generations. "It belonged to an old family of the paper industry which had links with the political sphere of the 19th century, no doubt relatives of Mac Mahon and Napoleon III." Imperial items from the Qianlong reign (1735-1796) are particularly sought after. A pink family porcelain bowl sold for $30.4 million in April 2018 at Sotheby's in Hong Kong. In June 2018 a Chinese porcelain vase created for Qianlong reached 16.2 million euros at Sotheby's in Paris and a gourd of the same era fetched 5.1 million euros at a sale near Tours. Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan a while ago reportedly managed to prevent the suicide attempt of a citizen trying to jump from the Yerevan Bridge, Newmedia.am reported. Returning from a trip to the provinces, the PM noticed people gathered and the person who tried to jump off from the bridge. Pashinyan stopped the car, went to a citizen and talked with him. Police officers, the emergency ministrys employees, and ambulances were at the scene. The PM managed to persuade the citizen to abandon this step and they left the scene together in the car. I think everybody here can feel that there are some good things that are happening at Jerritt Canyon, Rodney Lamond, the president and CEO of Jerritt Canyon Gold, said recently. The Jerritt Canyon Mine, which is about 50 miles north of Elko, has been through many turns of fortune over the years. For a while, Jerritt Canyon was the big operation in the region. If you turn back the clock to the early 80s, when Freeport was running the operation, before all of our neighbors were here, this was the major producer, this was the largest producer in Nevada, Lamond said. It was producing well over 250,000 ounces a year. They had four pits on the go - it was a big open pit operation. Jerritt Canyon now is producing about 130,000 ounces a year, and the biggest mines in the region, like Nevada Gold Mines Cortez and Goldstrike, can produce over a million ounces a year. In recent years, there have been some negative news reports about the Jerritt Canyon mine. For example, in January 2014, when the mine was owned by Veris Gold, the Mine Safety and Health Administration issued 61 citations and orders to Jerritt Canyon and MSHA put out a press release criticizing the mine. From June 2014 to June 2015 Veris Gold operated under a form of bankruptcy protection. A Canadian bankruptcy court then ordered Veris to sell its assets. Eric Sprott, a Canadian investor who is one of the largest gold equity holders in North America, purchased the majority of the Jerritt Canyon Mine in June 2015, so the mine is now privately owned. Jerritt Canyon Gold LLC, owned by Sprott Mining, owns 80% of the mine, and the other 20% is owned by Whitebox Asset Management. We have two tremendous shareholders as supporters and they believe in the assets, Lamond said. Lamond said there are now a lot of great things happening at the mine. In January, they had gone more than 450 days without a lost-time accident. In November, they had a grand opening of a new $15 million water treatment plant see the story on page 14 of this issue of the Mining Quarterly. Reclamation projects are ongoing. After years of very little exploration, a major exploration project is now underway, and the results look promising. And in the third quarter of 2019, the mine reported its first profit in many quarters. For now, Lamond said, all the profit being generated by the mine is going into reclamation and exploration activities. Historically there has been 10 million ounces (of gold) mined here, said Kevin Small, Jerritt Canyons general manager. If you look in the mining world, single entities, there are not too many 10 million ounce producers. We just happen to be in a really good gold district. And were still open. This ground here has the potential to produce quite a bit of gold. With our exploration programs were starting to see, its not all mined out, theres quite a bit left here to mine. Some history The Jerritt Canyon Mine is in the Independence Trend. Mining got started in this area with the Sb Mine, which produced 20 tons of antimony in 1918 and another 12 tons of antimony in 1945, according to westernmininghistory.com. Decades later, FMC was exploring for more antimony, and gold was discovered in 1972. FMC asked Freeport Gold Co. to enter into a joint venture to develop the property. Construction of the mine began in 1980, and the mine cost a total of about $105 million. The first gold was poured in 1981. By 1983, more than 270 people worked at the mine and mill. Today there are about 350 people working at the mine, including both the Jerritt Canyon employees and the Small Mine Development employees who work in the two underground mines. The mining was all open pit from 1981 to 1993, and open pit mining continued to 1999. The open pits produced a total of about 5.5 million ounces of gold. Underground mining started in 1993 with the opening of the SSX-Steer Complex and the Smith mine. Other underground mines have included MCE, which was shut down in 2004, and Murray, which shut down in 2006. Jerritt Canyons underground mines have produced about 4.5 million ounces of gold so far. A 2015 story in the Elko Daily said, Jerritt Canyon has had numerous owners through the years. It started out as a joint venture of Freeport McMoRan and FMC, then FMC Gold and then Meridian Gold. Freeport sold to Independence Mining Co., a subsidiary of Minorco, which later sold all its mining assets to AngloGold. AngloGold Ltd. and Meridian Gold then sold it to Queenstake Resource Ltd. in 2003. Yukon-Nevada, which became Veris Gold, was a subsidiary of Queenstake. In recent years Jerritt Canyon has had four underground mines Smith, SSX-Steer, Starvation Canyon and Saval. Starvation Canyon is now shut down because the resources were depleted there, and Saval was shut down last spring because the resources there were running low and the company decided on a change in focus. Smith and SSX-Steer are the two mines in operation today, and Small Mine Development is doing the mining. Jerritt Canyon had been doing the mining at Saval in-house. We may go back into in-house mining at some point, Lamond said, but we felt that the effort that we needed to focus on company-wise was all of the surface infrastructure and the surface operations, and utilize a mining contractor, SMD, to do the mining. And theyve done a great job. What we wanted to try to do over the last six to eight months is invest a lot of time and money into exploration activities. Management Both Lamond and Small are fairly new to Jerritt Canyon. Lamond started there in April and Small arrived in May. Ive been involved with Jerritt Canyon since April as president and CEO, Lamond said, but Ive been looking at Jerritt Canyon for probably the better part of five years, ever since Eric Sprott purchased the asset. And I think in terms of its district and geological potential, its absolutely world-class. Lamond, a professional mining engineer with more than 30 years of experience, is also chairman of Jaguar Mining and a board member of Stratabound Minerals. He is from Toronto and spends some of his time there, but he said he is spending 60 to 80% of his time at Jerritt Canyon. I run most of the company business out of here, Lamond said. The mine has a senior vice president and a controller who work in Toronto, Lamond said, but most of the rest of the staff work at Jerritt Canyon, including a new CFO who was hired in October. Small is also a mining engineer with over 30 years experience in mining. He has worked mostly in Canada, but also spent two and a half years in Australia. I worked at a company down in Australia; thats where I first met Eric (Sprott), Small said. Thats the reason why Im here, because he asked me to come here, to see if I can help out. I wouldnt be here if I didnt see the potential. Lamond said Jerritt Canyon has a management team with lots of experience. We have a great management team here with a tremendous amount of years of experience, Lamond said. We want to highlight that on our website and show that theres hundreds of years of experience here, all in their different fields, whether its environment or geology or engineering or mineral processing or maintenance. Theyre a great group of people. Reclamation Reclamation of historic mining sites is one of the priorities at Jerritt Canyon. The open pits finished in 1999, and reclamation needs to be done on the waste dumps for those pits, Lamond said. And were committed to move those reclamation projects forward. There are a number of reclamation projects that we can do progressively while the mine is still running, and we dont have to wait until the mine closes to do it. Because I anticipate through our exploration success that we wont be closing anytime soon. One of the major projects we started last year and were going to be finishing this year is our old tailings area, Small said. Were going to cap that and were going to put that into final closure. Thats a great project, Lamond said. Thats something thats visible, and you can see right away that theres a real impact. Obviously, those projects take capital, and we need to generate the revenue in order for us to be able to do those projects. Exploration When the management decided to emphasize exploration at Jerritt Canyon, Lamond said, they considered the possibility of shutting down the mine for a couple of years and focusing entirely on exploration. But we have a great management team here that has a tremendous amount of years of experience; our workforce is trained, our workforce is very talented, and we want to retain those people, Lamond said. So we just have to make sure that what were doing underground currently today is sufficient to be able to meet both goals in terms of sustaining the operation, of covering our costs for all the labor, all the materials, the sustaining costs, as well as looking at some of our investment costs that were making as well, and reclamation costs. And, knock on wood, we seem to be tracking very well. Talking about the need to know about a mines resources and reserves, Lamond said mining is kind of like driving at night. You only see that 30 feet in front of you, but if you know where youre going, youll eventually get there, Lamond said. However, without doing much exploration for years, the lights have not been reaching out very far at Jerritt Canyon. They have continued to produce about 30,000 ounces of gold a quarter, and Lamond said because of the mines replacement history, he feels confident the mining will continue for years. But the exploration program that started about eight months ago will give the mine known reserves, and could show where to go to possibly find some more big deposits. Lamond said the ground with gold deposits is like a layered sandwich that twists through the landscape in the Independence Trend. Everywhere there are outcrops, there are pits that have been mined historically up to 1999. Now all of those surface outcrops of that lower plate are underground. The resource potential is still there, its just covered with this upper plate. Jerritt Canyons exploration program is making use of three techniques two state of the art techniques, hyperspectral imaging and magnetic surveys along with more traditional on-the-ground and underground exploration. Hyperspectral imaging does satellite imaging of the property, and measures the infrared light reflected off rock surfaces to determine the mineralogic characteristics of an area. It basically is like putting on a pair of glasses and everything stands out property-wide, Lamond said. Lamond said they gathered some core samples they had logged and categorized and sent them to Reno for scanning, and these scan results provided guidance on what to look for during the hyperspectral imaging. The magnetic surveys use a drone to determine the density differences in an area. The drone did hit a tree. Which is quite comical for this area, Small said. Its hard to find a tree, Lamond said. The information from the hyperspectral imaging is combined with the information from the magnetic surveys. Were excited about the new exploration techniques that allow us to look deeper and see things that are undercover that we havent seen before, without going out with a very expensive exploration drill program and doing like they did in the 90s where they systematically just drilled everything, which cost a fortune. What were doing now is were looking at structural features along with chemical features that hone in our exploration targeting. Lamond said they started the magnetic survey program in late July, and they just recently started getting the data back. So things take time, Lamond said. It takes 12 months to 24 months to build a life-of-mine plan that you can bank on, that gives some credibility to the future of the operations. Jerritt Canyon recently hired a new mineral resource geologist to work on the exploration project. Hes pulling together a lot of the historical information along with the new information that we have coming in, Lamond said. The primary focus of the exploration has been around the existing mines. If they find good deposits around the existing mines, then the infrastructure will be nearby. They are especially focusing on the area between Smith and SSX-Steer. Smith is very close to the mines infrastructure, but to get to SSX-Steer, the miners have to go up over the top of the mountain. But these two mines, in terms of the separation between each other, are only 4,200 feet apart, Lamond said. So if we connected the two, we dont have to drive all the way across over the mountain all the time and we could just come in through one side. So all of this area is a great area for exploration. Jerritt Canyon has a big land package. The southern border of the land package is about 25 miles south of the mine, about halfway between Elko and the mine. And although the exploration has focused primarily around Smith and SSX-Steer, the new techniques Jerritt Canyon is using have made it possible to survey the entire property to look for other areas that warrant additional exploration. Lamond said that hyperspectral imaging and the mag survey of the whole property have highlighted an area far from the active mines where there is a great big anomaly. We just cant wait for spring so we can go over and start exploring on it, Lamond said. That has huge potential. It could be another two-million-ounce deposit. SSX-Steer, which over its life has mined 1.8 million ounces, could be sitting over there as well. So were pretty excited with our exploration results so far. All of the exploration that is going on is keeping the mines lab busy. In the month of October the lab processed a record-breaking 16,366 samples. There was one 24-hour period when the lab processed over 1,000 samples. We were stepping and fetching, for sure, said Lab Supervisor Allen Park. The lab was originally designed to process up to around 500 samples a day. Processing The underground mines at Jerritt Canyon are all less than 1,000 feet deep. Low profile mining equipment removes the ore, which is stacked near the mine portals for grade sampling. After sampling, four 100-ton haul trucks take the ore to the mills. As mining progressed in the early days of Jerritt Canyon, the mine made a complete changeover in the way the ore is processed. The mine started out with a wet mill and used a carbon-in-pulp process to extract the gold. The mine then switched to a dry milling process and a carbon-in-leach circuit. According to a report from the mine, as the ores became more carbonaceous and refractory, and higher grade with the introduction of underground ore, a dry mill with an ore roasting circuit was added in 1989. Small explained that along with the CIP circuit the mine also had a chlorination circuit which oxidized the ore. In the end they were losing too much and they were mining more of the sulfite, so that chlorination one wasnt the right process, Small said. The mine stopped using the wet mill in 1997. The unused wet mill and carbon-in-pulp processing facilities are still at Jerritt Canyon. The wet mill facility has two semi-autogenous grinding mills and fairly large ball mill. Small speculated that maybe someday the wet mill will be shipped away for use at another mine. The dry mill process continues today. There are a lot of steps to the process. The ore starts out going through a 42x48-inch jaw crusher, and then goes in a gas fired drier. It then goes through a secondary crushing circuit with a 4.25-foot Symons standard cone crusher. Next is the tertiary crushing circuit, with two Symons 4.25 short head cone crushers in a closed circuit with vibrating screens. Next, the dry grinding circuit has a 14.5-foot diameter by 18.5-foot-long Fuller grate-discharge ball mill driven by a 2,500-horsepower motor. The ground product is then stored in a 2,000-ton roaster feed bin. The ore roasting circuit has two Dorr-Oliver two-stage fluid-bed roasters. The roasters are about 11 stories tall. You walk up flight after flight of stairs in the building housing the roasters to get to the top, where the windows look out at on a good view of the Jerritt Canyon mine site. The roasting process almost completely destroys all the refractory constituents, making cyanidation more effective. The roasted ore goes into quench tanks and then is pumped into a big outdoor thickener tank. The solution then goes to the carbon-in-leach cyanidation circuit with six tanks, where the gold is leached and recovered. Jerritt Canyon has a refinery, so the final product leaving the mine are gold bars. A basic difference between the carbon-in-pulp process which Jerritt Canyon used to use and the carbon-in-leach process used now is that CIP has tanks dedicated to leaching, followed by tanks dedicated to absorption onto carbon, whereas with CIL the carbon is added to the leach tanks. The roasting process at Jerritt Canyon is quite unique. Jerritt Canyon is one of only three processing plants in Nevada that uses roasting in its treatment of refractory ores, according to the mines website. Jerritt Canyons roaster uses oxygen instead of air as the fluidizing-combustion gas. That achieves high conversions of sulfides and carbon at lower combustion temperatures than traditional air roasting. Jerritt Canyon has an oxygen plant to provide the oxygen for the roaster. In a simplified explanation of the cryogenic distillation process, air from the atmosphere is pulled into the main air compressor with a 5,500-horsepower motor, and is supercooled with a heat exchanger, bringing the air down to temperatures as low as minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit. The cold air, which is in a 200-foot-tall column, separates into its three elements oxygen, argon and nitrogen. The oxygen and argon are liquids which settle into different levels in the column. The nitrogen isnt quite a liquid, and it rises to the top. This makes it possible to pull out the liquid oxygen, which is put into storage tanks. Oxygen gas is then piped to the roasters. The oxygen plant is designed to produce 325 tons of oxygen a day. Roasting processes have been used for processing ore over the years, but people at Jerritt Canyon said that Jerritt Canyon was the first to develop the large-scale roasters that the mine uses today. Matt Jones said a smaller-scale roaster was built at the nearby Big Springs as a prototype for the roasters which were being planned for Jerritt Canyon back in the 1980s. Big Springs was built as a pilot for these roasters to see if it was really going to work, Jones said. Small said the engineers at Jerritt Canyon in the 1980s thought through the problem they were having with not recovering enough gold, and they figured out a way to deal with it. They used true engineering in developing a new process that was never used before, Small said. Thats quite amazing. Small said he is a history buff, and when he goes to work at a mine he does some research on the mines history, and at Jerritt Canyon he found some of the early documents on the roasters. I found the original drawings of the roaster, and I found the original letter from Barrick saying, well buy the patent, Small said. He said Barrick paid Jerritt Canyon $1 million for the patent to the roaster, which was quite a bit of money in the 1980s. But Small said he believes the roaster patent was actually worth a lot more. Normally, now, youd offer it up on a per-ton royalty basis, Small said. Small said that as a long-time mining engineer, something he wanted to do for years is go inside a roaster. Because in mining I knew about the roasters, one of my bucket list items was to actually get inside one. So we had a down in October, and I actually went inside Not too many people have had the opportunity to stand inside one of these roasters. Love 5 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic is planning return to the lineup for the Blazers March 15 home game against the Houston Rockets. Im ready to help my team make the playoffs, Nurkic told Yahoo Sports Chris Haynes. Its time. Nurkic has been out with a broken leg for nearly a year, with the Bosnian Beast suffering a compound fracture of his left tibia and fibula during a home game against the Brooklyn Nets on March 25, 2019. Coach Terry Stotts confirmed the target date of March 15 for Nurkics return during his pregame remarks with reporters Friday in Phoenix. But Nurkic still has hurdles to clear before he can return to game action, Stotts said. Terry Stotts confirmed the March 15 timeline for Nurkics return, though he also noted Jusuf still has numerous benchmarks to clear first. Also said the calf strain set him back four to five weeks. Casey Holdahl (@CHold) March 7, 2020 Although Nurkic had returned to practice in January, a right calf strain had impeded his return to a Blazers team that is fighting for a playoff spot. The Blazers (28-35) enter Friday nights game in Phoenix in ninth place in the Western Conference, sitting 3.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies (31-31) for the eighth and final playoff spot. After their game at the Suns, the Blazers return to the Moda Center for a six-game homestand. The March 15 game against the Rockets is the fourth game of that home stretch. Portland then will depart for a six-game trip before returning to play five of its final six regular-season games at home. BJP Madhya Pradesh Chief Vishnu Dutt Sharma on Saturday alleged that Kamal Nath government in the state was formed "on the basis of money power" and said the chief minister should apologise to BJP for Congress allegations about horse-trading against the party. "Kamal Nath government was formed on the basis of money and is moving ahead with the same machinations. Kamal Nath should apologize to the BJP for making allegations that BJP is trying to purchase the Congress MLAs," Sharma told ANI. He accused the Congress of speaking lies. "Do you consider the people of Madhya Pradesh foolish? The people of the state are hardworking and honest and know your character. You made promises for loan waiver but to whom? It was not only an election issue," he said. The chief minister should display "some moral value," he added. Sharma said people were jumping out of a "sinking Congress ship". " If the government falls, BJP will think of forming a government in the state," he added," he said. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had alleged that BJP leaders Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Narottam Mishra were offering bribes of Rs 25-35 crore to Congress MLAs in order to bring down the Congress government in the state. The Congress won 114 seats in the 230-member Assembly in the last elections and formed the government with the support of four Independent MLAs, two BSP MLAs and a legislator from the Samajwadi Party (SP). The BJP had secured 109 seats in the state assembly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Texas woman was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison after she was found guilty of stabbing and beheading her five-year-old daughter because she 'asked for cereal.' Krystle Villanueva, 27, of Kyle, Texas, was convicted Thursday for the murder of killing her daughter, Giovanna Hernandez, five, in 2017. The jury also found Villanueva guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the stabbing of the girl's grandfather - Eustorgio Arellano-Uresti - who survived the attack. A judge sentenced Villanueva to life in prison without parole. Krystle Villanueva, 27, was found guilty of murdering her five-year-old daughter in January 2017 and sentenced to life without parole Thursday after a two-week trial in Texas. She appeared to be smirking or holding back laughter in her 2017 mugshot Villanueva was arrested after police found her in her home, along with her daughter Giovanna Hernandez, five (pictured), who had been stabbed to death and decapitated The Hays County District Attorney's Office said in a press release Thursday that during her two-week trial, Villanueva had claimed that she'd been 'under the delusional belief' that Giovanna and Arellano-Uresti 'had been replaced by clones and had to be killed to bring back her real family members.' Villanueva was arrested at her home in Kyle - which she lived in with Giovanna's father, Refugio Hernandez, Jr., and his parents - in January 2017 after both Arellano-Uresti and Villanueva called 911. Prosecutors said that Arellano-Uresti told the 911 operator that Villanueva, then 24, had suddenly attacked him from behind, before stabbing him in the back and head. He was then able to flee from the home. When it was determined that Villanueva was still inside the house with Giovanna, a SWAT team and crisis negotiators were called in about a potential hostage situation. Villanueva (right with Giovanna) lived with Giovanna's father and his parents in Kyle, Texas Villanueva (pictured at left in a recent mug shot and at right in an undated image) was also found guilty of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for stabbing Giovanna's grandfather, Eustorgio Arellano-Uresti During the incident, Villanueva (right with Giovanna) called 911 and told the operator that she had killed her daughter because she 'asked for cereal' Prosecutors said that while police were surrounding the house, Villanueva also called 911, telling the operator that 'she had killed her daughter because 'she asked for cereal,'' and admitting that she had stabbed Arellano-Uresti. The SWAT team then broke into the house where they found an apparently freshly showered Villanueva naked in the front room. They then found Giovanna in a bedroom. She had been stabbed to death and decapitated. Eustorgio Arellano-Uresti (pictured) survived having been stabbed by Villanueva Villaneuva was arrested and taken to the hospital, where blood tests revealed she had alcohol and marijuana in her system. A mugshot taken at the time of her arrest in 2017 showed Villaneuva appearing to smirk or stifle laughter while looking at the camera. During the trial, Villanueva's defense team did not deny that she had killed her daughter and attacked Arellano-Uresti, but they urged the jury to find her not guilty by reason of insanity. Villanueva's lawyer, Carlos Garcia, suggested that she might have Capgras Syndrome, also known as 'imposter syndrome,' according to the San Marcos Record. They presented evidence that showed that she had been treated for mental problems. An affidavit taken at the time of her arrest revealed that Arellano-Uresti alleged Villanueva had used drugs, alcohol and marijuana, while friends told KXAN that she had had struggled with drug use in the past and had gone to rehab and 'came out good.' During the trial, prosecutors said that the treatment Villanueva was receiving coincided with prior drug abuse and that the symptoms she was described as having during the trial had never been observed by her prior to or after her arrest. During her trial, Villanueva's defense team said she might have impostor syndrome and that she believed Giovanna (pictured at right with Villanueva) and Arellano-Uresti had been replaced by clones and needed to be killed so the originals could be returned Villanueva's defense team urged the jury to find her not guilty be reason of insanity The Texas home where a SWAT time found Giovanna's body, stabbed and decapitated Prosecutors said that a psychiatric expert called by the defense admitted on cross-examination that the use of marijuana could exacerbate existing mental conditions and interfere with treatment. Villanueva's lawyer, Carlos Garcia, told The Associated Press Friday that he was disappointed with the verdict and that she had suffered from psychosis for many years. In addition to being sentenced to life in prison without parole fo r capital murder of a child under ten, Villanueva was also given a 20 years sentence for the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon against Arellano-Uresti. 'A case like this leaves an unforgettable mark on everyone involved, especially the child's family,' Hays County Criminal District Attorney Wes Mau said in a statement. 'Every law enforcement member who worked on this case will forever be traumatized by what Ms. Villanueva did to her innocent daughter.' NASHVILLE - On a frigid Friday morning in North Nashville, Ishvicka Howell stood in her driveway and peered down the street at several utility trucks. When I saw those blinking lights, it was like Christmas, she said. Howell has been without electricity since a tornado tore through her neighbourhood shortly after midnight on Tuesday. No power. No heat. We pioneering it, Howell said. Grilling it and boiling water on the grill. Were in survival mode. The tornado that struck Nashville wrecked several neighbourhoods as it hopped across the city, smashing in trendy Germantown and Five Points, where two people died. But North Nashvilles historically African American neighbourhoods were already suffering from decades of redlining and neglect, isolated from more affluent neighbourhoods by the interstates that cut through the heart of the city. More recently, they have begun to feel the pressure of gentrification as new residents and short-term renters search out affordable areas near downtown. And now this. The killer storm devastated whole blocks, tearing off roofs, blowing down walls, uprooting huge trees and toppling electrical poles. While many parts of North Nashville had little storm damage, most residents were still without electricity Friday. No lights. No heat. And no way to store or cook food. Some are wondering if North Nashville can recover from this latest hit or if its African American families will be permanently displaced. We are worried because we know developers are going to come in, said Cornelius A. Hill, pastor of Ephesian Primitive Baptist Church. But Hill said he was encouraged by the outpouring of aid. His church, too, is without power. But outside in the parking lot, donations of all sorts have been pouring in to be donated to grateful residents. It was a scene repeated on nearly every corner of the storm-damaged blocks on Friday. Volunteers manned folding tables with free water, batteries, diapers, trash bags, and hot food like barbecue, hot dogs and pizza. Meanwhile, hundreds of volunteers toting rakes and chainsaws were taking advantage of the daylight. They covered roofs with tarps, sliced away at downed and damaged trees, and piled debris at curbside for public works trucks to cart away. This is a historic part of Nashville. Some of these homes have been here 40 or 50 years, said Jonathan Williamson with the community group Friends and Fam. Its beautiful to see everyone come out and work together to get things fixed. North Nashville is home to several historically black colleges and universities. Fisk University and Meharry Medical College were largely unscathed from the storm. But Tennessee State University suffered the near total destruction of its agricultural research centre. The loss is estimated at between $30 and $50 million. College of Agriculture Dean Chandra Reddy said the school has never been funded on par with the University of Tennessee. Its only in the past few years that the state government has started matching federal funding, and the school has been working hard to build up the program. This tornado is a double whammy for us. We were barely putting something up there, and then this comes and wipes it out, said Reddy. Reddy said he is encouraged that Gov. Bill Lee, who supports rural development, visited Tuesday morning. He is hoping the state government will come through to help the program quickly rebuild and grow. If we want to produce top-class research, we need good facilities and good faculty, Reddy said. Those dont come cheap. Over at the corner of 16th Ave. North and Knowles Street, one of the most heavily damaged residential blocks, new city councilman Brandon Taylor stopped to talk with Robert Sherrill of the non-profit Impact Youth Outreach. Taylor said city leaders already are discussing ways to help residents rebuild. Were trying to build a plan to make sure the community comes out of this whole, he said. Sherrill grew up on 16th Ave. North and has already seen how much it has changed through gentrification. He worries that any help wont come soon enough. We know there are people already knocking on doors, he said. If they say theyre going to put you up in the Omni for a week and give you $100,000 cash, and youre staying in a house with no walls, you might accept that. Paige Jack, with the group Friends and Fam, was handing out food nearby and was more optimistic. She thinks the volunteers from other parts of the city and beyond will leave feeling more connected to North Nashville. Its made people much more appreciative of our community, she said. The National Weather Service has said at least six tornadoes hit middle Tennessee during the series of storms that killed 24 people and caused massive damage. Eighteen were killed in Putnam County, where President Donald Trump visited on Friday to offer his condolences. Trump flew in and out of Nashville but did not stop in the city. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Kenya Prepares to Fight Coronavirus, Should It Arrive By Mohammed Yusuf March 06, 2020 Kenya has set up more than 100 hospital beds in preparation for possible coronavirus cases. The east African nation has assured its citizens health workers are well prepared to stop the spread of the virus, athough Kenya has not reported any confirmed cases. Speaking to reporters after visiting the Mbagathi Hospital in central Nairobi, Kenya's health minister, Mutahi Kagwe, said his country is prepared to combat coronavirus. "We have trained over 1,100 health workers, we have deployed them in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and other areas. We are also sensitizing and cascading this training all the way to the community levels. We have procured sufficient personal protective equipment," Kagwe said. Mbagathi Hospital has set up 120 beds for potential cases in the country. Evans Kamuri, the head of the biggest hospital in the country, Kenyatta National Hospital, assured Kenyans the facility is well-equipped to treat patients who test positive for the coronavirus. "The facility has all the equipment you need, from a sick patient up to ICU. We also have ventilators, monitors, refrigerators. We have infusion pumps. Even we can actually run the patient in a remote. We also have diagnostic facilities. We have X-rays, We have a mobile ultrasound. We also have a labso basically, we have put all the structures in place," Kamuri said. Kenya has not reported any coronavirus cases as yet. South Africa is the latest country on the continent to detect the virus. Six other African countries have reported confirmed cases. The virus' slow arrival to Africa has given governments more time to set up testing and treatment centers, with the help of the World Health Organization and other groups. According to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, the number of coronavirus cases has reached 100,000 worldwide. With 80 percent reported in China, the death toll has surpassed 3,200. The virus is believed to have emanated from an outdoor food market in the city of Wuhan, China, and spread person to person. Some Kenyans who are ill from other diseases are worried about visiting a hospital set up to treat possible coronavirus patients, but Acting Director General of Health Patrick Amoth assured the public the coronavirus facility would operate independently. "We have ensured that this place is totally isolated from the rest of our facility and when we were taking you around it was only the windows were like that because there was no patient in the facility. Once we have an individual case, the necessary measures we are going to put in place is totally different," Amoth said. Kenyan officials said they have been preventing the virus' arrival by screening those entering the country. The World Health Organization has called on countries around the world to start testing its citizens for the coronavirus and report the number of people infected. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Comedian and movie star Kevin Hart skipped the jokes in an appearance at an Oakland high school Friday and instead offered students a serious lesson on money and the mistakes he has made. His appearance at Castlemont High School was part of the actors Hart of it All campaign to promote financial literacy. His advice on investing in real estate, paying taxes, responsible borrowing and eschewing fancy cars and expensive watches was a surprising departure from his stand-up routines or roles in blockbuster films, students said. But his life lessons started to sink in, they said, as Hart shared his financial failures, the result of growing up in a disadvantaged community in Philadelphia, not unlike the neighborhood surrounding the East Oakland high school. Im a guy that came from the gutter, he said. The biggest disadvantage we have is not knowing. No one comes to the hood to talk about money. There are check-cashing stores and liquor stores. You dont see banks, Hart told the students. They dont expect you to make smart decisions. Hart described his upbringing by a single mother, with a father addicted to drugs. He worked in a shoe store before trying stand-up comedy and garnering some success. But by age 30, he said, he was deep in debt, owing taxes with nothing to show for his hard work. I never felt more stupid in my life, he said. I called myself Jack Ass Johnson. He vowed never to feel that way again, and learned about money, taxes and investments. Dont be a last-minute figure-outer, he added. Thats what losers do. The assembly was sponsored by Chase Bank and the citys Oakland Promise initiative, which is starting college funds for low-income children and providing scholarships and guidance for college-bound high school students, including those at Castlemont. A community initiative launched in 2016, Oakland Promise includes $500 savings accounts for infants born to low-income parents, $100 college funds for city kindergarten students, and college counseling centers and financial support and mentoring for low-income students going to college. The program also focuses on the financial literacy of parents and students, something research shows is often lacking among young people and rarely a significant part of a childs education. While Californias Department of Education offers guidelines and resources for financial literacy education, it is not required instruction. Yet increasingly young people are facing financial stress, including college loan debt, which jumped to $1.4 trillion nationwide in 2017, up from $340 billion in 2001, according to a 2018 report by the Brookings Institution, a national research-focused nonprofit. Low financial literacy is correlated with a host of negative credit behaviors, including higher borrowing rates, mortgage delinquency, and home foreclosure, according to the report. These negative behaviors are particularly pronounced among young people: individuals age 18 to 34 pay more in interest on credit card debt and penalty fees than older adults, and are also twice as likely to take a hardship withdrawal from their retirement account or miss a mortgage payment. Harts visit was the first of two scheduled stops in Oakland, with Oakland High School also getting a surprise appearance from the actor. At Castlemont, students roared at the celebrity guest, whistling, clapping and high-fiving each other as they stood to take pictures. They expected jokes and the funny man they had seen on the big screen. That isnt what they got. I came here thinking this was like a comedy show, said ninth-grader Sierra Taylor. As he started talking I was like, this is some deep sh. Senior Joshua Davis said he, too, was surprised by the serious side of Hart. 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 was very powerful, inspiring, he said. He gave me a different perspective of how to manage my money. Joshua noted that today is payday for his mentoring job and he said hes going to follow Harts advice, to split his earnings, shoving half the money into an envelope to save for something important, something that doesnt lose value. I feel like saving today, he said. The students need to learn the basic building blocks of financial well-being, said Mia Bonta, chief executive of Oakland Promise. Having someone like Kevin Hart, who kids know and can relate to I think thats what they respond to, she said. The reason he took this on is because hes gone through enough of his own challenges. Before taking the stage, Hart told a Chronicle reporter that the biggest lesson he wanted to impart to students about his life was his personal experience fing up. I hate to use that language, he said. But theres no better lesson than a f-up. But that was just one of many pieces of advice he gave the auditorium full of Oakland teens. Hart recommended buying real estate to play a real-life game of Monopoly. To buy things that increase in value rather than things that lose value, such as watches or cars. He told the students to turn the knob and rattle the door when its slammed in their faces. And to dream, then work hard for it. The success thats on the other side of hard work, he said, is the best sh in the world. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jiltucker STEPANAKERT, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. During the period from March 1 to 7 the Azerbaijani armed forces violated the ceasefire regime in the Artsakh-Azerbaijan line of contact nearly 160 times by firing more than 1700 shots from various caliber weapons at the Armenian positions, the defense ministry of Artsakh told Armenpress. The Defense Army forces of Artsakh fully control the situation in the frontline and continue confidently conducting their military service. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan The U.S. Census Bureau is beginning its selection process to hire up to 500,000 census takers for the 2020 Census. "America has answered the call, and is ready to answer the 2020 Census," said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. "With unemployment rates at historic lows, recruiting is a big challenge. I congratulate our recruitment staff, and our community partners for recruiting more than 2.6 million applicants nationwide." Beginning in May 2020, census takers, also known as enumerators, will go door to door across the country to count people in households that have not responded to the census online, by phone or on paper. To have a robust hiring pool, the Census Bureau seeks four or more applicants for each position. "We have more applicants than our estimates suggest we need to hire in every office," said Census Bureau Director Dr. Steven Dillingham. "We will continue to accept applications nationwide to deepen the bench of qualified workers. We will optimize our recruitment efforts to where they will be most effective. Our goal is to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible while minimizing movement of staff between offices." Tests of 2020 Census operations conducted in 2018 demonstrated significant productivity gains over 2010 Census operations because of the deployment of new technology and route optimization. The Census Bureau will continue to accept applications at 2020census.gov/jobs through the end of May. Applicants for 2020 Census jobs should be prepared to answer calls from Census Bureau employees starting Saturday, March 7, to conduct a phone interview. Potential hires will be contacted by telephone from one of the 248 area census offices nationwide. Most positions begin work in early May. The Census Bureau will make job offers over the phone, and selected candidates will receive a letter by email providing instructions for scheduling an appointment to be fingerprinted. The candidate will receive further instructions once cleared for work. Census Bureau staff will work with selected candidates to ensure they are progressing through the onboarding process. The Italian government is planning to quarantine the entire Lombardy region around Milan to limit the spread of the coronavirus as well as areas around and including Venice and the northern cities of Parma and Rimini, Italian media has reported. A draft of the government resolution obtained by Italy's Corriere Della Sera newspaper and other media said movement into and out of the regions would be severely restricted until April 3. Milan is the Italian financial capital and has a population of just under 1.4 million people. The entire Lombardy region is home to 10 million. The government decree also covers parts of the Veneto region around Venice as well as Emilia-Romagna's Parma and Rimini. Those three cities have a combine population of around 540,000 people. It was not immediately clear from either the decree or the media reports on Saturday as to when the measure would go into effect. Corriere Della Sera said it was "imminent". Italy has emerged as a coronavirus hotspot since the disease first emerged in China late last year. More than 230 people have died in Italy with over 5,800 cases diagnosed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. 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Four men will be tried in absentia from Monday over a catastrophic missile strike on the aircraft above eastern Ukraine in July 2014. All 298 passengers and crew were killed, including 38 Australian citizens and residents. Appreciations View(s): We are left with a void that can never be filled Suhendran Thalayasingam On February 22, Suhendran Thalayasingam, Chairman, Mithuruwela passed away, felled by a stroke. We at Mithuruwela are dismayed and stricken that someone so active, so full of life was taken away from us so unexpectedly. Suhendran Thalaysingam or Thalay as he was popularly known was a loyal Old Boy of Hartley College, Jaffna, an Attorney-at-law and a Justice of the Peace. He was a founder member of Mithuruwela -the Cancer Support Network, the organization co-founded by his wife Mala to help support cancer patients, care-givers and all those affected by cancer. Thalay and Mala were two pillars that Mithuruwela depended on and their home at 70/1 Peterson Lane was the nerve centre for all Mithuruwelas meetings and other activities.Thalays knowledge of and vast experience in legal matters were of immense help whenever Mithuruwela had to sort out issues. Thalay drew inspiration and strength from his deep faith in his religion and was the Warden to the Vicar at St Pauls, Milagiriya. At his funeral the Vicar paid a moving tribute to Thalay saying that he was a human being with humane qualities- a rare commodity in todays world, and spoke of Thalays even-handed methods of dealing with controversial issues. In his inimitable way, Thalay would lay out all the pros and cons of each aspect so that the best choice of response could be made. As a member of Mithuruwelas Management Committee, he displayed this capacity even at Mithuruwela meetings helping us to reach practical decisions that would serve the organisation well. If the suggestions he made were rejected, Thalay who never bore malice or resentment would accept it with grace. Thalay was above all someone who was at his happiest when dealing with people and dealing out hospitality to whoever came into his home. During Mithuruwelas outreach programmes, our cancer awareness sessions, Thalay would make his speech as Chairman and then slip into the audience to talk to vulnerable members of the audience. He was particularly happy when Mithuruwela visited villages in the North and East where he could exercise his command of Tamil. People would cluster around him, sometimes listening sombrely but more often convulsed with laughter as Thalay regaled them with his stories. Thalay was generous, hospitable, kind. His world revolved around his family-Mala, Prashan and Anjali and he would beam with pride and happiness when talking about his grandchildren Nour and Gabriel. His was a larger than life personality- genial, warm-hearted, ever ready to support family and friends. And as Mithuruwela prepares to face a future without Thalay who had been with us from the very beginning, who led Mithuruwela as an exuberant, ever-welcoming Chairman, we are grievously aware that we are left with a void that can never be filled. Ryhana Raheem On behalf of all at Mithuruwela-the Cancer Support Network Tribute to a distinguished alumni of Science Faculty, Peradeniya W.M.D. Wijekoon The Science Faculty of the University of Peradeniya lost one of its distinguished alumni W.M.D. Wijekoon, an old boy of Dharmaraja College who entered the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, in October 1968. Donald read for a Special degree in Chemistry and graduated in 1972. After a short stint at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Peradeniya and later at the CISIR, he proceeded to Sweden for postgraduate research training at the University of Uppsala in Stockholm specializing in the chemistry of insect pheromones and other odiferous compounds. Subsequently he proceeded to the University of Nevada in Reno, USA and obtained his PhD in Synthesis, Stereo Chemistry and Circular Dichroism of Polycystic ketones, thiones and selones. From October 1983 to December 1985 he worked as a post-doctoral research affiliate at Stanford University in the USA. Donald joined the University of Nevada as a senior research associate on January 1986 and carried out research in phototherapy in the treatment of jaundice in infants. He was thoroughly involved in the study of Stereo chemicals which led to him being recruited by the Department of Health Services in the state of California as a chemist until his retirement in 2015. He was a dedicated scientist with many academic publications in chemistry journals where he discussed his skills in developing analytical methods. His primary work as a chemist in public health involved the measurement of chemicals at very low levels to see the qualiy of air, water and food. I understand that at the Department of Health Services in Los Angeles he shared his technical knowledge readily with his staff and his colleagues appreciated him for this quality as well as his supervisory ability. One of his colleagues delivering a funeral oration emphasised his skills as the Quality Assurance Officer and Health and Safety Officer of his laboratory in navigating the administrative hurdles with maturity and efficiency. As a batchmate at Peradeniya he had a wonderful undergraduate life enjoying social visits and trips where under high spirits he used to mingle with us singing old melodies. Whenever he visited Sri Lanka he used to meet our batchmates and visit Peradeniya where he went down memory lane enjoying the beautiful campsus. Donald was sick over the last few years of his life but would communicate by email with us and entertained friends from Sri Lanka at his San Francisco home. His devoted wife Manel looked after him during his illness. He could not join us in October 2018 for our golden jubilee. However we are grateful for the contribution he made towards the project by the Science batch to donate display boards to the Faculty of Science at the university. We send our sincere condolences to his wife Manel, his son Christopher and daughter-in-law Amy and hope he will attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana C.W. Jayasekera (on behalf of batchmates at the University of Peradeniya) Thank you Thathi for being mine Ray De Silva A year ago today, I lost you; my father, provider, protector, comforter and friend. You died and my life crumbled before my eyes. I wanted to write a tribute capturing the essence of you, and I realized if I shared a glimpse into my grieving journey (the real one instead of the Im happy & okay facade I project outwardly to the world) and it helps even one person, who is going through the same (or will) not feel alone, then that would be the biggest tribute to the kind, generous, helpful nature that made Ray De Silva the great human being and gentleman that he was. So here goes You spent five long months, undergoing chemotherapy, putting up the bravest fight against Leukemia and you beat it to then a few months later be admitted to hospital for a fever and then die in a matter of days. I cant think of anything more tragic, cruel or unfair. As I type the factual details of your loss, the all too familiar tears and hard lump in my throat return. A year later, though the initial shock and the emotional fog of your death has subsided the reality that you are dead and the weight of that reality hasnt fully made its impact on my consciousness. It hits me in waves unbearable, overwhelming waves and Ive lived the last year in a partially surreal existence. My life as I knew it and who I was/am is demarcated clearly by your death DR & AR: During Ray & After Ray. A part of me keeps hoping (praying), I will wake up one day and this awful nightmare will be over. I will walk down the stairs and you are there sipping your tea and reading the newspaper. Or my phone will ring and it will be you calling to ask me what shall we have for dinner? Or Ill come home from work one day and you will ask me to sit and type out your mails and texts for you again A 100 small day to day interactions that I took for granted and would now give everything to have just one more day of. Living without you and grieving your death has been the longest, hardest and most humbling experience and there is definitely no silver lining and no finish line in sight. Grief has become a close friend, who visits me whenever it wants and that sense of emptiness and missing-ness is relentless and heartbreaking. When I strip away the comfort that I have gotten from other people or my faith it has been a solitary, lonely experience. One that another will not understand until it happens to them. This is what death and loss look like, or what it has been for me. The only two thoughts that have comforted me are that you are not suffering anymore and that I was the luckiest person to have had you as my father. Any amount of grief I have to bear is worth having had you for the time I had you. It is the greatest privilege and honour of my life to be Ray De Silvas daughter . Thank you thathi for being mine. I love and miss you every single second of every single day. Himali She became a friend for life! Malini Naganathan She was a light to us. Our friendship which spanned almost seven decades began when we were classmates. She was a good student but what impressed us was her love and concern for everyone in the class. She was lively and cheerful and helped us also to keep our spirits up. We were touched by her she became a friend for life! Our school days ended. She entered the University of Peradeniya but left a year later to go abroad. Sometime after her return, she married Nage, an accountant, a wonderful personality who shared her love and concern for others. They had a beautiful home, open to family and friends. She kept in touch with her friends, and at least once a year, on her birthday generally, she invited them all to a get-together, her AGM as she called it. Their home was also open to the poorest of the poor. On one occasion, some 70 children from the Poorwarama, Kirillapone area, were invited to spend the day at their home. A variety of goodies all prepared by her were served for lunch and tea with her best cutlery and crockery and games lined up for them to play. Surely it must have been heaven on earth for the little folks! Years later, she became a follower of Sathya Sai Baba. She visited Puttaparthi in India for worship, attended religious services here and held a few at her home. She had a strong faith and complete trust when Nage fell victim to a serious illness which was believed to have no cure. She did not break down but trusted in the Lord, read about the ailment, sought advice on it and did what she thought was best for him. The love and care with which she nursed him singlehandedly initially, was amazing. When Nage eventually passed away, the parting was hard for her to take. She turned to the sick and the needy. Together with her Sai associates, she visited the Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama, and the Sai Cancer Home, Hanwella, from time to time and reached out to the patients there. It was amusing to know that when she visited the Hanwella home she wore as many bangles and chains as she could to give away to the female patients there who went crazy when they saw these beauties on her. At home, in the apartment complex (where she later lived), she was moved by the plight of the minor staff employed there janitors, technicians, security guards and the like. She went out of her way to help them in their struggle for survival by whatever means food, clothing, medicine, school books or any other.Her ailments under control until then, showed up. Gradually, she was confined to her home, later to her bed. Even then she thought of others worse off than her and gave thanks for all her blessings in particular her comfy bed and nice room, her darling sister, her angels (nieces) who were around her and her two most wonderful carers! She was a rare personality indeed and has now gone home to her reward. Malini has left a deep void in our hearts and as we believe so much in God Almighty, we too look forward to a day when we shall meet her in His presence where there will be no more parting and no more tears. Classmates He was loved by all Kingsley Samaratunga Air Vice Marshal Kingsley Samaratungas sudden death in February last year was a great loss to his family, relatives and the community. He was a lovable, jolly character who devoted much of his time and wealth on the country. He was much loved by his nephews and nieces and was ever willing to help them solve their teenage problems. He was a brother to our family and not an in-law. He earned so much respect, as a man who put everyone else before him, helping the needy whenever he identified their difficulties. He was a man who never held grudges. His hobbies were rearing dogs and caring for animals. He was also a music lover and loved to travel anywhere at anytime, He accomplished much in his career holding the post of Director Engineering in the Sri Lanka Air Force. He also raised three amazing children all graduates, a great achievement as a father. He is sadly missed by his loving wife Nelum, daughter Virangi, sons Charith and Harin and also his extended family members and friends. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana. Delsy Lankage (Sister in-law) Coronavirus has claimed 145 lives from among 5823 Iranians who have been infected by the COVID-19 virus, the spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Health said Saturday afternoon Mach 7. The spokesman, Kianush Jahanpur, added however that some 16,000 suspected cases are being taken care of at hospitals in major Iranian cities. This means that many people have not yet been tested or the test results are delayed. He added that 1,669 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovery. In some areas, 40 percent of those hospitalized have recovered, the official claimed. The media in Iran and outside the country as well as some of the members of Irans Parliament have challenged the numbers released by the government about the extent of the outbreak and some claim the real figures are at least three times higher. Jahanpur revealed on Saturday that the situation is critical in Mazandaran Province in northern Iran as the number of those with the virus in this province has exceeded 600 during the past day. He called it the third "worst hit" province after Tehran and Qom with 1,539 and 686 patients respectively. The latest figures put the number of those in hospital in Gilan at 494 and those in Isfahan at 484. However, most patients diagnosed with the virus are quarantined at their homes and only those in serious need of intensive care are sent to hospitals. Monitoring and disease control posts have been set up at the borders between Mazandaran and the neighboring Gilan Province which is also one of the worst affected Iranian provinces. Health authorities have said that the contagion in Gilan and Mazandaran is partly due to the fact that many people from Qom and Tehran have travelled to these provinces which are usually popular tourist destinations in Iran. The news about the critical situation in Mazandaran province on Saturday coincided with local officials in Yazd Province declaring an "emergency situation." Meanwhile, the health ministry spokesman added that the number of Coronavirus test centers in Iran has increased to 30 and this has shortened the time for test results. Until last week, all tests were sent to a lab in Tehran, but now most provinces seem to have been better equipped as far as testing is concerned. He added that setting up 20 more test centers is on the Health Ministry's agenda for the coming days in order to further shorten the time interval between testing and diagnosis. Based on the latest official statistics announced on Saturday Iran is now the third worst hit country after China and Italy. The most recent death toll includes a member of the parliament, Fatemeh Rahbar, and a former diplomat, Hossein Sheikholeslam. Two members of the Iranian parliament have died of Coronavirus while 23 are diagnosed with the virus. Earlier this week, Gholam Ali Jafarzadeh Imanabadi, an MP for Rasht in Gilan Province, said that the figures released by cemeteries in various cities are indicative of a "horrific" death toll. Meanwhile, prominent MP Massoud Pezeshkian told reporters that the figures given away by Health Ministry officials are not "real". The controversy surrounding the government's attempts to play down the crisis has claimed at least one casualty as Health Minister Saeed Namaki reportedly fired Dr. Mehdi Shadnoush, his "plenipotentiary representative for virus control" in Gilan Province after Shadnoush described the situation of hospitals in the province as "dreadful". Currently 13 Iranian provinces are controlling arrivals and departures in a bid to boost virus control. In the meantime, one of the most recurrent themes on Iranian social media is the shortage of preventive equipment including masks, detergents and hand gel. Masks in particular are scarce and are sold for up to 400,000 rials (roughly 10 dollars) each at the official exchange rate. Vineet Upadhyay By Express News Service DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat held a meeting with the state health department, state disaster management force, Indian Army, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and other government departments to allay panic over the coronavirus outbreak. "All the district magistrates have been instructed to seek the support of religious leaders too for mass awareness and involve community radio as also other communication mediums in this. Instructions have also been issued to utilise virtual classroom facilities available in 500 schools and 54 degree colleges for awareness," said the CM after the meet. A decision was also taken to suspend biometric attendance till March 31 in all state government offices including schools. At present, the state government is monitoring 118 suspected patients of the viral infection which has claimed around 3400 lives across the world. However, no positive case has been found yet in Uttarakhand and no death due to the infection has been reported in the country. Apart from all 13 district magistrates, officials and experts of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh joined through video conferencing including from the Indian Army, Sashastra Seema Bal and Indo-Tibetan Border Police. The state health department is also keeping an eye on the sale, overpricing and hoarding of sanitizers, masks and medicines of cold and cough. Amita Upreti, director general, health department, said, "Any outlet or medical shop indulging in overpricing or hoarding will face action including cancellation of their licences." Key statistics 17,387 people have been scanned for the viral infection on the border posts in the border districts of Uttarakhand. 1215 people have been scanned at the three airports of the hill state till date. 2021 isolation wards have been formed across the state to deal with the outbreak, if the situation demands. 437 people have arrived from different countries in Uttarakhand including Indians and foreign tourists. 319 people were constantly monitored for three weeks to ensure that they are free of any infection. YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenian prime ministers spouse, chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of My Step and City of Smile charitable foundations Anna Hakobyan on March 6 has been hosted at the Palacio da Alvorada, the official residence of the president of Brazil, where she met with First Lady Michelle de Paula Firmo Reinaldo Bolsonaro, Mrs. Hakobyans Office told Armenpress. The wives of the leaders of the two countries toured the presidential palace of Brazil. Mrs. Bolsonaro introduced Anna Hakobyan on the construction history of the building and the collection of paintings and sculptors. After the tour the two ladies talked about their role and mission, highlighted implementing joint projects. In her turn Anna Hakobyan introduced the activities of the My Step and City of Smile foundations, as well as the Women for Peace campaign. The wife of the Brazil president said the main direction of her charitable activity is the social integration of people with disabilities. At the end of the meeting Anna Hakobyan invited the First Lady of Brazil to Armenia. The invitation was approved, and according to the preliminary agreement the visit will take place this year in October. New Delhi, March 7 : A Delhi court on Saturday reserved its order on the cognizance of charge sheet filed in CBI bribery case, in which former special director Rakesh Asthana was recently given a clean chit. "Order will be pronounced at 3 p.m. today," Special CBI Judge Sanjiv Agarwal said. The CBI had, on October 15, 2018, registered an FIR against Asthana for allegedly accepting a bribe from an accused probed by him in return for ensuring relief and had given a clean chit in the case. The complaint was filed by Hyderabad-based businessman Satish Babu Sana who was being probed by Asthana as part of a probe into money laundering by meat exporter, Moin Qureshi. The charge sheet, filed on February 11, had only arrayed "middleman" Manoj Prasad as accused. Asthana and DSP Devender Kumar, who were arrested in 2018 and later released on bail, were named in column 12 of the charge sheet since there was not enough evidence to make them an accused.